Jonathan does not deserve hero’s status – Sylva

Former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva weekend declared that the decision by former President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat to President Mohammadu Buhari during the last presidential election does not make him a hero.
He insisted that Jonathan’s attempts to scuttle the election disqualified him from benefiting from such heroic status.
Sylva, whose ambition of contesting for second term was scuttled by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP due to pressure from the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said though the decision to concede  defeat was inevitable and would have been suicidal for the former President, the heroic status is a clear show of lack of value and indication of how cheap a man could earn such status in Nigeria.
The former governor, who spoke in an interview in Yenagoa said the decision by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat should not be considered an achievement but an inevitable act from a defeated President.

Bacelona Defeat Juventus 3-1

Barcelona won its fifth European Cup with a 3-1 defeat of Juventus, giving the Spanish side three major trophies this season.
Goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Neymar gave Barcelona the Champions League title. Juventus had come back to tie the game early in the second half of European soccer’s biggest club competition.
Barcelona becomes the first European team to win the Champions League, its domestic league and cup competitions in the same season two times. Barcelona also won La Liga and the Copa del Rey this year, while two-time European champion Juventus won Italy’s top league and the Coppa Italia.
Rakitic opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Every Barcelona player but the goalkeeper touched the ball before the goal, which came after 16 passes.

APC PICKS GBAJABIAMILA FOR HOUSE OF REPS SPEAKERSHIP

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has selected the member representing Surulere Federal Constituency, Lagos, in the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to run for the office of Speaker of the House.
Mr. Gbajabiamila was elected at a primary election for APC members organised by the leadership of the party on Saturday in Abuja.
Mr. Gbajabiamila scored 154 votes, while his challenger, Yakubu Dogara, who stormed out of the venue of the election before voting commenced, scored 3 votes.
Four votes were declared invalid by the returning officer, the national vice chairman, north east Babachir Lawan.
The House of Reps is expected to elect a new Speaker on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dogara has rejected the election.

APC CONDUCTS MOCK ELECTION TO PICK CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF REPS SPEAKERSHIP

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is currently holding an election to select who will be nominated as the party’s candidate for the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The election is holding at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Femi Gbajabiamila is expected to pick the ticket after his main rival, Dogara Yakubu, stormed out of the venue with his supporters alleging irregularities.
It was gathered that the Consolidation Group, comprising members loyal to Mr. Dogara would also carry out a parallel primary at a different venue.
We cannot confirm if the rival election is taking place presently.
However, the spokesperson of the APC, Lai Mohammed, informed us that the party is just trying to be democratic by allowing the members select their speaker on their own.
“Out of 218 members, 160 are already here and minority cannot hold majority to ransom,” he said.
On why Mr. Dogara and his group left, Mr. Mohammed said the argument of the group was that they were not given notice of election.

Former Information Minister, Labaran Maku Emerges As APGA National Secretary As Party Elects New National Executives

The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA has elected  new National executives headed by Dr.  Victor Ike-Oye and the Chairman and Former Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku as the Secretary respectively.

That party National convention, which was held in Awka, Anambra state capital , played hosts to delegates from the 8 representing states, including Anambra with the view to elect new national officers to==who will  continue from where the out gone stopped.

Following the alleged court order  gotten from a Plateau state high court, the former National Chairman of the party, Victor Umeh open the convention with a clarification module requesting the party Legal Adviser Fergusson Okpara   to clarify the matter  before the mammoth crowd, which was latter dispelled as an act to misinformed the public on the state of the impending suit lying in the court…

In a remark, former National  chairman of the party chief Victor Umeh urged the new executives of the part to place the interest of the party above personal interest, lamented that though the party under his leadership had undergone over 76 court cases in their two term in office but  encouraged the incoming to be resolute and ensure APGA becomes a National party .

