Shoprite, Africa’s biggest grocery retailer, has announced plans to leave Nigeria after 15 years.
The Cape Town-based retailer has started a formal process to consider the potential sale of all or a majority stake in its supermarkets in Nigeria, it said in a trading statement for the 52 weeks to end June, which was released on Monday, August 3.

Bloomberg reports that Shoprite is considering selling its Nigerian operations. This process was initiated after the retail chain said in November that it was reviewing its supermarket operations outside South Africa and would consider exiting certain countries if that would help reverse regional sales declines.

Shoprite has been battling currency-induced inflation surges in several other African countries.

International supermarkets (excluding Nigeria) contributed 11.6% to group sales, and reported 1.4% decline in sales from 2018. South African operations contributed 78% of overall sales and saw 8.7% rise for the year.
As a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, customer visits declined 7.4% but the average basket spend increased by 18.4%.

This comes just weeks after it was revealed that another popular retail store, Mr. Price Group, is making plans to close its Nigerian business to focus on its home market business in South Africa.

Below are reactions from Nigerians to the news that Shoprite is pulling out of Nigeria.

Ex Google staff narrates an encounter at Redemption Camp that made him decide he has "wasted enough of his money there"

Ex Google staff has recounted an experience he had two weeks ago at the Redemption Camp that made him realize he has "wasted" enough of his money there.

Fola Olatunji-David said he went to drop off medical supplies from Ikoyi to Redemption Camp, however, on getting there, he wasn't allowed to drive in because his wife was wearing trousers.
He said he explained to them how far he had driven in traffic and told them that what he was bringing was for their own good but he wasn't allowed in.

"That's when I knew I had wasted enough of my money there," he wrote.

Read his thread below.

Chile’s police train dogs to sniff out COVID-19

Police in Chile are training dogs to detect people that may be infected with the novel coronavirus by sniffing their sweat.

The dogs — three golden retrievers and a labrador — are between the ages of four and five. Until now they have been used to sniff out illicit drugs, explosives and lost people, police say.

The Chile police dogs training program is a joint effort by Chile’s national police, the Carabineros, and specialists at the Universidad Catolica de Chile.

This follows in the footsteps of similar efforts taking place in France, said Julio Santelices, head of the police school of specialties.
Dogs have 330 million olfactory receptors, and an ability to detect smells 50 times better than humans. They can also smell 250 people per hour.

“The virus has no smell, but rather the infection generates metabolic changes” which in turn leads to the release of a particular type of sweat “which is what the dog would detect,” Fernando Mardones, a Universidad Catolica professor of veterinary epidemiology, told AFP.
According to Santelices, tests in Europe and Dubai shown a 95 percent efficiency rate in canine detection of COVID-19 cases.

Medical Detection Dogs, a British charity set up in 2008 to harness dogs’ sharp sense of smell to detect human diseases, also started training canines to detect COVID-19 in late March.

“The importance of this scientific study is that it will allow dogs to become biodetectors, and detect this type of illness at an early stage,” Santelices told AFP.

Mardones said that there is already evidence that dogs can detect diseases such as tuberculosis, parasite infections, and even early stages of cancer.

Canines can detect subtle changes in skin temperature, potentially making them useful in determining if a person has a fever.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, the possibility of contagion from a dog is remote.
The canine trainees began their education one month ago, and will use sweat samples taken from COVID-19 patients being treated at the Universidad Catolica’s clinic.

The experts hope to have the dogs trained and working in the field by August.

The plan is to deploy them with an officer in pedestrian-heavy areas such as train stations and airports, and at health control stations.
Chile on Tuesday reported 1,836 new cases of COVID-19 — the lowest figure in two months — bringing the total of cases since March 3 to 319,493.

The viral infection has killed more than 11,000 people, according to the most recent Health Ministry official report, which includes “probable” COVID-19 victims.

BREAKING: Nigeria loses first, only female combat Helicopter Pilot, Tolulope Arotile in road accident

Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile , the first-ever and only female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Airforce is dead. The tragic incident occurred in Kaduna yesterday after she sustained head injuries from a road accident.

