We Will Buy Guns For Our People If We Record Further Terrorists’ Attacks – Ondo Governor, Akeredolu
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has declared that he would buy guns for the people of the state to defend themselves if terrorists ever attack the state again.
The governor made the declaration on Friday during a presentation of 50 security-fitted vehicles to all security agencies in the state, including the South-West Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps.
Akeredolu, who recalled the killing of over 40 worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on Sunday, June 5, lamented that the police could not do anything when the incident was reported to them because they had no operational vehicle, adding that Amotekun later chased the terrorists but it was late.
A report by Daily Independent quoted Governor Akeredolu as saying that “Protecting the life and property of our people is our priority here. Our own interest lies here.
“Any other incident here, we will ask our people to get guns to protect themselves. We will even get guns for our people to protect themselves. So, you want me to stay inside my house and someone will come and kill me there.
“If we are pushed to the wall, we will also encourage our people to get guns. We are talking to our traditional rulers to get us the traditional powers. I am begging you, nobody, state, the country can continue to witness this kind of insecurity.
“People will be on motorbikes and attempt to attack planes at Airport. How did they come in? Are there no people manning the place? What a country where you can’t get a plane, or train to travel and you dare not travel by road.
“Bandits save their people from the government and the government can’t save its people from bandits.
“Up till today, not all Chibok girls, now women, have come back. So, what are we doing as a nation? I am worried about security issues in the country, let’s discuss it. Is there no government that they have this leeway to operate just like that?
“We will smoke criminals out of their hidings. Where we arrest them, we will bring them to justice and where they resist arrest, we will send them to where they will get justice.
“Whether they like or not, we will get State Police, it’s just a matter of time.
“Governor Matawalle was pushed to the wall before he asked his people to arm themselves to protect themselves.”
Meanwhile, the governor commended the security agencies in the state for their sustained collective operations in spite of the flash of criminalities, noting that “Amotekun is not competing but cooperating with other agencies.”
Recall that shortly after the Owo church massacre, Governor Akeredolu had reeled out fresh security policies to further beef up security in the state.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said six top Boko Haram commanders surrendered in the North East on July 13. The operations were conducted between June 30 and July 14.
Among the surrendered terrorists were a ‘Wali’ (governor) and ‘Kaid’ (a three-star commander). Director of Defence Media Operations Major Gen. Benard Onyeuko made the disclosure at the bi-weekly operational briefing in Abuja. Onyeuko named the repentant senior combatants as Mallam Mala Hassan (Wali), Ali Madagali (Munzur), Musa Bashir (Chief Anur), Buba Dahiru (Munzur), Jafar Hamma (Kaid) and Abbali Nakib Polisawa.
He said: “On July 13, six top terrorist commanders surrendered to troops in Gwoza. “It is pertinent to note that since the surrendering of terrorists to troops; the high calibre of commanders surrendered at this time is unprecedented among them a Wali (governor) and Kaid (a three-star commander). “Also, about 3,858 Boko Haram terrorists and their families surrendered between 1 to 14 July, comprising 505 males, 1,042 females and 2,311 children.
“Furthermore, in the theatre, troops neutralized several Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province terrorists within the period under review at different encounters at Gamage village in Dikwa Local Government Area, Dikwa – Gambora Ngala road, Pulka – Gwale road in Borno State, among others.”
Onyeuko also announced the arrest of terrorists’ collaborators, including their logistics suppliers. “All surrendered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and their families were profiled and documented while all recovered items and apprehended suspected terrorists were handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, distanced himself from a memo said to have been written from his office and sent to President Muhammadu Buhari seeking permission to resign his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The memo dated June 24, 2022, with reference number SH/VP/605/2./0 listed among others, family pressure, his (Osinbajo) continuous participation in active and partisan politics and membership of the APC as the reasons for his decision.
However, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, when asked to confirm the authenticity of the said memo, described it as fake.
According to him, the language of the author of the memo is not that of Osinbajo, saying his boss would not write a memo so full of errors.
“Where do you people even get these things from? Who gave it to you? Anyways, for the avoidance of doubt, the memo is fake. VP didn’t write any such thing,” he said.
The memo with the heading, Permission To Resign From APC, and purportedly signed by Osinbajo, read: “I have the honour to inform you that for sometime now, I have been having series of meetings and pressure from my immediate family members on some matters. One of the issues borders on my continuous participation on active and partisan politics, and by extension, my continuous membership of our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“As a father and great member , whom without you, I would not be where I am today, regrettably, I write to seek for your permission to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC. However, if the timing of this plan is not convenience or acceptable by Your Excellency, I will surely abide by your decision and advice, which I will consider to be the final. Please accept the assurances of my highest regards and loyalty.”
Kemi Badenoch, in her pursuit to be UK’s next prime minister of the United Kingdom, has slammed Nigerian politicians as looters and dream killers.
“I grew up in Nigeria, and I saw first hand what happens when politicians are in it for themselves, when they use public money as their private piggy bank, when they promise the earth and pollute not just the air, but the whole political atmosphere with their failure to serve others. I saw what socialism means for millions: poverty and broken dreams,” said Ms Badenoch in a speech announcing her ambition to become UK’s prime minister on the Conservative Party on Tuesday.
Ms Badenoch and 10 other politicians from the Conservative Party had declared their interest in becoming the next prime minister of the United Kingdom by September 5.
“Now I recognise that this is an ambitious agenda. And running to be Prime Minister when you’re a 42-year-old is by definition ambitious, but I am ambitious: for our country and for our party. I chose to become a Conservative MP to serve, and I chose this country because I can be who I am and I could be everything that I wanted to be,” Ms Badenoch noted.
She announced her intention to run in an opinion piece published in the Times of London on Saturday, saying she would run on a “smart and nimble vision.”
She, and four of her colleagues, had resigned last Wednesday in a joint letter announcing their resignation from government as scandals rocked the Boris Johnson administration. She resigned as minister for local government, faith and communities at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and as minister for equalities.
Ms Badenoch joined the Conservative Party at the age of 25 when she contested in the 2010 general elections for the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency against Labour’s Tessa Jowell and came in third place.
Her campaign is around tax cuts, low regulation, and attacking the UK’s net-zero target.
The tenures of 11 of the RECs came to an end on July 6, nine others are due for retirement next month, while one exited in April.
By Bisi Abidoye
Activities towards the 2023 general elections are under threat of paralysis in at least 20 states as the resident electoral officers (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reach the end of their five-year tenures.
The tenures of 11 of the RECs came to an end on July 6, nine others are due for retirement next month, while one quit in April to join partisan politics.
Those already out include Orji Nkwachukwu (Anambra); Emeka Ononamadu (Enugu); Obo Effanga (Rivers); Chukwuemeka Ezeonu (Imo); Joseph Iloh (Abia) and Mutiu Agboke (Oyo).
Others are James Apam (Kogi); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Bauchi); Umar Ibrahim (Gombe) Ahmed Makama (Taraba) and Hussaini Pai (Plateau).
However, apart from Mr Pai who has served out his second and final term, the other 10 of these RECs have only served a term and can be re-appointed for a second term.
Similarly, on August 17, the tenures of eight other RECs will also come to an end.
These are Asmau Maikudi; Riskuwa Shehu; Kassim Geidam (Adamawa); Jibrin Zarewa (Katsina); Abdulganiyu Raji; Samuel Egwu; Mike Igini (Akwa Ibom); and Sadiq Musa (Sokoto).
From this batch, those who are on second term and ineligible for re-appointment are Mr Geidam of Adamawa; Mr Zarewa of Katsina; Mr Igini of Akwa Ibom and Mr Musa (Sokoto).
In addition, Yilwatda Goshwe of Benue State resigned last year to join partisan politics.
The effect of this is that with six months to general election, 20 states will be without RECs, with dire implications on the elections.
The approvals of certain requests under the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise, which are exclusive to RECs, may suffer a setback in those states.
These approvals include requests for transfer of polling units and correction of names and other information of registrants.
RECs also chair the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the states, co-chaired by the state commissioner of police.
President Muhammadu Buhari, whose duty it is to appoint the officials for confirmation by the Senate, is yet to do so, a development that has caused anxieties at INEC as the commission prepares for the general elections.
New RECs are normally appointed before the tenure of the incumbents expire to avoid vacuum in the system and ensure seamless transition in the states. Mr Buhari failed to act as expected.
The president may reappoint those available for re-appointment to avoid the challenges of new hands grappling with the new role few months to the elections.
The Federal Government is gradually zeroing in on choosing a substantive replacement for the post of Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) with the shortlist of 14 directors for the position. A circular from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and signed by the Director (Administration), Mariya A. D. Rufai, confirmed this. The circular was received by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan, on July 6, 2022. Yemi-Esan had earlier directed permanent secretaries to forward details of eligible directors on Grade 17 to her on or before July 6.
The 14 directors shortlisted for the position include Muhammad Murtala Saleh, Chizea Onochie Peter and Lydia Jafiya Shehu from the Office of the AGF. Others are Bakre Modupe Julianah (Ministry of Police Affairs), Danladi Comfort Zakowi (NSCDC), Abah George Fidelis (Nigeria Im-migration), Omachi Raymond Omenka (Ministry of Interior), and lbrahim Saadiyya Jibo (National Boundary Commission). Others include Mohammed Aminu YarAbba (Federal Fire Service), Samuel A. Waziri (Ministry of Agric and Rural Development), Mahmud Adam Kambari (North East Development Commission), Mohammed Magaji M. Doho (Federal Ministry of Education), Mufutahu Bukolah (Federal Ministry of Transportation), and Yusuf Abdullahi Musa II (Fed. Min. Information and Culture). The Federal Government sacked the acting AGF, Mr. Chukwuyere Anamekwe in circumstances not yet explained to the public. Anamekwe was replaced by a former Director of Treasury Single Account (TSA), Mr. Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has warned that a shutdown of manufacturing activities is imminent if nothing is done to address the soaring cost of energy bedevilling the sector.
According to a statement by the Director-General of the association, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, over the years, the manufacturing sector has been battered by numerous challenges which have reduced the number of industries in Nigeria and converted industrial hubs in many parts of the country to warehouses of imported goods and event centres.
MAN also asked for a policy that would urgently allow companies and airlines to import diesel and aviation fuel respectively from the Republic of Niger and Chad.
MAN said by immediately opening up border posts in that axis for this purpose, the effect of high diesel and aviation fuel prices would be cushioned on the economy.
The association also called for help in saving the remaining manufacturing companies from closing down as a result of challenges arising from the inadequate electricity supply, inaccessible foreign exchange, and a rise in the cost of diesel.
Ajayi-Kadri said there were uncertainties and fear of survival of firms, and expressed fear of a force majeure over increasing diesel prices by 200 per cent.
Findings showed that diesel, which was sold at N266/litre as of October 2021, has recently increased to above N800/litre, which is above 200 per cent.
