₦airaland Forum

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has granted approval to the Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, to run 15 academic programmes for the next five years, the Rector of the Institution, Dr Ahmed Umar has disclosed.
Dr Umar who spoke to journalists in Minna on the development, said the approval was sequel to the accreditation visitation by the NBTE team to the institution between October 25 to 28 2017.

He said the NBTE granted the institution approval to run 10 Higher National Diploma (HND) and five National Diploma programmes.

Among the HND courses are Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology with option in Electronic/Telecommunications; Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology with option in Power and Machines; Science Laboratory Technology (Biology) and Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry).

Others are Computer Science; Estate Management and Valuation; Public Administration; Business Administration, and Accountancy.

He said the programmes approved for the National Diploma include Statistics, Building Technology; Urban and Regional Planning; Public Administration; Business Administration and Accountancy.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/niger-poly-gets-nbte-nod-to-run-15-programmes.html

Amnesty International (AI) has accused the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) of killing dozens of villagers in airstrikes on villages troubled by communal violence.

A report by the spokesman of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi released yesterday, but embargoed for 00.01 GMT Tuesday 30 January 2018, said at least 35 people were killed by the air strikes.

Sanusi who quoted Osai Ojigho, Director Amnesty International Nigeria, said the Nigerian authorities’ response to communal violence was inadequate, too slow and ineffective, and in some cases unlawful.

Amnesty International said clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Ondo and Kaduna have resulted in 168 deaths in January 2018 alone.

He said “In some cases where the Nigerian security agencies did respond to communal violence, they used excessive or unlawful force resulting in even more deaths and destruction.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/amnesty-international-accuses-air-force-of-killing-dozens.html

Ganduje: We’ll Replace You With Senator Lado in 2019

The Law’ll Take Its Course In Case of Any Trouble - Kano CP



The looming political crisis in Kano appeared to have no end in sight as Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso yesterday vowed not to call off his planned visit to the state slated Tuesday.

This is even as Governor Abduallahi Umar Ganduje has vowed that the senator would not be allowed to return to the Senate in 2019.

Kwankwaso spoke through the former Secretary to Kano State Government, Dr Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, at a press conference in Kano, insisting that the planned visit to the state would go ahead as scheduled.

His stance came barely 24 hours after the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Rabi’u Yusuf, advised him to shelve the visit for security reasons.



The police commissioner, at a press briefing on Friday, warned Kwankwaso to either put on hold the visit or be held liable for any security issues that may arise from it.

There has been palpable tension as the two factions of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state fixed their parallel political rallies to hold on the same day.

The state government also planned a political event to coincide with the day the former governor is expected in the state.

But Bichi accused the state government of plotting to scuttle Kwankwaso’s planned visit.

“It is a common knowledge in Kano that since November last year, news has been going round that Senator Kwankwaso had plans to come to Kano. However, the state government, through its officials, has vowed to stop him from visiting his consistency.”

The former SSG further alleged that three prominent politicians in the state were after Senator Kwankwaso, and accused the Commissioner of Police of taking sides.

He said the politicians are: the Commissioner of Rural Development, Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso and his Special Duties counterpart, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, as well as an APC stalwart, Alhaji Abdulmajid Danbalki, also known as Commander.

He explained that the Commissioner for Rural Development had, on December 16, 2017, and January 15, 2018, declared on some radio stations that whichever way Senator Kwankwaso chooses to come to the state, a political programme should be arranged to counter the visit.

According to him, the greatest threat was from the Commissioner of Special Duties who was caught on a video clip and radio that went viral on social media, directing the supporters of the governor to stone the senator whenever he visits Kano.

Bichi alleged that Commander, on his part, was on radio stations, threatening that Senator Kwankwaso would be arrested if he goes ahead with the visit.

Bichi said following the inciting statements, a complaint letter, dated January 10, was written to the police, asking them to bring the alleged inciters to book.

He, however, said on January 23, Kwankwaso received a letter from the Commissioner of Police, advising him to shelve the visit in respect of the threats made by the politicians.

Bichi lamented that Kwankwaso replied the commissioner in a letter dated January 24, but that he refused to receive the letter and also instructed his personnel not to receive it.

He pointed out that “…it is instructive to say that should anything happen to Senator Kwankwaso or anybody among his supporters during his visit to Kano, CP Rabi’u should be held responsible for dereliction of his responsibility.”

When contacted on phone, the Commissioner of Police said that he had already made the stand of the police very clear to Senator Kwankwaso and his supporters.

“I have briefed you about Kwankwaso’s visit and made it clear that there are impending threats associated to his coming to Kano and we are doing our best to douse and neutralise the tension.

“All we want is to ensure that no life is lost and nobody is injured during the planned visit and we will continue to do everything possible to avert this. And that is why we advised Kwankwaso to shelve his visit but if he insists on coming, then whatever happens, the law will take its course,” he said.

Also reacting, the Commissioner of Special Duties, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas said what he said in the video clip was a mere political statement and did not mention anybody’s name.

He said: “I am a grassroots politician and we are used to political language. Even Senator Kwankwaso is used to such language. We are all aware of his words of Jan Baki and Goro Dan Ujule.

“We use similar language. By virtue of my background, I cannot incite the public against anybody, but I cannot as well stop people from interpreting my statements to suit their political interests,” he said.

Ganduje later yesterday formerly received Senator Basheer Garba Lado and his supporters into the ruling APC at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, in Kano metropolis.

