DAILY RENDEZVOUS

Adamawa 2019: I Will Recover Adamawa's Stolen Money-Fintiri By Billy Graham Abel Yola The Adamawa governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has promised to recover looted funds by the APC government in Adamawa state when elected governor. Fintiri said the salary arrears owed local government staff was in itself a fraud as allocations from the federal coffers was sufficient enough to pay salaries without incurring debt. Fintiri made the remarks during at a rally in Yola where more than one hundred and fifty women groups endorsed his governorship ambition. Fintiri said he would right the wrongs of the incumbent administration which has killed the dreams and aspirations of Adamawa people through its corrupt practices and policies that brought about hunger and poverty in the state. Fintiri said, "Funds allocated to local government sent from the federal coffers will be released to all local government in the state when I become govern...

Nigerian Police Dismisses 121 Officers After it Publicly Denied Deployment Mutiny The  Nigeria Police  have dismissed 121 of at least 167 police officers who absconded from a counterterrorism training facility to avoid deployment against Boko Haram insurgents last week, as per PREMIUM TIMES report. The 121 officers of the rank-and-file were accused of committing mutiny and desertion, prompting Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris to order their dismissal with immediate effect. A directive has gone out for several police units where the dismissed officers were attached to immediately retrieve all equipment in their possession and remove them from payrolls, according to a December 26 signal seen by PREMIUM TIMES. The mass dismissal comes a day after PREMIUM TIMES broke the news of the large-scale desertion, eliciting renewed nationwide concerns about Nigeria’s progress in the Boko Haram war, which is now entering its tenth year. The 167 officers whom  PREMIUM TIMES ...

Former Nigerian President Shehu Shagari is Dead At 93 Former Nigerian President, Shehu Shagari, is dead Mr Shagari, 93, died Friday evening at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness. The death of the elder statesman was announced by his grandson, Bello Shagari, via his Twitter handle. Mr Shagari was elected president in 1979 and led Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He was removed from office via a military coup in December 1983. The coup plotters eventually named then Major General Muhammadu Buhari as the Head of State. Mr Shagari’s death was also confirmed by the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal. Tambuwal said, "I regret to Announce the death of former President Shehu Shagari who just passed away at National Hospital Abuja. May his Soul Rest in Peace."

BABA 1010 DECLARES FOR REPS IN ADAMAWA. BARNABAS MANYAM YOLA. A popular business man Alh. Ibrahim Mustapha Yola, known as Baba 1010 has declared for the House of Representatives seat under Yola North, Girei and Yola South federal constituency. Baba 1010 who spoke at a large gathering in Yola south during the launching of his campaighn said he was contesting the 2019 elections because he wants to change the conditions of youths and women in the area. Baba 1010 said Adamawa State people have been experiencing a lot of sufferings especially in the area of job creation and youth mobilization which had remained dormant but if elected he would create enabling environment for training of women and youths.  Baba 1010 who is a successful and the owner of Top 10 groups of restaurants and hotels said he was contesting under the platform of the African Democratic Party ADC. He revealed as part of his humanitarian services he had mobilized youths by purchasing four boats for Rugange comm...

NCDC OFFERS FIVE IMPORTANT TIPS TO PREVENT CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS Wednesday, December 19, 2018 -  During the dry season, high temperatures and low humidity increase the likelihood of transmission of organisms causing Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in Nigeria. Over the last one month, there has been an increase in the reporting of suspected cases of CSM in Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Bayelsa and Ondo with confirmed cases of Neisseria Meningitis Type C (Nmc) reported in Zamfara and Jigawa States. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and partners have commenced preparedness activities, through the national CSM Technical Working Group (TWG). The TWG has completed a risk assessment exercise for prioritisation, and issued letters of alert to states to ensure adequate preparedness this season. NCDC is issuing this public health advisory note to members of the public to be aware of the risk and take appropriate precautions. Cerebrospinal Me...

