A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
The PDP running mate John Yakubu yesterday accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of failing to provide N1 billion to fund the accreditation of programmes in the Ambrose Alli University while at the same time pumping N40 billion in the same period to the new university in his village.
Yakubu spoke as an Esan socio-cultural group, the Ikolo Esan, urged the Esan nation to reject the APC for the marginalisation of the area by the outgoing Oshiomhole administration.
At an interactive session in Benin weekend that was well attended by Esan sons and daughters within and outside the Edo State capital, participants agreed that the Esan nation had not fared well under the Oshiomhole's administration and that he repeatedly ignored cries of marginalization made by the Esan people.
They accused Governor Oshiomhole of putting his Etsako nation ahead of other groups in the state in terms of developmental projects and political appointments, adding that the Esan nation was the worst hit by the lopsided appointments and projects.
Members of the Ikolo Esan hailed the PDP for nominating an Esan man, Mr. John Yakubu, as running mate to the party's governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, saying the future of Esanland was more secured under the PDP.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Yakubu said Governor Oshiomhole's plan for the Esan nation was to make them politically irrelevant, saying the September 10 governorship election presented an opportunity to Esans to unite and fight their marginalization and humiliation by the APC government.
He further briefed the people how Comrade Oshiomhole allegedly stopped the Ibore and Okhunlen erosion projects the Federal Government planned to execute in Edo Central Senatorial District, adding that the only way they could put a stop to the present marginalization was to vote for the PDP.
He said, "While Governor Oshiomhole could spend up to N40 billion in Iyamho University, he could not fund Ambrose Alli University with at least N1 billion so that the NUC would not de-accredit some of the courses there. On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Benin, Prof Abhulimen Richard Anao, said the reason they came together was to pursue the interests of the Esan nation and that the Esan people should have a say in the affairs of Edo State.
APC chieftain Elder Sunny Uyigue, Monday, declared that the gods of Benin land would never allow the PDP come back to power in the state.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Uyigue said Ize-Iyamu was the worst decision the PDP could have produced given what he claimed as the candidate's relationship with the past PDP government in Edo State.
He also praised Governor Adams Oshiomhole for his performance in office saying that he had never seen a governor who performed like him since he joined politics.
According to Uyigue, "the campaign has been going on well, but PDP has started what they know best which is violence, but that will back fire. They are organizing thugs, creating tension where there is none. There is no magic that can make the PDP win this election; Oshiomhole has done what Napoleon could not do when it comes to Edo State politics.
"Since I joined politics, I am yet to see a governor like him. Before, the PDP used to tell us how mammy water has stopped them from constructing roads, but today where is the Mammy water. Oshiomhole is constructing roads everywhere, schools, look at the hospital he built even if you are sick and go there you will be healed immediately.
By Elizabeth Nwandu Coastal bus drivers Monday boycotted Okoko / CMS route to protest the alleged killing of their chairman, Sunday evening by a Mobile policeman.
The deceased, identified simply as Salau Fatai was said to have been hit by a stray bullet from a Mobile policeman, at Doyin bus-stop in Orile area of Lagos.
The policeman with an undisclosed identity was escorting a jeep. He was said to have fired some shots into the air apparently to disperse vehicles which blocked the road, only for a stray bullet to hit Fatai. .
One of the protesting drivers, Ishola Manni who spoke with this reporter, said: Our chairman and colleague, Fatai, popularly called Oshe was killed by a Mobile policeman on Sunday. He died leaving behind a wife and five children. Who will take care of them? he asked .
An eye witness, Ebere Madu explained: "I was attending to some customers when we heard some gun shots. Everyone ran away, thinking it was a robbery operation. But by the time the whole place was clam, we were told that a man who was hit by a stray bullet fired by a Mobile policeman was lying in the pool of his blood.
“When the Policeman realised what happened, he disappeared from the scene, leaving the vehicle he was escorting. Some boys in the area swung into action and arrested the occupant of the jeep whom they handed over to policemen at Orile division. The corpse was taken to the police station, from where it was taken to another location".
