openmine:

Does party affiliation influence a governor leadership quality?

Help me ask the idiot if there’s any good thing that comes out of APC.

Human best friend

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has finally been issued a visa to the United States, TheCable can report.

A family source disclosed this to TheCable on Saturday and confirmed that the former vice-president has left Nigeria for the UK, where he will spend some time before flying to the US.

TheCable also understands that former president Olusegun Obasanjo played a “critical” role in getting the American government to issue the visa to his former deputy with whom he was estranged for almost 15 years.

The trip marks another chapter in the controversy that has rocked the former vice-president for over a decade.

Atiku, who is widely travelled, has not been to the US in 13 years, intially fueling speculations that he might be avoiding possible arrest or prosecution.

His political opponents had used his absence from the US not just to taunt but to discredit him.

His row with the US authorities began after the FBI investigated a bribery scandal involving William Jefferson, former US congressman, in 2004.

Atiku was accused of demanding a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to two American telecommunication firms in Nigeria.

The FBI had searched his residence in the posh neighbourhood of Potomac, Maryland, but no money was found.

The investigators had videotaped Jefferson, who was the congressman representing Louisiana, receiving $100,000 worth of $100 bills which he claimed was meant for Atiku, but the former vice-president has consistently denied the allegation.

Despite Atiku’s claim to innocence, the controversy raged.

Two months before he declared interest in the 2019 presidential race, Atiku granted an interview to Dele Mommodu, celebrity journalist, where he clarified his absence from the US.

“It is the sole prerogative of America to determine who they want in their country or not,” he said.

“I’m not running away from America. I applied but wasn’t issued a visa.”

He said the US did not categorically deny him visa.

“They’ve only said my application is going through administrative process,” he said.

On Thursday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had warned the US to be cautious in granting visa to the main opponent of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Asked to comment on Atiku’s visa status on Friday, Rusell Brooks, spokesman of the US consulate in Lagos, had said issuance of visa to Nigerians irrespective of their status is strictly a confidential matter.

He said the US government would not discuss such confidentiality in public.

Some All Progressives Congress (APC) members had alleged that Brian Ballard, publicist of US President Donald Trump, was working towards relaxing the visa ban on Atiku.

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-atiku-finally-gets-us-visa-jets-out-of-nigeria/amp

Pic 1: Nigerian Newspapers when @MBuhari launched his #NextLevel campaign.

Pic 2: Nigerian newspapers the morning after 100 Nigerian soldiers were overpowered and killed by Boko Haram.

I will call it: THERE IS A #NigerianMediaBlackout ON THE STATE OF THE NATION.

THIS IS SCARY!

Oladimeji Ramon

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot legally double as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The court made the declaration on Thursday while giving judgment in a suit filed last year by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

Agbakoba had, in the suit, urged the court to restrain Buhari from continuing to hold the office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The SAN had contended that Section 138 of the 1999 Constitution forbids the President from “holding any other executive office or paid employment.”

In a statement on Friday by his office, Agbakoba said the court in deciding the case held that Buhari had not violated Section 138, since he is not directly in charge of the day-to-day running of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The court, according to the statement, said there would have been a violation if Buhari had not appointed someone else – Dr. Ibe Kachikwu – to oversee the day-to-day running of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The court explained that the phrase “hold” in Section 138 of the constitution “meant to preside, act, to possess, occupy or conduct the actual day to day running of the office.”

“Merely proclaiming/announcing that he (the President) was the Minister of Petroleum is not enough to conclude that he holds the office of minister,” the court reportedly declared.

In the suit, Agbakoba had said as a legal practitioner with 40 years experience and having checked the Constitution, he was convinced that “Buhari cannot legally hold the office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources” and thus urged the court to sack him.

He contended that Buhari was not screened for the ministerial job by the Senate as required by the constitution.

He urged the court to determine “whether, by virtue of Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution, the President can hold the office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, without confirmation by the Senate of the National Assembly?”

In a 14-paragraph affidavit, which he personally deposed to in support of his suit, Agbakoba explained that the lawsuit was informed by the recent management crisis which engulfed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, on account of disagreements between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC.

“I verily believe that the governance chaos in the NNPC could not have occurred if the President is not also the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

“I am aware that the NNPC provides up to 90 per cent of the revenue accruing to Nigeria.”

https://punchng.com/buhari-cant-double-as-petroleum-minister-court/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

A 15-year-old boy, who hacked his 22-year-old brother to death with a machete has been arrested.

