Akume, Tinubu meet in Lagos over Senate presidency

                                                                   Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator George Akume

One of the top contenders for the Senate presidency, Senator George Akume, and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday met at the Lagos home of Tinubu.

Our correspondent learnt that at the meeting which took place around 3pm, Tinubu told Akume to shelve his ambition and support Senator Ahmed Lawan, who represents Yobe-North senatorial district in the 8th Senate.

The battle for the Senate presidency was between the North-East and the North-Central. Akume, who is currently the Senate Minority Leader, represents Benue-North senatorial district in the Senate.

Jonathan sacks NPA MD

                           Sacked Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Abdullahi Habib

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday sacked Mallam Habib Abdullahi as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

He has also named Alhaji Sanusi Bayero as his replacement.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said Bayero’s appointment would take effect from Thursday (today).

No reason was given for Abdullahi’s sack.

The statement partly read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

Concern over naira as dollar drops

                                                                                 Naira and dollar notes

The dollar sank to its lowest level in more than two months as the currency market adopted a markedly dovish view on the United States monetary policy after data showed the economy virtually stagnating in the first three months of the year.

But as the market awaited the outcome of a meeting of the Federal Reserve policy makers, government bonds and equities on both sides of the Atlantic also came under pressure, according to Financial Times.

This was particularly so in Europe as the euro broke above key resistance levels, further aided by more signs that the European Central Bank’s quantitative easing programme was helping to ease deflation pressures and improve credit conditions.

I never apologised to Bode George – Tinubu

                                                                                            Bola Ahamed Tinubu

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has denied apologising to the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Chief Bode George.

George had said during an interview with the Sunday PUNCH that Tinubu was responsible for his imprisonment but had apologised to him at the burial of the Deputy President General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last year.

However, Tinubu in a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Sunday Dare, said he never apologised to George since he had nothing to do with George’s incarceration.

APC overrules Buhari’s team over AIT ban

                            National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress on Tuesday upturned the ban placed on the Africa Independent Television by the security team of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari’s team had on Monday placed a ban on the media crew of the AIT, citing security concerns as well as ethical issues.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja, said all accredited media organisations, “including AIT,” are free to cover the President-elect’s activities.

The APC said the incoming Buhari administration would not discriminate against any media organisation irrespective of its role during electioneering.

Indonesia executes four Nigerians, others for drug offences

Indonesian authorities on Tuesday executed four Nigerians and four others for drug-related offences despite pleas by the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International and the Federal Government.

The Nigerians were identified as Martin Anderson, 50; Silvester Nwolise, 47; Okwudili Oyatanze, 41, and Jamiu Abashin, 50.

The convicts were reportedly taken to the Nusakambangan Island where they were executed by firing squad on Tuesday evening.

According to a report by the UK Guardian, Abashin was said to be homeless in Bangkok when a new “friend” offered him $400 to take some clothes to Indonesia.

Jonathan, Sambo, others to get N3.24bn severance pay

                                                                                                Sambo and Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-president Namadi Sambo, non-returning federal lawmakers, ministers and   presidential aides will collect N3.24bn as severance allowances, investigation by The PUNCH has shown.

The severance allowances   are contained in the Remuneration Package   put together by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

According to the package, Jonathan, who will hand over to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29, is entitled to 300 per cent of his annual basic salary.

The President’s annual basic salary is put at N3, 514,705 and therefore his severance allowance will be N10, 544,115 after May 29.

Military rescues 293 girls, women from Sambisa Forest

                                                             Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has confirmed that the troops of the Nigerian Army rescued 200 girls and 93 women during a raid on Sambisa Forest on Tuesday.

When the news of the rescue was broken on the tweeter handle of the military on Tuesday, many Nigerians had gone online to speculate that the freed ladies included the Chibok schoolgirls.

However, Olukolade did not confirm whether or not the Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014 were among the rescued ladies.

The Defence spokesman told our correspondent on the telephone that the tweets were the true position of the army on its operations in Sambisa Forest.

