NATIONAL VIBES

Posted by Tony Okechukwu              For months, Kayla Rahn of Montgomery, Alabama had unexplained stomach pain and was unable to lose weight. The situation was taking a toll on her life and well-being.                                                                  "I couldn't even walk to my car without losing my breath," Rahn recalled to NBC12, adding that she was once asked if she was pregnant with twins.                                                                In May, Rahn finally got the answer to her mysterious medical condition. After her mother took her to the emergency department at Jackson Hospital, do...

- Flies Flags at half-mast By Pat PA Okon                                                             The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared a seven-day mourning for the victims of the gruesome killings of innocent Nigerians by marauders and bandits in Plateau State and other parts of the country. In a statement signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party consequently, directed that its flags at all its offices and formation at all levels across the country be flown at half-mast during the period in honour of the victims. The PDP urges the people of Plateau State to exercise their rights as global citizens, work with other public-spirited Nigerians and groups and take President Muhammadu Buhari and his government to the International ...

Posted by Tony Okechukwu THE Trade Union Congress (TUC), in Ondo State, on Thursday, described the allegations by Ondo State government that the union received N10 million from Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, to cause an industrial crisis in the state, as not only false but unfounded. Refuting the allegation in a statement made available to journalists in Akure, Ondo State capital, the TUC State Secretary, Mr. Clement Fatuase, said the allegation was a ploy by the state government to undermine the agitation by the state workers. Fatuase said the union would not be gagged or blackmailed saying we will continue to demand the rights of workers in the state in the midst of blackmail and intimidation. He said no amount of campaign of calumny from any quarters would deter the leadership of the unions from demanding for the rights of workers in the state. It was gathered that the Ondo State governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, had accused TUC and its chairman, Ekundayo Soladoy...

Posted by Tony Okechukwu       Plot to impeach the deputy governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, takes a new dimension as governor Rochas Okorocha through the Imo House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Acho Ihim, has taken steps towards realising the vexatious project by suspending four lawmakers suspected to be loyal to the deputy governor for on frivolous reason.                                                             This sequel to preparing grounds for the purported impeachment plot against the deputy governor since the previous schemes failed on arrival.                                                             The affected lawmakers in questio...

By Pat PA Okon                                                               The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm over alleged plots by the National Commissioner in charge of Operations, Mrs. Amina Zakari and two directors of the commission to manipulate the system and rig the July 14, Ekiti governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement signed by Hon. Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary, the party said its investigation reveals that two INEC directors: Mr. Pascal Uwakwe, in charge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and one Mr. Abdulrasaq Agboola have been holding meetings with the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to perfect their plot to rig the election. It continued "The PDP has been fully ma...

                                 - Set To Sign GMoU With Shell On Gbarain/Ubie Gas Plant - Restates Preparedness To Partner Int’l Community On Oil, Gas - As Hoy attributes high oil output to stability In N’Delta By Pat PA Okon                        Bayelsa State Government is to sign a Global Memorandum of Understanding with Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC) on the Gbarain/Ubie Gas plant, a multi-million dollar project, which is the largest investment in Africa. Speaking while receiving the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy in Government House, Yenagoa, the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), expressed the Government’s preparedness to partner the international community, in seeking ways the state can benefit maximally from the oil and gas industry. A statement issued on Wedn...

- As Speaker Dogara calls for lasting solution to power problems By Pat PA Okon                                                             The Hon. Yakubu Dogara-led-House of Representatives has commenced an investigation into allegations of excessive electricity charges being levied on consumers by distribution companies. Dogara, while delivering a remark at the investigative hearing held by the House ad-hoc committee set up to curb excessive electricity charges by the distribution companies, explained that the investigation is being carried out with a view to reducing the financial burden on Nigerians and finding a lasting solution to the crisis currently plaguing the energy sector. Dogara said: “The House is aware of the financial hardship being experienced by most of our people, due to the high electricity charges by DIS...

- Rationalizes Staff of Tertiary Institutions By Pat PA Okon                                                        Bayelsa State Government says, it has expended N313.5 million as payment for the disengaged staff of tertiary institutions, following the staff rationalization policy of the government. The State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (Rtd), who stated this in Government House, Yenagoa, declared N7.3 billion as balance of funds available as at the end of May, 2018. A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, quoted the Deputy Governor as stating that, the amount was part of the total outflows of the month, which came up to N6 billion. According to Rear Admiral John-Jonah, the amount was spent in lieu of the 3 Months’ notice prior to the termination of...

