₦airaland Forum

By Leon Usigbe


PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is expected back in the country on Saturday after a 10 working day holiday in the United Kingdom.

The president will be received on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by top government officials led by acting a President Yemi Osinbajo.

Buhari plans to go to Duara this weekend to observe the Eid-el-Kabir holiday in his hometown.

The president left the country on Friday, August 3 for London while handing over executive duties to Osinbajo to act as president as required by Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

lalasticlala

https://secure.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Oshiomhole-Saraki.jpg?itok=krzT7TbI


Who is the Nigerian most desperate to remove Bukola Saraki as Senate President? This question would be the cheapest trivia on Nigerian politics at the moment.

Adams Oshiomhole! And he has never hidden it.

Since July 31, when Saraki hurriedly announced his resignation form the All Progressives Congress (APC) after getting wind of his impending dismissal from the party, Oshiomhole has never hidden his determination to ensure Saraki loses his office.

The former labour leader has taken advantage of every APC caucus meeting, every meeting with the party leadership, every encounter with state house correspondents, every press conference since then, to preach the gospel of Saraki’s removal as Senate President.

The tension between both men began to heighten after Saraki addressed a ‘World Press Conference’ in Abuja on August 8, during which he insisted that he would only quit office if impeached by two-thirds majority of the upper chamber.

Two days later, Oshiomhole threw a sucker punch at a press conference of his own. “When Saraki defected, he went to Ilorin to tell the people part of the truth that he was leaving for two reasons,” he said.

“He alleged that President Buhari gave out over 200 juicy appointments without allocating some to him and he chose to speak for the Speaker of the House of Representatives that he was also not given.

“My question is, giving Saraki the Senate President ‘juicy position’, does that coincide with the Nigerian project? Or the interest of the people of Kwara State of his Senatorial zone? At no time did he refer to the interest of the people of his constituency or the people of Nigeria.”

If Oshiomhole’ words were a sucker punch, the response from Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki’s spokesman, was the mother of all uppercuts.

“It is indeed amazing that the same Oshiomhole, who is now describing Saraki as a politician of no consequence was the same one who only a few months ago was crawling all over the place pleading for Saraki's support to become chairman,” he said. “We are sure that those who took him to Saraki several times to plead his case must now be thoroughly embarrassed by his reckless and uncouth manner.”

Now, who would have thought that there was a time when both men were cool together — or, to hit the nail on the head — that there was a time when Oshiomhole deferred to Saraki? That was a little over a month ago, sometime in July, as shown in the photo above, tweeted on Friday by Bamikole Omisore, Saraki’s Special Assistant on International relations to Saraki.

The photo, as you can see, shows Oshiomhole bowing down to Saraki, while his pretty wife Iara, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari watched on.

But in politics, things can change quickly. Now that both men are sworn enemies, sort of, will Oshiomhole someday bow down again to Saraki? Or will Saraki be the one to someday be the one to bow down to Oshiomhole?

The answer, as you can imagine, depends on who wins the resign-I-won’t-resign or impeach-I-cannot-be-impeached war. And that we shall know in the fullness of time.

By Eugene Agha,


A 53-year-old man, Promise Eshiet, yesterday told an Ogba Chief Magistrate Court how he has been sleeping with his 13-year-old daughter in the past three years.

The accused blamed his action on the devil, saying he was attracted by his daughter’s beauty.

Eshiet, who resides at Ogbeni Street in Sangotedo, Ajah area of Lagos, continually looked to the ground throughout the hearing.
He said he deflowered in 2015 when she was 10.

The prosecutor, Mr. Christopher John, said the defendant was the biological father of the victim and that the matter was a case of incest.

He said it was the daughter that made it known when she became tired of the trauma, leading to the arrest of the father, while the victim was rescued and sent to protective custody for rehabilitation.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. Peter Nwaka, ordered Eshiet to be remanded in prison, and directed the prosecutor to duplicate his file and send to DPP for advice.

By Emem Idio



YENAGOA- THERE was pandemonium at an Anglican church in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital, weekend, when a reverend clergy slumped and died on the pulpit while officiating a wedding programme.

The clergyman (names withheld) who is married with children and hailed from Tombia community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, according to a church member was not known to be sick but was complaining of headache before his tragic death.

According to the church member identified as Mary said: “Our reverend was not known to be sick but was complaining of slight headache before the wedding ceremony . We are at a loss as to what must have happened to him. He was such a nice family man.”

It was gathered that the pandemonium that ensued changed the mood of the wedding programme and temporarily disrupted the wedding proceedings for half an hour before normalcy was restored.

Adewale Sanyaolu



Indications emerged at the weekend that the Federal Government has finally succumbed to stakeholders’ pressure by removing Value Added Tax (VAT) on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) popularly called cooking gas. With this development, consumers should expect a crash in the price of cooking gas by about 20 percent.

Currently, a 12.5kg bottle of gas sells for N4,300 and is expected to crash to N3,440 with the new policy.

Oil and gas experts have often argued that the VAT imposed on cooking gas makes the product more costly than imported brands from Niger and Equatorial Guinea, thereby discouraging many consumers from embracing the use of cooking gas.

A source at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said government has finalised talks with the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to suspend further collection of VAT on cooking gas.

The source which did not confirm the date of implementation, assured that an official pronouncement would be made any time from now.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), has been at the forefront of championing the cause for the removal of VAT on locally produced cooking gas.

NALPGAM had said it was imperative to develop effective policies to encourage investors to come into the LPG sector to deepen market penetration, boost the country’s economy and protect the environment.

According to the association, the removal of VAT on the gas supplied to marketers by NLNG would attract more investors and reduce importation of gas into the country, which is VAT-free.

It also advocated the need for the reduction of import duty on LPG equipment so as to encourage more investors to come in and deepen LPG consumption in the country.

“Our position is that the government has to provide the enabling environment for more people to come in. We have to remove VAT on LPG and reduce import duties on the equipment.

Meanwhile, NALPGAM has announced plans to deepen the use of LPG by assisting to increase local consumption from 700,000 metric tonnes to 1,000,000 metric tonnes yearly.

NALPGAM President, Mr. Nosa Ogieva-Okunbor, said if every stakeholder within the LPG value chain does what is right, the target would increase to about five million metric tonnes by 2025, adding that if achieved, Nigeria would have attained the league of nations with high level of LPG consumption.

By Iyobosa Uwugiaren



As the 2019 general election draws nearer, a group of political strategists working for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari is worried by the lingering crisis within the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-east geo-political zone of the country.

In a strategic paper recently prepared for the president, the group said that unless some ‘’critical and influential’’ aggrieved members of the party in the zone were reconciled with the party, it would be ‘’extremely, if not impossible’’, for APC to make any meaningful in-road to the zone in the coming general election.

Making reference to a situation where Governor Roachas Okorocha of Imo State-led group has its own factions across the zone, especially in Imo State, while side-lining the major group being led by Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, the embattled deputy governor and Senator Osita Izuanso, the strategic paper noted that ‘’making Governor Okorocha the face of APC in the South-east’’ wouldn’t help President Buhari’s political course in the 2019 general election.

The group made reference to the recent political rally called by Governor Okorocha in Imo State that was attended by the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, and boycotted by the party’s leaders in the zone, as very dangerous signal for the APC.

The paper advised President Buhari to prevail on Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of APC not to do anything that will undermine the prosperity of the party in the zone, especially in Imo for his friend, in order to please his friend, Governor Okorocha.

‘’For example, in Imo State, everything must be done not to allow Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and his group leave the party; from our findings, the group is clearly the soul of APC in Imo State’’, the group advised the president.

The crisis in the zone, especially in the Imo State chapter of APC, has been lingering since the controversial national convention of the party, leading to fictionalisation of the party in the zone, especially in Imo where there are currently two state executives.

Oshiomhole, recently sworn in Daniel Nwafor as the new Imo State chairman of the party, in spite of an order by an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, which restrained the party from conducting fresh congresses in Imo State.

The state APC had experienced parallel congresses between Governor Rochas Okorocha’s faction and that loyal to Senator Araraume/Izunaso/deputy governor, Eze Madumere.

The former national leadership of the APC led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, recognized Araraume-led faction led heads by Hillary Eke despite concerns raised by the governor.

Speaking after administering the oath of office to the new state chairman, Mr Oshiomhole charged the chairman to do everything possible to ensure all members irrespective of the side they are on are carried along in the operations of the party, promising that the national leadership will work with Mr Okorocha to ensure that varied interests are also integrated into the new party structure.

A 13- year - old boy, who caught his mum making love with her boyfriend in the bush has revealed her secret to their community in Middle Sabi area of Manicaland , Zimbabwe.

His mother , Chipo Dhliwayo , 36, reportedly fled the scene , when she saw her son , leaving behind a black underwear.

The scandal came to light when the boy beat up his mother and accused her of being ungrateful to his stepfather , who has proved to be a good husband over the past 10 years as well as a good father to the children they have including treating the boy like his own son , reports
iHarare.

Dhliwayo, chased her son around their compound until she caught him. The boy narrated to the onlookers that his mother had been cheating on his step - father and that he had proof , if only they could follow him to the nearby bush.

“ We followed him and to our utter horror , we saw the black undergarment lying in the bush. Upon interrogation , Dhliwayo told us that her lover was Mbwetete , a neighbour.

“ We could not believe it and we waited for the husband , Witness Mbeure to come, ’’ Mr Happias Sithole, a local resident said.

lalasticlala

By Samuel Ogundipe


Intelligence authorities have released Lawal Daura and confiscated his international passport, PREMIUM TIMES has been informed.

The top spy chief was disgraced out of office and taken into custody on Tuesday after ordering the deployment of SSS operatives to lay siege to the National Assembly.

Mr Daura was released on Wednesday evening from a guest house run by the State Security Service in Gwarimpa area of Abuja where he had been placed on house arrest since Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo ordered his dismissal on Tuesday. The presidency said the deployment of the SSS officials to the National Assembly was unauthorised.

The presence of masked SSS agents who prevented federal lawmakers and staff members from entering the parliament drew nationwide outrage on Friday morning.

By afternoon, Mr Osinbajo, apparently incensed by the images of the ensued fracas being beamed across the world, ordered Mr Daura’s instant dismissal from service.

