In what is being described as a major move ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress has begun talks with four Peoples Democratic Party governors with the aim of getting them to defect to the ruling party, The PUNCH has learnt.
It was gathered in Abuja, on Monday, that a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, had met with the Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Mai Mala Buni; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
A high ranking member of the APC informed The PUNCH that while it was true that the party leadership has reached out to Fani-Kayode, the former minister had not yet made any commitment.
The source, however, described the meeting as fruitful and that “things are looking bright.”
He said, “Fani-Kayode met with Yahaya Bello and Buni on Sunday for two hours. It is all about politics of 2023 and the recent registration drive of the APC.
“Fani-Kayode has not made any commitment yet but discussions are still ongoing.”
When asked to reveal the identities of the four PDP governors planning to defect, the source said it would be unwise to do so at this point.
He explained that the governors were still waiting for certain conditions to be met before making their move.
The source further explained that, “The four governors want assurances that the APC structure in their respective states would be handed over to them once they defect as has been the tradition. That is what is being discussed.
“Some people will also leave APC soon from the look of things. You will keep seeing such realignment ahead of 2023,” he said.
The PUNCH gathered that the four PDP governors in question are unhappy with what they described as the alleged personalisation of the party by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, because of their 2023 ambitions.
Fani-Kayode could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Fani-Kayode had earlier met with Governor Bello in his Wuse Zone 6 residence in Abuja before he led the former Minister to the party chairman’s Guest House.
A Professor of History from the University of Ibadan, Olutayo Adesina, has said that pampering of the Fulani did not start with President Muhammadu Buhari, pointing out that it is historical.
According to the university don, who is an elder brother of the President Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, “the Fulani people have remained the most pampered in the history of Nigeria.”
The professor gave these submissions while featuring on a weekly radio show, Parrot Xtra Hour anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on the radio arm of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (because), Oluyole 98.5 FM, Ibadan.
Adesina said that it should not be a surprise to anyone that almost all the other tribes are against the Fulani because of the general belief that the group is being ‘favoured and pampered’.
He submitted that this was not created by the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration but as a result of the administrative deficiency and favoritism on the part of Nigeria’s British colonialists.
The don further said that the problem started when the colonial administration created cattle routes from the North to the South, which led to the ‘grabbing’ of land from the original and indigenous owners, thereby causing disaffection between those affected and the Fulani.
He described the relationship between the Fulani and the Yoruba specifically as ‘age-long’ dating back to years before 1800.
He said: “Over the centuries, we have seen the relationship between the herdsmen who came from across the Sahara to Yorubaland and at the beginning of the raining season, they moved back to the edge of the Sahara.
“It was the farmers that use to invite the Fulani herdsmen after harvest to come to their farms so that the cattle dung will serve as manure for the farmers”.
“Our people in the South-West of Nigeria really need to study their neighbours and understand them. Specifically, I do not think we, the Yoruba, understand the Fulani.
“They look fragile, harmless and friendly. But we really need to understand them. I will not say more than that.”
We Evade Military Arrest As Our Informants Are Officials Of Zamfara, Sokoto Governments —Bandits
Bandits operating along Shinkafi/Sokoto Road, Zamfara State have claimed that officials of Zamfara and Sokoto State governments provide them with information with which they strike and evade arrest by military.
The bandits disclosed this during a peace meeting with popular Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on Tuesday at Makkai forest.
The meeting was in continuation of the peace moves by Gumi.
It was not the first time the Islamic cleric would be meeting with suspected bandits to broker a peace deal.
About three weeks ago, over 500 bandits reportedly agreed to lay down their weapons in Kaduna after he struck a peace deal with them.
A source at the Tuesday meeting told SaharaReporters that the gunmen claimed officials of both state governments provide information on movements of troops and other operational activities discussed during security meetings to them.
The gunmen also accused the Nigerian government of not being sincere in ending instances of banditry and kidnappings.
“They said they have informants in Zamfara and Sokoto State governments giving them information and that the military can’t arrest them,” the source said.
States in the North-West region have in the last 10 years faced devastating attacks from armed bandits.
Almost 70,000 people have fled the region since April 2019.
According to the International Crisis Group, 11,000 people have died since 2011. Many deaths, particularly in Fulani communities however go unreported.
Several army operations have been launched by the Nigerian government, but most have been largely ineffective.
Some state governments in the region have resorted to signing controversial and secret peace agreements with the gunmen to stop the killings. But despite the accords, communities in such states are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has asked the Federal government to allow Nigerians carry licenced guns to defend themselves amid the myriads of security challenges facing the country.
Ishaku stated this on Tuesday when 15 local government chairmen of the state paid him a condolence visit after the burial of one of them who was kidnapped and subsequently killed by gunmen.
He lamented the worsening state of insecurity, adding that the situation has gone to its lowest ebb and demands reawakening.
“The security in this country has gone to the lowest ebb and we have to all wake up. We as leaders have given our advises severally as to the change to the security architecture, you cannot keep doing one thing over and over and expect a different result,” he said.
“If we cannot be able to provide security for our citizens, then allow all the citizens to buy AK-47, because if everybody is licensed with AK-47, I swear nobody will come to your house, or peradventure he does then it depends on who is faster.
“In a situation where we are all gagged with one security system that has been unable to work, and we are told to sit down and be counting the day our turn will come, I do not agree with it.”
READ ALSO: We Are Not Interested In Profiling Hausas Or Fulanis But Criminal Elements, Says Abia Gov
Governor Ishaku sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives to insecurity, noting that the late Ardo-Kola LGA chairman, Salihu Dovo held a security meeting with stakeholders of the council before he was killed.
LG Funds: Ishaku Agrees With NFIU, To Reduce Political Appointees A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.
He explained that while the victim was being whisked away by his abductors, he now recognised one of them and even mentioned his name which led to his death.
The governor also disclosed that so far four people have been arrested, asking the security agencies to arrest everyone in connection to the crime.
“At least 20 men went to his house, that’s the information I have, and they were all armed with AK47 rifles, let them fish them out at least for once we should set an example and make correction.
