₦airaland Forum

Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff to Governor Of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has emerged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 22 governorship election in the south-western state.

Oyetola, who is also the cousin of Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the party, emerged winner of the party’s first-ever direct primary by polling 127, 017 votes to beat Yusuff Lasun, Deputy Speaker of the House of representatives, who recorded 21, 975 votes to place a distant second.

Najeem Salam, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, occupied third place with 17, 958 votes.

Before the start of Friday’s primary, Moshood Adeoti, Secretary to the Osun State Government, had accused the party of manipulating the exercise, saying a lot of things were done to render it a mere endorsement Oyetola.

“The primary was arranged, skewed and designed to favour Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Otedola, the cousin of the National Leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Adeoti’s campaign organisation said in a statement.

He alleged that there was no credible register of members with which a free, fair and transparent direct primary could be conducted, but only a “cooked-up register comprising handpicked persons loyal to the emergence of Oyetola, printed in a firm owned by Oyetola in Lagos”.

Before Friday, 12 of the 17 aspirants had criticised kicked against the directive of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for the election to hold via direct means, which meant every card-carrying member of the party could vote. However, the 12 maintained that the party had no comprehensive register of APC members across Osun State.

A second aspirant and current senator, Babajide Omoworare, withdrew not long after, but without acrimony. Omowoware, who represents Osun East at the Senate, said he stood down in the party’s interest.

“This development is with the ultimate view of ensuring party cohesion and for All Progressives Congress to secure victory at the September 22nd governorship election in the state,” Tunde Dairo, his Director of Communications, told SaharaReporters.


http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/20/breaking-tinubu’s-cousin-isiaka-oyetola-emerges-apc-governorship-candidate-osun

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Nigerians will not vote “looting” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into power again.

Oshiomhole made the remark while fielding questions from reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja on Friday.

“They just want to capture power for the sake of power. And they said okay even though we have already broken the house into pieces for the purpose of capturing power, let’s come together, does it make sense?” he asked.

“I mean in the morning you broke away from PDP to SDP, then to ADC and then in the evening, you say you are this.

“Let me put it in a different way, as brothers and sisters belonging to the same family, we decided to fight and denounce our family, denounce our surname and everybody decides to adopt a name that suits him, now we are confronting our opponent, we suddenly realize that we have just become pockets of mushrooms, you knowing having dropped our father’s surname and adopt different name, we now say how do we confront this massive opposition.

“Then we say okay, we can’t be brothers again because we have already denounced that, but can we now become a coalition of friends, now what brothers cannot do, is it friends that will do it? Particularly friends of all kinds of multiple feathers.

“By whatever form they come in, Nigerians have spoken and they are not about to return to the era where NNPC and Central Bank and security money is shared to people based on the philosophy of PDP—share the money— they won’t do that.

“It is very easy for robbers to forget the robbery they have committed but the victims of robbery hardly forget.”

https://www.thecable.ng/oshiomhole-never-again-will-nigerians-vote-for-looting-pdp/

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said he decided to announce his desire to seek re-election early enough in April in order to cool tempers.

Buhari said this while receiving members of the Buhari Support Group Centre at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He thanked members of the group for consistently standing by him over the years “without getting anything.”

He said, “I had to announce before the National Executive Committee about my intention to ask for the party’s nomination for next year’s election, so that we can save a lot of time and cool tempers.

“A lot of people are trying to make it a habit of being a nuisance to themselves and to Nigerians.

“So, when I announced my intention, ‘I said okay, let those who are serious come out;’ and I try to make sure that the party is re-organised and consolidated.

“This is so that we start from bottom to top, so that Nigerians will be involved and that each constituency will pick those they want to represent them at various levels, whether local government chairmen, counselors, state houses of assemblies, House of Representatives, Senate and finally, the Presidency.

“With this participation, some of the people who are educated and sophisticated, they say for those who have got the money, bring the money but we will still do what we want to do.”

Buhari said having contested presidential election for a record of four times before winning, he was familiar with happenings in different constituencies.

He reiterated that his failure in the previous three attempts was a result of people sitting down somewhere and writing election results and asking those aggrieved to go to court.

He wondered how a politician who is still looking for the next meal will he get money to pay lawyers.

Lauding the introduction of technology which he said assisted in his victory at the last election, call on the group to encourage Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters Cards.

The President added, “Thank God that technology has come in. With PVCs, with Card Reader, wherever you register it will show whether you voted or not. That is why voters education is very important.

“Tell people that the PVC is their nationality and they are entitled to it. They can use across party, religion, ethnicity.

“So, let them take pride in their PVC, let them keep it and use it. This is an additional assignment for your group.

“I have been talking to the governors, urging them to carry out voters education. It may not favour them, but people will eventually understand whether they tell the truth or not, people will do what they feel right.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the BSGC, Umaru Dembo, said members of the group view Buhari as a leader who has sacrificed his entire life for the well being of the common man in Nigeria.

Dembo said they were in the Presidential Villa to assure the President that they have been working hard to explain the new life that his government has ushered in for the good of Nigerians.

“All of us and various groups attached to us will convey in various forms the successes of your government in the last three years.

“Boko Haram has been disbanded, Single Treasury Account implemented, farming to feed the nation in progress, petrol available, second Niger bridge in progress, roads, railways, Ajaokuta reclaimed, Mambilla hydroelectric power and dam being built, dredging the Niger, new prisons and so many other developmental programmes and activities changing the face of Nigeria,” he said.

He assured Buhari of their commitment to his re-election in 2019.

http://punchng.com/why-i-announced-my-re-election-bid-early-buhari/

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo, as Chairman of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency.

Buhari also appointed a new managing director and six members of the board of FERMA.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, read a letter from Buhari at the plenary on Thursday in which he sought legislative approval for the appointments.

Details later…

http://punchng.com/breaking-buhari-appoints-ex-cbn-deputy-gov-lemo-as-ferma-chairman/

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met with Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, and Abdufatah Ahmed, governor of Kwara, in Ilorin on Wednesday.

The governors who were elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are expected to defect to the PDP any moment from now.

TheCable had reported that the duo alongside Samuel Ortom, their Benue counterpart, were plotting to pull out of the APC.

On Monday, Ortom announced that he had been given a “red card” in the ruling party and was willing to join a party which has an ideology worthy of being adopted by his administration.

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, was among the leaders who attended the Ilorin meeting.

Tambuwal, Ahmed and Ortom were members of the nPDP who teamed up with the APC to dislodge PDP in 2015.

Three months ago, leaders of the bloc accused the current administration of marginalising members of the faction.

They also demanded a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari who refused and referred them to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-pdp-leaders-meet-tambuwal-ahmed-ahead-defection/

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has adjourned legislative business until October 8, citing issues of harassment and insecurity.


The house, by the resolution, will only resume duties a week to the expiration of the tenure of the governor, Ayo Fayose.

The house also condemned and rejected the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election which produced Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress as governor.

The house is dominated by Mr Fayose’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

House Leader, Akinyele Olatunji, described the process leading to the election and final result as unfortunate.

