TRUMP WALKS OUT ON DEMOCRATS AS IMPEACHMENT LOOMS

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May 23, 2019

TRUMP WALKS OUT ON DEMOCRATS AS IMPEACHMENT LOOMS

Donald Trump erupted in fury Wednesday at unrelenting probes into his links to Russia, as the top Democrat in Congress accused the president of a “cover-up” that could be an impeachable offense.

A livid Trump abruptly shut down a White House meeting with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, announcing he could not deal with them on policy until “phony investigations” are brought to a close.

The clash marked a dramatic escalation in Trump’s war of words with congressional opponents seeking to bring him to account for what they say is presidential wrongdoing.

Trump’s ire was seemingly triggered by House Speaker Pelosi, his nemesis in Congress, who declared following an emergency meeting with lawmakers earlier Wednesday: “We believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up.”

“I don’t do cover-ups,” Trump shot back at a hastily arranged Rose Garden press event moments after the aborted White House talks.

“So get these phony investigations over with,” Trump said — warning a failure to do so would spell gridlock on issues like fixing the country’s infrastructure, on which the two sides had hoped for a breakthrough Wednesday.

“You can’t investigate and legislate simultaneously,” he added. “It just doesn’t work that way.”

A two-year investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russia’s interference in the 2016 US election concluded there was no hard evidence Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow.

But the prosecutor said he could not rule clearly on whether Trump obstructed justice, leaving it to the Trump-appointed attorney general, Bill Barr, to declare there was no obstruction.

CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN NIGERIA HIT $200BN – CCCN

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May 23, 2019

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CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN NIGERIA HIT $200BN – CCCN

He explained that the 160 Chinese firms operating in the country had also employed over 200,000 Nigerians, noting that the companies were promoting what he called the ‘people to people’ cultural diplomacy of the Belt and Road Initiative of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Shuijin, who is the Managing Director, China Geo-engineering Company, stated that his company, which was established in Nigeria in 1983, had offices in 30 states.

He said that CGC, a construction firm, had faced and surmounted various challenges, adding that the improved infrastructure development in the country, however, was encouraging many more Chinese businessmen and firms to invest in the economy.

He said, “I believe the Chinese investment in Nigeria now is about $20b and we have employed over 200,000 Nigerians. Our workforce is 95 per cent Nigerians.

“We also worked with the Industrial Training Fund to train over 1,000 Nigerians last year and we have similarly trained 350 Nigerians in agriculture export. We have sponsored 30 students to China on scholarship as part of our advanced capacity building for Nigerians.”

The CGC boss insisted that members of the Chinese Chambers of Commerce were held to the strictest standards in service delivery.

ASUU THREATENS TO GO ON STRIKE AS GOVT FAILS TO IMPLEMENT 2019 AGREEMENT

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May 23, 2019

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ASUU THREATENS TO GO ON STRIKE AS GOVT FAILS TO IMPLEMENT 2019 AGREEMENT

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday said that its members should not be held responsible if there is any disruption in the university system, as the Federal Government had not shown commitment to carrying out the 2019 Memorandum of Action.

The ASUU National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, stated this at a briefing in Abuja, to give an update on the ongoing renegotiation with the government and to clear the air over the N25billion confirmed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to have been approved for universities.

Ogunyemi said the N25billion was meant to be a part-payment of the Earned Academic Allowances and should have been released between February 15 and 28, 2019, as agreed. But this was not done.

He said, “Since information on the amounts mentioned in the media went round, the ASUU has been inundated with enquiries on the union’s perspective to the story.

“Funding for the revitalisation of public universities has for years been of very high priority to ASUU.

“Reaching an agreement with the Federal Government has often been a frustrating journey for our union. It is often marked with protests, strikes and requires a conscious and focused engagement. The 2001 agreement, which gave birth to the 2009 agreement, was not an exemption. The exception here is the personality leading the government negotiation team.

“The current leadership of the government team clearly lacks the academic disposition and humility needed to undertake such task.

“Our members enjoy their work and hate to see any disruption in the smooth running of our universities. However, the level of frustration occasioned by the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards meeting the terms of the 2019 Memorandum of Action that was freely signed with our union is increasingly becoming unbearable.

“We, therefore, call on all Nigerian patriots, parents and students including the Nigeria Labour Congress to prevail on the government to keep to the terms of our agreement. Otherwise, our union should not be held responsible for any disruption in the system.”

