Former Deputy Speaker Chibudum Nwuche Defects From PDP To APC

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Chief Chibudum Nwuche, has decided today, April 9, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the Vanguard, Nwuche confirmed the development to their journalist in a telephone interview, saying that he had to leave the party because the place is corrupt and had shortchanged him several times.

He reportedly said his political friends – former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Naaba, and former president Olusegun Obasanjo – had all moved over to the APC from the PDP.

It would be recalled that Nwuche alleged electoral fraud in the senatorial primaries of the PDP when he lost the election for the Rivers West Senatorial district. According him, there was no election.

After an official exit from the PDP, Nwuche is expected to battle with former governor Peter Odili over Orashi region in Rivers state where they both hail from. Odili is firmly in the PDP and supporting Chief Nyesom Wike of the PDP for the governorship seat.

Nwuche has called on his supporters to vote for Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the APC.

FG Moves MDAs’ Capital Accounts To CBN

According to the latest information , the Federal Government successfully moved all the capital accounts of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirmed the development in a statement and stated that the move would help the central bank to effectively manage the funds of the government.

She also said the new electronic collection platform, which the government unveiled in January this year for revenue generating agencies, would improve the availability of funds for financing of developmental projects and budgets as well as plug loopholes in government revenue collection and management.

The minister announced that instead of the agencies operating multiple accounts that were not being used, the new platform would enable the government to manage its account balances effectively.

She said while the capital accounts had been successfully moved to the CBN, efforts were being made to ensure that the recurrent accounts were similarly moved within the shortest time possible.

Okonjo-Iweala said:“With the treasury single account, we have a tool that helps us to see the balances of governments at one time from all government agencies because we are drawing resources into the central bank.Instead of agencies with multiple accounts everywhere, which are not being used, and on the other hand you go borrowing, we will have an overview and it will help us to manage our balances much better.There is no too much of a choice; everybody has to comply. We don’t want to look as overbearing; so, we are discussing with the agencies and the banks. We have already got all the capital accounts into the central bank and gradually we are getting the recurrent accounts. It also helps the central bank to manage liquidity.”

Dame Jonathan Pressurizing INEC To Rig Rivers Poll – Amaechi

Ahead of the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan is on the neck of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the elections in the Rivers state.

Governor Amaechi accused Mrs Jonathan, of pressurizing INEC and security agencies to rig the governorship election in the state.

Amaechi, who observed that President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife was in Okrika, her home town, for the governorship election, hoped that there wouldn’t be a repeat of election malpractices in the state.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi said the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs. Gesila Khan, already had a mindset of delivering the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.

He warned that the governorship candidate of the PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, must answer for the killings in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

Amaechi insisted that INEC must make available original result sheets at all polling units and called on the people of the state not to allow election to hold without result sheets.

He said, “The reason for this meeting is to let you know that what happened on the March 28, 2015 may or may not repeat itself. Few days ago, I had said it would not repeat itself. But as of this morning, there have been enormous pressure on the security by the wife of the President.

“There is also enormous pressure on INEC by the wife of the President. I hope that they will not repeat the hijacking of results. In most of the local government areas, if not all, there were no result sheets. This time around, I hope they will bring the result sheets to the different units. I hope they will not forget the result sheets at the collation centre.

“For me as the Governor of Rivers State, what is material to me is that we want to see the result sheets. We want to ensure that as we vote, our votes will count. Most of you have been asking this question: who will take over from me? I told you that we don’t want anybody to force a candidate on us.

“We don’t want people to be made governor because they want to share our resources. That is not what we want. We want to be allowed to vote and let our votes be counted. Let the wife of the President stay in her house. She should not force a candidate on us.

“They should tell her that security agencies have assured us that they will allow votes to count. I assure you that the security agencies will not be biased and I hope that the security agencies will keep to that. I hope that the woman posted here as the Resident Electoral Commission will know that her responsibility is not to disallow anybody from seeing the result sheets.”