“Try and sensitize your traditional rulers on the fact that any new settler in their communities should be reported for screening of conduct and if sustained we will minimize the casualties within the society.
“Neither you the chairmen nor the chiefs do not have the right to give land and anyone who seeks same should report to the higher authority for scrutiny,” he added.
United States President Joe Biden has appointed Nigerian-born Enoh Titilayo Ebong as the acting director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
“The appointment meant a return to USTDA where from 2004 to 2019, Ms. Ebong had served in a variety of roles, most recently as the Agency’s General Counsel, and Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer,” USTDA said in a statement.
“As Acting Director, Ms. Ebong leads an agency that partners with the U.S. private sector to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies, while supporting U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services.”
Ebong had previously served as the head of strategic partnerships at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.
She is expected to lead the agency in partnering with the country’s private sector in order to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies.
“It is an honor to return to USTDA,” Ebong said.
“The opportunity to lead the Agency comes at a critical moment when the world is turning to the United States for leadership on clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure, as well as safe and secure ICT solutions.”
She also noted that the agency is one of the most effective, targeted and proven tools within the U.S. government.
“I’ve longed believed in USTDA’s mission and program, which are fully aligned with the President’s vision of strengthening the country’s economy and addressing climate as an essential component of American foreign policy and national security,” Ebong said.
Ebong grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Her father, Ime James Ebong, was a Nigerian civil servant who served as permanent secretary.
She practiced law at the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris and Popeo, P.C., representing public and private companies in public offerings, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance issues before joining the agency in 2004.
Ebong earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master of Arts in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in History, with Honors, from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar. ons.
She is not the first Nigerian- American to be appointed by the US president. Adewale Adeyemo was recently announced as deputy secretary of the treasury department.
Biden also appointed Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo into his cabinet as white house counsel, as well as Osaremen Okolo as a member of his COVID-19 response team.
ILESA – The notorious Fulani herdsmen stationed at Ifewara, Tuesday shot dead one of the security police men at Ifewara, Atakunmosa East Local Government Council of Osun State and took away three Chinese who were working for “Aare Gold” Chief Akinsanya.
An impeccable source close to Chief Akinsanya revealed this in a chat with Daily Independent at Ilesa, Osun State.
The source said the whereabouts of the three white men could not be ascertained at the time of filling this report as the abductors demanded N500 million ransom before they could release the three white men.
In a chat with personal assistant to “Aare Gold” Chief Akinsanya further hinted that the notorious Fulani men were armed with Ak47 rifles at the time they unleash terror to the deceased police man as they disarm him, dispossessed him of his rifle before he was shot dead.
One of the children of the late Abdulkadir Kure, former governor of Niger State, Umar, has taken his mother, Senator Zenab Kure and siblings to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Niger State challenging the distribution of his father’s estate by an Upper Sharia Court/Administrator.
In a motion on notice filed as No SCA/NS/CV/O4/2020 against the decision of the court/administrator in Suit No USC/MK/CV/139, the widow and four other children of the deceased and his estate were listed as respondents.
Umar is seeking an order of the Sharia Court of Appeal for extension of time to seek leave to appeal, another order for leave of the court to appeal and an order for extension of time within which to file the notice of appeal.
In a 16-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, one Blessing Abraham, deposed that, “the appellant is dissatisfied with the decision of the trial court/administrator in the distribution of the estate in question.”
She claimed that the appellant/applicant and his counsel were not present on the date the purported distribution was made and that he was not aware of the sharing of the estate on December 11, 2019 until he was served the decision on the 27 January 2020 thereby elapsing the 30 days within which he can appeal.
In the notice of appeal in which the estate of late governor, his wife, four children which include Ibrahim Abdulkadir Kure, Khalifa Abdulkadir Kure, Nureini Abdulkadir Kure and Khadijat Abdukadir Kure were listed as respondents, the appellant argued that there was, “error of law, the ownership of Abu–Turab Areing Ltd is a subsisting distinct legal personality and its assets were shared as part of the estate of the deceased.”
Umar is also challenging the distribution of his father’s estate without payment of all unsecured debt of the deceased and that he was not given fair hearing in the distribution of the estate.
The Federal Government alone cannot handle the security of this nation. It has shown that it has failed woefully and for us to achieve results, the security has to be broken down.
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Saturday castigated the Muhammadu Buhari-led government for failing to secure Nigerians and called for strata of security agencies to be broken.
The governor disclosed this when he paid a condolence visit to the residence of the late Ardo-Kola Local Government Area chairman, who was recently kidnapped and murdered.
The deceased, Salihu Dovo, was on January 24 abducted by gunmen at his residence in Sabon Gari, Jalingo at around 1 am. He was later murdered by his assailants.
Speaking during the visit, Ishaku said the constitution of the country is defective, hence the need to review it to accommodate state policing accurately for the safety of lives and property, without which insecurity will continuously rear its ugly head.
He called on the Buhari-led government to take the issue of insecurity seriously and find a solution to it.
The governor said, “Since I came to power, I have repeatedly and I am going to repeat it that unless we break down the strata of security agencies in Nigeria, particularly the police, we cannot adequately curtail insecurity.
“There must be state police, and there must also be local government police.
”The Federal Government alone cannot handle the security of this nation. It has shown that it has failed woefully and for us to achieve results, the security has to be broken down.
”Where we copied this constitution is the United States of America and it has federal, state, and local government police.
”I am also calling on all politicians in the position of power to seriously look at the security situation in the country.
”In this state, I have lost so many people that I cannot count, this is a chairman that I have lost now. I lost a member of Taraba State House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi, and others too numerous to mention.
”And I speak to you, there is tension in the South-West, but do we continue to sleep with one eye closed and keep quiet as if nothing is happening? No. Something is happening which desperately needs an answer.”
You goofed comparing ‘agberos’ with doctors, ex-Communications Minister tells Lagos Dep Gov
By Gabriel Olawale
A former Minister of Communications, Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju(retd), on Friday, berated the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for comparing the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, with the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA.
