₦airaland Forum

The Ekiti State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party National New Media Group (PDP-NNMG) has counseled Governor Kayode Fayemi, to face his government instead of “plotting against Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhol[/b]e”.

The group noted in a statement on Monday that in the last six months, it is either Fayemi is in Abuja, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano or outside the country.

[b]“His plot is to either replace Prof Osinbajo as Vice President or clinch the APC Presidential or Vice Presidential ticket in 2023”, it claimed.

Reacting to reports that Fayemi was mentioned as the arrowhead of the APC governors, plotting the removal of Oshiomhole, PDP-NNMG in the statement signed by Bola Agboola, stated that that time had come for Ekiti people to tell Fayemi that he was not made governor to be pursuing Osinbajo and Oshiomhole.

While noting that there was nothing wrong in anyone being ambitious, the PDP-NNMG said, “the ambition of a man must not be at the expense of the people he is supposed to govern”.

“Since Fayemi was imposed on the people of Ekiti State by the powers that be, nothing has been done in the State apart from the sack of over 3,000 workers and imposition of exorbitant taxes on the people.

“The other time that two students of the Federal University of Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) were shot dead by security men in the entourage of Governor Fayemi’s wife, it took the governor six clear days to speak on the gruesome murder and up till now, the killer policemen are yet to be brought to book.

“Also, when the Ureje Bridge in Ado Ekiti collapsed, cutting off thousands of Ekiti people from having access to the State capital, Governor Fayemi was never seen.

“Instead of being seen in Ekiti where he is the governor, Fayemi is busy plotting against his party chairman and at the same time, lobbying to be made Vice President in the event that Prof Osinbajo is removed”, the statement added.

By Akin Kuponiyi

A man, Malik Wakili has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for pulling an internet scam against Babatunde Raji Fashola, former Lagos governor, now works and housing minister.

The man who will be arraigned today by the EFCC swindled Fashola of N3.1million.

The arraignment is pending before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

Details later

Latest developments have shown that there’s more to the political crisis currently plaguing the Kano Emirate. Ibrahim Shuaibu writes

The lingering crisis that resulted in the creation of additional emirates by the Kano State Government has changed dimension with the state government insisting that the creation of new first class Emirates in the state, which followed due process has come to stay. It also said it was part of efforts to reform obsolete laws guiding the existence of the traditional institution to tally with existing reality.

The state government said for a traditional institution to stand the test of time and move in pace with global standard, it would have to be fine-tuned and restructured in such a way that it could help in accelerating the development and socio-economic reality of the people.

The Kano Emirate, headed by Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, has challenged the state government for the creation of the four additional emirates as an attempt to destroy the heritage of the traditional institutions, which spans thousands of years.

At the first stage, the state government created four new emirates, which the High Court later nullified on the ground that the petition was presented to the Assembly by a private person not a member of the House.

The government had immediately reacted to the campaign by those opposed to the creation of additional emirates with respect to the interim injunction served by a Kano High Court.

A statement by the commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, stated that the court order did not affect the existence of the new Emirates. He said the propaganda was the evil machination of those opposed to the creation of the new emirates and would be disappointed, when the court rules on a substantive judgment.

The state government further assured its supporters that the ruling would be in favour of the state government given that due process followed in the exercise and therefore urged the people to remain calm and be law-abiding while the court decided.

The state executive council had after the court judgment nullifying the four emirates, endorsed the establishment of the four new Emirates namely Rano, Gaya, Bichi and Karaye and forwarded the list to the state Assembly for necessary action.

The state government argued that some of the Emirates even pre-dated Kano in ancient times, while the effort to revive them during the Second Republic was short-lived.

While the Council discussed the decade long clamour for the establishment of additional Emirates in the state with a view to bringing more development to the people of the new Emirates, the exercise was also informed by the need to bring traditional institution closer to the people in addition to facilitating speedy development and security in the state.

It further indicated that the introduction of the free and compulsory education at basic and secondary levels requires the active participation of the community especially, the traditional institutions for its successful implementation.

It informed that the Emirate Council Bill 2019 was amended in the public interest following a Kano High Court action that nullified the law on the ground that the petition was presented to the Assembly by a private person and not a member of the House.

Curiously, in another bewildering twist, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of the state, last week, appointed the embattled Kano Emir, Muhammad Sanusi II as the Chairman, Council of Traditional rulers in the state. This action by the state government created another controversy, which if the emir accepted the position, the court cases filled by the emirate would be defeated, automatically.

Ganduje said the measure was due to the powers conferred in Sections 4 (2) (g) and Section 5((1) (2) of the Kano State Emirate Councils Law 2019.

Among other members of the State Council of Chiefs are all other Four First Class Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Alhaji Dr Tafida Abubakar (Autan Bawo), Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Abubakar II and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir, who are also automatic members of the Council, as enshrined in the State Emirate Council Law.

“Also Section 4(2) gives other members as Secretary to the State Government, Commissioner for Local Government five (5) Chairmen of Local Government Councils one each from the Local Government Council, where the Emir’s palace is situated. Others according to this Section comprise at least Ten (10) Kingmakers, 2 each from the Five (5) Emirates mentioned under Section 3(1) of the Law, Chief Imam of each Emirate,” the statement said.

Other members are representatives of the Business Community from each emirate to be appointed by the Governor. The appointees are Alhaji Dalhat Al-Hamsad and Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano.

