Welcome To Sircum Cloud: Punch Newspapers

Showing posts with label Punch Newspapers. Show all posts

Friday, 5 October 2018

Melaye, Adeyemi win Kogi-West senatorial tickets

Gbenga Odogun, Lokoja

The rivalry between a two-time senator, Smart Adeyemi and the incumbent senator representing Kogi-West, Dino Melaye, has resurfaced as both emerged winner on different platforms to represent Kogi-West Senatorial District.

While Melaye will be flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party, the journalist-turned-politician, Adeyemi, has secured the ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

The Kogi West APC primary, which was witnessed by INEC and security operatives and lasted from 11.30 on Wednesday night to 6.30am on Thursday, was conducted at the Olonijola Event Centre in Kabba, headquarters of the senatorial district.

Adeyemi polled 1,659 votes ahead of three other aspirants, Dr Toyin Akanle, Tajudeen Bissimillahi, and Mrs Ibikunle Adedoyin, who polled 104,98 and 19 respectively, while 13 votes was voided.

In Kogi-East, Alhaji Jubril Isah (Echocho) was declared the winner of the APC Senate primary.

In Kogi-Central, Yakubu Oseni, who polled 1,100 emerged the winner of the APC Senate primary for the district.

Other contenders were Nurudeem Usman, 160 votes; Dalhatu Sharafadeen 371 votes; and Yusuf Haruna, 12 votes.

Melaye’s candidature was on Tuesday ratified through concession and automatic ticket on the platform of the PDP.

Recall that similar scenario played out in 2016 when both ran against each other. While Adeyemi flew the flag of the PDP, Melaye represented the APC and defeated the two-term senator.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Naira abuse: CBN to try offenders in mobile court

Nike Popoola

Bankers in the country have expressed their readiness to enforce the law against the abuse of naira notes by setting up mobile courts to punish violators of the currency.

They said this during a press briefing after the Bankers’ Committee meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

The bankers said they also resolved at the meeting that the discretionary bank reserves built up over time should be channelled towards agriculture and the manufacturing sectors in an impactful manner.

By this, they explained that local food sufficiency would be enhanced and pressure on the country’s foreign reserves would be reduced.

Speaking further on the currency abuse, the Director, Corporate Communications Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Isaac Okorafor, said that anyone found squeezing, hawking, spraying or trampling on naira notes at any ceremony would be arrested and tried at the mobile courts.

He stated, “We realised that it costs a lot of money to print the Nigerian naira notes; we also realised that the CBN Act, 2007 forbids any action by anybody either by spraying or squeezing or trampling upon it, writing on it, or hawking it.

“That Act makes it punishable by six months’ imprisonment, or the offender pays a fine of N50,000 or both. And so, it is not only hawking it, but also if at a party, somebody dances upon the money or sprays it, that person automatically goes to jail from that reception. So, Nigerians should bear that in mind and we are serious about it.”

According to him, the CBN is collaborating with relevant agencies of government, Ministry of Justice, the judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force on enforcement.

“It is the duty of the law enforcement agencies to catch offenders and take them to court, and we have been collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force on this mobile court, and that collaboration will be intensified,” he added.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Flood may cause rice shortage next year – FG

Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja

The heavy flood in about 14 states may lead to shortage of rice across the country next year, the Federal Government has warned.

It warned that if adequate measures were not taken to replant the rice affected by severe flood in some states, Nigeria might experience shortage of the staple by 2019.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, stated these at the inauguration of the National Agricultural Seed Council Molecular Facility and the 2018 Seed Fair and Farmers’ Field Day in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the flood affected some major rice-producing states, and this might be risky in terms of rice availability in the country if not addressed.

Ogbeh outlined some of the affected states to include Kebbi, Jigawa, Anambra and Kogi.

He said, “We have to find a way to reach out to farmers who have lost their crops, because in places like Jigawa, Kebbi, Anambra and Kogi, many farmers lost everything they planted.

“New varieties of rice are being produced at the National Agricultural Seed Council, the Faro 66 and 67, which are flood-tolerant; we hope to get them into the field in large quantities for farmers to plant in the near future.

“We are also hoping that as soon as the rain recedes, we encourage farmers to replant so that the residual moisture in the soil plus irrigation can give up another crop, maybe by the end of December or early January. Otherwise, we may be in serious trouble for millet, rice, maize and sorghum.”

On the laboratory, Ogbeh stated that the NASC, in its regulatory activities, had put in place the facility for diagnosis of prevalent diseases limiting crop yields, especially those that were not visible to the naked eye.

The Director General, NASC, Phillip Olusegun, said the agency’s collaboration with stakeholders yielded the molecular facility.

He stated that the laboratory was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under the Basics Programme on the Development of the Cassava Seed System.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Shettima, Al-Makura win senatorial tickets

Kayode Idowu and Umar Muhammed

THE Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has picked the All Progressives Congress ticket for Borno Central.

He won the primary conducted on Wednesday, which result was however announced on Thursday morning.

He polled 2,735 votes to beat his opponent Alhaji Ali Wurge who scored five votes.

Announcing the result, the Chairman of the APC Borno Central Senatorial Electoral Committee, Ahmed Almaduzu, said Shettima scored a total of 2,735 to defeat his only rival in the race, Alhaji Wurge with five votes.

Shettima in a brief acceptance speech shortly after the declaration thanked his co-contestant and all his supporters for the confidence reposed in him.

In another development, the Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Al-Makura, has clinched the ticket of Nasarawa South Senatorial seat in the just-concluded All Progressives Congress senatorial primary held in Lafia, the state capital.

Announcing the result, the returning officer for the APC primary, Abdullahi Canfido, said Al-Makura polled 1,262 votes to beat his rival, Senator Salihu Egyebola, who got 312 votes.

According to him, a total of 1,608 delegates were accredited, while invalid votes were 20.

Speaking to The Punch immediately after the exercise, Al-Makura said the affirmation was not surprising bearing in mind that he had governed the state well since assumption of office, hence the reward by the people of the state.

He, however, said the decision of the party to endorse him would serve as tonic for him to work for the people of Nasarawa South Senatorial District if he eventually wins the election in 2019.

The governor called on his co-contestants in the primary to join hands with him and other aspirants in the state to ensure the victory of the party in the next general elections.

