₦airaland Forum

Abiodun Nejo, Ado- Ekiti


A member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr . Samuel Omotoso , has said that a two -storey commercial building located at Okesa Market and sealed by the EFCC, belongs to him .

Agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had sealed off a number of buildings in Ekiti State purportedly belonging to ex -Governor Ayo Fayose .

Omotoso described the EFCC action as “ political infringement on my property and personal harassment. ”

The lawmaker added that the EFCC action was as a result of his loyalty to Fayose, saying : “ This attempt to malign my name by EFCC by linking my family property to Dr . Ayo Fayose is political and was done in clear bad faith .

“ A simple check at the land registry would have put paid to this unnecessary exercise and the accompanying media sensation , as all documents relating to the joint ownership of the said property by my family is in the public domain, ” Omotoso said .

Fayose has since denied ownership of the buildings, as contained in a press release by his media aide , Mr. Lere Olayinka .

Posted By: Victor Oluwasegun



The House of Representatives Thursday passed through Second reading a bill to make June 12 a national holiday in the country.

The proposed legislation titled: “A bill for an act to amend the Public Holidays Act, Cap. P40 Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 to bring the Act in tandem with the current realities and exigencies of the modern times and to declare June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria and for related matter,” was sponsored by Hons. Edward Pwajok (APC Plateau) and Kayode Oladele (APC Ogun).

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 a national holiday on June 6 this year.

Pwajok while presenting the bill said Countries set aside some days to commemorate special events such as celebrating their independence, Religious festivals, some heroes etc.

“For instance, President Ronald Reagan initiated the celebration of Martin Luther king’s day as a holiday in the U.S.A. He is considered a civil Rights hero in the U.S.A, May 1st is celebrated in most cities to celebrate workers.

“There are individuals who have impacted so much on their countries, that they are
celebrated with a declaration of public holidays such as George Washington of the U.S.A, (the First U.S President).

“Certain events also have compelled the declaration of public holiday, such as Human Rights, Freedom. Youth, Women and National Reconciliation days in South Africa.

“In many countries public holidays are not fixed, as they change from year to year. Thus, the U.S.A celebrates Presidential inauguration only in the fourth year when the new President is sworn in.”

The lawmaker said in the year, 2000, President Obasanjo declared 29 of May, each year as Democracy Day to celebrate the handover of Government by the military to elected civilians.

“This is in addition to celebrating independence on October 1st each year.
“The question needs to be asked whether the mere hand over of power on May 29, 1999 is more symbolic of Democracy than the June 12th 1993 election.

“It is pertinent to remember that it was the crisis that accompanied the annulment of the June 12th 1993 election that led to not only the return of Democracy in 1999 but the concession of the Presidency to the South West in 1999.”

He said declaring June 12 as Democracy Day will remind Nigerians of the supreme price many Nigerians including M.K.O Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Alfred Rewane, Bagauda Kalto, etc paid and many others that lost their jobs, propertics, businesses etc.

“It will also enhance National Unity by reminding us that on June 12 th 1993 Nigerians de-emphasized religion by voting a Muslim-Muslim SDP ticket against a Musim-Christian NRC ticket,
“It will therefore remind us of the need to be more nationalistic and Democratic, It also acknowledges the organizational skills of those who plgnned that election like
Professor Humphrey Nwosu etc.”

The lawmaker said though President Muhammad Buhari declared June 12 as a public holiday, in deference to the
National Assembly which raised issues on the need to adhere to the law, there was no public holiday on June 12 2018.

“However, if the Bill is passed and assented to, subsequent June 12 anniversaries will become public holidays to commemorate Democracy, while 29 May will only be celebrated every fourth year when there is inauguration of a new President.”

When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote on the bill, it was passed without dissent and referred to the Committee of the Whole.

By Ismail Mudashir



Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have disclosed how they will conduct their 2019 campaigns following the appeal by President Muhammadu Buhari that the country should not be set ablaze “because of politics”.

Buhari at the launch of his campaign manual and what he called ‘The Next Level,’ on Sunday, urged politicians vying for elective positions in next year’s elections to conduct their campaigns peacefully and decently.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura said Nigerians should expect campaign based on performance, pedigree and dividends of democracy that this administration has been able to deliver to the nooks and crannies of the country; they should expect campaign that is mature, geared towards promoting our national ideals and values.”

He said with the performance of the president and the party, Nigerians will overwhelmingly vote for the APC.

“APC is the only platform that can take this country to the next level. APC has a leader that has values, that has philosophy for peace, stability and respect for rule of law.

We should expect a seamless, decorous and peaceful campaign because we are abiding by the ethics, values, by the way of life of our leader and everybody who knows President Buhari knows he is a man of peace. Our campaigns will be based on issues and will be very peaceful,” he said.
Also speaking, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello said their campaigns would be peaceful and crisis free.

“I am sure you know that our candidate, President Buhari is a peaceful man; he cherishes security and is fighting insecurity and he has encouraged all of us to go for issue-based campaigns and that is the message.

“We are going to take to the people all the achievements of Mr President and why we have to give him another four years and by the grace of God, I can assure you that during the campaign, after the campaign, during the elections, after the elections it is going to be very peaceful and crisis free and by the grace of God we are assuring you of landslide victory,” he said.

lalasticlala

Tony Okafor , Awka



The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , Mr. Peter Obi , on Saturday asked governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State to stop making inflammatory statements that could incite hate amongst Nigerians.

Obi was reacting to El Rufai’ s tweet that Obi is “ a tribal bigot . ”

El Rufai had tweeted that Obi stopped him from moving around Anambra State during the governorship election in the State in 2010 .

But Obi while answering questions from journalists on the matter at a youth programme in Nnewi , Anambra State, said he was shocked to read such an outburst of hate from El Rufai , especially when “the statement came unprovoked .

He said , “ This is suggesting that it was what he sat down to think of rather than thinking about how to solve the many problems plaguing the country.

“ What His Excellency , Gov . Nasir Ahmad El Rufai said about me has been brought to my attention . I believe that as we grow older and are saddled with more responsibilities, we are expected to become circumspect in our thinking and avoid recklessness in our speeches and utterances .

