₦airaland Forum

Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has offered an insight into what prompted the sudden change of the lawyers defending him in the fraud charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

In a statement yesterday, Metuh claimed that his counsel had been under “immense intimidation and harassment in the past three years of the trial.”

He said the matter assumed a disturbing dimension following the alleged threats to their lives in the last couple of weeks.


His words: “The fact is that in the past three years, my counsel have been under immense intimidation and harassment on account of the conduct of this case.

“Despite their travails, they have held steadfast on my innocence and have gone to considerable personal costs in the conduct of the case.

“However, in the last few weeks, I have become aware that their lives and personal freedom have been under severe threats which informed their application to the court to withdraw from the case.”

He went on: “Secondly, because of the day to day trial ordered by the court, it became difficult for them to give my case the time and full energy the matter demanded given their diaries and involvement in other cases, including election cases.

“It is public knowledge that in the course of this trial, I have restricted the travails to myself only, as I do not wish any other person to be part of the humiliation and tribulation, including health challenge and persecution, that I have suffered over time.”

The ex-spokesman therefore concluded that “rather than allowing the issue of their withdrawal to be at the discretion of the court, it was better in the circumstance to free them from the harrowing challenges they have been facing on account of the conduct of this case.

“It is pertinent to state that the said counsel are however still representing me in other matters in other courts as my estimation, respect and value for them have increased now more than ever before.”

He further noted: “Also, there has been a smooth transition as I have been mindful of any undue delay in the change of counsel, even with the difficulty and near impossibility of getting a senior counsel in Nigeria, who will endure the threats and pressures from official quarters as well as abandon election petitions in this season.”

Metuh hoped that at the end of the day, justice would not only be done but also seen to have been done in the matter.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/why-i-tampered-with-my-defence-team-by.html

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has vowed to reclaim his stolen mandate.

Atiku had approached the Electoral Tribunal, claiming he won the Presidential Election.

The PDP Presidential candidate, who spoke in Abuja during a visit to the leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt regions, said the struggle to reclaim the mandate would be achievable with support of the elders.

He was optimistic that justice will be done eventually.


He thanked the various leaders for their support before, during and after the election.

Meanwhile, the South-Sourh leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has assured Atiku of the support of the group in the struggle to reclaim his mandate.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/breaking-ill-reclaim-my-mandate-atiku.html

As the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government winds down, there are indications that new service chiefs may soon be appointed.

Buhari will take oath of office on May 29 for a second term, having won the February 23 presidential election.

Daily Sun gathered that the series of meeting President Buhari has been holding with service chief are part of the process for their eventual retirement and exit from office, which is expected either before the end of the current tenure or after the May 29 inauguration.

The current service chiefs to be affected are Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Etete-Ibas and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), AVM Sadique Abubakar. They were appointed in 2015.

A source at the Defence Headquarters told Daily Sun that the service chiefs, whose tenure President Buhari extended severally, are aware that they could be replaced any time and have thus prepared handover notes.

It was gathered that officers who would be considered as new service chiefs have already been penciled down and being screened without their knowledge.

Sources revealed that the North East, North-West, South West and South East are featuring in the consideration for officers to fill the service chiefs’ positions.

It was also gathered that two out of the four outgoing service chiefs may be appointed as DCS, to save the military from massive retirement that would come if all service chiefs are replaced with new officers.

The non-retirement of the current service chief have led to the disengagement of several senior officers in the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force.

Sources said officers of either 36 or 37 Regular Course are favourites in the consideration.

The implication, however, is that this will cause the retirement of officers of Regular courses 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, and 30.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/new-service-chiefs-may-soon-be-appointed.html

Seven people on Tuesday lost their lives as a truck in which they were travelling plunged into a river at Kotonkarfe Community on Lokoja-Abuja Highway.

Mr Emmanuel Abe, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kogi, confirmed the incident in Lokoja.

Abe, while confirming the report, said that the truck plunged into Enyogi River, a tribute of River Niger at about 5.00a.m.

He said 37 people were involved in the accident, adding that many others sustained various degrees of injury.

According to him, both the injured and dead were taken to the Federal Medical Centre and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, both in Lokoja.


Abe said that speeding was the immediate cause of the accident, appealing to motorists to abide by the speed limit rule.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/7-die-as-truck-plunged-into-river-in.html

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has added Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, wrist watches and erasers to the list of items banned from examination centres in the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Board also said only candidates who are successful in biometric verification would be allowed to sit for the examination.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made this known, in Abuja, yesterday, at a stakeholders’ meeting; ahead of the commencement of the Computer Based Test (CBT) on April 11.

He said the Board introduced the innovations to curb examination malpractice as well as ensure the integrity of the examination.

“To ensure that our examinations meet best global practices, the board has prohibited use of the following items during its examinations.

“These are: Watches; pens or biros; mobile phones or similar electronic devices, spy-reading glasses; calculators; hard disks or similar storage devices, books or any reading material; cameras; recorders and microphones.

“Others include ear pieces, ink or pen readers, smart lenses, smart rings or jewellery, smart buttons, Bluetooth devices, key holders, erasers and ATM cards,” Oloyede said.

He added that the Board would continue to strive to eliminate unwholesome practices during its examinations, which necessitated the biometric verification of candidates, to curb impersonation as well as the introduction of Closed-Circuit Television cameras in its centres nationwide.

JAMB also insisted it will continue to be hard on tutorial centres and some unaccredited CBT centres “because they are often involved in irregularities and outright breach of registration and exam order.”

Oloyede said some institutions have been sanctioned and more would also be sanctioned for violating agreed rules of engagement.

As regards innovation for 2019, JAMB said it has increased the number of questions for each subject to one million, in addition to separate indicator for the deaf (mute); to differentiate them for special attention at the examination centres.

He said JAMB has enhanced its monitoring system so it could “give precise record of centres that registered candidates, time of registration, who registered the candidate, the computer system used and location of registration.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/utme-jamb-bans-atm-cards-watches.html

Casual workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Makurdi, Benue State on Monday staged a protest to press home payment of wages owed them for over two years.

The casual workers who comprised security guards and cleaners were said to have barricaded the entrance to the permanent site of the hospital at Apir, on the outskirts of Makurdi.

One of the protesters, a security supervisor, Mr. Anijaba Mtomga, who spoke to newsmen said they decided to stage the protest because the management was owing them 24 months salaries.



Mtomga said they resorted to the protest as a last option after every other effort to make the management pay them their monthly emoluments failed.

“The management kept saying it is the Federal government that has not released money for our emoluments and this is running to two complete years that we have not been paid.

“We understand that the hospital provides essential services to the people and we have exercised patience and understanding with the management, but we can no longer continue like this; we have families and other responsibilities to attend to.”

