Current News In Nigeria Today 8th January 2019

Ex-Borno Gov, Goni Dumps PDP For APC

Mohammed Goni, a former governor of the old Borno state, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Goni governed old Borno State that comprised of present-day Yobe State, from 1979 to 1983.

Goni’s defection was disclosed by former Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume when he led a delegation from the North-East to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Goni was the governorship candidate of PDP in Borno State during the 2011 election.

Leaked tape: Amaechi Lays A Curse On PDP

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has called on Nigerians not to give one vote to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections.

Speaking during the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection campaign organisation on Monday in Abuja, Amaechi, who doubles as the Director-General of the council, vowed that the opposition party will not have peace.

He added that the APC will campaign for the presidential seat based on issues rather than on personality attacks.

Oshiomhole Reacts To Amaechi’s Alleged Criticism Of Buhari

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has reacted to the leaked audio tape making the rounds about the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi purportedly criticising President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party chairman believes the position held by the former governor of Rivers State in the APC is causing the opposition sleepless nights.

In a tweet on Monday via his official Twitter handle, @A_Oshiomhole, the former Governor of Edo State asked those circulating such information to do more.

Obasanjo, Saraki, Atiku Hold Secret Meeting

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his erstwhile vice, Atiku Abubakar and President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, held a closed-door meeting in Lagos during the weekend.

A source revealed “It was a strategy meeting towards 2019 and how to give the country a fresh direction.

“The discussion was not about South-west alone; it was a broad-based political arrangement that covers every part of Nigeria. It was a national thing. The basic concern is about how to give Nigeria a new lease of life by enthroning a leadership that will give the citizenry better lives.”

Apart from Obasanjo and Atiku, others present at the meeting were: Chief Adebanjo, Saraki, Chief Olabode George, former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke; National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin; and former university teacher and Yoruba leader, Prof. Banji Akintoye.

Boko Haram Militants Storm Auno Village in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram militants, Monday evening stormed Auno, a village about 10 km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

According to fleeing residents of the area, some soldiers, Mobile Police and members of the civilian joint task force were seen heading to the troubled area.

“We took to our heels when we heard heavy sounds of gunfire. We know they are the Boko Haram boys, because they have been around as reports from some firewood sellers said they have seen them earlier and suspected they were not security forces.”

“Soldiers are already in the village to repel them, however, so many innocent people may have been trapped in the village, who were not able to move out as at the time we fled the village,”.

Insurgency: What Buhari Told North East Elders

A delegation led by Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima, traditional rulers, elders, national and state assembly members, ‎local government chairmen, women groups, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, and labour unions, on Monday, presented a letter containing security-related “observations” and ten undisclosed demands to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The demands the delegation hope, if granted by the President, would help in the efforts to end the Boko Haram in the state.

Governor Shettima said they were the outcome of an extraordinary security meeting which he convened in Maiduguri last week Monday.

ASUU Strike: Outcome Of Last Meeting

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached possible agreement on Monday towards resolving the ongoing lecturers’ strike.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, revealed this after a reconciliatory meeting with ASUU in Abuja.

Ngige said the meeting was fruitful as an agreement had been reached between the Federal Government and the striking university lecturers.

But, reacting, the ASUU president said the strike will only be called off after the union reviewed its decisions based on the new commitment by the Federal Government.

He said the strike could only be called off after the NEC meeting.

Justice Mamman Nasir Escapes Kidnappers, Orderly Abducted

Suspected gunmen on Monday failed in their attempt to abduct the District Head of Malumfashi and Galadiman Katsina, Justice Mamman Nasir.

Nasir, former President of the Court of Appeal, is said to have escaped back home unhurt, but his aide, called Aminu, was taken away by the kidnappers.

The gunmen were said to have blocked the road searching vehicles, looking for who to kidnap.

Gov. Bindow Kicks Off Reelection Campaign

Governor Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State, on Monday kicked-off his governorship reelection campaign.

The flag-off came several weeks after two other governorship candidates: Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Emmanuel Bello of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had been campaigning in many parts of the state.

The event, which took place at the Ribadu Square in Jimeta, Yola, was attended by top Hausa actors and musicians.

APC Senatorial Candidate Speaks On Selling Her Mandate To Ekweremadu For N500m

The Enugu West senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, has described as `false’ the reports that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu gave her N500 million to step down her senatorial ambition.

According to her, the purported deal and advance payment was a case of desperation by her political detractors, who were already frustrated after all efforts to sabotage her ambition failed.

Ibekaku-Nwagwu said that she was on a mission to bring back the dividends of democracy for the senatorial district, adding that her vision for a better Enugu West had been articulated in her four-point agenda.

The female candidate said that through her four-point agenda, she would influence industrialization, job creation, improved health care services and improved education sector.

Police Update On Dino Melaye

The Nigeria Police Force have given update on the health condition of the lawmaker representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Medical, Mr Kaomi Ahmadu, who spoke at the Police Hospital, Garki in Abuja, said Melaye was in good health.

Ahmadu also certified that Senator Melaye was medically fit to stand trial in the case of alleged attempted culpable homicide preferred against him by the force.

Although, Senator Melaye claimed he needed further and better care, the AIG said the police would continue to provide good and quality medical assistance for the lawmaker.

NLC Announces Nationwide Protest

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says it would hold a nationwide protest on Tuesday over the delay in transmitting the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee on a new National Minimum Wage to the National Assembly.

The Labour Union noted that all state councils, affiliate unions and the civil society organisations have been fully informed and mobilised to ensure the success of Tuesday’s mass protests in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

NLC also disclosed that when a date was decided for the commencement of a strike subsequently, the union would inform the public appropriately.