2019 Elections: INEC Won't Use Incident Form-REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will not use incident form in 2019 elections as the card reader will be effectively utilised.

Prof. Francis Ezeonu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, said this at a Town Hall Meeting/Sensitisation Campaign of the commission on Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Egbema/Uguta Local Government of Imo.

He said that the commission was upgrading the card reader machine to make it more functional and effective during elections.

He told the participants and politicians that the era of playing pranks with people’s permanent voter cards during elections was gone, adding that anyone with a card that the card reader did not recognise would be disfranchised and would not be given any incident form.

Ezeonu said that accreditation and voting would start simultaneously to avoid long queues and time wastage during elections.

He advised politicians and party faithful to ensure they did their home work well when campaigns commenced, adding that any plan to rig in whatever form would be a waste of time and effort.

“The essence of politics is development. Candidates should ensure they sincerely work towards getting the people’s mandate. Hijacking election materials will not work in 2019 elections,” he said.

Immanuela Ben-Opara, the head of voters education in INEC, had earlier educated the stakeholders on the need for proper conduct during elections and for them to register to have their PVCs.

Some stakeholders during interaction, commended the Imo REC on its efforts to ensure free and fair elections. They said that they were ready to work with INEC in the spirit of the current move to ensure credible elections and called on the commission to ensure it would abide by its assurances.

They also advised INEC not to change its trained ad-hoc staff with new and untrained ones during elections and to avoid being used by politicians to rig elections.

Ebenezar Amadi, the technical committee chairman in Ohaji-Egbema, commended INEC in Imo for what he called “an innovation”. He said that the area was notorious for insecurity in the past, but normalcy had returned.

Kingsley Uju, Imo Deputy Chief of Staff and an indigene of the area, also commended INEC on the sensitisation move.

He said that relative peace had returned to the hitherto crisis-prone area. “I am happy INEC is beginning to do things in the right way by educating the people on their responsibility as voters for a free and fair election.

“With this move and its effective implementation, Nigerians will begin to believe and have confidence that INEC is ready to manage the electoral process well without intimidation.

“People are ready to work with INEC. I thank INEC for creating the opportunity to interface with the people in efficient electoral process. I, therefore, call on the stakeholders to give INEC adequate support,“ Uju said.

Nwabueze Nwoke, the electoral officer in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government area, had said that the meeting afforded INEC and stakeholders a focal point to create the desired synergy needed to achieve maximum success “in this collective enterprise”.

He said that the commission in the LGA had been able to register 3,965 people since April 2017, saying the number of PVCs collected was 119, while 19,139 were yet to be collected.

In a related story the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe state zonal office on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, arraigned three Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in court over N163.9 million election bribe.

Dr Godwin Kwanga, former Plateau state resident electoral commissioner; Usman Baba Bukar, former INEC administrative secretary in Plateau state and Jonathan Azi Nyako, a retired INEC staff, were arraigned before Justice C. L. Dabup of Plateau state High Court.

Will Queen's successor be on next Commonwealth Agenda?

Image:The Queen is celebrating Commonwealth Day today and has praised the diversity of the global institution.By Rhiannon Mills, Royal Correspondent

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth has described next month's Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) as a "wonderful opportunity" for leaders to "talk about anything they wish to", following reports they may discuss the delicate subject of who will succeed the Queen as their head.

In a sign of the sensitivities surrounding who will become Head of the Commonwealth when the Queen dies, Baroness Patricia Scotland did not deny that the leaders may talk about it when they next meet on 16 April.

But speaking to Sky News on Commonwealth Day, Baroness Scotland said: "That is certainly not a matter for me, it's a matter for the leaders. The leaders will have a wonderful opportunity to be alone together at the retreat and they will talk about anything they wish to but it's definitely not a matter for me."

The Queen's support and promotion of the Commonwealth is seen by many as one of her greatest achievements.

Princess Elizabeth took over as head of the organisation in 1952 when her father King George VI died and she became Queen, but Prince Charles will not automatically inherit the title when he becomes king.

