The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, had a premonition of his death, an aide of the palace has claimed.

She said this while speaking with journalists at the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace on Saturday.

The PUNCH had reported that the first class traditional ruler died on Friday night at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.

After the news of his death went viral, hundreds of residents of Oyo Town continued to throng the ancient palace to mourn the demise of Adeyemi III.

The palace worker said that the traditional ruler already had a premonition of his death a few weeks back.

She urged people to find solace in the fact that the late monarch lived a worthy life.

The aide said, “My father has gone to meet his forefathers. Atanda (Alaafin) went to play with his forefathers. He is not dead.

“Two weeks ago, he called and told us that his late father was calling him to come. We were afraid and asked if truly he saw his father.

“He ascended the throne at a young age and was wealthy and blessed with long life, preserved the stool, promoted the Yoruba culture and was an epitome of royalty. We are happy to have him as the Alaafin.”

Meanwhile, the Janazah (funeral) prayer has been conducted on the remains of the late Alaafin at the ancient palace in Oyo Town.

Janazah prayer is an Islamic prayer conducted on the deceased before going for final internment.

The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Oyoland, Sheikh Moshood Ajokidero, at exactly 11.55 p.m, NAN reports.

It was attended by Islamic clerics, sympathisers and some politicians.

Addressing newsmen after the prayer, Ajokidero said that the deceased had contributed his quotas to the development of Oyo Town, Oyo State and Nigeria in general.

The Chief Imam said that Adeyemi had impacted the lives of many people positively and would forever be remembered for his good deeds.

He called on the living to always impact positively on humanity, adding that everyone would be remembered for his or her deeds, either good or bad.

The remains of Oba Adeyemi III are expected to be buried in Baaraa, where other former Alaafins were buried.

Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu

The couple in Enugu state arrested last weekend for maltreating their house help have been remanded in prison custody by the Enugu North Magistrate Court I presided over by Chief Magistrate J. I. Agu.

Mrs. Ifeoma Ozougwu and her husband, Mr. Jude Ozougwu were arraigned by the Police on three count charge of attempting to unlawfully kill 10-year-old Miss Nneoma Nnadi, their house help among others.

The Chief Magistrate adjourned the matter to August 10 and moved the case file to the DPP for advise.

Details later…

Kayode Oyero

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, has said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), approved the refund of N78.9bn to Rivers for the repair of federal roads because of Governor Nyesom Wike’s “courage to speak up when others are silent”.

Nsirim stated this in response to an article written last Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, entitled, ‘Wike Vindicates Buharists’.

The PUNCH had reported that Wike, who belonged to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, recently appreciated the President for approving the refund. A total sum of N148bn had been approved by the Federal Executive Council to five states including Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Osun.

Subsequently, the President ’s spokesperson described the governor’s appreciation as one that was in a “completely different direction compared to what he had always said of President Muhammadu Buhari”, adding that “The Wike we knew was either usually crying wolf where there was none, alleging that the Federal Government wanted to kill him, or claiming that he was not answerable to the central government at Abuja in any way, or even pontificating that the President and his political party, the All Progressives Congress, had failed the country in diverse ways.”

Adesina had also said the President chose not to deal with Wike and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose for their ‘anti- Buhari tendency’.

However, in a rejoinder on Sunday entitled , ‘Wike That I know’, the commissioner stated that “what Femi Adesina describes as ‘crying wolf’ and ‘pontificating’ is nothing more than the ability to say and do things which other people are too frightened or lily-livered to say or do.”

Nsirim said the refund was not a gift or a favour as Adesina painted it to look like in his piece.
He said, “If Governor Wike’s courage to speak up when others are silent and cowering in fear, leads to the approval of the refund of the N 78.9 billion which the Federal Government owes Rivers State, then the expression of gratitude that recognises and appreciates such appropriate magnanimity is the highest form of nobility.

“The money is neither a generous loan gift or a desperate bailout package as people like Femi Adesina are shaping the narrative to sound, but a refund of monies already spent by Rivers State on federal projects.”

The commissioner added, “While Rivers people will not complain that the money was actually reduced from the original amount and that it even took so long for President Buhari’s fairness and justice to touch Rivers State, while he has been fair and just to other states, we are all still very happy and grateful that this approval for refund has been made, finally.

“Attempts by people like Adesina to make political capital out of the genuine stance of a statesman will not be bought by well - meaning Nigerians.”

Ifreke Inyang

About 30 prominent Nigerians have formed a new political movement in the country.

In a communiqué issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the group unveiled its name as National Consultative Front.

Some of the members include: a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; a prominent lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba; human rights lawyer, Femi Falana; ex-deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia, and former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili.

Former presidential candidate, Remi Sonaiya, ex-Senator, Shehu Sani; Tanko Yinusa, Shettima Yerima and Funke Awolowo, are also part of the movement.

“A new ideological mass Movement shall be initiated to embark on immediate mass mobilisation of the nooks and crannies of the country for popular mass action towards political constitution reforms that is citizens-driven and process-led in engendering a new Peoples’ Constitution for a new Nigeria that can work for all,” it read in part.

It also added that the movement will “mobilise for the economic wellbeing and prosperity of all Nigerians by demanding and ensuring that Chapter 2 of the present Constitution.”

Halimah Yahaya

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, rejected the bail applications filed by the suspected kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, popularly called Wadume, and six others.

Following this, Justice Binta Nyako ordered that the defendants be immediately moved from the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police to a correctional centre in Kuje, Abuja.

Mrs Nyako, while emphasizing that the defendants be moved to the prison on Wednesday, also directed the comptroller-general of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) to ensure that the defendants have adequate access to medical services and unhindered access to their lawyers.

The judge said she is giving an accelerated hearing to the case and saw no reason granting them bail.

Mr Wadume was first arrested in Ibi, Taraba State, on August 6, 2019, by policemen from the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of the Police office.

He was arrested for a kidnap case in which he was said to have demanded N106 million as ransom.

But between Ibi and Wukari communities, the police team of 10 persons came under fire from soldiers. Three officers and a civilian were killed in the process, while several others were injured

The soldiers who were initially charged along with Mr Wadume shockingly had their names removed from the charges by the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office earlier this month.

Mr Wadume is standing trial on a 12-count charge of terrorism. He is being prosecuted by the AGF’s office alongside Aliyu Dadje (a police inspector), Auwalu Bala (aka omo razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu) Bashir Wazlri (aka baba runs), Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul.


Witnesses Testimony

Meanwhile, the prosecution called two other witnesses to testify on Wednesday.

Hafeezu Bala, the second prosecution witness, introduced himself as a welder.

He said Tijjani Balarabe, a captain with the Nigerian Army, had contracted him to help break a padlock.

Mr Bala said on arrival he realised Mr Balarabe had lured him deceitfully to help remove Mr Wadume’s handcuffs.

“I was sitting in my shop when Balarabe took me to go and break a padlock,” he said.

“We went to the military camp, the gate was locked. The motorcycle rider showed them my tools before they allowed us to pass.

“After we went inside, we went straight to Balarabe’s parlour. We met Alhaji (Wadume) with other people inside. I met him with handcuffs in his hands and legs.

“When I went inside he was sitting on a chair. I told them that where he was sitting will not allow me to do the work.

“What they called me for was to break a padlock but what I met was a handcuff. After I cut the handcuff, I walked away.”

Ahmed Suleiman, the third witness, narrated to the court how he helped Mr Balarabe retrieve a pistol that was given to Waziri (fifth defendant).

“On the 16th of August, 2019, I was attending an old boys meeting when a call came in that some kidnappers came to kidnap Alhaji Hamisu Bala. So, I informed those at the meeting,” he said.

“After I told them, everyone was eager to leave the place. When I came back, one captain Balarabe Tijani called me and asked if I know a man called Baba Runs (Bashir Waziri).

“He told me that one of their rifles was with him and I should meet him and tell him to bring back their riffle.”

Mr Suleiman said the fifth defendant said he was scared to return the riffle to Mr Balarabe so he asked him to help give it back to the army captain, which he did.

The case has been adjourned to July 7.

The Presidency has taken a swipe at those criticising President Muhammadu Buhari for holding a political meeting in the chamber of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the State House in Abuja.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr Garba Shehu insisted that the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not take place at the chamber.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media Publicity stressed that although the meeting was virtual, President Buhari has the right to convene a meeting in any part of the Presidential Villa.

He said, “It is necessary that we put records in their correct perspective concerning the recent meeting held by the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which has, unfortunately, drawn criticism due to lack of understanding.

“The stubborn opinion held by the critics of the administration is that President Muhammadu Buhari had called a political meeting in the “hallowed” chamber of the Federal Executive Council, as if there is a law that says the President is barred from holding meetings in certain sections of the vast Presidential Villa.”

“Since the President lives in the Villa, no one can, legally speaking, choose or dictate to him where he can sit to hold meetings. So, what is wrong in the President presenting himself before a camera and a TV screen in a digital conference at a given location within the Villa?

“Just for the sake of the argument, this meeting, we say emphatically, was not convened at the Council Chamber. It was virtual, not a physical meeting,” Shehu stated.

He explained that the meeting held virtually to observe social distancing in view of health concerns, noting that the conference hall of the party was small to accommodate all the participants.

According to Shehu, President Buhari is billed to address the meeting from one of his offices and he chose the Council Chamber where the digital facilities are located.

He added that most of the NEC members, state party leaders, and members of the National Assembly were all linked through video conference calls.

The President’s aide, however, said, “Yes, it is true that governors and leaders of the National Assembly joined the President from the chamber from where he spoke; but the larger body of the members in attendance were all connected via video calls.

“Do not forget that these are not the normal times in view of the COVID-19 circumstances in which we have found ourselves. President Buhari placed health and safety above courtesy to the party by not going to its headquarters.”

Shehu insisted that the President made a wise decision because he wanted to curtail the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The APC NEC meeting had sparked criticism from various individuals and groups, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement on Friday, the opposition party accused President Buhari of violating his oath of office by using the FEC Chambers and government resources to conduct the affairs of his party.

It described the meeting as “shameful” and “a further manifestation of the level of impunity” by the present administration.

Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Saturday denied that he has been allocated job slots in the ongoing N-Power recruitment exercise.

Lawan in a statement by his spokesman, Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, described the allegation as a fairytale.

He urged members of the public to disregard the media report where it was claimed that he has been allotted N-Power job slots.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Office of the Senate President has been drawn to a publication on the Sahara Reporters portal purporting that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management allocated N-Power recruitment slots to the Senate President and other lawmakers.

“We hereby advise members of the public to totally disregard the fake and malicious publication in its entirety as regards the Senate President.

“It should be noted that the fairytale only blandly and obliquely claimed that some lawmakers printed out application forms from the portal of the scheme but failed to provide any evidence that this was to fill its speculated allocated slots.

“We wish to stress that neither the Senate President nor this office has anything to do with the purported slots mischievously credited by the publication to the Senate President.

“We urge the media to always strive to be factual in their reports and abide strictly by the ethics of their profession which require them to hear from all sides and objectively establish the facts, especially before publishing accusations capable of damaging the reputation of public officials.

“Finally, we firmly restate that the story in reference is malicious and should be disregarded.”

Jide Orintunsin – Abuja

The immediate past National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday said he has accepted the decision of the National Executive Committee in good faith.

This is the first time the former APC Chairman will be reacting to the crisis that eventually led to dissolution of the NWC of the party.

He said he had no regret for all the actions he took while in office, while he also pledged his continued support and lotality to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Details later

Peoples Democratic Party has responded to a claim by Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, that 10 of them were preparing to decamp to the All Progressives Congress.


In a statement by Director-General of PDP Governors Forum, C.I.D. Maduabum, on Saturday, the state executives cautioned Bello to concentrate on delivering good governance to the people of Kogi.

The PDP governors said, “This statement does not merit any response but for the fact that it may demoralise PDP members and Nigerians who are not aware of the facts.

“It is obvious that this is a diversionary tactic to shore up the sagging morale of APC members who are mourning the loss of yet another state governor, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to the PDP, as a result of the chaos and anarchy currently existing in the APC, following the mismanagement of their affairs as acknowledged even by Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“The PDP governors are very focused on delivering good governance and the benefits of democracy to their respective states and working tirelessly to strengthen and reposition the party.

“There is no attraction whatsoever for any PDP member not to talk of a PDP governor to join the APC, a party bedeviled by crises, without even an elected leadership as envisaged by Section 223 of the 1999 constitution that specifically requires the executive committee of every political party in Nigeria to be democratically elected."

Ghaniyah Olowoyo


A popular broadcaster, Ifedayo Olarinde aka Daddy Freeze, who came under intense criticism online for promoting alleged internet fraudster, Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppi, has defended himself.

Nigerians called out the broadcaster, known for criticising pastors, on Twitter, following a mini-documentary on YouTube wherein he featured Hushpuppi.

In the video that has gone viral, the broadcaster could also be seen dining with Hushpuppi and mocking Nigerians who questioned his luxurious lifestyle on social media.

In the documentary, Hushpuppi was heard saying his driver collects more money in a month than a local government chairman in Nigeria.

Daddy Freeze said, “Hushpuppi’s driver earns #700,000 a month, you that are abusing him, you are doing houseboy work and you are collecting #35,000 you go on instablog to go and abuse Hushpuppi… Instead of you to beg Hushpuppi make he use your papa do driver.”

Defense
Addressing critics on Friday, Daddy Freeze said he never knew Hushpuppi to be a criminal but a social media influencer and that if he knew, he wouldn’t have hung out with him.

“I didn’t know him to be a criminal, if I did I wouldn’t hang out with him. And unless someone is proven guilty, I do not discriminate against them because the one who thought me Christianity, the one who I follow, Christ did not discriminate against anyone,” he said.

Speaking about his infamous interview with Hushpuppi, the broadcaster said he was in Dubai for a Cool FM event when Hushpuppi reached out to him.

He said he had tweeted that he was in Dubai, Hushpuppi saw his tweet and invited him for dinner.

The 44-year-old OAP added that he does not support fraud in any way and he would not have done a video with Hushpuppi if he had a case in court.

“As of the time I did the video, which is eight months ago, he had no case. Even now, until he is proven guilty by a competent court, we have to sit down and wait and allow the court to do its work.

“While we were driving, he got calls from Gucci, he got calls from Versace, and he got calls from LV all wanting to host him and he says he is an influencer. He didn’t get calls from any hackers, at least while I was there, there was nothing suspicious,” he said.

Background
Hushpuppi was arrested in the United Arab Emirate on June 10, for multiple fraud charges.

The Dubai police officially released a video on Thursday, detailing how his arrest was effected. It was revealed in the video that Hushpuppi had defrauded thousands of victims of about N168 billion

Many of his followers acknowledged benefitting from his occasional cash ‘giveaways’, even though his source of affluence, which has long evoked the curiosity of bloggers, remained unclear,


Hushpuppi joins a list of high-profile Nigerians to be arrested so far in 2020. He was arrested months after several other Nigerians, including Obinwanne Okeke and Ismaila Mompha, were arrested in August and October 2019, respectively, for their alleged roles in separate multinational fraud.

Hushpuppi, who has over two million followers on Instagram, is known for his display of wealth on social media.

He often posts pictures with his luxury cars like Ferrari and Rolls Royce and a private jet.

Sodiq Oyeleke

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has described the challenges he faced before getting a ticket to contest the 2020 governorship election in the state as “epic political battles”.

The governor noted that he was “dragged and forced into the battles”.

He said this in a statement on Friday to commend members of the Peoples Democratic Party for electing him as their candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

The PUNCH reports that Obaseki defected to the PDP after the All Progressives Congress disqualified him from participating in its primary election.

The screening and appeal committees of the APC had claimed that there were
discrepancies in the certificate of the governor.
Upon defecting to the PDP, he was sued over the waiver granted him by the party in a court.

Obaseki said it took the “relentless support” of leaders and members of PDP for him to survive the “battle”.

The governor reassured that his administration would continue to pursue programmes and policies aimed at improving the lives of the majority of Edo people.

Obaseki said, “This victory is our collective victory and I urge our people to remain vigilant as we kick-start our campaigns for the main election. I appeal to you to remain steadfast in your convictions to enable us to win the war ahead just as we have won several battles together.

“My dear people of Edo State, leaders and members of our great party, the PDP, I thank you all for your support and for electing me as the flagbearer of our party in the September governorship election.

“How could I have survived the epic political battles that I was dragged and forced into, in the last one year, without you, my people, solidly behind me ? I thank my party delegates, who stood all through the day and night, to vote me as the party’s candidate.

“I salute leaders of the party who set aside their ambitions in the interest of party unity and the progress of our state.

“I thank every Edo man, woman, our resilient youth, home and abroad for making the fight for my emergence, their own. You invested your resources and raised your voices to support my aspiration even in the face of threats and intimidation.”

Obaseki had on Thursday emerged the candidate of the PDP in the 2020 governorship election, polling 1,952 votes to win the party s primary election.

A total of 2,234 delegates from the 192 wards and 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State participated in the election, with the governor as the only candidate on the ballot, after three other candidates stepped down for him.

Announcing the result of the election, the PDP Edo Primary Election Committee chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, declared the governor as the winner of the contest after securing over 90 percent of the available votes.

From Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over the spate of conflicting Orders issued to political parties by the Courts.

The Commission appealed to the NBA “to impress on senior members of the Bar to put the country’s interest and the judiciary above every other interest and not allow personal considerations to outweigh their commitment to the profession, the rule of law and due process”.


INEC in a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, noted that, “It is in the best interest of the Bar and the Bench not to do anything that would bring them into disrepute”.

It noted further that “these calls have become necessary to draw attention to the uncertainties and threats posed by conflicting orders on not only preparations for elections and but also to the growth and development of our democracy”.

It expressed worry over the spate of conflicting Court Orders in form of ex-partner motions obtained by the political parties.

“The Commission is worried about the spate and rapidity of conflicting Court Orders mostly obtained ex-parte involving substantially the same parties, on the same or similar grounds and from courts of coordinate jurisdiction on issues and challenges around the administration of political parties and conduct of party primaries”, the statement read.

It also added that “some of the Orders were obtained from Courts completely removed from the geographical area where the course of action arose”.

Okoye however noted that “the Commission is committed to obeying all court orders, but the speed, frequency and conflicting nature of the Orders leave it in an awkward and impossible position”.

Meanwhile on the outstanding bye-elections, the Commision explained that “in view of the pending Edo and Ondo Governorship elections and the Commission’s Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Commission noted as follows:

“Before the lockdown across the country as a result of the pandemic, it received notifications of vacancies in the National and several State Assembly Constituencies. However, the Commission could not conduct bye-elections to fill these vacancies due to the exigences posed by the pandemic”.

It stressed further that “in view of its Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the need to test run the new Policy as well as Regulations and Guidelines developed therefrom, the Commission resolved as follows:

“To test run its Policy in the Nasarawa Central State Constituency of Nasarawa State to fill the vacancy created by the death of Hon. Adamu Suleiman Ibrahim, member representing the Constituency.

“The bye-election will take place on 8th August 2020. The Timetable and Schedule of Activities has been uploaded on the Commission’s website. The official notification for the election will be given on 29th June 2020. Political Parties shall conduct their primaries between 30th June and 6th July 2020 while the last day for submission of list of nominated candidates is 6pm on 7th July 2020.

“The scheduling of this election will enable the Commission and all the critical stakeholders to learn the necessary lessons and make adjustments before the Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States”.

Erstwhile APC National Deputy Secretary, Victor Giadom, left the NEC meeting, which he summoned as national acting chairman in dramatic fashion on Thursday.

The Rivers State-born politician was excused out of the Aso Villa venue, following the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC).

After the dissolution, Gaidom attempted to speak, but sources at meeting said House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, objected, saying that he had ceased to be a NEC member, owing to the NWC dissolution.

The point of order was sustained and Giadom left the hall.

Adelani Adepegba , Abuja

Ghana has promised to rebuild the demolished building in the Nigeria High Commission in Accra.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, announced this on Thursday.

Onyeama expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by Ghana on the issue, noting that the country had accepted responsibility and agreed to restitute.