Similarly, in Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who was issued an automatic ticket by the APC national secretariat, has been returned unopposed.

Adamu, a two-term senator, who is eyeing the seat for the third term and the first executive governor of Nasarawa State from 1999-2007, would face his son-in-law, Aliyu Tafida, who secured ticket in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, to contest for the senate seat in Nasarawa West senatorial zone.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Ondo crash: Residents protest government insensitivity

Peter Dada, Akure

Barely 12 hours after five people were killed in a fatal accident at the Shagari Junction on the Akure-Owo Expressway, Akure, Ondo State, residents of the area have taken to the streets to protest against the attitude of the government to incessant accidents at the junction.

A tanker carrying 33,000 litres of diesel had fallen on the road and caught fire on Wednesday.

No fewer than five people, including a toddler, were reportedly burnt to death, while two houses and many shops and vehicles were razed.

The residents, who barricaded the highway thereby causing traffic for several hours, lamented that both the Federal and state governments had failed to put measures in place to stop recurring accidents on the road.

The protesters said the accidents that often occurred on the highway were avoidable if the government was sensitive to the complaints of the people living in the area.

They vowed not to leave the road until the state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, or representatives of President Muhammadu Buhari addressed them.

The group sang different solidarity songs on the road as they also asked the government to either erect speed breakers at the junction or build a flyover, adding that the government could also expand the road.

The protest grounded vehicular movement, as people travelling to Lagos and the northern part of the country were forced to take alternative routes to their destinations.

One of the protesters, who identified himself only as Daniel, said the government was not showing any concern about the welfare of the people of the area.

He said, “We have to stage this protest because if we don’t, our government will not know what we are facing in this area. Many lives have been lost on this road. My father died at this junction. Many other people have gone to their early graves as a result of the accident at this junction. So, we are calling on the government to either erect bumps or expand the expressway to prevent the frequent accidents.”

The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, who visited the scene of the accident, appealed to the protesters to be patient with the government.

He promised that the government would find a solution to the problem, adding that the state government was committed to the welfare of the people of the state.

“We will erect bumps on the expressway within two weeks,” Ajayi said.

The deputy governor, who also promised that the state government would assist victims of the accident, said some government representatives would soon visit the injured at the hospital.

Similarly, the Senator representing the Ondo Central Senatorial District, Tayo Alasoadura, who also visited the scene, promised to assist the victims with N2m.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Three aspirants reject APC Reps primary in Daura

Olaide Oyelude, Katsina

Three All Progressives Congress aspirants for the Daura/Maiadua/Sandamu federal constituency of the House of Representatives, where President Muhammadu Buhari hails from, on Thursday evening, rejected the party’s primary poll to elect a candidate for the 2019 House of Representatives election.

The aspirants are Alhaji Daura Salisu, Alhaji Aminu Jamu and Alhaji Kabir Abdullahi.

Speaking at a press conference in Daura, they alleged that a candidate was imposed on them by the Katsina State Government and “the party machinery.”

They consequently called for a direct primary election to elect the party’s House of Representatives candidate.

Salisu, who represented the aspirants, said, “You are aware of developments relating to the processes leading to the conduct of the APC primary in Daura/Maiadua/Sandamu Federal Constituency.

“It is sad and unfortunate that the Government of Katsina State and the entire APC machinery have taken sides with all plans perfected to subvert the electoral process in favour of an anointed candidate.

“Up till the time of this press conference, (6.40pm), we as aspirants in this election have yet to be informed of the venue, modalities and conduct of the election; that is, we were left in total darkness.

“In defence of democracy, therefore, we have decided to take the following courses of action: We totally reject the processes so far put in place for the election and call for direct primary election.”

The aspirants stated that they would “institute legal processes,” which they said were expected to rectify the alleged anomalies.

They called on their supporters to be law-abiding and shun all indecent and illegal behaviours.

“We assure them we will not rest on our oars until victory is given to them. It is a constitutional right which no power on earth can deny anybody,” they added.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Housewife remanded for killing eight months old stepdaughter

A Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger State, has ordered the remand of a 20-year-old housewife, Zulai Kabiru, standing trial for allegedly killing her eight-months-old step daughter.

The accused is standing trial on a count of culpable homicide, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code Law, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The magistrate, Ramatu Adamu, did not take the plea of the accused on the ground that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The magistrate directed the police to forward the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

She ordered the accused to be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter till November 6, for further mention.

Earlier, the Police prosecutor, Mr Emmanuel Ogiri told the court that the accused’s husband, Kabiru Labbo of Danauta village in Mariga Local Government, reported the matter at Bangi Divisional Police station on September 9.

Ogiri alleged that Zulai, while seeking revenge after a quarrel with her mate, fed the eight months old baby with a locally prepared rat poison, popularly known as otapia-pia.

He told the court that the accused was arrested following her husband’s complaint at the police station.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

13.2 million Nigerian children now out-of-school –UBEC

Olaleye Aluko, Abuja

The Universal Basic Education Commission has said that the population of Nigeria’s out-of-school children has increased from 10.5 million to at 13.2 million.

The UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Hammid Bobboyi, stated this in Abuja on Thursday during a United Nations Children’s Fund briefing on out-of-school children.

Bobboyi, who was represented by the Director of Social Mobilisation, Bello Kaigara, said the 2015 Demographic Health Survey had confirmed the development.

He said, “Over the last few years, Nigeria has been besieged by the Boko Haram and lots of children have been put out of school. If you add the number of children that have been displaced and the increasing number of births, you find out that our source in DHS conducted by UNICEF published in 2015 reveals that the number of out-of-school children has increased to 13.2 million. This is equally affecting the implementation of some education treaties that Nigeria is a signatory to.”

UNICEF said it was partnering with over 200 traditional rulers from 19 Northern states to deliberate on handling Nigeria’s out-of-school children, noting that they were mainly from the Northern region.

The United Nations agency said the reason why more children were out of school in the North was “rooted in socio-cultural and economic environment barriers, cost of education, poverty and negative perceptions to formal education.”

The UNICEF Chief of Education, Terry Durnnian, said the growing out-of-school population called for “serious concern and Nigeria should take on the challenge of reducing the number”, noting that UNICEF would support the process.

