Yahaya Bello’s wife involved in accident in LG where Osinbajo’s chopper crashed

One week after the helicopter of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo crash-landed in Kabba, Amina Bello, wife of Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, has been involved in a car accident in the area.
Onogwu Muhammed, Bello’s chief press secretary, disclosed this in a statement.
Muhammed said the accident happened around Oshokoshoko area of Kabba while the governor’s wife and some aides were on their way to Isanlu for an All Progressives Congress (APC) woman rally.

He said the aides with the governor’s wife were Kenechi Ajayi, senior special assistant on women and children to the governor; Ejura Edward, senior special assistant to the wife of the governor on women affairs; and Adesoro Olamide.
The chief press secretary who described the accident as “minor” said they all came out unhurt.
“In appreciation to God Almighty for his faithfulness to the New Direction family, the Kogi state government wishes to announce that three aides to the governor and his wife survived an accident this morning,” he said.
“The government appreciate God once again, that all persons are in perfect condition.
“The governors wife’s door-door campaign train continues with their rally to the western senatorial district after a successful two days outing in Kogi east.”

Election: PDM Endorses Atiku, Says, He’ll Get Nigeria Working Again

The Peoples Democratic Movement, a pressure group founded by the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, has endorsed Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The group endorsed Atiku as its choice presidential candidate after a meeting which held in Abuja on Thursday.

“After a careful observation of the socio-economic situation in the country, we have come to the inevitable conclusion of endorsing the candidate of the PDP former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar as our consensus candidate,” it said in a communique signed by Dapo Sarumi, its chairman, among others.

The group expressed confidence in the ability of Atiku to “get Nigeria working again ”

It also urged Nigerians to “look at the condition of the country today in relation to the economy, unemployment, foreign affairs and other sectors and vote overwhelmingly for Atiku.

Also known as Yar’Adua Political Family, PDM called on the nation’s security operatives to be impartial, especially regarding the elections.

The communique lists other resolutions reached by the group to include: “That politicians should refrain from making insidious statements and anyone caught going against this should be duly prosecuted.

“That we demand of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) complies strictly with the provisions of the relevant laws in its conduct of the upcoming series of elections.

“That election monitor groups and other watchdog agencies in the conduct of the election must conduct themselves above board and ensure a hitch-free election in February 16 and on March 2, 2019.

“That Voters should as well conduct themselves in orderly manner by casting their votes and be willing to stand to protect their votes.”

The group was formed in 1987 under the able leadership of Yar’Adua “to be the conscience and voice of the masses.”

Nigeria’s presidential election is a choice between dictator and Kleptocrat – Bloomberg Businessweek

What’s a Nigerian citizen to do when there’s a presidential election coming up and the two leading candidates are a former dictator who’s presided over four years of lackluster growth and an alleged kleptocrat of international repute?

This is the choice facing Africa’s largest oil producer, and by some measures its largest economy, in the Feb. 16 vote. Although the field is crowded, incumbent Muhammadu Buhari, 76, faces his strongest challenge from Atiku Abubakar, 72, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 and has tried and failed several times already to secure the top job.

Buhari, who led Nigeria briefly in the 1980s as a dictator, came back to power four years ago via the ballot box. After military rule ended in 1999, he contested several elections unsuccessfully before finally becoming the first opposition figure to win the presidency. (He describes himself as a “converted democrat.”) Voters and pundits alike were optimistic that he could diversify the oil-dependent economy, tackle graft, and end Boko Haram’s deadly insurgency. While the stern former general has succeeded in stamping out some of the corruption that’s long blighted Nigeria, critics say he’s been selective, mostly targeting his political opponents. They also say he’s failed on other issues, nicknaming him “Baba Go-Slow” in reference to his age and sluggish response to crises.

Nigeria’s economy is still smaller on a per capita basis than it was in 2014, when it was hammered by the crash in crude prices. Unemployment has surged to a record 23 percent from 6.4 percent at the end of 2014. The stock market has been the world’s worst performer since Buhari came to office, falling more than 50 percent in dollar terms. Boko Haram militants, some affiliated with Islamic State, continue to wreak havoc in the northeast. Other parts of the country have been roiled by a conflict between farmers and herders that’s led to thousands of deaths.