The minister flayed Nigerian officials in Ghana for not obtaining the necessary documents for the land despite making payment since 2000.
He said the High Commission did not have the title deeds or obtain approval for the demolished building.

Details later …

•President gives notice to attend NEC meeting called by Giadom’s camp

•Ajimobi-led NWC declares it illegal, asks members to disregard meeting notice

•PGF D-G rallies support for Giadom’s NEC meeting

•Thugs after me, factional chair, Hilliard Eta, raises alarm; Go to Police, says Giadom

•Court approves, compels Giadom to conduct APC NEC meeting today

By Dapo Akinrefon, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, & Omeiza Ajayi

The ranks and file of factions in the crisis-ridden All Progressives Congress, APC, were further thrown into shock and confusion yesterday as President Muhammadu Buhari intervened by throwing his weight behind the Chief Victor Giadom-led faction of APC.

The President approved the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting summoned by the court-recognized Acting National Chairman, Mr. Giadom, and promised to attend the meeting billed for today.

However, the President’s intervention appears to have added fuel to the raging inferno as members of the factional Acting National Chairman, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, have declared the NEC meeting illegal and urged members to disregard the notice.

The position of President Buhari was contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja.

The statement read: “The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as acting national chairman.
“Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow (today’s) afternoon.

“We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.

“In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our governors and the leaders of the National Assembly.”

Ajimobi’s camp declares meeting illegal
In a statement by National Secretary, Arc. Waziri Bulama, which was released through back channels moments before it emerged that President Buhari had endorsed the Giadom-proposed NEC meeting, urged NEC members to disregard the said notice of meeting.

The party described President Buhari as a stickler for the rule of law, adding that it cannot be true that the President has thrown his weight behind convening such meeting.

The statement read: “We are constrained to once again react to a purported invitation to a National Executive Committee meeting of our great party; the All Progressives Congress issued by one Victor Giadom who until the last general elections in 2019 held the position of the Deputy National Secretary of the Party.

“Our esteemed members are advised to disregard this invitation because the author and sole signatory of the said invitation is not a member of the National Working Committee of our party, talk more of being an Acting National Chairman as claimed.

“He had voluntarily resigned in compliance with Article 31(1)(i) of our Constitution to contest the position of Deputy Governor in Rivers State during the last general elections and has not been re-nominated by his Zone to return to that office.

“Further, his non-membership of the NWC has been affirmed by the courts and an order restraining him from parading himself as a member of the NWC was granted against him on June 22, 2020 in the case of DELE MOSES & ANOR V APC (SUIT NO: PHC/360/2020) where the court said inter alia: “That an Order of interim injunction be and is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Defendants, acting by themselves or through any of their officers, agents, or privies from recognizing or regarding the 3rd Defendant/Respondent as the National Chairman or Acting National Chairman or Deputy National Secretary of the 1st Defendant/Respondent or member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 1st Defendant/Respondent pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice’.

“He has also been suspended by the Rivers State Chapter of our party and the NWC received communication of same on June 21, 2020.

“More instructive is the fact that the said invitation copiously references the NEC meeting he illegally sought to convene on March 17, 2020 with a view to resurrecting same to hold on June 25, 2020. Regrettably, this proposed NEC meeting is also infected by the same bug that rendered the former void which is Article 25 (B) of our Constitution which provides: (i) The National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-third of the members of the National Executive Committee provided that less than not less than 14 days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.

“ii. Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of this Constitution, the National Working Committee may summon an emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven days’ notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.”

“It is clear that even a legitimate chairman is only invested with powers to fix/announce a date for NEC meetings to hold every quarter and nothing more. He cannot summon a meeting on that date because under our Constitution only the National Secretary can do so pursuant to Article 14.3 of our Constitution which provides:

“14.3. The National Secretary shall:
1. Cause to be issued as directed, notices of meetings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee of the Party’.

“Indeed two-thirds of the members of NEC may also summon a meeting, but it shall be required that the National Secretary gives 14 days notice to all persons entitled to attend.

“In this case, the purported invitation was illegally issued on June 23, 2020 and the meeting fixed for June 25, 2020 which gives notice for only 2 days. We concede that a shorter Notice period of 7 days is allowed under our Constitution as stated in 25(b)(ii) above, however, a majority of the members of NWC must have voted to summon such a NEC meeting and that was not the case in this instance.

“Our Leader, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is renowned for insisting on compliance with our constitution and rule of law. It can therefore not be true that Mr. President supports the convening of such an illegal NEC by a non-member of APC’s NWC.

“We urge all to disregard the said Notice as neither the NWC nor the NEC has called for such meeting.”

This came as reliable sources said APC governors are in support of the series of interventions of the Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman, who yesterday called on party stakeholders to support the move to convene NEC meeting today.

Govs behind PGF D-G
A source, who spoke to Vanguard in confidence, said that a majority of the governors support the move of the PGF DG.

“Some of the governors are in support of what the Director-General of the PGF is doing though he wrote in his own capacity. It will interest you to know that the D-G, Salihu Lukman, is a card-carrying member of the APC from Kaduna.

“In fact, he contested against Governor Nasir el-Rufai in 2019. You know most of the APC governors cannot come out in the open and make such statements but when someone like him makes such statements, they support it.
They neither reprimand nor support him but they know he is speaking their mind,” the source said
In spite of President Buhari’s intervention, the feuding factions were still at each others’ jugular yesterday.

Port Harcourt thugs after me — Hilliard Eta
National Vice Chairman, South-South, Hilliard Eta, raised an alarm yesterday over alleged threats to his life by people he described as political thugs operating from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

In a quick reaction, Chief Giadom urged him to report the case to the Police, saying it might be possible that Eta is even the one who has a plan to bring in thugs from Calabar, Cross River, to achieve a sinister objective.

Speaking in Abuja, Eta, who said he would file a formal complaint with the Nigeria Police, added that some forces were planning to burn the APC national secretariat and lay the blame on the NWC on the grounds that it does not want Chief Victor Giadom to access the premises.

He said: “We got information that they are going to send thugs from Port Harcourt, they are coming here to burn the secretariat and make it look like the National Working Committee instigated a fire incident so that the secretariat will be burnt down and then, they will give the impression that it is the NWC that is burning down the secretariat because they do not want Victor to come in.

“They have two intentions, that is number one. Number two is that they are going to make an attempt on my life. I just thought that I should let the press know this. I am just moving out of my house, I am coming to the secretariat; from there I will report to the police.”

Report to Police
When contacted on phone, Chief Giadom told Vanguard that while he would not want to join issues with anyone, the ban on inter-state movement does not make it possible for thugs to criss-cross territories.

Urging Eta to furnish the Police with details of the information at his disposal, Giadom said: “Ordinarily, I would not have reacted. If he has such information, let him report to the Police.
The Police have the capability to track such persons. Maybe that is his plan because we all know that there is a ban on inter-state movement.

“He should report to the Police if he has any such information except, of course, he is the one planning to bring in people from Calabar.”

‘External intervention needed to solve crisis in Rivers
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the APC and an ally of Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the Transportation Minister, Prince Tonye Princewill, has called for an external intervention to resolve the lingering crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the party which is also currently threatening its national leadership.

He said: “In 2019, we saw the result of ‘if it’s not me, then it’s nobody’. Today, we are seeing it building slowly again. I didn’t join APC for this. Call leaders to order, calm frayed nerves and let us end this public show of shame.

“It is only the Presidents that can solve this. The Senate President, the Vice President or the President himself. As an Imperial College engineer by training, I believe if you understand problems, you can design solutions. Please, therefore, permit me to quote from Physics, Newton’s first Law of Motion to be exact.

“It says “that every body continues in its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force to do otherwise.” In other words, this big wahala will not end unless big external forces intervene. Amaechi sacrificed more than most people for this party. Bear with him. He has earned that right. Edo and Rivers are linked, and Rivers can move mountains. Suspending Amaechi can never be an option. But I fear that things are about to escalate.

“A party that reflects only Magnus Abe or any other interest and their supporters is not going to take us to the promised land. Neither is one that will reflect only our former governor, the minister and his key team. Everyone should be given a chance to get involved now.”

PGF D-G backs Giadom, urges NBA to delist APC’s legal advisers
Also, Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Salihu Moh. Lukman, yesterday called on stakeholders of the party to support the move to convene a NEC meeting today.

In a statement titled: “APC at Crossroads – Are there going to be Leaders or Blacklegs?,” Lukman lamented that the party leadership has so trampled on the rule of law that the APC Constitution is now lying at a corner and gathering dust at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He consequently queried the professional competence of the legal advisers of the party, wondering why the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, should continue to enlist them.

The head of the APC Governors’ think-tank also threw a subtle jibe at a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of using his media empire to destroy the party.
Lukman faulted a provision of the party’s constitution that makes it difficult for a Deputy National Chairman to assume the leadership of the party in the absence of a National Chairman who is not from his zone.

Legal Adviser tackles PGF D-G
Countering Lukman, National Legal Adviser of APC, Babatunde Ogala , asked him to stop dabbling into party issues that are beyond him, describing his intervention in party affairs as stemming from ignorance.

Ogala in a telephone interview with Vanguard said he would not join issues with Lukman who he accused of ignorance of party administration and laws.

The APC Legal Adviser was reacting to a statement in which Lukman called for his sack on the grounds that he has not given quality legal advice to the party hierarchy in the midst of its current leadership crisis.

Ogala said: “Is he (Lukman) a lawyer? No. How do I join issues with such people? As an employee of PGF, it is beyond him to be making comments about the party. It is beyond him to be making comments that I owe him no explanation on. I am responsible to those who elected me which does not include him. His employers, the governors, who are my colleagues on the National Executive Committee are those who I can respond to. They are the ones I owe explanations. I sympathize with his ignorance and I will not dignify him with a response. I will not dignify him with a response or else I would be seen to be engaging somebody who is ignorant.

“I do not interpret court judgments. As legal adviser, I obey court orders. My duty is to obey orders of court, not to interpret them and that is why when the court ruled that the chairman should step aside, I treated the order like every other court order that must be obeyed. This is just to educate him, not to join issues with him because he obviously spoke out of ignorance, and he does not have the mandate of his employers, the governors who are my colleagues on the National Executive Committee to make such reckless statements.”