The teenager allegedly attacked his older brother after an argument over cattle, reports iHarare.

It was reported that the parents of the two tried to hide the crime by secretly burying the deceased without notifying the authorities.

However, someone, who knew about the incident tipped off the police. This led to the arrest of the teenager.

According to the police, the two got into an altercation after the younger brother refused to go and fetch their grazing cattle.

This resulted in the older brother beating him with a switch. Not happy, with the way he had been treated, the younger brother went and armed himself with a machete and struck his older brother twice while he was unaware.

The brother died two days later as a result of the injuries at the hospital.

Masvingo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said, “I can confirm receiving a report of murder involving a juvenile who killed his brother with a machete over fetching cattle from the grazing area. The boy has since been arrested and will appear in court soon facing a murder charge.

“We urge members of the public to report cases of attempted murder or any assaults to police. In this case, the police only knew about the case after the body of the deceased was buried. We also urge them to rush the injured ones to hospital, to avoid loss of life.”

https://www.today.ng/news/africa/parents-protect-15-year-allegedly-killed-brother-171006/amp?__twitter_impression=true

I can see APC is running mad again

Anyone who has plans of travelling around and out of the country might be unable to do so come Tuesday, November 6th as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has declared its intention to join in the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress over FG's refusal to meet its minimum wage demand.



Talks on a new wage have reached deadlock after state governors said they couldn't guarantee the payment of N30,000 wage to workers. A court had ruled on Friday that the strike be cancelled, as it would jeopardize citizens' livelihood. But the NLC insists it is well within the ambit of the law to embark on the strike.



FAAN said in a statement it was standing with the labour union, and will shut down operations in compliance with the nationwide strike.



"All airlines operating in/out of Nigeria Airports shall be affected by this industrial action. We appeal to your good sense of understanding in this regard," the organisation said in a bulletin to its workers.

https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2018/11/all-airlines-operating-in-and-out-of-nigeria-airports-will-be-affected-as-faan-declares-its-intention-to-joi

-the-nationwide-strike-declared-by-nlc.html

The conversation gets interesting. See more screenshots from their chat below..

A Federal High Court siting at Abuja and presided over by Hon. Justice A.I. Chikere, today ordered Bishop Ochei to serve EFCC and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with his application to issue an order of Mandamus on EFCC to arrest and investigate Adams Oshiomhole upon allegations of corruption made by Bishop Ochei, within 5 days from 9th October, 2018.

Bishop Ochei’s lawyer, Dr. West-Idahosa while arguing a Motion Ex-Parte filed in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/628/ 2018 urged the Court to allow the Redpondents file a reply to the weighty allegations made against them by the Applicant in support of the Federal Government’s fight against corruption.

He referred the court to 86 exhibits filed in Court by the Applicant in support of his application. He also relied on several Orders of the Federal High Rules, Sections 15 & 24 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The case has been adjourned to 23rd October, 2018 for arguments from all the parties.

http://www.afemaireporter.com/breaking-court-order-efcc-to-arrest-investigate-oshiomole/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Amosun here we come. Godfatherism won’t work in ogun state, Ask Obasanja and Gbenga daniel..

The meeting was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Of the 40 members of the House, 36 were present and they all endorsed the decision and duly signed the follow-up statement.



The support base for Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a governorship aspirant seeking to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has increased, with the annoucement by 36 of the 40 Lagos State House of Assembly members on Saturday that they were behind him.

According to a statement by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Honourable (Princess) Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, the decision was taken at a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium of the House on Saturday.

The meeting was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Of the 40 members of the House, 36 were present and they all endorsed the decision and duly signed the follow-up statement.

The lawmakers stated that they were in agreement with the leadership of the party and the Governor's Advisory Council (GAC), which had earlier endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the governorship ticket.

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru


PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that his election victory in 2015 was made possible by the ordinary people in the society and boasted that even pregnant women in labour will deliver and still rush to vote for him.

He has also accused the elites of turning blind eyes to the alleged looting that took place in sixteen years the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, was in control of the federal government.

Speaking while interacting with Nigerian community in the United States of America, on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Buhari said if re-elected in the 2019 election, to spend another four years, “I will leave some difference in that office.”
He expressed regret that the elites allowed Nigeria to be mismanaged for 16 years of PDP rule, without raising a voice in consternation.