“ How does the circumstance he referred to relate to bigotry to warrant such a label?
“ All I do for people like El Rufai is to pray for them and encourage them to concentrate on doing those things that will better the lots of Nigerians rather than engage in hate speeches that will divide and destroy the country.

“ At this difficult times in our country, when thousands of our brothers and sisters across ethnic divide are killed all over the country, including innocent citizens in Kaduna state ; millions of our children from all the parts of the country are out of school ; millions of Nigerian youths from all the parts of the country are without jobs, our pre - occupation , especially among those that are in government should not be making reckless speeches .

“ What our leaders should be doing today is seeking solutions to the numerous problems of our dear country.

“ I am aware that during the said election he referred to , security agents merely restricted his movement because he had no business being in Anambra as I would not have been in Kaduna on an election day. ”

The former governor of Anambra State advised Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority , to avoid what he called “ the dominance of the vice of hate” over the virtues of love in whatever they do.

By Bashir Liman



As the 2019 general elections draw near and politicking is gathering momentum, is the presidential candidate of the ruling APC, Muhammadu Buhari, and his main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the PDP tearing Kannywood apart?
Kannywood, the Hausa film industry in Northern Nigeria, played a vital role in bringing President Muhammadu Buhari into office in 2015.

Filmmakers used jingles, composed songs and went to the nooks and crannies of the country to campaign for Buhari.
With politics in full swing, a Kannywood faction has emerged, declaring support for Atiku Abubakar.

Grouping and re-grouping is now the order of the day in Kannywood as filmmakers have begun to identify with either Buhari, or Atiku.

The filmmakers supporting and campaigning for Buhari have pitched tent under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern Musicians Forum (ANMFO), while those supporting Atiku have created a group under the aegis of Kannywood Initiative Door-2-Door for Atiku 2019.

Members of the ANMFO under the delegation of its Acting President, Haruna Yusuf (Baban Chinedu), have in recent times met with President Buhari and First Lady Aisha Buhari in Aso Rock pledging that they are ready to sacrifice their lives for Buhari’s return as president in 2019.

This is as team Initiative Door-2-Door for Atiku 2019 countered their counterparts by releasing a video jingle campaigning for Atiku on Instagram and Facebook.

The actions of both groups have shown that there are different voices in the industry as far as the 2019 presidential election is concerned.

Daily Trust Saturday gathered that some of the filmmakers campaigning for Atiku include actors Mikail Bin Hassan (Gidigo), Sani Danja, Isah Feroz Khan, Bashir Nayaya, Maryam Booth, Fati Muhammad, Zaharaddeen Sani and Ummi Zee-Zee.
Others are producers, Usman Mu’azu, Salisu Mu’azu, director, Hafizu Bello, comedian Mustapha Naburuska and musician Abubakar Sani, among others.

Some of the movie stars supporting Buhari are Adam A. Zango, Nura Hussaini, Yusuf Haruna (Baban Chinedu), Jamila Nagudu, Halima Atete, Ruqayya Dawayya and Bello Muhammad Bello (BMB).

Musicians campaigning for Buhari include Dauda Kahutu Rarara, Nazifi Asnanic, El-Mu’az Birniwa, Fati Nijar, Aminu Ladan Abubakar (ALA) and Hussaini Danko among others.

Actors such as Ali Nuhu, Sadiq Sani Sadiq, Hadiza Gabon, Rahama Sadau and Nafisa Abdullahi, among others, are yet to throw their weight behind any presidential candidate.

Members of Kannywood Initiative Door-2-Door for Atiku 2019 took the decision to support Atiku because according to them, Buhari has failed in providing good governance, security and Atiku has what it takes to take Nigeria out of its economic quagmire.

The National Coordinator of the group, Mikail Isah Bin Hassan explained that another reason his group wouldn’t support Buhari was his inability to assist filmmakers despite playing a vital role in bringing him to presidency in 2015.

“We established our group to make Nigerians understand the qualities of Atiku and because Buhari has neglected filmmakers despite what they did for him in 2015,” he said.

Hassan boasted that Atiku has policies and programmes that if elected president would improve Nigeria’s economy and provide jobs for the teeming youths.

He said, “So far we have state coordinators in the 19 northern states and each coordinator has eight people that would assist him in taking decisions in his state.

We also have coordinators in each local government area of the 19 northern states. Averagely so far, we have about 300, 000 members that would go to the nooks and crannies of the north to campaign for Atiku.”

Producer Usman Mu’azu who was supporting Atiku said Nigerians are hungry, there is poverty in the country and President Buhari isn’t doing anything to salvage the situation.

“We took it upon ourselves that we would market Atiku,” he said. Adding that, “We will market him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and we would also do door-to-door campaign for him.”

The Acting National President of All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern Musicians Forum (ANMFO), Haruna Yusuf (Baban Chinedu) said that members of his group are so far satisfied with Buhari’s style of leadership and would continue to campaign for him until he returns as president in 2019.

Baban Chinedu, who is also a musician, explained that economically and security-wise, Nigeria was on the verge of collapse when Buhari was elected president.

But now it isn’t the case because he has stabilized the nation where states can now pay salaries and people can go to markets, mosques and churches among other places without fear of being attacked.

He said his group would work round the clock to educate Nigerians on where the administration of Buhari is heading in order to enable them understand that he has rescued Nigeria and is doing more to take the nation to a promised land.

Famous Kannywood actor, Adam Zango said he is campaigning for Buhari not because of money, as everyone knows the president doesn’t have money.

“I am supporting Buhari not because of money,” he said, “But because of what he has accomplished in a short time. If it was because of money I wouldn’t be campaigning for Buhari.”

Another Kannywood actor, Nura Hussaini said some of the filmmakers are ready to sacrifice their lives for Buhari.

“Buhari has accomplished so much in the fight against corruption, and in completing abandoned projects. We have counted 360 abandoned projects that Buhari is working hard to complete.”

Muhsin Ibrahim, a lecturer in University of Cologne, Germany, said that the alignment of filmmakers behind Buhari and Atiku was a fantastic development.

“Kannywood folks have at least twice met President Buhari within a couple of months. I have also watched a campaign clip for Atiku Abubakar by a faction of the film industry. This is a fantastic development as previously only a very few of them had access to the Presidency. I can, in fact, mention a single person – Sani Danja. But this is not enough,” he said.

