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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has adopted President Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate for the 2019 general election.
This formed part of the resolutions at the National Executive Council meeting of the party.
The meeting is ongoing in Abuja.
More to follow...
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The Nigerian government says only Nigerian pilots are in the employ of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
That was the position of Laolu Akande, the Vice President’s spokesman, on Thursday, in his reaction to the claim by a group of aviation professionals that foreigners were the pilots flying the Vice President.
The group, the Aviation Round Table (ART), had issued a statement on Wednesday, saying: “We are deeply concerned about the management of security of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is embarrassing to see the Vice President of Nigeria being flown by a foreign pilot whether contracted or chartered in a Nigerian Police helicopter as noticed in a previous flight during this campaign season.” See Also 
Concerns about Osinbajo’s flight safety came to the fore when a chopper conveying him and 11 other people crash-landed in Kogi State on February 2, 2019. See Also 
However, the Vice President has denied being flown by foreigners.
A tweet by Akande on Thursday read: “For the record: all the (plane or chopper) pilots that fly the Vice President are Nigerians. Ignore any insinuations or suggestions to the contrary.”
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The Nigerian government says only Nigerian pilots are in the employ of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
That was the position of Laolu Akande, the Vice President’s spokesman, on Thursday, in his reaction to the claim by a group of aviation professionals that foreigners were the pilots flying the Vice President.
The group, the Aviation Round Table (ART), had issued a statement on Wednesday, saying: “We are deeply concerned about the management of security of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is embarrassing to see the Vice President of Nigeria being flown by a foreign pilot whether contracted or chartered in a Nigerian Police helicopter as noticed in a previous flight during this campaign season.” See Also
Concerns about Osinbajo’s flight safety came to the fore when a chopper conveying him and 11 other people crash-landed in Kogi State on February 2, 2019. See Also
However, the Vice President has denied being flown by foreigners.
A tweet by Akande on Thursday read: “For the record: all the (plane or chopper) pilots that fly the Vice President are Nigerians. Ignore any insinuations or suggestions to the contrary.”
Travel News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
The African Action Congress (AAC), a political party and progenitor of the TakeItBack movement, has launched a mobile app for Nigerians to report the 2019 elections.
The launch, which took place in Lagos on Monday, featured a down-to-basics exposition of the features of the app, most notably the ‘Monitor Election’ feature.
The app offers the opportunity for individuals and other observers to monitor and report common electoral anomalies if found, report accurate votes scored by each party, and take photographs of the results as pasted at their polling units.
However, before observers can start using the app, they are required to fill in their details under an ‘Edit profile’ section.
According to Abiodun Thorpe, the developer of the app, “members of the public who identify with the TakeItBack movement can also use the app to familiarise themselves with the party’s constitution and manifesto, register as members of the party, send messages to the party, volunteer for the party, donate to the party, receive news updates, and get contact details of the AAC party hierarchy on a state-by-state basis.”
The app also affords individuals the opportunity to know AAC candidates nationwide and obtain voter education.
It is available on Google Playstore with the keywords ‘AAC Take It Back’ and is 9mb in size. Members of the public are, however, advised to be wary of a similar, deceptive app with the name ‘African Action Congress’ that is 2.4mb in size.
In case of internet glitches, individuals are advised to report through the AAC hotlines: 09075080891, 08185900110.
Elections Technology News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade (retd), a former Chief of Army Staff, hass urged Nigerians to ignore the comments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as he is an “irritable leader” who belongs in the “dustbin of history”.
He also urged the media to focus on their job as “the fourth estate of the realm” and endeavour to keep people in their place, and not give them unnecessary publicity.
He stated this in an advertorial published in The Punch newspaper on Thursday.
His words: “The Nigerian media appear to have forgotten they are indeed the fourth estate of the realm. They are gatekeepers. They owe Nigeria the responsibility of keeping this irritable man where he belongs — the waste bin of history.
