Election violence fears: Nigerians who travelled abroad return

Election violence in Nigeria

Many Nigerians who travelled abroad early in the year thinking that the just concluded general elections may be trailed by violence have started returning to the country.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that they began returning to the country after the April 25 rerun in three states where the April 11 governorship elections were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

One of them, Mrs. Beatrice Adekayero, who left Nigeria with her three children for the United States on January 7, 2015, told one of our correspondents on her return to the country that the fear of violence actually made her husband to relocate the family abroad. Asked if she engaged in any job while in the US to sustain the family, the wife of the Ekiti State-based politician said her husband had made financial provision that took care of the family’s needs abroad.

Adekayero, however, admitted that the peaceful conduct of the elections necessitated her return.

Another Nigerian, Mrs. Josephine Anipupo, whose husband owns an auto shop in Apapa area of Lagos State, returned to the country early in the week. Anipupo said she was constantly calling home to find out the situation of things.

According to her, she heaved a sigh of relief after the elections.

She said her husband decided to relocate the family abroad following a report that listed some states where violence was likely to occur during the polls.

Mr. Uche Okondu is a Lagos-based businessman who also returned on April 2, 2015, a day after the final result of the presidential election was announced.

Okondu said he did not need to wait till after the governorship election since the presidential poll was peaceful.

Some commercial cab operators confirmed to one of our correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos the return of Nigerians who travelled abroad in the build-up to the general elections had boosted their business.

One of the motorists, Peter Ola, said, “It is boom time for us, no doubt. Before the elections, you needed to come and see how people were running out of the country. When I asked some of my few customer that period, they told me they were not willing to die in any election-related crisis. But thank God there’s no serious crisis. The way many of them sounded, it was as if they saw a vision or had premonitions that there would be problems.

“I carried one family also who told me they were on their way to the United States to stay with a family for the period. As God would have it, I collected their contacts so they could call me to carry them from the airport on their arrival back to Lagos. It was last week they returned. They told me they shouldn’t have travelled. It is like they regretted it. Many more are coming back and we will gladly receive them back. It’s my business to do that and make more money.”

Another cab operator, who simply identified himself as Chuks, said he had made more money before, during and after the election period than all the money he made in the second half of last year.

He said, “In fact, immediately after the presidential election, people started returning. You know the March 28 election was the major one people thought would lead to crisis, but for the peace that reigned, some of those who travelled saw no reason to have done so. But that’s not my problem. It’s been a profitable period ever since.

“I have made much more money during the election period alone than during the last half of last year. People really travelled out of the country this year and in the same manner, they are flocking back. We are happy. I am happy.”

it had been reported before the elections that some apprehensive politicians, many chief executive officers/ chairmen of companies, top businessmen and wealthy Nigerians started moving their families out of Nigeria in a bid to avoid being caught up in violence that might erupt after the general elections.

One killed, 2,000 evacuated as rainstorms batter central China

One person was killed and nearly 2,000 were evacuated as of 9 a.m. Saturday as heavy rains lashed parts of central China’s Hunan Province, said the provincial flood control authority.

From Thursday, rainstorms battered the western and middle areas of Hunan, including the capital city of Changsha. A maximum rainfall of 69mm an hour was recorded in Pingba Township of Guzhang County at 6 a.m., said the Hunan Provincial Flood Control Headquarters.

The rain has affected over 25,000 people, disrupting traffic and flooding farmlands.

It is forecast that the weather will last until May 6. Meteorologists warn of landslides.

Troops rescue additional 234 women, children

Some of the rescued women and children ...on Thursday

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a statement on Friday that the women and children were rescued by troops at the Kawuri and Kondua axis of the Sambisa Forest.The troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued an additional 234 women and children from the Sambisa Forest.

Olukolade said that the latest batch of rescued women and children had been moved to join those rescued earlier for screening.

The military rescued 293 ladies comprising 200 girls and 93 women on Tuesday and another 160 women and children comprising 60 women and 100 children on Wednesday.

He said “Another set of 234 women and children were rescued through the Kawuri and Konduga end of Sambisa forest on Thursday.

“They have been evacuated to join others at the place of ongoing screening. This set in addition to the previous individuals earlier rescued during the ongoing operation in the area.

“The assault on the forest is continuing from various fronts and efforts are concentrated on rescuing hostages of civilians and destroying all terrorists’ camps and facilities in the forest.”

We must question sources of rich Nigerians’ wealth –Osinbajo

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

The Vice-President-elect, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday explained how the Muhammadu Buhari administration would prosecute the anti-graft war, saying that Nigerians must question sources of wealth of the rich.

Osinbajo, while delivering the keynote address at the Abuja edition of The Platform, said the incoming administration would ensure zero tolerance for corruption by reforming the Justice system.

He said within the last few years, what the country had experienced was a situation where people got away with corrupt practices, noting that going forward; the incoming government would make sure that corrupt people suffer the consequences of their actions.