Image:December 1953: The Queen and Prince Philip peered over the railings of the SS Gothic in the Panama Canal during their Commonwealth tour

Asked if she could elaborate on the process for selecting a future Head of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland said "no, no, no, I can't", before adding: "I as Secretary General of the Commonwealth am the servant of 53 countries, and the 53 leaders decide what the mandate is going to be and then give it to the Secretary General."

The Commonwealth represents a global population of almost 2.4 billion people. All the leaders of the member countries are expected to attend CHOGM in London next month.

Under the theme "Towards a Common Future" they will talk about a range of global challenges with a focus on issues such as sustainability, security threats, business, protecting the marine environment and young people.

Reflecting on the current political climate and the importance of the meeting, Baroness Scotland said: "This is a troubling, troubling time, and it is a time when we really need our friends. We need people of goodwill to put their heads together and say what are we actually going to do... how are we going to ensure we have a safer, more prosperous, basically a kinder world?"

Image:Fifty-three Commonwealth member states represent a global population of almost 2.4 billion people

Later today, the Queen and members of the Royal Family will attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

In her Commonwealth Day message released ahead of the event, Her Majesty praised the diversity of the global institution, saying: "We all have reason to give thanks for the numerous ways in which our lives are enriched when we learn from others.

"Through exchanging ideas, and seeing life from other perspectives, we grow in understanding and work more collaboratively towards a common future.

"There is a very special value in the insights we gain through the Commonwealth connection; shared inheritances help us overcome difference so that diversity is a cause for celebration rather than division."

Video:Harry and Meghan's first Scottish visit

The Queen will be joined by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Countess of Wessex, the Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra.

More from Commonwealth

• Birmingham will host Commonwealth Games in 2022

• Queen highlights 'cornerstones' for peace on Commonwealth Day

• Empire strikes back as Fox seeks post-Brexit trade deals

Prince Philip will not attend the event after announcing his retirement from public life last year.

The service will be the first time Ms Markle takes part in an official family engagement in the presence of the Queen.

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• COMMONWEALTH
 
• QUEEN

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Comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd has died aged 90

Image:Sir Ken Dodd was knighted in 2017 in recognition of both his comedic legacy and his charity

Sir Ken Dodd - master of tickling sticks, Diddy Men and tattifilarious comedy - has died, his publicist has said.

The comedian passed away just days after leaving hospital and marrying his partner of 40 years, Anne Jones. He was 90.

His publicist Robert Holmes described him as "one of the last music hall greats".

"With Ken gone, the lights have been turned out in the world of variety. He was a comedy legend and genius," he said.

Image:Sir Ken with Anne Jones when he was knighted at Buckingham Palace

Mr Holmes added: "He asked Anne if she wanted to marry. They got the registrar and were married in the house on Friday.

"He died two days later on Mother's Day. Anne is obviously very upset. They had been together for 40 years. It's a love story to beat them all."

Sir Ken passed away in the same house in Liverpool that he grew up in.

He continued to perform right through to his later years, bringing the energy and stamina of a man half his age to his manic routines.

Even when he was taken to hospital for a "minor operation" on New Year's Eve in 2007, it came just hours after completing a four-hour sell-out gig at Liverpoool's Philharmonic Hall.

But behind the hair, teeth and offbeat humour dwelt a mass of contradictions and insecurities.

His carefully guarded private life received an unwelcome airing in 1989 when he endured a five-week trial accused of tax fraud.

The trial transformed Liverpool Crown Court into a sell-out theatre, with fellow comics Eric Sykes and Roy Hudd called as character witnesses.

Image:Sir Ken in November 2016

Having clocked up 35 years in showbusiness, Dodd told the court: "Since I am stripped naked in this court, I might as well tell you the lot."

He said: "I am not mean, but I am nervous of money, nervous of having it, nervous of not having it," and described money as a yardstick of success - "important only because I have nothing else".

His counsel described him as a fantasist stamped with lifelong eccentricities - such as keeping love letters in a safety deposit box and hoarding £336,000 in the attic - due to a close-knit family upbringing.

The entertainer was acquitted following a brilliant defence by George Carman QC. He would later joke publicly about the case.

