Daily political manners

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Thursday condemned in strong terms the appointment of Amina Zakaria as the Chairperson of Presidential Election Collation Centre by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Igbo leader called on Mrs. Zakari to resign from the commission because of her blood relation to President Muhammadu Buhari. Nwodo told Nigerians to hold the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government responsible should anything happen to the nation’s democracy. He spoke while reacting to INEC’s appointment of Mrs. Zakari as head of presidential election collation committee. Nwodo said it was bad enough that Mrs. Zakari was allowed to continue to serve in INEC and worse by INEC appointing her in the new position. “It’s like Rangers VS Kano Pillars and Kano Pillars is allowed to nominate a referee. It’s impossible for justice to be done. In a civilized clime Amina Zakari should have resigned,”

WIFE OF THE PRESIDENT DR AISHA MUHAMMADU BUHARI DISPLAYS THE 4+4 YEARS SYMBOL IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT BUHARI’S RE-ELECTION IN ABUJA. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. JAN 3 2019.

Festus Keyamo says the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not a threat to the APC in the 2019 elections Keyamo claims the structure of the PDP is dropping weekly ahead of the presidential election - Hameed Ali, the Nigerian Customs boss, says Muhammadu Buhari is seeking re-election to rescue Nigeria from unpatriotic elements A senior lawyer and spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, said on Thursday, January 3, that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not a threat in the 2019 elections. Keyamo said that the PDP would never serve as a threat to the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Keyamo made the claim on Thursday, January 3, during the inauguration of the Women and Youths Wing of the APC Presidential Campaign Team in Abuja. The report said he called on APC supporters to intensify efforts towards ensuring that the party recorded massive victory a

Zakari was appointed to head the committee on collation centre, one of the two committees for the election which the commission inaugurated on Thursday in Abuja. Speaking during the inauguration, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said the committee shall be responsible for the national collation centre – the International Conference Centre – from where results of the Presidential election will be announced. “It will serve as the secretariat for collation of results and venue for briefing of international observers and the media,” he said. WHO IS ZAKARI? The national commissioner was once appointed acting chairman of INEC. She had been at the commission’s department of health and welfare after being redeployed as the head of electoral operations and logistics. Her redeployment took place after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused her of working for President Muhammadu Buhari and demanded that she be moved. Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the PDP, had said in a statement: “Whil

Pelosi has been finally inaugurated as speaker and the world is watching her in one way or the other to put some restrictions to some of Trumps excesses or to tore along the same path with him. While in the house, she also asked for her grandchildren and any other children in the chamber to come stand with her as she was sworn in as House speaker. A horde of youngsters gathered around Pelosi on the dais as she raised her right hand and took the oath of office. Pelosi said: ‘‘I now call the House to order on behalf of all of America’s children.’’

The Buhari Media Organisation, BMO, says the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has hired an American lobbyist for $90,000 monthly to be releasing fake news capable of threatening national security. It alleged that the slew of fake news, especially on social media, targeted at the Nigerian military was the handiwork of Atiku and his media organisation. The group stated that recent untrue claims of terrorists’ attacks on the military, desertion by police personnel, allegations of corruption scandals in the military hierarchy and the resurfacing of a 2014 claim by soldiers of lack of weaponry were sponsored fake news by the former vice president. In a statement signed by Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and the Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, BMO stated that the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation resorted to sponsoring fake news when it had no campaign issues to bring forward. The statement said, “Atiku Abubakar’s desperation knows no bounds; his recent move to s

Obi, who spoke to his kinsmen in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State during a lecture organised in his honour by Agulu Peoples Assembly, said Nigeria was a place where people crave free money to live in luxury. Obi said he had trained his children to be self-reliant, adding that he had chosen not to join people who crave primitive acquisition. He said, “I have two graduates who are working, a boy and a girl, and the two of them don’t own any car because they haven’t made enough money to buy a car. “They were here for the Christmas, and I was talking to some people about them and the person said he saw my son and that he always jumps on buses and tricycles. “Some people don’t like it that way. They believe I am rich and that my children should not be trekking, and that they should be provided cars. “But I believe they do not have the money; so, they have to trek. “Who will give them cars — is it me? My money is my own; so, they should work for theirs.” He sa

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has told members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Team not be distracted by the opposition in their bid to ensure his re-election come February 16, 2019. President Buhari also urged them to double their efforts to achieve success in the polls. The President gave the advice, Thursday, at the inauguration of the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team which has the name of his wife, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari as the chair person at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President urged members of the team to go from door to door to remind Nigerians why the administration should be given a second term. According to him, “The Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team being inaugurated today (yesterday) was constituted to support the Presidential Campaign Council which I chair. This shows the importance with which we view the role of women and youths as the backbone of the Nigerian electorate. “As s

HOMENEWS SPORTSMORE Khashoggi: Saudi Arabia seeks death penalty for five suspects ON JANUARY 3, 20199:14 PMIN NEWS0 COMMENTS Saudi Arabia’s attorney general sought the death penalty for five of 11 defendants charged with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as their high-profile trial opened in Riyadh on Thursday. All 11 accused were present with their lawyers at the first session of the trial, the attorney general said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. Saudi Arabia had twice submitted formal requests for evidence from Turkey — where Khashoggi was murdered inside the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate on October 2 — but had received no response, the statement added The names of the defendants have not been officially released. Five top officials in Saudi Arabia — including royal court insider Saud al-Qahtani — were sacked over the Khashoggi murder, but there is no proof they are among those charged. Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post, was murdered

Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, has stated his role in the nation’s politics. The former president quitted partisan politics in the country when he dumped the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) tearing his membership card in the process. Prior to the 2015 general election, he pitched his tent with Muhammadu Buhari, then opposition candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC). The APC flag-bearer after the endorsement of the former president won the election but the duo has fell out politically due to the second term ambition of the president. Last year, the former president advised Mr Buhari to shelve his re-election bid due to alleged incompetence. The president has since dumped the advise in a trash can and went on to actualize his ambition. Despite his acclaimed stance, Obasanjo has publicly endorsed Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP to battle it out with the president. Addressing Yabaji Sani, presidential candidate of the Action Demo

EXCLUSIVE!!! ASUU Strike: Details Of NANS Meeting With Buhari Emerges President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Labour Unions to allow his administration concentrate on fixing infrastructure in the country rather than distracting it, Igbere TV News reports. The President made the call on Thursday (today) during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the State House, Abuja. He urged the student leaders to continue to plead with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, while assuring them that he will speak with the lecturers' body (ASUU) "so that they don't encroach on your efforts to qualify in time." "In three and a half years, we have improved tremendously on what we met. We are trying to do infrastructure. No matter which part of the country you come from, you will see the efforts we are making in terms of roads; we are trying to fix rails, we are trying to do power, through the use of gas and solar

President @muhammadubuhari being decorated as Grand patron of Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) by Chairman Board of Trustees and Patron Engr. Vincent Maduka as he receives in audience Trustees of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) in State House on 3rd Jan 2018 with them is Chairman Award Panel Prince Tony Momoh, PHOTOS:�@bayoomoboriowo FCMgist (Biggest Media House in Ogun state) https://www.fcmgist.com/2019/01/03/president-buhari-decorated-as-grand-patron-of-nmma/

Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says he is in possession of evidence showing how cronies of President Muhammadu Buhari acquired shares in Keystone Bank and 9mobile. Mr Abubakar had earlier alleged that family members of President Muhammadu Buhari who atimes could not afford transport fare were stakeholders in the two firm. The former vice president popularly known as Atiku while making the allegation called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look into his claims but the anti-graft agency, as at press time, has not made its position on the matter known. Although the two firms have denied cronies of the president bought it shares, Atiku has continued to insist that a probe on the matter should be carried out. The Presidency has asked the former vice president to tender evidence before it could act on the issue but Atiku in a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, his special assistant on public communications on

APC Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team came about to complement the work of the recently constituted Presidential Campaign Council. It will operate as a sister body with necessary legwork and outreach, and will mobilize women and youth across the country for door-to-door campaign. EXECUTIVE TEAM LEADERS 1.E Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari – Chairperson 2.E Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo – Co-Chair 3.E. Mrs. Adejoke O. Adefulure – Vice Chair (South) 4.E. Mrs. Mairo Al-Makura – Vice Chair (North) 5.Salamatu Baiwa Umar – Eluma – National Coordinator 6.Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu – Dep. Nat. Coordinator – South 7.Binta Muazu – Dep. Nat. Coordinator – North ZONAL LEADERS ADMINSTRATIVE SECRETARIAT ADVISORY COUNCIL DIRECTORORATE OF OPERATIONS ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS OF APC DIRECTORATE OF CONTACT & MOBILISATION DIRECTORATE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING DIRECTORATE OF YOUTH MOBILIZATION DIRECTORATE OF MEDIA AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE OF SPECIAL DUTIES DIRECTORATE OF LOGISTICS DIRECTORATE OF CREATIVIT

THE Federal Government generated over $2 billion from the renewal of oil block licences, Minister of State for Petroleum Resouces, Ibe Kachikwu, has said. Kachikwu, who noted that the funds will be used to implement the nation’s budget, said: “We have actually asked for early renewals, because we needed to get money out of it to help finance the budget and from that process, we have actually gotten about $2 billion.” He said his ministry deliberately put a policy in place to hasten renewals with the purpose of funding the 2019 budget. The minister added: “I put a policy of early renewals in place so that even blocks that are not due for renewal before 2019 are being renewed right now.” According to him, only about 30 of the fields, expected to add an about 300 million barrels of crude were granted licenses by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Kachikwu said about 40 others, as well as mega fields suggested to President Muhammadu Buhari were awaiting approval. Recall that Preside

We have seen president Muhammadu Buhari visit the Shagari family, Obasanjo inclusive and now it is the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje alongside the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, Others arrive Sokoto state to condole with the people, government and family of former President Shehu Shagari.

President Donald Trump warned that the partial shutdown of the US government, which entered its 12th day on Wednesday, could last a “long time” as he stood firm in his demand for billions of dollars in funding for a border wall with Mexico. One day before Democrats take over control of the House of Representatives, Trump showed no signs of backing away from his insistence on $5.6 billion for his “beautiful” southern wall. “This is national security we’re talking about,” he said at a cabinet meeting ahead of talks at the White House with top Democratic and Republican lawmakers. It’s too important a subject to walk away from,” the president said, adding that he was prepared to hold out “as long as it takes” to secure the money he is seeking from Congress. “I think the people of this country think I am right,” Trump said, and it “could be a long time” before the government reopens. Trump is set to hold talks with top Democratic lawmakers Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in a bid to break