₦airaland Forum

Amid bribery allegations against the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the national secretarial of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has said it will not substitute his name for the 2019 election.

An online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, had a month ago, released video footages captured with a spy camera showing Governor Ganduje allegedly receiving, in batches, $5m bribe from a contractor.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, told PRNigeria that Ganduje remains the standard bearer of the party in Kano.

He said: “The INEC guidelines on the selection or replacement of candidates are explicit. It doesn’t confer power on political parties to whimsically, arbitrarily or recklessly just substitute a candidate on frivolous grounds.

“It is only when a candidate dies, voluntarily withdraws from contesting an election, or a court pronouncement that a candidate can then be substituted or replaced, if you like.

“So as things stand, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, regardless of the unfortunate development is and still remains APC’s Kano guber candidate.

“Don’t forget that the governor has sued the publisher of the online media for defamation of character,’’ he concluded.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/kano-2019-apc-speaks-on-substituting.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) over the disagreement between the organised labour and state governors on the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.

According to NAN, the representatives of the Governors’ forum, who met with the president over the issue, included Governors of Zamfara, Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu, while the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige was also in attendance.

DAILY POST had reported that the Tripartite Committee on the Review of the National Minimum Wage, had on Nov 6, submitted its report to President Buhari where it recommended N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

While receiving the report, the president expressed his commitment to ensuring the implementation of a new national minimum wage and pledged to transmit an Executive bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

Buhari said that the Federal Government would soon transmit an Executive bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

However, the 36 state governors had expressed reservations over the proposed N30,000 new minimum wage by the Amal Pepple committee, saying the state governments were not in a stable financial position to pay the new minimum wage.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/new-minimum-wage-buhari-meet-governors.html

The Trinity House organised 24-hour Praise Concert retained an infectious vivacity, enabling members of the church and the visitors to celebrate.

Only in its second year, the 24-Hour Praise concert, ran on the theme, ‘Power of Praise’. You may be forgiven if you haboured reservations about how the organisers, Pastor Ituah and Ibidunni Ighodalo-led Trinity House were going to retain vivacity in the assembly for 24 hours. With the help of the church’s Music Minister, Tosin Alao, it turned out that all members of the church and the visitors came there to celebrate.

Managing close to 30 artistes is a tough assignment by any standard, but Alao and his team made it a great experience for everyone.

It’s not easy to find a great experience as was created at the Trinity House 24-Hour Praise. The atmosphere was genuinely charged with an air of positivity. Many stood with their hands held high in the air, when Minister Chigozie sang Jonathan David and Melissa’s popular anthem, ‘No Longer A Slave’. One of the most celebrated artiste of the night was Tope Alabi. She was able to secure participation of the audience. You couldn’t sit down, even if you wanted. Persuaded to return for an encore, Alabi hit the crowd with her hit tune, ‘E Gbega, E Gbega’. The involvement of the people with Tope Alabi took a new turn when she gave a new interpretation to the prevalent ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance. According to her, the dance can be found in the Bible and it was first performed by David. She said the dance should be rightly called ‘Segun Segun’ (Dance of Victory and not ‘Shaku Shaku’, which refers to remnants and wastes).

Other Artistes that performed include

Empraiz, bitayo Jeje, better known as the Highlife Queen gave an excellent account of herself. Next was Mercy Chinwo and her team who delivered a powerful ministration. Psalmos and Tim Godfrey who just bagged a PhD from American University serenaded.

The organisers kept the renowned Mrs. Deborah Adebola Fasoyin and the Good Women Choir a worthwhile secret. One of their best known songs, ‘Odun Nlo Sopin’ which was released over 30 years ago to popular acclaim, was given a new verve at the concert.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/tope-alabi-mercy-chinwo-mama-fasoyin.html

Duncan Mighty, the port Harcourt first son, took out time to admonish the mother of his kids.

The Aza cronner wishes her wife Viviene a happy birthday with a special word.

The artiste shared the post on his page with this caption;

”Happy birthday my forever life partner my wife my mumu button mama icon and Michelle Making me ur husband is the greatest of all … GOD bless you…. ?

http://www.ebiscoo.com/61/duncan-mighty-celebrates-wife-with-heart-melting-words#127

Three children of same parents, their mother and another child have been burnt to death in an early morning inferno on Friday in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the incident, which has thrown residents of the area into mourning, also partially razed the victims’ bungalow.

The Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Dododo, who was at the scene, told NAN that the man of the family, was not at home when the incident happened.

“The incident happened around 1a.m on Friday, in the house of a West African Cotton Company Limited (WACCOT) staff, Malam Umar Argungu, who was on duty on that day.

“His wife was in the house with her three children: two daughters and a boy as well as a neighbour’s daugther who was keeping them company because the husband was away,” he said.

Dododo said the incident was caused by an electric heater which was left unattended to in the house.

“The woman had forgotten the heater and it kept on heating till all the water had finished.

“The house caught fire, which resulted in the death of the woman, her three children and the neighbour’s daughter,” he said.

He, however, warned residents of the state to always switch off electricity in their home before sleeping in the night, especially during the harmattan season

http://www.ebiscoo.com/60/fire-kills-4-family-members-one-other-in-kebbi#126

Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has disclosed the reason behind the blacklisting of some journalists from the governor’s office.

According to the governor who spoke via his verified Tweeter handle, he hinted that unpaid debt to the affected media houses was the reason for the eviction, stating that the government would not be held to ransom.

“No war here. I’ve benefited from a vibrant media as NBA President, I won’t change now as Governor. All media houses can cover our activities whenever & however they seem fit.

“We will nonetheless not be held to ransom over unpaid debt to media houses by the previous administration,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, the claim of the governor has contradicted that of the Commissioner for Information, Yemi Olowolabi.

In a press statement issued earlier by the commissioner who was alleged to have masterminded the eviction of the correspondents of Channels TV, AIT and Core TV from the governor’s office last week Friday over the stance of the reporters of not doing the bidding of the commissioner by reporting stories favourable to the state government, he described the affected journalists as “impostors” and “parasites”

The statement reads, “For the record, we have not expelled any journalist from the Governor’s office. What we did was to rid the place of impostors and parasites parading themselves as professional journalists.

“The standard practice in Government House Press coverage is to accredit journalists who cover the beat. And no duly accredited Government House reporter has been barred from covering the daily activities of the Governor.

“My office was inundated with serial complaints about professional misconduct by some ‘journalists’ who turned the newsroom in the Governor’s office to beer parlour, gambling station and blackmailers’ hideout. Some of these complaints were investigated and were found out to be true.

“In fact, I have received complaints from some important guests who were made to pay for interviews and news items that were never used on any channel.

“Also, most of the whimsical stories trending on the social media are anchored on the purported sack of AIT and Channels TV’s reporters from the Government House. Again, there is a procedure that guides the engagement and disengagement of reporters from all the broadcast stations that are working with us. Duly signed official letters are usually sent to the broadcast stations headquarters to convey our intentions to their management. Our last official communication with the stations was in April 2017.

“Another twist to this fairy tale is the reckless innuendo that we sacked some reporters from the Government House because they were writing negative stories. This is a preposterous account bereft of logic and rationalisation. For instance, in the last one year, the Channels TV’s reporters here have not filed a single story on the activities of the Governor, either positive or negative. I challenge them to contradict this position.

“Yet the ‘journalists’ stay in the Governor’s office from morning to night every day. Doing what?
This was the simple question we asked. Their answer is the syndicated blackmail designed to frustrate the sanitisation of the Government House Press Crew which is in utter danger of vulgarisation,” the statement read.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/contradictions-as-gov-akeredolu.html

A group of Niger Delta agitators have asked multinational oil companies out of Akwa Ibom State or risk being attacked.

The group, under the aegis of Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, said its decision was based on dissatisfaction with the companies over their neglect of riverine communities in Akwa Ibom.

In a statement on Monday by self-styled General John Duku of the Niger Delta Watchdogs, the agitators said the level of injustice, neglect, marginalisation, and untold hardship the communities suffer under the multinational oil companies operating in Akwa Ibom were no longer bearable.

The agitators observed that despite being in the business of exploring and exploiting oil from these communities for over 30 years, the multinational oil companies had completely abandoned their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) in the areas of scholarships, employment, and empowerment for its host communities.

Part of the statement reads: “All these multinational oil and servicing companies do not have even a liaison office in the state.

“Ninety percent of their workforce is non-indigenes of the state, the remaining 10 percent they pick from Akwa Ibom are place under contract with meagre payment and without any entitlement.

“It is also noted that none of these companies, even their representatives, deem it necessary to visit their host communities.

“This is a satanic act and we shall handle it the way and manner they would feel the same pain that communities have been passing through.

“Worst still is the fact that Oriental Energy Resources management believes and boasts that with the personal relationship of the Managing Director, Alhaji Muhammed Indimi, as an in-law to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, his company and assets are untouchable, thus he can do whatever he likes, citing the recent case between Oriental Energy and Afren Resources Nigeria Limited which was ruled in his favour.

