Category: Politics

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed shock that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was owing entitlements of its national secretariat staff.

The party said this was despite billions of Naira generated from the sales of nomination forms during the 2019 general elections and the recent in Edo and Ondo governorship polls.

In a statement on Sunday, APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena, stressed that if a political platform is not capable of running its main office, such has no business in governance.

He told Nigerians to thank their stars that the PDP is no longer controlling the federal government.

“Our current intervention is in respect of some Nigerians working at the National Secretariat of the PDP but got sacked illegally recently. The number of staff sacked amounts to 50%. The sacked staff have already dragged the PDP to the National Industrial Court in the suit no. NIC/ABJ/260/2020.

“It will amount to wickedness and lack of empathy for the dying PDP to continue to deny the staff what legally belongs to them. PDP should rather close shop, bearing in mind the popular saying that “the labourers deserve their wages.”

APC accused the PDP of resorting to threats against its own APCstaff who had diligently worked for the party.

“We are reliably informed that for three years since the PDP lost power at the centre, staff have also not been paid their Housing Allowances, leading to over 50% of them entrapped in litigations with their various landlords.

“Over 20% have their properties thrown out of their living apartments following which some of them resorted to sleeping in the Churches and or squatting with friends and relatives. Some have even sent their family members back to their villages.”

Nabena noted that situation got worse since many PDP leaders no longer have easy access to public funds.

APC appealed to the PDP to show compassion “because these staffers are Nigerians. Their entitlements should be paid, including those that have been illegally sacked.”

The ruling party urged the court to do justice to cases involving the aggrieved workers.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said one of Nigeria’s main priorities presently is getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to him, this is a matter of utmost concern to the Buhari administration.

Osinbajo said this on Thursday, at the opening session of the virtual edition of the Paris Peace Forum.

Osinbajo said: “The priorities of Nigeria in the post-COVID-19 era include improved healthcare and the economy.

“First, we need to keep the virus under control. While our guards are still firmly in place, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a matter of utmost concern.”

He acknowledged the efforts of WHO and other international agencies working to ensure that COVID-19 vaccine delivery will be equitable across all countries, regardless of the priority of orders and ability to pay.

Osinbajo commended world leaders for their prompt response and cooperation in controlling the spread of Coronavirus.

“We call for debt relief for these countries, and the extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) until the end of 2021 as well as commercial debt relief where needed,” Osinbajo added.

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, has described himself as a “redefinition of democracy”.

He stated this on Thursday at the swearing-in ceremony for his second term in office, held at the Samuel Ogbemudia in Benin City, the Edo capital.

The event marked the inauguration of the governor and Philip Shaibu, his deputy.

According to Obaseki, it is time to do away with politics of division and ensure equitable distribution of resources to improve the lives of the people of the state.

“That I stand before you here today is a testimony to the awesome power of God Almighty and to the indomitable will of the great people of Edo state,” he said.

“My reelection represents a new hope. I see myself as a vessel in the redefinition of democracy in Nigeria and I am not unaware that this places enormous responsibilities on me.

“It is pertinent to state that there are many sides to our victory which we are relishing today. Aside from the fact that it restores hope in democracy as a form of participatory government, our victory also offers an opportunity for us to bridge the gap between a challenged past and a promising future.”

In attendance were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, represented by Edobor Iyamu, senior special assistant to the president on Niger Delta affairs, as well as Aminu Tambuwal, Ifeanyi Okowa, Duoye Diri and Nyesom Wike — governors of Sokoto, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states, respectively.

Also present were top politicians of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obaseki, who contested on the platform of this PDP, had defeated his closest rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19 governorship election.

The main thing that you have to remember on this journey is just be nice to everyone and always smile. Refreshingly, what was expected of her was the same thing that was expected of Lara Stone: to take a beautiful picture.

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast, where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi (fried dough), local jam and peppermint tea.

 We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery.

We wandered the site with busloads of other tourists, yet strangely the place did not seem crowded. I’m not sure if it was the sheer size of the place, or whether the masses congregated in one area and didn’t venture far from the main church, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by tourists in the monastery.

Headed over Lions Bridge and made our way to the Sofia Synagogue, then sheltered in the Central Market Hall until the recurrent (but short-lived) mid-afternoon rain passed.

Feeling refreshed after an espresso, we walked a short distance to the small but welcoming Banya Bashi Mosque, then descended into the ancient Serdica complex.

We were exhausted after a long day of travel, so we headed back to the hotel and crashed. I had low expectations about Sofia as a city, but after the walking tour I absolutely loved the place. This was an easy city to navigate, and it was a beautiful city despite its ugly, staunch and stolid communist-built surrounds. Sofia has a very average facade as you enter the city, but once you lose yourself in the old town area, everything changes.

If You Have It, You Can Make Anything Look Good

Clothes can transform your mood and confidence. Fashion moves so quickly that, unless you have a strong point of view, you can lose integrity. I like to be real. I don’t like things to be staged or fussy. I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have a place to escape to. You have to stay true to your heritage, that’s what your brand is about.

The main thing that you have to remember on this journey is just be nice to everyone and always smile. Refreshingly, what was expected of her was the same thing that was expected of Lara Stone: to take a beautiful picture.

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast, where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi (fried dough), local jam and peppermint tea.

 We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery.

We wandered the site with busloads of other tourists, yet strangely the place did not seem crowded. I’m not sure if it was the sheer size of the place, or whether the masses congregated in one area and didn’t venture far from the main church, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by tourists in the monastery.

Headed over Lions Bridge and made our way to the Sofia Synagogue, then sheltered in the Central Market Hall until the recurrent (but short-lived) mid-afternoon rain passed.

Feeling refreshed after an espresso, we walked a short distance to the small but welcoming Banya Bashi Mosque, then descended into the ancient Serdica complex.

We were exhausted after a long day of travel, so we headed back to the hotel and crashed. I had low expectations about Sofia as a city, but after the walking tour I absolutely loved the place. This was an easy city to navigate, and it was a beautiful city despite its ugly, staunch and stolid communist-built surrounds. Sofia has a very average facade as you enter the city, but once you lose yourself in the old town area, everything changes.

If You Have It, You Can Make Anything Look Good

Clothes can transform your mood and confidence. Fashion moves so quickly that, unless you have a strong point of view, you can lose integrity. I like to be real. I don’t like things to be staged or fussy. I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have a place to escape to. You have to stay true to your heritage, that’s what your brand is about.