Digital Leonard Blog

The National Union of Journalists in Kogi State has revealed that it has thrown its weight behind gubernatorial candidate, Yahaya Bello. The union made this revelation during the National NEC meeting held on Thursday, 31st October 2019 in Lokoja. Speaking at the meeting, the National President of the NUJ said  the people of Kogi state will reward the uncommon transformation that Governor Yahaya Bello has introduced to the state. Here are some pictures from the National NEC meeting: ,

President Nana Akuffo-Addo of Ghana has said that he is hopeful that the ongoing talks between Nigeria and Ghana would resolve the impasse with Nigeria’s closure of its western borders. According to him, “there’s a lot of room for continuing talks between” Nigeria and Ghana for a breakthrough to be reached. He made this statement while addressing a delegation from First National Bank, Nigeria Carlos Ahenkorah , the Deputy Trades Minister, recently said Ghana and Nigeria had reached an agreement for Ghanaian goods to be allowed into Nigeria and for Ghana-bound goods which are stuck on the Nigerian side to be allowed to cross the Nigerian-Benin border. He made it known in an interview that the agreement would be enforced in two weeks. The decision, he noted, was reached after Foreign Minister Shirley Ayokor Botchwey and Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen held talks with their Nigerian counterparts on the border closure in Abuja. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo, speaking on the matter, said,...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday October 30 2019, held talks with King Salman in Riyadh, on the second day of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, during which both leaders committed to deeper partnership for the development of both countries. President Buhari and the Saudi Monarch reviewed aspects of cooperation between both countries and agreed to advance cooperation in the areas of oil and gas, given the similarities of both countries as big producers of the commodity. In this regard, King Salman assured President Buhari of the willingness of Saudi Arabia to invest in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, thereby strengthening the strategic partnership between the Saudi Energy company, Aramco, and the NNPC.   Both leaders also discussed the current regional and global security situation, and President Buhari expressed his desire for a quick and peaceful resolution on contentious issues in the region. Noting the cordial relations Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, the two lea...

The president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said the National Assembly will strive to ensure justice for the underprivileged in the society through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. He made this statement when a delegation of the Continental Executive Committee of the African Ombudsman and Mediator led by Hon. Chile Igbawua, paid a visit to his office in the National Assembly on Wednesday. According to him, the National Assembly will ensure the protection of Human Rights in the country besides handling petitions from the public. He pointed out that the National Assembly’s support for Human Rights in Nigeria will come by way of ensuring the eventual approval of the 2020 budget estimates proposed by the Federal Government for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Lawan, who also underscored the importance of intervention and mediation by the ombudsman, stressed the need for peaceful coexistence that is hinged on the provision of justice. He stressed that ...

Senate President congratulates Buhari, APC on Supreme Court Victory  President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) on the indelible judicial seal the Supreme Court on Wednesday put on their victory in the presidential election of February 23 this year. Lawan rejoiced with President Buhari and the ruling APC for the ringing affirmation of the solid mandate the Nigerian people freely gave them, as first proclaimed by the Court of Appeal and now finally by the Supreme Court. Lawan said today's unanimous verdict of the Apex Court has removed whatever doubt that might have been raised on the integrity of the last presidential election. "Now that the litigation is over, we should all rally as one people behind the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, in his commitment to building the great nation of our dream. "The petitioners should gracefully accept the final verdict of our court of law while the w...

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila last night introduced the new Lagos Caucus leadership to the APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Executive Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House in Abuja . #NationBuilding #AJointTask #ForAGreaterLagos

The Supreme Court today, ruled out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s appeal to challenge the judgment of Justice Mohammed Garba over the February 23 poll. The seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed upheld the ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed President’s Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the polls. The CJN said the panel agreed that the appeal had no merit, adding that the panel had been reviewing the case for the past two weeks. According to the judgment, President Muhammadu Buhari remains the constitutionally elected president as the February 23 poll had shown.

The Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has described the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Supreme Court as a victory for democracy. Gbajabiamila, who said though the victory of the President at the February presidential polls was never in doubt, however, expressed his appreciation of the final victory, whereby Nigerian democracy was tested by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said, “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on his final electoral victory that was challenged by PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Gbajabiamila said: “It is my conviction that this final victory, which has never been in doubt since the conclusion of the election would allow the President to concentrate on his determination to champion good gove...

