ObserversTimes:
The Observers Times | Lagos



The media was awash with the secret meeting that occurred between the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and current Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and Amaechi a day before yesterday in former house Otta in Ogun state.


The midnight meeting was rumoured to be about 2019 and Buhari's last attempt to appeal to the Ex-President if he can woo him back after long media tantrum and long letter plus several press releases from the former president targeting at the incumbent president and his inability to address the failing Economy and ethnic killing in the north central.

In quick succession, Obasanjo's letter attracted wrath and anger from President Buhari's men who took to the new media and mainstream media to call the ex-president all sort of names.

Obasanjo, after the PDP Presidential primaries, mended fence with his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar who is now the presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Unresolved anger between the two former leaders was predicted to have gone beyond reconciliation.

But on the contrary, some respected religions leaders' involvement in the reconciliation yielded positive result for Atiku. This exerted more pressure on camp of President Muhammadu Buhari who were not ready to give up yet.





It is not clear whether the ex president will support Buhari yet again in 2019.

Source

ehhmah:


Baba doesn't want to associate himself with failure..

aPc has failed... can't preserve failure

FarahAideed:
APC and propagating propaganda of diabolic proportions , I am sure the character GavelSlam personally delivered that fake picture to AIT

Speaking at a meeting with South-East Governors and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Wednesday, at State House, President Buhari pledged that the Federal government will sustain the support to the South-East in terms of infrastructure.

‘‘I assure you that we are doing our best and will not default on the agreements signed on ongoing projects,’’ the President told the delegation led by Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu.

President Buhari explained that part of the noticeable problem in the delay in the execution of the capital projects was caused by the budget hold-up.

‘‘When you sign, and you don’t pay, they (contractors) can legally jerk up their costs. This is part of the problem.

‘‘The infrastructure budget is a deficit budget. The borrowing plan was only approved three weeks ago and all ministers and departments of government have been instructed to forge ahead. We must not find excuses for delaying the projects.

‘‘Developing infrastructure is the best thing we can do. When the roads are okay, the rails are established and there is power, Nigerians will flourish in their businesses,’’ he said.

President Buhari, who was accompanied to the meeting by the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelemah, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and that of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, responded from point to point on all the issues raised by the Governors, to their satisfaction.

On the undulating surface of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the President assured that it will be addressed in the new budget.

He also spoke of government’s serious interest in the new Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri standard gauge railway which transverses several states including those in the South East.

The Minister of Transportation gave assurance that this project, the single most costly rail project at USD 12 billion, will soon be coming to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Ministers were directed to follow up with the private sector on key projects in the region, including the South East Dry Port and the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, with a view to untangling the problems causing their delayed take-off.

Speaking on behalf of the Governors, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State said they had come specifically to thank the President for the award of the contract for the major component of the second Niger Bridge at the cost of N206 billion.

‘‘The project is the dream of our people and it has become a dream come true. Our people said we must come and thank you. Your Excellency, Mr President we are grateful Sir,’’ he said.

Thereafter, Governor Umahi while enumerating some challenges confronting the Governors to the President said: ‘‘out of mutual respect, we have come to you as a caring leader to listen to us.’’

Other Governors on the delegation were Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke.

Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court Wednesday ordered the founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, to open his defence in a corruption allegation against him by the federal government.

The government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed a seven-count charge of money laundering and fraud to the tune of N2.1 billion against Dokpesi.

He was said to have unlawfully received the money from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, knowing that the funds are proceeds of crime and also diverted it into personal use.

However Dokpesi, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, also submitted that the prosecution could not substantiate the allegations against him and his counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), in his no case submission, accordingly asked the court to dismiss the suit.

Their reinstatement was made known in a statement issued on Tuesday night in Ado-Ekiti by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode.

Those reinstated are Mr Emmanuel Oso, Mr Alfred Ologuntoye, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, Mrs Funke Falodun, Mr Ayoola Owolabi and Mr Babatunde Alokan.

The statement said their reinstatement followed the successful hearing of their petitions by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which declared that they were unfairly treated.

” The NHRC also agreed with the petitioners and the state government for their reinstatement and settlement of all their outstanding salaries and allowances for the period of their illegal termination of appointment

” Consequently, Governor Kayode Fayemi directed that the five be reinstated accordingly,’’ the statement said.

NAN reports that letters communicating their reinstatement were signed by the Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka.

According to the letter, the reinstatement takes effect from Monday. (NAN)

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshimohole, has made a surprise appearance at the venue of Goodluck Jonathan’s book presentation.

