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Too bad...Nigeria is no longer one

A zoning formula in Jos East that insisted on a single tenure for each State Assembly lawmaker has placed a rear opportunity on the lap of 33-year-old final year law student, Ayuba Abok, who recently emerged as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. Until Monday’s election, the Speakership position was held by Joshua Madaki from the 8th Assembly, also from Jos East. But the same zoning formula that gave Abok such a rear opportunity had also pushed Madaki out by deterring him from even contesting the primaries after his one tenure. Saleh Yipmong, representing Dengi constituency and former Deputy Speaker in the 8th Assembly was re-nominated as deputy speaker of the 9th Assembly.

However, Abok’s emergence as Speaker, though unanimous, didn’t come without controversies at the initial stage. His main challenger, Ibrahim Baba Hassan, had due to last minute permutations withdrawn his candidacy and in a moment of bewilderment nominated Abok for Speaker. Being the only nominee, Abok was immediately sworn in by the Clerk of the House after taking the oath of allegiance and office.There was no argument that as a former Deputy Speaker and fourth timer, Baba Hassan who represents Jos North had better experience and the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning formula which had allocated the position of Speaker to Plateau North Senatorial district had favoured him.

Baba Hassan and Abok who represents Jos East were the only two remaining APC legislators from Plateau North Senatorial district since the demise of Ezekiel Afon who represented Pengana constituency in Bassa local government area. Afon, who won his second term on the platform of the APC and whose name was said to have been penciled down for Speaker, died shortly after he won his re-election in March. Presently, with the APC’s 14 seats against the PDP’s nine, Ezekiel Afon’s seat remains vacant pending when the Independent National Electoral Commission will schedule a by-election. With his demise, the contest had squarely centred on Abok and Baba Hassan. At the early stage, there were rumours of lobbying to get Peter Gyendeng; another astute legislator from Barkin Ladi and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party to decamp to the APC.

Sources say between ambition and a likely betrayal of his constituents who are known to be astute PDP diehards, Gyendeng had stuck with his constituents and his name was silently eliminated from the equation. Prior to the nomination of Abok and his eventual emergence as Speaker, the contest had suddenly taken an ethnic and religious dimension with speculations that Governor Simon Bako Lalong’s recent emergence as the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum was a grand design to tip the position of the Speaker to someone from the Hausa and Fulani extraction of Jos North.

It didn’t take foresight to link the speculations with Baba Hassan’s interest in the speakership position. Despite being the most qualified; having been favoured by zoning and experience, his interest in the position had began to arouse tension that a Muslim and one from Jos North would likely head the number three position in the state; a feat that has never been achieved. Sources from Baba Hassan’s camp told our correspondent that his surprising retreat at the twilight of nomination had been in the interest of peace and to de-escalate the ethnic and religious tension the election was taking.

“It was one of the reasons why he decided to nominate Abok himself. It was a way to deescalate the tension, it was the right thing to do,” he said. The source told Daily Trust Saturday that, “the party and Governor Lalong were already in a dilemma on the issue of Speaker. Many were accusing the governor of trying to install a Muslim while he as governor was doing everything possible to disassociate himself from the election of principal officers in the House. The party had already taken a stand that it was going for Abok and if Baba Hassan had insisted, the whole process would have taken a religious dimension.” Never the less, many supporters from Jos North North, Baba Hassan’s constituency, expressed their anger before leaving the assembly complex. They accused the APC-led government of backstabbing the people of Jos North by denying Baba Hassan the opportunity despite the overwhelming support the party received from the area in the just concluded general election.

The State APC chairman, Leteb Dabang, told Daily Trust Saturday that though the party had supported the emergence of Abok as Speaker, it was however not done on religious or ethnic grounds. Dabang said the party had sat with other members of the State House of Assembly to arrive at a mutual understanding and consensus, adding that, “we took into consideration the opinion of the members. Ayuba Abok was the most favoured candidate among the members and as a party; we had to be sensitive to the interest of the people the Speaker is going to lead.” He said to show there were no hard feelings and that Abok was indeed favoured across party lines, Baba Hassan himself had nominated him, a move which was seconded by Esther Dusu of the PDP representing Jos North West.

Corroborating Dabang’s position, another member of the House from the central senatorial district told our correspondent that what could have affected Baba Hassan’s chance was nothing other than the fact that he did not make wide consultations with colleagues. “We only learnt from the social media that he was a contender but the truth is that he never approached some of us. I for one was never approached by him for my support and the same goes for others,” he said. The member stressed that, “I’m not sure he really wanted to be Speaker, perhaps he just didn’t want his constituents to think he was bypassing such an opportunity. You saw how the Senate and House of Representatives handled the campaign and elections, despite the APC’s position on Ahmed Lawan, did it stop Ali Ndume from contesting? You saw the intensive lobbying that took place.”

But despite the uncertainty that greeted the emergence of Abok, many say with the necessary guidance of experienced members and leaning on a slightly experienced Deputy Speaker, Abok could succeed. A former Speaker of the House, Titus Alams, told Daily Trust Saturday that emphasis on experience in the legislature was paramount because of the tedious nature of the work. “There is no law that says a new member cannot be Speaker but the institution feels some level of experience is needed to lead the House,” he said. Alams, who represented Bokkos constituency and was Speaker from 2013 to 2015, said though it was obvious that there were other more experienced members in the House, party politics had prevailed but advised the new Speaker to work with other members to move the House forward. “He is going to be the head of a 24-member House.

If he knows that he is there not just to be their leader but to lead in the discussions and the policies of the House, then he will succeed,” advised the ex Speaker. He said the State House of Assembly must throw away party politics, religion, as well as sentiments to move the 9th Assembly forward, adding that, “despite an inexperienced Speaker, they should sit and build the House and make laws that will help the people of the state. If the Speaker relies on the experience of members from different fields and goes out to get experienced legislators that were once in the House to consult with, they would move forward.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-33-year-old-first-timer-emerged-plateau-assembly-speaker.html

The Emir of Gwandu Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu Bashar, says it is a shame on the north to see almajiri everywhere in the streets begging. He spoke at his palace while receiving members of the Gwandu Emirate Development Association (GEDA) on sallah homage.

“The northwest also has the highest number of addicts in Nigeria”, he said. GEDA Director-General Alhaji Abubakar Ladan said over the last few years, the association was set to establish an education trust fund in the emirate.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/its-shameful-seeing-almajiri-beg-gwandu-emir.html

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has urged members-elect of the Ninth House of Representatives to consider religious balancing, character and integrity in electing their Speaker. The group, comprising the opposition parties in the country, made the appeal on Sunday in Abuja at a world press conference addressed by its Co-National Spokesperson, Mr Mark Adebayo.

