Amchidox Blog

As controversy over the closure of the children’s wing of the Villa Chapel located inside Nigeria’s presidential quarters rages on, DAILY POST has uncovered fresh facts on the matter. On Sunday, our correspondent was given an insight into the power play that has been going on inside the villa for weeks by Borno-based Pastor, Kallamu Musa Dikwa. Dikwa, it could be re-called made the allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan gave the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) the sum of N7billion to support his re-election bid. The Pastor, who is also Executive Director, Voice of Northern Christian Movement, made the disclosure following an earlier allegation by Rivers State ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi that CAN received N6billion. In a chat with DAILY POST on the Villa Chapel saga, he expressed dismay that President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to act on the fate of the children’s church despite the nationwide outcry. Earlier in the month, presidential adviser on Medi...

Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson speaks during a forum, in Manchester, N.H. Photo: (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File) Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson speaks during a forum, in Manchester, N.H. Photo: (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File) AP – Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says Islam is antithetical to the Constitution, and he doesn’t believe that a Muslim should be elected president. Carson, a devout Christian, says a president’s faith should matter to voters if it runs counter to the values and principles of America. Responding to a question during an interview broadcast Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he described the Islamic faith as inconsistent with the Constitution. “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,” Carson said. “I absolutely would not agree with that.” He did not specify in what way Islam ran counter to constitutional principles. Carson’s comments...

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday presented the list of would-be cabinet members to the House of Assembly for screening. The Clerk of the House, Mr. Ganiyu Abiru read the names on the floor to members. The Governor is requesting for the screening and approval of 36 persons with 23 as Commissioners and 13 as Special Advisers. Amongst the names are six former cabinet members from the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration including former commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, former Special Adviser, Central Business District, Folarin Coker, former Special Adviser Commerce and Industry, Seye Oladejo, former Special Adviser Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson and former Special Adviser Rural Development, Babatunde Hunpe. Governor Ambode had made good his promise at the inaugural address to inject new blood on merit and professionalism as the new list depicts. It is made up of top ...

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday rekindled the hope of Nigerians on the rescue of the Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in April 2014. Buratai gave the assurance while fielding questions from newsmen on the sideline of the Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference held at Army Headquarters, Abuja. He said that the safe return of the girls remained a priority of the military in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. He said there were strong indications that the girls were still held within the fringes of the Sambisa forest. The COAS explained that though the exact location of the girls’ in the forest was yet to be ascertained, the military was mindful of their safety in the bid to secure their release. He said: “the issue of the Chibok girls is very crucial, we are making all efforts to clear the terrorists and after clearing them we rescue the Chibok girls in one piece. “I believe t...

Former presidential candidate and chieftain of pan-Yoruba socio- political group, Afenifere, Chief Olu Falae, on Monday, received a shocking birthday gift as gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded his farm and kidnapped him. Chief Olu Falae turned 77 on Monday. He was born on September 21, 1938. Falae was said to have left his home in Akure, Ondo State to his farm in Ilado, on Monday morning, only for the gunmen to storm the farm. According to a source, the about 20 men invaded the farm around noon announcing their arrival with gunshot before whisking away the former finance minister from the farm. It was gathered that some workers at the farm who tried to prevent him from being kidnapped were injured by the kidnappers. The spokesperson of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, Remi Olayiwola, who confirmed the development, said the abductors had demanded for N100 million ransom. He said: "The kidnappers have called the wife of the man and have aske...

The Nigerian Army has approved the promotion of 5,000 soldiers fighting insurgents in the North-East and others involved in other operations, as part of steps to boost their morale. The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 2015 Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference held at the Army Headquarters conference hall. He said the approval of the promotion of the soldiers was one of the many measures introduced by the Army under his command to boost troops’ morale and reposition its operations. He said it was also in line with the vision of the Army command to reward gallant troops in any way deemed fit to boost their combat readiness and willingness to serve their fatherland. He said that troops serving in the North-East and in other operations in the country would regularly receive rewards from the Army high command for their selfless service to the nation. “Since we came on board, we have introdu...

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), managers of Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF), says it is incorrect to say that $700m has been withdrawn from its account for the second Niger bridge. Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo state, had said former President Goodluck Jonathan in collusion with his minister of works, Mike Onolememen, had withdrawn $700m for the second Niger bridge project. The authority said “all funds and assets managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) are intact and fully accounted for as detailed in the Audited Financial Statement for the year ended 2014 published on March 28, 2015 (available at www.nsia.com.ng )”. “The Annual Report was subsequently issued by the NSIA in September, 2015. NSIA’s funds have been invested profitably, realizing a net comprehensive income of N15.8billion in the year ended 31st December, 2014, compared with N505million recorded in the fifteen months ended December 31, 2013.” ...