In a statement signed by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force and obtained by Vanguard, stated that late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile was involved in a road accident that occurred at NAF Base in Kaduna and died shortly after sustaining head injuries.

The statement reads: “The Nigerian Airforce has lost the only female helicopter combat pilot in the It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died today, 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.”

“Until her death, Flying Officer Arotile, who was
Commissioned Into The NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first-ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.”

“During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hails from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the
North Central States Of Armed Bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI In Minna , Niger State.”

“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late Flying Officer Arotile over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.”

Akin Alabi Submits Bill To Establish A Federal Medical Center In Ona Ara 

The Federal House of Representatives member representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal constituency has submitted a bill compelling the Federal Government to establish a Federal Medical Center in Ona Ara Local Government of Oyo state.

Hon Alabi decided to embark on this journey after donating medical equipments to Primary Health Care facilities in different wards across the Local Government area.




Hon Alabi assured residents of the area that it is imperative to have a state of the art medical center in the community so as to improve health care.

The Bill passed first reading in the House Of Representatives today, and will be tabled for a second reading. Health care is one of Hon Alabi’s core mandate for his constituency and this is preceding the lunch of a comprehensive health care coverage for residents of Egbeda/Ona Ara

Senate Urges Nigerian Government To Commence Rehabilitation Of Eastern Rail Line

The Senate made this resolution while considering a motion on “urgent need to resuscitate and reactivate the rehabilitation and concession of the Eastern Rail line Project”, sponsored by Orji Uzor Kalu, and co-sponsored by 102 other senators.
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday urged the executive arm of government to prioritise the commencement of the rehabilitation and concessioning agreement for the Eastern corridor of railway line.

The Senate made this resolution while considering a motion on “urgent need to resuscitate and reactivate the rehabilitation and concession of the Eastern Rail line Project”, sponsored by Orji Uzor Kalu, and co-sponsored by 102 other senators.
Presenting the motion, Kalu pointed out that it became imperative to propel the executive to take the action in view of its huge revenue potentials to the national economy and for movement of people to reduce the burden on dilapidated roads within the Eastern axis of the country.

He lamented that the Eastern rail line had been denied similar attention given to Lagos-Kano (Western) rail line in spite of the fact that investigations revealed that the Eastern rail line remained the most lucrative route in Nigeria.


The lawmaker in his presentation noted that one of the greatest challenges facing the nation as an emerging economy was poor infrastructural development,

He said, “The movement of goods and persons from one point to another is becoming very cumbersome, if not hazardous.

“The Federal Government in 2017 entered into an agreement with General Electric, a Boston, United States based company, under the Rehabilitation and Concessioning of Western and Eastern Railway lines to connect Abia, Rivers, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Kaduna, Katsina, Enugu, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Yobe and Kano States.
“And while the Western lines of 1,126 km are from Lagos to Kano and to N guru 230 km, Funtua mom and Kaura Namoda 121 km. The Eastern lines are from Port Harcourt to Kaduna 915 km, Maiduguri 706 km, 105 35 km.

“In spite of the fact that the railways are more efficient in haulage of bulk loads over long distances in environmental and economic ease including cargoes and petroleum products, the sector suffers neglect especially the Eastern rail line which commences in Port Harcourt in Rivers State, passing through Abia State, Enugu, Benue, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano to Gombe and terminates in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“The Eastern rail line had been denied a similar attention given to Lagos Kano (Western) rail line in spite of the fact that investigations revealed that the Eastern rail line remains the most lucrative route in Nigeria.

“In spite of being the most lucrative route in Nigeria and a distance of about 1402 km having passed through Aba in Abia State, the commercial nerve centre of the South East is regrettably left in a comatose condition resulting in Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) losing at least N208 million each year since 2014.”

The Senate in its resolutions, mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance by the executive arm of government and report back to the Senate in three weeks for further legislative action.

