5 Things

Russian diplomats
 
Russia is warning it will retaliate after more than 20 countries said they will kick out more than 100 Russian diplomats. A Kremlin spokesman said Russia would be "guided by the principle of reciprocity" in its actions. The US alone is expelling 60 diplomats and closing a consulate in Seattle, the most forceful action President Trump's ever taken against Vladimir Putin's government.

The mass expulsions are being done in solidarity with the UK's recent decision to throw out almost two dozen Russian diplomats after it said the Russians were behind the poisoning of an ex-Russian double agent and his adult daughter. UK Prime Minister Theresa May said the agent and his daughter "may never" fully recover from the poisoning.
 
Facebook
The social media site that for years could do no wrong suddenly can't catch a break. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook's data practices as the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica data-sharing scandal continues. The FTC wants to know how data from Facebook users ended up in the hands of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign consultants. Facebook's stock also is taking a beating, and the hashtag #DeleteFacebook is still on fire. If you want to know just how much info Facebook's collected on you over the years, CNN's Sara Ashley O'Brien shows you how.
 
Kim Jong Un
 
Is Kim Jong Un in China? An official "with deep knowledge of North Korea" told CNN there's a strong possibility that the North Korean leader is in Beijing. If he's there, it's the first time he's left the country since he took power in 2011. Whispers of a possible visit took off after images of a train that belongs to Kim's family popped up online. This alleged visit comes just weeks before Kim's planned summit with South Korea's President and a potential meeting with President Trump.
 
2020 Census
 
The 2020 Census will reinstate a question about citizenship, the Commerce Department says. The Justice Department asked for its inclusion, saying it's needed to help enforce the Voting Rights Act. But critics fear it will spur a huge drop in immigrant response rates and leave a lot of people uncounted. Census data is used to determine where federal money is spent and how congressional districts are drawn, among other uses. The Census is intended to count the entire population, not just US citizens. The citizenship question was dropped from the decennial count after the 1950 census.
 
Linda Brown

The woman at the center of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case has died. Linda Brown passed away at 75 over the weekend in Topeka, Kansas. It was there that her father, in 1951 when she was 9, tried to enroll Brown in an all-white school near their home. When the school blocked that, her father sued, sparking the case that would end legal segregation in American schools.
 

Security: APC’s Worst Critics Will Agree We Have Tried, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the efforts of his All Progressives (APC)-led administration in tackling insecurity.
President Buhari during his visit to Taraba State on Monday said the security situation in the country has improved since his assumption of office in 2015 that even the worst critics of the party can attest to it.
This was in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu after the President’s visit to condole with the families of the victims of killings in Taraba State.
He said his administration had focused on securing the country since assumption of office, adding that the “worst critics of APC will agree that we have tried in improving the security situation in the country, right from the Boko Haram attacks.’’
Buhari during the visit said the purpose was to also meet with traditional rulers to appeal to them to continue to pursue peace in their communities.
“I came here mainly to have this forum with leaders, traditional rulers and the state government to extend my condolences to all those who have lost loved ones and properties.
“I am appealing to the traditional rulers not to give up in pursuing peace. The country has to be secured before you can manage the economy,” President Buhari said in the statement.
On his part, the governor commended the Federal Government for the ongoing construction of the Mambila Power Plant as the completion of the project would greatly impact on the economy of the state and the nation.
He, however, regretted that he inherited a state that was deeply divided along ethnic and tribal lines.
In doing that, he noted, there would be a need for the traditional rulers to support the government in terms of their structures, goodwill and experience in promoting harmony.
While warning that all the perpetrators of violence in the country President Buhari said the security situation in the country had improved upon the APC assumption of office in 2015.

I’m Going Straight To Villa, I’m The Next President – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, is confident of winning the coming presidential election when Nigerians elect a new president in 2019.

The governor was hopeful that if supported by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would take over government from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I’m going straight to that Villa. I’m the next president,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday by his special assistant on public communications and new media, Mr Lere Olayinka.
“I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”
Fayose further revealed plans to formally declare his intention to run for presidency in the general elections on Thursday in Abuja.
He, however, said in a letter addressed to leaders of the PDP that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.
The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.
“Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.
“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.
“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.
“Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”

I Will Defeat President Buhari In Free And Fair Election – Fayose

It is still a full year and five months to the 2019 elections, but some politicians eyeing the highest office in the land are already positioning themselves to run.
One of such is the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose who has not hidden his desire to contest the presidency, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Today in Abuja the Federal Capital, Governor Fayose formally declared his ambition to run at a gathering of party faithful including former Aviation Minister Femi Fani- Kayode and a former Osun State Governor Iyiola Omisore.
Governor Fayose in his declaration said that he is the Nigerian man to watch out for as the nation moves into another decade.
He referred to the coming back of President Muhammadu Buhari as a sign of him attaining the seat of the President.
“Nobody like me can take out the President from his office, twice I defeated the incumbents to become governor of Ekiti State.
“I am confident with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair election”.
He further noted that if elected he will ensure workers salaries are paid, exchange rate fixed at a normal rate, reduce the rate of kidnapping by herdsmen, security, the unity of the country, ensuring schools are in international standard and stop molestation of judges.
In his words, “I am the man already destined by God to take Nigeria out of its present political and economic stagnation”.
Fayose had earlier said in a Press statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, M. Lere Olayinka expressed optimism of winning the coming presidential election when Nigerians elect a new president in 2019.
“I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”
He, however, said in a letter addressed to leaders of the PDP that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.
The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.
“Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.
“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.
“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.
“Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”

