₦airaland Forum

BUA receives with utter shock, reports allegedly attributed to CACOVID, disowning its earlier payment through CACOVID for 1 million AstraZeneca doses for Nigeria via the AFREXIM vaccine platform .

At the cacovid steering committee meeting held today February 8, 2021 (of which BUA is a member), members were informed by the CBN Governor that CACOVID had been given the opportunity through the Afrexim Platform to access and pay for 1million doses, provided payment was made today or tomorrow - failure which the opportunity to get those doses next week may be lost.

After extensive deliberations, there was no agreement reached and despite members being offered the opportunity to donate funds towards procuring the doses, none offered. BUA then took it upon itself to offer to pay for the 1million doses at the agreed rate of US$3.45 per dose totaling US$3.45million which translates to 1.311billion Naira.

The Chairman of BUA also requested through the CBN governor that the Naira equivalent be paid to the relevant account with CBN, and that CBN forward the dollar payment to Afrexim on CACOVID’s behalf.

This payment was made immediately after the meeting and BUA transferred the money to the CBN (see payment confirmation attached) in order to meet the deadline. However, with this development by the CACOVID operations committee , we now have just cause to believe that some members of CACOVID were not happy that BUA took this initiative in the interest of Nigeria and to ensure that the deadline was met to receive the 1 million doses of the vaccine next week.

BUA did this gesture in good faith as it has done with its interventions throughout the pandemic.

We will however like to state clearly that we are aware that a prominent member of CACOVID is not happy that BUA took the initiative to pay for the vaccines – fulfilling our pledge just as we said during the meeting. Now they want to scuttle it by this action because they were unable to take the initiative.

We find this release by CACOVID to be very petty and unbecoming of seemingly serious corporate citizens because it is tantamount to playing politics with the lives of Nigerians. This is no time for politics. It is time for us to come together to help Nigerians and it does not matter who is helping or paying.

We stand ready to keep supporting and despite this petty action, we have decided to let the money remain in the CACOVID Account with the CBN pending when they are ready to utilize the funds for Nigerians to access the vaccines.

BUA, one of Africa’s largest conglomerates, has paid for 1 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria through the AFREXIM Vaccine programme in partnership with CACOVID. These doses of the vaccine which should be delivered by next week, will be the first delivery of Vaccines to Nigeria since the COVID-19 vaccines became available. According to BUA, the vaccines will be distributed free to Nigerians at no cost.

Speaking on this development, Philanthropist and Founder of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu thanked the President of the Afrexim Bank, Dr. Benedict Oramah for making the purchase possible and the Nigerian Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for coordinating the process through the CACOVID Private Sector partnership. According to him, “BUA decided to secure these 1million vaccines by paying the full amount for the vaccines today because these vaccines became available only last week through AFREXIM. We expect the vaccines to be delivered within the next 14 days and hope priority will be given to our frontline workers who have committed their lives to managing the pandemic.”

“In addition to this, BUA is committing to purchase 5 million doses for Nigeria as soon as they become available through this same arrangement.”, Rabiu added.

This development effectively pushes Africa's most populous nation to the front of the queue in vaccine procurement.

The attention of the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has been drawn to a publication titled “Concerns Mount over Corruption and Inefficiency in Cash Transfer Programme” published on the front page of the This Day Newspaper of Sunday 24th January, 2021. This publication is not a true representation of the Household Uplifting Programme-Conditional Cash Transfer (HUP-CCT).

The National Cash Transfer Programme was introduced by the Federal Government in 2016 in partnership with the World Bank to fortify social safety nets and establish a social protection system in Nigeria. This is in line with the President Buhari led Government’s Social Investment agenda of eradicating poverty and promoting shared prosperity amongst the citizenry. It involves the release of a monthly stipend of N5,000 to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerian households, mostly in rural communities.

The Programme has many objectives that include:

Improved Household consumption that could improve the economy of the community
Increase in utilization of health and nutrition services
Improved school enrolment and attendance
Improved environmental sanitation and management
Improved Finance and Asset acquisition to ultimately enhance financial and economic inclusion
Beneficiary engagement in sustainable livelihood

On the whole, the programme is a component of Government’s resolve to reduce community poverty in Nigeria

As at December 2020, the programme operated in 33 states of the country and the FCT. A total of 1,414,983 beneficiaries with 7,068,629 individual household member beneficiaries have been enrolled, covering 487 Local Government Areas, 4,716 Wards and 37,628 Communities. The programme targets to cover all States of the Federation by March 2021.

Contrary to claims of lacking implementation structure, the Programme has a clearly defined implementation structure with an electronic base beneficiary enrolment system that focuses on the Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) mined from the National Social Register. The PVHHs are identified through a combination of geographic and community based targeting mechanisms conducted by the various State Operating and Coordinating Units (SOCU) under the supervision and guidance of the National Social Safety Net Co-ordination Office (NASSCO). The Community Based Targeting (CBT) mechanism is used for the targeting process.

The following clarifications are necessary for the discerning public:

The database of Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) is generated at the state level and domiciled at State Ministries of Planning. This information is accessible through the National Social Safety Net Project (NASSP) website-www.nassp.gov.ng
All 3 grant based programmes are within budgetary provisions and are processed electronically.
Rapid Transfer Register (RRR)- This is provided for under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).
Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)- This is funded from the Abacha restituted funds and the World Bank facility.
Cash Grant to Rural Women (CGRW)-This is a one-off cash grant and it is provided for in the 2020 Appropriation Act.
Electronic disbursement is done to the extent of infrastructural capacity of any location, noting that the targeted beneficiaries of the CCT are the poorest of the poor who normally dwell in rural areas typically lacking banking and telecom facilities.
At the commencement of the programme in September 2016, Memoranda of Understanding were signed between the FG and all states. Some states committed to the programme instantly while others joined in late. This clearly put some states in the lead ahead of others in the generation of the State Social Register of Poor and Vulnerable Households.
The engagement of Payment Service Providers (PSPs) is carried out through a National Competitive Bidding (NCB) process that is within the World Bank Prior Review Mechanism threshold. Hence the transparency of the process is not in doubt.
The CCT Programme provides capacity building, coaching and mentoring to beneficiaries on various topics including hygiene, girl child education, savings, etc. Formulation of co-operatives and savings are voluntary and managed by the beneficiaries with no degree of involvement by the Programme.

