₦airaland Forum

Sunday Aborisade, Kaduna



The Special Adviser (Media) to the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has revealed how his principal, who is also the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, contributed the highest donation towards the realisation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ambition in 2015.

Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson, who made the revelation in a statement on Sunday, titled, “How Lai Mohammed betrayed Saraki”, said other stakeholders in the coalition then, agreed that Saraki would be the Senate President if Buhari became victorious at the polls.

He also alleged that the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, betrayed the Senate President after Buhari’s emergence despite the fact that Saraki reluctantly agreed to support his nomination as a member of the Federal Executive Council.

The full statement read, “Prior to the establishment of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, certain agreements were reached with principal stakeholders.

“Saraki was among the major stakeholders, being the single individual that raised the highest donation to the Buhari/All Progressives Congress campaign, far in excess of (what) Asiwaju (Bola) Tinubu or (Rotimi) Amaechi or anyone for that matter, (donated).

“Saraki was promised the post of Senate President and two ministerial slots.

“After May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari called Saraki and apologised that he could only have one ministerial slot instead of the two previously agreed.

“Saraki, most reluctantly, but in deference to the President, conceded.

“Shortly afterwards, the President requested for another political favour from Saraki. This time, he wanted Saraki’s consent to use the remaining one ministerial slot allocated to him (Saraki) to appoint Lai Mohammed as minister.

“This was a gruesome blow to Saraki who questioned why the President could not ask Asiwaju (Tinubu) to accommodate Lai Mohammed in his own slot.

“The President confirmed to Saraki that Asiwaju had blatantly refused to do so. A thoroughly perplexed Saraki could only plead with the president to allow him go back home in Kwara State and find the best way to break this heart-shattering news to members of his political family.

“It was an unimaginable scenario. It took more than sagacity and political dexterity for the request of the President to be accepted but for the grace and very long lasting bonded relationship for the Saraki camp not to break up for this singular development.

“Lai Mohammed was summoned by the elders of the group, including Alhaji Kawu Baraje and former Governor Shaba Lafiaji and others.

“Lai Mohammed wept profusely, severally rolling on bare floor and swearing on every sacred institution and object of faith.

“The elders told him point blank that they did not trust him but that they were doing this for God, the President and interest of their leader, Bukola Saraki.

“Today, Lai Mohammed is the leader of a movement planning to unseat Saraki and destroy him politically.”

Temidayo Akinsuyi and Samuel Ogidan



Lagos / Abuja – Pressure from the international community, especially the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU) saved Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), from being relieved of his job following the sudden postponement of the 2019 general elections, Daily Independent has gathered.

The INEC chairman had cited “logistics and operational problems” to postpone the February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections to February 23, while the governorship and House of Assembly elections will now take place on March 9.

It was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who was apparently disappointed by the postponement had in a meeting in Aso Rock contemplated replacing Yakubu whom he believed had “demonstrated gross incompetence” in the handling of the electoral exercise.

According to our source, “The pressure from the international community and some civil society organisations saved the INEC chairman. They believed that sacking him at this point will have huge negative impact on the conduct of the elections and its results.

“Though they felt the pains of the president and Nigerians, they believed that since the INEC chairman has promised to get everything done to have a successful election in one week, he should be allowed to carry on with the exercise. Appointing a new chairman now will no doubt give the elections credibility problems”.

Speaking with our correspondent, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), said calls for the sack of the INEC boss are unreasonable.

According to him, given the logistic challenges experienced by the electoral commission in some days before the elections such as delay in budget passing and burning of sensitive materials, the best option available to INEC is to postpone the exercise in order to have a free, fair and credible poll.

He, however, faulted the timing of the announcement, saying it would have been done few days before the elections so that Nigerians who traveled far to vote wouldn’t have done so.

“Sacking the INEC chairman because of the postponement of election will be unreasonable. We have heard various things that have been happening. Card readers were burnt in different states, some never arrived as bad weather prevented aircraft from landing, therefore, prohibiting distribution of electoral materials.

“Also, there was the case of the delay by the National Assembly in passing the budget of INEC. So, the decision to postpone is better so that we can have a flawless election.

“My only blame is the lateness of the announcement. If INEC had announced it maybe two days before so that people will not travel from one point to the other or close their offices. The inconvenience caused by the last minute announcement is totally uncalled for.

“In fact, some people were already at the polling stations. That is where I blame the INEC chairman. So, postponing the election is the best option in the current circumstance. I don’t think he can be blamed for that”, he said.

In a related development, INEC will today meet to deliberate on whether political parties can resume campaigns before February 23, the new date for the rescheduled elections.

Following the postponement, political parties felt it will be wrong to stay mute for a week, as it may affect voter turnout for the rescheduled general elections.

It would be recalled that INEC, weekend, said there was no more room for political campaigns in spite of the postponement of elections by one week.

Confirming the meeting of INEC on the issue, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, said that “on campaigns, the commission will meet tomorrow and take a decision.”


Buhari To Attend APC Emergency Caucus Meeting Today

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has given hints that he would attend a caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled to hold today at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

The meeting, according to sources, within the presidency, may not be unconnected with the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Even though stakeholders have called on Nigerians to be patient with the electoral umpire and wait for the February 23 rescheduled date, the APC appears to be unsettled over the postponement.

Buhari had shortly after learning of the postponement, expressed his reservations against INEC management, saying he was disappointed by the agency.

The development had also compelled him to cut short his stay at his home town Daura, Katsina State, where he was expected to exercise his franchise.

Buhari had stated, “I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

“Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.

“INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections. We and all our citizens believed them.

“This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission.

“We now urge INEC to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.

“While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.

“I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development.”


APC, Buhari’s Govt Sabotaging INEC— PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday revealed that facts available to the party confirmed that elements of the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been sabotaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a well-orchestrated plot to engineer a staggered presidential election.

This, according to the party, is contrary to simulated stance by the Buhari presidency and National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

PDP further alleged that it has been reliably informed that Amina Zakari and another high-ranking INEC commissioner, played a pivotal role in assisting the APC and Buhari presidency in sabotaging the operations of INEC and scuttling the February 16 elections.

PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “Nigerians will recall that the PDP had vehemently protested the continued retention of President Muhammadu Buhari’s relation, Mrs. Amina Zakari, in INEC. We have been reliably informed that the same Amina Zakari and another high-ranking INEC commissioner played a pivotal role in assisting the APC and Buhari presidency in sabotaging the operations of INEC and scuttling the February 16 elections.

“The reason for this is that President Buhari is determined to have a staggered election where he can use security agencies to subvert the will of the people at the polls.

“These APC elements in INEC engineered actions that affected the distribution and delivery of INEC sensitive materials to designated locations, thereby frustrating the electoral process.

“We also have details of how a hired team of data hackers corrupted the voters register, with a view to cause mass confusion and voters’ suppression on election day.

“Nigerians would have been shocked that many registered voters in possession of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would have arrived their polling centers on election day only to discover to their amazement that their names have disappeared from the register in their units.”

The party also revealed how the Buhari presidency infiltrated the distribution system and ensured that sensitive election materials do not arrive at the designated locations, adding that there was a deliberate swapping of sensitive election materials between different states and local governments so as to muddle up the process and stall election in affected areas.

Nigeria’s two main political parties have vowed to proceed with their campaigns despite a directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Top officials of the governing All Progressive Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said this in separate interviews with the BBC Hausa Service.

INEC announced the postponement of Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections to next week,

Following the postponement, there had been questions and concerns on campaigns, with many wondering if it would continue or not.

Legally, campaigns are to be wrapped up 24 hours to the elections. Hence, many had argued that since the election date was rescheduled, campaigns should also continue till 24 hours to the new date.

However, INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at a press conference on Saturday said campaigns remain closed.


APC, PDP vow to continue

While speaking on INEC’s announcement, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, said it is impossible for his party to stop campaigns a week before the election.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, addressing the press.

He said election guidelines clearly state that all campaigns be suspended 24 hours to an election. He said everyone is aware of the law, hence, his party will continue campaigning on Sunday.

“INEC cannot go contrary to what the law says. Everyone knows that campaigns can only be suspended 24 hours to an election, I will continue with campaigns on Sunday because if we don’t campaign, people will not come out and vote.

“We will tell the people what happened has happened. Let them come out and vote for the president. For one week, if we didn’t talk people will forget, we will campaign,” the party chairman said.

In his reaction, a campaign director of the Atiku Abubakar campaign organisation, Rabiu Kwankwaso, said since the election has been postponed, parties and candidates should be allowed to continue with campaigns.


He advised INEC to ensure the elections are not postponed again.

“All the stakeholders including INEC and the international observers are not happy with the postponement, for whatever reason they have postponed the election, and I hope that they will not do that again,” Mr Kwankwaso said.

“From now to one week, there is no reason we will suspend the campaign because the law clearly states that campaigns should be suspended 24 hours to an election.

“Nobody ordered them to postpone the election. Now that they postponed the election, we will have the chance to go and campaign,” the Kano PDP senator said.