Olarenwaju, in a statement, faulted the deputy governor for making such remarks, just as he called on the NMA leadership to demand the withdrawal of the statement and also an issue an apology.
Hamzat, on the occasion of his 56th birthday, was reported to have compared the NURTW with the Nigerian Medical Association.
The statement reads: “The Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Obafemi Hamzat, on the occasion of his 56th birthday was widely reported to have compared the National Union of Road Transport Workers with the Nigerian Medical Association.
“This is an undignifying, repulsive, crude and tasteless utterance.
“Hamzat’s statement does not reflect the level of education he claims to have achieved. It equally belittles the very office which he presently occupies.
“It is stunning and outrageous for Hamzat to equate the ‘agberos’ who are the greatest threat to our democracy in Lagos state to professional medical doctors whose training and vision are perhaps the most significant service to mankind anywhere in the world.
“Hamzat has committed a very serious and damaging reckless dribble of the mouth against professional good men and women at this perilous time of the pandemic who are the very front line heroes standing between us and the pandemic scourge.”
The Nigerian Medical Association should demand from him an immediate withdrawal of the jejune statement and also an apology.
“In a more enlightened, disciplined clime, he should render a public apology to all Lagosians and resign his position immediately.
“Finally, it is a very bad example for the deputy governor to be celebrating a birthday party in this perilous time as hundreds of people are losing their lives.
“And, just last year, he did the same thing by blocking a larger part of Alexander Avenue just to celebrate a birthday. What destructive hubris. This is tragic, sickening and unacceptable.”
A former Governor of Jigawa State and also former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said the mutual relationships, bond and agreement therein in the All Progressive Congress (APC) will naturally disappear and completely elapse with the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime in 2023.
Lamido said the bond was initially built on President Buhari’s character and that of the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu’s populace constituency, which led to the creation of what was eventually called the legacy party.
Speaking in Kano, he said: “You can see that the Yoruba’s used President Buhari effectively because of his character and they made what they want, they used him to achieved their selfish and personal interests, and today that bound is over as soon as Buhari left you will see an empty home. “So, nothing could be the defining factor of APC in 2023 the President Buhari personality will go with him and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu constituency will be in disarray and PDP which was build on solid Nigerian will naturally take over power.”
“Today, Nigerians are more than convinced that APC was build on nothing but dangerous personal inter-ests which the leaders in the party pursued with vigour without looking back, while PDP was build on thrust, nationality and respect for humanities.”
Speaking further, Lamido said: “Today religious intolerance, ethnicity bigotry which APC introduced dangerously on the stage of Nigeria polity has almost taken over the purview of the citizens psychic, PDP years of struggles to keep Nigeria one was almost destroyed.
“Nigerians should know that sound rules of law, patriotism should not be allowed to take to chance because of some very fee who have throw it to the winds, they should strive to not only sustained it but seen to uphold if.
“I speak as a Nigerian, who speaks his mind. Buhari, who came in from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) on the strength of the legacy party arrangement was a small shareholder in the APC formation. The biggest shareholders were Bola Tinubu and others, but then President Buhari was the only one with the character that Nigerians would entrust to lead the formation.
“But unfortunately, President Buhari came in with nepotism appointing only those that he thought were his men not minding credibility, and today, that is the consequences we have seen of his nepotistic tendencies.
“I have said it that Buhari could not achieve anything. He first spent large chunk of his tenure attacking PDP as the party behind Nigeria’s problems, but today what is the differences. In fact, PDP moved ahead to solve some of Nigeria’s unforeseen but dangerous problems like the Almajiris issues by building hundreds of Tsangaya schools and so many other projects. Today, most of the projects completed, including the so-called railway stations were PDP initiated ones.”
Committee to control fire ravaging Sokoto’s “most valuable asset”...
By Abubakar Auwal
Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal has set up a committee to bring under control a raging fire at Sokoto Central Market.
The fire broke out Tuesday morning and is “still raging seriously”, says Daily Trust correspondent in the state.
The market is considered Sokoto’s “most valuable asset”, Tambuwal said.
“We are tasking them with the responsibility of not only bringing this under control but also taking stock of losses suffered so that government can now see how it can come in to support our citizens who have lost valuables and property to this inferno,” he told a press briefing on Tuesday.
The committee is headed by deputy governor.
The fire started at 7am, and was still raging when a Daily Trust correspondent filed the initial story hours ago.
The extent of destruction in the wake of the fire is uncertain but could into billions of naira.
It was gathered that the fire was caused by a generating set.
“The fire started from a generating set at Kofar Yan Roba,” a firefighter told Daily Trust.
Videos have emerged on social media showing people scrambling to rescue ware.
They also show ware strewn on the ground over long distances.
A correspondent observed men of the federal and State fire services were currently working to extinguish the fire which has already destroyed many shops.
Tambuwal called it a “sad development”.
“We appeal to the general public and particularly owners of shops who have investment in this market to remain calm as we are doing everything humanly possible to bring it under control,” he said.
“We must not do anything that will give opportunity to hoodlums to go into the market and take advantage of these unfortunate situation to help themselves with people’s assets.”
Meanwhile, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has donated N30 million to victims of the disaster.
Bagudu described the incident as a big loss to the people of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.
EXPOSED: Nigerian Air Force Shared Old Pictures As Proof Of Recent Victory Over Boko Haram
A check by SaharaReporters using advanced technology however showed that the post which had been retweeted by over 440 users were old pictures from different attacks on the terrorists.
On Monday, the Nigerian Air Force on its Twitter page shared pictures of its ‘onslaught against Boko Haram terrorists’ in Borno State.
“Photos: Battle of Marte: See the damage inflicted on terrorists at the outskirts of Marte in Borno State as @NigAirForce helicopter gunships, dispatched by the Air Task Force (ATF)of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, destroyed about a dozen terrorists’ gun trucks & other vehicles,” NAF captioned the pictures in a post on Twitter.
A check by SaharaReporters using advanced technology however showed that the post which had been retweeted by over 440 users were old pictures from different attacks on the terrorists.
The first picture posted on Monday according to google reverse image search was taken in 2018 during an operation in Damasak, Borno State.
