June 19, 2022

John Alechenu, Abuja

The New Nigeria Peoples Party has dismissed reports that its Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will contest the 2023 Presidential elections as running mate to his counterpart in the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.

According to the NNPP, there was never a time such a discussion or negotiation was held.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr Agbo Major, said this in Abuja, on Sunday.

He said, “NNPP has never at any time said its esteemed Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Engr. Dr. Rabiu Musa kwankwaso could accept to be Labour Party, Peter Obi’s deputy.

“The report is misleading and embarrassing to our great party, its Presidential Candidate, Kwankwaso and millions of supporters in Nigeria and in the diaspora, and urges journalists to crosscheck their reports before publishing them to avoid national disaffection ahead of the crucial 2023 general election.

“As a mass movement, NNPP acknowledged alliance talks with Labour Party that would consolidate and boost the nation’s frail democracy as we collectively strive for a new Nigeria which the party champions.“

He noted that the NNPP has high regard for journalists as the watchdog of society and major stakeholders in the Nigeria democratic process and urges them to always crosscheck their reports before publishing them in tandem with the ethics of their profession.

Major expressed confidence that together with the media, the NNPP “shall build a strong, virile, progressive and egalitarian democratic society.“

INEC Gives Parties June 17 Deadline To Submit Candidates’ Names

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the list of all presidential and governorship candidates must be accompanied by the names of their vice presidential and deputy governorship candidates without which the nomination is invalid.

The commission also stated that all nominations must be uploaded to the portal on/or before the deadlines, adding that the portal will automatically shut down at 6pm on Friday, 17th June, 2022, for national elections and 6pm on Friday 15th July, 2022, for state elections.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this at a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), reminded political parties that only the names of candidates that emerged from democratic primaries as provided by Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 shall be submitted to the commission.

Yakubu said a nomination centre had been set up at the Commission’s headquarters to receive and process all nominations by political parties, including dedicated telephone lines, to serve as Help Desk for any party that may need assistance.

“With this innovation, the Commission has eliminated the physical interface between party officials and INEC staff for the purpose of submitting the list of candidates for the 2023 General Election,” he said.

On Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the Commission said it had continued nationwide.
He, however, said as the deadline for the suspension of the current exercise approaches, the Commission had received reports of a surge in the number of prospective registrants that daily throng state and local government area offices as well as designated centres in many states across the country.

Yakubu reassured Nigerians that the Commission remains committed to ensuring that all citizens who wish to register are given the opportunity to do so.

“Already, some of the Resident Electoral Commissioners have requested for more voter registration machines to ease the congestion.
“The Commission will deploy additional machines to areas of need immediately. Thereafter, the Commission will meet to review the progress of the exercise and take further decisions.

“We will always respond positively to the needs of Nigerians and therefore appeal to all citizens to be patient with the Commission as we strive to serve them better.”

He appreciated the desire of Nigerians to register as voters and reassured all eligible registrants that no one would be left out.

Osinbajo, Umahi, Ayade, Dogara congratulate Tinubu, Pledge Support

Some of the aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election have congratulated the eventual winner, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his victory, promising to back him in the general election.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who came third in the contest, in a statement he personally signed, congratulated Tinubu, saying that for many decades, he had shown passion, patriotism, courage and determination in the cause of nation-building.

He called on aspirants and party faithful to unite behind Tinubu to ensure victory for the party in the 2023 elections.

He said, “I congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at our party primaries and his emergence as the presidential candidate and flagbearer of our great party, the APC, for the forthcoming 2023 presidential elections.

“For many decades, our flagbearer has shown passion, patriotism, courage and determination in the cause of nation-building. His sterling contributions to our democracy and its progress stand him out. His wealth of experience will certainly be critical in our party’s continued efforts to attain a more secure and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.

Osinbajo congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and all leaders of the APC for a successful Special Convention and Presidential Primary, even as he urged party members, regardless of who they voted for at the primaries, to unite behind Tinubu in the 2023 elections.

On his part, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, in a message signed by him and made available to LEADERSHIP Friday, congratulated Tinubu on his victory and pledged to work with him and other candidates of the party to win in the 2023 general elections.

Umahi, who is the chairman of South East Governor’s Forum, assured Tinubu of the support of the Ebonyi State chapter of the party in the 2023 political journey.

He commended all the aspirants and the APC National Working Committee for the smooth conduct of a fair presidential primary election.
“I encourage the leaders and members of our party to come together to support the party for a victorious journey in the 2023 election,” he said.

Also, former Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 8th National Assembly, Hon Yakubu Dogara, in his congratulatory message, also appealed to those who lost the APC presidential ticket to join hands with Tinubu, especially Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the victory of APC in general elections.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Turaki Hassan, and made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday, Dogara described the emergence of Tinubu as the beginning of good things to happen in Nigeria.

Yakubu Dogara stressed the need for a forming a formidable team around the presidential candidate of the ruling APC for the 2023 general elections.
“I urge all aspirants to close ranks and form a formidable force ahead of the 2023 general elections. This is the surest way to victory for the APC,” he said, describing Tinubu as a bridge builder with a very large political followership across the country.

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, in his congratulatory message, expressed an “unwavering optimism that this soldier of democracy who has seen it all will lead our great party to victory.”

In statement signed by his special adviser on media and publicity, Christian Ita, Professor Ayade assured the APC presidential candidate of his total support at the polls.

Extolling Tinubu’s sterling qualities, Ayade said: “Your Excellency, from your NADECO days to the ACN era and then to your immeasurable contribution to the formation of APC and its subsequent ascension to power, there is no doubt that you have laboured and sacrificed for democracy and its enthronement in our nation.

“I have an unwavering belief that as a soldier of democracy who has seen it all, you will lead the APC to seamless victory next year. Rest assured that as your look back, you will find me matching with you 100 per cent to the threshold of victory.”

We Didn’t Declare Tinubu ‘s Emergence National Calamity – Ohanaeze

Meanwhile, the national leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied reports credited to it in some media describing the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate in the coming 2023 general election as a national calamity.

The national publicity secretary of the apex-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Chief Chiedozie Ogbonnia, in a statement, further made it clear that Ohanaeze did not make any remarks concerning Tinubu’s health status.

He said though Ohanaeze Ndigbo has its reservations about the unfolding developments in the primaries of political parties as it relates to the country’s coming presidential election, the organisation is still understudying the developments and would make its position known in due course.

Ohanaeze expressed sadness over the statement, describing it as most irresponsible.

The statement read, “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been drawn to a statement circulating in some sections of the media, attributed to our organization, describing the recent election of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as a ‘national calamity, considering the enormity of the baggage he is burdened with’.

“The statement did not originate from Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. We have no hands in the content, context, comprehension and delivery of the unfounded statement.

“Ohanaeze read the message with sadness and views its contents as unfortunate, especially the attacks in that statement on the person and health status of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He described the statement “as very unfortunate, irresponsible, diversionary and most reprehensible”.

It stated that the author of the statement is not the secretary general of Ohaneze Ndigbo. It gave the identity of its scribe as Ambassador Okay Emuchay, even as it added that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had no personal animosity against Tinubu to warrant such careless comments on his person.

It, however, expressed displeasure at the current political arrangement that seems orchestrated to exclude, marginalise and frustrate Ndigbo in a country they have worked hard to build.

by Chibuzo Ukaibe, George Agba and Okechukwu Obeta

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are engrossed in a tricky geo-political tussle bordering on how the running mates of their presidential candidates would emerge, LEADERSHIP Friday gathered yesterday.

While the APC and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed, from the South West, are mindful of securing the bulk of Northern Muslim votes, the PDP and its presidential candidate, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, from the North East, have firmed their resolve to ensure that the running mate comes from the South South zone.

Sources within the APC confided in LEADERSHIP Friday yesterday that the primary factor that will influence who emerges Tinubu’s running mate is the ability to get block votes from the Northern states.

This is against the backdrop that, as a Southern Muslim, he is faced with the option of contesting the election with either a strong northern Christian politician or a Muslim.

What’s more, there are fears within the party that Atiku may get massive votes from the North, irrespective of party affiliation.

So far, Tinubu’s likely running mate include former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Plateau State governor Simon Lalong, current secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu.

A source close to the Tinubu political family said the APC candidate is tinkering with picking a governor from the North East zone, noting that if that fails to fly, he might pick a Christian from the same region.

However, a South West APC chieftain who pleaded anonymity however told LEADERSHIP Friday that “the PDP should be less concerned about where our running mate will come from and who that person is likely to be. It is clear that the PDP is already oiling its propaganda machinery to spread falsehood in the country.

“Whether it is Christian-Christian ticket or Muslim-Muslim ticket is none of the business of the opposition. We are where we are because of all these primordial and emotional sentiments. How does insecurity differentiate us as worshippers of both Islam and

Christianity? Does hunger know the difference between Islam and Christianity? Is poverty so clear-visioned to know who is a Muslim or Christian?”

According to him, the objective of the ruling party was to win the election.

He asked, “Didn’t Muslims in the North vote for the MKO? Who saved the situation for us in the APC in the last 72 hours? Are they not the Northern governors most of whom are Muslims? So, what are we saying?

“However the ticket is, we will have a very formidable team because we will not be cowed by the antics and blackmail of the PDP to direct us into any politically inexpedient decision.

“Those blackmailing us now, did they not know that power ought to shift to the South? Why did they not see the sense in picking a Christian presidential candidate if they love Nigeria?”

In the PDP, however, it was gathered that Tinubu’s emergence foreclosed the prospects of Atiku picking his running mate from the South West, a situation which has caused discomfort among some party leaders who were scheming to get the position.

Recall that shortly after Tinubu won the APC presidential ticket, Atiku had held an emergency meeting with PDP governors in Abuja.

Sources in PDP told LEADERSHIP Friday that the South West was being considered by Atiku alongside the South South region for the VP Slot because the South West had the second largest bulk votes in the country.

It was also learnt that Atiku’s camp was hopeful that the APC would settle for either Senate President Ahmed Lawan or former minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, as presidential flag bearer.

But after Tinubu picked the APC ticket, the former vice president’s camp settled for the South South zone with Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike as a top contender.

Other contenders for the position are Delta State governor Sen Ifeanyi Okowa and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Udom Emmanuel.

It was, however, gathered that a former Osun State governor and a former Ondo State governor who had lobbied some former military generals for the PDP vice presidential slot kicked against the move to take the position to another zone.

It was learnt that they argued that it would be more difficult to campaign for the PDP in the South West now that the APC has a presidential candidate from the region.

The former governors had also accused the only governor from their region of supporting Wike to get the ticket.

“Although the South West PDP is likely to emerge national party chairman if Atiku wins and the incumbent party chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, resigns to recognise the North/South zoning arrangement for Presidency and party chairman, the South West leaders are insisting that the likelihood of such prospect is not as certain as the vice president position,” the source added.

Obi’s Running-mate Must Be Northern Muslim – LP Stalwart

Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi and his political spin-doctors are yet to commence any serious considerations for choosing his vice-presidential candidate.

A very close associate of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate told LEADERSHIP Friday that Obi and members of his presidential campaign organisation and supporters have been primarily occupied with the task of resolving the issue of factionalisation within the party’s national leadership which gave birth to the emergence of a parallel presidential candidate.

The LP stalwart, who spoke yesterday, however, expressed relief that with the eventual withdrawal of a factional presidential candidate of the party, Chief Jude Ezenwafor, it had become clear that the issue of factionalisation is being resolved.

In his letter of withdrawal from participating in the coming 2023 general election as Labour Party presidential candidate he addressed to Labour Party national chairman and copied to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, a copy of which was made available to several online platforms, Chief Ezenwafor stated that he decided to withdraw from the presidential race on “personal reasons” after wide consultations with his supporters.

“I regret any inconveniences my withdrawal might cost our great party. I thank the leadership of our great party for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria”, Ezenwafor’s letter read.

