₦airaland Forum

*Pedro's Claims are frivolous

Pastor Ize-Iyamu said Pedro Obaseki’s claims ”are frivolous and could put him in serious trouble with the law. His first attempt to claim ownership of the SIMPLE agenda, an acronym and manifesto conceived and developed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, was during an interview on Ben TV, believing that he could use the mental strength of another to make himself look good without his knowledge or notice.”

The APC flagbearer in a statement by John Mayaki, Chairman, Edo State APC Media Campaign Council, said: ”Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu had invited Don Pedro Obaseki and a few other persons to a meeting in 2013 in the residence of Mr Osaretin Edosomwan where he shared the SIMPLE agenda idea, a culmination of his thoughts on how to move Edo State forward, and made clear his intention to run for the office of Governor on the manifesto.

The acronym and the driving idea perhaps left a lasting impression on Don Pedro, who would then go on TV to claim it. But when this was brought to the attention of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Pedro Obaseki showed remorse, apologized, and the large-hearted Pastor Ize-Iyamu forgave him for the grievous offence.

As a matter of fact, he held another interview, and several others after that, where he clarified that the idea of the SIMPLE agenda originated from Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Don Pedro Obaseki supported Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s governorship bid in 2016 when he ran with the same manifesto and acronym without a word or contention. His turn-around is without doubt political and a shameful advertisement of his lack of scruples.

Don Pedro Obaseki has not only reduced himself to backing a candidate he vehemently opposed in 2016, but he is also now offering himself as a tool for hatchet jobs and baseless propaganda without minding what it would do to his name and what is left of his integrity.”

THE Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has said APC governors will mobilise for the victory of the party’s governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in the coming election.

He was responding to questions on APC’s chances in the coming polls in Edo and Ondo states.

Bagudu hoped that the party would emerge victorious in the elections following the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He debunked insinuation that six APC governors were planning to leave the party, saying all elected public officials under the party believed in its ideology.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has traced some property suspected to be from proceeds of fraud to former Abia governor, Sen. Theodore Orji.

Spokesperson of the commission, Mr Dele Oyewale disclosed this on Thursday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

Oyewale said the property which were sealed in Umuahia, the state capital on June 24, 2020 were traced to the former governor in the course of ongoing investigations of Orji’s alleged financial malfeasance.

Recall that the property sealed by the EFCC included, the Abia Mall which accommodates ShopRite and other business entities, Benac Hotels opposite Broadcasting Corporation of Abia.

Also sealed was a housing estate situated at former Umuahia Main Market.

“Our investigations show that the property belongs to Theodore Orji and as part of the investigations, we have to seal them. That is exactly what we have done,” he said.

Oyewale said that investigations into the alleged financial fraud perpetrated by the former governor was ongoing, adding that the suspect would be charged to court in due time.

“We cannot give a time frame within which to charge him to court because our investigations are always thorough and very diligent,” he said.

The EFCC spokesperson said that the commission usually collaborated with and relies on information from relevant agencies during its investigations.

“The sealed property are proof of the ongoing investigations and the probe will determine if more will be sealed,” Oyewale said.

Sen. Orji, who represents Abia Central Senatorial zone in the National Assembly, was Abia governor between 2007 and 2015.

He had been under investigation by the anti-graft agency since 2018 for allegedly misappropriating over N48 billion.

This followed a petition by a group, Fight Corruption: Save Nigeria Group.

The Youth and Women wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo chapter, on Saturday kicked against the waiver granted Gov. Godwin Obaseki by the national leadership of the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the waiver was to enable the governor who just defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state into the main opposition PDP on Friday to contest in the party’s primary scheduled for Tuesday.

The youths under the auspices of PDP Youths for Justice, stated thier opposition in a press statement made available to newsmen in Benin.

The coordinator of the youth group, Musa Kadiri, warned the party leadership to reward loyalty instead of looking for opportunities.

Kadiri said the three aspirants; Ken Imasuagbon, Gideon Ikhine and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, besides Obaseki, were capable of defeating any candidate the APC would present.

Kadiri stated that the PDP might witness implosion if Obaseki was given the ticket on a platter of gold.

“We, the youths on ground in Edo know that the PDP has positioned itself to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“We do not need Obaseki who is chased out of the APC based on questionable credentials.”

Similarly the women wing of the party in Egor Local Government led by Mrs Imuwahen Osasu, said the Edo PDP did not need Obaseki.

