Saturday, December 13, 2014
Man Dies After Drinking 8 Cans Of Energy Drink In N1,600 Bet
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Elijah Nwankwo, of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, have been confirmed dead after allegedly gulping energy drink from eight cans during a bet.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Ebere Amarizu, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police in Enugu State on Friday.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Ebere Amarizu, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police in Enugu State on Friday.
According to the statement, the victim had on Dec. 11 agreed to drink eight cans of energy drink for N1,600 to be paid by one Chikwado Nchionu, the challenger.
"After taking the energy drink, he became weak and went into coma. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in Enugu where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.
"The body of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital's mortuary'', the statement said.
"After taking the energy drink, he became weak and went into coma. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in Enugu where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.
"The body of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital's mortuary'', the statement said.
Cameroonian Army Kills Over 180 Boko Haram Soldiers
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Cameroon soldiers have killed no fewer than 180 militants suspected to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, in the north of the country, a military source said yesterday.
The insurgents were eliminated during an attack at Amchide in the north bordering Nigeria Thursday night around 8p.m., the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reported.
About 400 militants allegedly attacked the defence and security forces.
The source said there was no casualty on the Cameroon side.
The attack, which has not yet been officially declared by the authorities, came nearly two months after around 200 suspected Boko Haram militants were killed by the army in Amchide and Limani, another part of northern Cameroon October 15 and 16.
Since then, the security forces have strengthened their positions in the north by increasing the number of personnel to around 6,000.
The militants are active in the north of Cameroon, and they often attack villages in the area, pillaging properties of the villagers and sometimes taking foreign and local people as hostages.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that internal and external sabotage is greatly responsible for the onslought of the violent Islamic sect in Nigeria.
He made the remark when the Creative Professionals of Nigeria led by Segun Arinze visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Stressing that his administration is working hard to tackle terror in the country, he was optimistic that terrorsim will soon be overcomed in Nigeria.
He said: "We have challenges at present even in our infrastructure, but we are committed to expanding it in transportation, aviation, ports, roads, power infrastructure, among others.
"One of our greatest challenges is this security challenge. But we are working very hard; we have our frustrations; we have issues of sabotage, internal and external, but we are working very hard and by the grace of God we will overcome the problem," he said.
He pointed out that the artistes have been a blessing to Nigeria, as they not only help to boost the image of the country, but have been contributing greatly to the Nigerian economy.
He said: "But you are even appreciated more outside this country. And for those of us you placed here within this period, we know the value you have been bringing to us, to governance and social issues in this country.
"Most of us, politicians, are just busy generating negative issues. Everyday, they talk about corruption, governance and other issues. It is you that pomp the positive news into the system."
He promised that the government would continue to provide funds to assist the artiste.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Segun Arinze said that never in the history of Nigeria had any President given the creative community the attention Jonathan had given.
He said: "Never in the history of Nigeria has any leader given us the respect you have given us. Never in the history of Nigeria has any leadership given us the support you have given us. Today, as one, we have come to say a big thank you."
According to him, the uncommon transformation of the government has made them to travel to the best film schools around the globe to receive training.
"We have received grants to make better films whereas we could not previously access loans. Under your administration, many of our members have received national honours. Many of our members have got political appointments. Under your leadership, many of us are now venturing into politics, something never before heard of for artistes in this part," he said.
The insurgents were eliminated during an attack at Amchide in the north bordering Nigeria Thursday night around 8p.m., the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reported.
About 400 militants allegedly attacked the defence and security forces.
The source said there was no casualty on the Cameroon side.
The attack, which has not yet been officially declared by the authorities, came nearly two months after around 200 suspected Boko Haram militants were killed by the army in Amchide and Limani, another part of northern Cameroon October 15 and 16.
Since then, the security forces have strengthened their positions in the north by increasing the number of personnel to around 6,000.
