Clear indications have emerged that while few members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) including a Northern governor are behind the push to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the party’s presidential primaries, President Muhammadu Buhari has taken measures to distance himself from the plot.

Impeccable Aso Villa sources disclosed on Sunday night that instructions have been given that there shall be no public release of photos of any meetings between the former president and the incumbent at this time as the president does not want such images to be used to confer any modicum of support to the plot to get Jonathan into the race.

There are also concerns in official Presidential Villa sources that the aides of the former president are involved in actively keeping the “plot alive in the media by releasing photos of his visits to the APC Chairman and Alhaji Mamman Daura, in order to insinuate that this two gentlemen are in support of the plot.”

While speculative news reports have claimed the APC has granted Jonathan waiver to join the presidential race even though he is not known to have properly fulfilled membership requirements, there has not been any formal confirmation that he submitted the presidential nomination forms or whether he would be included in the screening expected to happen this week, according to Villa sources.

Aso Villa sources added that the former president is not being precluded from visiting the Villa at this time in line with protocol expectations being a former president in good standing and due to his international assignments for which he has to regularly brief President Buhari.

Although the president has not indicated who he is backing for the APC presidential primaries, an informed presidency source explained that “former President Jonathan is certainly not in the picture at all and the mentioning of his name has been invoking feelings of absurdity and ridicule in the Villa.”

The source recalled that “when during a public interview earlier this year, a journalist asked the president to use one word to describe the PDP, he instantly said ‘failure’, how then would the same person who feels that way and feels that way strongly would then be contemplating supporting the same PDP candidate he roundly defeated?” It was also disclosed that neither the APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, nor Alhaji Mamman Daura are behind the plot to draft Jonathan as it is being suggested.

According to the sources, ‘It’s only the aides of the former president that are going to town to create such an impression.”

The source further added, “All of these plots would be over in a matter of days as the APC presidential primaries are now irretrievably set and the president’s choice would be known.”

The Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu, was on Sunday, kidnapped along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia.

He was kidnapped alongside Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark, the Methodist Bishop of Owerri and the Prelate’s Chaplain, by yet to identified gunmen.

Sources told journalists that the clergymen were kiddnapped in the afternoon while they were on their way from a programme in the council area.

The Police Public Relation Officer in Abia, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

“It’s quite unfortunate. Efforts are on top gear toward his rescue as well as other priests with him.

“We solicit credible information from the public toward their rescue, please,” he said.

Over 100 motorcyclists have attacked Same Global Estate in the Lokogoma area of Abuja to avenge the death of two colleagues.

The incident happened after a motorist reportedly hit the Okda riders on Sunday and ran into the estate for safety.

The PUNCH gathered that the Okada riders set fire to two buildings in the estate.

Residents of the estate told our correspondent that the motorcyclists attacked the estate in their bid to apprehend an unknown motorist.

They noted that the motorist was chased by a mammoth crowd of motorcyclists after he overran two motorcyclists.

The PUNCH gathered that security operatives had arrived at the estate to prevent further damage to properties.

The Estate Manager, Mr Adebisi Adelowo, who spoke to The PUNCH, said, “Over 100 Hausa bike riders attacked our estate some hours ago. They tried to burn down the estate by putting fire to two buildings.

“They pulled down our gate and started stoning people’s houses. We couldn’t stop them until the police and the army intervened.

“We later learnt that they attacked our estate because two of their colleagues were knocked to death by a motorist who ran to our estate for safety as he was been chased with big stones and other dangerous weapons.

“The motorist who is not even a resident of our estate ran into the estate because he noticed a police post in front of the estate.”

The Senator representing Edo North in the National Assembly, Francis Alimikhena has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter dated May 27and sent to the APC National Chairman, the Senator cited “injustice” as a reason for his withdrawal.

“I write to notify you that I have withdrawn from the Primary election as a result of injustice and also withdraw my membership from the party,” the Senator said.

Alimikhena is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff.

The APC is scheduled to hold Senate primaries on Saturday.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in the 2017 election in Anambra State, Honourable Oseloka Henry Obaze, has resigned his membership of the party.

Obaze informed the chairman of the party through a letter dated May 22, that he resigned “effective from May 22, 2022”.