“Like his daughter, Iyabo, reminded him in her letter, Nigeria does not belong to him. He should allow Nigerians choose who they want and stop goading the citizenry for his own selfish interests.
“Olusegun Obasanjo asking Nigerians to vote for Atiku Abubakar is an insult to our collective intelligence. With the benefit of hindsight, can anyone truly say Obasanjo’s sense of judgment in choosing leaders can be trusted?
“Take a good look at history. Through the clandestine manoeuvres in 1979, he foisted on Nigeria a reluctant Shehu Shagari at the expense of the cerebral Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikiwe. After his second coming, he so manipulated the electoral system that he fraudulently installed an unhealthy Umaru Yar’Adua as President alongside another reluctant character in the person of Goodluck Jonathan as the deputy.
“He denied every interested member of his party while employing all sorts of machination including threat and blackmail. Then came 2015; he told Nigerians Muhammadu Buhari is the best man for the job. As he has done to every Presidential candidate he installed or supported, a few years down the line, he says Buhari is unfit for the job again.”
Akinrinade berated Obasanjo for endorsing Atiku after taking a contrary position in the past, stating that “The Bible says something about such people- a double-minded man is unstable in his ways, James 1:8. Obasanjo is not a man whose judgement can be trusted.”
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Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade (retd), a former Chief of Army Staff, hass urged Nigerians to ignore the comments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as he is an “irritable leader” who belongs in the “dustbin of history”.
He also urged the media to focus on their job as “the fourth estate of the realm” and endeavour to keep people in their place, and not give them unnecessary publicity.
He stated this in an advertorial published in The Punch newspaper on Thursday.
His words: “The Nigerian media appear to have forgotten they are indeed the fourth estate of the realm. They are gatekeepers. They owe Nigeria the responsibility of keeping this irritable man where he belongs — the waste bin of history.
“Like his daughter, Iyabo, reminded him in her letter, Nigeria does not belong to him. He should allow Nigerians choose who they want and stop goading the citizenry for his own selfish interests.
“Olusegun Obasanjo asking Nigerians to vote for Atiku Abubakar is an insult to our collective intelligence. With the benefit of hindsight, can anyone truly say Obasanjo’s sense of judgment in choosing leaders can be trusted?
“Take a good look at history. Through the clandestine manoeuvres in 1979, he foisted on Nigeria a reluctant Shehu Shagari at the expense of the cerebral Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikiwe. After his second coming, he so manipulated the electoral system that he fraudulently installed an unhealthy Umaru Yar’Adua as President alongside another reluctant character in the person of Goodluck Jonathan as the deputy.
“He denied every interested member of his party while employing all sorts of machination including threat and blackmail. Then came 2015; he told Nigerians Muhammadu Buhari is the best man for the job. As he has done to every Presidential candidate he installed or supported, a few years down the line, he says Buhari is unfit for the job again.”
Akinrinade berated Obasanjo for endorsing Atiku after taking a contrary position in the past, stating that “The Bible says something about such people- a double-minded man is unstable in his ways, James 1:8. Obasanjo is not a man whose judgement can be trusted.”
Politics News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade (retd), a former Chief of Army Staff, hass urged Nigerians to ignore the comments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as he is an “irritable leader” who belongs in the “dustbin of history”.
He also urged the media to focus on their job as “the fourth estate of the realm” and endeavour to keep people in their place, and not give them unnecessary publicity.
He stated this in an advertorial published in The Punch newspaper on Thursday.
His words: “The Nigerian media appear to have forgotten they are indeed the fourth estate of the realm. They are gatekeepers. They owe Nigeria the responsibility of keeping this irritable man where he belongs — the waste bin of history.
“Like his daughter, Iyabo, reminded him in her letter, Nigeria does not belong to him. He should allow Nigerians choose who they want and stop goading the citizenry for his own selfish interests.