BUHARI MOVES TO SLASH OWN SALARY, ALLOWANCES

There are strong indications that in fulfilment of his campaign promise to reduce the cost of governance, President Muhammadu Buhari may have concluded plans to slash his salary and reduce his personal emoluments.
It was learnt that the President expected the Vice-President and other political appointees to take a similar decision.
Saturday PUNCH gathered in Abuja on Friday that the President would have made his decision public but chose to consult with his close associates on how best to approach the issue without being seen as dictatorial.
According to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, President Buhari will earn a monthly salary of N3, 514, 705. He is also entitled to a regular hardship allowance and 50 per cent of the basic salary, which is N1,757,350.50.
There is however no information yet as to what percentage of Buhari’s salary and emoluments will be slashed.
But it was reliably learnt that the President would also reduce State House budget.
Other areas being considered by the President included appointment of aides and the possibility of implementing the report of the Stephen Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.
Buhari, had on Tuesday sought the approval of the National Assembly to appoint 15 special advisers, unlike former President Goodluck Jonathan, who had 23 special advisers and scores of special assistants.

Buhari’s anti-corruption war takes off

President Muham-madu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade appears to have taken off in earnest barely a week after assuming office with a stern warning to ministers not to dabble into approving payments for contractors.
The government came boldly yesterday with a clear policy directive asking only the heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs not to abdicate their core functions to ministers who are political appointees but to do their jobs in strict compliance with the policy guidelines of the administration.
The Head of Service of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi, made the new position of the government known at a media briefing in Abuja.
According to the Head of Service of the Federation, the government wants to keep the political class away from issues of finance so that development of our country can be sustained.
He said: “If a minister travels out and payment is due, we cannot afford to wait for the ministers to come back before we pay.”

BUHARI, TINUBU, ATIKU MEET NASS OVER SENATE PRESIDENT, SPEAKER SEATS

AHEAD of Tuesday’s inauguration of the 8th National Assembly, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are billed to meet with both the newly and returning members of the National Assembly today.
President Muhammadu Buhari, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun are among chieftains of the party billed to attend the parley holding at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The Guardian gathered that the parley is aimed at keeping the peace among National Assembly members who are split over the choice of their respective candidates.
While Messers Femi Gbajabiamila and Yakubu Dogara are slugging it out for the seat of the House of Representatives Speaker, Senators Bukola Saraki and Ahmed Lawan are neck deep in the squabble for the Senate Presidency seat.
Meanwhile, the campaigns for the Senate Presidency recorded a twist yesterday as the Senators backing the election of Senator Bukola Saraki publicly challenged those on the side of Senator Ahmed Lawan to publish the names of senators in their camp.

Workers shut down AIT, Raypower over 17 months unpaid salaries

Scores of workers of Daar Communications Plc, operator of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM Radio, on Wednesday shut down all broadcasting activities at the Benin studio in protest over unpaid salaries.
The protesting workers were said to have blocked the main entrance to the station located along the Benin/Lagos bypass.
A detachment of anti-riot policemen were however called by the management of the station to forestall any break down of law.
It was gathered that the protesting workers put at 50 of AIT and Ray Power, were owed salaries salaries spanning between 12 and 17 months.
One of the protesting workers who did not want his name in print for personal reasons, said newly employed staff of AIT were being owed 12 months while old staff were yet to be paid salaries between 13 months and staff of the Raypower FM, the Radio arm of the broadcast outfit were owed 17 months.

TARIQ AZIZ, EX-SADDAM HUSSEIN FOREIGN MINISTER, DIES AFTER HEART ATTACK

Tariq Aziz, known as the face of Saddam Hussein's regime on the world stage for many years, has died in an Iraqi hospital, officials say.
Aziz, 79, served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister and was a close adviser to the former leader.
He was sentenced to death by the Iraqi Supreme Court in 2010 for the persecution of religious parties under Saddam's rule but was never executed.
He surrendered to US troops in 2003 shortly after the fall of Baghdad.
A local health official told reporters that he was taken to hospital from prison after suffering a heart attack. Initial reports said he had died in prison.
He had long been in poor health, suffering from heart and respiratory problems, high blood pressure and diabetes, and his family repeatedly called for his release from custody.
His wife, Violet, had visited him in prison on Thursday, their daughter Zeinab told the AP news agency.
She said her father had suffered several strokes that left him confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak during her parents' final meeting.
"He didn't move. He couldn't talk. He didn't say a word to her. He just looked at her," said Zeinab, adding: "It is so sad that he had to go this way."