Abubakar, widely known as Atiku, is a father of 26 who has business interests ranging from oil and gas services to food manufacturing. He’s pledged to loosen the state’s grip on the economy, end the naira’s peg to the dollar, and privatize companies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp., which dominates the local energy industry. But for all his market-friendly talk—he admires the late Conservative U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Many Nigerians think he used his past positions in government to enrich himself.

“It’s like a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea,” says Andrew Niagwan, 36, a teacher in the central city of Jos who doesn’t know if he’ll vote. “Buhari’s got good intentions, but he doesn’t seem very capable. Our living standards have dropped in recent years. As for Atiku, Nigerians are wary because of all the allegations surrounding him.”

A U.S. Senate report in 2010 concluded that Abubakar and one of his wives had wired $40 million of “suspect funds” into American accounts and said that his business dealings “raise a host of questions about the nature and source” of his wealth. Although he has denied the claims and has never been indicted at home or abroad, Abubakar hasn’t been able to shake the perception of impropriety. In January he met with lawmakers in Washington after having been banned from the country for more than a decade under a State Department edict against politicians linked to foreign corruption, according to former U.S. officials. (A spokesperson for Abubakar’s campaign denies he’d been banned from the U.S., and the State Department declined to comment on the visit.)

Investors expect Nigerian assets to rise if Abubakar wins. “As much as Buhari has done in terms of tackling corruption, under his guidance the economy has been quite stagnant,” says Christopher Dielmann, an economist at Exotix Capital in London. “The perception is that, under Atiku, a degree of corruption could return to the country, but that might bring with it higher economic growth.”

Still, any bounce could be short-lived. Abubakar may not risk the political fallout from trying to sell state assets or, as he’s also promised, removing a cap that keeps Nigeria’s gasoline prices among the cheapest in the world.

“I’m doubtful there’d be any great change with the economy, no matter who gets elected,” says John Campbell, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria who’s now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. That’s a major problem, he says, as the United Nations projects Nigeria’s population will double, to 410 million, by 2050. “How on Earth can you grow an economy fast enough to accommodate those numbers?”
New York-based risk consultant Eurasia Group, which included Nigeria on its list of the top 10 global risks for 2019, predicts Buhari will be re-elected. But even if steadier oil prices mean the worst is over, it won’t be an easy four years. “The country might just muddle through for now,” says Amaka Anku, head of Africa at Eurasia. The next election, in 2023, could be an inflection point, she says. “There’s a real chance that a reformist government emerges then.”

BOTTOM LINE – No matter who wins Nigeria’s presidential election, the economy is unlikely to improve, setting up the nation for a humanitarian catastrophe in the coming decades.

I didn’t ask Nigerians to kill any foreigner they see – Gov. El-Rufai

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he never told Nigerians to kill foreigners during elections.
This was in an attempt to clarify a recent statement where he was said to have threatened foreign observers ahead of 2019 presidential election.
Governor El-Rufai had in an interview on NTA during the week, threatened that foreigners who intervene in the forthcoming general elections will “go back in body bags.”

But speaking on Oath TV on Friday evening, the Governor said he had not asked any Nigerian to kill any foreigner they see during elections.
According to him, “The government of Nigeria must invite observers. But if we notice, there is a coordinated plan to delegitmize the election; to already declare the election illegitimate even before they were conducted.

“And it has the support of Nigerian collaborators and foreign interest. And we must speak out.

“We must speak out. And that is what is appearing to be the way the PDP is hobnopping with some of the foreign interests here, we have to make the observation.
“They are here to observe. They are not here to intervene. They are not here to lay the foundations for crisis in Nigeria. Which is what the PDP are preparing for as their last ultimate option and we are aware of it.

“This is the essence of my statement and I don’t want anyone to confuse what i said to mean that Nigerians will kill any foreigner they see.”

