₦airaland Forum

By Saawua Terzungwe


The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, says President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the APC have laid landmines that may explode and ground the country in 2020.

Secondus in a New Year message yesterday through his Special Adviser on Media, Ike Abonyi, said Nigerians should brace up for the “dictatorial regime” in the new year.

Prince Secondus said with the judiciary caged, the legislature ready and willing to rubber stamp whatever comes from the executive, media and the opposition intimidated, Nigerians should await the fang of a dictator wearing the apparel of a democrat.

He said 2020 portends further hard times for Nigerians with the huge loan demands passing through the National Assembly without scrutiny coupled with the accompanying high taxation bills from the executive.

The opposition leader predicted that 2020 would be tough, considering the alleged high level of corruption already rated by experts to be worse under the present administration as they continue to allegedly look away to reported cases of fraud involving high profile members of the ruling class.

“Added to this is the ineptitude that has engulfed the oil sector and various agencies of government as square pegs are put in round holes at the expense of merits,” Secondus said.

Reviewing the activities of the past 12 months, Prince Secondus said 2019 remained the worst year for democracy in Nigeria.

He said the worst form of vandalization was done to democracy and rule of law in the country in the outgoing year and blamed it on the anti-democratic forces allegedly being nurtured by the APC to achieve their one party agenda for the country.

Secondus appealed to all critical stakeholders in the nation’s democracy, particularly the media and civil society groups to remain alert to their responsibilities and hold APC administration accountable in 2020 as its curious open visa policy allegedly has dubious political undertone.

By Kayode Ajiboye


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The Lagos State Government is expected to make a declaration tomorrow (Tuesday) on commercial motorcycle and tricycle operation in the state.

The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state executive council, on Monday, discussed extensively on the “menace” of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles popularly known as Keke Marwa.

Daily Trust reports that, in recent times, there has been a resurgence of Okada on the highways by operators of bike services, including Opay, Max.ng, Gokada, among others.

It would be recalled that the state police command recently arrested dozens of the operators for allegedly flouting the traffic laws.

Speaking at a live interview on TVC News in Lagos, monitored by our correspondent, the governor said a decision had been taken on the menace of Okada and Keke Marwa which would be clarified with the security architecture of the state.

The governor did not however, disclose the action which had been taken with many people guessing whether there would be a total ban or further streamlining of the operation of the riders which have grown astronomically in recent times.

Answering questions on the daily influx of people into the state, the governor declared that the state would not restrict movement as long as they are Nigerians coming to do legitimate businesses.

He said: “In terms of free movement, we really cannot do anything about that. We cannot put a border post at Ojota and say that you cannot come in. We are Nigerians and we are all from the same nation.

“But there is the need for us to ensure that you are coming to do genuine and legitimate business in the state and the state would be open for that.”

The governor however, said the state, through the Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), is working to have a database of all Lagos residents.

Speaking further, the governor disclosed that the planned construction of the fourth Mainland Bridge, which bid had been opened, would be ready by 2023.

He said no fewer than 32 contractors had been shortlisted for the expression of interest, adding that: “By the grace of God, we should see the bridge on the Lagos lagoon.”

The governor explained that the bridge would cover Epe, Ikorodu, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu up to Lagos-Ibadan expressway with a view to decongesting the Lagos metropolis and reducing the traffic gridlock in the state.

Ministers can only travel out of the country eight times in a year, Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed has disclosed.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that no minister should go on foreign trips more than twice in a quarter.

Besides, no minister on a trip outside the shores of the land should go with more than four aides, who should be relevant to the trip.

Govt officials below the rank of ministers are henceforth entitled to fewer aides.

Besides, estacode would no longer be calculated on hourly basis.

TOBA AGBOOLA reports
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a communiqué at the end of its meeting with the state council chairmen last week, said it would not be able to guarantee industrial peace in states that failed to conclude negotiations and begin payment of the new minimum wage by December 31, 2019.

In the communiqué, which was jointly signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; and the National Chairperson of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union side), Simon Anchaver; the NLC said states that had yet to commence negotiation might experience industrial disharmony from January if the governors refuse to do the needful.

As of the said date, the NLC noted that while states like Kaduna, Lagos, Kebbi and Adamawa had begun payment, some others like Kano, Abia and about nine others had constituted negotiating committees. Others like Rivers, Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Gombe and about 14 others had yet to set up a negotiating committee.

The new minimum wage Act was signed into law on April 18, 2019, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, while Cross River, Taraba, and Ondo states have set up committees to negotiate with the unions before the deadline, Oyo, Gombe and Imo states have not shown commitment to meet up with the deadline.

Also, Benue, Enugu, Bayelsa and Ebonyi states have ruled out the possibility of meeting up with the deadline.

Kwara State

In Kwara State, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said the governor had shown a commitment to meeting the deadline by constituting the minimum wage 15-member committee earlier to work out the modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage.

Also, a member of the implementation committee and state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kolawole Olumoh, last week, said: “We have commenced negotiations with the state government and Insha Allah, we are going to meet the deadline. Though some states, including Kwara, have paid the December salaries of their workers, since we have commenced negotiations in our case, I’m sure we are going to meet the deadline.”

Delta State

In Delta State, Commissioner for Finance Fidelis Tilije promised that the committee would conclude seating on the matter by Tuesday (December 31).

He said: “We have been meeting and already negotiating with labour. I’m so sure by Monday or Tuesday, we must have resolved completely, and should be able to come up with the final agreed minimum wage pay for Delta State.”

Also, the state Secretary of NLC, Mr Innocent Ofoeyeadi, said: “We are engaged in dialogue with the committee of the state government and they would have to pay the new minimum wage this December. But because of the issues of figures in the proposal, it will not reflect until we resolve them.”

Edo State

In Edo State, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said the state government had already set up a committee on the implementation of the salary scale.

Meanwhile, the NLC chairman in the state, Mr Sunny Osayande, said there was no cause for alarm, adding that they were praying for the governor to be able to implement the new scale in December.

He added: “The governor is working seriously I must confess to you even though he is not talking. By the grace of God, Edo will meet the December 31 deadline with the work ongoing right now in the state. We have met him already and he has assured us.

“He said they should work out how much is involved and we discovered that what we are going to add to it is going to be very minimal, so there is no cause for alarm,” he said.

Katsina State

In Katsina State, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Productivity, Mallam Tanimu Saulawa, said the state was optimistic about the fruitful outcome of its current negotiation with the state chapter of the NLC before the December 31 deadline.

Saulawa said: “The deadline has not come. We are still discussing with the workers. We do not envisage any problem over the minimum wage issue. Do not forget that His Excellency is workers’ friendly and he does not joke with issues concerning workers.

“We have a committee that is discussing with the workers and anything can happen between now and the end of December. But I am sure that by the grace of God, everything will be positive.”
The state chairman of the NLC, Mr Hussaini Hamisu, also said he was hopeful of a fruitful outcome on the current negotiation between labour and the government.

“We are going to conclude the negotiations before the deadline. We hope that the whole thing will be fruitful,” he added.

Ogun State

Also, the Ogun State NLC Chairman, Emmanuel Bankole, said negotiation was ongoing with the state government, adding that the state would meet up with the deadline.

When asked if labour would extend the December 31 deadline for negotiation to be concluded due to the delay in constituting the committee, Bankole said it might not be necessary.

“Negotiation is in progress; we just left the committee now, it is ongoing and we are hopeful that we can still conclude it by December 31,” he added.

Borno State

In Borno State, the chairman of NLC, Mr Bulama Abiso, also expressed hope that negotiations would be concluded before the deadline.
“We are negotiating and very much hopeful of the fruitful outcome. Therefore, the issue of starting an industrial action does not arise for now,” he added.

Osun State

In Osun State, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council, Bayo Adejumo, said the December 31 deadline could still be met.
He added: “Osun State government has shown willingness. They recently requested for names of labour negotiating team and we have submitted that. I believe they are also putting together their team. Before the end of the month, negotiation will commence and I believe the negotiation will not take a long time.”

Enugu State

Also in Enugu, the state chairman of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Mr Chukwuma Igbokwe, said the December 31 deadline was just a template but that they would conclude negotiation before January 31, 2020.

Commissioner for Information Chidi Aroh neither answered his calls nor responded to a text message sent to his mobile phone.

Taraba State

In Taraba, the state Chairman of NLC, Mr Peter Gambo, said the organised labour was worried over the delay by the state government in setting up the negotiation team.

But, the Special Assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku on Media and Publicity, Mr Bala Dan-Abu, said the government was not opposed to the negotiation. He said the committee would soon be constituted.

Imo State

In Imo State, the Secretary to the State Government, Uche Onyeagocha, said the governor would inaugurate the joint negotiation committee before the December 31 deadline

Ondo State

In Ondo State, chairman of NLC, Mr Sunday Adeleye, said a meeting had been scheduled for Monday, adding that if the meeting was deadlocked again, the unions would make their next line of action known.

The Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye, who is the leader of the government team, could not be reached on Friday.

Cross River State

In Cross River State, the Vice-Chairman of NLC, Mr Lawrence Achuta, said: “We have not held any meeting on that. Hopefully, before the end of the year, we may likely have a state executive council meeting after which we will decide. So, we are just hoping that perhaps before that December 31 something positive will come up.”

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade, Mr Christian Ita, however, said: “I’m not sure there is an issue to it because if there was an issue to it, you will see labour agitating.”

Bayelsa State

In Bayelsa State, the NLC chairman, Mr John Ndiomu, said the organised labour would take it up with the government if at the end of January 2020 the new scale was not implemented. “By January 2020, if they (the state government) don’t pay, we will make small trouble with them,” Ndiomu said.

Ebonyi State

In Ebonyi State, the NLC chairman, Mr Nwafor, said the state government’s claim that it had negotiated the minimum wage with workers was a lie.

