ON NOVEMBER 15, 2018 3:28 AM IN NEWS

By Henry Umoru

•Adds states will go bankrupt, to meet Buhari

•Downsizing, new revenue formula is way out

ABUJA — THE thirty-six state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, met last night in Abuja, saying only Lagos State Government can pay the new minimum wage of N30,000.

The governors also resolved to downsize, if they must pay the new minimum wage.

They, however, at the meeting the NGF emergency meeting, resolved to send another delegation to President Muhammadau Buhari to canvass their position on the new Minimum Wage.

Members of the committee to see President Buhari are governors of Lagos, Akinwumi Ambode; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; Dave Umahi of Benue State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

The governors insisted that though they were willing to pay any amount, asking all states to pay N30,000 demanded by organized labour would render many states bankrupt, saying the only way states could pay was to either downsize their workforce or the Federal Government agrees to a new revenue allocation formula.

Chairman of the NGF and governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, who spoke for the governors at the end of the meeting, said governors resolved to “re-strategize and put together another committee to meet the President to once again to work out another formula towards quick resolution of the problem associated with the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.”

According to him, it is impracticable for governors to pay the new minimum wage unless labour agrees to a downsizing of the work force all over the country.

President Buhari received the report of the Tripartite
Committee last Tuesday but did not endorse the proposal made by the committee.

Speaking further, Yari explained: “We have seen what has been presented to the President by the committee. As a member of the committee, governors (representative) said the committee did not take our submission of N22,500 because it came late.

“I am surprised how you can do this without the input of the states, because the states are the key stakeholders in this business.

“In a situation where our report is not taken or considered by the tripartite committee in its report to the President, I don’t know how the committee expects us to work.

“But we still say we want to pay but the issue is the ability to pay. I don’t know how this formula will come and I don’t know how we can get solution to the issue.

“We are not able to N18,000 today. When the President assumed office, 27 states were not able to pay; not that they choose not to pay, now you say N30,000. How many of them can pay? We will be bankrupt.

“So, as Nigerians, we should look at the issues seriously. While other people are saying governors are flying jets and living in affluence, that one is not luxury but compulsory.

“Put together, the issue of government overhead cost with personnel cost still cannot solve this problem.

“Like Lagos that is paying about N7 billion as salaries, if you say it should pay N30,000, now it will be N13 billion.

“From our calculation, it is only Lagos State that will be able to pay N30,000. As Nigerians, this is our country, there is no other country we have and we should be fair to this country.

“As for the way forward, we will continue to talk with Labour, let them see reasons governors have difficulties.

“Some of us have IGR. For instance, the money Lagos State is using to pay is not coming from Abuja. They have a way of getting their money from IGR and that is why they can afford to pay. They get money through VAT.

“Apart from Lagos, even Rivers cannot afford to pay. So, we have been crying out about this since 2011 but no one cared to listen.

“One critical example is that some states ration their salaries, while some others put everything they earn on the table and ask labour to come and see and ask them to suggest how much should go for capital and personnel cost.

“Some say 70% for personnel cost and 30 %for capital projects and yet the states cannot pay and they put the remaining as outstanding.

“If you are talking about oil, the price is not what it used to be. From last year to date, it is $20 less, from $75 to $55 dollars. So, where is the money to pay?

“We should not exploit this matter further. We are leaders today, tomorrow others will be. So, let’s look at this matter seriously to see how we can do it properly. It is our primary responsibility to see that everybody is happy.’’

It will be recalled that organized labour had Tuesday, warned that any attempt to delay or truncate the agreed N30, 000 national minimum wage would have a devastating effect on the country.

Speaking through the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, Bobboi Kaigama while addressing members of ASCSN National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, stressed the on the need for the government to fast-track implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage Kaigama, who is also the President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, insisted that Nigerian workers expected the Federal Government to complete the process of new wage before the end of this year.

According to him: “It is apt to state that against all odds, the Tripartite Committee that negotiated the new Minimum Wage was to able to scale all hurdles and agreed to the sum of N30,000 as the new minimum wage for the country. It is on this premise that I strongly want to appeal to the Federal Government to fast track the process of enacting the new National Minimum Wage into law.

Polchiz:


You are simply suffering from chronic igbophobia.

It is not your fault anyway, hatred for igbos is carefully and deliberately embedded in your gene from birth.

Peter Dada, Akure

The organised labour unions in Ondo State have threatened to commence strike on Tuesday (tomorrow) if the government failed to pay the backlog of their salary arrears.