Court approves, compels Giadom to conduct APC NEC meeting today
Meanwhile, a Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, has granted an order compelling the acting National Chairman of APC, Chief Victor Giadom, to proceed with the Nation Executive Council, NEC meeting fixed for today.

The order was made by Justice N.L. Musa, in suit PLD/J258m/2020, upon the application of the Chairman of Plateau APC, Mr Latep Dabang, who is also a member of NEC.

He complained that the provision of the APC Constitution regarding the convening of a quarterly NEC meeting has been serially abused and ignored by the present NWC, leading to a litany of illegalities by the NWC.

Already letters have been sent out to all the Governors and members of the National Assembly who are NEC members. Whilst the Governors and lawmakers would be seated at the Council Chambers with Mr President, others would join by virtual means.

Already, the visitors list at the Presidential Villa contains the names of NEC members expected to arrive tomorrow, confirming the clear endorsement of the meeting by President Buhari.

EXCLUSIVE: APC Leader, Bola Tinubu's Presidential Ambition Crumbles, Unable To Visit Aso Villa As President Buhari Recognises Victor Giadom As Party's Acting National Chairman

Former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu's ambition to become Nigeria's President has practically crashed to the ground after President Muhammadu Buhari rejected former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to support Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, SaharaReporters can confidently report.

Tinubu, a two-term governor of Lagos State, had been courting President Buhari and the cabal -- a group of power brokers at the Aso Rock Villa led by late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari -- with the hope of clinging the APC Presidential ticket come 2023.

Tinubu had strategically imposed his loyalist, Oshiomhole, a former labour movement leader in Nigeria, as APC Chairman hoping that he will pave the way for him to obtain the APC ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu had also convinced himself that by surrendering his loyalty to President Buhari and the cabal he would be able to curry the favour of the Northern parts of Nigeria for his presidential ambition.

However, Tinubu's hope of becoming the President was absolutely dashed on Wednesday as Buhari rejected the Tinubu-Oshiomole political structure in the APC.

In a derisive statement issued via Twitter on Wednesday, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, “The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law was on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman.

“Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon.

“We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.

“In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our governors and leaders of the National Assembly.”

SaharaReporters exclusively gathered that on Tuesday, Tinubu made frantic efforts to visit President Buhari at the Aso Villa without luck.

Sources said Tinubu called the President on phone through the President's Personal Secretary, Yusuf 'Tunde' Sabiu, in order to book an appointment to see the President.

A source claimed that a jet was revving at the Lagos airport to convey the "National Leader" to Abuja at the time.

However, Yusuf did not allow the telephone conversation between Buhari and Tinubu to happen, making it impossible for the former Lagos State governor to travel to Abuja to see the President.

The root of the divide within the APC is about the party's choice of candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

SaharaReporters sources revealed that Plateau State governor, Simon Lalung, Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State as well as Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, all belong to a common bloc that has sworn to embarrass and ridicule Tinubu's presidential ambition and bury it permanently.

These politicians have teamed up with the Northern elite, who are close allies of President Buhari such as Mamman Daura, the APC Deputy National Chairman North, Lawal Shuaibu, Yobe governor, Mai Mala Buni, former Minister of External Affairs, Baba Gana Kinigbe, Isa Funtua and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe governor, just to mention a few.

Also, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State is opposed to Tinubu's emergence as the APC presidential candidate.

Sources say the political attack on Tinubu is aimed to first strip him of his national influence, after which his political influence would also be decimated in Lagos State, his perceived stronghold in a fashion similar to Senator Bukola Saraki's dethronement in Kwara known by the name "Otoge", which in Yoruba simply means "Enough is Enough".

Unfortunately, only a few people like Lagos State governor, Jide Sanwoolu, Tinubu's cousin, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, and Senator Omo Agege still support him.

Tinubu had decisively battled anybody opposed to his presidential ambition or, who shows interest in the 2023 presidency.

Recently, Rauf Aregbesola, a close ally of Tinubu and a minister in the Buhari regime, lost favour with Tinubu after information filtered that Aregbosola could contest the 2023 presidential election as a Vice Presidential candidate to an unnamed politician.

Tinubu immediately disbanded Aregbesola's groups in Lagos State, boasting that the former Osun governor was his boy and that the Lagos structure remains undivided.

Tinubu and Oshiomhole had also forced their way through to impose Abiola Ajimobi as Deputy Chairman, South West of APC.

However, Ajmobi has taken ill and remains in a coma at a Lagos hospital.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how Ajimobi's health is failing him despite a series of medical treatments applied to save his life.

This development is coming on the heels of the bitter division that is mounting up even in the Lagos APC, Tinubu's stronghold.

Sources informed SaharaReporters that the deceased Lagos Senator, Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo also known as "Peperrito", was plunged into severe health challenges, leading to his death because Tinubu turned his back on him, placing more value on Lagos Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

SaharaReporters had exclusively done series of investigative reports on the financial scandal of Obasa.

However, Obasa remains a strong ally of Tinubu.

The hope continues to dim by the day for Tinubu's presidential ambition.

Eniola Akinkuotu , Abuja

A student, Emmanuel Madubuezi, has sued the Nigerian Army for N 1 bn for losing his leg after being shot by a soldier.

Other defendants in the suit are the Chief of Army Staff, the Attorney General of the Federation, and a betting company, Bet 9ja.

Madubuezi, through his lawyer, Temitope Akinyode, filed a suit before the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

The victim was hit on September 14, 2017, while seated in a tricycle on his way to the Port Harcourt Polytechnic, where he was studying at the time.

The bullet pierced through his left leg and hit an elderly woman seated next to him. The impact of the bullet made the elderly woman fall out of the tricycle leading to her death.

In the case, suit number: FHC/PH/FHR/118/ 2020, the applicant is asking the court to declare that the gunshot fired at him and the amputation of his leg contravene his fundamental human right to life, human dignity and freedom of movement.

In a supporting affidavit, the applicant said he had been confined to crutches since the incident happened.

Madubuezi said, “Since the amputation of my leg I have been condemned to walking on crutches. But for the sound medical treatment that I received, the gunshots which the officers and agents of the respondents fired at me on September 14, 2017, could have led to my death just as the same bullets killed the woman who sat beside me in the tricycle.”

Earlier in the year, the Army had rejected Madubuezi’s request to be paid N 150m as damages.

In the letter with reference number AHQ DCMA/G1/300/130 signed by Brig. Gen Emmanuel Aladeniyi, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, the army authorities said the soldier who shot Madubuezi had been charged.

The Army, therefore, stated that it could not be held liable for the action of an errant soldier.

Narrating what transpired, the army said a soldier, Corporal Augustine Jacob, and 11 soldiers were deployed to Stalling Oil Company to provide protection for a property.

It said one Mr. Amadi illegally procured the services of Corporal Jacob and four other soldiers to settle a fracas at his Bet 9ja shop at Big Tree Market in Port Harcourt.

The army said on arrival at the Bet 9ja office, the corporal went upstairs while the others remained downstairs and it was at this point that a bullet was released from one of the soldiers downstairs.

It said investigation revealed that the action of the soldier who mistakenly pulled the trigger resulted in the shooting of Madubuezi.

The victim was subsequently taken to Life Fort Hospital but could not be admitted due to limited bed space and then to Braithwaite and Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital before his leg was amputated at Holy Trinity Hospital on September 25, 2017.

SaharaReporters has closely monitored the illegal movement of private jets into and outside Nigeria by people of means in defiance to the Nigerian Government’s regulation on the travel restriction.

he Nigerian Government's regulation placing a ban on international flights during the Coronavirus pandemic is only effective by half measures, SaharaReporters has established.

On March 23, 2020, the government shut the airports against international flights to help curb the spread of the deadly virus in the country.

Announcing the ban, Musa Nuhu, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, said, “Further to our earlier letter on the restriction of international flights into Nigeria, we wish to inform you that effective Monday, 23rd March at 2300Z to 23rd April at 2300Z, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (DNMM) and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (DNAA) will be closed to all international flights.

“This is in addition to the closure of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (DNKN); Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu (DNEN); and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa (DNPO) effective Saturday, 21 March at 2300Z.

“Henceforth, all airports in Nigeria are closed to all incoming international flights with the exception of emergency and essential flights.”

However, SaharaReporters has closely monitored the illegal movement of private jets into and outside Nigeria by people of means in defiance to the Nigerian Government’s regulation on the travel restriction.

For example, a private jet – a Bombardier Express 7000 with registration number VP-CBT – controlled by All Progressives Congress' chieftain, Bola Tinubu, on June 7, 2020 conveyed his son, Seyi, from Lagos to Stansted Airport, London, United Kingdom.

Captain Giannetakis Michail piloted the luxury jet for that trip.

A former two-term governor of Lagos, Tinubu is by far one of the wealthiest men in Nigeria today.

He has allegedly continued to feed fat on public funds he amasses through cronies he had planted in key public offices across the country.

In February 2019, a group, Free Lagos Movement, accused him of placing his relatives in key positions in the state, noting that the APC leader had turned Lagos to his “personal cottage”.

A member of the movement, Comrade Mark Adebayo, while addressing journalists at the time, said, “It is still baffling to the majority of Nigerians how Lagos State has ended up becoming a personal cottage industry of one individual, who solely determines the fate and destiny of about twenty million people. For almost twenty years now, Lagos has become his fiefdom, with trails of personal aggrandisement, staggering corruption and virtual enslavement.”

The ex-Lagos governor controls two private jets – one through his younger sibling – Wale Tinubu – and a Falcon 900X with registration number T7-JAT to his name.

Recall that the jet registered in Wale Tinubu’s name was at the centre of the controversy at Aso Rock Villa two weeks ago after it was used to fly President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant, Sabiu ‘Tunde’ Yusuf, from Abuja to Lagos and back.

Upon returning to Abuja, Yusuf was prevented from entering Aso Villa after refusing to embark on a 14-day isolation period as stipulated by the COVID-19 safety guideline.