Controversial sacking of police IG

                                                                                President Goodluck Jonathan

DISPLAYING utter contempt for the 1999 Constitution he swore to uphold, President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked Suleiman Abba as the Inspector-General of Police. He replaced him immediately with Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector-General, in an acting capacity. Both the dismissal and the acting appointment are gross violations of the 1999 Federal Constitution, Nigeria’s supreme law.

Without citing any cogent reason, the President unceremoniously fired Abba, who assumed office nine months ago. Sadly, however, these actions are in keeping with the trend of impunity in the Jonathan administration, which has consistently conducted itself in an imperial manner, to the detriment of the rule of law, the common good and growth of our democratic norms. They have all the trappings of using power for selfish end.

Banks use female marketers to woo senators, Reps-elect

                                                                               National Assembly building, Abuja

Commercial banks have sent marketers, mostly females after newly-elected senators and members of the House of Representatives in Abuja to open discussions on investments and other business deals.

The energetic, sweet-talking and mostly female marketers, flooded the International Conference Centre, venue of an ongoing induction course for the new arrivals on Monday.

Investigations by The PUNCH showed that the target of the banks largely was to woo the lawmakers to open accounts with them.

Some of the smartly dressed marketers also offered loan opportunities they claimed their banks could guarantee with “friendly repayment terms.”

‘Missing’ $20bn oil money: I have nothing to hide, Jonathan tells Buhari

                                                                              President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said his administration had nothing to hide in respect of the claim by a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor,   Lamido Sanusi, that   $20bn oil money was not remitted to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

To prove this, he said he had directed that the full report by PriceWaterHouse which was commissioned to carry out a detailed investigation into the activities of the NNPC be made public immediately.

Jonathan, in a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,   Reuben Abati,   also described   the allegation by the All Progressives Congress that his officials were embarking on last minute illegal actions as “unfortunate and uncharitable.”

‘Ondo deputy gov’s impeachment, a joke’

                                                                                   Alhaji Ali Olanusi

Alhaji Ali Olanusi on Monday described his removal by the Ondo State House of Assembly as deputy governor as a huge joke.

Olanusi spoke through his lawyer, Oluwole Kayode, hours after the Commissioner for Agriculture,   Lasisi Oluboyo, was sworn in as the state’s new deputy governor.

Olanusi’s travails began a month ago when he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.

In condemning his impeachment, he reminded the lawmakers of   an April 23 court order that the status quo be maintained in respect of his office.

Oshoala shortlisted for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year

                                                                                          Asisat Oshoala

Super Falcons and Liverpool FC forward, Asisat Oshoala, has been shortlisted for the first edition of the British Broadcasting Corporation Women’s Footballer of the Year.

The BBC is widely noted for their African Footballer of the Year award which comes up before the Confederation of African Football edition.

The new event was announced during one of their monthly programmes ahead of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The African Footballer of the Year was nominated along with four others: Spain’s Verónica Boquete, German Nadine Kessler, Kim Little of Scotland and Marta of Brazil.

Resign your appointment, Dara tells Mu’azu

                                       National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu

A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State, Mr. John Dara, has called on the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to resign his appointment.

A statement by Dara explained that the honourable thing for Mu’azu to do was to resign his appointment because the party had suffered serious defeats in the last general elections.

Dara said Mu’azu’s tenure was regressive to the bid of PDP’s presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who became the first sitting president to lose a presidential election.

He said, “There is no doubt that it is reasonable for Mu’azu to resign as he presided over elections that PDP recorded a poor performance.

Card readers made Jonathan lose –PDP chief

A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party leader in Lagos State, Adedeji Doherty, says the card readers used for the presidential election was responsible for President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat.

Doherty, who came third at the PDP governorship primary last year, said this on his Facebook page on Sunday.

He said INEC should have allowed the Permanent Voter Cards to be used alongside the Temporary Voter Cards.

He said, “Togo held its elections today after a long battle between the electoral commission and the government in power over the use of the almighty card readers. A forensic investigation was done and the card readers were seen to be manipulative and did not add any electoral value to the electoral process.

