Our Newly Senate President Bukola Saraki Breaks His Ramadan Fast With Friends In Ilorin (Photos)

<div><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="507" src="http://www.vibenigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/PHOTO-Bukola-Saraki-Breaks-His-Fast-With-Friends-In-Ilorin-2.jpg" title="Bukola-Saraki-Breaks-His-Fast-With-Friends-In-Ilorin" width="720" /><br /> Nigerian Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s friends and political associates organised lavish dinner to break his Ramadan fast last night in ilorin. A former member of house of representatives, who also doubled as State DG, Buhari Campaign Organization, Hon. Mashood Mustapha shared pictures of the event on his facebook page with the following camption:<br /> <i>iftar (breaking of fasting) with Nigeria’s Senate President, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Abubakar @BukolaSaraki yesterday in Ilorin. May Allah bequest him with the blessing of Ramadan by making his tenure the most excellent in the history of Nigeria. Also, may He make Kwara and Nigeria greater through his excellence, influence and legislation, Amin. Ramadan Kareem!</i></div>

Wike Is Tarnishing Amaechi’s Image So He Wouldn’t Be Named A Minster – APC

<div> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/wike-amaechi.jpg"><img alt="wike-amaechi" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4149" height="340" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/wike-amaechi.jpg" width="710" /></a><br /> <strong>The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has reacted to claims by Governor Nyesom Wike that immediate past governor, Rotimi Amaechi will be probed. </strong><br /> In a statement signed by the party chairman in the state, Dr. Davies Ikanya, the APC describe the to-be probe as a  wild goose chase.</div>

Must Read I’ll Win If You Conduct Rivers Election 100 Times – Wike Boasts

<div><br /><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="300" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4j53ffri7a9.392c3c37.jpg" title="wike" width="600" /><br /> <div><strong>Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has boasted that he will emerge winner of the Rivers state gubernatorial election even if it is repeated a 100 times.</strong></div>The governor said this during an interactive session with journalists at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Saturday, June 20, Daily Post reports.<br /> The governor who claimed he was the brain behind Rotimi Amaechi’s emergence as governor  said he was presently schooling the camp of his predecessor on how to play the game of politics due  to his wealth of experience.</div>

Amazing! President Buhari At Last, Moves Into Presidential Villa

<div> <br /><h1 class="post-heading"></h1><img alt="buhari - yusuf farm" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4479" height="400" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/vllkyt2adr9252l7jg.fa3c55e5.jpg" width="600" /><br /> President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday evening finally moved into his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.<br /> Buhari and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo have lived outside the Villa and used the Defence House, Abuja as their offices since their inauguration three weeks ago in order to allow renovation works to be carried out at the facility.<br /> The President’s wife, Aisha Buhari had moved into the official residence since last Thursday.<br /> Buhari, who returned to Abuja from Katsina State on Saturday, began the movement of his properties to the seat of power on Sunday evening.</div>

The Transition Committee Proposes Removal Of Fuel Subsidy

<div><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="650" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/fuel-scarcity1.jpg" title="fuel-scarcity1" width="980" /><br /> The All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to work out “detailed and coordinated” plan to remove subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.<br /> The advisory body, whose report is expected to influence the policy direction of the new government, also recommended that kerosene subsidy should be scrapped immediately.<br /> While kerosene is officially N50 per litre, the end users pay as much as N150 despite the existence of subsidy — a case of double jeopardy for the government and consumers but a source of massive income for marketers and fuel import contractors.<br /> The committee also asked Buhari to privatise the nation’s four refineries by adopting the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) as a model.<br /> NLNG is jointly owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 49%, Shell Gas B.V. 25.6%, Total LNG Nigeria Ltd 15% and Eni International 10.4% — but it is not managed by the Nigerian government, unlike the nation’s refineries which are solely managed by the NNPC.<br /> These recommendations, in a report seen by TheCable, are intended to “eliminate waste and redirect resources to fuel development, growth and job creation”, according to the committee headed by Ahmed Joda, former super perm secretary.<br /> Fuel subsidy, which gulps billions of dollars every year, has been a very volatile issue in Nigeria’s political economy since the mid-1980s, leading to riots and demonstrations because of the resultant increase in pump prices of petroleum products.<br /> But with dwindling oil revenue, ballooning subsidy claims and growing national debt, there is an emerging consensus that the expenditure can no longer be sustained.<br /> Attempts by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the subsidy in 2012 were greeted with nationwide protests amidst allegations of scam in payments to marketers running into trillions of naira. Jonathan eventually reversed the policy.<br />Fuel Queue Kegs<br /> Nigerians queue endlessly for kerosene<br /> Federal government currently owes oil marketers over N200 billion, a development that recently resulted in a nationwide fuel crisis as they cut down on importation.<br /> With another N400 billion owed in salary arrears to federal workers, the Joda committee has asked Buhari to pay arrears of salary and fuel subsidy, “failing which it could lead to mass labour unrest which could undermine the goodwill of the Administration”.<br /> The committee recommended that all outstanding subsidy liabilities should be audited and the verified claims paid to marketers to “ensure PMS is readily available to the market to avoid further fuel queues”.<br /> Other key recommendations concerning the oil and gas sector include:<br /> Reviewing all Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operations and agreements especially the Strategic Alliance Agreements executed with third parties. This is to recoup any unearned royalties, taxes and any potential over-lifting under these agreements. This is one of the issues raised in the recent KPMG audit of NNPC.<br />Reviewing all pioneer status granted and tax waivers and renegotiating or revoking concessions granted in order to recoup unpaid taxes. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) was recently accused of indiscriminately granting pioneer certificates which led to an estimated loss of $20 billion revenue over five years.<br />Commencing a full scale reorganisation and restructuring of NNPC and its subsidiaries to reposition it as a globally competitive national oil company and “significantly enhance reserves, output and revenues while creating major linkages with other sectors of the Nigerian economy”.<br />Incorporating the existing joint ventures (JVs) and reducing federal government stake to 49% “which should be on the listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange”. This is expected to raise significant revenue from asset sale, relieve the government of the burden of cash call obligations and facilitate investment for accretion of reserves.<br />Commencing an audit of all Offshore Processing Agreements and Crude Swap Agreements entered by NNPC to identify and claim any reimbursements for excess crude lifted vis-a -vis products delivered based on a fair and transparent audit process.<br />Providing relevant security hardware and personnel to eliminate vandalism to critical pipeline infrastructure and unauthorised offshore vessel loading.<br /> The Joda committee submitted its report on June 12, recommending, among other things, that Buhari should reduce the number of ministries to 19 from the current 28</div>