There are fears that the price could climb to N1500 if nothing is done to resolve the crisis, especially in terms of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Four obvious questions that readily come to mind that are seriously begging for answers are- What can we do as a nation to strengthen our economic absorbers from external shocks? Should manufacturing companies that are already battered with multiple taxes, poor access to foreign exchange and now over 200 per cent increase in the price of diesel be advised to shut down operations? Should we fold our arms and allow the economy to slip into the valley of recession again? Is the nation well equipped to manage the resulting explosive inflation and unemployment rates?
“More worrisome is the deafening silence from the public sector as regards the plight of manufacturers,” he said.
The association identified challenges such as a high operating cost environment largely caused by inadequate electricity supply, the high cost of alternative sources, excessive regulation and taxation, as well the inadequate supply of foreign exchange for the importation of raw materials, spare parts, and machinery that were not locally available.
To remain in business, the manufacturers demanded the development of a National Response and Sustainability Strategy to address challenges emanating from the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia. They also demanded consistent support to manufacturing to accelerate the process of recovery from the aftermath of COVID-19 and previous bouts of recession to avert the complete shutdown of factories nationwide with multiplier effects on employment and the economy.
Other demands included: the issuance of licenses to manufacturing concerns and operators in the aviation industry to import diesel and aviation fuel directly to avert the avoidable monumental paralysis of manufacturing activities arising from the total shut down of production operations and movement of persons for business activities and addressing the challenge of the repeated collapse of the national grid (twice within a week), which was causing acute electricity shortage in the country, especially for manufacturers.
Rising diesel prices have negative multiplier effects on the economy, said a partner and chair of the Energy & Natural Resources Practice Group at Bloomfield Law Practice, Ayodele Oni.
[b]“It does make things more difficult as most manufacturers are forced to use diesel for production as the power sector struggles with little or no public power supply. Diesel prices become an input to production and the higher same is the higher the finished products will be. [/b]Separately, it has a negative multiplier effect on issues such as unemployment, which is currently at a record high. With more job losses, crimes will increase, our GDP per capital too will drop and will also impact taxes which form revenue to the government of the states and federation. It is important to aggressively improve grid/ public power supply to enhance the attractiveness of Nigeria to manufacturing. Labour is comparatively cheap but that alone isn’t sufficient. It doesn’t look pretty, at the moment,” he said.
Directors of 10 banks collected N6.96bn sitting allowance and compensation in 2021, according to an analysis of the lenders’ financial results.
The amount represents an increase of 3.32 per cent from N6.74bn the directors received in 2020.
The 10 banks are: United Bank for Africa Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc.
Others are: Union Bank for Nigeria Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, FCMB group Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Unity Bank Plc.
Extracts from audited financial results and accounts for the full year ended December 31, 2021 revealed that Zenith Bank, followed by Stanbic IBTC Holdings, reported the highest sitting allowances and compensation, while Unity Bank reported the least.
Zenith Bank in 2021 reported a total of N1.65bn executive compensation, fees and sitting allowances, an increase of 18.06 per cent from the N1.4bn reported in 2020.
The breakdown shows that Zenith Bank in 2021 paid its directors N1.09bn compensation from N992m in 2020, while its fees and sitting allowances rose significantly by 38.9 per cent to N568m in 2021 from N409m in 2020.
For Stanbic IBTC Holdings, the total sitting allowance and compensation to its directors rose by 19.9 per cent to N1.672m in 2021 from N1.394m reported in 2020.
Stanbic IBTC Holdings in its report said, “The group will continue to ensure its remuneration policies and practices remain competitive, drive performance and are aligned across the Group and with its values.”
FBN Holdings’ executive sitting allowances and compensation rose by 15.7 per cent to N162m in 2021 from N140m in 2020.
However, two notable Tier-1 banks reported a decline in executive compensations, fees and sitting allowances.
Specifically, GTCO and UBA reported a 17.8 per cent and 6.3 per cent drops, respectively, in their executive compensation and sitting allowances.
For instance, as GTCO’s executive compensation dropped to N757.35m in 2021 from N921.36m in 2020, UBA’s executive compensation, fees and sitting allowances dropped from N762m in 2020 to N714m in 2021.
An analysis of others banks’ executive compensation, fees and sitting allowances shows that FCMB Group reported N828.12m in 2021, an increase of 22.9 per cent from N674.09m in 2020, while Union Bank of Nigeria Plc reported 9.6 per cent drop in its directors’ sitting allowance and executive compensation to N525m in 2021 from N581m 2020.
As Wema Bank reported N297.84m executive compensation/fees for the second consecutive year, Unity Bank grew its sitting allowances by 3.9 per cent to N38.6m in 2021 from N37.15 in 2020.
In addition, Fidelity Bank reported N312m executive compensation, fees and sitting allowances in 2021, a decline of 41 per cent from N529m reported in 2020.
Reacting, the Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, said although it was important for banks to remunerate their directors properly, there was also the need to ensure this was not done recklessly.
According to him, there is a need for the Central Bank of Nigeria to beam its searchlight on banks’ total payment to directors, warning that it will be wrong for the directors to feed fat at the expense of depositors and other stakeholders.
Okezie said, “These are the issues the CBN needs to look at. The directors deserve to be well-remunerated but the CBN needs to put a peg on this. There is no point directors feeding fat while the interests of other stakeholders are not well protected.”
Some filling stations in Lagos, Abuja, Niger and other states dispensed Premium Motor Spirit at between N200/litre to N250/litre on Sunday, higher than the government-approved retail price of N165/litre, as queues for the product extended to more states.
It was gathered that the worsening queues for petrol in Lagos and neighbouring states, as well as its prolonged persistence in Abuja and environs, were due to the insufficient supply of products by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company.
NNPC is the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria for several years running. It often claims to have enough products to keep the country wet for months. It, however, stayed mute on Sunday when contacted.
Our correspondents gathered that some filling stations in Lagos sold petrol to motorists at N200/litre and still had queues, as black marketers dispensed the product at N300/litre.
In Abuja, Khalif filling station in Kubwa, dispensed the commodity at N250/litre on Sunday but had N165/litre displayed on its pumps. But once a motorist tells the fuel attendant the amount he or she wishes to buy, this would be calculated based on N250/litre.
The queues for petrol in Abuja has never ceased since February this year, but it grew worse in neighbouring states of Nasarawa and Niger on Sunday as motorists search for PMS to move around during the Sallah break.
Oil marketers denied claims of product hoarding or diversion, as they stressed that the insufficient supply of PMS by NNPC and the non-payment of bridging claims for the transportation of petrol were the key reasons for the scarcity.
The President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, told our correspondent that filling stations that had products were dispensing, while those that were shut had no petrol to sell.
He said, “The problem is that every side needs to be transparent. We as retail outlet owners are ready to sell petroleum products to the teeming Nigerian public. We have no reason why we should not sell our products.
“The money used in buying the 45,000 litres of petrol from depots, almost N7m, is borrowed, and time-bound. So every retail outlet owner knows that the wise thing to do in this business is to sell out and try to turn around that sale as many times as possible.
“So with this scenario in view, there is no retail outlet owner that is hoarding product or diverting it. Yes, we know there may be bad eggs among the good bunch, but the fact that we are not having sufficient products is what has remained the cause of fuel scarcity.”
Gillis- Harry added, “In the case of Abuja, it is clear to understand that if the bridging claims are paid to marketers, they will be able to continue their products’ purchase cycle. That is just the reality. So payment of bridging claims is an issue and insufficient supply is also another issue.
“This is because if there is product and there is money for us to buy, then why won’t we buy and sell? What else are we in business for? Are we going to buy products and keep them? The answer is no! So this is the reality.”
On what could be the solution to the current crisis in the downstream oil sector, the PETROAN president stated that everything still boiled down to the need to end the current fuel subsidy regime.
He said, “There is a solution and it is simple. The subsidy that is being paid should be stopped. The money should be channeled to other developmental infrastructures such as health, education, etc.
“And since the refineries have not been fixed by the government, they should either give it wholly to private sector practitioners like PETROAN that own the retail outlets to manage.”
The NNPC stayed mum when asked to react to claims of insufficient supply of petrol by the national oil company. Its spokesperson, Garba-Deen Mohammad, did not answer calls and had yet to respond to a text message sent to him on the matter.
Fuel price hits N200/litre in Lagos, scarcity persists
Further checks show that some filling stations in Lagos and Ogun states sold fuel at N200/litre.
While many stations were under locks and keys despite a promise by the NNPC to keep the country wet, many among the few that had products were seen dispensing above N200/litre.
According to findings, the Federal Government and oil marketers are yet to come to a compromise on how much a litre of petrol should be sold, and marketers are beginning to sell products at prices not approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The continuous rise in prices comes on the heels of recent threat to withdraw the licenses of marketers that sell above official price of N165/litre issued by Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed.
A source close to the matter had told The PUNCH that marketers met with Ahmed in Abuja last week, where he pleaded with them not to increase their pump price.
“The meeting was held with NMDPRA last week, and Mr. Farouk begged marketers not to increase the price. But the long queues you are seeing are due to inadequate supplies. Marketers have also gone ahead to increase prices unofficially due to high operational costs. There was no formal letter to the effect though. It was just a word of mouth agreement to increase price between N175-N180 per litre”, our source said.
He advised the government to issue a statement on the marginal increase in the pump price of petrol.
Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria, MOMAN, Clement Isong, declined to comment on the causes of the rising petrol prices.
The PUNCH had recently reported that oil marketers were currently pushing for compensation from the Federal Government if petrol would remain at N165 per litre.
Among other things, marketers are lamenting high operational costs due to rising diesel price which is currently being sold above N800/litre at depots. There are fears that diesel prices could hit N1500/litre if nothing is done to tame prices.
The National Operations Controller of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mike Osatuyi, however, debunked allegations that NMDPRA and marketers secretly agreed to increase the price.
“That’s not true. There is no letter to that effect from NMDPRA,” he said.
However, when asked why the fuel price was rising, he said it was due to the hike in the price of diesel.
“Those stations you see that sell above N165 do so because they have to recover their costs,” he said.
On when the Federal Government would pay marketers the promised bridging claims, he said the payment process could stretch till July ending.
“Marketers are just submitting their claims and they will be verified first. So payment could be by the end of July,” he said.
Reacting to the continuous price face-off between the Federal Government and marketers, industry analyst and former Group Chairman/CEO, International Energy Services Limited, Dr. Diran Fawibe, said the issue of fuel supply appeared to have defied solutions.
“Everybody is throwing figures about costs and prices to sell and what not to sell. At the end of the day, it’s the consumers that will bear the brunt. What we have noticed is that prices vary from station to station, and from state to state, and obviously, that’s what the bridging payment by the Federal Government was supposed to address”, he said.