He stated that “Under the PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund, of which he was Chairman), we did roads from Lagos to Abuja, to Onitsha, to Port Harcourt. Since then, the roads were not done, between 1999 and 2015, yet the elite did not say a word.

“I was called Baba Go Slow. Those who were going fast, where did they get to?

“In 1983, military officers gathered, and made me Head of State. I packed the politicians into jail, told them they were guilty until they could prove their innocence. We seized what they had looted, but after I myself was put in detention, the politicians were given back what they had looted. How many elite complained about that?

“Three times I contested elections; three times I went to court after the elections were rigged against me. No justice, but I said ‘God dey.’

“It was mainly the ordinary people that stood by me. That is why I am always conscious of them. They are my constituency. Even pregnant women on the queue would fall into labour, go to have their babies, and still come back to vote for me. I will keep doing my best for the country.”

The diaspora Nigerians, in their scores, are top flight professionals, drawn from fields like medicine, engineering, sports, the arts, investment, academia, politics, agriculture, transport, education, publishing, and many others. Most expressed the wish to come back home, and contribute to the change making a headway in Nigeria. To which the President replied:

“You are contributing to this great country (America). If you want to help back home, invest in education in your constituencies. If you educate people, they won’t then accept nonsense from anybody.”

President Buhari in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Chief Femi Adesina, said the administration he leads has by and large kept faith with its three key campaign promises; to secure the country, revive the economy and fight corruption.

He said, “I have tried to do my best since I came,” adding: “Security-wise, we are better. Boko Haram still conducts cowardly attacks, but the insurgency is not the same as it used to be. They are terrorists, and have nothing to do with religion. We will continue to deal with them. Ask people in the North-east, especially in Borno State, they will tell you they can sleep with two eyes closed now.”

The parley was put together by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters, and the Nigerian professionals were drawn from different parts of the United States and Canada. Representatives of USA chapters of Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) also presented awards to President Buhari in appreciation of his performance, urging him to do more.

Meanwhile, President Buhari, in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday in New York, received briefing from the President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Brou.

The President was brought up to speed with developments in Guinea Bissau, which should hold elections soon; Togo, where constitutional reforms are in place, and which would hold parliamentary elections on December 20; as well as Mali, where the situation is still fragile, despite concluding presidential polls recently.

President Buhari commended the work being done by ECOWAS Commission, noting that “it is always better to talk and resolve issues, rather than be confrontational.” He added: “If you represent a people, you won’t like to see them suffering.”

He pledged that Nigeria would always live up to its financial commitments to the sub-regional body, “since we don’t want to be big for nothing. We will always look for the money.”

President Buhari approved that Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, joined the President of ECOWAS Commission on a special mission to deepen the peace process in Mali.

@vanguardngr.com

"I charge the Governor-elect to always remember that the people of Osun State expect complete dedication and commitment to governance that will improve their lives and build on the legacy of the outgoing Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola," Buhari said.



President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Gboyega Oyetola, Governor-elect of Osun State, to build on the legacy of the present administration led by Rauf Aregbesola.

This was contained in his congratulatory message to Oyetola, on Friday.

He thanked Osun people for supporting the "good governance agenda" of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by ensuring the party's victory at the poll.

Buhari also urged those who disagreed with the outcome of the election to "seek redress in court".

The statement was contained in a tweet on the president's handle that read: "I congratulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Governor-Elect of Osun State, Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola. Thank you Osun State for supporting our good governance agenda by re-electing the APC. We will continue to work for you, and for the entire country.

"I charge the Governor-elect to always remember that the people of Osun State expect complete dedication and commitment to governance that will improve their lives and build on the legacy of the outgoing Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

"I also commend the maturity, loyalty and courage of all the contestants. Everyone put in their best to be elected to serve Osun State. I urge all those who disagree with the outcome to take advantage of the judicial process and seek redress in court."

Despite pressure from the federal government, the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC), yesterday insisted on commencing a nationwide strike to demand a quick implementation of a new minimum wage for workers in the country. There is palpable fear in the land that baring any last minute change of plan, the industrial action may ground government and other business activities across the country. As at last night, motorists and other consumers of petroleum products across the country involved themselves in panic buying of the products for fear of the strike action by organised labour. Fueling the apprehension, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, told journalists at a press briefing yesterday that public offices, schools, banks and other places of work are expected to comply with the strike action, which is bound to shutdown the economy. According to Wabba, it became obvious that the government did not intend to keep its promise of implementing a new minimum wage for workers.
He pointed out that the industrial action became the last resort following federal government’s refusal to reconvene the meeting of the tripartite national minimum wage committee to enable it conclude its work.

