BUHARI PLANS MILITARY SHAKE-UP, ANGRY WITH DSS

There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari may carry out a major shake-up in the top echelons of the military.
It was learnt that service chiefs and other senior officers across the various arms of the military might be relieved of their posts to pave way for new hands.
Findings showed that Buhari would replace the service chiefs with equally experienced officers.
It was gathered that all but one of the military chiefs would be disengaged by the President, while appointing new officers who would be expected to implement the new phase of the war against the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.
Sources said that there was anxiety in the military over the looming change of guard which is expected to affect all the services, including the Army, Navy, and the Air Force.
It was gathered that the military chiefs were acutely aware of the fate that might befall them, having reached the pinnacle of their career.
A source said that the President may be considering one of the security chiefs to ensure smooth transition between the present military chiefs and their successors.
But another source said this was not likely, noting that the only security chief that might be retained is the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, who was appointed a few months ago by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
One of our correspondents gathered that Buhari would likely appoint his “loyalists” and those he had worked with into top positions.

OSUN CRISIS, BEYOND MY CONTROL – AREGBESOLA

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Friday said the economic situation in the state that led to his administration’s inability to pay workers’ salaries was beyond his control.
He said it was heart-rending that he had found himself in the situation which he described as a quagmire.
Aregbesola spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed-doors at the Defence House in Abuja.
He said he was not happy the same way a head of a family would feel when he cannot meet the needs of his family members.
He said, “No head of the family will be happy that he cannot feed members of the family.
“Extend that to state, it is heart-rending that I am in this quagmire.
“But no matter how sad (I don’t want to use the word ‘depressed’), no matter how unhappy I am, the truth is that I will not fail to say that it is a situation absolutely beyond my control.
“I led an administration in receipt of regular allocation in which I do my budget.
“Unfortunately, this allocation started falling in rapid form that totally disorganised my budget and any other arrangement.”
Aregbesola said those who want to be objective would readily admit that the Osun State of November 2010 when he assumed office and Osun of today are not the same.
He said people must give credit to the changes that his administration had brought about in the state, saying the changes were not miracles but were occasioned by application of resources.
The governor further explained that with the unexpected and sharp decline in revenue, his administration had a dislocation.

BUHARI NEEDS MORE TIME TO APPOINT CABINET - AHMED JODA

President Muhammadu Buharideserves a little more time to appoint his cabinet members, the chairman of his transition committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, has said.
Joda said this in an interview with State House journalists yesterday after submitting to Buhari, an 800-page report of the memoranda and presentations its committee received from across the country. 
He explained that transfer of power from one political party to another as recently witnessed Nigeria requires a long process.
According to him, this is part of the evolution of democracy, and that Nigerians have to be a bit more patient as such evolution cannot be with immediate effect
He noted that political appointment was entirely the president’s prerogative, saying Buhari would go through the committee’s report and understand its recommendation.
On the insinuation that the submission of the report delayed political appointments, Joda said one of the terms of reference of his committee was to get the handover notes from former president Goodluck Jonathan, but that the committee did not receive it until weeks after its inauguration. 

“You are a Big Betrayer” Tinubu tells President Buhari

                             
A Former Governor of Lagos State and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu has surprisingly criticized President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he betrayed the party.

This is in the wake of events that led to the emergence of Ex-Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki as the President of the Eighth Senate and the return of Chief Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President for a third term.

Tinubu, who on Wednesday through the Nation Newspaper, in an article titled “The untold story of PDP’s coup behind Saraki’s Senate Presidency” pointed an accusing finger at President Buhari for displaying neutrality in who emerges as the Senate President without due regard to the fate of the party.

According to Tinubu; “Despite the choice of National Assembly leaders being a mixture of party politics and legislative duty, the aloofness, or the perceived neutrality of the President allowed the ‘fight’ within APC to fester until it went of hand.”