Dogara Visit To Bauchi Made the Bauchi Town Busy All Day

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="337" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CH745iyWwAAJcsh.jpg" title="DOGARA - BAUCHI" width="599" /><br /> Speaker Yakubu Dogara received a warm reception as he visits Bauchi today.<br /> The speaker also visited His Royal Highness the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Suleiman Adamu at the emir’s palace.<br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538817_ch74pswcaa5drg_jpegcda8ec70d25dadb329e4fea6630ae80c" /><br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538818_ch745iywwaajcsh_jpeg2819c935f24125b0059ed746530ea2e6" /><br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538819_ch8d7snxaaaugfb_jpeg393999b2e68422ab3d770533def98bc4" /><br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538820_ch8d1dtwcaa4adb_jpeg060a46f9abaffa658634d69becde624d" /><br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538821_ch8xfljw8aacfys_jpeg7d3925bed9c60a2d354f548991f392c6" /><br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538822_ch8xrovwiaattk6_jpegc5ae7a32c40018440bff5b9e67876019" /><br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538823_ch8xgfswcaatbx_jpegb04701f532c4f14f8dc2475406d6e964" /><br /> <img alt="" class="attachmentimage img" src="http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2538824_ch8xdluwcaapqrg_jpegec13a59034de838bd403ea8765d654cb" /></div>

AISHA BUHARI: Buhari’s Wife Relocates To Aso Rock Ahead Of Husband

<div> <br /><h1 class="post-heading"><br /></h1><br /><img alt="Aisha_Buhari_Portrait" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2647" height="1017" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Aisha_Buhari_Portrait-614x1024.jpg" width="610" /><br /> The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has relocated to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, barely three weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was inaugurated.<br /> Since they were inaugurated, Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo have been operating from outside the Presidential Villa.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>This is despite the fact that both men have their official residences and offices inside the Villa.<br /> Both of them have been operating from their private residences as well as the Defence House, official residence of the President-elect located at Maitama District, Abuja.<br /> Our correspondent gathered that Mrs. Buhari formally relocated to the Presidential Villa on Thursday at a time when her husband was out of Abuja.<br /> “Hajia (Buhari) arrived here (Presidential Villa) with her entourage at about 6pm on Thursday. She had relocated ahead of her husband. She passed the night here,” a Presidency official told our correspondent on Friday.<br /> As of the time our correspondent visited the First Lady’s Wing of the Presidential Villa on Friday, some exotic cars were seen parked in front of the premises, an indication that Mrs. Buhari was playing host to some guests.<br /> Another Presidency official told our correspondent that the President is expected to join his wife inside the Presidential Villa on arrival from his local trip.<br /> Buhari had departed Abuja for Kaduna on Tuesday shortly after he arrived from South Africa where he took part in the just-concluded 25th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.<br /> He proceeded from Kaduna to his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State.<br /> Buhari is expected back in Abuja from the journey described as “private trips” this weekend.<br /> “The President is expected back this weekend. He will be expected to join his wife here on his arrival,” the source added.<br /> Upon his formal relocation to the Presidential Villa, Buhari is expected to operate for the first time from his office on Monday.<br /> As of the time of filing this report, Osinbajo and his wife have yet to relocate to the Villa.<br /> It was not clear whether they will move in at the same time with Buhari.<br /> The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had told our correspondent that ongoing renovation work was hindering Buhari from moving into the Presidential Villa.<br /> He had said, “As far as the President is concerned, the place (his official residence) is not ready yet. Workers are cleaning and refurbishing the place. Once the exercise is completed, the President will move in.”</div>

NNPC Reveals: All Four Refineries Will Produce Only 19 Million Litres Even At Full Capacity

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="Warri-Refinery" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4144" height="410" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Warri-Refinery.jpg" width="520" /><br /> Just when Nigerians were groaning over the non-availability of petroleum products, hope seems to be on the horizon.<br /> The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said on Friday four oil refineries will resume production in July.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>Spokesman Ohi Alegbe said the two refineries in Port Harcout would begin operations after turnaround maintenance, followed by those in Warri and Kaduna.<br /> Alegbe was quick to alert Nigerians over the fact that all the four refineries even at full capacity, cannot meet up with our demand on daily basis.<br /> “Even when the refineries work at full capacity, they can only produce around 19 million litres of petrol per day,” he said.<br /> “There will still be a shortfall of about 21 million litres,” he said, pointing out that Nigeria consumes about 40 million litres of petrol per day.<br /> Nigeria, one of Africa’s top two oil producers, is forced to import most of its petrol products due to its ailing refinery system, which generally runs well below capacity, sometimes at just 20 percent, due to neglect and pipeline sabotage.<br /> Major cities in Nigeria are recovering from a gasoline shortage despite the end of a fuel distribution strike as fuel marketers, who are still not importing due to money owed them, have agreed to distribute fuel brought in by the state oil company, NNPC.<br /> Alegbe said the turnaround maintenance for the four refineries had been ongoing since November.<br /> The NNPC has four refineries, two in Port Harcourt, one in Kaduna and another in Warri, but have been non-functional for some time forcing the country to import petroleum products.</div>

Obbs: Soyinka Loses Out On Becoming Oxford’s Next Professor Of Poetry

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="539" src="http://www.bellanaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Wole-Soyinka-July-2014-BellaNaija.com-01.jpg" title="Wole-Soyinka" width="809" /><br /> Prof. Wole Soyinka has lost the race to be Oxford’s Professor of poetry to British poet, Simon Armitage.<br /> Armitage, a popular poet and broadcaster, secured 1,221 votes – 301 more than his closest rival, Wole Soyinka.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center></center></div>Armitage was backed by 58 names, including John Carey and Melvyn Bragg. Bragg had previously supported Soyinka, but later publicly switched his allegiance to Armitage, saying the 80-year-old might not “bother to come to Oxford” if he were to win.<br /> He said Soyinka, a US-based Nigerian who turns 81 next month, “has not written much poetry recently and I now wonder how often he would bother to come to Oxford. Soyinka is a grand man and would regard it as a grand post. I also query his age.”<br /> Soyinka had hit back, saying: “How curious that anyone would even speculate that I would allow busy and committed people – friends, colleagues and total strangers – to waste their time nominating and campaigning on my behalf for such a prestigious position if I were not serious about contesting.”<br /> Soyinka initially led the way with the most nominations in the early stage of the election. Candidates need to be nominated by at least 50 Oxford graduates and Soyinka had more than 90 nods.<br /> Armitage will be expected to deliver one public lecture per term, facilitating the “art of poetry in the university” with a salary of £12,000 a year.</div>

