Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (middle), is at peace with his arch rival Babajide Sanwo-Olu (right) who defeated him (Ambode) in a sweat-soaked governorship primary election, recently conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State. With them on the left is Ambode’s predecessor, Babatunde Fashiola who is now minister of Power, Works and Housing.They were at the national convention of the APC held last night (Saturday, October 6) at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital where President Muhammadu Buhari was affirmed as the candidate of the party for the 2019 election.
President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that if the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not won the 2015 Presidential election, Nigeria would have since gone bankcrupt even as the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents would have taken over the country.
Delivering an acceptance address last night (Saturday) after the delegates to the APC national convention affirmed him as its Presidential candidate for the 2019 election, the President insisted that the party had brought about the change it promised Nigerians in 2015.
“We can be proud of our achievements. CHANGE has come. Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow Nigerians, think how much PDP Governments earned between 1999 to 2015. Think what they did with it.
“Infrastructure down!
“Security down! 18 local governments of Nigeria under control of a hostile army of insurgents,
“Reserves depleted!
“Bankruptcy around the corner.
“What did they do with your money?
“Internationally, Nigeria is now respected. My inter-action with foreign heads of state and government has been very encouraging. The international community is very supportive of our efforts to put our country in order.”
President Buhari, who paid glowing tribute to the leadership of the APC right from the inception, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bisi Akande, John Oyegun, confessed that there is no honour greater than the confidence given to him by members of the party when they affirmed his nomination and by their commitment to the CHANGE agenda.
“We are very proud of our record from 2015 to date:
“We have arrested and checked the slide to anarchy on the security and economic fronts.
“Boko Haram is reduced to dastardly attacks on soft targets. Normalcy has returned to much of North East and neighbouring North West states.
“Our currency has stabilized. Our reserves are now $44 billion, a lot higher than we had in 2015.
“Power generation capacity has reached 8,000 megawatts against less than 4,600 when we came into office. As we invest in new power generation infrastructure we are strenuously working to address the legacy deficiencies and challenges of transmission and distribution networks across the country.
“We are executing Independent Power Projects in 9 Federal Universities to deliver uninterrupted power supply and we intend to expand to a total of 37 Universities
“We have revived most of our capacity to produce fertilisers locally.
“The Government through its Anchor Borrowers Programme and other incentives has empowered more than 2 million farmers to go back to the land. We now produce 80% of our rice requirements. Many farmers who nearly lost hope are now millionaires.
“We have introduced primary school feeding programmes to encourage attendance and enrolment. We also have introduced the conditional cash transfer to help small and medium businesses, the men, the women and young people who drive our economy.
“We have repaired and are repairing major arterial roads and starting major railway projects with the aim of linking the 36 states with efficient road and rail transportation systems.
“We are attacking corruption head-on. With international support we are recovering Nigerian stolen assets and applying them to infrastructural developments.
“Today the corrupt are facing the wrath of law and leakages have been generally blocked.
“Fellow party members, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you today to accept the nomination of our party, the All Progressives Congress to be its candidate and flag-bearer in the 2019 presidential elections.
“I accept this honour as a tribute and mark of confidence to carry the responsibility as we all join hands to continue the good work of the APC government to 2023 and beyond.”
The Nigerian Army has asked the residents of Dura Du in Plateau State where the vehicle of missing retired Major General Idris Alkali was found among others, not to flee the area in panic assuring that its men and officers will not harm innocent ones among them.
In a statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya, the Army said: “the attention of Headquarters 3 Division has been drawn to reports that the residents of Dura-Du District have fled and abandoned their homes and business premises to avoid being clamped down by the troops involved in the Search and Rescue Operation for the missing retired senior officer.
“Please be informed that the Nigerian Army is a professional organisation that conducts its operations with international best practices and respect for fundamental human rights.
“The troops involved in the search and rescue operation only apprehended those who have information about the missing retired senior officer based on credible intelligence.
“Consequently, the good and peace loving people of Jos South, especially Dura-Du District, are enjoined not to desert their homes and business premises and urged them to go about their legitimate businesses.”