He said when people are made to suffer the consequences of corrupt practices; it would send a strong message to everyone that the era of looting of the treasury was over

He said, “We have always talked about zero tolerance for corruption but it is also important that people are made to understand that there will be consequence for corruption.

“What we have seen so far is that there is hardly any consequence and people simply get away with it and if you get away with it often, it sends a message to everyone that there is no problem, and we need to fix that whole thinking that there has to be a consequence for corrupt practices.

“People have to explain, for instance, if you are a public servant, that how come you have 50 houses. Somebody needs to ask you those questions and some of the reasons people get away with that is our criminal justice system.”

He said in view of the fact that the incoming administration would be taking the fight against corruption seriously, one of the reforms that would first be carried out is in the judicial system.

The Vice-President- elect said the nation’s judicial system as presently constituted was slow, adding that this had made it easy for people to get away with criminal acts.

He said, “Our criminal justice system needs to be fixed. The system is slow and it almost always ensures that people who have been charged with offenses would not be tried forever and after a while people forget that people are on trial.

“We have to fix that criminal justice system to ensure that criminal trials are speedy and that anyone who is guilty of an offense will be punished for that offense.

“So there are so many initiatives around what we need to do in that area. The United States has 300 million people and they have 2.2 million people in jail. We have 170 million people and we have convicted people of just 12,000.

“Now if you add those awaiting trials, it comes to about 50,000 but actual convicted people are just 12,000. Truly it shows you that there is a failure somewhere of our criminal justice system, practically every one of us knows somebody who has stolen something.

“The truth is that the system of protection, investigation and trial of people is wrong and the truth is that everybody gets away with criminality in Nigeria and I think there is a need for us to review the system such that it begins to work.”

In the area of policing, Osinbajo said a country as big as that of Nigeria needed community policing.

He said it would be difficult for the Nigerian Police Force in its present form to fight crime in an effective manner owing to what he described as structural problems.

He said, “We need to look at law and order. The question of policing our society, how do we police this country? At the moment we know that policing is ineffective.

“If the police want to deal with the criminals, you and I know that they are hampered from doing so, they are hampered structurally, they are hampered by the fact that they are not as well equipped as they ought to be, and they are not resourced as they ought to be but the structural problem is the major one.

“A country of this size needs some form of community policing because criminality is always local, we need to have policemen who understand the local language, who live in the local community, who understand the language. So there is logic in it to have community policing.”

The event powered by Covenant Christian Centre had the theme: “Business and governance.”

Corruption: Buhari to revisit past probe panel reports – Those indicted may refund public funds

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari

The incoming administration of the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is set to revisit the reports of panels set up by the National Assembly to investigate various financial scandals in Federal Government’s agencies and ministries.

Saturday PUNCH gathered in Abuja, on Friday, that top among reports that the administration would examine include the fuel subsidy and N255m bulletproof cars scam probes by the House of Representatives as well as the pension scandal investigation by the Senate.

It was gathered that Buhari’s pronouncement that he would take another look at the missing $20bn was a precursor to the administration’s desire to retrieve illegally held public funds.

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, now Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, had alleged that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation did not account for $20bn due to be remitted to the Federation Account.

A competent source close to Buhari, who pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the general knew that he had limited time within which to turn around the nation, as such, he had no intention of wasting public funds on endless probes.

This, it was gathered, informed a tentative decision by the incoming administration, not to embark on fresh probes, but review reports and recommendations of “compelling” cases handled by the National Assembly.

Also, a top member of the All Progressives Congress, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said, with the current fuel scarcity, it had become necessary for the administration to examine the fuel subsidy regime.

The APC chieftain said that the administration would find the report of the House of Representatives’ investigation into fuel subsidy in 2012 useful.

He said, “For now, we have decided not to comment on the issues of probes so as not to heat up the transition, but what I can tell you is that we will not encourage the culture of impunity.

“With the fuel scarcity in many parts of the country, the report of the House of Representatives investigation will be among those to be examined. We suspect that there is massive fraud in the fuel subsidy.”

According to him, the incoming administration will not dissipate energy embarking on fresh probes.

He explained that the administration would look at ways of implementing recommendations of panels set up by the National Assembly.

The APC top member stated, “If you recall, during the campaigns, any time he (Buhari) accused the outgoing administration of corrupt tendencies, he made reference to recommendations contained in reports which he said, the Jonathan administration, has shown a lack of political will to implement.

“What you are likely to see happening is a revisit of investigations into scandals such as the missing $20bn, the pension funds and the fuel subsidy. Where reports recommend that individuals refund public funds, these funds must be refunded.

“Where they recommend that individuals or institutions be prosecuted, that will be done.

“The anti-graft agencies will be repositioned to perform the functions for which they were established. It is certainly not going to be business as usual.”