“Accordingly, a Nigerian Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform was dispatched to search for and locate the convoy of vehicles.
“The ISR aircraft spotted vehicles at a location 24 km SW of Gudumbali heading in a northwards direction. Consequently, a helicopter gunship was scrambled to attack the convoy.
“The helicopter arrived at the location and was vectored to the position of the vehicles, which, at the time, were about midway between Nigerian Army locations at Metele and Arege.
“Following communications with ground troops, the BHT vehicles were positively identified, isolated and attacked by the helicopter gunship in successive strikes,” NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, had said in a statement attached to the picture on September 16, 2018.
A check on the second, third and fourth pictures by SaharaReporters also revealed they were not taken in Marte as posted by the Nigerian Air Force.
The pictures, though taken in 2021 were from an attack by troops of the newly launched Operation Tura Takaibango, a subsidiary of Operation Lafiya Dole, after they repelled the insurgents at Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on January 9.
A senior military officer who spoke to SaharaReporters confirmed the pictures were not from the onslaught on the terrorists at Marte.
He said, “I have seen all the pictures as well. Though we dislodged the group in Marte and killed many of them, it’s shameful that the Air Force could make such a silly mistake. None of the pictures posted was taken in Marte, some are from Gujba in faraway Yobe State. This is so shameful.”
This won’t be the first time a security agency in Nigeria would be sharing deceptive pictures on Twitter.
On December 01, 2020, the Nigeria Police Force shared a photoshopped picture of some arrested crime suspects.
The image tagged “photo news” shows a man and a woman who were reportedly arrested after six AK49 rifles were recovered from them.
The tweet reads, “L-R: Duleji Alhaji Abubakar a.k.a Ori jeje and Talatu Ibrahim from whom six (6) AK49 rifles were recovered.”
Looking closely at the picture, the two people have blurry white borders around their heads while the guns appear to have been badly edited in. There were also random reflections on a window behind them.
The post soon triggered massive reactions online with Twitter users tackling the security agency, accusing them of disinformation and misleading Nigerians.
Reacting, the police in a statement said, “The pictures are (an) authentic and true representation of the suspects and exhibits.
“They were taken separately and merged into one screen for seamless understanding of the story line.”
Police detain young Nigerian for 300 days for criticising Buhari
The Administration has also sought to gag the free speech through its many attempts to introduce social media bill.
Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) of Nigerian police force is reportedly holding a young pharmacist, Solomon Emmanuel Akuma in illegal detention for over 300 days at the FCIID headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Akuma was charged to court several months after his arrest for bogus charges including treasonable felony, sources say. Section 35 of the Nigerian Constitution forbids authorities from holding suspects in such manner.
The young Nigerian was alleged to have constantly criticized the President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration through his social media and made a post presumed by the police to have threatened the life of the president in a Twitter bant last year.
Despite obvious facts that Mr. Akuma is a young man who does not have the financial and social wherewithal to threaten the president, the police continues to hold him in detention over an expression of his thoughts.
According to sources who spoke to Peoples Gazette, Mr. Akuma is being treated poorly in police detention with no access good food, health care, telephone communications or even his family. The young man has only been to court twice since he was arrested for close to a year and have not had legal representation.
The Buhari administration on the other hand, has an antecedent of contempt against the Rule of Law, the Nigerian constitution and the Nigerian people.
The administration has since its first inauguration in 2015 flouted no fewer than 50 court orders, clamped down on citizens constitutional right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and has failed to secure the parts of the country, particularly the North from the grip of Boko-Haram, banditry and terrorism.
The Administration has also sought to gag the free speech through its many attempts to introduce social media bill.
A former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole will on Friday 15 January tie the nuptial knot with Miss Aisha Shinkafi Saidu, daughter of Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu.
Bankole, who divorced his first wife in 2017, has been a much sought -after bachelor in the circle of eligible spinsters within and outside Nigeria.
Friday’s marriage ceremony will draw the curtain on speculations regarding his matrimonial intentions since the divorce.
The bride, a lawyer and graduate of the University of Hull in the UK is a granddaughter of late political heavyweight and onetime head of Nigeria’s security organisation Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, Marafan Sokoto.
The bride’s mother is Shinkafi’s daughter and a sister to the former Zamfara Governor, Aliyu Shinkafi.
A statement from the Bankole family of Iporo, Abeokuta disclosed that a quiet introduction between the two families took place to kick off the joining together in line with Islamic and traditional injunctions.
At the introduction ceremony, Sokoto Governor and Bankole’s successor as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, led the groom’s family to the bride’s family home to seek her hand in marriage.
Friday’s event will be the culmination of a courtship that both families had kept very discreet.
Political observers however note the marriage would appear to straddle Nigeria’s great political divide as Bagudu is the Chairman of the APC Governors Forum while Tambuwal is the National Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.
The Nation learnt the ceremony will be low key owing to COVID-19 protocols.
The death of an 18-year-old girl who allegedly died during a sex romp at the presidential lodge of the Yobe State government in Damaturu, the State capital has continued to generate questions as the government has failed to react or drop a statement on the matter.
According to a viral report, the lady was invited by some guests at the lodge who offered her money for a ”donkey punch sex” that sent her to an early grave, a situation that has been described as shameful, having happened at the government lodge.
DAILY POST learnt that the guest were some politicians from Borno who were on their way to Maiduguri and had to stop over for the night in Damaturu owing to the nature of the Maiduguri-Damaturu road and were assisted by the government protocol officers to stay for the night at the lodge, but allegedly went a step further to refresh with the 18-year-old victim.
DAILY POST gathered that, when the unfortunate happened, the guest quickly informed the protocol officers who rushed to the scene to help in resuscitating the lady but the ‘punch’ had sent her down the road of the dead.
“When they could not resuscitate her, there was nothing they could do than to inform the Police who came in and arrested all who were involved in the night ride with the late 18-year-old ‘free’ woman.” A source at the lodged informed DAILY POST.