Mr Akinyele condemned the alleged harassment of Mr Fayose, PDP leaders across the state and members of the state assembly by security personnel.


On the long break of the house, Mr Akinyele said, “the adjournment became imperative due to the political harassment of members by security agents.”

Also speaking, the Chairman House Committee on information, Samuel Omotoso, said the election of July 14 did not meet democratic standards.

According to him, the election was marred by “outright brigandage, vote buying and falsification of results.”

The Deputy Whip of the Assembly, Ekundayo Akinleye, remarked that the outcome of the election showed Nigerians should not expect free and fair 2019 general elections.

He alleged there were discrepancies in the final figures released by INEC.


The Speaker of the Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, described the election as a show of shame, with thugs and security agents allegedly openly working for the APC.

Mr Oluwawole said figures were brazenly doubled to favour the declared winner and expressed confidence that the stolen mandate would soon be retrieved.

Deliberation on the poll led to the passage of an eighth-point resolution which stated among other things that the election was heavily militarised with palpable fear on the faces of the electorate; that the security agencies compromised to the bidding of the APC; that the APC induced voters with money with connivance of the security agencies.


The House also held that there was ballot snatching by APC thugs, while PDP supporters were molested and chased out of polling booths and collation centres in open glare of security agents.

The lawmakers resolved that “the result of the governorship election stood rejected by the House.

“That the security agencies should vacate the entrance of the Government House where they were currently laying siege and also condemned the siege on the government owned radio and television outfits by armed military personnel.”

The house called on the security agencies not to hamper the work of the Ekiti State Government.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/276818-ekiti-assembly-rejects-governorship-election-result-adjourns-till-october.html

By Nwafor Sunday

Angered by an alleged statement credited to Apostle Johnson Sulieman, of Omega Fire Ministry, Lauretta Onochie, the social media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday verbally attacked Sulieman, saying that God has disgraced him.

Onochie who disclosed this via her tweeter handle said that Sulieman is not in a good terms with God, noting that God has used Ekiti election to disgrace him. Citing Onochie as quoted by Sulieman, “God told me expressly that APC is finished in Nigeria & you will see how God will disgrace them in Ekiti. They will lose heavily~ Apostle Suleiman May 2018”. However reacting to the above quotation, Onochie wrote: “A ‘Pastor’ who is not in talking terms with God but who continues to lie with God’s name. God will continue to disgrace them”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/ekiti-election-finally-god-has-disgraced-you-onochie-attacks-apostle-sulieman/

Renowned observer group, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), on Monday released its report on the Ekiti State Governorship Election held on July 14 2018.

The body lamented that agents of the top parties bought votes, warning that the situation much not be allowed to go on.

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, TMG Chairperson, signed the report made available to DAILY POST.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was declared winner.

He defeated his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Kolapo Olusola.

In its report, TMG said observers reported early set up of polling units across the state as well as early turn out of voters who came out in their numbers and conducted themselves in an orderly manner.

It said accreditation and voting started quite early but that there were complaints recorded with the Smart Card Readers as authentication of finger prints which resulted in slow voting.

The TMG observed that the election was largely peaceful except for a few isolated cases of violent conducts or actions that could have undermined the voting process which was effectively dealt with by the Police and other security personnel who also conducted themselves in a civil manner.

The reported added: “The TMG observers reported a systemic case of vote buying and financial inducement of voters with all the parties involved and a sense of communal buy-in in the act.

“While it wasn’t observed that INEC officials were in anyway complicit in the act, the arrangement of polling stations; the voting booth and the ballot box leaves much to be desired towards stemming this ugly practice.

“The practice is taking a consistent approach with impunity on the part of the political actors with far reaching implication for the credibility of elections, mandates and democracy in general.

“As a group that has been involved in the electoral process since the return of democracy in 1999, the TMG commends the Independent National Electoral Commission for its improvement in the management of the elections in the State, the electoral management body had undertaken extensive consultation in the build up to the election, managed logistics in an effective and timely manner as well as improvement in the conduct of its election officials.

“The TMG is concerned with the massive deployment of security agencies and personnel during the elections, the country should be working towards a less policed electoral process.

“The TMG is of the opinion that mobilising the whole gamut of the country’s security infrastructure is not necessary as this could intimidate voters and further drive voter apathy which is a key concern for the electoral process, looking at the discrepancy between the number of registered voters and those who actually vote.

“While the TMG commends the people of Ekiti State for coming out en-mass to vote, it is struggling to come to terms if this large voter mobilisation is not hinged on the incentives of the financial inducement from political parties for their votes.

“This question has become necessary in the face of the massive acceptance of the financial inducement by the voters. The TMG calls on Nigerians to shun partaking in such act as it has far reaching implication for the nature of relationship that evolves between elected leaders and the people in the quest for accountability and transparency in governance.

“The TMG is concerned about the growing trend of vote buying by political parties and contestants in elections. This practice is becoming the norm with political parties trying to outwith each other in the sums paid to voters.

“The practice TMG reiterates is a bad omen for the country’s democracy, it has the potential of undermining all the progress we have made in our electoral politics and further exclude groups such as women, young people and persons with disability who have been largely excluded in politics due to money driven politics.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/07/16/ekiti-election-pdp-apc-bought-votes-tmg-releases-full-report/

By Nwafor Sunday

Angered by the statement credited to Shehu Sani , the senator representing Kaduna central, Lauretta Onochie, social media aide to president Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday took a swipe at Sani, saying that he is an ‘APC disappointment’ that will fall inside the red sea with his cohorts.

Recall that Sani had said via his facebook handle that “We the persecuted are on Exodus, riding on horses, chariots and caravans, departing Pharaoh Thutmose’s Egypt; we are now at the coast of the Red Sea, about to leave the land of cruelty and injustice.”

“When the future generation asks the question what happened to the loot, they will read that it was recovered. And when they asked what happened to the recovered loot, they will read that it was shared to people known to people in power.”

But reacting to the above statements, Onochie said the following:

THE HORSES AND THEIR RIDERS WILL FALL INTO THE SEA.

Senator Shehu Musa, an APC disappointment, spoke about him and his co-travellers, going on horses, Chariots and Caravans as they go through the Red Sea to a storm in the CUPP.

Here are ordinary Nigerians from Kwara State. These are the people that propelled Pres. Muhammadu Buhari to delve into politics.

They have no horses, Chariots, nor Caravans. All they need are the basic things of life. And this government, which Shehu Musa and his cohorts have tried to frustrate, is doing what it can, to put food on the tables of these members of Buhari’s constituency in Kwara State.

Policies of former governments under PDP, ensured that the Shehu Musas of this nation, ride on Horses, Chariots and Caravans at the expense of the poor masses.

But the Conditional Cash Transfer not only pay out ₦5000 a month, beneficiaries acquire skills for sustainable living.

The qualification to benefit is “Poverty Stricken”, not political, ethnic nor religious considerations.

These poor and vulnerable people have what Sen. Shehu Musa and his co-travellers do not have- Large Number.

They have their weapon- PVCs.