APC accuses Jonathan of ‘last-minute dubious activities’

                                                                                    Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress has threatened to probe the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan over some “last-minute dubious activities” ahead of the May 29 handover.

The party alleged that the outgoing administration had been looting the nation’s resources, hurriedly recruiting into the public service and privatisatising key financial institutions.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday, said such actions would have serious repercussions after May 29.

It said apart from media reports of such anomalies, the party had received reliable information from members of the public about some dubious actions by key officials of the outgoing Jonathan administration.

I will look into Sanusi’s missing $20bn claim –Buhari

                                                                          Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said his administration would probe the claim by a former   Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and now the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to remit $20bn oil money to the federation account.

Buhari gave the hint while receiving a delegation of the All Progressives Congress elected officials and supporters from Adamawa State at his campaign office in Abuja.

The President-elect, who spoke in Hausa expressed surprise that instead of probing the allegations by the former CBN governor, the Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party administration chose to fire him.

He stated that since Sanusi’s claim was documented, his administration would take a look at it after the May 29 handover date.

I don’t have plans for marriage –Solidstar

                                                                                      Solid Star

Delta State-born Joshua Iniyezo aka Solidstar is signed on with Achievas Music. He talks about his career and other sundry issues in this interview

What projects are you working on currently?

I just released a new video featuring Tiwa Savage and it was directed by Clarence Peters. Right now, I am paying a lot of attention to the video so that it is accepted. I am also working on an international collaboration because I need to extend my brand across Africa.

Why did you decide to work with Tiwa Savage, ahead of other female artistes?

I chose to work with her not because other female artistes are not good enough, but because she was the perfect person for the song.

My dad’s swagger stick had no special powers — Adekunle Fajuyi’s son

                                                                                             Fajuyi and Donald

Donald is the first child of the first military governor of the defunct Western Region, the late Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi. He talks about his father’s military career and life with GBENGA ADENIJI

Please tell us briefly about yourself.

I am Donald Fajuyi; the first child and first son of the late Lt.Col. Adekunle Fajuyi. My mother died two years ago. I am a lawyer and I have three sisters and a late brother.

What memories of your father can you remember?

I was really young then because in 1966 I was 17 years old. I remember that in 1955, he was a lieutenant. My mother and I travelled to Enugu State that year to see him. He was posted to the state then but in what capacity I did not know. I was about six years old then. There were not many African officers at that time.

I wrote my latest novel at 85 — Oladejo Okediji

                                                                                           Oladejo Okediji

Celebrated novelist, Oladejo Okediji, in this interview, tells KAYODE FALADE about his life as a writer

Where and when were you born?

I was born in Oyo but I have chosen 1929 to be the year of my birth. My birth was not registered. But I chose the date because I was baptised in the Methodist Church in March, 1930. And on the certificate it was written as infant. I just chose some few months before, hence I chose October 26, 1929.

When did you choose this date?

I chose the date in 1947, when I was in Wesley College, Elekuro, Ibadan.

What circumstances surrounded this?

Somebody was born in our family in Oyo on October 27, and I felt I am older than the person, so I chose a date back.

Were your parents Christians?

Patience Jonathan’s attitude cost us defeat — PDP chief

                                                                                       Mrs. Patience Jonathan

Bayelsa State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Osom Makbere, has said President Goodluck Jonathan lost the March 28 presidential election due to international and domestic conspiracies.

Makbere, who is also a lawyer, stated this in an exclusive interview in Yenagoa on Friday.

He said the division in the PDP fold and the overbearing attitude of the President’s wife, Dame Patience, also contributed to the president’s loss.

Giving insight into the failure of the President at the poll, Makbere said, “History has stated that no failure, defeat or loss is a product of a single factor. Jonathan’s loss could be blamed on a multiplicity of interwoven causes.

Businessman faults assassination claim, says friend wooed wife

Victor and Adebayo

A businessman, Adebayo Orekoya, aka Bobby Ibadan, says his friend, Adelakun Victor (Ade Lexus), planned to seduce his wife, Pearl.

