₦airaland Forum

A 17-year-old girl identified only as Binla has accused a policeman of having carnal knowledge of her and her friend after accusing them of stealing his N500,000 cash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Binla claimed that the policeman, Salihu Kazeem, took her and her friend into a room, stripped them, took their nude videos and sprayed teargas before raping them till the following morning, PUNCH reports.

Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the girl said she was afraid for her life because the alleged rapist began trailing her after she reported the matter to the Rumokpakani Police Station, near the metropolis.

The teenager also disclosed that the cop had sex with them on three other occasions.

She explained that she was introduced to Kazeem through her friend while job-hunting sometime in March, 2022.

The teenager expressed surprise that the policeman accused her of stealing after they returned his Automated Teller Machine card which he gave to them to go get something to eat.

She said, “He claimed that he was receiving many debit alerts and we asked him the amount. Recently he told us it was up to N500,000. He discharged my friend and kept me and the girl that went to buy food in his house. He called his boys and told them that we were thieves.

“He asked us to take off our dresses. He recorded (video) us as we were naked. He now told us that if we didn’t cooperate with him, he was going to spread the nude videos.

“Then he took us to a room and poured us teargas. He then slept with us till the next morning. After one month he has been coming, like three times now.”

The teenager explained how she met the policeman while job-hunting and how they got to his house.

“I was discussing with my friend that I was looking for a job. She told me that she was going to visit her friend and asked me to join her. When I saw the man, I talked with him. He asked about my age I told him I was 17 years old. He said okay, he would see what he could do.

“He asked if we have had something to eat, we said no. He gave us his ATM card, that we should go and get anything we wanted to eat. We bought food and came back and returned the ATM card to him,” she added.

But in his reaction, the policeman (Kazeem) denied the act, describing them as hook-up girls, and that the girls consented to the sexual act.

He, however, said the girls used his ATM card to make several withdrawals after one of the hook-ups.

“They came to my house, I gave Elizabeth my ATM (card) that they should go and buy food. They left with the ATM card. I didn’t see them till 11pm to midnight. None of them called me. None of them said anything to me. The only thing i was receiving was debit alert.

“I tried to reach Elizabeth that her friend gave me her number for hook up. She now told me that she gave my ATM to Binla, that I should not be offended. That the following day she (Binla) would come and see me; then, who is now using the ATM that I have been receiving alert?

“She said the lady that was together with them in my house. I asked how did my ATM get to Binla?”

Meanwhile, a lawyer with the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Festus Bomwin, advised the policeman to submit himself to the authorities for questioning.

He called on the police led by the state police commissioner, Friday Eboka, to begin a thorough investigation of the complainant and the alleged rapist cop.

When contacted, spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she heard of the incident, saying the Commissioner of Police had invited both parties.

“The CP has invited the both parties. So we are expecting them at the command today. I am sure after hearing from them discreet investigation will begin and the outcome will be made known to the public. And whoever is found culpable will face the law,” Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, stated.

The Edo State Police Command has said that the building where mummified bodies were found can not pass for a morgue, as the principal suspect, Gabriel Otu, has no approval to operate such, noting that a severed body at the facility showed there was more happening at the place than claimed.

At a press conference on Monday, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigative Department at the Command, Olawore Oluwole, said in the course of the investigation, there was an interface with medical personnel, lawyers, members of the public, representatives of the Benin Traditional Council, families of those who deposited corpses, as well as a pathologist.

Oluwole said, “Following investigations by the command’s team and health personnel led by the commissioner for health, some documents were recovered portraying an approved location from the ministry of environment and sustainability.

However, the principal suspect, Gabriel Otu, later reported and made statements, and some other hospitals and mortuaries were equally visited and the following facts emerged.

“The principal suspect didn’t acquire formal training but only worked at different mortuaries as a mortuary attendant. He doesn’t have the certificate to practice as a mortician or any certification from the traditional board, ministry of health, ministry of environment, or any other appropriate certification.

“The building utilised by him was not certified nor approved by the ministry of health or environment. Other facts revealed is that the mortuary is not a layout for trado-medical institution.”

He added, “Twenty three corpses, as well as a dismembered without a skull, were found, and it depicts an unlawful possession and violates section 329 of the criminal code.

“There were also sacrilegious effigies found at the scene; some were inside while others were outside. These depict criminal elements in his possession and against section 213 of the criminal code. Some specimens were extracted and have been sent to experts for forensic analysis”.

Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Obehi Akoria, said the state government had given September 9 as the deadline for mortuary operators who are yet to obtain operational licenses to get approval from the ministry of health.

Akoria urged owners of registered mortuary homes to present their proof of registration to the state ministry of health by Friday, September 30.

She said, “The Edo State Ministry of Health is using this opportunity to reach out to all persons who own or operate mortuaries or embalmment homes to come to the ministry of health, directorate of regulation and monitoring, with evidence of due registration if they are duly registered latest by September 30.

“However, for those who are not duly registered, we are giving till the close of business on September 9 for them to present themselves to the ministry of health, where we will give them the basic requirements for the operation of mortuaries or embalmment homes in the state”.

By Saawua Terzungwe


The Labour Party (LP) has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is jittery over the massive support its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is enjoying from Nigerians, stressing it would disgrace the ruling party out of office in 2023.

The party said this while responding to a comment made by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, who is the spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign.

Keyamo had said, “We told the obedient soldiers that their hero was taking them to nowhere; taking them for a ride of the century and political 419! We laugh! We are ahead of them!”

But the LP in a statement on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, said Nigerians have lost confidence in the APC-led government.

“The ‘Obidients’ are set to disgrace the directionless APC electorally. Festus Keyamo’s infantile outburst is a direct proof and sign of the current fear of Peter Obi’s electrifying mass support all across the nation by the APC that is jittery and troubled by the emerging picture of LP’s landslide electoral victory in 2023.

“The facts visible on the ground in the nation’s political space clearly and unambiguously signposts the irreversible resolve of the voting public to take back their country and away from the confused, jittery and directionless APC that has for close to 8 years of very deadly insecurity and incompetent rule over this over abused nation.

“Yes, the APC is about to fall into political doom and extinction. Festus Keyamo and his politically crippled APC should remain jittery,” the party said.

At the time of filing this report, APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr Felix Morka, was not available for comment as he did not answer calls.

Geezeem:
Even Ade know say Rachel no want am... nawa ooo. But what happened nah?... there is something about Chizzy and Ade that repels the babes

Glad he joked with it sha

The crisis rocking the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, may not end soon as the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, fired a salvo at a former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, for alleged lack of qualification and nepotism.

In a veiled reference to the former Jigawa governor, Mr Wike who is at the center of the crisis, accused the former governor of engaging in identity politics.

Mr Wike stated this while speaking to journalists shortly after his return from London, where he met with PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and some opposition presidential candidates.

The latest outburst, however, suggests that the much-publicized truce between Mr Atiku and Mr Wike’s camps on Thursday is still shaky.

“A man finishes eight years as a governor and now brings his own son to be governor too and [another son a member of] the National Assembly. It’s unfortunate for this country. And these are the people who say they are the leaders of this country. Leadership is not about you and your family. Leadership is about everybody. It only in this part of the world that you can see that,” Mr Wike said.

“The only identity they have in this country is religion and ethnicity, nothing more. It’s either I’m a Christian or I’m a Moslem, I’m a Fulani or I’m an Igbo. Nigeria cannot move forward except they think it will be them. That’s where we are.

“We are in a country where someone with primary school certificate can be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. That tells you how bad this country has become.

“But with our consultation, all these will be a thing of the past. No amount of intimidation or blackmail will deter us. We are determined to right the wrong.”

He also stressed that whatever his group comes up with will be in the interest of Nigerians.

“Whatever we are talking about, is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It is not parochial and tied to one person or group of persons. We believe that with what is going on, it will be for the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day.”

Mr Wike, who was accompanied by the governors of Benue and Abia states, Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu respectively, also disclosed that consultations are still ongoing.

He noted that the recent meeting was their first meeting with Mr Atiku as a team, contrary to earlier speculations that the duo had met.

“Consultation is still ongoing. Never mind some people who do not believe in the existence of this country. Some people who are only interested in themselves,” he added.

Of late, Mr Lamido, an ally of the PDP presidential candidate, and Mr Wike have been engaged in a war of words, exacerbating the party crisis.

During a recent interview, Mr Lamido had said Mr Wike did not have a monopoly over Rivers voters, adding that the governor was acting like an emperor.

But in a counter statement, Mr Wike accused Mr Lamido of cracking the walls of unity in the party. He added that Mr Lamido has lost his political value, having lost two elections to the APC in his state.

ADEFEMOLA AKINTADE

To run for office and become governor-elect in Osun last month, Ademola Adeleke tendered a high school diploma and a college degree that were obtained 24 days apart in the United States last year, according to a review of academic credentials before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In the records he filed with the electoral commission between March 11 and 18, 2022, and acquired by Peoples Gazette on July 23, Mr Adeleke said he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Atlanta Metropolitan State College on August 9, 2021. In the same declaration, Mr Adeleke presented a diploma certificate obtained from Penn Foster High School dated July 16, 2021 — only 24 days prior to his college certificate.

The Gazette learnt that Penn Foster High School is an education consultancy in the U.S. that offers online high school diplomas. Atlanta Metropolitan State College, where Mr Adeleke said he attended, accepts diplomas from Penn Foster, this website said. If Mr Adeleke was admitted into Atlanta Metropolitan for a bachelor’s degree programme with a high school diploma, he should spend at least four years on the course he selected.

But Mr Adeleke, born May 13, 1960, said he didn’t use the Penn Foster diploma to gain admission into college, and The Gazette could not establish or disprove his statement since the school failed to respond to enquiries.

For three weeks, The Gazette sent several emails and exchanged telephone calls with officials of the school, but they failed to give any categorial clarification as to whether or not Mr Adeleke earned a bachelor’s degree there.

Weeks after initially promising to respond after the conclusion of a review of The Gazette’s request by the school’s leadership, officials at the registrar’s office started hanging up calls relating to Mr Adeleke.

The University of Georgia system, which supervises Atlanta Metropolitan State College, among other tertiary institutions in the state, also did not return a request seeking comments.

Higher authority

The Gazette obtained the credentials, which an analyst described as jarring and questionable bearing in mind the politician’s 2018 trial on a similar matter, as Governor Gboyega Oyetola was preparing to challenge Mr Adeleke’s victory before a tribunal in the capital Osogbo.

Mr Adeleke, of the Peoples Democratic Party, had been declared winner of the July 16 election by the electoral office, defeating incumbent Mr Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress by nearly 30,000 votes.

While the election was widely deemed free and fair, including based on the conclusion of The Gazette’s reporters who covered activities across the state during the exercise, Mr Oyetola’s legal team said it was banking on Mr Adeleke’s alleged presentation of forged credentials, a grievous perjury that could cost the governor-elect his victory if established at trial.

Mr Oyetola’s petition was accepted at the tribunal on Monday, with Mr Adeleke’s lawyers filing initial response on Tuesday. The case is expected to proceed to trial in three weeks. Since potential criminal implications of Mr Adeleke’s academic credentials are critical to Mr Oyetola’s petition, the tribunal may be compelled to enlist the support of the U.S. mission in Nigeria to liaise with the law enforcement back home towards getting to the bottom of the matter by either extracting a position from Atlanta Metropolitan State College or deploying other means of investigating the matter.


Since 1981

Mr Adeleke insisted to The Gazette that he didn’t use his Penn Foster diploma to enroll at Atlanta Metropolitan, saying he used a combination of academic scores since 1981 to finish school in 40 years later.

Mr Adeleke said his “university degree was a cumulative outcome of his intermittent higher educational sojourn which started in June 1981 and concluded in August 2021,” according to a statement sent through his chief spokesman Olawale Rasheed.

“The Penn Foster High School certificate was not the basis of his admission and graduation with a university degree,” the statement said. “It was a decision he took to ensure he satisfies agitation as to the status of his secondary education during the 2018 Osun Election.”

“The university degree was a cumulative outcome of his intermittent higher educational sojourn which started in June 1981 and concluded in August 2021.

