Fayemi wins as APC, PDP woo voters with cash

Fayemi wins as APC, PDP woo voters with cash

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Olufemi Atoyebi, Tunde Ajaja and Tobi Aworinde

The All Progressives Congress candidate in the Ekiti State governorship election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has won the poll held on Saturday.

From the results of the 16 local government areas in the state, Fayemi defeated his closest rival, Prof. Kolapo Olusola of the Peoples Democratic Party, in 12 LGAs.

Fayemi polled 197,459 while Olusola scored 178,114 votes.

The election witnessed a large turnout of voters and early arrival of the ad hoc staff and supervisors of INEC at polling units.

Voting materials also arrived early in many polling units across the state while voters conducted themselves well during accreditation process.

But tension set in as allegations of vote-buying were levelled against party agents by voters in some polling units. In some cases, the situation led to friction among loyalists of various political parties.

At Ward 12 in the Igbehin area of Ado-Ekiti, an elderly voter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused the All Progressives Congress of offering N5,000 to those who had the Permanent Voter Card to secure their votes. He said he rejected the offer.

“I was offered N5,000 to vote for the party but I rejected it. I am 73 years old retired teacher. I cannot allow the future of my children to be bought by moneybags.  I don’t know how we descended to this level when people brazenly offer money to people to secure their votes. It was not like this in the past. Will our votes count with this problem?” he asked.

In Ayegbaju and Oye-Ekiti, it was alleged that party agents paid those who had no PVC N2,000 to vote in connivance with the INEC officials.

A source, who simply identified herself as Bimbo, said after those who had PVC had voted, some of the remaining ballot papers were thumb-printed by youths who had no PVC with the promise of financial gratification.

She said, “If you look well and observe the polling units, the INEC officials connive to allow this thing to happen. They pretended to check the fingerprint but it is fraud they are perpetrating.”

The Peoples Democratic Party was also accused of offering voters N3,000 each to secure their votes. Apart from the reported N3,000 allegedly paid to some civil servants and pensioners by the PDP-led state government, the party agents were accused of going from house to house, approaching voters who possessed PVC.

INEC’s preparation, which the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Abdulganiy Raji, had described as foolproof, failed some of the tests on the election day. Although election materials got to many of the polling units early, there were reports of the card readers failing to function properly.

At Ward 11, Unit 009 in Ishan-Ekiti, where the APC candidate, Kayode Fayemi, voted, his wife, Erelu Bisi, could not vote immediately as the card reader failed to recognise her PVC. The husband expressed apprehension over the situation, saying her vote must count for him.

Loyalists of the PDP in Ado-Ekiti also accused INEC of deliberately allowing the APC supporters to vote while card readers rejected PDP voters in some of the polling units.

At the polling unit in front of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, a man, who identified himself as a youth leader of the PDP in his ward, and who also identified himself as Alawe, said the card reader failed to recognise more than half of the people who wanted to vote for the PDP candidate, Kolapo Olusola.

Elsewhere in Ayede, in the North Senatorial District of the state, some voters also accused INEC of failure to perfect the technology and innovations deployed for the election before introducing them to the Ekiti election.

The election also recorded brigandage and fighting in some parts of the state. A man was injured in a fight among party supporters at Unit 11, Ward 04, at Ijigbo junction in Ado-Ekiti around 7.45am as queues were being formed after the arrival of INEC officials. It was not clear what caused the fight but it was quickly checked by policemen at the unit.

One of our correspondents, who visited polling units in the Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti, observed a large turnout of voters with glaring cases of vote-buying which voters called ‘see and buy.’ It was observed that the vote buyers demanded evidence of PVC and assurance that the seller would vote for their party before offering the money.

At Ward 10, Unit 02, security operatives accosted a female voter who had followed the due process of accreditation and voting, only to attempt photographing her ballot paper. The incident prompted uproar from other voters which led female officers to seize the voter’s mobile telephone while also compelling her to delete the photograph.

A source confirmed to SUNDAY PUNCH that a woman sitting by the new Fajuyi Bridge with three bags paid voters on behalf of one of the major political parties.

At one scene, a middle-aged man approached a youth and accused him of voting at the nearby Ward 10, Unit 13 and leaving the polling station to disrupt the conduct at Ward 10, Unit 02.

Another man was heard complaining that he voted and showed evidence to a political party as he demanded payment.

At Ward 10, Unit 13 in Ado-Ekiti, voters were agitated as a domestic electoral observer confided in one of our correspondents that the ‘see and buy’ arrangement had been at play, albeit discreetly.