“From our findings, we have discovered that the Community Affairs Department in all these multinational oil companies are in the business of conniving with traditional rulers, community leaders and some government officials to fraudulently steal, embezzle, and criminally defraud the core oil producing communities of monies meant for community development and every other benefits that should have accrued to the oil producing communities.

“The situation is the same in all the core oil producing LGAs of the state.

“The worst is the situation we met at Effiat coastal communities of Mbo LGA, Amadaka in Eastern Obolo LGA, Ibeno LGA, Esit Eket LGA and many others.

“We, therefore, call on the government to ensure the withdrawal of the certificates of these criminal traditional rulers.

“Recall that during the height of crisis in the Niger Delta region, Akwa Ibom State was peaceful, that is why these multinational oil & services companies are taking undue advantage of the people of the state as there is peace in the region.

“It is well noted that the remote causes of the Niger Delta struggles was for emancipation from injustice, neglect, and marginalisation.”

“We shall immediately commence mobilisation of all the key actors in this struggle, including all the militant groups, to Akwa Ibom State in order to surmount these evil companies from the state.

“We shall ensure total shut down of all flow-stations, all the oil vessels would be attacked (this is ‘Operation Deliver Akwa Ibom Campaign’).

“We promise that very soon we shall release the video of our findings for the whole world to see the level of injustice and marginalisation these multinational oil companies have caused their host communities.

“We, therefore, call on the president to call his in-law, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, to order.

“Nigerians voted you to protect lives and property not to protect Indimi. Enough of this injustice,” they added.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/niger-delta-militants-threaten-to.html

Former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has given reasons he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Uduaghan also stated reasons he withdrew his support from his successor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa during the 2014 PDP governorship primaries in the state.

The former governor, in an interview with Channels Television, also waved aside comments that his defection to the APC was owing to his fear of not being able to clinch the Delta South PDP senatorial ticket.

He said, “It did not come about suddenly. It’s something that I had been thinking about, I would say for about six months.

“It is not easy to move from a house that you built to another house especially with your household. So you have to plan it properly, think about it and discuss it with the members of your family.

“Of course, generally, we have been together for over 20 years, and there is bound to be disagreements.

“But when you look at the larger picture of where the family is now, where your political party is, the future of your current political party and look at the party you want to go into, where are they now?

“But the final decision is yours because whatever happens, you bear the final consequences either good or bad. That was what I did, and that was why it took some time.

“I managed Delta State for eight years and before then, I worked closely with my boss as SSG, my boss (Chief James Ibori) being the head of the management.

“I know what it took to manage the Niger Delta because most of the problems started from Delta State as the interethnic crisis in 1997 and spread to other states.

“With that kind of experience, you look at the people currently managing it. You look at the federal and various state governments, from time to time, you access what they are doing.

“Sometimes you are happy with what they are doing and sometimes you are not because you have done your bit and pulled back, then you assess your bit.

“Now it’s not possible for one person to go there and do everything, the people that have come in, what improvement are they putting in the place?

“And when you see that these people are doing something that would move the region forward, you would want to encourage them by making sure that the things they are doing, they are supported.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-why-i-decamped-to-apc-uduaghan.html

Four Catholic priests who were abducted on November 6 by unknown persons in Delta State have regained their freedom.

The Nigeria Police, Delta Command, confirmed on Saturday that the priests were rescued near Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Police Commissioner , Muhammad Mustafa, the victims were rescued on Friday evening at a location he did not disclose.

The victims were: Rev. Fathers Victor Adigboluja of the Ijebu Ode Diocese; Anthony Otegbola, Abeokuta Diocese; Joseph Ediae, Benin Archdiocese; and Emmanuel Obadjere, Warri Diocese.

They were said to have been on their way to the Seminary of All Saints Uhiele-Ekpoma in Edo on Nov. 6 when they were kidnapped.

The police boss, who earlier said that one of the suspects had been apprehended in connection with the crime, also assured that the police command was trailing the others.

He assured that the other suspects would be arrested and prosecuted.

“They were rescued on Friday and we are on the trail of the other suspects.

“We do not encourage ransom, so no ransom was paid,” Mustafa said.

A reliable source told NAN that the priests were taken to Benin City for medical attention immediately they regained their freedom.

According to the source the priests were escorted to Benin City by the joint police and military team that rescued them.

The captors had earlier demanded for N4 million as ransom to effect their release.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/police-narrate-how-abducted-priests.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has finally published the name of Senator Hope Uzodimma as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State.

The Senator’s name was pasted at the INEC office along Port Harcourt road in Owerri, with Akaolisa Cyprain Okechukwu, as his running mate.

Uzodimma’s name was displayed at about 07:52 as the authentic governorship flag-bearer of the APC.

This is coming about after 10 hours after INEC had pasted 67 other governorship names of various political parties, excluding that of APC.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that INEC did not add the name of the governorship candidate of APC, in Imo state on the list of governorship candidates it published on Friday.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Emeka Ihedioha and 66 others were on the list, while that of the APC was seen missing.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/breaking-inec-finally-publishes-name-of.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s witnesses on Friday disagreed with the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Kayode Fayemi’s lawyers at the ongoing sitting of the Ekiti State governorship election petitions ttribunal in Abuja.

The witnesses disagreed with APC and Fayemi’s counsel on the powers of INEC officials to alter results of election already entered into Form EC8A, noting that collation officers cannot alter results except at the polling units and with the consent of all party agents.

Petitioners are contending at the tribunal that the content of the duplicate copies of INEC Form EC8A in which results were recorded at the Polling Units was different from the results used to declare Fayemi as winner and that most of the results were altered.

APC and Fayemi’s lawyers had in an attempt to show that the manual used by INEC during the election contained some clauses that can allow for discretion to be exercised in order to alter results, stressed that the schedule and manual at page 75 were all-encompassing.

INEC officials had earlier claimed that they made honest mistakes by grossly mutilating the results.

However, INEC officials (Collation officers) who gave evidence at the tribunal today (Thursday 8/11/2018) said during cross-examination that Collation Officers cannot alter Form EC8A (polling unit results).

The witnesses said only officers posted to the units can exercise such discretion and it must be at the polling unit with the knowledge of respective political parties.

The tribunal adjourned till Tuesday 13/11/2018 at the instance of INEC.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/ekiti-tribunal-inec-witnesses-disagree.html

Emmanuel Ugboaja, a labour leader, said on Wednesday that the governors would have no choice but to pay any amount signed into law as the new minimum wage.

Ugboaja, the Head of Department of International and Industrial Relation of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), spoke on a Channels Television programme while reacting to governors’ declaration that they may not be able to pay N30,000.

The Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee, submitted the report of the committee which recommended the figure to President Buhari on Tuesday.
According to Ugboaja, the issue of the national minimum wage would be an Act of Parliament and not Father Christmas gift from governors.
“Once it becomes a law, it becomes legally binding on employers in the formal sector and government to pay and the Act provides for how and when it is to be reviewed,’’ he said.
However, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkinde, Head, Media and Public Affairs of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, also on the programme, reiterated that the governors were not certain to pay N30,000 minimum wage if approved by the Presidency and signed into law by the National Assembly.
According to him, the governors are ready to shift ground from the initial N22,500 agreed to in their last meeting, but not a figure around N30,000 submitted to Buhari by the committee.
He said that the NGF would meet before the end of the month to deliberate on the issue and insisted that payment of any minimum wage was dependent on the resources available to each state.
“There is no how all the states will pay N30,000 because the tripartite committee says so.
“The governors have made it clear that they can deplore 50 per cent of their resources to payment of salaries, while the remaining 50 per cent will be committed to other areas,’’ he said.
The NGF spokesperson said that labour was making the governors look scandalous as people who were not interested in the welfare of Nigerians and this was not going to help their cause.
The different position of the duo on the matter was a sign that another round of face-off over implementation of the new minimum wage could be witnessed between states and organised labour.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/new-minimum-wage-labour-states-on.html

Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Chairman, the Senate Committee on Environment, has advocated more funding for the environment ministries and agencies to function optimally.

Tinubu made the call in Ibadan on Tuesday during a courtesy call on Gov. Abiola Ajimobi in his office.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu had led other senators in the committee to Ibadan on oversight function to some agencies.

Tinubu urged the Federal Government to look into the budget of the ministry, saying it was too small for the ministry and agencies to perform optimally.

“The budget for the environment ministry is very small and there is need for government to look into it.

“From our oversight visit to Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), we discovered that the institution needs lot of funding to function optimally,’’ she said.

She said that the delegation had during their visit to FRIN, presented a document containing useful environmental laws recently enacted to make the institution function maximally.

The lawmaker said that the new laws guaranteed recognition for FRIN to deal with international organisations, given it autonomy to act on environmental issues and colleges under FRIN tertiary status.

