Obasanjo is wondering why anyone would believe that Buhari is dead

The tale was first spun and given oxygen by Nnamdi Kanu who heads the proscribed secessionist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

It is not uncommon to hear Nigerians sharing the story of a ‘Buhari body double in Aso Rock’ on the streets, in the marketplaces, at the malls and in offices, as loudly as they can.

And now former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the tale as the most ridiculous and insane stuff he’s ever heard.

Obasanjo has also cited the Jubril-from-Sudan clone tale as one of the ills of social media in the modern era.

Obasanjo says he was approached by one highly placed person on the Jubril-from-Sudan clone tale.

“Somebody came to me, a very high hub person, saying tell me about this talk of Buhari not being Buhari.

“I said ‘do you believe them?’ He said, ‘well, it is in the social media’. I said ‘how will Buhari die and we will not know that Buhari has died and they will bring us somebody from Sudan to be Buhari?’

“It’s ridiculous to the extreme. But you have it in the social media and you see people believing it,” Obasanjo says.

The former president would go on to lecture on responsible use of social media platforms.

“Social media is good, but it can be abused. We have to train our youths and our children about the dangers of the social media,” he submits.

In 2018, President Buhari laughed off rumors that he is dead and has been replaced with a body double.

“One of the questions that came up today in my meeting with Nigerians in Poland was on the issue of whether I‘ve been cloned or not.

“The ignorant rumours are not surprising — when I was away on medical vacation last year a lot of people hoped I was dead,” he said.

The president added that: “I can assure you all that this is the real me. Later this month I will celebrate my 76th birthday. And I’m still going strong!”

Twitter ban: PDP Reps stage walkout as Gbajabiamila overrules demand

Representatives have staged a walkout over the refusal of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to grant their prayer on the Federal Government’s Twitter Ban.

Gbajabiamila had earlier asked relevant committees of the House to investigate the matter within 10 days.

Leader of the PDP caucus, Kingsley Chinda, much later, raised a point of order to make an additional prayer that the House asks the Federal Government to lift the ban pending when the House carries out the probe.

Chinda noted that the implication is that the ban would remain for 10 days, which means the rights of Nigerians would be kept in abeyance during the period. Gbajabiamila, however, cited part of the Standing Orders of the House stating that a matter that had been concluded by the parliament cannot be revisited for a debate.

The Speaker, therefore, ruled Chinda out of order, a decision that did not go down well the members of the opposition.

Insisting on speaking and several leaders of the House shutting him down, Chinda led other PDP members out of the chamber.…

$12b e-commerce suffers as Twitter ban costs N7.5 billion in three days

• FG in talks with China, considers Internet firewall to block VPN access
• A4AI Nigeria says situation creates $1.2b loss for MSMEs
• Raises questions of our readiness for investors, says ALTON

 

The suspension of Twitter, a leading micro-blogging platform, has begun to take its toll on struggling Nigeria’s economy, leading to a loss of N7.5 billion in the past three days.

Nigeria’s decision to suspend Twitter, at first indefinitely but later temporarily, could backfire for the government and cost the country economically in terms of new investment into its technology sector. The ban may threaten Nigeria’s status as one of the best-performing African countries in attracting investment for technology start-up businesses.

According to Net Blocks, a watchdog organization that monitors cyber-security and governance of the Internet, each hour of the social media gagging costs Nigeria about $250,000 (N102.5 million), bringing the daily loss to N2.5 billion. It means the economy would have lost approximately N7.5 billion in the past three days.

The suspension has already created a market access gap for millions of small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs) that use the platform to reach their customers. This could potentially complicate the challenges COVID-19 and other structural defects had imposed on businesses. Also hit is the e-commerce market in the country, estimated at $12 billion.

But within hours of the ban, internet searches for ‘VPNs’ – virtual private networks, which allow users to disguise their online identity and evade country-specific limits, surged across the country. Multiple videos appeared on YouTube explaining the ins and outs of VPNs to Twitter-hungry Nigerians. Nigerians also have plenty of other digital options to share opinions and information, from the popular WhatsApp to the Indian micro-blogging service, Koo, which has quickly announced plans to expand into the country.…

King Alfred Diete Spiff Palace destroyed in Town brass

One person was reportedly shot when a mob protesting against the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over years of neglect attacked the palace of the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff in Brass Council of Bayelsa State.

Indigenes of NAOC’s host community were protesting against protracted power outage, refusal to pay indigenous contractors and failure to meet its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The Guardian learnt that the protest, which began on Sunday, May 16, 2020 and lasted till Tuesday, snowballed into chaos where some youths hijacked the rally and attacked Diete-Spiff, during a meeting with the protesters.

It was also learnt that after soldiers attached to Diete-Spiff, a former military administrator of old Rivers State took him to the palace, the mob still proceeded to attack there.