A mild drama occurred on Sunday when the All Progressives Congress Deputy Governorship candidate in Kwara, Mr. Kayode Alabi, visited Christ Apostolic Church, Gaa Akanbi.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Alabi, who mounted the pulpit to read the Yoruba version of the Bible, asked the congregation to open to Deuteronomy 3:26 and Numbers 16:17, both of which contained the phrase, “ó tó gé.”


Ó tó gé is the slogan of the APC in the state which literally means enough is enough.

One of the congregants read the verses of the scripture amidst thunderous applause from the church members.

The state government had, in 2018, written a letter to the Kwara State Signage Advertising Agency to put a stop to the slogan because, according to the state government, it contained hate speech.


The APC, however, responded by saying that it was a mere campaign slogan containing no hate speech, stressing that it was meant to drum up support for the party in the state.

Alabi, while making reference to the scripture, said “ó tó gé” and left the pulpit without adding another word.

He explained to NAN that the slogan was borne out of the myriad of problems confronting the state such as moribund industries, lack of pipe-borne water and deplorable public schools, among others.

Alabi also visited different churches in Ilorin to solicit prayers ahead of the rescheduled elections.

On the sidelines of the visit to churches, Alabi told NAN that people of the state were more resolute to put a stop to the reign of “dynasty” and vote the government of the people as symbolised by the APC.

NAN reports that some of the churches Alabi visited include, First ECWA, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Christ Apostolic Church, and the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement.

At the RCCG Mount of Joy Parish, Region 4 headquarters, Sabo Oke, Pastor Akintunde Abdullahi called on the church members to support the APC candidate.

Abdullahi said: “This is our own, we must support him. I am not a politician, but I love politics and I know we belong to different political parties, but he is our own.

“If I don’t support my pastor, who else will I support? If any of you are interested in politics, I will support you. The era of shying away from politics is over.’’

For his part, Pastor Ilesanmi Samuel of CAC Worldwide decried “a situation where politicians often seek God’s support when seeking elective positions, but quickly forget the vows they made once they emerging victorious.”

The cleric said that God was looking for trusted politicians who would change the face of politics in Kwara and Nigeria, noting that he had always had bitter experiences with politicians.

“Let it be known that God is raising you for the purpose of changing the face of Kwara politics because the people are suffering,’’ Samuel said.

Rev. Babatunde Owojaiye of the First ECWA Church called on the APC to remain faithful and honest to the people.

Party stalwarts on the entourage of the APC deputy governorship candidate included Messrs Olabode Towoju, Muhydeen Sanni, Hassan Garuba, Mrs. Yetunde Oriolowo and Prof. Babatunde Opabola, among others.

NAN recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission had, in the early hours of February 16, postponed the presidential and National Assembly elections to February 23.

INEC also shifted the governorship and state assembly elections earlier scheduled for March 2 to March 9.

(NAN)

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) on Saturday described inconsistences associated the preparations for the 2019 generations as supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as “part of a deliberate plot by anti-democratic forces to derail Nigerian democracy and enthrone an interim government in the country.”

Reacting to the postponement of the February 16, 2019 presidential and federal legislative polls by INEC, the CNPP in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu wondered why “an election that took the electoral umpire four years to prepare for would be postponed at eleventh hour despite assurances by the Commission that it was ready for the elections.

“Before now, there has been subtle mussing about plans by some forces to enthrone an Interim Government on the country and it is becoming obvious that such forces have thrown their evil spanners into the democratic electoral process to have a reason to carry out their clandestine agenda.

“These forces, we suspect, are the same that have carried out systematic arson that led to the destruction of electoral materials and Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) at different parts of the country few days to the election and the killings in Kaduna State on the eve of the election.

“As an umbrella body of all registered political parties and associations in the country, we compelled to alert the nation and urge well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy around the world that the postponement of the election for February 16, 2019 may not have happened as a mere logistics problems as adduced by INEC.

“Even when the rumour of plans to postpone the polls strongly permeated the air days to the planned election date, the electoral umpire reiterated its readiness to go ahead with the exercise as scheduled, we are shocked that INEC suddenly postponed the election about five hours to time of commencement.

“The ruling party and the INEC should be held accountable should our fears come to materialization as there might be another postponement of the rescheduled February 23 national elections.

“We therefore call on the international communities and all election observers to be on the lookout as discovery of already thump-printed ballot papers and written result summary for an election that was yet to take place are part of efforts to rig and cause confusion and prepare grounds for an interim government to be foisted on the country.

“The CNPP and other democratic watchdogs will continue to painstaking interrogate the electoral process with a view to exposing manipulations and electoral fraud capable of marring our hard-earned democracy”, the CNPP said.

dre11:
Again Dino Melaye escapes assassination attack, describes election shift as PDP’s delayed celebration





https://www.sunnewsonline.com/again-dino-melaye-escapes-assassination-attack-describes-election-shift-as-pdps-delayed-celebration/


Lalasticlala, mynd44

By Chris Onuoha

14 students from Kano, sponsored by the state government to study medicine at S.S Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, India, are stranded. Reason: Non-payment of outstanding fees of $59, 200 (about N22million) by the state government.

The students, who started their six-year MBBS programme in 2013, are supposed to finish the course this week, specifically on February 22, 2019 when the graduation ceremony holds.

But, according to them, they have been told by the school authorities that they will not graduate if the outstanding fees were not paid.

In fact, one of the affected students told Sunday Vanguard on phone, at the weekend, that their outstanding allowances for two years had not been paid by Kano State government.

“It is so sad we have been put in a serious predicament. For almost two years now, we have been left stranded with no allowances”, he said.

“Life has been difficult for us. We did everything to notify the relevant authorities through Kano State Scholarship Board and the state Commissioner for Education but got no response.

The school authorities also wrote to the state government but there was not positive response. And the terrible thing is that we are close to our graduation but the college has excluded our names from the list of graduating students, due to non-payment of outstanding debt of $59, 200 (N22million).

“Our parents are weak, they can’t afford this. Please we need your help to make our voices heard.

“We are begging the authorities in Kano, especially Governor Ganduje to urgently intervene so that we can graduate on February 22 after six years of studying in the foreign land.”

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, has vowed to jail the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu.

The Director, Strategic Communications for the APC Campaign Organization, Prince Tonye Princewill, also vowed that the 2019 presidential and National Assembly election in Rivers State will be repeated if INEC fails to include the party in the ballot.


Princewill also disclosed that a delegation from the APC in Rivers state has served contempt proceedings on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, for not being independent enough.

Princewill, a former governorship candidate in the state, said Yakubu will appear in court to explain why he should not be sent to jail for disobeying subsisting court orders and excluding APC in Rivers state.

He stated this is a statement he signed and made available to DAILY POST in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Princewill said the “proceedings were served yesterday because INEC has shown us that it is no longer independent. How else can you explain the speed they acted after a judgement by Omotosho that said we should not only be removed from the ballot, but we should also be barred from campaigning? People should learn to fear God.

“Now that same Omotosho order has been stayed, yet two weeks later, we’re still waiting for our rights to be restored and INEC is comfortable that it has not been given to us. To make matters worse, the Supreme Court last week, threw out the appeal against the stay judgement. So what is still holding INEC?

“They can not exclude us. But if they do, they will face the legal consequences. We can either do this election once or they will conduct it twice. The law is on our side.”

He thanked Rivers people for showing restraint and implored them to come out and vote as who becomes President is who determines the leaders in the state

by Ogochukwu Anioke Abakaliki


Two persons have been arrested in Ebonyi state while planting improvised explosive devices, IEDs, on Idembia bridge Ezza South Local government Area of Ebonyi state.

Governor David Umahi stated this in a special security situation broadcast on Friday.

He said the arrest followed intelligence reports that some members of a political party were planning to bomb Bridges and other installations in the state.

He said the two suspects were arrested by villagers living close to the bridge which links Ezza South to Ohaozara local government area.

The governor also said that a National Assembly Candidate of a political party a few days ago went to a quarry site in the state to purchase explosives but was turned down by the operators who also reported to the state government.

Valentine’s day celebration has left two young men dead in Obi town of Obi local government area of Nasarawa state on Thursday.

An eyewitness account said the incident took place at about 10am on Thursday when one of the lovers trailed his rival, whose name was given as Aliyu, and stabbed him in the stomach.

The unsuspecting Aliyu had offered his killer a handshake not knowing his rival was armed and wanted him dead.
The culprit attempted to run to safety but could not evade the rampaging irate youths who caught up with him, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze.

A family member of the late Aliyu who simply gave her name as Aisha said the brother was rushed to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.

She said upon arrival at the hospital, where incidentally his mother works at the casualty unit, he asked to see her.

“After our youths from Obi took him to the hospital, he said he wanted to see his mother, whose name is Hassana, who was also on duty yesterday morning”.

” As soon the mother came into the casualty unit and held his hand he gave up the ghost “.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Ismaeel, said the incident was reported at the Obi Police station by the father of the late Aliyu said to be 30 years of age.

