Lawan Saraki split APC

Resolution of adoption of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki by 35 like minds senators as sole candidate for the office of the Senate President of the 8th National Assembly

Senators of the like mind are here today at the retreat organized by our dear Party All Progressive Congress, which is meant to equip and empower Senators-Elect of the 8th Assembly to prepare them toward the challenges ahead. We commend the leadership of our party for this timely and well-focused exercise.

The issue of National Assembly leadership is about integrity, competence, discipline and leadership skills and not about fixing of candidates just for mere horse-trading. Our stand is about electing a senator who eventually becomes the chairman of National Assembly and relates with the executive on behalf of Nigerians, fellow Senators and the National Assembly as an institution.

Furthermore leadership of National Assembly, is about the Senator that has the wherewithal to stabilize the legislative institution, working with the executive and judicial arm of government to be effective and perform to their optimal capacity.

In addition, we are aware of the fact that ALL Senators from the North Central zone has taken a firm position that they are only interested in the office of the Senate President which has been earlier zoned by the

National Working Committee of our party and we are also aware that North Central Senators have resolved to abide by the resolution of the zone on a single candidate and anything short of this is an attempt to jeopardize the collective interest of the zone.

Of the 59 Senators of the APC, 35 of us present here today hereby reaffirm our collective commitment and resolution to ensure that the candidature of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the Senate President of 8th Assembly.
We also resolved that the office of the Deputy Senate President be zoned to the North East.

CAF opposes postponement of FIFA elections

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) on Thursday said it is opposed to a postponement of the 65th FIFA Election/Congress into the presidency of the world soccer body, scheduled to hold on May 29 in Zurich.

CAF in its website said the confederation at its meeting held on May 27 in Zurich reiterated its support for the candidacy of incumbent Sepp Blatter during the election.

“CAF is following with particular attention the events happening in the football family at this time.
“the commitment of CAF to work and to cooperate in safeguarding the ethical and moral values that underlie the practice of the sport, its organisation and administration,” the Africa soccer governing body said.

Furthermore, it noted that the body offers full support to measures initiated by FIFA in recent years at improving good governance.

CAF however, re-affirmed its readiness to cooperate in this direction with all the institutions that engage and subscribe to zero tolerance, vis-a-vis offenders, regardless of their profile or origin.

Abuja agog for Buhari

Global attention shifts to the world’s most populous black nation on the planet, Nigeria, where the country’s fifth democratically elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, will be inaugurated on Friday (today).

Contrary to speculations, indications emerged on Thursday that the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, will attend the historic occasion which would mark the first time a sitting president would hand over power to a victorious challenger.

The event expected to be witnessed by many world leaders will take place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the nation’s hilly capital city.

As of the last count, no fewer than 20 world leaders have flown into the country in readiness to attend the ceremony.

Activities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, peaked on Thursday as Presidents and representatives from many countries landed at the facility and were subsequently driven to their various hotels.

The PUNCH reported that Jonathan, whose administration had earlier expressed the wish to hand over power to Buhari a day before the May 29 official date, has decided to attend the event in demonstration of his sportsmanship.

It was gathered that the outgoing President would fly the flagship of the presidential fleet codenamed “Nigerian Air Force 001” or “Eagle One” in an official capacity as President for the last time today.

After the inauguration, the aircraft will fly Jonathan to the Port Harcourt Airport, Rivers State, from where he is expected to be flown in a helicopter to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, en route a homeward journey in a convoy of cars to Otuoke, his hometown.

Speculations were rife that Jonathan might shun the inauguration ceremony owing to the acrimony that greeted the election.

But a top Presidency official, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that Jonathan would attend the event.

He said if Jonathan failed to attend the event, he might end up portraying himself as a bad loser despite the fact that he conceded defeat to Buhari shortly after the election.

The official, however, expressed the hope that the leaders of the All Progressives Congress would prevail on their supporters not to do anything to humiliate the outgoing President at the event.

The official said, “Immediately after the inauguration, the outgoing President will travel to his state on Air Force 001 for the last time.

“As a former President, any of the smaller aircraft in the presidential fleet can be made available to him on request, but not the 001. The only reason why he can fly that aircraft again is either if he becomes the President again or if he is to accompany a sitting President on a trip.”