Tinubu commended Dr Sola Adepoju, FRIN Director-General for the tremendous transformation witnessed at the institute, which she described as “amazing and overwhelming’’.

“The quality of work carried out at FRIN, particularly materials and content is overwhelming. The D-G has utilised the resources allocated to the institute very well.”

Responding, Ajimobi commended the senate committee for its effort toward ensuring that people enjoyed a better environment.

The governor said that the role of the environment ministry, agencies and other relevant stakeholders was very important in repositioning of the country.

He said that the state had the potential of becoming the food basket of Nigeria, considering its landmass and concentration of agricultural research institutes.

“Our administration is much committed to infrastructural development and urbanisation of the state. Our target is to make the state the third largest in Africa within 25 years,” he said.

On the senate delegation were Sen. Foster Ogola and Mr Sanni Lawan, Clerk of the committee.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/tinubu-senators-meet-ajimobi-in-ibadan.html

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of attacking, abusing and blackmailing him.

Okorocha was reacting to Oshiomhole’s statement that the APC was not party to the Governor’s fight with Christian community, especially the Catholic Church in Imo State.

Oshiomhole had told Archbishop Anthony Obinna of the Owerri Arch diocese and the entire Christian community in Imo State on Saturday that the APC was not party to what described as the lack of respect exhibited to the church by Okorocha.

Okorocha said he had shown maturity by avoiding abuse and name-calling when he speaks to the media and called Oshiomhole to emulate him.

In a statement on Monday night by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said Oshiomhole’s apology to the Archbishop was a deliberate blackmail.

The statement added, “In responding to that deliberate blackmail, we won’t toe the part of Comrade Oshiomhole.

“We recognise the fact that he is the National Chairman of a ruling party, which President Muhammadu Buhari is the leader, and we would not therefore throw caution to the wind like he did, when he was abusing or attacking governors in his party as if he is the publicity secretary of any of the opposition parties.

“If he had asked questions, he would have discovered that members of the Catholic Church in the state constitute the bulk of Governor Okorocha’s supporters, especially at the grassroots.

“They voted for him overwhelmingly in 2011 and 2015 respectively. And he has never taken their support for granted.

“He has shown gratitude in several ways which cannot be catalogued in this response, including making them the majority in his cabinet

“The man has put himself on trial and that is the reason since that woeful and awful outing, he has made more than nine claims to see how he could recover but all to no avail. He murdered sleep and would remain awake.

“As a matter of fact, the National Chairman did not treat the concerned governors well no matter his reasons. He should not expect them to go home celebrating.

“In the circumstances, his utterances and actions should be responsive and reconciliatory to a very large extent and not declaration of war.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/apc-crisis-gov-okorocha-reacts-to.html

Oby Ezekwesili, the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), has explained why she met with former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

The meeting which lasted for hours held at the retired general’s house in Minna, Niger State.

According to Mrs. Ezekwesili, she made it clear to IBB that, “Nigeria must be taken out of the clutches of the Old Order”.

The former Minister of Education wrote on her verified Twitter page on Monday: “I had a very candid conversation with former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida in Minna after my speech on Human Capital Development at El Amin School yesterday.

“I made it clear that Nigeria must be taken out of the clutches of the old order. This is our mission.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-presidency-what-oby-ezekwesilis.html

Hunters and members of the civilian vigilante of Gubio, in Gubio local government area of Borno State, on Sunday, engaged members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

DAILY POST reports that the fierce fight resulted in the killing of eight ( militants in the area.

Few days ago, the same hunters in collaboration with some members of the civilian JTF dealt decisively with some terrorists in the area killing several of them in their efforts to rid the local government and surrounding villages of the activities of the Boko Haram.

The attack and subsequent engagement of the Boko Haram terrorists today, Sunday evening at Gazabure village, is said to be another effort to clear the Boko Haram elements from the northern part of Borno.

Gubio is about 50 km from Maiduguri, which has experienced several attacks by the insurgents in the past, including the attack and abduction of the University of Maiduguri lecturers, who recently regained their freedom after a negotiation with the Federal Government.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/boko-haram-hunters-gun-down-8.html

Jacob Ajegana-Kudu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has withdrawn his membership of the party.

Ajegana-Kudu sought to represent Nasarawa Eggon East constituency at the state legislature during the recently concluded APC primaries.

In a letter to his Ubbe Electoral Ward Chairman of the party, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of state, the aspirant who earlier resigned as Special Assistant to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura to contest the election, said he was no longer comfortable to remain in APC, NAN reports

Part of the letter dated Nov. 2, 2018, read: “RESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC).

“I bring you my full compliment in the best of traditions and wish by this communication to formally offer to you my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“l had joined the APC in 2014 with Registration Number as NAS/NAE/02001078, and remained committed to the party’s ideology.

“As I resign my membership of the party at this point in time, I wish to thank Gov. Tanko Al-Makura and the party for giving me the opportunity to serve as Special Assistant to the governor.

“I also thank the party’s stakeholders and supporters for their unflinching support given to me while in the party.

“I wish the party well in all her future.”

Ajegana-Kudu, however, did not disclose his next line of action or new party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the aspirant had on Oct. 10 rejected the result of the State House of Assembly primary election of his constituency.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/another-apc-member-resigns-gives-reason.html

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has announced the selection of Dr Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate for the 2019 governorship election.

The governor’s spokesperson, Mr Samuel Aruwan, told newsmen on Friday in Kaduna that the choice of Dr Hadiza Balarabe as running mate continued El-Rufai’s deliberate policy of promoting women in his government.

“There are five female commissioners in his 14-person cabinet, a feat not attained even by governors that had much larger cabinets.

“This is the first time in the history of Kaduna State that a major political party will select a woman as running mate.’’ Aruwan said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incumbent Deputy Governor, Mr Barnabas Bala, has opted to go to the National Assembly and has since emerged as the APC’s candidate for the Southern Kaduna senatorial district.

Dr Balarabe is the current Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, a position she has held since Feb. 2016.

In that role she has overseen the Kaduna State Government’s programme to revitalise and strengthen primary health care as the core of health service delivery in the state.

”Under her watch, the state is renovating and equipping 255 primary health centres with tools to assist better antenatal services and safer delivery.

“The agency has also helped expand vaccine coverage to protect children across the state.’’ He added

Prior to joining the Kaduna state government, Balarabe was Director of Public Health in the FCT. She studied Medicine at the University of Maiduguri, and graduated in 1988.

She was a Senior Registrar at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital before joining the services of the FCT in 2004.

Dr. Balarabe was born in 1966 and hails from Sanga local government which is located in the Southern Kaduna senatorial district.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-election-el-rufai-names-hadiza.html

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Friday swore-in 26 new commissioners in the state and urged them to work towards meeting the expectations of the people.

Tambuwal had on July 4, dissolved the State Executive Council.

NAN reports that some of the commissioners include Malam Abdullahi Maigwandu, Malam Abdulkadir Abubakar, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, Hajiya Aisha Madawaki, Alhaji Sulaiman Usman and Alhaji Abubakar Tambuwal.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, the Governor said the new cabinet had great role to play in meeting the desire of the people of the state.

“We will ensure that we work together as a team in order to achieve the objectives set aside by the present administration in the state.

“We are in the last quarter of the administration, as such we will concentrate more to ensure that more successes are recorded,” Tambuwal said.

He called on politicians in the state to play the game by the rules and within the ambit of the law and avoid any mischief that would destruct the peaceful nature of the state.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/tambuwal-swears-in-26-new-commissioners.html

Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has told the Chief Judge (CJ) of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to grow up and stop behaving like a coward.

The former governor, who was reacting to a statement by Daramola, condemning the new state-of-the-art High Court complex constructed by the Fayose administration, said the CJ had only lent credence to a Yoruba adage, which says, “the horse of our enemy is never tall enough in our reckoning.”

Fayose, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said the true test of maturity and decency is another Yoruba adage which says, “an elephant is too big an animal that someone, out of malice or hatred, would compare with a fly.”

He continued: “Reproach and bad-belle apart, the High Court complex is world class. It is also the first of its kind since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996.”

He described Daramola’s statement that the new High Court complex, built and commissioned five months ago, was hybrid of absurdity that could not be put to use, as an afterthought and an exercise in futility.

“It is shameless pull-him-down syndrome at work. Daramola was there at the commissioning; he should have spoken there and then, or is he a coward? Speaking now is an act of cowardice and tantamounts to back-biting as well as back-stabbing.”

“Daramola has never hidden his displeasure towards me, dating back many years. He had time and again allowed himself to become willing tool in the hands of some politicians to be used against me.

“The CJ was bitter and shed tears at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti, on October 16, 2014, the day I was sworn in for second term because I triumphed over all their conspiracies.

“Throughout the four years of my administration, Daramola never attended state functions personally, and on the day the foundation of the new High Court complex was laid, he openly expressed doubt of completing the project.

