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PDP chairmanship: Stalemate as consensus arrangement suffers setback

The search for a consensus national chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, suffered setback Wednesday night.

A meeting of the party’s stakeholders where a consensus candidate would have been picked could not hold as some party leaders were absent.

The botched meeting was billed to hold at the Bauchi Governor’s lodge in Abuja.

However, Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State were present.

Others present include former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Tanimu Turaki, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin.

However, The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, who doubles as the Chairman, PDP National Convention Organising Committee, said the meeting had been adjourned till Thursday.

He said the meeting could not hold on Wednesday night due to “communications gap“.

“Unfortunately, we could not meet because of communication gap, some of our leaders could not make it to the venue.

“We have adjourned the meeting till tomorrow (Thursday) when we will take a definite position on the chairmanship position that has been zoned to the north.

“At the moment, all the three zones in the North are interested in the position,” Fintiri disclosed.

However, the North Central PDP stakeholders on Wednesday adopted a former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, as their consensus candidate.

It was also gathered that various interest camps in the North-West are soliciting support for the duo of Ahmed Makarfi and Ibrahim Shema, ex-governors of Kaduna and Katsina states respectively.

Tony Ojo Rebrands Unique Gentlemen’s Club

Top hospitality business owner, Tony Ojo, has rebranded his upscale rendezvous, Unique Gentlemen’s Club.

Unique Club is Nigeria’s first licensed Gentlemen’s club, and has remained a force to reckon with in the hospitality business for decades.

The success of the Ogundana Street, Allen Avenue based club can be attributed to the experience and business acumen of the owner, Tony Ojo, who has traveled far and wide.

As the festive period approaches, the Edo State born socialite has rebranded the club to give maximum satisfaction to its clientele.

According to Ojo, “considering the security situation of the country, we have liaised with relevant security agencies to ensure that all our customers are safe.”

He added that the club has also introduced a lot of entertaining packages that would make any night crawler yarn for more.

“What we have here right now is a replica of any standard Gentlemen’s club in Europe and America, and we keep upgrading.

“In addition to that, we have secured the services of new experienced and professional management team. Everything is right on point from the hotel to the restaurant and bar, while we adhere strictly to all Covid19 protocols,” Ojo reiterated.

COVID-19: FG makes vaccination, negative PCR test compulsory for civil servants

The Federal Government of Nigeria has stated that civil servants would have to present a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), tests conducted within 72 hours to have access to offices, starting from December 1, 2021.

This was announced by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), on Wednesday.

The chairman of the committee, Mr Boss Mustapha, who spoke at the presidential press briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja, said that the goal is to encourage vaccination rate across the country.

He said that this was to gain access to their offices in all locations within Nigeria and the Missions, adding that an appropriate service wide advisory/circular would be issued to guide the process.
He also advised Nigerians to increase vigilance during the festive period.

“The PSC wishes to put Nigerians on notice that two major religious festivities (Salah and Christmas) are approaching and we shall be experiencing increased passenger traffic in and out of the country.

“Similarly, events of large gatherings are likely to hold. While the PSC prepares to escalate surveillance and other control activities, we urge States and all Nigerians to also increase their vigilance and take measure to moderate activities,” he added.

Boss Mustapha, Nigeria Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) represented Vice President Yemi Osinbajo schools
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19
Mustapha said, “Statistics generated over the last four weeks on testing have shown that the trend of infection is going down in some states while in others, the trajectory is upward.

Adeboye breaks silence on taking COVID vaccine
“The combined total for testing by PCR and RDT now stands at about 3, 141, 795 persons.

“The Aviation authorities in collaboration with the diplomatic sector have made reasonable progress in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; discussions are still ongoing with the UAE Authorities to resolve the impasse.

Mustapha, however, said the decision to remove South Africa, Turkey and Brazil from restriction list had been made.

It can be recalled that the PSC had placed a restriction on Turkey, Brazil and South Africa due to the upsurge in the number of COVID-19 cases.

According to him, over several months, four countries were placed on high level restriction for travelers from such countries.

“The PSC has after a review of the developments in these countries, decided to remove South Africa, Turkey, and Brazil from the restricted list.

“The Hon Minister of Aviation today, presented the position of African countries on Vaccine Passport which some economic blocks and countries wish to impose for travel purposes.

“This is because African countries have found it difficult to access the vaccines for their citizens in sufficient number.’’

Mustapha said that ‘’the UK has eased restrictions on fully vaccinated travelers from Nigeria to the UK with effect from Oct. 11.

“Nigeria welcomes this development and assures that the PSC shall continue to review Nigeria’s protocols based on global developments, science and national experience.