Muhsin who has been commenting on Kannywood affairs for over a decade opined that Buhari and Atiku reaching out to the filmmakers would affect voting.

He said, “Celebrities are powerful individuals when it comes to shaping public opinion. Today, Nigerian actors and musicians have, by far, had a higher number of followers on social media than the country’s leaders. Some may just be following them, others ‘worship’ them.

Therefore, they would do anything to please them. In other words, they would vote for their endorsed candidates.”

The lecturer advised Kannywood to seize easy access to the presidency to lobby for something tangible for their embattled industry.

“I know it’s near-to-impossible to bring back the Film Village project. However, there are other ways to save the struggling industry. Ironically, it’s highly unlikely if anyone of them thinks this way,” he said.

The question remains as to whom – Buhari or Atiku would have an upper hand in this case. Time, as they say, will tell.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME



WARRI – Suspected herdsmen have kidnapped four Reverend Fathers in Abraka axis, Ethiope East local government area.

One of those whisked away by the kidnappers is Reverend Father Emmanuel Obadjere. Vanguard gathered from sources close to the Priests that the ugly incident occurred on Tuesday as they were descending the bridge in Abraka.

The clergy men were reportedly in four vehicles but the kidnappers allegedly forced two of the vehicles to a halt, ordering the occupants to alight
“Father Obadjere was travelling with his clergy friends to Ekpoma for their school’s old students meeting. The incident happened at Abraka as they were coming down from the bridge. It was on Tuesday.

They were in four vehicles. The kidnappers could not track the first two cars in front.

The kidnappers looked like Fulani Herdsmen. They abandoned the vehicles the Priests were driving in. So it was the Priests in the other two vehicles that alerted other Priests in Warri Diocese of the development.

Two of the Priests are from Benin arch diocese, one from Abuja and the other from Warri Diocese”

At press time, it could not be confirmed if the kidnappers had made any demand for ransom. Vanguard gathered they were however still in the custody of the kidnappers.

Meantime, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Mustafa Mohammad had not responded to a text message to him for comment on the development. Calls to his mobile phone rang out.

High street banks in the United Kingdom could have helped fuel corruption in Nigeria by accepting millions of dollars in deposits from dubious politicians in the west African nation, an international corruption watchdog said.

In a 40 page report released on Sunday, Global Witness said that five leading banks have failed to adequately investigate the source of tens of millions of dollars taken from two Nigerian governors accused of corruption.

“Banks are quick to penalise ordinary customers for minor infractions but seem to be less concerned about dirty money passing through their accounts,” Robert Palmer, a campaigner at Global Witness, wrote on the group’s website.

“Large scale corruption is simply not possible without a bank willing to process payments from dodgy sources, or hold accounts for corrupt politicians.”

Global Witness acknowledged that in accepting the money, Barclays, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HSBC, as well as Switzerland’s UBS, might not have broken the law, but noted that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) must do more to prevent money laundering through British banks.

“The FSA needs to do much more to prevent banks from facilitating corruption. As yet, no British bank has been publicly fined or even named by the regulators for taking corrupt funds, whether willingly or through negligence,” Global Witness said in the report.

“This is in stark contrast to the United States, where banks have been fined hundreds of millions of dollars for handling dirty money.”


‘Deeply disappointed’

HSBC dismissed the allegations in the “International Thief Thief” report, saying that it had taken the lead in tackling holes in the financial system, particularly regarding funds from “politically exposed persons” (PEPs) deemed to pose a higher money laundering risk.

“As a bank that has been at the very forefront of developing global PEP guidance over the last decade, we are deeply disappointed with these misguided allegations,” a spokesman for HSBC told the Reuters news agency.

“Rest assured, rigorous and robust compliance procedures were followed diligently. To ignore this is to ignore the facts.”

Barclays, HSBC and UBS are all members of the Wolfsberg Group, an international body set up in 2000 to try to improve global anti-money laundering procedures.

Global Witness said its findings were based on court documents from cases the Nigerian government has brought in London in an attempt to get funds returned that it said were stolen by two former state governors: Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa state and Joshua Dariye of Plateau state.

Alamieyeseigha was accused of corruption after he was caught with about $1.6m in cash at his London home. He was briefly jailed in Nigeria after pleading guilty to embezzlement and money laundering charges two years later.

Dariye was arrested in 2004 in London and was found to have purchased properties worth millions of dollars even though his legitimate earnings amounted to the equivalent of $63,500 a year.

He returned to Nigeria, where the anti-corruption agency has accused him of looting public funds. He has denied any wrongdoing.


Corruption ranking

The report did not provide any evidence that the funds accepted by the banks were the direct proceeds of any crime.

Africa’s most populous nation is regularly ranked one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It ranked 130th out 180 nations in Transparency International’s list of country’s perceived as most transparent in 2009.

Most of its 150 million people survive on $2 a day or less, yet the country is one of the world’s top champagne importers and its wealthiest residents are among the continent’s richest.

Nuhu Ribadu, the former head of its anti-corruption agency, has estimated that corruption and mismanagement swallow up about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s annual oil income.

“Without access to the international financial system, it would be much harder for corrupt politicians from the developing world to loot their treasuries or accept bribes,” Global Witness said in its report.

by Kofoworola Belo-Osagie (Lagos), Frank Ikpefan (Abuja), Adekunle Jimoh (Ilorin) and Damisi Ojo (Akure)




University teachers yesterday got some bad news. Their request for increased funding of universities cannot be met now, the Federal Government said.

It was reacting to the “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike” declared by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Minister of Education Adamu Adamu told reporters in Abuja that the teachers should show understanding with the government.

He said: ”I must say that this is difficult to reconcile with all the efforts and positive achievements we have been able to make.

“The Issues necessitating this strike date back to 2009 when the then government of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua signed an agreement with the ASUU on funding of the federal universities.

“The agreement provided for funding of universities to the tune of N1.3trillion over a period of six years. It is instructive to know that Nigeria was experiencing the oil boom at that time. It was, therefore, expected that government will be able to meet the terms of agreement.

“However, international oil prices crashed in subsequent years, thereby throwing the country into economic hardship. At the inception of this administration, the country’s economic fortunes worsened, nose diving into recession, with dire consequences on all sectors of the economy, including education.

“We exited recession not too long ago, and we are just beginning to recover from the consequences of low oil prices, which are happily beginning to pick up.