Also, the UN agency in a release on Thursday by Azuka Menkiti and Geoffrey Njoku, said a Northern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Conference in Kaduna State would bring together about 200 emirs to seek solutions to the growing out-of-school population.

“In a two-day conference, stakeholders from the two critical zones in northern Nigeria – North-West and North-East – key traditional rulers and religious leaders will brainstorm on the obstacles to getting the children in school and decide on actions to be taken.

“A final Agenda for Action will be endorsed by the two chairmen of the conference – the Sultan of Sokoto and the Shehu of Borno. Each of the participating emirs will sign a Commitment for Action,” the release partly reads.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Aggrieved customer, hoodlums beat up teenager over failed deal

Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe

A teenager, David Olojo, has been hospitalised after he was allegedly beaten by some hoodlums working for one Adetola in the Egbeda area of Lagos.

PUNCH Metro learnt that 17-year-old Olojo had gone to deliver some car documents to Adetola on behalf of his in-law, Olawale Ademola, a clearing agent.

It was gathered that the hoodlums beat up Olojo with sticks and iron rods before a policeman attached to the Inspector-General of Police Response Team was called to lock him up in a cell.

Our correspondent learnt that the victim’s in-law, Ademola, had a business deal with Adetola.

Ademola told PUNCH Metro that his customer, Adetola, paid him N1.3m to assist in clearing a vehicle from the port.

He said he had requested for more money for the clearing when there was a disagreement between them.

He said, “By the time the vehicle arrived at the port, things had changed at the Customs and the initial amount I charged could not cover it. I called Adetola to explain to him, but he shouted at me and cut the call.

“I called him for three weeks, but he did not pick my calls. I called a friend that introduced me to him to inform him that the vehicle had entered demurrage. My friend called him and he said I should meet him at a hotel at Egbeda.

“When I got there, he had gathered some boys together. They poured drinks on me and one of them slapped me after Adetola told them that I wanted to defraud him.

“I told him to add N700,000 to the initial amount, but he said he could not pay the whole money. So, I agreed to pay N300,000 out of the money just to avoid trouble.”

He said Adetola took him to an Automated Teller Machine, where he was forced to transfer N336,000 from his bank account to Adetola’s bank account.

Ademola said his customer forced him to transfer the sum so that he (Ademola) would not renege on his commitment to pay part of the money.

“Two weeks after, he called me to meet him at the hotel. When we got there, he told me that he had asked another agent to check what was happening to the vehicle. The agent told him that more money would be needed to clear the vehicle. He transferred some money to me for the clearing,” he added.

The 42-year-old noted that when the vehicle was finally cleared, Adetola asked him to keep the vehicle documents because he was not around to collect them.

Ademola, who noted that he was sick when Adetola finally called for the documents, said when he got to where they were supposed to meet, his customer’s phone number was switched off.

He explained that after waiting for over six hours, he left for home.

“I was home when he called and said I should come back. I told him that I could not return because of my ill health. I told him that someone would bring the documents the next day.

“I sent my wife’s younger brother, Olojo, to go and give him the documents. The boy does not know anywhere in Lagos; I just told him to call Adetola’s phone number when he gets to Egbeda.

“When he got there, he was beaten up by Adetola’s boys. They beat him to the extent that pus came out of his ears; his eyes were swollen. After the torture, Adetola called one of his friends that is a policeman to lock him up. They said if I did not show up, they would not release him.

“Meanwhile, I had been admitted to a hospital. My doctor wrote a medical report to them, but the police said they would not release the boy,” he added.

The Osun State indigene, who noted that he went to the station with a drip in his hand to bail the victim, said he did not meet the policeman who arrested Olojo.

He added that he returned to the hospital without the victim being released.

Ademola said the policeman, identified as Gbenga, later insisted on collecting N50,000 for bail.

The teenager was reportedly released after the family paid N20,000 after six days in detention.

“When he was released, he fell sick. We took him to a private hospital and he was later transferred to the General Hospital, Ifo, where he spent 10 days. The pus is still coming out from his ear.”

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said there was an allegation against Ademola, adding that it was the reason for Olojo’s arrest.

He said, “They are working hand in hand to run an illegal business which is against the law and the police team is still looking for him.

“The boy was arrested; his statement was taken and he was granted bail. A penny was not collected from him; his boss went into hiding.

“He is fighting back just to discredit our investigation. But I want to assure you that no amount of intimidation will make the police relent in their effort to search for him. It will be better for him to come out and clear his name instead of staying in his hideout.”

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Nigeria is Africa’s troubled giant, says Campbell

Gbenga Adeniji

A former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr John Campbell, has said though Nigeria possesses extraordinary potential, it is the truly troubled giant of Africa.

Campbell stated this in a new book he co-authored which was presented to the public on Thursday in Lagos at the US Consul General’s residence.

He also saluted the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians in the book titled, “Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know”

Campbell stated in the book that virtually every major university in the English-speaking world hosted Nigerian academics with the country’s medical personnel found in hospitals all over the United States and elsewhere.

He said, “Though it possesses extraordinary potential, Nigeria is truly the troubled giant of Africa. And Nigeria exports Christian clergy to the United Kingdom and the United States. Nigerians living outside of Nigeria have been notably successful in business and finance, and they are known for their entrepreneurial spirit.’’

In the book, Campbell and Matthew T. Page, Associate Fellow in Chatham House’s Africa Programme, described Nigeria as a nation characterised by a type of corruption in which government or public officials seek personal gain at the expense of the led.

They stated, “Kleptocracy and government dishonesty have corrosive effects on popular confidence in governance. Official and unofficial corruption undermine the democratic trajectory and risks overwhelming it. It is among the most important hindrances to the country’s economic and social development.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Ways to prevent your phone from being hacked

“Despite ubiquitous cell phone use and other signs of modernity, the country is one of the poorest in the world. By indices ranging from levels of female literacy to average lifespan, Nigeria scores among the lowest in the world. The country’s population has grown explosively without the economic and infrastructure development necessary to support it.’’

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

FG, APC plotting to disrupt our convention, says PDP

…summons Saraki, Makarfi, Atiku, Tambuwal, others

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress are planning to disrupt its Saturday national convention.

