₦airaland Forum

An expose on the powers and influence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, reveals that the office is as important – if not more – than the office of the vice president!

Pieces of information available to Sunday Vanguard suggest that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have zoned the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, to the South-West geo-political zone.

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that just before the visit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is now the PDP presidential candidate for next year’s presidential election, to the Abeokuta residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there had been a silent contestation for the slot of the vice president. One of either the South East or the South West was expected to get the slot.

In fact, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the visit by leaders of Afenifere to Obasanjo a day before Atiku’s visit was with a view to seeking clarification and possibly assisting in influencing the choice of the Number Two pick.

However, after deliberations and the need to further cement the rapprochement between the Yoruba South West and the Igbo South East, it was agreed that the latter should be given the slot.

Obasanjo, being a seasoned administrator and having served as two-time head of state – both as a military man and a civilian – was said to have explained the sense in not making too much fuzz about the vice presidency.

It was after deliberations that the fears of the Afenifere who had hoped to get Obasanjo’s buy-in, were allayed.

Consequent upon the choice of the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as Atiku’s running mate, Sunday Vanguard was told at the weekend by a prominent Yoruba leader that it is “now our duty and responsibility to go and explain to our people that the office currently occupied by Professor Yemi Osinbajo represents, while good and beneficial, has not been effectively translated into any form of benefit for the Yoruba nation.

Some of the so called development or infrastructure going on around the South West were already either conceived or had actually been started by the Jonathan administration before the coming of this administration. It is worse because people perceive that there is a cabal that is not aiding the full functionality of that office”, the leader said.

Continuing, he made it clear that “a leader like Atiku who understand politics, economy and democracy, would allow the occupant of that office thrive, just as the occupant of the Office of the SGF, OSGF, which appears to be what we have settled for, would also do a great job in complementing the affairs of government from the Villa.”

For instance, how else would anybody influence policy than when his responsibility is to “ensure the effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of government policies and programmes for the overall development of the country”., a job description for the OSGF.

The responsibilities of the OSGF, are enormous.

Specifically the office undertakes the following responsibilities:

1. i) Coordinating policy design and formulation by Ministries, Departments and Agencies for approval by Government;
2. ii) Serving as Secretary to the Council of State, the Federal Executive Council and other Constitutional Councils, which are chaired by the President;

iii) Coordinating the activities of Ministries and Government Agencies on the implementation of Government decisions, policies and programmes;

1. iv) Dealing with constitutional, political and socio-economic matters as may be referred to the Presidency;

2. v) Administrative Tribunals, Commissions and Panels of Enquiry;

3. vi) Co-ordinating national security and public safety matters;

vii) National Honours Award

viii) Prerogative of Mercy

1. ix) Protocol Matters

2. x) Channeling of papers and directives of the President;

3. xi) Processing and granting Government approval for Overseas Tours, Intergovernmental Meetings/Conferences, medical check-up/treatment by Public Officers;

xii) Processing requests for Overseas Duty Tours/Conferences including medical check-up/treatment abroad for members of the Judiciary, Chairmen and Members of Statutory Commissions/Bodies for approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

xiii) Coordinating the appointments to Headship of Statutory Bodies, Commissions and Agencies by the President;

xiv) Dealing with matters relating to conditions of service of political office holders; xv) Intergovernmental Affairs and relations with State and Local Governments; xvi) Liaison with Secretaries to State Governments;

xvii) Allocation of office accommodation to Political Office Holders.

In being eminently placed to coordinate and handle all these, should the occupier of such an office not be considered a very important and influential individual?

But that is not all that he does.

In terms of the structure of that office, there is more.

In discharging the aforementioned responsibilities, the OSGF is structured into the following Offices, each headed by a Permanent Secretary.

There are six of such offices:

*Cabinet Secretariat;

*General Services Office;

*Political Affairs Office;

*Economic Affairs Office;

*Special Services Office;

*Special Duties Office

In addition, there is the supervisory roles that have also been lumped together in that office and the list is legion.

The following Parastatals/Agencies are supervised by the OSGF:

1. i) Ecological Fund

2. ii) National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP)

iii) National Economic Intelligence Committee

1. iv) Presidential Advisory Council

2. v) Code of Conduct Tribunal

3. vi) Code of Conduct Bureau

vii) Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency

viii) National Hospital

1. ix) Federal Road Safety Commission

2. x) National Commission for Refugees

3. xi) Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS)

xii)Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

xiii) South-South Health Care Programme

1. xiv) National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA)

xv) National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC)

xvi) Ministry of Special Duties

xvii) Secretariat of the Presidential Council (PAC)

xviii) Secretariat of the Presidential Committee on National Identification Systems, Consumer Credit and Outsourcing initiative

xix) Galaxy backbone

1. xx) National Identity Management Commission, NIMC

xxi) Christian Pilgrims Commission

xxii) National Hajj Commission

Whereas it should be stated upfront that these responsibilities and functions are not cast on stone, and may vary from administration to administration, it is still pertinent to point out that in influencing policy and coordinating same, the SGF is imbued with enormous powers which naturally sets the tone and direction of any administration in a manner which should affect, positively, the lives of the people of the country.

In agreeing to the arrangement, the South West leaders were made to understand that in giving the vice presidency to the South East, the gesture would be seen as one meant to give gravitas to the push by the PDP to be seen as a unifying party.

The unifying role of the “Afenifere leaders is with a view to helping Nigeria out of this current mess”, the old man concluded.

Why did former Pre s i d e n t O l u s e g u n O b a s a n j o suddenly forgive his erstwhile deputy, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar? Was there any truce called for reconciliation? Who could have been the intermediary behind the scene? Was there a deal between the duo? What was the reason for Obasanjo’s sudden change of mind? These and many more are the questions agitating the minds of many Nigerians after Obasanjo’s open endorsement of Atiku during the latter’s visit to his Abeokuta home on Thursday. O basanjo had earlier vowed never to support Atiku on the basis that he knew so much about his former deputy that would not allow him support the Turakin Adamawa for the exalted office. But on Thursday, he made U-turn to the surprise of many people.

Obasanjo still angry a week ago

However, Saturday Telegraph can reveal that as at last Sunday when Atiku was picked as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Obasanjo was still angry and even hoped that he didn’t emerge from the primary. Sources close to the former president explained that Obasanjo would not have changed his stance if not the pressure from high-level quarters.

“But for the caliber of individuals that waded into the matter and persuaded him, baba couldn’t have supported Atiku. Those people calling and seeing him are not those he can easily ignore. “ATiku has really done his home work. He reached out to so many people that in turn reached out to baba. These people had been mounting pressure on him to change his stance and support Atiku.

