The Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, has cautioned Nigerians against the spread of fake news, Channels Television reports.

His statement follows death rumours from alleged involvement in a car accident.

The governor stated this during a welcome dinner organised for him by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after his arrival from a one week holiday abroad.

He said he was never involved in any car accident or in a coma as speculated on social media.

He explains that he took a  break and travelled abroad to rest after his re-election as governor, only to hear about his involvement in a car accident that led to the death of his driver, while he went into a coma.

He, however, advised Nigerians to avoid spreading false and unsubstantiated stories that are capable of overheating the polity on the social media, adding that those who spread the rumour of his death are playing God.

The governor also criticised the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, over his claim that he won the February 23 poll in Kaduna and not Buhari, adding that Abubakar might have won the election in his dream.

While thanking the majority of people of Kaduna state for reelecting him as governor,  El-Rufai promises to be fair and just to all citizens and zones in the state regardless of their religious or ethnic affiliations.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kano State has rejected the ongoing supplementary governorship election holding in 28 local government areas, Premium Times reports.

Chairman of PDP in the state, Rabiu Bichi, who addressed journalists Saturday in Kano said the party rejects the election because it was characterised by violence and intimidation of voters.

Mr Bichi said he had on Friday drawn attention of the Police command in the state accusing the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), of ferrying in armed thugs from neighbouring states.

“What is happening today is not election. Thugs have taken over most polling units and have been attacking our members and voters.

“Many have been injured, in fact, a member of the state Assembly representing Gwale, Yusuf Babangida on election duty was attacked and seriously injured.

“We also have reports of attack on our members in Doguwa, Gwale and Dala, we are collecting the whole list of those attacked,” he said.

The PDP chairman said the party would seek legal redress.

“We are going to pursue our right through legal means. Today is a sad day for Nigerian democracy, especially in Kano

“ Recall that governorship elections were held on March 9 not just in Kano but Nigeria as a whole

“ After the election, results from 43 out of 44 local governments were announced and we were leading, it was only the results from Nasarawa local government were pending and that was because the state deputy governor, the commissioner for local government and chairman of Nasarawa local government led some thugs to attack the collation centre and disrupt the process by tearing the result sheet

“ That is why INEC called for this supplementary election. As you all know, the Nigerian constitution doesn’t know anything supplementary election; all I know is that we have won our election. What is happening in Kano today is simply foolishness,” he said.

The spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign, Festus Keyamo, has denied paying a “penny” to Nigerian entertainer, Charly Boy, for a political-motivated music video, adding another twist to the controversy trailing the singer and his ‘OurMumuDonDo’ group.

“I’ve been having some good laugh. Whoever thinks that I would pay a penny for a song by @Areafada1 that disses both the APC and PDP must have his/her head examined”, Keyamo twitted Friday on his official handle @Fkeyamo.

This is coming barely hours after newsmen reported how the entertainer, whose real name is Charles Oputa, publicly stated that he received at least N100 million from the Buhari campaign as payment for a politically-charged music video.

In the Music video uploaded on YouTube January 25, 67-year-old Charly Boy was critical, especially of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I do not care. But if you want to use my work, you pay for it,” Charly Boy recalled telling Keyamo in an interview with online-based Roots TV that was widely shared on social media on Friday. “Of course, he paid for it. And they paid heavy.”

Charly Boy said Keyamo, a senior lawyer, actually visited him to discuss the arrest of Deji Adeyanju, a senior member of ‘OurMumuDonDo’ who was spending weeks in a Kano prison for alleged murder, only to then hear a “new song that I was working on…where I was dissing Atiku.”

Keyamo told newsmen on Thursday he met with Charly Boy but said everything that transpired between them was private and in furtherance of their relationship of over 25 years.

Adeyanju who was released from prison on March 1, after spending 78 days behind bars on a murder claim has now severed ties with his old ally – Charly Boy.

Adeyanju had worked closely with Charly Boy to propel ‘Concerned Nigerians’ and ‘OurMumuDonDo’ as some of the most visible community organising entities around the Nigerian capital. Both groups shot into the limelight in 2017, after President Buhari’s extended medical vacation in England became a trending cause for national concern.

Adeyanju renounced membership of ‘OurMumuDonDo’ on March 13, alleging gross misconduct, including a breach of trust, against Charly Boy.

A day before the 67-year-old admitted receiving the financial support, Adeyanju released an audio recording in which Charly Boy was heard seemingly admitting to having received money from Keyamo.

