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Far right support will allow rightwing parties to rule the country's most populous region, Andalusia.

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Michael R White is the first American to be detained by Iran during the Trump presidency.

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At least 94 animals, revered by pastoralist communities, die after drinking from an abandoned well.

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Democrats say Trump slammed the table and walked out of shutdown talks, while president calls meeting waste of time

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Ahmed Douma was also fined $335,000 over his alleged role in a protest in Cairo in December 2011.

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Rare paint particles found in the teeth of a medieval nun indicate that she was an unknown illustrator of sacred texts.

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Arizona Police want to test the DNA of male staff at a nursing home where a patient gave birth.

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Democrats say Trump "manufactured" a border crisis, but he refuses to back down. What happens next?

Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has resigned her appointment.

She confirmed her resignation in Abuja on Wednesday.

Abba-Ibrahim said she quit her position to run for the Damaturu/Tarmuwa/Gujba/Gulani constituency seat of the Federal House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In October 2018, she defeated her son-in law, Mohammed Bukar Abba Ibrahim, to emerge flagbearer of the seat.

She was appointed Minister in November 2015.

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The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke

Political history of Nigeria for 58 years is history of why good people follow bad leaders. Why do bad leaders rise to the top? Why do we keep following them? Why do we keep electing them? Nigeria is a country where bad leaders attract blind followers. Bad leaders have done irreparable harm to our country, yet they have faithful followers.

Nigerians have tons of knowledge about how Nigeria should be, but everything, I mean everything, in Nigeria remains more dysfunctional, chaotic, and ungovernable. Yet, Nigerians nominate bad leaders as presidential candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). How is that even possible? 

Some of the characteristics of our bad leaders include: believing that they are the greatest, and others don't matter. They engage in corruption directly or indirectly. They have no concern about hurting others. They are incompetent, and they threat anyone who stand in their way of power or accumulating wealth. They use state organs or structures such as the police, the army to interfere, subjugate, suppress, and oppress others. They have the tendency to over control by instilling a culture of fear, reprisal, and isolation. They appoint puppets in key and important portfolios so they can be controlled and manipulated.

A leaked audio recording in which the Minister of Transportation and Director General of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization Rotimi Amaechi allegedly described Nigeria as helpless and hopeless, exposed the incompetence, foolishness, aloofness, stubbornness, arrogance, and dumbness of President Buhari has since gone viral. 

Here's Amaechi talking: “This country can never change, I swear. The only way this country can change is if everybody is killed. When Magnus (Abe) was my SSG, I told him that this country is hopeless and helpless. He said “Oga, stop it now. Coming from a governor, don't be saying that. But two months in Abuja, Magnus said this country is hopeless and helpless. I said why? He said, you are right, the only thing they do in Abuja is share money, they don't work. The president does not listen to anybody. He doesn't care. You can write want you want to write. The president doesn't care. Does he read? He will read, he will laugh. He will say “come, come and see, they are abusing me here.” “In fact, there was one case of somebody in Onitsha, a trader in Onitsha who couldn't sell his goats during Sallah. And I was with Oga on the plane and the man was busy abusing Buhari. He said “Amaechi, come, what is my business with Onitsha goat seller.?”

Before the Amaechi leaked audio, I've been thinking and asking myself why are some Nigerians still supporting and following bad leaders like Buhari and Atiku? Good old fear is one reason why people still support the Buharis and Atikus. Fear of Buhari's and Atiku's formidable opponent – Omoyele Sowore presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) of disrupting for good and for ever, our old purposeless politics. 
Contempt is another reason. One of the tactics of Buhari's administration is scapegoating his failures and incompetence on past administration of President Jonathan. Saying things like “I met an empty treasury,” “I didn't know the situation was that bad,” “There's less corruption in my government than Jonathan's,” “Buhari administration has fulfilled all its promises to Nigerians,” “Boko Haram has been decimated,” “We can't fix 16 years of PDP rot in four years,”  

Lies is yet another reason. It's amazing how blatant lies can be believed. Once Buhari followers accept certain lies such as “We have created two million jobs,” We're moving the country in the right direction,” “Buhari is a man of integrity,” “Buhari is doing his best but the National Assembly is the problem,” “We have constructed so many miles/kilometers of roads,” “We have empowered ten million women through Tradermoni,” “We're producing more rice than we can consume.” Because of these and other numerous lies, Buhari supporters do their best to support him with confirmation even when it's not true.
Followers of Buhari thrive on fake news and lies. It was Nero who promoted the fake news that Christians had burned Rome when he was the one to blame. Lying about it strengthened his power and moved his agenda forward. Similarly, from small falsehoods and omissions to sprawling lies and intentionally deceptive schemes, Buhari has been hoodwinking his supporters who are willing to be deceived because they like what is being offered. 

