Evritinnaija

The plan by the opposition parties to form a grand alliance to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which is certain to present President Muhammadu Buhari as its standard-bearer in the 2019 election, is finally taking shape as the parties have almost concluded the terms of the alliance. Tribune learnt at the weekend that the leading opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), New PDP (nPDP) and about 34 other parties and groups are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the alliance. The four-member committee working on the MoU, it was gathered, was expected to perfect the document earlier in the week but could not finish it. This, it was said, was to give the legacy aligning parties enough room to digest the contents of the MoU and come up with suggestions before a final draft is produced and signed. It was learnt that the opposition leaders are mindful of time an

President Muhammadu Buhari’s handling of ongoing killings linked to herdsmen has drawn heavy concerns from members of the United Kingdom House of Lords. The senior lawmakers at the upper chamber of the British Parliament said the latest killings in Plateau State have placed Nigeria’s collective existence on the edge, calling on Mr Buhari to take immediate steps to address the crisis rather than paying lip service to random incidents with press statements. “Despite the herder militia taking more lives during 2015, 2016 and 2017 than Boko Haram, President Buhari, who belongs to the same ethnic group, has been accused of turning a blind eye,” a member, Denis Tunnicliffe, said during a debate on the herdsmen crisis June 28. “Beyond intermittent verbal condemnations, I cannot see much practical action that has been taken to end the violence, which has emboldened perpetrators even further,” another lawmaker David Alton said while opening the debate. “Moreover, in the light of such an i

The Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, on Monday dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Ahmed who was appointed by Mr Saraki in 2017 said his decision has nothing to do with the Senate President. He described his decision to leave APC as a difficult one. He said he took the decision after due consultation with members of his Akida faction of APC in Kaduna. The Akida faction also has a senator, Shehu Sani, as member. Mr Sani has also threatened to leave the APC. Mr Baba-Ahmed, while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Monday, said he has sent a letter of withdrawal from APC to the party chairman in his ward. He explained that he was not leaving APC to join another party but believes the ruling party has under performed. “This statement is to inform the public of my resignation from APC. I have sent a formal letter to this effect to chairman of my ward. “This has been a very difficult decision, to leave a party I helped to form and mad

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who has made his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election known has  challenged anyone with corrupt charges against him to come forward. According to Atiku, president Obasanjo would not have exposed him a long time ago, if there was any such act of stealing. Atiku said this during an interview with Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu. In his words; “The leader Nigeria needs urgently is one who can unite the country and heal the deep wounds, not another Buhari who would further divide Nigeria and deepen the wounds. “Check my records, Dele; my office as Vice President reflected the best of Nigeria; the guys were young and vibrant, and I gave them the wings to fly.” “I have thrown the challenge repeatedly that anyone who has any corrupt charges against me should come forward.” “I never stole government money. Do you think President Obasanjo would not have exposed me if there was any such act of stealing? “The youth have ev

The spokesman for the Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi has met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as plot to sack President Muhammadu from office heightens. The meeting between Abdullahi, and Obasanjo was meant to agree on a possible consensus candidate. The meeting, which also had in attendance two other NEF members deliberated about a suitable northern candidate. They talked about a candidate that could attract massive support from all parts of the country in the 2019 elections. It was learnt that the meetings were parts of the moves to unite elders of the six zones in the country to present a common front in the 2019 presidential election. The meetings were also aimed at seeking solutions to security challenges in the country. A source at the meeting told Punch that, “Ango Abdullahi actually visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta along with two other men. “Their discussion, as you rightly guessed, bordered on the 2019 electio

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has lashed out at the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain described the Vice President as a “very sick man.” Fani-Kayode was reacting to Osinbajo’s reported declaration that farmers, who lost family members to herdsmen will be given money. In a tweet, the former Minister wrote: “The farmer’s family that were killed by Fulanis will be given money. If your family member was affected, you qualify for the money – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. “Yemi Osinbajo is a very sick man, a very sick man indeed.” He also berated President Muhammadu Buhari over claims that more people died during the administration of PDP. “More people were killed in Zamfara than in Plateau and Benue put together – Pres. Buhari. “More people were killed under PDP than under our government”- Femi Adesina. “All these people want is blood, blood and even more blood for ritual sacrifice. They are killing for power,” he tweeted.