“A revised protocol will be issued in the next 24 hours,“ he said.

Deontay Wilder Handed Six Months Ban After Defeat To Tyson Fury

Defeated heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder has been handed a six-month medical ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
It was gathered that the ban which is expected to last till 8 April is coming as the Alabama-born American gets set for surgery in his broken hand.

Similarly, Tyson Fury has been given a 45-day suspension, the UK Sun reported.

Recall that during a fight for the WBC title, Tyson Fury had defeated Tyson Fury in a 11 round Knockout in their thrilling trilogy fight in Las Vegas on Saturday evening.

Wilder had put Fury down on the canvas twice in a disastrous fourth round for the Britain.

However, the Gypsy king bounced back to defeat the Bronze Bomber.

Speaking to the The UK Sun, Wilder’s co-manager, Shelly Finkel, that the US boxer will have an operation next week after breaking a bone in his hand.

“Deontay broke his right hand behind the third knuckle and he has to have that fixed next week,” Finkel said.

“He has to have surgery, the knuckle is OK, it’s the bone behind the knuckle that broke. He’s sore but he was OK, he was home yesterday.

“He’s healing and at this point, if everything is OK, after the hand surgery he’ll probably look to enter the ring mid next year, like April or May.”

Fans Angrily Drags Davido For His Tiktok Video With Angel

Fans of superstar singer, David Adeleke better known as Davido have berated him after he was spotted in a video of one of the finalists in the just concluded ‘Shine Ya Eye’ edition of the Big Brother Naija, Angel.

The reality star, Angel was earlier spotted in a Tik Tok video with DMW boss, Davido.

The reality tv star a few days ago was in the news pictured hanging out with the show winner, Whitemoney and billionaire businessman, Obi Cubana.

The billionaire businessman had hosted the reality tv show stars following his ‘Man of the Year’ award celebration which took place at the Hustle & Bustle nightclub on Sunday.

Angel who seems not done with her journey of meeting top personalities in the country has stirred reaction on social media as she was seen vibing with Davido in a trending video.

The reality show star could be seen dancing to Adekunle Gold’s song featuring Davido, as the singer puff his smoke in the camera.

However, fans of the singer seem displeased with the video, saying that the singer is too accessible to anyone which is not so good for his brand.

BREAKING: Obaseki meets with Buhari Amidst PDP Crisis in Edo

Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki was received by President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso-rock on Wednesday afternoon.

The meeting was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina who shared photos from the meeting on social media.

“President Buhari receives Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State in State House on 13th Oct 2021,” Adesina captioned photos.

POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that Obaseki is facing a lot of pressure from members of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over his sluggish approach towards appointments and rewards promised to party members who worked assiduously to ensure he won a second term as governor of the state.

Igboho diagnosed with suspected kidney, lung disease

Embattled Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho has been said to be diagnosed of a suspected kidney or lungs disease.

The latest development was disclosed by one of Igboho’s lawyers, Yomi Aliyyu, in an interview with BBC Yoruba.

According to Aliyyu, Igboho started showing symptoms of the disease while in the Beninese prison.

He has been reportedly rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment.

“Igboho was not diagnosed with this sickness before he was arrested in Cotonou. It was so critical that they had to rush him to the hospital.

“I can’t tell if he has been returned to the prison from the hospital but what I know is, he’s battling ill health and it seems his kidney and lungs are already being affected.

“Even though I cannot tell which part of his body the sickness has really affected, I know it has to do with his internal organs.”

Igboho has been in custody of the Beninese authorities since his arrest on July, 16, 2021 when he was trying to flee to Germany to escape Nigerian authorities.

2023: Atiku Meets Mark Over PDP Chairmanship Position, See Details

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has met with a former Senate President, David Mark.

Naija News reports that both PDP chieftains met on Monday night to discuss the chairmanship position of the party zoned to the North by its NEC.

A source in Atiku’s camp told The Nation that the former vice president met Mark to deliberate on the unity and progress of the party ahead of the national convention.

He added that Atiku also informed Mark about the chairmanship aspiration of his former Director-General of his campaign, former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

He, however, claimed that Atiku does not want to take sides, considering the fact that the two aspirants are his friends.

The source said: “The two leaders met for the sake of unity and progress of the party. The ex-Vice President does not want to take sides. I think he is looking at the larger picture of 2023.

“We are all concerned about the politics of the national chairman, we do not want the party destabilized under any guise.

“Maybe the ex-VP is trying to see how the party can manage the micro-zoning in the North to keep the zone intact for the next elections.”