“Olusegun Obasanjo asking Nigerians to vote for Atiku Abubakar is an insult to our collective intelligence. With the benefit of hindsight, can anyone truly say Obasanjo’s sense of judgment in choosing leaders can be trusted?
“Take a good look at history. Through the clandestine manoeuvres in 1979, he foisted on Nigeria a reluctant Shehu Shagari at the expense of the cerebral Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikiwe. After his second coming, he so manipulated the electoral system that he fraudulently installed an unhealthy Umaru Yar’Adua as President alongside another reluctant character in the person of Goodluck Jonathan as the deputy.
“He denied every interested member of his party while employing all sorts of machination including threat and blackmail. Then came 2015; he told Nigerians Muhammadu Buhari is the best man for the job. As he has done to every Presidential candidate he installed or supported, a few years down the line, he says Buhari is unfit for the job again.”
Akinrinade berated Obasanjo for endorsing Atiku after taking a contrary position in the past, stating that “The Bible says something about such people- a double-minded man is unstable in his ways, James 1:8. Obasanjo is not a man whose judgement can be trusted.”
Politics News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
Prince Tonye Princewill, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Strategic Communications for the Tonye Cole Campaign, says elections won’t be conducted in Rivers State if APC candidates do not participate.
He therefore told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to"get ready for the presidential elections, but state House of Assembly, National Assembly and the governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date".
He stated this at a press briefing in Rivers State on Thursday.
Although a Court of Appeal had ruled a stay of execution on an earlier order by a Federal High Court to bar APC candidates in Rivers State from contesting elections, on Wednesday, INEC said its position on the matter had not changed.
According to Princewill, conducting elections in Rivers State without the APC and its candidates would be “an exercise in futility”.
He said: “Of course, we are not yet on the ballot; it’s a process. INEC by now has received the first order and in another day or so, will receive the second one. Then their lawyers will advise them and at a meeting of the powers that be, a decision will be taken. That decision will be to obey the law. We expect nothing less. If they don’t, then it will be lawful to be lawless in a lawless society. There will be no elections in Rivers State.
“We knew Wike had penetrated the judiciary; every day the signs are revealed. We know he has also penetrated some of our security agencies, but we do not want to believe he has penetrated our electoral body at the highest levels. We are soon about to find out. Let us be patient. These things take time. Our money that he is using will be traced to its last hiding place when he leaves office. We know a lot about who he is working with. Money leaves a trace, and in this government, corruption will always come with consequences.”
He went on to describe the PDP as an “accident waiting to happen”, and advised all those with good conscience still sitting inside it, to “jump for safety before the inevitable crash or hold themselves to blame”.
“Wike is a learner driver. He has no business driving the vehicle of Rivers State and everyone knows it. Even he knows it. He can use money to win awards, ascribe bogus titles to himself, get biased media coverage, even delay justice, but he can’t use our money to bribe God. Judgement is coming for him and it is coming soon,” he added.
On the schedule of campaigns, he noted that while being on the ballot was necessary, allowing the APC candidates time to go about their campaigns, as had been denied them, was only fair because “their campaigns were gaining momentum before legal gymnastics stepped in”.
He continued: “PDP should be very ashamed that after four good years, their candidate could not go from ward to ward to tell them what he has done. Instead he has stumbled from LGA to LGA headquarters with more people in his entourage than indigenes to receive him, only to drop sound bites and share N2,000 to willing takers.
“His mate (even though we are yet to ascertain Nyesom Wike’s actual age) and our candidate, Tonye Cole, has gone from ward to ward in every LGA and had done 236 wards out of 319 before a judge, Magnus and Wike stopped him using the law. Magnus is not our focus. He is our lost brother whom we wish well. His room is there if he returns. Our focus is Wike and nothing will distract us from demystifying his perceived grassroots’ appeal, his supposed strong man status and his recent Mungo Park like discovery of spirituality.
“Tonye Cole and others must be allowed to finish their campaigns. Anything short of that cannot be just and we will contest it. INEC should get ready for the presidential elections, but state House of Assembly, National Assembly and the governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date.”
