Workers and pensioners in Enugu State under the auspices of the Organized Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday held a mega solidarity rally in support of good governance in the state and in appreciation of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his “undeterred friendly disposition” towards them, and endorsed him for re-election in 2019.

The jubilant workers and retirees, who marched from the new state secretariat, G.R.A, Enugu to the venue of the rally at the popular Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, said they “have never had it any better before”.

They added: “We have gathered here today to confer our collective endorsement of Your Excellency as the Organized Labour’s Candidate for the 2019 General Election, for Governorship in Enugu State”.

Speaking on behalf of the workers and pensioners, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Enugu State Council, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo also thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for his “able and dynamic governance style, which has in your less than three years in office, wiped away our tears, and brought assurances to us for a better future”.

The workers, who came out in large numbers,  commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for embracing “a sound labour-government relationship”, and stated that the governor has remained consistent in payment of their salaries, including the wages for teachers and pensioners, in spite of the nation’s economic downturn, which made it impossible for many states to pay workers’ salaries.

They said that the governor has continued to beat their imaginations, disclosing that his administration, apart from the regular payment of salaries and pensions, paid the outstanding arrears of salaries and allowances owed workers in the state; approved and paid the 13^th month salary to workers and teachers in the state and local government areas as Christmas Bonus; approved the conduct and release of outstanding promotions, conversions and advancement in the state civil service and recruited about 4000 primary and secondary school teachers “to enhance our educational sector”.

The workers also added that the governor while attending to the welfare of the workers has also executed “massive infrastructural development of both urban and rural areas of the state through your unique fiscal management of the state’s scarce resources”.

They also applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for the entrenchment and sustenance of peace and security in the state, which they said have earned Enugu State the enviable status as the “safest place to live in Nigeria”. They also lauded the governor for the judicious utilization of the bailout funds and London/Paris Club refunds, stressing that “whereas the release of the funds caused much rifts in some states”, he “applied due wisdom and integrity in the application of that of Enugu State”.

 “Your Excellency’s positive transformation of the education, agriculture and health sectors, including other areas of governance, is in the open domain and glaring to all. These have improved greatly the quality of lives of the citizens of Enugu State.

“We are confident that God Almighty, in whose hands you have placed Enugu State, will see you through in 2019. Just remain faithful to Him and keep doing good. Then, consider your success a certainty”, the workers said.

In his remark, the Chairman of TUC, Comrade Igbokwe C. Igbokwe also commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his open door policy and commitment to the welfare of the workers, pointing out that the governor, driven by his passion for them adjusted back the salary payment schedule from 25^th of every month to 23^rd.

 Comrade Igbokwe hailed the governor for the “peaceful and transparent” conduct of the Local Government elections in the state; reactivation and transformation of the neighborhood watch groups in the communities into “a standard organization”; the Executive-Legislative harmonious relationship; and his inclusive and bi-partisan approach to governance, saying: “Good governance has covered everything, everybody is happy”.

Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi thanked the workers in the state for the endorsement and massive turnout at the rally “to demonstrate your support, solidarity and tremendous affection for our administration”.

He reassured them of his administration’s continued commitment to their welfare and promised to take speedy actions in addressing the pending issues concerning their progress.

Other speakers at the event include the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Hon. Charles Ogbo Asogwa and the Head of Service, Mr. Chidi Ezema, among others

Leading prophetic voice in world and Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly, Abuja, Bro. Joshua Iginla, on Thursday April 11, 2018 paid a courtesy visit to the Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency, Prof. James Wani Igga.

The man of God also visited the Parliament of the Republic of South Sudan.

In a chat with the  Vice President, Bro. Iginla spoke on issue bothering on investment and the need for foreign investors to come into the now peaceful South Sudan to invest.

While speaking on the floor of the Parliament, Bro. Joshua Iginla stressed on nation building revealing five major strategies to a better nation.

According to Bro Iginla: “For any nation to grow and develop, it must be able to sustain the vision of the founding fathers, love – unity, youth development, have the fear of God and make sustainable laws.”

The televangelist and fiery preacher further prayed for the nation of South Sudan.

Receiving the man of God, Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anthony Lino Makana said that the nation of South Sudan is blessed to have the presence of Bro. Joshua Iginla at a time like this the nation need prayer to overcome its challenges.

“On behalf of my colleagues and the entire people of South Sudan, I want to thank you so much man of God for visiting us. We are blessed to have your presence and with your coming, we know God is so much interested in the nation.” Hon. Makana concluded.