Speaking at the event that witnessed a large turnout of his supporters, Governor Ganduje vowed that Kano people will change their senator for the Kano-Central Senatorial District in the 2019 election.

Former Kano State governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who has been having a protracted face-off with his predecessor, presently represents the district.

The governor added that Senator Lado had moved out of a dead party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the APC, a vibrant one.

He assured that the APC will again win the general elections in 2019, noting that President Buhari will run for the Presidency and win again.

Ganduje, who endorsed President Buhari’s second term, assured that the people of the state would vote for him in the next election.

He said President Buhari deserved a second term in order to complete the laudable projects he had already started.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kano-face-off-latest-kwankwaso-to-go-ahead-with-tuesday-visit.html

The Kwankwasiyya movement has alleged that three prominent politicians in Kano state have planned to attack its National Leader, Senator Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, former Secretary to Kano State Government, Dr Rabi'u Sulaiman Bichi said that the ploticians include two serving commissioners of rural development and soecial duties, Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso and Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas as well as Alhaji Abdulmajid Danbalki Commander.

Dr Bichi also accused the Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Rabi'u Yusuf of being partisan in politics by siding with the incompetent governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Gansuje in discharging his statutory duties as chief law enforcement agent in the state.

He said, "It is a common knowledge in Kano that since November last year, news has been going round that Senator Kwankwaso planned to come to Kano. However, the state government, through Iliyasu Kwankwaso, Abbas and Commander vowed not to allow him visit his consistency."

He explained that Iliyasu Kwankwaso had on December 16, 2017 and 15th January 2018, went on air and publicly declared on Express and Pyramid FM radio stations that they would never allow senator to come to the state and he gave notice that whichever way Kwankwaso chooses to come into Kano, they would arrange a political programme to counter his visit.

The former SSG said, Danbalki commander on his part, was on Aminci FM and FRCN Kaduna stations where he also declared that senator Kwankwaso would be arrested if he goes ahead with the visit.

He said, "The most dangerous threat came from Abbas on January 15 when he was caught on a video clip and Radio that went viral on social media, directing the followers of the governor to stone the senator the day he comes to Kano. He told the gathering that they should all meet at Kwanar Dangora to stone Kwankwaso. He also said they will attack him even in his bedroom.

"Following the inciting statements by the trio, we wrote a letter to the police dated January 10th 2018, in which we complained about the inciting statements and craved the indulgence of the CP, in line with his statutory duty to bring the suspects to book. We also took the advantage to intimate the CP of the impending visit of the senator.

He, however, said on January 23th 2018, Kwankwaso received a letter from the CP, advising him to shelve the Kano visit in respect of the threats made by the three politicians.

Dr Bichi lamented that when Kwankwaso replied CP Rabi'u in a letter dated 24th January, he refused to receive the letter and also instructed his personnel not to receive same.

"This clearly confirms our long-held conviction that CP Rabi'u is baised and partisan in favor of Gandujiyya. Finally, it is instructive to say that should anything happen to senator Kwankwaso or anybody among his supporters during his visit to Kano, CP Rabi'u should be held responsible for dereliction of his responsibility," he concluded.

When contacted on phone, the Commissioner of Police, Rabi'u Yusuf said that he had already made the stand of the police very clear to Senator Kwankwaso and his supporters.

"I have briefed you about Kwankwaso's visit and I have made it clear that there are impending threats associated to his coming to Kano and we are doing our best to douse and neutralise the tension.

"All we want is to ensure sure that no life of innocent people is lost and nobody is injured during the planned visit and we will continue to do everything possible to avert this. And that is why, we advised Kwankwaso to shelve his visit but if he insist to come then whatever happen, the law will take its course on him," he said.

On his part, the Commissioner of Special Duties, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said what he said in the video clip was mere political statement and he did not mention anybody's name.

He said, "I am a grassroot political and we are use to political language. Even senator Kwankwaso is use to such languages. We are all aware of his words of Jan Baki and Goro Dan Ujuli.

"We use similar language. By virtue of my background, I cannot incite public against anybody, but I cannot as well stop people from interpreting my statements to suit their political interest."

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kano-visit-kwankwasiyya-alleges-plan-to-attack-kwankwaso.html

RIP

A House of Representatives ad-hoc panel yesterday resolved to issue an arrest warrant against the chairman of Globacom Nigeria, Chief Mike Adenuga for failing to honour its invitations.

The panel, which is investigating activities of telecommunications companies, said it had summoned Adenuga after making several attempts to have him appear before it were not successful.

The chairman of the committee, Rep Ahmed Abu (APC, Niger) said Adenuga’s action was an affront to the legislature, saying he ought to appear to clear issues related to financial obligations by his company.

Abu said records before the panel showed that Globacom Nigeria owes the Federal Government over N16.7 billion.

He asked both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to go after the Glo chief for holding Nigeria’s money.

“A situation where the parliament will invite an agency or organization and then it won’t come, then we’re going nowhere. Some people feel they’re too big; that they’re above the law. I’m making reference to Mr Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Glo.

“The amount of disrespect he has for the parliament is unacceptable. Yes, he’s a billionaire, but that doesn’t mean anything. Anybody can be a billionaire in the right atmosphere,” he said.

A member of the panel, Abdulrahman Shuaibu (APC, Adamawa) moved that the panel should approach the House to issue an arrest warrant against Adenuga, which was supported by all members.

Shuaibu said, “We summoned him, but he failed to appear. I want to move that in view of that, we issue an arrest warrant against him for the IGP to produce him on February 15 by 12 noon.”