Meanwhile, the member of Obi’s presidential campaign organisation told LEADERSHIP Friday that the LP presidential candidate must be chosen from the Northern part of the country and that the person must be a Muslim.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, stated that the issue of the zone where the running mate would come from would be decided when serious considerations of the person to be chosen commences.

Adamu Moves To Mend Fences, Lead NWC On Visit To Tinubu

After the failed attempt to impose a northern candidate on the party as its standard bearer for the 2023 polls, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, had begun moves to mend fences with presidential candidate of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Adamu led members of the party’s national working committee (NWC) on a visit to the residence of Tinubu to congratulate him on his emergence as the party’s presidential flagbearer.
Since he was declared winner of the presidential primary at Eagle Square in Abuja on Wednesday, the Abuja residence of Tinubu had become a Mecca of some sorts, with party big wigs, interest groups and individuals thronging the place to confer with him.

Speaking yesterday when he visited Tinubu with NWC members, Adamu said the party was with Tinubu and he remains the party project.

“For us, action speaks louder than voice, we are here to join our brother, congratulate him and assure him that we are together. This is our project and by God’s grace we will succeed,’’ the APC national chairman stated.

Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to clinch the party’s presidential ticket at a special convention of the party, beating 13 other aspirants.

Before the convention, Tinubu was never Adamu’s favorite candidate as he was said to have announced Senate President Ahmed Lawan as consensus candidate at a meeting of NWC the in Abuja on Monday.

He told the NWC members that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.

But members of the NWC quickly distanced themselves from the endorsement of Lawan as the party’s consensus presidential candidate by the national chairman.

The NWC members led by APC national organizing secretary, Suleiman Argungu, told journalists that the NWC stood by the position taken by northern governors that the South should be allowed to produce the next president of Nigeria.

A constitutional lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, on Tuesday, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the eligibility of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to contest the 2023 presidential election.

The plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/751/2022, maintained that Atiku, who is the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not constitutionally qualified to participate in the presidential contest.

Consequently, he posed two legal questions for the court to determine, afterwhich he sought for seven principal reliefs against Atiku, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who were cited as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter.

The Attorney-General of the Federation was also joined as the 4th defendant.

Specifically, the plaintiff, asked the court to determine; “Whether by the combined provisions of sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), only a Nigeria citizen by birth can contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”.

As well as, “Whether by the combined interpretation of sections 1(1) & (2), 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and giving the circumstances surrounding the birth of the 1st Defendant, he can be cleared by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”.

Ikenna Obianeri

31 May 2022

IKENNA OBIANERI writes that the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the lawmaker representing the Aguata II constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr Okechukwu Okoye, by unknown gunmen are indications of lawlessness the state has descended into

Recently, Anambra State has come under severe attacks from “unknown” gunmen, despite the seemingly unrelenting efforts to end their onslaught by the state government and security agencies. All the attacks and killings remain unsolved as the concerned authorities do not go beyond the rhetorics each time the criminal elements perpetrate the evil act.

The lawmaker representing Aguta II in the state House of Assembly, Dr. Okechukwu. Okoye, popularly known as “Okey Di Okay,” and his Campaign Director, Mr. Cyril Chiegboka, were kidnapped within his community by the yet-to-be-identified assailants on Sunday, May 15, 2022, while returning from a function. They were immediately taken away inside his black Sienna car within his constituency.

While the state Police Command, through the Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident and said that the lawmaker’s “black Sienna bus,” which he was driving before the incident, had been recovered, and he said were efforts were being made to apprehend the kidnappers and rescue the victims.”

This was all that was heard from the security agencies until the following Saturday, when the lawmaker’s freshly cut head and that of his aide were mounted at the Chisco Park in the Amichi community, with a written note placed on the side.

The handwritten note had messages signed by ‘unknown gunmen’, one of which read, “We give the politicians 48 hours to withdraw all the soldiers in Biafra land or face our wrath or consequences [sic]. Signed, unknown gunmen.

Okoye, before his death, was representing the Aguata North Constituency II, the same community as the governor of the state, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

Following the lawmaker’s death, efforts were further heightened to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book by both the state government and the security operatives, including the announcement of N10m reward for anyone who could give information that could lead to the doorstep of the hoodlums.

The incident created mixed reactions in the state, with some sections, including the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, through its Media aide, Chinedu Obigwe, saying that the killing of the lawmaker and his aide had a political undertone, especially as it was election period, others believe that abductors perpetrated the act for ransom purpose.

This is so as a member of the lawmaker’s family, who did not want to be mentioned, lamented that even though the ransom was paid, the kidnappers still went ahead to kill him, an insinuation the state Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, debunked through a security briefing on Monday. Echeng, during the meeting called in reaction to the killing of the lawmaker, said, “The command is not aware if any ransom was paid.”

Echeng also revealed that the police swooped into action when a relative of Okoye reported at the Police division in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA, that he had seen a headless corpse allegedly lying along Nnobi-Ideani Road, which he believed was that of the lawmaker who was abducted alongside his aide.

He added that the police operatives accompanied him to the scene and found the claim to be true, saying that the police personnel also recovered the severed head of the lawmaker for preservation and autopsy.

He said, “Later that same day, information was received that the head of the lawmaker was seen at Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area, which has been the epicentre of attacks by unknown gunmen on security forces, vigilante groups, and defenseless civilians.”

The gruesome murder of the lawmaker and his aide has generated wild fear and reactions from stakeholders in the state, as evidenced in the following Monday’s sit-at-home, where residents stayed indoors as they did not want to incur the wrath of the gunmen.

But Echeng, while calling for better volunteering of information from the various communities to unravel the gunmen, dismissed the threat, saying that the gunmen were not “unknown” but “known” and vowing to bring the perpetrators and criminals operating in the state to book.

He further said that the police had discovered the criminals’ hideouts and assured the Anambra people that they would “start hearing of how the police are dislodging the criminals within 48-hours”.

However, there is nothing tangible on the ground to suggest that their efforts were yielding the desired results as both the “unknown” and “known” criminal gangs have yet to be unveiled to the public as promised by the police for more than “48 hours” after the promise was made.

The Press Secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime, said, “You know security is a strategic approach, which the state government has been doing. The fact that you hear of gun attacks does not mean that the government was folding its arms. A lot is ongoing underground, and the killing of the lawmaker is quite regrettable. It has further made the state government more resolute and determined in fighting to rid the state of criminal elements.”

Also, there have been separate attacks, with no fewer than seven people killed, including a pregnant woman and her four children. The gunmen stormed those areas, opened fire on their victims, and left.

This was less than 24 hours after the severed head of the lawmaker was found.

Within the week, a headless body was found on the Nnobi-Alor-Nkpor road, attack at Onitsha Tollgate, Ogbunike/Nkwelle Junction, attack around Eke Adazi Nnukwu, attack at Ogidi, attack at Aforigwe, Umunnachi, attack around Oraukwu-Abatete, attack on Agulu, attack on Nanka.

In all of these, the lawmaker’s death has taken centre stage among the growing concerns in the state. This is more so because lawmakers are seen as “sacred” and “untouchable” because of their function in society. “If a lawmaker could be killed without any traces, what then is the fate of the common man,” remains a question that begs for an answer.

An Aguata indigene, Grace Ogah, said, “I am still coming to terms with how somebody, who is not just an ordinary individual could be kidnapped, beheaded and his head displayed and videotaped, and nothing happened. I expected the National Assembly, the Presidency, and prominent Igbo groups to come in and not only to condemn the act but to take decisive steps.”

Aguata is the hometown of the state governor, Soludo, and the killed lawmaker.

Soludo, while reacting, lamented that the lawmaker’s killing meant that “criminals have desecrated our land” and showed that criminals don’t value human lives anymore.

The governor said no human being should ever experience death in that way the lawmaker did while promising a N10m bounty for anyone with useful information on the killing.

“Okey di okay and Cyril Chiegboka were murdered in the most gruesome manner. No human being should ever have to experience death in that way.

“This is a test of our resolve, and we are more emboldened than cowed that this criminality must be stamped out of our land.

“Umunnem Ndi Anambra, this is not who we are. The party is over, and every community must join forces with the government in this war to reclaim our homeland.

“Okey and Cyril will never die in vain. May God console their young families, the people of Isuofia, and Ndi Anambra. May their souls and all others who have lost their lives in the hands of these criminals continue to rest in peace.

“We have placed a N10m bounty for anyone with useful information. This war is one that Anambra must win!” Soludo added.

Despite the efforts the state government and the security agencies said they were making, the attacks had continued, thereby prompting the governor to declare a 6 pm to 6 am curfew in eight local government areas of the state, commencing on Thursday, May 26 with the hope that this will be a further boost in tackling the insecurity situation, which has claimed many lives in the state in the last one month.

But following the words of the state police boss, Echeng, one could have ordinarily suggested that the security architecture would have been beefed up to start bursting the perpetrators of these dastard acts, especially as he has said repeatedly that the police “know them…they are not unknown”.

There is no other concrete evidence to show that the situation is firmly under control, as no suspect has been unveiled to the public six days after the murder of the lawmaker.

There were more facts yesterday on how former Vice President Atiku Abubakar beat 14 other aspirants to clinch the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

It was learnt that two last-minute negotiations with presidential aspirants from the North, especially Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, gave Atiku the cutting edge over his closest rival, River State Governor Nyesom Wike. The former Vice-President had 371 votes as against Wike’s 237.

The Nation gathered that before agreeing to step down, Tambuwal had been in talks with Atiku for the position of President of the Senate in 2023.

However, the intervention of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), acting on behalf of some founders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made Tambuwal to back Atiku.

The same forces accounted for the withdrawal of another aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, from the race in the early hours of Saturday.

Also, in order to give all Northern aspirants the benefit of the doubt, Atiku also held a meeting in Transcorp Hilton with Tambuwal, Dr Bukola Saraki, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Hayatu-Deen on the need to present him as a common front against Wike.

The Transcorp Hilton session was triggered by an intelligence report that Wike, who had a big war chest, might clinch the ticket without a united North.

Sources at the meeting said the Bauchi governor stormed out after claiming that he was confident of getting the PDP ticket.

Former Senate President Saraki also said he preferred to go the whole hog based on the facts and figures available to him that he was going to triumph at the primary.

A source, who spoke with our reporter in confidence said: “As at Friday, the situation was still dicey because Wike gave a good fight and his war chest was massive. For five hours, Atiku was on the phone pleading with all the delegates one by one. He succeeded in reaching out to 95 per cent of the delegates.

“In order not to take chances, it became apparent that there must be some realignment and closing of ranks by Northern aspirants. A former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, who probably acted on behalf of the founding fathers of PDP, had a meeting with Atiku and Tambuwal at his residence in Abuja.

“The meeting was more or less the icing on the cake because Atiku and Tambuwal had been having covert meetings for about three weeks with an offer of a Senate presidency for the Sokoto State governor if Atiku wins..

”The intervention of the ex-NSA wrapped up all the covert meetings by Atiku and Tambuwal.

“The Sokoto State governor agreed to step down for Atiku but with a caveat that it will be at the last minute when it will be difficult for other aspirants, especially Wike, to press any button to change the equation.”

Another source spoke of Atiku’s olive branch to other Northern presidential aspirants in Transcorp Hilton on Saturday.

The source said: “As part of the agenda of a united North to curtail the hurricane influence of Wike on delegates, Atiku met with aspirants from the North in Transcorp Hilton on Saturday.

“The PDP presidential flag bearer had offers to accommodate all the aspirants, including Office of Chief of Staff for Saraki, a ministerial appointment for Hayatu-Deen, second term governorship ticket for Mohammed (Bala) and of course Tambuwal for Senate presidency.

“But at the session, the aspirants did not allow the presentation of negotiation terms. They considered Atiku as being in a weak position for him to have called for the meeting.