“He has no choice than to agree. More so, when he knows that Atiku is the only option available to him because he couldn’t have gone back to his vomit on President Muhammadu Buhari. “He brought Umar Yar’Adua, he was disappointed, he brought Goodluck Jonathan, he was disappointed, he supported Buhari, and he was disappointed. What else could he have done? Is it not better to back the one you know his capabilities?”

Atiku mounted pressure on VIPs

Further investigations by our correspondent showed that Atiku’s reach to some prominent individuals within and outside the country and their subsequent pressure on the former president was the masterstroke that made Obasanjo to soft pedal and gave his backing to Atiku. An ally of the former president, who claimed to be in the know of happenings during the period, explained that the last oneweek had been of intense lobby and pressure on Obasanjo, from some Africans leaders who believed that the Nigerian situation needs to be salvaged. “I can confirm to you that there had been so much pressure on Baba to support Atiku.

I can confirm to you that people like Pastors Enoch Adeboye, W.F Kumuyi and Bishop David Oyedepo spoke with baba. I can also tell you that people who matter outside Nigeria had been calling him. “In fact, Baba was still angry as at Sunday during the PDP convention. But with the caliber of people mounting pressure and with the need to remedy the current situation, he had no choice”.

Though the source could not confirm those talking to Obasanjo from outside the country, he agreed that there had been visible signs of such interactions in the last few days. “I won’t tell you about those calling from outside Nigeria but we have seen traces of such in the last one week. I may not be able to confirm specific individuals to you as of now. But I won’t say you are wrong in that area”.

Some African leaders involved

However, our correspondent gathered from other sources that some of African leaders include two former Ghanaian presidents and a former Vice President of South Africa. The others sources insisted that the outsiders are those who believe in the ability of Atiku to move Nigeria out of the woods and had been asking Obasanjo to toe their path and work with them to ensure the emergence of the former number two citizen. “I won’t give you their names but I can tell you that some of those that have ruled and are still ruling some Africa countries that matter, are in support of Atiku and they have told baba that much. “They had even been invited to meet some of these leaders outside the continent.

They are supposed to meet in Asia and Europe but that would depend on how baba want to arrange his schedule”. To buttress her point, the female source hinted that Obasanjo left the country immediately after receiving Atiku, explaining that “baba would have traveled but delayed the trip to receive his former deputy. “As I am talking to you, baba is on his way to meet some of the people that had invited him over Nigeria’s future.

He left after meeting with Atiku and talking to the press. “You heard what he said during Atiku’s visit. He has endorsed the man and he will give the feedback to those talking to him when he arrives their meeting. “Though he is going for his usual business meetings, I am sure he will use that opportunity to put in a word on the matter. The Nigerian election has become a source of concern for many people around the world”, he said.

Obasanjo working to clear Atiku in US –APC

However, the All Progressives Congress seemed to be laying credence to the hints that Obasanjo may be working with some power brokers outside the continent. In a statement issued by yesterday by its Ag. National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, the party said it came across credible reports that Obasanjo was making moves to secure United States entry visa for Atiku Abubakar.

The party said: “It is learnt that that the former President who during and after leaving office insisted on Atiku’s unsuitability to govern Nigeria based on his knowledge of the latter’s extensive corrupt practices while he served as Vice President, is lobbying the US authorities to withdraw the ban reportedly placed on Atiku from entering the United States following a 2005 $500,000 bribery scandal that involved Atiku, his fourth wife, Jennifer and former United States Congressman, William Jefferson. “Recall that the former president while in office had deployed enormous resources of the country on a global dragnet coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in getting Atiku prosecuted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering.

“A report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin reported that Atiku used offshore companies to siphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer while still the vice president of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008.

“The report further stated that then President Bush had on the strength of his report, barred Atiku and other corrupt politically exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States, a reason for which he has been unable to travel to the United States till date. “Obasanjo’s intervention in Atiku’s ban from the United States of America is evidence of Obasanjo’s legendary hypocrisy and self-serving interest in national affairs”, the party wrote.

Buhari has scored own goal –APCO

In a swift reaction, the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO) said it read with bemusement the panicky reaction of the Buhari Campaign Organisation to the endorsement of Atiku by Obasanjo. In a statement issued yesterday, the organisation said: “We note the insult the Buhari Campaign Organisation has heaped on former President Obasanjo, and we can only say that it was expected. The Buhari camp is very predictable.

“In trying to paint former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a flip-flopper, the Buhari Campaign Organisation shot itself in the foot. “Their statement says President Buhari was never reported to have groveled and ‘begged’ anyone for forgiveness, just to be endorsed as a Presidential candidate”. How true is this? Let the facts speak for themselves. “In an interview that the then Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) gave to Premium Times on December 24, 2012, Mr. Buhari accused both former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, of betrayal.

His exact words were: ‘I felt betrayed by Mr. Babangida’ and ‘I haven’t forgiven Obasanjo’. “Now, fast forward to November 13, 2013 and the same Muhammadu Buhari, visited General Babangida, who he had called a traitor, in his home in Minna and praised him to high heavens when seeking his support for his Presidential bid.

“A month later, on December 22, 2013, Mr. Buhari also visited former President Obasanjo, who he had previously savaged, and together with his party leaders, begged Obasanjo to ‘be APC’s navigator’ to victory. “From the above facts, Nigerians can see for themselves who the hypocrite is between Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar on the one side and President Buhari.

“Moreover, we note that the Buhari Campaign Organisation, in the statement, took it upon itself to also insult the men of God who were present at that event. We are not surprised. “After all, Festus Keyamo, who signed the statement, was indicted by a young girl who provided video and documentary evidence alleging that he participated in framing up a renowned man of God on false charges. It would seem that attacking men of God is now a full-time occupation of the Buhari Campaign Organisation. “Finally, we note the disingenuous smear of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Complex by the Buhari Campaign Organisation. In their statement, they alleged that the library is in clear violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. “Nigerians know of the notoriety of the Buhari government in using the Code of Conduct Tribunal to blackmail political opponents.

They tried and failed with Senate President Bukola Saraki and they are now trying and failing with Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu. “Funny enough, when President Muhammadu Buhari visited the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Complex, he had words of praise for it. Today, that praise has turned to threats.

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Otunba Gani Adams, has said it is time for Nigeria to be restructured adding that it is time for the Yoruba nation to adopt a new paradigm shift, taking into consideration all the issues that affect Nigeria as a nation.

He stated this while speaking at a two-day Summit and interactive session of the Ooodua Progressive Union (OPU) in Hamburg Germany.

“As the 2019 general elections draw nearer, there is the need for the Yoruba to adopt a new paradigm shift,” he said.

