₦airaland Forum

Johnnyessence:
Egbami, who be this one again. Na mumu and Ara igbo you be. na you dey pick adjective baaa. stay there ok. how i wish hajia Amina to reply me. you have no gut to reply me ok. lol

Johnnyessence:
I'm not yabbing her ok. i'm just trying to say hello to her. she understand well. don't tell me that you don't call a woman 'fat' to her face. wetin dey his face before? abegi joor. you don't even know her.

Johnnyessence:
lol are you defending her now hmmmmm. ok which word shoul i used hmm? abegi. i want to fat too, wetin gan.

Johnnyessence:
I'm fine, beautiful and fat woman. sorry if i say that hmmmm . that is what i observe niii oooo.

October 21, 2018

Shola Adekola - Lagos

THE Nigerian Immigration Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, has, again, arrested four Ghanaians for attempted human trafficking two weeks after eight from the same country were apprehended at the airport for similar fence.

The Ghanaians, who were between the ages 22 and 25 years, were on their way to Europe for prostitution before they were stopped after interrogation by officials of the service.

Just like the previous eight, the four had entered Nigeria through road from Togo and Benin Republic, while they also planned to travel out of Nigeria through Egypt Air before they were apprehended by the immigration officials at the airport.

Two out of the culprits were identified as; Asare Mary, 24 and Ameyaa Naomi, 23.

The four who were with Ghanaian international passports, in their statements, confessed to the crime, saying that they had attempted to use Nigeria as a transit point to connect Europe via Egypt Air.

The ladies, on further interrogation, attributed the hardship in Ghana to their decision to try the illegal business just as they declared that their sponsors who they declined to name bought them air tickets.

After interrogation, the four ladies were handed over to officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) for possible deportation back to their country.

According to an immigration source, “Once again, our officials at the Lagos Airport have stopped four Ghanaians from using our country as a transit point to Europe to engage in prostitution.


“Our investigation has revealed that some unscrupulous elements within the West Coast want to use our country as a transit point to Europe or even Middle East, but our officials have been trained to detect such people, either Nigerians or foreigners. We consistently stop them and we will continue to do that.”

ON OCTOBER 21, 2018

•Party faithful hail direct primaries

By Simon Ebegbulem, Abuja

The primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have come and gone but several positives to cherish in the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. For the first time in the history of the party, even governors and leaders, who had called the shots over the years, were panicking with the mode of primaries adopted by the NWC.

The NWC had canvassed for direct primaries across board but that pitched the APC National Chairman against some governors who saw that as an attempt to stop them from imposing their preferred candidates as governors and National Assembly members.

The governors kicked and even plotted to get some non- NWC members to pass a vote of no confidence on the NWC, but the plot failed after President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the party, backed Oshiomhole’s direct primaries mode and other reforms embarked upon by the party leadership.

Oshiomhole insisted on direct primaries to ensure that the party is returned to the people after the former NWC, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, handed over the party to governors. That action polarized the party in almost all the states where the governors battled members of the National Assembly or the governors moved against their god fathers.

Oshiomhole inherited a divided party but he promised to take up the challenge which he has done so far.


Defections

As a matter of fact, Senator Shehu Sani pointed out, in an interview, that Oshiomhole inherited a time bomb as a party and could explode at any time. And as predicted, members started defecting shortly after Oshiomhole assumed office in June 2018.

Party leaders, such as Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, left the party.

And if not for the frantic efforts made by Oshiomhole on assumption of office to persuade aggrieved party members to remain in the party while he looked into their complaints, Saraki would have left with about 30 APC senators.

Due to what the party experienced in the hands of some of these politicians, Oshiomhole vowed to ensure that his NWC will use the primaries of the APC to correct the wrongs of the past.

While inaugurating members of the National Assembly Primaries Committee, the party Chair had said: “With what has happened to us recently, people used our platform to rise to certain positions such as the Senate presidency and, due to their personal ambition, they betrayed the party. That will never happen again.

