Nigeria National News Today 13th January 2019
iDONSABI presents the national news in Nigeria today 13th of January, 2019. Some interesting happenings; Aisha Buhari clashes with Rochas, just as Buhari’s aide embattles the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
No Candidate Has Our Support Yet, Ohaneze Says
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural group, has clarified its stand regarding the forthcoming elections. The Igbo group said it would take its time in consulting far and wide, before endorsing any presidential candidate.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chucks Ibegbu said that the Igbo sociocultural group would soon take a stand.
Ibegbu said, “In a few days, probably after a week, our highest decision making organ, the Imeobi, will meet during which it will decide the political direction Ndigbo will follow”
“However, the resolution might not be made public for obvious reasons”
Recall that recently, the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, advised that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo should not endorse or adopt any candidate.
Responding, Ibegbu said “We cannot dismiss that view because of so many existing factors; so many experiences of the past”.
You can’t dismiss Okorocha’s view on that, and that is why I told you that if we don’t endorse openly it gives us room, a corridor to negotiate.
“But if we do it openly, probably the expectation fails to work out, it might have an unintended effect,’’ he noted”.
Four Die While Returning From Carnival
Four friends – Wasiu Ayinde, 28; Azeez Adeleke, 26; Ibrahim Balogun, 30; and one Samuel aged 27 – met their untimely death while returning from a carnival, last Saturday.
The victims who lived in Ijoko, Ogun State, were said to had been returning home around 5am with five others, when a car knocked them down at Mosalasi Bus stop, Gowon Estate, Lagos.
It was gathered that they had boarded a bus from the venue to the bus stop and were waiting for the next available bus when the incident occurred. Three of them died on the spot, while the fourth person died at the Ikeja General Hospital.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said the police had intensified efforts to arrest the driver. He, however, said three fatalities were recorded by the police.
Petrol Tanker Blasts Ablaze In Calabar, Leaving Many Dead
Police on Saturday said many people were feared dead after a petrol tanker veered off the road, caught fire and exploded as people tried to recover fuel.
The vehicle crashed in the Odukpani area of the southeastern state of Cross River, just north of the state capital, Calabar, at about 5pm on Friday.
Local residents rushed to collect the leaking fuel when it caught fire, triggering the blast.
Cross River state police spokeswoman Irene Ugbo said the blast could have been sparked by the clashing of steel containers used to scoop up the petrol.
The injured were taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for treatment to varying degrees of burns.
Python Dance III – Army Makes Arrests
The Nigerian Army says it has arrested “a group of hoodlums causing mayhem, extorting money and threatening the lives of innocent citizens” in Sokoto State.
Major Clement Abiade, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said that the seven suspects were apprehended at the Kalambaina and Federal Government College junction in Sokoto on Wednesday.
Abiade said that the suspects, who were in two vehicles were intercepted and found to be in possession of dangerous weapons.
He added that the suspects were allegedly seen throwing stones indiscriminately while chanting political slogans.
Gov Ayade Mourns Victims Of Fuel Tanker Blast
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has decried the tragic deaths of some persons due to fuel tanker explosion at New Netim junction in Odukpani Local Government Area.
Ayade conveyed his condolence in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita, on Saturday in Calabar.
“My heart goes out to all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion. This is the most horrendous way to die.”
“I am too shocked and traumatized to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion.”
“As a government, we must try and reach out to the victims’ families who are affected by these avoidable deaths.”
“Whatever circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident must be thoroughly investigated. This is one tragedy too many. We must do something to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.”
Ayade pleaded with residents not to subject themselves to such avoidable deaths, adding that the state Ministry of Information and Orientation would begin sensitisation campaign on the matter.
He said that the campaign should educate the citizens on the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers laden with petroleum products.
Three Die As Gory Accident Occur In Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
Three persons lost their lives while eleven others sustained various degrees of injury in a road accident when a Mazda bus somersaulted, near Makun city on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Friday.
According to sources, the driver was said to have been over speeding, and unfortunately lost control of the vehicle when his tyre got burst, leading to a summersault.
Sadly, three male adults, eight female adults were injured, while one male adult and two female adults were killed in the accident.
Aisha Buhari Clashes With Rochas Okorocha
There was pandemonium on Saturday at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Imo State, when supporters of the state All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, clashed with those of the Action Alliance governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu.
The political tension in the state was further heightened, by the disagreement between the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, and Governor Rochas Okorocha, after the governor boasted that his son-in-law, Nwosu, would win the state governorship election and not Uzodinma.
Dolapo Osinbajo, who represented Aisha at the event, however, told the crowd to vote for Buhari and the APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The governor’s comment angered the APC leaders and women who came from the five states of the South-East, forcing them to leave the stadium.
He spoke at the South-East women and youths rally held in Owerri.
South-South Govs To Hold Emergency Meeting Over CJN
The South-South Governor’s Forum has scheduled an emergency meeting of the Forum for Sunday.
A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relation’s to the Governor òf Bayelsa State, Fidelis Soriwei, said among other things, deliberation would feature the recent development involving the Chief Justice of the Federation.
Also to be deliberated at the meeting would be the security of the Niger Delta, during and after the elections, and the issue of derivation.
APC Wants To Destroy The Judiciary — Secondus
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, has alerted Nigerians and the International Community that the ruling All Progressives Congress wants to destroy the Nigerian judiciary barely 30 days to general elections, in their alleged desperation to manipulate and thwart the will of Nigerians.
He said that APC was afraid of an independent judiciary because of their alleged agenda to rig the election.
Secondus said “They want to kill Senator Dino Melaye, they want to kill the Senate President, they want to kill everybody; but they will fail because God is with Nigerians.”
I am Responsible For The CJN Travails – Buhari’s Ex-Aide
The Executive Director, Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative, Mr Dennis Aghanya, has owned up to be responsible for the travails of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
“This is a petition by an NGO, what has Mr. President got to do with it?”
“People are just trying to avoid a major issue. Our concern is to unveil irregularities.”
“People should not try to politicise the good work we are doing.”
“The person the petition was written against owned up to everything. In issues of this nature should we be sentimental or do we face facts?”
Aghanya insisted that the Presidency had no hand in the petition, as he had even charged Muhammudu Buhari to Court prior to his election as President, in 2011.
