CHAMPIONS

The Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday announced that he will attend his parents burial slated for February 14, 2020.IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful who confirmed this in a statement on Friday, said they will be buried according to their customs and traditions.We had reported that Nnamdi kanu lost his fatherEze Israel Kanu, four months after his mother, Ugoeze Sally Kanus died.The terse statement reads, The burial of our leaders parents will be 14th of February 2020.We are not going to disclose our security arrangements because they are much enemies who wish to destroy or destabilize every effort made for the successful burial of the father and mother of our leaderIPOB is on ground and nothing will change our resolve to protect the environment.We are peaceful and will maintain it to last point. But nobody should try IPOB.For a better societyTotal Views: 46 ,

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district and civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for unlawfully detaining him for nearly three weeks.In a suit document filed before Justice A. B. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Gudu, Abuja, which was seen by us on Friday, indicated that the hearing would begin on Monday 20th January, 2020.Counsel to the detained former lawmaker, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, has asked the anti-graft agency and the proprietor of ASD Motors, Alhaji Sani Dauda to pay the sum of N100 million as damages for detaining his client illegally.The prosecution lawyer filed the motion under Enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights Procedure in the case between Sen. Shehu Sani vs EFCC and ASD Motors.The application was also filed for Senator Shehu Sanis release, which was also due for hearing on Monday.We reports that Senator Shehu Sani has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged $25,000 bribe which the ASD Motors proprietor, Alhaji Sani Dauda claimed to have offered him.Shehu Sani has since denied the allegations, describing it as a hoax and an attempt to dent his name in order to stop him from criticising the government of the day.For a better societyTotal Views: 22 ,

Newly sworn-in Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has ordered the suspension of all contracts awarded before his resumption of office.According to Uzodinma, this is in view of nefarious activities of some government functionaries entering into contract agreements on behalf of the government without reference to the newly-sworn in governor.According to a press statement by T.U.C Nwokonkwo, the principal secretary to the governor, particular note has been taken of some parastatals where the contract letters and agreements are being backdated.Therefore Governor Hope Uzodinma has directed the suspension of all award of contracts in the state public service except with due authorisation from the office of the governor.The statement added that the government has also suspended all contracts already awarded for which mobilisation fees have not been paid , bearing in mind that the post-no-debit order imposed by the state government on all accounts operated by ministries, departments and agencies still subsists.Also, Uzodinma has approved the dissolution of all parastatals and agencies in Imo State.According to statement, by this directive, all board chairmen and members are by the notice directed to handover all government documents and properties to the chief executive or most senior public servants in the respective parastatals and agencies where the chief executive is not a public servant.For a better societyTotal Views: 17 ,

President Muhammadu Buhari sends warm felicitations to former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on his 87thbirthday, joining family and friends to celebrate his exemplary life of dedication to God, country and humanity.President Buhari congratulates the renowned diplomat for the many years of national and international service, commending his efforts in always projecting Nigeria to the world, and ensuring that the world comes to terms with the position of the country on global issues.The President extols Chief Anyaokus statesmanship and unwaveringconviction on the unity of the country,with his regular encouragement of Nigerian leaders to follow the path of honour in making sacrifices that will secure the future of the country, and be remembered by posterity.President Buhari believes the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealths discipline and humility is further demonstrated in his acceptance to serve in his community as the Ichie Adazie Obosi where he is fully involved in mobilizing for civic responsibilities and promotion of positive cultural values.The President prays that the almighty God will grant Chief Anyaoku longer life, good health and more strength to keep using his wealth of experience to serve the country.For a better societyTotal Views: 45 ,

