₦airaland Forum

Aminu, the younger brother of Niger Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello, has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He joined the PDP with some politicians in Niger North Senatorial District.

Among those who defected with him was an APC chieftain, Abubakar Buhari.

The development took place days after the PDP received over 2,000 defectors from the APC in Bosso local government area.

The Governor’s brother, who is from Kontagora Central ward and the other defector, obtained their PDP membership cards presented by the ward chairman of Kontagora Central Ward, Umar Hassan.

Presenting the PDP membership cards to the new members, Hassan said that they did the right thing to join the PDP, adding the party would not disappoint them.

The Niger North zonal chairman, Yahaya Abdullahi welcomed Aminu, Buhari and their followers, charging them to work towards PDP’s development and success.

Osun APC Guber primaries: Govt raises alarm over stockpiling of fake NSCDC, Correctional Service uniforms

Says Criminals planning to deploy them on Saturday

Ahead of Saturday's All Progressives Congress, APC governorship primaries in Osun, the State Government has raised the alarm over the importation of fake uniforms of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and the Nigerian Correctional Service into the State by some “unscrupulous persons. “

A statement released on Thursday by the State's Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, noted that those who stockpiled the fake security uniforms intend to distribute them to some non-state actors to disrupt the primary election and cause chaos in the State.

The government warned those behind the devilish plot to drop the idea, stressing that it had alerted and mandated security operatives to deal decisively with any individual or group that wants to cause violence and destruction in the State.

The statement reads in part: "We are in possession of an intelligence report indicating that some persons have stockpiled the uniforms of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps , NSCDC, and the Nigerian Correctional Service with an intent to distribute them to non-state actors for use during the All Progressives Congress, APC, governoship primary election in Osun State scheduled for Saturday, February 19, 2021.

"We want to warn those behind this nefarious plot to jettison the idea as security operatives have been put on the alert and mandated to deal decisively with anyone bent on causing violence and destruction in Osun State.

"We also want to appeal to parents and guardians to rein in their children and wards so as not to lend themselves as tools in the hands of these merchants of death and instability, whose only stock in trade is violence and precipitation of crisis.

"Osun is known for peace, and as a responsive and responsible government, we are ready to take all legitimate steps to guard the enviable status very jealously."

A rebuttal...

The attention of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has been drawn to a Sahara Reporters news story on 15th February 2022 under the caption: "EXCLUSIVE: How Top Officials In Nigerian Corporations, NLNG, NNPC Operate International Cartels, Illegally Ship Over $1billion Oil To US, South American Countries." The report is false and malicious and is obviously calculated to cast the Company and its leadership in bad light, as no opportunity was ever offered to the Company to react or respond to the allegations prior to their publication. Clearly, the report is at best a figment of the writer’s imagination. Either the author of the report was simply being mischievous, or is totally deficient in knowledge of the dynamics of the global LNG industry.

To set the records straight, NLNG wishes to state clearly that:

• Deliveries of LNG from its Bonny Terminal complies with all regulatory requirements for the export of its products and are made under various term and spot sales contracts to destinations not limited to Europe, the Far East, Greater Middle East, North America and South America, thus ensuring NLNG's position as a significant competitive global LNG supplier, promoting the Nigerian Brand.

• NLNG is a responsible corporate citizen operating its business according to strong business principles and ethics in accordance with requirements of relevant Nigerian and global laws and regulations.

• From the commencement of its operations in October 1999, NLNG has never, and does not, engage in “illegal” or “backdoor” exportation of LNG or any of its products, nor is NLNG involved in any international cartel, as alleged. It is simply not true that “… the illegal exportation is still ongoing with the backing of some players in NLNG”. The LNG trade undertaken by the Company is bound by strict protocols and controls, hence not amenable to the kind of illegitimate schemes alleged in the report.

• Contrary to the allegation of export of LNG without paperwork, records exist for every single cargo of product loaded by the Company since it commenced operation, together with fully accurate accounts of destinations, quantities loaded and unloaded and related earnings on each cargo, and these are demonstrable. For each of the past financial years, including the periods alluded to in the report, the Shareholders of NLNG, which includes NNPC and three IOCs, never reported that any cargo or product of the Company was lost or unaccounted for. Indeed, the possibility of such happening is beyond comprehension.

• For the avoidance of doubt, NLNG restates that the report paints a very incorrect picture of the Company’s business and its LNG trade and is at complete variance with the Company’s Vision as a globally competitive LNG Company helping to build a better Nigeria.

NLNG demands an immediate retraction of the false and malicious report in its entirety, in addition to an apology, which must be given as much prominence as the original report. The legal rights of NLNG and its impacted personnel are fully reserved.

Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development.

Re: Notice of Proposed Ammendements to APC Constitution

Final List of Candidates for the Ngor-Okpala State Constituency and Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency Bye-elections fixed for 26th February 2022.

Final List of Candidates for the Pankshin South State Constituency, Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Akpabuyo State Constituency and Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye-elections fixed for 26th February 2022.

Leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are mounting pressure on the lawmaker representing Ekiti South, Sen. Biodun Olujimi, not to dump the party, The Nation learnt yesterday.

It was gathered that the leaders had been working to prevent Olujimi from leaving the PDP.

The Nation learnt that high profile meetings of politicians involving PDP governors and some senators were held to discuss the way forward on how to prevent losing the ex-Senate minority leader to other parties.

Sources said former governor Ayodele Fayose and the Southwest Vice Chairman of the party, Soji Adagunodo, had reached out to her to make her have a rethink.

A source close to Olujimi, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our reporter that Fayose and Adagunodo had contacted her, appealing to her not to dump the PDP.

“Efforts are on to prevent Sen. Olujimi and her supporters from leaving the PDP. Our leaders within and outside Ekiti State are leaving no stone unturned in a bid to stop her,” the source said.

Contacted on the phone, Olujimi told our reporter that some PDP governors, senators and leaders were mounting pressure on her to jettison her plan.

Asked her next line of action, she said: “We are still meeting. It is not a decision that will be taken in a hurry.” Spokesman for Fayose, Lere Olayinka, confirmed that his principal had reached out to Olujimi and had not given up on her.