“If this trend continues, definitely, the education sector will also improve. In other words, the wellbeing of the education sector and any other sector of the country’s economy is a function of the international oil prices; this is the stack reality for now, which all of us must acknowledge and accept.”

The minister urged parents, ASUU and students to exercise restraint in their response to the education sector.

He said the union should be mindful of the fact that other sectors of the economy were competing with similar financial needs.

ASUU’s strike is hinged on delays in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the government agreed to in 2017, including to compel the government to conclude the renegotiation of other agreements also collectively reached in 2009.

ASUU National President Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, announcing the commencement of the strike, had re-echoed the insincerity of the government in meeting its demands.

Ogunyemi said: “Having waited patiently for action and meaningful negotiation with reasonable men using the principle of collective bargaining that ASUU at its NEC meeting of 3rd and 4th November 2018 at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) resolved to resume the nationwide strike suspended in September 2017 with immediate effect.

“This strike will be total comprehensive and indefinite. Our members shall withdraw their services until government fully implements all outstanding issues as contained in the MOA of 2017, and concludes the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements.”

The strike received mixed reactions on its first day yesterday. It was effective in Lagos but failed to take off in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The Chairman of ASUU, University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru, said lecturers would join the strike.
The strike was on at the Lagos State University (LASU).

Dr Ashiru said the UNILAG chapter had joined the strike even though as at the time The Nation spoke with him, the university was on holiday and he was yet to brief members about the ASUU NEC meeting he attended where the decision to start the strike was taken.

Speaking at the UNILAG ASUU Secretariat, Ashiru said: “The University of Lagos chapter has joined the strike that we suspended in November 2017. The strike is comprehensive, total and indefinite. I have just returned from the NEC in Akure; I have scheduled an EXCO meeting for 1pm where we will deliberate on the issues raised at the NEC. After that, we will call a congress tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Ashiru justified the strike, saying the union had given the Federal Government enough time to fulfill the 2009 Agreement between both parties, which was due for re-negotiation in 2013. He said of the N1.3 trillion the government ought to have provided for the revitalisation of infrastructure in public universities, only N200 billion had been paid.

He said the money was meant to improve facilities in public universities. He also said the government was owing ASUU members earned academic allowances.

“Our union entered an agreement since 2009. Only specific part of the agreement was implemented. In 2012, there was a Memorandum of Agreement; in 2013, there was another Memorandum of Agreement.

The government promised to inject N1.3 trillion into the university system. It has not been done. The Jonathan government paid N200 billion. Only recently, when the government realised we were mobilising for strike that they lied that they released N20 billion to ASUU, which was not true. From 2013 to date, our members have not been paid earned academic allowances,” Ashiru said.

The Lagos State University (LASU) chapter of the union also announced it had joined the strike.

“ASUU-LASU is fully on strike. Once the national ASUU declares a strike, we have no option but to join. It is not a matter of choice,” said Dr Tony Dansu, Secretary, ASUU-LASU, on phone.

Mr Samuel Olalere, President, LASU Students Union (LASUSU), told NAN that the strike had not fully began on the campus because ASUU-LASU chapter was yet to hold its congress.

LASU Vice Chancellor Prof. Lanre Fagbohun appealed to ASUU to eschew anger and consider the Buhari administration’s plea as the problem emanated from previous governments.

“The issue at hand did not happen overnight. The problems have been there for so many years.

“So ASUU must show some understanding in the way they articulate and insist on some of these issues,” Fagbohun said, adding:
“The problem requires the understanding of all the parties; government must continuously show sincerity of purposes in the negotiation.

“Rather than allow a breakdown of the system, we should consider an incremental gain.

“Our young adults and educational institutions will suffer once there is a breakdown of the system. We should therefore not allow us eventually lose what we are trying to protect.”

Lectures were on at the University of Ilorin (UNILORI) and the Kwara State University (KWASU).

IEarlier in the day at UNILORIN, some students expressed apprehension when their teachers failed to show up in class but it was learnt that the lecturers were at a meeting.

Since most students were just returning to school after the long vacation and the school’s convocation ceremonies, the premises was brimming with a large number of them yesterday. Some of them pleaded against the strike.

UNILORIN in the last 17 years has not participated in any strike called by the parent body of the union.

UNILORIN ASUU Chairman Dr Usman Raheem reportedly said the institution’s branch of ASUU did not join the strike because the parent body failed to communicate the information to his executive.

At KWASU, officials said there was no reason for the teachers to join the strike.

“We are fully in session; we are not on strike,” two officials at the school’s Public Relations Unit told our reporter. They asked not to be named since there was no authorisation to speak yet on the issue.

There were not lectures at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).
The offices and lecture rooms were deserted.

Some students were moving out of the campus with their luggage.

The chairman, FUTA branch of ASUU, Dr Bola Oluya, said the union would hold its congress today and formally declare its decision to join the strike thereafter.

However, the situation was different at the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University,Akungba-Akoko(AAUA). The teachers were yet to join the strike.
Our correspondent learnt that semester examination was on going.

A lecturer who spoke in confidence said AAUA chapter of ASUU would soon call its congress to decide whether to join the strike or not.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Branch of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, announced on Monday that the union would join the planned NLC strike if government and labour failed to resolve their differences.

“We are an affiliate of the NLC, we shall obey its directives. So we have no choice than to join the strike anytime we’re called upon to do so,” Agbede told the transport correspondent of newsmen in Lagos.

Nigerians are waiting anxiously to know the outcome of a last minute dialogue between government and organized labour over a nationwide strike, scheduled for Nov. 6 by labour unions, arising from disagreements with government over a national minimum wage.


Labour has demanded N30, 000 but the Federal Government insists it can only pay N24, 000 while state governments offered to pay N22, 500.

Public sector workers in Nigeria are among the least paid in the world, although political office holders in the country, including members of the country’s bicameral parliament earn some of the biggest wages in the world.

Also speaking on the strike, the District Manager of the Nigeria Railways Corporation, Mr Jerry Oche, said that the company would not operate if the proposed strike got underway.

“We are not going to operate if there is strike. But if there is no strike we will operate but we wish the situation is resolved before tomorrow,” Oche said.