Crisis In APC: Atiku, Akande Battle For APC BOT Chairmanship

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="atiku" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3658" height="260" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/240914F-Atiku-Abubakar.jpg" width="450" /><br /> There are strong indications that a fresh power tussle is brewing in the All Progressives Congress over the chairmanship of its Board of Trustees.<br /> Saturday PUNCH reliably learnt on Friday that the tussle was between former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and a former Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>Investigations showed that the tussle was part of moves by the power blocs in the APC to influence decisions in the party by taking control of its various organs.<br /> Saturday PUNCH had last week reported that two power blocs led by Atiku and a National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had engaged in a fierce battle to control the party.<br /> It was learnt that the two camps believed that the BOT chairmanship would go a long way in assisting them to control the party.<br /> The chairman of the BOT, according to Article 13.2 of the APC constitution, shall be elected by the board members.<br /> Both camps, investigations showed, had started reaching out to members of the board, who would elect the chairman.<br /> It was learnt that Akande was being backed by Tinubu, who is not happy with Atiku’s role in the National Assembly leadership elections.<br /> The struggle for the chairmanship of the APC’s BOT, investigations revealed, became intense following the National Assembly leadership elections on June 9.<br /> Atiku was reported to have supported Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, during the elections.<br /> Tinubu and the party’s National Working Committee were said to have backed Senator Ahmad Lawan and Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila for the senate presidency and the speakership.<br /> Both candidates lost to Saraki and Dogara during the elections.<br /> Investigations revealed that the emergence of Saraki as the senate president would enable the Atiku camp to take control of the party’s National Executive Committee.<br /> The Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are members of the NEC.<br /> Tinubu is believed to be in control of the party’s NWC as many of its members are said to be close to him.<br /> The contest for the control of the BOT is still open to the two camps.<br /> The media aide to Tinubu, Mr. Sunday Dare, could not be reached on the telephone as it indicated that it was switched off while a text message sent to his telephone was not replied to as of press time.<br /> But a close associate of Akande, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, told one of our correspondents that he was not aware that the former governor of Osun State was being nominated to be the chairman of the BOT of the ruling party.<br /> Baderinwa, who was the former chief press secretary of Akande when he was the governor, spoke on the telephone with our correspondent in Osogbo on Friday.<br /> He, however, said his former principal had everything needed to function very effectively in the office if he was elected the BOT chairman.<br /> He said, “Chief Bisi Akande is eminently qualified to be BOT chairman of the APC. He was a chairman of the Alliance for Democracy; he was the chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria and was the Interim Chairman of the APC.<br /> “Before this, you will remember that he was a deputy governor and later he became the governor of Osun State.<br /> “If you are talking about Nigeria, he knows Nigeria very well and his integrity is unquestionable and he is an experienced politician.”<br /> When contacted, the Managing Director of the Atiku Media Office, Mr. Paul Ibe, said he was not aware that the party had announced a vacancy for the position in question.<br /> He, however, said the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, had all the qualities to occupy the position should the opportunity present itself.<br /> He said, “Like I have said elsewhere before, we are not aware that the APC has thrown open the race for the chairmanship of the party’s BoT.<br /> “But if in the wisdom of the party, it elects to appoint Abubakar as the Chairman of its BoT, the Turaki Adamawa will be amenable and well disposed to it because he is eminently qualified to offer his services to the party at that level.”</div>

Code Of Conduct –- Why We Can’t Release Details Of Buhari, Osinbajo’s Assets

<div>\<div class="post-content"><img alt="buhari-osinbajo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3946" height="580" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buhari_oshibajo.jpg" width="940" /><br /> The Code of Conduct Bureau will not make public the details of assets declared by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo due to limitations in federal laws covering such release, the office has said.<br /> There has been controversy over the release of the details of the president and vice president’s assets since their inauguration May 29.<br />Mr. Buhari pledged to publicly declare his assets despite the lack of a law requiring him to do so. The Nigerian Constitution stipulates that senior office holders declare their assets, without requiring them to do so publicly.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>Despite his promise, the president has yet to publicly declare his assets three weeks after taking office. His office said those details will be made available after the Code of Conduct Bureau authenticates claims in the declaration forms.<br /> A civil society group, Stop Impunity Nigeria, an affiliate of the Centre for Social Justice, had on June 1, 2015 applied to the CCB to request copies of the completed assets declaration forms by the President and his deputy.<br /> The application, signed by the Lead Director of the Centre, Eze Onyekpere, was pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011.<br /> But, in its response CCB/HQ/670/G/1/104 dated June 10, 2015 and signed Ijeanuli Ofor on behalf of the Chairman, the CCB declined the request, citing the absence of prescribed law by the National Assembly authorizing the release of such information to the public.<br />The Bureau conceded the right by Nigerians under section 1(1) 3 and 4 of the FOIA 2011, to “access or request information, whether written or not in written form, in the custody of any public agency”.<br /> Regardless, the Bureau said sections 12(1) (a) (v), 14(1) (b) and 15(1)9a) of the same Act empowered it decline any request, which it considered an “invasion of personal privacy”.<br /> “Assets declarations by public officers contain such personal information, which falls within the exemptions to the disclosure of information in the FOIA,” the Bureau said.<br /> The office explained that paragraph 3(c of the Third Schedule, Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowered it to “make assets declarations of public officers available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria only on terms and conditions prescribed by the National Assembly”.<br /> “However, the terms and conditions under which that can be done have not yet been prescribed by the National Assembly,” the Bureau said, adding that the group’s request was rejected in view of the absence of the prescribed “terms and conditions”.</div></div>

OPENED: This Is Why President Buhari Has Refused To Meet Senate President, Bukola Saraki

<div> <br /> <img alt="buhari-M" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3054" height="640" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Buhari2.jpg" width="980" /><br /> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to meet one-on-one with Senator Bukola Saraki two weeks after the latter connived with top officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win the post of Senate President in a move that both stunned and angered the hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC).<br /> <em><strong>SaharaReporters</strong></em> learned that Senator Saraki had made several overtures to get a private meeting with Mr. Buhari, to no avail. One source revealed that Mr. Saraki’s latest attempt was to follow the president to his hometown of Daura in Katsina State to take in the commencement of the Islamic Ramadan period. The president reportedly rebuffed the move.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>Following President Buhari’s rebuff, Mr. Saraki reportedly arranged a quiet visit to Vice President Yemi Osibanjo to apologize for an insulting remark he had made in the heat of his high-stakes maneuver to win the leadership of the Senate by striking an alliance with the PDP. Top APC officials claimed that Mr. Saraki had turned down an invitation by VP Osibanjo to discuss his contentious pursuit of the Senate Presidency by stating contemptuously that “a mere commissioner” could not summon him to a meeting. Mr. Osibanjo, a former commissioner in Lagos State, had sought to meet with Senator Saraki in order to resolve a crisis that arose from the latter’s scheme to outmaneuver his party, the APC.<br /> Following Mr. Saraki’s emergence as Senate President in an election described by officials of the APC as irregular, Mr. Buhari had publicly accepted his triumph. Even so, the president has refused to do anything that would amount to a public validation of Mr. Saraki’s victory.<br /> Two associates of Mr. Buhari told SaharaReporters that the president shared the APC’s dismay with Mr. Saraki’s alliance with the PDP to snatch up the top Senate post. “The fact of the matter is that the president [Mr. Buhari] will not abandon the party’s position altogether,” one of our sources said. Another added, “Mr. President [Buhari] has never been comfortable anyway with Dr. Saraki since [Mr. Saraki] is well known as a corrupt person who will try to hinder the administration’s fight against corruption.”<br /> One source in the Senate told SaharaReporters that Senator Saraki, troubled by President Buhari’s refusal to meet with him, reached out to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to broker a truce with the president. The source said Mr. Saraki had used a personal friend, Andy Uba, a senator from Anambra State, to seek Mr. Obasanjo’s intervention to mend the cold rift with President Buhari. Mr. Uba, who served as a senior aide on domestic matters to Mr. Obasanjo, was one of the closest and most powerful associates of the former president.<br /> A source at the Presidency told SaharaReporters that President Buhari was not impressed by Mr. Saraki’s reasons for colluding with the PDP to gain power as Senate President. “The way Senator Saraki colluded with the PDP to gain power through the backdoor, what prevents him from colluding against Buhari in the future? What prevents him from even working with certain political interests to get Mr. President impeached?” the source state </div>