Minime10:
U mean buhari's anointed presidential candidate is having alleged corruption baggage on his neck

In less than two hours after he emerged as the governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Abia, an Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia, has affirmed the suspension of Chief Ikechi Emenike’s membership from the APC, as handed down by his Ward.

The Court presided over by Hon. Justice A.O. Chijioke in the Judgment held that by the suspension of Emenike has denied him all membership privileges as provided by the APC Constitution.

“The purport of this judgment is that Chief Ikechi Emenike is not fit to participate and/or contest in the ongoing primaries of the APC in Abia state until the judgment is set aside and/or upturned on Appeal”, the court ruled.

The court restrained Emenike from parading himself as a legitimate member of the APC.

It also restrained the APC from recognising or dealing with Emenike as its member while his suspension subsists.

The suit marked HU/6/2022: Chinedum Nnoke& 2 Others. V. High Chief Ikechi Emenike & 3 Others, was filed by three members of the Abia State chapter of APC challenging the membership status being accorded to Chief Ikechi Emeinike, despite his subsisting suspension by the Nkwoegwu Ward of the APC, for anti–party activities.

The three claimants in the Suit were represented by Anaga Kalu Anaga Esq, while Chief Ikechi Emenike and the APC were represented by Vitalis C.Nwankwo Esq.

Reacting to the judgment, Anaga Kalu Esq. commended the Court for “a detailed exposition of the Law, as it concerns membership rights, disciplinary measures and effects thereof on political party membership, with particular reference to the APC and her constitution.”

Commenting on the judgement, an APC chieftain, Chief Ifegwu Uduma said the judgment could definitely have a great impact on the permutations and plans of the APC in Abia State, but regretted that most credible contestants under the APC have jumped ship into other Parties before the judgment.

He said that “It is clear from this judgment that Chief IkechiEmenike has been excluded from the APC’sprimaries in Abia, thereby throwing the race for the Abia State governorship ticket of the APC, open to the remaining contenders within the Party.”

When contacted, APC Chairman, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu said he was not aware of the said judgement as he was just returning from the party’s convention.

He said the party would respond to that later when they got the details.

The Lagos State Governorship Primary Election Committee of the All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, barred one of the aspirants from the venue of the primary at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in the Surulere area of the state, The PUNCH authoritatively reports.

Our correspondent learnt that the committee prevented one of the contenders of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Abdul-Ahmed Mustapha, from the venue.

Mustapha, a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Minerals Resources in Lagos, resigned 14 months ago and had picked up the N50m governorship form of the party.

It was gathered that the committee chaired by a former deputy governor of Borno State, Shettima Yuguda, claimed that Mustapha was not cleared by the screening committee of the party.

However, the aspirant told The PUNCH that he was in Abuja two weeks ago for the screening though the result was not announced.

He said the Secretary of the primary election committee, Bashir Mohammed, turned him back on Thursday, saying that he was not cleared and as such cannot be given accreditation access to the venue.

Mustapha said, “We were told that we were not cleared by the leadership of the party and as such, they only gave accreditation tags to those that were cleared.

“We went to Abuja for clearance two weeks ago. The results of the clearance were not communicated to us.

“We went to the APC state secretariat at Acme Road yesterday (Wednesday), we tried to get our accreditation tags but we were not given. We were there till 7am this morning before going to the venue of the primary.”

Efforts to reach Yuguda, Mohammed and another member of the committee, Tilewa Sijuade, proved abortive as of press time as calls to their lines rang out.

Also, APC chairman for Lagos, Cornelius Ojelabi, did not take his calls as of press time.

Sanwo-Olu, the anointed aspirant of APC leader, Bola Tinubu, is seeking re-election. He is in the race with Mustapha; and Wale Oluwo, a former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos who is also an ally of ex-governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Mustapha had, in an interview with The PUNCH, said Lagosians deserve better than they get under Sanwo-Olu.

“After the End SARS riot, that incident broke something in me; something that was very personal and there were two ways I could go: it is either I go to the present government and told there is nothing that can be done or I say, ‘Let’s do what can be salvaged’. How can this over 70 per cent population that is alienated, angry, disconnected and that doesn’t have any stake in the economy or the way the country is being governed, how can we do something to attract them.”

He had insisted on going to the polls and noted that he won’t agree with any consensus arrangement. “Let’s go to the field and test our popularity. Nobody should be compelled into a consensus arrangement,” he said.

