Drama as Bamidele leaves APC for LP

Opeyemi Bamidele

A former Leader of the All Progressives Congress caucus in the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, on Thursday formally informed the House that he was no longer a member of the APC. He has now joined the Labour Party.

He told members that his reason for leaving APC dated back to the start of merger talks among the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change and the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

Bamidele added that he opposed the merger from the beginning and did not wish that “my party, the ACN,” should be part of the merger.

As he made his explanations, LP members, Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers, among others were seen shaking hands with him and congratulating Bamidele on his decision to join LP.

Reacting to claims that the APC had lost its majority strength due to the defection of Bamidele, the Minority Leader in the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, explained that the Ekiti lawmaker had never been included in the calculation since he had already left the party.

The APC leader added, “Let me state that Bamidele was not in the initial numerical configuration that gave birth to the majority status of the APC about two months ago.

“From the record of the APC House Caucus,  his name had been  deleted long before his official communication of defection today.

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SSS summons El-Rufai, warns against inciting statements

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai
| credits: File copy

The  State Security Service   has  invited a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,  to appear at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday (today) over a statement attributed to him in the Thursday edition of  a national daily newspaper (not The PUNCH).

El-Rufai,  who is also the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress,  was said to have been invited to clarify the statement  in which he allegedly said   that “the next election  are  likely to be violent and that  many people are likely going to die.”

He was also quoted as having said  that “the only alternative left to get power is to take it by force.”

His  Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, told   our correspondent through a text message on Thursday,   that El-Rufai   was  willing to meet the SSS   in his home or office or in the alternative, the agency should produce a warrant of arrest.

Adekeye said, “El-Rufai called the Director-General of SSS and told him that he had a pending suit against the service over the   Anambra State  governorship  election, as such he would not go to the SSS office.”

  Before the invitation of El-Rufai was made known to our correspondent, the SSS   had    warned  that  it would deal with  politicians and other individuals  making threatening and provocative statements ahead of the 2015 elections.

NDLEA arrests 490 suspects, seizes 9,163.96kg of drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos on Thursday said it arrested 490 drug suspects and seized 9,163.96kg in 2013.

The agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr Ofoyeju Mitchel, who made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the figure was higher than the 321 arrested in 2012.

Mitchel said that 51 women were arrested in 2013 compared to the 16 women arrested in 2012.

He said 79 people were convicted in 2013 and 67 in 2012, adding that 128 cases were pending in court in 2013 compared to the 56 in 2012.

Ofoyeju said the drug seizures in 2013 were mainly cannabis as against 2,451.23kg of narcotic comprising cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine and ephedrine in 2012.

Sandro Rosell resigns as Barca                                                     president

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Sandro Rosell has confirmed his resignation as Barcelona president, amidst investigation into the signing of Neymar from Santos.

Rosell also said that current vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu, will take over until 2016 as agreed by the board of directos.

“I am resigning irrevocably,” Rosell told reporters.

Bartomeu informed the media that a press conference will be held on Friday and details about the future will be made clearer

Jonathan queries Sanusi over donations to APC      states,   others

The presidency has issued a query to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, demanding an explanation for some of the donations made to some universities and organisations, THISDAY has reported.

A top presidency told the newspaper that the federal government took the step, following security reports that Sanusi’s activities were undermining the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sanusi is alleged to have politicized his office, while engaging in serial infractions of regulations governing the operations of the central bank.

The source stated that the presidency was worried by the way and manner Sanusi had been donating to states and institutions in the name of the central bank, without adherence to due process and regard for the multi-cultural diversities of the country.

Governor Akpabio’s brothers give out N620m SUVs to loyalists

 

During the Yuletide, some brothers of Governor Godswill Akpabio, led by Prince Akpabio, distributed about 31 SUV to certain PDP stalwarts and some aides.

The 31 SUVs were parked for weeks in front of the residence of the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Ikon and that of the Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Ekpenyong Ntekim, before finally being distributed by ‘Mega’ to some select PDP members who were believed to have  ‘served’ their masters welll.

Spurs’ Revitalised Attacker: Even My Family Said I Was “Rubbish”

Posted on January 22, 2014

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed that his Tottenham career hit rock bottom under former boss Andre Villas-Boas and even his own family insulted him due to a lack of appearances, according to The Independent.

The Togo International was alienated by the Portuguese after failing to secure a move away from White Hart Lane in the summer and found himself down the pecking order behind Roberto Soldado and Jermain Defoe. Villas-Boas constantly overlooked Adebayor, only affording him 45 minutes of action all season.

However, since Tim Sherwood has taken the reins in North London the 29 year-old has had a dramatic change in fortunes and been restored to the starting line-up.