“The word, restructuring, simply means reorganization, not disintegration. Our position on this is clear and that is Nigeria cannot afford to isolate itself from the rest of the world. For years, patriotic Nigerians have been agitating for restructuring, but a few elements in the country are against it. As far as I am concerned, those calling for restructuring should not be seen as enemies of the state but partners in progress.’’, he added.

Adams frowned at the desecration of the sanctity of the traditional institution by some people who, he said, arrogate to themselves the position of a Yoruba Oba in the Diaspora.

“Our traditional institution is sacred and we won’t allow anybody to tarnish the image, even as we urge all the Yoruba Obas in their respective states to condemn the abominable act.”

Aare Adams, who had earlier met with the Nigeria Ambassador in Berlin, Mrs. Mobolaji Sakirat Ogundero, said part of the contending issues discussed at the summit included restructuring of Nigeria, as well as decentralization of both security, monetary, education and infrastructure, which allows the federating unit to develop at their own pace.

All members of the group from across the 84 countries in the world, as well as other prominent Yoruba groups, were present at the Summit.

President of Isokan Omo Yoruba in Germany, Chief Adewole Albert, was also in attendance.

Read the full communique below

The summit notes that:

1. Yoruba Culture and Tradition, dating back to centuries, must never be desecrated on the premise of modernisation.

2. The summit condemns any Yoruba who refers to himself as an Oba in Diaspora. Any Yoruba can be leader of Yoruba organisation, group or association but it is against Yoruba Culture to refer to yourself as Oba in Diaspora. Our traditional institution is sacred and we won’t allow anybody tarnish our image. We urge Yoruba Obas to condemn this in its entirety.
On the urgent need to restructure Nigeria, the summit notes:

3. Restructuring simply means reorganisation, not disintegration

4. Nigeria, as a sovereign country blessed with human and natural resources, should be a first-class state in the comity of nations

5. Nigeria, as the most-populous black nation, should be leading the crusade for restructuring globally

6. Recent inventions globally have clearly shown that restructuring is the only way out of the crisis in Nigeria

7. For years, patriotic Nigerians have been agitating for restructuring but a few elements in the society are against this for selfish reasons

8. Those calling for restructuring should not be seen as enemies of state but as partners in progress.

9. Whether now or later, restructuring is a must if the country must move forward

10. APC is the ruling party in the country and it must fulfil one of its promises – restructuring – which it made before it got into office in 2015

11. Diversification is another name for restructuring which should be implemented immediately

12. This is due to the fact that many countries will change from petrol/diesel vehicles to electric-only vehicles soon

13. The big question our leaders should answer is: when this happens, what happens to our oil?

14. When majority of countries in the Western world have no need to buy our oil, how will governors, who send their Finance Commissioners to Abuja every month, pay salaries?

15. Those kicking against the idea of restructuring should be seen as enemies of the country.

16. Governance in Nigeria – security, monetary policy, resources, education, infrastructure, etc – must be decentralised for Nigerians to have a sense of belonging.

17. If this is not done soon, there will be no justice, equity and fairness in the polity and it will continue to lead to resistance.

18. Nigeria cannot afford to isolate itself from the rest of the world in upward development trajectory.

19. The time for restructuring is now.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, came after Afenifere’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, for criticising his (Tinubu’s) suggestion that the Federal Government should take over unoccupied and isolated land in the country and convert them to grazing reserves as a solution to the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

Tinubu had on Monday made the suggestion during a seminar organised by The Nation newspaper and TVC in Abuja.



But reacting to the suggestion on Tuesday, Afenifere, in a statement by Odumakin, warned Tinubu against playing politics with the lives of Nigerians, saying his suggestion was backward for modern-day Nigeria.

Odumakin said Tinubu’s suggestion was tantamount to an endorsement of the alleged call by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association that the entire country should be converted into a cattle colony.

However, responding to Odumakin’s criticism on Wednesday, Tinubu, in a statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, said the only deserving response to the Afenifere spokesman was that “he needs a cure for his seeming selective comprehension.”

According to Rahman, Odumakin did not read Tinubu’s full speech before attacking the APC chieftain.

He said, “Asiwaju Tinubu did not mention South-West in particular and what he said had a context to it: ‘Unoccupied, isolated land can quickly be turned into grazing areas in the affected states’.

“It is not only some states in the South-West that are affected but several states across the country. Why Odumakin suddenly gets hot under the collar may not be far-fetched.

“The usual frenzy and self-righteous mentality he portrays is on full display. Perhaps next time, he should read through the whole submission and caution himself from self-righteousness and displaying in full glare anarchical emotions.

“And if Odumakin’s delusion still allows him to read, perhaps a read through of the full chunk of what was said by Tinubu at the summit will educate him better.”

The Muhammadu Buhari administration is stepping up the regulations on money laundering and tax evasion by releasing a new Executive Order tagged ‘Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularisation Scheme (VOARS).’

The new Executive Order (008) takes effect from October 8, the day it was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a spokesperson of Mr. Buhari, Garba Shehu, by the new order, Nigerian taxpayers who hold offshore assets and income are expected to, within a period of 12 months, declare voluntarily those assets and pay taxes on them.

“When they do this, they should expect to derive certain specified benefits,” Mr Shehu said in a statement Wednesday.

He also said that according to the order, “any taxpayer who truthfully and voluntarily complies with the conditions of the scheme, pays a one-time levy of 35 percent on the total offshore assets or pays all outstanding taxes, penalties and interest after forensic audit of their offshore assets and income shall obtain immunity from prosecution for tax offenses and offences related to offshore assets, among others.

“Equally, failure of any defaulting taxpayer to take advantage of this scheme shall, at the expiration of the scheme result in investigation and enforcement procedures concerning offshore assets anywhere in the world pursuant to information now readily available through automatic exchange of information between Nigeria and foreign countries.”

He said in accordance with the new order, the federal government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will set up a VOARS in Switzerland for all categories of taxpayers who have defaulted in the declaration of their offshore assets, payment of taxes due and collectible subject to the fulfillment of the terms and conditions as stipulated in the order, or any other subsequent complementary regulations that follow.

To avoid the abuse of this process, he said, the federal government makes clear that the “scheme is open to all persons, entities, and their intermediaries holding offshore assets and are in default of their tax obligations in any way, including those who are not already under investigation by law enforcement agencies in Nigeria or any other country and have not been charged with any crimes including theft of public funds or obtaining offshore assets through corrupt practices.”

In signing the order, Mr Shehu said Mr Buhari noted that under Nigerian law, every citizen has the duty to declare his or her income and assets and pay taxes on them but regretted that this, in most instances, had not been the case.

“The sad reality is that efforts to recover these taxes from defaulters through litigation are often frustrated by the complications caused by the change in the character and nature of such assets, insufficient financial intelligence, long delays in courts, among several other reasons,” the presidential aide said.