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has alleged that some lawmakers collected the sum of 10, 000 US dollars to frustrate the planned impeachment of the state Deputy Governor, Mahadi Aliyu Gusau.

This was disclosed during a press conference at the state House of Assembly by the chairman, committee on information, Shamsudeen Hassan Boko.

He said the House has commenced a thorough investigation on the matter.

The chairman said two of the lawmakers accused of collecting the bribe have made confessional statements that the opposition party gave them the money.

“The opposition sent one of the lawmakers to give me the some of 10, 000 dollars which I rejected bluntly” he added.

“No court or any order can stop investigating the Deputy Governor for alleged financial mismanagement and negligence of his constitutional responsibility as a Deputy Governor”

“As the court is an institution so is the lawmaking bodies and no institution can stop us from investigating the Deputy Governor”

According to him, the state government had constituted a seven-man judicial panel to investigate the Deputy Governor, saying that 18 out of the 24 lawmakers have agreed to go on with the impeachment process.

“The panel would invite all of us including the state Deputy Governor for investigations before the committee submits its reports”, he said.

I’ve just read that the crooks at the Fraudsters’ University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), led by their VC, Nnenna Oti, have sued ASUU for advising the university to rescind its fraudulent award of an unmerited, political fraudfessorship to Isa Ali Pantami who hasn’t even met the basic criteria that FUTO’s governing board has established for appointment or promotion to professorship, which is 12 years of post-PhD teaching and research experience.

American defamation lawyers call FUTO’s shameful legal antic “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” (SLAPP). I call it litigious terrorism.

As I wrote elsewhere in the past, litigious terrorism is the intentional intimidation, coercion, or instilling of fear in journalists and critics through frivolous lawsuits that are designed to shut down scrutiny of plaintiffs’ questionable lives.

What FUTO did by appointment Pantami a “professor” is clearly a violation of its own laws. It’s also a violation of federal laws, which forbid dual employment by a person within the same federal government.

It is the fraudsters at FUTO who should be sued. But, Nigeria being what it is, it the fraudsters that are suing conscientious people who are calling attention to their fraud. Good gracious!

FUTO’s VC also asked barely literate lawyers to send me a cease-and-desist letter that was so riddled with unspeakably embarrassing grammatical errors and infantile legal reasoning that I thought it was a prank by a comedian. It actually made me laugh.

I realized it wasn’t a prank when I was mailed a copy of the letter at my place of work. But the idiots haven’t gone ahead to sue months after I refused to take down the articles they complained about on my blog and social media pages.

The fraudsters at FUTO want to cower people into silence and muzzle public conversation about their daylight fraud. But we will not allow them.

Pantami’s promotion or appointment to professor at FUTO is shameless, in-your-face abuse of political power, and people of conscience will continue to call attention to it for as long as it exists.

Inflation rate for January 2022 decelerated to 15.60 percent, year-on-year, indicating 0.87 percent points lower than the 16.47 percent rate recorded in January 2021.

The Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) who disclosed this Tuesday in Abuja, added that the urban Inflation rate increased by 16.17 percent year-on-year in January 2022 from 17.03 percent recorded in January 2021.

There was panic in Osun State on Monday when the convoy of the Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, passed through the Old Garage area of Osogbo, the state capital.

Some residents and passersby around Fagbewesa, Orisumbare, Oke Fia and MDS areas, who ran in different directions as heavy shooting rented the air, while speaking to our correspondent, could not however state what led to the shooting.

But our correspondent learnt that Aregbesola’s convoy was coming from Station Road end of Osogbo and headed to Oke Fia area, around 6:40pm when the incident, which lasted about 10 minutes, happened.

But the Chairman, World Institute for Peace, a non-governmental organisation, Lamina Kamildeen, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, in a Facebook post accused security men attached to Aregbesola of shooting sporadically while passing through Old Garage.

Kamildeen, who claimed to be inside Orisumbare market, when the incident happened wrote, “Shooting sporadically by the security men who were in the company of the former Governor Aregbesola of the State of Osun in Osogbo today is but a misplacement of priority! No matter what, this is a state you have once governed for a two-term tenure.

“Ogbeni needs to know that nothing is sweeter than peace in any given society. Mr Minister of Interior, you have to apologise to Osun people for many citizens were injured while running for their lives today.

“I am not giving any judgement though, but the shooting was huge and caused a lot of panic.”

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government and an aide to the Interior Minister, Bola Ilori, had traded blame over the incident.

The government in a Public Service Announcement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, had said some “misguided cowards have invaded Osogbo, the Osun State capital with armed thugs to foment trouble”.

Public Service Announcement

We have credible reports that some misguided cowards have invaded Osogbo, the Osun State capital with armed thugs to foment trouble. These miscreants and their kingpin started shooting as they raced through the town.

Their interest is simply to attempt to thwart the peace of the state and create fear in the minds of the good people of Osun counting on a long-lost influence.

The Government of Osun hereby warns that there are no sacred cows in the state. No one is above the law here regardless of their past glories or future aspirations. Security agencies have been well briefed about the activities of these mischief makers, who have set themselves on a collision course with the law.

Anyone, irrespective of their office or station, caught disrupting the peace of Osun will answer to the law.

Parents and guardians are advised to warn their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used by evil men to achieve their sinister motives.

Signed:
Funke Egbemode Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Osun State

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=505754737638560&id=100046121137967

But an aide to Aregbesola, Bola Ilori, in a Facebook post shortly after the incident, said miscreants working for the incumbent Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, had attacked the former governor but were repelled by security details attached to him.

Only a lazy man starts a wrestling match with cutlass and guns - Aregbe!!!

Oyetola thugs fired several gunshots at Aregbesola's, Adeoti (Sheu) convoy after declaring his preferred choice for Governorship. The attackers were repelled by combined efforts of Police, DSS, NSCDC etc and luckily no casually was recorded.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10228770852436950&id=1256826956

When contacted, the spokesperson of Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, asked for time to get details of what transpired.