A mechanic, who identified himself simply as Fashola, said that the incident happened barely an hour after the deceased left his work shop.
He said: "He brought his vehicle, a coastal bus for repairs at my workshop at school bus-stop. In the process, an apprentice of his, Kehinde, came in his vehicle to collect something from the deceased. Thereafter, he told me he was going home (Oko-Afor) they left in Kehinde’s vehicle at about 6pm. Barely one hour later, I got a telephone call that he was killed by a stray bullet".
BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE Tragedy struck in Aba at the weekend when an unknown operative of the Abia State Vigilante Service, AVS, popularly known as 'Bakassi Boys', shot dead a female birthday celebrant at a popular eatery in Ariaria area of the city.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the celebrant was attracted to sporadic gunshots being fired by the AVS operative and appealed to him to stop as her guests were terrified. But the gun allegedly went off and hit the celebrant who died on the spot.
The incident caused tension in the area, forcing customers at the fast food centre to scamper to safety while business owners shut their shops.
The AVS operative would have been lynched by an angry mob but for the timely intervention of a police patrol team who was alerted to the scene.
"The lady was celebrating her birthday at the fast food. She went outside as her guests complained of gunshots being fired. The lady was asking him why he shot into the air having known that she was hosting her friends at the fast food. As she approached the Bakassi man, we heard another gunshot and the lady shouting for help. She died before she could receive medical attention, "eyewitnesses said.
A team of policemen later took her corpse away amidst a crowd of tears from sympathizers.
Attempts to reach the spokesman of the Abia state police command ,ASP Ogbonnaya? Nta proved abortive, but a senior Police officer at the Ariaria Division said the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Umuahia.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said only qualified teachers, who were duly registered, would be allowed to teach in the country to ensure professionalism. Adamu said this while briefing newsman on the sidelines on the presentation of a draft roadmap tagged “Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan 2016-2019'' to education stakeholders in Abuja on Monday.
He said the teaching profession had declined and there was need to ensure professionalism to improve the quality of education. “ Teacher education itself is dying simply because non professionals have now become teachers. “ Therefore, the professionalisation and registration of teachers will help make sure that the profession is reorganized with quacks kicked out.
“So nobody should be employed as a teacher if he or she does not have a teaching qualification; there is no magic if you are not qualified as a teacher: you cannot teach," Adamu said. According to the Minister, teaching qualification means the person has undergone the course of philosophy of education and the method of teaching.
Adamu said the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TCN) was in the forefront of ensuring that only qualified and registered teachers would be allowed to teach in Nigeria. The Minister listed funding as one of the major challenges in the sector, saying that it has not been fully funded.
He mentioned other ichallenges in the sector to include: out-of- school children, cultism, exam malpractice and indiscipline. “Only 17 per cent of applicants are admitted into the university and there are 11 million out- of- school children.
“About 25.3 million students at all levels of education are out- of- school in the country.'' Adamu expressed the hope that the strategic plan would help address the problems in the education sector, saying "this document is the solution to the problems in the sector".
In recent times, mobile phone makers are putting huge marketing budgets behind the promotion of, what is now the modern world's most expensive toy- smartphones.
A growing culture that combines modern city life and smartphones is believed to be one of the drivers for the sales of very expensive, high-end smartphones across markets.
But as analysts try to validate sales with advanced mobile specifications and overall improved productivity from super smartphones, sociologists suggest a more emotional reason for the growing adoption of high-end smartphones.
"You cannot rule out the positive perception that goes with owning an expensive toy. A lot of the mobile users we polled hinted lifestyle statement as being part of the reason they had bought a high-end device"-says a sociologist researching mobile trends in emerging markets.
High-end smartphone brands the likes of Samsung S7, Tecno Phantom5, HTC M9 and LG G5 have successfully pitched ground-breaking upgrades in camera specs, processor grades, security protocol and overall hardware design to consumers and made impressive sales on release.
The new trend
Not minding the heavy price tags on top flagships, more mobile users are opting for big budget smartphones.