The Yoruba Youth Socio-cultural Association has reacted to the claim by the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Hore that land all over Nigeria belongs to the Fulani. The Yoruba youths warned the Federal Government against acquiring land to build cattle ranches for Fulani herdsmen. The President of the YYSA, Olalekan Hammed, told Punch in Osogbo on Sunday that acquiring land for building ranches for herdsmen would cause a serious crisis in the future. He said since the Fulani had already claimed ownership to the entire nation, it would be suicidal to build ranching across the country for their cows because they will be causing a serious crisis with the people of their host communities. The youths called on the FG to treat livestock business like other privately – owned businesses so that people from other ethnic groups would not see the government action as trying to favour the Fulani people at the expense of others. He said, “The Federal Government should not go ahead to acquire land fo

A coalition of Niger Delta militants, yesterday, gave the Federal Government a 21-day notice to end killings in the country. The group lamented the recent killing by herdsmen in Plateau State. The militants, who met at Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State during the weekend, also tasked the Federal Government on protection of lives and property of Nigerians. The militants warned the Federal Government that there’ll be doom if it failed to forestall anarchy and further bloodshed. They declared a 21-day mourning period for those massacred recently in Plateau State by rampaging herdsmen, and threatened to declare herdsmen and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association enemies. A statement by leader of the coalition, W.O I Izonebi, read, “As agitators with conscience, we take lives of fellow Nigerians sacrosanct as no amount of provocation will lead to the slaughtering of innocent Nigerians because of cows. “We, therefore, declare 21 days of mourning for the innocent Nigerians killed in Pla

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Reveals Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Misdeeds Tomorrow Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has confirmed that without fail, he will tomorrow present documented atrocities allegedly perpetrated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo against Nigerians and Nigeria. Soyinka, announced the planned presentation on June 22, at a dinner and award ceremony of the International Press Institute (IPI), in Abuja. “Obasanjo is the most hypocritical leader this nation has ever produced. He has crossed the red line… I will launch a publication to expose him at Freedom Park in Lagos, on July 3.” Soyinka, a veteran playwright, was responding to a question on why he always criticises late military head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, and does not pay attention to the evils committed by other leaders, most of them still living. After explaining why he would not stop criticizing Abacha, he said he was not particular about any leader. He commented on Obasanjo, de

Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto State has formally declared his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Bafarawa made this disclosure over the weekend at his residence in Sokoto, claiming that he brought President Muhammadu Buhari into active politics. He told his supporters that he decided to contest because of his love for the people, adding that he delayed his declaration despite calls from across the country because of the situation in the country and his party. “Politics is my profession. I am a grassroots politician spanning for over four decades. “President Buhari is my student. I brought him into politics. I gave him ticket to contest when I was the national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party. Therefore I know how to run the affairs of the country and the party,” he said. The one-time presidential candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), said the probl

The ruling All Progressive Congress overtime, has been experiencing in-house crises, and there is speculation that the new Peoples Democratic Party and APC will resume their talk this week. Alhaji Kawu Baraje, the leader of the nPDP bloc, on Sunday hinted that the members will reach a decision this week on the next step. Report has it that leaders of the group have been having a discussion on the next step to take since APC held it National convention last week Saturday. A member of APC, who spoke to Punch stated that he will not like to joeperdise the talk and he said,“ There is essentially very little left for discussions if you ask me. “We have held an all-inclusive national convention and everyone especially leaders of the group were carried along, they were not discriminated against; they were given the honour due to them. “The positions their members occupied in the National Working Committee were not taken away from them. “I think what we should be talking about now is

Melaye Reacts To Killings In The Country The Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district in the upper house of the National Assembly, Dino Melaye , has spoken out against the wanton killings in the country, particularly, the recent killings in Plateau state. The Senator decried the seeming inability of security agencies to prevent the attacks or bring perpetrators to book after the offences are committed. Here is the full statement: “The news of another rounds of killings, this time of close to 100 persons of Birom descent spread over 3 Local Governments in Plateau State assailed me like a jolt of lightening!” “That this could still happen inspite of the billions of Naira being invested in security annually, and despite all admonitions that security chiefs take their responsibilities seriously leaves one reeling with shock.” “How does one explain this ceaseless and wanton destruction of human life without the culprits being apprehended and punished, inspite of all th