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Presidential Tribunal verdict: South West PDP says justice was not done
The South West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has expressed disappointment over Wednesday’s verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Daybreak recalls that the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had approached the tribunal in Abuja seeking the nullification of the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb. 23 poll.
But delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Mohammed Garuba dismissed all the grounds of the petition.
The position of the PDP in the South West Zone was contained in a communiqué issued on Thursday at the end of its stakeholders meeting held at the Government House, Ibadan.
The communiqué was read by Dr Eddy Oyefeso, the party’s National Vice Chairman.
It stated in part: ”PDP takes serious view of the petitions of our party’s candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and therefore put on record our disappointment that justice was not done.
”In view of the plethora of evidences laid before the tribunal, we resolve to support the party to appeal against same at the Supreme Court.”
On the Osun governorship case, the party said ”due attention is accorded to the verdicts of both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on the Osun state’s governorship election.”
”While we continue to accord due respect to the judiciary, it is essential that its rulings and verdicts command the respect and confidence of the citizenry in the interest of the nation.”
The party further resolved that PDP must review the conduct of off-season elections in the South West.
Meanwhile, the party said that moves of Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State confirmed his determination and preparedness to drive the frontiers of development to new heights in the state.
Makinde implored every PDP member in the zone, especially its leaders to be more united so as to achieve its goal of capturing all the states in the zone in the next general elections.
He asserted that the leaders must have a common goal of capturing states, irrespective of who had the ticket of the party in the states.
Among the dignitaries at the forum were Mrs Bucknor Akerele, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Prof. Olusola Ekeka and Chief Tajudeen Oladipo.
September 13, 2019
House of Rep. leadership crisis: PDP Board of Trustee to meet
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees Sen. Walid Jubrin has said that the board would meet on Sept. 19 to discuss reports of its committee set by the board up to investigate the House of Representatives Minority Leadership crisis.
Jubrin disclosed this in a statement he issued on Thursday in Abuja on the committee set up to investigate the Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu and other PDP minority principal officers of the House of Representatives.
Jubrin said that the mere submission of the committee chaired by Sen. Iyochia Ayu, set up to investigate PDP elected lawmakers’ disobedience to party directives, did not imply clearance and clean bill of health to those involved.
Jubrin said that there were different three committees within the party set up to investigate the disobedience to PDP directives during the voting of principal officers of the 9th National Assembly.
According to him, there are still reports from the disciplinary committee headed by Chief Tom Ikimi and the report headed by Sen. Adolphus Wabara that would be considered.
“We have three other committees and the outcome of the Ayu’s committee will not be in isolation of other committees like the Tom Ikimi Disciplinary committee and the Sen. Adolphus Wabara committee.
“It is true that the committee has submitted its report but the BoT will meet Thursday next week to discuss and take a decision on the recommendations,” he said.
Jubrin however said that he did not know why the secretary of the committee, Austin Opara left.
“It was when the report of the committee was submitted that I noticed that his column for signature was not signed.
“I am not a member of the committee. Since the inauguration of the committee, I have not spoken to them, I have not visited or interfered with their work or given any input in the course of their work.
” He did not write or tell me why he left or did not sign after the submission of their work. As far as I’m concerned, I will leave that for discussion next Thursday when the BoT will meet.
” But, I will not condemn any member of the committee without any proof of evidence of corruption,” he said.
Jubrin challenged any member of the party with proof of allegations against any member of the committee to speak out as it was not enough to cast aspersions on respected Nigerians.
“I challenge any body any where to provide proof to any allegations of corruption. He who alleges must show evidence of corruption. It is not enough to accuse anyone of any wrong doing.
“I call on anyone, both party member or non party member to come forward with evidence of corruption and you will see what I as chairman of the BoT will do,” he said.
He said that as the chairman of the party’s BoT that he would not take any side with anybody as the board of trustees remained the soul and consciousness of the party.
“I call on us not to take side with anybody since the issue or issues will be openly discussed among ourselves,” he noted.
He said: ”We should be concerned with how to move the party forward and make the party strong “
Jubrin also noted that the BoT would soon embark on a strategic visit to members across the nation with the first visit to Dubai to see and interact with formerVice-President Atiku Abubakar.
September 13, 2019
FUOYE investigates attack on Fayemi’s wife
The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, has constituted a panel to unravel the circumstances leading to Tuesday’s protest by students and the attack on Ekiti governor’s wife, Bisi Fayemi.
The vice-chancelor said that the 12-man investigative panel headed by Prof. Abayomi Fasina, a Deputy Vice Chancellor in the institution, would also suggest ways to prevent a recurrence.
