I Am Going Straight To The Villa, Am The Next President – Fayose Explodes

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, is confident of winning the coming presidential election when Nigerians elect a new president in 2019.

The governor was hopeful that if supported by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would take over government from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I’m going straight to that Villa. I’m the next president,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday by his special assistant on public communications and new media, Mr Lere Olayinka.

“I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”
Fayose further revealed plans to formally declare his intention to run for presidency in the general elections on Thursday in Abuja.

He, however, said in a letter addressed to leaders of the PDP that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.

The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.

“Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.

“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.

“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.
“Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”

BREAKING: Produce Nnamdi Kanu’s corpse – Brother tells Nigerian Army

Emmanuel, younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has asked the Nigerian Army to produce his corpse if he has been killed.

Kanu and his parents have gone missing, since the military raided their Afarakwu residence in Abia State on September 14.
 
Speaking on behalf of the family on Tuesday, Emmanuel said he strongly believes his brother fell into the hands of the troops.

“It is either they (soldiers) captured him or killed him when they attacked our house. If they captured him, they should release him to the police, and if they have killed him, they should produce the corpse because he was last seen moments before the raid,” he said.

However, the Army has denied keeping Kanu in its custody.
Kanu’s younger brother added that the family had been searching for the IPOB leader and his parents for two weeks without making any headway.

Biafra: Presidency ignorant for threatening arrest of Nnamdi Kanu’s sureties – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, on Tuesday described some lawyers serving under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government as misfits who don’t understand how the judiciary works.
IPOB said the lawyers find joy in making extra judicial statements capable of influencing the decision of the courts.
The pro-Biafra group made these claims while reacting to a statement credited to the presidency that those who stood as sureties for its leader, Nnmadi Kanu would be arrested if the IPOB leader fails to appear in court during his next adjourned date.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB lamented that in Nigeria “there is high level of judicial ignorance where even the Judges are single handedly appointed by the President of Nigeria.”
The statement reads, “Most of them do not understand how the judiciary works, but only parade themselves as legal practitioners, even some who have the badge of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, are in the category of legal misfits.
“It is very laughable and disappointing to discover that even many half-baked legal practitioners in Nigeria, particularly those in the presidency, serving under the present administration of All Progressives Congress, APC, government do not understand how the judiciary works, but only parades themselves as legal practitioners, and some who have the badge of Senior Advocate of Nigeria; SAN are also in the category of legal misfits.
“This is evidenced as many people including legal practitioners of shame do not know that there are powers exercisable exclusively by the court under a trial Judge such as Justice Binta Nyako.

“It is therefore, an extra-judicial statement capable of influencing the discretion of the court for the principal officer of plaintiff like Nigeria Government in the case between her and Nnamdi Kanu to be heard threatening jail on the sureties of a defendant by any reason.
“The fact that Nigeria government sued a person or group of people does not make Nigeria government usurp the exclusive judicial discretion of the court or the trial Judge. Garba Shehu the media man in the Presidency of Nigeria was heard threatening jail on the sureties of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as if he has assumed the position of the trial Judge in the court.
“We want all and sundry to understand that the fact that Nigeria government arraigned a defendant does make Nigeria government a Plaintiff and Judge at the same time in the case. A Judge has where his or her right begins and ends, a plaintiff no matter how powerful or influential as he should be, also has where his or her right begins and ends. So is the defendant has where his or her own right begins and ends.
“Here in Nigeria there is high level of judicial ignorance where even the Judges are single handedly appointed by the President of Nigeria, Nigerian government in a case as a plaintiff orders the court where it is standing as a plaintiff to postpone court sitting date to suit its convenient time.
“It is important for IPOB to educate Nigerians to know that it is still in the discretion of Justice Binta Nyako presided court to tell the world on October 17, 2017 whether it is Nigerian Army which invaded the compound of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and took him away or his sureties who were not even consulted by the Army before the extra-judicial invasion and capturing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and are in the position to produce him in the court.
“IPOB has discovered that over time judicial caricature in Nigeria has made even legal practitioners to lose understanding of the analysis of the law and decided to follow the part of lawlessness, that is why many ignorant and legal misfits are heard saying that a man who Nigeria Army invaded his home and captured is hiding.”

Senate President, Bukola Saraki Narrowly Escapes Impeachment, May Never Go Against President Buhari And The North

Emerging report indicates that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had on Tuesday, survived yet another impeachment move being spearheaded by Northerner Senators.

The impeachment move came over Saraki’s declaration that the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was illegal and unconstitutional.