The group argued that, with the multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature of the country, efforts must be made to ensure balance in political offices. “President Muhammadu Buhari is a Muslim; his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo is a Christian. It is also clear that the position of the Senate President will be occupied by a Muslim Senator from the North-East. ADVERTISEMENT “Therefore, in line with the APC zoning arrangement, the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the South-West must be a Christian. The delicate religious inclinations in the country must be balanced.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the umbrella Christian body, had already raised the red flag on this and it is important for members-elect to take cognizance of the fact,” Adebayo said. Adebayo said that while CUPP was not against the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the leadership of the parliament, it would be wrong for the ruling party to micro-zone the positions to certain individuals. “It would not be out of place to quickly remind the authorities that competence, capacity and character cannot be ruled out in the Speakership race and that doing everything against voice of reasons and all evidences to the contrary will not portray Nigeria well.

“In truth, the composition of the house and it’s leadership is our national identity and the face of the nation. The top echelon of the ruling party and spirited Nigerians must not look the other way,” he said. Adebayo called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party to order the anti-corruption agency to investigate the allegations of malfeasances against some of those angling to occupy the position of Speaker of the Ninth Assembly. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/consider-religion-morals-in-electing-speaker-opposition-parties-tell-reps.html

Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, more contenders have continued to declare their interests in the race to the ‘Lugard House’. Governor Yahaya Bello who is seeking a second term in office under the platform of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is walking a tight rope as he would be facing a tough political contest within his party and from the opposition parties, particularly the PDP.

In the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over 30 aspirants have already indicated their interests for the contest while more are expected to join the race in the weeks ahead. Amongst those jostling to slug it out with the governor under the platform the PDP includes immediate past governor, Capt. Idris Wada; his brother and staff of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Musa Wada; Senator Dino Melaye; security expert, Dr. Joseph Erico Ameh; businessman and son of a former governor Ibrahim Idris, Abubakar Idris; former Deputy Speaker of Kogi Assembly , Emma Omebije; former Commissioner for Health and erstwhile President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Idris Omede; another former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Aliyu Aku; a former Ankpa Council chairman, Hassan Yakubu Enape; a former bank executive, Dr Victor Alewo Adoji; a retired regional manager with Nigerian Brewery, Muhammed Shaibu Tetes and a retired Army General, Patrick Akpa. In the ruling APC, prominent amongst those jostling to wrestle the party’s ticket from Bello include a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Jibrin Usman (rtd); a brother to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, Alhaji Yahaya Audu; a sports administrator, Sani Lulu; Director General of Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera and a former commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Tim Nda Diche and host of others.

Perhaps, the recent declaration by Senator Melaye (PDP, Kogi West) to contest the number one seat of Kogi State would have further increased the tally of contenders governor Bello would have to face. The entrance of Dino Melaye into the governorship race is generating reactions and conversations amongst the political class in the state. While some are of the view that Dino should have focused his attention on his job at the Senate having won his re-election bid in the last election, others however said that he should be allowed to “test the waters.

” Deep rooted rivalry between Dino, Bello A contest between Governor Bello and Senator Dino would be akin to a battle of titanic proportion. Dino, according to observers, has remained “a thorn in the flesh” of Governor Bello especially on the account of his constant criticisms and attacks over alleged bad governance in Kogi. Both Bello and Dino were good friends before “things fell between. them” To many watchers of the unfolding political scenario in Kogi State, the feud between Bello and Melaye may have come as a surprise.

Dino was believed to be among the strong forces that supported Bello when the APC national leadership nominated him (Bello) as the replacement for its late flag-bearer, Prince Abubakar Audu, who died on the verge of victory in the November 21, 2015 governorship election. Senator Dino served as chairman of the transition committee that worked out the modalities for a hitch-free handover of power to Bello and his eventual inauguration on January 27, 2016. Given the close affinity that existed between them, Dino also served as the master of ceremony for the inauguration of Governor Bello at the main bowl of the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.

But a few months after the inauguration, the “political honeymoon” was replaced by sour relationship amid discordant tunes and cacophonic beating of war drums from the two camps. The two camps have over the past three years thrown a lot of tantrums at each other, either directly or indirectly. Dino has over the past three years faced several arrests by the police with ongoing prosecutions in courts both in Abuja and Kogi.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/dinos-entry-into-kogi-govship-race-poses-new-challenge-for-bello.html

Weeks after announcing the second edition of his music concert, The Falz Experience, Folarin Falana a.k.a. Falz has revealed why he stopped going to church.

In an interview with the multi-talented Nigerian artiste, he said he values spirituality over religion adding that that doesn’t make him less of a Christian. “I have nothing against the church or going to church. Everyone has the right to practice the religion they desire. It has been a while that I have been to church. It does not make me less of a Christian.

“The reason is that I went to a few churches and, during sermons, I was put under undue pressure. There was a time that a pastor called me to the altar just to acknowledge my presence for being in church. “In my mind, I felt that the service was not about me. I felt that everybody was there to worship God, yet they were putting undue pressure on me. “The pastor gave me the microphone to address the congregation and I was puzzled; what did he expect me to say to the congregation?” Falz said.

Commenting on the criticisms that greeted the release of his song titled “This is Nigeria”, Falz said: “My songs are always going to be heard. The world is a lot smaller now; it only takes one post and it’s everywhere regardless of the attempts by powers that be to try to stop stuff here and there. “If you’re making this kind of music, you have to always be ready for the worst. Of course, ‘This is Nigeria’ was banned. We’re still in court.

But I have my fundamental rights so you can’t really stop that regardless of what body you are.” Speaking on his concert holding today (June at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, Falz said the Falz Experience is a one of a kind musical theatre event that showcases the unique sides of Falz the Bahd Guy, saying “but this time with a twist.”

After setting the bar so high in 2017, the award-winning musician has also announced that he has a special surprise for the concert goers today. Falz however assured that the event would start at exactly 8pm.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-i-stopped-going-to-church-falz.html

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi ll are in a dialogue meeting in Abuja, Daily Trust learnt. A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, said the dialogue was initiated by Kano business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi. According to the statement, Emir Sanusi took the opportunity to congratulate governor Ganduje for the victory in his second term in office. Daily Trust learnt from Kano emirate council that Emir Sanusi left Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Thursday evening for Abuja for the meeting. The emir was accompanied by many district heads. Meanwhile, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, a senior member of Kano emirate council, has confirmed to Daily Trust on Sunday that, the emir has not responded to the query sent to him by the Kano state government. He said: “We are still drafting the respond of the emir and as soon as we finished, we will send same to the Kano state government. We are going to do this as quickly as possible.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-ganduje-emir-sanusi-in-dialogue-meeting.html

Governors of the 36 states of the country Friday said no position has been taken on the creation of state police in the country. Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti state Governor, Kayode Fayemi stated this at the end of an hour meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. ADVERTISEMENT Buhari, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Governors and the country’s security Chiefs met at the Villa.

