Gist Coven

Peoples Democratic Party members at the National Assembly have hit back at President Muhammadu Buhari over his comment that looters would not return to power in 2019. The President, in a veiled reference to the PDP, was quoted to have made the statement on Thursday, at an interactive session with community leaders and stakeholders in Kano. He had said, “Those who ruled Nigeria without vision and looted the nation’s treasury are the same people boasting that they will displace the APC government and return to office. “We will wait and see, if they think Nigerians are ignorant. They have the guts to declare their intention to reclaim office.” But the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives, on Saturday, stated that Buhari was a major beneficiary of funds allegedly looted by PDP leaders. The Deputy Minority Whip of the House, Mrs. Binta Bello, who spoke for the caucus, summed up the views of the PDP, saying that Buhari should rather apologize to Nigerians “for being unable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has just concluded its elective convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja. The convention was attended by powerful State executives, former cabinet members, bigwigs like Atiku Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan; and a host of party faithful. Chief Uche Secondus has been elected party chairman. Here are members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) as elected by delegates: National Chairman; Uche Secondus Deputy National Chairman ( South); Yemi Akinwonmi- Ogun Deputy National Chairman ( North); Garba Gamawa- Bauchi National Secretary; Ibrahim Tsauri- Katsina Deputy National Secretary; Abubakar Mustapha National Treasurer; Aribisala Adewale- Ekiti Deputy National Treasurer; Wada Masu-Kano Financial Secretary; Abdullahi Maibasira- Niger Deputy Fin. Sec.; Irona Gerald-Imo National Organizing Secretary; Austin Akobundu- Abia Dep. Nat. Org. Sec.; Hassan Yakubu- Nasarawa Publicity Secretary; Kola Ologbondiyan- Kogi Dep. Nat.

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said he will never criticize the playing style of his Manchester United counterpart, Jose Mourinho, because “there are different ways to enjoy football”. Guardiola faces his arch rival in a keenly awaited Derby at Old Trafford and claims he and Mourinho are “twins”, because they love to win trophies. “Definitely,” he said. “In that, we are twins. “He wants to win trophies, I want to win trophies. I think Antonio Conte is the same as well, and Jurgen and Mauricio. In all the leagues around the world, the managers are the same.” The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach also spoke on why he never condemns pragmatic tactics. “I never criticise my colleagues for the way they play. I never did in the past, I will never do it. “Football is magnificent for that, because every manager plays in the way they play. There are different ways to enjoy football. “Our relationship is correct, it’s friendly. We haven’t bumped into each oth

Leicester City manager, Claude Puel, has hinted at the possibility of selling Nigeria star Kelechi Iheanacho four weeks before the winter transfer market opens for business. The Foxes have six strikers in the first team consisting of Iheanacho, Vardy, Ahmed Musa, Slimani, Okazaki and Ulloa, and the former Man City starlet has found game time hard to come by after making only two starts in the Premier League from a possible fifteen. Speaking to Leicester Mercury, Puel said: “Kelechi had an injury and for the moment, we have competition. “I am happy with Jamie for example. Kelechi or other players cannot play on the side. “It’s difficult for them, but for me also to manage all these players because we have six strikers so there is no place for all the players.” Iheanacho penned a five-year contract with Leicester City in the summer for a fee in the region of 25 million pounds.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, says Boko Haram will be subdued when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, returns to power in 2019. The Senator stated this while speaking at the PDP convention holding presently at the Eagle Square Abuja. “The people of the north east were liberated from Boko Haram but they are now being afflicted. “There will be peace in the north east when PDP returns to power”, he said. Former Niger governor, Babangida Aliyu, also speaking on behalf of former governors assured Nigerians of jobs when PDP takes over in 2019. “Nigerians now know that PDP has done beautifully well. They now realise that there is no alternative to PDP in Nigeria. “After 2019 we will ensure qualitative and functional education. “The government of PDP will create employment for the millions of graduates that have no place to work now. “We will ensure that Agriculture is transformed. “The laws of corruption will be addressed. We will fight corruption by fighting pover

The federal government will soon release new sugar import quota for Dangote, BUA and other sugar refineries involved in Backward Integration Programme in the sugar sector of the economy. This was disclosed on Saturday in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Dr. Latif Busari, while reviewing the activities of the council in 2017 and making projections for 2018. Dr. Busari revealed that the Council has reversed downward the 2018 sugar projection for the country to 1.58 million metric tons from the 1.6 million metric tons initially projected in the Sugar Master Plan. He also revealed that the council with relevant monitoring groups have concluded the review of the Backward Integration Programme implementation by participants and a new sugar import quota for participants will be released in January based on the approval of the President. The NSDC boss lamented that the sugar industry in the country is “bleeding” as a result of secu