The militants are active in the north of Cameroon, and they often attack villages in the area, pillaging properties of the villagers and sometimes taking foreign and local people as hostages.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that internal and external sabotage is greatly responsible for the onslought of the violent Islamic sect in Nigeria.
He made the remark when the Creative Professionals of Nigeria led by Segun Arinze visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Stressing that his administration is working hard to tackle terror in the country, he was optimistic that terrorsim will soon be overcomed in Nigeria.
He said: "We have challenges at present even in our infrastructure, but we are committed to expanding it in transportation, aviation, ports, roads, power infrastructure, among others.
"One of our greatest challenges is this security challenge. But we are working very hard; we have our frustrations; we have issues of sabotage, internal and external, but we are working very hard and by the grace of God we will overcome the problem," he said.
He pointed out that the artistes have been a blessing to Nigeria, as they not only help to boost the image of the country, but have been contributing greatly to the Nigerian economy.
He said: "But you are even appreciated more outside this country. And for those of us you placed here within this period, we know the value you have been bringing to us, to governance and social issues in this country.
"Most of us, politicians, are just busy generating negative issues. Everyday, they talk about corruption, governance and other issues. It is you that pomp the positive news into the system."
He promised that the government would continue to provide funds to assist the artiste.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Segun Arinze said that never in the history of Nigeria had any President given the creative community the attention Jonathan had given.
He said: "Never in the history of Nigeria has any leader given us the respect you have given us. Never in the history of Nigeria has any leadership given us the support you have given us. Today, as one, we have come to say a big thank you."
According to him, the uncommon transformation of the government has made them to travel to the best film schools around the globe to receive training.
"We have received grants to make better films whereas we could not previously access loans. Under your administration, many of our members have received national honours. Many of our members have got political appointments. Under your leadership, many of us are now venturing into politics, something never before heard of for artistes in this part," he said.
Lagos Police Arrests Elderly Trio Who Specialises In Fraud, Stolen Cars
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A 50-year-old suspect, Ramoni Adeleke, arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command for allegedly duping many people has said that he shaved his long beard and moustache to avoid being recognised by people who know him as a cleric. Also arrested are other members of his gang, including 70- year-old Alhaji Lekan Lanlegu a.k.a. Baba Toyota and 60-year-old Kolawole Odenide.
A police source, who revealed how the three aged suspects were arrested, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Kayode Aderanti, had got a hint that they were involved in robbery and receiving of stolen cars. The CP promptly directed the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, and his team to get the three men and the stolen cars. SARS operatives, therefore, disguised as car snatchers who wanted to sell a stolen car to the gang.
One of them came forward to collect the car. He had entered into negotiation with the SARS operatives before he realised that they were policemen. Meanwhile, Kyari and his men had cordoned off the spot and promptly arrested the would-be receiver.
Lanlegu said it was one Kolawole Odenide, who supplied him with a stolen car. His arrest also led to the arrest of Adeleke at a private mosque he used as an office to dupe people and receive stolen cars. A cleric he was said to have employed to teach people in the mosque and lead prayers was said to have scaled the fence and ran away on sighting policemen.
Adeleke, who described himself as a native of Ade village, Ade South Local Government Area, Osun State, said he was a transporter. He said he built a mosque and employed an alfa (Islamic cleric) to manage it.
He said: "I live in Iba Estate near Lagos State University (LASU) along Badagry Road, Lagos. I am happily married with five children. I built a storey building at Iba and a mosque which I built with N300,000. I built the mosque to honour God and pray to him five times a day. That was 10 years ago.
"In the year 2000, I started thinking of how to make quick money by stealing cars. I was jobless and had no money to feed my family. The man who lured me into car stealing died four years ago. I went to his house to seek advice on how to survive hunger and he taught me how to steal cars.
"He told me that he survived by stealing cars and for 10 years, I stole cars and my poverty disappeared. We would go to a place where a car was parked and used a screw driver to open the door. We would dismantle the wiring and use the starter wire to start the engine.