President Buhari Titled in His Home Town- Guess Whats The Title

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="640" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt2ljvtfu6gvf.f44df59e.jpg" title="buhari-daura-title" width="960" /><br /> <div><strong>The Emir of Daura Alhaji Umar Faruk appointed President Muhammadu Buhari as Bayajidda the Second of the Daura Emirate.</strong><br /> Emir Faruk conferred the title on the leader of the nation on Friday, June 19, 2015. The president, who is currently on a private visit to his native Daura, met the emir at his palace.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center></center></div>Emir Faruk praised the achievements and the work of President Buhari, and expressed optimism that his leadership would bring Nigeria to a better future.<br /> The emir described the president as <em>“a worthy son of Daura who has continued to be its source of pride.”</em><br /> He urged Nigerians to support the current leadership to ensure it succeeds in delivering the needed change, and reaffirmed the support and cooperation of the Daura Emirate council to the new administration.<br /> Faruk later presented a gold-plated sword and a horse to the president to symbolise his appointment as Bayajidda II.<br /> Bayajidda is the legendary Hausa ruler who reportedly killed the famous snake inside Daura’s Kusugu well. He later established the seven Hausa states.<br /> In his turn the president said he joined politics to contribute towards moving Nigeria forward. He also urged Nigerians to hold on to democracy.The president noted that developed nations attained the status they had currently achieved because they placed a premium on democracy, and thanked Nigerians for giving him the mandate to lead the nation.<br /> Buhari has also expressed his gratitude to the Emir of Daura and the entire emirate for the warm reception.<br /> A visit by Goodluck Jonathan and his campaign train to the Emir of Daura in March 2015 ended with a controversial protest by local people. The residents took brooms and water to clean the streets of their city after the then president had left the area.<br /> <img alt="Emir of Daura Appoints Buhari 'Bayajidda Daura II'" class="size-full wp-image-466651" height="767" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7s6buig33u6.58401fdf.jpg" width="754" /><br /> </div></div>

