Africa

Nigeria: Bukola Saraki Finally Decamps from APC to PDP
News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Bukola Saraki Finally Decamps from APC to PDP

Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki has finally decamped from the ruling APC to the main opposition PDP. It will be recalled that Saraki was one of the PDP Governors who left prior to the 2015 elections to form the nPDP which later joined to form the APC. In a tweet, this morning, Saraki said "I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC)." Two hours later, he followed up with several tweets which constituted a statement, explaining why he left. Details of this statement are published below: "I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC). "This is not a decision that I have made lightly. If anything a...
Zimbabwe: Enthusiasm Greets First Post-Mugabe Polls
News, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Enthusiasm Greets First Post-Mugabe Polls

As Zimbabweans go to their first post-Mugabe polls, there is a high level of enthusiasm as many feel this is a new era. The turn out for the election has been impressive with long queues of enthusiastic voters seen at different polling stations. A total of about 5,635,706 registered for the elections with about 43.5% of these being under 35 years. The battle will mainly be between the two top contenders. They are incumbent President, 75 year old Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF and 40 year old Nelson Chamisa of the MDC Alliance. Emmerson Mnangagwa is a shrewd politician who has been in the game for a while. His is nicknamed "the crocodile" and his faction is called "Lacoste." He has survived several assassination attempts and is also accused of being behind the attacks of oppositi...
Nigeria: Buhari Will Win Despite Defections – Keyamo
News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Buhari Will Win Despite Defections – Keyamo

Mr Festus Keyamo SAN, Director Strategic Communications, of the President Muhammadu Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign, has said that President Buhari will be re-elected despite the defections from the party. According to Keyamo, the President will record better results in states where he previously performed poorly. While making this claim, he added that "the latest defections by some National Assembly members and the Governor of Benue State will not harm the re-election of President Buhari in the 2019 general elections. This would even be so if the much-rumoured two more Governors also defect from the APC." He reason for his confidence was that from his perspective, "the President won with large margins in the past in some States without the support of majority of the politicians fr...
Nigeria: Senators that Defected Love Bribe and are Afraid of Buhari – El-Rufai
Corruption, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Senators that Defected Love Bribe and are Afraid of Buhari – El-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State has stated that the senators that defected from the APC were afraid of what Buhari would do to them in his second tenure because they are corrupt. The Governor gave this as an explanation for the spate of defection that recently hit the ruling party. While answering questions during a media chat in his state conducted in Hausa he said "Why did these people (senators) leave APC? It’s because they love bribe and were afraid of what President Muhammadu Buhari will do to them if he gets re-elected. "This is just the truth. What joined them together is that they love bribery and corruption and they are afraid President Buhari will deal with them." It would be recalled that about 14 senators, 37 members of the house of assembly and some gover...
Nigeria: Fake Viral News about Buhari’s ICC Secret “Integrity” Dossier By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D.
Corruption, Justice, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Fake Viral News about Buhari’s ICC Secret “Integrity” Dossier By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D.

There is a viral message making the rounds in Nigerian social media circles about an alleged secret document from the International Criminal Court at the Hague, which shows that, “A top secret background check on global leaders, past and present,” found President Muhammadu Buhari to be “the only leader rated XXX1 on integrity, the highest rating globally.” Please don’t laugh. The message adds: “That's why he is the only world leader on the ICC floor to address them." The message emanated from Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives from Kano, who, I understand, granted an interview to Channels TV. One version of the message quoted Jibrin as saying, "Buhari showed me a document he brought back from ICC, Hague.” Another version quoted him as saying he asked “a top memb...
Nigeria: Dino Melaye Abducted by Unknown Gunmen
Crime, News, Nigeria, Security

Nigeria: Dino Melaye Abducted by Unknown Gunmen

Senator Dino Melaye has been reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen on his way to Kogi. Information reaching us has it that the the Senator was on his way to Kogi to appear in court over charges of allegedly aiding criminals and attempted suicide. He was billed to appear in court today (Thursday 26th July) but was ambushed and abducted along the Abuja-Lokoja Highway on his way to answer the charges. The news broke when Senator Ben Bruce tweeted on his twitter handle that the Senator had been abducted. The tweet read "I have just been informed by Moses Melaye, @dino_melaye’s brother, that Dino has been abducted by unknown persons in a Toyota Sienna that blocked their car and overpowered them on their way to Kogi to answer to Dino’s court case. Lets be on the watch out. Will keep you up...
Nigeria: Samuel Ortom Finally Defects to PDP
Breaking News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Samuel Ortom Finally Defects to PDP

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has finally announced his defection from APC to PDP. He had days back announced that the party had given him the red card and that he was not yet committed to another party. He however later came back to say that he was back with the party as the party leadership had handled the issue that was the bone of contention. Before the announcement today, Benue Youths had blocked the government house, barring the governor from leaving fro Abuja where he was to attend a reconciliation meeting organized by the APC. Following the incident, the governor announced during a meeting with the state's local government chairmen and Councillors a short while back that he was defecting to PDP. Yesterday, Benue State was in the news as the state house of assembly imp...
Nigeria: Law Enforcement Agencies Should be Allowed to Do their Work – Presidency
Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Law Enforcement Agencies Should be Allowed to Do their Work – Presidency

On the heels of the news today that the Senate President's convoy blocked by the Police, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity has released a statement saying law enforcement agencies should be allowed to do their job. The full statement is published below. "The Presidency has taken note of the orchestrated campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari each time a Very Important Person (VIP) is invited by the law enforcement agencies, in the discharge of their legitimate duties and functions. The law of the land is intended for all, not for the poor or those at the lowest rungs of the social ladder. It is odd, strange and bizarre that while ordinary citizens can be called up to answer questions or be interrogated, the VIP cannot be question...
Sports: Nigerian Coach, Salisu Yusuf Caught on Video Receiving Bribe
Corruption, News, Nigeria, Sports

Sports: Nigerian Coach, Salisu Yusuf Caught on Video Receiving Bribe

Assistant coach of the Super Eagles and current coach of the Nigerian team to the 2020 Olympics was caught on camera taking bribe to feature certain players. The Video which was Ghanaian investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas showed Yusuf being paid about $1000 with a promise of more financial incentives should the players be selected. Salisu Yusuf currently earns about N3 Million monthly which amounts to about $8,300. It is therefore scandalous that a bribe of $1000 would be attractive to him, There have always been rumours that Nigerian coaches demand financial settlements to feature players, which many times explains the inclusion of unqualified players and the exclusion of qualified ones. Both Salisu Yusuf and the NFF had yet to release a statement as at the time of f...
Nigeria: Bukola Saraki’s Convoy Blocked by the Police
Breaking News, Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Bukola Saraki’s Convoy Blocked by the Police

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, this morning had his convoy intercepted and blocked by the Nigerian Police. He was on his way to honour the invitation extended to him by the Police to appear before it this morning by 8am. The Senate President had last night released a statement indicating that the Police sent a letter to him by 8pm, requesting that he reports to the Force Headquarters by 8am this morning. It is therefore not clear at this time why his convoy was blocked on his way to honour the invitation. According to Olu Onemola and Bamikole Omisore who are both aids to the Senate President, he is being held back from honouring the invitation. Bamikole Omisore had this morning tweeted the news of the blocking of the convoy. His tweet read "BREAKING: The @PoliceNG have blocked t...