Politicians Who Will Make Buhari's Cabinet on May 29 Revealed

President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken on dissolving his cabinet before May 29, 2019

Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who appeared on Arise Television on Thursday, said it was likely he would dissolve his cabinet.

An APC source told The Status that some party chiefs who were defeated in their bid for reelection in the February 23 national assembly election would be considered for ministerial posts as soon as the president was sworn in for another term.

Recall that President Buhari spent over six months in 2015, to appoint his Ministers.

The source named an outgoing Southwest governor and South South senator who failed to win his reelection as some of those to be considered for slots.

While new hands would be brought on board, the source said the president may retain some of the present ministers in different areas of responsibility.

Adesina said Buhari has promised to appoint his Minister as soon as possible.

-Ademola Alade

Actor Majid Michel Suffers Throat Disease *flown abroad for surgery

Ghanaian actor Majid Michel reportedly flies out to undergo Throat Surgery

Ghanaian media is reporting that famous actor- turned preacher, Majid Michel has been flown out of Ghana to undergo throat surgery.

 Although the exact country he was taken to for the operation, hasn't been revealed.

The news of the surgery comes after Majid revealed in an interview last year that two years ago, he noticed his voice had started 'breaking'.

“Over two years ago, I was travelling and then suddenly my voice started breaking and it’s been like this for over two years now”, he said.

He also added that he had been to the hospital for a check up, but was told there was absolutely nothing wrong with his throat.

“I don’t know what is wrong with my voice. I have checked at Korle-bu and 37 Military hospitals and they all said there is nothing wrong with my voice. They have checked my throat and everything is perfect,” he said.

Aliko Dangote now 64th Richest in the World

…Worth $16.6bn, still number 1 in Africa

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has significantly moved up in the World billionaires’ list as he emerged 64th richest person in the world, with an estimated worth of $16.6 billion, as against his previous ranking of 103rd in the world.  

Dangote, who remains the richest man in Africa for the 8th year running, was the only Nigerian on the list of the top 500 billionaires, as released last week by Bloomberg in its yearly billionaires list.

Jeff Bezos remains the richest in the world with $136 billion in his kitty while Bill Gates and Warren Buffett followed as 2nd and 3rd respectively with $98.4 billion and $83 billion on the world billionaires chart, which is dominated by North Americans.

Dangote’s estimated worth in the latest Bloomberg ranking far outstrips an earlier ranking by the Forbes Magazine, another elite publication which placed his fortune at $10.8bn in the 2019 Forbes Africa’s Billionaires’ list released in January, although he retained the rank as the richest African for the 8^th consecutive year in the latter ranking.

There are only 5 Africans on the Bloomberg list of the world’s top 500 billionaires, with Dangote topping the group. The other four Africans included Nicky Oppenheimer of South Africa, who was ranked No. 216 with an estimated worth of $7.05 billion; Johann Rupert of South Africa (ranked No. 225 with an estimated worth of $6.92bn); and Natie Kash of South Africa (ranked No. 263 with an estimated worth of $6.10bn). The fifth and last African on the list of 500 HNW individuals was Naguib Sawiris of Egypt, ranked No. 331 with an estimated fortune of $5.12bn.

Bloomberg is a global information and technology company, that connect decision makers to a dynamic network of data, people and ideas – “accurately delivering business and financial information, news and insights to customers around the world” Bloomberg L.P. provides financial software tools such as an analytics and equity trading platform, data services, and news to financial companies and organisations through the Bloomberg Terminal.’

Africa's richest man, with his improved worth of $16.6 billion, controls Dangote Industries, a closely held conglomerate. The Lagos, Nigeria-based company owns sub-Saharan Africa's biggest cement producer, Dangote Cement, which had revenue of N805.6 billion naira ($2.4 billion) in 2017. It also has interests in sugar, salt, flour, fertiliser and packaged food.