See Video below:

Pandemic Slashes FG Revenues By over 40%, Says Osinbajo

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that the COVID-19 pandemic slashed Nigeria’s oil revenue by over 40 per cent, following the nationwide lockdown.

Osinbajo also declared that the expansion of job opportunities and stimulating the economy in order to ameliorate the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic disease are the major goals of Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary policies.

Osinbajo made this announcement yesterday during a webinar conference with the theme “Focus on Nigeria: Africa Unrivalled Economic Power House,” which was hosted by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CEIC) in conjunction with the Novare Equity Partners.
READ ALSO>>>OSINBAJO SEEKS END TO SECRET BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

The conference, according to the CEIC, dwelt on the current responses to COVID-19.

Osinbajo, who spoke on “Sustainable Economic Growth: A Plan for Nigeria,” said: “In addition to using fiscal and monetary measures to stimulate the economy, our main objectives are to retain and create jobs and to assist vulnerable people, to support businesses and undertake infrastructural investments. And I want to say that jobs and retaining jobs, creating more opportunities tops Nigeria’s government priorities”.

He stated that the country’s huge informal economy also crashed during the period.

He also said things were already looking up for Nigeria until the pandemic started.

In his words, “There is never a good time for a pandemic but there can be a terribly wrong time.

“That’s how it seemed three months ago as COVID-19 began to ravage.

“January 2020, oil prices approached $70 a barrel for the first time since the crash of 2015/2016 which saw prices crash to sub $30 a barrel, Q3 2019 growth was 2.55 per cent, modest but clearly on the upward trajectory, three per cent growth was well in sight.

“Our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan was beginning to make sense. Work was ongoing in major rail, road and bridge projects along the main national trade corridors. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction arrangements on our Liquefied Natural Gas Train 7 which will unlock an additional 30 per cent more LNG output had commenced.

“It seemed the sun was beginning to shine quite brightly after the years of recession and its immediate aftermath.

“Then came COVID-19, possibly the worst economic crisis the world has seen. For us in Nigeria, it was a perfect storm for oil prices, Russia and Saudi Arabia choosing that very moment for a price war.

“Then the inevitable lockdowns resulting in closure of businesses, our huge informal economy all but crashed and Government revenues fell too by over 40 per cent.”

Osinbajo, however, said it appeared silver linings have started appearing for the country.

Osinbajo seeks end to secret business ownership

Vice President of Nigeria, Proffesor Osibanjo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said that there is a need for stakeholders to restrain the adverse effect of secret and beneficial ownership of corporate businesses on economic across the continent.

He expressed this view in his address at the 20th Anniversary of Africa Regional Webinar of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the webinar is: ‘’Combating Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows: New Measure and Strategies.’’

In his statement, He said: “One more matter of concern that the international community must work together to solve is the matter of secret corporate ownership and the whole issue of beneficial ownership.

“For us in the developing world and especially in Africa, breaking the wall of secret corporate ownership is crucial because secrecy around corporate ownership is implicated in our underdevelopment.

“Although anonymous companies are not always illegal, secrecy provides a convenient cover for criminality and corruption.

“Our experience in Nigeria as in other developing countries is that anonymous corporate ownership covers a multitude of sins including conflict of interests, corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, and even terrorism financing.’’

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain, Olabode George, has slammed former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, saying the All Progressive Congress party leader is responsible for the reported crisis in the ruling party 


Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP,  slammed Tinubu for allegedly mishandling the affairs of Lagos State, stating ''his time of reckoning was near and he'll vomit everything he's stolen.''

Reacting to Tinubu's Saturday statement  addressing his purported 2023 presidential ambition and the crisis that has befallen the APC ,Bode George slammed tinubu
READ ALSO>>>Nemesis Catching Up With Tinubu – Bode George

In the statement, Tinubu said he hadn't made up his mind as to a 2023 presidential ambition but was rather focused on helping Nigerians during the current economic crisis caused by Covid-19.

