₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is not giving up in its quest to reconcile the differences with the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and other aggrieved governors and members of the party.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated this on Friday, during a press briefing at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja. He expressed optimism that eventually all the issues in party will be resolved.

Apart from Wike, other aggrieved PDP governors include: Samuel Ortom, Benue; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu and Seyi Makinde, Oyo.

Ologunagba noted that despite the misgivings by some of its leaders and members, efforts to resolve all issues in the opposition party are ongoing at different levels. He stated that the most important thing is that all the leaders of the party are united on the need to rescue the country from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, “there are multiple channels of discussion in a reconciliation. We have internal conflict resolution mechanism. We can’t give up because this party is Peoples Democratic Party, not an individual. We don’t give command, we don’t give instructions, we negotiate.”

The PDP spokesman, while reacting to the endorsement of Lagos State governor and APC governorship candidate, Jide Sanwo-Olu, by Governor Wike, said the party would follow through its processes in addressing the issue.

The PDP spokesman said the opposition party is ready to play by the rules in the 2023 general elections, accusing the APC of allegedly resorting to violence ahead of the polls.

By Bassey Willie


The flood ravaging Bayelsa State and other parts of the country has taken over the Otuoke residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa is the hometown of the immediate past president.

Speaking when he visited the community on Friday, Governor Duoye Diri lamented the degree of destruction caused by what he described as an “attack by natural disaster” on the livelihood of Bayelsans.

He stressed that Otuoke, which is the host community of a Federal University, had been submerged and most of the locals displaced, including Jonathan.

The governor urged the people not to despair, even in the trying times, assuring them that the state government had put in place machinery to provide relief materials and medical assistance to victims of the flood.

He said: “As we have seen in other local government areas in the state, we have come to Ogbia and parts of Southern Ijaw today. I had been to Ayama-Ijaw and Azikoro community in Yenagoa, which is also badly hit.

“Now I am in Ogbia, precisely at the residence of the former president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. You can see the degree of destruction here in Otuoke. The water current is as if there is a river here.

“This is what I have been saying. Bayelsa is under attack of natural disaster. The whole premises of our former president and the community is under attack. And this is where you also have the federal university. This situation makes the former president an IDP.

“To our citizens, particularly in Ogbia local government, I came to see things for myself in Otuoke and to bring you hope. I came to also let you know that you are not alone in this trying times that we are all going through in our state.

“We have put in place machinery that is going round the state in terms of relief materials and medicines. The Ministry of Health is fully mobilized for that and I am sure they will be here in no distant time.

“Let me also use this opportunity to empathize with my leader, the former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has joined me as one of the IDPs because I was one of the first victims in my community.”

Diri again solicited the help of well-meaning Bayelsans, corporate organisations and the federal government to enable the state overcome the present unfortunate situation.

He also visited the former president’s mother, Madam Eunice Jonathan, in the community and assured her that the state government was with her and the people of Otuoke.

By Bakare Majeed

The Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, has said the national grid has not collapsed this year.

He said the country has only experienced disruptions, not collapse.

Mr Jedy-Agba stated this on Thursdsy when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Power investigating the frequent collapse of the national grid.

The country had suffered total blackout four times this year reportedly occasioned by the collapse of the grid.

The Minister explained that disruption could cause blackout.

“So, please let us understand that we have not had any collapse this year, we have had disruptions and disruptions could lead to blackouts, a blackout is not a collapse.

“These ones we have had this year, in fact, four of them, but they have not been collapse, it is disruption. And disruptions have been as a result of the human factors, they could be increment factors, they could be political factors, it could be other factors,” he said.

Mr Jedy-Agba blamed the unavailability of gas for some of the disruptions experienced so far this year.

“Gas supply has been a problem but we are tackling that already because we are discussing with NNPC and Nigerian Gas Corporation. We are coming to an agreement and gas is flowing systematically now to the generating companies and we are seeing a steady increment in generation,” the minister said


GenCos, TCN disagree

However, Electricity Generation Companies (GenCos), blamed the incessant national electricity grid collapse on weak transmission lines.

Joy Ogaji, the executive secretary of the association of power generation companies, said the infrastructure Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) cannot cope with the load.

She explained that often, the transmission lines are experiencing volatility which causes disruptions. She added that often, GENCOs are using their infrastructure to transmit load.

“There is service interruption due to the inability of DISCOS to take the load, weak grid conditions forcing apparatus disruption, TCN radial lines….most of TCN lines are radial, not double circuit, thereby limiting the redundancy in the system which increases system instability, Inadequate and old infrastructure to meet demands, transmission and distribution manned by insufficient engineers and technicians, poor communication and coordination of activities between TCN and Discos,” she said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria, Sule Abdulaziz, contradicted the minister, when he stated that the national grid has collapsed four times in 2022.

He added that Nigeria has a transmission capacity of 8,100 megawatts.

“We have four system collapse, then we have two partial collapses and this what we submitted.

“On transmission capacity, we have a capacity of 8,100 megawatts. There is no day when a generation company will say we have generated so much megawatts and TCN is unable to evacuate it. We are challenging generation companies to come out if there is any day that we can not evacuate it”, he said.

Following the presentations, the Chairman of the Committee, Magaji Aliyu (APC, Jigawa), stated that the committee will set up a technical committee to prepare a report for the House. He, therefore, adjourned the session sine die.

Liz Truss resigned as the British Prime Minister on Thursday after spending only 45 days in office.

She made the announcement 24 hours after saying she was a fighter and not a quitter in her response to a question from the opposition Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer.

Truss’ difficult moments came in her last final 24 hours with her economic programme dividing the Conservative Party she headed for just six weeks.

As the world still battles to recover from Truss’ shocking resignation, this piece delves briefly into five things that contributed to her fate:

1) Liz Truss’ first few days as the UK PM started with the introduction of a costly blueprint to manage the energy household bills, in response to escalating prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The plan was eclipsed for 10 days following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

2) The ex-minister of finance, Kwasi Kwarteng, declared a “mini-budget” in September, which gave a comprehensive price of the energy scheme for $67 billion in six months, with the unveiling done but lacking measures to raise funds.

3) Kwarteng also announced massive borrowing and new tax cuts including for top earners in the UK, without tangible measures leading to the Pound falling and the political exasperation the UK cabinet experienced. Two days later, Kwarteng vowed, “more to come on tax cuts.”

4) After criticism and tumult, Liz Truss was forced to take a humiliating U-turn on her proposed cut in the top rate of income tax following speedy late-night talks. Kwasi Kwarteng was later sacked after 36 days in office.

5) The crisis continued for erstwhile PM, as her Home Minister Suella Braverman resigned following a squabble with Truss and chancellor, Jeremy Hunt over immigration, saying that she had “serious concerns” about the government.

By Muawiya Shuaibu


Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has said that due to many expectations Nigerians have of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, she is not sure if the government has met them.

Aisha stated this in an interview with the BBC, saying that this is the reason she apologized to Nigerians.

Reports quoted Mrs Buhari apologising to Nigerians about the hardships they are facing during the special prayers she organised on October 1 to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the country’s independence.

She said, “The expectations on us were so high and maybe after seven years, we haven’t met their expectations. Only God knows what is in somebody’s mind.

“As a human being, you can’t say you are right or you have done what you should, so the government has really tried, the administration did its best but may not be the best for others. So we must apologize to Nigerians weather we met their expectations or not.”

Asked the areas she thought the government failed the most, Aisha said she didn’t follow the government programmes.

“I don’t know, because I run my office like a charity; I only accept people, but I don’t belong to politics. All I do is support them in terms of health or education. I don’t follow what they do,” she added.

According to her, the All Progressives Congress will win the next presidential election.

“Why would you ask me this question? We (APC) will continue. APC will win the election. By God’s grace.

“We faced a big challenge because when my husband came to power there was no resources, but I insisted that we are the ones who said we will do it and we have to do it,” she added.

