₦airaland Forum

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Friday failed to publish any name as the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State as the Commission displays provisional list of governorship candidates for the 2019 general election.

INEC’s refusal to publish any governorship candidate for the APC, may not be unconnected to a Court Order restraining it from accepting or publishing any name except the name of Uche Nwosu as the authentic governorship candidate.

It will be recalled that the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole had forwarded the name of Hope Uzodinma to INEC as the party’s governorship candidate, in defiance of the Court Order, which was also served on him and the party.

Sixty seven candidates made the provisional list including, former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Ararume (APGA), among others.

https://www.independent.ng/imo-apc-missing-as-inec-publishes-list-of-guber-candidates/amp/

https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/09021542/Entrance-to-the-company.jpg

entrance of the company


Deji Lambo



Employees of a Chinese firm , Yiwu Baolian Import and Export Company Limited, have accused the chief executive officer , Fanni Lijuan, of sacking some of their colleagues who refused to practise Buddhism.

The employees told PUNCH Metro that Lijuan , who introduced Buddhism at the company ’ s office on Irede Road , Abule Osun , in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, allegedly compelled them to bow to worship her Buddha , adding that those who refused were being sacked .

One of the employees, who identified himself simply as Olaniyi , alleged that the ‘ strange’ instruction of the CEO was meant to convert them to Buddhism, adding that two staff members who refused to comply had already been sacked.

He said , “The issue is that Fanni Lijuan brought Buddhism to the office ; she puts us in front of a projector that showed us how to practise Buddhism and we were asked to bow to the teacher . They also read some books to us , but before reading , we were asked to bow three times.

“ Employees who refused to bow have been sacked ; in fact , last week Monday , they sacked two people and the company ’ s excuse was that it was restructuring and it did not need the affected workers ’ services anymore . The workers were sacked because they refused to bow down ; and after the company sacked them , the management threatened other employees that if we did not bow to the teacher , we would be similarly sacked . ”

Peter added , “She (Lijuan ) usually says bowing is a sign of respect and the practise is for us to be good persons. But does it mean that the people they employed don’ t have respect before now ? Is it that adults who have graduated from the university do not have respect ? She ’ s trying to convert us to Buddhism; this is wrong and against our religions and traditions in Nigeria , where freedom of worship is guaranteed.

“ For instance, when we were in school, they would tell us to join social clubs and before you know it , you are into cultism ; that ’ s exactly what she is doing and we are trying to avoid it . Even the manager, who is supposed to stand up for us , gave in because she threatened to sack him . ”

PUNCH Metro learnt that some of the workers , out of fear of losing their jobs, had started bowing , while those who refused were allegedly being sacked .
One of the sacked employees , who asked to remain anonymous , alleged that Lijuan introduced Buddhism in 2017.

The former employee said , “ Our madam started this Buddhism practise in the office last year ; she started by giving us lectures and asked us to be taking notes . We also listened to voices we didn't know. Recently , she got to the stage of asking us to bow, but I refused . So , she gave me one month’ s salary and sacked me and some others.

“ When they laid me off , I was not bothered because I am not ready to bow to anything other than God . Even if she didn’ t sack me , I would have quit . But the danger is that some workers have already compromised ; they have bowed because they don’ t want to be sacked ; and now , they are working in fear.

“ This is bad ; we can ’ t be in our country and be treated like that. In Nigeria, nobody can force you to worship their gods. It is only in Nigeria that a foreigner will come to do something like that . The reason you still have some people in that company is because there are no jobs outside there ; we are suffering . ”

Another sacked employee , Raphael Ewiri , said Lijuan got angry with him when every effort to cajole him to adopt the practise of bowing proved abortive.

The former storekeeper of the company said , “ Mrs Fanni Lijuan told everyone of us that there was a new way of showing humility according to the Chinese tradition and that we had to bow three times before and after lectures in appreciation of the Chinese sages that brought about the wisdom that had been in existence for 4,000 to 5,000 years. I felt like why should I bow three times before and after lectures?
“ She feels not bowing is a sign of pride ; she called me to her office one day and asked why we were not bowing . She was trying to cajole me that it was not religious , but a sign of humility .

“ One day, Mrs Lijuan brought me out in front of everybody; the auditor said we should all bow to the ancient, saying she was expecting me to bow . I didn’ t because I never promised her that i would bow . So , when she took the first bow , she was surprised that I didn ’ t bow ; she was very annoyed . ”

The Delta State indigene , who charged the government to investigate the matter, said Lijuan knew he was supposed to go on leave but postponed it and eventually sacked him .

When PUNCH Metro visited Yiwu Baolian Import and Export Company Limited, on Plot 36 Irede Road, Abule Osun, Ojo , Lagos , Lijuan denied introducing Buddhism in the company , adding that she wanted the employees to bow as a sign of humility, because they were arrogant.
She stated that she never sacked anyone because of religion , adding that she had fostered harmony among different religions.

Lijuan said , “I never introduced Buddhism; they are just lying . What I observed is that some of the workers are very arrogant ; even their body language shows that they are not respectful. So , we are learning some ways of living ; humility and respect ; and what I want them to do is a sign of humility – bow your body and stop being arrogant.

“ I did not sack anyone because they did not bow ; it is totally wrong . I never told anyone to leave Christianity or Islam to practise any other religion . We have Christians and Muslims in the company ; I am a Buddhist and I want to create harmony among the different religions ; that’ s what I want to do in this company . ”

Senator representing Bayelsa East, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has claimed that an electronic voting machine which the All Progressives Congress, APC, party plans to rig the 2019 presidential election against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Atiku Abuakar, has been exposed.

In a tweet on Thursday, the Senator who shared a video of the machine allegedly being test-run in Kaduna state said the machine can allow for multiple voting with just an Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s password.

In the video, a man is seen using just one key-card to unlock the machine while several others queued to vote. With the key card believed to have pass for the machine, anybody could vote and anytime. With the key card, multiple voting can be done.

The commonsense senator however called on the authorities to investigate the planned use of the machine for elections in 2019.

According to him, “Information reaching us is that this device, which was first used in Kaduna, may be used in rigging the 2019 election against
@atiku . It is alleged that with this machine, you can vote multiple times with an @inecnigeria password. I call on the authorities to investigate this.”

ABUJA-Palpable anger, frustration and regrets were on display at Thursday plenary of the House of Representatives over the failure of most members to secure a returning ticket from their respective political parties.

Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC however took the lead, pointing accusing fingers at the party national leadership as the mastermind of their woes.

Governors on the platforms of the party were not also spared by the lawmakers who tagged them ‘tin gods’ who hijacked the party machineries during the primary elections to favour their anointed.

Specifically, they alleged that internal party democracy took a flight.

The lawmakers raised alarm of an impending catastrophe that may befall Nigeria’s democracy should the national assembly continue to tolerate the excesses of those who they said have continued to glory in political subterfuge as against the dictates of the electoral Act and the constitution of the country.

Members remarks were sequel to a motion from Hon. Abubakar Chica of APC, Niger State which alleged an affront and subversion of the electoral laws during party primary election.

Citing his State as a case study, Chica said that deliberate moves were made by the power brokers in his state to deny him and other true Democrats ticket.

By Titilope Joseph


A house help and a prosecution witness in an ongoing trial of a female lawyer, Udeme Otike-Odibi, who allegedly murdered her husband told a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere how she found the couple’s wedding pictures torn and thrown in the dustbin months before he was murdered.

The house help, Blessing Austin, while giving her evidence told the court that in December, 2017, when she went to clean the deceased and defendant’s room, she saw the couple’s wedding picture turn and thrown into the dust bin, so she packed and threw it away.