Currently, State Social Registers have been generated across all the states, while the CCT is being implemented in all 36 states with only Borno, Ebonyi and Ogun states yet to commence payments. While many goodwill and statements of gratitude have been received from many State Governments on the programme, success stories  and testimonies abound on how the Programme is impacting the lives of the beneficiaries as well as poor and vulnerable Nigerians with a positive effect on their communities as well.

It is the desire of the Federal Ministry of humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to ensure the full and successful implementation of the administration’s Social Investment Programmes, in full alignment to Mr. President’s deliberate policy of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of Poverty by year 2030.

The Save Nigeria movement (SNM) has enjoined religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. According to a statement issued by the group's Convener, Abel King, the group expressed concern over the conduct of some religious leaders who had been inflaming passions along religious lines aimed at breaching the peace in the country.

The group particularly frowned at a statement credited to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and signed by it's Vice President (North), which casted aspersions on the nation's secret service for alerting Nigerians on the ploy by certain elements to create crisis using religious platforms ahead of 2023 politics.

The group maintained that such position was uncalled for, unnecessary, unfounded and most despicable as it was least expected of the apex organization representing the body of Christ.

It noted: "We can excuse individual religious leaders for holding their views, even if they do so with obvious reasons that threaten national security, but we can not excuse same when it becomes obvious that it's an agenda for a certain group to cause civil disorder using established platforms such as CAN. I am afraid ladies and gentlemen, this is what CAN is doing at the moment.
"The body of Christ in Nigeria has never been muzzled. If there was any urge to do that, a lot of religious leaders would not be free today. we expect that religious leaders would use their platforms to preach and promote peace rather than inflame passions and discredit security agencies."

The group enjoined CAN to immediately offer apologies to Nigerians over attempt by its vice president North to undermine the DSS just as it urged Nigerians to remain focused and determined to abide by the way of peace and unity at all times.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider has announced its ongoing digital campaign “Mask Up, Stay Safe” as part of its advocacy to encourage everyone to consciously protect one another against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The digital campaign which is designed to employ a fun approach to urge and engage its stakeholders on the need to observe the safety and precautionary guidelines during the festive season is implemented using the Bank’s customised face mask filter on instagram, that is made of the bespoke FirstBank 125th Anniversary pattern in Ankara fabric giving a distinct African contemporary an consistent look.

The “Mask Up, Stay Safe” digital campaign is part of the FirstBank’s December activities which kicked off on the 7th December 2020 themed: “12 Days of Christmas and 12 Days of Kindness”. The activities are structured in part to increase public awareness and participation in the Bank’s SPARK (Start Performing Act of Random Kindness) initiative with the central goal of reigniting the societal moral values by encouraging people to choose to do the right thing and reinforcing a consciousness/mindset of showing compassion, empathy; as well as giving to others aimed at inspiring people to make a difference.

Speaking on the campaign, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the CEO of FirstBank said “In the spirit of walking the talk, I have uploaded my Instagram story with the virtual face mask and I crave your indulgence to join me in doing the same.”

“This campaign is targeted at informing our customers and the general public that staying safe and protected through face mask wearing is paramount now, more than ever, as it is a way of mitigating the unforeseen tragedy of the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Stay Safe First!” he concluded.

Lead Pastor of Dominion Hall Citadel Global, Tunde Bakare, has asked those scheming against the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to stop doing so.

The pastor, whose church was formerly called the Latter Rain Assembly believes such people are demonising and scheming against Tinubu because of his past. Like Tinubu, Bakare is known to be interested in the future leadership of Nigeria.

In a recent sermon monitored by POLITICS NIGERIA, he tackled issues that many exploit to criticise Tinubu, including the claim that he eats billions from taxation in Lagos. According to Bakare, the APC could not have won the 2015 and 2019 election without Tinubu.

He added that no other person had achieved for the South-West what Tinubu had, especially what he did between 1999 and 2007. He told those he called Tinubu’s traducers to eat their humble pie and work with him.

Making references to some instances in the Bible, the pastor also noted that fighting Tinubu because of his alleged Iragbiji ancestry was mundane. In a video bearing the sermon, Bakare said: "Accept your humble pie. Eat it. When you were sleeping, Asiwaju was working day and night. He secured Lagos. He secured Ogun. He secured Osun. He secured Ondo. He secured Edo, and you say he is nobody. You are ode (a fool). You think he laboured that much to say, ‘Çome and take.’ No, he is not a fool."

"Stop all this nonsense about ancestry. You will kill your heroes and those who can deliver you and nothing will happen. All of these sakabula leaders, they don’t have machine guns. By sakabula, I mean dane guns. I am not a friend of anybody. Ojo o b’enikan sota, eni eji ri leji pa. (I am like the rain that has no enemy, thus drenching whoever it encounters.)".

Bakare noted that some Yoruba elders were plotting some alternative political re-engineering which, he argued, would not work without Tinubu. According to him, the former Governor of Lagos State’s structure will swallow such because he had worked ahead.

Bakare added, "Stop plotting, scheming against someone. He has his past, you have yours. Even Pope has a past. Don’t let me expose your men of God o, because they all have a past. And before I expose them I should look inward too, because I have my past and you too do. If you have no past, you have no future."

"I will defend the right of even my enemy when they have that right. Has he done something with power? Yes. Has he done all things right? No, but he did his best. You can’t give more than what you have. Therefore, let’s sit around the table and say: These are the challenges. Do you know how long ago I told the Yoruba elders to do this? Over 10 years ago. They are now going around. Milling around him. We are going to fix this country, and nobody has the monopoly of wisdom to do it."

"I know what I am saying. Today we create a lot of backlash on social media. Call me names. I know my names. Say what you like about me, but let’s fix it."

According to Bakare, there were many who even did evils as recorded by the Bible, whom God used because they turned around. He gave their examples, including David.

