SABINEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE – FEBRUARY 18, 2019
2019: Beware of social media results – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kebbi state, has urged politicians to be wary of social media posts after voting prior to the official declaration of result by the commission. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud, gave the advice during an interactive session with stakeholders in Birnin Kebbi on Monday. “Fake news is now a trend and can mar our efforts to ensure free, fair and credible elections. “We urge you to be wary of social media posted results before official declaration. “Only INEC Returning Officers at wards, local governments and state levels have the statutory authority and power to declare the results,” he said.
I don’t have to rig before winning a re-election —Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he does not have to rig before winning his re-election because he campaigned in all parts of the country and he can boast of enough support from Nigerians. Speaking at the All Progressives Congress national caucus meeting in Abuja on Monday, the President said, “I’m not afraid. I went round the 36 states and the FCT and I think I have enough support across the country to vote for me.” The President also warned Nigerians against causing any form of “disturbance” during the elections, saying that security agents are aware of likely “hot spots.” “I do not expect anybody to cause any disturbance. The security agencies have identified hot spots and flash points and should be prepared to move.
No Elections in Rivers Without Our Candidates, APC Threatens
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign organisation in Rivers State has declared that there will be no elections if its candidates are not listed in the ballot in compliance with a Court of Appeal ruling for a stay of execution. The party has also accused the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, of working with Governor Nyesom Wike to frustrate the party in the state. Director of Strategic Communications in the Tonye Princewill Campaign Organisation, in a statement, said they have taken to be fairly relisted on the ballot papers, including the contempt of court proceedings served on INEC. He vowed if they continue to treat APC in Rivers State with disdain, the election will still not hold.
Naomi Campbell showers accolades on Okonjo-Iweala
International supermodel, Naomi Campbell, could not contain her excitement after meeting Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The two super women met at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where they spent time inspiring each other. 48-year-old Campbell, who is one of the most recognizable models from the 80s, took to her Instagram page @naomi to gush over Okonjo-Iweala. She said, “The only person I wanted to meet this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland over a beautiful dinner we shared our strength’s and hope. “The brilliant and beautiful Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; globally acclaimed economist, Nigeria’s first female Minister of Finance.
Electronic devices remain banned from exam halls, says JAMB
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board yesterday insisted that the use of electronic devices by candidates during the unified tertiary matriculation examinations (UTME) remained prohibited. The agency said electronic devices like mobile phones, calculators, wristwatches and recorders won’t be allowed into any of its centres by candidates during this year’s examination. JAMB stated these in its Weekly Bulletin obtained by our reporter in Abuja yesterday. Some of the banned items include: spy reading glasses, cameras, ear piece, Bluetooth devices, USB, CD, hard disk and other similar storage devices.
You’re the kind of candidate i’ll endorse, Femi Kuti tells Sowore
Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Nigerian musician and son of the late afro-beat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has called on young people to plan for a landslide victory against the corrupt establishment. He made the call at the New Africa Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos while hosting Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC). Femi, who is also a human rights activist, spoke on the sudden postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “This bunch of people, them yeye no be small. How can you just wake up and say you are not ready? What have you been doing for the past four years?,” he asked.
Police investigate killing of Okowa’s aide
The Police Commissioner in Delta State, Yinka Adeleke, has said that the command has commenced full-scale investigation into the killing of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s aide, Mr Lawrence Ijei (a.k.a. Ngozi). The CP disclosed this in a press statement issued on Monday by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP, Chuks Orisewezie, and made available to newsmen in Warri. Ijei, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, was killed by yet-to-be identified gunmen inside his Toyota Camry car with registration number EFR 965 SN in Ekpan, near Warri last Friday.
Oil hits 3-month high on OPEC Cuts
Oil prices rose to their highest levels since November 2018 on Monday, lifted by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)-led supply cuts and U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures pushed through $56 per barrel for the first time this year, hitting $56.13 a barrel before edging back to $56.02 a barrel by 0112 GMT, still up 0.8 per cent from their last settlement. International Brent crude futures hit a high of $66.78 dollars per barrel before easing to 66.65 per barrel, up 0.6 per cent from their last close.
Cricket – India urged to boycott Pakistan in World Cup after Kashmir attack
Indian cricket fans, angered by an attack claimed by Pakistan-based militants on Indian forces in disputed Kashmir, have urged India to boycott a World Cup match against Pakistan this summer. The Cricket Club of India, among the country’s oldest clubs, also joined calls for the national team to stay away from the June 16 match in Britain, as Indians accused Pakistan of not doing enough to stop militants from operating on its soil. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the suicide attack on a military convoy that killed 40 paramilitary police last week, the bloodiest loss by Indian security forces in decades.
Brexit spurs breakaway from opposition Labour Party
With just 39 days until Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union, Brexit has prompted a split in the U.K.’s main opposition party. Seven British lawmakers on Monday resigned from the Labour Party over its Brexit policies as well as other issues, including its approach to anti-Semitism. “The Labour Party that we joined that we campaigned for and believed in is no longer today’s Labour Party. We did everything we could to save it, but it has now been hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left,” lawmaker Chris Leslie told a news conference.
Iran’s Khamenei warns government about deception by Europeans
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday warned his country’s government not to be deceived by European countries that say they want to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by U.S. President Donald Trump last year. The comments by the long-serving hardline cleric demonstrate the difficulty the elected government of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani has in maintaining his policy of keeping Iran open to the outside world in the face of new U.S. sanctions. Washington’s major European allies have said they want to save the agreement under which world powers agreed to lift sanctions on Iran in return for curbs to its nuclear program.
European countries push back on Trump demand to repatriate captured Isis fighters and families
European countries have pushed back on a US demand to repatriate citizens who went to Syria to join Isis, deepening a split between Washington and its allies on the issue. More than 800 European citizens are currently being detained in Syria on suspicion of fighting for Isis — many of them were captured in the last two months during the battle for the last of the terror group’s territory. President Donald Trump called this weekend for European governments to “step up and do the job that they are so capable of doing” by taking the suspects back.
Saudi crown prince orders release of 2,100 Pakistani prisoners
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, whose reputation has been battered internationally since the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, on Monday ordered the release of more than 2,100 prisoners in Pakistan. Pakistan Prime Minister Imram Khan made the request to bin Salman upon his arrival in Islamabad, which is part of a larger international tour of Saudi Arabia’s future leader. Pakistani workers travel to the Middle East regularly for employment in construction or domestic help, but thousands have been jailed without the financial means to seek legal help. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mohmood Qureshi praised the decision by bin Salman.
Apple buys Hello Barbie voice tech firm PullString for $30m
SIRI might soon spout teen-esque BFF phrases, as Apple has bought the firm behind the smart voice tech that powers Mattel’s Hello Barbie interactive doll. Axios reports that Cupertino has bought PullString, the firm behind the AI platform that allows Hello Barbie to ‘talk’ with humans, for some $30m with a promised $10m in ‘earnout’ potential for the firm’s top brass. PullString’s software platform, which also powers an interactive Thomas the Tank Engine toy, has been designed to make it relatively easy for toy makers to put voice interaction tech into their products and apps.