They are waiting to watch the horses and their riders fall into the sea.

Those who survive the Red Sea ordeal, will perish in the wilderness.

We will follow our President as he leads us into the Promised Land. Nigerians shall have the last laugh.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/lauretta-onochie-blasts-shehu-sani-says-he-is-apc-disappointment/

The Ekiti state police command says no policeman slapped Ayodele Fayose, governor of the state.

Fayose had said security operatives invaded the governor’s office on Wednesday and later assaulted him.

But speaking with TheCable on Friday, Caleb Ikechukwu, police spokesman in Ekiti, said the police respect the office of the governor and no policeman could have slapped him.

“No policeman can and will slap a sitting governor or deputy, they are our excellencies,” he said.

The command said two political parties wanted to have their rallies on the same date in Ado-Ekiti but the commissioner of police advised the parties to have their activities at different times because of the security implication.

The police had ordered the withdrawal of security details of candidates but Ikechukwu said those with the governor and his deputy who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were not withdrawn.

“Police want to ensure a level playing ground for everybody, and we are withdrawing all security personnel from VIPs, and we will deploy them to areas they will be needed,” he said.

“We are not withdrawing our personnel from the governor and the deputy governor of the state. We respect them, and we can’t take away security from a sitting governor of a state.”

He also said the heavy deployment of police officers in the state is to ensure the safety of voters in the election.

Ahead of the election on Saturday, 30,000 officers from various units in the country were moved into the state.

“The deployment they’ve seen is to ensure their safety on the election day so that miscreant, hoodlums, thugs will not come to hijack the process,” Ikechukwu said.

“I want to assure you that the Nigerian police force is transparent. We are not a political body. Our men will not be on mask, and police officers posted to polling units will not carry arms, teargas.”

He added, however, that armed tactical teams were in strategic places to monitor the process.

“We will have our stationed tactical team for preemptive situations so that we will not be taken unaware, and that’s why you will see some of our men with arms and tear gas positioned at strategic places,” he said.

“We have to protect everybody, the collation centres and and escorts that would protect election materials through the routes to the collation centre. The foreign observers. We have NGOs monitoring the process and these people all need security. The security agencies on ground is a proactive measure.

“We have borders. Ekiti state is surrounded by four states, with over five exit routes. So, when you look at all this, you put security in place so that you don’t allow people to bring in thugs into the state. Then we have to check people and movement, to be sure that hired thugs do not come in to disrupt the election process.

“We’ve also done our risk assessment and we’ve identified our flashpoints, areas where would think there will be possible trouble. And what we’ve done in those areas, for proactive sake, we have our tactical team who are on ground to conduct patrol. They will check on vehicles to know those permitted to move. There will be stop and search.”

Movement, according to him, will be restricted 12 midnight till the election is over.”

https://www.thecable.ng/no-officer-slapped-fayose-says-police-spokesman-ekiti/

The face-off between the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other members of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has taken an ominous twist as the monthly FAAC meeting has been suspended indefinitely.

Thursday’s scheduled FAAC meeting was the briefest, lasting less than an hour and at the end finance commissioners were seen filing out of the venue of the meeting.

Addressing journalists on his way out the meeting, Chairman of Commissioners forum, Mr. Mahmood Yunusa said the meeting can only be reconvene after “the process is strengthened.”

According to Yunusa, “the next meeting is a function of when we finish. What we are looking for is for the process to be strengthened, once the process is strengthened there is no need for this fight.”

He noted that the decision of the state governments and other members of FAAC to oppose NNPC’s paltry remittances “is about the system and the process and we are working on it.”

He emphasized that “it is no longer a joking matter; it has gone to the highest level. Mr President will sit down, he is highly interested in this, he is taking his time to ensure that the right thing is done.”

The state governments determination is hinged on the desire to “strengthen and deepen this process, once the process is strengthened, the correct amount is supposed to go to federal revenue account.”

If the process of remitting proceeds to the federation account is strengthened, Mahmood Yunusa assured that “even if it is small we cannot challenge NNPC, so we are also helping NNPC from undue pressure.”

He noted that state governments and other FAAC members opposed to NNPC “know that people are facing difficulties but this is a sacrifice that all of us must do to get out of this problems of NNPC under remittance. If the process is operated the way it is supposed to, nobody will complain.”

This is the third time the May accruals in the federation account for disbursement in June 2018 has been postponed. This has crippled states and federal authorities from paying civil servants June salaries.

http://thenationonlineng.net/faac-suspended-indefinitely/

Ahead of Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has ordered the withdrawal of its men from the state Government House.

The directive was contained in an internal memo obtained by SaharaReporters, titled ‘Police Wireless Message’ and numbered ‘DTO: 10185/07/2018’.

However, the CSO, two Aides-De-Camp (ADCs) and five others are to stay back

The directive was issued by issued by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Duty for EKiti State and sent to Superintendent Joseph Gbenga, the Chief Security Officer to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

“Sequel to the forthcoming governorship election on Saturday 14th July 2018 in Ekiti State X you are directed to warn and release all officers and men attached to the Government House Ado Ekiti to report at Department of Operations (DOPS) SHQ on or before Thursday 12/07/2018 x eye repeat X Thursday 12/07/2018 x while you X ADC to the governor and five others are to remain at the GOVT House X.

“C.O33PMF/SPU/CTU/OPERATION FLUSH/EOD/SIB ADO EKITI only X you are to remove all your personal attachment to Ekiti State Government House/Office on or before the above stated date X while two (2) of the EOD personnel are to remain at the GOVT House X ensure strict compliance XX.”

The announcement comes after policemen fired teargas canisters at supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to disrupt a road rally for their candidate, Kolapo Olusola.

However, Fayose claimed that the teargas canisters were directly fired at him, that he was “shot at” and that he was assaulted, leaving him visiting the hospital wear his hand was bandaged and his neck fitted into a brace.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/12/government-house-policemen-withdrawn-fayose-ahead-governorship-election

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, on Wednesday in Lagos said that the emergency rehabilitation/maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge project would begin on July 27.

Kuti who disclosed this a stakeholders’ meeting at the Ministry of Works office in Lagos.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, on Wednesday in Lagos said that the emergency rehabilitation/maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge project would begin on July 27.

Kuti who disclosed this a stakeholders’ meeting at the Ministry of Works office in Lagos.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/third-mainland-bridge-to-be-shut-for-27-months/

Outgoing Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s plan to instal his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka as his successor may have been dealt a big blow as several key members of his party switched support to the All Progressives Congress.

President Muhammadu Buhari received the defectors today at the grand finale of the governorship campaign of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the All Progressives Congress, APC gubernatorial candidate in Saturday’s election. The mega rally took place at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the two federal lawmakers were among the defectors, along with the chief whip of the state house of assembly. There were indications dropped by the new APC faithful, that many assembly members may also be getting ready to abandon the PDP, ahead of the crucial 14 July election.

Among the defectors was Sen. Fatimat Raji Rasaki, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District. She is the wife of a former military governor of Lagos. Mr. Olamide Oni, House of Representatives representing Efon/Ijero/Ekiti West Federal Constituency also dumped PDP.