After the visit, the train moved to the Apostolic Invasion crusade ground in Juban, South Sudan where there was explosion of the power of God.

Bro. Joshua Iginla, is a man whose great prophetic prowess, word impact, stunning deliverance ministration, diverse healings is second to none. He is one of the most sought-after preachers in the world.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Kogi State to restore full payment of salary and allowances to its members or face industrial dispute .

The chairman of the state branch of NUT, Mr. Thomas Ayodele, made the call in Lokoja on Thursday during the union’s yearly solemn assembly.

He said that his members could no longer accept a salary of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent being paid to them since the beginning of the year.

Ayodele said the underpayment, inconsistent percentage payment and omissions that have so far characterised the payment of primary school teachers’ salary must stop forthwith.

Ayodele called on the state Ministry of Local Government and all the 21 local governments in the state to make necessary adjustments and make salary of teachers first line charge as directed by the state government since July 2017.

The union insisted that local governments hands off payment of teachers’ salary henceforth, saying that the State Universal Basic Education Board, which is constitutionally saddled with this responsibility, be allowed to perform its function.

Ayodele also called on the state government to undertake the harmonisation of teachers’ payroll to include all pending cases currently being reviewed by SUBEB, in conjunction with the office of the state Head of Service.

While demanding immediate payment of all outstanding salary and allowances of teachers, the union requested that adequate instructional materials be provided in all schools to enhance teaching and learning.

He appealed to his members to remain calm, as efforts were being intensified to resolve salary and other issues with relevant authorities. – NAN.

A man with the twitter handle @AlexanderRuyi, took to Twitter to express how his friend who had a misunderstanding with his girlfriend discovered that the lady had got married without informing him that their relationship had ended.

They were both trying to settle their issue, only for him to find out through an Instagram post that she is now married, the friend claimed.

Ruyi claimed that there was no break-up text, no ‘don’t ever speak to me, or call.’ “Nothing. Just marriage pictures on Instagram,” he claimed.

Ruyi also claimed that his shocked was still paying the erstwhile girlfriend’s bills during the time of their misunderstanding.

Here are the tweets detailing the incident:

So my friend doesn’t talk to his babe for a minute because they were trying to sort out some issues and this morning we check Instagram and guys, she is now married!! Like no break up text, no don’t ever speak to me call, nothing! Just marriage pictures on IG..

— Man Like Lex! (@AlexanderRuyi) April 10, 2018

And the worst part is that he was still funding her as of two weeks ago… and men are supposed to be scum..

— Man Like Lex! (@AlexanderRuyi) April 10, 2018

If you have a babe and y’all are having issues and hence not speaking with each other better call her and sort it out. if not just ask her family for the colour of the Asoebi

— Man Like Lex! (@AlexanderRuyi) April 10, 2018

He made efforts to resolve.. but she was forming we would talk bout it later.. or busy at with stuff.. only for her to end up married

— Man Like Lex! (@AlexanderRuyi) April 10, 2018

The Supreme Court has fixed July 6 for judgment in the appeal by Senate President Bukola Saraki against the December 12, 2017 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The Appeal Court had ordered him to enter defence in respect of three out of the 18 counts contained in a false assets declaration charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

A five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad chose the date yesterday after parties adopted their written briefs of argument in relation to the appeal by Saraki and the cross-appeal by the prosecution.

Saraki was arraigned before the CCT on an 18-count amended charge bordering on corruption and false declaration of assets.

At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, Saraki made a no case submission, which the CCT, in a ruling on June 14, 2017, upheld and discharged and acquitted him on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

Upon appeal to the Court of Appeal, Abuja by the prosecution, the appellate court, in its December 12, 2017 judgment, held among others that the prosecution was able to establish a prima facie case against Saraki in three of the 18 counts. The three counts are: 4, 5 and 6.

The Appeal Court ordered that Saraki be made to enter defence in respect of the three counts and for parties to return to the CCT for the continuation of trial.

Saraki appealed the judgment and asked the Supreme Court to set aside the aspect of the judgment where he was ordered to enter defence before the CCT in respect of the three counts.

The prosecution also cross-appealed the judgment and urged the Supreme Court to restore the full charge it brought against Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). It wants the Supreme Court to set aside part of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in which it voided 15 out of the 18 counts in the charge.

The police in Kaduna have identified a serving senator, Shehu Sani, APC-Kaduna Central as a person of interest in an ongoing homicide investigation.

