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France strikes IS in Iraq from newly deployed carrier – general

France launched air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on Monday in the first sorties from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, newly deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. “We carried out strikes in Ramadi and Mosul in support of ground forces that were pushing against troops of (the Islamic State group),” said army chief of staff General Pierre de Villiers, aboard the carrier. He said planes from the Charles de Gaulle would launch strikes against IS targets in Syria, including command and recruitment centres as well as oil facilities, in “a matter of hours or days”. Rafale jets catapulted from the carrier’s flight deck on Monday morning, an AFP reporter saw. The strikes came 10 days after the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris, claimed by IS, that left 130 dead. French President Francois Hollande said earlier in Paris: “We will intensify our strikes, choosing targets that will do the most damage possible to this army of terrorists.” The Charles De Gaulle has 26 fighter jets, more than treblingFrance‘s strike capacity in the US-led mission against IS. Francealready has six Mirage and six Rafale jets stationed in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. A military source said their missions would overfly Turkey or Jordan to avoid Syrian anti-aircraft defences. To avoid crossing paths with Russian planes,Franceis coordinating with Moscow via the US coalition headquarters in Qatar. French and Russian naval commanders began exchanging information at the end of last week ahead of the deployment to the eastern Mediterranean, where Russia has several ships. Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his navy last week to work with the French “as allies”. After its operation in the Mediterranean, the Charles de Gaulle will head to the Gulf to relieve a US carrier.

AGF snubs court on Dasuki

**Wants bail granted Dasuki revoked over $2billion arms fraud allegation.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Matami (SAN) on Monday failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to explain the siege laid on the Asokoro residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (rtd) by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) in spite of the bail granted him by the court.
Instead of the appearance of the AGF, the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Justice ministry, Mr. Mohammed Saidu Diri arrived the court with a fresh motion on notice requesting for revocation of the bail granted the ex-NSA in the unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering charges brought against him.
The motion signed by Diri was brought to the court pursuant to section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015

Tambuwal, Umana, Mimiko mourn Audu’s death

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday condoled with the family of Prince Abubakar Audu over his demise. The governor’s condolence message was contained in a statement ‎signed by his Media aide, Malam Imam Imam.

Late Abubakar Audu
Tambuwal ‎described the death of the Kogi State governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress as shocking. He urged family members and supporters of Prince Abubakar Audu to take heart and consider the death an act of God.
“The deceased lived a life of service whose concern for the unity, stability and progress of Kogi remained unshakable until his last breath,” the governor stated. Also speaking, the APC candidate for the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, Umana Umana, condoled with family of the deceased politician as well as people of the state.
He lamented that just while Kogi State was on the verge of getting a governor who will develop the state, tragedy struck. “Audu was a great man and I am positive that he would have worked hard to change the face of a state that has suffered due to years of misrule. We pray God to grant his family and supporters the fortitude to bear the loss. As a party, the APC will miss him greatly”, he said.
He called on people of the state to honour Audu, by remaining true to the APC and supporting it in all its activities. “The best way the people of Kogi State can honour Audu is by ensuring that they vote in a man who will develop the state. And that can be achieved by remaining true to the APC.
You have had PDP governors in the past and you can all testify that no progress has been recorded in the state. I urge you therefore to keep his dream of a better Kogi State alive”, he added.
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko,  in his condolence message issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said news of the death of the former governor came to him as a rude shock, adding that no one would have envisaged that the late politician would not see the end of the election.
“The former governor’s death is most unfortunate and the day of his death will remain the darkest in the history of Kogi State,” he said.

I am devastated by Audu’s death - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock over the news of Abubakar Audu’s death, saying he was personally devastated by the sad development. “We are obviously devastated at the loss”, he said Audu, who died on Sunday was the All Progressive Congress, APC’s candidate in the inconclusive Kogi State Governorship election that held last Saturday. President Buhari who is currently attending the Third Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran, Iran. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu President Buhari described the late Abubakar Audu as a talented politician, a loving family head and a respected community leader. “He was immensely courageous”, he said. The statement added: “President Buhari condoles with the family of the late governor, the government and people of Kogi state as well as all our party members, men and women who stood with Audu in his bid return as Governor. He ran as the favorite in the election as the early results have clearly shown.” President Buhari prayed to Allah to repose the soul of Governor Audu, and to give his family, the people of Kogi State and the APC members all over Nigeria the fortitude to bear this loss.