Daybreak reports that panel has Mrs Blessing Eyiorunpe as Secretary.
It would be recalled that students of the university had staged a protest in Oye Ekiti over incessant power outage in the institution.
The protest had turned violent, with two persons reportedly killed while several others were injured.
Several vehicles were also vandalised in the incident.
Meanwhile, the police in Ekiti have announced the arrest of two students of FUOYE in connection with the attack on the wife of the governor.
The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Asuquo Amba, also told newsmen in Ado Ekiti that two of his men were wounded while two police vans were burnt during the attack.
” Two persons have been arrested and one of them has already confessed to committing the crime
” When a crime is committed, we don’t fold our arms and watch. Even a civilian can effect arrest if crime is committed in front of him and hand the suspects over to the police,” Amba said.
The commissioner condemned the attack on the police while discharging their duties, saying it was wrong for his operatives to have been brutally attacked for trying to restore order.
” It is sad that the police are being attacked by criminals and the civilians who we are protecting are also attacking our people
“We won’t rest until all the perpetrators of this dastardly attack are arrested and brought to justice,” Amba said.
The police boss added that the two rifles stolen from the police during the attack had been recovered. (NAN)
September 13, 2019
Osinbajo warns against fake news, pledges improved engagement with media
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged media practitioners to address the issue of fake news and provocative information.
Osinbajo, who made the call when he hosted media practitioners to a special appreciation dinner on Thursday in Abuja, also pledged improved engagement with them.
The vice president said the advent of social media had made the issue of fake news complex, noting that “fake news or provocative information can cause chaos, civil unrest, war or even death.”
“I think all of us in the media, social media, print, TV, all of us, should begin to do something serious about fake news before it begins to consume us, ” he said.
He called on media practitioners to be curious about fact checking and do simple but thorough investigation over any contentious issue for the public to know the truth.
Osinbajo said that the lies about President Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate went far and deep because no one bothered to unravel the truth early until it got to the court.
“Just take the allegation of Mr President’s certificate for example, someone said Mr President did not have a certificate but Mr President said he sat for and obtained his West African School Certificate in 1961 at the Kastina College.
“The examination body then was Cambridge University, the same Cambridge University we know. I expect any media organisation to do a simple investigation to establish whether it is true or not.
“But nobody did it, and the matter went to court,” he said
He said that there was also a time a WAEC official was asked about the certificate on television and he said he was not the one that signed it.
“And the television said that the WAEC official denied Buhari’s certificate, which is false, completely false.
“It sounds funny because the WAEC official only knows about WAEC certificate, but this is a West African School Certificate by Cambridge University.
“But because nobody bothered to find out, the public believed the lies for so long.
“So with the increase of social media and anonymity every day the problems of the free media are becoming more and more complex and even more dangerous,” he said.
The vice president, who also solicited for greater support from the media, pledged to improve engagement with them.
He said that one of the books he co-authored as a law lecturer was Media Law in Nigeria.
“I am a believer in the freedom of the press, whether it a responsible press or irresponsible. I just believe in the freedom of the press.
“Every morning, I receive a summary from most of the newspapers, I also receive trending news from social media from my media assistant.
“Added to that, I also receive a special pack that contains latest news, cartoons or insult from the social media,” he said
He said that atimes, some of the cartoons or social media comment were very insulting and provocative but they never bothered him because of his belief in press freedom.
September 13, 2019
We’ll not muzzle press – FG
The Federal Government says it will not muzzle the press as it performs the important work of providing the public with reliable and quality information.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, gave the assurance at a dinner organised in honour of Editors and media partners by the Media Unit of the State House Abuja on Thursday.
Mustapha maintained that no real democracy could exist anywhere in the world without freedom of the press.
He, however, called on media organisations to partner with relevant stakeholders in combating the menace of fake news and disinformation in the society.
According to him, fake news are inimical to the wellbeing of any organised society.
”We will continue to support an independent media that gives the public credible news, enlightens us to think more critically and act more honourably to address pressing national challenges.
”We will equally support efforts from media organisations to combat disinformation in all forms, especially fake news which are detrimental to the peace, security and unity of the nation,” he said.
On the appreciation dinner with editors and media partners, the SGF observed that the event was a manifestation of the fact that ”this administration values the contributions of the media in nation building.”
”That is why in the past four years, the PCT has provided a platform for key government officials to regularly engage Editors and Media Managers in-camera briefing sessions to exchange views on some pressing challenges facing our dear country,” he said.
He further noted that the quarterly briefing sessions had provided an opportunity for the government to showcase its agenda to the Nigerian people and forge stronger partnerships and synergy for the benefit of the citizens.