Consequently, Austin Iwar, the police commissioner in the state has written to the senator asking him to appear on April 30 at the Command Headquarters in Kaduna for questioning.

“This is in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide transferred to this office by 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, alongside with exhibit audio CD in which your name was mentioned by the principal suspect,” Mr. Iwar said in a letter to Mr Shehu Sani.

A copy of the letter sighted yesterday said: “This is to enable us fairly and timely conclude investigation into the matter, Mr Iwar said.”  The letter was addressed to Senator Sani through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

A copy of the letter was forwarded to Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The Police Commissioner however said the case was not politically-motivated, saying “A case was transferred to me and I am handling the case.”

Mr Iwar said he would not give further details on the matter, nothing that “The matter is currently under investigation and we don’t think we have reached a stage yet where we could inform the public about it.”

Mr Iwar also said Mr. Sani would not be detained if he honoured the invitation, saying the police would have picked him up at the Senate if they had any intention of arresting him.

On his part, Senator Sani blamed the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for the move by the police, alleging that the Kaduna government had concluded plans to frame him up with a murder case.

“The state government is using the instrumentality of the police to carry out this act”, Mr Sani said yesterday.

According to him, the plan was revealed to him through a letter already prepared by the police inviting him for interrogation on the said murder case.

“There is an attempt to frame me up with a murder case by the Kaduna State Government using the police. A letter has been written from the office of the Commissioner of Police office but it has not been delivered to us,” he said.

Senator Sani said the case for which he was invited by the police was already before the court, adding “This is a case that is before the court of law. The governor wrote the judge expressing his interest in the case. – Vanguard.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has told the international community that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are working to truncate the country’s democracy.

Secondus said though the PDP for 16 years nurtured the nation’s democracy, indicators on the ground showed that the APC and INEC were not preparing to conduct free and fair elections in 2019.

He said this on Thursday while playing host to a team of the European Union led by Ketil Karlsen.

He said the opposition PDP was concerned at the emerging signs showing that 2019 election might be rigged.

He said, “What we see is marshal system of framing-up opposition leaders and trying to intimidate them. They are not ready to observe the rule of law and there is no democracy without the rule of law.

“We conducted election in 2015, the party and the presidential candidate did not go to court, we had a smooth transition because we believe in the rule of law

“Nigeria, as the largest black nation on the globe, cannot afford crisis because of the huge effect it would have on the continent and the entire global democratic community if democracy is truncated.”

He appealed to the EU and other international partners to keep a watch on Nigeria ahead 2019 and put pressure on the ruling APC government and INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

According to him, the EU team could not have visited at a better time than when President Muhammadu Buhari had just indicated interest to contest for a second term in office.

He said the PDP was positioning itself through a rebranding project targeted at the youths and children, just as it was mobilising its members and other Nigerians ahead of the 1999 elections.

But the APC denied the allegation by the PDP, saying the leaders of the former ruling party should have nothing to fear if they have no skeleton in their cupboard.

Parliamentary activities at the Plateau State House of Assembly were on Thursday delayed by two separate groups of protesters that stormed the Assembly complex.

The protesters, mostly women and youths, stormed the Assembly to register their displeasure over the spate of killings by Fulani herdsmen.

While the first group, the Internally Displaced Women in Daffo District, in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, made “an urgent call to action on the humanitarian situation in the area following attacks by Fulani herdsmen,” the other group, Middle Belts Youths Arise, demanded the establishment of Middle Belt Development Commission to deal with specific situations caused by the conflicts.

The Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly, Peter Azi, and other principal officers, hurriedly left their duties to attend to the protesters.

Afer listening to his guests, Azi said, “We will look into your grievances and rest assured that something positive will be done.”

The IDW of Daffo displayed placards with inscriptions such as ‘We have been made Internally Displaced Persons in our land,’ ‘We demand justice for Daffo,’ ‘Where is SEMA – State Emergency Management Agency?’ ‘The rains are here and we don’t have homes,’ ‘Our votes count’ and ‘Governor Simon Lalong, help us.’

The MBYA also showed their placards with inscriptions like ‘Unite for a greater tomorrow,’ ‘Stop the genocide: Peace! Peace!! Peace!!!’ ‘We want peace, not war,’ ‘No to occupation of our villages,’ ‘Our heritage, our pride, stop the killings,’ ‘Disarm the Fulani herdsmen,’ ‘We all have to defend our land (Middle Belt),’ and ‘We need justice for the killings, stop the armed herdsmen.’

