Election spending threatens naira stability - CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned that the economy faces inflation and financial stability risks over the short-to medium-term if expected huge election spending is not checked.

CBN Deputy Governor (Corporate Services) Adamu Edward Lamtek explained in his personal statement at the last Monetary Policy  Committee  (MPC)  meeting released yesterday by the CBN that  if excess liquidity was allowed to build up, the demand for foreign exchange could shoot up in the second half of 2018 and throw the naira exchange rate out of equilibrium.

Lamtek said: “Such an adverse scenario must be prevented through a proactive monetary  policy.  This  is  justified  by  the  reality  that  exchange  rate  stability  is critical   to the current recovery in   economic growth and the   gradual disinflation.  Added  to  this  is  that a stable exchange rate  should, in the minimum, prevent further deterioration of  foreign currency denominated assets of the banking system and improve the resilience of the industry”.

He said these  concerns surely  called  for  a  forward-looking  and  cautious  approach  to policy. “I see the need for greater coordination of monetary and fiscal policies and     continued     engagement of critical stakeholders     to     address misinformation and  better anchor expectations,” he said.

“In addition, I reckoned that  some of the supportive  administrative  measures  put  in  place since last year by the Bank need more time to work their way fully through the economy.  I  am  equally  persuaded  by  the  commitment of the Federal Government to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), especially in the area of infrastructure development, which continues to be relevant to sustaining and deepening  growth and development of  the  country in the medium to long-term,” he said.

He insisted that the outlook  for  domestic liquidity, based  on  expected  fiscal actions  and  election spending, is worrisome and that with an impending  Federal Government budget outlay  of over N8 trillion and deficit  of  about N2 trillion for 2018, the  short-term fiscal outlook appears expansive. “The delay in the passage of the budget could result in substantial injections in the second half of fiscal 2018 in an   attempt to meet planned commitments. The immediate effect of this, combined with the repayment of local debt by the government and election  spending  would be  a  surge  in  banking  system liquidity,” he said.

He said Nigeria’s stock of external reserves continues to grow on account of reduced imports,  improved  inflows  from  more favourable oil  prices,  and  increased autonomous inflows through the Investors’ and Exporters’ Foreign  Exchange (I&E) Window.

He said that confidence in the economy is building as the naira exchange rate continues to be   stable and the premium between the bureau de change  and interbank market segments  narrows.

“The parallel market premium continues to shrink as legitimate  foreign exchange  transactions  migrate  to  the  formal market.   It does  therefore appear that the bold reforms of the Central Bank on forex  policy  and in the  foreign  exchange  market  in  2016  and  2017  are paying  off.  It  is  gratifying  that  the  benefits  of  these  reforms  have  stretched beyond the stability of the naira exchange rate,” he said.

Continuing, he said some manufacturing outfits have  resorted  to  using  locally  available  alternatives  as  raw  materials,  just  as interest in domestic production of certain classes of food like rice and tomato products is growing. Likewise, capital market indicators have trended upward partly in response  to positive market sentiments occasioned by the gradual improvement in the macro-economy.

“Monetary  policy  cannot,  at  the  same  time,  be  expansionary.  At 14.33 per  cent  in  February  2018,  inflation  is  still  significantly  higher  than  the Monetary Policy Committee’s preferred range of 6 –9 per cent. Second,  the  economic  recovery  we  have  seen  so  far  has  benefitted  partly from  improved  investment  inflows.  As  a  direct consequence, the country’s external  reserves’ position  has  relatively  improved, just  as  confidence  in  the economy,” he said.

According to him, rising  yields  in  advanced  economies,  following  the  drift  towards policy  normalization  as  global  inflation  picks  up,  poses  a  significant  risk  to  in-bound  investments.  This  threat  is  mitigated  by  a  stable  naira  exchange  rate and competitive yields locally. For this purpose, we will need positive interest rates,  as  do most emerging markets  and developing economies.