But the former ruling party was not categorical on the type of the alleged plots against the convention which holds in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It merely said that the plots could come from many directions and through different means.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, made the allegation at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that members of the National Working Committee of the party, led by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, met on Thursday and reviewed the alleged plots.

He said, “Part of the outcome of the meeting of the NWC today (Thursday) is to alert the nation as well as the international community to plots by the ruling party and the ruling government to disrupt our national convention scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the 6th of October through Sunday, the 7th October.

“We are aware; we have been informed of machinations by the ruling government and the ruling party who is mortally afraid of any form of election to disrupt our convention and to ensure that we don’t have a presidential candidate

“We invite Nigerians to take note of this and we invite the international community to take serious note of the plots by the ruling government to thwart the efforts of the opposition to elect a candidate that will go into the February general elections against President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We invite all Nigerians to take cautious note of this development. However, on our own part, we wish to inform Nigerians, particularly members of the PDP, that the national convention where our presidential candidate will be elected, that has been scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, to go on as planned.

“No plot, no plan by the ruling government can stop our national convention.

“They are machinations of all kinds. It can be through the court, by funding court decision. It could be any form of machination.

“We are aware of plots which include the effort to use the court to stop our national convention, and we are alerting Nigerians and the international community.”

He, nevertheless, said that the leadership of the party was determined to hold a transparent and credible convention whose outcome he said would be acceptable to the aspirants.

Ologbondiyan noted that the PDP had written letters to all security agencies to notify them of the convention, adding that accreditation would be done at the point of entry into the convention venue.

On whether the senator representing Ogun East in the Senate, Buruji Kashamu, was still a member of the party, Ologbondiyan said, “You are aware that the person you have mentioned had issues with the party and the party has taken a decision.”

Meanwhile, all organs of the party will today (Friday) meet with its presidential aspirants and key stakeholders to deliberate on a wide range of issues, particularly the conduct of the convention.

The aspirants are a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo; a former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa.

Others are President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki; a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki (SAN); a former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jona Jang; and a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Others expected at the meeting are a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: PDP govs, senators‘ll vote Saraki – Okupe

The meeting, it was gathered, would centre on the mode of the convention and the delegates list.

The meeting, which will be attended by members of the Board of Trustees of the party, will also be attended by other caucuses and will be presided over by Secondus.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Tribunal restrains INEC from altering Osun poll materials

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

The Election Petition Tribunal constituted to hear the petitions arising from the Osun State governorship election has granted an exparte order to Senator Ademola Adeleke restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from altering election results as well as information contained in the card reader machines and other documents used for the poll.

The tribunal headed by Justice T.A. Igoche, which also has Justice P.A. Obayi, granted the order in Osogbo on Thursday during its sitting before the pre-hearing session.

Adeleke, who is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, had through his counsel, Mr Nathaniel Oke (SAN), filed an exparte application seeking the leave of the tribunal to file the application before the pre-hearing session.

The applicant also sought the leave of the tribunal to inspect and obtain certified true copies of electoral documents and materials in the custody of INEC; an order to conduct physical inspection and verification of electoral materials and machines as well as used and unused ballots, among others.

Adeleke also applied for an order to compel INEC to produce and print out list of permanent voter cards distribution statistics per polling units and an order restraining INEC from altering extracted information from card readers, election results from polling unit level to state level as well as ballot papers used for the conduct of the governorship election in Osun State.

Adeleke predicated his application on the grounds that he was the candidate that contested the election held on September 22, 2018 and the rerun election held on September 27, 2018 on the platform of the PDP.

The application read, among others, “That the total number of votes won by the 1st applicant on the 22nd day of September, 2018 was 245,698 while the 1st respondent scored 245,345.

“That the 1st applicant was the winner of the election and ought to have been so declared by the 3rd respondent (INEC). That the 3rd respondent declared the election inconclusive; hence, a rerun was conducted on the 27th day of September 2018.

“That the rerun election was marred by electoral violence, vote-buying, stuffing of ballot papers, multiple thumb-printing and voting and allocation of votes by the 3rd respondent.”

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Motorist beats woman to a pulp for scratching car

Oluwatobi Akindele

A motorist, John Nwakwo, has been arrested by the police for allegedly beating up a woman, Olufunmilayo Oyelade, to a pulp.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the duo had been involved in an accident which dented Nwakwo’s vehicle.

Nwakwo reportedly assaulted the victim and dragged her into a gutter until she became unconscious.

The 43-year-old Oyelade said she also lost other valuables during the assault.

She said, “On September 23, 2018, around 1pm on Akinsanya Street, Balogun bus stop, Iju Ishaga, Lagos, I was coming from a church in my Nissan Serena when I had a minor accident with Mr Nwakwo, which created a small scratch on his Lexus.

“When I got down from my vehicle to assess the damage, Nwakwo came to me, held my clothes, beat me up and pushed me inside a gutter and I became unconscious. I woke up at the hospital and I did not know how I got there. The items lost during the assault were my small purse, which contained N6,400, my iPhone 8 and my bangles worth N280,000.”

Nwakwo, however, said he was attacked by sympathisers, adding that the victim fell into the gutter when she tried to break from his grip.

He said, “After the accident, her people attacked me, broke my lenses and stole my money. In the course of these, she was asked to go, but I insisted that she should not leave. I held her by the hand and she tried to free herself from my grip when she fell into the gutter.

“I was forced to carry her to a hospital and she was admitted after which I went to a police station to report formally to avoid being attacked by her people in case they followed me to the hospital. During the violence, I never knew that what I did was an offence because people were beating me up.”

The 49-year-old was arraigned before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court on Thursday on one count of assault.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The charge read, “That you, John Nwakwo, on September 23, 2018, around 1pm on Akinbayo Street, off Balogun-Iju, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Mrs Olufunmilayo Oyelade, by beating her with fist blows and also pushed her into a gutter during which she sustained bodily injuries, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The magistrate, W.A. Salami, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must show evidence of tax payment to the state government and address must be verified by the prosecutor.

The magistrate adjourned the case till November 7, 2018.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Ways to prevent your phone from being hacked

Hacking is finding a weakness in someone’s software or networks with the aim of exploiting something or gaining illegal access to secured data and information. For instance, hackers use a variety of passwords for cracking algorithm to get access to a computer system, according to Techarrival.

