ABUJA— SENIOR Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, has said the special attention being accorded sectoral allocation in the country’s annual budget, leaving other details in the hands of appropriation committees of the legislature to handle and approve for government agencies and parastatals, was responsible for padding.

ABA—Nemesis caught up with a gang of kidnappers in Aba, Abia State as a truck driver reportedly blocked their escape route as they were fleeing with their victim at Uratta area of the city.

ABUJA — In the aftermath of the botched convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Port Harcourt, leaders of the party have again initiated moves to reconcile with its former chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, who has continued to lay claims to the leadership of the party, despite court ruling declaring him a usurper.

POLITICAL tension heightened in Edo state weekend after thugs attacked the campaign train of the APC candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki at Illushi, near Ubiaja, in Esan South East Local Government Area in the state, leading to the abduction of five persons while ten others were wounded.

The Lagos State Government has assured residents on the need to remain calm following yesterday’s torrential rainfall in the state, saying that necessary measures had been taken to avert any incidence of flood disaster in the state.

Lagos—THE Lagos State Government, yesterday, issued a 14-day ultimatum to owners of illegal structures, shanties, street hawkers and those who have converted walkways into trading points and food courts in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and the Lagoon Front of Lekki to vacate or face demolition and prosecution.

The General Manager, Western Ports, Nigeria Ports Authority, Chief Michael Ajayi, has said that continued naira devaluation is a key factor that would ensure Nigeria’s exit from Organisation of Oil Producing Countries (OPEC).

Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Borno State has deposed 40 reasons to support his claim that the erstwhile governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff precipitated the Boko Haram insurgency that has led to more than 20,000 deaths and displacement of more than two million persons in the Northeast.

The Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development may be heading for a showdown when election into the sports federations hold next year if the words of the NOC Scribe, Tunde Popoola is any thin

LAGOS—Police operatives attached to the newly re-structured Anti Kidnapping Unit of the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, weekend, arrested two members of a seven- man gang that specialized in breaking shops at Idumota/Balogun and some other markets in Lagos State. They were arrested immediately after their operations at the market.

LAGOS—Based on persistent petitions from members of the public around Festac and Mile 2 about criminal activities perpetrated by operators of both motorcycles and tricycles, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit, (Task Force) impounded over 98 motorcycles and tricycles at Rainbow bus stop by NNPC (Inward Mile 2), Lagos.

The flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the September 10 elections in Edo, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has urged voters to reject the APC for the clannish and discriminatory actions of the outgoing government which he said is manifested in the rot in the infrastructure in the birthplace of the first civilian governor of the state, Prof. Ambrose Alli.

IT is about two months to the expected freedom for former Governor James Ibori of Delta State, who has been in a London jail over allegations of money laundering. However, issues and controversies arising from the trial are unending.

The Edo PDP Youths Vanguard has warned those who plan to rig the September 10 Edo State governorship elections to forget it, saying the Almighty God that made it possible for both Governors Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, would also do it for Edo PDP.

OTUOKE—Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigerians must be prepared to protect and develop the country at all times.