My Ambition is Not Worth Anyone's Blood-Fintiri By Billy Graham Abel Yola PDP candidate in the 2019 elections, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has said in no uncertain terms that his candidacy is not worth the blood of any son of Adamawa. Fintiri made the remarks, Thursday, at the  signing of Peace Accord of all Governorship candidates in Adamawa, banning violence, intimidation, hate speech among other behavior that could undermine the credibility of the 2019 elections. The PDP Candidate said the pact would have been unnecessary if INEC had provided a level ground and were the extant electoral Laws of the Country respected. He expressed reservations over president Muhammadu Buhari's refusal to assent to the 2018 Electoral Act saying the APC led government cannot claim to be committed to a free and fair elections without assenting to the Electoral Act. The outspoken governorship candidate also questioned the synergy between INEC and  Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers saying ...

Adamawa 2019: Bindow Absent As 13 Governorship Candidate Sign Peace Accord By Billy Graham Abel Yola Thirteen of the twenty nine governorship candidates in Adamawa have on Thursday signed a peace accord outlawing violence, thuggery, hate speech and other actions or inactions that are capable of undermine the conduct and credibility of the 2019 elections in Adamawa but the incubent governor, Muhammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow failed to show up for the peace pact signing. Spearheading the signing of peace accord in Yola, the Adamawa state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kassim Gaidam urged the candidates to respect the electoral process and maintain decorum saying the peace accord does not suggest in anyway that they have been violent. Gaidam said electoral violence is the greatest threat to a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria and that party in fightings has left the commission embroiled in 396 court cases and 52 petitions between August-October, 2018. Gaidam notes that, ...

Former chief of Defense Staff, AVM Alex Badeh killed By Suspected Gunmen Nigeria's former Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Badeh has been bkilled by unknown Gunmen  along  Abuja- Keffi road. Announcing his death in a couple of tweets on the official Twitter handle of the Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said, "It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defene Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who died today, 18 Dec 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.  "On behalf officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late former Chief of Defence Staff over this irreparable loss.  "We pray that the Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest."

Adamawa 2019: SPD Governorship Candidate Says He Wants A Debate - I Will End Dependence on Abuja for Handouts - Bello By Billy Graham Abel Yola The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Emmanuel Bello, has boosted that he is ready to challenge all the governorship candidate in the  state with his ideas and plans to prove his mettle and competence to lead Adamawa state in 2019. Bello said, he has a detailed  blueprint for a holistic development of Adamawa state into a state that would no longer depend on federal purse to survive but would only release can abridged version for fear of  candidates accustomed to theft of ideas. Emmanuel Bello made the remarks, while launching his ten point campaign agenda for Adamawa state, Tuesday, in Yola, Adamawa state.   While launching his campaign agenda of a community driven government for Adamawa state tagged, "Leave No One Behind," he promised to tackle the perennial habit of over dependence on fed...

Adamawa 2019: SPD Governorship Candidate Says He Wants A Debate - I Will End Dependence on Abuja for Handouts - Bello By Billy Graham Abel Yola The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Emmanuel Bello, has boosted that he is ready to challenge all the governorship candidate in the  state with his ideas and plans to prove his mettle and competence to lead Adamawa state in 2019. Bello said, he has a detailed  blueprint for a holistic development of Adamawa state into a state that would no longer depend on federal purse to survive but would only release can abridged version for fear of  candidates accustomed to theft of ideas. Emmanuel Bello made the remarks, while launching his ten point campaign agenda for Adamawa state, Tuesday, in Yola, Adamawa state.   While launching his campaign agenda of a community driven government for Adamawa state tagged, "Leave No One Behind," he promised to tackle the perennial habit of over dependence on feder...

Sports BREAKING : Jose Mourinho SACKED by Man Utd after poor run to the season Jose Mourinho has officially been sacked by Manchester United following their disappointing start to the season according to all football. The Red Devils were humbled by Liverpool on Sunday as they were beaten 3-1 by their fiercest rivals at Anfield. And United have decided that result was the final straw and have partied company with the Portuguese. A club statement read: "Manchester United announces that manager  Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect . "The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future. " A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season , while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager." Mourinho spent two-and-a-half years in the Old Trafford dugout and won the EFL Cup and the Europa League in the 2016-17 season....

