Gist Arena

T he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has said that it is not interested in restructuring of Nigeria but a well-organised referendum for an independent state of Biafra. The group said this in reaction to a statement credited to eminent lawyer and elder statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze who claimed that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, mandated him to declare to Nigeria that he is ready to call off the struggle for Biafra if there is progress made in restructuring Nigeria. A statement by the publicity secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful said that: “This does not in any way translate to an agreement to stop the agitation because what we are fighting against is still very much with us, Fulani herdsmen attacks and threat of attack is still prevalent. “We are not interested in restructuring of Nigeria. Rather let the Nigerian Government gives us a date for a well-organised referendum to be supervised by United Nations and other relevant organisations across the globe. We cannot aff...

F orbes, the world renowned organisation for ranking of rich individuals, has released the list of richest people in Nigeria for 2017. The ranking issued today shows Aliko Dangote retaining his spot as number one. Full list below… 1. Aliko Dangote: Aliko Dangote is the richest man in Nigeria, Africa and of course the richest black man in the world. In 2014, he ranked as the 24th richest man in the world but has since then fallen to positions below 100 due to Nigeria’s poor Naira. Net Worth: $12.5 billion. 2. Mike Adenuga: Mike Adenuga is the second richest man in Nigeria with interest in Oil and Gas and telecoms. He is the owner of Globacom, Nigeria’s second biggest telecom operators and the chairman of Conoil. Net Worth: $10.5 billion. 3. Femi Otedola: He is the CEO of Zenon Oil and Gas and Forte Oil Plc. He has interest in real estates amongst other sectors. Net Worth: $2.3 billion. 4. Folorunsho Alakija: Folorunsho is a business tycoon who...

S enator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani has stated that the meeting between the opposition party and President Muhammadu Buhari carries a strong message. According to him, it tells the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that President Buhari was putting the country first before political or personal issues. President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, alongside some other members of the party and with some APC bigwigs at the Aso Rock. Shortly after that, the President also met with the 36 state governors. Reacting to the meetings, Senator Sani wrote on Facebook, “President Buhari bipartisan meeting carries a strong message for the ruling and the opposition parties to put the country first. “A commendable step. Other smaller parties too deserve such an audience.”

T he Federal Government has again asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the bail granted the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Namdi Kanu. Kanu is being prosecuted along with others on treasonable felony charges. The prosecution made this request in an application it filed before the court and served on Kanu on Friday. The application asking the court to revoke Kanu’s bail was released to newsmen in Abuja on Friday by the Special Assistant to the Attorney-General of the Federation on Media and Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah. The Federal Government anchored its fresh motion seeking the revocation of Kanu’s bail on the grounds that the IPOB leader had flouted the terms and conditions of the bail. According to the prosecution, “instead of using the opportunity of his bail to attend to his health needs, Kanu went ahead to inaugurate a security outfit known as the Biafra Security Service. This constituted a threat to national security.” It als...

T he Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Friday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the release of Paris Club refund to all governors. Umahi, while giving the commendation also applauded Buhari for treating all governors equally “irrespective of party affiliation.” He made the remark when governors met with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday. A statement on the President’s official twitter handle quoted Umahi as saying, “You have treated all Governors equally, irrespective of party affiliation. “Umahi thanks Buhari for “Budget Support, Paris Club Refunds, Agric Support,” saying “Without this assistance it’d have been difficult for us to cope. “In your absence VP @ProfOsinbajodemonstrated a very high level of loyalty to #Nigeria and to Mr President.”

P resident Buhari had a meeting with all the 36 state governors at the Council chambers in the presidential villa, Abuja today. His meeting came after the meeting he had with APC and PDP leaders. See more photos below

T he Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday rejected Arewa youths’ decision to withdrawal the quit notice issued to Igbos in the northern part of the country. Recall that Arewa youths had recently ordered Igbos residing in the North to vacate the region before October 1. However, the coalition, in a press conference yesterday in Abuja withdrew the quit notice,saying Igbos can remain anywhere in the North. But, in its reaction, the pro-Biafra group described the withdrawal of the quit notice as “inconsequential.” IPOB insists that Arewa youths should, “stick to the quit notice,” if they have any “honour.” A statement by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful reads, “It is inconsequential to IPOB whether the ‘quit notice’ was rescinded or not because it will in no way impact the pace and direction of our effort to restore Biafra. “Threats don’t have any effect on us, so our advice to the Arewa North is to please stick...