“Of course, we are not aware of the negotiations and don’t know the people that it (government) signed the agreement with.

“So, if after looking at what they had done and it’s right, we will adopt it; but if it’s wrong, we will join others and embark on the imminent strike.”

Oyo State

In Oyo State, the NLC Chairman, Mr Bayo Titilola-Sodo, said he would not speculate on whether Oyo State workers would embark on strike or not by December 31 if the state government did not start the implementation. He, however, said the union would liaise with the national body when the right was right.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, said: “The governor had made it clear that we are going to get the matter resolved and the labour has keyed into that because of the sincerity of purpose and transparency they have found in this government.”

Gombe State

In Gombe State, the Secretary of NLC, Shuaibu Chiroma, said negotiations would commence on December 30 (Monday), adding that final decisions would be taken on Tuesday.

But the Special Adviser to the Gombe State Governor on Public Communications and Strategy, Dr Anas Kubalu, said: “The government has inserted the minimum wage and consequential adjustment to the issue of salary in the 2020 budget.”

Speaking on the development, the Secretary-General of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Musa-Lawal Ozigi, said any governor who fails to implement or show commitment before the Tuesday deadline would be deemed to have declared war against labour.

Kano State

The Kano State government has commenced the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage and the consequential adjustment that follows for workers in the State, this December.

In Kano, the agreement reached at the end of the committee meetings, in the new minimum wage of N30,000, was held between the State Government and the joint Public service Negotiating Council on Thursday 19th December, 2019, with members from the Government and Labour’s side agreed to commence payment from December, 2019.

In the agreement letter, the categories of the increment are as follow: GL O9, 14 %, GL-10, 11 %, GL-12, 10 %, GL-13, 9 %, GL-14, 8%, GL-15-17, 6 %.

The letter reads: ”Government has agreed to commence the payment of the new minimum wage, effective from December, 2019, while arrears of April-November, 2019, will be settled on instalment basis.

”Having resolved on the above percentage increases, as well as the salary tables of the affected categories attached herewith, three representatives each from the Government and Labour side, as well as two witnesses from each side do hereby append their individual signatures as follows:

“Herewith in a letter, signed by the Head of Service, the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, as well as the Permanent Secretary, Salary and Wages were all from the Government side. While from the Labour side, were the State Chairman, Joint Negotiation Committee, its Secretary and the State Treasurer.”

The witnesses, during the signing exercise, include the Permanent Secretaries of Ministry of Planning and Budget and that of Finance, supported by the State Chairman, NLC and the State Chairman, TUC.

Abia State

The Abia State Joint Committee on the consequential adjustment of the N30, 000 minimum wage will submit its report to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu today, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman Comrade Uchenna Obigwe told The Nation.

While inaugurating the 16-man committee, which has the Head of Service, Sir Onyi Wamah as Chairman, at Government House, Umuahia, Ikpeazu assured that the government was committed to paying the new minimum wage to Abia workers.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, mandated the committee to expedite action and submit their report on or before the 31st of December 2019.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, on Sunday visited Lance Corporal Umar Muttaka, one of the soldiers on guard at his residence in Otuoke, Bayelsa state who sustained injury when gunmen attacked his house last Tuesday.

Jonathan, who visited the injured soldier in an undisclosed hospital in Yenagoa, wished him quick recovery, and commended the bravery of the security men on duty in his house, who stood firm and fought for the interest and security of the nation.

Lance Corporal Muttaka is responding to treatment from the injuries he sustained during a gun duel with unknown assailants that stormed the country home of Dr. Jonathan in Otuoke on Christmas eve, our reporter gathered.
Security has since been beefed up in the residence of the former President both in Yenagoa and Otuoke since the incidence.

...Laments 2019 is year of crises, hardship, bloodletting

There Aare Gani Adams is the 15th Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land. He is a social activist and former leader of a faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), which supports an autonomous state for the Yoruba people. Talking with Sunday Sun, he spoke about his views of 2019 and the New Year, 2020, among other issues.

What is your assessment of the outgoing year 2019?

2019 is a year of hardship in terms of the economy. It is a year where our economy is not moving in the right direction. It is a year that the government shut the border for the past four months now and it’s a year of bloodshed. It is a year of crises and lots of social vices. It is a year of bloodletting in different states in Nigeria and it’s a year of political decision.We held our presidential election and Nigeria elected President Muhammadu Buhari .

It’s a year that gradually, Nigerians are losing hope on the government. It’s a year that the government has already made up their mind with some politicians that whether you like us or not, we’ll buy you to exercise franchise for us against your will. It’s a year that we are fast losing our institution and it is a year that rule of law is dying gradually,. It’s a year that we foresee a situation that the government is prepared to intimidate the citizens by all means. The freedom of expression is eshrined in our constitution, but tactically the Federal Government wants to erase it by bringing in a bill of hate speech which the majority of Nigerians have kicked against. It is a year that the budget sent to the National Assembly doesn’t see hope coming in 2020.

It’s a year we realized that our president is not in control anymore; the people in the corridor of power have already taken over the government from him. The Sowore saga is another thing which the Federal Government did not manage very well, especially the SSS. If anybody poses a security threat, the government has a right to arrest that person, to detain him within 24 hours and charge him to the court of law. Until when the court proves him guilty before people would know that he has committed that offence. In democracy, there must always be a room for opposition. It is better to be in military uniform than to be a dictatorship in civilian democracy. You can’t survive dictatorship in democrat government. There is a serious setback on the process of our democracy.

What would you say about the arms of government?

I realized that our two arms of government have been caged by the executive. The Senate president openly told Nigerians that anything the executive brings to their table they would grant it. That’s an impeachable statement from any number three person who holds the most powerful parliament. It’s so sad that people like us that fought for this democracy are here, but those who worked with the military in those days are the ones in charge now. If the government did not pay me back for what I have done, the Yoruba has paid me a certain level of what I have done by giving me this position of Aare Ona Kakanfo. This is my own country. I can’t change my green passport.

I can’t have citizen of any other country like others who believe that if Nigeria does not work, they would fall on their green card. It’s very difficult for me to have such plans because they would use it against me. I have been offered green card, residential permit by many organizations. If not for the love I have for this country I would have had their residential permit and needing no visas to go to those countries, at least European union, 28 countries. Because of the love and because of the sacrifice we have for this country I decided to go with my green passport.

What are your perceptions about the closure of our land borders?

The damage closure of borders has caused to us is more than the advantage that the closing has caused us. I’m not a smuggler, it’s not my route, it’s not my own business interest, but when you study the feelings of the people, you are baffled at the suffering. Before I became the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land I listened to the wishes of the people, I realised that the Seme border, the Shaki border, Idiroko border and other borders within the Southwest and the economy of the grassroots are seriously affected. When you say they are bringing terrorists from these borders to Nigeria, what is the job of our Immigration? If you say they are bringing illegal goods to Nigeria what is the job of our Customs? When you are talking of security in the border, there are Immigration, SSS, Nigeria Police.

Are you now telling us that these security institutions saddled with the responsibility to secure our borders, are they not competent to secure our borders and the best solution is for you to seal the borders? This is a year I believe Nigerian government took a wrong decision on external relations in that regard.

As we are entering year 2020 are we hoping to see Vision 2020 come to reality?

Is Nigeria even prepared for 2030 talk less of 2020? A lot of things have been done to affect our institution. Every sector of Nigeria is complaining. Even the civil servants are complaining. Both federal, states and even local government. When you are talking about three tiers of government, it is only the federal and states that are working. The local government tier of government is not active as before because their money is not getting to them.

At the same time, Vision 2020 can never be realized. If they have a plan for Vision 2020 you could have heard them talking that two years ago. I don’t know the plan the government has maybe for Vision 3030 . Nigeria is the only country I see that the government was sworn in on May 29 and certain crop of politicians just rise up again that they want to become president. It is a serious diversion for the incumbent president; it’s a diversion for the incumbent governor and even the incumbent local government chairman.

I will advise the politicians that they should play down their politics in 2020. By middle of 2021 the political atmosphere can be charged because anything now will destroy the entire system. The president will have an excuse that he wants to prepare for his successor because people have been coming out.

How do you see the coming year 2020?

I don’t foresee any magic. There won’t be something different from what happened in 2019. I forsee a situation where the president would be looking forward to clamp down on his opposition. I foresee a situation whereby the president would want to jail most of the governors that have trials. I foresee a situation that the president would want to use anti-corruption to cow down most of the opposition and those who don’t believe in his cause. I foresee a situation where new party may come out within 2020 and 2021. I foresee the two main major party will break and new party will surface.

I foresee a situation that more civil society groups will come out stronger. I foresee a situation where many people we thought were powerful, their secrets will be opened and the whole world would know that most of them are enemies of this country. I foresee our judiciary, some of them standing their feet, that if you want to remove me, remove me, I cannot continue this way.

Talking of the economy, I foresee international community coming against our government . If care is not taken sanction would come from international community. From what happened in 2019, the international communities were not pleased with the process of our democracy. I foresee a sanction from United States of America; I foresee a sanction from EU. If the Federal Government does not manage our international relations very well, the crisis between the government and the international community will be worse than the military because a statement that came from the spokesperson of the president that we are not answerable to the US, Britain and EU, that statement would generate a lot of annoyance because these are the powerful forces in global scene.

They control World Bank, they control IMF, they control United Nations about 99 per cent of the institutions that we use to govern, the whole world they control them. You are not answerable to them, but you get grant from them and they are selling world equipment to you. We would have witnessed another third world war if not for the United Nations. I foresee sanction coming to the government if they do not manage their international relations very well. I foresee international community blocking our citizens from traveling to their countries.