He said the claim by Victor that he wanted to assassinate him, was a ploy to distract the police from the truth.

He explained that some men arrested and tagged assassins by the police in Lagos State were actually sent to monitor Victor’s movement so that he could get him (Victor) red handed when he made a pass at Pearl.

PUNCH Metro had reported that the police arrested 46-year-old Adebayo after he allegedly sent a gang from his hometown in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to Lagos to kill Victor at a bar.

IFC, MasterCard expand electronic payment agreement

The International Finance Corporation, an arm of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with MasterCard Incorporated to establish a risk-sharing facility, which is expected to provide millions of people in emerging markets access to electronic payments.

A statement by MasterCard described the agreement as a crucial step in the organisations’ ongoing collaboration to increase universal financial access by 2020.

“Electronic payments lower the cost and increase the security of transactions, benefitting small businesses and consumers; financial institutions in developing countries are keen to expand services but are often held back by collateral requirements necessary to cover settlement risks,” the statement added.

US embassy saves N20m on electricity charges

                                                                    US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle

The United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, on Wednesday explained how his office had been able to save N20m in electricity charges each year.

Speaking at the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Mentoring Series Earth Day Programme in Abuja, Entwistle noted that poor electricity supply was not helping the nation’s economic development efforts and the environment.

He said, “One area of ongoing concern is Nigeria’s power utility system. We are all frustrated by the sporadic power outages that negatively affect both our personal and professional lives. These disruptions affect nearly all businesses, but are most detrimental to manufacturing companies.

Bode George worked for Tinubu – PDP Chief

                                                                                        Chief Bode George

A Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Babatunde Gbadamosi, has accused the leader of the party, Chief Bode George, of colluding with the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to ensure PDP’s defeat in Lagos.

He, therefore, called on George to resign immediately.

However, in a swift reaction, George described Gbadamosi as an irresponsible man who may be suffering from a mental problem.

Gbadamosi, who came fourth at the PDP governorship primary last year, said the party would have performed better at the poll if the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, was given the ticket.

Patience Jonathan to quit as African First Ladies President

                                                                                   Mrs. Patience Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss in the March 28 presidential election has started taking its toll on his wife, Patience.

Arrangements had been concluded for her to quit her position as the President of the African Ladies Peace Mission, two months before the expiration of her tenure.

The mission comprises of wives of Presidents of all African countries.

Mrs. Jonathan was elected the mission’s President at its seventh summit held in Abuja in July 2012 and her tenure would have expired in July 2015 when a new president would have been elected.

But because she will cease to be Nigeria’s President’s wife from May 29 when her husband will hand over power to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari , Mrs. Jonathan had summoned an emergency summit of the mission for May 15 for the purpose of electing her successor.

NNPC has started refunding unremitted $1.48bn –Alison-Madueke

                                              Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke

The Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has started refunding the $1.48bn unremitted fund into the Federation Account as recommended by an audit firm, PriceWaterHouse Coopers.

She however did not disclose how much has for far been refunded by the corporation.

She also denied reports that she was seeking the assistance of some highly-placed persons in order to escape prosecution for alleged corruption from the incoming administration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

Alison-Madueke spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting of Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Reduce charges on bank deposits, LCCI urges CBN

                                      President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to reduce charges on bank deposits, especially the 0.5 per cent fee payable to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and another 0.5 per cent to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.

The LCCI, in its first quarter review released on Wednesday, said the additional costs were invariably passed on to investors in form of high cost of fund.

The President, LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, noted that the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee, at the end of its meeting last month, decided to sustain the tight monetary policy regime, as it retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 13 per cent, Cash Reserve Ratio on private sector deposits at 20 per cent, CRR on public sector deposits at 75 per cent and liquidity ratio at 30 per cent.

FG summons S’African High Commissioner over attacks

                                                     South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni

The Federal Government on Wednesday summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria,   Lulu Louis-Mnguni, over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other black Africans.

The government also demanded compensation from the South African authorities for the Nigerian victims of the violence by black South Africans.