The atmosphere at the ward was chaotic as a large number of frustrated voters unsuccessfully tried to get registered as a result of a malfunctioned card reader. Elderly men and women stood in the sun for more than three hours before provision was made for the replacement of the faulty card reader.

According to an electoral observer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, other areas that experienced pockets of violence included Ojumose, Damilore and Oke-Ila in Ado-Ekiti.

The source said policemen invited to the scene of the violence in Ojumose shot indiscriminately into the air to disperse the thugs. The source added that cases of ‘see and buy’ were also prevalent in the aforementioned areas.

My source if from Punch

JUST IN: #EkitiDecides2018: APC wins Fayose’s local government

JUST IN: #EkitiDecides2018: APC wins Fayose’s local government

Fayose casting his vote

The candidate of the All progressives Congress (APC) in the ongoing Ekiti State election has emerged victorious in Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Kayode Fayemi of the APC polled 13,869 votes in the local government of the outgoing governor, Ayodele Fayose. The PDP had 11,456 votes.

Even though the PDP won in Mr Fayose’s polling unit and ward, the votes in other wards were not enough to secure victory for his party in his local government.

The local government has 11 wards. Results from each ward was collated at the headquarters of INEC situated in Igede.

A total of 66,162 electorates are registered in the local government while 27,306 were accredited.

Of the 27,211 votes cast, 25,849 were valid while 1362 were rejected.

Only party agents of APC and PDP present at the centre signed the result at 11:06p.m.

SEE THE FULL RESULTS BELOW:

AWO WARD 3

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 5102
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 2245
APC – 1074
PDP – 1002
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 2121
TOTAL REJECTED – 96
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 2217
NO CANCELLATION

IROPORA/ESURE/EYIO WARD 8

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 5637
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 2109
APC – 937
PDP – 1033
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 2006
TOTAL REJECTED – 103
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 2109
NO CANCELLATION

IGEDE 3 WARD 7

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 3902
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 1717
APC – 665
PDP – 963
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 1652
TOTAL REJECTED – 61
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 1713
NO CANCELLATION

AFAO WARD 1

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 4286
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 2036
APC – 517
PDP – 1361
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 1909
TOTAL REJECTED – 127
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 2036
NO CANCELLATION

ARE, WARD 2

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 4426
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 1968
APC – 701
PDP – 1095
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 1850
TOTAL REJECTED – 108
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 1958
NO CANCELLATION

IGEDE 2 WARD 6

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 5450
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 2307
APC – 891
PDP – 1190
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 2114
TOTAL REJECTED – 187
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 2301
NO CANCELLATION

IGEDE 1, WARD 5

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 5794
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 2610
APC – 1087
PDP – 1330
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 2475
TOTAL REJECTED – 135
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 2610
NO CANCELLATION

IYIN 1, WARD 10

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 6574
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 3014
APC – 2229
PDP – 612
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 2887
TOTAL REJECTED – 110
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 2998
NO CANCELLATION

IYIN 2, WARD 11

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 7148
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 3188
APC – 2218
PDP – 743
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 3018
TOTAL REJECTED – 165
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 3183
NO CANCELLATION

IWOROKO, WARD 9

TOTAL NO OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 11025
TOTAL NO OF ACCREDITED – 2658
APC – 1315
PDP – 1140
TOTAL VALID VOTES – 2521
TOTAL REJECTED – 130
TOTAL NO OF VOTES CAST – 2651
NO CANCELLATION

Wow ! Fourth main land bridge to be completed in Three years.

Ladies and Gentlemen, today, Lagos State is recording another major milestone in it’s almost 50years of existence. We have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the 4th Mainland Bridge. The 38km bridge and expressway will become the longest bridge and expressway anywhere when completed.

The significance of this bridge will be fully appreciated if we can imagine Lagos of today without the 3rd Mainland Bridge. Almost Thirty years after the delivery of the 3rd Mainland Bridge; the State has experienced phenomenal growth to become a megalopolis – a city-State with a population of over 21 million people.  The increase in the State’s population and expanded commercial activity has led to frequent traffic congestion. This has made it imperative for us to have a 4th Mainland Bridge that will serve as an alternative route to the Eastern axis and decongest traffic in the State.

More importantly this bridge will provide the required transportation compliment to the rapidly growing industrial activities on the Eti-Osa - Lekki - Epe corridor of the State. 