THREE TREKKERS FOR ATIKU STRANDED IN YOLA

Three men, who trekked to Yola in honour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are now stranded in Yola.
The men, Salihu Jibrin, Aliyu Adamu and Abubakar Suleiman, who spoke to newsmen on Saturday in Yola, said since their arrival, they have been unable to see their mentor, Atiku.
They said all they needed was to see Atiku or his representatives to deliver their messages and go back to their various destinations.
“I trekked for 38 days all the way from Lagos to Yola to see Atiku in view of his role over APC’s victory in the general election but up till now I hAve been unable to see him.
“I am now stranded with no money to go back; at times I sleep in motor parks or squat with good Samaritans,” Jibrin said.
Adamu, who rode on a bicycle from Kaduna to Yola, said he spent eight days on the way.
“I want to thank the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Adamawa Council, Mr. Baba Zare, who had been assisting me since arrival to cope with the difficult situation I found myself.
“I want to meet Atiku before finding my way back to Kaduna,” Adamu said.

Delta Appoints New Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa

 Delta Air Lines has promoted Nathaniel Pieper to the position of Senior Vice President – Europe, Middle East and Africa effective in August 2015.  He replaces Perry Cantarutti who will leave Delta on secondment to the SkyTeam global airline alliance to assume the position of Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director. 

Based in Paris, Pieper will have accountability for all of Delta’s Europe, Middle East and Africa commercial activities, including maximizing the long-term growth opportunities for Delta’s joint venture agreement with Air France KLM and Alitalia – the industry’s largest trans-Atlantic alliance – as well as the partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways.  Pieper will report to Delta’s president, Ed Bastian.

“Nat’s outstanding record of strategic fleet management, combined with his experience of forging world-class partnerships, will keep Delta on course for success on the trans-Atlantic, continuing the great work achieved under Perry Cantarutti,” said Ed Bastian. 

APC MAKES A U-TURN, ACCEPTS SARAKI AS SENATE PRESIDENT

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Friday said the party has accepted Senator Bukola Saraki as the President of the Senate.
He said the reality was that Saraki’s colleagues had duly elected him and the party was ready to live with the reality.
Odigie-Oyegun spoke with State House correspondents shortly after joining members of the transition committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to present their report to the President at the Defence House, Abuja.
Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, both of the APC, emerged as leaders of the National Assembly on Tuesday against the directives of the party which had earlier asked its members to vote for Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila.
Since their emergence, the party had insisted that Saraki, Dogara and their supporters would be sanctioned.
When asked specifically whether the party would accept Saraki as the President of the Senate, Odigie-Oyegun said, “Of course! He has been duly elected by his colleagues. We have a reality and we must live with it.”
On Saraki’s aborted visit to the APC secretariat on Thursday, the party chairman said there were a lot of consultations going on at that time and he could not have been in two places at the same time.
He however said party chiefs were already talking with Saraki and would not want to make noise about it.

Impeachment Notice: My Enemies Are At Work -Onyeakpa

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The executive chairman of Orumba South Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. John Onyeakpa has described the impeachment notice served to him by legislative chamber of Orumba South council area as handiwork of his enemies and that of those who are hell-bent in halting his fast rising  political profile.

Onyeakpa who stated this in an exclusive interview with Fides, while reacting to the impeachment notice served by the legislative chamber which 16 out of 18 councilors endorsed the resolution and signed by the clerk of the house, said the councilors ganged up against him simply because of he refused them assess to some IGR windows.

The council boss, said the reason why they conspired to remove him was because he turned down their request of using some of the IGR windows of the council area to repay their accumulated debts noting that all those engineering his impeachment were all enmeshed in one financial crisis or the other.

His words, 'Let me just clear the air because a lot had been said within this short period. Honestly, I have had a good working relationship with them but because of selfish interests they came together and concocted these glaring lies against my person. I was not personally served, I understood I was served.

BUHARI’S POST-G7 SUMMIT SPEECH JOLTS SOCIAL MEDIA USERS -Punch

Some Nigerians, especially social media users on Friday reacted to the discovery of an error in a speech by President Muhammadu Buhari while briefing journalists in Abuja on his arrival from G7 summit in Germany on Tuesday.
Buhari had referred to the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, as “President Michelle of West Germany.”
He had said, “I was personally invited by G7. I went there and I was asked to brief the G7, and I was impressed with the tremendous sympathy for the sub-region, the Lake Chad Basin Commission. Their humanitarian approach to the issue to say the least is very impressive and all of them, not only in Europe; from President Obama to the Chairman of G7, President Michelle of West Germany, and French President, they are all willing to help us.”