The Chief Judge of Zamfara State, Justice Kulu Aliyu has inaugurated an investigative panel to probe allegations against the Deputy Governor, Mahadi Gusau.

The inauguration of the seven-member panel follows the receipt of impeachment motion from the State House of Assembly in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)

A witness, Raman Saliu, who is also a partner at Super Network Limited, the parent company of Super TV, said Usifo Ataga’s body was seen with deep cuts on his neck to the back, on the stomach, and around the ribs.

Mr Saliu, a network engineer and programmer, told Yetunde Adesanya, a judge at a Lagos High Court in TBS, that his friend of ten years was killed like a “chicken.”

According to him, there were seven stab wounds on the deceased’s body.

Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, and two others are on trial over Mr Ataga’s murder.

The alleged murder took place at the Lekki Phase 1, area of Lagos.
https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2022/02/IMG-20220214-WA0016-e1644850901450.jpg?resize=956%2C570&ssl=1
Ms Chidinma being led to Court

Testimony
Mr Saliu said he got a call from the deceased saying he had blood pressure and he suggested some drugs to him and advised him to take a rest.

He said they scheduled an executive meeting on Wednesday around 2 p.m. on June 15, 2021, and he called him in the morning that an assignment was completed but he got no response.

Mr Saliu said he later got a WhatsApp message from the deceased saying “I saw your missed call, I took some drugs that have made me sleeping.”

He said the English grammar was suspicious and couldn’t have come from the deceased.

He said he sent him a screenshot of the task they had talked about but his response was, “ok great.”

He said he wasn’t convinced that the message came from the deceased because he would be excited over the task.

Mr Saliu said he contacted Mr Usifo’s driver and Personal Assistant but they said they had not seen him.

He said he went to the deceased’s hang-out spots where they had been together before his death and didn’t see him there.

Mr Saliu said he raised the alarm on June 16, adding that the deceased phone was going through but nobody answered it.
https://i1.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2022/02/IMG_20220214_124807_747-1.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1
Ms Ojukwu taken back to the prison in a white bus

Mr Saliu said the last message to the deceased was on June 16, at 10:30 a.m. which said “Bros where are you, I’m worried, My BP is rising.” But the message was read and there was no response.

He said the following day, he got a call from Mr Ataga’s wife, Brenda Ataga, asking for the deceased’s whereabouts.

He said they traced the deceased’s phone to Unilag while noting that he got a phone call from the bank whom he had asked to help trace a transaction that could help with a lead as to where the deceased could be.

The banker called and said Mr Ataga made a transaction on Sunday and Monday to an Airbnb apartment (the short let apartment) and Sterling Bank.

However, he said he learnt of Mr Ataga’s demise from Mrs Ataga and on June 23, he got a call from the police that Ms Ojukwu had been arrested with the recovery of the deceased’s phone and laptop.

This newspaper observed that the suspect was taken back to prison in a white bus and not the regular prison van.

The judge adjourned the case to February 17 for the continuation of trial.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, John Gabaya, as the Chairman-elect of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Gabaya, who was re-elected for a second two-year term, defeated his closest rival, Audi Shekwolo of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Gabaya scored 13,045 votes, while Mr Shekwolo had 7,697 votes, according to the INEC Returning Officer, Amochi Madu, who announced the result on Sunday morning.

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Abubakar Abdullahi, polled 603 votes to come a distant third position.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Saturday elections were held across the 68 wards/constituencies spread across Bwari, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Council (AMAC) area councils of the FCT.

A total of 473 candidates sponsored by 14 political parties took part in the elections.

See the official result declared for Bwari below.

Chairman Bwari Area Council Result
Total valid vote 21,990

Total Rejected voted 456

Total Vote cast 22,646

Total number of Registered votes 23,1215

Total number of Accredited voters 22,706

Hussaini Bosso has emerged as the new acting president of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN.

The national secretary of MACBAN, Baba Ngelzarma, made this known in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the association had confirmed Mr Bosso, who until now was the Vice President I of MACBAN, as Acting President of Miyetti Allah.

The national secretary explained that the emergence of Mr Bosso as the acting President of MACBAN was necessitated by the resignation of its president, Muhammadu Kiruwa.

He also said that the association confirmed Jauro Gari who was Vice President II to act as acting Vice President I.

“The National Executive Council of MACBAN accepted the resignation of its President, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa with immediate effect following the association’s emergency Executive Council meeting held in Abuja.

“Kiruwa had submitted his letter of resignation, dated January 20, 2022, citing personal reasons. He had served the association as President for seven years, 10 months.

“Accepting his resignation, MACBAN thanked him for steering the association through very difficult times and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Ngelzarma, on behalf of MACBAN, thanked the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, of the association, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, for his support and guidance.

Meanwhile, Mr Ngelzarma said MACBAN had resolved to bar its leaders from individually having direct dealings with any criminal group in the name of dialogue.

It therefore directed its state chapters to cooperate fully with the security agencies in their effort to address security challenges facing the country.

#QuoteOfTheWeek
“History is upon us, adding something bold of us…” - Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

#Leadership #Action #Politics #Nigeria
#BAT2023
#BolaTinubu

*Bill prescribes sanctions for erring parties

*Advises aggrieved potential aspirants to approach federal high court for relief

*Says judicial pronouncement can’t stop primary or general election

Should President Muhammadu Buhari sign the new Electoral Act amendment bill recently forwarded to him by the National Assembly into law, all political appointees in his government would no longer be eligible, either as voting delegates or aspirants during the conventions or congresses of their political parties.

The implication is that some key ministers in Buhari’s cabinet, said to be nursing presidential ambitions would be barred from seeking the nominations of their parties.

What this therefore, means is that ministers, commissioners and other political appointees are expected to resign ahead of their parties’ primaries in order to be eligible to contest in the primaries.

Top on the list of the aspiring appointees to be affected by this new amendment are the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. They are believed to have presidential ambitions, even though they have yet to declare their interests.

But by the provision at issue, political appointees are also barred from voting as delegates in a convention or seeking nomination in the primaries of their political parties.