The driving force? Productivity and durability.
Next Tecno Phantom-4K video enabled, VR compatible, triple layer security and while staying ultra-slim.
If the rumored September release of Tecno Phantom drops with the specifications making rounds, this smartphone could be the most talked about super smartphone of the year.
Tecno as a mobile brand has worked hard over the years to reposition brand perception with the Phantom flagship - establishing a sense of class amongst its users looking for something fresh.
Disputed National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said his faction of the party would review outcome of its primary election for governorship election in Ondo state.
He said, in a statement in Abuja on Monday that the faction's National Working Committee (NWC) would review the process of the election, held earlier on Monday in Ibadan, Oyo state.
In the primary which had three of the five aspirants withdrawing from the race, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim emerged the candidate.
But in the statement signed by the faction's National Organizing Secretary, Mr Okey Nnaedozie, Sheriff said that soon after the election, the NWC started receiving “series of serious phone calls and petitions regarding the processes''
He said that while the result from the exercise was at “best tentative'' until approved by the NWC, the process and the result would be reviewed.
“The NWC wishes to assure all aspirants, stakeholders, members and teeming supporters of the party in the state that it will comprehensively review the processes and circumstances of the exercise accordingly.
“This decision is as a result of serious reports claiming that proper accreditation was not done for the exercise.
“The review therefore will enable the NWC take an informed decision on whether to conduct a fresh primary or uphold the result from the exercise,'' he said.
Sheriff added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had given political parties up to Sept. 19 to conduct their primaries for the Ondo governorship election.
It would be recalled that on Aug. 22, in Akure, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, emerged candidate of PDP primary election for the Ondo governorship election conducted by the National Caretaker Committee led by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.
The Africa Union (AU) has stated that the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) can be richer than Dangote because the scheme is accepted in all parts of the country for the skills it has and is still imparting in the youths. To this end, the AU has indicated its willingness to partner the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in skills acquisition for youths in Nigeria.
The AU Envoy in Nigeria, Dr Tunji Asaolu, gave the indication on Monday in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director- General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure. Asaolu noted that the NYSC was the only body that could help the Federal Government to reduce the burden of unemployment in Nigeria.
“We want to partner NYSC, using corps members to run teachers volunteer scheme and use these teachers in a survey and those who perform well will be retained. “We are encouraging people to develop skills in production and agriculture; our partnership will create jobs, enrich the economy and develop the country at large.
“NYSC can be richer than Dangote because it is accepted in all parts of the country. “Some programmes that can help engage youths are Africa Youth Volunteer Corps, Pan Africa Safety Commission and so on. “With the intervention programmes that we have, we will see how we can subsidise to enable us to achieve the goal,'' Asaolu said.
Asaolu said that if corps members were making and using products made by NYSC, the organisation could become a big company of its own. Responding, Kazaure, pledged to key into the partnership and added that a technical committee had been set up to meet with the AU. He said NYSC was ready to partner AU to empower and improve the lives of Nigerians.
Ekiti state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, on Monday signed the "Anti Grazing Bill 2016" recently passed by the House of Assembly. The bill was sponsored by the executive after the killing of two persons by suspected herdsmen in Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
The new law criminalises grazing in some places and certain time limit in the state. Signing the bill, Fayose said that the new law would check cases of incessant attacks or killings of local residents and destruction of farmlands by herdsmen and their cattle.
He said that the law would also strengthen security in various communities across the state, adding that anyone that fouled the law stood the risk of being treated as terrorist. "With the signing into law of this bill today, anyone caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would now be charged with terrorism and be made to face the law according to certain sections of it.
"The same goes for those who graze in prohibited areas or go against the time frame of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. allowed for open grazing,'' the governor said. Giving an overview of the bill earlier, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kolawole Oluwawole, said that the assembly gave it accelerated hearing as part of its collaborative efforts towards maintaining peace and order in the state.