The proposed alignment passes through Lekki, Langbasa and Baiyeiku towns along the shoreline of the Lagos Lagoon estuaries, further running through Igbogbo River Basin and crossing the Lagos Lagoon estuaries to Itamaga Area in Ikorodu. It then crosses the Itoikin road and the Ikorodu - Sagamu Road to connect Isawo inward Lagos Ibadan Expressway at Ojodu Berger axis. The Bridge would be made up of 8 interchanges to facilitate effective interconnectivity between different parts of the State.

Congolese president wins third term after 32 years in office, opposition cries foul

Congolese president wins third term after 32 years in office, opposition cries foul

Congo president Denis Sassou Nguesso was on Thursday declared the winner of presidential elections, extending his 32 years in power in a vote the opposition says was marked by "massive fraud".

Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou announced the results at 3:30am (0230 GMT) on national television, saying Sassou Nguesso had secured 60 percent of the vote in the tense weekend poll held under an ongoing communications blackout. Sassou Nguesso has ruled Congo for all but five years since 1979, having lived in Paris in exile from 1992 to 1997.

The official count gave runner-up Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas 15 percent of the vote, while General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko came in third with 14 percent.

Sassou Nguesso hailed the victory at his campaign headquarters, saying the Congolese people had "taken their destiny into their own hands" and adding that the campaign had produced a "very open" democratic debate in the former French colony.

Both of his main rivals had already rejected the partial results released Wednesday, with Kolelas' spokesman Vivien Manangou saying there had been "massive fraud".
Mokoko, who until February was Sassou Nguesso's security advisor, added: "I knew beforehand that the dice were loaded, but we had agreed to play the game."

He called for a recount, saying: "How do you want us to accept such a result?"

With telephones and the Internet cut off, neither candidate was immediately reachable after the official results were announced. 

Oil- and timber-rich Congo has been on edge since an October constitutional referendum that ended a two-term limit on presidential mandates, allowing Sassou Nguesso, a 72-year-old former paratrooper colonel, to run for office again.

Critics accuse him of rampant corruption and nepotism, blasting the referendum result as a "constitutional coup".
Authorities imposed a communications blackout during the election to prevent opposition candidates from publishing "illegal results". A government source said they blackout would remain in place until after the official results.

Most shops in the south of the capital Brazzaville, an opposition stronghold, had stayed shut on Wednesday amid fears of unrest.
Kolelas' spokesman Manangou said security forces had stormed the candidate's campaign offices on Tuesday, hurling tear gas cannisters and causing a stampede that left one person dead.
A French journalist was present but was unable to confirm the death.
Mokoko and Kolelas, along with the three other opposition candidates, have urged people to "exercise their sovereignty" in the event of a Sassou Nguesso victory.
They created their own parallel "technical commission" to monitor the vote and compile information from polling stations to compare it to the official results.
They said they could say "with certainty" that the opposition had beat Sassou Nguesso in the first round and that a second-round election should be held.
The European Union refused to send election observers to monitor the polls, saying conditions had not been met for a transparent and democratic vote.
The international community has since expressed concern over the fairness of the vote and called for the opposing sides to resolve their differences calmly.

"This vote took place in a worrying context, particularly due to the cut in communications," said France's foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal.

Source: AFP

Doyin Okupe list road networks constructed by FG in the last 9 years in reaction to VP Osinbajo claims

Doyin Okupe list road networks constructed by FG in the last 9 years in reaction to VP Osinbajo claims

He listed them as a reaction to claims by Vice President Yemi Osin‎bajo that the Federal Government in the last 10 years did not construct a single road. Continue...

 

President Buhari to depart for Saudi Arabia tomorrow

President Buhari to depart for Saudi Arabia tomorrow

President Buhari will depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia tomorrow February 22nd. A statement by the Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, states that President Buhari, who will be accompanied by a high-powered Federal Government delegation, including the Minister of State (Petroleum) and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, will first fly to Riyadyh for talks on Tuesday with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and senior officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Ongoing efforts by Nigeria and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to achieve greater stability in the price of crude oil exports are expected to be high on the agenda of discussions between President Buhari and the Saudi Monarch.

Crude oil prices and market stability will also be on the front burner when President Buhari goes on to Doha on Saturday for talks on Sunday with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.Buhari is also scheduled to meet with leading Saudi and Qatari businessmen in Riyadh and Doha, and invite them to support his administration’s efforts to revamp the Nigerian economy by taking advantage of the great investment opportunities currently available in Nigeria’s mining, agriculture, power supply, infrastructure, transportation, communications and other sectors.

