Gist Arena

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has described as false, the speculation that President Muhammad Buhari is critically ill and on life support. Mr. Okorocha, who is also APC Governors Forum Chairman was part of some APC governors and chieftains who visited President Buhari at the Abuja house in London on Sunday. “Before I left Nigeria, there was a lot of speculations that the president is on life support, coming from different angles and this left most Nigerians confused. “To my greatest shock, I arrived London with the party chairman, Governor of Kaduna, Kogi, Nassarawa, minister of transport and we saw a man that was full of humour as usual and I was wondering where people were getting what they are talking about,” Mr. Okorocha said in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday. Mr. Okorocha said President Buhari is in good health and is not on life support. “He is not even in the hospital,” he added. “I was thinking I was going to see him in...

Tunde Bakare, Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly (LRA) has said that President Buhari and his predecessors, are colonial masters who ruled Nigeria without accountability.  He said this on Sunday while speaking to members of his church where he was quoted to have said, 'stop complaining about their countries, because many many Africans abroad today bought their own tickets into slavery. You couldn’t fix your own country, you are looking for where they have fixed'. He continued to say, 'you are ready to lie, to declare refugee status just to hold a common passport where you are still treated like a common criminal. Slavery is God’s punishments for idolatry, for envy, that’s all. Joseph went through slavery, Israel went through slavery for 400 years, your own did not last 100 years you are still complaining colonial masters, colonial masters, where are they? Obasanjo ruled this country for eight years, no electricity, they spent money, who is asking him ...

Senator John McCain got a standing O on Capitol Hill today Tuesday July 25th as he returned to vote on a health care bill after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Read the report from TMZ below... McCain flew into D.C. Tuesday just to vote on the controversial health bill - that would start the process of repealing Obamacare - which ended up passing with the help of his vote -- following his brain cancer diagnosis last week. As we reported ... he had a blood clot removed that tested positive for glioblastoma, and was resting from the procedure. McCain put the vote for the bill at 50-50, meaning Vice President Mike Pence had to issue the tie-breaking vote ... and he pushed to move it forward. Politics as usual on the Hill ... but everyone seems unanimous here in honoring McCain.

Read the press release by Femi Fani-Kayode's special adviser, media, Jude Ndukwe below... Rochas Okorocha’s jibe at Chief Femi Fani-Kayode following the wide doubts expressed by Nigerians at the authenticity of the photograph emanating from the APC governors’ purported visit to Muhammadu Buhari in London is a sign of desperation to serve the evil purposes for which the Imo State governor has been procured. This is true to the character of Okorocha who is well known for his garrulousness which he ridiculously mistakes for oratory, with which, unfortunately, he has been misleading the good people of Imo State. For a man whose party has unprecedentedly threatened to arrest the moment he steps out from the immunity he currently enjoys, Rochas should actually be hiding his head in shame when men like Fani-Kayode are talking. Uche Onyeagucha, an APC chieftain and a former member of the House of Representatives, has accused Okorocha of lying serially when he said...

The German government has donated six sniffer dogs and a Mercedes bus to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in order to improve its capacity to combat drug trafficking. Announcing the development in Lagos on Tuesday, the NDLEA Director of Operations and General Investigation, Olugbenga Mabo, thanked the German government for its donation, emphasizing that sniffer dogs have helped the agency arrest at least 20 drug traffickers and seize a combined weight of 17,432kg of narcotic drugs between 2009 and 2017. Among the drugs seized with the assistance of the trained dogs include heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. Mr. Mabo said the addition of six new dogs would further boost the agency’s capacity to detect drugs concealed by traffickers. With Germany’s donation, the NDLEA now has 14 sniffer dogs at its disposal. “The contribution of the German government has made a tremendous impact on the operations of the agency at the airport, seaport and land...

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday said the benchmark lending rate for banks in the country was retained for the seventh consecutive time at 14 per cent to maintain the modest stability in the foreign exchange market. The CBN governor told journalists at the end of the 114th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, that majority of the members resolved to retain the monetary policy rate, MPR, which is the controlling lending rate to banks, at 14 per cent. Although he acknowledged that Nigeria’s economy was on the path of moderate recovery, he said the committee also decided to leave the cash reserve ratio, CRR at 22.5 per cent; liquidity ratio at 30 per cent, and asymmetric corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR. He said the decision to leave the interest rates unchanged was informed by the need to continue to attract foreign investment inflow to support the foreign exchange market, and to promote econo...