Mrs Buhari further said that she did not have any political ambition.

She said, “I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be the wife of the President. It’s a great position. I thank God and I am asking him to make us finish safely and to hand over power to the APC government.

“I don’t have any political ambitions. I will be the wife of the former president, what else am I looking for?”

The Comptroller, Trade Facilitation Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Anthony Ayalogu, is dead.

Ayalogu was said to have slumped at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport while on transit on an official assignment and died.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported on Wednesday that the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), confirmed the death.

Ali, in a statement issued by a Superintendent of Customs, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, on Tuesday in Abuja, said Ayalogu, who died at 57, suddenly took ill and lost consciousness upon arrival at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport while on transit on an official assignment.

The comptroller-general said efforts to resuscitate him failed as he was later pronounced dead at 465 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Kano.

The Customs boss, described the late officer as “a true champion and will be sorely missed.”

“We pray God grants the Ayalogu family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” the statement read.

Ali also commiserated with the entire officers and men of the service, as well as friends of the deceased.

Ayalogu hailed from Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra state and held a Bachelor’s Degree in Botany from the University of Port Harcourt.

He was enlisted into the NCS on September 24, 1991 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent.

Ayalogu took over as Comptroller, Trade Facilitation on January 31 and was until his death a fellow at the World Customs Organisation.

He had served at the System Audit Unit under the Tariff and Trade Department before moving to the trade and facilitation department.

He is survived by a wife and children.

The Federal Government has directed network service providers to reverse 10 per cent increase in calls and data tariffs.

In a statement, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed the telecom operators to withdraw the hike in calls and data rates to old rates.

Though the tariff adjustment was proposed and provisionally approved by the Management, pending the final approval of the Board of the Commission, in the end it did not have the approval of the Board of the Commission. As a result, it is reversed”, the statement signed by NCC’s spokesman, Reuben Mouka, said.

It said the consideration for 10% approval for tariff adjustments for different voice and data packages was in line with the mandates of the Commission as provided by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and other extant Regulations and Guidelines, as this was within the provisions of existing price floor and price cap as determined for the industry.

But the NCC said the decision was also taken after a critical and realistic review and analysis of the operational environment and the current business climate in Nigeria, as it affects all sectors of the economy.

However the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has maintained that FG’s priority is to protect the citizens and ensure justice to all stakeholders involved.

In view of the above, the Commission, through a letter sent on the 12th of October 2022, directed the affected Mobile Network Operators to reverse the upward tariff adjustment.

The statement said the Commission would carry our further consultations with all industry stakeholders on the best approaches that will protect and uphold the interest of both the consumers and the service providers.

The Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas company has declared force majeure because of widespread flooding that has disrupted supply, a spokesman for the company said on Monday.

Force majeure is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, crime, epidemic or sudden legal changes prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract.

Reuters reported that the declaration could worsen Nigeria’s cash crunch and would curtail global gas supply as Europe and others struggle to replace Russian exports due to the invasion of Ukraine in February.

NLNG said all of its upstream gas suppliers had declared force majeure, forcing it to make the declaration as well.

“The notice by the gas suppliers was a result of high floodwater levels in their operational areas, leading to a shut-in of gas production which has caused significant disruption of gas supply to NLNG,” spokesperson Andy Odeh said.

Odeh said NLNG was determining the extent of the disruption and would try to mitigate the impact of the force majeure.

Officials have warned that the flooding, caused by unusually heavy rains and the release of water from a dam in Cameroon, could continue into November.

NLNG’s supply had already been limited due to prolific oil theft that has slashed output from what is typically Africa’s largest exporter. NLNG had exported roughly 18 cargoes in September, according to Refinitiv data.

Nigeria relies on fossil fuel exports for 90 per cent of its foreign exchange and roughly half its budget. Crude oil exports fell below one million barrels per day on average in August, the lowest level since the 1980s, due to theft that has exceeded 80 per cent on certain pipelines.

Crushing fuel subsidy costs have also kept Africa’s most populous nation from benefiting from this year’s surge in oil prices.

The Abia police command says a police officer has been arrested for shooting his colleague.

The deceased, identified as Samuel Ugor, a police inspector, was said to have been shot dead following an argument.

Speaking at a media briefing, Godfrey Ogbonna, Abia police spokesman, confirmed the incident on Monday in Umuahia, the state capital.

According to NAN, the police officers were attached to Ginger Onwusibe, the lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa south constituency in the Abia house of assembly.

The police spokesman said the incident occurred on Saturday, adding that investigation had commenced into the matter.

Ogbonna described the incident as unfortunate and condemnable, adding that “the policemen are from SPU Base 15, Anambra, but attached to the legislator”.

He said the officer who fired the shot is currently in custody, while the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.

“The case is under investigation by SCID to unravel the circumstances that led to the incident,” he added.

While not a frequent occurrence, there have been incidents of police officers shooting their colleagues over varying reasons.

In June 2021, a police inspector was arrested in Enugu after a shooting spree that resulted in the death of five persons.

In May 2020, the Lagos police command arrested one Monday Gabriel, identified as a police inspector, who went berserk and shot sporadically, leading to the death of Felix Okago, a sergeant.

Months before, in December 2019, a police inspector shot dead a corporal and injured a deputy superintendent before taking his own life in the federal capital territory (FCT).

From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja


The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has disassociated itself from remarks made by the Chairman of its Lagos State Chapter, Reverend Stephen Adegbite, over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adegbite had on Sunday, declared the chapter’s support for the ambition of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking at an event organised by the Wife of the APC Presidential Candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Adegbite said that not mobilising support for the presidential aspiration of Tinubu would incur the wrath of God.

Adegbite hinged his stance on the tremendous support by Tinubu over the years for Christians, not only in Lagos State, but the entire southwest region.

His statement was at variance with the position of the national body of CAN which frowned at the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the APC in its bid for the 2023 presidential election.

But an impeccable source within CAN, told Daily Sun that Adegbite has been directed by the national body to issue a statement clarifying that his remarks were his words and not the position of CAN.

“The position of CAN has not changed on Muslim-Muslim ticket. Adegbite has been directed to issue a statement to clarify that it is his position and not CAN,” the source said.

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

A 42-year-old businessman, Kelechukwu Onuka, has been arrested by the Ondo state police detectives for the murder of his wife, Nnenna, over dispute on “unexplained” N10 million.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the ugly incident occurred at their residence in Aratunsi area, Oke Aro, Akure, Ondo State capital.

The suspect reportedly accused his wife of hiding the money from him.

A family source, said the disputed money was sent to the victim by one of her relations who resides abroad.

The money was reportedly sent to her to assist the relation in a building project.

The crux of the matter, according to the source, was because the wife never mentioned to him who sent the money and for what purpose. He was angry that he heard the information from someone else.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the suspect confronted his wife and a heated argument ensued following which he reportedly hit her with a heavy object on the head and she died instantly.

The suspect, however, has been arrested by police detectives and the case has been transferred to the State Police Headquarters.

A neighbour of the couple, Mr Chukuka Obinna, while speaking said that the couple is always having arguments.

“There was even a day that after beating her, the man called us to assist him to take his wife to the hospital.

”I really don’t know what led to this fight that caused the death of the woman.

“But on this day, it became serious. We were hearing their voices and later everywhere went silent.

“Before we knew what went wrong, the man was trying to revive the lady after using something to strike her in anger.”

Contacted, the state police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the incident as a case of domestic violence.

Odunlami advised that couples should learn how to handle matters with maturity.

“If there’s something wrong, they should learn to know the appropriate steps to take when they are angry and not let it end this way.

She confirmed that the suspect has been arrested and detained at the state CID, adding that the suspect would be charged to court after the completion of investigations.

It was an out-of-court settlement that led to the recent release of 101 `Boko Haram’ suspects who were arrested at various locations in 2009 and had been in detention since then at various correctional facilities, including the Kirikiri maximum and medium centres in Lagos.

