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FG To Establish Ranches, Grazing Reserves Across The Country

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FG To Establish Ranches, Grazing Reserves Across The Country

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Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has reiterated the decision of the federal government to establish ranches and grazing reserves across the country in order to curb the incessant Herdsmen/farmers clashes.

The SGF also claimed that foreign nomads that have migrated into the country are responsible for the crimes being perpetuated on farmlands across the nation.

A statement signed by Bolaji Adebiyi, the director of media in the office of the SGF, quoted Lawal as making the remarks when he received  a delegation of the ‘Tabital Pulako Njode Jam’ Foundation, led by its Chairman, Abdul Bali.

The Foundation, which was set up to look into the series of herdsmen/farmers clashes, said it was convinced that the nomads from other countries are responsible for the senseless killings on the farms and urged the government to strengthen control at Nigeria’s land borders.

Bali said the foundation is ready to partner with government to bring the situation under control.

Lawal assured his visitors that government will do the needful to enlighten Fulani Herdsmen on how to make cattle rearing more profitable by utilizing the ranches and reap other social and political benefits that such settlements will offer.

Militants Blast NNPC Pipeline In Fresh Attack

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Militants Blast NNPC Pipeline In Fresh Attack

Pipeline bombing......

A militant group known as the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, has said that it has blown up a crude pipeline in Delta state operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC.

The group in a statement on Thursday said it carried out the attack on the Unenurhie-Evwreni pipeline “to prove to the wicked and ungrateful multinational oil companies and their Nigerian military allies…that we own our lands.”

The militants said it bombed the facility in Ughelli, Delta state, at around 01:00 a.m. on Thursday.

NNPC is yet to deny or confirm the attack.

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It would be recalled that the NDGJM were the only militant group that has never agreed to cease hostilities, and only on Monday, it threatened the Nigerian Army and multinational oil companies to watch out for the “next big statement.”

The latest pipeline attack is coming less than one week after the Niger Delta Avengers, said it carried out its first attack since declaring a break in hostilities in August to pursue talks with the government.

APC Wins Edo As PDP Kicks

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APC Wins Edo As PDP Kicks

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Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been declared winner in the Edo State governorship election held on Wednesday, with a total of 319,483 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said that the APC won 13 out of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, came second with 253,173 votes, having won 5 local government areas.

Meanwhile security has been beefed up around the Edo State government house and INEC headquarters as PDP supporters were protesting the result declared by INEC.

Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih, had earlier addressed a press conference where he alleged that the results announced by INEC were “fabricated and pre-determined”.

He alleged that the electoral umpire deliberately cancelled the results from polling units that were strongholds of the PDP, under the disguise of malfunctioning card readers.

But Chairman of the Edo State APC, Anselm Ojezua, said the election was free, fair and credible, describing the PDP as bad losers.

“This is just a case of a bad loser. It is a pity that the PDP expects to win in a state which it had run down,” Ojezua said.

“The process was very peaceful. INEC was efficient in delivery of materials to ensure that they got to locations on time.”

He advised the PDP to channel its grievances to the appropriate quarters.

 

Soludo Urges Buhari To Release Kanu

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Soludo Urges Buhari To Release Kanu
soludo-urges-buhari-to-release-kanu
Former CBN Governor, Charles Soludo

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Charles Soludo, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

Soludo made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the presentation a book entitled, ‘The Politics of Biafra and the Future of Nigeria’.

The former CBN governor said Kanu was a relatively unknown figure prior to his arrest last year.

He recalled a similar incident in the 1960s when Obafemi Awolowo was imprisoned for treason, but this caused him to be loved even more among the Yoruba.

Soludo said Kanu’s prolonged detention has only succeeded in making him a hero, and has done nothing to stop the current agitation for Biafra.

He argued that Kanu’s detention could be used as a campaign tool in 2019, just as the pardoning of Odimegwu Ojukwu was used by Shehu Shagari to gain support in the 1980s.

Other prominent Nigerians that attended the event included former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Osita Chidoka; former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah.