Read! Femi Fani Kayode Ex-Wife Reveals Touching Secret About Him

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="468" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt1tt4ivtkpjeo.aa9b5a78.jpg" width="360" /><br /> <div><strong>Beautiful Mrs Yemisi Wada and the ex-aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, stayed married for about three years before the love turned sour.</strong><br /> The now happily married 50-year-old beauty in a new interview with The Punch has talked about her brief marriage to the 54-year-old politician and her new marriage.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>Read excerpts below:<br /> <strong><em>Has anybody told you that you don’t look 50?</em></strong><br /> <img alt="Fani-Kayode's Ex-Wife Talks About Their Brief Marriage" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-466664" height="468" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt1tt4ivtkpjeo.aa9b5a78.jpg" width="360" /><br /> I thank God that all my life, I have been told I look younger than my age. Of course, I hated it then but now, I find it hilarious sometimes. I have been asked for my identification in the US and UK before I could purchase alcohol as recently as two years ago. Meanwhile, I was sure I was old enough to give birth to the boy asking me. Then again, my daughters’ friends ask if I’m their sister. I don’t like it. I tell people in firm tones I certainly am not. But it’s good genes. Both my parents look very young and my siblings too.<br /> <strong><em>How do you maintain your figure?</em></strong><br /> I watch what I eat. I have never liked pastries or sweet things that are fattening anyway, so I guess I am lucky. Even though I love cooking, I am not a foodie. I also exercise a lot. I love walking. I am always busy and on the go. I would take the stairs instead of using the elevator in most cases. I would walk up and down an escalator instead of just standing. All these are conscious efforts to keep fit. It is interesting that growing up, I did all it took to put on weight and now with middle age, I am busy doing the opposite. I was a confirmed tomboy growing up and was very nonchalant about my looks. But once I turned 40, the story changed. Now, I make sure I make the extra effort before stepping out. When I look good, I feel good. I also think when you look good and feel good, you are a nicer and more pleasant human being.<br /> <strong><em>What has life taught you at 50?</em></strong><br /> At 50, life has taught me a lot. I have lived through so many experiences that at times I wonder what guided my thinking when I was younger. I have learnt that truly, patience is a great virtue. I have learnt that I need to do what makes me happy and not wait to derive happiness from others because it’s a tough task especially in an atmosphere where survival is tough. I have learnt to feel pity for people who go out of their way to hurt you because the truth is, it is because they wish they had peace. I have learnt that in truth, money can never buy you happiness or fulfillment but a relationship with God has amazing dividends. Many people get it wrong making assumptions of other people’s lives and they are bitter and unhappy because they feel they are worse off. They make assumptions or listen to what they are told and set ridiculous standards for their partners.<br /> <strong><em>How do you feel having a daughter who is getting married?</em></strong><br /> I am ecstatic. My daughter is getting married in July by the Grace of God. I got married at 24 and I am reaping the benefits as I have had the opportunity to grow up with my girls. I feel it has made us closer. I am happy because people are different and in her case, she is mature enough to take up that role. She has also found a good man by the grace of God from good stock and surely that must be every mother’s prayer.<br /> <strong><em>Why did you choose to study law?</em></strong><br /> My father was a lawyer but that was not my motivation. It was the courtroom drama I used to watch on television and the whole wig and gown that attracted me. My father worked for the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. He was State Prosecutor at some stage and in those days, if I was home and he was trying any interesting case like the ‘Iyabo Olounkoya’ drug case, my mum and I would go and watch.<br /> <strong><em>Your parents must have been very comfortable for them to send you to study in the UK.</em></strong><br /> To be honest back then, our economy was okay. The year I went abroad to school was when the Naira became N3-1 pound. Life was easier. My father came from quite a wealthy family and he inherited property but didn’t really like the idea of receiving income from them. He used to go out of his way to tell us he would not leave any property in his will and that we should work for our own money. He had property in Ikorodu and Ogba, which some companies were renting. My mother left work when I was still young and till today she’s a very successful business woman. So between them, we got by.<br /> <strong><em>Did you ever consider practising in the UK?</em></strong><br /> Yes I did and even went to the College of Law in England before coming home to the Nigerian Law School but once my mates came back to Nigeria, it was a very lonely place, I, too, came back home.<br /> <strong><em>Would you still remember those days you used to work in your ex father-in-law’s law firm?</em></strong><br /> I actually never worked in Chief Fani-Kayode’s Law firm. When I got married straight after Law School, my father wanted me to work. After my youth service when it seemed my then husband didn’t want me to work, my father threatened to pull me out of the marriage. Chief had some election petition cases in Kano, so he drafted me into his team to work on them and later the appeals in Kaduna. That was how I met Mr. Raji Ahmed who was in the team as well and we later set up a law office together, along with Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo. Working on those cases were the best times I had at the time. That was also the first salary I earned as a lawyer.<br /> <strong><em>Why did you even quit practising?</em></strong><br /> Law is a long-term earner. At the time, being a single mother with three children and wanting to give them the best like I had as a child, I could not afford to stay in practice. Besides, I needed to be the boss of my own time to be available for my children when I was needed.<br /> <strong><em>Don’t you miss the gown and wig or anything related to law at all?</em></strong><br /> To be honest, after a stint practising in Nigeria, I was not interested in continuing. The system was slow, tedious and I didn’t have enough passion to be patient with it.<br /> <strong><em>What inspired you to establish Haven for Nigerian Children?</em></strong><br /> Seeing that there were children living on the streets and I was going up and down cuddling mine made me sit up and think. I decided to do something about it and pray my own children if they were ever in need, would meet a helper. I have often wondered if this is a selfish notion. If it is, well I am not a saint and that’s my Achilles heel. At least, it has created a passion and I intend to keep running Haven as long as God grants me life.<br /> <strong><em>Why are you so passionate about the street kids?</em></strong><br /> I’m passionate about rendering assistance in any way. I counsel very well. Nothing gives me more joy than knowing whoever meets me or comes into my life in any way gains something from my experiences. That’s where I derive my joy.<br /> <strong><em>You produced a movie some time ago, is it a one off thing? When will you produce another?</em></strong><br /> In trying to get the message across about these children living on the streets really needing our help, we produced a docu/drama called ‘Oluranlowo Mi’ which means ‘My Helper.’ Basically it chronicles the lives of four street boys. It starts from their lives at home, why they took to the streets and how they end up depending on the type of intervention they got whilst on the streets. The boys acted in the film themselves, though they didn’t act their own stories. After shooting the movie, the production bug bit my ever restless self and now we have just produced a crime series based in Lagos State called <em>Lasgidi Cops, Serious Crimes Unit.</em><br /> <strong><em>How is life being Mrs. Dahiru Wada?</em></strong><br /> It’s very interesting. My father in-law loves me very much and my husband has many brothers who are like him, very loving. So you’re living in an atmosphere of love. It’s a very nice feeling. The best description of my husband is that he is a gentleman’s gentleman. He is also very cultured and well travelled. He loves good food and travelling. He is very well read and extensively knowledgeable in all things. He is very generous and for us kind almost to a fault.<br /> <strong><em>You reportedly said your husband doesn’t like partying and dancing but these are things you love doing. So how do you manage this?</em></strong><br /> If I want to party and dance, he is not in my way. We understand each other perfectly. Many times, you will see us at parties and before long, you will not see him because he would have left quietly. Having said that, my husband observes more at that same party and when we analyse the proceedings after, I would be amazed. Seriously we complement each other nicely.<br /> <strong><em>Can you tell us about growing up?</em></strong><br /> Growing up for me was awesome. We lived in GRA Ikeja, we walked and cycled about in clean and safe environment by ourselves. Most of our activities were centred on the home and the street. We climbed trees, raised dogs, rode bicycles. It was bliss.<br /> <strong><em>What fond memories do you have when you were still growing up?</em></strong><br /> I have several. The best was how my paternal grandmother ‘Iya Alaje’ would come and stay with us when our parents travelled. She was very wealthy but not literate and she loved a good life. She would ask us what we would normally eat and my brother, Bayo and I would lie that we didn’t eat pepper. That would mean no <em>eba</em> and <em>amala</em>. She would take us to Kingsway Stores and buy us ham and all the nice things for sandwiches. The funny thing though was only Bayo had a palate for those things. I preferred my eba, so why I went along with it still baffles me. I guess it was the thrill of getting away with such nonsense.<br /> <strong><em>As a young girl, if anybody had told you your marriage would break up, would you have believed it?</em></strong><br /> No, I would not have. That is why even after three children, I knew I would remarry. I don’t know if it is that love of being a wife or to run a home. Whichever, I love being married.<br /> <strong><em>Can you still remember those days you were with your ex-husband, Femi Fani-Kayode?</em></strong><br /> I have no fond memories of then except having my daughters, as I am sure he would say same if asked. What people do not seem to realise is that we were together for only a very short while. The marriage itself lasted less than three years. The fact that I have three daughters makes it seem longer but I left just when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.<br /> <strong><em>Did you decide to marry him because his family was influential?</em></strong><br /> I don’t know what that means because I grew up in a home where I had all I wanted. There was nothing I got there that I didn’t have before. Actually I had more at home.<br /> <strong><em>What was the attraction back then?</em></strong><br /> It was a long time ago but I think at the time, all the men I knew were clubbing like I was but he was already serious in politics. He was a national youth leader of his party and the proposal was very direct as he said, ‘I am in politics and I need a homemaker.’<br /> <strong><em>Since the marriage produced beautiful kids, would you ever say you regret it?</em></strong><br /> No way. In fact, I always say if I came back in another life, I would do it again to have these same beautiful and dramatically intelligent daughters. I would just have a better exit plan.<br /> <strong><em>How did you meet Mr. Wada?</em></strong><br /> Dahiru and I met at a party in London. It’s funny how we met. I thought he was someone else and planned to tease him but his incredible wit got the better of me and in the end, the joke was on me. He actually insinuated that I was a airhead!<br /> <strong><em>What do you love about him?</em></strong><br /> He’s gentle, he is patient and he is kind. He has a wicked sense of humour and he can gist. He has an infectious laugh and like me, he loves to entertain. Like me also, he is a very good cook. He is the king of roasts and curries. He is an amazing father. He loves his kids to bits. I am always complimented about how well behaved my boys are but it is because they live with a gentleman father and they live by example.<br /> A few days ago, the the former aviation minister stepped out to a court hearing with his beautiful girlfriend.<br /> </div></div>

Indecent Act: I Never Thought My 3 Good Friends Could Gang Rape Me – 19-Yr-Old Girl

<div><img alt="rape-crime" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3399" height="362" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rape-Crime.jpg" width="644" /><br /> <div><strong>Wednesday, June 17, 2015 will forever be unforgettable to 19-year-old Adenike who was raped by three of her neigbourhood friends in the Iju area of Lagos.</strong><br /> <img alt="I Didn't Know My 3 Friends Could Gang Rape Me -Victim" class="alignnone wp-image-466647" height="355" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt94ju42e637c.ee64d0c7.jpg" width="560" /><br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>The angered and pained hairstylist related how her three friends – Habeeb Adisa (25), Kehinde Aderinoye (25) and Ilyas Ogundimu (27) forcefully had carnal knowledge of her with a well hatched plan. The victim made it known that she could have allowed the shocking incident to go just like that but she did not want any other girl to fall prey into the hands of these young men who disguised as her friends for two years just to rape her.<br /> <img alt="I Didn't Know My 3 Friends Could Gang Rape Me -Victim" class="size-full wp-image-466648" height="508" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt2676pum5bo0g.dd34d7f6.jpg" width="446" /><br /> Talking to The Punch about the shocking incident, Adenike said:<br /> <em> “I became friends with them as neighbours two years ago when my mother first rented an apartment in the area. “Kehinde began to make advances to me. But I told him we were friends and did not want to be in a relationship with him. I have always rejected his advances.</em><br /> <em>“Later he would tell Habeeb and Ilyas to approach me to appeal on his behalf to accept his proposal, but I made them to understand that I could not go out with him. But we still talked and sat together in the neighbourhood as friends.“In the morning of that day, around 9.30am, I went over Kehinde’s house like I usually did sometimes when I had nothing to do at home. I trusted them completely and usually went there to while away the time.</em><br /> <em>“Habeeb and Ilyas were there also. We were just talking when Habeeb suddenly came to me and picked me up. He threw me on the bed and I told him that I didn’t like that kind of play. I said, ‘If this is part of your playful habit I am not up for it.’</em><em>“But as he threw me on the bed, before I could stand up, he lay on me and pinned me down firmly. Kehinde quickly came over and started to remove my underwear. That was when I knew what they wanted to do. I struggled with them but they pinned me down and took turns to rape me.</em><br /> <em>“When I was screaming, one of them quickly went to the CD player, which was on at the time and turned on the music to maximum volume so that it would drown out my voice.”</em><br /> <em>“They told me to just forget what happened and keep it between the four of us. But I realised that if I was afraid of stigma and kept it to myself, they would walk free and even boast to their friends about what they did to me. They would surely do it to someone else.” </em><br /> Although Adenike could not take the shame that came with the sad incident, she put herself together and approached someone she trusted in the neighborhood to confide in the person. She was immediately advised to go to the Iju Police Division to report the incident.<br /> When she reported the case at the police station, many landlords in the area rose in defence of the three young men who raped her, as the three young men are sons of landlords. The landlords were said to have threatened Adenike’s mother, saying she will lose the case.<br /> However when the landlords saw how serious the matter was being taken, they decided to simmer down and plead on behalf of the young men. The Lagos police spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, however said that the suspects have been charged to court.<br /> A few months ago, a Lagos-based hairdresser, Rose Godwin, claimed a pastor impregnated her spiritually<br /> </div></div>

