Make Edo poll a model - Wike to Buhari

 

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to make Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State a model.

Wike, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council for the poll, spoke during a live television programme in Port Harcourt.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, quoted the governor as saying that the outcome of the election would provide hope for 2023 general election.

He said: “Everyone that loves this country should ensure that tomorrow’s election is credible, free and fair.

“The police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should show Nigerians that they can support credible elections.

“INEC should ensure that result sheets are not in the hands of individuals. Security agencies should not whisk away collation officers and later bring them back with cooked results.

“Manipulation of the electoral process causes violence. No politician will cause violence if the police and INEC do not compromise.”

Wike said there would be a high turnout of voters tomorrow because the people were prepared to end ‘godfatherism’.

He said he carried out an independent assessment of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s achievements and was satisfied that he would win the election convincingly.

The Rivers governor said no amount of money or intimidation would make the people not to vote massively for Obaseki.

He enjoined the people to be vigilant and protect their votes “because enemies of the state are planning to truncate your will.”

“The agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to win at all cost, for us to go to the tribunal. This is why Edo people must be vigilant.

“I hail the United States and the United Kingdom for the visa ban placed on election riggers.

“They should publish their names so that a lot of things will change in our electoral process.

“Election rigging is worse than armed robbery. So whatever sanctions that can be imposed will be welcomed by the PDP,” Wike said.

Buhari Signs Police Bill into Law

The president, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, communicated his assent to the bill to the National Assembly, through a memo to the Clerk of the National Assembly, dated September 16, 2020,

According to the statement, the new Act repeals the Police Act Cap. P19. Laws of the Federation, 2004.It also provides for a more effective and well organised Police Force, driven by principles of transparency and accountability in its operations and management of its resources.

The statement added: “Among others, the Act establishes an appropriate funding framework for the Police in line with what is obtainable in other federal government key institutions, enhances professionalism in the Force through increased training opportunities, and creates an enduring cooperation and partnership between the Police Force and communities in maintaining peace and combating crimes nationwide.”

Delta State govt gives updates on resumption of tertiary institutions

The Delta State Government says tertiary institutions in the State are free to reopen between now and Oct. 2, depending on the school’s arrangements.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, made the clarification on Thursday in Asaba, while briefing newsmen on the government’s preparedness for tertiary institutions in the State to reopen for academic activities.

According to him, the directive is that tertiary institutions should reopen between now and Oct. 2, meaning that by Oct. 2, all the tertiary institutions should have resumed fully.

“We decided that they can resume in phases, depending on the school’s arrangements; we gave them between now and Oct. 2.

“They are not going to resume all programmes and levels at the same time, except those that have the facilities that can accommodate social distancing,” Muoboghare said.

The commissioner explained that the students’ resumption would be in phases and by Oct. 2, resumption would have been completed in conformity with the COVID-19 safety protocols.

Muoboghare also explained that the media had earlier reported that the institutions would reopen on Oct. 2, whereas what the government was saying that they could resume in phases or before Oct. 2.

According to him, the ministry is making a plan to ensure that the education sector in the state does not suffer more than it had, as there are losses already.

“Secondary schools started with the external examination, and so when WAEC decided to fix a date for the final year students to write their examinations, Delta has to key into it.

“If the principals can manage those younger ones, because of what the government has put in place, we hope that we can manage the older ones.

“From June/July, we have been having interactions with the heads of higher institutions in preparation for the resumption and meeting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.

“So that if there is any suspected case, the school can isolate and immediately contact NCDC.

Recall that the institutions in the state were shut down in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the country to contain its spread.

Oba of Benin holds peace meeting with Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu

 

With the Edo State September 19 Governorship Election barely two weeks away, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on Wednesday, held a meeting with the All Progressives Congress candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu; and the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The monarch met with the two leading candidates at his palace in Benin City, the state capital, according to a tweet by @OfficialPDPNig.