U.S. TEAM FOR NIGERIA TO JOIN BOKO HARAM FIGHT

The United States (U.S.) is set to join forces with the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the battle against Boko Haram.
The Obama administration will send a team to Nigeria in the next few weeks to discuss with the government ways to renew cooperation in the fight against the sect, a senior U.S. diplomat said yesterday.
In N’Djamena, the capital of Chad yesterday, President Buhari and his host President Idris Derby pledged to pursue the sect members “everywhere”.
They spoke after a bilateral meeting on the activities of the sect, which has been operating across the borders.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was at Buhari’s inauguration last week. This underscores U.S. interest in working with his government.
Tensions emerged between the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Obama administration last year over corruption and human rights abuses by the military in its campaign to crush Boko Haram.
In his inauguration speech, Buhari vowed to defeat Boko Haram and called the group, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq in March, “mindless” and “godless”.
”With the new government, we are optimistic we can reset the relationship,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield told a congressional hearing. “We want to work with him and have expressed that to him.”

FAYOSE: BUHARI NOT INVOLVED IN PLANS TO OUST ME

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari in the attempt of lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the fourth assembly of the state parliament to oust him from office. Speaking on Friday during the inauguration of the fifth assembly, Fayose described the development as a distraction, saying he was able to survive the plot through the support of the people. “God did not allow them to prevail. They don’t know that they are making me popular,” he said. “The more you write about me, you are making me popular. People notice it that every day, they were writing inside the paper, every day they will put it in front page of [the papers]. Fayose went, went for what? Every time attacking; the Lord has made me a light in the midst of darkness. “Let me tell you that this is not about me, it is about you. You put me here and if you cannot remove God, you cannot remove me. Before you can remove me, you must remove God. “I am your boy boy in Ekiti state; what is the meaning of governor? A governor that cannot help his people, what is the meaning of a governor that is not popular, that cannot go to the market place? I am a local politician. “What is their problem? Jonathan handed over a Nigeria with true democracy, where are they starting from? They went over publishing different things, saying Buhari said this and that but through security information, I confirmed that Buhari had no hand in it.” He urged the members of the newly inaugurated assembly to be humble in their approach to their legislative assignments, adding that “only humility can make one win battles”. “I plead with you our new honourable members, always remember that whatever you do today will become history. Do not disappoint the people that voted you in,” he added. “This is the right time for Nigeria, particularly a time for hardship but we have to endure the spirit so that we can

STOP SEEKING FOREIGN ASSISTANCE, BALARABE, FALAE TELL BUHARI

About 14 political parties from the opposition, under the aegis of Credible Alternative Alliance, on Thursday in Abuja stated that “it is it too early” for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to be relying on foreign countries for support and direction on certain policy issues pertaining to governance.
The organisation, which also includes 13 civil society organisations, restated their resolve to provide a credible opposition to the All Progressives Congress.
The parties under the umbrella of CAA include the Social Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Fresh Democratic Party, Nigeria Advance Party, Peoples Salvation Party, Change Advocacy Party, United National Party for Development, Peoples Progressive Party and Action Party of Nigeria.
A former Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braitwaite; and former Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae, expressed these feelings at a press briefing read by the National Coordinator of CAA, Dr. Damian Ogbonna, on Thursday in Abuja.
According to them, while they wish the new administration well, “its ability and readiness to meaningfully govern Nigeria remain in doubt.”

JONATHAN GETS NOMINATION FOR NOBEL

A public policy organisation on African affairs, the Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (AFRIPOL) has recommended former President Goodluck Jonathan for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The organisation noted that the will of Alfred Nobel, the progenitor of Nobel Prize stated that Peace Prize be awarded to whoever “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”.
Accordingly the organisation the ‘peaceful way President Jonathan conceded to President-elect Buhari deserves the attention of Nobel Peace Prize committee. He may have not promoted “fraternity between nations” but he surely promoted fraternal peace among Nigerians by conceding power.’
The group maintained that the “concession speech by President Jonathan averted bloodshed, violence and imbroglio in the most populous country in Africa. This gesture by Jonathan [sic] buttressed to the whole world that Nigeria has joined the comity of civilized nations”.

Special Government Announcement-Abia State.

The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has formally directed that the appellations; His Excellency and Executive , be dropped in all official and informal communication with him.

He would rather prefer to be addressed simply as Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State.

The Governor wants all public communication to be concentrated on the work and policies of the state and not on the person of the Governor and has therefore directed all contractors, political groups, individuals and party loyalists not to put his portrait on billboards, posters and signages but to ONLY use the pictures of ongoing projects in their billboards and posters.

