NEWS : BIAFRA ,Nnamdi Kanu launches Eastern Security Network

 

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has launched the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

Kanu explained that the ESN was launched to protect the Southeast from marauding Fulani herdsmen and other criminal elements.

The IPOB leader also disclosed that ESN was not different from Amotekun in the Southwest and Miyetti Allah in the North.

Kanu’s launch of ESN was disclosed in a statement signed by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.

He warned armed robbers, kidnappers, to vacate the Southeast or be prepared “for the worst.”

Kanu vowed that the new security outfit will adequately defend the Southeast.

He also disclosed that mobile numbers would be released so people can call whenever there is any case of criminality in the region.

Kanu lamented that terrorists have converted forest in the Southeast into slaughter grounds and raping fields.

The statement reads partly: “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce with delight, that IPOB has floated a special security network to guard and protect the whole of Biafraland from Fulani herdsmen terrorists and other criminal groups.

“The sole aim of this newly formed Security outfit known as Eastern Security Network (ESN), is to halt every criminal activity and terrorists attack in Biafraland.

“This outfit which is a vigilante group like the Amotekun in the South West and the Miyetti Allah security outfit will ensure the safety of our forests and farm lands which terrorists have converted into slaughter grounds and raping fields.”

NEWS : Gunmen kill ex-House of Reps candidate in Oyo

 

Some gunmen have killed a former House of Representatives candidate in Oyo State.

DAILY POST gathered that Dr. Fatai Aborode, was killed Friday evening.

He contested the House of Representatives election on the platform of the Accord Party in 2015.

Our correspondent learnt on Saturday that Aborode, who recently defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was killed near his farm, along Apodun village in Iganagan town in Oyo State.

Igangan is in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state, DAILY POST learnt.

Our correspondent learnt that Aborode was repeatedly shot by the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

A source disclosed that Aborode and his manager were attacked on their way back home by the assailant suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

However, Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, when contacted said that he has no details of the incident

Fadeyi in a reply to DAILY POST noted that he has not gotten details of the incident.

He said, “I must get details, pls.”

NEWS : Nigerian govt rescues mother of four trafficked to Egypt

 

The Nigerian government has facilitated the return of a 35-year-old mother of four, identified Omowunmi Rhoda Aladeboyeje, who was allegedly trafficked to Cairo, Egypt by her elder brother.

The brother deceived her about a nursing job in the United States but she ended up in Cairo.

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head, Media and Public Relations Unit Abuja, said the victim was trafficked on March 17, 2020, and claimed to be sexually harassed on a regular basis, beaten frequently and home imprisoned sometimes.

Part of the statement read: “Rhoda, a mother of four, was trafficked by her immediate elder brother who claimed there was a nursing job opportunity in America.

“However, going to America turned out to be a ruse. She was trafficked to Egypt and went through so much torture and hell.”

NIDCOM disclosed that they found out about her case after they got a distress call from her family member.

After which, the Nigerian mission in Cairo contacted all necessary agencies to immediately put all logistics in place to facilitate her return.

“With that completed and with Rhoda in the safe custody of the mission, her family made provisions for her ticket home,” the statement added.

Balogun added that Rhoda, who is an auxiliary Nurse by profession, is presently on her way to her home town Okitipupa in Ondo State.

NEWS : Unknown gunmen kidnap retired Grand Khadi in Kogi

 

Unknown gunmen gave kidnapped a retired grand Khadi in Kogi State, Justice Zachariah Idakwoji Muhammed.

DAILY POST gathered that Justice Muhammed was kidnapped along Ochadamu-Okabo, few kilometers to Anyigba on Sunday.

It was further learnt that his driver was also kidnapped with him.

Although their whereabouts are still unknown, a family source, who never wanted his name to be mentioned, confirmed the kidnap of the two victims to our correspondent on Sunday evening.

When contacted, the Kogi State Police Public Relations officer, (PPRO), DSP William Aya, told DAILY POST that he was yet to get any official report about the incident.

However, he promised to get back to our correspondent when he gets first handsl information from Anyigba division of the Nigeria Police Force.

Details later…

NEWS : Police confirms kidnap of students in Katsina, claims over 200 have returned

 

The Police Command in Katsina has confirmed the attack on Government Science Secondary School Kankara on Friday night.

Their Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen on Saturday.

According to Isah, the incident happened around 11.30pm and the assailants engaged in a gun battle with security personnel at the school’s gate.

“The Divisional Police Office in Kankara quickly mobilised security personnel and moved to the area with Armoured Personnel Carrier and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, forcing the gunmen to retreat.

“More than 200 students who jumped over the school fence into the town to hide have returned,” he said.

Isah said the authorities were working to ascertain the exact number of students that have not returned.

NEWS : Electoral College The people who ultimately pick the US president

By Sam Cabral

BBC News, Washington

Electoral College The people who ultimately pick the US president

The US presidential election was five weeks ago, but the votes that officially anoint the next president are just about to be cast.

When Americans go to the polls in presidential elections, they are not directly voting for president. They are actually voting for a group of 538 "electors" that make up the Electoral College.

Electors cast their vote on Monday 14 December, after all 50 states and the District of Columbia have certified their election results.

We'll introduce to some of these electors in a moment - two ordinary Americans and another who everyone knows - but first, let's remind you how this all works.

Who can be an elector?

