Sahara Reporters Latest News Friday 7th December 2018
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 07/12/18
Read also
target=_blank>Saudi Arabia Donates 140,468 Bags Of Food Items To IDPs In Borno, Yobe
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, has donated 140,468 bags of food items to displaced victims of Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe states.
In his remarks at flag-off of distribution in Teacher Village Displaced Camp, Maiduguri, Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), disclosed that 125,317 baskets of food items will be distributed by the centre to 33,343 households in designated camps and communities in Borno State over the next four months.
According to a statement by Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations issued on Thursday, Maihaja commended the effort of the Minister of Defence, Retired Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali, who facilitated food assistance to the North-East.
The statement read: “In Borno, a total of 125,372 bags of 25kg of rice and beans and 62,686 cartons of condiments with each containing 4kg semovita, two litres of vegetables oil, 29 sachets of tomatoes, 1kg of salt and two sachets of seasoning will be distributed directly through the combined efforts of NEMA, SEMA and critical stakeholders using the voucher system. Each household of six persons will get a food basket of 59.8kg for the period of one month.
“In Yobe, a total of 15,096 bags of 25kg of rice and beans with 7,548 condiments will be distributed to 3,774 households identified to benefit from the gesture, where the total food basket to be distributed was put at 225,685.”
Leader of the team, Nasser Alsubaie, an Assistant Director of Emergency Aid From King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, said the generous donation would benefit more than 840,000 Internally Displaced People in the North-East, as the donation was a testimony of the humanitarian commitment of the centre.
“It will be recalled that early this year, Saudi Arabia pledged to donate the sum of $10m for capacity building to NEMA and relief assistance to the Federal Government to address the food crisis and resultant malnutrition caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East.”
Boko Haram
Insurgency
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>BREAKING: After ‘Collecting N2m Ransom’, Kidnappers Release Pregnant Ondo Medical Doctor
Breaking News
Breaking News
Sahara Reporters Media
One of the abducted health workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo in Ondo State, has been freed, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report.
The heavily pregnant medical doctor was released on Thursday at about 2am on Owo road.
On Tuesday, workers of the FMC were abducted along the Owo road.
See Also
Breaking News
BREAKING: Gunmen Abduct Three Health Workers In Ondo, Demand N50m Ransom
0 Comments
1 Day Ago
The kidnappers also seized a lecturer with the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State, who was on his way to work. They demanded the sum of N50million as ransom.
Our correspodent learnt that the female doctor, identified as Mrs. Ayeku, was freed from captivity due to her condition. A source at the FMC, who confirmed her release, said the doctor was receiving treatment at a hospital in Akure.
The source, who preferred not to be named, said the doctor was released after the family paid ransom.
“Truly, I can confirm to you that one of our workers who was kidnapped on Tuesday has now been released. I gathered that she was freed due to her condition, but not until her family parted with the sum of N2million as ransom,” the source said.
“She is currently receiving treatment in a hospital in the state capital, and I am aware the female doctor is doing fine.”
Femi Joseph, Police Spokesperson at the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed the doctor’s release via a phone call with SaharaReporters in Akure.
Joseph said the pregnant doctor was released on Thursday midnight along the Owo road after the Police combed the forest for several hours in search of the victims.
“Yes, one of the abducted victims was released today and she is the pregnant doctor,” he said.
“They released her at the midnight when they noticed that the Police was close to them. We have received her, and she is currently receiving treament in the hospital due to the trauma that she faced in the thick forest. But let me assure you that we shall not relent in arresting the pepetrators of this crime and we will bring them to book, so they can face justice.
“The Ondo Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gbenga Adeyanju, has set up a rescue team to ensure that others still in captivity are rescued unhurt.”
At the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the Ondo Police Commissioner had already summoned a meeting with heads of all security agencies in the state.
CRIME
Breaking News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>Victory For Democracy, Sowore As Reps Approve June 12 As Democracy Day
Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, who is also the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has hailed the move by the House of Representatives to approve June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day.
Video of Sowore Announces Plan To Make June 12 Democracy Day, 3 Days Before President Buhari's Decision
Sowore Announces Plan To Make June 12 Democracy Day, 3 Days Before President Buhari’s Decision
The move comes six months after Sowore made the promise, at a town hall meeting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on June 23, 2018, to formalise the date if he becomes President next year.
