FirstBank apologises for Buhari’s Lagos visit tweets

Mercy Lank

First Bank of Nigeria has apologised to its Twitter followers after the bank posted series of tweets that appeared to be mocking Thursday’s visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos.

The president’s two-day official visit to the state disrupted traffic and caused residents to embark on long walk to their destinations. “Lagosians how far…. How was the trek this morning? The people still trekking, how’s the #WalkOfChange going,” the bank tweeted around 11:18 am on Thursday from its Twitter handle @FirstBankngr. When a Twitter user (@Jenn_nikolas) tweeted at the bank that its tweet was “terrible to look at”, the bank offered a sarcastic response, “Don’t look. Keep trekking”. Another Twitter user (@omookwah) told FirstBank, “This is an epic fail in attempt to ‘hijack’ an issue. You lost the ‘emotional’ drift to this and got caught on the wrong side of story. Always remember…. Market share and mind share.” “Story,” the bank responded. “Dear Twitter Family. A tweet from us earlier in the day was totally inappropriate. As a responsible organization, we do not support or share humor taken too far. And that is what this was; humor taken too far. We take it back and apologize unreservedly,” the bank tweeted around 2:14 pm. Major routes leading to Muritala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, were blocked in the morning for the president’s visit. The action caused travellers to walk about two kilometres to get to the airport so as not to miss their flight.

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Gov. Bello speaks on death of Kogi Reps member, Buba Jibril

Mercy Lank

The Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has expressed “deep shock” over the demise of a member of the House of Representatives from the state, Hon. Buba Umar Jibril. He described the late Jibril is a man who “lived in the hearts of his people”, saying the vacuum he left in the state and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be difficult to fill. Bello said: “The late former Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker and a Principal Officer of the House of Representatives was a man of the people. “His life is a book for anyone aspiring for greatness to read. The late Buba identified with his people and lived a life of serving the poor in his constituency. “A successful politician, the late Rt Hon. Buba Jibril was a lesson in positivism; a man who chose to take his destiny in his hand on several occasions. “He will be remembered for his astuteness and purposeful leadership as well as his philanthropic life and service to humanity. “New generation of Kogites and Nigerians at large will have a lot to learn from the life of the great patriot.”

The governor assured the people of Lokoja that the “departed hero and indomitable grassroots commander” will be immortalized to “keep the memories of his great contributions to the development of Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole”.

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Chelsea star says it would be a pleasure to depart Stamford Bridge

Mercy Lank

Chelsea attacker Kenedy has described the possibility of joining Newcastle United on a permanent basis as a ‘pleasure’. Speaking UOL, Kenedy talked up the chances of joining the club permanently after a fruitful loan spell with Rafa Benitez’s side.

"This new stage with Newcastle’s shirt makes me very happy, it’s very difficult for a player to stay a long time without playing, even more to get back in the rhythm of the Premier League. If it’s good for everyone, it would be a pleasure to continue wearing the shirt of this great team." The Brazilian, who had fallen out of favour at Chelsea under Antonio Conte, joined the Magpies on loan in the January window. Since arriving at St James’ Park, Kenedy has impressed the Newcastle faithful with his trickery and speed. Previous reports have suggested that a deal could be agreed if Newcastle meet a £15 million asking price. The Brazilian’s future at Stamford Bridge may well depend on what happens with Italian head coach Antonio Conte. Conte himself is being linked with moves away from Chelsea this summer and Kenedy could fancy his chances of winning back his place in the first-team squad.

He found game time hard to come by after being sent home from Chelsea’s pre-season tour of China.

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ELECTION 2019: INEC to sanction erring political parties, election defaulter

Mercy Lank

Current report as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will sanction any political party, individual or corporate organisation that commits electoral offence during the 2019 general elections.