In a telephone conversation with foremost economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, said the President could make mistakes, adding that such an error was not a big deal.
He said, “I like to compare that kind of slip to Ronald Regan’s tenure as US President. He was often forgetting stuffs, but it didn’t stop him from doing a great job in the US. So, it’s not a big deal.”
Also, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said it was only the enemies of the country that would play up on such.

President Buhari to announce Ministerial list Next Week, as Fashola Tips to bag SGF

As the days go by in the era of a new Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari, he is still yet to give indication of who will occupy his cabinet. However, a source close to President Buhari has told Ashiwaju.org that Babatunde Raji Fashola (Former Governor of Lagos State) has secured himself a top 5 spot on Buhari’s list. This is as Bola Tinubu has started to realise that this new administration may not be the stroll in the park that the envisioned.

Babatunde Fashola,highly regarded  amongst the populace for transforming Lagos within his 8 years as governor,fell out with his godfather, Bola Tinubu, when they supported different candidates for the last Lagos State gubernatorial election. Bola Tinubu was behind the eventual winner Akinwunmi Ambode whilst Babatunde Fashola  supported Barrister Supo Shasore (SAN) who lost at the primaries.  One of the contestants for the governorship post of Lagos told Ashiwaju.org in confidence that “Tinubu is a very vindictive person. Fashola did not even make to the list of nominations that Tinubu sent to President for consideration. This disappointed Fashola so much that he swore to accept any appointment from this current administration. However,'' we have persuaded him to let bygones be bygones and I am happy to see that he was on the G7 team.”

Obiano Inaugurates ASBA, Disburses N1bn MSMEs Loans to Small Business

In a bid to ensure that Anambra State achieves sustainable development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and becomes the hub for MSME empowerment in the country, the governor of the State, Chief Willie Obiano has inaugurate the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) to serve as the catalyst for growth in the MSME sector in the state.
Inaugurating the Agency at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia on Wednesday, Governor Obiano announced that the state had secured the sum of N2 billion for on-lending through ASBA to eligible beneficiaries in partnership with participating financing institutions that meet specific selection criteria in the State.
Of the N2 billion made accessible to Anambra State after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) for the principal and accrued interest,  the sum of N1 Billion has  already been drawn-down out of which the sum of N205m was disbursed to beneficiaries in the first phase of the scheme.
The handing over of symbolic cheques to some of the beneficiaries took place at the flag-off of the First Phase of the ASBA/CBN MSMEs Development Fund in Anambra State, Wednesday at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
The first set of ten beneficiaries were shortlisted after due diligence for the Revolving Working Capital Facility. Among the beneficiaries are Austraco industries Limited for bakery and beverages production; Bold Ventures Limited, for PVC Pipe manufacturing and Zara Industries Limited, for poultry and fish feed production.
Others are I.I.C. Construction Co. Limited, for fabricated steel production; Omus Oil Limited, for production of steel and associated materials and Restructure Nigeria Limited, for production of aluminium cooking pots.

BUHARI FIRES ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OVER N2.5BN SECURITY FUND

The Accountant General of the Federation Mr. Jonah Otunla was yesterday removed from office.
The source, according to an online publication, The Will said Otunla was removed from office because he allegedly misappropriated N2.5 billion of security agencies’ funds.
The source said Mohammed Dikwa, from Borno State, has been appointed as his replacement, but in acting capacity.
Dikwa until his appointment was a Director in Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) confirmed the removal of Otunla as Accountant and the appointment of Dikwa as Acting Accountant General.
In a statement late Friday, the Office of the AGF said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the change, which takes effect immediately.
The statement said Dikwa would hold the position until a substantive replacement was announced.
Until his appointment as the Acting Accountant-General, Mr. Dikwa was the Director, Funds Department in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the statement said.
Mr. Dikwa has Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy and Master in Business Administration and Finance.

We’ll follow due process to punish Saraki, others –APC

The All Progressives Congress has said that whatever disciplinary action it will take against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and   its members for defying its directive on the election of the National Assembly leadership will follow due process.