"While he drove the stolen car, I would drive his own car behind him to wherever he was going to sell, usually a place around Idimu, to an old man called Fatai, who is now late. After selling it for N100,000 then, he would give me N5,000 as my own share.
"The late Fatai had a mechanic workshop, and it was there that I went to meet him that I needed money and he told me about stealing cars.
"When Fatai died five years later, one Shina brought Kola Adeniji to me as a partner in crime. We operated more than five times before we were arrested. There was no gang leader between us. We were a twoman gang and anyone could bring a job.
"Our last operation was at Oyigbo, Ebute Meta, Lagos around July this year. We stole one Pick-Up Hylux vehicle and sold it to one Alhaji Lekan for N700,000. I had to shave my beard in the cell to avoid people identifying me as a cleric.
"I bought three commercial buses which ply Ijora-Obalende route, and each of them makes N4,000 return every day except Saturday and Sunday. I was arrested at Atede in Osun State while going to mosque." The second suspect, Kolawole, said: "I am from Abeokuta, Ogun State. I am a property dealer in Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos. I have two wives and seven children. I met Adeleke in Idi-Iroko, Ogun State when I was doing smuggling. I knew him through a friend called Shina.
"I learnt about stealing cars about seven years ago. Whenever we opened a car door, tore the starting wire and it refused to start, we abandoned it in the belief that it had a security system. But at times, once you start the engine, the security system becomes useless.
"I was once arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti. I was charged to court and remanded in prison for one week. I had gone on nine operations and stopped before I started again in January because of the economic situation in the country."
A police source, who revealed how the three aged suspects were arrested, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Kayode Aderanti, had got a hint that they were involved in robbery and receiving of stolen cars. The CP promptly directed the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, and his team to get the three men and the stolen cars. SARS operatives, therefore, disguised as car snatchers who wanted to sell a stolen car to the gang.
One of them came forward to collect the car. He had entered into negotiation with the SARS operatives before he realised that they were policemen. Meanwhile, Kyari and his men had cordoned off the spot and promptly arrested the would-be receiver.
Lanlegu said it was one Kolawole Odenide, who supplied him with a stolen car. His arrest also led to the arrest of Adeleke at a private mosque he used as an office to dupe people and receive stolen cars. A cleric he was said to have employed to teach people in the mosque and lead prayers was said to have scaled the fence and ran away on sighting policemen.
Adeleke, who described himself as a native of Ade village, Ade South Local Government Area, Osun State, said he was a transporter. He said he built a mosque and employed an alfa (Islamic cleric) to manage it.
He said: "I live in Iba Estate near Lagos State University (LASU) along Badagry Road, Lagos. I am happily married with five children. I built a storey building at Iba and a mosque which I built with N300,000. I built the mosque to honour God and pray to him five times a day. That was 10 years ago.
"In the year 2000, I started thinking of how to make quick money by stealing cars. I was jobless and had no money to feed my family. The man who lured me into car stealing died four years ago. I went to his house to seek advice on how to survive hunger and he taught me how to steal cars.
"He told me that he survived by stealing cars and for 10 years, I stole cars and my poverty disappeared. We would go to a place where a car was parked and used a screw driver to open the door. We would dismantle the wiring and use the starter wire to start the engine.
"While he drove the stolen car, I would drive his own car behind him to wherever he was going to sell, usually a place around Idimu, to an old man called Fatai, who is now late. After selling it for N100,000 then, he would give me N5,000 as my own share.
"The late Fatai had a mechanic workshop, and it was there that I went to meet him that I needed money and he told me about stealing cars.
"When Fatai died five years later, one Shina brought Kola Adeniji to me as a partner in crime. We operated more than five times before we were arrested. There was no gang leader between us. We were a twoman gang and anyone could bring a job.
"Our last operation was at Oyigbo, Ebute Meta, Lagos around July this year. We stole one Pick-Up Hylux vehicle and sold it to one Alhaji Lekan for N700,000. I had to shave my beard in the cell to avoid people identifying me as a cleric.