The self-acclaimed ‘Area fada’ has faced a backlash from most members of the movement especially for alleged collusion with the Nigerian government, the same government believed to be responsible for Adeyanju’s ordeal. They are now moving to ease him out as chairman of the group.

Charly Boy has, however, maintained no wrongdoing in the controversy, and threatened to release details that would indict Adeyanju.

In his Friday tweet, Mr Keyamo said the claim that he gave financial support to the sexagenarian for the said music video was only a ploy to drag him into the controversy.

He said: “If the quarreling parties want to hurt their egos by bandying phantom figures, they should leave me out of it.”

Cadbury Nigeria Plc on Thursday announced the appointment of Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye as Managing Director, effective 1st April 2019. Mrs. Adeboye takes over from Mr. Amir Shamsi, who moves on to a new role within Mondelēz International, the parent company of Cadbury Nigeria.

Mrs. Adeboye is the first woman to be appointed Managing Director since the establishment of Cadbury Nigeria over five decades ago.

Mrs. Adeboye, a chartered accountant, joined the Board of the Company in November 2008, as Finance and Strategy Director, West Africa.

Prior to joining Cadbury, Mrs. Adeboye worked with Nigerian Bottling Company as Finance Director, from June 1994 to March 2007. She graduated from the University of Cardiff in 1986 with a B.Sc in Economics. From 2000 to 2007, she attended various courses at the IMD Business School.

Mr. Ogaga Ologe, who is the Company’s Financial Controller, has been appointed as the new Finance Director effective 1st April 2019.

Mr. Ologe, who succeeds Mrs. Adeboye, joined Cadbury Nigeria in 2012, from KPMG Professional Services where he led the audit of the financial statements for many multinationals.

Cadbury Nigeria Plc closed at N11 in today’s trading session. Results for the 2018 financial year show revenue increased from N33 billion in 2017 to N35.9 billion in 2018. Profit before tax jumped from N350 million in 2017 to N1.2 billion in 2018. Profit after tax rose from N299 million in 2017 to N823 million in 2018.

The company has declared a dividend of N0.25 (twenty-five kobo) per share.

OurMumuDonDo Movement has asked Charles Oputa to step aside as convener and trustee of Omudodu Youth Foundation and Chairman of OurMumuDonDo Movement.

A letter issued by Adebayo Raphael, National Secretary of OurMumuDonDo Movement, written on Friday, noted that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the movement held on Friday.

Charly Boy was accused by Deji Adeyanju of collecting money from Festus Keyamo, Director, Strategic Communications, of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, to sabotage the work of the group.

Charlyboy allegedly admitted being paid by Keyamo, even revealing that it was to the tune of nine figures. However, he claimed it was for his musical work.

However, the group sees Charly Boy’s “dealing with the oppressors” as “a flagrant violation of the Foundation’s moral, ideological and constitutional focus”.

THE FULL LETTER

22 March 2019

Mr. Charles Oputa (CharlyBoy)

Chairman

Omudodu Youths Foundation (OurMumuDonDo Movement)

Abuja

Dear Sir

RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU STEP ASIDE AS A CONVENER AND A TRUSTEE OF OMUDODU YOUTHS FOUNDATION AND CHAIRMAN OF OURMUMUDONDO MOVEMENT

The above refers:

Following an Emergency General Meeting which held today, 22 March 2019, to address the slew of scandalous materials attributed to you, and your subsequent public avowal to have engaged in amoral pecuniary dealings with the spokesperson of General Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Festus Keyamo, whom the OurMumuDonDo Movement has been publicly and completely critical of, the management of the OurMumuDonDo Movement, in a bid to save the movement from public ridicule, unfortunate collapse and also reinstate public confidence, has decided on the following:

1. Thatyour amoral and illicit dealing with the oppressors during a period when one of our fearless comrades, Deji Adeyanju, was banished to a hellish hole in Kano State for his fearless criticisms of the oppressors, represent a flagrant violation of the Foundation’s moral, ideological and constitutional focus.

2. That your unscrupulous hamartia has not only affected the credibility of the OurMumuDonDo Movement but also the myriads of conscientious and genuine Activists, Right Groups and Civil Society Groups in Nigeria.

3. That we have come to the doleful conclusion that you step aside as a Trustee of the Foundation and as the Convener of the OurMumuDonDo Movement within 24hours starting from the moment you receive this letter today, 22 March 2019. Failure to comply with this recommendation shall leave us with no other option but to ask members of the public to cease any further dealing and interface with you, and we shall not hesitate to take all necessary lawful steps to ventilate our remonstrance and ensure that the credibility of this Foundation is protected.

