MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE LAI MOHAMMED SAYS "I DIDN'T SAID THE PRESIDENT WILL BE WORKING FROM HOME

The Minister of information and culture Mr Lai Mohammed says he

"Never said that the president is to work from Home henceforth".in a statement issued in Abuja on wednesday,The minister said the Reporting in a section of the media of his post.Federal Executive Council(FEC) briefing that the president is to work from home henceforth is a untrue.

In a statement signed by his special adviser,Segun Adeyemi the minister said "the president only decided to work from home today not that he decided to work from home henceforth ".He said the headline in a section of the media "Buhari now work from home-lai mohammed" is a mis representation of his statement at the briefing.

Mr lai Mohammed said "he(the president) wanted to rest today"he asked the vice president to preside over TODAY's meeting"."in aaddition he also asked that all his file be taken home to him and he will be working from home today" He said

Jonathan names those who betrayed him in 2015 elections

US, UK, France helped Buhari defeat me – Jonathan

- Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, blames Barack Obama, David Cameron and French president Francois Hollande, for his defeat in the 2015 general elections

- Jonathan says he was betrayed by those he relied on to defeat Buhari

- The former president accuses the former chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, of acting American’s script in the weeks preceding the elections

Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has said foreign powers helped President Muhammadu Buhari emerge victorious in the 2015 general election.

Jonathan blamed his loss in the election on former United States president, Barack Obama, ex-British prime minister, David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande who he said aided President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory.

Jonathan reminisced on his defeat in a new book, “Against The Run of Play”, which is authored by the chairman of This Day editorial board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, The Nation reports.

The former president said he was betrayed by those he relied on to defeat Buhari.

Jonathan has accused the former chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, of acting American’s script in the weeks preceding the elections.

He said: “President Barack Obama and his officials made it very clear to me by their actions that they wanted a change of government in Nigeria and we’re ready to do anything to achieve that purpose. They even brought some naval ships into the Gulf of Guinea in the days preceding the election.

“I got on well with Prime Minister David Cameron but at some point, I noticed that the Americans were putting pressure on him and he had to join them against me. But I didn’t realise how far President Obama was prepared to go to remove me until France caved in to the pressure from America.

“But weeks to the election, he had also joined the Americans in supporting the opposition against me.

On why Obama was against him, he said: "There was this blanket accusation that my body language was supporting corruption, a line invented by the opposition but which the media and civil society bought into and helped to project to the world. That was the same thing I kept hearing from the Americans without specific allegations.”

He accused the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, of acting American’s script in the weeks preceding the elections.

“I was disappointed by Jega because I still cannot understand what was propelling him to act the way he did in the weeks preceding the election.

“As at the first week in February 2015 when about 40 per cent of Nigerians had not collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), Jega said INEC was ready to go ahead with the election. How could INEC have been ready to conduct an election in which millions of people will be disenfranchised?

“Of course, the Americans were encouraging him to go ahead yet they would never do such thing in their own country. How could we have cynically disenfranchised about a third of our registered voters for no fault of theirs and still call that a credible election?

“The interesting thing was that the opposition also supported the idea of going on with an election that was bound to end in confusion," he said.

learnt that Jonathan also insisted that it was right for his administration to have postponed the election based on security reasons.

“When the military and security chiefs demanded for more time to deal with the insurgency, the reasons were genuine. As at February 2015, it would have been very difficult to vote in Gombe, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

“But the moment all the arms and ammunition that had been ordered finally arrived, the military was able to use them to degrade the capacity of Boko Haram.”

Although the former president faulted the results of the 2015 presidential election, he said he conceded defeat to avoid bloodshed.

“Go and check the results from Kano. The Presidential election and that of National Assembly happened on the same day and same time. The National Assembly result reflected that about 800,000 people voted but that of the presidential reflected a vote of about 1.8 million. I had reports of what happened but I decided that for such to be accepted, it meant that those who called themselves my supporters must have colluded. I was betrayed by the very people I relied on to win the election.

“In 2011 when Buhari did not campaign anywhere and could not have won the election, there was a spontaneous violent reaction that led to the death of several innocent people, including Youth Corps members.”

“I asked myself: what would happen in a situation in which there was already internal and international conspiracy in his favour? I could not bear the thought of anybody dying, so I told myself I had only one option and that was to concede," Jonathan said.