The Law also stipulates, as members of the State Council of Chiefs, a representative of Security Agencies, the Police, State Security Service and Civil Defence Corps, and not more than two (2) other members to be appointed by the Governor. Alhaji Nasiru Aliko Koki has thus been nominated as a member of the Council under this category. The secretary is to be appointed by the Council of Chiefs.

Section 5(1), (2) of the law provides that the Chairmanship of the State Council of Chiefs shall be rotational among the Five (5) Emirs of the Emirates and the sequence of which is to be determined by the Governor and the Chairman shall serve for a period of two (2) years only.

The appointment of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II was with effect from Monday, the 9th Day of December 2019. It was also directed that the chairman would immediately summon the inaugural meeting of the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Law.

The letter of appointment urges all members to utilise the opportunity to serve the people in the state and to strengthen the Emirates and the traditional system of administration in the State by advising the state government particularly, on matters of security. The state government also attacked those condemning the creation of the additional emirates, stating that the group, which membership is more of an opposition, is trying to, at all cost, depict that old heritage is being destroyed but could not say exactly how. But the question everyone is asking is, how will history situate Governor Ganduje? Is it as someone, who engendered development through the creation of four additional emirates or destroyed the hundreds of years of traditional legacy? Whatever it is, the jury is still out.

By Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt




A former leader of Niger Delta People Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has cautioned the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, over his threat to remove the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, King Theophilus Princewill, for receiving Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson in his palace at Buguma-Kalabari.

Dokubo, an indigene of Buguma-Kalabari, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Friday in an online statement, declared that the first-class monarch should not be disrespected or humiliated.
The former warlord expressed disappointment over Wike’s abuse of the monarch, a former professor at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and an ex-Chairman of the Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers.

Wike, while hosting some Kalabari stakeholders, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, frowned at the decision of the king to host Dickson, without getting clearance from him, while accusing the monarch of allowing external forces to use him to cause disunity and disaffection in Rivers.

Dokubo-Asari said: “It is sad that Rivers State will have such an uncontrollable person as Wike as governor. He has taken every opportunity to insult the people of Rivers State. Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, imposed Wike on us, while standing by him against his Ikwerre brother, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

“We will not allow Rivers governor to desecrate the exalted and hallowed throne of the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom. How could he have threatened to sack King T.J.T. Princewill? Wike must bear in mind that paramount chiefs are not warrant chiefs. I am surprised that some Kalabari people sat in Government House, Port Harcourt and they watched their father (monarch) being abused. The visit of Dickson cannot divide Rivers State. The governor of Bayelsa State is a member of the highest Kalabari society. Dickson has every right to come, whenever the members are going to display.

Dokubo-Asari added that if Wike refused to apologise, he would soon realise that Rivers people could not be kicked around.
The Kalabari king has been receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt in the last one week, but his son, Prince Tonye Princewill, in a statement stated that Wike’s threat to sanction or remove his father was uncalled for.

Prince Princewill said: “I am here by the Kalabari King’s hospital bed in Port Harcourt, where he has been for almost a week. So, you can see why my priority is not responding to Wike. The King will be 90 in a few days. So, if a small boy (Wike) speaks, his superiors do not always have to answer him, especially if he is the garrulous kind.

“I have heard what he (Wike) said and I saw the video where he was fidgety, unsteady and accompanied by the slurred speech. I watched it well.. It appears that he does not understand that everything is not politics. We should pray for him (Wike) and put him in God’s hands. I will be doing it daily. Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength.”

Following the allegation by Owerri-based local tabloid of forging some of his certificates, Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Dr. Chiji Collins, has put forward $10,000 for any one who is willing and ready to travel to Italy to verify the authenticity of his academic certificates.

The embattled speaker increased the money from initial $5,000 he earlier promised to $10,000. Also, he debunked banning journalists based in the State from covering the State House of Assembly. He affirmed that only those accredited were and would be allowed to cover the assembly, adding that the move was to bring sanity.

Addressing journalists recently over the allegation, Chiji said the university he attended in Italy is one of the best in the world. He added that the institution had trained notable individuals and clergies from across the globe, including Dr. Richard Agbarakwe, a renowned medical practitioner.

He berated those who are accusing him, saying no Nigerian varsity was rated among best 100. He urged his critics and opponents to sheath their sword and embrace peace.

Commenting on the matter, Chairman House Committee on Information and Judiciary, Dominic Ezerioha, debunked the allegation that the Committee set up to investigate the speaker’s credentials was yet meet. He stated that the Committee would soon complete the investigation and submit its report.

https://cdn.dailytrust.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Fish-stuck-in-boy%E2%80%99s-nose-removed-alive-503x367.jpg

In a shocking incident, a fish has been removed alive from the nostril of a boy after a 3-hour-long surgery by doctors. Interestingly, the fish was alive until it was removed. The fish entered when the boy was taking his bath in a farm well. The strange incident took place in the Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu., India.

According to sources, S Arul Kumar (12) of Mannavelampatti near Annavasal in Pudukkottai went for a bath along with his friends in a farm well near his house last Tuesday evening. Arul then sensed that something had entered his nose, and soon developed severe pain.

He was then rushed to the Annavasal Gemeral Hospital around 10 pm and the duty doctor, Kathiravan, who checked the boy’s nostrils, confirmed a fish being stuck inside Arul’s nose.