Senator Rasaki represents the largest constituency in the state, the same area where Fayemi picked his running mate, an old political war-horse Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

Political pundits said if the Ekiti central senatorial constituency vote for Fayemi, the election will be lost by the PDP candidate, Olusola Eleka.

The switching of allegiances by the PDP legislators was one of the highlights of the today’s rally and it was seen as a big deal as the APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, telling Senator Rasaki repeatedly: ‘God Bless You’, ‘God Bless you’, when they met before President Buhari arrived.

The Chief Whip of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Sunday Akinniyi and the Commissioner for Justice and attorney-general under Fayose administration, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi also switched allegiances to APC at the event.

Ajayi was also Fayose’s attorney-general in his truncated first term, 2003-2006.

NAN reports that the National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomole, was also on hand to receive the defectors. He assured them of equal treatment in the party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Senator Rasaki, said they had to dump the PDP because of the selfishness of Governor Fayose in the state.

According to her, the PDP in the state has been monopolised by a single individual, who would not allow justice and fairplay in the day-to day running of the affairs of the party.

Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye was the first to jump out of the Fayose PDP boat, after a controversial primary election, the outcome of which the lawyer-journalist said was predetermined in favour of Kolapo Olusola-Eleka.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/fayose-loses-senator-rasaki-rep-member-chief-whip-to-apc/

President Muhammadu Buhari does not deserve a second term in office in 2019 as this would spell doom not only for the North but for the rest of the country, the leadership of the Arewa Youth Forum said on Monday.

The group was reacting to the endorsement of the President’s second term ambition by some serving All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers from the Northwest in Kaduna.

Lawmakers from the Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara states gave the endorsement on Sunday at the inauguration of local coordinators for the ‘Northwest Young Parliamentarians in support of Buhari/Osinbajo 2019’, saying the President had done well in the areas of security and infrastructure development, and deserved to return and complete the good job he started.

However, on Monday, the AYF argued that with the killing spree all over the country, especially in the North, Buhari should serve his mandatory four years and quit the stage for another northerner.

It noted that one sour point about the President’s 2019 ambition was his claim that the killings across the country were being carried out by “desperate politicians”, yet he had not arrested even a single suspect.

It argued that the President’s claim that the killings were caused by desperate politicians “shows that the president knows the killers”.

“Nigerians should hold the President Buhari responsible for the killings because he made it clear in one of his speeches that it was ‘desperate politicians’ who were responsible for the herdsmen killings,” Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, National President of the AYF, told Punch.

“Being the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the buck stops on his table. It is important, therefore, for him to fish out the desperate politicians as a matter of urgency.

“Therefore, to allow the President to come in 2019 will spell doom, not only for the North but the entire country.

“This is not 2015 when we said North versus the South. This is not APC or PDP affairs. We have enough presidential aspirants in the North who are capable; not Buhari again.

“Buhari should just honourably leave the stage in 2019 so that the North can regain its lost glory.”

http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/09/second-term-buhari-will-spell-doom-country-says-northern-youth-forum

DIG, AIG, 4 Commissioners to supervise polls

By Joseph Erunke
AHEAD of the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed a total of 30,000 police personnel to provide security before, during and after the exercise.

Idris also moved the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Assistant Inspector General of Police, four Commissioners of Police and eight Deputy Commissioners of Police to provide security for a hitch-free election.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, on Sunday, said the police boss equally order the deployment of two patrol surveillance helicopters, five additional Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC, ten Armoured Personnel Vehicles and 250 Police patrol vehicles to the state.

Idris said the robust and elaborate security arrangement was implemented in Ekiti State to ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair election.

“The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations has been deployed to the state and will be assisted by an Assistant Inspector General of Police, four Commissioners of Police, eight Deputy Commissioners of Police and 18 Assistant Commissioners of Police.

“Each Senatorial district will be manned by a Commissioner of Police. The DIG will implement and coordinate the security operations, and also supervises the deployment of security personnel for the elections throughout the 2451 Polling units/voting points, 177 Wards and the 16 Local government areas of the state, “the statement said.

It added:” To ensure adequate security and safety of life and property before, during and after the elections, the IGP has graciously approved the deployment of Thirty thousand (30,000) Police personnel to Ekiti State for the election.

“The personnel comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF) Units, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Special Protection Unit (SPU), the Anti-Bomb Squad (EOD), Conventional Policemen, the Armament Unit, personnel of FCIID and the Sniffer dogs section. Four (4) Policemen and two (2) others from other security agencies will be on duty at each polling unit throughout the State. The Police Mobile Force (PMF) to be headed by a very Senior Officer will provide security at the RAC, Super RAC and collation centres.

“Two (2) Patrol Surveillance Helicopters, Five (5) additional Armoured Personnel Carriers, Ten (10) Armoured Personnel Vehicles and Two Hundred and Fifty (250) Police patrol vehicles are deployed throughout the State including difficult terrains. Other security and safety agencies who are members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the State are also deployed to complement the Nigeria Police Force during the election.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/30000-policemen-two-helicopters-4-acps-others-for-ekiti-polls/

MEMBERS of the newly launched reformed All Progressives Congress(R-APC) are said to have kick-started moves aimed at ensuring their defection to the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a matter of weeks.

Sources close to members of the APC faction in the National Assembly said development would alter the power structure in the Assembly in a matter of days.

The lawmakers are due to embark on their annual recess on July 21, just as it was confirmed that all the processes leading to the mass defection will be concluded a week before the recess.

Sources close to the party also confirmed that Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara are leading the defecting team of lawmakers which could switch the majority outlook in the two chambers.

It was gathered that the R-APC already secured the buy-in of 30 Senators and 60 Rep members.

A source declared that with the crisis that has engulfed the APC, the lawmakers would have satisfied the constitutional requirement in Section 68(1,g) which indicates that a lawmaker can only defect from his party if there is division within the party that brought him to the chamber.

It was gathered that the R-APC senators and Rep members in almost all the states, including those from Kano, Adamawa, Sokoto, OyoKwara, Kogi, Kaduna, Bauchi and Benue states, are among those leaving the party.

The defection of the lawmakers from these states would ensure that the R-APC and its ally, the PDP, are firmly in control of the situation in the National Assembly.

Sunday Tribune gathered from another source that the APC lawmakers will declare for the Reformed APC (R-APC), a break-away faction from the ruling APC, onward their movement to a new party.

R-APC, which is a fusion of New PDP (n-PDP) block within the APC and other aggrieved leaders who were schemed out in the power play during the congresses in their states, last week formally broke away from the APC.

It was gathered that the next destination of R-APC members across the country may be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), if the leadership of the umbrella party fulfill the conditions given by the intending joiners and returnees.

Part of the condition, Sunday Tribune was informed, is that the PDP should change its name, a condition PDP leaders were said to be warmly amenable to.

Sunday Tribune gathered from a reliable source that the name change may be an alteration of part of the current name of the PDP and may not involve a wholesale name change.