Three days later, in what was deemed a political move, the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration also announced plans to make June 12 Nigeria’s new Democracy Day.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives announced that June 12 be commemorated as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day with the last celebrated date, May 29 now, to be permanently replaced in the Public Holiday’s act.
In 1993, Sowore fought for the de-annulment of June 12 election while he was Student Union President of the University of Lagos. The election, referred to as Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections, was annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida.
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>EFCC Arraigns Four Dangote Staff For ‘Diverting’ 800 Bags Of Cement Worth N15million
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned four Dangote staff — Adewale Dalmeida, Ibrahim Lawal, Afeez Olaniba and Lukman Adam — before an Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta for alleged conspiracy and stealing.
They were arraigned on a two-count charge before Justice O.J. Bamgbose on Thursday.
According to the anti-graft agency, the trio connived to divert nine trucks loaded with 800 bags of cements each.
Count on of the charges read: “That you Adewale Dalmeida, Ibrahim Lawal, Afeez Olaniba and Lukman Adam between May and August 2018 at Ibese within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of the sum of N15,940,800.00 (fifteen million, nine hundred and forty thousand, eight hundred Naira) property of Dangote Cement Place.
“That you Adewale Dalmeida, Ibrahim Lawal, Afeez Olaniba and Lukman Adam between May and August 2018 at Ibese within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court stole nine trucks of cement valued at N15,940,800.00 (fifteen million, nine hundred and forty thousand, eight hundred Naira) property of Dangote Cement Place.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
However, before the plea, a slight drama ensued as the defendants insisted they do not understand the English Language, necessitating the court to provide them three different persons who interpreted to them in Hausa, Yoruba and Pidgin English.
Following their not guilty pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Idris Mohammed, prayed the court to remand them in prison custody pending the commencement of their trial.
The defense counsel, however, made an oral application for their bail which the court rejected.
The counsel urged the court to grant bail or remand them in the custody of the EFCC where they have been since September.
Justice Bamgbose remanded all defendants in Ibara prison custody, Abeokuta and adjourned till December 17, 2018 for hearing of bail application and commencement of trial.
Corruption
CRIME
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%99s-cousin-umar-ardo-tipped-leave-pdp-buharis-party-apc target=_blank>Atiku’s Cousin Umar Ardo Tipped To Leave PDP For Buhari’s Party APC
Dr. Umar Ardo, an aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to contest the Adamawa State governorship election, is set to dump the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ardo, who is a cousin of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP, was interested in the PDP ticket but withdrew ahead of the primary, alleging irregularities.
However, following the defection of Muhammadu Tahir, another aspirant, from the PDP to the APC, Ardo is being tipped to follow suit.
Tahir, who was Deputy Governor during the eight-month administration of Governor Bala Ngilari, defected to the APC on Tuesday, and then accompanied Jibrilla Bindow, Governor of the state, to the commissioning of Buhari’s North-East campaign office in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Sources close to Bindow have told SaharaReporters that Ardo may dump the PDP on Friday.
“Ardo was to announce his defection on Tuesday but postponed it to Friday,” an aide of Bindow said.
Similarly, Bindow’s second term bid got a boost during Tahir’s defection, as Hassan Turaki, who is better known as Yedi and is a sworn enemy of the Governor, was also sighted on his entourage.
Elections
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>BREAKING: Imo Assembly Speaker, 17 Lawmakers Dump APC, PDP For AA
Breaking News
Breaking News
Sahara Reporters Media
Eighteen members of the Imo State House of Assembly have announced their defected from their political parties.
According to Channels Television, the Speaker, Acho Ihim, and 17 other lawmakers dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The lawmakers defected to the Action Alliance (AA).
Uche Nwosu, son-in-law to Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, who had been tipped by Okorocha to secure the APC governorship ticket, had also dumped the APC after issues that led to his losing the ticket.
On Tuesday, he had also announced his intention to run for Governor of Imo State on the platform of the Action Alliance, stating that “injustice, impunity, and lack of respect for party’s constitution” forced him out of APC.
See Also
Elections
Okorocha’s Son-In-Law Abandons Him In APC, Joins AA
0 Comments
2 Days Ago
The lawmakers’ defection was announced on Thursday by the Speaker, during an emergency sitting at the State House of Assembly.
Elections
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%99t-go-%E2%80%9Cnext-level%E2%80%9D-fredrick target=_blank>If Buhari Will Reshuffle His Cabinet, These Ministers Shouldn’t Go To The “Next Level” By Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
Sources at the presidential whispered to me that President Muhammadu Buhari is considering “reshuffling” his cabinet.
