Shiites defy police order, demand El-Zakzaky’s release

                         Shiite members protesting the continued detention of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky in Kaduna on Thursday...

Shiites under the aegis of the Academic Forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria on Thursday  protested  the continued detention of the leader of the IMN, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, his wife and other members of the group in various detention facilities in the Northern states.

The detained Shiites members, they claimed were detained since the group clashed with the Nigerian Army on December 12, 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Hundreds of Shiites gathered at the ever busy Leventis Roundabout in the Kaduna metropolis, urging the Army authority and the Federal Government to release the leader, his wife, and other members of the sect in detention.

Protest as naval officers kill three in Arepo

There was tension in Arepo, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday after some naval officers allegedly killed three residents.

The victims, identified as Biodun Mohammed, Chicago and Body, were said to have been rounded up on Sunday at a beer parlour in the area.

The men were said to have been taken away and shot dead.

Family members and friends of the victims, who found their corpses on Wednesday, blocked the only entrance into the Arepo community, preventing vehicular movements in and out.

APC, PDP senators set to clash over Saraki’s seat

                                                                                  Senate President, Bukola Saraki

There are fresh indications that the Peoples Democratic Party members in the upper chamber have perfected strategies to produce a successor to Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President if he is removed as a result of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

But the All Progressives Congress senators have vowed to resist any attempt by their PDP colleagues to take over the red chamber from them.

Our correspondent learnt that the PDP senators met for several hours on Monday night to take a final decision on the issue.

It was not clear whether the current Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, would be allowed to take over the top Senate seat.

Wike playing politics with people’s lives –Amaechi

                                                                       Wike, Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, of playing politics with the lives of the people of the state.

He also accused Wike of not taking the development of the state seriously.

Amaechi, a former governor of the state, said  this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He accused Wike of  “twisting, butchering and turning the truth upside down; and in most cases telling outright lies in his failed bid to denigrate, tarnish and rubbish his towering image, person and laudable, landmark achievements.

Fuel scarcity’ll end in nine days –Kachikwu …says he won’t resign, apologises to Nigerians

                                                     Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) on Tuesday to give reasons for the acute fuel scarcity across the country and the efforts being made by his ministry to resolve the embarrassing situation.

He regretted the situation and apologised to Nigerians, who he said were really going through difficult moments, and promised that the scarcity would end on or before April 7.

Kachikwu said he would not resign from his position as minister and instead asked those who were threatening to stage a protest in Abuja to save their money because he took the appointment to work for his fatherland.

The minister stated, “I will not resign. I am here to do my job. Those who are planning to stage a protest against me in Abuja should save their fuel money because I have a job to do, and I am committed to doing it well.

APC wouldn’t have won without Tinubu –Buhari

                                                                                                    Bola Tinubu

President Muhammadu Buhari has attributed the triumph of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 general election to the vision of a National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Buhari said this in a recorded tribute which was presented at the 8th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Abuja on Tuesday.

At the event, which was held to commemorate the 64th birthday of Tinubu, the President said the former governor of Lagos State was the brains behind the merger of Nigeria’s main opposition parties in 2013.

Egypt halts Nigeria’s AFCON dream with lone goal

                                                                                  Super Eagles players

The Egypt Nigeria AFCON qualifier ended on a sad note for the visitors. They were beaten by the home team by a loan goal.

Egypt got the only goal of in the game in the 65th minute through Ramadan Sobhy after a goalless first half. Egypt won 2-1 on aggregate.

Tinubu vs Kachikwu: Buhari mediates as Senate invites minister over fuel crisis

                                                                              Tinubu, Kachikwu

There are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari has initiated moves to forestall the escalation of the festering feud between the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu.

The PUNCH reliably gathered on Monday that Buhari believed that Kachikwu’s statement and Tinubu’s criticisms could tear the party apart.

It was learnt that the President had therefore cautioned the APC chieftains and  members of his cabinet against taking sides in comments and issues that could divide the party and derail his government.