He said: ”I make bold to say that since I assumed office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation we have run a government that is accountable to the public by all standards.
”The Buhari administration has laid a solid foundation for Nigeria’s economic development through massive investments in agriculture, power, transportation infrastructure and manufacturing.”
Mustapha also revealed that the Federal Government had taken measures to tackle leakage in public resources, saying that billions of naira had so far been recovered from corrupt individuals and organisations.
”The anti-corruption fight is upbeat. The control measures to tackle leakage in public resources have saved us billions of naira, while those who stole our common patrimony are being made to return what they illegally acquired for themselves and their cronies through the legal process,” he said.
He gave an assurance that the Buhari administration would continue to partner with the media in its determination to place Nigeria on the path of rapid growth and sustainable development.
”We will always count on your role as the watchdog of the society, partners in progress, and the conscience of the nation,” he added.
September 13, 2019
THREE NEW COMMISSIONERS TAKE OATH OF OFFICE IN BORNO
From Dauda R Pam
Professor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borni state has charged the three newly sworn in Commissioners to do their best in discharging their responsibilities, especially in the area of Reconstruction,Rehabilitation and Resettlement, as one of the cardinal 10-point Agenda of the administration.
The occasion took place at the Musa Usman Secretariat, Maiduguri, amidst tight security, with pomp and pageantry.
He said, government is ‘service to the people’, and that is why the choice for members of the new cabinet was done based on integrity and merit.
According to Profer. Zulum, the three commissioners were suppose to participate in the first segment of the swearing in which took place last month, but due to their absence while in the Holly Land (Saudi Arabia) for the 2019 Hajj exercise and could not be part of that ceremony until today (Thursday).
He noted that, Borno which is the most affected in the activities of insurgents with minimal resources at its disposal, need collective efforts in developmental strides, adding that, the Commissioners would inject their wealth of experience in moving the state forward.
And that as a way to ensure open door policy, he used the occasion to direct the relevant organ to embark on renovation of his second office at the Musa Usman Secretariat which has been neglected for decades, to enable him attend to some official issues aimed at moving the civil service for better performance and development.
Responding on behalf of the new Commissioners, Barrister Kala Shehu Lawan,who is billed to be the helmsman of Ministry of Justice, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy of the appointment and promised to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
Also sworn-in were the former State Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Bello Ayuba and Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo.
September 12, 2019
China stays rational to cope with external uncertainties

By Zhong Sheng
On Sept. 11, the Customs Tariff Commission of China’s State Council announced the first group of US imports for exclusion from the initial round of additional tariffs.
Sixteen types of US products will be excluded from the first round of additional Chinese tariffs with effect from Sept. 17, 2019, and affected import enterprises are allowed to apply for refunds of collected duties.
It is a rational decision eying the overall picture.
There is no winner in a trade war. China does not want a trade war, but it is not afraid of one and it will fight one if necessary. China’s position on this has never changed. The country’s countermeasures are a just act responding to the US who unilaterally launched and continuously escalated the economic and trade frictions.
The exemption lists reflect China’s rationality and restraint it has always exercised in dealing with the China-US trade disputes. All the countermeasures taken by the Chinese side are not for the sake of confrontation, and the tariff increase is not aiming at earning more tariffs, either.
Since China started the tariff exclusion process for US imports on a trial basis on May 13, relevant Chinese departments have carefully examined eligible applications and taken on board related suggestions.
Will the additional tariffs make it difficult for enterprises to find substitutes? Will they cause negative structural impacts on relevant industries? Will they lower the life quality of Chinese citizens? These questions have all been taken into consideration, which demonstrates the responsibility the Chinese government is fulfilling for its own people and enterprises in China.
However, some people in the US distorted the exemption lists unveiled by China, saying the lists are a signal that China is not able to take the impacts of the trade friction.
What these people said is one-sided and is intended to make hypes. Chinese economy is resilient and China is not afraid of any external challenge. China has the only complete industrial chain in the world, and this chain cannot be easily destroyed by the US tariff rise. In the short term, the US tariffs will only highlight the value of China in the global industrial chain.
According to a survey by US-China Business Council, 87 percent of interviewed US enterprises had no plans to leave China. Rhodium Group statistics showed that US enterprises invested $6.8 billion in China in the first half of 2019, which is 1.5% more than in the same periods of the previous two years.
China has always been staying lucid in doing its own things well. The measures it has taken to continuously take off external pressure, such as promoting high-quality development, expanding opening-up and improving business environment, have been lauded by the world.
Tim Stratford, chairman of American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China), said recently that the confidence of AmCham China’s members in opening up market by the Chinese government is at a historic level, and over half of its members still consider China as one of their top three investment destinations worldwide.