He said the police are on top of the situation.

Markurdi – The National Working Committee and state chapters of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in the North-Central zone of the association have distanced themselves from the purported endorsement of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, by Elders of the Forum.

The group argued that the endorsement of one of the candidates against another seeking elective positions, and who are both members of ACF would be setting a dangerous precedence.

The North Central zone of the ACF comprise Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara and Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Rt Hon. Sule Audu, a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), of ACF who disclosed this at a press briefing in Makurdi on Wednesday, noted that it was wrong for elders of the forum to have endorsed President Buhari.

He advised members of the forum to disregard the call by elders of the forum and vote candidates of their choice in Saturday’s elections.

Audu who is also a member of the Politics Committee of the ACF said, “I have the mandate of members of ACF from the North Central zone to speak on behalf of the North Central zone, which is one of the zones that form part of the North and have a large membership of the ACF holding national and state positions.

“It was on the news and social media that ACF has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari as their presidential candidate and I have the mandate of my people to dissociate the North-Central chapter of the organisation from that endorsement, considering the aim and purpose of the ACF.”

According to Audu a section of the ACF Constitution states: “We the people of the North have come together on this day, 7th day of March, 2000 to create a non partisan, non-religious, non-ethic Forum and to give unto ourselves this Constitution for the purpose of promoting the ideals, aims, and objectives of the Forum.”

He therefore observed that, “If that is what is in this Constitution I have read, then, it is completely wrong for the Forum to endorse a candidate for a particular election of which we have so many Northerners who are from the North and are contesting for the same position and moreso, it is against the Constitution of the ACF.

“The ACF is made up of different people from the North at the management and state levels and they all belong to different politics parties. So for some elders to gather themselves at the ACF secretariat, that was furnished by the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the benefits of the whole North, who along with President Buhari is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Forum” is wrong.

His argument, “We from the North Central, sense a kind of division, within the ACF, when some groups will endorse a candidate in the North, who is a member of the Board of Trustee and will not endorse another candidate, who is also a member of the same Board.”

While he insisted that the action would send a wrong signals to it’s members, he called on all members of the Forum to vote candidates of their choice, particular those that would protect their interests.

Audu, pointed out, “What signal are we sending to the whole North; that we are not united; that we are partisan; that we are selfish; that we are religious, which is against the objectives of what ACF stands for.

“So, in that regard, in consultation with the management and the whole North Central, which is also part of the North, we completely disassociate from that endorsement.

“We are urging all Northerners, especially the North Central people to go out on Saturday and vote for any candidate, whom they think can take us out of this mess, where we are today; that can bring peace to the North; that can ensure the security of the Northern people; that can bring development to the North; that will ensure Nigerians are treated equally, irrespective of religion, political association and ethnic background
“So, we are urging all the people of North Central to look at all the candidates and assess them and vote for one who will ensure the people of the zone sleep with their eyes closed, go about their normal business without fear of being kidnapped or murdered.

“Let the electorate choose who they want and vote for who has the capacity and ability to bring peace and unity to the North.

“Therefore everybody from the North Central should not obey that endorsement that was made by a group of elders in Kaduna at the ACF secretariat
“That is the stand of the ACF, North central chapter and I also have the mandate of all the National Working Committee members and state chapters of the Forum to speak on their behalf. That is our position”, he stated.

by Yusuf Alli and Yomi Odunuga, Abuja


Barely few days to the general elections, the Federal Government on Tuesday alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to orchestrate a crisis and trigger a sense of panic among the populace.

It said the plot is in furtherance of their plan to discredit the election and cause a constitutional crisis.

It, however, urged international community to ignore plot to discredit the Saturday poll before it is conducted.

The government, which made the claims in a statement in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, said PDP bigwigs, including its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Peter Obi, PDP Governors and others, are planning a world press conference in order to level frivolous and unfounded allegations against the government.

The statement said: “With just a few days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Federal Government has alerted the nation to the last-minute desperate plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to orchestrate a crisis and trigger a sense of panic among the populace, in furtherance of their plan to discredit the election and cause a constitutional crisis.

“The plot confirms the alarm raised by the Federal Government on Jan. 21st and Feb. 3rd 2019 that the PDP is planning to scuttle the election and, where that fails, discredit it.

“In the days ahead, PDP bigwigs, including its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Peter Obi, PDP Governors and others, are planning a world press conference in order to level frivolous and unfounded allegations against the federal government and the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

The statement gave insights into the plot by the opposition including alleged connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) by the Presidency.

The statement added: “Part of the false allegations they plan to make is that the Presidency, in connivance with the APC, is planning to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce presidential election results that are favourable to the government in power, on the basis of the false premise that the APC’s intelligence team is worried that the ruling party would lose the elections.

“The PDP bigwigs also plan to use their world press conference to further disparage the Buhari Administration as well as the ruling APC, with a view to painting an unfavourable image of both Nigerians and the international community also to put the government on the defensive in the run-up to the polls.

The Minister said the “PDP’s last joker is a two-hour live press conference to be addressed by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, on Feb. 14th, the last day of electioneering campaign, to chronicle all their concocted allegations and lies against the ruling government, cast aspersion on government and ruling party officials and throw innuendos here and there.

The statement added: ”As electioneering campaign winds down, the PDP has realized that it cannot possibly win free, fair and credible polls. It has thus resorted to engaging in red herring, hauling insults and abuses at Federal Government and ruling party officials and making outlandish allegations with a view to creating a sense of panic and crisis.

”The truth is that President Muhammadu Buhari, a man respected globally for his integrity, has continuously assured that the elections will be free, fair, credible and peaceful. He has warmly welcomed observers, both local and foreign., because he has nothing to hide, and because he is sure that the achievements of his Administration will win him re-election.

Mohammed urged international community to ignore plot to discredit the Saturday poll.

”We are therefore calling on all Nigerians and the international community to disregard any attempt to scuttle or discredit the polls.

“We urge observers to keep an open mind. There is no cause for alarm, except in the warped imagination of the PDP, which has entered the panic mode and is already ruing the loss of another general election even before it has been held,” he said.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja



President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the decision of the Supreme Court to bar the All Progressives Congress from participating in all elections (except the Presidential poll).

Buhari expressed his view during the APC mega rally in Rivers State on Tuesday.

The President said, “I am very disturbed by the decision that we are not allowed to participate in some of the processes. I have no doubt that I got elected but I have to respect the institutions that I inherited. I assure you and I recommend that you remain patient and resolute. We will ensure that justice is done in this country.”

The ruling of the Supreme Court implied that the APC has lost 32 House of Assembly seats, 13 House of Representatives positions, three senatorial positions and governorship and deputy governorship seats.

The President also begged the electorate to “bear with him” as he continues to fix the country.

He said he would deploy the armed forces and the police in the state to ensure that all Nigerians are allowed to vote without intimidation.

By Babatope Okeowo, Akure



Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba Sociopolitical group has taken a swipe at the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo for not pushing Yoruba agenda with the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.

The mainstream Yoruba organization said the Yoruba since the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo has always canvassed restructuring, true federalism and devolution of power which the APC government did not believe in.

At a general meeting held at the house of the leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the group adopted the resolution of the Leaders of Nigeria, consisting of the leadership of Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum endorsing the candidacy of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr Peter Obi in the Presidential election on 16th February 2019.

In a communiqué signed by Fasoranti, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae and Senator Femi Okunronmu the endorsement was based on the shared commitment to restructuring Nigeria to guaranty true federalism.

This development came as the Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP), Ondo State chapter, directed all its members statewide to vote for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the February 16 election.

The Chairman of CUPP in the State, Dr Bode Iwaloye said: the political parties under the CUPP have all agreed to vote for Abubakar Atiku of the PDP for the presidential election.

Iwaloye said: “The first point of call in this agreement is that the CUPP parties in Ondo State have all agreed to vote for Abubakar Atiku of the PDP for the presidential election.

“In that case, we are directing all our members of all these parties to cast their votes for Atiku Abubakar of the PDP in the presidential election. There would be other areas of cooperation

“Having said that, we know that the essence of CUPP is not just to cast votes, but also to build a better Nigeria. That is part of the agreement of CUPP is that when our incoming president, the president we are waiting for, Abubkar Atiku comes up after the election, which we hopefully believe would happen, that Atiku Abubakar is going to form a Government of National Unity.

“By forming such a government, all the disruptions we are seeing, all the hullabaloos and all the problems associated with security in Nigeria would disappear.”

Afenifere who had earlier endorsed Abubarkar reaffirmed the decision saying the fact that Osinbajo is a Yoruba son would not make it change its decision in supporting PDP’s candidate.

Okunronmu who read the communique said, “That a person is your son does not mean you support him when he is working against your interest.”

His words “Osinbajo is working against the interest of Yoruba and our support for Atiku is not the question of Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa but about somebody that believes in what Awolowo believed in which is federalism. We advise all Yoruba to come out and vote for Atiku.