Who is a hacker?

A hacker is an individual or a group of individuals who looks for and takes advantage of weaknesses of computer systems and the networks to get illegal access to it. The hackers are generally highly skilled in computer programming and have knowledge about the security system of such devices.

How to prevent your phone from being hacked

In today’s times, when we humans are highly dependent upon the computers and mobile phones to do our day to day tasks, it is almost impossible to stay without them. But, the growing hacking practices are scaring the common people, as well. With the recent reports on malware attack and breaching of important data, everyone wants to protect their phones from hackers. Which is why, every year, the studies and experiments are done to stop or protect the users from getting attacked by the hackers. There are a few ways to secure your data like improving your passwords but nothing is full proof as the chances of hacking cannot be avoided, completely.

But doing something is better than doing nothing to prevent hacking. There are so many big organisations which got into trouble because of the hackers. These professional hackers are hard to trace as they do not leave a track behind them. Therefore, it is better for us to prevent ourselves because most of the cybercrime cases are difficult to get solved.

Here are some ideas that you can opt for to protect your phones from hackers and android spy apps.

Update your operating system

The very first step is to regularly update your phones. As soon as an update is ready to be downloaded and installed on your phones, do it! Un-updated phones become vulnerable to hacking so you can make the device more secured by regularly updating it. You can constantly check your phone settings for new updates. You must update your apps, as well whenever a notification is brought to your notice.

Install software

You should always download and install trustworthy and reliable phone protection apps that provide complete malware security. It is important to have a software security app on your phones to protect it from hackers and viruses. The hackers generally send you websites and emails which contain viruses, so with the help of an advanced security software, you can protect your phones from such attacks.

Password protect

To improve your phone’s security, it is important to password lock your device carefully. Keep a password that provides good strength. You can choose a pattern lock, personalised PIN, or an alphabetical-numeric password for your phone. Choose a smart password that you can remember easily but is difficult to guess by hackers. You can also fix the time your phone will take to get locked, automatically if not in use.

Trustworthy apps

It is suggested to you to only download and install apps from reputed sites such as Apple’s App Store and Play Store. First, you must visit an alleged review website to get the authentic review about the app you are planning to install. After that, you can download and install a new app.

Stay disable

It is very important that you disable Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi while you are not using it, as they allow the hackers to find your device easily with a quick scan. The hackers can easily get into your phone through these features. This is why; you can opt for settings to keep your connectivity features disabled until they are switched on manually.

Unsecured Wi-Fi

Generally, the unsecured Wi-Fi connections are open for public use. Therefore, always use a secured connection for your mobile phones. You can install a VPN or virtual private network to direct traffic through encrypted mobile connections. Do not access your online banking services on an unsecured network connection.

Unlocking methods

Do not get excited about fingerprint and face recognition features. Hackers can simply copy your fingerprints from something that you have held or simply use your picture to unlock your phones. So, avoid using simple unlocking phone methods, instead, go for complicated options to get better security. It is suggested to your alphanumerical password PIN to lock your phones. Your password should not be something personal like your pet’s name or boyfriend’s name or your car or phone number. It should be something hard to guess.

Data backup

You can also take a regular backup of your mobile phone data in your hard disk or on Google storage. After that, you can regularly clean the phone’s data. So, if in case a hacker hacks your mobile phone, it would be a blank file for him and he cannot steal your important data from it.

Keep deleting

You must clean up your memory regularly, every month. You are supposed to delete the unwanted data and apps from your phone. This makes your phone works faster and safer.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Osinbajo and angry Christians in Northern Nigeria

’Tunji Ajibade; tunjioa@yahoo.com, 08036683657

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo made a comment recently that had a religious bent to it. I’m hesitant to comment on it because I’m not a preacher. However, almost every statement a VP makes in the public space has national and political implications, direct or indirect. In any case, nothing is purely religious in Nigeria these days since many use religious affiliation as a political campaign platform. In addition, religious issues sometimes threaten this nation’s unity. So, I think it necessary to take this up.

Osinbajo was speaking at a church event aired on NTA News on August 31, 2018. He captured in religious context something that had struck my mind in a randomised manner for over two decades. What Osinbajo says goes thus: If the same people that Jesus Christ died for; if the same people that white missionaries came to our country to seek and die in the process; if the people that many Christian preachers of Nigerian origin spent their lives to reach are now made enemies by Nigerian Christians, then darkness has descended once more. I know Osinbajo must have offered more explanation regarding this in his unscripted address. But what I paraphrased was all that was aired in less than 10 seconds that time. Even when taken out of religious context, we know darkness is undesirable. When the civil war happened in the 1960s and Nigerians killed one another, that was a period of darkness. When people who have lived together in peace start to hate one another, and it stretches into violence in the name of religious and ethnic differences, it is darkness.

In its religious context, Osinbajo must have meant any situation that makes his fellow Christians hate any human being is darkness. If a Christian hates for any reason whatsoever, then who is his father? For his father is Love. That’s one. Two, Osinbajo talks of descent into darkness with regard to people who engage the ‘us versus them’ narrative, using the Christianity tag as their own distinct non-shareable identity in ways that the Bible doesn’t use it. Three, he must have referred to darkness to mean a situation where people who call themselves Christians start to proudly wear the toga as a means of separating themselves from those who have yet to receive the gospel. The VP was reminding such people that the founder of the faith died for all irrespective of ethnic and religious affiliations. Four, Osinbajo refers to the need to see the Christian faith as a means of drawing others with love, no matter the religion or tribe that others belong to. Thus, he condemned every tendency that’s contrary, a descent into darkness. Five, Osinbajo is saying loving others is light because Jesus calls himself the light of the world, and hating others for any reason at all is a descent into darkness. My understanding is that when a VP talks this way, he’s not just talking religion. He’s promoting peace, using a religious view to help build unity among our peoples. Every nation encourages it, every religion does it, and I will clap for whichever religion encourages unity among our peoples. Reason? If there is no peace, no one can practice as he pleases the religion he professes.