The workers asked Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to pay the backlog from the N20bn Paris Club refund the state received from the Federal Government recently.

This was contained in a letter to the governor dated November 9, 2018. The letter was signed by state chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Joint Negotiating Council, Tayo Ogunleye; Soladoye Ekundayo and Abel Oloniyo, respectively.

The workers accused the governor of not consulting the labour unions on the release of the Paris Club refund to the state as both parties had earlier agreed.

According to the workers, industrial peace in the state might not be guaranteed if the government failed to pay the outstanding salaries on Tuesday as they threatened to resume the strike suspended on June 2016 in the state.

The letter read in part, “We want to draw the attention of His Excellency to the recommendations of a committee on payment of six months arrears of salary to Ondo State workers set up by the state government that was submitted to Your Excellency in May 2017.

“We also hold that the said agreement subsists between labour and the government of Ondo State irrespective of who mounts the mantle of leadership particularly when the state Head of Service remains the signatory to both the agreement and the committee report.

“In view of the above, we call on the government to please pay in line with our agreement as analysed in our letter under reference on or before 12 noon Tuesday, November 13, 2018. “

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, said the matter would be resolved.

By Simeon Ebulu, Group Business Editor November 12, 2018

Access Bank is set to add Diamond Bank’s portfolio to its assets in the next few months, The Nation has learnt.

Talks on the acquisition are on, according to sources, who said the fusion is set for the first quarter of next year.

It was gathered that both financial institutions have reached an agreement in broad terms on the acquisition. What is left is the valuation of assets, with a view to determining the level of compensation and systems’ integration, the sources said, pleading not to be named because they are not allowed to talk to the media on the matter.

It was learnt that the development leading to the impending acquisition was triggered by Diamond Bank directors who approached Access Bank for intervention in a bid to stave off a possible regulatory intervention that could lead to the withdrawal of the lender’s operating licence in the light of the bank’s depleting capital adequacy ratio on account of a huge Non Performing Loans (NPLs) portfolio put at over N150billion.

The Nation gathered that Access Bank directors examined the proposal and, after series of meetings and evaluations, accepted to acquire the entity. However, the agreement so far reached, it was understood, will not alter the name of Access Bank nor its management structure.

“It’s a complete acquisition and not a merger,” a source, who asked not to be identified, but who is familiar with the transaction, said, adding that one of the major considerations that swayed Access Bank’s directors in accepting the offer was the large branch network of the lender. “ It’s burgeoning NPLs, however, was of serious concern to Access Bank and almost becoming a disincentive, but it has been addressed,” the source added.

It was also gathered that the CBN is well acquainted with the development. The regulator’s acquiescence to the deal was informed by the recent event that led to the liquidation of Skye Bank, and the apex bank not being disposed to following that route because of the huge cost implication that a bailout of Diamond Bank might require, encouraged the discussions, “and the regulator is pleased with the level of discussions so far.”

“ The CBN encouraged the ongoing arrangement, given the fate that befell the defunct Skye Bank a few months ago. The apex bank gave its consent and approval for the actualisation of the marriage. ”

The Nation learnt that the regulator’s un-alloyed support for the emerging entity followed its unpreparedness to commit any further huge funds for the rescue of any wavering bank.

Bloomberg reported that a major investor was in the process of injecting funds into Diamond Bank on condition that the CEO, Uzoma Dozie, exits his position. The report attributed to the Chairman, Seyi Bickersteth, has since been denied by the bank.

Diamond is one of a number of smaller Nigerian lenders struggling to maintain a regulatory requirement for banks with international operations to have reserves of capital that cover at least 15 percent of outstanding loans. The company’s ratio stood at 16.3 percent at the end of September, the lender has said.

The bank cut its full-year profit forecast by more than half on Tuesday after income from operations declined. It now expects profit before tax to reach 3.8 billion naira ($10.4 million), down from a previous target of 8 billion naira.

The shares rose 2.5 percent on Wednesday, trading at 1.21 naira at the close in Lagos. The stock is down 19 percent this year, compared with a 12 percent fall on the NSE Banking 10 Index.

Diamond Bank, in a statement, said contrary to media articles, “the Board wish to clarify that the company has not received an offer from an investor to inject cash. Further to the Company’s announcement of 26 October 2018, Diamond Bank and its Board of Directors continue to review all strategic options on a regular basis. Diamond Bank would also like to clarify it enjoys the support of its major shareholders, including The Carlyle Group and Kunoch Holdings who are, as ever, working in cooperation with the Board and management as appropriate to ensure the successful operation of its business in Africa’s most dynamic banking market.

