Dasuki speaks on Buhari’s ‘revenge’ against him, reveals who is behind his ordeals

Nigeria’s former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, has insisted he holds no grudge against President Muhammadu Buhari.

Dasuki stated this while speaking during a radio interview with the Voice of America, Hausa Service.

He was released on Tuesday evening, after four years in detention of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Dasuki was arrested in 2015 over allegations of abuse of office and money laundering. But despite several court orders granting him bail, the government refused to release him.

Asked if he felt his detention was revenge for the role he played in the 1985 coup which removed the Buhari regime, Dasuki said: “I am not aware of this. What I know is that God designed this to happen.

“Nothing more. I have no problem with anybody. I am more than that. I can’t engage in a feud with anyone.

“There is no call to be made to the government. You know everything that happened to one in life is designed by God. Ignorance and lack of understanding can make one to suffer himself… Anything that God destined it to be, it will be. You said I spent four years in detention, it is over and today. Only God knows everything that will happen tomorrow.

“What is important is for everybody to be fair. Everybody who is a Muslim and who go to the mosque knows that what the Imam preaches every day is to harp on the need for people to be fair and honest. There is a reason for this and we need to listen.”

Ex-President Jonathan's home attack, a national shame, says Gov Ortom

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has described the attack on the country residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Bayelsa state by unknown gunmen as a national shame. 

In a statement sent to journalists by his spokesman, Terver Akase, on Wednesday, December 25, Governor Ortom condemned the attack and wondered why armed men would want to harm a peace-loving man and former president of the country. He posed that if Dr Jonathan could be attacked in such a manner, what becomes of vulnerable Nigerians.

Governor Ortom is concerned about the attack on Ex-President Jonathan's home. Photo credit: Benue State Govt Source: Depositphotos 

He described the attack as unfortunate and urged security operatives to bring the culprits to justice. 

He also called on security agencies to intensify surveillance in all parts of the country to guarantee the safety of lives and property. 

The governor joined other Nigerians in praising God for sparing the life of former president during the attack. 

Similarly, Delta state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has condemned in strong terms the attack on former President Goodluck Jonathan at his Otuoke home in Bayelsa state.

In a statement by his spokesman, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Tuesday, December 24 in Asaba, the governor said the incident was disturbing and unwarranted. He said it was more condemnable because the former president was a peace-loving man who always preached peaceful political engagements.

Wizkid set to marry, hints at change of brand name in 2020

Starboy head honcho, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid has told all who cares to listen that he is getting set to marry in the year 2020 but fell short of mentioning the name of the lady he has chosen to walk down the aisle with.

The multiple-award winning singer revealed this when he took to his Twitter page to break the news to his numerous fans on Dec 24, 2019, when he wrote, “Next year! I’m getting married!”

Wizkid in the post on Twitter talked about getting married in 2020, making his “wives” unite and most importantly, he revealed that he will drop his last album titled, ‘Wizkid’ after he releases his eagerly-anticipated album, ‘Made In Lagos’, thus suggesting that he may be set for a change of brand name.

He wrote, “After Made in Lagos! I’m giving y’all one last album as Wizkid”.

Reports say some fans are already assuming the next name the singer is going to use will be “Starboy”, a name which is already known to his ever growing fans because its associated to him.

The development comes after veteran singer, Anthony Olanrewaju Awotoye better known as Tony Tetuila, and Ghanaian singer, Tic Tac sued Wizkid over copyright infringement of their 2004 hit song, Fefe N’efe.

In the court documents dated August 26, 2019, which was shared on Instagram by Instablog 9ja, Tetuila and Tac are demanding over N30 million from Wizkid because his single “Gbese” produced by DJ Tunez, has some content from Tony Tetuila and Tic Tac 2004 hit song.

The singers are also seeking 35% of both digital sales and royalties DJ Tunez and Wizkid received from the song.

Christmas: El-Zakzaky’s Shiites Group Attend Church Service In Kaduna

Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly called Shi’ites, yesterday attended a Christmas Church service at Church of the Advent, Samaru, Zaria.

Speaking in Zaria after the service, the leader of the team, Isa Hassan-Mshelgaru said the essence of attending the service was to promote love, tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.

The service was conducted at Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Diocese of Zaria, Church of the Advent, Samaru, Kaduna State.

The IMN is a proscribed Shiite organisation whose leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has been in detention since 2015 after the group clashed with Nigerian soldiers.