"He said, ‘Oh, you don’t know what Asiwaju has done? Oh, he is making money from taxation. Why don’t you make yours? If the system allows it, and he exploited that system to his own advantage."

Tinubu is one of the most influential and controversial politicians in the current era. Although he emerged from the private sector, he moved relatively fast on the political ladder, arguably helped by the prominent role he played during the June 12 struggles.

Africa’s leading cement giant, BUA Cement has signed an agreement with Sinoma CBMI of China for the construction of three new cement plants of 3million tonnes each per annum in Edo, Sokoto and Adamawa states of Nigeria to be completed by the end of 2022. Upon completion, this will bring BUA Cement’s total capacity to 20million metric tonnes by 2022. At 9million tonnes combined capacity, this is the single largest contract ever awarded in the Nigerian Cement Industry for the construction of new cement plants at the same time and by a single company, in Nigeria.

These 3 new plants are in addition to BUA Cement’s already existing 6mmtpa plants in Edo State, 2mmtpa plants in Sokoto State and another 3mmtpa BUA Cement plant in Sokoto - which will be commissioned in Q2 2021.

Speaking at the ceremony held simultaneously at BUA HQ in Lagos and the CBMI HQ in China, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Cement said the expansion decision was to transform the manufacturing industry and increase Nigeria’s cement production capacity noting that “Nigeria and the surrounding region is still home to huge opportunities in construction, housing, infrastructure, and allied industries”.

According to Abdul Samad Rabiu, “Despite these opportunities, there is no doubt that there is still a huge deficit in supply whilst demand continues to increase in Nigeria. This situation has led to an increase in the retail prices of cement despite ex-factory prices remaining partially unchanged. To bridge this huge deficit gap in Nigeria and in the absence of new major investments in the industry, we have taken this decision to invest and build these new plants at a total project cost of 1.05billion dollars which will be completed by the end of 2022.”

In his comments, Mr. Tong Laigou, Chairman of SINOMA CBMI praised the longstanding partnership between BUA and CBMI. In his comments, SINOMA CBMI was pleased to work with BUA on this huge project and help BUA in its aspiration to be the best cement manufacturer in Africa. He further added that CBMI would bring their expertise and wealth of experience working in this environment to bring the project to completion on schedule.

BUA Cement Plc is Nigeria’s second largest cement company and the largest producer in its North-West, South-South and South-East regions.

The Founder/Executive chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu has been conferred with a fellowship by the institute of Directors of Nigeria.

Rabiu, a popular billionaire businessmen and Philantropist received a heavy applause from the audience present at the event.

President Muhammadu Buhari has renominated Mr Ahmed Kuru as Managing Director and Mr Eberechukwu Uneze and Mr Aminu Ismail as Executive Directors of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria for the final term of five years.

This was contained in a letter to the President of the Senate seeking confirmation of the nominees by the Upper Chamber in accordance with Section 10(1) of the AMCON Act, 2010.

Similarly, in another letter to the President of the Senate in compliance with Sections 5(4) and 8(3) of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Act, 2010, President Buhari has asked the Senate to confirm the nominations of Mr Bello Hassan as the Managing Director, and Mr Mustapha Muhammad Ibrahim as Executive Director of the corporation.

The two nominees are to succeed Mr Umaru Ibrahim and Prince Aghatise Erediuwa whose second terms end on December 8, 2020 as Managing Director and Executive Director (Operations) respectively.

Meanwhile, Hon. Omolola Abiola Edewor, is to continue as Executive Director (Corporate Services) in the NDIC until her second and final term ends on January 24, 2022.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has reconciled Benue State Channel's Reporter, Pius Angbo with his wife, Doctor Mrs. Ifeyinwa Angbo, POLITICS NIGERIA has learned.

Governor Ortom who met with the couple today, counselled them to always settle their differences amicably and shun the temptation of engaging in violence. He stated that as a young couple with great potentials, the husband being a versatile journalist and the wife a medical doctor, there was the need for them to foster a strong union to serve as models to others.

Mr. Pius Angbo in a reaction said he had apologised to his wife over the assault on her, stressing that he also sought the forgiveness of the entire women folk and would make amends going forward.

On her part, Dr/ Angbo said she had accepted her husband's apology and forgiven him, saying their children are still tender and they needed prayers to grow stronger in love and nurture their kids to maturity.

She appreciated Governor Ortom for taking time out of his very tight schedule to make peace between them, saying the Governor’s intervention was fatherly and a demonstration of love for them.

Not many knew Yusuf Magaji Bichi before he became the DGSS in 2018. Before then, he was just one quiet easy going gentleman who had started and finished a thirty five (35) year public service in the Intelligence Agency. Born in 1956 in the ancient city of Bichi, Kano State, he attended Danbatta Secondary School and the College of Advanced Studies, Kano.

An alumnus of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied Political Science and graduated in 1981, he started his career in the Security Division of the Kano State Cabinet Office. He was to later transfer his services in 1984 to the then National Security Organisation (NSO) now State Security Service (SSS)/Department of State Services (DSS).

As a young officer, his sterling performance and dedication to duty stood him out. In 1985, his Supervisor had described Bichi as an asset and good material for the Service. He was subsequently nominated in 1988 to receive further trainings in intelligence processing and analysis and other aspects of counterintelligence in the United Kingdom. His Course Officer had described him as a competent intelligence officer. Back home, Chief JO Obuseh, his then boss saw him as a very good analyst. His projections were never flawed. They were precise.

Vast in many fields of covert actions and Alternative Dispute Resolution, his core competences include investigation, interrogation and protective operations; conflict management, risk and vulnerability assessment, human resource management and mentorship. He brings his wealth of experience to bear on his assignments. At every stage of his endeavours, his superiors had taken note of his discipline and diligence. This is why in years past, Mr. AA Gadzama, a one-time DG stated that “wherever you have difficulty and security challenges, post Bichi there”. He has continually exhibited this in the way he handles matters.