“In this regard, what does any right-thinking person expect Daramola to say of one of my legacy projects?

“When the project started, if truly he had noticed certain defects, why did he fail to point them out? Why did he have to wait till now? This, certainly, is not the act of a forward-looking person. It is, without doubt, an act of backwardness.

“Had this project been executed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration whose interests Daramola leaves no one in doubt he represents, he would have commended it to high heavens.

“Daramola will be well advised to insulate himself from politics and allow Ekiti judiciary remain the last hope of the common man,” Fayose said in the statement.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/stop-behaving-like-coward-fayose-blasts.html

A 14-year-old barber’s daughter, Miss. Gloria Ajala yesterday, emerged the One-day Lagos Governor after winning the 2018 Spelling Bee competition.

She is a secondary school 3 student of Lafiaji Senior High School, Lagos Island and she would perform the pseudo-role of the governor of the state at a yet- to- be announced date before the end of this year alongside his cabinet members.

Gloria, whose mother is a petty trader, defeated Ikhariale Grace of Tin Can Island Senior High School, Tolu and Akinbodewa Oluwatosin of Iworo Ajido Senior Secondary School, Olorunda who took the second and third positions respectively.

A total of 17 One-Day Governors have been produced so far in the history of the competition, which was initiated by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, when her husband was the governor of the state.

Speaking with Vanguard, Gloria described her victory as reward for hard work and commitment, saying,

“I read several books to prepare myself for the competition.”

By the achievement, Grace, like her predecessors, would enjoy a full scholarship to study in the university of choice and would also attend a short course exchange programme in Finland.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/awesome-barbers-daughter-emerges-one.html

Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Nigerian army has confirmed the killing of three members of the Shiite group during its clash with the group at Kugbo, in the Federal Capital territory yesterday.

The army also said four soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and current receiving medical attention in one of its facilities in Abuja.

In an update about the clash in its Facebook page, titled “ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA ATTACK SOLDIERS AND POLICE ON DUTY AT KUGBO/KARU CHECK POINT ON MONDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2018′, the army said “Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed on routine duty at Kugbo/ Karu bridge checkpoint of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were attacked by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at about 3:00pm on 29th October 2018.

“The sect in massive numbers forced their way into the troops checkpoint after over running the Police Force.

“The Police with drew back to own troops position to join efforts to repel them.

“They fired weapons at own troops, throwing bottle cannisters with fuel, large stones, catapults with dangerous objects and other dangerous items at troops causing bodily harm and stopping motorist movement, breaking their windscreen and causing heavy traffic.

“However, Troops repelled the attack in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force to stop the situation from further deteriorating.

“Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were killed while 4 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility.

“Meanwhile, the situation has been brought under control and normalcy restored in the general area and there is free flow of traffic.

“Members of the public living within Abuja and environs are enjoined to go about their normal activities without fear of molestation.

“The Nigerian Army will not deter in carrying out its constitutional roles and also safeguarding law abiding citizens.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/el-zazakyarmy-confirms-3-shiites-killed.html

It is time we put on our thinking and bargaining cap, to begin to ask, what is in an Atiku presidency for the South East?

Okey Nsorigwe

Before I am accused of belittling the office of the Vice President of Africa’s most populous democracy, permit me to state categorically from the outset that it is a great honour to be a Number Two citizen in a country surging to 200 million people.

It comes with personal benefits to the individual so elected and group benefits to the people who produced such a VIP. So, I join the rest of the South East to thank Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for picking Peter Obi as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election, the controversial way he went about it notwithstanding.

However, as the South East’s euphoria over the nomination of an Igboman as vice presidential candidate fades away, I feel it is time we put on our thinking and bargaining cap, to begin to ask, what is in an Atiku presidency for the South East? It cannot be just the vice presidency, otherwise, we are virtually empty-handed like Aaron.

I have heard many of our people enthuse that Obi, as VP, will run the economy. It smacks of living in a fool’s paradise to take such for granted. Our Constitution has no such or other specific roles for the VP except as delegated by the President. The President has the yam and knife and Atiku doesn’t appear to me as someone who would delegate the economy to his VP.

Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers of the Federation: (a) shall be vested in the President and may subject as aforesaid and to the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Vice-President and ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation.” Section 130(2) further provides that: “The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.”

Little wonder VP’s office or Deputy Governor’s office always appears like a ghost town. We play crude politics in our clime and there is always a tendency to undermine the office and person of the vice with the outright or tacit approval of the President. Members of the President’s “kitchen cabinet” take it upon themselves to undermine and cut the VP to size.

Furthermore, most Ndigbo erroneously believe that, with an Atiku/Obi presidency, the Igbo are a step away from the presidency. Sadly, this is not entirely true. Except Jonathan, who succeeded Umar Yar’Adua due to the latter’s death, no VP has succeeded the President since 1979. And given the power play around the Yar’Adua/Jonathan presidency (which clearly showed in every effort to prevent Jonathan from emerging an Acting President during Yar’Adua’s sickness), it would have been easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for Jonathan to succeed Yar’Adua after the latter’s full tenure.

That is assuming he even made it as running mate in Yar’Adua’s second term.

At the state level, only two deputies have succeeded their bosses, Aliyu Shinkafi, who succeeded Sani Yerima in Zamfara (2007), and Abdullahi Ganduje, who succeeded Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kano (2015). And they all fell apart almost immediately. The story of governors and their deputies have been that of cat and mouse, impeachments and recriminations. Meanwhile, Socrates advises: “Man, know thyself”, while Bob Marley says: “If you know your history, then you will know where you are coming from.” Ndigbo, have we suddenly forgotten our chequered history. Those, who pin us down are brutal and futuristic. We can’t let down our guard to think that Igbo presidency is as simple as Obi or any Igbo becoming VP.

In a detailed interview in the twilight of his life, the late Chief Alex Ekwueme, Ide Oko, explained that the 1983 coup was mainly to subvert Igbo presidency: “I was Vice-President for four years and three months and under our zoning system in the National Party of Nigeria, chances were high that in 1987 that I might have been the candidate of the party for the presidency. Umaru Dikko gave a press interview in London after the coup of December 31, 1983, that all the talk about corruption was just hogwash; that the coup took place because they wanted to stop me from being President in 1987; and that they didn’t want to wait until it was too close; that it would be too obvious.”

Also, the same forces rallied to subvert Ekwueme/Igbo presidency in the party he formed, and imposed Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the Jos PDP convention in 1998. Thousands of Ndigbo, who stormed Jos in chartered and freely donated luxury buses in a trance of ecstasy such as we currently swim in over Obi, went home disappointed and dejected.

That is why I repeat that our share in Atiku’s presidency cannot just be just a VP slot. From the earlier revelation by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and recent statement by Babatunde Fashola, it is obvious that the South West already has a deal with the President Muhammadu Buhari/APC for 2023 presidency. So, what is our own deal with Atiku/PDP?

Several reports indicate that Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu downplayed the VP slot to the South East even when offered to him over a year ago and days to the convention, preferring instead that whatever position offered to the South East should be secondary to PDP victory, restructuring, and Igbo presidency in 2023. These, South East leaders consider primary to our region and the cardinal understandings with Atiku that earned him South East delegates’ block vote.

With Atiku’s reported equivocation over the 2023 pact, coupled with his vagueness and sudden silence over restructuring, the concerns by South East PDP leaders over how he has allegedly avoided them post-Port Harcourt convention to the extent that they read about his running mate’s nomination in the media is now making sense to me and many others. I am beginning to believe that seeing through the smokescreen of mere VP slot without corresponding commitments (possibly a written pact) on restructuring and Igbo presidency 2023, as reported in the media, must have counted heavily against Ekweremadu as a VP pick.

All said, Atiku needs the South East to win and we must assert ourselves and cut our own deal. The South East has given its all to the PDP since 1998. We became its lifebuoy in the past three years. We have been scorched; our leaders like Ekweremadu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, etc, have been visited with scorpions and snakes for the sake of the PDP.

We have loved the PDP. The PDP should love us back. Playing hide-and-seek over restructuring (including the nature of it) and Igbo presidency 2023 will be in bad faith.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atiku-presidency-what-is-in-it-for.html

The Chairman, House Committee on Electoral and Political Parties’ Matters, Hajia Aishatu Dukku, has given the assurance that President Muhammadu Buhari will soon sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill into law.

Dukku, who represents the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Gombe State, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday in Abuja.

The National Assembly last week passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill after addressing some concerns raised by the president.

On Aug. 30, the president returned the bill to the National Assembly after withholding his assent for the second time.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, his boss declined his assent due to some “drafting issues that remain unaddressed following the prior revisions to the bill’’.

Dukku explained that the Senate and the House committees worked on all the sections with Enang and top officials of INEC, leading to a review of all the president’s concerns.