Also speaking, Mr James Akase, a cleaner supervisor said that they were being owed nine months salaries by the hospital, stressing that they had to resort to protest because the situation was becoming really tough for them to bear.



Reacting, one of the management staff, Mr Moses Atime, a Deputy Director, Nursing Services said that the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services was responsible for the payment of all out-source staff within the health sector.

“The management is aware of this particular issue and all hands are on deck to resolve the issue. Already the Managing Director is on his way to Abuja to meet the ministry over the same issue.



“The Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services is responsible for their payment. They are not on our payroll,” Atime explained.

Deputy Head of Clinical Services, FMC, Makurdi, and Apir Site Coordinator, Dr Matthew Ocheifu, lamented that the non-payment of salaries of the out-sourced workers had posed a serious security challenge at the centre.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/fmc-makurdi-casual-workers-protest-non.html

Senator-Elect for Anambra South Senatorial District, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah on Saturday, signed the Condolence Register in honour of Late Mrs. Temitope Ekpeyong Ita. The Senator-Elect further urged the deceased family to take heart and asked God to grant her soul eternal rest.



Late Mrs. Ita, before her death was the wife of former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr Ekpenyong Ita CFR, mni.



According to the statement issued by the Ita's family, Mrs.Ita died on March 13, 2019 in Abuja after a brief illness.



Mrs Ita, a lawyer, was until her death, a staff of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja. She is survived by her husband, children, aged father, brothers, sisters and other relatives. Burial arrangement will be announced later by the family.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/ifeanyi-ubah-commiserates-with-ekpeyong.html?m=1

President Muhammadu Buhari will not interfere in the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly in the coming 9th Assembly, a presidential aide has said.

Ita Enang, who is the senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly matters (Senate), told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the president believed in the principle of separation of powers, hence he would not interfere in the activities of the legislature, including the leadership.

Buhari had in 2015 said he was ready to work with anybody that emerged in the National Assembly leadership, a development that saw the victory of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker respectively.

Enang said: “The principle of President Muhammadu Buhari is that each arm of government should function according to what the constitution says, which is that every person in government should do the right thing.”

Enang’s comments are coming at a time lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has so far garnered comfortable majority in both chambers, are waiting for both the presidency and the national leadership of the party to take a position on zoning the four offices.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/buhari-wont-interfere-in-9th-assembly.html

Anambra State Police Command yesterday confirmed seven persons killed and 12 others injured in an accident involving a kerosene-loaded tanker marked EFF81XA on Wednesday along the Upper Iweka Road in Onitsha.

The spokesman of the command, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement, said the tanker’s driver lost control along the service lane and knocked down 19 people.

He said the victims were rushed to Toronto Hospital Onitsha where seven of them were confirmed dead, adding that those injured were receiving treatment there.

He said the seven corpses had been deposited at the hospital’s morgue for post-mortem examination.

He said the driver had been arrested; while investigation was ongoing to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident.

He urged members of the public whose relations were missing to visit the hospital for identification.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/auto-crash-claims-7-in-anambra.html

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP in the recently held general elections, Mr. Peter Obi has commiserated with the government and people of Anambra and Lagos States over the deaths registered in the state on Wednesday.

While Anambra lost seven persons to a tanker crash, Lagos lost unspecified number children and registered over 100 casualties in a collapsed school building.

In a press release signed by the media aide of the former governor, Mr Valentine Obienyem, Obi offered his condolences to the families of those affected in both accidents.

Obi said, “The tragic incidents, like the recent crash of an Ethiopian Aircraft, should elicit the compassion and concern of everyone, because “we are all part of humanity”.

He expressed worry at the continued incidence of collapsed buildings across the country; and called on relevant agencies and organizations to double their efforts towards seeking a final solution to the menace.

Concluding, Mr. Obi prayed the Almighty God to grant the souls of the dead eternal repose, urging public authorities at all tiers to take the issue of mass housing seriously to avoid Nigerian citizens taking up accommodation in uncompleted buildings.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/peter-obi-commiserates-with-anambra.html

Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah receives Certificate of Return, reassures ndị Anambra South that he will always promote and protect their interests

The 2019 Anambra South Senator-Elect Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah on Thursday, received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The event which took place at International Conference Centre Abuja was witnessed by his numerous supporters and well wishers.
Speaking briefly after INEC presented the certificate to him, the Senator-Elect thanked ụmụ ọma Anambra South for giving him the mandate to represent the Senatorial Zone at the upper chamber of the National Assembly. He also reassured them that he will always sponsor quality Bills that will protect and sustain the interests of the Senatorial District, and will also use his office to attract investments that will better the general wellbeing of the people.

Dr. Ubah received the Certificate alongside other Senators-Elect including Uche Ekwunife who will be representing Anambra Central at the upper chamber.

The Certificate is an evidence that he was duly elected to represent his people at the upper chamber.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/photos-all-smiles-as-dr-patrick-ifeanyi.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJl2JK5Fnts

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/senator-dino-melayo-on-president-buhari.html?m=1

Winners in the February 23 National Assembly elections are to get certificates of return (CoR) today by at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 102 senators-elect will get their certificates by 10am and 338 would-be House of Representatives members will be issued theirs by 2pm.

Going by the list of candidates, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 63 senators, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 38 and Youth Progressives Party (YFP) has a seat.

Seven seats have been declared inconclusive and will be contested for during the supplementary election slated for March 23.

For the lower chamber, the ruling party also has the majority with 211 members. The PDP has 111 members.

Other political parties share the remaining 16 seats -APGA (six); African Democratic Congress (ADC), three; Action Alliance (AA) two and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), two. African Democratic Party (ADP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have one slot each.

Twenty-two seats are still up for grabs where elections were declared inconclusive. Make-up polls in the affected Federal Constituencies (excluding in Rivers State) have been fixed for March 23.

Elections were suspended in Rivers State for INEC to review. The process that has been wracked by protests.

The two major parties – APC and PDP – will be slugging it out in six states where elections were declared inconclusive. They are: Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and Benue.

SOKOTO

There are 526,892 votes to be contested for in the six states. In Sokoto, where Governor Aminu Waziri of the PDP, who scored 489, 588, was leading with 3,413 votes, the two leading parties will battle for 75,493 votes in 136 polling units in 22 local government areas. The APC candidate, Aliyu Sokoto, was trailing with 486, 145 votes before the process was declared inconclusive.

ADAMAWA

Before the process was declared inconclusive in Adamawa, the PDP, with 367,471 votes as against APC’s 334,995, was leading by 32,476 votes. The candidates of the two parties have 40,998 votes to fight for. Incumbent Governor Jibrilla of the APC and his challenger PDP Umar Fintiri will be slugging it out on March 23.