Aside adopting cooperation as basis for interagency relationship, he harps on effective and proactive communication as bedrock of public and media engagements. In support of the ongoing fight against terrorism, insurgency and other threats against National Security, he has humbly and steadily supplied timely and actionable intelligence to sister agencies. Ditto to MDAs for efficient State and public policy.  He is neither combative nor competitive. He is only a team player and an achiever.

He is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence College where he was bestowed a Fellow of the War College (fwc) in 2007. While in training, he caught the attention of his assessors. He was unequivocally described as decent, mature and a well comported gentleman with a pleasant demeanour. But for a demand by his parent Organisation, the DSS, that he returned to the Service, the National War College (NWC) wanted him retained as a Directing Staff. Further observed to be respected by all including the College staff, he was applauded for learning rapidly and devoted in his work.

Above all, the College noted that Bichi “is an experienced and knowledgeable person who readily shared his experience with his peers”. No wonder he adopts collaboration as a model for security management. Prophetically, the Commandant unambiguously stated that Bichi has great potentials for effective performance in higher responsibilities. Is anyone ever shocked he afterall became the DGSS?

Yes, his emergence as the DGSS is never a surprise. It is a journey foretold. In one of the assessments on him, he was described as an officer with high quality of leadership even though he was yet to occupy a top post. At each point of his training, the observation about his leadership qualities and recommendations to discharge higher responsibilities remained constant and unassailable.

Notably in 2007, the Commandant of National War College hinted about his great potentials to effectively manage higher responsibilities. Instructively, 2018 as clearly seen was not the first time he was to be considered for the post of DG. In 2011/12, his name featured as a potential DGSS. In the same vein in 2015, he was among the three (3) names the then DG, Mr Ekpenyong Ita recommended as his replacement.

Various stakeholders had always mentioned him as a possible DG. That he was not lucky those periods was an act of destiny. And as a man of destiny that he is, he eventually became one when it was his time. And he has not disappointed. He is not an ambitious man. During his early days, he had on three (3) occasions respectfully turned down appointments when the then DG, Areh nominated him six (6) times for one position or the other. Remarkably, the DG on three (3) instances refused and insisted he must take the particular appointment.

Bichi has made a steady and enviable career in the SSS where he has risen to the highest rank and won all the accolades for his unblemished services. The trio of former DGs, Chief Peter Nwaoduah, KK Areh (Col/rtd) and Gadzama variously honoured him with distinguished awards for excellent and outstanding performances.  He served meritoriously in different capacities.  He served as Director, State Services Academy (SSA), Lagos, one of the Service’s Training Institutions. He was State Director of Security (SDS) in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States. He also headed all the Service’ Directorates namely Security Enforcement, Operations, Intelligence, Inspectorate, Administration among others.

He started to hold those enviable positions quite early in his career. While on mere GL.14, he had been appointed to be the Director, Inspectorate in charge of discipline, standards, evaluation and inspection. Only his professional attributes, mien and disposition earned him that. From this time to when he exited the Service (and returned) he stood out and has remained his amiable and hardworking self.

Bichi is, no doubt, an Intelligence Officer of great excellence. Known for his disposition to mentor young and upcoming officers, he is astute, modest and has a carriage that is compelling. He is likeable. He is urbane. He is creative and innovative. His personality has positively affected the Service. These have led to several reforms since his assumption of Office as the DGSS.

Staff welfare is fundamental to his management style. He is a team player and operates an open door policy which endears him to all and sundry. There is hardly any of his subordinates who had not worked under him; a reason he understands and knows them well. He utilizes them appropriately to achieve desired national security objectives.

He is an ardent believer in transparency and democratic accountability of security and intelligence forces. A man of immense credibility who has won numerous accolades, he was recently recognized by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) which named YM Bichi Crescent in Jahi District of Abuja after him for his contributions to the society.

The DGSS is a highly detribalized Nigerian. For instance, his close body aides are neither Muslims nor Hausas. His three (3) drivers are Christians. Two of his Secretaries are non-Muslim Southerners. The Chief Detail to the DG is Igbo. The heads of his Protocol are Christian Southerners just like Yours Sincerely, the Public Relations Officer. He is not one that accepts irregularities as norms. This manifests in his operational plans and intelligence collection designs.  On assumption of duty as DG, he gave effect to the numerous restructuring of the Service- ranking, allowances and salaries.

His tenure has really witnessed a lot of changes. Staff welfare and motivation, collaborative and strategic engagements with sister agencies and stakeholders are on the rise. The DG is indeed a father and a friend loved by all. Loyal to Constituted Authorities, the Nation and the Service, he is unarguably gentle, humane, resilient and incorruptible.

He personifies John Maxwell’s popular quote that “a leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way”. Alhaji YM Bichi fwc is, indeed, a Professional to the core. Salute to a Quintessential Noble Man of Honour!

Peter Afunanya, Ph.D
Public Relations Officer
Department of State Services 
National Headquarters, Abuja

Apex Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, has condemned the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over a recent bomb attack on a church in Port-Harcourt owned by the father of State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Three suspects arrested over the attack confessed to being members of IPOB adding that they carried out the attack to gain status within the proscribed group. On November 29th 2020, the suspects, identified as Progress Owudinjo, 37, from Etche, Rivers State; Apuro Victor, 25, from Ebonyi State; and John Okorie, 38, from Abia State, detonated dynamite within the premises of the Christian Universal Church Incorporated owned by Mr. Nlemanya Wike.

In a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Friday evening signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, President-General of Ohanaeze Youth Council, the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu may end up like embattled ex-pensions boss, Abdulrasheed Maina.

"Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described the recent Confessions of ipob members, allegedly detonated a dynamite at the church attended by Elder Wike, father of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike at Azikiwe street in Diobu, Port Harcourt as "the incubation of Monsters and end of the Road for IPOB"."

"Suspects Confessions will be a disaster  for IPOB,as these evidences will be repeatedly used against them(IPOB)before the international community and tensions are rising, with the evidence of Nnamdi Kanu's directives to Members to unleash violence during Endsars protests, its IPOB's self inflicted wounds, and capable of putting Nnamdi Kanu in the shoes of Abdulrasheed Maina, who was recently rearrested in Niger."

