Friday, 10 March 2017
Thursday, 9 March 2017
Makarfi’s PDP faction declares no truce with Sheriff (Read full details)
Makarfi
• Reps split over actual leader of party
• Ekiti has nothing to do with Sheriff group, says Fayose
Efforts to achieve genuine reconciliation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed yesterday as the Ahmed Makarfi faction declared a “no meeting point” position with the Ali Modu Sheriff faction.
But Sheriff has insisted on conducting a unity national convention as recommended by the Seriake Dickson reconciliation committee.At a press conference presided over by the spokesman of the National Caretaker Committee, Dayo Adeyeye, the Makarfi group declared: “Given the lawless and untoward behaviour of Senator Sheriff so far, it appears that there will be no meeting point in this matter.”
The group asked Sheriff to stop parading himself as national chairman in contravention of the judgement of a Federal High Court, which had voided his chairmanship.
According to Adeyeye: “This judgment was never appealed by Senator Sheriff and the time frame stipulated by law for the appeal has elapsed; and as such, the judgment subsists. We have been informed that he is now seeking leave of court to appeal the judgment, but unfortunately, time is against this later move. So, he is an illegal national chairman.”
Also yesterday, Sheriff announced plans to proceed with the conduct of the national convention as recommended by the Dickson committee.Sheriff, who addressed a press conference at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, also hinted that the recommendations of the PDP reconciliation committee led by Dickson had the input of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
And barely 48 hours after the PDP caucus leader in the Senate, Godswill Akpabio endorsed Makarfi’s leadership, the party members in the House of Representatives yesterday disagreed over who among the two factional chairmen is the genuine leader.
One of the caucus members in the House, who claimed to be speaking for lawmakers opposed to Makarfi, Johnson Agbonayinma, PDP, Edo said legislators in the lower legislative chamber have agreed to support the party’s factional National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff and Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Seriake Dickson.
But in a swift reaction, the House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor said Sheriff and Dickson were not vibrant enough to lead the party out of its current challenges.
“Like I have said, the PDP caucus is intact and we are solidly behind Senator Makarfi. That has been the situation and it has not changed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Ayodele Fayose has ruled out political solution to the crisis rocking the party.
While expressing confidence on the ability of the Supreme Court to return the party to the legitimate owners, he disclosed that Ekiti PDP has resolved not to have anything to do with the Sheriff group even if the apex court judgment was not favourable.
Fayose, who said implementation of the Dickson committee report was beyond Sheriff, noted that: “Assuming but not conceding that the report is acceptable, can Sheriff even implement it? Where will he find seven serving governors, seven former ministers, etc?”
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mHfpID
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Katy Perry skeletons resemble Trump, May at Brit Awards
US singer Katy Perry performs during the BRIT Awards 2017 ceremony and live show in London on February 22, 2017.<br />Justin TALLIS / AFP
A performance by Katy Perry at the Brit Awards on Wednesday saw skeletons wearing outfits matching those of US President Donald Trump and his British counterpart Theresa May.
Pop superstar Perry took to the stage at London’s O2 Arena to perform “Chained To The Rhythm”, surrounded by dozens of white houses.
She was joined on stage by puppeteers carrying two huge skeletons dressed in outfits similar to those worn by Trump and May during their meeting in Washington last month.
The British premier faced criticism at home for becoming the first foreign leader to meet Trump at the White House, hours before he announced a ban affecting all refugees and anyone from seven Muslim-majority countries.
At the Brit Awards one skeleton wore a dark suit and red tie, while the other was kitted out as a woman in a red suit and matching shoes.
Their similarity to the world leaders did not go unnoticed, sparking a flurry of comments on social media.
The performance dominated the front page of British tabloid the Daily Star, with the headline: “Katy’s Brit of a horror show – Perry has a pop at Trump & May.”
The Mirror branded it a “controversial Brits performance” in which Perry “slams Theresa May”.
Perry was one of the top celebrity backers of Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful presidential campaign and earlier this month wore a “Resist” armband during a performance at the Grammy Awards.
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mnywUC
Saturday, 4 February 2017
At least 2,000 march on Trump’s Florida resort…Read full details
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were attending the annual Red Cross ball at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s “Winter White House,” located in an upscale area on Florida’s east coast.
“I fought during World War II,” protestor Rob Resaid said. “For years and years, people fought for freedom in this country.
“And now it’s being taken away. And we have to stand up now before all of our rights are taken away.”
Marchers chanted “This is what democracy looks like,” and “No ban, no wall,” referring to Trump’s plan to build a wall on the US-Mexican border.