On his part, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise and former Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the current price was not sustainable.
According to him, the government is not in any way in the best position to control the prices of petrol if it cannot control diesel prices.
Commuters groan as transport fares rise
Meanwhile, findings by our correspondents show commercial buses have increased transport fares significantly, following the development.
According to residents from Alagbole-Akute axis of Ogun State, transport fares have increased by 50 cent – 100 per cent with bikes and buses becoming scarce. The residents blamed the situation on the fuel scarcity that has begun to manifest as long fuel queues and the reduction in the number of bikes plying the area as a result of the Sallah break.
One resident, who identified himself as Tayo Okediji, said, “Alagbole to Berger was between N200 and N300 today. There are more commuters on the roads because most of the bike operators are observing the Sallah break, and the few available ones have hiked the price. According to them, there is no fuel.”
The Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Sunday afternoon says he has not informed former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, that he is the substantive running mate.
Tinubu’s declaration comes less than one hour after the APC placeholder, Ibrahim Masari, officially stepped down as vice presidential nominee.
The national leader of the APC has declared Shettima as the vice presidential candidate while addressing newsmen shortly after his closed door meeting the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in Daura, Katsina State.
He said, “I saw Aminu Bello Masari today and there is going to be an announcement to replace him fully with the substantive candidate.”
When prodded to disclose who the substantive candidate was, Tinubu declared that it was Shettima, even though he has not discussed it with him.
“Kashim Shettima, I have not discussed with him but I have disclosed it to you,” he said.
Tinubu was accompanied to Daura by road by the Katsina Governor, Aminu Bello Masari after landing at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua airport, Katsina.
Meanwhile, Masari, the surrogate running mate on Sunday issued an official statement that he is stepping aside to pave the way for Tinubu’s substantive running mate.
Masari made the announcement after having a meeting with the presidential standard bearer.
He said, “This is to inform our esteemed party leaders under our able President Muhammadu Buhari, teeming party members and the great people of Nigeria, of the outcome of a crucial discussion I just had with the flag-bearer of our great party, All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Recall that I had the singular honour and privilege of being nominated as the running-mate to Asiwaju Tinubu last month after a keenly contested presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“But, after much reflection and wider consultations, I now wish to step down. I realized that my decision will enable Asiwaju to have more latitude to give more accommodation and inclusion that will position our party to win the coming elections, with the support of the people of Nigeria.
“In stepping down, I believe I can still serve our party and the country in several other capacities. I wish to confirm that I have submitted my withdrawal letter and affidavit to that effect as the Vice Presidential Candidate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the coming elections.”
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has defended his choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate....
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has defended his choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
Prior to the unveiling of Shettima, the polity was heated up over single-faith ticket.
While the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) rejected the idea and warned parties against it, some stakeholders asked Nigerians to focus more on competence than sentiment.
Speaking on settling for Shettima as running mate, Tinubu said all his life, decisions regarding the team around and supporting him had always been guided by the principles of competence, innovation, compassion, integrity, fairness, and adherence to excellence.
He said he consulted widely on the issue of running mate and he appreciates the perspectives of leading members of the party, political allies and key national figures “who see Nigeria’s future as I do”.
Tinubu specifically said the belief in prioritising leadership, competence, and the ability to work as a team over other considerations influenced his running mate choice.
“I am mindful of the energetic discourse concerning the possible religion of my running mate. Just and noble people have talked to me about this. Some have counselled that I should select a Christian to please the Christian community. Other have said I should pick a Muslim to appeal to the Muslim community. Clearly, I cannot do both.”
“Both sides of the debate have impressive reason and passionate arguments supporting their position. Both arguments are right in their own way. But neither is right in the way that Nigeria needs at the moment. As president, I hope to govern this nation toward uncommon progress. This will require innovation. It will require steps never before taken. It will also require decisions that are politically difficult and rare.
“If I am to be that type of President, I must begin by being that type of candidate. Let me make the bold and innovative decision not to win political points but to move the nation and our party’s campaign closer to the greatness that we were meant to achieve.
“Here is where politics ends, and true leadership must begin. Today, I announce my selection with pride because I have made it not based on religion or to please one community or the other. I made this choice because I believe this is the man who can help me bring the best governance to all Nigerians, period, regardless of their religious affiliation or considerations of ethnicity or region.”
To those who might feel displeased by his action, Tinubu said, “May I say this to all of you, especially to those who will be disappointed in my selection based on religious considerations. I will not and cannot ignore the religious concerns and ethnic sensitivities of our people. Taking them into due consideration is an important part of good and able governance. But religion, ethnicity and region cannot always and fully determine our path. To forge ahead as a nation toward development and prosperity, we must break free of old binds. We must recalibrate our political calculations to where competence and fairness matter more than reductive demographics.”
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, some governorship candidates have picked female running mates for the race, thus brightening the chances of more women participation in governance, Daily Trust Saturday reports.
In the aftermath of the governorship primaries of the two major political parties, only one woman, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) emerged victorious, defeating other top male political bigwigs to become the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag-bearer in Adamawa State.
However, in what looks like a departure from the norm, more governorship candidates have picked women as running mates, swelling the number of females who would be on the ballots in the 2023 governorship election.
Among women picked as governorship running mates so far are Professor Kaletapwa Farauta (Adamawa), Dr Hadiza Balarabe (Kaduna), Mrs Josephine Piyo (Plateau), Lady Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe (Cross River), Tonto Dikeh (Rivers) and Funke Akindele (Lagos).
There have been concerns over low participation of women in politics and this had led to clamour for 35 per cent affirmative action to ensure inclusion of more women in governance. The choice of more women as governorship running mates this time around may be a response to the clamour.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe (Kaduna)
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, Senator Uba Sani picked Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate for the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.
Sani who made the announcement in Kaduna after consultations with critical stakeholders said, “I am happy to announce that I have picked Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as my running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State.”
Dr Hadiza Balarabe is the incumbent deputy governor of Kaduna State. She was born in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State in 1966. She attended Girls’ College, Soba for her secondary education.
She read Medicine at the University of Maiduguri and graduated in 1988. She was a senior registrar at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital before joining the services of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2004.
Dr Balarabe served as the executive secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency before she became Kaduna deputy governor. She is married to Alhaji Mohammed Balarabe.
Prof Kaletapwa Farauta (Adamawa)
The Adamawa State governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri, picked Professor Kaletapwa Farauta as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election.
Farauta, a seasoned technocrat, became the North East region’s first female vice chancellor in the Adamawa State University, Mubi.
Her nomination is historic as she is the first woman in the North East to be nominated for such a position.
She was born on November 28, 1965 at Numan. She hails from Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
She attended Numan II Primary School, Numan from 1973 to 1979 and went to Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Yola from 1979 to 1983.
She had a National Certificate in Education (NCE) from the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola, in 1987; B.Sc (Agricultural Education) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1989) and M.Sc (Agricultural Extension) from the same university (1995).
She has a PhD in Agricultural Technology Education (2008) from the Federal University of Technology, now Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. Professor Farauta is married and blessed with children.
Mrs Josephine Piyo (Plateau)
In Plateau, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Caleb Mutfwang, picked Mrs Josephine Piyo as his running mate ahead of the 2023 general elections.
She was unveiled at a brief ceremony held at the state PDP secretariat in Jos recently.
Piyo, a grassroots politician, was chairperson of Riyom Local Government Area of the state and former lawmaker in the Plateau State House of Assembly.
Mutfwang said the choice of Piyo was about giving voice to the voiceless.
“Some of you will recall that in the course of my campaigns before the party primaries, I committed to giving a voice to the voiceless. I make bold to say that a critical segment of our society that is often neglected in leadership considerations is the womenfolk, yet they form a formidable percentage of our population. For me, giving them a voice is a compelling necessity,” he said.
Piyo is a health care worker and had served as a public administrator before her foray into politics.
The female running mate, who accepted the position, expressed gratitude and assured the state of working to give the party victory.
Lady Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe (Cross River)
In Cross River, the PDP named a former Channels TV broadcaster, Lady Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe as running mate to Prof Sandy Ojang Onor, its governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections.
Emana’s emergence was announced recently at the party’s secretariat in Calabar, the state capital, amid fanfare.
The chairman of the party, Venatius Ikem, who spoke after the announcement, said her choice was divine and that they consulted widely, adding that the party needed new and younger faces, especially from the womenfolk.
Accepting the challenge, Emana said many battles had been fought and won, adding that settling for a woman as PDP running mate in Cross River was a weighty statement.
“For Cross River to have a female running mate is a victory already for the party. You have given me this task in trust. It is a big challenge. I boldly accept it,” she said.
Emana is a youthful female with an impressive character, academic and career achievements and great exposure.
She is from Akpabuyo Local Government, Cross River south senatorial district. She is a wife and mother. It is believed that she would bring in her expertise as a broadcaster and crisis management strategist to ensure good governance in the state.
Passionate about good governance and nation building, she has anchored current affairs and political news programmes in Nigeria’s mainstream media for over a decade before venturing into private practice.
Emana is an alumna of the University of Ibadan, the London Business School, INSEAD and the London Academy of Media, Film and Television. She is a certified management consultant, fellow, Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria; and fellow, Institute of Management Specialists, United Kingdom.
Emana is a prolific writer with several of her articles published in national dailies for the past five years, mostly under a pseudonym.
Tonto Dikeh (Rivers)
Tonto Dikeh, a Nollywood actress, musician and songwriter, was picked as running mate to the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, Mr Tonte Ibraye.
The actress recently took to her official Instagram page to announce the news and as well thank the candidate for choosing her.
She wrote, “I thank Mr Tonte Ibraye (@tonteibraye), the governorship candidate of the ADC, Rivers State, for nominating me as his running mate.
“We are looking forward to investing massively in social protection, creating a social value system for young people, increasing women’s inclusion in our governance system, supporting small businesses and strengthening our traditional institutions to be active players in the drive to bring sustainable development to the good people of Rivers State.”
Tonto Dikeh is from Ikwerre, Abio-Okpa, Rivers State, Nigeria. She is the founder of the Tonto Dikeh Foundation established on August 27, 2000 with the goal of lending a helping hand to the less privileged.
She attended both primary and secondary schools in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. She gained admission into the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and bagged a degree in Petrochemical Engineering.
Funke Akindele (Lagos)
A Nigerian actress, Funke Akindele, emerged the running mate to the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State.
The actress and filmmaker was earlier nominated as a prospective running mate among five people.
Akindele-Bello Olufunke Ayotunde, popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian film actress and producer. Akindele starred in the sitcom, “I Need to Know” from 1998 to 2002, and in 2009, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
She was among the five names released as the potential running mates of the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Abdulaziz Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.