The Governor has also directed the general public to remove all congratulatory posters and election billboards littering the environment as these public posters are defacing the environment of the state. He has further charged the people of the State to be partners with Government in ensuring a healthy and beautiful environment.

He is also, by this directive, re-assuring the good people of Abia State of his mission of service to the people and therefore urged the citizenry to key into the new vision.

Signed:

FAYOSE CLAIMS VICTORY OVER APC LAWMAKERS, SAYS IMPEACHMENT PLOT OVER

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said he is now prepared to concentrate on the development of the state following the victory over lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress, who plotted his impeachment.
The tenure of the lawmakers came to an end Thursday.
In a broadcast to Ekiti State citizens on Thursday, Mr. Fayose commended his supporters for their unflinching support and their eventual thwarting of the attempt made by the lawmakers to impeach him.
He said although it was a very traumatic period, the people with one voice stood and protected the mandate given him.
The Governor noted that the period of the crisis could have been used for the development of the state, saying, “With the victory against the attempted impeachment, I will now squarely face the business of governance”.
He said he would embark on fulfilling his campaign promises, despite the current financial situation and make the welfare of the people his priority.
“The last few months have been traumatic, especially this week. I was not given room for concentration, but I had left the battle for God to fight. I told those planning to impeach me that they will succeed if they can impeach God,” he said.

Dog meat, Ogogoro death toll rises to 32

Rivers State government has banned the consumption of local gin popularly called Ogogoro, following the death of about 32 persons, 15 from Bonny Island and Woji in Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, and the reported death of another 11 persons in Gokana Local Government Area, which included seven male and four females.
The ban by government was due to the increasing death toll from consumption of the alcoholic liquor and dog meat delicacy alleged to contain poisonous ethanol, which now stand at 32.
Five persons reportedly died in Woji area of Obio/ Akpor after consuming the local gin, although Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, for Rivers State Police Command, Ahmad Mohammad, said only one death was recorded.
Rivers State government through the Department of Disease Control said the ban had become necessary to forestall further consumption of the toxic substance. Director of Disease Control in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Roland Obed Whyte, who disclosed this, however, expressed concern over difficulty in getting samples of the particular gin popularly called Ogogoro or Kai-kai for thorough clinical analysis.

TINUBU: THE FAULTY PIN THAT MIGHT RUIN APC

By Nosah Ikharia

On May 29, former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) handed over power to the Muhammadu Buhari-led opposition All Progressives Congress party (APC), and then, kick starting a new look and APC dominated 8th National Assembly.
A need therefore arises for Nigerians to critically examine the factors that are likely to play out and point to the direction of leadership and largely determine the progress or otherwise, to be made by the new administration.
In all democracies, beyond the passion by politicians to positively impact on the populace through people-centred policies and programmes, the equitable distribution of political offices plays critical part in determining the speed, shape and manner of progress by any administration.

Little wonder from ages, no society allows power, whether it be economic, social or political, to be concentrated on one person or political party. Experience has shown how absolute power can corrupt even the saint and ultimately ruin the entire system, the people and leaders.

BUHARI’S GOVERNMENT AND THE SUDDEN “CHANGE” IN POWER AND FUEL SUPPLY

It has been one week the acclaimed change agent President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office as the president of most populous black nation in the world, Nigeria.
Before his takeover, Buhari, who was one time Head of State in Nigeria’s inglorious military era was associated with the change mantra, which differentiated him from his main rival in the build up to the 2015 presidential election, the then President Goodluck Jonathan. While some who are against his coming to power mocked him with the change buzzword, the fans of the Katstina –born retired army general eulogised him with the mantra.
It was not unusual to hear such words from Buhari’s antagonists as “everything must change in Nigeria the day Buhari takes over, or else; from May 29, electricity supply in Nigeria must not blink, and from day one of Buhari’s administration, Nigeria must be placed in “Eldorado.”
But Buhari supporters, while agreeing that change is urgently needed, said Buhari’s kind of change would not be meteoric but gradual. Even Buhari, knowing the huge expectations from Nigerians, later came out to say that he was not a miracle worker, noting that he would bring the desired positive change gradually.