“Osinbajo is hanging on the Fulanis to work against Yoruba interest when our people are being killed in their farms by Fulani herdsmen, Osinbajo did not say anything. When we are talking about restructuring, Osinbajo is arguing against restructuring and all the Yoruba want is restructuring, so when Osinbajo is working against restructuring, he is not for Yoruba people

“So we cannot support APC because of Osinbajo who has turned himself to the enemy of Yoruba.”

The communique read: “We are not unmindful of some impostors parading themselves as Afenifere holding meetings and endorsing General Muhammad Buhari to continue in office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in spite of his incompetence, cluelessness, nepotism, tribalism, religious bigotry, ill-health and glaring mental incapacity.

“These pretenders are doubtlessly not Afenifere members but, as usual, only dubiously seeking to exploit the goodwill and reputation of Afenifere to market their bad political product.

“Their desperation in this regard is exemplified in the fraudulent printing of campaign posters in the name and picturing Ambassador Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu as endorsing Buhari and Osinbajo, which she has since disclaimed.

“The Afenifere hereby calls on Nigerians and all Yoruba people, in particular, to come out enmasse and vote for the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party and to protect their votes in the interest of good governance and life more abundant for all Nigerians.”

Kemi Adeosun, the British-born Nigerian former finance minister whose counterfeit youth service scheme certificate led to her resignation last year, is under investigations over some untoward activities during her tenure, according to sources related to the matter.

Daily Independent learnt that she was forced back to the country two weekends ago to respond to some issues pertaining to her time as head of the finance ministry.

The development, according to our sources, is not unconnected with the attempt by the Federal Government to reassure Nigerians that it is on course to prosecute any official tainted by corruption, no matter how highly-placed.

Indeed, the focus on Adeosun is making some observers to say that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war appears to have begun a gradual inwards turn to members of his political party and high ranking government officials like the immediate past finance minister.

Sources told Daily Independent that the former finance minister had long been invited for questioning over a number of allegations but that she had refused to respond until a threat was issued, which forced her to quickly fly into the country between Friday 1 and Sunday, February 3, 2019.

She is said to have spent two days answering questions put to her by operatives of the Ibrahim Magu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property (SPIPRPP), chaired by Okoi Obono-Obla.

“They basically confronted her with documents regarding some activities that she had been involved in while she was minister of finance,” said someone close to the matter who pleaded anonymity since the issue was still developing.

Daily Independent learnt that some of the issues tendered against her include those related to the disbursement and distribution of Paris Club funds to states and the Voluntary Assets Declaration (VAIDS), which she supervised.

Federal investigators are specifically seeking to find out the extent of her involvement in the allegation contained in the documentary evidence she was confronted with.

Adeosun, who was in office between November 2015 and July 2018, allegedly flew into the country discreetly some days ago and was detained for two days by federal investigators and was released penultimate Sunday, after she swore to an undertaking.

In fact, there were talks weekend about an agreement to refund some money following the encounter with the anti-graft agency officials, but this is being handled in hushed tones.

The former minister was asked questions about activities she undertook as minister, some of which involved her personally and some involving her husband, a businessman who later became one of her consultants at the ministry, and another associate, who was a former commissioner in one of the South West states before becoming one of her aides at the Ministry of Finance.

Investigations revealed that the latest discovery was by the combined team of investigators from the EFCC and the Presidential Panel on Recovery of Assets.

But Ibrahim Magu, the EFCC boss, neither responded to text messages sent to him nor calls made to confirm the story.

Specifically, snippets of Adeosun’s alleged corrupt practices started coming out in the wake of the controversies on the distribution of the refund of the Paris Club debt to state governments.

In fact, chairman of the Governors’ Forum and governor, Zamfara State, Abdulalazeez Yari, had at that period raised the dust, accusing officials of the ministry of conniving with consultants to collect kickbacks from the state governments on the Paris Club refund.

Consequently, investigators from the EFCC and the Presidential Panel swooped on the allegations by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and started discreet investigation at the finance ministry while she was still in government.

After months of investigations, Adeosun was allegedly indicted while her two cohorts were fingered as her accomplices in series of corrupt practices involving kickbacks from state governments on Paris Club refund, local contractors on payment of some domestic debts, and some of the consultants appointed to handle the Voluntary Assets Declaration (VAIDS).

It was further learnt that investigators discovered that one of the consultants, an advertising agency, allegedly inflated the contract sum from which kickback running into tens of millions was paid.

Adeosun, who was first summoned by the federal investigators in December, could not appear immediately for fear of detention, and was said to have solicited the assistance of lobbyists to soften the ground for her appearance.

She appeared two weeks ago and was grilled for two days during which she was shown several documents and evidences of her alleged corrupt practices.

Sources at the EFCC, who confided in our investigative group, confirmed that Adeosun allegedly admitted committing the crimes and agreed to return a substantial part, which runs into billions of naira.

Adeosun is believed to have been nominated for the ministerial job by Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, a close ally of the president.

The latest development brings to three the thorny cases Adeosun has had to deal with. The former minister was forced out of office following a case involving the forgery of an NYSC exemption certificate, which was discovered to have been allegedly procured for her before she started work at ChapelHill Denham Chapel, founded by Bolaji Balogun.

She was also given soft landing at Dunham Chapel by management who asked her to resign after she was accused of anti-company activities.

Now, with the latest discovery by a combined team of investigators from the EFCC and the Presidential Panel on recovery of government assets, Adeosun, who was lauded for setting up the Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance and other ministries, has found herself being called out once again.

By Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano



The mammoth crowd of supporters that attended yesterday’s rally of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano has further strengthened the growing forecast that the main opposition party’s flag bearer is in strong contention in areas hitherto believed to be strongholds of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari had won convincingly the massive voting North-west states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa and Kano in the 2015 general election that saw him squaring up with the incumbent, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, making bookmakers to declare them his strongholds.

But with the advent of Atiku and his campaign, the large numbers of enthusiastic supporters that subscribed to his rallies have got analysts rethinking their permutations and giving the PDP standard bearer a winning chance in some of the states.

Atiku’s rallies in Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina, the home state of the president, drew such an unprecedented crowd that some leading lights of the APC, THISDAY learnt, have expressed fears privately that Buhari might have shed a heavy weight.The situation is not markedly different in the North-east states of Bauchi and Bornu that were thought to be Buhari’s impregnable fortresses. If anyone had any doubt that that was no longer the case, said one analyst, Atiku’s last week’s rallies in those states must have cleared such doubt.

Perhaps encouraged by the massive crowd, Atiku spoke glowingly of the failure of Buhari’s government, saying that it has brought the nation’s economy to its knees and must be punished for it.

The punishment, he said, should come in form of votes that would send its President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration out of office.

With all available spaces occupied by PDP’s followers at the stadium, 28 persons were said to have slumped at the event, while the huge crowd that flooded the stadium made it difficult for movement within the Kano metropolis, especially around the stadium.

People were seen lined up the streets, as early as 9am to welcome Atiku to the ancient town. As soon as he arrived in the city, the presidential candidate headed to the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.

For a journey of less than 20 minutes, it took Atiku-led campaign team over four hours to get to the palace and another three hours to get to the stadium because of the human/vehicular traffic created by Atiku’s visit.

He was accompanied by the Director-General of the presidential campaign, Senate President Bukola Saraki; the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus; and former governor of Kano, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; among other key party’s leaders.

Until recently, Kano was a Buhari stronghold, securing his highest number of votes, nearly two million, in 2015. Kwankwaso, who was the governor of the state when this happened, is now in PDP.

Speaking to PDP supporters, Atiku disclosed that if given the mandate on Saturday, he would support the renewal of agriculture and the economy, which according to him, are in shambles.

He said: “Are you going to vote for PDP? If you vote for PDP, the government will revitalize business and the moribund industries in Kano. We will also boost agriculture.

“I will ensure that among my priorities would be the revitalization of agriculture, industries and commercial activities so as to boost the economy, which has been killed by the APC government.”

Atiku noted that Kano, which used to be the centre of commercial activities in the North, is experiencing backwardness in business and commerce.

Also speaking at the rally, the PDP national chairman told the overwhelmed crowd that the Kano rally represents a revolution and a pointer that Kano people have reembraced PDP.

Saraki said there is hunger in Nigeria, accusing the APC government of bringing hardship on the people, saying there is need for Nigerians to vote out the government.

“Today, Kano people have spoken; and what we have seen in this unprecedented crowd today is that PDP has taken over Kano. People have agreed to vote for PDP. A vote for PDP and a vote for Atiku will put food on our table,” the Senate president added.

In his address, former governor of the state, Kwankwaso said the mammoth crowd had sent a message to Aso Rock that PDP has already taken over Kano.

‘’Today, Kano people and particularly, the youths have shown that Kano is for PDP and Kwankwasiyya,” he said.

Atiku, who was visibly overjoyed over the mammoth crowd, was clad on Kwankwasiyya red cap and white Babarriga to match.