After a three-hour-long ‘operation’ the doctor removed a live ‘tilapia’ fish from the boy’s nose, but it died soon after. The doctor observed that the trapped fish could have even caused a threat to Arul’s life.

The boy after an hour’s medical observation was sent back home.

by Mustapha Usman



The Kano State Kano State Bureau for Land Management has requested the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II to send his account number for payment of N4.5m compensation of his property demolished by the state government.

A joint investigation by DAILY NIGERIAN and KANO FOCUS newspapers revealed that the property, located at Ibrahim Dabo Road, was demolished to pave way for the ongoing flyover and underpass bridge being constructed at the Dangi Roundabout area.

Our correspondents report that the seizure and subsequent demolition of structures within the land as well as the fence surrounding was personally supervised by the state Commissioner of Works, Engineer Muaz Magaji, on Friday, 15 November, 2019.

Although the land bureau did not deny the value of the property and the amount of the compensation quoted in our report, it says the arrangement was done with the consent of the emir.

However, multiple sources close to the emir told DAILY NIGERIAN on Wednesday that the decision was not with the consent of the emir.

The state commissioner of Works and Infrastructure also confirmed last week that the state government took the decision for the interest of the people, without the consent of the owner of the property.


READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW

Kano State Bureau for Land Management has debunked reports of some media stations/outfits most especially those operating online that, Kano State Government has seized Emir Sanusi’s Land worth N250 million and paid him N4.5million as compensation.

The State Government didn’t seize any land belonging to the Monarch. Although as the general public is aware that, the present administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is constructing a gigantic Underpass, first of its kind in the country at Dangi on Zaria road, and due to the nature design and size of the underpass some structures within the area were affected and need to be removed from the area.

Among the structures affected are 2 wall fencing the land belonging to the Emir, one wall at Ibrahim Dabo Road, and the other one is at Dr Borodo Road, and one big dilapidated room attached to the walls, these structures were removed with the consent of His Royal Highness as it was not the whole plot that was affected as some Medias reported.

Any person is free to visit the area to assess and see for himself to avoid doubt, and report to the general public what he/ she has seen instead of carrying news from the people who don’t want peace in State.

Based on this development Kano State Bureau for Land Management is appealing to His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano Malan Muhammadu Sanusi II to send his account details for the payment of his compensation, since the Government has released the money to the Bureau to settle all the compensation of the affected structures, and only the Emir is yet to submit his bank details as at this time.

Once again it should be noted that, there is nothing like seizure of the plot from the monarch or anybody since this Government came on board.

Murtala Shehu Umar
Public Relation Officer
Kano State Bureau for Land Management

Risqua Muhammed, a son to the former Nigerian Head of State, late General Murtala Muhammed, on Monday said his late father left only N7,000 in his bank account despite being the nation’s number one citizen.

He spoke during the unveiling of the statue of his late father at the entrance of the post-graduate hall of residence at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun state which is known as Murtala Muhammed Hall.

Muhammed noted that his father fearlessly fought corruption during his tenure in office as the Head of State and lauded President Muhammad Buhari for doing the same.

Muhammed said his father who died 43 years ago served Nigeria with integrity during his 200 days in office.

He said he was excited for the honour by post graduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University.

The son of the late Head of State however urged Nigerians to support the crusade against corruption by President Muhammad Buhari-led administration.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, commended the family of the late icon for maintaining the legacies of their father.
He said the late Head of State was a leader to celebrate because he did not acquired wealth when he was alive.

The Program Coordinator of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, Mr. Solomon Okonkwo, expressed gratitude to the OAU Post Graduate students for remembering the former Head of State.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Senator (Dr) Suleiman Nazif (Wakilin Arewa) as the new Deputy National Chairman, North, of the PDP.

The approval was disclosed in a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, a Kola Ologbondiyan in furtherance of section 47 (6) of the Constitution of the PDP.

The statement read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the nomination of Senator (Dr) Suleiman Nazif (Wakilin Arewa) as the new Deputy National Chairman, North, of the PDP.

“The approval is in furtherance of section 47 (6) of the Constitution of the PDP.
“Senator Nazif was a one-time member of the House of Representatives and two-time Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity as well as Chairman, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“He holds a degree in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering as well as a Masters degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MAID) from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

“He also holds several Honorary Doctorate Degrees and Awards locally and internationally, in addition to numerous traditional titles.
“Senator Nazif is a nationalist, grassroots politician, and philanthropist.”

By George Opara


The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday expressed fears of participating in the upcoming gubernatorial elections being planned for Edo and Ondo states in 2020.

It also re-echoed its disappointment in the conduct of the just concluded Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

PDP, therefore, tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to embark on electoral amendment through the National Assembly to address most of the challenges in conducting elections in the country.

The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus said this while addressing INEC delegation who came to carry out a routine verification exercise at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

While addressing some of the operatives of the electoral umpire, Secondus alleged that the INEC integrity was at stake given the trajectory of elections it has conducted so far in the country.

He pointed out that some of the INEC staff have compromised their offices.

In his words, “INEC as presently constituted has integrity questions. Some of the staff have compromised their offices.

“We advise that INEC should go back to the drawing board and consider the past elections it has conducted.

“Even INEC needs a reform. We can’t continue this way. Is either we practice the American model or adopt the Egyptian model where soldiers shall be part and parcel of the election process.