“Further to the announcement of 24 October 2018, Diamond Bank is in active discussions with regards to the appointment of new non-executive directors to the Board and, subject to CBN approval, these will be announced in due course.” “Diamond Bank’s recent Third Quarter results published on October 26, 2018 show the business continues to execute its clearly articulated tech-led retail strategy despite headwinds in the Nigerian economy,” the bank stated.

FEMI OYEWESO in this report writes that the bad blood generated following the outcome of the recently held primary elections of the Ogun State chapter of All Progressives Congress is threatening its prospect in the forthcoming general elections

Though the primary elections of the Ogun State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has come and gone, the controversies generated is yet to abate. The disagreement has so much degenerated to disaffection and serious hatred which is now threatening the prospect of the party in Ogun state.

It is observed that this brouhaha transpired because many who had hitherto nursed the ambition of aspiring for elective positions have been injured to the marrows. Hence, if all these party members who sustained varying degrees of injuries in the course of conducting the exercise are not genuinely appeased, the dissatisfaction still trailing the aftermath of the primary elections may rob the party of any electoral victory in the forthcoming elections in the state.

The controversy is more intense in the struggle to get the party’s governorship ticket.

Of course, two governorship candidates emerged through the parallel primaries conducted in the state. While Prince Dapo Abiodun emerged through a governorship direct primary mode of the election conducted by the Mohammed Indabawa-led APC electoral committee, Hon. Abdul – Kabir Adekunle Akinlade emerged through the direct primary mode of the election conducted by the Chief Derin Adebiyi led state executive committee.



Results of the parallel primaries which produced Abiodun and Akinlade have, however, made the political bigwigs within the state chapter of the partyto be at dagger drawn, ready to throw away the baby with the bathwater. While many of them have vowed not to work for the electoral success of Prince Abiodun who emerged as the party’s governorship candidate after the primaries supervised by members of the APC electoral committee sent by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, others have threatened to defect to another political party to realise their ambitions.

For instance, reports have it that a substantial number of APC members who belonged to the Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s camp have in principles, defected to other political parties. Aside from this, sources close to the governor’s office at Oke -Mosan, Abeokuta, who pleaded anonymity, also confided in LEADERSHIP that Amosun had given his consent to work for the electoral success of the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) penultimate week when former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited him in his office.

Aside from APC members defecting to other political parties, the dissatisfaction generated by the conduct of the APC primary elections in Ogun has also forced the political juggernauts to resort to a campaign of calumny against one another, particularly, the Amosun’s camp and that of Abiodun who won the APC’s gubernatorial ticket. They also resorted to hiring protesters to drum support for each other’s candidate. The protesters include allegedly hired youths in the state, members of the transport unions as well as the market men and women who drum support for their chosen candidate with the sole aim of de-marketing each other.



A typical example of the protest was the rallies staged by councilors elected on the platform of the party who on Friday 26 October, staged solidarity rally at the campaign office of Abiodun in Iperu Remo, hailing the NWC’s decision on Ogun gubernatorial primary election. But four days later, another set of councilors elected on the same platform of APC also held a meeting at the Oba’s Complex Conference Hall, State Secretariat Complex, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta where they declared that they would not support Abiodun except Akinlade who is Amosun’s anointed successor.

The Ogun APC women were also not left out of the game as hundreds of them under the aegis of Women In Politics (WIN) led by Mrs Abosede Akande also embarked on protest. The placard wilding protesters in Abeokuta also declare their supports for Abiodun.

While these were on-going, observers and analysts have continued to express dismay over the occurrences and ask questions regarding why Amosun’s preferred candidate, Akinlade lost out.


Why Akinlade Lost

Several reasons can be adduced for why Amosun’s preferred governorship candidate, Hon Akinlade, lost out in his bid to clinch the APC governorship ticket of the state. Many were of the views that Akinlade was not a popular politician, hence his loss in the election. There were others who held the views that personality defect of his principal, Amosun, cost him the loss.

But of course, the first justifiable reason was that Amosun’s supporters boycotted the date set aside by the APC’s electoral committee for the conduct of the governorship primary election. The NWC had declared that the primaries would be organized under the supervision of the committee members deployed to the state for the purpose of the exercise. But when the Mohammed Indabawa led committee arrived the state and fixed 3rd October 2018 as the date for the governorship primary, APC members loyal to Amosun boycotted the exercise.

Amosun’s camp, however, had it own governorship primary on 2 October, 2018 which the state government declared a public holiday for school children, insisting that the exercise was supervised by the state chairman of the party, Chief Derin Adebiyi. These, basically, explained why the APC national leadership refused to recognize Akinlade as the party’s flag bearer in the state.