The group has held several procession in Abuja to protest the continued detention of Mr El-Zakzaky despite several court orders for his release; the protests had been met with violent clampdowns by security authorities.

“We came to celebrate the Christmas with fellow Christians here because we consider them as our brothers and we don’t have anything to give them than to come and celebrate this day with them,” said Mr Hassan-Mshelgaru.

“As they consider this day very important, we also consider it very important, we feel that we should come and visit them so that to clear some of the unnecessary imaginary boundaries that have been created.

“There are some imaginary boundaries that could not be seen that kept us far away from each other, so, we want to breach this gap, so that we come together as brothers and sisters living in the same country and same locality,” he said.

Mr Hassan-Mshelgaru, a professor, appealed to other Nigerians, whether Muslims, Christians or traditionalists to shun all forms of hatred, saying that religion was not all about hate but a means of bonding people together.

“You can be a Muslim, a Christian or a Traditionalist, always bear in mind that religion should be a platform for bringing people together not separating them.

“So, my appeal is that Nigerians should come together under the same umbrella as we live in the same country to ensure a united and formidable country envy of other nations,” he said.

The Vica of the Church, Isuwa Sa’idu, expressed appreciation for the visit and urged the visitors to sustain the tempo for the good of the nation.

“In fact, I am so exited that they can think of a thing like this to come and visit us on Christmas Day celebration like this.

“When we first got the news of their coming, I was just so overwhelmed and I said I can’t wait for that day to come, here am behold the day has come, the visit had really gladden our hearts,” he said.

According to him, the visit shows that Nigerians are looking for peace and they are actually pursuing it and not just pursuing it with words but with action.

“So, their action of rising to come to visit us has shown that truly we have found that peace.

“Because Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and if everybody will behave like our friends and brothers, the Muslim Brothers, I don’t think we will have problems in this country.

“Is just share of misunderstanding of what we are and who we are and where we represent that we lack peace today, we can never stay part from each other, we must and under must live together.

“Here I am in Samaru, I come from Southern Kaduna, some of our friends come from the East and some of you who are Northerners are also living in other parts of Nigeria, if there is no peace how do we live like that?” he asked.

He observed that the occasion had opened a door for people to know that Nigerians have brighter opportunity to live peace with one another.

Mr Sa’idu said that attending Church service by Muslims was not unusual in other countries, saying that in other countries Muslims, Christians another religious groups do their celebrations together.

“I pray this has broken the jinx that we can begin to live together, Muslims attend Christian functions, Christians attend Muslims functions like that we will be happy.

“My message to Nigerians is that let’s copy what these brothers and sisters have done and truly this visit has encouraged me that I have a friend in you, in this man and all of you.

“This implies that I can go to this person, I can go to that person and I will tell my problems and you can attend to me, if we learn to do this, I tell you in the next 10, 20 years, there will be no religious fight.”

“Those who ignite crisis for their selfish aims and they leave us to kill and destroy one another but now that we are here for peace we all love one another,” he said.

BREAKING News - Kanu Nwankwo first beneficiaries of his heart foundation

Former Super Eagles player, Kanu Nwankwo Wednesday announced the death of the first beneficiaries of his heart foundation turned daughter Enitan. “Why why why one of Kanu heart foundation gone,” Kanu posted on Twitter. “My daughter gone gone gone I can’t believe this R I P Eniton God knows all.”

Fashola Seeks States’ Support, Says Housing Deficit an Urban Problem

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has solicited the support of the various states of the federation in addressing the nation’s housing deficit.

Fashola, who spoke in Abuja at the 8th meeting of the National Council on Lands and Urban Development, also declared that the problem of housing was purely an urban one as people in rural areas hardly face such challenges.

He stressed that apart from housing, other challenges that are peculiar to urban settlements were traffic congestion and refuse disposal.

As the custodians of lands, Fashola appealed to states to make lands available for housing construction as part of overall efforts to resolve the housing needs, adding that the “the cooperation between us and the states must be the foundation for the prosperity that we want to achieve.”

Fashola stated that it was the quest to change the poverty narrative and enthrone prosperity that informed the theme of this year’s council meeting: “Housing Development and Consumer Credit as Strategies for National Prosperity.”

The minister pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration that his administration was targeting the creation of 100 million jobs in 10 years was easily realisable through the housing sector.

In his presentation, the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Ahmed Dangiwa, unveiled various products for affordable homes.