Picture Story: President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, June 26, 2018, commissioned the  Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital and 100-nos. Naval Housing Units in Calabar. These are the pictorial details.  By Pat PA Okon.

By Pat PA Okon             Mr. Bala Ciroma, has assumed office as the new Police Commissioner for the Plateau State Police Command. Coming in the heightt of killings and reprisal killings in the State, SP Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Jos. Ciroma replaced Mr Undie Adie, who was posted to the state late last year. Tyopev said Ciroma was before his new position in charge of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID), FTC Command. He said that the Yobe-born police officer attended University of Maiduguri and graduated in 1988.

 By Tony Okechukwu      The United States of America has strongly condemned the attacks in Plateau in which no fewer than 86 people were killed and several others injured. The USA in a statement by Ms Heather Nauert, Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said the perpetrators of the attacks should be brought to justice. “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of civilians and destruction of property in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region over the weekend. “We are concerned by the recent increase in armed violence against civilians and call on all political and community leaders to lend their voices to peace and to work together to find lasting solutions to these rural conflicts. “We join President Buhari and others in sending our deepest condolences to the affected communities, and in the desire to see the perpetrators brought to justice and to prevent further violence,” Nauert said. According Mr Terna Tyopev, the Pub...

-Applauds Ayade; says project is People-Oriented Posted by Tony Okechukwu President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, commissioned the Cross River State Seedlings and Seed Multiplication Factory in Calabar which he described as people-oriented project. The President said the project was in line with his administration's zero oil economic roadmap with Cross River Governor,  Senator Ben Ayade becoming a reference point in that vision. His words: "When we assumed the rein of leadership of our dear country, our administration launched a zero-oil economic roadmap as a way of making our country less dependent on oil, while encouraging investments in other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture. "I am happy that Governor Ayade keyed into that policy and has today become the reference point in our agricultural revolution effort." While emphasising the significance of the event, President Buhari said: "That we are gathered here today is no doubt a deter...

            Posted By Tony Okechukwu.              The National Assembly has approached the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court to set aside a Federal High Court judgement, which held that it lacked the power to re-order the proposed sequence for the 2019 general elections. In the appeal, the lawmakers are asking the appellate court to dismiss the claims of Accord Party, the plaintiff, in the lower court.                                                       .                                Justice Ahmed Mohammed of an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, had in his judgement in a suit filed by Accord Party against National Assembly, Attorney- General of the Federation, and Independent National...

Posted Tony Okechukwu By 2043, Christianity in Nigeria may cease to exist, beginning from 2018. The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) led by former Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), and Solomon Asemota (SAN) revealed this. The present generation of Christians faces the risk of being the last set of Christians in Nigeria. The NCEF therefore urged the Christian Association of Nigeria to brace up before the 2019 general elections–or else it might be too late to preserve Christianity in Nigeria. NCEF’s Secretary Bosun Emmanuel stated these in his paper entitled “Impact of lack of unity in CAN as threat to Christian faith”, delivered during the annual conference of Catholic Men’s Guild, held at the Catholic Church of Assumption, Ikoyi in Lagos. Emmanuel said President Muhammadu Buhari “is openly pursuing an anti-Christian agenda that has resulted in countless murders of Christians all over the nation and destruction of vulnerable Christian communit...

Posted by Tony Okechukwu Segun Oni, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, has filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the emergence of Kayode Fayemi, former minister of mines and steel, as the party’s flagbearer for the July 14 governorship poll. Fayemi whole polled a total of 941 votes at the primary which held on May 12, defeated Oni, his closest rival by a margin of over 460 votes. But Oni has asked the court to determine if it was proper for his opponent in the primary to contest without resigning as a member of the federal cabinet. In the court documents, Oni asked the court to determine if Fayemi’s action did not violate the Nigerian constitution and the guidelines of the ruling party primary. The suit was filed on his behalf by Gani Faniyi, his counsel. “Whether by virtue of All Progressives Congress constitution and particularly Articles 2 and 5 of All Progressive Congress 2014 Guidelines for the nominat...

- Condemns widespread genocide across the land By Pat PA Okon The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to face the reality that more Nigerians are dying and getting poorer under his watch Reacting to the massacre of hundreds of innocent souls in Barki Ladi local Government Area of Plateau State at the weekend, and the Brookings Institutions' report on Nigeria's latest poverty level, Prince Secondus said that nothing can justify the continued blood flow in the country with the ruling APC who instead of nipping it on the bud has chosen to remain indifferent. In a statement from his media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Prince Secondus said that the federal government and its security agencies appear to have switched off on the killings and now concentrating on how to intimidate people and win election at all course. "Otherwise how do one explain the genocides in Plateau that was ...

