APC crisis: State chairmen back Buhari, Odigie-Oyegun

 National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on Wednesday met behind closed-doors with the chairmen of the 36 state chapters of the party.

The meeting which lasted for a little over four hours is the first of its kind since the party won the Presidential election on March 28.

After the meeting, the Chairmen of the state chapters of the party expressed support for the position taken by President Muhammadu Buhari and Odigie-Oyegun with respect to the emergence of the new leadership of the National Assembly.

The meeting was convened by the Forum of APC State Chairmen to review the challenges that bedevilled the party before, during and after the 2015 general elections.

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The forum declared support for the decision of President Buhari to accept the outcome of the leadership election in the National Assembly even though he would have preferred that the party’s candidates emerged.

President Buhari and Odigie-Oyegun had accepted the new National Assembly leadership, describing it as a constitutional reality.

In a communique issued and signed by the chairman of the Kano State APC, and the acting Chairman of the Forum, Umar Haruna Mohammed, at the end of their meeting in Abuja, the chairmen said, “We totally aligned ourselves with the President’s position regarding the leadership of the National Assembly.”

They urged the party leadership to ensure that funds were made available to state chapters without delay in order to help them defray their liabilities in line with the resolutions of the National Executive Council.

“Chairman sir, we acknowledge the enormity of the responsibilities placed on the office of the chairman and as such we urge you to be alive to the challenges so as to move the party forward.

“You should always see us as partners in progress and your own foot soldiers as we pray for more success in future, “ they said.

One of the chairmen from a state in the North-West explained that he and his colleagues also considered it necessary to meet with the chairman to among other things, express their displeasure at the way they were being left out of the scheme of things.

He said, “As chairmen of the party at the level of states, we worked for the party and we deserve to be carried along now that the victory has been won.

“We are however not happy that we are being kept in the dark about happenings within the party and we told him so.

“We raised this issue because the states are being neglected and since we do not support disunity within our party, we decided to meet with the chairman to work out ways of improving the situation in the interest of the party.

“On his part, the national chairman told us he has been looking for an opportunity to meet with us to share ideas but that the campaigns and the limited time the party had to organise itself before the election made it difficult.”

In a related development, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Segun Oni, also held a separate meeting with the leadership and selected members of the party from Delta State.

The governorship candidate of the party in the last elections, O’tega Emerhor, however, told newsmen after the meeting that there were no factions within the party in Delta State.

He said, “There are only a few of our brothers who are aggrieved but the issues are being sorted out.”

PDP govs condemn relocation of Rivers, A’Ibom election tribunals

 Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike

The Peoples Democratic Party governors have expressed displeasure over the relocation of the Taraba, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states’ election petitions tribunals to Abuja.

The governors said this at the meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum, which held in Abuja on Tuesday night.

At the meeting, which ended in the early hours of Wednesday, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, was also elected as the chairman of the forum.

Mimiko succeeds ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who is now a senator.

Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting that started at 9:30pm on Tuesday, Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, said his colleagues were not happy about the relocation of the tribunals.

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“We condemn in very strong terms the relocation of election tribunals in Rivers State, Taraba State and Akwa Ibom State to Abuja,” Ikpeazu said.

He also announced that “the PDP governors’ forum unanimously elected Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as chairman of the forum.”

The governors said they were delighted at the way former President Goodluck Jonathan accepted the outcome of the April 11 election and congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his election.

Ikpeazu said, “We congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his election as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“We also commend and salute our former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for his display of peaceful disposition in the 2015 general elections, which has stabilised our political landscape.

“We equally congratulate Senator Bukola Saraki, Yakubu Dogara and Suleiman Lasun on their emergence as the senate president, the speaker, House of Representatives and the deputy speaker respectively.

“We specially congratulate our own Senator Ike Ekweremadu on his emergence as the deputy senate president.”

The PDP governors’ new chairman, Mimiko, who also spoke to journalists, said, “We will do everything that we can do to engage the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress in a very constructive manner. We have also agreed to create formal and informal mechanisms of peer review, all for the development of our nation.”

The governors in attendance at the meeting were, Mimiko, Ikpeazu, Idris Wada (Kogi), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

The deputy governor of Bayelsa State, John Jonah, represented his state at the meeting.

The other PDP governors that neither attended nor sent representation were Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State; Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti; Nyesome Wike, Rivers; Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta and Ben Ayade, Cross River.

Nigerian appointed secretary of CTO

 Shola Taylor, appointed secretary of Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation

A Nigerian Shola Taylor has been appointed secretary-general of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), an international organisation headquartered in London. Taylor is expected to start in this new role on 17 September this year.

Taylor is the chief executive officer of Kemilinks International, a global ICT consultancy firm based in Lagos. A telecommunications engineer by training, he brings to the CTO over 35 years of global experience in ICTs with government and the private sector.

Previous positions held include regional director for Africa at Inmarsat (1994 – 1999), space technology coordinator for developing countries at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, 1993 – 1994) and project director, also at the ITU (1987 – 1993).

Taylor had been twice elected as a member of the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board (vice-chair in 2004, and chair in 2005).He has a rich inside knowledge of international organisations. Early in his career, he worked in telecommunication engineering, including as senior engineer at Nigerian Telecommunications (1981 – 1985) and spectrum engineer at Intelsat (1985 – 1987).