Abu ruled that “The committee hereby resolves that an arrest warrant be issued against the chairman of Globacom.”

The panel would have to approach Speaker Yakubu Dogara to sign the arrest warrant for it to be effected.

Our correspondent later gathered that there was a mix up as a Glo representative that was delegated to attend the meeting went to the House standing committee on telecommunications instead of the ad-hoc committee.

When he later discovered that he was actually to appear before the ad-hoc panel, he rushed to the venue, but the meeting had ended.

A Glo source told Daily Trust that they have appealed to the panel to reconsider its decision as the non-appearance before it yesterday was not deliberate.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-ask-efcc-icpc-to-arrest-mike-adenuga.html

Former Abia governor, Dr Orji Kalu, on Thursday faulted ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari criticising his poor handling of the economy and advising him not to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Kalu told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos, that Obasanjo lacked the moral right to comment on such national issues.
He noted that Buhari’s government may be slow in taking critical decisions, but had done well in tackling corruption, recalling high level of graft in the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled Nigeria.
Kalu said Buhari had recorded modest achievements in his two and half years tenure, which necessitates his re-election.
The former governor listed the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge and other interventions in the economy as some of Buhari’s feats.
“I am not going to talk about former President Obasanjo’s letter because I am going to make some consultations with the United States, Germany, China and the United Kingdom, then I will come back and speak on that letter.
“I think Obasanjo’s letter is not in the best interest of Nigeria. I don’t want to reply him because I have given you example times without number.
“There are three express roads Obasanjo refused to build when he was the president of Nigeria; Port Harcourt-Okigwe-Umuahia-Enugu expressway. It is being built now by the Buhari administration.
“Another one is the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway. It is being built now by the Buhari administration. Obasanjo did not build it.
“Then there is the Onitsha-Owerri-Aba Expressway. The Buhari administration is building it now.
“Between Obasanjo and Buhari who should I call my friend in real terms? So Buhari is my friend; so he is a better President.

“I don’t wish to reply that letter because the former president has no morals that should qualify him to write that letter,” he said.
According to Kalu, Nigerians have also not forgotten the $16 billion wasted on building power plants by the Obasanjo administration which yielded no result.
He said it would therefore be unfair to the South East, South South and South Western parts of Nigeria not to support the second term bid of Buhari.
He however advised Buhari to speak on security issues in Nigeria because it was threatening the fabric of socio-economic cohesion of the country.
Kalu said the challenge of herdsmen/farmers clash was lingering in some states because their governors lacked the capacity to handle the situation. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/obasanjo-lacks-moral-right-to-criticise-buhari-kalu.html

The Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe), yesterday, protested a remark made by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia) during plenary advising the senate to impeach the president if he refuses to act.

Abaribe had while seconding a bill tagged, “An Act to Prescribe Punishment for Acts and Conducts that are Undemocratic by Elected Officials”, sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, said if the president refused to act, he should be impeached.

“When you choose in an election, you must be able to accept the consequence of that choice you have made. Nigerians chose APC, they must live with the consequence of that,” he said.

“Nobody can wake up now and tell us, like my friend wants to tell us, that some people are undemocratic…I think the problem of Ibn Na’Allah, our very good friend, is that the executive today refuse to act when they need to act for consequences of what the people do.

“The penalty is there in the constitution. If a president refuses to act, then impeach him; there is no other thing you need to do,” Abaribe said.

But Lawan interjected by raising a point of order, saying Abaribe had veered off completely from the subject matter and in a way cast aspersion on the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the president.

“I believe he should withdraw it (statement) and continue to remain on track,” he said.

Responding, Saraki said Abaribe had completely gone off the subject matter and cautioned him.

But Abaribe continued by saying, “Let me withdraw that of the president and say any governor that leaves his responsibility should be impeached.”

When Abaribe started talking about Tuesday’s press statement issued by a former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on President Muhammadu Buhari, Saraki stopped him saying, “I will play the role of the leader and the senate president.”

Na’Allah had while leading the debate on the bill, described the draft law as “a sunset approach” to address the myriad of problems currently bedevilling the country’s political atmosphere.

“It is intended to provide the atmosphere that would promote and sustain our democratic development,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/senate-leader-differs-with-abaribe-on-impeachment-of-president.html

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo are both expired leaders that Nigerians are desirous of getting rid of.

Reacting to Obasanjo's lengthy statement to President Buhari, Fayose in a series of tweets said,"Obasanjo (the accuser) and Buhari (the accused) are both expired people that Nigerians are desirous of getting rid of. They both don't know when they were born and have outlived their usefulness in the political life of Nigeria".

Fayose accused Obasanjo of "culpable in the enthronement and colossal failure of Buhari", adding that it is the decision of Nigerians that Buhari has failed and he must go,not that of OBJ.

"Content of OBJ's letter is a welcome development but the messenger is also culpable in the enthronement and colossal failure of Buhari. Though we warned them ahead of this tragedy. It is therefore the decision of Nigerians that Buhari has failed and he must go,not that of OBJ", he said.

Obasanjo (the accuser) and Buhari (the accused) are both expired people that Nigerians are desirous of getting rid of. They both don't know when they were born and have outlived their usefulness in the political life of Nigeria.
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) January 23, 2018

The Director General of the Buhari Support Group

Centre, (BSGC), Alhaji Umaru Dembo, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to come out and re-contest the 2019 general elections.

He said Buhari should not heed the call by ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who said he should not contest.