A statement   from the Public Communications Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Louis-Mnguni met in Abuja on Wednesday with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,   Musiliu Obanikoro.

The statement explained that during the meeting, Obanikoro expressed Nigeria’s concern over the fate of its and other nationals in South Africa.

He underscored the fact that since South Africa was a major player on the continent, it should   make its nationals to live in peace with citizens of other countries.

Suspect steals N3.2m during PDP campaign rally

Tokunbo Ojo

A suspected thief arrested by the police in Lagos, Tokunbo Ojo, says a master key he owned made it easy for him to steal from vehicles during public functions such as weddings and burials.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ojo recently got lucky as he stole N3.2m from a car parked at the campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Our correspondent gathered that 49-year-old Ojo, who hails from Aramoko, Ekiti State, was nabbed by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad with the master key on Tuesday, April 14.

What will history say about Ayo Fayose?

                                                                                   Governor Ayodele Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is an enigma. I know a lot of Nigerians would find even the contemplation unacceptable but then truth must be told. To drive the point home appropriately, let us attempt a definition of the word “enigma”.

The online dictionary, oxforddictionaries.com, defines enigma as “A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.” I do not know a better word to describe any man who sponsored some of the most virulent advertisement against the person and candidature of Muhammadu Buhari before the recently concluded presidential election but would equally be the first to congratulate him when it became obvious that Buhari was winning the election. Fayose just seems so adept at compartmentalising his emotions even if just fleetingly. But this is not the only testimony of enigma of Fayose and I am going to attempt a systematic construction from here.

Kylie Jenner speaks out against #KylieJennerChallenge

 Kylie Jenner has urged fans not to copy her look.

The 17-year-old reality TV star took to her Twitter account to encourage her followers not to try and emulate her famous pout after the #KylieJennerChallenge started trending on the site, prompting users to go to extreme lengths to mimic her full lips.

After photographs of fans with severely swollen lips began to flood the site, Kylie shared her feelings about the trend...

Sandra Bullock has been named People's Most Beautiful Woman

People magazine has named Sandra Bullock as the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" for 2015.

The 50-year-old actress, who voices a supervillain in the upcoming movie Minions, tops the magazine's list, announced on Wednesday.

Commenting on being selected for this year's cover,

Zuma vows to tackle 'underlying' problems behind xenophobic attacks

President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday pledged to tackle the "underlying" problems behind the spate of recent xenophobic attacks, as troops were sent in to support police in a crackdown against attacks on immigrants that have left at least seven people dead.

Overnight on Tuesday, 11 men were arrested in a joint police and army raid on a hostel in Jeppestown, in downtown Johannesburg, hours after the military was deployed.

After meeting business, civil and religious leaders, Zuma said his government would take decisive steps to address "underlying" problems behind the attacks and ensure foreigners were not targeted.

"South Africans are not xenophobic," he said. "If we don't deal with the underlying issues, it will come back."

Plaintiffs, seeking to stop Buhari, withdraw eligibility suit

                                                                       President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari

Plaintiffs in the two of the three pending suits challenging the eligibility of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to contest in the March 28, 2015, presidential election have been withdrawn.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is presiding over the matters at the Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently struck out the matter after the plaintiffs indicated their intention to withdraw the suits on Wednesday.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who is representing one of the plaintiffs, told the judge on Wednesday that his client decided to withdraw his suit to afford the incoming government time to focus on the “enormous task” of governance.

When the second case which was filed by Max Ozoaka was called, his lawyer, Dr. Chike Amobi, also adduced similar grounds for withdrawing the suit.

Fayose supporters lay siege to Ekiti Assembly

                                                                                                   Ayo Fayose

There was panic again in Ado Ekiti on Monday as members of the Peoples Democratic Party and supporters of Governor Ayodele Fayose laid siege   to the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex in order to halt the resumption of the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers.

Fayose had announced in a statewide broadcast on Sunday that the   lawmakers planned to take over the assembly to commence their impeachment proceedings against him.

He therefore urged transport unions, market women and workers to rise up and protect the mandate they gave him.