FAYEMI EMERGES CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS FORUM

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May 23, 2019

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FAYEMI EMERGES CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS FORUM

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has been chosen by consensus as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

He succeeds Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has also been chosen as vice-chairman of the group, at a meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued before the election, the Bayelsa State Governor and Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Seriake Dickson called on the 36 governors to adopt the principle of rotation of power to pick a new leader for the NGF.

The governor said in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, that the decision on who should be the next NGF chairman should be guided by the time-tested principle of rotation between the North and the South.

The governor said the next NGF chairman should come from the South after the end of the tenure of the incumbent, Yari, who is also the governor of Zamfara State.

Dickson added that the governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party would not contest the position in consonance with the precedence that the NGF chairman should be a ranking governor from the ruling political party.

He stressed that the PDP governors would not make any move to endanger the time honoured principle guiding the emergence of the NGF chairman.

However, Dickson noted that the next NGF chairman should emerge preferably through consensus among the governors.

He said, “I am calling on the governors who would assemble today (Wednesday) to take a decision on the chairmanship of the NGF to be guided by the time-tested principle of rotation of power between the North and the South.

“Now that Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, the governor of Zamfara State will be ending his tenure, we expect that the next chairman should come from the South.

“The precedence is that the ruling party produces the chairman.”

PRES. BUHARI ORDERS REMOVAL OF TRUCKS, TANKERS FROM APAPA ROAD IN THREE DAYS

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May 23, 2019

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PRES. BUHARI ORDERS REMOVAL OF TRUCKS, TANKERS FROM APAPA ROAD IN THREE DAYS

Lagosians have long complained about how the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles, plying the Apapa ports, on roads and bridges have contributed a lot to traffic gridlocks in the state.

According to a statement released by the presidency on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the new directive mandates the immediate removal of all trucks from the bridges and roads within Apapa and all adjoining streets leading into the Apapa axis.

“To facilitate this important assignment, operators of trucks and tankers have also been directed to vacate the Port Access Roads within the next 72 hours,” the statement read.

Traffic gridlock caused by articulated trucks on Lagos roads has been a source of headache for the government for years [Guardian]

The directive is the result of an emergency meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on April 25. The meeting proffered lasting solutions to the gridlock around the Lagos Ports, as the traffic congestion has continued to restrict all operations and livelihood in the area.

The resolution from the meeting included establishing a Presidential Taskforce, chaired by Osinbajo, to restore law and order to the area within 2 weeks.

The statement disclosed, “The Taskforce, which will report directly to the President, has included on its Terms of Reference the development of an efficient and effective management plan for the entire port area traffic, including the cargo, fuel distribution and business district traffic; enforcing the permanent removal of all stationary trucks on the highway, and the development of an effective manual truck call-up system, pending the introduction of the electronic truck call-up system.

“It also includes the implementation of a workable Empty Container Return and Export Container Truck Handling Policy, amongst others.”

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been authorised to move into Apapa as the lead traffic management agency, while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to commence the immediate use of the Lilypond Terminal and Trailer Park A as a truck transit park.

The Nigerian Navy and all other military formations have also been mandated to withdraw from traffic management duties in and around the Apapa axis, while military and paramilitary checkpoints in front of the ports and environs are to be dismantled.

The directive further mandates compliance by all security personnel and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, while heads of the NPA, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and all other security operatives are to ensure their officers’ adherence to the new directives.

Members of the Presidential Taskforce include Kayode Opeifa, former Lagos State Commissioner of Transport, as the Executive Vice Chairman; a representative of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC); the NPA; and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

Others include a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force led by a Commissioner of Police, representatives of the Truck Transport Union, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and other relevant MDAs.

REPS REJECT POLICE REFORM BILL

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May 23, 2019

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Members of the House of Representatives have rejected a bill seeking to reform the Nigeria Police Force.

The bill was rejected on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, weeks after it was passed by the Senate.

The bill was drafted to “provide for the framework for the police service” and also ensure partnership between the police and communities.

Some of the provisions of the bill are: Establishment of a police fund; a fine of N100,000 or six months imprisonment for anyone who assaults a police officer, obstructs or resists a police officer; fine of N20,000 or three months imprisonment for officers caught taking liquor or intoxicating substance while on duty; establishment of community police forum.

However, the lawmakers during their plenary on Wednesday argued against the bill saying “inconsistent with the 1999 constitution”.

Speaker House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara put the bill to vote and the lawmakers voted against it. (TheCable)

The Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Lawal maintained that the bill is inconsistent with the constitution even though the changes to the Police Act are long overdue.