The tweet read, “The Oba of Benin, HRH, Oba Ewuare II, is currently in a crucial meeting with the two leading candidates in the September 19, 2020, guber election in Edo State, @GovernorObaseki and @IzeIyamu4EdoGov at his palace.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the monarch said he would invite all the candidates participating in the governorship election to his palace to sign a peace pact.

This, he had explained, was in an attempt to stem the violence being recorded prior to the governorship election in the state.

The election is about two weeks away but the political temperature in the state is heating up, with the players engaging in verbal attacks.

The state House of Assembly has also been embroiled in crisis of late with different political camps trying to outdo one another.

Obaseki, who is seeking reelection, will face Ize-Iyamu, who has the backings of the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); APC stalwart, Bola Tinubu; and former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

The governor, who was elected on the platform of the All progressives Congress in 2016, had dumped the party for the PDP following his disqualification from the APC primary election in June.

Obaseki has since been at loggerheads with his predecessor, Oshiomhole.

DSS denies questioning Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage

The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports it invited Marvin Record boss, Michael Ajereh alias Don Jazzy and music sensation Tiwa Savage for questioning over political utterances against President Muhammadu Buhari.

The duo, until recently, has been vocal about their displeasure with insecurity, bad governance and other issues plaguing the society.

Although it was not clear when the alleged invitations and interrogations of the artists were carried out, an online medium on Tuesday night claimed the meeting held in Lagos two-weeks ago.

It also claimed questioning by the DSS and the Police forced both music stars to tone down their social media activism as they were warned to be careful with their posts.

But The Nation observed irregularities in the post, especially with respect to the claim that Zubairu Muazu was Commissioner of Police (CP) who invited the artists to warn them.

Muazu, now an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), was redeployed from Lagos Police Command last November after his promotion.

Dismissing the allegation, an irritated spokesman for DSS, Peter Afunanya, who did not allow the reporter ask her question yelled: “We did not invite any musician.”

Asked if the DSS has never invited or detained for questioning in recent times, Afunanya simply hung the phone. Further calls to him were rejected.

Don Jazzy took to his official Twitter page to mock news of his alleged interrogation.

In an 11-second video, he whimsically asked “what is quizzes?” in reaction to the headline of the online news site.

At the time of this report, neither of the musicians has publicly denied nor confirmed the story.

Police spokesman, Bala Elkana, did not pick several calls to his telephone numbers.

CSOs vow to resist NASS moves to pass Social Media Bill

 

Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, have strongly condemned the alleged plan by the 9th Senate to pass the social media bill despite its widespread rejection by Nigerians.

Addressing a press briefing in Abuja, the Co-Convener, Centre for Liberty, Adebayo Raphael, cautioned the Senate against hiding behind the COVID-19 issue and other national issues and pass the bill without delay.

He said that passing the Social Media Bill in such an underhanded manner would not only mean that the Senate is unwilling to listen to Nigerians, but also that it is willing to be an intransigent enabler of tyranny.

Raphael said: “It is a fact; we know that the said bill was overwhelmingly rejected by Nigerians across all the fields of endeavor during the public hearing on the bill

“Our expectation following the public hearing on the said bill was a swift and decisive death of the Bill, considering it will not only constrain citizens’ right to freedom of expression, but also assault and shrink the limitlessness of our civic spaces. The fact that the bill is still alive in the Senate is enough to heighten our suspicion that there may be a sinister motive to pass the bill despite its rejection by Nigerians.

“Again, the threat of the Social Media Bill becoming law in Nigeria is made real when we remember how the incumbent government passed the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, and the Review Broadcasting Code, inserting nefarious clauses and sections into both, thereby bringing universal freedoms known Alto democracy under conspicuous and unchallenged threat in Nigeria.

“As Civil Society Organizations, we have always considered ourselves to be progressive partners of the National Assembly, and in this case, the Nigerian Senate. It is therefore, worthy of note that Nigerians will not accept a surreptitious passage of the Social Media Bill, and such a move will drastically plunge our faith and confidence in the 9th Senate to the lowest nadir.”