Reign of King Pharaoh in Kogi State is coming to an end – Dino Melaye tells Gov. Bello

Senator representing Kogi West, in the National Assembly Dino Melaye has said that the autocratic reign of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello will soon come to an end in the State.
The embattled Senator who described the governor as another Pharaoh assured Kogites that the Egyptians they see today, they shall see them no more.
Melaye, while addressing newsmen in Lokoja on Friday, described the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Smart Adeyemi as his ‘political wife’.

He assured electorate in the state that their votes will count as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will frustrate all rigging plans in the forthcoming elections.

The embattled Senator was in Lokoja, the state capital, in continuation of his ‘Thank You’ tour of all political wards in Kogi West. He toured communities in Kogi/Koton Karfe local government area of the state on Thursday.
He told the cheering supporters at St. Luke Primary School Adankolo that his opponent, Smart Adeyemi is his good ‘customer’.
“The forthcoming Kogi West senate election is between me and my political wife, Smart Adeyemi. He is my wife. He is a good customer.

“I want to assure you all, by the grace of God, PDP candidates will emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections. Please, let us defend our votes, after voting don’t go home, stay and count your votes. After counting, stay for the announcement. They cannot intimidate us. The reign of King Pharaoh in Kogi state is coming to an end and these Egyptians you see today, you shall see no more. We are going to defeat them mercilessly,” he said.
He expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will lose the next presidential election.

Melaye said the large crowd of voters that graced each venue of the ‘thank you’ tour is an indication that the people are tired of the Federal and Kogi state governments.
“I feel very happy. The responses across Lokoja are positive. It shows that the people are not happy with the government. This is a referendum against the federal and Kogi state government.

“From the responses so far, it is obvious that the people are living in pervasive hunger. It shows that the non-payment of salaries and pensions have completely disconnected the people from government. It shows there is a lot of work to be done by us when we win elections. We will correct the anomalies.

“The people have decided and we will not allow our elections to be rigged. We have credible information that they sowing military and police uniforms. We will defend our votes, we will defend our votes and PDP will be victorious,” he added.

BODY BAGS ! Kaduna State Governor's statement is unacceptable and should be condemned by all and sundry -NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission( NHRC ) has condemned in strong terms the statement credited to the Kaduna State Governor ,Mallam Nasir El-Rufai warning that foreigners who interfere with the forthcoming elections 'will go back in body bags.'

In a statement by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu Esq in Abuja Friday, the Commission called on politicians to refrain from acts capable of instigating violence ahead of the elections.
According to the Commission the Kaduna State Governor's statement is unacceptable and should be condemned by all and sundry.
The Commission calls on the governor to retract the statement in the light of the dangerous signal it could send to both Nigerians and the international community. 

The Commission stated that it will invoke the weight of the legal instruments within its mandate on the governor and any other persons who may indulge in such hateful statements in the name of politics. It calls on the international observer groups not to be dissuaded from carrying out their official responsibilities during the elections. The Commission promised to monitor and record all forms of hate and dangerous speeches as well as election violence for the purpose of bringing the perpetrators to book. 

The Commission calls on the law enforcement agencies to be vigilant and ensure that they nip in the bud any tendency of electoral violence while maintaining neutrality in the conduct of their official duties

Two feared dead at Buhari’s rally in Jalingo

Two persons were feared dead on Thursday during the presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress in Jalingo, Taraba state capital.

Our reporter reported that the incident occurred as a result of overcrowding witnessed at the venue of the rally, the Jolly Nyame Stadium.
The rally was attended by thousands of APC supporters from across the 16 local government areas of the state.
It was gathered that the victims were rushed to hospital in ambulances stationed at the venue.

The crowd also disrupted vehicular movement for several hours on Jalingo-Yola road.
President Muhammdu Buhari is seeking re-election in the presidential election slated for February 16. Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party is his main challenger.

Rivers APC asks INEC to postpone elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone elections in the state.

