Tuesday, October 16, 2018
2019: Ex-INEC boss, Jega advises Nigerians on kind of President to elect
JEGAThe former INEC boss said the country does not necessarily need a strong leaders, adding that an incompetent leader who is strong will end up destroying institutions.
He made these points at the 58th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, “What we require most are the competence and capacity of leaders to take decisions and be assertive in ensuring that those decisions are actually implemented.
“So, we have to be very careful in thinking that a strong leader can really help.
“Just like a weak leader can wreck an institution, a strong leader, who has just that power and courage, but lacks the capacity, ability and competence to lead, can also wreck strong institutions
“Competence of leadership is a very important variable in bringing about the stable political transition, good governance and deepening of democracy.”
Jega further warned that politicians must stop treating elections as a do-or-die affair.
He recalled that a former president once said elections must be do-or-die, an incident he described as most unfortunate.
The former INEC boss added, “We must emphasise professionalism, impartiality and non-partisanship. This is because quite too often, you have good and strong institutions, but once partisanship is introduced and partiality become the norm, as many public institutions in this country, then those institutions would not be able to deliver effectively on their mandates.
“From my experience, I am convinced that electoral integrity is key to stable political transition and to ensuring that there is a framework for good governance and societal development.
“Electoral integrity is not just about the integrity of the election management body. It is also the integrity with which the key stakeholders engage with the electoral process.”
Thief With Charm In His Mouth Electrocuted While Trying To Steal Copper In Abuja (Photos)
A suspected cable thief with a charm in his mouth, was on Tuesday night, electrocuted while attempting to steal copper from a PHCN installation in the Karu area in Abuja.
It was gathered from eyewitnesses that the suspect's body has been brought down from the electric pole and has been deposited in the morgue.
Here are more graphic photos from the scene;
5 Things that happened when Fayose visited the EFCC headquarters
The visit, according to Fayose, was to present himself for questioning over misappropriation of funds during his tenure as governor of Ekiti state.
Pulse and other journalists were at the EFCC facility at Wuse 2, Abuja during Fayose's visit.
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Here are five we noticed.
1. Fayose is still in the PDP
Fayose, Wike and Fani-Kayode at EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
(Tori.ng)
As against claims in some quarters that Fayose had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), all that happened at the EFCC headquarters showed that the ex-governor is still loved by the party.
Prior to Fayose's arrival, Governor Nyesome Wike, former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, and other members of the party were on ground to receive him.
2. Fayose is still the king of drama
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Ayodele Fayose
(Twitter/@GovAyoFayose)
Although Fayose did not show up at the EFCC headquarters with a mattress and pillows as he had promised, the former governor came with a bag stuffed with clothes.
"EFCC I'm here" read the inscription on Fayose's shirt.
What a way to to announce your arrival.
Governor Ayo Fayose
3. FFK is a customer at the EFCC headquarters
While trying to enter the EFCC office, a security detail asked Fani-Kayode to identify himself.
"You should know me. I am a regular face here," the former minister who is also facing trial over alleged corruption replied.
4. Few protesters showed
Some pro-Fayose protesters were on ground to give the former governor some moral support.
Dressed in branded while shirts, the chanted anti-government slogans asking President Muhammadu Buhari to resign for "running Nigeria aground".
5. Nigerians no longer believe Fayose
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Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, after he was allegedly hit by a teargas canister
(Twitter/@OfficialPDPNig)
As we awaited Fayose’s arrival, a journalist had complained about the former governor’s “non-stop drama”.
“This man loves drama. When will he ever stop?” he asked.
“What if he isn’t acting,” I replied in Fayose’s defence. But he continued, sighting his collapse in Ekiti days to the governorship election that produced Kayode Fayemi as governor.
Dr Kayode Fayemi
(Punch)
After Fayose went into the EFCC building, journalists and other Nigerians walked away in groups discussing the governor’s visit to the anti-graft agency's office.
“All these things he is doing will not prevent the EFCC from doing their job. If they want him locked up, there is nothing Wike can do about it. Fayose is just wasting his time,” a passerby said as others laughed out loudly.
What Ibori said about Uduaghan’s defection to APC
Former Minister of Information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire , while quoting Ibori said he felt sorry for Uduaghan following his defection to APC.
Ibori asked those close to Uduaghan to pray for him. Oyovbaire told Vanguard in Asaba on Friday.
Oyovbaire said: “The second day Dr. Uduaghan showed up at the APC caucus meeting in Abuja, I was with Chief Ibori, we had opportunity to discuss about Uduaghan, believe you me, what he told me, I have no cause not to believe him, he said he was sorry for his older cousin for leaving PDP.
“He said to quote him that we should just pray for him, let him go, which meant that he may have done some works, but I was not part of that work, so I will tell you that I have every cause to believe that Ibori is very much is with us.
“The day we were having this conversation, his daughter, who had bought her form in PDP was going around for consultation to appreciate the leaders of Ethiope East PDP, particularly in Mosogar and Jesse axis, so all evidence points that James Ibori is with us. He felt bad, I am not sure that he is happy that Uduaghan had to go and that was why he said please help me pray for him.”
Libya vs Nigeria: Livescore from 2019 AFCON qualifier in Sfax
The Mediterranean Knights were humiliated 4-0 by Nigeria last Saturday and will be looking for revenge.
South Africa currently top the table with seven points from their first two matches, while Gernot Rohr’s men are second with six points.
Libya have four points.
The game kicks off at 7pm Nigerian time.
Tuesday, October 16
First half: The Eagles took the lead through Ighalo and Musa, before Mohamed Zubya pulled one back for the Libyans. 1-2.
Half-time read: Nigeria can go top of Group E if they hold on for a win in Sfax.