This led to a crisis and a shooting incident in the Villa that culminated in the sacking of several security personnel attached to the President and First Lady, Aisha, who has since been drawn into ‘war’ with Yusuf and other powerful individuals around Buhari.

Also, during the ongoing travel restriction ban put in place by the Nigerian Government to further curtail the spread of Coronavirus, two children of oil magnate, Folorunsho Alakija – Folarin and Rotimi – were onboard a private jet with registration number VP-CFO from Lagos to Luton Airport, London, on May 22, 2020.

On May 8, 2020, six members of the late Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe’s family all boarded a private jet with registration number 5N-KAS from the Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos to Stansted Airport, London.

Those on the flight include Okhai-Akhigbe Esiomekhai, Okhai-Akhigbe Uwekhai Eleose, Okhai-Akhigbe Iretekhai, Akhigbe Ogionwo and Akhigbe Aikenosi.

Jet with registration number 5N-KAS
On May 16, 2020, Karl Olutokun Toriola, Vice President, West and Central Africa of MTN, was onboard a private jet with registration number FLJ611 from Spain to Nigeria with Lagos lawyer, Aisha Rimi, and four other persons.

Toriola had earlier boarded another private jet with registration number D-AWIN from Lagos to London on April 18, 2020 – weeks after Nigeria’s international airports were ordered closed by the government.

Rimi is the wife of former Lagos Commissioner for Tourism and sitting Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Folarin Coker.

In March 2018, they were at the centre of a major scandal involving the diversion of the sum of N3bn from an account of Lagos State Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told a court that the money was diverted from the account of Lagos State Government Number Plate Production Authority when Coker was the managing director.

The money was paid into the account of the company allegedly owned by Rimi.

Findings by SaharaReporters also revealed that Belo-Osagie Yasmin, daughter of billionaire, Hakeem Belo-Osagie, a former chairman of the board of directors of United Bank for Africa, was the only passenger in a private jet with registration number D-CAWX, which flew from London to Nigeria on May 8, 2020.

The estimated cost of the trip was $100,000 – N38.7m – when converted to Nigeria’s currency.

On Monday, SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, violated President Buhari’s travel restriction ban and Quarantine Law to fly his wife and kids to London on a Global Express Bombardier 550 luxury jet with registration number N104DA belonging to businessman, Aliko Dangote.

It costs at least $10,000 per hour – about N3.8m – to fly on this luxury jet.

Meanwhile, despite the ban on international flights by many countries around the world following the outbreak of the Coronavirus, private jets have been allowed to land at the Stansted Airport and other similar facilities by the United Kingdom authorities as Britain is one of few countries to keep their borders open during the pandemic.

Between March 23 when the UK declared a lockdown to April 19, a whopping 545 private planes were said to have entered Britain, according to a report by Daily Mail.

The report said 99 of these private jets came from Coronavirus-stricken countries such as Spain, United States, France and Germany at the time.

More private jets from Nigeria and other countries of the world have since flown into the UK on a regular basis after that period as a result of Britain’s open border policy.

The UK presently has 306,210 confirmed Coronavirus cases and 42,927 recorded deaths from the disease while Nigeria has 21,371 confirmed infections and 533 recorded deaths as a result of the pandemic.

Fauci referred to at least one vaccine trial, led by the biotech firm Moderna, which is expected to enter Phase 3 study by July, where a small dose of vaccine will be given to about 30,000 people

Dr Anthony Fauci, the United States top infectious disease expert, told Congress Tuesday that he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the development of a coronavirus vaccine, saying that he believes one could be available as soon as the end of this year, or the beginning of 2021.

Fauci’s update came during a House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting on the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fauci testified along with other top officials leading the nation’s efforts against the coronavirus, specifically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Steven Hahn, and Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir, Vox reports.

“We feel cautiously optimistic, based on the concerted effort and the fact we are taking financial risks — not risks to safety, not risks to the integrity of the science, but the financial risk to be able to be ahead of the game — so that when, and I believe it will be when and not if, we get favourable candidates with good results, we will be able to make them available to the American public,” Fauci testified Tuesday.

“It would put us at the end of this calendar year and the beginning of 2021.”

Fauci referred to at least one vaccine trial, led by the biotech firm Moderna, which is expected to enter Phase 3 study by July, where a small dose of vaccine will be given to about 30,000 people to test its efficacy.

Fauci said other promising vaccine candidates are just a few months behind.

The Moderna trials have gotten a lot of attention for the “positive interim” data from the firm’s Phase 1 trial, results of which were reported in May.

But even as the vaccine accelerates to Phase 3, the company is still compiling data from previous trials. In the race to discover a vaccine, the FDA has loosened to rules and allowed trials to merge or run concurrently.

Fauci and his colleagues emphasized that they won’t release a vaccine until it’s safe and effective.

“Acceleration is not cutting corners with respect to the assessment of safety and effectiveness,” Hahn, the FDA commissioner, testified. “The American people can rely on the fact the FDA has many experts in the vaccine area.”

As Vox’s Umair Irfan has written, without available treatments for Covid-19, the entire world is racing to discover a vaccine.

But there’s still a lot that’s unclear, including whether a vaccine will grant lifetime immunity or last just a couple of years. And such a rapid timeline — a vaccine by the end of the year — is unprecedented. The previous record, for mumps, stands at four years.

Some experts are still sceptical of this ambitious timeline, just 12 to 18 months after the novel coronavirus began spreading.

“It’s conceivable we could have something in that timeline — if everything goes right,” Kendall Hoyt, a vaccine and biosecurity expert at Dartmouth, told Vox’s German Lopez in May.

And a newly optimistic timeline for a vaccine doesn’t diminish the current coronavirus emergency in the United States, where many states are seeing spikes in cases and positivity rates.

As Fauci testified at Tuesday’s hearing, the United States’ response to the pandemic is a “mixed bag.”

Places hit hard and early by the coronavirus, such as New York City, have mitigated the spread, brought infection rates way down, and are following a phased reopening plan.

“However, in other areas, we are seeing a disturbing surge of infections,” Fauci told the House panel. He said this required testing to identify and isolate cases to stop the spread and contact tracing to understand where infections are originating, so states and localities can intervene.

“Right now the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we are seeing in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and other states,” Fauci said. “They are not the only ones having difficulty. Bottom line, it is a mixed bag.”

…Says power of incumbency won’t guarantee victory

…Adds: APC’ll win Anambra, Ondo

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

GOVERNOR Yahaya Bello of Kogi State yesterday said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will take Edo State back from Governor Godwin Obaseki who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Bello said that the power of incumbency will not guarantee victory for Obaseki, adding that Nigerians have witnessed incumbent leaders including former President Goodluck Jonathan “dethroned” from their positions.

The Kogi State Governor who spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting between the North Central geopolitical zone governors and the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, enthused that the APC will also take over Anambra State.

Commenting on the crisis in the APC, Bello said, “Our party is one solid party. In a particularly big family like that, you won’t rule out any misunderstanding in one way or the other. But I can assure you that our party is strong under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and as a father, he is already looking into it and I can assure you that we are going to come out very strong.

“We are going to go to Edo State and we shall win Edo state election overwhelmingly for APC, we are going to go to Ondo state and win it overwhelmingly for APC. We will take Anambra State and record it as a second APC state from the South East and integrate our Igbo brothers into the fold and we are going to take Ekiti and Osun once again.

“So, we are going to continue to expand our coast. So, APC is strong we are not divided, we are only seeing one same point from a different angle and we are trying to make ourselves understand the points, that is just it, there is no misunderstanding.”

Asked if he was not afraid of the power of incumbency in Edo State, he said, “We have seen those in power before that are dethroned, we have seen practically that President Muhammadu Buhari of APC dethroned PDP, the former President (Dr Goodluck Jonathan) that was on the seat.

“So, that is not any trouble at all. APC is going to win Edo State. But unfortunately, I really felt the leaving of my colleague, His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki in whatever circumstance to another political party. It is painful anyway, but as a political party we are going to take it back.”

It will be recalled that the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu had at the heat of the campaign for the re-election of Governor Bello knelt down at the campaign ground to beg Kogi people to forgive Bello in any way he had offended them and vote for him.

On the agenda of the North Central Governors meeting with the Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, he said that the meeting was to congratulate the Chief of Staff on his appointment.

“We came to congratulate him over the appointment and that we will continue to collaborate with him as North Central governors and we will continue to provide necessary data and information that will guide him in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities and to guide Mr President as far as the region is concerned. So basically that is what we came for,” he said.

Governor Bello who was recently appointed as the head of a special committee set up by Northern Governors Forum said that individual states within the zone will ensure that the area is safe.

He said,” As we know earlier, Security is the topmost priority of this administration and we are doing our best to ensure that the nation is secured. As Northern Region governors, we met and decided that we must tackle insecurity head-on.

“So basically, my committee is to liaise with the various security agencies and security operatives to ensure that the necessary security architecture is put in place and to ensure that at the end of the day, we get the best-secured region and that of the country at large.”

Agency Reporter

Nigerian entrepreneur, Obinwanne Okeke also known as Invictus Okeke,is facing a 20 year jail term in the United States after pleading guilty to an $11 million business email compromise scam.

His sentence is due on October 22 by Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Okeke,according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia, “ pleaded guilty to a computer based intrusion fraud scheme that caused $11 million in losses to his victims.”

The Nigerian, who was once listed by Forbes as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans,conspired with some other people and “ engaged in a conspiracy from approximately 2015 to 2019 to conduct various computer based frauds.”

The conspirators, court documents showed, “obtained and compiled the credentials of hundreds of victims, including victims in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere.”

They “engaged in an email compromise scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment. In April 2018, a Unatrac executive fell prey to a phishing email that allowed conspirators to capture login credentials.

“The conspirators sent fraudulent wire transfer requests and attached fake invoices. Okeke participated in the effort to victimize Unatrac through fraudulent wire transfers totaling nearly $11 million, which funds were transferred overseas.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office added: “Okeke pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Okeke faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on October 22. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.”

Okeke was arrested last year by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at Dulles International Airport in the process of leaving the US.