An APC stalwart from Ogun West Senatorial district, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent regarding why Akinlade lost the gubernatorial ticket to Abiodun, Elder Solomon Bajomo, said governor Amosun himself knew that his candidate, Akinlade is a hard-sale for the party.

According to him, “Even among his Anago people of Ipokia local government, Akinlade was not their choice; he is not a popular politician and it would have been a big disgrace to the governor. That was why Governor Amosun ordered that we should go ahead and have our own primary conducted by the state executive committee members of the party without waiting for the NWC accredited electoral committee.

“When the governor asked us to bring a consensus candidate that will fly the flag of our party, we elders of Ogun West Senatorial district met and deliberated on three candidates. His Chief of staff, Tolu Odebiyi, and Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade tops our priority. But our governor turned them down and imposed Abdul-Kabir Adekunle Akinlade on us. We were surprised but had no option than to concur.”

Political analysts also maintained that another factor that was responsible for why Akinlade lost the APC gubernatorial ticket was the inordinate ambition of his principal, Governor Amosun at imposing a successor. They are of the opinion that the governor wanted an annointed successor in order to further solidify his hold on the party.

They argued that the manner at which Amosun went ahead to pick Akinlade was not acceptable to other members of the party despite that APC national leadership said candidate could emerge either through a consensus arrangement, indirect or direct mode of primary election.



For example, at the party’s extended stakeholders meeting held in September, Amosun openly declared that the party in the state had zoned the governorship seat to the Yewa-Awori people of Ogun West Senatorial district and that the party would adopt a consensus arrangement. It was at that extended stakeholders’ meeting that Amosun also unveiled his decision to retire into the Senate after completion of his term by May 2019.

But the statement did not go down well with others, particularly APC politicians from the Ijebu/Remo areas of the state. These politicians reportedly confronted the governor and told him that the party had never at any time made such a decision.

Two former deputy governors, Senator Gbenga Kaka and Prince Segun Adesegun were among those who reportedly confronted Amosun that such arrangement does not exist in the party. But the governor allegedly told the duo that Ogun APC took the decision when they left the party for Social Democratic Party (SDP) where they contested and failed the year 2015 general elections before they returned to APC.



It was gathered that Amosun’s explanations did not go down well with these Ijebu politicians who further argued that the Yewa-Awori agitation for governorship should wait pending when an Ijebu or Remo person would have also governed the state for a two terms.

They were said to have premised their argument on the fact that Ogun state was divided into two blocks of Egba / Egbado Province and Ijebu / Remo province.

Observing the antics that Amosun was determined to impose a candidate on them, these politicians resolved to go for a direct primary mode of election to pick the party’s gubernatorial candidate because there were numerous others who are interested in becoming the governor. But Amosun selected a consensus candidate against the wish of many others who are interested not only in the governorship ticket alone, but other elective positions.

It was also observed that the fear of Amosun was that if there had been a level playing ground, Akinlade would not emerge, hence he chose to organize the consensus primary that produced Akinlade. During a mock primary conducted by Amosun at the Presidential Lounge in Abeokuta, APC supporters pelted Amosun with sachet of “pure water” when names of their candidates were excluded from the list which the governor eventually produced.

Amosun had reputedly loaded the list with names of his commissioners, personal aides as well as cousin and nephews. The development so much infuriated those who had hitherto been loyal to the governor but whose names were missing on the list. This also forced some of them to withdraw their loyalties and support for the governor and re-aligned forces with Amosun’s opposition. Some of these politicians included the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Olakunle Oluomo from Ifo State constituency 1 who was even attacked in his constituency office in Ifo by thugs.



Unconfirmed sources said, Amosun had verbally attacked Senator Adeola and boasted that the Ilaro born lawmaker would never be his successor. Adeola had come into the state, built structures across the three Senatorial districts of the state in preparation for the 2019 governorship election. But Amosun allegedly used all the instruments available at his disposal to run Adeola down, calling him so many unprintable words.

When all entreaties at persuading Amosun failed, Adeola had to return to Lagos but the political structure he had put in place switched their supports to the Dapo Abiodun’s camp. This also worked as a big minus for the emergence of Akinlade’s candidature.

Also, aside from this, the group loyal to the former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba is another factor responsible for Akinlade’s loss in his bid to clinch the APC governorship ticket.