He was also asked to be remanded in custody, following allegations he might have committed some of the gravest heist and betrayal in Nigeria’s national security history.

He was initially reportedly taken to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squard facility in Guzape neighbourhood, Abuja, where he spent time answering questions for his highly controversial tenure at the secret police.

Later on, he was moved to one of the numerous guests houses run by SSS around the Federal Capital Territory.

Specifically, he was detained at a building in Gwarinpa, a massive residential community filling the northwestern corridor of the capital, security sources informed of the matter said.

“He was given his phones and released to go,” a source said. “But his international passport was taken from him.”

It was not immediately clear where Mr Daura is currently putting up, but security sources said he would not be able to go under the radar given the intensity of surveillance already placed on him.

His two known telephone lines were still switched as at the moment this story was ready for publication. The SSS has not had a spokesperson since September 2015, shortly after Mr Daura took over, despite demands by media advocates.

The police did not return requests for comments about when Mr Daura was handed over to the SSS and other details surrounding his interrogation.

Although specific allegations against Mr Daura are still being tidied by law enforcement authorities, the major crux of why he might be facing charges weighs heavily on corruption allegations.

Already, one of his closest associates at the SSS has flipped on him, recounting gruesome details of fraudulent activities allegedly executed by Mr Daura to PREMIUM TIMES over the past 24 hours.

It was also learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is after Mr Daura, but details of that are still fuzzy as at Thursday morning. A spokesperson for the EFCC did not return requests for comments.

Multiple security sources are, however, not optimistic about the possibility of EFCC taking Mr Daura into custody, much less filing charges against him.

This is not necessarily because they feared Mr Magu might be trying to avenge Mr Daura’s thwarting of his confirmation by the Senate , but because it would be a major flight from a longstanding culture in the security circles.

“No serious service will release its men to other services for investigations and prosecution,” a security source said. “Except there is an executive order from above.”

The EFCC has moved against security chiefs in the past, including former Inspector-General Tafa Balogun and service chief under President Goodluck Jonathan, but the presidents reportedly signed off on these.

Whether Mr Osinbajo has asked the EFCC to probe Mr Daura was unclear. The presidency did not immediately return requests for comments Thursday morning.

Adibe Embryonic in Benin City



The wind of defection blowing across the country is about to take a swoop on the home state of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole as eight lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly have threatened to defect to the other political parties.

It was not clear as at press time which political parties the lawmakers are planning to defect to, but the planned defection of the eight lawmakers, according to sources, is because they were not sure of getting the APC ticket.

A source close to the lawmakers who are about to leave APC, hinged the planned defection on the ban on campaign by the Edo APC leadership, which according to him, has heighten fears of the lawmakers that it might be late for them to get nomination of other parties if they fail to secure APC tickets.

One of the defecting state legislators who preferred anonymity, blamed the looming mass defection partly on the lack of political patronage by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The lawmaker who told selected journalists that many of their constituency projects were not funded by Governor Obaseki, added that many of his colleagues do not know what they would use to campaign to their constituents even if they get the APC ticket.

THISDAY gathered that Oshiomhole, had scheduled to meet with all aggrieved APC leaders in the state today (Thursday) to resolve all issues which was botched at the last meeting owing to two reasons.

Oshiomhole had assured APC supporters who came to receive him at the Bénin Airport last Saturday that the party would reward all those who worked for the party.
“I want to assure you that the tradition of carry our people along will be sustained.

You represent what I call our infantry division. You are the ones on election day who ensure that our voters come out. You are the ones who ensure that the PDP rigging machine was defeated. We must keep you as a standing point, together we will match on and will ensure that everyone who works is looked after.

“I know there are people with all kinds of stories but let me assure you that after the storm the weather will settle. Trust me, as you have not abandoned me, I will never abandon you. To our youths, I want to particularly appeal to you; don’t lose faith.

There will be work, there will be participation; there will be involvement. We will not throw away anybody.

“Nobody will be used and dumped. If yesterday has come beautiful, tomorrow will be better,” he explained.

Charity Nwakaudu




Commercial sex business has assumed a different level in Abuja, even though it has been an age long business that had provided fun for the parties involved.

Several efforts have been made by successive Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administrations to cut the wings of the commercial sex workers in different parts of Abuja but to no avail because of the caliber of persons involved and the sponsors of sex workers.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Person (NAPTIP), and other health based organizations have raised the alarm repeatedly as regards the negative effects of such to health and dangers/risks involved in the business. The warnings seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

NAPTIP had at different forums used rescued victims and pictorial illustrations to drive the campaign against the business but, perhaps, poverty, lack of care or peer influence, could have forced more into the business.

Being the seat of power and epicenter of political activities, Abuja plays host to businessmen, politicians, diplomats and several other high profile dignitaries from Nigeria and beyond.

In addition, it plays host to thousands of beautiful young ladies who have assumed the critical position of providing sexual relief for these people who are on business trips, while the sex workers make fortunes.

They have strong connections and know themselves. They appear corporate, gentle and responsible during the day and assume a different being at night. During the day, they identify good locations, hunt get their targets and strike.

The business, has apparently gone digital with the aid of the 21st century technology.
Operational style and targets have equally changed significantly. Many of these “women of low virtue” confessed to Daily Sun that they prefer to have this romantic affair with married men than single men for some obvious reasons.

One of them, Rose, said she does her “romantic business” with both married and single men. But she prefers married men because they pay well and respect them:
“But in dealing with these married men, one needs to be very careful and patient. They don’t expect calls from you.

Rather, they do the calling anytime they need you and they could even leave at the middle of the act to attend to other important businesses. I could simply believe that we are less important to them. They are simply after the fun just the way we are after their money.”

A Cameroonian, Jumia, corroborated this position. Even though she does “romantic business” with single men, she prefers such businesses with married men because of the high yield.

She confessed that she puts in her best to satisfy married men whenever they demand for her services. She observed that most of them do extra marital affairs just to have a change of sexual experience.

She said most women have taken their love and care away from their husbands and shifted it to their children: “That greatly contributed in pushing the men away from their wives. These men need time, attention and not verbal attacks and nagging.

“I always ensure they have maximum fun through different sexual styles that I know most married women can’t meet up with.

That makes it difficult for any man that crosses my path to stop calling.”

Another lady, Lady White, who resides in Garki, Abuja, said apart from appreciating her with good pay, the married men are also considerate and “they handle one with care. We hangout, club and travel together.

Most need someone that would give them attention which I provide to the fullest.” But for single men: “They would want to finish their lives on you. They demand for terrible styles with low pay or even end up with stories in many cases.”

Meanwhile, a taxi driver, Kenneth, confessed that he is a regular visitor to major commercial sex points in Abuja. He said there are many reasons married men rise sex workers. One of them is that most times, the sex workers are full of excitement and fun to be with unlike his nagging wife at home.

He agreed that some men are not getting the attention they needed from their wives at home and that forced them to seek for it elsewhere.

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Segun James in Lagos



For watchers of the power configuration in the Buhari administration, the sack of Lawal Daura, former Director-General of State Security Services, yesterday was the end of a chapter in a complex power play at the presidential villa.

Recalled from retirement on July 2, 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the secret service, Lawal, a close associate of the president from his Daura homestead, was destined to be a major pillar of the power structure of the Buhari presidency.

And in the bipolar struggle for power at the presidency, Lawal understandably aligned with Mamman Daura, an erstwhile journalist and powerful business mogul nephew of Buhari, whose enormous influence on the president is well known.

On the other side of the polar was Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, who had on his side, Ibrahim Magu, the controversial boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Coming from the Daura homestead of the president and being a close ally of his powerful nephew, the former head of the secret service easily became the feet of the ‘cabal’ at the villa with so much gut and gusto that he could take any of the other power contenders without much ado.
This much played out in two instances.

First was the controversial security report the DSS wrote to the Senate that effectively blocked Magu’s confirmation as the chairman of the EFCC. This brought him eyeball to eyeball with Osinbajo, who was favourably disposed to Magu’s appointment.

In spite of the efforts of the vice president, who clearly by implication had pitched his tent with the NSA camp, Senate confirmation was withheld. But using his vast knowledge of the law, the vice president exploited a loophole in the 1999 Constitution to maintain Magu in office in an acting capacity.

That fight was barely over when another battle front was opened through the clash between Magu’s EFCC and the National Intelligence Agency over the latter’s safe house that was invaded by the former where about N13billion in several foreign currencies were seized.

With the Director-General of the agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke sent on suspension and made to face an administrative enquiry at the instance of Osinbajo, who headed the panel with Monguno and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, as members, the stage was set for the second fight.

Perhaps motivated by the need to protect the independence of the intelligence community, Lawal stood behind Oke and offered to appear before the panel.

Osinbajo working with Monguno blocked Lawal. And in spite of his working alliance with the Malami, Lawal could not stop Osinbajo from producing an adverse report on Oke.

But as it happened in the Magu’s confirmation fight, the NIA investigation has effectively ended in a stalemate as nothing concrete has happened since the report was submitted to the president more than a year ago. Osinbajo, no doubt, saw the hidden hand of Lawal in this.

While Osinbajo might have seen Lawal as a law enforcement officer who seem to have taken undue advantage of his close association with the president to become a law on to himself, answerable to no one, the former head of secret service felt he had a responsibility to defend the independence and integrity of the intelligence community from the prying eyes of the non-initiates, including Osinbajo and Monguno.

Intelligence community watchers think though that Lawal was on the right path and they praised him for elevating the status of the DSS and preventing it from been humiliated. But he probably allowed such silent praises to get into his head and thought he could act with impunity.

During the DSS invasion of the residence of some justices of the Supreme Court and judges of high courts, Osinbajo was said to have expressed deep concern quietly that Lawal was going too far outside the law. But Magu expressed his own objection openly.

Meanwhile, the DSS under Lawal had become bad news in the human rights community, with most abuse of law that had darkened the image of the Buhari administration attributed to it.

Its refusal to release former NSA Sambo Dasuki and Shiite Leader El-Zakzaky after several courts had granted them multiple bails were the main reference point of anyone who wanted to carpet the administration for rights abuse.