“With the launch of the R-APC, a lot of interesting things will happen in the National Assembly. We have decided that with this resumption this time, we are going to make enough statements that will shake the polity and then go on the annual recess.

“But I can assure you that before the recess, the gale of defection will have been concluded,” a source, who is a lawmaker, said.

It was gathered that the acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Supreme Court has further emboldened the R-APC members, many of whom had rallied round the Senate President in the battle to prove his innocence all along.

“It took this government 1,018 days to prosecute Saraki on what has been seen an initial as a merry go round. It was purely a political step that is bound to boomerang. Everyone knows that Saraki played critical roles in ensuring the victory of APC against his old party the PDP in 2015.

“It should not be too much to concede the Senate presidency to such a group like the nPDP, which proved its worth through valuable contributions to the 2015 campaign.

“Now we have seen that we are not wanted in this party. They have constituted their executive without recourse to the complaints to the nPDP. It is clear that they have also sidelined the Senate President and Speaker Dogara in the running of the affairs of the party.

“At National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, the duo of Senate President and Speaker are reduced to spectators. Nothing like consultation. Nothing to show we are working together. It is very clear that one day we will have to retrace our steps and reunite with the people that want to work with us,” another source stated.

The source added that the battle against Saraki has been from day one of his Senate Presidency, adding that the number three citizen was not welcomed to the presidential villa until four months after his emergence.

It was also gathered that the R-APC members are fine-tuning the power sharing formula, especially the issues in Sokoto, which appear to have made the expected defection of Governor Aminu Tambuwal to look a bit shaky for some weeks now.

It was gathered they the man regarded as the godfather of Sokoto politics, Senator Magartakar Wamakko was being reached for an amicable resolution of the power game in the state.

A source also said that the R-APC has also lined up a number of surprises for the APC and that during this week a key development will unfold.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/154122

By Dennis Agbo

THE four top members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, POB, charged together with their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and detained at Kuje prison, Abuja since 2015 have left Prison and returned their various homes in the South East.

They are Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Bright Chimezie, David Nwawusi, and Benjamin Madubugwu, who were charged with offenses relating to “preparations to secede from Nigeria” and detained without bond since 2015.

They were granted administrative bails last week but could not regain freedom due to the stringent conditions which was finally meet on Thursday, which made them leave the prison gates around 6pm, Thursday evening in company of Mr. Aloy Ejimakor who led a team of IPOB lawyers to the prison facility to ensure that the release order was carried through.

The other lawyers on the team were Mr. P. A Ejiofor, Max Opara, Prince Mandela and Chukwudi Igwe.

The release was sequel to the lawyers meeting all the bail terms, particularly the cash bond of Five Million Naira each, making it a total of Twenty Million for all the four accused persons.

The cash bond was paid Thursday by bank draft to the Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

It was upon meeting this final but difficult term that the release order was finally signed by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/4-detained-ipob-members-return-home-2/

Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has described members of the breakaway faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), Reformed APC, as herdsmen looking for where to ‘chop.’

Sagay, speaking in an interview with the Independent condemned the rAPC members, saying they have contributed nothing to the development of Nigeria asides claiming assets.

Speaking further, he said the rAPC members have no right to the use the acronym ‘APC’ as they are not registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) with the name.

“The so-called Reformed APC is also the same as the New PDP. These are itinerant characters who are not better than the cattle herders.

“ They move from place to place in search of greener pastures. Once the grass is no longer lush again, they move to another place.

“They think they are not enjoying enough ‘chop’ in APC, so they want to go and look for somewhere else to perch in order to ‘chop’.

“ All they believe in is to live to eat, acquire assets without the interest of the country at heart. How to develop Nigeria and rid it of corruption doesn’t matter to them.

“These are people who have not made any contributions to national life. So, I am not surprised that they have moved,” Sagay said.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/07/06/members-reformed-apc-like-herdsmen-sagay/

By Linus Effiong, Umuahia

A former governor of Abia State and a chieftain of the APC, Orji Uzor Kalu, has stated that Ndigbo are committed to making sure that they occupy the presidential seat come 2023.
He said this in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia.

He said come 2019, the South East zone would massively vote for President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term to enable the region have its turn in 2023, vowing that nothing could stop Igbos from producing Nigeria’s president come 2023.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/amplite/75-percent-of-abia-votes-will-go-to-buhari-kalu-259588.html?

THE emergence of a splinter group named Reformed All Progressive Congress (R-APC) from the ruling party is a source of concern for its governors, Zamfara state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari has conceded.

However, he said that such party crisis was not unexpected in a party the size of APC as politicians must jostle to advance their own interests.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) spoke to State House correspondents after joining his Jigawa and Kebbi counterparts, Abubakar Badaru and Atiku Bagudu, respectively, as well as Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun for a meeting with Chief of Staff to the President on the deadlock in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

He, however, expressed confidence the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC will be able to resolve the crisis.

The governor, who insisted that the villa meeting was initially meant to be a “private business,” said when asked to comment on the crisis in the ruling party: “Of course, I am worried, but it is something the party will handle. You know with the approach of election, you will expect this kind of thing, you will expect crisis left, right and centre, especially in a party with an overwhelming majority because of political interests.

“The most important thing is that with the emergence of new leadership everything will be resolved. So, therefore, no panic.”


Yari revealed that there was some progress on the FAAC which was deadlocked in its last meeting.

He added: “Initially it (the meeting) was supposed to be a private visit but it has turned to official visit because you know we were supposed to hold the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee meeting since last week which deadlocked.

“So, the Chief of Staff decided to invite the minister so that we can discuss further and see how best we are going to deal with the matter.

“There is headway because Mr. President and the Minister of Finance will meet with the NNPC officials so that we can resolve the problem with the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee.”

Also speaking on the FAAC issue, Minister of Finance, Adeosun said the meeting with the Chief of Staff was a fruitful one.

She explained: “Well, as you know last FAAC meeting ended in deadlock and since then, we have been having series of engagements between ourselves, the governors, the commissioners and of course the various stakeholders.

“Today’s meeting was for me to brief the governors and the Chief of Staff and by extension Mr. President on the progress we have made so far on our position. Mr. President has promised to take the next step and to that extent, we are very satisfied.”

Asked whether the source of the FAAC disagreement, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was exempted from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the minister remarked: “They are, every agency of government is in the TSA. You know FAAC is unique, FAAC is a meeting where all the revenue generating agencies make returns on net of their expenses. It is in the area where we have disputes.

“The dispute is not on the gross revenue but on what has been deducted from those gross revenues giving us the net which is being brought into the FAAC.

“But I think this is a healthy process. We must be satisfied with figures before we sign of on them. We must as stakeholders make sure all our agencies are aligned with all the programmes of government in terms of getting this economy really moving.

“We are still very much dependent on oil, on NNPC for our revenue. So, we do need to have sometimes some of these. I see them more as reconciliations than standoffs. I’m very sure we will have the FAAC in the next day or so.”

