SABINEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE – MARCH 6, 2019
I will do more in second term, Buhari vows
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday pledged to work harder to consolidate on providing security, improving the economy, creating jobs, fighting corruption and upgrading infrastructure in the country. He spoke at the State House, Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on a courtesy visit. The President also promised not to let Nigerians down. Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “This is my last lap. I will try and work even harder than I have done. I assure you that I will not let you down. I pray that my best will be good enough.”
Guber election: INEC assures uniform timing nationwide
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given assurance that there would be uniform timing in the commencement of Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections nationwide. The INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Enugu/Anambra/Benue States, Mr Gestus Okoye gave the assurance in Enugu. Okoye, who was interacting with reporters on the preparedness of the commission for the polls, also said that there would be full deployment of the smart card readers nationwide. He said that the commission was ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections, adding that it had fine-tuned all the loose-ends encountered during the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
Buhari to hand-pick next Senate President
Ovie Omo-Agege, the lawmaker representing Delta Central senatorial district, says President Muhammadu Buhari will determine the next Senate President. He also stated that the next Senate President has to be loyal to the President. According to NAN, Omo-Agege said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would work towards avoiding the issues that led to the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President. He said: “Anybody who is going to be Senate President in the 9th senate, must be somebody who is loyal to Mr. President, the party and the constitution. “The Senate President will be determined by Mr. President. Mr. President will indicate to us through the party who he wants to work with.
APC, PDP sign peace pact in Bayelsa
Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progress Congress (APC) in Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, have signed peace pact to ensure violence-free election in the area on Saturday. It was gathered that the signing of the peace accord took place in the presence of heads of security agencies. Elder statesman, Dr. George Fente, Adire Ayebainaemi and Pastor Patience Amaeri signed the resolution on behalf of the PDP while Ayenumomoipre Otokol, Samuel O. Samuel and Favour Emmanuel endorsed the peace deal for the APC. The stakeholders resolved that security operatives deployed to Bassambiri should not be obstructed from entering the community to carry out their lawful duties.
EFCC Releases Turaki
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Taminu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was arrested after the anti-graft agency invited him to sign a bail document for Babalele Abdullahi, son-in-law of Atiku and finance director of some companies owned by the PDP presidential candidate. Turaki, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, had confirmed that Turaki is the lawyer coordinating the suit to challenge the outcome of the presidential election. “He is the one coordinating the team of lawyers; so, you should just use your tongue to count your teeth to understand why he has been arrested,” he had said. The PDP had alleged that the lawyer’s arrest was “part of the grand plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use state apparatus of power to intimidate PDP leaders.”
Anambra: INEC to replace NYSC members in conflict areas
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra on Wednesday said it would post stand-by ad-hoc staff to the conflict areas of the state for Saturday’s House of Assembly elections. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, dropped the hint at the CBN Awka office during the distribution of sensitive materials ahead of the poll. Nkwachukwu was reacting to the statement by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the state that corps members would not be posted for election duty in Idemili and Ogbaru areas of the state.
Some politicians planning to disrupt governorship election, says Buratai
The Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has said that military intelligence revealed that some politicians are planning to perpetrate acts of violence including bombings and assassinations to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections. Buratai said the army “must not allow them to succeed.” The army chief stated this on Wednesday in his opening remarks at a strategic meeting with Principal Staff Officers, General Officers Commanding and field commanders at the army headquarters in Abuja, ahead of Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections.
#GuberPollElection2019: Gov. Ugwuanyi adopted by CRPP as consensus candidate
Seventy political parties under the aegis of Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) have adopted Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as their consensus candidate for the March 9 governorship election in Enugu State. The leader of the group, Mr John Nwobodo disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu. Nwobodo said that the move was a reinforcement of their earlier endorsement of the governor in 2018. He said that the group then consisting of 34 registered political parties endorsed the governor due to his performance, adding that the number had risen to 70.
#GuberElection2019: Police, NSCDC Deploy 12, 500 Officers in Borno
The Police Command in Borno said it has deployed over 11, 000 men for the Saturday’s governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Damian Chukwu, disclosed in an interview with Newsmen on Wednesday in Maiduguri. Chukwu said the personnel comprised of Police Mobile Force, Sniffer dogs, men of the special units, Explosive Ordinance Departments (EOD) and Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). The commissioner said they would be deployed to polling units, INEC offices and strategic locations. He said the command would deploy about 300 operational vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.
Wike, army disagree over plot to kidnap Rivers REC
As tension continues to mount in Rivers State ahead of Saturday’s polls, Governor Nyesom Wike has alleged that there are plans to kidnap the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to create an excuse for postponing the polls. He alleged that the plot was being perfected by security agencies in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor claimed the state government intercepted intelligence report that the APC, which has been barred by the court from participating in the 2019 elections, intend to use security agencies to generate mass violence in an attempt at disrupting the distribution of electoral materials on Saturday just to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the exercise.