President Buhari is optimistic that the new scheme will help to facilitate the expedient regularisation of offshore assets connected to Nigeria and lead to “a new expanded tax base for the federal government, and also fund the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund in Switzerland,” he said.

Evablizin:
Getting married is important,but getting married to the right person is "importanter"

Strong indications emerged yesterday that the pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, may adopt former Vice President Abubakar Atiku as its presidential candidate for the forthcoming general election.

Spokesman of the group, Yinka Odumakin, dropped the hint yesterday while speaking with journalists shortly after a closed-door meeting of his group with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Speaking with journalists, Odumakin said the primary aim of Afenifere’s meeting with Obasanjo was to appreciate the former president who had earlier paid a visit to the leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Lagos.

However, when asked to comment on the position of the group regarding the forthcoming general election and whether the group had adopted any presidential candidate, Odumakin declared that the paramount concern of the group was how to restructure the country, an idea being championed by Atiku Abubakar.

“The 2019 election is going to be interesting, the most important thing for us is restructuring and clearly you should know that Afenifere will always support a candidate that is ready to restructure the country because without restructuring we are going nowhere.

“We have heard someone saying that the report of the year 2014 Confab has been thrown into the archives and you have also heard somebody saying that how Nigeria can be restructured is part of his business.

“So, the choice is clear. We are going to make the pronouncement very soon for all to know where the pendulum will swing,” he said.

Led by Pa Adebanjo, the Afenifere delegation had, on their arrival, gone into a closed-door meeting with the former president which lasted close to three hours.

Those in the delegation included Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Professor Banji Akintoye, Ambassador Tokunbo Dosunmu-Awolowo, Amos Akingba, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Mrs Modupe Adelaja and Oladipupo Olaitan.

Briefing newsmen, Odumakin explained that Afenifere was visiting the former president as a way of furthering the spirit of friendship earlier established and to enable Nigerians know “that leaders across divides are coming together to discuss the way forward.

“Some few months ago, former President Obasanjo came to Lagos to visit Pa Ayo Adebanjo and we discussed some issues. Today we are here to as well visit him and appreciate his visit to Lagos the other time. We are trying to further the friendship so that there can be harmony in Yoruba land so that our people will know that leaders across divides are coming together to discuss the way forward”.

A former Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has formally declared her intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ezekwesili made the declaration in a statement titled, ‘Why I am running for the Office of President’ and exclusively obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday.

She promised to announce her political party of choice on Sunday (today), vowing to build an army of patriots willing to pull down the stronghold, “that is, the two failed dominant political parties in Nigeria – the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.”

According to her, it is way past time for Nigerians to unify and mobilise nationwide to rescue Nigeria from mediocrity and enthrone excellence as the guiding standard.

Ezekwesili said, “The pain of seeing us become a country where the worth of life is trending down to zero, sadness that we are now known as the world poverty capital with 87 million extremely poor Nigerians, and anguish at the increase in the number of out-of-school children constitute a driving force for seeking the office of the President.

“Trust in public officials completely waned, angst knowing that only 10 per cent out of three to four million young people entering the employment market every year will likely find jobs, and concern about the future of Nigeria as a strong indivisible nation are the issues that have also compelled me.

“I have fully persuaded myself to lead a people’s movement that will permanently terminate bad leadership, ethnic and religious divisions, mediocrity, and failures in governance. We, the people of Nigeria, shall run together and win.”

While stating her rationale for taking the step, she said, “Our political class continues with self-absorbed attitude of seeing power as an end in itself, thereby producing no material improvement in the lives of citizens. This compelled a change of direction for me.

“It is time to make citizens’ wellbeing the core focus of political leadership. It is time to reclaim our values that have become distorted and reduced Nigeria and Nigerians to ridicule by the rest of the world. It is time for leaders to offer exemplary and sacrificial service that will mobilise our people to build a cohesive, stable, and prosperous society in which every Nigerian has a stake.

“I want to run for, and win the 2019 presidential election to serve and put the citizens first by mobilising and taking decisive actions on a number of big ideas that will help all of us build an exceptional nation that our future generation will be proud to call their own.”

According to the statement, Ezekwesili, who recently made the shortlist for the Nobel Peace Prize by the Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway, owing to her “efforts in making the world more transparent and less corrupt,” plans to run an all-inclusive campaign that will change the direction and dynamics of politics in Nigeria.

The former minister of education stated that she had no choice at this stage but to subordinate her feelings against politics to her stronger passion for ending the old order political ways, “which have entrenched bad leadership and governance failure in the country.”

Ezekwesili, until recently, led the #BringBackOurGirls pressure group as co-convener.

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on Friday said the concept of automatic ticket for candidates was strange to the constitution of the ruling All Progressives Congress and to the principles of democracy.

El-Rufai said this in an interview with State House correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to protest the automatic ticket given to Senator Shehu Sani by the party’s national leadership.

Friday’s meeting was the second time the governor would be meeting with the President on the matter this week.

He complained that despite having met Buhari and the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, on the matter, nothing had changed.

The governor kicked against what he termed politics of exclusion, saying it was one major reason elections were lost at tribunals.

He said, “Many contestants that have been screened by the committee were removed from the list unilaterally by some elements in the party. There are rumours that some people have been granted automatic tickets, but by yesterday (Thursday)when the representatives of the Progressive Governors Forum met with Mr President and the national chairman, we thought this rumour of automatic ticket, which has no place in our constitution and any enlightened democracy, had been resolved.

“But up to the time I left Kaduna this morning (Friday morning) and came to see the President, we did not receive the list of those that will contest the legislative elections.

“On my way, I received a list of our state party structure but it seems to me there are still exclusions. As you know, exclusion is one of the many reasons elections are lost at the tribunal level. We are being careful. In Kaduna State, we do not practise imposition or force people to step down for anyone. We believe in elections and we like people to subject themselves to full democratic process.”

When asked what the President’s response was when he made his position known, el-Rufai said, “The President restated his position that he is a democrat and a product of elections and he has never encouraged not participating in elections.

“He has never supported imposition and he has never asked anyone to grant anybody automatic tickets. The position was restated yesterday (Thursday) to the Progressive Governors Forum and he (Buhari) told me this and he said he would take the necessary steps to communicate this very clearly to the party leadership.”

The governor said Sani must face delegates and convince them before he could return to Senate through an election.

He added, “It is not me. I only have one vote as the governor of the state. It is up to the delegates in the Kaduna State APC to vote for Shehu Sani or vote for other candidates, but what democracy states is that every person should be given a chance to contest.”

The Senior Special Adviser on Political and Ideology to Sani, Suleiman Ahmed, said the rumour making the rounds that the automatic ticket granted his principal had been withdrawn by the APC, was not true.