“This means that inflation needs to moderate further. Third,  there  is  still  work  to  be  done  to  fully  contain  banking  system  fragilities which increased in the wake of the stagflation in 2015 through 2016. The non-performing loans ratio  continues  to  be  in  excess  of  the  bank’s  desired  level”.

 “Among  other challenges,    banks    have    had    difficulty    with    their    foreign    currency denominated liabilities (loans)   as   the   exchange   rate   moved   against borrowers  as  from  2015.  Therefore,  from  a  financial  stability  standpoint,  any threat  to  the  naira  exchange  rate  stability must  be  viewed  seriously  and promptly addressed to forestall another exchange rate shock,” he advised. - The Nation

Fulani Herdsmen killings: Nigeria Police finally arrests those supplying arms

The police on Tuesday paraded persons accused of supplying arms to armed persons who have been attacking communities in Benue and Taraba States.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, listed the names of the suspects and arms recovered from them.

His statement below:

“The renewed strategies adopted by the Nigeria Police Force to stop the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians and curtail the proliferation of firearms across the country, most especially in the North-Central States have been yielding positive results. The IGP Intelligence Response Team and the Police Special Forces mandated by the IGP to work with Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba State Commands, in the last two weeks arrested the Eleven (11) suspects mentioned above within Benue and Taraba States and recovered from them were Ten (10) AK47 Rifles and other assorted firearms and ammunition.

“In the first two cases, the suspects confessed to have been responsible for the supply of AK47 rifles and other firearms and ammunition to armed bandits, militias, and criminal herdsmen/farmers in Benue and Taraba States.

“The first suspect, Morris Ashwe 36yrs Native of Mbajima Village Katsina Ala LGA Benue State confessed and admitted to have been supplying firearms and ammunition to the notorious and most wanted vicious and notorious gang leader of militia, murderers and kidnappers Terwase Akwaza aka Ghana who was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force for the merciless killings of several innocent persons and wanton destruction of properties worth Millions of Naira, at ZakiBiam in Benue State on 20th March, 2017 and for other violent crimes such as Culpable Homicide, Mischief by Fire and Criminal Conspiracy and the killing of Mr. Deneen Igbana (late) the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor of Benue State.

“In the second case, all the three (3) suspects namely Kabiru Idris, Miracle Emmanuel and Husseini Safiyanu were arrested inTaraba State and in their possession Five (5) AK47 rifles, Thirteen (13) AK47 Magazines, Eighty Three (83) Rounds of AK47 Ammunition were recovered. They confessed to have been supplying AK47 rifles and other firearms and ammunition to Militia groups, armed bandits and other criminals in Taraba andBenue States who they admitted have been attacking and killing innocent people in villages in Taraba and Benue States.

“The third case involving Seven (7) suspected kidnappers. These suspected kidnappers were arrested in the act of movement to kidnap a prominent person in Makurdi Benue State. The arrest was made possible from intelligence gathered by the IGP Intelligence Response Team. Two (2) Beretta Pistols were recovered from them. They confessed to have been responsible for several kidnappings in Benue, Taraba and Some part ofNasarawa State in the recent past.

“Investigation is being strengthened to arrest other suspects at large. All suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

“The deployment of additional fifteen (15) Police mobile Force units to augment the strength of the Benue State Police Command has beefed-up security in the State and help in sustaining the peace that have been restored to the state.

“The Force hereby wishes to assure the people of Benue and other contiguous state of its commitment to sustain the peaces that have been restored in those states.