The women submitted a petition signed by Comfort Matawal Malan to the Assembly, detailing the plight of over 7,000 IDPs in the Daffo District camp.

The petition read in part, “Many of us have been completely thrown off balance having been parted with our lifetime investments in food crops, houses and property. Many still face threats of losing their farmlands to marauding Fulani who have trespassed on our farmlands, clearing and tilling, obviously for the purpose of cultivation as the farming season approaches.

“This is in addition to the trauma already built up in our minds and the fear of insecurity which might not allow us to resume and face our normal socio-economic lives with required vigour to flourish.”

The women demanded adequate security for affected communities, while “the same strategy employed to guard farmers in the North-East and elsewhere on their farms should be employed to enable our farmers to pick up economically.”

The spokesperson for MBYA, John Okpe, said the Middle Belt “has been constitutionally demobilised and geographically balkanised.”

He said, “The government has formulated a policy of self-sufficiency in terms of producing what we consume at most in 2020. This is commendable; the Middle Belters have agriculture as their mainstay and can help the government to achieve this vision.

“However, this policy, lofty as it is, will remain a mirage if farmers, who are the harbingers, are burnt down in their farms.”

The MBYA in a memo submitted to the Plateau Assembly, signed by Samuel Odumu Okpe, demanded an outright cessation of all hostilities by the armed herdsmen.

The organisation warned that “if the attacks go on, our people will defend themselves.” – Punch.

Herdsmen have, again struck in Taraba and Benue States, killing 30 people in separate attacks yesterday.

The presence of Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and a military probe panel in Taraba State yesterday did not deter the marauding herdsmen from carrying out their onslaught.

They killed 25 residents of Jandeikyula village in Wukari local government area last night.

Taraba State police spokesman David Misal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) , confirmed the attack and killings.

Governor Darius Ishaku said: “As I am talking to you, I didn’t sleep last night. At 1am, I was

woken up by a distress call on another herdsmen militia attack.

“Fortunately, yesterday, the military from Takum came in to help.

They battled till this morning. They counted 15 bodies, some injured ones are in the hospital in Sondi,” Ishaku said.

Victor Iortim, an eye-witness, said the attackers, numbering over 200, were carrying “rifles and cutlasses.”

“I went to a neighbouring village and was returning home when I sighted them. They were numbering close to 200. They were Fulani militants. They were well armed with sophisticated weapons.

“I quickly hid in the bush. There was no way I could call home because there was no telephone network where I was hiding,” he said.

Chairman of Wukari local government, Daniel  Adi, who also confirmed the attack,  said “many people have been killed.”

Adi, who spoke to reporters on the telephone on his way to the area said: “I don’t have the casualty figure now. But many people were killed in the attack

“I am on my way to the place, I will give you the details after visiting the scene,” he said.

Special Adviser to Governor Ishaku on Students’ Affairs,

Samson Tor-Musa, who hails from the area, confirmed the incident. He said 25 bodies had been recovered.

A former Special Adviser to the late Governor Danbaba Suntai, Orbee Uchiv, an indigene of Jandeikyula, said:  “They invaded the village on Wednesday at 6pm and opened fire on innocent persons without provocation,” he said.

Uchiv said the number of deaths would have been more, but for the intervention of soldiers on patrol around the area who were coming from Gbeji, a neighbouring town in Benue state where the herdsmen killed four persons on Tuesday.

In neighbouring Benue State, suspected herdsmen killed five persons in separate attacks.

In Ukember- Agya, Logo Local Government area, two persons were killed by the militia at about 2 am during an attack on the farming community.

Chairman of Logo Local Government Richard Nyajo, said the herdsmen came heavily armed and ransacked the community, setting houses ablaze

In Agbobouhol, a suburb of Makurdi, the state capital, the attackers shot two people dead in broad day light.

Panicky Wadata residents fled the area in droves.

Police spokesman Moses Yamu confirmed the killings and said Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni had visited the place.

He added that a detachment of riot police had been deployed in the area

In Jande Ikyuran village, Lumbur Ward ,Ukum local Government Ares in Benue North East Senatorial District , three people were killed in an early morning attack.

Principal  Secretary- General of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Benue state Comrade Boga Abuul said the invaders stormed the farming community located along Anyiin- Wukari road at about 5 am.