They noted that the Edo governorship election slated for Sept. 19, provided another opportunity to reward those that have been loyal to the party for over 12 years that the party have been out of power in the state.

Meanwhile, some chieftains of the PDP in Edo Central senatorial district have backed the aspiration of Mr Kenneth Imasuangbon popularly known as ‘Rice Man’ to clinch the ticket of the party at the party primaries scheduled for June 23.

NAN reports that Imasuagbon had refused pressure to step down from the race for Obaseki.

The Edo Central PDP chieftains in a press statement said their support for Imasuangbon was based on the need for the party to reward loyalty and commitment.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP chieftains from the five local government areas in Edo Central, Mr Solomon Eboigbe, urged Imasuagbon not to accept any offer to step down from the race.

Eboigbe said they have consulted widely across the state and the verdict from the people was the choice of Imasuangbon as their preferred candidate.

Malami Writes President, Seeks Removal of Magu

*Accuses EFCC boss of diversion of recovered loot, insubordination
*Says Magu reckless, liability to anti-corruption war

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari the sacking of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

Malami, in a memorandum to the president, anchored his recommendation on several grounds “raging from diversion of recovered loot to insubordination and misconduct” by Magu, THISDAY has learnt.

Multiple sources told THISDAY yesterday that Malami included a short list of three candidates for consideration to replace Magu.

But Magu is fighting back and his supporters within the Presidency say ” removing Magu at this time when he has given muscle to Buhari’s anti-corruption fight would be a mistake.”

“It is painful that the EFCC boss is facing certain powerful forces who have decided to remove him in spite of his remarkable achievements,” sources stated.

But sources said given the weight of Malami’s allegations against Magu, the president may be inclined “to set up a probe panel that will look into the veracity of the allegations and make necessary recommendations.”

One of the sources told select journalists that “I can authoritatively tell you that though Magu has survived previous plots to remove him, the AGF’s legal opinion remains the deadliest plot to get Magu out of the EFCC as AGF’s letter to the president contained 22 weighty allegations that require Buhari’s decision on whether or not to send Magu’s name to the Senate for confirmation or replace him….. This is because the office of the AGF is the supervising ministry of the EFCC and so his legal opinion cannot be treated with levity.

“For example, Malami alleged accounting gaps or discrepancies of figures concerning the recovered assets, claiming that Magu was not transparent enough in the management of recovered assets…”

A Magu supporter said:” It will interest you to note that Malami accused the EFCC boss of disclosing a total naira recovery of N504 billion but lodged N543 billion in the Recovery Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Incidentally, this exceeded the disclosed figures by N39 billion.”

According to the supporter of the EFCC boss, what should be a point of commendation is now being used against Magu.

Others said: “Malami also accused Magu of blatant display of arrogance and insubordination to him as supervising minister of the EFCC.”

According to the source, Malami claimed that most of the recovered assets by the EFCC were allegedly sold by Magu without the knowledge of anyone.

“But it is unfortunate that this claim is at variance with the public auction of assets by the EFCC,“ the source added.

It will be recalled that many efforts have been made in the past to make the president to drop Magu, since his appointment as EFCC acting chairman on November 9, 2015.

The plot for his removal twice stalled his confirmation by the Eighth Senate, prompting him to remain the interim head of the nation’s foremost anti-graft agency.

However, when the presidency insisted on Magu being confirmed, the previous Senate demanded the reversal of a damning security report on the EFCC boss from the Department of State Services (DSS), which it had cited as the reason for his non-confirmation.


Many groups and individuals had also gone to court to challenge the continued stay of Magu as the acting chairman of the commission.

But Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a judgment delivered in 2019 over consolidated suits on Magu status, had held that there was no time limit in the law establishing the commission for him to act as the EFCC boss.

The judge further held that Buhari is holding the proverbial “yam and knife” on Magu, adding that the president should do the needful by sending the name of Magu to the Senate for confirmation.

National Vice Chairman, Northeast of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Comrade Mustapha Salihu has dissociated himself from a court order directing him to take over as National Secretary of the party.

The court order dated June 16, 2020, was purportedly obtained at the FCT High Court sitting at Maitama and presided over by Justice S. U Bature.

The motion ex-parte with number FCT/HC/M/7707/2020 was supported by an affidavit sworn by one Obinna Ugwu.

The order which had Comrade Salihu as the purported applicant granted the interim order that he should act as National Secretary pending “the decision of a validly convened National Executive Committee, NEC or pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed, whichever comes first.”