Recently, President Buhari directed a comprehensive audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), covering from 2001–2019. Following that directive the President has approved the appointment of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to prepare for the audit. The members of this committee are: Dr. Gbene Joi Nunieh — Acting Managing Director Dr. Cairo Ojougboh — Acting Executive Director, Projects Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang — Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration. The IMC was inauguration was carried out in Abuja on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 by HM Godswill Akpabio. The Inauguration of the new NDDC Board Members - whose names have been sent to the National Assembly for confirmation - will be put on hold until the forensic audit exercise is completed. The IMC will run the organization in the intervening period.

For many people, November 16 2019 will be just like any other day that they have had in the past, but for the people of Kogi state, it is the day they solidify the already known fact; that Yahaya Bello is again their choice as the governor of the state. The state has no doubt enjoyed tremendous development in the past 4 years, and it is only normal for the people of the state to want a continuity of the benefits and positive changes that they have experienced in the past years. Taking charge of the broom of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Yahaya has managed to sweep away chaos and bad governance in the state. He is not done with the sweeping as on the 16 th of November, he will again find his way to the Lugard House to continue the good work he has started in the state. There is no questioning his competence in the position, his love for his people or his work ethic. Various projects round the state and the people of the state lay testimony to the fact that he has imp...

State media on Tuesday evening reported that at least 42 people have been killed after their houses were swept away in a landslide caused by torrential rain in the western Cameroon city of Bafoussam. A senior local officer told AFP on the condition of anonymity that searches were ongoing as they feared there were further deaths. While media reports had earlier spoken of about 30 dead, with 4 pregnant women included as victims, a total of 42 bodies were taken to the hospital in the city, according to an official statement read on CRTV. It is estimated that at least 120 people live in the neighbourhood which was swept away by the floods. The landslide which happened at around 21:00 GMT when most people were in their homes, had the government deploy rescue teams and the military at the site to search for more survivors after its occurrence. The Centralization and Local development minister said the government has released $40,000 to help the local community. “ We present the government’s ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has come out to refute and described the allegation levelled against it by the All Progressives Congress (APC), of instigating the Supreme Court justices sitting on the election petition tribunal as highly irresponsible. The ruling party had in a statement on Monday accused the main opposition party of plotting to instigate the justices sitting on Presidential election petition even as it accused the PDP of engaging the services of an unnamed American columnist to write what it called “damaging articles.” In a swift reaction, however, PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said: “ We see the allegation by the APC as highly irresponsible. We won’t say more than that for now. However, the party will issue a formal statement in due course.”

Senator Gabriel Suswam , the former governor of Benue State, has stated that he does not intend to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the   All Progressives Congress, APC, as being rumours in the state suggested. The senator who represents the Benue North-East district made the clarification at the weekend during the 57th birthday celebration of the State Chairman of the PDP, Sir John Ngbede at the Methodist Church, North Bank, Makurdi. Suswam said the rumour was a sign that some desperate persons were putting in serious work to cause bad blood between himself and the Governor Ortom for ulterior motives assuring that he would not succumb to such retrogressive tendencies. “ I do not intend to leave the PDP the rumour was the handiwork of desperate persons. I have decided to join hands with Governor Ortom to take Benue to greater heights and there is no looking back. “ I will always support his programmes and policies and only advise him to avoid some pitfalls which I lear...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday presided over the National Economic Council (NEC). The meeting comprising of State governors and some other top government officials started at the Presidential Villa around 11am. It will consider many national issues, especially those affecting states.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday presided over the National Economic Council (NEC). The meeting comprising of State governors and some other top government officials started at the Presidential Villa around 11am. It will consider many national issues, especially those affecting states. The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

Jubilation as the Appeal Court sitting in Yola has on Saturday, 26th upheld the Tribunal judgment in favour of the Senator Ishaku Abbo to be the authentic winner of the seat for Adamawa North in the Nigerian Senate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abbo, running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the winner while Binta Masi Garba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who occupied the seat between 2015 and 2019 the loser. Binta Garba alleged that the election witnessed irregularities including over-voting, failure to use card readers, as well as intimidation of voters and party agents. The Election Tribunal had earlier revealed the case against Senator Abbo and the Tribunal maintains it's lack substantial evidence and merit and was on Saturday upheld at the appeal court. 