Calling on the electorate not to allow anybody to intimidate them, Amaechi explained that communities should use the Ubima (his community) formula by locking down their villages to ensure that nobody would steal their votes.

He warned that INEC should not endanger the lives of its staff by deliberately withholding the results sheets or failing to do what was expected of them according to the law.

Patience Jonathan who was received to a rousing welcome by her kinsmen as she arrived her home state, Okrika, Rivers state, has been at loggerheads with Governor Amaechi with the governor accusing the First lady of masterminding the Okrika violence.

Breaking News: Fresh Mayhem In Oshodi Claims One

Reports just reaching us now revealed that one person has lost his life in fresh crisis that erupted in Oshodi area of Lagos, Thursday evening, blackboxnigeria reports.

Political thugs

The crisis reportedly ensued between some rival political thugs in the area over issues bothering on the forthcoming governorship election.

It was gathered that there is pandemonium in the whole area as residents and marketers are scampering to safety for their dear lives.

Meanwhile, the deceased identity could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

This bloody clash is coming barely one week after a woman was killed in similar crisis that had previously erupted in the same area.

However, a naij.com reader identified as Awwalu Toha Olastborn, said the deceased person at the Oshodi mayhem was baba esy.

Olastborn said baba esy was a custodian at a local football field called ‘jalisco football field’.

Following personal sentiment that mostly end up in clashes either by supporters or thugs, the security agencies in Ondo State have been alerted to the moves being made Governor Olusegun Mimiko to disrupt Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the entire South-West byinstigating widespread violence.

Boko Haram Hits Borno Again, kills 20

Members of the notorious terrorists group, Boko Haram have reportedly killed 20 people in a fresh attack launched in Borno State.

Survivors told Premium Times that the insurgents on Thursday stormed a remote village, Dile near Askira Uba, at about 2.00a.m.

The survivors said the insurgents whom stormed the village in several vehicles, started burning houses and killing anybody on sight.

A resident, who gave his name as Ibrahim Usman, said he managed to flee to Mubi, adding that 20 people were feared dead in the village, while several others were left with scores of injuries during the attack.

“Dozens of Boko Haram fighters attacked our village ‎at about 2 a.m. and killed 20 people,” Mr. usman said. “Many of us fled to the bush to avoid being killed. Everybody was running for his life. We don’t know the whereabouts of our family members,” he said.

Usman urged the military authorities to deploy troops to the area to ‎curb the menace of the terrorists.

Gambo Abakura, another fleeing resident, said: “they just started burning houses and shooting at sight. Most of the insurgents had turbaned their heads; others in quasi-military uniform, chanting Allahu Akbar, meaning Allah is Great.”

Efforts to speak with military authorities in Yola on the alleged attack proved abortive.

A local vigilante in Askira, Mallam Baba, confirmed the attack saying: “yes, there was an attack because many residents had fled to Mubi and they told us the insurgents have several camps in the bush around the area from where they wreak havoc on villages.”

It is however, surprising to still hear news of Boko Harm attacks and killings after the Nigerian army currently on the offensive against the sect had promised that the final onslaught was underway.  

Forever And Ever, PDP Will Always Fail – Oshiomhole

As the nation prepares for the House of Assembly elections in Edo state, Oshiomhole has told his people to not vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Edo Governor, Governor Oshiomhole told his people that if they vote for the PDP, they will go back to the “dark days of under development, poverty and unemployment”.

Governor Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole was speaking at a rally and said: “Let me remind you that Saturday is an opportunity to consolidate the change. I hear people say that before APC was in opposition; yes we too want them to do opposition. PDP has passed its productive years. Forever and ever, PDP can no longer deliver.

“The engine of the Mercedes in Abuja today is APC’s Buhari, the back axle at the State level is Oshiomhole of the APC, now the seat in the House of Assembly, do you want to put in Volkswagen and reject the Benz? You must vote Adima and Okpame so that the Mercedes will be complete.