There’s an approval of budget of 30 billion dollars. Already Nigerian owes about N25 billion, the calculation of $30billion will almost get to N11 trillion. Definitely, the money the Federal Government is asking for, if the National Assembly grants the request, Nigeria will be oweing almost N36 billion, and a country with that kind of debt is in bad shape. Nobody will be thinking of bringing an investment to that country and nobody will be thinking of even borrowing more money to that country. It would bring more inflation to our society and value added tax has been increased from 5.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent and when cost of living is being hiked and wages are not high there will be serious problem. Definitely, we should expect a serious economic hardship in 2020.

There have been major crisis in Southwest in 2019, what efforts are you putting in place to curb it?

I think the Federal Government has tried its best. To solve our security problems now, the onus lies on the Southwest governors. The police have called that they’re ready to partner with the organization. Some state governments because of politics are trying to dodge it and by so doing they could not move forward. Once they dodge, it would be an exercise in futility. Definitely, the ball is on the court of our state governors.

Osagie Otabor, Benin



Gunmen on Saturday invaded the family house of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Philip Shaibu.
Shaihu who hails from Jattu in Estako West local government area built his country home opposite his family house.

It was gathered that residents in the house were sleeping when the gunmen struck.

Witnesses said neighbours were able to chase the gunmen away and one of them arrested.
The name of the arrested suspect was given ad Victor John.

Police sources said Victor named other suspects to include Uche Ogoke, Monday Kingsley, Pius Lucky and Sunday Goodluck.

The source said all other suspects were arrested at different locations while items such as a cut to size locally-made gun, battle, gun powder and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects.

One of the suspects identified as Emeka however escaped.

A family source said it was policemen at Shaibu’s residence that arrested Victor after they scaled the fence.

The source said Victor led them to his house where other suspects were arrested.

When contacted, Shaibu confirmed the incidence and said the suspects were already making statements at the police station.

It was learnt that the suspects were being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further interrogation.

A sustained legal battle may be in the offing as ex-governors in the Senate are said to have concluded arrangements to challenge the court order on the refund of pensions received by them.

The ex-governors, who appeared to be jittery over the court order, are said to be determined to overturn the order.

One of the ex-governors, who volunteered to speak on the matter on condition of anonymity, told our reporters that the last had not been heard on the matter.

He insisted that it seemed that there is more to the court order than meet the eye.
He wondered why former governors were being targeted when there are other retired public officers who had served and also received pensions.

A Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered the Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors now serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.

The court also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to collect such pensions.

The ex-governor said: “Nobody really wants to talk about the court order on retrieval of paid pensions.

“There is certainly more to it. Why are we being targeted? There are retired military officers and other public servants who were in government and also received pensions. Why is it being made to look as if we paid ourselves?

“Some of us have made up our minds to explore further legal alternative to challenge the order. It can’t be left unchallenged because we did not pay ourselves.

He continued: “The law that grants us pensions as ex-governors is a valid law of the states. The law, as far as I am concerned, subsists. Nobody has challenged the law in any state and it would be against the constitution for the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice or any other person for that matter to attempt to tamper or reverse a state law without due process.

“Are we no longer operating a federal system of government?” he asked.

“The constitution has granted the three tiers of government their specific roles. The AGF cannot afford to breach that section of the grund norm that grants the State Assembly power to make laws for the state, court order or no court order.

“I think the judgment of the Federal High Court did not take into consideration the fact that the order would violate the principle of federalism as enshrined in the constitution.

“We are waiting for the AGF to ask for the refund as directed. We shall ask the AGF to also go and collect what ex-members of the armed forces, police and paramilitary agencies who served in public offices after retirement have collected as pensions.”

It could be recalled that Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court in Lagos made the order following an application by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

According to the SERAP in its letter to the AGF Malami, “those who reportedly receive double emoluments and large severance benefits from their states include: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

“Others include: Ahmed Sani Yerima (Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi); George Akume (Benue); and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).”

However, while Kwankwaso, Lafiaji, Jang, Yerima, Bukar and Dariye are no more in the Senate, Akpabio, Akume and Amaechi (former Speaker and ex-Governor of Rivers State) are serving ministers.

Head of federal agency’s son caught with Lamborghini, $5m in Dubai

THE head of a federal agency is under intense investigation for financial recklessness. The head of the agency was said to have come under the searchlight of anti-corruption agencies after his son was caught in Dubai driving a Lamborghini and with $5 million cash.

The son’s lifestyle was said to have been held up by the anti-corruption agencies as evidence that the agency head has been spending money recklessly.

Sentry will keep readers posted on further development.

Inside Nigerian prisons, some inmates are breaking new grounds and making millions of naira by venturing into productive ventures.

The most outstanding are two inmates who took to agriculture and invested their earnings on education and transportation while still in the custodian centres set up by the authorities of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The two inmates have also become their families’ bread winners with one of them maintaining two of his children up to the university level.

Although the NCoS did not disclose the record-breaking inmates’ identities, LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that one of them is at the Kaduna State Custodial Camp while the second, until recently, was kept at a similar facility in Enugu State.

It was gathered that the inmate in Kaduna made well over N2 million from the sale of vegetables from his garden in the NCoS’ camp while his colleague in Enugu owned houses and bought buses for commercial use from the proceeds of his farm produce.

The public relations officer of the Correctional Service and Controller of Corrections, Francis Osagiede Enobore, told LEADERSHIP Friday at the end of the Comptroller-General (CG’s) 2019 media parley/facility tour of Dukpa Farm Centre in Gwagwalada, Abuja that the inmate who trains two of his children in the university is not alone in this stride.

He said that another inmate from the South East who left the facility recently was able to acquire houses, bought buses for transportation business as well as household properties through the sales of his farm produces.

NCoS spokesman disclosed that the Service has 17 reformation farm centres spread across the country with over 22 tractors where “we produce large quantity of palm oil, rice, maize and other forms of grains, to help minister moral gaps to convicts.”

Enobore, however, explained that awaiting trial inmates who are on the high side in the correctional facilities are not usually deployed to the farms and other empowerment centres as the NCoS’ mandate revolves only around ensuring behavioural reorientation and retooling of convicts.

He said: ”Custodial camps are borderless environments where inmates who committed crimes outside sexual offences are taken after they have served one quarter of their sentences in the various locations of their primary detention. They are transferred to such locations based on the recommendation of officers in charge of their primary locations to be given monitored freedom. Monitored freedom in the sense that they are not entirely free but to a very large extent you don’t see them go about with wardens by their side. They are given relative freedom to see how they can gradually transit to the society. Most of them have their families around, they rent houses for their wives, children and they pay their school fees and all that.”

Enobore continued: “This treatment is available in all the skills acquisition facilities. So, we are impacting on them. The only challenge we have which I will not stop harping on is the lack of qualified beneficiaries. They are very enthusiastic about it. They are willing to learn. The truth is that we don’t have problems getting the inmates to learn, the problem we have which I feel I should repeat is lack of qualified inmates to be trained because we can’t train those that are awaiting trial. When you go to a facility and you hear that close to 87 to 88 per cent of the inmates there are awaiting trial, the question you ask yourself is what kind of training can you properly deploy that would be meaningful in that situation?

”Like you know, the farm centres are not established essentially to generate revenue; the focus is to train inmates. If I tell you what we gain training them in these vocational centres, I may be overstating the obvious, but you and I know that to close the moral gap in an adult offender whose character has been tarnished to the point of him deriving pleasure from eating from his sweat is commendable.

”You will agree with me that more efforts would have been put into it and it means a lot to the social economic stability of the country, peace in the land, providing something for the inmates to fall back to when he leaves and many other gains,” he said.

Still reeling out the achievements of the NCoS, the image maker remarked that the generous attention of the present administration to the Service coupled with the doggedness of the CG had provided a recipe for fundamental changes in offenders ‘ management.

He said this was evidenced in the reinvigorated reformation and rehabilitation programmes in custodial centres across the country, part of which was the multi-million naira bakery and confectionery unit established in three locations in 2019.

Enobore said: “You are also aware of the remarkable feat in the area of education by our inmates in recent times. In Kaduna State, 17 inmates enrolled to study various courses at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) campuses in the state. Fourteen of the 17 inmates enrolled for undergraduate courses while three others are for postgraduate programmes.

He disclosed that the inmates enrolled in various fields of study in the faculties of management science, education, law, art, science, and agriculture.
“We have equally attempted to address the age-long infrastructural deficit through the construction and rehabilitation of inmates’ cells including the provision of beds and beddings to enhance humane custody,” Enobore said.

According to him, “of significant mention is the 3,000-capacity modern custodial centres approved for all the geopolitical zones, with the one for the North West in Kano at the verge of completion and work just commencing in that for North Central in Abuja and Bori in Rivers State just commenced. This is even as 382 operational vehicles have been procured and distributed between 2016 and 2018 to improve access to justice for pre-trial detainees.

“In the area of healthcare, the Ja’afaru-led administration has continued to give premium to basic healthcare for inmates, a development which has helped to mitigate health complications usually arising from overcrowding in prisons cells,” he said.

The NCoS revealed that the current number of awaiting trial inmates (ATIs) stands at 52,000 nationwide while 24,000 inmates had been convicted.

Enobore, who observed that the hitherto recurring cases of jailbreaks, escape and riots in custodial centres had declined, said that some inmates who escaped following the natural disaster (flood) that affected the Koton Karfe community as well as their custodial facility, were still at large.

He said that efforts to recapture the escapees were ongoing, stating that the NCoS had developed Corrections Information Management System (CIMS) to capture inmates’ biometrics to boost case management.

Ochie Igbo has raised the alarm that the first Niger Bridge is at risk of collapsing. The umbrella socio-political group of young Igbo professionals lamented that while work on the second Niger Bridge was proceeding at an impressive rate, the current bridge connecting the South East to the South West was being overloaded.