Promises make supporters of Buhari follow him. False hopes create false pictures about the past and the present, Buhari offers glowing images of the future, saying “Follow me to the NEXT LEVEL!”
We are weeks to the presidential elections, so what do we do? The most important skill of leadership is to lift up people and tackle major challenges. Nigerians this time around, must be wise in finding the best candidate and support him rather than defer to the Buharis and Atikus and follow them blindly. We must be cautious and do due diligence on the three major candidates – Sowore, Buhari, and Atiku – before following, supporting, and voting for them. We must remember that we need a candidate who can tackle challenges of governance and improve the debilitating socioeconomic conditions of our people. 

What gets measured gets changed. It is instructive to remind supporters of Buhari and Atiku that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. When results of their past are measured, no doubt Buhari and Atiku candidacies are not good for Nigerians. 

With the record of Buhari and Atiku, Nigerians should and must reject them at the polls. We must consider the skills needed of a good president: strength, vision, compassion, and humility... Let's go there!

bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com

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The internet is currently in a frenzy following the report that Nigerian singer, Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, and Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye, professionally known as Simi, would get married the traditional way at a yet-to-be-disclosed location, where only 300 guests have been invited to.

Although the management of both artistes are yet to confirm the veracity of the reports, messages from well-wishers have continued to pour in for them.

There had been speculations in the past over the relationship status of the duo.

FLASHBACK: 'Read The Line' — What Adekunle Gold Told Sahara TV About Simi In June

However, here is a flashback of an interview Sahara TV had with Adekunle Gold at our studios in 2018.

When asked about the relationship between him and Simi, Adekunle God said: “I don’t know how many times you guys... It's like you guys just want us to say 'o yes, we are dating'. Why? Just read the line. It's been said over time. Somebody asked me who 'Orente' is for. I said it is for Simi. What do I need to say again?”

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President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the readiness of the Nigerian government to enter into “negotiations for salary review” for all the workers who are already earning above the proposed minimum wage of N30,000 per month.

However, the President did not explicitly say if this “salary review” would be upwards to spread the coming salary increase across board, or downwards to accommodate it.

On Tuesday, the labour in many states of the federation had protested the delay in the implementation of the proposed minimum wage; and on Wednesday, the President inaugurated the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of an Increase in the Minimum Wage, to be chaired by Bismarck Rewane, a renowned economist.

Speaking at the occasion, the President said: “I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards. I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage.

“Also, it is important to explain that even though the subject of a National Minimum Wage is in the Exclusive Legislative List, we have been meeting with the state governors because it is imperative that the Federal Government carries the state governments along in determining any upward review of the minimum wage for workers.

“This is especially necessary considering the prevailing public sector revenue challenges, which have made it extremely difficult for some of the governments to pay workers as and when due.

“As you know we, at the federal level, have made adequate provision for the increase in the Minimum Wage in our 2019 Budget proposals which we submitted to the National Assembly. Therefore, we will be able to meet the additional costs that will be incurred in moving up all personnel who are currently earning below the new minimum wage.

“However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.”

Buhari also spoke about the importance of “implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which sets appropriate targets for levels of Capital Expenditure, Public Debt, Inflation, Employment, etc. 

“It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers,” he added.

Technical Committee inaugurated on Wednesday will advise the government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage.

The Terms of Reference of the committee are to develop, and advise government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases; to identify new revenue sources, as well as areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan; to propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increase; and make any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases.

Given the urgency of this exercise, the committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and recommendations within one month.

