StallionTV

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Akwa Ibom State government has berated the Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters to President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Ita Enang, over recent comments on RUGA, advising him to tread the honourable path of upholding integrity as the interest of the state remains larger than any selfish interest. Herdsmen along with their cows The state government in a statement by Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, in a reaction to comment by Enang on a live radio programme regarding the controversial RUGA programme of the Federal Government, noted that such comments were capable of heating the polity as well as causing security breach in the state.

Enang had during a live interview on a private radio station in Uyo on Saturday, claimed that cows seen in Akwa Ibom State were owned by big men, who also employed the Fulani to manage them.

He further gave names of serving and former senators, national and state Houses of Assembly members, chairmen of councils, retired and serving soldiers, party chairmen, elders and leaders in the state as owners of the cows. However reacting, Udoh said: “The comments made on a live radio programme may, on a cursory look, sound like another of his lame political gamesmanship but beyond that façade, it becomes a matter of grave concern when a man of his standing deliberately makes statements capable of heating up the polity in his home state and causing security breaches.

“The candid advice to our brother is that he should exhibit candour and tread the honourable path of upholding integrity, which is the hallmark of true Akwa Ibomites.

There is life after political office. The interest of Akwa Ibom State is larger than any selfish and sycophantic political interest.

“It is unfortunate that Enang has chosen the dishonourable path of politically celebrating the death of his kinsmen instead of commiserating with them.”

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The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, is considering death penalty for kidnappers in the state.

Abiodun said on his twitter page after hosting Remo Leaque of Imams who paid him a Sallah homage at his Iperu home

The page read, “As a peace loving state, we are currently considering sending a bill proposing capital punishment for kidnapping to the House of Aseembly.

Also, in a statement sent by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Tuesday, Abiodun described kidnapping as economic crime that must be stopped by all means.

He said most of the kidnappers were foreigners who disguise as herdmen, saying it would not augur well for the state if criminals were allowed to operate unchecked.

Punch

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Dangote Cement Plc yesterday stated that the rate at which consumers are winning valuable prizes in its on-going national consumer promotion tagged ‘bag of goodies’ is not a gimmick, but a means of giving back to the loyal consumers of its cement products.

Aliko Dangote. Chairman, Dangote Cement Plc, stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at a ceremony to reward winners in the promo where, a 35-year old Engineer and businessman, Tochukwu Anthony from Enugu State won the star Prize of a brand new GACs car, while Amadi Richard and Julius Ilabeshi won flat screen LED TV sets a piece.

Perhaps, the most interesting of all is that of a 70-year old moin-moin seller, Alhaja Nimota Adetoro who won a saloon car in Ikirun and got her car presented to her in Osogbo, Osun State capital amid pomp and trills.

Dangote, who was represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a non-executive member of the company’s Board of directors, Mrs. Dorathy Ufot in Port Harcourt and Benin, stated that the presentation events were a proof to doubting Thomas’s that the promo is not a scam, pointing out that the company value its customers; which explains why it would not make any promise that it won’t fulfil.

“We are giving out 43 cars nation-wide and other prizes. We are here today to say thank you for your contribution to the growth of our company, Dangote Cement PLC. We value our customers , and that is why we have brought this promo to Port Harcourt. We value everybody in our value chain system (distributors, wholesalers and retailers) and this our own way of giving back to our consumers.

“On behalf of Alhalji Aliko Dangote, the Board of Dangote Cement, the management staff and the entire of the company, we are here to say a big thank you to you to all. The national promo is for real. It is not a scam, it is not a gimmick and not a 419 thing.

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Premier League football returns this weekend with all 20 top-flight teams in action between Friday and Sunday as the 2019-20 campaign kicks off.

Liverpool and Norwich kicked off the action on Friday night at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds thrashing the Canaries 4-1 on Merseyside. But Manchester City, just as they did last season, went one better.

Pep Guardiola’s side kicked off the season with a thumping 5-0 win at West Ham, before Tottenham fought back after going a goal-down to Aston Villa to win 3-1 at home.

Sunday’s action began with Unai Emery’s Arsenal beating Newcastle as Leicester and Wolves could not be separated, with the tie of gameweek 1 was saved until last as Manchester United put Chelsea to the sword with a 4-0 win at Old Trafford

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has asked Nigerian Muslims to use the solemn period of Sallah to present Nigeria’s precarious situation to Allah for his prompt intervention.