On why he was challenging his former boss, he said, “Because we strongly believe we have a better model that will help further accelerate the development of the state. There is a Master Plan put in place by Asiwaju (Tinubu), built on by BRF (Babatunde Raji Fashola), and built on by (Akinwunmi) Ambode. If other states are going at 3%, Lagos should be going at 9% to account for the mirage challenges in healthcare, education, energy and other sectors.

“We believe passionately that we have a better model and it that belief that is propelling us. I have some experience working for the City of New York, and understanding how the city was put together. Such model is really transmittable and we can accelerate the development of Lagos State.”

Former Accountant-General of Rivers State, Siminalaye Fubara, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Fubara defeated nine other aspirants of the party to win the keenly contested election.

He polled 721 out of the 980 votes to win the election.

Former Commissioner of Finance, Isaac Kamalu, scored 89 votes to come second in the poll.

Fubara is said to be the preferred candidate of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

An industrialist and former Commissioner for Finance in Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah, has won the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Barr. Mbah, who is from Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, won the PDP governorship primary election, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Wednesday, with a wide margin of 790 votes out of the 807 votes cast by the delegates to defeat his closest opponent, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, who scored 9 votes.

Announcing the result of the PDP governorship primary election, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Ambuno Zik Sunday added that Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa scored 3 votes while Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Chukwunta Gilbert got one vote each.

Prior to the commencement of voting, eight governorship aspirants out of the 17 contestants stepped down for Barr. Mbah and asked delegates who wanted to vote for them to cast their votes for him.

In his acceptance speech, Barr. Mbah promised to build on the achievements of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration and serve the people of Enugu State with “humility and moderation, openness and inclusiveness, and simplicity and forthrightness”.

The Enugu PDP governorship candidate expressed profound gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for enhancing the democratic process of his emergence.

He assured the governor that “posterity indeed will reserve a noble seat for you (Ugwuanyi) when the history of this state is written”.

Thanking the delegates and other party members for their overwhelming support and solidarity, Barr. Mbah applauded the members of the PDP Governorship Electoral Panel from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as well as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emeka Joseph Ononamadu, for their immense contributions to the peaceful and transparent conduct of the exercise.

The Enugu PDP governorship candidate appreciated Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo for the fatherly role he played during his consultations, disclosing that “Jim as he is fondly called continues to remind us that this is a brotherly affair and this is what we are witnessing here today”.

Barr. Mbah equally thanked his co-aspirants especially “those eight aspirants who ceded their ambition for me” for their understanding, cooperation and sacrifices.

Commending the State Leadership of the PDP for steadily steering the affairs of the party seamlessly, the PDP governorship candidate went further to appreciate the security agencies and the Fourth Estate of the Realm for their contributions towards the success of the exercise.

Other members of the Enugu State Gubernatorial Primary Electoral Committee that conducted the governorship primary election at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu after the accreditation of delegates at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, were Duruiheoma Eze, SAN, Hajiya Fatima Usman, Mrs. Edith Ogbete, Prince Yandev Amabei, Hon. Sanusi Musa and Dr. Arthur Bruno Ekwelem who served as Secretary of the Panel.

Dignitaries that witnessed the event include the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu East Senatorial District and other members of the National Assembly from the State, the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, former Deputy Governors of the State, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi and Rev. Ralph Nwoye, Wife of Sen. Nwobodo, Mrs. Pat Nwobodo, members of the State House of Assembly, PDP candidate for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Chief Engr. Vita Abba and Council Chairmen, among other.

The Federal Government has announced that N999 million will be spent on daily feeding of 10 million students as part of the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).

This was disclosed by Aishatu Digil, the NHGSFP team lead, at a stakeholder meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

Digil stated that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, had obtained approval to spend N100 per pupil per day.

She said N100 will be used to feed 9,990,862 students for 20 days per month.

“Previously, we were feeding schoolchildren for N70 per child, per meal.” “This has been going on since 2016, but the president has approved a N100 upward review.

“We are deliberating on the disbursement modalities with all stakeholders, including the World Food Programme, National Bureau of Statistics, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), ministries of agriculture, education, and others.

“Every Wednesday, we plan to have ‘Egg Wednesday,’ in which each child in the program will give one egg… Cooks receive N10 stipends, while supervisors receive N5 and N6 for micronutrient fortification.” she explained.