The governors who attended the meeting included that of Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Kebbi, Delta, Sokoto, Imo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Yobe, Gombe, Ekiti, Lagos, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano and Niger. Others are Anambra, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Osun, Rivers, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Zamfara, Kwara, Ondo, Bayelsa and Enugu state. All the security chiefs including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique attended the meeting. Others are National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; ,Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the Director General of Department for State Service (DSS) Yusuf Magaji Bichi. Briefing newsmen alongside his Borno, Plateau,Ondo, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Delta counterparts, Fayemi said the meeting was convened at their instance to address the security challenges in the country. He said they have not taken a position on the creation of state police, saying experience varies among states.

He said while some of his colleagues are in support, others are against it. He said the state police and other issues relating to the security challenges of the country would be discussed during the forthcoming National Economic Council (NEC).

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-havent-taken-position-on-state-police-govs.html

You are even better than your husband...thank you mummy.

Good one

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said there is no crisis within its ranks or any form of division over the choice of the 9th National Assembly leadership by its members. The party said its members in the National Assembly would decide who led them without any interference.

Speaking with our correspondent on telephone, yesterday, Mr. Ike Abonyi, Special Adviser on Media to the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said the National Working Committee (NWC) was not compelling any of its lawmakers in the choice of the new leadership. He said, “It is incumbent on the lawmakers themselves to elect whoever they like. So, the national leadership of the party will not compel them to do otherwise.

” He said the party was resolute in contributing to nation-building and ensuring that Nigeria became a better place for all.

“Our members in the National Assembly will determine what happens and inform the NWC of their decision,” he said.

Daily Trust reports that there was uncertainty on how the leading opposition party would on June 11 approach the selection of principal officers of the National Assembly including Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives considering what transpired in 2015.

Senators Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) who were the two leading contenders for the Senate presidency were reportedly reaching out to all senators for support without recourse to party linings.

The situation is the same in the House of Representatives where Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) and Mohammed Bago (APC, Niger) among other contenders were jostling for the position of speaker.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-not-divided-over-choice-of-nass-leadership.html

The police in Imo State have arrested three people over the alleged invasion of the private residence of the immediate past governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

They were said to be domestic staff of the former governor. The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, told Daily Trust that preliminary investigation showed that “tt was an internal sabotage.”

The CP said: “We have arrested three domestic staff of the immediate past governor. Preliminary investigation carried out by us showed that the invasion was carried out by those who are working there. “I want to assure Imo people that we are on top of the situation and we are doing everything possible to ensure that nothing is left undone in making sure that justice prevails”.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/3-arrested-for-invading-okorochas-house.html

Despite the current 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity of the country’s refineries and Dangote’s 650,000 bpd refinery expected by 2020, Nigeria will still have a shortfall of 427,000 bpd, equivalent of 20 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), per day.

Dr. Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, said the country would need a refining capacity of 1.52 million bpd in order to meet its PMS requirement by 2025.

Delivering a state of the industry address at this year’s Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Oloibiri Lecture Series & Energy Forum, Baru said Nigeria’s petroleum product demand is expected to grow from 13.2m metric tonnes (MT) in 2015 to 15.1m MT in 2020 and 17.3m MT by 2025 while the population growth corresponding to this demand is 182m in 2015, 207m in 2020 and 234m in 2025 respectively.

He said in order to address the imminent shortfall in PMS demand, NNPC would be adding 215,000 bpd of refining capacity through private sector driven co-location at its existing refineries in Port Harcourt (100,000 bpd) and Warri (115,000 BPSD) respectively.

“Additionally, NNPC through its new initiative of establishing Condensate Refineries with private sector participation is providing clusters for in-country refining capacity totaling about 250,000 bpd which closes the PMS supply-demand gap and creates positive margins to the investors,” he said

The NNPC boss said the improved in-country refining capacity plan will ensure Nigeria’s domestic crude oil utilization of up to 66 per cent with its attendant local manufacturing multiplier effect from associated industries such as petrochemicals for plastics and polymers used in everything from computers, medical equipment, wind turbines, solar panels, cosmetics, etc.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily-petrol-shortfall-to-hit-20m-litres-despite-dangote-refinery-nnpc.html

President Muhammadu yesterday left Nigeria for the United Kingdom on a 10-day private visit during which period, credible sources told the Daily Trust, the president may likely decide on cabinet positions for his second term.

Daily Trust had last month exclusively reported that the president would compile his ministerial list during his vacation abroad.

Buhari, who left for UK after a working visit to Maiduguri, Borno State, would be inaugurated for his second term on May 29, 2019.

He is expected to return to Nigeria on May 5, 2019,” his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said in a terse statement yesterday.

Sources said there were indications that many serving ministers may not make the list for reasons ranging from political to governance and performance.

The president would also likely expand his cabinet in line with the promise he made to members and officials of his political party the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari had in October 2017, during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC, disclosed his intention to expand his cabinet.

“Apart from appointing one minister from each of the 36 states as enshrined in the constitution, the president would also pick one person from each of the six geo-political zones in the country,” one of the sources said.

The source added that more ministries would be created and others splitted in line with the exigencies of the moment.

The plan in the new cabinet, it was learnt, would also enable the president accommodate some governors who lost their second term bids and senior party faithful who couldn’t secure seats in the National Assembly.

However, another source said the president is keeping the issue of who will be in his cabinet close to his chest just like he did in 2015.

“What I can tell you is that many of the current ministers may not be considered in the next cabinet. We are expecting a massive cabinet change,” he said.

In a May 2015 interview with Daily Trust, ahead of his swearing-in, Buhari was asked about his cabinet, he said, “I have not put anything on paper, so nobody has seen it and I haven’t discussed it with anybody. I am just keeping it close to my chest.”



It’s strictly an internal affair – APC

When contacted on whether the president had confided in the party, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the issue of the composition of the next cabinet of President Buhari was being treated “strictly as an internal affair.”

Issa-Onilu, during a phone interview with Daily Trust, said the party would not only refuse to discuss the issue on the pages of newspapers but also keep the list of the next set of ministers confidential.

Asked whether the APC would get involved in the selection of the next cabinet, he said, “That is strictly internal affairs of the party I will not want to bring to the pages of newspapers.”

When reminded that the party spoke on the coming election of leadership of the ninth National Assembly, the APC spokesman said, “Yes, because they are two different issues. How we handle this, we want to keep it as strictly an internal affair of the party.”

However, another source in the party, who does not want to be named, said there was a clear departure from what happened in 2015.

“There are two scenarios here: In 2015, the party did not play any role but this time around there is a clear departure, and this does not mean that the party leadership is usurping the powers of the president; he is fully in charge and it is his prerogative to select the people he wants to work with,” the source said.

“But I can assure you that there are informal consultations; there was no any special committee set up by the president or the party to say Mr A should make the cabinet or Mr B should not…There is nowhere you can have this under presidential system.

“This said, I want to tell you that the president knows capable hands in each of the 36 states of the federation and he is a party man; he knows those who sacrificed for the party; he knows those who work with governors coming back for a second term and those newly elected in various states and he consistently said those who worked for the party would be rewarded this time around.