President-general of Ochie Igbo, Dr. Chuks Orji, accused the Delta State Command of Nigeria Police of imposing undue stress on the old bridge, raising a checkpoint at the foot of the bridge, causing vehicles, especially articulated and haulage trucks, to spend much time on the bridge.

Orji said: “It has become increasingly worrisome that cars and other heavy vehicles are made to park on top of the Onitsha Bridge for hours. This is of a grave concern, because a closer look at the warning pasted on the bridge by certified engineers, says cars and vehicles shouldn’t be allowed to park on the bridge for hours.”

He regretted that the cautionary post engraved by the construction firm on beams of the bridge that was built more than 60 years ago “has been thrown to the wind by police officers of the Delta Command that stand at the gate to waylay commuters for reasons best known to them.”

Orji, who spoke to journalists after a visit to the traffic snarl around Onitsha, urged the Delta State Commissioner of Police to call his men to order, to avert the monumental security and socio-economic crisis a sudden collapse of the bridge could cause the nation.

While ruling out suggestions of deliberate sabotage, the Ochie Igbo leader said it would be wrong to think that only Igbo of the South East make use of the bridge, stressing that the idea of a second Niger Bridge was to ease the burden on the older bridge. He enjoined men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) manning the Onitsha end of the pre-civil war bridge to enforce the ‘no parking’ rule at the neck of the bridge, especially by commercial bus drivers dropping off passengers.

The Federal Government has explained why it did not release, alongside Sambo Dasuki and Omoyele Sowore, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky from custody.

Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser and Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, were released from the custody of the Department of State Services on Tuesday.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, yesterday said the Federal Government would not want to interfere in the judicial process of the Kaduna State Government handling El-Zakzaky’s case.

The AGF said this in an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC, monitored by our reporter. Malami said:”Henceforth, the Federal Government won’t interfere in a judicial process that is solely responsible for the state government to take charge of…”

The National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Professor Biodun Ogunyemi on Wednesday said public university lecturers have received the December salary despite not enrolling in the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

The federal government, through the office of the Accountant General, had threatened that any lecturer who failed to enroll in the IPPIS would not be paid December salary.

However, the ASUU boss said his findings across the public universities showed lecturers have been paid the December salary even though they refused to enroll in the IPPIS.

The ASUU President made the observation in a message sent to members of the Intellectual Union to mark Christmas.

While Ogunyemi urged members of the Union to look back with thanksgiving, the ASUU President asked them to prepare for challenges ahead in the New Year.

He revealed that Nigerians are finding it very difficult to make ends meet due to the harsh economic policies of the present administration, stating that the situation has made life unbearable for the masses while the few rich continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the majority.

The ASUU boss said the poor and downtrodden have nothing to celebrate their Christmas.
According to Ogunyemi, worsening state of the economy has hit the poor masses below the belt and made the yuletide period meaningless.

He noted that celebration is more meaningful when the ordinary Nigerians have access to qualitative education, healthcare and other good things of life.

There are indications that the tertiary education sector will be charged up next year following refusal of ASUU members to enroll on IPPIS.

He said: “Comrades and compatriots, as we join the rest of the world for the Christmas and New Year holidays, let’s look back with thanksgiving and prepare for the challenges of the future. The season of love reminds us of our obligations to the poor and downtrodden.

“A celebration like this, is more meaningful when the ordinary Nigerians have access to qualitative education, healthcare, and other good things of life. Happy holidays, as the struggle continues! Biodun Ogunyemi.”

LAGOS – The unending crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly, has not only continued to generate reactions but has also continued to attract concerns from various stakeholders in the state.

It would be recalled that the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye had, during the 50th-anniversary thanksgiving of the state Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, pleaded with the absentee lawmakers-elect to present themselves for inauguration so they could serve their constituents.

However, the Speaker took a drastic decision few weeks ago, in which he declared vacant the seats of the 12 legislators-elect, for their refusals to present themselves for inauguration.

The Speaker’s decision was said to have worsened the tenuous political situation in the state. Apart from the 12 lawmakers-elect, the House of Assembly also vacated the seats of two other members that could not meet up the mandatory sitting requirement for the 7th Assembly.

As it was gathered, the resolution to declare their seats vacant was reached at the plenary on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. The seats that were declared vacant include: Etsako West I, Etsako West II, Owan East, Owan West, Etsako Central, Etsako East, and Esan Central; Uhunmwonde, Oredo East, Oredo West, Egor, Ovia North East I, Ovia North East II and Ovia southwest I.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Yekini Idiaye told newsmen that although, two of those affected from Oredo East and Owan East were sworn-in, but failed to meet the mandatory 181-day sitting requirement for a member in a legislative calendar year.

In the cases of others that were yet to be inaugurated since the proclamation of the House, the deputy speaker clarified that their constituents have been complaining and have come to the House to request that they want their voices and concerns to be heard in the House.

“So, people who are willing to provide quality representation have to be elected to bring the matters of the distraught constituents to the floor for debate and legislation, where necessary,” Idiaye added.

In a bid to exploit and take advantage of the latest development, the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, took a bold step by writing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding that the Certificates of Return (CoR) issued to the 12 affected lawmakers-elect be withdrawn and presented to its candidates, who were first runners-up in the Edo State House of Assembly election held on the 9th day of March, 2019.

In the letter addressed to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, dated December 17th, 2019 and signed by Chikaodinaka Adindu Esq., the solicitor to the PDP and some of its candidates who contested the election, the party asked INEC to as a matter of urgency, intervene in the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly.

Giving a brief fact about what necessitated the letter, the PDP Counsel said, “We have the understanding that our Client were nominated as the candidates of their political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their various constituencies to contest for their constituency’s seats in the Edo State House of Assembly in the Election held on the 9th day of March, 2019.

“Consequent upon that, the Candidates of the All Progressive Party (APC) with respect of the above stated constituencies were declared winners of the election, certificates of returns were issued to them by your Commission in order for them to be qualified to be inaugurated as members of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly.

“We further have the understanding that, as expected, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki issued a Proclamation in line with the provision of Section 105 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) on the 14th day of June, 2019 and the date of the inauguration was given therein as 17th day of June, 2019 and all Members-elects were dully notified of the development by the Clark of the Edo State House of Assembly.

“We further have the understanding that pursuant to the Proclamation issued by the Governor, the Edo State House of Assembly was inaugurated on the 17th day of June, 2019 with Nine (9) Members-elect presented themselves for inauguration and subscribed to their Oath of Membership/Allegiance.

“It is pertinent to state that Mr. OKIYE, Francis Abunere emerged as the Speaker of the House of Assembly while IDIAYE, Yekini Oisayemoje also emerged the Deputy Speaker. The other Fifteen (15) Members-elect as declared by your commission were absent from the inauguration ceremony on the said date without any justification/excuse whatsoever.

“We further have the understanding that on the 24th day of June, 2019,OJIEZELE, Osezua, Esan South East and OKODUWA, Emma Ewah, EsanNorth East II while on the 3rd day of July, 2019 AGBAJE, Emmanuel Omoladun, Akoko Edo II presented themselves for inauguration and Oath of Membership/Allegiance was accordingly administered to them. Putting the numbers of Members-elect who refused/neglected to be inaugurated or subscribe to Oath of Membership/Allegiance at Twelve (12).”

The PDP further argued in the letter that, an action was instituted in the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Judicial Division in suit No. FCH/PH/CS/159/19 by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Edo State House and Henry Okhuarobo, member, representing Ikpoba Okha Constituency via an originating summons filed on the 25th day of July, 2019, with judgment delivered in favour of the Plaintiffs on the 12th day of September, 2019 by Justice J.K.
Omotosho, wherein the court held amongst others, that the proclamation issued by Obaseki on the 14th of June, 2019 was valid and remain so until its expiration.

The party said it was of the belief that notice of the votes and proceeding of the Edo State House of Assembly sitting of 4th December, 2019 have been communicated to INEC, adding that, “However, for the purpose of emphasis may we humbly restates that the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, in exercise of the power confirmed on him by the provisions of Section 109 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) declared two (2) seats of Members who took the Oath of Membership/Allegiance and later abdicated their seat without any lawful and justifiable cause vacant.

“In the same vein, he also declared that, Twelve (12) Constituency seats are vacant as members-elect have refused/neglected to present themselves for inauguration and the subscription of Oath of Membership/Allegiance, the House having sat for the First Session and First Quarters without them and call for a bye election in the affected Constituencies. In the circumstance, the only inference that can be drawn from their action/inaction in this regard is that they have abdicated their mandates WITHOUT JUST CAUSE.”

While declaring the stand and demand of his clients on the seats that have been declared by the Speaker, Adindu said, “That the refusal/neglect by members-elect to subscribe to the Oath of Membership/Allegiance with respect to the affected constituencies throughout the First Session and First Quarters of the 7th Assembly of Edo State amounts to abdication of office.

“That the appropriate thing the commission should do in the circumstance is to withdraw the affected members’ certificate of return having failed/neglected to seat in the House they were elected and their constituency having been declared vacant by the Speaker in exercise of his power as vested by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by which act, the affected members-elect can no longer be inaugurated.

“That sequel to the declavration of the affected Constituencies vacant by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, your commission should not in the interest of Justice and Equity, conduct any fresh elections into the affected constituencies as the affected Members-elect did not subscribed to the Oath of Membership/Allegiance and abdicated their responsibilities. As such, state resources should not be wasted in conducting fresh Elections where there are 1stRunners up in the concluded elections.

“That certificate of return should be issued to our Clients as the 1stRunner up in their various Constituencies, since the members-elect who abdicated their position did not subscribe to the Oath of Membership/Allegiance before their Constituencies were declared vacant by the Speaker in the interest of Justice and Equity.