18 LGA Chairmen Reaffirm support for Obaseki’s Re-election

The chairmen of the 18 LGAs in Edo State have reaffirmed their support for the re-election bid of Obaseki, saying that they are fully committed to the progressive ideals of the governor and his battle against godfatherism, thuggery and impunity.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Edo State, Hon. Jenkins Osunde, and the 17 other council chairmen in the state, the association described the disqualification of Obaseki from the APC primary election as a theatre of political fraud staged with predetermined outcomes and decisions sponsored by the surrogates of Oshiomhole.

“We the undersigned local government chairmen of all the 18 area councils in Edo State have held an emergency meeting to review what we consider an outrageous and undemocratic process of both the screening exercise as well as the prejudiced decision consequently reached,” the statement said.

The LGA chairmen said rather than weaken the support for the governor, the disqualification by the committee has garnered more support for the governor across all the senatorial zones of the state.

The chairmen reiterated their support for Obaseki’s re-election bid, noting, “that as the chairmen of the third tier, people-oriented paradigm of Nigeria’s federalism, we carry with us the hopes and aspirations of our constituencies as we reaffirm our commitment to the progressive agenda of continuity till 2024 for the governor- all the way with Obaseki and Shaibu!”

We’ve No Record of Obaseki’s Resignation, Says APC

However, in a statement issued yesterday by Issa-Onilu, the APC said the party had no record of the governor’s resignation.

He said: “The party has no record of the reported defection of Governor Godwin Obaseki from the progressive party. We cannot comment at this moment on media reports suggesting the Edo governor or anyone else has left our great party.”

However, the Chairman of the pro-Obaseki faction of APC in Edo State, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, has said he will not move with the governor to another party.

Ojezua, in a telephone interview, said he was elected as chairman of APC with a four-year mandate, which expires by 2022.

“I still have my mandate as the elected party chairman of APC in Edo State which expires by 2022 and I intend to complete that mandate,” he added.

Appeal Court Adjourns Suit on Mode of Primary

The Court of Appeal, Benin, yesterday, adjourned hearing in the suit filed by the APC challenging the jurisdiction of the lower court to hear the case filed by two allies of Obaseki challenging the mode of primary election adopted by the party’s NWC.

The Deputy Chairman of the Edo APC faction, Mr. Kenneth Asekomhe, and one of the governorship aspirants on the party’s platform, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, had filed a suit at the Federal High Court challenging the direct primary adopted by the NWC.

When the case came up Thursday last week, counsel to APC wanted an order on jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Benin to hear the case, while Oshiomhole is seeking an order for stay of further proceedings in the suit at the lower court.

When the matter came up yesterday, Justice Morenike Ogunwomiju adjourned hearing till tomorrow.

She mandated respondents in the suit to file their brief in response to the appellants’ brief already filed.

The judge also ordered the appellants to within 12 hours if need be to file their reply to the brief.

14 back suspended chairman, three oppose, three neutral, Giadom claims chairmanship

Govs set to move in

18 Edo LG chairmen reaffirm support for gov’s re-election bid

Omololu Ogunmade, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a new twist yesterday with the Court of Appeal upholding the suspension of Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, as the national chairman of the ruling party, and the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, renouncing his membership of the party.

To stave off a leadership vacuum in the party, its National Working Committee (NWC) convoked an emergency meeting to find a replacement for Oshiomhole.

The NWC members, in line with Section 14.2. (iii) of the APC Constitution, named Deputy National Chairman (South) and former Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as the interim national chairman.

However, Ajimobi may not be able to discharge the functions of that office for now as he is said to be battling for his life at an undisclosed hospital where he is on admission for treatment for a disease suspected to be COVID-19.

In his absence and in line with the APC Constitution, the party would have to mandate its National Vice-Chairman (South-south), Chief Hillary Ettah, to act instead.

THISDAY gathered that the NWC meeting was a stormy one as members were sharply divided. While 14 NWC members are pro-Oshiomhole, three are neutral and three others are opposed the suspended national chairman.

Those neutral are National Financial Secretary, Tajudeen Bello; National Youth Leader, Sadiq Shuaibu-Abubakar, and National Disabled Leader, Misbau Lawal Didi.

Those in the anti-Oshiomhole camp are Deputy National Chairman (North), Lawali Shuaibu; Deputy National Secretary, Victor Giadom and National Vice Chairman (North-east), Mustapha Salihu.

It was also learnt that APC governors were planning to intervene prevent the crisis from worsening further.

Earlier yesterday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal had affirmed the judgment of Justice Danlami Senchi of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, which on March 4, ordered Oshiomhole to step aside as the national chairman of the ruling party.

Oshiomhole’s travail began from the Edo State chapter of APC, where he has been locked in a war of attrition with Obaseki, culminating in the factionalisation of the state chapter of the party.

Obaseki, who was disqualified by the APC from actualising his second term ambition on its platform, allegedly at the behest of Oshiomhole, quit the party yesterday.

In a statement yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the decision to name Ajimobi as the acting national chairman became imperative following the appeal court judgement.

He said: “Guided by advice from the party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the party’s constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Abiola Ajimobi, will serve as the party’s acting national chairman.

“According to Section 14.2. (iii),of the APC Constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South “Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone.”

However, Giadom kicked against the decision of the NWC, saying going by an earlier court pronouncement, he should be the interim national chairman of the party.

In a statement by his counsel, Chief Wole Afolabi, obtained yesterday, he demanded compliance with

the order of the FCT High Court of March 16, 2020 by Hon. Justice S.U Bature that he, Giadom, is to act as the national chairman of the party due to the suspension of Oshiomhole.

According to him, Justice Bature’s order remains valid, thereby rendering Ajimobi’s appointment null and void and of no effect.

Afolabi said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the publicity secretary of the APC to the effect that Senator Abiola Ajimobi is to act as the national chairman of APC following the suspension from office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by the Court of Appeal.

”We wish to state that the statement must have been issued in complete ignorance of the order of the FCT High Court issued on 16th of March, 2020 by Hon. Justice S.U Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 to the effect that Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the national chairman of the party due to the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman.

”The order was given the same day that the Court of Appeal earlier gave Oshiomhole a temporary respite by staying the execution of the said order suspending Oshiomhole. Now that the Court of Appeal has affirmed the order of suspension, it is only proper that the order recognising Chief Victor Giadom is implemented.

”Consequently, we have written to all law enforcement agencies to implement the said order and any one who attempts to parade himself/herself other than Chief Victor Giadom as the Acting Chairman of the APC would be facing contempt of court proceedings.”

Earlier, the Court of Appeal panel, led by Justice Eunice Onyemenam, in a unanimous judgment, had dismissed Oshiomhole’s appeal challenging his suspension, for lacking in merit.

Oshiomhole had lodged the appeal to challenge the verdict of Justice Senchi that he was validly suspended and he should step aside as the national chairman of the ruling party.

Justice Senchi also ordered Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as the national chairman of the APC until the issues challenging his leadership of the party were resolved.

The suspension order was sequel to an interlocurtory injunction motion filed by one Mustapha Salihu and five others, who had argued that Oshiomhole could not continue to occupy the office of the national chairman of the APC having been suspended from his Etsako ward in Edo State.

The order was made pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit seeking his removal from office as the national chairman of APC.

However, dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court, Oshiomhole had approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

He hinged his appeal on the grounds that plaintiffs/respondents lacked locus standi (legal rights) to initiate the court process.

He also challenged the jurisdiction of the trial court to entertain the suit, adding that the trial court did not accord him fair hearing before arriving at its decision.

But in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lamido, the three-member panel resolved all four issues raised by Oshiomhole in favour of the respondents.

The court accordingly upheld the decision of the FCT High Court.

On the issue of jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal held that the trial court was right to hear the suit because Oshiomhole as the first appellant is based in Abuja while the APC also has its national headquarters in Abuja.

On the issue of locus standi, the appellate court disagreed with the appellants, stating that the plaintiffs/respondents are key officials of the party in the state.

The court also disagreed with Oshiomhole that his right to fair hearing was breached, noting that the ruling of the trial court only ordered his suspension and not removal from office.

The court also disagreed with Oshiomhole that the plaintiffs/respondents did not place sufficient material before the trial court to warrant the issuing of the interlocutory injunction.

According to the appellate court judgment, there was enough evidence to show that Oshiomhole’s suspension from Ward 10 of Etsako Local Government of Edo State was ratified at the ward, local government and state levels as required by law.

Justice Lamido also noted that Oshiomhole did nothing to challenge his suspension at the ward level, which was ratified until about 72 days after.

“In these circumstances, the position taken by the lower court that the plaintiffs have made a case for the issuance of the interlocutory order is proper and that part of the decision is hereby upheld.

“The appeal is unmeritorious, appeal dismissed and the ruling of the lower court upheld,” Justice Lamido said.

Obaseki, Deputy Dump APC

Obaseki yesterday visited the State House to inform President Muhammadu Buhari about his decision to quit the APC, but he was unable to see the president. Rather, he met with the Chief of Staff to the president, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

He later told State House reporters that he came to formally inform the president of his resignation from the APC to enable him to realise his re-election bid on the platform of another party.

He said having finally decided to leave APC, the platform that brought him to power, he had deemed it necessary to inform the president of his decision.

However, he did not disclose that he was unable to see the president.

Asked what was the president’s reaction to the information that he was leaving APC, Obaseki responded with a sense of diplomacy, that “you will hear from the president.”

He explained that the decision to quit the party was a fulfilment of his earlier tweet after his disqualification that he would make his next line of action known after making the right consultations.

Obaseki, who had spent the better part of the weekend, consulting stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he would announce in the next few days the platform on which he would contest the September governorship election in Edo State.

“You remember in my last tweet, I said that I’ll make a decision, after my disqualification was announced by APC that I’ll make a decision after I’ve consulted with the leadership and my supporters in Edo State and also having informed the president.

“Just here today to inform you that I have now decided, formally, to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress. Having done that, I will now announce in the next few days my specific line of action and what platform I will be contesting the gubernatorial election on.

“I’m sure the whole country knows and is aware of what has gone on between me and the party chairman in party leadership, which culminated in my disqualification as a gubernatorial aspirant; and upon that unfortunate decision by the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, I’ve decided to go and seek my gubernatorial aspiration on another platform,” he added.