Further, the PDP National Chairman affirmed it was time for INEC to submit the necessary amendments to the National Assembly so that an improved legal framework can be put in place for a free and fair election to be achieved.

He, however, added that the conduct of the 2019 general elections set Nigeria backwards.

Some of the bitter lessons, according to Secondus, are: thuggery, killing, militarisation of voting scenes and disruptions of voting process.

Others are the alleged INEC involvement in operating the APC agenda, brigandage, intimidation, coercion and manipulation of results, hijacking of election materials and deployment of military helicopters among others.

It was on this premise that the PDP advocated for the legalization of electronic voting and ban on military participation in elections.

In his reaction, the INEC Deputy Director, Election and Party Monitoring who headed the delegation, Musa Husunu said all the comments, observations and concerns of the PDP would be considered.

Husunu, however, reeled out things the INEC team came to do as a matter of routine verification exercise to include evidence of office headquarters, 5 copies of the party’s constitution, list of NEC committee members, physical presence of NEC members, membership registration and books of account.

But the PDP averred that what happened in Osun, Ekiti, Bayelsa and Kogi states were not democratic enough to guarantee future participation in elections by the opposition political parties.

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe



The Director of Rail Services of the Federal Ministry of Transportation Engr Mohammed Babakobi on Monday said Daura was picked for the sitting of University because of the several rail initiatives coming up along the area.

According to him, there will be a rail siding running from Kano to Kaduna which would pass through Katsina and the international rail route that will run from Katsina to Jibia in Niger Republic.

He said the university will take off in 2021, and is expected to run a full gamut of specialised training especially in the rail system and on and modes of transportation. According to him, the Ministry is already working with the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission to develop a robust academic curriculum will address the development of capacity in rail systems which has suffered the most neglect.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, says Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, cannot stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating him.

Justice Binta Nyako said this while delivering the judgment, on Friday, in a suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/60/09 filed by El-Rufai.

The governor was seeking the court’s determination whether as the then minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he had complied with the guidelines approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the sale of Federal Government houses between May 2005 and May 2007.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while El-Rufai was the applicant, the defendants from 1st to 13th include: EFCC, FCT minister, FCDA, AGF, CBN, Oceanic Bank, Access Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Aso Savings and Loans Ltd, Union Homes, Akintola Williams Deloite and Aminu Ibrahim & Co.

In the originating summon brought pursuant to Section 302 of 1999 Constitution and Section 3 and 18 of the FCT Act 1990, El-Rufai also sought court’s determination: “whether the proceeds of the sale of Federal Government houses in the FCT between May 2005 – May 2007 were properly accounted for or not in accordance with the FEC mandate and guidelines to the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA).

“Whether the sum of N32 billion (or any sum whatsoever) is missing from the proceeds of the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT between May 2005 and May 2007.”

The Kaduna State governor also sought the court’s relief on “a declaration that the sale of Federal Government houses in the FCT was conducted in accordance with the Federal Executive Council mandate to the FCTA through the Ad hoc Committee for the sale of non essential houses in Abuja.

“A declaration that the proceeds of the sale of the said Federal Government houses conducted by the Ad hoc Committee on SOGH in Abuja between 2005 and 2007 were properly accounted for in accordance with the mandate and guidelines approved by the FEC.

“A declaration that the Audit Report prepared by the 12th and 13th respondents on the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT confirm that the Sale of Federal Government houses in FCT compiled with the approved guidelines for the sale of Federal Government properties in FCT and the proceeds were properly accounted for.

“A declaration that the proceeds of sale of Federal Government Houses in FCT between May 2005 and May 2007 were properly apportioned and accounted for in accordance with the approved guidelines as confirmed by the Audit Report of the 12th and 13th respondents, dated July 20, 2007.

“A declaration that the sum of N32 billion (or any sum whatsoever) from the proceeds of the sale of Federal Government of Nigeria Houses in FCT between May 2005 and 2007 is not missing.

“An order directing the 2nd respondent to disclose the exact amount remitted to the 5th respondent as the proceeds of the sale of Federal Government houses in the FCT between May 2005 and May 2007.

“An order directing the 5th respondent to disclose the exact amount received from the 2nd respondent as the proceeds of the sale of Federal Government houses in the FCT between May 2005 and May 2007.”

NAN recalls that Justice Nyako had earlier, in her judgment, granted El-Rufai’s prayers.
However, in the Friday judgment, the judge noted that the EFCC had called the court’s attention to its counter-affidavit in objection to the prayers.

The anti-graft agency, in its counter-affidavit, had submitted that the motive of the applicant was to stop the commission from investigating him in order to cover up the alleged fraud perpetrated when he was FCT minister.

Justice Nyako, who held that the earlier judgment delivered still stands, however, declared that no court would stop the EFCC from investigating anyone in line with its constitutional mandate.

“No court, including this one, will allow itself to be used to shield anybody from being investigated by the 1st respondent,” the judge held.
(NAN)

The role played by former President Goodluck Jonathan to propel the All Progressives Congress (APC) to victory at the just concluded governorship election in Bayelsa State has divided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

While most PDP stalwarts insisted that Jonathan should not be blamed for the defeat of the PDP, others believe that the former President authored the script that ousted his party from the state.