Udeme, 48, is facing a two-count charge of murder and misconduct with regard to a corpse.

She was arraigned on June 13, by the Lagos State Government and she had pleaded not guilty to the offences and was remanded at Kirikiri prison.

The prosecutor during arraignment told the court that Udeme committed the alleged offences on May 3, at Diamond Estate, Sangotedo, Lekki, Lagos.

The prosecution said that Udeme stabbed her husband and mutilated his corpse by cutting off his genitals.

The offences committed are Punishable Under Sections 165 (b) and 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Led in evidence by Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, Blessing said: “On December 4, 2017, she travelled outside the country and came back in April, during Easter, since she came back her character changed towards her husband, she wasn’t cooking for her husband, she cooks only her food and her husband buys his own food.

“I normally clean the deceased and defendant’s house twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays adding that her resumption time was 8 am and closes at 8pm.

“On 28 of April when I came to clean their house, I heard when Udeme, started quarreling with her husband that why did he send his daughter to school outside the country, my madam, later told my oga that he should lower his voice that I was downstairs, so I could no longer hear their argument when they loved their voice,” Austin said.

Iheanacho Nwosu, Romanus Ugwu, Abuja


As date for final substitution of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by political parties inches closer, there is more headaches for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) as some aggrieved members embroiled in the controversy over recent primaries have begun moves to defect en mass.

Aside those who plotting to defect, some, especially aggrieved governors have perfected plans to work against APC’s interest in some positions during election.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the aggrieved members, having invested so much in APC would not want to leave for any other platform. He said the party is working to address every concern and misgiving over the primaries.

The national leadership of the party has been in a dug-out with some Governors and stalwarts over the outcome of the party’s recent primaries. Some of the aggrieved governors include Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar (Zamfara) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo). The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and senatorial aspirant, Osita Okechukwu has publicly flayed the leadership of the party over the issue.

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari equally launched a verbal attack on the party hierarchy over the outcome of the governorship primaries in Adamawa accusing the leadership of compromising on standard.

President Muhammadu Buhari, few days ago, met with aggrieved members and pleaded with them to sheath their swords and work for APC’s victory in 2019.

However, the pleas seemed not to have assuaged some aggrieved members as a top member of the party disclosed that the leadership of a APC is aware that some governors were bent on sabotaging the party in 2019.

Apart from the governors, he claimed that some National Assembly members who could not secure tickets may be working to defect en-mass from the party anytime soon.

“They are working with some elements outside the party to sabotage us. We are aware that they have alternative candidates in other parties . They have vowed to work against candidates of the party in their domain .

“We also have some aggrieved members who are working very hard to leave our party. They are demonising the leadership of the party. We know they are
not with us, they will leave anytime they feel unless something urgent is done.”

But Issa-Onilu said it would be difficult for the people touted to be harbouring plans to dump the party to do so because of their level of investment in the party.

“I strongly believe that there is no iota of truth in the speculations. We have noticed that the media are plotting to set agenda for crisis in APC. It is up to us to follow that trajectory or not.

“The issues are very clear; as leaders of the party, we are not going to engage them trying to circumvent them. We have absolute confidence that they are still committed leaders of this party and they will not do anything that will jeopardise the interest of the party and the country.

“We will be very unfair to them to start doubting their commitment to the party. Iwillnotsaythatitisnota possibility but we will not doubt them. At the end of the day, they will put national interest above personal considerations.”

by Yusuf Alli, Abuja



Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is to be extradited from Britain, The Nation
learnt yesterday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to approach Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami( SAN) this week with a request to file charges against Mrs Alison-Madueke based on its findings.

As part of its investigation, the EFCC has traced N47.2 billion and $487.5million to the ex-minister, it was gathered.

Besides, about N23,446,300,000 and $5milion (about N1.5billion) have been located in various Nigerian banks.
But only about $37.5million Banana Island property has been finally forfeited by the ex-minister.

Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered the final forfeiture of the property.

According to a fact-sheet The Nation
stumbled on, the EFCC has concluded the investigation of the allegations against Mrs Alison-Madueke.

More than 50 suspects in some of the cases linked with her have been arraigned in court, especially the alleged N23.29billion 2015 poll bribe.

The EFCC review team felt it will be “in the interest of justice to extradite the ex-minister to Nigeria for trial”. She is believed to be in Britain.

Some of the investigated allegations against the ex-Minister, with substantial evidence, include the following:
release of $1.3b NNPC cash to the Office of the national Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2014 to fight kidnapping in Niger Delta;

•whereabouts of $18.5billion earnings by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC);

•$15.8billion NLNG dividends between 2000 and 2014( especially about $9b component between 2010 and 2015);

•$1.7billion oil contracts involving Mrs Alison-Madueke and two business associates;

•N23.29b 2015 poll bribery scam;
$37.5m property on Banana Island; and
acquisition of many properties at home, in Britain, and in the UAE

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The EFCC has reached a convenient bend to request for the extradition of Diezani from the UK. Most of the cases against her have reached maturity level for her trial at home.

“The commission will formally approach the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami( SAN) to assist it to invoke the extradition treaty between Nigeria and the UK against Diezani.

“Through the office of the AGF, appropriate charges will be filed in court to commence the process for the extradition of the ex-Minister.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The extradition process is without prejudice to the ongoing investigation of Diezani in the UK.

“The US end of Diezani probe has been done. The EFCC has also hauled evidence to the UK to assist the authorities. Some detectives from the UK have visited this country too.

“For the Nigerian flank of the probe, it is necessary to extradite Diezani to answer allegations against her.”

The source, however, added that the AGF has the final say on whether or not to initiate the extradition process. He stressed that all the allegations against the former minister are within the extradition treaty between Nigeria and the UK.

The laws guiding extradition in Nigeria include:
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) with extradition matter within the purview of the Federal High Court.

•The Extradition Act, Cap E 25, Laws of the Federation, 2010

•The Immigration Act, Cap 11, Laws of the Federation, 2010

•Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
• The Evidence Act, Cap E14, Laws of the Federation, 2010.

• Twice, the embattled former minister has defended some of the allegations against her.

On the N23.29m poll bribery cash, she said: “In the face of the obvious falsification of facts and misinformation, it is only right and proper that the EFCC should publish the details of the $153.3million lodgements, the bank account numbers and the account beneficiaries, showing proof of my link to them.

“Having also alleged that the said $153.3million was ‘wired’ from NNPC, the EFCC should also publish details of the NNPC accounts from where the said $153.3 million was taken, with proof that I authorised such a transaction/transactions, acting either in my private capacity or as The Honourable Minister of Petroleum.

“Let me state for the record that as Minister of Petroleum, the operation and management of NNPC finances were outside my purview as outlined in both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act.

“The only involvement I had in NNPC finances was in terms of statutory matters, where the Petroleum Act prescribes that as minister, there were certain duties or actions which I had to perform or take in relation to NNPC.”

The ex-Minister said also that she acted on the instructions of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to release $1.3billion to the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

She said it was not within the power or discretion of any minister to question or disregard the written directive of a president.

Although about $1.4billion was requested by the ONSA via three memos, for “Intervention for Urgent National Security Projects,” about $1.3billion was released from NNPC accounts.

But it was unclear what became of the $100million balance.

Documents revealed that ONSA had requested for $1.4billion between March 27, 2014 and May 5, 2014 when approval was given and cash backed.

About three memos were sent to ex-President Jonathan on March 27, 2014, 31st March 2014 and May 5, 2014.
But Diezani insisted that she could not be held liable for carrying out a presidential directive.