Prof. Francis Ezeonu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, said this at a sensitisation meeting of stakeholders with Imo INEC management on Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) held in Mbaitoli and Owerri North local government areas. Ezeonu said Section 94 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stipulated guidelines for the conduct of primaries, electoral campaigns by political parties and behaviours of party faithful and stakeholders during elections. He added that the same Electoral Act frowned at the imposition of candidates, use of masquerades and any form of weapon, hate speeches, as well as campaigning in Churches, Mosques and public offices. “We will monitor political parties to avoid anarchy. If after primaries anyone is denied his/her position, INEC will not be party to it and will intervene. It will also sanction defaulting party. “The guideline is also against the use of thugs, private militia and vanguards on campaign grounds.” The REC said the commission would use Resident Area Camp (RAC) to ensure that election materials were deployed to polling units on time. He urged stakeholders to cooperate with the commission by creating an enabling environment to deploy the RACs, as well as provide security at RAC areas so that INEC’s property would not be vandalised. The Electoral Officer (EO) in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Mrs Ngozi Odilinye, said the forum was special as it offered political parties, town unions, women and youth leaders, and other stakeholders opportunity to interact with one another and with INEC management in Imo. She said the local government area registered 122,555 voters during the 2014/2015 registration, adding that till date, 22,333 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected. Odilinye noted that the commission had since April 2017, embarked on nationwide CVR, including the correction of wrong particulars of voters, reprinting of omitted voter cards, lost and defaced cards and processing of voters’ data for inter and intrastate transfer. Former Chairman of Federal Electoral Panel, Chief Donatus Agogbuo, said money politics was no longer in vogue and urged INEC to ensure the implementation of its promises to restore sanity to the electoral system. The electoral stakeholders had complained of registration of more parties by the commission and the siting of INEC offices in local councils. They appealed to INEC to ensure a credible election that would help in restoring sanity in Nigeria as it relates to election. Eze Samuel Ohiri, a traditional ruler in Mbaitoli and Chairman, Imo Traditional Rulers, commended INEC for the sensitisation, saying it was the first of its kind in the history of Imo. He, however, expressed regret that there was a high level of voter apathy in Imo, especially among youths, stressing the need for a positive change of attitude. Participants at the meeting included traditional rulers of the various communities, party faithful, women, youth and town union leaders and the clergy.

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BREAKING: PDP chieftain and Reps Member is Dead

Mercy Lank

The member, representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Umar Baba Jibril is dead. Aged 58 years, Jibril, a three time member of the house, died in the early hours of Saturday in Abuja, one of his political associates, Mr Amuda Dan Sulaiman confirmed to Journalists. He was until his death, the Deputy Majority Leader of the house.

He was also a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly

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Military aiding herdsmen against us, Taraba residents allege

Mercy Lank

On a day mixed reactions continued to trail the advice of former Defence Minister, Lt. General T.Y. Danjuma (retd), to Nigerians to defend themselves against herdsmen to avoid what he described as ethnic cleansing, some Taraba residents, yesterday, alleged that operatives of Ayem A’Kpatuma (Cat Race) military operation were aiding killer herdsmen in the state and harassing people. Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai However, the military quickly dismissed the allegations as false, insisting that it was carrying out its constitutional role diligently in the state. Commanding Officer, 93 Army Battalion Takum, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Gambari, said he had no authority to speak on the issue, but summarily dismissed the allegations as false. Takum, Ussa council bosses, Taraba residents speak Chairman Takum Local Council of Taraba State, Shiban Tikari, said General Danjuma’s call has vindicated the people of Takum, who had earlier cried out that the Exercise Ayem A’Kpatena was out to give cover to the killer herdsmen.