The others include a former governorship aspirant, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour; former senatorial candidate for Lagos East, Yeye Shobajo, another governorship aspirant, David Kolawole Vaughan known as DAKOVA, and Teslim Balogun, an engineer.
She is the second Nollywood actress picked for a deputy governorship position.
Akindele was born on August 24, 1977 in Ikorodu, Lagos State. She attended Grace Children School, Gbagada, Lagos State. She obtained a National Diploma (ND) in Mass Communication from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. She also earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.
The All Progressives Congress APC in the South South has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, demanding the dismissal of its Akwa Ibom state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, within 48 hours.
The petition which was received on July 3 by the office of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu was signed by APC Zonal Organizing Secretary, South-South, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere.
Barr. Igini on his part recounted his track records of public service especially at INEC, saying it is unfortunate that PDP elements who accused him of working for the then opposition are today in APC and now accusing him of working for the PDP.
The letter addressed to the chairman of the commission accused Mr. Igini of “incessant act of bias, injustice, sabotage and malevolence meted out on the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom state.”
According to Agbomhere, Mr. Mike Igini had over the years, since his deployment sabotaged and worked obviously against the All Progressives Congress in the State even when he is not supposed to be partisan or supportive of any political divide or party by virtue of his position and membership of INEC which is an unbiased, incorruptible and impartial umpire in every electoral process.
Agbomhere told the INEC chairman that a violation of the provision of Section 26 of the Electoral Act of 2022 is not without its consequences and same are rightly captured in Section 120 of the Act.
“From the foregoing facts we have just made available to you, Mr. Chairman, there will be no gainsaying that Mr. Mike Igini, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, has been compromised, shown partisanship and regrettably so, abused his office as an INEC official hence we make the following prayers to you;
“That, Mr. Mike Igini is not fit and proper to remain as the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner of the State. This is because a free and fair election begins with a free and fair process. Hence Mr. Igini has compromised, he therefore lacks the capacity to conduct or supervise any election in the state.
“That, Mr. Mike Igini be sacked and dismissed within 48 hours from the time of receipt of this petition.
“That, Mr. Mike Igini be committed to the relevant authorities for prosecution for the violation of Section 26 of the Electoral Act of 2022.
“May I remind you, Mr. Chairman, that the integrity of the Commission is greatly at stake here as this issue has generated not just statewide protests but also nationwide concerns by both members of our party and the generality of Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians. We believe that Mike Igini is not the only INEC REC in Nigeria hence his position should not bring disrepute of any sort to the Commission neither should same be used as an oppressive tool against the All Progressives Congress or any other political party.
“Finally, Mr. Chairman, we will be more than willing to approach the Code of Conduct Tribunal against Mr. Mike Igini and also approach the Federal High Court to obtain an Order of Mandamus to compel the Commission in any event where our prayers and demands are not met within the time given”.
While Justifying while Igini should be sacked, Agbomhere said; “In 2019, Mr. Mike Igini acted in gross violation of the Electoral Act by sabotaging the Senatorial Elections of His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio. He did this, by maliciously supervising the cancellation of the votes of the Distinguished Senator all in his bid to ensure his loss of the election”.
Igini reacts
In his reaction, Igini said; “The petitioner was in the PDP. The first place I worked was Cross River and I witnessed the arrogance of power of the then ruling PDP in 2911. They didn’t conduct their primaries when they said they did and the electoral officers wrote their report which I endorsed and on which basis, Prof Jega, then INEC Chairman acted on. They protested and President Jonathan told them to keep quiet that he brought Jega to sanitize the system. The CPC which was then the party of now President Buhari won an election and Tinubu’s ACN also won Obubra. Blessing was in the PDP then and rget accused me of being a member of the ACN.
“In 2015 when I was deployed to Edo, the arrogance of power was also on display by some PDP elements except for respectable personalities like Chief Orbih and a few others. This Blessing, from Edo, was a PDP member and they were the ones who said they were going to use federal might. I told them the hallmark of democracy will be a peaceful transfer of power and that there will be no federal might. Edo was the only state in the South South where Buhari scored more than the required 25percent. He had 46 percent. APC got one senatorial seat and four out of nine federal seats and also controlled the state assembly. That is my record of absolute neutrality.
“All the characters you are seeing the APC today accusing me, were in the PDP and they went after us the sane arrogance is what they are displaying today because they carried that mentality to APC. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a country where there is no book of remembrance we cannot have a democracy without democrats. Where was this Blessing when gunmen invaded my house in Benin because I stood against the purported federal might? That same individual is now in the ruling party. I did same in 2014 in Osun. I did same thing in Anambra and in Imo when there was crisis and I was sent to intervene.
“In respect of Akwa Ibom, the former senator who is behind all these, all the period Buhari contested election, he never got 10 percent in this state. It was only when Mike Igini came the people’s votes began to count. Then they said I was brought here to dislodge the PDP. They have their internal problems. They have three factions. That is the foundational problem and nor Mike Igini. You can buy some people all of the time but you cannot buy all the people all of the time.
“My records do not suggest anything they have said. Dishonest people are all over the place walking like colossus because we are in a country where our value pyramid is upside down.
“My only response is my record. All the people who are talking now were all members of the PDP”.
Kuje Attack: Terrorists captured N82m, $36,000 belonging to politicians, high profile detainees ―Security sources
**Shared Part of it as transport Allowance to Escapees
By Kingsley Omonobi –
Security sources have confirmed that a combined sum of about N82million and $36,000 US dollars belonging to some of the high profile inmates including politicians, former governors, unofficially kept with some Prison officers at the Kuje Correctional Center were hijacked during Boko Haram terrorists attack Tuesday night in Abuja.
Sources also said that some of the money was shared among the inmates to enable them transport themselves to their various destinations.
The Source said the monies which were brought by families of the high profile detainees to cater for their needs had been kept with trusted prison officials, including those manning the commissary, adding that the terrorists got wind of the money being kept because the high profile prisoners were living a different lifestyle in prison.
Recall that some of the wealthy and high profile individuals/politicians detained at the Kuje Correctional Centre include former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame, federal lawmaker Farouk Lawan. former Commander, Police IRT, Abba Kyari and Director of Police Pensions, Abdulrasheed Maina.
A source said, “After terrorists successfully freed the Boko Haram members, they asked all others who wanted to escape to assemble in an open space in front of the Medium Security Custodial Center, and started sharing transport money to them.
Recall that over 800 of the inmates escaped including the 64 Boko Haram terrorists while over 400 of the escapees have been recaptured.
The source said the Boko Haram terrorists after sharing the money and asking the inmates to flee, moved their own members into waiting vehicles and headed towards the Gwagwalada, Abaji route while warning non-members of the BHT not to follow them or they would be killed.
It was later gathered that many of those who escaped on Tuesday night were re-arrested in the Kwali area of the FCT and the surrounding villages with the aid of Vigilantes, Hunters with coordination from security operatives.
Two officers of the Nigerian Police Force are currently in detention over the invasion of Kuje Prison in Abuja.
Terrorists, who overpowered security operatives at the prison on Tuesday night, released over 800 inmates, including all the Boko Haram suspects in detention.
The attack sent a wave of shock across the country.
When he visited the scene on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed disappointment with the intelligence gathering system.
“I am disappointed with the intelligence system. How can terrorists organise, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it? How did the defences at the prison fail to prevent the attack? How many inmates were in the facility? How many of them can you account for? How many personnel did you have on duty? How many of them were armed? Were there guards on the watchtower? What did they do? Does the CCTV work?” Buhari had asked.
Hours after Buhari left Kuje, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a footage on Wednesday night, the terrorist sect showed some of its men shooting their way into the facility.
Tens of fighters were seen marching in groups while vehicles and building were on fire in the 38 seconds video.
An elderly man dressed in a native attire also joined the young men who were shouting on top of their voices.
The Islamic State’s A’maq Agency released the video with the caption: “Fighters of Islamic State attacked Kuje prison in Abuja yesterday and succeeded in freeing dozens of prisoners.”
Daily Trust gathered that the two police officers were nabbed after their communication with some of the escapees was intercepted.
“Two of the terrorists that escaped called a police investigation officer (IPO) in one of our stations and spoke to him in a compromising manner…They are now being investigated to know their level of complicity,” the source said.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has debunked the claim that he has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike in a tweet dismissed a video which has gone viral suggesting that he had dumped the PDP.
Checks by Daily Trust revealed that in the 30-second video, Wike was responding to questions virtually on a television programme in reaction to the defection of the governor of Ebonyi State Mr. Dave Umahi back in 2021 where he stated that Umahi did give a genuine reason for leaving the party.
However, the video was tampered with to suggest that Wike left the PDP while stating the reason for leaving “As the inability of the PDP to do anything for the South South.”
Reacting via a tweet the governor said, “This interview was cut and manipulated to give the false impression that I am leaving the PDP.
“Nothing could be far from the truth as I remain a committed member of the PDP.”
Daily Trust reports that Wike has been a subject of discussion following the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate and selection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as Atiku’s running mate.
Wike was said to have been tipped for the vice president slot by many leaders of the party but Atiku eventually settled for Okowa.
There have been moves by the leadership of the party to pacify the Rivers State governor.
Dad who left partner for Ukrainian refugee becomes carer as she's now partially blind Tony Garnett, 29, from Bradford, defended new flame Sofiia Karkadym who he now cares for full time after she caught an eye infection in Germany while fleeing Ukraine
A British dad who left his girlfriend for a Ukrainian refugee has given up work to become her full time carer.
Tony Garnett, 29, said it was the "right thing to do" after his new lover Sofiia Karkadym, 22, went partially blind.
The refugee suffered an eye infection in Germany en-route to the UK after fleeing her home in the city of Lviv under Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion.
Tony explained how Sofiia's condition, similar to an amoeba, has damaged her vision and said she now needs six months to recover after surgery in England.
The couple are now living together in Bradford, West Yorkshire, after Tony split from his longterm girlfriend Lorna, 28.
Earlier today, he revealed that he is no longer allowed to see his kids.
Defending their new relationship, Tony insisted Sofiia is "no homewrecker" and that she has been unfairly accused of breaking up his relationship when they fell in love.
The dad, who owns his own security company, became Sofiia's sponsor and left his partner and children just over a week after she arrived at their home.
"People are painting her as a villain who has come to the UK and stolen a British man. Nothing could be further from the truth. It was a mutual decision," he told the Metro.
"It wasn’t as if we had met each other and decided then and there to move out. I was leaving regardless, because I’d had enough of Lorna who took against Sofiia straight away.
"There was a lot of drama and a lot of stress when we lived with Lorna.
"I just wanted to take Sofiia away and look after her, I wanted to help someone who was fleeing from Ukraine. She’s not a homewrecker."
Despite facing a torrent of online abuse every day, Tony said the new couple are doing "brilliantly" together.
However the pair have faced financial difficulties following Sofiia's eye operation.
