I Never Took Any Loan As Governor - Fayose

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has challenged the Debt Management Office (DMO), commercial banks and All Progressives Congress (APC) to publish any debt he owes since coming to power.

Contrary to the propaganda by the APC, Fayose insisted that he has not committed the state to any debt by means of bond from capital market or loans from commercial banks.

Speaking with reporters on Sunday at the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti, Fayose justified the purchase of a N75 million Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle for himself as a “parting gift.”

Reacting to the claim of the Transition Committee set up by the governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, that record from DMO showed that Ekiti debt profile under him has ballooned to N117 million, Fayose described the allegation as a “cheap blackmail and lie from the pit of hell.”

Fayose said: “When Fayemi was leaving as governor in 2014, he left with a car and so did other governors before him. So, you can’t expect me also not to have a befitting car when I am leaving office.

”Fayemi himself ordered a Jeep of almost N7 million for me when l was still Governor-elect in 2014, but he didn’t pay for it. I had also bought a Jeep for former Governor Niyi Adebayo to honour him. That is how it is done every four years.

Military Jet Hovers Over National Assembly In Abuja

Barely eight days to the resumption of the National Assembly, NASS, a strange military jet was seen hovering over the complex on Monday.

According to security agents attached to the Complex, the jet started its manoeuvres since on Sunday flying almost touching the ground.

Some journalists also noticed the jet at about 12.45 pm and 2.05pm on Monday when it flew so close to the ground that they had to run for cover inside their cars.

No signs of any ceremony at the military arcade in front of the National Assembly Complex as at 10.45am.

This is the first time since inception of this Assembly in 2015 that a military jet is descending so low into the Complex.

The 8th Assembly is expected to commence legislative business next week Tuesday after a long break spanning about eight weeks.

The military has however said people should not panic, adding that it's just a training exercise ahead of independence.

Rich Uba Brothers Battle For Single Anambra Senatorial Seat

Two wealthy brothers, Senator Andy Uba and Chris Uba are set to slug it out alongside other candidates to know who will represent Anambra South in the Senate.

To the surprise of many, Chief Chris Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has joined the race to the red chamber for the Anambra South Senatorial district election in 2019.

NAN reports that Chris is in battle with with his elder brother and serving senator, Andy for the seat.

The Uba brothers are also facing Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu and others under different political platforms, in the contest.

While Chris is contesting the seat under the platform of the PDP, his brother, Andy is re-contesting under the APC and Bianca is bidding under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

NYSC Forgery: "Adeosun Will Name Her Accomplices, Face Trial"

The Peoples Democratic Party has said the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who resigned her appointment on Friday, must be made to refund the salaries and allowances that she collected.

The main opposition party also said Adeosun, who has dual citizenship, must be made to name those who assisted her to allegedly forge her National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate.

Others said it's shocking that she was allowed to travel out.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, in an interview with Punch in Abuja, said if Adeosun named those that helped her, she would save the country from embarrassment arising from activities that members of the cartel would carry out in the future.

Secondus said it was not enough for Adeosun to resign, she must be made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

He added that failure to take action would show that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari remained partial in its fight against corruption.

Secondus said, “With the impunity that this government is known for, there is no way the minister would have resigned if not because we are in an election year.”

The PDP boss said, “We expect the minister return all the money she had collected either as salaries or allowances before this scandal.

“She must calculate what she collected since her days as a commissioner in Ogun State up till the day she packed her belongings and left the ministry of finance and pay same to the coffers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

PDP Hails Dogara For Dumping APC, Says He's Courageous

The Peoples Democratic Party has welcomed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, back to its fold.

It also described his return as a courageous response to the party’s call on compatriots to rally with it and rescue Nigeria.

Dogara had last week, through his aides, collected the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms.

Though he had yet to officially announce his defection from the All Progressives Congress, his action was, however, seen as his return to the PDP from where he defected to the APC in 2014.

The PDP described Dogara’s decision to abandon the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC as a patriotic and nationalistic move.

It added that his action demonstrated that he was a statesman, who was committed to the progress of our nation, particularly at this trying time.