Mr Fola Tinubu, Managing Director of Primero Transport Services Ltd., said that the company’s buses would operate strike or no strike.

“Yes, we are operating tomorrow,” Tinubu said.

Suleiman Jafo, Chairman of the Nagari Nakowa Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, told NAN that members of the body would operate, provided movement was not restricted.

“We are not salary earners. We eat from our daily operations,” Jafo said.

A tricycle operator, Mr Jude Eze, said that although tricycle operators were in solidarity with labour over the minimum wage, they would have no choice than to operate, unless movement was disrupted.

On his part, Mr Role Odukale, Chairman of the Red Bus Rapid Transit and Chief Operating Officer of Ise Oluwa Transport Company, said that his company’s bus drivers had been told not to operate if there was strike.

“The drivers said they are not going to work as directed by their union.
“We are just their employer, they belong to a union and we cannot work against their union,” Odukale said.
NAN

Immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has said that the federal government must perish the idea of increasing the pump price of petrol from N145 per litre to N185 in March next year.

He said that “Nigerians have suffered enough in the hands of the APC government and won’t accept any further upward review of petrol pump price.”

The former governor, who described the planned increment as a way of taking back of whatever that is added to workers salary as minimum wage increment.

He said; “They are delaying the increment till March
because of its effects on the February 2019 elections.”

Media Aide to the former governor, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement on Monday that the NNPC presentation to the Senate last week that N145 fuel pump price was unrealistic and that the pump price of petrol was supposed to be N185 per litre as against the official price of N145 per litre was a way to prepare the minds of Nigerians for the planned increment.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru had told Senate Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate allegation that the Corporation created a fund to finance fuel subsidy without appropriation by the National Assembly that the NNPC set aside $1.05 billion to augment the differential between the landing cost of imported fuel and the pump price of N145 per litre. He said landing cost of petrol was N185 per litre, pointing out that the N40 gap was being filled with the $1.05 billion Support Fund.

Reacting, Fayose, who said the NNPC must explain to Nigerians where it derived powers to spend $1.05 billion (over N350 billion) from crude oil sales to subsidise petrol, noted that it was unexplainable for any agency of the federal government to spend revenue belonging to the entire country without first remitting the fund into the federation account.

The former governor said it was uncharitable for anyone to draw comparison between the pump price of petrol in West African countries with that of Nigeria without considering cost of living in those countries and whether or not they are oil producing like Nigeria.

He said “smuggling is an outdated excuse for increasing petrol pump price, it will no longer be accepted by Nigerians.

“Nigerians are suffering. Millions of jobs have been lost and even many of those still employed are not gainfully employed. The federal government must not add to the burden of the suffering masses by increasing the pump price of petrol as being planned.”

by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie




United States (U.S.) High Commission Consul-General F. John Bray has said $1.3billion American businesses in Nigeria are threatened.

The threats, according to him, are coming from instability in the exchange rate, policy inconsistency, poor electricity, dearth of infrastructure, regulatory and security issues.

He said American investors are into three specific sectors–consumer products, oil and gas. Bray spoke in Lagos at the 2018 International Investment Conference with the home, Promoting Investment, Connecting Business.

The forum was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).
Bray said though the Nigerian economy was not growing at 2.3 per cent, unlike Cote d’Ivoire, which is growing at seven per cent, it is still the toast of investors as a result of this country’s population.

He said American investors have issues with how policies are made and changed, noting that it has the capacity to discourage investors into the country. He cited regulatory issues, such as the one involving MTN, which had led to the directive for the telco to return cash allegedly ferried out of the country without recourse to laid down procedures.

The envoy said it has the capacity to discourage any investor as there seems not to be a clear-cut obedience to rule of law to protect investors.

He regretted that the country has image problem which needed to be addressed urgently, stressing that though security concerns remain an issue, it is not enough to discourage genuine investors as what they need to do is just to take care of their personal or corporate existence.

On infrastructure, he encouraged the building of competitive infrastructure and stressed the need to connect cities and states for easy movement of goods and services.

Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission, Ms Laure Beaufils said out of the £400million United Kingdom investment in Africa, Nigeria has a large chunk of it but regretted that UK investors are sometimes confused as to the risks inherent in investing in the country and how to mitigate them.

She also criticised the policy somersaults in the country which is capable of discouraging any investor and cited the MTN issue with the regulatory authorities as an example. She noted that some regulatory decisions are not good for the development and growth of the economy especially in job creation.

Earlier, LCCI President, Babatunde Paul Ruwase, said the economy is in dire need of private investment to create jobs, diversify the economy, grow government revenue and improve the welfare of the people. He called for investment in the non-oil sector as it is more inclusive and integrated. Ruwase regretted the marginal drop in the 2019 Ease of Business report and called for the right policies with investment friendly institutions.

Chairman, LCCI International Arbitration Centre, Babatunde Fagbohunlu stressed the need for intergovernmental agencies collaboration and knowledge sharing.

According to him, if the country wants to attract investment, the relevant agencies of government must partner to deliver service to all

Osogbo – Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Atakunmosa West Local Government Council of Osun State has dumped the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and endorsed the candidature of Peoples Democartic Party (PDP), Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, as their choice to support in the forthcoming general election.

The party chairman in the area, Chief Joshua Ogunleye, who made this known to newsmen when Adenigba Fadahunsi and his team visited his home in Osu said the party was done with Senator Iyiola Omisore in the area.

He explained that the deal that SDP in the local government had with Omisore terminated with the last gubernatorial election and pledged commitment to Fadahunsi’s ambition at the poll.

He stressed that the SDP is ready to work with the PDP candidate to ensure victory at the poll.

Chief Ogunleye recalled how he was attacked at the collation centre during 2015 senatorial election and how he had to appear at the tribunal to defend Fadahunsi’s victory.

The SDP leader then solicited for the support of his followers for the PDP candidate, noting he is capable of transforming the zone.

In his response, Prince Fadahunsi recalled past dealings with Ogunleye and commended his host for his commitment to the welfare of his people.

Fadahunshi assured him that his place in PDP is always secured, and that the party would continue to accord him respect.

The former customs boss who also pleaded with SDP leaders to return to PDP, said: “Please, let’s return home and together, we shall rescue our land from the invaders.”

The event was witnessed by the local and ward Executive of the SDP in Atakumosa East local government.