“Many people that are used to corrupt tendencies who are denied access to government coffers by this government want to come back to power at all cost to perpetuate their sabotage against the country.

“I am calling on Olusegun Obasanjo to stop making unnecessary comments against the polity by showing Nigerians that he knows all. Governance is an evolving issue; those in power know what they are planning for the people in a democratic setting better than those outside the system. President Buhari is a disciplined man with great repute who takes his time before embarking on any action whatsoever,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-shouldn-t-be-constrained-by-obasanjo-s-letter-dembo.html

A former Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has set up a 19-member security committee ahead of his visit to Kano State on January 30, Daily Trust learnt.

The committee is headed by retired General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, the Minister of Interior, while Dr. Danyaro Ali Yakasai and Barrister Munir Dahiru will serve as vice chairman and secretary of the committee respectively.

Other members of the committee include retired Colonel Usman Garun-Malam, retired Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u, retired Major General Ahmad Tijjani Jibril, retired Air Commodore Ali Bebeji, retired Air Commodore Zakari Baffa and retired AIG Bala Abdullahi.

Also, among the members are retired CP Rabi’u Mani, retired Commander Kamilu Wudil, retired Commander Sarki Aliyu Daneji, Alhaji M.T Usman, Hon. Lawal Sale Gaya, Alhaji Baba Umar, Alhaji Tijjani Dambazau, Alhaji Sanusi Surajo Kwankwaso, Alhaji Adamu Garko and Alhaji Muhammad Ado Danbatta.

The committee is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing all security matters during the January 30 visit by Senator Kwankwaso.

Members of the committee, Daily Trust gathered, had been having series of meetings in Kaduna with a view to ensuring a smooth and peaceful visit.

Speaking to Daily Trust, a member of the committee, Alhaji Sanusi Surajo Kwankwaso, said the committee was determined to ensure a peaceful event.

“We are committed to the responsibility we are charged to discharge and we will not disappoint our people. So far everything is going as scheduled and God willing, we will hold a peaceful event,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kano-visit-gen-dambazau-heads-kwankwaso-s-security-c-ttee.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the counsel by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari as courageous, timely and patriotic.

The party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday in Abuja, that the advice had vindicated its position on Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obasanjo in an open letter to Buhari, which went viral on the social media on Tuesday, advised him not to re-contest in the 2019 general election.

The PDP, however, rejected the call by Obasanjo for a “third force’’ saying that such would amount to repeating the same “blunder that brought in the APC and Buhari as president’’.

It added that “Chief Obasanjo’s counsel has rekindled the fate of the people in the democratic process.

“However, the solution does not lie in creating another political quicksand in a third force but consolidating on a rescue mission with the repositioned PDP which Nigerians have already embraced.

“Nigerians would recall that in the heat of 2015 elections, many citizens, who claimed to have become tired of the PDP and its government, opted for a coalition.

“They opted for collation of strange bedfellows who had little or no experience in governance as a vehicle for electoral victory.

“Expectedly, in their confusion, they have plunged us into this regrettable situation that has brought our nation to its knees.

“Repeating the old mistake of congregating political strangers cannot help our nation at this time, more so, when the few concerns raised by the former president about the PDP no longer obtain under the refocused and rebranded PDP.’’

The party said that it was now standing on a truly democratic ground that perfectly represents and reflects the hopes and aspirations of all Nigerians irrespective of their class, creed or tribe.

“That is why our great party has now, more than ever before, become a centre of the new patriotic and broad-based engagements by well-meaning Nigerians and coalitions across board, including past leaders.’’

It said that the fact was that Nigerians overrated Buhari in 2015 but that they had now seen the reality.

“This accounts for the reason former President Obasanjo, just like most Nigerians today, are concerned about the quality of presidential candidates to be presented by various parties for the 2019 election,’’ it said.

The party added that fact is that while APC was already considering Buhari for its 2019 ticket, “PDP is open for a new engagement that will produce candidate that Nigeria truly deserves at this crucial moment.

“We therefore call on Nigerians, including all our leaders across board, to come together to rebuild our nation on PDP’s consolidated base rather than traversing on another learning curve.’’(NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-elections-pdp-says-obasanjo-s-advice-vindicates-position-on-buhari-apc.html

The Senator representing Bayelsa East in the National Assembly, Ben-Murray Bruce, has said that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is willing to receive his colleague, Shehu Sani into the main opposition party.

He said the way things are going, it seems the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, no longer want the senator.

The APC in the six local governments that make up Kaduna Central Senatorial district had on Sunday endorsed a rival aspirant and political adviser to Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, Uba Sani, for the 2019 senatorial ticket.

Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central, had described the rejection as ‘antics’ by the governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Ben Bruce said in a series of tweet, “Senator is an asset to Nigeria and a pride to the Ni gerian Senate. I have traveled all over Nigeria and very few Nigerians can match his intellect. “If APC doesn’t want him, PDP wants him. Nigeria wants him. Democracy needs him. He’s a specimen of patriotism!”

Senator @ShehuSani is an asset to Nigeria and a pride to the @NGRSenate. I have traveled all over Nigeria and very few Nigerians can match his intellect. If APC doesn’t want him, the @OfficialPDPNig wants him. Nigeria wants him. Democracy needs him. He’s a specimen of patriotism!
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) January 22, 2018

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday, listed an apparent three "sins" of President Muhammed Buhari, lamenting that wrong choice of cabinet members had collasped the country's economy.