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/153836/

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, has said that there is no better combination than President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The senior lawyer described Buhari and Osinbajo as the best combination in the country, saying it was unlikely that any group or political party could produce that combination in years to come.

Sagay told Independent that Buhari was on a rescue mission, adding that Nigerians will not look elsewhere when the time comes to decide who governs Nigeria for another four years.

The PACAC Chairman said while Buhari provides the aura and leadership style, Osinbajo complements him with his physical presence going everywhere across the country, commissioning projects on behalf of the president.

“Buhari is on a rescue mission. If you look at his team, himself and the Vice- President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, there can be no better combination than that. The president provides the aura and the image. He has the reputation. He is coming from 1984 to 85. He has established himself as the rock of the anti-corruption war, which the African Union (AU) has recognised by declaring him the champion of the anti-corruption war in Africa.

“Then we have Osinbajo, an impeccable character, indefatigable leader, totally and outrightly honest. A man of integrity who is doing all the appropriate physical activities, going from place to place, promoting the policies of this government from tirelessly.

“So, between the two of them, we have a perfect combination- the man who provides the aura, the ambience that everybody accepts that yes, we are now in the phase where anti-corruption war should be stamped out and that integrity and honour has to be the watchword of this country now. He also leads by example because you can’t see him acting contrary to what he says.

“Then we have Osinbajo, who is going about, physically planting all these policies everywhere. So, if you say Buhari is not everywhere all the time, the president and the vice-president constitutes the presidency.

“As long as the vice-president is somewhere, the president is also there. He goes everywhere with the authority of the president. So, you don’t need to see the president everywhere. He goes to certain places but he doesn’t have to go everywhere because he has his companion in government who is doing his own thing while the president is also doing his.

“These two are a beautiful combination and I don’t think any group in this country, for now, can produce that type of combination. That is the team for this country in years to come and I don’t think Nigerians will make the mistake by looking anywhere else except this two people,” he said.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/07/04/2019-sagay-speaks-osinbajo-coming-back-buharis-running-mate/

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday the world would see if his successors would return the loots and assets recovered by his administration from those who looted the nation’s treasury.

He recalled that stolen assets seized from looters during his military regime were returned to them when he was ousted in 1983.

Buhari said the present administration has been selling off assets recovered from looters and putting the money in the government coffers to forestall the incidents of the past.

The President was responding to a question on Nigeria’s anti-graft battle during a joint press briefing at the end of Namibian President Hage Geingob’s visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “We are pursuing people who have declared assets. But we find out that they have much more than they have declared. We follow them through their bank accounts to the companies they formed to the contracts they got.

“Sometimes they swear to Almighty God that their structures that cannot develop feet and run away does not belong to them. Then they are confronted with their bank accounts.

“Again, using my experiences when I was arrested and detained, people were given back what they have appropriated. This time around, I said we are going to sell them and put the money into the treasury and I will see whoever comes after that will have the courage to take money from the treasury and give to anybody.

“So, we are winning. But it’s very difficult under this multi-party democracy system. And we are getting the cooperation of countries. We are trying to sell the assets wherever we find them and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury.”

Buhari also said his administration would soon reorganize the nation’s judiciary to ensure effective fight against corruption in the country.

His administration, he said, plans to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases where all those found wanting in their dealings will be prosecuted.


The President added: “We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have questions to answer.

“So that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up. We are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible.”

On his part, President Geingob thanked Nigerian government for his support and assistance to Namibia via the deployment of Nigerian volunteers under the Technical Aid Corps.

The Namibian leader said he came to Nigeria to pay his last respect to late Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, whom he described as his mentor.

http://thenationonlineng.net/my-successors-dare-not-return-stolen-assets-to-looters-buhari/

The House of Representatives has moved to review the age barrier in vacancies announced by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Prison Service, Fire Service, Standard Organisation of Nigeria and other federal government agencies.


This came after a deliberation on a motion of urgent public importance moved by Babajimi Benson representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency.

Mr Benson stated that most of the vacancies require that applicants must not be more than 30 years of age as at the time of applying for the vacancies.

He said with the unstable nature of Nigeria’s education system, it is difficult to determine and plan the age of graduation thus restriction on the basis of age is a breach of eligible applicant’s fundamental human rights as contained in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


The lawmaker expressed concern at the fact that the NYSC designed to foster national cohesion in the country with discharge or exemption certificate mandatory to get employment in the Federal Civil Service, pegs it admissibility age at 30 years.

“Citizens who serve at the age of 30 years will be denied the opportunity to be gainfully employed by the country they laboured to serve in the sun and in the rain.

“This development will lead to young Nigerians falsifying their ages to benefit from the available vacancies, an action that would further tint the integrity of the Civil Service,” he said.


He said 55.9 percent of Nigeria’s 196 million population are between 15-64 years of age and by capping job entry at 30 years of age, over half of the said population will be denied the opportunity to be gainfully employed.

“I believe that employment into the federal civil serwce after considering Federal Character should be on merit and competence without age barrier,” he added.

The House, thereafter, unanimously resolved to urge all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) concerned to consider re-opening their online portal so that above 30 years but are still below 40 years can apply and be given equal opportunity.


It also resolved to mandate the House Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity and National Planning and Economic Development to review the employability criteria of all MDAS to ensure no eligible applicant is discriminated against on the basis of age.

It also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure the deliberations and resolutions of the House was communicated to all MDAs and comply to eliminate discrimination in the civil service.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/274943-recruitment-reps-move-to-review-age-barrier-for-applicants-into-npf-nysc-frsc-others.html

THE Police high command on Monday clarified that it was untrue that Police Personnel posted to Maiduguri, Borno State on special duties protested over ‎non-payment of their Special Duty allowance as contained in the section of the Press.

This was contained In a statement ‎made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday by the Force Public Relations Office, DCP Jimoh Moshood in a swift reaction to the said protest in the early hours of Monday.

“Police Officers and men in the State are on their duty posts ensuring public peace and order”, he stated

According to the statement,” the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a media report that Policemen protested in Maiduguri over non-payment of their Special Duty Allowance

“The Force wish to categorically state that it is not correct that police personnel protested in Maiduguri today, 2nd July 2018


“Some of the Police Mobile Force personnel on Special Duty in Maiduguri went to the Borno State Police Command Headquarters on enquiry over the delay in the payment of their special duty allowance in the early hours of today and not on protest as reported in some media‎”.

‎The FPRO, stated that following this development, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, promptly directed the Commissioner of Police, Borno State to address and inform them why there was delay in the payment of their special duty allowance, and also to assure them that since the budget had been approved, the allowances would be expeditiously processed and paid without any further delay.

He explained that after the brief lecture by the Commissioner of Police, the subsequently returned to their duty posts.

He added that the IGP had also ordered the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force (PMF) to proceed to Maiduguri, Borno State and other States in the North East where PMF personnel were deployed on special duty; to lecture and inform them on the efforts being made by the Force to ensure timely payment of special duty and other allowances to police personnel in the North East of the country.