Thirdly, his admission to the Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville Alabama USA in 1981 was not based on school certificate qualification but, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Academic College Test (ACT) which is equal to SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) alongside cumulative review of academic transcript comprising results of promotion examinations from one secondary school class to the other ( Form 1- Form 5). That was a standard practice in the early 80s for admission into United States’ tertiary institutions.

“All the schools attended in the United States confirmed the certificates, the transcripts and his sojourn across the various schools. The certificates and the schools were also reviewed and their legality confirmed by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education.

“Admission to United States schools in the 70s and 80s was not necessarily through school certificate qualifications. The conditions are mostly TOEFL, SAT or ACT. These are reviewed alongside your transcripts from secondary school like results of promotion examinations from one class to the other. The governor-elect entered Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, with TOEFL, ACT and his secondary school transcripts in June 1981 after due evaluation by the School authorities.

“He was a student of Jacksonville State University from June 1981 till December 1986.

He transferred his studentship to Atlanta Metropolitan State College ( formerly known as Atlanta Junior College) which is part of the University System of Georgia owned by the State of Georgia USA. He transferred to the school in January 1987, and attended in the 1987 school year and 1991 school year. He re-enrolled in August 2019, fall semester, and attended continuously up till August 2021 when he finally graduated with a BSc in Criminal Justice.

Atlanta Metropolitan State College
“The cumulative hours and courses he earned over the period as listed accounted for the short time for his degree after he re-enrolled in August 2019. He would have even graduated earlier but he took additional classes to retake three courses he had earlier passed but which the school authorities said have become obsolete.

“The transcripts submitted by the Senator showed the history of his university education. In fact, Jacksonville State University confirmed in writing that Senator Adeleke enrolled in June 1981 and left in December 1986,” the statement further stated.

Mr Adeleke said he obtained a Penn Foster High School diploma to “fulfil the desire within Nigeria that stigmatises whoever has no passing grades in WASC, because WASC result was withheld except F9 score in English,” he said, adding that it was “just an additional certificate.”

Too whiffy for comfort

Still the failure of Atlanta Metropolitan State College to comment on Mr Adeleke’s status, as well as the politician’s inability to supply documents relating to his claims, appeared to suggest there was something to hide, said anti-corruption activist and social commentator Sola Olubanjo.

“It is too whiffy for comfort when a school fails to confirm or deny association with a prominent politician who claimed under oath to have obtained a degree from that particular school,” Mr Olubanjo said. “Every institution cherishes its reputation, and we have not seen such traits from this particular college in this particular case.”

Mr Adeleke’s 2018 false academic claims trial that suddenly went cold without any updates from the prosecutors also did not help the governor-elect in this case, a background that Mr Olubanjo said made the latest allegations “all the more jarring and questionable.”

While expecting additional clarifications to emerge from the tribunal, Mr Olubanjo said Nigerians should not assume that Mr Adeleke’s certificates are genuine just because they were obtained in the U.S.

“There are many schools in the U.S., especially black-run schools like Atlanta Metropolitan State College, where some African politicians go to obtain dubious academic and honorary degrees,” the activist said. “Because the schools are often starved of funds, they are usually ready to compromise in return for heavy financial donations from shady characters.”

The Presidency, on Tuesday, came hard on The Guardian newspaper over its editorials, which evaluate President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership style, particularly its call for impeachment of the President over failure in governance generally.

The Presidency pointedly accused the nation’s flagship medium of alignment with the opposition to deploy what it describes as ‘partisan weapons in their arsenal’ to facilitate the removal of President Buhari.

In a statement signed by its Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency also accused the newspaper of embarking on a “headline grabbing stunt just months before Nigeria’s next presidential election.”

The statement made available to newsmen last night reads: “The Guardian newspaper, which has taken up the role of regular antagonist and political opponent of the President and his party, APC for a long time now, has surpassed itself with its latest call for the impeachment of the President.

“The newspaper editors clearly do not like the way the President is running the country and therefore, they believe he should be impeached. They debase both the political discourse of our nation and public understanding of the law and Constitution by doing so.

“Impeachment is a process undertaken after high crimes and misdemeanours have been proven. It’s not a process undertaken against a leader whose politics you do not agree with, or who you personally dislike.

“It appears impeachment has become a newly added partisan weapon in their arsenal – wielded by those who have established a track record of hatred towards the President and an attempt to remove from office one who was democratically elected by the people.

“In a recent editorial published in the Washington Times, the American political leader and commentator, Saul Anuzis, stated: ‘There are exceptional circumstances when presidents and other office holders deserved to be impeached… slam-dunk cases of malfeasance in the highest office.

“Referencing attempts to call an impeachment vote in the Nigerian Senate a ‘headline-grabbing stunt,’ Anuzis observed: ‘It is no coincidence this occurs just months before Nigeria’s next presidential election.’

“The fact is, it should be for presidents to govern and for opposition politicians and the media to hold them to account. The circumstances of his election in 2015 – the first time a sitting president had been defeated in a re-election attempt and the first time any party, save the PDP had won the presidency – was a vast shock to Nigeria’s political and sections of the media establishments. As far as they were concerned, it was not how things were meant to be.

“So, from day one, they set about attacking this President more than any other in Nigeria’s history. The fact they could not defeat him at the ballot box when he was re-elected in 2019 – and now with his APC party very likely to retain the presidency despite all their best efforts – they now turn to all and any means, no matter the political, legal, or constitutional consequences to bring him down.

“For the benefit of the ones who have forgotten, The Guardian newspaper has in the past, been worshipped as the flagship of the nation’s press; the one that had won every ‘Newspaper of the Year’ awards. Now, they have sadly fallen from the height it once occupied as a medium that sparked intellectual thought and discourse for a fiddler of poorly scripted invective and ad hominem.

“The Guardian newspaper may never be friend or ally of President Buhari, but they should know better than to support this ‘headline-grabbing stunt.’”

By Abdulyassar Abdulhamid

The Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, and Police Service Commission are in a fresh disagreement over police recruitment exercise.

Police Service Commission had opened its portal for the recruitment of police constable for the year 2022 and placed an advert on the recruitment in a national dailies.

But in response to the development, the Nigeria Police Force urged Nigerians to disregard the advertisement.

In a statement on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the advert had no connection with the Nigeria Police Force and was not in tandem with the police recruitment process.

The statement reads in part, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform well-meaning members of the public that it has not commenced the 2022 police constables recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force contrary to a publication on Page 21 of Daily Sun Newspaper of Thursday August 11, 2022 by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

“The police similarly state unequivocally that the advert has no connection with the Nigeria Police Force nor is it in tandem with the police recruitment process, and should be disregarded in all its entirety. The website to which the publication refers intending candidates – http://www.recruitment.psc.gov.ng – is not associated with the Nigeria Police Force.

“The Nigeria Police Force hereby calls on all stakeholders and intending applicants to discountenance the information in both the newspaper and on the portal as the website is not the official portal for Police Constables recruitment.

“The Nigeria Police Force thereby assures well-meaning Nigerians that the commencement of the 2022 recruitment exercise will be announced via the official police e-recruitment website – https://policerecruitment.gov.ng, the Nigeria Police Force official website – https://www.npf.gov.ng, and advertisements on national dailies and official police social media accounts as and when due.”

Recall that the former IGP, Mohammed Adamu, and the PSC Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, were at loggerheads over which body is allowed by law to carry out the recruitment process.

The commission had dragged the former IGP and the Force to court for conducting the recruitment exercise of 10,000 constables in 2019.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has raised the alarm over the exodus of lecturers from the nation’s universities for greener pastures abroad.

The union attributed the development to the Federal Government’s poor treatment of its members which it said had forced many to venture into other sources of livelihood.

Speaking to The PUNCH, on Sunday, the National President, ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, lamented that many lecturers had taken to farming and other economic activities, while a large number had left the country.

Osodeke spoke in reaction to the government’s refusal to meet some of their demands, including the payment of seven months’ backlog of salaries accrued during the strike.

The PUNCH reports that the union had embarked on four strikes totalling 578 days under the Muhammadu Buhari regime. The current strike by ASUU started on February 14, 2022, and entered its day 188 on Monday (today).

In 2017, the union went on strike for 30 days; in 2018, the lecturers shunned work for 90 days while in 2020, the public universities were shut down for 270 days.

ASUU accused the government of failing to release the revitalisation funds for universities; failure to deploy the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.

ASUU had also demanded the release of earned allowances for its members; release of the whitepaper report of visitation panels to universities and renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/2009 agreement.

Speaking on the mass exile of lecturers from the university system, Osodeke stated, “So many lecturers are leaving to engage in farming and others; lecturers are tired of the treatment they’re receiving from the government and because of this, they are looking for alternatives. So many more will leave even after the strike too.

‘’I pity the country; Nigeria will be the loser for it. Instead of coming to the table; look at how they will solve the issue, rather, they believe in punishing lecturers. It’s so sad. Your lecturers went on strike, you believe they will become hungry and come back to beg. Many lecturers will also leave to venture into other areas; some are also looking at becoming self-employed.”

The ASUU Chairman, University of Lagos branch, Dr Dele Ashiru, revealed that more than 70 per cent of the brightest brains in academia had left the country, adding that the government had been so disrespectful and insensitive to the scholars.

“The impact of the government’s insensitivity and deployment of the weapon of hunger might not be immediately known until after the strike. As I speak with you, more than 70 per cent of bright and promising young academics retained by the university through mentorship have all left the country for greener pastures due to the poor conditions of service in Nigeria.

‘’Those that are left are on the verge of leaving. No government in the history of Nigeria has been so insensitive, brash and disrespectful of the best brains in the country. This is unfortunate and a shame,’’ the don lamented.

Ashiru, in an interview with Arise TV, monitored by one of our correspondents on Sunday, said the union was not going to call off its strike action as done by the other academic unions.

He said, “ASUU is a union of intellectuals, we don’t look at what others do to make our decisions. We make our decisions based on verifiable facts and the facts available to us have not shown this government to be a responsible and sensible one.”

Options for lecturers

Corroborating his colleague, the Chairperson of ASUU, University of Uyo chapter, Dr Happiness Uduk, confirmed to one of our correspondents that some lecturers had left the system.

She said, however, that she could not specify how many of them had already left UNIUYO.

She stated, “I cannot tell you how many there are because I am not sure about it. But I don’t think what is happening in other universities is different from ours. It is true that people are getting opportunities and leaving the system; we have heard about people who have left already.”

It was also learnt that some lecturers at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, had similarly resigned and relocated abroad.

The Chairman of the ASUU chapter of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Dr Adeola Egbedokun, said the number of his members that had left since the strike commenced was not known yet.

Egbedokun, however, declared that he would encourage those who desired to leave to do so because of the Federal Government’s poor handling of education.

He added, “It is impossible for us to know until school reopens. That is when we can know because no one will give us notice that he or she is leaving. It is the university that would be notified, not the union.’’

“But I will encourage as many people as possible that want to move on, to move on. That is the reality. Nigeria has been plunged into the mud. I have never seen this kind of callousness in my life,” Egbedokun concluded.

One of our correspondents in Abeokuta gathered that two lecturers had officially resigned from the OOU while several had left FUNAAB and relocated abroad.

The Chairman, ASUU FUNAAB, Dr Gbenga Adeleye, said he did not know the number of lecturers who had resigned or relocated.

But a union leader in FUNAAB, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many lecturers had left the university and relocated abroad.

The source further said a particular college in the university had almost become empty as a result of the development.

He said “I know that some of our colleagues have left. Some of them would say they want to go and meet their families for holidays, but we know that they will not come back.

“I can confirm to you that most people leaving often take permission that they want to go for holidays. However, they’ll not return. It’s not official because some of them go under the guise that they are coming back.

Two OOU lecturers

Confirming the situation, the ASUU Chairman at OOU, Joel Okewale, disclosed that two lecturers had resigned from the institution.

“I know about two or three of our colleagues that have relocated from my own end here; I don’t know of any other person.

“I also know of one who is having a little challenge in giving due notice in his resignation, but I don’t know the update. We are having a congress tomorrow (today), if there are other people, I will have an idea.”