PHOTO OF NIGERIAN LADY SHOT DEAD BY HER EX-BOYFRIEND IN THE US TWO DAYS AGO

What a beauty! And she was a college graduate. This is the 24 year old graduate of University of Maryland who was shot dead on Monday June 1st by her ex-boyfriend, 27 year old Donald Bricker. Mariam Folashade Adebayo broke up with Donald a few months ago but he refused to leave her alone. On the night of the murder, he'd told her to meet him so they could talk, saying he would harm himself if she didn't come. She went to see him and they began arguing in his car in a parking lot at Target. When Mariam decided she'd had enough, she got out of the car and that was when Donald followed with a gun in his hand and fired at her...twice

SPEAKERSHIP: LAWYERS SAY GBAJABIAMILA IS AN EX-CONVICT, WANT HIM DISQUALIFIED

Lawyers have dragged Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila before an Abuja federal high court asking the court to disqualify him from holding any public office in Nigeria.

In an originating summon filed before Abuja Federal High court yesterday by Registered Trustees of Social Justice and Civil Rights Awareness Initiative, the lawyers are seeking for an order of the court declaring Gbajabiamila not fit and proper person to be elected member of the House of Representatives.

The suit was entered by Chukwuma Nwachukwu Esq and Osita K. Nwaikpo Esq of Law Bond Solicitors Abuja, asking the court to restrain the House of Representatives and the Attorney General of the Federation from accepting nomination of the first defendant (Gbajabiamila) for office of speaker of the House.

PREDICT THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL AND WIN UP TO N1OOK

 Join the conversation as leading online shopping community, Kaymu , will be giving away a hundred thousand naira worth of shopping voucher plus loads of airtimes in the UEFA Champions League Predict and Win Campaign.

After the Worldcup finals, the next biggest football event is the UEFA Champions League and this singular event generates a lot of buzz around the world. In Nigeria, the Champions League final is a tradition and lots of football fans both online and offline football lovers are engaged with match prediction during this period.

SAA Technical Wins ATE&M Best Line Maintenance Service Provider Award -World’s Top Aircraft Maintenance Provider

 

South African Airways Technical (SAA Technical / SAAT) has claimed the prestigious title as the Best Line Maintenance Providerfor 2015 at the annual Aircraft Technology Engineering & Maintenance Awards (ATE&M Awards) announced on Wednesday, 27 May 2015, at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London.

PHOTOS: DISASTER HITS GHANA, FLOOD, EXPLOSION KILLS 78 AT FUEL STATION

About 78 persons were killed after a gas station they ran to for shelter during heavy downpour went up in flames in Acrra, Ghana yesterday June 3rd. According to Ghana's Fire Service spokesperson, Billy Anagate, the fire started at the Neoplan Bus station at about 5.00pm and then quickly spread to the Goil gas station, causing an explosion which killed all the people taking refuge there. Bodies of the victims are still being evacuated from the scene of the incident.

Flood that resulted from the heavy downpour submerged some buildings and vehicles causing people to take refuge in the gas station. Most buildings that had caught fire from the explosion burned away into the night as 'floodwater around the site hindered recovery attempts.

ALLEGED N300B FRAUD: SHERIFF SURRENDERS TO EFCC, FACES GRILLING

After three years former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff last nigh surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for interrogation over alleged mismanagement of N300billion. He was a governor between 2003 and 2011.
The anti-graft agency had invited Sheriff for questioning since 2012 but he always found one legal excuse or the other.
On April 23 it threatened to declare the ex-governor wanted if he failed to show up for questioning.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that Sheriff voluntarily walked up to EFCC headquarters at about 6pm yesterday for interrogation on the allegations against him.
It was gathered that Sheriff surrendered following EFCC’s intense surveillance which may lead to the engagement of INTERPOL to locate him.
It was learnt that the allegations border on misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and abuse of office while in office between 2007 and 2011.
A source in EFCC said: “The ex-governor showed up “miraculously” on Wednesday at our headquarters at about 6pm.

ONDO POLICEMEN KILL DRIVER IN CUSTODY, LABEL HIM ARMED ROBBER

A member of the Ondo State Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, identified as Gbenga Omolo, has died after being allegedly tortured by some policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the state Police Command.
A source in the union told our correspondent on Wednesday that the 70-year-old man was arrested by SARS last Thursday following a misunderstanding between him and a police officer, whose name was not disclosed, leading to the duo engaging blows at the Arakale area of the town.
The source explained that the following day, the policeman, who fought with the motorist, mobilised six men of the SARS to arrest the deceased and some other people in the area and detained them in their custody, where Omolo was allegedly being tortured.
In detention, the source alleged that Omolo was tortured by the policemen until he died in their custody.