“Election that was held last week, some people do not know what happened. Some say we lost but I say we won because today APC is now the Federal Government. Can we win more than that? To win does not mean that everybody must vote one way. What the majority says is what matters. That is what gives me joy.

“My joy again is that in the whole of South-south, it is only in Edo State that Buhari recorded 46%. In Edo, Buhari won 46% and what is needed is 25% but we gave him double. We got votes from Uromi and I know if you calculate the votes they cancelled, more than 150,000 votes and if you add them to what we scored, we would have beaten PDP in Edo State.”

Oshiomhole added that,“In Uromi land, power has changed. People who used to carry police to arrest us, we will now be the one arresting them. Before, the police was afraid of them but not anymore because the Commander-in-Chief is now General Muhammadu Buhari of APC. Power has changed. When an Iroko falls, any small bird would fly over it.
“Now if we want to nominate Board members for NPA, it is we that we do it. The Uromi man that would go to NPA will come from APC, the Uromi Man that will be in SURE-P will come from APC, the Uromi man that will be in INEC will come from APC and the Uromi man that will be Minister of Works will be from APC.

Oshiomhole responded to the request for support for the completion of the market and said: “I will support using Edo State Government money; we will contribute N25 million to complete this market so that the women can trade comfortably. So, next week after the elections, the Chairman should come and collect the money and complete the market.

“Today, I read in the papers and I was happy when our Baba said as Jonathan has accepted defeat, all of us should also accept it and once you accept it, you would not struggle with us for House of Assembly. We need Uromi voice in Abuja and we need the voice in Edo State House of Assembly. You wasted few votes last week; it does not matter, you voted APC and we are proud to be in the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“PDP must bring money to share because they have stolen so much. I know when they brought money last week, some of you got confused. Please in this week’s election, we must not be confused again. If they give you, take but vote for APC. When they give you, after Saturday, you will not see their break light until after four years. Please don’t waste your votes, vote for the ruling party”, he said.

The PDP are expected to sweep Edo and Imo, and these are the states APC wants to keep a hold of.

Obasanjo Begs Igbos To Forgive Oba Akiolu

The former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, in a meeting with leaders of Igbos and non-indigenes has begged the Igbos in Lagos to forgive Oba Akiolu for his death threats issued to the Igbo electorate in the state.

Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The meeting according to Daily Independent took place on Monday night at his Hill Top residence, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Obasanjo was said to have apologised for the outburst of the Oba, who asked non indigenes in Lagos to leave if they fail to vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinwumi Ambode, on Saturday.

The coordinator of the Amalgamation of Lagos State NGOs and Civil Societies, a group of Igbo traders and non indigenes’ non-governmental organisations resident in Lagos, Chief Oliver Akubueze, told newsmen on Tuesday that the former president was full of apologies, promising that the interests of non indigenes will be protected by the party with the victory of Ambode in the forthcoming election.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos State chapter has, however, called on the state governor, Babatunde Fashola to suspend the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu.

In another development, some Yoruba monarchs asked the Igbo people to forgive the Oba, adding that Yoruba and Igbo will continue living peacefully side by side.

The Oba sparked more controversy when on Thursday hundreds of shop owners were forced to shut-down their shops at the Idumota Market, Lagos Island, and ordered to go and join the Lagos state campaign on his orders.

Idumota is filled with mostly Igbo traders.

PDP Is ‘Humbled’ By Presidential Election Loss – Muazu

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, has admitted that his party was humbled by the loss of the presidential election to the opposition; All Progressives Congress, APC. 

PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu

The PDP Chairman,also known as“The Game Changer”, however vowed that the party will bounce back and that the party will reform so as to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Muazu also stressed the fact that the PDP has learnt its lessons from the defeat, promising not to let Nigerians down again.

The PDP boss stated these in a series of tweets on his twitter handle, @Muazuaa.

Muazu is not the only PDP chieftain to promise a stronger return by the PDP in four years. The Senior Special Assistant to the President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe on his facebook accountassured Nigerians that the PDP will not be perturbed by the loss and will return in four years time as astrong opposition.