Bayelsa guber: Contractors declare support for Sylva

The Bayelsa State indigenous contractors on Monday declared their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate for the December 5 election, Chief Timipre Sylva.
The contractors under the aegis of Indigenous Contractors Association (ICA), in a statement issued after a meeting in Yenagoa, directed all its members in various communities to mobilise support for Sylva.
The contractors in the statement signed by their President, Mr. Clement Adaminegbe, said Sylva encouraged local and indigenous contractors when he was a governor of the state.
They added that the former governor provided enabling environment and adequate security across the state during his first tenure.
“Issues of sea piracy and kidnapping were tackled to the barest minimum during his tenure as oil workers and contractors freely carried out their jobs in the creeks of Bayelsa State without fear,” they said.
The contractors, however, lamented the spate of kidnapping and sea piracy under the present administration, saying the current situation had made it difficult for foreign and local contractors to execute their projects.
“If Sylva is elected again, he would do his best to secure lives and property in the state. Contractors will not be left out in Sylva’s administration,” said.

Boroffice: Mimiko’s defence of N7bn loan request lame, witless

Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, has described as lame and witless the defence of Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led Ondo State Government, over the N7 billion loan request from Zenith Bank PLC. In a statement by his media office, and signed by Kayode Adeniyi, Boroffice said it was amateurish and awkward that the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration lowered the debate on ‎the N7 billion bank loan to the argument that since some states had borrowed, why should Ondo State not borrow. The statement read: “It is amateurish and awkward that the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration has lowered the debate on ‎the N7 billion bank loan to crass politics and puerile argument; that since some states have borrowed, why should Ondo State not borrow? Is the government saying it requested for N7 billion loan from Zenith Bank on the ground that World Bank has granted credit facilities to Lagos and Edo States. The witless argument from the government further shows there exist no developmental plan for which the loan was sought after. “Really, ‎there is nothing hypocritical or ignorant about a warning inspired by patriotism against mortgaging the future of our children under the guise of seeking loan to fund infrastructural deficit. However, It is rather preposterous that a government renowned for limitless deceit thinks it can preach on honesty. “On the issue of Lagos and Edo States: it is quite clear that while World Bank granted Lagos and Edo States long-term, low interest rate development policy operation credit facilities, our dear Ondo State is seeking N7 billion loan at an unduly high and exorbitant interest rate from a commercial bank. “It is on record that World Bank has strict borrowing conditions with strong emphasis on transparency, accountability, strong financial management information system for budget management, high financial accountability through timely audits and publication of state government’s audited financial accounts. In truth, same conditions cannot be said of the controversial N7bn loan request. When last did the Mimiko-led administration audit government spendings and present its audited financial accounts to the people of Ondo State for public scrutiny? Not once in 7 years. “The undoing of the Mimiko-led administration is that it is exhibiting severe disillusionment as well as demonstrating retiring soporific with its indolent belief that no developmental project could be executed without recourse to borrowing. Senator Boroffice does not agree with this absurdity. “Furthermore, the issue of N7 billion is coming at the same time the Mimiko-led administration declared that paucity of funds is delaying local government polls after feeding fat on local government allocations for about 7 years. Is it true that the N7 billion loan is designed to enhance the rigging machinery of the sinking PDP in Ondo State? “Senator Ajayi Boroffice remains committed to the genuine development of Ondo State and her people. It is the administration that has thrown Ondo State into senseless debt of about N77 billion, yet untiring, and seeking to borrow more that is consciously working ‎to ground Ondo State for the next administration. ‎The Mimiko-led administration should address the people of Ondo State on the debt profile of Ondo State ‎and leave the people to figure out their true enemy. “On reiterating note, although government is continuum, the incoming APC government in Ondo State will not be committed to the repayment plan of any dubious loan granted by Zenith Bank PLC or any other commercial bank at the detriment of the people of Ondo State,” added Boroffice.

PDP vows to reclaim Jigawa ahead of February LG poll

After suffering heavy defeat in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election, the Peoples Democratic Party, Jigawa State chapter has vowed to reclaim the state in the forthcoming February local government election in the state. The PDP chieftain and former commissioner of information in the state, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim, made the assertion while addressing newsmen on the readiness of his party to face the election. He explained that PDP would field candidates for all elective positions, adding that the party has confidence of winning 90 per cent of all contested positions in the election. According to him, the opposition PDP had already put strategies in place and given full rights to the party members to bring out the most qualitative and accepted candidates for the election. The commissioner said, “During the last elections, APC government succeeded in winning the gubernatorial and some legislative seats in the state just due to the Buhari factor which is no longer in existence now”. “So, the people of Jigawa State have now tested the two parties and I’m sure they will judge based on the performance of each party in the state; as I tell you now, there is no more Buhari factor that would save any candidate”. “The people of Jigawa State are currently regretting voting for APC in the last general election; the party and its leaders have disappointed them as they have nothing to show as a dividend of democracy in the last six months”.