Salihu in a swift reaction said he was not a party to it, explaining that there was no way he could have been part of the court processes when he was at a meeting of the party’s stakeholders from the Northeast where the decision was reached to nominate and endorse Arc. Waziri Bulama as the acting National Secretary of the party.

He said; “My zone, the North East has already nominated Architect Waziri Bulama in the presence of the Senate President, APC governors from the zone and other party stakeholders as the acting National Secretary. I was at the meeting where this decision was reached. So, why would I now go back to obtain a court order to act as National Secretary?

“I was not part of such shenanigans. It is not in my character to play such dirty politics and I condemn in strong terms those behind the act. At a time like this when the party is going through trying times, it is such a time that all lovers of the party must pull together to keep the party together.

Those joined in the said application as defendants are the National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala, National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the acting National Secretary and the APC, Arc. Waziri Bulama.

He roams the land, seeking a party, seeking a mandate, seeking support, and aware that his support base tricked him into thinking he was invisible. He is going the way of many legacy-lacking ex-governors before him. He is outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, and here is an account of the most likely things running through his mind.

He is desperate for a second term, has never been loyal, but needs to find a party fast. Having won the 2016 elections as the dark horse of the APC, he quickly shed off his pretence to amiability and revealed himself a fanged, falsely technocratic creature, who had taken advantage of the party’s desire for continuity in its developmental strides, to win the elections. Immediately he found himself in Osadebe Avenue, Obaseki banished party members from his presence, attacked their sources of livelihood, and traipsed about the state carelessly uttering all sorts of unwise and unprovoked untruths.

He joined every conspiracy in the book to bring down the party that brought him to power. His desperation became manifest from the middle of last year when he would one minute prostrate before anyone he thought could save his fading popularity and the next minute he would bare his fangs and snarl threats at them while he sent demolished properties.

Now, he has been disgraced and has exited the party with his tail between his legs. He truly hates the party, but he has hidden it all behind his confrontation with the national chairman.

He announced himself as lacking character and judgment when he recklessly began to hide behind altruistic purposes to carry out all sorts of monstrous, tyrannical and undemocratic profanities. The most recent badge of his deceit probably sits as the ill-conceived gazette seeking to protect the state from the rampaging coronavirus pandemic.

To the governor, who has not been paying attention to the news, the scourge can only be transmitted at political rallies in the different wards; not at market places, not at the offices where people work, and certainly not at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Worse still for what character can be deduced from his behaviour, he thinks himself very much above the people. The Governor has displayed an irreconcilable aversion to wisdom and the candour of a toddler in his method of governance. He adopts an aloof mien and cannot speak the language of the people. Everyone is human capital to him and he will expend anyone to achieve his wishes. For now, all the people around him are useless to his desires.

What happens to his deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu when he eventually and traitorously heads to another party? The equally miscalculating deputy governor had, earlier in February, reeled out a list of conditions to Adams Oshiomhole for reconciliation with the now-embattled governor.

He may be a valiant henchman but what Obaseki needs now is not a henchman. It is a party, so Phillip Shaibu, who had loyally severed all ties with the APC, following the steps of Obaseki, would have to find himself a new home. It has been a good run of thuggery, as well as economic and political banditry, but all bad things must come to an end.

For his hired supporters, he has paid them and they have not delivered. He contracted them to infiltrate the good people of Edo State and deceive them with all manners of trickery and ploys. He put them under the command of his lieutenant of untruths, the flailing Osarodion Ogie and Crusoe Osagie.

So far, it has been a monumentally failed investment. The hired supporters have got their pay, but they may not have earned it. They still defile the social media, yelping with fading strengths, “4+4”. However, they have no conviction. How can they? Their principal himself has no conviction.

This principal knows that parties win elections. He has no party that can win an election, and a governor cannot remain in office without a party. It is a basic prerequisite to being a governor according to Section 179 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Obaseki needs to act fast and join a party before he loses legal validity as a governor, but who will take in a man who cannot win?

*Prof. Idemudia Oviosun, is a consultant and expert in Leadership, Management, and Strategy

kahal29:
Front page

Igbochief001:
Firstly it's not possible to ask a governor to explain how they spent security vote

This story is fualty

AhoadaRivers:
T. A Orji and his son Chinedum should spend the rest of their lives in prison.

If that is the only project buhari will execute in the East, we'll thank the lord.