Although there were no barricades at entry points to Ado Ekiti city as done in the previous protests, many   workers who arrived in their offices at 8am returned to their homes out of fear.

Pesticide responsible for Ondo deaths, says WHO

                                                                                                      Dr. Margaret Chan

The World Health Organisation says pesticide poisoning is the probable cause of mysterious deaths of over 18 people in Ode Irele, in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Those who died suffered from blurred vision and headaches, and then lost consciousness before dying within 24 hours.

The “current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides,” WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl, said in a tweet.

“Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection,” he added.

The WHO spokesman said the current theory was that the deaths were caused by weedkiller.

My plea for forgiveness not cowardice –Fayose

                                                                   Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said his asking for forgiveness should not be taken for cowardice by his opponents, saying his tenure in office will be determined by God.

He said he took the step to seek a genuine reconciliation with the All Progressives Congress, whose 19 lawmakers in the state House of Assembly were plotting his impeachment.

The governor spoke on Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised for him at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Anglican Communion, Ado Ekiti, to celebrate his electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

Fayose said, “I asked for forgiveness for reconciliation and to pursue genuine peace. Waiving the olive branch does not mean cowardice, it is for peace.

I didn’t spend N2tn on elections –Jonathan

                                                                                 President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said there was no truth in a report that he and the Peoples Democratic Party spent N2tn for campaigns ahead of the just-concluded general elections.

He also denied setting up a committee to conduct an audit of how the elections funds were disbursed by party members and state officials.

Jonathan made the clarification in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

S’Africa attacks: Nigerians lose N21m, says envoy

Zimbabweans moving their belongings from a temporary refugee camp in Chatsworth, South of Durban in South Africa before boarding a bus back to their country... on Sunday

Nigerian Consul-General in South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said on Sunday that Nigerians lost more than N21m Rand (1.2m) in the on-going xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Ajulu-Okeke told the News Agency of Nigeria by phone from Johannesburg, South Africa, that the loss included looted shops, burnt shops, two burnt mechanic workshops, 11 burnt cars and two stolen cars, among others.

“Nigerians have compiled the cost of the damage to their property and it is totalling about 1.2m Rand or N21m, which will be sent to the Federal Government for further action,” the ambassador said.

She said that two of the three Nigerians who were wounded during the attacks in Durban had been treated and discharged from the hospital.

Jonathan demands N2tr election funds refund, audit

                                                                              President Goodluck Jonathan

Following the defeat suffered by President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, during the March 28 and April 11 elections, the President has asked the party and government officials, who handled campaign funds, to refund unspent monies, or those not judiciously expended, SUNDAY PUNCH can authoritatively report.

Jonathan, credible sources said, has also set up a committee of five to get those with the funds to return them.

Sources within the party and the government told our correspondents that Jonathan was disturbed that despite giving campaign coordinators, ministers, special advisers, close aides and friends, support groups and traditional rulers over N2tr in cash, most of them could not deliver their polling booths and local governments.

Handover: Buhari may write Jonathan over May 28 date

                                                              President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) may write President Goodluck Jonathan to seek clarification on the May 28 handover date.

Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered on Saturday that to avoid dispute between the incoming and outgoing administrations, Buhari would ask for explanation on a statement by the Minister of Information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, on Wednesday.

The minister had, after the Federal Executive Council meeting, told journalists that Jonathan would hand over to Buhari at a dinner in Abuja on May 28.

She had said, “By May 28, the President intends to have the formal handover done at a dinner so that we can reserve May 29 for the incoming government.

CBN to prosecute proprietors, others demanding foreign currencies

                                                                                The Naira and dollar

The Central Bank of Nigeria says it will not hesitate to prosecute persons, including school managers, who demand and accept tuition in foreign currencies.

A statement by the bank’s Director Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu, noted that the CBN Act of 2007 criminalised the usage of other foreign denominations over naira.

“The attention of the bank has been drawn to the increasing usage of foreign currencies in the domestic economy as a medium of payment for goods and services by individuals and corporate bodies.

