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Politics / Re: Fg Loan Application: Why Can't One Pass The No 2 Stage After Cac Upload? by mackay37(m): 4:30pm On Dec 11, 2023
omsglobal:
Well my own I succeeded in going next after uploading cac after several clicks, the problem is at the end of the when they ask me to cross my details, I always see that my account was automatically replaced with another person's account, even when I will logg off, and tried to loggin back, it's says I correct password or user not found...... They are not sincere about this at all.

From what you mentioned above those are signs of a cheap nd scammy website, although I haven’t see the site yet. Only scammy websites replaces users account without user approval. Be careful not to reuse ♻️ your password when signing up for those funny websites
Politics / Re: Group Urges NASS To Probe Tinubu by mackay37(m): 8:52am On Oct 06, 2023
cool
Politics / Re: Nigerians Making N430,000 On Average; N340k On Median Basis - NBS, Others by mackay37(m): 8:08am On Oct 06, 2023
cool
Politics / Re: See How Tinubu Lied Under Oath In A Nigerian Court Of Law by mackay37(m): 1:33pm On Oct 05, 2023
Advancedpenis:



None of his supporters not even one can explain what happened on that document.

He said he graduated as an economist in Chicago university the and accountant in Chicago state university 😂😂😂😂

The drug lord was dealing with business, while the real tinubu was going to sch, amoda yekini sangodele tinunu is a criminal, bandit and a thief…. He was warned about illegitimate acquisition of power and running away with it but dude never listens…
Politics / Re: Problem In The Judicial System In Nigeria. by mackay37(m): 3:45am On Sep 27, 2023
The problem of the judiciary in Nigeria is deeply embedded in each and everyone of the judges, who are Nigerian like you and I.
The average Nigerian is criminal minded and always trying to outsmart the other. In fact some judges are more corrupt than the corrupt politicians who put them in there, they’re never in tandem with reality unless threatened on social media and then they unleash insults in their judgment. 85% of judges are the judiciary problem.
Politics / Re: Tinubu’s Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, Not Qualified For PR Job — NIPR by mackay37(m): 11:17am On Sep 25, 2023
grin
Politics / Re: Tinubu Is Useless And Useless by mackay37(m): 11:09am On Sep 25, 2023
grin
Travel / Re: Study In Bulgaria by mackay37(m): 9:25am On Oct 14, 2022
Very much easy, how did you apply and how long did it take to get your admission
Politics / Tinubu’s Money Causing Crisis, We Don’t Need It – Enugu APC by mackay37(m): 11:08pm On Sep 04, 2022
Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State, on Sunday, rejected any form of campaign fund from the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

DAILY POST reports that this formed part of the resolutions reached during a stakeholders’ meeting at the South-East Secretariat of the party.

The governorship candidate of the party, Chief Uche Nnaji, who made the proposition before it was unanimously carried by members at the meeting, said the campaign fund was the cause of the current crisis rocking the Enugu State chapter of the APC.

Reffering to the meeting of some of the party leaders in the State with the APC national leadership, he said the demand for the removal of Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah as the State Chairman was an exercise in futility.


The party leaders, led by former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani had told the national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu to constitute a caretaker Committee for the party in the State.

Speaking on the development, Nnaji said, “We learnt of the mischief going on among our brothers, but the mischief will not go anywhere under our watch. About six months to election you want to remove the State exco of a party that is doing very well.

“When we took over, there was no party, it was existing for another party, which was paying them. We asked those ones to leave and we are happy they have left.

“Most of these gladiators don’t have presence in any ward. Some of them, their ward is owing rent for two years, they can’t pay N30,000.

“Yet, they want to remove a capacity chairman. You can’t touch an exco that is doing super well.

Tinubu’s money is behind the APC crisis in Enugu State. They want to create confusion, after which they will say, there is faction, divide the campaign fund.


They did it in 2015, did it 2019. The same human beings that did it then are the ones repeating it now.

“I will be meeting with our national chairman on Monday and then with Tinubu on Tuesday. I will tell Tinubu not to bring his money to Enugu.

“Enugu State doesn’t need Tinubu’s money, let them not send it. We will use our money and work. When we finish election, we will go for refund. If they bring it now, they may start killing us.”


The issue of Tinubu money, I believe I have your support to tell them,” he asked, with the members chorusing ‘yes’.

Nnaji equally declared that they were not a party to any 25 percent voting arrangement.



We reject in strongest term the 25 percent they want to ascribe to us. As it stands now, over 50 percent of the voters are with us.

“Anything less than 70 percent, then we have failed. I challenge everyone to come and check after the election, there will be nothing less than 70 percent,” he boasted.

Earlier in a remark, Agballah said he was on the move to reposition APC in the State and won’t be distracted.

He said, “today, I’m happy that APC is not just ready to take part in this election, but poised to win.

“We parade the best, our guber candidate is the best, we can trace the source of his resources. We shall investigate the source of the phantom wealth the other candidates are parading.



Nobody contesting the governorship election in Enugu State is as clean as our candidate.

“We rejected some candidates that are questionable, we also disqualified some surrogates.”

Meanwhile, at the meeting, the party’s local government and ward chairmen said they remained behind the Agballah-led State Working Committee.

They announced that they would be meeting the APC national chairman to make their position known.






https://dailypost.ng/2022/09/04/2023-tinubus-money-causing-crisis-we-dont-need-it-enugu-apc/

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Politics / EFCC Probe: ‘how 2023 Is Tearing APC Apart’ by mackay37(m): 8:51am On Jul 21, 2020
RECENT crises in All Progressives Congress, APC; the Presidency; many of its agencies, and exposures that led to ongoing probe of the top echelon of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are traceable to permutations for the 2023 presidency, a top administration official confided in Vanguard, last night.


The official, who presides over a strategic arm of the government, said the dissolution of the APC National Working Committee, NWC, and the sack of key officials believed to be working with a top leader of the party, was informed by the revelation that they had planned to hijack power from the Presidency and render President Muhammadu Buhari irrelevant upon leaving office.

The opposition within the APC is said to have created parallel party structures across the states of the federation and actively fuelled the crises, which engulfed the party with a view to strengthening its position ahead of 2023.

All they were planning with the chairman of the dissolved NWC was to give the arrowhead of the crisis and presidential aspirant from the South-West an undue edge over others and render our leader, President Buhari, irrelevant in a party that he leads,’’ the official said.

It was also alleged that the forces in the APC NWC led by the South-West top shot were planning to recruit the suspended EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to screen out their perceived enemies so as to give him the opportunity to emerge as presidential candidate of the party.

Said the official: “It was based on this discovery that President Buhari directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to come up with a way out of the crisis, propose a strategy to end the feud, and create a level-playing field for all who would be interested in the 2023 presidency.

“Unfortunately, it was when the advice had been given by Abubakar Malami that the NWC be dissolved and an emergency National Executive Committee, NEC, of APC be held to assuage the ill-feelings within the party’s fold that the Ibrahim Magu trouble crept in and almost swallowed everyone.

But what I can assure you is that the Presidency is solidly behind Malami in this situation because he knows that the minister has done the right thing even though nobody knows how he would resolve the Magu probe.

