₦airaland Forum

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday promised to ensure the state of insecurity in Zamfara and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State was over very soon.

Buratai made the promise while addressing newsmen during an operational visit to the Nigerian Army base in Kachia, as well as the forward operation base in Kafanchan, both in Kaduna state.

He said while the Southern Kaduna area has been stabilised there were still problems around the Birnin Gwari area in Kaduna state and Zamfara as well.

“Nothing is making it difficult. Be rest assured that those places will be stabilised very soon.

“We have reinforced our troops that are there, and we are really reinforcing our equipment too. We are adjusting the deployment in that area.

“We are getting the relevant platforms to ensure that all the security agencies are able to deal with those issues,” Buratai said.

He said the visit was a routine, in order for him to see the troops and look at what the Army has in Kaduna.

The COAS also said the visit would give him an insight into some of the infrastructure being put in place, and what the troops were also doing in respect of operations.
“This place is part of Nigerian Army’s operational bases which we later developed into a full battalion.

“We just acquired some of the equipment needed by the battalion, which we will soon start using in the area,’’ he said.

Buratai warned that the level of insecurity had always been going up and troops therefore needed to be on alert to maintain security.(NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-ll-stabilise-security-situation-in-birnin-gwari-zamfara-soon-coas-assures-263462.html

8 lawmakers move against gov
‘He’s targeted for quitting APC’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said over N20bn Benue State funds have been laundered under the watch of Governor Samuel Ortom.

Top EFCC investigators who spoke to Daily Trust said the discoveries were made following intelligence reports about the suspicious transactions.

Investigators said they discovered about N20bn were withdrawn from four bank accounts operated by the Benue State government from June 2015 to March 2018.

The EFCC said the funds were laundered through several N10m withdrawals within two days after the accounts received money from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Investigators said two of the bank accounts being investigated were opened as ‘Benue State Government House Account’ respectively.

The accounts were said to have received over N1.9bn between June 2015 and March 2018. The EFCC said records show that three Benue State government officials - Emmanuel Aorga, Patrick Abah and Ochaja Peter - made several withdrawals depleting the bank accounts.

It was said Aorga made a total withdrawal of N369, 728,950; Abah N130, 199,386 and Peter, N704, 041,000.

Two accounts opened as ‘Bureau for Internal Affairs and Special Services Accounts’ between 2015 and 2018 received N19, 468,951,590.00 from FAAC.

The EFCC said all the money was withdrawn in cash of N10m cheques by one Oliver Mtom, a Benue State government official.

They said sometimes several withdrawals were made in one day to the tune of N500m, N300m and N200m.

It noted that the withdrawals were done monthly immediately after the accounts were credited by the FAAC.

EFCC said cashiers and accountants invited and interrogated disclosed that the monies were taken to their respective permanent secretaries. It noted that two permanent secretaries were questioned over the funds.

Permanent Secretary Gabriel Iangba was questioned over the two bank accounts under the name ‘Benue State Government House Account.’ Iangba was said to have told EFCC operatives that the funds were spent on the governor’s security, government house expenses, governors travels, landscaping and kitchen.

It added that Permanent Secretary Boniface Nyaakor was interrogated over the operation of the two accounts opened as ‘Bureau for Internal Affairs and Special Services Accounts.’

The EFCC said Nyaakor stated that the funds were disbursed to six Federal Government security agencies in Benue State.

He said the monies were randomly distributed to the security agencies with the largest amount disbursed at any given time not exceeding N10m.

The EFCC said Nyaakor would raise a blank memo on the distribution of the funds to the security agencies.

The EFCC noted that after the distribution, the governor would then destroy the memo, leaving no records of how the monies have been disbursed, which is against transparency.

The EFCC said it is also investigating the diversion of about N275m meant for purchase of 30 Prado Jeeps as official vehicles for members of the Benue State House of Assembly. It said the cars were supposed to have been purchased and distributed to the members at N12.9m each.

The EFCC said it was discovered that only eight vehicles were supplied by the contractor while N275m was diverted and laundered through the House of Assembly.

The EFCC said N244m was recovered from several members of the House of Assembly in a case that is still being investigated by the Commission.

It said four members have refused to pay back the money in an investigation that has spanned over two years.

Investigators said the members have been reporting at the EFCC head office since 2006.

The EFCC said the lawmakers and the contractor have a case to answer.

Ortom attacked for quitting APC - Aide

When contacted, Ortom’s media aide Terver Akase dismissed as false the allegations that monies have been diverted in the state.

He said the Benue State government does not have such funds to divert while struggling to pay salaries and contractors.

He said the books are open at any time, noting that anti-graft agencies should be fair and treat everybody with equity.

He said Governor Ortom’s hands are clean, and the EFCC is free to investigate all allegations.

Akase added that the governor is being attacked just because he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that a lot of allegations are cropping up to make him look bad before the world.

He said the fact that someone is accused, or being investigated, does not mean the person is guilty. Daily Trust reports that the EFCC had in the past probed sitting governors which culminated in their controversial impeachments.

Based on investigations by the EFCC, Joshua Dariye was removed as governor of Plateau State in November 2006.

His impeachment was later nullified by the Appeal Court in March 2007.