President Buhari’s other engagements in Saudi Arabia include meetings with heads of international financial organisations and multilateral associations.Before going on to Doha, the President will also visit Medina and Mecca to pray for greater peace, prosperity and progress in Nigeria.

Senate President Bukola Saraki receives Ooni of Ife, H.R.H Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in Abuja

Senate President Bukola Saraki receives Ooni of Ife, H.R.H Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in Abuja

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi paid a visit to the Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday, February 17 in Abuja. 

"Great pleasure receiving the Vibrant Royal Highness, Oba Alayeluwa Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. May his reign bring prosperity, unity to Yoruba race and Nigeria. I'm most delighted that he presented a Made in Nigeria gift as his souvenir. Brings great pleasure knowing his royal highness is with us 100% to drive" the Senate President wrote. Continue for more photos...

The Hands Behind: Vanished! Missing! Now Found and Padded Budget

The Hands Behind: Vanished! Missing! Now Found and Padded Budget

As a Nationalist and Patriot, I hold to the belief that we must support our government. The task is difficult enough and shrill criticisms and bashing of government is to no ones advantage. However, it is only a friend that will tell his friend “quietly” that “his mouth is smelling”

I wish fervently that this budget works and is the cornerstone to building a more vibrant economy, bringing relief to the citizenry and setting the Country on course to great things. I wish these things and have not worried unnecessarily about a “lost or found budget”; until now.

It is indeed worrisome to watch officials of 

Ministries and Parastatals openly disavow and criticize their own sections in the budget. Watching, Government Ministers and Heads of Agencies lampoon the provisions of the budget and even claim their allocations where “alien” to them is mind boggling.

Such open disconnect between the key Minister of Finance and the Comptroller General of Customs, who by the way heads the second highest contributing organization to the Nations coffers, on such an issue as remuneration is lamentable. You’d expect there should be more “sync” between these two officials “especially because of the offices they occupy”.

As the National Assembly screams “blue murder” at padding, disparity and recurring budgetary items, it has become manifestingly clear that “change” has not come to the budgetary process. It has become clear that “Government Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies are still steeped in their wily old ways”. It has become clear that the “body language of change” has not been “embodied” by some key officials of government.

As the “hue and cry” over a missing budget reached a crescendo, the President acted by writing the National Assembly and “making amendments”. He doused, and I must say extricated some from their “foul -up”.

The President has to also act now. “The officials that have contributed to the budget being mired in controversy have to be fished out and made example of”. This budget is the “most important Bill” of this nascent administration and President Buhari should not allow the “Hope” and “Change” that the budget represents to be stymied by some “unscrupulous and unchanging few”. “The anti-corruption breeze must blow them”.

"Nigeria is in dire straits, Mr President, and all opprobrium must be lifted from the budget to rekindle hope".

THESE ARE THE WORDS OF
Victor Ikhatalor
Founder of "The MyTribeNigeria Initiative"
Author of #MyTribeNigeria

What Happened During Osinbajo’s 6 Days As Acting President

What Happened During Osinbajo’s 6 Days As Acting President

For the first time in our history, a president voluntarily transmitted power to his deputy. On February 5, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on a six-day vacation and ‘handed over’ to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as acting president.

Before going on the vacation, President Buhari had dispatched a formal notice to the Senate and the House of Reps, in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Constitution.

But was Vice President Osinbajo really caught off guard?

As at the time Buhari’s short break became public knowledge, the acting president was in Lagos for the ‘Holy Ghost Night’ programme of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). And rather than cut short his trip, Osinbajo, the following day, headed for Jerusalem Mission House International in Makurdi, Benue State, for a wedding ceremony.

And on Monday when Osinbajo fully resumed as Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, those who had expected him to move into the President’s Wing of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa were in for a surprise as he chose to operate from the Vice President’s Wing. As his office abruptly turned a beehive of activity, Buhari’s office was, understandably, virtually deserted.

State governors are regular visitors to the Aso Presidential Rock Villa, ostensibly to brief the president on matters affecting their respective states. Some of them had been severally pilloried for allegedly ‘abandoning’ their states for Abuja. But none of the state chief executives made it to the nation’s seat of power throughout the period Osinbajo held the fort for Buhari. 