The US Constitution only states that electors cannot be members of Congress or others who currently hold federal office. So they can be:

• Retired politicians - former president Bill Clinton cast an electoral vote for his wife Hillary in 2016.
• State and local elected officials - New York governor Andrew Cuomo was a Democratic elector in 2016
• Grassroots activists, lobbyists or other figures from a state - we have two examples below
• Personal or professional connection to candidate - Donald Trump Jr was an elector for his father last time
• media caption

Each political party with a candidate on the presidential ballot nominates or votes on its own slate of electors in the months prior to election day. States have their own rules for choosing electors.

Roughly in line with the size of its population, each state gets as many electors as it has lawmakers in the US Congress (representatives in the House and Senate).

Once we know who won a state's popular vote, we know which party will appoint the electors for that state.

Electors are like rubber stamps that formalise how their state voted, so they are usually loyal supporters of their party.

What role do electors play?

Electors have already pledged their support for a certain candidate, so they almost always vote as pledged.

electors" - seven in total - voted for candidates other than those they had pledged to support (five turned against Clinton, two against Trump). It was the first election since 1948 to feature more than one faithless elector.

States have since looked to strengthen their rules against faithless electors, pushing laws to remove them and have their votes redacted if they do not vote as pledged, a move backed by the US Supreme Court.

What is happening in 2020?

With the backing of several high-profile supporters, President Trump has called on Republican state legislatures in states he lost to throw out their popular vote results and appoint their own set of electors. Election law experts are sceptical that this is possible and Republican state leaders have pushed back against this suggestion.

• Trump's latest legal longshot - could it work?

A successful presidential candidate must get at least 270 out of the 538 votes that make up the electoral college.

If electors vote based on the certified results of their states, they will give Joe Biden 306 votes and Donald Trump 232, thus officially handing the presidency to Mr Biden.

I'm an elector in New York'

By far the most famous elector this year is Hillary Clinton.

Khary Penebaker is a father of three, a small business president and a proud Democrat. He will be one of 10 electors from the state of Wisconsin, casting his electoral college vote for Mr Biden and Ms Harris.

Mr Penebaker has been one of the state's elected Democratic National Committee representatives since 2017 and ran for Congress in 2016, so he is a familiar face in the party politics of Wisconsin.

"In 2016, I was an elector for Hillary Clinton, but didn't get a chance to cast my electoral ballot for America's first female president," said Penebaker. "At least now, I can cast my ballot for Joe Biden, who is going to restore some semblance of civility and decency."

He will be one of two black electors in his state and is thrilled by the prospect of Vice-President Harris: "For people of colour, we don't want to be seen as the enemy. With our first black female vice-president, we have someone who can see us as equal and as human beings."

'This is a very honourable position'

IMAGE COPYRIGHTNAOMI NARVAIZ

Naomi Narvaiz is a mother of five, a community activist and a staunch Republican. She will be one of 38 electors from the state of Texas, casting her electoral college vote for President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence.

In addition to being a Republican Party official in Texas, Narvaiz has been actively involved at various levels in her community, from her school district's health advisory council to her city's ethics review commission. She was nominated as an elector by her sister-in-law, a former local elected official and was selected at the state party convention earlier this year.

"This is a very honourable position to hold," said Narvaiz, "and I'm very grateful that the people in my congressional district honoured me with their votes to do that for them."

Texas is one of 17 states that does not bind its electors to vote for the person who won the state's popular vote. Two Texans were among the seven faithless electors in the 2016 election, casting their votes for former presidential candidates John Kasich and Ron Paul.

Narvaiz says her support for President Trump is rock solid: "I wanted to make sure our congressional district was well-represented and that we would have a faithful elector to vote for President Donald J Trump, and I knew that person would be me."The former secretary of state and first lady lost the 2016 presidential election to Mr Trump, but she gets the last laugh as an elector this year from her adopted home state of New York.

In announcing that she was an elector, Mrs Clinton said it would be "pretty exciting" to cast her vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next president and vice-president, respectively.

Mrs Clinton has previously called for the abolition of the Electoral College, arguing presidents should instead be selected by popular vote. In 2016, she was defeated in the Electoral College despite winning nearly three million more votes than Mr Trump.

'This is real change'

NEWS : PDP National Youth Summit: Gov Ikpeazu restates commitment to welfare of youths

 

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has reiterated his government’s readiness to support, promote and stand with youths in governance by ensuring a youth-friendly State Executive Council.

The Governor disclosed that recent committees formed after the End SARS protests were all youth-based as well as the December 18th local government election flag bearers.

Ikpeazu spoke in a message during the PDP National Youth Summit which was held at Agu-Awka Anambra State on Friday.

Governor Ikpeazue was represented by the Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu.

Earlier in his speech, the PDP National Youth Leader, Rt.Hon.SKE Udeh-Okoye thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for all his concern towards youth engagements and his support for the summit.

The Abia State PDP Youth Leader, Hon. Onwuka Patrick Alozie who led over 60 youth leaders across the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State in his speech guaranteed that youths will be mobilised to ensure victory and take leadership by unity of purpose.

Also speaking earlier, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus emphasised his strong belief in youths and charged them to be focused.

He assured them of his support and encouragement in ensuring youths take their rightful place in the centre of governance.

DAILY POST reports that Dignitaries present during the summit include, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dr. Peter Obi, Col Austin Akobundu, Senator Ben Obi, Chief Ali Odefa, all state youth leaders in the South East and others too many to mention.