Joshua is a coward – Wilder

Deontay Wilder branded Anthony Joshua a “coward” live on television, talkSPORT reports.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain alongside Tyson Fury to promote his December 1 fight, the American was asked about the possibility of meeting British heavyweight Joshua in the ring.

Wilder, the WBC king, believes the Joshua camp don’t really want the fight.

“Hey Joshua, me and Fury are about to get this thing going on, baby,” he said looking down the camera. “We’re about to see who the biggest and the baddest in the world, one champion, one face, one name, something you were too much of a coward to do in your own country.


“You were a coward and you know this, your whole team know this. You said different things over and over. You manipulate, you’re compulsive liars.

“The audience put their hard-earned money into this, this is an emotional sport. Enough is enough. Joshua had a career plan and Deontay Wilder wasn’t in it from the start.”



































































Rainbowgist

Ihedioha emerges Imo PDP gov candidate

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has emerged winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in Imo.

Ihedioha won the contest with a total of 1,723 votes to defeat the Senator representing Imo East senatorial zone, Mr Samuel Anyanwu, who came 2nd with a total of 1,282 votes.

Announcing the results, the returning officer, Mr Emma Nwala, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed in various ways to the success of the electoral process.

“I am most grateful to all security personnel for their commitment to the security of lives and materials all through the night and till this morning.


“Also, I thank all aspirants, delegates and officials for conducting themselves properly.

“With the power vested in me as returning officer, I hereby declare Emeka Ihedioha the winner and flag bearer of the PDP in Imo for the 2019 governorship election,” Nwala he said.

The exercise which was originally scheduled to hold on Tuesday, October 2 started at 4 pm on Monday and ended at 4.30 am on Tuesday at the Kanu Nwankwo Sports Centre, Owerri.


The exercise which was largely peaceful, hitch-free and transparent had over 3,000 delegates drawn from the 27 local government areas in the state.




























Rainbowgist

APC holds National Assembly primaries today

The All Progressives Congress will today hold its National Assembly primaries for those aspiring for the 109 senatorial seats across Nigeria.

Our correspondents gathered in Abuja, on Monday that the exercise will decide the political future of some prominent serving APC senators.

It will be particularly tough for those who either have political differences with their governors or those whose outgoing governors have shown interest in their seats.

Some of the Senators likely to face a Herculean task in their bid to get the APC tickets include: Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna-Central), Adesoji Akanbi (APC, Oyo-South), Lanre Tejuoso (APC, Ogun-Central), Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi-West), Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara-Central), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC, Yobe State), Ajayi Borofice (APC, Ondo-North).

Others are Senators Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara-Central), Suleiman Hunkuyi (PDP, Kaduna-North) Magnus Abe (APC, Rivers State) Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP, Kogi-West), Isa Misau (PDP, Bauchi State), Suleiman Nazif (PDP, Bauchi State) and Mohammed Hassan (APC, Yobe State).























Rainbowgist

Saraki, Dogara, Obasanjo absent at Independence day rally

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were on Monday conspicuously absent at a parade organised to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence anniversary.

The strictly military event held at the Eagles Square, Abuja, was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.


Recall that Saraki and Dogara recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Also in attendance at the parade was the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was also absent at the event attended by two former military leaders: Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.).


On arrival at the venue, Buhari first took the national salute before moving to inspect the parade in a motorcade.

He later returned to the VIP stand to join Osinbajo, Onnoghen, Gowon, Abdulsalami and other dignitaries.

















Rainbowgist

APC Vice-Chair to Ambode: Sanwo-Olu is credible

All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Vice Chairman (Lagos Central) Hakeem Bamgbola has backed the aspiration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to pick the party’s ticket.
Bamgbola said Sanwo-Olu, if elected, is capable of taking Lagos to a greater height.
The House of Representatives aspirant urged APC members in Coker-Aguda and Itire-Ikate to vote for Sanwo-Olu in Monday’s primary election.

He hailed Dr Obafemi Hamzat for stepping down from the race for Sanwo-Olu and dismissed the insinuation that Sanwo-Olu is not credible for the job.

“For those who have related with him, his competence to deliver as the Lagos number citizen is not in doubt. He has performed creditably well in all ministries handled so far. Having served three different Lagos State governors, I believe he is more than capable and credible to govern Lagos,” he said.

Bamgbola assured Lagosians that more dividends of democracy are on the way, saying “Lagosians deserve better than what they are getting from the present government and Sanwo-Olu is in a better position to deliver. I trust our party members to choose a more credible person who can perform better and that is why we are endorsing this man (Sanwo-Olu) now. We are sure he will perform well.”
The former Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Chairman applauded the Gubernatorial Advisory Council (GAC) for endorsing Sanwo-Olu.