PDP Rejects Edo Election Results

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PDP Rejects Edo Election Results

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The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the results of the Edo governorship election held on Wednesday, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was yet to declare an overall winner.

Dan Orbih, the State Chairman of the party made this known in a press conference on Thursday in Benin, the state capital.

At the press conference, which was also attended by the party’s governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the PDP said the results being announced by INEC were “fabricated and pre-determined”.

Orbih said that the results did not tally with the figures the party got from it agents and independent observers.

He alleged that the two-week extension of the poll by the electoral body was to allow for more time to perfect the manipulation of the process.

“You will recall that our state Publicity Secretary had briefed the press less than 48 hours to the elections on what is playing out now,” Orbih said.

“If you go by the results that were announced at the polling units and wards across the state, it shows that PDP would have won by over 30,000 votes.

“What INEC is announcing is clearly different from what we got from our agents and independent observers in the 192 wards and over 2,000 units across the state.

“We are rejecting these results as they were being announced by INEC and we are coming out early enough to make this known.”

Orbih insisted that the cancellation of some results on the grounds of failed card reader was part of a deliberate plan to manipulate the poll, especially as the areas where results were cancelled were stronghold of the PDP.

He said, “I wonder what the Incident Form is for. Voters should not be made to suffer unduly for the inefficiency of card readers.”

Ize-Iyanmu said his position was the same as that of the party.

“The results are not a true reflection of what happened in the field. The INEC only played a script written by the Government of Edo,” he said.

Blogger Arrested For Criticising Governor Still In Detention

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Blogger Arrested For Criticising Governor Still In Detention
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Jamil Mabai

Jamil Mabai, a blogger who was arrested last week for allegedly writing a controversial blog post is still in detention without bail, ten days after.

Mabai, who publishes Cliqq magazine, was arrested by the Nigerian Police Force, Katsina Command,  on Monday, September 19, allegedly on the orders of governor Aminu Masari.

A friend of Mabai told journalists that the governor was apparently not happy with Mabai’s recent post which condemned the purchase of 3,000 metal coffins by the state government, for distribution to mosques in the state.

Mabai had said that by purchasing the coffins, the governor was simply saying that “Katsina people deserve to die”.

He also questioned the rationale behind buying the coffins at N40,000 each at a time the government was unable to pay civil servants’ outstanding arrears of salaries.

Mabai was in police custody for four days before he was charged to a Magistrate court.

He posted on his twitter handle saying: “Finally they have taken us to court at GRA, including one other Social Media activist, Bishir Dauda”.

He said “as soon as the matter was announced, the judge said he cannot entertain the matter for lack of jurisdiction”, adding that the judge ordered that the accused be kept in prison custody pending when he would be arraigned at a separate court.

Mabai’s lawyer, Job Israel, had filed two applications, one for his fundamental human right and another for bail.

The court is expected to rule on the applications at its sitting on Thursday.

“The ruling tomorrow will determine whether the law (under which Mabai is being charged) is a dead law or an existing law,” said Israel.

“If the case is in our favour tomorrow, that means Mr. Mabai case is terminated forever. But if not, we will have to appeal based on our submissions.”

Mabai is currently being held at the Central Prison in Katsina.

Media reports had quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Usman Abdullahi, as explaining why the blogger was arrested.

Abdullahi said Mabai was detained for posting tweets to say the government bought the coffins because it wanted people to die.

“The state government complained that Jamil wrote that it had bought 3,000 coffins and distributed to mosques and may be it wanted Katsina people to die.

“Any reasonable person will ask one or two questions. This is why we had to invite him to assist the police,” he said.

Troops Arrest Terrorists Disguised As Cattle Sellers

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Troops Arrest Terrorists Disguised As Cattle Sellers

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Nigerian Troops in the Northeast has arrested 3 suspected Boko Haram members at a cattle market in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Army spokesman, Shehu Sani said the arrests were effected with assistance from members of the Civilian JTF.

The suspects are: Abba Go Dallagio, Abba Fanned and Alhaji Nwariye.”