BAUCHI

In Bauchi, it was too close to call. The PDP candidate Bala Muhammed was leading the APC candidate, Governor Mohammed Abubakar with 4,059. There are 139,240 votes to decide the winner. After the first ballot, the PDP had 469,512 and the APC got 465,453.

BENUE

Governor Samuel Ortom of the PDP, who got 410, 576, was ahead in Benue with 81,554 votes. He will be slugging it out with his APC challenger Emmanuel Jime for 121, 011 votes. Jime got 329, 022 at the close of the first ballot.

PLATEAU

In Plateau, incumbent Governor Simon Lalong of the APC got 583, 255 to lead Senator Jeremiah Useni of the PDP with 44,929 votes. Useni got 538, 326. The duo will be fighting for the outstanding 49,377 votes.

KANO

There are 100, 873 votes to decide who wins the election. The PDP, with 1,014,474 votes, was leading the APC, which got 987, 810, with 26,664 votes.

As at the time of filing this report, the Commission has not received the report from the investigative panel it raised on the disruption of the electoral process in Rivers State.

Though the committee, which was given 48 hours to turn in its report, has not been able to do so as a result of many factors, it has, however, met with critical stakeholders in the state, including the governor and other governorship candidates.

The committee was set up on Sunday to review the situation that led to the disruption of the electoral process. Going by the 48-hour time lag given, the panel ought to have submitted its report on Tuesday.

It was learnt last night that the panel was “wrapping” up its assignment.

The commission had suspended collation and announcement of results, citing electoral violence and safety of its workers. It therefore raised a fact-finding committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.

Responding to an inquiry from our correspondent, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said the committee may have been bogged down by flight delays and others factors.

He, however, assured that “immediately the committee turns in its report, the commission will take a decision in respect of Rivers State”.

Meanwhile, INEC has debriefed all accredited observers on the last polls.


http://thenationonlineng.net/102-elected-senators-338-reps-get-certificates-today/

The crisis rocking the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) got messier as aggrieved members passed vote of no confidence on its leadership in Ekiti\ Ondo zone .

The aggrieved members acting under the aegis ,Forum of Concerned Academics, FCA, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti,

Ekiti State, accused Prof. Olufayo Olu Olu, who is the zonal , Akure zone of perpetrating crisis in the institution.


Registering their grievances with ASUU leadership in the zone Professor Sola Omotola, Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun Alli,the chairman and spokesman of the group said the unwholesome activities of ASUU were capable of bringing the institution down if not checked .

Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti ,the group dissociated itself from a Press Conference earlier addressed by the leadership Akure zone where it accused the FUOYE management of sundry and alleged unfounded allegations .


They called on national leadership of ASUU to,as a matter of urgency intervene in the matter and call the zonal leadership to order.

While debunking the allegations Professor Olu Olu said the aggrieved lecturers lack the locus standi to pass vote of no confidence on him.

The ASUU Chief added that he inherited the struggle to reposition FUOYE from his predecessor and that it would be wrong for his colleagues in the institutions to brand him as agent of destruction or unnecessarily antagonistic to authorities.

According to them,, FUOYE is a nascent but fast-growing university.

The university management deserves commendation for the giant strides it has taken to make FUOYE leapfrog its contemporaries in many respect.

“We did not mean to cause crisis in the university, but we became confrontational when the VC started victimising those who were fighting for good governance in FUOYE. Two lecturers were sacked and they are now in the court of law.


They however declared Prof. Olu Olu, personal non-grata, in FUOYE. They condemned him for his action against FUOYE, saying “Enough is Enough”, saying why Prof. Olu Olu, has refused to conduct election into ASUU positions in Ekiti State University, EKSU, where he belongs, because of his seat tight syndrome and probably he is power drunk in

leadership.

“We want to use this medium to call on the NEC ASUU to send in an independent team that will be completely neutral and objectives to assess our situation.”

The body debunked the claims by Zonal ASUU on the appointment of Professors without PhDs in FUOYE saying such a thing never happened but the case in questions was that of Professor Borokini, who has presented his inaugural lecture in May 2015, but became a professor at Benson Idahosa University in 2012 and now coming to FUOYE as a professor was the third leg of his professorial career.

On suspension of Omonijo without pay, FUOYE FCA noted that Omonijo has been suspended without pay and he deservedly so.

He appeared before an investigative committee of Council where he was asked to do two things.

“They condemned Akure ASUU Zonal Leadership for their self-serving blackmail and destruction of the university in FUOYE, saying this is totally unacceptable to them.”

“If the vice Chancellor is sure of himself, let him allow an independent panel from the federal ministry of education to probe all our allegations to lay this lingering crisis to rest”.

On his alleged refusal to step down as ASUU EKSU one year after the expiration of his tenure, Olufayo said: “They have no right to poke nose into EKSU’s issue.

“I was to leave last year May, but I had an accident in April and I was hospitalised. I was in the hospital when the ASUU strike began and ended in February, so how would I hold election under this circumstance?

“I am not a sit tight person. Very soon, election will be held and my successor will emerge. Let me also say that no blackmail will stop me from fighting for good governance in FUOYE”, he stated.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/aggrieved-members-pass-vote-of-no.html