The Osoba’s “Matagba Mole” political movement was said to be completely disenchanted with Amosun and was not ready to support the governor’s bid to produce a successor. Members of the group claimed that they were the original owner of the party, but Amosun chased them away for a period of eight ( years.

They alleged that in the build-up to the year 2011 governorship contest in Ogun, Amosun, who had contested twice and lost on the platform of CPC and ANPP, went into an alliance with the Osoba’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and was accepted.

They stated further that having used their platform at ACN to realize his ambition, Amosun completely shut the Osoba’s “Matagba Mole” group out of power.

They argued that Amosun only joined their party, “begged” for the governorship ticket in 2011 which they gave him and later but latter abandoned them.

They further argued that Amosun did not honour the agreement he had with them before becoming the governor just because , he was enjoying the patronage of the same “Lagos Cabal” whom he accused of now working against his interest in Ogun.



They noted that in 2015 precisely, Amosun forced the Osoba group to contest on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP), where they lost.

However, the politicians, upon returning to the APC, resolved that the only way they could remain politically relevant in the state was to work against any candidate of his choice.

Pundits are of the view that Amosun himself realized all these facts and that was why he chose not to participate at the party’s primary conducted by members of the APC electoral committee sent from Abuja.



They are of the opinion that when the Mohammed Indabawa-led electoral committee sent by the party’s NWC arrive the state, a futile attempt was made at hijacking and manipulate by agents of the governor.

According to them, when the primary was eventually held, Amosun’s group boycotted it, but Dapo Abiodun emerged as the winner and the “civil war” assumed a new dimension.

However, upon the recognition of Dapo Abiodun as the APC’s governorship candidate for Ogun state, several efforts were made towards persuading the national leadership of the party to reverse it and declared Akinlade as the winner.

According to some observers, the steps ranges from issuing press statements to reinforce the hopes of his followers, to organizing sponsored protests against the emergence of Abiodun and also sending emissaries to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to persuade him to prevail on the Adams Oshiomhole led APC national leadership.

Recently, some APC councilors elected on the platform of the party from the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) met at the Oba’s Complex Conference Hall, Oke – Mosan, Abeokuta where they declared that they would not support any governorship candidate of the party, except Abdul-Kabir Adekunle Akinlade who is Amosun’s anointed successor.



The trio of Honourables: Ololade Kazeem, Jide Opafola and Tunde Makinde who spoke on behalf of the councilors alleged that the mandate freely given by APC members in the state to Akinlade on 2nd October 2018, was “stolen” for Abiodun.

Aside from the councilors, scores of women from across the three Senatorial districts, who are also members of the state chapter of APC also trooped to the streets of Abeokuta to protest against the result of the APC’s NWC on the governorship candidate of the state.

They insisted that Akinlade, who was Amosun’s candidate, should be declared the winner. The protesters, who also took their protest to the governor’s office at Oke Mosan and the Nigerian Union of Journalists secretariat in Abeokuta, gave the NWC and the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, till Friday 26 October to reverse Dapo Abiodun’s victory for Akinlade, failure of which they threatened to go naked at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.

The protesters led by the Chairman of Ilugun Local Council Development Authority, Mofoluke Soremekun, and other woman leaders in the three senatorial districts, insisted that they voted for Adekunle Akinlade and not Dapo Abiodun as announced by the national leadership of the APC.

As a way of demonstrating their seriousness, the women blocked the entrance to the Governor’s Office before moving to the Arcade Ground within the state secretariat where the deputy governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and the state party Chairman, Derin Adebiyi addressed them.

Addressing the women protesters, the deputy governor, Onanuga even assured them that she was ready to be part of the naked protest to enable them to achieve victory for Akinlade or force Oshiomhole out of office.

Also, on Monday 29th October, scores of APC youths, under the aegis of Ogun State Youth Forum staged a protest at the premises of the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta where they asked APC’s NWC to recognize Akinlade instead of Dapo Abiodun as the party’s governorship candidate.

The angry youths who besieged the premises were calmed down by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jide Ojuko who urged them to resist intimidation and march on until Akinlade’s mandate was restored. However,it is most unlikely that the national leadership will listen to their protest more so that the time given by INEC for the submission of candidates list has lapse. As it stands , Amosun has lost out in his bid to install his successor , and this is tearing the state chapter of the party apart .

Indeed ,how the controversy is handled will determine whether or not the APC will occupy Ogun Government House beyound 2019.

NOVEMBER 7, 2018

Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar both made history Tuesday by winning their elections and becoming the first Muslim women to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

Tlaib won the congressional seat for Michigan’s 13th district after former Representative John Conyers abruptly stepped down following sexual harassment allegations, leaving the seat vacant.

