₦airaland Forum

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria yesterday ordered the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) not to embark on their planned indefinite strike scheduled to commence on November 6.

The court headed by Justice Sanusi Kado gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application brought before it on behalf of the federal government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and permanent secretary in Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata.

The judge said the order of interim injunction became necessary due to the urgency of the matter and the need to protect the overall interest of the public.

Accordingly, he fixed November 8 as return date in the case and warned the governors of the 36 states of the federation, joined in the suit as 3rd defendant under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), not to do anything that would adversely affect the interest of their workforce pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Justice Kado directed that the order stopping the planned strike be immediately served on both the NLC and TUC.

He ruled: “In view of all that I have been saying above, it is the overall interest of justice and stability of the society to grant the order of interim injunction against the 1st and 2nd defendants (NLC and TUC), their members, privies, agents, proxies, workmen, or servants from embarking on or taking part in the planned strike or industrial action scheduled to commence on November 6, 2018, in whatever form pending the hearing or determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, which is pending before the court.

“It is also necessary to grant an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants (NLC and TUC), their members, privies, agents, proxies, employees, workmen, or servants from engaging or taking part in any conduct or act in contemplation or furtherance of the strike or industrial action scheduled to commence on November 6, 2018, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

The suit marked NICN/ABJ/287/2018 was filed on November 1, 2018 in the name of the federal government and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, as the 1st and 2nd claimants respectively.

Joined in the suit as the 1st to the 3rd defendants are the NLC, the TUC and body of the governors of the 36 states of the federation, the NGF.

While moving the ex parte application on Friday, Apata argued that if the planned strike by the labour was not stopped, it would adversely affect the economy with likely effect of plunging the nation back to recession.

He also argued that the strike would not only jeopardise the health of those who would be seeking to access to health facilities, but also negatively affect many internally displaced people being held in various camps as a result of the recent flooding that hit many states.

Agreeing with Apata, Justice Kado ruled that the strike, if allowed, would put the nation’s economy, health and rights of people in jeopardy.
He added that the strike, if allowed to proceed, would destroy the status quo and the subject matter of the suit.

He said, “The affidavit evidence has equally stated that the people living in the IDPs will be adversely affected by the strike as there will be no movement during the strike due to the withdrawal of services more particularly in the petroleum sector.

“The impact of the strike will be too devastating to the economy and thereby affect developmental goals. There is also the fear that the country may slump back to recession if the strike occurs.”

Justifying the order, the judge said, “The order of interim injunction is due to the urgency of the application and the desire to prevent economic loss to both public and private institutions and also to protect the fundamental rights of the general public.

“I am afraid that if the strike is allowed to proceed as planned, there will be a lot of people who will not be able to access medical facilities, and even where they can access the medical facilities, medical personnel may not be there to attend to them.

“Even the patients currently in hospitals may likely develop more complications due to lack of presence of medical facilities to attend to their needs.

“The 3rd defendant, NGF, being one of the major stakeholders in the labour industry, should also not do anything that will in any way adversely affect the interest of their workforce, pending the hearing and determination of this suit.

“This case is adjourned to November 8, 2018 for the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction. All the parties concerned should be immediately served with this order of court”.

We Are Not Aware Of Any Injunction – Labour

But the organised labour yesterday said it was not aware of any court injunction stopping its members from embarking on any strike action.

It insisted on embarking on the nationwide strike by Tuesday in protest of the non-implementation of N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage.

The organised labour reiterated its position that any figure below N30, 000 would not be acceptable to the workers.

Addressing journalists in Lagos after a joint meeting with other labour union comprising Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC), the president of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, called on its members to mobilise in preparation for the commencement of an indefinite strike on November 6, unless necessary steps are taken to adopt the recommendation of the Tripartite Committee.

Wabba said the organised labour would maintain its stand on the implementation of N30,000 as the new minimum wage and would not accept any move to negotiate it downwards.

He said barring any change of position by government, members of the organised labour would proceed with the planned strike on Tuesday.

Wabba also attempted to correct the impression that there was a stalemate during the tripartite negotiations, insisting that the issue of N30,000 minimum wage was conclusively resolved and the report signed.

He called on the chairman of the committee to submit the report to the presidency for immediate implementation.

On his part, the president of United Labour Congress (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, said, “We are not aware of any court ruling and we have not being served any notice.

“We have just concluded our joint organ meetings of the Central Working Committees of the Labour Centres of the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) here in Lagos.
“The meeting is the final preparation for a full engagement with the government on the new National Minimum Wage and we have taken our decision to go on the strike. Our decision is to go ahead with the nationwide strike unless the government does the needful”.



President of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, also said the centre was not aware of any court ruling concerning the planned strike by organised labour.

“We are not aware because we have not been served any court order; we have taken our decision and we are going to stand by that,” he noted.

Recently, the NGF issued a communiqué after its meeting noting that state governors can only pay N22, 500 as the new national minimum wage.

Resolution Of Minimum Wage Will Resume Tomorrow- FG

The minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said yesterday that conciliation on the national minimum wage will continue despite the injunction of the National Industrial Court restraining the organized labour from embarking on strike.

The minister, in a statement by the director press in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, said that the conciliation meeting involving the organised labour, the organized private sector and government scheduled for Sunday November 4, 2018 at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by 6:00pm is still on course and will hold.

This, he said, would be followed on Monday November 5, 2018 by 11:00am by the meeting of the national tripartite minimum wage committee at the same venue

The minister, again, appealed to all tripartite members to attend the meetings in the interest of the nation.

President Buhari has warned All Progressives Party (APC) stakeholders to be wary of looters of the national treasury who are desperate to take over power in 2019.

The President stated this on Tuesday night at a dinner with APC Aspirants’ Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He told the aspirants that “those who mismanaged the resources of the country are still very much around, with incredible wealth’’, warning the aspirants to be vigilant and circumspect in making choices as the future would only be salvaged by those who love the country.

The President urged political party aspirants who lost out in the primaries to remain faithful to the country and hold fast on integrity, as there would be more opportunities to serve along the way.

Buhari said the primary motivation to contest elections should be to improve the country and not for pecuniary reasons.

“We must maintain our faith in the country,’’ he told the coalition of party members who contested the primaries.

The President said he contested presidential elections three times before coming to power in 2015, adding that providence would always pave the way for the just, committed and patient politician, who wants to truly serve the country.

“I spoke with the APC party chairman almost every other day, at least for an hour during the primaries. And sometimes, we met for two and half hours on ensuring internal democracy during the primaries,’’ the President said.

He pointed out that in spite of all efforts to appease everyone and give them a chance at the polls, some aspirants were still not treated fairly.

“I urge you to stay faithful if your objective is to serve the country. I came back to power in this “agbada’’ to convince Nigerians to make sacrifices that the country needs now for a better future,’’ he added.



In his remarks, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said the meeting was organised to address grievances and fallout from the APC primary elections across the country.



The minister said it would be unfortunate to allow the grievances overshadow the challenges before the country, assuring the aspirants that the government would assuage their yearnings to serve the country.

Malami said the aspirants should work collectively with the President in building the party and setting up a framework that would ensure healthier relationships and better internal democracy.

The leader of the APC Aspirants’ Forum, Hon. Yusuf Banki, said the network of 7,000 members would work to ensure President Buhari’s victory at the polls in 2019.



But reacting to the statement of the President, the PDP said that he was referring to members of his party, the APC as looters who want to desperately takeover from him.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said nobody in the re-branded PDP could be accused of looting the nation’s treasury.

“He has collected all of them and they are now members of his party.

“May be, he is talking about the sleaze in the NNPC, or he is talking about the N200 million used to cut grasses in IDP camps.

“Certainly, he was not referring to members PDP. Those you may refer as corrupt have left PDP, they are now in APC,” Ologbondiyan stated.



Also yesterday, Buhari appealed to political actors to be decorous in their conduct and utterances in order not to fan the embers of disunity.

The President, who spoke while launching the emblem for Armed Forces Remembrance Day, shortly before the Federal Executive Council meeting at Aso Rock, also launched the fund for the support of Nigerian veterans and fallen heroes with N10 million.

‘‘We would have no country to lead if our acts of deliberate incitement lead to the disintegration of our dear nation,’’ the President said in his address at the Council Chambers.

‘‘Let us put Nigeria first and realise that in every contest, there must be one winner,’’ he added.



Buhari reminded the nation that the celebration was a painful reminder of the perils of war and the need for the nation to avoid a recurrence.

‘‘The celebration forcefully reminds us of the resolve of our citizens to remain in one united country, Nigeria.

‘‘It also points out the fact that we had been through a bitter and unfortunate war that led to the loss of millions of our compatriots and the need to do all within our powers to avoid a reoccurrence of war,’’ he said.

President Buhari also used the occasion to appreciate the gallantry and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the campaign against insurgency and other internal security operations.

Noting that the efforts of the armed forces have led to the return of normalcy in affected parts of the nation, the President regretted the recent murder of two young and promising aid workers; Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman, by Boko Haram terrorists.

‘‘It is painful that this happened despite all the efforts of government to effect release of the two victims.

‘‘We condemn the callous and cowardly act in its entirety and call on all citizens and friends to forge a united front against this common enemy of our destiny.



‘‘Once more, I extend the heartfelt condolences of the Government and people of Nigeria to the families and friends of these martyrs,’’ the President said.

He pledged that the resettlement and rehabilitation of citizens affected by the war on terror will continue, commending Dangote Foundation for its partnership with government in the rebuilding process in Borno State.