Meanwhile, the former president has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s style of fighting corruption, saying it forces people to go into exile for political reasons.

He said if every president decides to go in to dismantle what his predecessor did, society will never make progress.

Jonathan suggested that Buhari could still fight corruption using a different style.

Davido uncle sen isiaka Adeleke Died of Cardiac Arrest

senator isiaka last picture before his death

Davido Uncle senator isiaka Adeleke his an APC member and a serving senator of osun west senatorial district.

Former Governor of osun state senator isiaka Adeleke was said to be the First Civillian Governor in nigeria history.The serving Senator was said to have died of Cardiac Arrest while there was also news going round that the easy going man sen isiaka died of Food poisoning.while the investigation is going on the cause of death of the senator is not yet confirmed.whether its Cardiac Arrest or food poising.

There has been condolence message from all APC member to the Adeleke Family.

Senate president  Bukola Saraki said "Senator isiaka Death is a Big Loss to the APC political party"

Senator isiaka olatunji  dies at the age of 62 born in 1995 dies on sunday April 23 at an event organized for him in osun state.

One of the senator political associate describe the senator death as a Sad personal Loss.

"president muhammed buhari commiserate with the Adeleke family and the osun state goverment on the death of senator isiaka".The president spokeman said.

Iran nuclear deal:iran agreed to curb nuclear program

Iran nuclear deal: Trump administration approves agreement but review looms.

White House certifies Tehran’s compliance but Rex Tillerson says a review will establish whether agreement is in US interests.

Iranian president Hassan rouhani Sealed The Landmark Nuclear Agreement with the West.

The Trump administration has notified congress that iran is complying with the term of the 2015 Nuclear deal negotiated with former president of united state of america Barack Obama.

however,Secretary of state Rex Tillerson said in a letter sent late on tuesday to house speaker paul ryan.

"Iran Remain a leading state sponsor for terror,though many platforms and methods" Tillerson wrote.

he said the National security council-led interagency review of the Agreement will evaluate whether it is vital to the national security interest of the United State.

Trump was an outspoken critic of the deal but has offered conflicting opinion.whether to scrap it,modify it or keep it in place with more strenous enforcement.
The international Atomic Energy Agency that Iran is keeping to its End of the Bargain.

The Nuclear Deal Was Sealed in Vienna in July 2015 After 18 months of negotiation led by former secretary of state John Kerry and other four permanent member of the UN security Council,BRITIAN,RUSSIA,CHINA and FRANCE.
under the terms IRAN agreed to curb its Nuclear Program.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has spoken on the N13bn recovered by EFCC in Lagos-

- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has spoken on the N13bn recovered by EFCC in Lagos- But former President Goodluck Jonathan has refused to clear the air on the allegation- EFCC had on Wednesday 12 seiz...

CBN finally speaks on N13b seized by EFCC as Jonathan  - Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has spoken on the N13bn recovered by EFCC in Lagos - But former President Goodluck Jonathan has refused to clear the air on the allegation - EFCC had on Wednesday 12 seized N13b from an Ikoyi apartment in Lagos state The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has finally cleared air on the controversial N13b recovered by Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in an Ikoyi apartment in Lagos state. But despite claims by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) that he approved and released the massive stash of cash recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, former President Goodluck Jonathan has remained silent on the matter, Premium Times reports. whistleblower‘s secret companies laundered billions for Abacha  gathered that the former president’s spokesperson has for days declined requests to state Mr Jonathan’s side of the story. CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele Operatives of the EFCC, acting on a tip-off on Wednesday, said they found $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 hidden inside an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi. The funds are valued at N13 billion based on prevailing exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The EFCC circulated photograph and video footage of the operation, sparking nationwide outrage. But the anti-graft agency has so far failed to disclose ownership of the recovered funds. As Nigerians and civic groups demanded clarification about the recovered cash, sources in the presidency quoted the NIA Director General, Ayodele Oke, as telling President Muhammadu Buhari that Mr Jonathan released the money to the agency for covert security projects. But Mr Jonathan has remained silent despite requests by our reporter for him to speak on the matter. For two days, repeated telephone calls, text messages and email enquiries to the former president’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, were neither answered nor returned. The presidency is also yet to officially comment on the matter. CBN was not sure it paid Ikoyi billions to NIA When contacted, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it was not sure, as at Saturday April 15 that the recovered billions, in mint fresh notes, moved directly from the bank to the NIA. The security agency had claimed that it received the funds directly from the CBN.  But when contacted by Premium Times to clarify its role in the disbursement of the funds, the CBN spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, said, “It is true the Central Bank of Nigeria issues mint fresh notes, but it is only to banks. “After that (issuance to banks) CBN does not know which of their customers they (the banks) give those notes to and for what purpose. “I cannot say if the notes the NIA is claiming came from the CBN. So, I will not be able to answer questions on it for now, except I receive a specific request.” In this  former NNPC GMD Andrew Yakubu appears in court over fraud 

