APC holds two-day retreat for senators-elect

The All Progressives Congress will hold a two-day retreat for all its Senators-elect in Abuja on Friday May 22 and Saturday 23.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the retreat would be held at the Ibeto Hotel in Apo area of the city.
It urged the Senators-elect to arrive at the venue where accommodation arrangement has been made for them, by 6 p.m. on Friday, May 22, as there will be a closed door meeting between all senators-elect and party leaders at 8 p.m. of the same day.
”The two-day retreat is part of efforts being undertaken by the party to ensure that the legislators hit the ground running for the benefit of Nigerians,” APC said.

Read Full Text of BBC Apology To Nigeria On Allege Selling Human Flesh In A Restaurant

The British Broadcasting Cooperation has apologised for wrongly publishing a story about a restaurant in Anambra State, Nigeria, where human flesh is served as meat.

In the report, BBC had said suspicious residents in Anambra told police about rumours that the restaurant was cooking human meat for customers.

It also said when police raided the restaurant, fresh human heads, still bleeding were discovered.

The BBC said the blood found in the restaurant by the police were in the process of being drained into a plastic bag.

House of Reps’ Speakership: Tinubu has no hand in my ambition — Gbajabiamila

One of the leading contenders for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the soon-to-be inaugurated 8th Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied the involvement of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, in his ambition.

Mr. Gbabiamila, who is the current Minority Leader in the House, made the statement Wednesday while addressing members-elect of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja.

“I intend to be speaker not for anybody. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has no hand in it. Lamido Sanusi left his palace in Kano and pleaded with him to support me. He didn’t get a clear answer. Shortly after that, Senator Lawan Shuaibu went to Tinubu on the same issue. He still did not respond until when few weeks ago Nasir El-Rufai went to meet him, then he said maybe this man has some appeal,” Mr. Gbajabiamila said.

3 Fear Dead In Ekiti State Mayhem

Hell was let loose in Ado-Ekiti yesterday as three people were killed and scores injured when hoodlums
unleashed terror on Oja Oba market near the old garage.
The hoodlums suspected to be members of the road transport workers union clashed with some Hausa residents. The violence paralysed activities in the Ekiti State capital for hours.
Property worth millions of naira were either completely burnt or vandalized.
An eyewitness said trouble started Tuesday night when a bag belonging to the wife of a chieftain of road transport workers was snatched by unknown persons along the ever-busy Ijigbo-old garage area. Cases of bag snatching had for long been rife in the area, with some Hausas being accused as the mastermind..

I CAN’T BE COWED, FANI-KAYODE TELLS NWC OF PDP

 Mr Femi Fani-Kayode says he cannot be intimidated by threat of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to discipline him for calling for their sack.
Fani-Kayode, the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, stated this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
He spoke shortly after the resignation of the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
According to him, I am vindicated by Mu`azu`s resignation.
He, however, insisted on total overhauling of the party with the resignation of other members of the NWC for the party to return to its former glory.
“I am glad that about seven hours after I said somebody should resign, somebody listened and stepped down. Every single one of them should go’’, Fani-Kayode said.
“I was a special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo for three years under PDP and I served as a Minister too.

LAMIDO HANDS OVER TO SSG, JETS OUT ON ANNUAL LEAVE

Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, yesterday handed over the state administration to his Secretary to State Government (SSG) Lawan Abdu Babura, a week to inauguration of a new government.
This, he said, will allow him proceed on his annual leave.
Lamido flew out from Dutse International Airport amidst tears from his supporters and well wishers.
In a chat with journalists after his last executive council meeting, Lamido thanked his cabinet members, civil servants and the people of Jigawa State for their support and contribution to his government in the last eight years.
He, however, announced that his commissioners and all other government functionaries would continue in office until 12 midnight of May 29, 2015.

Govt withdraws charges against child bride

                                                                            Wasila
The Kano State government has dropped murder charges against  a 14-year-old girl, who reportedly killed her husband.
The child bride, Wasila Tasiu allegedly thumb-printed a confessional statement while in police custody that she killed her husband, Umar Sani through application of rat poison in his local delicacy.
Tasiu was said to to have taken the action after she was forced to marry the deceased against her wish.
However, a government lawyer,  Abba Lamido Sorondinki made an oral application before the Gezewa High Court, Kano, where Tasiu had been standing trial in the last 20 months that the accused person be set free as the state was no longer interested in prosecuting her.
“I am declaring the government position of dropping the charges against her and she should be set free,” Sorondinki said.

Why APC Held Stakehloders Conference Sets To Mershal Out Policy Agenda

The All Progressives Congress (APC) unveiled its policy agenda today during a conference at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The agenda’s main focus is on curtailing corruption, reviving the economy and building a larger capacity. The event was attended by experts from various fields, industry leaders, politicians, and business moguls from within and outside of Nigeria.

The guest speaker and former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, spoke extensively on the models and strategies the Party would use to achieve the change promised during the campaign, as expectations of Nigerians are so high.

Withdraw the honorary doctorate degree given to Ngozi Iweala of Nigeria

"YALE UNIVERSITY GAVE ITS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE TO AN UNDESERVING NIGERIAN":Ngozi Iweala, the outgoing Nigeria's finance minister was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by Yale University on May 15, 2015. The citation from the Yale University reads:"Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Doctor of Humane Letters. You are a citizen of your country, your continent, and the world. Shaped by challenging experiences during your childhood in Nigeria, you have made social and economic reform your mission. As Nigeria’s coordinating minister of economic development and minister of finance, you have tackled corruption, created a vision and path to long-term economic stability, and worked to build a culture of transparency. At the World Bank, you made food security a priority and provided policy advice and capital for the world’s poorest countries. With wisdom, a fierce dedication to doing what is right, and unflagging energy, you have transformed the economic landscape of your nation. We are proud to name you Doctor of Humane Letter"

APLUC Seal Up Hotel, Schools For Tax Evation

Anambra Property and Land Use Charge yesterday sealed off  sealed-off seven buildings in Awka, including a school and a hotel over the refusal of the owners to pay property rate tax.
The affected buildings are Choice Hotel Ltd., Netherland International School, Chris Moore Lodge and residential buildings belonging to Mr Emeka Akaigwe, Mrs Peace Okeke and Mr Joachim Acho all in Awka.
Some of the guests and passers by pleaded to no avail as the exercise was going on even as the places are now under lock and key with huge implications on the owners especially schools and the hotels, judging from supplies and school still in session.
But the Head, Human Resources and Administration, Anambra Property and Land Use Charge, Mrs Chinenye Okafor, who lead the team of officials in carrying out the enforcement said it carried out the sealing off of the buildings following judgments it obtained from an Awka Magistrate court against the tax evaders.
Speaking in Awka on Wednesday Mrs Okafor said Anambra had 80, 000 tax defaulters, adding that this class of people owed the state government over N2.5bn, adding that about 550 of such cases were pending in courts.