Gist Coven

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he will pursue diplomatic efforts with North Korea up "until the first bomb drops." Tillerson said the only goal the administration of President Donald Trump has is to "denuclearize the Korean Peninsula." Tillerson also said the US would sit down with North Korea without preconditions. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson laid out what seemed to be a new approach toward North Korea on Tuesday, pledging to continue diplomatic efforts with the rogue state "until the first bomb drops" and stating that he is open to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without preconditions. "I will continue our diplomatic efforts until the first bomb drops," Tillerson told the audience at an event at the Atlantic Council. During a question and answer session with former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Tillerson said he would be willing to sit down to talk with the North Koreans with no preconditions in or...

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, in Abuja, began a subtle move to douse tension generated among members of the Peoples Democratic Party over the outcome of last Saturday's national convention in Abuja. The former President assembled a team of his loyalists, who it was gathered, would visit aggrieved aspirants with a view to appealling to them to forget about their grievances and work with the Uche Secondus-led members of the National Working Committee.  Though the party has a standing committee on reconciliation, headed by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, it was gathered that the former President decided to assemble his team as the Leader of the party. Among those in Jonathan's team are his former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN); a former Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda; a former Minister of Finance, Nanadi Usman; and his (Jonathan's) bosom friend, King Turner. Jonathan, on Monday, led his team to the...

A leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has cautioned that the party must be careful in order not to commit the mistake of promoting an automatic ticket as the Peoples Democratic Party. Tinubu stated this in reaction to a statement credited to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha statement that the former Lagos State governor was crying more than the bereaved. Okorocha had made the statement in response to media report that Tinubu, had during an interview in Akure, the Ondo State capital, frowned at APC governors’ endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari as the party sole candidate in 2019, allegedly describing the governors as being irrelevant an insignificant to the party’s nomination process. But in his reaction to Okorocha’s attack, Tinubu clarified in a statement on Monday in Lagos, released by his Media Adviser, Mr. Tunde Rahman that he never during the interview said what he was quoted as saying. He said, “We note Imo State Governor Rochas ...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Adamawa State, Engr. Markus Gundiri, has expressed doubt over the loyalty of Governor Jibrilla Bindow to the party following the departure of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Gundiri was a 2015 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and also 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. He said this while insisting that no politician in Nigeria can defeat President Muhammadu Buhari. Gundiri said the ruling party was waxing stronger in his home state after the exit of Atiku Abubakar. He said this yesterday in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists, adding that Atiku’s return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, did not have any destabilisation effect on the APC. He said, “Who else in this country today can stand election against Buhari and win? I don’t think there is anyone. “Look, you have to look at the achievements of this president in these few years...

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....

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...

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...

President Buhari was yesterday overwhelmed at the crowd that came out to welcome him in Kano state where he is currently on a 2-day working visit. Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, President Buhari said 'I am overwhelmed by the sea of people I see and by what I see today, if elections are contested I will no doubt win it' . LINDAIKEJIBLOG

Ahead of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a former Minister of Mines and Steal and chieftain of the party, Wole Oyelese, has accused the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, of backing Uche Secondus for selfish reasons. Secundus, a PDP chieftain from the South South, is one of the aspirants for the coming election for the PDP National Chairmanship position. Oyelese said Wike, and some PDP governors were fighting for Secondus’ emergence for their selfish reasons. The ex-Minister warned the party leaders and delegates against falling into the trap of Wike and other governors by ‘imposing’ Secondus as the PDP chairman, adding that doing so would lead the party into a “disastrous crisis.” Oyelese said this in a statement on Wednesday where he noted that “Secondus leading the party is certainly a disaster waiting to happen.” He added, “I will not expect anybody that loves the PDP to support Secondus because of his past record but there is a differenc...

Senator Magnus Abe representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly has outlined how the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi caused the current crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State. Abe also vowed that he will not leave the APC for another political party. The Senator traced the crisis to the March 4, 2017 meeting convened by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, in Port Harcourt. The Senator spoke through his Spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson in a statement in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. He said, “I will not leave the APC even in the face of needless provocation and unwarranted bitterness. “As I told the state Chairman of the party, last Sunday, every member of the party knows the cause and the reason for the present crisis in the APC in Rivers State and I will also state it here. “The Minister of Transportation made several shocking pronouncements that heralded the root of our present crisis. ...

AFTER several speculations, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally announced his willingness to seek re-election in 2019. The president had on Tuesday night explained the reason behind having the Governors of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, and that of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, to be present when he (Buhari) addresses the Nigerian Community in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. He specifically said the presence of the two governors during his interactive session with the Nigerian community will be another vote for him when the time comes. The president is in Abidjan for the fifth European Union-African Union, EU-AU, Summit and was accompanied by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, who was instrumental to Buhari’s emergence in 2015 after three unsuccessful attempts to become a civilian president. While apologizing for keeping some members of the Nigerian community in Abidjan who had come for the interactive session waiting, President Buhari ex...