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Prince Secondus, in a Sallah message yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Ike Abonyi, said poor leadership was threatening the existence and survival of the nation.

The PDP leader said, “Only justice and fairness, the type only God gives can rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse.”

Secondus added that, “The blood of thousands of innocent souls being wasted daily in our land should be enough mitigation to plead to God to save this country from destruction. “Nigerians should also use the period to offer fervent prayers for the unity and stability of the nation which is seriously under threat due to poor leadership.”

He explained that intense prayer for the country had become necessary more than ever before, adding that the nation was in dire need of divine intervention to survive.

“We know as a fact that this is not what Nigerians desire from democracy, especially given what happened on February 23, 2019.

But a period like this solemn time provides the people an opportunity to ask Allah to allow the will of the people to prevail.

“It is a statement of fact that this is one of the worst times in our history as a country where lives are valueless and freedom denied to persons holding opposite views in a national discourse by an obviously intolerant political leadership.

“I charge you not to allow the challenges of now make you lose your dignity and modesty as a people and miss the essence and meaning of the Eid-el-Kabir festivity and the divine succour it brings, in assuring us that there is always a light at the end of every tunnel.”

DailyNews

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The PDP has won the chairmanship and councillorship positions held in all the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State. However, the main opposition party in the state, the APC, did not participate in the elections.

Announcing the results from the returning officers of the eight LGAs on Sunday in Yenagoa, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), Mr. Remember Ogbe, said Mr. Dengiye Ubarugu of the PDP polled 42,539 votes to defeat ADC candidate, who polled 1031 votes in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, while in Southern Ijaw, PDP candidate, Kia Nigeria, polled 107,150 votes to defeat AD candidate, Dr. Nwiwu Johnson, who had 2,489 votes.

In Ekeremor LGA, Chief Perekeme Petula emerged winner with 62,529 votes, as other parties had no vote; while in Sagbama LGA, Mr. Alah Embeleakpo scored 96,468 votes to emerge as chairman-elect.

In Brass LGA, Mr. Victor Isaiah of the PDP scored 28,667 votes, while LP candidate scored 2,948 votes. In Ogbia LGA, Mr. Turner Ebinyo of PDP scored 17,661 votes to defeat ADC’s candidate who scored 1,017.

In Yenagoa LGA, Mr. Uroupaye Nimizuoa of the PDP scored 98,831 votes to defeat Mr. Lawrence Kwokwo of ACD who scored 636 votes.

The BYSIEC chairman described the exercise as peaceful in all the areas the elections were conducted.

Punch

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The PDP has won the chairmanship and councillorship positions held in all the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State. However, the main opposition party in the state, the APC, did not participate in the elections.

Announcing the results from the returning officers of the eight LGAs on Sunday in Yenagoa, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), Mr. Remember Ogbe, said Mr. Dengiye Ubarugu of the PDP polled 42,539 votes to defeat ADC candidate, who polled 1031 votes in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, while in Southern Ijaw, PDP candidate, Kia Nigeria, polled 107,150 votes to defeat AD candidate, Dr. Nwiwu Johnson, who had 2,489 votes.

In Ekeremor LGA, Chief Perekeme Petula emerged winner with 62,529 votes, as other parties had no vote; while in Sagbama LGA, Mr. Alah Embeleakpo scored 96,468 votes to emerge as chairman-elect.

In Brass LGA, Mr. Victor Isaiah of the PDP scored 28,667 votes, while LP candidate scored 2,948 votes. In Ogbia LGA, Mr. Turner Ebinyo of PDP scored 17,661 votes to defeat ADC’s candidate who scored 1,017.

In Yenagoa LGA, Mr. Uroupaye Nimizuoa of the PDP scored 98,831 votes to defeat Mr. Lawrence Kwokwo of ACD who scored 636 votes.

The BYSIEC chairman described the exercise as peaceful in all the areas the elections were conducted.

Punch

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The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has greeted the President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Co-Chairman, Nigeria Inter- Religious Council, Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, and the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria as they celebrate the Ed-el Kabir.

Ayokunle stated that the period should be spent on deeper reflection on the challenges facing the country and the need to build confidence in one another by a deliberate show of love for peace-building.

The CAN leader, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, called on the government to do everything to curb criminality in the nation “through more technology-based surveillance and prompt action against violence in any guise.”