When DAILY POST demanded to know why the government of Yobe State did not speak on the issue despite that it happened in one of its lodge, there was no concrete answer to the effect as nobody is prepared to speak further on the matter.
When the spokesman of the governor, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed was contacted on the matter on why the government is keeping mute on the issue, he said he had no idea of the matter as they were not in town.
“We have not been around, and I cannot say anything regarding this issue. Perhaps, the police can say more since the matter is with them,” Mamman Mohammed said.
However, speaking with a politician from the opposition PDP, Malam Dala Mai Dala, a PDP stakeholder in Potiskum, he said, it is very unfortunate that such a shameful act took place at a government lodge and in a state like Yobe.
“We cannot put blame on the late young girl. It is no news what is happening in such places with ladies who are seeking material things. But there is no denying the fact that this thing happened in a government lodge and I see no reason why the government should keep quiet about it because this is also about the government’s image as only you and I know that, but how about people who are reading the story elsewhere?” he asked.
The Lagos State Government has raised the alarm over the increasing rate at which civil servants test positive for COVID-19.
The Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, in a memo addressed to all accounting officers, said they should come up with duty rosters to stem the outbreak of COVID-19 in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.
He said the rosters should be prepared with an officer having to report for duty at most twice a month.
The memo read, “I wish to note with deep concern the spate at which officers are testing positive for COVID 19 and hereby enjoins all accounting officers to come up with duty rosters to stem the outbreak in your respective MDAs.
“The roster should be prepared with an officer having to report for duty at most (one week) twice a month.
“Please note that this directive is without prejudice to existing directives and only reinforces same. Be responsible. Be responsive. Be safe.”
Deji Lambo Members of the Police Community Relations Committee have accused a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, James Opara, of refusing to vacate the lodge meant for the Divisional Police Officer in the Ilupeju area of Lagos State for over 20 years.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Opara acted as the DPO of the Ilupeju Police Division for three months in 1999, and during that period, he occupied the lodge until he was transferred.
However, after his transfer from the division, it was learnt that Opara denied subsequent DPOs the opportunity of occupying the lodge by allegedly refusing to vacate the apartment.
The Chairman, PCRC, Ilupeju, Fredrick Silva-Rotimi, told PUNCH Metro that efforts to make Opara vacate the lodge had proved abortive, adding that a woman was currently using the lodge at the instance of the retired DIG and at the expense of subsequent DPOs of the division.
Silva-Rotimi said, “I have been very courteous in order to avoid making this impropriety on the part of retired DIG James Opara a public affair. It’s very bad and an act of corruption. We have petitioned the Commander, Area ‘F’; the CP, Hakeem Odumosu; and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, and Opara could not give a reason as to why he refused to vacate the lodge. He always says he’s going to vacate the place, but instead, he told a woman to occupy the place.
“This is unacceptable; he was a Divisional Crime Officer, who acted as the DPO for three months after which he was transferred. But he has been occupying the place since that time till now. It is morally wrong for him to do so as an officer and his actions have tormented other DPOs, including the present one. We want him to leave the lodge.
“Opara has been ignoring my calls, but responded on Sunday and during our conversation, I told him that we were disturbed by his action of not leaving the lodge for other DPOs and I was surprised that he said it was a police matter and that when he was ready, he would vacate the lodge, and that is what he had been saying.”
Another member of the PCRC, Alarape Alimi, said subsequent DPOs deployed in the division and whose places of residence were far from Ilupeju usually slept in the office or take up a room in a nearby hotel to stay night.
He stated, “The current DPO in Ilupeju came from a very distant place and had been sleeping in his office after Opara denied him access to the lodge. We felt very bad and the Patron of the PCRC, Yomi Olajide; the Chairman, Fredrick Silva-Rotimi; and his secretary and I met with the AIG Zone 2, Ahmed Iliyasu, and he sent our letter of complaint to the DC admin to treat.
“The woman occupying the lodge on the instructions of Opara usually visits the place once in a while, and the DPO, who is meant to be occupying the place cannot. Opara is a retired DIG and the lodge is for the serving DPO; so, he should leave the place.”
When contacted by our correspondent, Opara refused to comment on the matter. He also had yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile telephone as of the time of filing this report. Similarly, a WhatsApp message sent to him had not been responded to.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “I am not aware of the letter written by the PCRC, but I am sure that if they have written any letter, the AIG and the CP must have acted on it.
“So, I will find out and discuss with the CP on how we will go about the matter since there is a house like that, which is meant for the DPO and is being occupied by someone who was kept there by a retired senior officer. We are going to look into it departmentally and see what we can do.”
A local farmer has been arrested in Kaduna State after he allegedly fed poisoned cassava to a herd of cattle, killing two cows.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a security update on Saturday.
Aruwan disclosed that the farmer, who he did not name, was arrested by soldiers after he was suspected of poisoning cattle in Gindin Dutse village of Jema’a local government area.
“Two cows had died in the village after eating some apparently poisoned cassava beside a farm. Troops trailed and arrested the owner of the farm, who is now undergoing preliminary investigations,” Aruwan said.
Meanwhile, the commissioner disclosed that troops under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven informed the Kaduna State Government of an attack by criminals in Kamaru Chawai village, Kauru local government area.
According to the update, the troops responded to a distress call from the village and arrived the location to find three persons – Sunday Joshua, Samson Andy and Mrs Tani Jacob – shot dead, and one person, John Joshua, injured.
Aruwan further disclosed that an eye-witness reported that four attackers arrived at the victims’ compound and an argument ensued in English, shortly after which the assailants opened fire on the victims.
The commissioner said that investigations indicated that the gunmen were criminals from a neighboring state who crossed over into the village to carry out the heinous act.
He said that Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed shock and grief at the report of the attack, and condoled the families of the deceased, praying for the repose of their souls.
“The Governor further tasked security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.
“Meanwhile, the corpses have been handed over to the relevant authorities in Chawai Chiefdom, and the injured victim is receiving treatment in a hospital in a neighboring state.
“Troops are sustaining patrols in the area,” the update read in part.
Four persons are in police custody over the death of an 18-year-old girl at a government guest house in Damaturu.