He arrived at the same time with a former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio recently left Peoples Democratic Party for the APC.

Their arrival at the venue also disrupted events.

Oshiomhole ensured that he took photographs with the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus.

kahal29:


Daily Trust reports that the APC candidate won in three out of the four local governments in the constituency and led with 3,142 votes.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-wins-kwara-bye-election.html

Officialpdpnig:
Final official result of Kankia/Ingawa/Kusada National Assembly bye Election in Katsina

APC - 48, 518
PDP - 20, 466
PRP - 1, 810

jumper524:
where u dey get ur own result when pdp win for kwara?

eDoctorr:
Topic without details.

yns4real:
FEMI MAKINDE

Two prominent leaders of the pan- Yoruba socio- cultural group , Afenifere , Senator Ayo Fasanmi and Pa Ayo Adebanjo, have disagreed over the suspension of a former Deputy Governor of Osun State , Senator Iyiola Omisore, in connection with his role in the victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress , Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, in the recently concluded Osun State governorship poll.

The Afenifere, under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti , had recently suspended Omisore for one year for supporting the APC candidate in the rerun of the governorship election .

But Fasanmi criticised the Yoruba group for the suspension, describing it as laughable.

Fasanmi was quoted in a statement made available to our correspondent by the Publicity Secretary of the Ekiti State chapter of Afenifere, Chief Biodun Akin - Fasae , as saying the Fasoranti- led Afenifere had no moral right to suspend Omisore for teaming up with a progressive party to win an election .

He said, “ The action (Omisore’ s suspension ) is the most embarrassing action taken by anyone or group since the death of the sage .

“ It is laughable and disappointing for anyone to desecrate the hallowed name of Chief (Obafemi ) Awolowo with conservative political tendency as being espoused by the Fasoranti and Ayo Adebanjo group that has crossed the red line.

“ The spirit of Chief Obafemi Awolowo will never forgive whoever has taken steps to bastardise the legacies he fought for all his life .”

Fasanmi, who was a member of the House of Representatives in 1964/66 and a Senator in 1979/83, said the Fasoranti/Adebanjo group must stop talking on behalf of the Yoruba race .

“ They should not put Yoruba race on sale. The Yoruba race is comfortable with the progressives as being represented by the All Progressives Congress , where the Yoruba is having the chunk of appointments, which has never happened even when Chief Obasanjo was president ,” he said.

He also wondered what the Afenifere wanted by its anti - Buhari posture , adding that the stand could only pit them against Chief Awolowo and his legacies, which the Yorubas were still proud to associate with.

But Adebanjo, when contacted on the telephone by our correspondent on Saturday, said Fansanmi had no right to speak for Afenifere because he no longer participated in the activities of the group .

He said, “ I think Fasanmi is suffering from old age . When last did he attend any Afenifere meeting? What moral right has he to speak for Afenifere ? What Afenifere’s function has he taken party in in the last 10 years?

“ I don ’t want to be involved in controversy with any old man who has lost his bearing . The less talk about Fasanmi, the better. This is not the age when leaders in Yorubaland should engage in who is what . That is not the question now . We want a better country , a better Nigeria .

“ Is that what we should be talking about now when the Yoruba race is being oppressed by the northern hegemony?’’

President Muhammadu Buhari had sent emissaries to Omisore to woo him to support the APC candidate in the Osun State governorship rerun held on September 27.

Omisore, having come a distant third position, supported the APC in the rerun and the party won the election which is now a subject of litigation before the election petitions tribunal in the state .

yns4real:
On Friday 0ctober 26, the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation released a statement claiming the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next February’s presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, was endorsed by the influential London-based Economist magazine.

The statement was referring to a claim by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, that during his recent engagement with journalists from international media organisations such as Reuters, Aljazeera, and the Economist, he was asked why the PDP candidate emerged despite the government’s claim to fighting corruption.

“They asked me: How can you claim to have succeeded in waging war against corruption when one of the major contestants in the 2019 general elections is actually a man with stupendous wealth but cannot explain the source of his wealth?

“That baffled me a lot, because it means that we are still being perceived as a country where corruption thrives,” Mr. Mohammed said.

The Atiku campaign claimed ‘the latest endorsement by the Economist’, ‘the second in two months’, is an endorsement of its candidate’s superior policies.