The statement signed by CAN National Director, Legal and Public Affairs, Samuel Kwamkur, stated, “We urge Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to be reminded that we have no other nation to call ours beside Nigeria, hence the need for all well-meaning Nigerians to be patriotic and support the fight against insurgency, kidnapping and all forms of insecurity and criminality bedeviling Nigeria.”

The Christian body admonished government officials to see their status as a divine calling and a responsibility to protect the lives and property of citizens

Punch

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The 43 ministers-designate are to be inaugurated on August 21 by President Muhammadu Buhari, a statement by Babatunde Lawal, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Ahead of their inauguration, ministers-designate are scheduled to undergo a two-day induction retreat at the State House Conference Room, Presidential Villa beginning from August 19.

The statement reads: “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, invites all ministers-designate, head of the civil service of the federation, federal permanent secretaries and top government functionaries (specifically invited) to a two-day induction retreat to be presided over by his excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the retreat earlier publicised has been rescheduled.”

The objectives of the retreat, he said, include: Build a strong platform for synergy and teamwork, sensitise appointees on the status of the implementation of policies, programmes and projects of government from 2015 till date
acquaint the appointees with the roadmap for delivery of government’s priorities and next level agenda (2019-2023).

Deepen the understanding of participants on best practices in conducting government business.
The statement said attendance at both events is mandatory and strictly by invitation.

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Everton yesterday agreed a £35 million signing of Alex Iwobi from Arsenal in one of the most significant late moves of deadline day.
Manager Marco Silva was desperate for another center-half and wide attacker before the transfer window closed. The move for Iwobi – who shook hands on a five-year contract – improves Silva’s attacking options, but he looks worrying short of cover in defense going into the new season.

A fresh move for Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha never materialised, and nor – according to the club – was it ever going to. Everton insists they made only one bid for the winger, that of £52 million on July 28.

Zaha was never the highest priority on the Goodison agenda – valued well beyond what the Merseysiders’ were prepared to pay – making his decision to hand in a transfer request earlier this week ill-advised.

Tottenham also made the headlines on a busy final day of the Premier League transfer window with deals for Giovani lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon, while Arsenal strengthened their defense with the signing of David Luiz and Kieran Tierney.

Manchester United striker, Romelu Lukaku’s prolonged transfer to Inter Milan was also completed after the clubs reportedly agreed on a deal that could rise to 80 million euros (£74 million, 90 million dollars). Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been under pressure from manager Mauricio Pochettino to build on the progress made on and off the field as Tottenham moved into a new 62,000-capacity stadium and reached the Champions League final last season.

After the club-record signing of French international midfielder, Tanguy Ndombele, the signings of Lo Celso and Sessegnon add some much-needed depth to a Spurs squad that had previously gone 18 months without a new recruit.

Argentine international midfielder Lo Celso has joined on a season-long loan deal from Real Betis with an option to make the transfer permanent next summer.

England under-21 international Sessegnon joins from Fulham in a £25 million deal that could rise to £30 million in performance-related add-ons on a six-year contract.

However, a sensational swoop for Paulo Dybala broke down with Juventus unwilling to let the Argentine leave without an adequate replacement, having missed out on Lukaku.

Arsenal was badly in need of defensive recruits to shore up a backline that conceded 51 Premier League goals last season to miss out on Champions League football for a third straight year.

The Londoners long-standing interest in Tierney was finally given the green light when the payment structure of a 25-million pounds move was agreed with Celtic.

Manchester City and Liverpool are expected to battle for the Premier League title once more but were not busy on deadline day.

City brought in veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson on loan from Derby as back-up to Ederson and Claudio Bravo after the signings of Rodri, Angelino and Joao Cancelo earlier in the window.

Liverpool made just three low-key additions in teenagers Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott and back-up goalkeeper Adrian over the course of the summer.

Outside the top six, Watford broke their transfer record to bring in Senegal international Ismaila Sarr for a reported 35 million euros from Rennes.

Brighton bolstered their midfield options with the loan signing of Australian international Aaron Mooy.

Former England international Andy Carroll returned to Newcastle on a free transfer from West Ham, while the Magpies also secured Swedish defender Emil Krafth.

Leicester is also set to use some of the £80 million pounds they received from Manchester United for Harry Maguire on Sampdoria midfielder Dennis Praet for 20 million euros. And Burnley secured the services of Danny Drinkwater on loan from Chelsea until January.