Asked if there were inconsistencies in his certificates, as claimed by the screening committee which disqualified him, Obaseki denied the insinuation.

However, he attacked Oshiomhole, saying he lacked understanding of the meaning of “inconsistency,” because he did not go to school.

He narrated the challenge he had earlier about his certificates prior to the 2016 governorship election in Edo State and how he overcame the challenge, saying he didn’t know what they meant by inconsistencies.

He said the APC national chairman was only out to create what did not exist just to get rid of him, lamenting that the party was handed to a person whom he said had unilateral power to get rid of perceived enemies.

According to him, any institution handed over to the like of Oshiomhole, whom he said lacked the finesse, a sense of justice and character to run it, without the mechanism to check his excesses, is already imperilled.

He said: “Someone who hasn’t gone to school, who doesn’t have a certificate himself will not know and understand what inconsistencies in certificates are. That’s the starting point.

“What is the inconsistency? There’s no inconsistency in my certificates. The issue was in 2016, when I contested for gubernatorial election, I could not find the originals of my certificates because I hadn’t required them for more than two decades.

“So, I deposed to an affidavit that I couldn’t find the originals. Subsequently, I found all the original copies of all my certificates and they are with me. So, I don’t understand what’s inconsistent about that. Maybe the inconsistency in the youth corps certificate, where he said my surname was missing an ‘i’ at the end, but if you look at that, it was like a cursive. It was written in a cursive manner.

“So, if that’s inconsistency for him, then it’s really sad that people of that quality are leading the Nigeria’s ruling party. For him, it was just to look for an excuse to take whatever decision he wants to take and it’s really sad that the party structure today gives him that sort of authority without checks.

“That is dangerous for any system or any institution – when you give authority and responsibility to people who don’t have character – people who do not have finesse, a sense of justice, then that institution is imperilled.”

Asked about the outcome of his meetings with PDP governors at the weekend, he said some of them had gone through events similar to his current ordeal and hence, it was only necessary to share his current travails with them for advice.

When told that Oshiomhole had expressed optimism that he would be fair to APC on June 22 when it will conduct its governorship primaries, he queried if Oshiomhole himself had been fair.

He further lampooned Oshiomhole, alleging that the former labour leader is only afraid of educated people because he’s not properly educated and he lacks the capacity to stand before people of substance.

He explained that it was high time Nigeria moved beyond handing responsibilities to people who lack the character and capacity to drive such responsibilities.

“He, Adams Oshiomhole, has he? As Governor Wike said, he should practice what he preaches; he has never done so. He has not provided a level-playing ground even in the selection process, the disqualification process: what is the basis for disqualifying someone like Chris Ogiemwonyi?

“You are afraid of people who are educated because you didn’t go to school. You are afraid of people who have something to offer because all he knows how to offer is brigandage, crisis.

“So, for us, Nigeria has to move forward beyond some of the characters who are currently overseeing our political polity and they are scared. They are scared that when people of substance, when people who are proven, when people who have succeeded in other aspects of life come into politics, they will be history.

“For me, this fight is not about grabbing political power. It’s not about me. It’s not about trying to prove a sense of importance, no. It’s for us, 21 years into this republic, democracy must mature; but as democracy is maturing, we need to begin to show that politics cannot and should not be the preserve of a certain character of people. People of accomplishment, people of knowledge, people of character must also be accommodated in the political space. You don’t have to be a ruffian to be a politician. You don’t have to be a brigand to be a politician. You don’t have to be a thief to be a politician,” he stated.

Also asked if he thought he had chances of winning the election on the platform of another party, the governor said the volume of goodwill of the people of Edo State towards him had been massive, adding: “they’ve said to me, ‘wherever you go, we will go’.”

However, unlike Obaseki who was unable to see the president, his counterpart in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, who was also in the State House to inform the president of his intention to seek re-election, met with the president.

Akeredolu who described the president as a father, added that the president had visited Ondo State and was proud of what he saw.

“Mr. President is a father to all of us. Let us be fair to him but he knows what we have tried to do. Remember, I saw in a photo display (in the State House), the president’s visit to our Ondo industrial hub. That is a monumental achievement and the president was proud of it and he even said that we were able to come up with this idea with the Chinese companies and other companies there in Ondo is worthy of emulation by everybody.

“That can go for giving you a pass mark. It can go for president supporting you. But all I know is that the president is a father to all. You don’t expect him to say this is my candidate. But I know that he has seen our work and he has said to me pointedly, you have done very well in Ondo State,” he said.

Obaseki’s Deputy Resigns from APC

Shortly after Obaseki announced his resignation from the APC, his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu, also quit the party.

In his resignation letter addressed to the Ward Chairman, APC Ward 11, Etsako West Local Government Area, he said: “I write pursuant to Article 9.5 (i) of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to formally resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress and to inform you of my formal withdrawal from all or any of its proceedings and processes whatsoever.

“Please note that this resignation takes immediate effect.”

Indications that Obaseki and Shaibu may have joined the PDP emerged when their aides were seen on a viral video shouting “PDP Power,” after removing the APC flag in their offices.

In the video that went viral from the office of the deputy governor, his aides removed the APC flag from the deputy governor’s office and were shouting PDP’s slogan.

But the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said Obaseki and his deputy were expected to pick the party membership forms from their various wards in Edo State

He explained that it is after they have officially become card-carrying members of the PDP that the party will commence further discussions on their ambitions.

Also, the Edo state chairman of PDP, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, told THISDAY that at press time that the governor has not registered at his Ward 4 in Oredo LGA, adding that Obaseki would do so soonest.

He said: “The first bridge has been crossed. He is no longer in the APC. We are waiting for him to formally pick the PDP membership form and other discussions will follow.”

Kayode Oyero

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said he has not travelled out of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, since March 22.

The minister was reacting to a letter written by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Executive Jets Services Limited, Sam Iwuajoku, over circumstances surrounding a Lagos -Abuja -flight operated on Saturday.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the airline was suspended by the Federal Government for flying a musician, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, and his team to Abuja to attend a concert.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had announced the suspension during a Presidential Task Force briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Subsequently, the Chairman of the airline wrote a letter of apology to Sirika saying he gave the approval for the flight thinking the passenger was Fashola.

Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Fashola’s Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello, said, “The attention of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN, has been drawn to a letter signed by the Chairman/CEO of Executive Jets Services Limited, Dr Sam Iwuajoku concerning a flight it operated to Abuja last weekend.

“For purposes of clarity and in order to set the records straight, the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has not travelled out of Abuja since March 22, 2020, when he returned there after an inspection tour of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway construction work and a visit to Lagos, before the lockdown.

“The decision of the Hon. Minister not to travel was taken in strict compliance with the Federal Government’s ban on inter-state travels as part of efforts to control the COVID - 19 pandemic.

“It is therefore ridiculous for Dr Iwuajoku to attempt to link the Hon. Minister with any non-compliant flight.”

By Cletus Ukpong

The embattled governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has said the forthcoming governorship election in his state would determine if incumbency would be a factor for him or not in the election.

“Let us go to the polls and Nigerians will see,” Mr Obaseki responded on Tuesday at the presidential villa when reporters told him that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, said incumbency is not a factor that would work for the governor, in the election.

He was in the villa to see President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Obaseki announced his resignation from the APC earlier on Tuesday, after his meeting with Mr Buhari

The APC, Friday, disqualified Mr Obaseki from the party governorship primary in Edo state over alleged discrepancies in his educational certificates.

There have been speculations that the governor is planning to join the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Obaseki said he would announce in the next few days, “specific line of action” and the party he would join.

Mr Obaseki also spoke on why he visited the two PDP governors, Nyesom Wike and Udom Emmanuel of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states respectively.

“These are my brother governors who are from my sub-region, some of them have gone through similar experience I’m going through,” the governor said. “It’s only proper that when you have challenges of this nature you’ll go and talk to people who have gone through similar experience for advice.

“That’s basically what I went to do with them.”

He also spoke on the controversy around his certificates.

“Someone who hasn’t gone to school, who doesn’t have a certificate himself, will not know and understand what inconsistencies in certificates are, that’s the starting point.

“What is the inconsistency? There’s no inconsistency in my certificates. The issue was in 2016, when I contested for gubernatorial election, I could not find the originals of my certificates because I hadn’t required them for more than two decades. So I deposed to an affidavit that I couldn’t find the originals. Subsequently, I found all the original copies of all my certificates and they are with me. So I don’t understand what’s inconsistent about that.

“Maybe the inconsistency in the Youths Corps certificate where he said my surname was missing an ‘i’ at the end, but if you look at that it was like a cursive, it was written in a cursive manner. So if that’s inconsistency for him, then it’s really sad that people of that quality are leading Nigeria’s ruling party.”

A new law in the state which is meant to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus prohibits any gathering of more than 20 people anywhere in Edo.

The Edo state government had insisted that they would ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 law in any political gathering in the state, a development which the APC national chairman, Mr Oshiomhole said he did not think the governor would use against the APC primary.

Mr Oshiomhole on Monday said if PDP would assemble 5,000 delegates in the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, for their governorship primary, he saw no reason why the APC would be disallowed from having between 100 and 150 people queue to vote in each of the wards during the party governorship primary.

When reporters told Mr Obaseki that the APC chairman expects him to provide “level playing ground” he responded, “He, Adams Oshiomhole, has he? As governor Wike said, he should practice what he preaches, he has never done so. He has not provided a level playing ground even in the selection process.”

The governor added, “You are afraid of people who are educated because you didn’t go to school.

“You are afraid of people who have something to offer because all he knows how to offer is brigandage, crisis.

“So for us, Nigeria has to move forward beyond some of the characters who are currently overseeing our political polity and they are scared. They are scared that when people of substance, when people who are proven, when people who have succeeded in other aspects of life come into politics, they will be history.”

The villages attacked including Kokki, Jabuki, Guto, Gwaja, Sundna and Kokki-Magami are under Gurmana Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

Two persons have been confirmed dead and many houses razed as bandits invaded villages in Niger State.