"I bought three commercial buses which ply Ijora-Obalende route, and each of them makes N4,000 return every day except Saturday and Sunday. I was arrested at Atede in Osun State while going to mosque." The second suspect, Kolawole, said: "I am from Abeokuta, Ogun State. I am a property dealer in Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos. I have two wives and seven children. I met Adeleke in Idi-Iroko, Ogun State when I was doing smuggling. I knew him through a friend called Shina.
"I learnt about stealing cars about seven years ago. Whenever we opened a car door, tore the starting wire and it refused to start, we abandoned it in the belief that it had a security system. But at times, once you start the engine, the security system becomes useless.
"I was once arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti. I was charged to court and remanded in prison for one week. I had gone on nine operations and stopped before I started again in January because of the economic situation in the country."
‘I graduated from pickpocket to robbery because I felt more secured as a robber’
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A robbery suspect arrested by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command, Ugochukwu Felix Nebuwe (28), has said that he started as a pickpocket before he graduated into armed robbery. The suspect said after only narrowly escaping being lynched together with his other members of his pickpocket gang, he decided to change from pickpocket to armed robbery.
Nebuwe and three of his gang members who are now at large were said to have gone to a night club at Tin Can, Apapa area of Lagos and as they were returning home the following day, they saw a man trying to start his car. They rushed towards the man, forcibly took his car key and drove off.
Unfortunately, by the time they got to Mile 2 area, information had gone to the police whose men mobilised and began to pursue them. They, therefore, abandoned the vehicle and fled. Unfortunately, Ugochukwu ran in a different direction and some boys in the area arrested him. Before handing him over to the police, they gave him the beating of his life.
Nebuwe, who spoke with our reporter, said he hailed from Mgbidi village in Imo State and traded in refrigerators and electronics at the Alaba International Market.
He added: "I used to stay with my parents at Igando (Lagos). My father retired as a chief driver at Futuro Construction Company. I stopped my secondary school education at Senior Secondary School 2 because I was too stubborn. I did not use to listen when they told me to stop fighting with people.
"May be it is somebody that is doing this to me. I stopped schooling at SS 2 because of my stubbornness. I used to be too aggressive and when elders told me to stop fighting each time I had a little misunderstanding with people, I would not heed their advice.
"It is a spiritual problem caused by somebody to undo my family because at times, after participating in armed robbery operation, I would begin to regret. Another thing that would show you that the hand of an enemy is in what is making me to behave like this is that if I want to sleep, I sleep in a tokunbo (fairly used) vehicle displayed for sale. The owner does not see me because before day break, I would go out, have my bath and go to the market to hustle."
Asked how he became a guest of the police, he said: "I started as a pickpocket. We used to be two or three doing it at clubs, bus stops, market places and even stadia. That was around 2004. My pickpocket counterparts were mostly Igbo and Edo boys. Some of them are dead while some are in prisons or police cells. Some of them died during police raids.
"At Tin Can side of Ajegunle, I met a gang of 'one chance' robbers at a place we used to smoke. They were Obi, Stephen, Lukman and Okey. There is also one we call Ochari, a very short boy but very wicked. He was the one that usually pushed out victims from the moving vehicle.
"They used to cheat me and would not give me raw cash when we were shairing our loot. They would tell me to wait until I mastered the work. They used to give me phones. Some of the members like Okey and Lukman, are dead now. As for the rest, I don't know whether they are dead or in prison.
"Every morning, they would call me to join them. We would call passengers like other commercial buses, but when we had got enough passengers, we would rob them and go home.
"Our routes include Iyana-Iba, Mile 2, Tin Can and Mile 12. I used to sell the phones for N2,000 each, no matter the make or quality, because I didn't want them to remain with me to avoid being tracked down through them. The moment I got the phones, I would remove the SIM cards and throw them on the main road.