The President, therefore, called on other corporate organisations to borrow a leaf from this noble initiative, as government alone cannot satisfy all the needs, given her limited resources.



Buhari also expressed delight that businesses operating in Nigeria were beginning to give special consideration to members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

‘‘Specifically, some airlines operating in Nigeria offer discounts to members of the Armed Forces. This gesture is commendable and in line with my call for recognition, consideration and appreciation of our Armed Forces.

‘‘I urge more business ventures to chip in by assisting the Security Forces in whatever way they can,’’ he said.

As part of efforts aimed at wooing the South-West, the Peoples Democratic Party has decided to surrender the position of Speaker of House of Representatives to the region if it wins the 2019 presidential election, THE PUNCH learnt on Tuesday night.

The party had earlier ceded the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the same region.

These were part of a political strategy being planned by the party to enable voters from the region to vote for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Mr Peter Obi.

The current Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who is also running with President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, hails from Ogun State, in South-West.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that the leadership of the PDP and Atiku had disclosed this at their meeting in Dubai, where the presidential candidate is currently holidaying.

Authoritative sources close to the party and its presidential candidate, told our correspondent on condition of anonymity in Abuja on Tuesday, that the party had mapped out strategies that would enable it to beat the ruling APC in the zone in 2019.

A source, who was privy to the arrangement said, “You know that the South-West has the Vice-President in the person of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo now. But apart from that position and some ministers, nothing tangible has come to the region in term of infrastructure.

“The position of Vice-President is almost ceremonial. The South-West will get the position of the SGF as announced by Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

“But apart from this, the zone will also get the position of the Speaker of House of Representatives. We know that we will make it in the zone. This is because all the states in the country have suffered from the present Federal Government. “

Meanwhile, the PDP’s fortunes in the 2019 presidential election has received a boost with women in Kogi State announcing their plan to stage a 1.2 million-man march in support of Atiku.

This is just as the PDP has announced the streamlining of all its presidential support and volunteer groups across the country, to ensure a centralised activity under the supervision of the party and the Presidential Campaign Council.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who received a delegation of a presidential women support group, Success Initiative Women for Atiku, at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, stated that the party had opened strategic platforms for all the support groups to directly participate in the campaign.

He said the PDP had received “unprecedented goodwill and support from millions of Nigerians across all sections of the country, irrespective of ethnicity, religious and political leaning, since the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as our presidential candidate.”

Earlier, the leader of the group, Mr Funso Johnson, congratulated the party for the choice of Atiku as presidential candidate while informing of the plans already perfected to stage a 1.2 million-man match in support of Atiku in Kogi State.

President Muhammadu BUhari, yesterday, in Kaduna noted sadly that Nigeria was slowly sliding into global irrelevance over the continued killings in the country.

The president, who was on a visit to Kaduna State, vowed that those implicated in the killings in the state would be prosecuted by the Federal Government.

Buhari argued that the because of the frequency of killings in the country, the world appeared not very much concerned again with the Nigerian situation.

Buhari, who cited the publicity blitz attracted by the killing of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, said that on the contrary, the death of many Nigerians in the Kaduna crisis has not attracted much international attention.

He said: ‘‘I observed that more than 75 people were killed in Kaduna alone and I haven’t seen anything about it.

‘‘It means we are pushing ourselves as a nation and a people towards irrelevance, seen by the world itself,’’ he said.

The president, who was on a condolence visit to Kaduna State following the violence in the state, said if previous administrations had allowed merchants of violence to go free, his government would hunt them down and prosecute them.
He also appealed to residents not to make the state a home of violence.

While addressing government officials and other stakeholders at the Murtala Muhammad Square, Buhari said: ” The Federal Government welcomes the decision of the Kaduna State Government and its local governments to build and provide facilities for the takeoff of more police divisions and civil defence offices in the state.

“On their part, citizens also have a duty to be law-abiding in their conduct and within their communities. There is a need to avoid violence as a tool of negotiation or obtaining advantage, and learn to listen to each other and commit to resolving differences through peaceful means.

“The Federal Security Agencies will hunt and prosecute all those who sponsored these acts of violence.

The Federal Government will take strongest measures possible to punish perpetrators of these crimes. If, in the past they got away scot free, we shall now hold everyone to account for these latest killings.”

Buhari added: “It is my earnest appeal to all who call Kaduna home to do their best to uphold peace in their respective communities. Chaos and anarchy tend to worsen and exacerbate whatever issues are agitating a community.

“The Federal Government commends the efforts of the Kaduna State Government in responding to, and managing the crisis. More Federal Security assets are being provided at the request of the Kaduna State Government to help uphold and keep the peace.”

Continuing, he said: ” The Federal Government will continue to work to ensure that more security assets are recruited and deployed across the country to protect all citizens going about their lawful business and to reinforce the authority of the government.”

Speaking on the 2011 post election violence, Buhari said: ” I have noted the concerns raised by the Governor of Kaduna State about the outstanding issues of payment of compensation and resettlement of communities that have lingered since the post-election violence of 2011.

“I assure you that the Federal Government will give due consideration to the matter.”

Speaking earlier, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said: “It is clear to us in the Kaduna State Government that we have to extend the strong presence of the instruments of state power and security in our communities.

” We need more military, police and paramilitary forces on the ground to affirm the prerogatives of the state, reassure and secure our people, and deter and arrest criminals.

“New police divisions are, therefore, proposed in Narayi, Sabon Tasha and other identified locations. We are grateful to the police authorities for also agreeing to establish a new police division in Kasuwan Magani. The state government and the relevant local government councils will provide the buildings to house these new police and civil defence formations. More military Strike Force bases will also be established in known flash points.

“We thank Mr. President for the approval to establish two Army formations in Kaduna South Senatorial District. We recommend that in addition to the one already being developed in Kafanchan, the second should be located near Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru Local Government to complement the presence of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery and the Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology in Kachia.

“Therefore, there must be clear consequences and sanctions for communities that encourage or enable violence. Our communities have an obligation to keep the peace and to report and expose criminal elements. This is a civic duty. Our communities should reject and marginalise the few criminal elements that indulge in violence. Let there be a resolve to deny criminals any hiding place. Let no criminal be allowed to find succour in tribe or faith.”

sarrki:
Am. Leader in my home
Which is what produce the products we have now

All of us must not be a political leader

sarrki:
Happy that you came out of your shell today

Osunbade ooo or or osinba wetin

He’s ok whatever he says

The leader of a Nigerian separatist group said the Nigerian government spurned the demands he made after he was released from prison over a year ago.

“I told them, that I want them to open Igweocha seaport, Port Harcourt,” Nnamdi Kanu, who leads the Indigenous People of Biafra, said in a message posted to Radio Biafra’s Facebook page on Sunday.

“I ask them to open Calabar seaport and Warri Seaport, I did this in writing and gave it to them, I told them to dredge River Niger, allow the direct international flight to Europe and USA from Enugu, Igweocha and Calabar airport.”

Kanu said he also demanded the release of former Nigerian security adviser Sambo Dasuki and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and the investigation of “the mass murder of IPOB family members at Onitcha, Nkpor, Aba, Enugu, Igweocha, Umahia and Asaba.”

Kanu’s IPOB is pushing for an independent state for the Igbo-dominated southeastern Nigeria.

The region was locked in a civil war with Nigeria for about 30 months starting from 1967 after late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, then a colonel in the Nigerian Army, declared an independent Biafra.

Kanu, however, said he will drop his agitation only if the Southeast governors get him a concession.

“I told Igbo governors and Ohanaeze, ‘If you want me to drop the agitation for Biafra, please, go to Abuja and get me something,” a man claiming to be Kanu said in an audio clip posted to a SoundCloud account operated by Radio Biafra.

“Get me a concession. I will not drop Biafra until I get a concession.”

Kanu, a former real estate agent in London, is facing a sleuth of charges, most of which are connected to his call for the independence of the southeastern region of Nigeria.

He was first seen in the public in Jerusalem on October 18 after he went underground in September 2017 following the deployment of troops to the southeastern city of Umuahia. He said he left Nigeria because the court could not guarantee his safety.

His claims that he is currently in Israel have raised questions about how he was able to travel that far when his travel documents are still with the Nigerian government.

Although his lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor had earlier claimed that only the Nigerian government can explain the whereabouts of the separatist leader, he said in a statement earlier in the month that his client was the man shown in a video posted to Facebook.

“My client is the very person seen in the pictures/video. That I can confirm authoritatively,” Ejiofor said.

In a later message also posted to Radio Biafra’s Facebook, a man claiming to be Kanu said he was ready to bring “hell” to Nigeria.

But a Nigerian government spokesman said Kanu posed no threat to the country’s internal security.

“We see the re-enactment of his bizarre, episodic threat as a mere distraction which will not be allowed to detract from the existing cordial relationships between Nigeria and other countries,” said presidential spokesman Garba Shehu.

President Muhammadu Buhari appears to be in a serious dilemma over finding a resolution to the crisis rocking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), arising from the fallout of the party’s primaries. The dilemma stems from the growing disenchantment against the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, among state governors elected on the platform of the party, members of the NWC as well as the Chairmen of the State Chapters of the party.

A vote of no confidence was recently passed on Oshiomhole by the State Chapters, but five state chapters from the South-South geo-political zone later dissociated themselves from the decision. Sunday Telegraph learnt that in spite of this little reprieve from the South-South (Oshiomhole’s home base) his fate is still hanging in the balance as those opposed to his continued stay in office were yet to back down on their threats to oust him.