Since 2015, President Buhari has made no changes to his team. And despite demands for a rejigging of his players; he has kept them, even while some of them are conceding own goals like Manchester United.
However, it is refreshing to hear that the president is considering changing the line-up of his players. When this will happen is still a subject of speculation. But if he decides to take the action, some ministers ought not to follow him to the “Next Level”.
Top on my list of ministers, who should exit the federal executive council is Mohammad Bello, minister of the Federal capital Territory (FCT). I have lived in Abuja for years; I have never seen the city so dirty, ramshackle and unsafe before as it is now.
Abuja is now a safe haven for criminals. Car snatching, armed robbery, “one-chance operations”, and other criminality have become very common. The parlous state of insecurity is compounded by non-functional streetlights. At night, darkness envelops the city like a cumulus, giving cover to criminals to operate unchecked.
Also, the roads in the city have never been this deplorable. Pot-holes sprawl out on the roads and refuse litter the streets.
Really, I doubt if any road project has been completed by the FCT administration under Bello. For example, the Karshi-Apo road, which the minister promised would be completed this month, is barely done. As you read these words, nothing is cracking up on that road. The pain of residents, who endure traffic gridlock on the Nyanya-Keffi road every day, is unimaginable. As it is, there is only one entry into and exit out of the Abuja suburb.
Another minister, who should not go to the “Next Level”, with Buhari is Adebayo Shittu, minister of communications. Shittu has been in the news more for controversy than for performance.
Recently, he admitted to have skipped participating in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme after he finished law school in 1979. He said he was elected a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly after law school, so he skipped the NYSC because being a “Honourable member” is already service to father land.
Imagine?
Meanwhile, he heads a ministry where an “ordinary Nigerian” cannot get a job if he does not have an NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
And on performance, Shittu cannot be argued for. Omobola Johnson, the immediate past minister of communications, left a record he appears too feeble to match.
If President Buhari will take these men to his Next Level; we already know what that would be like.
Facebook: Fredrick Nwabufo, Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo
Opinion
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Fredrick Nwabufo
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%94-buhari-clone-mocked-again-time-south-african-comedian target=_blank>‘A President Who Doesn’t Matter’ — Buhari ‘Clone’ Mocked Again, This Time By South African Comedian
The notion of a cloned President Muhammadu Buhari has again become the topic of discussion on live TV.
Buhari had addressed the speculations on Sunday in Kraków, Poland, while answering questions, saying: “A lot of people hoped that I died during my ill health. It is real me.”
He then became the subject of a joke on the matter during an episode of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, an abridged recording of which was made public on Tuesday.
See Also
Entertainment
‘Clone’ Buhari Mocked On American Late-Night Show
0 Comments
1 Day Ago
In an abridged version of another comedy show, which went viral on Thursday, the subject also came up for discussion.
The Daily Show airs on Comedy Central and is anchored by Trevor Noah, a South African comedian.
Video of Cloned President: Buhari Once Again Mocked On International TV Show
Cloned President: Buhari Once Again Mocked On International TV Show
In the clip published on December 4, 2018 entitled: ‘The Seven-Year-Old Millionaire, Tumblr’s P*** Ban & Racist Christmas Trees’, Michael Kosta who spoke during the show started with “the President of Nigeria is having an identity crisis”.
After a clip showing the tweets where Buhari responded to the “ignorant rumours”, Kosta continued: “Even Nigeria’s real news sounds like Nigerians’ scam emails”.
He then went into an accent that attempted to mock Buhari.
Noah was also present but mute during the show, as he had earlier said Kosta would be his voice for the show, having lost his ability to speak in undisclosed circumstances.
“We’re supposed to believe he’s not a clone but I don’t know, because if you know, the CIA did have the technology, they are gonna test it on an African first. You don’t just try that out on rich, white people. The CIA Chief is gonna be like ‘This might not work the first time, so find me someone who doesn’t matter. The President of Nigeria? Yes, that’s perfect’,” Kosta added.
Entertainment
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%94-when-reverend-chris-okotie-was-secular-musician target=_blank>#ThrowbackThursday: ‘Show Me Your Backside’ — When Reverend Chris Okotie Was A Secular Musician
Born 60 years ago, not many people would have seen Kris Okotie exchange the secular music stage for the pulpit.