By Ibrahim Musa Giginyu



The Chancellor, Kano state University of Science and Technology (KUST) Wudil, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has given the approval for the recruitment of 15 foreign Professor into the university.

Daily Trust learnt that the professors would be on his payroll for 4 years.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shehu Alhaji Musa, disclosed this at a press briefing held in Kano on Friday where he spoke about some developmental strides recorded in the university.

He added that Dangote had taken the burden of payment of their salaries for four years with possible extension to eight years in addition to building, furnishing their accommodation within the University.

The VC also added that the Kano state government had also recruited 600 academic staff for the university as part of the state government efforts to see that the university thrives among its peers.

jericco1:
fake news

By Itodo Daniel Sule



https://cdn.dailytrust.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Kogi-doctor-who-slumped-489x367.jpeg
The doctor that collapsed while on duty at the Kogi Specialist Hospital on Thursday.



A doctor with the Paediatric Unit of Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Dr. Amos Ojo on Thursday slumped while on duty at the hospital.

The doctor was said to be on ward round at noon when he suddenly collapsed due to exhaustion from too much workload and was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Ward of the hospital for resuscitation.

This is just as another doctor from the Paediatric Unit is equally said to be down and currently being attended to in his house.

Daily Trust learnt from health workers that pressure of work had been much on doctors following the mass exit of physicians from the hospital, as about 27 doctors were said to have left the hospital in recent time on alleged account of poor welfare.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Kogi State, Dr. Zubair recently raised concern that a total of 79 doctors had resigned from the service of the state in the last 10 months.

President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Dr Ashraf Abdulhakeem, who confirmed the incident, said the doctor was resuscitated and currently in stable condition.

“Actually, there are two of our doctors that are having issues. Late hours of yesterday, one of the doctor who was on call at the Paediatric Unit took ill and had to go home.

Unfortunately, over the night, it escalated and we had to attend to him in his house.
“This morning (Thursday) around 12 noon, another doctor who also works in the Paediatric Unit also collapsed. These are the two cases involving our doctors between last night and today.

“Some of our doctors have left the hospital and they have not been replaced. That has now increased the pressure of work on the ones on ground.

“In the case of the doctor who was sick, he couldn’t go home because there are not enough hands. They have to stay back to see if they could work and that has resulted to what we have right now. We haven’t had enough manpower for quite sometimes now”, he said.

He called on the state government to address the wellbeing of the doctors and generality of workers in the state, adding that, “If the wellbeing of doctors are taken care of, some of these acute breakdown we see would not arise”.

On the issue of salary, Dr Ashraf said, “Salary issue is a general issue in the state. The doctors being civil servants are also part of the civil servants affected by salaries.

As at September 6, we got our May salary and that is the last salary doctors have taken.”

By Ibrahim Sha'ban



The 20 Model Battalion of the Nigeria Army located in Serti, Taraba, said it had discovered an illegal security training camp in Serti locality.

Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt.-Col. Sani Adamu, who stated this on Thursday in Serti.

Sani told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the Special Adviser on Security to Taraba Governor, Col. Agyo Wapan (retd), had been invited as part of an investigation on the issue.

He said that the discovery followed calls by concerned citizens, who disclosed that no fewer than 300 youths were being trained in a public primary school in the area.

He said that on the receipt of the calls, he promptly responded by visiting the site and found over 300 young men were undergoing military training.

The commander said that the training was being conducted by GS Security Services, a security outfit in the state.



[img]https://i1.wp.com/storage.googleapis.com/stateless-dailynigerian-com/2018/11/35eeef71-illegal-training-centerin-taraba-state-300x116.jpg?zoom=2.8899999999999997&resize=300%2C116&ssl=1[/img]

Illegal training center in Taraba state




He confirmed that he had filed a report to his superior on the development and for further directive.

The security outfit is allegedly hired by the Taraba Government to train selected youths as Marshals.

Sani explained that his men had profiled the young men and dismantled the camp while awaiting directive from Army Headquarters.

Alarm on the illegal training camp was sequel to unusual influx of hundreds of young men from some local government areas into Serti, headquarters of Gashaka Local Government Area.

A resident of the area, Abubakar Mohammed, told NAN that they raised the alarm because of the frequent clashes of youths who were commonly used by desperate politicians to hunt their enemies.

“We suspect that the state government is training them, under whatever guise, to use them to disrupt the election process in 2019,” he said.

Contacted, Chairman of Gashaka Local Government Area, Alhaji Umar Mohammed, explained that the training was at the instance of the state government.

He said that 10 youths were selected from each ward to be trained as marshals who would subsequently be deployed to provide security in their areas.

Mohammed said that before the exercise, the military, police and the Directorate of State Service (DSS) were invited to a security meeting where the issues of uniform and other kitting of the marshals were agreed on.

He said that those being trained in Serti were recruited from Sardauna and Gashaka areas “with the full knowledge of stakeholders in each ward.”
NAN

Minna – A former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (Retd), has predicted that the 2019 senatorial election in Zone ‘B’, Niger State, would be a walkover for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the All Progressives Alliance (APC) appears to be entangled in a crisis.

“The APC in all three tiers of government is still embroiled in debilitating crisis that is threatening to completely bring down the party and in next year’s general elections, all that is required by PDP is to step up efforts with fervent prayers to emerge victorious,” he said.

Babangida spoke when he granted audience to the standard bearer of the PDP in next year’s senatorial election, Ibrahim Ishaku (SAN), who emerged the party’s flag bearer for Niger-East (Zone ‘B’) in last month’s primaries in Niger State.

The former military leader expressed optimism that Ibrahim Ishaku from Kuta in Shiroro Local Government Area, the first in Niger State to be so capped as Senior Advocate of Nigeria, will fill the gap the people of the zone had missed in recent past years.

Ibrahim Ishaku had earlier told the former military president that his visit was to seek for his blessings and endorsement ahead of the flag-off of his electioneering and the general election coming up next year.

While introducing members of his campaign organization, Ishaku told Babangida that his campaign team was made up of veteran technocrats, administrators, media practitioners, youth leaders and opinion moulders who were carefully picked for the job.

The PDP senatorial hopeful enlisted the blessings and prayers of Babangida even as he said his vision in politics was to impact the lives of citizens in his senatorial zone through ‘efficient’ representation.