Venita is Now a Mama! Unveils Baby Photo on Instagram

Venita Tarka (nee Akpofure) is now a mother!

The video vixen turned model and actress shared the first photo of her bundle of joy on Instagram.

We’re happy to report mummy, daddy and baby are all doing fine!

Fayose Impeachment Saga: Falana Advises Fayose

Some PDP members in Ekiti State on Monday reportedly blocked the two major roads leading to the  state House of Assembly entrance over reports that 19 APC members were planning to hold a meeting to discuss the impeachment of Governor Ayo Fayose.

According to Punch, “the party loyalists were led by the Deputy Governor, Kolapo Olusola; a former Speaker, Tunji Odeyemi; the Special Assistant to the governor on Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi, and Fayose’s Public Communications and New Media aide, Lere Olayinka.”

Policemen and Department of State Services (DSS) personnel were reportedly in total of nine Toyota Hilux trucks, guarding the main entrances to the assembly. In addition, PDP members erected canopies about 200 metres from the assembly entrance.  Some of the individuals were seen dancing under the canopies, while others sat quietly.

Here are some photos from the incident:

Breaking News: Borno Governorship Candidates Step Down For Shettima

Nine governorship candidates of various political parties in Borno state contesting the Saturday, April 11 gubernatorial election on Thursday stepped down for the state governor, Kashim Shettima, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The nine candidates, who were duly registered and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, took the decision to drop their ambitions and support Mr. Shettima after a meeting with him at the Government House, Maiduguri.

The meeting with the former candidates, which was supposed to hold Wednesday night, dragged into the early hours of Thursday as Governor Shettima was busy attending other political meetings at the Government House.

The politicians that were seeking to rule Borno state said they had taken the decision to shelve their ambition after a careful assessment of the situation in Borno State and how the incumbent governor had managed his affairs especially during the ongoing electioneering period.

“There is no point changing a winning horse”, said Rufai Monguno, the flag bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria. “When we stepped up to answer the call of our teeming supporters to contest the governorship of our dear state, we had the welfare of our people and development of Borno state at heart. But we later realised that there was no use fighting over the seat when the incumbent governor, Kashim Shettima, has achieved all that we desired for Borno state, and has even better plans for the future of our beloved state.

“It was on that note that we came to the government house tonight to formally assure him that rather than contesting against him, we will mobilise all our supporters to ensure that he is returned as the next governor of Borno on the 11th of April. We hereby step down for him.”

Governor Shettima, who was pleased with the development, described the candidates’ action as “an act of statesmanship worthy of commendation”.

He assured them that his government would continue to strive for a better deal for the people of Borno state.

And to avoid any form of doubts over their action, the nine former gubernatorial candidates agreed to a request by Mr. Shettima that they formalise their withdrawal from the race by voluntarily writing a withdrawal letter signed by their party officials notifying INEC of their decision to step down.

The nine governorship candidates were Rufai Monguno (ACN); Ajiya Auno (APGA); Babagana Musa (CPA); Ahmed Galtima (NCPN); (CPA); Babagana Bakomi (LP); Abu Sakwa (CPP); Ahmed Alhaji Bulama (ACPN); Abba Modu (SDP) and Joel Joseph (deputy governorship candidate of Accord Party who stood in for his principle at the meeting).

Davido meets Bola Tinubu

Davido may have an occupied calendar with him juggling his last year exams, undertaking, and the arrival of his sophomore collection.

Davido Spotted With APC Chieftain, Bola Tinubu

Davido And Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

The ever occupied pop star however won't permit his tight timetable prevent him from moving with the grandiose of the Nigerian culture.

Davido has hung out with main uber rich people Femi Otedola, and Aliko Dangote inside the most recent couple of months. Presently the HKN vocalist has been spotted with previous Governor of Lagos state, and APC chieftain Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Davido Spotted With APC Chieftain, Bola Tinubu

The star who has performed at different APC revitalizes posted a photo of him with the exceedingly compelling Nigerian legislator famously known as Jagaban today, April 9 on his Instagram account. "O SURE JU!!!!! JAGABAN X OBO!!" peruses the inscription of the photo.

