Month: July 2019

PDP Presidential Primaries: Aspirants To Sign Undertaking Not To Defect.

All the presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are to sign an undertaking that they will not defect after the presidential primary election.

The undertaken would also be for those that lose to support the candidate of the party for the 2019 presidential election.

The decisions were taken in Abuja Wednesday night when all the aspirants met with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

One of the aspirants and former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, confirmed this in Minna Thursday while answering questions from newsmen after addressing potential delegates and other stakeholders of the party at its secretariat. “This is an issue that came up last night, we had our first meeting with members of the National Working Committee. “It was agreed that before the conduct of the primaries, there will be more meetings. In one of the meetings, we will sign an undertaking to support who may emerge as candidate. “We were assured of transparent primaries by the party,” Atiku said.

The presidential aspirant pledged that he would abide by whatever agreement reached, expressing confidence that he would emerge as the candidate of the PDP for next year’s election. “I have participated in a number of presidential primaries. At the end of the primaries, I have always committed myself to supporting whoever emerged. I don’t think it is going to be a different case this time around,” he said.

Atiku said his ambition to become Nigeria’s president had never been a do-or-die affair, saying: “I have always been motivated by service to the nation. I am not motivated by selfishness.” According to him, “My ability and my health will determine if I will continue to offer my service to this nation if I do not win the primaries.”

Commenting on the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, the former vice-president declared: “In the last three years of the APC, we have recorded the lowest economic growth in the history of this country since we returned to democracy “APC has failed as far as the economic growth

Channels TV Reporter Shot During Shiite Police Clash, Confirmed Dead.

A Channels TV reporter, Precious Owolabi, who was hit by a stray bullet on Monday in Abuja during a violent clash between the members of Shiite and police has been confirmed dead by the station. 

The news was confirmed during the News At 10 by the station. He was rushed to the hospital after a gunshot injury he sustained during the mayhem.

Precious, a Youth Corper, was working with Channels TV and covering the event when the unfortunate incident occurred.

RIP Precious.

Channels TV Reporter Shot As Shiite Protesters Clash With Police In Abuja.

A Channels Television Reporter has been hit by a stray bullet as members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites clashed with officers of the Nigerian Police on Monday in Abuja.

The protest by the Shiites turned violent on Monday in Abuja, including the environs of the Federal Secretariat.

Policemen who cordoned off the road leading to the National Assembly and the three arms zone disrupted the protest by the Shiites, firing teargas to disperse the crowd.

The police have taken control of the area.

I Raped My Daughter To Test Her Virginity – Father.

A 37-year-old guard, Wasiu Orilonise, has confessed to an Oyo State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan that he raped his 15-year-old daughter in order to ascertain her virginity and protect her.

Orilonise begged the court not to punish him as he had carnal knowledge of the victim for protection and to confirm if she was still a virgin.

The accused was arraigned on one count of having unlawful carnal knowledge of his daughter.

When the Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Olaniran, sought to know what pushed him into defiling his biological daughter, Orilonise said since he lost his wife a few years ago, he had been taking care of the victim and her siblings.

He told the court that he committed the act in order to protect his daughter.

Orilonise said the incident happened when he was trying to ascertain if the victim had lost her virginity, adding that upon discovering that she was still a virgin, he started having sex with her regularly before she would leave for school and at night.

The magistrate berated fathers, who were fond of sexually abusing their daughters and other under-aged girls, saying they were allowing the devil to use them to destroy the society.

He, thereafter, ordered that the accused be remanded in the Agodi Prison pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions and adjourned the case till July 30, 2019.

OFFICIAL: Mikel Retires From International Football.

Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel has announced his retirement from international football.

Mikel made the announcement on his official Instagram handle on Thursday, a day after the Eagles won the third-place match at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles captain said he started his career in Egypt in 2003, and is hanging his boot at the same location in 2019.

Congratulations Mikel, enjoy the next phase life brings.

Ex-South African Footballer Mark Fish Shot Dead In His Car.

A former South African football star has been shot dead while driving in Johannesburg.

Marc Batchelor, former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates player, was gunned down in his car on Monday evening, police confirmed.

He was fatally shot when two gunmen on motorbikes opened fire on his vehicle in Olivedale, according to reports.

The motive for the attack is not yet known and a murder investigation has been launched, South African news broadcaster eNCA reported.

Images circulated on social media showed a bullet-riddled window on what was reported to be Mr Batchelor’s vehicle.

Police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini told Soccer Laduma: “Yes, he was shot this evening by two men on a motorbike.”

 “He died in his vehicle and nothing was taken. The motive is yet to be established, but we are investigating.”

No arrests have been made.

Buhari Suspends RUGA Settlement Projects.

Following public outcry and the seeming misconception about the Ruga Settlement Projects, an idea designed to stem the tide of herdsmen/farmers clashes across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have suspended the idea pending further notice, THISDAY has learnt.

The president, after consultations with stakeholders, THISDAY gathered, has resolved to put away the idea for a thorough review and well acceptable approach to the menace constituted to national security by the constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

A presidency source that hinted at this development, said the announcement would be made any moment from now with detailed explanations, going forward.

PDP Summons Senator Elisha Abbo.

Nigeria’s main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has summoned its member, Elisha Abbo, a senator, who was caught on camera assaulting a woman in a sex toy shop in Abuja.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said as a law-abiding and upstanding party, it detests and completely condemns such “act of lawlessness and callousness as exhibited in the video and will, therefore, never condone it”

“Our party is also shocked that the harmless victim of the unprovoked assault is said to be a nursing mother, who ought to be protected.

