Sunday, 21 June 2015

Leaders & Thousands Of Supporters For PDP Defects To APC.

Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, yesterday led some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and thousands of his supporters to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move, it was gathered, has depleted the ranks of PDP in the state ahead of the 2016 governorship election.
Ikiogha, a founding member of the PDP, embraced the broom revolution at an elaborate ceremony which ended in the evening at Kpansia open field, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
Also, members of other political parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) followed him to the APC.
Leaders of the PDP that defected with him are: Chief Victor Awala, Paul Ajuwa, Mrs. D. Irene, a former commissioner, Prince Abeki as well as over 150 former councillors from 1999 to 2012.
Over 43 non-governmental organisations under the aegis of New Bayelsa Initiative also identified with Ikiogha, who was described as a great grassroots mobiliser.
Ikiogha, a former Bayelsa State Chief of Staff, said to be a trusted and dependable ally of Governor Seriake Dickson, was one of the brains behind the emergence of the governor in 2012.
But indications of a rift between the duo emerged when the governor removed him in controversial circumstances as Chief of Staff and redeployed him to Abuja Liaison Office.
Ikiogha resigned his appointment in October 2014 to contest the House of Representatives seat for Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma on the platform of the PDP but failed to clinch the ticket.
Addressing the mammoth crowd that came to witness his formal movement to APC, Ikiogha said he decided to quit the PDP because it is a party full of betrayals and deceits.
He said: “The PDP is full of betrayals and deceits. There is lack of internal democracy and it is a party where the highest bidder always has his ways.
“As I left the PDP, I went on my private business until I started receiving calls from my supporters and those who believe in me that I could not quit partisan politics.
“It was then I discovered that I had a family in the APC. I also know that Bayelsa people are yearning for change which the APC represents.
“All those denied opportunities in the PDP are defecting to the APC with me. There are many of them and the solidarity cuts across other political parties including the APGA, Accord Party, Labour Party, among others.”
APC’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who was represented by the National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Hilliard Eta, received Ikiogha and handed him the symbolic broom.
Odigie-Oyegun noted the Dickson-led government of Bayelsa State had received over “N440bn from the federal government with nothing to show for it.”
He appealed to Bayelsans “to retire Governor Seriake Dickson”.
He declared that the occasion was not meant to give Ikiogha a governorship ticket to contest the forthcoming Bayelsa State governorship election but to receive him into the party.
He added that the process of electing a governorship flag bearer for the party would be transparent just like the process that produced Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s Presidential candidate.
Bayelsa State chairman of the APC, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, said the journey to change Dickson, whom he accused of none performance, had just started.
He said the APC would use the broom to change incompetence that had bedevilled the oil-rich state for so long.
He noted that the doors of APC were open to all politicians with ambitions and aspirations.
It was gathered that Ikiogha, a former Commissioner for Agriculture, would soon formally declare his intention to contest the governorship election.

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Police Deny Ordering Arrest Of Producers Of ‘Ogogoro’ In Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Police Command yesterday denied claims that it issued an order for the arrest of producers of locally brewed gin known as ‘ogogoro’ in the state.

According to the police command, no order or instructions has been given to policemen to arrest anyone selling or drinking ogogoro.

“The public are advised to go about their lawful and legitimate businesses, they should report to the appropriate authorities, the conduct of any policeman who arrests, extorts, intimidates people of the state”, it said.

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Saturday, 20 June 2015

FRSC Dismisses Staff Over Fake Driving Licences

The Federal Road Safety Commission has dismissed a Road Marshal Assistant, Sunny Kpogha, for alleged misconduct relating to issuing fake driving licences.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Edo, Mr. Familoni Oluwasusi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin on Saturday.

He said the dismissal of Kpogha, who was in the Benin office, was to serve as a deterrent to other marshals in the commission.

He added that the dismissed staff had been handed over to the police for prosecution.

“The Corp Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC has directed that Mr. Sunny Kpogha, a Road Marshal Assistant, having been adjudged guilty and his appointment terminated, be handed over to the police for prosecution.

“Issuing of fake driving licence to members of the public is a punishable offence and perpetrators should desist from it. Faking of driving licences erode the dignity of the country and reduce road taxes accruing to the government”, he said.

He called on members of the public to ensure that their biometric were taken during the driving licence issuing procedure.

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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. He proceeded from Kaduna to his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State. Buhari is expected back in Abuja from the journey described as “private trips” this weekend. “The President is expected back this weekend. He will be expected to join his wife here on his arrival,” the source added. Upon his formal relocation to the Presidential Villa, Buhari is expected to operate for the first time from his office on Monday. As of the time of filing this report, Osinbajo and his wife have yet to relocate to the Villa. It was not clear whether they will move in at the same time with Buhari. 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. 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.”

Buhari’s wife relocates to Aso Rock ahead of husband

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.

Since they were inaugurated, Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo have been operating from outside the Presidential Villa.

This is despite the fact that both men have their official residences and offices inside the Villa.

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.

Our correspondent gathered that Mrs. Buhari formally relocated to the Presidential Villa on Thursday at a time when her husband was out of Abuja.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

He proceeded from Kaduna to his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State.

Buhari is expected back in Abuja from the journey described as “private trips” this weekend.

“The President is expected back this weekend. He will be expected to join his wife here on his arrival,” the source added.

Upon his formal relocation to the Presidential Villa, Buhari is expected to operate for the first time from his office on Monday.

As of the time of filing this report, Osinbajo and his wife have yet to relocate to the Villa.

It was not clear whether they will move in at the same time with Buhari.

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.

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.”

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Oldest Woman In The World Dies At Home Aged 116 [See Pics]

The world’s oldest woman has died at the age of 116 just a month after gaining the title. Jeralean Talley died at home in Michigan after recent treatment for fluid on the lungs in hospital according to her 77-year-old daughter, Thelma Holloway.

She was born May 23, 1899, in Montrose, Georgia, and moved near Detroit, Michigan in 1935. May her soul rest in peace.

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Ramadan: Police Urges Heightened Public Vigilance In Kano

The Kano State Police Command has promised adequate security to the people of Kano State to ensure peaceful conduct and protection of life and property across the state throughout the period of Ramadan and beyond.

The police’s re-assurance of adequate security came on the heels of suspected Boko Haram attacks in Chad, Cameroon and some parts of Nigeria’s northeast in recent days.

A statement issued on Friday by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Magaji Musa Majia, stated that measures have been put in place to tackle the new trends of criminal activities and other social vices.

The statement said, “Mosque Security Committees are expected to liaise with the DPOs in their areas to ensure provision of effective security during Tafsir or any form of worship throughout the Ramadan period and beyond. They should as well adopt measures such as searching, barricading, and flow of useful and timely information to safeguard worshippers and worship places.

“Warning to person or persons delivering sermons, lectures or preaching against the use of provocative and inciting languages as the Command is monitoring all activities in our places of worship and will swiftly act accordingly when the need arise.

“People leaving their homes for Mosque or worship places should make sure that they lock all their doors and windows or assign a watchman to deter undesirable elements who seize the chance to carry out nefarious acts during worship or immediately during breaking of fast”.

The state police command also urged communities to organize vigilant groups that would complement security agencies’ efforts while bank customers were advised to be vigilant when depositing or withdrawing cash so as to “checkmate the syndicate who specializes in tricking and stealing of money from unsuspecting members of the public and sometimes by the use of force, intimidation or threat.

“Motor vehicle, taxi drivers and tricycle operators are advised to avoid accepting food items or soft drinks from passengers or passengers from drivers to avoid falling victims of one chance syndicate or kidnappers”, police added.

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