It said this just as The PUNCH learnt that the Presidency had intervened in the crisis the election of Saraki and Dogara on Tuesday had generated.

The party had conducted mock elections in which Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila emerged as its consensus candidates for the Senate Presidency and House speakership.

After the mock polls, the APC directed its other lawmakers not to contest the positions but ensure that Lawan and Gbajabiamila became the National Assembly leaders.

But this was not to be as Saraki and Dogara did not only contest but won with the support of opposition Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers.

In the Senate, an opposition member, Ike Ekweremadu, surprisingly retained his post as Deputy Senate President.

Ekweremadu defeated an APC Senator, Ali Ndume, who also defied the party’s directive by contesting. The APC anointed candidate for the post   is Mohammed Mungono.

The APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed, who spoke with journalists after an emergency National Working Committee meeting of the APC in Abuja, insisted that the party had not made a U-turn on its earlier position   that the errant lawmakers   would be sanctioned.

Governor Obianoa Inaugurates 6th Anambra State House of Assembly

 

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, on Friday, June 12, 2015,  inaugurated the sixth Anambra State House of Assembly. 

He appealed to the legislators to see themselves as representing their entire constituency rather than the political party which brought them to power. 

While congratulating the 30-member-house for their individual victory at the polls, Obiano reminded them that electioneering was over, stressing, “What is before the state now is the task of development.”

 This is a most auspicious time when everybody will join hands to ensure that the state progresses, he said.

 Obiano restated his four pillars of government and urged the electorate to also serve as watchdog on the legislature and the executive to ensure that they fulfill their  expectations.

 Also, Obiano advised the legislators: “Rise to your full height and fulfill the expectation of the people. Think of what you will do to keep the ideals of the state.”

 He explained the appointment of a former Hon. Pauly Onyeka as his liaison to the House.

 Before the inauguration, the House elected its Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. In a unanimous decision, the House elected a second timer and member representing Nnewi South II, Hon. Rita Maduagwu, as Speaker.

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Falana drags Burundi to African Commission over killing of protesters

  

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has dragged the government of Burundi to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights over the killing of protesters in the country.
The petition, dated May 5, and sent to the Secretary, Mary Maboreke, reads in part:
“I am sending this petition for the urgent attention of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights regarding the continuing human rights violations by the government of Burundi, in particular the attacks against peaceful protesters, journalists and human rights activists, following protests over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term.”
“I urge the African Commission to ensure effective remedies for a multiple violations of the rights of the people of Burundi to life, personal liberty, freedom of expression, association and assembly, guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Burundi is a state party.”
“Despite its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international treaties to which Burundi is a state party, the authorities continue to violate the right to life, personal liberty, freedom of expression, association and assembly in the context of the on-going human rights crisis in the country.”

REVEALED: How Northern Leaders Plot Against Senator Lawan's Senate Presidentship

A ranking senator yesterday revealed how his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) colleagues and those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who supported the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President were threatened the week preceding the inauguration of the National Assembly.
He also revealed how senators-elect in APC from the North backed out of the Ahmed Lawan-for-Senate President project when they learnt that the intention was to cage President Muhammadu Buhari as plotted by some Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) elements in APC, who nominated the vice president.
The senator from the South-East, who doesn’t want to be named, told Daily Sun that elements who wanted Senator Lawan to emerge as Senate President, essentially from the ACN bloc of the APC did everything possible to ensure they arm-twisted the senators sympathetic to Saraki.
He stated: “Sometime last week, it got so bad that their men stormed the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, where most of us stayed and had our meeting to attack members. The attack came as the last effort after we resisted their inducement.
“Yes, we were all approached to vote the people they wanted in the two chambers of the National Assembly, but we said no. We resisted them because we were on a mission to salvage our party, and we were bent on voting the person that would serve our interest. Now PDP is in the opposition and we have to teach APC a lesson in positive opposition.”

INVESTIGATION: Men, Woman facing criminal allegations, who will make laws for Nigeria

Nigeria’s eighth National Assembly was inaugurated on Tuesday, June 9. At the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, 109 Senators and 360 Representatives were sworn in to office for a four-year term.

Section 66(1a-i) the 1999 Constitution bars certain categories of Nigerians from being members of the National Assembly.