Image:Sir Ken started as a stand-up comic in working men's clubs

Sir Ken left school at 14 and worked with his brother Bill, heaving Arley cobbles and Houlton kitchen nuts for six years as part of his father's business.

But in his spare time, the former choirboy was singing and developing a stand-up comic routine at working men's clubs. He would describe himself as "Professor Yaffle Chuckabutty. Operatic Tenor and Sausage Knotter".

The Theatre Royal, Nottingham, saw his debut in 1954 as Professor Chuckabutty, and within two years he was topping the bill at Blackpool, with bits such as the famous Diddy Men, the Broken Biscuit Repair Works, the Jam Butty Mines, the Moggy Ranch and the Treacle Wells.This was followed by numerous BBC series, including The Ken Dodd Show and Ken Dodd's Laughter Show, and he entered the big time in 1965 with the longest-ever run at the London Palladium (42 weeks).

Image:Sir Ken entered the Guinness Book of Records for telling 1,500 jokes in three-and-a-half hours

During the 1960s, he entered the Guinness Book of Records for the longest joke-telling session ever - 1,500 jokes in three-and-a-half hours.

He was awarded an OBE in 1982 and was dubbed a knight by the Duke of Cambridge in 2017 - the year of his 90th birthday.

He spent more than six weeks in the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital earlier this year, following a chest infection, leaving at the end of February.

Fellow Liverpudlian Claire Sweeney described Dodd as a "legend and an inspiration".

Actor John Challis, who played Boycie in comedy television series Only Fools And Horses, tweeted: "So sorry to hear we have lost Ken Dodd. I met him once and I've never forgotten it. Gawd bless 'im."

Comedian Dara O Briain tweeted: "So happy I got to meet him once, and more importantly, saw him do one of his incredible 5 hour shows. He was an education to watch and, afterwards, at 1.30 am, he had beers with me in the dressing room and talked showbiz. A privilege, and a loss. RIP."

Here are some of Dodd's best-known jokes...

- "I haven't spoken to my mother-in-law for 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her."

- "Men's legs have a terribly lonely life - standing in the dark in your trousers all day."

- "It's 10 years since I went out of my mind. I'd never go back."

- "The trouble with Freud is that he never played the Glasgow Empire on a Saturday night after Rangers and Celtic had both lost."

- "The French didn't object to British beef in 1940."

- "Honolulu: it's got everything: sand for the children, sun for the wife, sharks for the wife's mother."

- "How do you make a blonde laugh on a Sunday? Tell her a joke on a Wednesday."

- "How many men does it take to change a toilet roll? Nobody knows. It's never been tried."

- "Fifty-five years in show business, ladies and gentlemen. That's a hell of a long time to wait for a laugh."

- "My act is very educational. I heard a man leaving the other night, saying: 'Well, that taught me a lesson'."

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Maryam Sanda clears air on alleged birthday party for daughter

Maryam Sanda, standing trial for allegedly killing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, has denied throwing a birthday party to celebrate her daughter's one year anniversary barely a day after the Federal Capital Territory granted her a bail.

Sanda, in a statement released by her family, said there was only a private photoshoot to celebrate the daughter's one year birthday and it was organised by her paternal grandmother.

Sanda was reportedly not present at the photoshoot as she was on bed rest at the time.

The family statement read: "Due to recent events which unfolded over a few days ago regarding the celebration of an innocent child’s first year birthday, we her maternal family have decided to speak up because of what we consider a calculated and malicious effort by certain quarters to ruin the happiness of an innocent child just to destroy her mother.

"Let’s start by saying that the picture shared on social media of Maryam Sanda and her beautiful daughter Aleesha which was claimed to have been taken on Aleesha’s birthday is false. Just by mere comparison of recent and old pictures of the little girl, it will become apparent that Aleesha was a lot younger at the time when the picture was taken. (For the purpose of clarity, the picture in question was taken on the 8th of July, 2017 when Aleesha was only 5 Months old as it is our family tradition to take her pictures every month).