Abuul said the invaders surrounded Jande Ikyura village and set houses ablaze before shooting and killing those who attempted to escape.

He said many houses were set ablaze and property worth millions of naira destroyed by the herdsmen.

Police spokesman Moses Yamu said he was not aware of the killings in Jande Ikyura village.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an ex parte application filed by the Delta Central senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, to stop his suspension by the Senate.

He had, on April 3, filed the ex-parte application before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, asking the court to order that “all further proceedings against the plaintiff (the senator) in respect of the allegations referred to the first defendant’s (Senate’s) Committee for Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition” be halted pending the hearing and determination of his main suit.

He asked the court to order parties to the main suit earlier filed on March 26, 2018 “not to consider, act on or give effect to any recommendation, resolution or decision of the first respondent’s (Senate) committee for Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition.”

The defendants to the suit are the Senate, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

But the Senate on Thursday suspended the senator for 90 days over his comment that the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 to reorder the sequence of polls in a general election was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

This came after the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on Wednesday, rejected his ex-parte application requesting that parties be ordered to maintain status quo by suspending all actions concerning the issues raised in respect of the case.

On Wednesday, Omo-Agege’s lawyer, Mr. E.R. Emukpoeuo, had moved his client’s ex parte application filed before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on April 3, 2017.

Ruling, however, Justice Dimgba refused to grant the order, directing the parties to maintain status quo.

The Senate on Thursday disbanded the Parliamentary Support Group for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group was chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu while Sen. Omo-Agege was the secretary. The group was made up of 11 members including the late Sen. Ali Wakili.

The Senate also suspended a pro-Buhari senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, for 90 legislative days for his remarks during and after the consideration of the electoral acts amendment.

Omo-Agege’s suspension followed the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Sam Anyanwu.

With the suspension, Omo-Agege will stay suspended for 90 legislative days. This means that if the senate were to sit without any interruption, recess or adjournment for committee work, it would take 30 weeks (7 months for Omo-Agege to completely serve his suspension.

Currently the senate is yet to take its over 2-months long annual recess as well as its December break during which times the suspension will not be counted.

The senator had gone against the senate during the consideration of the electoral act amendment and went ahead to grant a press conference where he said that the move by the senate was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senator was one of the 9 other senators who had insisted during the amendment that the election sequence targeted President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate became rowdy on Thursday after the President was called ‘incompetent’ over his failure to address the spate of killings by herdsmen.

The lawmaker representing the Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, started the event that led to a sharp division between members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP).

He had raised a point of order to make reference to the conflicting reasons given by officials in the Buhari-led administration for herdsmen-farmers clashes.

Abaribe noted that the latest was from Buhari, who said in the United Kingdom on Wednesday that the killer herdsmen were from Libya.

He said, “A few days ago in this chamber, we talked about the security of Nigeria. This chamber discussed the question of killings in several states of Nigeria.

“I recall that on the matter of herdsmen versus farmers, two explanations were given by highly ranked security personnel in Nigeria. The Inspector-General of Police said these killings were as a result of (anti-open grazing) laws being passed by states.

“Also, the Defence Minister said these killings were also as a result of the blockage of routes through which the herders moved their cattle.”

Abaribe said Buhari on Wednesday in London said the killings were by the people who were trained by the Libyan Leader, late Muammar Ghaddafi, “implying that these killers are from outside Nigeria.”

He said, “When a Commander-in-Chief says he cannot handle invaders invading Nigeria, why is he still a Commander-in-Chief? Why do we still continue to indulge this President that, everywhere, goes about to tell everybody outside this country that he is totally incompetent?”

The Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, interrupted Abaribe, asking the lawmaker to withdraw his derogatory comments on Buhari and apologise.

Both the APC and PDP members in the chamber started supporting their men with the cry of, ‘Yes and No.’

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, however, upheld Lawan’s point.

“We can make our points without using words that are offensive,” he said

Saraki asked Abaribe to conclude his presentation.

Abaribe said, “There are words with no alternatives. What I did was to interpret the words by Mr. President in London. And I juxtaposed them with the explanations made earlier. What this tells me is that there is a conflict…”

Saraki, again, interrupted Abaribe, noting that certain words were derogatory and would not be allowed in the chamber.

Abaribe continued, “If any word used was misunderstood, I apologise. All I am saying is simple: the heads of security in Nigeria made several different explanations on the killings of our citizens.”

The Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, also interrupted Abaribe with a point of order, noting that lawmakers could not raise matters relating to the conduct and performance of the officials in the three arms of government, except through a motion.