“Governor Bala Mohammed, who was sure of victory, stormed out. Saraki said he wanted to complete the race having done his homework well that he could get the ticket. Hayatu-Deen, who had been spoken to by some Northern elders, opted to withdraw.

“But Tambuwal, who was privy to the agenda of some Northern leaders and founding fathers of the PDP, was only tagging along at the meeting. He was enjoying the “accord ‘concordiale”’ with Atiku without suspicion by other aspirants.

“In line with the deal, Tambuwal acted the script at the nick of time at the convention ground. Beyond Sokoto, Tambuwal rallied his supporters nationwide to back Atiku.

“Although Kano delegates were holed up somewhere by Wike’s strategists, calls were made to them on the Northern script for Atiku and most of them complied.”

There were reports yesterday that Wike got an intelligence report on the gang-up when it was too late for any remediation.

A source in Atiku’s camp said: “We suspected he got intelligence of the final intrigues when he came up to say that he will support whoever wins at the primaries.

“We realised that Wike had gone far and may cause an upset. It became necessary to realign forces and curtail him.”

As of press time last night, it was gathered that Atiku may leave Abuja for Dubai today (Monday) to take what a source described as a “well-deserved rest.”

The source said: “Despite the stress of the presidential primaries, Atiku held a wrap up meeting with his campaign team on Sunday on the next stage of his campaign.

“By Monday, he will go to Dubai for a break and reinvigoration.”

May 21, 2022

….Warn that denying South ticket may spell doom for the party


NO fewer than 11 groups supporting the presidential aspiration of the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi yesterday embarked on march across the country to drum home their demand that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should zone the presidential ticket to the South, particularly the South East, warning that failure to do so might spell doom for the party in 2023.

In Anambra State, the groups marched from the popular Alex Ekwueme square through the major streets to the party’s state secretariat at Udoka Housing Estate where they delivered a letter to the party’s administrative secretary for onward transmission to the national chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

Anambra State coordinator for Peter Obi Support Network, and coordinating chairman of all Peter Obi support groups, Mr. Ikechukwu Anonye, who presented the letter urged the party to reverse the decision to throw the presidential race open to all the zones in the country in the interest of equity and justice.

According to him, PDP should specifically zone the ticket to the South East, adding that the party should forget 2023 if it fails to do so.

The letter reads in part: “Recall that the South East has been a home for the PDP and we have consistently supported and voted for our party since 1999 and that largely accounts for the reason we are grossly marginalized by the Buhari/APC – led federal government.

“We are hereby calling on the leadership of our great party to adhere to the policy of zoning and rotation of both party and elective offices, especially presidential nomination, for the sake of equity, justice and fairness as referenced in Chapter 1, Section 7, Clause 3c of the PDP constitution.

“We are, however, still certain that our party will reconsider the option of allowing the South East to produce the next president of Nigeria, especially in the person of Mr. Peter Obi, considering a consensus option as alternative, given the age- long marginalization”.

Addressing reporters at the PDP secretariat, Anonye said the solidarity walk was to let the PDP know that they were aware of the schemings going on in the party to deny the South the presidential ticket.

He said: “We know that the PDP has a constitution that supports rotation of the presidency between the North and the South, and now that it is the turn of the south, and precisely the South East, we are hearing that a committee has met and thrown it open for everybody. We consider it a level of injustice on the South East.

“We want to register our support for him and to let the party know that any unjust action will not be accepted by Nigerians. We want them to revert to the South East or the south in general and we know that they can rescind that decision.

“If the party fails to zone the ticket to the South East, PDP should forget it. Peter Obi is acceptable across Nigeria and if he is this accepted and they decide to disenfranchise him, then it spells doom for the party in 2023”.

Protest erupts in Abia community as kidnapers of 7 passengers demand N10m ransom each

May 19, 2022

By Steve Oko

Youths of Uturu Community in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, Thursday, blocked the Uturu/Okigwe highway to protest incessant Kidnapping by suspected herdsmen and bandits along the road.

The protest is coming 48 hours after seven passengers were allegedly abducted on the road.

The protesters urged both Abia and Imo State Governments to urgently take action against the menace.

One of the protesters who pleaded anonymity told newsmen that the people “are now living in fear of murderous herdsmen and bandits who now operate with impunity.”

He said that apart from commuters who have become preys to the bandits people of the community are now afraid to go to farm because of “the activities of these herdsmen” .

Another community source who spoke with Vanguard, said that Uturu/Okigwe axis had become another hot bed for bandits in the recent times.

The source which also pleaded for anonymity for fear of being trailed, said that the most annoying thing was that security agencies had abandoned the people to their fate.

” We are tired of living in fears. We want Government to come to our aids.

” Two days ago seven passengers coming to Uturu from Okigwe were kidnapped by these boys who are now demanding N10 million ransom for each of the victims.

” Since Monday bandits and herdsmen with AK 47 have been kidnapping people on this road.

” The anger of our youths is that we have about six security checkpoints between Uturu and Okigwe but these boys keep operating without any hindrances.”

Kidnapping for ransom has become so rampant around Uturu and Okigwe vicinity.

All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu, has submitted his Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for the presidential primary of the party.

Sodiq Oyeleke

10 May 2022

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s former aide, Reno Omokri, has said his former principal won’t join the 2023 presidential race secretly.

Omokri said this while reacting to the purchase of the N100 million Nomination and Expression of Interest forms of the APC for his former principal by some groups.

The former president had, however, said the forms were bought without his consent.

Omokri posted, “Jonathan has nothing to do with the reported purchase of some forms. He has an official spokesman and his own staff. He is a man of honour and will not do anything surreptitiously. The media and the public should be guided.

“I could have denied this hours ago, but I deliberately declined in order to watch his enemies and mine dance deliriously at the thought that they’d demystified @GEJonathan. There is no Nigerian alive that has the national and international credibility that HE GEJ has.”

Jonathan had rejected the forms bought for him to contest the 2023 presidential election by nomadic Fulani pastoralists and Almajiri communities.

Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, in a statement on Monday, said it was an insult for the community to buy the forms for him without his consent.

The statement was in reaction to the earlier purchase of the forms for the former president to contest the party’s ticket with other aspirants for the 2023 presidential election.

“It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the APC in the name of former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

“We wish to categorically state that Dr Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it.

“We want to state that if the former president wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door,” Eze said.

He, however, expressed appreciation for the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians for Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 presidential election.

Eze stressed that the former president had not in any way, committed himself to the request.

“Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name Dr Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person.

“The general public is therefore advised to disregard it,” Eze maintained.

Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi, leader of the nomadic Fulani pastoralists and Almajiri communities, had earlier told newsmen after picking the forms that Jonathan should be re-elected to enable him to complete what he began.

“My name is Ibrahim Abdullahi, I represent two of the most vulnerable communities in our country, the nomadic pastoralists and the almajiri communities.

“We have decided to purchase this form for our former president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to come back and rule this country and continue with the good work he started,” he said.

Among other things, he said Jonathan was the first president since the country gained independence in 1960 that found it expedient, through his magnanimity, to remember the Almajiri community.

N100m form: Lawyer gives EFCC 7 days to summon Nwajiuba, Ngige, Amaechi, threatens lawsuit

April 29, 2022

By Gabriel Olawale

An Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, a seven days’ notice to summon serving ministers and All Progressives Congress presidential aspirants.

The lawyer said the anti-graft agencies must summon the ministers and other government officials who picked up bogus APC 2023 nomination forms to explain the source of funding as their salaries for four years combined cannot afford such exorbitant fees charged by the ruling party.

Olajengbesi, who is the Principal Partner at Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, warned the EFCC and the ICPC that failure to summon the APC aspirants and serving government officials after seven days would attract a lawsuit.

He said the lawsuit would be instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja and would be followed up to logical conclusion to rid the political system of corruption.

Olajengbesi, in a statement on Friday, said: “The APC is promoting the same corruption that it is claiming to fight with the outrageous cost of nomination and expression of interest forms. One is not even surprised, after all, President Muhammadu Buhari has found nothing wrong in the pardon of two former governors convicted for stealing billions of naira. APC reeks corruption.

“By this statement, I put the EFCC and the ICPC on notice to summon and probe all APC aspirants who double as government officials who have purchased the outrageous nomination forms. Be it governors, ministers, and every one of them must explain the source of their funding and must be duly vetted by the anti-graft agencies.

“Taxpayers’ monies must not be siphoned into the pursuit of selfish ambitions by individuals who do not have the interest of common Nigerians at heart.

“I will be instituting legal action against the EFCC and the ICPC at the expiration of seven days beginning from today, April 30, 2022, upon the failure of the two anti-graft agencies to live up to its responsibilities and probe all these government officials.”

APC had days ago pegged the cost of its nomination and expression of interest forms for the presidential election at N100 million, N50 million for governorship, N20m for Senatorial and N10m for federal house of representatives.

Already, Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; amongst others that have picked up the forms while others are expected to follow suit in the coming days. They include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu; amongst others jottling to be the flagbearer at the end of the APC presidential primary scheduled to hold at the end of May 2022.

POLITICAL appointees and other top government officials in Anambra State yesterday began a two- day retreat at the famous Anambra International Convention Center in Awka with the Minister of Works and Housing and two- term governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola as the resource person.

The participants include the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo and his deputy, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, as well as the Secretary to the State Government, the Head Service, Commissioners, Special Advisers, permanent secretaries and heads of statutory bodies.

Soludo said the retreat was to bring the political office holders and others up to the speed required of them in serving the state and to get them to internalise the core vision of his administration, in order to function effectively.

Commending Fashola for accepting to give Anambra government officials the rudiments of governance, Soludo said: “I am most grateful to our resource person, His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, for availing us his wealth of experience as a former Governor of Lagos State, who led mind-blowing public sector reforms in the centre of excellence.

“For me, it is important that every member of the team internalises the vision, and sees the task of providing a liveable and prosperous homeland for Ndị Anambra, as a collective responsibility”.

Rivers State Governor and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nyesom Wike, has told members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to give him the presidential ticket as payback for his effort to bring them to office.

He addressed the party national leadership in Abuja on Tuesday to formally request their support in his bid to become its flagbearer, expressing his preparedness to be president as he noted that it is time for the party officials to repay him for the good he did to them.

Wike said: “So, it is important I take this opportunity and let you know that I am prepared. Psychological, mentally and in all aspects am very much prepared.

“So, let us not waste time. Go and tell our people that you have seen the right person and the right person is Wike.

“So, it is important you do the campaign for me, that was how I did it for you too.

“When I was fighting the former NWC, some of you were supporting them. Now all of you are here.

“One good turn deserves another. So you people should also payback. Because you didn’t go to campaign, but now am coming to campaign. So payback.

“But please do us the favor to conduct a free and fair election, that will be an advantage for us to win in 2023.”

The Rivers governor flaunted his credentials as a true party man who lived through its trials and tribulations to save it why some people abandoned the main opposition party.

He added: “I am full committed member of this party. I entered this party in 1998 when it was formed. This party has given me everything in life and I have never abandoned this party because of one grievance or the other.

“When it was looking like PDP would go down, I was one of those who stood firm and made sure that PDP did not go down. In essence. Whether I get the ticket or not, I have no other place to run to other than the PDP because it is not if I don’t get the ticket, then I will move to another party. No! You fight in the house, you settle yourself.”

Wike stated that the PDP needs people like him who can withstand the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying: “PDP requires people like us to face APC. Everybody in this country knows me because of my views on national issues. Nobody can say I don’t know whether Wike will do this or do that. When I see issues, I say my view and I am not going to run away from it.

“Of all the aspirants, nobody should talk about sentiments, nobody should say look at the way his face is. You don’t need my face. All we need is to win the election. Can Wike win this election for PDP? The answer is yes. You don’t need to listen to what the elites are saying. Who are they talking about at the grassroots? It is Wike because, in this country, everybody has seen what I have done in Rivers State.”

BENIN CITY – THE political difference between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki seems not to be over as Wike on Thursday shunned the Edo State government house while in the state as part of his meetings with delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the party’s convention to pick its presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential elections.