This is contrary to recent claims especially in social media that the suspects were released in exchange for the remaining 23 abducted passengers of the Kaduna- Abuja train.

Daily Trust Saturday leant from credible sources monitoring the case that discussions for the release of the suspects started long ago when it was evident that there were no facts to prove that they were Boko Haram members, considering that most of them were arrested in the streets of various cities at the onset of the Boko Haram uprising 13 years ago.

But while fielding questions from journalists after the National Security Council (NSC) meeting yesterday in Abuja on the released suspects, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor said, “… Perhaps may be at this point, what I may need to add is the fact that Council was also briefed that 101 ex-combatants were taken to Operation Safe Corridor (in Gombe) and currently undergoing the process of de-radicalization at the centre.

“These were ex-combatants that have been in detention for several years, some of whom have served their terms. Others were those that were awaiting trial, but because of the long time that they have been involved and in line with the protocol or the procedure for handling anyone who has been exposed to terrorism or related offenses, the procedure for them to be taken through a process of de-radicalization.”


History of the case

Our correspondents report that the agreement between the applicants signed between the Attorney-General of the Federation, the respondents and the Legal Aid Council, which represented the applicants, were approved and adopted as judgements before three separate High Court judges in Lagos.

The orders for their release, according to a document made available to Daily Trust Saturday, were given on October 4 and 5 by Justices Awogboro Olawunmi, Tijjani Garba Ringim and Nicholas Oweibo.

Facts distorted

Daily Trust Saturday had in its May 22 edition reported the continuous detention of the suspects who were arrested at various times in Bauchi, Maiduguri and Kano in 2009 on suspicion of being members of Boko Haram.

This happened when police and other security agencies embarked on operations aimed at taming the uprising staged by Boko Haram members, led by Mohammed Yusuf.

Since then, the suspects had been in detention with no hope of freedom until recently.

Multiple sources said the release of the 101 suspects had nothing to do with the release of the 23 train abductees.

“There is no iota of truth in the alleged prisoner swap. The terrorists who released the last set of the train victims have nothing to do with the 101 people released from Kirikiri. Those people in Kirikiri were not Boko Haram members. There was no evidence to nail them.

“The terrorists that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train had set their members free during the invasion of Kuje prison in Abuja. Those people freed from Kirikiri have no value to the terrorists. It was just a coincidence that their release nearly coincided with the release of the train victims,” a source close to the military in Maiduguri, Borno State, said.

An official of the Legal Aid Council, which had been pursuing the case, said the detainees were arrested by the police at various places in Maiduguri, Kano and Bauchi states.

“Some of the suspects were arrested in raids by the police in their homes, business premises, mosques or highways,’’ he said.

He said a total of 164 persons were arrested in the wake of the outbreak of the disturbances by members of Boko Haram in Maiduguri in July 2009.

He also said the detainees were initially arraigned before courts in Kano, Maiduguri and Bauchi, adding that the courts granted them bail but some of them could not meet their conditions.

“They were separately detained in correctional centres in Kano, Maiduguri and Bauchi pending the time they would meet their bail conditions. However, in March 2011 they were all herded into a truck and moved to Lagos.

“We have 74 being detained in the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre, while 27 are detained in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre,” he said.

He added that after their movement to Lagos, there was an order that they should not be allowed access to their relatives, adding that many of them had lost contact with their relations.

Speaking on the case, the official said the detainees were charged with offences that carry a maximum of four years imprisonment if convicted.

“What it means is that they would have even served their terms by now if they had been convicted,’’ he added.

In an effort to ensure justice for the victims, a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, The Incorporated Trustees of Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Initiative, filed a case before a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking their release. The case was brought against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser and the Comptroller-General of the Correctional Service.

In the suit, they prayed the court to declare that the arrest and continued detention of the applicants for 11 years without proper arraignment and trial in a court of competent jurisdiction was unlawful, unconstitutional and an infringement on their fundamental right to freedom of liberty, the right to be tried within reasonable time by an impartial court/tribunal and respect for the dignity of human person.

The applicants also sought for their unconditional release and perpetual injunction restraining the respondents or their agents from further interfering with their fundamental human rights in any manner.

However, in October 2021, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, dismissed the case in his judgement.

The judge said the applicants failed to show that both the Attorney- General of the Federation and the National Security Adviser had infringed on their fundamental human rights as they failed to prove that they ordered their arrest or detention.

He also ruled that the action failed, in that it should have been filed as an individual rather than a joint action by the applicants. This, he added, made the case incompetent.

The judge further ruled that a case of false imprisonment could not be redeemed under Fundamental Rights (enforcement procedure) rules, 2009. He said they could be claimed by following the common law procedure of issuing a writ of summons and filing pleadings.

However, the Legal Aid Council took up the case and sought for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights in order to fast track their release, which led to the two parties agreeing to out-of-court settlement.

Under the terms of the settlement, the applicants agreed to forgo any form of prayer for compensation or institute any other action against the respondents in relations to the facts and claims in the matter, or in relation to their incarceration at Kirikiri.

Trending story fake

A top official of the Council who spoke with our correspondent denied a trending statement on the social media that their release was part of the terms of negotiations for the release of 23 Abuja-Kaduna train hostages.

“This is balderdash. It is a tissue of lies. They were released by a court order,’’ the official who craved anonymity told Daily Trust Saturday.

He also confirmed that upon their release, the military took them to Gombe for debriefing and deradicalisation, adding, “They are now in Gombe.’’

Also reacting in an interview with Daily Trust Saturday, the secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff Committee on Negotiation for the release of Abuja-Kaduna train victims, Professor Usman Yusuf, said their release was never part of the negotiation with the abductors.

He said he was surprised that the statement being circulated was purported to have been signed by him. He said, “Whoever wrote this was a coward. No prisoner was released. No ransom was paid. This was an action by mischief makers.’’

Another source who did not want to be named said the military took the released suspects to Gombe for debriefing before they would be reunited with their families.

“These are people who lost contact with their families for over 13 years, so it will be wrong to ask them to go straight to their families. More so, many of them were thought to have been killed.

“The freed victims have lost touch with what is happening; therefore, they need to be guided properly so that they can easily reintegrate and continue with their normal lives,” he said.

Asked if they would not face challenges once released into the society, the source said, “It is very unlikely because their families are aware that they were arrested during mop up operations. They know that they are not Boko Haram members.

“I have a feeling that in the next couple of days, some members of their families would be invited to interface with their loved ones.”

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has said the sins of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Iyorchia Ayu are so grievous that if they are disclosed his children will disown him.

“If people know what we know, if we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children,” Wike said.

Speaking during a live media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, the Governor said Ayu had no locus to stand before Nigerians and campaign for PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The Governor maintained the PDP boss has no integrity and alleged that the chairman also received double pay for a single project.

On the N1billion he accused Ayu of collecting, Wike said: “There cannot be any comment. He (Ayu) cannot say anything. Look, I am the governor of Rivers state and I don’t just come out to speak.

“Let Ayu say he did not collect N1 billion. In fact, let me also tell you, Ayu collected N100 million naira from a Governor that he was going to renovate our democratic institution and then he (Ayu) went back to the PDP NWC and took the same N100 million naira for doing the same work.

Read Also: Wike upgrades appointment of Special Assistants to 50,000

“What kind of system is that? I am telling you all these are facts. Let him (Ayu) say no first and I will tell you (those he collected money from).

“A leader must be a man of integrity. And I have realised that people find it hard to have that (integrity) lately. You are presenting a man (Ayu) who lacked integrity as chairman of the party. Somebody that wants to lead a campaign to take the reigns of government?

“What is the problem with what we are asking of Ayu? We are saying let there be equity, let there be fairness and justice. But if you don’t want it that way then you are the one causing the crisis (in the party) and that shows you (Ayu) don’t have leadership skills because this is the time to show it. This is the time to show leadership skills on the part of those who are leaders of the party.”

He has frequently been on medical trips to London in the UK since his assumption of office in 2015.