Majority of the ministers were also not sighted at the State House during Osinbajo’s six-day reign as acting president. They could conveniently claim to be busy with the budget defence at the National Assembly. They could equally hide under the cover of a presidential directive that they be channeling their communications to the Presidency through the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

  
In unambiguous terms, President Buhari had, on November 5, 2015 while hosting his ministers to a ministerial retreat at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, instructed thus:”All communications and appointments from you to the Presidency should be routed through the Office of the Chief of Staff as is normal in this Presidential System.”

So, even if the ministers had, on that ground, chosen to ‘shun’ the acting president last week as insinuated, they could be understood or misunderstood to have simply obeyed their employer’s order.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, cannot hide under this cover, for it is his responsibility to ensure effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of government policies and programmes for the overall development of the country. Little wonder his absence at the Acting President’s Office set tongues wagging.

Even as vice president, Osinbajo has the power to preside over Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings, in the absence of the president. As acting president last week, he did not convene the meeting. Although FEC meetings had not been held on a weekly basis since the inception of the Buhari presidency, Osinbajo could have cashed in on Buhari’s vacation to demonstrate how real the power of an acting president is in Nigeria’s context.

National Security Council (NSC) meeting, chaired by the president, has almost been a routine owing to the frequency of terrorist attacks on the North-east. Acting President Osinbajo did not summon the service chiefs for the meeting even when terrorists blasted scores to death at Dikwa Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Borno State on Tuesday. 

  
How far then did Osinbajo fare as acting president? He hit the ground running early Monday morning with a closed-door meeting with a delegation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, (EITI), a global body assessing transparency level of nations’ oil, gas and mineral resources. The session afforded him the opportunity to reiterate the administration’s commitment to transparency and good governance.

“It is important that we handle our resources with transparency and good governance. One of the objectives we have set for ourselves is to ensure that we are transparent and able to handle our resources well. If as a nation we had handled our resources better with transparency and good governance, we would not have found ourselves where we are now. We have learnt our lesson,” Osinbajo told his visitors.

The acting president also played host to a delegation of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) and reassured of the federal government’s determination to rehabilitate and rebuild the insurgency-riddledNorth-east; with a passionate call on well-to-do Nigerians to partner with the government in that regard.

Osinbajo on Tuesday received a delegation of the Senate which was at the Presidential Villa on a consultation visit over the 2016 budget proposal, the Money Laundering Bill and other bills currently before the National Assembly.

Senate Leader Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who led the delegation, lauded Buhari for not leaving the country on autopilot. For the leader of the Senate, the transmission of power to Osinbajo was good.

Acting President Osinbajo also on Tuesday received a delegation of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), led by its Executive Director, Michel Sidibe. He assured of effective primary healthcare centres across the country.

He rounded off his six-day reign with a directive that security be beefed up at all the internally displaced persons camps in the country. He was, through a statement by his spokesman Laolu Akande, responding to Tuesday’s suicide bombing of Dikwa IDP Camp. Well, Osinbajo’s directive could have possibly reminded the Armed Forces that an Acting Commander-in-Chief was in charge for six days. 

President Buhari resumed work on Thursday; and in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, sent a formal notice of his resumption to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

- Written by Isiaka Wakili

President Buhari Urges Nigerians To Emulate Murtala Muhammed

President Buhari Urges Nigerians To Emulate Murtala Muhammed

President Mohammadu Buhari, yesterday, urged Nigerians to emulate the life of the late former Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed who according to him wanted the best for  Nigeria.

He was speaking at the 40th Memorial Lecture held in honour of the late head of state

He said: “On assuming the role of Head of State in 1975, Murtala set out with a single-minded determination seldom seen in Nigerian leadership. Decisions were on fast-track. Two major developments were prominent among his legacies: the move of the capital to Abuja from Lagos; and the creations of seven new States to make 19. The shadow of his death still somewhat hangs over Nigeria.

“On the 13th of February 1976, Nigeria suffered a grievous blow with the assassination of Murtala Muhammad in a failed coup d’état. The country mourned, and rightly so, because Murtala had been on his way to putting Nigeria back to the path of order and discipline, after years of drift, corruption and near despair. It would not be over-stating the case to say that Nigeria lost its newly-found momentum with Murtala’s demise.

“His life, short though it proved to be, was marked by an extraordinary passion, energy and determination to do better, and to make Nigeria better. These are values that young and old alike should all remember – and celebrate.”

“By the time Murtala was given Command during the Civil War, the Federal side was on the defensive. The rebels had over-ran the then Mid-West, and reached as far as Ore, just 100 miles from Lagos. By dint of sheer bravery, improvisation and resourcefulness, he mustered a rag-tag group of soldiers, integrated them into an entirely new division, knocked them into fighting shape, recovered Mid-West and ventured across the Niger. Alas, there were terrible casualties on both sides.