“He also knows the technocrats and professionals that we have in the country who would add value to the system…All these factors would come to play this time around for the progress of the country and stability of the ruling party,” he said.



FEC holds valedictory session May 22

Meanwhile, a valedictory session of the federal cabinet will hold on May 22, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said yesterday.

The session will hold a week before President Buhari will be sworn in for his second term, Daily Trust reports.

Mohammed, who spoke to State House Reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said “The cabinet is still intact. We are going to have the valedictory service on 22nd of May. So, you will still see more of my face,” he said.

The minister later clarified in a statement that the fact that the valedictory session will be held on May 22 does not mean that the cabinet would be dissolved on the same day.

He said it is the prerogative of the president to dissolve the cabinet anytime he chooses.

‘‘It is therefore inaccurate to extrapolate from my statement – that the FEC valedictory session will hold on 22 May – to say that the president will dissolve the cabinet on the same day. They do not mean the same thing,’’ the minister said in the statement signed by his Special Adviser, Segun Adeyemi.

Daily Trust reports that the directive by President Buhari, last week, for a comprehensive “status reports on policies, programs and projects” from cabinet members on their respective ministries, departments and agencies, there had been speculation of imminent cabinet dissolution.

The deadline for the submission of the report to the Presidential Audit Committee in the office of the Vice President was Wednesday.

A circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, also requested members of the Federal Executive Council to “ensure that all outstanding memoranda they intend to present to the Federal Executive Council are submitted to the Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not later than Tuesday, 30th April, 2019.”

The circular also informed members that the “9th and 10th meetings of the Council have been rescheduled to yesterday and Thursday, 2nd May, 2019 respectively” in view of the Easter break and May Day celebrations.



Buhari’s many trips to UK

Our correspondent reports that with this visit, the president had spent 227 days out of his four years tenure in the UK. Previously, the president had visited Britain for medical reasons.

The president was in the UK between February 5 and 10 in 2016. In May of the same year, he was there for an Anti- corruption summit. Also, in 2016, the president was in the UK for treatment of an ear infection.

In 2017, the president was there from January 19 to March 10 on medical leave. Daily Trust reports that he handed over the affairs of the country to Osinbajo, who acted throughout the period. Two months after he returned to the country, he went back and spent 104 days, from May 8 to August 19.

President Buhari was in the UK in 2018 from April 9 to 21 for his annual leave. In May, he had a technical stopover there. Between May 8 and 11, the president was also there. Similarly, he was there in August 3-18.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-goes-to-uk-mulls-final-decision-on-cabinet.html

Chief Damishi Sango, the embattled chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau says he remains the substantive chairman of the party in the state.

Sango stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Jos.

He was reacting to his suspension by some members of the State Executive Council (SEC) over alleged diversion of campaign fund.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sango, alongside his deputy, Mr Amos Gombi, were on Wednesday suspended by 16 members of SEC.

Mr John Akan, the state’s Publicity Secretary of the party who announced the suspension, accused the duo of allegedly diverting campaign fund.

He also alleged that Sango and his deputy diverted funds raised by the party to support the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state among others.

But Sango said the suspension was in variance with the party’s constitution, and described it as illegal.

He denied diverting any fund, saying that campaign funds were solely handled by the state campaign council which was made of several members.

He also denied diverting N3.1 million generated to support the IDPs and the N2.6 million meant for a retreat, noting that the money for the displaced persons was used to purchase food items for them, while the money for the retreat is intact in the bank.

“You are all aware of the recent happenings within our great party in the state where some few elements among us said they have suspended me and the deputy chairman.

“But I want to unequivocally say that I remain the PDP chairman.

“These are misguided elements within us who want to cause confusion, unfortunately their action is a nullity because it is illegal and against the constitution of the party.

“We shall not allow impunity and brigandage in our party and if they want to remove me, they must follow due process. I have no skeleton in my cupboard and so my hands are clean,” he said.

Sango called on the aggrieved members to come a round-table discussion in order to resolve their differences for the overall interest of the party.

Mr Dauda Waptu, the chairman of the Kanke Local Government Area (LGA) chapter of the state, who spoke on behalf of chairmen of 17 LGAs chapters, dissociated the group from the purported suspension, saying “we were not consulted”.

Waptu said all the party chairmen in the 17 LGAs only recognise Sango as the chairman of the party in the state, as any other person parading himself in that position would not be recognised.(NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-still-remain-pdp-chairman-in-plateau-sango.html

A valedictory session of the federal cabinet will hold on 22nd May, this year, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed said.

The session will hold a week before President Muhammadu Buhari will be sworn in for his second term.

Daily Trust reports that following President Buhari’s request last week for a comprehensive “status reports on policies, programs and projects” from cabinet members on their respective ministries, departments and agencies, there have been speculation of cabinet dissolution.

The deadline for the submission of the report to the Presidential Audit Committee in the office of the Vice President was Thursday.

A circular issued by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, also requested members of the Federal Executive Council to “ensure that all outstanding memoranda they intend to present to the Federal Executive Council are submitted to the Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not later than Tuesday, 30th April, 2019.”

The circular also informed members that the “9th and 10th meetings of the Council have been rescheduled to today and Thursday, 2nd May, 2019 respectively” in view of the Easter break and May Day celebrations.

Lai who spoke to State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said the cabinet is still intact until May 22nd.

Lai said: ” The cabinet is still intact. We are going to have the valedictory service on 22nd of May. So you will still see more of my face.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-buhari-to-dissolve-cabinet-on-may-22nd.html

Experts and stakeholders have expressed concern over quality after the National Universities Commission (NUC) disclosed yesterday that it is currently processing 303 applications for the establishment of more private universities in the country.

The Executive Secretary of NUC Prof Abubakar Rasheed, speaking at a two day National Summit on Private Universities, said the applications were received from group of individuals, corporate and faith-based organizations across the country.

He said the summit with the theme “Private University Education Delivery in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities” was aimed at supporting Nigerian government’s effort at developing the higher education sub-sector “to enable it compete effectively and be relevant in an increasingly knowledge-driven economy”.

According to him, the commission is working with the National Assembly to review the guidelines for the establishment of private varsities, noting that it is no longer realistic to say a university must be built on a 100 hectare land.

He, however, expressed dissatisfaction on inflation of unhealthy parallel grades by private varsities, saying, in spite of the challenges they have done well in assisting government in providing university education.

The NUC boss said the Nigerian university system has risen through the application of private resources, from 30 universities in 1996 to 170 universities in 2019. He said out of the number, 79 were private with 38, representing 48.11 per cent owned by faith-based organisations.

He said 41 universities, representing 51.89 per cent were owned by corporate bodies, foundations or individuals.

He noted that although there were many private universities in the country, most of them were still unable to fulfil their admission quotas as they admitted barely 6 per cent of the total university admissions in the country per session.

