2023: Stop being irresponsible, disrespectful – Atiku warns Shettima

Atiku has warned the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima not to be “irresponsible and disrespectful”.

Atiku said in light of a recent comment by Shettima, the administration of Bola Tinubu will be “anti-entrepreneurship

Shettima had criticised one of the businesses of Abubakar at an event in Lagos. He said being an owner of a table water company does not mean he understands the economy.

“And believe me, the ability to sell bottled water doesn’t make one an expert on the economy,” Shettima had said.

But in a statement signed by Paul Ibe, his media adviser, Abubakar said any business should be valued.

Watch your tongue

Abubakar said politics should not make anyone utter “irresponsible statements”.

“It is with utter dismay that we listened to the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu and his running mate talk condescendingly about other presidential candidates at a gathering that they invited members of the private sector to on Tuesday,” the statement reads.

“The remarks from the candidates of the APC show gross irresponsibility and disrespect.

“It is indicative that the Tinubu-Shettima administration will be anti-entrepreneurship and business.

“One would have thought that the duo would use the advantage of such a gathering to talk about solutions that their party, APC, has foisted on the country. Rather, they went on the ultra highway of political indecency.

“Any business that produces products, creates jobs and delivers dividends, especially in this era of the APC administration when the country is bleeding jobs is an asset and should not be mocked.

“It is irrelevant if it is a small business or a big business. And for Shettima, it is more shameful he will denigrate business that employs large chunk of people in the Northeast.

“Even Atiku’s opponents have acknowledged the business resume. That has seen him being engaged in businesses covering farming, animal feed, beverages, banking, logistics, polymer and plastics, education, among others. Employing thousands directly and hundreds of thousands indirectly.”

Apologize to Nigerians

The PDP presidential candidate said Shettima should apologize to Nigerians, especially those who benefit from his business.

“Politics does not confer on anyone the license to make irresponsible statements,” Abubakar said.

He said Shettima should have used the opportunity to discuss what he and Tinubu intend to do for Nigerians.

He said Shettima “chose to embarrass their guests, using their audience to play vile political games”.

“For someone who self-appoints as the APC national leader, it is ridiculous that the presidential candidate of the APC failed to proffer solutions to the economic woes that his party has foisted on Nigerians in the past seven years,” the statement reads.

“Unlike Tinubu who sat idly by and watched his APC ruin Nigeria to the current sorry state, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has been consistent in proffering solutions to the myriads of ineffective policy options of the APC administration.

“Atiku, it was, who first raised the alarm about the debt burden that the APC has thrown Nigeria into. It was also Atiku who continued to call the attention of the nation to the need to diversify the economy away from heavy dependence on the exploration of crude oil. Atiku, again, was the one who said that the quickest path to lift the majority of Nigerians out of the poverty belt, is for the government to give incentives to the private sector in order for them to create more jobs for Nigerians.

“Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Atiku pioneered the private donor relief funds. Which opened the gateway for other Nigerians of means to follow suit. In providing succor to people who were worst hit by attendant self-isolation in management of the pandemic.”

Nnamdi Kanu: Amaechi unhappy with you in death – IPOB blasts Buhari

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of failing to grant the dying wish of First Republic Aviation Minister Mbazulike Amaechi.

On several occasions, Amaechi had urged Buhari to release IPOB’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Despite his appeals and court ruling discharging and acquitting Kanu, the Nigerian Government has refused to release the IPOB leader.

However, IPOB said Amaechi was unhappy with Buhari for ignoring his appeal to release Kanu.

A statement by IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said Buhari refused to release Kanu due to his hatred for the Igbo people.

The statement reads partly: “IPOB worldwide will not forget the effort of our father towards the release of our great liberator, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was kidnapped from Kenya to Nigeria by the Federal Government.

“In spite of his age and failing health, he led Igbo elder’s visit to Aso Rock, Abuja, to plead with the Federal Government headed by Buhari to release KANU as his last wish. But the President claimed that only the judiciary would decide MNK’s fate.

“Even after the same Court has discharged and acquitted Kanu, the same Buhari ignored the request of a dying old man and the Court verdict because of incurable hatred towards Ndigbo.

“Buhari and his Fulani-controlled Federal Government must understand that Mbazulike is not happy with them even in death for ignoring his appeal for the release of Kanu.”

Kanu has been locked up since June last year when he was arrested in Kenya.

Courts had ruled for his release, but the Nigerian Government refused, stressing that he is a security risk.

Alleged N1.4bn fraud: Kogi politician all smiles as EFCC moves him and two other suspects from Abuja to Lagos (photos)

The New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, candidate for the Kogi State House of Assembly, Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, who was arrested alongside two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja for an alleged mega bank fraud, has been moved to Lagos.

