₦airaland Forum

Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has unveiled a former Commissioner in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Lucky Ayedatiwa as his running mate for the October 10 governorship poll.

Akeredolu, who spoke at the swearing-in of new aides, said Ayedatiwa possessed verifiable credentials.

The Governor stated the decision to pick Ayedeatiwa was taken after wide consultations with party leaders.

According to him, "The leaders of the party have made wide consultations to choose the most suitable candidate as running mate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. We have concluded that Mr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is the appropriate choice given the prevailing circumstances in the political arena at present.

”This person has been with us since the beginning of this political journey in 2012. In arriving at this choice, some important factors assisted the leaders of this great party. We have decided to sever ties with mediocrity and treachery.

“There is indeed no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. We are also not in any position to change yesterday. We must, however, allow the experiences of the immediate past to guide our decision.

” A candidate with verifiable credentials and pedigree has been chosen to complete the last part of the gubernatorial race. We may not have chosen a saint and the best but let it not be said that we, either wittingly or otherwise, settle for an avowed hater of human beings and good things, an enemy of his own people and a serial forger. We owe our people the duty of care in this regard”.

To stop spread of coronavirus in Kano, the State Government on Wednesday suspended all traditional festivities in the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The gathering for Hawan Daushe -the paying of visit on the Governor by Emirs and massing of Emirs at Shettima House, among other traditional outings by the Emirates have been suspended.

Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, tokd reporters the decision was part of government’s efforts to consolidate on the successes achieved in the fight against Covid-9.

Eid-el-Kabir is the holiest festival in Muslims’ honouring the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Isma’il as an act of submission to God’s command, before God stopped him in his tracks, informing him his sacrifice had been accepted.

Garba said the suspension of the Sallah’s festivities was reached after a deliberation by members of the State Executive Council (SEC).

He said the Excos however granted the conduct of Eid-de-Kabir congregational prayers across the state under strict observance of social distancing and other COVID-19 safety orders at praying grounds.

He announced the State Government would assist in the provision of safety materials, such as face masks and hand sanitisers.

“All the five Emirs in Kano will go to the Eid prayer grounds in their respective domains in vehicles.

“There will however, be no gathering at Shettima House, and no gathering for Hawan Daushe, Hawan Nassarawa and other traditional outings in the Emirates.

“The exercise will be supervised by government officials in their various domains to ensure worshipers comply with the Covid-19 safety protocols,” Garba said.

Only President Muhammadu Buhari can sack Service Chiefs, the Presidency declared on Tuesday.

It was reacting to resolution of the Senate earlier in the day, asking the Service Chiefs to resign or get sacked for rising insecurity in the nation, especially the recent killing of soldiers and mass resignation in the military.

The resolutions of the Senate followed consideration of a motion titled: “Rising casualties among Nigerian soldiers and other security agencies” by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).

But the Presidency, in a terse statement titled “Service Chiefs: Position of Presidency on resolution by the Senate” said Buhari reserves the right to appoint or sack Service Chiefs.

The statement, on the verified twitter handle of the Presidency @NGRPresident, reads: “The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the Service Chiefs to resign or be sacked due to the multi-pronged security challenges in the country.

“The Presidency notes the resolution, and reiterates that appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a Presidential prerogative, & President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times.”

The Rivers State Police Command has clarified that the policemen, who surrounded the residence of a former acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were on legitimate duty.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Nnamdi Omoni, who did not state the mission of the policemen, debunked reports suggesting that the officers were on illegal duty.

Omoni said the police officers, who barricaded the house of Nunieh in Port Harcourt on Thursday, a day she was billed to testify before an ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating financial mismanagement in NDDC, came from the IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuja.

He said said the police officers observed due protocols and requisite standard operating procedures,including reporting at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt to have their Investigation Activities signed by the Commissioner, Joseph Mukan.

Omoni said: "Ordinarily, such a phantom report should have been ignored but due to the potential danger inherent in keeping silent, the Command is minded to react and state the true position.

"The officers who were at the residence of the former Ag. MD Joi Nunieh were from the IGP Monitoring Team in Abuja and were here on official assignment.