While expressing optimism that the Senate, having denied plans to secretly pass the bill would not turn around to betray Nigerians, Raphael also urged Senator Opeyemi Bamidele’s Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to accept the overwhelming rejection of the obnoxious bill by Nigerians, and forward a report on same to the Committee of the whole.

“We equally want to strongly recommend that, to reassure all Nigerians that there is no sinister agenda to pass the social media bill, the Nigerian Senate must swiftly kill the social media bill and focus on the other legislative matters like Electoral Reforms and Constitutional Review, among others, that are of utmost importance to our beloved country,” he added.

Petrol price hits N151.56k/litre

 

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Wednesday revealed the new price of petrol, which has increased to N151.56k per litre.

A PPMC official, DO Abalaka, in a statement said: ‘Please, be informed that a new product price adjustment has been effected on our payment platform.

‘To this end, the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is now one hundred and fifty-one naira, fifty-six kobo (N151.56k) per litre.

‘This takes effect from September 2, 2020.’

As at the time of filing this report, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA ) was yet to release the products price band for September. It also failed to release the August template.

On August 4, motorists woke up to a rude shock to discover that oil marketers had adjusted their pumps from N143.80k to between N149 and N150 a litre.

The dumbfounding development was worsened by the silence of PPPRA.

Petroleum sector stakeholders have repeatedly urged the consuming public to brace up for price increase since crude oil prices were beginning to rise in the international oil market. Again, the Federal Government said it ended the subsidy regime in April, to allow market forces determine the pump price of petrol going forward.

Man Utd in talks to hijack Liverpool’s deal but £29m star favours Anfield move

 

Thiago is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy but he’s made his name as one of the best midfield playmakers in European football during his seven-year spell at the Allianz Arena.

The 29-year-old has excelled during his time in Germany and put-in another superb performance to help Bayern Munich win the Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain last month.

However, Thiago is set to leave the Bundesliga champions as he has just one year left on his contract and has informed Bayern Munich chiefs he won’t be signing an extension as he wants a new challenge abroad.

Bayern don’t want to risk losing the Spanish international for nothing in 12 months time so they are ready to cash-in this summer and the Daily Mail says Munich have set the asking price at £29m.

The situation has led to widespread speculation linking Thiago with a move to Liverpool but it looks as though the Premier League champions have competition as the Daily Mail are citing a report from Bild that claims Man Utd have held talks with the players agent.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to build a squad capable of competing for major honours this season and United are reportedly on the verge of signing Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek from Ajax but it appears they are still showing an interest in landing Thiago.

However, the Red Devils may have their work cut out trying to persuade the former Barca star to head to Old Trafford as RMC Sport journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi claims Thiago is only interested in joining Liverpool.

Bouhafsi says Jurgen Klopp has held talks with the midfielder and Thiago has already prepared himself for a move to the Premier League champions in England, but talks between the two clubs are expected to drag.

He said on Twitter:

His only choice is #Liverpool. #Klopp and #Alcantara have already discussed. Alcantara has already prepared his arrival in England. Problem: Bayern know it and discussions with Liverpool are long.

Liverpool have so far refused to meet Bayern’s asking price but if Klopp manages to offload Georginio Wijnaldum then that would free-up a space for Thiago and generate funds for any potential deal.

Wijnaldum is being strongly linked with a move to the Nou Camp as he has just one year left on his deal and is yet to agree terms over an extension. Therefore, Liverpool could be ready to cash-in on the Dutchman and use the money to land Thiago.

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming days but there is no doubt Thiago would be a superb signing for Liverpool or United if either club could get a deal agreed for his signature.

Buhari laments loss of lives, destruction of farms in Kebbi

 

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, lamented the recent floods in Kebbi State which claimed lives and destroyed farmlands.

While regretting the lives lost, Buhari described the destruction of farmlands as a huge setback for his regime’s commitment to local production of food.

Buhari’s position was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The statement was titled “President Buhari laments deaths and destruction of farms in Kebbi State by floods, says disaster couldn’t have come at a worse time for farmers.”