But had Lawal limited his fight to struggle for power over security issues, presidency sources told THISDAY, he probably might have survived. He was said to have strayed into the political tough, allying with Mamman Daura and a governor from the South-west to shop for a South-east replacement for Osinbajo in the impending 2019 presidential election.

This, more than anything else, the sources said must have put him at loggerheads with south-west leaders in the APC.

Yesterday when the siege to the National Assembly occurred, with the attendant embarrassment to the federal government.

The former DSS boss feeling not particularly responsible to the acting president, sent his men to the National Assembly, without the authorization of the acting president, to provide safe passage for federal legislators, who wanted to effect leadership change at the Senate.

The move backfired hugely, and the public outcry as well as the anger it generated within the international community was the perfect chance Osinbajo needed to ease out Lawal, who hitherto had become untouchable and above the law.

A 25 - year - old woman , Faith Nyokabi , was on Tuesday arrested in Thika town, Kenya for allegedly refusing to breastfeed her baby unless she was paid by her husband.

Nyokabi reportedly abandoned her four - month - old baby at her matrimonial home in Kiganjo Estate over a week ago and refused to return without receiving Ksh. 100, 000 ($ 995 ) in cash from her husband , Charles Kiiri , reports Citizen TV Kenya .

According to the 36- year - old Kirii , a casual labourer, he was informed on August 1 , 2018 , that his wife had taken off and left their infant in the house .

He reportedly rushed home and found the baby under the care of neighbours . Kiiri pleaded with Nyokabi to return home to breastfeed her baby but she told him that her mother had taken her to a local hospital where she had been injected with a drug that supposedly dried out her milk supply.

Nyokabi told her husband, she wouldn’ t come back home unless he gave her the money .

She will be charged with child neglect and denying a child protection and care contrary to the Children ’ s Act of Kenya.

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John Alechenu , Abuja



The All Progressives Congress has dissociated itself from the early morning siege at the National Assembly by masked officials of the Department of State Services based on “ orders from above . ”

In a statement signed by its Acting National Publicity Secretary , Yekini Nabena , in Abuja , on Tuesday, the APC said what happened at the National Assembly was purely a “legislative matter. ”

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to mischievous attempts in some partisan quarters to link Tuesday’ s developments in the National Assembly to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole .

“ While the Party is monitoring the developments in the National Assembly like every other concerned Nigerian and stakeholder, there is absolutely no basis for all the false allegations and attempt to blame the APC National Chairman for the development there. It is strictly a legislative matter. ”

lalasticlala

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru, Gbenga Oke, Harris-Okon Emmanuel & Chioma Onuegbu


ABUJA— SENATE caucus of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has begun moves to replace Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West) and regretted not getting rid of him earlier.

A source said PDP has already commenced plans to replace the Minority Leader once he steps out to his new party.

According to the senators, fear of overheating the polity and causing crisis in the PDP made them not to remove him as Minority Leader when they discovered that his commitment started waning.

The senators said they would get over the disappointment and appoint a very vibrant replacement who would lead the business of the party in the Senate successfully.

PDP senators regret his choice as leader
Meanwhile, a senator from Akpabio’s state said he was still a member of the PDP, noting he would not leave the party.

The senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Some months ago, it came to the knowledge of the Senate PDP caucus that the Minority Leader was having some challenges with leading the members.

“A number of our colleagues noticed it and called for leadership change, but the former governor went round, begging for cooperation. With emerging developments, those who moved for his replacement are now vindicated.”

Another senator said: “We got to know late that he was no longer one of us. We had thought of removing him as Minority Leader since last year and ostracise him from serious plans but two senators prevailed on us and pleaded that he would change.

“All along, we suspected that he was having contacts with the ruling party.

Twice, it was reported that he visited the Presidential Villa and he never denied it. A number of our members were worried, what would a Minority Leader be doing in the Villa without the Senate President or other principal officers.

“For instance, apart from keeping away from all the campaigns on the governorship of our candidate in Ekiti State, he was actually linked with working closely with the ruling APC on the matter of that election.

“Even as tight as we thought we had kept our plans on the defection of 14 APC senators on July 24, the ruling party and the Presidency were briefed on every step and our members were worried.

“We realised late that he was double-dealing with the Modu Sheriff faction during our struggle to reclaim our party from the hawks.”

Another senator, however, lamented, saying: “He (Akpabio) was more interested in calling caucus meetings of the party in Senate than attend plenary because strategies of the party are always discussed at the caucus meetings.

“In that case, a few minutes after conclusion of such meetings, we would be empty as our resolutions would be flying all over.”


Attempts to entice some of us

Another ranking senator said the lawmakers were aware of the “juicy promises” being dangled at Akpabio, adding that moves had been made to reach some of them.

He said: “Shortly after a recent meeting in the Villa, there were attempts to entice some of us. Some of us were told that the results of the next general elections would not matter and that plans have been concluded to ensure favourable results for the ruling party.”

Akpabio’s move to defect from PDP on whose platform he served two terms as governor of the state and handed over to his hand-chosen successor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, however, appeared to lose traction, yesterday, after all members of the state House of Assembly pledged loyalty to the governor.

Meanwhile, expectations of a possible reconciliation between Akpabio and Emmanuel were dashed, yesterday, as the former governor continued with moves towards the planned defection.

A meeting scheduled to hold between both men brokered by a mutual associate of the two men fell through following Akpabio’s dash at the weekend to London where he met with the vacationing President Muhammadu Buhari.


Akpabio meets Tinubu in Abuja

The Senate Minority Leader on returning to Nigeria yesterday, met with the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the latter’s Asokoro, Abuja residence.
Vanguard gathered that Tinubu played a key role in bringing Akpabio over to the APC.

At the meeting between both men, Akpabio was quoted as saying “this was where it all started and I have now come for final consultation ahead of defection,” a source privy to the discussion said.


Dep gov, Speaker vow to remain in PDP

Meanwhile, mixed reactions continued to greet the planned move by Akpabio with APC chieftains expressing readiness to welcome the former governor of the state.

Many PDP associates of the former governor were, however, unconvinced as at yesterday. Among those to have formally renounced Akpabio’s move was the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, who in a terse statement, yesterday, said he is a principled person who likes to remain consistent.

Debunking insinuations of his resignation from office in sympathy with Akpabio, yesterday, the deputy governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekikere Umoh, said there was no modicum of truth in the reports.

He described the purported report as ‘’nothing but a poorly concocted piece of a malicious hatchet job and a pack of lies, and should be appropriately ignored.”

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Luke, vowing not to follow Akpabio in a statement yesterday, said: ‘’I am a full-blooded member of the PDP. I am a principled person, and I like being known for consistency.” He dismissed speculation in some quarters that he would soon defect to APC.

The Speaker noted that he started his political career in PDP and would remain in the party to prosecute his political ambition.


Metuh asks for prayers for Akpabio

Meanwhile, former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday, urged PDP members to refrain from harshly criticising Akapbio as he called on members to pray for him.

In a statement posted on his Facebook wall, Metuh said: “If this rumour is true, I cannot guess his reasons. Many have claimed it has to do with threats of ….

“Yes, it is a lonely road when you are visited with state-sponsored media trial, your family name and reputation tarnished with falsehood. It is a lonely road when some of those you hoped will defend, console and support you are frightened even to assist in any manner whatsoever.

“In the meantime, please do join me to pray for my friend and brother, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to make the right decision in this circumstance.”


I’m waiting to express excitement —Etiebet

However, caucus leader of the APC in Akwa Ibom State, Chief Don Etiebet, yesterday, said the defection of Akpabio is still a rumour until he personally confirms he has truly decamped.

He said: “I have been out of the country, and I have read all the rumours and statements from the third parties about Senator Godswill Akpabio decamping to the APC, and I even saw pictures of him visiting President Buhari in London. But I have not heard from Godswill himself yet that he has decamped. I am waiting to hear that from him before I express my excitement.”

Abuja – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives on Monday, said that it has uncovered plots by the nation’s security agencies to again, invade the National Assembly and aid the ouster of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, by a few senators.

The lawmakers, who have continued to keep vigil in the NASS complex over this matter, in spite of their ongoing recess, rose from a meeting and issued a statement to this effect, signed by Hon. Chukwuka Onyema, the Deputy Minority Leader.

The PDP lawmakers said that the All Progressives Congress APC-led Federal government, was making unholy maneuvers to forcefully reconvene the National Assembly against all known laws and precedence, to enable them attempt their much desired impeachment of the senate leadership.

“It has our attention that there is an impending plot by a small group of senators aided by security agencies to again invaded the Senate Chamber with a view illegally reconvening the Senate Plenary.

“Ostensibly their purpose is to address what they term as urgent national issues. However, it is clear that their real purpose is an attempt to unlawfully oust the leadership of the Senate and effect a change of the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President”, the Deputy Minority Leader said.

The PDP legislators stressed that this trend of events must be strenuously resisted by all true democrats and well meaning Nigerians.

“We have over time witnessed a descent of our countries once stable democracy slide into an abyss of illiberal dictatorship. A government that has shown disdain for the rule of law, and complete disregard for the principles of separation of powers as enshrine in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As elected representatives sworn to uphold the law and protect our democratic existence we unreservedly condemn this onslaught on our democratic ideals in general and parliament particular,” Onyema said.

He disclosed that the procedure for reconvening the the National Assembly was unambiguously stated in the Rules of both Houses of the National Assembly, with these Rules drawing their constitutionality from section 60 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“When the National Assembly stands adjourned to a fixed date, it may only be reconvened at an earlier or later date when the Leaders of the political parties in the National Assembly make a written representation to the PRESIDING OFFICERS stating that there is a need to convene plenary to attend to matters of urgent national importance. In such an event, the Presiding Officer MAY give notice to members of a date that the National Assembly is to reconvene.

“In the present instance, there has been no such notification to either the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Therefore any attempt to operate outside of the rules is illegal. It is symbolic of the hideous excesses of this Governments attempt to wither and destroy the institution of parliament and the bastion of our democracy.”

The lawmakers urged those who are behind the “unholy manoeuvres to desist from these shenanigans and be reminded that we still operate a democracy.”

They called on well meaning people of Nigeria to jealousy guard their hard-earned democracy.