He also did not visit the state party secretariat but visited the palace of the Oba of Benin and then met with the party’s delegates at the residence of the late former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Late Chief Tony Anenih.

At the palace of the Oba of Benin, Wike said if elected as president, he would focus on checking insecurity with massive investment in intelligence gathering as he insisted that it is only in a secured environment that economic activities, agriculture and investment in infrastructure can thrive.

He said: “I was here one and a half years ago as the DG (Director General) of the campaign for the re-election of Governor Obaseki but I am here today not on behalf of anybody but of myself and my team to seek your prayers.

“I have come to Benin to talk to the delegates of our party that will be part of our national convention by May 28th and 29th. The way our country has fared, Nigeria needs somebody that will see white and say it is white and will see black and say that it is black. If the PDP gives me the ticket, I have enough experience to tackle Nigeria’s mirage of problems having been a local government chairman, Minister of State overseeing Education and now governor.

“The major issue confronting Nigeria today is insecurity and without security no other activity can function and what we need to tackle insecurity is intelligence gathering which is lacking, we are not going to sit down and give excuses but we will take action and spend resources to gather intelligence”

On his part, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II while lauding the competence and capacity of Wike based on what he has done as governor of Rivers State urged political leaders to promote and ensure sustenance of the African culture and traditions which he said the colonial masters tried to erase after discovering that Benin Kingdom and others had a superior administration and civilization than them.

On Wike’s ambition he said “Wike is our son, we love him and if I say so, I believe I am speaking on behalf of our ancestors. We will keep praying for him so that he does not come across anybody that will mislead him, that will mis-inform him and may he and his family not come across harm.

“We must continue to hold on to our traditions and customs because of its superiority over others”

A man, Ifeanyi Njoku, has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Precious Okeke, 24, in an estate at Badore, in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the live-in lovers stayed on Oke Street, where Njoku allegedly killed his girlfriend for ritual purposes.

Our correspondent learnt that a native doctor, who was assisting the suspect, instructed him to have sex with Okeke’s corpse.

Njoku was said to have engaged in the illicit act with the corpse for six days, as the stench emanating from his apartment prompted his neighbours to inform the management of the estate.

A source, Elizabeth John, said during a search of the apartment, Okeke’s decomposing corpse was found.

She said, “The boy killed his girlfriend about six days ago, and he confessed that he wanted to use the girl for money rituals. He said he was told that he should have sex with his girlfriend’s corpse for seven days, but he was caught on the sixth day. Today (Monday) is supposed to make it the seventh day.

“The smell of the corpse had been disturbing neighbours in the compound and other residents. So, they called the estate chairman to help in confirming what was going on in the apartment and while searching the apartment, they found the girl’s body.

“The boy was arrested and taken to the Lamgbasa Police Station and during interrogation, he confessed that he killed his girlfriend six days ago.

“We learnt that the boy offered N6m to kill the case; we also learnt that he brought the girlfriend from the village and they just moved into the estate.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased and the suspect were lovers.

He said, “Two suspects, Ifeanyi Njoku and Mbam Atunmufor, 36, have been arrested. They have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for further investigation. Njoku was the one that rented the apartment.”

Tunde Ajaja

9 April 2022

Party leaders angry with Rivers gov over utterances, actions

Plans by governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to ensure that one of them emerges as the party’s presidential candidate may have suffered a setback, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

This, according to findings, is due to the unfriendly utterances by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, against some of his colleagues, party chieftains and presidential aspirants in the party.

Informed sources believed this might cause disunity among the governors and frustrate their agreements on how the party’s candidate would emerge.

Our correspondent reliably learnt that members of the PDP Governors’ Forum held a secret meeting in Ghana late last year, where they sought to agree on the most suitable zoning formula for the party.

Majority of the southern governors at the meeting were said to have made a strong case for the ticket to be zoned to the South, but the suggestion was said to have been vehemently rejected by the governors of Sokoto and Bauchi states, Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed, both of whom have since declared their interest to contest the presidential primary.

After failing to reach a consensus on zoning of the ticket to the South, the states’ chief executive officers were said to have agreed that a sitting governor should emerge as the party’s candidate.

According to a top source at the meeting, the leadership of the forum went further to ask those interested in the ticket to signify and Wike, his counterpart in Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, and Chairman of the forum, Tambuwal, expressed their interest to contest the May 28 and 29 presidential primary.

At the moment, governors Wike, Mohammed, Tambuwal and Emmanuel are among the 14 aspirants, who have obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms. Others include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate Presidents, Pius Anyim and Dr Bukola Saraki; and former governors Peter Obi and Ayodele Fayose.

A former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Sam Ohuabunwa; Chairman of Ovation Media Group and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu; a female aspirant, Ms Oliver Diana Teriela; a United States-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; and a former Chairman/CEO, FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatudeen, have also signified their intention to vie for the nation’s top job.

Meanwhile, one of the governors told one of our correspondents that nine out of the 13 PDP governors were present at the Ghana meeting, saying, “A key outcome of that meeting was that we agreed that governors on the platform of the party should unite to produce the presidential candidate of the party.”

There is, however, growing scepticism that the agreement may no longer be feasible due to uncomplimentary statements being made by Wike, who tongue-lashed some notable leaders of the party, including governors.

Those he indirectly attacked while declaring his intention to run included Atiku, Saraki and Tambuwal, all of whom are also in the race for the party’s ticket.

He accused them of defecting from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, which led to the defeat of the PDP in 2015.

Though he spoke at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where he was hosted by Governor Samuel Ortom, his remarks also hit his host, who defected to the APC in 2014 when he lost the PDP governorship ticket. He returned to the PDP in 2018 when it was apparent that he might not get the ticket of the APC to run for a second term.

Wike said those who once left the party should no longer consider themselves as founding fathers of the PDP, adding that they had lost their seniority for defecting.

He stated, “If you form a company and run away because the company is not doing well, then you find that it is now doing well, will you want to come and take over?

“In 2015, those who ran away made us lose the election. Today, they are crying but some of us stood and said the PDP would not die. By the time you ran away, you sold your shares as founding fathers, so you can no longer retain your position as founding fathers.

“I stood for this party. I have worked for this party since 1998. I have nowhere to run to and that is why anything that happens to this party, I take it personally. I have never relented.”

However, a source close to some of the governors and leaders of the party said most of them were working behind the scene to make sure that Wike would not win the primary.

The source said, “The conspiracy won’t be limited to him. The governors may not even produce the presidential candidate of the party, because there is now a division among them with Wike’s utterances.

“Those he abused had visited him and they spoke, but nobody should be deceived. Politicians are fond of doing that. Their smiles or laughter when they are together are not always genuine; those are just for the camera. They know what they will do.

“Some are not happy with the way he (Wike) is treating people and talking to his colleagues. See how he spoke to the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu. Imagine him asking a deputy governor who his father is?

“The PDP is aware that winning the party’s ticket may not translate to winning the general election. That is why money alone will not determine who wins the party’s presidential primary. So, that Ghana agreement is now severely under threat. If the unity among the governors is still very strong, they can have their way, because they fund the parties and they can influence the delegates from their states.”

There were also insinuations among some party members that Wike could muzzle other aspirants to either have his way or even win the ticket if it was zoned to the South.

“He is not yet the candidate and he is already talking down on leaders of the party and other governors. What happens if he wins the ticket?” a member of the party’s Board of Trustees wondered.

The schedule of party activities released by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, showed that the presidential primary will hold on May 28 and 29; the governorship primary on May 21; House of Representatives primary on May 12; its candidates for the Senate will emerge on May 14, while those for the House of Assembly will be selected on May 7.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed April 4 to June 3 for party primaries, warning that it will adhere strictly to the timetable. It has fixed February 25, 2023 for the presidential and National Assembly elections and March 11, 2023 for the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

“Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of the (Electoral) Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue,” INEC had said in a statement on Tuesday.

Pressure mounts on Atiku to promise single term

Meanwhile, Saturday PUNCH learnt that some statutory delegates were mounting an intense pressure on Atiku to promise a single term to placate southern delegates and guarantee his victory in the forthcoming primary.

According to Bature, the PDP candidate will emerge on May 29 at the end of the special national convention (presidential primary) that will start a day earlier.

Atiku has been meeting with the statutory delegates ahead of the PDP primary next month.

One of his campaign officers and a statutory delegate from the South said, “The South is angry. The people want power to shift to the South after the disastrous outing of President Muhammadu Buhari. However, because we are not a ruling party, we may not be able to zone that position. For us, it’s about how best to win the election.

“That was what we did in Rivers State in 2015 when we picked Wike as our candidate, even though he is from the same area as his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi. So, one of the things we are telling Alhaji Atiku is to consider a single term.

“If they know it’s just four years, that will make it easier for us to sell his candidacy to the South. It will be a semblance of what Nelson Mandela did in South Africa. He served for one term and made his mark. In any case, after that one term, by 2027, age will no longer be on his (Atiku) side.

“Atiku, who has become a veteran of presidential elections, should be able to tell Nigerians that he will be a one-term President if he wins. Anything short of this will be disastrous for him and the North.”

Another source close to the former vice-president confirmed that some of his supporters were speaking to him to consider the one-term suggestion. The source noted, “In 2015, Atiku said it only once that he would be a one-term President if he won. After that, he was silent on it. Now, he has to promise to be the Mandela of Nigeria if he wins the primary. That will make things easier for him.

“If he agrees, then we can rest assured that we will have many converts among the delegates and even among Nigerians, who will vote in the general elections. Already, the majority of the statutory delegates are with us. We are trying to win ad hoc and national delegates to our side, but Atiku needs to come out openly to speak on this.”

S’Court adjourns Secondus’ case till October 2023

In a related development, the hope of the former National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, returning to office has suffered a setback with the Supreme Court adjourning his case till October 2023.

The court made the decision on Monday, March 21, 2022.

The appellants, according to findings, were disappointed by the ruling, though a source close to Secondus said he took the apex court’s ruling with equanimity.

“The suspended chairman wants justice and is desirous of making a statement with the way his case was heard at the lower courts. That is why he is in court, not that he is insisting on being in office,” the source added.

When contacted, Secondus’ media aide, Ike Abonyi, confirmed the development. “Yes, it is true. The case has been adjourned till October 2023,” he said.

PDP must do what’s necessary to win –Babatope

Meanwhile, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said he believed the party should do whatever was necessary to win the presidential election.

He said, “The National Executive Council has not reacted to the zoning committee’s report, but having said that, I’m one of those who believe that whatever will save the people of Nigeria from the misrule of the APC should be adopted by the PDP.

“We are waiting for NEC to decide, and if they say it will be thrown open, that’s okay. We will then have to work hard to ensure that the person who emerges will not create for us another pair of the APC misrule. People are now praying that the tenure of this government should be over.”

Asked if he feels that southern aspirants should come together to boost their chances, Babatope said it was best if everyone contested the primary.

He stated, “I won’t advocate that arrangement. What is important for us is to produce a candidate that will be able to ensure that we win the election for the good of Nigeria.

“This country is very important to us. One thing being said is that the South-East has not produced the president of this country. I’m not saying they should produce a candidate now, but if we have a good candidate from there, fine. We want this country to remain one, but the APC misrule is so terrible and it should be stopped at all cost.”

He called on INEC to guarantee free and fair elections, adding, “Let INEC give us a free and fair election so Nigerians can have a good government and let Buhari be the last person on this age debate, in which case all of us above 75 should please take a rest so that the younger ones can participate. Our party is firmly rooted in the belief that Nigeria must remain a united country.

When asked to comment on the recommendations of the Ortom-led zoning committee that the ticket should be thrown open, Paul Ibe, a media aide to Atiku, said it would be unfair to speak on the issue when the NEC had yet to take a position on the committee’s report.