Osinbajo didn’t not mention any specific part of the country in the TV clip of the event where he made his remark. I believe he spoke to Christians everywhere. If I refer to northern Christians in this piece, I do for reasons that I shall explain. I’m sure however that the VP spoke in the manner he did because of a trend he must have noticed in our nation. I notice it too; the tendency for some Christians to freely hate, to withdraw, and see the tag Christianity as an exclusive name to identify themselves as a group. Christians of northern origin are increasingly separating themselves unto themselves, shutting others out, failing to spread the gospel especially through their lifestyle (I’ll give examples). Meanwhile, they display the Christian identity in some of their physical battles that often have political, ethno-cultural and economic connotations. In his remarks, Osinbajo must have been saying all of that pursuit isn’t in the mind of the founder of the Christian faith who said his kingdom is not of this world. Yet, most ‘Christians’ and ‘Christian leaders’ in every part of Nigeria today fall into this error. We see them in the media expressing views that are laden with anger, making inflammatory comments about some supposedly ethnic and religion-informed issues to the extent that one wonders if the blueprint of the faith they profess still guides what they say.

Why did I make that last statement? We see the same struggle over limited resources happening among people of the same ethnic background and faith e.g. the Ife-Modakeke and Umuleri-Aguleri conflicts. We don’t call such religious and ethnic conflicts. But once disagreements break out over land use and related issues in the North, Christian leaders, many of whom know nothing about the North preach from their pulpits about Christians who are being killed because they are Christians. People were killed in Zamfara State in large numbers by bandits a few months ago; no one mentioned that Muslims were being killed because they were Muslims. Not long ago, a prominent Pentecostal church pastor condemned how some specialised in continuously pushing the same old pictures of violent attacks sent to his email box back in 2000 to his box at this time. These pictures supposedly showed Christians being killed en mass in the North. He warned his listeners to watch what they push online in order not to help spread hate and the agenda of those who may be selfishly benefitting from it. It’s sad the violence that happens in some parts of the North, but for the origin of some of them to be continuously taken out of their context of struggle over limited resources is condemnable.

I shall state reasons for zeroing in on Christians who are in the north of Nigeria. For the moment however I cite examples of what I see in the North that make me decide that Osinbajo’s remark is more for people of northern origin who are Christians. The examples cover more than two decades, happen in different parts of the North, among people of different ethnic backgrounds, and at different times. Taken together, they made me come to some kind of conclusion long ago, but which Osinbajo lately expressed in religious context. In order to firmly place attention on the core issues rather than get some overly excited to the point of missing them, I shall not mention names, tribes, or locations.

The following lays the foundation for other examples: A few years ago, and as the farmers-herdsmen armed attacks were ongoing, I attended an event in the North where people from Christian-dominated minority ethnic groups of northern origin were in attendance. A titled servant of God addressed the audience. His address had this unmistakable anger and he sent words to those he said thought they could neutralise Christians from the North. He pointed accusing fingers at those who stated that another religion was the heritage of the people of the part of the state where he came from. “Christianity is our heritage”, he passionately asserted before he left the podium. Some must have understood him. I didn’t. I didn’t because there was this corky, anger-filled, hateful mien and expression of his against ‘those’ he spoke against. It was the kind of attitude, unbecoming of a Christian, that I’m sure Osinbajo had in mind when he made his remark.

To the titled servant of God Christianity is the exclusive heritage of his tribe, their inheritance, no one from outside is welcome. From that perspective, it’s better imagined how he and his people view those who are not of the faith. Meanwhile, the blueprint that this servant of God and his tribesmen have, and from which Osinbajo also spoke, states that the gospel is for mankind, not the exclusive identity of anybody. If the idea of a ‘Christian heritage’ that’s owned by a specific tribe is in the mentality of northern Christians, how excited can they be to take the message of the gospel to those against whom they express hate?

To be concluded next week.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Bosso quits IfeanyiUbah over unpaid players’ salaries

Idris Adesina

Ladan Bosso has parted ways with FC IfeauyiUbah after the club failed to pay players their salaries.

IfeanyiUbah reportedly owe their players up to eight months in salaries and allowances. In August, the players were reported to have gone on a strike and refused to train for a week in order to press home their demands – however, the action yielded no result.

Club owner Ifeanyi Ubah told journalists in August that the club was unable to pay the players because they had yet to receive payments in the last two seasons from the League Management Company for participating in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Bosso, who is the President of the Nigeria Coaches Association, told our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday that he had spoken with the club management but decided to quit after the talks yielded no results.

“It is a well-known fact that you cannot play football on an empty stomach. These players are the major actors in the sport and without them, whatever I know as a coach will come to nothing,” he said.

“It has been a year I joined the club and I decided to quit after our exit from the Aiteo Cup because the players have not been paid for a while and it has affected the team’s activities. I cannot be a party to a situation where players are denied what is due to them – most of these players are breadwinners of their families and they can’t play good football when their mind is divided between the game and how to provide for their families.

“The failure to pay the players’ salaries affected our performances in the Aiteo Cup and I couldn’t blame the players because I knew what they were going through. I spoke with the management and explained my stand to them but since nothing tangible happened, I decided it was time to leave.

“I have always been in the forefront of fighting for the right of players because I know that happy players will result in good performances on the pitch – they will play their hearts out knowing that they have nothing to worry about. But if the club still need my services, they should settle the players and after that we can talk about a new contract.”

IfeanyiUbah, who won the Aiteo Cup in 2016, were 17th in the NPFL before the league was suspended after 24 rounds of matches. They were also eliminated from the Aiteo Cup by second-tier league side J. Atete in the round of 32.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Tambuwal will fix economy –Imansuangbon

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kenneth Imansuangbon, has called on Nigerians to support one of the party’s presidential aspirants, Aminu Tambuwal, for the 2019 election, saying that he would fix the Nigerian economy.

Imansuangbon said this in Edo State while speaking with the delegates ahead of the party’s primary on Saturday.

Imansuangbon said the call became imperative due to Tambuwal’s past records as a visionary leader, game changer and a detribalised Nigerian.

He said, “Tambuwal is experienced. I believe in him and his candidacy. I have confidence in him because I believe he will fix the Nigerian economy, create jobs for the youth, stabilise the country, tackle insecurity genuinely and restore citizens’ confidence in democracy.”

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Why I didn’t support Adeleke during Osun gov rerun – Omisore

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that he opted to support the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, in the rerun election in the state because the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state said they did not need his support.