I Will Do To You What Your Father Did To Me – IBB tells Saraki

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has told Senate president Bukola Saraki that he will support him in his bid to become president just the way his late father supported him during his failed presidential ambition. 

He said, "It is my turn to do what your father did to me."

He said this when Saraki visited him in Minna, Niger State, as part of his nationwide campaign tour for the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, convention.

The former Head of State said he would treat the presidential aspirant as his own son and ensure that he succeed in his ambition

He pointed out that “I will rightly observe that you are my son, for coming to pay a courtesy visit.

Why I Didn't Attend Governorship Debate - Senator Adeleke

The publicity director of the Adeleke campaign organisation, Olawale Rasheed, has explained why Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP was absent at the 2018 Osun State governorship debate which held in Osogbo, the state capital on Sunday.

The PDP candidate whose seat was empty throughout the 2-hour debate, said he did not refuse to show up as widely believed, but was “held up by the electorate in the places where he had gone to campaign on Sunday.”

The lawmaker said while they were on their way to Osogbo, a community where they had gone to campaign blocked the highway, adding that they (community) had been marginalised all these years and that there had not been developments in their area.

Rasheed told Premium Times; “To our surprise, while we tried to skip the small towns and villages as we made efforts to meet up, they started trooping on the road; As I am talking to you now, we are just entering Osogbo.

Photos: Kirk Franklin Reconciles With His Dad Who Gave Him Up For Adoption

The singer shared this photo with his father and wrote;

"So.....Two days ago, I received an anonymous call that my biological father, who I never knew, has 3-6 months to live. 

I’ve lived my entire life hating this man. He and my biological mother gave me up for adoption, and it left me never feeling good enough....to this very day.

I took my hate for him and used it as fuel to be the best father I could be for my own. But what I did wrong, is I never took that fuel, and turn it into forgiveness....and that is wrong. Wrong for him, me, and the God I proclaim to represent.

How can I preach what I don’t practice. So I flew to Houston yesterday to do that. It’s painful, it’s a process, but how disappointed I would be in myself for this man to leave this earth without being forgiven.

He deserves to receive what God gives me everyday. Pray for him, and for me. God this is hard...I weep as I write."

Massive Floods Hit Bayelsa; Renders Many Homeless

Some coastal communities in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa have been flooded, with many residents rendered homeless.

Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa, who confirmed the development to NAN, said the State Government was still assessing the damage caused by the disaster.

Iworiso-Markson disclosed that the number of communities affected by the flood is on the increase, adding that the State is in dire need of support, especially from the Federal Government.

He observed that the timely steps taken by the government in setting up a flood response team and subsequent sensitisation had prepared the minds of the flood prone communities, adding that earlier flood alert also saved the day.

Saraki Replies APC Senators: You Can't Impeach Me

Senate president Bukola Saraki has said those plotting to impeach him after the National Assembly reconvenes won’t succeed. “They don’t have the number to impeach me if we reconvene,” he stressed.

Saraki, who said this while responding to questions from newsmen at the PDP Secretariat in Minna, stated that those who were being emotional did not have the number to remove him from office.

“Those who are accusing us of an undue process in the adjournment are unaware that we are in the majority. They know they don’t have the locus standi.”

IGP Warns F-SARS Men

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has told operatives of the reformed Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad to desist from checking citizens’ bank account  details.

The IG also warned the F-SARS operatives not to invade people’s phones and laptops unless there was a court order or an instruction from the Commissioner of Police in charge of a state police command.

Speaking during a workshop in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Idris warned who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP’s X-Squad, Amaechi Elumelu, said any F-SARS operative who handled cases not related to armed robbery and kidnapping would equally be dismissed from the Force.

He said,

“Under the new era in F-SARS, operatives must be professional and respect the rights and privileges of all citizens. In the past, F-SARS was considered as the most elitist and professional unit of the police force.

“In the last few years, the unit has been riddled with allegations of abuse and excesses which made the public to call for its disbandment.

“Under the reformed F-SARS, it is illegal to search suspects’ phones, computers, or inquire about their bank account details without proper authorisation.

“Henceforth, F-SARS commanders must get directives from the state Commissioners of Police before invading people’s privacy. Any officer who disobeys will be dismissed.”