“It will be procedurally wrong to speak on it. NEC constituted the committee and we read from the media that the committee has presented its report to NEC, which has to deliberate on it and take a position. Until that is done, it will be premature to speak on the issue,” he stated.

I’m unrepentant about southern candidate –Bode George

Speaking on the recommendations of the zoning committee, Chief Bode George, a former national vice-chairman of the party, said he remained an unrepentant campaigner for a southern presidential candidate and that justice, fairness and equity must be the centrepiece of the PDP’s activities.

He said, “My personal view is that power must rotate to the South and it’s non-negotiable. However, we must handle it with dexterity, respect for the rule of law and the dictates of our founding fathers, who created the first political party that is truly national. The APC is a contraption that came much later.

“We will go back to the meeting and discuss, but the party must make a statement. Zoning and rotation are the political spinal cord of our party and as human beings, if you lose your spinal cord, you are either dead or you become physically challenged.”

When asked if he agreed with suggestions that southern candidates should work together to boost their chances at the primary given that many northerners had also obtained forms, George said that option would be considered at the right time.

He stated, “I can assure you that that will come. People want to throw their hats in the ring and it’s better to allow them. We will sit, discuss and weigh issues, and in the end, there will be rationality.

“This is the time we need the grace of the Almighty God to direct our people; we must be able to convince not only party members, but the electorate, who are far more in number than the party’s card-carrying members. We are listening to everyone and we are taking note, because we have to be very careful. The three pillars of our party are justice, fairness and equity and they must be upheld.”

A chieftain and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, on Friday, said he is likely to emerge the party’s consensus presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

He said it might be possible because he has the criteria as one of the world economy and social-political leader to address the present harsh conditions confronting the country.

He also appeal to the national leadership of the party, his co-aspirants and other concerned PDP supporters to considere him for the party ticket for the sake of equity and fairness.

Obi disclosed this while speaking to journalists shortly after he received the 2023 PDP presidential nomination/expression of interest form, purchased for him by a group known as “Young Professionals” to support his aspiration at his Onitsha GRA residence.

Speaking further, Obi said he should be considered on the consensus option, because, since the return of democracy in Nigeria, only late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, from the Igbo extraction has contested the party presidential primaries with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 and lost.

According to him, and ever since then, precisely, from 2003-2019, no person like me from the South East Nigeria, under PDP has aspired the position again. My first outing in 2019 was to vice for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. So I urged the party leadership to put this into consideration and make me it’s consensus candidate for the February 18, 2023 presidential election.

He, however, expressed confidence that he would be in pole position to clinch the presidential ticket of the party in a free and fair primaries, if the option of consensus arrangement for him did not come in place.

While thanking the group for the support, Obi assured them of his commitment to the future of Nigeria youths. And also to turn around the country for good, free of the trending security challenges.

The National Convener of Young Professionals, Mr. Daniel Ruben, from Warri, Delta State, who presented the forms to the candidate, on behalf of the group, said the former Anambra State Governor met the criteria used in the choice of a Nigeria presidential candidate for the group.

The convener said the group, an umbrella body of all registered professional bodies in Nigeria comprises of Medical Doctors, Engineers, Entertainants, Legal Pratictioners, Media, among others in alliance arrived at the decision based on the candidate’s (Peter Obi) experience in administration, management of economy and politics to support his aspiration.

“Competence capability, credibility, acceptability both locally and internationally, experience in administration, management of economy and politics, were the attributes seen in Mr. Obi, that motivated us to support him,” Mr. Ruben added.

Senator Uche Ekwunife, Hon. Sam Awaso, former Anambra State PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, Barrister John Okoli Akirika, among other party supporters were in attendance during the event.

ANAMBRA people have so much belief that their brand new governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo will live up to their expectations in terms of socio economic advancement of the state.

Going by his pronouncements since taking the oath of office on March 17, 2022, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is fully equipped and prepared to meet the expectations of the people, but hoodlums, a.k.a unknown gunmen, have been daring the governor and distracting the administration.

First was the issue of the Monday sit –at-home introduced by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in August last year following the arrest and detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The weekly exercise has since been suspended officially by the leadership of IPOB, but those who call themselves unknown gunmen are still terrorizing parts of the state, while the weekly sit-at-home has continued despite the governor’s directive that people should go about their normal businesses on Mondays and every other day.

Although most residents are eager to go about their businesses on Mondays, enforcers of the sit-at home are making life more difficult for the people.

Last Monday appeared to be the most obeyed sit –at-home as transporters withdrew their vehicles from the road despite the plea by the governor that people should go to work, thereby making it difficult for workers to bein their offices as directed by Governor Soludo.

The governor had earlier warned that civil servants who failed to be at their duty posts would be sanctioned, but there was nothing they could do. Even those who have cars were afraid to drive to their offices as there were no security personnel on the roads to protect them from the unknown gunmen.

At the state secretariat, most offices were empty and the few workers, mainly those residing in Awka, who came to work had to leave when they observed that not much could be achieved for the day.

The same Monday, the governor inspected the various offices at the Government House and he also noticed that many workers did not come to work, but there was nothing much the government could do in terms of sanctioning the defaulters.

However, the more worrisome situation was to come on Thursday, the 31st of March when some unknown gunmen attacked the Nnewi South local government headquarters at Ukpor and set some buildings there ablaze.

One person, a security personnel, was killed during the attack and the development forced many residents in the area to flee from their home to the neighbouring communities for safety, Ukpor lies along the dangerous Utuh – Orsumoghu – Azia – Mbosi- Isekke axis which has become a haven for unknown gunmen who operate randomly in the area.

Since the area became dangerous, security operatives have been patrolling the area to secure lives and property.

It was gathered that the security operatives use the local government headquarters as a transit camp, which perhaps, angered the gunmen who felt insecure with the presence of security operatives in the area.

The buildings they set ablaze in the local government were said to be the places the security operatives were using after working on the road.
For the past four months, motorists have been avoiding the entire stretch of that road which leads to Imo and other states in the southern parts of the country.

Prof Soludo, who visited the scene of the incident immediately information reached him, ordered security agencies to go after the hoodlums. The governor, who was accompanied by the State Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng and other heads of security agencies, condemned the attack, describing it as mindless and very unfortunate.

The governor said: “ My heart bleeds with the mindless destruction of key buildings within the local government. The Education office and works department, including the traditional rulers’ building within the premises were touched “I assure you that these acts of criminalities and lawlessness will not continue.

“I urge the security agencies to go after criminals and fish them out to face the law”.

According to the governor, the resources to be deployed in reconstructing the burnt buildings would have been better utilized to provide essential needs and infrastructure that would benefit the people.

Nonetheless, he appealed to the people of the state not to despair, assuring that the state would rise again and that no amount of repression would thwart the efforts of the government to build a strong and safe Anambra State.

Also within the week, the Human Rights Defender Nigeria, a civil society organization, disagreed with the governor’s decision to devote four days for the cleaning up of Onitsha and its environs.

During the governor’s recent visit to the commercial city, he noticed that most drainages were blocked, which explains the constant flooding of the city whenever it rained. The governor’s belief was that a reasonable level of sanitary environment would prevail if the residents of the city devote adequate time to clean up all the drainages in the city.

But the group urged the governor not to lock up Onitsha for four days because of the likely economic consequences.

The Executive Director of the group, Mr, Dede Uzor said while the move by the governor was quite commendable given the enormous refuse littering the streets and the roads, the idea of locking down the four local government areas for four days was not good enough.

It would be seen from now till 4th of April if the residents of the four local government areas would heed the governor’s directive.

Also, despite the warning by the governor that touts should cease to operate in the state, some diehard are still threatening keke operators and commercial drivers and forcing them to pay them cash every day.

Places they are operating include the Unizik Junction, Aroma Junction, Eke Awka Market area all in Awka, as well as Upper Iweka, Borromew Roundabout, Obosi bypass, Uga street, Head Bridge and Main Market area all in Onitsha.

Information from Ekwulobia, Nnewi and Ihiala also confirm that the touts are still operating there with impunity.

Despite the ugly stories of the week, Governor Soludo gladdened the hearts of the people of Anambra State when he released the list of his Commissioners and Special Advisers in keeping with the promise he made during his inauguration that he would appoint his Commissioners without delay.

The 20 Commissioner nominees and 15 Special Advisers are already with the House of Assembly for confirmation.

Most of the names in the two lists are people known in their villages, which is why most people appear to be happy with the appointments.

One unique feature of the nominees was that their qualifications, date of birth, their communities and the Ministries where they would serve were contained in the list submitted to the state legislature.

Similarly, 20 local governments out of the 21 in the state are represented in the list and the only exception, Onitsha South local government, is apparently because the area does not have indigenous. people.

Bombard forest to kill terrorists, el-Rufai insists

Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State insisted yesterday that the military should bombard the forests to kill terrorists who take cover there.

According to him, no good man lives in the forest.

The governor, who reiterated the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Giwa, Kaduna State, where terrorists had been invading communities in the last few days, with many killed or kidnapped, said: “We have been pressing for the past two years for the military from the air and the ground to bomb these forests, while soldiers on the ground kill all those that escape the bomb.

“I do not believe that there is an innocent person in the forest. It is my intention to see Mr President reiterate this and also ask that a military theatre command headquarters be established for the Northwest geo-political zone,” he said.

El-Rufai said the magnitude of the present security challenges in the Northwest was much more than what was witnessed in the Northeast.

He said farming had become impossible, while lives were being lost to incessant attacks by terrorists.

“It is time for the Nigeria Air Force and Nigerian Army to bomb the terrorists out of existence.

With the declaration by the Federal High Court that these bandits are terrorists, there is a need for security agencies to take extreme actions to terminate these bandits,” El-Rufa’i stressed.

He commiserated with the people of Giwa Local Government Area of the state over the five days of persistent attacks by terrorists, assuring that the state government had taken measures to reclaim all ungoverned spaces.

The governor cautioned vigilance groups across the state against taking laws into their hands, saying their actions had exacerbated the security challenges in some areas.

El-Rufa’i also apologised for the inability of the government to fully protect everyone but said it was important for vigilance group members to support the government and be law-abiding.

‘’We do not have enough soldiers to post in every village, but we have asked for more deployment of security personnel and recruitment of more in all affected local government areas,” he said.

In his contribution, the District Head of Fatika, Malam Nuhu Umar, advised the government to use technology to track the terrorists and eliminate them.

He urged the government to provide material and financial assistance to communities in the areas where terrorists had made farming impossible.

The representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Yushau Abdulkarim, expressed support for the government in whatever action it planned to take to tackle security challenges.

He said the majority of herders were also victims of attacks by the terrorists, who rustled their herds.

…Terrorists from Niger State advance on Gurara, near Abuja


…Army dismisses viral video claiming troops abandoned their colleague in Gurara operation

…Kaduna govt says Abuja-Kaduna highway not barricaded by bandits

…123 passengers in train attack reunite with families; 18 families yet to see loved ones – NRC

…We’ve received 108 calls from people seeking the whereabouts of family members – Kaduna SEMA

…Security agencies have failed Nigerians-Reps

…Bombard forest to kill terrorists, el-Rufai insists


By Kingsley Omonobi, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Dirisu Yakubu & Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Barely a week after terrorists attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train, which left at least eight passengers dead, 41 injured and scores kidnapped, troops of Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army yesterday repelled an attack by scores of armed terrorists, who invaded an Abuja community, Gurara, bordering Niger State and the FCT.

The invasion came as the Nigerian Army also yesterday described as diversionary a viral video, which claimed that troops abandoned their colleague during an operation against terrorists, explaining that the soldier who shot the video to escape getting involved in the fight against the terrorists out of cowardice, had since returned to his unit.

This is even as Kaduna State Government dismissed claims that bandits barricaded Abuja-Kaduna highway yesterday, with a view to attacking travellers.