Join Us In Calling The World To Take Action Against Boko Haram, Osinbajo Tells Egypt.

Recent disclosures by the finance minister, Zainab Ahmed that the current administration continues to service a $460 million loan taken from China to fund a phony Abuja.. Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) contract is a stark reminder why Nigerians must continue to reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels of government. The fraudulent CCTV contract was awarded in August 2010. Lest we forget the $16billion spent on power with no electricity; fuel subsidy rackets; counter-insurgency funds that were diverted and shared to political cronies; a phoney gas supply and processing agreement which has left the current administration contesting a $9.6 billion .. judgment debt, among other corrupt schemes and heists perpetuated by consecutive PDP administrations during its 16 years rule. The good news is that those dark days of willful waste, procurement/contract frauds and institutionalised corruption are behind us. The President @MBuhari administration is progressively and aggre...

Details downloading......

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State. There have been speculations in the media in recent times indicating that the former President might be working against the interest of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

The Govern rship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State Chief David Lyon has promised to empower women with capital for small scale businesses and complete the Agge Deep Seaport project to create employment opportunities for the youths.

This is an APC member from Owa East Local Govt Area Edo State who is Oshomole faction been attacked by Agents of Gov. Obaseki  for daring to hold a meeting that does not support the second term ambition of the Governor.

The ruling All Progressives Congress in Kogi State on Thursday   alleged the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties of not   campaigning   ahead of the   November 16 governorship election. The Bello Onoja Campaign Committee Director-General,, Smart Adeyemi, made the allegation on behalf of the party in a telephone interview with our correspondent. Adeyemi claimed that the silence in the camps of the opposition parties could mean that they had accepted defeat. He said, “ Have you seen their campaign posters, billboards or handbills in any part of the state? “ They are not also engaging us in anyway, they claimed to be doing a house-to-house campaign, but we are also going from house to house and we have not met them anywhere. “ This is pregnant with meaning and we want the security agencies to be vigilant to prevent innocent citizens from being harmed .” Adeyemi, however, expressed satisfaction with what he called the level of acceptance of Governor Yah...

The spokesman of the House of Senate, Senator Dayo Adeyeye has described the rumour making the rounds in Ekiti State that he might be contesting for the 2022 gubernatorial poll as a rumour that is existent in only the imagination of his distractors. In a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Thursday night and signed by his Special Assistant, Ayobami Arotolu, he said: “ It has come to our notice that some mischief makers are going about pasting posters all over town, purportedly of Senator Dayo Adeyeye vying for the governorship of Ekiti State. “ It is very unfortunate that some people could resort to such evil and dastardly tactic all in the name of politics. “ Senator Dayo Adeyeye is a law-abiding member of the APC and as such would do nothing to disrupt the peace of the party or embark on a path that could plunge the state into chaos. “ It has become also clear that the sponsors of this act are undoubtedly targeting the peace and cohesion within our great party by deli...

The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday alleged the ruling   Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of trying to create panic in the state to prepare the ground for “a state government-sponsored violence” ahead of the November 16   governorship election. The accusation was made by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, in a reaction to the allegations of election rigging and violence earlier made by the state PDP chairman, Mr Cleopas Moses. Buokoribo, who is also the Secretary, Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Bayelsa Governorship Campaign Council, made his position known in a statement. The statement read, “ It is clear to the people of Bayelsa State and, indeed, Nigeria that the Peoples Democratic Party in the state is in a terrible panic mode. Raising a false alarm is only a way of managing their anxiety. “ False accusation and panic-mongering have been their signature election eve dress rehearsal for violence and electo...