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The Chairman of Credit Switch Technology , Chief Ope Badamosi , has allegedly been murdered by a cook , he just hired .

According to THISDAY Badamosi was murdered early on Wednesday, at his Onikoyi Lane, Parkview Estate .

A neighbour of the deceased , who didn’ t want to be named said , “ I heard a scream from the wife , so I ran outside to their flat and saw her screaming outside with people holding her as she said that her husband had been murdered. When we got inside , we saw the man in a pool of blood with the volume of music increased to the highest level .

“ Already we had called the attention of the estate police before going in and they arrived just on time . According to the wife , she said she left her husband very early this morning to do some transactions in the bank . On her way back , she called her husband and couldn't hear what he was saying as his words were barely cohesive , and was just muttering words before the call dropped.

“ She attempted to call him back but he wasn ’ t picking up his phone . On getting home , the security was still asleep and couldn ’ t even respond to her car horns till she got down from her car , to bang on the security ’ s window ; that was when the security eventually woke up to open the gate for her . But unfortunately, on entering , she met her husband lying in a pool of his own blood and couldn ’ t find the cook who just resumed work on Sunday anywhere.

“ That was when she screamed out for help and sent the security to help her run to see if he can still apprehend the cook . Perhaps because of fear , the security who was just employed on Sunday as well , also took to his heels upon the news that his new boss had been murdered. ”

A former security guard at the apartment, who pleaded not to be named , spoke with THISDAY.

He said he was sacked from his job after working for just a month with no reasons given to him and was paid off by the deceased on the eve of the incident .

He said his sack may not be unconnected with the security measures he took to ensure that proper records of visitors to the apartment were kept . He said prior to his employment , there were no records of visitors to the apartment.

“ I just returned from police questioning. I was the one guiding that house before.

That oga is a very nice man. When I resumed work, I realised that there wasn't a manifest where security can keep record of any visitor that comes around . So I developed that , ” he said , adding that he realised that immediately he started doing that, he began to have problem in the house , consequently leading to his sack.

He said it was on Sunday, “ I realised that they have employed new cook and security man when I went there to carry my fan. And yesterday ( Tuesday) evening , Oga (the deceased ) called me to come and collect my salary , which I went and I saw him . He was hale and hearty . ”

The Divisional Police Officer of Ikoyi Division , Ikoyi - Lagos , SP Mustapha Tijani , in a brief chat with THISDAY , said an official statement would be issued by the police as soon as they were done with the investigation , “but right now , efforts have been intensified towards tracking down the cook who is at large.

Before leaving the venue , the newly employed security man , came back to the crime scene , accompanied by his guarantor for the job . Both of them were later whisked away by some police officers.

lalasticlala

Olalekan Adetayo , Abuja


A national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress , Asiwaju Bola Tinubu , has faulted the calls by some party chiefs including state governors for the removal of the party ’ s National Chairman , Adams Oshiomhole .

Tinubu spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa , Abuja .

He said his meeting with the President was about the nation , Nigerians , peace , stability and economic progress .

When asked if he is in support of the call for Oshiomhole’ s removal , the former Lagos State Governor said , “No ! We all have to respect party supremacy . “ You were all here when we had the congress.

We elected the new executives. We had the convention and the NEC was formed .

“ We surrendered to avoid conflict, domination , abuse of power.

“ We surrendered our rights, all rights, to the National Working Committee headed by Adams Oshiomohole , that the NWC should set up electoral bodies to supervise various state congresses and elections. We signed off for it .

“ So , if it is not in our individual favour , so be it . We gave three options : consensus . Where there is no consensus because you are more than two or three and you cannot agree to one candidate, you go to the next level .

“ The next level is the stakeholders ’ delegate and you have to be supervised by the National Working Committee of the party , national election committee of the party . That shows party supremacy .

“ The freest option , the less cumbersome is direct primary ; line up and count the number, 1 , 2 , 3 . If you win, you win and if you fail , go home .

“ Then appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals , internal mechanism for conflict resolution . It was there, you cannot turn against that. You cannot turn against all of that . No!

“ Party is supreme. Party must be respected . Abuses will not do it and anger will not do it . It is party politics , somebody will win and somebody will lose , too bad.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja



The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme , Prof. Usman Yusuf , has sued the Minister of Health, Prof . Isaac Adewole , the Attorney - General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) , and the NHIS over his suspension by the governing council of the board.

In the suit with the number, FHC/ ABJ /CS /1220 /2018 filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja , which was obtained by The PUNCH, Yusuf asked the court to rule among others that the governing council of the NHIS had no powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend him from office .

Yusuf instituted the suit through his lawyer , Uchechukwu Obi (SAN), on Monday .

The NHIS boss asked the court to state that the council had no powers under sections 6 and 7 of the Act to discipline him or to investigate allegations made against him as they purported to do by their internal memorandum on October 19 , 2018 .

The suit asked the court to declare that “ only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and no other , upon the recommendation of the minister of health can discipline , investigate , suspend or remove him from office . ”

The plaintiff prayed the court to set aside his purported suspension from the NHIS by the board of the agency was null and void .

He asked the court to determine if the minister could suspend him without the express approval of the President .

The NHIS boss had been under investigation for several allegations of fraud .

He was among others accused of perpetrating fraud to the tune of N 919 m and was suspended by the minister of health in July last year .

However , he was controversially reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2019 but was again suspended by the governing council of the NHIS on October 19.

Yusuf has , however , been supported by the Presidency and has continued to resume at work sparking a series of protests by unionists.

Olalekan Adetayo , Abuja



The Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , on Monday said governing boards of federal agencies or parastatals have no power to remove Chief Executive Officers appointed by the President.

He said such boards may , however “articulate infractions, investigate wrongdoing and make recommendations to government through the supervisory ministry . ”

Mustapha made the clarification at an induction programme for governing board members of federal parastatals, universities and medical centres organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms , in conjunction with the Department for International Development , a United Kingdom government department responsible for administering overseas aid.

The clarification came at the time the dust raised by the recent decision of the Governing Board of the National Health Insurance Scheme to suspend Prof. Usman Yusuf as the Executive Secretary is yet to settle .

The chairman of the board , Ifenne Enyanatu, had on October 18 announced Yusuf ’ s indefinite suspension , saying the board consulted and got the approval of the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole , on the matter.