Suspects

“Morris Ashwe, 36 years, native of Mbajima Village Katsina AlaLGA Benue State (Working for Terwase Akwaza aka Ghana). Recovered from him were, five AK47 Rifles, Two Hundred and Thirty Eight (238) Rounds of AK47 Ammunition, Forty (40) Smoke Grenade Canisters, Seventy Nine (79) LAR Rifle Ammunition

2nd case: illegal firearms dealers

Kabiru Idris 43 years – Principal Suspect – Arrested in Takum Town, Taraba State, Miracle Emmanuel – Principal Suspect and Gang Leader 27yrs Native of Anambra State, Husseini Safiyanu Native of Taraba State – Principal Suspect

Recovered from them were: Five (5) AK47 Rifles, Thirteen (13) AK47 Magazines, Eighty Three (83) Rounds of AK47 Ammunition

3rd case – kidnappers/armed robbers

Emmanuel Ushehemba Kwembe 28yrs Native of Ushongo LGABenue state,

Sekad Uver 28yrs Native of Koshisha LGA Benue State,

Ordure Fada 22yrs Native of Kwande LGA Benue State,

Stephen Jirgba 18yrs Native of Vande kya LGA Benue State

Peter Lorham 24yrs Native of Kinshisha LGA Benue State

Achir Gabriel 30yrs Native of Ushongo LGA Benue State,

Lorhemen Akwambe 35yrs Native of Guma LGA Benue State. - Daily Post

IMF raises red flag on increased borrowings by Sub-Saharan African countries

Abebe Aemro Selassie, director of the African department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), says the risk of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa slipping into debt distress is increasing.

Speaking on Tuesday at the unveiling of the African Economic Outlook report in Accra, Selassie attributed this growing risk to heavy borrowing encouraged by “insatiable investor demand”.

The fund projected that the region’s economy will expand 3.4 percent in 2018 up from 2.8 percent in 2017, boosted by global growth and higher commodity prices.

IMF said 40 percent of low-income countries in the region are now in debt distress or at high risk of it and refinancing those debts could soon become costlier.

“The current growth spurt in advanced economies is expected to taper off, and the borrowing terms for the region’s frontier markets will likely become less favorable … which could coincide with higher refinancing needs for many countries across the region,” it said.

“African governments issued a record $7.5 billion in sovereign bonds last year, 10 times more than in 2016. And they have issued or plan to issue over $11 billion in additional debt in the first half of 2018 alone.”

Six countries – Chad, Eritrea, Mozambique, Congo Republic, South Sudan and Zimbabwe – were judged to be in debt distress at the end of last year. And the IMF’s ratings for Zambia and Ethiopia were changed from moderate to “high risk of debt distress.”

IMF said Africa would need to be more self-reliant to meet the demand of heavy investments to build infrastructure and social development.

“With debt vulnerabilities rising in the region, sub-Saharan African countries will need to further rely on sustainable sources of financing, making domestic revenue mobilization one of the most urgent policy challenges for the region.” - Cable Nigeria

Crackdown shakes Chinese city's 'Little Africa'

The Ghanaian university student was roused after midnight by police shouting and pounding on his door in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, where a crackdown on illegal immigration has left many residents of its "Little Africa" neighbourhood feeling scared and angry.

After demanding to see his visa, the agents carefully checked his papers before leaving to knock on other doors.

The commercial hub has long been a magnet for fortune-seeking Africans, but traders and students say they face unfavourable visa rules and increasingly heavy policing.

"They do this because Africans live here," the Ghanaian student told AFP as he stood on a pedestrian bridge in the bustling city, still upset over last summer's after-dark visit.

"I was sick of being treated like a criminal. I had to move to another neighbourhood," he said, gesturing at a nearby police station and lamenting that the omnipresent security had made life more complicated.

Migration from Africa has risen in recent years as China has stepped up its diplomatic links and investments with the continent.

Guangzhou draws merchants who come to buy goods such as jewellery and electronics in bulk, which they ship back to their homelands.

But in January, the official Xinhua news agency reported that the African population in Guangzhou had decreased as "police have tightened enforcement on illegal immigration".

There are now 15,000 Africans living in the city compared to 20,000 in 2009, but "the real number, including illegal immigrants and overstayers, is believed to have been much higher," the report said.

Estimates from Chinese researchers have put the actual number of residents at over 150,000, making Guangzhou home to the largest African community in Asia.