“That we most humbly implore you to liken this case to that of Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan. Since there is a lacuna in the Constitution, as to what is to be resorted to, when a person having been declared a winner in an election but failed/neglected to subscribe to the Oath of Membership/Allegiance and consequence upon which, his seat/constituency declared vacant by the Speaker, the Doctrine of Necessity should be invoked to issue certificate of return to the 1st Runner up in the election in order to save their constituencies from undue suffering and neglect having performed their civic responsibility of voting only to be denied the dividend of democracy.”

I can tell you authoritatively that 4 people fought from within to get Dasuki & Sowore released & eventually managed to convince Buhari. They are Abba Kyari, Malami, Hadi Sirika and Kayode Fayemi. They represent the liberal and cerebal wing of the Buhari Govt. & I commend them.

A Nigerian lawmaker has accused Nigerian police of demanding N100,000 before cars impounded from Quilox Club could be released to their owners.

“First of all, the cars of the customers were towed and seized for violating traffic,” Akin Alabi, who represents Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency said on Twitter.

“But they were arrested and told to pay N100,000 bribe. Why one earth do you need to pay the police a bribe after your car has already been seized.”

A spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command Bala Elkana told The Guardian on Monday that the cars were towed from causing traffic following a 36-hour non-stop event hosted at the club.

Apart from the cars towed, police also arrested the owner of the club, Shina Abiola, popularly known as Shina Peller, who himself is a lawmaker. The club was also sealed by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency because of noise pollution.

Elkana accused Peller, who told a plenary of the House of Representatives last Wednesday that he had stepped from the management of the club, of leading 50 suspected thugs to Maroko Police Station, where the towed vehicles are kept.

“This Honorable now mobilised over 50 thugs to attack Maroko police station to remove the cars,” Bala said

“We have to send reinforcement and then he was arrested with five other thugs while others flee,” he said, adding the Peller is being “investigated”.

But Alabi said the claims that Peller wanted to invade the police station were “lies”. He claimed the police commissioner in the state may be behind Peller’s arrest.

“Now they are trying to swing the narrative by lying that he tried to invade the police station,” Alabi said. “He went to bail those that were arrested. He was arrested. CP even boasted that he has a score to settle with him.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering the possibility of resolving all internal squabbles, reactivating and strengthening its various structures across the country and reforming itself before reaching a decision on zoning of its 2023 presidential ticket, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.

The party fielded its February 23, 2019 presidential candidate from the North, but his defeat at the polls has sparked fresh agitations between the North and the South.

Credible sources told our correspondent yesterday in Abuja that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) was being tactical and meticulous in order not to articulate a 2023 template that would spark crisis and result in mass exodus of the party’s members.

A former member of the NWC from the North East, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence yesterday, said the Prince Uche Secondus-led NWC was creating time for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to reach some key decisions on 2023, especially zoning before the opposition party would act.

“Agitations are already raging as to whether it’s the North or South that will take the ticket. But at the same time, consultations are ongoing on the matter.

“We are trying to avoid a crisis situation after zoning. We are also going to engage our former presidential aspirants in the process. So, we need time to do all these before zoning. Otherwise, there will be crisis of interest and divisions in the party,” he said.

Similarly, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, told our correspondent that the party was committed to “strategic reforms and repositioning” before zoning.

“We have not reached a decision on where our presidential candidate will come from. The other party (APC) understands politics, not governance.

“But what we are concerned about now is reform to further reposition our party ahead of 2023,” he added.

Daily Trust gathered that the PDP was also being conscious of its coming national convention in 2021 to elect a new crop of NWC members who would lead the party into the 2023 polls.

Scarcity of petroleum products looms as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have threatened to withdraw their services if the Federal Government failed to clear Lagos roads of containers by January 15, 2020.

National Chairman of the PTD, Salmom Akanni Oladiti, issued the ultimatum at a press conference in Benin City at the end of the quarterly meeting of the union.

Oladiti lamented the gridlocks on Lagos roads, particularly at Coconut and Tin Can Island, saying it had brought excruciating pains on members who have to spend weeks before loading petroleum products from the Lagos Tank farm.

Oladiti said the Federal Task Force set up to decongest Lagos roads of trucks carrying containers had tried its best, but that the Apapa gridlock appeared to have overwhelmed the authorities with no solution in sight.

Oladiti, however, regretted the actives of vandals that destroyed the pipelines meant to ensure free flow of petroleum products all over the country.

“The founding fathers meant well by constructing over 5,000 kilometers of pipelines. If successive governments had paid attention to roads and vandalism, the facilities would not have degenerated to the current level,” he said.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making petroleum products available, just as he urged the government to speed up the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Benin-Warri and Benin-Auchi-Lokoja roads.

He said a new identity card and sticker would be designed for members to check the activities of criminals from destroying the image of genuine petroleum tanker drivers.

The Northern Elders Forum has launched a peace effort to Kano State, with a view to ending the prolonged misunderstanding between Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano Malam Muhammad Sanusi.

The Forum will lead eminent personalities from the North to meet with elders, leaders and other stakeholders, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.

Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that the Forum had already sent invitations to eminent personalities in the region for the planned meeting, scheduled to hold today at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano.

Our correspondent also gathered that dignitaries have started arriving Kano for the scheduled meeting.

In one of such letters addressed to Walin Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Trust on Sunday, the Forum indicated that its members would also interact with Governor Ganduje and Emir Sanusi.

The letter, signed by the Forum’s chairman, Professor Ango Abdullahi, further stated that they were deeply worried by the current dimension taken by the misunderstanding between the emir, Ganduje and a section of Kano elders.

“The crisis, we are afraid, is pregnant with unforeseen circumstances that ultimately threaten the integrity of the entire Kano traditional institution, overall peace and security of the state, and by extension, the cohesion of the northern region.

“It is our hope that this intervention would finally get to the root of the matter and find a lasting solution with mutual understanding and respect so that the state can move on,” the letter concluded.

The letter did not give names of the eminent northern personalities on the entourage.
When contacted, Walin Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, confirmed the receipt of the letter, but said he could not attend the meeting because of his health condition.

“I have received the invitation. I personally told Professor Abdullahi that I would not make it to the meeting because of the condition of my health.

“However, I wish them the best. The meeting is important, not only to the personalities involved but to the traditional institution, the state and the northern region.

“The team will first meet on its own, then interact with invited personalities before meeting with the governor and the emir separately. It is after they meet with the two leaders separately that they will meet with them together when the need arises.

“There is no way the team can succeed in their efforts to reconcile the two leaders without hearing from each of them in a separate meeting before meeting them together.

“I am in support of this effort because the Kano traditional institution and the state in general are being affected negatively by this crisis, and unless something is done to address the problem, it will not augur well for the state and the northern region as well,” Wali said.

The Walin Kano added that although Emir Sanusi was not in town, he would return to the state in order to meet with the team as scheduled by the Forum.

Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ganduje, Abba Anwar, said the Kano State Government was not aware of any meeting with any group regarding the issue of creation of new emirates in the state.

“We didn’t receive any letter from anybody, not to talk of what will be the subject of discussion. We don’t know what they are up to.

“All we know is that we have our law establishing our newly created first class emirates of Bichi, Karaye, Rano and Gaya. And we have since started implementing the law. It is as simple as ABC.

“Our new emirates have come to stay. Anybody that is thinking of influencing us to go back to the drawing board on this law is only doing that for the fun of it. We repeat, our first class emirs have come to stay,” Anwar said.

By Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

The inability of the “Oshiomhole must go” governors to have consensus has stalled the removal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from office.

There has been a running battle among the chieftains of the APC on how to remove the National Chairman. While some governors and party leaders believe that the party’s National Chairman should resign, other governors and some state party chairmen are of the opinion that he has done nothing wrong to warrant his resignation.

According to the Chairman of the Forum of the APC State Chairmen, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, 25-state APC Chairmen are behind the party’s National Chairman. For him, and his members, Oshiomhole has not committed any offense that would warrant his removal.

Also a Senator from Kano State, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said his state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Ganduje would not join the governors calling for the removal of Oshiomhole from office.

The Senator said if he has the opportunity to speak with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue, he would insist that Buhari should not concede to the removal of the National Chairman. According to him, the APC National Chairman saved the party from embarrassment it would have suffered in the hands of the leadership of the 8th National Assembly.

The Senator alleged that the 8th Assembly leaders wanted to make laws that would have been against APC’s victory but for the intervention of Oshiom hole who called the APC lawmakers together and told them what to do.

However, another party chieftain, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it is all about what happened during the party’s primaries According to him, those governors and other party members who feel that they were helped by Oshiomhole are the ones behind him, while those who suffered casualties one way or the other in the hands of the National Chairman are the ones calling for his removal.

The party chieftain cited instances like Borno, Kano, Yobe, Kogi and some other states as states that Oshiomhole supported and gave them easily the mode of primaries that they wanted.

Also, in the present leadership of the National Assembly, Oshiomhole played a major role to bring it into existence and they are paying him back by standing against his removal.

The source stated that this is evident, as the APC National Chairman has made the Senate President, Ahmed Lawal the Chairman of the party’s National Reconciliation Committee.

The need to set up the committee was agreed on at the last Caucus meeting of the party held at the Villa. Other members of the Committee are: former interim Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase; Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; Sen. Kashim Shettima; Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; Alhaji Nasiru Aliko Koki; Senators Khairat Gwadabe- Abdulrazak; Binta Garba and John Enoh (Secretary).

According to the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Committee is empowered to address grievances of party members and resolve existing conflicts, all with a view to “fostering unity and oneness within the party.” However, some party members have punctured the leadership and composition of the committee, stating that they are all supporters and loyal members of the APC National Chairman. Stressing this, the Edo State factional APC, led by Hon. Anslem Ojezua, has rejected the leadership of the committee.

The argument in some APC quarters is that every interest would have been accommodated in the National Reconciliation committee.