The Chairman ASUU at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Oluyinka Awopetu, when contacted, said, “There, of course, are lecturers that are travelling out of the country in pursuance of further qualifications.”

“It is extremely impossible to authoritatively say they abandoned the profession. Others sought way of coping in this difficult and trying time as well. One may not be able to say if they are coming back or not! If you were in their shoes and you find a better opportunity, what will you do please?

On his part, the ASUU leader at the University of Nigeria, Christian Opata, said some lecturers were pursuing other means of livelihood.

He said, “I’m not aware of any for now. What I can say authoritatively is that many used this strike to find new means of making money by establishing new lines of business. I know of two people who are loaning money to members without interest. They made millions (of naira) through tomatoes, yellow pepper and maize farming.’’

Meanwhile, the leaders of Nigerian students under the aegis of the Council of Student’s Union Presidents have vowed to sue the FG over the prolonged strike by ASUU members.

The SUG President of the University of Jos, Joshua Adankala, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos, on Sunday.

Adaka said “We are planning to take them (FG and the ministers of education; labour and employment and others) to court. The court action has become imperative because we can’t take the continued strike anymore.”

The CSUPs which comprised the students union governments in over 100 universities in Nigeria, in the first week of August, stormed Abuja where they lamented the continuous loss of students to incessant killing from bandits’ attacks as a result of their prolonged stay at home caused by the strike.

The president, the National Association of Nigeria Students, Sunday Asefon, said the association was still holding talks with its legal team after which it would decide the next line of action.

The education minister last Thursday asked students affected by the ASUU strike to sue the union for liabilities suffered as a result of the industrial action.

But giving an update on NANS’ decision to take the government to court on Sunday, Asefon said they were still consulting with their legal team.

The Students’ Union President of the University of Ibadan, Adewole Adeyinka, spoke on the plan to sue the government.

“We are concluding on this by this week. We are holding a meeting with some stakeholders in Abuja this week but we won’t disclose their identities now,” the student leader said


SANs advise parents

Speaking on the options open to students and parents, Prof Sam Erugo, SAN, advised them to hold the government accountable.

For parents who could afford it, he said they could enrol their wards in private universities or they could travel abroad for studies.

Also, a professor of law in the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Israel Worugji, said the government should know that students had the right to education, arguing that such rights could not be realised with the attitude of the government which he said was a way to deny the citizens the rights to education.

Bute A professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Hakeem Olaniyan, said that ASSU was not achieving much in the strike

Olaniyan said “Take a census of the children we are teaching, they are not children of the poor. They can afford to pay fees. If the government says this is all we can afford, we need to look inward in terms of tuition to augment whatever little government can pay.

The Federal Government will be paying earned allowances of lecturers and the non-academic staff directly to universities, The PUNCH has learnt.

It has also mandated the university management to decide on the sharing formula.

The FG during the negotiations with ASUU last week promised that the sum of N170bn would be included in the 2023 budget to take care of two major demands of the university-based unions.

The sum of N120bn will be released as revitalisation funds to the universities while the remaining N50bn will be allocated as earned allowances.

Our correspondent also gathered that the union leaders kicked against the proposal because the government pleaded to delay the payment till 2023.

Sources within the ASUU National Executive Council accused the government of being insincere.

“They are making it seem as if the N170bn and the N50bn are two separate funds. The sum total is N170bn: N120bn will be for the revitalisation fund while the remaining N50bn will be for the earned allowances.”

Another source confided in our correspondent said, “Yes, it is true, they will commence the payment by 2023. Unfortunately, we will not listen to promises this time round.”

Meanwhile, our correspondent also gathered that unlike the last tranche of earned allowances when ASUU negotiated for 75 per cent of the total earned allowances that were released, the government decided to leave the discretion of payment to the university management.

The source, a senior official at the Federal Ministry of Education, explained to our reporter that the decision to allow the university management to decide on the sharing formula was to avoid the victimisation of other university unions by ASUU.

“The government went through lots of issues last year. ASUU was saying they would receive 75 per cent while the other unions would receive 25 per cent. The government has decided to shun the union and let the universities take care of modalities,’’ the official disclosed.

Confirming the development, the National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Muhammed Ibrahim, said, “There will be no sharing modalities for this particular tranche. There will be no percentages. The government has decided to adopt the mode of payment that was adopted in 2013.

“The government will be paying the money straight to the universities. The university management will pay the allowances at their discretion. There will be nothing like percentages. This is a welcome development.”

The PUNCH reports that in 2021, controversies surrounded the sharing of the N22.1bn released by the FG.

The other university-based unions -SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union and the National Association of Academic Technologists- had opposed ASUU taking 75 per cent of the money and leaving them with 25 per cent.

Reacting to the development, the ASUU national president, Osodeke, said, “We don’t care whomever they pay it to. We have better issues to discuss. We have gone beyond that; whatever they want they should do. We are on strike and we are ahead. We don’t have issues with any union; it is the government we have issues with and negotiating with. Our EA is calculated and we don’t negotiate with others.”

By Seun Adeuyi

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State gave a sign of disapproval when Nduka Obaigbena, founder of THISDAY and ARISE TV mocked Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State at the weekend.

Obaigbena, who hosted influential personalities in his hometown in Delta State during the funeral of his mother, Margaret Obaigbena, had briefly taken the microphone from Shina Peters, Afro Juju singer, who was entertaining the guests.

The publisher, who was in a relaxed mood, had praised Tambuwal with some songs.

He started by singing, “Governor of Sokoto”, to which some persons chorused, “Tambuwal”; “Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum,” and the people responded, “Tambuwal!”; “Presidential candidate, Tambuwal!”; “Future president”, Tambuwal!.”

Tambuwal, who sat next to Obaigbena, shook his head, gesticulating in a manner that he did not approve of it when the publisher said, “Wike ‘lule”, but Obaigbena kept hammering on it.

Lule, a word in Yoruba which means “fallen or failed”, found its way into the Nigerian political lexicon after the outburst of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the APC, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital in June.

Tinubu, who had said it appeared there was a gang up against him in the presidential race had said it was his turn to be president.

He had said President Muhammadu Buhari failed in his bid to be president thrice until he teamed up with the incumbent president.

The following month, THISDAY had Lule on its cover page while reporting the loss of the ruling party in the Osun governorship election.

“APC, Tinubu, Oyetola in Osun: Won Lu‘le, PDP’s Adeleke Wins”, was the headline of the lead story on THISDAY a day after the election.

Meanwhile, Tambuwal and Wike who were allies fell out after the PDP primaries won by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

While Atiku polled 371 votes, Wike garnered 237 votes.

Tambuwal, who was an aspirant had stepped down for Atiku, a move seen to have brightened the chances of the presidential candidate.

More details have emerged on the death of Sheikh Goni Aisami, a Yobe cleric, who was gunned down this weekend.

According to DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, spokesman of the Yobe Police Command, two suspects who claimed to be soldiers attached to 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru, were behind the tragic incident.

He said the incident occurred at about 10 p.m. on Friday after Aisami gave one of the suspects a lift.

The police spokesperson stated that Aisami was driving his car to Gashua from Nguru, when the principal suspect who was in mufti and carrying a camp bed, pleaded with him for a lift to Jaji-Maji.

“On approaching Jaji-Maji, the cleric stopped the car to urinate,” he said, adding that as soon as he returned to continue the journey, the principal suspect brought out an AK-47 and shot him twice to death.

Abdulkarim further stated that the suspect tried to flee with the deceased’s car but failed, as it got stuck in a mud and the vehicle failed to start.

“He put a call through to the second suspect, who drove another vehicle to the scene. Unfortunately for him, his drive shaft broke.

“The two suspects then requested for help from a vigilance group in Jaji-Maji. When the group arrived the scene to tow the broken down vehicles, incidentally Aisami’s body was found at the scene,” the police spokesman said.

Abdulkarim added that the vigilance group later drew the attention of the police to the incident which led to the arrest of the suspects.

He noted that the police recovered the gun and the two cars, adding that effort was ongoing to confirm the identity of the suspects.

Abdulkarim said the suspects would be prosecuted after completion of investigation.

Meanwhile, Governor Mai Mala Buni has expressed sadness over the murder of the Sheikh.

Buni, in a statement issued in Damaturu by his Director-General Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, described the circumstances surrounding the murder as sad, regrettable and most unfortunate.

“The alleged circumstances surrounding the death is most unfortunate and will be investigated thoroughly. Government will ensure that every detail is investigated and anyone found wanting, will face the full wrath of the law. The state government will work closely with the security agencies to unravel every detail to ensure justice is done,” he said.

The governor condoled with the family of the deceased, the people of Bade local government area and the entire state over the death of Aisami.

Buni called on them to remain calm and law abiding as investigation was ongoing and would be pursued to its logical conclusion.

He prayed to Allah for the repose of the soul of the deceased and give his immediate family and the entire people of the state, the fortitude to bear the loss.(NAN)

Pandemonium erupted on Thursday evening when overzealous operatives attached to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, attacked a journalist and the security details at the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Abuja.

The incident occurred after Tijani, who earlier arrived for a meeting, was driving out of the party headquarters amid a heavy blaring of sirens by her security aides.

Trouble started when a security detail to the minister slapped the chief security officer manning the main gate of the APC secretariat for not being quick enough to order his ‘boys’ to open the gate after seeing Tijani stepped out of the premises.

The action infuriated other police officers and security men at the Secretariat, who rose to challenge the aggressor.

Rather than tender an apology for the assault, the remaining aides of the minister threatened to open fire if the aggrieved police officers fail to retreat.

The war of words, which soon degenerated into a free-for-all, caused a traffic gridlock that started from the party Secretariat to Blantyre Street, leaving motorists stranded.

In the midst of the chaos, an NTA journalist, Mohammed Baba, who was assigned to cover events at the party secretariat was caught in the crossfire between the opposition sides.

FCT begins second phase of polio vaccination
Baba was manhandled by the same security aides who started the fight for having the gut to recording the chaos.

Despite identifying himself as a broadcast journalist, he was seriously brutalised, an action that left his ‘Babariga’ in tatters.

However, further attempts to seize his phone and camera were rebuffed by members of the APC press corp and other security men at the gate.

While the drama lasted, the minister sat comfortably in the car and watched as her security details to tear down the secretariat if anybody had the effrontery to challenge them again.

But when she observed other journalists have started finding their way to the scene, Tijani beckoned to the operatives to return to the convoy before they finally drove out recklessly, scaring onlookers and passersby in the process.

Efforts to get the reaction of the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on the issue proved abortive.

As of the time of filing this report, he has yet to answer his calls nor give clarification on the matter.

The Nigerian Navy has arrested a ship, Motor Tanker (MT) HEROIC IDUN, owned by Hunter Tankers AS, domiciled in Scandinavia, Norway, for illegally trying to lift crude oil in Nigeria.

Naval Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPLANS) Sa’idu Garba, a rear admiral, made this known at a press briefing on Friday in Abuja.

According to the Navy, MT HEROIC IDUN entered the Nigerian maritime environment and headed for Akpo Field without any form of authorisation or clearance by the NNPC.

The CPPLANS revealed that the ship arrived Akpo Field midnight on 7 August with the obvious intention of lifting crude oil within the field illegally but was stopped by the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness.

“The outcome of all relevant enquiries from the controlling agency, NNPC Ltd, revealed that the vessel was not cleared to be in Akpo Oilfield.

“This revelation necessitated the deployment of the Nigerian Navy Inshore Patrol Craft, NNS GONGOLA, to investigate the super tanker’s activities at Akpo on 8 Aug 22. NNS GONGOLA arrive Akpo Oilfield and interrogated MT HEROIC IDUN, asking critical questions including her mission and approval status to enter Akpo Field among others,” he said.

He also revealed that the ship was later arrested at a location in Equatorial Guinea after a pursuit on the sea.