Meanwhile, with six days to the presidential election, PDP has called on its members and supporters to use every legitimate means available to them in a democracy to defend themselves and resist all acts of intimidation by the ruling APC.

The main opposition party said it has resolved to use, in full measure, all defence machinery legitimately available, including its numerical strength, in marching with millions of Nigerians across the nation to defend its votes, with the stiffest resistance, ever, against any infraction by the APC and the Buhari presidency.

The Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, made the call yesterday while addressing a press conference in Abuja.

He said: “You will particularly recall that on February 4, 2019, the PDP handed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a 48-hour ultimatum to make public the list of all officials and ad-hoc staff that will play any form of role in the February 16 Presidential election at all levels, for verification by stakeholders.

“That demand was predicated on our findings that the INEC leadership in deferring to directives by Buhari Presidency and the APC had collected lists of APC loyalists from APC state governors and candidates, across the federation to serve as electoral officials, including ad-hoc staff and returning officers at the polling units.

“You will recall that upon our demand the APC openly directed INEC to ignore the PDP and go ahead with its compromised list. Shockingly INEC leadership appeared to have obeyed the APC, ostensibly because of threats by the party to give its leadership the Onnoghen treatment if it fails to comply.”

Ologbondiyan noted that this was in addition to how the presidency has been importing mercenaries from Chad and Niger Republic to vote for Buhari and to unleash violence in the country upon his eventual defeat.

He said the party had also alerted of plots to manipulate the smart card readers so as to substitute biometric accreditation with manual verification and pave way for mass rigging and allocation of fictitious votes for Buhari.

Ologbondiyan stated: “From the foregoing, it is clear to all that the Buhari presidency and the APC are out to rig the election and that INEC is in clear deficit of the required will to conduct a credible, free and fair election.

“In this regard, the PDP charges all its members and supporters, in their millions, to politically occupy and become extra vigilant by closely monitoring all electoral activities around their polling centres.

“In this determination, the PDP is ready to confront the Buhari-controlled security forces and APC thugs, head to head, at all levels. For this, we charge our members and supporters to use every means available to them legitimately in a democracy to defend themselves and resist all acts of intimidation by the APC.”

The Federal Government has begun rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion works on the Agbara-Seme Border section of Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. A NAN correspondent who, on Sunday, joined a Federal Ministry of Works inspection team, led by its Director Highways, South West, Mr Funsho Adebiyi, observed massive construction works around Agemowo on the highway.

Construction plants and materials have also been mobilised to some spots between Agbara and Badagry by CGC Nigeria Ltd, the contractors on the project. Adebiyi told newsmen that government was reconstructing, rehabilitating, expanding various sections of the highway, adding that the work was from Agbara to Seme Border.

He said the sections between Agbara to Badagry would undergo reconstruction, expansion and rehabilitation while Badagry to Seme border would be rehabilitated. He explained that one additional lane would be constructed on both carriageways between Agbara and Badagry. “The contractor moved to site around November (2018) but because of the high traffic for the Christmas season, he was asked to make emergency repairs to make the road motorable.

“Now he is back on site on full construction works, the survey works, geotechnical investigations have all been completed. So, the actual construction work has now started.

“From Agbara to Badagry we are not just rehabilitating, we are doing total reconstruction and expansion. So the number of lanes would be increased from two to three from Agbara to Badagry.

“While from Badagry to Seme, because it is of lesser traffic, the lanes will be two all through to Seme but it will go through total rehabilitation,’’ he said. The director said that some engineers had been stationed permanently on site to ensure quality assurance on the project, adding that compaction of imported materials were also being assessed.

He said that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was going to work on the section between Okokomaiko to Agbara, adding that procurement processes had already begun towards award of the contract. Mr Li Kungian, the Project Manager, CGC Nigeria Ltd, during the inspection, took the ministry’s delegation to a temporary project yard the firm had acquired pending movement to another yard being processed.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti said “the project was part of a major project from Lagos to Abidjan and that the ministry was doing its best to speed up construction on the Lagos side’’.

He said that quality construction materials were being used to ensure durability of the road. “It is going to be on a soil cement, sub base, stone base and then you have your binder course and your wearing course,“ he said.

He said that the project, which begun around October, had a completion period of 36 months. He said because the road linked other African countries, “it makes commerce very easy, trading becomes very easy, those who are coming to Lagos the commercial capital of West Africa find it easy to move in and out’’.

“The economic benefit is really very great and then we have a lot of tertiary institutions along the corridor of this project,’’ he said.

Alhaji Idowu Bakare, a transporter, told newsmen that the construction would bring relief to road users but appealed to the Federal Government to speed up construction to reduce hardship on the highway. He explained that craters on various sections of the road made motorists spend hours in gridlock, causing both economic losses and stress to road users.

Another transporter, Mr Adekunle Kehinde appealed to government to take the repairs beyond the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to other major highways in Lagos to reduce road congestion. (NAN)

dingbang:
Prick is the most wonderful creation in the universe. .

ednut1:
Abeg must u guys copy from instablog

By Wale Odunsi



The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Sunday claimed it had obtained draft resolution of the National Judicial Council (NJC) signed by the Acting Chairman of the Council, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, on the afate of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesperson, in a statement, said Onnoghen will on Monday be asked to retire, while Justice Tanko Mohammed will be confirmed and his name recommended to the President for confirmation as the substantive CJN.

The statement claimed that the resolution also contains the defence for Justice Tanko Mohammed that as at the time he made himself available in the Villa to be sworn in as Acting CJN, he was not aware as security operatives were detailed to escort him from the Mosque to the Council Chambers that day.

It added: “The Acting Chairman of the NJC Justice Umaru Abdullahi (Rtd) has already sealed a deal with the Presidency, has received the draft resolution and has already commenced his role of persuading members of the NJC to support the government and adopt the resolution.

“Justice Umaru Abdullahi who happens to come from Katsina State and was also a classmate of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Katsina Government Secondary School has reached certain understanding with the Presidency.

“Nigerians will recall that this same Umaru Abdullahi was one of the first Persons recruited by President Muhammadu Buhari to defend his controversial Certificate sage by claiming that Buhari wrote the WAEC exam.

“The members of the NJC who have refused to be compromised have been promised that they will face the government music. At least couple of the NJC members has been told that they can only say NO if they are sure nothing can be found on them otherwise they should comply.

“Justice Umaru Abdullahi is completely compromised and should step aside for compromising the meeting and decisions of the NJC and receiving a draft copy of resolution from the Presidential Villa.

“The precedent of the decision of the NJC as was used in the case of Abia State has been excused and Justice Tanko Mohammed absolved of any collaboration with the Executive to violate the constitution.


“The bridge of the NJC and the entire judiciary is at the brink of falling. We shall continue to do all within the ambits of the law to defend our constitutional democracy and we must not wary.

Kogi

One week to the presidential election, the likely voting pattern in the confluence state of Kogi is gradually unfolding. Out of the 91 political parties registered by INEC to participate in the election, only the APC and the PDP are visibly on the ground for the presidential election.

Interestingly, analysts are of the view that the outcome of the election will be largely decided by the level of the acceptance of the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration by the people. That may not look good for Buhari.

The rating of the APC in the state has reportedly dropped significantly following Bello’s unpopular policies and reported neglect of some areas. For instance, he has embarked on prolonged civil service reforms, which led to many losing their jobs while those remaining groan under a backlog of unpaid salaries running to several months.

For instance, in Lokoja, the state capital, voters are sharply divided along the traditional residents and the settlers.

Senatorial analysis puts Kogi East as having 52 per cent of the total voting capacity with nine local government areas. The people from this area are said to be unhappy with their neglect even though the incumbent governor rode to power on the death of their illustrious son, Abubakar Audu, just when he was to be declared the governor-elect.

In the West, history shows that the people have always leaned towards the PDP. The PDP structure, which temporarily collapsed into the APC in the 2015 election to support James Faleke, the then running mate to the late Audu, has since returned to base after the return of Faleke to Lagos.

Analysts believe that in the presidential poll, the PDP might narrowly carry the day.


Anambra

In Anambra State, while the masses seem to be rooting for Atiku, the All Progressives Grand Alliance has shown tacit commitment to the Buhari’s re-election bid.

The state governor, Willie Obiano, recently hailed Buhari for the infrastructure he brought to Anambra State since 2015, including the completion of the mausoleum of the first President of Nigeria, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; work on the second Niger Bridge and road rehabilitation in the state as well as the South-East generally.

Obiano is also reported to have described the endorsement of Atiku and his running mate, Peter Obi, by the Chief Nnia Nwodo-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo as “idiotic”.

To still show his support for Buhari, the governor, in a meeting with the Lagos branch of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said Buhari had a “strong feeling” to give the South- East an additional state. Many are of the view that the governor’s support would be to the advantage of Buhari in the presidential election.

However, a church leader, Sunday Ezenwa, said, “The governor is just an individual. He has only one vote and he can’t tell us where to vote.”

