₦airaland Forum

South East Governors Forum (SEGF) has rejected the police report which indicated that the security incident at the residence of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was a burglary and not an assassination attempt.

The governors made this known on Wednesday through the Director General of the SEGF, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya who addressed a press conference in Enugu.


“The forum calls on the Police and other security agencies to undertake thorough investigation and bring the culprits to book. We reject the hasty conclusion that the attack was a case of burglary, otherwise, the so-called “’burglars’’ would not have insisted on the Deputy President’s son taking them to his father’s bedroom. The careful and methodical execution of the plot points to something more sinister than burglary,” he said.

While condemning “the attempted assassination of His Excellency, Senator Ike Eweremadu,” he said “his attempted assassination, no doubt, casts a dark shadow on the state of security of lives and property in Nigeria.”


Also, the governors berated the federal government for abandoning the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the second Niger Bridge projects.

“We want to use this opportunity to once again call on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the South East and deal with the infrastructural decay at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

“We restate that the airport is not safe as there are no runway lights, the tarmac is bumpy with potholes, while one of the buildings destroyed by storm for over two years has become an eyesore. The cargo section of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport is not functional.

“It is, indeed, a shame that a whole region as economically robust as South East does not have an airport that can land all categories of aircraft. The Federal Government should please come to our aid by making the airport more functional.

“We are aware that the Governor of Enugu State His Excellency Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has taken up the challenge of helping to fix Akanu Ibiam International Airport, but we know also that the burden is too heavy for a state government. That is why we are calling on the Federal Government to come to our aid.

“We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to take the issue of Second Niger Bridge seriously. The Niger Bridge is arguably the gateway to the Eastern part of this country with business hubs of Onitsha, Nnewi and Aba, amongst others.

“We note with concern that the second Niger Bridge has become a political chess board in the hands of politicians seeking Igbo votes.

“We have become aware that it was only in July, 2018, that the contract for the second Niger Bridge project was signed, in spite of the fact that the first foundation laying ceremony was undertaken in 2013. We pray that this will not be another lip-service to the realization of second Niger Bridge.

“We earnestly appeal to the Federal Government to assist the South East region by ensuring that the second Niger Bridge is completed,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/southeast-governors-reject-police-report-on-security-incident-at-ekweremadu-residence.html

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Six suspects involved in the kidnap and killing of the late Agom Adara, Maiwada Galadima have been paraded by the State Security Service (SSS) in Kaduna, on Wednesday.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sss-parades-six-suspected-killers-of-agom-adara-in-kaduna.html

hmmm

Sai Atiku

hmmm

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has said those making noise about his second term are only telling lies as he only relies on God to win re-election in 2019.

The governor said Akwa Ibom State had never had it this good since its creation over 30 years ago and that the evidence was there for the people to see, cautioning those “lying” against him to desist from doing so.

Speaking during a town hall meeting with the indigenes of Akwa Ibom State in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and the 19 northern states, yesterday, Udom said what the state had been witnessing since his assumption of office was “massive and deliberate programmes towards industrialisation of the state.

“Today, we have a state that is together, where there is unity. Our development has touched everywhere in the state, and we want to make sure that we impact on every sector.

“We’re trying to open the state’s economy so that everything will be in place. As at today, we’re at the last lap of our deep seaport. By next year, the greater per cent of rice to be consumed in Akwa Ibom will be produced by the state.

“We’re building one of the best cocoa plants in the state. We want a situation whereby the time we leave office in eight years, 80 per cent of the food you’ll consume in Akwa Ibom State will be produced by the state.

“All these are things they won’t tell you. People only make noise and tell lies about us. But we don’t know how to tell lies, so we’re here to tell you the truth. It is only God that we rely on, and He alone shall do it for us.

“The noise you’re hearing today is about the soul of Akwa Ibom State. We will stand and make sure that we save the soul of Akwa Ibom State.”

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Luke Onosiok, said the people of Akwa Ibom were lucky to have Udom as their governor, noting that his projects spoke for themselves.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-rely-on-god-for-2nd-term-gov-udom.html

I do hope my name was not included

sorry

Best of luck

sorry

chai

hmmm

where is the money?

The Senate will expand its ongoing probe of an alleged subsidy fund retained by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to include dividend from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Senate President Bukola Saraki has said.

Saraki said ‎expanding the probe became necessary in view of the revelation made by the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Maikanti Kachalla Baru, at an investigative hearing in Abuja on Thursday.

The GMD had told the Ahmad Lawan-led ad hoc panel probing the alleged $3.5bn subsidy fund by the NNPC ‎that the corporation did not have any amount set aside for subsidy.