Sani stated that “during preliminary investigation they (the suspects) claimed that they entered into Maiduguri through Mafa with about 200 cows for sale at Maiduguri cattle market.

They also confessed to be “part of logistics elements of the terrorists group that assist in selling cows for the insurgents”, adding that the proceeds are remitted to the terrorists to fund their activities.

So far, troops have identified and isolated 23 cows at the cattle market.

Similarly, one of their agent and spy at the market, Ajid Umar, has also been arrested. A total of 170 cows were isolated in connection with him.

“All the suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation”, Usman said.

Edo Election: APC In Early Lead

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Edo Election: APC In Early Lead

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has begun announcing the results of various local governments in the Edo State governorship election which held on Wednesday.

Results so far announced indicate that the exercise is a two-horse race between Godwin Obaseki of the ruling All Pro‎gressives Congress, APC, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

So far results of nine local governments have been realed and the APC has won five of them with the PDP wining four.

The following are the local government results between APC and PDP as announced by INEC:

LGA: Owan West: Number of registered voters: 54,406; Number of accredited voters: 24,487

APC: 12,862; PDP: 10,132; Total votes cast: 23,290; Rejected votes: 1,002

LGA: Egor:  Number of registered voters: 184,296; Number of accredited voters: 49,802

APC: 26,177; PDP: 19,514; Total valid votes cast: 46,728; Rejected votes: 2,811

One polling unit cancelled because of failure to use the card reader.

LGA: Esan NorthEast: Number of registered voters: 74,293; Number of accredited voters: 27,121;

APC: 9,130; PDP: 16,220; Total valid votes: 25,747; Rejected votes: 1,197

Three cancellations due to number of votes cast exceeding number of accredited voters.

LGA: Igueben: Number of registered voters: 42,655; Number of accredited voters: 16,482

APC: 7,802; PDP: 7,560; Total valid votes: 15,506; Rejected votes: 580

LGA: Uhunmwode: Number of registered voters: 62,987; Number of accredited voters: 21,927

APC: 10,911; PDP: 8,667; Total valid votes: 19,971; Rejected votes: 1,759

There was cancellation of results in three polling units due to violence and discrepancy between the number of accredited voters and total votes cast.

LGA: Esan South East: Number of registered voters: 66,695; Number of accredited voters: 22,522

APC: 9,554; PDP: 11,466; Total valid votes: 21,250; Rejected votes: 806

LGA: Oredo; Number of registered voters: 273,614; Number of accredited voters: 74,076

APC: 37,612; PDP: 30,492; Total valid votes: 69,401; Rejected votes: 4,311

LGA: Orhionmwon; Number of registered voters: 102,921; Number of accredited voters: 34,270

APC: 15,262; PDP: 16,446; Total valid votes: 32,213; Rejected votes: 1,788

LGA: Esan West: Number of registered voters: 87,867; Number of accredited voters: 31,866

APC: 13,114; PDP: 16,311; Total valid votes: 29,963; Rejected votes: 1,563

The INEC officials have gone on a little recess, temporarily halting the announcement of results.

The following were the results announced as the collation exercise resumed:

Owan East: APC: 21, 233; PDP: 12,889

LGA: Ovia North East: APC: 17,561; PDP: 13,141

LGA: Esan Central; APC: 9781; PDP: 10,180

LGA: Etsako Central; APC: 10,373; PDP: 8,827

LGA: Etsako East; APC: 18,078; PDP: 12,552; Five polling units cancelled.

LGA: Etsako West; APC: 29,199; PDP: 10,843

LGA: Ikpoba Okha: APC: 33,469; PDP: 26,096

LGA: Akoko Edo: APC: 24,545; PDP: 13,027

the result from one local government Area, Ovia South-West, is being awaited, and a one hour break has been called.