The Army cautioned against the residents abandoning their properties which hoodlums would pounce on, even as it appealed to anyone with credible information about the whereabouts of the missing retired senior officer to contact phone number 09074028881.
According to the statement, a handsome reward awaits a credible informant, assuring that the source of information shall be protected.
It called on everyone within the area of responsibility to remain vigilant and report any suspected breach of peace to security agencies.
General Alkali, the immediate past Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters, Abuja, was declared missing on September 3 this year. He was said to have gone missing on his way to Bauchi after leaving Abuja in the morning. Consequently, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai, set up an operation to search for the missing officer.
The army said that after a thorough search and investigation, they stumbled on some intelligence that made it necessary to search a mining pond at Dura-du, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The operation being jointly conducted by Operation Safe Haven and 3 Division Nigeria Army, Rukuba, recovered four vehicles from the pond, including the one Alkali was driving before his disappearance.
The situation led to fears, anxiety, and apprehension that army would carry out a military action in the area as it continues its search for the general or his remains.
According to reports, members of the community fled their homes for fear of being attacked by security operatives.
Frantic last move bythe 12 presidential aspirants of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), for the emergence of a consensus candidate amongst them has collapsed at the ongoing convention in Port Harcourt. The 12 aspirants were said to have met earlier in the day (Saturday) but that after almost an hour of deliberation, there was no agreement on a consensus candidate.
According to report all the aspirants had rather vowed to continue with their campaigns to be elected by the delegates.
“It was difficult to agree on a consensus candidate as each of the aspirants argued on their individual strengths and urged others to step down. The power brokers in the party are looking at this and how to avert any post-convention crisis. Meetings and consultations are expected to continue.”
This was even as rumour broke out earlier that the former Accountant General of the Federation and governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo had agreed to step down for the former speaker of the House of Representatives and governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, which Dankwanbo’s group vehemently denied.
One of his aides made it clear that it is not possible for the two-term governor to step down for Tambuwal who recently re-joined the party.
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is reported to have started distributing the sum of $1,000 to each delegate at the ongoing national convention of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Report reaching us indicated that Saraki began the distribution of the dollar at about noon today, Saturday, hours before voting opened at the convention venue.
One of the beneficiaries of his dollar largesse from Nasarawa State, said innocently: “we have received our first goodwill from the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. It is our first dollars here, but we know more would still come from other aspirants. They have been calling us since yesterday.”
Sources in his campaign that were amongst those who coordinated the payout, stashed in campaign paraphernalia have corroborated the claim to newsmen.
Senator Saraki appeared to be the first to pay out cash to influence the choice of delegates.
At least 4,000 delegates are expected to vote for 12 aspirants when the exercise commences at this stadium in a few hours’ time.
One of the officers attached to the campaign of one of the top-four contenders said: “do not be surprised if they hike the rate to $4,000. This is not your average convention.”
The University of Ibadan is set to celebrate its 70 years anniversary even as the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Idowu Olayinka said that the university needed additional N30 billion in the next 10 years to achieve world-class standard.
At a news conference in Ibadan today, Saturday, Professor Olayinka said: “for us to be a world-class university, we need to invest heavily in physical and infrastructural facilities, to address the acute shortage of office space for staff, classrooms and laboratories.”
The Vice Chancellor said that the institution is exploring ways to make itself less dependent on government funding. “We are adopting a two -pronged approach involving a resource mobilization plan and prudent management of the available resources.”
According to him, elements of these include regular income from commercial activities and increasing the endowment fund, research grants and the strategic funds, adding that other means would be to consolidate the businesses established by the university.
Such businesses include the UI Microfinance Bank, UI Ventures, UI Water, Animal Production Venture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, UI Publishing House, UI Endowment Fund and the UI Bookshop.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and publisher of Sahara Reporters, an online medium, Omoyele Sowore has emerged as the Presidential flag-bearer of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the 2019 general election.
He was returned unopposed today, Saturday at the party’s national convention, held at Duplex Plaza, CMD, Shangisha, Lagos.
Sowore thanked the party members for supporting the aspiration to build a new Nigeria.
“We must work to realise the dream of a new Nigeria, where we would be able to send our children to school and where the black man will be proud of the Nigerian nation. We must say enough is enough. Those who are taking Nigeria into the future are here with us.”