Jibrilla Bindow, Governor of Adamawa State, is under pressure to ditch his Christian deputy and pick a fellow Muslim as running mate in 2019, SaharaReporters can report.

A source very close to the Governor told SaharaReporters on Monday that recent happenings in the state may have constrained the Governor to take the religious tilt.

The religious consideration was suggested at a meeting held by the Governor's cabinet members, who saw last week’s protest against herdsmen by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as an affront on Islam.

The source said the Governor had become disenchanted with the Christian community in the state and was considering a fellow Muslim to deputise for him.

It was learnt that Bindow’s cabinet plans to leverage on a “thorough demographic survey” detailing the numerical strength of religious divides in the state.

The survey is said to have to have identified Muslims as the most populated in the state, thereby giving any Muslim an edge in a governorship contest.

The source said the Governor was angered by how CAN and some Christian leaders in the state were being used to oppose his government, alluding to last week's protest that ended with the destruction of the Governor's campaign billboards.

Two days to the protest, CAN Chairman in the state, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, had revealed that he was under immense pressure from the state government to cancel the rally.

Bishop Mamza named prominent Christian leaders Deputy Governor, Martins Babale, and Edgah Amos, a Permanent Secretary and Governor Bindow's confidant, among those who mounted pressure on him to call off the protest.

At the meeting, which held in the Governor's office, Bindow went into an outburst during which he berated Christian leaders and challenged CAN to test its popularity by fielding a Christian governorship candidate against him in 2019.

The Governor was reported to have bitterly complained against Christian leaders, saying he had patronised them to no avail in order to endear himself to the Christian community.

He reminded his audience that his media aides in particular are Christians, and that he elevated many Christians to the peak of their Civil Service careers by appointing them permanent secretaries.

Bindow, the source claimed, was detested by Christian leaders simply on the grounds of religious differences.

Suleiman Umar Alkali (better known as PA), a member of the State Assembly (Yola North Constituency) and a political strategist of the Governor's, thereafter proposed that the group should get rid of Babale, the only Christian member of Bindow’s cabinet.

According to Suleiman PA, getting rid of the Deputy Governor will send the right signal to CAN ahead of the 2019 polls.

SaharaReporters can further confirm that prominent Christian leaders in the state have been at odds with Bindow, accusing him of nepotism and sidelining Christians in the distribution of state resources and political appointments.

ABUJA – Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Progressives Watch, has petitioned the Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the party, warning on the impending dangers of defection of former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio to the APC.

In a letter dated August 3, 2018, and addressed to the APC national chairman, the group said it has noted with deep concern the broad chorus of disapproval and complete despondency amongst different strata of members of the APC in Akwa Ibom state over the defection of Akpabio to the party.

The letter endorsed by Innocent Sylvanus, Chairman and Ubong Victor, Secretary, read in part: “Our group is an integrity watch team whose support for the APC is driven by the party’s change agenda, the fight against corruption as well as the near immaculate personality of the leader of the Party, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We metamorphosed from Ibom Transparency Watch under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), working assiduously in the last seven years to entrench in the party sterling values, such as integrity, justice, accountability and transparency, which are lacking in our political system.

“Hence, we have been on the watch so that such persons with tendencies which violate these values are not found tip-toeing around our party.

“For this reason, we feel sad, so are most members of the APC in Akwa Ibom State who looked up to our party as institution that will evict moral pervers as Senator Godswill Akpabio from position of authority, by the admission of Senator Godswill Akpabio into our party.

“Senator Akpabio who is now seeking asylum in the APC called our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, very unprintable names during the 2015 electioneering.

“He ordered the immediate closure of the Ibom Airport on the day Buhari, who was then the presidential flag – bearer of our party visited Akwa Ibom State.

“After our President won the 2015 election despite all their antics, Akpabio encouraged former President Goodluck Jonathan to challenge Buhari’s election victory in court.”

The group informed Oshiomhole that Akpabio polarised ethnicity to its zenith in his bid to annihilate the Ibibio majority, and destroy the Oro ethnic nationality, when he was governor of Akwa Ibom State.

By Paul Ogbuokiri and Tunde Oyesina 


Indications were rife at the weekend that the Federal Government has continued to be in judgement debt of several court orders arising from suits filed against it by individuals and groups.

With the recent $8.9 billion (N2.7trillion) arbitration fine awarded against Nigeria by a U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., Sunday Telegraph learnt that such debts, which run into trillions of naira, could wipe off a sizeable chunk of the country’s foreign reserves, derail the 2018 budget and plunge the economy back into recession if the Federal Government honours the obligation.

The debts were said to have been incurred by decisions taken by government officials that were not thoroughly thought out and were challenged in court by aggrieved parties.

Two arbitration awards totaling over $8.9 billion (about N2.7 trillion at CBN’s N306) exchange rate have been made against the country and it does appear that efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to dodge payments have failed, leaving it with no option than to honour the judgment obligations.

The fines emanated from the contractual actions of three previous administrations – the Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan’s.

On March 20, 2013, a three-man arbitration panel, constituted under the rules of the Arbitration Act 1996 (England and Wales) and the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act (CAP A18 LFN 2004), awarded $6.6 billion in favour of Process & Industrial Development Limited (P&ID), an engineering firm registered in the British Virgin Island (BVI).

The dispute between the engineering company and Nigeria went into arbitration after the firm accused the Ministry of Petroleum Resources of breaching a gas supply and processing agreement (GSPA) it signed in 2010 on behalf of the Nigerian government.

The judgment was given after the country failed to show up in court to defend the matter.

The second award of about $21.24 million (N6.5 billion) was in favour of ENRON Nigeria Power Holding (ENPH) Limited, which signed an agreement with the Lagos State Government for the construction of power projects in the state.

The Federal Government guaranteed the agreement and has now been held liable, after Lagos was accused of breaching it.

The award in favour of ENRON, which has been affirmed by both High and Appeal Courts in the United States, has been awaiting settlement for more than a year, since April 26, 2017.


N100million fine for demolished houses in Imo State

Among the said judgements was the one delivered by the ECOWAS Court on July 6, 2018, wherein the court asked the Nigerian Government and the Imo State government to pay N100.09 million as special damages to a family whose property was demolished four years ago in Imo State.

The said property was demolished under a 2009 Imo State Law. The law allowed the government to pull down any property linked to anyone accused of involvement in kidnapping activities in the state.

In suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/13/14, Damian Onwuham and 22 others alleged the violation of their rights to fair hearing and effective investigation; right to presumption of innocence; right to property and right to dignity of the human person as guaranteed in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

They also accused the Imo State Government of failing to carry out an impartial and effective investigation on the owners of the properties.


$75,000 fine over violation of human rights

Similarly, the same regional court had in 2017, awarded the sum $75,000 damages against the Federal Government for the act of violation of fundamental human rights of the son of Retired Wing Commander Danladi Kwasu.

Justice Nwoke Chijoke, who delivered the judgment, held that the right to life of the deceased was violated in contravention of article 4 of the African charter pertaining to right to life.


N15million fine over unlawful detention

Equally, the ECOWAS on October 4, 2016, imposed a N15 million fine against the Federal Government over what it described as unlawful arrest and detention of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The court also held that the further arrest of Dasuki by government on November 4, after he was granted bail by a court of law, amounts to a mockery of democracy and the rule of law.

Dasuki is facing multiple trials for alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms in the immediate past administration.


N88billion compensation for victims of Civil War

In a similar vein, the ECOWAS court also on October 30, 2017, after an agreement between parties, okayed the payment of about N88 billion by the Federal Government as compensation to victims of Biafra war, which took place about 47 years ago, as compensation for their loses.

A breakdown of the compensation adopted by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, as consent judgment for government and the victims, showed that N50billion will go direct to the victims of the war in eleven affected states in South East, South South and part of North Central regions, while the remaining N38billion will be for the evacuation of abandoned bombs and other lethal weapons and construction of schools, courts, churches and mosques among others in the affected areas.

In the consent judgment read by Justice Friday Chijioke Nwoke, the Federal Government is expected to pay the N50billion into the United Bank of Africa (UBA) account with number 1018230076 belonging to Chief Noel Agwuocha Chukwukadibia, the nominated counsel for the war victims and another N38billion to be paid into another UBA account with number 1016296801 belonging to Deminers Concept Nigeria Limited for RSB Holdings Nigeria Ltd and Deminers Concept Nigeria Ltd who are expected to evacuate all the abandoned bombs and other dangerous weapons in the farmlands, schools, churches and mosques of the war victims and to also carry out construction works.

Besides, the Federal Government will, by the consent judgment, establish a National Mine Action Centre in Owerri, Imo State for victims in the South-East region.

Also, the Federal High Court sitting Lagos, in a judgement in a suit filed by Wale Babalakin SAN, against the FG and AMCON, imposed the fine of N3 billion on the defendants.

The case, which was instituted since 2012, was decided in favour of Babalakin as the Court answered all his prayers and ordered AMCON to pay N3billion for damages caused by publishing his name as a chronic debtor in ThisDay Newspaper.

Meanwhile, public commentators, who spoke on the potential impact of the court fines on the country’s economy, were alarmed that apart from its potential threat to the country’s assets abroad, the enforcement of these awards could clean out a significant portion of the country’s foreign reserves.

An investment analyst, Xavier Austin, said such awards could pose damaging consequences to the country’s economy at this time, particularly as the economy is still standing on wobbly legs, barely a year after exiting recession.

Apart from the immediate impact on the country’s economy, Mr. Austin said enforcement of the awards against Nigeria could whittle down the country’s rating and chances of securing lending abroad.

For Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CENSOJ), Eze Onyekpere, “If this is true, this will be absolutely be a calamity and disaster for the country, considering that we already have almost N2 trillion deficit in the current budget and debt portfolio that is growing every day.

“The entire 2018 federal budget is equivalent of about $29.9billion. If someone has an arbitral award of about $8.9billion to collect, what will remain for the entire country of almost 200 million people?

“It means they have taken more than one-third of the 2019 budget. The truth is that the Nigerian economy cannot afford to pay that to anybody and still survive. That’s why I say it is a calamity,” Mr. Onyekpere said.