Nigeria a nation shrowded in darkness - Nigerian poets react

Nigeria a nation shrowded in darkness - Nigerian poets react

What is read in the news these days is enough make every well meaning Nigerian sad, much more make them afraid for their future, the future of their children and that of their fatherland.There tends to be no sector of the country which is really doing well. The Nigerian Senate is plagued with its leaders faces charges for which many would have thrown in the towel. There are indications that the house is divided,even on the issue of the leadership of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari. Trust is lost,truth is missing and we have no virtues anymore.The media feasts on the ills that tends to multiply by the day, a miracle is urgently needed to save the nation.These poets have reacted to the Nigerian situation, however, their poems cuts beyond Nigeria and Africa, to a world that seem to have lost its way. The madness is everywhere, death is not the worst we fear, we fear more what living has become.The First Tooth.The first tooth wasn’t lured by oil and saltTo breaking the seal of the gumThe first tooth was called up by milk.…Milk in form of life itself.The first tooth fell in a coupFor the want of oil, spice and wineFor the want of meat, red and whiteFor the want of caffeine and plastics.And life went-on with the chewing of all these thingsAnd the king tooth changed in colorThat it’s become yellow, green, grey and blackAnd it’s all colors except its firstThat in strength, it curves the cap of a cork…and let the gas to the skies;That it tears the bark of the earth and let the tears flowAnd in height, it’s become a fangAnd grow beyond the circles of the lipsTo scare sweat and blood off poresAnd thereafter, fall and lost in wingless dust.Now with this tooth, we can find the truth……the coup that led the first tooth to the roofIn the company of seven earthly angels.
Dare Dan is a spoken word poet. He lives in Lagos and work in Lagos. He goes by the handle @damilaredan121 on twitter.Lost MemoryDark mood.BroodIt seems we’ve forgottenHow joyfully we walked intoPromises made by coming soonDo we need a new pair of shoeOr we are peering into holesAs our penchants dictate that we shouldHe went viral, saying yes we canFour years after, he appears as if carrying an empty canBlack hair turning whiteA tea party never thought hiatus was fun, and were now running wildReal commonsense saw signsA speech which began by a praise of his wifeTurned his fortunes aroundSo he won another roundNow ratings show him trending higher than Ronald ever didI wish I can tell you, he’s perfect in everythingHis words often are not polishedHe has a history of deeds, and myriad of things he abolishedHis flaws often gapeHeavily accented words, which gives few awayYou may have been to his gallery, his collections are scantThey say he’s a protectionist, that may be his artIt’s true things are slowIt’s true we’ve moved back, and basic radiance is now a dimmer shade of normal glowBut I can feel a train comingRemember the night was stormyIf rain comes in the morningIn the early days, a lover judges intentionsWhen x walked away from math, it was because x placed her in detentionDividends were stuck in vandalized pipelinesAn apple sliced down the middle, was divvied even furtherSo they could shower in the public fountain and glisten longer in the limelightThey seeded lands to girl-takersTurned their own warriors to serial undertakersDebts followed emptied tillsIn the aftermath of a disaster, we discovered how stealing killsIt’s often sad how garbage cannot be left in thetrashBecause of artificial tribal marksTwo seeing eyes could be blinded by prejudiceIt will also color the mind and poison the tongueA half full glass thereafter looks half emptyMaking every one of us feel our conditions have never been worseBecause we have mostly lost our memory…By Akeem OyalowoGo tell my sonGo tell my son…the things he sees todaythat glow with glitz and might,are things we saw beforebowed to hollow naught.Tell him…the seed he plants todayshall bear fruitsof good or illsthat’ll feed his nation’s bowelremind him…that life is full of thornsthat hide in transient homewhere saints are robbed of garband crowned with thorny tagsencourage him…never to date a causeto tear a man apartwith  pleasant spiteful wordsto win an oath of thanksprod him…to denounce his wedding vowsto things that fade with timeand sign a seal of love witheternity’s friendly br*astscounsel him…to open a heart accountwhere deposits of love are keptto earn bounty yieldsRemind him…to forget not the days of humble start,when poverty courted usAnd spend as wise he canThe wealth he has for nowWarn him…this path he chose to threadshall bring pain and gain along,but love shall see him throughwhen fouled by aching throes.Here I am nowstripped off - of life’s vanity’s veilwhere all I had beforerests on transient’s deskAdvise him…to attend funeral servicewhere kings are lowered to dustperhaps that will make him seethe twists that life presentsAllow him…to make his heartfelt choicewhen adulthood beckons on himso he may make his fallsand take a cue from that.Tell him,,,I swear I’ll cry againif he fails to heed my wordsand do the things he shouldthat lead to lofty Heights.Mikail Oluwadare Bashir is a creative writer. His passion for the screen led him to HamptonCourt Studio UK, where he obtained a Diploma in Screenwriting in 2009. He has attended local and international residencies. His poems had been published both in print media and online.