The insider also referred Saturday PUNCH to what the President-elect said about his approach to fighting the scourge of corruption, during his presentation at Chatham House, London, shortly before the elections.

Buhari had during the lecture said, “On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt people will not be appointed into my administration.

“First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only.

“Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference.”

When contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, he was not in a position to comment on policy issues.

He said, “…Even on the issue of the missing $20bn which he (Buhari) was reported to have said he would take a look at, I was not at the event. Our concern now is to ensure a seamless transfer of power.”

Following the nationwide protests that greeted the move by the Jonathan administration to remove fuel subsidy in January 2012, the House of Representatives set up an ad hoc committee which investigated the management of the subsidy regime.

The House in April 2012 approved recommendations of its Ad Hoc Committee on Monitoring of the Subsidy Regime.

Among others, the panel recommended that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency and 72 other firms refund N1.07tn said to have been fraudulently paid to oil marketers.

To be part of the refund is also the Office of the Accountant–General, which allegedly paid N127.8bn within 24 hours to unknown beneficiaries. The AGF paid N999m 28 times in one day to the “unknown entities.”

All members of staff of the NNPC, PPPRA and DPR involved in the processing of applications for fuel imports were recommended for investigation for “negligence, collusion and fraud.”

Another report, which Saturday PUNCH gathered would attract the attention of the incoming administration, is the N255m car scam that led to the removal of the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

Although the President removed Oduah as recommended by the House, it was gathered that the APC leaders believed that there were other aspects of the report that should be implemented.

Oduah was accused of approving expenditure of over N643m for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to procure 54 vehicles.

The House noted that the approval exceeded her limit as approval limit as a minister which was N100m.

The NCAA purchased two bulletproof BMW cars at the cost of N255m without the approval of the National Assembly.

The House further recommended the ministry and the NCAA to terminate all the transactions relating to the bulletproof cars because they “were neither provided for in the Appropriation Act, 2013, nor was due process followed in their procurement.”

In addition to terminating the transactions, the House ordered that “all money so far spent on the entire transactions should be recovered by the Ministry of Finance and paid back into the Consolidated Fund of the Federation.”

The House faulted the diversion of waivers meant for other purposes to import the bulletproof cars and asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to “investigate the chassis number (DW68032) of one of the vehicles on the one reported to have been delivered and the one inspected by the committee members.

It also asked the EYCK to “investigate and if found wanting, prosecute all persons/institutions involved in the transactions.”

Coscharis Nigeria Limited, which supplied the controversial cars, was not left out.

The House directed that the company should be investigated on the “issue of waiver” and also to determine the “exact cost of the two BMW vehicles.”

It also ordered the company to pay the value of the waiver to the Federal Government.

Attempts to get an official reaction from the APC were unsuccessful.

Phone calls to the mobile telephone number of the party’s national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were neither picked nor replied. A response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report 8:05pm.

Pay our six months’ salary, doctors tell Aregbesola

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola-

The Nigeria Medical Association has accused Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, of deliberately denying workers their six months’ salaries.

The Chairman of NMA Action Committee in the state, Dr. R.A. Adebayo, said in a letter to the governor and a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Friday, that the governor had collected up to March, 2015 allocation but he refused to pay doctors and other workers.

NMA also alleged that Aregbesola had deliberately made himself unavailable for dialogue with the association over the issue.

It said a meeting called at the instance of the state Head of Service with the National President of NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, and the Chairman of NMA in Oyo State branch, Dr. M.B Olatunji, based on the ultimatum given to Osun State Government led to many “discoveries.”

The association said, “Despite the non-payment of six months salaries to doctors and other civil servants in Osun, contractors and political office holders have been the beneficiaries of the available revenue accrued to our state from the federation account.

“Our association therefore concluded that the non-payment of six months salaries to our members as well as other civil servants is not a matter of government inability but unwillingness to pay.”

The NMA, however, accused the governor of paying political appointees who they said earned jumbo pay while workers who were paid peanuts were left to suffer.

The association therefore called on Argebsola to pay workers’ salaries without further delay, saying the governor should be held responsible for any action taken by doctors if their salaries were not paid.

But Agebesola blamed the alleged mishandling of the nation’s resources for the inability to pay workers regularly.

In a statement sent to our correspondent by his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said, “With transparent handling of national resources, the days of revenue crisis in Nigeria will soon be over and workers will once again be assured of their place of priority. We are committed to furthering our achievements in Osun State as far as the welfare of workers is concerned.”

Politics will not affect my marriage –Moji Lawal

Princess Moji Lawal,

Does it feel like a dream that you would become a member of the house of assembly in Lagos State come May 29?

