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Atiku’s Campaign Venue Revocation: We’re Not Surprised -PDP Campaign Council

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… Atiku Not Holding Rally In Our Facility -UniPort

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council in Rivers State, has said it was not surprised at the decision of the state government to revoke the earlier approval it gave for the use of the Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium, Igwurita-Ali, Port Harcourt as venue for the party’s presidential campaign rally.

The state government had in a letter dated January 31, 2023 and addressed to the Director-General of the Campaign Council and Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, announced the revocation of the approval.

The letter, which was signed by the Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Christopher Green, said the decision was based on a credible intelligence available to the state government.

But, speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, said the party has before made arrangements for it’s campaign rally in the state.

Nwibubasa said: “The clause that we can only access the approved venue for the campaign rally 48 hours before event was very ridiculous. We have had our plans and we are not taken by surprise.

“One good thing this had given to us and to Rivers people who are very much in high spirit to vote our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is that it has risen our courage to vote for our presidential candidate. It won’t deter us from campaigning. The ultimate goal is to vote for Atiku Abubakar.”

Meanwhile, the University of Port Harcourt, has debunked reports on social media that the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will use it’s facility for his campaign rally in Rivers State.

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The university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Sammy Kpenu, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the management of the institution has not authorized any political campaign rally in it’s facility.

The statement reads in part: “The attention of the authorities of University of Port Harcourt has been drawn to an online report credited to one Mr Humble lion with the telephone number +234 7031061646 making the rounds on the social media that “ATIKU Presidential Campaign holds @UniPort.”

“The Management wishes to state as follows: That Management has not authorized any political campaign rally at the University.

“That the University is not a political ground for political campaigns and that it is not contemplating releasing its facility to the Atiku Campaign Council

“The public is, therefore, called upon to discountenance this deliberate falsehood aimed at tarnishing the towering reputation of the University as it is simply a figment of the imagination of the author.

“The Institution warns the originator of this falsehood to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the law. Meanwhile, this issue has been reported to law enforcement agencies for appropriate action.”

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Trump threatens attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities as talks continue

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U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his threat of drastic consequences for Iran over its nuclear programme, including a potential attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

During a meeting at the White House with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump said: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon, and they got to go fast, because they’re fairly close to having one, and they’re not going to have one.

“And if we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it. And I’m not doing it for us.

“I’m doing it for the world, and these are radicalised people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

When questioned by a reporter if this included an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump affirmed, “Of course it does.”

The U.S. government and other Western states as well as Israel aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

During his first term in office in 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Vienna nuclear deal, which was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear programme and lift sanctions in return.

Following this, Tehran also ceased adhering to the agreement’s stipulations.

Last Saturday, the U.S. and Iran resumed talks about a possible new nuclear agreement after years of deadlock, with Oman acting as a mediator.

The next round of talks is expected to hold on Saturday in Rome.

Trump confirmed the scheduled date and expressed confidence in resolving the issue with Iran, describing it as “almost an easy” problem.

Earlier Monday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi announced that he would travel to Tehran this week ahead of the next round of nuclear talks.

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According to Iranian media reports, Grossi is expected in Tehran on Wednesday.

“Continued engagement and cooperation with the agency is essential at a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed,” Grossi wrote on X on Monday.

Tehran’s lack of cooperation with IAEA inspectors is a main cause of the growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, along with its production of near weapons-grade uranium. (dpa/NAN

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Alleged N33.8bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Power Minister

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, adjourned the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, until May 2.

Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s video evidence to counter the allegations by Mamman that his extra-judicial statement was not voluntarily made, was played in the open court.

Justice Omotosho had ordered that the video clip of the interview session conducted by the commission’s officials during their investigation be played in a trial-within-trial, following allegation that the ex-minister did not voluntarily make the statement.

The ex-minister had, through his lawyer, Femi Atteh, SAN, insisted that his statement tendered by the EFCC in the alleged corruption trial was not not made voluntarily.

The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, disagreed with Atteh’s submission.

The judge consequently ordered that the video clip be played in the open court to ascertain the veracity of the argument.

In the video on Monday, Mamman insisted that he could not write statement due to his ill-health.

Counsel to the EFCC, Abbas Muhammed, asked the EFCC investigator and a witness, Abubakar Kwaido, whether he read the statement of caution to Mamman before the session.

Kwaido confirmed that the cautionary statement was read to the defendant before the video recorded and the statement taken.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until May 2 for continuation of trial.

Oyedepo, the lead prosecuting counsel, had, on Thursday, asked Kwaido whether he harassed Mamman or threatened him with detention but the witness responded in the negative.(NAN)

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Ghastly accident claims 7 lives in Ebonyi– FRSC

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi has confirmed the death of seven persons in Sunday’s auto crash at Nwafia Oga, Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area.

The Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Henry Igwe, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, saying that it occured at about 7.30pm.

Igwe also said that the crash involved a commercial Toyota Bus, with Registration Number UWN 429 ZY and an articulated vehicle, with Registration Number XW 294 ENU.

He said: “20 persons were involved in the crash, consisting of six males and two females.

“The dead include four males and three females, while two females were injured.”

According to him, 11 persons, comprising two males, eight females and one child, escaped unhurt.

The FRSC chief also said that the crash was caused by speed violation.

He said that while the injured were taken to St. Saviour Hospital, Onueke for treatment, the remains of the deceased were taken to the Onueke General Hospital’s morgue.

He said that investigation into the crash had commenced.

“We still urge drivers to drive carefully and obey road signs because it is only the alive that travels,” he said. (NAN)

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