Elections Politics News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
Prince Tonye Princewill, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Strategic Communications for the Tonye Cole Campaign, says elections won’t be conducted in Rivers State if APC candidates do not participate.
He therefore told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to"get ready for the presidential elections, but state House of Assembly, National Assembly and the governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date".
He stated this at a press briefing in Rivers State on Thursday.
Although a Court of Appeal had ruled a stay of execution on an earlier order by a Federal High Court to bar APC candidates in Rivers State from contesting elections, on Wednesday, INEC said its position on the matter had not changed.
According to Princewill, conducting elections in Rivers State without the APC and its candidates would be “an exercise in futility”.
He said: “Of course, we are not yet on the ballot; it’s a process. INEC by now has received the first order and in another day or so, will receive the second one. Then their lawyers will advise them and at a meeting of the powers that be, a decision will be taken. That decision will be to obey the law. We expect nothing less. If they don’t, then it will be lawful to be lawless in a lawless society. There will be no elections in Rivers State.
“We knew Wike had penetrated the judiciary; every day the signs are revealed. We know he has also penetrated some of our security agencies, but we do not want to believe he has penetrated our electoral body at the highest levels. We are soon about to find out. Let us be patient. These things take time. Our money that he is using will be traced to its last hiding place when he leaves office. We know a lot about who he is working with. Money leaves a trace, and in this government, corruption will always come with consequences.”
He went on to describe the PDP as an “accident waiting to happen”, and advised all those with good conscience still sitting inside it, to “jump for safety before the inevitable crash or hold themselves to blame”.
“Wike is a learner driver. He has no business driving the vehicle of Rivers State and everyone knows it. Even he knows it. He can use money to win awards, ascribe bogus titles to himself, get biased media coverage, even delay justice, but he can’t use our money to bribe God. Judgement is coming for him and it is coming soon,” he added.
On the schedule of campaigns, he noted that while being on the ballot was necessary, allowing the APC candidates time to go about their campaigns, as had been denied them, was only fair because “their campaigns were gaining momentum before legal gymnastics stepped in”.
He continued: “PDP should be very ashamed that after four good years, their candidate could not go from ward to ward to tell them what he has done. Instead he has stumbled from LGA to LGA headquarters with more people in his entourage than indigenes to receive him, only to drop sound bites and share N2,000 to willing takers.
“His mate (even though we are yet to ascertain Nyesom Wike’s actual age) and our candidate, Tonye Cole, has gone from ward to ward in every LGA and had done 236 wards out of 319 before a judge, Magnus and Wike stopped him using the law. Magnus is not our focus. He is our lost brother whom we wish well. His room is there if he returns. Our focus is Wike and nothing will distract us from demystifying his perceived grassroots’ appeal, his supposed strong man status and his recent Mungo Park like discovery of spirituality.
“Tonye Cole and others must be allowed to finish their campaigns. Anything short of that cannot be just and we will contest it. INEC should get ready for the presidential elections, but state House of Assembly, National Assembly and the governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date.”
Elections Politics News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
Prince Tonye Princewill, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Strategic Communications for the Tonye Cole Campaign, says elections won’t be conducted in Rivers State if APC candidates do not participate.
He therefore told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to"get ready for the presidential elections, but state House of Assembly, National Assembly and the governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date".
He stated this at a press briefing in Rivers State on Thursday.
Although a Court of Appeal had ruled a stay of execution on an earlier order by a Federal High Court to bar APC candidates in Rivers State from contesting elections, on Wednesday, INEC said its position on the matter had not changed.
According to Princewill, conducting elections in Rivers State without the APC and its candidates would be “an exercise in futility”.