At the heat of the 2015 general elections campaign, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was the then presidential candidate of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) famously, said that his ambition was not worth the life of any Nigerian. Jonathan spoke at the opportune time. He spoke out when the polity was being overheated because of his reelection bid. At the time many groups from the Niger Delta where he hails from, including elder statesmen, militants, and politicians were threatening ‘war’ if Jonathan was not reelected. To many of them since this is a God given opportunity for a Niger Deltan to become President of Nigeria, nothing should be done to stop him from enjoying two terms of eight years. Similarly the supporters of his main challenger, and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari were also serving notice that there must be change in the Aso Rock Villa. Their tone showed that nothing short of victory was acceptable. There was therefore palpable tension as the presidential election results from the states, were being collated in Abuja by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for eventually declaration. While the results from the states was being announced by the then chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, and the former president observed that he was losing grounds to the presidential candidate of the APC, he wasted no time to call and congratulate him for his well-deserved victory. That one call doused the tension in the country and paved the way for the smooth emergence of Muhammadu Buhari, as the democratically elected President of Nigeria in his fourth attempt to occupy the office. Four years on, this worthy standard set by Jonathan, which ought to have been imbibed and emulated by politicians, was disregarded by many politicians seeking elective offices in the 2019 general elections and their Godfathers. If they had taken a cue from Jonathan there would not have been needless deaths in various parts of the country in this year’s general elections. These deaths were caused by politicians who by their actions showed that their ambitions are worth the lives of the people that they supposedly want to serve. This total disregard to human lives due to political ambitions was very noticeable and recorded in the media. In Rivers State, no fewer than 28 persons were reportedly killed in the elections in the state that had been suspended by the INEC. Oyo State member of the House of Representatives, Hon Temitope Olatoye fondly called ‘Sugar’ by his admirers was shot dead during the governorship and state house of assembly elections in Oyo State. He died at the intensive care unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, following a gunshot wound he sustained after he was shot in the eye by unknown gunmen that invaded the collation centre. Two persons were also confirmed killed by gunmen in election related violence in Gbajimba, Guma local council of Benue State. Similarly, two persons were killed in Akwa Ibom State when hoodlums attacked INEC office and burnt many vehicles. In Imo State political thugs killed a party agent. The killing reportedly took place in Umudi in Nkwerre local government area of the state. Two people were also reportedly killed in the House of Assembly election in Anambra State. There were also election related killings in Cross River State. The list is endless. However, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has painted a clearer picture on the killings that took place in parts of the country as a result of contestations for various elective positions in the country. The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR), while highlighting the shortcomings of the 2019 general elections revealed that it recorded death of 58 Nigerians. The group condemned the spate of violence and bloodshed, especially in Rivers State in the governorship and House of Assembly elections. The NCSSR said, “Since 2011, elections in Rivers State have been a major theatre for violence.” The Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and Convener, NCSSR, Clement Nwankwo, expressed these views in the group’s third preliminary statement on the elections. The spate of killings has no doubt blighted the 2019 general elections despite the fairly favourable reports by local and international observers. Like former President Jonathan rightly noted, no ambition, be it political or otherwise is worth the life of anyone. If truly the purpose of seeking elective office is to serve, why should a candidate or political party be too desperate to win at all cost, including at the expense of lives of innocent citizens that they are supposed to serve? It appears that the impunity of politicians and the Godfathers is because the security agents have failed to bring them to account for every life lost or injuries inflicted on Nigerians by their thugs. It is time for our security chiefs to move against these killers of Nigerians and their sponsors and save our democracy from looming death. We must rescue our elections from the firm grip of election thieves and killers. It is noteworthy that President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to leave a legacy of credible elections. President Muhammadu Buhari said he would want to be remembered as a leader who kept his word that elections in Nigeria must be free, fair and credible. The President stated this in his Daura residence in Katsina State, when the state governor, Aminu Bello Masari came to inform him that he had won his reelection in the governorship poll. The President should also note that no election could be free, fair and credible in an atmosphere of killings and destruction of properties. The President should kick start his quest to leave a legacy worthy of emulation in our electoral process by bringing to book those behind the killing of Nigerians for political advantage in the 2019 general elections. Nigerians do not expect anything less.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/time-to-stop-needless-deaths-due-to.html

Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has threatened to drag certain politicians in Enugu state to court over wild allegations made against the commission during the 2019 general elections.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu, Dr Emeka Ononamadu who said this during a post-election media briefing at INEC office Enugu on Tuesday warned that INEC was not ready to condone reckless allegations that cast aspersions on the electoral process.

He said: “Although, certain political groups effortlessly tried to falsely label INEC, security agencies and Central Bank in an attempt to find one way or the other to scuttle the process, the maturity exhibited by citizens was enough to send their plans to the cleaners.

“I am also studying those wild allegations for possibilities of seeking court redress because it is not only politician that can always take INEC to court.

“INEC and its staff also have a name to protect; we are not going to tolerate reckless allegations that can cast aspersion on our democracy and electoral process. We are moving towards a direction when nobody will get away with any unsubstantiated allegation that rubs off on the credibility of an election.”

He thanked all stakeholders who participated in the election in the state for displaying,” a rare attitude in this era of extreme political rascality displayed in different states during this election, which made the job extremely difficult for most of my skilled colleagues in other states.

“This is a testimony that democracy is reaching its maturity stage in Enugu and we hope that other parts of Nigeria will emulate the level of peaceful conduct exhibited during the general election.”

Dr Ononammadu who bemoaned the level of voter apathy which was witnessed in the state during both the presidential and gubernatorial election in the state called on the people to objectively access the activities of the commission in the state.

“While we had teething logistics challenge during the presidential election, we overcame all of those challenges during the governorship election and became the first state that had the all the 4,145 polling locations to open before 8am on the election day.

“The only snag which I did not know the main reason was the voters apathy which saw less than half a million voters coming out to vote out of the 1.9 million registered voters and the 1.7 million voters with PVCs.

“we wish to announce that we have fulfilled our promise to Nigerians living in Enugu. Now is the time to review our performances in the face of numerous challenges among which are some uncontrollable variables. We want you to be objective and fair in your assessment of our performance although, certain political groups effortlessly tried to falsely label INEC, security agencies and Central Bank in an attempt to find one way or the other to scuttle the process, the maturity exhibited by citizens was enough to send their plans to the cleaners.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/inec-threatens-to-drag-politicians-to.html

The trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) was stalled on Tuesday following his absence in court on medical grounds.

The Federal Government had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/2019 alleged that Onnoghen failed to declare his assets as prescribed by law, and for maintained foreign bank accounts.

The former Chief Justice has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been admitted to bail on self recognizance.

However, at the resumed trial on Tuesday, Onnoghen was absence in court for the trial.

Onnoghen’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, explained to the tribunal that Onnoghen’s absence was occasioned by a toothache and high blood pressure, which was reported to be around 210/121.

Awomolo tendered a medical report from Ideal Medical Services, Abuja, where Justice Onnoghen was said to have been treated, to convince the Tribunal.

The medical report, signed by one Dr Francis Uche, the Medical Director of the hospital, recommended, among other things, that Onnoghen observe 72 hours of bed rest for his high blood pressure to be properly monitored.

Reacting to the development, counsel to the Federal government, Aliyu Umar, SAN, acknowledged receipt of the medical report, saying the health of the defendant is crucial and should be considered by the Tribunal.

“I have read the medical report concerning the defendant and I have reserved an observation that I would have made,” Umar said.

“This is because the health of the defendant is equally important to the prosecution to proceed. More importantly when the report stated that the high blood pressure of the defendant is 210/121.

“As an old man, I know what this means. There is, therefore, sufficient reason for the absence of defendant in court today. And by the medical report, it is recommended that he should be given 72 hours bed rest.

“In view of the ruling of this tribunal for the trial to proceed on daily basis, and taking into consideration the health condition of the defendant, I apply that the case be adjourned till next Monday, March 18, to enable the defendant have sufficient rest as recommended by his doctor,” Umar submitted.

He informed the Tribunal that, although his witnesses were in court and that he was ready to proceed with the trial, but had to concede to an adjournment because of the importance of the health of the defendant.

In his short ruling, Tribunal chairman Danladi Umar agreed with the position of the prosecution and the medical report and shifted the trial till March 18.