The Constitution says a person shall be unworthy to make laws for the country if he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial commission of inquiry or an administrative panel of inquiry or a tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, Tribunals of Inquiry Law or any other law by the federal or state government which indictment has been accepted by the federal or state governments respectively.

Again Boko Haram kills 37 in Borno villages

At least 37 villagers were killed and scores of houses razed down when Boko Haram terrorists, Wednesday, staged yet another deadly attack on hapless communities in Damboa local government area of Borno state, witnesses and security sources have said.
The heavily armed terrorists who drove on trucks attacked six farming communities by shooting sporadically and throwing improvised petrol bombs on houses.
An operative of the Civilian-JTF, Ajim Ahmed, who said he witnessed it all, narrated that six villages comprising Koshifa, Matangale, Buraltuma, Darmanti, Almeri and Burmari villages all within Damboa local government were attacked that Wednesday night.
Mr. Ahmed said he had to join others to flee during the deadly attack, but returned the next day to find the smoking villages littered with human corpses.

Governor Obiano Appoints Honourable Pauly Onyeka As SA On Assembly Liaison

The executive governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano has approved the appointment of Honourable Barrister Pauly Onyeka as the Special Adviser to the governor on House of Assembly Liaison Officer.
The governor  disclosed this at the swearing In ceremony for the 6th Anambra state house of assembly members in Awka, urged the honourable members to work assiduously to match up even surpass the achievements of the 5th Anambra state house of assembly members.

President Buhari Urges to honour late boss with highest national award ----Ex-Abiola aide, Akerele

A former political assistant to the late Moshood Abiola, Olu Akerele, has remained unrelenting in his advocacy for the official recognition of what he describes as “the democratic martyrdom of MKO Abiola as the icon of the current democracy and his posthumous declaration as president-elect of Nigeria”.
In a press statement in Abuja Thursday, Mr. Akerele said “for a man who selflessly martyred himself and whose blood watered the tree of the very democracy that we enjoy today, declaring him president-elect posthumously and recognizing the day that symbolizes his political struggle will not be too much to assuage his spirit and to give proper repose to the soul of such political icon.”
He maintained that “the late icon of democracy (whose pan-Nigerian and cross-cultural electoral victory on June 12 remains a watershed in the democratic learning experience of Nigeria) was conspiratorially martyred on July 07, 1998, after four years of incarceration by the military junta of the late General Sani Abacha”.

BREAKING NEWS:FIRE DESTROYS MULTI-MILLION NAIRA FINOTEL HOTEL CLASSIC AWKA

An evening fire yesterday destroyed part  of Finotel Classic Hotel located near Nwa Uzu Junction, Agu Awka, Awkacapital territory, Anambra state
Ashiwaju.org visited the scene, we  observed that property worth several million of Naira perished in the inferno.
Witnesses said  the fire started at about 6:00 pm from the upper part of the Hotel Classic but were not able to ascertain the cause of the inferno.
A guest in the hotel who pleaded anonymity  explained that the fire caused panic inside the hotel as people ran for safety.
“I heard people shouting ‘fire! Fire’ at the lobby and I saw thick smoke  oozing out from a section of the building. Then, I knew there was problem.  I had to run for safety like others, he said.”
Ashiwaju.org also gathered that the  fire service came very late to the scene and it took the intervention of the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who directed the Government House Fire Fighting Trucks to reduce the level of wreckage that would have occured in the Hotel fire outbreak.
Efforts to speak with the hotel management was probed abortive at the time of filling this report, but Ashiwaju.org arguable heard from an expert that came to sympathize with the Hotel Management said the damage should run into Million of Naira .

Yorubas planning a Xenophobic attack against Ndigbo in Lagos

A coalition of Yoruba groups, pan-Yoruba National Alliance, has dismissed the notion that Lagos is a no-man’s land. The group, therefore, warned non-indigenes in the state to be sensitive to the culture and sensibilities of the Yoruba.
The group , which is a coalition of youths drawn from Oodua Nationalists Coalition, Oodua Liberation Movement and the Oodua Peoples Congress, among others, said this even as some Igbo groups in Lagos tabled a seven-point agenda before Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, demanding that he appoints some Igbo into his cabinet.
The PAYNA youths, who took to the streets to protest on Tuesday, warned that any attempt to marginalise the Yoruba in Lagos would be resisted.
A leader of the group, Mr. Araoye Akinwunmi, said, “This is a symbolic rally to warn against the assault on Yoruba heritage. We are sick of people who trample on our heritage even though they make their millions on our territory. The Yoruba will no longer accept the conscious attempt to turn us into slaves on our own land.”