“An endorsement based on the clarity of vision and the detailed policies of the PDP’s candidate when compared to the vague and empty promises of the incumbent All Progressives Congress’ administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“As the Economist rightly states, the issues in 2019 are ‘popular frustration over the rise in joblessness and poverty (two of the biggest voter concerns) on Mr. Buhari’s watch, as well as growing insecurity in central Nigeria,” the Atiku Campaign Organisation wrote.

When contacted, Paul Ibe, a spokesperson for Mr. Abubakar, reiterated the claim of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation.

“It is all a matter of language, he told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone.

“The Economist endorsed us,” he said. “That is not the only endorsement we have received. The Atiku candidacy is getting more and more viable every day. I just told you. I am restating it. That’s an endorsement.”

But did the Economist magazine endorse Mr. Abubakar as claimed by his campaign organisation?


Here are the facts:

*First, contrary to the claim of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, the reports it cited as containing the endorsements were not written by the Economist Magazine. Rather they were written by a sister company of the newspaper, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

*The EIU is the research and analysis division of the Economist Group, the parent company of the Economist magazine.

Both divisions are independent of each other. While the Economist magazine specialises in international business and world affairs news, the EIU provides forecasting and advisory services through research and analysis.


*The EIU publishes monthly country economic forecast, risk services and industrial reports. It was the EIU reports on Nigeria in July and October that the Atiku Campaign organisation was referring to and not a report written by the Economist magazine, as it wrongly claimed.

Endorsement?

As part of its editorial policy, the Economist endorses candidates and political parties ahead of major elections. The magazine, which was first published in September 1843 originally declined to take sides in elections on the ground that “a journal that is jealous of its reputation for independence would, in any event, be foolish to compromise it by openly taking sides in a general election.”

But in the run-up to the 1955 United Kingdom’s parliamentary election, it dropped its neutrality in election matters and endorsed Conservative candidate, Eden Anthony, arguing that “[I]n the election of 1955 an elector who tries to reach his conclusion by reason based on observation has no choice. He may not like voting Tory. But there is nothing else he can do.”

The magazine has since endorsed several prime ministerial candidates in the UK, American presidential candidates and candidates in other elections elsewhere.

Perhaps the magazine’s endorsement that many Nigerians will quickly remember was its February 2015 endorsement of Muhammadu Buhari, then the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

After condemning the then incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, and Mr Buhari in almost equal measure, the newspaper grudgingly endorsed the latter for president saying: “We are relieved not to have a vote in this election. But were we offered one we would—with a heavy heart—choose Mr Buhari.”

However, unlike the Economist magazine, the EIU is not known to have ever endorsed candidates running for political offices. It merely analyses prevailing realities and trends in countries and forecasts possible political or economic outcomes.

And that was clearly what it did in its July and October country reports on Nigeria. In its October report on Nigeria, which the Atiku Campaign organisation cited as evidence of endorsement, the EIU clearly drew a parallel between the rising insecurity and what it termed “economic difficulty” and the outcome of next year’s presidential election.

“The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts ongoing severe outbreaks of instability, given slow progress on tackling numerous security and societal challenges at a time of economic difficulty,” the report said. “With tight national elections expected in 2019, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be focused on intra-party politics and security concerns will be sidelined. The election period itself will be a time of high risk; as a recent by-election in Osun state demonstrated, small-scale violence at the polls is highly likely, as is disputation of the results.”

The EIU therefore predicted that Mr Atiku would win the coming election. But this is not an endorsement. It is a prediction that flowed from the internal analysis by EIU personnel.

“Our baseline forecast is that the president, Muhammadu Buhari, will lose power, and that the next government will be led by Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP, the main opposition party), but instability will remain an insoluble challenge.”

The organisation then explained that in the event of Mr Atiku’s victory not all newly defected members of the PDP will be reward with appointments.

The EIU explained that the reason it predicted victory for Mr. Atiku and the PDP are believed to be more popular in the south of the country while the vote from the north would be split between Mr. Buhari and Mr. Atiku because both top contenders are from the north of the country.

“Mr Abubakar’s pledge is to reinvigorate the economy with pro-market reforms. Both candidates are from northern Nigeria, where Mr. Buhari’s support base lies, presaging a fierce contest there. With the vote likely to be split in the north, Mr Abubakar will find it easier to garner support from the country’s south, which has traditionally been a safe haven for the PDP. This gives Mr Abubakar an edge, as does popular frustration over the rise in joblessness and poverty (two of the biggest voter concerns) on Mr Buhari’s watch, as well as growing insecurity in central Nigeria.