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It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari seems to have made up his mind to extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, possibly by six months according to some media reports. The IGP was officially billed to retire from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on January 3, 2019, given that he has attained the mandatory 35 years in service. This gift of a six-month extension the IGP Idris is to enjoy is not unique to him in the history of the Buhari administration. It is a questionable abidance on the part of President Buhari by the wisdom in the famous idiom, what is sauced for the geese is sauced for the gander. 

On two different occasions the president extended the tenures of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas. Statutorily, defence and service chiefs are expected to serve for two years. Having been appointed on July 13, 2015, their respective tenures ended on July 13, 2017. The first extension of tenure for these security chiefs was in July to December 2017. Towards the end of December 2017, the president, exercising the power of his office as enshrined in Section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, renewed the tenures of office of the defence and service chiefs – this time without any exact termination date. This silence on a finish date explains why those chiefs are still in office. As in their case, the question of why IGP Idris deserves an extension of tenure is still pleading for a logical answer. 

Beyond the fact that he is constitutionally empowered to renew the service time of his security aurochs, the president does not see any compelling reason to examine the quality of performances of these men in office before gifting them with more service space. For had President Buhari done so – training his mind objectively on the verifiable evidence of the security chiefs’ performances on the job –, it would have been unambiguously clear to him that they did not deserve the gift of tenure extension he generously showered on them. It is a no-brainer that, to maintain and improve on what works, viable organizations, corporations, and countries attract, maintain, and reward performing minds. Sadly, this cherished tradition of maintaining the best and rewarding performance is alien to the Buhari administration. 

What is IGP Idris being rewarded for? Exceptional transformation of the NPF? Provable improvement of the security situation across the country under his watch? Far from it. There can be no doubt – except of course to the choristers in the orchestra of the APC propaganda – that IGP Idris’s tenure in office in about the last three years has not catalysed significant improvement in the security situation of the country. In many regions of the country, insecurity of varied colourations stands out like the epaulets of a fashion-conscious officer. The IGP understands his job mainly as fighting the president’s political opponents. He is more active at stoking the fire of needless controversies and thumbing his nose at revered institutions than acquitting himself competently on the policing job. If he was not disregarding the directives of the president as the famous Benue case showed, he was either telling the National Assembly that he could not honour their invitation to give account of his stewardship, or instructing state governors to open up their states for unstructured cattle grazing. Under IGP Idris’s watch, the army under the equally disturbing leadership of Lt. Gen. Buratai has gained more visibility discharging the functions of the NPF. If there is any achievements IGP Idris could point to for which he merits the gift of a tenure extension in office, they will be at best microscopic and tokenistic, and of no enduring value to either the NPF or the country. 

Puzzlingly, instead of using the occasion of the expiration of IGP Idris’s tenure expiration to refresh the NPF with a far more competent, disciplined, and innovative head, President Buhari elected to reward averageness. What counts for excellence and thus fitting for reward in President Buhari’s reckoning is not difficult to fathom. It is sheer underperformance, incompetence, and the aridity of ordinariness. It is punishing to know that the current Nigerian leader neither aspires to excellence nor does he demand and seek it in his appointees. If he does, the appalling security condition in the land would have motivated the appointment of a new police boss. If excellence, competence, and character matter strongly to the president, he would have effortlessly observed that IGP Idris has given his best and that best is an athlete for a short-distance race. It does not seem to occur to President Buhari that a presidency is as good as those who serve it. 

Without any doubt, the Buhari administration is its own worst enemy. It is self-defeating for the president to keep caterwauling that the administration is not making giant strides because corruption is fighting back. No, it is not corruption that is fighting back and constituting a clog in the wheel of his administration. It is his pathetic inability to strive for excellence and embrace the Socratic imperative to engage in self-examination. Many Nigerians have looked in vain for evidence of introspection and self-examination in the administration. Because this important ingredient is missing in the dish of governance the administration is providing, it has not been able to go beyond scratching the surface of good governance. This lack of self-examination so much hamstrings the administration that what it has going well for it is the active functioning of its propaganda mill. This lack of critical stock-taking makes the fine tradition of reshuffling of cabinet and re-examination of actions and policies foreign to the administration.  