The increasingly strong appeals shown by the Chinese market well responded to the unreal “decoupling” illusions of some US politicians.
Over the past more than a year of trade frictions, China has spared no effort to inject impetus into sustained and healthy economic development and to improve the life quality of its people. Facts once again prove that China is making the optimal choice by exerting rationality, doing its own things well and maintaining its own stability when facing various external uncertainties.
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)

September 12, 2019
Nasarawa; Tribunal Sacks Dahiru, Orders Rerun In Seven Electoral wards
By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia.

The National and state Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has ordered for a rerun election in seven electoral wards of Lafia- Obi Federal Constituency in Nasarawa State.
Chairman of the tribunal Justice Welli Chechey gave the ruling at its sitting in Lafia Nasarawa State capital.
Justice Chechey described the cancellation of results of the February 23 election by the INEC ward collation officer as arbitrary, unauthorized and incompetent.
He however ordered INEC to conduct a rerun election in some polling units of seven electoral wards in Lafia and Obi local government areas where the results were cancelled which include Agyaragun Tofa, Ashigye, Shabu Kwandere among others.
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election, Haruna kigbu had challenged the declaration of the APC candidate Sarki Dahiru as winner in the election, citing illegal cancellation of results and gross irregularities.
September 12, 2019
NIMC TO COLLABORATE WITH TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE ENROLLEMENT
By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it is strengthening partnership with traditional institutions in Nasarawa State to boost enrollment.
Mr Shuaib Ajanaku, Coordinator of NIMC in Nasarawa told press men in Lafia today that enrollment into the national database in the state needed to be improved upon.
Ajanaku said there was need to strengthen partnership with traditional institutions so as to effectively pass the message of the importance of enrollment to people in the state.
He also said that NIMC was also seeking collaboration with community and religious leaders to drive home the importance of enrollment for residents in the state.
In his word “Enrollment in the state has been a bit challenging if you compare the state with other states, especially states within the north central zone.
“Although we are making progress, it is at a slow pace. Nevertheless, we will continue to do our best to see that everyone is enrolled.
“We have paid advocacy visits to traditional rulers and other community leaders to appeal to them to help speak to their people to get enrolled.
“We believe they have a strong influence on the people. So, we want to strengthen our partnership with them to get more enrollment in the state,” he said
Ajanaku further stressed that compared to 2018, more enrollment had been achieved in 2019, but this could still be improved upon.
Reacting to the sensitization Shuaibu said the commission is in all the local government areas sensitising residents on the importance of being enrolled and having the National Identity Number (NIN).
“We are working hard to sensitise the people. We have been on the radio and the television to sensitise the people to let them know the importance of this project.
“If you want to obtain or renew a driver’s licence, to obtain international passport or renew it, you must have NIN.
“To open accounts, you must have your NIN. A lot of other transactions are being affected like people going on pilgrimage must have NIN. So it has become imperative for every Nigerian to have a NIN,” he said.
Ajanaku appealed for stronger support from the Nasarawa State government in helping the commission to enroll all residents of the state.
September 12, 2019
Over 2,136 cook vendors to participate in School feeding programme in Nasarawa.
By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia
About 2,136 cooks vendors were enrolled in the second quarter of the renewed school feeding programme across the three senatorial districts of Nasarawa state.
Mr. Amos Magaji, the state’s programme manager of the social investment scheme, stated this in Lafia during a Quarterly meeting with Contractors and Cooks in Lafia/ Doma zone held at the Abacha youth center.
According to him, the meeting aimed at identifying challenges and proffering solutions before schools resumption next week. The meeting he said has yielded fruitful result that would help the women in rendering efficient services to children in schools.
The programme manager, however, warned food vendors (cooks) against diversion of food items meant for the pupils, assuring of taking serious disciplinary action on anyone found wanting.
” I call on you to always exhibit a high sense of maturity and hygienic status by keeping your environment clean during cooking hours. Wash all dishes, pots, and spoons before cooking time. Desist from all forms of sharp practices”.
He, however, commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Buhari and the Nasarawa State Government for their immense assistance toward the actualization of the programme in the state.
“We have an impressive enrolment of pupils now in our public schools in the state compared to previous years. We have also put in place mechanism to ensure a standard for monitoring and supervision in carrying out the task ahead of us. I call on the stakeholders to contribute their quota towards monitoring of cooks and contractors in the state.
Daybreak news however, observed that a lot of women complained of not given sufficient funds to feed the required numbers of pupils assigned to them, thereby requesting for an increase of funds to N100 per child against the current N70.
September 12, 2019