Unlike what was obtainable in the past when most APC ministers and commissioners took leave of absence to contest their party’s primaries and later went back to their jobs after they lost, that grace is no longer available.

However, with the new amendment, if signed by the President, they would henceforth be required to vacate office completely before being eligible to contest.

The bill also advises aggrieved aspirants to seek redress at the Federal High Court if they suspect the political parties did not comply with the relevant provisions in the selection of candidates.

According to Clause 84 of the recommitted bill, “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

“Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act or rules of a political party, an aspirant, who complains that any of the provisions of this Act and guidelines of a political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court for redress.

“Nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election under this Act, pending the determination of a suit.”

But there appears to be a lacuna in the new law, which may encourage infringements on the inalienable rights of citizens to vie for elective offices.

The Supreme Court had pronounced at different times that any law inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution is ultra vires and, to that extent, null and void.

Sources believe the clause is meant to clip the wings of the governors, who, through appointments, often control those who become automatic delegates and determine the outcome of congresses.

Sources further claimed that the idea was originally from the House of Representatives, pushed by a principal officer from Lagos as an agenda to serve some interests. The senate was said to have concurred, just to keep the “one house” refrain of the National Assembly.

But the fear being expressed by many is that, with a clause that clearly breaches the provision of the constitution, the president might be forced to veto the electoral act amendment bill again. If this happens, a new electoral law may not be ready for the 2023 elections.

The National Assembly had recently transmitted the new Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to Buhari for assent, through the Clerk of the National Assembly, Olatunde Ojo. Before the latest transmission, Buhari had in December 2021, vetoed the former amendment bill, leading to a recommittal by the National Assembly.

There have been misgivings about the new amendment, fuelling speculations on whether or not the president would sign it into law. The latest speculation was stoked by rumours that some governors, especially, those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were not comfortable with the new amendment and had planned to prevail on the president to also veto it, as he did in the last one.

The harmonised version of the Electoral Bill recently passed by the legislature was considered the final agreed version by both Senate and House of Representatives on the amendment to Clause 84 of the bill.

In this clause, the direct, indirect and consensus modes of primary election by political parties were included. This was after the controversy that trailed the different versions initially approved by the two chambers.

The senate had in its re-amended bill approved direct, indirect, and consensus primaries for the nomination of candidates by political parties, while the House only provided direct and indirect modes, saying the president did not speak about the consensus option, when he vetoed the previous bill.

But President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, while presiding at plenary, stated that both chambers had agreed to give a clear and sufficient definition for each mode of primary, and how they would be conducted.

Lawan explained that for the consensus method, the two chambers produced a clear-cut definition on how a consensus candidate would emerge.

Buhari had declined assent to the first amendment bill over the provision of direct primary as the only mode of choosing candidates by political parties.

The bill earlier passed by the National Assembly on November 18, 2021, provided: “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the commission.”

But Buhari, in declining assent, disclosed that he would only give assent to the bill if the lawmakers provided options for the conduct of primaries by political parties.

The president also cited several disadvantages of the provision to the system, including security and possible manipulation by incumbent officeholders, who might be seeking re-election, as well as political parties’ inability to muster funds for it.

It is no longer news that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, will determine choice of the party’s national chairman, secretary and other national executive committee, NEC, members. They also command reasonable power in who becomes the Presidential candidate.

The APC has fixed February 26, 2022 for its National Convention.

But Vanguard reliably gathered that the Progressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, want to prove a point to those who say they own the APC.

Indeed, the position of the governors is being challenged by some pillars of the party and APC is gradually been pushed to the brink over zoning of the presidency in 2023 and sharing of the NEC and National Working Committee NWC, offices among the six geopolitical zones of the country.

A source, who is familiar with the workings in the APC, said: “When you talk about the party, it is about anybody being in control, it is about interest, it about you wanting Mr. A as the National Chairman and me wanting somebody to be secretary.

“But between you and I, the governors own the party. You saw the outcry over direct and indirect primaries, and you also saw the outcome of the governorship primary in Ekiti State, the king owns the land, the governors are in charge.”

Why Buhari must court Govs

Asked about the president’s influence on the party, the source said although the president wields so much influence the governors control political power.

“The president cannot afford to offend the governors. Structure is everything; a smart governor cannot afford to offend all the local government chairmen in his state. You can afford to offend one or two council chairmen but you cannot afford to offend all of them. That applies to the governors. The governors’ forum of any party is a powerful group whether anybody likes it or not.

“I am sure Governor Gboyega Oyetola will be confident to ask the party to hold a primary in his state because he owns the structure. If a senator says he’s powerful in a state, who made him powerful in that state? It is the governor. In most cases, the party structure is with the governor.

“When a party says it wants to hold its convention, the governor funds the delegates to the convention ground, he foots their bill, takes care of their feeding, transportation and other expenses.

“So, you cannot wish away the influence of the governors. They have power. No minister can match a governor. The president controls the ministers but many ministers do not have a base at home, some of the ministers also take directive from the governor because it is most likely that the governor nominated them.

“The president of Nigeria is very powerful but when it comes to political decision, he cannot go against the governors, so, he must reach a compromise with them.

Politics is about give and take.

So, let nobody deceive you that it will be a unilateral decision by the President, he will negotiate with the governors.”

2023 permutations

Besides, the source said: “And you know, for APC, the convention is about 2023. If you want to zone the president to South, the Chairman has to come from the North.

“If you look at those coming out to be chairman, they are eminently qualified but interest will come to play.

“I cannot tell you categorically who the next APC national chairman will be but I know they have interest and they are interested to the extent that the narrative that some people own the party, they want those people to know that they (governors) own the party. Some people have written how some few individuals formed the party; let me tell you that it was the governors that made it happen. Some people have written how Asiwaju Bola Tinubu formed the APC, it was the Governors that cemented it; they (governors) made it happen.

“The Governors are powerful. And how did we lose Edo State?”

Nevertheless, another source said the governors have respect for President Buhari and would not do to anything to embarrass him. So far, the source said the APC governors have not taken a decision on who among the 12 national chairmanship aspirants to support.