A Russian fighter jet reportedly made unsafe maneuvers near a US aircraft flying over the Black Sea. The fighter jet flew in front of the US aircraft and turned on its afterburners. The incident comes amid divisive rhetoric from Russia, in which it likened US service members operating in Syria to "occupying forces." A Russian fighter jet reportedly made unsafe maneuvers near a US aircraft flying over the Black Sea, CNN reported Monday. The Russian Su-30 jet reportedly crossed in front of the US P-8A Poseidon aircraft Saturday, flying as close as 50 feet, and turned on its afterburners, Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said to CNN. The maneuver left "violent turbulence" in its wake, forcing the P-8A to deal with a 15-degree roll, according to Baldanza. The incident reportedly lasted 24 minutes. "The US aircraft was operating in international airspace and did nothing to provoke this Russian behavior," Baldanza said in the repo...

Nigerian Government has told the Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, sitting in Abuja to throw out a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. According to the Federal Government, Kanu who was granted bail by the Federal High Court, has allegedly escaped from his ongoing trial and for this reason, the judgment of the ECOWAS Court on the suit would serve no purpose. The IPOB leader had filed the suit on March 3, 2016 demanding $800 million as compensation from the Federal Government for his alleged unlawful arrest in 2015 and continued detention. Lawyer to the Federal Government, Mrs Maimuna Shiru, stated in an objection to the suit that Kanu, having been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja where he is being tried alongside others on charges of treasonable felony, on April 25, 2017, it was unnecessary for the ECOWAS Court to adjudicate on the IPOB leader’...

First son of the late Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Emeka Ojukwu Jnr, has noted that Ndigbo supported former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, adding that now is the time to support President Buhari. He noted that the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano are loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari. Emeka explained that his decision to join the All Progressives Congress APC, is to ensure that similar ideals that informed his late father’s action are upheld. Ojukwu Jnr. who spoke with the Guardian, added that he was merely walking in his father’s steps. He recalled that shortly after his father’s return from exile in 1982, he joined the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, rather than the Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP. He said, “I can afford to stay back (in APGA) and wallow in sentimental politics that nkea bu nkeanyi (this is our own), but in the long run, what becomes of our tomorrow and place in the gre...

Founder of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, says his leadership will provide level-playing ground for all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants, if elected national chairman of the party. Dokpesi made the pledge while addressing zonal and state executive committee members and other members of the PDP during his campaign visit to Kano state on Saturday. He said that he was aware that the goal of PDP was to win presidency in 2019, and assured that as national chairman of the party, he would not allow manipulation of the process. “I am very conscious of the fact that our illustrious sons from Kano are looking forward to contesting for the presidency in the 2019 elections. “First of all, we must have a party and the first step is to create a National Working Committee that I can work along with to ensure that there is justice, fairness and equity. “I want to pledge firmly that there shall be a level-playing ground for all the presidential aspirants f...

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has reacted to the bombing of a mosque which killed 50 people in Mubi, Adamawa State, on Tuesday. Fani-Kayode said the latest attack is an indication that both President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed were lying that Boko Haram have been defeated. In a tweet, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain claimed that those who created Boko Haram to get former President Goodluck Jonathan out of power can no longer control the sect. He wrote: “Sad to hear that 50 people were blown up in a mosque in Mubi yesterday. “Are Ayatollah @MBuhari and lying Lai Mohammed still claiming that Boko Haram have been defeated? “Those that created and funded Boko Haram just to get @GEJonathan out of power can no longer control it.” Meanwhile, the United States has reacted to the incident.

Former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, has alleged that former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani-Alison Madueke, forced ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to sack her. She made the claim in an upcoming book, ‘On a Platter of Gold: How Jonathan Won and Lost Nigeria’, written by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bolaji Abdullahi, who also served under Jonathan. According to Oduah, Jonathan called her to explain herself after the news about the $1.6million BMW armoured cars bought for her by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was reported. She revealed that Alison-Madueke and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, were present at the meeting. “I thought she had my back. I did not know at the time that she was actually fuelling it and orchestrating all the media attacks,” she told Abdullahi. “I knew all along that Diezani could not deal with having another female around who had the kind of access I had to the pr...

Former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, has said Nigerians are “shedding Crocodile tears” over the death of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme. Ibori said this in a statement by signed his spokesman, Tony Eluemunor. The former Governor said the country refused to allow Ekwueme rescue it. “Though His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON, was a great leader, a national father-figure, a stabilizing factor in Nigerian politics, I Chief James Onanefe Ibori can never stop asking “what if!” Ibori said. “It is ironic that the nation that betrayed this man’s effort to rescue it from political and economic morass will, now that he is dead, begin to shed crocodile tears. “Even those who betrayed the very effort to make Ekwueme President, may begin to, hypocritically, of course, bewail the fact that Ekwueme or the Igboman or woman, never ruled Nigeria. “Ekwueme was an extraordinary polyvalent scholar who earned multiple degrees in Architecture, urban planning, sociology, history, ph...