Yusuf had however rejected the suspension , saying it is only the President that can suspend him .

Although he did not specifically mention the NHIS saga , Mustapha said the Federal Government was concerned that most governing boards have not understood their roles in the corporate governance of the agencies they superintend.

So far, he said the government has noticed some infractions on the side of such boards .

He listed the infractions to include what he called the board chairmen’ s undue interference in the day- to - day activities of their parastatals and agencies; blatant disregard for extant regulations guiding the conduct of board meetings ; interference in the function of the CEOs; issuing directives to members of staff without recourse to the CEOs; imposition of disciplinary measures against the CEOs in flagrant violation of the laid down rules; and using labour unions as agents of distractions in the agencies.

By Abdullateef Aliyu



The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos has reached out to members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join what they describe as the struggle to free the state from one-man leadership.

The party said the APC members should join the “free Lagos train” to be recorded as true progressives that returned the governance of the state to the people.

The PDP’s entreaty was premised on the inability of some members of the APC to get the party’s ticket to contest in the 2019 elections.

Spokesman of the PDP, Mr. Taofiq Gani, in a statement said aggrieved members should be bold enough to dump the APC, adding that they should emulate their members in Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Imo, among others.

The PDP noted that such aggrieved members of the ruling party were in all the senatorial districts of the state, claiming that some of them were denied second term ticket for no just cause.

Governor Ambode leads the pack of APC members who could not get return tickets.

The PDP had consistently expressed its readiness to receive Ambode if he chose to dump the APC.

The opposition party’s statement said: “To be fair to some persons in the Lagos APC, they have not done badly to warrant the disgrace of being denied another term. In order words the APC rather sees them as being without any value.

“Such individuals are invited to assert their relevance in their voting areas by supporting candidates against the APC.

This is a common struggle this time to free Lagos.”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party , Olabode George , has challenged any Nigerian who accuses his party ’ s presidential candidate , Atiku Abubakar , of corruption , to cast the first stone if they ’ re truly above board .

The politician said that whatever Atiku might be accused or suspected of , he has learnt his lessons and is not likely to toe the same path.

George , who spoke on Sunday during a live radio programme , Discuss With Jimi Disu,
argued that as an ageing man , Atiku must have learnt from his past , and that he is better poised to lead the nation .
He said that Atiku is currently resting overseas where he is also fine - tuning his campaign strategy .

Referring to Presidential Muhammadu Buhari as his oga while they were both in the military , George said that he held Buhari responsible for the “ shambolic things” that attended the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, asking the President to “ rein in his party members so that the will of the people could be done. ”

George said though Buhari might be a person of integrity , “ the general perception of the President as the leader of the All Progressives Congress makes him culpable for any perceived shortcomings of the party , such as the outcome of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states . ”

George argued that the outcomes of the elections were a “rip- off of the people of Osun and Ekiti states of their legitimate votes . ”

“ This is the perception of the international election observers , ” George maintianed .
Asked if he thinks that Buhari is truly not in full control of his administration , George counselled the President to listen to the people through the footmen he should have appointed to gauge public feelings about his government .

George expressed doubts that Buhari won the 2015 presidential election fair and square , alleging that then President Goodluck Jonathan did not consult the party before he conceded defeat to Buhari .

“ His concession came out of the blue. We were all surprised when we heard the breaking news that GEJ had conceded defeat, ” George said.

Asked what the PDP apologised for at the peak of its desperation that it lost the 2015 elections after 16 years as the ruling party , George said the party ’ s national apology came after the PDP had realised its “ mistakes . ”

He said that the outcome of the PDP national convention was an attestation of its change of character and its readiness to correct the wrongs of the past and rule well.

On the Moshood Salvadore decamping from the PDP to APC in Lagos State, with Salvadore accusing George of being responsible for his eventual joining the opposition in the state , George said that Salvadore was forced to leave the PDP after he “veered off the rules of the party . ”
He, however , refused to elaborate , saying that the case is still in court.

He disclosed that he was Salvadore ’ s mentor when the latter joined the PDP , and that he also advised him to contest the state PDP chairmanship when Salvadore showed interest.

He accused Salvadore of installing party leaders in certain areas in the state, a situation that George said led to fracas in which someone died .

George also denied any insinuation that he wanted to help Salvadore acquire some federal property, the failure of which, some people alleged , led to grudges between them .

George , who said that he would soon retire from active politics , said (the incumbent Lagos PDP chairman , Dr . Adebola Dominic, would work to capture Lagos for the party in the 2019 governorship election.

He also disclosed how Femi Otedola met him and said that he wanted to contest the Lagos governorship election on the PDP platform ; and how it was Deji Doherty and Jimi Agbaje that eventually applied for party ticket , with Agbaje becoming the party ’ s candidate ultimately .

He expressed confidence in the Jimi Agbaje candidacy, saying that the PDP candidate ’ s silence since he won the primaries wasn’ t unusual, and that he was only following the INEC rules that campaign can ’ t commence until the time scheduled.

The party leader said that Mr. Agbaje ’ s refusal to speak up against vexing issues of public interest in Lagos is no insinuation that he won ’ t be an effective governor if elected.

On his opinion about restructuring , George said that PDP has agreed that Nigeria must be restructured , and that it is a policy of the party for each region to have control over certain percentage of whatever it produces .

“ Abuja would still be there, but it won ’ t be the all in all as we have now , and each state will be compelled to live on the resources it generates, instead of waiting hand and foot on Abuja , ” George says .

Bode George did not respond when a listener tweeted to remind him that despite his reservations about Buhari , he should realise the President’ s “ magnanimity ” in retaining Mr. George ’ s wife , Roli, as the Director General / Secretary to the Board of the NDLEA, even when both of them are in the opposition.

He, however, said it was mundane for anyone to ask Buhari to produce his WASSCE certificate , insisting that Buhari should rather be judged on the basis of his performance as President .

“ As a retired General , Buhari attended many institutions, some of which are equivalent to postgraduate studies.

“ Nigerians should therefore judge him on the basis of his performance and not on the veracity or otherwise of any certificate , ” George said .

He would , however, not respond to his host ’ s question as to who to blame for Nigeria ’ s woes between the present and past administrations.