Digil also stated that the program will address weak implementation practices.

Natasha Akpoti has won the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), primary election for Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Akpoti defeated Mamud Attah by 159 to 13 votes to pick the PDP ticket.

Natasha while speaking after she was declared the winner, extended the olive branch to her co-contestants, urging them to join hands to win the general election.

She also commended the peaceful conduct of the primary assuring people of her senatorial districts of effective representation if elected in 2023.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan visits President Muhammadu Buhari's nephew, Alhaji Mamman Daura, in Abuja.

Our attention has just been drawn to a statement widely credited to the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, but twisted and presented as a snide remark made to cast aspersion on the suitability of the Vice President and Presidential Aspirant in the forthcoming presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON.

This statement, credited to the Governor, is being circulated on social media to disparage his person. It reads thus, “When we were running around to ensure Buhari won the primaries in 2014, I sprained my ankle. My VP, Sir, you were not around. You were at the Holy Ghost night that day. You just moved from Holy Ghost Night to Aso Rock”.

Putting what transpired during the visit of the VP, within the context of the convivial atmosphere, exposes the mischief in the deliberate slant put to the statement published to satisfy partisan interest. The Governor of Ondo State is not only the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, his colleagues in the whole of Southern Region defer to him as their spokesperson, mainly because of his principled stance on important issues affecting the country.

Aketi’s position on succession pattern in the current politics is public knowledge. While he is not the one to hide behind a finger in taking a decision and making same known without equivocation, he will not be as brash as the statement purports. A situation which would have warranted the Governor to engage in a needless diatribe against a most respected professional colleague, friend and the number 2 citizen in the country would have been most unwarranted, uncharitable and disrespectful.

The VP addressed the delegates of the State in his characteristic erudition and candour. The message delivered was well received. The aspirant stated the purpose of his visit in a most brilliant and jocular manner, regaling the audience with his signature brilliance and elocution. It would have been most unfortunate for anyone, let alone the host, to use this occasion to utter a statement that did not reflect the mood of the moment.

The Governor acknowledged the contributions of Professor Yemi Osinbajo to the study and practice of Law and nation-building. He cited his case as typical of those who have benefited from uncommon divine munificence. He admonished politicians to always remember the role of the Almighty in the affairs of human beings. He expressed deep conviction on providence, that the Supreme Being gives power to anyone regardless of the scheming of people. He stated that if it was the will of Almighty that he would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, nobody would stop it from coming to pass.

The Governor did not deride or belittle the Vice President. That would have been a most unconscionable, brash and indecent way to play politics while welcoming any visitor to Ondo State, reputed for hospitality, how much more the sitting Vice President. Aketi is the quintessential gentleman of the Bar. He enjoys the confidence and respect of Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

DR DOYIN ODEBOWALE
SSA, SPECIAL DUTIES & STRATEGY TO THE
ONDO STATE GOVERNOR.

Strong indications have emerged that the Presidency, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the ruling All Progressives Congress have differed on the amendment made by the National Assembly to the Electoral Act, 2022 which gives recognition to statutory delegates in the primaries of political parties.

The PUNCH reliably learnt on Sunday that the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the AGF and the APC were not on the same page over the participation of statutory delegates in the forthcoming presidential primaries; a development that has delayed the assent of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The Senate and the House of Representatives had in penultimate week, passed an amendment to the Act to recognise statutory delegates at primaries, congresses and conventions of political parties.

The lawmakers amended Section 84( of the Electoral Act, 2022 to provide for automatic or statutory delegates ahead of the forthcoming party primaries.

The PUNCH had reported that the National Assembly, on May 13, transmitted the bill to the President for assent.

However, Buhari had yet to sign the amendment bill into law as of 7pm on Sunday; more than a week after the National Assembly passed and transmitted the legislation.

Sources told our correspondent that the leadership of the National Assembly, especially Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had briefed the President on the intendment of the proposal.

A source in the leadership of the House, who preferred to be anonymous, said, “I can speak unofficially for our side. The President has received the brief of the Speaker on the good intendment (of the proposal), and his Chief of Staff is in touch with us.”

“Internal (Presidential) Villa politics is the reason for the delay and miscommunication to the President. Malami, Chief of Staff, Vice-President and the party have different views.”