The Nigerian government has proposed to spend the sum of N393,661,239 on the ongoing construction of the presidential wing of the State House Medical Centre at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja in 2023.

This is contained in the budget proposal of N20.51 trillion budget President Buhari presented to the joint session of the National Assembly last Friday for the 2023 fiscal year.

However, despite the huge amounts of the money budgeted and claimed to have been expended on the State House clinic, President Buhari does not make use of the medical centre.

He has frequently been on medical trips to London in the UK since his assumption of office in 2015.

Over the years, billions of naira have been allocated for the construction and equipping of the presidential clinic in the State House, yet, in 2017, the Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari berated the management of the State House Clinic as she lamented that on her visit to the hospital, there was no single syringe.

Similarly, President Buhari’s daughter, Zahra reportedly made the same observation on her Instagram handle, when she called out the Permanent Secretary of the State House Clinic, Jalal Arabi, for not being able to provide ‘ordinary paracetamol’ in the clinic even though N331.7 million was allocated to the State House Clinic in that year’s budget.

In 2020 and 2021, the sum of N416.6 million and N1.06 billion were budgeted respectively for the construction of the Presidential (VIP) Wing of the State House Clinic, and as at March this year, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijanni Umar, confirmed the money had already been paid in full.

The Permanent Secretary, Umar also disclosed that out of the N20.8 billion allocated for the same project in the 2022 budget, the federal government had paid N8.5 billion.

It therefore means that between 2020 and 2022, at least the sum of N10 billion has been spent on the construction of the Presidential Wing of the State House Clinic which is still neither being used by the President nor his family members.

Rivers Gov. Nyesom Wike said in Port Harcourt on Thursday that rent seekers in the People Democratic Party (PDP) were frustrating his efforts for amicable resolution of the crisis rocking the party.

He made the declaration while hosting the Cross River PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Sandy Onor, and party stalwarts who visited him.

Wike explained that the seeming intractable crisis in the PDP lingered because some vested interests, whom he described as “hyenas and rent seekers’’, remained obstinate and averse to justice, fairness and equity.

He said he would not support the current situation where the party’s presidential candidate, the national chairman and the director-general of the Presidential Campaign Council are all from the northern part of the country.

The governor said it was hypocritical of PDP members to criticise Muslim/Muslim ticket, while supporting that a particular region of the country should retain the presidency for another eight years.

He insisted that for the sake of peace, PDP should adhere to its Constitution, which recommends that when a presidential candidate emerges from the North, the national chairman should be from the South.

“The National Chairman said, if the presidential candidate comes from the North, he will resign; which means he has had this in mind.

“Now, the thing has come to reality; now resign, he said `no’ and people are saying go and talk to Wike.

“I have accepted the presidential candidate. I have accepted the vice-presidential candidate, what’s the problem again?

“You, fulfil your part. Let the South have something; that is all I am preaching. You cannot have presidential candidate, national chairman, director-general of the campaign,’’ he stressed.

Wike said there were more things that were wrong with the arrangement.

“Nobody wants to speak the truth,'’ he persisted.

According to him, refusal to cede the national chairmanship position to the South will be a recipe for crisis in the party.

He said that the clamour for the chairmanship of the PDP to be zoned to the South would persist until justice, fairness and equity prevailed.

Wike said the visit of the Cross Rivers delegates would spur him to continue to support the party in Cross River ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He announced the donation of 25 buses to the party in Cross River and said while he would not go to the state to vote, he would support the candidates as his friends.

He thanked Cross River PDP delegates for the support given to him at the PDP presidential primary election.

Earlier, Sen. Onor, who led the delegation, said Gov. Wike remained a trail blazer for justice, fairness and equity.

Onor stressed that no person in the contemporary history of the PDP had made more sacrifices for the party than Gov. Wike had done.

He commended Wike for his steadfast support for the party in Cross River, and said the visit was to express the party’s gratitude for his unparalleled benevolence.

Similarly, Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, (PDP-Cross River-North) noted that without Wike’s support, PDP would have been made extinct in Cross River.

On his part, Mr Venatius Ikem, Cross River PDP Chairman, thanked Wike for his unrelenting support of the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation comprised South-South PDP National Vice-Chairman, Mr Dan Orbih and other party members.

Also in the delegation were Cross River PDP senatorial, House of Representatives, House of Assembly candidates and PDP local government party chairmen.

(NAN)

By Stephen Onda


Reno Omokri, ex-aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has claimed that former governors of Lagos State who succeeded Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are still loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

Omokri added that everyone who served with Tinubu are still loyal to him.

He made the assertions on his verified Facebook page, Reno Omokri, and via his Twitter handle, @renoomokri, last weekend.

On Facebook alone, the post had garnered over 5,000 reactions and comments and had been shared more 100 times as of the time of filing this report.

Part of the post reads, “Tinubu has been able to sustain the loyalties of Lagos Governors 15 years after leaving office. Everyone who served with him is still loyal to him.”

Has Tinubu “sustained” the loyalty of his allies?

While it can be said that former governor and incumbent Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is still loyal to Tinubu, there is strained relationship between Tinubu and ex-governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Fashola in an interview with Channels TV recently declared support for Tinubu to emerge president. Though, Ambode is still in APC, he has not publicly endorsed his former boss for the highest position in the country.

Ambode and Tinubu fell apart after the latter was against the former’s re-election bid in 2019. Ambode’s second term ambition was frustrated by the APC governing council in the state, backed by Tinubu. He eventually lost the party’s primary to Tinubu’s preferred candidate, Babajide-Sanwo-Olu.

Until he broke away from APC, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran well known as Jandor was Tinubu and Fashola’s protégé. He was, however, aggrieved over the conduct of the APC ward, local and state congresses.

Jandor consequently led a faction of APC called Lagos4Lagos Movement and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose 2023 governorship ticket in Lagos he won.

Similarly, Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had maintained close relationship since the Professor of law was appointed as Attorney-General of Lagos State during the Tinubu administration.

Their relationship blossomed as Tinubu also played a major role in Osinbajo’s emergence as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2014.

However, many questioned Osinbajo’s loyalty to Tinubu when they competed for the APC presidential ticket which Tinubu eventually clinched.

It was also believed that the ‘faltering relationship’ between the duo was responsible for the exclusion of Osinbajo from the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council list.

However, the Director of Public Affairs and the chief spokesperson for the campaign council, Festus Keyamo said the vice president was excluded on the request of President Buhari so he (Osinbajo) could focus on governance.

In the same vein, Senator Babafemi Ojudu used to be Tinubu’s loyalist. But Ojudu, who serves in the Office of the Vice President as Special Adviser on Politics to the President, declared that he was not in support of Tinubu’s ambition in the build-up to the APC presidential primary.

The former lawmaker, who represented Ekiti Central Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015, in a statement titled, ‘Principled Political Choices are not Betrayal’, said he could not in good conscience support Tinubu for the presidency.

He said, “I and Bola Tinubu have come a long way and we have been there for each other. So, let no one use my acknowledgment of his good deeds and my refusal not to support him in his bid for Nigeria presidency to portray me as a betrayer.”

Also, Tinubu seems to have lost a staunch loyalty in former Osun State governor and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Their ‘quarrel’ was partly attributed to the APC’s recent defeat in the governorship election in Osun State. Aregbesola did not support Tinubu’s annointed candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, during the July 2022 poll.

Addressing his supporters in Ijebu-Ijesha ahead of the gubernatorial election, Aregbesola in a veiled reference to Tinubu, said, “Honestly, we followed and served this leader with all our might. Our loyalty to him had caused some people to start wondering if we were no longer Muslims. But we served him with sincerity and loyalty. If you regard anyone as your principal, you must serve him wholeheartedly. Sadly we didn’t know that while we wished him well, he didn’t think well of us.

“Because we placed him higher than where he ordinarily should be, he started to think that he is our god. Unfortunately for him, we had sworn that we would beg God to bring down whoever compared himself to Him.”