North Korean missile test fails, US and South Korea say

North Korean missile test fails, US and South Korea say

N. Korean missile test fails, officials say

Seoul, South Korea (CNN)An attempted missile launch by North Korea on Sunday failed, US and South Korean defense officials told CNN.

The attempted launch occurred a day after the regime of Kim Jong Un showed off a bevy of new missiles and launchers at a large-scale military parade on its most important holiday.

A South Korean defense official said the action took place in Sinpo, a port city in eastern North Korea. That was the site of a ballistic missile test earlier this month in which the projectile fell into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

The North Koreans use Sinpo shipyard for their submarine activity, and US satellites have observed increased activity there in April, a US official said at the time of the previous test.

South Korean and US intelligence officials are trying to determine what type of missile was used Sunday.

Here are the latest developments:

• US Vice President Mike Pence, en route to South Korea for a previously scheduled trip, was briefed on the launch, administration officials said. Pence and President Donald Trump have been in contact, aides to the vice president said.

• "The President and his military team are aware of North Korea's most recent unsuccessful missile launch. The President has no further comment," US Defense Secretary James Mattis said.

• South Korean officials convened a meeting of the National Security Council.

• "Our government condemns this serious threat on the Korean peninsula and overall international society," the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement.

• If Sunday's missile launch leads to a nuclear test or an ICBM launch, there would be "a powerful punishing measure that North Korean authority can't endure," South Korean officials said.

• US Pacific Command said it tracked a missile launch at 5:21 p.m. ET and said the missile blew up almost immediately.

• At this point, US military officials don't believe the missile had intercontinental capabilities, a US defense official told CNN. The official said the missile blew up so quickly there is limited data.

• Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the think tank RAND Corporation, said he thinks the missiles were not the kind that could reach the United States' mainland. "The North doesn't seem to be quite at the place to test an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile)," he said.

• CNN's Will Ripley in Pyongyang, North Korea, reported there was no immediate confirmation from North Korean state media about the launch.

Rising tensions

North Korea's actions come as tensions on the Korean Peninsula have spiked to alarming levels.

The US Navy dispatched the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson strike group to the region last weekend, and Trump has been tweeting this week that if China can't rein in North Korea's nuclear program, the United States will.

The group brought ships that could shoot down missiles that North Korea has been testing.

"I think the (Trump) administration anticipated that a ballistic missile launch would occur, and I have to wonder whether they were prepared to use the ships that are with that carrier group to shoot down that missile" as long as the ships were positioned in the right spots, Bennett said.

Pence is headed to Asia this weekend, with planned stops in Seoul; Jakarta, Indonesia; Tokyo and Sydney.

Analysts had expected North Korea to conduct a nuclear missile test around the time of his visit, possibly on Saturday as the nation celebrated the 105th birthday of its founder -- Kim II Sung, the late grandfather of North Korea's current leader.

The status of the North Korean underground nuclear test program is unchanged, a senior US defense official told CNN, and a test could come at any time.

The reported failed test comes at a time of year when North Korea has previously tried to launch missiles. Last year, Pyongyang attempted to launch a Musudan missile on April 15, an auspicious date on which millions celebrate Kim II Sung's birthday.

That test also failed, as there was "no evidence the missile reached flight," a US official told CNN.