No, it doesn’t feel like a dream. But then, I wouldn’t say I was sure I was going to win in the last election; it was actually a 50/50 thing. I knew I had done all I should do. I had spoken to the people and I had reached out to them long before I even decided to contest. I knew the results could go either way. I started with the mindset that whichever way it went, I would have something to fall back on. My major aim has always been to promote my community and take care of my people. If I hadn’t gone into politics or if I hadn’t won, I still would have done something to promote my community. I don’t see politics as a career. It is those who see it as a career that usually run into problems.

How were you able to clinch the ticket during the primaries?

It was a free and fair election. It was open. We had over 100 delegates.

But what could have lured a young lady like you into politics?

It is a thing of the mind. I would also say that politics is in my blood. My dad was a councillor in 1965 even before he became the traditional ruler. I would say politics is something I enjoy doing, I just love it.

So that means your family supported you to get into politics…

My dad is late. How I wish he was alive to witness all this. I grew up in a palace and in the palace, you have all sorts of politics going on there. I learnt a lot while I was growing up.

Would you agree that some people would have the perception that you might have slept with one or two people for you to have got to this stage?

Sure. It is a free world. Those who know me well would also know what I can do. They would also know that I always know what I want in life. It is not about having any godfather out there.

Are you saying you don’t have a godfather?

I don’t have any. If I tell you I have never met Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, you may likely not believe me. I actually met him for the first time a day after my election. That was the day Ambode was declared the winner of the Lagos State governorship election. I purposely didn’t go to see him.

But was it easy all the way?

It wasn’t that easy. It sure wasn’t a child’s play. But one thing that could have worked for me was that I am the first female aspirant in Apapa constituency. I think the feminine edge worked for me. Also, the fact that I am a young person worked for me. The youth supported me.

Were you into activism when you were in the university?

No, I wasn’t really. I would just sit back and watch what was happening. But I was part of the people who would determine the candidate to support. I didn’t come out fully then. But now, I just want to give back something to my constituency. People have a lot of perception about politics. We hear a lot of things about politics. But I would just advise that you listen to people but don’t react to everything you hear. If I had reacted to everything I heard about politics, I may not have been here today. You just listen and pick one or two things that make sense to you. My mindset is that politics is not a do or die affair. I knew I would either win or lose. To me, it wasn’t going to be a big deal as long as I didn’t go to the bank to borrow money for the campaign. Those who borrow money are the kind of people who would do all sorts to win so that they would be able to service their loans. I didn’t go to another person’s territory, I started from my village. My family is known. It was a platform I also rode on.

So how did you get the funds since you didn’t borrow money from the bank?

I got a lot of support from my friends and well wishers. In fact, my friends in the other parties still supported me. They even made souvenirs for me. They know the kind of person I am.

Can you tell us a bit about growing up?

I lived a normal life when I was growing up. I attended public schools when I was growing up. I will not tell anybody I didn’t have shoes when I was growing up. I don’t need to have any experience to know where the shoe pinches. I live around my people and I know what happens on a daily basis. Growing up was interesting. I had everything a child needed to have. There was nothing special about my growing up days. There is nothing special in being a princess. We go to the same market as every other person.

Your father could have afforded to send you abroad to study, why did you go to public schools in Nigeria?

I went to primary and secondary schools in Surulere. I also attended Lagos State University. I wouldn’t know why my parents didn’t let me study abroad. I didn’t ask for it anyway. Maybe they saw something that would eventually keep me here in Nigeria. I didn’t feel any different from the girl next door. We all went to school with the school bus my dad provided for the community. Even after the primaries, people told me I needed security around me. I told them I didn’t have to do that. Getting security attached to me is just exposing myself. Why can’t I walk like a normal person on the streets of Lagos? I have never wanted to live that kind of life. I always prefer to stay at home. The maximum I can do is to go to the cinema and watch a movie. I don’t do parties. I think it is one of the things that have worked for me to remain focused. I don’t have many friends. In fact, I don’t really have friends.

Don’t you think not being social can affect you politically?

I don’t think so. I meet those who are important for me to meet. I just cannot dress up and be roaming the streets of Lagos just because I want people to notice me.

But there must have been times you dropped your father’s name at some point in order to get favours…

The funniest thing is that my siblings use the full name, Lawal-Akapo as their surname. I just decided to end mine at Lawal. I don’t want to ride on any name. I want to make my own name. That has always been my philosophy.

You are not married yet?

I would say I am engaged. We have done the introduction ceremony and we have also gone to the registry. My wedding would be later this year.

How do you intend to combine your new marriage and politics?

They are two different things. My fiancé is also a career person. He has his private business, so I think it will work out well for us. I have never been married. But I think it all depends on the kind of relationship you have with your spouse. I know what he is capable of doing. I know what makes him happy. He is aware that my career is dear to me. I am passionate about my future. He is in support of what I am doing.

But would you have time to cook for him and take care of the home?

We don’t live together yet but I go there on weekends. I always do the cooking any time I go there. You might say I don’t have much to do now but then, I know I will certainly cope when the time comes. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it.

How easy was it for you to choose him as your husband? People might think he came to you because of your father’s status.