He urged the institutions to adhere to admission requirements and address the issue of their inability to fill the admission quota allocated to them, noting that at the centre of the crisis was the relatively higher fees that they charge.

He also tasked them on adherence to extant guidelines and regulations of the NUC, good university governance as well as adequate and sustainable funding.

Private varsities complicating matters – JAMB

Speaking at the event, the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said some private universities have fallen short of expectation.

“We complained about our public institutions that they have challenges, we thought private institutions will come through to help, we must tell ourselves the truth, they have come to complicate matters rather than eliminate those challenges we have with public institutions,” he said.

He said inasmuch as there are first class private universities, many have brought corruption tendency into private universities system, urging them to look beyond profit making as they cannot depend on the university until it grows.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, represented by the Permanent Secretary Arc Sonny Echono, said private varsities are faced with numerous challenges of inadequate funding, proprietor influence, staffing, and students’ admission quota, among others.

He said there is need to do more to attract best brain in the world to come and teach in Nigerian varsities as well as foreign students as well.

The Founder of Pamo University of Medical sciences, Port Harcourt, Peter Odili who spoke on behalf of the Proprietors expressed gratitude to the federal government for making it possible for private universities to operate legally.

He said the key to the success of their effort in filling the gap in the university education in the country is focus on the important aspect of the certificate they offer by ensuring students acquired the required character and discipline.

‘Don’t rush to overflood the system’

Also reacting to the development, the Pro Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Sen Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed said: “Nigerian existing private universities should be helped till they reach their respective full operating capacities, instead of a rush to overflood the system with so many operating below capacity with consequences on quality.”

He said, to help the existing institutions, Nigerian families have to give education its budget priority and change the mentality that anything Nigerian is substandard, and “realising the quality of education in some like Baze proven with records to be far higher than other destinations they spend dollars on.”

According to him, running a private university in Nigeria requires enormous financial resources, adding that the cooperation of all stakeholders, excellent strategy, careful planning and diligent implementation are also required to run a successful private university in the country.

‘Some varsities run like family businesses’

Professor Nasiru Idris, the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said a lot of private proprietors were passionate about education.

He said, “The essence of establishing private universities is to complement government effort in providing university education to Nigerians, but it seems the aim is defeated as some owners choose to run them like a family business and finally the quality and standard of education is compromised.

He said private universities are expected to support the public universities; instead, they come with a lot of problems.

“You may wish to know that most private universities in Nigeria are getting support from public universities in terms of staff strength through visiting lectureship,” he said.

He further said quite a lot of promoters scramble to build private universities to make gain as the cost of higher education escalates. “It shouldn’t be the case, private universities should be as cheap as the public ones as obtainable in some countries,” he said.

‘Quality must be maintained’

Also commenting, former Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, (ATBU), Professor Saminu Ibrahim said there is access gap to higher education due to insufficient spaces for admission seekers in universities thus many proprietors establish universities to accommodate the teeming candidates.

He said “Each year, the number of candidates seeking university education through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) nationwide is between 1.7 and 1.8 million and there are only about 500,000 vacancies in the universities. This shows that the number of applicants is higher.”

He said about 12,000 candidates applied for various programmes in ATBU in the previous session but the university was only able to admit 4,000.

He also said a number of private promoters established universities to make profit, adding that as more universities are being licensed, attempt should also be made to improve the efficiency and quality of university education.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/concern-as-nuc-processes-303-requests-for-private-varsities.html

The word "charity" has taken on a different meaning. Today "charity" pretty much means giving something to someone desperately in need. When you think of the word "charity", you imagine lines of poor people on the street, or folks whose homes were destroyed by a fire or hurricane, begging for food and clothing and anything you could give. That's what people think about when the think about being charitable these days.

But the Bible, the word "charity" has a completely different meaning. In the Bible, charity means simply loving others in the name of Jesus Christ, extending out a helping hand to those who can't help themselves in their situations.

But some people tend to take things differently. Others like to think being charitable is not being Christian, because spoon feeding was never God's way of teaching Man to learn to survive for himself. Some people, those on the receiving end, tend to feel low and inferior when receiving charity. There's never a lack of opinions or sides to hear on the topic of Christian charity.

But think about it. Don't you think it's simply your pride talking? It is a Christian trait to give without expecting to receive, and when you're being given help in order to be able to stand up from a desperate situation, why would you choose to see the act as un-Christian-like?

You have a choice to see charity as something positive or negative. Why go with the latter when you could easily believe in the former?

Some examples of charitable acts in the Bible:

1. Manna rained from the sky - Manna raining from the sky is an act of charity by God Himself. While His people were hungry in the desert, God made the sky rain manna, or bread, in order to feed His people.

2. The crucifixion of Christ - The greatest act of charity is to give one's life in order to save another, and that is exactly what Jesus showed Man when he gave his own life in order to save us from our sins.

Simply put, charity is a Christian virtue. Charity is giving in times of need without expecting anything in return, and that trait is something that ought to be found in all Christians around the world regardless of denomination. If you can give, give. If you are in the position to receive, receive in good faith and don't feel inferior about yourself. We all need a little help sometimes. That's what makes us human beings.


source:https://christianlifeministry..com/

A group of lawyers, Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBALAC)‎ has promised to deploy 50 Counsels to defend Senator Bala Mohammed and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in court against the All Progressive Congress, APC.

This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by ‎the group’s Chief Convener, Shipi Rabo Esq and Secretary, Musa Abdullahi Esq while reacting to the plan by the APC to challenge Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s victory in the last governorship election.

The group noted that, the recent move by the APC to go to the tribunal ‎and challenge the election was a form of insincerity after it had conceded defeat and congratulated the Governor-Elect, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.

“Having initially conceded and congratulated Kauran Bauchi, knowing fully ‎well that, that is the wish of the people, Mr Abubakar should have sticked to his words. That is how statesmen behave,” the group stated.

The group noted that, as Lawyers, they had no problem with Governor Abubakar and the APC going to the tribunal to challenge the victory of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.

“In fact, we welcome the development as it will afford us yet another opportunity to use our God-given skills to defend the people’s mandate as given to the Governor-Elect, Kauran Bauchi.

“In doing this, we convey our assurances to His Excellency, the Governor-Elect and indeed the people of Bauchi State that we are deploying the services of not less than 50 Counsels, ‎which include some very senior colleagues and successfully tested hands to compliment the efforts of the legal team to be assembled to defend the people’s mandate in terms of the impending election petition to be filed by Governor Abubakar,” he added.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bauchi-group-to-deploy-50-lawyers-for-bala-mohammed-at-tribunal.html

Buhari boy

At least 34 bills passed by the National Assembly have so far been rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari from the inception of his administration to date, a check by Daily Trust Saturday has revealed. Only this year, President Buhari withheld assent to 13 bills passed by the National Assembly over various reasons, including constitutional breach, paucity of funds, and others. His action is based on Section 58 (4) of the amended 1999 Constitution that reads: “Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.”