But party leaders said that the alleged greed, selfishness and autocratic leadership style of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, compelled Jonathan to take a back seat in the affairs of the PDP before and during the last Saturday election.
A party leader, who spoke in confidence, described blaming Jonathan for the defeat of the PDP as begging the question.

He said: “Nobody should mention Jonathan’s name. We were all witnesses when Dickson and some of his co-travelers vowed to retire Jonathan from politics. Dickson took all decisions alone. He installed all PDP structures without consulting Jonathan. Meanwhile Jonathan brought him and against all odds made him the governor.

“In the 2019 general election, Dickson singlehandedly selected all the PDP candidates that contested the National and House of Assembly elections including in the constituencies of Jonathan.

“In the local government elections, Dickson installed all the chairmen and councilors in all the wards and local government area including Ogbia, the local government area of Jonathan. Jonathan doesn’t even know the councilor in his ward.

“When it came to the last governorship election, Dickson sidelined Jonathan even when Jonathan brought many senior citizens in the PDP to beg him to allow a former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, to fly the flag of the PDP. Dickson refused. He was arrogant.

“He went ahead to impose his preferred candidate on the people and organised a stage-managed primary to actualise his wish. As if Dickson was not done, he ignored all entreaties by different stakeholders to give the running mate slot to anybody from Jonathan’s local government area. Everybody begged him but he refused and took the last decision that finally buried the PDP.

“The governor went to his local government area to bring his kinsmen and imposed him on everybody as the running mate of the PDP. That was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The move by Dickson justified insinuations that he nursed the ambition to replace the PDP running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor, at the Senate.

“People saw greed, selfishness and highhandedness in what he was doing. There was nothing Jonathan could have done as an individual. Nobody should blame Jonathan. The singular reason why PDP lost is Dickson. He must take responsibility for this defeat.”

The source further said that as at the time Dickson made moves for reconciliation, the damage had been done as most foot soldiers of Jonathan and Alaibe had already left the PDP and vowed never to come back.

“The reconciliation should have come before September 23, the last day for substitution of candidates at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Most of the people, who left waited for the national party leadership to intervene and mount pressure on Dickson to make some concessions.

“The defections and resignations by political appointees started after the closure of candidate substitution. For instance, most of Jonathan’s foot soldiers who left the party vowed not to come back. Even Alaibe’s loyalists also moved on. Most of them left because they were disappointed at the choice of candidate and running mate.”

But an aide to the governor said there was no reason for Jonathan to have abandoned the PDP the way he did before and during the governorship election, adding that his decision to stay away from the activities of the party led to the loss of Bayelsa to APC.

The source, who spoke in confidence because of his relationship with the former President, said there was no sin Dickson allegedly committed that should not have been forgiven by Jonathan.
“For whatever it is worth, the PDP is the party that made Jonathan whatever he is today. From this party, he became a deputy governor, governor, Vice-President and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No matter how angry he was, he should have stood by his party.

“In the interest of the PDP, Jonathan should have overlooked the errors of Dickson and work for the PDP to win the election. His absence was felt by the people of Bayelsa and his body language suggested that he wanted the opposition to win. We can now see that he supported the candidate of the opposition. What the former president did was anti-party,” he said.

But Dickson absolved himself of blame, saying he tried in vain 16 times to meet with the former President to decide on the choice of the PDP candidate.

Speaking on the meeting between APC leaders and Jonathan before and after the elections, the governor said: “In the midst of all of this, what I think the APC leaders are doing is strategic. They came to Bayelsa to take Jonathan’s state and his people by force. This was not an election. They knew. They are my colleagues and friends.

“The game the APC leaders are playing not just with that visit but with the comments they are making about Jonathan is to lay the foundation for this gross violation of the democratic rights of his people. His Ogbia people never voted. The votes they ascribed to them are false, his people, children of Bayelsa State, who stood with him through thick and thin.

“And I know that no politician has stood by him more than me. He is our leader and my boss any day. Because of what they have done, they had to lay a foundation using his name to legitimise the illegitimate. That is why they have to be taking David Lyon to him, visit him and appear to be celebrating the victory never earned.

“On the part of the APC, they are strategic. What they have done is to use the name of the president to expand the notion of a disagreement and justify the allocation of figures and then after the rigging, they now go to him. So, like Pontius Pilate, they have prepared a window by which they will wash off their hands strategically and put it at his doorsteps that he endorsed it, sanctioned and legitimised it. “

The governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states have come and gone, but the dust they raised may take some time to settle.

A N3 billion largesse a governor doled out to some influential members of the party in Abuja is causing a stir as some aggrieved party members are clamouring for sanctions against the recipients of the said sum.

Although it was difficult to know who got what, Sentry learnt that the errant party henchmen actually demanded for N6 billion to facilitate the victory of the party’s candidate but got N3 billion as advanced payment.

It was not clear at press time whether the governor in question would be willing to pay the outstanding sum with the party’s loss of the election or demand a refund of the sum already paid.

But it is more likely that the influential members would not get more than they have received even if they will not have to make a refund, because the governor who gave out the money is said to be peeved that the party’s National Working Committee has been “unduly quiet” about the results of the elections.

Global health charity Marie Stopes said Wednesday it had recalled hundreds of thousands of faulty condoms on sale in Uganda , where HIV rates are among the highest in the world .

The recall followed a warning from Uganda ’ s National Drug Authority that the Life Guard brand condoms had failed manufacturing “ quality tests ” because they contained holes and may burst.