Revolution Scenery Pave Way For DOGARA’S Emergence As Speaker Of 8th Jouse Of Reps------Ghali Na;abba

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’ Abba, on Wednesday, described the emergence of Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House as revolutionary.
Na’ Abba made this remark when he led former principal officers of the House to congratulate the new Speaker of the eighth House of Reps.
Na’ Abba said the revolution was executed by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The law makers are mature Nigerians and they know where they want to place the country in the comity of nations.
The former speaker posited that any party that wants to manipulate the autonomy of the legislature would be disappointed.
“In spite of the candidates preferred by the APC, the legislators chose who they wanted to lead them.
“The event that played out on Tuesday which led to Dogara’s emergence as Speaker, reminded me of the case of Aminu Tambuwal in 2011.

President Bhari Set To Play Host President of CHAD, CAMEROON, NIGER, BENIN On Renewed Talk To Eliminate Boko

As part of the strategy to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, President Muhammadu Buhari will today host a meeting of Heads of State and Presidents of the Lake Chad Basin Commission in Abuja.
In a bid to perfect Nigerian position for today’s meeting, President Buhari yesterday held a closed door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and the Chief of Naval Staff, Usman Jubrin, at Defence House.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr Ismali Aliyu, said they came to brief the president on preparations for a scheduled meeting of Heads of State and Presidents today in Abuja to discuss on the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
He said that defence chiefs and Ministers of Defence of the member countries of the commission had earlier met necessitating today’s meeting of presidents.
According to him, “the meeting held between the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Lake Chad Basin and Ministers of Defence culminated in the presidents’ meeting tomorrow (today).
What were discussed

Reuben Abati Returns To Class Room After 6-years of Political Engagement

Immediate past Senior Special Adviser on Media to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, has taken a lead to further his academic pursuit to enhance his political proficiency and a preparatory mechanism for his lecturing job.
DR. Reuben Abati, who was formerly the Managing Director of Guardian Newspaper and visiting lecturer to universities in Nigeria and abroad had on many  occasion said he would rather return to his pen profession or as a full time lecturer after serving as the SSA on Media to the ousted president.
He has now moved to Oxford, London, for further studies on Advanced Management and Leadership study which would sharpen his thought faculty to dealing with future task relating to management and leadership prowess.
Dr. Abati Assured “I get tons of positive messages with common questions like ‘Where are you? What are you doing Dr. Reuben Abati?’

Authorities of Aso Rock Turn Down Posting Of 253 DSS officials To Villa

Apparently still not sure of the shape security around President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will take in the coming days, authorities of the Presidential Villa, Abuja have rejected about 253 officials of the Department of State Services recently transferred to the Presidential Villa.

Investigations by one of our correspondents on Wednesday revealed that the affected security operatives were deployed from different state commands of the DSS across the country.

According to their redeployment signals that emanated from the service’s National Headquarters, the officers were directed to report at the Presidential Villa last week Monday.

The PUNCH further learnt that the officials, armed with signals showing specifically where they would man in the Presidential Villa, were however turned back on arrival.

They were said to have been directed to ensure that they return to their respective former duty posts across the country the following day (last week Tuesday).