The statement said: “The attention of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum, has been drawn to a story in The Nation Newspaper of Monday 22nd January, 2018 as well as other print and online media titled “Diezani in trouble again over withdrawal of $1.3b from NNPC accounts”.

“Under Section 5 of the Constitution, all executive powers are vested in the President who may exercise it directly or through the Vice President or Ministers of the Federation. As Minister for Petroleum Resources Mrs. Alison-Madueke was an appointee and delegate of the President.

“Consequently, the Minister of Petroleum Resources acted on the basis of the written approvals and directives given by the President, which approvals were given after written requests from the relevant security agencies were made to the President.

“At such instances, as in fact the article clearly shows, a Service Chief or Intelligence Chief makes a written request/appeal to Mr. President outlining whatever urgent and critical security needs of the nation they consider imminently paramount, at any given point in time.

“If such a request received the approval of the President, the President may direct that the requested funds be drawn from a Security Budget maintained by NNPC, or that the funds be sourced from elsewhere.

“Where the President directs the Minister of Petroleum Resources, in writing, to make the payment from the NNPC, the Minister in turn, directs the GMD NNPC in writing to execute the directive of the President.

NNPC then wires the funds from one of its major foreign bank accounts, or from the CBN, directly to the stipulated account of the particular branch of the armed services, or intelligence unit, or department, that initiated the request.

“It is not within the power or discretion of any serving minister to question or disregard the written directive of a president including that of the incumbent President.

“The former Minister of Petroleum Resources in the statement stated that at no time, did she, or could she, as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, interfere with this process.”

The ex-Minister said since the disbursement of $1.3billion can be traceable, it was wrong to assume that it was diverted.

“It is, therefore, impossible and implausible, for any monies under such presidential directives to be diverted during the process, at least from the standpoint of the Minister.

“Any and all amounts approved and directed by Mr. President to be paid, were executed exclusively by NNPC, directly from NNPC’s foreign and or, Central Bank of Nigeria accounts, to the stated recipients.

“Therefore, let it be very clear, that all funds disbursed by these banking institutions on behalf of NNPC are easily and openly traceable, and the process cannot and should not be utilized for the distortion of facts.”

JOHN AMEH


Some aggrieved All Progressives Congress members of the House of Representatives are still hopeful that the party may accommodate them somehow as the crisis over loss of return tickets in 2019 rages .

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH
indicated that some members of the green chambers were considering other options , including compensation in form of appointments.

Findings showed that the compensation option appeared more appealing to some of the members than the earlier threat to defect from the APC .

One National Assembly source said , “They have been weighing all the available options .

“ The window to get something has not closed completely and if people can be accommodated somehow , they may not leave . Discussions are still ongoing. Don’ t forget that this is not about National Assembly members alone.

“ Many others were seeking either to be governors , state House of Assembly members and so on. There are several strata of party membership who were affected and they are aggrieved . ”

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that after Buhari held meetings with the aggrieved party members last week , some of them listened to his appeal not to defect and for them to wait for the outcome of his intervention.

“ I think for some members , they have realised that it is a good idea to wait and see how these issues will be resolved.

“ Discussions are still in progress and we hope that that promise will be fulfilled this time round , ” one lawmaker told SUNDAY PUNCH in Abuja.

One of the affected members , Mr. Kehinde Odeneye, confirmed to SUNDAY PUNCH
that his colleagues were still exploring ways to resolve the dispute in their favour as against defecting to another party in a hurry.

He said members were weighing the available options because they came to the realisation that there was no political party without internal crisis.

Odeneye, who represents Ijebu Ode / Odogbolu/ Ijebu North- East Federal Constituency of Ogun State, stated that members had also thought about the possibility that the APC could still accommodate their interests if it wins the general elections in 2019.

He said , “ We need to manage the crisis well . What we see is that if members can be pacified with appointments, it will help.
“ It is possible that the APC will win in 2019.
If that happens , there are opportunities like appointments and other things . Even if there will be defection, it will not be on a massive scale . ”

No fewer than 70 members had protested their loss of return tickets after the party ’ s primaries to its appeal panel.

However , the panel was said to have resolved only eight of the cases in favour of the petitioners , leaving the majority 62 out of the equation.

On Wednesday last week , a member from Kaduna State , Mr Musa Soba, resigned from the APC on the floor of the House in Abuja to cap his protest against the alleged injustice meted out to him .

But the Majority Leader of the House and leader of the APC caucus , Mr Femi Gbajabiamila , in a quick reaction , told
SUNDAY PUNCH that there were “ genuine” and “ not so genuine ” cases , which would ultimately be resolved by the APC.

Gbajabiamila stated , “ These things are normal during election cycles when people feel short - changed . It has happened across all parties and it is how it is handled that matters.

“ Some have genuine cases and some not so genuine . However , I know many of the members who might have lost out during the primaries and I believe over time when the dust settles their issues will be resolved one way or the other.

“ I know them to be fierce party loyalists , who will remain true to the party . Of that , I am confident . ”

Etim Ekpimah, Uyo


A 27 - year - old housewife in Akwa Ibom State, Iniobong Edem , has asked an Uyo High Court to dissolve her marriage over the alleged inability of her 41- year - old husband, Mr. Edem Bassey, to satisfy her sexually.

She told the court on Friday that her husband was so bad sexually that he usually slept off during intercourse with her.

Describing her husband as a one- minute man , Iniobong stated that she had not been able to get pregnant since they got married as her husband got tired easily whenever he got back home .

It was observed that immediately after the appeal, the courtroom was thrown into laughter , especially when she described her husband as a ‘ one- minute man . ’

“ My Lord , my husband always complains of being tired every night I demand sex from him . He cannot last more than two minutes without taking drugs . Sometimes , he will sleep off on top of me , ” she said .

When asked if there could be any alternative to resolve the matter apart from divorce , Iniobong said “ to hell with the marriage . ”

She urged the court to separate them , adding that she was no longer interested in the union .

The case was adjourned to enable the husband respond to the allegations.

By Wale Elegbede 


The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently keeping tabs of political activities of no fewer than four of its governors and some of its chieftains, including members of the National Assembly over their alleged support for the presidential bid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Atiku is one of the 77 candidates expected to be on the ballot in the February 16 election against the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

The former Vice President was a member of the APC until he defected to the PDP and eventually emerged as the leading opposition party’s presidential flagbearer last month. According to highly placed sources within the party, the decision to place a political surveillance on some of the party’s leaders is to nip any form of anti-party activities in the bud ahead of the 2019 general elections.

While stating that its not as if the party is sniffing or suspecting the leaders, he said some of those being monitored are those with antecedents of anti-party activities before, during and after elections, as well as those aggrieved with the outcome of the various primaries of the party in the country. Specifically, one of the sources hinted Saturday Telegraph that, among those being watched are two governors from the South who are said to be angry with the party and two others from the North, allegedly working with Atiku. “I can confirm to you that we are watching four governors; two from the South and two from the North. We learnt that they have been telling their people not to work for the party.

“We cannot trust them totally, that is why they have to be watched. If they are not working for us, we too should not let down our guards”, he said. The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, had recently let the cat out of the bag, when he gave a hint that three governors on the platform of the APC, and some ministers in Buhari’s cabinet are in secret talks with his party over possible defection. Speaking recently during the 81st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP, Secondus said: “Three more governors and some ministers are coming to our fold, they (APC government) are not aware. Security and economy have collapsed, they are not aware.