Billionaire kidnapper: Evans’ inability to pay legal fees stalls trials
The inability of alleged kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to pay for his legal representation has stalled two trials before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the counsel to Evans and Chiemeka Arinze his co-odefendant, Mr Chinoye Obiagwu (SAN) had written to the court to request for adjournment in both cases. It recalls that Mr Chino Obiagwu (SAN), was absent on friday at the on-going trial of the alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans.
‘Game of Thrones’ final season trailer excites Nigerians
Nigerian fans of the HBO fantasy series ‘Game of Thrones’ could not contain their excitement on social media following the release of the show’s trailer. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that after months of anticipation, fans of ‘Game of Thrones’ finally got their first extended look at the show’s final season on Tuesday. In reference to the show’s popular line ‘winter is coming’, HBO tweeted the trailer with the caption, “the trailer is here.”
Rohr has wasted another opportunity to discover new players – Lawal
A former international, Garba Lawal has said by inviting same old players, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has wasted another opportunity to discover new players for the team. The coach recently released a list of 23 players for the final 2019 AFCON qualifying match with Seychelles and the international friendly with the Pharaohs of Egypt later this month. Apart from Enyimba’s Valentine Ozornwafor and Midtjyland of Denmark’s Paul Onuachu, the rest of the invited players are familiar names.
Omeruo wants Moses Simon to score against Samuel Chukwueze’s Villarreal
After a hard fought win against Levante in the Spanish La Liga on Monday night, Nigerian international Kenneth Omeruo has wished his national team counterpart Moses Simon the best when his team squares up against Villarreal that has another Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze this weekend. Leganes triumphed over Levante by a goal to nil at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque with Oscar Rodriquez scoring the only goal of the match in the 13th minute.
Tottenham anger at Mauricio Pochettino’s touchline ban as they consider appeal
Tottenham are shocked by the two-match touchline ban handed to manager Mauricio Pochettino for his confrontation with referee Mike Dean. Pochettino will be in the stands for the Premier League fixtures at Southampton and Liverpool after the FA punished him for the row with Dean following Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at Burnley on February 23 — though Spurs were considering today whether to appeal against the extent of the punishment. The Argentine has also been fined £10,000 but the length of the ban is determined by an independent regulatory commission.
Andy Murray targets competitive return in Wimbledon doubles after hip surgery
Andy Murray is looking to make a comeback to the tennis circuit and possibly play doubles at Wimbledon in July after he revealed he is now pain-free following hip resurfacing surgery in January. Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray said before his first-round exit at the Australian Open in January that the tournament could be his last as a professional owing to severe hip pain, with the surgery aimed at improving his quality of life. “I want to continue playing for sure. I have no pain in my hip any more,” the 31-year-old told Sky News.
France plans new tax on internet giants
The French government on Wednesday unveiled plans to slap a 3 percent tax on the French revenues of internet giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook. The bill is an attempt to get around tax avoidance measures by multinationals, which pay most of their taxes in the EU country they are based in — often at very low rates. That effectively means the companies pay next to no tax in countries where they have large operations. The tax will apply to digital companies that have global revenues of over 750 million euros ($848 million), and French revenue over 25 million euros. That will help protect startups, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in a news conference.
EU says ‘difficult’ Brexit talks unlikely to yield swift deal
Talks with Britain on amending its divorce deal with the European Union have made no headway and no swift solution is in sight, EU officials said on Wednesday, a week before British lawmakers must vote on the plan to avoid a chaotic Brexit. Diplomats said talks in Brussels on Tuesday led by British Prime Minister Theresa May’s chief lawyer, Geoffrey Cox, failed to yield a repackaged deal, with barely over three weeks to go before Britain’s scheduled departure on March 29.
Theresa May takes questions from the House as EU diplomats say deal not imminent
Theresa May faced questions about Brexit in the House of Commons, as the deadline for the UK to leave the EU approaches. The leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) branded the policy of getting EU citizens to register to remain in the country “a disgrace”, while a Labour MP asked for Brexit to be delayed until MPs were informed about investigations into “corrupt activities” by parts of the Leave campaign. Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn stayed away from the topic of Brexit throughout his six questions, instead focussing on knife crime in the UK following a spate of deaths in recent weeks.
Ghosn’s journey: Star auto executive to masked suspect
Carlos Ghosn, the star auto executive credited with rescuing both Renault and Nissan, left a drab Tokyo detention center Wednesday after more than three months in custody, his identify obscured by a surgical mask, hat and construction worker’s outfit. The jet-setting turnaround wizard was pursued by TV news helicopters as he traveled in a tiny Suzuki van through Tokyo streets after his release on 1 billion yen (nearly $9 million) bail — a peculiar and humbling episode in a journey that has cast light on aspects of Japanese corporate life and its justice system that set the country apart.