Saraki ruled that Na’Allah’s point of order was sustained.

The immediate-past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has received yet another boost to his senatorial ambition as the tempo of political activities increases ahead of the 2019 general elections.

This time around, one of the three ethnic groups making up the Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State, the Itsekiri, has thrown its weight behind the former governor citing his pedigree and antecedents as reasons for their unwavering support.

Speaking recently on behalf of the ethnic group, the president of a political pressure group, Itsekiri Movement for Good Governance, IMGG, Mr. Jolomi Oritsegbemi said aside from Dr. Uduaghan’s influence which will positively rob off on the development of the entire state, the Itsekiri had had the least representation at the National Assembly over the years.

According to him, “It is the turn of Itsekiri to produce a senator representing Delta South and Dr. Uduaghan is the only Itsekiri man who will make us reap the dividends of democracy come 2019. He is a true son, a man of the people who believes in developments and impacting lives. Over time, he has proven this, even when he was the governor of the state for eight years. In fact, this is the kind of leader Nigerians need to move the nation forward.

“It is only the Itsekiri ethnic nationality that has not produced a senator to represent the district since 1999. In the interest of equity and fair play, this should be our turn without any arguments. It is time to prove that Itsekiri people are not made to deliberately play the second fiddle to the other tribes.”

He further reminded Deltans that an Itsekiri man was last in the senate 39 years ago.

“Itsekiri also had two federal constituencies, where Late Hon. Vincent Jemide and Late Hon. Sunny Dabor represented them. The two federal constituencies were to be reduced to one when Chief Chamberlain Abeki from Patani LGA, was appointed as national commissioner into the then Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO,” revealed Mr. Oritsegbemi.

From 1979 till the current dispensation, five senators have represented Delta South Senatorial District. Out of these five, two were from Isoko (Senator Stella Omu and Senator Francis Okpozo of blessed memory) and another two were from the Ijaw tribe (Chief E.K Clark and Senator James Manager, the incumbent).

The first and only senator who was from the Itsekiri stock was Chief Franklin O. M  Atake in 1979.

Interestingly, the incumbent senator, James Manager, an Ijaw man has been returned to the senate on four occasions consecutively.

By the end of 2019, James Manager would have spent a total of 16 years in the Red Chambers and feelers from the district reveal that the people are tired of his representation.

All the ethnic groups feel that being a position for the three groups in the Delta South, either an Isoko or Itsekiri should be favoured for the post this time around.

From all indications, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is highly positioned to grab the senate seat considering that he withdrew from the race in 2015 to ensure that peace reigned in the state and he has always maintained that peace was more important than electoral victories.

Dr. Uduaghan’s developmental strides while he was the governor of the state speaks volumes. Most of his legacies are still being enjoyed in the state presently.

In a related development, Pa Daniel Pessu, a former Delta State lawmaker who is 96 years old now, has declared his support for the former governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan senatorial bid.

Speaking on behalf of six of the 30 surviving former lawmakers in the state, Pa Daniel who represented Warri South constituency in the then Bendel State House of Assembly between 1979 and 1983 thanks Dr. Uduaghan for taking care of them while he was governor of the state.

He also prayed for his success at the polls in 2019

The Ambassador of Ecuador, H.E Leopoldo Rovayo Verdesoto in his opening remark said the Embassy of Ecuador seized the opportunity to host this training as events without quality photographs captured will not have good memories of the event. For this reason, the Embassy partnered with the Young Journalists Forum and Diplomats Extra Magazine to train young media practitioners on photography.

According to Raphael Oni of Diplomat Extra Magazine ,’’another major issue of photojournalism is photo manipulation-what degree is acceptable? Some pictures are simply manipulated for colour enhancement whereas others are manipulated to the extent where people are edited in or out of the picture.

War photography has always been a genre of photojournalism that is frequently staged- see war photography; history for early examples. Due to the bulkiness and types of cameras present during past wars in history, it was rare when a photograph could capture a spontaneous news event. Subjects were carefully composed and staged in order to capture better images.

Another ethical issue is false or misleading capturing. The 2006 Lebanon war photographs controversies is a notable example of some of these issues, and see photo manipulation: use in journalism for other examples.’’

In his presentation, Ilesanmi Sanmi, a photojournalist with Diplomats Extra Magazine said film speed is traditionally used to tell the camera the film speed of the selected film on film cameras. Film speed numbers are employed on modern digital cameras as an indication of the system’s gain from light to numerical output and to control the automatic exposure system. Film speed is usually measured via the ISO system.