Speaking in an interview with The IndependentNg published on Monday June 29, Chief Bode George said;

"From the very beginning, I used to tell them that the party APC is a congregation of strange bedfellows. When you have a big party like that and someone wants to hijack it, there will be problem."

"First of all, it is a misnomer in a presidential system for a man who is not elected into any position to come out and say he is the National leader of the party."

"How is that possible? There is only one National leader of the party and that is the President. How can a ragamuffin from somewhere just wake up and say he is the National leader and not the President? What does that mean?

" We saw the way Chief John Odigie- Oyegun was removed as national chairman. To me, what is happening to Tinubu is a judgment of God. You think you can appropriate the whole country’s resources like he did in Lagos state to your own family?"

" It cannot work! I believe nemesis is catching up with Tinubu. We warned him but he refused to listen. The Yorubas have a saying that a child who fails to listen to corrections at home will be corrected outside.

"Tinubu thinks he is wiser than everyone but the breeze has blown and exposed the behind of the hen. In Yorubaland, a single person cannot be all-in-all. Tinubu thinks he can grab everything with his teeth but they have removed all his teeth."

Reacting to reports circulating that some of Tinubu's loyalists are urging him to pull out of the APC, Chief Bode said;

"That is his decision. I can’t decide for him. He just issued a statement saying he has not told anyone that he wants to become President in 2023 and his focus now is how to alleviate the sufferings of the people. But you can see what he is doing in Lagos. What about Alpha Beta? Who is still collecting the money for Alpha Beta?

" Yet he said he wants to alleviate the sufferings of the people? Let him bring out all our money in Alpha Beta since year 2000 till date. The managing director of Alpha Beta who ran away said they owed him N40b."

" That money alone would have taken care of millions of poor people in Lagos today. Enough of this brigandage and classic example of greed."

"I have always said Tinubu will vomit everything he has stolen and the day of reckoning is here. Only Almighty God can reign yesterday, today and forever. No one else can attain that height."

" For me, when you start seeing the signal, if he is a very clever person, he will recall himself and have a deep introspection. If he thinks he can run Nigeria the way he did to Lagos, he is making a mistake."

"The local government secretariat of Ikoyi/ Obalende was formerly on Glover Road in Ikoyi but he converted the place to his own and moved the local government to Obalende beside the cemetery. He made the daughter the Iyaloja of Lagos. "

"How can Iyaloja of Lagos be from Iragbiji?.  Bode asked.
"She, on her part went and locked up Computer Village, insisting that she must be paid certain amount of money. The son is the one getting all public advertisement contracts for Lagos at the moment."

"You need to see the son’s convoy, you will think it’s the President that is moving. For how long will this continue? We came into this world naked and we will leave naked. Nobody will leave with anything no matter how much wealth you have amassed for yourself while in existence."

Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West have accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of a surreptitious move to replace the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus, with you. How will you react to that claim?

It is the most senseless statement that could be ever credited to this party. The governor of Oyo, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde called a meeting of elders and stakeholders where he was pleading for unity in the party and the complete lopsidedness in distribution of party positions. South- West has six states, sub-divided into three zones. Lagos/Ogun is one zone; Oyo/Osun is second zone and Ekiti/Ondo is the third zone.

There are three positions who are members of the National Working Committee (NWC). In a saner manner, each zone is supposed to take one each. During the period of Ayo Fayose as Ekiti state governor, he distributed these three positions in a manner that two positions went to one zone, and then another zone had nothing. In particular, Oyo had zero. Osun had a Deputy Publicity Secretary who is a member of National Executive Committee (NEC). They also have the Zonal Secretary in Osun but Oyo had nothing. The number one zone which is Lagos and Ogun had Deputy National Chairman (South) which is from Ogun state. Lagos also had nothing. If these state chairmen understood the dynamics of politics, they won’t make the baseless allegations they made because the issues are very clear. We are concerned because we don’t want people outside to see the inadequacies of the managers of the party because issues like these are also important to the electorates. The culture of PDP is Justice, Unity and Progress which also means fair is fair.