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday said it had arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnapping of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s Mother in May 2014. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hajia Hawawu Bello, 80, mother of Gov. Bello, the then Managing Director of Fair Plus Transport Services, was kidnapped in Uvete, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi, on May 29, 2014. The suspects are: Iliyasu Suleiman, 44, former Councillor and gang leader, Danjuma Ibrahim, 26, Iliyasu Obadaki, 35, Alhaji Nasiru, 43, and Hafiz Yakubu. The Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja. Moshood said that items recovered from the suspects include: two AK-47 rifles; 20 live cartridges; one army camouflage inner wear; two army camouflage pair of trousers and two army camouflage caps. Others are one black Beretta; two plastic guns; three sharp knives and one axe. He said that all the suspects had confessed to the kidnapping...

A former National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bisi Akande, has stirred the hornet’s nest by calling for the scrapping of the 1999 Constitution which should be ‘temporarily’ replaced with the 1963 Republican Constitution. Mr. Akande, a former governor of Osun State, said this would be a way out of the nation’s ‘political and economic jigsaw.’ He said the 1999 Constitution was “the greatest misadventure” for the country and it would not help the country make progress in the right direction. Mr. Akande spoke on Tuesday at the launching of the book, “Nigeria: the Path We Refused to Take,” written by Afenifere’s General Secretary, Basorun Arogbofa, an event which held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Mr. Akande called for the replacement to enable a transition to the writing of a suitable constitution. “The Constitution (1999) puts emphasis on spending rather than making money, thereby intensifying the battles for s...

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Sango-Otta on Tuesday dismissed charges filed against a resident of the Ogun State community for naming his dog ‘Buhari.’ The magistrate, O.O. Adebo, said the prosecution failed to substantiate its case against Joachim Iroko, consequently striking out all charges preferred against him. Mr. Iroko’s lawyer was ecstatic Tuesday, praising the court for the verdict. Mr. Iroko, 41, was arrested in August 2016 for causing a breach of peace after he was reported by his neighbour who alleged insensitivity in Mr. Iroko’s action. The neighbour, identified as Haliru Umar from Sokoto State, said Mr. Iroko harboured sinister motives when he gave his name the same name as President Muhammadu Buhari. The arrest of Mr. Iroko sparked nationwide outrage in August 2016 and critics accused the police of stifling constitutionally guaranteed freedom to satisfy the president. The police denied that Mr. Iroko’s ordeal had anything to do with the presid...

The Nigerian Army has promoted 6,199 soldiers currently involved in the fight against Boko Haram. According to a statement by the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, approved the promotion on Tuesday. “The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, has today Tuesday 25th July 2017, approved the special promotion of 6,199 soldiers serving in Operation LAFIYA DOLE to various ranks between Lance Corporals to Warrant Officers in the Nigerian Army,” Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, said. Mr. Usman gave the breakdown of the beneficiaries of the special promotion as follows: 1. Staff Sergeants – Warrant Officers –329. 2. Sergeants – Staff Sergeants –371. 3. Corporals – Sergeants –707. 4. Lance Corporals – Corporals –1,290. 5. Privates – Lance Corporals –3,502. “The COAS congratulates the beneficiaries and urged them to increase the tempo of the ongoing clearance operations of the Boko Haram terrorists in the N...

Yesterday, the witty and famous EFCC twitter handle finally revealed its handler as fast rising rapper, Olufemi Olukayode Adeyemi populary known as Fshaw. For almost a year, his identity has been kept a secret but yesterday it became necesary to unmask him becasue Femi had been with the EFCC for the past year as a youth corper. His NYSC programmed wrapped up yesterday and Fshaw has decided to move on from the job to pursue his carrer in music. It's not clear who will replace him or if the handle will ever be as witty and interesting as it has been in the past year but Femi's career is already kicking off to a flying start. In just a few hours after his identity was unvelied, his twitter followers increased from barely 2,000 to over 13,000. Check out his 2009 music video for  'As the world Turns'  below...

A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on Monday, said despite the agitations in the country and other developments threatening the unity of Nigeria, the nation’s youths would keep the nation together. Gowon spoke at the 50th anniversary programme of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, a forum moderated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. A N152.5m project, executed to encourage youth involvement in agriculture, was also declared open as part of the anniversary. At the event were the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who represented acting President Yemi Osinbajo; the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Moses Alake, who represented Governor Abiola Ajimobi; and the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji. Others at the ceremony were the President, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Chief Joe Makoju, who is the Special Adviser to President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and other dignitarie...