He however said that NNPC augments the shortfall of petroleum landing cost through $1.05bn of its dividend from NLNG.


Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Yusuph Olaniyonu yesterday in Abuja, said the corporation would have to provide explanation on how and why it was “diverting the dividend from NLNG to defray the cost of under-recovery in the importation of fuel.”

The statement said Saraki, while reacting to questions from newsmen at the Ilorin Airport, admitted that he had received series of telephone calls on the issue by many concerned Nigerians and others who wanted to know the position of the Senate on the issues raised by the NNPC’s GMD before the ad hoc panel.

He said the revelation called for further investigation and showed that as alleged in a motion moved earlier by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, a lot of illegal and unapproved spendings are going on in the petroleum corporation.

“When in my ruling on the motion raised by Senator Olujimi, I insisted that we want a transparent, honest and non-partisan investigation on the fuel subsidy issue, it was clear to me and my colleagues that there are certain irregularities being perpetrated and we should let Nigerians know the truth,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/senate-to-expand-subsidy-probe-saraki.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said tardiness in passage of budgets by the National Assembly sometimes lasting several months, delays completion of projects across the country.

Receiving a delegation from Niger State led by Lt. General Garba Duba (Rtd) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari urged the National Assembly to accelerate the budget passage process.

Buhari said the government’s achievements in ensuring better roads, rails, power and repositioning of the airports was in spite of the delays, praying for more understanding and commitment to infrastructure development.

“If the National Assembly takes seven months to pass a budget, then we should be commended for the much that we have achieved, and can still achieve.

“I personally feel very disappointed. I spoke with the leaders of the National Assembly on the issue that seven months is a long time to work on a budget,’’ he was quoted in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.

He said ongoing efforts to improve road and rail networks across the country would be increased as infrastructure development remained paramount for improving the livelihood of Nigerians.

Buhari said his administration would pay more attention to the stretch of 2,150km federal roads in the state.

On security, he said, “We cannot manage our communities and societies without security. A lot of resources are being diverted to provide security instead of going into infrastructural development.’’

The president re-assured the delegation that his administration would stay focused on securing lives and property, fighting corruption and stimulating the economy for more progress.

President Buhari said the Minister of Agriculture and governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase monetary supports through loans to farmers in the next farming season and ensure that farmers are not overwhelmed with the traditional demand for collaterals.

The president commended the Chinese government for accepting to finance 85 per cent of Nigeria’s infrastructure development needs.

In his remarks, General Duba, a former military governor, commended the president for the significant stride in repositioning roads, rails and airports across the country.

He said Niger State still faced challenges of security along Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna roads, urging the president to reinforce surveillance on the routes and direct more attention on the construction of federal roads in the state.

On the delegation were Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, his predecessor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who is also the chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, the three senators from the state, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, David Umaru and Mustapha Sani among others.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-to-n-assembly-your-budget-delays-retard-projects.html

Good for him

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, yesterday, faulted the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the conduct of the party’s national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Tinubu had after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, at the State House Villa, Abuja, said Oshiomhole was on the right path.

But Okorocha after meeting with President Buhari said Tinubu was wrong to have said that Oshiomhole was doing the right thing in the party.

“No, maybe he (Tinubu) is being misinformed; if he is properly informed he will not say what Oshiomhole is doing is the right thing,” Okorocha told State House reporters after the meeting.

Daily Trust reports that Okorocha and two other governors – Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun – are calling for the sack of Oshiomhole over their inability to force their anointed candidates on the party.

Okorocha, who is chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, said the presidency was not behind the conduct of Oshiomhole in states where crisis had taken over after the just concluded primaries.

“I am here to clear the air that the presidency is behind what Oshiomhole is doing in some of the states and which has affected our party negatively; and from my understanding from Mr President, there is no such directive for Oshiomhole to do anything illegal or create any sort of injustice.

“So, Oshiomhole is on his own in this whole thing. There is no presidency’s support for him to refuse candidates who won elections and give wrong candidates who didn’t win elections,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/okorocha-meets-buhari-says-tinubu-wrong-on-oshiomhole.html

Former Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, has been named as the running mate of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Leke Shittu, ahead of 2019 general elections.

Former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has been equally named as the candidate for Ogun East Senatorial district.

This followed acceptance of the candidates’ list of the PDP faction backed by the Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The INEC had in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, notified the party of the acceptance of the list submitted by Bayo Dayo’s faction following the Federal High court judgements, directing the umpire to accept the candidates as against that of Sikirullahi Ogundele-led faction which is recognised by the PDP national leadership.