Tony said "a weight has been lifted off our shoulders" after they moved out of the home he shared with Lorna and into their own place.
They initially moved out to his mother's home where he said they found the spark that led to global headlines before moving into rented accommodation and taking in a Bengal cat.
But the council has said that it needs to be adapted before they can claim support under the Homes for Ukrainians scheme.
Tony and Sofiia might have to move for a third time after representatives visited the property as part of safeguarding checks under the scheme.
Officials said changes need to be made to the windows and fire escape which the couple have to request from their landlady.
Regardless of their housing situation, Tony said their long term goals have not changed adding that the pair hope to go into business.
The ex-tattoo artist said Sofiia could work in beauty or IT as she finishes the final modules of a university management qualification.
While he describes himself as a musician and is putting material together to share online based on his experiences of finding love with Sofiia.
Both Tony and Sofiia have been facing a torrent of abusive messages which Tony says are sent by people who do not know the full story.
He said: "In terms of the public, they don't have a clue. I am quite thick-skinned - there's two sides. I am getting men messaging me saying 'I wish I could do the same to my wife' and women asking me to run away with them.
"Sofiia is getting abuse, people calling her a home wrecker, and people talking about petitions to deport her."
He added: "I want to tell the truth. She is not a home wrecker. I chose to move her here to save her (from the war).
Alleged N1.4bn Fraud: How oil company defrauded Nigerian govt 8m litres of petrol – EFCC chair
EFCC chair, Mr Bawa, testified as the fifth prosecution witness on how Nadabo Energy Limited allegedly defrauded the federal government of 8 million litres of petrol under the fuel subsidy regime.
By Kunle Sanni
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has told the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja,how Abubakar Peters and his company, Nadabo Energy Limited, allegedly defrauded the federal government of 8 million litres of petrol under the fuel subsidy regime.
According to a statement by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, Mr Bawa, testified as the fifth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Mr Peters and his firm on Monday.
Mr Bawa said records from banks, Staco Insurance Plc, and Q & Q Control Services Limited, among others, obtained during investigation showed that the defendants supplied about 6,000 MT, estimated to be about 7,953,962 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol but claimed to have supplied the 12,000 MT which is roughly 16,808,064 litres.
Other testimonies
Earlier testifying, Tunji Nasiru, an official of Staco Insurance Plc and third prosecution witness, said he knew Nadabo Energy Limited through his work at the company. Mr Nasiru, led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, S.K. Atteh, denied the authenticity of some documents with which the defendants had claimed fuel subsidy proceeds.
He said his firm received EFCC’s August 20, 2013 letter requesting confirmation of the authenticity of two Marine Insurance certificates.
“We went through our records and we responded to the letter, vide ours dated 6th September, stating that we had no such certificate in our records.”
He testified that indeed, Staco Insurance Plc had done some transactions for Nadabo Energy Limited in the past, but said, “this particular one, was not in our record”.
He identified some of the exhibits tendered in the case to include EFCC’s August 20, 2013 letter to Staco Insurance Plc and insurance certificate number 40016.
He also said the third document, “an Insurance Marine certificate number 40017 is not in our records.”
“The fourth document is our reply to the third document, which was the EFCC letter.
“The fifth document, I can recognise this very well, this is what we have in our record as Marine Insurance certificate 40017,” he added.
He further identified the certificates attached by the EFCC, which the company was asked to authenticate.
He said, “our response was that we do not have these certificates in our record.
“In other words, the certificates were not issued by us.”
Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, E.O. Isiramen, the witness confirmed that he had never met Abubakar Peters, the second defendant, but only had dealings with the company, Nadabo Energy Limited, the first defendant.
“The Marine Insurance certificate number 40017 is the original one that we have in our record and I can tell you the details contained therein,” he said, stressing that the content of the Marine Insurance certificate number 40017 sent to the company by the EFCC for authentication was far different in content from the one in the company’s record.
“Moreover, the Marine Insurance certificate number 40016 is not in our record,” he said.
Testifying as the fourth prosecution witness, Matthew Oladunjoye, a staffer of Quality & Quantity, Q & Q Control Services Nigeria Limited, confirmed working with Nadabo Energy Limited concerning the case.
He identified the letters, which were already before the court as exhibits, adding that the EFCC wrote to the company with regards to MT Songa, which he described as the ‘daughter vessel’, that covered the loading, and also MT Gotland Carolina, which he described as the ‘mother’ vessel that carried out Ship-to-Ship, STS with MT Songa.
“We covered the operation between the transfer between the mother vessel and the daughter vessel,” he said.
He testified further that the EFCC had requested the company to authenticate some documents relating to the transaction.
“We checked and verified and sent to EFCC those which are true copies from our company, and those, not true copies were also identified and sent back to the EFCC,” he said.
He further identified the documents certified by the company to be true copies, and those which he said did not emanate from Q & Q Control Services Limited, yet had a stamp and signature which did not belong to the company.
He said, “My lord, in summary, the quantity discharged by Gotland Carolina is 7,986,355 litres and the quantity received by Songa is 7,983,150 litres.
“They claimed to have discharged 16,808,054 litres as quantity discharged at Masters Energy by Songa, but based on the figures that we have at the STS point, the figure is higher than what is stated in our documents.”
The trial judge, C. A Balogun adjourned the case until July 6 and 7 for the continuation of the trial.
Mr Abubakar and his company are being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges of falsely obtaining money under the fuel subsidy regime.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was arraigned on October 7, 2015, thereby prompting the commencement of his trial.
A Katsina resident, who witnessed the attack on the convoy of President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State, has narrated how he escaped....
By Seun Adeuyi And Tijjani Ibarhim A Katsina resident, who witnessed the attack on the convoy of President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State, has narrated how he escaped.
Daily Trust had reported how an advance team of Buhari were attacked near Dutsinma in Katsina on Tuesday.
According to Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, Nigeria’s number one citizen was not in the convoy at the time of the attack but security operatives and an advance team heading for Daura, Buhari’s hometown, ahead of Sallah, were attacked.
He said the attack was repelled by “gallant presidential guards”.
A witness, who said he was nearly caught in the middle of the clash, disclosed that he and some persons hid in a nearby bush.
The witness said they were on their way back to Dutsinma from Kankara, when they saw bandits in their number, crossing the road on motorcycles and had to run for safety.
He said some of them ran into the Turare village while others hid in the bushes, until they sighted a long military convoy which eventually cleared the road for them to reach Dutsin-Ma.
Earlier, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Aminu Umar, was shot dead by bandits in Katsina.
The deceased and his team members were ambushed while on a clearance operation in Zakka forest, Safana Local Government Area of the state.
Commenting on the incident, SP Gambo Isah, Police Public Relations Officer in Katsina, said Umar died in a battle the police had with over 300 bandits.
He said one other person died in the incident, but he did not disclose the identity of the other victim.
The Lagos State Government says it has fired a customary court judge, Mr Ishola Razaki Adeyemi, who allegedly dissolved a marriage and snatched the wife of a complainant, Mr. Olayemi Ayeni.
In a viral video, Ayeni was seen narrating how Adeyemi, who allegedly had interest in his wife, dissolved their union and denied him access to his children.
According to Ayeni, when he protested the development, Adeyemi got him arrested by the police and he was subsequently transferred to Kirikiri Prison in Lagos State.
He said trouble started in his home when his wife started disrespecting him after he invested N5 million in her business.
According to the complainant, the wife packed out of the house and rented an apartment close to him.
He said she had filed for divorce, which the magistrate granted and subsequently impregnated his wife.
“I had an issue with my wife, she moved out of the house, she rented an apartment very close to my house. I put five million naira into her business to establish a school, Greatest Kiddies Foundation. So the success of the business caused a problem in the family, I could not control her again.”
“So after ten months, I took her to court, thinking that I’ll able to resolve this matter through Alternative Dispute Resolution. The judge, Dr Ishola Azakiq Adeyeni, hurriedly dissolved my marriage and got that woman impregnated three months after dissolution of the marriage.
“The woman she’s now carrying nine months pregnancy for that man. What really pained me is that in the ruling, this man denied me access to my children. That I can only see the children at the school premises once in a week. The same children now are under his custody, he took over the business I established for that woman, he denied me access from having access to my children, he impregnated the woman now and he still wants to send me to jail.
“I don’t want my children to be under the custody of the man, instead allow my children to go and play at Sambisa Forest. I don’t want my children to live in a chaotic environment that is why I’m saying, I want my children back. If I don’t care, the Lagos State Social Development can take over the responsibility of the children. I’m financially okay, I can take care of my children. I can put them in boarding house, I want my children back. Fellow Nigerians, please assist me!” the man had said in a video, which generated anger on social media.
But reacting in a statement issued on Monday, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour Adeniyi, said the case was investigated by the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission.
Adeniyi said though the matter occurred between 2014 and 2015, the video was posted by Ayeni’s friends in 2016.
“The attention of the State Government has been drawn to a viral video circulating the social media space wherein one Mr. Olayemi Ayeni (the Complainant )alleged that a former Customary Court Member, Mr. Ishola Razaki Adeyemi, abused his office by exhibiting unprofessional conduct in a customary court case involving the Complainant and his wife and proceeded to snatch his wife and children from him.”
“The matter which occurred between 2014/2015 was investigated by the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission. The findings of the investigation subsequently led to the termination of the appointment of the Member of the Customary Court.
“It was discovered that the viral video was posted by “Ogbongefriends” sometime in 2016. Members of the public are informed that the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has attempted to reach out to Ogbongefriends on their various social media accounts, but unfortunately their accounts have not been active since 2018. All efforts to reach out to the complainant have been to no avail.
“We therefore use this medium to encourage anyone with useful information about the complainant to please reach out via our social media handles- @dsvrt on twitter or @dsva on instagram or on 0813-796-0048.”
It is unclear why the video started circulating again.
•Claims, ‘We are leaving the country much more secure than we met it’
•NMDPRA expresses concern over growing oil theft
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The federal government, yesterday, maintained that removing petrol subsidy would result in unintended consequences, insisting that this is a most inauspicious time to withdraw the price buffer.
Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, told Reuters that many other nations were introducing measures to help citizens cope with high oil energy prices. Mohammed said Nigeria could not be an exception.
Despite the daily killings and attacks across the country, the minister said, “We are leaving the country much more secure than we met it,” noting progress made against Boko Haram since 2015.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) expressed worry over the rising incidents of vandalism and theft along the key pipeline conveying refined petroleum products to Mosimi, Ibadan, Ore, and Ilorin fuel depots. Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, said this when the top executives of the South-west Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) visited him in Abuja.