He said, ” The action is in compliance with the decision of the various organs of the organised labour which endorsed the 14-day ultimatum served on the federal government by members of the Organised Labour who are members of the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage. “The Labour organs further mandated their leadership to take all necessary steps, including a warning strike in the first instance to compel the government to reconvene the meeting of the Committee in order to bring it to a logical conclusion. In compliance with this mandate, all workers in the public and private sectors at all levels across the country have been directed to comply”. Noting that economic activities, both in the private and public sectors, will be grounded today, Wabba said, “Industrial unions, state councils, all worker organistions and our civil society allies have been directed to step up mobilization of their members.
“All public and private institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business premises including filling stations are to remain shut till further notice.
“All those who mean well for this country are to see to the success of this action. Further more, this action is to remain in force until further directives are given”.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the national minimum wage committee, which was inaugurated in November 2017, had commenced work in March 2018 with timelines to deliver on its mandate of arriving at a new national minimum wage between August and September 2018.



The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, had in February this year during the 40th anniversary celebration of the NLC, assured workers that they would have a new minimum wage in September. The NLC president said the claims by state governors that they cannot pay salary is due to high level of corruption, excessive cost of governance, indulgence in obscene lifestyle, white elephant projects and not lack of funds. He said, “Indeed, government ought to have commended workers and their unions for waiting patiently for two years before commencing negotiations for a new National Minimum Wage. We advise that our disposition should not be taken for granted.
Meanwhile, the federal government yesterday said the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage will reconvene its meeting on October 4 to conclude its negotiation process.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige said this while addressing journalists after a closed meeting with the leadership of organised labour.
The minister earlier met with organised labour leaders who were also part of the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage to update them on government decision.
“One of the ways that we going to show it is by implementing the new national minimum wage and this we need to fix a base for the lowest paid worker in Nigeria. We are resuming next week, precisely on Thursday, October 4, and the meeting may spillover to October 5, as we normally use two days for the meeting. So, we are reconvening the meeting on the October 4, and all the process have being put in place”, he said.

The minister noted that the Labour leaders have been informed about it and are expected to communicate to their members that there is no need to embark on the strike action.
He assured organised labour that before the meeting on the October 4, the necessary demands by organised labour would have being factored in.
The minister said, “Part of our consultation means that the Economic Management Team, which is managing the entire economy of the country, would have something to work on.
“Already, they are working on it together with the National Salaries and Wages Commission and it is expected that before that meeting on October 4, they would have been through with the work. Everything is subject to negotiation. So, on Thursday October 4, we are going back to the negotiating table”.
Ngige added that the 14-day ultimatum issued the federal government did not get to him otherwise he would have addressed it scientifically the way it should be done.
He also said that federal government was optimistic that the committee would wrap up in October and all other processes pertaining the new national minimum wage for workers in the country.

NNPC Cautions Against Panic Buying Of Fuel
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday appealed to motorists and other consumers of petroleum products across the country not to engage in panic buying of the products for fear of the planned industrial action by organised labour.
The group managing director of the Corporation, Dr Maikanti Baru, said the federal government is seriously engaging the NLC and other labour unions on the issues raised.
In a statement he issued in Abuja yesterday, NNPC group general manager, group public affairs division, Ndu Ughamadu, quoted the NNPC GMD as affirming that the nation has 37-day self-sufficiency in petroleum premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol.
According to the statement, Baru assured that all the NNPC depots across the country, including the private ones engaged by the corporation on throughput basis, have an abundance of petroleum products to meet the needs of Nigerians.
He said all NNPC depot managers have been instructed to intensify products loading and other activities in their depots to avert any fallout of developments in respect of the NLC’s proposed strike.
Baru explained that the NNPC would continue to meet the products consumption needs of all Nigerians wherever they may be within the shores of the country.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/minimum-wage-labour-adamant-begins.html

The Ogun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it will adopt the indirect mode of primary election for all elective posts, where consensus arrangement becomes impracticable.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Expanded Executive Committee of the party, held on Thursday, at the MTR Hall, Ibara, Abeokuta, that the resolution superseded the earlier agreement reached on September 5th.