We will now ensure that we don’t give out tickets to bread and butter politicians or politicians who are not loyal to the party but only loyal to their personal ambitions. Nobody will get APC ticket by accident any more, we will ensure that whoever is given our ticket merited it and must have worked for it and he or she is prepared for the job ahead”. And after victories in both the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, which have made the South-West a complete enclave of the APC, Oshiomhole vowed to ensure that the party is rebranded in a manner that it will again be embraced by all Nigerians. The direct primary mode was tested in Bauchi senatorial bye election and it worked. It was successful also in Osun,. Consequently, Buhari and Oshiomhole believed it was the way to go.


Personal interests

The APC then conducted direct primaries in 20 states and the FCT to choose its candidates for the 2019 polls while indirect primaries were conducted in 18 states.

Understandably, some of the governors were not comfortable with the decision to adopt the direct primaries mode.

But Oshiomhole pushed, stressing the need to allow the people vote candidates of their choice. The governors preferred indirect primaries to enable them put candidates of their choice but Oshiomhole insisted that that system is making the party far from the people.

Besides, he needed to protect the National Assembly members who are at war with their governors. What actually played out in the just concluded APC primaries was that while Oshiomhole made efforts to protect the APC-led Federal Government under Buhari from the Saraki-led Senate and Dogara-led House of Representatives by ensuring that majority of the APC senators who are popular in their areas are returned, the governors wanted to protect their personal interests.

The situation led to the rancorous primaries held in Imo, Ogun and Zamfara states. It was difficult in states where governors are completing their second term but nursing ambitions to go to the Senate.

It is even more complicated when governors are deposing sitting senators which is not in tandem with the promise made by Oshiomhole to protect the senators who stood behind the party in the battle with Saraki.

Oshiomhole held several meetings with the concerned governors to allow senators return, fearing that refusing them ticket will give the Senate President more leverage to continue to frustrate the laudable programmes of the Buhari administration.


Accolades

However, despite the shortcomings in some states, the direct primary mode can be said to have succeeded to a large extent. For the first time, majority of the members of the party came out in large numbers to nominate those who will represent them.

The exercise has received accolades across the nation irrespective of the few skirmishes witnessed in some states.

Some mischief makers have continued to organize protests in order to create the impression that the primaries were not successful.

But such plots have continued to fail because majority of party faithful have continued to embrace the ongoing reforms piloted by Oshiomhole in the APC.

The situation is similar to how the war against corruption embarked upon by the Buhari administration is fighting back. Oshiomhole came up with several reforms which include handing over the party to the masses.

This became evident during the primaries, leading to a situation where political leaders, governors lost hold of the political machinery in their states. Serving Ministers were disqualified from contesting in the primaries due to one reason or the other.

For most people it is strange but those who know Oshiomhole with the way he killed the politics of god fatherism in Edo State, while he was governor, know that he pursues his aims and objectives ruthlessly without fear or favour.

The National Chairman had always stressed the need for political leaders in the APC to operate an all-inclusive party rather than that of isolation. His reforms has pitched him against some powerful people and they are fighting back. Mischief makers have continued to blackmail him but their plots will always hit the rock. However, Oshiomhole has remained resilient, dogged and never to be intimidated.

Despite what his adversaries are saying, direct primaries have taught leaders of the party the need to be closer to the grassroot and, according to Oshiomhole, who predicted victory for the APC come 2019, “the journey for 2019 has just begun and, while the opposition PDP is busy dishing out false information to the public and raising false alarm, we have started mobilizing our members across the nation for the 2019 elections”.

He added: “If you look at the way our people came out during the party primaries to vote for candidates of their choice, in a very democratic manner that is strange to PDP, you will know that 2019 is over for the PDP. I am very satisfied with the primaries but as you know nothing is perfect in life but I will say we achieved substantial success and this is the first time we as a party is adopting this mode of primaries.

It looked difficult initially but at the end it came out well. Some persons may not be happy but many are satisfied with the outcome. We will take this to the next step and deliver all our candidates including our President, Muhammadu Buhari and we will ensure we maintain our majority in the National Assembly”.

By: Yusuf Alli On: October 21, 2018

•Ekweremadu, governors weigh options
•Why S/East leaders are angry
•Saraki wades in, holds talks with Ekweremadu

Southeast political leaders are accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of reneging on some pre-convention agreements reached with him.