He said: “Of course, we are not yet on the ballot; it’s a process. INEC by now has received the first order and in another day or so, will receive the second one. Then their lawyers will advise them and at a meeting of the powers that be, a decision will be taken. That decision will be to obey the law. We expect nothing less. If they don’t, then it will be lawful to be lawless in a lawless society. There will be no elections in Rivers State.
“We knew Wike had penetrated the judiciary; every day the signs are revealed. We know he has also penetrated some of our security agencies, but we do not want to believe he has penetrated our electoral body at the highest levels. We are soon about to find out. Let us be patient. These things take time. Our money that he is using will be traced to its last hiding place when he leaves office. We know a lot about who he is working with. Money leaves a trace, and in this government, corruption will always come with consequences.”
He went on to describe the PDP as an “accident waiting to happen”, and advised all those with good conscience still sitting inside it, to “jump for safety before the inevitable crash or hold themselves to blame”.
“Wike is a learner driver. He has no business driving the vehicle of Rivers State and everyone knows it. Even he knows it. He can use money to win awards, ascribe bogus titles to himself, get biased media coverage, even delay justice, but he can’t use our money to bribe God. Judgement is coming for him and it is coming soon,” he added.
On the schedule of campaigns, he noted that while being on the ballot was necessary, allowing the APC candidates time to go about their campaigns, as had been denied them, was only fair because “their campaigns were gaining momentum before legal gymnastics stepped in”.
He continued: “PDP should be very ashamed that after four good years, their candidate could not go from ward to ward to tell them what he has done. Instead he has stumbled from LGA to LGA headquarters with more people in his entourage than indigenes to receive him, only to drop sound bites and share N2,000 to willing takers.
“His mate (even though we are yet to ascertain Nyesom Wike’s actual age) and our candidate, Tonye Cole, has gone from ward to ward in every LGA and had done 236 wards out of 319 before a judge, Magnus and Wike stopped him using the law. Magnus is not our focus. He is our lost brother whom we wish well. His room is there if he returns. Our focus is Wike and nothing will distract us from demystifying his perceived grassroots’ appeal, his supposed strong man status and his recent Mungo Park like discovery of spirituality.
“Tonye Cole and others must be allowed to finish their campaigns. Anything short of that cannot be just and we will contest it. INEC should get ready for the presidential elections, but state House of Assembly, National Assembly and the governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date.”
Elections Politics News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested six men for inserting fresh pepper in a lady’s private parts.
In a video that went viral on Wednesday, the men forcefully dragged an unnamed naked woman to the ground. One of them initially threw the pepper at her. Moments afterwards, the men forced the lady to the ground, spread her legs apart, and crushed the pepper on her insides while she kept screaming.
The person who recorded the incident seemed to be one of the perpetrators.
A statement by the Police on Thursday noted that the Inspector General of Police had ordered an investigation into the incident.
The statement read: “Operatives of the NPF have arrested six (6) male suspects involved in the shocking, barbaric and indecent assault meted out on a young Nigerian female as shown in a video that recently went viral.
“Following the dehumanizing incident, the IGP MA ADAMU, NPM, mni has ordered a comprehensive investigation.
“Consequently, Edo Police Command, led by its Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosun, swung into action, leading to the investigation breakthrough.
“Two other male suspects are still at large. Efforts are being intensified to arrest them and bring all involved to book.
“NPF condemns jungle justice in its entirety and warns of dire consequences for persons who resort to self help.”
The six male suspects currently in custody are Otoghile Joel, Lucky Igbinovia, Edobor Osemwenjie, Kingsley Iyamu, Gregg Eweka and Friday Omorogbe.
CRIME News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested six men for inserting fresh pepper in a lady’s private parts.
In a video that went viral on Wednesday, the men forcefully dragged an unnamed naked woman to the ground. One of them initially threw the pepper at her. Moments afterwards, the men forced the lady to the ground, spread her legs apart, and crushed the pepper on her insides while she kept screaming.
The person who recorded the incident seemed to be one of the perpetrators.