The higher the film speed number, the greater the film sensitivity to light. A correct combination of film speed aperture and shutter speed leads to an image that is neither too dark nor light, hence it is correctly exposed, indicated by a centered meter.

Anthony Alabi, a photojournalist from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who spoke on basic skills for beginners in photography said when on duty, a cameraman should not take to emotions but ensure that his job is done by capturing the pictures in real time to enhance his report as the scene may not remain the same thereafter.

According to the Coordinator Young Journalists Forum, Comrade Chuks Nzeh, noted that the group is poised to create platforms for young professionals to engage in solving identified challenges in the society, so that more young people can contribute their quota positively to national development.

He added that most times pictures tells the stories more and we want more young people to utilize their cameras more effectively to capture memorable events.

The Nigerian community in South Africa has reported the extra-judicial killing of a Nigerian man in that country.

The victim identified as ThankGod Okoro from Ogbaku in the Awgu local government area of Enugu state, is the latest in what has been described as recurring pre-meditated murders of young Nigerians in South Africa.

At least 117 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since February 2016.

Habib Miller, publicity secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, who is based in Pretoria, confirmed the killing of Okoro in a telephone interview with NAN on Friday.

He said Okoro was allegedly shot in the head by a South African police officer.

“The union is not happy with the latest murder of ThankGod Okoro on April 9 by a member of the South African Police Flying Squad at Hamburg, Florida West Rand in Johannesburg,” he said.

“The officer who shot Okoro claimed that the young man attempted to stab him during a stop-and-search operation.”

He added that Joshua Ogade, acting president of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Omoreige Ogboro, head of the union’s legal team, had visited the area where Okoro was killed to gather information on the incident.

“Our team has gone to the Florida Police Station to ensure that due process is followed in an attempt to seek justice on the killing,” he said.

“The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has been notified of the killing of Mr Okoro.”

Miller said that the police in Florida state had commenced investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of

the Nigerian. He pleaded with the South African authorities to wade into the matter to discourage wanton killing of Nigerians by policemen in the former apartheid enclave.

“Anyone suspected or found on the wrong side of the law should be arrested and tried at the appropriate court,” he said.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday rejected an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to seize the funds in 15 bank accounts linked to Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The funds, which the EFCC sought to seize include a total of $8,435,788.84 and over N7.35bn.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun rejected the ex parte application filed by the EFCC for the seizure of the funds, saying the funds were already subject of litigation before two other judges

The police have trailed and arrested in Lagos two of the Offa robbery suspects who took part in the deadly attack on five banks and a police station on 5 April, killing as many as 17 people.

Mr. Jimoh Moshood, the Police Police PRO identified the two suspects as 39 year-old Alexander Reuben and 28 year-old Jimoh Isa. They were all arrested on 11 April.

They were among the 12 suspects so far arrested by the police.

Another suspect Adetoyese Muftau, 23 was picked up in Ibadan, while three other suspects were arrested in Ilorin, capital of Kwara state. The three were identified as 18 year-old Aminu Ibrahim, 23 year-old Richard Buba Terry and 25 year-old Peter Jafar Kuunfa.

Jimoh also said in the update released today that six suspects were arrested in Offa, where the dastardly crime was staged.

Two out of the suspects nabbed in Offa were caught with the SIM cards and phones of some of the victims of the robbery violence. They were identified as Azeez Salawudeen, who is aged 20 and Adewale Popoola, who is 22 years old.

Police gave the names of the four other suspects arrested in Offa as 29 year-old Adegoke Shogo, Kayode Opadokun a 35 year-old man, Kazeem Abdulrasheed, 36 and Azeez Abdullahi, who is 27.

Police said they recovered from the three suspects picked in Ilorin a Beretta pistol and 14 bullets.

In all the police have collected from the suspects, two Beretta pistols, 20 bullets, four Phones and SIM cards belonging to victims, some of whom were killed during the attack.

According to the police, nine of the suspects now in custody took part in the robbery and attack on a police station in the town. They were arrested by the high powered police investigation team, who worked in synergy with the State Criminal Investigation team.

”The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots and flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which led to the arrest of the suspects. Some of the arrest also involved serious exchange of gun fire between the Police and the suspects in their various hideouts”, Moshood said.