The affected condoms were manufactured by India - based MHL Healthcare in April 2019 and have an expiry date of April 2024 , the government regulator said.

Marie Stopes Uganda spokesman David Kamu told AFP on Wednesday that the two affected batches each contained “ around 400 ,000 ” condoms.

Earlier reports had suggested millions of condoms could have been involved but NDA spokesman Fred Ssekyana told AFP the figure was below one million .

Marie Stopes Uganda said more than half of the condoms of concern had been recalled .
“ While the LifeGuard brand follows strict quality controls , unfortunately two recent batches have fallen short of the quality we demand ,” the charity ’s country director , Carole Sekimpi, said in a statement Tuesday .

Marie Stopes is the largest and most specialised sexual reproductive health organisation in Uganda , the charity says on its website .

According to UNAIDS, 1 . 4 million Ugandans are living with HIV .

Last year 53 , 000 people were newly infected with the disease in the East African country , the UN agency said.
( AFP )

By Juliana Francis

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Olaleye-1.png


A 20-year-old student of University Texas, Eyitoluwa Olayeye, has been arrested for allegedly strangling his 48-year-old mother, Kehinde Olayeye.

The incident, however, has become controversial, since the suspect told investigators that he couldn’t recollect killing his mother.

Medical examiner, who conducted a post mortem examination on Kehinde, disclosed that the woman suffered deep skull hemorrhaging, hemorrhaging around the neck, lacerations to the inner mouth, petechial hemorrhaging and signs of strangulation.

Eyitoluwa was arrested and charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. He also faces a $1 million bond.

According to Kxan.com news, the suspect was believed to have murdered his mother in a downtown Austin hotel after allegedly blacking out.

The police were said to have responded to a distress call on November 6, at about 4:44am. The call came from a holiday Inn located in downtown Austin.

According to distress call, someone was screaming in one of the hotel rooms and sounds of fighting could be heard.

The policemen, who responded to the distress call, had to force the door open after knocking repeatedly, without receiving any response.

The Kxan.com news further noted: “Police say once they made their way into the room they found a woman face down on the floor with a man lying on her back with his arms wrapped around her body. The woman was unresponsive and ATCEMS performed CPR but she was declared dead at the scene. Police say as he was detained the suspect appeared to be singing in a different language. A witness staying at the hotel told police he heard a woman running through the hallways screaming around 4:15 a.m. He said she was banging on doors screaming “Let me in,” before he heard her being dragged back past his room.”

Kxan.com news had gone on to explain that Kehinde’s sister told police the two of them had flown to Austin from Georgia to visit Eyitoluwa. She said the day before they received a call from Eyitoluwa rambling and saying “I pray that God brings us together.”

The victim’s sister said they received another call from Eyitoluwa’s friends saying he had been taken to the hospital by ATCEMS for a psych evaluation. She said at this point the two decided to fly to Austin to check on Eyitoluwa. At the airport, they received a call from doctors at Dell Seton Medical Center asking if their family had a history of mental illness, to which they said no.

Eyitoluwa’s friends called his mother and aunt again to tell them he had been discharged from the hospital. They brought Eyitoluwa to their apartment where they say he began telling them he wanted to leave school.

Eyitoluwa’s aunt said when they arrived at the apartment her nephew seemed happy to see them. She said they stayed there for a while before the three of them decided to check into a hotel downtown. She said Eyitoluwa and his mother got a room together and she got one by herself. She told police the three of them were hanging out together in Eyitoluwa’s room before she decided to go to sleep.

Eyitoluwa’s aunt said he told them God had given him a purpose. He said the hospital was trying to hold him for a mental issue but he told them what they wanted to hear so he could leave.

“The hotel security guard told investigators he was doing his rounds when, at about 4:15 a.m., when he heard loud shouting coming from a room. He said when he banged on the door telling the occupants to quiet down, he got no response but began to also hear sounds of a struggle,” noted Kxan.com news.

In an interview with police, Eyitoluwa said after class on Tuesday he went to the UT tower to pray. He said he remembers praying but the next thing he knew he was in an ambulance headed to the hospital. He said doctors asked him if he was diagnosed as bipolar or manic which he told them no.

Eyitoluwa said after being discharged from the hospital he was taken to a friend’s apartment. There he said his mother and aunt arrived and took him to a hotel downtown. He corroborated his aunt’s testimony, saying the three of them hung out in his room before his aunt went to sleep. He said after she left he went to the bathroom and got into bed. He told police he remembers his mother standing over him praying, and the next thing he knew he was in the back of a police cruiser.

According to the police affidavit, when told his mother was dead, Eyitoluwa said he must have been the one who killed her since no one else was in the room. He said he did not have a reason to kill his mother.

ABEOKUTA – The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has reminded the Governor of Kogi State, Yahya Bello, of the expectations of the people of the state as he was declared winner of the last Saturday election saying his children would reap whatever he sowed.

The Association in a press statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Azeez Adeyemi, a copy of which was made available to Daily Independent, said it will not congratulate the Governor as it is yet to pass a vote of confidence on the election.

According to the Association, the people of Kogi State are highly expectant of the Governor, advising him to change the mind of the people by ensuring good governance in the State.

The Association also advised the Governor to use his second term to clear backlog of salaries and invest more in human capital development.