Read full statement:

PRESS BRIEFING AT NAVAL HEADQUARTERS ABUJA ON FRIDAY 19 AUGUST 2022


TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING ON THE ARREST OF MT HEROIC IDUN BY EQUATORIAL GUINEA NAVY


The Nigerian maritime domain plays host to several maritime economic activities and is noted to have high maritime traffic in the Region. In order to enhance security of the maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy monitors the activities of sea farers and takes appropriate action to avert all forms of criminality including illegal bunkering, piracy illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, (IUUF) and crude oil theft among others. While conducting routine monitoring of the maritime domain, on 07 August 2022, it was observed that a very large crude oil carrier MT HEROIC IDUN entered the Nigerian maritime environment and headed for Akpo Field without any form of authorisation or clearance.

MT HEROIC IDUN (IMO: 9858058) is registered in Marshall Island with an overall length of 336-meter and capacity of barrels. The vessel arrived Akpo Field midnight on 7 Aug 22 with the obvious intention of lifting crude oil within the Field, albeit, illegally. This was, however, spotted by the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness facility which probed the legitimacy of the Very Large Crude Carrier’s presence in the Total SA operated Akpo Field. The outcome of all relevant enquiries from the controlling agency, NNPC Ltd, revealed that the vessel was not cleared to be in Akpo Oilfield.

This revelation necessitated the deployment of the Nigerian Navy Inshore Patrol Craft, NNS GONGOLA, to investigate the super tanker’s activities at Akpo on 8 Aug 22. NNS GONGOLA arrive Akpo Oilfield and interrogated MT HEROIC IDUN, asking critical questions including her mission and approval status to enter Akpo Field among others. The Captain of the vessel duly responded to the questions and further stated that MT HEROIC IDUN was without relevant clearance to operate in the Field.

Accordingly, the vessel was ordered to turn around and follow NNS GONGOLA to Bonny anchorage pending when she will be cleared for loading by NNPC Ltd. However, the Captain after contacting the Master/Shipping Agent refused to cooperate with NNS GONGOLA and stated that she had been told not to take directives from the Nigerian Navy Ship. Thereafter, she engaged full speed southwards towards the Sao Tome and Principe maritime area in a bid to evade arrest.

Apart from refusing lawful arrest, the Captain of the vessel made a broadcast of false piracy attack call to IMB Piracy Reporting Centre to mislead mariners that NNS GONGOLA was a pirate vessel and possibly concoct an alibi for her desperate action.

On the piracy alert the Nigerian Navy also through international collaboration alerted relevant piracy reporting centres through CRESMAO and ECOWAS ZONE F Cotonou headed by Nigerian Navy officers for the alert to be cancelled immediately which was done.

Permit me to mention here that Nigeria has not recorded any piracy attack in its waters in over one year. Hence, this mischievous act by the ship is clearly aimed at tarnishing the good image of the maritime domain of Nigeria, which we have worked vert hard to achieve.

The brazen act of defiance to constituted authority by the Captain of the vessel necessitated the Nigerian Navy to invoke the collaboration of neighbouring Equatorial Guinea through the Yaoundé Architecture to arrest the vessel as we noticed that it stopped making way in the Equatoria Guinea waters.

I must state that the Nigerian Navy surveillance facility was used to track and constantly update the Equatorian Guinea Navy on the location of the rogue vessel. The Equatorial Guinea Amphibious Ship, CAPTAIN DAVID was therefore vectored to intercept and arrest MT HEROIC IDUN on 12 Aug 22. The vessel is currently being held at the Luba Anchorage in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea where the country is conducting her own investigations while we await diplomatic procedures for handing over to the Nigerian Navy.

To set the record straight, MV HEROIC IDUN was inside the Akpo Oilfield designated guard zone in the nautical chart from 0006 – 1432 on 8 Aug 22. While inside Akpo field, MV HEROIC IDUN approached the Single Buoy Mooring between 1143 and 1208 at slow speed of about 3Kn, suggesting likelihood of commencing mooring operations but later aborted that motive and retreated outside the Field.

Clearly, she had not commenced taking product from the oilfield. It is also worthy to note that it has been the Nigerian Navy’s modus operandi to monitor crude oil tankers that approach loading terminals without necessary clearance, and effect arrest until the relevant agency approves their legitimate operation in order to avert crude oil losses adduced to theft. Such instance is the arrest of another vessel LNG Carrier, TRINITY ARROW, on 11 Jul 22, for loading LNG at the NLNG Terminal in Bonny without clearance from Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Upon NUPRC availing the Nigerian Navy with the requisite permit, the vessel was allowed to continue her operations. The NN wishes to enjoin the media, well-meaning Nigerians and well-wishers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to note the actual occurrence regarding MT HEROIC IDUN, and disregard rumours, mischievous and fictitious articles being circulated by enemies of the State, in a bid to cause chaos and discredit efforts of the Nigerian Navy.

The arrest of MV HEROIC IDUN and other such vessels engaged in illegal activities will certainly send a strong signal to other international criminal syndicates that the Nigerian navy is always on the alert to thwart their illicit dealings in stolen crude oil through persistent surveillance, prompt response and enforcement of national laws.

The Nigerian navy assures Nigerians that in with its statutory responsibilities and drawing strength from the strategic directives of the CNS, Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo, the Service will maintain a posture of zero tolerance to crude oil theft and other criminal activities 9in our maritime domain. The Navy shall work synergy with other maritime stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria deserves maximum benefit from its natural maritime endowments.

Thank you

Members of the committee constituted by the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, have begun discussion with a view to ensuring reconciliation.

The committee members comprising representatives from Atiku and Wike camps met on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, media aide to Wike and made available to newsmen.

Representatives from Atiku’s camp comprised the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Hon. Adamu Waziri and Hon. Eyitayo Jegede.

Those on Governor Wike’s team were former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoki; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko and former Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo.

Addressing journalists after the end of the meeting which lasted for about four hours, Fintiri stated that talks were ongoing to achieve the desired objectives.

This, he opined, is in cognisance of the fact that Nigerians were waiting patiently for the PDP to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2023, and redeem the country from the bad governance brought about by the current federal government.

He urged Nigerians to be patient and expressed optimism that at the end of the day the committee would broker peace, unify the party and Nigerians.

“We are aware that Nigerians are anxious and waiting for the PDP to take over government in 2023.

“We have met as leaders, members of the same political family and we have opened the discussion, work is in progress and we will continue.

“At the end of the day, we will broker peace and we will unify the party and Nigerians,” Fintiri asserted.

Also speaking, Mimiko noted the agreement by members of the committee to bring about unity in the party would be achieved soon

Mimiko hinted that the committee would meet again to further deliberate on issues that need to be addressed.

“We have agreed that there is a need for us to enhance unity within our party.

“This is a reconciliation process, there are some issues out there which needs further deliberation when the committees meets again,” he said

Atiku and Wike had agreed to constitute the committee at a meeting they held in Abuja a few weeks ago at the residence of a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana, as part of the framework for the resolution of their differences.

Members of the committee later met with Wike at his private residence in Rumueprikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly released Chiamaka Okoro and Chidima Oba, 25 and 15 years respectively, allegedly impregnated in custody by the operatives of the Service in Imo State.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that they were released alongside four other young girls that were allegedly raided from their community, Umutanze in Imo State by the operatives of the Service.

A community leader in Umutanze community and one of the relations of the girls confirmed their release to SaharaReporters on Friday.

The six girls were said to have been raided by operatives of DSS while in a moonlight play at their community on the alleged order of Governor Hope Uzodinma-led state government.

They were said to have taken to the DSS Owerri office where they were constantly molested sexually inside the DSS cell.

When their parents through the help of Civil Society Organisations raised an alarm and they were traced to DSS detention facility in Owerri, two of them had been impregnated.

A family member of the impregnated girls, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, said that after the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) and Amnesty International (AI) raised the alarm, "The girls were taken to hospital for pregnancy test and that of Chiamaka Okoro 25yrs and Chidima Oba 15yrs returned positive."

Although their family was yet to conclude on actions to take to remedy, he said "definitely my family will seek for redress."

"We are great to human rights organization such as Amnesty International, Intersociety and media.”

AS more auto companies shut their assembly plants in Nigeria, local assemblers have blamed the Federal Government for making vehicle production and the general business environment unfriendly for indigenous manufacturers.

They spoke at a recent interactive forum in Abuja, where auto chief executive officers and relevant Federal Government ministries and agencies MDAs met to assess the state of the nation’s auto industry and the way forward.

The auto assemblers accused the FG of luring many investors into setting up auto assembly plants in Nigeria after the introduction of auto policy in 2014 but failed to sign the enabling bill into law to support the business.

They also claimed that the Finance Act of 2020 introduced by the FG that reduced import duty on fully built vehicles to the same rate as Semi-Knocked Down components made it difficult for local assemblers to compete with FBU importers/dealers.

Deputy Managing Director of CFAO Motors, Mr. Kunle Jaiyesimi, said, “We wasted millions of dollars in a world-class assembly plant for buses and trucks. Virtually all leaders of government agencies that visited the plant then were amazed by what they saw. Today, we’ve converted the plant to after-sale centre.

“There is no way we can compete with fully built vehicles that are coming into the country. Before, the import duty on FBU truck was 25% and suddenly it was dropped to 10%, the same rate for SKD components of truck.

He also accused policymakers of jumping out of the country to hold meetings with vehicle manufacturers without discussing with Nigeria’s representatives of those foreign companies.

He said, “We should not be thinking about estacode (travel allowance) in most cases. We should look at how things can work in this country.

“What is the fate of the auto policy now? When this initiative started in 2014, some of us raised concern then that it is not enough for some people to just wake up and put up a position paper about the industry without consulting widely the industry players and stakeholders.”

Executive Director, Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association, Remi Olaofe, wondered how the local auto assemblers could break even without any serious support and patronage from the government.

“Nigerian auto operators are doing their best but they are not being encouraged at all. No single tyre is being manufacturer in the country since the exit of Dunlop and Michellin. How do we bring them back? What do we tell them? Nobody is in business to make losses. I do business to make money, not on sentiment.

“Many have invested billions in this auto business and we are not doing anything to support and keep them in business.”

Olaofe accused the Nigeria Customs Service of being “a pain in the neck of this business,” adding that they had practically ruined the business.

“Look at all the auto assembly lines of the plants in the country, they are virtually idle. People are allowed to cut corners and play the trick of winners take all and many are shut out. Nigeria ultimately loses. We don’t have correct industry data because of unhealthy rivalry in the business,” he said.

He also said, “The NADDC will not allow NAMA to function because NADDC is deriving pleasure in assemblers coming directly to it for aid. The Ministry of Finance will not allow NAMA to work because it wants operators to come to them individually with their problems so they could be ‘appreciated’.

“Look at Rwanda, they have overtaken us. What is the population of Ghana? It is now the toast of auto manufacturers and allied products’ investors. Every single auto assembler now is on its way to Ghana. “There is no need lying to one another. If we must develop the nation’s auto industry, we should do so genuinely.”

Chief Executive Officer, Nord Automobiles Limited, Oluwatobi Ajayi, said the country’s approved plants had the capacity to produce sufficient number of vehicles to cater for its immediate need only if there would be continuous patronage, duty and tax incentives.

For instance, he said his assembly plant currently producing five vehicles per day would be able to increase the number to 25 vehicles with the right support and raise it to 50 per day with two shifts.

AHMED OLUWASANJO

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has patted himself on the back, claiming he helped to improve the value of the naira against the dollar.

“One achievement which most of you may not easily recognise is the impact which EFCC’s intervention in the forex market has had on the value of the naira,” Mr Bawa said at a workshop organised for journalists held at the anti-graft commission’s headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday.

On July 29, Peoples Gazette reported how the EFCC raided Abuja bureau de change operators, claiming it was a bid to save the naira, which traded for N710 against the dollar in the black market then.

“From well over N710 to the dollar, following the commission’s intervention, the naira has appreciated significantly against the dollar in the parallel market,” Mr Bawa claimed. “And we are not relenting in our efforts to check harmful speculative activities in the sector.”

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, blamed BDC operators and speculators for the downward trend of the national currency.

To further restrict forex flow at the parallel market, the CBN threatened to arrest and prosecute Nigerians using naira to buy dollars.

Speaking further at the workshop, Mr Bawa said, “Without doubt, the media’s ability to inform and sensitize the people on the ills of corruption and economic crime is crucial for us.”

According to the EFCC chairman, at the end of 2021, the anti-graft agency recorded 2,220 convictions.