She said that since those areas of concern had been addressed, the president would sign the bill into law.

“Yes, I am very optimistic that Mr President will sign the bill because those areas he raised when he refused assent, we have dealt with them.

“We have involved INEC, we have involved the two joint committees of the Senate and the House, and we have involved the Presidency. So we are all on the same page now.

“We want to believe that Mr President is also eager to sign the bill and we know that he wants a free, fair and credible election come 2019, so he will assent to this amendment,” she said.

She said when finally signed into law, the act would give INEC the necessary environment to function effectively in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

According to her, the bill will also give the judiciary a clear picture about the handling of anticipated issues; pre-election matters and post-election matters.

“So it will give the country generally an overview of what will happen and make it easy for us to conduct the election,” she said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/what-buhari-will-do-to-electoral-act.html

The coalition of Igbo apex groups at the weekend has accused the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu of compromise, adding that he is working for the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and South-East governors in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.


The groups made up of World Igbo Youths Congress, Southeast Women Professionals and Igbo Students Forum, made this known through a statement signed by their Presidents; Mazi Alex Okemiri, Dr Helen Ogbonnaya and Chidera Utucha, and made available to DAILY POST shortly after their monthly meeting that took place in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state.

The coalition, which had earlier drummed support for Nnamdi Kanu’s return to Nigeria, however opted out and dissociated themselves from the alleged broadcast of Nnamdi Kanu where he said that there will be no election in 2019.


The statement reads in part: “We disassociate ourselves on the recent broadcast of Nnamdi KANU the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, where he stated that there will no election in 2019. We insists that ipob leader is depreciating in value in the eyes of Igbo followers.

“We insists that after careful examination of Kanu’s modus of operandi, in just concluded Anambra Governorship, where kanu insisted there will be no election in March 2018 Anambra, but evidently after Obiano Compromised him, kanu pull out voters out of polling Units who would have voted against Obiano, but He discouraged Voters from voting which gave obiano victory in 17 Local government areas of Anambra.

“Coalition of Igbo groups believe that with the reappearance of Kanu now and his system of no election in 2019,shows that he’s working for the victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi,Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu,and Sen Hope Uzodinma of IMO state.


“Kanu have been compromised and he has designed that there will be no election with intention to pull out voters out of polling units for the victory of Southeast Governors and President Buhari against Atiku.

“The coalition ask Igbo stakeholders to resurrect the damping spirit of Ohanaeze Ndigbo as they had failed to hold the prestigious annual Igbo day celebration which holds every 29th September of every Year. The Governors should start restructuring in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as they had commercialized it,” they stated.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-nnamdi-kanu-working-for-buhari.html

The federal government has commenced moves to prevent a general strike ahead of the November 6 deadline set by organised labour following disagreement over a new minimum wage for workers.

Consequently, the federal government has fixed a meeting on Monday to come up with a new national minimum wage.

The minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, told State House correspondents yesterday that an“enlarged meeting of all key stakeholders in the government circle at both federal and states has been scheduled for Monday.”

While the unions are insisting on a N30,000 per month minimum wage, the federal government is proposing N24,000, while state governors are proposing N20,000, a marginal increase on the current minimum wage of N18,000, which many states have failed to implement.

LEADERSHIP Weekend recalls that organised labour last Sunday announced that it would embark on indefinite strike from November 6.

In its response, the federal government had threatened to invoke a no-work, no-pay policy if labour went ahead with its planned strike action.

However, this strong arm tactics seems not to have deterred the workers’ union. Earlier this week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) advised Nigerians to commence stocking food and other necessities of life as workers will ensure a total shutdown of the country, beginning from November 6, should the government fail to pass the N30,000 new minimum wage.

In a resolution reached at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC held in Abuja on Wednesday, the workers’ union also said they were not perturbed by the no-work no-pay policy of the federal government, insisting that the right to strike was both a human right and a trade union right, and could not be abridged. The NLC said its strike would lead to a total shutdown of the country.

This unwavering stance may have signified to government that Labour is not ready to back down, hence the moves to seek ways of averting a confrontation with the workers’ union.

Labour minister, Dr Ngige, said a decision would be taken at the end of Monday’s meeting before a draft law would be transmitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on the new national minimum wage law.

“On Monday the economic team will meet and the governors are supposed to come so that the federal government will brief them on what is on the ground.

“And we will see what they will be able to put to us, because the government side is still three tiers, the federal, states and the local governments. The federal government is the leader.

“So, we are inviting them to come so that we will listen to them again, tell them what we are doing and what we intend to do, because they even have members on that committee.

“On Monday we will have a very useful discussion before the tripartite committee will come and submit its report,’’ Ngige said.

The minister faulted NLC’s position on the draft White Paper on Industrial Harmony, saying that the labour officials were misinformed about its content.

According to him, the white paper did not oppose the inclusion of non-elected officials to lead the labour unions in negotiations.

“I don’t think they read the reports of the committee that was set up. The one I participated in is the white paper drafting and the recommendation is there.

“So what the labour officials are talking of may be misinformation, because the particular aspect of it they are talking about, we rejected it – where they say non-elected members should not lead them in negotiation. My committee said `no’ because those people they call secretary–general or general secretary, some of them become automatic members of those unions.

“You don’t have to dispossess them of the right to lead. So government rejected it but they are shouting that government accepted it,’’ he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-moves-to-avert-labour-strike-summons.html

Serving ministers yesterday stormed the ancient city of Ibadan where they appealed to the people of Oyo State and South West geopolitical zone to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections.

Specifically, they told the people that the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari will allow the South West to regain the presidency after his tenure in 2023.

LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that the region produced the first president during this democratic dispensation when President Olusegun Obasanjo emerged president in 1999.

The minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola made this statement yesterday at a special town hall meeting on infrastructure organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), yesterday.

In his company were the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and his counterparts in Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, and Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

While reeling out achievements of the current administration, Fashola said the choices before people of the South West region was to either vote for the past government that did very little with huge resources at its disposal or the current government that has done so much with little.

Fashola urged the people of the South West geopolitical zone to vote for the incumbent president, Buhari, so that when his second tenure ends in 2023, the region would then produce the next president.

According to him, Buhari’s second term in office will automatically guarantee the return of power to the region by 2023.

“Yes, this town hall meeting started before politics, but now we are in a politically ready arena, we have to make choices. The purpose really is to choose whether what you have chosen has worked for you, so I will be speaking around that area because we have to choose.”

The minister, who spoke in Yoruba language, said: “Did you know that power is rotating to the South West after the completion of Buhari’s tenure if you vote for him in 2019?

“Your child cannot surrender her waist for an edifying bead and you will use the bead to decorate another child’s waist.

“A vote for Buhari in 2019 means a return of power to the South West in 2023. I am sure you will vote wisely.”

Fashola’s statement seems to have corroborated the revelation by Senate President Bukola Saraki to the effect that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was backing Buhari’s re-election in order to succeed him as president at the expiry of his second tenure in 2023.

However, some of the president’s ministers and aides have been canvassing for votes in the South East geopolitical zone, saying the president will hand over to one of their own when he leaves office.

The secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, was also reported to have told South East people that the shortest route for them to achieve presidency was to vote Buhari in 2019, so he can transfer power to the region afterwards.

Also, Labour and employment minister, Dr Chris Ngige, and the director-general of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, both APC stalwarts from South East, had weeks ago chorused that re-electing Buhari will ensure Igbo presidency in 2023, which is the central campaign message of the APC to woo voters in the region.

Meanwhile , Fashola declared that the APC-led federal government had fulfilled its promise to the region and to Nigerians in general.

“In the South West of Nigeria today, including Lagos, we have 67 road contracts. Yesterday in the Federal Executive Council, we added another one, Agbara to Seme Border road. A number of these contracts are repair contracts, which speaks to our commitment to maintenance,” he said.

Giving a breakdown, Fashola said that 19 of the road contracts are in Lagos State, 14 in Oyo State, 12 in Osun State, and nine each in Ogun and Ondo states.

The minister noted that only the APC-led federal government had offered election promises during campaigns since the return to democracy in 1999.

“Let me remind you that you will go back a long time before you remember a government that promised you a clear election message. You will probably go back to Awolowo’s UPN, his four cardinal points. What were you promised in 1999?” he asked.

“This government promised you security, improved economy and to tackle corruption, and we have kept to that promise; we are not changing. So that is the first difference between us, because you have to choose.

“So when the time comes, you will remember that this is the first time Nigerians are voting to different parties within the same republic, so you will judge what has been done for 16 years and what we have done in less than four years.”

According to the minister, the total budget for the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Lands and Housing and the Ministry of Works in the 2015 budget was only N26.2 billion, but that the APC government had increased it to N234 billion.