“Before the convention, they will agree on one person and convince President Buhari to agree with their choice. As much as possible, the governors want consensus. They will prefer going to the convention to ratify the consensus choice instead of voting for many candidates.

“Most of the governors know the implication of going to the convention with a divided front.”

12 chairmanship aspirants jostle

The 12 chairmanship aspirants include a former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Saliu Mustapha; Senator representing Niger East, Mohammed Sani Musa; former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura; former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari; and former Governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda.

Others are the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume; Mr. Sunny Sylvester Moniedafe; former Borno Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima; former Gombe State governor, Senator Danjuma Goje; Mohammed Saidu Etsu; and a former National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, Sani Shinkafi.

Meanwhile, posters of Senator Musa posters have flooded Imo as Moniedafe said he did not step down for Al-Makura as six aspirants emerge as front-runners. The six leading aspirants are Saliu Mustapha, Al-Makura, Sani Musa, Danjuma Goje, Abdulaziz Yari, and George Akume.

Al-Makura is said to be one of two aspirants some APC governors have screened to emerge as the national chairman of the party. Al Makura is of the defunct CPC legacy bloc of APC.

George Akume, a two-term former governor of Benue State, is said to be on the radar of some APC governors.

Sani Musa, a 54-year old lawmaker representing the Niger East senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly is believed to have the support of some strong forces in the party, especially a presidential aspirant that is already making waves across the country.

Saliu Mustapha, 50, a former national deputy chairman of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, is the youngest among APC chieftains jostling for the office of the national chairman of the party.

The Ilorin, Kwara State-born politician is favoured by some critical stakeholders of APC to lead the party to 2023 general elections.

Senator Danjuma Goje, who has been working silently to actualize his quest, is also being rooted for by some APC governors, and stakeholders.

The Senator Kabiru Marafa faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in Zamfara state has accused the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the party of presenting certificates of return to some selected chairpersons of state chapters of the party.

Spokesperson to the Senator Marafa-led faction, Hon. Bello Bakyasuwa Maradun in a statement Friday evening in Abuja said “the saying that ‘the wages of sin is death’ applies perfectly” to the action of the CECPC.

The Buni-led committee has sworn in 34 state chairmen and that of the Federal Capital Territory FCT. In Zamfara, the CECPC swore in Alh. Tukur Umar Danfulani, chairman of the faction led by the state governor, Bello Matawalle.

However, Marafa in the statement said; “As one of the many factions across the country with legitimate grounds for agitation, the Senator Marafa-led faction of APC in Zamfara State sees this action as desperate and negates all principles of strategic thinking for building an enduring party that can weather the storm of 2023 as President Buhari rightly warned.

“In a nutshell, the Senator Marafa faction of APC in Zamfara State considers the inauguration as one of those rights of the government faction to act madly and illegally as we vest our confidence in the legal process with the cases in courts instituted. Our faction followed due process in conducting congresses at all levels that led to the emergence of a complete structure with Hon. Sirajo Garba Maikatako as a State Chairman. We also went to the court to contest the legality of the Congresses conducted by the government faction because of the breaches associated with them including the questionable stand of their party membership and relevant notice enshrined in the APC constitution. Until the court decides on this, we consider the government faction as illegal and sustain loyalty to our legitimate factional structure. Henceforth, we will continue to enjoy watching this act of madness.

“We noted with interest how the certificate presentation event was conducted under fears and jitters with heavy deployment of police all-round the secretariat in a typical way of political coup plotters under a democracy. The brief way the event was conducted and the absence of the CECPC Chairman although physically within the Secretariat as well as the uncertainty between inauguration and certificate presentation were all indicators of fear arising from inherent guilt of the Committee and the impotence of its action. Certificate presentation at Party level in the way conducted by the Committee is a new thing within the political space of Nigeria and an indication of the confusion characterising the Party leadership. It is instructive to note that certificates presented by INEC as a government institution in charge of election were withdrawn when courts decided against their presentation.

“In the same direction, we observed the infectious trend of insanity spreading to other levels through a video recording of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State urging his factional group to ensure that no other APC offices exists in the state from the certificate presentation charade. For us, this is a big illusion as it is practically impossible for our hundreds of offices across the state, local governments and wards to be closed out of the Governor’s empty threat.

Any attempt to use state resources to enforce that nightmare will be overwhelmed by the number and forces of the two major factions of APC in the state. In our view, Governor Matawalle of Zamfara State should be at the forefront of respecting matters before the court of law because he is one of its products as a Governor.

Unfortunately, his statements betray this expectation. Also, before making that statement, the Governor should have reminded himself that, only last week, the Vice Chairman of his faction of APC for Central Zone with decamped with hundreds of others to one of the major factions of the Party including a courtesy visit to Senator Marafa during the intra-party loyalty switch.

“For us, the action of APC CEPCC on the certificate presentation and the follow up action of people like that of Governor Matawalle of Zamfara State are good justification to the statement that “those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”, the statement added.

Senator Rochas Okorocha has met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House on Thursday over his ambition to become President in 2023.

According to the immediate-past governor of Imo State, he told President Buhari that all the four legacy parties that make up the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be carried along in the upcoming national convention of the party.

Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West in the National Assembly, added that he also told the President about the injustices meted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for aspirants vying for the bye-election into Jos North/Bassa federal constituency has ended in a stalemate.

A two-term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, polled a total of 344 votes and Hon. Joseph Abbey Aku, a former Commissioner of Commerce in Gov. Simon Lalong-led administration also scored 344 votes out of the 810 delegates accredited.

The 7-man electoral panel announced to journalists after the exercise that two contestants, Aku and Kwande scored the highest votes cast.

While announcing the results of the exercise, which lasted over 24 hours, chairman of the election panel, Hon. Abu Ajiya said four aspirants had vied for the ticket.
They included Hon Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, Hon Abbey Aku, Hon Lumumba Dah Adeh and Aliyu Adamu.

According to him, “There was a stalemate. Two aspirants emerged with highest scores, they were Hon Abbey Aku and Hon Suleiman Yahaya Kwande. Each of them polled 344 votes.