Sylva assures Bayelsa elders of peaceful election

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Mr Timpre Sylva, has assured Bayelsan elders that his party would ensure a peaceful election. Mr Sylva gave the assurance while seeking his endorsement by the Bayelsa State Elders Council in south-south Nigeria. He defended some of the allegations against him as well as called on residents in the state to support him to ensure justice was upheld. The Chairman of the council, Chief Francis Doukpola, admitted that some members of the council have political affiliations but gave an assurance of the council’s non-partisanship. The Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty Diete Spiff, confirmed that Mr Sylva was eligible to contest for the election, but tasked him to ensure the elections were violent free as he had promised. The elders’ council also appealed to the APC candidate to ensure that his party shuns violence and any act capable of truncating the peace of the state before and during the polls. The support of the councils is expected to be a boost for the aspirations of Mr Sylva as he continue to canvass for votes from the length and breadth of Bayelsa State.

How PDP can oust APC – Nnamani

Former Senate President Ken Nnamani has said the only way the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to entrench inter­nal democracy. Besides, he said party leaders must obey and abide by the rules of the party even as he advocated the abolition of delegate system to conduct primaries in the selection of candidates. He canvassed a review of the PDP constitution to facititate open congress, empowering all registered PDP members to vote and select their candidates. Nnamani disclosed this in a paper he was sched­uled to deliver at the recent PDP Rebrand Forum held in Abuja. He urged members to stop the blame game over the party’s loss of last elec­tion. Instead, Nnamani said they should take a bold step towards reinventing itself by avoiding mistakes that caused it the trust of the electorate. He said: “Many of the people who are very pained that we lost the presidential election have needlessly been blaming ourselves. This blame game should not continue. We lost the elec­tion because we deserved to lose. We had run out of policy gas. We worked hard to lose the election.” He said: “Now it is time for renewal and renewal requires strategic thinking and bold actions. Many years ago, I worked with some of my colleagues in the PDP and we foresaw this moment. We predicted that the PDP needed to keep faith with its cardinal prin­ciples and values to sustain its leadership of Nigerian politics. How I wished our other colleagues listened to us in those days. We would have averted the disaster of the 2015 electoral defeat. Some of those who contrib­uted immensely to the PDP electoral defeat shouted us down and refused to hear our voice of wisdom. This is past now. There is no time for recrimination and self-adulation. It is time for clarity and effective action. “It is time for genuine embrace of internal democ­racy. The new PDP should become the symbol of in­ternal democracy. Our re­branding should first start with a real commitment to internal democracy. I sug­gest that before we go fur­ther on this journey let all those who desire to lead PDP in formal or informal positions of authority pub­licly declare a new code of conduct. The heart of this code of conduct will be an oath to always promote and protect internal democracy. “Beyond the code, the new PDP must put in its constitution expulsion for any party official at all lev­els who deliberately sub­verts the process of internal democracy. Impunity must end now. Impunity does not end with mere words or declarations. It includes clear sanctions for violation of core tenets of party sys­tems. It is common knowl­edge that we lost many states to the APC because we deliberately refused to conduct primaries that al­low our party members to vote for the candidate of their choice. If we have been less reckless in man­agement of party politics we would have gained at least four more states and perhaps won the presiden­tial election. But we shot ourselves on the foot.” Listing how PDP can retake the political space, Nnamani said: “I think we should go the full hog and write into the new consti­tution that all primaries in the new PDP will be con­ducted in open congresses where all registered party members have equal votes. This is very radical. But we need radical responses to a terrible situation. Some­one may say that even in United States, the symbol of democracy, primaries are sometimes based on del­egates. But we can do bet­ter than the United States. We can deepen democracy by making primaries fully democratic. “As a leader of the pro­scribed PDP Reform Fo­rum, I took the clear posi­tion that we must be a party ruled by law not by men. I have long known that a rule-based system is supe­rior to a discretion-based system. Godfatherism is a weak framework to build a system that can deliver its mandate. The weight of contradiction of reckless abandonment of our core values and rules is what has drowned the ship of PDP in the waters of Nigerian poli­tics,” Nnamani said.