He said: “In 2015, when we were handed over government, the budget for Works for the whole of Nigeria was N19 billion, the budget for Power was N5 billion for the whole of Nigeria, budget for Housing was N1.2 billion; so for the three ministries that I now superintend, the total budget was N25.2 billion. That was the year I was leaving office as governor of Lagos, the budget for works in Lagos was over N70 billion, for Lagos alone. And at that time, oil was over $90 per barrel but when we came into government oil price had gone down, but President Buhari said we must invest in infrastructure. So in 2017, the budget for the three ministries was N394 billion. So when they come to you in 2019, ask yourself the question: who is more serious about your infrastructure?”

Fashola further noted that the government-owned Power Transmission Company (TCN) had 36 projects in the South West, in addition to housing projects the federal government was executing on a pilot stage in all the South West states, except Lagos.

“In those states, 61 contractors are employed by us as we speak, and they also employing people who work under them.

“In that overview, let me say that if you don’t travel from state to states, you’re not likely to feel our impact on roads, because we are not responsible for inner city roads. What we voted President Buhari for us to manage the interstate roads with other states so that we can do business with them,” he noted.

The host minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, noted that the current administration realised that no nation can develop without massive investment in infrastructure, therefore it made such investment a priority.

LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that President Buhari’s major rival in the 2019 polls, Atiku Abubabar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chose his running mate from the South East with the understanding that he would hand over to someone from the region at the expiry of his tenure, if he emerges victorious in 2019.

Again, PMB Knocks PDP’s 16-year Rule

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday again described the Peoples Democratic Party’s 16 year-long administration as a wasted opportunity for the country.

According to him, the PDP wasted Nigeria ‘s commonwealth during that period, pointing out that there was nothing to show for the huge resources earned in the country during the period.

Buhari, who spoke at a dinner for youth political appointees at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also took a dig at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, querying the $16 billion expended on the power sector during his administration .

“There was no power (yet) they said they spent $16bn on power; where is it?” he asked.

The president expressed his disappointment at the Nigerian press over what he termed the poor coverage of his go-back-to-land agricultural revolution programme, saying the media did not give the credit of the ongoing transformation in the agricultural sector of the country to his administration.

He said: “I’m very disappointed with the Nigerian press. They didn’t give this government the credit of the go-back-to-land programme. We have cut down the importation of rice by at least 90 percent.”

Buhari stated that Nigerians are now leaving white-collar jobs for farming to tap from the revolution, adding that the country has achieved food security.

The president also said he appointed Chief Audu Ogbeh as the Minister of Agriculture in view of his experience in the sector.

“Ogbeh went to a bank, borrowed money and invested in agriculture. He suffered but eventually he paid the money. So, you cannot have a better person than somebody who has suffered in the sector,“ he said.

Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, also carpeted the PDP, saying the party did not achieve one-tenth of APC’s achievements in its 16 years at the helm of affairs.

He said, “As a government arm, we have achieved so much and I am going to make available to you a document that we have put together, which captures what the government has been able to achieve in just about three and half years – what I call a midterm report.

“If we have to make a comparison of what has been achieved in the last couple of years, the 16 years of PDP administration will not constitute one-tenth of what we have been able to achieve in the last three and half years.”

The SGF added that while the ruling party went to the 2015 elections with promises, this time around it would go to the 2019 elections with its record of achievements.

2019 Polls Will Be Credible, INEC Assures AU

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the African Union (AU) that the 2019 general election will be credible.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of the AU who came to Abuja to access the commission’s level of preparation for the 2019 polls, INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the election will be credible.

He said, “Your visit is coming exactly 113 days to the elections in Nigeria scheduled for Saturday 16th February 2019. We welcome your mission to Nigeria and appreciate your active involvement in election observation in Nigeria.

“We recall with delight that the AU sent one of the largest election observation mission for the 2015 general elections made up of 84 observers led by the former interim President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Professor Amos Sawyer.

“INEC has studied both the interim and full reports of the AU Election observation mission and we are delighted by your overall positive recommendations. We wish to assure you that INEC has and will continue to improve on the conduct of elections in Nigeria”.

Yakubu said INEC has taken into considerations some of the AU observations and recommendations directed to the commission in planning for the 2019 General Elections.

He stated: “Specifically, you recommended that INEC should improve on the overall planning and implementation of electoral operations with regard to voter registration and the issuance of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“In response, and for the first time in the history of elections in Nigeria, INEC conducted the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) from 27th April 2017 to 31st August 2018 during which some 14.5 million new voters were registered in addition to about 70 million voters registered before the 2015 General Elections.”

“This brings the total number of registered voters in Nigeria today to well over 84 million. We have also systematically printed and made available the PVCs for collection by citizens in batches well ahead of the 2019 General Elections. The last batch of the PVC will be available for collection in early December and collection will continue until at least one week to the 2019 General Elections.

“We are finalising a new strategic approach to the collection of PVCs by registered voters and wish to reassure all new registrants as well as those who applied for transfers and relocation or the replacement of their cards that their PVCs will be available for collection ahead of the General Elections.

“The second observation raised by the AU, which is related to the first one, is the review of the Election Day procedures to make them less cumbersome for voters by re-examining the system of separate accreditation and voting. I am happy to report that this has been implemented. Since the Governorship election in Bayelsa State in December 2015, we have been conducting simultaneous accreditation and voting.”

Yakubu further told the AU delegation that INEC had similarly responded to other recommendations that require amendment to the legal framework by working closely with the National Assembly.

He said, “Only this week, the National Assembly passed a bill amending the Electoral Act in addition to the alteration of five (5) sections of the Constitution dealing with elections.

“Once again, I welcome you INEC and look forward to detailed discussions on our preparations for the 2019 General Elections as well as your further observations on how to strengthen our electoral process,” Yakubu Added

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-ministers-shop-for-votes-in-south.html

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has raised the alarm over ladies being duped by fraudsters who gave them assurances of facilitating marriage relationship with the monarch.

The monarch in a statement by his Spokesman, Moses Olafare advised young ladies to report whoever promised them marriage in his name to the security agencies immediately.

He called out one of the victims, Miss Elizabeth Odunlami who said the monarch dated and jilted her, but Oba Adeyeye denied any relationship with her.

The statement reads: “While we sympathize with Miss Elizabeth Odunlami who obviously has become a victim of a fraudulent act perpetrated by a scammer disguising to be Ooni Ogunwusi, we find it pertinent to debunk this sacrilegious and unfounded allegation which is not unlikely to be another calculated ploy adopted by some unprovoked detractors using pseudo-identities.

“Members of the public, especially ladies are hereby cautioned against communicating with anyone presenting himself to be the Ooni Ogunwusi and advised to swiftly report such a matter or person to the relevant security agencies.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/ooni-of-ife-raises-alarm-warns-ladies.html

Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, yesterday, approved an additional N100 million for the provision of relief materials and the resettlement of flood victims across the eight local government areas of the state.

Governor Dickson had earlier approved N50 million towards ameliorating the plight of victims of the disaster.

The governor announced the approval when members of the Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) led by chairman of its Board of Trustees, Gen. Paul Alaowei Toun (retd), paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.

A press release by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as having directed the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, and other senior government officials to coordinate the process of ensuring that displaced persons returned to their homes.

He commended members of the IPA for establishing a platform aimed at promoting the collective interests of Bayelsa and the entire Ijaw nation and for building linkages for the welfare and wellbeing of the people, describing the gesture as a rare spirit that needed to be encouraged.

Dickson, who stressed the need to build synergy on ways to attract investments that could transform the state's economy, lauded the IPA for sacrificing time and resources in enlightening the people within and outside the state about the development efforts of his restoration government.

In his remarks, Gen. Toun said they were in the state to present the report of their tour of some key projects executed by the state government.

The IPA BoT chair, who applauded the government's relentless effort at changing the narrative and landscape of the state, commended Governor Dickson and his counterparts in the Niger Delta for championing key issues affecting the region.

He particularly cited the joint initiative of Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states in securing the recent landmark judgement at the Supreme Court concerning the sharing of revenue accruing from the sale of crude oil, describing the effort as commendable.

Toun also emphasised the need to intensify collaboration among the South-South states as well as exercising leadership in reviving and co-funding the BRACED Commission for the purpose of building a viable regional economy.

According to him, there is need for more information on the status of key projects of the state such as the Eco-Industrial Park, Agge Deep Seaport, Brass Fertilizer, Brass Liquefied Natural Gas project and other opportunities that may be available for indigenous professionals.

Also speaking, president of the IPA Lagos chapter, Mr. Elaye Otrofanowei, said the group carried out an independent visit and inspection to about 22 project sites of the state government, including the ongoing Sagbama-Ekeremor road construction, the international airport project, the diagnostic centre, the Ijaw National Academy among other projects.

He said what they saw on ground convinced their team that the government had embarked on projects that related to the needs of the people.

Otrofanowei also said that Governor Dickson had done well and that the IPA is ready to support his administration in areas that require their professional input and competence.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/flood-dickson-approves-additional-n100m.html

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed has said the 2019 general elections will not hamper on its Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) target of 2020, saying the Federal Government is committed and focused on delivering on the set goals.