We learnt that the mob destroyed some property, while a soldier, who tried to disperse the mob, shot one of the protesters on the leg.

Responding to the incident, the Brass chapter of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) condemned the attack on Diete-Spiff, saying it would not condone any disrespect for the monarch from indigenes or foreigners.

In statement issued by its Chairman, Hello Richard and representative of the Ijaw clan, Benjamin Tustin, the group said: “Our attention has been drawn to the shooting of a protester by a military personnel during a peaceful protest by the people of Twon Brass Kingdom in Brass Council against Agip.

“From our findings, the protest, triggered into chaos after some persons hijacked it and started fomenting trouble in the process, which eventually led to the attack on Diete-Spiff.

“We further learnt that while trying to protect the monarch, a soldier shot one of the protesters in the leg and the situation generated tension in the community. The shooting took place when some persons hijacked the protest and destroyed part of the palace.”

The group stressed that it had become expedient that the leadership of Brass Clan of IYC should appeal to the people of Brass Kingdom to remain calm and urged security agencies to find

Police Forced Jonathan To Concede Defeat In 2015 — Former IGP

Former Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has disclosed that the police forced the then President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat and congratulate the then President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, Daily Trust is reporting.
Jonathan, who flew the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party, had while the results of the election were still being announced by the then Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, conceded defeat and congratulated Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Suleiman said he was under pressure from the stalwarts of the PDP to compromise the 2015 elections.
He told the newspaper: “Thank God that in our own case, we forced those who lost elections to accept the results.
“The Nigeria Police forced those who lost elections to accept the outcome.
“I said the Nigeria Police, I didn’t say Suleiman Abba.
“It was the action of the police that made them have a change of mind and accept the results.
“The heroes of that election should have been the police.”
Jonathan had since then been claiming accolades for his decision to accept defeat.
He had on several occasions described himself as a true democrat for the move.
Other Stories

Breaking: Gov. Tambuwal Dumps APC For PDP

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has dumped the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party.
The governor made his position known at a news conference in Sokoto.
Tambuwal defected to APC in 2014 while he was the Speaker of House of Representatives.
Hundreds of his supporters who stormed the Government House to witness his declaration cheered him on.
Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, becomes the third sitting governor to quit the APC in the last two weeks.
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, was the first to do last week.
Ortom also joined the PDP.
The Kwara State Governor, abdulfatah Ahmed, also dumped the party on Tuesday.
This followed the exit of his principal and President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Their protege and National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, followed suit on Wednesday.

Why I Defected To PDP-Saraki

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party. PDP, on Tuesday cited provocation, ridicule and persecution as reasons for his decision.

Saraki, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday, said he decided to defect to a party that would give him and his political supporters, sense of belonging.
He said: “This is not a decision that I have made lightly.
“If anything at all, I have tarried for so long and did all that was humanly possible, even in the face of great provocation, ridicule and flagrant persecution, to give opportunity for peace, reconciliation and harmonious existence.

Other Stories

APC  Members Defect To PDP

“Perhaps, more significantly, I am mindful of the fact that I carry on my shoulder a great responsibility for thousands of my supporters, political associates and friends, who have trusted in my leadership and have attached their political fortunes to mine.
“However, it is after an extensive consultation with all the important stakeholders that we have come to this difficult but inevitable decision to pitch our political tent elsewhere.
“Where we could enjoy greater sense of belonging and where the interests of the greatest number of our Nigerians would be best served.

 

“While I take full responsibility for this decision, I will like to emphasise that it is a decision that has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC.
“Forces who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.”

The president of the senate said those forces did everything to ensure that basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among various elements within the party were disregarded.

He added that all governance principles required for a healthy functioning of the party and government were deliberately violated or undermined.
He further said that all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, within the party, …

Breaking: 37 APC House Of Reps Members Defect To PDP

Thirty-seven members of the House of Reps have defected from the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers announced their defection during plenary on Tuesday.

 

The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
The Reps defected to the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress.
The defection of the Reps comes minutes after 15 senators announced theirs to the PDP and the ADC.
At the plenary presided over by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, 13 of the senators defected to the PDP, while two went to the ADC.

Just a hours ago 15 members of the APC in the Senate also defected to PDP

more to come.…

Breaking: Senate Adjourns Till September + Names Of 15 APC Senators Who Defected

The Senate on Tuesday adjourned plenary till September 26, 2018.
The adjournment was preceded by the announcement of the defection of 15 senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Those who defected included Soji Akanbi, Lanre Tejuosho, Monsurat Summonu, Sha’aba Lafiagi, Isa Misau, Nafada Bayero, Rafiu Ibrahim, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Dino Melaye, Suleiman Hunkuyi.

Others were Nazif Suleiman, Ubali Shitu, Abdul-azeez Murtala-Nyako, Barnabas Gemade and Abdullahi Danbaba.