Another leader of the House informed our correspondent that he would contact President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on the possibility of the National Assembly leadership meeting with Buhari on the matter.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, noted that the 1999 Constitution and parties’ constitutions recognise a category of party members as statutory or automatic delegates.

Kalu said, “Through judicial interaction, we have found out that there is a missing link in Section 84(. If left to be as it is, it would disenfranchise people who are supposed to be automatic delegates. That was why in the wisdom of the House, we brought it up for a little restructuring towards the end of that particular Subsection 8.

“We decided to add ‘In addition to statutory delegates already prescribed in the constitution of the party.’ So, if the constitution of your party has prescribed (occupants of) certain offices who have served government or who are still serving government as automatic delegates, they are referred to as statutory delegates.

“Prior to this adjustment, these sets of people were not accommodated. So, Mr President who assented to the law, the Speaker, the Senate President and the spokesman for the House were excluded from participating in the nomination of candidates of the parties.”

PRESS STATEMENT

Gov Ganduje assures Lawan of "full cooperation" over presidential bid

***Says Kano is a swing state
***Lawan begs Kano to swing in his favour

The Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has assured the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan of "full cooperation" over his ambition to stand as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the 2023 Presidential election.

Governor Ganduje described Kano state as a swing state in party primaries and even in presidential elections and declared that Kano State would swing when it is ready to swing.

He spoke on Saturday night while Lawan was on a visit to see the party delegates in Kano ahead of the upcoming Presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress(APC) scheduled for end of this month.

Lawan and his campaign team were received at the Aminu Kano International Airport by Ganduje himself amidst a mammoth crowd of party supporters who thronged the airport and routes with funfair to welcome them to the ancient city.

In his welcome remarks, Governor Ganduje said the people of Kano were aware of Lawan's sterling qualities and his contributions to the stability of politics and governance in the country.

The Governor said, from Lawan's antecedents, if he won the Presidency of Nigeria, there would be peace and stability both in politics and in governance.

Ganduje told Lawan: "Your Excellency, I want to inform you that we are fully aware of your capacity. We are fully aware, the way you handle the National Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which you are the chairman.

"If we can recall with nostalgia what happened between 2015 and 2019, we are all living witnesses that we had a lot of instability, poor relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.

"Infact, we had a situation where, in one day, 15 Senators from APC defected to PDP from the Senate Chamber. Your Excellency, I'm saying all these things in order to show your political dexterity in managing the National Assembly, in managing the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.

"Today there is peace, cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature and we believe if you become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we can expect peace and stability between the Legislature and the Executive, with the Institutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the sub-national government in the states, with the Local Governments.

"So Your Excellency we assure you of our full cooperation. Kano state is a swing state in the Presidential primaries, even in the Presidential election and Kano state will swing when it is time to swing."

Ganduje dwelled in what made Kano so important in the political calculations of Nigeria.

He said: "Kano state has the largest number of delegates in the country. There is no gainsaying about that. This follows from the fact that we have the largest population in the country.

"So Your Excellency, this state is a very important state when issues of elections are concerned.

"We have 44 Local Governments, 484 wards. All our local government council chairmen are elected local government chairmen. Therefore, they are part of the statutory delegates in Kano state and in Nigeria.

"We have over 4,000 elected councillors in Kano state. And most of our 400 legislators especially House of Representatives, Senators, former Senators, principal officers of the state Assembly and National Assembly, Your Excellency, both of them, we are together and we are intact.

"So you can see the composition of our delegation, not only in terms of number but in terms of quality, in terms of capacity, in terms of capability and in terms of political dexterity."

Speaking at the forum which held at the Coronation Hall of the Kano state government House, Lawan said his mission was to interact with the party delegates on his presidential bid ahead of the primaries.

"I'm here to see and interact with all the 500 delegates from Kano state and I cannot agree more with my leader when he said this is the largest sub-national democracy in Nigeria. I imagine that it could also be the largest sub-national democracy in Africa.

"When His Excellency, our Governor was rounding up his speech, he said Kano is a swing state and it can determine not only the Primaries, with 500 delegates, but also the general elections. Your Excellency, it will swing to my side by the Grace of God.

"I want all the 500 delegates. Infact I need all the 500 delegates Your Excellency. If I can't have the 500, please let me have at least 400.