Lawyers condemn FG’s refusal to pay
judgement debt

Reacting to this, an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Levi Chukwuma, noted that failure of the Federal Government to pay Judgement Debts is a bad omen and a disregard to the rule of law.

He said this is partly responsible for why the country continues to wallow in an economic quagmire.

According to him, the government’s penchant for disobeying court orders is scaring off many prospective investors.

Another lawyer, Victor Okereke, while reacting to the issue, stated that parties to whom the judgement favour should take a step further to seek for enforcement of the said fines.

He said, “An enforcement hearing is a useful way to find out about the judgment debtor’s assets and liabilities. This information may assist you when choosing the most effective method of enforcing the judgment debt.”

OLUSOLA FABIYI looks at the power play within the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party and writes on those who will play significant roles in determining the party’ s presidential candidate

The National Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party , Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan , said Nigerians would determine the presidential candidate of the party in the February election . He may be partly correct because delegates who will vote at the party ’ s special national convention where the candidate will be elected are citizens of the county .

However , while the delegates will queue with ballot papers in their hands and the list of aspirants printed on them , they may not be there to exercise their personal conviction on who to vote . This is because each delegate is believed to have at least a godfather , whose bidding will be reflected on his choice of the party ’ s presidential candidate .

For the PDP and members of its coalition groups , the 2019 presidential election is too critical to be left in the hands of not too informed delegates .

A former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola , expressed the seriousness he and his co -defectors associated with the election at the inauguration of the coalition’ s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday .

At the event , he warned his group to know that its key members would be dealt with by the ruling All Progressives Congress if President Muhammadu Buhari returns to power in 2019 .

Oyinlola , a retired general , asked his co - travellers in the plot to know that what they are involved in is like coup plotting .

“ Coup is not illegal when it succeeds, but when it fails , plotters are hounded up in jail and later killed . So , be ready and know the implications of what you are involved in, ” he told his audience in a clear language.

Sometimes ago , when the National Chairman of the PDP , Prince Uche Secondus , led a delegation to visit former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the latter’ s residence in Abeokuta , their host also sounded the same warning to his visitors .

To buttress his point , he was also said to have asked one of his personal aides to bring his already- packed bag , which he said contains his drugs, few clothes and other essentials , ready to be arrested by the Federal Government over their decision to install a new President for the country in 2019 .

“ You know I’ m used to it . I have been arrested before , I was tried for coup that never existed and I was jailed . Therefore , I’ m used to it . It is you who are not used to it . I’ m telling you this to let you know that they will come for us if we fail in this task , ” he reportedly told his astonished audience .

Such is the seriousness in the camp of the opposition as the nation prepares for the 2019 general elections. They believe that politics is a serious business that will be too expensive to be left in the hands of one person .

Though many notable politicians have come out to signify their readiness to fly the party ’ s presidential ticket in the February election , their fate may have to be determined by just a clique in and outside the former ruling party .

Among those who have signified their intention to run are a former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau ; Governor of Gombe State , Ibrahim Dankwambo ; a former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi ; a former Vice - President , Atiku Abubakar , a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu (SAN ) and a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido .

Others considered to be with the potent war chest to fight for the ticket, but who have yet to openly declare their ambition are a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal ; and the President of the Senate , Dr Bukola Saraki.

While they are expected to traverse the length and breadth of the country to seek votes from the delegates , the deciders of their fate may nevertheless be a few, within and outside the party .


OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

He’ s been described by many adjectives . Some are complimentary while others could be full of disdain for the former military head of state and a two - term president.

But instead of sitting by and get burdened with the comments of those who have resentment for him , Obasanjo has remained hardened in his unwavering conviction that President Buhari ’ s performance since he assumed office more three years ago , remain everything but unsatisfactory.

He has said that allowing Buhari to remain in office after four years will mean a reinforcement of failure. Like a soldier that he is, when Obasanjo is convinced about a cause , he puts in everything in him into it .

That is why even though he has torn his membership card of the party that brought him into office , Obasanjo has returned to the political battlefield to strategise with other like- minds just to achieve their aim of getting a replacement for his junior in the army.

With his involvement in the formation of the coalition that involves 39 other political parties and associations, it is evident that Obasanjo will be one of those who will determine the standard bearer of the PDP, which is the dominant political party in the coalition.


T . Y. DANJUMA

Like Obasanjo , Theophilus Danjuma is a retired general . He played a prominent role in the conspiracy that brought Buhari into power. He was said to be one of the major financiers of the APC campaign . The unabated killings in the country particularly in his native state of Taraba, is believed to have created a wedge between Danjuma and the Buhari government .

Recently , the former army chief openly expressed his frustration about the killings of his kinsmen when he alleged that there was collusion among the security agencies and the killer Fulani herdsmen . He told the people in an unambiguous language, to embrace self -defence .

Danjuma, who is believed to be stupendously rich , hardly talks but when he does, the contents are so heavy that he cannot be ignored . That was why even the Presidency and the army authority were forced to react to his allegations on the killings . While the Presidency waved the allegation aside and denied it , the army was forced to set up a probe panel to investigate it .

Danjuma seems not to care about the ranting of the military and the Presidency over that, as he is said to have joined the “brave patriots ” to search for an alternative and acceptable candidate that will slug it out with Buhari next year .


CHIEF OLU FALAE

He is not a member of the PDP . In fact , he is the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party . Naturally , he ought to be concerned on how his party would win the presidential election .

That however is not the case . Falae, who was a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, played a prominent role in the formation of the coalition that was put together with the sole aim of removing Buhari next year .

He has asked all the political parties involved in the coalition to bury their individual ambition and join hands and present a single candidate for the battle .

Going by his presentation at the inauguration of the coalition at its national secretariat last week Thursday in Abuja , and since the PDP remains the largest political party among the partners , Falae is expected to be carried along and also contribute on who would fly the PDP flag for the coalition .


NYESOM WIKE

“ Wike the wicked, ” as he ’ s called by his admirers because of his frankness while speaking on national issues and politics in his home state, Nyesom Wike , the governor of Rivers State, will also be a major player in the PDP presidential candidate selection. Apart from being a governor of an oil- rich state , Wike is also one of the major financiers of the party .

He played a major role in the installation and the sacking of the erstwhile Acting National Chairman of the party , Senator Ali Modu - Sheriff. Wike was also at the forefront of the election of the current National Chairman of the party , Prince Uche Secondus and majority of members of the party ’ s National Working Committee.

The former minister of state for education , is also believed to have close rapport with majority of the present and former leaders of the party . With his deep purse and involvement in the bid to rescue the party from the Ali -Modu group who had all defected to the APC, no discussion can hold on who will be the presidential candidate of the PDP and the name of Wike will not be mentioned . Some people are nevertheless speculating that he is nursing an ambition of becoming the running mate of one of the aspirants .


IBRAHIM BABANGIDA

A former head of a junta in Nigeria , Ibrahim Babangida , does not in any way, qualify as a democrat going by his past actions and records . Unfortunately , the self- styled “ evil genius” is among those being consulted as the PDP begins its tortuous journey to get a credible presidential candidate .

His palatial home in Minna , Niger State has since become a Mecca of sort for politicians from the PDP , seeking relevance in the new dispensation . He is said to be in touch with some powerful people in the country to pick a candidate for the PDP, whose presidential ticket had eluded Babangida himself in the past.


UCHE SECONDUS

They call him “total chairman ” because of his alleged unalloyed loyalty to the party and his friends , Uche Secondus , the national chairman of the party will be saddled with the responsibility of taking a decision with others, in deciding the party ’ s presidential candidate . Since he assumed office in December 2017 , Secondus has carried on with his job meticulously.

His style of leadership , which has been described as unique because of the silent way he carries out his job , has yielded many fruits. His ability to convince Obasanjo to back the PDP’ s search for a presidential candidate has been described as unparallel diplomacy .

Such diplomatic moves that also made a former Deputy National Chairman of the party , Chief Bode George to reconcile with Obasanjo and bring them together, is expected to manifest in the party ’ s continued search for a presidential candidate .

Secondus will however be expected to carry members of his NWC along in this task . But going by the strategic post he occupies , the national chairman will not be asked to second the motion for the selection of the PDP candidate , he will be duly involved .


SERIAKE DICKSON

The Governor of Bayelsa State is not seeking a re - election and this puts him in a good stead to navigate with other party leaders to search for a formidable candidate for the party . Besides, Dickson is also presiding over a rich state whose resources will be useful for the presidential campaigns .


EMMANUEL UDOM

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State is another PDP leader with a deep purse. Though he is said to be having a silent running battle with his predecessor , Senator Godswill Akpabio , the governor is said to be a serious party man .

While some of his fellow governors from the PDP who are hardly seen at the party events , Emmanuel has been one of the formidable forces behind the position of the party today as a formidable alternative to the APC. The selection team will definitely not asked him to excuse them when the final decision on the PDP presidential candidate is going to be taken .


IFEANYI OKOWA

A former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori may be involved by proxy. His state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa , may represent his interest as the former governor has yet to begin to dabble into national politics since he returned from London where he served his jail term having been convicted for corruption . He , nevertheless, still determines the political direction of the oil- rich state and what happens at the party at the centre.


ALIYU GUSAU

One of the prominent member of the military known in their circle as the “ master spy , ” Gusau, a former National Security Adviser, has remained a close ally of both Obasanjo and Babangida since he left service. He is said to be among the informal group searching for an alternative to Buhari .


OTHERS

There are others who are expected to also be involved in the search . These include the Sultan of Sokoto , His Eminent Abubakar Sa ’ adu and the Emir of Kano , Sanusi Lamido .

Though said to be father to all, some analysts believe that there is no way Tambuwal would defect to the PDP and nurse a presidential ambition without consulting the Sultan . For Emir Sanusi , the defection to the PDP by Kwankwaso has put him on the spot.

This is so as Kwankwaso was the governor of Kano State who installed him as the Emir despite the stiff opposition to his emergence by the then ruling party .

The Governor of Ekiti State , Mr. Ayo Fayose , may fall to the category , but the defeat suffered by the PDP in the state governorship election may have deflated his ego . That notwithstanding, Fayose is still expected to be involved in the exercise.

Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on social media has again reacted to the defection of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki from the All Progressive Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

This time Onochie in an article titled ‘The Many Sins of Dr Bukola Saraki Against APC and The APC Led Government’ listed the sins she perceived the Senate President must have committed one of which is that Saraki was a clog in the wheel of progress of the development of the Nigeria and the implementation of the policies of the administration.

Another is non-confirmation of EFCC Chairman sent in by the President impeding and threatening to derail the fight against corruption.

Below are the ‘Many Sins of Dr Bukola Saraki Against APC and The APC Led Government’ by Lauretta Onochie
APC is the most tolerant political party in the world.

No other party would accommodate Dr. Saraki the way APC did till we could take no more. Here are a few of his sins. Just a few obvious ones that are in the public domain:

• Non-confirmation of EFCC Chairman sent in by the President impeding and threatening to derail the fight against corruption.

• Giving preference to PDP members in committee appointments in the Senate.

• Delay in the confirmation of the boards for AMCON, CBN, NERC, NSADA, ICPC, among others.

• Giving the Deputy Senate President to the opposition party.

•Placing roadblocks to the actualization of government’s promises to Nigerians.

• Constituting a clog in the wheel of progress of the development of the country and the implementation of the policies of the administration.

• Joining forces with the opposition to ridicule President Buhari’s fight against corruption.

• Stole money from the APC Campaign during the Presidential campaign in 2015 and starved the Campaign Council of funds.

• Maintains a relationship with a gang of armed robbers who have been notorious for disturbing the peace of good people of Kwara State.

• Rallied corrupt elements to buy his Senate Presidency seat against the wishes of the Party.

• Currently inducing Senators with $100,000 each to suffocate PMB’s government in the Senate.

• Delay of the 2016, 2017 and 2018 budgets and thus impeding the economic development of the country.

• Budget padding and inserting 391 projects into budget of only two agencies.

• Shutting down the National Assembly and personalizing the National Assembly affairs especially when he is required to answer questions at law enforcement authorities, we see the entire senate following him to the CCT and shutting down the Senate.

• His refusal to entertain the virement for the funding of critical MDA’s which will ensure key agencies like INEC, NSA, NPF conduct their duties to ensure a free and fair elections.

• Frustrating key laws in the fight against corruption and promoting laws that serve personal interest like the Bill on re-ordering the sequence of elections.

• Fictitious insertions of amounts that are diverted in the name of constituency projects.

• Lack of internal democracy where he, at will, suspends senators with different opinion from him.

• Refusal to approve loans meant for infrastructural development of the country.

• Using the Senate as an institution to fight personal vendetta.

• Generally undermining the government for the past three years.

• Permitting and tacitly endorsing frivolous motions to unjustly attack the President and the Government.

by Chinedu Asadu




Isa Misau and Rafiu Ibrahim, senators representing Bauchi central and Kwara south respectively, have warned against any move to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki.

They said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the senate outnumber those of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Saraki left the APC for PDP after the ruling party lost 15 of its members in the upper legislative chamber.

The leadership of the ruling party subsequently asked him to resign, having joined a “minority” party.

Abu Ibrahim, senator representing Katsina south, had said : “Let him be gentleman enough and resign as senate president. If he does not, we will never have peace in that senate because it is absolutely clear that APC has majority to produce the leadership.”

Reacting via a joint statement on Saturday, Misau and Ibrahim said the Katsina senator’s threat “has given us an insight into what they are planning and we will be ready for them”.

“His statements showed why one of them led thugs to disrupt the proceeding of the senate, steal the mace, the symbol of authority of the legislature, and yet there is no consequence,” they said.

“APC should note that they are now the minority party. PDP has more members. When we resume, if they push us, we will move for a head count of members and change some of our principal officers to reflect party strength.

“Today, by the list paraded by APC themselves, they have only 48 Senators and PDP has 54, APGA has 2 and ADC has 2. There are two vacancies. That is the distribution in the senate. Let them continue to deceive themselves.

“We will use our strength to defend the position of the present leadership of the senate. We urge him and his colleagues to know that if they tried anything illegal and indecent, we will resist it through legal means.”

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Seriki Adinoyi in Jos



The sudden decision of President Muhammadu to embark on a 10-day vacation to the United Kingdom by has been attributed to his inability to handle the gale of defection rocking his All Progressives Congress (APC).

Disclosing this Thursday at the Plateau State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a member of the House of Representatives representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Hon. Istifanus Dung Gyang, who went to the secretariat to present his letter of intention to run for Plateau North senatorial zone seat in the 2019 general elections, added that the president was rattled that he just needed some rest.

According to him, “President Buhari was obviously arrested by the fever of defections of prominent APC members who have returned to their real home, the PDP, and has therefore forced him on compulsory vacation before the final vacation comes 2019.

“When the leadership of the PDP took time to apologise to Nigerians in a way of repentance, and when you sincerely repent, God will surely forgive you. God has forgiven the PDP and he has also visited the PDP with blessings of mass defection,” he said.

The lawmaker said his aspirations to represent the Plateau North in the Senate was borne out of desire to sacrifice more for development of the state, to consolidate on the achievements of Senator Jonah David Jang in the state.

He said, “I am going to serve the good people of Plateau because I have the confidence that as a democrat, I will promote democratic tenets by organizing them into platform for proper dialogue.”

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Rose Ejembi, Makurdi



Governor Samuel Ortom has described his investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as clear case of persecution and witch-hunting.

He therefore tasked the Economic and Fdinancia Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence probe of Security Votes right from the Presidency.

Governor Ortom stated this in a chat with newsmen shortly after a state broadcast, in Makurdi, the state capital.

The governor wondered why he would be singled out among all governors in the country for such probe and advised the anti-graft agency to begin the probe from the Presidency.

“So far, I am the only governor in Nigeria whose Security Vote is being investigated by the EFCC. Why should Benue case be different if not persecution?

“If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending they should have started from the Presidency right across the 36 states.

“If their focus was on Benue State they should have started from 1999 when Senator Akume was Governor. But this is not the case. I want the whole world to know that all this is about persecution and a clear case of witch-hunting.

“With the enormous security challenges in the State since my assumption of office it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe.

“The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the state. I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution.

“I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money. I have nothing to hide. I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me.

Ortom who explained that he is being persecuted for enacting the Anti-Open Grazing Law and his recent defection from the ruling APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wondered why as a citizen of the country he cannot associate with any party he wants.

He maintained that he had to decamp from the APC because the interest of the Benue people and his own interest were no longer being protected.

The governor continued, “I should be free to associate with any political party of my choice. After all, they say there are no permanent enemies in politics but permanent interest.

“At this time, the interest of Benue is not being protected by the APC and that is why I have defected. And I think for now, the PDP is best for the state,” he concluded.

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By Fred Itua



Abuja is an alluring city. Like a woman with succulent endowments, Abuja leaves you with feelings that may last a lifetime. For some Nigerians, a visit to Abuja is a life-long dream. For others, it is an end to itself.

For Abuja residents and visitors, it is often a rare privilege to visit the Three Arms Zone, which houses the three arms of government, executive, legislature and judiciary. However, only a handful of people are permitted entry into the Presidential Villa and the Supreme Court.

That leaves the National Assembly open to all manner of visitors, who come to the expansive complex to carry out their various transactions. There are legitimate visitors. They come around when they are invited by their legislators.

There are also gate crashers. They come into the complex invited. They are hustlers and, whenever luck smiles on them, they bump into lawmakers who sometimes part with some wads of naira notes.

Paradoxically, in this season of change, when lawmakers are financially bleeding too, everyone has become a hustler in the National Assembly.

Since the invasion of the National Assembly by some hoodlums, allegedly in connivance with Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, security has been beefed up in the complex, especially around the White House, where the two chambers are located.

The intensified security has, however, not deterred uninvited visitors from gaining access into the building. Lawmakers who have repeatedly complained about strange faces who frequent their offices uninvited, have resigned to fate.

A lawmaker who spoke with Daily Sun in confidence, narrated how he was ambushed by some uninvited visitors while trying to walk down to where he parked his car. He claimed that he had to return to the entrance leading to Senate building to get some security men to accompany him to his car.

He said: “One evening, at about 7.30pm, I left my office and was walking down to the car park. Sometimes, like other senators, I drive myself to the National Assembly. But that day, something strange happened. It was just two weeks after the National Assembly was attacked.

“As I walked down to my car lot, I saw a young man who kept following me and was hailing me in their usual way when they need money. I ignored him as one of those people. He kept following me until I got to where I parked my car.

As I was about to get in, he stood in front of my door and was begging and telling me about how frustrated he was. With the way he was talking, I was scared that he might do something funny.

“That was how I alighted from the car and called some idle sergeant-at-arms to chase the young man away. Out of curiosity, I asked them how people like that got into the building and they could not provide any answers.”

READ ALSO: Saraki visits female Sergeant-At-Arms injured by Senate invaders
Some sergeants-at-arms have been accused of compromising their position.

Some staff and other visitors, have complained of how they harass them and have turned themselves into beggars. They also complained about their poor dressing and how they are sometimes mistaken for touts.

One staff, who simply gave his name as Victor, for fear of being victimised, told our correspondent that they have informally complained to people the sergeants-at-arms report to. He said no action has so far been taken.

He said: “It is difficult these days to differentiate between touts in motor parks and these sergeants- at-arms. They look dirty, beggarly and so hungry. If you are a visitor to the National Assembly, you would think you were dealing with touts. Its so shameful and those who are in charge have refused to call them to order.

“They are just tax collectors. From the car park to those placed in every corner of the National Assembly complex, they are beggars. They beg without any iota of shame and I feel bad whenever I see them. It is terrible.

“We have seen their counterparts in other parliaments, even within West Africa. We see how they dress and comport themselves. They are not beggars. Why must our case be different in this world? Those in charge must call these people to order. They need to overhaul that unit before they bring shame to us.”

A frequent visitor to the National Assembly, who was one of the hustlers, told our correspondent how he secured his entry into the building. He said security agents (sergeant-at-arms), usually give him the entrance tag.

“I pay N1,000 whenever I am around. I have one particular guy who is always at the visitor’s stand. Once I am around, I just put a call across go him and he brings a tag for me. I then give him 1K (N1,000). Sometimes, if my outing goes well, I add to it.