The Nation findings revealed that the incident occurred on Thursday, following which the police moved in to arrest the suspects who are now in detention at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Yobe State Police Command.
The Police Public Relation Officer in the command, Dungus Abdulkarim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the incident, said one Engr. (Dr) Al-bash Yahaya Ibrahim and three others were being held for homicide.
“Four suspects are in our custody over a charge of homicide of one girl who died at a government lodge in Damaturu.
“The case was initially handled at B Division, but it is now with the state CID under investigation,” ASP Abdulkarim said.
He said that one Dr. Al-bash Ibrahim Yahaya reported to the police that he slept with a girl and the girl died in his room.
He said: “One Dr. Al-bash reported to the police that he was a guest of the Yobe State Government who lodged at the government lodge.
“He said he asked some boys to get him a woman and they brought one for him and he slept with her only to discover in the morning that the girl was under the influence of drugs.
“Dr. Al-bash said the girl was shivering and doing some other funny things.
“Our preliminary information also revealed that the girl was a drug addict.”
He explained further that Al-bash called the boys that brought the girl and alerted them to the condition of the girl, but he said to his surprise, they came and instead of seeking medical help for the girl decided to give her milk and she died.
Abdulkarim added: “What is important for the public to know now is that we are investigating a case of homicide against Dr. AL-Bash Yahaya Ibrahim, a principal suspect, and three others—one who procured the girl for him, two of his friends who saw her in an unusual condition and started treating her with milk.
“We must know whether it was actually milk that was administered on her and what really killed her.
“The cause of the death will have to be established through autopsy results.”
Her pictures have also gone viral on social media with some of her friends asking God to forgive her sins and grant her paradise.
The Nation gathered that the police have sealed the room where the incident occurred as a crime scene.
By Tony Akowe, Abuja The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the Federal government to halt the take-off of the 774,000 special works programme now scheduled to commence in January 2021.
The House also asked the Ministry of Finance not to release the funds meant for the programme until some issues that affects the integrity of the programme are sorted out.
Adopting a motion of urgent Public importance sponsored by Hon. Olajide Olatubonsun, the House also condemned the sack of the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mohammed Ladan Argungu and advised that he be reinstated immediately.
Read Also: 774,000 jobs get Jan 5 date Contributing to the debate, Hon. Onofiok Luke said the decision of the government to sack the Director General of the NDE was ill advised, adding that he stood for the right thing to be done and ensure that the programme succeed.
He said there was the need to suspend the programme because there are silent issues which bother on the integrity of the legislature and the need to build institutions.
According to him, the DG stood for what is right and the decision to sack him was ill-advised, adding that since the programme was initially supposed to take place in 2020, the money meant for it was provided for in the 2020 budget, adding that since it has been shifted to 2021, there was the need to suspend its implementation until there is provision made for it in the 2021 budget.
Some of the witnesses told SaharaReporters that the terrorists came to the area but nobody was killed or abducted as people fled their homes.
The last has not been heard of the Boko Haram terrorists' onslaught on Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State as the insurgents invaded rice farms on Thursday, shooting sporadically to scare away the residents.
Some of the witnesses told SaharaReporters that the terrorists came to the area but nobody was killed or abducted as people fled their homes.
Last Saturday, Boko Haram inflicted one of the greatest casualty figures in the state by slaughtering no fewer than 78 rice farmers in the community – an incident that has attracted national and global condemnation.
One of the residents, Ishaya Ahmed, said women who were on their way to farm on Thursday first caught a glimpse of the terrorists.
"While some of our women and girls were on their way to the farm on Thursday, they came across the Boko Haram in large numbers, moving in a single line from north to south and, at the sight of the women, they began to shoot sporadically into the air to scare people away.
"So, the women froze at the gunshots and could not proceed to the farms. They had to return. I think the insurgents spared them because they were women. If we, the men, had followed them, they might have killed us."
A community leader in Zabarmari, who did not want his name to be mentioned, told SaharaReporters that boys and men were affected in the Saturday's gruesome murder.
"Some of them were newly-weds," he said. "Some with very young families. Others were mostly school-age boys while some were hired to harvest the farm for some fee. We heard the rumours that women were also killed, but it is not true."
Meanwhile, a woman in the community who lost her husband during the attack, said: "We got married eight months ago. I don't have a child, and I don't have any business I am doing. I only survive by what my husband makes from the farm. At the moment, I am staying with my mother since the death of my husband."
The Senate earlier on Tuesday called on the president to fire the service chiefs who have failed to secure Nigerians while the House of Representatives summoned the president to brief the house on the mass murder.
The Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, who seemed to have lost trust on Nigerian armed forces, had on Monday asked the president to engage the services of mercenaries to fight Boko Haram.
"One of our recommendations as possible solutions to end the insurgency is the immediate recruitment of our youths into military and paramilitary services to complement the efforts of the Nigerian forces," he said. "Our third recommendation is for the President to engage the services of mercenaries to clear the entire Sambisa forest."
Dangote oil refinery has been listed among the top 20 influential projects surveyed in the last 18 months by the Project Management Institute.
Dangote Industries Limited said in a statement on Thursday that the refinery was recognised for the potential to fuel Nigeria’s economic transformation from an importer to a self-sustaining powerhouse in petroleum refining.
According to the statement, the PMI said the 2020 Most Influential Projects list highlights compelling projects around the world and across industries that achieved significant milestones and impacted society.
It said the list identified the noteworthy projects that had defined the past year – a year that has been dramatically transformed by the coronavirus pandemic.
PMI’s Vice President of Global Engagement, Otema Yirenkyi, was quoted as saying, “When it’s completed in 2021, the Dangote oil refinery in Nigeria will be the largest oil refinery in Africa and one of the largest in the world, processing 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day and creating nearly 35,000 jobs in and around Lagos.
“But its benefits run deeper than that. By creating a self-sustaining supply of high-quality refined petroleum products, the project will reduce the country’s reliance on imports, help stabilise its currency and aid in the fight against poverty.”