There are killings in different parts of the country, they are not aware. Until we reclaim power in 2019, they won’t be aware of anything.” Another source within the party hierarchy who corroborated the first source, told our correspondent that the party is ready to tame the governors to do its bidding. “The APC is not leaving any stone unturned ahead of the 2019 election especially the presidential poll which is the biggest determinant of other elections. “That is why the party is currently taking some discreet steps, howbeit, constitutional, to ensure that the party come top in 2019.

“The party has considered it necessary to get it-self updated on the political activities of some of our leaders who we feel have political, economic and perhaps social relationship with Atiku. I can tell you that about four governors and almost 12 leaders are on close watch of the party. “Of course, we are not on their trail with police or anything, but we want to make sure that they are not susceptible to anything from the other side or got blackmailed on the account of their previous relationships with some members of the opposition.”

Though the sources refused to reveal the governors involved, Saturday Telegraph investigation however showed that the issue might not be unconnected with those involved a the recent faceoff with the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, over the APC primaries. Governors Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun of Imo and Ogun states respectively, had been talking tough against the party leadership in recent times.

While declining to mention names of the APC leaders on the radar, the second source noted that the ruling party is well aware of the various games the opposition party is planning to play ahead of the crunch battle. “Atiku was once with us and don’t forget that he was once a Vice President of this country for eight years. In that regards, you can’t rule out his pedigree of influence. He has it across as a politician and businessman, but we wont sit, fold our arms and not see how to protect what and those who are ours.

“At this stage, friendship is out, it’s all about interest. You are either for us or against us. That is why any seeming act of anti-party activity would be accordingly punished.

“Yes, some governors who are aggrieved about the primaries are part of those being kept in constant check the party and same goes for some leaders who might have benefitted from Atiku one way or the other in the past. The APC platform and Buhari’s aspiration is not where to observe the one good turn deserves another prism.

“We know some governors are his (Atiku) friends, ditto for some lawmakers. There is freedom of association but we wont let that culminate into something hurtful for our candidate and party. That is why we keep repeating our averseness to anti-party activities. Any discussion that can’t be held in the public should be kept till after Feb 16. The party will not condone any nocturnal meeting with any member of the opposition,” he said.

lalasticlala

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he and the late Gen . Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua were classmates at both the primary and secondary schools , noting that they both joined the Army after the completion of their West African School Certificate Examination .

Buhari said that he and the late Gen . Yar ’ Adua wrote the WASCE in 1961.

The President said this as he defended the presentation of his WAEC certificate to him by the West African Examinations Council on Friday.

WAEC Registrar , Dr . Iyi Uwadiae, made the presentation at the President’ s mini conference hall at the Presidential Villa , Abuja on Friday.

Uwadiae, who was accompanied by senior staff of the council, performed the ceremony during a courtesy visit to the State House .

Taking to his verified Twitter handle @ MBuhari after the presentation, Buhari tweeted :
“ Today I received the attestation and confirmation of my 1961 West African School Certificate (WASC ) Examination result from the Registrar of the West African Examinations Council .

“ It was also an opportunity for me to thank WAEC for upholding its integrity over the years.

“ As a Nigerian military officer , it would have been impossible for me to have attended the Defence Services Staff College in India in 1973 , and, after that — in 1979 — the United States Army War College , had I not sat for the WASC examinations , which I did in 1961 .

“ The late Gen . Shehu Musa Yar ’ Adua was my classmate . We spent close to nine years in boarding school , at primary and secondary levels .

“ And from there, after our WASC , we moved to join the Army , where we had to take a military examination as one of the requirements . ”

The President, however , referred to the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE ) as ‘ WASC’ throughout his post.

A journalist with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria on Friday jumped into the lagoon from the third mainland bridge in Lagos.

The yet to be identified reporter was said to have alighted from a commercial bus conveying him and some of his colleagues to work and dived into the lagoon immediately.

Witnesses said he had pretended that he wanted to urinate.

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos state police command rushed to the scene immediately but could not rescue the reporter.

The corpse of the deceased was later retrieved through the support of local divers.

His body has reportedly been taken to Ebute Ero police division.

Kehinde Adebayo, spokesman of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), told TheCable that efforts were being made to transfer his corpse to the mortuary.

He said the agency would soon issue a statement on the development.

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By Muideen Olaniyi



The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday said the list of its candidates for the governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly have been processed by the National Working Committee (NWC) according to the INEC guidelines.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this in a statement issued to clarify the conflicting interpretations that greeted the recent verdict of the Supreme Court on the contentions among party members in Rivers State chapter.

Issa-Onilu said the Supreme Court’s verdict has nothing to do with the primaries conducted for the governorship and legislative positions in the state.

He, therefore, said the candidature of Arch. Tonye Cole along with his running mate, Hon. Victor Giadom remained inviolate.

The statement tiled ‘Re: Supreme Court Ruling on Rivers APC’ read, “In view of conflicting interpretations that have greeted the recent verdict of the Supreme Court on the contentions among our members in Rivers State chapter of the APC, it has become necessary to clarify that the Supreme Court’s verdict has nothing to do with the primaries conducted for the governorship and legislative positions in the state.

“Therefore, the candidature of Arch. Tonye Cole along with his running mate, Hon. Victor Giadom remains inviolate. The list of our candidates for the governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly have been processed by the National Working Committee (NWC) according to the INEC guidelines.

“Our party appreciates the support of the good people of Rivers State and their commitment towards the victory of our governorship candidate, Arch. Tonye Cole and other APC candidates at all levels in the 2019 elections.

“A progressive leadership under the APC beckons and the people of Rivers State are poised to effect a change to move the beleaguered state to a path of progress and development.”

Apparently to perfect the necessary forms to be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today, the governors of Kaduna and Adamawa States Nasir El-Rufai and Jibrilla Bindow were sighted at the party’s national secretariat on Wednesday’s night.

By Rayyan Alhassan



Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, on Thursday, said that the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, will lose five million voters as a result of the lingering crises rocking the party.

Mr Okorocha stated this to State House correspondents immediately after his meeting with the President Muhammadu Buhari over the governorship crisis in his state.

According to him, that the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, had no right to substitute Uche Nwosu with Hope Uzodinma as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Imo state
He also said the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu was ill-informed over the crisis following his reported support for Oshiomhole.

by Okodili Ndidi, Owerri



Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has called on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole to uphold the integrity and honesty for which he is known in resolving the controversy surrounding the party’s governorship primary election in the state.
Oshiomole had vowed that he will never mortgage his conscience to keep his job.

But the Imo Governor who noted with dismay that the party is contemplating undemocratic measures in determining the governorship candidate in the after, even after a candidate has been duly elected in the person of Uche Nwosu.

He enjoined the National Chairman to forward Nwosu’s name as the governorship candidate and jettison sentiments promoted by those that do not mean well for the party.

Okorocha insisted that Oshiomole and members of the National Working Committee of the party owe it as an obligation to defend the integrity of the party, which he said distinguishes it from other political parties.

According to him, Oshiomole was elected as the National Chairman of the party as a result of his track record of honesty and integrity, which he adduced were and are still his highest selling points.

In his words, “We elected Oshiomole because we felt that he is a man of integrity and we are only asking him to uphold that integrity for which we have priced him, he must prove that image which he has cut for himself as Oshiomole prior to his being elected as the National Chairman, anything short of that will reduce his value completely in this country. He should do the right thing and be simple”.

The Governor continued that, “I think people are trying to change the narratives, some people are trying to upturn the truth they want to cover the truth by leaving the main to discuss frivolities, the truth remains that a certain Ahmed Gulak with a sinister mission came here and disappeared with result sheet by 4am on the day of proposed election, the NWC of our party disbanded that Committee, despite the fact that eight members of the Committee including the Secretary stayed back and conducted the election and declared Uche Nwosu winner.