I didn’t just know him. We have been together for a long time. He has been a friend of the house. I had known him even before we started having a relationship. I don’t see him as somebody who is with me because of my name. He comes from a popular family too.

Since your father married more than one wife, what kind of relationship did you have with your step siblings while growing up?

I give it to my father; he took charge of his family very well. You could hardly differentiate who came from whose mother. My siblings were even my agents during the election. We are just one happy family. If I didn’t trust them, I wouldn’t have allowed them to be my agents and if they didn’t believe in me, they wouldn’t have supported me all through. We have been together for years.

Do you intend to go higher than this in politics?

Of course I will. This is just a stepping stone. During my campaign, I told my people I wasn’t coming to do roads and give them water and electricity. It is not my job. Some people may not have liked what I said but I was saying the truth. As a legislator, my primary assignment is simply lawmaking. I need to make laws that would protect my people. But I can influence things that I know my people need.

Were you harassed sexually during your campaign by the bigwigs who may have told you they would help you if only you could sleep with them?

That was why I didn’t start from the top. I went to the grassroots; I wanted my people, the ones who I eat together with, to be the ones to determine my fate. That was what happened. The election was free and fair.

Policeman kills lover, colleague for cheating

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase

A jealous policeman has taken his own life after killing his lover and a colleague over alleged cheating.

The lady, who sold GSM recharge cards, was said to be double-dating the two policemen.

Investigations showed that the tragic incident took place at the popular CBN Junction in Karu, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday.

The killer cop, a sergeant, was said to be the primary lover of the deceased lady.

However, his colleague working with him on the same police patrol team, also started dating the lady without his knowledge.

Sources, however, told Saturday PUNCH that the bubble burst when the sergeant got wind of the development and went to confront his girlfriend.it was gathered that in the ensuing drama and argument, the jealous sergeant shot the lady twice in the chest

As onlookers tried to come to terms with the unfolding incident, the sergeant again shot his colleague dead.

Having certified that the two were dead, he reportedly turned the the gun on himself.

An eyewitness, Mr. Bature Iliya, who said he was using the Automated Teller Machine of a commercial bank just across the road when the incident occurred, told that he still could not believe what he saw.

He said, “They were shouting and arguing. The sergeant was visibly angry, telling the lady why she had to treat him that way.

“The other policeman was a Corporal. He was standing there as the two argued. Suddenly, he shot the lady, then killed the colleague. Within seconds, he also shot himself dead. It was like a scene from a movie.”

Crowds still gathered at the scene on Friday, discussing the incident. Some wondered why someone would take lives because a lady cheated on him.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manzah could not be reached for comment as he didn’t respond to calls to his phone. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him.

APC chieftain ‘slaps’ Enugu gov candidate over ministerial slot

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State, Okey Ezea

The alleged incident happened on Thursday during a meeting of South-East APC leaders at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.A major crisis has hit the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State after report emerged on Friday that the APC National Vice-Chairman, South-East, Mr. Emma Eneukwu, allegedly slapped the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Okey Ezea, following an argument over ministerial slot in the forthcoming Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

It was gathered that the closed-door meeting was chaired by Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and had Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen. J. O. J. Okoloagu (retd.), and others in attendance.

Ezea disclosed the development in a text message that was forwarded to journalists in Enugu on Friday.

Apparently, the meeting discussed the sharing of key appointments as Ezea, in the SMS, said Eneukwu slapped him because he (Ezea) told the South-East leaders that Nsukka zone, where he hailed from, should produce the minister.

He accused Eneukwu, who is from Udi, Enugu West Senatorial Zone, of wanting the ministerial slot for himself and trying to actualise the ambition through violence.

The text message read, “Emma Eneukwu slapped me today because I told South-East leaders that Nsukka has not been minister since 1999.

“He did this before Rochas, Ngige, Izunaso, J. O. J, Gen. Eze, Ucha etc.

“I just said the truth and requested justice and equity in the affairs of our party and Enugu State.

“Emma (Eneukwu) wants to be minister by violence. Emma is from Udi Local Government Area which has been producing minister since 2007, including the incumbent, Chinedu Nebo.”

When our correspondent contacted him on the telephone afterwards, Ezea confirmed that the text message actually emanated from him.

But Eneukwu denied slapping Ezea, adding that such incident never happened.

He said, “I am surprised about that, nothing like that happened, I am very surprised.

“That story is alien to me; I don’t know anything about it.

“Maybe it is a calculated attempt to mar my image. I didn’t attack anybody, I am not a thug. I don’t fight.”

Asked what transpired at the said meeting, he said, “We went to see Buhari, that was all I knew. “Nobody was talking about appointment.

“We will not be talking about appointment when the party has not decided on the positions that should come to the zone. We have not known the positions allocated to the zone.”

Our correspondent gathered that the alleged incident has thrown the Enugu State chapter of the party into confusion.