According to Oluwawole, the state government was already working with local government authorities to allocate portions of land for grazing in their areas. He explained that grazing must henceforth be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on daily basis and that the government would allot portions of land to each local government area in that regard.
"Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by government shall be apprehended and made to face the law.
"Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism. "Any cattle confiscated shall be taken to government cattle ranch at Erifun and Iworoko Ekiti community in the state.
"Any farm crop destroyed by the activities of any apprehended herdsman shall be estimated by agricultural officers and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit. "Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without option of fine,” the speaker said.
I will cut taxes; disband touts in Edo-Onaiwu, APGA candidate
By Omeiza Ajayi
As the Election Day draws nearer, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, has promised to reduce the taxes being imposed on the citizens so as to mitigate their economic woes.
Onaiwu said it was wrong to impose multiple taxes on the people of the state while touting (popularly called agbero) had become a part of the administration, scaring away prospective investors and genuine businessmen from the state.
"I will from day one ensure that our people pay less taxes as against the current multiple taxes being imposed on Edolites and immediately disband touts (popularly called agbero) so as to encourage both large small scale businesses in the State.
The governorship candidate, who made the promise on Monday while on morning bus ride with co-passengers in the popular 'Comrade Bus' in Benin City, said the action was to enable him feel the pulse of the people with a view to designing grassroots programmes and projects to meet their needs when he becomes governor next month.
Onaiwu, said his party, APGA, has a well structured and implementable manifesto that centres on Employment, Agriculture, Empowerment, Trade and Commerce and Infrastructure.
The former Director-General of Nigeria Governors' forum and former Special Adviser to former Governor Samuel Ogbemudia of the defunct Bendel State, appealed to eligible voters in the coming election to vote APGA for good governance, accountability and progress.
Osao Onaiwu, who pleaded with the people to give him the chance to prove himself, promised not to disappoint Edo people if elected into office.
Pharmaceutical professionals, institutional investors, policy makers and key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries from across the world will in September hold a public discourse in Lagos to reflect on the developments, challenges and opportunities in the sector.
The discourse, dubbed Africa Pharmaceutical Summit and Exhibition, which is the 4TH in series, has the theme: Driving Forward Improvement in pharmaceutical Industry: A Clear Framework for Investment and will hold September 6 and 7.
Miles Mudzviti, Founder, PharmaAfrica and organiser of the summit, said it will focus on the pharmaceutical and healthcare investment landscape in Nigeria, state of innovation in the industries, future prospects and barriers for pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, the imperative for WHO prequalification, future landscape of health insurance, good distribution systems and practices in the industries.
The summit, Mudzviti added, will also feature its inaugural Forum of Health Commissioners, during which key policies of government will be analysed and discussed using the peer review mechanism. "It is a gathering for the exchange of ideas, know how, sharing of experiences as well as serving as a place to obtain a broad overview of the industry's s latest trends, and that extensive summit agenda will compliment the exhibition," he added.
PharmaAfrica, according to him, has recognition in the global pharma arena, for reoffering a platform to enable growth of quality pharmaceutical industry in the continent that can competitively contribute to the healthcare needs of the citizens.
Worried about the rising cases of cervical cancer among Nigerian women, Executive Director of the Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Dr. Omolola Salako has enjoined Nigerian women to embrace regular cervical screening to ensure prompt treatment of the life threatening condition.
Salako made the call during a free cervical cancer screening for over 300 female employees of the Lagos State Public Service, in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, with support from the America Cancer Society recently in Lagos.
She expressed worry that Nigerian women were dropping dead on a daily basis due to late presentation at the various centres when little or nothing could be done to reverse the condition.
Salako explained that if women take advantage of routine screening, most of the cervical cancers could be detected early and prompt treatment could reverse them and even save the lives of affected women.
“We are here in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviations to screen more than 300 women in Ikeja community. “The theme of the campaign is “1K Cervix,” she said. Salako said the essence of this grant is to promote cervical cancer awareness and screening as well as research.
“In terms of screening, it is an opportunity to screen 1000 women at no cost and follow them up if there are abnormalities,” she added.