When the trial resumed Monady, Onnoghen, who made his second appearance before the Tribunal, expressed fears that he could not get a fair hearing due to the Tribunal being an appendage of the Presidency, Onnoghen having been suspended as Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari in January.

Justice Onnoghen canvassed his arguments through his team of lawyers made up of Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, Sabastine Hon, SAN, and Edward Ashiakaa, SAN.

Chief Awomolo, who lead Onnoghen’s defence team, insisted that his client was entitled to fair hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, under section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He argued that it was against the tenet of fair hearing to be an accuseer and the judge in your own case.

Awomolo explained that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which recommended his trial, the Attorney General of the Federation, who is prosecuting him, and the Tribunal itself, are all answerable to the executive arm of government.

“The tenet of fair hearing is that no one should be a judge in his own case. It is our position that the principle of natural justice, equity and good conscience requires that the defendant’s right to fair hearing deserve a thorough examination by this tribunal,” Awomolo stated.

The senior defence counsel noted that the Chairman of the tribunal, Mr Umar, had in a recent letter to the National Judicial Council (NJC) made it clear that he was only answerable to the Presidency.

“We agree with that position. In the interest of justice, we urge my lords to hold that, from circumstances demonstrated in the affidavit, without freedom and impartiality of the tribunal, right of fair hearing of the defendant would be jeopardised,” Awomolo said.

On the second leg of his objection, Onnoghen challenged the validity of the charge on the basis that the Federal Government failed to respect established judicial precedents by not allowing the NJC to firstly investigate the allegation against a judicial officer before heading to court.

On this point, Awomolo argued that failure to forward the petition against his client to him as well as the outcome of an investigation that was purportedly conducted on assets declaration forms he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to the NJC, rendered the charge invalid.

He urged the CCT to abide by a subsisting Court of Appeal decision in Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391, to the effect that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer, must first be reported to and handled by the NJC, pursuant to the provisions of the laws.

Onnoghen, thereafter, argued that only after the NJC has pronounced against such judicial officer could prosecuting agencies of the Federal Government proceed to initiate a criminal proceeding.

In addition, Justice Onnoghen drew the attention of the Tribunal to a judgement it delivered on May 15, 2018, wherein it quashed a similar charge the FG brought against a Justice of the Supreme Court, Sylvester Ngwuta, on the premise that the NJC ought to have been allowed to look into the matter before the case was filed.

He stressed that the two judgements were yet to be set aside by the Supreme Court‎.

‎Responding, prosecution counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar insisted that Justice Onnoghen, who was suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, conducted himself in breach of the oath he took as a public officer.

His position was contained in a three-paragraph counter affidavit, wherein he urged the Tribunal to dismiss Onnoghen’s objections to his trial.

The prosecution lawyer described as porous Onnoghen’s argument that he would be denied fair hearing owing to the fact that the Tribunal was appointed by the President.

“We submit that the defendant failed to demonstrate any bias against either the chairman or any member of the tribunal. We urge the tribunal to dismiss this application as lacking in merit,” Umar argued.

The prosecution urged the Tribunal to overlook its previous decision in Justice Ngwuta’s case, saying it was made in error. There is a difference between a judicial misconduct and a public officer not complying with provisions of the law.

“The powers of this tribunal is much more than that of a mere disciplinary body. It has powers under the constitution and therefore CCB & Tribunal Act.

“In the case of Ngwuta, the attention of the tribunal was not drawn to its powers under the constitution. Now that its attention has been drawn to it, the tribunal cannot with respect proceed in the error”.

Umar maintained that, contrary to Onnnoghen’s contention, he was not charged for misconducting himself as a judicial officer, but for violating the code of conduct for public officers enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He argued that it was unnecessary for his client to approach the NJC with the allegation against the suspended CJN, for consideration, since the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was statutorily empowered to investigate and prosecute such infraction.

Umar consequentl urged the Tribunal to proceed with a full-blown hearing of the charge against Onnoghen.

In his bench ruling, Chairman of the CCT, Mr Danladi Umar, relied on section 296(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and Paragraph 5(5) of the Practice Direction of the CCT, and held that ruling on Onnoghen’s objections would be delivered alongside the substantive judgement.

Mr Umar equally held that the Tribunal was empowered under section 396(3) of the ACJA to conduct day-to-day trial of the matter.

He said the decision to conduct the trial with utmost dispatch was owing to the sensitive nature of the case and the pivotal role the leadership of judiciary plays in ensuring stability and preventing the nation from descending into lawlessness and chaos.

FG had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/19 alleged that Onnoghen failed to declare his assets as prescribed by the law, as well as operated five foreign bank accounts, contrary to section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

Meanwhile, the Federal government has through the office of the AGF, already directed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to freeze all the accounts, pending conclusion of the trial.

Onnoghen had in his statement of defence insisted that he legitimately earned “huge funds” that were allegedly traced to the five bank accounts.

He justified a series of deposits that were linked to the accounts, saying they were proceeds from his trade in foreign exchange (forex), AGRICODE, as well as proceeds of his investments.

FG listed the accounts under investigation as Account No. 5001062686 (Euro) Standard Chartered Bank) (SCB), Account No. 5001062679 (Pound Sterling) (SCB), Account No. 0001062650 (Dollar) (SCB), Account No. 0001062667 (Naira) (SCB), and Account No. 5000162693 (Naira).

Onnoghen was suspended barely eight hours after he announced his decision to inaugurate judges that will take charge of the 2019 election petition tribunals. President Buhari swore in the next most senior jurist on the apex court bench, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over as the Acting CJN.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/high-blood-pressure-onnoghen-cct-trial.html

Following the inconclusive Governorship election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bauchi State, Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker, House of Representatives, has called on the incumbent governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar, to surrender the mandate of the people now that he has lost the election.

Dogara who was flanked by the PDP Governorship candidate, Bala Mohammed, and state party chairman and other party stalwarts at the NUJ Secretariat on Monday in Bauchi, alleged that the cancellation of election in Tafawa Balewa Local Government by the state returning officer, Professor Mohammed Kyari was illegal and orchestrated to oppress the people of the state.

Dogara alleged that the governor had on several occasions referred to him as a light weight politician, whose constituency could only deliver nothing more than 70,000 votes, adding that Governor Abubakar boasted that he won his election in 2015 with 300,000 votes and does need a single vote from Tafawa Balewa Local Government to become a governor.


He said, “I want the media to ask the governor, “Will it therefore not amount to an act of unprecedented shamelessness for him to go now to Tafawa Balewa, my constituency with only 70,000 votes that he does not require, to go and campaign for their votes or to Illegally source votes from there, to make up and become a governor?

“If there is any honour on his part, having declared that he doesn’t need one single votes from there, I think, honour demands that he should surrender at this point that he has lost this election,” he said.


