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20 APC Senators set to join PDP - Godswill Akpabio claims
The Minority Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senate and former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has said that about 20 senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are planning to defect to the PDP once peace returns to the party.
Akpabio, who stated this on Thursday, at the opening of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and expanded caucus of the PDP, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, said that despite some defections that hit the party recently, PDP senators in the National Assembly are still intact and very supportive of the party.
He said just as the party has lost senators through defections, there are also some others who have joined the PDP through elections and the court pronouncements.
Akpabio told the gathering that the chances of the party bouncing back to power is very bright today than ever, adding that “no election that will be conducted in the former PDP 28 states that the party will not win.
"As I speak, so many senators from the opposing party are eager to join PDP. All they want is a return of peace to the party, once that is done, I can assure that 20 senators are on their way to joining the PDP. My message to those who are thinking of defection is to retrace their steps because PDP is bouncing back to victory in 2019."
The Minority Leader, however, warned that if the party fails to put its house in order, it may lose in Ekiti State, adding that there is an urgent need to tackle the crisis in the party so as to avoid further loses.
The meeting was well attended and has the National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, CON, Chairman, Governors Forum, Chief Ayo Fayose, Chairman, BOT, Sen. Walid Jubril, Governors of PDP, members of the National Caretaker Committee, House Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor and other Party stalwarts.
Akpabio, who stated this on Thursday, at the opening of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and expanded caucus of the PDP, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, said that despite some defections that hit the party recently, PDP senators in the National Assembly are still intact and very supportive of the party.
He said just as the party has lost senators through defections, there are also some others who have joined the PDP through elections and the court pronouncements.
Akpabio told the gathering that the chances of the party bouncing back to power is very bright today than ever, adding that “no election that will be conducted in the former PDP 28 states that the party will not win.
"As I speak, so many senators from the opposing party are eager to join PDP. All they want is a return of peace to the party, once that is done, I can assure that 20 senators are on their way to joining the PDP. My message to those who are thinking of defection is to retrace their steps because PDP is bouncing back to victory in 2019."
The Minority Leader, however, warned that if the party fails to put its house in order, it may lose in Ekiti State, adding that there is an urgent need to tackle the crisis in the party so as to avoid further loses.
The meeting was well attended and has the National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, CON, Chairman, Governors Forum, Chief Ayo Fayose, Chairman, BOT, Sen. Walid Jubril, Governors of PDP, members of the National Caretaker Committee, House Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor and other Party stalwarts.
No plan to increase cost of petrol – IPMAN
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Kano State has denied reports of a planned increase in petrol price.
The denial was made on Friday, January 27, by state IPMAN Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dan-Malam.
“As leaders of the association, we feel it is necessary to tell our members the truth as the government has no plan to increase fuel price for now,” Dan-Malam told journalists.
“The rumour is a lie and anything you hear that is not from us, ignore it,” he added.
Fears of a possible price increase were sparked after it was revealed that oil marketers, who import the bulk of petrol consumed in Nigeria, had stopped lifting the product.
Beware! Female suicide bombers now strap babies on back to evade detection – DHQ
The Defence Headquarters says female suicide bombers in the North East are now evading detection from security operatives by carrying babies on their back, that ordinarily passes them for innocent nursing mothers. The Acting Director Defence information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that the attention of the DHQ had been drawn to the new tactic. Abubakar said the method was being adopted by female suicide bombers in the North East. According to him, the two recent suicide bomb attacks in Madagali, Adamawa State are instructive in this regard. “The DHQ wishes to seize this opportunity to appeal to members of the public to be patient and cooperate with the military and other security agencies while carrying out thorough security search and checks as the essence is to nip in the bud the murderous intention of the Boko Haram suicide bombers. “The DHQ wishes to state further that the usual traffic “go-slow” at military and security check points as a result of rigorous security checks are not meant to cause public discomfort or a deliberate action to induce traffic disruptions on our roads, but an effort put in place towards protecting the lives and properties of our innocent citizens. “Members of the public are, therefore, urged to always volunteer useful information to the military and other security agencies that would assist in exposing Boko Haram and their evil machinations in our society and to make our communities safe and secure for all to live,” he said.