Abati and Daniel’s choice was contained in a statement personally signed by Kashamu, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday, by his media aide, Austin Oniyokor.

He asked the public to disregard the statement credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan that INEC acted against the rule that only the national leadership of a party can submit candidates list to INEC.

He vowed that “this resolve to act with unchecked impunity shall be fully resisted in a fight to finish battle to strengthen our party’s internal democracy.”

The statement read: “Ignorantly, the National Chairman is unaware that where there is dispute resulting into a judicial resolution as in Ogun state matter, the State Chairman and Secretary could sign in place of National Chairman and Secretary when backed by validly subsisting court judgements. Whatever makes our National Chairman to be this resolute at challenging the constituted electoral regulatory body, INEC and also dwelling in nauseating impunity against Nigerian court judgements out of unexplainable desperation to install Ladi Adebutu as PDP Ogun governorship candidate should as well have forced him to create his own INEC and conduct elections inside his office.

“The PDP as a Nigerian creation by law is for all Nigerians by established regulations and national statue; nobody can as such intimidate us in our democracy.”

When contacted last night, Abati emphatically said “Yes, I am aware. I can confirm. It’s true.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-picks-reuben-abati-as-deputy-governorship-candidate-in-ogun.html

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said yesterday that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is going nowhere in the 2019 election.

Speaking with State House reporters after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa, he said Atiku could meet with his supporters anywhere in the world to strategize, but that Nigerians would not vote for him.

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, was reacting to the meeting Atiku held with some PDP leaders in Dubai (UAE) where they reportedly strategized on how to approach the 2019 elections.

Tinubu was with Buhari for about 90 minutes.

“We don’t fear, whether it is in the jungle, or is in Dubai or it is in Abu Dhabi, people are free to meet and strategize in any way they want but we are not going back to the illusion of the PDP. It is not possible, Nigerians will not do that,” he said.

“They say slow and steady wins the race; we inherited that from our forefathers and knowledgeable people. We can’t go back to the pit that we inherited for 16 years. They can strategize from anywhere but a leopard cannot change its skin,” he said.

He said he discussed with the President issues relating to the country’s peace, stability and economic progress.

Oshiomhole on right path

Tinubu said the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was on the right path and faulted the calls by some governors for his sack.

“We all have to respect the party supremacy. You were all here when we had the congress. We elected the new executives, the convention we had it, the NEC was formed and we surrendered to avoid conflict; to avoid domination, to avoid abuses of power. We surrendered our rights, all rights to the National Working Committee headed by Adams Oshiomhole.

“That the National Working Committee should set up electoral bodies to supervise various states congresses and elections, we signed off for it. So, if it is not in our individual favour, so be it. We gave three options, consensus, where there is no consensus because if you are more than two or three and you cannot agree to one candidate, you go to the next level.

“The next level is the stakeholders delegate and you have to be supervised by the National Working Committee of the party, the national election committee of the party. That shows party supremacy or the freest option. The less cumbersome is to open direct primary, line up and count the number, 1,2,3. If you win, you win and if you fail, go home.

“Then appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals – internal mechanism for conflict resolution. It was there, you cannot turn round against that, you cannot turn against all of that. No. Party is supreme, party must be respected, abuses will not do it and anger will not do it. It is party politics, somebody will win and somebody will lose, too bad,” he said.

In a separate interview at the Villa, Oshiomhole said he was absolutely committed to justice, fairness and that he is a stickler to enforcement of rules.

“I have no illusions; this job I am doing is not a pensionable job; but I did promise myself that if I am going to be on this job for one day, I will do according to the rules and according to my conscience; I will be fair and just to all and God will give me the courage and the wisdom to do his will. How far that can take me is exclusively in the hands of God,” he said.

There had been insinuations that some APC governors had perfected plans to remove Oshiomhole over the role he played in the recent primaries conducted by the party.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/youre-going-nowhere-tinubu-tells-atiku.html

sai Atiku

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said that the report that the Federal Government is planning to reduce fuel pump price to less than N100 is not true.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kano, yesterday, IPMAN state chairman Alhaji Bashir Ahmed Danmalam said the group was not aware of any plan by the Federal Government to reduce fuel price.

Alhaji Danmalam said IPMAN had contacted the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) on the said report and they had confirmed that there wasn’t any such plan in the offing.

The chairman further revealed that the purported report on reduction in fuel price was just a rumour politically motivated towards the fast approaching ember months with the sole aimed of causing artificial scarcity in the country.