For instance the Progressive Governors’ Forum, the Forum of the APC State Chairmen, the non NWC National Executive Committee (NEC) and other organ of the party would have been asked to nominate representatives. According to those that have expressed their reservations on the Committee, such inclusiveness would help a true reconciliation.

The anti-Oshiomhole governors are said to have gone back to the trenches to see how to gather consensus to remove the chairman since they were said to have failed in the last meeting with President.

The governors led by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Kebbi State governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu were said to have disagreed before the President on the need to remove Oshiomhole. The anti-Oshiomhole governors met their resistance in the governor of Borno State, Prof. Abubakar Zulum, who was alleged to have told the President that there was no agreement among the governors that the National Chairman of the party should resign.

Some states’ chairmen and non NWC-NEC members were the first to openly demand for the resignation of the National Chairman after the NEC meeting that held in October.

A National Working Committee member, however, said that the governors would have to wait till another NEC for them to gather the consensus to remove the National Chairman. He, however, could not say when the party would likely hold its next NEC.

It took the party eight months to hold the last NEC, which some party members are counting as an offence against Oshiomhole.

By Juliana Francis

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Kidnappers.png

Suspected kidnappers, 28-year-old Best Kevwe Iweh and Emmanuel Tomson (30), have reportedly murdered a member of their gang, Raymond Enahon.

Iweh and Tomson were arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for the murder.
According to the police, the suspects, on August 19, 2019, murdered Enahon for fleeing with N5 million ransom, which the gang had earlier extorted from a victim’s family.

After fleeing with the money, Enahon bought a Lexus ‘Jeep’ and lavished the rest on his numerous girlfriends.

IRT operatives later found Enahon’s remains in a shallow grave at Obiaruku village in Delta State. The operation was led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, who is the national head of the IRT units.

According to sources, Kyari and his men launched investigation into the activities of the kidnappers following a directive from the IG, Mohammed Adamu.

It was further learnt that Enahon’s body was exhumed after Iweh and Tomson were arrested. The suspects led IRT team to the shallow grave to recover Enahon’s body.

A police source said: “The downfall of the gang started after IRT operatives, on the instruction of the IG, went to Delta State on the trail of a notorious kidnapping gang, led by Best Kevwe Iweh. The gang, who is a native of Oria Abaraka in Delta State, was successfully arrested. He is a notorious kidnapper and had been terrorising Delta State. The second suspect, Emmanuel Tomson, was arrested on August 18.

“Both suspects have confessed to several kidnappings, including the kidnapping of a former finance officer in Delta State in August 2018. They also admitted to kidnapping and killing Raymond Enahon, their gang member. Raymond bought a Lexus RS 330 from N5 million ransom realised from one of their kidnappings.

“Raymond collected the ransom and fled. They confirmed that Raymond bought a Lexus from the money and spent the remaining part of the ransom with his girlfriends. According to the suspects, they lured Raymond somewhere and killed him. After killing Raymond, they sold the jeep for N1.8 million.”

Kyari and his men, it was learnt, are still working round the clock to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

By Musliudeen Adebayo



The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, on Thursday, berated the National Assembly over the re-introduction of the anti-hate speech bill by the Senate.

DAILY POST recalls that anti-hate speech bill, which seeks to regulate and punish people who make unguarded statements was recently re-introduced by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

But, the monarch, while speaking at a book presentation and platinum recognition as parts of activities marking the 70th anniversary of the Nigerian Tribune titles, insisted that anyone who doesn’t want to be criticised has no business in government.

Oba Adeyemi spoke at the event attended by former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma, foremost Afenifere leader, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, foremost Legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbega Daniel, former Secretary to Oyo state Government, Chief Michael Koleosho and Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adewale Raji.

Others at the event were; the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Professor Olu Akinkugbe, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, daughters of the Premier of defunct Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Mrs. Tola Oyediran and Dr. Adetokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu Editor in Chief of Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Edward Dickson.

The monarch, while addressing the gathering, challenged lawyers and other professionals not to allow the bill to sail through, saying death penalty should not be the punishment for abuse.

He said, “Gradually to an offence of hate speech that attracts penalty of death. If I have not killed anyone; and I give an opinion that is contrary to the government’s, will it be a sufficient reason for me to be charged for death penalty? Where are the lawyers in Nigeria? Constitutional lawyers in Nigeria, where are they? Can’t they speak up? Chief Olowu, you are here.

“Nobody is speaking up. If you don’t want to be criticised, then you don’t have to be in government. My friend Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe has a peculiar character and I wish he could continue to learn about the Constitutional lesson from Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his reply to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. We have quotation and quotations from this literate man. I have read almost all his books, published. They are in my library. I can go on and on citing instances. During the Constitutional conferences that held in the 50s at Lancaster House, three giants from the country postulated different approaches to the Nigerian Independence. Sir Ahmadu Bello said North is for Northerners; East for Easterners and West for the Westerners. Azikiwe said, there should be one Constitution, one Country, one destiny.

“Awolowo rose up and said No! We are not talking about the Constitution that will be suitable for Nigeria. But what is suitable for Nigeria is when you have a multi lingual, multi national and multi religious country with diverse races. That before independence the whole school we had on ground was 123 for the whole of the North while the South had 5,000 schools. There is no way. That illiterate will continue to govern the literate people. It cannot work and it will not work.

“Awolowo projected what will be the question of North East, North Central. That of you don’t educate the people, the Almanjiri will become bandits. Today, in Zamfara and Yobe, the governments are now subjected to banditry. And they are exchanging these bandits, giving them money. How can government give bandits money?

“That is a collapse of governance and government. If you are a student of Constitution, you must believe Awolowo’s views. Well, I am not a politician but I understand politics. I don’t do partisan politics because I want to be progressive. In the whole of Nigeria when Awolowo started his free primary education, we felt it would not work. He started it. Two to three years after he started it, he appointed Taiwo to head for the review of the proposal and he came out with the position that in the next 30 to 40 years, the Western Region will be 60 years ahead of other areas in education.

“And that demography, of you study people like Professor Akinkugbe, who were their doctors, surgeons, they produced a sector of Obafemi Awolowo University by the Action Group government in 1963-64. If you pass out of primary school, you go to Teacher Training College and if you pass out, you would be given automatic admission to University. That was the reason they established the University of Ife.

“Then we had Agent General United Kingdom catering for the welfare of Western Nigerian students. They go to the school and when they returned, they had jobs already waiting for them. Now our graduates are roaming about the streets. There is no index of people who are out of school. Just three days ago, Governor Ganduje said that Kano has the largest number of out of school children.

“How can we have stability in the country when half of the country are governed by illiterates? When banditry has taken over the governance? Surely there cannot be peace in the country. And tell me, Editors are here. When you said you have technically defeated Boko Haram, what is the technicality in defeat?

“Either we agree we have not been able to subdue them and admit it. Now, they are quoting United Nations figures for us. And our government is telling them we are not under America or UK but we are going there to loan money from them. Surely, something must be done to take a queue from this man.

“If he is not an angel, then he must be in the right side of God. We must be able to support this newspaper. It is a paper of courage; a newspaper that was set up for equity, justice and fair play.”

Governors of the 36 states ended their meeting Wednesday night stating that there would be no controversy on the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage, but insisted that payment would depend on each state ability to pay as all fingers are not equal.

Briefing newsmen Wednesday night, the chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, who is also the governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, said that even the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is aware of the level of preparedness of states to pay, adding if NLC is in doubt it should ask.

He said, “Governors have all indicated interest to pay without any equivocation as we subscribe to the Act of Parliament that has been passed on the N30,000 minimum wage.

“There is no debate, we have accepted that. The negotiation team you are talking about is about the consequential impact and each state has started that process. If the NLC is not fully aware of the status of the negotiations in the various state we will be happy to share the information with them.

“But as far as we are concerned, no opportunity or decision in the NGF to back tracking from the minimum wage. However, fingers are not equal, states have to negotiate in term of the consequential implementation, there may be states that are in a position to pay N50,000. What we can tell you is that no state we pay less than N30,000 when we finally get to that point,” the chairman of the governors forum stated. .

On the $30bn borrowing plan, the chairman of the forum said that it’s a federal government’s decision and a federation borrowing, as such, that the governors had little to contribute in the loan request controversy.

He said, “The borrowing plan is the federal government affairs; it is not the federation borrowing plan. It is really a matter between the federal government and the National Assembly. It is not something we want to put ourselves in between. We don’t want to comment on that”.

Commenting on the outcome of the governors meeting with the conference of States Houses of Assembly Speakers, Governor Fayemi said, “The meeting with the conference of speakers is not about an individual state. It was on general constitutional matters and we have very fruitful deliberation on that”.

On other issues discussed at the meeting, he said that the forum received an update from the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) and the World Bank team on the State Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) on the Independent Verification Assessment (IVA) exercise conducted across states.

The Independent Verification Assessment (IVA) team, he said, highlighted among others, activities of the FY2018 Annual Appraisal Assessment to be concluded in January 2020 while the transfer of 2018 grants to States will take place in March 2020.

The Senate, yesterday, witnessed a mild drama on the floor during the consideration of the report of its Joint Committees on Navy, Marine Transport, and Finance, on the alleged illegal security activities of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMLS) at the Secure Anchorage Area (SAA) of Lagos Ports.

The chairman of the probe panel, Senator George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East) had presented the report to the apex legislative chamber for consideration.

However, shortly after the presentation, a member of the joint committee, Senator Ahmad Baba-Kaita (APC, Katsina North), rose and strongly opposed some of the recommendations of the committee, describing the report as lopsided.

Baba-Kaita raised a protest against the report when he was asked by the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who recognised him, to make contribution to the report.

The lawmaker, who is a member of the committee, immediately started attacking the recommendations, pushing Lawan to query his position on the document in spite of signing it alongside other members.

Lawan said: “This is your signature that I am seeing here. Is this signature not yours; are you not the one that signed this?”
However, Baba-Kaita claimed that he didn’t sign and was not comfortable with the report.