Fire Destroy Properties Worth Over 50 Million Naira In Awka Timber Market

At least about 50 shops, a  building  and goods worth over 50 million naira were burnt  in  Awka Timber/Building and Allied Market fire incident in Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.
The Properties were ranging from  equipment, tools and finished products and valuable worth millions of Naira, destroyed in the fire incident that occurred at the at the early hour of yesterday.
Ashiwaju.org gathered that the fire, which started about  6.30pm,Wednesday, June 9th,  at the popular
Timber/Building and Allied  market, lasted for over four hours before residents and fire service crew came to put out the fire.
Shop owners reportedly scampered for safety of their wares as the fire wreaked havoc in the market, leaving over 34 shops burnt.
According to the traders of the market, electric spake, coal pot stove and fuel containers might have caused the inferno, whereby, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

PHOTOS: SARAKI UNFOLDS AGENDA FOR NIGERIA AS HE TAKES OVER NASS

Despite the controversy surrounding his emergences as the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki has brushed aside his rejection by the leadership of his party, the APC and unfolded his agenda for Nigerians.
Saraki promised that that the new Senate and National Assembly would make laws that will enable the country to renew its infrastructure, reform the oil and security systems as well as boost agriculture.
Similarly, Saraki assured that the new NASS would make laws that would lead to the creation of jobs and make doing business in Nigeria much more competitive.
“In the coming days we shall be converging to hammer out an aggregate agenda that will help us focus and deliver on these minimum expectations,” the Senate President said.
In a statement made available to Vanguard by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, Saraki described his emergence as the 8th Senate President was a demonstration that Nigerians were united by a common desire to entrench democracy and allow its core principles to guide the conduct of the nation’s political affairs.
“We have demonstrated that even though we may belong to different persuasions and parties, we are ultimately united by our common desire to entrench democracy and allow its core principles guide the conduct of our political affairs, “Saraki said.

NASS: "YOUR THREATS ARE EMPTY" - PDP TELLS APCNASS: "YOUR THREATS ARE EMPTY" - PDP TELLS APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed threats by the All Progressives Congress to the new leaders of the National Assembly as empty aimed at covering its naivety, inexperience and unpreparedness for governance. 
The PDP also admonished the APC to shed its arrogance, eat the humble pie and get more organized for governance adding that it lacks the capacity, capability and means to sanction duly elected leaders of the National Assembly.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Wednesday said the crass inexperience so far displayed by the APC is a pointer that it is not adequately equipped to handle the affairs of government at the center, noting that events would continue to prove the PDP right in this regard.

“Nothing can be more astonishing than the whining by the APC that the PDP at the last minute expressed its preference for Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively after it had earlier stated that it was not interested the positions. This calls to question the capacity, experience and skills of APC leaders on political matters and we have no apology whatsoever for their naivety.

Ify Obinabo Marks 46th Birthday In Grand Style

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

It was an atmosphere of ecstasy, glitz and glamour on Friday, 5 June, 2015 as a renowned Newscaster and Presenter with Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Lady Ify Obinabo (Ada di ora nma), celebrate her 46th birthday in grand style.

The sumptuous event which took place at the popular Bellwood hotel, Asaba Delta State, started at exactly 8pm local time attracted people from all walks of life notable among whom were Sir Nnamdi Okeke who chaired the event; Mr. Noah Adesonya Assistant commissioner of police Delta State; Prince Emeka Okafor former commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abia State; Prince Emeka Kalu Anambra State RATTAWU  Chairman; Lady Ify Obi Station manager Unizik FM, Awka; Veteran journalist, Mr. Emmanuel Obe accompanied by his beautiful wife, Sylvia.

Also in attendance were Okwuluoha Charles Ede of Minaj Broadcasting Int'l (MBI); Lady Joy Mbachi; Mr. Peter Okolie and Patrick Anaso of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Mr. Uche Ndeke (DJ Snazzy); Lady Oby Charity Arinze and Nkiru Onwuzulike of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); Lady Blessing Austine Nweke of Cemadon TV, Asaba Delta State; Blogger Philip Chigozie Umeh of National Link Newspapers, Nnewi among others.

LESBIAN SENTENCED TO 45 YEARS IN JAIL FOR KILLING LOVER

A LESBIAN, who could not take the rejection of her partner and had to murder her, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison without parole.
Twenty-four-year-old Jessica Michelle Ewing, a former Virginia Tech student in the US, got extremely mad when her gay partner, Samantha Shrestha, 21, told her their relationship was just an experiment as far as she was concerned and wanted to opt out, prosecutors said in the high profile murder case.
When Ewing could not control her anger and jealousy and fearing she would lose Shrestha to another woman, the court heard, she strangled the younger lady. The convict admitted that she strangled Shrestha during an argument.
The convict admitted that she strangled Shrestha during an argument. According to the police investigation, Ewing had gone to Shrestha’s apartment and after the two had had sex after drinking wine, things turned violent between them after Ewing called Shrestha a spoiled bitch
According to the police investigation, Ewing had gone to Shrestha’s apartment and after the two had had sex after drinking wine, things turned violent between them after Ewing called Shrestha a spoiled bitch.