According to the FPRO, “the Police Mobile Force personnel that went on the enquiry are not those attached to Operation Lafiya Dole in the fight against insurgency in the North East but those on the category of visiting Police Mobile Force units deployed in Maiduguri on Crime Prevention and other Police duties in the State”.

‎He urged the members of the Public in the State are not to panic but to go about their lawful duties and other responsibilities without fear or apprehension, saying that ‎”the Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined organization and will not allow any situation to degenerate into disturbance of Public Peace anywhere in the country.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/153195/

The Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to vacate their office in respect to a ruling by the apex court in Nigeria, the Supreme Court.

This was contained in a statement from the office of the Minister for Youths and Spo‎rts, Solomon Dalung, which also asked Chris Giwa who was voted as President of the NFF in a congress that wasn’t recognized by FIFA to take over the running of football in Nigeria.

The development if not properly handled will likely make FIFA to ban Nigeria from International football as the World soccer governing body frowns at interference from civil courts in football matters.

Dalung said in a statement that the directive followed a written notification signed for the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice requesting the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure compliance.

The statement said, “I have been directed to notify you of the Orders dated June 5th 2018 made by Honorable Justice M. H. Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court Jos in respect of the above mentioned suit between Yahaya Adama Vs Alhaji Aminu Maigari which states that the election of the NFF held on August 26, 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa be given recognition pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this case and that the purported ban of the Executive Committee elected on August 26, 2014 from football activities of the NFF is unconstitutional, null and void.

“It is trite law that court orders are sacrosanct and any acts of disobedience to it constitutes threat to the rule of law. Consequent upon the above, you are hereby advised to comply with the orders of court made therein which for now, is the valid and binding order of court, in the absence of any other subsisting order or judgment to the contrary’.

“Consequently, Barrister Dalung has however directed the parties involved to comply with the court order.

“This is a court order and not from Dalung. I will not want to go to Kuje prison because of disobedience of court orders. Therefore, I hereby comply with the court orders of June 5th 2018, while Amaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same.

“The order compels the defendants, including the Minister of Youth and Sports, their servants, agents and privies howsoever, the Inspector General of Police and all law enforcement agencies to forthwith enforce the orders made by the court on 19th September 2014 and 23rd October 2014 and give recognition to the General Assembly Meeting and election of the NFF held on 26th August 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed in this case.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/07/02/breaking-nigerian-govt-orders-amaju-pinnick-step-nff-president/

Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the terror group Boko Haram, is said to be weakened by ill health, prompting questions about his ability to lead the militants, the AFP reported on Friday.

The sources said Shekau has a range of conditions that have left him “too weak to be in charge” of the jihadists, whose insurgency has killed at least 20,000 in Nigeria since 2009.
“He has high blood pressure and failing sight from diabetes-related complications,” said one source with close knowledge of the group’s activities.

A senior security source tracking the conflict, who also asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media, described Shekau’s diabetes as “debilitating”.

“He suffers from diminished eyesight from cataracts or glaucoma as a result of diabetes,” he added.

The source with knowledge of Boko Haram’s activities said Shekau and his lieutenants have been in talks this week about his “failing health” and whether he was well enough to lead.

Boko Haram split in mid-2016 over ideological differences.

One faction, headed by Abu-Mus’ab Al-Barnawi, whose father Mohammed Yusuf founded Boko Haram, won the support of the Islamic State group.

Some experts suggested that with Shekau off the scene, the different groups could be reconciled.

Shekau used to appear frequently on video messages from the group, particularly at the height of the conflict, when Boko Haram ran riot across northeast Nigeria, seizing territory.

The Nigerian authorities have claimed Shekau has died or been killed on at least three occasions, and that he has been replaced by a series of lookalikes.

Shekau’s last appearance on camera was in a 14-minute video released on February 6 in which he claimed responsibility for attacks in Borno state capital, Maiduguri, and other towns.

He was previously seen on January 15 in an 11-minute video in which some of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted in 2014 vowed never to return to their parents.

Both sources said between February and April last year, Shekau was bed-ridden in Bulayaga, a village in the Konduga area of Borno, near his group’s Sambisa Forest stronghold.

Bulayaga is some 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Maiduguri.

“No-one thought he would survive because he was terribly sick from diabetes and malaria,” said the security source.

Shekau resurfaced in a video published on May 4, 2017, rejecting claims he had been injured in a Nigerian air strike the previous day at the nearby village of Balla.

“I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive,” he said.

But in it, he looked frail and appeared to have difficulty reading from a prepared speech, which he held close to his face in an apparent indication of vision problems.

The August 2016 split caused bitter in-fighting and saw Shekau lose men, territory and weapons.

Barnawi, whose group operates in northern Borno around the shores of Lake Chad, is now seen as “more in charge”, said the source.

Yan St-Pierre, counter-terrorism advisor and head of the Modern Security Consulting Group, said Shekau’s removal would only have a “limited” effect internally and on operations.

“Most terrorist organisations always have a ‘next man up’ planned because leadership could be lost at any time,” he said in emailed comments.

“The myth of Shekau” could also remain as a “galvanising factor” for Boko Haram fighters, he added.

The security source suggested the removal of Shekau “could signal the mending of fences between the two factions”.

“Shekau has been the major wedge to reconciliation between the factions and if he resigns, the prospect of a truce and merger between the factions is high,” he added.

Ryan Cummings, Africa security analyst at the Signal Risk group, agreed the two sides could move closer but also suggested it could trigger a power struggle in the high command.

That “could trigger further violent factionalism”, he added

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/boko-harams-shekau-critically-ill/

The Federal Government says it will commence disbursement of the recovered 322 million dollars Abacha loot through Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to 302,000 poor households in 19 states in July.

Tukur Rumar, of the National Cash Transfer Office (NTCO), disclosed this at a roundtable on assets recovery organised by the Swiss Embassy on Thursday, in Abuja.

The states include: Niger, Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Cross River, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarrawa, Anambra and Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDPs) in Borno.

According to Rumar, the benefiting households will receive N5,000 monthly.

Mr Iorwa Apera, the National Coordinator, National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), said 503,055 households were already on the NSR register from the 19 states, adding that by July, there would be a social register for all the states of the federation.

“The Federal Government would begin with those states, because they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASSCO to put in place certain infrastructure to empower the national register.

“Some of the states delayed, but the other ones were quick enough to set up infrastructure that allowed us to start work there, but all the states are now on board as they have set up their state operating offices and donated office equipment to us.

“As states come on board, we enroll and so they extend to the beneficiary register, and presently we are generating data in all the states now,’’ he said.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/28/322m-abacha-loot-list-states-receive-cash-july/

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari led administration recorded greater achievements in the South-east than the 16 years government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).


The minister said this on Wednesday in Aba, while inspecting the Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriage way reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The minister, who inspected the project with a team of journalists, said that in three years, “the Buhari government can lay claim to many completed and ongoing infrastructure development in the south east.’’

Specifically, he said the strategic Enugu-Port Harcourt road in the region was awarded by the PDP administration in 2014 but abandoned due to no cash backing.

Mr Mohammed said upon assumption of office, the Buhari administration had funded the project to over 50 per cent completion.