Mohammed’s position on petrol subsidy aligned with that of President Muhammadu Buhari, who recently chided the West for demanding the removal of what the government termed under-recovery while they continued to seek new ways to relieve their own citizens of the effect of the harsh global economy.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil exporter, but still has to import almost all its fuel needs due to lack of refining capacity. The country recently scrapped plans to abolish fuel subsidies earlier this year, a move that raised concerns with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“When you consider the chaos, the social disharmony and … instability such an action (abolishing subsidies) would facilitate, is it worth it? I don’t think so,” Mohammed said in a wide-ranging interview with the news medium.
Nigeria suffers intermittent fuel shortages and has raised its deficit forecast twice this year and increased borrowing to cover the cost of the subsidy.
The country’s petroleum production has also fallen short of government targets, with $1 billion in revenue lost to crude oil theft in the first quarter of this year, according to the sector regulator.
Mohammed said a new industry law that allocates money to oil-producing communities would stop attacks and blamed the European Union’s climate change policies for stifling investment in the sector.
“We believe that climate change is real and important for emission control, but there is a bit of double standard in the EU policy regarding climate change,” he said.
Alongside attacks on the oil infrastructure, much of Nigeria’s north is wracked by violence committed by so-called “bandits,” while dozens were killed in church attacks in the northern state of Kaduna and the South-west state of Ondo last month.
Notwithstanding the killings and attacks across the country almost on a daily basis, Mohammed said the current federal administration was “leaving the country much more secure than we met it” at the inception of the government in 2015.
He reiterated the Buhari government’s call on Western countries to declare the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which campaigns for secession of part of South-east Nigeria, a terrorist group.
Asked if Nigerian security forces had killed any innocent people in the country’s South-east during its campaign against IPOB, Mohammed said, “Not deliberately.”
Mohammed said he would demand the return of hundreds of priceless sculptures, known as the Benin Bronzes, when he meets with the director of the British Museum later on Monday, after Germany returned the first two of more than 1,100 of such sculptures last week.
“I will be telling them that time is running out to return our stolen artefacts,” he said.
The minister added that he did not expect a result immediately, stressing, “it’s about when, it’s not if.”
Mohammed’s comments came as NMDPRA voiced concern that incidents of vandalism and theft were rising along the main pipeline delivering refined petroleum products to Mosimi, Ibadan, Ore, and Ilorin fuel depots.
The 2B pipeline network pumps petroleum products from the Atlas Cove depot in Lagos Island through the depots in Ejigbo in Lagos Mainland, to Mosimi in Ogun State, Ibadan in Oyo State, Ore in Ondo State, and Ilorin in Kwara State.
The NMDPRA chief executive said the series of theft and vandalism had led to huge revenue losses for the government.
Speaking when the top executives of the South-west IPMAN visited him in Abuja, Ahmed described the association as a critical stakeholder in the petroleum sector.
He added that the industry regulatory authority had received complaints about private petroleum products depots selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, above the approved price of N165 per litre.
Ahmed said the illegal price increment had disrupted the smooth operation of the entire fuel distribution and supply value chain, leading to higher prices in some areas.
He urged the association to report any fuel depot selling products to its members above the approved ex-depot prices by the government.
In his remarks, the zonal chairman of IPMAN in the South-west, Dele Lamidi, said the executive committee visited NMDPRA to seek its collaboration and support, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
Lamidi listed some of the challenges faced by IPMAN to include products sharing difficulties, rise in penalties, difficulties in getting tax clearance from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), as well as the high cost of doing business in the country.
He pledged the continuous support of the group to the federal government by ensuring that petrol was available at the regulated retail price of N165 per litre at retail outlets across the country.
Lamidi stated, “As far as we are concerned in the South-west, we have gone beyond embarking on strikes. Strike is not the solution to any problem, because if there is a strike, it affects the masses and our businesses.
“We will work together with the authority to ensure free flow of petroleum products and also make sure that products are sold at the government-regulated retail price, if we get them at the normal price.”
A man said to be a resident of Lekki Phase 1, Eyenkorin Area of Ilorin, Kwara State, has set his house on fire over disagreement with his wife.
The incident which happened around past on Sunday, was confirmed by the HOD, Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle.
He said a resident simply identified as Mr. Kola that summoned the service over the incident.
Adekunle in a telephone chat with our correspondent said the service was able to eliminate the fire and prevented it from escalating to other buildings in the neighbourhood.
“What we learnt was that the man can’t remember his name now, and his wife had misunderstanding about two years ago before he relocated to another of his building, leaving the wife and children behind.
“All attempts to settle the matter did not yield results and the move to also convince him to allow the wife and children live there since he had another house also failed.
“According to the report, the man suddenly appeared on Sunday and sprayed the three bedrooms flat with petrol before setting it ablaze with the children inside that his wife was frustrating him.”
He said it took the intervention of the resident who reported the incident and others for the occupants to be rescued.
THE reappearance of an invasive snail species forced state officials to enact a quarantine order last week for residents of Florida’s Pasco County, an area north of Tampa along the gulf coast.
Authorities took action after confirming that a notoriously destructive breed of mollusc, known as the giant African land snail, was identified by a community gardener in the city of Port Richey.
A division of Florida’s department of agriculture that manages pest control began to survey the region for additional snail sightings once the quarantine mandate was in place, according to the agency.
The control unit started to treat the land with baited pesticide on Tuesday. Florida’s agriculture department has called the giant African snail “one of the most damaging” mollusc subtypes in the world.
Its unusually large size and ability to procreate in vast quantities allows the creature to infiltrate surrounding areas quickly, posing threats to vegetation and infrastructure because of its appetite for at least 500 different plants as well as paint and stucco.
At four months old, a single snail can lay thousands of eggs at a time and each can grow to be 8 inches long as an adult.
The snails are mobile — experts warn that they “cling to vehicles and machinery,” plus trash, to “move long distances” — and resilient, with the capacity to survive for a year while “inactive” and buried in soil to shield itself from unfavorable weather.
They also present serious health risks to humans, as the snails carry a parasite called rat lungworm that can cause meningitis.
People are advised to wear protective gear, like gloves, when handling them.
Giant African land snails have wreaked havoc on parts of Florida before. Although they are not native inhabitants of the state, officials have traced infestations dating back to the 1960s to escaped house pets and illegal importations by religious groups, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Nigerians are increasingly expressing worry over the incessant foreign trips by President Muhammadu Buhari, with allegations that the travels do not bring any concrete...
Nigerians are increasingly expressing worry over the incessant foreign trips by President Muhammadu Buhari, with allegations that the travels do not bring any concrete benefit for the country, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.
Presidents usually undertake foreign travels to attend important events, deepen diplomatic ties or seal bilateral business deals.
Since his coming, President Buhari had come under public censure over the frequency of his foreign trips with critics saying the benefits were not commensurate with the cost to the taxpayers.
Some also criticise the president for prioritizing foreign engagements against the backdrop of fewer domestic travels to attend to pressing national issues.
The trend of the president’s foreign trips was however halted by the COVID-19 pandemic which restricted physical meetings for nearly two years.
With the easing off of the COVID-19 restrictions protocols, President Buhari has now resumed another bout of foreign trips.
The president’s many trips
In the first half of the year, an analysis by this paper revealed that the president had undertaken 10 foreign trips.
The latest of the trips was a state visit to Portugal, last week, at the instance of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He also participated in the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon June 27 to July 1.
Before this, President Buhari had attended the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held from June 20 to 26, 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Also, on June 4, the president attended an Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government on the political situation in Mali and other parts of the sub-region in Accra, Ghana.
On June 1, he embarked on a two-day state visit to Madrid, the capital city of Spain, at the invitation of his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez.
In May, President Buhari visited the United Arabs Emirate to condole the country over the loss of its immediate past leader, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nayan; Equatorial Guinea, where he attended the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union; and the Ivory Coast, where he attended the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
The president also visited Brussels, Belgium in February for the 6th European Union-African Union Summit; Nairobi, Kenya in March, for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Programme; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in February for the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Africa Union Heads of State and Government; and London, the United Kingdom in March, for a two-week medical trip.
Trips wasteful, not yielding results – PDP, dons, activists, lawyer
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, who described the president’s foreign trips as “unprecedented,” said it had not attracted foreign direct investment to the country nor restored the respectability of Nigeria among countries of the world.
He said the president had been noticed to always be on the move out of the country for events that ordinarily should be attended by aides and appointees.
Rafsanjani said one would expect that these foreign trips would yield security support in the form of military support and consolidation of military infrastructure for the country to fight the increasing spate of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and secessionist insurrections.
“But this is not the case as the country continues to be held to ransom by criminal elements.
“Since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s presidents have always embarked on endless and fruitless foreign trips at the expense of the country’s meagre resources, especially when the modalities and financial cost of presidential travels are factored in. While Nigerians have since 1999 complained about the frequent foreign trips of their leaders, President Buhari’s rate of foreign travels since assumption of office is unprecedented.
“In the early years of the President Buhari regime, his frequent travels were largely on medical grounds. One would have thought that the biggest lesson the president should have learnt at the early stage was to revitalise the health system in the country. Sadly, however, the country’s health system continues to be faced with unprecedented negligence by the government, especially through poor budgetary allocation.
“Sadly, the president neglects the country’s health sector in preference to medical jamboree to foreign countries, whose governments have developed their health sectors. He has also set a terrible example for his appointees, who are also following suit in this kind of medical tourism at the greater expense of the masses of Nigeria.
“As a country with very high level of illicit financial flows, which are always a tool for terrorism financing, one would expect that foreign trips by the president would strengthen Nigeria’s bilateral and multi-lateral relationships to effectively combat terrorism financing in the country. Illicit financial flows are rather escalating.
“By and large, President Buhari has merely abandoned governance at home and is fixated with foreign travels,” he said.
Also speaking, a political scientist at the University of Lagos, Dr. Kayode Esuola, said while it was imperative for leaders to seek global alliance with other nations of the world, Nigeria had not achieved much from President Buhari’s frequent foreign trips.
He said, “The world today is a place where nations and governments must relate over an array of social, political and economic deals.
“This inevitably makes leaders of countries travel in search of alignments amongst one another. However, a look at the state of the Nigerian state today does not show much yield of the foregoing in Buhari’s frequent travels.
“Subsequent travels, if they must occur, should focus on relations that will restore security, repair the economy and foster socio-political development in Nigeria.”
On his part, a professor of Political Science, Lagos State University, Sylvester Odion, said there was nothing the president could achieve again with his frequent trips.
President Muhammadu Buhari (left) with other world leaders during EU-AU summit in February
Also, a lawyer and activist, Festus Ogun, described the development as disturbing.
He said, “The frequent travels of the president, which have brought no significant value to the country, is completely embarrassing.
“I feel that by 2023, we must summon the courage to elect a leader that sits at home and gets the job done.”
It’s beneficial, strengthening international diplomacy – Prof Ojo, Dr Tade
However, a professor of Political Science, Dr Gbade Ojo, told Daily Trust on Sunday in Ibadan that the foreign trips by the president were expected at this critical time.
