Britain considers inviting Trump to meet queen

Donald Trump

Queen Elizabeth II could host Donald Trump within months of him becoming United States president, with the British government confirming Monday that it was considering a state visit next year.

Royal officials said that the government was responsible for organising state visits, and a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Theresa May said that the proposal was “under consideration”.

The world’s longest-reigning monarch would host the new president and his wife Melania at her Windsor Castle residence, according to a report in The Sunday Times, citing government ministers.

Trump told May that he was a “big fan of the Queen” when the pair spoke by telephone following his victory, and is also reported to have told British politician and ally Nigel Farage that his late mother Mary would be “chuffed to bits when I meet the Queen”.

Britain is keen to build bridges with Trump after many leading government figures criticised the president-elect during his divisive, but successful election campaign.

Britain is also interested in sounding out a US trade deal as it plots its departure from the European Union.

Farage had offered to be a go-between to smooth relations, but the government instead looks set to unleash its most valuable diplomatic asset.

“An old friend in the Secret Service said to me that the last weapon of diplomacy is tea with the Queen,” historian Peter Hennessy told the Times newspaper.

“She is the most potent weapon we have. It sounds like teacups are being made ready far sooner in the cycle than is normal,” he added.

Britain will not issue an invitation to a president-elect, but is expected to make its move shortly after Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

I won’t join APC, Mimiko swears

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko

The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday said despite the controversy surrounding who flies the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state governorship election holding on Saturday, he was not contemplating joining the All Progressives Congress.

He said the courtesy he extended to President Muhammadu Buhari when he led party members to a rally in the state on Saturday was done because of his position as the president and had nothing to do with the party he belongs to.

Mimiko spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with Buhari for the second time inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, since the crisis over the PDP candidate started.

He said the purpose of his two meetings with the President was to brief him on the security situation in his state ahead of the elections.

The governor said, “This is my second visit to the Villa since this crisis in our party started. Like I said, as the Chief Security Officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to apprise Mr. President of what is going on in the state.

“Mr. President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesy of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC (member).

“I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesy that protocols demand.

“As a governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, if the President is visiting, no matter the party he belongs to, it is only appropriate for me to extend the courtesy to him. That was what I did in Akure.

“And I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state.”

When asked to comment on the ongoing crisis in the PDP, the governor said he was concentrating on the case in court.

Mimiko said once his candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, wins at the court, the state would erupt in joy.

“The whole of Ondo State will erupt in joy and it will be so self-evident,” he said

Saraki Asks Media, Politicians To Stop Speculating About His Meetings With President

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Thursday advised his political colleagues and the media to stop spreading rumors about his recent visits to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Saraki disclosed this in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu. He said that politicians were assuming that the senate president’s visits to Mr. Buhari were linked to the latter’s request for a $29.9b foreign loan.

“In all his recent meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the issue of the proposed loan never came up for discussion,” Mr. Olaniyonu said, adding that statements alleging such were “unfortunate.”

“Like I once told the media, these politically-motivated commentaries are trivializing a serious national issue. They are presenting it as if it is a personal matter that can be decided at meetings between Saraki and Buhari,” he said.

The statement went on to quote Mr. Saraki as saying, “The National Assembly, which I head as Senate President, has taken a position on the [foreign loan] issue as required of it by the laws of the land and legislative conventions.”

He added that the National Assembly would make a decision on the loan based on the interests of the people, irrespective of party affiliations.

The statement also explained that it is normal for the senate president and president to meet to discuss pressing national issues.

“A visit to the Presidency by the Senate President is a normal thing because we need to consult, discuss, exchange ideas and make suggestions to each other from time to time.

“More importantly, at this time, when the nation is facing economic crisis, there is need for frequent engagements by the Presidency and the National Assembly.”

President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki met behind close doors on Friday at the Aso Rock Villa

Delta Speaker In Brawl With Staff As Plans To Impeach Speaker Thickens

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, on Wednesday, engaged a staff of the Assembly in a public brawl. The speaker’s involvement in the fight came as some members said they were considering removing Mr. Igbuya as head of the state legislature.

Last Monday, the state assembly workers, who are members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), had locked out Mr. Igbuya and other principal officers as well as other legislators over the speaker’s refusal to address their demands.

The workers’ protest, which entered its third day on Wednesday, took a violent turn as the Speaker allegedly brawled with one of the protesters identified as Buchi (alias Nehemiah) at the entrance of the Assembly Complex.

An eyewitness who serves as an aide to one of the principal officers told SaharaReporters that the speaker ignored pleas to calm down, going ahead to exchange blows with the staff.

“Since Monday, the Association had barricaded the [state] assembly complex, locked it, and prevented the speaker, principal officers, and other House members from gaining entry. On Wednesday, a member of the House attempted to access the complex but was refused by the protesting workers. Later, the Speaker drove in a furious commando-like manner trying to scare the protesters, but the protesting staff refused to yield,” said one source. 

The source said that, when the protesters would not relent, the Speaker came down from his Lexus SUV and angrily told Buchi to get out of the way or risk being manhandled. When Buchi refused, Mr. Igbuya reportedly slapped him. Our source added that Buchi retaliated, and a brawl ensued.

Another legislative staff revealed that it took the intervention of Daniel Mayoku, representing Warri Southwest constituency in the state legislature, Timi Tonye, representing Patani constituency, to break up the fight. 