N’ASSEMBLY LEADERS: SARAKI, DOGARA TREACHEROUS, DISLOYAL, SAYS APC

The All Progressives Congress has described as totally unacceptable and the “highest level of indiscipline and treachery” the conduct of Tuesday’s inauguration of the National Assembly that led to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Mr. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.

This was contained in a statement by APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Abuja on Tuesday.
APC said, “Senator Bukola and Hon. Dogara are not the candidates of the APC and a majority of its National Assembly members-elect for the positions of Senate President and House Speaker. The party duly met and conducted a straw poll and clear candidates emerged for the posts of Senate President, Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, supported by a majority of all Senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives.

BODE GEORGE: WITH SARAKI’S EMERGENCE, TINUBU IS FIVE MINUTES TO HIS POLITICAL SUNSET

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has hailed the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President.
George, who spoke in London, said Saraki’s emergence is an indication that the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, “is five minutes to his political sunset”. To the PDP chieftain, Saraki’s election and that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, “has proved that national politics is better than zonal politics.”
“Since 1999, the PDP is known for playing national politics and we will continue to do just that, whether we are in the opposition or not. “The APC is a congregation of strange bed fellows and Tinubu erroneously still thinks that his party will continue to play the type of politics of imposition he is playing in Lagos.

Read How 5 Ex-Governors Turn Senators Stopped Lawan

Details have emerged on how former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the five governors who in late 2013 defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worked against the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan as Senate President.
THISDAY gathered that Atiku and the five governors were uncomfortable with the rising touted political wizadry of APC national leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and decided to “cut him to size.”
Two of the former governors - Rabi’u Musa Kwakwanso and Aliyu Wammako (Kano and Sokoto States) were recently elected into the Senate. Kwara State Governor, Ahmed Abdulfatah, is the political protégé of the new Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
They reportedly used their influence to stop Lawan believed to be Tinubu’s candidate.
THISDAY gathered that Wammako had also used his successor, the new governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, to reach out to returning House members to support Hon. Yakubu Dogara in emerging the House of Representatives Speaker.

TINUBU’S WIFE SNUBS SARAKI, LAWAN TAKES OATH OF OFFICE

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday administered oath of office and allegiance on Ahmad Lawan and 27 other All Progressives Congress senators who were absent at the formal inauguration of the Eighth Senate.
The senators were gathered at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari, who was billed to address them when the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji SalisuMaikasuwa, proclaimed the Eighth Senate and subsequently conducted the election.
The election, which had 23 APC senators in attendance, produced Saraki as president of the Senate, while Senator Ike Ekweremadu was elected his deputy.
Saraki, after the election, administered oath of office and allegiance on 75 other senators.
However, the others, mainly members of the Senate Unity Forum, led by Senator Ahmad Lawan, mobilised themselves to the chamber as early as 8:30am on Wednesday, waiting for the Senate president, to formally swear them in as senators.

Ronaldo’s mother caught with €45,000 at airport

Dolores Aveiro, the mother of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, was stopped at Madrid’s Barajas Airport last month and caught carrying an illegally large amount of cash as she prepared to fly out of the country, the newspaper El Mundo reported.

According to The Telegraph, 60-year-old Aveiro, who spends long periods of time with her multimillionaire footballer son in his luxury mansion outside Madrid, was held by border police at Barajas after it was found that she had €55,000 (£40,000) in her hand luggage. Rules against money laundering state that the maximum travellers are permitted to take out of Spain without declaring the transfer is €10,000.

Aveiro had not filled out a declaration form and, according to the Spanish daily, was held by civil guard agents at the airport for a few minutes while the excess amount of cash was confiscated. She was then allowed to fly to Portugal with €10,000 in her handbag.