Aregbesola had served as Commissioner for Works in Lagos State under Tinubu between 1999 and 2006. Thereafter, he went to Osun, his home state, to serve as governor.

Verdict:

Based on available evidence, Omokri’s claim that Tinubu’s successors as Lagos governor and everyone who worked with him are still loyal to him is false. Although Tinubu still retains majority of his loyalists, including Fashola, there are a few instances where the relationship between him and some of his protégés has gone south.

Indications have emerged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has engaged some party leaders, including former governors of the party, to help woo the aggrieved camp led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

It was learnt yesterday that the former vice president met with the party leaders yesterday over how to ensure that the Wike camp returns to the fold and help ensure they work together during the polls.

A source knowledgeable about the meeting said a former governor of Delta State was at the meeting alongside five other party leaders at a private residence in Maitama, a highbrow area in Abuja. It was learnt that the presidential candidate went to the meeting with only close confidants.

The main issue discussed was how to woo the Wike camp to return to the fold because it is clear that the party needs all of them on board,” the source said.

The source added that the party leaders were mindful of the impact of not having the governors onboard for the campaign, especially as they would also help with funding.

When contacted, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said he was not aware of the meeting.

Governor Wike and four of his colleagues, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), had alongside other party leaders distanced themselves from the party’s presidential campaign council.

They insist on the resignation of Dr Iyorchia Ayu as the PDP national chairman to pave way for southerner to take his place for geopolitical balance.

Wike’s camp had underlined its threat not to associate with the party’s campaign activities as it stayed away from the official flag- off of the party’s presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State yesterday.

While Ayu has insisted on serving out his four-year tenure, with the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its last meeting passing a vote of confidence in his leadership.

It was, however, gathered that the new effort to woo the Wike camp could have forced the party to reschedule its campaign rallies for Kebbi and Zamfara States today. It was learnt that the directorate fixed a meeting for late yesterday night to restrategise on its rallies.

A spokesperson for the Atiku Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the rallies for Kebbi and Zamfara had been rescheduled.

Ologbondiyan said, “The campaign for Kebbi and Zamfara was rescheduled. The campaign is fully on course. PDP and our candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, are fully focused on rescuing Nigeria from the utter maladministration of the APC.”


However, Atiku’s meeting with the party leaders came as indications emerged that the Board of Trustees (BoT) may have submitted their report on reconciliation of assignment yesterday.

Another party source told LEADERSHIP that the advisory body was billed to submit the report to the party yesterday.

He added that it is likely that the body might request for more time to work out a reconciliation deal.

However, when contacted, the BoT chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, neither responded to text messages sent to him nor picked his calls.

When the BoT met Wike last week, LEADERSHIP learned that the Rivers State governor had insisted on Ayu’s resignation, requesting that the BoT, a father of the party, should tell the national chairman to go and allow a party chairman from the South to emerge.

The Anambra State Government has lifted the suspension it placed on the operations of a hotel in Awka where a nude party was held and attendants filmed in sex romps that went viral.

The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment placed the suspension in the hotel on 7 September for violation of the ethics of hotel practices as contained in the Anambra Hotel and Hospitality Law 2016.

The commissioner in charge of the ministry, Don Onyenji, announced the lifting of the suspension on Monday in Awka.

He described the incident leading to the suspension of the hotel’s operations as unfortunate, saying that Anambra is a decent state where the government would not allow such to happen again.

“The hotel has been given a clean bill of health to operate after a thorough investigation, reassessment and passing all the regulatory standards for getting an operating licence,” the commissioner said.

He said one suspect who organised the party where the viral video was shot had been arrested and was being prosecuted.

He added that an agent of the main organiser had also been arrested and was being prosecuted, while the principal organiser was still on the run.

Mr Onyenji urged hoteliers to always get full disclosure of the nature of activities from clients and monitor them to ensure that they did not use their facilities for unwholesome programmes.

He said the regulatory framework for the tourism and hospitality industry had been strengthened and would be diligently enforced to ensure there was sanity, while at the same time encouraging growth.

The commissioner assured that an investigation had been conducted on the hotel and all other certification procedures concluded.

“After due consideration of the report of inspectors and following its high level of compliance, the ministry hereby lifts the ban on the hotel temporarily.

“The hotel is urged to be of good conduct; not to violate the ethics of hotel practices as contained in the Anambra Hotel and Hospitality Law 2016 and to guide its staff accordingly,” Mr Onyenji said.

When contracted, police spokesperson in Anambra, Toochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the sex romp party and was being investigated.

The Management of ATIVO Limited, the owners of Quikraiz, a donation-based crowdfunding platform has described as false and unfounded allegation that the company belongs to the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The company, in a statement to newsmen on Monday, also said Obi is not using the company’s account to divert donation to his campaign for personal use.

It stated that Peter Obi is not a shareholder either in person or by proxy and neither is he a director of Ativo Limited.

It explained that ATIVO Limited is a fully owned subsidiary of Electronic Payplus Limited that started operation in Nigeria in July 2018 after its incorporation as a corporate entity.

According to the company, the operating model is that all donations go into the company (ATIVO Limited) account and the donations are subsequently released to the campaign owners at pre-agreed timeline and into the agreed account after the necessary KYC (Know Your Customer) due diligence has been done on the campaign owners.

It further explained that The OBIDATTI campaign organisation, like any other campaign organisation, has set- up a fundraising campaign on the Quickraiz platform and the money raised would be transferred to the campaign organisation as agreed and set-up on the platform.

“It has come to the attention of the management of ATIVO Limited (the owners of Quickraiz, a donation-based crowdfunding platform) that the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi is being alleged to be the owner of ATIVO Limited and that he is using the company’s account to divert donation to his campaign for his personal use.

“We wish to state that the above insinuation is completely false and Mr. Peter Obi (or any of his associates) is not a shareholder either in person or by proxy and neither is he a director of Ativo Limited.

“For the benefit of the general public, ATIVO Limited is a fully owned subsidiary of Electronic Payplus Limited that started operation in Nigeria in July 2018 after its incorporation as a corporate entity.

“Between July 2018 and now, over 5,000 campaigns have been lunched on the Quickraiz platform, including personal, charity and other political campaigns and there are currently about 500 campaigns ongoing on the platform.

“Like all other crowdfunding platforms worldwide, the operating model is that all donations go into the company (ATIVO Limited) account and the donations are subsequently released to the campaign owners at pre-agreed timeline and into the agreed account after the necessary KYC (Know Your Customer) due diligence has been done on the campaign owners.

“The OBIDATTI campaign organization, like any other campaign organization, has set- up a fundraising campaign on the Quickraiz platform, and the money raised would be transferred to the campaign organization as agreed and set-up on the platform.

“The Quickraiz platform operates within the realm of local regulation and international best practices,” the company explained.

Peter Obi on his verified Twitter handle on October 7 posted: “I invite every member of OBIdient family and every supporter of our march to a new Nigeria to visit the official campaign website for the Obi-Datti campaign Organisation. You can use that medium to support and donate in cash and kind to the campaign obidatticampaign.com-PO.”

A notorious bandit leader in Kaduna State, Ali Dogo, and 30 of his fighters have been neutralized, PRNigeria reports.

It was learnt that Dogo, also known as Yellow, and his gang members, were neutralized by airstrikes undertaken by the Air Component of Operation WHIRL Punch, over the weekend.

While confirming the bombardments of Yellow and his fighters, a defence intelligence source told PRNigeria that the notorious bandit leader, and his terrorists had fled from Niger State to one Alhaji Gwarzo’s house at Yadi in Giwa Local Government Area for safety, following NAF aircrafts sustained bombardments on his location in Niger, recently.

The source said: “Unfortunately for Yellow and his fighters, while they were having a meeting, NAF aircraft struck Alhaji Gwarzo’s house, leaving everybody in the building neutralized including Yellow”.