94 UNN graduates make first class
Ninety four out of the 10,425 graduating students of University Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), bagged first class honour, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, the Vice-Chancellor announced Friday. Ozumba made this known in Nsukka during the 46th convocation ceremony of the university. He urged the new graduates to use knowledge acquired from the university to make significant imprints on the country and the world. “Out of 10494 graduating students, I announced to you that 94 bagged first class honours, 3,098 made second class upper division, 5,145 got second lower class, 1,653 made third class while 93 are given diplomas and 314 get the university certificates UNN “We urge the graduates to be good ambassadors of the university wherever they find themselves,” he said. He said his administration has completed some infrastructure projects as well as improved water and electricity supply in the university. “Electricity and water supply services have improved tremendously which both students and staff can attest to. “Our online distance learning programme is ready and awaiting commission by the National University Commission (NUC). “The University of Nigeria will continue to improve welfare of its staff and students,” he said. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the institution, Mr Emmanuel Ucla (SAN), while congratulating the graduates, said their hard work and toil had come to fruition. The university named Mr Ifeanyichukwu Eke, from the Deparment of Macrobiology, as the best graduating student.
We’re working on how people can get back to their normal lives – Acting President, Osinbajo
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government is “working on how people can get back to their normal lives.”
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to restore normalcy to the lives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Northeast region of the country.
A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, on Friday, said Osinbajo stated this when the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Ms. Ertharin Cousin visited him in the State House, Abuja.
According to him, the Federal Government is working on how the IDPs can get back to their normal socio-economic activities, and to help the children obtain quality education, housing and other necessities of life.
“We are working on how people can get back to their normal lives.
Osinbajo resumes in office“The Federal Government is also working on how to help the children especially regarding education and housing.
“So many people are in need, it’s a tough challenge, but we are committed,’’ he said.
Ondo Assembly Speaker Jumoke Akindele suspended
Rt. Hon. Jumoke-Akindele, Speaker Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele has been allegedly suspended. Akindele, the first female Speaker in the state was elected in On May 27, 2015 following the sudden death of the former speaker Samuel Adesina. Reason over her suspension is still not very clear.
Pope Francis will no longer grace Vatican euro coins
The Vatican will stop minting euro coins bearing Pope Francis’ image beginning in March, religious news agency I.media reported Friday, saying the coins will now carry the Vatican’s coat of arms and European Union stars.
The EU’s official journal on January 24 published pictures of the Vatican’s new coins (eight pieces ranging from one cent to two euros), and they show that Pope Francis’ image has been replaced.
The image on the tails side of the Vatican coin is the same as on all of the other eurozone coins.
Pope Francis, who is known as “the pope of the poor,” has railed against the negative power of money.
Yet, because of their rarity, the coins that have born his image since 2014 have become collector’s items.
They are legal tender everywhere in the eurozone but people who find them through sales generally resell them on the collectors’ market.
The existing agreement between the EU’s monetary union and Italy, which the Vatican relies on to mint its coins, includes a quota especially for the Vatican.
The first annual series of papal coins entered circulation on March 1, 2002 bearing the image of then Pope John Paul II.
No one can force Buhari to speak from UK –Adesina
The Presidency on Thursday insisted that despite the rumour making the round on President Muhammadu Buhari‘s state of health, the President is not ill.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with CNBC Africa, which was monitored in Abuja.
Adesina insisted that Buhari is only in London, United Kingdom, for vacation and is not in any hospital.
He said, “The President is in London on vacation. He is not in any hospital and he is not ill.
“When he was travelling last week, the statement we put out was that he was going on vacation and during the vacation, he would do routine medical check-up and nothing has changed from what we pushed out last week.
“If anybody has fed something else into the rumour mill, that is just what it is — rumour.”
When asked if Buhari would be willing to talk to Nigerians from the UK, Adesina said such a decision could only be taken by the President himself.
The presidential aide said any attempt to compel Buhari to do so would amount to infringement on his rights.
“The fact that he is a President, he still has his rights. Compelling him to come out and talk will be infringing on his rights.
“The President will talk if he wishes to. If he doesn’t wish to, nobody will compel him to talk.
“The truth is that the President is on vacation and he has given a date on which he will return to work,’’ Adesina said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with CNBC Africa, which was monitored in Abuja.
Adesina insisted that Buhari is only in London, United Kingdom, for vacation and is not in any hospital.
He said, “The President is in London on vacation. He is not in any hospital and he is not ill.
“When he was travelling last week, the statement we put out was that he was going on vacation and during the vacation, he would do routine medical check-up and nothing has changed from what we pushed out last week.
“If anybody has fed something else into the rumour mill, that is just what it is — rumour.”
When asked if Buhari would be willing to talk to Nigerians from the UK, Adesina said such a decision could only be taken by the President himself.
The presidential aide said any attempt to compel Buhari to do so would amount to infringement on his rights.
“The fact that he is a President, he still has his rights. Compelling him to come out and talk will be infringing on his rights.
“The President will talk if he wishes to. If he doesn’t wish to, nobody will compel him to talk.
“The truth is that the President is on vacation and he has given a date on which he will return to work,’’ Adesina said.
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