“The truth of the matter is that the forces are against Malami because they believe that as one of the closest persons to Buhari, he advised him to move against them and recognise the Victor Giadom controversial leadership, which is pro-Rotimi Amaechi that the South-West top shot does not want to align with in any political discussion.’’






https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/07/efcc-probe-how-2023-is-tearing-apc-apart/
Politics / Crisis Looms In Aso Rock As Buratai Removed Top Army Officers From NSA Office by mackay37(m): 3:31pm On Feb 07, 2020
Crisis between two top Nigerian security chiefs, the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and the National Security Adviser retired Major Gen. Babagana Monguno, heightened on Tuesday when the former removed senior army officers from the office of the latter allegedly without sending replacements.

Although President Muhammadu Buhari has not formally reinstated Mr Monguno as NSA, he still holds the fort in the office, advises the president on national security issues, attends cabinet and security council meetings.


DAILY NIGERIAN exclusively gathered that the “mass transfer” of army officers critical to the smooth running of the office had laid bare the strategic office responsible for digesting intelligence reports and briefing the president.

Mr Monguno, it was gathered from informed sources, is not only on collision course with Mr Buratai but other heads of sister security organisations.

A few years ago, the office suffered a similar manpower drain when feud between Mr Monguno and Lawal Daura, a former Director-General of the State Security Service, led to the withdrawal of all the SSS officers from the ONSA.

Insiders said the latest “mass transfer” was effected without the knowledge of the NSA, and is the worst in the history of the office.

Credible sources confirmed to DAILY NIGERIAN that the Chief of Army Staff had transferred Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, the Principal General Staff Officer to the NSA. Mr Famadewa is simply the chief of staff to the NSA.


Others affected by the transfer are Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, the Director Defence Affairs; Brigadier General Jafaru Mohammed, the Director of Finance and Administration; the Special Assistant to the NSA, Colonel AA Ibrahim and; the Director Legal Intercept, SS Shehu.

Also affected are Colonel Adesuyi (Crisis Center), UF Abubakar (Counter-terrorism center), among others from the rank of colonel to Major General.

DAILY NIGERIAN also gathered that before the latest development, Mr Buratai had transferred the Director of Communication in the ONSA, Brigadier General MT Abdullahi, a few weeks ago.

Implications of the Crisis


With the mounting security challenges facing the country, feelers argue that absence of synergy among the security chiefs is drawing the administration’s efforts at tackling security backward.

Insiders said the Office of the NSA under Mr Monguno has been looked down upon by the nation’s military brass, such that the service chiefs shun statutory meetings summoned by the NSA.

“This is the first time critical organs in the ONSA were removed in huge number. It is clear the decision was due to battle of egos between Monguno and Buratai.

“The fact of the matter is that the service chiefs are not honoring the invitations of the NSA. They shun the ICC (Intelligence Community Committee) and JIB (Joint Intelligence Board) meetings, which are statutory, or send representatives.



“This is not the situation in the past where the service chiefs never missed even non-statutory meetings like GESAC (General Security Appraisal Committee) meeting,” a source who preferred not to be named said.

According to the source, during such regular meetings, security situation in the country is tabled, appraised and solution proffered for onward transmission to the president through the NSA.

Efforts to get the official response of the Office of the NSA were unsuccessful as “nobody officially speaks for the NSA nor his office”.

Spokesman for the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sagir Musa, declined comment on the matter.







https://dailynigerian.com/exclusive-crisis-looms-in-aso-rock-as-buratai-removes-top-army-officers-from-nsa-office/
Politics / EFCC Arrests Rochas Okorocha And Wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha - Daily Trust by mackay37(m): 2:29pm On May 30, 2019
EFCC stormed Ogboko arrested Rochas Okorocha, his wife Nkechi Okorocha, Gerald Okorocha and Okey Okorocha. The commission also sealed his Eastern Palm University Ogboko.





www.dailytrust.com.ng/happening-now-efcc-storms-ogboko-arrests-rochas-okorocha-wife.html

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Politics / NASS Leadership:expect Chaos Over Choice Of Lawan Gbajabiamila – APC Youth Warn by mackay37(m): 10:32am On Apr 17, 2019
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Zonal and State Youth Leaders Forum, on Tuesday demanded immediate zoning of all the leadership positions for the ninth National Assembly.


While calling for the convening of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, the youth said the decision to select Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as next Senate President and House Speaker, respectively, would lead to chaos.

The zonal youth leaders who are also members of NEC, expressed concern over the fate of APC after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, especially in the light of the highhandedness and perception of lack of internal democracy in the party.


In a communiqué read to newsmen at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, venue of its meeting, where APC youth leaders from 31 states were in attendance, the Forum described the decision by the National Working Committee (NWC) to micro-zone the position of Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives as “a recipe for chaos.”

It demanded that “all positions in National Assembly are immediately zoned to accommodate the six geo-political zones for equity and fairness,” adding that “no zone is less important than the other. Zonal stakeholders should be allowed to own and determine the process.”

The communiqué which was signed by the six APC zonal youth leaders and read by the North Central zonal youth leader, Comrade Terver Aginde, on behalf of the Forum, equally called for the immediate rescission of the suspension of some party members by the NWC.


“We observed with great concern the recent suspension of some major stakeholders of the party including two outgoing governors who are also Senators-elect and a retinue of court cases with significant judgements against the party i.e Rivers and Zamfara.

“The mishandling of these issues by the National Working Committee and other crises led to our electoral loss in the affected states, particularly in Imo, Bauchi, Adamawa and Oyo,” it further added.

“Whilst we agree with the initiative to determine National Assembly leadership within the parameters of zoning and ranking to ensure stability and discipline within the ranks of the party, we must do so without undermining the independence of the legislature. We consider the micro-zoning as a recipe for chaos mindful of the experience of 2015.



“It is anomalous to have made a pronouncement on the position of the Senate Presidency and Speakership of the House of Representatives to the exclusion of other positions and other zones.

“It is pertinent for members of our great party to note that the purported NWC decision is suspect. Not even the respected and revered National Caucus of the APC comprising of major stakeholders such as President Muhammadu Buhari, APC Governors, party stalwarts and BOT members addressed the issue.”

The Forum further took a swipe at the decision of the Adams Oshiomhole led exco to adopt Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan as the party’s choice candidate for the Senate President.



“We are curious to ask for instance how the decision was arrived at, who moved the motion for micro-zoning, who seconded the motion, who voted for micro-zoning and who was against micro-zoning. We dare ask, who is benefiting from this arrangement, an INDIVIDUAL or the PARTY? Party members will be glad to see the minutes of the meeting where such decision was taken,” it said.

It called for a meeting of NEC of the party to address “all pre and post election issues confronting the party,’ imploring President Buhari to pay attention to what it described as “dangerous drift of the ship of the party which if not urgently steered aright may be heading for a precipice.”

They asked the APC to “ensure that the various organs of the party at Zonal and State level are made functional in accordance with the laws governing the party and to reposition the party beyond President Muhammadu Buhari and 2023.”



The APC Youth Leaders’ Forum appealed to the President to consult the youth organs of the party in his next cabinet appointments particularly those that affect the youths.







https://dailypost.ng/2019/04/17/nass-leadership-expect-chaos-choice-lawan-gbajabiamila-apc-youths-warn/
Politics / Senate Presidency: 35 APC Senators Back Ndume by mackay37(m): 5:42pm On Apr 09, 2019
Abuja – There are strong indications that no fewer than 35 senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), are backing former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, to clinch the seat of the President of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly.

It was gathered that the lawmakers are angry with the leadership of the party over its decision to impose Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan without recourse to them.

The lawmakers, who pleaded anonymity expressed disappointment at Lawan over an alleged statement credited to him that all the APC State governors have donated their Senators to him to ensure his victory.

The Senators-elect said: “We are not happy over claims by Lawan that APC governors have donated their Senators-elect to him in order to realise his Senate Presidency.

“Even they have gone ahead to share the juicy committees to Senators-elect that are favourable to the imposition.”

The lawmakers said they disliked attempts to intimidate and harass some of them by using the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), adding that they have uncovered plans by the party to plant spies in the gallery of the chamber to monitor the elections.


The lawmakers rooting for Ndume are mostly drawn from the incoming senators and a few former governors who feel slighted by the bullying tendencies of the party National Chairman, Adam Oshiomhole.

A few of the lawmakers who spoke to our correspondent on the sideline of their induction exercise holding at the Transcorps Hilton in Abuja asked the party to retrace its steps to avoid the pitfall of 2015 when it lost the seat of Deputy Senate Presidency to the main opposition.

This was as some lawmakers in opposition PDP like the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who already perceive Lawan as a symbol of the ruling APC and a willing tool for the executive give hint that APC might be in for another shocker.

https://www.independent.ng/senate-presidency-35-apc-senators-back-ndume/

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Politics / Nigeria Election: US Lawmaker Blames Buhari Associates Tells Trump What To Do by mackay37(m): 9:14am On Feb 19, 2019
Rep. Chris Smith, immediate past chairman of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, has spoken on the postponement of Nigeria elections.

His reaction was contained in a statement he signed on Monday.

The statement posted on his website reads: “Responsibility for the delay of Nigeria’s presidential election lays squarely with President Muhammadu Buhari and those close to him.


“Actions in advance of the election — including removal of Supreme Court Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen and arson attacks on Independent National Electoral Commission offices in opposition strongholds — are undermining confidence that this election and subsequent gubernatorial elections will be free and fair.

“At a minimum, the presidential election must meet the 2015 standard, which saw a peaceful transfer of power and a statement by the then-sitting president that all bloodshed must be avoided.”

Rep. Smith also called upon the Trump Administration and the State Department to focus greater attention upon Nigeria.


“In addition to being sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is its biggest economy, and what happens in Nigeria has ramifications beyond its borders,” Smith said.

“Given the magnitude of global problems Secretary Pompeo must contend with, he should consider appointing a Special Envoy for Nigeria vested with full authority.

“The State Department must use all tools at its disposal, including visa denial and sanctioning authority, to hold accountable those who undermine democracy and foment sectarian and ethnic violence.”


Earlier, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), expressed her concern after Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria were postponed to February 23rd.

“A statement she signed reads: “This delay impacts Nigeria’s 84 million registered voters who traveled from cities across Nigeria, as well as North America, Europe and Asia, for the sole purpose of making their voices heard at the ballot box.

“My hope is that this delay does not impact voter turnout or harm the credibility and legitimacy of the election, as the postponement could impact local, regional, and international observation missions.


“Nigeria’s electoral institutions played a critical role in ensuring that the 2015 elections were carried out in a transparent, fair, and peaceful manner. I hope to see that tradition continue during this 2019 election cycle.

“Nigeria can serve as an example for the region as a whole and I hope that this postponement does not negatively impact that potential.”




http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/19/nigeria-election-shift-us-lawmaker-blames-buhari-associates-tells-trump/

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Politics / Sources: DSS To Quiz Ibeanu, INEC Commissioner For Logistics (updated) by mackay37(m): 8:47am On Feb 19, 2019
The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Okechukwu Ibeanu, the national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of logistics, for questioning, sources have informed TheCable.


This is believed to be related to the fiasco that led to the postponement of the general election by one week.

Mahmood Yakubu, a professor and INEC chairman, had blamed the postponement on sabotage and logistical issues.

Also invited by the DSS are Chidi Nwafor, the director of ICT; Ken Ukeagu, director of procurement; Osaze Uzzi, director of voter education and publicity; and Bimbo Oladunjoye, the assistant director of ICT.

Ahmad Mu’azu, the chairman of the ad hoc committee on logistics, is yet to be invited.

Although Ibeanu, a professor of political science, is in charge of logistics having taken over from Amina Zakari in October 2018, a different ad hoc committee was set up specifically for the elections.

The ad hoc committee, which has 17 members, is headed by Ahmed Tijjani Mu’azu, a retired air vice marshal.

A source told TheCable that Ibeanu has been invited to report to the DSS headquarters in Abuja at 2pm on Tuesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari had said on Monday that INEC would explain its “incompetence” after the elections and Ibeanu’s invitation appears to be coming early.

Ibeanu is said to have complained to his friends that he was being intimidated.

His house in Enugu and his car have reportedly been broken into with valuables, including laptops and iPads, taken away.

‘BIAFRAN IN INEC’

On Monday, an article written by Ibeanu in December 2015 resurfaced on the social media followed with a comment: “Nigeria has a Biafran agitator as the REC for Logistics, no wonder this unpatriotic individual, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu who has made his mission to undermine the Nigerian state.”

The article in question was a rejoinder to an opinion written by Ibrahim Jibrin (“Jibo”), a professor and fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

His rejoinder, titled “Resolving the Igbo Non-Question: Pitfalls of Jibo’s Single Strand Ethnic Narrative’”, Ibeanu accused Jibrin of “a single strand ethnic narrative”.

“The Biafra agitation is more than relations between an ethnic elite and ethnic lumpen youths. Those young people are framing a struggle steeped in their material conditions of life – unemployment, poverty, etc. The leadership of their States (and nation as well) has failed them, but not because they are Igbo leaders, but because of broader issues of political economy, which you very well understand,” he wrote.

The social media broadcast was ended with an hashtag #INECIbeanuMustGo.

Ibeanu was dean of social sciences at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was the director of the Institute for Development Studies in 2009-2010, and was a visiting professor in Conflict, Security and Development at King’s College London.

He was special rapporteur of the United Nations on the adverse effects of toxic wastes on human rights from 2004-2010.

In 2016, he was appointed INEC national commissioner representing the south-east.






https://www.thecable.ng/sources-dss-to-quiz-ibeanu-inec-commissioner-for-logistics

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Politics / Breaking:Malami Directs INEC To Postpone Elections In Zamfara by mackay37(m): 5:43am On Feb 14, 2019
Ozekhome faults directive


Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone elections in Zamfara State to enable the All Progressives Congress (APC) field candidates for the 2019 elections

This is coming as Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has described the directive as an act of desperation, and advised INEC to reject it.


He said his decision was predicated on the judgment of the state High Court in suit No ZMS/GS/52/2018 between Sanusi Liman Dan-Alhaji and 37 others Vs APC and 144 others; and Appeal No: CA/S/23/2019.

In a three-page letter dated February 13, 2019 and addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Malami told the commission that the directive was sequel to Section 38 and 39 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2010.

He stated that since the Court of Appeal has annulled the ground upon which the commission had based the cancellation of the APC primaries in the state, the party would need a little time to catch up with its contemporaries in the election.


He submitted that granting the party concession is not a favour but a right that inures to all contestants under similar circumstances.

The letter read: “My office received a petition from the firm of M.A. Mahmud, (SAN) & CO in respect of the above subject matter, (copy attached for ease of reference) requesting that the subsisting judgment in Suit No. ZMS/GS/52/2018 – Sanusi Liman Dan-Alhaji & 37 ORS V. APC & 144 ORS be upheld and respected by INEC, as the Court of Appeal has upheld the Appeal No. CA/S/23/2019, thus effectively annulling the grounds upon which the purported cancellation of the APC primaries in Zamfara State by INEC was based.

“You may wish to recall that the Zamfara State High Court upheld the Zamfara APC primaries in the suit mentioned in the first paragraph above, held on October 3 and 7, 2018 for the governorship and the national and state legislative houses.


“You may further wish to recall that in Suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/1279/2018- APC V. INEC & 5 ORS, the Federal High Court held that the nullification of the said Zamfara APC primaries by INEC was lawful. However, this decision has been upturned in Appeal No CA/S/23/2019. Copy is also attached for ease of reference.

“In the circumstance and in consideration of the provisions of Sections 38 and 39 of the Electoral Act, 2010, the law allows INCE the latitude and discretion to extend the time within which a political party may duly field a candidate for an election where unforeseen circumstances constrained such a party from doing so within the stipulated time frame.

“In this particular instance, the constraining circumstances that led to the delay in fielding candidate were caused by INEC’s refusal to comply with the Zamfara State High Court Judgment in the aforementioned suit to uphold the primaries as held. Moreover, INEC cannot foreclose the right of a political party to participate in elections without recourse to the Act. By the doctrine and principle of judicial precedence, the Appeal supersedes the Federal High Court’s Position in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1279/2018 –APC V. INEC & 5 ORS.

“In view of the fact, now that the Court of Appeal has upheld the Primaries as valid, the APC in Zamfara State will need a little time to catch up with its contemporaries in the election. Granting them this concession is not necessarily a favour but a right that inures to all contestants under similar circumstances.

“Consequent on the above, INEC is invited to comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeal by admitting the results of the APC Zamfara State primaries and to also comply with the provisions of S.38 of the Electoral Act, which empowers INEC to postpone the election for the governorship, National Assembly and House of Assembly Elections.

Reacting to Malami’s directive, counsel to the appellant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), described it as an act of desperation, advising INEC to reject it.

He berated the APC for taking Nigerians for a ride.

“This letter is wrong. It shows that they are desperate. INEC should reject it. They see Nigeria as an APC entity. They don’t believe that Nigeria is not for APC alone but to all Nigerians. It is a wrong request that should be ignored,” he said

However, THISDAY’s investigation revealed that the Court of Appeal in Sokoto yesterday validated the position of the INEC that the APC in Zamfara State does not have candidates for the governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections coming up on February 16 and March 2.


The court, presided over by Justice Jumai Sankey, with other members of the panel, Justices Ndukwe Anyanwu and Vincent Abiru, dismissed the appeal and the motion filed by Governor Abdulaziz Yari and Alhaji Muktar Idris praying the court to be allowed to contest the elections.


It upheld the argument of Chief Ozekhome and Mr. Isiaka Dikko (SAN) that the notice of discontinuance earlier filed on February 11 by Hon. Sani Jaji under Order 11 Rules 1 and 5 of the Court of Appeal Rules had completely extinguished the appeal upon which Idris’ counsel, Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN), had predicated his motion filed on February 8.

Magaji had prayed the court to grant him interlocutory orders allowing Idris to contest the governorship, and Yari to contest as a senatorial candidate before the main appeal is heard.

He argued that the motion was brought to the court on February 8 to hear the appeal on February 19, 2019 based on its merit.

He further affirmed that the appellant later accused the former panel of the court of bias, which led to the reconstitution of a new panel by the president of the court.

The court in dismissing Jaji’s withdrawn appeal, also made consequential orders dismissing the motion of Yari and Idris, among other applicants, who had asked to be allowed to contest the elections pending the hearing of the main appeal.

The court agreed fully with Ozekhome, who cited several Supreme Court decisions, and argued that once the appeal was discontinued, Yari and Muktar, who had not cross appealed or asked for variation under Order 9 of the Court of Appeal Rules cannot compel Jaji to go on with his appeal.

Ozekhome specifically argued that the case was dead since the appellant declined to continue with the case.

He based his argument on Order 9 Rule 5 of the court, praying the court to strike out the appeal since there was no cross appeal.

“The case is like a corpse in the mortuary ready to be disposed,” Ozekhome said.

The learned silk also submitted that they could not predicate their prayers to be allowed to contest on a non-existent appeal, which had died.

After listening to all the argument, the court dismissed the appeal and the motion filed by Yari and Idris praying that they be allowed to contest the elections.

Reacting to the verdict, Jaji said he was happy because some people would like to use the appeal to enforce the judgment of the state High Court, which directed INEC to recognise the candidates of the Yari faction in the state.

On his part, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, who is among the G8 and one of the respondents praised the decision of the court.

He extolled Ozekhome for his logical arguments, saying if there is anything more than senior advocate, he should have been given.

“You know Yari cannot win election in Zamfara State, he would like to ride on federal might to come through the back door.


“In Zamfara today, killings are ongoing on unabated, our people are being kidnapped, raped as if we don’t have government, it is not about the party but about my people,” Marafa said.






https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/02/14/malami-directs-inec-to-postpone-elections-in-zamfara/?amp
Politics / Revealed:dennis Aghanya, Author Of Petition Against CJN, Is Buhari’s Former Aide by mackay37(m): 6:36pm On Jan 12, 2019
Dennis Aghanya, the author of the petition against Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), is President Muhammadu Buhari’s former media aide.

Aghanya is the executive secretary of the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), a civil society group that petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over alleged non-declaration of assets by the CJN.

He was Buhari’s aide between 2009 and 2011 and the pioneer national publicity secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He is also the founding member of The Buhari Organisation (TBO).

When the national assembly had a face-off with the president over the lack of due process on the purchase of $496 million aircraft from the US, Aghanya appealed to the leadership of the national assembly to show understanding.

“For anyone to think of impeachment process against him is not right. We have many problems at hand. Violation of a constitutional provision is bad but it is worse to act in an immoral manner,” Aghanya had said.

In his recent petition, Aghanya accused the CJN of maintaining domiciliary foreign currencies accounts said to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.



He said the petition became necessary “bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 General Elections and the overwhelming roles of the Judicial Arm both before and after”.

TheCable had earlier reported that there were moves to remove Onnoghen before the elections.

The trial of the CJN before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is slated to commence on Monday.





https://www.thecable.ng/revealed-dennis-aghanya-author-of-petition-against-onnoghen-is-buharis-former-aide
Politics / Buhari Seeks Legal Opinion To Extend Igp’s Tenure by mackay37(m): 4:36pm On Jan 12, 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, for a legal opinion on the possible extension of the inspector-general of police’s tenure, a senior presidency official has told TheCable.

Ibrahim Idris, appointed IGP by Buhari in March 2016, clocked 35 years in service on January 3, 2019 and should ordinarily have retired.

However, he has continued to report to office, further fuelling speculation that Buhari is planning to extend his tenure so that he could remain in office till after the elections.

Opposition parties have often accused Idris of partisanship and are opposed to tenure extension for him.

A senior presidency source told TheCable that Buhari is favourably disposed to extending Idris’ tenure “by two to three months” but would not want any legal issues around it.

“The president has asked Malami for a legal opinion on the tenure extension. He does not want to take any decision that will be upturned by the courts,” the official told TheCable.



TheCable could not confirm if Malami has written the legal advice but he is not known to go against the wish of the president.

There is yet no IGP that has enjoyed tenure extension and Idris would be the first if Malami sends in a favourable opinion.

According to section 215 (1) of the 1999 constitution, “There shall be – (a) an Inspector-General of Police who, subject to section 216(2) of this Constitution shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Nigeria Police Force.”

However, it has been argued that technically, Idris is no longer a serving policeman since he has already attained the length of service for mandatory retirement by over week.

There are also questions as to why the president has not sought the input of the Nigeria Police Council over the tenure issue.

The council is made up of the president as chairman, 36 state governors, chairman of the Police Service Commission and the inspector-general of police.




https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-buhari-seeks-legal-opinion-to-extend-igps-tenure
Politics / ARDI Petitioned The CCB About Onnoghen Not FG - The Cable by mackay37(m): 4:30pm On Jan 12, 2019
A civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), has launched a legal move to remove Walter Onnoghen as the chief justice of Nigeria, TheCable can report.

ARDI has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), listing a number of allegations against Onnoghen — notably false declaration of assets.

The group said its petition, dated January 7, 2019, became necessary “bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 General Elections and the overwhelming roles of the Judicial Arm both before and after”.

The petition was stamped “received” by the office of the CCB chairman on January 9, 2019.

The CCB is empowered by the constitution to investigate public officers, after which it would forward its findings to the appropriate body for trial if the allegations are confirmed.

What are the core allegations?

ARDI said Onnoghen “is the owner of sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself up to as recently as 10th August 2016 which appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials”.

In the petition seen by TheCable, the group said Onnoghen made five different cash deposits of $10,000 each on March 8, 2011, into Standard Chartered Bank Account 1062650; two separate cash deposits of $5000 each followed by four cash deposits of $10,000 each on June 7, 2011; another set of five separate cash deposits of $10,000 each on June 27, 2011, and four more cash deposits of $10,000 each the following day.



The campaigners said Onnoghen did not declare his assets immediately after taking office, contrary to section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act; and that he did not comply with the constitutional requirement for public servants to declare their assets every four years during their career.

Also alleged against him is that his Code of Conduct Bureau Forms (Form CCB 1) for 2014 and 2016 were dated and filed on the same day and the acknowledgement slips were issued for both on December 14, 2016 — at which point, they said, Onnoghen had become the CJN.

Onnoghen assumed office as CJN on March 6, 2017.

ARDI alleged that prior to 2016, Onnoghen appeared “to have suppressed or otherwise concealed the existence of these multiple domiciliary accounts owned by him, as well as the substantial cash balances in them”.

These account balances were listed against his name by ARDI:

The Standard Chartered Bank dollar account 1062650 with a balance of $391,401.28 on January 31, 2011
The Standard Chartered Bank Euro account 5001062686 with a balance of EURO 49,971 .71 on January 31, 2011
The Standard Chartered Bank pound sterling account 5001062679 with a balance of GBP23,409.66 on February 28, 2011.
“It is curious that these domiciliary accounts were not declared in one of the two CCB Forms filed by Justice Onnoghen on the same day, 14th December 2016,” the group said.

ARDI said it believed its petition had established cases of “suspicious financial and other transactions against His Lordship, collusion between His Lordship and various banks related to Suspicious Transactions Reporting (STR) and financial transactions not justifiable by His Lordship’s lawful remuneration at all material times”.



What happens next?

The Code of Conduct Bureau, according to section 3 (e) of the Third Schedule (part 1) of the 1999 constitution, shall “receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto, investigate the complaint and, where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal”.

However, since judicial officers are disciplined by the National Judicial Commission (NJC), it is unlikely the CCB will refer his case to the Code of Conduct Tribunal if the allegations are found to have substance.



It could be referred to NJC, of which Onnoghen is the chairman, but he would have to recuse himself from the process.

If found guilty, he could be asked to vacate his office as CJN, in addition to other punishments.

No chief justice of Nigeria has ever been subjected to trial, although the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has charged judges to court over allegations of graft and money laundering.

An early morning raid was conducted by the secret police on the residences of some judges in 2016 and substantial amounts of money in local and foreign currencies were recovered.

What is the link to elections?

ARDI linked its petition to the elections and the role the judiciary plays in the final outcome, and this could lead to speculation that it is a preemptive move against the bench.

The group said it is “inevitable that His Lordship is also by these acts a likely hostage to the sources of these funds and beholden to or generally corrupted by their clandestine interests which might prove injurious to the Judiciary which he heads, and by extension the nation”.

ARDI in the past defended actions by Buhari — including the alleged purchase of $496 million aircraft from the US without due process.

“The president’s only sin is that he did not seek the approval of NASS for the release of the fund; he did not embezzle it. For anyone to think of impeachment process against him is not right. We have many problems at hand. Violation of a constitutional provision is bad but it is worse to act in an immoral manner,” Dennis Aghanya, the executive secretary, said at the time.

What does Onnoghen think?

When contacted, Awassam Bassey, media aide of Onnoghen, said he had not seen the petition and would not want to comment on the issue.

“I have no comment whatsoever to make on this issue. If the petition was sent to the Code of Conduct Bureau, then they are in the best position to state if the CJN declared his assets or not,” he told TheCable via telephone.

Asked to react to the allegations of foreign accounts, Bassey said: “I have just told you that I haven’t seen the petition. How can I comment on an issue that I don’t know the genesis? I have no comment whatsoever. Thank you.”

In September 2017, Bassey had said Onnoghen had nothing to hide and was open to investigation.

“It is the first time he is being aware of any allegations or intelligence against him, neither has he been invited or called upon to offer any explanation on any impropriety. However, the Hon. CJN wishes to assure the public that he has nothing to hide and is open to investigation,” he had said.

“As a committed patriot who has spent all his adult life in the temple of justice, the Hon. CJN is ready to pay the required price to make the nation a better place.”

A senior lawyer told TheCable that the ruling party “does not trust Onnoghen to do their bidding in rigging the elections and giving judicial affirmation to their shenanigans, as you can see in the court cases that have gone against APC in recent weeks”.

A former governor from the south-south is allegedly behind the petition.








https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-moves-to-remove-cjn-commence-ahead-of-elections

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Politics / APC Rally: 10 Killed In Katsina by mackay37(m): 7:59pm On Jan 09, 2019
No fewer than ten people lost their lives on Monday evening in two different incidents in Katsina State.

While six people were killed by suspected poltical thugs in Sabuwa council area, four others lost their lives along kankara-Dutsinma road in the state.

The victims were killed shortly after an election campaign rally held in Sabuwar LG area by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

The second incident happened along the Kankara-Dutsinma road, near the new site of the Federal University (FUDMA), Dutsinma.

Daily Independent learnt that four people were attacked by suspected bandits while traveling late evening from katsina to an undisclosed destination.

The incidents are coming on the heels of reported cases of the security siege perpetuated by kidnappers, bandits and rustlers in some areas of the state.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari had some days ago lamented that the state was under siege by kidnappers, bandits and rustlers.

This had led to the constitution of a high powered committee involving all stakeholders from affected councils, and heads of security agencies in the state, to ensure lasting solutions to the menace.

The situation had also seen the Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim been ordered to deploy additional police units and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to the state.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state police command proved abortive as calls and text message to it’s spokesman, SP Gambo Isah went unanswered.



https://www.independent.ng/breaking-apc-rally-10-killed-in-katsina/amp/
Politics / Suspended PDP Deputy National Chair Who Joined APC Accused Of N500 Million Fraud by mackay37(m): 1:06pm On Jan 09, 2019
Babayo Gamawa, the former deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, who defected to the All Progressives Congress Tuesday after he was suspended by the PDP, is accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of a N500 million fraud.

Mr Gamawa is standing trial alongside five chieftains of the PDP in Bauchi State for alleged receipt of illicit N500 million for the 2015 campaigns of the party.

The money, according to the anticorruption agency, the EFCC, was part of the slush funds allegedly deployed for the elections by ex-petroleum minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.
The commission charged Mr Gamawa and other accused persons before a federal high court in Bauchi, in June, 2018.

PREMIUM TIMES could not establish the progress of the case at the time of filing this report.

Welcomed with open arms

The corruption case against him, notwithstanding, he was welcomed with open arms by the APC, hours after he was suspended for alleged anti-party activities by the PDP.

Mr Gamawa was received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Tuesday evening.

The politician was led to the president by Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar, and was joined by another defector, Kaulaha Aliyu, a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees.

A spokesperson for Mr Buhari, Femi Adesina, shared pictures of his boss and Mr Gamawa late on Tuesday, describing the latter as a “new entrant into APC”.


While sharing the pictures of visit, Mr Adesina wrote: “President Buhari receives in audience New Entrant into APC Former Deputy National Chairman of PDP Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa and Hon. Kaulaha Aliyu alongside Bauchi State Governor in State House on 8th Jan 2019”.

Accused of fiddling with the ruling party and dereliction of duties, Mr Gamawa’s former party announced his suspension Tuesday morning.

The national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Mr Gamawa was suspended by the National Working Committee (NWC), following a petition.

He said the committee held an extraordinary session on January 5, where it reviewed the petition against the deputy national chairman.

“The NWC found merit in the petition on allegation of dereliction of duty and anti-party activity as contained in Section 58 (1) e, f, g, h of the PDP Constitution.

“Therefore, in exercise of section 29 (2) a, b and c, the NWC hereby invokes Section 59 (1) d of the constitution of the PDP on the Deputy National Chairman (North) and accordingly suspends him from the party immediately.”





https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/304881-suspended-pdp-deputy-national-chair-who-joined-apc-accused-of-n500-million-fraud.html

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Politics / INEC Appoints Amina Zakari As Head Of Collation Centre For Elections by mackay37(m): 4:31pm On Jan 03, 2019
Amina Zakari, a national commissioner at the Independent and National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been appointed to head the collation centre of the elections.

Zakari was appointed to head the committee on collation centre, one of the two committees for the election which the commission inaugurated on Thursday in Abuja.

Speaking during the inauguration, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said the committee shall be responsible for the national collation centre – the International Conference Centre – from where results of the Presidential election will be announced.

“It will serve as the secretariat for collation of results and venue for briefing of international observers and the media,” he said.

WHO IS ZAKARI?

The national commissioner was once appointed acting chairman of INEC.

She had been at the commission’s department of health and welfare after being redeployed as the head of electoral operations and logistics.



Her redeployment took place after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused her of working for President Muhammadu Buhari and demanded that she be moved.

Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the PDP, had said in a statement: “While Prof. Mahmood Yakubu can no longer be trusted to conduct the 2019 general election, it is public knowledge that Mrs Amina Zakari, the INEC Director in charge of Operations and ICT, is a direct blood relation of Mr President and as such, we believe that she cannot be an impartial arbiter in an election involving her uncle.”

The party had also told the commission not to “bow to pressure” and return Zakari to her former position.The second committee, on electoral logistics, is chaired by Ahmed Mu’azu, national commissioner.

It includes key government institutions and security agencies whose roles according to the chairman are defined in the electoral act.




https://www.thecable.ng/inec-picks-amina-zakari-as-head-collation-centre-for-elections
Politics / Re: Senate Alleges Fresh $1.15bn Illegal Withdrawals From NLNG Accounts by mackay37(m): 1:12am On Nov 15, 2018
Let me sit and watch

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Politics / Senate Alleges Fresh $1.15bn Illegal Withdrawals From NLNG Accounts by mackay37(m): 1:00am On Nov 15, 2018
The Senate says it has uncovered illegal withdrawals of $1,151,609bn from the dividends accounts of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

This is apart from the $1.05bn which the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, had earlier admitted was withdrawn on the presidential directive.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Akpan, on Wednesday, said the alleged illegal withdrawals by the NNPC through the Central Bank of Nigeria were discovered in the course of an ongoing investigation by his panel on the $1.05bn.

Akpan said the NNPC GMD had explained that the $1.05bn was withdrawn to bridge the gap of losses being suffered by the corporation on landing cost of imported fuel which is N185 compared to the pump price of N145.

The Akpan panel was mandated by the Senate, two weeks ago, to probe the $1.05bn which the NNPC withdrew from the accounts in April this year without authorisation by relevant authorities.

The committee subsequently ordered the NNPC and the CBN to submit documents relating to the withdrawals made from the NLNG dividends account within the last two years.

The committee, while going through the NLNG documents presented to it on Wednesday by the Chief Operating Officer (Finance) at the CBN, Babatunde Adeniran, observed series of cash debiting from the account from November 2016 to June this year totalling $2.201bn.

The breakdown of the withdrawals not supported by required approving documents as observed by the committee are $86,546,526m withdrawn from the account on November 22, 2016, allegedly being payment on Paris Club loans to the Nigerian Governors Forum, and the $1.05bn withdrawn on April 17, 2018, as National Fuel Support Fund.

Others are $650m withdrawn from the account on June 7 this year to offset the Joint Venture Cash Call by the NNPC which ordinarily supposed to be a budget item payment, and $415, 063m withdrawn from the account also in June without clear explanation on the purpose for which it was meant for.

Obviously not satisfied with the series of withdrawals, the Senate panel ordered officials of the CBN and the NNPC who represented their bosses on Wednesday to forward to it, latest by Tuesday next week, supporting and approving documents for the withdrawals.

Akpan said, “From the available documents before us, apart from the $1.05bn that we are mandated by the Senate to investigate, we have also discovered that several withdrawals were made from the NLNG dividends account without the required supporting documents to back them.

“This is unacceptable to us. We are also not happy that the GMD of NNPC and CBN Governor are not here personally. We are, therefore, not going to continue with the session today.

“Both the NNPC and the CBN must furnish this committee with other relevant documents on the withdrawals latest by Tuesday next week and the NNPC GMD, the Corporations Group Executive Director, Finance, Isiaka Abdulrasak, and the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, must also appear before us.”

Akpan said a document tagged, “Memo NNPC GMD 49” signed by Maikanti Baru and sent through the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, had no clear-cut language of a request for approval for the withdrawal of the $1.05bn but a mere notification.

Approval for withdrawal from such fund was supposed to be given by the National Economic Council being an account or dividends owned by the three tiers of government.

Akpan vowed that his committee would carry out a detailed investigation into the alleged illegal withdrawal made by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration from the same account in 2015.

He said, “We are surely going to carry out a thorough investigation on the illegal withdrawals to put an end to the cycle because a whopping $5bn was withdrawn from the same account in 2015 under this same government without any convincing explanations made so far on what the money was used for.”


https://punchng.com/senate-alleges-fresh-1-15bn-illegal-withdrawals-from-nlng-accounts/

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Politics / EXCLUSIVE: DSS Grills Oshiomhole Over APC Primaries, Asks Him To Resign by mackay37(m): 9:29am On Nov 07, 2018
Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday, TheCable understands.

Oshiomhole was grilled by DSS operatives for nine hours after some APC governors alleged that he received bribes during the party’s primary elections across the country.

Sources told TheCable that the APC chairman was asked to resign during interrogation by the DSS.

But Oshiomhole resisted the pressure to resign, saying he would only do so if he loses the confidence of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The APC chairman told the DSS that the president was in the loop of every action he took during the party’s primaries.

“Adams Oshiomhole was arrested by the DSS, they didn’t show him any petition. It was alleged by some governors that he collected bribe during the primaries,” a source said.

“He was told to resign and he told DSS operatives that he will resign if he loses the confidence of the president. He said everything the party did, he (Buhari) was in the know.”

Another source said the president expressed shock at the governors’ move, saying he was not aware of the development.

“On Monday night Oshiomhole met with the president and briefed him on what happened and the president was shocked. The president said he did not know about it and promised to look into it,” the source said.

The APC primaries were marred by controversies. Elections in some states had to be repeated.

In Zamfara, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the party will not participate in the 2019 polls because it could not successfully conclude its primary before the deadline.

In Imo, the APC favoured the governorship candidacy of Hope Uzodimma, senator representing Imo west, over Uche Nwosu, son-in-law of Rochas Okorocha, governor the state.

Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun governor, fell out with the party’s national working committee (NWC) after it chose Dapo Abiodun as the state’s gubernatorial candidate. Abiodun Akinlade is Amosun’s preferred candidate.

A number of APC governors have expressed disappointment over the way the national leadership of the party had gone about the issues, hence the move against Oshiomhole.







https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-dss-grills-oshiomhole-over-apc-primaries-asks-him-to-resign
Politics / Saraki ‘blows Hot’ Over NNPC Claim On Nlng’s Dividend by mackay37(m): 4:24pm On Nov 05, 2018
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said that the Senate on resumption of plenary will further probe the claims made before the Ahmed Lawan Adhoc Committee by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on how and why the corporation was diverting the dividend from the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) to defray the cost of under-recovery in the importation of fuel.

Saraki, while reacting to questions from newsmen at the Ilorin airport admitted that he had received series of telephone calls on the issue by many concerned Nigerians and others who wanted to know the position of the Senate on the issues raised by the NNPC GMD before the Ahmed Lawan Adhoc Committee.

He stated that the disclosure by the NNPC boss in response to enquiries by the Senate adhoc committee probing the issue of illegal payment of subsidy on fuel, called for further investigation by the Senate and also showed that as alleged in a motion moved earlier by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujinmi, a lot of illegal and unapproved spendings are going on in the petroleum corporation.

“Let me assure Nigerians that there will be no cover-up. We are confident the ad-hoc committee will do a thorough job. All the issues will be unearthed. That is why when the Senate set up investigative committees on issues, we want Nigerians to have confidence in us that we do not act because we want to embark on a wild goose chase. There must be some serious issues to be looked into. The revelations by the NNPC GMD have justified the need for this investigation and they have shown that we are acting in good faith.

“When in my ruling on the motion raised by Senator Olujinmi, I insisted that we want a transparent, honest and non-partisan investigation on the fuel subsidy issue, it was clear to me and my colleagues that there are certain irregularities being perpetrated and we should let Nigerians know the truth. That is why we set up the committee in the first place and to demonstrate the seriousness we attach to the issue, we decided that the ad-hoc committee should be led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan,

“We are however shocked that the NNPC GMD was claiming that the illegal diversion of dividends from the NLNG which should be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of funding the fuel subsidy was done ‘in compliance with the National Assembly directive that NNPC as the supplier of last resort should, and has, maintained robust petrol supply’.

“So, if the National Assembly called on NNPC to carry out its legitimate duty of ensuring adequate fuel supply to Nigerians, the GMD logically thinks the corporation by that call has the license to perpetrate illegality, spend money without approval and violate appropriations law. It is my belief that if the National Assembly said the corporation should perform its duty effectively as a supplier of fuel to Nigerians without exposing people to needless suffering, that ought to be done within the ambit of the law.

“This investigation will require the GMD to produce the approval given by the National Assembly and other necessary approving bodies authorizing the NNPC to divert the dividend from the NLNG investment which ought to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund belonging to the three tiers of government for the payment of fuel subsidy”, he stated.






http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/05/saraki-blows-hot-nnpc-claim-nlngs-dividend/
Politics / ‘we Are Still Suffering’ — Soldiers Contradict Lai by mackay37(m): 2:29pm On Oct 31, 2018
Soldiers deployed to fight Boko Haram insurgents in the north-east say the report that their poor welfare has been looked into is untrue.

TheCable had published an investigation on how soldiers beg “enemies” for food and wear slippers to the battlefield.

After the report, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to look into the matter, saying he remains committed to the well-being of soldiers and other security operatives.

On Tuesday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said the outcome of the probe showed that the soldiers were living in good condition.

“The summary of the findings is that there is no case of hunger, starvation or begging among the troops fighting in the north-east, and in particular in the Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion that was referenced in the publication,” he said.

“There is also no irregular/short payment of allowances, while claims of poor equipment, inadequate kitting and accommodation are found to be ill conceived and unfounded.”

But when TheCable reached out to some of the soldiers across major barracks under Operation Lafiya Dole, they described the minister’s statement as incorrect.

“When did the presidency carry out a probe? How many of us did the probe committee members come to check to conclude that we are living in good condition?” a soldier at Giwa barracks in Borno state, said.

“You know Nigerian army is hiding those things. Don’t mind them, they are all looking for money. Till now, soldiers have not got their allowance and salary, and that is why soldiers don’t want to fight. Let me tell you the truth, what they promised soldiers to pay N90,000 but they are not paying. And if a soldier dies, after one week, they will freeze his account. The family will not be paid anything. Everybody is running away from the bush.”

Another soldier in Mailmalari barracks, still in Borno, said the minister is not helping with the matter because they have all been waiting on the president to probe this issue.

“If anybody from the presidency came, we would have been the one to provide escort for them. Nobody came. We didn’t see anybody,” he said.

“The feeding is even worse. Soldiers in the bush now eat once in a day. When they wake, they don’t eat until 12 noon. And they won’t eat again till 12 noon the following day. Soldiers are using their personal funds to buy gas and pots from the market. The commanders are not ready to feed soldiers.

“They are pocketing the money. How can soldiers be on operational ground and be eating only beans? The situation is worse.

“I came back from the bush yesterday. Soldiers have refused to advance. They have run from the bush back to town. Even yesterday, there was an attack. They killed some soldiers while some were injured. It happened around Gudumbali side.”

“President Buhari should come down and see things himself,” an angry soldier in Jimtilu barracks told TheCable when called to react to the minister’s statement.

“Three months now, I’ve not seen my operational allowance. The president should get independent people to probe this matter.”

WHY IS THE ARMY REFUSING TO GIVE INFORMATION ON MONEY RELEASED FOR SOLDIERS’ WELFARE?

Eight billion naira, N25 billion and N78 billion were appropriated for operation Lafiya Dole in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.

In the 2017 appropriation, the ministry of defence budgeted N2.2 billion to rehabilitate barracks nationwide. There was also a separate budget of N1.7 billion for the construction/provision of barracks while another N1.6 billion was budgeted to construct special force barracks.

In the same budget, the Nigerian army was to purchase defense equipment for N5.8 billion, construct barracks for N5.2 billion while N51 million on is for rehabilitation of barracks.

N2.56 billion was budgeted for the provision of uniforms and other kitting items, and N670 million for the purchase of health/medical equipment.

N5.5 billion for the provision of barracks and N1.4 billion for uniforms and kitting in the 2016 budget.

In spite of these huge budgeted sums, the soldiers at the end of the chain did not feel the effect.

Twice, TheCable had sent a freedom of information (FoI) request to the Nigerian army finance corps for a breakdown on the fund releases for soldiers’ welfare, but there was not a single response in more than a year.

The information requested from the army were; a breakdown of amount released for the construction/rehabilitation of barracks across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states; the name of each construction/rehabilitation project for which funds were approved from January, 2014 to October, 2017; a breakdown of total amount released to kit soldiers and officers in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states from January, 2014 to October, 2017; a breakdown of total amount released as operational/danger allowance for soldiers and officers drafted into the Operation Lafiya Dole across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Interestingly, however, in the 2017 appropriation, the ministry of defence earmarked N20 million for a line item it called “implementation of FoI.”

“Indeed, funds were released for our troops but they boys in the bush are being shortchanged,” an officer at the Nigerian army finance corps had told TheCable.






https://www.thecable.ng/we-are-still-suffering-soldiers-contradict-lai
Politics / Bukar Ibrahim: APC Can’t Win PDP In 2019 Even With Massive Rigging by mackay37(m): 11:18am On Oct 28, 2018
Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Yobe state at the weekend bombed the ruling party, warning that the APC should not assume it can win the 2019 election even with massive rigging.

The lawmaker, who said that his dreams and hopes for a progressive nation under APC have been dashed, further warned that the North East should not be taken for granted that it will support the ruling party in 2019.

The three term serving senator and former governor of Yobe State dropped the bombshell against his party and President Muhammadu Buhari’s candidature during the world- wide Internet Launch of his book ‘Poorlitics’ and 70th Birthday Celebration held in Abuja at the weekend.

He explained the role he played to bring the North East under the APC control, noting that the ruling party has not done what he promised to do, as the present reality shown that APC is not better than the PDP it sought to defeat.

Narrating the history of APC and how things have gone bad for the ruling party, Senator Ibrahim said, “the politics of the North East has always been different from the politics of the North West and it was under the APC that we all united for the first time. I began that first move for unity. My co-author, Sam Agha Egwu, kept nagging me about the need to build a progressive coalition against the then very corrupt PDP. I took the matter to my friend Dr. Onu, who was then Chairman of ANPP, the party of the North East. We now reached out to the ACN, CPC and APGA. This finally led to the incredible merger called the APC that went on to defeat the PDP.


“When I began this process, I had in mind that progressives will be in power and will show Nigeria how to run a progressive nation. Without mincing words, as an elder statesman, I must say that my dreams and hopes have been dashed. We have certainly not done what I dreamed we will do, and in many ways, we are not better than the PDP that we sought to displace.

“As we move towards the elections, I have to give a dire warning to the APC. Things are no longer the way they were in 2015 when we rode to power on a cloud of euphoria believing that things will change. Simply put, things have not changed and many things are worse and the people are bitter. We should not assume that we can win even with massive rigging.

“There are just certain things that progressive parties do, and must be seen to do. We must be seen to obey the rule of law. If the courts rule we must obey. We must respect the separation of powers and let the legislature make its independent decisions.

The economy has gone down because of our actions and we are blaming the past too much rather than solving the present problems.

“I am going to give a dire warning. Let the North East not be taken for granted that we must support APC. Our interest in the North East has always been progressive and I will personally be watching for improvements in the APC.


“Improvements that will guarantee us victory such as respecting the rule of law and releasing political prisoners. If we are fighting corruption let us fight every corrupt person and not select people in what may be seen as a one-sided witch hunt.

“I shall sit back and continue encouraging my party to do the right thing. But if we don’t, I still reserve the capacity to ask my people to go our separate ways, and do what must be done for good governance to reign in Nigeria.”

The Yobe Senator, who said he’s not running for elective position, encouraged the youths to read his book “poorlitics” as the contents would guide them to take power from the analogue old politicians.

He warned the young people to note that the elders will not give way for then, but added that “you must go out there and take power in the way I did at the age of 42, when I first ran for governor.

“I have given you the book Poorlitics, to tell you how I did it and to encourage you to use the force of people politics, to dialogue those who believe in money politics and the old ways. Those of us who are now analogue statesmen can, and must be displaced by those of you who are digital youngsters and the book Poorlitics, shows you how.”

https://www.independent.ng/2019-we-cant-win-pdp-even-with-massive-rigging-apc-senator-bukar-ibrahim/amp/

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Politics / Re: Bauchi Fraud: How APC Headquarters Cheated Candidate Who Won Party’s Primaries by mackay37(m): 1:35pm On Oct 27, 2018
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