NEWS Archives - BigPen Online

Aug82018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

The Joy And Thrills Of Asaba 2018

NEWS

By Jackson Ekwugum Except for crass opportunism, blatant mischief and sheer dishonesty, it is unthinkable that any well-meaning Nigerian would dismiss the just- concluded 21st African Senior Athletics Championship, a.k.a Asaba 2018, as a failure the way Reuben Abati did in an article circulating online. Aside from the fact that it is unfair and illogical to assess the success or otherwise of a major championship like Asaba 2018 based on a few glitches here and there, Abati became a victim of social media rumours in his haste to execute a sinister agenda. To start with, it is nothing new to have minor glitches at major competitions like Asaba 2018. What is important is how the organisers rise up to the challenge. In the case of Asaba 2018, following the delay in flight connections f...

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

JUST IN: Sacked DSS DG, Daura Arrested, Detained

METRO, NEWS

The sacked Director General of Department of State Security (DSS), Lawal Daura, has been arrested. Reports say Daura was seized few minutes after the Inspector General of Police had a closed-door meeting with Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Daura was reportedly whisked away by three Police vans including two Toyota Hilux vehicles and a jeep. While the State House reporters were awaiting his exit from the office of the Vice President, Daura was taken away via the backdoor. No authority has confirmed the alleged arrest as at the time this report was filed.

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

BREAKING: Osinbajo Sacks DSS Boss, Lawal Daura

NEWS

The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has directed the termination of the appointment of the Director-General, State Security Service (SSS), Lawal Musa Daura, Channels Television is reporting. The termination of appointment according to a statement signed on Tuesday by Senior Special Assistant to Osinbajo on Media and Publicity is with immediate effect. Daura has since been directed to hand over to the most senior officer of the State Security Service until further notice. Daura is however in a closed-door meeting with the Acting President, currently holding at the presidential villa in Abuja. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris is also in the closed-door meeting. The termination of Daura’s appointment comes few hours after security officials stormed the p

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

Asaba 2018: Okowa Failed Nigeria Shamefully – Reuben Abati

NEWS

Former presidential spokesman and renowned columnist, Reuben Abati has described the just concluded 21st Africa Senior Athletics Championships as "The Asaba disgrace". Abati, in his article said that Nigeria expended N4 billion in the competition and harvested insults in return. According to him, the Delta state Government messed up the opportunity thoroughly and shamelessly, saying Governor Ifeanyi Okowa promised to host a "superlative event" but "he failed Nigeria". Below is the full article: “I think this is the first and last time I will come to Nigeria to compete. If you are not ready to organise something please don’t…It was three days of travel for some and two days for others; like you are travelling from Africa to Asia or America. I have been to four African Champi

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

Group Urges Buhari To Bypass NASS And Release INEC N242b Election Funds

NEWS

The group, Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to bypass the National Assembly and approve for release the N242billion supplementary budget. The group said the budget for the sake of national interest should be treated like the Tucano Military Aircrafts funds approved before NASS debated on it. National President of the group, Comrade (Engr) Igbini Odafe Emmanuel in a statement on Tuesday said the National Assembly members should save themselves the problem of cutting short their vacation and allowed express approval of the budget. "I ask President Buhari to urgently treat the INEC N242b Supplementary Budget the same way he treated the release of funds for purchase of the Tucano Military Jets if indeed it is truly fo...

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

Updated: Delta: Mobs Set Fire On APC Secretariat In Isoko

NEWS, POLITICS

Suspected mobs on Tuesday set ablaze properties at the All Progressive Congress (APC) Secretariat in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area in Delta State. Report says the invaders where protesting the alleged lopsided composition of the new executive of the party at the ward level in the area. Eyewitness says though the circumstances surrounding the incident were still sketchy, it may not be unconnected with the harmonization of ward executives of the party in the council area. The source said, "Yesterday (Monday) Chairmen of the party in Oleh wards 1 and 2 were sworn -in. "Today (yesterday) some aggrieved members of the wards mobilized and broke into the secretariat which is a rented apartment, removed all the chairs, tables and some other office properties, brought them...

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

JUST IN: Akpabio Resigns As Senate Minority Leader, Accused Of Orchestrating DSS Barricade Of NASS

NEWS, POLITICS

Senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio has resigned his position. The resignation letter, dated 4th August 2018 however did not state any reason for the resignation. Meanwhile, Senator Ben Murray Bruce has accused Akpabio and other senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the DSS siege of the National Assembly. Daily Trust reports that Sen Bruce as saying they would make sure that countries like the US, Canada, The United Kingdom, among others revoke the visas of Senator Akpabio and his cohorts as well as their wives and children over the development. He said they would resist any attempt by the APC senators to effect any leadership change in the Senate. ‎”It has come to our attention that we’re being invaded by state security. Our co

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

BREAKING: DSS Prevents Lawmakers, Staff From Entering National Assembly

METRO, NEWS

Operatives of the Department of State Services are at the moment preventing Senators, members of the House of Representatives and workers from entering the National Assembly. The operatives, The Eagle Online is reporting, had been stationed there from about 2am. This was shortly after an aide of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, raised the alarm about a meeting between the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, and about 30 senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. According to available information, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, was also at the meeting held at the Headquarters of the DSS in Abuja. It was said the plot was to remove Saraki and replace him with the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, while Sena...

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

Documentary Evidence On Igho Sanomi’s Private Jet Scandal

NEWS

The link below shows documentary evidence that 'Billionaire' Igho Sanomi, contrary to claims has no private jet. The jet ascribed to him was leased to his company, Talevares but was grounded from day one over his inability to meet his own side of the purchase agreement. Click here for documentary evidence of how the so-called private jet Igho Sanomi claimed he bought was grounded over failure to meet his own side of the agreement to pay the creditor

Aug72018 by Bigpenngr, RotterdamNo Comments

Asaba 2018: “We Were Hired To Fetch Water With Buckets For Athletes”, Protesting Casual Workers Reveal

NEWS

“We were promised N3,000 for a full day work. We resume 5.30am and close around 8.30pm. We fetched water with buckets for three days after the stadium over head storage water tank collapsed which was not the initial agreement", one of the casual workers engaged by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the just concluded African Senior Athletics Championship, said on Monday. The workers stated this while protesting over the alleged unpaid allowances promised them by some of the contracting firms hired by the LOC for the five-day continental athletics championship tagged Asaba 2018 held at the recently reconstructed Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State. BigPen Online recalls that a giant tank that was supposed to provide water for the stadium collapsed second day of the co