Some party members, who our correspondent sighted at the party’s state secretariat in Enugu, discussed the incident in hushed tones.

But they refused to comment on the matter when our correspondent sought their views.

Influential women to watch in Buhari’s govt

Aishat Buhari

The forthcoming Gen. Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government will, like the current administration, parade many women believed to be influential, FISAYO FALODIwrites

The outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan boasts of an array of influential women, who command much respect even among their male counterparts. Apart from the President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, who pundit said was always interested in official matters and those who get elective and appointive positions, it was said that the influence of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, made Jonathan’s administration popular.

The two ministers currently head sensitive ministries in Jonathan’s government.

Likewise, the inauguration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s new President on May 29 will throw up another set of influential women. Some of the women were believed to have invested their energy in the March 28 pre-election campaigns in which the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate won.

The women, parading what may be described as robust credentials, braved all odds to contest in elections like their male counterparts to represent the people of their various political constituencies or districts.

A few of them, according to observers, will wield a lot of influence in the incoming administration by the virtue of their positions as the wives of the President or vice-president, while others will hold sway because of the offices they occupy in the APC executive committee.

Aisha Buhari

The 44-year-old wife of the President-elect, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, will automatically become the country’s new First Lady on May 29 after her husband’s inauguration.

The Adamawa State born cosmetologist attended the famous Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration.

Though some people have described the member of the United Kingdom Vocational Training and Charitable Trust and the International Health and Beauty Council as an introvert, she is said to be a consummate politician and strong believer in the project Nigeria. The alumnus of the famous Carlton Institute of London and the Academy Esthetique Beauty Institute of France did tell everyone during the pre-election campaigns that her husband, if elected, would give women opportunities to contribute to the development of the country.

Hajiya Buhari demonstrated her passion for the development of Nigerian women at a campaign rally recently in Edo State, where she assured women that her husband would initiate policies that would guarantee their improved living standard.

She said, “I am here to let Edo women know that when my husband is elected into office as President, insecurity, the girl-child trafficking, the plight of the widows in the South-East will be looked into.

“There must be a cultural design that can accommodate the widow. A design that would make the girl-child comfortable wherever she is in this country.

“The portion of the girl-child is to have a high standard and moral society for her to live in, get married, have children, train them and also mould them to become future leaders.”

Dolapo Osinbajo

Little was known about Dolapo Osinbajo until her husband emerged as the APC vice-presidential candidate.

The grand-child of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is the leader of the Ladies Fellowship of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus House Paris, Banana Island, Lagos.

Described as humble and submissive wife by those who are close to her family, she supported her husband in 2007 to establish “The Orderly Society Trust,” a non- governmental organisation dedicated to the promotion of Christian ethics and orderliness.

While others sought political offices to touch the people’s lives, Mrs. Osinbajo yearned for a different avenue to reach the larger society, especially the poor. She therefore wrote and launched a book, “They Call Me Mama.”

She said the drive to write the book came from her experiences with some “street boys and men in Lagos State.” According to her, she aims to use the proceeds from the book to sustain her efforts in getting the street urchins off the roads and into homes. Mrs. Osinbajo said, “My weekly visit to the boys in their hideout under the bridge for several years has filled me with unforgettable stories. Reminiscences of these times are the focus of this book. Our original meeting spot which was lovingly referred to as ‘Under’, today; it has been transformed to the Muri Okunola Park.

“To me, they are beloved children and they call me ‘Mama.’ They are lost, but can be found. That was why I was compelled to write the book and I dedicate the book to everyone who is lost.”

Remi Tinubu

The senator representing Lagos Central is an educationist, administrator, philanthropist and Officer of the Order of the Niger. She was described as exemplary First Lady of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 during which period she founded the New Era Foundation; a non-profit organisation, dedicated to youth development, girl-child education, women empowerment and inspiring youths to excellence.

It was believed that Tinubu’s re-election into the senate in the just concluded general elections would make her become more influential in the next government as she may head one of the sensitive committees in the upper legislative chambers.

Influential women to watch in Buhari’s govt

As a senator, she hosts a quarterly town hall meeting with her constituents to render accounts of her stewardship and obtain feedbacks on their developmental needs. To date, she has sponsored three bills to provide Social Security for Elderly Citizens; seek the Amendment of the Labour Act to enhance employment opportunities for women and a bill to provide Special Economic Assistance to Lagos State in view of its status as a former capital city and the commercial capital of Nigeria.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, is also considered as a force to reckon with in the forthcoming administration.

The dexterity with which she coordinated the APC presidential campaign alongside a senator-elect, Dino Melaye, had endeared her to the party.

Dabiri-Erewa was first elected into the House of Representatives to represent Ikorodu Constituency of Lagos State in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. She also won re-election in 2011.