The defection came on a day the houses of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, were invaded by operatives of the Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Nigeria Police.

So also was it the day Ekweremadu by a letter dated July 24, 2018 (today) was invited by the EFCC to report for questioning on the same day at 10am.
The letter was signed by the EFCC’s Director of Operations, Mohammed Abba Umar.

Saraki was also scheduled to appear before the Intelligence Response Unit of the Nigeria Police based on an invitation personally signed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
However, his convoy was initially blocked by the operatives who stormed his residence at Lake Chad junction in Abuja.

Saraki himself moved the motion for the adjournment till September 26.
It was seconded by Gemade.…

Fayose To Fayemi: I Remain Governor Till October 16

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has told the Governor-elect of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that he remains governor of the state until his tenure expires on October 16, 2018 and as such has the right to take actions in exercise of his duties, including employments, until that day.
Fayose said this in response to the warning issued by Fayemi over plans by the governor to embark on employments meant to cripple the incoming administration.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “We have watched with amusement the way and manner the beneficiaries of the Ekiti electoral robbery have been running their mouths in the last few days and we have opted to react to their advertisements of expertise in political comedy.
“The last time that we checked, Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose was still the governor of Ekiti State and he remains the governor till October 16, 2018.
“Governor Fayose will carry out all the functions of his office till October 16 and if there is need to employ workers, he will do so legally and no one can prevent him.
“This is more so that the process of employing 2,000 workers had commenced even before the July 14 election.
“Therefore, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his team of desperately ignorant team should wait till October 16 before kicking off their usual anti people policies.
“Also, we advice Fayemi and his men to rather concentrate on how to defend the false electoral victory awarded to them by the powers that be in Abuja instead of this daily display of idiocy.”

Breaking: 15 APC Senators Defect To PDP

Fifteen of the senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The announcement of the defection was made by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, during plenary on Tuesday.


Among those who indicated interest to defect were Dino Melaye, Barnabas Gemade, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Lanre Tejuoso, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Abdullahi Danbaba, Mohammed Isa Haman and Nafada Usman Bayero.
The defection came on a day the houses of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, were invaded by operatives of the Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Nigeria Police.

So also was it the day Ekweremadu by a letter dated July 24, 2018 (today) was invited by the EFCC to report for questioning on the same day at 10am.
The letter was signed by the EFCC’s Director of Operations, Mohammed Abba Umar.…

PDP To Change Name, Summons Emergency Meeting

There were reports on Sunday that the Peoples Democratic Party was considering a change of name.
This was further fuelled with the decision of the party to summon an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee for Monday.
The invitation for the meeting was sent out on Sunday.
It is scheduled to hold on Monday at 4pm at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.
The notice of the meeting, signed by the National Secretary of the party, Senator Umaru Tsauri, was, however, silent on the agenda of the meeting.
Umar in the notice said the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, enjoined all members to attend.

Ekiti House Rejects Governorship Election Results

New story reaching us on the ekiti elections.
Members of the Ekiti House of Assembly have condemned and rejected the result of the July 14, 2018 governorship election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Speaking at the House plenary in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Leader of Business, Hon. Akinyele Olatunji, described the process leading to the election and final result as unfortunate.
Akinyele condemned the alleged harassment of the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party across the state and members of the state Assembly by security men.
The Chairman House Committee on information, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, said the election of July 14, 2018 did not meet up with all democratic credentials.
Omotosho pointed out that the election was marred by outright brigandage, vote buying and falsification of results.
In his contribution, the Deputy Whip of the Assembly, Hon. Ekundayo Akinleye, remarked that the outcome of the July 14 governorship election had shown that Nigerians should not expect free and fair election in the 2019 general elections.
Akinleye pointed out that there were discrepancies in the final figures released by INEC.
In his reaction, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwawole, described the election as a show of shame, with thugs and security men openly working for the opposition All Progressives Congress.
Oluwawole said figures were brazenly doubled to favour the declared winner, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and expressed confidence that the stolen mandate would soon be retrieved.
The contribution of members at the plenary led to the passage of an eight-point resolution by the House.
The resolutions included that the election was heavily militarised with palpable fear on the faces of the electorate; that the security agencies compromised to the bidding of the APC; that the APC induced voters with money with connivance of the security agencies.
Others were ballot snatching by APC thugs, while PDP supporters were molested and chased out of the polling booths and collation centre in open glare of security

ADC Boasts Of 2m Members In Oyo, Vows To Dislodge APC

Chief Layiwola Olakojo, the Oyo State Coordinator of the African Democratic Congress, claims the party has two million members that will make it win the 2019 governorship election in the state over APC.