“Despite the fact that Uche Nwosu won the election, the National Working Committee disbanded that Committee and called for fresh election, this fact is known to everybody and the second election which they came to conduct on October 6, the same Uche Nwosu won. Now how could the man who is supposed to be facing charges of criminal conspiracy turn around and say that the election he disappeared with result sheet is genuine, it makes a mockery of this country.

“But one fact remains that President Muhammadu Buhari is known for justice and fairness, that is the image he has and let no one or the party destroy this image which has given us victory and that is why we are here today as APC members. So it is not a question of who is a good or bad loser, the issue is that people are trying to change the narrative to cover the truth, it is diversionary as far as I am concerned.

“How could you explain it for God’s sake, somebody won in the first election, the results are clear and signed by the members of the Committee, same person won the second election signed by all the members, even when you cancelled the first election and then you have the Police and INEC reports confirming the election and you have a letter from the NWC disbanding that Gulak Committee and you also have a letter from the NWC confirming that Uche Nwosu is the candidate of the party and again you have forms given to him from INEC for his name to be submitted.

“I don’t understand what is happening but I think this issue of semantics and sentiments being poured cannot cover the truth, the truth is that APC holds it as a point of duty and honour to declare winners of election and anything short of that will not go down well with the people and the history of APC in Nigeria and I beg to disagree with those who try to change the issue from what it is.

“I mean what can you say to the whole world that Gulak didn’t disappear with result sheets or that election was not cancelled or that Uche Nwosu did not win I don’t just understand what is happening, so people are trying to change the truth but that is not going to work. APC must remain APC and our party’s NWC holds it as a point of duty to defend the integrity for which APC is known, anything short of that will amount to self-destruction of the party”.

On the alleged plot against the National Chairman, “I think talking about Oshiomole’s removal is not an issue, it is not important, we elected Oshiomole because we felt that he is a man of integrity and we are only asking him to uphold that integrity for which we have priced him, he must that image which he has cut for himself as Oshiomole prior to his being elected as the National Chairman, anything short of that will reduce his value completely in this country, he should do the right thing and be simple, I mean we are democrats and this is our party, this is APC and the right thing must be done so when people try to change the narrative and to say Governors are bad losers, the governors want to impose people, excuse me, democracy is about the people, if the people have spoken, who are you to change what the people have said.

“Buhari is a President today because the people spoke and if Buhari can be a President because people spoke, then the party must respect that and allow the voice of the people to prevail in whatever election and avoid sentiments. The campaign they try to put forward is that Uche Nwosu can’t go because he is Okorocha’s son-in-law and I say to them, has Uche Nwosu gone contrary to any section of the Nigerian constitution, nobody has been able to give an answer to that, nobody has come forward to say that the young man is a criminal or that he is corrupt or does not have capacity.

“It is not just enough to sit back in Abuja and be talking, they should come to the state to understand the feelings of the people down home, that’s the point am making so my advice to our party, is that our party should sit up and do the right thing and not allow the people get misled.

“And if you are talking about morals, what is the morality in somebody that joined the party in less than two weeks to be given the number one job by Abuja and not the people, how is he going to win, so I want to advice those behind this to stop forthwith and it is a directive that they should stop forthwith so that this party can enjoy that name that it is known for as a party of justice, equity and fairness if not there is no difference between this party and any other party in Nigeria.

“Ninety percent of those who have joined APC in the last two months are doing so not because they love APC, they can never go to an election without Federal might and per adventure President Buhari loses this election, the net day they will leave the party, so these set of people are simply called political opportunists who are not with the people but always want to grab victory through the use of gun but I think this has to stop, why should our party promote this and I warn they should stop this”.

On the likelihood of leaving the party, the Governor noted that, “the option of leaving the party has not come to my mind, APC is my party, in 2011 when this party was called Boko Haram and Islamization party, where were these people, nobody gave us a chance that APC was going to win the 2015 election, so what makes you think that we are going to leave the party for those that came through the back door and are being given a voice by the National Chairman of our party.

“All you hear is rumour everywhere that they are backed by the Presidency that Rochas should take one position and leave the other one as if we are sharing groundnut, but I tell them I have met President and he told me he never said to anybody to impose a wrong candidate or to remove the name of anybody and change it with another in whatever guise, I think they want to make Mr. President a liar. So what they are doing is wrong and unacceptable so they should stop”.

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By Caleb Onwe Abuja



As 2019 election fever gathers momentum, over 500 pro-Buhari inter-faith clerics, yesterday, gathered at the popular Unity Fountain, Abuja, to continue with the 40 days prayer and fasting they had declared to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected next year.

The clerics, comprising Christian and Moslem faithful, who gathered with the protection of several police officers and other security agents, said that irrespective of religious affiliation, their common interest was to get a divine backing for Buhari’s victory.

Apart from the prayer sessions that were led by different clerics from the Christian and Moslem backgrounds, who prayed according to the doctrines of their various faiths, they were also seen hugging each other to promote unity.

One of the clerics, Bishop Sunday Garuba, said that the prayer and fasting had been going on in the last 20 days and shall be sustained and President Buhari will emerge victorious next year.

Garuba said: “It is not by accident that we are all gathered in unity despite our different ethnic and religious faiths. This is, indeed, a testament that God loves Nigeria.

It is also a testament that God is behind President Muhammadu Buhari. It is also a testament that all of the forces of darkness that have converged to take Nigeria back to evil days have also failed,” he said.

The leader of the Muslim clerics, Imam Kamarudeen Salawu, said there was a need for vigilance by adherents of all faiths to shun evil men that come with money to buy their conscience or seeking for prayers.

He said: “Allah Most High has created the heavens and the earth and everything between them, and He is the only owner of everything to be found there, and of everything between them, as well as of everything below the surface of the earth (including the underground resources). Allah, the Almighty says in the Noble Qur’an.

“We know nothing, but what You teach us. You are the All-Knower, the Wise. O Allah, guide us what is good for us, and benefit us from what You taught us, and increase our knowledge. Show us the righteous things as righteous and help us to do them, and show us the wrong things as bad and help us to keep away from them.

“O Allah, our Lord, lead us out from the depths of darkness and illusion, unto the lights of erudition and knowledge, and from the muddy shallows of lusts unto the heavens of Your Vicinity”, he said.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja


The Nigeria Labour Congress has lambasted the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum for pegging the minimum wage at N 22 , 500 .

The NLC subsequently pegged the minimum wage at N 66 , 500 .

The President of the NLC , Mr. Ayuba Wabba , said this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Wabba said the NGF was not known to law and was thus an illegal body.

He said all governors should return to their respective states and consult with workers rather than hide under the umbrella of the governors ’ forum.

By Abdullateef Aliyu



A former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the majority votes in the North but will not garner as much votes as he did in 2015.

Shekarau said his prediction was premised on the strength of the opposition PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar who also hails from the North. He, however, said Buhari will ultimately defeat Atiku in the contest.

In an interview with Daily Trust on the sidelines of the conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Ibadan, yesterday, Shekarau, a chieftain of the APC noted that the 2019 election would not be as simple as the 2015 poll.

But with massive mobilization, he said Buhari would win majority votes in the North and ultimately a re-election.

Commenting on the chances of Buhari and Atiku, he said, “I don’t think it is as simple as that. As a practical man, I wouldn’t say that it is totally out of place. You cannot wish away the issue of regional, tribal, religious influences in anything that you do about people. Both of them (Buhari and Atiku) are from the North.