"I later left the gang when the police started tracking them down. Even some of them were arrested and charged to court. But after some months, I was down financially. The only option left for me to survive was to join a robbery gang.
"I went back to the club because armed robbers liked to go there. There I met one Azubuike and another boy called Ijebu and IK. There was also a boy they called Afo. They told me that my suffering had ended and very soon I would get enough money to help myself.
"On that fateful day, I did not know that they had already planned to rob on the way. As we left the club in the morning, I thought that they would drop me at Mile 2. We were all inside our operational Danfo bus. Immediately they saw a man washing his car in front of his house, which had no gate, they stopped, rushed towards the man and pointed a gun at him.
''The man shouted and area boys came out in great number and pursued us. They abandoned the car and ran away in the Danfo bus. I could not meet up with them hence they escaped and left me behind.
"When the area boys saw me, they said I was one of them and started beating me. They would have left me when I tried to tell them that I was not one of them. But they got to the car they abandoned and discovered that one of the gang members had left his gun. They became annoyed and started pounding me. They later took me to Tolu Police Station."
Nebuwe and three of his gang members who are now at large were said to have gone to a night club at Tin Can, Apapa area of Lagos and as they were returning home the following day, they saw a man trying to start his car. They rushed towards the man, forcibly took his car key and drove off.
Unfortunately, by the time they got to Mile 2 area, information had gone to the police whose men mobilised and began to pursue them. They, therefore, abandoned the vehicle and fled. Unfortunately, Ugochukwu ran in a different direction and some boys in the area arrested him. Before handing him over to the police, they gave him the beating of his life.
Nebuwe, who spoke with our reporter, said he hailed from Mgbidi village in Imo State and traded in refrigerators and electronics at the Alaba International Market.
He added: "I used to stay with my parents at Igando (Lagos). My father retired as a chief driver at Futuro Construction Company. I stopped my secondary school education at Senior Secondary School 2 because I was too stubborn. I did not use to listen when they told me to stop fighting with people.
"May be it is somebody that is doing this to me. I stopped schooling at SS 2 because of my stubbornness. I used to be too aggressive and when elders told me to stop fighting each time I had a little misunderstanding with people, I would not heed their advice.
"It is a spiritual problem caused by somebody to undo my family because at times, after participating in armed robbery operation, I would begin to regret. Another thing that would show you that the hand of an enemy is in what is making me to behave like this is that if I want to sleep, I sleep in a tokunbo (fairly used) vehicle displayed for sale. The owner does not see me because before day break, I would go out, have my bath and go to the market to hustle."
Asked how he became a guest of the police, he said: "I started as a pickpocket. We used to be two or three doing it at clubs, bus stops, market places and even stadia. That was around 2004. My pickpocket counterparts were mostly Igbo and Edo boys. Some of them are dead while some are in prisons or police cells. Some of them died during police raids.
"At Tin Can side of Ajegunle, I met a gang of 'one chance' robbers at a place we used to smoke. They were Obi, Stephen, Lukman and Okey. There is also one we call Ochari, a very short boy but very wicked. He was the one that usually pushed out victims from the moving vehicle.
"They used to cheat me and would not give me raw cash when we were shairing our loot. They would tell me to wait until I mastered the work. They used to give me phones. Some of the members like Okey and Lukman, are dead now. As for the rest, I don't know whether they are dead or in prison.
"Every morning, they would call me to join them. We would call passengers like other commercial buses, but when we had got enough passengers, we would rob them and go home.
"Our routes include Iyana-Iba, Mile 2, Tin Can and Mile 12. I used to sell the phones for N2,000 each, no matter the make or quality, because I didn't want them to remain with me to avoid being tracked down through them. The moment I got the phones, I would remove the SIM cards and throw them on the main road.
"I later left the gang when the police started tracking them down. Even some of them were arrested and charged to court. But after some months, I was down financially. The only option left for me to survive was to join a robbery gang.