These came on a day the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, told Vanguard that so far, 123 passengers, who managed to escape the train attack, have returned to their various homes after receiving medical attention, adding, however, that 18 families were yet to see their loved ones.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives said yesterday that security agencies in the country have failed Nigerians, considering the heightened level of insecurity in the country.

On the attempted invasion of the FCT, investigations by Vanguard showed that the terrorists were on their way from Niger State when they ran into an ambush by troops deployed from Zuma Barracks base located at Suleija.

It was learned that during a massive gunfight, several of the bandits met their Waterloo, while the Army also recorded some casualties.

A top military source, who confirmed the encounter at Gurara on grounds of anonymity, said troops overpowered the terrorists, adding that an investigation was ongoing to ascertain the number of terrorists killed.

The source noted that the ambush tactics of the Army really dealt a great blow to the terrorists, many of whom ran back into the bush in disarray.

According to the source, troops are currently tracing the route of the terrorists to ascertain where they came from and recover weapons abandoned after the encounter.

Army dismisses viral video claiming troops abandoned their colleague

The Army also yesterday dismissed a viral video making the rounds on social media, which gave the impression that troops abandoned their colleague during Wednesday’s Gurara offensive against terrorists, stressing that the soldier in question was not abandoned to be taken by the terrorists but had since returned to his unit.

A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said: “Contrary to the claims and impression created by the soldier in the video footage, preliminary investigations have revealed that the video footage was a deliberate attempt to shield himself from being accused of cowardice, having abandoned his colleagues during an ongoing clearance operation in Gurara, Niger State.

“It could be recalled that troops of the NA, recently carried out a clearance operation in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

“Disappointingly, during an encounter, the said soldier abandoned his colleagues and absconded in an outright display of cowardice and possible sabotage, which negate the precepts of the military profession.

“Sensing the gravity of his action and its consequences, the soldier surreptitiously uploaded the video online in a calculated attempt to whip up public sentiment and cover up his act of cowardice.

“The soldier’s action amounts to a betrayal of the esprit de corps and that is synonymous with a military unit and fighting formation, particularly during operations.

“The soldier’s conduct is, therefore, an aberration and against the ethics and core values of the military profession. The video footage is thus, in all intent, and purpose a misrepresentation of what actually transpired between the soldier and his colleagues.

“The soldier has rejoined his unit and further investigations are currently ongoing to unravel the reasons behind his unprofessional conduct.”

No bandits’ barricade on Kaduna-Abuja road – KDSG

Also yesterday, Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State dismissed the rumour making the rounds that bandits barricaded the Kaduna- Abuja expressway.

In his clarification of what actually transpired, Aruwan said: “A few hours ago (yesterday) some panic was spread on social media over bandits barricading the Kaduna-Abuja Road and kidnapping citizens plying the route.

“The buzz in circulation is false and was presented by a group of social media enthusiasts who celebrate negative news.

“The preliminary operational feedback showed bandits fleeing military onslaught, attempted to pass through a narrow corridor around Kasarami general area of Kaduna-Abuja road.

“The troops, on receiving this intelligence, hurriedly moved to the location and engaged them in the adjoining forest.

“Kaduna State Government will update members of the general public when more detailed feedback is received.”

“Kaduna State Government does not deny the existence of security challenges, and continues to work assiduously with relevant military and security agencies.’’

123 train passengers back home, 17 families yet to see loved ones

As Nigerians continue to condemn Monday’s bombing of the AK-9 train along the Abuja-Kaduna rail route, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, said yesterday efforts are being made to reach out to families who lost loved ones or have their wards wounded or still missing.

Managing Director of the corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, told Vanguard exclusively that so far, a total of 123 passengers who boarded the ill-fated train have returned to their various homes after receiving medical attention.

Okhiria also said the corporation would continue to reach out to affected families, given the shock the tragedy brought on them in particular and Nigerians in general.

“What happened is regrettable. So, far, a total of 123 persons who were on the train have reunited with their families. They are in good and stable condition.

“In the course of reaching out to those affected, 17 families told us that they have not seen their loved ones. You know we did say that 26 persons are being treated in the hospitals. Wherever they are, efforts are being made to get them out,” he said

The NRC boss again reiterated his earlier position that of the 398 passengers who bought tickets, 362 eventually boarded the train which took off from Idu, Abuja, but was attacked before it could get to its final destination at Rigasa in Kaduna.

970 passengers’ claim false- NRC

The NRC boss, who insisted that the corporation will not release the passenger manifest until families of those who died in the attack were condoled with, dismissed claims that there were 970 passengers aboard the train at the time of the attack.

According to him, the train couldn’t have been carrying 970 passengers when it has a capacity of 840.

He said: “The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, deeply commiserates with all the passengers on board the NRC AK9 train of March 28, 2022, their relatives and friends, the government and people of Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory as well as the entire nation.

‘’In particular, we regret the death of eight of our passengers and security personnel attached to the train service as well as the injury suffered by scores of our passengers, not to mention the trauma caused them and crew by the armed attack.

“We also earnestly pray for the speedy recovery of the injured passengers, while praying God grants the families of the bereaved fortitude to bear the loss.

“Our attention has, however, been drawn to the misleading and insensitive information circulating on social media with respect to the number of passengers on the train.

“The Abuja-Kaduna service is run on a fully automated e-ticket system with entry and exit turnstiles that validate every passenger onboard our trains. Ticket checkers also validate the tickets of every passenger via electronic validators linked to the central system to verify the integrity of our manifest.

“398 passengers purchased tickets to travel on the NRC AK-9 service, and 362 passengers actually boarded the AK9 service.

“The entire seat capacity of the train in question is 840; therefore, the figure of 970 being circulated can not be correct.

The AK9 service is the last service out of Abuja on a Monday evening and is usually at less than half capacity.

“Passengers on board the AK9 service on Monday have confirmed that the train was certainly not run at full capacity.’’

Not unaware of the worry caused by the non-release of the manifest, the NRC boss said the corporation “is continuing its efforts to reach out to passengers using the comprehensive manifest in order to obtain valid information about their present condition.”

We’ve received 108 calls from people seeking the whereabouts of their family members – Kaduna SEMA

Also speaking yesterday on the train attack, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, said efforts were being made to determine those missing as a result of the attack.

Executive Secretary of the agency, Muhammed Mukaddas, also said there were concerted efforts to identify those missing.

“As I did mention earlier on, we have received up to 108 calls from people calling to know the whereabouts of their family members.

“We have been able to cross-match only nine of the names provided by the callers with what is validated on the manifest. So, we are still in the process of trying to determine who is missing from the data that we have. “

Mukaddas also rued the impact of fake news, insisting “the official data we have received from the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, that has been validated is 390 and 360”.

Security agencies have failed Nigerians — Reps

Meanwhile, in a unanimous resolution yesterday, the House of Representatives at the plenary declared that security agencies have failed Nigerians.

The House said it is outraged by the endless killings and kidnapping incidences that had characterised the country, declaring that nowhere was safe for anybody in Nigeria.

The resolution of the House came on the heels of a motion under a matter of urgent public importance presented by Balarabe Shehu representing Giwa/Birinin Gwari federal constituency of Kaduna State (APC).

It would be recalled that the deputy speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase had on Wednesday, lambasted the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies for ignoring invitations sent to them to meet with the leadership of the House on the recent Kaduna airport and train attacks.

In the motion, Shehu gave chilling and graphic accounts of insurgency attacks in communities within his constituency, saying over 150 people had been murdered in cold blood by bandits who operated freely without any resistance.

He said: “The entire communities in Giwa Local Government Area and the entire communities of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been ravaged by the series of recent attacks by armed bandits who indulge in killings, kidnapping, raping, robbery and destruction of properties

“Between March 24th -28, 2022, these armed bandits unleashed terror on those communities. Over 117 people have been killed and some corpses are yet to be recovered, more than 136 people were abducted and over 10,463 people have been displaced from their homes.

“Over 250 houses were burnt, countless number of cows, goats and other livestock were stolen. Several properties worth millions of naira were destroyed, including vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, grinding machines and many other household belongings”.

The motion sent shivers down the spines of lawmakers who took turns to decry the unfortunate situation in the country.

In his remarks, House leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano State), noted institutional failures across the security architecture, saying that Nigerians should be allowed to bear guns to protect themselves.

He said: “Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in the capacity of the Majority Leader who, of course, is the ambassador of government on this floor. You can see how this chamber is thrown into disquiet, how this movement has made every one of us emotional.

“When you have a government in place, the major responsibility of that government, especially a democratic one elected by the people, is to ensure the safety of lives and property of the innocent citizens.

“Mr Speaker, when things like this continue on a daily basis, those of us who are representatives of the government will become speechless. We have become speechless here to defend the actions of the government.

“This is an elected government under a popular democracy but we continue hearing day in, day out, killings, massacres, armed robberies all over; left, right and centre.

“This is a report from just one local government, out of 774. The case of Giwa Local Government is not just a new case, he is only giving us the most recent. Giwa has been engulfed by bandits, killings in the last two, three years.

“Giwa is a state in Kaduna where you have the representation of the Nigerian military and other security agencies, why should this thing continue to happen? I think government and officials of the government have to be alive to their responsibility.

“I believe our relevant committees are following up in terms of implementation of funding through our budget, their oversight processes. Why should things continue this way? We are here for the Nigerian people and we must speak for Nigerian people. We cannot sit here and fold our arms when people who elected us are being killed by the day.

“With all sense of responsibility, I think Nigerians should this moment be allowed to also take arms. Nigerians must be allowed to take up arms in defence of their innocent souls, defend their hard-earned properties because it is like a monumental failure, if the agencies of security have failed, then Nigerians should be allowed to bear arms.

‘Anti-terror war being unduly prolonged’

Also contributing to the motion, Ahmadu Usman Jaha, representing the Chibok federal constituency of Borno State on the platform of APC, accused the security agencies of deliberately prolonging the war.

According to him, security agents are profiting from the war.

“In 2021, we budgeted N460 billion for the Nigerian Army alone. Only N29 billion was for capital expenditure, the remaining was for recurrent expenditure. In 2022, we budgeted N571 billion for the Nigerian Army alone, only N37 billion is capital expenditure, the remaining was a recurrent expenditure.

“Mr Speaker, the truth of the matter is security in Nigeria has become a cash cow, a business. I am not willing to go without saying my own. It’s just like a medical doctor putting professionalism aside. You presented a patient, as a patient relative, you say okay, every month, I’ll give you N100 million until the patient recovers or otherwise.

‘’The doctor will make sure that the patient does not die and will continue to ensure he does not recover because he will keep collecting the money. It is a simple analysis every person can understand.

“Mr Speaker, it is a business. They (military) don’t want it to end.’’

Similarly, Nasiru Ali Ahmed, representing Nasarawa constituency, Kano State (APC), expressed surprise that “a ragtag army of bandits” could hold well-trained Nigerians armed forces to a battle these long years.

He called for the sack or resignation of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major-General Babagana Monguno.

“Mr Speaker, I start by sympathizing with all those who lost their lives, were kidnapped or were injured in this horrible and tragic incident that happened in Kaduna.

“Mr Speaker, I said it before in this chamber. Since 2015 when this government came to power, how many service chiefs have we had? How many IGPs have we had? Some have come and gone but only one person has not been changed up till today, and that is the National Security Adviser, NSA.

‘’What is the job of the National Security Adviser? Do we have a National Security Adviser? All the agencies that have been mentioned, from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, DSS, all of these agencies are accountable to National Security Adviser.

‘Security challenges now nationwide’

On his part, Haruna Mshelia from Borno State (APC), said the security challenges were not restricted to a certain region but had gone nationwide.

“Mr Speaker, you know, when something has happened for a long time, people tend to forget. I concurred with all the previous speakers, particularly our leader who spoke very well but I want to remind the House that in Borno State, it’s still simmering.

“In fact, there is a local government called Guzamalah, up till now, there is not a single soul living there and in my constituency which is the southern part, recently, three communities were attacked, one in Igbohi ward called Kilangala where they attacked and destroyed properties.