“Though this is a personal conduct of an individual which has no bearing with the culture of our party, the PDP, however, holds that no responsible person will condone such an attitude.”

“In the light of this, the NWC has commenced investigation into the matter and summoned Senator Elisha Abbo, in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP and code of conduct of our members.”

He said the party has taken note of the immediate action taken by the Senate.

The Senate on Wednesday set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the incident.

“The PDP, at all levels of engagement, is reputed for her utmost respect and commitment towards the rights, safety and wellbeing of our citizens, particularly our women, and cannot tolerate any callous assault on any Nigerian,” Mr Ologbondiyan said.

The PDP assured Nigerians that it will always stand on the side of justice and will never spare a thought in taking action on any of its members found wanting, particularly those elected or appointed into public offices.

Nigerians have been fuming on social media after a video showing the senator assaulting the woman emerged on this website.

Nigerian Senator Slaps Woman Inside Abuja Sex Toy Shop.

Senator Elisha Abbo has been caught on tape assaulting a woman during an argument in Abuja.

A Nigerian senator who was sworn in last month, Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North – PDP), has been caught on camera repeatedly assaulting a woman during an altercation inside a sex shop in Abuja.

According to a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained by Premium Times, Abbo assaulted the woman after she supported the shop owner whom the lawmaker had accused of insulting him.

The incident reportedly happened on May 11, 2019 exactly one month before the 41-year-old lawmaker was sworn into the 9th Senate.

Abbo had reportedly arrived at the shop around 6 pm on May 11 with three young women to buy sex toys. However, one of the women soon started throwing up, leading to the shop owner displaying irritation at the mess created.

This resulted in the lawmaker accusing the shop owner, a young woman, of poisoning the store’s air conditioner, an accusation that then led to an exchange of words between both parties.

In the footage that’s now public, Abbo was seen waiting inside the shop making calls and was soon joined by a police officer whom he asked to arrest the shop owner he described as a friend.

“She insulted me. She said I’m drunk, stupid and mad,” he told the officer.

The shop owner promptly called her father on the phone to explain the situation, but this angered Abbo who angrily told her to disconnect the call and made an attempt to snatch the phone.

An attempt by a friend of the shop owner to intervene angered the lawmaker more, leading to him approaching her and pushing her in the head. He then proceeded to slap her three times.

Abbo kept calling her stupid for her intervention and commanded the officers to arrest both women.

“I’ll make an example of you,” he said to the shop owner after the assaulted woman was first led outside.

The assaulted woman was taken to a hospital the next day and was treated for eye inflammation and other injuries she sustained during the attack, according to Premium Times.

The assault was reported at the Maitama Area Command Headquarters on May 14, with the victim demanding an apology from the lawmaker. She also demanded he should foot her medical bill and desist from further threats of physical harm against her.

Police officers have reportedly failed to act since the complaint was made, instead asking the victim to find Abbo’s telephone number so they can reach him.

The lawmaker had reportedly returned to the shop in panic to inquire about the CCTV but he was told that it was not functioning.

He threatened to deal with the establishment if the footage of his violence ever surfaced, according to Premium Times.

The victim of the assault and the store owner declined to comment on the story for fear of backlash from the lawmaker. Witnesses and sources that spoke to Premium Times also wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

In her complaint to the police, the assaulted victim also demanded a criminal investigation and possible prosecution of Senator Abbo.

The senator is not protected by immunity from law and should be prosecuted for the assault.

Via: Pulse.

ECOWAS Adopts ‘Eco’ As Single Currency For West Africa.

Beginning in January 2020, countries within the West African sub-region will be able to use a single currency called ECO.

The currency was adopted by the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Saturday in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

The West African leaders endorsed the currency at their 55th Ordinary Session and approved a road map towards the currency’s issuance in January 2020. There was a roadmap to ensure that all member countries meet three primary criteria for the adoption of the currency.

Criteria Include:

That includes member countries having a budget deficit of not more than 3 percent; average annual inflation of less than 10 percent with a long-term goal of not more than 5 percent by 2019.

Countries were expected to also have gross reserves that can finance at least three months of imports.

The other convergence criteria that have been adopted by ECOWAS are public debt or Gross Domestic Product of not more than 70 percent.

There is also the issue of central banks financing budget deficit not more than 10 percent of previous year’s tax revenue, and nominal exchange rate variation of plus or minus 10 percent.

At the end of the Abuja meeting, a communiqué read by Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mustapha Suleiman noted that the regional leaders instructed the ECOWAS Commission to work in collaboration with West African Monetary Agency.

The commission is also expected to work with West African Monetary Institute and all central banks to settle on a symbol for the single currency.

Significant Progress:

The ECOWAS Chairman President Issoufou Mahamadou has said that the revised roadmap does not affect the date for the issuance of the single currency in January 2020.

Speaking about the deadline for adoption Mahamadou said “We have not changed that but we will continue with assessment between now and then.

“We are of the view that countries that are ready will launch the single currency and countries that are not yet ready will join the programme as they comply with all six convergence criteria.”

ECOWAS has a combined population of 385 million and was set up in 1975. It comprises Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Eight of these countries use one currency called the CFA franc. Those are Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

The current decision to adopt one currency is similar to the move made by the European Union to adopt the single currency called Euro (€).