INEC had disqualified the APC from contesting the election over the crisis which affected its primaries.
There are two factions of the party in the state. One led by Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation while Magnus Abe, a serving senator, leads the other faction.
Tonye Princewill, director of strategic communications for the campaign of Tonye Cole, guber candidate of the Amaechi factio, said conducting the election without the APC will be “an exercise in futility”.
He said giving the APC candidates an extension of time to go about their campaigns is necessary because of the “disruption by legal tussle”.
“Of course we are not yet on the ballot, it’s a process. INEC by now has received the first order and in another day or so, will receive the second one,” he said.
“Then their lawyers will advise them and at a meeting of the powers that be, a decision will be taken.
“That decision will be to obey the law. We expect nothing less. If they don’t, then it will be lawful to be lawless in a lawless society. There will be no elections in Rivers state. We knew Wike had penetrated the judiciary, every day the signs are revealed.
“We know he has also penetrated some of our security agencies, but we do not want to believe he has penetrated our electoral body at the highest levels. We are soon about to find out. Let us be patient. These things take time. Our money, that he is using, will be traced to its last hiding place when he leaves office. We know a lot about who he is working with. Money leaves a trace. And in this government, corruption will always come with consequences.”
The statement said having gone round the state, Cole deserves to be elected on March 2.

It added that Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, was taking advantage of the crisis in the APC in Rivers.
“Our candidate, Tonye Cole, has gone from ward to ward in every LGA and had done 236 wards out of 319 before a judge. Magnus and Wike stopped him using the law,” the statement read.
“Magnus is not our focus. He is our lost brother whom we wish well. His room is there, if he returns. Our focus is Wike and nothing will distract us from demystifying his perceived grassroots’ appeal, his supposed strong man status and his recent Mungo park-like discovery of Spirituality.
“Tonye Cole and others must be allowed to finish their campaigns. Anything short of that cannot be just and we will contest it. INEC should get ready for the Presidential elections, but State House of Assembly, National Assembly and the Governorship elections must be a separate exercise set aside for a special date.
“All eyes are now on INEC as the fate of Rivers state now hangs in their balance. Will Wike be given a free ride back into Government house or will the never say die attitude of Tonye Cole emerge from the ashes of court judgements? Very soon, all will be revealed.”

SDP withdraws from Presidential Race, endorses Buhari.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced its withdrawal from the Feb. 16, presidential election and adopts the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the poll.
This was part of the resolutions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the NEC, “we cannot campaign, we cannot do anything because of the protracted legal issue and we feel that it is impeccable to technically withdraw from the presidential election.
“We want to focus on the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assemblies election for which we have fielded candidates across the country.

“We are therefore adopting the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, as our preferred candidate for the Feb. 16 election.”

Return campaign funds or face legal action, ACPN threatens Ezekwesili

The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has demanded that Oby Ezekwesili, former presidential candidate of the party, return all funds generated during her campaign.
On Wednesday, Ezekwesili had accounted for “every penny” spent on her campaign.

The former minister said the campaign raised N48,957,416.00, $17,645.00, and £200, from October 1, 2018 to February 2, 2019, before she withdrew from the presidential race.
But speaking at a press briefing, Ganiyu Galadima, national chairman of the party, faulted the statement of account presented by Ezekwesili, saying the party “rejects in entirety everything she submitted”.
He said the accounts rendered by her was unacceptable, while alleging that there was no transparency in what was stated.
“We are rejecting everything she submitted in entirety, we want to know all the content of the accounts and see the accounts because at the end of the day it is not the presidential candidate that INEC will hold responsible according to the law but the party, and whatever any candidate generated for his or her campaign belongs to the party,” he said.
“For somebody who want to contest for presidency, all you could generate for period of three months was just N43 million and spent everything by herself. She could not even disclose to the party the sources of the fund and how much she was able to generate.

“We want to know the full disclosure of all the accounts she opened because when you look at the statement she made available there are four different accounts which we didn’t know anything about.

“Look at the Omoyele Sowore, he publicly disclosed on a national TV recently that his campaign has been about to generate about N99 million with the party. In addition, he has also told the world how these money could be traced.
“So why is there no transparency in Madam Ezekwesili’s project? That is the bone of contention. We are expecting that she will respond at the appropriate time but if she doesn’t, we may be compelled to go to court to seek for order of Mandamus.”

BREAKING: ASUU Suspends Nationwide Strike After Three Months

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its nationwide industrial action.