According to a source familiar with the plot, only a presidential intervention could save Oshiomhole, but President Muhammadu Buhari is also said to be careful in wadding in to avoid incurring the wrath of the governors as the general elections draw near. “Buhari holds the aces of whatever happens to Oshiomhole.

If the President backs those fighting against the former labour leader, the Oshiomhole elements will move against the president, said a source who spoke with Sunday Telegraph. In recent weeks, the APC National Chairman has been facing a barrage of criticisms arising from his handling of the party primaries.

The outcome of the exercise was upsets in the power equation in several states which brought him on a collision course with the governors of the affected states. Our source, who recalled the conduct of the party’s primaries in each of the regions, said that there was no major crisis in the South- South, except for Rivers State. “Delta, Edo and even Bayelsa states were able to manage the crisis, to some extent. But in the core Igbo land, there is a major crisis. Enugu is divided, while some are for Oshiomhole, some are for the president. Whatever will happen depends on how he handles the situation.

This will be the time to know his thinking, as a statesman,” our source said. In the South West, Oshiomhole is caught in between two influential power blocs namely, those who believe that they are the true owners of the APC, by virtue of the fact that they came from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the other group who joined the APC from other parties. This perhaps explains why it’s been difficult for President Buhari to back any of the groups because of the potential danger of listing either of them.

“The people who actually own the APC are re-asserting themselves, against the new comers like Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo governor) and Kunle Amosun (Ogun governor) who came from the APP to APC. They are showing them that they are the real owners of the APC. It will be very difficult for Mr. President to side with the Amosun and Akeredolu. “They are telling the president that the party is in the hands of the original owners of the ACN, who hold the aces in the region. What has happened in Ogun State is a reassertion of the original owners of the defunct ACN, led by Asiwaju BolaTinubu and Chief Segun Osoba, who hold the aces in the region.” Speaking further, our source said: “In Kaduna, the President has always said that he respects the rule of law. He has cast his lot with the Governor.

He believes that Malam Nasir El-Rufai is one of the people that are canvassing for him, not just in the APC, but also on the larger Nigerian stage. He does not want to ruffle feathers.” Meanwhile, Sunday Telegraph also reliably learnt that there are high level moves to placate the aggrieved party members and ensure that APC goes into next year’s election as a united party. Sources told us that since they are aware of the enormous power and influence the governors wield, steps are on to bring them back into the fold.

“We are aware of the powers that they (governors) have so efforts are already on to offer those eyeing senate seats to placate them with principal office positions in the senate; while those not contesting will be offered frontline ministerial positions should the party retain power in 2019,” explained the source. The source, who is close to the party hierarchy, however, also stressed that it was highly unlikely that the National Chairman of the party would be sacrificed before the February 2019 elections.

“To do so would be very detrimental to the chances of the party retaining power next year. That is why all hands are on deck to find an amicable solution to the problems currently being faced by the party,” he said. National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, also dismissed reports of an impending implosion in the ruling party. Speaking with Sunday Telegraph yesterday, Issa- Onilu said that some reports insinuating that the governors and NWC members were ganging up to oust Oshiomhole were speculative and do not represent the facts on the ground. He admitted that there were grievances in some quarters but these were being addressed by the party. “Where are they gathering? Are we not in this country together? Where did they hold the meeting?

There is nothing like that. How many states are affected by whatever issues that arose from the primaries? “I know of Imo, Ondo, Ogun, Zamfara and Niger; out of how many states? Niger is even out of it. We have no problem with the governor of Niger and the Niger State governor has no problem with us.

There are issues yes, not that every governor is now up in arms; that impression is wrong completely. They just want to create an atmosphere of problem. “When you say they, one wonders those you are referring to, those who are speaking to you. It might be politicians and they want the media to continue reporting crisis so that it becomes real in the minds of some persons. They want that atmosphere to be created, you know. Just like sometimes you build a castle and you look for people to put inside and sometimes you get the people before building the castle.

They are building the castle of crisis and looking for people,” he said Sunday Telegraph’s efforts to get the Presidency to respond to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari was in a dilemma over the crisis in the party did not yield the desired results. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, neither answered his calls nor responded to a text message sent to his mobile phone.

Determined to oust President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election, Senate President Bukola Saraki; presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; and the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, are leading a host of other chieftains of the opposition party in a meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to fine-tune their campaign strategy ahead of the November 18 commencement date.

The special strategy session, which started on Thursday in the Middle East city, is meant to put finishing touches to some of the PDP’s plans aimed at defeating Buhari at the next poll.

According to sources close to the meeting, Atiku is also using the forum to perfect his comprehensive policy document, detailing how he intends to improve Nigeria.

It was learnt that the PDP presidential candidate’s roadmap for Nigeria’s development would be unveiled to Nigerians in the next few weeks.

Investigation by Saturday PUNCH revealed that Atiku, who had been in Dubai earlier, was joined by Saraki, Secondus and a host of other PDP chieftains on Wednesday night.

It was also gathered that Atiku’s running mate and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, was also attending the meeting.

The Director-General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Gbenga Daniel, who is a former Governor of Ogun State, is also present at the meeting, according to party stalwarts who spoke to Saturday PUNCH under the condition of anonymity.

A top source in the PDP told Saturday PUNCH that the meeting was important for the party to fine-tune its strategy ahead of electioneering.

“All of them, including Atiku, Saraki, Obi and Daniel are meeting in Dubai now; the essence is to strategise ahead of the campaign,” the source said.

As of the time of filing this report, our correspondents could not ascertain how long in terms of the number of days the strategy session would last but it was learnt that Saraki, Atiku, Secondus and other leaders in the meeting were determined to perfect most of their plans ahead of the presidential campaign scheduled to begin on November 18.

According to INEC’s timetable and schedule of activities issued by the commission, campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on November 18, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will start on December 1.

Confirming the meeting in Dubai, the spokesperson for the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Mr. Segun Sowunmi, said there was a need for Atiku to meet with critical stakeholders ahead of the presidential, governorship and other campaigns scheduled to begin soon.

He said, “The appropriate response is that the former Vice-President, who is now the presidential candidate of the PDP, after a very gruelling and rigorous campaign during the primaries, has taken a couple of days for a deserved rest.

“As a matter of fact, the quantum of work needed to be done in Nigeria is such that the rest is almost turning out to be a working rest.

“He has been engaging quite a lot of critical stakeholders who have flown all the way there to have conversations with him, share ideas and rob minds with him, while others are there to felicitate with him on his victory.

“As soon as he returns to the country, the entire machinery for his presidential campaign will be ready and all Nigerians can look forward to a glorious era so that the change to the change presently in place happens.”

Asked to mention all the stakeholders in the meeting, he said, “I’m sure it’s not an inventory-like meeting where I will say who is there or who is not there. Frankly, I don’t have a list of the people who are there, but I know a lot of high-ranking people are around the former VP because of his goodwill which he has gathered over the years.”

On the party’s readiness for campaigns for the 2019 general elections, he said, “We are extremely prepared because Nigerians are also ready. In going round the country, Nigerians have now keyed into the agenda of ‘let’s keep Nigeria working again’.

“Young people, businessmen and everyone else have been affected by the poor economic policies of the present administration. Nobody has been spared. Some people have felt it most deeply because they lost their lives.

“People are ready to use their Permanent Voter Cards to exercise their franchise in the 2019 general elections, which we believe should be free, fair and credible.”

Our campaign will be issue-based, says PDP

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the PDP on Friday said its presidential and national assembly campaign would be issue-based.

It also said campaign for other offices would follow a similar pattern, adding that the alleged failures of the All Progressives Congress would further help the former ruling party.

Secondus stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents from Dubai

He said that the PDP would not engage in frivolity, “but will tell Nigerians what the PDP has in stock for them from May 29, 2019.”

He said, “We will approach the campaign of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and other elections with all the seriousness they deserve.

“Our campaign will be issue-based and we will appeal to the electorate to look at the record of our performance and also look at what they have experienced in the last four years or so.

“We will ask them to look at the growing economy we handed over to the APC in 2015 and what we have now in the country.

“They will have to choose between hunger and satisfaction, nonpayment of salaries now and regular payment they had experienced then and so forth. It will be an opportunity for Nigerians to remember the period of peace they enjoyed then and what they have now. Definitely, the difference is clear.”

He said Nigerians and the members of the party would soon see the way the campaign would run as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission lifted the suspension on it.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, has declared its readiness to deal decisively with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, over his threat to make Nigeria “hell” when he returns to the country.

The DHQ has also vowed to stop any person or group planning to cause mayhem in the country.

It has, therefore, advised those stockpiling weapons with the intention of causing havoc in the 2019 general election in the country to have a rethink or have themselves to blame as the wrath of the law would be visited on them.

Director, Defence Information, Brig-Gen. John Agim, gave the warning at a media briefing on the successes of military operations across the country in Abuja.

“Operation 777 is on and whoever that is coming to Nigeria with hell, Operation 777 will contend with the person, be it Nnamdi Kanu or any other person,” Agim said.

He said Operation 777 was launched to specifically tackle those planning to disintegrate the country.

Agim said Operation 777, which came into existence on October 8, has killed 35 suspected criminals and arrested 98 bandits in the last two weeks, adding that those arrested were currently undergoing investigation after which they would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

Giving a breakdown of the successes of the operations, Agim said some soldiers have paid the supreme price in the ongoing operations across the country, but he did not state where they suffered casualties.

He also said five AK-47 rifles, 20 bows and arrows, 113 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 20 live cartridges and four rifle magazines were recovered from the suspects, adding that a total of 419 rustled cattle were recovered within the period and returned to their rightful owners.