The police gave the details of some of the suspects arrested and their confessions:

*Adegoke Shogo, 29 years, native of Offa Kwara State. He was arrested in Offa after the bank robbery and the attack on the Police Station. He is a drug baron and also an Indian Hemp dealer in Offa Kwara State. According to intelligence gathered from cultivated and reliable informant, he is alleged to be one of the sponsors of the robbery attack and the Police Station in Offa. He has made useful statements to the roles he played in the armed robbery.

* Kayode Opadokun 35years, also a native of Offa Kwara State, He was found out to have been released from Prison three months ago after serving only eight months of his sentence years for armed robbery. He is a notorious robber and confirmed gang member of the Offa Bank Robbers. A Berreta pistol and six rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him. He has admitted to the criminal roles he played in the Offa Banks robbery.

*Kazeem Abdulrasheed, 36, a native of Offa, gang member from whom a Victim’s phone was found. He was arrested in Offa

*Azeez Abdullahi 27, also from Offa, gang member from whom a victim’s phone and SIM Cards were recovered.

* Alexander Reuben, 39, from Isoko LGA Delta state, He is a notorious, deadly and hardened bank robber from whom GMPGs, Rocket launchers and Several Rifles were recovered in 2015, He was released from Prison in December 2017. He was arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos.

*Jimoh Isa 28, from Okene, Kogi State. He was indicted by technical intelligence generated on the bank robbers. He was arrested on the 11t April, 2018 in Lagos.

Police said three suspects from whom two phones and SIM cards belonging to victims were recovered have also made confessional statements admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of the crime.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris in reaction to the crime, has deployed armoured personnel carrier (APC), three units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Anti-Robbery equipment to the state to prevent future attacks.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu appears to have crossed his last hurdle in suits challenging his election, as the Supreme Court on Friday in Abuja dismissed an application filed by Mr Friday Nwosu, praying the court to disqualify him as democratically-elected governor of Abia.

Nwosu, a governorship aspirant in the 2014 PDP governorship primaries had challenged the nomination and emergence of Ikpeazu as the state governor on the grounds that he submitted “false’’ tax papers to INEC.

He had urged the court to nullify the election of Ikpeazu and declare him (Nwosu) the governor of Abia.

Justice Amina Adamu-Augie, in the lead judgment, described the appeal as “frivolous and lacking in merit’’.

The Justice awarded fine of N4 million against the appellant (Nwosu) to be paid N1 million each to four respondents to the appeal.

The respondents in the suit are Mr Samson Ogah, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP), Ikpeazu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lead judgment was read on behalf of Justice Augie by Justice Sidi Bage.

Nwosu had, in his appeal, challenged the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri which declined jurisdiction in the case.

The appellate court panel of five Justices presided over by Justice Jimi Bada had ruled that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal.

Specifically, the court held that Nwosu’s appeal was similar to the suit also filed against Ikpeazu by Uche Ogah which the apex court had decided on May 12, 2017.

Nwosu, who contested the Dec. 8, 2014 PDP governorship primaries had accused Ikpeazu of submitting false information and fake tax documents to INEC.

He had instituted the suit at the Federal High Court, Owerri, presided over by Justice A.L. Lewis.

Justice Lewis had on July 8, 2016, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, he proceeded to the Court of Appeal and finally, the Supreme Court.

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for the “unprecedented” peace and good governance he has entrenched in the state.

The PDP said that Ugwuanyi is a peaceful leader who honours God and works very hard to provide the dividends of democracy to positively impact the lives of the people in line with the dictates of the party’s manifesto.

Speaking at a colourful peace rally of the PDP in Enugu West Senatorial District of the state held at Udi Local Government Area,  which witnessed a mammoth crowd, the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, represented by his deputy,  Senator Garba Babayo Gamawa, stated that the PDP was “very proud with Gov. Ugwuanyi”.

Prince Secondus stated that there was “absolute peace in Enugu State” and remarkable achievements recorded by Ugwuanyi, saying:”We are very happy with your leadership style and good performance”.

The national chairman stressed that “Enugu State Governor deserves to be emulated”, adding further that “Nigerians are very happy with the governor”. He disclosed that   “it is because of a state like Enugu that other states will vote for the PDP”.

He also appreciated the unity between Ugwuanyi and the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and urged the governor to continue with his good works to take the PDP-led government in the state to the next level.

Also speaking, the South East National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Chief Austin Umahi applauded Ugwuanyi for his good works and existing peace in Enugu State.