Sowore appreciated Femi Falana who he said, made it possible for him to graduate from the University of Lagos without him.
“We are not alone. We have people at the Diaspora and our ancestors who have gone with us. I thank those who have nominated and supported me in the journey to become the President of Nigeria.”
No fewer than 7,000 delegates to the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have unanimously thumbed up for the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2019 election for another term of four years..
Delegates from the 36 states of the country and the FCT, who attended the convention that was held today, Saturday at the Eagle Square in Abuja, affirmed their confidence in the leadership of President Buhari and asked him to continue.
Among those who were at the convention, which held at about 8.00 pm today, (Saturday, are Vice President Yemi, National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
Others are former Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Onegin, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, state governors, former governors, including Emmanuel Uduaghan (who did two terms of eight years in Delta State on the plat of the Peoples Democratic Party ); Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State then and others.
Commenting on the outcome of the convention, a Senator representing Katsina State Central Area, Senator Sheri Sani said that the support given to the President across the country is a vote of confidence on his ability to pull the nation out of the wood. He expressed confidence that despite the challenges facing the party, the President has the overwhelming support to win the 2019 general election.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political matters, Gideon Zamani praised the President for his efforts at rebuilding the country and that the overwhelming endorsement of the President by Nigerians is a vote of confidence on his leadership.
Zamani said that President Buhari has, in the last three and half years ,been able to stabilise the Nigerian economy, creating an enabling environment for Nigerians to engage in meaningful business.
He gave example of the Anchor borrower program which he said has transformed the agricultural sector, turning Nigerian farmers into multi millionaires.
He said that Nigerians will not regret giving the President a second opportunity to consolidate on the programmes which he has started adding that his reelection will give him the opportunity to consolidate the anti corruption crusade.
A police man and one other person, whose names were not immediately known, were killed today in a crisis that erupted between Gade and Gbagy (Gwari) ethnic groups over the chairmanship position of Kuje Area Council, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the ongoing political re-arrangement.
Eye witness accounts said that another police man who was injured in the crisis is on admission at the General Hospital, even as many cars, houses and other valuables were destroyed.
It was gathered that a recreation centre belonging to the former chairman of the Area Council, Danladi Zhin was set on fire after the hoodlums have vandalized the centre, carting away plasma televisions, refrigerators and many other things.
It was not immediately known the specific cause of the crisis, but an unconfirmed report said that Gade people are aggrieved over the continued leadership of the Area Council by Gbagy people in the last ten years.
It was learnt that in the last ten years, Danladi Zhin, Shaaban Tete and Abdullahi Galadima, all Gbagy people, have led the Council as chairmen while Gade, who claim to be the real owner of Kuje had not tasted the leadership.
As at the time of filing in this report this evening (Saturday), the crisis was still on, overwhelming the police. The Kuje police station was deserted.
No police was around to comment on the incidence even as the main gate of the Kuje General hospital, which is close to the epic centre of the crisis, remained shut, though workers were inside attending to patients.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has inaugurated a high speed train that is expected to shuttle across the major towns and cities around the country.
The train, according to Efe news agency, can cover the distance of about 400 kilometres between Makkah and Madina in about 90 minutes.
King Salman, who inaugurated the rail service was reported to have taken a ride in it from Jeddah to Madina.
During the ceremony held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the King said: “We thank Allah for the growth and prosperity in all fields in our country, and we thank Allah Almighty for His grace.”
Initially, the routes of the line will be limited and eight daily trips will be offered between Makkah and Medina for four days a week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
The 450 km Haramain rail line connects Makkah, Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh in Madina.
that the service has formally begun and boarded one of the new trains for the inaugural trip between Jeddah and Medina, a spokesman for the construction consortium told Efe news agency.”
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Frantic last move by the 12 presidential aspirants of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), for the emergence of a consensus candidate amongst them has collapsed at the ongoing convention in Port Harcourt.
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is reported to have started distributing the sum of $1,000 to each delegate at the ongoing national convention of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and publisher of Sahara Reporters, an online medium, Omoyele Sowore has emerged as the Presidential flag-bearer of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the 2019 general election.