He said, “Two soldiers were killed in action, two wounded in action. Equally, two soldiers were missing in action while one AK-47 rifle is missing in action.”

Speaking further on the military’s success, the defence spokesman declared that 405 sheep and 101 goats were recovered and handed over to the various states committees established to return the animals to the rightful owners by the troops of Operation 777.

“In the operation around the maritime areas, a total of 398 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil was recovered, 67,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, 126 reservoirs, 34 illegal refineries, 27 wooden boats and a quantity 101 of 100-litre drums of premium motor spirit were recovered and destroyed,” he further disclosed.

He said Operation 777, which was launched by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on October 10, was “designed to consolidate on the achievements of the existing operations.”

“Operation 777 is intended to energised our operations. I am happy to observe that various operations across the nation have assumed new vigour, which have recorded a lot of successes in the last few weeks.

“Operation 777 is running concurrently. The operation is also geared towards enhancing a conducive and stable environment for socio-economic activities and the safety of Nigerians, as well as preventing bandits and outlaws from escaping to other peaceful areas. Consequently, the operation is expected to raise the confidence of the public in the affected states, particularly, the IDPs to return back to their homes,” Agim explained.

According to the the spokesman, “The activities of troops are being conducted simultaneously in all the operations areas. It is focused on identifying and destroying bandits and other persons bearing arms against the Nigerian state. It is also to eliminate armed gangs and adversaries as well as conducting cordon-and-search operations to retrieve illegal arms and ammunitions.”

Furthermore, “the operations will actively engage and sensitise the locals and the general public to cooperate with the military.”

“In Benue State, for instance, Operation 777 has located the camp of one notorious criminal and cult leader by name Gana. We were able to neutralise more than 15 of his gang members, including his wife.

“Gana managed to escape, but our troops are on his trail. Sequel to this, many of the IDPs have started returning home. The chairman of Logo Local Government Area confirmed that 27,000 out of 34,000 IDPs at Anyiin IDP Camp have returned home.

“During the period under review, our gallant troops neutralised 35 criminals and a total of 98 suspected bandits/criminals were arrested and they are undergoing investigation and shall be handed over to the police for prosecution.

“The weapon seized include quantity five AK-47 rifles, 20 bows and arrows, 113 quantity of 7.62mm live ammunition, 20 live cartridges and four rifle magazines.

“Within the period also, 419 rustled cattle were recovered, 405 sheep and 101 goats were recovered and handed over to the various state committees established to return the animals to the rightful owners.

“In the operation around the maritime areas, a total of 398 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil was recovered, 67,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, 126 reservoirs, 34 illegal refineries, 27 wooden boats and quantity 101 of 100-litre drums of premium motor spirit (PMS) were recovered and destroyed. Regrettably, during these operations, the military suffered some casualties. Two soldiers were killed in action, two wounded in action. Equally, two soldiers were missing in action while one AK-47 rifle went missing in action.”

OladimejiRufai:
After seeing it now, what should we do?

Fry water or roast wine?

Ibadan – The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday in Ibadan urged Nigerians not to vote for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it is “ desperate and hungry for power.’’

The minister made the plea at a Special Town Hall Meeting on Infrastructure organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture to showcase the achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Amaechi said that the Buhari administration had recorded unprecedented achievements on infrastructure development in three and half years than the 16 years rule of the PDP.

He said the PDP, while in power, turned the nation to a “feeding bottle” by abandoning critical infrastructure and “ sucking” the economy for personal gains.

The minister urged Nigerians to resist the PDP by voting for Buhari and ensuring that they guard their votes during the 2019 general elections.

Amaechi also said that the ruling party was prepared for an open debate with the PDP on the successes recorded, especially on infrastructure development.

“We are ready for the PDP candidate to confront us with what they achieved in 16 years and compare them to what we have done in just three and half years.
.
“We are open for the debate, our achievements on infrastructure are there to showcase,” he said.

The minister disclosed that the government was working hard to ensure the completion of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project by February 2019.

“We are working day and night on this project and we have started laying the tracks from Papalanto.

“I want to thank the people and the communities along the rail tracks for their cooperation because they have never given us trouble,” he said.

The minister also said that after completing the Lagos-Ibadan section of the project, the focus would turn to the Lagos-Kano standard gauge.

Amaechi also disclosed that the government was embarking on a $500 million transit camp initiative on the Ibadan-Iseyin road in Oyo State which would have a modern mall and hotel.

He urged residents of Ibadan to take advantage of the booming economic activities as a result of the Federal Government initiatives.

The Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his Water Resources counterpart, Suleiman Adamu, gave the scorecards of the administration from the perspective of their respective ministries.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

IamD18:
Normal dirty pant--200K
High thick stained pant--350K

What of 99% of Nigerian women that use to wear one pant for 4 straight days, remove it, turn it, and wear it again for 3 straight days.

How much will their pant worth?


This is a cool business idea o, seems I'll start sending PMs to these dirty ladies, they'll be useful.

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has reacted to allegations that he was in cahoots with some governors of the All Progressives Congress to remove the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomole.

While denying any involvement in any attempt to remove the former Edo State governor, Mr Akeredolu accused Mr Oshiomhole of exhibiting incompetence in the handling of the party’s recently concluded primaries across the country.

In a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale, Mr Akeredolu said APC primaries exposed the incompetence of Mr Oshiomhole. He described the exercise as a “political charade” and a revelation of “a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity.”

He asserted that recent events had justified his opposition to Mr Oshiomhole’s election as party chairman.

A group of party members staged a protest at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Tuesday alleging that Mr Akeredolu and other “conservative” governors were planning to remove Mr Oshiomole and scuttle the efforts of the party towards winning the 2019 general election.

The group pointedly described the Ondo State governor as a mole in the APC, whose recent actions could result in Buhari losing Ondo State.

The crises in the APC followed the outcome of the conduct of the governorship and national assembly primaries across the country, where the National Working Committee seems to have undermined the powers and influence of the governors.

A number of governors protested against the final list of candidates approved by the Oshiomole-led NWC, and had called on President Buhari to intervene to reverse the trend.

Mr Akerdolu is particularly livid over the failure of some of his preferred candidates to make the list of candidates to be fielded by the party in the Senate and House of Representatives, despite being in firm control of the party machinery in the state.

Mr Akeredolu said those who feel aggrieved reserve the right to demand justice, including calling for Mr Oshiomhole’s removal.

The governor, however, restated his commitment to work “assiduously” for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election, who he said is loved by the people of Ondo State.

Referring to the protest in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Akeredolu described the organisers of the protest as “opportunists,” and denied that he led governors of Ogun, Kaduna Adamawa and Ekiti States against Mr Oshiomhole’s leadership.

He said he found the report laughable and distracting, adding that as a fiercely independent personality, he was not about to change his attitude to please any person or a group of persons.

“There is no truth in the whole contrivance. The governor has been pre-occupied with matters of governance in Ondo State for which he was elected,” the statement said.

Mr Akeredolu recalled his “noble interventions” as Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president at critical moments in the cause of the “progressives”, including in restoring Mr Oshiomhole’s stolen mandate.

“The governor had expressed preference for someone else during the contest for the office of the Chairman of the Party,” the statement further read.

“He did not hide his opposition to Mr Oshiomole’s aspiration for the simple reason that the leadership of a party, especially the one just emerging from a merger, should distance itself from egregious and inherently destructive narcissism.

“Recent events seem to justify this position as prescient. Only sycophants will fail to see the obvious. Mr President would not have expressed worries over the crises in the party if everything had gone on smoothly.

“The handlers of the mob strive in vain to set the lresident against certain government functionaries considered antagonistic to their pernicious scheme for dominance.

“Their devious plot to outsmart those perceived as opposing their expansionist tendency compelled them to take desperate measures. Anyone endowed with an attitude of sobriety should have seen the need for calm.

“Rather than retrace their steps and display genuine contrition, their desperation pushes them to embrace measures capable of not only hurting the party, but, regrettably, the president, whom they pretend to love so much.”

Mr Akeredolu said it was ludicrous that anyone would consider him a conservative.

“Those who collected varying and humongous amounts as fees from aspirants during the last grandiose charade called primaries and submitted names dictated to them by a cabal, notorious for capturing political power for unbridled pillage, should be bold to explain their real motives to the people. They should be honest enough to deal with the issues,” the statement added.

“Events, which took place across the country during the political charade, have exposed not only sheer incompetence on the part of the national leadership of the party, but painfully, it has revealed a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity.

“It is becoming clear, increasingly, that party leadership at that level is seriously challenged in terms of capacity for serious engagements.

“Arakunrin Akeredolu, SAN, does not need to move from ‘North’ to ‘South’ to collect signatures from victims of electoral heist. He was in Ondo State throughout last week.

“He was at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, to deliver a lecture on restructuring a few days ago. He is at presently in Canada on a working visit.

“Only the mob and their hirers can explain the imagined movement from North to South. However, those who feel aggrieved reserve the right to demand that justice be done. If this includes the removal of Mr Oshiomole, so be it.

“May we seize this opportunity to reiterate the fact that the people of Ondo State are favourably disposed to the second term bid of Mr President.

“Our people are unique; they are unwavering in their support for justice. They alone determine what is in their best interest at all times. The President is loved by the people of Ondo State.

“All of us shall work, assiduously, for the President’s victory at the polls next year. We do not need any band of mendicants ready for hire to remind us of this sacred patriotic duty.”

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has debunked the rumour making the rounds that the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is planning to leave the party.

Rather, it said there was nothing in the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, that could attract Ekweremadu into its fold.