Some residents of Takum and Ussa local councils and Yanghtu Special Development Areas in Taraba, had, weekend, accused the Army operatives of Exercise Ayem A ‘Kpatuma (Cat Race) of brutality, bias, and complicity in their handling of the security situation in their areas. Shiban Tikari, who led the condemnation of the Army operation in the area, told journalists that he had received series of complaints from his people that soldiers were molesting and brutalizing them. Reacting to the Military Headquarters’ statement, disclaiming Danjuma’s call, Tikari noted that the soldiers started the operation in Takum local government on February 15 without notifying the council and traditional rulers in the area, leading to a lot of confusion. Army He explained that he had to report the matter to Governor Darius Ishaku before the Army served him notification letter on March 1 when he officially briefed his people about the operation. “Before the operation, there were cases of kidnapping and armed robbery by people using police and army uniforms. So, even when the army operation started people mistook them for kidnappers and it caused a lot of anxiety and apprehension. “I have reports that soldiers have been breaking into people’s houses at night, harassing and demanding for people, but it was in front of the army barracks that a member of the state House of Assembly, Hossa Ibi was kidnapped and killed. On his part, Rimamsikwe Karma, Chairman of Ussa Local Council, said the operation was causing more harm than good to the people of the area. “The herdsmen that followed the Army to our council are not friendly with our people, they are strange faces to us and they are killing people,” he said. Senior Special Assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku on Public Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, picked holes in accusations by the military that Taraba State government did not co-operate with the military in the state. He said: “Of recent, they head a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Wukari Local Government Area, they used Otoshi Recreation Centre, which is a facility of the government, they received the support of the local government chairman who gave all the support because of the instruction from the governor.” Danjuma went too far—Ogbebor Faulting General Danjuma’s advice, Col Paul Ogbebor (retd), who served under General Danjuma in Port Harcourt between 1973 and 1974,

said by asking people to defend themselves, the former Defence Minister took his disappoint too far. He added that Danjuma could have brought his grievances against the military to the association of retired military men, instead of making comments that could destroy the country, which he also helped to build. He said: ‘’General Danjuma is a highly respected retired military officer. To have accused the military and said everybody should defend themselves spells anarchy. “We, President Muhammadu Buhari and I served under him in Port Harcourt between 1973 and 1974. I have great respect for him. But he is taking his disappointment too far. We association of retired army, naval and air force men. If he had anything, he should have brought it up at the association instead of making comments that could destroy what we built. He is a builder.

” Fulani monarch tackles Danjuma Also, the Sharkskin Fulani of Lagos State and Chairman, Association of Fulani Chiefs, South-West Nigeria, Pahaji Mohammed Babushka Bambado, criticised Danjuma for allegedly inciting Nigerians to take up arms against themselves. The monarch, who described the comment as disappointing, especially coming from such persone as TY Danjuma, wondered why he chose such an avenue to talk on such a volatile issue when he knew how to get across to his friend in the villa without heating up the polity. Bambado said: “He has access to his friend, President Muhammadu Buhari, and can easily take all his ‘evidences’ (if any) to him, but telling people to arm themselves is an invitation to anarchy, which, when it happens, will consume us all.”

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Northern politicians should quit, they’ve failed the test of leadership

Mercy Lank

ABUJA—A coalition of 18 Northern groups and associations, led by former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Professor Ango Abdullahi, yesterday passed a vote of no confidence on northern leaders. Ango Abdullahi According to the group, most of the leaders that had been saddled with the responsibility of administering the people have failed the test to lead. The groups, which noted that political officer holders had been given quit notice by the northern leaders to quit the stage, stressed that ahead of 2019 presidential and general elections, the north would scrutinize all politicians seeking their mandate. In a communique signed by Professor Ango Abdullahi, who is the Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Political Committee and Convener,

Northern Elders Forum and 17 others, the group cautioned the Presidency and members of the National Assembly and governors to resist the temptation of abusing the political process in pursuit of their personal ambitions. While welcoming the release of the Dapchi girls, and urging government to intensify efforts to secure the release of all other abducted Nigerians, the groups called on the government to ensure that no abductions occurred again, and that all communities were sufficiently protected and young Nigerians free to acquire education without fear. The communique read in part: “The group urges all leaders, elders and communities to seek peaceful resolutions of conflicts between and among communities. Lives lost, injuries suffered and losses incurred in any community must be redressed firmly and fairly. ‘’The roots of co-existence and inter-dependence in all Northern communities are much deeper than the barricades being erected around communities. All persons who are involved in killings and crimes against communities must be brought to book.”

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