TINIBU On It: This Is What You Must Do Before I Will Forgive You – Tinubu Tells Saraki, Dogara

<div><img alt="tinubu" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3619" height="331" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/tinubu-1024x555.jpg" width="610" /><br /> <div><strong>Although the ongoing crisis in the All Progressives Congress does not seem to be ending soon, the party’s national leader has hinted what the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, can do to pacify him.</strong></div><div><div><img alt="You Must Apologize To Me In National Dailies - Tinubu" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-466689" height="460" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7los6s5ga8e.c956456d.jpg" width="800" /><br /> Vanguard reports that the national leader is still not happy with Saraki and Dogara as he feels he was seen as unimportant when the pair went against his orders to place Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabimila as the APC candidates for the elections in the House.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>There have been moves by some chieftains in the party make peace over the matter but an insider revealed that Tinubu wants both Saraki and Dogara to tender and publish a full page apology publicly in national dailies.<br /> The source further said that an extended meeting of the national leaders of the party with APC governors involved had been fixed for next week. The meeting, it was learnt, would be held either Monday or Tuesday.<br /> <em>“You don’t joke with the man (Tinubu). He said they must make a public apology to him using the newspapers. A meeting that will involve all APC governors has been scheduled to hold either on Monday or Tuesday. Wait and see what will happen. They have to do it”,</em> the source said.<br /> Meanwhile, the Senate and the APC might face another round of crisis over principal positions in the upper chamber.<br /> </div></div></div>

(Photos) Read What Happened To Buhari When He Visited His Home Town

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="400" src="http://static.pulse.ng/img/incoming/origs3888408/253863398-w980-h653-q70/Buhari-Daura-Emir.jpg" title="Buhari-Daura-Emir" width="600" /><br /> <div class="vspace "><div align="justify">President <strong>Muhammadu Buhari</strong> has paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji <strong>Faruk Umar Faruk</strong>.</div><div align="justify">Buhari visited the Emir on Friday, June 19, 2015, after attending Juma’at service.</div><div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div><div align="justify">The President arrived in Daura on Thursday, June 18, to commemorate the commencement of the Ramadan fast.</div></div><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="400" src="http://static.pulse.ng/img/incoming/origs3888407/4368633147-w980-h653-q70/Buhari-Daura-Emir-2.jpg" width="600" /><br /> <img alt="" class="alignnone" height="400" src="http://static.pulse.ng/img/incoming/origs3888409/4568638694-w980-h653-q70/Buhari-Daura-Emir-4.jpg" width="600" /><br /> <img alt="" class="alignnone" height="400" src="http://static.pulse.ng/img/incoming/origs3888410/4258635945-w980-h653-q70/Buhari-Daura-Emir-3.jpg" width="600" /></div>

Surprising: Read What Her Blood Brother did to In Bed Room

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="story" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3608" height="343" src="http://www.234forum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/story-conference12-1024x5761-1024x5763-1024x576.jpg" width="610" /><br /> I went to Festus’ place instead of school, I had se*x with him as usual, like I said earlier, I don’t have choice. I need to shut him up, my stepfather and stepbrother won’t dare to tell my mum cos they both have fault, so the only person I’m worried about his Festus revealing the secret, cos if Festus reveal the secret, Daniel will also want to reveal the affair between me and his father, so I just have to be wise. I wouldn’t want to give my mum heart attack.<br /> I was spending most time in my friend’s place, I come home late after that terrible incident. Did you know that my stepfather kept on sending silly messages to me, telling me he misses me, telling we should it for that last time, telling me we shouldn’t bother about Daniel since he’s also got dirty secret. The foolish wouldn’t let me rest, Daniel too was also sending me text messages that we should continue from where we stopped or else he’s gonna tell my mother and he doesn’t care what will happen. Can you imagine, Demola, Daniel and Festus all hanging on my neck. This is so serious than I expected, I caused this myself.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div>Few days later, my stepfather travelled out of the country. I was once again home alone with Daniel this time, come and see the way Daniel was frustrating me in that house, so frustrating. Daniel was practically naked forcing and struggling with me in my room.<br /> Daniel: Omolola, what is wrong with you? Didn’t you miss me? I will use condoms this time I swear.<br /> Me: Leave me alone, I’m not doing, condom or no condoms.<br /> Daniel: I’ve been begging you all these while to have se*x with me, you ended up screwing my father and me I’ve been begging you. Is he better than me?<br /> Me: Don’t even go there<br /> Daniel: So he’s better than me abi?<br /> Struggling with me, forcing himself on me..<br /> Me: Daniel, leave me alone<br /> Daniel: Okay do you want me to tell your mum about you and my dad?<br /> Me: Go ahead, suit yourself, you also have yours too<br /> Daniel: Sure, but you know she won’t take mine personally like my father’s own. Her daughter sleeping with her husband? Think twice girl, mine is just little.<br /> I was moved with those words, that’s actually true you know. Which is worse? Me and my stepbrother or me and my stepfather? I think the later one is more dangerous.<br /> Daniel: Do you want me to tell her?… Omolola please now, even if it is for once, abeg. Do you want me to go on my knees?<br /> I was confused seriously, so gullible…<br /> He moved closer, and began to kiss me, that was it…<br /> Me: Daniel why are you doing this to me?<br /> We began to kiss hard, pulling off my night gown, he grabbed my b00bs and began to suck my <del>nipples</del>, dipped his finger in my <del>pussy</del> and began to finger me really hard, kissing me, squeezing my b00bs, he did it again, he began to eat my<del> pussy</del>, sucking it so mildly, damn! Moaning, moaning, moaning<br /> Me: Where is your condom?<br /> Daniel: We don’t need condom, I promise I won’t cum, I will withdraw.<br /> I pushed him away…</div>