The GAC’s endorsement, Bamgbola said, is in order because any group within the party just like members has the right to pitch their tent with aspirant of their choice.
“If after a long time of deliberation they found Sanwo-Olu credible and fit to surpass the achievements of the present governor, they should be commended and supported by voting for the person the group endorsed,” he
Said.






















Rainbowgist

Buhari’s independence speech: What’s new and what’s not

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, delivered the tradition presidential independence speech to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence anniversary.

As usual, the President used the opportunity to highlight the progress and successes so far recorded by his administration, as well as the hiccups and challenges facing it.

We’re winning Boko Haram

This is a constant feature in every speech or address by President Buhari, but what would cheer the hearts of many Nigerians in Monday’s independence day speech is the President’s acknowledgment that the welfare of soldiers remains an issue, and his promise to address it.



“I am looking into all reported cases of inadequacies in relation to their (soldiers’) entitlements, their welfare and those of their families,” Buhari said. “I assure these our gallant men and women that I will continue to empower them by deepening their professionalism and providing all the necessary force multipliers and enablers required for them to prevail on the field.”

President Buhari also spared a thought for “the victims of the Boko Haram’s atrocities and their families”, but he mentioned none of them by name, not even Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi schoolgirl that remains in Boko Haram captivity, nor did he make any concrete statement about his administration’s commitment to secure their release.

We’re cleaning up the Niger Delta

“Efforts are on course in the Niger Delta to clean up polluted lands, restore hopes of the youths in the region and re-establish livelihoods, and strengthen their capacity to guarantee for themselves and for our country a brighter future,” Buhari stated.

However, as far as events on the ground are concerned, this is a mere rhetoric by the president. Asides the official flag-off of the Ogoni cleanup exercise in Rivers State, no other concrete action has been taken towards cleaning up polluted areas in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Besides, Ogoni is just one out of the many oil-spill sites in the Niger Delta, polluted by crude methods of oil exploration, and rendering both land and water bodies in the region useless. No action has been taken by the federal government to compel the international oil companies responsible for the pollutions to clean up the areas.



We’re tackling farmers/herders crisis

This is yet another rhetoric by the federal government. 2018 has been one of the deadliest years in Nigeria in terms of deaths caused by herdsmen attacks. Hundreds of people have lost their lives in several states across the country as a result of these attacks, notably in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and other parts of Northern, and smetimes, Southern Nigeria.

President Buhari, in his speech, said the issue was “being addressed decisively”. “We will sustain and continue to support the commendable efforts by all including civil society organisations, local and states governments and our traditional and religious leaders in finding durable solution to this problem,” he said.

Others…

On the issue of climate change, President Buhari said Nigeria is a signatory “to almost all conventions and agreements aimed at slowing down the effect of climate change and mitigating its now evident consequences”, adding that “we will continue to mobilise international support for our efforts in this regard”.



But that as far as it goes. There is no concrete effort by the federal government at addressing the menace of climate change.

On corruption, Buhari said: “We are making progress in the fight against corruption and recovery of stolen public funds and assets despite vicious and stiff resistance. The shameful past practice, of the brazen theft of billions of Naira is no more.” Not many would agree with him on this, at least not when former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, is still waling free. Lawal was found guilty by a panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of wrongdoing in the award of contracts for some projects in the north east. He is yet to be prosecuted.

On the rise of technology and its attendant challenges, Buhari urged citizens, when they read anything on the social media, to “to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts… otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake”.

On the 2019 general election, Buhari said: “I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced. The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.”

“I want to assure you that as President, I will continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve what really matters: a united, peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, where all, irrespective of background, can aspire to succeed,” he concluded.



















Rainbowgist

SDP opposes Omisore’s alliance with APC

One of the national leaders of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, has pledged the support of the party to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, in the governorship rerun election holding today .

Falae, reportedly called Adeleke on the telephone on Wednesday to disown Senator Iyiola Omisore who had also promised to work for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, to win the election.


The spokesperson of Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Mr Olawale Rasheed, confirmed to our correspondent that Falae called Adeleke on the telephone and expressed displeasure about the step taken by Omisore, who is the candidate of the SDP in the election.

He said, “Senator Ademola Adeleke won the last Saturday election without the support of Omisore and he is going to win again tomorrow. Our strength is not with any leader but in the people. We believe the people will reaffirm the mandate they already gave to Senator Adeleke.

“The spirit of national coalition remains and the spirit is that the SDP, PDP and others will unite to fight for the 2019 elections. Chief Falae called and talked to Senator Adeleke that the party did not authorise Omisore to support the APC. They said Omisore is on his own.”

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Alhaji Alfa Mohammed, in a statement sent to one of our correspondent said, “The SDP will like to make it categorically clear that the national leadership of the party was not part of the recent developments involving our party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore of Osun State, and the conclusions arrived at.


“We remain irrevocably committed to serving the Nigerian people on the basis of the vision, principles and goals of social democracy which underlie the philosophy of our great party, the SDP.”



















Rainbowgist