Five of the bills were rejected in January, six in March, and eight this month. Twenty of them were rejected in the first three years of his administration. Of all the bills, the amendment made to the 2010 Electoral Act was rejected thrice, a development that set parliamentarians against the executive. In rejecting it, the president picked holes in the timing of the amendment, saying in letters dated December 6, 2018, to the two chambers of the National Assembly: “Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect to which law governs the electoral process. This leads me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy for the National Assembly to specifically state in the Bill, that the Electoral Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the 2019 General Elections.”

The latest set of bills rejected by the president as contained in letters, addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara last Tuesday, include the Chartered Institute of Training and Development Establishment Bill 2018, the Nigerian Aeronautic Research Bill 2018,the National Institute of Credit Administration Bill 2018, the National Housing Fund Bill 2018, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Bill 2018, the National Biotechnology Development Agency of Nigeria Bill 2018,Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund Bill, 2018 and the SME Development Agency Bill, 2018.

In March, Buhari declined assent to six bills, namely the Nigerian Film Commission Bill, Immigration Amendment Bill, Climate Change Bill, Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioners Bill, Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, all dated 2018.

Also in January, the president declined assent to five bills, including the Revenue Mobilization Bill, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Amendment Bill (RMAFC), Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill 2018, Federal Polytechnic Amendment Bill, Maritime Security Operations Coordinating Board Amendment Bill, and Energy Commission Amendment Bill, all dated 2018.

Previously, President Buhari had rejected the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Bill, National Research and Innovation Council (Est.) Bill, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (Est.) Bill and National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill.

Others are Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurship (Est.) Bill, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill, Subsidiary Legislation (Legislative Scrutiny) Bill, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Amendment) Bill as well as five constitution amendment bills. Also rejected were National Transport Commission Bill, Federal Road Authority (Establishment) Bill, National Broadcasting Commission Amendment Bill, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act (Amendment) Bill, and Federal Polytechnics Act (Amendment) Bill.

Reasons for the latest rejections

In rejecting the Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund Bill of 2018, Buhari said appropriating $1 billion from the excess crude account, which the bill had provided for is, “not the best strategic option for Nigeria at this time of budgetary constraints.

On the Chartered Institute of Training and Development Establishment Bill of 2018, the president said he declined assent to the bill because of concerns that the institute does not possess the capacity to undertake the numerous duties and responsibilities imposed under the act.

For the National Biotechnology Development Agency of Nigeria Bill of 2018, Buhari said the bill doesn’t include the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development within the governing board of the agency. He also blamed drafting issues and errors in the bill. Also on the Nigerian Aeronautic Research Bill of 2018, Buhari said there were “many inconsistencies” in the bill and it is not in tandem with relevant international civil aviation regulations”.

On the rejection of the National Institute of Credit Administration Bill of 2018, the president said it is because the provision that every member of the staff of banks and other financial institutions should hold a National Institute of Credit Administration licence before practicing as credible managers.”

In rejecting, the National Housing Fund Bill of 2018, the president expressed concern over the various levies and obligations imposed by some sections. “The compulsory investment requirement imposed on commercial banks, merchant banks, insurance banks and pension fund, administrations of the minimum of 10% profit before tax into the National Housing Fund will be destructively punitive to a number of industries and sectors of the Nigerian economy including cement, manufacturing, banking, insurance, pensions and may also adversely affect the average Nigerian worker,” he said.

Similarly, the president said he declined assent to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Bill of 2018 over its failure to spell out in detail the required qualification and experience threshold of the directors and senior management staff with specific reference to developmental banking, risk management, and mortgage loan administration experience.

In denying assent to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Bill of 2018, the President cited Section 32 of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Bill 2018 as one of the reasons.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that similar reasons, including infractions and duplication of responsibilities of existing agencies and financial constraints, were cited for the rejection of the bills.

But in a few cases, the observations and reservations expressed by the president had been addressed by the lawmakers, and the bills assented to.

Lawmakers react

A member of the House of Reps, Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno) told Daily Trust Saturday that Buhari’s rejection was in order as he has the constitutional powers. He said the president has “serious respect and regard” for the National Assembly, which was why he always communicated his decision to withhold assent to a bill to the legislature. He added that what Nigerians should be concerned about was the number of bills signed into law by the president, rather than those that the president did not assent to.

The Borno lawmaker said so far, available records showed that the president signed over 100 bills into law, which he said was unprecedented as no Nigerian president has ever done so. “Each time he rejects a bill, he gives cogent reasons.”

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), told Daily Trust Saturday observed that while some of the bills were rejected on merit based on genuine reasons, others were not. “Some of the bills have been rejected over excuses as minor as typographical errors. I think that’s unwarranted because even after signing a bill, the lawmakers themselves can still effect relevant typographical changes to the document. In the amended Electoral Act, for instance, there were things the president said we should remove, and we did that, but the bill was eventually rejected,” he said.

Timothy Golu (PDP, Plateau) said lawmakers are unhappy over President Buhari’s “politically-motivated” rejection of bills passed. “There is a political calculation by the president in knocking out these bills under flimsy technicalities. He sees the National Assembly as an enemy and competitor, rather than a partner in progress. He only signs bills he thinks would favour his political calculations, such as the Not Too Young To Run Bill and the Minimum Wage Bill.

Golu added: “Sincerely, his actions are killing the morale of the National Assembly. Every law is a process; no law is perfect. But laws undergo amendments to fit changing circumstances. The 2019 elections were marred by irregularities because he refused the amendments proposed by the lawmakers.” On whether the lawmakers plan to override the president on some of the rejected bills, he said there is little or no time left for such lengthy processes.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bills-buhari-has-refused-to-sign-and-why.html

Mr Ibrahim Emokpaire, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Rivers ahead of the elections.

The Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections have been scheduled for March 9.

Emokpaire made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

The APC chieftain said the call had become necessary following the insecurity and killings that characterised the Feb. 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

Emokpaire, a former APC National Chairmanship aspirant, particularly condemned the killing of soldiers in the state.

He noted that this was not the first time soldiers and other security agents would be killed in Rivers.

According to him, there wi no justifiable reason for soldiers and even ordinary citizens to be killed no matter the provocation.

“There is no country in the whole world where military personnel will be mowed down and the Commande-In-Chief will take it lightly with perpetrators of such heinous crime,’’ Emokpaire said.

He said that irrespective of the immunity of Rivers State Governor Nysome Wike, the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency in the state.

This, he said was critical to deter others who think they could kill soldiers and other citizens and get away with it or without consequences.

“The men in uniform that are protecting the country cannot just be mowed down without consequences. These are people that have committed their lives to protecting Nigerians.

“Nobody, however, highly placed either with immunity or no immunity from any part of the country has the right to kill soldiers without consequences,’’ he said.