By Inno Imo The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has deployed Police Special Intervention Force to Plateau State to restore lasting peace in Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Jos South and other flash points where 86, persons were killed and several others injured Sunday, by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Similarly, the IGP, has ordered the  deployment of two police aerial surveillance  helicopters, five Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), three Police Mobile Force Units (PMF), two Counter Terrorism Cells (CTU ) and Police Intelligence Unit and conventional Police personnel from other States to the affected towns and villages in Plateau State. To restore peace and stability in the shortest possible time in the area, IGP Idris, has also ordered the relocation of the Deputy Inspector General of Police; Department of Operations, to Jos, to coordinate and supervise the operations on the ground. Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, who made this known in a statem...

Posted By Tony Okechukwu                                                             Two weeks after the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu reportedly made a donation of N2.27 billion into the campaign fund of the APC governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, labour unions in Ondo State are threatening to go on strike over months of unpaid salary, arrear of 20 per cent of October 2016, full salaries of November and December 2016 as well as January 2017. This was made known in a Bulletin issued Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) and signed by its Chairman, Comrade Abel Oloniyo. Rising from an emergency meeting on Thursday, June 21, 2018, the unions in the Public Service of Ondo State, the workers demanded for a meeting with Governor Akeredolu on Monday, June 25, failure of which they threatened to embark on industr...

Posted by Tony Okechukwu                                                               The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has described as sad and strange, support by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State and its governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for the creation of cattle colonies in some local government areas in the State, saying; “an inch of Ekiti lands will not be given to herdsmen for creating of cattle colonies that will later create an inroad for the invasion of Ekitiland.” State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, who made this know while reacting to reported comment by Fayemi that killings by Fulani herdsmen will only stop if lands are provided for the herdsmen as their permanent settlements, added that it was no longer hidden that Fayemi had entered into agreement t...

By Pat PA Okon The Bayelsa State Government has said that it owes nobody any apologies for removing ghost names from the over-bloated payroll in the state. The Government also stressed that the decision to flush out unqualified workers who came into the public service through dubious means should be commended by all well meaning citizens. The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, stated this at the Oporoma headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area during the grand finale of a grassroots sensitization programme on the state government public sector reforms on Monday. Mr. Iworiso-Markson who described the various town hall meetings as a huge success, said the strong support expressed by the people would give government the needed impetus to drive the reform process to success. He reiterated that no amount of blackmail would truncate the process, stressing that those crying foul over the reforms are people who were be...

By Charles Ogbu There are two big lessons to be drawn from the triumphant Eagles outing tonight and the uniformity with which tonight’s Hero (Ahmed Musa) was celebrated by Nigerians of all region and religion. Number 1 of the lessons is that ordinary Nigerians, from Zamfara to Enugu down to Oyo do not really hate each other. The fundamental problem of this country emanates from a Leadership Collective that sees Tribe where they are supposed to see or imagine a Nation and Religion where they are supposed to see humanity. That orgasmic sense of oneness Nigerians feel with every triumphant Super Eagles outing could actually be made permanent if ours wasn’t such a broken society presided over by a horde of conscienceless idiots with a mindset deeply rooted in discrimination, injustice and ethnic domination. Number 2 lesson, Ndigbo do not really hate Nigeria neither do they NECESSARILY want to secede. It is the Nigerian state and her dark hearted rulers that have continued...

BY Pat PA Okon At least 120 people returning from a funeral service in Jos, were yesterday, killed by armed men suspected to be herdsmen. The Pastor-in-charge of Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) Regional Church Council (RCC) Rop in BarkinLadi Local Government Area said the mourners were killed by suspected armed herdsmen in an attack on Saturday that lasted for several hours. “Fulani people attacked our members who attended the burial of the father to one of our clergy Baba Jakawa, at GidinAkwati, Gashis district. Late Jakawa was aged over 80 years, a committed member of COCIN, so his burial attracted many sympathisers.” “The armed Fulanis ambushed the sympathisers on their way back from the burial, attacked and killed 34 persons from Nekan village, 39 others from Kufang, and 47 people from Ruku village. “As we speak with you, many others are still missing in the bushes,” he said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES. The cleric added that “the sad inciden...