The statement read, “We would not take sides but we won’t congratulate the Governor-elect as we as leaders of students and followers (students) are yet to pass a vote of confidence on the election that got Governor Yahaya Bello into office for the second term.

“But by and large you have gotten into office for the second term and it is not by your doings but, maybe destiny, to this end, it is important that we remind you that the people of Kogi state are highly expectant in this second term of your government.

“Remember that your children will definitely reap the fruit of whatever you sow in this next four years. And also see it important to pay heavy backlogs of salaries of civil servants in the state, and also invest more on human capital.

“Do all executively possible to change the mind of kogi people that you are a person of good character with good intentions of moving Kogi state forward, thereby making the youth of this country proud and not been a reason why youths will not be trusted or considered for power.

“Remember our students are schooling in your state please be a father to them, as we have prayed that in ten folds may God pay you back for all you will be doing to them in the next four years.”

The Police in Katsina State on Thursday confirmed the arrest of one Mudasiru Tanimu, 18, for allegedly poisoning some guests at a wedding ceremony in Barhim village of Bagarawa Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Gambo Isah, said Tanimu allegedly conspired with one Nafiu Umar, also 18, to prepare the poisonous “concoction” for the guests.

“The command arrested the Tanimu, who lives in Barhim village.

“He was assisted by one Nafiu Umar, 18, who is at large.

” The concoction was put in drinks that were served at a wedding at Barhim village in Bagarawa local government area.

”Consequently, one Iliya Musa, 25, and a 16-year-old girl drank the concoction and instantly became unconscious.

” The victims were rushed to the General Hospital Katsina, where Musa was confirmed dead while the other victim is in a state of deep intoxication.”

According to the police, the suspect confessed to the crime, adding that investigation was ongoing while efforts are in top gear to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Sometimes when you are going somewhere and your intuition urges you to return home, it might be for your own good.

A Kenyan man named Elphas Angulo was onboard a car to another town to attend a funeral but at a point in the journey, he felt a strong urge to alight suddenly and return home.

Little did he know that it was his wife of 15 years whose adulterous cup was full and God was inviting him to witness the event.

“I was going to Busia for a burial but at 11 pm at night I decided to get off the car and return home. When I reached home I knocked and she came to receive me,” he told Citizen TV.

He said as soon as his beautiful wife opened the door for him, he heard another person open the inner door with a suspicious force.

He then hurried to ascertain who could have been in the room with his wife he had always trusted for a decade and a half of marriage.

To Angulo’s surprise, there was another man in the house with his wife at that ungodly hour, wearing a skirt.

When he questioned her, she recited the cliched anthem that she was just running an errand for the devil.

“She told me the devil tempted her and left my house later. I was left with three kids and she has never returned till date,” Angulo said in the interview.

SleekyP:
Do your own make Bayo enter

Adelabu 2022

Kunle Sanni




The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) said it has observed that some civil servants convicted of fraud return to their former position.

The Chairman of ICPC, Bolaji Owasanoye, said this Tuesday at a National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Service.

Mr Owasanoye, a law professor, also recommended the suspension of public office holders under investigation.

The two-day event is organised by ICPC in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that the commission had discovered that some civil servants served conviction terms and return to work as if nothing has happened.

“Such persons should be flushed out of the system in accordance with extant laws. We have communicated a Iist of such persons to government,” he said.

“We also advised digital information sharing between anti-corruption agencies and financial services sector critical to preventing money laundering and other corruption prevention measures.

“All Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs) as a policy ought to have seamless access to existing databases of suspects and the profile, biometric of persons of interest.

“Inter agency collaboration is essential to avoid duplication and waste of resources in the investigation and prosecution of cases.

“This is also in line with Mr President’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) agenda for 2019 and Beyond.”

He also disclosed that by next week the ICPC would be launching nationwide, a community enlightenment and advocacy initiative called “My Constituency, My Project”.

He said that using the programme, the commission would sensitize communities to own projects approved for them by government and to know the amount involved.

“We have disaggregated project allocation to each senatorial district and local government area in Nigeria.

“We have also created a toll tree line through which Nigerians can call to find out the projects allocated to their constituencies.

“We have uploaded this information on our website and we will also publish in leaflets. We hope to make this an annual initiative in order to remove the opacity and secrecy that currently dog’s constituency projects.”

The chairman pledged that the ICPC was available to cooperate with and support the efforts of the government and also the leadership of the other arms of government to fight corruption and improve fiscal transparency and governance.

“No less is expected of us, this is what our law says we should do and this is what we will strive to do within our capacity.”

Also at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday called on the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Special Crimes Court Bill.

‘‘The fight against corruption is of course not only for government and anti-corruption agencies alone. All arms and tiers of government must develop and implement the anti-corruption measures,” the president said.

‘‘I invite the legislative and judicial arms of government to embrace and support the creation of Special Crimes Court that Nigerians have been agitating for to handle corruption cases.’’

Mr Buhari said the passage of the bill was a ‘‘specific priority’’ of this administration’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan 2017-2020

Sunisonflex39:
aAs a gentleman, I told her I won't be sticking around. but she begged and cried that I should at least be her best friend that she can't stand the sight of loosing me totally..as friends, everything was going well until recently when she started this behavior.

Fred Itua and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja


President Muhammadu Buhari’s Finance Bills, yesterday, suffered a major setback following a face off between the Senate and House of Representatives committees on finance .