'Harsh treatment'

Police vans with flashing lights and officers astride motorcycles congregated after nightfall recently at a small public square in Xiaobei, a "Little Africa" neighbourhood with halal restaurants on narrow winding streets.

A Nigerian merchant was returning home from a meeting with wholesalers earlier this year when officers handcuffed him and hauled him to a police station because he was not carrying identification.

It was only after his Chinese landlord vouched for him over the phone that police allowed him to retrieve his passport in his apartment -- under close watch.

The treatment seemed "wrong" for a routine document check, the merchant told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Residents who faced police checks asked not to be identified over fears of being deported.

Guangzhou's police and exit-entry bureau did not return requests for comment.

"Sure, there are some illegal activities like the drug trade and police should target this minority of people," said Ohene Opoku Agyemang, a doctoral student in international relations at Jinan University.

"But the harsh treatment of law-abiding people negatively affects Africans' view of China and hurts efforts to build friendly relations with African countries," he said.

Too much red tape

Long-time African residents of Guangzhou say they see their compatriots lapse into "illegal" status after struggling with onerous visa renewal requirements.

Nigerians must submit criminal record checks for all work and student visas, and no African countries are eligible for 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa exemptions, unlike visitors from many other nations.

"My friend had to go home to give fingerprints for a criminal record check. A return flight cost $2,000. By the time he got all his documents in order, his visa expired," said Akubakarr Sajor Barrie, director of an import-export company.

"For a small business owner, this is really hard. People start to wonder if doing business in China is worth it and they go to countries like Turkey and Vietnam instead," Barrie said.

In 2013, China amended its legislation governing foreign residents, the Exit-Entry Administration Law, adding higher penalties for illegal workers and overstayers without streamlining visa requirements, which vary widely between jurisdictions.

While the rules are for all foreigners, Africans lack institutional support in China and face considerable bureaucratic hurdles from their own countries, such as lacking online services for criminal record checks.

"There is no chamber of commerce from the 55 African countries in Guangzhou to track what is really happening or advocate for African businesses as other chambers of commerce do," said Hannah Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined, an international development consultancy specialising in Africa-China relations.

A severe lack of funds and information prevents African governments from working together to seek favourable visa policies, she added.

The decrease of African residents in Guangzhou has taken a toll on Chinese businesses catering to them.

"We do flight bookings for traders, so when they can't get visas to come and visit even for a short time, of course it affects our business," said Yoyo Chen of Yoyo Travel Services.

But traders say some business conditions have improved.

"The quality and variety of choice in products has improved dramatically in the seven years I've been coming to Guangzhou," said a shoe merchant from Lagos, while he examined a bejeweled black velvet loafer at a market.

"And more Chinese can speak English." - AFP

Rashidi Yekini’s brother, Akeem is dead

The younger brother of Nigeria’s all time highest goal scorer, Rashidi Yekini, Akeem, is dead.

A member of Kwara Football Association, Alhaji Wasiu Lawal, who visited the family on Tuesday, confirmed the demise to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said Akeem Yekini died on Saturday, May 5 in Ijagbo, Kwara and has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Lawal told NAN that the father of two only complained of malaria and body pains before his death.

The Firda’u, Islamic prayer for the dead, took place at his residence in Ijagbo on Tuesday.

He is survived by two wives, two children and an aged mother. - Daily Post

Mama corruption !!! EFCC gets fresh order to seize Patience Jonathan’s N7.3b, $8.4m

The Federal High Court in Lagos Division has ordered a temporary forfeiture of N7.3billion and $8.4million allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

Justice Mojisola Olateregun made the order based on a fresh application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A copy of the order made on April 20 was obtained yesterday.
The judge had on April 13 struck out an ex-parte application seeking the money’s forfeiture on the basis that a similar suit was pending in another court.

However, EFCC returned with another ex-parte application for temporary forfeiture.
The money is said to be in Skye Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and First Bank Plc.
Justice Olatoregun directed EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper within 14 days, adding that the respondents should be served.

