FG, Jonathan disagree on proposed S’West, S’South military operations

The Federal Government and former President Goodluck Jonathan have disagreed on the planned military operation in the South-South and the South-West codenamed Operation Crocodile Smile.

Jonathan, who spoke on Tuesday, believed it was an anomaly for soldiers to be deployed for internal security, a responsibility that is meant for the police, saying the deployment of troops internally was to intimidate the citizens.

But the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, countered the former President, arguing that under the past administration, headed by Jonathan, soldiers were deployed in Onitsha, where 16 persons were reportedly killed.

Anambra: INEC drills 120 officers on polls mgt

TO ensure credible polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has trained 120 Assistant Electoral Officers, AEOs; Electoral Officers, EOs; and other field staff on Election Management System, EMS. The two-day training, which is part of the Commission’s preparations for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State ended, yesterday. The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Planning, Monitoring and Strategic Committee, Professor Okechukwu

Customs impounds 13 bullet proof cars, 5 others in Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized 18 smuggled exotic cars from an Abuja-based car dealer., 13 of which are bullet-proof. car Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), told journalists in Abuja, yesterday, that the importer did not obtain clearance from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, before the importation. He said:  “On Saturday, September 16, 2017, based on credible information, the detachment of the Compliance Team visited Kefiano Motors Limited in the Central Business Area of Abuja and discovered 18 suspected smuggled exotic vehicles that were displayed for sale.” According to him, the NCS has 265 smuggled cars that have been

Sheriff-led PDP defects to APC in Delta

Members of the Modu Sheriff-led faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State have defected to All Progressives Congress, APC. It was gathered the cross-carpeting followed the dumping of PDP by its erstwhile National Vice Chairman, South-South and Deputy Chairman of the Sheriff group, Dr. Cairo Ojougbo. Speaking at Agbor, where the defection ceremony held, Ojougboh said they were suffocated out of PDP, adding that after the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the Ahmed Markafi national leadership, members of the Sheriff faction were sidelined. According to him, “we asked the national body to open up the party after the unfortunate court judgment. The next thing we heard was that they were going to grant us amnesty as if we were criminals. Their grouse “When Raymond Dokpesi was nominated as member of the committee for the non-elective

EZEEMO: Man who only dreamed of owning a car, comfortable house

THIS is the story of deprivations, resilience, and triumph. It reveals how the innate traits of resourcefulness and desire to finish strong combined to produce one of the successful entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Chief Godwin Ezeemo. To give back to humanity, he currently seeks to serve his state, Anambra at the highest level. WITH a demeanour that could disarm even the most vicious enemy, he approaches life and issues. To complement the harmless looks, are the virtues of focus, hard work, humility, and resilience.  These key values which had taken him places saw him defeating the limitations of his birth in incredible manners. Unlike others, who would capitalise on their poor

Buratai, Kachikwu, others for Peace Achievers Awards

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu have been nominated for the 2017 edition of the Peace Achievers Awards.’ Buratai-Kachikwu Mr Kingsley Amafibe, the Project Director of Peace Ambassadors Agency, organisers of the annual awards, said this in Abuja on Tuesday. The event has been scheduled to hold on Sept. 23. He said that Mike Okiro, former Inspector General (IG) of Police, Raymond Dokpesi of DAAR Communications and Dr Paul Orhi, former Director-General of NAFDAC, were among the nominees too. Other nominees for the award included Amb.Tony Benson, President of Niger Delta Peace Agitators; Dan Nwanyanwu; Alex Okoroji, veteran radio host and Oba Adetola Olaonipekun. According to him, the Chief of Army Staff is to be honoured with the ‘Award for Excellence in Peacekeeping’ for his efforts at maintaining peace across Nigeria. He noted that since the inception of Buratai as the Army Chief, peace has returned to hitherto troubled areas, especially in the North East, Niger Delta and other regions. “Gen. Buratai has proven that he is committed to Nigeria’s Peace and Unity, by leading his men to fight and curb the activities of insurgents in the North and other forms of criminalities across the country.” Amafibe explained that Kachikwu was listed in the 2017 ‘peace honour roll’ because of his “unrelenting commitment to restoring peace in the oil-rich communities of Niger Delta.’’He added that South Africa High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Louis LuLu

Obaze lacks followership, can’t go far —PDP councillors, chairmanship candidates

The last may not have been heard on the Anambra governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as many continue to challenge the candidature of Mr Oseloka Obaze in the November 18 Anambra State governorship election. Four of the candidates, according to a source, Stella Oduah, Alex Obiogbolu, Emeka John, Ifeanyi Uba, have all complained about alleged irregularities that the election panel overlooked and the unacceptability of the candidature of Obaze as he failed to meet the provisions of the party constitution and guidelines on eligibility to contest. Oseloka Obaze This is even as a group of councillors and chairmanship candidates who ran for 2014 Anambra State local government election said that Obaze didn’t satisfy the mandatory years he should spend in the party as a member before coming up with his aspiration. In a press briefing in Awka, the group headed by Onuchukwu said the person who is being paraded as the flag bearer of PDP in Anambra State

Anambra: Obaze in trouble over running mate, as group alleges she’s not party member

THE PDP was, yesterday, heading towards controversy as a group in the party, the Fresh Congress Group, called for the replacement of the yet to be unveiled running mate to the candidate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze. Obaze The group said the designated running mate expected to be unveiled today was not a card-carrying member of the party. Coordinator of the group, Pastor Emma Obiorah, who argued that the choice might affect the chances of PDP in the November 18 poll, urged the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Council (NEC) and the state caretaker committee of the party to reverse the alleged imposition or be prepared to face the wrath of the

Queues at filling stations, DISCOs shut as ULC strike enters Day 3 FG meets ULC leaders, to address joint briefing today

THE Federal Government, yesterday, met with leaders of the striking leaders of United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, even as queues resurfaced at filling stations in Lagos. Also, offices of Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, were shut as the strike by  ULC entered day three today. Though the meeting held behind closed doors at the conference room of Ministry of Labour and Employment and presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the outcome of the meeting was not known at press time. However, it was revealed that there would be a joint briefing today by the Minster and ULC leaders. Queues resurface at filling stations Meanwhile, investigations revealed that most filling stations across the Lagos metropolis witnessed upsurge of motorists and others queuing to buy premium motor spirit, PMS, also known as petrol. In places like Festac Town, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Abeokuta expressway, Badagry expressway,  and Agege Motor Road, most filling stations had queues of anxious motorists and other consumers filling their tanks and buying in jerry cans. A motorist who spoke on condition of

ABIA AND ANAMBRA COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ON IPOB PROSCRIPTION