I Will Be President Of Nigeria, Fayose Insists

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has once again said he will become the President when Nigerians select a new leader for another four years in 2019.
He said this on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital while addressing hundreds of women at an event to commemorate the 2018 International Women’s Day.
“I want them to here in the Villa, I will be president of Nigeria Tomorrow, Fayose told his supporters at the gathering.
“Sometimes, it is difficult for people to believe but when it happens, I want you to know that I’ve said so before.”
Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had in 2017 zoned its Presidency to the North and its national chairmanship to the South, a position being held by Prince Uche Secondus.
While it seems that Governor Fayose’s interest to run for Presidency might be against the party’s arrangement, he informed the PDP leaders in a letter last year that his ambition was without prejudice to the party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and the country.
Delivering a speech while formally declaring his presidential ambition on September 28, 2017, in Abuja, he said had“I am confident with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, in a free and fair election. Nobody like me can take out the President from his office – twice I defeated the incumbents to become governor of Ekiti State.”

A Better Change

In furtherance of his show of confidence, the governor told his supporters today in Ado Ekiti that he would not be silenced by any form of pressure or intimidation from anyone or group.
He took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that they have failed to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians in the buildup to the 2015 elections.
“All I said about this present APC government; they are leaving and they have stood the test of time,” said Fayose. “For me, greater is he that is in me than he that is there, and in the world.”
“I have fought so many battles, my enemies and opponents have lost all, I’ve won all; I’ve not lost one. We will not allow anybody to cow us; there is one thing I want to remind them, power belongs to God – you are there today, we will be there tomorrow.
“Nigerians want a change, a better change, a change that is not selective; Ekiti, well-represented by Ayo Fayose will be part and parcel of the government at the centre in 2019 by the grace of God,” he added.
Governor Foyese congratulated the women in the state and assured them of the state government’s support to help improve their standard of living.
He noted that although it would be his last participation in the celebration as a governor, he would come from Abuja to attend the event as a president next year.
The event was attended by the governor’s wife, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose; his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola; and rights activist Joe Odumakin among others.

I Was In Kano When Senator Ogembe Was Attacked, Says Bello

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has denied any involvement in the attack on the senator representing Kogi Central, Mr Ahmed Ogembe.
Senator Ogembe was said to have arrived in the state last week and organised an empowerment programme which was disrupted by some hoodlums.
Governor Bello, who condemned the attack on Thursday, faulted allegations that he masterminded the incident, saying he wasn’t in Kogi the day it happened.
“First of all, on that day, I was in Kano,” he said in a phone interview on Politics Today. “I had just received a message of a senator coming home to do empowerment; the next thing was the crisis that ensued.”
Amid the political crisis in the state, the governor said the police have begun investigations into the incident while a lot of arrests have been made.
Reacting to the lingering disagreement between him and another lawmaker in Kogi, Senator Dino Melaye, Governor Bello blamed the rift on his refusal to waste the available scarce resources of the state.
“We are aware of a particular senator who wants elephants to be shared in Kogi State and I refused.
“The people of the state must have value for the lean resources that we are generating, and we are receiving; if that is his problem, so be it,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, some senators had reportedly accused the governor during plenary of introducing policies that could degenerate into a political issue if not properly handled.
He, however, took a swipe at the lawmakers for failing to address national issues such as passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly in November 2017, among several others.
In his words, Governor Bello said: “We have some (men) who are just making the Red Chamber a laughing stock. We have a national budget – up till now, no mentioning of it.

“We have a lot of appointments made by the Federal Government into various parastatals and agencies of government. Today they are lying in the minutes, none is being cleared and several other issues. So when we are talking about threats to democracy, I think they should ask themselves.”

Katsina APC Vows To Win 2019 Election

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC Katsina State chapter has vowed to produce more votes than any other state in the country come 2019.

The State Governor, Aminu Masari, made this known during a special grand rally organized by the state chapter of the party.
The event was aimed at receiving hundreds of thousands of decampees from major opposition parties across the three senatorial districts of Katsina state, the rally witnessed the attendance of high ranking persons from the three senatorial districts which are Katsina, Daura and Funtua Central Senatorial Districts of the state.
Decampees from across different political opposition parties in Katsina state among which are former chairmen, former councillors and chieftains have relinquished their respective positions from their respective political parties.
The governor announced that the Katsina state chapter of the party is not only sure of winning the 2019 general elections but working to make sure that not less than 80-90% of the registered voters vote for the APC particularly President Muhammadu Buhari.
Popular among them are Senator Ibrahim Ida of the Katsina central, Hon. Ya’u Umar Gwajo -Gwajo of Daura, the Katsina North and Engineer Nura Khalil of Funtua, the Katsina South.
These decampees are generally considered by both the National and the State chairmen of the ruling APC as full members and that from today they have become on equal footing with each an every member of the party.

The Rich Uncle