"OYC insists that it's never too late for IPOB to rescind on this dangerous path of self destruction and retreat from making reckless Statements that will be used as a trap and huge indictment  against them and Justifiable reasons for anyone to believe that the terrorist Tag on them was genuine," with past ipob's threats and rantings.

"It will be difficult for  them to exonerate themselves from the alleged Bombing of Wike Father's church, and the fact that ipob Suspects Confessed over the alleged terrorist attacks on the church, is a bad omen and ipob is finished".

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, December 4, 2020, gave an order for the remand of ex-chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina in prison custody till the end of his trial, and adjourned the matter till December 8, 2020 upon application by a new defence counsel, Adaji Abel.

According to Abang, “The defendant is already on bench warrant, his bail having been revoked, so he shall be remanded in a correctional service, pending conclusion of trial. The matter is hereby adjourned till December 8, 2020 at the instance of the first defendant for continuation of trial."

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the order for Maina to remain in prison custody till the end of his trial followed his jumping of his bail by fleeing to Niger Republic, where he was arrested by the International Police (Interpol) and extradited to Nigeria on Thursday, December 3, 2020 to face justice.

The new defence counsel applied for adjournment to enable him familiarize himself with the case but prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar opposed the application on the ground that the ninth prosecution witness, (PW9), Rouqayyah Ibrahim, an EFCC detective was in court to continue her evidence-in-chief.

In ruling against the prosecution, Abang stated;

“The first defendant is entitled to all his constitutional rights under Section 36 of 1999 Constitution, especially the rights that have to do with fair hearing. The defendant is represented by counsel and the counsel prayed for a short date to enable him to be properly briefed. I am inclined to accommodate the counsel for the first defendant in the overall interest of justice,” noting that the ninth prosecution witness, who has been testifying in Maina’s trial in absentia, may continue from where she stopped on Thursday, December 3, when the trial now resumes.

According to Abang, “It is also possible to allow the PW9 that has already commenced her evidence to complete same and for the defence counsel to take a date for cross-examination, but I think it is safer and indeed neater to adjourn the matter to enable the first defendant brief his counsel in the overall interest of justice.”

Also at today’s sitting, Francis Oransanye, Maina’s former counsel, formally withdrew his services to the defendant, having filed a notice of withdrawal in court on November 25, 2020.

b]Lukman Abdulah writes on how four governors are plotting to take over the ruling party [/b]

Three are governors . One an Attorney General.They are from the northern part of the country. These governors are currently in their final tenures. The Attorney General wants to be a governor and they want to hijack the party in other to achieve their goals. They want to choose the next President. They are members of the APC.

Together they are manipulating the system, pitching one ethnic group against the other, deceiving the President, playing on the intelligence of fellow party members blinded by ambition and plotting to rubbish those who came together to form a pan Nigerian party where people from different ethnic groups and religious backgrounds will feel at home. Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and the Minister for Justice and Attorney General Abubakar Mallami, are the four gods holding the ruling party APC in the jugular and threaten to strangle it.

One of the governors thinks if they can carry out their coup successfully and plot the retention of power in the north President Muhammadu Buhari will install him in power. One has the ambition of becoming chairman of the party after he has by default been made caretaker chairman following the ousting of the former Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The Attorney General after office in 2023 want to use his stupendous wealth and closeness to the ruling governor and the Buni, the Chairman to be to corner the office of the governor in Kebbi State.

In their bids they are running across the country looking for straw men to use to achieve their goals. In Ekiti , they found an ambitious man in Gov Kayode Fayemi who is willing to sell his race and betray his leader. From there they moved to Ebonyi and tapped on a naive Gov David Umahi and dangled the Presidency in his face and got him out of his party.

To the South South they have gone to befriend a feckless Jonathan Goodluck , an ex president much abused and defamed who suddenly was held up as the best thing that has happened to Nigeria.

In Adamawa they got the ‘intimacy gadget Senator’ and they have since been swooning in celebration. The three governors have abandoned their states while governance suffers. The attorney general is throwing his influence around in the courts and the presidency, tapping on judges to give favorable orders and judgments while misadvising and deceiving the President.

While they play their game to the bemusement of majority of party members and leaders everyone has been wondering what fate will befall the party . A friend last week liken what is happening now in the party to a pregnancy. He says the party is pregnant. For every pregnancy, a number of things can either happen. One , there could be a miscarriage, two there could be a still birth, three the pregnancy could be carried through and result in the birth of a monster. It could also result in a multiple birth with the mothers of the baby dead while the children are thrown in garbage dump .

The Gang of Four and their permutations are already receiving reactions . Last week Chief Bisi Akande led some influential leaders of the party from the South West to meet with President Buhari. Those close to the august visitors hinted that their visit may not be unconnected to the plot by the gang to hijack the party for their purpose.

A few days after Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola sounded an alarm and reminded the party of the gentleman agreement of power rotation. Fashola is not known to blab , particularly on political matters. He must have seen something hence his outcry.

Fayemi, the one that El Rufai said the North wanted and was canonized as the adopted son of Ahmadu Bello has unusually taken a step back . He is not seen to gallivant with the Gang of Four as he used to. He was absent at the conspiratorial meeting at Mallami’s house penultimate weekend. Was not seen at Umahi’s welcome party into APC and the toasting event for Jonathan Goodluck. He appears to now stay more at home in Ekiti as opposed to governing his state from Abuja.

What has happened to Fayemi? Some are claiming that the line by Kaduna governor Nasir El Rufai that The North shall soon reveal the use to which they will put was deliberately uttered to damage him among his people. If this is real , his supporters in Ekiti were not sophisticated enough to see through this . They went celebrating like slaves who have just been shown the back door entrance to the master’s mansion.

The quiet from FAYEMI’s end in the last three weeks continues to be intriguing. Has the ambition for President crashed so soon? Is it a case of stepping back for strategic reasons? Is he angry at his betrayal by the gang? Has some SW elders called him to order? Whatever it is , he appears to be keeping a distance from his brothers of his Ahmadu Bello’s lineage .

The conspiracy however continues. Non NEC members of the NWC came visiting last week. They were plied with some N200,000 each so that they could keep their mouth shut when the NEC is called in December to dissolve the party’s structure from the Ward to the State level; the Gang is able to do its membership registration; elect its favored executive across the country;?deregister those members considered antagonistic to their agenda; organise a sham convention and seize the party while waiting to nominate its candidate for President in 2022.

As The Gang put its plot in place, and delight at going to show a party newsletter to President Buhari as its big achievement , the old warriors are waiting and watching. Senator Aliero in Kebbi, Wammako in Sokoto, Tinubu in Lagos, Shettima in Borno, Aminu Bello Masari in Katsina, Ganduje in Kano, Oshiomhole in Edo , Hope Uzodinma in Imo and several old and experienced warriors are lying low and watching the upstarts play their game while waiting for the auspicious moment to pounce and devour them.

The multitude of members at the base of the Party’s pyramid who have been neglected over the years while the governors butcher their bulls and eat it alone are also watching with keen interest.

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Saturday reveal that Nigeria is officially in a Recession. The nation has recorded a contraction of 3.62 percent in the third quarter of 2020.

This is the second consecutive quarterly GDP decline since the recession of 2016. The cumulative GDP for the first nine months of 2020, therefore, is at -2.48 percent.

The last time Nigeria recorded such cumulative GDP was in 1987, when GDP declined by 10.8 percent. The nation's inflation rate is currently astronomic evidenced by the high prices of commodities in the market.

This is the country's second recession under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Code of Conduct Bureau has invited Ibrahim Magu for questioning over alleged corruption involving breach of code of conduct for public offers

In a November 2, 2020, letter obtained by Peoples Gazette, Mr. Magu was asked to bring copies of all asset declarations since joining public service.

Copies of appointment letter and and records of service from January to May 2020 were amongst the documents Mr. Magu was asked to bring, as well as all documents of landed properties both developed and undeveloped.

The invitation came months after Mr. Magu was suspended from office as acting-chairman of the EFCC on allegations of corruption.

The Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Chiji Collins has been impeached.

POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Mr. Paul Emeziem from Onuimo has been appointed as the new speaker of the House of Assembly.

Collins was removed on Friday during a plenary session in the assembly complex in Owerri.

Sources reveal that Collins was relieved of his position on allegations of gross misconduct and financial impropriety. 19 out of 27 house members pushed for Collins removal.

Despite the alarming rate of unemployment in Nigeria, LTT Coastal & Marine Services Ltd, a company contracted to manage government-owned vessels, has continued to fix foreigners in positions meant for Nigerians, POLITICS NIGERIA’s findings have revealed.

This is also in violation of the Cabotage Act 2003, one of the rules guiding the operation of foreigners on the Nigerian coastline.

Background

Founded in 2007 as a fleet management company, L.T.T was assigned to manage vessels owned by the Nigerian Ports Authorities. This is owing to the concession programme introduced by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to reduce inefficiency at the ports.

Recall that in 2005, the Obasanjo-led administration handed over 24 terminals to private operators for a certain period of time while NPA continued to provide technical oversight. In line with the programme, eight tug boats using Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD), were placed under the management of the L.T.T in a bid to improve the availability of tugs, pilot boats and mooring services in Lagos port.

These tug boats are namely; MT Emekuku, MT Asaga, MT Gusau, MT Zaranda, MT Majiya, MT Uromi, MT Daura and MT Ubima.

Lip service

Earlier this year, the General Manager of the company, Kalusky Yechiel Hilik, reiterated the firm’s commitment to capacity building and its vision to empower more Nigerians to man its vessels. Also, the Human Resources Manager of LLT, Theodora Nwaeze noted that the company is focused on expertise and capacity development, adding that the company employed only twenty expatriate employees while others are 225 Nigerians.

Six out of the eight tug boats are fully manned by the Indigenous crews while the other two tugs are made up of both Indigenous and expatriate crew. Our Pilot and Mooring boats are also manned and operated by Indigenous crews,” she stated emphatically.

Meanwhile, this paper has gathered that not less than 30 expatriate employees are currently in the service of the company. These expatriates are from the Philippines, Russia, the Republic of Lithuania, Guyana, Poland and other countries of the world.

In fact, POLITICS NIGERIA reliably gathered that the company, of recent, imported additional six expatriates from abroad to train them before employing them. A list of the expatriates obtained by this paper showed that 23 of the foreigners are shared across the eight tug boats.

While some are boatswains, the senior crewmen of the deck responsible for the vessel's hull and all its components, others are Chief engineers and captains.  Jan Rybicki, Tłusty Piotr and Engr Jacek Potocynz, all from Poland are on MT Uromi.

Zubel Sviatoslav from Russia and Simutis Ricardas from Lithuania are on MT Ubima, Captain Feliz Andrew and Reid Murtland from Guyana are on MT Daura.

In addition, Stanislaw Chachaj from Poland, Hetak Waldemark and Chief Engineer Jan Wenc from Poland are on MT Majiya. Chief Engineer Jaroslaw Paluszynki from Poland is on MT Gusau while Chief Engineer Sekula Tadeuz from Poland is on MT Uromi.

Further investigation showed that some of these expatriates have been in the service of the company for more than five years.  For instance two Filipinos, Eric Mindeoro and Artz Calingasan, have been in the service of the company since 2015 going by their records on social media.


Alarming unemployment rate

According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s youth population eligible to work is about 40 million. Meanwhile, only 14.7 million are fully employed while another 11.2 million are unemployed.

The alarming rate of youth unemployment rate can result in increased insecurity and poverty, development experts have warned several times.

Asides the unemployment figures, in the maritime sector, the country loses billions of Naira annually due to the expatriate players' dominance.

Earlier this year, the former Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Temisan Omatseye, said the Federal Government loses up to $1 billion annually in the maritime sector due to policy somersaults and expatriate players’ dominance.

Omatseye posited that with Nigeria's large coastline, it should be able to have a very strong maritime industry that would see local players benefiting from the sector.