The Minister, stated this on Tuesday, while speaking as a panellist on the sustainable economic opportunities for Nigeria at the ongoing 24th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

She said the federal government is aware of the sense of urgency and the need for consistency for a sustainable growth of the economy and that Mr President has asked them to keep their eyes on the ball and focus on delivering on the ERGP.

According to the Minister, “For the past four weeks or so, we have been talking to investors and we are sending out a message that the president has asked some of us to just keep our eyes on the ball to focus on delivering on ERGP and the goals that are set.

“He has said we should not allow ourselves to be distracted by the elections. So they are few of us that are simply working towards 2020 which is the life of the ERGP, and also very soon we are going to start developing.”

She added that elections are going to cause some distractions but as long as we keep focus in what we have planned, we would be fine. We are sure that the President will pass through the 2019 elections and continue as president, so our focus is on 2020 not 2019.

Speaking further on a sustained economic opportunities, the minister noted the country will harness the potentials of its large energetic youth population and their entrepreneurial zest.

She said government is also partnering sector and helping small scale businesses access finance, creating the enabling environment, improving on infrastructure and make cost of transportation reasonable low.

She said, “We have a situation where there is an economy that is beginning to go back to the path of growth but it is also exposed to a lot of fragility.

“Any external shocks will affect us significantly. We also have this growing unemployment that is really a threat to all of us. We have on the other hand a very large population of youths that are very active and very entrepreneurial. So that in itself is a very huge advantage to me because I think even though, we are a country that is resourceful but most important resources that we have is actually our people and our energetic youths.

“And what we have to do as policy makers first is to find out how we can engage the youths to be productive in the society to add their contribution and also to help them into deciding what thing they should be involved in.

“The youths for me hold the key to the future to be able to raise Nigeria from where it is so that we can become another good example that maybe in the years to come we can be sited alongside Indonesia, China and Malaysia.

“What we are doing now is significant but it’s not enough, we need to do a lot more. The people that are in government don’t have all of the expertise that is required to really pull our country and make that quantum stride which is required.

“So we have to engage more with the private sector. We are doing a lot of engagement, but we have to enable small scale businesses to access finance, we have to provide basic infrastructure, especially power for businesses whether it’s a barber or hair saloon or a small restaurant or cafeteria or a tailor to be able to do their business without having to run their generator or ramping up their cost.

“We have to make sure that transportation cost is reasonably low and also that it is effective and available. These reduces the cost of doing business. These small businesses is what will make the difference in this country. A one man business that will end up employing one or two or few other persons. That is the solution that the government or even the formal private sector cannot employ the 40% unemployment persons that we have right now.

“So I see this economic summit as an opportunity for us to lead a frank discussions on the things that we are doing right, but how we can round them up so that it is felt. The national social investment programme is well designed but we today covered maybe 9.2 million people including about 8.7 million children that are being fed. But if you take out the children that are being fed, the number of people that have been enabled to be employed is still under 2 million, so that is still not enough.

“We hope to be able to expand that programme and there is no reason why we cannot be partnering with private sector even in running this social investment programme. We have found out that there is a need to enable as many people as possible to be involved in the financial sector just helping people to open bank accounts. So whatever it is that they need passes through the financial system. Then it enables them to save and then it enables them to access more finance.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-is-focused-on-delivering-on-ergp.html

A farm labourer has allegedly hacked 75 year old farmer, Olusegun Oyadele, and a police officer identified as Mr Abidoun Omotehinse to death in Ondo State.

Both men were killed at a farm settlement in the Onipetesi area of Ondo town.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the slain policeman was attached to Enu Owa Divisional Police Station in Ondo.

The suspected whose real name was not known as at press time, is known as “At All At All”. He was however arrested by the police authorities following a manhunt after he escaped the crime scene.

Local farmers in the settlement who hinted reporters about the incident said that there was “no argument” between the labourer and the farmer prior to the fight.

They added that the incident was immediately reported to the police upon realisation that it was getting out of hand.

One of them, who pleaded not to be named, said the rampaging labourer went berserk when the policemen arrived the scene.

“The labourer, we learnt hails from Akwa Ibom State. He stormed into the farm land of the old man and began to fight him before he hacked him to death on the chest.

“But while the fight was going, we rushed to the police station and called their attention to it but on returning he threatened to kill everyone.

“One of the policemen who followed us on the rescue mission was hacked to death by the labourer who subsequently ran into the forest,” the eye witness said.

Police Spokesman in Ondo State, Femi Joseph, while confirming the incident to journalists in Akure yesterday said the suspect, after killing the policeman attacked four other officers who joined the raid.

He disclosed that the suspect was arrested inside a forest in Takunle Village in the Bolorunduro area of the town.

“One of the settlers in the farm, Veronica Ayodele came to the police station to report the incident and four of our officers went to the farm.

“But in an attempt to arrest him, he became charged with his matchete and killed one of our officers who came to effect his arrest on the farm”. Mr. Joseph stated on phone.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Gbenga Adeyanju, had earlier visited the settlement to fish out the suspect who had taken refuge in the forest.

“The suspect was nabbed with the assistance of the vigilante group in the area around 3am on Sunday after searching for him for about 13 hours.”

Joseph added that the remains of the slained policemen has been deposited in the mortuary while four injured officers are currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/man-kills-75-year-old-farmer-policeman.html

Precisely on Tuesday, 9th October 2018, the Senate resumed plenary from its annual recess. SOLOMON AYADO, ADEBIYI ADEDAPO write on the botched plot by of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to impeach the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Before the Senate resumed from its recess, nothing apart from moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators to sack the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was trending. There were plots and counter-plots. A lot of persons initially believed that the lawmakers would resort to physical combat before the matter could be finally resolved. At first, all amicable measures to reach a truce between APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers was unrealizable. Intrigues were brought to the fore, just as the political undoings that defered compromise outplayed. Saraki did not want to take the last as he relentlessly deployed all personal and collective efforts to thwart any hatched plan by his percieved opposers. To some extent, it became a matter of APC senators loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, against loyalists of Saraki, who mostly were PDP lawmakers. Saraki, then had not defected to the opposition PDP. There were unchallenged feelers that the APC, particularly Buhari and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were personally peeved with Saraki especially about how he emerged as Senate President. And they were bent on ousting him from the juicy position. Precedingly, a case of falsification of asset declaration was insituted against Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). This, everybody thought would have consumed the former Kwara State governor but surprisingly, he came out victorious as the tribunal, after series of trials, declared him free of wrong doing. Retrospectively, the grand plot to impeach him culminated into the fracas that ensued between the Executive and Legislature. Obviously, there was power play vide stiff resistance from both arms to succumb to the supremacy of the other.

Sadly, national development was truncated as the executive-legislature rift resulted to non-approval of serial requests by President Buhari, by Senate. The bad fate suffered by the delay and or non-passage of the national budgets, non-confirmation of appointments especially that of the Acting chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali among others. The decline of assent to bills by Buhari, all were also fallouts of the frosty relationship between the lawmakers and Presidency.The rancour did not settle. There were reported cases of alleged physical assault on lawmakers percieved to be Saraki’s supporters, by security operatives believed to be detailed by the Presidency. There were heavy protests by organised demonstrators too.
Furthermore, there was the orchestrated invasion of the National Assembly and snatching of Senate mace by thugs, all profered towards seeing the removal of Saraki.
Admist tension, the National Assembly proceeded on recess and adjourned till September 25th, 2018. Of course, the unexpected happened thereafter. Masked security operatives believed to be men of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) besieged the National Assembly complex and barricaded the main entry gates. That day, senators loyal to Saraki were prevented access into the premises. Pro-Buhari lawmakers were reportedly allowed entry without any harrassment. Reason: It was gathered the APC Senators had planned to reconvene in the chamber for an emergency session to pave the way to impeach Saraki. It was however learned that Saraki and his loyalists acted on tipoff and swiftly thronged the National Assembly, even as they were hindered by security men. Last minute, the plot to sack Saraki was again aborted. Somehow, the schedule of party primaries by INEC was handy and the lawmakers all proceeded to their various constituencies. But still, plans to remove Saraki could not stop boiling in the pipeline. Believing this was the cause, the Senate could not resume at earlier scheduled date of 25th September, but shifted to 9th October. Although the conduct of primaries apeared to have neccessitated the shift in new resumption date, but analysts however perceived the situation was not unconnected to the impeachment saga.

Oshiomole vs Saraki
Whether it is fanning embers of war, National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomole recently organised a press conference in Abuja, and outlined ways the Senate President had allegedly worked with the PDP while in the APC, to hinder the progress of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
He vowed that Saraki should not only be impeached but also stopped from returning to the Senate in 2019.