 

 

A statement released by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, says Atumeyi and the other suspects were flown into Lagos in the early hours of Wednesday, November 2, 2022 in continuation of the investigation into the scam.

According to Uwujaren, Atumeyi is billed to be interrogated by another team of operatives at the Lagos Command of the Commission.

Atumeyi and two others, Joshua Dominic and Abdulmalik Salau Femi, a former bank employee, were arrested by the EFCC for allegedly hacking into the system of a commercial bank and defrauding the institution of over N1.4billion.

The EFCC had in a statement on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 disclosed that it recovered ?326million and $140,500 USD from Atumeyi during a sting operation at his hideout in Queens Estate, Gwarinpa, Abuja, while $470,000 was recovered from Abdulmalik in Lagos.

 

Obi has capacity to make things work, says Ortom

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has the capacity to make things work.

Ortom said this when he received the former governor of Anambra State in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Wednesday.

“If Nigeria needs to make a choice, you are one of the finest candidates that we have in this country. In terms of education, in terms of character, in terms of performance, in terms of reaching out, in terms of being a pan-Nigerian, in terms of industrialization, passion to ensure that our country is liberated from where we are; out of insecurity to security, and out of economic woes to economic vibrancy and out of lack to adequate social life, you have the capacity to make things work,” Ortom said.

Ortom’s position about Obi weeks ago

Ortom had said a similar thing when Obi vicited him last month at the Benue Government House in Makurdi.

He had said, “Let us be factual. Let us be frank with ourselves because we are toying with our future. A country of over 200 million people deserves a better leadership that is proactive, has foresight and vision to make things work for our country,” he said.

“I look forward that these three candidates of the various political parties will meet and say ‘look, let this man go’.

“I am in PDP and I am working for PDP. But I tell you, if I was not in PDP, you will see me working for Peter Obi. But I am in PDP. Let’s see how things work out.”

Obi visits Benue flood victims

The recent visit to the state by Obi was to commiserate with victims of flood who had become internally displaced in the state.

Thanking Ortom for the warm welcome, Obi tweeted, “My most sincere thanks to my dear friend and brother H.E @GovSamuelOrtom, for his graciousness, warm hospitality and friendship. Visiting Benue is always a pleasure. -PO.”

Nigerian woman seeks public advise after finding female panty in her husband’s car

A Nigerian woman has sought public advice on what to do after she found a female panty in her husband’s car.

 

Posting a photo of the pant on social media, the woman wrote

''Please advise me
See what I found inside my husband's car.. I don't know if I should confront him or I should show his brothers and sisters''

 

Igbo lost selfless leader – MASSOB urges Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu in Mbazulike Amechi’s honour

 

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has expressed shock over the death of the foremost Igbo leader, High Chief Mbazulike Amechi.

MASSOB stated that Ndigbo had lost a fearless and eloquent leader, a national peacemaker and a father.

In a statement signed by its National Director Of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel, the organisation described Amechi as a visionary leader and lover of the Igbo nation.

MASSOB further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the last wish of Chief Mbazulike by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu without further delay.

Part of the statement read: “Ndigbo has lost a fearless and eloquent leader, a National peacemaker, a hero, a selfless leader and a father.

“MASSOB described him as a visionary leader and lover of the Igbo nation. He was Nigeria’s first Aviation minister and a prominent member of the Zikism movement; a Biafra General, MASSOB and Biafrans, in general, mourn his demise.

“His fatherly advice, admonishments and roles he played in the fight for the emancipation of the Igbo nation can never be forgotten by Ndigbo and the world at large.

“Chief Mbazuluike Amechi was a true son of Igbo land. It is more painful that his last wish of releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was yet to be granted by General Muhammadu Buhari led APC federal government of Nigeria.

“MASSOB is calling on General Buhari to grant the last wish of Chief Mbazulike by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu without further delay because that was his last wish.”

Bandits abduct 39 children in Katsina farm

Parents of 39 children who were abducted by bandits while working on a farm in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have pleaded with the government to come to their aid.

The bandits, on Sunday, according to a source, in their large numbers invaded the farm where the children were working.  

According to the source, Mairuwa community was the worst hit in the attack by the bandits. He explained that the terrorists started shooting sporadically when they (bandits) surrounded the farm.

The source added that N1miilion was paid to the bandits as levy before mobilizing the children by a representative of the farm, explaining that most of the adults working on the farm with the children were able to escape during the attack. 

The source said, “They demanded N3m from the owner for him to be able to harvest his produce, he gave them N1 million as part payment and decided to begin the work before completing the money, but unfortunately the bandits did not accept that. In our village, Mairuwa, alone we have 33 among the victims including young ladies who are due for marriage.” He stated that the owner of the farm is a Funtua resident, but his representative is residing in Mairuwa village, saying that as he speaks, the bandits have used the cell phone of one of the victims to call demanding a ransom of N30 million. 