‘Illegal’

Not only does the action of L.T.T contribute to the dominance of expatriates in the maritime industry but it is also illegal. The employment of expatriates to man vessels is in violation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003, also referred to as the Cabotage Act of 2003.

With the enforcement kicking off in 2004, the Act forbids the commercial transportation of goods and services within Nigerian coastal and inland vessels owned or crewed by expatriates. The act "reserves the commercial transportation of goods and services within Nigerian coastal and inland waters to vessels flying the Nigerian flag, owned and crewed by Nigerian citizens, and built in Nigeria."

However, the Minister of Transportation may on the receipt of an application grant a waiver to a duly registered vessel on the requirement for a vessel under this Act to be wholly owned by Nigerian citizens where he is satisfied that there is no wholly Nigerian owned vessel that is suitable and available to provide the services or perform the activity described in the application.

Also, the Minister may on the receipt of an application grant a waiver to a duly registered vessel on the requirement under this Act to be wholly manned by Nigerian citizens where he is satisfied that there is no qualified Nigerian officer or crew for the position specified in the application.

POLITICS NIGERIA found out that L.T.T does not have any waiver because the vessel is wholly owned by the federal government and it has continually breached NIMASA regulations on manning. Multiple sources who spoke with our reporter stated that when the regulatory body comes for inspection, the foreign engineers leave or pretend to be a subordinate.

"When NIMASA comes around, the foreign engineer will go away. He won't act as if he is the boss. I will now be acting as if I am in charge. They will ask me questions. Once NIMASA leaves, the foreign Engineer will come back. That's what they have been doing for many years," one of the Engineers told POLITICS NIGERIA.

He added that some of the expatriates were trained in Nigeria, even before they are employed, while several Nigerians who struggle to develop themselves have been turned down by the same management in the past.

Speaking with POLITICS NIGERIA, the Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, said the regulatory body is not aware of the violations by L.T.T.

"How can we be aware? You know the Cabotage Act has four legs, manning, ownership, bidding... They must all be Nigerian."

He also stated that where one does not have the requirements, there is a provision for waiver, noting that only the minister has the power to grant waiver. On the illegal activities of L.T.T, Mr Jamoh said NIMASA is ready to investigate if POLITICS NIGERIA makes the outcome of its investigation available to the agency.

Horrendous tales of former employees

Former employees of L.T.T have also shared the unpleasant and unpalatable treatments experienced while in the service of the maritime company. These experiences include racial discrimination, poor renumeration and disregard for the NIMASA regulations.

One of the officers who craved anonymity said he spent 10 years and four months in the company before he tendered his resignation on March 3, 2020.

The marine officer who was initially employed as a cook, in pursuit of a career as a marine officer, attended necessary institutions and obtained relevant certificates and licences.

Meanwhile, he was disappointed with the reaction of the management which frustrated him for years. According to him, his promotion was delayed and when he was eventually promoted to the rank of a Chief Officer from being an Able seaman, he was not adequately paid.

An able seaman provides a variety of services on a merchant ship.

“I called them on several occasions for salary increment and they refused. I started as a cook. From (being) a cook, I sponsored myself, went to school, finished. I brought my certificate of competence and tendered it to them, they refused me. They said I should get my hardcover licence which I eventually got.”

“When I presented the licence, they did not want to answer me due to some political reasons, they continued bringing expats. These expats they are bringing. They went ahead to do their propaganda that they were training Nigerian citizens which is not the case.”

“At a stage, when they confirmed me. They gave me a month’s letter. After I resumed, they failed to pay me for that one month.”

He eventually got another job that pays more than his previous job. He was offered N650, 000 as a start as against the N342, 000 L.T.T offered, he told POLITICS NIGERIA. For Solomon Wilson (name changed for fear of victimisation) , one of the captains who enrolled at Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to acquire knowledge, his promotion was delayed.

Mr Wilson worked with the company between 2009 and 2018.

“They are really frustrating. Poor payment. Poor salary structure. If you struggle to go to school. After you get your licence, they’ll give empty promises that they will train you at the end of the day.”

“We were many that left there out of frustration. They prefer bringing in foreigners to come and work there to the blacks. Before I resigned, I wrote so many letters in respect to my training. They did not listen to me. I left there with frustration,” he told our reporter.

Captain Hillary Okorie, whose contract was terminated in March 2015, lamented the spate of racism encouraged by the company. “I was one of the first people that worked there. I was one of their early victims. The way Nigerians are treated there is not palatable. I fought it with the last drop of my blood. At the end of the day, they stopped by contract.”

“There is racism in that place. They bring foreigners. People from Aruba. In fact, people from Europe and Russia predominantly. They pay them well and us, very badly.”

Narrating his experience, Mr Okorie said: “One of the captains said I cannot use the same facility with him because I’m a black man. Someone that came to my country. I thank God that I controlled my temper that very day. I complained to the GM about it but they threw it to the dustbin.”

“There is disparity in the food we eat. The food we eat is different from what foreigners eat. They said their food is more expensive than ours. Some of them are paid as much as 6,000 dollars per month. They do the same job, the same risk.”

In the separate interviews, the three former employees called on the federal government to intervene in the plight of the workers in L.T.T. They also made it known that the tug boats in their new place of work are solely manned by Nigerians.

“Nigerians can operate those vessels with training, there is no need to be bringing in foreigners,” Mr Okorie said.

L.T.T Management keeps mum

When POLITICS NIGERIA reached out to the management of the maritime company, it refused to respond to enquiries sent. The Human Resources Manager, Theodora Nwaeze, after being informed about the findings of this newspaper, challenged our reporter, saying, "Do you have your ID card? You don't just call me and start interrogating me."

"If you can call me earlier… I'm almost going to bed," she said when our reporter reiterated the essence of the company's reaction.

Meanwhile, after that evening, she neither picked subsequent telephone calls put across by our reporter or responded to the text messages sent.

Family of the deceased teenager killed in Abuja beer parlour by Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s police orderly has told Peoples Gazette that the politician did not reach out to them to offer condolences.