But the Anambra Central Zonal Publicity Secretary of the APC, Arinze Igboeli, told SUNDAY PUNCH that Buhari would garner over 45 per cent of the votes in the February 16 presidential election in Anambra State.

Igboeli, who hinged his assertion on the 2017 governorship election in the state where the APC came second in the poll said, “Many political bigwigs, such as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Senator Andy Uba, Dr Tony Nwoye and Sylvester Okonkwo are working tirelessly to deliver the state to the APC in the election.”

The spokesperson for the PDP in the state, Okoli Akirika, however, said Atiku would sweep the presidential poll in the state. “All political indices irresistibly point to a resounding victory for Atiku Abubakar. The vice-presidential candidate of the party is from Anambra State and he has not only political goodwill but also electoral value,” he said.


Plateau

Political observers in Plateau State are predicting that the outcome of the 2019 election may not be different from the results of the 2015 presidential poll in which the PDP candidate won with over 120,000 votes margin in the state.

The National President of Omo Oodua community, an umbrella body of the Yoruba living in the 19 northern states and Abuja, Chief Toye Ogunsuyi, told SUNDAY PUNCH in Jos on Friday, “I have studied both candidates from a non-partisan perspective and come to the conclusion that it is true that both the PDP and the APC presidential candidates have their followers in Plateau but I can tell you that Atiku has a greater appeal to the people than Buhari.”

Ogunsuyi’s position tallies with the position of the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the PDP Campaign Council, Mr Yiljap Abraham, who told SUNDAY PUNCH that Plateau belonged to the PDP.

The state APC thinks otherwise. The Plateau State Secretary of the party, Mr Bashir Sati, said Buhari would defy every prediction to emerge victorious given his acceptability in the state.


Benue

Benue State, since the present political dispensation, has been one of the strongholds of the PDP. The state has since 1999 been controlled by the PDP until 2015 when the wind of change blew off the PDP umbrella and enthroned the APC.

But the PDP is gradually picking up the pieces of the umbrella and restoring its lost glory. The event that brought the party back to power in Benue was the defection of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

Ortom elected on the platform of the APC had lashed on the herdsmen’s several attacks on the state to return to his former party, the PDP, to join forces with the former President of the Senate, David Mark; an erstwhile Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; and a former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam.

The forces will be contending with Senator George Akume, the only big name in the APC, to turn the table against Buhari whose popularity has dwindled with his government’s seeming nonchalant attitude towards the herdsmen’s attacks on the people of the state.

But both the former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, and the state APC Publicity Secretary, James Ornguga, said the PDP should not celebrate yet, insisting that the APC could spring surprises that would jolt the PDP.

Tsav said, “You know that Ortom has employed all the powers at his disposal to demonise the APC in Benue. With the way the party was battered, no one expected to see people attending Buhari’s campaign rally. But with the crowd that attended the rally at the Aper Aku Stadium, it has shown that Buhari could win in Benue.”

Ornguga said unknown to the ruling PDP in the state, the APC had gone to all the nooks and crannies of the state to explain to the people that the Ortom-led PDP only changed the narrative of the killings in the state.

“Buhari has a brighter chance to win the presidential election; you can see the crowd at the presidential campaign rally yesterday, (Wednesday), despite all the terrible things the PDP government has done to vilify the party,” he said.

The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, said, “Can you wait until the campaign tomorrow and there, you will judge. Right now, I don’t want to comment.”


Edo

Edo State was one of the PDP’s strongholds until the coming of Adams Oshiomhole. The former Nigeria Labour Congress leader, who contested the governorship poll on the platform of the Action Congress in 2007, only realised ambition to rule the state a year later after the Election Petitions Tribunal nullified the PDP’s Oserheimen Osunbor’s election.

Thereafter, the AC, which metamorphosed into Action Congress of Nigeria and later the All Progressives Congress, took full control of the state for nearly seven years. But the opposition PDP, which currently has five seats in the state House of Assembly, changed the story during the 2015 elections when it won the presidential election, two of the three senatorial seats and five of the nine House of Representatives seats.

Ever since the state can no longer be regarded as a full APC state. In fact, there have always been claims and counterclaims about who truly owns the state between the two leading parties.

In recent times, the PDP has claimed APC members have defected to the party during their campaigns.

And the APC has also claimed to have received thousands of PDP defectors.

Speaking on this issue, spokesman for the PDP in the state, Chris Nehikhare, said they would not only win Saturday’s presidential poll but also improve on their 2015 showing.

“We will win more this time round. We lost one senatorial seat (in 2015) but this time round we are going to win all the seats.

“We won five of the nine House of Representatives seats then, but this time we believe we will win more than five seats.”

The chairman of the APC in the state, Anslem Ojezua, said his party was ready to win the presidential poll.

He said, “We are much stronger now and our opponents are weaker.”

A political analyst, Anthony Ogbeide, is of the opinion that both parties have an equal chance to win the presidential poll in the state.

He said, “Many seem to be tired of the ruling APC. They (voters) would want a change and they have their reasons. The unabated killings by suspected herdsmen, the lopsided appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari, the high cost of living, unemployment and so on, are some of the reasons. “However, you cannot totally give it to the PDP. As a person, the credibility of President Buhari is still much more intact. No one has faulted his integrity. That could work in his favour.

“Secondly, some are of the opinion that giving ticket to Atiku Abubakar was PDP’s greatest undoing. Perhaps it would have been better if the party had picked another candidate.”


Akwa Ibom

The PDP’s dominance in Akwa Ibom State since 1999 has come under threat following the defection of former governor Godswill Akpabio to the APC.

For now, neither Muhammadu Buhari nor Atiku Abubakar can lay claim to the state as his stronghold.

A political analyst in the state, Mike Etim, says Akpabio remains the strongman of Akwa Ibom politics, having been a commissioner and governor, in spite of the attempts by the ruling PDP to unpopularise him.

According to him, the senator’s contribution to the development of the state cannot be ignored. He believes Buhari can ride on Akpabio’s popularity in the state to win.

The APC Campaign spokesman Eseme Eyiboh said the party was poised to take over the state. He said the APC would win the presidential poll convincingly.

He said, “The number of people who have defected from the PDP to the APC include former commissioners. The election will not be determined by the number of billboards.”

Our correspondent could not reach the PDP’s spokesman in the state Ini Enemobong for comments as of the time of filing this report.

However, a member of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Governor Udom Emmanuel’s achievements would guarantee victory for Atiku Abubakar.


Osun

The presidential poll in the state will be a fierce contest between the ruling APC and the opposition PDP, judging by the performances of both parties in the governorship poll last year.

APC’s Adegboyega Oyetola and PDP’s Ademola Adeleke both finished neck and neck in the September 22, 2018 poll. It took the support of the Social Democratic Party for the APC to win the runoff five days later.

Buhari will definitely enjoy the support of the state government.

The defection of a former Deputy Governor of the state Iyiola Omisore is an advantage to Buhari. But the Chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is a former governor of the state, and other opposition party leaders are working for Atiku.

Atiku’s wife, Titi, is from the state and this could help the PDP.

The Legal Adviser of the PDP in the South-West, Mr Kanmi Ajibola, who is based in the state, said Atiku would win the election in the state. He said Nigerians, including Osun residents, were tired of the APC government and would not hesitate to vote out Buhari due to increasing insecurity and poverty in the country.

Spokesman for the APC in the state, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, told one of our correspondents that Buhari would win the election.

He said corruption was the order of the day during the PDP regime and that Buhari had done a lot to reposition the country.

Prof Bolaji Omitola of the Department of Political Science, Osun State University, told SUNDAY PUNCH, “ It will be a close race considering how the big two parties performed during the governorship poll. But when you look at political alignment and realignment that happened after that, I will give it to Buhari.”


Niger

THE Secretary of the APC in the state, Mohammed Liman, insists Buhari will win the presidential election in the state.

Liman said, “Based on what Buhari has done in the last three years of his administration, his records are there to speak for him, he will win.”

He added, “His administration has fixed roads across the state. They include Lambata-Bida road, Mokwa-Jebba road and Mokwa-Tegina-Pandogari-Kaduna road.”

The secretary said Buhari made it possible for farmers to have access to Anchor Borrowers in the state. He said, “Based on that, Nigerlites will give him 100 per cent vote.”

A political analyst in the state, Paul Kolo, told one of our correspondents that Buhari would win in the state because the opposition PDP seemed to have given up hope.

Kolo said, “The way the PDP is going about their campaign does not show that they are serious. They are campaigning as if they have been defeated already, they are not giving the ruling party any challenge.”

Also, former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vasta, tipped Buhari to win convincingly in the state.

Vasta, a former spokesman for the APC in the state, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the poor in the state would vote for Buhari.

But the spokesman for the PDP’s campaign team in the state, Mohammed Yahaya, said Atiku would beat Buhari in the state.

Yahaya said, “In Niger State Atiku will have 75 per cent of the total votes cast while Buhari will get 25 per cent. This is because the Buhari government has done nothing in the state to deserve our votes.