"Before they proceeded to her residence, they observed due protocols and requisite standard operating procedures,including going through the processes of arriving themselves at the Headquarters with their Investigation Activities duly signed and approved by the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G Mukan.

"They went to her residence with Mobile Policemen, suggesting of course that they were there on official duty and not illegal duty as speculated. The reference indicating that the Officers were there without the directive of the CP nor the IGP is preposterous and most unfortunate., hence should be discountenanced and disregarded.

"The command under the watch of CP Joseph G. Mukan is poised to deliver quality policing services that will endure and stand the test of time. The Command will continue to remain firm, focused and will not be distracted by any consideration".

Apparently piqued by recent dramas spinning out of the administration and investigations of activities within the Niger Delta Development Commission's (NDDC) President Muhmmadu Buhari has called for caution.

It would be recalled that recent interactions among officials of the NDDC, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, as well as the way they had related with the National Assembly, had made screaming negative news headlines in the last few days.

However, in his first public reaction to the NDDC saga, including revelations and relations with the National, President Buhari directed that activities be better coordinated among security and investigating agencies with the National Assembly.

According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President said the need for the call for caution became necessary to ensure that the administration’s effort to bring sanity, transparency and accountability to the management of the large amount of resources dedicated to development of the Niger Delta sub-region is not derailed.

In his reaction to the unfolding drama, which include attacks and counter attacks between and around persons, institutions, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), President Buhari expressed his strong determination to get to the root of the problem undermining the development of the Niger Delta and its peoples in spite of enormous national resources voted year after year for this singular purpose.

According to the directive, auditing firms and investigative agencies working in collaboration with National Assembly Committees to resolve the challenges in the NDDC must initiate actions in a time-bound manner and duly inform the Presidency of the actions being taken.

The President also directed timely sharing of information and knowledge in a way to speedily assist the administration to diagnose what had gone wrong in the past and what needs to be done to make corrections in order to return the NDDC to its original mandate of making life better for people in Niger Delta.

President Buhari said the administration wants to bring about “rapid, even and sustainable development to the region.”

The President gave firm assurance that his administration would put in place a transparent and accountable governance framework, not only in the NDDC but in all other institutions of government.

Acting Managing Director of Interim Management Committee(IMC) the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei and his team on Thursday walked out on the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC.

He said he and the team were not prepared to make any presentation before the committee.

Pondei had abjected to Chairman of the Committee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, presiding over the investigative hearing, insisting he cannot preside over a matter in which he is an accused.

Members of the Committee, including Benjamin Kali, Ben Ibakpa and Shehu Koko, told the Acting MD that since there was no document before them, he is constitutionally bound to answer their queries.

While members were still making contribution on the issue, the Acting MD sought permission to leave and walked out before the committee could grant or reject his request.

Furious members of the Committee accused the Interim Management Committee of trying to frustrate legislative functions and ordered a warrant of arrest be issued against him.

The Committee also unanimously passed a vote of confidence on its Chairman.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) on Tuesday exchanged words over the founder of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma.

Utazi had through a point of order at plenary urged the Senate to note Chukwuma, is one of the industrialists boosting the nation's.

He lamented that some Nigerians, especially those of South East origin, have developed the habit of deriding and running him and his company that manufactures the IVM brand of vehicles down.

However, as Utazi was still making his presentation, Senator Ubah was heard at the background apparently opposing him.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan called on Utazi to desist from introducing controversial matters with ethnic colouration on the floor of the Senate.

It took the Senate President few minutes before he could restore normalcy in what almost became a direct verbal exchange between Utazi and Ubah.

Ubah, at a press briefing, after plenary, noted it was out of place for Utazi, who represents Enugu North, to attempt to champion issues concerning one of his constituents in Anambra State.

He said insinuations by some faceless persons that he rejected patronage of lnnoson vehicles during a Senate committee meeting.

He said that contrary to what is being peddled, he is the biggest patron of Innoson vehicles in the southeast.

Ubah said: “My attention has been unavoidably drawn to a grossly misleading and fictitious narrative credited to certain faceless, pseudo media elements who in the figment of their imaginations claim that I rejected patronage of lnnoson vehicles in a Senate committee meeting.

“Ordinarily, a lot of people believe that there liS no good reason to personally respond to such a laughable and poorly concocted lie.