The head of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) opposition party, Mmusi Maimane has stepped down from the position. Maimane in a statement on Wednesday said he wanted to build a party that represents all South Africans, particularly black citizens of the country. It however, became clear to him over the last months that some members of his party did not share in his vision. Consequently, he stepped down as head of the party after four years, the 39-year-old said. The DS is still seen as the party of the white minority in spite of the leadership of Maimane, who is black. Maimane said in the statement that he would retain his role as the DA’s parliamentary leader until the end of the year but then announced on Thursday morning that he was also leaving parliament. “ I have today resigned from the DA and parliament ,” he wrote on Twitter. “ I have worked tirelessly to build the project of One SA for All. It’s been my greatest honour to serve the people of SA and will continue to do so....

The Commissioner for Mineral Resources in Bayelsa state, Hon Markson Fefegha who resigned his appointment on October 18, 2019, has gone back on the decision. Hon Markson Fefegha Fefegha made this known in a letter in which he announced his return to the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration in the state, saying that the decision to resign was due to a breakdown in communication and urged his teeming supporters to join in the concerted efforts to support the PDP to victory in the forthcoming election. The letter reads: “ It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I address my colleagues, political associates, and supporters through this medium. “ You will recall that I resigned my appointment as Hon Commissioner for Mineral Resources on the 18th of October, 2019 because of what I perceived as “political uncertainty” and other considerations. “ This was due largely to the communication gap between me and His Excellency Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson Governor of Bayelsa State at the...

Nigerians have taken to social media platoform, Twitter, to react to the list of commissioner-nominees submitted by Governor of Kwara State, H.E. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to the Kwara State House of Assembly, commending the governor for including more women. Nigerians who use the social media on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2019, flooded Twitter to trend hashtag “#KwaraList” to commend Governor AbdulRazaq for the unprecedented gender inclusion he made through the commissioners he nominated. The Governor on Tuesday sent the last batch of the commissioner nominees to Kwara State House of Assembly; thereby making the total commissioner nominees to be 16, the names of the nominees cut across the 16 LGAs of the state. The list of the commissioner-nominees read on the floor of the state chamber has 9 women and 7 men. The list of the commissioner-nominees which is new in Nigeria has 56.25% women and 43.75% men have gained hundreds of tweets through the hashtag, “#KwaraList”. Some O...

The World Bank has ranked Nigeria 131 globally on its Ease of Doing Business ranking, moving Nigeria 15 places above its 2019 spot. The report was release by the Bretton Wood institution in the early hours of Thursday. A comparison of business regulation in 190 countries across the world formed the basis of the ranking. “ Nigeria conducted reforms impacting six indicators, including making the enforcement of contracts easier, which placed the 200-million-person economy among the world’s top improvers,” the World Bank said in a statement received by TheCable. “ Only two Sub-Saharan African economies rank in the top 50 on the ease of doing business rankings while most of the bottom 20 economies in the global rankings are from the region. “ Compared to other parts of the world, Sub-Saharan Africa still underperforms in several areas. In getting electricity, for example, businesses must pay more than 3,100% per cent of income per capita to connect to the grid, compared to just over 400% in...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, revealed that it had borrowed about 2,500 smart card readers from its office in Rivers State to aid the conduct of the governorship election in Bayelsa State. This disclosure was made by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Bayelsa State, Monday Tom Udoh, while speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Police Force at the Police Officers’ Mess in Yenagoa for the November 16 governorship poll in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were however, not represented at the police forum. Udoh through his representative, Edwin Enabor, the INEC’s Administrative Secretary in the state, said the commission had over 2,230 card readers originally meant for Bayelsa State before the additional 2,500 card readers were borrowed from Rivers State. The Bayelsa REC, while assuring the stakeholders that the commission was 90 per cent ready to conduct the pol...

The Minority caucus in the House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello to order while condemning the impeachment of Kogi State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, by the State House of Assembly and his replacement with Edward Onoja, The caucus made this known in a statement yesterday, which was signed by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta). It described the action as “ overt lawlessness unknown to the laws of the land ”. It cautioned the people of Kogi State to brace up for a “ more oppressive and rapacious mode of governance if Governor Bello and the APC were allowed to force a minority government on the people once again ”. The statement reads: “ The so-called removal of the deputy governor is the height of unhinged travesty. It is impunity taken too far. It is neither known to law nor the Constitution of Nigeria and cannot be allowed to stand. “ By the purported removal of the deputy governor despite a ‘no...