And this is the cause of the bad blood generated in the zone by Atiku’s choice of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as running mate for the 2019 election, The Nation can now report.

Particularly irked by the alleged renege are Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and some governors in the zone, sources said yesterday.

Associates of the Deputy Senate President and some PDP leaders in the Southeast are already putting pressure on Ekweremadu to review his status in the party.

His options are to defect from the party or remain in PDP to fight for survival.

The alleged agreements include consultation with Southeast leaders on how to pick vice presidential candidate; consensus on other positions conceded to the zone; finding a meeting point with the zone on Atiku’s idea of restructuring; need to spend one term in office and cede power to the Southeast in 2023; the offer of the VP slot to Ekweremadu (Right of First Refusal) before any other candidate.

Atiku had allegedly offered Ekweremadu the vice presidential slot a year ago.

Sources said the Deputy Senate President’s response had always been: “let us get the ticket first. I am interested in the Southeast being in the mainstream of power equation in Nigeria.”

As the PDP Port Harcourt convention approached, majority of the Southeast leaders in PDP were determined to work for Atiku, hence their decision to shun overtures from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to team up with Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

It was gathered that a few days before the convention, Ekweremadu and some Southeast governors shunned all the meetings convened by Wike.

Within a week of Atiku’s emergence as PDP presidential candidate, he named Obi as running mate, causing bad blood in some political quarters in the zone.

The first salvo was fired by Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi who said Obi’s choice was made without consultation with leaders of the zone, although he was quick to add that he has nothing personally against Obi.

Obi himself has since launched a mission to douse the tension, moving round the zone to talk to those that matter.

But sources said the issue has continued to be a source of worry for Atiku in the Southeast.

“All our leaders have no grudges against Obi but they are just unhappy about how Atiku reneged on some of the agreements reached with him especially the essence of carrying stakeholders along,” a well- placed source said yesterday.

“Shortly after he emerged as the PDP candidate, he has stopped consulting Ekweremadu, Southeast governors and leaders.

“The painful thing is that he bowed to pressure from outside the Southeast to pick Obi and he did not care to revert to these leaders and governors on his choice.

“For instance, Ekweremadu (the highest ranking political office holder in the Southeast) was not briefed and has not been briefed till today on why Obi was picked.

“Yet, it was Ekweremadu who coordinated and delivered the block votes from the Southeast to Atiku at the convention.

“The assumption is that if Atiku can treat South-East leaders and governors in this manner as a candidate, what if he becomes the President. It is just a matter of trust. When in need, he offered Ekweremadu the position of running mate. Courtesy demands that he should have also confided in Ekweremadu before choosing Obi.”

Another source confirmed that following pressure from his associates and PDP leaders in the Southeast, Ekweremadu has started weighing options on his next step.

Investigation revealed that the Deputy President of the Senate has to choose between remaining in PDP or defecting to prove a point that he is a force to reckon with.

The third option is to remain in PDP and sabotage Atiku by entering into an alliance with President Muhammadu Buhari on a good deal for the Southeast if he is re-elected.

The source added: “From the look of things, it seems there is a conspiracy within PDP to alienate Ekweremadu.

“Apart from Atiku, the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has not deemed it fit to call the Deputy President of the Senate on why Ekweremadu was not invited to the meeting where Obi was nominated. Even after the nomination, Secondus has not met with Ekweremadu on the choice of Obi.

“The party and Atiku went ahead to constitute the Presidential Campaign Council without any input from Ekweremadu. This is an insult.

“Some powers that be are angry with Ekweremadu for backing Atiku and the same presidential candidate does not care a hoot about Ekweremadu.

“It is regretful that we all betrayed Wike and now Atiku is abandoning our leaders.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “With the choice of Obi, Atiku is going about as if he has the South-East in his pocket. Far from it, the scenario may be different during the presidential election.

“Atiku needs to sit down afresh with Ekweremadu and other leaders to win votes from the zone. These are matchmakers in their own right.

“The unfinished business includes the following:

*Reaching consensus on other posts to concede to the zone;

* Finding a meeting point with the zone on Atiku’s idea of restructuring;

*Need to spend one term in office; and

*Ceding power to the Southeast in 2023

“Without definite answers to these demands, Atiku should forget the backing of the Southeast.”