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has proposed to the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to set up a committee to review recent elections in the country.Abubakar gave the advice in a remark at the 87th emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of the PDP on Friday, in Abuja.He said that the party should not disregard the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies in the recent elections.Abubakar noted that the PDP governed Nigeria well from 1999 to 2015, and as a true democratic party handed over power to the All Progressives Congress (APC), when it lost the general elections.The PDP candidate in the 2019 presidential election said the hope of the party was that the APC would continue with good governance but it had proved Nigerians wrong.It is has become necessary for us to mobilise Nigerians to resist the threat to our democracy, unity and development.Therefore, I will like to propose a strong committee to review the last elections and recommend to the party needed reforms to address the challenges in the last elections be set up forthwith.But what cannot wait is that we should not take what has been happening in our democratic processes from the role of INEC, role security agencies and the judiciary for granted.If we take all these roles for granted that will be the end of our hard earned struggle and including our founding members, who are today not alive.What can we say we have done to their struggles as they lay in their graves?Therefore, as long as we are alive, it is our responsibility to reincarnate the struggle they led that brought about the democracy today that the APC government is threatening, NAN quoted Abubakar as saying.For a better societyTotal Views: 48 ,

Mohamed Salah says Liverpools focus is solely on ending a 30-year wait to win the Premier League title, rather than doing so by going the whole season unbeaten.Jurgen Klopps men have dropped just two points in 21 games to set a new record for Europes top five leagues of 61 points from a possible 63 to start the campaign.That has propelled the European champions into a 14-point lead over title holders Manchester City with a game in hand, but Salah insists the Reds are still taking their title challenge one game at a time ahead of Manchester Uniteds visit to Anfield on Sunday.We dont think about being unbeaten until the end of the season. If we do that, it would be great, but at the end of the day we just want to win the Premier League. Thats the most important thing, Salah told Premier League Productions.Unbeaten or not, its not necessary we want to win the Premier League.Liverpool could move a massive 30 points clear of United with victory on Sunday, but the Red Devils are the only side to take points off them this season after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in October.Salah missed that match through injury and is keen to make up for lost time in the clash between English footballs two most successful sides.We need to win, we need to carry on in our way the way weve been doing since the beginning of the season and since last year, added the Egyptian.Of course we know its big for the fans, for the city and for us. But at the end of the day, we play the game to win.For a better societyTotal Views: 141 ,

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Seconds, on Friday expressed sadness over democracy in Nigeria.He spoke while addressing party leaders at the 87th National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja.Secondus said anxiety had engulfed Nigeria and that the huge sacrifice and contributions of founding fathers to ensure the endurance of democracy in the land are being thrown in the dustbin.All the efforts of our great party to deepen and grow our democracy for 16 years that resulted in our losing power and handing over in a seamless transition to the opposition are being blatantly squandered in APCs 56 months reign.On January 14, 2020 using the Judiciary, governorship elections were conducted on November 16, 2019 in Bayelsa and Kogi states.What happened on March 9, 2019 governorship elections in most states which critical minds described as bizarre was a child play.The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the federal government combining effectively with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and some security agencies including military took the electoral manipulation to the next level.To give the desired colour to their agenda and facilitate the electoral fraud as designed, a unique type of unbridled violence was introduced.In Kogi state for instance, electoral violence was licensed in such a way that APC thugs killed and maimed opponents indiscriminately under the watchful eyes of the security operatives.Perhaps the most callous and wicked of all election violence in the country was the burning to death one of the PDP women leaders in the state, Madam Salome Ocheju Abu.For us in PDP, Madam Salome Ocheje Abu is not just a heroine but a martyr for democracy who now symbolizes the struggle for the right to vote in our democracy.On the Supreme Court judgement on Imo governorship election, Secondus stated that the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari carried out a hatchet job.The chairman accused them of undermining democracy through the judiciary.He recalled with the midnight invasion of homes of Judges and Justices in 2016.He also said the unilateral removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, in January 2019 on the eve of general election had since showed that the judiciary was under attack.Meanwhile, Bola Tinubu, national leader of the APC has revealed why the courtdeclared the party winnerin Imo.The Supreme Court, in a unanimous Judgment on Tuesday, sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as Imo governor and declared Hope Uzodinma as duly elected.A seven-man panel, in its decision held that Ihedioha did not win the majority of votes cast at the March 9, 2019 governorship election.The judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, held that the candidate of the APC won on grounds that he polled majority of the lawful votes cast at the election.For a better societyTotal Views: 29 ,

