Nigeria News
Nigeria Breaking News Today , Thursday, March, 28, 2019
This is a roundup of some of the breaking news in Nigeria for Today, Thursday, March 28, 2019
Senate Presidency: Buhari, APC Move To Pacify Aggrieved Lawmakers
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have moved fast to nip in the bud any disaffection on Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan’s choice for Senate President. Naija News understands that President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met with one of the leading contenders for the job, Sen. Danjuma Goje.
Besides, top APC leaders, senators and senators-elect have held series of meetings with Goje to prevent him from being “hijacked” by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was learnt that Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and Lawan’s supporters met another aspirant, Sen. Ali Ndume, to prevail on him to accept Lawan. Parliamentary Support Group Chairman Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who wanted to be Senate president, is backing the President and the APC on the candidature of Lawan. The President, APC governors and party leaders have spent the last 24 hours clearing the intrigues surrounding Lawan’s recommendation for the job.
INEC Fixes New Dates To Complete Rivers Governorship Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria’s electoral body, says the resumption of collation and announcement of results of the March 9 governorship election in Rivers State, southern Nigeria, would hold between April 2 and 5. Naija News reports that the electoral umpire released a schedule of activities for the completion of the Rivers election on Wednesday, March 27.
This online news platform recalls that the Commission had on 10 March suspended electoral processes in the oil-rich state as a result of violence that marred the March 9 governorship poll. During the incident, INEC officials were held hostage while electoral materials were reportedly seized. “Staff have been taken hostage and materials including result sheets have either been seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons,” the commission had said in a statement.
Ex-Kogi Governor’s Son Vows To Oust Yahaya Bello
Mustapha Audu, and the son of former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, has declared his intention to contest for the governorship election in the state. Speaking at his declaration ceremony on Wednesday in Lokoja, Mustapha said he has come to rescue Kogi people from hunger and starvation.
Mustapha, a businessman, said he decided to offer himself to serve the people because he was touched by the level of poverty in the state as the All Progressives Congress-led administration had failed the people. He explained how his father struggled so much to develop the state.He also expressed regret that all the legacies his father left behind had been plundered and reduced to nothing.
Rivers AAC’s Deputy Chairman Dumps Party For PDP
The Deputy Chairman of African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State, Amezhinim Atuma, has left the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His defection is coming three days after deputy governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State, Akpo Yeeh, also joined the PDP.
Atuma announced his resignation and defection on Wednesday in Port Harcourt. Atuma, who tore his membership card of AAC, claimed his decision to quit the AAC was necessitated by his commitment to the advancement of the democratic interest of Rivers and the peace of people of the state. Atuma claimed that he could no longer in good conscience associate with the AAC/All Progressives Congress (APC) alliance, which only interest, he alleged was to unleash mayhem on Rivers people through the use of security forces.
Agric Minister Cries Out Over Importation Of Pizza By Nigerians (Video)
Nigeria’s minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, has expressed sadness that some Nigerians use their mobile phones to import pizza into the country from London, United Kingdom. Naija News reports that the minister cried out during a budget defence session at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Ogbeh lamented the high rate of food importation, saying local farmers are being affected by the ‘annoying situation’ of Nigerians buying pizza from the United Kingdom.
lamenting that Nigeria imports almost everything, Ogbeh said, “Let nobody take it lightly, these guys have seized this country’s economy, taken us hostage and they have no intentions of giving up. Because this is a huge and very sweet market and they have taken control.
Theresa May Plans Resignation
British Prime Minister, Theresa May on Wednesday said she will eventually resign if her twice-defeated Brexit deal is approved by the parliament. Naija News understands that May revealed this in a meeting on Wednesday, March 28, with the legislators from her Conservative party.
Theresa May who has however not set a date for her resignation revealed that her resignation is been delayed by the fact that her proposal is yet to be approved.”We need to get the deal through and deliver Brexit.
“I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party,” May said.”I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, and I won’t stand in the way of that,” she said.
Senate Speaks On Plan To Keep Buhari Beyond 2023
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has dismissed a story making the rounds that Senator Ahmad Lawan if elected as Senate President, will amend the constitution to allow President Buhari stay in office beyond 2023. Abdullahi, who doubles as the spokesman of the Senator Lawan for Senate President Group, described the story as a desperate plot concocted by “evil and desperate politicians” bent on frustrating the emergence of Lawan as Senate President in the 9th National Assembly.
“This is just a very desperate attempt by detractors and some politicians who want to taint the good image of the Senate Leader, and the future Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan,” Abdullahi said. “When we (Senators) met the President two days ago, he (President) was very emphatic that he has stood for election five times, and this is his last.
“The President made it clear that he wants to retire quietly to his home, on the basis of which he is going to work very hard these four years since Nigerians have given him this opportunity, to leave a lasting legacy behind.” “The President’s statement clearly shows that he is a full democrat who knows that our constitution only provides for second term which he has gotten, and for which he is grateful to Nigerians.