“I am pleased to inform you that we are poised to improve on that figure as the record of convictions as of August 5, 2022, was 2,210,” Mr Bawa stressed.

Absence of governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and some key members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Yola has reflected how the crisis rocking the party is weakening the presidential movement of the presidential candidate of the party in 2023, Atiku Abubakar.

The former vice president, on Monday, attended a rally in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, his home state, where he formally received supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the state, including two state lawmakers, who defected to the PDP.

Considering the political stature of Atiku, one would have expected the event to see the weight of PDP structure reflected in the Adamawa rally, but this did not happen.

One of the major pointer that Atiku’s camp is experiencing some silent crisis is that no PDP governor, (apart from the host, Governor Fintiri of Adamawa) and only four members of the NWC, attended the event.

Instead of attending the rally in Yola, big wigs in the PDP converged in Rivers for a meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike, who is contending for control of the party with the presidential candidate.

In Rivers, Wike met with some former governors including former governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Danwambo; governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom; governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu; former governor of Cross Rivers state, Donald Duke and former Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN among others.

In fact, presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi was also spotted with Wike in a picture taken on the same day.

The PDP presidential candidate along with his vice, Ifeanyi Okowa, were received in Yola on Monday by the Adamawa state governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

Recall that the circumstances of Atiku’s emergence as PDP’s candidate and his alleged refusal to adopt the recommendation of Wike by a committee set up to choose a Vice Presidential candidate as his running mate had opened a gap in the party which has so far proved tough to close.

The cold shoulder by the governors and NWC members may not be unconnected with the alleged feelings of some members of his camp that he is allowing the crisis to fester for too long without any serious solution from him.

According to the source who prefers not to be named, the governors and those NWC members are taking a break from Atiku’s campaign “until he starts his unifying mantra from within the party before he can fully enjoy their support.

“Governors of the party are not with Wike and indeed members of the NWC feel strongly that the flag bearer has been far from creative in solving the crisis rocking the party. Not only did he poorly handle the events immediately after the primaries, he has also not been forthcoming with tangible actions to patch up the party thereafter,” the source said.

Notwithstanding, the Adamawa stage was not empty for Atiku, he had in his entourage, a former Vice President, Namadi Sambo; former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna; former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; Senator Adamu Maina; and Senator Dino Melaye.

The PDP flag bearer was received by a mammoth crowd at the Mahmud Ribadu Square in Yola.

Atiku is visiting his hometown for the very first time after his emergence as the flagbearer of the PDP in the presidential primaries held in Abuja in May.

Atiku, alongside governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri and national chairman of PDP Iyorchia Ayu, received the decampees, while assuring them a level playing ground.

At the ceremony, Atiku assured Nigerians that he has no other agenda but to serve the people.

By Seun Opejobi


The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has been mocked for visiting former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Tinubu met with Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday.

The meeting between the Southwest political leaders was believed to be a consultation.

Reacting, Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based rights activist, said Tinubu’s visit to Obasanjo indicated that politics is something else.

Adeyanju recalled how the APC presidential candidate once called Obasanjo an election rigger.

He recalled how Tinubu asked Nigerians not to take Obasanjo seriously for criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

In a tweet, Adeyanju urged Nigerians against fighting themselves over politicians.

According to Adeyanju: “Tinubu who called Obasanjo an election rigger who should not be taken seriously when he criticized Buhari in 2019 today has spent hours with Obj consulting. Politics is something else.

“Don’t fight each other over politicians. They are not worth it. I know them very well.

“They are all extremely close friends and business associates. Go and hustle so you can tell them to their faces to Getat! There’s nothing they hate more than that.”

The presidential panel that probed Ibrahim Magu has accused the former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of killing high-profile cases while chasing after Internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo Boys”.

In the final report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2020, the EFCC under Magu was said to have secured 2,446 convictions from 2015 to 2020, out of which 2,115 had to do with Yahoo boys and 85 high-profile cases, TheCable can report.

Investigating officers of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa (now EFCC chairman), Shehu Ala and Sambo Mayana, were said to have submitted executive briefs to Magu seeking permission to take legal steps against high-profile suspects, but the former EFCC boss would not grant the approval until the expiration of court orders.

The panel headed by Ayo Salami, former president of the court of appeal, was set up to probe the EFCC from May 2015 to May 2020 when Magu was in charge of the agency.

TheCable understands that the report has now been submitted to the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.

A panel to produce the white paper will soon be set up, presidency sources informed TheCable.

When TheCable contacted Wahab Shittu, Magu’s lawyer, to react to the report, he declined to comment, saying he wouldn’t speak on a document he has not seen.

“The commission observed that out of the 2446 convictions secured by the EFCC from 2015-2020, only 85 were for high-profile and money laundering cases, that is 3.4% of the total convictions. Also, 2115 representing over 86% of the total convictions (2446) during the period were for suspects popularly referred to as “Yahoo-Yahoo boys” internet fraudsters, charged for obtaining under false pretence/cheating and related offences,” the panel said.

“The suspended acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, directed Abdulrasheed Bawa, the investigating officer, to halt the investigations into a case of abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and money laundering against Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The investigation which commenced in Spetember 2017 traced monies and properties worth N2.4 billion suspected to be proceeds of crime to Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

“The investigation of Starter Point Integrated Services Limited by EFCC over a failed contract involving the sum of $200 million to secure onshore pipelines traversing the country was stalled by the suspended acting chairman of EFCC. That despite the tracing of $91 million to the bank accounts of Starter Point, and $40 million traced to a Switzerland-based company, OWANROAD Plc. There was no evidence of contract execution and no money was recovered before the investigation was stalled on the orders of the suspended acting chairman of EFCC.

“The suspended acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, issued a general directive to ACP Isyaku Sharu and team of officers investigating cases relating to the arms procurement contract fraud to stand down investigations on all dollar-based contracts.

“In a bid to frustrate the investigations of some politically-exposed persons, the suspended acting chairman split the Economic Governance Unit into two units; Economic Governance ‘A’ and Economic Governance ‘B’, and instructed the head of Economic Governance ‘B’ against investigating high-profile cases which led to the abandonment involving the likes of Former governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, Donald Duke of Cross Rivers state and Ikedia Ohakim of Imo state; as well as the incumbent governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri. Others are Anyim Pius Anyim, Dr Doyin Okupe, Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.”

HOW MAGU ‘COMPROMISED’ $930M CASE, SHIELDED GOVERNORS FROM PROSECUTION

The EFCC, under Magu, was also said to have investigated Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, and his associates for misappropriating N25 billion, part of which was used to buy a large expanse of farmland in the Mambilla area of the state while some were found in his wife’s bank accounts. After the conclusion of the investigation in 2018, the panel said the EFCC refused to initiate a suit to forfeit the assets and money.

All properties recovered from Bala Mohammed, Bauchi governor; Ibrahim Shettima, former governor of Katsina; Sambo Dasiki, former national security adviser; and Haruna Momoh, an associate of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former petroleum minister, by the EFCC were reported to still be in possession of the suspects.

According to the report, Magu failed to give approval for the arraignment of Stella Oduah, senator and former minister of aviation, over the alleged fraudulent diversion of N3.9 billion airport procurement contract fraud after the final investigation report in March 2018.

In addition, the report said Societe D’Equipment Internationale, owned by one Aboubakar Hima, was awarded a contract by the office of the national security adviser to the tune of $930 million, €9 million and N350 million to supply military equipment to the Nigerian army, air force.

Hima was said to have diverted the money to acquire real estate in Nigeria and the Niger Republic, while some vice-marshals in the air force were also said to have benefitted from the illicit fund.

To further frustrate the investigation of Societe D’Equipment Internationale, in 2016, Magu allegedly dispersed the investigators involved “under the guise of routine transfers” and left no one to continue the investigation.

The panel said Magu also admitted to issuing a letter absolving the company of any wrongdoing, while the suspect fled Nigeria and escaped justice.

TheCable had earlier reported how the panel accused Magu of abandoning 14 procurement fraud cases involving N118 billion and $309 million.

In addition, he was said to have failed to remit another N48 billion loot in foreign and local currencies recovered from suspects.

TheCable also reported how Magu was accused of failing to account for a N431 million security vote allocated to his office between 2015-2020, while he used part of the money to pay for electricity bills on his personal farm and subscribe to cable television in his private residence.

Stakeholders from all walks of life in Lagos on Tuesday resolved that the state government should go ahead with the enforcement of a total ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada.

The resolution was reached the resolution at the Stakeholders’ Forum tagged “Okada Ban: What Next,” which had representatives from the religious, and the traditional fronts, – traditional and religious leaders; Community Development Associations across the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State; Civil Society Organisations, and Security heads, among other groups.

The stakeholders’ forum was convened by the Lagos State government to review the ban placed on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, on June 1, 2022, in six local government areas – Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Ikeja.

The forum was held to determine the status of the ban and establish the effectiveness of enforcement among other related issues.
At the forum, stakeholders lamented how the careless operations of the riders have led to losses of lives, injuries and irreparable damages.

They held that the consequences have slowed down socio-economic fortune as more young people are increasingly settling for the work against productively engaging in more honourable services, just as they lamented how the operations have constituted means of illegal migration and a facilitator of crimes.

Hence, they called for an overall ban of operations of Okada in the state, by extending the order to other LGAs and LCDAs.

The grounds on which the stakeholders stood to justify the overarching ban to all LGAs/LCDAs were premised on the arguments that such encompassing ban is profitable to ensure that the gains of the initial order covering only a few areas “are not reversed”, and also to further improve safety and security in Lagos.

The stakeholders resolved for stern actions against what they described “as pockets of riders still found operating on forbidden routes, especially highways”, demanding their arrest and prosecution.

To augment the enforcement, they submitted that the military and the police should sustain their partnership with the State Government to ensure that their officers stop flouting the ban in the specified LGAs and LCDAs.

Also, they demanded deployment of cutting-edge technology for improved security architecture, as well as engagement with traditional and religious leaders for intelligence gathering.

The resolutions as contained in the communique signed by the stakeholders read:

“At the end of deliberations, stakeholders agreed that:

“The enforcement of the ban on Okada should be sustained to ensure that the gains of the ban are not reversed. The pockets of riders still found operating on forbidden routes, especially highways, should be arrested and made to face the consequences of their actions.

“The Lagos State Government should enforce a total ban on Okada to further improve safety and security in Lagos.

“That any Okada rider found flouting the law and attacking Law Enforcement Officers/Agencies should be prosecuted and made to face the full wrath of the law.

The military and the police should sustain their partnership with the State Government to ensure that their officers stop flouting the ban in the specified Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.

“That cutting-edge technology (streetlights,CCTV,drones) be deployed to traffic incidents and enhance security across the State.

“That community, traditional and religious leaders should be more involved intelligence gathering and security of their domain across the State.”

Reeling out statistics of records from the enforcement of the ban placed on the operations in six LGAs in June, the State’s Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Fredrick Oladeinde, disclosed that the anti-Okada operation in the last two months, revealed crime and accident rates in the areas concerned within the period, reduced “astronomically by 86percent and 63.7percent respectively.”, as a total of 7,500 motorcycles were impounded and crushed accordingly.”

He said, “On average monthly, we used to record about 300-400 crashes and that has gone own to about 176 in June and July and it continues to go down, and that shows that with the ban on Okada, we are beginning to save lives, especially of the young people who are maimed in the process.

“It is important that we preserve the lives of our youths because they are the leaders of tomorrow and it’s important that people feel secured in our State,” Oladeinde said.

In his submission, Environment Expert, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, said the Okada menace has destroyed economic and labour fabrics in the State, as more young people who should have been engaged in crafts and agro-businesses, among other productive endeavours, have settled for operating Okada.

He called for increased development on infrastructure on other transportation system such as rail and waterways; welfare, equipping and empowering security agencies to boost their morales; improvement on bad road corridors by “removing all contraventions and impediments illegally operating along the established right of ways.”

Speaking, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the stakeholders’ meeting was significant to get feedback from Lagosians for inclusive government which the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration stands to uphold.

