Isong Akpabio: Godswill Akpabio’s Defection Shocked Me - Elder Brother - Politics

Godswill Akpabio’s defection to APC shocked and confused me — Elder brother, Isong Akpabio •Says defection cannot make APC win Akwa Ibom

Senator Godswill Akpabio’s elder brother, Chief Isong Ibanga Akpabio, has said that the recent defection of his Senator brother and immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot make the oil rich state to fall for APC.

The senior Akpabio said this on Wednesday in Lagos when he was cornered by News Express, a few days after he returned from an overseas trip.

He said he was as shocked as everyone else when he learnt of his younger brother’s defection.

“Since I came back (from abroad) I have not gone to my village and I am yet to meet him (Senator) in person). I know many people are confused just as I am. I have talked with some folks on phone and they said it’s something they never expected to happen. I know some people may be very happy it happened, and some may be very unhappy it happened,” he said.

Asked if his brother’s defection will change the political equation in his home state, the politician cum businessman who in 2006 aspired to govern Akwa Ibom alongside his now Senator brother, also on the platform of PDP, replied: “The state has been ruled by PDP for the past 19 years. I cannot see APC just wake up one day and say they have taken over the state. I know that Akwa Ibom people who have embraced PDP over the years will not, because of the defection of one person, change over to another party.

“I don’t really mind APC coming to the state if they have any goodies to offer the people, but I think it is an uphill task, Akwa Ibom is PDP state.”

Questioning the APC motive to take over the state, Isong, who retired from Exxon Mobil some years back as head of corporate affairs, said: “But why is APC always eyeing Akwa Ibom? The other time there were so many court cases until Udom Emmanuel won at the apex court. May be the PDP should also go and take over Lagos State which is traditionally an APC state. In the United States there is the Blue, which are the Democrats, and the Red, which are the Republicans. Akwa Ibom has always been democrats. I don’t want crisis in the forthcoming general elections. I don’t want APC to try to take over what they know under normal circumstances they cannot, may be they would want to rig the elections and cause trouble. Akwa Ibom is PDP state and I can say that anywhere.”

Isong Akpabio revealed that even as a PDP stalwart in the state, he voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election thinking that he (Buhari) and his party (APC) would bring about the much needed change then. But he said he, as well as other Nigerians, have been completely disappointed in the Buhari-led government. He cited insecurity as the major area the government has failed in woefully.

On the insinuations that his Senator brother might have decamped to the ruling party for fear of being indicted as a result of his alleged financial impropriety which runs into about N200 billion, Isong said: “I am not sure Godswill stole any money. Do you know what N200 billion means? The only thing I know is that my brother is generous, and much of the money he spends on generosity is family money. We are not a poor family, we didn’t start today. Akpabio family is a well to do family and had produced great statesmen in this country in the past, and still counting.

“It’s certain Godswill did not defect to go back to be governor again. He must have defected to go higher, and it is his right to aspire to greater heights. What is wrong if he becomes the Senate President tomorrow?

“My only consolation is that those who are attacking him are a minute proportion. Those are the enemies, so if the proportion of the enemies is less, it means he has no problem. In politics, they say, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies but permanent interest.”

Commenting on the widely spread rumour of the frosty relationship between the Senator and the incumbent governor of the state, purportedly as a result of the Senator’s comment some time ago that his successor has abandoned the projects he started in his senatorial district, the senior Akpabio said: “Every leader has his own project focus. I do not subscribe to a former governor castigating his successor over the project he did not complete. Agreed, Udom should complete the projects he met on ground, but that depends on two elements – one is availability of funds, the second is that the incumbent too wants to do as much projects as he can that he will be remembered for.

“If I were Godswill, I would ask for new projects in my area, not the ones he did not complete because one would ask, why didn’t you complete the projects you embarked on during your eight years in office? But I would advise the governor to do the much he can to complete those abandoned projects, if there is any.”
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I Have Not Declared To Run For Presidency – Saraki - Politics -

BUKOLA Saraki, president of the 8th Senate, says he has not declared to run for the post of president in the forth coming 2019 general election.

Mr Saraki was reported to be considering joining the race. Some medium who republished the story said he has declared his intention to run.

“I am consulting and actively considering it, I believe I can make the change,” the top lawmaker was quoted by Bloomberg to have said.

But clarifying his position on the matter, the Senate President said the aspiration was still at the considering stage.

“‘Considering’ is not a declaration. At the appropriate time, the President of Senate will be specific about his aspiration for 2019,” his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said on Thursday.

“Moreover, the Bloomberg interview was 90% on the economy, and not politics.

“The President of the Senate has been clear that at the right time, Nigerian’s will know what his plans are,” he said.

Olaniyonu restated his principal’s comment last month where he said: “Time will come for everything; a time will come for me to tell people where I am, what I’m doing.”