“President Buhari has been on the move recently, from one country to another. This is good for the country, to some extent. At times, diplomacy is better conducted by personally moving out to meet leaders of powerful countries personally rather than through ambassadors.
“What matters, however, is the ability of the Foreign Service of Nigeria to do a very good follow-up to reap the benefits of such travelling.
“Aside that the administration of Buhari is gradually expiring, his achievements should transcend domestic policies alone. Finally, he is trying to prove that he is healthy despite his age and ludicrous insinuations.
“On the other hand, some irreverent critics of Mr President may, however, argue that Buhari needs to devote more time at this tail end of his administration to many daunting challenges at home, most especially security, economy and transition from civilian to civilian government coming up next February.”
Another public affairs analyst, Dr Oludayo Tade of the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, said Nigerians should consider the benefits of the trips by the president before criticising him.
“The trips are for certain purposes. It is left to interrogate each of the trips and the benefits to the individual traveller and what becomes of the country. If all his journeys are not impacting the country, then it is wasteful. But if the country can see physical things or diplomatic positive impacts from the trips, then it is okay to travel. Balancing these two sides would give you an idea on whether his trips are desirable or undesirable,” he said.
Presidency lists gains of trips
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a factsheet released on May 28 this year, which highlighted the achievements of the administration, announced the re-establishment of Nigeria’s position and influence in the regional and global arena.
He said fragile or broken relations with the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and with neighbouring countries (Chad, Niger, Cameroon) had been revived and strengthened since June 2015.
He said President Buhari’s April 2016 official visit to China had unlocked billions of dollars in infrastructure funding, primarily for road, rail and port projects.
Adesina listed major outcomes, results and manifestations of Nigeria’s renewed visibility and respect on the international stage to include: “The positions of deputy secretary-general of the United Nations; director-general of the World Trade Organisation; secretary-general of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), African Development Bank, and African Export–Import Bank, which are all currently held by Nigerians.
Also included are “the signing, in August 2016, of a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom (UK) government on modalities for the return of Nigeria’s stolen assets; establishment of a Global Forum for Asset Recovery (GFAR), hosted by governments of the United States and UK in December 2017 to focus on assisting Nigeria and three other countries to reclaim their stolen assets.”
Furthermore, “Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in 2016 and developed a National Action Plan, which is already being implemented.
“In 2016, Nigeria signed an agreement on the identification and repatriation of illicit funds with the United Arab Emirates during President Buhari’s visit to that country.
Concerns Grow Over Buhari’s Incessant Foreign Trips
“The federal government under President Buhari has successfully engaged the governments of Switzerland, Jersey Island, United States, United Arab Emirates and Liechtenstein, among others, in an effort to ensure the repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen assets.
“A total of US$622 million in looted Abacha funds repatriated to Nigeria in two tranches in December 2017 and April 2020. The first tranche ($322m) is being disbursed as part of the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programme interventions, while the second tranche ($311m) is being invested in the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). More Abacha loot has since been identified for repatriation.
“Under President Buhari’s watch, Nigeria has been playing an active and stabilising role in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In 2017, Nigeria was able to successfully negotiate a vital exemption from production cuts agreed at the time, a move that helped shore up revenues and foreign reserves.
“The Buhari administration has mobilised international support for the war against Boko Haram, forging strong partnerships with key countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, ECOWAS, the AU, UN and others. After years of stalemate, the United States finally agreed to sell – and is selling – weapons to Nigeria (fighter aircraft).”
Again, he said, the government has revamped the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) “comprising troops from Nigeria and Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin”.
Other achievements the Buhari administration achieved on the international stage, according to Adesina, include “the designation of President Buhari as the African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion for 2018; the designation of President Buhari by ECOWAS Heads of State as West Africa’s COVID-19 Champion in 2020; President Buhari’s assumption, in 2021, of the presidency of the Pan Africa Agency of the Great Green Wall”.
The presidential adviser explained that “President Buhari’s interventions have helped restore and strengthen democracy in The Gambia and Guinea Bissau. He authorised the deployment of troops, fighter jets and warships to The Gambia during the impasse that followed the December 2016 presidential elections.
There is also a “successful evacuation and repatriation of more than 10,000 Nigerian migrants from Libya, with the support and partnership of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).”
Nowhere In The Bible Says A Christian Can't Defend Himself - Pastor Adeboye
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has spoken against the high rate of insecurity in the country, saying henceforth, “it’s fire for fire”.
Nigeria is currently going through one of its worst form of insecurity in history. From banditry to kidnapping and insurgency, attacks are being recorded in virtually all the regions of the country on a frequent basis.
Speaking during the church’s July 2022 Holy Ghost Service, Adeboye said enough is enough.
In his sermon, the preacher said the church would hold its 2022 convention in the second week of August.
He said that would be the 40th at the Redemption Camp on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Adeboye said people all over the world would attend the event and encouraged “lazy members” to be part of it, urging them not to sit back to watch from the comfort of their homes.
“This programme is going to be different from the one you have known. Some people out of laziness have decided ‘Oh! I can watch everything on television.’ It’s good to watch on television; the programme will be televised throughout the world. But, like I told you, if you are watching television and fire is burning, do you feel the heat. If you are watching television and rain is falling, does your dress get wet?
“There are certain things television cannot transmit. Not at all. Glory be to God for television that can transmit across the world. Glory be to God. But when the Almighty God knows that it is out of laziness that u sat back at home, you will be hearing the testimonies of those who were present. There’s something call corporate anointing. The Bible says fire begets fire. There are certain things you get because you are there… Oh! Some jokers said churches should not open for three months. Who is your commander? God of Boko Haram? Let the devil try any nonsense, from now on, it is going to be fire for fire!
“I understand that one funny fellow said some people were calling on Ogun because Jesus didn’t answer them. Well, for the one who said that, there’s a saying that the mouth that the snail used to blaspheme God, that mouth will kiss the ground. From now on, anybody who dares blaspheme Jesus Christ will taste the fire of the Almighty God. Every enemy of the church, as far as Jesus is a consuming fire, if they don’t repent, the fire of God will consume them.
“I don’t want to say much because I know whatever I say, some people may want to twist it. I have searched the Bible from cover to cover and there is nowhere where God said a child of God cannot defend himself. If you find the place, let me know. He said that if they slap you on the right cheek turn left, He said that one. If they now slap the left what did he say? When God is silent, do you know the meaning of that, it simply means over to you.
“I am only talking to my children. Only my children come to the Holy Ghost Service.”
In 2020, Adeboye led his church members on a protest over of insecurity and killings in Nigeria.
Adeboye, who instructed his church members all over Nigeria to observe the walk, commenced the walk from Ebute Meta to Atan Cemetery in Yaba metropolis in Lagos State.
A young lady who reportedly become mentally unstable mysteriously, on Friday stripped herself while barking like a dog in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
There were reports that the yet-to-be-identified lady might have been diabolically used for money rituals by suspected internet fraudsters.
The Ogun State police command confirmed the incident, saying “the young lady in question was alleged to have been spiritually and diabolically used by a suspected yahoo boy, as a result of which she started barking like a dog.”
The Ogun State police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, informed that the victim, who was taken to police without any clothes on her, became “very difficult to control because she was acting violently, hence she was kept in the cell.”
Oyeyemi said police had immediately contacted her parents, saying she was taken to the hospital with the help of the police.
He said “the alleged Yahoo boy was immediately arrested for interrogation,” adding that the case which attracted a large crowd to the station was later transferred to the State CIID on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole.
However, Oyeyemi said the command was surprised and embarrassed to see the video of the victim circulating on social media.
“The height of the embarrassment was the fact that the said video was recorded while the victim, who was then naked and uncontrollable, was in a police cell.
“In view of this, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole has ordered a full-scale investigation to unravel the source of the video and how it became a subject of social media discussion.
“It is barbaric, uncivilized and despicable circulating such video on social media as such will in no small measure denigrate the human dignity of the victim which might be another source of psychological trauma for her.
“The Command has therefore vowed to deal with whoever found to be the source of the video and those behind its circulation on social media in the most decisive manner notwithstanding the status of the person,” Oyeyemi said on Friday.
• North West governors, ministers, leaders meet in Kaduna, to engage presidential candidate
• Tinubu support group insists on Lalong
• Youth groups settle for Yakubu Pam
by George Agba and Isaiah Benjamin
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is yet to name his running mate for the 2023 presidential poll due to unyielding vested interests.
LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that some North West and North East governors elected on the platform of the APC are not ready to budge on their decision to become running mate to Tinubu, a development that has left the party’s presidential candidate at tether’s end.
Even though he has crossed the hurdle of beating the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for political party’s to submit names of candidates, Tinubu has said at an event to mark Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila’s 60th birthday last Sunday that he was still searching for his running mate.
It was gathered that while vested interests are fighting plans by Tinubu to unveil his preferred candidate, there are frantic efforts within the APC to reach compromise among all the powerful interests and blocs pave way for the presidential candidate name his choice.
A reliable source within the party hinted this paper that Tinubu had already presented a governor from the North East as his running mate, but his choice was greeted with stiff opposition from some governors and other persons from the North West and North East eying the VP slot.
The source who did not want his name in print because he is not authorised to speak on the matter told our correspodent that Tinubu appears to be in a fix on how to convince the governors and key stakeholders from the two zones to accept his choice of running mate.
“Aiswaju has already presented his choice of running mate to the president and the governors. But it did not go down well with some governors, especially those serving out their second term in office who are also scheming for the VP slot. They are strongly opposed to the choice of the governor from North East as running mate to Tinubu. And whichever decision he (Tinubu) takes is the devil’s alternative because he is also considering how to boost his chances and that of the party in the 2023 polls.
“Don’t forget that the North West and North East have the bloc votes and if he does not carry every vested interests along, he may limit his chances of a landslide victory in the two geopolitical zones,” the source with an insider knowledge of the intrigues surrounding the power play for the VP slot said.
Meanwhile, consultations over an acceptable running mate, it was learnt, has been narrowed to the two zones, even as the hope of picking a northern Christian from among hopefuls like secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong; former SGF, Babachir Lawal, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, among other, seems to have been dashed.
This is just as APC zonal leaders in the North West geopolitical zone yesterday met in Kaduna to push for the vice presidential slot.
The consultative meeting had APC governors, governorship candidates and ministers from states of the zone in attendance.
At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that leaders from the zone should engage the presidential candidate of the APC, Tinubu, over certain interests, including the clamour to pick a vice presidential candidate from the zone.
In a communique issued at the end of the consultative meeting, the North West leaders recalled that the zone gave the governing party the highest votes in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
Although they did not listed the issue of running mate as part of the interests they were planning to confront Tinubu with, a prominent APC chieftain from the zone who was at the meeting told LEADERSHIP that the jostle for the vice president slot was one of the major primes in the meeting’s agenda.