After the break, the result of the remaining local government was announced as follows:

LGA: Ovia South West: APC: 12,820; PDP: 8,810

 

Total final results

Registered voters: 1,900,223
Accredited voters: 622,039

AA = 155; ACP= 1,350; ACPN = 3,184; APC = 319,483; APGA = 876; CPC = 276; IP = 99; KOWA = 75;

LP = 182; MPPP = 125; NCP = 294; NNPP = 118; PDC = 1,289; PDP = 253,173; PPA = 855; PPM = 112;

SDP = 72; UPP = 431; YDP = 200

Valid votes: 582,2999

Rejected votes: 30,945

Total votes cast: 613,244

Edo Election: Collation Ongoing

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Edo Election: Collation Ongoing
There was heavy security presence at the headquarters of the INEC as collation continues across the state
There was heavy security presence at the headquarters of the INEC as collation continues across the state

Collation of results is ongoing at the different Local  Government Areas across Edo state in the governorship election that held on Wednesday.

The exercise is said to have been largely peaceful, though cases of ballot box snatching and other pockets of violence have been reported at some polling stations.

Over 1.9 million people were registered to vote in the poll, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has over 18,511 officials on election duty across the state.

Edo State has 192 registration areas 2,627 polling units and 4,011 voting points.

Earlier in the day, INEC’s National Commissioner, Amina Zakari, told journalists that the electoral process was going on as expected while the INEC officials and security agents were working professionally.

“It (the electoral process) has gone based on our expectation.

“The ad-hoc staff are working professionally (and) the security agents are doing their work (while) the people of Edo State are actually doing what we expect of them.

“They are behaving adequately, they are lined up neatly and everything is going smoothly,” she said.

However, series of tweets by ‘The Situation room’, a coalition of civil society groups, indicate that there were violence in many polling units across Edo state.

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Some polling units witnessed violence and destruction of ballot papers

And in some others, the INEC’s smart card readers malfunctioned and officials had to resort to manual accreditation.

One of the tweets read: “@inecnigeria resorts to manual accreditation due to card reader failure; over 100 people yet to vote @ unit 4, ward 8, Igueben LG #EdoDecides.”

Another read: “Hoodlums destroy ballot box in PU12/12/01/027, Uyiosa Pry Sch, Oredo LG @inecnigeria @PoliceNG #EdoDecides”.

According to the situation room, there were polling units where elections did not hold as INEC officials did not show up.

“No elections in all PUs in Ologbo Ward of Ikpoba/Okha LG. No @inecnigeria official came to the Ward,” the group posted.

Also, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Osaro Onaiwu, called for total cancellation of the exercise.

He claimed that there were cases of financial inducement and intimidation of Party loyalists.

Meanwhile, as the collation process continues, INEC has urged Nigerians not to take seriously any result posted on the social media by people it described as miscreants and trouble makers.

Obasanjo Against Sale Of National Assets

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Obasanjo Against Sale Of National Assets
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and NNPC GMD Maikanti
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and NNPC GMD Maikanti Baru

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the reformation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, instead of selling it off as is being proposed by the federal government.

Obasanjo said he believes that if there is one organization that can help the country quickly come out of recession, it is the NNPC.

He made this known in Abeokuta when the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru paid him a courtesy call.

It would be recalled that the ex-president had, during a speech at a function in Abeokuta on Tuesday, said he did not see why 48 per cent of the NNPC cannot be privatized.

But he told his guest today that, “It is our dream to see NNPC grow as an NOC (National Oil Company) just like its peers in other countries.

“I have said it at the NACOFED confab in Abeokuta yesterday that I don’t understand this talk of selling our national assets.”

“What I do understand is reforms. I believe organizations like the NNPC should be reformed. Selling of national assets is wrong.

“But reform is what I think it should be so that we can run the business the way it should be run,” NNPC quoted the former president as saying on its official twitter page.

The NNPC GMD commended Obasanjo’s “positive influence” especially in his discussions with President Muhammadu Buhari on various issues.

Baru said the NNPC is working hard to flood the market with kerosene so that prices will come down especially in the South East.

“We’ll continue to work hard towards realizing your lofty dreams of seeing NNPC grow into a transformed national oil company without any interference,” Baru told the former president.

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