He said beyond the dangers of accidents associated with Okada, the security threats and implications associated with it have placed demands on the State Government to take decisive actions.

“As you can see, Lagosians are calling for a total ban on Okada, not just because of all the dangers that Okada constitute, breaking of heads, smashing of limbs, and all manners of things that people have attached to Okada, but because of the security implications flying all around that the State Government must do something about it,” he said.

He mentioned that though people have leaned on the argument that Okada has been a source of livelihood to many, yet there were more opportunities for residents of the State to grab for ends meets.

According to him: “There are about 18 vocational centres where you can learn skills. When you learn skills in these centres, you are not just left to your own devising, you are given equipment to go and start a very good life, to go and start earning a living in a very decent manner. So, it is not a question that because people are going to loss their jobs Okadas should be allowed a free reign over Lagos.

“The figures and facts that were presented today (Tuesday) have shown that having Okada all over the place is not something that is good for Lagosians and Lagosians have spoken: Whether you are a traditional ruler or ordinary Lagosian, we all have one voice and we can see that majority of the people who spoke here today (Tuesday) supported the ban on Okada,” the Commissioner said.

He said the resolutions would be presented to the Governor for firm decision in the best interest of Lagosians, having satisfied the demands of democracy and transparency through critical engagement.

Amidst the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 presidential election stands the polarising figure of Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman.

The former senator’s popularity within the party has grown shy of the percentage that led him to become the national chairman on consensus, last October.

The cracks in the opposition party widened after Atiku Abubakar emerged as the presidential candidate.

There have been calls for Ayu to resign on the grounds that the party’s presidential candidate and the national chairman cannot be from the same region — both are northerners, from Benue and Adamawa respectively.

Reacting to the growing clamour, Simon Imobo-Tswana, special adviser on media and communications to Ayu, said his principal has no plan to resign from his position.

He added that the PDP national chairman “was elected for a tenure of four years”.

“We restate, therefore, that the PDP National Chairman has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years,” he said.

“Sections 45 and 47 of the PDP Constitution are clear on the removal and/or resignation of the National Chairman. Those who don’t know this should get copies of the party’s Constitution for more information on the matter.”

Ayu’s current stand is however contrary to the promise he made in October 2021, during the lead-up to the party’s convention.

In a chat with Arise TV at that time, Ayu pledged to “step down after a presidential candidate emerges and happens to be in the north”.

He added that he was willing to “do everything to promote the interest and image of my party.”

“Luckily, party positions we have agreed are not tied to executive and legislative positions. However, I’m a very democratic person and I will do everything to promote the interest and image of my party,” he had said.

“If the PDP says I should step down after a presidential candidate emerges and happens to be in the north, I will be very glad to do so because what we want is to take over the government and run it in the interest of Nigerians. I’ll sacrifice anything to ensure that my party wins.”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IheX03sOTYM

By Fidelis Mac-Leva And Haruna Ibrahim


Despite giving no fewer than 29 directives to security operatives in three years to end activities of terrorists, bandits and other sundry criminals, Nigerians have continued to live with the menace amid loss of lives and property.

Some Nigerians and security experts have blamed the development to lack of political will on the side of the government while others said most of the directives were not directly from the president.

Daily Trust reports that after every serious attack on innocent Nigerians or on symbol of authority, presidency officials do issue a statement condemning the act and also directing military authorities and others to go after the attackers and not to allow a repeat of the incident.

However, in most cases, the criminals tend to commit more atrocities shortly after every presidential directive.

Even though the military and sister agencies have recorded some successes in the last few days by neutralising many Boko Haram terrorists and bandits, some pundits said Nigerians need more commitment from them to bring an end insurgency in the country that is dragging for over a decade.

Despite 29 presidential orders, security forces yet to curb attacks


Endless presidential orders

Nigerians were thrown into a state of melancholy on March 28, 2022 as terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train after blowing up the rail tracks, forcing the train to derail.

Many passengers were killed during the attack while over 60 were abducted.

Worried about the situation, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) temporarily suspended activities, while President Muhammadu Buhari issued a directive to the military and other security agencies to rescue the victims.

Buhari, while reacting to the incident, described it as ‘callous’ and a matter of grave concern.

Spokesman of the president, Garba Shehu, in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari directs urgency in dealing with kidnapped railway passengers’ case’ said that upon the president’s approval, the government was continuing on the two-lane approach – kinetic and non-kinetic – to secure the passengers’ safe release.

He said the president’s directive was that the hostages must be brought home alive, stressing that the country’s military and security agencies were aware of their duties and were determined to give effect to Buhari’s charge with increased urgency.

There was another presidential directive sequel to terrorists’ attacks in Sokoto, Kaduna and Plateau states, which led to the loss of many lives and destruction of property.

“I condemn these barbaric attacks on the country. I wish to assure the states of all possible support from the government of the federation. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly,” Buhari reportedly said.

The directives cited above are just few out of a total of 29 issued by President Buhari on different occasions following incidents of attacks by terrorists and bandits in different parts of the country.


IDP camp in Niger State

The directives, according to a survey conducted by Daily Trust, covered a period of three years: from 2020 to July 2022.

The survey, based on newspaper reports, indicates that Buhari had issued 13 directives in 2021, nine in 2020, while 7 have so far been issued from January to August this year.

For instance, following the deadly attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre by gunmen, who freed hundreds of inmates, including 64 Boko Haram members that were being held in custody, President Buhari reportedly ordered the armed forces to wipe out terrorists, bandits, and other enemies of the country from the surface of the earth with immediate effect in order to bring lasting peace to the country and the African continent in general.

Buhari, who gave the order at the graduation ceremony of Course 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna State, warned that the masterminds of the Kuje attack and others around the country must be eliminated.

“It will be part of your duty to confront these terrorists and insurgents and wipe them off the face of the earth and bring peace to our countries,” the president told the graduates.

Earlier in April this year, President Buhari had directed security agencies not to spare or forgive those behind the recent killings in Plateau State. In yet another statement issued by Garba Shehu, Buhari ordered law enforcement agencies to work strenuously with the government of the state to bring the situation under control and take steps to bring the culprits to justice quickly.

“As full details emerge on the scale of the brutal terrorist attacks in Kanam and Wase communities in Plateau State, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the killings as heinous, saying that the perpetrators should not be allowed to escape justice.

“He ordered law enforcement agencies to work strenuously with the government of the state to bring the situation under control and take steps to bring the culprits to justice quickly and not be spared or forgiven,” the statement reads.

Daily Trust on Sunday recalls that following bandits’ attack on Bethel Baptist School in July last year, President Buhari directed security agencies to ensure the safe and early release of all kidnapped victims in the country.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Shehu, Buhari described the abduction as cowardly and despicable, and urged security outfits to “act swiftly” to rescue all school boys and girls in the affected states and ensure their safe return.

Till date, some of the victims of the Kaduna- bound train attack and the Baptist school are still in captivity.

In November 2020, Buhari reportedly said he had directed the country’s armed forces to take the anti-terrorism fight against the insurgents more seriously.

The president, according to his spokesman, gave the directive in a message he sent through his chief of staff, Ibrahim Gambari, to the Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, Shehu of Borno and the Zabarmari community, where 43 rice farmers were killed by insurgents.

The statement was titled, ‘High-powered government delegation visits Maiduguri; President Buhari vows to end terrorism.’

Shehu said Buhari committed himself to making more resources available to the military to prosecute the war, adding that he would “work closely with neighbouring countries on bilateral and multilateral levels to ensure that there is no hiding place for the terrorists.

“As we mourn the loss of our sons in Zabarmari, the armed forces have been given the marching order to take the fight to the insurgents, not on a one-off but on a continuous basis until we root out the terrorists,” Buhari reportedly said.

In December last year, the president also directed security agents to fish out the killers of the Katsina State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Rabe Nasir.

Nasir was earlier killed by gunmen at his residence in Fatima Shema estate of the State.

Buhari, who issued the directive in a statement by Garba Shehu, charged security agents to conduct a thorough investigation and bring justice to all those behind the crime.


There is no steam in presidential directives

President Buhari has been widely criticised for his seeming poor handling of incessant killings in many states, with critics saying his directives have been largely ineffectual.

Despite the numerous orders by the president, people are being killed especially in northern states during attacks while others are being kidnapped for ransom.

Mohammed Sani, a resident of Minna in Niger State said Nigerians rarely take the presidential orders seriously.

“Many of us see presidential directives as empty messages. On a personal note, I strongly believe that most of the directives are not from him.

“I am saying this because I have not seen the president taking any serious action after the orders he gave were flouted. Of course, he removed his service chiefs at a time but I think the situation is beyond that.

“There is a rot in the system as people do whatever they like because they know there is limited punishment for failure,” he said.

A retired military officer, Colonel Mohammed Abdullahi, said commanders flouted Buhari’s orders due to corruption, lack of leadership and because they are aware that he (Buhari) lacks the political will to enforce his directives.

“There is no clear leadership as to who is in charge. All the security agencies are doing it their own way and reporting to no one,” he said.

He also blamed disregard for Buhari’s orders on what he termed ‘lack of timelines and feedback’, saying, “The president only gives instructions to no one in particular and gives no timeline until another incident.”

Abdullahi also identified lack of sanctions for failure to deliver.

“There is also the lack of motivation as the welfare of the troops is almost zero. Entitlements of some troops killed since the beginning of the crises remain unpaid, while their families are in pitiable states,” he added.

Abdullahi dismissed claims that the military is overwhelmed or overstretched, saying the whole security sector in Nigeria is over a million personnel, with enough resources, equipment and funds “compared to a meager percentage of the criminals.”


Reach out to NSA or CDS – Presidency

When contacted, Malam Garba Shehu declined comments and rather requested our reporter to reach out to the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd) or the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor.

He said the questions could be answered by either of the two key personalities.


Current threats asymmetric, not conventional – Military

When contacted, the Military High Command insisted that the troops are carrying out the orders given by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces properly; saying present security threats are not conventional but asymmetric.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, explained the military is not overwhelmed or overstretched as being insinuated in various quarters – hence the reasons terrorists’ kingpins are being neutralized every day.

“Assuming that the military or security forces were overwhelmed or overstretched, as you put it, what solutions are you proffering? The threats that we face as a society are not conventional but asymmetric.

“Some research needs to be done to know the nuances of fourth/fifth generation warfare and the complexities involved. Hence, there is now a greater collaboration between the military and other security agencies to deal with the existential security challenges that bedevil us as a nation.

“All stakeholders, including the media must therefore have a positive mindset about the efforts of the military and security agencies, and not denigrate them. Even small efforts need to be appreciated. That should be the spirit,” he said.

He appealed to the general public to ensure all hands are on the deck to help the security forces in tackling present challenges.

Maj.-Gen. Akpor said, “But as the CDS said, we must, as a whole of society, take ownership of all efforts that would bring peace and security to our land through sacrifice and genuine appreciation of all the small efforts being made by Nigerians of goodwill, especially the military and security forces.”

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has recommended a 50 percent salary increase review across board given the grim realities under the current President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

NLC made the recommendation in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari dated August 8.

The letter was a response to the economic prescriptions offered by the state governors.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that state governors pushed for the elimination of petrol subsidy, the retirement of civil servants from the age of 50, and the reduction of National Assembly constituency projects among other prescriptions.

The union lambasted the governors for seeking early retirement of workers, saying anyone promoting this idea “should be treated as enemies of your government.”

Instead of early retirement, the union asked the Buhari-led administration to consider a further increase of workers’ salaries.

“While we commend you for your thoughtfulness for a wage increase, truth of the matter is that given the misfortune that has befallen the Nigerian populace, especially workers with fixed incomes, there is an urgent need for a massive intervention much deeper than the 22 percent,” the letter, signed by NLC President Ayuba Wabba, said.

“We would recommend a 50 percent salary review across the board given the realities on ground.”

He cited sections 13, 20, 43, 45, 48, 51, 53 and 58 of the NHAct 2014 as contentious sections of the Act, which ought to be amended for the safety of Nigerians.


The Chairman, Global Prolife Alliance, GPA, Prof (Dr) Philip Njemanze, has revealed that the National Health Act 2014 permits human organ poaching without consent in Nigeria.