The Socratic imperative to engage in self-examination may still come to the aid of the Buhari administration if it does not continue to abjure it – assuming he wins the February 2019 presidential election. If the president and his kitchen cabinet embraces this invaluable element, it will be abundantly manifest to them that garlanding the shoulders of IGP Idris with an extension of tenure is – although lawful – an unhelpful political expedient. If truly national security is a very serious matter (the reason for which people like the Shiite leader and his wife, and the former NSA Dasuki are hidden against their wills), then a tired and less innovative mind like IGP Idris needs to be allowed to enjoy his deserved retirement.    

Ademola writes from the University of Manitoba, Canada.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the Technical Advisory Committee on the implementation of an Increase in the Minimum Wage.

On December 19, 2018, while presenting the budget proposal before the National Assembly, Buhari had disclosed plans to present the proposal on the minimum wage to a technical committee to work out the challenges around the labour’s demands. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Buhari Expresses Fears About N30,000 National Minimum Wage 0 Comments 3 Weeks Ago

He inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, shortly before the commencement of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the year.

The committee is expected to deliberate on sustainable sources of funding for the new minimum wage, as well as plans for implementation.

Bismarck Rewane, an economist, is the Chairman of the committee.

After reading the list of obligations of the committee, he also gave the council one month to submit its report and recommendations.

Others on board from the private sector are former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, as well as Sulieman Barry, Dr Ayo Teriba, and Prof. Akpan Ekpo.

From the public sector are Chairman of FIRS, Dr Babatunde Fowler; Director-General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, who is the Secretary of the committee; representative of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF); Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Richard Egbule; Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Permanent Secretary General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Olajide Odewale; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, and Solicitor General Of the Federation and Permanent Secretary ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata.

Others are Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, office of the Vice President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy, Dr. Joseph Nnanna; Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniaga; Director-General, National Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith; Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale; Mrs. Aisha Hamad; Mamman Garba and Tunde Lawal. 

“I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards," Buhari said. "I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage."

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The suspect allegedly replaced the stolen ticket with an altered one and tried to claim the prize.

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British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is serving a prison sentence in Iran for alleged spying offences.

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After Rafah al-Qunun fled Saudi Arabia she turned to social media to campaign for asylum.

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State and Biodun Olujimi, the Senate Minority Leader, have inaugurated parallel campaign councils for Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his capacity as the PDP South West Coordinator, Fayose inaugurated the council members in Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti. Meanwhile, Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, in Ajilosun in Ado Ekiti, inaugurated a parallel council. She also accused Fayose of manipulating the list for pecuniary reasons.

According to NAN, Olujimi wrote a petition to Uche Secondus, the PDP Chairman, accusing Fayose of hijacking the council. She said Fayose's move was contrary to the list agreed by party stakeholders, and urged the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to disband and reconstitute the council.

She also asked the party Chairman to compel Fayose to adhere strictly to the resolutions reached by stakeholders on the composition of the council at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti on December 28, 2018 to forestall crisis in the party ahead of the polls.

In her remarks during the inauguration of the campaign council, Olujimi said: "Those appointed have started work, they have even written letters to the state government for the release of the stadium.

"They were supposed to have been inaugurated on January 3rd. Suddenly everything changed and Fayose tinkered with the list. Why we are here is that we are saying that we cannot shift the goal post in the middle of the game. We are standing by the original list."

However, speaking on Olujimi's effort, which he referred to as an exercise in futility, Fayose said: “They need me more than I need them, because in my own case, I have got nothing to lose as I am not contesting any elective position. We will ask our people to vote against these betrayers."

Also commenting on Olujimi's action, Professor Kolapo Ishola, Chairman of the campaign council for Fayose’s camp and former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, said: “There is no alternative campaign council except this one. Any other campaign council where my name appears outside the one inaugurated by our leader, the Governor, is illegal."

Both inaugurations were well-attended by chieftains of the party.

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Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State and Biodun Olujimi, the Senate Minority Leader, have inaugurated parallel campaign councils for Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his capacity as the PDP South West Coordinator, Fayose inaugurated the council members in Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti. Meanwhile, Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, in Ajilosun in Ado Ekiti, inaugurated a parallel council. She also accused Fayose of manipulating the list for pecuniary reasons.