What we are concerned about is how to reset the wrong done by the former Ekiti governor and balance the system. For these people to now release a statement that Governor Makinde is plotting to replace Secondus with me is the peak of indolence and lack of knowledge of the depth and culture of the party. Nothing like that was discussed at the meeting. Is it possible for only Makinde to remove Secondus and make me the National Chairman? It is so idiotic and some of them have come here to say they were wrong. They said they never knew that that was what inside the statement but they were only given to append their signatures. I have written Guardian newspaper to retract that publication or get themselves in trouble. Even the chairmen who issued that statement should be subjected to serious punishment because what they said was never discussed at the meeting.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers made a statement last week that if care is not taken, the crisis in PDP will be far worse than that of APC. That is what elders like us are trying to avoid. The governor of Oyo who is doing everything humanly possible to reposition the party for greatness should be supported. By making that unfounded allegation, they are undermining him and me. It is a very unpatriotic comment. We know the person behind the plot .He was the one that called for the meeting where they issued that false statement. We are all concerned about resolving the lopsidedness in the party because if It continues this way, it won’t augur well for peace.

Many Nigerians believe that latest developments in the ruling APC is targeted at weakening Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s political base ahead of the 2023 presidential election. What is your perspective on this?

From the very beginning, I used to tell them that the party APC is a congregation of strange bedfellows. When you have a big party like that and someone wants to hijack it, there will be problem. First of all, it is a misnomer in a presidential system for a man who is not elected into any position to come out and say he is the National leader of the party.

How is that possible? There is only one National leader of the party and that is the President. How can a ragamuffin from somewhere just wake up and say he is the National leader and not the President? What does that mean? We saw the way Chief John Odigie- Oyegun was removed as national chairman. To me, what is happening to Tinubu is a judgment of God. You think you can appropriate the whole country’s resources like he did in Lagos state to your own family? It cannot work! I believe nemesis is catching up with Tinubu. We warned him but he refused to listen. The Yorubas have a saying that a child who fails to listen to corrections at home will be corrected outside. Tinubu thinks he is wiser than everyone but the breeze has blown and exposed the behind of the hen. In Yorubaland, a single person cannot be all-in-all. Tinubu thinks he can grab everything with his teeth but they have removed all his teeth.

Some of his loyalists are mounting pressure on him to pull out of the APC alliance? Do you see him doing this?

That is his decision. I can’t decide for him. He just issued a statement saying he has not told anyone that he wants to become President in 2023 and his focus now is how to alleviate the sufferings of the people. But you can see what he is doing in Lagos. What about Alpha Beta? Who is still collecting the money for Alpha Beta? Yet he said he wants to alleviate the sufferings of the people? Let him bring out all our money in Alpha Beta since year 2000 till date. The managing director of Alpha Beta who ran away said they owed him N40b. That money alone would have taken care of millions of poor people in Lagos today. Enough of this brigandage and classic example of greed.

I have always said Tinubu will vomit everything he has stolen and the day of reckoning is here. Only Almighty God can reign yesterday, today and forever. No one else can attain that height. For me, when you start seeing the signal, if he is a very clever person, he will recall himself and have a deep introspection. If he thinks he can run Nigeria the way he did to Lagos, he is making a mistake. The local government secretariat of Ikoyi/ Obalende was formerly on Glover Road in Ikoyi but he converted the place to his own and moved the local government to Obalende beside the cemetery. He made the daughter the Iyaloja of Lagos.

How can Iyaloja of Lagos be from Iragbiji?. She, on her part went and locked up Computer Village, insisting that she must be paid certain amount of money. The son is the one getting all public advertisement contracts for Lagos at the moment. You need to see the son’s convoy, you will think it’s the President that is moving. For how long will this continue? We came into this world naked and we will leave naked. Nobody will leave with anything no matter how much wealth you have amassed for yourself while in existence.