“If not for the issue of running mate, what do you think we are meeting Tinubu for. What we are saying is that the North West deserve that position and won’t settle for less,” the source told our correspodent in confidence.
Meanwhile, the meeting’s communique signed by national vice chairman (North West) of the APC, Salihu Moh Lukman, noted: “The meeting welcomed the initiative to commence this consultative meeting as vital for strengthening the APC in the North-West and improve leadership engagements and cohesion within the zone.
“Participants received the zonal report from the National Vice Chairman (North-West) and reviewed the state of the party at the national level and within the zone. The zonal meeting welcomed the successful conclusion of primaries at the state and national levels.
“Participants acknowledged the challenges facing some state chapters of the party and resolved to promote efforts at reconciliation as an urgent priority.
“The meeting noted the contribution of the North-West to the emergence and growth of the APC and its electoral viability, with the North-West providing about 39% of the votes the APC recorded in the 2019 and 2015 presidential elections.
“Therefore, the zone resolved to aggregate its interests and vital concerns and engage accordingly with the presidential candidate of the party.”
The North West leaders also asked the zonal chairman to ensure stakeholders of the zone meet regularly.
“Participants requested the National Vice-Chairman (North-West) to ensure that the consultative meeting is sustained as a vital tool for cohesion within the party,” the statement noted.
Tinubu Support Group Insists On Lalong As Running Mate
Meanwhile, a pro-Tinubu group, Northern Nigerian Movement for Asiwaju 2023, has insisted on Plateau State governor and chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong, as running mate to the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu, in the 2023 presidential poll.
The group made its position known in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Dr Mohammed Attahiru.
Giving what it termed cogent reasons why Lalong was the best bet for the VP slot, the group pointed out that one factor that will brighten the chances of Tinubu in the 2023 contest is the choice of his running mate, saying, such decision must be taken carefully by party leaders and stakeholders.
Attahiru said, “Tinubu is deeply rooted in Nigeria’s political firmament and has great followership and acceptance across the country.
“There is every need for leaders and critical stakeholders of the ruling party to be more meticulous, strategic and circumspect in arriving at the choice of running mate for Tinubu.
“Tinubu himself appears to know the implications of the choice of running mate as he goes into the crucial presidential election of 2023, hence, the reason he is taking his time to get it right.”
The group maintained that one person that would be a masterstroke and game changer for Tinubu when it comes to the choice of running mate is the Plateau State governor.
It noted: “Lalong is a quintessential and grassroots politician who will be a worthy and right running mate for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for many reasons.
“Lalong, who is the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum was able to galvanized and rally all his colleagues from the North to insist on power shift to the South.
“He was instrumental in seeing to it that the Aso Rock cabals who were bent on foisting the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on the party as flag bearer did not succeed , thus, paving the way for the seamless emergence of Tinubu at the convention in Abuja.
“The last minute intervention of the Lalong-led NGF changed the equation in favour of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. It will be a good thing to reciprocate this kind gesture of Governor Lalong by making him the running mate to Tinubu. After all, one good turn, they say deserves another”.
The group further described Lalong someone with a detrabalised posture and religious tolerance.
“Nigerians are very familiar with the bloodshed and crisis that had bedeviled Plateau, particularly Jos. Most of these crises were traceable to ethnic and religious differences among the people on the Plateau.
“However, the emergence of Lalong as governor changed the narrative on the Plateau as the state has largely witnessed relative peace as against the recurrent clashes it had recorded in the ugly past.
“Lalong due to his sensitivity to the religious and ethnic leanings of the people on the Plateau, has been able to engender peaceful coexistence and promote harmonious living among the people. He has been able to scale down the spate of conflicts and tension on the Plateau”, Attahiru said.
The group further said choosing Lalong means that Tinubu will be choosing a running mate who would be highly sensitive to the ethnic, religious and cultural differences of the Nigerian people.
It stated: “Lalong has before now served as a lawmaker in the Plateau State House of Assembly where he rose to become Speaker of the House aside handling other sensitive responsibilities in the House.
“As chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Lalong as first among equals, has been able to galvanize his 18 other fellow governors from the North and had coordinated the affairs of the Forum without hitches”.
Youth Groups Settle For Yakubu Pam
But APC youth groups and stakeholders in the 19 northern states yesterday said they were settling for executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, as their preferred running mate to Tinubu.
The groups which made this known yesterday at a press conference in Abuja said they came to the conclusion to zone the ticket to the middle-belt and subsequently settled for Pam after an exhaustive consultation for the purpose of equity, justice and fairness.
According to a statement signed by its convener, Alhaji Abubakar Isah, and secretary, Mutazu Kabiru Adamu and the heads of the 19 northern states, the groups said the choice of North Central is strategic and a reward for its critical role in the country during elections.
On the reason for backing Pam, the APC youths and stakeholders said the respected Christian cleric is a bridge builder with an extensive network in Northern Nigeria.
They stated that Pam is viewed as a trusted ally who has not failed to exhibit sincerity of heart and purpose in his assignment geared towards peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among the various religious and ethnic groupings.
The APC youths said, “We believe such a move it’s not only to reward the north central for its loyalty and cooperation with the rest of the north west but, also the fact that the North Central parades one of the best brains to galvanize the much needed stakeholders’ cooperation in the northern part of the country.
“Consequently the unanimous endorsement of Rev Yakubu Pam is an indication of his level of acceptance in the North West owing to his sterling track record in service and his numerous contributions to peace and tranquility in Northern Nigeria and the country at large.
“Rev Yakubu Pam indeed has garnered administrative experience that spans decades in active service to the country and humanity. This much has been evident in the numerous positions of authority he occupied that includes but not limited to the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states, to mention but a few.
“The 19 Northern APC Youth Groups and Stakeholders Forum wishes to use this medium to place it on record that the choice of Rev Yakubu Pam as the vice presidential candidate of the APC would indeed bring the needed balance and harmony the party requires to coast to victory at the presidential elections.
“Rev Yakubu Pam is a bridge builder with an extensive network in Northern Nigeria. He is viewed as a trusted ally who hasn’t failed to exhibit sincerity of heart and purpose in his assignment geared towards peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding amongst the various religious and ethnic groupings.
“He also presents a strong credential of loyalty, dedication and patriotism, which in our considered opinion is a functional criteria needed for the Office of the Vice President given the sensitivity of the office.”
Accordingly, the youth groups called on the Progressive Governors Forum to in “good conscience support the nomination of Rev Yakubu Pam as the vice presidential candidate of the APC.
“This is on the heels that he is from the north central, he is young and energetic; he is a man of repute and character, whose acceptability cuts across religion and ethnicity,” they added.
Leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the seven states of the North-West geo-political region are set to lobby the party’s presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider picking his running mate from the zone.
The leaders took this decision on Thursday in Kaduna after a crucial meeting which has in attendance all the APC governors, gubernatorial candidates in next year’s general elections, ministers and party leaders from the states of the zone.
A statement by the APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Dr. Salihu Lukman in Abuja revealed plans by the zone to engage the party’s flag bearer, with a view to clinching the Vice Presidential slot for the zone.
To this end, Lukman said the zone resolved to aggregate its interests and vital concerns and engage accordingly with the presidential candidate of the party.
According to the statement, “The meeting noted the contribution of the North-West to the emergence and growth of the APC and its electoral viability, with the North-West providing about 39% of the votes the APC recorded in the 2019 and 2015 presidential elections.
“Therefore, the zone resolved to aggregate its interests and vital concerns and engage accordingly with the presidential candidate of the party.”
The statement reads: “The meeting welcomed the initiative to commence this consultative meeting as vital for strengthening the APC in the North-West and improve leadership engagements and cohesion within the zone.
Participants received the zonal report from the National Vice Chairman (North-West) and reviewed the state of the party at the national level and within the zone. The zonal meeting welcomed the successful conclusion of primaries at the state and national levels. Participants acknowledged the challenges facing some state chapters of the party and resolved to promote efforts at reconciliation as an urgent priority.
“Participants requested the National Vice-Chairman (North-West) to ensure that the consultative meeting is sustained as a vital tool for cohesion within the party.
The Chairman of Jema’a LGA in Kaduna State, Comrade Yunana Markus Barde, has held an emergency meeting with Fulani, community and religious leaders to further peaceful discussion over the case of about 10 cows said to have been killed after eating poisoned cassava peel.
The meeting, which was held at the local government secretariat in Kafanchan, had in attendance the DPO, Mr Dantsoho Lau Abdullahi; officer in charge of DSS, Mr Ibrahim Abu; District Head of Aso, Mr Barnabas Samaila; as well as CAN and JNI representatives, among others.
The meeting followed series of peace engagements with the Fulani community and an expanded meeting organised by the councillor representing Aso Ward, Nathan Leo, held at the palace of the District Head of Aso with all the heads of security in the area, as well as the Fulani and farmers, immediately it was reported on Saturday that cows belonging to Sale Muhammed collapsed and were slaughtered after eating poisoned cassava peel while grazing on a land in Kurmin Zaki community in Gwong (Kagoma) Chiefdom.
Presenting their findings during the meeting, the LGA’s Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Bayero Babiyo, and the Youth Leader of Jagindi, Mr Ishaku Nuhu, who had been assigned to immediately visit the scene of the incident, confirmed that eight cows were slaughtered and two died, but said they could not see evidence of poison and the cassava peel did not smell poison.
Barde sympathised with the owner of the cows over the incident which he described as painful and encouraged him to accept the situation in good faith.
He, however, assured him that he would report the incident and present his request for assistance to the state government.
The lawmaker representing Kwara Central district, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, says he got a refund of the cash he gave to delegates of the All...
The lawmaker representing Kwara Central district, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, says he got a refund of the cash he gave to delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the party’s primaries.
He stated this during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.
The funds given to the delegates were for logistics, according to him.
Oloriegbe is among several other members of the party in the Senate who lost their party’s ticket to seek re-election into the red chamber of the National Assembly.
The lawmaker faulted the process with which the primaries were conducted and accused the governors of imposing delegates on party supporters.
He said, “There was no congress; like in my state, the governor just handpicked them (the delegates) one night and said we have done primaries and the list came. So, you don’t even know who the delegates are … and this happened in several states.
“Even where people are selected, they should be given the freedom to exercise their franchise by voting for who they want, but it was not like that. The governors selected those to whom they would give instructions and some of them took an oath to vote where the governors direct them … and this was what happened in Kwara State.
“In my own election (primary), 17 delegates came back to give me money which I gave them for logistics; others did not because they said ‘we wanted to vote for you, but we are not allowed to vote’. There was one of my colleagues in Kogi who mentioned that people came back (to return his money).”
In 2019, former Senate President Bukola Saraki lost his seat to Oloriegbe.
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