Goodluck Johnathan's Aide, Oronto Douglas dies at 49

Dismal news simply coming to us says that Oronto Douglas, a top presidential assistant and partner of Goodluck Jonathan, has kicked the bucket. 

Oronto Douglas 

As indicated by a nearby family source, Mr. Douglas passed on from growth related inconveniences at 4:58am on Thursday at the State House facility, Abuja. 

Fight with  tumor 

He was diagnosed with tumor in 2008 and had been fighting the illness from that point forward with "empowering signs" of change, family sources told The Cable. 

At some stage, he was thought to have made due as the tumor went into abatement, however he endured a backslide in 2011. A year ago he was unmistakably wiped out, shedding pounds significantly and now and again requiring a wheelchair to move around. In March not long from now Douglas ventured out to the USA for his normal registration and was told by his specialists that he couldn't survive further medicine. 

"They let him know he would bite the dust in a matter of days. That was on March 18, 2015. He needed to pick between biting the dust in the US and coming back to Nigeria. He chose to return home," the source said. 

"You would not accept he was so debilitated on the off chance that you listened to him on the telephone. Just in the event that you saw him physically would you know his state. As at Wednesday, he was all the while working despite the fact that he couldn't move around the house," the source included. 

Oronto Douglas kept on meeting expectations throughout the most recent couple of weeks for the president's re-decision. 

Mr. Douglas came to national and global noticeable quality as a natural dissident for the oil-delivering groups of the Niger Delta. A legal advisor by calling, the expired was conceived in 1966. 

Despite the fact that Mr. Douglas had been debilitated for quite a while, partners of Goodluck Jonathan said he kept on meeting expectations in the course of the most recent couple of weeks for the president's re-decision. One source included that the helper was crushed when his primary lost the March 28 presidential decision. 

Mr. Douglas is made due by a wife and two youthful children. 

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Sympathies 

Goodluck Jonathan in an announcement issued by Reuben Abati, the president's unique guide on media and attention, extended his ardent sympathies to the Douglas family, the administration and individuals of Bayelsa State. He depicted his helper as "one of their most recognized children who served his nation, state and the Niger Delta locale, energetically and steadily, amid his exceptionally impactful years on earth". 

Oronto Douglas was Jonathan's own assistant for near to 10 years; subsequently, the president will never forget him for his enthusiasm for work, fabulousness, rousing innovativeness and remarkable duty to his obligations. 

"The President stays grateful to God Almighty for the brightness and creativity that Oronto offered as a powerful influence for each task as a faithful and obedient assistant amid his residency as Governor of Bayelsa State and as Vice President, Acting President and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria", the announcement read. 

As per the president, Oronto will remain a commendable case for each youthful Nigerian who looks for an existence of administration and accomplishment. 

________________________________________ 

David Mark, the president of the Senate, has depicted as "pulverizing" the demise of Oronto Douglas. 

Imprint, in a sympathy message to Goodluck Jonathan, government and individuals of Bayelsa state regretted that Douglas left when his administrations were generally required. 

"It is tragic that Douglas kicked the bucket in his prime when the country really required his administrations. Douglas was a researcher in his own particular right. He was creative and devoted. He was a research organization who left a vacuum excessively troublesome, making it impossible to fill. 

"I genuinely partake in this melancholy even as I ask that God in His boundless leniencies give the quick family the determination to tolerate this hopeless misfortune." 

Imprint noticed that late Douglas would be associated with his battle for the liberation of the populace of the Niger Delta and follower to the tenet of law and human rights in Nigeria. 

Responding to the appalling news, Femi Fani-Kayode, the representative of the Peoples Democratic Party, mourned with the group of the perished. 

"Might the spirit of my dear sibling Oronto Douglas rest in flawless peace. He was brave and gallant in fight and he battled to the dramatic finale. He was a Spartan," he wrote in his Facebook post.