We must mention that this decision is not borne out of any personal vendetta but rather a fervent commitment to salvage the OurMumuDonDo Movement from public ridicule and imminent collapse.

Your honorable compliance will be highly welcomed.

Yours faithfully
Adebayo Raphael
National Secretary
For: OurMumuDonDo Movement

Gboyega Oyetola, governor of Osun state, has rejected the judgement of the election petition tribunal that declared Ademola Adeleke as winner of the 2018 governorship election in the state, The Cable reports.

Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the election by the tribunal on Friday.

But reacting to the judgement in a statement by Wole Oyebamiji, secretary to the state government, Oyetola said “justice will prevail at last”.

The governor said he would appeal the judgement, while maintaining that he is still the legitimate governor “who has the authority to govern the state.”

He appreciated the support of the people state and urged them to go about their lawful duties without hindrance.

“The Government of the State of Osun wishes to appreciate the teeming support of the majority of the people in all things essential for mutual progress,” the statement read.

“As it is, the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Governor, State of Osun wishes to assure the people that the judgment of the Election Tribunal has been put on appeal.

“This is to further assure all the residents of the State of adequate security of lives and properties, as the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State.

“We assure all our people that justice will prevail at last, and the law enforcement agencies have been instructed to maintain law and order across the State.

“We therefore urge all the residents of the State to go about their lawful duties without any hindrance. We thank you.”

While the Presidential and National Assembly elections were concluded, the Governorship and State House of Assembly polls suffered a setback in 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the governorship election in 29 states, except Edo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Bayelsa, Kogi, and Anambra States.

However, the governorship elections were declared inconclusive in Adamawa, Benue, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, and Plateau, while INEC suspended electoral processes in Rivers State.

The electoral body had fixed March 23 to conduct supplementary elections for Governorship and House of Assembly polls.

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to come out en masse and participate in the supplementary elections scheduled for Saturday.

In a press statement released by the senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, President Buhari thanked voters for re-electing him for a second term adding that he would never forget their sacrifices in defying harsh weather conditions to vote for him.

The President also appealed to voters not to get tired of coming out to vote in the supplementary elections.

President Buhari called on INEC and security agencies to ensure that the supplementary elections are conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law and constitution.

The management of Darlon Security and Guards Limited, has said the Bayelsa state governor, Henry Seriake Dickson is desperate to pull down the chairman of the company, David Lyon, whose only crime is being a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Dickson had alleged that the multinational oil company, Agip funded “terrorism, criminality and breakdown of law and order,” through its contractors David Lyon and Mr Kodjo.  

The governor also accused Mr Lyon of forming a parallel government in the state.

Chairman Operations For Darlon Security and Guards Limited, Mr Wilson Seiyefa Clifford in a reaction, said the company is a law abiding organization, that operates strictly within the confines of its contractual terms, which is the protection of oil pipelines in parts of the state.

“The diligence with which we execute our operations in line with our terms of reference, has seen the earnings of the state risen astronomically, as well as eradicate criminal activities from our creeks.

“It is an established fact that the entire Swamp Area, with a notoriety for crude oil theft, illegal refineries and pipeline vandalism in the past, is now a haven of peace, which has bolstered the production of oil by oil multinational companies, thus, revving up the revenue of the state, and our beloved country Nigeria.

“This worthy feat, is to the credit of Darlon Security and Guards Limited. We therefore take serious exception to Gov. Dickson’s phantom allegations against us.

“If the about 5000 persons employed by Darlon Security and Guards Limited, is what Gov. Dickson considers as “Forming a parallel government”, then we plead guilty to providing livelihood for thousands of Bayelsans. We plead guilty to meticulously providing an enabling environment for our people to be gainfully engaged.

“We’d like to state unequivocally, that our chairman, Hon. David Lyon is a peace loving man, who has never engaged in any act of terrorism, and would never engage in such an act.

“Darlon Security and Guards Limited is not new to these kinds of spurious politically motivated allegations, we have been vindicated in the past, and shall continue to be vindicated, as these allegations are simply products of Dickson’s imaginations. We strongly advise Gov. Dickson to free himself from his petty and vindictive brand of Politics, being a so-called “true ijaw man” as he is being referred to by his close friends.

“Darlon Security and Guards Limited will continue to work within the ambit of the laws of the land as it has always done, and would continue to do. We pledge to continually remain law abiding in our dearly beloved state and nation, and will strive continuously, to protect our before-now ravaged environment, and improve on the livelihood of our people.”