Igberetvnews gathered from sources, that during the Tuesday’s closed-door meeting before the commencement of the Senate plenary, Senators from the North-East during the session, raised the issue.
Recall, that there were fears ahead of the Senate’s resumption, that the first day might be stormy, because some Senators had perfected plans to ask for clarification as to why Saraki responded the way he did, on the proscription of IPOB by the Federal Government.

A Senator, who spoke in confidence, said Saraki used the closed-door session and consolidated last week’s outreach, which he undertook to Senators from all the geopolitical zones ahead of Tuesday’s resumption.
“Of course, some Senators from the South-East were reluctant to align themselves with the position of the South-East Governors for political expediency; and when Saraki said IPOB’s proscription was unconstitutional, many believed he said it in solidarity with the South-East Senators, who form part of his support base.

“But that is not totally correct; there is the issue of national interest because, we too from the North have the interest of our Constituents at heart. Many of them thought the Senate is against President Buhari, and this is a wrong perception.

“Therefore, we all spoke during the closed-door meeting, and at the end of the day, it was agreed the issue should not be debated in plenary, because what needed to be done by various stakeholders have been done. The South-East Governors have spoken, Saraki had asked for due process to be followed , and the Federal Government did the needful. At the end of the day, the court had decided. We felt it was a win-win situation, and therefore, there was no need to go and strip ourselves naked in the market”, he said.

Efforts to speak to Senator Abaribe was unsuccessful, as he neither answered his calls, nor replied to the text message sent to him last night.

The three-point resolutions go thus: “The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, and we are fully committed to the territorial integrity of the country.

“We will seek all possible avenues to make sure that peace reigns across the country.
“Advise all groups that are pursuing one agitation or the other, to do so through constitutional means.”

Fani-Kayode lists other groups FG may proscribe after IPOB

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, says the Nigerian government may go after other groups, now that Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been proscribed.

This is contained in an article he released on Wednesday.
Fani-Kayode wrote: “It is IPOB today but tomorrow, it could be OPC, Ijaw Youth Council, Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Arewa Youths, Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum or indeed anyone else.

“I have never heard of a “terrorist” organisation that has not killed or threatened to kill anyone and that has totally rejected the idea of violence and an armed struggle.

“I have never heard of a “terrorist” organisation whose only aspiration is to have a referendum to determine whether or not their people should or should not remain in Nigeria.

“I have never heard of a “terrorist” organisation whose only objective is the peaceful and lawful exercise of the right of self-determination.

“I have never heard of a “terrorist” organisation whose only crime is to take objection to the stripping away of their historical and cultural identity and to speak out against the willful marginalisation and mass murder of their people.

“I have never heard of a “terrorist” organisation who believe in passive and non-violent resistance and who consistently emphasise the importance of peaceful opposition.

“Saying that IPOB is a terrorist organisation is like saying that Mother Theresa is the Marquis De Sade. It is like saying that an angel from heaven is a demon from hell. It is like saying that Little Red Riding Hood is the hungry and ravenous wolf.”

Fani-Kayode recently alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has an agenda to “wipe off” IPOB, its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and the “Igbo race”.

According to him, “Since when has it been acceptable or the norm to unleash the dogs of war against a group of innocent, unarmed and defenceless young people and their colourful leader simply because they dared to ask for a referendum?

“The fact of the matter is that whether anyone likes it or not, the attempt to break, subjugate, demonise, belittle, vilify and wipe out the Igbo race through the auspices of intimidation, disinformation, manipulation of the media, mass murder and ethnic cleansing by the Buhari administration shall fail.

“The truth is that this whole thing is not about IPOB but about the consistent expression of an irrational, illogical and pathological hatred of the Igbos by the maximum ruler of the Nigerian state.

“And if he gets away with it and manages to achieve his sinister and nefarious objective he will come after the Yoruba, the Ijaw, the Tiv and everyone else in a matter of time!

“That is why it is important to refuse to be intimidated, to stand firm, to hold the line, to resist him with every fibre of our being and to insist on the restructuring and the renegotiation of Nigeria”, the former presidential spokesman added.

Python Dance: Graphic Photos of People Killed by Soldiers in Aba Today

Multiple online reports coming in from Aba, Abia state – have it that soldiers are currently dispersing rioting members of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB with live bullets. According to an eyewitness, Ikemefula Nobart who has been giving live updates from the situation at hand, the military men shot live bullets directly at citizens in order to disperse the surging crowd.
 