"We’ve attached the photos showing dates from the studio with a time stamp. On the 8th of March, 2018, Aleesha turned 1, and her maternal grandmother (our mum) considered it necessary and in the best interest of the innocent child to organize a PHOTOSHOOT for her (especially as Aleesha had not had her traditional monthly photoshoot ever since the incident that befell her family).

"The picture of Aleesha withcake and balloons which subsequently emerged on social media was a photoshoot and not a birthday party as was falsely reported by various blogs and media houses.

"This Photoshoot happened while her mother was on bed rest and only as to have something to remember her first year in this world, hence, you will not find any picture .of Aleesha with anyone (not even her own mother) on that day. What sort of birthday party could have been organized without children and other party guests?

"The photoshoot was an in-house event and the picture was only sent to Aleesha’s paternal Aunt Kilo in Kebbi State. It is however strange to us how anybody (especially those who pretend to love and care for Aleesha) would have maliciously misrepresented the story and even sold it to the media with such caption and message." 

Sanda was granted bail by judge, Yusuf Halilu, on health grounds after telling the court she is pregnant and needed adequate medical attentions.

The bail was granted on Wednesday, March 7, a day before pictures of the alleged birthday party that has got Nigerians talking.

Garba Shehu speaks on Buhari's planned visit to Benue

The senior special sssistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Muhammadu Buhari, on his condolence visit to Benue state would have a meeting with stakeholders and listen to all parties before offering his condolence to those affected.

Shehu made this statement on Sunday while triggered by President Buhari's reaction to the several deaths caused by herdsmen/farmers clashes, Channels TV reports.

Speaking on what the president is expected to do in Benue state, Shehu said: “The programme, as it stands now, is as we had it in Taraba. There will be a meeting of stakeholders in the State House.

“The president will listen to all the parties in the conflict and thereafter, he will deliver his own homily and, of course, sympathies to the people over the unfortunate losses of persons and property.”

He further faulted claims that the president’s visit to the state is politically motivated, saying his principal was engaging in more of acting than talking to stop the killings.

“I would have thought that if he had intended to inject politics into it, he would have been on the plane the morning after the incident,” Shehu said.

“But he chose to act, rather than to talk and as you have seen yourself over this period of time, there was intervention by law enforcement, there was intervention by NEMA and aid agencies.” 

Benue state government on Friday, March 9, cancelled the planned mass burial for victims of Fulani herdsmen attack in Okpokwu area of the state because President Buhari is billed to visit on Monday, March 12 to commiserate with people of the state over herdsmen attacks and massacre of people.

Oscar 2018 nominees and winners

This year Academy Awards held a really bright and exciting event, the results and highlights are discussed in below. We invite you to checkout the full list of Oscar 2018 nominees and winners.

Winners: without any surprises

The announcement of the winners among the films nominated for Oscars this year passed without surprises. As expected, "The Shape of Water" is the best movie of the year, Gary Oldman was named the actor in a leading role for the main role in the film "Darkest Hour," and Frances McDormand won best actress in a leading role for the movie "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri."

The best cartoon of the past season is "Coco", also noted for the song performed in the film.

The best foreign language film of the year is the "A Fantastic Woman."

The results are quite predictable. It's worth noting the special success of the science fiction genre in the form of drama "The Shape of Water", whose success in the number of Oscars won has surpassed even such cult films as "Blade Runner", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Clockwork Orange."

Photo from rte.ie

As for the expected triumph of Gary Oldman for the perfect portrait of Winston Churchill, the victory without a doubt is fully deserved by the master of the movie screen and a native of South London.

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The organizers of the Oscars 2017 were embarrassed by the failure which happened during the announcement for best picture last year, when after the team that worked on the "La La Land" had already climbed onto the stage to receive the award announced by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, it was discovered that they got the wrong envelope and Oscar for best picture was actually won by "Moonlight" and the "La La Land" team had to leavethe stage disappointed.

READ ALSO: Where to download Yoruba movies?

Photo from eonline.com

This time the organizers of the ceremony did not risk. Envelopes with the names of the winners were clearly marked with a large gilded font: even the most shortsighted participant in the awarding process could not be mistaken when reading the correct names. The well-known audit firm PwC, which responds for envelopes distributing during the Oscar ceremony, even organized a special detailed training for everyone in whose hands envelopes with the names of winners may appear.