‘’Another one is in Gudi where my youth leader of APC was killed, and then in Geraha in Gida ward where they displaced people and destroyed their properties. These are problems all over Nigeria but let us not forget the initial epicentre of insurgency which is the North-East.

‘’So, I was thinking I was going to amend but is like we should make it all over the country because there is nowhere that is safe and something needs to be done drastically,” he said.

Ruling on the motion, the Deputy Speaker who presided over the plenary, called for a special prayer for the country and adjourned the House in honour of the victims of various attacks.

“I want to beg that this is a very serious issue and we appreciate every emotion expressed today. It is a collective expression of all the members. It is my utmost opinion that a lot needs to be done to ensure we eradicate these people (bandits/terrorists).

‘’I can give a little report about what is happening in my constituency. I can tell you there is no single day we don’t lose a life, and one will begin to wonder, even when there is an intelligence report, what happens? Collaboration is very low.

“In the honour of those lives lost in various incidences, we need to offer a special prayer today (yesterday) and then we adjourn the House to Tuesday”, he said.

Wase had earlier called on the relevant security committees of the House, especially the National Security and Intelligence Committee, to submit the report of all investigations, including the missing arms probe.

Governor Nyesom Wike of River State will on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 address the joint session of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly Cactus to solicit support for his presidential ambition in 2023.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon Ahmed Idris, discloses this while reading the communication during plenary.

According to him, the interactive meeting between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the joint Senate and House of Representatives Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today, Tuesday, 29th March 2022 at Lagos Room, Transcorp Hilton by 7:00 pm.

Civil servants in Anambra Monday defied State Government’s directive to come to work every Monday against the Independent People of Biafra’s (IPOB) sit-at-home order.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the situation in Awka, reports that most government offices visited were under lock and key.

NAN reports that the state government had, on March 25, sent out a circular directing workers to report to their duty posts on Mondays.

The statement was signed by the Head of Service, Mrs Theodora Igwegbe.

It read in part: “Following the need to reposition the service for better performance and productivity, His Excellency, Prof. Charles Soludo has directed that all public servants should henceforth report to their places of work on Mondays as they do other workdays.

“Consequently, absence from duty on Mondays or any other official workday without approval will be viewed as serious misconduct which will attract appropriate sanctions.

NAN reports that only a few junior workers were seen loitering around the state secretariat complex.

Even the Office of the Head of Service, together with the ministries in the block, was also under lock and key.

Most staff buses, which convey workers to and fro their offices were also seen parked in the secretariat.

Some of the buses included Route 1 for Awka- Ogidi-Onitsha, Route 2 for Awkuzu-Otuocha and Route 4 for Awka-Agulu-Ekwulobia.

Some workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that people might want to comply with the directive but had no means to get to their offices.

“We are here because we live in Awka and we can easily find the means to be in the office than those living outside Awka.

“It is not everyone living in Awka that can make it because in most areas there is no vehicular or human movement at all.

It was, however, observed that the Office of the Accountant-General of the state was open and the Accountant-General, Mr Chudi Okoli, and staff members were on duty at the time of the visit.

NAN also reports that some of the schools visited in Awka and its environs were not open.

Markets and motor parks near the capital city were also closed.

Some stores and food vendors were seen trekking to Aroma, a popular junction in Awka.

A petty trader, Mrs Grace Anaelu, advised the government to revisit the issue to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

“We do not have security following us around, so the issue does not require hasty decision.

“People’s safety needs to be considered before the marching order.

“I asked my only daughter to stay at home, if the governor sack her for not coming to work on Monday, let her come home and manage with me.

“Her life is more important to me than the salary,” she said.

March 27, 2022

By Dennis Agbo

A socio-political group, the Igbo Leadership Development Foundation, ILDF, has pleaded with the 37 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP zoning committee to find the courage and recommend that its presidential ticket be conceded to the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

The group said that zoning the presidential ticket to the southeast will not only rest the ghost of Biafra but will also bring about justice, equity, justice and fairness among the peoples of Nigeria.

ILDF however noted that it does not need to warn that there will be a consequence of the likelihood of a mass movement out of the PDP if the ticket is not ceded to the southeast. “This is not a threat but a natural response from an injured zone that has shown the greatest commitment and fidelity to the PDP as a political party since its inception.”

In a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Center in Enugu, on Sunday, the ILDF led by Dr. Godwin Udibe as Chairman, Onyebuchi Obeta as Secretary and Dr. Law Mefor as Director of Publicity, pleaded with the PDP zoning committee to note that the South East was the only geopolitical zone in Southern Nigeria that has not produced a President for the country in the present democratic dispensation, albeit, since the end of the civil war in 1970.

The group also reminded the party that it was aware that, due to the structural imbalances and inequity inherent in the Nigerian polity, rotation and zoning principle was written into the PDP’s constitution in 2009 as contained in article 7(2c) of the PDP constitution.

It also noted that the PDP had allowed power to rotate between geopolitical zones in north and south and made it both a manifesto and a constitutional matter, implying that going by the party constitution, the subsisting principle of rotation leaves PDP with no choice than to zone the presidency in 2023 to the appropriate geopolitical zone, unless it amends its constitution.

The group said: “It is also important to note that the PDP manifesto, as archived by INEC on their website in 2019, stipulates the rotation of power as a principle that must be followed by the party and therefore the principle is actionable, justiciable and enforceable since it derives from the party constitution.

“Again, the structural imbalances in Nigeria have made federal character and rotation of presidential power inevitable. Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that ‘The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.’

“Kindly note that, owing to the indivisibility of the office of the President of Nigeria, the only way the federal character principle will apply to the office of the President as a political office referred to in the Constitution is by rotating it. And this has been the practice since 1999 but now that it is the turn of the South-East to benefit from it, some PDP leaders want to change it. That is tantamount to changing the goalpost in the middle of the game.

“Is history not about repeating itself? Those who fail to learn from history are said to be condemned to repeat class. There will be consequences. Southeast would very likely vote against the PDP in protest if denied the presidential ticket of the party. This is not an idle threat. Southeast is a PDP zone and should be treated respectfully.

“ILDF believes that zoning power to the Southeast is a matter of justice and equity, and not a matter of mere political gamesmanship. History tells us that the PDP should zone its presidential ticket to the Southeast, not to the South in general because in 1999, presidential power was zoned to a geopolitical zone in recognition of the justice of remedying the annulment of the presidential election in 1993.

“To zone to the South as a whole without micro-zoning to the Southeast is a plot to deny the people of Southeast justice and fairness, it is to betray the principle of zoning as applied to the Southwest in 1999.

“ILDF wishes to conclude by assuring the PDP of block votes and crowdfunding in support of any Southeast man or woman they chose who has integrity, competence, national acceptability. Such a Southeast candidate will surely bring Nigeria out of the woods by putting to rest the ghost of Biafra and taking the country to the next level. Nigerians will once more experience peace, growth and development.”

CHUKWUDI AKASIKE, EDWARD NNACHI and IKENNA OBIANERI

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on presidential aspirants from the South-East to be more assertive and work harder in order to brighten the chances of the region to produce the next president of the country in 2023.

The spokesman for the group, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who made this call while speaking with Sunday PUNCH expressed the need for each aspirant to reach out to Nigerians and inform them about their plans for the country.

Former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa, ex-governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, are among presidential aspirant from the region.

Ogbonnia explained that although each aspirant had his strategy, Ohanaeze Ndigbo would not shift ground on the need for a person from Igbo extraction to become the president in 2023.

He said, “Each aspirant must be talking so that their chances will be brighter. The aspirants from the South-East are not assertive enough. They should work harder.

“In the Peoples Democratic Party, we have two persons, Anyim Pius Anyim and Sam Ohuabunwa from the South-East. It appears they are not as aggressive enough, But that is entirely a different ball game.

“We know that each aspirant has his own strategy, but as far as Ohanaeze is concerned, we are very constant like the northern star. Our position is very clear on Igbo presidency.”

He, however, called on the two major political parties in the country, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, to zone the presidency to the South-East for the unity and progress of the country.

“We made it clear that we are not going to consider vice presidency. It is either presidency or not. Any patriotic Nigerian should reason beyond now.


Plot to deny Igbos Presidency will not work – Ohuabunwa

Meanwhile, one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sam Ohuabunwa, has said any plot to deny the South-East the presidency in 2023 will not be successful.

He said, “The plot will not work. God Himself will not sanction injustice. I am still hopeful that wise counsel will still prevail as most God-fearing Nigerians are in support of justice. They support a shift to the East and by God’s grace, it will happen.”

Ohuabunwa, who is the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the founder of Neimeth Pharmaceutical, stated this in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.

He said he had worked harder than any other aspirant to succeed the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

He explained that the insinuation that Igbo presidential aspirants were not assertive and losing steam in their campaign was unfounded, adding that he would become the nation’s president, come 2023.

He said, “It’s not true, that Igbo presidential aspirants have lost steam and are not consulting and campaigning again. Yesterday, I was in the South-East. On Thursday, I was in Delta and I met with the PDP caucus there. On Monday, I will be going to Oyo and from Oyo, to Kwara. We are moving.

“It’s just that we don’t have the resources the way Tinubu has; he has so much money and if he coughs, everybody hears about it. But we are doing much more than he does. Our move is towards the delegates, because we are not in the general elections yet. It’s the PDP delegates we are focusing on now; we are not entertaining the general public.

“Therefore, we are strategic in our moves. It’s not true that Igbo presidential aspirants are not doing anything about their ambition. If anybody is not moving, I am moving and strategising. I must tell you that in the last two or three weeks, I have done so much to ensure I clinch the PDP presidential ticket.”

He added, “Tinubu is known to have so much money that he must spend. Atiku is known to have so much money he must spend. We are not known to have so much money to spend, but we are doing more strategic job behind the scene and we are appealing to the people to come on board with us.

“I have visited Obasanjo. I have been to IBB. I have been to so many others. So, I’m working hard. I have evidence. No single presidential aspirant, in the APC or PDP is doing the strategic job I’m doing to win.”

Nigerians should support Igbo presidency in 2023 – Accord Party

In a related development, the Accord Party presidential aspirant, Dr. Solomon Wining, has said that Nigerians should support the Igbo presidency as it is the key to the unity of the country.

Addressing journalists in Awka on Saturday, Wining described Ndigbo as faithful to the ideals of national unity and integration of the country.

He said the South-East people were true democrats, as they remained the only tribe found in every part of the country and living peacefully with the people and developing their host communities.

He argued that the only way to end the agitations from all quarters was to give every ethnic group in the country a sense of belonging.

Tracing the leadership of Nigeria, Wining said, since the return of democratic rule in 1999 till date, the Igbo were yet to taste the seat of the president.

Wining added that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was “brought on board as compensation for the injustice done to the late Chief MKO Abiola, whose June 12, 1993 mandate was annulled.”

On his presidential ambition, he said, “This nation needs a man with fear of God, love for mankind, and above all, a person with the will and capacity to fix Nigeria, I’m the right man now to move Nigeria in the desired direction.”

ELECTRICITY CRISIS: Three reasons Nigeria is in darkness — Barth Nnaji, former Power Minister

Nigerians have been experiencing poor electricity supply and development challenges because the country still needs to fix three major things in that critical sector, a former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, told Prime Business Africa in Enugu.

Nnaji, now the Chief Executive Officer of Geometric Power, said the three planks of the multi-faceted problem are: Lack of gas supply for existing plants, dilapidated or inadequate transmission and distribution infrastructure as well as ‘man-made’ disruptions along the power supply value chain.

Nnaji, who spoke to Prime Business Africa in his Enugu residence, said: “The problem of power supply in Nigeria is multi-faceted. In the power sector, we have generation, transmission and distribution. There are various issues along the value chain of power supply. The fuel (gas) supply is not adequate yet.