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that it has recovered over N51.9bn illegally deducted by commercial banks and returned it to the customers. The CBN stated that the amount was illegally removed from the accounts of bank customers across the country in the past five years. The Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, disclosed this in Port Harcourt during an interactive session with stakeholders, including labour union leaders, in the South-South zone. Okoroafor stated that the recovery and return of the funds to customers became necessary after series of complaints on illegal deductions from their accounts by commercial bank customers got to the apex bank. Putting the exact amount recovered and returned by the CBN Consumer Protection Department at N51,913,350,828.85, he explained that $18,191,444.19, €26.286,62 and £6,000 were also recovered within the period. Okorafor, who was represented by an assistant director in the apex bank...

The Co-ordinator of the Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy, Dr. John Danfulani, has said the people of Southern Kaduna would prefer to go with the Biafra Republic in the eventuality of Nigeria’s disintegration. Danfulani spoke in Umuahia, Abia State, when he paid a solidarity visit to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. He said the people of Southern Kaduna “share a lot of values in common with Biafrans,” and would not hesitate to follow them “if Nigeria breaks up.” He bemoaned the fate of minority ethnic nationalities in Southern Kaduna who are mostly Christians, condemning what he called “government’s indifference” to their ordeals following incessant “unprovoked attacks by herdsmen.” He said, “If Nigeria breaks up, we won’t go with the North. Certainly, we will go with Biafra because we share a lot in common. “We can form a confederation based on agreement. It is better for us because we are safer in Bi...

An article written by Reuben Abati. Please keep reading... ?What?s gwan inna wa cwantry?? ?What language is that?? ?English of course.? ?Sounds like Creole to me. Why don?t you just talk straight?? ?Nobody talks straight in this country anymore.? ?I still talk straight. I can?t start twisting my tongue because some people have lost it.? ?Okay, I was asking what is going on in our country?? ?Is that a direct question or a sly comment?? ?Just answer the question? ?What I know is that we are now truly, a country of hyenas, jackals and small animals. A big animal kingdom, but when the First Lady Aisha Buhari drew attention to this, recently, we all started screaming that she was rather condescending but right now, with what I am seeing and hearing, I believe she will be vindicated in the long run.? ?I see.? ?We, the people are obviously the small animals. In an animal kingdom, the bigger animals do what they like with the smaller ones, and they dare not c...

Some PDP governors would be part of the six governors that would pay President Buhari a visit at the Abuja house in London later today. According to reports, Governors Emmanuel Udom, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, would be part of six- governors that would be visiting President Buhari today. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state is also on the delegation. The visit according to presidential sources is being facilitated by the National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno.  The governors would depart for London from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja later today and would return to Nigeria on Wednesday, July 26th.  This visit comes after some APC governors and party chieftains met with President Buhari on Sunday July 23rd.

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has reacted to statement credited to former aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode concerning the images showing All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains in Abuja House, London with President Muhammadu Buhari. Fani-Kayode had described the images as fake and added that Okorocha, who conveyed the message, was a liar. In his reaction to the former minister’s claim, Okorocha described him as a spoilt child. The governor responded through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, saying, “The guy (Fani-Kayode) is a spoilt child, one of those whose parents over pampered they hardly talk like human beings. Apart from somebody who went into government, he is not known for doing business. “I wonder if he has ever worked and all of a sudden he had political appointment. “He has nothing else to brandish apart from the father’s name. Remove his father’s name; I don’t think he is a human being. “Rochas grew from the scratch....

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures as she address media during a news conference at Bundespressekonferenz in Berlin July 19, 2013. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck, says his country will support a more united and prosperous Nigeria devoid of wrangling. Mr. Schlagheck spoke during an interactive session with the leadership of the Enugu State Chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, in Enugu on Monday. The ambassador also said the Federal Republic of Germany had confidence in Nigeria’s ability to deal decently with the call for the restructuring of the country for a more equitable nation. He, therefore, advised all parties to respect the constitution and territorial integrity of the country. “We are very much interested in seeing a decent constitutional process and plead with all stakeholders to respect the Nigerian Constitution and territorial integrity. “I am quite confident that t...