Full text of President Buhari's address to Nigerians ahead of this weekend's governorship and state assembly elections

President Buhari has addressed Nigerians ahead of the second and final phase of the 2019 general elections which comes up on Saturday, March 9, with Nigerians voting for governors and members of Houses of Assembly in the states.




Let me once again extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or sustained injuries as a result of accidents or criminal violence during the elections.

The onus is once again on qualified people to turn out in large numbers to exercise their civic rights.

With the presidential poll behind us, let us not become complacent, and fail to vote in the gubernatorial poll.

The forthcoming elections are as important for good governance as that of the presidency and the National Assembly.

Indeed, governance at the state level is closer to us, and should touch our lives more directly. That is why it is vital for us to participate in the choice of who governs us at the state levels.

I, therefore, urge you to troop out massively on Saturday to elect your governors and state lawmakers.



As a member of the All Progressives Congress, I recommend those standing on the platform of the party to you, as we are guided by progressive ideals, and we will not disappoint you.

Equally, I urge you to comport yourself properly, as you turn out for the election.

Avoid all deviant behaviours like ballot stuffing, ballot snatching, and any other action that does not conform with best electoral practices.

I assure you that the security agencies will be on hand to protect voters, and ensure that the process is not undermined in anyway.

Let make the gubernatorial polls, much better than the presidential, which Local and International observers have adjudged to be free and fair.

May I repeat my appeal to our young people: do not allow yourselves to be used to cause violence or to break the law or otherwise disturb the peace.

I have pledged decent and credible electoral system for our country. I stand by that promise.

Let us together do the right thing on Saturday, so that the best hands can emerge at the states, and take us faster to the Next Level.

Thank you, and God bless our country. Amen.

Muhammadu Buhari
March 6, 2019

Check out colourful photos from Porsha Williams' 'Magical' Winter Wonderland-Themed Baby Shower

Reality star, Porsha Williams who is expecting her first child her boyfriend of one year, Dennis McKinleycelebrated a 'Magical' Winter Wonderland-Themed Baby Shower for her baby daughter who is on the way.



The event was held on Feb. 24 at Suada Studio in Atlanta with 80 guests in attendance, including her boyfriend, Dennis, sister Lauren, and her RHOA costars Kenya Moore and Cynthia Bailey among many others.



The day was magical,” the mom-to-be tells PEOPLE exclusively for this week’s issue, sharing a collection of photos from the stunning shower thrown by her “loving fiancé,” Dennis McKinley and planned alongside ellyB Eventsthis link opens in a new tab. “It was amazing to walk into a room and feel that much love. I have such a tremendous support system around me and women who lift me up and are just so incredibly happy for me.”

“I’ve waited a really really long time for this moment,” adds Williams, 37 (the star announced her pregnancy in September, six years after suffering a miscarriage). “I am cherishing each minute and enjoy every day being pregnant. It’s a blessing for us.”

See more photos below.

Alleged N21bn Fraud: Witness reveals how Ex-Air Chief, Adesina Amosu laundered N12bn NAF funds

A prosecution witness, Tosin Owobo, has told Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, how a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesina Amosu (retd.) laundered various sums of money belonging to the Nigeria Air Force, NAF.



Amosu is standing trial alongside Air Vice Marshall Jacobs Adigun, a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni, a former Director of Finance and Budget, on an amended 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy and conversion to personal use of the sum of N21bn belonging to the Nigeria Air Force, NAF.



Owobo, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, explained his findings regarding the statement of account of the NAF special emergency operations, as contained in Exhibit A3.



Testifying as the first prosecution witness, PW1, Owobo, said: "The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, paid funds into the Nigerian Air Force special emergency operations accounts, which the defendants are signatories to.


“NIMASA paid in a sum of N3,000,000,000 (Three Billion Naira) in 2014. The statement of account showed that the money was transferred to five different companies, namely: Rites Option Oil and Gas, Juda Oil and Gas, Delfina Oil and Gas, Mcallam Oil and Gas, Trapezites Bureau De Change Limited and Lebol Oil and Gas.”

When asked about his findings regarding the companies that received the money, the witness further told the court that “When the statements of accounts for the companies were investigated, we found out that one Adedeji Adelakun owns Rite Option Oil and Gas.



“When he was interviewed, he said it was a Bureau De Change company. He also said that it was opened as an oil and gas company, so as to get reduced charges on cost of transactions.”

'Adequate measures have been firmed up to ensure a hitch-free election in Lagos' - Governor Ambode

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has assured residents that governorship and house of representative election will be peaceful this weekend.



Ambode held a press briefing this evening where he said, 'ahead of Saturday's Governorship and House of Assembly elections, we urge Lagosians to be peaceful and law abiding in exercising their civic duty. Adequate measures have been firmed up to ensure a hitch-free exercise'

Veteran broadcaster, Olusola Atere testifies against Doyin Okupe in his on-going 'Dasukigate' trial

The trial of former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, who the EFCC is prosecuting before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja continued on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 with veteran broadcaster, Olusola Atere testifying against Okupe.



Atere retired as Executive Director News, NTA in 2016. Okupe was arraigned on a 59-count charge, bordering on money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N702,000,000 (Seven Hundred and Two Million Naira) only.



Testifying as Prosecution Witness 2, (PW2), Atere told the court that "Okupe was a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said came to the NTA and met with the management of the News Directorate which he happened to be a member then, to request for the production of a one-hour programme to promote the policies and programmes of the then Federeal Government's administration.



He said, "we held a meeting and started planning for the programme. Subsequently, members of Okupe's team came for another meeting with NTA."



Atere told the court that after the meeting, he was directed to raise a memo to send a budget proposal to the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs on October 9, 2013 for which he said no response came from Okupe.



Atere further disclosed that the NTA appointed a producer for the proposed programme who was liaising with the team from Okupe's office. According to him, by October 23, 2013, he was directed by his boss the Executive Director News to raise a memo to the Acting Director General NTA, informing him of the Okupe request and that by October 24, 2013, the Director General minuted to him that the programme should be taken as part of corporate social responsibility and be broadcast at no cost.



Atere informed the court that he didn't have much to do with the programme from this point as the producer was liaising with Okupe's team.

Alleged N4.5bn Fraud: EFCC arraigns Ex-Skye bank chairman, Tunde Ayeni

EFCC, on March 6, 2019, arraigned Tunde Ayeni, a former Chairman, Board of Directors, Skye Bank Plc, before Justice Valentine Ashi of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Apo on a four-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N4,597,500,000.



Ayeni was arraigned along with Timothy Ajani Oguntayo, for allegedly conspiring at different times to fraudulently divert depositors’ funds domiciled at Skye Bank Plc to personal use.

One of the counts reads:


“That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc and Timothy Ajani Oguntayo, while being the Managing Director, MD of the defunct Skye Bank Plc on or about October 16, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst being bankers entrusted with property, to wit: depositors’ funds in the defunct Skye Bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the sum of N1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Counsel for the first defendant, Dele Adesina, SAN, who held brief for the lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court of their pending bail application, which was served on the prosecution on December 13, 2018.



Counsel for the second defendant, Oyetola Oshobi, SAN, also made similar application.



The trial judge, thereafter, admitted them to bail in the sum of N500 million (Five Hundred Million Naira) with two sureties each in like sum, who must be resident in Abuja, and must own a landed property “of sufficient value”, within Abuja metropolis.

Check out a husband's six rules to a happy union and tell us what you think

Ryan Stephens took to Twitter to share his tips on how to make a union work.

For starters, he says he and his wife see each other as teammates rather than soulmates and these six rules help them to be good teammates towards each other.