“In this situation, the panel is not in the position to declare a winner or take any decision. We have to revert to the national secretariat of the party, only the party has the power to take decisions in such a stalemate.”

However, Hon. Ajiya was silent on the number of votes scored by Adeh and Adamu, who also participated in the election.

The situation created tension among party members, delegates and aspirants, who expected a clear cut winner in the election.

Both aspirants expressed disappointment with the outcome of the election.

Speaking shortly after the exercise, Aku said, “I sensed foul play by the election panel. I knew I won the election because my agent was texting me the results as they were counting them. When that of Jos North was counted, he sent the result to me, and when that of Bassa was counted he also sent it to me. I put my scores in both local governments together and my votes were 367, while that of my closest opponent was 340.

“So, I am shocked to hear that there is a stalemate, how did that happen? It is left for the election panel to explain. But as far as I am concerned, this result is unacceptable to me.”

In his reaction, Kwande said, “I know I won this election fair and square. I am extremely disappointed in my party and I am not happy. I am an adult, no one can coerce me into doing what I don’t want to do.

Kwande said, “First, we came here around 9am on Tuesday to start the primaries, but the election started at about 10pm and lasted till late Wednesday morning before we went on break.

“We came back and continued with voting. I don’t know how it will be a tie, as far as I am concerned, I won this election with a clear margin.

“I know the forces that were against me, I entered into the race as a free citizen. I know how I helped this party to come into power in Plateau and at the national level.

“Hon. Abe is my brother and it is sad that they are putting us at each other’s throats, this is an election that I won clearly, he knows it.”

Also speaking, the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Sylvanus Namang, told journalists that all the contestants were given a level playing ground, “which was why the processes were free and fair, but unfortunately we have this stalemate.

“And as it is, only the national secretariat of the party can resolve this stalemate, the party at the state has no say in this stalemate.”

Namang, however, said the national secretariat is likely to order a re-run for the two aspirants with the highest votes. In this case, between Him Suleiman Kwande and Hon Abbey Aku.

The crises rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Gombe State took a new dimension on Wednesday night with the resignation of a former Commissioner for health, Dr. Ahmed Gana; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment, Mrs. Dijjatu Bappa and a party stalwart, Dr. Jamil Isyaka Gwamna.

The resignation of Bappa and Gwamna is coming on the heel of the defection of Dr. Ahmed Gana to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) two days ago.

Bappa, in her letter dated February 1st 2022 to the Governor, said the resignation was with immediate effect.

She did not state the reason for her resignation but simply told the Governor she had terminated her service.

Gombe business mogul and APC stalwart Dr. Jamil Gwamna also resigned from the party.

Gwamna was a governorship aspirant of the opposition PDP in 2019 general elections.

He defected in 2019 to APC with his supporters to pave way for Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s election.

Gwamna was also a strong stalwart who contested against former Governor Danjuma Goje in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP) in 2007.

In his letter of resignation addressed to Jekadafari ward APC Chairman, Dr Gwamna said his decision to resign from the APC was after wide consultations with his family, political associates and supporters.

The letter reads: “I write with all sense of humility and respect to notify you of my decision to resign from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“I took the decision after wide consultations with my family, political associates and my supporters.

“I appreciate all the privileges I enjoyed in the party while I was a member and I wish the party well.”

Unlike Gana who has crossed to the PDP, Gwamna kept mute on his next political move although there are indications from some of supporters that he may be returning to the PDP.

Confirming the resignation letter through a telephone interview, Gwamna’s media consultant Dahiru Hassan Kera, said the letter was authentic.

Today, I formally resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

I thank all my supporters and political associates.

And I also urge them to remain calm and wait for our next step which would be in the best interest of our dear State, Gombe.

Thank you all.

A fresh row between state governors and members of the National Assembly is in the offing over the re-amended electoral bill, which has been presented to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent. The governors, our correspondent learnt, are not happy with two new clauses introduced by the lawmakers. The resignation of appointed political office holders, such as ministers, commissioners, special advisers and others who are interested in contesting for elective positions before primaries preceding such elections is one of the clauses. Secondly, the lawmakers have also stipulated conditions for political parties interested in picking their candidates through the consensus option.

The two clauses were believed to have been inserted by the lawmakers to make it difficult for governors to impose their anointed candidates on political parties. The earlier proposals of the Electoral Bill rejected by President Buhari had made provisions for only the direct mode of primary for political parties to pick their candidates for various elective positions.

On the surface, the lawmakers acceded to the request of state governors to include the consensus option for political parties to choose candidates for elective positions. But, in doing so, they imposed some tough conditions that must be met by political parties before the consensus option can be adopted. Interestingly, the consensus option, which is now part of the proposals, was also not part of the recommendation by the National Assembly committee that worked on the bill. But, the lawmakers inserted it by introducing a new clause, which states that “a political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate”.

The new proposal on choosing a consensus candidate further states: “Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primary for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective positions. A special convention or nomination congress shall be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centres at the national, state, senatorial, federal and state constituencies, as the case may be.”

In the past, it was customary for appointed political office holders to remain in office while contesting for elective positions in their party’s primary. Thus, aside from state governors, some ministers who spoke to our correspondent in confidence expressed dissatisfaction with the clauses inserted into the re-amended bill. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is also said to be uncomfortable with the re-amended bill.

The aggrieved parties have now resolved to take the battle to the president who will eventually decide whether to assent to the bill or reject it once again. The insertion of the two controversial clauses is a way of paying back the governors for piling pressure on the president to reject the direct mode of primary. Our source said: “The lawmakers equally unhappy with the way the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Yobe State’s Governor Mai Mala Buni and the governors swayed the president to change his mind on direct primary.”

The rejection of the amendment to the 2010 Electoral Act by President Buhari forced the National Assembly to return to the drawing board to give Nigerians an electoral law that can stand the test of time. In the words of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila it will be an electoral act that Nigerians will be proud of. The president’s concern was particularly directed at Clause 84, which deals with the conduct of party primaries for the nomination of candidates for election. The lawmakers had passed the law stipulating only the direct mode of primary for political parties, but the president is of the view that the political parties should be allowed to choose what mode they want to adopt in selecting their candidates. Buhari wants the National Assembly to leave the choice to the parties.