"I went back to the club because armed robbers liked to go there. There I met one Azubuike and another boy called Ijebu and IK. There was also a boy they called Afo. They told me that my suffering had ended and very soon I would get enough money to help myself.
"On that fateful day, I did not know that they had already planned to rob on the way. As we left the club in the morning, I thought that they would drop me at Mile 2. We were all inside our operational Danfo bus. Immediately they saw a man washing his car in front of his house, which had no gate, they stopped, rushed towards the man and pointed a gun at him.
''The man shouted and area boys came out in great number and pursued us. They abandoned the car and ran away in the Danfo bus. I could not meet up with them hence they escaped and left me behind.
"When the area boys saw me, they said I was one of them and started beating me. They would have left me when I tried to tell them that I was not one of them. But they got to the car they abandoned and discovered that one of the gang members had left his gun. They became annoyed and started pounding me. They later took me to Tolu Police Station."
Bad Loser! Obanikoro Takes PDP To Court Over Primary Election
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Lagos governorship hopeful and former minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday dragged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before a Federal High court in Abuja over the controversial conduct of the Lagos State governorship primary which saw Mr. Jimi Agbaje emerge as the winner.
Obanikoro said the move had become imperative as the PDP had failed to act on his petition in which he complained about the anomalies of the primary.
Obanikoro said this yesterday at a press conference held at campaign office in Lagos.
The former minister said he could not comprehend how the number of accredited delegates (806) could exceed the number of votes (863).
According to him, the 48 hours timeline stipulated by the PDP Electoral Guideline to address the appeal had elapsed without a response from the party.
He said in the light of the development, only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a court could compel the party to conduct a fresh primary.
His words: "We must stand by the truth and the truth is that the election of Monday must be cancelled and repeated. We turned in our petition on Tuesday thinking that yesterday (Thursday) the party would reply according to its guidelines but they have not responded as we speak."
Continuing, Obanikoro said "when I noticed that they did not respond, we went to a Federal High court and sued the party.
I stand for a greater Lagos and anything that will derail that journey will be fought with every drop of our blood."
He, however, took a swipe at Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, who he accused of manipulating the process to favour Jimi Agbaje.
Said he "Chief Olabode George thinks that he could just bark and people like us would sit down but I think by now, he would have got the message and we will stand shoulder to shoulder. This is not about age because if you want to be respected, you must respect yourself."
Speaking further, he said "we told him at the beginning that if he wants to be the unifier and the umpire, you have to be above board but him and Ogunlewe did not do that, they became the director general and deputy director general of Agbaje campaign organisation. Bode George turned his office in Lugard to Agbaje's campaign secretariat."
Kwankwaso Set For Senate Ticket!
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The Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has reportedly said that he might consider his supporters' calls for him to contest for a seat in the Senate in 2015.
The governor disclosed this on Friday while addressing journalists in his office on Friday.
Kwankwaso, who recently lost to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Retd) at the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress, said, "Being in the Senate will help in no small measure in tackling the talkative who have nothing to offer for the unity of the country."
He also assured that the APC would beat the Peoples Democratic Party at the governorship polls in Kano next year.
He said, "I will make sure that PDP loses in Kano and I will deliver 100 per cent victory in the state to the APC because it's the party that everyone is supporting across the country."
The governor disclosed this on Friday while addressing journalists in his office on Friday.
Kwankwaso, who recently lost to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Retd) at the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress, said, "Being in the Senate will help in no small measure in tackling the talkative who have nothing to offer for the unity of the country."
He also assured that the APC would beat the Peoples Democratic Party at the governorship polls in Kano next year.
He said, "I will make sure that PDP loses in Kano and I will deliver 100 per cent victory in the state to the APC because it's the party that everyone is supporting across the country."