A statement by the Police on Thursday noted that the Inspector General of Police had ordered an investigation into the incident.
The statement read: “Operatives of the NPF have arrested six (6) male suspects involved in the shocking, barbaric and indecent assault meted out on a young Nigerian female as shown in a video that recently went viral.
“Following the dehumanizing incident, the IGP MA ADAMU, NPM, mni has ordered a comprehensive investigation.
“Consequently, Edo Police Command, led by its Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosun, swung into action, leading to the investigation breakthrough.
“Two other male suspects are still at large. Efforts are being intensified to arrest them and bring all involved to book.
“NPF condemns jungle justice in its entirety and warns of dire consequences for persons who resort to self help.”
The six male suspects currently in custody are Otoghile Joel, Lucky Igbinovia, Edobor Osemwenjie, Kingsley Iyamu, Gregg Eweka and Friday Omorogbe.
CRIME News AddThis : Featured Image : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a warrant to arrest Ayodele Oke, the sacked Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and his wife, Folashade.
The arrest order followed an application filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC, which was granted on Thursday.
Justice Chukwujeku Aneke issued the order consequent upon the oral application argued by the anti-graft agency.
"I have carefully considered the oral application for the arrest of the person mentioned herein and I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the said application is meritorious. Accordingly the application is hereby granted as prayed. It is hereby ordered that Ambassador Ayodele Oke and wife, Folasade Oke, be arrested anywhere they are sighted in world," the Judge said.
The case has also been adjourned till March 18, 2019, for report of arrest.
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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded that tax laws should be waived for earners of income below N30,000.
This was one of the motions adopted at the NLC National Delegates' Conference in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The Union also expressed concern about the implementation of the new minimum wage, saying the process is taking too long.
The union called for plans that would speed up effective implementation of the new minimum wage, particularly at the state level.
NLC also said pressure should be put on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to raise the tax bar so that the N30,000 minimum wage would fall below taxable income.
Peter Ozo-Eson, General Secretary of the union, who appealed for the protection of the new wage, said the income tax law needed to be amended to protect workers' purchasing power.
He said: “Now that we have raised the minimum wage to N30,000 we must impress it on FIRS to raise the tax bar so that the new minimum wage will be protected. If you tax minimum wage of N30,000, we may as well go back to N25,000 or N27,000 by default. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives raised the point and I think Labour must push the agenda to protect the new minimum wage
“Given that the N30,000 we agreed as a comprised minimum wage is so low, ideally, it should not be taxed, but I believe that the correct way to do it is to amend the income tax law in order to raise the exemption bar if the N30,000 will fall within.
"The law should be amended to ensure that the minimum wage level is below the taxable income. Under the present law, if you earn N18,000 a month, your tax is zero."
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded that tax laws should be waived for earners of income below N30,000.
This was one of the motions adopted at the NLC National Delegates' Conference in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The Union also expressed concern about the implementation of the new minimum wage, saying the process is taking too long.
The union called for plans that would speed up effective implementation of the new minimum wage, particularly at the state level.
NLC also said pressure should be put on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to raise the tax bar so that the N30,000 minimum wage would fall below taxable income.
Peter Ozo-Eson, General Secretary of the union, who appealed for the protection of the new wage, said the income tax law needed to be amended to protect workers' purchasing power.
He said: “Now that we have raised the minimum wage to N30,000 we must impress it on FIRS to raise the tax bar so that the new minimum wage will be protected. If you tax minimum wage of N30,000, we may as well go back to N25,000 or N27,000 by default. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives raised the point and I think Labour must push the agenda to protect the new minimum wage
“Given that the N30,000 we agreed as a comprised minimum wage is so low, ideally, it should not be taxed, but I believe that the correct way to do it is to amend the income tax law in order to raise the exemption bar if the N30,000 will fall within.
"The law should be amended to ensure that the minimum wage level is below the taxable income. Under the present law, if you earn N18,000 a month, your tax is zero."