Meanwhile, PRNigeria also gathered that separate bombardments on same day targeting terrorists at a location 33nm Northwest of Mando in Kaduna, were also undertaken.

“Following credible intelligence of terrorists leaders and their foot soldiers converging under tree covers at the location for a meeting, the location was struck with several terrorists killed,” a NAF source told PRNigeria.

Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Spokesperson, confirmed the successful strikes noting that “the Air Component in keeping with the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, would continue to sustain offensive operations against these criminal elements in collaboration with the Land Component and other security agencies to rid the Joint Operations Area and indeed the entire Northwest of terrorism and other acts of criminality”.

There is tension currently in the camp of the Joint Security Task Force in Magami District, Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State over an alleged assault of a police Inspector by a Nigerian Army Major.

The joint security forces comprising mobile police and the military were posted to the community to fight against bandits and terrorists ravaging the state.

A source told SaharaReporters that the camp had witnessed multiple clashes between personnel of the two security agencies.

He added that a senior army officer identified as Major Falori recently assaulted and brutalised a police Inspector, Ismaila Abubakar.

According to the source, the rivalry between the two agencies may escalate to war if nothing is done by the authorities.

He accused the soldiers they were attached to of intimidation, harassment and segregation.

“An incident happened on October 4th, here in our camp in Zamfara, Magami village between mobile policemen and soldiers. Note, we are from 25 PMM but were attached to them to assist in this fight against bandits,” a source told SaharaReporters.

“But unfortunately, there is a lot of segregation, there is a lot of difference, they are making things not go well with us. They treat us badly, on that fateful day, the Major, one Falori came for visiting round check, there is a place we do pin down, so on that day, he went there to check the men, when he got there, he started abusing and hurling insult on everyone.

“So one of the Inspectors, Inspector Ismaila Abubakar replied and begged him to stop insulting us. He said we were performing all the work given to us, so why should he be insulting us all the time? Hearing this, the Major slapped him, gave him a blow and pushed him to the ground. That who is he to tell him not to insult us, that we are all animals and bloody civilians. Some soldiers within the area disarmed the Inspector and brutalised him.

“Presently, there is tension here, if nothing is done soon, there will be a serious fight between the soldiers and policemen in that camp. The Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police in Zamfara and the AIG Mopol should be aware of what’s happening here. The soldiers they attached us to don’t like us, they do call us bloody civilians, that we don’t know anything. That we are useless just like civilians. Since they don’t like us, the police authorities should post us to where we can perform our duties very well.”

When contacted, Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, asked the officers should use the proper way of communication in the force to pass their grievances to the police authorities.

Adejobi also knocked SaharaReporters for always serving as mouthpiece to police personnel.

“It’s not everything that goes to the news, if they want to go to the news to solve their problem, let them go ahead. We are not aware, how would I react to something I don’t know. How will the IGP act on an issue he isn’t aware of?

“If soldiers and police have issues, is it the press that would solve it? If they have issues, let them use the proper way of communication, if they have reported to the CP of that state and nothing was done, they have component commander, if the component commander hasn’t done anything, let them inform the AIG in-charge of the place or AIG Federal Operations. What about the the DIG Federal Operations and the IGP. Until the IGP fails to address their matters, then they may say they want to call on the international community to help them.”

Calls put across by SaharaReporters to the Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu were not picked nor returned.

Pandemonium broke out in Ajido community in the Badagry area of Lagos State after the traditional ruler of the community, Saheed Adamson, allegedly beat up one of his high chiefs, Michael Kunnuji, during an argument.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Oba Adamson dealt a blow on Kunnuji, who doubled as his second-in-command, when they had an altercation at the palace.

Our correspondent learnt that some youths threatened to destroy the king’s property over the incident.

However, the intervention of policemen from the Badagry division stopped them from carrying out their threat.

The policemen allegedly refused to make an arrest even after Kunnuji filed a complaint at the station.

A police officer was said to have directed the high chief to the Badagry General Hospital, where he was treated.

A medical report from the hospital, which was obtained by our correspondent, stated that one Inspector Amina Bara referred Kunnuji to the hospital.

The report affirmed that though Kunnuji was conscious when he was brought to the hospital, he was in pain and bled from an injury in the upper part of his eyes.

The high chief, who spoke to our correspondent, said he was assaulted by the monarch when he paid him a visit after returning from Jerusalem.

Kunnuji explained that a crisis started between him and the monarch when he purchased a transformer for the community, a project the king did not support.

He said, “On September 30, 2022, I went to meet the monarch alongside the bishop that came to do thanksgiving for my coronation anniversary. When I got there, I greeted him in our Egun dialect, saying, ‘I hail you, your highness.’ Then he started shouting in public, saying, ‘Do you see him, look at the way he is greeting me.’

“He told me I was stupid and I also replied that he was stupid. Before I knew it, he punched me in my face with a ring and blood started coming out. I did not retaliate; I just left his palace with my bloodied face.

“I and my lawyer, who was present at the scene, went to the Badagry Police Station to report the assault on my person. After writing a statement, the police said they could not arrest him because he was a king.

“I am filing a case of assault against him; I have employed the services of legal professionals and I will see that I pursue this case and get justice.”

Kunnuji’s counsel, Ganiyu Adeola, said he was taking steps to ensure justice was served.

He said, “We know that nobody is above the law. If an Oba has committed an infraction that is criminal, he must be dealt with accordingly.”

When contacted, the monarch did not confirm or deny the allegations against him.

Adamson, however, said that the high chief could go to court.

He said, “Let him go to court, what is your own problem? Are you not a journalist? Why are you asking me such a question? Why can’t you advise him to go to court? Is this the work of a journalist?”

He hissed and cut off the call.

The DPO of Badagry Police Station, SP Peter Gbesu, denied the allegation that the officers could not arrest or invite the monarch.

He declined further comment and referred our correspondent to the state police spokesperson.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, promised to confirm and get back.

After several attempts to get feedback for days, Hundeyin told our correspondent not to disturb him, saying he could not be forced to react to the incident.

When our correspondent pressed further, emphasising the need to react to allegations of police compromise in the case, the police spokesman promised to get back.

He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report, as calls placed to his line were not answered, while text messages were not replied.

by Sunday Isuwa


Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Christian and Muslim leaders in the Northern part of the country have united against religious and divisive tendencies in the polity.

The meeting of the northern leaders across religious lines followed the resolve of Christians leaders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the immediate-past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, to work with their Muslim counterparts in the North, to adopt one of the presidential candidates in a bid to defeat the same-faith presidential ticket of the APC.

The resolution was contained in a communique jointly signed by a former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and former Minister of Water Resources during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Hon. Mukhtar Shagari and Hon. Dogara.

The communique was the outcome of a consultative meeting and dialogue between Northern APC Christian Leaders and Northern Muslim Political Leaders held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.

The dialogue and consultative meeting had in attendance Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari; Boni Haruna; Abdulfatah Ahmed; Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Engr Babachir David Lawal; Hon Damishi Sango; Senator Idris Ahmed Umar; Yomi Awoniyi; Simon Achuba; Hon. Ummara Kumalia; Hon. Baba Shehu Agaie; Air Marshal Monday Morgan (Rtd); General Ishaya Bauka (rtd); Mohammed Sani Sidi; Hon. John B. Bawa; Dr. Iliya Stephen Mshelia, and Sarah Allabeh-Nanpon.

Others were Shina Ibiyemi; Dr. Auwalu Anwar; Dr. Yakubu Tor-Agbidye; Hon Hassan Jonga; Hon. Dauda Bundot; Alhaji Abdul Abubakar; Alhaji Musa Bello; Ishaku Pennap; Hon. Leah Solomon; Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu; Professor Salamatu Machunga; Barrister Mela Nanghe, SAN; Reverend Joseph Hayab; Dr. Mrs Ruth Magaji; Reverend Innocent Solomon; Reverend Habila Tengya; Hon Haruna Mohammed, and Hon. Gwamna Dimas.