Our sources said Mike Okeme, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s special adviser on labor relations, rushed to the scene on learning about the brawl and helped to restore normalcy to the charged atmosphere. Mr. Okeme reportedly appealed to the workers to call off their strike and allow the lawmakers access to the Assembly complex. 

SaharaReporters learned that the workers heeded the adviser’s appeal and opened the gate to enable the Speaker and other lawmakers to enter the complex. Our correspondent reported that the workers went into a brief meeting, and came up with a circular suspending the strike.

The workers’ demands include the appointment of a deputy clerk, the payment of outfit and special duty allowances, the provision of drugs at the Assembly clinic, and the recruitment of adequate medical personnel.

Our correspondent reported that the speaker appealed to some reporters who witnessed the fight not to file reports about it. In an apparent move to ensure that the brawl went unreported, the speaker’s media aide, Henry Ebireri, told journalists that the speaker had agreed to increase their monthly “stipends” of N5, 000 to N10, 000. He promised that senior reporters who were already receiving N10, 000 would be now be paid N20, 000.

Meanwhile, a plot to impeach the Speaker appears to be proceeding. Some state legislators have accused Mr. Igbuya of betrayal, corruption, inexperience, high-headedness and inability to lead the House among others.

An assembly member from the Delta south senatorial district said the speaker’s actions continued to bring the house into disrepute and ridicule. “We are shopping for a more experienced, capable and refined person who can fit into the shoes of the former speaker, Honorable Victor Ochei,” said the lawmaker.

The source described Mr. Ochei as “one lawmaker and speaker who brought respect, dignity, zeal, vision and mission into the exalted position which Honorable Igbuya has not been able to replicate.” 

Speaker Igbuya did not answer telephone calls from our correspondent. Mr. Ebireri also declined to comment, stating that the issues were above him. He requested that a text message be sent to him, adding that he would respond after consulting with the speaker.

 Monday Igbuya, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly

Court Of Appeal To Rule for Eyitayo Jegede As Jimoh Ibrahim’s Team Alleges Gov. Mimiko Bribed Judges

A panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja is today set to deliver a ruling in a rushed court proceeding aimed at restoring Eyitayo Jegede of the Makarfi-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the party’s authentic candidate in next weekend’s governorship election in the state.

SaharaReporters learned that the appellate court panel would at noon today deliver a judgment that suits Governor Segun Mimiko. A legal source close to controversial businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, told SaharaReporters that the governor had bribed judges through his lawyers. A Federal High Court judge, Justice Okon Abang, had earlier ruled that Mr. Ibrahim, who was chosen by the Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP as the PDP’s legitimate governorship candidate.

Mr. Mimiko and his favored candidate, Mr. Jegede, appealed Justice Abang’s ruling at the Court of Appeal. The case was mired in controversy as an earlier panel of the Court of Appeal set up to review Justice Abang’s ruling was inexplicably dissolved.

One lawyer involved in the case said Governor Mimiko “has been running from pillar to pole seeking ways to bribe judges at the Court of Appeal in Abuja to reverse the order of the lower court.”

Several sources in Ondo State told SaharaReporters that Mr. Mimiko temporarily relocated to Abuja to press all the political and legal buttons to ensure that Mr. Jegede was declared the authentic governorship candidate. One source claimed the governor had openly bragged to his supporters in Akure, the state capital, that he would get his wish.

Mr. Mimiko is a veteran of legal battles over political issues. After losing a controversial governorship election to the late Olusegun Agagu of the PDP in 2007, Mr. Mimiko, who ran on the ticket of Labor Party, had mobilized lawyers to contest his loss. Through the financial backing of Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the current national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Mimiko prevailed in court. An appellate court panel ruled in his favor, and he was installed as governor on February 23, 2009.

A political source in Ondo State claimed that, once Mr. Mimiko receives his desired ruling from the Court of Appeal today, the governor would instigate acts of violence throughout the state to ensure the postponement of the election that is already billed for next Saturday. The source said the governor and Mr. Jegede want extra time to mobilize for the campaigns, adding that the feud between the two factions of the PDP had weakened the party.

Why we bought N3.6bn exotic cars during recession – Reps

The House of Representatives on Thursday defended its decision to buy exotic cars for its 360 members at a period the country’s economy is in recession.

It said lawmakers must have a means of mobility while carrying out oversight duties over Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

The House will spend at least N3.6bn across 24 months to complete payment for  the luxury vehicles supplied by the Kaduna-based Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited.

The PUNCH had reported exclusively on Monday that the firm had already delivered 28 units of Peugeot 508 series to members in the first batch of 50 cars.

A total of 360 units of the exotic automobile would have been delivered by January 2017.

The Deputy Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Jonathan Gaza, while defending the procurement of the cars on Thursday, said that recession would not stop lawmakers from performing their legislative duties.

Breaking: Olusola Oke, AD candidate arrested in Ondo

Chief Olusola Oke

There are reports that the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, has been arrested.

In a news flash, Sahara Reporters wrote: “AD candidate Olusola Oke, the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy has been arrested in Okitipupa.”

It is not clear why Oke was arrested.

Oke’s arrest is coming on the heels of the indefinite adjournment by the Court of Appeal on Friday of the judgment on the appeal filed by the substituted candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede, against INEC’s decision to recognize Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as party’s candidate for the Nov. 26 governorship election.