The ADC chieftain made this claim at a news conference on Tuesday in Ibadan.
However, Olakojo did not provide a register of the party or any proof of its membership to verify the claim.
He said the party would avoid the mistakes of both Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress in choosing its governorship candidate.
“We’re going to do everything within our power, with the help of God, to take control of Oyo government come 2019,” he said.

Olakojo also said the party would work hard to defeat the governing party at the centre and form the government next year, though he was uncertain about the party’s presidential candidate.
He said: “We are already on ground in Oyo State and you will see that in the whole of Oyo State today, ADC is the only party on ground.
“Others are nowhere to be found because of internal crisis.
“As far as we are concerned, we’re solidly on ground.
“Since April 28 that we held our town hall meeting, we decided to welcome the Unity Forum into our fold because they are very powerful segment of the APC in Oyo State.
“We make sure that we work together and I want to assure you that working together has made ADC a very strong political party.
“I want to assure you that by the special grace of God, we are doing everything possible to ensure that ADC controls the government of Oyo State next year.
“We will do everything within our plan, by the grace of God.
“We cannot do anything without God’s support.
“With the collective effort of our members and support of the good people of Oyo State, victory is ours.”
The ADC chieftain, who was Secretary to the State Government in the Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala-led PDP government, explained that a seven member congress committee has …

Ekiti Gubernatorial: We Will Not Disappoint Nigerians — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner on Monday said the hopes and expectations of Nigerians on the Ekiti gubernatorial election which comes up in two week time will not be dashed.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commission’s top officials, on a visit to the state, gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti, saying there would be no room for failure in the poll.
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states, Solomon Soyebi, and his counterpart in charge of Election Operations and Logistics, Amina Zakari, gave the declaration at a Pre-Election Preparation workshop organised for Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers and Head of Departments.
Soyebi said the workshop was to tidy up things as every polling unit must be opened by 7am.
He said: “There will be no room for excuses. Any Local Government where this happen, the Electoral Office will be responsible.
“You must share responsibilities with your assistants to avoid one-man show. You must also watch your utterances so as to safeguard the integrity of the exercise.”
Also speaking, Zakari debunked an allegation by Governor Ayo Fayose that she had been hired by the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to rig the election in favour of APC.
She challenged the governor and the Peoples Democratic Party to back their allegations with evidence, saying it was not possible for an individual to rig an election.
She said: “They should prove that beyond reasonable doubt. I doubt it if an individual can rig an election when there are over 20,000 personnel to conduct the election.
“They should back their allegation with fact and figures. We (INEC) have nothing to hide. I see no reason why INEC would want to go back to bad old days. We are moving forward as we remained focused  to ensure a credible election that Nigeria will be proud of.”
Zakari said the workshop would review work done so far and to expose officials to new ideas, processes and approach to a successful conduct of the election.…

TB Joshua Foresees Interruption Of Nigeria’s Democracy, Calls For Prayer

Pastor T.B. Joshua of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria has called for urgent prayers for Nigeria against “interruption of the democratic practice” in the nation.
Speaking to congregants on Sunday during a service beamed live via the Christian television network, Emmanuel TV, the cleric stated he had received a revelation concerning Nigeria on three different occasions, prompting him to make it public.
Joshua said: “I was in my vision and God told me to tell the nation and leaders to pray against the interruption of the democratic practice.
“The President’s heart is like a stream of water in the hands of God and He can control it whenever He wants.”
Speaking in his customary parabolic fashion, Joshua then reminded congregants of the prophecy he gave in 2016 where he candidly stated Nigeria’s future was “crying for help”.
“You must join me in prayer for the nation because two believers are better than one,” he stressed before enjoining congregants to rise and pray.
Worshippers then joined Joshua in asking for God to give President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s leaders “a greater understanding of God’s heart, discretion to guide their hearts, understanding that will protect them and wisdom that will rescue them”.
. Contributed by Ihechukwu Njoku, a freelance Nigerian journalist.…

Why I Quarrelled With Obasanjo – Bode George

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, has attributed his past face off with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the devil, who he said has now been put to shame.
George offered the explanation when he led 10 of his associates on a thank you visit to Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Sunday, a statement by the former president’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, revealed.
He said the rift between the two of them was over and Obasanjo remains his leader.
George’s visit to Obasanjo followed last month’s condolence visit by the former president to his former political associate when he went to commiserate with the former on the death of his son.
He said: “I have come to say thank you after visiting me last week.
“We have put the past behind and Baba will remain my leader forever.
“Only few can do that mind you.
“What happened between us is devil and the devil has been shamed.
“It is a solid reunion and I am very happy about it.”
Those who accompanied George on the visit included Chief Okanlawon Shoboyede, Elder Wole Oyelese, Dr. Remi Akitoye, Dr. Ademola Dominic, Emmanuel Da-Silva, Hon. Dare Adeleke, Captain Tunji Shelle and Abiodun Ejamai.…