“Nonetheless, strong incumbency advantages in Nigeria imply that it will be a very tight race. If Mr Abubakar loses–a distinct downside risk to our forecast–there may be a rejection of the result by the PDP, which is convinced the election will be rigged. In this scenario, a state of national paralysis could arise with severe national security implications,” the EIU wrote.

So, did the Economist Magazine endorse Mr Atiku for President as claimed by his campaign organisation?

VERDICT: The claim is false

===============================


READ THE FALSE CLAIM BY THE ATIKU CAMPAIGN BELOW

The Economist Vindicates Atiku Abubakar
The latest endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, by the Economist Magazine, puts to lies the recent ridiculous claims made by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that the international media is askance of the candidature of Mr. Abubakar.

This is the second endorsement in as many months by the world’s number one economic and policy magazine. An endorsement based on the clarity of vision and the detailed policies of the PDP’s candidate when compared to the vague and empty promises of the incumbent All Progressive Congress administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

As the Economist rightly states, the issues in 2019 are “popular frustration over the rise in joblessness and poverty (two of the biggest voter concerns) on Mr. Buhari’s watch, as well as growing insecurity in central Nigeria.”

No other candidate has the capacity to address these challenges, like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, under whose watch as Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, Nigeria had her highest growth in job numbers.

Indeed, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, is poised to translate the significant success he has made in his private business empire to the public sector. This anticipation is responsible for the momentum he now enjoys in all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

For the past one year, Mr. Abubakar has traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria, selling his plans, vision and policies to Nigerians. Unfortunately, rather than do the same, the All Progressive Congress has focused on negative campaigning by slandering Mr. Abubakar’s past.

We are not surprised by their actions. When a man’s future intimidates people, they focus on lying about his past because they cannot compete in the present. However, we thank The Economist for proving that no matter how far and fast falsehood has traveled, it must eventually be overtaken by truth.

For now, we remind Nigerians that Atiku means JOBS. And by providing the atmosphere for Jobs, Opportunity, Being United (JOBS), Atiku Abubakar is ready to Get Nigeria Working Again.


Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization

Plot 120, Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent,

Wuse II, Abuja.

Mace0lane:
Igbotic hate filled bigot which of this did PDP provide in the 16 years it ruled that you want us back to Sodomy ?

yns4real:


Some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State on Saturday affirmed the Senate Minority Leader, Chief Abiodun Olujinmi, as the leader of the party in the state.

Governor Ayodele Fayose had been the leader of the party in the state.

The members who met under the PDP Stakeholders Forum in Ado Ekiti also asked the National Executive Committee to dissolve the Gboyega Oguntuase-led State Working Committee, which is loyal to former Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Among those at the meeting were Olujimi, a former Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Tae-Lawal; a former Speaker and Acting Governor, Tunji Odeyemi; incumbent Deputy Speaker, Segun Adewumi; a former chairman, Bola Oluojo;a former PDP Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko and a former governorship aspirant, Yinka Akerele.

Our correspondent observed that the PDP’s secretariat on Ajilosun Road, Ado Ekiti, remained shut on Saturday with armed policemen stationed on guard.

Aluko had invaded the place on Thursday with some other aggrieved members to accuse the state executive members of making suspicious withdrawals from the party’s account.

But the police quickly moved in to secure the place and were still on the ground on Saturday.

A communique read after the meeting by the Protem Secretary of the stakeholders’ forum and former member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Bunmi Olugbade, said Olujimi as the highest ranking officer in PDP from Ekiti State was adopted as the party leader.

It also called on the party leadership to constitute an independent committee to look into affairs of the party.

The forum while commending Aluko in discovering and detecting the illegal and suspicious withdrawals by the SWC urged Olujimi to liaise with the National Executive Committee of the PDP to freeze the state account of the party.
The communiqué overruled the SWC on the suspension of Aluko, saying he remained a bonafide member of the party.

It read in part, “We are poised to reposition and return the PDP back to the people and therefore call on the party leadership to constitute an independent committee to look into the affairs of the party in Ekiti state with a view to repositioning the party for the 2019 elections.

“That there is an urgent need for reconciliation and the panacea for true reconciliation is the immediate dissolution of the present state working committee of the PDP and a constitution of caretaker committee.

“That Senator Olujimi should constitute Advisory committee in all the 16 local governments to midwife reconciliation and also Finance to strategise and mobilise funds for the party.

“That we appeal to our members who are aggrieved or sitting on the fence to come back to the party. Again, we stand by our party national exco, our presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the various candidates in Ekiti State and promise to vote for them substantially”, it added.