He added that they (bandits) said they were at the farm to abduct the owner or his representative, stressing that since they could not meet either of them, they decided to kidnap those working for them. SP Gambo Isah, the police spokesman in Katsina, assured that there was an ongoing effort by the police to rescue the victims with synergy with the state government and other security agencies. It was also gathered that six of the victims regained freedom on Tuesday.

2023: Atiku’ll certainly relocate to Dubai, he’s comfortable there – Oshiomhole

The Deputy Director of Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Adams Oshiomhole, has claimed that Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will actually relocate to Dubai, alleging that he (Atiku) is comfortable there.

The former Governor of Edo State stated this on Wednesday morning while fielding questions on the Arise Tv morning show.

Oshiomhole was clarifying an earlier statement credited to the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Kashim Shettima, saying that Atiku would be retiring to Dubai after the 2023 presidential election.

He said that Atiku had a history of relocating to Dubai once rejected.

“Given Atiku’s record of movement, that once he suffers a defeat – it is on record, once he loses an election – he moves to Dubai. And so, he is saying so because we are confident that nothing has changed. Nigeria has rejected him three-four times, and even the best partnership he enjoyed in 2019 with Peter Obi did not deliver him.

“We are confident that, God willing, using the same Nigerian people who had rejected him in the past, they will reject him again. And because once he is rejected, he has a history of relocating to Dubai. That is what the Vice president meant.

“Atiku will actually relocate to Dubai, he has been doing it. He is comfortable there. I hope that the ban on Nigeria does not affect him. Hopefully he will go there,” he said.

Illegal for Buhari not to handover to Osinbajo before London trip – Edwin Clark

The leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari breached the constitution by not officially transmitting power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, before travelling to London, UK for his routine medical check-up.

On Monday, Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, announced Buhari’s departure.

He said the president is expected back in the country in the second week of November.

However, there was no mention of whether Osinbajo would be in charge in the president’s absence.

 Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Clark asked if Buhari is afraid of handing over to the VP.

He said Osinbajo proved his competence while he acted as president in 2017. That was when Buhari was out of the country for over 100 days.

Not constitutional

Clark said Buhari’s argument that he can only transmit power when his trip exceeds 21 days is unknown to law.

In 2019, the president said he only needs to handover to Osinbajo if he will be out of Nigeria for over 21 days.

He said this in a counter-affidavit deposed to on his behalf by one Friday Atu.

Atu is a litigation officer in the civil litigation department of the federal ministry of justice.

His affidavit was in response to a suit filed by Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer. Effiong sued the president and the attorney-general of the federation over the failure to hand over power to Osinbajo.

“There is no issue of 21 days and the president cannot import into the constitution what is not there,” Clark said.

“What Section 145 says, is that the president shall transmit to the national assembly, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, whenever he will be away on medical vacation.

“And in his absence, the constitution empowers the vice president to act as the president. And the word shall is used there. Where does Mr. President get that one from? That one does not exist, except that’s another constitution. I am a lawyer.

“Overseeing of the affairs of the government as acting president is a must. Because the constitution used the word shall which is obligatory. And anything done outside it is unconstitutional and illegal.

“A president’s inability to perform his functions, even for a few hours, mandates such action of transmitting a letter to NASS. This is what is done by any responsible government.”

Buhari’s health

The PANDEF leader further stated that “the president of Nigeria is constitutionally bound to inform Nigerians, of whatever ailment or disease he is suffering from and for which government money is being spent”.

“Nigerians will understand; he is a human, and that is why the framers of the constitution provided section 145. Unfortunately, up till now, Nigerians do not know how much of taxpayers’ money is being spent on their president,” he added.

There's no plan to stop INEC from using BVAS during 2023 polls - Presidency

 

The presidency has debunked claims of having a plan to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVAS) in the 2023 elections.

 

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina who spoke at a policy dialogue organized to mark the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI) on Tuesday November 1, added that there's also no plan to remove Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

He said;

 

“Recently, there was one group that said the chairman of INEC was going to be removed because maybe they didn’t want BVAS.

“How many times has the president spoken about the role of technology in getting him into office?

“He has spoken about it locally, internationally that three times he contested, three times he ended at the Supreme Court because the government of the day will just write results.

“Then he said until technology came and there was permanent voter cards and so it was difficult to write results.

“So, how and why can the same person have issues with BVAS? I saw that group on television, alleging that there was a plan to remove the INEC chairman and the media gave them that opportunity.

“Such things should be treated with contradictions because they don’t make sense, at least not under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.”