“This news has made many of our members to be so sceptical in conducting their normal business and this has started to have a negative impact on them because noone wants to be operating at a loss.

“We are not oblivious of the fact that the Federal Government has been doing a lot of efforts to see that the sector regains its lost glory but sadly, some people are busy trying to sabotage the efforts,” the IPMAN state chairman said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/petrol-pump-price-hasnt-been-reduced-ipman.html

The federal government has approved US$500,000 electoral kits and number of vehicles to support the conduct of legislative election in Guinea Bissau.

Foreign Affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama disclosed this on Tuesday when Jose Filho, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Guinea Bissau, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

“Mr President as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS recently sent a delegation to Guinea Bissau together with the president of ECOWAS Commission.

“Mr President has approved substantial number of election kits to enable them to carry out this election. Without those kits that are over 250, it is going to be difficult to carry out the election.


“In addition, Mr President has approved the supply of vehicles with about 500,000 dollars,” he said.

The minister said the substantial amount of money and other logistics are to help Guinea Bissau get out of what has been a very difficult situation for a number of years.

“Guinea Bissau is very important for the ECOWAS sub region. As you know that President Muhammadu Buhari is the chairperson of the ECOWAS and interested in political situation of Guinea Bissau.

“And of course he is happy with a lot of progress that has been made in that country. Nigeria has helped supply electoral kits to facilitate the election in that country. In fact, it seems that this was really a pre-condition for them to move to electoral front,” he said.

Nigeria together with UN and ECOWAS have determined to ensure complete political stability in Guinea Bissau to permit economic development that the country needs, he said

The UN envoy thanked Nigeria for the support toward the conduct of peaceful election in that country.

“We came here to exchange view and express appreciation not in the name of Guinea Bissau but in the name of the international community because I represent the UN in Guinea Bissau,” Filho said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-provides-vehicles-5m-to-support-guinea-bissau-election.html

Former First lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan yesterday asked a Federal High Court, Lagos, to unfreeze her accounts of $8.4m and N7.4 billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 20, through an exparte application, obtained an interim forfeiture of the said monies.

After taking argument from the Jonathan’s lawyer, the matter was adjourned to November 13 to take video evidence in a suit.

In the suit, the EFCC joined as respondents: Patience Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited., Am-Pm Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited and Magel Resort Limited and Esther Oba.

When the case was called on Monday, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo annoumced appearance for the EFCC.

On the other side, MrIfedayoAdedipe appeared for the first respondent, MrGboyegaOyewole appeared for the second respondent, Chief Mike Ozekhome appeared for the third to sixth respondents, and MrIgeAsemudara appeared for the seventh respondent.

After respondent counsel had moved their various motions for regularisation of processes, the court asked the applicant to move his motion for final forfeiture.

Moving his application, Oyedepo informed the court that the application for final forfeiture was dated May 8, seeking an order of the court for a final forfeiture of the sums of money listed in the application.

He supported his application with an affidavit deposed to on May 20, by Mr Orji Chukwuma, an operative with the commission, and told the court that he relies on the written averments, as well as exhibits EFCC 12 and 13, in support of his application.

Oydepo told the court that he also relies on the written address attached to the application, and urged the court to grant the application for final forfeiture.

Meanwhile, arguing his processes in opposition dated July 24, MrAdedipe, counsel to first respondent, urged the court to refuse the application for final forfeiture on the grounds that sufficient facts had not been placed before the court to warrant a final order.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/patience-jonathan-asks-court-to-unfreeze-her-accounts.html

The General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry Worldwide, Pastor William Kumuyi has called on Nigerians to turn away from sin.

Kumuyi spoke at a crusade tagged ‘God of All Wonders’ organised by the Deeper Life Bible Church at the National Stadium in Abuja on Sunday.

“He (Jesus Christ) will set you free. The question is what steps do I take, what move do I make and what is the thing I suppose to do so that the wonder of salvation , healing and deliverance will take place in my life that is why the message is ‘The ABC of Receiving and Retaining God’s Wonders’. To realize your salvation, healing and deliverance is to act, believe and retain,” Kumuyi said.

President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was represented by Rev Isaac Peter who both received loud applause by the participants.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/people-need-to-turn-away-from-sin-pastor-kumuyi.html

CHAI!

hmmm

RIP

Immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Peter Ayodele Fayose is set to regain his freedom from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as he has met his bail conditions.

According to his aide, Lere Olayinka, the former governor filed all the necessary documents before the court for verification on Friday and should be out of EFCC custody today (Monday).

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fayose-set-to-regain-freedom-from-efcc-custody.html