Mrs Jonathan, Esther Oba, Globus Integrated Services Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited, AM-PM Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited and Magel Resort Limited are the respondents.
In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigator Huleji Tukura said the money was allegedly moved from Bayelsa State when Mrs Jonathan was a permanent secretary.
He said Mrs. Jonathan first opened a First Bank account and then “procured” former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to fund the account with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”

“The said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei procured one Festus Isidohomen Iyoha and Arivi Eneji Peter, who were domestic staff attached to the State House, Abuja, to deposit the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in to account of the first respondent.
“The said domestic staff, in a bid to conceal their identity, deposited the funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful act using fictitious names.
“The total sum of $4,036,750.00 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities were deposited into account No. 2022648664 domiciled in First Bank Plc in the name of the first respondent.

“On the 28th day of September, 2016, the first respondent, in dissipating the property sought to be forfeited, transferred the sum of $3,640,794.72 to the first respondent’s account No. 2031277178 domiciled in First Bank Plc.
“On the 5th day of October, 2016, the first respondent withdrew the sum of $1,000,000.00 cash from the said account leaving the balance of the sum of $3,645,013.73…
“As at the time the various sums were deposited, the first respondent was a serving permanent secretary in the employment of the Bayelsa State Government.

“The funds sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria are not the first respondent’s lawful earnings but are rather reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.
Tukura said the companies were not into “any legitimate income-yielding business venture” but were incorporated for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities for the former First Lady.
“The depositors into this account are domestic staff of State House, Abuja, who was procured by the said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei to deposit the funds sought to be forfeited in a bid to conceal the true origin of the funds,” Tukura said.

EFCC said none of the directors of Globus Integrated Services Ltd, for instance, we’re signatories its account.
The commission said an account numbered 2110002269 was opened with Skye Bank and others with Diamond Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC solely to retain funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

“Account No. 0016971559 was opened in the name of the fourth respondent (AM-PM Global Network Limited) with Stanbic IBTC and was used to warehouse N317, 397, 458 .26 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.
Justice Olatoregun adjourned until May 11. - The Nation

Puel : It will take years for Arsenal to recover from Wenger exit

Leicester City manager Claude Puel warned that Arsenal face a difficult period as they prepare to farewell long-serving boss Arsene Wenger.

There will be a new face on the sidelines next season for the first time since 1996, with Wenger's 22-year tenure set to end against Huddersfield Town on Sunday.

The likes of Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri, Carlo Ancelotti, Liverpool assistant Zeljko Buvac, Luis Enrique, Joachim Low, Patrick Vieira, Mikel Arteta, Thierry Henry, Leonardo Jardim and Julian Nagelsmann have emerged as candidates to succeed the three-time Premier League winner.

But fellow Frenchman Puel – who played under Wenger at Monaco – believes it will take years for Arsenal to recover from the 68-year-old's departure.

"He is a great loss for Arsenal," Puel said of Arsenal's visit on Wednesday.

"After a few years they can come back at a good level. But it is difficult when a club have had success like this and must replace the manager and sometimes replace valuable or great players.

"It will be difficult for the new manager. Perhaps the new manager or great managers will like different options or possibilities.

"I hope the fans and club do not regret their choice, because he has had a massive impact as manager of Arsenal for 22 years.

"How can you replace him? It is always tough — like after Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United [whose second place this season is their best since Fergie retired five years ago]." - Goal

Senate, House fail to lay Budget 2018 six months after presentation

Six months after President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2018 budget to the National Assembly, the lawmakers yesterday failed to lay it for consideration, contrary to their promise to do so.

The President presented the document to the lawmakers on November 7, 2017, urging them to pass it on time to enable the country return to the January – December budget cycle, which has not been in place for many years because of the delayed passage. This year’s delay is the longest since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.

There was no mention of the budget at the plenary in the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday.

