Senator Kashamu Dies Of Coronavirus Complications
Senator Kashamu Buruji is dead. He died today, August 8 of the coronavirus complications.Senator Kashamu Buruji is dead. He died today, August 8 of the coronavirus complications.NNPC Signs Pact To Resolve OML 130 Dispute, To Unlock About $510 Million In Gas Revenue
In its bid to meet the target of revving up production to 3 million barrels per day and unlock gas revenues to the tune of about $225 million in the short term and $510 million in the long run for the Federation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reached an accord with its partners, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) and South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETROL), to settle all outstanding issues surrounding the development of Oil Mining Lease, (OML) 130.Edo Political Crisis: I Don’t Want To Go To Jail – Ize-Iyamu
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said that he had avoided stoking crisis in the State because he had no immunity like the governor and therefore would not want to go to jail.
Ize-Iyamu, who fielded questions from newsmen today, August 7, shortly after formally receiving his flag from President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, pointed accusing finger at the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the governor m should be held responsible for the political violence.
He said that the governor had threatened to deal with anybody that crosses his way, relying on the immunity he enjoys.
“On the issue of violence that you mentioned, if you ask your correspondents in Edo, it is the governor that has been beating the war drums. My billboards are being vandalised, nobody has touched their own.
“We wrote petitions to the commissioner of police, the Director DSS and they will attest to the fact that on a regular basis they are destroying our billboards. They are the ones that want to make the state ungovernable and I am sure you heard the governor say that himself and his deputy have immunity and so they can deal with anybody.
“I don’t have immunity, I don’t want to go to jail and it is not in my character to deal with anyone. They did their flag off at the stadium, nobody molested them. This morning I placed a call to the DSS director to tell him that I am aware that the deputy governor has sent money to the student union leaders, appealing to them to come and demonstrate at Ugbowo, which is the route we are taking to our flag off tomorrow (Saturday). Of course the boys were just looking at him and informed us.
“So we are not beating any war drum, we believe in peace, our president believes in peace, our party leaders believe in peace and we cannot disappoint them.
“So I can assure you that on our part, we will conduct ourselves in a peaceful manner, our campaign will be done peacefully, the elections by the grace of God will be done peaceful. We are only appealing to the PDP and the governor to do the same.”
Ize-Iyamu said that the immediate past national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has apologised for the bad things he said about him in 2016.
Oshiomhole had backed Obaseki against Ize-Iyamu in 2016, and while campaigning for the governor, he described Ize-Iyamu as someone who cannot be trusted.
Explosion: Saudi Sends 2 Plane Load Of Food Items, Medicines, Other Relief Materials To Lebanon
KSRelief sends aid to Lebanon in wake of the devastating Beirut port blast. (SPA)The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has dispatched two plane load of food items, medicines and other relief materials to Beirut, Lebanon to cushion the effect on the victims of the massive explosions that swept through the country’s capital city recently.
The two planes departed from King Khalid International Airport carrying more than 120 tons of medicines, devices, solutions, medical and emergency supplies, tents, shelter kits and food items. The planes were accompanied by a specialized team from the Center to follow up and supervise the distribution operations.
The country’s Advisor on Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, said today, August 7 in a statement that the relief air bridge that was launched is an implementation of directive from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to provide urgent medical and humanitarian assistance through KSrelief to the people of Lebanon to help them overcome the effects of the port explosion.
Dr. Al Rabeeah said that the directive of King Salman signified the established humanitarian values of the Saudi leadership, stressing that this assistance highlights the pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in providing humanitarian assistance to all people in need around the world with complete impartiality.
I Want Transparent Election In Edo, Buhari Charges APC Leaders
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure transparency in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.
Receiving the party’s governorship candidate, Osage Ize-Iyamu, at the presidential Villa, Abuja, the President insisted that it is only transparent electoral process that would bring about confidence in the people on government.
“What I want is a transparent process so that the confidence of the people will be strengthened.’’
He advised party leaders and campaign team to also do all that is necessary, following legal and constitutional means, to win the election.
He charged the party leaders to avoid the pitfalls that affected the party’s victory in Rivers, Zamfara and Bayelsa States in the 2019 elections, pointing out that with the resolution of the “acute crisis’’ in the party in Edo State, he was optimistic that the party will regain its pride of place in winning elections, and serving the people.
The President congratulated Pastor Ize-Iyamu on his emergence as the party’s candidate in Edo State after a “turbulent process,’’ assuring him of full support.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, who presented the candidate, told the President that: “Pastor Ize- Iyamu is a seasoned grassroots politician who is loved by his people,” saying that President Buhari’s blessings on the candidate further validates the party’s confidence.
The Chairman of the APC Edo State gubernatorial campaign, Governor Umar Ganduje, said in line with the principles of the party the APC will lead a clean campaign, devoid of acrimony, hatred and violence.
Governor Ganduje said the campaign had started on a good and happy note, with the APC already taking over the state legislature with a majority of 17 out of 24.
In his response, Pastor Ize-Iyamu assured the President of his commitment to ensuring good governance in the state if elected in September elections, recalling that he served as Deputy Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of the APC at its formation.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he was glad to return to the APC, describing his initial exit as that of a “prodigal son’’.
The APC candidate thanked the President for the warm and fatherly reception, saying he was honoured to receive the party’s flag from the President.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu told State House Press Corps that he was fully in charge of his campaign as a popular candidate who served the State as Chief of Staff and Secretary to State Government in previous administrations.
He said that former APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had already explained that his initial unfriendly comments during the 2016 campaigns were purely political aimed at giving another candidate an edge in the elections.