“The Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriage way is a major route in the South-east and the major towns along the route are, Enugu Okigwe, Umuahia, Aba and Port Harcourt.

“The traffic volume generated on the road spanning a total length of 118km is very high.

“The road had suffered various deformations and distress in the form of slippage, rutting, fatigue, edge crack, and portholes.

“The road had become almost impassable until this administration came to the rescue

“Yet, the naysayers have painted the administration as have not done anything for the south east zone,’’ he said.


Mr Mohammed stressed that the 16 years of PDP in power was a waste to the south east region contrary to what the naysayers were saying.

The minister also justified his claim with the progress made by the Buhari’s administration on the second Niger Bridge also awarded by PDP government but not funded.

He said the Buhari administration had sustained funding of the second Niger bridge project to near completion.

“In 16 years, what did the PDP do on the Enugu-Port Harcourt road and the second Niger Bridge?


“Everything that we saw today is what this administration has achieved, yet some politicians are so fraudulent they sit in Abuja and accuse the administration of not doing anything for the south east.

“From what you have seen, you will see that this administration has done so much for this zone. We can now see that some people are just misinforming the public,’’ he said

The minister called on politicians to make statements of facts on the achievements of the administration rather than politicising the progress recorded.

The Federal Controller of Works, Enugu state, Oyekanmi Olufemi said the Enugu-Port Harcourt road was divided into four sections and each awarded to different contractors.

He said the Enugu to Lokpanta section was awarded to Messrs CGC construction Ltd, while the Lokpanta to Umuahia Tower was awarded to Messrs Setraco Nig. Ltd.

Mr Olufemi said that the Umuahia Tower to Aba section was awarded to Messrs Arab Contractors, while Messrs CCEC Construction firm was handling the Aba to Port Harcourt section

“The contract was awarded in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the sum of N32 billion

“But unfortunately, money that was supposed to be paid to the contractors which is 15 per cent of the contract sum, N4 billion, was a major challenge.

“As at 2015, the amount given to the contractors was only N100 million, with that they could not start.

“The new government came in and the first budget of the new government was in 2016, funding started in earnest.

“As I speak with you today, the advance payment of N4.08 billion has fully been paid by this government and the contractor has done a lot of work since they mobilised to sites,’’ he said.

The minister inspected the four sections of the road and expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far.

(NAN)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/274205-buhari-records-more-achievements-in-south-east-than-pdp-minister.html

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday observed that those clamouring for the restructuring of the country do so for selfish motives but expressed the hope that the diverse agenda can be accommodated by the constitution.

He made the observation while receiving some traditional rulers under Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) and members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from Urhobo land at the presidential villa, Abuja on Monday.

He was responding to the call by the group to consider the call for restructuring.

The president said: “You mentioned something which is typical these days, the cause of restructuring Nigeria. For every group asking for restructuring has got their own agenda and I hope it can be accommodated by the constitution.

“I assure you that you are not forgotten and I am pleased you appreciate the appointments by this administration of some citizens of your kingdoms.

Responding to a request for the presidency to also address oil spillage in the region, Buhari blamed the people of the area for what he said was their contribution to the degradation of the region through sabotage.

He, therefore, urged them to give the present administration the chance just as, according to him, gave the previous governments the chance.

Buhari said: “I plead with you leaders of these communities that your resources have been sustaining this country throughout these years for restraint of control so that the cooperation you gave to the previous administrations will be extended to this administration so that the country can realize the resources which are mainly under your seat.


“Some of your citizens there are responsible and they hurt, more of your people that have access to employment, either lack of education, you know as much as I do that it is the people that suffer from oil pollution, like those engaged in fishing.

“If the water is polluted, it is the majority of the people that will suffer.

“Those making noise in the media because they somehow have access and because they are outside the country, but those of us who are stuck here we are left to convince the people to show respect.”

The President General of UPU had also observed that part of the things that will guarantee a second tenure for Buhari is to appoint an Urhobo son or daughter as substantive Minister in the current administration.

Taiga requested the president to look into issues bedevilling the region, especially the resuscitation of Sapele port, boundary crisis between the Urhobos and Edo communities, federal presence like the establishment of gas plants, adequate funding of Federal University of Petroleum Resources and neglect by oil companies who daily exploit the land without commensurate compensation.

He said: “We wish to commend the initiative by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to give serious thought to restructuring our country and going as far as setting up a committee under a serving governor to take a critical look at it and make recommendations on the way forward.

“We humbly request Mr. President to give kind consideration to appointing an Urhobo son or daughter as a Minister in this administration. We will be grateful if this request is kindly granted.

“The Sapele port which was once a bustling economic hub in the old Midwestern region has unfortunately gone comatose for a long time. It is presently used as a naval facility with only a small part of it serving the Navy’s needs.

“We, therefore, request the federal government to reactivate and make the port functional. This will help to decongest the Lagos ports and boost the economy of Delta and neighbouring states.”

Meanwhile, security operatives in presidential villa prevented Delta APC leader, Olorogun Ortega Emerhor who organized the Urhobo delegation’s visit to the president, from entering the venue.

His prevention from attending the meeting with the president may not be unconnected with the violence that broke out during the APC national convention at Eagle Square, Abuja on Saturday.

His loyalists and other Delta delegates loyal to the camp of Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege disrupted the president’s address when they engaged in a free for all fight.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/152161

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee on Sunday in Moscow said it has sanctioned the Polish Football Association with a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs and a warning.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sanctions were imposed because of the display of a political and offensive banner by Polish fans during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group H match played between Poland and Senegal.

The match played at the Spartak Stadium on Tuesday saw Senegal winning 2-1.

Also, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee disclosed that it has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Argentina FA and the Croatia FA.

This was because of several crowd disturbance incidents involving their respective fans during the Group D match played between Argentina and Croatia on June 21 at Nizhny Novgorod.

Croatia had won the match 3-0.

Already, the Committee has opened disciplinary proceedings against Swiss players, Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, for their goal celebration during their match against Serbia.

Switzerland had won the Group E match played on June 22 in Kaliningrad 2-1.

In relation to the same match, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Serbian FA for crowd disturbance and the display of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans.

Furthermore, a preliminary investigation has been opened against the Serbian national team coach, Mladen Krstajic, for alleged statements made in the aftermath of the said match.

Meanwhile, FIFA has reminded teams of its disciplinary code and recalled the background information it gave earlier in March on disciplinary matters at the ongoing of 2018 FIFA World Cup.

It said the information applied to cautions and expulsions imposed during the final competition of Russia 2018.

According to the information which has now been circulated to all the teams’ heads of delegations, single yellow cards received by players would be cancelled after the quarter-finals.

It also said a player would automatically be suspended from his team’s following match if he receives two cautions during two different matches.

“If a player is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card, he will automatically be suspended from his team’s following match. In addition, further sanctions, such as additional suspensions and fines, et cetera, may be imposed,’’ a statement from FIFA said.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/24/world-cup-2018-fifa-blows-hot-fines-poland-investigates-argentina-croatia/