“So I think it is going to be a very tall order in terms of the struggle that decides the votes in the North; there is no doubt about that. Buhari may not necessarily get all of the votes he got in 2015 but we are still very hopeful he is going to have majority votes, I have no doubt about that,” he said.

Shekarau who dumped the PDP for APC recently after the defection of his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, insisted that the national leadership of the PDP practically handed over the leadership of the party to Kwankwaso.

He said he was determined to sacrifice his presidential ambition for peace to reign in Kano State, noting that his members felt cheated by the way they were treated by the PDP leadership.

He said he was today vindicated because the PDP in Kano was currently disintegrated, adding, “A large chunk has left for APC, a large chunk left for PRP (Peoples Redemption Party), and many of them have withdrawn from participating in political activities.

“So what remains of PDP today? Just Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya group and I am sure they are going to regret it in 2019.”

He said he was not certain if Kwankwaso was contesting with him in the Kano Central Senatorial election but noted that he was not a challenge to his aspiration.

Olusola Fabiyi , Abuja


Nigerian governors met in Abuja on Tuesday night and said they can only increase workers salary in their states from N18,000 to N25,500 per month.

The resolve of the governors was contrary to the demand of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress that the minimum wage must be increased to N30,000 .

The Federal Government had earlier offered to pay N24,000 as minimum wage .

Labour had declared that it would order workers to go on strike from November 6 , 2019 , if the government refused to take a decisive action on its demand .

However , the threat of the workers was believed to have made the leadership of the governors to convey an emergency meeting.

The meeting of the governors, which was held under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum, was attended by the Ministers of Labour and Productivity and that of National Planning , Senator Chris Ngige and Senator Udoma Udoma, respectively .

Chairman of the NGF , who is also the Governor of Zamfara State, Mr. Abdulaziz Yari , who briefed journalists after the meeting , said that the welfare of all Nigerians was the ultimate concern to the governors .

He said , “Following a meeting of the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum where we deliberated on the National Minimum Wage after a briefing from our representatives at the Tripartite Committee, we submit as follows :
“ The welfare of all Nigerians is our ultimate concern . In all our States , we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.

“ In agreeing to a National Minimum Wage , however, the Forum is even more concerned about development , particularly in the health , education and infrastructure spheres . ”

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By Shuaib Gara




After watching the video released by online publisher, Jafaar Jafaar, on the alleged receipt of bribe money to the time of $5 billion by the current Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, I made some observations which I kept to myself.

I was actually on my way out of the country and because of my relationship with the people of Kano, the government and the proprietor of the online medium, I decided to give the video a second look beyond a casual glance.

But as fate would have it, I later travelled to the United States of America and the issue came up in my discussion with a friend of mine who is a private investigator and an expert in motion pictures analyses which further reinforced my doubts compelling me to come up with this piece.

Having worked in government and particularly at the Kano Government House at the same time with time Jafaar as aides to then governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, I can say without any iota of prevarication that I understand both the workings of government and the circumstances that could trigger such interventions.

But I will base my conclusions on the observations by the motion picture analyst.
The first observation that raises dust over the credibility of the entire video clip is the manner its intended release was advertised.

Weeks before the release of the video clip, Daily Nigerian whetted the appetite of its readers and multimedia viewers that it was about to release the video of a certain top politician north of Nigeria whose hands have been caught in the cookie jar.

Later it dropped the hint that it is the Kano State governor that was involved and that the revelation that would come out via the video was going to be explosive!

The process was no different from the promos that preceded an upcoming thriller to be shown at cinema houses.

The question is, how can a journalist give advance notice that he is going to release an explosive news item, in this case a video clip, when he knows that the document has the potential of putting him in harm’s way?
If a crime is committed and a journalist has it on tape, he will not go and start test running it to gauge public opinion before releasing it.

When The News magazine published the expose on Salisu Buhari which saw him resigning as Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives it did not go about ringing bells of attention before the publication.

This raises a moral and credibility question because it is either he is giving the notice because he wants to negotiate and collect money which is blackmail or the action is borne out of professional deficiency.

When my friend watched the first and second videos, he gave me professional preliminary explanation centered on three perspectives, the motive for releasing the video; the content and the implications.
On the motive, certain issues came up.

Who is the person that released the video? Which organization does he work for? Is it possible that he could be used either directly or indirectly by some politician somewhere to get at the governor? Is it possible that the video may be a ploy to attract grants from international organizations especially in the United States, Europe or in other parts of the world? Could Ja’afar be trying to use such a video or story to seek for asylum in another country by releasing the clip just to claim that his life is in danger? What are his antecedents in the journalism industry in Nigeria?

All these would come to bear in establishing the motive and credibility of the source.

The second aspect he said are the faces in the video. If it is a contractor that is handing over the money to the governor, who is that contractor? Why was his face not shown? When he met the governor, was he representing himself or representing a group of contractors?

And if he is representing other contractors, how could those who are beneficiaries of the system go and organize themselves to commit a crime against their benefactor? Because, a giver of a bribe and a taker are all guilty.

If can they all go and sit and organize themselves like a criminal ring just to implicate somebody that means there is a premeditated course of action to set up the governor and tarnish his image.

Again, can a governor in Nigeria sit down in his office or in a hotel or any location and be collecting such a huge amount of money in bits and pieces to the extent of raising his inner dress?

These certainly do not add up. Again, the video does not show the face of the giver, only showing the face of the taker but in establishing a case such as this, the giver’s face must also be seen otherwise it would be difficult to establish that a crime was committed.

Then from the video, it is obvious the shots were not taken directly from the body of the giver of the money because if it is taken directly from the giver of money, the image would not have been that close.

The only way the person giving the bribe money could have been able to record it is if it was done either through a pen or eye glasses camera and if it is a woman, it could be through an ear ring, necklace or even a finger ring camera.

A thorough scrutiny of the angles will show that none of these items was used to record the video; it most probably would have been taken by a third party.

If that is the case, how can a third party come with a camera and be recording a governor receiving bribe from another person in such a circumstance and the governor will sit down and be receiving instructions from them?

Another thing is where the alleged offense committed is classified. Is it under federal or state offense? If it is under the state, the case may not go far due to the caliber of witnesses that may be called who may be reluctant given the political coloration of the case.

If however it is classified under federal it would take a prolonged legal battle to conclude.

This is because the procedure regarding the release of the video and the content cannot stand rigorous scrutiny as it has so many minuses in it.

For Ja’afar to convince people beyond reasonable doubt that his cause was genuine his background and lifestyle have to be subjected to public scrutiny.

Issues like, what is the source of his income, what is his lifestyle would have to be laid bare.

This is because from what could be gleaned so far, both his lifestyle and the source of his income are not strong enough to make him invulnerable to be used by the political opponents of the governor.

To worsen the matter, Ja’afar said he submitted the video for screening to Amnesty International and other media agencies which confirmed the genuineness of the clip.

To this one may ask, is Amnesty International a video vetting agency and since when have media houses begun to screen the editorial content of one another to certify authenticity?

All these are minuses for what is been sold as an anti-corruption expose.

Leke Baiyewu , Abuja



The lawmaker representing Yobe East Senatorial District, Senator Bukkar Abba Ibrahim, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress not to assume that the North- East geopolitical zone will vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 like it did in 2015 .

The states in the North- East are Yobe , Borno , Bauchi , Gombe , Adamawa and Taraba.

The senator said the issues for which people of the North- East voted for Buhari and APC had not been addressed.

According to him , they are getting worse.
Ibrahim , who was governor of Yobe State for three terms within two dispensations and now serving his third term at the Senate , stated that rigging would not save the President and the party from the imminent defeat.