LEADERSHIP reports that a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema; Senator Adamu Aliero; Capt. Idris Wada; Senator Umaru Tsauri; Imam Sani Ishaq and Sheik Halliru Maraya, who could not make it to the meeting, adopted all decisions and resolutions of the meeting.

The leaders said in line with the APC Northern Christian leaders’ communique issued on July 29, 2022, they have met with some Muslim brothers and sisters across the 19 northern states and the FCT and resolved to form a united front against APC Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

“That we have agreed to work together with a view to fostering unity, peace and national cohesion. To work together and jointly adopt a pan-Nigerian political platform that will engender unity, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging among the Nigerian citizenry.

The group in the communique said: “Conscious of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural configuration of Nigeria we believe that a same faith ticket and voting along religious lines may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative consequences among our disparate peoples in ways that will hamper nation building. Consequently, we have agreed to channel our energies on matters that unite us more as a people instead of encouraging attacks on sensitive issues bothering on religion in the name of politics.

“In view of the above, we have agreed to set up a committee with the mandate to fashion out strategies for advancing the objectives set forth in this resolution.”

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale


The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday kicked against the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the ruling party has no valid presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba had asked the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Senator Bola Tinubu, to seek legal advice on the implications of last month’s court judgment that declared as nullity the tenure of Governor Mai Mala Buni as the chairman of the party’s national caretaker committee.

The main opposition party also urged Tinubu to account for the consequences and implications of the discrepancies in his academic qualifications and other controversies associated with him. Also, as the APC plans to kick off its campaigns with the inauguration of its Women Presidential Campaign Team led by the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, on Monday, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council has said the ruling party has no plan to better the lots of Nigerians.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Ologunagba also urged Tinubu “to go home and face the issues of inconsistencies in his educational qualifications, name, ancestry, age as well as corruption allegations.”“In any case, the APC candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nothing to offer being the architect of the woes, calamities and life-discounting experiences faced by Nigerians in the last seven and half years,” the PDP spokesman stated.

Olugunagba, who spoke on the consequences of the Federal High Court judgment on the tenure of the former interim chairman said, “as you are aware, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, September 30, 2022, nullified the candidature of Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the July 16, 2022, Osun State governorship election on the ground that his nomination was invalid, having been conducted and submitted by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, in violation of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”.

According to him, “the import of the September 30, 2022 judgment of the Federal High Court is that every decision made by Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the APC is null and void as you cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand.” "Consequently, the Congresses, as well as the National Convention which produced APC Excos including the Senator Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC, is void”, the PDP spokesman said.

He argued that the primaries and presidential convention conducted by the Abdullahi-led NWC, including the nomination of Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the APC “is invalid, null and void ab initio.”Ologunagba said that the APC had become prostrate, handicapped and incapacitated to campaign as it has no valid candidate for the 2023 general election.He urged Nigerians to recall that the PDP had on February 22, 2022, and March 8, 2022, raised the alarm that with its foisting of an illegal and unconstitutional leadership, the APC had become “legally defunct, structurally crippled and no longer a legitimate and valid vehicle to field candidates for elections under our laws.”

He announced that the PDP would officially flag off its 2023 presidential election campaign on Monday, October 10, 2022, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.He said from the party’s consultations across the six geo-political zones of the country, it is clear that Nigerians across the board, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and even political affiliations accept the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar as the best candidate with the practical experience, capacity, broad-mindedness and willpower to unite the country.

Meanwhile, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council has said the ruling party had no plan to better the lots of Nigerians.It said in the past seven years, the ruling party had continued to mismanage the nation’s diversity, economy, education, and security architecture.Reacting, the APC dismissed Ologunagba’s statement, saying he should seek clarification.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated that the Federal High Court judgment was flawed. Morka said, “I am confident that the decision will not pass appellate court’s scrutiny. For one, the decision flies in the face of a valid and subsisting majority Supreme Court decision in Akeredolu’s case which settled the question as to the validity of Mai Mala Buni Caretaker Committee.“

In any event, that committee was duly constituted by the NEC of the APC and everything done by the caretaker committee was duly ratified by the national convention, the highest decision-making organ of the party. Clearly, we stand on strong legal ground and are unperturbed by that decision.”

Also, speaking yesterday on the “Morning Show,” a programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, a spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku, would energise the country’s private sector to drive the nation’s economy to provide jobs for the people.While reacting to allegations by the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed that the PDP copied from what the APC was doing, Aniagwu said the APC had no single plan to copy from, adding that Atiku had long prepared his policy document titled “My Covenant With Nigerians”.According to him, the APC has no single plan to develop the country.“If they had a plan, Nigeria would not be where we are today, because they would have known that it was important to manage our diversity so that everybody is well taken care of.

“Nigerians helped them to power in 2015 and they left them behind after failing to fulfil all their campaign promises.“Atiku’s plan for Nigeria is generic and it is resting on the fact that our presidential candidate and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa understand what the issues are.“Atiku didn’t just wake up to declare for president; he has been preparing for this over time and he is adequately apprised with what it takes to indeed rescue and rebuild Nigeria,” he said.

Aniagwu who is also Delta State Commissioner for Information said only Atiku was prepared to lead as other candidates weren’t ready with their plans.“Each time you ask other presidential candidates they will tell you that they will soon come up with their manifesto and that tells you that they are not prepared for the task ahead.“Nigeria is currently at an intensive care unit and does not require a leader who is not adequately prepared to lead her out of its present challenges,” Aniagwu added.

In a related development, the APC will on Monday kick off its campaigns with the inauguration of the APC Women Presidential Campaign Team. First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was last week announced as the grand patron of the women’s wing of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Team.The wife of the presidential candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the wife of the vice presidential candidate, Nana Shettima, will serve as chairman and co-Chairman, respectively.The organising committee of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Team said the formal inauguration of members of its various committees would be held at the Presidential Villa.

Aregbesola made this known when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

The minister said that the interface was necessary as more than 90 per cent of the inmates were being held for contravening state laws.

Aregbesola also said that over 70 per cent of the 75,635 inmates at present were awaiting trial.

The minister said that the federal offenders in the system were far less than 10 per cent, adding that the bulk of people in custody were those who have run foul of state laws.

He said that they were therefore being kept under the legal jurisdiction of their respective states.

The minister added that the decongestion of the 253 custodial centres nationwide was necessary as some of the inmates have no reason to remain in custody.

Aregbesola, therefore, said all stakeholders must work towards a “better-structured criminal justice administration, otherwise, we will just be left with congested and overcrowded facilities”.

He said, “I have written to the Nigerian Governors Forum to allow me to come and address them on how they can support the process of decongestion.

“Because the governors must buy into this system for us to do a massive decongestion, especially of Awaiting Trial Inmates.

“If we get the buy-in of state judicial authorities and the government of the states, we can pull out 30 per cent of those who are there.”

According to him, some of the awaiting trial inmates have stayed longer than the punishment provided by law for the crime they were arrested for.

“If you look at a man that is caught for petty theft and you are trying him for three years, even if you convict him for that crime, how long will he stay?

“How long will that fellow stay, probably six months, but without trial, he will be there for three years.

“Again, you arrested a boy under the bridge, there is no fixed crime and he is there forever and so on and so forth.

“So, we need the buying in and support from state governments.

“This is for them to critically know the situation and let them set up committees that will profile all those who are there.

“And help either to convict, release them or see if they have overstayed their required time,” the minister said.

Aregbesola assured that the interior ministry was doing everything within its powers to decongest the custodial centres.

He said that the meeting with the governors would help to critically review the situation and relieve the system of inmates who should have been out. (NAN)

By Francis Ezediuno


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One of the wives of Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Olori Kafayat Adedoyin Oyetunji, has been dragged before an Osun State Customary Court sitting at Erin-Osun for allegedly switching the surname of a child she had for her former husband.