MAJOR-GENERAL TUKUR BURATAI APPOINTED FORCE COMMANDER OF JOINT TASK FORCE

Nigerian Major General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has been appointed the Force Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF). He has assumed duties at the new Headquarters in N’Djamena, the Capital of Chad Republic. The reorganised MNJTF arrangement is in line with the decisions of member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) which include Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroun, with Benin Republic as a honorary member. The arrangement has the backing of partners in the fight against Boko Haram namely; France, the UK and the USA.
The MNJTF has now been sectionised into 3 Sectors to achieve more effect in its operations with one of the sectors Headquarters retained in Baga.

SENATE PRESIDENCY: TENSION AS APC PICKS CANDIDATE

 THE criteria recently announced by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on how the Senate President in the 8th Senate will emerge is generating ripples among senators.
Meanwhile, it was learnt last night that the meeting between the APC leadership and senators-elect where a consensus on the issue of the Senate President was to be resolved may have been shifted.
One of the two camps was said to have pressed for the shift because of the insufficiency of the support it was expecting to show to the party leadership.
The APC NWC, at its meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday night, had listed certain criteria which the next Senate president must possess.
Some of the criteria stipulated that the party’s candidate for the post must come from the geopolitical zone with the second highest number of votes after the North-West during the Presidential election held on March 28.
It also said that the next Senate president must not have any corruption charges hanging on his or her neck and should be one of the most ranking senators in the current Fourth Republic.
A senator privy to the meeting said the leadership of the party was mandated to, within three days, present the most eligible aspirant as consensus candidate for the post based on the listed criteria during inauguration next week.

Two Anambra State University students allegedly die after an all night romp

Two students, a male and female of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, Igbariam, Anambra State, have reportedly died in a hostel room located near the school.

The students according to their counterparts who spoke to journalists said the girl who is from Imo state and a student of the institution visited his male friend who is also a student, and had gone to bed on Saturday but never awoke the next day.

One of the sources who spoke to our reporter said that they awoke on Sunday morning and there was no sign of the student, who is said to be a 300level student of public administration.

It was gathered that the students had both died after sex romp together unknown to their neighbors who never knew of their fate until their bodies started decomposing.

The bodies were said to have been found on Tuesday by another student who lives in the hostel and had promptly raised alarm, leading to the police being invited.

Gunmen Invade Orient Petroelum Refinery , Kill 3 Burnt 10 Caterpillars

Three persons were feared dead and property worth millions of naira, including 10 caterpillars and houses,
were destroyed when gunmen suspected to be from Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State invaded the facilities of the controversial Orient Petroleum Resources at Aguleri Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The three dead persons were staff of the oil company, while several others injured in attack are receiving treatment in hospitals.
Orient Petroleum, commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012, had been in dispute between the neighbouring communities in Kogi and Anambra states, with both sides laying claims to ownership of the oil rich land.

AMBODE READS RIOT ACT TO LASTMA, KAI

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has read the riot act to officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI to brace up to the task of traffic management and environmental hygiene.
Ambode who addressed LASTMA and KAI officials at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria on Wednesday, said the feedback out there is that traffic had worsened in recent times.
He said LASTMA and KAI were the face of Lagos as whatever they do would affect the image of his government.
Ambode stated that all traffic blackspots must be identified and dealt with, saying that he wanted the LASTMA officers to offer 24-hour service to ease traffic gridlock in busy areas
He added that places like Third Mainland Bridge, Abule Egba, Dopemu, among others which had constituted traffic black spots must be decongested immediately to allow traffic flow.

NIGERIANS WON’T REGRET ELECTING ME, SAYS BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday assured Nigerians that he would do all within his powers to ensure that they do not regret entrusting national responsibility to him by electing him during the March 28 Presidential election.
He said his administration was capable of fixing the nation’s problems. 
Buhari made the submission in an address he delivered to members of the Nigerian community in Niger during his visit to the country.
A copy of his speech was made available to journalists in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
Buhari told the Nigerian community that his government is just coming on board and is still in the process of setting out appropriate modalities on how to actualise its agenda of revamping Nigeria as contained in the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress.
He noted that Nigerians voted for him based on the party’s manifesto.
He however urged them to exercise patience because the task of rebuilding Nigeria is an arduous one.
He reiterated his position that to ensure accelerated development, his administration would concentrate on challenges of insecurity, near economic collapse, pervasive corruption and power shortages among others. 