“It has also been observed that some institutions price their goods and services in foreign currencies and demand payments in foreign currencies rather than the domestic currency (the Naira), which is the legal tender in Nigeria.

IOC President invites Buhari to Lausanne

                                                                             Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)

President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, has congratulated the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) on his victory at the polls and also extended an invitation to him to visit the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a congratulatory message sent to Buhari and copied to the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Mr. Habu Gumel, the IOC President told Buhari that, “the election demonstrates the great confidence the people of Nigeria have in you. For your team, I wish you all the very best and a great success.”

Buhari, who will also become the Grand Patron of the NOC from May 29, was invited to the IOC headquarters by Bach.

Revealed: Plot to abduct Jega during presidential poll

                                                                       INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

Fresh facts have emerged on the March 31 attempt by a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to scuttle the announcement of the March 28 presidential election results.

The main part of Orubebe’s action, according to Reuters on Thursday, was a plot to use hired thugs     to kidnap the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and consequently stall the electoral process.

The news agency quoted unnamed pro-democracy advocates and a Nigeria-based diplomat as saying that one of Jega’s aides unearthed the plot.

It said that the aide had sent a text message to an independent voting monitor, “warning of an imminent threat to the electoral process.”

Former President Olusegun ObasaBuhari, Ezekwesili, Shekau among TIME’s 100 most influential persons

                                                                               Buhari, Ezekwesili, Adichie, Shekau

President-elect Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has made the TIME’s list of 100 most influential people in the world.

Also included in the 2015 list are a former Minister of Education and an advocate of the BringBackOurGirlsGroup, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili; award-winning novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, and leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau.

The TIME 100 is an annual list of 100 most influential people in the world whose works are changing the world, regardless of the consequences of their actions.

Described as “a new choice for Nigeria,” TIME’s Africa Bureau Chief, Aryn Baker, said Buhari made history in March by becoming the first candidate to oust a sitting Nigerian President through the ballot box.

Customs release Obasanjo’s My Watch

                                                                      Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday said that it had released former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s autobiography titled, My Watch.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the NCS Comptroller-General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, made the disclosure to newsmen when he inaugurated two new patrol boats of the service in Lagos.

Abdullahi said that the container was released following the vacation of an FCT High Court order restraining the former President from publishing, printing or offering for sale, his autobiography titled, “My Watch’’ on Tuesday.

“Customs got the initial order of the court to stop the container and now that the court asks us to release the container, so be it,” he said.

Justice Valentine Ashi had ordered the release of the books which had been in the custody of customs.

I’ll restore military ties with US –Buhari

                                                   President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

The President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday said his administration would restore military cooperation with the United States of America.

In an article published by the New York Times in its Tuesday edition, Buhari promised to among other things reformed the military.

The outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration had cancelled the training component of its military cooperation with the US citing a lack of sincerity on the part of the Americans for its decision.

But Buhari said, “My administration would welcome the resumption of a military training agreement with the United States, which was halted during the previous administration. We must, of course, have better coordination with the military campaigns our African allies, like Chad and Niger, are waging in the struggle against Boko Haram. But, in the end, the answer to this threat must come from within Nigeria.”

Jonathan rejects amended constitution

                                                                                     President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the amendments made to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly, The PUNCH has learnt.

A top government official who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent on Tuesday that Jonathan vetoed the amendment on Monday.

The official said the decision of the President not to sign the document was because the amendment did not meet the provisions of Section 9 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.

The source explained that with the return of the document by the President, the letter accompanying it might be read on the floors of the two chambers of the National Assembly any time from Wednesday (today).

Petrol sells for N100 per litre in Kwara

A litre of petrol is still being sold for N100 in Ilorin and towns in Kwara State.

Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in Ilorin on Thursday, observed that some filling stations remained shut, with the attendants claiming that they had no petrol for sale.

Many buyers of the products had complained that despite assurances from the government that the product would be sold at the official price of N87 per litre, they were still buying it for N100.

A motorists at Tanke area of Ilorin, Mr. Alphonsus Dimkpa, said it was surprising to him that petrol was being sold at such an exorbitant price.