The petitioner and former husband, Adekunle Lawal-Oloki asked the court to restrain the defendant from changing the name of the girl and grant him custodial rights over the child.

He added that he has more than sufficient wherewithal to take care of his daughter to any standard.

Lawal-Oloki revealed that on December 22, 2022, he and Olori Oyetunji had an introduction ceremony which later led to both of them having a child between them.

According to the petition, “Kafayat Adedoyin birthed a girl child for me and I immediately took responsibility over the child right from the pregnancy stage. I named the child Nadirah Adeola Lawal-Oloki.

“The defendant entered into another marriage a few months after the child’s delivery and every effort to have access to my daughter proved abortive after an instruction that my daughter be put in custody of the defendant’s sister.

“The defendant has denied me access to my child since April 2015, when the child was about two (2) years old despite several calls and demands made by me. My daughter is now about ten (10) years old.

“I had done everything humanly possible to have access to my child by contacting the defendant, the defendant’s husband (the king) and other third parties, all to no avail.”

He alleged that the defendant, Olori Oyetunji, has changed the name of the girl from Nadirah Adeola Lawal-Oloki to Nadirah Adeola Oyetunji.

The President of the Court, K.B Adeyinka has adjourned the case till December 14, 2022, for hearing.

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA


Many of the appointees nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime are individuals of shady characters, ICPC chairman Bolaji Owasanoye has revealed.

Mr Owasanoye disclosed that many of the regime’s “prospective appointees” were not fit for purpose because of their crisis of credibility ranging from financial impropriety and abuse of hard drugs to failing code of conduct standards.

The ICPC chair stated this in Abuja at the annual ceremony of the ‘4th National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Sector’.

“As part of the efforts to sanitise the public service and upscale integrity, the commission has been collaborating with the OHCSF to flush out fake appointments and screen candidates for appointment to the position of permanent secretaries, amongst other initiatives,” Mr Owasanoye explained.

He added, “The findings thus far indicate that many prospective appointees are implicated in financial impropriety, corrupt practice, failure of code of conduct standards and substance abuse.”

According to him, the commission, in collaboration with the Budget Office and stakeholders, met with some MDAs on the recurring surpluses in their payroll to determine proactive measures to improve the budget process and separate outright fraud from administrative lapses.

Regarding corruption in the education sector, he explained that ICPC reviewed special funds meant to improve education, such as UBEC and TETFUND, which revealed continued abuses, breaches of procurement standards, and compromise of statutory mandates.

He added that a system study and review on SUBEB in six states from 2019 to 2020 revealed that the intention of UBE law to support states to improve basic education was frustrated by a lack of commitment by governors in not providing matching grants, amongst other defaults.

“The capacity and commitment of states and tertiary institutions to access UBE fund and TETFUND respectively as anticipated by law remain highly questionable,” said the ICPC chief. “In support of the government’s effort to improve revenue generation, the commission continues to investigate the diversion of tax and other statutory revenues as part of routine investigation and has recovered N1.264 billion this fiscal year.”

Mr Owasanoye added that the anti-graft agency collaborated with the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to prevent corruption in the education sector.

“This year, we have chosen the theme: ‘Corruption and the Education Sector’ because corruption in education has been rightly described as stealing the future education being the medium for the transmission of knowledge and values,” the ICPC chief noted. “Once the education sector is corrupted, the foundation for future ethical leadership and labour force is destroyed.”

He mentioned that corruption in education manifested in different ways, including recruiting unqualified or unfit persons to teach at primary, secondary or tertiary levels.

He also said admission racketeering, examination malpractice, diversion of revenue for and within the sector, operation of illegal academic institutions, especially at the tertiary level, abuse of power and procurement rules by management were things of concern.

“With JAMB and DSS, we conducted in 2021 a series of undercover operations across the country on corruption in the university admissions processes leading to the busting of syndicates and arrest of its leaders responsible for compromising IJMB and JUPEB,” added Mr Owasanoye.

(NAN)

All Progressives Congress (APC), has declared that its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cannot be stampeded into showing Nigerians his certificate of medical fitness to candidates of other political parties.

The ruling party insisted that the only condition that will propel him to do so will be if other parties’ candidates especially Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, do so.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, who made the declaration while appearing on a television programme, emphasised that the party can have conversation about Tinubu’s body being old or aged but noted that his mind is still very fit.

“Our candidate, Bola Tinubu is as fit as anyone. I am not saying this to be political. For the purpose of this discussion, you have raised the question of his health. From my knowledge, even though I am not a medical doctor, from observing him, from being around him, engaging with him, and many times over the last few months that I have been at the campaign council, in meetings with him and observing him meeting with others, his schedule will make anyone else, who think they are as fit as fiddle, to actually get dizzy.

“Who says that the older you are, the more vulnerable or the quicker you are to the grave? Who says that? That is the assumption I find a bit disturbing. Because the fellow is an elderly person, therefore he is going to kick the bucket.

“My point is that there is no assumption that should inform our conversation around those who compete. I don’t know of any candidate in this election who has offered us their own medical records. Even the younger ones among them, no one has done that. I am not privy to that and I have not seen anyone,” he argued.

Asked why Tinubu should not start his campaign since the APC is the ruling party, the NPS, said: “Yes, but Atiku Abukabar should start it. Peter Obi may start it. Anyone else may start it. It doesn’t mean that because we are a ruling party, therefore, the initiative to start it must come from us.”

“Because that also played into this whole narrative that a particular candidate may have something about himself that should concern us. I rejected that because that doesn’t support my observation and is certainly not supported by natural occurrences. The people who are younger may even be sicker,” he argued.

He also defended the exclusion of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, from the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), stressing that he will still be part of the campaign.

“My good friend the Vice President has not disappeared. And I am quite sure that in between his responsibility, the vice president, he will contribute and lend his voice, prestige, and authority, to the campaign of our party. I have no doubt about that. But I don’t think we need to make or think too much of the campaign council’s needs”, he said.

On what was delaying the inauguration of the PCC, the ruling party’s spokesperson said, “the fact is that when you try to put together a campaign council for a ruling party, a party of over 40 million people, that is no joke. And in any event, this is a campaign council that every member of our party wishes to be involved in. Keep in mind the candidates of our party competed at our primaries and came out on top.

“Now, a lot of those who made that happen would naturally wish to be involved in the campaign. What you are seeing is an overload of interest and enthusiasm and the desire of party men and women to be involved in the process” he said.

The Police Service Commission (PSC), on Tuesday, dismissed seven senior police officers over gross misconduct.

The Commission also approved the reduction in rank of ten other officers.

The decisions were taken during the continuation of the 15th plenary meeting of the Commission.

Daily Trust reports that the meeting is expected to end on Thursday, October 6th, 2022.

The meeting, presided over by its acting chairman, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, considered all the Pending Disciplinary Matters (PDM) before the Commission.

The PDMs, which totalled 47 and also treated some appeals from dismissed Police Officers.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting in Abuja, the spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani said, the dismissed officers include: 1 CSP, 1 SP and 5 ASPs.

He added that one SP was also retired in public interest. The Commission reduced the ranks of 1 CSP to SP, 3 SPs to DSP, and 2 DSPs to ASPs.

The Commission further reduced the ranks of 4 ASPs to Inspectors.

10 senior Police Officers, including an ACP, a CSP, a SP and 2 DSPs were given the punishment of Severe reprimand.

Five ASPs were also awarded the punishment of severe reprimand.

13 Officers received the punishment of reprimand; 2 are to receive letters of warning while 4 officers were exonerated.

Ani quoted Justice Ogunbiyi as saying the Commission would henceforth give the desired attention to Pending Disciplinary Matters so that those found guilty are punished immediately while those found not guilty are cleared to continue with their career progression.

Justice Ogunbiyi called on Police Officers to ensure they operate within established rules and avoid taking laws into their hands.

She said the Commission will continue to work to sustain a professional Police Force that operates in line with the established rules and regulations and in conformity with international best practices.