Year: 2018

Lessons from the Ambode gamble By Louis Odion, FNGE

Emporium Reporters

Like Poenix in the storybook, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos seems on the rebound after political cruxifixion at the APC Golgotha. In his post-defeat broadcast last Wednesday, grace and sobriety had replaced the bile and bitterness in his tongue only three days earlier when he thrust a blunt dagger at the jugular of Jide Sanwo-Olu, his opponent to the ticket for the 2019 governorship. The voice we heard in that speech was no longer of a rebel, but a penitent covered in ashes and sackcloth at the party altar. His…

Saraki Pays Tribute to Baba Sala

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has expressed sadness over the death of ace comedian and actor, Moses Olaiya Adejumo, popularly known as Baba Sala. Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the late comedian as a prolific artiste who contributed immensely to the development of the nation’s movie industry in particular and arts and culture in general, during his lifetime. Saraki said: “Baba Sala was a legend who through dint of hard work, tenacity and creative inventiveness,…

APC SENATORS MEET OVER SARAKI AS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESUMES …Atiku, others move to save NASS leaders

Emporium Reporters

Some senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had an emergency meeting last night over the fate of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Daily Trust reports. The senators, it was gathered, met at a location in Abuja to decide on how to go about the removal of the Senate President following his defection from the ruling APC to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Although details of the meeting could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the senators debated seriously on Saraki with…

IBB Disowns Social Media Account

Emporium Reporters

The former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has disowned a purported Twitter handle “General ibbro.” A statement from General Babangida media office said that the former military ruler does not have or operate any social media platform. The media office also denied a claim that said General Babangida used one of the social media platform to make political statement . The statement said ” We would like to state categorically that, the said messages that occupied social media and online press are views of ‘Fake and unreliable individuals’, therefore…

Fayose Threatens To Dump PDP

Emporium Reporters

The outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has threatened to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the National Convention held on Saturday in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. Punch reports that the governor hinted the paper’s correspondent on Monday that he would renounce his “membership of the PDP anytime from now.” He added, “After consultations, I will speak clearly to Nigerians”

APC PRIMARIES: GOV SANI-BELLO CALLS FOR CALM …Distance Self From Automatic Ticket for NASS Members

Emporium Reporters
Gov Sani Bello

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has enjoined contestants, their supporters and stakeholders in the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in the state to remain calm and peaceful. Governor Sani-Bello in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, assured all stakeholders of peaceful resolution of the outcome of the primaries elections in the state. The Governor noted that the adoption of direct primaries system in the state was aimed at providing level playing field for all aspirants, creating opportunities for participation by party…

Saraki Congratulates Atiku, Lauds PDP, Members for Sucessful Convention

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for emerging as the Presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the just concluded national convention of the party held in Port Harcourt. Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu also commended the delegates to the convention and members of the organizing committee, led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, for holding a convention in which a candidate was elected in a free, fair,…

Three Reasons You Should Be Worried about 2019 Elections By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D. Twitter: @farooqkperogi

Emporium Reporters

You don’t need special prognostic powers to know that the 2019 elections will be fraught with frightening fraud. Here are three reasons why anyone who spares a thought for the future of democracy in Nigeria should be worried. 1. Nigerians feel oddly smug and empowered by the possession of their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). They think it’s their bulwark against Buhari’s continuing incompetence. I am sorry to be a party pooper, but the truth is that in Buhari’s Nigeria, the PVC is becoming worthless, as we’ve seen in most of…

IGP Invites Saraki, Melaye, Murray-Bruce For ‘DIsturbing Public Disturbance And Violently Attacking Policemen’

Emporium Reporters

The Nigeria Police Force has invited Senate President Bukola Saraki, as well as two other lawmakers, Ben Murray-Bruce and Dino Melaye, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for investigation on Monday, October 8, 2018. This was disclosed in a statement related by the Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, on Friday, on behlaf of Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The Police invitation is coming hours after the lawmakers led a protest to the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) headquarters, to demand the declaration of Ademola Adeleke, candidate…

Police Tear-Gas Saraki, Secondus, Tambuwal, Lamido, Kwankwaso AT PDP’s INEC Protest

Emporium Reporters

The Police in Abuja on Friday tea-gassed Senate President Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, at the Force Headqaurters, during a march by the PDP to protest the result of the Osun governorship election. Others tear-gassed were Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and presidential aspirant Danti Baba Ahmed, among others. The protesters, who were on motorcade, had…