“I do not have to be invited by anyone to get in there. It is easy. Just dress up like an aide to a lawmaker and nobody will ask you questions. It’s better than what it was in the past when we were not allowed in. It is much more easier today and I like it,” the visitor said.

When next you want to visit the National Assembly, you may want to adopt the same style. Since it’s now a free-for-all affair, maybe every Abuja resident may besiege our own Mecca.

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By QueenEsther Iroanusi


Some Nigerian lawyers have expressed their views on the legality of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s defection from the All Progressives Party (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Although there have been defections by a sitting vice president (Atiku Abubakar) and a speaker of the House of Representatives (Aminu Tambuwal), Mr Saraki on Tuesday became the first Senate President in Nigeria to leave his party while in office.

The legal practitioners explained that there is no illegality in the way Mr Saraki announced his defection.

Mr Saraki had earlier made a formal announcement of his exit from the APC on his official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he wrote on his Twitter handle.

In a statement he later released, he accused influential persons of the APC of intolerance and causing his exit.

“While I take full responsibility for this decision, I will like to emphasise that it is a decision that has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist,” he said.

An aide to the Senate president later told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Saraki intends to retain his seat as president of the Senate.

In his reaction to Mr Saraki’s defection, a senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, said Mr Saraki also needs to write the office of the Senate President as expected of all senators changing their party.

“He (Mr Saraki) will write to the Senate President also, but his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, will preside over the session where it will be read.

“Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 constitution refers,” Mr Ozekhome said in a text message.

A legal practitioner, Liborous Oshoma, said the lawmaker has not broken any rule by making his announcement on his social media platforms as there is no constitutional provision for that.

“There is no constitutional provision but I know by virtue of their house rule, he is to announce his defection on the floor of the Senate to give the house notice of his decision.”

Mr Oshoma added that “he has not broken any rule since the parliament is on recess.
“Maybe when they resume, he will announce it on the floor of the Senate. But apart from that, there is no constitutional procedure for that,” he said.

Mr Oshoma also said the Senate President will have to write a letter to his party secretary at his ward “just like it is done when you want to join or register with a party.”

While stating that a lot of people expected this to happen before now, the lawyer said for him, “the party has always treated him as an outcast since he won the election to the office of the Senate President. That’s why he has always been in opposition with the ruling.”

Another legal practitioner, Inihebe Effiong, also noted that there is constitutional provision for changing political party in the legislature.

“It is just for the member to indicate interest in joining another party. Going by the rules of the Senate, usually such decision is communicated to the presiding officers and he is a presiding officer.

“What amounts to the defection is a question of fact; once a member of the National Assembly has indicated that he has left a party, irrespective of how he does that, he is deemed to have left that party.

“That he announced on social media does not alter his decision – which is that he has left the APC. I believe that upon resumption, he will make the announcement.”

He further explained that Mr Saraki doesn’t need to write to the APC to say that he is no longer their member. “There is freedom of association,” he said.

Jiti Ogunye, a lawyer, had the same response when he was contacted.
“There is no elaborate procedure for that.
What is conventional is to do it on the floor of the Senate; a letter is addressed to that effect. Due to the fact that the National Assembly is on recess, the letter cannot be read.”

While stating that Mr Saraki’s decision has been long awaited, Mr Ogunye explained that the most important procedure is not just the defection, it is the implication of the defection.

“It takes a single majority to appoint a presiding officer but it takes two-third of the majority to remove him, except he (Saraki) doesn’t want to be Senate President anymore, which in that case, he will resign,” he said.

Mr. Saraki joined the APC on January 29, 2014 after falling out with the then PDP government, led by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was among 11 PDP senators of the period who informed the Senate of their departure from the PDP on that date.

Two months before then – November 2013 – Governor Ahmed, alongside four other then PDP governors defected to the APC.

They were Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rabi’u Kwankwaso (Kano).
Mr. Kwankwaso, now a senator, last week returned to the PDP.

Enyioha Opara , Minna


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Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Ambassador to South Africa , Ahmed Ibeto, has resigned .

He has also renounced his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, and had crossed over to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party .

Ibeto was reported to have arrived Nigeria from Pretoria on Sunday and on Monday morning , he handed over his letter of resignation at the Ministry of External Affairs .

Our correspondent could not confirm if the envoy saw President Muhammadu Buhari before returning to Minna on Monday evening .

Ibeto was a deputy governor of Niger State on the platform of PDP.

Checks revealed on Tuesday that Ibeto have left Minna for his home town of Ibeto in Magama Local Government Area of the state.

According to sources, the former deputy governor was received by over 1 , 000 supporters on his way to Ibeto.

Our correspondent gathered that while in Ibeto, the ex -ambassador would first resign his membership of the APC and assume PDP membership .

A source close to the former deputy governor told our correspondent that he would join governorship race immediately he registered with PDP.

It could be recalled that former Ambassador was a member of the PDP until the primary election of the party in November 2014 , during which he lost the governorship ticket to Umar Nasko , a former Chief of Staff to ex - governor Babangida Aliyu .

He resigned his membership of the PDP along with thousands of his supporters after complaining about “ the injustice ” melted to him by the then ruling party .

Ibeto was the vehicle on which the incumbent APC governor rode to victory , leading his campaign to all the 274 wards in the state.

Also , last year , he was was appointed an ambassador and posted to South Africa by President Muhammed Buhari.

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Tuesday remanded a 47-year-old man, Premie Imafidon, for allegedly slapping his wife to death.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Ajibade, remanded Imafidon in Ikoyi Prisons and ordered that the case file should be sent to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

Ajibade adjourned the case until Sept. 3
The accused is facing a charge for murder.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Maria Dauda, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 15, at 7.00 p.m., at No. 25, Apata St., Agege, Lagos.

She said that the accused had slapped his wife Hope, 42, which resulted to her death.

The offence contravened Section 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 224 stipulates death sentence for murder.

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A murder suspect and cultist, Babatunde Muritala (aka Muri Ete), who allegedly killed one Oriade Adebisi and his girlfriend in Ogun State recently has said that jealousy and threats from the cult group which the late Oriade belongs made him kill him.

Babatunde who spoke from the cells of the Abba Kyari-led Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Lagos, said the late Oriade was like his godson even though they belong to different cult groups.

“He is a member of Alora Confraternity, which is the cult group that wears yellow dress and beret, while I belong to the Aiye Confraternity, otherwise known as the . We wear black.”

According to the suspect who said he dropped out in 200 level where he was studying business administration at Tai Solarin University, said he groomed the late Oriade as a godson, but when he started making it in life, he refused to be paying homage to him as his godson and was not giving him money as he expected.

The suspect who is under close monitoring by Philip Rieninwa, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), coordinator of IGP South-West IRT who is equally working round the clock to arrest one Rasaaq, the third suspect in the murder case, said he also killed the girlfriend of Oriade to cover up his crime as the girl was in the car with the victim, when they were abducted.

He said when he pressed Oriade several times to give him money, the deceased was only promising him, so he became angry with him.

Babatunde claimed that what made him angrier was when the members of the cult which Oriade belonged, the Alora confraternity started sending threat messages to kill him, adding that that was why he quickly conspired with his own cult boys to kill Oriade.

“When we took him into the bush to kill him, he begged me and even offered me his car to spare his life, but I told him it was too late. We hacked him to death with sticks and cutlass as the two guns we brought to kill him did not work.

I took the girlfriend away from the spot he was killed, while the two boys I engaged to do the killing were performing their assignment because I did not want the girl to witness the killing. After he was confirmed dead, I brought the girl back and we also killed her”, Babatunde confessed.

“But the police said that I raped her because the autopsy conducted on her corpse revealed that she was raped before she was killed but I did not rape her as raping women is against the rules and regulations guiding my cult group.

I so much love him before the incident, he even thought me how to do Yahoo- Yahoo business. He was the one that gave me a link to a client in Ohio, Texas USA. The client paid 1,200 dollars, and we shared it. It was Oriade that funded the second payment with 6000 dollars to ‘disvirgin’ the account.

I met him at a filling station with his girlfriend and Damilola. I asked why he did not credit me that stuff, he said I should not worry that he was not financially buoyant but promised to do so. I told him to give me N20,000 but he said he did not have the money. So on the 27th of May, 2018, I saw his car in front of Damiloa’s house behind my girlfriend’s house, Yetunde.

I told Yetunde to be on the watch out any time the car will be parked there again and that she should inform me. So on May 28, 2018, she called to inform me the car was there at about 9 p.m.

So I quickly picked two guns and a cutlass, called two of my cult members, Rasaaq and Sodiq because I am the head of my cult group in the area, and we waited patiently for him to come out.

When he came out at about 11 p.m to enter the car, I confronted him with my gang members. I ordered him into the back seat with his girlfriend and took them to where they were killed. We killed the boy before the girl.

Later I drove his car and abandoned it close to a police station in the area and moved to a hotel in Ibadan where I was arrested by SARS. It was because his cult boys threatened to kill me that made me act faster by killing him”, Babatunde added.

By Felix Nwaneri


President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday boasted that he will win the 2019 presidential election by a landslide despite recent defections of some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The president, who gave a state-by-state analysis of how he will win the election, said despite all the noise by PDP, he expects his soaring popularity to be reflected in the 2019 elections. “In the final analyses, despite all the noise from our ‘noisy neighbours,’ we may be in for a landslide victory in 2019,” he said.

Buhari noted that he had, in the past, won elections in the states where the defectors hail from, even when they were controlled by opposition political parties. He particularly said the defection of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State will not stop him from winning the election.

Buhari, who spoke through a statement by the Director of Strategic Communications of his campaign organisation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), further said that no matter the impatience some Nigerians have shown with him, they will not want to go back to PDP, given the damage the party did to the nation during its 16-year reign.

The statement, titled: “Why the defections will not affect President Buhari’s election at the 2019 polls,” read in part: “The latest defections by some National Assembly members and the governor of Benue State will not harm the re-election of President Buhari in the 2019 general elections. This would even be so if the much-rumoured two more governors – Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) also defect from APC.