M.K.O Abiola's Wife To Become Lagos State First Female Governor
If things worked out as planned, Chief Mrs Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, wife of the late politician and business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, may become the first female governor Lagos State would have. Onitiri-Abiola emerged the Lagos State governorship flag bearer for the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, in the coming 2015 general elections and she said there are adequate plans in place to ensure she succeeds Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
She clinched the ticket as a consensus candidate on Thursday at the UPN congress/primary held at the party secretariat, Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, alongside other consensus candidates for Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.
In her acceptance speech, Abiola declared that she is going to be the first female governor of Lagos State as she will succeed the incumbent Governor, Babatunde Fashola.
She said that her party, UPN, founded by the late Obafemi Awolowo and resuscitated by OPC leader, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, is prepared to take over as the ruling party in the state.
Lagos PDP Primary: It Is Not Over, Obanikoro Tells Bode George
The immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, following his defeat at the Lagos State PDP primary is not leaving any stone unturned has he sued the Peoples Democratic Party before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the conduct of the Lagos State governorship primary which produced Mr. Jimi Agbaje as the winner.
According to him, both Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, manipulated the primary in favour of Agbaje who is their preferred candidate.
Describing both George and Ogunlewe as the masterminds of the “fraudulent” primary. Obanikoro said both leaders had never won elections at their polling units and wondered how they could help the PDP win next year’s general elections.
Obanikoro said the move to sue PDP became necessary because the party failed to act on his petition in which he complained about the irregularities that trailed the primary.
The former minister told his supporters and journalists at his campaign office in Lagos on Friday that he could not understand how the number of votes (863) could exceed the number of accredited delegates (806).
He said the 48 hours timeline stipulated by the PDP Electoral Guideline to address the appeal had elapsed without a response from the party.
Noting that in the light of the development, only the Independent National Electoral Commission and a court could compel the party to conduct fresh primary.
“We must stand by the truth and the truth is that last Monday’s primary must be cancelled and re-conducted.
“We turned in our petition on Tuesday, thinking that on Thursday, the party would reply according to its guidelines but it has not responded as we speak.
“When I noticed that the party did not respond, we went to a Federal High Court and sued the party.
“I stand for a greater Lagos and anything that will derail that journey will be fought with every drop of my blood.”
2015 Elections: Niger Delta Militant Buy Warships
Arguably ahead of the coming 2015 election, former militants are getting ready for any eventuality.
A former Niger Delta militant, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, alia Tompolo, according to Saturday Punch has bought seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships.
Reports by a Norwegian newspaper, Dagbladet, said that the fast-speed Hauk-class guided missile boats had been re-armed with new weaponry.
The report also revealed that Ekpemupolo’s most recent purchase is a KNM Horten, a fast-attack craft now used in fighting piracy in Nigeria’s waterways.
It was learnt that in spite of his alleged history of violence, Tompolo, now controls the Global West Vessel Service, a privately owned contractor for maritime security for the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency.
Catholic Church Gets N15 million For New Television Station
About N15 million was yesterday, realised at a dinner organised by the Abuja Catholic diocese for the formal take off of her new Television Channel, called Catholic Television in Abuja.
The church requires about N300 million to set a standard television studio that would serve her evangelization purposes.
In his keynote address at the CTV dinner organised by the church, the Archbishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, said the new television station is intended to be used as a tool of evangelisation to deepen the faith of the Catholic faithful within and outside the country.
The Cardinal said the new TV station is expected to provide all the Catholics the opportunity to evangelize in the future, using the electronic media to reach families in their homes.
Cardinal Onaiyekan, said the inspiration came, following the recent comments by various Popes, who have constantly admonished the church on the need to use the means of communication for evangelization today.
“Pope John Paul 11, himself used the media effectively to propagate the faith. It is for this reason that after having encouraged the stability of our Archdiocesan newspaper, I now wish to support the growth of our new Archdiocesan media project.
“What ever we do is part and parcel of what we preach in the church, spreading the good news of peace, love and charity. CTV is part of the broad based agenda of the gospel, which is part of the revolution,” he stated.
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