A Nigerian Twitter user has accused some police officers of planting weed in his car, leaving him with a swollen face and extorting him of N40k in Aguda area of Lagos state.

@nifemi_fyr said he was beaten and handcuffed for "something he knew nothing about". He tweeted;

FUCK @PoliceNG Your people planted weed inside my cab and extorted 40k from me and my friends. AGUDA POLICE STATION. @PoliceNG @segalink this is how people go to jail for a crime they didn’t commit.

They even beat me and handcuffed me for something I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.  I'm always hearing about it but TODAY i witnessed this shit with my own eyes WTF @PoliceNG  YOU PEOPLE IN THE POLICE FORCE ARE DISGUSTING. This police man punched my face twice wtf

They even said if we don’t drop 50k we aren’t leaving. we’re scared and terrified we just had to beg them belle they accepted 40k and let us go. Planted weed in my car and still extorted 40k from me said we are “yahoo boys” and we are doing drugs wtf. He didn’t then smell my mouth to confirm if i was smoking or not. i hate this country .

FUCK @PoliceNG Your people planted weed inside my cab and extorted 40k from me and my friends. AGUDA POLICE STATION. @PoliceNG @segalink this is how people go to jail for a crime they didn’t commit.

— FYR 🤍✌🏽 (@nifemi_fyr) June 28, 2020

Ensuing the dissolution of the National Working Committee, NWC of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, all posters and pictures of suspended national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, have been ousted from the party's national secretariat.

According to report this happened barely 24 hours after the NWC was disbanded. Oshiomole's photographs have been ousted from two giant board mounted at the entrance gate and inside the party's  headquarters in Abuja, leaving just President Muhammadu Buhari's poster.

It was amassed that not long after the affirmation of the NWC's dissolution, staff at the secretariat jubilated and began to crush/oust the Edo politician’s portraits from the reception and all the offices.

Oshiomole's challenges began from his rift with Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki. The two men have been at loggerheads for quite a while anyway the hostility between them expanded after the former influenced the disqualification of the latter from the party's guber primaries. This incited Obaseki's defection to PDP, a progression that didn't go down well with a huge region of the get-together.

Not long after, the court of apeal kept up Oshiomhole's suspension and the party , in a remarkable National executive committee body of trustee meeting on Thursday dissolved the Oshiomole-led National Working Committee, NWC.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Ex president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has cried out on the  security state of the nation, stating that insecurity now affects every facet of Nigeria irrespective of geographical location, tribe, language and religion. In his words No part of the country can claim to be safe from terrorists, armed robbers and human traffickers - Obasanjo says; Calls for restructuring

Obasanjo speaking at this year’s edition of the Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture organised by Abeokuta Club titled, “COVID-19 and the Nigeria security issues: The way forward.”, noted that insecurity was now the order of the day in the Buhari-led administration.

He said; “Let me lay more emphasis on the issue of security, which in itself is serious enough to make restructuring imperative. The South-West governors cried out and devised Amotekun as a solution or part-solution. We have yet to see how successfully that will be operated. Other zones are clamouring for a solution because in no state and in no geopolitical zone is life and property safe and secure.

“Criminality is the order of the day. And it cuts across the entire nation. Insecurity is one issue of commonality among Nigerians, no matter their tribe, language, religion, geographical location, gender, age or social position.’’

“I leave out economy which is in the doldrums and fighting corruption where you see more heat than light and which is festering like a bad sore. That, to me, is what reform of federating units and restructuring is all about and not about break-up or disintegration. Insecurity brought about by widespread criminality of Boko Haram, insurgents, herdsmen/farmers conflict, terrorists, bandits, armed robbers, militants, kidnappers, abductors and human traffickers is a new phenomenon that is ravaging the entire country.’’

According to Obasanjo, no ethnic group and even the Fulanis in Nigeria are collectively satisfied with the present security situation in spite of the President Muhammadu Buhari being a Fulani man.