The document signed by the State Party chairman, Chief Derin Adebiyi, had it that this new arrangement was done following a memo received from the National Working Committee of the party on the mode of primaries for the 2019 general elections.

TribuneOnline recalled that the party had earlier picked 39 candidates for all elective posts, however, many other aspirants of the party had gone ahead to buy Expression of Interest and Nomination forms as against the purported consensus method.

Adebiyi said the Constitution of the party for the nomination of candidates for the elections as regards direct primaries contained copious and stringent pre-conditions for the exercise, hence the resolve of the party to adopt indirect primaries where consensus fails.

He highlighted availability of updated membership register, reliable means of identification of genuine party members, extensive arrangements for crowd control and public order and safety as some of the factors that might hinder the direct primary mode.

The party chairman also said that there are fake membership cards all over the state.

The communique reads,” the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State is that the party shall adopt consensus, and, where that be impracticable, indirect mode of primary elections shall be used for the purpose of the 2019 general elections.”

#Credit - @todayng

Lalalalalalala food is ready

...the Steve Ayorinde; Lebanese contractor, Delkash Farez and UK Firm Connections

Our Senior Correspondent, Olalekan Smart, in this eye-opening investigative piece, writes on the crisis of confidence currently plaguing the bond between the man referred to as Governor Emeritus of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the incumbent Governor of the state, Akinwumi Ambode, stressing that unknown to many, the hullaballoo in their associations might not be unconnected to a multi-billion naira contract for the procurement of OB Van and numerous transmission gadgets for Lagos State Television (LTV) and other sundry issues;

THE EMERGENCE OF AMBODE

Like a thunder strike sounds in the midst of fun seekers, most Lagosians were shocked to their marrow when sometime in early 2014, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, declared that Akinwumi Ambode, a certified Chattered Accountant from Epe would succeed the then Governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN.

“The Eleko of Eko is joking, who is he to tell us who would be the candidate of our party?”, Sikiru Olorunwa, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ajeromi Ifeolodun Local Government Area of the state told this writer at a function while reacting to the endorsement of Ambode by Akinolu.

As a reporter who has been in the political cycle of Lagos for over two decades, i knew Akinolu was speaking on behalf of Tinubu, his man-Friday but many people took the endorsement of Ambode, a totally unknown character in the political firmament of the state as a normal error of judgment from the former police officer.

Day by day, the name Ambode began to ring bell. Those who could read the game well began to align. Two weeks after Akinolu’s declaration, Ambode declared his ambition. Fashola, considering the egghead of politicians interested in his seat, never took Ambode serious.

After many twist and turns, Tinubu, the man who own the political machinery of Lagos, in July 2014 formally informed Fashola of his intention to back Ambode in the presence of Oba Akinolu. The dumb-folded Fashola, according to reliable sources, was said to have left the meeting without uttering a word.

“Ambode is from Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, he can’t be Governor of Lagos”, Fashola’s men in the media fired back through invincible proxies, but the story failed to have effect.

“Why Ambode, the man sacked for multibillion naira fraud by Fashola in 2012” Fashola’s men queried in disappointment but they lacked the charisma to confront Tinubu, the man whose through structure they all rode to political stardom.

After the intra-party opposition against Ambode collapsed, the competition from the popular and acceptable candidate of the then Nigeria’s ruling party, Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) was not enough to stop the emergence of Ambode as the 5rd democratically elected Governor of the state on May 29th 2015.

A LOYAL AND DUTIFUL GODSON

Since his day of inauguration till few weeks ago, Ambode, like Fashola, takes instructions on every developmental policy from Tinubu. All the 40-member state executive council were singlehandedly handpicked by Tinubu and handed to Ambode to swear in. The 57 council chairmen, board members of commissions and parastatals, including permanent secretaries and directors were appointed by Tinubu for Ambode.

All major contracts approved by the state executive council were drafted by consultants working for Tinubu for Ambode to sign. I can say very expressly that no road is awarded in Lagos State without the blessing of Tinubu.

THE OB VAN SCAM....THE BEGINING

And many times without number, the Governor emeritus with his house situated at 1, Bourdillion Road, Ikoyi, had overruled several contracts awarded by Ambode without his blessing among them is the procurement of an OB VAN worth N1.5billion and Cameras worth N900million for Lagos State owned Television, LTV aimed towards improving its services and coverage.