But swiftly, Saraki said, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, that “Oshiomhole was behaving like a rain-beaten chicken.”
“The argument of APC that the Senate President must come from a majority party; that the Senate Presidency is their crown and National Assembly is their palace is only supported by ignorance and dangerous delusion. First, the issue of which party is in the majority will only be resolved when the Senate resumes. Two, Section 50 (1) (a) of the constitution is clear that any Senator can be elected as Senate President,” it said.
With this response, everybody was expectant that when Senate resumed, certainly, if Saraki was not immediately removed, then, another political war could foster.
Surprisingly, precisely on 9th October, the lawmakers resumed and instead, the Senate appeared calmer than before. Senators, from both camps, were seen exchanging pleasantaries in camaraderie.
How APC, PDP Senators Reached Truce Via Secret Session
Politics is dicey and in the game, there is no permanent friend but interests. The sudden realignment of the Senators to even reach a truce took the people unawares. The situation in its entirety was against the expectations of political pundits. During plenary, the senators after observing prayers presided by Saraki, quickly went into a closed door session.
Although it was gathered that a peace deal was struck during the extended holiday in a secret session, that the Senators resolved to preserve the dignity and configuration of its leadership and permanently put an end to the plot to impeach Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Also, according to reports, during the holiday, APC senators won an agreement from the PDP leadership of the Senate to project national interests above partisan inclinations.
But sources said chief among the advanced reasons to abandon the removal of Saraki was that the Presidency is in dire need of certain approvals from Senate.
To confirm this, on the first day of resumption, the Senate tabled the president’s request to raise an external capital of $2.786 billion and $82.54m to refinance the balance of $500m matured Eurobond in the international capital market. Also, Buhari wants Senate’s approval of an N346.5 billion 2018 statutory budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The president also requested Senate to confirm appointment of CBN deputy governor and chairperson of AMCON, as well as approve supplementary budget of N242,445,322,600.00 for 2019 general elections.

Senate Rescinds, Approves Buhari’s Requests
There is no way the APC Senators can hide the fact that external forces made them chicken out on the plot to remove Saraki, at least, if temporarily. Equally, the PDP senators and Saraki cannot decieve the onlookers that they were lobbied to have resolved their issues with the opposing camp. Ofcourse, that is politics and no one wishes that the crisis in the Senate should prolong. Initially, Senate was not approving any request from Presidency.
But to confirm that Senate has turned a new leaf and all crisis resolved, it quickly began to issue approvals to all requests by Buhari. For instance, it has approved the sum of N189,207,544,893 for the conduct of the 2019 general elections and also invited security agencies for budget defense which hitherto, was suspended. Also, it considered the issues raised by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill that was declined assent, and further constituted a committee to see to the review of all bills rejected by the President.

The Legal Issues
Several APC senators including Abu Ibrahim, Ahmed Lawan, Ali Ndume, Abdullahi Adamu, George Akume, Ovie Omo-Agege, among others, were said to be the arrow heads that angled for the resignation or impeachment of Saraki. But the legality of ousting a Senate President is what has posed imcumberance because it is not necessarily a party matter.
According to Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution, “There shall be: a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by members of that House from among themselves”.It is implied that a party can only guide and or lobby its members to clinch the position because the lawmakers are at liberty to make any choice.
On removal of Senate President,the constitution further stipulates that only two-thirds of Senate as prescribed by Section 50 (2) can remove any of Senate’s presiding officers. As such, two-thirds of 109 Senators is 73 and there is no way APC can meet the number now, even as it is majority in Senate. Of 109 senators, APC has 56, PDP got 49 and other political parties have 4 senators respectively.
That is why a lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), insisted that only 73 Senators and not 24 can remove the Senate President. He described any attempt to remove Saraki without the constitutionally mandatory 73 members as opprobrium.

Saraki’s Impeachment, To Be Or Not?
The ambience of the sudden cordiality of Senators at the resumption sitting depicted that the impeachment of Saraki can be more of being dead on arrival and may not ressurect anytime soon. But in politics, circumstances can play a vital role and therefore, no one can pre-empt the outcome.
While responding to questions from journalists at the State House, Senate Leader, Lawan, disclosed that the APC senators suspend their threats to impeach Senate President in the overall national interest.
Lawan had at the APC Convention in Eagle Square, a week earlier insisted that APC lawmakers would upon National Assembly resumption on October 9, ensure that it regained its rightful position by ousting Saraki.
The Senate Leader noted that the APC lawmakers shelved their plots against Saraki and embraced the spirit of patriotism over and above partisan politics or personal issues.
The senator who further claimed that they opted to put Nigerian interest first, added that they only had disagreement which he said was normal.
According to him, the main commitment of the National Assembly was to ensure that Nigerians are offered deserved benefits by treating all pending national issues before them.
“I don’t know what informed your view to anticipate crisis but let me tell you that National Assembly will continue to remain focused on national issues.
“We must be patriotic, nationalistic. We must put national interest above individuals, parochial or partisan interest.
“We definitely have to bury our hatchets for us to work for Nigeria and Nigerians; perhaps that might have informed the disappointment of many people that there will be crisis in the National Assembly.
“Let me also say that disagreements are usual. In fact, there are very practical components of any parliament. When you have two to three parties or even within parties, you will have views that may differ.
“It is traditional. It is usual for us to disagree, maybe this disagreements may crop up and some other issues but for now, our focus is on national interest.
“The National Assembly is a Nigerian parliament and therefore the best thing to do is to ensure that Nigerians get a good deal and for now the good deal is for Nigeria to have all those pending requests of Mr. President approved by the National Assembly.
“I think the national interest for now override any other interest,” Lawan stated.
But contrary to claims by the Senate Leader, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY gathered that plot against the duo of Saraki and Dogara collapsed following the crisis that followed APC primaries nationwide, which did not favour some serving senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Checks by Leadership Sunday revealed that about 15 senators lost their bid to return to the Senate, while almost 70 members of the House also lost return tickets. The affected lawmakers who are aggrieved, according to sources are no longer disposed to the plan against the senate leadership.
This further frustrated the plan by the APC to effect a change of leadership in both Chambers.
In Osun State for instance, the two serving senators on the platform of APC lost their return tickets. The Senate Chief Whip, Prof. Sola Adeyeye, lost the return ticket for Osun Central to Basiru Ajibola, Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) lost to Hon. Ajibola Famurewa. Senator Olugbenga Ashafa lost APC ticket for Lagos East to a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bayo Osinowo.
The two APC senators from Ogun state, Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central) and Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West) have also been replaced at the legislative primary election by their party with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi respectively.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rule and Business, Baba Kaka Garbai, lost the Borno Central ticket to Governor Kashim Shettima. The first term senator, who contested for the Borno governorship ticket of APC, was the returning officer for the governor in the senatorial primary. Senator Fatima Rasaki lost the Ekiti Central senatorial district ticket to former member of the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele.
Other serving senators who lost the APC tickets include; Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North), David Umoru (APC Niger East), Ahmed Sani Yerima (APC, Zamfara East), Bukkar Abba Ibrahim (APC, Yobe East), Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina South) Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), and Sonny Ogborji (APC, Ebonyi South).
The situation is similar in the House of Representatives where about 70 serving members on the platform of the APC lost the party’s primary elections.
The member representing Soba federal constituency in Kaduna state, Musa Soba shortly who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved members shortly after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, said they were summoned by the President to present their complaints arising from the conduct of the APC primaries.
He disclosed that the aggrieved members who were denied the opportunity to re-contest for their seats in 2019 general elections were over 70.
Soba revealed that they appealed to the president to use his good office to intervene in what they described as impunity exhibited by some state governors and APC leadership in the affected states to deny them tickets to contest for the election. He also lamented undue exclusion and lack of transparency in the primaries conducted by the APC, and urged the president to remedy the situation before it was too late.
Although, the APC could not at any time boast of having the number of lawmakers required to effect a change of leadership in the National Assembly, the fall-out of the party’s primaries further polarised its ranks in the parliament which in-turn make impeachment plots against Saraki and Dogara a white elephant project.
Section 50 (C) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that the President or Deputy President of the Senate, the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and shall vacate the office “if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less two- thirds majority of the members of that House.”
Meanwhile, former Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio has advised Saraki to resign honourably just like he (Akpabio) did when he defected from the opposition PDP to the ruling pary.
Akpabio made the call on Wednesday after he had a disagreement with Saraki in the senate chamber over sitting arrangement. “It’s a tradition all over the world that when you defect to another party even as a senate president like Saraki did, to resign from the office of the senate president,” Akpabio said.
According to him, APC is still the majority party and the party needs to form a new leadership, therefore the senate president should honourably resign just like he did.
As it stands, the political intrigues have played out and the impeachment of Saraki appears to have been temporarily halted. But no one is sure whether the whole scenario is merely a political gimmick. Be that as it may, the reality shall soon unravel as events unfold.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/inside-story-of-how-plot-to-impeach.html