“I am, of course, discounting invidious and irredeemable Fulani fundamentalists and hegemonists. Federal security architecture, as organised and operated by the present government, cannot give any individual or group hope, let alone assurance of security within Nigeria,’’

The former President added, “Not that I am afraid of revolution, no, not at all, but I love and cherish peace and, of course, not peace of the graveyard. If I am concerned about security issues in Mali because of possibility of flow-over to other parts of West Africa, I should be more concerned about security in any part of Nigeria. I have not lived for the demise of Nigeria nor for its destruction or incapacitation in any form. Rather, I have lived to make and see a great and united country.’’

“Now, no part of the country can claim to be safe from the menace and insecurity caused by terrorists, armed robbers, human traffickers, kidnappers of all sorts, cattle rustlers, insurgents, bandits and herders/farmers conflicts.

“We are all challenged to put our thinking caps on, join hands and seek solutions together, otherwise, we will be destroyed piecemeal.’’

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has announced that one of his children has been diagnosed with the deadly COVID-19 virus.

Governor Okowa, made this  statement via Twitter account on Friday, disclosing that his daughter, Edith tested positive for the virus. He wrote;

Earlier today, Edith and I received the news that one of our daughters has tested positive for #COVID19. Hence, in-line with the laid out procedures, we are both going into isolation for the next 14-days.
We will continue to keep you all updated.

Earlier today, Edith and I received the news that one of our daughters has tested positive for #COVID19. Hence, in-line with the laid out procedures, we are both going into isolation for the next 14-days.

We will continue to keep you all updated. pic.twitter.com/bczlRnzPt9

— Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa (@IAOkowa) June 26, 2020

Senator Abiola Ajimobi, former governor of Oyo state is dead. The former governor was rumored to have died last Thursday, June 18 but his aides and family members denounced the report asking Nigerians to rather pray for his recovery.

Late Ajimobi was governor between 20011 and 2019.

He is survived by his wife, Florence, and children.
He was 70 years old.

Ajimobi, who has been in coma and on life support for some days after a surgery passed away at the First Cardiology Hospital, Ikoyi

A credible source said Ajimobi who was being treated for COVID-19 complications has been totally unconscious since last Thursday after his organs totally collapsed.

He said his family will make a formal announcement on Thursday evening.

“His organs collapsed about a week ago. It is just that the family didn’t want to unplug the life support. May his soul rest in peace ” he said.

The former governor was rumoured to be dead last week but his aides and family members denounced the report asking Nigerians to rather pray for his recovery.

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has lashed out at President Buhari's special adviser on political issues, Babafemi Ojudu over report of his supposed visit to the presidential villa in Abuja to make sure about President Muhammadu Buhari's support for Victor Giadom as the Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fayemi who accustomed blame on Ojudu for shakedown and being behind the "created" report, expressed that he had no arrangement nor motivation to see President Buhari on Tuesday evening.


In statement released by his Chief Press Secretary Yinka Oyebode, Governor Fayemi said he met with Buhari earlier in company of three of his colleagues – Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Governor Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa). Also present at that meeting were the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari and Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

The Ekiti state Governor who urged Nigerians to snub the story stating that it is a “highly illogical concoction”, . According to him he later  visited the presidential villa to meet with Buhari's Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari, but not with Giadom.

The statement read;

“The attention of the general public is being drawn to a misleading publication… with headline ‘Fayemi’s failed mission to Villa with Giadom’, published in the online edition… on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020.

“The falsehood, we gathered reliably, was fabricated by a senior aide of the Presidency and a former Senator, Babafemi Ojudu, and planted in The Nation Newspaper, after it was rejected by some State House Correspondents, who rebuffed the former Senator for the misleading and malicious story.

“It is on record that Senator Ojudu, in his desperate bid to rubbish Governor Fayemi, had told his close associates that he would battle Governor Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) with falsehood and cheap blackmail in his nefarious attempt to destabilize APC in Ekiti State.