The Speaker alleged that apart from the illegal cancellation, INEC in the state was still sourcing for other units that they would cancel even after they have collated and declared the results as they are not sure of what would happen in Tafawa Balewa during the supplementary election.

Dogara said that the election was peaceful, free and fair at the unit level as attested to by the local government returning officer, alleging that they only challenge they encountered, was that political thugs of Governor Abubakar invaded the local government collation centre and carted away some result sheets.

He called on INEC Chairman, Mamoud Yakubu, to intervene in the election crisis rocking the state, saying that declaration of inconclusive election in the state by INEC was a brazen rape of the mandate of Bauchi State.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/surrender-bauchi-peoples-mandate-dogara.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared as “inconclusive”, outcome of the governorship election in Bauchi state and will therefore conduct a re-run within 21 days.

Prof. Mohammed Kyari, Returning Officer who made the declaration on Monday said that apart from the cancellation of the result from entire Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area because of irregularities, the exercise in some other polling units also suffered the same fate.

“The margin between the winner and opponent is less than the total number of votes cancelled in some polling units.

“By law, since the margin of winner is less than the total number of votes cancelled and registered voters in the areas where the votes have been cancelled, this elections is hereby declared inconclusive,” he said.

He said his decision was in line with section 26 part 53 of the Electoral Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while announcing the votes garnered by the two contending parties before declaring the outcome inconclusive, the Returnig Officer had given the scores of incumbent governor, Mohammed Abubakar of APC as 465,453 votes and that of Bala Mohammed of PDP as 469,512 votes.

Kyari said that the Independent National Electoral Commission would conduct re- run election within 21 days in the affected Local Government area and polling unit which results had been cancelled before the final announcement of the winner.

NAN reports that earlier in the day, the INEC Collation Officer in charge of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Mrs Dominion Anosike, had told the Returning Officer that the original result sheet was snatched by some thugs.

She said the thugs later came back with an improvised result sheet and forced her to declare its content as being the outcome of the election in the local government area.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/inec-to-conduct-re-run-election-in.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that he expected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its presidential candidate in last month’s election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to go to court to contest the outcome of the polls.

Atiku is already in court for that purpose.

Going to court, Buhari said was part of the democratic process.

The president spoke with journalists after casting his vote in the governorship and state assembly elections at the Kofar Baru 003 polling unit, Daura, Katsina State.

Asked to react to Atiku’s decision to challenge the result of the presidential election at the election tribunal, Buhari simply said: “I expect that to happen.”

On yesterday’s polls, the president said security agencies especially the police were taking care of the flashpoints in the country to ensure hitch-free voting across the country.

Asked how violence could be contained at such flashpoints, he said: “I will leave it to the law enforcement agencies especially the police because they have been meeting virtually on a 48-hour basis to make sure that they have identified the flashpoints, as you mentioned, wherever they are and make arrangements to counter it.”

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday turned down Atiku’s request to be allowed to conduct forensic analysis and scanning of materials used during the election The tribunal said such request for forensic analysis and scanning by experts, of computers, card reader machines and server ,among others, deployed for the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was beyond the scope of the provisions of Section 151 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act (as amended),which permits the inspection of election materials.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/i-expect-atiku-to-go-to-court-says.html

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Governor of Rivers State, has accused the Nigerian Army of causing voter apathy in the state.

He, however, expressed confidence that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would emerge victorious in the governorship and state house of assembly election in the state.

He stated this when he voted at Unit 7, Ward 9 of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State.

The Governor was accompanied by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette.

Addressing journalists after voting, Wike said despite the attempts to manipulate the election in some Local Government Areas, he was sure of victory.

"We are hoping that it will continue to be like this. Sometimes, the voting goes on smoothly, but the main thing is at the collation centres. For now, we are satisfied and confident that we will win this election very well. We are not afraid. We don't know how many local government areas they can manipulate, but with reports we are getting, even though they are trying to be funny, we shall win,” he said.

The Governor noted that the turnout during the election was affected by the “illegal activities” of the military.

"The way the military acted discouraged people from turning up. The role of the military is to provide security. But it is unfortunate that they directly participate. Police have no role in the elections. The military appears to have taken over police duties,” he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/soldiers-discouraged-people-from-voting.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dispatched all the necessary voting materials central to the success of the FCT Area Councils election to the concerned six area councils.

Akelicious gathered last night that the materials which arrived Abuja on Thursday, had been dispatched to the six councils.


FCT INEC head office sources, disclosed that the materials would be shared at the 62 wards of the affected councils for onward distribution to the 871 polling units and Voting Point Settlements on the election day.

About 1, 344, 856 FCT registered voters would exercise their constitutional rights by voting for candidates of their choice for the chairmanship and councillorship positions.

The six Area Councils are Bwari, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abaji.

A total of 105 candidates cutting across the political parties are vying for the six chairmanship positions, while 701 candidates are bidding to occupy the 62 councillorship slots.

Also 40 of those candidates in the chairmanship race are women while 88 are seeking to be elected councilors.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/inec-dispatches-voting-materials-to-six.html

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 on Friday urged people to go out en-mass and vote for candidates of their choice without any fear of molestation and intimidation.

The monarch also charged the people to eschew violence as they cast their votes for the candidate of their choice in tomorrow’s gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections

Oba Adetunji, in a statement by his Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Adeola Oloko in Ibadan, also stated that improper conduct at the polls by critical stakeholders is an ill-wind that would blow no one any good.

He listed the critical stakeholders as the generality of people including the electorate, the politicians, the electoral umpire and the law enforcement agents.

According to him, in a contest of more than one person, only an individual would win.

He further stated if the contest produces a winner, the winner should be magnanimous in victory, while the loser should be gallant in defeat.

The Olubadan stated the ambition of any public office seeker is not worth the blood of innocent Nigerians, warning anyone who has no business with the polling centre should keep away from it for the sake of peace.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/go-out-vote-without-fear-olubadan-urges.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reiterated its plans to ensure that 80 per cent of Nigerians are captured in the financial equation of Nigeria by 2020.

The apex bank also approved N5 billion as initial capital base for the newly established microfinance bank owned by the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL MFB), that will be spread in all 774 local government areas of the country.

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, stated this on Wednesday in Gwagwalada, Abuja while inspecting NIRSAL MFB.

According to him, only 45 per cent of Nigerians have been captured in the financial system, describing the number as low.

Emefiele hailed NIRSAL and Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) for their robust collaboration that led to the establishment of the microfinance bank.

He stressed that the feat was consistent with CBN’s plans to improve financial literacy and deepen economic development. He was upbeat that the NIRSAL MFB will address the perennial nightmare of poor access to credit suffered by small businesses, especially those in the hinterland.

