BENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that the people of the state were proud of the invaluable services of the Nigerian Armed Forces to the peace and security of the state and the nation, especially in defeating the Boko Haram terrorists.

WARRI—Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, yesterday, alleged that soldiers were the merchants of oil bunkering in the Niger Delta and that they have video and pictorial evidence of their involvement in crude oil theft and records, including how much they collect and make per day from illegal oil bunkering.

THERE are ongoing high-level talks to resolve the differences between the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND and Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, on the one hand, and MEND and the pan-Niger Delta group recently set up in Warri, Delta State, to speak with one voice for the region.

PDP Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has described the degree of official corruption in the outgoing APC administration as unbelievable, alleging that the cost of contracts executed by the regime is incredibly high.

Nigeria is gliding towards anomy, all because everything is in shambles; and everyone has suddenly become an expert in everything. Professionals can no longer hold sway in their core professions.

Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, yesterday, explained that the murder of eight persons at Talata-Mafara over alleged blasphemy against Islam was caused by false alarm.

WARRI—THERE are ongoing high-level talks to resolve the difference between the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, and Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, on the one hand, and MEND and the pan-Niger Delta group recently set up in Warri, Delta State, to speak in one voice for the region.

The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday upheld the elections of Rivers State House of Representatives lawmaker, Mrs. Blessing Nsiegbe and two members of the state of Assembly, Edison Ehie and Martins Mannah, all elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

THE traditional ruler of Ogwa kingdom, in Esan West Local Government Area, HRH Victor Ehiozogie, yesterday, declared that the state does not need a politician as governor but a technocrat such as Godwin Obaseki of the APC.

Enyimba coach, Paul Aigbogun said his side fluffed their chances of progress in the CAF Champions League when they lost 1-0 to Egyptian giants, Zamalek in Aba.

Lagos—The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has sealed Protea Hotel, close to Kuramo Waters, over alleged failure to remit N11.07 million personal income taxes deducted from workers’ salaries.

The judiciary has fared fairly well. It has acted as a check and balance for the excesses of the executive arm of government, especially, in the area of elections. Many election results have been reversed after they were found to have been rigged or bedeviled with chronic irregularities.

A heated blame game, yesterday trailled suspension of nine banks from the foreign exchange market as a result of alleged non remittance of NNPC fund into the Treasury Single Account, TSA. The banks, however, issued statements absorbing themselves of culpability. They stated that NNPC management had been kept in the picture on the funds in their possession.

I was just contemplating what subject to write about when my colleague and friend NaAllah Zagga forwarded to my mail box one of many pieces trending on-line on the controversial naming of a dog ‘Buhari’ in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, by one Joe Chinakwe, a trader.

Lagos—The Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, yesterday called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to seek capable hands in handling the current economic challenges and insecurity confronting the nation.