He said it was the antic of the governor to confuse people.

Asked whether the automatic had been withdrawn, Ahmed via a text message said, “Its a lie…El-Rufai is confusing the people.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

The intrigues ahead of 2019 presidential election have risen a notch with the emergence of new political force, a mega political party named People’s Trust (PT).

The party, led by former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has members and political groups, including the Third Force led by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, joining forces to form the mega party. Some of the notable figures in the new party are the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba; former military governor of Kaduna State, Col Abubarkar Dangiwa Umar, and former minister of education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili.

Others are the son of former Prime Minister of Nigeria, Dr Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa and the son of former Biafran leader, Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu.

According to a statement by the party’s national secretary, Mallam Naseer Kura, the party’s first national convention, billed for today and tomorrow in Lagos, would be headlined by Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka The statement reads in part: “The national chairman of People’s Trust (PT), a new mega political party of fresh breed leaders of the third force movement in Nigeria, has announced that the national convention of the Third Force Movement under the auspices of the People’s Trust will hold on Friday and Saturday in Ikeja, Lagos.

“The legal icon and former president of the NBA stated that party faithful’s, as well as ideological and political allies of the movement, are expected to storm the national convention of PT where far reaching decisions about the future and leadership of the party and Nigeria will be taken, especially as regards the state of Nigeria and the forthcoming general elections, in 2019
“The first ever convention of the party, which is slated to hold from Friday, October 5 to Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Lagos Airport Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, is also expected to witness primaries for PT aspirants in the 2019 elections, as well as elections into party offices, where the review of PT Constitution and Manifesto shall be ratified, name and logo of the party shall be reviewed and the newly formalised strategic alliance and MOU for technical fusion with other political parties, movement and aspirants shall be ratified.”

It noted that Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, will deliver the keynote address at the special elective national convention, which has the theme, “Birthing a New Democratic Nigeria through the Third Force.”

Other leaders of thought who are expected to deliver goodwill messages and solidarity speeches at the convention are the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Waaba; president of United Labour Congress, Comrade Ajearo; convener of Summit of the Alternatives (SOTA), Dr Oby Ezekwesili; executive director of the Awolowo Foundation, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo- Dosumu; former Speaker Ghali Umar Na’aba; former military governor of Kaduna State, Col Abubarkar Dangiwa Umar; son of former Prime Minister of Nigeria, Dr Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, and son of former Biafran leader, Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu, among others.

National secretary of PT and deputy director-general of NIM, Mallam Naseer Kura, told LEADERSHIP Friday that the underlining motive of the gathering was for “some political like-minds to see how we can explore areas of collaboration, merger, alliance or accord. That is, in summary, the rationale behind tomorrow’s gathering.”

On the issue of members belonging to other alliances, he said, “What it means is that we are progressing towards gradual transformation; from a social movement to a political movement that might metamorphose into a political merger.” On whether their members will contest in 2019, he said,

“That is an area we will not categorical comment on for now. We may endorse some parties as well as encourage our members to participate in partisan politics.

“And that is what the Nigerian intervention movement has been canvassing for a long time in terms of bringing change in the political environment through change in political actors and shift in not-too-good style of governance as is exemplified in the current set of leaders we find in both the APC and PDP.”

The Minster of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe kachukwu, has said that it would be sad if the nation’s refineries are not functional by the end of 2019.

According to him, the present administration is committed to ensuring that the importation of petroleum products is curtailed.

Kachukwu stated this on Thursday in Ibigwe-Ohaji in Ohaji\Egbema council area of Imo during the ground-breaking for construction of the 5,000 BPD Modular Refinery by Walter Smith petro-chemical limited.

The project is being partnered by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)

He said that the Buhari administration was committed to ensuring that the nation’s refineries became functional by the end of 2019.

“It would be sad if by the end of 2019 we are still importing fuel from abroad.

“So, we are committed in repairing the refineries; by that we can at least process about 500,000 barrels of crude per day.

The policy of this administration is `go back to refining about 20 per cent of our crude which will move to 50 per cent in the next five years’.

The Minister who commended management of Walter Smith for partnering the NCDMB to realize the project said that he was hopeful that in 18 months the modular refinery would be inaugurated.

Also, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Mr Kesiye Wabote, said the Board invested US $10 million to catalyze the development of the Modular refinery and took 30 per cent equity in the project.

He added that the NCDMB would divest when the modular refinery was fully developed and operational.

Wabote pointed out that NCDMB was promoting the Walter Smith Modular refinery as part of its capacity development mandate .

He said that the investment was also in line with the Nigeria Content 10- year strategic plan.

The Chairman of Walter Smith , Mr Abdulrazaq Isa, said that the Walter Smith 5,000 BPD Modular refinery was conceptualized in 2011 to mitigate the frequent outage of the third-party export trans-Niger pipeline.

He added that it was to optimize the full value of the country’s produced crude through in-country products for the domestic market .

“When operational in 18 months time we will.produce per day: Naphtha – 24,643 liters, Kerosene – 54,691 liters, Diesel – 300,168 liters, HPFO – 409,710 liters.

“The refined products will be sold and evacuated from the refinery via dedicated trucks from bay five truck rack where products are loaded into the tankers.

PrettyCrystal:
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There were indications on Wednesday that the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, conceded victory to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his main opponent for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Lagos, to calm frayed nerves and avert impeachment.

There had been expectation that the governor would fight the declaration of Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the state’s Tuesday governorship primary, which was initially cancelled by the APC National Working Committee panel that had promised to announce a new date for the primary.

The panel made a U-turn on Wednesday to declare Sanwo-Olu the winner, sparking speculations that the governor would reject the move.

A few hours after the panel’s new decision, the governor’s media team sent a press statement that the governor would host a “world press briefing” by 2.pm, causing more speculations.

In the briefing, which eventually turned out to be a broadcast by 4pm, Ambode accepted defeat and congratulated Sanwo-Olu.

One of our correspondents gathered through sources in both Ambode and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s camps that the move was meant to remove the tension, as well as avert the impeachment move being considered by party elders.

One of the sources said before and after the broadcast, Ambode had contacted Tinubu and some party leaders in a bid to assure them of his loyalty to the party, and in order to avert the impeachment option.

“He (Ambode) did not want the matter to get to that level; that is why he accepted the defeat to reduce the tension in the state and stop any panicky action by the party elders. He also wanted them to leave him in peace to complete all his projects,” the source said.

The APC Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Mr Joe Igbokwe, said he did not know about any peace move by the incumbent governor, as well as any deal.

He said, “I don’t know about that.”

One of Tinubu’s aides also said it was still early to say.