Omisore said this in Osogbo on Thursday during a meeting with members of the SDP from across the 30 local government areas of the state.

Omisore, who defected from the PDP to the SDP some months before the election, said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar wanted to come and discuss with him before the rerun when he came to Osogbo but he (Atiku) was prevented from coming by the leadership of the PDP in the state.

A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, had said this while narrating why Omisore decided to work for the APC candidate in the rerun supplementary poll held on September 27.

Farounbi said the same thing and Omisore, while addressing the party members, said he adopted everything the former envoy had said.

He said the party opted to support the candidate of the party that was ready to implement the manifestos of the SDP because the party was for the best interest of the majority of the people.

Omisore said, “I want to adopt all what Dr Farounbi said. We gave them (APC and PDP) our manifesto. We dwelled on payment of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities, on local content, employment for our youths and the reorganisation of the educational system, among others.

“We went to negotiation with a clear mind that Osun must be free and thank God our coalition has produced a new future for the state.

“In addition to what Dr Faroumbi said, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, said clearly that our discussion was devoid of any financial commitment. He said they were ready to work.”

Speaking earlier, Farounbi had explained that the SDP leaders decided to support any political party that was ready to put the people of the state first, saying Omisore earned his respect more because he was selfless in arriving at who to support.

He said the issue of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities which had impoverished workers and pensioners was given priority. The reorganisation of the education sector and local content were also prominent on their agenda.

Farounbi said, “Apart from these, we also said the state must return to 6-3-3-4. That contracts and services must be given to Osun indigenes; that infrastructural development and food security must be given priority because our people must not be hungry and they agreed.

“The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, was the first to come and he came from the airport to Ile-Ife with some senators and Dr Doyin Okupe. We gave him our manifesto and we waited for 24 hours but no response. We heard that they were saying that we wanted to reap where we did not sow. We heard that they said they would win without us and all that.

“Also, former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, who is the director general of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, called and said they were in Osogbo and they would come to see us. But they did not come.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: I’ll take Kwara out of poverty, says Mustapha

“But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called and expressed his regret for not being able to come. He said he wanted to come but the leadership of the PDP in Osun State said they should not come because they didn’t need us. That we should go and do anything we liked.”

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

2019: APC govs meet Buhari, protest rancorous primaries

Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu, Olalekan Adetayo, Leke Baiyewu, Alexander Okere, Kayode Idowu, Peter Dada, and Ted Odogwu

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the party’s rancorous primaries in different parts of the country.

It was learnt that the governors who were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, protested against the handling of the primaries by the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of the APC.

The complaints of the governors ranged from alleged injustice in the governorship primaries to the omission of their loyalists from the list of the party’s senatorial aspirants.

While the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Tanko Al-Makura, were bitter because of the removal of their loyalists from the list, the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State kicked against the conduct of the governorship primaries in their states by the NWC.

“The focus of the meeting was the problem associated with the primaries, particularly the poor handling of the shadow elections by the NWC,” a chieftain of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, said the leadership of the APC must do the right thing and allow everybody to participate in the primaries.

Okorocha, who is the Imo State Governor, said this during a brief interview by State House correspondents after leading eight other APC governors to the meeting with the President.

It was gathered that all the governors who met behind closed-doors with the President had issues with party primaries in their states.

Okorocha confirmed that the meeting was about the rancorous party primaries across the country.

He expressed the belief that the party leadership would rescind some of its decision on the matter.

He said, “We came to review the crises that characterised our primaries. We are looking for a way out in this regard; we are going to find solution. Our party believes in justice, equity and fairness.

“We are saying that let the right thing be done and let everyone contest the elections.”

Other governors at the meeting are Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Sani Bello (Niger) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

Akeredolu and Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State had on Wednesday met the President over the same matter.

The meeting between the President and the governors lasted about two hours.

At the end of the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who was part of the meeting, led the state governors out of the venue.

After accompanying the governors to where their cars were parked, the Chief of Staff also got into his car and was driven out of the premises. It was not clear whether they were heading to the same place.

APC NWC cancels Edo N/Assembly primaries

In Edo State on Thursday, the NWC of the APC cancelled what it called “unauthorised congresses” in Edo State to elect candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly.

This was contained is a statement by the party’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena.

The spokesman said, “The exercise conducted by unauthorised persons in collaboration with the Edo State Working Committee is hereby (declared) null and void.

“A primary election committee under the chairmanship of Hajia Farida Suleiman will be in Edo State later today (Thursday) to conduct the primaries into the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly.

“The committee will make available the list of aspirants screened for the exercise and will conduct a transparent primary election in accordance with the guidelines and constitution of the APC.”

Edo APC vows to announce results of primaries

However, the Edo State APC disagreed with the cancellation by the NWC.

It vowed to announce the results of the exercise held across the 192 wards in the state.

The state APC Chairman, Mr Anselm Ojezua, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone, said the state chapter observed the party’s guidelines.

He said, “I have my doubt about the legitimacy of that decision.

“First, we have not been communicated formally. Secondly, the process has been concluded and I doubt if they have the power to do what they purportedly did. Certainly (the results will be announced).”

Ojezua urged members of the state chapter to disregard the decision of the party’s national secretariat.

He said, “We have been through the process. We are talking about human beings. These are not articles; they are not furniture

“These people (party members) have been kept here for days and the processes were supposed to start since Monday. Today is the last day by the programme drawn up by the working committee in accordance with the decision of the National Executive Committee.”

On the allegation that the individuals who organised the primaries were not recognised by the NWC, the state chairman said, “That is not true. They were appointed by the National Working Committee and I have the proof of it because they notified me.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Motorist beats woman to a pulp for scratching car

“So, for them (NWC) to disown them (organisers of the primaries) makes me suspicious of their motives.

“We cannot come out twice for the same event. We have done our primaries. They are legitimate and there is no going back.”

Ondo members pass vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole

In Ondo State, members of the APC stormed major roads in Akure, the state capital, protesting against alleged imposition of candidates by the leadership of the party.

The NWC of the party on Tuesday gave automatic tickets to the three incumbent senators of the state – Senators Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North), Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central) and Yele Omogunwa (Ondo South).

The move was rejected by senatorial aspirants and the state executive members of the party.