CNN's Paula Hancocks reported from Seoul, Barbara Starr reported from Washington and Steve Almasy reported and wrote in Atlanta. CNN's Josh Berlinger in Hong Kong, Lauren Suk and Taehoon Leen in Seoul contributed to this report.

By ula Hancocks, Barbara Starr and Steve Almasy

FRSC officials attacked for demanding bribe (photos/video) frsc-officials-attacked-demanding-bribe-photo

LATEST POLITICS SPORTS GOSSIP WEDDINGS HAUSA NEWS FEEDBACK FOOTBALL SUBMIT PHOTO NEWS BUZZ JOBz 

Violence erupts in APC rally as youths stone governor, Senator, dignitaries (photos/video) FRSC officials attacked for demanding bribe officials were attacked by an angry mob in Anambra for demanding bribe - Some of the officials fled leaving their colleagues to the mercy of the mob Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) came under attack in Nnewi ANambra state when they demanded bribe igniting the fury of angry youths. According to Modesty Vitus M Ezenwa who shared this on Facebook, he said the incident happened on Friday, April 14 when the officials were descended upon for asking for bribe.

Governor Ambode call for political Reformation in Nigeria

govenor ambode

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday called for collaboration among political leaders in Africa to reform political process for development and economic transformation of the continent.

Ambode, represented by his deputy, Idiat Adebule, made the call at the 2nd African Political Summit organised by the Association of Political Consultants in Africa (APCA) in Lagos.

The theme of the summit is: “Democracy and Political Consultancy.’’

“The nature of politics in Africa has for long been a source of grave concern to those who are genuinely interested in taking Africa to its rightful position in the mainstream global system.

“It is in our best interest and in the interest of our democracy to reform our political process and enhance the engagement of the electorate in the democratic process for credibility and transparency.

“The resultant effect will be effective leadership for transformative growth and development,’’ Ambode said.

Also, Benjamin Eisenberg, a Political Consultant based in U.S, said that professionalising politics was the only way for democracy to succeed in Africa.

: Emir of Adamwa confers special title on Vice President Osinbajo

Emerging reports suggests that Vice PresidentYemi Osinbajo has been conferred with a special title by the Lamido of Adamawa.According to a Tweet by Laolu Akande, specialto the VP, Professor Osinbajo has been given the title of "Jagaban Adamawa"
gathered that the vice president landed in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, where he will be commissioning a number of Adamawa state govt projects this Thursday, April 13.He was received at the Lamido Adamawa’s palace.The Lamido conferred the VP with the honorary title - “Jagaban Adamawa” meaning front-runner of Adamawa, with a colorful presentation of a horse.After a colorful Durbar parade in honor of VP, Osinbajo accepted the honorary title with greetings from President Buhari, “in-laws” to Adamawa people.Vice President Osinbajo was well received by the Adamawa peopleThe vice President assured that even if it may not be easy,"we shall see a new Nigeria soon".He noted that rebuilding of Adamawa and the Northeast region has started.

Photos: Adams Oshiomhole’s deputy escapes assassinatio

Gunmen on Saturday opened fire on the Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, and his entourage in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

Accoring to Punch, a policeman, an operative of the Department of State Security and three other persons were injured during the attack and were taken to an undisclosed hospital.

Odubu had last Wednesday formally declared his intention to contest the September 10 gubernatorial election in the state under the All Progressives Congress amidst wide speculation that his decision did not go down well with Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

It was learnt that the former lawmaker had earlier been denied access to the party’s secretariat in
Fugar, allegedly on the instruction of an official at the Government House.

Odubu was expected to meet with party delegates from the area but met the secretariat locked.

The situation was said to have angered some delegates, who later forced the gate open to enable the deputy governor meet with them.

He was said to have left for Auchi and was meeting with some delegates when the gunmen suddenly appeared, firing gunshots at his convoy.

A source, who did not want to be mentioned, told Punch that Odubu was not injured in the attack.

“No, he was not injured but two our security men were injured. It was in Etsako West, in Auchi.

“We ran for our dear lives. They injured a policeman, an SSS operative and three civilians and destroyed canopies. We learnt that they were paid N1m to carry out the attack,” the source said.

Efforts by Punch to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Osifo Abiodun, were not successful. Calls put across to the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kelly Odaro, also went unanswered, they say.

A police source confirmed the attack.

He said, “It is true from the information we have heard.”