According to NAN, Olujimi wrote a petition to Uche Secondus, the PDP Chairman, accusing Fayose of hijacking the council. She said Fayose's move was contrary to the list agreed by party stakeholders, and urged the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to disband and reconstitute the council.

She also asked the party Chairman to compel Fayose to adhere strictly to the resolutions reached by stakeholders on the composition of the council at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti on December 28, 2018 to forestall crisis in the party ahead of the polls.

In her remarks during the inauguration of the campaign council, Olujimi said: "Those appointed have started work, they have even written letters to the state government for the release of the stadium.

"They were supposed to have been inaugurated on January 3rd. Suddenly everything changed and Fayose tinkered with the list. Why we are here is that we are saying that we cannot shift the goal post in the middle of the game. We are standing by the original list."

However, speaking on Olujimi's effort, which he referred to as an exercise in futility, Fayose said: “They need me more than I need them, because in my own case, I have got nothing to lose as I am not contesting any elective position. We will ask our people to vote against these betrayers."

Also commenting on Olujimi's action, Professor Kolapo Ishola, Chairman of the campaign council for Fayose’s camp and former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, said: “There is no alternative campaign council except this one. Any other campaign council where my name appears outside the one inaugurated by our leader, the Governor, is illegal."

Both inaugurations were well-attended by chieftains of the party.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State and Biodun Olujimi, the Senate Minority Leader, have inaugurated parallel campaign councils for Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his capacity as the PDP South West Coordinator, Fayose inaugurated the council members in Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti. Meanwhile, Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, in Ajilosun in Ado Ekiti, inaugurated a parallel council. She also accused Fayose of manipulating the list for pecuniary reasons.

According to NAN, Olujimi wrote a petition to Uche Secondus, the PDP Chairman, accusing Fayose of hijacking the council. She said Fayose's move was contrary to the list agreed by party stakeholders, and urged the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to disband and reconstitute the council.

She also asked the party Chairman to compel Fayose to adhere strictly to the resolutions reached by stakeholders on the composition of the council at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti on December 28, 2018 to forestall crisis in the party ahead of the polls.

In her remarks during the inauguration of the campaign council, Olujimi said: "Those appointed have started work, they have even written letters to the state government for the release of the stadium.

"They were supposed to have been inaugurated on January 3rd. Suddenly everything changed and Fayose tinkered with the list. Why we are here is that we are saying that we cannot shift the goal post in the middle of the game. We are standing by the original list."

However, speaking on Olujimi's effort, which he referred to as an exercise in futility, Fayose said: “They need me more than I need them, because in my own case, I have got nothing to lose as I am not contesting any elective position. We will ask our people to vote against these betrayers."

Also commenting on Olujimi's action, Professor Kolapo Ishola, Chairman of the campaign council for Fayose’s camp and former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, said: “There is no alternative campaign council except this one. Any other campaign council where my name appears outside the one inaugurated by our leader, the Governor, is illegal."

Both inaugurations were well-attended by chieftains of the party.

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Ben Murray-Bruce, the senator representing Bayelsa East constituency at the National Assembly, has flayed President Muhammadu Buhari for absenting himself from the burial of the five officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who died in a helicopter crash during anti-Boko Haram operations, as well as that of 19 of the soldiers killed in Metele, Borno State, by Boko Haram.

On January 2, a NAF helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, northern Borno State. 

The five officers were subsequently listed as Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob, a Pilot in Command; Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas, a Co-Pilot; Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim, a Flight Technician; Lance Corporal Adamu Nura, a Gunner; and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael, a Gunner.

The quintet were laid to rest on Tuesday, without Buhari in attendance — a development that irks Murray-Bruce.

“I was rather disappointed that the President did not attend either the funerals of the Metele soldiers, or the five Air Force officers who perished in the helicopter crash at Damasak,” he tweeted. “His presence would have greatly boosted the morale of our troops. It was a missed opportunity.”

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In compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), organised labour unions in Ondo State joined their counterparts in other states in the protest to demand the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The leaders of the unions converged at the pouplar Adegbemile Cultural Centre in Akure and marched to the Ondo State Governor's office on Tuesday.

On Monday, the Nigerian government's meeting with the union leaders ended in a deadlock.