Once upon a time known as Kris, the now Reverend Chris Okotie has crafted a niche for himself in the Christian setting in Nigeria. His style of preaching is also such that listeners may be forced to consult their dictionaries anytime he mounts the pulpit.
“It was not an arbitrary whimsical or capricious act it was based on the claims justice being meant before the dispensation of grace could be released unto you. Are you still here?” are the words of Reverend Chris Okotie in his sermon on a Sunday in 2016.
Aside being a pastor, Okotie made the headlines on Sunday, June 24, 2012 when he decided it was time for him and his ex-wife, Stephanie, to say goodbye. His decision was met with heavy criticism as some questioned why a pastor would part ways with his wife.
He is also known as one of the Nigerians who have attempted to rule the country, having contested three times for the office of the President of Nigeria. In 2003, Okotie contested as the presidential candidate of Justice Party (JP), but lost to Olusegun Obasanjo. Again, in the May 2007 general election, he contested on the platform of Fresh Democratic Party, a party he founded. However, he lost to the late Umaru Yar’Adua. Not wanting to give up on his dreams, he tried his luck in 2011 when he contested against Goodluck Jonathan. He lost. On Sunday, July 16, he declared his intention to run for presidency in 2019 general election.
However, Okotie has not always been known as a ‘master’ of the English language on the pulpit. “When he was in the world” — as they say — his voice found its way into the heart of music enthusiasts for his pop style of music that brought freshness to the music scene of the 80’s.
Although he had been singing since he was younger, the big break came for him in 1980 when he met Odion Iruoje, a producer in Lagos. And so, the road to his stardom became a reality.
Here are a lists of some songs in his catalogue:
Show Me Your Backside: The song which eulogies a woman’s behind sees Kris Okotie trying to woo a woman by telling her to dance to the rhythm of his song. The song was recorded at EMI studios, Lagos and was produced by Odion Iruoje. It was released in 1981.
I Need Someone: This Funk/Soul/Pop rock song was released in 1980. The track was arranged by Odion Iruoje with the help of other co-producers like Berley Jones.
Carolina: Kris Okotie uses poetry in telling a story of a city in America, North Carolina where his mind resides. “I can feel the sun shine hit me from behind and I got North Carolina in my mind,” so goes the lyrics of the song.
Fine Mama: If all other songs have failed to get your attention, this pop song by Kris Okotie will definitely get you off your seat. In this song, Okotie skilfully praises the beauty of his mother. Some part of the lyrics are also rendered in his local dialect. “Fine mama loves me 1,2,3,4,5. My mama too fine,” the lyrics read.
Today, Chris Okotie, as he now refers to himself, spends his time spreading the gospel of Christ, as well as nurturing his dream of becoming Nigeria’s president.
Entertainment
DOCUMENTARY
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Buhari Mulls Cabinet Reshuffle Ahead Of 2019 Elections
President Muhammadu Buhari is contemplating rejigging his cabinet in a bid to bolster his chances of succeeding at the 2019 presidential polls, SaharaReporters has been told.
It is not exactly clear how soon the President would ring the changes, but a source in the presidency told SaharaReporters that it could happen at Friday’s emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), or it could be delayed for a few weeks.
The emergency FEC meeting was primarily convened for approval for the 2019 Appropriation Bill, with the government hoping to present the budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly next week.
But the source told SaharaReporters that a cabinet reshuffle at a time like this, with elections approaching, should be no surprise.
“The President is considering dropping ministers with political baggage, and those contesting, and is also hoping to strengthen his campaign spread,” he said.
Since becoming President in May 2015, Buhari hasn’t altered his cabinet, the members of which he waited six months before announcing.
Aisha Alhassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba, is the most recent Minister to reluctantly bow out of office. She quit in acrimonious circumstances as Minister of Women Affairs in late September, after she was disqualified from contesting the Taraba State governorship election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
That was two weeks after Kemi Adeosun, then the Minister of Finance, belatedly resigned following months of sustained public pressure after it was exposed that she did not undergo the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Kayode Fayemi, then Minister of Solid Minerals Development, left in May to contest the Ekiti State governorship election, which he won — he was sworn in in October — while Amina Mohammed resigned as Minister of Environment in February 2017 after she was appointed United Nations Deputy Secretary General.
Elections
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Featured Image
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
You can also check
