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President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), said yesterday that he was not aware of the temporary ban imposed on African Independent Television, AIT, not to cover his official functions. Consequently, he instructed all his aides, including the security team, to steer clear of all media activities and allow those assigned the responsibility to solely play the role with their colleagues. In a statement in Abuja yesterday by Directorate of Media and Publicity of All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, Buhari said he read about the ban in the papers, stressing that he was neither consulted nor informed about the development. The President-elect, however, aligned himself with the pronouncement of his party, which had since reversed the ban on AIT. According to him, sticking to the ban can only bring the party at par with the outgoing People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Buhari said: “I would like everyone to henceforth stay within his/her defined ...

UGHELLI —AN Urhobo militant group, Urhobo Gbagbako, yesterday, claimed responsibility for two explosions that rocked two major gas trunklines belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, located on the boundaries of Afiesere and Ekredjebo communities and Otedo and Edjovwe communities both in Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of Delta State. Urhobo Gbagbako, in a statement by its spokesperson, Priest Omodjuvwu, said that the explosions were in protest against those he called “traitors” the NPDC had continued to send to Urhoboland in a bid to manipulate their unsuspecting and once peaceful communities. He said: “These petty crumb eaters can only cause pains to the NPDC, Shoreline and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in a promised sham settlement to the lingering crises to these companies and government agencies. “In believing the empty promises of these evil doers and traitors, you continue to slowly drive your ...

Human rights activists, yesterday, called on the President-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), who reportedly barred African Independent Television, AIT, from covering his activities, to handle the matter of  hate campaign as required by the law. The activists, who spoke on the issue include Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; Chief Morah Ekwunoh, and Mr. Richard Akinnola. Speaking on the issue in Lagos, Falana said though AIT threw caution to the winds, the President-elect should handle the matter as required by law. “It is no longer a family matter. Although the ban has been lifted, AIT may be prosecuted for promoting a campaign of hate and incitement, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act,” Falana said. On his part, Chief Morah Ekwunoh maintained that the hate broadcast by AIT could not provide legal peg for a  ban. “There are abundant laws, particularly in the sphere of law of defamation as being currently employed by Senator Ahmed Tinubu against it, ...

Yola —The lingering crisis between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in Adamawa State came to its climax yesterday as nine members believed to be loyal to Governor Bala Ngillari sat at the Conference Hall of  the Government House and impeached both the Speaker, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and his deputy, Mr Kwamoti La’ori. Fintiri was replaced by Hon. Jerry Kumdisi as the new speaker following a motion moved by Hon Kabillo and seconded by the member representing Yola South, Hon Abuzarri Ribadu. In the run-up  to the just concluded general elections in the country, the House of Assembly had gone on a three-week recess to allow members participate in the electoral process. But a day to the re-opening of the House after the elections, 11 members believed to be loyal to  Ngillari, issued a statement expressing their dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Fintiri and threatened to effect a change in the house leadership. The threat forced Fintiri to ...

Ahead of the May 29 handover formalities, Rivers State governor-elect, Mr Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated the state transition and inauguration committees to facilitate smooth take-off of his administration. State Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, will chair the Transition Committee with Mr Frank Owhor as Secretary, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Austin Opara will be chairman of the Inauguration Committee with Dr. Jacob Beredugo as Secretary. Inaugurating both committees in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said that the unilateral action became necessary after the uncooperative attitude of the outgoing administration which refused to cooperate with the incoming government in setting up of joint committees to facilitate smooth transition in the state. He charged the two committees to work towards setting up a process that will enhance smooth transition in the state and enable his administration hit the ground running. Wike urged the two committees ...