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Abba Gana has shared his opinion on why President Muhammadu Buhari should be shown the exit door in 2019. Gana who is a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, spoke in an interview with Sun, where he maintained that realities on ground have made it clear to the people that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, came with empty promises. He also gave reasons the main opposition party, PDP was ousted from office in 2015, but maintained that things must be done rightly this time. According to him, “In 2015, through rampant cases of imposition of candidates, a lot of people became angry and worked against the PDP. “The campaigns leading to the 2019 elections should be issue based, devoid of pretences and falsehoods. “Nigerians are definitely getting wiser and wiser, therefore lies, propaganda and empty rhetoric alone can no longer work magic for any political party or candidate this time. “People

N-Power, Federal Government empowerment scheme, has warned applicants against paying bribe. The scheme announced that any candidate caught making payment will be disqualified immediately. This was disclosed in a statement in its official twitter page, re-emphasising that physical verification stage was free. The statement reads: “ATTENTION!! The Physical Verification stage is free. “Do NOT pay anyone for anything. “If you pay, you will be automatically disqualified. “Some of those asking you to pay are testing you. Be careful!#NPowerNG “All Pre-selected 2017 applicants who see anyone paying should report the person and the Center immediately.”

It was a joy-filled week at the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, as the first Kidney Transplant Surgery was carried out successfully. A staff at the hospital identified as Chikaodili Ibeneme, took to Facebook share the good news. She wrote:  ‘What a joy-filled week as Federal Medical Centre Umuahia records her first KIDNEY TRANSPLANT surgery. It was a huge success. To God be all the glory’. Very good news. See more photos below..

North Korea has lambasted US President Donald Trump for recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, renewing its description of him as a “dotard” in a statement released Saturday on state media. Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un have traded threats of war and personal insults in recent months as tensions remain high over the North’s missile and nuclear threats. Now the hermit state has joined near-universal condemnation of the US president’s decision on Jerusalem, calling it a “reckless, wicked act”. “Considering the fact that the mentally deranged dotard openly called for a total destruction of a sovereign state at the UN, this action is not so surprising”, a foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the state-run KCNA news agency. “But this move clearly shows to the whole world who is the destroyer of world peace and security, pariah and rogue in the international community”, he said, using epithets usually reserved for the North. Trump’s declaration Wed

Ahead of the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), members of the National Assembly caucus of the party reportedly exchanged blows at the residence of a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, over the choice of the next national chairman of the party. Akpabio, who is the Minority Leader in the Senate convened a session at his residence in Asokoro District, Abuja Thursday night on how to ensure a free and fair convention. The session was attended by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Chairmanship aspirant, Uche Secondus amongst others. A source who was at the meeting told The Nation that the discussion on chairmanship aspirants had barely started when an argument ensued leading to blows. He said “The Senate Minority Leader convened the session in his house to enable us interact with all the aspirants on their programmes and form our opinion on who to vote for. “We were barely settling down for the session when some members of

The Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, has rejected his suspension by the national caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party suspended Kashamu for a month without giving any reason for the action. In his reaction, Kashamu said the action “offends all known principles of justice and fair hearing”. “The news of my purported suspension is coming on the heels of a pending appeal with a motion for injunction that has been properly entered and served on parties,” he continued. “This renders the purported suspension a nullity as it offends the principle of ‘lis pendens’. “Therefore, I reject the purported suspension because it offends all known principles of justice and fair hearing. “It should be noted however that the mere fact that the Caretaker Committee could resort to this last-minute action in its dying hours and on the day of our national convention shows clearly that the battle that I and other well-meaning leaders, elders and st

Former midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has called on Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to open the door of his team for Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins. The ex-international believes the Shanghai Shenhua striker has done enough to make his return to the Nigerian team ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Martins, who joined Shenhua in 2016, has been in superb form recently as he helped Shenhua finish 11th in the Chinese Super League, scoring 13 goals in 21 appearances for the club. 33-year-old Martins, with 18 goals in 41 appearances, was part of Nigeria’s team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and last wore the national colours in 2015 in a match against Swaziland. Adepoju said the Eagles could do with Martins’ experience and fitness to enhance competition in the attacking department of the team. “The coach can never be wrong with opening the door to all good players ahead of the World Cup. The World Cup is a competitive event and every coach wants to do well,

THE CITY of Abuja the federal capital territory FCT is fully alive politically as Ninety-two aspirants gets ready to slug it out for 23 offices in the Saturday’s national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. The offices to be contested are National chairman, deputy national chairman (South), deputy national chairman (North), secretary, deputy national secretary, national legal adviser, deputy national legal adviser, national organising secretary, national youth leader, and national publicity secretary. Out of this number nine of the aspirants are running for the office of the national chairman. The contestants are Uche Secondus, Gbenga Daniel, Jimi Agbaje, Rashidi Ladoja, Taoheed Adedoja, Tunde Adeniran, Olabode George, Raymond Dokpesi and Aderemi Olusegun. All the chairmanship aspirants had been screened by a screening panel headed by a former governorship candidate of the party in Edo State, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The screening took place at the Presidential Campaig