Speaking, the Commissioner for WAPA, Mrs. Lola Akande said the Programme which was organised for female employees in the Lagos State Public Service is in line with the mandate of WAPA, which is concerned with total development of all women groups in the state. “This screening is purposely to screen women for signs and symptoms of cervical cancer before it manifests in the system," Mrs. Akande noted.
Akande said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation would extend the screening to other groups of women in the nearest future and called on all female civil servants to avail themselves of medical screening facilities at their doorstep.
On his part, a Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecologist, Dr. Kehinde Okunade, noted that although, the knowledge of cervical cancer was extremely low among the beneficiaries, after the lectures which usually precede the screening it increases the level of awareness among the women.
Police in Kano on Monday arraigned three Hisba guards for allegedly assaulting a reporter with the Kano-based Radio station, Express Radio, Malam Abdullahi Isah. The suspects, Dahiru Murtala, Auwalu Ibrahim and Farouk Usman, were charged for criminally assaulting and confiscating gadgets belonging to the reporter.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Sani Mohammed, had told the Shahuci Upper Sharia Court sitting in Kano that the victim was beaten to pulp and pushed to ground in the presence of people, who converged on the premises of the Kano Trade Fair Complex on Saturday.
The prosecutor said people were at the complex to attend a lecture organized at the behest of a renowned veteran broadcaster, Malam Ahmed Isah. However, counsel to the defendants, Mr Nabahani Usman, prayed the court to grant his clients the chance for an out-of-court settlement.
He said this would provide the clients the chance for an amicable settlement in view of the immense contribution the Hisba Board was getting from the radio station.
On his part, counsel to the radio station, Mr Audu Bukarti, described the development as a great victory to the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of those criminally assaulted and manhandled in the course of discharging their constitutional responsibility.
Granting bail to the accused, the Presiding Officer, Malam Garba Ahamad, adjourned the case to Sept. 28, to enable both parties look into the possibility of out-of-court settlement.
The Rivers Police Command said on Monday that the killers of Port Harcourt-based human rights lawyer,Mr Ken Atsuwete, would be brought to justice.
Mr Nnamdi Omoni, a DSP, and Public Relations Officer of the command, told a news conference in Port Harcourt that Atsuwete was killed at 6.00 a.m. on Monday.
He said that the police had commenced investigation into the incident and would ensure that the killers were arrested and prosecuted.
Omoni described the incident as “ pure assassination".
According to him, the lawyer had contacted the police to inform them that there was kidnapping in his area, at Umuogba,Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government of Rivers.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that Atsuwete might have been shot in his car after struggling with the armed men.
“ The killers used Atsuwete`s car to escape, abandoned it, ran into another car and escaped with it.
“ This is an unfortunate thing that has happened. His body has been deposited at the mortuary and police investigation has commenced.
“ Ken was the voice of the voiceless. The killers would be brought to justice soon," Omoni said.
Air Peace has issued hundreds of free business and economy class tickets to its loyal customers who have earned enough points under the airline's frequent flyer programme tagged "Peace Advantage."
In a message sent to the qualified customers, the airline said it was grateful to them for their loyalty and patronage.
"You have kept faith with us and continued to make Air Peace your airline of choice. On behalf of the chairman and management of Air Peace, please accept our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations," the airline said.
"The Peace Advantage package," Air Peace added, "is our way of giving customers a well-deserved appreciation for their decision to fly with us always. With a Peace Advantage card, the traveller gets additional travel time on any destination they wish each time they travel with us."
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ABUJA: Ahead of Saturday’s governorship primary election of his party in Ondo state, President Muhammadu Buhari has exonerated himself from the crisis of confidence rocking the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC.
Mr Buhari spoke Monday in Abuja through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal who met with the 24 aspirants of the party.
Briefing journalists at the end of the parley which lasted four hours, Mr Lawal said discussions were peaceful and fruitful.
“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari wishes to reiterate that it has no preferred candidate among the 24 aspirants and that government would do all in its power to provide a level-playing field for all the aspirants.