Njemanze, an International Academician of Science, expressed fears that over 10 million Nigerians may die from legalised organ poaching without consent within 10 years if something urgent was not done to amend the Act.

He cited sections 13, 20, 43, 45, 48, 51, 53 and 58 of the NHAct 2014 as contentious sections of the Act, which ought to be amended for the safety of Nigerians.

The former Chairman of the Catheter Medical Practitioners Association and proprietor of Chidicon Medical and Research Center, Owerri stated this in his lengthy submission to the National Assembly on the urgent need to amend the National Health Act.

Njemanze said there are national security implications if the Act is not amended.

He stated, “National security demands Federal Government Amendment of the National Health Act 2014 to prevent mass harvesting of human organs and poaching of ovarian eggs.

“We would like to draw your attention to the Statues of the National Health Act 2014 (NHAct) that permit Human Organ Trafficking and Poaching of Ovarian Eggs without consent that may lead to deaths of millions of Nigerians.

“We hereby warn that if the NHAct is implemented without the proposed amendments it will facilitate the operations of International Organized Criminal Cartel on Human Organ and Ovarian Egg Trafficking. On the other hand, if terminated now and the crime exposed, Nigeria would be saved!"

He alleged that there are foreign sponsors of the National Health Act 2014, and provided shocking details on the dangers of the Act.

He said, “The first part of this project in Nigeria would provide the human organs to keep the rich Western patients alive, until they succeed with the therapeutic human organ cloning. Organ cloning using embryonic stem cells is a projected big business worth 30 trillion US dollars (one-third of the world economy) for the Western economies within the next 5-10 years of operation!

"This is the anticipated Western Economic Recovery Plan of the G7 countries to get ahead of Asia. This program is supported by most Western governments and many billionaire investors deceptively projecting Billionaire Philanthropic works. How does this work? To clone a tissue like heart, you will need to collect the nucleus (that stores all its genetic materials) of the heart of the sick person and place it in a human ovarian egg obtained from a woman through IVF (in-vitro fertilization).

“The new cell is put in tissue culture to grow into a heart, which could be transplanted to the sick person. The process of transferring the nucleus to the egg is called Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). Has this worked? Yes! SCNT was applied in experiments of Dolly the Sheep derived by cloning. To perfect the SCNT process for therapeutic cloning, they will need millions of human ovarian eggs. It has been forbidden in all Western countries to collect the ovarian eggs of women for this experimentation.

“But the law like the British Embryology Law permits using human eggs from Africa and those of animals while banning the use of human eggs from Europe and America! It has been estimated that at least 100 million ovarian eggs poached from 10 million Nigerian women would be required annually for about 5 years.

"These Nigerian women will die shortly thereafter from complications of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome as a result of the multiple hormonal injections that stimulate the ovaries given at IVF Clinics. The ovarian eggs would be obtained through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Women have to go for the procedure if they want to get pregnant or they are donating their ovarian eggs.

“The IVF Clinics in Nigeria are proliferating under the sponsorship of foreign owners using Nigerians as fronts for ovarian egg harvesting! What then would get Nigerian women to go for IVF? For this purpose, they instituted a massive vaccination program funded by the ‘Philanthropist’ billionaire and his related ‘reputed’ international and national organizations. The vaccination for polio and tetanus has at different times been coupled with ‘sterilizing agents’ even though denied by the international agencies, facts suggest otherwise.

“The billionaires bank-rolled the UN agencies for 20 years and staffed it with critical manpower working together to achieve this goal under the UN banner of deception that captivates most Nigerian officials! The billionaires own over 90% of the embryonic stem cell research companies. The ‘Philanthropic’ vaccine donations have laced common vaccines with infertility agent that reduces human chorionic gonadotropin (anti-HCG) to cause miscarriages. This has been done successfully with the tetanus vaccine and other common vaccines (see attached Talwar GP et al. A vaccine that prevents pregnancy in women (human chorionic gonadotropin/birth control vaccine) Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA. 1994;91:8532-8536).

“The ovarian eggs could be poached through IVF after administering a set of hormonal injections. Faced with the challenge of bareness, Nigerian women will go for IVF, where 12 ovarian eggs could be poached and maximum of 2 used for trials. The rest are sold by IVF centres to Western laboratories working on embryonic stem cell research. According to the European Union report, Nigeria is the top country for export of human ovarian eggs (see attached Jana Tutkova, ‘Human Egg Trafficking in Europe’, European Policy Officer, Core 30th March, 2006).”

“About ten million Nigerian women could die in 2-3 years from the complications called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (liver failure, kidney failure, cancers, infections, etc). These criminal actions must be protected by an enabling system law in Nigeria, hence the NHAct 2014, was designed to do just that in disguise. The so-called good statutes were framed as window-dressing to cover the main criminal statues,” he stated.

The National Health Act was sponsored by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and passed into law by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

By Philip Shimnom Clement


The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, last week said Nigerian universities have so far been performing better than their foreign counterparts.

He made the assertion on Saturday at the 11th graduation ceremony of Glisten International Academy, Abuja.


Verdict: FALSE

Full Text: The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, while speaking on Saturday, 6th August, at the 11th graduation ceremony of Glisten International Academy, Abuja, said Nigeria’s universities are good enough and even better just as the presidency is working towards stabilising the educational system to encourage parents to retain their children to learn in the country’s tertiary institutions.

Shehu, whose son is also graduating from the school, advised the students to make good use of their studies.

“For the graduating students, I want to say that they have a major decision to make, which is going to the next level in their educational pursuit.

“You can see that a lot of foreign institutions are extending invitations to students at discounted rates to study overseas.

“I will say that Nigerian universities are equally as good and even better and we are hoping that we will be able to stabilise the university education in the country so that parents don’t have to pay exorbitantly to educate their children abroad,” he said.


Verification: In verifying the claim by Mr. Shehu, Daily Trust sought to find out the parameters used in ranking universities globally.

Consequently, findings by this newspaper show that four key parameters are used to rank universities worldwide. They are teaching, research capacity, international diversity and financial sustainability.


Sustainable funding

Daily Trust observes that the budgetary allocation to the education sector by the 36 states of the federation, all of which own at least one university each, shows that only paltry sums are budgeted for funding tertiary institutions.

For instance, while the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) convention recommends 25 per cent for the sector, Nigeria is lagging behind as it has not achieved even 15 per cent allocation to the education sector.

In the 2022 budget, the education sector got only N1.29 trillion representing 7.9 per cent of the total budget of about N18 trillion.

This shows that the allocation is less than 10 per cent even though UNESCO recommended that developing nations should give up to 25 per cent of their annual budgets to public education.

Further checks show that so far in the Buhari administration, the federal government has only released about N3.5 trillion to education and this represents less than 10 per cent, compared to defense, which has gulped trillions of naira without the desired results justifying the huge spending.

This critical sector has been deprived of adequate funding with a dearth of infrastructure, poor welfare, inadequate staffing among the challenges impeding the sector and hampering effective learning across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.


Research capacity

Checks by Daily Trust also revealed that the research base in Nigerian universities has been below average for quite some time now.

In fact, the research capacity of Nigerian lecturers has been a subject of discourse at different fora, with experts calling on the federal government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, to improve research funding for lecturers.

Worthy of note is the fact that Nigerian lecturers, in most cases, are sponsored to carry out research in foreign universities so they can deploy the knowledge learnt in their mother institution.


Teaching

In terms of teaching, there have been sustained calls by experts for improvement in methods, especially in the adoption of technology in impacting knowledge, as the current trend in Nigerian universities is far below standard.

In fact, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), had advocated the re-introduction of teacher training education, which was scrapped years ago by the federal government.

The renowned lawyer expressed fear that unless appropriate damage control mechanisms are taken without further delay, many Nigerian graduates would likely continue to be unemployable.

He said: “The state of education in Nigeria today is no doubt deplorable and highly undesirable at all levels. Tertiary education, in particular, has become a mere formal process for obtaining higher certificates without imparting the substance for which the institutions were established.

“Some of the problems are traced to poor teaching and learning methods, among others. A very critical area which has also been neglected is that of quality teaching methods.”

He said it was difficult for any foreign university to go on strike as the system is well grounded with adequate teaching and learning facilities backed by funding that makes the system work.


International diversity

For most experts in the education sector, that Nigerian universities are ranked so low should not have come as a surprise because the country’s public universities are hardly patronised by foreigners, rather, the reverse is the case. In fact, it becomes difficult for foreigners to attend Nigerian universities as a result of the fact that consistently, teaching and research are interrupted by prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes.

For instance, checks by Daily Trust have shown that for more than four months now, Nigeria’s public universities have not been in session because of yet another strike embarked on by the lecturers’ union.

This means that the universities whose rankings are to be assessed are not even in session.

Under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, undergraduates in universities across the country have lost not less than 13 months of their educational calendar, owing to recurring strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The ongoing strike by ASUU began on February 14, 2022, to demand better conditions of service as contained in the agreement it reached with the government in 2009.

Foreign universities now abode for politicians’ children

Meanwhile, Daily Trust recently reported how foreign universities have now become an abode for children of rich Nigerians, especially politicians.

Most recently, Jordan Nyesom-Wike, son of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike graduated from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom – on July 11.

Wike was a minister of state for Education under the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Same goes to Mohammed Sani Badaru, the son of Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar, who also graduated from Brunel University London, United Kingdom, on July 14, 2022.

Similarly, Mayo, a son of Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, graduated with a master’s degree from the University of London, England.

Mayo is said to have earned the degree in real estate on July 20 this year.

No Nigerian university among top 300 universities in the World – Report

According to the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, the best university in Nigeria, is Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD) which ranks 400th in the global rankings.

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings measure global universities’ successes in delivering the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the discharge of their academic activities – teaching, research and community service (outreach) and stewardship.

The latest ranking, The 2022 Impact Rankings, is the fourth edition, and the overall ranking includes 1,406 universities from 106 countries or regions.

The rankings analysed more than 108 million citations across over 14.4 million research publications and included survey responses from almost 22,000 scholars globally.

Consequently, no African country made it to the top 100 universities in the ranking. The best-ranked university in the continent, according to the report, is South Africa’s University of Cape Town, at 183rd position. In Nigeria, the universities of Ibadan and Lagos ranked 401st and 501 respectively.

Conclusion: Following world universities rankings and the current state of education in Nigeria, Daily Trust concludes that Nigerian universities are not better than their foreign counterparts, as such, the claim by Garba Shehu is FALSE.

The Federal Government has deployed a new technology as a stop-gap solution to the challenges confronting Nigeria’s power grid, the Transmission Company of Nigeria has said.

Officials of the company said the technology, comprising Internet of Things and the Virtual Private Network, was deployed by the government through TCN to monitor real-time grid operations and help mitigate power system collapse.

It was also gathered that the facility would boost power grid management at the National Control Centre, Osogbo in Osun State, as it would improve real-time operations of the national grid, pending the deployment of a long-term network automation system.

Nigeria’s power grid has recorded a series of collapses this year, throwing many parts of the country in darkness on those occasions.

On July 22, 2022, for instance, The PUNCH exclusively reported that power generation on the grid crashed from over 3,900 megawatts to 3MW when the grid collapsed on July 20, 2022.

The July 20, 2022 grid collapse made it the sixth time that the system had crashed in 2022. On June 13, The PUNCH reported a grid collapse. The nation’s power system collapsed twice in March and twice again in April this year.

Power generation on the grid has continued to fluctuate due to various concerns such as gas constraints, water management challenges, and gas pipeline vandalism, among others.

But the TCN stated on Wednesday that with its new technology the power grid would receive improved monitoring, as this would help in its management going forward.

“The deployment of the smart grid system is in the advanced stage of the procurement process for a robust deployment of a full-scale state-of-the-art Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System,” the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated.

TCN operates the national electricity grid with over 20,000km of 330 and 132 kilovolts transmission lines, which are said to be among the few largest transmission networks in Africa.

At the moment, Nigeria’s transmission network consists of high voltage substations with a proven 7,300 megawatts of electricity wheeling capacity, and still expanding.