Naija in Delima: Buhari Didn’t Order Sale Of Any Presidential Jet – Garba Shehu

<div> <br /><h1 class="post-heading"></h1><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="396" src="https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt603t2hbnv7q.973eaf7e.jpg" title="buhari jet" width="594" /><br /> Contrary to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the immediate disposal of nine of the 11 VIP transport aircraft in the presidential fleet, the presidency on Friday denied knowledge of any such directive.<br /> THISDAY newspaper had quoted unnamed sources as saying the president had directed the selling of serviceable and unserviceable aircrafts to cut maintenance costs in line with the government’s policy to drastically reduce its annual expenditure.<br /> <div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center></center></div>Eight of the planes in the fleet, including Boeing 737, two Gulfstream 550 jets, Gulfstream V jet, two Falcon 7X planes, the Hawker Siddeley aircraft and Augusta Westland chopper, the report said, are reserved strictly for the president’s movement.<br /> Other aircrafts, including two Falcon 900 planes, the Dornier, the Cessna Citation, the Beechracft King Air, and two AugustaWestland choppers, are reserved for the airlifting of the Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as visiting African heads of states.<br /> <b>But speaking to PREMIUM TIMES Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, denied knowledge of such directive.</b><br /><b>“The story of the order for the sale of aircrafts in the Presidential Fleet, about which so much interest is being expressed, is not known to us,” Mr. Shehu said.<br /> </b><b>Mr. Shehu said if anything like that was being contemplated, the Presidency would issue a statement through its official channels to announce it.</b></div>

Arase In Action: 11 Kid Robbers Arrested In Ibadan

<div> <br /><br /><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="640" src="http://static.pulse.ng/img/incoming/crop3887758/229510672-chorizontal-w980-h640/IGP-Solomon-Arase.jpg" title="Solomon-Arase" width="980" /><br /> <div class="vspace "><div align="justify">The Oyo State Police Command says it arrested 11 young boys between the ages of 12 and 14, for allegedly robbing a house in the Challenge area of Ibadan the state capital. In the raid which took place on June 15, the kids made away with cash and valuables, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Katsina.</div><div align="justify">Katsina said the command, on hearing that robbers had attacked the Challenged area, he sent out a team of Anti-Robbery Squad operatives but was surprised when the robbers turned out to be mere children, promising to hand over the kids to the state government for rehabilitation.</div><div style="float: none; margin: 10px 0 10px 0; text-align: center;"><center><br /></center></div><div align="justify"><em>“Based on information, the Anti-Robbery Squad of the command was sent out immediately and they were surprised to see kids of 12 and 14 years of age.</em></div><div align="justify"><em>Most of these children are from broken homes and I wish parents can learn from the plight of these kids and take proper care of their children.</em></div><div align="justify"><em>One thing that keeps disturbing me is the voluntary narration and sincerity of the kids. They have no shelter of any sort and to them, their future starts and ends on the bridge.</em></div><div align="justify"><em>Their only means of livelihood is to savage innocent members of the public, be involved in pick pocketing, robbery and related criminal activities.”</em></div></div></div>

Gen. Buhari- Old age won’t affect my job

<div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Chris Ochayi<br style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />A</strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BUJA</strong>—ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari declared, yesterday, that his age will not affect his job as president of Nigeria.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">He said that at 72 he has in quantum, the wisdom, the patience, the temperance and forbearance that age brings and has brought all these virtues to the presidency to make a difference in our national life.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The president said this ,yesterday, in Abuja, in response to reports quoting him as saying while addressing the Nigerian community in Johannesburg, South Africa, that his age will limit his performance.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the president’s comments in South Africa were totally taken out of context to mean that he was too old for the demands of the office.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The Presidency spoke as Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State urged Nigerians not to politicize the issue, saying that the time for political campaigns was well past. He rather asked Nigerians to pray for the President for him to have the grace to execute the demands of his office.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The governor’s assertion came as a fringe group in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which called itself the PDP Media Watchdogs demanded the President’s resignation upon comments made in South Africa on Monday night.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The PDP Media Watchdogs was immediately disowned by the mainstream PDP which claimed ignorance of the group, saying that the language of the group was strange to the party’s posture, which is to only engage in healthy opposition to the administration. The PDP nevertheless, said that the PDP Media Watchdogs may have been instigated by the kind of bitter language used by the All Progressives Congress, APC, against former President Goodluck Jonathan while he was in power.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The ruling APC equally chided the PDP Media Watchdogs, describing their call as the product of deliberate mischief and a result of their members’ poor understanding of the English language.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, clarifying remarks given by the President to the Nigerian community in Johannesburg in a statement titled- “Like Good Wine, President Buhari Gets Better With Age”, said:</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“On Monday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke with the Nigerian community at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“Speaking<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">extempore</em>, because according to him, he wanted to “speak from the heart,” the President urged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, a country he went to the war front to keep together.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“Still extolling the virtues of our country, Nigeria, the President, who had served as a military governor of the then North-Eastern State at 33 years old, declared: ”I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“The above comments have been reported by some newspapers to mean that the President was saying he was too old to cope with the demands of his office. Far from it.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“As the saying goes, “old wines are tasty” and the President Buhari we have today is a man, like old wine, that has got tastier. At 72, yes, he can’t be called a youth, but he has in quantum the wisdom, the patience, temperance and forbearance that age brings. And all these virtues he has brought to the Presidency, to make a difference in our national life.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“The President assured the Nigerian community in South Africa that his administration will make a positive impact on the country.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“Insecurity, as symbolized by insurgency, will be brought to an end, corruption will be fought to a standstill, employment will be created for the teeming army of unemployed, the economy will be revived, and the quality of life of Nigerians will take an upward swing again. These will not come by a sudden flight, but they will happen in the life of this administration.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“At 72, the Buhari persona has not changed. He remains the simple, honest, incorruptible patriot he has always been. And because Nigerians earnestly desired change, that was why they voted for him overwhelmingly at the general elections in March, this year. All the virtues and values of the Buhari persona will be deployed into governance in the weeks and months ahead.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“The Nigerian community in South Africa was enthralled as President Buhari spoke with them on Monday. In fact, leaving the venue was an effort, as they swarmed around the President, who shook hands with as many of them as he could.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“They took his message well. That is the essence of good wine. It gets better with age. And it is a message for all Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pray for Buhari<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">— Fayose</em></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Governor Fayose, who had during the campaigns raised issues about the President’s age, was very conciliatory yesterday, urging that the comments should not be politicised even as he called for prayers for the President to discharge his duties.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“No, no, we cannot comment on that, but all that we owe the President is to pray for him to be able to do the demands of his office,” the governor’s spokesman, Mr. Lere Olayinka said yesterday.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“Election is gone, and all that was done in the past is past and the time for election campaign is gone,” he restated yesterday.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PDP fringe group flays Buhari</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Earlier, yesterday, a fringe group in the opposition PDP had upon the published assertion demanded the resignation of President Buhari from office for the reason of dwindling productivity in old age.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The group in a statement issued by one Tunde Lawal said:</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“It’s barely three weeks into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his age is already telling on him, so, what will happen to Nigeria in the remaining 1,440 days of this government? It’s better to find a black goat in the day time rather than looking for it in the night and this is why we are asking President Buhari to resign now because Nigerians will not entertain further excuses of why the APC cannot deliver on its campaign promises.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not part of us</strong><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">— PDP</em></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The group was immediately disowned by the mainstream PDP which through a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said:</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“This group is absolutely unknown to the PDP and has no connection whatsoever with our party at any level, neither is the content of their statement a reflection of the position or stance of the party.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“For the avoidance of doubt, our great party has not authorized this group to use its name, acronym or logo to issue statements or make public pronouncements on any matter and we caution those behind them to henceforth desist from such immediately.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“The PDP, therefore, distances itself from the embarrassing statement by this group wherein it called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign and went ahead to use offensive and denigrating language on the person and office of the President of our great country.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“This is completely unacceptable and against the posture of the PDP to engage only in robust and credible opposition while constructively offering alternatives to the programmes and policies of the APC-led government, preparatory to our return to power in the next four years.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“We note with dismay that the attitude of this group is a direct consequence of the approach adopted by the APC in denigrating and insulting our immediate-past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. “Though we know that former President Jonathan suffered such fate in the hands of the APC, we shall not repay them in the same coin as such is not part of our tradition and values as a party.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">APC reacts</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Responding to the PDP Media Watchdog, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in a statement accused the group of mischief and of poor knowledge of the English language.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“What President Buhari was saying, which was lost on those who issued that jejune statement, is that only his love and passion for the country could have made him, at his age, to come out of retirement to seek the office of President, over 30 years after he presided over the affairs of the country.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“For 16 years, Nigerians gave the PDP the benefit of the doubt to move the country forward, but instead, the party put Nigeria in reverse gear at a high speed, spinning it towards a doomsday that was only averted when Nigerians showed the PDP the red card. This is what necessitated President Buhari to continuously seek the country’s highest political office, so he can help put the country on a forward march again. Nothing else matters, not for him the excitement of an office he previously held and the quest for personal accomplishment.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“If the country had been well managed, President Buhari will not at 72 be crisscrossing the whole world seeking solution to Nigeria’s problems”, it said.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The party said only anarchists and non-democrats will ask a president who has not spent one month in office to resign, adding: “It rankles when those making these calls are from the ranks of the party that failed to avail itself creditably in 16 years.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Labour Party blasts president</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdukadir Abdulsalam also flayed the remarks by the president, saying it was an admission of failure.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, Abdulsalam said: “This is an expression of failure on his part because when he was campaigning, he gave us the impression that he was hale, healthy, and not fragile, has the capacity, ability and agility to carry out the function of state as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="img"> <img alt="2323-Muhammadu-Buhari.jpg-2323-Muhammadu-Buhari.jpg" id="page_content_Content9_oModuleContent_2_img_Banner" src="http://cdn.akamai.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/2323-Muhammadu-Buhari.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>President Muhammadu Buhari</strong></div><br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 15px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>