Really, it was reckless of Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna state governor, to have unabashedly promised a festival of blood-letting for foreigners who may want to “interfere” with this month’s election.
Although I understand the statement could have been a “blurt-out”; a slip-up spurred by a moment in the haze of bright lights and intrusive cameras, it is difficult to excuse his indiscretion.
But beyond the inciteful fount of his statement, there is also “discrimination” in the chosen item for dispatch – “body-bags”. This is me being wry.
Nigerians know too well that the dead here are not accorded any form of dignity, especially those who died in "unsexy" circumstances. They often do not have the luxury of being put in body-bags. At best, a mass of murdered innocents is hauled into wheelbarrows and carted off into mass graves.
Sometimes, the bodies are mutilated or their parts sold to ritualists. There is no dignity for the dead here - the scorned remains of those brutally killed in banditry, Boko Haram and cattle-rustling attacks tell it all.
In 2015, some members of a sect were killed in Kaduna under el- Rufai, but I doubt they had the dignity of being put in the governor’s “body-bags”. They were hurriedly buried in shallow graves, and perhaps, conveyed to that final place of humiliation in wheelbarrows and Keke-NAPEP.
Permit me to be sarcastic, body-bags for foreigners, and mass graves for locals?
Life is cheap in Nigeria.
At this time, it only takes a perfunctory and combustible utterance from a politician, and the relative peace we have enjoyed is threatened. Little annoyances and careless statements put all of us in jeopardy.
The peace accord signed in 2018 was for a reason. Politicians on both sides – the APC and the PDP – should understand that there will be no country to govern if they keep fanning the flames of violence.
A few days ago, Uche Secondus, PDP national chairman, threatened that there would be war if the election was rigged. He is guilty of the same sin as el-Rufai.
Really, the statements of both men suggest that they are not in this tussle for Nigerians, but for themselves. If truly they care about citizens, they will work at keeping the peace, veering off from words and actions that could set fire to a house already suffused with gas stench.
The blood of Nigerians or anyone is too costly a price to be paid for the ambition of the APC and the PDP.
Nigeria should win in this election. And that begins with the exercise being violence-free, and free and fair.
Let us for once have an election where no one has to die.
Fredrick is a media personality.
Facebook: Fredrick Nwabufo, Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo
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The Nigerian government has come to the defence of Nasir el-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, over his statement that foreigners who interfere in the 2019 elections would leave in "body bags".
This was contained in a statement by Garba Shehu, the President's spokesman, issued on Wednesday night.
During a live television programme aired on Tuesday on NTA, el-Rufai had said: “Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags.
"We are waiting for the person that will come and intervene. They will go back in body bags, because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country. We got that independence and we are trying to run our country as decently as possible and we know the history of those countries that are trying to teach us these things. We have read their history.”
His statement had generated much outrage, with the European Union (EU) also responding to the Governor's statement via a tweet that read: "We are aware of the comments by the Governor of #Kaduna about non-interference by foreigners during a talk show on #NigeriaDecides2019 on 5/2/19. The #EU only deploys an election observation mission when it is invited to do so by the authorities of a country."
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has defended el-Rufai's position, stating that he spoke in the defence of national interest.
The statement read: "The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari would cooperate with election observers and would not let the international community down in the conduct of the coming elections.
“The Presidency assures Nigerians and the international community that the President would do everything within his power to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country.
“We have taken note of the clarification to a reported earlier statement by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i concerning opposition call for foreign interference in our domestic affairs and to say that latest statement by him should rest the issue for good.
"There is nothing more to sneeze at. The Governor spoke strongly in defense of national interest. It is clear that el-Rufai, our party the APC, and all its candidates have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections. They are all of the views that there is no place for violence against local people or foreign citizens in our midst.
“Opposition PDP ought to own up to the mistakes of their own policies for 16 years which have led the country to a sorry pass that has cost lives, jobs and growth instead of dwelling on diversionary issues.”