“This is a collaboration between NIRSAL, Bankers Committee and NIPOST and I want to say that we really need to set up microfinance bank that will reach out to the unbanked.

The biggest problems that small businesses have always had is poor access to credit and I am happy that with the establishment of this microfinance bank which would be in at least one local government and we are talking about the 774 locations across the country, we would be able to have a financial institution that will help deepen financial inclusion to make it easy for people to access credit,” he stated.

We have already set a target for ourselves that by 2020, the rate of financial inclusion must increased to 80 per cent from about 48 per cent a year and a half ago. So, this is just part of our initiative to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria”, he explained.

On collateral for loans and interest rate, the CBN Governor said customers of microfinance banks are usually the financially weak people in the society and as such, they will be able to access credit without providing collateral.

“The asset that we are financing for them will serve as the collateral which will be registered in our national collateral registry as something that is eligible to serve as surety for loan.

The loan is going to be disbursed from our AGMEIS scheme which is five per cent of profit after tax that is being set aside by the banks to support the small and medium enterprises that will be in agriculture or those that are into different type of small businesses that really need to raise finance to be able to set up and earn livelihood. Interest rate for this will be at five per cent and the loan will be for a tenure of seven years with two years moratorium”, he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/cbn-eyes-80-financial-inclusion-target.html

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said the satisfactory validation by the international board of the organisation would attract investments and boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Nigeria and Norway were last week lauded by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for achieving the highest level of transparency in oil business.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, NEITI Executive Secretary, Waziri Adio, stated that the cooperation of the Federal Government and other stakeholders was needed to achieve the desired level of openness in the oil and gas industry.


He maintained that the development was not a destination but a journey, adding that the “move is an indication that a transparent, open and accountable oil and gas sector is feasible in the country.”

Adio expressed the hope that the move would encourage investors, thereby boosting the country’s revenue profile.

Harping on the importance of the ranking, he submitted: “EITI validation is a major achievement that did not come easy. We are very proud of this milestone.

“Our country hardly gets in the news for the right reasons. Our ranking on most governance and development indices, even when improving, leaves much to be desired.

“It shows what is possible in the sector and beyond. It is a boost and welcome development, and should fire all of us to do more.”

However, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has threatened to sanction any employees found wanting of the Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts.

He cautioned against contract splitting and accumulation.

According to him, the infractions are deliberate acts by procurement managers to subvert due process.

The GMD reiterated the corporation’s commitment to accountability in every area of its operations. He urged the Supply Chain Management Division to strictly monitor the tender boards in the quest to deepen the culture in all spheres.

Baru commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the early approval of the national oil agency’s budget, promising that as the chief revenue earner for the nation, the organisation was committed to the economic policies of government.

“The whole essence of the next level is to ensure that things are done correctly and speedily for the benefit of the people,” he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/oil-sectors-ranking-to-boost-fdis-gdp.html

The Niger state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Samuel Egwu has warned that any polling unit where the use of card reader machine is resisted will have its results cancelled.

Egwu gave this warning against the backdrop of what happened during the Presidential and National Assembly elections where some polling units resisted the use of card readers.

Speaking to newsmen in Minna, the REC said all political parties and communities leaders have been educated on this and have been told to tell their followers against interfering in the use of the smart card readers.

“Any resistance of smart card reader will have consequence. Deliberate stopping the use of smart card reader will not do good for the polling units because any polling unit where smart card reader usage are resisted, the poll conducted will be cancelled.”

He also said that results will be cancelled in polling units where there will be infractions or over voting.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner noted that the March 9th election would be more competitive as it is expected that people who did not vote in the last election will come out and vote.

“This election will be more competitive because all politics are local and this election is a local election and many people who did not vote last time will vote now. There will be more interest which is why we are doing a thorough review of our process in order to cover every loopholes.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/reject-card-reader-machine-at-your-own.html

Akelicious can confirm that there palpable dissension and tension within the rank and file of the PDP in Imo State just days before the March 9 governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

According to an insider who requested to remain anonymous, tensions are rising between PDP leaders and members in Imo State loyal to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, and elements of the party structure loyal to Emeka Ihedioha, the party’s governorship candidate in Imo State.

Emeka Ihedioha reportedly got in the bad books of Atiku for not supporting his presidential bid and for backing that of Aminu Tambuwal. After Atiku succeeded in picking the party’s ticket, Ihedioha tried to make amends but that didn’t prove very successful, it was said.

Ihedioha is also being blamed for the quantum votes APC got in Imo State in the just concluded presidential election. The source points out that even in Anambra, where Governor Obiano openly backed Buhari, APC was only able to get about thirty thousand votes as compared to the comparatively large number the PDP won in Imo State.

The source said that APC’s performance in Imo State “proved that either Ihedioha still did not fully back Atiku in the election or that he is not the vote-getter he claims to be. That’s why we fear that, like 2015, he might again take us all down with him in this election”.

When asked what they will gain by not backing Ihedioha in the governorship election, the source said that “one of the other governorship candidates we are considering backing has promised to decamp to PDP once he wins the election. And we trust him more than we trust Ihedioha.”. The source, however, refused to name the candidate when pressed to do so. He did emphasise that Hope Uzodinma and Uche Nwosu “are not and can never be in consideration.”

The PDP in Imo State has a history of not backing its governorship candidate since the party won that office with Achike Udenwa in 2003, sixteen years ago. In 2007, PDP abandoned Ararume and backed Ikedi Ohakim and he won. In 2011, PDP abandoned Ohakim and backed Rochas Okorocha and he won. In 2015, it was said that had PDP fully backed Ihedioha, he would have defeated Okorocha, especially given that he had abandoned the APGA and decamped to an APC that was very unpopular in Imo State.

From the latest disaffection amongst leaders and members of PDP in Imo State, it remains to be seen if there would be a repeat of the party working against itself in the governorship poll as it had done in the past, at the risk of costing it another election.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/atikus-pdp-supporters-in-imo-on-warpath.html