The protest took place simultaneously at the popular Oba Adesida, Owo and Ore towns.

The protesters demanded the resignation of Oshiomhole, saying they had passed vote of no confidence in him. They also declared that his administration had failed members of the party across the country.

They displayed placards with inscriptions such as, “Ondo State will never allow Tinubu and Oshiomhole to destroy APC,’ ‘ We say no to imposition,’ ‘Oshiomhole is a thief, Tinubu is a thief,’ and ‘Allow us to choose our leaders,’ among others.

Addressing the protesters in front of the party secretariat, the APC Youth Leader, Mr Olutayo Babalayo, said members of the party in Ondo State would not allow the national leadership to impose candidates on them.

Babalayo said, “We say no to imposition. We say no to automatic ticket to any aspirant. We ask for change and this is not the change we asked for.

“When Adams Oshiomhole took the leadership from Oyegun we thought everything would change for good, but things are worse. Oshiomhole has not really helped us.”

Aspirants, others kick in states

Also in Kano State, a coalition of APC aspirants who lost during the senatorial primaries said they had resolved to challenge the conduct of the exercise and would seek intervention of the President and the party’s national chairman.

One of the contestants, Senator Isa Zarewa, condemned the conduct of the direct primaries.

In Borno, the appearance of the name of an APC governorship aspirant, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on ballot papers for the Borno North senatorial primary caused uproar.

Kyari, was as at last week a governorship aspirant, but stepped down for the elected candidate, Prof. Babagana Umara.

One of the aspirants, Fati Kakena, said she was surprised to see Kyari’s name on ballot papers.

She added that she was amazed when she was told that after elections in three local government areas out of the 10 in Borno North, the remaining seven would be suspended because ballots had been exhausted.

She said, “There were three senatorial aspirants that purchased the forms and were screened by the NWC. It was shocking to see Senator Abu Kyari’s name.

“I found out that he purchased the two forms, but only submitted governorship form and never went for the screening for the senatorial aspirants.”

Kyari, however, said any enquiry should be directed to the party.

“If I was not screened, my name would not have been on the ballot papers,” he added.

An APC House of Representatives aspirant in the FCT, Prof Al-Mustapha Medaner, on Thursday protested against the alleged plan to dump the direct mode for the indirect primaries.

The Leader, Prof. Al-Mustapha Usiju Medaner Campaign Organisation, Umar Mahmud, in a statement on Thursday said Medaner was opposed to indirect primary mode which he said was against the directive by the NWC.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers

Hoodlums kill one, injure scores during Lagos APC primary

Samson Folarin

There was pandemonium in the Kosofe, Epe and Lagos Island areas of Lagos State on Thursday as hoodlums loyal to some aspirants of the All Progressives Congress opened gunfire on some residents and party members.

PUNCH Metro gathered that while no fewer than seven people, including a former chairmanship aspirant, Ibrahim Mustapha, were injured in Kosofe, one person was killed and about 10 injured in A4 polling unit in Epe.

The deceased was identified as 30-year-old Idris Alooma.

Many were reportedly injured in the fracas on the Lagos Island.

On Thursday, the APC held primary election for aspirants seeking the party’s tickets into the House of Representatives.

Election was not held for the senatorial tickets because former candidates were reportedly returned unopposed.

Our correspondent learnt that trouble started at Ward F, Ikosi-Isheri, Kosofe, when some supporters of the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Gbenga Ashafa, started singing that he was unopposed.

Supporters of Ashafa’s major contender, Bayo Oshinowo, aka Pepper, who were at the unit and felt slighted by the song, were reported to have taken offence.

Oshinowo was allegedly disqualified by the APC National Working Committee.

A witness, who asked not to be identified, said the fight started around 11.30am.

He said, “Supporters of Ashafa at the unit were only there to affirm his mandate. They were chanting, ‘Ashafa unopposed.’

“Those supporting Pepper left the polling unit. By the time they returned, they were armed to the teeth and started shooting. The thugs were led by one Arikuyeri.

“After they were done, they raided Mile 12, Ikosi Isheri, Agboyi Ketu, and other areas under the Kosofe Federal Constituency. They went on the rampage for about two hours, shooting and destroying property. The area is still tense. Some of those injured have been admitted in a hospital.”

Another witness claimed that the violence lasted for more than three hours.

He noted that innocent residents, who were caught in the melee, got injured while fleeing.

“The hoodlums were brought in 17 buses. They chased away people who wanted to vote, including elderly women. They attacked those who resisted. Some people fell into ditches while running away,” he added.

The witness claimed that the former chairmanship aspirant, Mustapha, who was admitted to a private hospital, was hacked with machetes in the head.

“He was attacked on Adebayo Mokuolu Street, Anthony Village, Kosofe. The thugs chased and cornered him. They cut him with machetes. It took the intervention of passersby, who carried him to a hospital.

“He was initially rushed to two nearby hospitals, but he was rejected before he was taken to where he was admitted,” he said.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 50-year-old man rapes toddler to death in Katsina

One of the thugs, identified as Nokia, while escaping on a motorcycle, allegedly left a bag containing machetes and guns.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Alooma was killed in Epe by thugs who wanted to disrupt the electoral process.

The Epe House of Representatives primary election involved four aspirants: Wale Raji, Lanre Odubote, Segun Olulade and Remi Adebowale.

The delegates, who came from 19 wards of the division, reportedly arrived at the polling unit around 3.45pm on Thursday.

They were reportedly screened by security operatives before they were allowed into the venue of the election.

A witness, Mr Akeem Lawal, said the killing happened around 4.15pm after the election while some members were awaiting the announcement of the result.

He said when the hoodlums were informed that the election was not in favour of their candidate, they mobilised on motorcycles and invaded the polling unit.

Lawal said the hoodlums shot continuously, which led to the death of the victim.

“The gang was led by one Sabano,” he said.

A NAN reporter who monitored the election reported that some aggrieved youths set houses and vehicles ablaze across Epe communities.

The Divisional Police Officer in Epe, CSP Adeyeri Sunday, said one of the suspects had been arrested.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said the police handled all the incidents that arose from the election.

He said, “The state is peaceful. However, there were some incidents, which police operatives nipped in the bud. We will continue to ensure the peace in the state is not affected at this time.”

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

from Punch Newspapers