TANKER DRIVERS BANNED FROM NIGHT TRAVELS

The Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday banned its members from driving at night. It said any member who flouts the order may have their vehicle impounded.
A statement by PTD’s National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Atanda Adebayo, warned drivers to stop night travels.
He said: “In the light of the worrisome increase in accidents
involving petroleum tankers, all branches of the union have been directed to impound any petrol tanker operating at night. This directive has long been in existence, we have always been warning our members to stop driving at night but we would now take it more serious.”
He added that all measures would be put in place to deal with the menace.
According to him, PTD believes it is safer for petrol tankers to move at daytime because such would always minimize casualties anytime an accident happens.

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI IN NIAMEY

President Muhammadu Buhari being received by President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic on arrival in Niamey for bilateral discussions between the two country on the menace of the Boko Haram insurgents in North-eastern Nigeria

TOMPOLO DENIES RECEIVING N1.5BN MONTHLY

High Chief Government Ekpomupolo, also known as ‘Tompolo’ has denied allegations made against him by the pioneer chairman of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Alhaji Tijani Ramalan, that he was paid N1.5billion monthly for the protection of the nation’s maritime domain.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo,Tompolo said Ramalan is merely seeking desperate attention in the hope of getting a job.
The statement reads in part: “My attention has been drawn to a publication in the Leadership newspaper of Wednesday June 3, 2015. In the said publication, one
Ahmed Tijani Ramalan made very wild, unsubstantiated allegations against my person that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) pays me the sum of N1.5 billion monthly for the protection of the nation’s maritime domain.

NVESTIGATION: How Nigerian, AU officials maltreated, cheated Ebola volunteers in Liberia, Sierra Leone

Nigerians who volunteered to help fight the deadly Ebola disease in Sierra Leone and Liberia, returned home a fortnight ago, after spending about six months on the frontline against a virus that ravaged several countries last year, killing over 20,000.
The volunteers returned alive and well, although they are yet to complete an expected 21-day quarantine period.
But they have sad tales of deprivation and maltreatment, and accuse officials of the Nigerian government and the African Union of stealing from them while they risked their lives.
On Wednesday, some of the volunteers were locked in a hotel in Abuja where they had camped since returning to Nigeria, after days of bickering with health ministry officials.
PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation, interviews with officials of the Nigerian government and the AU, and several volunteers since their arrival in Abuja, show a programme that was beset by crisis, poor management and fraud, worse than the hotel scandal.

CHOIRMASTER RAPES FEMALE CHORISTER IN LAGOS

 A bricklayer and choirmaster, Adewale Babalola, who allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old chorister in his church, was on Thursday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, 36, who lives at No. 11, Maxwell Ijeh St., Aguda in Surulere area of Lagos, is facing a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, the accused committed the offence on Dec. 2, 2014 at his apartment.
He said the accused took undue advantage of his relationship with the teenager as her choirmaster at Christ Our Light Glory Church, Sanya in Surulere, to commit the crime.
“The girl told her father, who is also an evangelist in the church that the accused lured her into his room and forcefully had a carnal knowledge of her.
“The father reported the matter to the General Overseer of the church, but no action was taken which compelled the victim’s father to report the matter at the police station,” Anyanwu said.
The offence, Anyanwu noted, violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Babalola, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

REPS REJECT PANEL’S REPORT ON ALLISON-MADUEKE, OTHERS

THE House of Representatives yesterday rejected a report submitted to it by an ad hoc panel that investigated the alleged shady deals involving the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke and some oil companies.
The ad hoc committee had in its report made three recommendations that appeared to exonerate the former minister and the indicted firms.
The Ajibola Muraina-led committee was tasked by the Chamber to among others investigate and unravel the alleged shady deals involving Alison Madueke, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd, Septa Energy Ltd and some other entities with respect to the Farm-out or Allocation of Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 41 and 42 respectively.