HERDERS/FARMERS: ATIKU PROPOSES GRAZING LOTS

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, said on Wednesday that anti-open grazing laws in some states would be reviewed for compatibility with the Nigerian Constitution.

The former vice president said at a town hall Wednesday night that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees free movement of citizens, and suggested that herders should not be an exception.

Mr Abubakar said if the governments through extension services could educate herders, the income the latter would generate from beef and milk would be higher.

Mr Abubakar’s proposal could conflict with the position of Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states, where strict anti-open grazing routes have been in enforcement since 2016.

The states have said they would not back down on the law, despite repeated warnings by President Muhammadu Buhari that the law was antagonistic towards the predominantly Fulani herders.

Mr Abubakar, a Fulani, is also widely believed to own large investment in livestock.

The governors in Taraba and Benue States are of the same Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Mr Abubakar, but it is unclear how they would react to Mr Abubakar’s position, which they had countered when Mr Buhari suggested it.

Ekiti State’s anti-open grazing law was implemented by Ayodele Fayose of the PDP while governor, but the state is now being run by Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress who was elected governor last July.

Still, Mr Abubakar said, if elected, he would implement policies geared towards establishing reserves for nomadic herdsmen.

Even though he acknowledged that open grazing is a way of life for the Fulani herders, the nomadic education would help reduce the culture while increasing interest in grazing reserves for modern rearing of livestock, he said.

Vote For All APC Candidates Nationwide - Buhari Reverses Self

President Muhammadu Buhari has countered insinuations that he did not campaign for Imo state governorship candidate of the ALL progressives Congress, APC, assuring members of the party that he is fully behind the party and its candidates in every state of the federation, and campaigning for them wherever he goes.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, dismissed insinuations that President Buhari did not show full support for the APC while campaigning yesterday in Imo State, a state that has made headlines recently for the fractiousness within the ruling party there which has led to disagreements with the state governor, Rochas Okorocha.

“The massive crowd that gathered to welcome President Buhari in Imo State was made up of not only supporters of the APC in the state, but also supporters of other parties who are united by their love for the President and their desire to see him re-elected, despite the local candidates they support,” Shehu said.

He explained that President Buhari’s consciousness of this obviously-mixed crowd was the reason why he did not speak only about support for the APC during the campaign, but also encouraged the people to vote according to their consciences.

According to the presidential spokesman, “While President Buhari is fully behind APC, he welcomes endorsements from those who do not belong to the ruling party but is also sensitive to their support for non-APC candidates at the local level. It would have been insensitive of him to offend his non-APC supporters by ignoring their local affiliations.”

Shehu noted President Buhari’s open endorsement of Hope Uzodinma, the APC gubernatorial candidate in Imo State, whose hand the President raised high before the crowd at the campaign rally.

“President Buhari is for the APC in every state and there is no doubt about that, despite his immense cross-party support,” he said.

BREAKING.... Appeal Court Refuses To Grant Onnoghen's Suit Seeking To Stop Trial At CCT

An Appeal Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by the suspended chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, seeking a stay of execution on his on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The Court said the nature of the charges levelled against Onnoghen warrants that proceeding at the CCT continue.

The court in a ruling on Wednesday said the request brought by Mr Onnoghen “was brought in a vacuum,” without a proper backing of legal provisions why it should have been granted.

According to the appellate court, Mr Onnoghen’s lawyers had argued that their application was brought because the tribunal, on January 14 refused to entertain their request challenging the jurisdiction of the court with other motions before proceeding with the main trial.

The court, however, read through the words used during the January 14 adjournment of the tribunal wherein the CCT slated January 22 for hearing of motions in the matter.

“Matter is hereby adjourned till Tuesday. Motions to be taken,” said Justice Abdul Aboki while reading through the tribunal’s ruling on January 14.

“The above stated decision is an adjournment for motions filed by the two parties,” the appeal court ruled. According to the appellate court, the words used by the tribunal did not suggest the submissions made by the applicant. The court questioned the likelihood of its jurisdiction to grant such order as requested, given the evidence before it.