This transmission system is being reformed by TCN as the Nigerian electricity market, which comprises the generation, transmission and distribution companies prepares for a competitive market stage away from the transitional stage it has been for over seven years.

This new stage will mean that all transactions are based on contracts with optimal customer service delivery.

And to test run this, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission pushed for the Service Level Agreement in 2021, which became binding on all operators to ensure improved service delivery to power users.

The Managing Director, TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, said the company had boosted the digitisation of grid operations, as the NCC’s control room was solely responsible for all activities related to grid network data acquisition, real-time grid operations and management for optimal service delivery.

Four of the children who were abducted on a Kaduna-bound train in March have been released.

The children were abducted alongside their parents and other passengers [/b]when the terrorists bombed the rail track and gunned down some persons.

Different captives were released over a period of four months.

In a statement on Wednesday, [b]Tukur Mamur, Kaduna-based publisher who negotiated the release of some of the passengers, said the children and their parents were released after the intervention of Sheik Ahmad Gumi.

“Disturbed by the gory videos images of four teenage children belonging to same family he saw in the last video released by the attackers of the AK9 Train, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Gumi for the first since the abduction of the innocent passengers of that train over 4 months ago has reached out to the abductors through his Media Consultant, sent Allah’s messages to them and consistently pleaded with them to consider the release of the poor children and their innocent parents. It was learnt that the health condition of two of the teenage children has deteriorated since the flogging incident that affected their helpless father. A total of additional 7 hostages were therefore released on Wednesday.”

“The husband of the four kids is a staff of the National Assembly Commission. There was no intervention from the Commission or NASS on his behalf since the travails begun.

“This is to confirm to the world that due to Sheikh Gumi’s efforts and with the support of a serving Senator from the North, (a God fearing personality that doesn’t have any relationship with the hostages) who chose to remain anonymous that all the family of six have regained their freedom on Wednesday morning. Also released is a 60 year old woman, one Hajia Aisha Hassan who was said to have been released due to life threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.”

The names of the six family members that were released are Abubakar Idris Garba, who is the father of the four kids, his wife Maryama Abubakar Bobbo and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba who is 10 years old.

Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba 7 years, Imran Abubakar Garba 5 years old and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba who is only one and half years.

The husband, Abubakar is the son of Maj Gen Idris Garba (rtd). Gen. Garba who is now bed ridden is an indigene of Niger State and a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States during the administration of former Head Of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida,

Garba had pleaded with government to ensure the release of his child, daughter- in-law and grandchildren.

Emma Okonji


The Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has flagged a new malware, HiddenAds, which has infiltrated Google Play Store that can impact device performance and jeopardise users’ privacy.

In its August 8 advisory, NCC-CSIRT classified the virus, first identified by the McAfee Mobile Research Team, as high in probability and damage potential. The malware infiltrated the Google Play Store in the form of several device cleaners or optimization apps.

“Upon installation, it can run malicious services without the user opening the app. It also spams the user with irrelevant advertisements. The apps have received downloads ranging from 100,000 to over a million,” the NCC security team warned.

This is just as the federal government has commended the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission for remarkable strides of the agency that has earned remarkable international reputation for Nigeria and placed the telecom regulator in the forefront of the nation’s quest for forward looking national economic growth.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. William Alo, said this recently while receiving the management team of NCC, led by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who briefed him on the status of the industry after his recent appointment to the Ministry.

“So far so good, the entire country, and beyond, is fully aware of the strategic importance of the NCC as a regulating institution of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. And, of course, we are aware today that between oil and communications, the latter is gradually taking over in the provision of revenue for the country as the nation strives to diversify the economy,” Alo said.

He said of a truth, the quality of service has improved tremendously over the past few years now and that the Commission deserves a pat on the back for what it has done in that direction.

Danbatta who led a team of two executive commissioners and directors of the Commission to the briefing, listed successes recorded since 2015 in teledensity, broadband penetration, and significant contribution of the industry to the GDP that grew from 8.5 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2015 to 12.61 in the 4th quarter of 2021, as the sector also attracted over $2 billion in foreign direct investment over the period.

According to the advisory, the app HiddenAds masquerades are Junk Cleaner, EasyCleaner, Power Doctor, Carpet Clean, Super Clean, Meteor Clean, Strong Clean, Windy Clean, Fingertip Cleaner, Keep Clean, Full Clean – Clean Cache, Quick Cleaner, and Cool Clean.

“When a user installs any of the aforementioned apps, whether the user has opened the app or not, a malicious service is immediately installed on the device. The app will then attempt to blend into the app tray by changing its icon to the Google Play icon that every Android user is familiar with,” the advisory added. “Its name will also change to ' Google Play' or 'Setting&#39. The device will then be bombarded with ads in a variety of deceptive ways severely impairing the user experience.”

It also stated that internet users who install the compromised app would experience “their device performance suffering significantly, clicking on the ads may result in stealth downloads/installation of other malware, users may inadvertently subscribe to services and be billed monthly, and the privacy of users will be jeopardised.

NCC-CSIRT further advised users to avoid downloading questionable apps or apps “they are unsure about, while those who have installed any identified malicious apps should immediately delete them,” and disclosed that “where the malicious app&#39’s icon and name have changed, it can be identified by the fact that it is removable while the legitimate Google Play app cannot be uninstalled.”

The NCC security team recommended installing anti-virus/anti-malware software with a proven track record for detecting and removing malware.

The CSIRT is the telecom sector’s cybersecurity incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

By Rotimi Fasan


The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been spending the last couple of few weeks fence-minding the relationship between their presidential flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his closest rival and challenger at the convention that produced the presidential flagbearer, Nyesom Wike.

The winning side of the contest initially acted like a short visit to Wike, whose hope of being selected as the winner’s running mate was not only dashed when Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State governor, was picked over and above him, but was also portrayed as patently unfit for any position outside the one he presently holds as governor of Rivers State- the Atiku team acted as if snubbing Wike in the manner it did required nothing more than an advertised short visit of party members to his home to soothe his bruised ego.

This it promptly did and went about its way planning for the next phase of the presidential contest while its foot soldiers went about with their narratives of triumph, highlighting the unmarketability of an Atiku-Wike ticket on account of the real and perceived inadequacies of Wike that are too well-known to be repeated here.

But these lines of explanation had a touch of convenience about them. They amounted to mere excuses that gave short shrift to Wike’s contribution to the survival of the PDP at its momentof great trial. Then it survived on the financial oxygen of Wike, all thanks to the affordances of the monetary war chest of his state’s oil fund.


It is true that Wike leveraged on his financial advantage to browbeat other party members, including other state governors that he alienated by his abrasive ways and comments; installing and dethroning the party chair persons and other officers of the PDP.

Wike did all of this and more but those who could abided by his rules while enjoying the generosity of his huge purse that he deployed far and wide across states in which the PDP had full control or a fighting chance of returning to the centre of state or national politics. He was the beautiful bride and close friend of Northern politicians like Aminu Tambuwal who, like Wike, had his eyes set on the seat of president.

The two, among others, were seen and went about their activities like potential running mates in a presidential contest.

Wike it was who provided the staying power of the PDP and remained a committed, if self-willed, party member. He never for once entertained the idea of jumping ship nor did he pull punches when it came to fighting opponents and critics of the party or of his personal style. All of this until the May convention where he emerged the frontrunner for the flagbearer’s ticket despite the presence of Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, perennial presidential aspirant and leading member of the PDP.


Atiku’s profile had been diminished by his fair-weather friend link with the PDP, a fact driven by his ambition to be president since he left as Vice President in 2007. He was at different times, after 2007, a member of the PDP as he was of other political formations and parties like the All Progressives Congress, APC, where he was until shortly before 2015 when his ambition to be president again sent him running back to the PDP where he stood for president. He stood again for president in 2019 with Peter Obi, current presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, standing as his vice-presidential running mate.

There was every reason to believe that the PDP convention to produce the party’s presidential flagbearer was for Wike to lose given his financial and other investments in the PDP. And he was apparently coasting home to victory until things got upended the moment Tambuwal stepped down and urged his supporters to give their votes to Atiku.

Atiku, therefore, snatched victory from the jaws of possible defeat. For many Nigerians there was no other explanation for Tambuwal’s about-face than the need for regional, ethnic or religious solidarity.

Put starkly, Tambuwal’s volte-face was seen by Nigerians, except those invested in such underhand politics as a stab in the back of Wike, with some going further to view the situation as a mark of the innate disloyalty of the average Northerner who can never be trusted to live by their words.

But that for me will be taking it too far and a clear misreading of the way of a few persons or a group of persons bounded by class interest for the whole.

The character of the average Nigerian politician is not and should not be seen as representative of the people or region they come from and in whose name they routinely mismanage the country to the worst detriment of their own people. The question now is that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu candidacy presents politicians of Northern extraction another opportunity to either prove or disprove the claim that they cannot and should not be trusted in matters of power. Like him or not, Tinubu has played a key role in the APC even far more than can be rightly credited to Wike in the PDP. His ambition to be president, like that of Atiku Abubakar, may seem like an obsession but he has worked for it no less, if not far more, than any of those standing for the next election.

His emergence as the flagbearer of the APC should have been considered done, sealed and delivered even before the first ballot was cast at the APC convention for their presidential flagbearer. But that was not to be as everyone, including President Muhammadu Buhari, whose success as president in the face of three failed attempts, was only made possible by the bloc support Tinubu gave him from the South-West, looked askance and pretended they did not know it was, by their own code of morality as politicians, payback time.

In the name of being impartial, the president stood offish while the party’s chair, Abdullahi Adamu, started touting the name of Senate President, Ahmed Lawal, as the consensus candidate. Again, there was no explanation for this behaviour other than the need to ensure power does not leave the North, many mused.

While Tinubu demanded no special favours, despite his past contribution to the APC in its past and present incarnations, he was still going to be duped in plain sight as his putative Northern supporters looked on as they have been doing since he chose Kashim Shettima, a Kanuri, as his running mate, as opposed to someone from the entrenched Fulani establishment.

The success or failure of Bola Tinubu in the 2023 elections will be hard to divorce from the disposition of the Hausa and Fulani North to his ticket.

Disinformation triggered the rift between Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State governor, a member of the House of Representatives, has said.

Solomon Bob, who represents Rivers State in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, said the disinformation put out by “Atiku’s men” before and after the party’s primary contributed to the crisis that rocked the party.

Some of these lies, he said, included the claim that the governor was unsatisfied with results of the party’s primary and also wanted to be named the running mate of the presidential candidate.

He said the disinformation was put out to “pull down Wike and elevate the candidate – who already has a huge profile and an election to win.”

He made these comments during an interview with Channels TV on Monday.

He was reacting to the crisis that has hit the party in recent weeks and efforts made by all players towards reconciling aggrieved members.

Mr Wike fell out with the party leadership since losing the primary election to Atiku in June. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Wike failed to congratulate the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa Okowa, who was named the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

He also rebuffed attempts by Atiku and his team to meet with him.

He only recently agreed to a meeting on the condition that the party’s chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, would resign and the National Working Committee would be reshuffled.

Although the two men have taken steps towards reconciliation by meeting physically, Mr Bon said had Mr Atiku’s men not spread lies and degrading comments about Mr Wike, the matter would not have degenerated.

“Reports that he (Wike) is aggrieved with the party and was not picked as running mate is false,” he explained.

“The governor never wanted to be running mate to Atiku,” he said. “He never asked for it and never lobbied for it. That is the truth they won’t tell you. It was like a deliberate attempt to demystify and denigrate him.”

The lawmaker further said that all Mr Wike wanted was to be president because he had a workable plan of action for the country.

Mr Bon also blamed some party chieftains for spreading the lies.

“Atiku’s front men were all over the place making all kinds of derogatory comments…I found some of these things offensive and appalling.”

The whole thing, he said, started with “lack of good faith”.

He also said Mr Wike “never said anything about being unhappy with Atiku’s emergence” and has no reason not to support Atiku.

A former spokesperson for the PDP campaign organisation, Phrank Shuaib, who was also on the programme, said the crisis in the party is all politics and “nothing too much to handle.”

He, however, pushed back Mr Bon’s comments, saying Atiku never sent people to denigrate the Rivers State governor.