However, when Tinubu got the hint of the contract through a top Director in LTV (name withheld), he was said to have put a phone call to Ambode that the contract be suspended the pending further instruction from him but Ambode, backed by a cabal led by his Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, who is now in-charge of Ministry of Art and Tourism, urged the governor to ignore Tinubu, a decision which he (Ambode) indeed took and proceeded to award the contract against the instruction of his godfather.

Like a usual African godfather, Tinubu wasn’t pleased that his ordered was rebuffed but he overlooked the contract which he had thought would be executed by an Ondo man who served him when he was Governor.

However, month after months and after two years the contract was awarded, the OB VAN, is yet to be delivered while the Cameras, though delivered, falls below expectation and failed due process and quality and assurance control integrity test.

STEVE AYORINDE’S CONNECTION WITH THE FRAUD

The contractor, a Lebanese hired to supply the OB VAN by the Steve Ayorinde led Cabal of the information unit of the state government, according to reliable sources, was paid 50% upfront to purchase the OB VAN, Cameras and other gadgets from a British Firm called Excellence Transmission Inc Limited based in Manchester, United Kingdom with an agreement to complete the payment within six months after payment of first instalment.

The OB VAN, according to the agreement paper signed between Excellence Transmission Inc Limited and LTV, was expected to be released upon completion of payment by Lagos State Government. Out of Two Billion Four Hundred Million Naira (N2.4billion), a sum of One Billion, two hundred million naira (N1.2billion) which was 50% of the contract sum was released on the order of Ambode.

However, while 50% of the Cameras were released, the OB VAN was not released until full payment is made as agreed. Meanwhile, the cameras, upon delivery were confirmed to be substandard and fell below standard, contradicting the sole purpose which the cameras were bought.

The existing cameras of the station were said to be of higher quality than the ones supplied from England. Two Directors from the station, backed by Tinubu were said to have refused to sign the due process paper confirming that the cameras were delivered as agreed in the contract paper.

The refusal of these two Directors of LTV, whose name was concealed by this writer, was said to have angered the governor who ordered their transfer out of LTV. New Directors were posted to LTV to sign the due process paper for the cameras which are currently rusting away at the station situated along Agindigbi road, Ikeja.

Three months after the resumption of the two directors posted to cover the fraud at LTV, another set of senior staff jointly wrote a memo to Steve Ayorinde, asking for the where-about of the remaining cameras and when the OB VAN would be delivered.

Ayorinde, according to insiders, rushed to the governor to show him the memo containing some scratching remarks which goes as thus “Sir, the rest of the cameras were ought to have been delivered two months ago with our OB VAN but despite several letters written, no response from Mr. Delkash Farez, the Lebanese hired by your office to purchase the gadgets on behalf of our station”, a paragraph in the memo from five top staff of LTV sighted by this writer to Ayorinde, reads.

“What an effrontery”! Ambode said upon reading the memo, wondering who gave the memo-writing LTV staff the audacity to question his action. But upon investigation by Ambode, the LTV staff were said to enjoy the support of Tinubu which prompted the governor to again, transfer them out of the station.

When the hues refused to die down as rumours against Ayorinde led cabal continued to boom like wave of ocean within Alausa, Governor Ambode redeployed his image maker to Art and Tourism Ministry. As expected, the hullabaloo about the OB VAN and camera contract scam reduced but failed to die down as envisaged by the Governor.

N1.2BILLION WENT DOWN THE DRAIN

N1.2billion deposit out of N2.4billion was paid to Delkash Farez, a Lebanese to procure an OB VAN, 25 Cameras and other transmission gadgets for Lagos Television from Excellence Transmission Inc Limited based in Manchester, United Kingdom. However, while cameras and transmission equipments not worth more than N50million were supplied, the OB VAN, over two years after 50% deposit were made, has not been delivered.

Over One Billion Naira of Tax Payers’ Money went down the drain, Tinubu queried but the interest of the masses may not be the cause of Tinubu’s anger if not for the fact that the contract was awarded against his wish yet, OB VAN was not supplied and substandard cameras were delivered.