BREAKING: APC, federal lawmakers in fresh face-off

<div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, & Henry Umoru<br style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />ABUJA—A sequel to the still unsettled crisis in the All Progressives Congress, APC, arising from last week’s National Assembly leadership contest, another crisis may be in the offing as lawmakers take up battle with national officers of the party over the appointment of principal officers of the legislature.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Ahead of next week’s resumption of the Senate and the House, informed sources disclosed pressures from the party to be given the privilege to appoint principal officers of the two chambers and some key committee positions.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The development, it was learnt, had again reignited supporters of Senator Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara who last week outfoxed the party’s leaders to emerge Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Senators peeved by the pressure were, yesterday evening, enclosed in a meeting in one of Abuja’s five-star hotels on how to resist the pressure.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">House members equally agitated by the pressure were also threatening to flout the party’s directive.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">High-level sources in the Senate and the House disclosed, yesterday, that informal contacts have been made with the new leaderships as part of the process of restoring amity between the party and the leadership following the ‘rebellion’ that enthroned Saraki and Dogara last week.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The sources, who were seething over the development, said that it was another attempt by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to diminish the power of the Senate President and the Speaker.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Against the procedure of parties zoning the principal offices in the two chambers and allowing the party caucuses to produce the officers, the APC leadership, it was learnt, was now putting pressure on influential members of the House close to the Senate President and Speaker Dogara to allow the party to appoint the officials.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Compounding the fury of the legislators is the alleged plan by the party leadership to also appoint loyal officers into key committee positions.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The four principal offices to be filled by the APC in the Senate and the House of Representatives are Senate/House Leader, Deputy Senate/House Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What obtained in the past</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The procedure in the past was for the party to zone the offices to the geopolitical zones and for the party members from the zones to elect from among themselves the persons to fill the positions given them.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Given that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are from the Northeast and the Southwest, it is expected that the Northwest, Southeast, North-Central and South-South would produce the remaining key principal officers in the House.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">In the Senate, given that the Senate President and his deputy are from the North-Central and the South-east, it is expected that the remaining principal officers would come from the North-west, North-east, South-west, and South-South.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What the party wants</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“The party wants to appoint principal officers for us and this is going to be part two of the crisis and it is unheard of for the party to tell members who will be their principal officers,” a returning member of the House who was pivotal to the rebellion that saw Dogara emerge as speaker told<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vanguard</em></strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>yesterday evening.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“We will resist it especially because the caucuses have a role to play in the election of their officers,” the member said on the condition of anonymity.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Another high level source in the House saw the party’s interest in the appointment of members into key committees as an attempt to undermine the speaker and his deputy who have the leverage in appointing committee officials.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Traditionally, the Senate President and Speaker have used the privilege of appointing committee chairmanships as a leverage in mustering support with appointments into juicy committees going to the speaker’s power base.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">One associate of the speaker said yesterday that the move was apparently being made to ridicule the speaker and degrade his privilege in the 8th House and open the legislative chamber to further crisis.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Meanwhile, it was learnt, yesterday, that the issue was already causing a division in the NWC of APC as some members were opposed to the party’s efforts alleging that having burnt its fingers in the election of presiding officers, the party should restrain itself this time.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">A ranking senator who traced the problem to the determination of a clique around a prominent national leader of the party said yesterday:</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“Some of us were just called by some members of the NWC, intimating us of details of a letter forwarded to the body that it should just fill the remaining four leadership positions in the Senate.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Senators fight back</strong></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Ranking Senators are, however, fighting back and there are strong indications in the APC Senate caucus that some Senators have already met with some NWC members familiar with the parliamentary tradition and rules and have impressed it on them to “ignore the letter.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The ranking senator from North West continued, “It’s not done. The tradition is that zonal caucuses which did not produce the Senate President and deputy would meet, nominate among themselves and then, if there is more than one nomination, there would be an election and whoever has the highest votes for the particular office would be the candidate.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">“Thereafter, after the positions have been filled, the caucus would now write the party on the preferred candidates. There are so many factors to be considered in choosing Senators that would be in leadership. It is not the duty of the party in this case.”</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> <img alt="National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, John Odigie Oyegun" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/National-Chairman-APC-John-Odigie-Oyegun-360x225.jpg" width="360" /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 15px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>