OAU Student Injures Friend With Stone For Advising Her To Stop Smoking (Photos) - Crime -

100level OAU student stoned friend to near death.

A female student from Obafemi Awolowo university was arrested yesterday for for almost killing a friend of hers.
Unidentified Foreign student of the OAU has been arrested by the police of stoning her Friend, a Nigerian schooling also in the same school. The stoning occurred as a result of Nifemi advising Tope to stop her smoking habit.
OAU, suspect
This incidence happens at their apartment along Ede Road, Ile Ife, Osun state. It was gathered that the serious argument that surfaces between the both parties was as a result of Nifemi advising the Tope who is now been treated as a suspect in the police to stop smoking.

The argument took the wrong turn, Tope took stone and aimed it at Nifemi’s head.

Suspect on the left, victim on the right 

http://gimmehear.com/100l-oau-student-stoned-friend-near-death/

8 Police Officers Sacked, 6 Demoted By Lagos Police Command - Career

The Lagos State Police Command have sacked some officer in the force and demoted some other. According to the Commissioner of Police Edgal Imohimi, the police officers sacked numbering eight were dismissed over “very serious criminal offences”.

Edgal, also said that 108 officers were disciplined for various offences from January to July, 2018 in the Lagos State Command.

He made the disclosure at a Stakeholders’ Forum on “Police Accountability and Presentation of Advocacy Materials at the command’s headquarters, Ikeja.

The Police chief said that 58 other officers recorded major entries, six officers reprimanded, 28 officers got warning, four officers had extra fatigue, while five others were discharged for lack of evidences against them.

“The days of police officers receiving slaps on the wrist for offences are gone. When you performed excellently well, you will receive a CP’s Commendation Letter.

“I am not happy punishing any officer, but that does not mean we should overlook unprofessional conducts. When I resumed as CP Lagos, I discovered that the public had lost confidence in the police.

“I set up a Citizen Complaint Hot Centre with 10 mobile phone lines through which people can complain about the wrongs of our men. I have received many complaints.

“However, there is no way I would know all that my men are doing if nobody complained,” he said.

Edgal called on people in Lagos to continue to assist the police with information and other assistance, stressing that the 28,000 officers and men in Lagos were inadequate to police the state.

https://lailasnews.com/8-police-officers-sacked-6-demoted-by-lagos-police-command/

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Lagos Light Rail Project Dragging Too Long — PDP - Politics

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried what it called the “frequent delays” in the delivery of the state light rail project.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Taofik Gani, expressed the concern in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.

The PDP was reacting to a statement by the state government that the first phase of the project (Blue Line), which commenced in 2008, could only be delivered in 2022.

The state government had initially promised 2011 and then 2018 as delivery dates for the 27km light rail project running between Marina, Mile 2 and Okokomaiko.

Kolawole Ojelabi, Director of the Lagos Area Metropolitan Authority (LAMATA) had on Sunday said the shift in date followed a comprehensive review of all the aspects of the project by the state government.

He explained that the foreign consultants engaged to do the technical and due diligence on the project said detailed work would not finish on it before 2022.

The PDP, however, said the project had almost become a drain pipe consuming the state’s resources endlessly.

According to Mr Gani, the amount of money spent did not reflect the level of work done so far on the project.

Mr Gani said it was surprising that Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past governor of the state, now the Minister of Works, could not support the project”s delivery.

“This project was estimated to end within two years, now it is to end in 2022, that is 12 years after due delivery date.

“All monies purportedly spent on the project did not reflect in the work done.

“So many property owners in the axis are still crying for compensation even as government claim total payment of compensation. It is a lie.

“We demand a probe of this project and indeed many other projects suffering the same fate as the rail project,” he said.

78-Year-Old Woman Stranded At Lagos Airport. Photo - Travel

A 78-year-old woman, Benice Ikerionwu, is said to be stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. According to Iwuchukwu Benneth, a staff with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the woman arrived the airport on Monday, August 13th, and was left stranded by her son who was meant to pick her up.

A passenger who saw the woman crying profusely at the airport as she had no money or phone with her - notified the airport authorities who tried contacting her family without any positive response.

Read the report shared by Iwuchukwu online;

Please,this 78years woman Mrs Benice Ikerionwu arrived at Lagos Int Airport on Lufthansa airline on Monday 13/8/18 around 5pm and has been stranded there as she had no money,phone nor contact of Relation on her as at late nite that day.

She told us that her son Chimezie Ikerionwu was coming from Abuja to pick her on arrival but he was no where to be found as she was crying like a baby when one Bimpe kemi an arrived passenger noticed her and reported to Airport Security and was with her at Tango city and Servicom elderly lounge all through the nite and also gave her money to eat when leaving in the morning.