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum said all the APC governors are fully behind the candidature of Pastor Ize-Iyamu.
The APC governorship candidate was accompanied to the villa by Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and APC Campaign Chairman for Edo State elections and Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Mele In Senegal For Buhari Over Khalifa Tijjani’s Death
Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mele Kyari led delegation, including Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration service, Muhammadu Babandede to submit the condolences of President Muhammadu Buhari to the President of Senegal on the death of Khalifa Ahmed Tijani Ibrahim Inyass, the leader of the Global Tijjaniya movement of Africa.
President extolled the the scholarly works and teachings of the late Khalifa and the illuminating legacy he left behind.
Nigerian Army Describes U.S Warning Of Al-Qaeda, ISIS Invasion As Usual Alarm
Major General John EnencheThe Nigerian Army has described the warning by the United States of the possible invasion of the country by Al-Qaeda and ISIS as the usual alarm.
The nation’s Defence Headquarters said that the warning was nothing but just an alarm and that Nigeria security agencies are equal to the task, even as it called on Nigerians not to be afraid of such a claim.
The Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, who spoke on behalf of the military while answering questions from news men today, August 6, on military operations across the country, said that there is nothing to fear about the U.S warning.
General Enenche, however, described the statement as a wakeup call or form of advice, adding that the security agencies are on top of the situation.
“On the issue that terrorists from other zones are coming to the country, I think it will be good for us to be keeping records as events are unfolding, for me this is not the first time they are raising such an alarm.
“It’s as good as may be five or ten years ago, and the armed forces and the country are conscious of it. When the conflict in Libya was declared ended and which actually was not, what happened? It was we, our NIA and the SSS that said these people were moving which is true.
“Have we not captured foreigners that have been terrorising us in this country?
“So it is just a piece of advice or call that you still keep doing what you are doing, of which I can assure the general public that the security agencies are on top of that,” he said.
General Enenche said that the military in their recent exploits had captured some foreigners who came from neighbouring countries into Niger State.
“Where are they coming from, why do we have ISWAP here now, or is ISWAP indigenous from Nigeria? No. So it is telling you the obvious and I want to tell you that look, continue to ensure that you have measures in place to continue taming them.
`I read the details of the presentation, it was not accusing, it was not specific, it is like saying you people should put efforts to continue to contain them.
“Because when pressure is on them from other climes, they will still continue to increase their influx.”
General Enenche said that the military is winning the battle against terrorism in the country, adding that huge successes had been recorded, adding that while the people outside there do expectation analysis, the military do operational analysis based on the direction of operation.
“What has flattened it is that you will discover that from March up till now, it is offensive, offensive with sacrifices made on the part of the military.
“Yes, of course, we lost some people but the gains have outweighed what we lost which is what we signed for, so what you have seen is success and it will continue to improve.
“This is because, as it is now, we have been given marching orders again, all we need to do is to go and dig up where we have our contingencies because by our training, we are trained to face challenges.”
Source: NAN.
We May Be Forced To Stop Edo, Ondo Governorship Polls If…- INEC
INEC Boss, Prof. Mahmood YakubuThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened to suspend Edo and Ondo governorship elections if a breakdown of law and order occurred.
INEC Commissioner for Information announced, Festus Okoye, who spoke today, August 6 in Abuja, the nation’s capital after a meeting with stakeholders, said that the Commission is concerned about aggressive actions and incendiary statements by political parties, candidates and their supporters.
He condemned the destruction of opponents’ campaign materials, violent campaigns and use of offensive language, warning that the commission will view gravely any disruptive actions by political actors.
“It is important for political parties, candidates and their supporters to keep in mind that there are extant laws and regulations that must be adhered to during campaigns.”
The electoral body warned politicians not to underestimate its resolve to enforce the rules and apply appropriate sanctions, reminding parties that Edo and Ondo polls would hold at a time of a global pandemic.
Okoye said that the elections have strict constitutional timelines and threats of or actual violence can disrupt the process and create a constitutional crisis.
He said that INEC will continue to engage stakeholders in the two states on the need for free, fair, safe and peaceful elections.
Suspected Cultists Kill 4 Inside Bayelsa Church, Set Houses On Fire, Police Hunt For Them
Suspected cultists, yesterday, August 5, stormed a Pentecostal church in Azikoro village, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and killed four worshippers and set fire on nearby houses.
The spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said that the command’s operatives have already launched a manhunt for the killers.
“The Bayelsa State Police Command have launched a manhunt for the suspected cultists who murdered four victims and set a house ablaze.
“On 5th August 2020, at about 2300hours, armed suspected cultists stormed the ‘Lion of Judah Church’ Azikoro village, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, shot dead four church members namely; Alfred Marcus 30 years, Imomotimi surname unknown 25 years, Gabriel Ejimofor 45 years and Uchechukwu Ejimofor 38 years and set ablaze a nearby building, damaged a vehicle and the church property.
“Operatives of operation Puff Adder had earlier traced the hideouts of the cultists in the bush, dislodged them, and burnt their camp.
“It is believed that this is a reprisal attack by the suspected cultists.
“Meanwhile, two suspects have been arrested and are cooperating with the Police in their investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mike Okoli fsi, has visited the scene, reassured members of the community of adequate police protection and ordered for full Investigation to unravel the motive for this dastardly attack.”
Source: Daily Trust.
Rant Over Buhari Endorsement Of Ize-Iyamu: PDP Pot Calling APC Kettle Black, By Garba Shehu