It has been over a month since Samson Jonah was killed by a drunk officer attached to Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja. Mr. Jonah was shot dead while having his breakfast at a beer parlour by Samanja Johnson, an inspector who was heavily drunk on burukutu, a locally-brewed, corn-based alcohol, witnesses told the Gazette.

The October 3 incident gripped residents of Apo-Dutse, who demanded justice against the police officer. The police later took Mr. Samanja into custody, but has yet to be charged in the murder of the 19-year-old.

Mr. Jonah’s uncle, Gom Pius, who has been representing the family in Abuja, Mrs. Abike- Erewa did not visit nor sympathise with the family.

“We did not set our eyes on any representatives from the police and Abike Dibiri office to sympathise with the family,” Mr. Pius said.

Mr. Pius, however, confirmed that Mr. Johnson’s family showed sympathy and donated a cash gift of N200,000 towards burial.

“Only the Inspector (Samanja Johnson) own family on their own donated money to us when we buried our son 10 days after he was killed,” Mr. Pius said.

The Gazette understands that Mr. Jonah was laid to rest on October 13 in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. Ms. Dabiri-Erewa did not return multiple calls and messages for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs. Erewa, who has since received another police protection, has led the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission since her appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016.

Bola Tinubu has quietly opened a campaign headquarters in a Maitama property that once housed a private school, Peoples Gazette can report, all but confirming his entry into the 2023 presidential race.

The 2,700 square metres property, former home of Eagle Heights International Schools, sits just north of the Philippines Embassy at 2, Kainji Crescent and just across the street from Body of Benchers, which regulates admission into Nigerian legal education institutions.

The property was secured for two years at N15 million per annum, a good deal in the exquisite neighbourhood that is credited more to Mr. Tinubu’s influence than fortitude, according to campaign officials familiar with its financial commitments.

There were no immediate signs from outside that the property holds Mr. Tinubu’s campaign office, but sources within the campaign told the Gazette that activities have intensified inside for the former Lagos governor’s presidential bid.

A campaign insider told the Gazette that the office was deliberately tucked between at the conspicuous intersection of Kainji Crescent and Lake Chad Crescent because they needed a place that would provide just enough space needed to run the primaries exploration.

Depending on how activities expand ahead of primaries and general elections, the campaign may still move to a location in downtown neighbourhoods like Garki, Central Area or Wuse, our sources said.

A spokesman for Mr. Tinubu did not return requests for comments from the Gazette Monday morning.

Team emerges

Mr. Tinubu has long been rumoured to be interested in running for president, but he has sparingly obfuscated questions around his ambition and clearly has not begun open consultation as an aspirant.

But his supporters have been coordinating in Lagos, Abuja and elsewhere to work towards a seamless strategy that will see him clinch the APC presidential ticket, the Gazette learnt.

Abiodun Faleke, a senior federal lawmaker fabled for his acerbic take on parliamentary business, is a key coordinator of the new campaign office and will likely play a top role in Mr. Tinubu’s run, the Gazette heard from sources involved in emerging decisions within Mr. Tinubu’s political circles.

Mr. Tinubu’s circles are confident of his chances, but they could not tell yet whether or not they would address the numerous corruption allegations against him before the primaries.

Although he has no active corruption trials pending against him, and has previously been extricated by an anti-corruption tribunal, Mr. Tinubu nonetheless continues to face some of the most unsavoury, enduring corruption perceptions in Nigeria.


Tinubu and Bullion Van

His decision to order bullion vans bearing cash into his private residence on the eve of last year’s general elections has continued to haunt him and his family, with Deji Adeyanju and other anti-graft campaigners describing it as primitive and petitioning the EFCC — which has so far been too timid to take action.

Dog-eat-dog primaries

A career accountant with a track record in several professional services firms, including Arthur Anderson and Deloitte, Mr. Tinubu was first elected to the Senate in a wave that sought to drive the military out of power in 1992.

He became a pro-democracy campaigner following annulment of the presidential election that was held at the time, and even spent time in exile. He returned home to join the process for civil rule in 1999, winning the Lagos governorship election first that year and again in 2003.

Mr. Tinubu is financially stable enough for his presidential run, and one of his aides told the Gazette that his fund-raising ability will be bolstered by his vast political and business ties. He also holds the unofficial but influential APC national leader role and a key decider in the alliance that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015.

Sources said the former Lagos governor will have a stiff competition in the APC field. Potential candidates include Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun, Rotimi Amaechi and Godswill Akpabio, although neither has publicly disclosed interest in the race.

Mr. Tinubu has previously sidestepped questions about whether or not he would run, preferring instead to keep his cards to himself and his trusted allies.

The manoeuvre is largely typical of Nigerian politicians in the early days, and Mr. Buhari was only sworn in for a second term last May — leaving roughly two and a half years before Nigeria would have another leader.

But the revelation that Mr. Tinubu has now secured a property for his presidential run could compel other potential candidates to intensify their exploration, an APC strategist Sarah Namdas told the Gazette Sunday night.

“They are all looking forward to a dog-eat-dog race and will be closely monitoring each other’s strategic moves,” Ms. Namdas said.

Ms. Namdas said Mr. Tinubu would be ready to play dirty, but he would count on Mr. Buhari’s support because realising his presidential ambition can only come from winning the party’s tickets.

“Since he was a major factor in how the president came to power in 2015, he would ordinarily count on the president’s support,” Ms. Namdas said. “Whether the president would see the next election as Bola Tinubu’s turn is what all of us in the party cannot wait to see."

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Favoured Guber Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has cast his vote in the ongoing Edo APC guber Primaries.

Iyamu cast his vote this morning at Ugboko Ward in Orhionmwon LGA of the state. Iyamu is rumoured to have the backing of suspended APC national chairman and former Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole.

The primaries have been going on peacefully despite the crisis rocking the party.

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Anselm Ojezua has declared the ongoing Party primaries as 'illegal'.

This was contained in a letter written by Ojezua to the state Commissioner of Police on Monday morning. In the letter, Ojezua also claimed that the primaries were being organized by some 'dissident' elements adding that it was 'unauthorized, provocative and illegal'.