“We expect that all the aspirants will work hard to win the votes of delegates. In the tradition of APC, we expect that there will be no inducement of delegates or coercion”, he said.
Lawal also assured of adequate deployment of security operatives for the primaries, warning that government would deal decisively with anyone who breaches the peace.
He also added that as a government, the President Buhari-led administration has no preffered aspirant.
He urged the aspirants to unite behind whoever emerges as the candidate saying, “soon, Ondo state would become an APC state”.
“We understand that tension is high due to some underlying factors. The National Working Committee NWC of the party has assured the government and we believe them that everything will be done to ensure that elections are free and fair and we know that no official of the party would do anything to give undue advantage to any aspirant over others.
“We will like to once again reassure you that as a government, we have no preferred candidate.
“Government will come hard on anyone that does anything that in anyway jeopardises the peace and security of Ondo state”, he warned.
He equally told the aspirants that 10 of them were yet to sign an undertaken with the Department of State Services DSS to be of good conduct, urging them to so do.
National Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni also restated the position of its leadership to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants.
He said, “This party is committed to providing free and fair election because the calibre of members that we are sending to conduct this primary election are up to the task.
“The question of either camping or inducing delegates, I am sure our delegates are people that no one can control their minds. Nobody at any level will influence their decisions”.
Responding on behalf of the aspirants, Mrs Jumoke Anifowoshe: thanked the president for the reassurances, saying the aspirants are now satisfied and comfortable with the response of the government that the election would be free and fair.
Aspirant and legal luminary, Dr Tunji Abayomi had written a letter accusing a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of endorsing one of the aspirants, Segun Abraham.
Since then, the state chapter of the party had been embroiled in crisis. Efforts by the NWC of the party to calm frayed nerves appeared to have recently hit a brick-wall, as the crisis continues to fester.
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Abuja -Ministers of Education , Mallam Adamu Adamu and Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, yesterday denied rumors of any ongoing rift between them since their assumption in office.
In what would be viewed as an impromptu media parley with both Ministers at the venue of the presentation of the sectors road map, 'Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan 2016-2019', both ministers insisted they were and would continue to be great friends.
Adamu accused journalists of being responsible for the rumors which he maintained was targeted at generating headlines that would increase the sales of newspapers and also pull media traffic to the various media outfits in the country.
According to Adamu, "This is the creation of journalists. I don't think that there is any two ministers in this country who are working as closely as Tony and I are doing because we have never disagreed.
"Somebody was asking me a question and that question was actually designed to get a headline and probably somebody wants a headline that is why they said we are quarrelling me and him and unfortunately on that day also, I forgot that you sent Obioma to represent you and didn't recognize his presence. They want to sell their papers.
"Tony and I, I don't think I have seen public servants who don't have any personal agenda. If you don't have any personal agenda you will never have quarrel with anyone and I think our duty is to try to move the education sector forward, that is all,".
Minister of State, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, urged journalists to desist from cooking up stories with a belief it could create nonexistent problems between himself and his principal, Mallam Adamu.
Commenting on his absence during the launch of the National Education Quality Education Assurance Handbook on the 9th of August he said,"The press should stop inventing imaginary things.
"The day in question we have had another appointment with Nigerian breweries and Nigerian breweries is an outfit that conducts the best teachers' Maltina award. By 10am ?they were supposed to be in the office and I had to receive them. I cannot be in two places at the same time so the press is uninformed."
On his letter of resignation to the presidency through the SGF, Anwukah furiously told journalists "This is absolute nonsense, it is stupid. There is no such thing that existed. I never did anytime.
"We are all Nigerians press or no press; I hate stupid insinuations no matter where it comes, from the press or otherwise. The press should please mind its dutiful responsibilities. I sent a letter to who? Get me a copy of the letter from where.
"The press from today, keep it in your brains and in your books and your pen, there can be no better friend I have in Abuja than this man so if you make your insinuations try to find problems where there are no problems, it won't create the problem, please, please," Anwukah pleaded.