Shehu said Buhari expressed deep concern over the floods that took a number of lives, submerged thousands of hectares of farmlands and houses, destroying farm produce and personal belongings in the affected communities.

He quoted the President as saying, “I am particularly sad over this incident because it’s a setback to our efforts to boost local rice production as part of measures to stop food importation.

“Kebbi State is the focal point of our policy to produce rice locally as part of this administration’s commitment to agricultural revival which suffered relative neglect in favour of food importation.

“With the loss of six lives and still counting; thousands of hectares of land flooded and estimated economic losses of more than one billion Naira by rice farmers in Kebbi State, we face a major setback in our efforts to boost local food production.

“This bad news couldn’t have come at a worse time for our farmers and other Nigerians who looked forward to a bumper harvest this year in order to reduce the current astronomical rise in the costs of food items in the markets.”

Buhari, while sympathising with the bereaved families and farmers affected by the floods, assured them that “we are going to work closely with the Kebbi State Government in order to bring relief to the victims”.

Kill me rather than destroy my cannabis farm – Suspect begs NDLEA in Kogi

 

A suspected cannabis sativa farmer, Clement Akor, has begged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to take his life rather than destroy his 10-hectare cannabis plantation.

Akor, a 42 years old father of six children from Enabo village in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State was arrested by the Kogi State Command of the NDLEA alongside his accomplice David Ameh.

Akor who claimed he had invested so much in the business and cannot afford to lose it to the arms of the law said he learnt the trade in Owo, Ondo State.

The prime suspect who cried profusely to stop men of the NDLEA led by its commander Alfred Adewumi from destroying his farm located in Oketepe in Okula community in Ofu Local Government of Kogi State said he would rather die than watch the officers destroy what he had worked hard for in the last one year.

He noted that he is aware of the law banning the sale of cannabis sativa insisting that it is business which must be followed with risk.

His words” I am the owner of this farm. I learnt it in Yoruba land. When I cultivated one last year, it was stolen. So it is this year that I bought seed from Yoruba land to plant new ones before I was caught.

“Indian hemp business is luck. In this farm, I can get many bags here. I do sell one bag for N20,000 depending on the area I am selling it. It could be more. I spent N12,000 for labour in cultivating this farm. It better you people kill me than destroy this farmland.

“This is my business. I spent a lot to allow this plant to grow up to this level. In the next two weeks, I am supposed to harvest it. Now you people have come here to destroy it. Just kill me, so that I won’t see you people destroying what I have laboured for. I am looking for money because I am illiterate. I don’t want to engage in armed robbery or kidnapping that is why I am into this business of Indian hemp”.

His action forced the NDLEA commander Alfred Adewumi to calm him down insisting that the war against illicit use of drugs is on course in Kogi State.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, shortly after the destruction of the large cannabis farm, the Kogi State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Alfred Adewumi lamented the increasing wave of illicit use and cultivation of cannabis sativa in the state.

Adewumi stated that the two suspects were caught through intelligence gathering by officers of his command.

The commander noted that the latest breakthrough in the fight against illicit use of drugs in Kogi State is coming three days after the command arrested the duo of Endurance Samson and Abah Sunday for alleged possession of 36.2 kilogrammes wrap of cannabis sativa.

“Seeing, they say is believing. What you are seeing today is certainly more than three football fields put together. I would let you make your judgment. Just look around, that is the huge expanse. We just left the first farm which is equally a huge cannabis plantation.

“This is very unfortunate. I am worried about this unfortunate development. I have thought that Kogi State will not descend to this point. As things stand today, it will be direct self-denial to begin to say that Kogi state is not planting cannabis sativa because the evidence itself suggests the fact that there is high planting of cannabis sativa in Kogi State. Sadly Kogi State can also now begin to rank among those states where you find cannabis sativa plantations.

“We will not relent in fighting against illicit use of drugs that is why we took the fight to their doorstep. Kogi State is the gateway to other states in the north, south, east and western parts of this country.

Adewumi said all the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.