Also reacting, a member of the National Working Committee of the PDP said Atiku’s visit to Mark was a tactical endorsement of the former Senate President.

He said: “We have heard of the talks between Atiku and Mark. I see Atiku’s visit to Mark as a tactical endorsement of the former President of the Senate.

“I think we are beginning to have a direction of where the chairmanship ticket will go.”

This news medium reports that Ayu and Mark are from Benue State and are both former Presidents of the Senate.

Other PDP stalwarts contesting for the chairmanship position include former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, former Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ahmed Makarfi, Ibrahim Shema, and Babangida Aliyu.

2023 Elections: Shiekh Gumi sends crucial message to INEC

Popular Islamic preacher, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has praised the decision by the Nigerian Senate which now allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically.

He subsequently urged INEC to “immediately, with the collaboration of NGOs embark on a voter’s awareness campaign, which should include the rural areas”.

In a post on his known Facebook page, Gumi stated that the news about e-transmission — which could come into effect in the 2023 elections — will reduce rigging.

Furthermore, Gumi said the E-transmission of election results will limit mediocrity among those governing Nigerians.

According to Gumi, “Since 1999 when the khaki returned to the barracks, we’ve not heard the better good news for Nigerians as this singular act of making it legal to transmit elections results electronically. Though, it remains the funding and implementation which are yet to be seen.

“Nonetheless, this will in no way immeasurable reduce the rigging and votes manipulation, the only way bad politicians have been able to hold the nation for a long time at its jugular veins. Money politics, mediocrity, and political blackmailing will all vanish or nearly so by making every vote genuinely counted. This is a big plus for our Senate and the democracy that gives Nigerians free will to choose and repel leaders they so wish.

“INEC has to immediately with the collaboration of NGOs embark on a voter’s awareness campaign, which should include the rural areas. With satellite internet technology perfected and available, no inch of Nigeria soil should be out of reach of the election.

“There are a lot of technical issues, involved, but nothing is insurmountable looking at the experience of countries like India with almost 800 million voters.

“We have been advocating this since early 2015 when we had a conference in Gamji hall Kaduna attended by representatives of INEC, PDP and APC under the auspices of ‘MY CHOICE MY PRIDE FOUNDATION’. Notably, Engr. Buba Galadima made a speech on behalf on the APC. It was memorable and We are glad that some semblance to free and fair elections is on the horizon now as we may say good riddance to bad governance.”

Free Nnamdi Kanu Before You Talk Of Dialogue – IPOB Lawyer Tells FG

The special counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor, has called for the immediate release of his client.
Kanu has been in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody since his arrest and extradition to Nigeria from Kenya.

The IPOB leader is being tried by the Nigerian Government for treasonable felony, arms stockpiling and other charges levelled against him.

But in a post via his Twitter page on Tuesday, Ejimakor asked the federal government to release his client first before talking about planning to dialogue with him.

The IPOB lawyer added that “it is unnatural to negotiate with a man in chains”, asking the government to “stop resisting every effort being made to release his client from detention”.

“When a man is in detention and you wish to negotiate with him, the first step you take is to stop resisting every effort being made to release him from detention.

“That’s how they negotiated with Mandela, Gandhi and Martin Luther King. It’s unnatural to negotiate with a man in chains,” he wrote.

Recall that Ejimakor had condemned the extradition of his client from Kenya to Nigeria and his continuous detention in DSS custody.

He had said, “it is fundamentally wrong for the Nigerian State to levy a lethal military attack on Nnamdi Kanu at his home in Abia State while he was free on bond and having failed to kill him, to then pursue him to Kenya and abduct him without due process of law.

“The abduction, the torture that followed and the unlawful imprisonment in Kenya, plus his consequent expulsion from Kenya to Nigeria, are manifestly unconstitutional and amount to infringement of his fundamental rights. There’s an unbroken chain of notorious violations that started in Afara-Ukwu, Abia State in late 2017 and culminated in Kenya in June 2021.

“It is trite that when a state forcibly takes a fugitive suspect from a foreign country to its territory without giving the person the benefit of the extradition process, it amounts to an act of extraordinary rendition that, without more, triggers insurmountable legal barriers to prosecution.

“Under applicable laws, a renditioned fugitive is entitled to a body of remedies known as collectively reparations, which includes restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.

“Nigeria needs to tread with caution and a keen reference to history as it ramps up on this overly aggressive treason trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. When an alpha patriot like Kanu gets so upset with the system that he begins to seek solutions in separation or self-determination, you talk to him; you don’t subject him to trials and tribulations.”