Speaking during the demonstration, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, demanded to know why Presdent Muhammadu Buhari was yet to implement the new minimum wage of N30,000.

Represented by Yemisi Bamgbose, an erswhile national president of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU), Wabba stressed that the demostrations were not politically motivated, but geared towards committing the president to take immediate action on the matter.

The letter addresed to Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, was also presented during the protest.

The letter read: "Your Excellency will recall the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, comprising the government, organised private sector and organised labour has concluded its work and submitted the report with a draft bill to President Muhammadu Buhari on 6th November, 2018. It is also noteworthy that six governors were members of the committee that worked out the new national minimum wage. Therefore, it stands to reason that the report and draft bill were the collective efforts of the broadest spectrum of all concerned parties and should thus commend the support of every governor.

"Therefore, the organised labour would wish to obtain from Your Excellency a commitment to the speedy implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30,000 when enacted into law. While counting on Your Excellency to make the best endeavour to express agreement, convey our polite gesture to your colleagues, the enlightened public, generally and advance the cause of the new national minimum wage, we advise that the political behaviour of Nigeria workers is contingent upon the commitment to the expeditious enactment of the new national minimum wage by the legislature before the polls.

"Nigerian workers as voters will indeed take their eventual fate to the polling stations and indicate in the ballot their views on the faithful implementation of new minimum wage by the executive before the polls. Nigerian workers and families will not — and cause friends and allies not to — vote for any candidate in the forthcoming elections, who hesitate or refuse to commit to the national minimum wage.

"For the avoidance of any iota of doubt, the fate of the new national minimum wage will largely determine the electoral preference of Nigerian workers in 2019."

Ifedayo Abegunde, the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG) who received the letter, said the state would look into the demand and ensure it is related to the Nigerian government.

Abegunde, however, maintained that the welfare of Ondo workers was paramount to the state government.
 

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In compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), organised labour unions in Ondo State joined their counterparts in other states in the protest to demand the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The leaders of the unions converged at the pouplar Adegbemile Cultural Centre in Akure and marched to the Ondo State Governor's office on Tuesday.

On Monday, the Nigerian government's meeting with the union leaders ended in a deadlock.

Speaking during the demonstration, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, demanded to know why Presdent Muhammadu Buhari was yet to implement the new minimum wage of N30,000.

Represented by Yemisi Bamgbose, an erswhile national president of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU), Wabba stressed that the demostrations were not politically motivated, but geared towards committing the president to take immediate action on the matter.

The letter addresed to Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, was also presented during the protest.

The letter read: "Your Excellency will recall the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage, comprising the government, organised private sector and organised labour has concluded its work and submitted the report with a draft bill to President Muhammadu Buhari on 6th November, 2018. It is also noteworthy that six governors were members of the committee that worked out the new national minimum wage. Therefore, it stands to reason that the report and draft bill were the collective efforts of the broadest spectrum of all concerned parties and should thus commend the support of every governor.

"Therefore, the organised labour would wish to obtain from Your Excellency a commitment to the speedy implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30,000 when enacted into law. While counting on Your Excellency to make the best endeavour to express agreement, convey our polite gesture to your colleagues, the enlightened public, generally and advance the cause of the new national minimum wage, we advise that the political behaviour of Nigeria workers is contingent upon the commitment to the expeditious enactment of the new national minimum wage by the legislature before the polls.

"Nigerian workers as voters will indeed take their eventual fate to the polling stations and indicate in the ballot their views on the faithful implementation of new minimum wage by the executive before the polls. Nigerian workers and families will not — and cause friends and allies not to — vote for any candidate in the forthcoming elections, who hesitate or refuse to commit to the national minimum wage.

"For the avoidance of any iota of doubt, the fate of the new national minimum wage will largely determine the electoral preference of Nigerian workers in 2019."

Ifedayo Abegunde, the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG) who received the letter, said the state would look into the demand and ensure it is related to the Nigerian government.

Abegunde, however, maintained that the welfare of Ondo workers was paramount to the state government.
 

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The International Press Centre (IPC) has expressed concern over the attack on journalists who were covering the governorship rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday.