He, therefore, tasked relevant agencies to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of such killings.

Emokpaire said that such action must have consequences, saying “we cannot take anything for granted, we cannot turn everything upside down in the name of democracy.’’

He noted that even in the United States of America, with the largest democratic process in the world, would not tolerate one of its soldiers being killed by anybody.

“Even when a soldier was attacked and killed by a terrorist on a street in London, the perpetrator was apprehended immediately.

“Everybody connected with the crime and the perpetrator was apprehended and locked up for interrogation, the house of the terrorist was shut down completely,’’ Emokpaire recalled.

NAN reports that Rivers had become the most volatile state in Nigeria since after the Feb. 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections as residents of some communities in the state are beginning to leave their original aboard to seek safety elsewhere. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-chieftain-wants-state-of-emergency-declared-in-rivers-ahead-of-election.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has showered encomium on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing him as a passionate and great patriot.

In a statement to mark Obasanjo’s 82nd birthday anniversary, Buhari said Obasanjo deserves accolades for his immeasurable contributions to democracy and national unity.

“Regardless of our political differences with Obasanjo, I still hold him in the highest esteem because his contributions to the development of the country overshadow those differences.

“Chief Obasanjo gave a good account of himself and inspired his juniors with his wit and other leadership skills,” Buhari was quoted in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu on Tuesday night.

He said Nigeria’s successful transition to democratic rule in October 1979 was one of Obasanjo’s remarkable contributions to national development.

“As he celebrates his 82nd Birthday Anniversary, I wish Chief Obasanjo more good health, knowledge and wisdom in the service of Nigeria and humanity”, he said.

It will be recalled that last year, President Buhari did not issue a statement to congratulate Obasanjo when he marked his 81st birthday.

In 2017, Buhari who was in London phoned Obasanjo to congratulate him on his 80th birthday.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/82nd-birthday-buhari-showers-encomium-on-obasanjo.html

No fewer than 17 former and serving state governors were elected senators in last Saturday’s National Assembly election. This represents 15.6 per cent of the 109-member Senate of the National Assembly, Daily Trust Saturday has gathered.

Of the 17 former and serving governors going into the 9th Senate in June, Daily Trust reports that 11 were former state governors while the remaining six are currently serving their respective second terms, which ends on May 29.

The six serving governors, who have won senatorial seats, are Kashim Shettima (Borno), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

But Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is on a return journey to the Senate, having first served as Ogun Central Senator between 2003 and 2007.

Among the 11 former governors, Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Theodore Orji (Abia), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) are currently serving various terms as senators in the National Assembly.

Former Enugu governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, is also returning to the Senate, where he represented Enugu East between 2007 and 2011.

However, former governors Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano) are going into the Senate as “first timers.”

Also worth noting is that Abia, Kano and Nasarawa states will be having two of their former governors in the 9th Senate.

Recall that Abiola Ajimobi and Hassan Dankwambo, both serving governors in Oyo and Gombe respectively, failed to clinch their senatorial seats in last Saturday’s polls.

Orji Kalu (APC, Abia)

The 58-year-old chairman of SLOK Holding first burst into political limelight when he was elected into the House of Representatives in 1992, during the ill-fated Third Republic.

In 1986, he became the youngest Nigerian to receive the National Merit Award at 26, from then Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.

When the embargo on political activities was lifted in 1998, Kalu joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on whose platform he was a two-term governor of Abia State, between 1999 and 2007.

In 2006, he formed the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA) under which he unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in 2007.

In 2015, Kalu lost the Abia North Senatorial seat to Mao Ohuabunwa of PDP; last Saturday, however, he was able to beat Ohuabunwa to the same seat as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kalu, a University of Maiduguri and Abia State University (ABSU) graduate of Political Science, is making his debut into the Senate.

Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue)

Born 15 November 1964, Suswam was a two-term governor of Benue State between 2007 and 2015, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was also a two-term member of the House of Representatives, where he represented Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency, and was among others, Chairman of the influential House Committee on Appropriation.

Although a sitting governor, Suswam lost the 2015 senatorial election to Barnabas Gemade of the APC; last Saturday, however, Suswam summarily defeated Gemade to clinch the seat.

The University of Lagos-trained lawyer is also an ex-governor going into the Senate for the first time.

Ibrahim Shekarau (APC, Kano)

Born November 5, 1955, Shekarau was a two-term governor of Kano State between 2003 and 2011, after which he was appointed Minister of Education by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.

In 2003, Shekarau became a household name in politics when he emerged from relative obscurity to deny then Governor Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso a successive second term, to the astonishment of pundits and bookmakers.

Yet, in 2007, he achieved another feat as the first incumbent executive governor of Kano State to be re-elected into office, beating again his political nemesis, Kwankwaso.

In 2011, Shekarau contested, unsuccessfully, for Nigeria’s President on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Last Saturday, the Mathematics teacher emerged a Senator-elect from Kano State, and will be proceeding to the 9th Senate as a first-timer.

Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP, Enugu)

Fifty eight-year-old Nnamani is the founder of the ‘Ebeano’ dynasty, an enormous political melting pot in Enugu State between 1999 and 2007.

Better described as a come-back kid of Enugu politics, Nnamani had his political career resurrected last week following his re-election as Senator for Enugu East.

After 2007, the former two-term governor of Enugu State (1999-2003) went into relative obscurity after falling out with his political godson, ex-governor Sullivan Chime.

Although Nnamani served as Senator for Enugu East between 2007 and 2011, Chime made sure he lost re-election in 2011 to the lesser-known Senator Gilbert Nnaji.

However, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, himself a scion of the ‘Ebeano’ family, ensured that the US-trained Gynecologist was not only rehabilitated, politically speaking, but also cajoled to return into the PDP fold where he was handed a senatorial ticket.

Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun)

Born January 25, 1958, Amosun will in June this year return to the Senate after serving two terms as governor of Ogun State, between 2011 and 2019 on the APC platform.

An accountant, Amosun first served as Ogun Central Senator between 2003 and 2007.

Although an APC member, Amosun is seeking to install Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as his successor.

Ibrahim Geidam (APC, Yobe)

Born on September 15, 1956, Geidam has been the governor of Yobe State since January 27, 2009.

An accountant, Geidam was elected a deputy governor of Yobe State in 2007 and in 2009, he was sworn in as a substantive governor after the death of then Governor Mamman Bello Ali of the state.

Geidam will be proceeding to the Senate when his tenure as governor expires on May 29.

Tanko Al-Makura (APC, Nasarawa)

The 66-year-old Al-Makura, a businessman and politician, became a political force in 2011 when he dethroned incumbent Aliyu Doma to become the governor of Nasarawa State.

Running on the platform of the newly formed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Al-Makura became the only governor ever elected under CPC in Nigeria.

Now in the APC, Al-Makura is heading to the Senate where he will be joining Senator Abdullahi Adamu, also a former governor of Nasarawa State and a third-term senator.

Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi)

Aliero, 60, has been a Senator for Kebbi Central since 2007. Between 1999 and 2007, he was a two-term governor of Kebbi State.

A graduate of political science, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Aliero was also appointed Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2007 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

By 2023, Aliero, an APC member, would have been in the Senate for 12 consecutive years.

Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi)

Born June 20, 1954, Egwu was the first executive governor of Ebonyi State, between 1999 and 2003, and under the PDP.

The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) trained agronomist was also appointed Minister of Education in 2007 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

First elected Senator for Ebonyi North in 2015, Egwu is heading for a second term in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe)

Born October 10, 1952, Goje was first elected governor of Gombe State in 2003 under the PDP platform.

Between 1999 and 2001, he was Minister of State, Power and Steel under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Pindiga born, Political Science graduate of ABU Zaria has been a Senator of the Federal Republic since 2007.

To retain his seat, he switched his political affiliation to the APC in 2015. Goje is billed for a third term in the Senate by June.

Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara)

Yari, born 1968, is the current governor of Zamfara State, as well as the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

An acknowledged grassroots politician and party man, Yari held chains of political positions in Zamfara before becoming governor in 2011.

Not done, the two-term APC governor is moving to the Red Chamber when his term expires on May 29.

Rochas Okorocha (APC, Imo)

Okorocha, born September 22, 1962, is no doubt a controversial politician but he is also a business mogul and philanthropist.

He is the current governor of Imo State and founder of Rochas Foundation, which affords educational scholarships to the less privileged children in the country.

Okorocha is currently of the APC, on whose platform he won the Senate seat for Orlu Zone in Imo State. Like Amosun of Ogun, Rochas is seeking to install his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as his successor, using a different political platform.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/meet-former-serving-govs-whove-been-elected-senators.html

Director–General APC Campaign Council in Sokoto, Alhaji Yusuf Sulaiman, yesterday said he was confident that President Muhamadu Buhari would win the 2019 presidential election in the state.

“Sokoto people have always come out strongly to voice their support to President Muhammadu Buhari and to voice their support to Distinguished Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

“When we set out on this we knew that victory is ours by the Grace of Almighty Allah (SWT) ,and Sokoto people have come out to confirm what we have always said that this is a territory for the APC and we have proved it time and time again.”

Sulaiman, who is a former Minister of Transport, said he never entertained any fear about losing. “I always give myself 99 per cent confidence that I will win, I leave out one per cent because I am not God.”

On why he had such confidence, he replied ‘’because of people that are involved. I am a politician, every single politician knows when he is going to win election and when is going to lose.”

He expressed gratitude to God, adding, “there is nothing like believing in something, praying for it and seeing it happening in a manner that you have not even imagined.”

According to him, when the election was postponed the previous week, INEC only postponed the inevitable success of President Buhari.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-i-was-confident-buharill-win-sokoto-campaign-dg.html

Sen. Ali Ndume, (APC-Borno South) says the relative peace in the North East contributed to the high number of votes President Muhammadu Buhari got in the area in Saturday’s presidential election.

Ndume, stated this on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while speaking with State House Correspondents shortly after a visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He said, however, that he had a higher expectation than what the party got in the North East.

The North East Director of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council said the postponement of the election negatively affected the turnout of voters in the area.

“First of all, let me say that in 2015, we delivered close to half a million votes for the president in Borno; giving him up 95 per cent.

“I was thinking that we were going to improve on that; I was looking at 97 per cent and this time around, we had 836, 496; it is okay; but I was expecting much more than that to be frank.

“The postponement actually contributed in the reduction in turnout; so I was surprised when the PDP presidential candidate was talking about Borno.

“Last time, in Borno, we gave the president half a million; this time around we gave over 800; because we have more relative peace; in 2015, most of us were scattered all over the country, even outside as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

“This time around I was able to go and vote in my Local Government Area (LGA); I slept in my area; the last time, in 2015, we held our election in IDP camps and turn out that number of vote; this time around we went home to vote with our people and turn out the number,’’he said.

Ndume expressed optimism that the turnout of voters would be higher in the governorship election in Borno as APC would win with a landslide.

The former Senate leader said APC already has 64 APC Senators and is still hoping for more, adding that the party would not repeat its previous mistake in the Senate.

“When you make a mistake, you use that mistake to improve the future; we are going to have a very good 9th assembly by God’s grace.

“This time, the party will play its role; we have learnt from the mistake we made last time; we are not going to repeat that mistake,’’ he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ndume-opens-up-on-why-apc-got-high-number-of-votes-in-north-east.html

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged that Senator Godswill Akpabio was rigged out of the senatorial election in Akwa Ibom state.

Akpabio of the APC lost his senatorial seat to Christopher Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturday’s National Assembly election.

He also said that Atiku was never destined to be the President of Nigeria

Oshiomhole, who reacted to Atiku’s press conference on the outcome of last Saturday’s presidential election, said his party will challenge the results of some National Assembly elections declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“We have petitions that we have written to INEC – how we were rigged out in Akwa-Ibom State and it is interesting that it is PDP that is complaining about the outcome of election in Akwa-Ibom state.

“How do you explain that INEC cancelled so many units not only in Akwa Ibom state, so many other states in order to be able to declare PDP candidates as winners. That is how Senator Akpabio was rigged out in Akwa Ibom state,” he said.

Oshiomhole, who maintained the earlier stand of the APC that INEC was working for the PDP, said, “whether INEC helped PDP or APC, that is neither here or there.

“I also mentioned that if Atiku decides to go to court, I also reserve the right to file cross petition because there are also areas in my local government for example, 15 units were cancelled due to the carelessness or collaboration or mischief of an Electoral Officer that was deployed to my local government knowing that, that is my stronghold.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-akpabio-was-rigged-out-oshiomhole.html

Alhaji Hamza Akuyam, the Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to go to court if the APC have issues with the re-election of Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

Akuyam threw the challenge on Tuesday in Bauchi while reacting to Monday’s news conference by the APC where it alleged that Dogara’s re-election was marred by irregularities.

He said that the re-election of Dogara in Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro and Dass Federal Constituency in Saturday’s National Assembly election was done in line with electoral guidelines.

Akuyam observed that no adverse report was issued either by international or domestic election observers or security agencies during the polls.

He therefore wondered where APC might have gotten its own facts that the polls were marred by irregularities.
Akuyam said that APC under the leadership of Alhaji Uba Nana raised various issues just to simply discredit the election.

According to him, Nana simply addressed journalists to cause mischief and to subvert the PDP’s ideals.
The PDP chairman further observed that in spite of false claims by APC, there was no petition written either by the party or individual to disclaim Dogara’s victory.

He challenged APC chieftains in the state to seek legal redress if they felt strongly about the re-election of Dogara. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/go-to-court-if-you-have-issues-with-dogaras-re-election-pdp-tells-apc.html

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