Meanwhile, a tailor popularly known as Imo and another man were allegedly gunned down by bullets fired by the security operatives during the chaos along market road in Aba, Abia state capital.

North Korea threatens to 'sink' Japan, reduce U.S. to 'ashes and darkness'

By Jack Kim and Kiyoshi Takenaka

SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - A North Korean state agency threatened on Thursday to use nuclear weapons to "sink" Japan and reduce the United States to "ashes and darkness" for supporting a U.N. Security Council resolution and sanctions over its latest nuclear test.

The Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, which handles the North's external ties and propaganda, also called for the breakup of the Security Council, which it called "a tool of evil" made up of "money-bribed" countries that move at the order of the United States.

"The four islands of the archipelago should be sunken into the sea by the nuclear bomb of Juche. Japan is no longer needed to exist near us," the committee said in a statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency.

Juche is the North's ruling ideology that mixes Marxism and an extreme form of go-it-alone nationalism preached by state founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un.

Regional tension has risen markedly since the reclusive North conducted its sixth, and by far its most powerful, nuclear test on Sept. 3, following a series of missile tests, including one that flew over Japan.

The 15-member Security Council voted unanimously on a U.S.-drafted resolution and a new round of sanctions on Monday in response, banning North Korea's textile exports that are the second largest only to coal and mineral, and capping fuel supplies.

The North reacted to the latest action by the Security Council, which had the backing of veto-holding China and Russia, by reiterating threats to destroy the United States, Japan and South Korea.

"Let's reduce the U.S. mainland into ashes and darkness. Let's vent our spite with mobilization of all retaliation means which have been prepared till now," the statement said.

Japan's Nikkei stock index and dollar/yen currency pared gains, although traders said that was more because of several Chinese economic indicators released on Thursday rather than a reaction to the North's latest statement.

South Korea's won also edged down around the same time over domestic financial concerns.

Despite the North's threats, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he was against having nuclear weapons in his country, either by developing its own arsenal or bringing back U.S. tactical nuclear weapons that were withdrawn in the early 1990s.

"To respond to North Korea by having our own nuclear weapons will not maintain peace on the Korean peninsula and could lead to a nuclear arms race in northeast Asia," Moon said in an interview with CNN.

South Korea's Unification Ministry also said it planned to provide $8 million through the U.N. World Food Programme and UNICEF to help infants and pregnant women in the North.

The move marks Seoul's first humanitarian assistance for the North since its fourth nuclear test in January 2016 and is based on a longstanding policy of separating humanitarian aid from politics, the ministry said.

"DANCING TO THE TUNE"

The North's latest threats also singled out Japan for "dancing to the tune" of the United States, saying it should never be pardoned for not offering a sincere apology for its "never-to-be-condoned crimes against our people", an apparent reference to Japan's wartime aggression.

It also referred to South Korea as "traitors and dogs" of the United States.

Japan criticized the North's statement harshly.

"This announcement is extremely provocative and egregious. It is something that markedly heightens regional tension and is absolutely unacceptable," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, visiting India, called for strict enforcement of the U.N. resolution, saying the world must force a change.

The 15-member Security Council voted unanimously on a U.S.-drafted resolution and a new round of sanctions against North Korea on Monday in response to its latest and most powerful test, banning North Korea's textile exports that are the second largest only to coal and mineral, and capping fuel supplies.

North Korea had already rejected the Security Council resolution, vowing to press ahead with its nuclear and missile programs.

A tougher initial U.S. draft of Monday's resolution was weakened to win the support of China, the North's lone major ally, and Russia. Significantly, it stopped short of imposing a full embargo on oil exports to North Korea, most of which come from China.

The latest sanctions also make it illegal for foreign firms to form commercial joint ventures with North Korean entities.

U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed that North Korea will never be allowed to threaten the United States with a nuclear-tipped missile, but has also asked China to do more to rein in its neighbor. China in turn favors an international response to the problem.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the international community had reached a "high consensus" on trying to realize a peaceful solution.

"We urge the relevant directly involved parties to seize the opportunity and have the political nerve to make the correct political choice as soon as possible," Hua told a regular press briefing.

The North accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea because the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce and not a peace treaty.

(For a graphic on North Korea's missile and nuclear tests, click: http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/rngs/NORTHKOREA-MISSILES/010050SV1V2/northkorea-missiles.jpg)

(Additional reporting by Christian Shepherd in Beijing, Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Editing by Paul Tait and Nick Macfie)