“This report is too lopsided and does not represent the true side. I am not comfortable with the report. This report will not help the security of this country, it’s lopsided,” he said.

Another member of the committee and former Gombe State governor, Senator Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central), countered Baba-Kaita, pointing out that what the report was saying was that OMLS should continue to provide security in the nation’s waterways until government was ready to provide alternative.

He said: “It is dangerous for us to open our borders. The security of our waters is still in the hands of the Navy, it is not true that it is in the hands of strangers.”

Also, the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), said that it was uncharitable to accuse the committee that investigated the activities of OMSL of bias.

“It is unfortunate that our Navy cannot protect our waterways. How can an individual have a platform and the Navy doesn’t?

“Somebody has been given a job that ought to have been done by Navy and the Navy doesn’t have the platform to do it. Why will the Nigerian agency want to leave our border porous? We must, at all times, put Nigeria first and the ease of doing business must be of interest to us,” Abaribe said.

Contributing, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) disclosed that the committee invited all agencies that had one thing or another to do with the issue and they came out to give testimonies and the Navy admitted that they were in charge and that OMSL only provided the vessels.

He noted that the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) didn’t complain that what the company was doing was wrong, but only complained that the money charged per vessel was high.

The lawmaker stated that NPA could only afford four vessels and only one was working, which was not enough to provide security on the waterways, stressing that Navy was short of 150 vessels.

Before putting the resolutions to voice vote, the President of the Senate frowned that the matter was being discussed in the open, exposing the inadequacies of government.

“It is unfortunate we are discussing this in the open, we have been described as the giant of Africa and yet we don’t have the resources,” he said.

Lawan suggested that, rather than make the matter contentious, the question that should be asked was, “how many years are we going to continue with the company and when is government taking over?” adding that “we should look for a way to have our own.”

The Senate, however, resolved that the Nigerian Navy, the NPA and Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA) should be commended for initiating and implementing a process that led to the provision of enhanced and advanced maritime security in the SAA in the Lagos waters in 2013, which led to checkmating the high rate of attacks on vessels waiting to berth at the Lagos Ports.

The chamber also said that since no fraud was found in the operations of the OMSL and was operating at no cost to government, the firm should be allowed to continue its operation at the SAA until such a time when a better and more cost effective system would be put in place by the government.

The Senate further urged that the Nigerian Navy should be properly funded to enable it procure needed vessels to clear the over 150 vessels deficit to enable them carry out their constitutional responsibilities without over-depending on Private Maritime Logistics Support Companies (PMLSC).

Presenting the report earlier, Senator Sekibo said that the Nigerian Ports Act, 1954 had given the NPA the responsibility of charting, designating, owning, operating and managing anchorage areas, but was silent on the provision or establishment of the SAA.

He also stated that both the NPA and NIMASA were of the views that issues related to anchorage and anchorage areas were the responsibility of NPA.

The lawmaker pointed out that the Nigerian Navy was responsible for securing the Nigerian territorial waterways and was at liberty to be in a collaboration that would effectively enhance its operations and assist in delivering its mandate.

The Chairman of Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Mrs. Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe has announced the immediate suspension of the activities of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in the Local Development Area until further notice.

The suspension followed bloodbath between rival gangs in Aguda and Ijeshatedo axis of Coker-Aguda and Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Areas of Lagos.

Three persons have been confirmed dead with many injured.

The Nation learnt that two police officers were injured in the process of restoring peace.
The suspension, according to the council boss, becomes necessary to ensure safety of lives and properties of the people of Coker-Aguda LCDA.

Mrs. Akinyemi-Obe said the peace of the community was threatened by the clash between rival unions in the area on Sunday and the reprisal attack on Monday which led to the deaths of two and arrest of many others.

Lagos State Police Command said 75 persons have been arrested in connection with the fracas.
NURTW Lagos State Council Chairman Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Oluomo) described the council chairman’s action as a welcome development.

Though, he denied the involvement of members of his union in the commotion, Akinsanya however said he would support any action that would guaranty peace in the area.

Mrs. Akinyemi-Obe also directed operators of ‘Beer parlours’/Bars and viewing centres in the council area to close shop for their activities latest by 6pm until further notice.

According to her, the sale of local gin otherwise known as Paraga should be discontinued henceforth.

She announced a ban on shooting of bangers, street JAMZ/Carnivals during the festive period.
The directive, she said, is to ensure safety of the people especially during this yuletide period.

“We have adopted a security strategy and measures to forestall various attacks and activities that disrupt communal peace. We would not deviate from our zero-tolerance for violence and other nefarious activities.

“Any act that negates our peaceful coexistence would be not with full wrath of law,” she said.
She urged residents and visitors to the council to go about their businesses without fear as the situation has been brought under control by the prompt response of the Special Strike ‘F’ on social miscreants, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Area C Command, Aguda/ljeshatedo Police Division, Surulere and we have resolved to intensify patrol and surveillance in and around the Local Government.

Mrs. Akinyemi-Obe, who later went out to ascertain the level of havoc wrecked by the hoodlums, commiserated with those whose property were vandalised and looted.
The hoodlums were said to have burgled many shops during the melee and carted away goods worth millions of naira.

Banks Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) were not spared.

A clothier attendant, Michael Onyekachi, said the hoodlums destroyed the glasses and his brother’s shop and looted clothes and pair of shoes.

“We don’t know the worth of the goods stolen until we take proper stock. I am still waiting for my brother to come,” he said.

NURTW boss Akinsanya maintained that the fracas was between hoodlums.

He admitted that some of the union members might be involved in the commotion but quickly warned that such members if identified would be dismissed from the union.

“I have asked the chairmen of our branches in those areas and they said they were not involved in the fight. I learnt the police had arrested 75 suspects.

“We will appreciate if the police could profile them and let us know if there are union members among them.

“We will definitely punish those involve after they might have faced the wrath of the law. We want the police and the council chief to help identify any of our members involve.

“We are ready to help the police and the council to restore peace in the affected communities,” Akinsanya said.

Some suspected herdsmen have reportedly taken over some areas covering about 8km in Orin-Ekiti, Ido/Osi local government area of Ekiti State near Governor Kayode Fayemi’s hometown, Isan-Ekiti.

The Nation gathered that the herders hoisted a red flag at the ‘annexed’ farmlands where they warned farmers to keep off or face death.

Residents told journalist on Wednesday during a protest that the herders occupied and destroyed crops planted on the abandoned 2500 acres of land at Orin Farm settlement.

The protesters, comprising old and young men and women, chanted derisive songs against the invaders with placards bearing their thoughts and agitations including ‘What is our sin?’; ‘Enough is Enough’; ‘Save Orin Ekiti from herdsmen invasion’; ‘We are tired of molestation by herdsmen’; ‘Government must relocate Fulani Herdsmen’, among others.

While addressing journalists, the Onikare of Orin-Ekiti, Chief Bamidele Fasuyi, alleged one Emmanuel Ilori had been allegedly killed by suspected herders while the Tiv people farming in the town were chased away.

He regretted that the suspected herdsmen, had destroyed crops worth over N50million belonging to 70 farmers.

“What they wanted is to invade our land and chase us away. They even killed one of our able bodied men this year. They are imposing some curfew in this town, because our youths can’t go to farm freely and government has not been doing something. Several hectares of land had been destroyed. They used to operate at night with AK 47 rifle.

“Over 70 farmers were affected in our record. Crops worth N50 million have been ravaged . They ate up their products like Coco yam, yam, cassava and others and made them to incur debts.

“We appeal to government to use the 2500 acres of land for farming. The state and federal government as well as private bodies should come to our aid. There were facilities like electricity, buildings and equipment that can aid farming if they want to invest “.

A youth leader, Mr. Omotoso Mathew Kayode, alleged that the suspected herders had hoisted a flag at the farm settlement, where they warned the farmers to keep off or face death.

“They wrote keep off with a picture of a cattle rearer on the flag. This is a serious threat. The police , NSCDC and soldiers removed the flag last year but they had hoisted another one.

“We used to do night guard to ward off attack,because the police had found it difficult to arrest them. Our graduates who have no jobs were going into farming but they are suffering losses because of destruction by cows.

“They must vacate the place. Governor Kayode Fayemi must relocate them. From our findings, they used to enter into this place from neighbouring towns like Isan, Ayede and Ido and we are suspecting conspiracy .There may be famine in the land with the way things are going .

“We are not compromising our stand on this relocation. Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led government in the old Western region acquired the land in 1958 for arable farming and not for cattle ranching”.

Omotoso, however, appealed to Fayemi to assist them in getting back their farmland and compensate the farmers.

He further urged the state government to provide adequate security in the community, noting residents could no longer sleep with two eyes closed as they all live in trepidation.

The Oniwaro of Orin, Chief Mathew Oke, said Fayemi should comply with his promise to build a police station in the town and rejuvenate the farm settlement to ward off herdsmen invasion in the area.

The Making Of A Bad 2019 For Dino Melaye

For Dino Melaye, erstwhile Senator, representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, 2019 is a year that will linger in his memory. It is a year where almost all things failed to work for him, in fact, he met several Waterloos and debacles and crowns a calamitous year, as he was dumped out of the Senate.

He had begun 2019 on a promising note, winning the Senatorial election that made him eligible for a second term in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. But since then, things began to degenerate for him. Despite his social media prowess and his garrulousness, he could not salvage anything for himself in 2019.

Six things shaped Melaye’s 2019 episode, crowning a bad year for him.

1. Loss of his mother

The lawmaker was visibly shaken by the loss of his beloved mother. He took to Instagram on Friday, May 3, 2019 to announce the death of his mother, Deaconess Comfort Melaye. According to Melaye, “With total submission to the will of the Almighty God, I on behalf of the Melayes announce the passing into glory of our beloved mother, Deaconess Comfort Melaye.