The Palestinian-American Muslim ran under the Democratic Party, having previously served six years in the state legislature. With no Republican opponent, Tlaib defeated Etta Wilcoxon of the Green Party and Sam Johnson of the Working Class Party.

“Why am I running? Because this is about electing the jury to impeach @POTUS and I will make a heck of juror,” Tlaib said in a tweet aimed at U.S. President Donald Trump.

Tlaib campaigned on a platform that advocated for a $15 minimum wage, free public college tuition and ending corporate welfare.

A proud Palestinian, Tlaib has also been an advocate for Palestinian rights and is an outspoken critic of Trump.

“Congratulations to my sister @RashidaTlaib on your victory! I cannot wait to serve with you, inshallah,” Omar, who also won her election, said on Twitter.

The seat Omar won, Minnesota’s 5th district, was formerly held by Rep. Keith Ellison, who was the first Muslim to take a seat in Congress. Ellison did not run for re-election as he sought the state attorney generalship.

Omar, another Democrat, is a Somali-American who came to the U.S. over two decades ago as a refugee. She campaigned on a progressive platform and won the endorsement of the Democratic Party’s fledging progressive wing, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

She ran against and defeated Republican candidate Jennifer Zielinski, becoming the first congresswoman to wear a hijab. This year, a record 90 Muslims were contesting in the polls since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to Jetpac, an organization that helps Muslims run for political office.

Six Muslims ran for political office at the national level. Aga Khan, Omar Qudrat and Mahmoud Mahmoud all ran for a seat in the House of Representatives but fell short of their goals.

OKorowanta:
Ik enjoyment cut short.
Dat babe figures dey burst brain.

29th October, 2018

Molly Kilete, Abuja

There was tension in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, yesterday, following the overrunning of the nation’s capital by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), in a one million-man march.

The group, which started arriving the FCT, over the weekend, beat all the military checkpoints at all the entry and exit points of the FCT.

The group, also known as Shiites, who arrived in their thousands, were, however intercepted at Mararaba by personnel of the FCT Police Command, who prevented them from moving to the national mosque, where they planned to carry out the march.

Before clashing with the police at Mararaba, Sunday, the group had attacked a convoy of soldiers providing escort for ammunition and missiles from Abuja to the Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State on the ever-busy Abuja/Kaduna expressway.

The soldiers came under attack at Zuba, where the Shiites mounted several roadblocks and prevented motorists and other road users from travelling. They started throwing stones and other dangerous objects at the soldiers and destroyed their vehicles.

The soldiers, who tried to defend themselves and the weapons their were carrying, opened fire on the crowd, leading to the killing of three members of the group, with at least 10 others wounded.

This is just as soldiers from the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, have barricaded all the entry and exit routes of the FCT.

The soldiers have also created snap checkpoints in various parts of the FCT, to ensure the Shiites do not have access into Abuja.

Daily Sun gathered that the soldiers also conducted condone-and-search operations on virtually all vehicles coming into Abuja from Abaji, Gwagwalada, Zuba, Bwari, Dutse, Keffi, Kuje and Mararaba, among other entry routes.

Military sources told Daily Sun that the IMN members in their hundreds have so far been confined to the Suleja axis. The source, who did not want to be named, also said the army, along the police and other security agencies, have been put on red alert to ensure the protection of innocent residents of the FCT.

The commander of the Guards Brigade, Brig-Gen. Musa, told Daily Sun the brigade was on top of the situation and called on residents to cooperate with the army and other security agencies to curb the menace of the group.

Meanwhile, despite the checkpoints put in place by the Guards Brigade, the police and other agencies, members of the Shiite group have found their way into the Federal Capital Territory in their thousands to protest the continuous detention of their leader and celebrate the Arbaeen symbolic trek.

The Shiites, who started arriving Abuja over the weekend from different parts of the country, were said to have beaten all the checkpoints mounted by the soldiers, who also conducted a search on all vehicles, after they discovered that the soldiers were arresting only people wearing the traditional black outfits of the group.

It was gathered that, while some of those wearing black were arrested, others were turned back and prevented from entering the FCT.

Sources said those who were turned back went and told their colleagues, who disguised and gained access into the FCT.

As at about 2 p.m., Sunday, the group had gained access to the popular Kubwa road and some parts of Gwarinpa, but met stiff resistance from the police, who prevented them from moving further.

Meanwhile, some residents of the FCT have decided not to go to work, if nothing is done to safeguard their life and property.