In a special statement, titled "THE WAY OUT: A CLARION CALL FOR COALITION FOR NIGERIA MOVEMENT" made available to newsmen through his Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo disclosed that the situation which pitched him and masses of the country agaisnt former President GoOdluck Jonathan in 2015 is again playing itself out on Buhari's administration.

Obasanjo listed the "sins" to include alleged nepotism, poor understanding of the dynamics of internal politics and buck passing.

He cited the way fulani herdsmen have been killing without solution and the inablity of his (Buhari's administration) to bring discipline

to members of his cabinet, declaring, "it will appear that national interest was being sacrificed on the alter of nepotic interest."

To him, President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country. His place in history is already assured. Without impaired health and strain of age, running the affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affair, not 24/7.

"I only appeal to brother Buhari to consider a deserved rest at this point in time and at this age. I continue to wish him robust health to enjoy his retirement from active public service. President Buhari does not necessarily need to heed my advice. But whether or not he heeds it, Nigeria needs to move on and move forward."

Obasanjo called for a movement tagged "Coalition for Nigeria, (CN)" which all Nigerians can belong. "Such Movement neds not be a political party but one to which all well-meaning Nigerians can belong. The Movement must be a coalition for democracy, good governance, social and economic well-being and progress.

He said the Movement was been suggested as the current political parties, particularly the ruling APC and the main opposition party PDP had failed.

Former first lady Mrs Patience Jonathan has complained to a Federal High Court in Abuja over the recent demolition of some property linked to her foundation.

The demolition was carried out by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) despite a suit pending before another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

Mrs Jonathan’s complain was brought by her counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) yesterday at the hearing of an ex parte application, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the temporary forfeiture of her other property.

The EFCC is seeking to attach some property belonging to Ariwaba Aruera Reach out Foundation, which Mrs Jonathan promotes.

The property include: Plot No. 1758, Cadastral Zone, B06 Mabushi; and Plot No.1350, Cadastral Zone, A00 Central Business District, Abuja.

In moving his preliminary objection to the EFCC application, Ozekhome said the property, which is the subject matter of the suit, had been demolished by the Federal Government.

He applied to tender photographs, video CDs and newspaper reports concerning the demolition.

When Justice Nnamdi Dimgba asked the EFCC lawyer, Benedict Manji, to confirm the claim, he denied knowledge of the demolition.

“My Lord, I am hearing of the demolition now. It is not part of our mandate,” he said.

The case has been adjourned to February 26 for hearing.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/patience-jonathan-briefs-court-over-demolished-property.html

President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term and tenure extension for members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dominated discussion as the NWC began a three day meeting in Abuja yesterday, Daily Trust has learnt.

The tenure of members of the NWC will expire in June but speculation is rife that they are working for their term to be extended until the election.

Proponents of tenure extension argued that this is the best way to go in order to avoid holding a convention and party primaries weeks apart.

They pointed out that the party should avoid a convention with all the attendant risk of a backlash as it goes into election year.

On the other side are some party chieftains who are not happy with the way things are being handled.

Sources say these are some of the thorny issues the party leaders will have to thrash out in the next two days.

The APC leaders during yesterday’s meeting also deliberated on how to convince President Buhari to seek re-election next year.

Sources said they also brought up the crisis ravaging its state chapters and the need to resolve them so as to improve the party’s chances ahead of 2019.

It was gathered yesterday that the NWC meeting, being presided over by the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, started addressing some of the key issues.

There was no official briefing for journalists on the outcome of the meeting.The meeting will continue today.

Intrigues over convention

It was gathered that the presidency was “in tune” with the planned extension of the tenure of Chief Oyegun’s led NWC.

“The argument is simple, if Oyegun and his team continue, it would be much easier for us to sail through President Buhari’s re-election bid,” a credible source said.

“Some APC governors are also in support of this because if we are to hold convention now for new party leaders to emerge, it would be difficult to galvanize forces,” he said.

Another source confirmed that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who was rumoured to have been re-appointed as Director-General of President Buhari’s Campaign Organization is working closely with Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to ensure that contentious issues within the party were resolved soonest.

The party’s NWC must convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) anytime soon because the tenure of the party officials at ward level will expire by February 24.

Chief Odigie-Oyegun had said on January 6 this year that the meetings of National Caucus and NEC would hold by the end of this month to endorse the timetable for congresses and national convention.

The APC national chairman added that the congresses and convention would hold between January and June this year.

But the activities lined up ahead of the congresses and convention and the actions of party leaders were now being received with suspicion after key political figures in the ruling party were believed to have commenced fresh moves to delay the process again, with the purported plan to elongate the tenure of the current NWC beyond June 13, 2018 when their tenure expires.

The plan was cited as the reason for the abrupt postponement of a routine meeting expected to involve the NWC members, the 24 governors and the party caucus in the National Assembly last Wednesday.

Crisis in states

The APC is enveloped in crisis in many states under its control and this is one of the issues the ongoing NWC meeting is working to resolve.

In Kano where the party got the highest votes in 2015, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is locked in intense fight with his predecessor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Various committees setup to resolve the crisis could not succeed, and sources said the APC leadership, on the orders of President Buhari would try to find a lasting solution to the problem.

“Kwankwaso came second to Buhari during the APC’s presidential primaries in 2015; the party will not afford to have a divided house in Kano,” a source close to the meeting, said.

Governor El-Rufai is also fighting with Senator Shehu Sani and other APC chieftains in Kaduna. They include Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Tijjani Ramalan and Tom Maiyashi.