“There are issues of vandalism of gas pipelines which has grave effects on power generation.”
Nigeria has plans to generate 30,000 megawatts by 2030 with 3,000 megawatts coming from renewable energy sources and 27,000 megawatts from power plants.

Actualizing this goal, however, remains a big challenge, as, according to Nnaji, the country has an installed power supply capacity close to 13, 000 megawatts, but only able to output 5, 000 megawatts due to various constraints.

“Nigeria has an installed power supply capacity close to 13, 000 megawatts on grid but 7, 000 megawatts available for supply, available because the generating system is available for supply.

“However, our capacity to actually boost the power on grid is about 5, 000 megawatts. “This means that two types of constraints make it impossible for us to put 7, 000 megawatts on grid, one of which is the gas supply, but mainly the transmission infrastructure.

“The transmission infrastructure makes it difficult for power to be supplied. And that’s a serious problem.

“Coming to distribution aspect, the infrastructure is dilapidated.

“There is also human factor problem on distribution such as connection inefficiencies, leakages, people stealing power, and all kinds of things done by people that make it difficult for efficient distribution, and also, the distribution companies themselves who are not investing in infrastructure which brings about inability to supply power.”

Nnaji compared Nigeria with Brazil in terms of population and said that if the country aspires to become a mid-level economy, it needs to produce up to 100, 000 megawatts or more, which Brazil produces.

“I like to think of we paring ourselves against Brazil. It is a comparable country in terms of population. We aspire to be a mid-level economy.

“If we are going to be a mid-level economy, then we should clearly be talking about having the sort of power supply that Brazil has, which is over 100, 000 megawatts. If we are going to have 100, 000 megawatts of power supply, then we need to have transmission lines to match that capacity, but we don’t have it”.

Some residents of Enugu metropolis have decried the abrupt increase in the price of sachet water also known as “pure water’’ in the state.

Some of the residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said on Friday in Enugu, that the 40 per cent increment was on high and unreasonable.

Mrs Chioma Chukwu, a resident of Achara Layout said that a bag of sachet water had risen from N160 to N200.

Chukwu said she was amazed at sudden increase of the product as she did not know why the sudden increase, lamenting that sachet water is the only thing she could afford.

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the producers of sachet water in the metropolis increased the price due to increase in prices of petroleum products in the country.

She explained that a sachet water that used to be N10 now goes for between N15 and N20.

“If we buy a sachet water for N20, it means that many people will have to go back to old ways of using nylon to tie water to sell, especially in the rural areas,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Timothy Igwe, said that the best way to avoid spending money on sachet water should be by filling empty water cans with drinking water and taking them along while going out for a long period.

An undergraduate, Mr Okwy Ozor, called on Enugu State Government to urgently resolve the problem of water scarcity and provide the residents with clean running water.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)) reports that the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Enugu State Chapter, recently confirmed the increase in the price of a bag of sachet water from N160 to N200.

The association said the increase was necessary due to rising production costs which had negatively impacted on the operations of its members.

Pastor Blessed Okonkwo, ATWAP State Chairman, announced the price increase in a statement issued after a meeting of the association held in Enugu on March 15.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Wednesday declared that subsidy on power amounting to about N600bn during some period had now been stopped by the Federal Government.

It also revealed that electricity tariffs were raised in February this year, and was quick to, however, state that the tariff payable by some customers in the franchise area of one of the distribution companies was reduced.

This came as power generation companies condemned the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading company, stating that the NBET was failing in its obligations in terms of payment for power generated by the Gencos.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on the challenges in the power sector and other issues, the Chairman, NERC, Sanusi Garba, stated that subsidy on electricity was a policy issue of the Federal Government that had to be halted.

He said, “The role of the commission is to make a determination of the rates that consumers should pay. So we strike a balance between consumers and investors.

“Now subsidy is a policy issue determined by the government. The government will decide that the rates calculated or agreed by the regulator may at this time not be passed on to consumers. It has happened many times.

“In the past four, five years the level of subsidy has gradually been reduced, because you cannot run the electricity market on life support and say that investors cannot get their return on investment until government steps in to provide the required funding.”

Garba added, “So that policy decision (stopping electricity subsidy) is as announced by the Minister of Finance. The subsidies have been, at one time as high as N600bn a year, and gradually coming down to about N30bn or so this year.”

On concerns about the rise in electricity tariffs, the NERC boss stated that the adjustment was made in February this year following some economic fundamentals considered by the commission.

“What happened on February 1, 2022, is a minor review of tariff. It is very clear on our website that every six months we will adjust rates to take care of the foreign exchange component of cost and also inflation,” he stated.

Garba described the tariff adjustment as absolutely straightforward, stressing that the distribution companies were meant to inform their customers of the changes.

On the recent blackouts and repeated collapse of the national electricity grid, the NERC chairman said the rupturing of gas pipelines by vandals and routine maintenance works on some power plants contributed to the instability of the country’s power system.

This was further buttressed by the Federal Ministry of Power in a statement issued in Abuja the media aide to the power minister, Sanusi Isa, where it stated that the national grid suffered double system collapse within two days due to so many factors

“The current energy crisis confronting some key sectors of the economy also contributed to the problems we are facing now in the power sector,” the statement read in part.

It added, “We are where we are today also because of the increasing vandalism of pipelines that also supply gas to the power plants.

“This too is being resolved in collaboration with the relevant agencies. The NNPC and other gas suppliers are working relentlessly to restore gas supply for optimum power supply.”

statement issued in Abuja the media aide to the power minister, Sanusi Isa, where it stated that the national grid suffered double system collapse within two days due to so many factors

“The current energy crisis confronting some key sectors of the economy also contributed to the problems we are facing now in the power sector,” the statement read in part.


It added, “We are where we are today also because of the increasing vandalism of pipelines that also supply gas to the power plants.

“This too is being resolved in collaboration with the relevant agencies. The NNPC and other gas suppliers are working relentlessly to restore gas supply for optimum power supply.”

The ministry said the Federal Government was doing everything possible through the relevant security agencies to stop the vandalism of pipelines.

“Routine maintenance of power generating plants had also contributed to the current power outages we are experiencing,” it stated.

The power ministry added, “These challenges do not in any way indicate that the ongoing rehabilitation of the national grid by the government is not yielding results.”

This came as the Gencos, through their umbrella body, Association of Power Generation Companies, declared on Wednesday that the NBET was failing in its obligations in terms of payments for power supplied to the grid by Gencos.

The NBET had in a statement on March 13, 2022, stated that it was making payments to Gencos as and when due and had never defaulted on any payment cycle to date.

The ministry said the Federal Government was doing everything possible through the relevant security agencies to stop the vandalism of pipelines.

“Routine maintenance of power generating plants had also contributed to the current power outages we are experiencing,” it stated.

The power ministry added, “These challenges do not in any way indicate that the ongoing rehabilitation of the national grid by the government is not yielding results.”

This came as the Gencos, through their umbrella body, Association of Power Generation Companies, declared on Wednesday that the NBET was failing in its obligations in terms of payments for power supplied to the grid by Gencos.

The NBET had in a statement on March 13, 2022, stated that it was making payments to Gencos as and when due and had never defaulted on any payment cycle to date.

Hussein Lawal, a native of Durun, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State, Wednesday began trekking from Abuja to Lagos to show support for the presidential bid of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Lawal, 30, addressed newsmen before he embarked on the journey from Abuja City Gate.

He was holding a small bag with Tinubu’s picture with the inscription: ‘For continuity. 2023 Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the sure answer and sure replacement for Baba.’

He said, “I want to sacrifice for the Nigerian youths by trekking from Abuja to Lagos to go and beg Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to contest and be Nigerian leader after President Buhari.

“If it’s money, he has made money. He needs to be the president to transform Nigeria. He needs that power to transform the Nigerian youths that have long been suffering under various leaderships.

“So, from the City Gate in Abuja, I’d be leaving for Lagos to terminate the journey at Tafawa Balewa Square.”

The Governor of Niger state, Abubakar Bello, is currently meeting with the members of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national secretariat of the party.

The meeting has in attendance nine out of the twelve members of the Caretaker Committee of the party.

The secretary of the party, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, is also at the meeting.

THISDAY had earlier reported that there was palpable tension at the headquarters of the APC as personnel of the Nigeria Police Force had taken over the Secretariat of the party.

The police numbering about 70 came with 10 vehicles and condoned off the secretariat of the party at Blantyre street to prevent any breakdown of law and order.


The police cordoned off the secretariat as early as 8am on Monday.

Recall that THISDAY had exclusively reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the removal of the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party and appointed his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello.

A faction of the APC governors was alleged to have complained bitterly to the president that Buni was not inclined to hold the convention as rescheduled, because there were no preparations on the ground to indicate so.

An Onitsha-based businessman, Chikamso Ugoh, has revealed how he and two other passengers were rescued from suspected kidnappers at the River Niger bridgehead in Anambra State.

Recall that a group of kidnappers had reportedly been intercepted along the bridgehead in Onitsha by some security agents.

Although the Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, said his office did not receive such a report, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who did not want to be mentioned, said, “Yes, the incident happened two days ago (Thursday). The vehicle had loaded at Upper Iweka but only three people were authentic passengers among the 14 passengers on board.

“So, as the kidnappers were trying to divert the vehicle to another direction, a naval officer, who was among the passengers in the vehicle, based on intelligence, signalled to his people on the bridge, who chased after the vehicle and intercepted them. The kidnappers were forced out and ordered to lie down by the roadside and thereafter were taken to the Army barracks, Onitsha.”[code]

But narrating his experience to Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, Ugoh said he was one of the three lucky passengers who escaped, adding that it was the “sheer bravery and intelligence” of the naval officer, who was also in the vehicle, that saved him and the other victims from being abducted.

He said, “At the point I boarded the vehicle at Upper Iweka heading to Asaba, only two seats were vacant. I sat on one of the seats and shortly after, another person came and occupied the remaining one. But shortly, after the vehicle took off and on getting to the River Niger bridgehead, some of the people in the vehicle told us to start making calls because we had been kidnapped, while the driver of the vehicle was making a detour to another direction different from where we were originally going.

“Luckily, one of us who boarded the vehicle was a naval officer, but he was not in uniform. I don’t know how he communicated with some of the military officers along the road, and they chased the vehicle and intercepted it. They ordered the kidnappers to lie face-up by the roadside.

“What still baffles me is that, among the kidnappers, were women and some aged men, people that you would, ordinarily, not suspect. In fact, it is unbelievable. People should be extremely careful about the bus they board these days. I am still in shock and also thanking God for saving us.”

Faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to Senator Ademola Adeleke have described an Osun State High Court injunction nullifying the delegate congress of the party as ineffective.

A State High Court, sitting in Ijebu-Jesa had on Thursday, nullified the ward congress held by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state ahead of it governorship primary election.

The court, presided over by Justice A. Aderigbigbe while ruling on an experte motion brought before it by some elected ward chairmen of the party, said the ward congress held by the Soji Adagunodo-led State working Committee on September 25, 2021, is the only valid congress, hence, the delegates elected from the congress are eligible to vote at the party’s primary on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Oluwabamiji, while speaking with newsmen on the matter, said the exercise is an abuse of court process, saying the court, contrary to it power, is meddling in party affairs.

“Such injunction does not hold water, as far as we are concerned. We have a Supreme Court declaration that court can not dabble into the affair of political party. We know that some elements in the party are trying to carry out hatchet job for APC.

“We have already move ahead of their antics. The national body of our party will react to that. We will handle it and react appropriately.

“We are going ahead with our primaries on Tuesday. I can only advise the national body of our party which conduct delegate congress, including the one in question to be firm with it decision. The party leadership in Osun does not manufacture delegates. The national body will come with the appropriate list”, said Oluwabamiji.

He added that the Appellate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State had already adjudicated over the matter, nullifying the congress held by the former party chairman.

He said the National leadership will react on the matter appropriately, but added that the party will go ahead with it primary election on Tuesday as scheduled.