The senator issued the warning at the Internet launch of his book , ‘ Poorlitics , ’ and 70th birthday celebration held in Abuja on Saturday night .

Ibrahim , whose wife , Khadijat , is currently the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs , said the North- East should not be taken for granted “ since it is not a must for the zone to support Buhari . ”

He said , “ As we move towards the elections, I have to give a dire warning to the APC that things are no longer the way they were in 2015 when we rode to power on a cloud of euphoria, believing that things will change for better .

“ Simply put , things have not changed and many things are getting worse and the people are bitter .

“ We should not assume that we can win, even with massive rigging . The economy has gone down because of our action and inaction, and we are blaming the past too much rather than solving the present problems .

“ I am going to give a dire warning . Let the North- East not be taken for granted that we must support APC.

“ Our interest in the North- East has always been progressive and I will personally be watching for required improvement in the APC before the elections.

“ Improvement that can guarantee victory such as respecting the rule of law and releasing political prisoners as well as non - selective war against corruption, as against one sided witch - hunt . ”

Simon Utebor, Yenagoa



Some allies of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva , are leaving the All Progressives Congress in the state in droves.

Two of his close associates – a former Secretary to the State Government , Dr . Gideon Ekeuwei , and a former Special Adviser , Chief Rufus Abadi , along with over 2 , 000 of their supporters on Friday defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

Their defection is coming a few days after another associate of Sylva , Chief Nathan Egba , returned to the PDP.

Ekeuwei , who was SSG during the Sylva administration , and Abadi were received along with their supporters by Governor Seriake Dickson at Government House , Yenagoa .

Dickson expressed happiness that the two , who he described as founding members of the PDP in the state , had experienced the other side and decided to come back home.

He said that even though the duo worked hard for the APC during the governorship election in 2015, he saw them as brothers , calling on the people of the state to shun the pull - him - down syndrome.

The governor also called on other well - meaning APC members in the state to immediately move to the PDP as the people of the state and by extension , the Ijaw nation , have to come together to chart a common front to promote development.

Dickson said , “ I welcome you back home to your own party , which we all know that you are founding members in this state . We are very happy to receive you all.

“ I have been informed that this is a preliminary reception . A big rally is planned for next month to receive you and your teeming supporters and to give you all the assurance that the PDP is home to all our people.

“ For us , politics is about building, not destroying. It is about preserving life , not about killing or taking life , and not about making people miserable . If you are in the business of service to men, you are serving God also .

“ We are not perfect but at all times, let it be seen that you are doing your best , trying to advance the well - being of the people of your community and your world . We are indeed happy to receive you . ”

Willy Eya, Vincent Kalu and Tunde Thomas



Barely four months to next year’s general elections, the South East and South West zones of the country may have begun a major battle for the 2023 presidential poll.
There are indications that the power brokers will use the juicy position (presidency) to woo the two zones for votes in the 2019 poll.

On Thursday, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had urged the people of South West to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections to guarantee a return of power to the region in 2023.



But some Igbo leaders who spoke to Saturday Sun disagreed with Fashola’s advice to the South West, insisting that the South East will produce Nigerian president in 2023.

Reacting to the development, former President, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike said he was not surprised from the statement that came from Fashola.
He said a similar revelation came from the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, that former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu was angling to be the next president in 2023.

He said: “So, what Fashola said confirms Tinubu’s ambition. It dazzles many people when we hear some politicians in the South East calling the people to vote for Buhari so that he would hand over power to us, and I look at those people as hangers on in the corridors of power because they are not in the kitchen cabinet or the engine room of the party.

“I am surprised that Fashola said that because that is the real intention of APC. For those who don’t know, the APC is the gathering of people from North West and South West, even though the engine room that brought all the parties together, was an Igbo man, Dr. Ogbonna Onu, but when it came to making key decisions, he was not even there. So the South East politicians should stop deceiving our people.”

Also, elder statesman and First Republic Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi said the way Buhari treated Ndigbo when he assumed power in 1983 with the gun, and also since he assumed power in 2015 by democratic process, should show Ndigbo that the president has no room for them.

He said: “By saying Buhari will handover power, people are still thinking of Buhari, as a junta; the man who carries the gun all along; people have forgot that the whole process is now democratic, even though they rig the election.

“It is for the people of Nigeria to save themselves; it is also for Ndigbo to save themselves. Ndigbo even though have a problem of leadership, they should learn a lesson and do something in this 2019 elections. They should stop Buhari coming back to government. If he doesn’t come back to power next year, how would he determine who succeeds him in 2023.”

But the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Mr. Uche Achi-Okpaga, said, the apex Igbo organisation has taken a position, and it is not interested in who becomes the president, vice president or any other political position.

According to him, Ohanaeze is interested in restructuring the system.

He said: “Becoming the president will only give you the privilege to enrich some privileged Nigerians. It gives you the time to look at programmes and policies that will enrich the privilege.

“So, if they are thinking that they can use the position of presidency or vice presidency to hoodwink the people, it is unnecessary, we know what we are saying, and we have been steady on that.

“Look at the people that have been presidents, have they been good to the generality of their people, except the privileged individuals, who have been in and around.

“We need to restructure the system, so, Igbo man becoming the president is not it. Restructuring involves equity, fairness, etc. Are we observing the Federal Character today? We are not. So, if you become the president, what can you do?”

The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, disagreed with Achi-Okpaga, saying that Fashola’s statement is a wake up call to Ndigbo to vote for President Buhari.

He said Buhari is the only Northerner whose exit in 2023 is certain and that every other Northern presidential candidate can only pledge or promise four years.

“The truism is that Fashola has sounded a wake up call for Ndigbo to vote for Buhari if we are interested in president of Nigeria of Igbo extraction come 2023. Ndigbo have three advantages to clinch the 2023 presidency – equity, natural justice and good conscience,” he said.

In his reaction, a prominent Yoruba leader, and Afenifere chieftain, Senator Femi Okurounmu expressed shock at the Minister’s remarks.

Accusing Fashola of making the remarks in order to get the Yoruba to vote for Buhari in 2019, Okurounmu said:
“Honestly, I can’t understand Fashola’s logic. Fashola’s views doesn’t represent that of majority of Yoruba. Fashola should not think all Yoruba are fools. He can only deceive some but certainly not all Yoruba.

Fashola is only trying to woo Yoruba to vote for Buhari in 2019. Why should Presidency come to the South West in 2023? What about the Igbo? Are they not Nigerians? Since 1999, Yoruba through Obasanjo who was there for eight years have been in the corridors of power. Even now, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, another Yoruba man is the Vice-President. Expectations of well meaning Nigerians are that it should be the turn of the South East.”

He said Nigerians should vote out President Buhari in 2019, adding, “It is our hope that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will defeat Buhari, and then somebody from the South East should now take over from Atiku who had declared his intention to serve only one term in office.”

On his part, the Secretary-General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) Dr. Kunle Olajide said the Yoruba are really not interested in the Presidency but in restructuring of Nigeria to ensure that the nation practises true federalism which in turn will promote good governance.

He said: “Yoruba are not interested in cheating or dominating others. Yoruba are interested in devolution of power. Offer of Presidency is not our concern now. What Fashola is saying doesn’t sell with Yoruba. He should say another thing. True federalism will promote good governance.

It will result in devolution of power. Too much power has been concentrated in the hands of the central government, and this is why there has always been bitter struggle for power at the centre.”

Posted By: ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA,



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Two new buildings allegedly owned by former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose have been sealed by agents of the state government.

The state government through the Ministry of Housing, Urban and Physical Development, said the twin duplexes were sealed for lack of approved plan and permit.