Instead of losing members, the PDP said aggrieved members of the APC would defect to the former ruling party soon.

There had been unconfirmed reports that Ekweremadu was planning to defect from the PDP to the APC for allegedly losing the Vice-Presidential ticket of the party to a former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi.

Ekweremadu was believed to have positioned himself for the slot, but was said to have been disappointed when the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, announced Obi as his running mate for the 2019 presidential election.

As part of the strategy to clinch the VP position, Ekweremadu was also believed to have rallied round delegates from the South-East to vote for Atiku at the party’s national convention held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, about two weeks ago.

To show his disaffection, Ekweremadu, whose name had already been submitted by the PDP to the Independent National Electoral Commission as a senatorial candidate from Enugu State, was said to be considering leaving the PDP for the APC.

However, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, debunked the rumours, saying Ekweremadu “will never leave the PDP.”

Ologbondiyan said, “Why would someone like the DSP (Deputy Senate President ) consider joining the APC?

“This is a party that the highest court in the land just described as being stupid. Who will leave a rebranded party like the PDP and join such a party that has been described in such a derogatory word?

“Forget the rumour. Dr Ekweremadu is with us and will never join a party like APC that is enmeshed in eternal crisis.”

Asked if the party had met with Ekweremadu to determine if he was actually planning to leave or not, Ologbondiyan said that the “party has a way of holding meetings with its officials and others”, adding that “such meetings are not held on the pages of newspapers.”

Taiwo Adeoluwa, secretary to the Ogun state government, has described as a “lie from the pit of hell”, the reports that Ernest Shonekan, former head of interim national government, is dead.

Adeoluwa debunked the rumour on Tuesday evening.

He said Ibikunle Amosun, governor of the state, has spoken with Shonekan who reportedly told the governor that he is hale and hearty.

Tributes have been pouring in for Shonekan on social media based on the reports.

Shonekan succeeded ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida after his administration refused to hand over power to MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election.

More to follow…

The pumping of petroleum products to Enugu depot, hub of fuel supply by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to entire south east region, has been halted. Before this unpleasant news was broken by the NNPC last Monday, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had staged a protest on demand for minimum wage. And the dust raised by this is yet to settle when major marketers of petroleum products in the country called a press conference where they declared that the debts the Federal Government owe them had not only surged to N130.7 billion but also that this is now a major threat to their business.

Though the Federal Government had through the NNPC assured Nigerians that there would not be scarcity but can Nigerians who had travelled through this route before believe this statement?

The issues highlighted below are to be considered before a yes or no question answer could be provided to the question.

Debts to fuel marketers

The Federal Government’s debts profile on fuel subsidy and taxes to major marketers of petroleum products in Nigeria have hit N130.7 billion mark.

Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), which declared this, maintained that the amount was the harmonized figure as at August 2018 after over four years of absolute drought in payment of the outstanding money on subsidy.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos last Monday, Chairman of MOMAN, Mr. Andrew Gbodume, who noted that the subsidy trapped in the government’s coffers was credit facilities from banks, stated that the lenders have now embargoed credit facilities to oil marketers.

“Now some of our members find it difficult to pay salaries, whereas we are bound to review salary of our staff at a minimum interval of every two years,” he said.
One of the major challenges the Nigerian downstream petroleum sector is still facing, according to Gbodume, is the non-payment of the long outstanding fuel subsidy to oil marketers.

Banks, he said, are no longer willing to assist in providing further credit facilities to oil marketers.

“The nonpayment of outstanding subsidy funds is affecting our businesses,” he said. “Kindly, note that the facilities extended by banks must be serviced regularly. We appreciate the efforts of the National Assembly but the non-payment creates a significant negative impact on the operational efficiency of the downstream sector of the oil industry, thereby placing a severe strain on its efforts to continuously invest in infrastructure and raise industry standards.

“ We hope that the debts will be paid in full to the oil marketers as soon as possible.”

Corroborating Gbodume’s view, Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Clement Isong, added that the debts on subsidy plus interest as at August 2018 stood at N130.7 billion.

“The figure on tax continues to move and as we speak it must have been more than this,” he said.

Stating that the current model is unworkable and unsustainable, Isong, who expressed optimism over payment of the outstanding by government, commended the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) for quality of planning, which he described as impeccable.

“We cannot but acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of PPMC over the last few months in ensuring consistent supply of petroleum products within the country,” he said. “PPMC has demonstrated its resolve in guaranteeing a non-repeat of the scarcity the nation experienced at the end of 2017 and quite frankly has done well so far.

“However, with NNPC being the sole importer and supplier of petroleum products in Nigeria at the cost incurred, it should be clear to all Nigerians that this policy direction is not sustainable.

“We believe the path to fully achieving a sustainable operating environment for the Nigerian petroleum industry begins with the downstream private sector. We feel the time is now to encourage a well informed and honest debate amongst ourselves as Nigerians on our downstream pricing policy, showing sensitivity to the fears of Nigerians and the challenges we face as a people and as an economy to arrive at an equitable but sustainable business model.”

Labour’s minimum wage tussle

Penultimate Wednesday, NNPC cautioned consumers of petroleum products against panic buying as the planned nationwide strike by NLC heightened fears over possible hiccups to free supply of the products.

Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who made the call, appealed to motorists and other consumers of petroleum products across the country not to engage in panic buying of products over the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned industrial action.

The Federal Government, Dr. Baru said in a release by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, was seriously engaging NLC on the issues raised.

He quoted the NNPC GMD as affirming that the nation had 37- day petroleum Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, self- sufficiency, assuring that all the NNPC’s depots across the country, including the private ones engaged by the Corporation on throughput basis, have an abundance of petroleum products to meet the needs of Nigerians.

The statement said all NNPC depot managers have been instructed to intensify products loading and other activities in their depots to avert any fallout of developments in respect of the NLC’s proposed strike.
Baru explained that NNPC would continue to meet the products consumption needs of all Nigerians wherever they may be within the shores of the country.

Surge in pipeline vandalism

The pumping of petroleum products to Enugu depot, hub of fuel supply by the NNPC to entire south east region, has been halted. The NNPC, which confirmed this, last Monday, maintained that this was a result of oil pipeline vandalism, which has prevented “pumping of Products to Enugu depot.”

The corporation said: “As calm returned to Osisioma Ngwa communities of Abia State following a fire incident last Friday, the NNPC has appealed to the host communities to help stem the spate of vandalism of oil pipeline.

“Preliminary reports of the fire incident, which recorded some fatalities and loss of properties affirmed that the inferno resulted from the activities of vandals who had breached System 2Ex Pipeline Right of Way (PROW) in Ososioma.”

The NNPC spokesperson explained that the confirmation of items such as jerrycans, among others, at the scene of the incident, by the report indicated that the activities of vandals in the area ignited the flame.

Ughamadu quoted the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, as saying that the incessant vandalism of pipeline facilities along System 2Ex PROW had prevented the Corporation from pumping fuel to the Enugu Depot which has remained underutilized despite its recent rehabilitation by the NNPC.

Dr. Baru lamented the loss of lives and properties in the inferno, which occurred in the wee hours of Friday in Umuaduru and Umuimo communities both in Osisioma Ngwa, in Abia State.

The GMD appealed to host communities to collaborate with the corporation to tame oil pipeline vandalism in their areas.

Dr. Baru thanked the State fire servicemen and NNPC officials for their prompt response, which rapidly brought the situation under control.

Saudi’s threat of $200 pb oil price

The landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol is in imminent threat of skyrocketing to N300 per barrel from N128. 79 per barrel it currently goes for.

This, which would worsen the fuel subsidy burden for the Federal Government and degenerate the under-recovery by the NNPC, is buoyed by the threat by World biggest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, to inflict pain that would push crude oil price to as high as $200 per barrel if the United States goes ahead with threat to sanction the country.

The gulf state is engrossed in a case of alleged tortuous and murder of a journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, which is drawing global attention.

US President Donald Trump threatened to inflict “severe punishment” on Saudi Arabia if it is found to have killed the prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Saudi Arabia, which has dismissed as “lies” claims by Turkish officials that Mr. Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi agents, has vowed to respond to any punitive action by Western powers “with greater action”.

While Nigeria is expected to get higher revenues if the diplomatic row pushes oil price to $200 per barrel, the country would also be inflicted with higher price for its refined products.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter imports over 40 million litres of petrol daily due to epileptic nature of its 445, 000 barrels daily capacity refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

As at the last count, the country, which modulates and compels marketers of petrol to sell at N145 per litre, owes major marketers over N130.7 billion in subsidy and taxes.

While petrol landing cost stands at N122 per litre when crude oil was selling at $60 average, checks by this newspaper showed that the landing cost could go for as high as N300 per litre with $200 per barrel
Highlighting the possible implications of sanction on Saudi and the response of “greater action by the kingdom, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia “possess about 18% of the world’s proven oil reserves and is the world’s biggest oil exporter, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This gives the country significant power and influence on the global stage.

“If, for example, sanctions were imposed by the US or other countries, the Saudi government could respond by cutting its oil production, which would push up global prices unless other exporters made up the shortfall.
Reuters said: “In an editorial published on Sunday, the general manager of Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, Turki Aldakhil, said that imposing sanctions on the kingdom would result in an “an economic disaster that would rock the entire world.

“If the price of oil reaching $80 (£61) angered President Trump, no one should rule out the price jumping to $100 (£76), or $200 (£152), or even double that figure.”