As early as 4am, a text message about the activities of the sect started circulating to alert residents of the Shiites’ presence and their movement.

The text message read, “There is ongoing protest/Arbaeen symbolic trek in Abuja by followers of El-Zakzaky for three days in Abuja from Sunday, October 28, to Tuesday, October 29. Please, plan your movement. There will be impact on traffic everywhere in and around Abuja, Nasarawa and Niger State, as thousands of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky’s followers are trekking down to Abuja. Tell your family and be careful.”

At Mararaba, men from the FCT Police Command battled for several hours to prevent the Shiites from entering the city.

The police, who arrived Maraba in more than 15 trucks, did everything possible to ensure the Shiite group did not have their way.

Police, however, attributed their successful access into the FCT to some residents who were sympathetic to their cause, many of them around the Mararaba axis.

Commander of the Guards Brigade, Musa, said the brigade, which is in charge of the security of the President, his family as well as the FCT and its surrounding states, are on standby and instill law and order in the city.

Musa said troops would move in only when the police are unable to contain the situation.

“We are on top of the situation and managing it very well. Right now, we are at the background for now; it is only when the police are unable to manage the situation that we will move in but I can assure you that everything is under control for now,” he said.

The governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, Friday visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and his queen, Olori Silekunola Naomi. Recall that Ooni recently married Naomi last week, when Obiano traveled to America.

seunmsg:



The above is very wrong. APC NWC can no longer on its own substitute the party candidate once their names have been submitted to INEC. Substitution can only be allowed in case of death or voluntary withdrawal of the candidate. I don't see Dapo Abiodun withdrawing voluntarily.

PHILipu1:

Use your head.
Who is Amosun?
Between Tinubu and Amosun,who do you think that Buhari will favour?

In few months time,Amosun will be ex governor and we all know that Tinubu controls APC structure in the whole south west while Amosun control only his state.

If you think Buhari will dump Tinubu man to support Amosun man,then you are dreaming

dyydxx:


I think Dapo's ship has sailed already at this point. it can't be changed anymore. They have accomodated Amosun, he got his senatorial ticket. In politics you win some and you lose some.

…Those who worked against Atiku are now calling the shots against those who supported him

…This is a civil war that could cost PDP not only the 2019 election but also consume it

…South east PDP governors not against Obi but worried about emerging 2023 signals

By our Reporters

Trouble is looming large in the People Democratic Party (PDP) as some political forces within the party are mounting pressure on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to quite the party over perceived mistreatment of the Senator.

Competent sources say this was not unconnected with his “total sidelining in the affairs of the party immediately after the Port Harcourt Convention where Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was elected the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election.

Competent source and a ranking member of the National Assembly said: “The issue is not even the mishandling of the processes leading to the emergence of former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as the running mate to PDP’s presidential candidate, in which the South East leaders were totally sidelined. The issue is a deliberate attempt to sideline the Senator in the emerging scheme of things within the party.

“There is a clear grand conspiracy against Senator Ekweremadu and it is just unfair. I am not talking about him not been nominated as vice presidential candidate. In any case, he has shown more interest in restructuring and other key South East interests than in vice presidential ticket. In the discussions leading up to our consideration of the aspirants and eventual decision to give a block vote to Atiku, he always said that the South East should go for the substance than for sheer title.

“To show that the sidelining of Ekweremadu was deliberate, none of the key actors have even reached out to him. The announcement was made on Friday, but Obi only started moving round on Sunday, in the evening. And I did not see him move with the National Chairman or National Secretary. It would have been ideal for Obi, Prince Uche Secondus and some other senior party leaders to have flown into Enugu that Saturday to meet with South East leaders.

“Assuming Atku heard that there was a subterranean effort to substitute him, wouldn’t he have since rushed home or even canceled his trip out of Nigeria that Saturday to address the matter? And was it too much for him or Uche Secondus to pick a phone to call Ekweremadu, especially given the role he has played in calming the angry South East party leaders?”

Ekweremadu snubbed in the composition of PCC

It has also been alleged that Ekweremadu knew nothing about the composition of Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the party.

Our source said it was part of the grand schemes by some powerful interests to humiliate and sink Ekweremadu politically.

Recall that the PDP had earlier this week announced the PCC with Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the Director-General; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, as North West Coordinator; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo as North-East Coordinator; and Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom as North-Central Coordinator.

Former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi were named as the Coordinators for South-west and South East, respectively, while the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, was appointed Chairman of Fund Raising Committee, and a former presidential aspirant, Alhaji Taminu Turaki, heads the Legal Committee.