“But Murtala’s motto was to get the job done as quickly as possible; sacrifice and loss were part of the risks of war. Relations between Murtala and some other senior officers were not always easy. But no one could doubt his inspirational qualities or call into question his love and dedication in the service of Nigeria.

Buhari approves sack of VCs of 13 Universities established by GEJ.. announces replacement

Buhari approves sack of VCs of 13 Universities established by GEJ.. announces replacement

President Buhari has approved the sack of the Vice Chancellors of 13 universities established by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.‎A statement signed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu today, said President Buhari has approved the appointment of new Vice Chancellors for the Universities

According to the statement, a former Head, Department of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, who was said to be on Sabbatical in NOUN is the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

While the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State has Prof. Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law.

Bayero University, Kano has as its new VC, Prof. Fatima Batoul Muktar of the Department of Biology, North West University, Kano is the VC of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State.

A lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Haruna Abdu Kaita is the new VC of Federal University, Dutsin Ma, Katsina State, while Prof. Andrew Haruna of the Department of Linguistics, University of Jos will now function as VC, Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State.

While another lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, ABU, Zaria, Prof. Magaji Garba, will now be VC in Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State.

Prof. Alhassan Mohammed Gani of the Institute of Maritime Studies, Federal University, Kashere in Gombe State has been elevated to the position of VC in same University.

A lecturer in the Department of Physics, Federal University, Lafia, Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman will henceforth be VC of same institution.

For Prof. Angela Freeman Miri of the Linguistics Department, UNIJOS, she is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja.

The Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State now has Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba of the Post-Graduate School, Imo State University, Owerri as its VC, while Prof. Seth Accra Jaja of the Department of Management, University of Port Harcourt is now the VC of Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

90yr old woman who donated her life savings to Buhari presidential campaign dies

90yr old woman who donated her life savings to Buhari presidential campaign dies

Hajia Fadimatu Mai Talle Tara, the 90 year old woman who donated her N1 million savings to the Buhari presidential campaign organization last year has died. She died this morning at her home.

She was a popular food vendor in Koko, Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State. She was a widow and is survived by 15 children and 15 grandchildren. May her soul rest in peace, Amen.

Free Feeding: El-Rufai sacks headmaster, suspends 2 others for diverting pupils’ Biscuits, Oranges

Free Feeding: El-Rufai sacks headmaster, suspends 2 others for diverting pupils’ Biscuits, Oranges

The Kaduna State Government has sacked two senior education officials and suspended two others for diverting food meant for the feeding of primary school pupils. The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Shehu Adamu, made the revelation today.
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He said: "A School Support Officer, Ibrahim Abdullahi has been sacked for supplying oranges and biscuits meant for school pupils to a fruits vendor to sell for him. Also, the Headmaster of L.E.A Labi, Karji, was sacked for collecting bribe from a vendor who received government money but did not cook.
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We have also received a report that the Headmaster of Nuhu Bamali Primary School loaded his car with pupils' oranges and drove out. He has been suspended until investigation is concluded and if found guilty, he will also be sacked.
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The police is also investigating the Headmaster of Nomadic Fulani School in Ricifa, for inflating the number of pupils in the school. We are also investigating allegations that some vendors were supplying soya bean sauce in place of egg sauce to pupils"

Photos: Germany President Gauk pays courtesy visit to Gov. Ambode

Photos: Germany President Gauk pays courtesy visit to Gov. Ambode

President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Joachim Gauck,xpaid a courtesy visit to Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Lagos State House Ikeja on Monday February 8. More photos below;

Photos:Yesterday, President Buhari receives German President Gauck at State House

Photos:Yesterday,  President Buhari receives German President Gauck at State House

President Muhammadu Buhari received President of Germany, Mr. Joachim Gauck, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday February 11. More photos below;

Governor Fayose stops by the road to help a young man suffering from eye cataracts

Governor Fayose stops by the road to help a young man suffering from eye cataracts

 

Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose in his usual manner of interacting with citizens -caused another scene yesterday along Akure-Ado road after helping a young man suffering from eye cataract with a note of referral.

The governor who stopped along the road on his way from the Thanksgiving Service for gov Emmanuel Udom at Uyo, searched out the unknown young man who had earlier contacted him by phone and gave him a note referring him to a medical doctor. 

The astonished crowd which had gathered erupted in praise, jubilation and prayer for the governor.