On resumption from the Christmas break, the lawmakers got down to work to adjust the as earlier passed bill in line with the president’s observations. While the Senate chose to include indirect primary and consensus to the document, the House of Representatives added only the indirect primary. The House of Representatives later backtracked and included consensus just like the Senate. Gbajabiamila described the new version of the Electoral Act, which is being presented for the president’s assent, as “a brand new forward-thinking progressive electoral law”.

This is because it bars political parties from imposing conditions on candidates that may lead to their disqualification or pre-qualification outside the provisions of the constitution. It states that “a political party shall not impose nomination qualification or disqualification criteria, measures, or conditions on any aspirant or candidate for any election in its constitution, guidelines, or rules for nomination of candidates for elections, except as prescribed under Sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 177 and 187 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”.

The lawmakers are not unaware of the fact that party leaders and the Governors can decide to choose whoever they want and declare the person a consensus candidate. So, they decided to impose stringent measures which the parties must comply with in deciding to adopt the consensus option. Arriving at a consensus will however not come without some conditions. The conditions for adopting a consensus candidate are contained in Clause 84(9 a-c) which was a new provision inserted in the document. It states that “A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate.”

It continues: “Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primary for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective positions.” It also provides that in the event of a consensus candidate emerging, the parties must hold “a special convention or nomination congress shall be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centres at the national, state, senatorial, federal and state constituencies, as the case may be”.

A close study of the amended law reveals that both the direct and indirect primary options are also not without conditions. It states that a political party that adopts the direct primary procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party and shall adopt the procedure contained in the law. The conditions include: “In the case of presidential primaries, all registered members of the party shall vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated centre at each ward of the federation.” The procedure in paragraph (a) above of this subsection shall be adopted for direct primaries in respect of governorship, senatorial, federal and state constituencies.

Besides, the proposal goes on to say “special conventions or congresses shall be held to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at designated centres at the national, state, senatorial, federal and state constituencies, as the case may be.

Similarly, those who choose to adopt indirect primary are also required to meet certain conditions designed to make the process democratic. Clause 84 (5), indicates that any political party that adopts the system of the indirect primary for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the following procedure: “In the case of nominations to the position of a presidential candidate, the political party shall hold a special presidential convention at a designated centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or any other place within the federation that is agreed to by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party where delegates shall vote for aspirants of their choice; and the aspirant with the highest number of votes cast at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the presidential primary of the political party and that aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the commission as the candidate of the party.”

The lawmakers also took note of the fact that political parties could have only one aspirant contesting an election and therefore set out conditions that must also be met under the Electoral Act. It states: “Where there is only one aspirant or a consensus candidate in a political party for any of the elective positions mentioned in Subsection (5)(a), (b), (c) and (d), the party shall convene a special convention or congress at a designated centre on a specified date for the confirmation of such aspirant and the name of the aspirant shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the party.” It also states that whatever mode of primary a political party adopts, it must be spelt out in its constitution, as well as the guidelines to be adopted for the election of delegates in the case of an indirect primary. For both consensus and direct primary, the parties are required to hold a special convention in a designated place to ratify the candidate so chosen.

Conscious of the criticism that trailed the adoption of consensus option by the Senate earlier, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said the position of the House was allowed by its rules. He added that Nigerians should be happy that the three options contained in the law have democratic tenets attached to them. He believes that the House was not engaged in any war with the executive arm of government or into acrimony with the Senate, but working for the overall interest of Nigerians.

Kalu said since there will be no need for a conference committee between the Senate and the House, the clerk to the National Assembly will be expected to transmit the bill to the president within the shortest possible time for assent. He dismissed insinuations that the House may have done the biddings of the president, adding that both chambers of the National Assembly have been discussing with Nigerians and party leaders since the adoption of both direct and indirect primary. He said party leaders insisted that the National Assembly should make all options available so that they can choose the one they want, based on their peculiarities.

The House of Reps spokesman dismissed insinuations that the National Assembly is a rubber-stamp parliament that is merely danced to the tunes of the president by agreeing to include indirect primary and later consensus to the Electoral Act, rather than override the president’s veto to the bill. He said the House was not engaged in an ego war with the president over his refusal to sign the recent Electoral Act amendment bill passed by the National Assembly, and that it is also not in a supremacy battle with the Senate.

In his words, “the parliament decided not to override the president’s veto in the overall interest of democracy and democratic reforms in the country”. He said while the National Assembly is conscious of the powers conferred on it by Section 58(5) of the constitution to override the president’s veto, it would require a two-thirds majority of elected members to achieve. He added that it was the general belief of members that the House should not insist on its position to the detriment of the benefits of the bill.

He said: “It is very obvious that it is the desire of Nigerians to move this electoral bill from where it is now to where it ought to be to a reasonable extent. It is based on that clause of this Electoral Act amendment bill passed through the approval of this House and the Senate. But only one clause suffered when it was transmitted to the executive. Within the provision of Chapter 5 of the constitution, specifically Section 58, Subsection 4, the president has the right to withdraw his assent on a bill transmitted from the National Assembly. So, it is within his right to do that. However, it is not mentioned in the constitution that he should give reasons. But, being democratic, he was able to give reasons why he withdrew his assent. This bothers on security, intra-party litigations among others. We promised Nigerians that we are going to look at the letter from the president and know whether the reasons are cogent enough for us to adopt one of the options open to us.

“It is not an ego war or that anybody is trying to prove anything. That is what is beneficial to all at the moment. We may not get it right at a go, but we are heading towards advancing the course of our democracy. The House is not pandering to the whims and caprices of any individual; we acted to save our democracy. The president was specific on what he wanted and the constitution allows us to override him with a two-thirds majority. Nigerians want a perfect electoral reform and what we have done is that out of the entire law, only one clause had issues. So, adjusting that one and moving on is saving our democracy from where we used to be to where we hope to be. What we did was not a result of the whims and caprices of the president. Remember that there have been a lot of engagements during the holiday and our stakeholders said that instead of sticking to this direct primary alone and leaving out the benefits in the law, let it go in line with the reforms we are looking for.”