The former Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, had sponsored a number of significant bills that were passed by the Parliament, including the Freedom of Information Bill; a bill for an act to ensure full integration of Nigerians with physical disabilities and eliminate all forms of discrimination against them; the Nigerian Infant Health Welfare Bill (ensuring every child under five receives free medical care); Nigerian Diaspora Commission Bill; a bill to repeal Nigerian Press Council Bill and replace it with the Nigerian Press and Journalism Council Bill (strengthening the NPC and promote responsible journalism and protect the welfare of journalists in Nigeria).

Dabiri-Erewa did not contest for any elective office in the just concluded general elections; observers are of the opinion that her performance as Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora as well as her activities during the APC campaign will earn her an enviable position in the incoming cabinet.

Hajiya Ramatu Aliyu

The President-General of the Global Women & Youth Empowerment Strategy will no doubt command much respect in Buhari’s administration by the virtue of her position as the APC Woman Leader.

Like her woman colleagues, Ramatu Aliyu, sunk herself in APC’s activities to ensure that the party wins the last presidential election.

Aliyu demonstrated her commitment to the party by mobilising the electorate, especially women, to collect their Permanent Voter Cards.

“The collection of the PVCs represents a veritable instrument to ensure that the people, to whom power resides, exercise their franchise in the legitimate pursuit of free choice and popular sovereignty,” Aliyu had said in a statement in Abuja.

Having capitalised on the numerical strength of Nigerian women, the APC Woman Leader told the women before the election that without the sacred power to vote in a democracy, they could hardly effect the change which they desire for the sake of their collective happiness and fulfilment.

He said, “Nigerian women constitute over 50 per cent of active voters during elections in the country. It is therefore, important that they avail themselves of the historic opportunity offered by the exercise to strengthen their electoral value and consolidate their demographic advantage, especially as we approach the 2015 general elections.

“Accordingly, I call on Nigerian women to rise in unison and ensure their active participation in the exercise. They should troop out en-mass and ensure that they collect their PVCs so that their votes will not only count but make the difference during elections.

“I urge that in the prevailing circumstance, our women should reaffirm their faith in democratic change and strengthen their resolve to enthrone good governance rooted in popular franchise, free and fair elections and robust democratic engagement.”

Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission declared that the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Darius Ishaku, won the Taraba State governorship election, the APC candidate in the poll, Senator Aisha Alhassan, has demonstrated that she is a force to reckon with.

Alhassan’s popularity grew after she defeated three male aspirants to clinch the APC governorship ticket at the party’s primary held at Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo, amid heavy security.

If Al-Hassan had won the Taraba State governorship election, she would have become the first woman to be elected governor in the political history of the country.

Al-Hassan, a lawyer by training, rose to become Taraba State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice. She was appointed the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on December 17, 2003.

After she retired from service, she won election on the PDP platform to represent Taraba North Senatorial District in 2011, but defected to APC to seek the latter’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Jay Z to perform rare songs to promote Tidal music service

Los Angeles - Jay Z is breaking out his B-sides to hype his fledgling music streaming service.

The rap mogul announced plans to unearth songs he hasn't performed in a decade or ever at a free New York concert. The performance will be held 13 May and subscribers can submit a playlist on the service to win tickets.

Jay Z took to Twitter on Sunday to defend Tidal's slow start. He co-owns the service with Beyoncé, Rihanna, Madonna and other artists. He said Tidal currently has 770 000 subscribers

"The iTunes Store wasn't built in a day," he wrote. "It took Spotify 9 years to be successful. We are here for the long haul. Please give us a chance to grow and get better."

The concert will be streamed on Tidal.com.

Here are his tweets:

Lagos - Starboy boss and singer, Wizkid has added to his  international collaborations by hitting the studio with UK band All About She. 

He shared their studio session on his Instagram page

All About She is a music group of 3 from London, England  and the trio consists of record producers, James Tadgell, Jon Clare and singer, Vanya Taylor.

 The trio are signed to Tinie Tempah‘s record label, Disturbing London, the record label has a management deal with Wizkid.

Wizkid will soon  release his  collaboration  with Chris Brown.

Instagram, favorite of artists, debuts music channel

New York - Instagram, which has quickly become a favorite social media platform for stars, on Wednesday launched a channel dedicated to music.

The account @Music a first-of-a-kind dedicated content channel run by Instagram will each week highlight an up-and-coming artist or offer a behind-the-scenes look at a more established musician.

Also read: Jay Z’s rep stops over at Chocolate City

The new account will be "dedicated to exploring music around the globe, from those who create it to the community around it," Instagram co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom wrote in a blog post.

Instagram, with its focus on visuals, has witnessed soaring growth since its launch in 2010 thanks in part to the worldwide fad of selfie pictures, the rising quality of smartphone cameras and regular user-engaging themes such as "#ThrowbackThursday."

Musicians have embraced Instagram as a way to communicate with fans, offering everything from professional photos to snapshots of their day-to-day lives.