Sexual harassment at gunpoint

In past ceremonies, Harvey Weinstein became the main Oscars character. Here in Los Angeles, the infamous Hollywood producer each time got the opportunity to emphasize once again his status as an alpha male. And therefore it was not a coincidence that the host of the ceremony Jimmy Kimmel began to bypass this hot topic.

Photo from indianexpress.com

He even specifically noted Weinstein's "merits" in the fight against sexual harassment in the movie industry and stressed that he was quite rightly expelled from the American Film Academy. Known for his piquant sense of humor, Kimmel also noted that the Oscar statuette fully embodies the present times: the golden symbol lacks a penis.

Following the leading topic, other speakers in the theater of Dolby, where Oscars are traditionally awarded, also expressed their points of view. The most unexpected statement came from Frances McDormand when she received her award for the best actress in a leading role.

Photo from wjla.com

At first, she urged all the men in the audience to take an interest in the plans for the future and the ideas of their companions instead of perceiving them as an accessory for the after-party ceremony. McDormand finished the speech recalling the condition of "inclusion rider" that Hollywood actors can optionally use in their work contract.

Photo from standard.co.uk

Below is a list of all the nominees and winners.

Actress in a Leading Role

• Sally Hawkins
• Frances McDormand - WINNER
• Margot Robbie
• Ronan
• Meryl Streep

Oscars 2018 best actor nominees (leading role)

• Timothee Chalamet
• Daniel Day Lewis
• Daniel Kaluuya
• Gary Oldman - WINNER
• Denzel Washington

Best supporting actress

• Mary J Blige
• Allison Janney - WINNER
• Lesley Manville
• Laurie Metcalf
• Octavia Spencer

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Willem Defoe
• Woody Harrelson
• Richard Jenkins
• Christopher Plummer
• Sam Rockwell - WINNER

Oscars 2018 nominations: best picture

• Call Me By Your Name
• Darkest Hour - WINNER
• Dunkirk
• Get Out
• Lady Bird
• Phantom Thread
• The Post
• The Shape of Water
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Director

• Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
• Jordan Peele for Get Out
• Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
• Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread
• Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water - WINNER

Best live action short film

• DeKalb Elementary - Reed Van Dyk
• The Eleven O'Clock - Derin Seale and Josh Lawson
• My Nephew Emmett - Kevin Wilson, Jr.
• The Silent Child - Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton - WINNER
• Watu Wote/All of Us - Katja Benrath and Tobias Rosen

Best animated film of the year

• The Boss Baby
• The Breadwinner
• Coco - WINNER
• Ferdinand
• Loving Vincent

Achievement in cinematography

• Blade Runner 2049 - WINNER
• Darkest Hour
• Dunkirk
• Mudbound
• The Shape Of Water

Achievement in costume design

• Beauty And The Beast
• Darkest Hour
• Phantom Thread - WINNER
• The Shape Of Water
• Victoria & Abdul

Achievement in directing

• Dunkirk
• Get Out
• Lady Bird
• Phantom Thread
• The Shape Of Water - WINNER

Best documentary feature

• Abacus: Small Enough To Jail
• Faces Places
• Icarus - WINNER
• Last Men In Aleppo
• Strong Island

Best documentary short subject

• Edith +Eddie
• Heaven Is A Traffic Jam On The 405 - WINNER
• Нeroin(E)
• Knife Skills
• Traffic Stop

Achievement in film editing

• Baby Driver
• Dunkirk - WINNER
• I, Tonya
• The Shape Of Water
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best foreign language film of the year

• A Fantastic Woman - WINNER
• The Insult
• Loveless
• On Body And Soul
• The Square

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling

• Darkest Hour - WINNER
• Victoria & Abdul
• Wonder

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original score)

• Dunkirk
• Phantom Thread
• The Shape Of Water - WINNER
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi
• Three Billboards OUtside Ebbing, Missouri

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original song)

• Mighty River from Mudbound
• Mystery Of Love from Call Me By Your Name
• Remember Me from Coco - WINNER
• Stand Up For Something from Marshall
• This Is Me from The Greatest Showman