“We thank God for godly life she lived. I love you my mother and Friend. We shall surely meet again. You are still alive because you live in me. I know you will never leave me my dependable mother, sister and best friend. You were more than just a mother. You gave your tomorrow for my today. Mummy the cloud is without form, but I take solace in the fact that we shall see again and we will recognize ourselves. We will hold each other again and laugh. Good mother hen goodnight.”

All through the period, Melaye was never himself. He later buried his mother amidst pomp and ceremony. He even built a church in his mother’s name. The rash senator wept as his mother was being lowered into the grave.

2. Tribunal nullified his election

Shortly after burying his mother in July, the Election Tribunal in Lokoja, Kogi State, nullified Melaye’s election on August 23, 2019. The tribunal ordered a fresh election to be conducted in the senatorial district. Melaye’s closest rival, Smart Adeyemi of the APC, had challenged his victory at the tribunal.

It never dawned on him that his Waterloo was near. The lawmaker was still beaming with hope that the verdict would be upturned at the Appeal Court, as he described the ruling as robbery. He did file an appeal against the Tribunal’s ruling at the Appeal Court, hoping that judgment would be in his favour.

3. Loss of Kogi PDP governorship ticket

In quick succession, Melaye’s woes were compounded. He had in June vowed to vie for the governorship seat of Kogi State as he saw himself as the man to dethrone Governor Yahaya Bello. He had boasted that nothing would stop his coronation on November 16 as he would be governor. But Melaye had a hurdle to cross, he must first of all emerge the candidate of the PDP at the primary election before thinking of unseating Bello.

On September 4, 2019, Melaye lost the PDP primary election woefully. He emerged emerged a distant fourth in the result declared by the election committee headed by Adamawa governor, Ahmadu Fintiri. Melaye polled 70 votes, while the winner, Engr Musa Wada got 748 votes.
Wada’s victory was a huge upset as he beat all the 11 contestants, including the former governor, Idris Wada, who came third with 345 votes. Abubakar Ibrahim, was the one who gave Wada a big chase as he got 710 votes to come second.

Melaye cried foul, saying he was robbed, but that was the end of the story as he succumbed to party supremacy.

4. Loss at Appeal Court

With his debacle at the PDP Kogi governorship primary election, Melaye’s only hope was to ensure that his seat at the senate did not slip. He had to win the Appeal to remain relevant. But the sad news came on October 11, 2019, when the Appeal Court affirmed the decision of the Kogi Election Petition Tribunal nullifying his election.

The court ordered the conduct of a fresh election in the zone. Melaye was dragged to the tribunal by Adeyemi. In the now annulled election, Melaye polled 85,395 votes, while Adeyemi scored 66,902 votes. But Adeyemi challenged Melaye’s victory on three grounds of irregularities, over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. In a split judgment, the tribunal annulled the election and ordered another election in the senatorial district.

5. Loss of re-run election

Before the re-run election, Melaye had boasted that he would defeat Adeyemi again, describing him as his political wife. “Smart Adeyemi is my political wife, I was in APC, I contested against him in PDP, I defeated him. I came to PDP and he went to APC, I defeated him, that is two zero and going back for the third time, it will be hat-trick. I will score the third goal,” Melaye had written on his Instagram page.

In the re-run election held on November 16, 2019, Adeyemi was leading with a convincing over 20,000 votes when the election was declared inconclusive and a supplementary election fixed for November 30. At the end of the election, Melaye’s fate was sealed.

The Returning Officer of the election, Professor Olajide Lawal, said Adeyemi, who represented the district from 2007-2015, polled 88,373 votes to beat Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 62,133 votes. His supposed political wife had thrashed him convincingly, even though he rubbished the election over alleged electoral malpractice and vowed to challenged the outcome in curt.

5. Loss of nephew

During the election on November 16, Melaye confirmed the death of his nephew, identified as Olorunjuwon. According to Melaye, he was shot at his polling unit during the election. He alleged that his nephew was killed by thugs hired by the All Progressive Congress (APC).

He said in a statement on Sunday: “My nephew Olorunjuwon who was shot at my pooling unit yesterday died this morning. My brother your death is a Supreme sacrifice in the struggle for the liberation of our people. Rest in peace aburo… So sad. My nephew, Juwon good night. A boy who never knew his mum, did not have the luxury of being breastfed. Yet God took care of him. Now APC thugs killed him. Avenge your death brother.”

It was in deed an infamous year for Melaye. He can’t forget 2019 in a hurry. With the frustration of losing, his next line of action is certainly Nollywood. He had said he would venture into the movie industry and boasted that he was born as an actor.

His teeming fans are waiting to see what would become of the former controversial senator in the coming years.

Justice A. T. Badamasi of a Kano High Court on Tuesday declined to grant an extension on the Interim Order stopping Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje from interfering with the powers of the Kano emirate kingmakers.

Counsel to the kingmakers in suit No K/197/2019 prayed the court to extend the order pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The import of today’s ruling would be that the governor is now effectively capable of exercising all the powers vested in him under the new ‘Kano State Emirates Council Law, 2019.

This includes the power to dethrone any Emir found violating any of the provisions of the law.

Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says Abubakar Malami risks being removed as the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) if he fails to secure the release of Omoyele Sowore.

Last Friday, Malami took over Sowore’s case from the Department of State Services (DSS), and with this development, Falana, counsel to the activist, asked him to use his office to secure Sowore’s release.

The AGF, however, said he cannot take any decision on Sowore’s release.

Responding in a statement on Tuesday, Falana said the AGF has not taken note of the legal implications of taking over the case.

“With respect, Mr. Malami has not taken cognizance of the legal implications of taking over a pending criminal case in exercise of the powers of an Attorney-General under the common law and the Constitution,” the statement read.

“In the case of State v Ilori (1983) JELR 51804 (SC) the Supreme Court dwelt in extenso on the powers of an Attorney-General under section 193 of the 1979 Constitution which is in pari materia with section 174 of the 1999 Constitution. In that case Eso JSC of blessed memory said inter alia:

“An Attorney-General, who proposes to act under his powers to institute and undertake, take over and continue or discontinue criminal proceed­ings would need to bear in mind public interest, interests of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process before he exercises his powers, since if he ignores any of these, he would run the risk of exposing himself to removal or reassignment by his appointor, and above all – and this is most important – also to public opinion.

“‘The powers of the Attorney-General under s. 191, (and notwithstanding sub-section (3) thereof) are still a matter for his quasi-judicial discretion and one within his complete province. He still possesses the constitutional powers in full and the responsibility for any decision thereupon rests solely on him.

“Since Mr. Malami has taken over the case of FRN v Sowore v Another he is deemed to possess ‘the constitutional powers in full and the responsibility for any decision thereupon rests solely on him.’ Therefore, he cannot like Pontius Pilate wash of his hands with respect to the illegal detention of Sowore by the State Security Service. Furthermore, since section 287 of the Constitution has imposed a legal obligation on all authorities and persons in Nigeria to comply with the decisions of all competent courts the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Malami is duty bound to direct the State Security Service to release Sowore on bail in compliance with the valid and subsisting order of the federal high court.”

The senior lawyer said on legal principle, they are compelled to ask the AGF to direct the DSS to release Sowore without further delay.

Sowore, convener of Revolution Now Movement, was arrested in August for planning a nationwide protest.

Despite a court order granting him bail, the activist has been denied his freedom.

He was briefly released after 124 days in detention but was rearrested less than 24 hours after, and he has been in DSS custody since this time.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has asked Nigerians to mobilise against the proposed hate speech bill if they do not want it.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, the senate president said it is up to Nigerians to decide, at the public hearing, if the bill should be passed or not.

In November, Sabi Abdullahi senator representing Niger north, sponsored the bill, which has sparked widespread criticism across the country.

It proposed death by hanging for any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person, the lawmaker later promised that the death sentence would be reviewed.

The bill also proposed that in the case of an offence committed by a body of persons where the body of persons is a corporate body, every director, trustee and officer of that body corporate shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence.

It also recommended the establishment of a commission to be known as the Independent National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches.

However, Lawan said the bill is for every interested person and not for members of the national assembly alone.

“I answered something at the beginning about hate speech. Hate speech (bill) is one issue that has elicited so much reaction from Nigerians,” Lawan said.

“Personally, I’m happy that everybody is talking. It is not up to members of the national assembly alone to deal with the hate speech bill.

“Like I said at the beginning, it is for every interested person. If you say the hate speech bill should not pass, when they would conduct the public hearing, get as many people against the hate speech bill as possible to attend the public hearing and make their case.

“I am sure it is better for me stop talking about hate speech so that I don’t also engage in hate speech.”

Ekene161829:
I did something I really regret. My wife and I have an amazing marriage, 2 years of marriage and we are blessed with a 7-month-old baby girl.

She is 28 and I almost 33. Last Saturday I got invited to go out by some of my work friends , I got home late 2am, so madam wasn't happy. She was yelling at me, throwing hands and screaming at me. I ignored her and left the room to the living room but she followed me and I asked her to leave me alone but she kept going which made me angry.

I took the back of my hand and gave her a slap on the mouth. She cried out and held her face and started crying and her lips was bleeding. I didn't intentionally hurt her, I just wanted to calm her down since ignoring her was not working. I said sorry, and I was literally on my knees begging her. I tried to hold her but she refused.
The rest of the night was me repeating apology or i didn't mean to hurt you. She ignored me . She went into our room and locked the door.

She was in there for a long time and the next morning, her mother and older brother was at the house and she came out of the room with her and our baby stuff and she said she was leaving me for good. I told her how sorry I was but her mother told me to get out of their faces and they left the house.

I feel so ashamed and I've never done anything like this before and I never thought I would. I don't want to loose my wife and baby. I need both of them back. Should I attempt to contact her?

What do I do?