TINUBU TO AMBODE: PROVIDE OB VAN OR FORGET SECOND TERM

Acting on a petition secretly forwarded to him by some concerned staff of LTV recently, Ambode was told by Tinubu to explain the situation of the OB VAN which he had planned to use at his (Tinubu) owned private broadcast station, Television Continental (TVC) for LIVE transmission of political rallies for commercial purpose ahead of 2019 general elections.

An angry Tinubu, without mincing word, was said to have listed several blunders and steps Ambode had taken to undermine his authority such as the termination of refuse collector contract to party chieftains to hire the obviously in-efficient VisionScape Concept to the LTV contract scam, Tinubu warned the governor to provide the OB VAN before July 2018 or forget his 2019 second term ambition.

AMBODE: HOW WE WERE SCAMMED BY LEBANESE’ DELKASH FAREZ

But Ambode, in his response to Tinubu explained that the Lebanese hired to represent LTV before the British Company manufacturing the OB VAN has disappeared to the thin of air and all efforts made thus far through the Lebanese embassy in Lagos and Abuja to locate him have proven impossible, an excuse that failed to convince Tinubu.

Ambode, on the advice of his think-tank group led by Ayorinde, in a move to outsmart their godfather, concluded to push Tinubu into defence, hence the recent petition written by a former ally of Tinubu, Mr. Tunji Apara to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the activities of a tax consulting firm, Alpha Beta, said to be owned by the former Lagos State Governor in the state since 2003.

OB VAN AND THE INVICIBLE DELKASH FAREZ

Nonetheless the rebuttal of Ambode, this writer gathered from very reliable sources that the OB VAN was purposely designed to fail by the governor and his boys. The Lebanese was instructed by Steve Ayorinde to disappear from Nigeria until the dust is settled.

According to the contract paper between LTV and Excellence Transmission Inc Limited, the payment must be completed within six months, failure which the company would entertain offers from other interested buyers.

And 15 months after 50% payment (65% higher than the value price) was released by government and money transferred to UK, LTV failed to pay the balance.

But the UK firm, when lobbied by some staff of LTV said the market price of the OB VAN compared to when Lagos State Government paid 50% had gone higher, thus, government would have to pay more to get a VAN equivalent to the one initially ordered for as the original van paid for has been sold to a Television Station in Malaysia when Lagos State Government failed to pay the balance as agreed in the contract paper.

A check at the 2017 appropriation of Lagos state however showed that the balance of the OB VAN whose initial deposit was captured in 2016 budget, has been released clandestinely without following due process. And to cover up the fraud, 11 staff of LTV have either been redeployed or retired from the service of Lagos State Government.

I therefore ask, will the LTV OB VAN ever return? Only God, the creator of Time, a creature that changes day to a night with an amazing ease, can tell!!!!

#Credit
http://www.lagosbusinessnews.com.ng/business/business/item/123-fraud-alert-the-unknown-story-of-lagos-television-s-broadcast-equipment-deal-that-fractured-ambode-s-relationship-with-tinubu

Bro you disappoint me. You seriously believe the police part. Did you hear them say the other guy with the big bag disappear into thin air, How is that possible in the present of the police. The bike man died instantly and the man at the back survive and disappear when the police was still there? Imagine na the stupid police people are just lying to cover there ass. Police will never said they are at fault or blame themselves for the mans death.

Just imagine the figure. And one idiot clueless Aboki is holding us to ransom. By the grace of God we kicking you back to Daura.

Nigeria Police ��

This information is wrong... it's a video shoot for Kces
new single not his birthday celebration... Check Kcee snapchat and you will see what I mean... he feature Olamide in the new single and the video was shoot by LA unlimited

Guy you are so daft and stupid. We talking about Federal University that was build with tax payer money and you are so foolish you compare it with Covenant University which is a Private university and Church University. You need to be flog 40 stroke of Cain my broda.

Good woman won't be shy to do her responsibility anywhere anytime...Kudos to Mrs Wike, You are good woman and great example you the ladies outside...

Which stupid democracy day? When Buhari
And all is APC lier dey Demo and Crazy...

I think Dipo Dina of Ogun state should be in that list..If Dipo Dina was not assassinated Amosun will never come near been a governor in Ogun State..Same thing related to Funsho Williams and Babatunde Fashola ...God knows there killer

I don't know if to laugh or cry... This people are just disgracing Nigerian... will you ever see a American senator wear native attire to meet President Obama talk less of over size cloth despite how big he is ..hell No ...Na by force to where Coat?