A violence erupted at the rally, and among those affected were the group political editor of The Nation Newspaper, Emmanuel Oladesu, a New Telegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf.

The News Editor of The Nation confirmed the incident to IPC, stating that Oladesu was hit by a stray bullet and is receiving treatment at a hospital, but in stable condition.

The statement read: "IPC hereby reminds all political parties that the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage obligates them to ensure the safety of journalists covering their activities including campaigns. IPC therefore calls on the Lagos APC to urgently take appropriate steps to apprehend the alleged perpetrators of the bizarre attack with a view to handing them over to the law enforcement agencies for immediate prosecution, also as provided by the Code of Election Coverage. 

"IPC calls on all journalists covering the ongoing campaigns to keep themselves abreast of all safety measure. They should learn to stay away from political activities where rival gangs engage in show of force, especially through display of weapons.

"Journalists covering the elections should also bear in mind that they constitute dangerous assignments requiring them to take insurance cover, especially from their employees.

"IPC appeals to the security agents on electoral duty, especially the Police, to consider the protection of journalists as part of their responsibility as envisaged by and indeed provided for by the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage."

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The International Press Centre (IPC) has expressed concern over the attack on journalists who were covering the governorship rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday.

A violence erupted at the rally, and among those affected were the group political editor of The Nation Newspaper, Emmanuel Oladesu, a New Telegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf.

The News Editor of The Nation confirmed the incident to IPC, stating that Oladesu was hit by a stray bullet and is receiving treatment at a hospital, but in stable condition.

The statement read: "IPC hereby reminds all political parties that the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage obligates them to ensure the safety of journalists covering their activities including campaigns. IPC therefore calls on the Lagos APC to urgently take appropriate steps to apprehend the alleged perpetrators of the bizarre attack with a view to handing them over to the law enforcement agencies for immediate prosecution, also as provided by the Code of Election Coverage. 

"IPC calls on all journalists covering the ongoing campaigns to keep themselves abreast of all safety measure. They should learn to stay away from political activities where rival gangs engage in show of force, especially through display of weapons.

"Journalists covering the elections should also bear in mind that they constitute dangerous assignments requiring them to take insurance cover, especially from their employees.

"IPC appeals to the security agents on electoral duty, especially the Police, to consider the protection of journalists as part of their responsibility as envisaged by and indeed provided for by the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage."

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Barely 48 hours after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced the suspension of Senator Gamawa Babayo, its Deputy National Chairman (North), for engaging in "anti-party activity", President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed him into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was disclosed by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Tuesday.

A statement by Kola Ologbodiyan, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, on Monday, noted that a petition was written against Babayo, and the PDP NWC "found merit in the petition on allegation of dereliction of duty and anti-party activity as contained in Section 58 (1) e, f, g, h of the PDP Constitution", and therefore suspended him. See Also Sahara Reporters PDP Suspends Deputy National Chairman 0 Comments 20 Hours Ago

However, President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed Babayo into APC.

“President Buhari receives in audience new entrant into APC, former Deputy National Chairman (North) of PDP, Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa, and Hon. Kaulaha Aliyu alongside Bauchi State Governor in the State House on 8th January, 2019," the statement by Adesina read.

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Rotimi Amaechi, Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can only defeat the ruling party on corruption scorecard.

He stated this while speaking at the mega rally held in Adamawa State on Tuesday, where he challenged the PDP to show its scorecard on plans for Nigerians.

“This election is between two parties that have been in power. We challenge PDP to an open debate where the masses will be present. Let them show their scorecard and we will show our own too. The only place they will beat us is in corruption," he said.

Amaechi also accused PDP of yearning to regain leadership of the country so that it can embezzle more money and recoup the funds used during the electioneering period.

He continued: "The only way we can show these men that we are serious is not to allow them to come back, because if they come back, they will use four years to recoup what they have lost. They will be busy eating from what is left. All the struggles of Buhari is what they would squander.

“You have to go out and vote. When you vote, do not leave. PDP people are magicians because if you go, two thousand would become two million. You know I was in PDP, so I know this. Stay there and vote. When they announce the results, you can go home.”

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Rotimi Amaechi, Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can only defeat the ruling party on corruption scorecard.