Ekweremadu’s name was however conspicuously missing.

“It is not only about whether his name is there or not. I can also authoritatively inform you that Ekweremadu heard the news of the membership of the PCC in the media like other non-PDP members.

“I can confirm to you that nobody mentioned anything about the PCC to him, let alone include him or ask him to nominate anybody or seek his suggestions even out of respect. I confronted a senior party leader just yesterday, who told me that the PCC is a large body and more names would be announced. And I told him that he was talking nonsense.

“So, it is not just an accident and neither did it come to some of us here at the National Assembly as a surprise. Our party has been hijacked and there is a grand design, a gargantuan conspiracy to bury Ekweremadu politically and it started unfolding right from immediately after the Port Harcourt convention because a certain governor from the South South who worked for Governor Tambuwal wasn’t happy the way South East voted and he is holding the South East party leaders responsible for greatly contributing to Atiku’s victory.

“Don’t forget that in announcing the PCC, Our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus said it was ‘after ‘due consultation with party stakeholders under his leadership’.

“When they announced the VP candidate, they said they consulted fare and wide, yet no party leader from Ekweremadu’s South East, including himself as both a senior national party leader from the zone was consulted. In order words, Ekweremadu is no longer a party stakeholder? “How could you discuss or constitute a presidential campaign council and the same man, who stood like the Rock of Gibraltar for the party when many abandoned it and it seemed the world had come to an end for it only read it in the papers like others?

“Even though we have always known Ekweremadu as a man of principle, he has never changed party since 1998, we were surprised he could defy the persecutions and political pressures piled on him to stay firm to defend the PDP. He showed leadership. He rallied us to shepherded the PDP during the trying period. Ekweremadu was slammed with phantom charge of forgery of Senate Standing Rule. Police invaded his guest house sometime in 2017 or so. In fact, before that, there was an assassination attempt on him in 2015 or thereabout. The EFCC has been harassing him. The same with all sorts of Federal Government Panels. Imagine, it got to such ridiculous extent that the Special Presidential Investigation Panel even asked him to declare his assets to it even when he had fulfilled the constitutional provision for public officers to declare their assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau every four years. He was asked to start filling new asset declaration forms contrary to the constitution. EFCC and police have laid siege to his house. Hoodlums invaded senate chamber and ran away with the mace while he was presiding sometime this year. Just too many harassments, intimidations, and media trial suffered because of this same party. “All these happened to force him to dump PDP because they knew without that seat occupied by Ekweremadu and him utilizing it well to hold the opposition together, PDP would have been dealt a fatal blow.

“So, we feel very embittered that it is those, who abandoned the party and who worked against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate that are now dictating the tunes. Impunity and injustice cost the PDP the 2015 elections and I can tell you that it is clear now that the same impunity and injustice followed the PDP home from very successful Port Harcourt convention.

“And they are doing all these because Ekweremadu is not the radical type. But, as far as I am concerned, there is a limit to every rubbish. With these untrustworthy people, Ekweremadu needs no political enemies and he should be man enough to weigh his political options and his future with the PDP.

“But, mark my words, this gang-up against a man, who has sacrificed so much for our party will be the last straw that will break the caramel’s back. It will result in intra-party ‘civil war’ that could cost the PDP not only the 2019 election, but also consume it finally.

“We see no reason he should rethink his political future with the PDP. This is the least he has to do now as a pragmatic politician because he has been told in unmistakable terms by fifth columnists working against Atiku’s presidential victory that he does not matter and has no future with the PDP even if Atiku wins.

“But, for some of us, the truth is that if a snake comes into your home, you have two choices: fight off the snake or run away. For me, I will not only fight the snake, but I will also, in the instance of the humiliation and hanky panky treatment the PDP is meting out to our leader, burn down the entire house so that everybody can begin to shop for a new home”, the source added.


South East PDP governors, leaders not against Obi

Meanwhile, contrary to news making the rounds, it has emerged that the South East PDP leaders are not against Obi’s nomination, but were concerned about the process and the future of the South East.

“We saw news flying up and down, saying that our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has picked a running mate from the zone. We were shocked because we were not consulted. While we were meeting, Atiku sent message that he travelled out of the country for a short period. He promised to come down and meet with South East leaders”, Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of South East Governors Forum, Dave Umahi told newsmen after the Enugu meeting was called off.

Also speaking with the press, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP (South East), Deacon Austin Umahi, said: “Our leaders in the South East, the governors, the National Assembly Members came together to appreciate the Party for the recognition of South East and keeping to their promise to give the Vice Presidential slot to South East.