Absa:
11b was misn durin his Tenure yet he built Kogi state Uni, kogi poly, comisioner qtz, Radio kogi 94, Confluence beach hotel, Stella Obasanjo library,dualization of lkj township roads(roads wada is pouring sand nd stone in d name of maintenance), creation of more LG wards he influenced d siting of DAGOTE cement factory to Kogi state nd lots more. All dis landmark achievement in 4yrs..WHAT HAS PDP WADA DONE IN 4YRSshey better tin dey forbid u

I guess your mama never buy your phone to browse nairaland when he said he will return the 11Billions he stole if he got elected again? And why was he out of office after 4years ? I guess you don't know more than people of kogi that bundle him out of office after just four years.

That is a good move to save their state. What is the
thief coming to do there again? After embezzling 11Billions, What did he lost in government house that he's going back there to pick again? They can't just live without government money, so pathetic

dridowu:
If Obanikoro could be minister despite being opposed by the 3 senators from Lagos , what will stop Ameachi as minister is not yet clear to me.





God Bless Our Hustle




God Bless Nigeria

Bro u never get dis thing right about shouting obanikoro let me lecture you...
First Obanikoro was not a ex governor and no corruption charge against me, the protest about him the was the ekiti election rigging, which is a different matter from amaechi that embezzle 70 billions river money.. And during the 7th floor PDP was much in the house they all support themselves not like present house whereby all the APC is divided and PDP is even having a more say than APC and don't forget Obanikoro is an ex minister and ex senator, before the second minister slot, what david mark just said was he's once a senator he's part of us just take a bow and go... Such will never happen in Amaechi case he as more enemy even within his party talkless of PDP.

adekoonlay:
This Sanusi and his 18 year old bride ...before one talks about its rightness or wrongness, a lot of questions have to be answered. Questions like: 1) Is it legal, moral? 2) Is she mature? 3) Was she forced to marry him? 4) Were you sexually active at 18? 5) Can she vote? 6) Can an 18year old be in love? 7) Can an 18year old handle marriage? Does Omotola who married at 18 have 2 heads? 9) Why are you angry? 10) Do you know Kylie Jenner? 11) Do you know Kylie Jenner is 18, has been dating since 17, is a $ multimillionaire and has her own house? 12) Do you know Jeff who just won Project Fame is 18? 13) Do you know that tech & other factors has ensured kids get mature/wiser earlier? 14) Do you know ManU's Martial is married and has a child? He is 19. How old was he when he got married? How old do you think his wife is? 15) Do you know an 18 year old could be more exposed, intelligent, experienced, and a BETTER spouse thansome 30 year olds? Before you attack Sanusi or scream # ChildNotBride , please ask yourself these15 questions and answer them with the fear of God. Thank you‪#‎copied

1.Yes its legal
2.Not she's not, if she is she will think future about education nt been a 4th wife of 54years old man
3.Yes she was force, a normal human being will never pray to be a 4th wife to an oldman without an education
4.Yes
5.Yes
6.Yes but I return the question to you did you fall inlove at 18 to and old man with three wifes at home?
7.No not to a 54years old man with three wifes
8.That's a stupid question u ever ask, Did omotola marry an old man with three wifes? When u have an answer for me I will respond to urs.
9.Yes am angry bunches of animals are northerners, they are the problem of nigeria
10. Yes I know kylie jenner ...she's an american not a nigerian and she not married to anybody talkless of an old man
11.Yes she came from a celebrity family and hear urself empty skull she been dating not married to a 54 years old man
12.And so? Its a talent program for youth do you expect your daddy to won it?
13.And the outcome of the tech is to get married to a 54years old man with three wifes?
14.Yes martial is the man, he get married to someone at his age not other way around getting married to a 54years old woman with 3 husband at home...don't be a daft common
15.When an 18years old is more expose, intelligent, and experienced , her thinking will never be to marry an old fool that has three wifes already ... Getting marry to some lil older than her will even be last on her list.
GET A LIFE BRO #ChildNotBride
And I have two questions for you...
1.Where and when did sanusi meet the young girl and ask her to be his wife? You should know she was giving to sanusi as a bribe or compensation.
2.How many of sanusi daughter and grand daughter get married to even a young man at 18 talkless of 54years old fool with 3 wifes at home?