Yesterday her daughter chinwe Irabor nee ikerionwu was contacted thru her phone numbers got from the Airline as she booked her mothers ticket,but she refuse to cooperate with the Aviation security official who called her by not disclosing her two Brothers living at Ikeja and Ajegunle numbers to him instead she claimed that they had picked and that she slept at the sons house at Ajegunle.
please Isiala Mbano indigenes or anyone that knows Chinwe Irabor,Chimezie or any of the Ikerionwus should call them to come to Lagos international Airport and pick their mother who has been stranded.they should come to Tango City and pick her.
 
Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/08/78-year-old-woman-stranded-at-lagos-airport.html

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Ekweremadu To Nigerians: Remove Buhari Peacefully In 2019 - Politics -

kweremadu to Nigerians: Remove Buhari peacefully in 2019. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBTNMP2VSDc

Landlord Commits Suicide By Hanging In Ogun, Blames Son In Suicide Note - Crime

A Landlord on Majekolagbe Street, Ibafo, Ogun State has thrown his family members and loved ones into mourning after killing himself by hanging and then blaming his son for his actions in his suicide note.

Punch Metro reports that the 59-year-old had disappeared from the community on Tuesday and had also stopped taking his telephone calls.

Concerned residents and members of the community development association were said to have forced the door to his house open and found his body dangling from the rope.

The Abeokuta, Ogun State indigene, wrote a note before his death, which was handed over to the police from the Ibafo division.

A resident, who sighted the note and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deceased blamed his son for his suicide.

According to him, the note read, ‘(Son’s name withheld), you are the one that put me into this problem, which made me to take my life. 3.35pm.’

He said,

“Every day, people usually converged on the frontage of his house to relax. Also, some members of Jehovah’s Witnesses visited him every evening. Around 8pm every day, he went to the house of one of his friends, where he would stay till around 11pm to 12am before returning to his house.

“Nobody saw him throughout yesterday (Tuesday) and when they called his mobile phone, he did not pick his calls. His first daughter also called him without a response. That was why people forced his door open and found his corpse in the house.

“He hanged himself in his late wife’s room. He left a suicide note. He indicated the time he killed himself. The note has been handed over to the police. What is curious is that some of us still don’t know what the son did to him that made him to kill himself. He did not say what his son did.”

Our correspondent, however, heard one of the landlords saying that the deceased had approached him for a loan of N50,000 on Monday.

The landlord, who regretted that he could not assist the victim, said he (Majekolagbe) had told him that his son was behind his travail.

He said,

“Despite the heavy rain on Monday, Baba (Majekolagbe) came to my house. He was at my place for more than two hours. He initially asked if I had a loaf of bread that he could eat, which I told him I did not have. I told him that I had pap. We prepared and took it together.

“He then begged me give him a loan of N50,000. I told him that I had just transferred money from my account and there was nothing left. He said his son was at it again and the boy had put himself into another trouble. He sounded really distressed.”

The landlord said he heard that the deceased’s son owed some people over N1m, adding that the debt was put on Majekolagbe.

A shop where the late wife sold drinks, biscuits and other items, had been taken over by the victim, who continued the trade.

A resident said Majekolagbe was in a good mood last Saturday at the shop.

“I was at his shop that day and he said he would be marking his 60th birthday on December 27. He said he would celebrate it big time. He gave me a malt drink for free and said the celebration had started,” she said.

A woman on the street described the deceased as kind-hearted, adding that his late wife was also hospitable.

She said the son, alleged to have been the reason for the suicide, was also a great member of the family before things went awry.

She said,

“When my family newly moved into this street, we brought a trailer load of property from Lagos. His late wife heard my dialect and upon learning that I came from Ekiti, she became excited. Despite the flood, she waded through the water to help us to move our property into our house. We were so close to the family that my children stayed with them when we had not found a school to put them. Both husband and wife were accommodating and loving.

“Even the boy in question used to be a chorister in a Pentecostal church. He was intelligent and assisted my children with their assignments. My children were fond of him.

“The man was the first to take ill. The sickness was serious that he became very lean. The wife supported him until he recovered. Suddenly, the woman also took ill. She died from a stroke. After that time, Baba started living alone in the house.”

The deceased was not attending any religious house until recently when he joined a local church.

Our correspondent, during the visit to the community, observed some Hausa men digging a grave in front of the deceased’s house.

Some family members, who entered the house, broke down in tears, while there were occasional arguments and blame-trading on the circumstances surrounding the death.

Majekolagbe’s three children were also sighted arriving the house.

When our correspondent approached a member of the family for comment, he said the family did not want the incident publicised.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, adding that the police had a copy of the suicide note.

He said,

“The man said his son got him annoyed and he decided to kill himself. He did not say in particular what his son did. He just said he could no longer withstand his son’s behaviour.”

https://lailasnews.com/landlord-kills-self-in-ogun-blames-son-for-his-action-in-suicide-note/

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