The situation is the same in Katsina where Governor Aminu Bello Masari is not seeing eye-to-eye with the likes of Mohammed Tukur Liman, Tijjani Zangon Daura, Sadiq Yar’Adua, Kabiru Murja, Sada Ilu among other party chieftains, a development that led to the formation of APC-Akida.

In Bauchi, Governor Mohammed Abubakar is having a frosty relationship with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the three senators from the state- Nazif Gamawa, Ali Wakili and Hamma Misau as well as other legislators and senior party chieftains like ex- Police Affairs Minister, Dr. Yakubu Lame.

In Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi is fighting with the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shitu.

The situation is the same in many states.

“All these are the tasks before the APC NWC meeting and we are trying to resolve them. We also want to ensure that our house is put in order in the South West and in the North Central while we consolidate our gains in the South East,” another source said.

We want presidency in 2023, Igbo APC leaders tell Buhari

A delegation of the All Progressives Congress leaders from the Southeast yesterday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and asked him to support zoning of the presidency to the region in 2023.

They also reaffirmed the unanimous decision of the party in the zone on December 31, 2017 endorsing Buhari for a second term in office.

The delegation, led by Science and Technology Minister Ogbonnaya Onu, comprises former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Ebonyi State Governor Martins Elechi, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Ben Uwajimogu, former governor of old Anambra State Jim Nwobodo, Senator Nkechi Nworgu, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, former Labour Minister Emeka Wogu, Senator Uche Ekwunife, Hon. Tony Nwoye, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Hon. Emma Eneukwu, National Vice Chairman, South East APC, said: ‘‘It is our conviction that four years is not enough for you to complete this worthy journey hence the need for another four years to enable you make Nigeria truly great.

“We implore Mr President, as a just and fair-minded leader, to make history by supporting the zoning of the office of the President in our great party to the South East at the end of your second tenure in office as President in 2023.”

He thanked Bujari for the several projects receiving attention of the Federal Government in the South East including , 2nd Niger Bridge, Enugu-Port Harcourt road as well as the Enugu-Onitsha –Owerri road, among others.

I’ll act with clear conscience - President

Responding, President Buhari said he would take decisions with a clear conscience and do the best he could do for all Nigerians.

‘‘I assure you that whatever I try to do, I will do it with a clear conscience and I’ll do the best I can do for all Nigerians,’’ Buhari said.

He thanked the delegation for their patriotism, sacrifices and support for the peace and stability of the country.

He commended the Southeast leaders for acknowledging the laudable and consistent efforts of his administration to restore Nigeria to the position of eminence.

‘‘I am very pleased for your patriotism and consistency in supporting our administration. You are always going around explaining things even at the risk of abuse.

‘‘I want you to know that I have not forgotten the efforts and sacrifices you have made in the successes I have achieved in my position and I appreciate what you are doing for the stability of our country and the future of our children and our grandchildren,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-s-second-term-nwc-tenure-dominate-apc-meeting.html

Sai baba...

Bad news

hmmm

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the weekend quizzed the former acting Director- General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Muhammed Dauda, Daily Trust authoritatively learned.

Daily Trust last week exclusively reported how another $44million in cash kept in NIA’s vaults in Abuja was removed to an unknown destination, two months after Ambassador Ayodele Oke was sacked as head of the agency.

Top security sources said the money was surreptitiously removed even before the agency’s substantive DG Ahmed Rufai Abubakar resumed duty.

Ambassador Dauda, who was appointed the acting head of the NIA about two months ago after the sack of Mr Oke by President Muhammadu Buhari, was sighted at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency on Friday and Saturday.

“Ambassador Dauda was at the EFCC for about two hours on Friday,” a security source conversant with the issues confided on Daily Trust.

The source said the immediate past NIA chief was also at the EFCC on Saturday.

“The former NIA chief went back to the EFCC on Saturday for another round of ‘meeting’ that lasted for two hours,” another source said.

The source didn’t disclose what Mr Dauda discussed with the EFCC operatives during the two marathon meetings.

The security source who declined being named for security reasons said the NIA chief was at the anti-graft agency between 11 am to 2pm on Friday. He returned to the EFCC on Saturday around 3 pm and left around 5 pm.

Another insider said Mr Dauda might have been questioned on the “latest happenings in the agency.”

Another source said the visits might not be unconnected to the controversial removal of $44million from the vault of the intelligence agency about a week ago.

The EFCC was unable to pin down Mr Oke for questioning as the Department of State Security (DSS) prevented its operatives from arresting him recently in Abuja.

Another source said after the foiled arrest attempt on Mr Oke, “another fresh invite was sent to him. He refused to honour the first letter, but we sent another one just recently.”

But an EFCC source said Mr Dauda, who served as a director in EFCC might have gone there “to visit his former colleagues.”

Another source told this newspaper that the former NIA chief “might have obtained a clearance from the National Security Adviser (NIA) before the two visits to the EFCC.”

Tracing the origin of the money, the sources told Daily Trust that the Jonathan administration released over $260million to NIA as General Intervention Fund. At the time federal government launched an investigation into the funds last year, only the cash discovered in Lagos and the $44million lying in the Abuja vault remained to be expended out of the original $260million, the sources said.

As soon as it started its probe, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led committee directed that the money must remain in NIA’s vault as an exhibit, Daily Trust learnt. The sources, however, said, “While the money remained in the vault, certain powerful forces mounted pressure on the acting DG, Ambassador Mohammed Dauda, who was redeployed from Chad, to use the money since it is the property of the NIA but the acting DG refused.”

