Nigeria National News Today 03 January 2019

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has accused President Muhammudu Buhari of diverting funds meant for military exercise against the Boko Haram terrorists, for his presidential campaign.

The National Secretary of the PDP who doubles as the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Kola Ologbondiyan, made this accusation in Abuja.

He said that the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were using funds meant for the military, to bribe and compromise INEC officials.

Kola said: We make this demand in view of public insinuations that the money may have been sourced from funds meant for the purchase of weapons for our soldiers

He further said The PPCO calls for an independent and system-wide investigation by the INTERPOL, Directorate of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the alleged links between the two funds.

Earlier on, the PPCO had said that family members of President Buhari illegally acquired substantial shares worth over N1 trillion in both the 9 Mobile and Keystone Bank Plc, an allegation which the President has neither affirmed nor denied.

The Fulani nation, under the aegis of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, has exonerated itself from the Miyetti Allah’s endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Speaking on behalf of the association, the National Secretary-General, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said that the recent endorsement of a candidate, could pitch the innocent, maligned and neglected sect against other Nigerians.

He called on candidates from other political parties and other Nigerians to disregard the ‘so-called’ endorsement by the leadership of the Miyetti Allah, who do not care about what happens to their members as long as they can satisfy their selfish interests.

A man, Mr. Samuel Sunday, who gave his children sniper – a poisonous pesticide – to drink, because he thought they were possessed with witchcraftry and evil spirits, has been arrested by policemen from the Bayelsa State police command.

Upon interrogation, he confessed to have given the poisonous substance to his three children by name, Master Success Sunday (14 years), Master Miracle Sunday (12 years) who both died instantly and Master Godstime Miracle (age unknown), who was fortunate to be rescued by the police.

A Medical Doctor, Dr. Moses Emeka, said the boy will soon recover as he is responding to treatment.

Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has advised President Buhari to go for psychiatric evaluation.

Atiku made this call, over the President’s constant denial of blatant truths, most especially the continued threats of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Atiku, who spoke via his media adviser, Paul Ibe, said that Buhari was wrong to have claimed that he had fulfilled all his campaign promises.

He said The most blatant insult from the President was his assertion in Uyo that ‘we have defeated Boko Haram’

He further said It was most insensitive of the President to have said such on a day that foreign and domestic media reported the entrapment of our gallant troops by Boko Haram/ISWAP in Baga, with as much as 700 hundred reported missing.

The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is currently the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Nigeria Labour Congress has insisted on January 8 as the date for the commencement of the proposed nationwide strike.

According to the NLC, this strike is an aftermath of the Federal Government’s inability to urgently transmit the bill on the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly.

The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said It is unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to transmit to the National Assembly an executive bill for the enactment of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

He further said We also would like to use this same opportunity to urge workers to fully mobilise for a prolonged national strike and enforce their right.

He however assured workers that their labour, patience and diligence would not be in vain.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has said that only the conduct of a referendum on self determination in the Southeast, South-South, and some parts of the North central regions can halt Nigeria’s slide into another ‘civil war’.

He spoke against the idea of restructuring, arguing that the proposed restructuring of Nigeria had defied any sensible definition. He further added that true federalism is unworkable in the country because one-third of the states in Nigeria have Sharia as state religion and code of justice, which denies non-muslims certain freedoms guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

The IPOB leader said: We, the Indigenous People of Biafra have proposed and still proposing the only idea that would halt Nigeria’s spiral towards bloody implosion. Our prescription is clear: Conduct A Referendum On Self-Determination for Biafrans; and indeed any other organized and cohesive group that demands it. That is the only fair way; not “True Federalism” or “Restructuring”.

He further said To drive home our demand, IPOB will ensure that the entire land of Biafra is paralysed on whatever date they choose to hold the presidential elections. This position is irreversible unless our simple demand is met

Nnamdi Kanu, made those statements via the IPOB spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful, on Wednesday.

The former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who served under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, has condemned the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka over his latest prediction on the presidential candidate the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi in 2019 election.

The former minister described Mbaka’s actions as disgraceful, urging Catholic Church to call him to order.

The Southwest Director of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organization, Chief Olusola Oke, has insinuated that not voting for President Muhammadu Buhari will denote backwardness.

Oke said Voting for candidate apart from President Buhari come 2019, is like the Israelites going back to Egypt but in APC we are focused on Canaan by supporting Buhari.

He further said Mr President is the real project and APC has a way of finding solutions to its problems, so, that is not a problem. We will all work together.

Oke assured that all the opposing camps within the party would work for the re-election of Mr President.

The Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Jimi Agbaje, has called the outgoing Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, a ‘lame duck’ for delaying the presentation of the 2019 budget.

Agbaje, who said he was not surprised by the development, noted that Lagos residents were suffering the bad leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He said It is not surprising. I do not expect governance until after May 2019.

He further said The governor has become a lame duck. We hear that approvals are now given in other quarters. When democracy collapses in a ruling party, the people bear the brunt.

Agbaje added that he did not expect any further governance in the state until after May 2019 when a new government would be constituted.

Samuel Melaye, brother to Dino Melaye, Senator representing Kogi west, has spoken vehemently against the police siege at Dino’s residence.

When asked about his brother’s whereabouts, he said I cannot confirm categorically because they have not allowed anybody into that house. They shut the house, they are the ones opening the gate.

He further said My parents are supposed to be in that house as we speak. Dino is not the only occupant of that house, there are staff.

The Nigeria Police have been stationed at Senator Dino Melaye’s house since the year 2018, vowing to arrest him at all cost, over an alleged culpable homicide.