National President of the union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, announced this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Nigeria Labour Congress complex in Abuja.
The striking lecturers took the decision after a meeting with representatives of the Federal Government led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.

The meeting came hours before Professor Ogunyemi announced the decision of ASUU to suspend the strike.

It had in attendance leaders of the union and government representatives such as the permanent secretaries at the ministries of Education, as well as Labour and Employment, and some directors from the ministries

2019 election: US Government speaks on supporting Atiku, Buhari

The Consul General of the United States of America to Nigeria, Ambassador John Bay, on Thursday insisted the US Government was not supporting any candidate in the presidential election which would hold on February 16.

Bay said the US was only interested in free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor òf Bayelsa State on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the US Consul General to have made the comment, while paying a courtesy call on the Governor at the Government House, Yenagoa.


He said: “The US does not have a candidate in this election. We are looking for a free, fair, credible and peaceful process, a process that allows the choice of the Nigerian citizens to come through.

“So, we are going to spend some time with the governor and chat about different things we might be able to do to better the situation and anything we can do to help before leaving here for Port Harcourt tomorrow.”

2019 election: Obasanjo’s friend heading Commonwealth Observer Mission – Buhari camp

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has asked former Tanzanian President and Head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for the 2019 general elections, Dr. Jakaya Kikwete to resist any pressure from former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in carrying out their assignment while in Nigeria.
In a statement signed and issued in Abuja by the Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, the group stressed that its main concern was that the team leader is a well-known friend of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
It demanded fairness and openness from the team, saying “Many Nigerians are worried that the head of the Commonwealth observer group may be swayed by Obasanjo’s skewed pre-election position that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not have the integrity to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

“This concern, we know, is as a result of the long standing friendship between the two former Presidents which began long before Kikwete became the head of the Tanzania government in 2005. But we are encouraged by the values that the Commonwealth holds sacrosanct, and the fact that the head of the election observer team has a track record as a peace maker, especially in the Great Lakes region of East Africa.

“So we hope that Dr Kikwete would resist the pressure that will surely come from former President Obasanjo who believes that he has a divine role to determine the winner of the Presidential election.”
The group however assured the Commonwealth team and other observer missions of the readiness of the Buhari administration to ensure a favourable atmosphere for a credible general election.


“As someone who had previously been on the wrong end of shoddy electoral processes before his electoral victory in 2015, President Buhari has, on many occasions, given his word to the world about his readiness to ensure a credible election after benefitting from one.

“He has consequently, over the course of three and a half years, made sure that the election management body has everything it requires to conduct a very credible election. And like the 20-man Commonwealth observer team would found out when it visits INEC, the Commission has been operating without any form of interference from the President who is keen on ensuring that the elections are the most credible in the nation’s political history.
“He has also openly assured Nigerians that he has no interest in rigging the forthcoming elections, and would not allow anyone to rig. It is against this backdrop that we at BMO demand fairness and an open-mind from Kikwete and his team of election observers as they arrive Nigeria on February 8.”

Saraki reacts to deployment of Tinubu’s ex-CSO to Kwara as Police commissioner

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Wednesday night mocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) over their “incessant replacement” of police commissioner in Kwara state.
He spoke in reaction to deployment of Kayode Egbetokun, former Chief Security Officer to APC national leader, Bola Tinubu.

Saraki while addressing his supporters during the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) rally at Balogun Fulani ward in Ilorin south local government area of the state said “they (the opposition) are scared to come and meet our people that is why they are busy changing police commissioner every day but that won’t change our peoples resolve to continue to support us.
“The support we received shows that we are on ground with the people and they are still fully supporting us.

“Let other party come and meet our people and see if people will receive them the way they received us.

“We are always with the people unlike them who are usually home during elections to deceive our people.

“If the APC is popular as they claim let them come home and show their strength just like we did. They cannot intimidate our people with police.”

Tinubu’s ex-CSO appointed Kwara CP as Lagos gets another police commissioner

Kayode Egbetokun, a ex-chief security officer to Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, has been appointed the commissioner of police in Kwara state.
Ikechukwu Ani, spokesman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), disclosed this in a statement.
Egbetokun was Tinubu’s chief security officer for a few years before he became the commandant of Police Training School, Ikeja, Lagos.