He said, “Ambode just made his speech, every other thing would flow from the governor’s decision to accept defeat and congratulate Sanwo-Olu.”

NWC bows to Lagos APC, declares Sanwo-Olu winner

Earlier on Wednesday, the APC panel changed its position on the validity of the primary conducted in the state on Tuesday.

The fresh stance was contrary to the position of the NWC panel, led by Mr Clement Ebri, on Tuesday that the primary did not hold.

The panel said on Wednesday that the primary held.

It went on to declare Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the primary with 970,851 votes ahead of Ambode, who recorded 72,901 votes.

The Ebri-led panel in a press statement, said, “After resolving some of the hiccups, the Lagos State APC Governorship Primary Committee collated the results from the 245 wards in the 20 local government areas.

“At the end of the exercise, these are the votes scored by the aspirants: 1. Gov Akinwunmi Ambode, 72,901 votes. 2. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, 970,851 votes.

“Following these results, I, Clement Ebri, the Chairman of the Lagos State APC Governorship Primary Committee hereby declare Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner.”

‘Why APC NWC upheld primary’

Another source said the decision to uphold the result was informed by the presence of relevant government agencies, including representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission at the primary.

A member of the party leadership, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity said, “Most people spoken to said the governorship primary was held in Lagos yesterday (Tuesday).”

Another party source confided in one of our correspondents that the President left the decision to the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who had earlier said there was election in Lagos.

The source added that Ebri did not take directive from the NWC before announcing that no primary took place.

Ambode accepts defeat, congratulates Sanwo-Olu

In his broadcast on Wednesday, Ambode congratulated Sanwo-Olu, saying it was time for the state to move forward.

The governor said although events of the last few days had been characterised by intense political activities which created tension, the interest of the state superseded that of any personal ambition.

He therefore urged members of the party and all Lagosians to support the candidate of the party.

He said, “The APC is a great party and the interests of our beloved state must always supersede that of any person or group. It is in this regard that I wholeheartedly congratulate the winner of the Lagos State APC Primaries, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and urge all Lagosians to immediately support our party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections.”

While assuring that he would work to ensure a smooth transition in 2019, the governor said the progress of the state was non-negotiable, as he would remain forever devoted to the development of Lagos.

The governor thanked Tinubu, the leadership of the party and all Lagosians for the support extended to him, and urged the people to continue to support the APC.

Lagos is under siege

However, the Convener of Lagos Solidarity Forum, Comrade Mark Adebayo, said on Wednesday that Lagos was being pushed in the direction of the precipice by enemies of democracy.

In a statement, the group boss said the state APC primary was “another hatchet’s job.”

He said, “Every society that has ceased to exist starts from the point of aggravated injustice that provokes intractable anarchy.

“Unfortunately, Lagos State is being pushed in the direction of that precipice by forces which can best be described as, not only enemies of democracy, but enemies of the people. These same forces have been responsible for the mobile retrogression of Nigeria since 1999 that we have moved into civilian governance. Their weapons have been domination, imposition and brazen overthrow of the people’s mandate.

“The shameful shenanigan orchestrated by the APC governorship primary committee chaired by Clement Ebri, the former Cross River State governor erroneously thought to be a man of impeccable integrity was another hatchet’s job executed in the service of merchants of inhumanity and derogation of all elements of societal value….

“The time has come for Lagosians to rise up through a mass action to liberate ourselves.”

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have released the list of senate aspirants that have been cleared to contest the 2019 elections.

The party published the list of aspirants cleared to run for the senate.

In the list published on the party’s official website, the incumbent governors of Ogun and Oyo states, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Senator Abiola Ajimobi have been deemed fit to contest for representation of their respective senatorial zones at the upper legislative chamber.

Amosun represented the Ogun Central senatorial district between 2003 and 2007 under the All Nigeria’s People Party before he became the governor of the state in 2011. Ajimobi also after serving as a senator between 2003 and 2007, hopes to win the Oyo South senatorial following his two terms as governor of Oyo state.

Five other current governors have also been cleared to represent their respective senatorial zones in the national assembly. The five governors will be contesting after serving two terms as governors of their respective states. They include Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara state, Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Gov. Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State.

It continues the spate of governors moving into the Senate chambers after their tenures at the state executive level. Former Akwa Ibom state governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party to the APC was cleared to contest a return to represent Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat.

Ibrahim Shekarau, a governor of Kano State between 2003 and 2011. After his failed Presidential aspirations in 2011, he has set his sights on representing the Kano Central constituents in the Senate. The former governor was cleared by the APC to run for the Senate primaries.

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said that the 2019 presidential election will be “a straight fight between President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians who are tired of his misrule.”In a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said Buhari would have Nigerians, who would shock him, to contend with in 2019 and not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or other opposition political parties alone.

Fayose said the tripod on which the Buhari administration was erected had collapsed like a pack of cards. “The international community has said corruption under Buhari is worse that in times past. “Nigerians themselves know that murderous herdsmen have joined Boko Haram under Buhari and the economy, which was booming under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, went into recession under Buhari and has remained comatose.

“For Nigerians, the 2019 election is not about political parties, particularly as it affects Buhari’s presidency.“The election will be Nigerians versus Buhari and not PDP versus Buhari or PDP versus APC, especially knowing how negatively Buhari has impacted the lives of Nigerians,” Fayose said.

According to the governors, with millions of Nigerians thrown out of jobs and an uncountable number of companies folding up on a daily basis, Nigerians in their teeming numbers are waiting for the 2019 election to vent their anger and frustration on the president’s alleged disruptive and destructive policies.

“Buhari has damaged Nigeria. He has damaged the lives of an uncountable number of Nigerians. The suffering and untold hardship he has brought on Nigeria and Nigerians is unprecedented.“Most importantly, he has destroyed the trust of Nigerians in the ballot box and the people can’t wait to send him packing so that they can get their country back.”

Fayose said in 2019, the same shocker of 2015 would be witnessed and it would be a ruder shock for those who believed in their mastery of election
rigging to remain in power.On credibility of elections in the country, Fayose said: “Look at how they subverted the will of the people in Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and recently in Osun. The fact that they had to rig those elections is a clear testimony that Nigerians have rejected Buhari and his party.

Meanwhile, the South West leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have warned President Buhari against victimising Fayose after leaving office in October 15, this year. They also condemned the Osun State governorship election and berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly rigging the poll.The warning was contained in a statement issued at the end of the party’s stakeholders meeting held in Ibadan on Monday.

At the meeting were: the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Eddy Olafeso; Chief Olubode George; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Olusola Eleka; Dare Adeleke; Chief Bisi Ilaka; and former Southwest chairman, Tajudeen Oladipupo, among others.