It was also gathered that Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is the Director -General of the PCC, has waded into the complaints of the Southeast leaders.

A PDP leader said: “I am aware that Saraki has opened up talks with Ekweremadu.”

sarrki:
If the soldiers had shot and killed Nnamdi Kanu, this is how all his hailers will be Atikulooted today. He would have died for nothing. Thank God he ran away. I'm happy for his family.

CyynthiaKiss:
What of the jazz buhari used on my Yoruba people?
What of we yorubas that are following buhari as if our survival depends on him?
What stopped us from voting Sowore and the rest patriotic good Yoruba's ?

Published October 17, 2018

Tony Okafor, Awka

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State Chapter, has described the Igbo Presidential candidates in the 2019 general elections as midgets.

The Igbo socio-cultural organisation at a press conference in Awka, Anambra State, likened such candidates with “somebody trying to go to Lagos from Awka by bicycle.”

Speaking at the conference, the State President of the group, Damian Okeke-Ogene, said the chapter had decided to support a former governor of the state, Peter Obi, who was nominated as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Okeke-Ogene said, “You know in this presidential race that some contestants are like somebody trying to go to Lagos from here by bicycle, while others are like somebody trying to do the same journey by aircraft.

“So, we have chosen the person we shall support in that election based on his acceptability, capacity and chances to achieve result.”

Our correspondent gathered that no fewer than four Igbo men emerged as presidential candidates of various political parties in the current dispensation.

The Ohanaeze statement read in part,”The journey to 2019 has started and is gathering momentum.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has earlier made its stand clear in line with the South East Summit held on 21st May 2018 at Ekwueme Square, Awka, tagged “Ekwueme Square Declaration,” to support every effort towards restructuring the country to give every zone a sense of belonging and promote equity, justice and fairness that would give Ndigbo and every other part of the country a sense of belonging.

“In line with this, Ohanaeze Ndigbo resolved to support any political party and candidate with a manifesto of actualising the restructuring.

“This is why Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State chapter, is declaring total support for the choice of Mr. Peter Obi, the former Governor of the state, as the running mate to the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“We want to use this opportunity to congratulate the Peoples Democratic Party and their candidate for the wise choice of our own son, Peter Obi, which has gained worldwide acceptance and commendation.”

By: Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki On: October 16, 2018

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Tuesday said that he was not against the choice of former Governor, Peter Obi as the running mate to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Umahi stated this in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The governor has faced backlash since he led leaders of the party to complain against the selection process that threw up Obi as Vice Presidential candidate of the party with many people accusing him of sabotaging the interest of the Igbo nation.

But, Umahi while clearing the air, said he was only against the process and not Obi who he noted was very competent for the job.

He, however questioned how people from other regions will meet and take decisions that concerns me south east with the input of a single person from the region.

“We have never said that we are against Peter Obi but what we have said is that if six people can come together from five other regions and look at recommendations for the south east and no south east person is there, that is not good for us.

“We have never said that Obi is not good for us, we have nothing against Obi but we want when decisions that concern us are being taken, we want to be part of that decision’, Umahi said.

The governor also expressed displeasure on the imbalance in the initial five man shortlist for the VP candidacy which had no person from Imo and Ebonyi State on it.

“Number two, the five names submitted, of course no governors in south east wants to be Vice President; everybody wants to finish his tenure. The Five names for VP should have been five names from the five south east states but there was no name from Ebonyi and Imo states”

“I am a fighter of marginalization of Ebonyi people. If we are going to vote, we must be treated with equity. These are the issues; two names came from Anambra, one from Enugu and two from Abia. So, what is wrong in having someone from Ebonyi and then one from Imo?

These are the issues but there are not as terrible as is being looked at. I know that my people put me on social media saying so many terrible things about me but it doesn’t move me”

“We must sit down with the presidential candidate and say look if we work together, we must be part of the decision making . I am not talking about myself, I am talking about the leadership of the south east”.

“If six people can come from other regions to take decision and there is nobody from south east and our people think is right, so be it”.

The Governor, who said he has a good relationship with Mr Obi said he has no regrets on his actions in the aftermath of Obi selection.