Facebook, which has more than one billion users but has seen its growth mature, in 2012 bought Instagram for an estimated $1 billion.

Fellow social media giant Twitter has meanwhile struggled to find a strategy for music that brings in revenue.

Sunil Singhvi from Twitter's British division said this week that he would come to the US headquarters to take charge of the company's music section.

Wizkid and Samklef bury the hatchet

Starboy Entertainment C.E.O Wizkid who is always getting into feuds with his colleagues in the industry and even friends on social media.

His list which includes Saeon, Davido, Samklef and most recently Skales who was his former label mate seems to be dropping now as took to his Instagram page to confirm that he and the Caro crooner have buried the hatchet.
How did wizzy do this? He simply turned up at Samklef’s birthday party and they laughed it all out.

Here’s Samklef’s announcement on his Instagram page a few hours ago:

Why it took the ‘Molo Noni’ producer over two months to make this announcement is still a mystery to us, well thank God they are now on talking terms.

Davido acquires gold and diamond ‘OBO’ Pendant

Lagos - Singer Davido has acquired a gold and diamond plated Omo Baba Olowo(OBO) pendant.

 The HKN gang leader, Davido flaunted his new customized pendant which has ‘O.B.O’ written on it on Twitter.

The chain reportedly cost Davido millions of naira and it’s a clear masterpiece.

 Davido has confirmed the launch date of his next album-graduation day.

He said that it will be dropping on his graduation day.

Davido’s 2015 UK tour kicks off in September.

Davido will begin his official tour of the United Kingdom in September 2015 after the release of his second album that’s scheduled to drop on June 8, 2015. The tour is packaged by popular UK-based show promoter, Smade and it’ll see Davido perform in cities like Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, London and more.

Daniel Sturridge: Liverpool striker may need surgery on hip injury

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has flown to the United States to determine whether he needs surgery on an ongoing hip problem.

Sturridge has played just twice since he picked up the injury in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United on 22 March.

The 25-year-old England international will visit Dr Peter Asnis, an orthopaedic surgeon based in Boston.

Ansis has a history of working with the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise, who are also owned by Fenway Sports Group.

Sturridge joined Liverpool for £12m in January 2013 and scored 24 goals in all competitions in the 2013-14 season as the Reds finished second in the Premier League.

However, he suffered a thigh strain on international duty in September before injuring a calf in training in October.

He picked up another thigh injury in November and did not play again until 31 January, when he netted in the Reds' 2-0 win over West Ham.

Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League with four games remaining, seven points behind Manchester United, who occupy the final Champions League qualification place.

Analysis

Daniel Sturridge's absence has been keenly felt by Liverpool in recent weeks and there is a growing concern about his fitness. He was sent to the US over Christmas, when thigh and calf injuries were worked on by the Boston Red Sox medical department, and he will now return to the States in the hope the same doctors can cure the player's latest problem. Liverpool are working on a customised training plan for the striker to implement during pre-season, with Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli all earmarked for moves away from Anfield.

Gregory Mertens: Ex-Belgium U21 player dies after collapse

Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a match.

The 24-year-old Lokeren defender was treated on the pitch during the first half of Monday's reserve-team game with Genk but did not recover after time in hospital on a life-support machine.

A club statement said: "The medical staff have done everything to save Gregory, but they finally had to acknowledge their impotence.

"Gregory passed away at around 16:30."

The former Belgium Under-21 international's condition had worsened since he was taken to hospital in Genk, with doctors giving him little chance of survival.

On Thursday his family agreed his life support should be switched off.

Former England captain Gary Lineker described the death of Mertens as "dreadful"

Lokeren say that the exact nature of Mertens's heart condition has yet to be established.

But he passed all pre-season health tests required by Europe's football governing body Uefa, and was judged to be one of the fittest players at his club.

He joined Lokeren in January 2014 from Cercle Brugge and played 15 league games this season, as well as featuring against Hull City in the Europa League in August.

The club statement continued: "Gregory was only one-and-a-half years at the club, but in that short time his quiet modesty made him an indispensable person.

"Now we will have to learn to live with the loss."

Former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba , who survived after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing against Tottenham in 2012, said: "Horrible news that Gregory Mertens has passed away, only 24 years old. #RIP."

Belgium and Everton forward Romelu Lukaku added: "Rest In Peace Gregory Mertens ... Gone too soon. Life is crazy sometimes man... One day you're here next day you're gone."

Lokeren's Pro League game with Westerlo will go ahead on Friday, with the club and fans preparing to pay their respects to the defender.

It is understood that the Belgium Football Federation plans to mark all matches on Friday with a minute's silence.

Chelsea and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said: "RIP Gregory Mertens! Much strength to family and friends!"

And Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj, also a Belgium international, said: "RIP Gregory Mertens my thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time."

Lokeren say that the exact nature of Mertens's heart condition has yet to be established