The buildings, which are adjacent the official residence of the Deputy Governor, are located in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ado-Ekiti within the precincts of the Government House.

The contractor handling the project began work about four months ago after the buildings erected on the plot were pulled down to give way for the new edifices.

The official seal closing down the buildings was pasted on the gate and was seen by our reporter during a visit to the site on Friday.

The gate was under lock and key while the contractor was nowhere to be found when our reporter visited the site.

The seal shutting down the buildings was signed by the Director of Urban and Regional Planning in the Ministry of Housing, Urban and Physical Development.

The document reads: “It was discovered during inspection by the Inspectorate staff of our Ministry that a residential building by you at GRA has no approved plan /permit for the site or bring same to our office to get certification for the erection.

“You are hereby ordered to suspend the use of the building premises until approved plan is submitted for clearance.”

Fayose has been accused by the opposition in the state of using his former position as governor to acquire choice properties in many parts of Ado-Ekiti.

The ex-governor earlier in the week appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos where he was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering.

He was granted bail on Wednesday but he was yet to meet his bail condition at the time of filing this report.

In his response to the sealing of the buildings in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose accused Governor Kayode Fayemi of vendetta and desperation.

Speaking through his media aide, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose denied ownership of the buildings in question urging the state government to provide evidence to prove his ownership of the property.

He said: “Governor Fayemi was only acting out of desperation, and vengeance over the 2014 shameful electoral defeat.

“The property in question does not belong to Fayose. Fayemi’s government should produce evidence linking the former government to the property.

“Fayose has said he was ready for probe and that he will appear in person before any panel set up by Fayemi. So, why the desperation?

“Our advice is that, Fayemi should place high premium on payment of the workers’ salary arrears since N30bn is already in his custody released by the Federal Government and not embarking on witch hunting or disparaging his predecessor.

The money should not be used to fund the election petition filed against him.

“He should hurry up to do all he could for the benefit of common Ekiti people because time is not on his side.”

By Wale Elegbede 



Governors and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West are currently strategising on ways to mitigate the incursion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, into the zone ahead of February 16, 2019 election.

New Telegraph gathered that the APC, which is in control of the six states in the South-West, is frantically pushing to put the post-primary crisis in some states behind it, come together in the coming days and eke out a winning strategy that will guarantee the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of the PDP candidate.

A leader in the ruling APC, who chose to be anonymous, said: “The Atiku challenge is real and we can’t afford to take it for granted because South-West is where the swing votes reside. “As we speak, the signals on the field are not cheering in almost all the six states of the South-West and that is why it is necessary for the party and the presidency to summon everyone and give a marching order on how to prosecute the elections.

“The reverse in the order of crisis we are having in the South-West is unfortunate. PDP used to be the party in crisis before now, but they are gradually shaking off that nomenclature. Currently, all is not well with our party in Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Oyo and perhaps Osun.

“Unfortunately, this division is beginning to create in-roads for PDP and Atiku in the zone. His offer of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has also emboldened his campaign in the zone.
We can’t afford to sleep on them because we learnt they are meeting different people and groups in the zone.” Meanwhile, one of the governors in the APCcontrolled state of the South-West is said to have warned traditional rulers in his state against partisan politics, stating that they are royal fathers and not politicians.

It was gathered that the governor gave the directive to the traditional rulers following a proposed courtesy visit of some PDP leaders to select traditional rulers in the South-West next month.

However, barring any last minute change, leaders of the PDP in the South- West are set to converge on Lagos today for a stakehold-ers’ meeting.

Aside from using the meeting to appraise the reports of primary elections conducted in the zone, the gathering is expected to chart a course for the 2019 election, appoint campaign teams and also deliberate on the proposal of Atiku to offer the zone the SGF slot.

A source within the zonal executive of the party said: “We are meeting in Lagos on Friday and we will be deliberating on many crucial matters, including the SGF offer by the presidential candidate.

“I don’t want to pre-empt the meeting, but I know that the zone will still demand for more positions from the candidate. We have the second largest voting population after the North-West and I think that should be key to any form of negotiation,” he said.

Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta



The All Progressives Congress (APC), women leaders in Ogun State, have vowed to occupy the National secretariat of the party, Abuja, on Saturday, over issues surrounding the conduct and outcome of the party’s governorship primaries.

The women from the three senatorial districts of the State, on Wednesday, staged protest against alleged injustice meted on the party in the state, following the announcement of Prince Dapo Abiodun as the party’s flagbearer in the 2019 governorship election.

They threatened to occupy Abuja naked on the said day, if the leadership of the party failed to recognise Hon Adekunle Akinlade as the candidate.

While addressing the protesters, armed with various placards with inscriptions such as ‘The minority cannot take charge over the majority, ‘we want justice in Ogun APC’, ‘Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, we want justice in Ogun State, the state deputy governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, promised to join the women for the Abuja protest.

Onanuga said, “I have seen the reason you came here in support of Honourable Abdulkabir Akinlade. For the past weeks, they have been helping us in Abuja and they will continue to help us.

“Let us exercise patience when it is time for us to go to Abuja, I’ll personally follow you to Abuja. I implore you all that by God’s grace, our mandate to Abdulkabir Akinlade will not be in vain.”

The state women leader, Sade Giwa, while speaking with newsmen at the NUJ Secretariat, Oke-Ilewo, wondered why the National Working Committee of the party announced Abiodun as the winner of the election against Akinlade.

She claimed that Abiodun did not participate in the party’s primaries conducted by the State Executive Committee on October 2.

“On the 2nd of October, we voted for Hon Adekunle Akinlade during the primary election and he emerges as the winner, but the electoral committee announced Prince Dapo Abiodun, who was no where to be found during the election as the winner.

“The Electoral committee should be warned, Adams Oshiomole, should be warned. He should return the mandate we gave to Akinlade and we are giving him we till Friday to announce the correct result or else, by Saturday, we will meet at Abuja.

“We want the whole Nigeria to know that we in Ogun state are of Ogun standard and we cannot take anything apart from that. In the party primary recently conducted in Ogun, we voted for Adekunle Akinlade, we don’t know Dapo.

“Adekunle is the one that all the APC women voted for and anything apart from Akinlade is a no to us.

“We are warning all the NWC led by Adams Oshiomole because women are going to take action if they fail to announce Akinlade as the party candidate before Friday. We are going to storm Abuja to express our displeasure and we will go naked,” she added.

Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has announced her defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) back to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) just as she also backed the second bid of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State ahead of the 2019 general elections.

In an interview monitored by INDEPENDENT on Hit 95.5 FM on Thursday, Ita-Giwa says she was defecting to the PDP due to the level of confusion she saw in the APC, and that she had never seen any party that is as confused as the APC in all her life.

She also denied that she had an ambition to be the Deputy Governor of the state.

A housewife, Hauwa Adamu , on Wednesday begged a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, to dissolve her marriage to Isyaku Na’Allah, over alleged inability to sexually satisfy her.

Hauwa told the court that her husband has never satisfied her sexually, and only “lasts for two minutes on top of her.’’

She said that she married him under the Islamic rights and the union did not produce any child.

Hauwa also alleged that Na’Allah always accused her of aborting their baby whenever she conceives, an accusation she denied.

Hauwa said that their childlessness was as a result of Na’Allah’s lack of “sexual performance.’’

She told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage and begged the court to dissolve it.

Hauwa added that she would return the Sadaq (dowry) the respondent paid on her.
The respondent, Na’Allah, however, denied the allegations.

The judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, adjourned the case until Oct. 29 to allow the parties settle out of court. (NAN)