The President and Chief Executive Officer, PMI, Sunil Prashara, said the most influential projects reflected how project managers and change managers had found ingenious ways to keep initiatives moving forward in the face of unexpected obstacles associated with the pandemic.
There was shock on Adekunle Street in the Oshodi area of Lagos after a middle-aged man, Ifeanyi Nwagboroga, stabbed his wife, Faith Ebubeeze, several times on her body until she died over an argument bordering on money for the family.
SaharaReporters learnt from a police report that after the argument ensued, Nwagboroga, a trader, tied his wife’s mouth, cut off her two hands and started stabbing her.
The police at the Ire-Akari division later arrested Nwagboroga after his wife’s younger brother, Emmanuel Onyeka, who lived on a neighbouring street, brought the matter to the attention of the operatives.
A witness told SaharaReporters that trouble started on November 24, after the woman came back from Arena Market in the Oshodi area, where she had gone to sell some items.
“Nobody knows the amount involved. But the couple had been having issues recently about money and how to take care of the family. On the said day, it was about 8pm, and we started hearing their violent arguments. Nobody bothered to intervene because we were used to such scuffles.
“But later, the chilling cries of the woman brought the attention of neighbours and then we discovered that Ifeanyi (Nwagboroga) had got a knife and was stabbing his wife all over the body. It was shocking and we were all embroiled in the confusion for days.
“Then, the family members were contacted and the matter was brought to the attention of the police.”
SaharaReporters learnt that the couple, whose number of children could not yet be ascertained, recently started having financial crisis after their trades experienced a downturn, as a result of hard times in the country.
A police report stated that the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
The report said, “One Emmanuel Onyeka of Oredeyin Street, Off Araromi Street, Oshodi, Lagos State, came to the charge room, and reported that Faith Ebubeeze and the husband by name, Ifeanyi Nwagboroga, of the same address, were arguing when she came back from Arena market, where she sold some items.
“At the cause of the argument, the said husband went into the kitchen, carried a knife and stabbed the wife to death. He, the husband, also tied the wife’s mouth and cut off her two hands and stabbed all parts of her. The suspect is now in custody.”
Former Nigerian Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Saturday, highlighted six economic opportunities for Nigeria and other African countries as they strive to recover from the negative shocks of the pandemic.
She made this known today at the 15th Convocation of Bowen University in Iwo, Osun State.
Okonjo-Iweala, who is the leading candidate for the job of director-general of the World Trade Organisation, spoke on ‘Revisiting Africa’s Economy Post-COVID-19’.
The convocation lecturer said the impact of the pandemic on Africa’s economy has been devastating, urging African leaders to look inwards and grow capacities for their respective economies.
The former World Bank director said, “As Africa recovers from the health and economic impacts of COVID-19, it must learn from the pandemic.
“COVID-19 has highlighted the existing structural and institutional weaknesses of Africa’s economy but it has also cast a light on existing opportunities and opened up new ones. Africa must seize all these factors to re-fashion its economy and build it with more resilience.
“Let me highlight six opportunities and approaches for re-fashioning a post-COVID-19 African economy.”
According to her, increasing the industrialisation on the continent will provide more jobs for Africa’s youthful population.
“COVID-19 brought into relief Africa’s undiversified commodity-dependent economy. The lack of diversification relates to both products and sources of revenue.
“Africa must manufacture more through value-addition to the raw materials it exports. The transformation of cocoa into delicious Ivorian chocolate provides a good example.
“There is no doubt that African countries need to make the requisite investment in infrastructure, skills, and a conducive business environment,” she said.
The former Economy Minister also harped on more digitisation of economic, health, and educational activities in Africa going forward.
One of the opportunities highlighted by the pandemic is the potential of the digital economy including e-commerce, e-learning, e-health, she said.
She noted that African governments must grow the continent’s about 90 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through free registration, access to grants, soft loans, amongst others to ensure business owners grow and create jobs.
A post-COVID-19 African economy cannot grow unless there is continuous investment in Africa’s infrastructure, she stated, adding that investment in human development especially education and health is also key to Africa’s emergence post-pandemic.
Okonjo-Iweala added that African governments must improve governance, transparency and accountability.
“A post-COVID-19 modern African economy must be anchored on these values of open, transparent and accountable governance; governance that gives youths, women and other marginalized people increased voice,” she stated.
The Buhari administration appears to be pursuing a policy of state vengeance against Nigerian youths linked with the October #EndSARS protests, that drew global attention to an atrocious and repressive unit of the Nigerian police.
While President Buhari had voiced out some understanding of the deep-seated anger of youths against the police and made moves to reform the institution, officials are now embarking on another course of action that only brought back memories of 1978, the Ali-Must-Go Protest.
This was under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, when students revolted against the increase in feeding and accommodation fees in the universities.
After the nationwide protest in April 1978, with several students killed, the military regime responded by rusticating student leaders. It also sacked university dons and officials deemed to have supported the protest.
Vice Chancellors were also sacked from their posts as the government stuck to the new regime of fees that sparked the protest.
We are witnessing the same reaction from agents of the state against, ‘leaders’ of the leaderless #EndSARS protest.
First, the immigration seized at the airport, the passport of a lawyer, who provided legal services to protesters detained by the police. The last time this practice was rife was under the military regime of General Abacha.
And now, the CBN secretly went to court to procure an order to freeze for 90 days the accounts of 20 people linked with the protest.
The CBN got the order, the same 20 October, when soldiers attacked unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
The last time we did a reality check, we are for God’s sake in a democratic regime, the hallmarks of which are the rights to dissent, protest and free speech.
We thought the Nigerian leaders accept these rights as inalienable, from their statements in the heat of the protests.
We are thus shocked by the moves by agents of the state to punish the Nigerian youths.
We are even more appalled that government is taking the punitive steps judging by the stories of atrocities by the disbanded police unit, coming out of the various judicial enquiries. The stories further justified the #EndSARS protest.
Dear President Buhari, Nigeria cannot make progress if the state apparatus tries to stifle the young ones, in expressing their views and protesting.
It is their right.
Let us not make zombies of our youths, as this country belongs to them. They have no where else to go.