Second half: Ahmad Benali equalizes to make it 2-2. However, Ighalo strikes again. So it’s 3-2 now.
Full time – Nigeria defeated Libya 3-2.
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Police, EFCC unaware as second batch of Governor Ganduje ‘bribe’ videos surfaces – Premium Times Nigeria
The police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have both said they cannot immediately swing into action to unravel the circumstances surrounding a series of scandalous videos that seemed to show Governor Umar Ganduje taking bribes from public works contractors in Kano State. The initial …
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*Efcc can't take action know of the ganduje bribery issues until they get more issues on it
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*Efcc can't take action know of the ganduje bribery issues until they get more issues on it
Jamal Khashoggi: Turkey widens search for clues to disappearance
Turkey is widening its search for clues to the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to include the Saudi consul's Istanbul residence.
The consulate itself, where Mr Khashoggi was last seen on 2 October, was searched by Turkish investigators on Monday for the first time.
The consul, Mohammad al-Otaibi has now left Turkey, local media report.
Pressure is growing on Saudi Arabia to give a full explanation of what happened to Mr Khashoggi.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been meeting Saudi leaders in Riyadh and is expected in Turkey later.
Turkish officials believe Mr Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi agents, but the Saudis have denied this.
Overnight, Turkish police completed a search of the consulate after being allowed in by Saudi authorities.
But, according to Turkish media, Mr al-Otaibi left Turkey on a commercial flight bound for Saudi Arabia hours before his official residence was due to be searched.
The decision to widen the search was announced to reporters by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who added that he had received no "confession" from the Saudis.
Turkish sources released security video last week of cars with diplomatic plates driving between the consulate and the consul's residence on the day Mr Khashoggi was last seen.
- Did Apple Watch record Khashoggi killing?
- Why Saudi Arabia matters to the West
- More firms pull out of Saudi business conference
What has come out of the Pompeo meeting?
The secretary of state has been meeting King Salman, the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh.
Mr Pompeo thanked the king for his "commitment to a thorough, transparent investigation", state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.
The crown prince also agreed on the need for an investigation that "provides answers", she said.
AFP
The secretary of state was dispatched to Riyadh on Monday after Mr Trump spoke to King Salman on the phone.
According to Mr Trump, King Salman denied "any knowledge of whatever may have happened 'to our Saudi Arabian citizen'."
The president described the denial as "very, very strong" and raised the possibility that "rogue killers" may have been involved.
A leading Republican senator and defender of US-Saudi links, Lindsey Graham, has been highly critical of the Saudi crown prince.
"This guy's gotta go," he said on Tuesday morning, describing the heir apparent as a "wrecking ball".
Reputations may be forever tainted
By Frank Gardner, BBC News
The recent, highly charged exchange of words between Washington and Riyadh now appears to have given way to a mutual search for the least bad explanation. Both countries' leaders know they have an enormous amount to lose if this affair ends up splitting apart their 73-year-old strategic partnership.
Iran, as the regional rival to Saudi Arabia, would be the prime beneficiary if the Saudis were to lose their defensive US umbrella. President Trump is also correct when he says thousands of US jobs would be lost, with China and Russia to be among those lining up to replace them.
Which begs the wider question: is the West's relationship with Saudi Arabia so important that it outweighs the need to condemn and punish what many believe was a state-sponsored murder of a journalist inside a consulate?
Hence the urgent dispatching of US secretary of state for talks with the Saudi leadership. In private there may well be some strong words, in public both countries may want to present a united stand. But one thing is certain: whatever narrative emerges, the international reputation of the Saudi crown prince and power-behind-the-throne Mohammed Bin Salman will forever be tainted by this affair.
What has the consulate search revealed?
It is still not clear. But unnamed official appears to have told the Associated Press that police found "certain evidence" showing Mr Khashoggi was killed there. No further details were given.
For the first time since the journalist disappeared two weeks ago, Turkish investigators were allowed to enter the building.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a further insight into the direction the investigation is taking when he spoke to reporters in parliament.
"My hope is that we can reach conclusions that will give us a reasonable opinion as soon as possible, because the investigation is looking into many things such as toxic materials and those materials being removed by painting them over," he said.
AFP
A group of Saudi officials entered first on Monday, followed roughly an hour later by Turkish forensic police.
The Turkish investigators - some wearing overalls, gloves and covered shoes - stayed for about nine hours, leaving in the early hours of Tuesday.
They reportedly took with them samples, including of soil from the consulate garden and a metal gate.
What are US media reporting?
The New York Times and CNN, quoting unnamed sources, reported that Saudi Arabia would acknowledge that Mr Khashoggi's death was the result of an interrogation that went wrong.
The intention had been only to abduct him from Turkey, the sources said.
- Saudi UK envoy 'concerned' over Khashoggi
- Turkish press trail Khashoggi's last steps
- Saudi ties with West at risk over Khashoggi
This may explain in part Mr Trump's "rogue killers" line, though it would still leave questions unanswered.
CNN said the Saudis may argue the operation was conducted without clearance
and those responsible would be held accountable.
and those responsible would be held accountable.
The Khashoggi family in Saudi Arabia issued a statement calling for an "independent and impartial international commission".
What allegedly happened in Istanbul?
Mr Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government who has written for the Washington Post, was last seen walking into the consulate.
Reports suggest an assault and struggle took place in the consulate after Mr Khashoggi went to get paperwork for his forthcoming marriage.
Turkish sources allege he was killed by a 15-strong team of Saudi agents but Riyadh initially insisted that he had left the consulate unharmed.
Mr Khashoggi was once an adviser to the Saudi royal family but fell out of favour with the country's rulers and went into self-imposed exile. He had obtained US residency.