Amnesty Blames Buhari for Farmers/Herders Killings (FULL TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE) WARNING: This press release contains graphic descriptions of killings* Nigeria: Government failures fuel escalating conflict between farmers and herders as death toll nears 4,000 -At least 3,641 people killed between 2016 and 2018, most of them this year. -Failure of security forces allows some attacks to last for days. -Authorities’ failure to investigate attacks fuels further bloodshed. The Nigerian authorities’ failure to investigate communal clashes and bring perpetrators to justice has fuelled a bloody escalation in the conflict between farmers and herders across the country, resulting in at least 3,641 deaths in the past three years and the displacement of thousands more, Amnesty International revealed today. In a new report, “Harvest of Death: Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmers and Herders”, Amnesty International found that 57 per cent of t...

Amnesty Blames Buhari for Farmers/Herders Killings (FULL TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE) WARNING: This press release contains graphic descriptions of killings* Nigeria: Government failures fuel escalating conflict between farmers and herders as death toll nears 4,000 -At least 3,641 people killed between 2016 and 2018, most of them this year. -Failure of security forces allows some attacks to last for days. -Authorities’ failure to investigate attacks fuels further bloodshed. The Nigerian authorities’ failure to investigate communal clashes and bring perpetrators to justice has fuelled a bloody escalation in the conflict between farmers and herders across the country, resulting in at least 3,641 deaths in the past three years and the displacement of thousands more, Amnesty International revealed today. In a new report, “Harvest of Death: Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmers and Herders”, Amnesty International found that 57 per cent of t...

PDP Starlwarts Defect to APC -Two former PDP Governors Expected to Follow By Billy Graham Abel Yola A number of PDP starlwarts in Adamawa state have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Adamawa, Tuesday. The due of Ari Kobis, an aspirant for the southern Adamawa senatorial seat, and Manu Saleh Michika, the son of the late former Adamawa state governor, Saleh Michika made their intentions known at the official flagging off of the Buhari/Bindow campaign office in Yola, Adamawa state, Tuesday. Speaking at the occasion, the Adamawa state governor, Muhammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow promised to offset teachers salary to continue to provide the statement  with better infrastructure. Daily Rendezvous gathered that two former governors, Boni Haruna and Bala James Ngilari, are expected to  officially announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC and declare their support for the reelection bid of governor Jibrilla as the governor...

Govt Failure Escalates Farmers/Herders Conflict-Amnesty Nigeria's government failures fuel escalating conflict between farmers & herders as death toll nears 4,000. Hundreds are still displaced in many parts of the country.

Presidency Says Army Will Resolve Issue With  UNICEF - As Amnesty International Slams Military The Presidency has reacted on Friday night to Nigerian Army’s suspension of the humanitarian activities of the United Nations International Children Emergency (UNICEF) in the North East. Recall that the Army had among the reasons it suspended UNICEF’s activities in the North East accused the international organisation of sabotaging its counterterrorism efforts in the region. But reacting to the development few hours ago, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the Army and UNICEF will meet on Saturday over the issue. ”The Military Commander and his team have a meeting with UNICEF tomorrow, to resolve the issues of concern regarding some of the actions of UN agency. They will resolve their issues by tomorrow,” said Mallam shehu. The presidential spokesperson however did speak on whether the...

IPC Trains Female Politicians in the North East on Effective Media Usage By Billy Graham Abel Yola The International Press Center, IPC, has trained over 25 female politicians drawn from various states in the northeast Nigeria, on the effective strategies and methods for gaining media visibility and adequate media representation during campaigns. The training which pulled together female aspirants across party divides from the north east of Nigeria seeks to equip female politicians with the techniques and skills for improving their already negative visibility index in the media. IPC's program manager, Stella Nwofia explained that, "Over the years lPC has been training journalist across all the geo-political zones of the country in respect to attaining professionalism in media practice but this time around with the help of the European Union, (EU), we have decided to package a training specifically for famale politicians towards equipping them with the skills for gaining m...