We are thus calling on the government to call to order the CBN, the Immigration Department and the DSS from embarking on a policy of vengeance against the assumed masterminds of #EndSARS.
Let no attempt be made to confuse the protesters with the opportunistic hoodlums and bandits, who seized on the protest to unleash an orgy of looting and destruction in the country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyeama, says plans are underway to reduce the number of International Organisations Nigeria belongs to because of paucity of funds.
Mr Onyeama made this known while defending the ministry’s 2021 budget at the House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the ministry is faced with a challenge of meeting its contribution to those International organisations.
Read Also: Nigeria will pull through its socio-economic challenges soon — Onyeama
“We are owing a lot, and in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), there is a process to rationalise and cut down on the International Organisations we belong to.
“This is because we are just owing monies left and right and it is not even good for the image of the country,” he said.
Mr Onyeama, who decried the poor funding of the ministry, reeled out the challenges facing the 2021 budget implementation.
The minister said that one the challenges the ministry is facing is the movement of officers, ambassadors and their families.
He said that N1.6 billion is required for the movement of ambassadors while officers will require N3.7 billion, making a total of N5.3 billion for the whole movement.
The minister said in addition to what was received in the revised budget, the ministry will require an additional N1.1 billion in 2021 to meet the cost of movement.
He stressed the need to address the inadequate overhead budgetary provisions to the missions, which is resulting to a lot of debt for electricity and rent.
“Just on Monday, the ambassador in Hungary called to say they are going to throw them out from the chancery building. That the landlord is coming and that they do not have the money to pay.
“And we get that from a lot of missions across the world and that is not a sustainable way of running foreign service.
“Then this exchange rate differential with the CBN is really something we need to address once and for all.
“It is not so easy, all of these things are computed in naira and all the payments abroad are in dollars and once the exchange rate is changed, it never goes the other way, it always goes up, it never comes down visa vis the dollar. This means immediate shortfall for all our missions,” he said
The minister said that the ministry requires an additional capital allocation of N5 billion to address some of the missions’ renovation needs.
According to him, “a lot of our missions are eyesores and it is just a huge embarrassment to the country that we can have mission in such terrible conditions.”
Mr Onyeama said that between 2012 and 2014, the ministry owed local contractors N1.3 billion.
According to him, “we have been receiving letters from the National Assembly forwarding to us various claims and judgement and asking us to pay them.
“We have a big challenge with clothing allowances, as you know, all officers in our missions from grade level 7 and above are entitled to US$2,500 clothing allowance per annum.
“In the 2021 budget, about 1,312 officers will be expecting the payment of these allowances and if you take at the CBN official rate, we are looking at N1.2 billion.
“What we have available is N762 million for that, to able to pay the clothing allowances, we still need at additional sum of N500 million,” he said.
Mr Onyeama said that the ministry needs N225 million to pay premium for the insurance of the ministry’s head quarters.
According to him, that is based on an estimate of the value of the building at N12 billion which is a very rare conservative estimate of that building.
He said that the ministry needs N342 million for the building of infrastructure which bridge the ICT gap the ministry currently faces.
“I was talking about the ICT deficit, with presence in 110 countries, we believe that the ministry should be in a key position for foreign direct investment and export promotion, leveraging on our physical presence in 110 countries of the world to make that possible.
“It would be a one-stop shop for Nigerian businesses without going through all kinds of bottle necks. We want your consideration to allocate this amount into the envelope.
“Part of what will go for digitizing our missions and the 24-7 health desk that we need to have to keep in touch with Nigerians around the world.
“That will really transform the ministry and get us to do things we need to be doing and add economic values to the country,” he said.
Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi Calls Biden "President-Elect"
"President-Elect Biden has a strong mandate to lead," Pelosi told reporters after Biden overtook President Donald Trump in the potentially decisive state of Pennsylvania.
Washington: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, on Friday called Joe Biden the "president-elect" of the United States after he pulled ahead in key election results.
"This morning it is clear that the Biden-Harris ticket will win the White House," Pelosi told reporters after Biden overtook President Donald Trump in the potentially decisive state of Pennsylvania.
"President-Elect Biden has a strong mandate to lead," she said.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is postponing a meeting next week where members were to try to pick a new director-general.
There is almost no chance of succeeding in picking a new chief after Washington blocked the favoured candidate, Nigeria’s former finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The WTO’s 164 member states had been due to gather Monday to choose between two remaining candidates to head the crisis-wracked organisation.
But the head of the selection committee, set up to help with the process, told members Friday the meeting would need to be postponed, according to AFP.
“It has come to my attention that for reasons including the health situation and current events, delegations will not be in a position to take a formal decision on 9 November,” General Council chair, David Walker, said in a communication seen by AFP.
“I am, therefore, postponing this meeting until further notice during which period I will continue to undertake consultations with delegations,” he added.
The WTO selection committee, known as the troika, has held months of consultations with members towards finding a replacement for Roberto Azevedo, who in August stepped down as director-general a year ahead of schedule.
After gradually whittling down the initial list of eight candidates, the troika last week tapped Nigeria’s former finance minister as the one most likely to obtain the needed consensus to take the helm.
But hopes that the final stage would be a simple rubber-stamping exercise were dashed when one country, the United States, announced it was intent on backing South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee instead.
The US announcement threw the WTO leadership hunt into uncertainty.
In recent days, many observers have stressed member states had little chance of agreeing on a new director-general as long as Donald Trump, perhaps WTO’s most fervent critic, remains in the White House, and have urged a delay.
“They are right, this is a good thing,” an European diplomat in Geneva told AFP following the announcement that the meeting would be postponed.
In theory, the members could toss out the consensus principle and turn to a vote, but such a procedure has never been attempted in practice at the WTO.
In 1999, when members were unable to unanimously choose who should be given four years at the helm, they opted to hand the two top picks a three-year mandate each instead of resorting to a vote. (AFP)
Politics › 2023: Fani-Kayode, Four PDP Governors Begin Talks With APC by 2mercy(op): 9:51pm On Feb 08, 2021