1,563 policemen for inauguration, 25,000 on red alert

The Lagos State Police Command says it will deploy 1,563 officers in the venue of the inauguration of the state Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Onikan.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, who disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, said the over 25,000 officers in the command would also be placed on red alert in their respective divisions.

Nwosu added that the police would ensure that there was no breach of security at the venue, and in any part of the state.

He said, “The Lagos State Police Command is ready for the inauguration. The Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, did assure the people that we would ensure a safe atmosphere during and after the election. The people can attest that we delivered on that.

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 “The CP has again reassured that the inauguration will be calm and hitch-free. We are deploying 1,563 officers in the venue to ensure that there is no breach of security. This is in addition to the over 25,000 policemen in Lagos who will be placed on red alert in their respective divisions.

“We are doing all that are necessary not only to ensure a safe inauguration, but also to give one that Lagosians will always remember. Since it is a scheduled programme, we have done all our rehearsals, and our officers in their special uniform will roll out.”

The police spokesperson, who noted that some areas around the stadium would be cordoned off, added that the only group of people who were not expected at the inauguration were trouble makers.

He said, “We have put all the security architectures in place, which include all our combat teams. The Police Mobile Force, the Anti-Terrorism Unit, the Mounted Troops and others will be there. We are going to dominate the environment, and be very open, but firm.

“We assure all attendants of adequate security, and in conjunction with the state government, there have to be areas around the venue where movement will be restricted. Whichever area this concerns shall be made known. The only category of people that are not expected at the TBS are those who want to foment trouble.” (PUNCH)

Chelsea, Arsenal target Dybala poised for Juventus medical

Paulo Dybala is set to have a medical with Juventus ahead of his expected summer move to the Italian champions.

Paulo Dybala is set to have a medical with Juventus ahead of his expected summer move to the Italian champions.

The Palermo striker, who has been heavily linked with Premier League clubs recently, is set to join the Bianconeri on a £28million once he completes his medical on Thursday.

Despite being a target for the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, 21-year old Argentine Dybala said he had chosen Juventus because the Turin club really wanted him.

“Juventus are the side who wanted me the most,” Dybala told Sky Sport Italia.

“They made a real effort to sign me and this is why I made my decision. I can certainly win the Scudetto there as they are a winning team. I always play to win and can find success with them.

“It will be impossible for me to forget everything I've experienced in three years at Palermo. I was happy from the very first day. I know that to play for Juve, I have to do much more and I'm sure I can improve a great deal.”

Buhari returns today

Nigeria’s president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari is billed to return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, UK this morning.

The Head of his Media team, Mallam Garba Shehu said that Buhari’s plane is expected to touch the ground of the Nnmadi Azikiwe International Airport at the early hours of today morning.

It will be recalled that the president-elect left the country for a private visit to UK on Friday last week.

He would be sworn in as President tomorrow at the Eagles Square in Abuja.

Nigeria earns N2.8trn from petroleum products in 3 months

Nigeria earned N2.838 trillion from the export of petroleum products in the first quarter of 2015, according to data released, yesterday, by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

The amount is 64.18 per cent of the Federal Government’s 2015 budget of N4.425 trillion.

The NBS, in its Foreign Trade Statistics for the first quarter of 2015, stated that the export of petroleum products accounted for 87.86 per cent of Nigeria’s total merchandise export of N3.23 trillion in the first quarter.

Giving a breakdown of the petroleum products export, the NBS disclosed that crude oil emerged the highest exported commodity in the quarter under review, valued at N2.251 trillion, representing 69.7 per cent of the country’s total export.

The value of the country’s crude oil export in the first quarter of 2015 represents an appreciation of 0.54 per cent when compared against N2.239 trillion recorded in the preceding quarter. The amount is, however, a decline of 30.4 per cent from total crude oil export of N3.234 trillion recorded in the first quarter of 2014.

Liquefied Natural Gas followed with an export value of N306.16 billion, while the country earned N152.268 billion from the export of liquefied propane.

Also, N128.49 billion was earned from the export of partially refined crude oil products; N21.247 billion from liquefied butanes and N4.706 billion was earned from the export of Liquefied Petroleum Gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons.

In general, the NBS stated that Nigeria exported mainly mineral products, which accounted for 2.880 trillion or 89.2 per cent of total exports.

Continuing, the NBS said: “The value of merchandise exports totalled 3.23 trillion in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 275.6 billion or 9.3 per cent over the value recorded in the preceding quarter. ”