BREAKING: Military suspends UNICEF activities in North-East The Nigerian Army has said it is suspending the operations of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in the North-East theatre until further notice. The Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, which coordinates the Boko Haram anti-insurgency war in the North-East, stated this in a release by its spokesperson, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, alleging that UNICEF had shifted from “its duty of catering to the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now engages in training selected persons for clandestine activities.” The Operation Lafiya Dole Command claimed on Friday that UNICEF was “sabotaging the counter-terrorism efforts” of troops through “spurious and unconfirmed allegations bordering on alleged violations of human rights by the military.” Nwachukwu said, “It is baffling to note that some of these organisations have been pla...

2019: Reconcilation Committee Welcomed But  Belated-Duhu By Billy Graham Abel Yola The pioneer National Vice Chairnan, North East of the APC, Umar Duhu, described the Constitution of a reconciliatory committee by the APC as a welcomed development but a belated one move. Duhu Said, APC left many of its members in the dark heading into the congresses and primaries about what it intends to do in many states and how they intend to attain candidacy at so many levels, leaving on it's trails that alot of bad blood and ill feeling among members of the party. Duhu made the remarks Saturday, while addressing newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State. Duhu Said, "A situation where members of the party were allowed to purchase forms and only to be told in some instances that others were consensus candidates was unsettling and a serious problem that the APC must address." Duhu however maintained that he has confidence in the Almakura led reconcilation committee of the APC an...

US GOVERNMENT CONGRATULATES NIGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR COMMITMENT TO PEACE By Billy Graham Abel Yola The United States government has congratulated the presidential candidates and parties who signed the Peace Accord for the 2019 presidential elections saying the peace accord is a great step towards achieving the goals shared by all Nigerians of having a national elections that are free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful. The US government made this known in a press statement made available to newsmen, Wednesday. The statement said, "The United States warmly congratulates the presidential candidates and parties who have signed the Peace Accord for the 2019 Presidential elections.   "We also congratulate all those advocates for Peace and Democracy who have worked together to achieve this important result.   "Your Peace Accord is a great step towards the goal shared by all Nigerians of national elections that are free, fair, transparent, credi...

No Candidate Can defeat Bindow in 2019- Bindow's Aide  By Billy Graham Abel Yola One of the advisers to governor Muhammed Umaru Jibrilla, Bashir Abdullahi, said, that governor Muhammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow stands in a pole position to clinch the Adamawa governorship race in 2019 in view of his wide acceptance with the ordinary people of Adamawa state and the impeccable track records he has in the state. Bashir said, governor Jibrilla's people oriented projects and massive infrastructural leap for the state has made him the darling of the masses and would easily clinch the 2019 race. Bashir Abdullahi made the remarks, Wednesday, while addressing newsmen in Yola, Adamawa state. Speaking on the state of the party in Adamawa, Bashir called on members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state, to cease all hostilities and rally behind governor Jibrilla Bindow and president Muhammadu Buhari in order to ensure victory for the party in 2019. Bashir who pleaded with al...

Guber Candidate Condemns Incessant Assassination in Adamawa By Billy Graham Abel Yola The governorship candidate of the All Blending Party, ABP, in Adamawa state, Daniel Shaga Ismaila, has condemned the cold blooded murder of a reknown Adamawa physician, Mwagim Malgwi and his wife, Elizabeth Malgwi. Daniel Shaga decribed that killing as, "Callous, dastardly and reckless attempt..to Keep Adamawa people in fear." Daniel Shaga Ismaila said, "It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of loss that I interface with you, members of the press, and indeed the general public on a very sad and trending development in our dear state, Adamawa. "The shocking news of the sudden loss of a prominent physician and elder statesman, Dr. Mwajim Malgwi, the proprietor and Chief Medical Director of Freedom Poly~Clinic Yola, and his dear wife Mrs. Elizabeth Malgwi is callous, dastardly and reckless. Dr. and Mrs. Malgwi were killed in their farm located somewhere near the city center a...