The villages attacked including Kokki, Jabuki, Guto, Gwaja, Sundna and Kokki-Magami are under Gurmana Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

Residents in the communities affected, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said the attackers set houses on fire and also rustled cattle.

The residents under the auspice of Concerned Shiroro Youths lamented that the police have done nothing in protecting the people.

“The simultaneous attacks on the villages took more alarming dimension as the atrocities committed by heartless criminals this time around include arson among others.

“They set many houses ablaze, kidnapped quite a number of people and carted away unquantifiable valuables including herds of cattle, foodstuffs, motorcycles among others," a community member said.

Recounting the recent attacks that have happened in the community, the group said, “It will be recalled that, penultimate Thursday, criminals in their large numbers stormed Kokki and other adjoining villages in the middle of the night and wreaked havoc and mayhem on innocent, unarmed and unsuspecting locals.

“The bandits razed the locality, they claimed three precious lives abducting five people and also raped women.

“Heinous activities committed by terrorists in this part of the world have become regular occurrences and the affected locals have since become homeless, hopeless, helpless and hapless.

“The police are doing absolutely nothing to quench the alarming situation that has become a daily business in our locality.”

The residents called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the police and military to take immediate action in ending the attacks in the communities, arrest and prosecute the bandits for the havoc on the communities.

Raises alarm over non-compliance in places of worship, markets, motor parks

Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has kicked against plans by the Cross River State Government to reopen schools on June 16 and the reopening of viewing centres in Kano State, warning that it was not yet safe to do so.

The Chairman of the PTF and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, gave the warning at the Monday briefing of the Task Force.

The Cross River State Government had announced plans to commence a trial resumption of schools on June 16.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Cross River had, however, cautioned the state government against the move.

The Ben Ayade administration had planned to open three public schools in each of the state’s three senatorial districts on June 16.

But the association had stated that the medical community saw no evidence to ascertain the actual COVID-19 status and disease burden in the state due to the unacceptable low level of tests.

The NMA maintained that the quick resumption of schools, in spite of genuine reasons, has the potential to trigger a significant disease outbreak among students.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State had, on his part, directed the reopening of all viewing centres as one of the first steps toward reopening the state economy.

He gave the directive when members of Viewing Centre Owners Association (VCOA) paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Kano, on Friday.

The governor had, however, said the state government had prepared guidelines that must be followed to forestall the possible spread of the virus as a result of the reopening of the centres.

Speaking on the issue, Mustapha said: ‘We have received reports that some states are contemplating the reopening of schools, television viewing centres, sports stadium and other places where large gatherings could take place. The PTF re-emphasises that it is not yet safe to do so and that utmost caution should be exercised. The PTF guideline should still be complied with while considering a decision of this nature.’

The PTF chairman again appealed to state governments to embark on wider community testing, enforce rules on social distancing, step up community engagement and risk communication and pay attention to places of large gatherings.

He reiterated the call to security agencies to strictly enforce the ban on interstate travel.

Mustapha said the PTF was concerned about the level of non-compliance with simple measures to keep social distancing, wearing of masks in public places, sanitation and hygiene.

‘This is more prevalent in markets, motor parks and some places of worship. I wish to remind you that the PTF has already issued guidelines for the mode of operations at places of worship and urge state governments to ensure strict compliance with PTF guidelines,’ the PTF chairman said.

‘We wish to re-emphasise that all relaxed measures are still subject to review and advisories issued are for personal and public safety purposes. The breach of the ban on interstate travel is also a point of concern.’

On the rising figures of confirmed cases, Mustapha said: ‘Over the last couple of days, you must have observed that the daily figures of confirmed cases have been on the rise. This is an indication that we are conducting more tests across the country and that we are fully in the community spread phase. We, however, urge Nigerians not to panic but to cooperate with public health officials especially where community testing is on-going.’

The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Tony Aziegbemi, says there will be no automatic ticket for Governor Godwin Obaseki in the party.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee had, on Friday, disqualified Mr Obaseki and two others from contesting the party’s primary, scheduled for June 22.

NAN also reports that Mr Obaseki has reportedly been making plans to dump APC for the opposition PDP, ahead of the party’s primaries.

In a telephone interview with NAN on Monday in Benin, Mr Aziegbemi said “I can confirm to you that the governor, his deputy and the entire APC structure in the state will be joining PDP soon.

“We have been in touch in the last few days; by tomorrow, I will be able to confirm the exact date he will be joining, along with his team.

“However, I am not yet aware that the governor has obtained our party’s membership card. I can also say that there is no automatic ticket in the offing for him at all,” he told NAN.

Similarly, a governorship aspirant of the PDP, Ken Imasuagbon, has said he is prepared for open contest, provided his opponents will be ready to subject themselves to the party’s rules and regulations.

Mr Imasuagbon said he was averse to Mr Obaseki’s planned move to join the party, but added that he would resist any attempt to hand over the party’s ticket to him, preparatory to the governorship election slated for September 19.


He said Mr Obaseki will have to join the queue, just like other aspirants, and go through the party’s primaries, billed for June 19 and June 20.

“Any attempt to hand the party’s ticket to him will be met with serious resistance. In fact, there will be no PDP primaries or whatever if the party’s leadership tries it.

“This is neither a military coup nor military rule; the governor must subject himself to the party’s primaries.

“He will need to queue with the other aspirants, if he wishes to join the race. But we will certainly resist handing him over the ticket automatically.

“Have you heard before that somebody will join a party and within three days, he will be given the ticket? Did he buy the party’s nomination form? Was he screened?” he queried.

(NAN)

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN


(CNN) Are you a pessimist by nature, a "glass half empty" sort of person? That's not good for your brain.

A new study found that repetitive negative thinking in later life was linked to cognitive decline and greater deposits of two harmful proteins responsible for Alzheimer's disease.

"We propose that repetitive negative thinking may be a new risk factor for dementia," said lead author Dr. Natalie Marchant, a psychologist and senior research fellow in the department of mental health at University College London, in a statement.

Negative thinking behaviors such as rumination about the past and worry about the future were measured in over 350 people over the age of 55 over a two-year period. About a third of the participants also underwent a PET (positron emission tomography) brain scan to measure deposits of tau and beta amyloid, two proteins which cause Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia.

The scans showed that people who spent more time thinking negatively had more tau and beta amyloid buildup, worse memory and greater cognitive decline over a four-year period compared to people who were not pessimists.

The study also tested for levels of anxiety and depression and found greater cognitive decline in depressed and anxious people, which echos prior research.

But deposits of tau and amyloid did not increase in the already depressed and anxious people, leading researchers to suspect repeated negative thinking may be the main reason why depression and anxiety contribute to Alzheimer's disease.

"Taken alongside other studies, which link depression and anxiety with dementia risk, we expect that chronic negative thinking patterns over a long period of time could increase the risk of dementia," Marchant said.

"This is the first study showing a biological relationship between repetitive negative thinking and Alzheimer's pathology, and gives physicians a more precise way to assess risk and offer more personally-tailored interventions," said neurologist Dr. Richard Isaacson, founder of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at NYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical Center, who was not involved in the study.

"Many people at risk are unaware about the specific negative impact of worry and rumination directly on the brain," said Isaacson, who is also a trustee of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, which funds research to better understand and alleviate age-related cognitive decline.

"This study is important and will change the way I care for my patients at risk."

More study needed
It is "important to point out that this isn't saying a short-term period of negative thinking will cause Alzheimer's disease," said Fiona Carragher, who is chief policy and research officer at the Alzheimer's Society in London. "We need further investigation to understand this better."

"Most of the people in the study were already identified as being at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, so we would need to see if these results are echoed within the general population," she said, "and if repeated negative thinking increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease itself."

The researchers suggest that mental training practices such as meditation might help promoting positive thinking while reducing negative thoughts, and they plan future studies to test their hypothesis.

"Our thoughts can have a biological impact on our physical health, which might be positive or negative, said coauthor Dr. Gael Chételat of Inserm/ Université de Caen-Normandie.

"Looking after your mental health is important, and it should be a major public health priority, as it's not only important for people's health and well-being in the short term, but it could also impact your eventual risk of dementia," Chételat said.

Looking on the bright side
Previous research supports their hypothesis. People who look at life from a positive perspective have a much better shot at avoiding death from any type of cardiovascular risk than pessimistic people, according to a 2019 study. In fact, the more positive the person, the greater the protection from heart attacks, stroke and any cause of death.

It's not just your heart that's protected by a positive outlook. Prior research has found a direct link between optimism and other positive health attributes, such as healthier diet and exercise behaviors, a stronger immune system and better lung function, among others.

That's probably because optimists tend to have better health habits, said cardiologist Dr. Alan Rozanski, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who studies optimism's health impacts. They're more likely to exercise, have better diets and are less likely to smoke.

"Optimists also tend to have better coping skills and are better problem-solvers," Rozanski told CNN in a prior interview. "They are better at what we call proactive coping, or anticipating problems and then proactively taking steps to fix them."

Train to be an optimist
You can tell where you stand on the glass half-full or empty concept by answering a series of statements called the "life orientation test."

The test includes statements such as, "I'm a believer in the idea that 'every cloud has a silver lining,'" and, "If something can go wrong for me, it will." You rate the statements on a scale from highly agree to highly disagree, and the results can be added up to determine your level of optimism or pessimism.

Prior research has shown it's possible to "train the brain" to be more optimistic, sort of like training a muscle. Using direct measures of brain function and structure, one study found it only took 30 minutes a day of meditation practice over the course of two weeks to produce a measurable change in the brain.

One of the most effective ways to increase optimism, according to a meta-analysis of existing studies, is called the "Best Possible Self" method, where you imagine or journal about yourself in a future in which you have achieved all your life goals and all of your problems have been resolved.

Another technique is to practice gratefulness. Just taking a few minutes each day to write down what makes you thankful can improve your outlook on life. And while you're at it, list the positive experiences you had that day, which can also raise your optimism.

"And then finally, we know that cognitive behavioral therapies are very effective treatments for depression; pessimism is on the road toward depression," Rozanski said.

"You can apply the same principles as we do for depression, such as reframing. You teach there is an alternative way to think or reframe negative thoughts, and you can make great progress with a pessimist that way."