Last week, the House of Representatives promised that the budget would be laid yesterday and passed before the end of the week.

But the Order Paper of the House carried no such item. Reporters were also not told why it was not listed but it might not be unconnected with the failure of some of the committees to submit their reports to the Appropriation Committee.

Briefing reporters last Thursday, House Committee on Media and Publicity Chairman Abdulrasak Namdas said: “By the Grace of God, we will lay the budget on Tuesday (yesterday) and then try to pass it that same week.

“We are laying it on Tuesday and I can assure you that within that same week, we’re going to pass it.

“We tried to do that, but you know, the budget is a voluminous document.. Actually, we’ve been working hard so that we can beat the deadline, and hopefully this time around, I can assure you that by next week (this week), everything about the budget will be concluded and passed.”

The Senate also gave assurance on the passage of the budget this week.

On Monday after meeting with President Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the budget might be laid this week and passed next week.

Before then, the lawmakers had been giving conflicting dates. House Speaker Yakubu Dogara promised the passage of the Budget by late April. House Committee on Appropriation Chairman Mustapha Dawaki said it would be passed this month.

After a meeting between the leadership of the National Assembly and the President, the lawmakers accused some ministers and heads of agencies of failing to defend their budgets, thereby causing the delay. The President issued an order for those involved to comply.

Saraki on another occasion accused some committees of the Senate of failing to do their job with dispatch.

Yesterday, efforts to reach Namdas, who promised on behalf of the House that the budget would be laid yesterday, failed.

He was said to have travelled to South Africa on an assignment. - The Nation

Jungle republic !!! FG spent $36.3bn on fuel importation in five years

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says Nigeria spent $36.3 billion on the importation of petroleum products between 2013 and 2017.

Speaking on Monday at a public hearing organised by a house of representatives committee, the apex bank said the figure is part of the $119.4 billion spent on importing commodities during the same period.

The committee is investigating the state of the nation’s refineries, their turn-around maintenance to date and regular/modular licensed refineries.

Ganiyu Amao, CBN director of research and representative, said efforts by the bank to intervene in the foreign exchange market are reduced by the excessive outflow of foreign exchange.

“Data from CBN shows that from 2013 to 2017, total foreign exchange committed to imports in the country stood at $119.41 billion, while total foreign exchange committed to imports in oil sector stood at $36.37 billion,” he said.

“This represents 13.5 percent of all imports made by the country. It greatly exerts serious pressure on our external reserve and depreciates the value of our local currency.”

He said the CBN prefers a policy that mandates international oil companies (IOCs) to refine at least half of the crude they produce locally.

In his remarks, Anibor Kragha, NNPC chief operating officer, said the corporation’s agenda is to carry out a rehabilitation of the country’s refineries. - Cable Nigeria

Buhari’s ill health affecting his performance, says PDP

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has noted that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot effectively discharge his official duties as a result of his ill health.

Buttressing this point of view, the PDP said the President’s latest medical trip to the United Kingdom was a confirmation that “President  Buhari is unwell, ailing and unfit to attend to state matters.

Addressing the media in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said it’s very unfortunate that the President and his handlers had chosen to shroud the issue of his persistent illness in secrecy whereas the government prides itself on claims of transparency and integrity.

“Nigerians will recall that shortly before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April, Mr. President, without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly, as required by the constitution, undertook a private visit to the UK, where his doctors are known to reside, five clear days ahead of CHOGM. Nigerians were left in the dark for the period despite demands for full disclosure by the PDP.

“Only last week, two days after his departure from the United States where he had gone for a state visit, Mr. President went ‘missing’ again. When concerns began to mount on his whereabouts, the Presidency claimed he had a ‘technical stopover’ in the UK, citing flight issues, only for revelations to emerge from the same Presidency, on Monday, that Mr. President was actually in the UK to see his doctors.