Last line

NNPC nay Federal Government should go beyond assurance it has been giving to Nigerians over the impending scarcity. Nigerians have travelled through this route before and it would require more than assurances to get them to believe that this in-coming Yuletide would be different.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Disturbed by their inability to have their way, some members of the president’s kitchen cabinet and a host of governors are plotting against the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The governors, about 15 in number along side their allies in the presidency wants the chairman out of office as soon as possible and replaced with someone more amenable to their demands and interests. Their disaffection with their chairman stems from their inability to impose their candidates on the party to fly its flag in various elective positions.

The plot is thickening just as the president is taking steps to reunite the party following the disaffections and bad blood created by its recent divisive primaries.

However, Oshiomhole has fought back saying that everything he is doing is for the masses of the party and not about to pander to interests of a clique within the party who are driven by a sense of entitlement.

Oshiomhole was said to have clearly warned that he is not about to compromise his principle just to please a few.

THISDAY gathered that the outcome of the recent primary elections, which left the party more divided, had become a source of serious concern to stakeholders in the party. Oshiomhole is being accused of not playing fair thereby creating the mood for the divisions and defections that have plaqued the party.

Sources within the presidency alligned in the plot against Oshiomhole claimed that even when some of the challenges were seen ahead of time and brought to his notice, Oshiomhole mismanaged the situations, with grave consequences for the party and fear Atiku Abubakar’s growing momentum.

The sources noted that when the crises, which arose from the primary election, started, the president had personally given a directive to the national chairman about six times on what to do. But he disregarded the orders because of his personal interest and continued with what he thought was the best even when he was not getting results. The situation was said to have gotten so bad that Oshiomhole started avoiding the president and refused to honour his invitations. All these were seen as constituting great danger to the party.

THISDAY learnt that those to perfect Oshiomhole’s removal had already been deployed and they had commenced the task quietly, even though not necessarily to the knowledge of the president.

The president’s men were equally said to be worried about the role Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some prominent members of the party had played which seemed to embolden the national chairman.

Oshiomhole’s Fight Back

Interestingly, multiple sources close to Oshiomhole confided in THISDAY that some of the governors are against Oshiomhole because they could not have their way with him, adding that contrary to insinuations, the national chairman had the backing of the president in all he has been doing in the party. For instance, the sources maintained that ahead of the recent primaries, some of the governors, apart from completely controlling the list of the delegates in their respective states, had approached Oshiomhole to have an idea of the panel members to be sent to their states, but Oshiomhole turned down the requests, telling them “you cannot have the players and the referee.”

According to the sources, Oshiomhole pointedly told the governors that they were the ones who made him chairman to clean up the Augean stable and that if things must change, they had to consciously change the approach. He also noted that if he had his way, there would be direct primaries in all the states to give every APC member a sense of belonging in the running of the party. He told them he was not going to pander to any interest other than the interest of the party. “And that he would not bend his principle to please them. Of course the governors interpreted this to mean that Oshiomhole was working against their interests.”

But in a related development, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was said to have stopped Oshiomhole from accessing the president’s residence in Aso Rock. Mrs Buhari was alleged to have insisted that if the APC national chairman needed to see the president, he should meet him in his office, which is, however, still within the Three Arms Zone.
Mrs Buhari has not hidden her disgust over Oshiomhole’s alleged mismanagement of the party and she is said to be part of the plan to remove him. She is said to have passed an order to the president’s security personnel not to allow Oshiomhole come within the presidential residence.

It would be recalled that the First Lady had some weeks ago chided the APC leadership over the way it managed the party primaries and the aftermath, saying the party and its leadership have betrayed the very essence of democratic ethos and had descended into sheer fascism.

Aisha Buhari’s outburst, even though she was believed to have been irked over her brother, Mahmud Halilu Ahmed’s inability to clinch Adamawa State’s governorship ticket, had set the tone for the current move to finally get Oshiomhole out of the way. She is, apparently, cashing in on the general mood of other stakeholders in the party and the danger his disposition had put her husband.

Although the removal of a party’s national chairman is not easy, as it would require a long process, culminating even in a national convention, those pushing for Oshiomhole’s removal believe that he has become so unpopular among the top echelon of the party that his removal would be an easy ride.

Saturday Sun gathered that long before PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar returned to the party, himself and Ekweremadu had been meeting over 2019.

Slowly, but steadily, a major crisis appears to be brewing in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of next year’s presidential election.

The party still appears divided over the choice of its running mate. Saturday Sun however gathered that the cause of the anger and division has nothing to do with the competence of the eventual candidate for the position, former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi. But sources say it has everything to do with the manner he emerged.

This much was confirmed by the Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, who also doubles as Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, who confirmed that South-East leaders were not consulted before the emergence of Obi.

“Nobody is against Peter Obi, because he is my friend, competent and you must have seen our pictures together on the social media. We must take decisions against the marginalisation of Ebonyi people because if we have to vote, we must be treated with equity.

“Two names of the nominees came from Anambra, two from Abia and one from Enugu, but none came from Ebonyi and Imo.

“What is wrong with somebody from Ebonyi and Imo? If you must know, one of the reasons an Ebonyi man is against regions in the country is the fear of further marginalisation.

“If Atiku just picked his running mate without people from other regions seeing the list and making choices, there could have been no complaints. I am talking about the South-East people and if six people can come from other regions and take decisions, there must be somebody from the South-East zone.

“There is nothing like the South-East governors’ stand on the matter; but we are only saying that when decisions are taken and people from other regions are invited, those from the South-East must be invited,” Umahi said.

The raging fire

The man at the centre of the fresh crisis, which insiders say was capable of eroding all the gains the party may have recorded so far in its march towards 2019 is the deputy president of the senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

Saturday Sun gathered that long before former vice president and PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, returned to the party, himself and Ekweremadu had been meeting over 2019.

It was the leaks from one of such meetings that made some of the party leaders at the time to allege that Ekweremadu was scheming to hand over the party to Atiku. But that at every of such meetings, even when Atiku was said to have out rightly offered the deputy senate president the vice presidency slot, Ekweremadu would always insist that he was more interested in what the South-East stand to gain as a bloc from his presidency.

Saturday Sun further gathered that it was such talks that culminated in the entire South-East giving bloc votes to Atiku, at the just concluded PDP presidential primary, a development that did go down well with some party leaders in the South-south.

“It was a collective decision we took to back Atiku for a number of reasons. One, we had wanted to meet with the South-south to take a common position on that. But one leader in particular treated us as if we didn’t matter. So, when Ekweremadu called us, we met and weighed the options before us based on the offers made by each of the aspirants.

“One of the offers that fascinated us most, which is restructuring, was made by Atiku. Then the other was his desire to do just one term so as to enable the South-East field a presidential candidate in 2023. We saw that as a good counter to our opponents, the APC in the South-East, who have been canvassing that a Buhari’s second term was the surest way to Igbo presidency in 2023.

“Now, after the primary, we expected Atiku to come back to us, so we can tidy up the details of our understanding, and move on from there. But that did not happen. The next thing we heard was that announcement of a running mate without recourse to us. Nobody is against Peter Obi’s choice, not even Ekweremadu, who has been asking us to take it easy. But that is not how to go about it, unless Atiku thinks himself and Obi can go it alone in the South-East,” one of the party leaders said.

How Ekweremadu was used and dumped

Insisting that the deputy president of the senate was not fairly treated, one of the party leaders from the South-East further said “No, look at the way they treated Ekweremadu. When all of them left, Ekweremadu remained to fight for the survival of this party. How many of them would have resisted the temptation not to defect in the face of the intimidation, harassment, prosecution and persecution meted out on him? As a person, he had nothing to lose if he had defected then. In fact, he had everything to gain. He probably would have been the senate president because he was offered the slot.

“Then, when you people now return, you feel that people, who have held this party to survive, do not matter again simply because you got a presidential ticket. Also, even Saraki knows that if DSP had not been loyal, they would have gotten at him (Saraki) long ago. All the trials Ekweremadu was put through were all because of Saraki. But when it was the turn of Saraki to be there for him, he failed him. And as we speak, how many days is this after the primary? Atiku is yet to call DSP.

“You don’t treat a man who has been taking bullets on you people’s behalf like that. Well, I wish them and PDP well, but they should know that action begets reaction and they will pay the price for this mistreatment of people, who have laboured for the party at the toughest time. And if Ekweremadu leaves, we will hold these people responsible” one of the leaders from the South-East told Saturday Sun.

Atiku, Saraki keep mum

When contacted, spokesman for the Bukola Saraki Campaign Organisation, Mr. Ilemona Onoja, promised to get across, since three days ago. But up till the time of filling this report, he is yet to get back.

When called again, he said “Sorry, it took so long. I have been trying to reach my Principal. He travelled abroad; I cannot have this conversation without some sort of clearance. Like Saraki, Atiku’s spokesperson too, Mr. Segun Showunmi has refused to react to the development. For three days too, he remained evasive even when questions were sent to him vide the email to enable him respond.

Ekweremadu, not bitter

However, another party leader from the South-East revealed that the deputy senate president is not personally bitter over the turn of event. He was only worried that the way the actors were going about it, if not checked, South-East may not be in a position to push through some of the understandings it reached with Atiku before giving him their support, key among which is restructuring and 2023 Igbo presidency project.

“I agree with you, they just used and dumped the man. The man has always been faithful in all their deals and arrangements. He will keep to his own side of the bargain, but these people have never kept faith with him.