The bank, he said, has the primary mandate of financing affordable housing for the low and middle income earners in both the formal and informal sectors through the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme by registering and contributing 2.5 per cent of their monthly income.

According to him, the overall objective was to provide cheap source of loan-able funds to nurture and sustain the mortgage industry and eventually facilitate affordable home-ownership for the low and medium income group in the country.

Drama in Aso-rock: Momodu speaks on Osinbajo’s position as VP

Media Mogul, Dele Momodu has joined Nigerians in reacting to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sack of some of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s aides.

Report emerged on Wednesday that over 30 presidential aides attached to the Vice President were disengaged by President Buhari without his (Osinbajo) knowledge.

This was following reports of Buhari undermining the office of Osinbajo after Abba Kyari delivered a bill to the president in London.

Momodu, speaking on the development, said the office of Osinbajo as Vice President is always at the mercy of of the President.

He urged Osinbajo not to be frustrated by the circumstances around him.

On his Twitter page, Momodu wrote: “The Vice President’s position is always at the mercy of The President.

“VP Osinbajo should remain loyal to his boss. If they chase snakes to him, he should chase peaceful rats to them.

“Even if they put his desk and chair in the rain, he should borrow an umbrella… NO FIGHTING!

“His life is dependent on God and nothing should frustrate him.”

Falana reveals what will happen as DSS fails to release Sowore

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has threatened legal action against the Department of State Services (DSS), for refusing to release the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore.

On Wednesday, a federal High Court in Abuja, ordered the release of Sowore alongside Olawale Adebayo better known as “Mandate”, but the DSS did not comply with the order. 

In a statement on Thursday, Falana said this is the second time the agency would ignore court order to release Sowore.

“On 8th August 2019, the Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo granted the application of the State Security Service to detain Mr. Omoyele Sowore for 45 days.

“Upon the expiration of the 45-day detention period the court granted Mr. Sowore bail on September 24, 2019. He met the bail conditions but the State Security Service refused to release him from custody.

“Mr. Sowore and Mandate Bakare were subsequently charged with treasonable felony, cyber stalking and money laundering on September 30, 2019. The trial judge, the Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu admitted the defendants to bail under very stringent conditions. Upon meeting the bail conditions Justice Ojukwu directed the State Security Service to release the defendants from detention.

“But in utter contempt of the orders of Justice Ojukwu the State Security Service has refused to release Messrs Sowore and Bakare from custody.

“Since the State Security Service is not above the law of the land we shall embark on appropriate legal measures to ensure compliance with the court orders,” the statement read.

Drama as Maina goes to court in wheelchair, awaits ruling on bail application

A former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N2billion fraud, was on Thursday, brought before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a wheelchair for continuation of his trial.

Officers of the Kuje Correctional Facility wheeled Maina into the court room at 9:30 a.m. and armed with two first aid boxes.

Trial Justice Okon Abang had fixed Thursday for ruling on the bail application filed by the defendant.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) arraigned Maina on a 12-count charge of fraud, money laundering and operating of several accounts.

He was arraigned alongside his firm, Common Input Properties and Investment Limited, which the EFCC claimed was involved in the alleged fraud.

Buhari govt bans payment of cash in NIPOST offices nationwide

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, has ordered the termination of cash payment in NIPOST offices nationwide.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) gave the order in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday by his Spokesperson, Mrs Uwa Suleiman.

The statement added, “It has come to the attention of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FNCS, FBCS, FIIM that some unscrupulous elements have been taking undue advantage of the cash payment system under the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), to engage in corrupt practices.

“In line with the anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Honourable Minister hereby directs the Post Master General, to with immediate effect, suspend all existing cash payment plans within its establishments nationwide. The Post Master General is to ensure that all its offices revert to Point of Sales (PoS) and bank teller transactions immediately.

“The general public and all customers of NIPOST are hereby encouraged to insist on Point of Sales (PoS) or bank teller transactions when conducting business with NIPOST. This directive is a temporary measure in the interim to tackle corruption, as we are currently working on fully automating the systems as a permanent solution to the challenge.

“In the same vein, Dr Pantami also directs the Post Master General, to immediately implement strategies that will bring an end to unnecessary delays, in its service delivery to customers. The current trend of delays in postal services will not be condoned by the office of the Honourable Minister under whose purview, the supervision of NIPOST falls.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy are committed to protecting the rights of all Nigerians and will not tolerate any acts of corruption under its watch.”