According to our sources, the “powerful forces” pushed very hard for the money to be tampered with, saying the government had forgotten all about it, but for the firm resistance of the outgoing acting DG.

Our sources added, “But barely two days after President Buhari named a substantive head for the agency, a black bullion van was dispatched to NIA and the money was removed to an unknown destination around 6 am on Friday. The team that removed the money was accompanied by a serving military officer who was posted to the intelligence outfit months ago as the finance officer.” The total amount of money that was taken away from NIA’s vaults on that Friday was $44,285,996.

When the EFCC acting spokesperson Mr Samin Amaddin was contacted for the story yesterday, he said he was not in Abuja at the weekend, so he couldn’t confirm it. Ambassador Dauda also didn’t pick his calls nor replied to a message sent to him.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/-44m-efcc-quizzes-ex-nia-boss-ambassador-dauda.html

Security agencies, including the Department of State Service (DSS) have revealed that the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) network operating within North-central and South-south zones of Nigeria were behind the recent killings in Benue State.

The agencies, in a report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari, said they discovered this following arrest of several suspected attackers comprising Fulani herdsmen, government-sponsored militias, militants and other miscreants in the state.

According to the report, ISWA is using foreign terrorists and recruiting young men to fight and kill innocent persons to exacerbate tensions along the county’s ethnic, religious and regional fault lines.

A Presidency source, who disclosed this to State House reporters yesterday, said among those in custody were many, who spoke none of the languages native to Nigeria, but the French language.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said all the reports submitted to Buhari indicated that “Security officials now fear an influx of other ISIS members into many parts of the country.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed that Buhari had been receiving “Reports upon reports on the situation in Benue and other states.”

Shehu, who said the DSS had recorded success lately, however noted that he had not been briefed on any of the reports submitted to the president.

But the source stated: “This is the first time that security officials have confirmed that the Islamic State in West Africa members are operating as a unit in Nigeria and the level of their penetration of the country.

“A good number of the Islamic State terrorists have been arrested not only in the Benue valley but significantly in several towns in Edo State, specifically in Akoko-Edo, Okpella and Benin as well as in Okene, in Kogi state.

“It is understood that the cell which has members in different parts of the country concentrates on recruiting young men to fight for the Islamic State in West Africa by unleashing the cold-blooded murder of innocent citizens.

“There was intelligence that they had planned several attacks here, before and during Christmas and the New Year. Their bombing targets included fuel depots, foreign missions and police and military establishments. Their network is very wide. But so much was achieved by the DSS, which had made a significant number of arrests in the last two months that helped to pre-empt those attacks. This helped to save Nigeria from the spate of major terrorist attacks witnessed elsewhere that were syndicated by ISIS worldwide.

“We are learning more and more about this complex and sophisticated network. This is the main reason why the secret service is not parading those suspects, so far arrested. It has become clear to us by now, that the challenge facing this country is a serious one.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/islamic-state-terrorists-behind-benue-killings-security-chiefs.html

Obasanjo’s claim of honesty is questionable
Why we introduced constituency projects
How to tackle farmers, herders crises

Professor Daniel Saror is a former vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. In this exclusive interview, the former senator and governorship aspirant spoke on his foray into politics, the current administration, herdsmen/farmers clashes and many more.

You were at the Senate during the tenure of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, how was the relationship between the legislature and executive at that time?

I can speak authoritatively on this issue because I was a member of the Appropriations Committee from day one. I was also a member of the Finance Committee for eight years. In the Senate of 1999 to 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo did not want to recognize the National Assembly as having a role to play in budget formulation or even approval. If you can remember the debate at that time was that we had no business meddling with the budget.

His budget implementation was very poor and I recall very well, we said look we were elected to the Senate before you because we were elected before the President was elected in 1999. We needed to show our constituencies that we were also there so we brought the concept of constituency projects. These projects were not supposed to be implemented by us. All that was required was that they would be included in the budget and the executive would implement them.

That was what we did. I am very proud to say that my own constituency projects when I was in the Senate were mostly water and education and I can tell you that the water project in Gungur was at my instance. The one in Jato Aka was at my instance just as the one in Vaase, including the one at Ushongo. I had boreholes in all the seven local governments, including outside. If you check the budget of those years you will see all these things. They were approved by the National Assembly and were implemented; I didn’t even know who the contractors were. Obasanjo never liked the idea.

Apart from the constituency projects, what were your other achievements at the Senate?

I must say that I did not enjoy my first tenure very much because I was not in the good books of the governor, though I was in very good committees. I had no rapport with the state. I was a member of the Appropriations Committee, Finance Committee, Education Committee, Agriculture Committee, Health and Communications. In fact I was chairman of the communications committee when GSM was introduced in August 2003. We introduced this GSM. The communications law which is now in operation was under my care; I did it almost singlehandedly with one Paul Usoro, now a Senior Advocate and the law is very good. In my second tenure, it was a lot easier. The late Alhaji Usman Albishir was the accepted leader of the ANPP; we met at the Army Officers Mess and thereafter I heard the BBC simply announced me as his deputy.