“A court has inherent jurisdiction to grant stay of proceedings where it is certified that enough evidence has been given for such,” said Mr Aboki who read the ruling with two other judges.

BREAKING.......OBASANJO BOMBS BUHARI IN LAGOS

President Olusegun Obasanjo has told guests at the ongoing Island Club Quarterly Business Lecture holding in Lagos Wednesday that he never had to transmit a letter asking the VP Atiku Abubakar to Act as Acting President because he was never away from the Country for 103 days.

The former president was reacting to a criticism that he never trusted his VP to the extent of giving him charge over National responsibilities as acting President. He said "one of the most ridiculous criticism i have received for supporting Atiku is that i never trusted him, that is nit correct".

"The constitution clearly says that when the President is away, the Vice President automatically takes over".

The Lecture is ongoing in Lagos as we report. More details soon......

POLICE COMMISSION PROMOTES NEW DIGs

The Police Service Commission has approved the appointment of eight Deputy Inspector Generals of Police and the re -constitution of the Management Team of the Nigeria Police Force based on zonal representation with effect from Monday , January , 28th , 2019 .

The approval was the high - point of the 4 th plenary meeting of the Commission held in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday , January 28 th and 29 th, 2019 and presided over by its chairman , Alhaji Musiliu , Smith, a retired Inspector - General of Police .
Spokesperson of the Commission , Ikechukwu Ani said the Commission approved the appointment of eight Deputy Inspectors - General of Police with one of them, Usman Yakubu , promoted and to proceed on terminal leave .

Others are Aminchi Samaila Baraya , the most senior AIG from North East who will represent the Zone in the management team , Usman Tilli Abubakar , representing the North West ; Abdulmajid Ali , former Assistant Inspector-General of Police , representing North Central and Fredrick Taiwo Lakanu , former AIG, Operations and until his appointment, the Force Secretary , representing the South West .
He was also former CP , Imo state , and had also headed SARS , Lagos .
Also in the team are Godwin Nwobodo , former AIG , Boarder Patrol , presently AIG, Zone 7 , Abuja and former CP, Courses, at the Police Academy , POLAC , Wudil , Kano representing South East , Anthony Ogbizi Michael , former CP, Ebonyi and Delta states representing South South and Yakubu Jibrin from North Central but appointed on seniority consideration .
The Commission also approved the retirement of seven former DIGs .
Chairman of the Commission , Alhaji Smith, charged the new management team to give the acting Inspector General of Police maximum cooperation and support to move the Force forward .
He pledged the guidance of the Commission to the new team and reminded them that they are coming in at a very critical time in the life of our nation .
According to him , “You must be dedicated and committed to ensuring the sustenance of our nation ’s democracy . You must get prepared to confront the challenges that will come your way and also ensure that the forthcoming general elections are free , fair and credible and citizens guaranteed their freedom to choose their leaders without hindrance” .
The approval has been conveyed to the acting Inspector General of Police for implementation in a letter signed by the chairman .

NJC MEETING: Council Gives Onnoghen, Mohammed 7 Days To Answer Petitions Against Them.

The National Judicial Council has concluded its meeting held in Abuja Tuesday.

The NJC has given the suspended CJN Walter Onnoghen as well as the Acting CJN Mohammed Tanko seven days to respond to the petitions leveled against them.

Details soon......

88 Doctors Resign In Kogi Over Poor Conditions Of Service.

The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has called on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi to reverse the ‘current internal drift’ of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

The association made the appeal in a statement issued to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday by the state NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair.

This followed the exit of 88 medical doctors from the state public service.

The association however felicitated with the governor on the celebration of his third year anniversary in office and for making healthcare one of his five thematic areas.

According to Mr Zubair, “Under this administration, a total of 88 doctors have left the Kogi Civil Service; previously, 79 doctors left plus another nine who had succeeded in securing new employment recently.

“Doctors and other healthcare workers remained the drivers of healthcare delivery anywhere in the world.

“Steps such as the payment of outstanding salary arrears of doctors and other healthcare workers, implementation of the corrected CONMESS, promotion and annual step increment, among others, are needed to reverse this unfortunate trend.