“For the purpose of clarity, it is important to state that the Nation’s report was clearly a misleading one designed to cast aspersion on the person of Governor Fayemi and create an impression that the NGF Chairman is an unwanted visitor at the Villa. The largely unsubstantiated report was filled with bile, childish and unexplainable fury that signified nothing, just like a tale fit only for the tabloids.

“In setting the record straight, we hereby state unequivocally that Governor Fayemi had no plan nor reason to see Mr President on Tuesday late afternoon as maliciously presented in the Nation’s report. The Governor, had earlier seen Mr President at noon in company of three of his colleagues – Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Governor Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa). Also present at that meeting were the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari and Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

“Governor Fayemi was in the villa later in the afternoon to see the COS and State Chief of Protocol (SCOP). The Ekiti State Governor was never denied any opportunity to see President Buhari as he did not ask to see the President and neither did he go with Chief Giadom.
“Governor Fayemi’s position on the APC crisis has been to consistently subsume his views in the position of the Progressives Governors Forum as expressed by the Chairman. He has not spoken on the party crisis in any public forum but continue to urge all members and lovers of the party to exercise restraint and support the leader of the party, President Mohammadu Buhari and other leaders desirous of resolution to give peace a chance.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has reacted to Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike's decision to pull out of efforts to help embattled Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki secure the party's guber ticket.

Recall, that news came up today that the Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has pulled out of the PDP reconciliatory meeting in Edo state.

It was stated that  Wike accused some members of the party’s national working committee of sponsoring publications to malign his integrity.

The rivers state governor warned the PDP national working committee against doing anything that will destroy the party.

Below is a statement from the party :

"The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to state that no member of its National Working Committee (NWC) sponsored any media publication to castigate and malign the person of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike."

"The party described such publications as the handwork of external forces and enemies of the PDP who are bent on sowing seeds of discord within the party. The NWC also wishes to place on record that none of its members has acted like a "tax collector" in whatever meaning the term represents, either in the process leading to the Edo primary election, or any other state."

"Our party holds Governor Wike and indeed all our PDP governors, who, of course, have been the pillars of our great party, with utmost respect and had always consulted them on all party affairs."

"The PDP appreciates the efforts and sacrifices of our governors and will not allow enemies of our party, who are out to cause disunity in our fold by sponsoring baseless publications against our leaders, to have their way. This time demands the unity of all our leaders in order to keep our political rivals, who are facing extinction, from importing their crises into our party."

"The PDP remains one indivisible family and our members are at alert and will continue to resist every attempt by external forces to divide our ranks at this critical time." the statement read.

Martins Idakpini: Lance Corporal Blasts Buratai Over Incessant Killings

VIDEO: Lance Corporal Blasts Chief Of Army Staff, Buratai, Over Incessant Killings In Nigeria@HQNigerianArmy @DefenceInfoNG
WATCH FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/6PNSZz5e0O pic.twitter.com/gRDXt7Jk2q

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) June 23, 2020

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Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has pulled out of the PDP reconciliatory meeting in Edo state.

Wike accused some members of the party’s national working committee of sponsoring publications to malign his integrity.

The rivers state governor warned the PDP national working committee against doing anything that will destroy the party.




Source:https://ait.live/breaking-trouble-in-pdp-as-wike-pulls-out-of-edo-governorship-project/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

The All Progressives Congress, APC has sworn-in Hon. Worgu Boms as the new national secretary of the Party by the National Working Committee.

Worgu Boms was sworn-in as Acting Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja on Monday morning. He is to replace embattled former Deputy national secretary, Victor Giadom.

Take note, Giadom has assumed a huge job in encouraging the current emergency shaking the gathering announced himself acting national chairman following the suspension of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole. Over the weekend, APC members in Rivers state announced Giadom's suspension. Giadom is however still insisting he is the acting chairman of the APC.


Recount,that the party picked Worgu to replace Victor Giadom , on the grounds that the latter had resigned from his position in 2018 to be the running mate to Tonye Cole, Rivers governorship aspirant in the 2019 election. This decision came after Giadom went against the party authorities and declared himself the acting chairman of the party following Oshiomole's suspension.