He said, “Unless we amend the constitution, we can not implement the bill. The bill also proposed the reduction of the number of DIGs, are we moving forward or backward? The bill is also referring to the Police as police force which is against the constitution.”

The Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuf supported Abubakar’s submission saying the bill will “further complicate things.”

He said, “Most of the provisions of this bill are against the constitution. This bill is complicating matters. How can we talk about consultation with the governor when the commissioners of police are not answerable to the governors.”

Another lawmaker from Enugu State, Tobi Okechukwu added that the establishment of state police is the major reform Nigeria needs.

He argued, “the present structure is defective. The governors have all agreed that there is a need for state police. Judging by the crime rate, we need to consider the structure of the police. When you take an Anambra man to Borno, it will take him time to adjust.”

However, Mohammed Monguno, a lawmaker from Borno State argued in favour of the bill saying it will bring the standard operating procedure of police up to the level of international best practices.

Subsequently, when Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House put the bill to votes, a large number of the lawmakers voted against it.

JUSTICE BULKACHAWA QUITS PRESIDENTIAL TRIBUNAL

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May 22, 2019

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JUSTICE BULKACHAWA QUITS PRESIDENTIAL TRIBUNAL

President of Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has recused herself from Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Bulkachuwa announced her departure from the tribunal on Wednesday.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on May 15 formally presented its request for her to step down from the tribunal.

PDP counsel led by Levi Ozoukwu had told the court that Bulkachuwa could be biased because of a statement she had made at the tribunal’s inaugural sitting on May 8.

Bulkachuwa had said: “No matter how elections were conducted, there was bound to be conflicts.”

The petitioner’s lawyers argued that she might have resigned to accept the outcome of the election even before arguments are presented.

Related news National Assembly Sets Stringent Accreditation Conditions for Journalists

PDP also said they wanted Bulkachuwa out because of her alleged ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

She is married to Mohammed Bulkachuwa who controversially replaced Usman Tuggar who had earlier won the APC primaries for Bauchi North Senatorial District.

Breaking: Buhari Dissolves Cabinet, orders Ministers to Handover to Permanent Secretaries

Headlines

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May 22, 2019

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Breaking: Buhari Dissolves Cabinet, orders Ministers to Handover to Permanent Secretaries

President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed the members of his cabinet to hand over to their Permanent Secretaries on May 28.

The president made this known at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.

What this means is that the Ministers will vacate office on Tuesday – 24 hours before his inauguration for another four-year tenure as President and Commander-In-Chief of Nigeria Armed Forces.

“I expect all the Ministers to continue working until Tuesday, May 28 when they will hand over their schedules to their Permanent Secretaries,” the president said.

“I expect all the Ministers to continue working until Tuesday, May 28 when they will hand over their schedules to their Permanent Secretaries,” the president said.

Trump appoints woman to lead the US Air Force

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May 22, 2019

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Trump appoints woman to lead the US Air Force

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he had nominated a former ambassador and Arizona businesswoman to lead the Air Force.

Barbara Barrett, 68, served as the US ambassador to Finland from 2008 to 2009 under the George W. Bush administration. She also chaired an aeronautics research and development centre, The Aerospace Corporation, until 2017.

“She will be an outstanding Secretary!” Trump tweeted.

A former lawyer and test pilot, Barrett is also a board member at the Rand Corporation, a think tank that provides research and analysis to the US armed forces.

She and her husband Craig, the former CEO of American technology giant Intel, are major Republican donors. Barrett ran for governor of Arizona on the GOP ticket in 1994, the first woman to do so, but she failed to secure her party’s nomination.

If she is confirmed, Barrett will succeed another woman, Heather Wilson, in the position of secretary of the air force.

Wilson’s name had come up as a potential replacement for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who resigned in December because of differences over Trump’s policies on Syria and other issues.

Wilson stepped down in March, the highest level Pentagon departure since that of Mattis, once it became apparent that interim Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan would stay in that post.

GOV. ROCHAS UNVEILS BUHARI’S STATUE IN IMO

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May 22, 2019

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GOV. ROCHAS UNVEILS BUHARI’S STATUE IN IMO

Governor Rochas Okorocha, whose tenure as the governor of Imo state comes to an end May 29th, has added a statue to the number of the numerous statues erected so far in the state.

This time around, it was that of President Mohammadu Buhari

The governor who caused some fuss in the media over the erection of statues in a designated area in memory of some African famous political leaders appears to be unperturbed with the criticism that came with the statues erection in the state.