They alleged rigging of Ekiti and Osun elections and therefore rejected the results. “We declare our disappointment in the administration of Buhari for his inability to preside over a nation where votes must count.

“We also give due cognizance to the earlier conducted Ekiti State election and the serious assault and battery of the Governor Ayodele Fayose. The conduct of the election itself, the massive vote buying that characterized it, the vote stealing and compromised posture of INEC, hence, reject the election result as it does not represent the electoral desire of the people.

“Therefore we support our candidates in the two aforementioned elections in Osun and Ekiti states to take concrete legal actions to recover their mandates from the roguish APC that is now becoming notorious for election rigging.“We also note that Fayose’s tenure comes to an end in a couple of weeks from now, therefore we wish him well in his future endeavors. We, however, observe that the Buhari administration has clearly indicated its desire to intimidate and harass him.

This attitude is cheap and very pedestrian.“Thus we declare our solidarity with Fayose and promise to stand firm in his support in the event of the prosecution of petty vendetta against his person.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has told aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who genuinely believe in progressive ideologies to leave the ‘sinking’ opposition party and join the APC where their voices would be heard.

In a statement signed by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, the ruling party described the PDP as a personal property of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, expressing shock how the governor was planning to foist his unpopular and undemocratic will on the majority.

Tagged, ‘How Saraki, other PDP Presidential aspirants, leaders bowed to Governor Nyesom Wike’s threat on Port Harcourt Convention Venue’, the statement read, “It is an open secret that Governor Wike’s insistence on Port Harcourt is to manipulate and influence his choice of presidential candidate from the crowd of PDP presidential aspirants, virtually all of whom stole the nation’s commonwealth in the recent past.

“It is surprising that the PDP with its supposed seasoned politicians will sit by and allow Governor Wike use the PDP as his personal property, to determine who gets what, when and how, and where party conventions must be held.

“What happened to internal party democracy? Of course, this is an alien concept to the PDP.

“Our great party, the APC has ensured that party processes are inclusive and participatory. The progressive Direct Primaries method of electing party candidates introduced by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led APC national leadership is a solid demonstration of our drive to ensure that internal party democracy is adhered to.

“This is a departure from the cash and carry system institutionalised by the PDP.

“PDP members who genuinely believe in our progressive ideologies are encouraged to leave the sinking PDP and join the APC where their voices will be heard and decisions taken collectively.

“They should leave the Wike Autocratic Party (WAP) for the Rivers State Governor and his minions, bent on foisting their unpopular and undemocratic will on the majority.

“PDP members who genuinely believe in our progressive ideologies are encouraged to leave the sinking PDP and join the APC where their voices will be heard and decisions taken collectively.

“They should leave the Wike Autocratic Party (WAP) for the Rivers State Governor and his minions, bent on foisting their unpopular and undemocratic will on the majority,” it read.

“The PDP formed the federal government and many state governments for 16 years before Nigerians rejected the Party in 2015 for its many acts of corruption, impunity and waste.

“As events have shown, it is a misnomer to call the Party, Peoples Democratic Party as there is nothing democratic about its policies and practices.

“The PDP to all intents and purposes has become the theatre of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

“Since assuming office after the disputed 2015 Rivers Governorship election, Wike has assumed the role of de facto PDP National Chairman, sole administration, spokesman, organising secretary and BoT Chairman.

“Recall Governor Wike’s imposition of an erstwhile PDP National Chairman without a formal Convention and the leaked telephone conversation of Governor Wike threatening to kill INEC officials he had paid to rig the rivers rerun election in favour of the PDP

“Most recently, Governor Wike threatened the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, other PDP presidential aspirants and leaders to ‘Teach them a bitter lesson’ if they ‘dared’ to oppose his decision to host the PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Governor Wike had his way,” the statement read.

Vocal Catholic priest and Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka at the weekend called on Nigerians to wake up and reclaim the country from wicked and mindless politicians seeking to destroy it due to their greed and selfishness.
Mbaka, who made a scathing criticism of political leaders in the country across party lines said both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have betrayed and squandered the confidence and trust of the people.

While reviewing the state of the nation as Nigeria marks it’s 58 Independence anniversary tomorrow, Fr Mbaka, who spoke during his weekly prayer programme at Adoration ground, Emene, Enugu, said the only option left was for the people to rise up and confront the oppressors with a view to effecting real change.

“Those of you keeping quiet should check oh. If we allow these people the situation will remain like this till we all die. Our leaders are wicked and Satanic. I have looked around and noticed that all of them are selfish. They are not thinking for the wellbeing of the people they should be leading and taking care of. And wickedness will attract evil to them.

“Wicked to the level of allowing their subjects to be dying of hunger, dying out of poor medical assistance and when any of them is sick they will fly abroad, shame! When you are hungry you go and eat Mama-put and your children are dying in the house, why don’t you cook the food in the house?

“People of God stop being silent even if the priest is silent, because they can punish the Bishop, but they cannot they cannot punish you people. Your destinies are at stake, wake up and say no to this evil nepotism in the name of democracy.

“Our leaders have failed us, and all of them visit abroad when they are sick and come back. One day God will raise a government. One day God will raise a government that will punish all the past leaders that have not done well.

“Like this case of Buhari and co, all this money they said they have recovered, where is the money, from who and who did they recover the money from? When will the recovered money be made use of? Who actually is fooling who?

“By Monday now we will celebrate independence; how many years, 58? A man who is 58 years and still wearing pampers! Zero power stability. Go to this Kenya of yesterday, go to this Ghana of yesterday; and the worst is that most of what they use to develop their wealth come from this country. What wickedness.



“That is why all of them are fighting Buhari, because he said stop looting, but the corruption he came to fight started fighting him; and fought him down. Now you people cannot be silent again.

“APC, PDP and they are now deciding the destiny of everybody! Its better you don’t even travel out, if you travel out and come back your mentality will change, you will ask yourself are we still staying in the same world?

“We know all of them. The hour has come when you people should tell A, B, C, D don’t go even if you rig the election you will not be our so, so, and so. It’s not a matter of rigging it and continuing and we keep silent. You think God will come down and bath you by himself? God will come down and put your cloth upon you? God will come down and cook food for you? After defecating God will clean your stool for you? There are many things God will not do for us. We must stand up and resist these evil forces. This is criminality.”

The priest further alleged that during former President Jonathan’s time no federal road was built in the entire South East zone of the country.

Fr. Mbaka also kicked against the former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani being given the PDP ticket to contest Enugu East senatorial district election in the coming poll, saying that it was under his administration that 14 worshippers died mysteriously in his adoration programme, even as he alleged that the former governor’s regime was characterized by violence.
The fiery priest charged Nigerians to wake up and challenge the powers that be, saying that even if they want to use the security agencies to intimidate them, there must be a limit to their impunity.
He said it was the silence of the people that was fueling the brazen impunity, corrupting and electoral malpractices.