“Personally, I see what they are doing to him as a grand design to destroy him politically. Otherwise, even if Atiku was going to change his mind, he was supposed to carry Ekweremadu and other leaders along. Good enough, Ekweremadu has always insisted he was more interested in restructuring and South-East running for the presidency in 2023. He even joked to Atiku to feel free to pick his running mate from the any part of the north if he felt that would guarantee the PDP victory.

“To deliberately avoid him and other party leaders in the East until the Obi’s announcement was made shows it was in bad faith. And to say Saraki was part of the meeting where the decision was made, after promising Ekweremadu to be there for him as he has been there for him, that he would ensure Atiku honours all the agreement he had with him (Ekweremadu) and the Igbo leaders show Saraki too did not value all the sacrifices made by Ekweremadu on his behalf over the years.

“Well, I cannot say precisely what Ekweremadu is thinking. But as a politician, he should truly be weighing his options because the way these people have carried on does not hold any promises for him. If we are just preparing for a war and members of our troop are already treating some of us as conquered species, since they believe the war has already been won and lost even before it starts, then, I think there is reason to worry, “the party leader said.

Ekweremadu’s aide reacts

When contacted, Ekweremadu’s spokesman, Mr. Uche Anichukwu pleaded not to be dragged into the matter. He was however quick to add: “I think the South-East leaders have vented their feelings and there is no ill will towards the person of Peter Obi. The deputy president of the senate is more concerned about the collective interest of the South-East going forward.

“You know the deputy president of the senate is one man, who does not always want to rock the boat. But he is a courageous leader too. At the fullest of time, I am sure he will speak up. But you know, he is one man whose political trajectory is directed by God. He is not a desperate person and acts in the collective interest. As for whether he was used and dumped as you said some party leaders allege, he is the only person in a position to say so,” Anichukwu added.

The National Security Council has raised security concerns over post-election violence and stockpiling of weapons by desperate politicians across the country ahead of the 2019 general elections. President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday held a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd) and Service Chiefs to consider the threats posed by the arms proliferation and fears of possible postelection violence. Among those who attended the meeting were National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babangana Monguno (rtd); Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Defence Minister said government was worried over the attitude of some politicians who are likely to whip sentiments among Nigerians to cause crisis after the 2019 polls. “One area of security concern includes post-election violence as desperate politicians may whip up ethno-religious sentiments to create security situation in the country. “Also of concern is the proliferation and stockpiling of weapons by some disgruntled elements with a desire to take laws into their hands at the slightest opportunity,” Dan-Ali said. Dan-Ali said the meeting, however, recommended the deployment of security agencies to states for peaceful conduct of the elections.

“The Council recommended deployment of security agencies to states to enable the elections to be conducted peacefully and to further doused tension created by the outcome of the political parties’ primaries and some desperate persons to sabotage the electoral process.” The defence minister explained that the Security Council called for the concerted efforts of all security agencies to ensure that 2019 elections are hitch free. Council, according to him, also called on the need for continuous sensitization of the public by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and regutive lar meetings of relevant stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), international/local observers and the media ahead of the elections.

The defence minister said general overview of the security situation in the country as it relates to the conduct of the forthcoming 2019 general elections was discussed. Council, according to him, also discussed attempt to put pressure on electoral body by some notable personalities through demonstrations which was brought under control by combined efforts of security agencies to avoid been hijacked by hoodlums and armed bandits.

“The meeting also discussed attempt to put pressure on electoral body by some notable personalities through demonstrations which was brought under control by combine efforts of security agencies to avoid being hijacked by hoodlums or armed bandits,” he said. In another development, the Senate, yesterday, stood down consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for third reading and passage to enable the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry out further legislative work on the bill. Also, the House of Representatives stood down consideration of the Electoral Act No. 6 of 2010 at the committee of the whole. The bill which was earlier scheduled on the Senate Order Paper for consideration, was stood down when the Leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said: “In view of the sensi-tive nature of the bill and its importance, it was vital to give the committee more time to do a thorough job.” In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, corroborated the position of Lawan.

He, therefore, put it to voice vote and it was unanimously adopted. The bill had scaled second reading on October 10, a day after the two chambers of the National Assembly resumed from its 11-week annual recess. The bill has been very contentious as President Muhammadu Buhari had declined assent to the bill for three consecutive times. This is the fourth attempt by the lawmakers to have the bill passed and assented into law. At yesterday’s plenary, Speaker Yakubu Dogara called the chairman of the rules and business committee, Hon. Emmanuel Orker- Jev (PDP, Benue) to move that the bill be stood down. No date was, however, fixed for the resumption of the consideration of the electoral act amendment. It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had raised eleven queries about the electoral act the last time it was passed and sent to him for assent. The joint committee of the Senate and the House has worked on the areas of concern. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, while giving clarification in Abuja on the action of the President, said that Buhari declined assent to the bill due to some drafting issues and the period fixed for primaries among others.

Any Serious Government Fix its Power Problems In Six Months - Fashola

The Only Way To Have Steady Power Supply Is To Vote Out PDP - Fashola


After APC, Buhari and Fashola came into power:

Even Ogun, the god Of Thunder Can't Produce 1 Watt Of Electricity - Fashola

Electricity Problems Can't Be Solved By Magic - Fashola

There were discrepancies in the budget for the 2019 general election passed by the National Assembly yesterday as the Senate and the House of Representatives approved what appeared to be different figures for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the five security agencies involved in the polls.

The upper chamber approved the sum of N242 billion (N242,245,050,100) for INEC and the five security agencies, while the lower chamber approved a total of N831.259 billion (N831,259,220,255.00) for INEC and the security agencies. The discrepancies amounted to about N600 billion in what was approved by the two chambers of the National Assembly. A close look at what was passed by the two chambers showed that the variance hinged basically on the procedures and method of presentation of the approved budgets by the two chambers. Details of the N831.259 billion by the House indicate that N589.014 billion is money already appropriated for the commission and agencies in the 2018 budget, while N242.245 billion was the virement requested by President Muhammadu Buhari. The security agencies included in the election budget are the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

President Muhammadu Buhari had presented a supplementary budget to the National Assembly on July 18 in which he sought the approval of the lawmakers to fund the 2019 polls. The president, in his letter to the National Assembly, titled, “Request for Virement and Supplementary 2018 Budget,” specifically asked the legislature to reallocate part of the N578 billion voted to the projects inserted into the 2018 Appropriation Act by the lawmakers to fund the elections and critical infrastructure. Moving the motion, the chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Malam Mustapha Dawaki, recalled that a communication from President Buhari for virement in the Appropriation Act, 2018 was read at plenary. He said, “The House notes that the request was in respect of virement of funds to finance INEC and security agencies toward the preparation for the 2019 General Elections for which no provisions were made in the 2018 Appropriation Act. “The House is aware that the virement has become necessary in order to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence preparation toward a free and fair election in 2019; “The House also notes that the total amount of virement being proposed for the INEC and other security agencies is N831,259,220,255.00”.

Giving the breakdown, Dawaki said INEC is to get N234,507, 272,393.00; Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), N46,948,839,426.00 and Department of State Security Service (DSS) to get N50,791,852,568.00. He added that Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is to get N82,834,042,256.00; Nigeria Police Force (NPF), N351,562,210,645.00 and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is to get N64,615,002,968.00.

Dawaki said the grand total of the money for approval was N831,259,220,255.00. The motion received a mass approval when the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, put the matter to a voice vote.

On its part, the Senate approved the sum of N53.2billion as allocation for relevant security agencies in addition to the N189billion it approved for INEC for the conduct of the 2019 general election.

The Nigeria Police Force, in its original proposal forwarded to the National Assembly by President Buhari through a letter in July sought N30billion for the polls, but the Red Chamber approved N27.341billion, even as it also reduced the N12,213,282,455.00billion proposed for DSS to N10.213billion. The N5billion deducted from the budgetary estimates of the Police and DSS were however added to the N4,281,500,000.00billion allocated for the office of the National Security Adviser, jerking it up to N9.481billion. The N189billion budgetary proposals for INEC was approved, while N2.628billion was approved for National Immigration Service (NIS) and N3.573billion for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Approvals of the elections budget for 2019 polls by both chambers were sequel to recommendations made to that effect by their appropriation committees. The Committee in its report presented to the Senate by its chairman, Danjuma Goje, also differed with the president on source of virement for the N242billion.

While the president in his July letter, urged the federal lawmakers to vire the money from the N578billion special votes they allegedly inserted into the N9.12trillion 2018 budget through addition of about 1,403 projects , both the Senate and the House of Representatives in their approval of the N242billion elections budget, ordered for its virement from Special Intervention Programme (both recurrent and capital ).

As recommended and approved by both chambers, N194.7 billion out of the N242billion would be vired from N350billion recurrent component of the Special Intervention Programme, while the balance of N47.498billion would be vired from N150billion capital component of the Special Intervention Programme . In his remarks after the approval of the N242billion election budget, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said, “The much expected elections budget has been passed and approved here in the Senate , the same way I believe is done in the House of Representatives.

“It is the hope of the National Assembly and Nigerians generally that with this approval, INEC and other relevant agencies will ensure credible, free, fair and safe elections come 2019”.

Reps Pass Rejected Electoral Amendment Bill
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has passed the controversial Electoral Act (amendment) Bill, earlier rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari had withheld assent to the bill on August 30 citing some notable lacunas.

But the chairman of INEC Committee on Electoral Matters, Dukku noted that all the issues raised by President Buhari while declining his assent to the bill that ranges from election sequence, cross referencing error or poor drafting, card reader, omission of names, death of a candidate before an election, donation to political parties, election expenses and other related matters as captured were squarely addressed.