“The roads he claimed to have completed are still in sorry state.”

A Minna-based businessman, Isah Kuta, said since the Northern Elders’ Forum and Northern Youths Stakeholders’ Forum had endorsed Atiku, voters in Niger would vote for him.

He said, “Buhari does not have the mental capacity to lead the country. He has failed because the nation has not seen any meaningful change.”

Kuta said apart from the Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping and banditry are common in the country. “It is better to try Atiku,” he said.


Adamawa

In Adamawa State, where the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, hails from, the presidential poll will be a tough race between him and President Buhari. Atiku has his political structure in the state having contested and won the governorship election in the state in 1999 before former President Olusegun Obasanjo picked him to be his running mate. Analysts believe that Atiku will enjoy homeboy advantage in his own state.

But Buhari, whose party is in control of the state with Governor Mohammed Bindow at the helm of affairs, will definitely make the presidential election a tough contest for the former vice president.

Among politicians, who Buhari will bank on to deliver the state are former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd): a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the President’s in-law, Dr Halilu Modibbo.

“Adamawa is 100 per cent for Buhari; we will make sure Buhari is reelected because he deserved it,” says Ribadu.

With the array of political appointees and party chieftains in the state, the APC candidate will seek to hand over a surprise defeat to Atiku but the support of the former vice president’s kinsmen; years of political experience and horse-trading may make it a tough job for the incumbent.

On February 16, Nigerians will troop out to elect a new President that will pilot the affairs of the nation for another four years.

Of the 72 presidential candidates on the final list recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission that are eligible to contest the presidential election, two contenders are generally believed to be the front runners. They are President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The contest is arguably between the two leading parties, the APC and the PDP. It is therefore no surprise that a number of registered parties have adopted either Buhari or Atiku as their presidential candidate for the February 16 poll.

Investigations carried out by SUNDAY PUNCH across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Saturday showed Buhari in control of about 11 states, while about 10 other states are said to be the strongholds of Atiku.

The battleground, from all indications, would be in 15 states including the FCT, where the two contestants are expected to slug it out. The survey shows that whoever wins in each of these states will, most likely, coast home to victory.

The states are Kaduna, Niger, Kwara. Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Gombe and the FCT.


Oyo

As things stand today in Oyo State, apart from the APC and PDP, three other political parties making headway are the Zenith Labour Party, African Democratic Congress and Action Democratic Party. The body language of leaders of the three parties suggests their supporters will vote for Atiku, leaving the bulk of Buhari’s votes to come from the ruling APC.

Though it is too early to emphatically predict who wins here, analysts say the candidate of the PDP is a man to beat because of Buhari’s waning influence among the citizens.

A renowned political scientist at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Osisioma Nwolise, said, “My opinion on where the pendulum swings or the direction of people’s votes does not matter. What we must know is that both Buhari and Atiku are Nigerians from the northern extraction.”

The Coordinator, Atiku Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Nureni Adeniran said, “Atiku will surely defeat Buhari during the forthcoming presidential election in Oyo State because the situation is more deplorable in the state where the APC has been in charge for about eight years and has symbolically told the good people of Oyo that their suffering will continue under an APC government.”

But the APC spokesman, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, said Buhari was destined to coast home to victory because “Oyo State is lucky to have above 20,000 N-Power beneficiaries out of a total 500,000 N-Power beneficiaries in Nigeria who were selected without any sentiment nor any political affiliation. Our pupils are part of the one million school pupils in Nigeria that are fed daily in public schools without forgetting their chefs who are also about 3,000.”


Ondo

The PDP is said to be taking advantage of the leadership crisis rocking the APC in the state.

The crisis, which started after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu emerged as the candidate of the APC in the governorship primary that took place on September 3, 2016, has led to the emergence of factions in the party and may affect the result of the presidential election in the state.

Although all the factions claim to be working for the return of Buhari, it was gathered that the candidates for the state and national assembly elections were personally working for themselves without the support of the governor or the party.

The governor was, however, alleged to be funding the candidates of the Action Alliance in the Ondo South and North Senatorial Districts, Dr Tunji Abayomi and Dr Olatunji Felder, respectively.

It was learnt that a number of people from the state were not happy with the Federal Government-controlled APC on the ground that the state had not felt the presence of the Federal Government in the last three and a half years. So, many who supported Buhari in 2015 had reportedly made a U-turn, calling for the change of the government.

A political analyst, Mr Waheed Olawande, said, “There is a saying that a house that is divided against itself would collapse. There is a need for the APC to go to the poll in unity if they (members) really like Buhari to win the election. The crisis can’t take them anywhere.”

The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Banji Okunomo, said the whole state was for the candidate of the PDP, Atiku.

However, the state Chairman of the APC in the state, Mr Ade Adetimehin, said the party would win the election. “You can see the number of the people that trooped out to welcome Mr President when he came for the rally. This is to tell you how acceptable the President is to our people. We are winning the election,” he added.


Kaduna

Kaduna was a PDP state from 1999 to 2015 when Buhari and Nasir el-Rufai, respectively, won the presidential and governorship elections in the state.

One thing that will likely work in favour of the President over his main challenger is the fact that Kaduna has remained home to Buhari since he was ousted as the Head of State in August, 1985. Residents, especially the Muslim folks, who form the majority of the voters in the state, have held him in high esteem since then.

The bulk of Buhari’s votes will come from areas such as Rigasa, Tudun-wada, Kawo, Zaria and other parts of the northern zone of the state. The folks in this area are said to literally worship and see him as ‘Mai gaskiya’ (a transparent fellow).

But the PDP standard bearer (Atiku) is said to be popular in the southern part of the state, which is predominantly inhabited by Christians. This area is considered the stronghold of the PDP. He is expected to get bloc votes there and share the votes from the central zone with the President.

The President will reportedly pay for his inability to manage the crisis that forced some notable grass root politicians (members) out of the APC. Among those that exited the party is Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi. These defectors will expectedly team up with some political heavyweights such as the former Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; former Vice-President Namadi Sambo; and a former governor of the state, Ramallan Yero. These politicians will prove that they are in charge of the state.

Also, members of the Shi’ite movement, whose leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and wife, Zeenat, have been in incarceration since 2015, following their clash with the military, would want to prove a point. Though, they have never voted since 1999, it was gathered they had obtained their PVCs to vote out Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai this time round.


Gombe

Gombe State will be a straight fight between Buhari and Atiku. Members of the ruling PDP in the state are upbeat about the prospects of retaining power as they argue that the outgoing Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has given a good account of himself.

However, the state APC chairman, Nitte Amangal, told SUNDAY PUNCH, “This election will be a walkover for President Buhari and the APC in Gombe. The signs are there for everyone to see. First, five aspirants, who contested the governorship in the PDP, are today with us. A serving senator just joined us. And to crown it all, the outgoing governor has failed woefully in terms of performance; people are eager for a change. Look at the crowd which came out to welcome Buhari. Gombe is for APC from top to bottom.”

The state Chairman of the PDP, Joel Jagafa, however, dismissed the claims by the APC leader. He said those who left the PDP to join the APC were either people who had lost political value or those who had skeletons in their cupboards and were afraid of being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He said, “As a party, the PDP has provided leadership for Gombe for about 16 years now; we are here and going stronger every day. Come to Gombe, see the wonders the PDP has performed. Our members who defected, which the APC is celebrating today, are people who lost in our primaries.”

A Gombe-based independent analyst, Mr Segun Awoleye, said, “It will not be out of place to say this will be a very close race. I dare say regional sentiments and the incumbency factor may work in favour of Atiku and the PDP.” He predicted 55/45 per cent for Atiku and Buhari, respectively.


FCT

As political alliances shift among politicians in the FCT, there are chances that the over one million votes in the seat of power may be shared by Buhari and Atiku.

The sole senator representing the FCT in the Senate, Philip Aduda, is seeking to retain his seat in the Senate and is rallying support for his party and its candidate, Atiku.

On the other hand, the Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, is rallying support for the APC and its candidate.

Analysts see the presidential election results standing at 50/50.


Kwara

Buhari may score more votes than Atiku in Kwara in the presidential poll going by the current rigorous campaign in the state on the need to change the managers of the state’s affairs. But the PDP leaders are not leaving anything to chance with their campaign that power must change hands at the centre in order to have a buoyant economy.

The APC’s change mantra, which has been coined into a campaign slogan ‘O to gee’ (Enough is enough) seems to have resonated well with many people in the state.

Today, the voting ratio of the people is predicted as 55 per cent to 45 per cent in favour of the APC candidate.

Each of the two parties is expected to win one senatorial seat. The North senatorial seat will be decided by the traditional rulers who are still very influential in their respective domains.

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Folaranmi Aro, said the voters were excited about the change slogan of the party.

“Wherever we went, people received us with enthusiasm and our slogan, ‘O to gee’, has sunk into the minds of the people. They are happy about the social programmes being executed by President Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. We are sure that they will vote for the APC,” Aro said.