It would be recalled that Aliko Dangote, was also recently named as the sixth most charitable man in the World by Richtopia, a digital periodical that covers business, economics, and financial news, based in the United Kingdom. This recognition came after he endowed his foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) to the tune of $1.25 billion

Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and J.K Rowlings occupied the first three positions on the World Charitable lists, while Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk occupied the fourth and fifth positions respectively. Aside Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of United Bank for Africa was 11^th on the list and these two were the only Nigerians on that list.

Aliko Dangote started his Foundation in 1981, with a mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.

Aliko Dangote Foundation was however incorporated in 1994 as a charity in Lagos, Nigeria. 20 years later, the Foundation has become the largest private Foundation in sub Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor. The primary focus of Aliko Dangote Foundation is health and nutrition, supported by wrap-around interventions in education, empowerment, and humanitarian relief.

Meeting Customers’ Everyday Needs Through An Ecosystem of Digital Services

Before the internet disrupted how and where customers make their purchases through eCommerce, most of their needs were usually met via various physical points of sale scattered across different locations. When eCommerce brought the ease and convenience of shopping, many abandoned the old and stressful way of shopping.

Although, at the early days of eCommerce in Nigeria, most platforms focused on chasing one rabbit at a time, that is, creating a niche platform. So, in 2011/2012, the challenge of providing an easy and convenient way to shop was solved, with the debut of eCommerce companies like Jumia.

But, another urgent customers’ need emerged while online shopping was still trying to establish its footing. Customers wanted more than just a shopping platform where they could buy gadgets, groceries, fashion items, electronics, and other home essentials. They wanted an online platform that could provide them access to other day to day services, such as booking a flight or a hotel, ordering food, drinks, flowers, recharging airtime, paying bills i.e. DSTV, and many more.

Typical of a forward-thinking company, Jumia responded swiftly to this new request by launching several other digital platforms that could help customers with these needs. These digital services include booking hotels/flights, ordering food, production services, drinks/beverage delivery and a whole lot of other services.
A few years later, precisely in 2017, Jumia introduced an all-in-one lifestyle app called Jumia One. With Jumia One, customers do not need to have several apps for all their daily needs. They only need to download Jumia One and they can conduct all their transactions on it.

There are a number of benefits customers enjoy when they meet all their needs using a single App, Jumia One as an example: (1) only one login ID will be required to access all the digital services, (2) less data required to make multiple purchases, (3) pay zero service fee on utility bills like DSTV, GoTV, Startimes, Kwesé TV, Smile, Swift, Spectranet, and electricity bills, (4) you get an instant refund whenever a failed or incomplete transaction occurs.

Apostle Suleman and Wife Preach, Bless Believers At Oregon Crusade

Following the example of his Good Shepherd, senior pastor at the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide, Apostle (Prof.) Johnson Suleman, is once again demonstrating his uncommon assets in faraway Oregon State in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America.

Accompanied by his dutiful wife, Reverend (Mrs.) Lizzy Suleman and top OFM ministers, the ‘Oracle of God’, left the shores of Nigeria on a two-day soul-saving crusade on Tuesday, 26^th of February, 2019. Typical of him, Suleman arrived the state filled with compassion for lost souls and aimed to see the people safely returned to God.

Apostle Suleman regularly exhibits his firm belief that God loves saving the lost. This, he says, was the conviction that fueled the launch of his ministry, seconded by his passion to help the poor. Suleman does not just tell the sinner, “go home and pray and read your Bible and attend church service,” but he says “by His grace are you saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). “It is this grace I carry everywhere I go and share with God’s people,” he asserts.

In the midst of restoring lives and blessing the poor in Oregon, both Apostle and Reverend Lizzy Suleman were committed in their tenderness to feed the people with the spiritual. There is something of genius about this Godly couple; they read the primary sources of challenges facing the people and apply the incredibly divine solutions in a way that ensures total deliverance. In essence, the clear and simple sermons given by them are a shining example for all modern preachers to emulate.