Atiku Abubakar, former vice president and PDP candidate in the February 23 presidential election, should have conceded defeat, pure and simple. Had he done so, he would have uplifted Nigeria on the world stage, and added brownie points to what President Goodluck Jonathan earned for the country in 2015, when he became the first sitting president to concede defeat. By not following in the footsteps of Jonathan, Atiku has diminished our democracy, diminished the country and, sadly, also diminished himself. To be sure, the PDP candidate did nothing wrong by choosing to go to court. That is still within the purview of democracy and well within his rights. It is far better to go to court than resort to self-help. But because Jonathan raised the bar in 2015, everyone expected something more from the contestants of 2019. President Jonathan raised the ranking of our democracy; the 2019 presidential election was expected to stamp the final seal on that ranking in the global democracy pecking order. Atiku has not done Nigeria any favours at all. And all of us should be sad for it. It was a missed opportunity when the entire world was watching. There are no perfect elections anywhere in the world. Ask former Vice President Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, both former presidential candidates of the Democratic Party of the United States. In Nigeria, it was in fact under Atiku’s boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, that election thievery became a statecraft. The result of the 2007 presidential election was still being collated in many places when the INEC Chairman at the time announced late President Umaru Yar’Adua as president-elect, to the utter embarrassment of even the beneficiary. The previous election under Obasanjo in 2003 was hardly different. Chuba Okadigbo, the running mate of the opposition presidential candidate at the time, could not leave his house to vote for himself because soldiers had stationed an armoured tank in front of his house with the nozzle directly facing his gate. He was warned of dire consequences if he or any of his family members attempted to leave the house. That was the same election that INEC announced that the then Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, had been defeated by the PDP, Atiku’s party, even before the elections were conducted. That was the same year that Professor Jibril Aminu lost and conceded defeat as the PDP senatorial candidate in Adamawa State, but this same Atiku got angry at the professor and the result was later changed in favour of Aminu. Professor Aminu served four years in the Senate, but he knew full well that he didn’t win that election. His result was only one of the many that the Obasanjo-Atiku government changed by brute force, against the will of the people. In the just concluded election, there is enough blame to go round, and forensic scrutiny may well reveal that the PDP is not the saint that it wants the world to believe it is. Instead of embarking on a legal merry-go-round, egged on by lawyers who see nothing other than what will come to their pockets, Atiku should have taken the opportunity offered by the National Peace Committee to mend fences and bury the hatchet. That is statesmanship. It was for the larger national interest that former Vice President AI Gore of the United States conceded defeat in the United States presidential election of 2000. To this day AI Gore still believes he won that election. It was to avoid a monumental crisis that he conceded. Hillary Clinton would still have been in court now trying to reclaim “her mandate” from Donald Trump for an election, which all the intelligence agencies of the United States have confirmed, the Russians interfered with to make Trump president. As painful as it remains for her, and even though she won the popular vote, she conceded because the interest of the state is larger than her own. Adolf Hitler at least got one thing right when he said, “Anyone can deal with victory. Only the mighty can bear defeat.” Atiku and the PDP need to come to terms with the fact that they lost the elections of February 23. And they lost for one reason: they failed to make the election a referendum on President Buhari. While seeking re-election, incumbents all over the world always contend with that problem. The PDP did not try hard enough to achieve that. The president was never under pressure or on the defensive throughout the campaigns. Instead, the PDP believed that if it threw around enough cash, it would win. It was the APC, in spite of the self-inflicted chaos within its ranks, that succeeded with distinction in making the election all about Atiku and the PDP’s past record in government. Atiku then found himself on the defensive throughout the campaigns; he even had to steal a trip to the United States just to prove that he would not be arrested if he stepped into the U.S. Consequently, as the New York Times rightly said, the election became a referendum on honesty. And, for whatever reason, Nigerians do not rate Atiku high in that category. Atiku also did himself no favours when the most famous statement most Nigerians still believe he made was that he would sell the NNPC to his friends, whatever happened. It was a statement taken out of context obviously, but the PDP did nothing to correct it. The APC understandably feasted on it. And, in politics, perception is stronger than reality. For a presidential candidate who already had integrity challenges, that became the coup de grace that finally nailed the coffin of his 2019 dreams. The only way Atiku could have extracted some victory for himself was for him to have conceded defeat after firing his best shots and President Buhari was still leading while the counting was going on. That was precisely what President Jonathan did in 2015 and, as a result, became the first sitting president in Nigeria to lose an election and win at the same time. Yes, Buhari went to court three times before 2015; but it’s doubtful if he would have done the same thing today, after Jonathan’s epic concession four years ago. Atiku has not lived up to the very high standard Nigerians expected of him. It is a shame!

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/atikus-missed-opportunity-on-big-stage.html

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state has described as deceptive the suspension of taxes by the State government few days to the State House of Assembly election.

The party said it was worrisome that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-controlled government would at any election time suspend taxes the people have paid at the beginning of the year.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the party in the state, Nnamdi Nwangwu in a statement Monday in Nnewi, said the State Governor, Willie Obiano could no longer deceive the people of the state.

Nwangwu urged the people of the state to use the March 9 Assembly election to prove to the governor they were not fools by voting the PDP candidates so they could check the governor’s excesses.

He said, “As far as we are concerned in PDP, the circle is complete for the Governor. He cannot take the good people of the state for a ride again. Enough is enough.

“The House of Assembly needs quality individuals who can come up with laws that will push Anambra State to her pride of place in the comity of states and at the same time carry out their oversight functions accordingly.

“A situation where the Assembly has been reduced to a rubber stamp institution that takes instructions from the governor is neither good for the state nor democracy.”

Nwangwu reminded those blaming the people for voting for PDP in the presidential election, that it was the people’s inalienable rights to vote for whoever they wished.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/pdp-chides-obiano-over-suspension-of.html

Dangote Cement Plc continued to maintain its dominance of the cement market in Nigeria and Africa, as it recorded revenues amounting to N901.21 billion.

According to its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2018, its Nigerian operations accounted for N618.30 billion, representing an increase of 11.9 percent over N552.36 billion in 2017, while African operations recorded revenues of N263.26 billion, an increase of 9.6 percent over N258.44 billion posted in the corresponding period in 2017.

The company’s Profit after tax (PAT) stood at N390.32 billion, up from N204.25 billion, while earnings per share rose from N11.65 to N22.83. The company directors are proposing a dividend of N16 per share.

Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement, Joseph Makoju, said: “This is a record financial performance by Dangote Cement, driven by a strong increase in our home market, Nigeria, despite heavy rains and uncertainties about the election. Although Pan-African volumes were unchanged in 2018, I am confident that we will see an increase in 2019, driven by higher volumes in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Congo and Sierra Leone. Now that we have gas turbines operating in Tanzania we will also see increased profitability in the Pan-Africa region and this will help to improve overall Group margins.”

A further analysis of the performance showed that Dangote Cement accounted for 65 per cent of the total volume sold in the domestic cement sector in 2018. The company also exported 800,000 metric tonnes (MT) of cement to West African countries, strengthening Nigeria’s position as a cement exporting country, creating jobs in the economy, and earning foreign exchange.

Dangote sold a total of 23.54 MT of cement across Africa indicating an increase of 7.4 per cent over 21.92 MT sold in 2017. Nigerian operations accounted for 14.18 MT representing an increase of 11.4 per cent over the volume of 12.72 metric tonnes sold during the preceding year. The increase in the Nigerian volume is attributable to higher building activities as the economy recovered from recession.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/fy-2018-dangote-cement-records-n901bn.html