In an executive order issued on January 27, Trump slapped a blanket ban on nationals of seven mainly Muslim countries — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — barring their entry to the United States for 90 days.
Refugees were also barred from entry for 120 days, except those from Syria, who were blocked indefinitely. On Friday, a US federal judge suspended the ban, a move which the Republican president — who took office on January 20 — condemned and vowed to fight.
The US Justice Department said Saturday it was appealing the judge’s suspension. The protest in West Palm Beach was just one of several staged in cities around the world Saturday to voice outrage to Trump’s travel ban.
In Washington earlier in the day, hundreds of protesters marched from the White House to the US Capitol, chanting and waving signs in an expression of solidarity with immigrants targeted by Trump’s order.
Near Mar-a-Lago, one demonstrator said she felt she had to speak out. “I’m worried for the future of our children… our grandchildren, what’s going to happen now?” Diane Spencer said. “I’m worried about everything. He thinks he can do whatever he wants… the man is a mad man.”
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kFQCnh
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
4 killed in botched Borno suicide attacks
By Joseph Erunke & Ndahi Marama
MAIDUGURI—After three separate suspected suicide bomb attacks were foiled by the Military in Maiduguri on Tuesday and in the early hours of yesterday, the Borno State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the killing of four persons.
Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Damian Chukwu, who stated this at a briefing in Maiduguri, explained that the first attempted suicide attack took place around midnight on Tuesday, while the other two took place yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, appealed to the media to be cautious of reports capable of jeopardizing ongoing military operations in the North East.
On the failed suicide bombings, Borno State Police boss, Mr. Chukwu, said: “The first incident occurred around 12:45a.m., Tuesday, when a suspected suicide bomber tried to penetrate the metropolis through Usmanti village.
“As he tried to cross over near a military checkpoint, he was gunned down by the soldiers on guard and the shooting triggered the explosive he was carrying, killing him alone.
“The second incident happened this morning around 4:50a.m., when a group of suspected suicide bombers also tried to penetrate the metropolis through Kaleri village.
“Unfortunately for them, there was a vigilant military checkpoint in the place and one of them was sighted trying to cross the fence and was gunned down.”
The commissioner said police bomb squad was invited after the explosive on the suspect refused to detonate.
He added: “Unknown to anybody, the remaining bomber had scaled through and moved about 200 meters away. She met some people and detonated her explosive, killing herself and one other person.”
Chukwu added that two persons around the vicinity were also injured and taken to hospital. He urged residents to be more vigilant by reporting strange things to the police and other security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Head of Delegation of International Red Cross, ICRC, and Red Crescent Movement, Mr. Eloi Fillion, yesterday, visited Maiduguri, to commiserate with families of six volunteers killed in last Tuesday’s accidental air strike in Rann, headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area.
Buratai
Buratai tasked the media to see themselves as partners in the peace, progress and security of the country, saying the Nigerian Army in particular and the military in general have no monopoly of the total security in the defence of the country.
Buratai appealed to the media to work closely with the military to achieve the needed success in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East, the militancy in the Niger Delta and other security threats across the country, saying the task was not only for security outfits alone.
Although he admitted that there were challenges in the Army’s operations in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram, the Army chief, however, said any action the military has taken so far was in the best interest of the country.
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Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2j79coK
Bode Agusto, 11 others make Lagos Economic Advisory Committee
By Monsuru Olowoopejo
Lagos—The Lagos State Government yesterday created a 12-member Economic Advisory Committee headed by renowned accountant and financial expert, Dr Bode Agusto to spearhead the State Government’s drive to improve the business environment and advance the economic development of the State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello after the State Executive Council meeting at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
Other members of the Committee are Mr Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, Mr Kenneth Igbokwe, Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe, Mrs Adenike Ogunlana, Dr Laolu Mudashiru, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Mr Moruf Oseni and Mrs Yetunde Akinluyi, who would serve as the Secretary.
The State Government would be represented on the Committee by the Commissioners for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olawale Oluwo, and Commerce and Industry and Cooperatives, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye.
According to Bello, the private sector members of the committee were carefully selected based on their known track record of integrity, independence of thought and outlook as well as diverse industry experience.
He added that members of the Committee would be expected to commit to serve for at least two year while they would meet regularly and send reports to the State Executive Council, adding that the team would be allowed to invite industry experts to provide support during its deliberations.
The post Bode Agusto, 11 others make Lagos Economic Advisory Committee appeared first on Vanguard News.
Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2jU33cG