Achievement in production design

• Beauty Aand The Beast
• Blade Runner 2049
• Darkest Hour
• Dunkirk
• The Shape Of Water - WINNER

Best animated short film

• Dear Basketball - WINNER
• Garden Party
• Lou
• Negative Space
• Revolting Rhymes

Best live action short film

• Dekalb Elementary
• The Eleven O'Clock
• My Nephew Emmett
• The Silent Child - WINNER
• Watu Wote/All Of Us

Achievement in sound editing

• Baby Driver
• Blade Runner 2049
• Dunkirk - WINNER
• The Shape Of Water
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Achievement in sound mixing

• Baby Driver
• Blade Runner 2049
• Dunkirk - WINNER
• The Shape Of Water
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Achievement in visual effects

• Blade Runner 2049 - WINNER
• Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2
• Kong: Skull Island
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi
• War For The Planet Of The Apes

Adapted screenplay

• Call Me By Your Name - WINNER
• The Disaster Artist
• Logan
• Molly's Game
• Mudbound

Original screenplay

• The Big Sick
• Get Out - WINNER
• Lady Bird
• The Shape Of Water
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Movies that got the most Oscar 2018 nominations

• The Shape Of Water - 13
• Dunkirk - 8
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - 7

We hope that it was interesting for you to get acquainted with 2018 Oscars nominees and winners list. It was really spectacular ceremony full of memorable moments.

2010 Independence Day Bombing: Charles Okah Jailed for life

Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The sentence was reportedly handed out on Wednesday evening, March 7, by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Charles, the younger brother of Henry Okah, was sentenced alongside Obi Nwabueze, his co-accused for the crime.

Henry Okah had also been sentenced for a similar crime in South-Africa, where he resided.

The 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja led to the deaths of a dozen people at the Eagles Square. 

Perviously Charles Okah caused a stare in court as he attempted to take his life.

The mild drama occurred at the Federal High Court in Abuja, when the accused sought the permission of the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, to speak on his trial.

He informed the judge that he had been incarcerated for a long time, and that he had a family to cater for; adding that his children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father.

After he ended his emotional statement after speaking for about five minutes, Okah reached for a chair in the court and quickly moved towards a window. However, he was overpowered by lawyers and other litigants who prevented him from breaking the louvers.

Nigeria’s Democracy Must be protected - Ekweremadu Warned

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has stated that it is not unlikely for the military to take over, as he noted that the nation’s democracy is receding.

Ekweremadu made his comment in reaction to a motion sponsored by Ahmed Ogembe, the senator representing Kogi Central.

Ogembe alleged that the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, organized thugs to disrupt an empowerment programme for his constituents, which he had organized.

The Deputy Senate President warned that Nigeria’s democracy must not be turned into a joke, as he cited various instances where federal lawmakers have been harassed.

Ekweremadu told the Kogi governor that “the road he is travelling will not lead him anywhere.”

He continued: “You will recall that sometime last year when they wanted to recall Dino, I advised the governor that they are wasting the resources of that state, that it is mission impossible.

“They took three pages in the newspaper abusing me. Are we still hearing the recall today? Money has been wasted. If he doesn’t stop, there is no how he will come back in 2019, never, no he will not.

“God will show him that he is a God of justice; and this is a message to all those people who have caused all kinds of problem in Nigeria at different levels.

“The problem in Nigeria is that our democracy is receding. Who says the army cannot take over? Let us not joke with our democracy that is the issue. The house of a senator was destroyed in Kaduna state. We also are talking about Kwankwaso, who was stopped from going to his state where he ruled for eight years.

“In Kaduna, Shehu Sani cannot organise a meeting, and we are talking about a democracy.”

Meanwhile the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai, had already warned army officials to stay off politics and politically related activities.

Buratai said this in a statement issued by the former spokesman of the Army, Brig Gen Sani Usman.

He said: “This is to inform the public that the chief of army staff (COAS), Nigerian army, has received information that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons. On the basis of that, he has warned such persons to desist from these acts.”