“I am both excited and honoured at being appointed as secretary-general of the CTO, a community of diverse membership, and one that has accrued tremendous strengths over a hundred years. Given the impact of ICTs in our lives and the enormous opportunities for the socio-economic development of nations, I have accepted this challenge to make a positive contribution towards improved access to ICTs for all.

“I look forward to working closely with the CTO’s members, the Secretariat staff and other stakeholders, to ensure that the CTO remains the preferred partner for sustainable ICT development for all its members.” Taylor said following the announcement of his appointment earlier today.

Secretaries-general of the Organisation are appointed for four-year terms. Previous heads of the prestigious organisation include outgoing secretary-general Professor Tim Unwin (UK), preceded by then chief executive officers Ekwow Spio-Garbrah (Ghana) and Dr David Souter (UK).

Taylor holds a BSc in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of East London (UK, 1979) and an MSc in telecommunication systems from the University of Essex (UK, 1981).

He is married and has three children.

Nestle cuts 15% of its Africa workforce

 Cornel Krummenacher

June 16 (Reuters) – Swiss food and drinks company Nestle SA is cutting 15 percent of its workforce in 21 African countries because it says it overestimated the rise of the middle class, the Financial Times reported.

“We thought this would be the next Asia, but we have realised the middle class here in the region is extremely small and it is not really growing,” Cornel Krummenacher, chief executive for Nestlé’s equatorial Africa region, told the Financial Times in an interview. (goo.gl/a55Wy8)

He also said Nestle would be lucky to reach annual 10 percent growth in Africa in future years, and with the cuts, the company hoped to break even next year.

Nestle Nigeria reported a 51 percent fall in pretax profit to 3.48 billion naira ($17.51 million) in the first quarter.

Kidnappers Of Winners Pastor Demand N60m

•Pastor Adekunle

Kidnappers of the Senior Resident Pastor of the Living Faith Church, a.k.a. Winners Chapel situated along IBB Way, opposite the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, southern Nigeria, Mr. Seyi Adekunle, have demanded a ransom of N60 million for his release.

According to reports, the kidnappers have contacted the church and demanded for the N60 million.

Adekunle was on Saturday kidnapped by five unidentified gunmen who stormed the church premises at about 7:30pm during prayers.

The Cross River State chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, had on Monday warned  that those who abducted Adekunle would incur the wrath of God if they failed to release him.

The warning came through a statement issued  by the state Chairman of PFN, Pastor Lawrence Ekwok, and the Secretary, Apostle Frank Umo.

Insisting that Pastor Adekunle be released immediately and unconditionally, the PFN said: “The wrath of God is upon you for that act, this is more so as the pastor was kidnapped at the time he and others were praying and seeking the face of God for the good of the people of the state and country at large.”

PFN prayed that security agencies would intensify efforts at securing the release and safe return of Adekunle.

The Cross River State Police Command has already launched a manhunt for the five gunmen who allegedly abducted Pastor  Adekunle.

According to the police, the pastor was abducted inside the church at about 7.30 p.m. during a prayer session. The gunmen, it was gathered, fired into the air to scare everyone around before entering the church.

The pastor was allegedly pushed into the car brought by the men and taken to an unknown destination.

P.M.NEWS gathered that Pastor Adekunle is the head pastor of Province Two of the church. Works have been ongoing in the church since 2014 when the pastor joined the branch of the church.

A member of the church who declined to identify himself for fear of police harassment disclosed that the pastor was holding a prayer sesson with members of the congregation when the gunmen burst in and started demanding for money.

When told that there was no money in the church, the suspects got angry and took the  pastor away.

A police source revealed that the suspects got information that the pastor was keeping a huge amount of money meant for the construction of the church and decided to abduct him to get the money as ransom for his release.

Investigations revealed further that the church held its last Sunday service with Pastor Adekunle’s assistant in charge. There was tight security provided by policemen around the premises during the service.

Spokesman of the Cross River State Police Command, Mr. Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident.

Ramadan Begings............

 Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries have announced that the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan would start on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, announced on Wednesday that it would be the final day of the lunar month of Sha’aban.

Similar official announcements were made by religious authorities in Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen and Palestine.

Report says the beginning and end of Ramadan depends on the sighting of the new moon.

“During Ramadan, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset.

“Ramadan this year coincides with the summer heat in the Middle East where the fast could reach 15 hours a day.

“Fasting is one of Islam’s five pillars, alongside declaration of faith, prayer five times a day, alms-giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia,’’ it said.

Lagos CJ Frees 21 Kirikiri Prison Inmates

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade on Wednesday freed 21 inmates of the Kirikiri Medium Prisons, Lagos, western Nigeria.

The release was in exercise of the powers conferred on her under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.

Most of the inmates released were those who have spent more time than they would have if convicted of the crimes for which they are facing trial.

Justice Oluwafumilayo Atilade

Admonishing the lucky inmates, Justice Atilade urged them to keep away from crime and henceforth be of good behaviour.
She retated her commitment to an effective justice system delivery where the courts work efficiently and the prisons are not congested.

Atilade said her visit to the prison to release inmates would be a continuous exercise.

“Those of you released should henceforth be of good behaviour. The state government is committed to a crime free Lagos and anyone found committing crime will be arrested and prosecuted,” she said.

The CJ also appealed to non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders working with the prisons authority to ensure that those released are properly re-integrated into the society.

There are 2452 inmates currently in the prison. Out of these, 92 have been convicted, 2349 are awaiting trial, 32 are detainees, while 21 are lodgers. The prison has a 1700 capacity.