“Nobody is against Obi. The leaders of Ndigbo are saying that when decisions are taken and you invite people from other regions, invite people from south east. They never issued any statement and anybody from south east that is saying that my stand is not good, is not a human being because tomorrow is bigger than today”.

“If Atiku had just announced his running mate without other people from other regions seeing the list and making inputs or choices , we wouldn’t have been bothered because nobody chooses a VP for anybody; it is like a wife. But if other people were there, at least one person from south east should have been there. Secondly, Ebonyi state shouldn’t have been neglected even if we will not make the list because the choice is for the man”

“You remember that one of the reasons that Ebonyi man is not too comfortable with the issue of region is that we are afraid of further marginalization. So, these are the issues. Obi is my friend. You would have seen our pictures on the social media. Yes, he is my good friend and we have worked together very very well and he said something to me ‘if I were you, I will be more bitter, I will make greater noise than you are making’.

“Obi understands. And let me give you one shocking news! I was told in the course of our meeting in Enugu that somebody asked Chekwas Okorie why is it that Igbo don’t vote for their Vice Presidential candidates and Chekwas told him that anyday the Igbo man chooses his Vice Presidential candidate, the Igbo man will vote for the Vice presidential candidate and if you check be it Ekwueme or any other, you will find out that we have never voted along that line”.

“And I am very sure that in further decisions, the Igbo man must be called, that is just what we are saying. Nobody is against Obi and he is very competent to be VP but I alone cannot endorse Obi. So when my Chief Press Secretary issued a congratulatory message, the Leaders started calling me saying so you alone have made the VP. So I had to issue another statement to say look, I was not consulted. If that is my sin, I cannot repent”,he concluded.

SolutionMee:

SolutionMee:

CROWNWEALTH019:
Let Fulani begin to slay them

Senator Ademola Adeleke, the defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun will be docked at a Federal High Court Abuja on 31 October for alleged examination malpractice.

He will face, along with four others, a four-count charge for personation and registering as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro Osun State to enable him sit for the National Examination Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017.

Charged with Adeleke are: Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, principal of the school, Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo, school Registrar and Dare Samuel Olutope, a teacher. They will be arraigned before Justice I. E. Ekwo.

The police four weeks ago had declared Adeleke wanted over the offence and had asked him to report in the office of the Special Investigation Panel for prosecution. This was some few days to the governorship election on 22 September. According to reports, President Buhari overruled the invitation.

The text of the police statement issued in September: On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at OJO/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state.

“When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives.

“Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates impersonating students of the School at the ages of 57years and 42years respectively. This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

“The Principal of the school, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher Mr Dare Olutope were arrested on 21 July 2017.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke was arrested on 27 July 2017 and Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on 8 August 2017.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but he didn’t sit for the examination.

“However, Police investigation revealed the following primafacial and culpability facts against Senator Ademola Adeleke andfour (4) others.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and did not sit for the examination but have a result from NECO with Seven (7) Credit and One (1) Pass, a copy of which was obtained from NECO by the Police.

“The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (School’s copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke Photographs in school uniform in the said album. Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained by the claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.

“The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court. Charges of Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004 today, Wednesday, 19th September, 2018.

“Consequently, Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) are hereby advised in their own interest to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court”.

ghostmist:
Exactly!!

We are saying the same thing. You are not Igbo, any Igbo can easily deduce that from your comment. As such, you cannot presume to know what the Igbo think and how they act.

ghostmist:
This is how I know that you're not Igbo cos' this news wouldn't trouble any Igbo.

Unlike the west and the north, leaders do not tell the Igbo who to vote.

We are republicans!

jcmaiah:
No governor in south east can influence how we vote. We have a mind of our own. In fact, any governor that openly works against Obi and Atiku is greatly reducing his chances. That's south east for you. Unless inec doesn't bring voting material

Yyeske:
Obi as vice can't sell in Anambra, how much more in the entire SE, you can see the fallout already.
PDP really messed up in their choice this time.
People in Anambra still feel that Peter Obi betrayed Great Ojukwu after he left APGA, a promise he made to the late Ikemba. He's just an opportunist looking for his pocket, that's how people see him.