“In these circumstances, Nigerians were taken for granted, deceived and treated like lesser men and women without reasoning capacity, while our nation, at those periods, was left with no leadership as Mr. President refused to transmit power as required by the 1999 Constitution, as amended”.

While stating that it has no objection to the President taking care of his ailing health, the party said Nigerians have come to detest the deception, lies and beguiling that have trailed the handling of Buhari’s  health issues.

The PDP said it’s more concerned that Nigerians are being kept in the dark about the nature of the President’s ailment and the identity of the doctors and the hospital attending to him.

The main opposition deplored a situation where a siting President would continue to embark on medical tourism abroad when his administration has completely refused to address the poor state of the health sector in the country, even as medical personnel are currently on strike across the nation.

“In conclusion, we urge the Presidency to note that shrouding the issue of President Buhari’s illness in secrecy, just for political gains, is neither in the interest of the President nor that of our nation at large.

“Sordidly, the handlers of Mr. President appear to be more concerned about the next election instead of the consequences of a failing health and the blatant breaches of our constitution. The PDP therefore counsels President Buhari to be well guided and take charge of his health challenges”, the PDP added. - The Nation

High powered arms in wrong hands capable of overrunning the country – Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district has expressed concern that government must act fast to mop up illegal arms to save the country from plunging into full blown war.

He said the scale of arms in wrong hands across the country was capable of overrunning the country, if nothing was done before 2019 general elections.

The lawmaker who did not spare the political class said, Nigeria politicians believe in winning elections through violence by arming thugs, adding that politicians were behind killings across the country.

Speaking on a motion on “proliferation of arms” in Nigeria which was sponsored by his colleague, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, he said the proliferation of arms was as a result of wrong orientation of what politics was all about.

“We must tell ourselves the truth that we must have a wrong orientation of politics.”

“Until we have a reorientation that politics is about serving the people and that it is not a do or die affair, we will not stop arming people against political enemies. ”

“We were made to know that these arms came from Lybia, what happened to Nigeria immigration, what happened to Police, what happened to Nigeria Customs, what happened to those guarding our borders”, Sani queried.

“Our political orientation is responsible for scale of arms and Mr. President, we must change our orientation. Those up there think they can use their position to unleash terror on the people to have their way in politics.”

“The political class teach the people to use violence and it’s part of our political culture. In that case, what do we need to invite the IGP or Military chiefs to do.”

Sani revealed that military men have withdrawn from the scene in Birnin Gwari in Kaduna South before gunmen killed over 45 persons few days ago.

“Just few days ago, the military withdrew from where people were killed in Birnin Gwari of Kaduna South because of sophisticated arms in the hands of anonymous people than we have in stockk as a state.” - Daily Post

Adeniyi Johnson: Toyin Abraham had an affair with Seun Egbegbe while we were married

Adeniyi Johnson, Nollywood actor, says his ex-wife, Toyin Abraham, was romantically involved with Seun Egbegbe while they were still married.

The ‘Meet the In-laws’ star married Toyin Abraham(formerly Aimakhu) in 2013 but the marriage was short-lived after accusations of infidelity brought the union to an end in 2015.

“When a relationship doesn’t work, both people are at fault,” he said in an interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on ‘Rubbin Minds’, a programme on Channels TV.

“But when it reaches the point where someone is being painted black and the other person is being painted as a saint, it can’t be a one man factor to crash a marriage.

“For instance, I was accused of cheating. I heard a lot, I read a lot and till now there’s no evidence. The Internet doesn’t forget.

“Seun Egbegbe, permit me to mention the name, I’m not spiting anybody, I’m just making reference,  he said as at May 31st they started seeing and we still celebrated our second year anniversary by July.

“But at the same time, I take all fault. If I had managed the situation well as a man. It wouldn’t have gotten to the point it got to.”

The collapse of the marriage took a toll on Abraham who once revealed that she turned to drugs to cope.

The relationship of Abraham and Egbegbe, which was thrown in the limelight when Egbegbe was accused of theft, was also short-lived. - Thecablestyle