“But the truth is that allowing such a narrative to thrive unaddressed will be a big disservice to my supporters and the reading public.

“In this regard, to put issues in clearer perspective for the benefit of all well intended Individuals that abhor deliberate distortion of facts, I would like to categorically state that:

“Presently, I am the biggest private patronizer of lnnoson vehicles in the South east today.

“The very first car that I gave my only beloved daughter when she clocked 18 years is an Innoson (lVM) vehicle which she still drives till date. The car is still parked in my Lagos residence.

“It is therefore ridiculous and laughable to insinuate that a man who bought his only daughter an lnnoson vehicle would kick against procuring the same brand of vehicle for Senators.

“In my political engagements, l have purchased over 30 trailers of lnnoson plastic products worth over 400million.

“l have also given out lnnoson Vehicles to organisations such as: National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Southeast, Sports Writers Association Nigeria (SWAN), Catholic Boys Organization Nnewi Diocese, Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD), Nnewi Youths Forum and a host of friends and ardent supporters too numerous to mention.

“In line with my ‘think home’ philosophy, I also purchased FC lfeanyi Ubah’s official vehicles three Coaster Buses, Trucks and SUV’s from lnnoson.

“In total, I have spent over N700million in purchasing both vehicles and other products from lnnoson from my personal pocket.

“Let me say without minclng words that in
the entire Southeast, I am the only individual with the largest units of Innoson vehlcles in
hIs fleet.

“From the onset till date, I have maintained a very brotherly and cordial relatlonship with Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Group whom I have always patronized and been at the forefront of promoting his brand.

“Therefore, I advise those trying to fan the embers of discord between two brothers to desist from such as it is a failed plot that is obviously dead on arrival.

“Another glaring fact that further exposes the hollowness of this poorly scripted propaganda is the fact that the Nigerian Senate already gave out official cars to Senators since last year.

“It is imperative to also note that I am not a member of the Senate Appropriation committee, neither am I a member of the Senate Services Committee.

“Therefore, I have never been in any committee meeting to discuss the official cars to be procured and distributed to Senators.

“Ordinarily, it is not in my character to bring my investments and patronage dealings with brands to the public domain, but for the purpose of clarity, I have decided to set the records straight with these barefaced facts and figures.

“To this end, I wish to appeal to the general public to kindly disregard this misleading report and always endeavor to reach out to my media office to ascertain the authenticity of such stories in future instances.

“I also wish to reaffirm my utmost commitment to promoting the Igbo economy and our ‘think home’ philosophy."

President Muhammadu Buhari has given Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, the go-ahead with the plan to recruit 774, 000 under the Special Public Works Progamme (SPW).

Keyamo confirmed the development to The Nation on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Minister said he has the instructions of President Buhari to proceed unhindered, thereby ignoring the leadership of the National Assembly which asked the Minister to stop the programme.

"I have the instructions of my boss, Mr. President, to proceed unhindered," Keyamo said in a text.

The Minister and lawmakers had been at loggerheads over the implementation of the programme.

The lawmakers had said the Minister did not seek their inputs before putting together members of the 20-man States selection committees inaugurated in June.

They accused the Minister of trying to hijack the scheme from the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the implementing agency of the project.

But Keyamo, who appeared before members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Labour, on June 30, accused the lawmakers of seeking to control the implementation of the programme.

After engaging in a shouting march with members of the NASS Joint Committee, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, called for the suspension of the programme.

However, Keyamo told our reporter on Wednesday that the states selection committees are proceeding already with the programme as planned, following the new directive from Buhari.

He said: "I have instructions from Mr. President to proceed. The states selection committees are proceeding already with the programme. Nothing stopped them before.

"National Directorate of Employment (NDE) are part of the programme. The state coordinators of the NDE throughout the country are the secretaries of those committees.

"We will work hard to meet the timeline but if there is any need for a change we will inform Mr. President."

The Special Public Works Programme is designed to employ 1,000 persons from each of the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.

The programme is expected to gulp N52billion meant for the payment of the participants at N20,000 per month for three months.

The exercise is expected to commence in October.

The 20-man selection Committee for the programme is being chaired by the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Nasir Ladan Argungu and supervised by Kayamo.