An uncompleted three-storeyed building, on Friday, collapsed at 12 Alasepe Street, off Community Road, Ago Palace Way, Okota in Lagos.A yet-to-be-identified man is reportedly trapped as efforts are on to take him out.Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osayintolu, DG Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, said the house under construction was approaching completion.An adult male is presently trapped under the rubble and the LRT has commenced a rescue operation, he told newsmen.Impact of the collapse has affected the adjacent structure. The resultant crowd is under controlExtrication and recovery of the trapped man is ongoing using all Emergency Light Tools at our disposalOnce completed, the remains of the structure will undergo a Controlled Demolition exercise.For a better societyTotal Views: 45 ,

The unavailability of gas required to operate gas-fired power plants stalled the generation of 16,231.5 megawatts of electricity in the first eight days of this year, the Federal Ministry of Power has stated.Data obtained from the ministryshowed that the lack of gas had remained a major constraint to efficient power generation in the country.Over 70 per cent of Nigerias electricity comes from thermal power plants, and these plants require gas to function optimally in the generation of electricity.Daily Championgatheredthat the limited gas supply to gas-fired power generation stations since January 1, 2020 had stalled an average of 2,000MW of electricity daily.Figures from the ministry showed that on January 1, 2 and 3, a total of 2,026.5MW of electricity could not be generated on the grid on each of the days as a result of gas constraint.Also, on January 4, 5 and 6, the grid lost 1,900MW of power on each of the days as a result of the unavailability of gas.On January 7 and 8, the lack of gas prevented the generation of 2,042MW and 2,410MW of power respectively.A summation of the eight-day quantum of power that could not be generated as a result of gas constraint showed that the grid lost 16,231.5MW of electricity within the period.The Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies, the umbrella body for the Gencos, Joy Ogaji, recently saidthat gas supply challenge was due to the inability of Gencos to adequately pay for the commodity.She explained that there was no incentive for power generators to increase output from their plants.The Gencos said their total generation capacity rose to 7,383.04MW in 2018 from 4,214.32MW in 2013, when the power sector was privatised by the Federal Government.But Ogaji noted that the limitation of the transmission and distribution networks coupled with the lack of payments to the Gencos was a drag on increased generation.She said, From 2013, the power taken did not change at all. It was just hovering around 3,000MW until it rose to 4,000MW in some days, out of over 7,000MW of available generation capacity. And who pays for the difference?The Gencos spokesperson told our correspondent that the non-payment for generated energy was hampering the ability of the Gencos to pay for gas, which was why a large volume of power was stalled from being generated daily.The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, an umbrella body for the Discos, Sunday Oduntan, told our correspondent that this was one of the reasons why power distributors would implement the recent upward adjustment in tariffs beginning from April this year.For a better societyTotal Views: 43 ,

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Daniel Markson-Iworiso, has faulted fierce critics of the eight years administration of Governor Seriake Dickson in the state, declaring that Governor Dickson should be commended and not condemned by the people of the State.Iworiso who also warned the critics of Dickson administration to stop, bad mouthing the commendable performance of the outgoing administration, asked them not to join the bandwagon of critics and avoid trouble.The Bayelsa Information Commissioner made this known yesterday in Yenagoa during the State Monthly Transparency briefing for the Month of November.According to him, though many are quick to join the bandwagon to criticize Governor Dicksons eight years administration, the administration has laid down lasting legacies in the areas of education, good health care, Model Schools, education and Infrastructure across the state that will stand the test of time.He said, For those who are quick to join the band wagon to fiercely criticize Governor Seriake Dickson, they are making a huge mistake. Governance is not a tea party. Whatever they say is a personal opinion. Let me put it on record that the restoration Government will be talked about for a long time to come.When it is said and done, this government will be one government that we will be proud of at the end of the day. It is sad that some people are bad mouthing Gov. Dickson. I just hope that some of them will not use their mouth to entre trouble. All the Government need now is prayer. He did well inspite of the challenges it faced. Governor Dickson need commendation not condemnationWe know this is the end of the road for the administration. But it has become a responsible government that have done the most for the people of the state. The restoration has accomplished the most in all areas, and am so proud that we have served meritoriously. Posperity will be fair to Governor Dickson. He will emerge as best government to have emerged in the history of Bayelsa state.Hon. Iworiso, however declared that he is personally proud to have served in the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson,I will not regret one day to have served in the restoration administration.For a better societyTotal Views: 31 ,