"My brothers and sisters, distinguished delegates, I promise you that, when eventually we discuss and find common ground with His Excellency and vote for me, you will for ever be pleased with the way and manner I will lead this country because it is not possible for anyone to lead the country like Nigeria without the presence and contributions of people like Governor Abdullahi Ganduje," Lawan said.

The Senate President thanked Governor Ganduje for the warmth reception and commended him for his achievements in Kano both in security, governance and party politics.

"I want to commend His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for the infrastructural miracle in Kano state. You have done so much Your Excellency. You have secured Kano state from banditry, from insurgency and so on. You are indeed a leader, a very successful one at that.

"No amount of propaganda will convince or confuse anyone that Kano is shaking at all. APC in Kano is steady, solid like a rock.

"Come 2023, by the Grace of God, we will have an APC governor and his deputy, all our three Senators will be APC, all the 24 members of the House of Representatives will be APC, all the 40 members of the state House of Assembly will be voted in by the Grace of God. They(opposition parties) will not have anything," Lawan said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh.

Etteh, who is presently being grilled by EFCC’s special duties unit was alleged to be involved in a solar power electrification scam in Akwa Ibom State.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the appointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Fada as the new Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps.

Fada, from Yobe State, will take over from Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim who spent two tenures.

A source made this known to our correspondent on Tuesday.

“The Federal Government has appointed a new Director-General for the NYSC; he’s Brigadier General Mohammed Fada from Yobe State. He was in NYSC on Tuesday and has been briefed by the outgoing DG, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim.

“After the farewell parade, Ibrahim will come and hand over and leave. It is good that when you’re leaving, it should be tears of joy and instead of people praying, ‘let this stupid go’ and tenure of three years will be like 20 years,” the source said.

Ibrahim, a native of Nasarawa LGA in Nasarawa State, is an Associate Professor of History and War Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He assumed office in May 2019 and prior to his appointment as the 18th DG of NYSC, he was the Registrar of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in History (1989), M.A. in History (1992), also in UNIJOS and PhD in History (2007) at the University of Abuja.

But in 2007, he finished his PGDE at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has asked Facebook and other social media platforms to stop allowing the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to use their platforms to incite violence and instigate ethnic hatred in Nigeria.

The Minister made the demand in Abuja on Tuesday at a meeting with a team from Facebook.

He said since IPOB had been proscribed and classified as a terrorist organization, Facebook has no justification for yielding its platform to the organization to further its campaign of hate and destabilization of the country.

“I have called this meeting to enable us to discuss the increasing use of Facebook by separatists and anarchists, especially those of them based outside the country, to instigate violence and ethnic hatred in Nigeria.

“For whatever reason, they seem to have now chosen Facebook as their platform of choice. And their tools include disinformation, incendiary statements and hate speech. They use Facebook broadcasts to reach their followers, who are in thousands. They tag those opposed to their violent ways as 'saboteurs' who must be attacked, maimed and killed.

They use both English and their local language as it suits them,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said the actions of the proscribed group have real-life implications, adding: ''By purveying hate and inciting violence, people are getting killed while private and public property are being attacked and destroyed. Security agencies and other symbols of government are their choice targets.''

The Minister said despite the numerous complaints to Facebook on the activities of IPOB, nothing has been done by the company to curtail the group's excesses on the social media platform.

“Our social media people have been monitoring these separatists, anarchists and purveyors of hate, and have been reporting their atrocious actions to Facebook, but all they get are default responses that their complaints have been received and are being looked into. /Most often than not, nothing is done about such complaints... The truth is that whatever Facebook is doing to check these people is mere tokenism and is totally ineffective,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the government would be monitoring Facebook and other platforms closely in the days ahead to ensure compliance with the demand, as it steps up the campaign for the responsible use of social media.

“We have always advocated a responsible use of social media, and consistently called on all stakeholders to join us in achieving this. Some have tagged our efforts as an attempt to stifle social media. They are wrong, because we have no intention of preventing Nigerians from using social media responsibly. All we have been advocating is a responsible use of social media,” he said.

Segun Adeyemi
Special Assistant to the President (Media)
Office of the Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
17 May 2022

EFCC Arrests Ahmed Idris, Accountant General of the Federation for N80billion Fraud

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 16, 2022 arrested serving Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80billion (Eighty Billion Naira) only.

The Commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.

The funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.

Mr. Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts.