₦airaland Forum

The Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state, Mr Edward Onoja, has filed a lawsuit in Kogi state high court against social media crusader and the national coordinator of Peoples Democratic Party Youth Frontier, Comrade Austin Okai.
 
In the suit, Edward Onoja is asking the court to mandate Austin Okai to pay him the sum of Three Hundred Million naira for alleged defamation of character.

 
Investigation by THE OBSERVERS TIMES  reveals that there is an existing lawsuit between comrade Austin Okai and Kogi state government pending at the court since April 2017 over the same subject.

 
In his response, comrade Austin Okai dismissed the latest development as attempt by a drowning man to seek survival.
 
Okai denied defaming the Mr Onoja and insisted that what Mr Onoja described as defamation is simply an advocacy for the Kogi state government to do what is right.
 
"The latest attempt by Onoja is diversionary and an attempt to silence our advocacy for a better state, which Onoja principal, Governor Yahaya Bello has denied Kogi people since 2015.
 
I am glad he has gone to court, we'll meet him in court but we can't be intimidated", comrade Okai reacted.

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The House of Representatives Primaries which held in Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, Yankwanshi Jigawa State were marred with irregularities and glaring malpractices.


This was contained in an eye witness report sent to The Observers Times @ eyewitness@observerstimes.com on Friday 5th October, 2018.

According to the sender, the exercise was nothing but stark electoral malpractices.

The Accredited Delegates were not allowed to vote citing order from above, while the non Delegates were allowed to vote. Election Malpractice is what is happening. The Apc promise full free & fair election but this was not actualize he said.

The aggrieved members were stopped from embarking on a peaceful protest as police laid siege on all exits and entries of the venue.

We are highly disappointed in this present system.

Constituents of Daura/Mai’Adua/Sandamu Federal Constituency on Thursday took to the street to protest the imposition of Fatuhu Muhammad, a nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari as the candidate of ruling APC.

THE OBSERVERS TIMES can authoritatively report that the constituents are challenging the party's leadership decision to impose Mr Mohammed against any one of the five aspirants.

Salisu Daura, one of the aspirants said  the party leaders asked them to withdraw or “suffer crushing defeat”, citing orders from the above to ensure the emergence of the president’s nephew as candidate.

“Last night, we were told that all delegates were instructed from the above to support Fatuhu. With this order, it is clear the party has decided tow the path of nepotism against that of qualification and popularity,” he said.

In a joint statement signed by the three of the remaining aspirants, Salisu Daura, Aminu Jamu and Kabir Abdullahi, on Thursday, the trio criticized the state government and party for injustice, bias and subversion of electoral process.

“It is sad and unfortunate that the government of Katsina State and the entire APC machinery have taken sides with all plans perfected to subvert the electoral process in favour of an anointed candidate.

“We view this as an affront to democracy and good governance and replay of the years of the locust (ie PDP). In defence of democracy therefore we have decided to totally reject the processes so far put in place for the election and call for a direct primary election.


“We will institute legal processes that are expected to rectify this anomaly.


“Finally, we call on all our supporters to be law-abiding and shun all indecent and illegal behaviours in the days ahead,” the statement said.

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Peoples Democratic Party PDP Presidential Aspirant and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has attributed his previous failed  attempts to clinch the nation’s number one job to what he called ‘conspiracy theory of the political elite’.

Atiku, who is seeking to become the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said his refusal to be used by the elite to satisfy their personal aspirations as well as their belief that he is too independent and principled are part of the reasons they don’t support him.

Speaking at the PDP presidential nomination media chat in Abuja, Atiku said, “If you are not going to be used, if you are not going to satisfy their personal aspiration.

Part of the problem they (elite) have with me, is that they say I am independent, principled and so on.
Unfortunately the Nigeria public is not politically sophisticated to override the conspiracy of these political elite. They rely on the political elite to direct them”.

Atiku, who has defected to several political parties, has been contesting to become president since 2007 when he left office as vice president. He however promised to initiate economic reforms that would open up the country to foreign investors if elected as president in the February 16, 2019 general elections.

He lamented that most of the gains recorded by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration under which he served as vice president and head of the economic team, have been eroded by successive administrations. The presidential aspirant, who blamed policy somersault for the economic woes in the country, said he would use his experience in the private sector to restore the country to growth path if given the chance to govern.

According to him, the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari has failed to deliver its three cardinal campaign promises of fighting corruption, security and fixing the economy.

“When we came in in 1999 a barrel of crude oil was less than 10 dollars in the market, we met less than $5billion in our foreign reserve. With all that, we were still able to manage the economy of the country to the extent that we paid all our foreign debt and became debt free, reform policies. We were able to turn around the economy then, so I don’t think is an impossible task to do now. If we given the opportunity, I believe it is doable. “I believe I have the experience and the capacity to deal with these issues more than any one of them, because I have dealt with them before.

I assembled the best economic team with that we went well and everybody attested to what we have done in those eight years.

We liberalised the economy, we expanded the private sector’s participation and try to limit government to the necessary issues. If these policies we started were continued, today we will have been in a better country. “So I believe we need somebody who can come and continue with these policies so that we can bring back our prosperity, create more jobs for our unemployed youths.

The most important thing is who can put this country back on the path of growth, I believe and I am so sure that am that person,” he said.

Happening now in Lokoja the Kogi state capital;

An applicant who turned up for the physical verification exercise in the on going Federal Road Safety Corp Recruitment Exercise is in critical condition after he was hit on the head by one of the soldiers with a baton.

As at the time of filling this report, there were no paramedics on site to attend to him.
Others who sustained only light injuries have gone to nearby pharmacies and clinics to have their wounds cleaned and treated.

More details shortly.

All may not be well with Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi state.

An investigation by this medium revealed that the Yahaya Bello, popularly called White Lion is considered a heavy liability by the presidency and the party leadership in Abuja owing to the role the Governor has been playing ever since his assumption as a governor of Kogi state.

Yahaya Bello was substituted as APC candidate after the death of Audu, the character behind the APC victory in Kogi state, the phenomenon that Bello seems to be ignorant of it, Yahaya Bello before now have the ruling APC to himself as the former National Chairman John Odigie Oyegun is like a boy to the governor due to the crumbs that the exited National chairman enjoyed from Bello table.

The genesis of the misfortune started when governor openly worked against the choice of Adam Oshiomole, instead the young governor of Kogi state who arrogated so much power to himself assiduously worked for tenure elongation for Odigie Oyegun instead of the President favoured candidate Adams Oshiomole, a move seen as plot to stop Adams Oshiomole from emerging National Chairman and to continue his reign of impunity in Kogi state chapter of the party.

After the fall of the plot, the Bello went a step further to pressurise party leaders to resist Oshiomole from challenging Oyegun at the party’s convention that was held in June, but again the plot failed to materialise and Oshiomole emerged National Chairman. Oshiomole being who he is, a former unionist from Afemai in Edo state, who dared the iron fist administration of Olusegun Obasanjo, the two time governor of Edo state may not have anything to do with forgiveness.

Since his emergence, Yahaya Bello has been having a tough battle with the chairman and is considered a persona non grata within the party’s leadership. Not done, Bello also led a revolution against President Buhari and the NWC to stop the party from conducting Direct primary in the presidential election despite insistence of Adams Oshiomole, being an innovation by Oshiomole NWC, yet, Yahaya Bello fought against it. However, the plot failed! In fact, a member of the NWC reportedly swore not to have anything to do with Bello.

Within the presidency, our investigation showed that President Muhammadu Buhari is highly displeased with the Governor and has given instruction that he be kept at arms length.

Our sources within the presidency, who wishes to be left anonymous, confirmed to this medium that the President personally instructed Yahaya Bello not to show up during presentation of the Presidential nomination form bought for him by NCAN, and also blocked Bello from being present at the submission of the nomination form to the party leadership.

Furthermore, there are moves by those around the presidency to block some states, including Kogi state from accessing their share of Paris Club fund refund due to the fact that the states are yet to justify receipt of previous funds, including two tranches of bailout funds.

It may be recalled that this medium has exclusively reported that the presidency has ordered Zenith Bank, that Kogi state government deals with, to submit statement of Kogi state government’s account in order to probe every financial transaction of the Governor.

This medium can authoritatively report that Yahaya Bello has fallen out of grace even among the northern emirs which he previously enjoyed favor from. The story of Bello bad attitude towards governance is not new and bringing him closer by any of the respected emirs is been considered as a stain.

As it stands now, the Governor is like an Island, as he is considered a liability to both the party and the presidency, this prompted him being shut out of APC Governorship mega rally that was held in Osogbo, Osun state on Tuesday.

Investigation by this medium revealed that some workers in Kogi state are being owed up to 25 months salary, while others are owed between 15 and 20 months payment despite the government receiving bailout funds, double tranches of paris club refund, statutory allocations and several other payments running into hundreds of billions. The President was visibly angry upon the discovery that Bello has refused to pay salaries of civil servants contrary to what he had told the president.

Conclusively, the party hierarchy has started shopping for Bello’s replacement for 2019 Governorship election in the state that is billed to hold in the fourth quarter of 2019, the development the white lion himself is aware of, Yahaya Bello is by all round currently at disadvantage in the APC decision, apart from being excessively arrogant, Bello performance as a governor is typical a bad example of what the APC claimed to represent.

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Panic has gripped Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state over an order by the Presidency to Zenith bank PLC for transcript of Kogi state government’s transaction since the past three years.

A senior member of the state government who does not want his name mentioned because he is not authorised to speak made this known to this medium.

According to him, Governor Yahaya Bello has been in a state of unrest since the past days over this development. He went further to say that the Governor christened the latest move by the Presidency is as betrayal of his loyalty to the government of Kogi state.

The source further stated that President Muhammadu Buhari took this latest decision due to several reports and petitions against Yahaya Bello. The President had become so worried that Governor Bello is yet to pay civil servants and pensioners their earnings since he assumed office as Governor of Kogi state despite over Two hundred billion naira he has received as statutory allocation, bailout funds, Paris club refund and other revenues accrued to the state.

Meanwhile, findings from this medium showed that the Presidency got frustrated by the reports from Kogi state and complaints from some appointees of the federal government officials from Kogi state where they complained that the attitude of Yahaya Bello may cost the All Progressive Congress 2019 election.

A Special Adviser to the President who is also a member of the kitchen cabinet of the President, informed this medium that the President became frustrated after he was informed that since the inception of the Bello’s administration he has not instituted, completed or commissioned any project. The President concern was facilitated by the non payment of salaries by the government,

The presidential source who wants to be kept anonymous, further stated that an order for the statement of Kogi State Government’s account domiciled with Zenith bank PLC has been made by the Presidency to the bank with a view to ascertain movement of state funds. He said a similar order has been extended to Fidelity bank, Access bank, and Union bank.

Our findings further showed that Yahaya Bello has become a “persona non grata” in the Presidency over his attitude to governance.

“The President is not happy with Bello and he has barred him from participating in any activities in the State House, that is why he wasn’t invited when the President received nomination form that NCAN presented from him and he wasn’t invited to accompany the President to submit the form to the party secretariat”, the presidential aide stated.

Kogi state governor's convoy on Monday morning involved in a ghastly car accident before Permanent site of University of Abuja.

THE OBSERVERS TIMES learnt that the mishap occurred when the convoy ran into Okada rider and the passenger.

Details Shortly.

Former governor of Benue state, Senator George Akume, has said that he made a grievous mistake by supporting Samuel Ortom in 2015 to emerge as governor of Benue state.

He said that he realised the kind of person the governor was after he recently dumped the All Progressives Congress Party for the Peoples Democratic Party.

Akume’s regret came just as the APC leaders and stakeholders warned that they would no longer fold their hands and allow blatant breach of the constitution by Governor Ortom.
Speaking at a press conference at the weekend, Senator Akume, said the Benue APC leaders had expressed their confidence in both President Muhammadu Buhari and the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, for their laudable achievements.

Akume who said that Benue state was under siege due to the unfortunate actions of the governor, lamented what he described as abuse of the law through the wrongful removal of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, from office.

On the sudden change of gear after Ortom defected to the PDP, Akume said that he and other APC leaders in Benue state didn’t know much about Ortom’s record until when he left.

“For Ortom to run away with our mandate and continue to commit series of constitutional breaches is completely unacceptable,” he said. He accused the governor of unconstitutionally removing the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.

He also accused the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara of supporting illegality in Benue State.

A bitter Akume said: “If it were in those days during Obasanjo administration, we would have sacked that man with just five lawmakers for his unconstitutional acts.”

While stating the party’s position, Akume described the Ortom-led administration as a disaster, warning that APC members cannot continue to watch the situation without reacting.

According to Akume, 11 out of the 23 Local Government chairmen of Benue state who are loyal to APC are being persecuted by the state government and are being starved of funds.

He also alleged that the government had been withholding allowances of the faction of Benue state House of Assembly loyal to APC, without any justifiable reason. He said that APC was urging the Federal Government to consider suspending allocations to local governments in Benue pending full investigation of their accounts.

Speaking on behalf of the Benue APC stakeholders, Akume warned that if the governor did not desist from his unconstitutional acts, including plan to sack APC loyal chairmen of local councils and to unleash terror on our members, we are going to use every constitutional means to checkmate him.” Akume also asked the Federal Government to investigate the alleged stockpiling of arms by loyalists of the governor.

He said that Ortom was using religious sentiments and herdsmen killings as a means of winning reelection in 2019. Regarding an alleged move by the governor to sack some local government council chairmen loyal to APC, Akume said that the party will not allow it to happen.

The party therefore directed the local government chairmen to resist moves to remove them from office saying “impunity will collide with impunity.” The APC leaders also alleged that Governor Ortom had collected about N28 billion as bailout funds since the inception of the present administration.

The governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has officially announced his intention to contest for Orlu Zone Senatorial Seat.

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He made the declaration while responding to the call by Orlu Zone Political Leaders who visited him at the Government House Owerri to urge him to Contest for the Orlu Zone Senate slot in 2019.

In a release made available to Newsmen, signed by the Chief Press Sectary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, the statement highlighted that Okorocha had few months ago given the hint that he might Contest the senate seat come 2019 to represent Orlu zone.

“The governor will be Contesting the election on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC. And a Party he single handedly brought to the State and South East. This got him a lot of backlashes.

And with the success story of the free education programme in the State and more than one thousand verifiable projects to his credit as governor, he does not need any Campaign or Poster to win his election to go to the Senate for Orlu zone and to continue his service to God and humanity.” According to his Chief Press Secretary.

“And since he made the open declaration to run for the Senate, there has been high level excitement across the State and moreover in Orlu Zone since one good turn deserves another.”

The governor commended Imo people in general and the people of Orlu Zone in particular for loving him and appreciating all he is doing for the State as their governor even when he is not unmindful of the unfortunate activities of the opposition in the State.

Dr. Steve Orji who led the Orlu Zone Political Leaders to visit the governor said that, looking at the governor’s monumental achievements as governor, Orlu Zone Political Leaders have no other option than to come and ask him to run for the Senate to represent the zone.

Rochas declaration increased the number of governors indicating interest which is compounding the initial fear that Senate chamber is already turned to a mere retirement chamber for the retiring and tired Governors. Currently the two former governor of Plateau state are currently in the senate in the likes of Jona Jang and Joshua Dariye. Though Dariye now in prison, he has also bought Senate form for 2019.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki a former governor is also in the senate. Another person is the former governor of Abia State, Theordore Orji and Ebonyi state former governor Sam Egwu. All these have turned the senate chamber to retirement home.

The former governor of Zamfara Senator Yerima Bakura and Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Kwankwaso now presidential aspirant who is currently a senator from Kano State are not left out.

Majority of these senators are mere bench warmers and are still receiving pension from their states as a former governor and receiving huge allowances as a serving senators.

See the monster Hurricane Florence from space.

Credit: CNN

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Source

The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District has urged Nigerians to come out en mass to vote and also to guard their votes till the end.

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He made this known on Monday in Benue state where he accompanied the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to meet with the Benue State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Saraki’s visit was to solicit support for his presidential aspiration ahead of the 2019 general elections. “We need leaders who are capable of representing all interest groups, and not a section of the country.

“My presidential ambition is a collective decision borne out of a desire to salvage the disunity that we are witnessing,” Saraki said. Saraki claimed that it was the turn of the North-Central geopolitical zone to produce the nation’s President, declaring that he was ready to provide quality leadership.

“As a zone, we have paid our dues. It is the turn of our zone to lead Nigeria to stability. “We have gone through bad times. The nation has become crises-ridden; the killings are uncalled for and the Benue valley is the worst hit.

“There should be justice to every citizen, regardless of geographical location. “Democracy entails freedom or rights of the people. Our rights should not be imprisoned,” he said.

Saraki vowed to restore peace in the country if elected as President, and called on Benue delegates to vote for him during the party’s convention in October.

In his remarks, Mr John Mgbede, PDP chairman in the state, thanked Saraki and his entourage for the visit and promised that Benue would always vote for justice.

The Federal Government said states must clear the backlog of salaries and other related staff arrears before they would be able to access the remaining 2.69 billion dollars Paris Club Refund.

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The Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Hassan Dodo, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government would commence phased payments of the refund to the states once the condition and several others were met. “The DMO led the reconciliation process under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The final approval of 2.69 billion dollars is subject to some conditions. “Salary and staff related arrears must be paid as a priority. Also, the commitment to the commencement of the repayment of Budget Support Loans granted in 2016 must be made by all States. “Furthermore, they must clear amounts due to the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative and make a commitment to clear matching grants from UBEC. “This is in cases where some states have available funds which could be used to improve primary education and learning outcomes,” Dodo said in a statement.

It will be recalled that the issue of Paris Club loan over-deduction had been a long-standing dispute between the Federal Government and the state governments, dating back to 1995.

In response to the dispute, President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the claims of over-deduction should be formally and individually reconciled by the Debt Management Office, DMO. This reconciliation commenced in November 2016. As an interim measure to alleviate the financial challenges of the states during the 2016 recession, the President had approved that 50 per cent of the amounts claimed by States be paid to enable them a clear salary and pension arrears.

This approved sum was released to the states between December 1, 2016 and September 29, 2017.

THE OBSERVERS TIMES can authoritatively confirm that Kogi state is owing over 20 months salaries, Benue over 6 months salaries, Ekiti is 8 months and others, Yahaya Bello is believe to be owing highest, without any justifiable reasons, the workers in kogi state are celebrating this development although the labour union is under pressure to agree with the governor's claim that it is not owing workers.

Last month the state commissioner of Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris revealed that the state government has cleared all the arrears and backlog of salaries. They claimed that the labour union is yet to dispute.

The labour leaders in the state has come under the intense presure and intimidation from kogi state government to remain mute on salaries issues

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The co-accused in the on-going trial of former Senior Special Assistant to Ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, Warimapo Owei-Dudafa yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because of his refusal to implicate Dudafa.

Nna, a banker with Heritage Bank Plc, who was testifying in his own defence in the alleged N4.6 billion fraud case also told the court that he only carried out Presidential directive, in the payment of N15 million to the GTBank account of one Itekesi Florence on May 6, 2015.

The two men are facing allegations of conspiring to conceal proceeds of crime. They were on June 11, 2016, arraigned before the court by the EFCC on a 23-count charge of conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to N1.6 billion.

In the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that the two accused persons, between June 2013 and June 2015, used different companies to fraudulently launder the money.

The five companies are: Seagate Property Development & Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Pluto Property Limited Investment Company Limited and Rotate Interlink Services Limited.

The offences according to the EFCC are contrary to and punishable under sections 17(a), 18(c), and 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004. They, however, pleaded, not guilty to the charge. Nna in his evidence-in-chief, told Justice Mohammed Idris, that upon his arrival at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that he was told that he is not the target of their investigation.

He also claimed that the investigators told him that if he cooperates with them he would be left off the hook, but that if he refused to implicate the first defendant he would be persecuted for the sin of another person.

“I told them that I can’t understand what they mean and they asked me if I have a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), who would be ready to defend me and that I should be prepared for the consequences if I refused to cooperate”.

The accused persons further told the court that he was not the only one invited by the anti- graft agency on the matter and that the bank’s Head of operations, Yenagoa branch, Ademola Folorunso who had earlier testified against the first defendant when invited as well as one Stanley Nwogu, the branch head of Fund Transfer.

Nna denied having any personal relationship with the companies listed in the charge except official relationship as the Account Officer responsible for those account.

“I have no personal relationship with any of the companies, I only manage them in my official capacity as the account officer”, he said. He further told the court that he had no official role in the process of opening the account which were opened at the bank’s headquarters and not in Yenagoa.

Nna further told the court that as the branch manager of Heritage Bank, his role in administering the branch is more of ceremonial, and that the key persons are the operations manager without whom no account can be operated and the Head of the Fund Transfer unit, Stanley Nwogu without whom no funds can be transferred from the bank. Meanwhile, further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till September 18.

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Senate President Bukola Saraki has said that his presidential aspiration was driven by an obsession for justice, fairness and respect for the rule of law.

“I want to be President so that I can ensure justice and fairness for everyone; I want a country where the rule of law will be respected by all,” Saraki said on Monday in Makurdi, when he met with Benue State Working Committee of the PDP.

Saraki’s visit was to solicit support for his presidential aspiration ahead of the 2019 general elections. “We need leaders who are capable of representing all interest groups, and not a section of the country.

“My presidential ambition is a collective decision borne out of a desire to salvage the disunity that we are witnessing,” he said. Saraki claimed that it was the turn of the North-Central geopolitical zone to produce the nation’s President, declaring that he was ready to provide quality leadership.

“As a zone, we have paid our dues. It is the turn of our zone to lead Nigeria to stability. “We have gone through bad times. The nation has become crises-ridden; the killings are uncalled for and the Benue valley is the worst hit.

“There should be justice to every citizen, regardless of geographical location. “Democracy entails freedom or rights of the people. Our rights should not be imprisoned,” he said.

Saraki vowed to restore peace in the country if elected as President, and called on Benue delegates to vote for him during the party’s convention in October.

In a brief remark, Sen. Dino Melaye appealed to the people of Benue to vote and guard their votes during elections, saying that they must promote and protect their rights to decide who led them. In his remarks, Mr John Mgbede, PDP chairman in the state, thanked Saraki and his entourage for the visit and promised that Benue would always vote for justice.

The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus has advised the former Minister of Education who recently defected back from the PDP to All Progressives Congress, APC, to “face his blooper and stop looking for who to blame”.

The national chairman said through his media office Sunday night that he finds it laughable that the former minister whose itinerant political movement is well known to all is trying to blame him for his wrong political decision. “The former Minister would just have carried on with his political life the way he wants it instead of trying to drag the name of the National Chairman into his well known itinerant political journey.

“As a former Minister, and a former Governor Mallam Shekarau knows too well that no one person can really remove somebody from a party not to talk of a status of a former Governor and a former Minister in the party.

“The PDP national chairman finds it embarrassing Mallam Shekerau’s continuous dropping of his name in the story of his exit which he long began and as a result made all discussions for peace and understanding difficult.

“Was Secondus the National Chairman of his party when Mallam Shekerau carried out all his previous political movements in and out of political parties including leaving APC to PDP in 2014 when it was Prince Secondus as deputy National Chairman along with the then PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu who facilitated his appointment as Minister of Education by the then President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Mr Secondus said he understands the burden of conscience now weighing heavily on Mr Shakerau due to his obvious undesirable political decision but he should carry it and face the consequences instead of looking for somebody to blame.

For record purposes, the statement explained, the PDP through its contact committee set up to discuss and negotiate with returning and new members into the party agreed to a number of terms which was not peculiar to Kano state and the agreed terms are being implemented dutifully in all the states involved.

The national chairman noted that all his efforts to smoothen the rough areas as it concerns Kano were blocked by the former minister whose mind was already made to continue his familiar itinerant political movement.

"Senator Aidoko Must Go", Igala Youths Protest Against Senator's 3rd Term Bid

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Youths of Igala Kingdom in Kogi East Senatorial district today protested against third term aspiration of the senator representing the district, Senator Attai Aidoko. The youths in a press statement signed by the leader Ibrahim Odaudu and copied to this medium, demand that the distinguished senator give way to pave way for other zone to take turn in representing the people or be disgraced at the poll.

According to the statement, "Senator Aidoko has been in the National Assembly for 16 years, having spent 8 years in the House of Representative and another 8 years in the Red chamber."

"It is only justifiable that the Senator give way for the people of Idah federal constituency and not try to bully his way back to the chamber because we Igala people of Kogi state have the accord of zoning and power shift, which Sen Aidoko benefited from otherwise we will punish him with our votes"

The group described his 16 years in the national assembly as wasted years for Igala kingdom, group appeal to PDP not to even thinkering returning the failed Aidoko in the nAme of automatic ticket.

Aidoko has cheated so many prominent sons and daughters among whom are; Air Marshal Alfa, Emmanuel Dagana, Hajia Halima Alfa etc.

"We wish to sound note of warning to PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), which he is currently a member, not to field him else the people of Igala land will reject Aidoko and any party that present him in the general election.

Igala do not want to support Bello ticket but should PDP go ahead we may have no option than to ensure massive and impressive protest votes against Aidoko.

The wish of Kogi people is supreme and we expect all political parties seeking our votes to recognise this.

"For 16 whole years the entire Igala land has been underrepresented due to the incompetence of our sit tight senator" "Idah federal constituency is bound to produce the next senator and this demand is nonnegotiable."

"Over the years we have kept faith with PDP but we will not fail to withdraw our support if our demand is ignored." The statement concluded!

Source

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FORMER Senate President, David Mark, has picked the expression of interest and nomination form to contest for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), confident that President Muhammadu Buhari will lose to the party in next year’s election.

Speaking to journalists moments after collecting the forms at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday, he observed that Buhari had become unpopular and this had become obvious to all. Asked about his chances against the president if given the party ticket, Mark said: “My chances which are actually PDP chances against the current government, you can see what is happening for yourself.

I don’t think anybody needs to preach that gospel anymore. If you can’t see it, you can perceive it. If you can’t perceive it, you can hear of it. It is obvious that the next election, PDP’s presidential candidate will win.” He said as long as the PDP had zoned its presidential ticket to the North, he was qualified to vie for it, saying that his wealth of experience gave him an advantage for the position.

He also asserted that his campaign represented the youth in consonance with the clamour for younger leaders in the country. The three-time Senator stated: “The issue is that the party has zoned the presidential vacancy to the North. Whether you are from North East, North West or North Central, we are all northerners.

And I think that that is what qualifies me in the first place. “Secondly, I think I have something to offer. I got a wealth of experience in administration. And you recognise that I was also President of the Senate for eight years. “So, I think I have garnered a lot of experience to be able to move the country in the direction that all Nigerians want.

And that is the direction of prosperity, good economic policies, reduce the level of insecurity, get Nigerians to become very proud citizens, create job opportunities for the teeming youths and change the economy. “Like I said, there are lots of young boys and girls working in my team who are very vibrant and who are very articulate and who know what they want. So, we are a focused team.”

On the move for a consensus candidacy for the PDP, Mark opined that the important thing was for the presidential aspirants to realize that it was only one of them that could be the candidate in the end. He added: “If we all agree. But all of us who have gotten the nomination forms now have to agree on that. Whether we get a consensus candidate or whether we go through the primary itself truly doesn’t make much difference. “The important point is all of us must realise that there is only one person who can occupy that seat.

And that power comes largely from God. Once God decides that this is the person, and the process through electing that person is free, fair, credible and transparent, we should all accept it.” The former Senate President said whatever the outcome of the party primary, he would not leave the PDP. He explained: “Have you heard me before saying that no matter what happens, I will never leave PDP? I have said that too many times and I keep saying it, sounding like a broken record now in that process. But that doesn’t stop anybody from coming in to join the party. “Now, PDP has become the party of choice.

That is their only reason why people are coming. Nobody will leave a party that is good and go to another party that is not a party of choice. So, the mere fact that people are coming to PDP means that PDP is now the party to be if we want to make an impression on this country. “Also, if a man comes to the party, he is an integral part of the party. And I think we should not bother too much about whether the man has been there for a long time or whether the man is coming.

But that decision will be made by the electorates.” Meanwhile, former Sokoto state governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has become the first PDP presidential aspirant to return his completed nomination form. His campaign Director General, Senator Paul Wampana, who returned the form on his behalf to the national secretariat of the party on Tuesday, told journalists that Bafarawa did not believe in consensus candidacy and was only seeking assurances for a free, fair and credible primary.

Wampana said the more aspirants that were in the race, the better for the party. He, however, expressed confidence that having learnt from its past mistake, the PDP would indeed create room for a credible exercise. He said: “We are not against many aspirants. What we need is a level playing ground. The people will speak. It is the people we will listen to. Let there be free, fair and credible elections in this country. We have discounted the idea of anyone stepping down. The more the merrier.”

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed the Presidential Primary to elect presidential candidate for Thursday, September 20, 2018.

The APC, in its guidelines for the conduct of party primaries for the 2019 general elections as approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC), said the presidential candidate would emerge through direct primary.

It fixed the Governorship Primaries for Monday, September 24, 2018; Tuesday 25th, September, 2018 The statement which signaled the commencement of the party’s nomination process was signed by the National Organising Secretary, Barr. Emma Ibediro.

It said the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for all elective offices would begin today. The Senatorial Primaries hold Thursday, September 27, 2018, while the House of Representatives’ hold Saturday, September 29, 2018.

The timetable also fixed House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Primaries to elect State House of Assembly and Area Council’s candidates for Tuesday October 2, 2018.

National Convention (Presidential), where the presidential candidate will be ratified and elected, holds Saturday October 6, 2018. Nationwide Congresses to elect delegates is scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, 2018. According to the guidelines, each presidential aspirant will buy Expression of Interest Form for N5m, while Nomination Form attracts N40m, totaling N45m.

Each governorship aspirant will buy Expression of Interest Form for N2.5m, while Nomination Form attracts N20m, totaling N22.5m. Senatorial aspirant will pay N1m for Expression of Interest Form for while Nomination Form attracts N6m, totaling N7m. For House of Representatives Expression of Interest Form is N350,000, while Nomination Form attracts N3,5m, totaling N3,85m.

State House of Assembly’s Expression of Interest Form for N100,000, while Nomination Form attracts N750,000 totaling N850,000.00. The guidelines, which ruled out separate charge for deputy, added that female aspirants and physically challenged aspirants will pay 50% of the prescribed fees for each position. All interested aspirants for Presidential, Governorship, Senate and House of Representatives elections are to purchase their forms from the National Secretariat, Blantyre Street Wuse II – Abuja.

Aspirants for State of House of Assembly are to purchase their forms at their respective State Party Secretariat or the National Secretariat. All forms are to be collected and submitted on or before Wednesday September 1

His death on Saturday has triggered a flood of tributes and even from U.S. President Donald Trump that he trenchantly opposed.

Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, have also paid tributes in memory of the senator.

McCain, 81, a Republican Senator representing Arizona at the congress since 1982, died after failing to battle brain cancer .

The family announced in a statement: “Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years”.

Trump, in a tweet on Saturday evening said: “My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!”

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The late Arizona Republican, had organised his funeral, and close associates had told the White House in May that he did not want Trump to be invited.

Instead, Vice President Mike Pence, who served with McCain in Congress, would be asked to attend the service, at the ceremony that would be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Pence, in a tweet on McCain’s death, said: “Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honour his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. …”

Speaker Paul Ryan also in a tweet said: “John McCain was a giant of our time – not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. He will always be listed among freedom’s most gallant and faithful servants”.

Obama, who ran against and defeated McCain in the 2008 presidential election, said in a statement that all Americans were in debt of the late senator.

“John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics.

“But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher – the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed.

“We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. …,” Obama said.

Former President George W. Bush, who was also a political opponent of McCain during the 2000 Republican Party primary election, lauded his career serving the U.S., first in the military and war, and second in the U.S. Congress.

Bush said: “Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled.

“John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I’ll deeply miss….”

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, said in a statement: “Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day.

“He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honoured to serve in the Senate. He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mould if it was the right thing to do.

“I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalise relations with Vietnam. …”

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said: “John McCain was a man of honour, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and for his steadfast integrity as a member of the United States Senate….”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing”.

Former Vice President Al Gore described “McCain was an American hero and a true patriot. I always admired and respected John from the opposite side of the aisle, because he thrived under pressure, and would work to find common ground, no matter how hard”.

Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate in 2008, said: “Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs.

“John never took the easy path in life – and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self”.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a very close friend of McCain at the senate, said: “America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. ….And I’ve lost one of my dearest friends and mentor”.

Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives also mourned McCain: “He was a patriotic, courageous hero who served his country above all. You will be missed, Senator McCain. May you Rest In Peace”.

Sen. Bernie Sanders tweeted: “As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller – never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare”.

McCain decided to stop treatment for the brain cancer he had been battling for over a year, his family announced on Friday, precipitating a rare moment of bipartisan empathy for the Vietnam war hero

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Female politicians in Ebonyi now have every reason to vie for any elective position of their choice without hindrance as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has resolved to give women aspirants in the 2019 general elections party’s nomination forms free of charge.

The APC Chairman in the state, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, announced this when he declared open the APC Ebonyi women stakeholders meeting in Abakaliki on Sunday.

He noted that the initiative was to encourage more women politicians to get involved in elective political activities.

Nwachukwu urged them to support the emergence of more elected women office holders, and advised those interested to avail themselves of the opportunity to participate.

He commended the women and organisers of the meeting and urged them to make the women’s gathering more regular.

“We are promising that our great party will give out free nomination forms to women aspirants in the forthcoming 2019 general elections in Ebonyi and this is in line with our party’s policy.


“The gesture is to demonstrate that our great party is gender sensitive and also intended to encourage more qualified women to participate actively in elective political positions.

“Women were given free nominations during our congresses and we are going to demonstrate a similar gesture in the election because women have more numerical strength and vote more than men during elections,” Nwachukwu said.

He admonished women to resist all forms of intimidation, monetary inducements and harassment from desperate politicians.

Nwachukwu urged them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and to ensure that they did not sell or exchange them for any price.

The chairman also appealed to the women to guide their children and ensure that they were not used for political thuggery and election violence during the 2019 general elections in the state.

“You must not sell your voter cards because your PVC is your power and legal mandate to make the change we all need.

“Those who are yet to register should go and register, while all who registered but have not obtained the voter cards should go to the INEC local government area offices to collect them,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Convener of the meeting, Mrs Modesta Nwogbaga, said that it was a platform to reach out to women with a view to sensitising them on the need to participate actively in the forthcoming general elections.

Nwogbaga, Coordinator of the 2019 Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Initiative for Ebonyi, said that the meeting provided a forum to engage the women, encourage them to register and collect their PVCs, as well as sensitise them to resist vote selling, intimidation and harassment.

She urged women to participate actively in the political process, adding that the APC-led administration was committed to enhancing the capacity of women in politics.

The convener assured that the party would accord more priority to women in both elective and appointive political positions in 2019.

“Under the APC watch, the capacity and political potential of women politicians are being enhanced and deployed to produce governors, more Senators, House of Representatives members, state legislators and even the president of this country,” Nwogbaga said.

She called for sustained support from Ebonyi women to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to enable the administration continue in its delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

Mrs Nwogbara also urged women to support the emergence of credible candidates under the APC platform for the various elective positions in 2019.

“I urge you to support those who are qualified, credible and electable to emerge as our party’s flagbearers in the forthcoming 2019 elections.

“I plead with my fellow women whose husbands are aspiring but do not have what it takes to win elections, to drop the idea,” she said.

Another chieftain and wife of the former governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2015 elections, Mrs Mary Nkwegu, urged the women party leaders to move into their various wards to educate, sensitise and mobilise grassroots women on the collection of their PVCs.

Nkwegu said that only the PVC could qualify a person to participate in choosing elected leaders.

She advised women to ensure that they voted in large numbers and to ensure that their votes counted in the elections.

The wife of the immediate-past governor of Ebonyi, Mrs Josephine Elechi, urged the women to shun vices that could make them compromise their conscience during the elections.

Elechi called on the women to participate actively in the 2019 electoral processes, including going out to register, collecting their PVCs, as well as voting in the elections.

She warned women to be mindful of politicians allegedly going about collecting voter cards from ‘unsuspecting’ members of the public in exchange for jobs, money and other material gifts.

The former First Lady urged women to utilise their voting strength and vote wisely to elect leaders that would effect positive changes.

Elechi further urged Ebonyi women to ensure that their children and wards were not used for political thuggery, before, during and after the elections.

“I urge you to resist all forms of financial inducements during the 2019 general elections and ensure that you guard your voter cards.

“Do not engage in actions that will hinder the development of the state and mortgage the future of our children and those yet unborn.

“We encourage you to register and obtain your cards to participate in choosing the next representatives,” Elechi said