P resident Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with all the 36 State Governors. A tweet on the Presidency’s official twitter handle says the meeting is holding at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “President @MBuhari is meeting with the 36 State Governors this afternoon, at the State House,” the tweet reads. Buhari had earlier met with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC. Acknowledging the presence of the opposition, Buhari said it does not mean “hostility, enmity or antagonism. Democracy needs opposition, one which is vibrant but responsible.” Source: DailyPostng

T he founder and General Overseer of Salvation Ministry, Pastor David Ibiyeomie has declared that anyone that has reached the age of 35 and is still unmarried is irresponsible. Pastor Ibiyeomie spoke when he addressed his congregants yesterday at the church headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The cleric admonished single men and women to look out for responsible men and women to be their partners, adding that it was not right to get old before getting married. He said, “If you are still single at 35, you are an irresponsible person,” adding that is it not the will God. He also charged young men and women to pray fervently before going into marriage relationship. Source: DailyPostng

P resident Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja

I mmediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan has taken a swipe at the President Muhammadu Buhari administration following his move to curb hate speech in the country. By doing this, Jonathan shared a picture of a quote he made on Facebook in 2014. The former President said in the quote, “I am the most abused and insulted President in the world but when I leave office, you will all remember me for the total ‘freedom’ you enjoyed under me.” This came in apparent response to Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s earlier statement that the Federal Government would treat hate speech as terrorism. Also, the Nigerian Army had during the week, said it would be monitoring social media posts. However, while some of Jonathan’s followers applauded him for the post, others called him out for allegedly allowing corruption to thrive while he was on seat.

A Kenyan man was recently caught pants down with his neighbour's wife in his house while they were getting down to business. According to Kenyan-post, the woman's husband has been suspecting her of an illicit affair for long and decided to lay an ambush to get her caught. On one faithful day, the man who had pretended to be out for work, received a tip off when his wife was spotted making her way into the man's house. The man stormed into the house with some friends and caught them in compromising situation. In the viral video, the shirtless neighbor is seen only on his trousers, while the woman tieing only a wrapper as she sat on the bed in shame and at some point, she tried fighting her husband but was held back by neighbors who gathered at the scene.  Watch the video below..

Z imbabwe’s first lady has made her first public appearance since leaving South Africa following allegations that she assaulted a young model at a Johannesburg hotel. Grace Mugabe appeared cheerful on Friday as she toured exhibition stands at an agricultural show in the capital, Harare. The show is set to be officially opened by President Robert Mugabe, who returned to Zimbabwe with his wife last weekend after South Africa granted her diplomatic immunity. There were calls in South Africa for Grace Mugabe to be prosecuted for the alleged attack on Aug. 13. A group representing the model has gone to court in the hope of complicating any attempt by Zimbabwe’s first lady to return to South Africa. Zimbabwe’s state media have been silent on the scandal.

P resident Muhammadu Buhari on Friday told the leaderships of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that opposition in any government does not mean hostility, enmity and antagonism. President Buhari who stated this when the leaderships of the two parties separately visited him at the New Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, thanked the parties for the show of solidarity to him. He said, “I thank you sincerely, collectively and individually for finding time from your busy schedules to come all the way to Abuja and welcome me back home. “This visit signifies the unity of Nigeria. It is not a party occasion. It is not a political gathering. It is a symbol of our National unity. It is also an expression of the maturity of our democracy. “Multi-party democracy is a very tried and tested form of government. Opposition does not mean hostility, enmity or antagonism. Democracy needs opposition, one which is vibra...

The identity of the pilot that died in the Nigerian Airforce Trainer Air craft that crashed at the permanent site of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in Kaduna state yesterday August 24th, has been revealed. He is Group Capt Adamu Gabriel Ochai, pictured above. He is a native of Adum Otukpanin Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State. He is married with three children. A statement released by the Nigerian Air Force headquarters last night, stated that Ochai, an experienced instructor pilot, was the only one flying in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Beetle Aircraft when it crashed.  May his soul rest in peace Amen. 

F ollowing the extradition treaty President Buhari signed with the United Arab Emirates yesterday August 24th, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, seven former governors and 14 other corrupt government officials and businessmen, are reportedly going to lose their assets and investment hidden in Dubai, the UAE capital.  The Nation reports that all the 22 former political leaders and businessmen are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Under investigation are seven former governors, seven ex-ministers, four businessmen, a former PDP chieftain, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, a former presidential assistant indicted in the $2.1billion arms deals and a former First Lady who allegedly used fronts to acquire properties illegally in Dubai Two of the assets have been traced to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was implicated by the United States...

P resident Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, which started around 11.10a.m., was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report. It is being attended by the vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, and the caretaker chairman of the PDP, Ahmed Makarfi. Other APC members attending the meeting include the National Legal Adviser of the APC, Muiz Banire, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Tony Momoh, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, amongst others. Those from the PDP are Ben obi and other members of the caretaker committee. NAN reliably learnt that the meeting will discuss socio-political issues especially the problem of hate speech and the prevailing security situation in the country. The presidency on Wednesday ad...

E minent lawyer and elder statesmen, Prof. Ben Nwabueze has said that the leader of Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has mandated him to declare to Nigeria that he is ready to call off the struggle for Biafra if there is progress made in restructuring Nigeria. Nwabueze said this on Thursday during a press conference by Southern Leaders of Thought at Chief Rotimi Williams Chambers, Ilupeju Lagos. Nwabueze who is the leader of the group, warned that “President Buhari will be looking for trouble if he tries to usurp the constitutional powers of the people to ask for a better Nigeria through a change in structure. “The power to restructure belongs to the people, not the National Assembly, and the government must not toy with this for the peace of the nation. “Kanu has mandated me to declare to Nigeria that he is ready to call off the struggle for Biafra if progress is made in restructuring Nigeria.” Source: Dailypost