Daily political manners

By David Odama LAFIA—Former governor of Nasarawa State and Senator representing Nasarawa West, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has warned Nigerians against returning Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to power at the centre, saying it will be disastrous for the country. He said Nigerians would be sitting on a keg of gunpowder “if PDP that brought Nigeria to its knees from 1999-2015, is brought back to power.” Adamu said this while addressing All Progressives Congress, APC, officials and supporters in Nasarawa State as part of the continuation of his campaigns in the area. The former governor explained that he was at the area to seek re-election into the Senate. According to him, “I am grateful to individuals and organisations that have contributed to my success in my two terms in the senate. “I want to assure Nigerians that if re-elected, President Buhari would deliver Nigerians from the shackles of the 16 years of PDP government and would continue to serve you to the best of his ability. “Let m

PREMIUM TIMES has obtained the third in a series of leaked audio recordings by Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s transport minister and the director general of President Mohammadu Buhari’s campaign team. Mr Amaechi has been in the eye of a storm in the last 48 hours following the release of two earlier audio recordings where he expressed gloomy views about Nigeria and the administration of Mr Buhari. In one of the recordings, which was shared with this newspaper by Phrank Shaibu, a spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar campaign, the minister was heard saying the president has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians and that there was widespread suffering in the land. Tolu Ogunlesi, a spokesperson of Mr Buhari, had dismissed the first leaked recording, saying Mr Amaechi was referring to immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan. But after the release of the second audio, Mr Ogunlesi claimed the audio had been cleverly edited by a former aide of Mr Jonathan, Reno Omokri, to paint the mi

Former Governor of Ekiti State and Southwest Coordinator of the Atiku/Obi PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and the PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr Eddy Olafeso will tomorrow, Tuesday, January 8, 2019 inaugurate the Ekiti State chapter of the Atiku/Obi PDP Presidential Campaign Council. The inauguration will take place at the campaign office, Olora junction, Adebayo, Ado Ekiti at 2pm. According to the Campaign Council Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, the council is to be chaired by the State former Deputy Governor and PDP candidate in the 2018 governorship election, Prof Kolapo Olusola while Chief Dipo Anisulowo will serve as Director General and State Chairman of the party, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase as Secretary Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/pdp-s-west-chairman-fayose-to-inaugurate-atiku-campaign-council-in-ekiti-on-tuesday/

Senator Dino Melaye in hospital as he refuses to leave his hospital bed, claiming to be having health challenges when the police came to take him to Lokoja in Kogi state to for prosecution. Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/dino-melaye-in-hospital/

POLITICSNGR@GMAIL.COM PoliticsNGR has been furnished with a transcript of President Muhammadu Buhari's full speech at the Inauguration of his 2019 Presidential Campaign council in Abuja today. President Buhari hailed all those who were selected to be part of the council, adding that his co-chairman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be fully in charge of all activities. He said; "I would like to welcome you all, the leaders of our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the formal inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the purpose of managing our campaigns for the 2019 general elections. 2. This is a historical moment and I consider it a great privilege to have been unanimously nominated by our party to run as its candidate, unopposed, for a second term of office as the president of our country Nigeria. 3. I thank God Almighty, and our hard working, long suffering, yet resolutely committed fellow citizens, for the continued investment of their trust in our

The Buhari For Better Tomorrow Movement has lashed out at Reno Omokri, former presidential aide, for publishing audio clips alleging Rotimi Amaechi, Transport Minister, criticised the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Amaechi, over the weekend, in two separate audios, was reported to have spoken ill of the government of which he serves. Although the minister has denied making critic comments ascribed to him, POLITICS TIMES could not as at press time verify the authenticity of the clips. Reacting to the development, the Buhari For Better Tomorrow Movement in a statement sent to Media Houses by its National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abubakar, said the ex-presidential aide moved against the minister because the former Rivers State governor was capable of delivering votes of the South South region to President Muhammadu Buhari who seeks a second term in office. Mr Omokri, also known as a cleric was described by the group as a fake pastor. How the group arrived at that

Military says it has seized power in oil-rich Gabon, where the ailing leader's family has ruled for 50 years Soldiers in the west African country of Gabon say they launched a coup "to restore democracy". They took control of the national radio station in the early hours of Monday to read a short statement announcing a "National Restoration Council". Tanks and armed vehicles can be seen on the streets of the capital Libreville. President Ali Bongo took over power in 2009. He reportedly suffered a stroke in October and received treatment in Morocco. Mr Bongo sought to put an end to the rumours about his health with a New Year message in which he said he was feeling fine. Soldiers said they had been disappointed by the message, calling it "a pitiful sight" and a "relentless attempt to cling onto power." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46779854

Labour & Employment Minister Chris Ngige has pleaded with striking varsity teachers to show mercy on students by calling off their strike. The teachers, under auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), began a nationwide strike since November, last year, over some disagreement between the union and the Federal Government. Ngige also declared that Federal Government would pay a minimum wage, adding that things were being worked out by the Committee saddled with that responsibility. Ngige spoke yesterday in Awka, Anambra State capital, in a chat with reporters at the premises of a local radio station, belonging to the state. The Federal Government and Labour representatives adjourned their meeting till today after a five-hour deliberation last Friday. At the end of the meeting, the minister said substantial progress was made and that all that is left is a final resolution. Ngige said the problems of ASUU were not caused by President Muhammadu Buhari, but were be

Today APC governorship rally was held in Sokoto under the supervision of Senator Wamakko. The mammoth crowd that followed the APC candidate all the way from the streets to the venue was stunning. Wamakko has stamped his authority on that state, signifying a strong challenge in the upcoming election. Videos https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2272669492964825&id=1883381391977389 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=379038762882395&id=100023288235755

By Shola Oyeyipo and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja As the presidential election inches closer, former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday held a crucial meeting in Lagos to perfect strategies for the election. The meeting came on the heels of the call by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation on the General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd)-led National Peace Committee, the United Nations and all world leaders to call President Muhammadu Buhari to order, insisting that there is no way free and fair elections could be guaranteed when his niece, Mrs. Amina Zakari, is heading the collation of presidential election results. The over three-hour meeting, which held behind closed-door at the Lekki Phase I Estate residence of renowned South-west leader and Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, had prominent politicians in attendance. A source at

Ebonyi state Governor, Engr. David Umahi, on Sunday said Ebonyi state was not part of the states that formed the “Sovereign States of Biafra,” which had been proclaimed by the Indigenous People of Biafra. Umahi, who also serves as Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, however said some of the agitations of IPOB members were genuine, except that the approach used in actualising their objectives were bad. Umahi also raised the alarm of an alleged threat of kidnap on the five governors of the zone by the group and added that the fresh threat was received via text messages, sent to his wife. He spoke on Sunday at the Nkwegu Military Cantonment in Abakaliki, the state capital, during the inauguration of Operation Python Dance (Egwu Eke) phase III, by the Nigerian Army. He said, “The GOC, you are coming at a time we had our brothers and sisters of IPOB sending text messages tha, there will be no elections and insulting the leaders, particularly the South-East governors. Just few