Following President Muhummadu Buhari's unfavourable disposition towards the recent tenure elongation of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun on Tuesday inaugurated a Technical Committee to evaluate the president's position on the matter.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed Dr Hygenius Nwokwu as the new Secretary to State Government (SSG).

The appointment came less than six hours after Prof Bernard Odoh, the former SSG, resigned his appointment.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Umahi, Mr Emmanuel Uzo confirmed the appointment in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

A team of soldiers serving in Talasse town in Balanga local government of Gombe state, helped free the senator representing Gombe south, who was held hostage by protesters.

The senator, Joshua Lidani, was forced to take refuge in the residence of the traditional ruler of Talasse after irate youth from the area accosted him.

One witness said they sought to “ask him some questions”.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, described the death of the South-African anti-apartheid icon, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as a huge loss to Africa.

The ex-wife of South African anti-apartheid fighter and former president Nelson Mandela, died on Monday in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 81.

A coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) support groups has expressed support for elongation of the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The groups, in a position paper made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, said they had watched with keen interest developments that followed the 5th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the sudden change of stance by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The paper was co-signed by Prince Danisi Momoh, Convener, APC Youth Solidarity Network, Comrade Japhet Echegwo, Coordinator Grassroots Mobilisation for Buhari /Osinbajo 2019, Comr Kede Michael South-South Youth Movement for Change, Amb Tega Okokoyoko, Director-General, Buhari Supporters for Change, Ibrahim Yusman, APC North Central Buhari/Osinbajo Support Group.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, has described the amnesty the president granted to Boko Haram members as a “win-win situation.”

While receiving the freed Dapchi schoolgirls on March 23, Buhari had said the federal government was willing to accept the unconditional laying down of arms by repentant insurgents.

Speaking at an interactive session with state house correspondents during the weekend, Shehu said the amnesty would help the insurgents to “be useful to the nation.”