Committee members from the House of Representatives boycotted the public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Finance.

Daily Sun learnt that the aggrieved lawmakers were alleging that they were sidelined by the Senate Committee on Finance in the run up to the hearing.

They also claimed that funding of the hearing was shrouded in secrecy.

The aggrieved lawmakers said they were not briefed on how much was approved for the exercise.

It was gathered that the boycott was approved by the leadership of the House which felt bad that it was only informed about the exercise on Sunday night.

Despite the boycott, the Senate Committee went ahead with the day’s business.

Bills considered were Petroleum Profit Tax, Custom and Excise Tariff Act, Company Income Tax Act, Personal Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax, Stamp Duties Act and Capital Gain Tax.

A National Assembly source said the Senate may run into troubled waters if issues surrounding the seven Bills were not resolved before the passage of the 2020 budget.

“The leadership of the Senate is under pressure to fast-tract the speedy passage of the Bills on Thursday to avoid any possible hiccups,” the source said.

A forthright ago, the senators complained of how they would debate and pass the seven Bills when they did not know the content.

Despite the complaints, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan overruled.

The proposed Finance Bill initiated by the Federal Government seeks to raise revenues through increase in taxes.

But experts feared it might threaten local and foreign investments in the oil and gas sector.
It could also erode Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global oil and gas industry to the advantages of other countries.

Oil Producers’ Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the Senate that the Bill could jeopardise the future of the country’s economy.

An oil tanker laden with 44,000 litres of Aviation fuel (Jet A1) was in the early hours of today involved in a lone accident on the Otedola Bridge inward Berger with the tanker spilling its content.

Emergency response is however ongoing to recover the tanker, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).


https://cdn.dailytrust.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG-20191120-WA0001-600x338.jpg


LASEMA team’s preliminary investigations revealed that the fully loaded oil tanker with registration number EKY 814 XX, lost its cargo in the lone accident due to over speeding and reckless driving on the part of the tanker driver.

It was learnt that the cargo containing the fuel detached from the truck head, fell on its side before it started spilling its content from the torn portions of the tanker that impacted the ground.
However, no injuries, fatalities or deaths were recorded in the oil spillage caused by the fallen tanker.

LASEMA Public Affairs Officer, Nosa Okunbor confirmed the incident this morning, saying operation is still ongoing to fully recover the tanker.

He said the impact of the spillage was minimized due to sustained activities of the LASEMA team and men of the state Fire Service.


https://cdn.dailytrust.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG-20191120-WA0002-600x338.jpg


“The very real danger of fuel ignition, explosion and fire, was fully averted due to the timely intervention, activities and collaborative efforts of LASEMA and the LASG Fire Service teams that doused the gushing flow of fuel from its oil spilling source, averting any probable ignition during its journey through gutters and drains to the canal,” Okunbor said.

He added that though the spilled fuel had been doused and blanketed, the LASEMA response team as well as that of the Lagos State Fire Service remains on ground to foil any “probable hazard which may result from trans loading of remnant fuel or recovery of the truck head from the deep gorge where it has fallen.”

Speaking on the incident, the DG/CEO of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke–Osanyintolu said the operation was quietly achieved with virtually no disruption of traffic around the ever busy Ojodu-Berger section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

He attributed the smooth operations to the short response time of his teams whom he said were very capable and excellent team workers that coordinate and collaborate well with other emergency responders at incident scenes.

by Femi Owolabi


https://f5p3e9e4.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/A-police-officer-using-a-used-ballot-box-to-wash-his-uniform-653x365.jpg

An officer from the mobile police squad was spotted using a ballot box to wash his uniform inside the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, on Sunday.

The INEC office is the collation centre for the Bayelsa governorship election that held on Saturday.

Redeployed from a unit in Lagos, the officer told TheCable that he did not know how long he would be in the state as work is yet to be completed.

“We will still stay after the result has been announced. The last lap of our job is to ensure there is no post election violence,” he said.
Ahead of the election, the police had deployed 31, 000 men to Bayelsa.

Mohammed Bello Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation, has been held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, by Interpol following confusion over a warrant of arrest that has already been vacated, TheCable understands.

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Abuja had issued a warrant of arrest against Adoke and four others on April 17, 2019 following a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the controversial OPL 245 deal executed by the federal government in 2011.

However, following an application by Adoke’s lawyers, the court, presided over by D. Z. Senchi, vacated the warrant on October 25, 2019, declaring it “null and void and of no effect whatsoever”.

TheCable understands that while the first order was sent to Interpol by the Nigerian police, the vacating order was not transmitted, thereby creating confusion for the multinational force.

Adoke, who was said to have arrived Dubai on Monday, November 11, for a scheduled medical check-up, was quizzed by the Interpol and then taken into custody following the mix-up.

A source who is in the know of the development said the police are asking for a certified copy of the vacating order before they can release him and allow him to proceed for his medicals.

TheCable could not immediately establish from where he flew into Dubai, with different sources saying China and Rwanda.

Adoke has been on self-exile since 2015, accusing the EFCC of trying to humiliate him and maintaining that he did no wrong in the OPL 245 affair.

He recently published his memoirs, “Burden Of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s former Attorney-General”, detailing his role in the OPL 245/Malabu Oil deal as well as other events that happened in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, which he served as AGF from 2010 to 2015.