One aspect of the bill that many are not comfortable with is the clause that implies that only those who took part in the nomination process and the primaries could challenge the outcome in court; unlike what is currently obtainable where all party members can challenge the candidacy of any party member. It states that “notwithstanding the provisions of this bill or rules of a political party, an aspirant who complains that any of the provisions of this bill and the guidelines of a political party has not been complied with in the selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply for redress to the Federal High Court, a state High Court or the FCT within whose territorial jurisdiction the primary election was conducted”. It strips the court the power to stop the conduct of party primaries, saying “nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of a primary or general election or the processes thereof under this bill pending the determination of the suit.”

Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, said no fewer than 1,192 persons were killed, 3,348 kidnapped while at least 891 people were injured due to banditry and other violent crimes in 2021.

The Commissioner of the Ministry in the state, Samuel Aruwan, made this revelation while presenting the annual security report for the year under review to the Governor and other officials of the Kaduna state Government on Tuesday.

He explained that the Central senatorial zone of the state comprising Brinin Gwari, Chikun, Igabi ,Kajuru, Kaduna North and South Local councils is the most affected regions.

He also noted that at lease 45 Persons were raped by armed bandits with 29 of the victims being minors.

On receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned the violation of human lives and sent condolences to families of those affected.

The Governor called for an urgent national effort to strengthen security agencies in the fight which will include the provision of more sophisticated weapons and the recruitment of more troops.

The Governor further called on the federal government to create a theatre command in Kaduna State as done in North East, to enhance a more wholistic kinetic military approach in the fight against insurgents and all forms of criminality.

Heads of security agencies, Federal and State lawmakers who were also at the meeting unanimously commended the armed forces for their efforts and sacrifices.

Some portion of Orchard Farm belonging to the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo went up in flames on Saturday.

The former president had acquired about 2,420 hectares of farmland at Howe, a few kilometres away from Aliade, headquarters of Gwer East local government area of Benue State where he planted mango and orange trees.

While the cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained, locals in the area said that some youths in the area might have set fire on the farm to ventilate their grievances for not paying compensation for the land.

When contacted, the State fire Service director, Donald Ikyaaza confirmed the fire incident at the former president’s farm and said that the office responded immediately by sending his men to the farm and were able to put out the fire before it spread to some parts of the farm.

‘Officials initially offered to help but when the number of able-bodied citizens at the centre increased, they left us unattended to’

He said, “Yes, I discharged my men to that place immediately and the portion we met, we were able to put out the fire outrightly.

Ikyaaza said that he received information that the people in the area decided to set fire on the farm due to the issue of compensation.

He said, “The exact cause of the fire my men who went there said the people were fighting for compensation for land. Maybe the land was not adequately compensated for so that’s why they decided to set fire on the farm.

“That is the only information I got from them.

The fire service boss however lamented that his men who went to put out the fire were robbed and beaten mercilessly by suspected robbers on their way back to Makurdi.

According to him, “In fact, my men while coming back in the night, armed robbers caught them, beat them seriously and collected all their handsets, so that was the compensation we (firefighters) got for fighting the fire at Obasanjo’s farm.

“Not all the farm was burnt. Some trees are still there, the seeds were saved.

Terrorists operating in Batsari Forest of Katsina State, have launched a broad daylight attack on the Yandaka Community Market in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The attack is coming barely one week after suspected terrorists launched a similar broad daylight attack on commuters, along the Sheme-Yankara Road, abducting an unspecified number of passengers.

AIT Online learnt that the terrorists stormed the market on motorcycles, armed with AK-47 rifles and shot sporadically.

On sighting them, the traders scampered for safety, giving the terrorists an avenue to loot in the market and steal valuables.

AITOnline also gathered that, at about 2 o’clock same day, the terrorists went to Sabon Gari, in Ruma, where they carted away some livestock, ready for the Jibiya market.

The dare-devil terrorists further pounced on a commercial car and opened fire on the vehicle which was conveying traders from Batsari to Jibiya Local Government Area, as the driver refused to stop.

According to the source, in the cause of the attack, the driver was shot in the hand, while four other passengers were injured, and are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

Commenting on the development, a security expert said, the attacks were subdued due to the timely intervention of the security agencies, who are also in the area, maintaining law and order.

Batsari is among the 13 frontline local government areas, bedevilled by the activities of terrorists, who kidnap, rustle cattle and rape.

The suspended Chairman of Kano State Public Complain and Anti-Corruption Commission, Barrister Muhyi Rimin-Gado, has defected to the People Democratic Party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Rimin-Gado told Kano Focus, an online newspaper that he has submitted online application to join PDP while he is expected to formally register at his ward in Rimingado Local Government Area in February.

Since his suspension by Kano State government on July 5 2021, posters of the former chairman have flooded the streets of Kano indicating his interest to contest the governorship election next year.

While some posters are without a political party or a logo, others bear the symbol of APC.

However, Magaji had shunned activities of APC either at local government or state level and was never identified with any of the warring factions of the ruling party.

Recall that earlier in December 2021, Police foiled an attempt by Rimin-Gado to address thousands of youth in Kano in commemoration of International Anti-corruption day celebrations where they locked the venue.

However, speaking recently on why he joined PDP, Rimingado said he joined PDP because it is the only viable alternative that can salvage Kano State from the current political mess.

Rimin-Gado added that PDP as a repositioned party will cleanse the political mess in Kano come 2023.

“I have studied the current political situation in Kano and discovered that with the ongoing internal political crisis in both Ganduje and Shekarau’s camps of the All Progressives Congress, PDP is the only alternative party that can save the situation.

“The issue of who will be the next governor of the state, or who will be Senators in all the three senatorial districts does not matter, all we are after now is to salvage Kano from the current political mess. Politics is not a do or die affair.

“I joined PDP in order to serve my people and the state. I have done under the APC-led government and I am ready to do more under any political party,” he said.