But the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Tunde Ashaolu, said the people were hungry and therefore had fallen for the party’s campaign issue of reviving the economy of the country as promised by the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku.

Ashaolu stated, “The people are going to vote for the PDP presidential candidate because our candidate is a soft sell to the people of Kwara State. They know him that he will deliver on his promises. Nigerians need good governance and our candidate will do it.”

A public affairs analyst, Taiwo Otitolaye, said all eyes would be on the two leading contenders, adding that the electorate would decide the winner of the election through their votes.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomole, on Saturday urged Nigerians not to believe the promise of the Peoples Democratic Party to create massive jobs.

Oshiomhole gave the advice in Lagos while addressing the crowd at the party’s presidential campaign rally.

He said the promise was a calculated ploy by the opposition party to deceive Nigerians and get their votes.

The party chairman said the PDP had no good record of job creation in all its 16years in power.

He said that the era of PDP marked the death of many industries in the country, especially in Lagos.

Oshiomhole said that it was a big irony that the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who supervised the economy at the time as Vice-President when many factories died was promising jobs.

The party chairman said the opposition party was clueless about job creation.

According to him, the APC had created many jobs in the last three years and would create more when re-elected.

“When you go to Oshodi and Isolo, remember the industries in Oshodi and Ikeja? Where are they now?

“Who supervised the obituaries of these industries? It is the PDP, and who was the Vice-President at that time, Atiku.

“How can you supervise the liquidation of industries and make promise to create new jobs?

“Jobs are not created by miracles; by investing in infrastructure, the present government has generated many jobs through construction and multiplier effects.

“The Next level means more jobs are coming for the people,” he said.

Oshiomhole said that the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, did not have the moral authority to speak on jobs.

He alleged that Obi deals in Made-in-China goods, exporting jobs, saying that was the reason he always quoted figures from China at any gathering.

Oshiomole said the country did not fare well under the 16years of PDP, which he described as an era characterised by looting and poor leadership.

He said the Buhari administration had done well to put the country on the right course in the last three and a half years.

Oshiomhole said Buhari was a man of integrity, adding the anti-corruption fight and love for the masses had improved under him.

“President Buhari is a man of integrity. He is the only president that no British Prime Minister has called a thief.

“He is the only president that is widely acknowledged to be fighting corruption.

“This is the only president that the Archbishop of Canterbury in London has described as an African leader who stands out to be counted on the side of the people.

“That is why I am proud and you are proud to be associated with what Buhari is doing and what he stands for, and why the Next level is about you,” he said.

He said the difference between the APC and PDP was that while the former was about the people the latter was about themselves.

Oshiomhole said while APC was spending N500billion on the poor, the PDP was complaining the money was too much, as they were used to looting.

He said the promise by Atiku to give amnesty to treasury looters while leaving petty thieves who steal N10 or N20 should tell anyone that PDP was about class.

The party chairman said the APC was sure of victory on Feb. 16 and March 2, as it would defeat the PDP “mercilessly”.

He assured the international community that the party would not be involved in rigging or violence, as it had no record of doing that.

Oshiomhole said the APC had no reason to rig, as people believed in the party for progress.

He said Lagos was an example of a working state, which was so because it was under APC.

The Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation and Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said a vote for APC was a vote for infrastructure.

He said the delivery of Lagos-Abeokuta rail project and others in the country by the APC meant the party was for development.

The APC governorship candidate in the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged residents to vote right and for the APC.

He urged residents to come out en masse and vote for the party for the progress of the state.

The APC chairman in the state, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, praised the administration of Buhari, saying the state had benefited immensely in terms of projects in the last three and half years.

(NAN)

By Edem Edem



There are concerns about the security of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, party members and supporters in the party’s Cross River State rally scheduled to hold on Friday (Today) as the Police Command in the state has fixed shooting range at Akpabuyo Local Government Area for the same day.

DAILY POST gathered that the arrangement about the visit in the state had been on top gear but the provision of security at the venue, airport and other areas to be visited by PDP presidential candidate was not adequate.

The State Government in her efforts to provide conducive environment, has ordered the closure of all schools (Primary and Secondary) as well as declared public holiday for government workers in the state.

Sadly, the State Police command in a press statement made available to journalists in the state said the Command has decided to move large number of its personnel to Asabanka Shooting Range in Akpabuyo LGA on Friday, February 8th 2019.

The statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Irene Ugbo stated, “The Cross River State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that, officers and men of the Cross River State Police Command, Calabar will embark on shooting practice at Asabanka shooting range in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

“By this announcement, members of the public, all occupants and farmers of the said environ are advised not to engage in any activity within the area until the exercise is over. This is to avoid being caught by stray bullets please,” the statement added.

By Clement A. Oloyede



An FCT High Court in Maitama has fixed February 12 for the arraignment of immediate-past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and five others.

Lawal would be docked before Justice Jude Okeke by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 10-count charge bothering on conspiracy and fraud along with Hamidu David Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar and two companies, Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.

In the charge filed on January 30 by Offem Uket for the commission, Lawal was alleged to have conspired with Hamidu, a director in Rholavision and Abubakar, a staff in the same company, to fraudulently acquire a property and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same act.

One of the charges accused Hamidu, Abubakar and Rholavision to have “abet the award of contract to Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N6.4 million by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).”

President Muhammadu Buhari had in October 2017, sacked Lawal following a report of investigations by a panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, into allegations of fraud leveled against him.

By John Chuks Azu


The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen and the acting CJN Tanko Mohammed have responded to the queries served them by the National Judicial Council (NJC), sources told Daily Trust.

The NJC had at its meeting on Tuesday, January 29 directed Justice Onnoghen to respond to a petition by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education, while Justice Mohammed was directed to respond to two petitions by the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, and Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

The petition against CJN Onnoghen is believed to border on alleged non-declaration of assets, which was the case brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja after an earlier petition by Dennis Aghanya of the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI).

The acting CJN Mohammed is facing allegations by Agbakoba of presenting himself to be sworn-in as acting CJN without the recommendation of the NJC.

The replies, which were said to have been made since on Tuesday February 5, has not been made public, but Justice Onnoghen had in his statement to the CCB explained that he forgot to declare some of the domiciliary accounts linked to him.

Meanwhile, the NJC will reconvene to consider the responses of the two justices on Monday February 11.

A staff, who has knowledge of the NJC, said before the meeting, a panel of about five members may have already been constituted to review the replies for presentation to the meeting of the whole house.

“If the NJC is not satisfied with their responses, they may set up another panel. It would not be more than two days. But I envisage a situation where the NJC would act swiftly because of the situation,” the source said.

The Federal Government has developed three schemes for proper preparation toward exiting the service and smooth transition to retirement for employees in the Federal Civil Service.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a media briefing to highlight government’s achievements from 2015 to 2018.


She said the schemes were in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture.

She listed the schemes to include: 1) pre-retirement training scheme, where prospective retirees are provided new skills to enable them have second career choices just before retirement.

Others are 2) Federal Civil Service Off-Boarding Scheme, which was a structural process for employees to exit from the federal civil service and the 3) Civil Service Post-Retirement Service Scheme.


She said that the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, in a bid to enhance the welfare of staff across the service, has provided quality and affordable housing under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing.

“A total number of 9,503 are under construction, a total number of 342 were allocated, 30 off-takers have been issued keys to their houses and 17 off-takers have moved into their houses,” she said.


Oyo-Ita said that a total number of 4,167 staff across the service benefited from the Federal Government Staff Housing Loan in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria between 2016 and 2019.

“Also, a total number of 2,077 benefited from Home Renovation Loan of one million naira implemented by the office in partnership with FMBN between 2016 and 2018.


“The office has instituted a reward and recognition system through motivation, which ties incentives and rewards to better performance,” she said.

(NAN)

Everest Amaefule, Abuja


The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced the temporary suspension of the Do-Not-Disturb facility on mobile networks.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the regulatory commission said that it suspended the DND to enable mobile operators to disseminate information on the 2019 General Elections which begins on February 16.

The DND enable subscribers to choose what kind of text messages they can receive from operators or even opt out completely from receiving unsolicited text messages from mobile operators.

The commission explained that the suspension was necessary to enable Mobile Network Operators to disseminate specific information on voter education on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to NCC, in implementing the suspension, MNOs are to be mindful of existing directives regarding the timing and regularity of such messages and the fact that the temporary suspension is only with regards to the specific messages on voters’ education.

The NCC had issued Guidance to all MNOs and Value Added Service Providers to the effect that:

“MNOs should ensure that their facilities are not used to disseminate political or religious contents which are abusive, insulting, intimidating and harassing, and/or which incite violence, hatred or discrimination against any person or group of persons.

“MNOs shall provide service to participants in the political process, only to the extent that their licence and the regulatory process permits.

“MNOs shall maintain the principle of neutrality in all their dealings regarding all the political process

“MNOs shall at all times seek and obtain the approval of the Commission at all times.”

The commission also expressed its readiness to strictly monitor the activities of the MNOs for the duration of the temporary suspension.