“Ambode was told in plain terms that the party will not support his second term ambition and as such should step down for the candidate the party members are clamouring for.”

The battle for the soul of Lagos State took a strange twist yesterday when Governor Akinwunmi Ambode boldly told a meeting of leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, at the Bourdillon, Ikoyi home of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he will not step down for their preferred candidate in the 2019 governorship race in the state.

The meeting chaired by Tinubu and called under the banner of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) the most powerful clique in Lagos APC also had in attendance outgoing governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, his newly elected successor, Gboyega Oyetola, Ambode and other members of the 22-member council.

A reliable source at the meeting told Saturday Sun that “Ambode was told in plain terms that the party will not support his second term ambition and as such should step down for the candidate the party members are clamouring for. But throughout the whole discussion and till the meeting ended, the governor stood his ground, explaining why he must run and that he will run if APC desires to win the state.”

The governor was said to have listed his achievements to convince the party leaders who equally failed to shift ground. “He was busy speaking grammar when no single member at the meeting supported him. We wish him luck”, the source added.

The meeting however ended with a directive to the State Working Committee of the party to address a press conference today, Saturday at the party’s secretariat on Acme road, Ikeja where the preferred governorship candidate Jide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Femi Hamzat will be officially presented to party members to vote for at the governorship primaries scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday.

The Ambode camp however appears determined to enter into full battle with Tinubu and his men. A source close to the governor told Saturday Sun yesterday that, “Tinubu and his men are jokers, if they fail to present Ambode for second term, they will lose Lagos like they lost Osun, forget the eventual manipulation of the final result.”

“Ambode is the party’s poster boy, and that’s why President Buhari asked the SGF, Boss Mustapha to wade into the Lagos ticket issue but if they ignore even the president’s intervention, they will be doomed like Osun. Nigerians will see that Tinubu is overrated as has shown in Osun. You can see that the president had to send Fayemi, Oshiomhole and others to step into the Osun election, the presidential emissaries didn’t go to meet Tinubu and Aregbesola who were in Osogbo before they went straight to meet Omisore in Ile-Ife, that shows how less they regard him”, the source added.

The Ambode camp had hoped that yesterday’s meeting will end in their favour but was shocked by the insistence of the party leaders that the governor must step down.

Some states are yet to receive the third tranche of the Paris Club debt refund weeks after the release of the $2.69 billion (about N823.5 billion @ N306.25/$1) balance was approved because the president, Muhammadu Buhari, halted the disbursement, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

On September 11, the federal ministry of finance announced conditions the states must fulfill before the refund could be paid to them.

Apart from prioritising the payment of workers’ salaries and staff related benefits, the states were also asked to show commitment to commence the repayment of budget support loans granted by the federal government in 2016.

Other conditions included commitments to clear all amounts due to the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) as well as matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Days before she was forced to resign her appointment over the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate forgery scandal, the former finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, had approved the disbursement of the refund to the states.

A reliable source close the finance ministry told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had actually acted on the former minister’s instructions, with some states acknowledging the money indeed dropped in their accounts.

The source, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak on the issue, named Osun as the first state to have received the payment, apparently to help in settling three months’ salary arrears to workers in the run-up to the just-concluded governorship elections.

Other states that equally received the payment included Bayelsa and Benue.

While Bayelsa announced the receipt of the refund and its plans to pay the new minimum wage to its workers, Benue was said to have already drawn and spent about N3 billion of the payment from its account.

However, a top official in the presidency said no sooner had some of the states began to draw the money than another directive was issued to the CBN to immediately reverse the payment.

According to the official, who pleaded anonymity, because of the sensitivity of the matter, the directive to the CBN came from the president, as it appeared Mrs Adeosun did not receive presidential clearance before authorizing the final payment.

The official said the president was concerned about the conduct of the state governors in handling the Paris Club refunds, describing them as irresponsible.

In particular, the official said the president frowned seriously at the refusal of the governors to pay several months’ arrears of salaries, pension, gratuity and other allowances to their workers despite collecting two previous payments of the refund.

Also, the president had wondered why almost all the states were owing huge backlogs of their counterpart funding to the Universal Basic Education (UBEC).

“The inability of the state governments to pay their counterpart funding to UBEC has rendered most of them ineligible to access available grants to fix the education system in their states,” the source explained.

Sections 9 (b) and 11(2) of the UBEC Act require the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to provide 50 per cent counterpart funding to the intervention fund to qualify to access the fund matched by the federal government’s contribution.

No access to UBEC fund

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that about 30 states are currently unable to access the over N40 billion UBEC fund as a result of non-compliance with the payment of their counterpart funding.

To enable the states have access to the grants, the president was said to have directed the finance ministry and the CBN to deduct the backlog of the counterpart funding, put at about N100 billion, from each State’s share of the Paris Club third tranche refund.

On payment of salaries and other benefits to workers, it was learnt the president directed each state government to submit a written status report and submit to the federal ministry of finance and the CBN.

The status report must state exactly where they are on the payment, in terms of how many months each of them were owing on their payment of salaries, pension, gratuity, and other allowances.

Besides, they must demonstrate a commitment to how they planned to utilize the current payment they are expecting to offset the outstanding arrears of the benefits to their workers.

Aware the president was not ready to shift grounds on full compliance with the conditions for the release of the refund, a finance commissioner from one of the states told our reporter on Thursday they have been scrambling since Tuesday to submit all the documents.

To show how serious he is taking the matter, the presidency official said the president has also ordered that the status report being submitted be cross-checked with the Nigerian Labour Congress to authenticate the payment claims by the states.

Equally, the NLC, both at the national and state levels, have been asked to send in a report to corroborate the submission by the states on the payment of their workers’ benefits.

To ensure the speedy disbursement of the funds, it was learnt that the various state governments pressurized the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, to effect the payment.

But, before traveling to New York on Tuesday to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the CBN governor was said to have directed the state finance commissioners to liaise with the director in the CBN governor’s office department, Jerry Abuah, on the documentation.

Pending the CBN governor’s return to secure further directive from the presidency to proceed with the payment, the finance commissioner said Mr Abuah had asked them to provide further attestation to the earlier documentation they submitted about salary payment.

“Until each of the state signs, payment would not be made. That is where they are now in the process. That is why some states have circulating press statements to claim they have not yet received the payment. But, this is half-truth, because the money was actually released, and later reversed,” the source in the finance ministry said.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

engrjacuzzi:
it will be easier to copy this kind during exam except the copier has sight problem ....though I have a friend who has similar handwriting but when doing calculations, the writing wasn't that neat.