“As you commence your fourth year in office, the NMA as the custodian of the health of the people is ready and willing to partner with state government to improve the health sector in Kogi.’’

Mr Zubair said that the association equally felicitated with the Deputy Governor, the SSG, the Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser on Health Matters and the entire cabinet members for sustaining the progress made thus far.

Mr Bello was sworn-in as the fourth civilian governor of Kogi by the satte Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, on Jan. 27, 2016.

Mr Zubair, however, commended the state government and Bello for some positive steps the government had taken in repositioning the health sector in the state.

IMO: Don't Come Near Our Presidential Campaign Rally - APC Tells Uche Nwosu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) warns the Action Alliance and Uche Nwosu not to come close to Buhari's campaign rally.

President Muhammadu Buhari will be in Imo state as part of his campaign rally ahead of the presidential election.

The APC notes that it does not have any arrangement with the AA on the platform on which Uche Nwosu will contest the governorship position

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly warned the Action Alliance and its governorship candidate in Imo state, Uche Nwosu, not to come close to its campaign rallies as there is no arrangement with the duo.

The APC said this just as the Action Alliance said it was endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 16, 2019, election.

The president is expected at the rally on Tuesday, January 29, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

Vanguard reports that the statement containing the warning was signed by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party’s national publicity secretary, insisting that it was not in any arrangement with the Action Alliance over the platform on which Nwosu will run for governor.

“The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC has been drawn to alleged plans by non-APC members to cause crisis at the Tuesday, January 29, 2019, scheduled Presidential rally of our great party, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, in Owerri, Imo state.

“Information available to us revealed plans by particularly, the members of the Action Alliance (AA) to storm the venue to create mayhem as they seek to hijack the APC campaign to promote the troubled ambition of their governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu.

“You would recall that the AA governorship candidate recently held his govermorship rally at the same Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, without APC members interfering or disturbing their programme.

“Therefore, we want to state very clearly that the scheduled rally is an APC rally and the party has no alliance with any political party and would not tolerate attempts by some persons under any guise to create chaotic atmosphere at the venue of our rally,” the statement said.

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Action Alliance (AA) recently reiterated its support for President Buhari ahead of the February 16, 2019, presidential election thus leaving its earlier endorsement of Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The report said the declaration of the AA for Buhari, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was made by Kenneth Udeze, the party’s national chairman.

It was learnt that Udeze said this when he joined the governorship candidate of the party in Imo state, Uche Nwosu, during the flag-off of the latter’s campaign.

ONNOGHEN: NJC Meeting Ongoing

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has commenced the emergency meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja.

On the list of the agenda for the meeting is the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen was suspended last Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari. Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad was sworn in to take his place in acting capacity.

Onnoghen was suspended on a directive by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over allegations of fraudulent declaration of assets.

Details soon...

House Of Reps Approves N30,000 As Minimum Wage

ABUJA-House of Representatives on Tuesday approved N30.000 as new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

The House also approved a clause that would make the new bill operational on the date it would be assented to by the president.

A public hearing was conducted on the new bill yesterday consequent upon the accelerated hearing accorded to the Bill by the House.

The House has countered the National Council of State, NCS and the State Governors who had earlier at an emergency meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja approved N27.000.

Meanwhile, the House has formally adjourned plenary to February 19 due to the Presidential and National Assembly elections that would hold February 16.

BREAKING...... President Buhari Swears in New Chief Justice Of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeira (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, pending the completion of his trial at the Code of Condcut Tribunal.

President Buhari announced the suspension at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja today.

BREAKING......COURT JAILS INEC OFFICIAL 7 YEARS IN PRISON

Two former officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have bagged 7 years in prison each for offences bordering on money laundering to the tune of N264.8 million.

Mr Christian Nwosu, a former Administrative Secretary of INEC in Kwara state, and one Tijani Bachir, were sentenced to seven years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Justice Mohammed Idris of the said court had found the two former INEC officials guilty of the offences on Thursday.

More details soon ..........!