He stated this while speaking at the mega rally held in Adamawa State on Tuesday, where he challenged the PDP to show its scorecard on plans for Nigerians.

“This election is between two parties that have been in power. We challenge PDP to an open debate where the masses will be present. Let them show their scorecard and we will show our own too. The only place they will beat us is in corruption," he said.

Amaechi also accused PDP of yearning to regain leadership of the country so that it can embezzle more money and recoup the funds used during the electioneering period.

He continued: "The only way we can show these men that we are serious is not to allow them to come back, because if they come back, they will use four years to recoup what they have lost. They will be busy eating from what is left. All the struggles of Buhari is what they would squander.

“You have to go out and vote. When you vote, do not leave. PDP people are magicians because if you go, two thousand would become two million. You know I was in PDP, so I know this. Stay there and vote. When they announce the results, you can go home.”

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2RCVudB

Rotimi Amaechi, Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can only defeat the ruling party on corruption scorecard.

He stated this while speaking at the mega rally held in Adamawa State on Tuesday, where he challenged the PDP to show its scorecard on plans for Nigerians.

“This election is between two parties that have been in power. We challenge PDP to an open debate where the masses will be present. Let them show their scorecard and we will show our own too. The only place they will beat us is in corruption," he said.

Amaechi also accused PDP of yearning to regain leadership of the country so that it can embezzle more money and recoup the funds used during the electioneering period.

He continued: "The only way we can show these men that we are serious is not to allow them to come back, because if they come back, they will use four years to recoup what they have lost. They will be busy eating from what is left. All the struggles of Buhari is what they would squander.

“You have to go out and vote. When you vote, do not leave. PDP people are magicians because if you go, two thousand would become two million. You know I was in PDP, so I know this. Stay there and vote. When they announce the results, you can go home.”

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http://bit.ly/2RCVudB

The Nigerian Government has fixed January 23 to transfer the executive bill for the new minimum wage to the National Assembly.

This was revealed by Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, after a meeting with the labour unions in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other trade unions held a nationwide protest on Tuesday to demand the implementation of N30,000 minimum wage. 

The Nigerian government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the union as a show of readiness on its part to implement the new wage.

While addressing newsmen, Ngige said: “As for the transmission of the executive bill to the National Assembly, the government will religiously implement all the processes that will enable us to transmit this bill within the stipulated time. We have a target time of January 23, 2018, and we hope that all things being equal, the government will be able to do so.”

He urged labour unions to shelve all planned protests, stating that government would ensure smooth transmission of the bill.

“We will take all statutory meetings of the Federal Executive Council, National Economic Council and the National Council of State to enable us transmit the bill on the new national minimum wage.”

Ayuba Wabba, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who also addressed journalists after the meeting, maintained that the government ought to have gone past the present stage in implementing the new minimum wage, as workers have had to wait for two years.

“After the submission of the report by the tripartite committee that deliberated on the minimum wage two months ago, it was expected that the Federal Government would have gone beyond the present stage of making effort to transmit a bill to NASS," he said.

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The Nigerian Government has fixed January 23 to transfer the executive bill for the new minimum wage to the National Assembly.

This was revealed by Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, after a meeting with the labour unions in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other trade unions held a nationwide protest on Tuesday to demand the implementation of N30,000 minimum wage. 

The Nigerian government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the union as a show of readiness on its part to implement the new wage.

While addressing newsmen, Ngige said: “As for the transmission of the executive bill to the National Assembly, the government will religiously implement all the processes that will enable us to transmit this bill within the stipulated time. We have a target time of January 23, 2018, and we hope that all things being equal, the government will be able to do so.”

He urged labour unions to shelve all planned protests, stating that government would ensure smooth transmission of the bill.

“We will take all statutory meetings of the Federal Executive Council, National Economic Council and the National Council of State to enable us transmit the bill on the new national minimum wage.”

Ayuba Wabba, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who also addressed journalists after the meeting, maintained that the government ought to have gone past the present stage in implementing the new minimum wage, as workers have had to wait for two years.

“After the submission of the report by the tripartite committee that deliberated on the minimum wage two months ago, it was expected that the Federal Government would have gone beyond the present stage of making effort to transmit a bill to NASS," he said.

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