The statement said Imohimi Edgal, commissioner of police in Lagos, has been directed to hand over to Mu’azu Zubairu.Egbetokun had been appointed as the Lagos police commissioner and was in the process of taking over from Edgal when Mohammed Adamu, acting inspector-general of police, directed that the handover ceremony be put on hold.

“I am sure that you know Mr. Kayode Egbetokun; he is an old timer in the command,” Imohinmi had said.

“You all know that our first job is about order and direction; we were about concluding the handing and taking over procedure when we were instructed by our bosses from Abuja to suspend action for now.

“So, there will be no change of guard for now. Of course, we would keep the press briefed about any development.”

Buhari In Benue : What is going on here? Is this Waka ( Insult) or part of NextLevel campaign.

I really don't understand the meaning of this sign but its currently trending on Facebook Benue.

“We are aware of the comments by the Governor of Kaduna about non-interference by foreigners-EU Observers react to El -Rufai's statement.

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday reacted to threat by Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that those who intervene in the forthcoming general elections will “go back in body bags”.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governor made the threat when he featured on NTA’s Tuesday Live programme anchored by Cyril Stober.

“Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags,” the governor said.

He noted that Nigeria had intervened militarily in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the 1990s on resolution international community and as a gesture of “neighbourliness”.

“We are trying to run our country as decently as possible,” he said.

El-Rufai’s statement came after the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union warned the Nigerian government of interfering in the election.
Their reaction followed the suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting via its Twitter handle @EUEOMNigeria2019, the body said: “We are aware of the comments by the Governor of Kaduna about non-interference by foreigners during a talk show on #NigeriaDecides2019 on 5/2/19.

“The EU only deploys an election observation mission when it is invited to do so by the authorities of a country.

“EU election observation missions give commentary and analysis, and make recommendations about the electoral process.

“EU election observation missions are impartial, do not interfere in the electoral process, and operate according to a strict code of conduct.

“While the security of EU observers is of paramount importance, and will remain under constant review, EU observers will continue their work across the country in the run-up to – and beyond – the 16 February elections”.

2019 presidency: Ganduje orders Kano Stadium to be re-opened for Atiku’s rally.

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has ordered the suspension of renovation works at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, so that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, can hold his campaign rally.

Ganduje had come under criticisms, over his initial directive that the stadium be shut down for repairs.
A lot of observers felt the venue was closed to frustrate Atiku’s rally, which is scheduled for February 10.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Kano state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, said the contractor in charge of the renovation had been directed to remove all equipment from the stadium, until after the PDP presidential rally.
“As a democrat who believes in freedom of association, His Excellency the governor did not order the closure of the stadium to frustrate the campaign rally of the PDP.
“The stadium only closed for the intended renovation works,” Garba said.
He however warned the PDP to ensure facilities are not destroyed during the rally.

2019 :Buhari gets huge support in Benue State. PHOTOS.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday took his campaign to Makurdi Benue state.

Thousands thronged Aper Aku stadium on Wednesday for President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign rally.See the massive crowd below:

Benue next in line for oil drilling: Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, will soon commence “drilling for a deeper search for oil and gas in the Benue Trough.”

Buhari explained that this was the next step following the commencement of drilling in the Kolmani River area, located within Bauchi and Gombe States.

He made the disclosure while addressing traditional rulers at the Banquet Hall, Government House in Makurdi, Benue State, on Wednesday.

Buhari recalled that as Minister of Petroleum in the 70s, he had seen “very interesting seismic surveys that promised oil and gas from the Chad Basin through the Benue Trough down to the Delta region.”

He said for mostly commercial reasons, investment was directed to the Niger Delta given the promise of quicker results.

Buhari narrated past efforts by him as a Military Head of State to diversify the country’s sources of oil to strengthen its unity, promising that his administration will intensify efforts in this direction.

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom in his remarks, called for free and fair elections, urging all contestants to abide by the outcome. He told the President that, “We believe you are a man of integrity and you keep your words. I will like to believe that you will not do anything to truncate our democracy.”