WOODPECKER BLOG

Chicago defends location of Obama library in federal court MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press 12 hours ago FILE - In this May 3, 2017, file photo, former President Barack Obama speaks near a rendering for the former president's lakefront presidential center at a community event on the Presidential Center at the South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago. The city of Chicago has made its first full-throated response to a lawsuit seeking to stop construction of the Obama Presidential Center, saying the buildings would sit on land that wasn't subject to restrictive public-trust laws. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) CHICAGO (AP) — The city of Chicago made its first full-throated response this week to a lawsuit seeking to stop construction of the Obama Presidential Center , saying the buildings would sit on

Obasanjo, Oshiomhole, Atiku, others attend Goodluck Jonathan Book launch November 20, 2018 Sani Tukur Dignitaries at Former President, Goodluck Jonathan Book Launch Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the national chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, are currently attending a public presentation of a book “My Transition Hours” written by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Former Vice President Namadi Sambo as well as former presidents of Ghana, Benin and Sierra Leone are also attending. President Muhammadu Buhari is being represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The event is holding inside the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Other notable persons at the event are the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Senate minority leader, Godswill

APGA’s disgraceful race to extinction 12th November 2018  0 APGA has always stood on the pedestal of Igbo nationalism. The mantra is, “Nkea bu nke anyi”, meaning this one is our own. Casmir Igbokwe Prince Ifeanyi Ezeabasili’s confidence was infectious. His ambition was to represent Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II, Lagos, in the House of Representatives. He went on road shows and did some other things to mobilise his constituents to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). To him, no party would beat the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in that constituency in the 2019 election. His calculation was based on the fact that the area is populated mainly by the Igbo. READ ALSO:  Bianca, APGA and Ndigbo However, the primaries in Lagos developed some hiccups. Ezeabasili believed he won and the state party chairman reportedly agreed with him. But when it got to Abuja, the story changed. The national body gave the party ticket to

The alarm over 2019 general election 15th November 2018   in   Editorial  0 THE ALARM OVER 2019 GENERAL ELECTION ADVERTISEMENT The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently raised the alarm that next year’s general election could be threatened by conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction in respect of lists of candidates by political parties. National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Information and Voter Education, Dr. Festus Okoye, disclosed this at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), during a campus outreach organised by the European Centre for Electoral Support. Okoye, who represented the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission would not want a situation where it would be blamed for disobeying court orders and advised the parties to resolve their internal differences without frustrating the commission’s operations. The INEC commissioner also urged the courts to be circums

Our hearths are burning for Imo BY Jimanze Ego-Alowes Simply put, Imo State gubernatorial race has taken shape. Barring any unexpected developments the big parties are PDP, APC, and APGA. So the question is who do we vote for. Lately APC has come under severe management and internal cohesion stresses in the state and beyond. What is clear is that the ambition of the sitting governor Okorocha, to foist his in-law as dynastic successor has come to naught. And Senator Hope Uzodinma has emerged. Give it to Uzodinma, Imo State owes him a lot. If his political career started and ended only in his now successful effort in unplugging the planned for Okorocha dynasty, he is assured of our eternal gratitude. And that makes his petition for being made a governor to be in the good books. But all Uzodinma did in his life and career is not the anti-Okorocha gambit for which we repeat the state is grateful. He is been senator and other things. But a penumbra patch zooms across in his

Anambra Assembly Crisis: Police teargas lawmakers, journalists, workers November 15, 2018 James Eze Related News Removal of Anambra Speaker irreversible - Factional Speaker Anambra House of Assembly Speaker sacked Ondo crisis: Police give condition for reopening assembly complex 'Impeached' Anambra speaker holds sitting with 11 members Ondo Crisis: Police shut down House of Assembly The police on Thursday used tear gas to disperse lawmakers, staff and supporters of various factions of the Anambra State House of Assembly as the crisis in the assembly entered day 3. The House became fictionalized on Tuesday with the controversial removal of the speaker, Rita Maduagwu, by about 20 of the 30 state lawmakers. She was replaced by Ikemba Uzoezie. But backed by some state officials, she later regained access into the chamber, on Tuesday and held a session with 11 members of the assembly. She also described her removal as a “bundle of illegality” but M