She equally noted that all the issues mentioned have always been parts of crucial matters that are of germane concerns in any electoral amendment process across the world.

Senate Receives Report On Rejected Electoral Amendment Bill
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday received the report on the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, 2018 rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari.
This is coming amidst widespread speculations that the Senate had override the president and has passed the bill.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Suleiman Nazif laid the report of the committee that reviewed the rejected bill before the Red Chamber.
The National Assembly had considered and treated the issues raised by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill and reviewed it.
Buhari had refused to assent to the bill, which was sent to him for signing into law by the National Assembly.
The President rejected the bill on the ground that new sequence of election was introduced in section 25(1) of the bill.

Buhari also said his blatant rejection of the bill was hinged on drafting errors.
When Buhari sent the bill back to the National Assembly, a joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was constituted to review it.

Senate In Rowdy Session Over $3.58bn Subsidy Probe
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday resolved to probe the sum of $3.58 billion subsidy recovery fund stocked in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) without appropriation. The Red Chamber, which was thrown in disarray when the issue came up, said the money is huge and should not be left in the hands of few persons in the NNPC without it being properly declared and utilised. The Senate particularly accused the Managing Director and the Executive Director of the NNPC for stocking the money in the corporation’s coffers and for changing its nomenclature. The resolution of the upper chamber followed a motion by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, who noted that the money had become ‘slush’ fund that is not appropriated and must therefore be investigated.

Consequently, Senate constituted an adhoc committee to investigate the matter, gather facts and figures and submit its report. It also summoned the management of the NNPC to cooperate with the mandated committee and to offer relevant information that would give clarity to the matter. However, there was uproar in the upper chamber when the matter was raised as Senators openly disagreed over what committee should be obligated to carry out the probe. Trouble started when Senate President Bukola Saraki announced the imperative for constituting an adhoc probe committee and quickly appointed the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, to chair it. Immediately, some lawmakers alleged that the Senate committee on Petroleum (downstream), chaired by Senator Kabir Marafa, is solely obligated by the Senate to oversee NNPC and other petroleum matters. But some Senators blatantly disagreed and alleged that the Marafa-led committee has compromised in previous assignments. The aggrieved Senators, including Ali Ndume (Borno South) who spoke on the matter, alleged fears that the committee lacks the capacity to handle the probe. It was at this point that Senator Marafa strongly objected, stating angrily that the committee he chairs had never at ny point in time compromised on any assignment. He insisted that those alleging must apologise. While mandating the committee to carry out its assignment, Saraki explained that it was necessary for the adhoc committee to be headed by Lawan to probe the subsidy recovery fund so as to enable the Senate avoid being partisan on the issue But the Senate leader categorically declined to head the committee, citing his integrity as reason he cannot carry out the job. Lawan noted that it took him several years to build his integrity and that he cannot dabble into anything that would tamper with it. However, Saraki insisted, saying “the matter is weighty and we need to get the facts so that we are not partisan; and so Leader, you cannot reject the job.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

“Our committees on Defence and Security should engage with the security agencies to find out if there are other issues that need to be addressed to prevent the recurrence of such sad incident.” – Saraki

The Senate yesterday summoned heads of the various security agencies to appear before its relevant committees and explain how they intend to curtail the rising killings being carried out by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

The summon came against the backdrop of the killings of two staff humanitarian workers, Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman, back-to-back by insurgents.

Ms. Liman was abducted in an attack in Rann on in March, alongside Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa and Alice Loksha. Saifura was killed on September 16 and Hauwa the following day reportedly by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) while Alice remains in captivity, along with Leah Sharibu, a 15-year-old student abducted by the group in a separate incident in February.

Speaking at plenary, Saraki said: “Distinguished colleagues, irrespective of the decision that we have taken, I believe that our committees on Defence and Security, as part of their own responsibilities, should engage with the security agencies to find out if there are other issues that need to be addressed in order to prevent the recurrence of such sad incident.”

He pledged the commitment of the parliament to continue to work with the nation’s Armed Forces to stop the killings and improve security across the country.

Anger in House of Reps

Adopting a motion on “The tragic execution of voluntary health workers, Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman by Boko Haram sect and the urgent need to rescue the remaining health worker, Alice Loksha in captivity,” the House of Representatives tasked the Federal Government to intensify efforts in collaborating with other countries in the fight against terrorism in the country.

It equally urged development partners not to relent in their aid and support for the fight against in the country.

Leading debate on the motion, Chike Okafor expressed dismay that in spite of negotiations, the insurgents went ahead to kill the humanitarian workers.

Contributing to the debate, Kingsley Chinda lamented the deplorable security situation in the country, stating that it was obvious the Federal Government has failed in its duties to the people.

“This is one area that we have agreed that the present system has failed. Issues of security on the floor of this House have been discussed more than any other issue.

“There is no month that we have not discussed issued of security. How long are we going keep on passing resolutions that are not implemented.

“We must begin to exercise the power that we have. The primary responsibility of any government is to protect the lives and property of the people.”

On his part, Nnanna Igbokwe said the House has repeatedly approved funds for the security agencies without commensurate results. He said in as much as there was need for the government to urgently rescue others, who are still in Boko Haram captivity, efforts should also be intensified to secure other Nigerians.

“We have approved money for security agencies. We have approved money for the federal government. We can approve more. They should live up to their responsibilities,” the lawmaker stated.

Ohanaeze slams Buhari

Meanwhile, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo has blamed the attributed alleged pampering of insurgents by President Muhammadu Buhari for the continued onslaughts in the North-East.

He also lamented the apparent helplessness of the nation’s security forces as the insurgents maul down defenceless Nigerians.

Nwodo, in a statement by his media aide, said the weakness of and ineffectual resistance to the dastardly acts of the insurgents was traceable to the country’s dysfunctional security apparatus.

Nwodo said as long as the headship of the nation’s security agencies were determined by tribal origin and analogue security chiefs who had their tenures illegally extended, the forage by the insurgents would be hardly contained.

ACF tasks FG

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram captivity as well as alter its strategy in handling insurgency.

According to a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, ACF called on the FG to review its negotiation strategy and ensure that the other aid worker, Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls still in the captivity of the Boko Haram are rescued and released to their families.

“The FG should not wait for deadline from the terrorists before taking necessary actions to rescue them. Any actions by the FG and the allies on this issue should be quick in order to assuage the fears of Nigerians of what may happen to those still in captivity.”

It also condemned the action of the terrorists, describing it as callous, barbaric, inhuman and totally against the tenets of Islam.

“The killing is a clear desecration of Islam which preaches sacred inviolability of the individual,”. it said.

Release our daughter’s corpse – Hauwa’s parents

The parents of Hauwa have reacted to her unconfirmed execution by the dread Boko Haram sect.

The parents in a emotional laden voice said their daughter was still alive and demanded the release of her corpse.

Both parents who spoke to a television station, yesterday, demanded for the release of her corps as a proof of her death.

Hauwa’s mother who spoke in Hausa said: “They are looking for ransom and the president promised their release and the time given was too short. In my strong belief, I am very sure my daughter is alive somewhere, they should release my daughter to me please.”

Reacting, Governor Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, expressed sadness over the execution of Liman.

For the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, Ms Liman was a martyr of peace.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Nigeria is currently going through a full-blown energy crisis, and could experience this for a long time if it fails to articulate a sound policy framework that focuses intensely on its gas sector, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said yesterday.

Kachikwu, in his ministerial address at the 11th edition of the international conference and exhibition organised by the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) in Abuja, explained the country’s continued dependence on oil alone to run her economy was hurting the country and it would need to quickly refocus attention on her abundant gas resources.

Though represented by his Senior Technical Adviser on Upstream and Gas, Mr. Gbite Adeniji, the minister’s disclosure came at a time the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stated that the country’s plan to build a transnational gas pipeline with Morocco was gaining momentum with plans to sign the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) contract for the project soon.

The minister explained that Nigeria no longer enjoys priority attention from oil and gas investors, adding that southern and eastern African countries now compete especially for investment in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) with Nigeria.

“Secondly, there is a much more constrained international environment with the mounting new LNG suppliers coming on stream globally, and Nigeria is competing for investment with southern and eastern Africa.

“Prices of oil are forecast to fall after 2030, and stay low for a long period after that with a possibility of absolute fall in demand for oil and a related impact on price of gas,” the minister noted.

Kachikwu stated that there were also domestic challenges the country has to clear to develop its gas industry and overcome the energy crisis it is going through.

According to him, “Then, there is the challenging domestic environment with security of supply risks; the sector governance and business environment issues. We could add more to these headwinds based on the recent reports of the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the World Bank and IMF which have made it their business to track our micro economics.

“Based on these headwinds, Nigeria has a challenging future and must therefore broaden its economy beyond oil hence the thrust of the gas policy is that we need to refocus our economy using the comparative advantage of our gas towards achieving gas-based industrialisation.”

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, explained that a feasibility study for the Nigeria and Morocco transnational gas line has been done, thus paving the way for the project’s FEED contract to be signed.

Baru said: “In June 2018, Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kingdom of Morocco on a regional gas pipeline that will supply gas to most of West African countries and extend it all the way to Morocco and Europe. The feasibility study has been completed and we are about to commence the optimisation of the study outcomes which would be followed closely with the FEED.”

He added that the challenges of the country’s power sector has continued to ensure that up to 500 metric million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas meant to generate about 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity is shut in.

In his opening remarks at the conference, the President of NGA, Mr. Dada Thomas, said Nigeria could be better served with a regional and not just a national gas development plan, with countries around the West African region tapping from gas lines and volumes from the country.