So I was deputy to him and became the Senate deputy minority leader. After a year or two there was a change in the ANPP leadership; Alhaji Usman Albishir stepped down and Senator Lawani Shuaibu stepped in as the minority leader. He had a disagreement with elements of the party and resigned as minority leader so I became the minority leader in his place. In that capacity I was a member of elections committee and a principal officer of the Senate. In terms of ranking I was the eight in hierarchy among the principal officers. I was also vice chairman of the finance committee when Senator Bob Effiong was the chairman. I was also a ranking member of the Appropriations Committee when Alhaji Maikafe Abubakar, Dan Masanin Bauchi, was the Chairman of the Appropriations committee. I served in the Education Committee throughout the eight years I was in the Senate; I also served in the Finance Committee.

What was the salary/ allowance for senators like at that time?

In terms of allowances when we first went to the Senate there was no salary structure for us; we were receiving N13, 000 per month as salary for almost a year. When the Revenue Mobilization and Physical Allocation (RMPAC) was later established they were mandated to set the salaries of lawmakers; so our salary was increased to N67, 000 per month. Up to the time I left the Senate that was what we were earning and I have a receipt to show for that. There was constituency allowance because we were supposed to have legislative aides in our constituencies and offices. My office in Katsina Ala here is still there and you can still see it on the road between Jurdaco old Hotel and the hospital, just outside. The building is still there and the staff I had were there. At the time that I left the Senate, our so called allowance was a few millions. Fortunately for the Senate or the National Assembly, after we left in 1997 and David Mark took over as Senate President, there was more money; indeed there was a lot of oil money. Again I can tell you that this excess crude account was established under us. I was a member of the Appropriation and Finance Committee when we insisted on it but it is now being abused by government and politicians. I am personally overwhelmed at the level of increase in the allocations accruing to lawmakers.

Was there anything like budget padding during your time?

I didn’t see it as budget padding, but I was critical. Civil servants have a lot to do with what we call budget padding because they are the ones who put things in the budget. They are the implementers of the budget. I agree that politicians also do the same, but I can assure you that as an individual, I never put anything in the budget. What is called padding is the difference between what is real and what is contained in the budget.

You were among those who clamoured for change; will you say the APC government has delivered that change?

I remember when General Muhammadu Buhari was an aspirant of the ANPP in 2003, I was chairman of the committee at the Eagle Square for his nomination. If you were watching television I was in the rain throughout that night until the process was over and he emerged as the candidate of the ANPP. I believe in him; I believe he has a basic concept of transparency and equity and I have always supported him. I supported him again in 2011 and when he was contesting again in 2015. Of course there was a merger of three parties; CAN, APC and ANPP. I recall that I was at the Eagle Square when the ANPP was dissolved to become part of APC. I was nominated to be there by then ANPP Chairman, Dr. Ogbonanya Onu.

Our group went to Gusau for a meeting but I didn’t go there; I came to Abuja. The Peoples Democratic party (PDP) under Obasanjo and under Yar’adua and Jonathan was a sorry story. I don’t want to talk evil about anybody but even Obasanjo’s claim of honesty and all that is questionable. He brought this idea of third term and Kenneth Nnamani was living two houses away from me in Abuja and we knew what was happening. I saw money being carted around at night to people. I was personally offered a lot of money in order to support third term which I refused to take. So he was not honest when he said if he had wanted third term God would have given him. We rejected it. I even went back to the Tor Tiv and told him the plan and he said don’t accept it and I did not accept it. So then came Yar’ adua. Obasanjo knew Yar’adua was not well but he single handedly installed him as president. The rest is history. By the time Jonathan came on board, he was not a strong character. The PDP governors were unreasonably rich or had access to money and could intimidate him.

They, indeed, intimidated him on many fronts and he failed to ensure accountability for the money he was doling out to the governors. So a lot of stealing was going on; literally looting and there was nothing anybody could do. It was from top to bottom; even the Army was involved. I remember as a principal officer we were to be briefed on the security situation at the ECOWAS Secretariat. Late General Victor Malu was the Chief of Army Staff and he told us that the Nigerian Air force could not fight anything because there was no operational equipment. Now with what Buhari has uncovered, the misuse of army money that you saw (it was published); people collecting hundreds of millions on a monthly basis to buy equipment that were never bought or refurbished, equipment that were bought without functional value. These are the sort of things that caused a lot of trauma to Nigerians. Unfortunately, Buhari is also very slow. He has failed to seize on the anger and desire by many Nigerians in 2015 for a real change. I don’t know what his problem is but he has not been able to move fast enough. I can sympathize with him on his health ground; he still commands a lot of respect but his government is not as popular now as it was then because people can’t see the change that he promised them in many areas. I think if they want to win again they have a lot of work to do to convince Nigerians that they are really determined to take Nigeria to the next level.

What is your assessment of the fight against Boko Haram and other emerging security challenges like the farmers/herders crises, especially in Benue?

I am not a security person; I am a lecturer but I feel that Nigeria has not done well regarding the Boko Haram issue. When Boko Haram started and we who are non-Muslims were concerned that this thing was going to affect us adversely many of our Muslim brothers didn’t feel concerned enough; they just turned a blind eye until it started to hit them. Now we are all victims. When Boko Haram was burning thousands of churches in the North-East I didn’t hear anybody shout against it until they started burning their villages and so on. Boko Haram is an evil design by whomever to forcefully Islamize people in the wrong way. The normal Islam that we know is a peaceful religion. You won’t believe that most of my friends are Muslims. My own driver of more than twenty years is a Muslims and we are like brothers.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/professor-daniel-saror-speaks-on-2019-buhari-has-a-lot-to-do-to-win-second-term.html

hmm

Mr president knows everything.....even yesterday he spoken at one of radio station in Abuja.

APC again?

Toh...

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