The Oregon crusade enters its second day on Wednesday, 27^th of February, 2019. There are testimonies that the two-sessions of the first day were an absolute sensation, with the couple ministering to thousands of participants. While the crusade lasts, the participants appear to have a deep awareness that both Apostle Suleman and Reverend Lizzy Suleman had been called by the grace of God, and that it was that same grace which empowers and equips them for the privilege of their ministry.

Atiku Thanks Nigerians For Massive Support ...says 'victory is assured'

Presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thanked Nigerians for turning out to  vote for him in their millions and confirmed that the initial indications from the PDPs Simultaneous Vote Count show a PDP victory is assured.

Atiku in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant On Public Communication,Mr.  Phrank Shaibu said “I would like to sincerely thank the millions of people who, despite having to bear the additional burden of a postponed election, came out yesterday to vote for me and the other PDP candidates standing in this election.”

The statement said with the PDP’s high tech, cloud-based SVC system - which is able to collate in real-time the results from the 176,000 voting points across the nation - the Presidential candidate could boldly assure his supporters that victory was at hand.

“With strong shares of vote in SS, SE as well as an increased share in SW and NC we are very pleased with the progress the PDP has made.  We look forward to sharing some exciting news in other parts of the country very soon, which will confound all the armchair pundits.

The people of Nigeria can take solace that very soon the living Nightmare of the last four years will come to an end so that together we will get Nigeria working again.”

The PDP Presidential candidate urged Nigerians on the need to maximise their eternal vigilance in the next 48 hours to prevent the majority votes recorded at the polling units being disrupted by force by the APC at the collation centres.

“I am familiar with how brazen and the complete lack of shame the APC can exhibit, but even I was shocked to witness just how low they went last night by accusing the PDP of ‘recruiting armed thugs’ to do just that.  Why would we want to do that when we are winning?”

“Furthermore I would like to say how proud I was of PDP supporters who conducted themselves so peacefully despite the significant provocations and threats of violence, removal and burning of ballot boxes and the likes.”

The statement also thanked the security forces and election officials who in the main conducted their duties with  exemplary professionalism but tasked General Buhari on his promise of a free and fair election.

“General Buhari you have promised our people and the world that you would conduct ‘free, fair and  credible elections’ so please call off the wilder elements within your party and deliver on your promise.”

The Kettle Calling Pot Black - by Osita Chidoka

Our attention has drawn to a low quality diatribe from the APC as contained in a statement to the effect that PDP plans to unleash armed thugs to disrupt the collation process is rank hypocrisy to disguise their own vile acts.

Tonight the APC has raised the spectre of the PDP ‘recruiting armed thugs to attack ward and LGS collation centres’ overnight. Let us put this statement into perspective:
Who introduced INEC and the Card Reader and PVC system to create a more transparent electoral process? The PDP.
Who in 2015 when holding all the levers of power ran what is widely agreed to be the most free and fair elections in Nigeria’s history which resulted in its own defeat? The PDP.

Who oversaw the peaceful handover of power from an incumbent President to an opponent? The PDP.

We would ask Nigerians and the world to compare and contrast our record with the APC and judge their book by its cover.
Who unconstitutionally suspended the Chief Justice the day before he was due to appoint the judges for the election tribunals? The APC.

Who put armed thugs on the streets in PDP strongholds to burn ballot boxes, suppress our voters and kill our people? The APC.
Who allowed one of their senior party leaders in charge of Activate Technology to provide the upgraded Card Readers to polling units in PDP areas to slow down the vote? The APC.

So why when voters across the country have expressed their preference in millions for Atiku to be the next President would the PDP want to disrupt the collation.

So we demand that the President who has promised us and the world free and fair elections to call off his attack dogs or see his legacy sink to levels of opprobrium not seen since before the return of democracy to Nigeria.

We recognise the common sense and intelligence of the Nigerian people to see through their subterfuge and nefarious plot and maintain their vigilance during this long night.

The night may be long but if we all play our part the light of the new dawn will see us to a better land.

Be part of history. Be vigilant.

-Osita Chidoka is the spokesperson, PDP presidential campaign council