“The president won with large margins in the past in some states without the support of majority of the politicians from those states who moved recently to join the opposition party. Also, we are all witnessing the significant gains Mr. President is making in several places where he lost in the past, notably in the South-South and South- East.”

The Muhammadu Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign said PDP may claim that the figures count for nothing and that the president has been tested in the last three years and found wanting, but it should be mindful that Nigerians are conscious of the damage inflicted on the country during its 16-year reign.

“PDP may claim that these figures count for nothing and that the president has been tested in the last three years and found wanting. However, in the last three years, what has been more exposed and Nigerians have seen is the extent of damage inflicted on the country in the 16 years of PDP, the damage the president and his team are working tirelessly to fix.

No matter the impatience some Nigerians have shown with Buhari, they just don’t want to go back to PDP.

That is why PDP has lost all the critical electoral contests since 2015 (Kogi, Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Ondo states).” In a state-by-state analysis of how the president will win the election, the campaign organisation said from demographics, historic figures and the present realities, the defections, especially in the 12 states of the North, which the president has continually won since 2011, will have little or no impact on the chances of the president’s re-election.

It added that the president’s popularity in the affected states has increased due to the fight against Boko Haram, which has been largely successful. These feats, according to the Buhari campaign organisation, means that Buhari should expect more votes from these strongholds.
“The following 12 states, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Niger, with over 30 million registered voters, are states the president had consistently won with considerable large margins in past elections, especially in 2011 and 2015.

This was achieved despite the fact that most of those states were being controlled by political parties other than his own. “In 2011, when the president was in Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), despite being states with sitting opposition governors, national assembly members, state assembly members and local government chairmen, the president posted close to 11 million votes against all odds, defeating all his rivals in the 12 states mentioned above.

“In 2015, despite the majority of these states being in opposition after the merger that formed APC, the president posted close to 11 million votes again in these states with PDP not scoring up to 20 per cent of the votes in most of these states. It is instructive that in these election cycles, there were presidential candidates of northern extraction (e.g. Ibrahim Shekarau and Nuhu Ribadu in 2011).

Besides, Kaduna had a sitting vice president in both elections. “As we can see, any defection within these states would have little or no consequence on President Buhari’s chances as he had always won those states, irrespective of the party in power in those states.

“For example, in the much-touted Kano, in the 2011 presidential election, President Buhari scored 1,624,543 votes as CPC candidate, while in 2015, he had 1,903,999 votes as APC candidate. The vote difference of about 280,000 may be attributed to elements of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), negligible Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Senator Kwakwanso,then governor of the state that came into APC,” the campaign organisation explained.

On effects of the defections on the nine states the president lost in 2011, but won in 2015, the campaign organisation said: “The following nine states: Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Adamawa and Benue are states the president lost in 2011, but won in 2015. The five South Western states have registered voters’ strength of more than 14 million out of the about 20 million voters in these nine states. Today, those five states are being controlled by the APC.

Ekiti will join before the 2019 election after governorelect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is sworn for a second term in office. “All the political gladiators in those South Western states that helped to tilt the election in favour of the president in 2015 are still solidly with him and more have joined.

The entire defunct ACN structures that moved into APC are solidly behind the president. In terms of defections in the western states, the party has gained more than it has lost. “Adamawa, Kwara, Kogi and Benue states, with over six million registered voters all had governors from other parties in 2011, with Senator Bukola Saraki being the PDP governor of Kwara State.

In the four states, as the presidential candidate of CPC, the president posted 670,080 votes, while ACN, the other legacy party of APC, posted 314,741 votes, making a total of 984,741 votes when combined. In 2015, with only one APC governor among the four states, the president posted total votes of 1,315,659 in the four states, gaining over 330,000 votes.

“Today, with APC in charge of three out of the four states, especially with Senator Gbemi Saraki and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, leading the efforts in Kwara State and the APC structure in Benue State still firmly in the hands of Senator George Akume (the same structure on which Governor Ortom rode to victory) the defection of the senators from these states will have little or no effect on the difference gained.” The campaign organisation also x-rayed effects of the defections on the 15 states Buhari lost in 2015, saying:
“The president lost 15 states (comprising 11 states of the South-East and South-South and Plateau, Taraba, Nassarawa and Ekiti states) in the 2015 elections, despite his overall victory.

“Apart from having governors in Edo and Imo states, the exemplary work of the president in the South-East and South- South, especially in terms of infrastructural developments, like the Second Niger Bridge and a whole lot of road constructions, APC is on the rise in these states and this momentum will surely rub off on the electoral fortunes of the president. This can be seen in the high level defections to APC in the last three years in these states and more are coming.

“The recent election in Anambra State is also a testimony to the rising profile of the party in the South- East. In 2015, the president scored 17,926 votes in Anambra. The most recent governorship election saw APC come second with over 98,000 votes, defeating PDP in the process.

This is a pattern we expect in the 2019 elections throughout the South-East and South- South as compared to the last elections. The president can only amass more votes from these regions and not less than 2015. “In the remaining four states of Ekiti, Plateau, Taraba and Nassarawa, where the president lost in the 2015 election with a margin of 260,000, all the states had sitting opposition governors, except Nassarawa.

Ekiti and Plateau states will have sitting APC governors in February 2019 to help sell his candidacy and we have also seen defection of some serving and past senators from Ekiti State to APC. With this, we expect a reduction in the margin or an outright victory.

“Even if there are going to be defections from APC in these four states, we don’t see the margin of loss expanding beyond the 260,000, given that the states had majority opposition governors at the point the president suffered these loses.” The Buhari campaign organisation also reminded the opposition that the president is going into the 2019 election as an incumbent, enjoying the support of a lot more governors, senators, House of Representative members, House of Assembly members and local government chairmen than he ever had. Keyamo added that while PDP’s harvest of defections is gradually winding down, that of APC is about to begin.

He hinged the assumption on the fallout of the absorption and recognition of the structures of the incoming defectors by the national bodies of the various opposition parties; dissatisfied members whose aspirations are thwarted because of automatic tickets given to the defectors. “They are talking to us already; disgruntled elements from the fallout of the primaries of the parties, especially the main opposition party,” he said.

Posted By: Samuel Adesanya


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The police are investigating the killing of a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Victor Thorpe, in Lagos by assailants who snatched his company’s $80,000 (N28.8m).

The incident occurred at 11am on Friday when the BDC operator went to his company’s vault, said to be at LEGICO building, on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, to pick up the money.

It was gathered that the assailants, who were on a motorcycle, double-crossed the commercial bus he boarded, went inside, snatched the money and shot him in the chest at close range.

According to a source, Thorpe dropped his car for fear of being trailed, not knowing that his killers were already monitoring him.
A family friend said the killers went straight for him inside the bus.

She said: “They demanded the money, which he released. After that, they shot him in the chest at close range.

“No other person was attacked in the bus. There were other passengers. He was a very humble and kind man and a good Christian. It is painful that he died like that.

He was in his early 50s. His children are still young. The oldest is about 15 years old.

“He was rushed to the Military Hospital on Awolowo road where he died. The incident occurred by EcoBank/LEGICO building on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. He was on his way to his office from the vault.”

She wondered why the assailants killed him after collecting the money.

“Why did the robbers kill him? He did not struggle with them. Why did they not take the money and leave him? I hope that the police would investigate this case and arrest all those behind it,” she said.

The matter has been transferred to the command headquarters in Ikeja according to Lagos State Police spokesman Chike Oti, who said seven suspects had been arrested.

In another case, gunmen killed a female Diamond Bank customer at Suru-Alaba shortly after making some withdrawals.

The victim, Uchechi Njoku, was said to have been shot on the head by two armed robbers who accosted her as soon as she left the bank.

Oti said six suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

There are strong indications that ex-governors in the opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may be involved in the herdsmen-farmers’ conflict in some parts of Nigeria.

This was contained in a report recently released by a United Kingdom-based group, The Bridge Centre.

According to a part of the report, there are possibilities that chieftains of the PDP are supporting killers in their desperation to get at the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre.

The report claimed that this may be the reason why many of the killings occur in communities that did not vote for PDP in the 2015 general elections.

The report cited the case of one “Gana” of Benue State, who was reportedly linked to an ex-PDP governor who ruled between 2007 and 2015.

In Benue, the report alleged Gabriel Suswam’s successor, Samuel Ortom, of indecisiveness in the case of Gana.

“Gana has been identified to be allegedly responsible for scores of deaths, including many that were initially attributed to herdsmen. Ortom is now formally back in the PDP,” the report asserted.

Elizabeth Robertson, Head of Research and Documentation of the organisation, in the report called on the United Nations Security Council to urgently intervene before the world starts dealing with the problem of a lost generation in Nigeria.

The report read part: “The world has on several occasions been appalled by the wanton killings in Nigeria from incidents attributed to clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Attacks upon attacks in affected communities have been blamed on “killer” herdsmen, who in such instances prove elusive as not much would be heard about the daring killer squads that carry out such crimes against humanity.

“The situation has triggered a cycle of blame game within Nigeria, with the consequence that the persons behind these killings, at least responsible in part, are successfully evading justice.

“Findings show that there is a need to investigate some of these persons who may have links with the PDP, which has its could have its imprint on the farmers/herdsmen crisis as the then ruling party and more recently as the country’s leading opposition party.

“Transhumance is a phenomenon that is not peculiar to Nigeria. It has been worsened by climate change, urban sprawl, changing cultures and economic pressure.”

The centre noted that investigation into the killing, murder, robbery cases of in Plateau, Taraba, Kogi and Kwara States must ve thorough by quizzing all PDP ex-governors and lawmakera including those who currently defected from the ruling party.

“Some political leaders of the PDP have in the period since the party was voted out of the Federal Government engaged in the formation of militias, which they armed with weapons prohibited under several international protocols.

“These weapons have been deployed in commission crimes against humanity as they resulted in mass killings.

“Taking cognisance of the continued desecration of the sanctity of human life, the United Nations Security Council is invited to order a full investigation into the role that politicians, especially the PDP, are playing in the killings attributed to farmers/herders’ crisis.

“Arising from the findings of the full investigation, it should take the steps necessary to deter the kind of disregard for human lives as it is presently the trend.

“Time is of essence for whatever intervention the Council has to make since it is important that Nigerians are reassured ahead of the general elections.”

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