Also, a former Governor of Bayelsa State Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was impeached in December 2005 after allegations of corruption and an investigation by the EFCC. Alamieyeseigha, like Dariye, was also then at loggerheads with the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose was also probed by the EFCC and impeached in October 2006.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/efcc-probes-ortom-over-alleged-n20bn-laundering-263396.html

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has denied calling the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye a clown.

Saraki was reacting to the claim by the Senator representing Nasarawa West, Abdullahi Adamu that he (Saraki) once referred to Senator Dino Melaye as "clown" in a private chat with him.

He described Adamu as a compulsive liar and an unreliable man who will do or say anything to suit his situation at any point in time.

The Senate President stated that the Senator from Nasarawa State has been peddling insults and lies about him but he has ignored him out of respect for his age.

In a statement signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki stated that: "I have deliberately ignored the antics of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, especially his constant media attack on me and the Senate since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dusted his file on alleged case of corruption and also went ahead to arraign his son in court.

"So far, I had refrained from responding in kind out of respect for his age. However, it seems he has misread my maturity and respect for docility.

"He feels the best way to play his self-survival game and ingratiate himself to the government in order to save his skin is for him to be seen to be fighting Saraki, even if that would require him to tell brazen lies and peddle mischief in his old age.

"However, I feel his latest statement in an interview with a national newspaper deserves a reaction from me. First, I could not have referred to my colleague, Senator Dino Melaye as a clown, knowing that from available records, Senator Melaye has so far outshined and has performed better than Senator Abdullahi in terms of the number of bills sponsored, motion raised and contributions to debate on the floor.

"Clearly, Adamu's seven years cannot be compared to Senator Melaye's three years. Senator Adamu is free to challenge this assertion by showing his records.

"Again, I restate that Senator Adamu is a deceptive, manipulative and desperate liar. He only says what suits him as the occasion demands. I urge people to check his contributions on the floor before the EFCC moved against him and his son and they will see that this is a latter day, selfish supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari."

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/saraki-i-didn-t-call-dino-melaye-a-clown-263299.html

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has said that he was confident that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 presidential election for a second term in the office.

Akeredolu told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Atlanta, U.S. that Buhari had done well and deserved to be re-elected, in spite of obvious challenges.

“I followed the achievements he (Buhari) has had within this four short years but he’s not someone that is given to making noise.

“A lot has changed in our country and there’s need for continuity; no doubt, we have had our challenges.

“No doubt, at the tail end, a number of challenges came about on security.

“But that notwithstanding, to get us out of recession within a short time is not a mean feat; people don’t just appreciate it.

“To now talk about a number of other things; when you talk about light, where you have light, is anybody talking about it?

“To talk about what we have been able to save in terms of cutting corruption, so many lives are affected by that.

“So, I believe that within this short four years, President Buhari has done a lot,’’ the governor told NAN.

He urged Nigerians to re-elect the president for another term to stabilise the economy and block leakages.

According to him, re-electing another person might lead to the reversal of what the president has done in the last three years.

He said: “Let him (Buhari) continue and probably stabilise the economy more, and at least, block a few areas of leakages when it comes to corruption in this country.

“Let him block it totally and make sure that we are on a sound footing to now move.

“Somebody else can come but it’s not like now.

“So for us, who are supporting him, we believe that in the interest of stability, continuity and for the progress of the nation, we need President Buhari to have another four years and then we can move ahead’’.

On the implications of the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leading to the gale of defections by some National Assembly members and Benue Gov. Samuel Ortom, Akeredolu said there was no cause for alarm.

According to him, the defections were not because the politicians had any problem with Buhari but due to problems related to states.

“President Buhari will win the election, let us leave what is happening here and there; he has captured it very well.

“Look at the issue of the gale of defection that people are doing, he said most of them are not because of him, which is true.

“We have States in which people have created problems and these problems now cascaded into the national level.

“So, in that circumstance at the end of the day, when elections are held, President Buhari will win.

“I am sure by the grace of God, we will win the election.

“The only thing is that I don’t know about senators, I can’t talk about governors or some of the elections in the states.

“But if it’s the election for the president, President Muhammadu Buhari, by the grace of God, will win. His chances are very bright,’’ Akeredolu said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-buhari-must-win-2019-presidential-election-akeredolu-263279.html

Some members of the House of Representatives, under the auspices of Parliamentary Democrats Group (PDG) have cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid intimidating Speaker Yakubu Dogara over his plans to dump the party.

Spokesman of the group, Timothy Golu (PDP, Plateau) who presented the lawmakers’ position after a meeting in Abuja yesterday, described “APC’s desperate attempt to keep Dogara in the party” as “sheer waste of time.”

The group said, Dogara reserves the right to defect to any political party of his choice without fear of impeachment as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, saying APC has no right to sack him from the position.

“It is laughable that the APC is begging the Speaker to remain in a party that has failed. Whereas the APC worked against his emergence, other members who saw his nationalistic spirit voted for him.

“He is the speaker of the House of Representatives, not of the APC,” Golu said.

The group wondered why APC wants to retain the Speaker’s position after humiliating Dogara and his associates from the ward congress of the party in Bauchi State.

It accused the Adams Oshiomhole-led APC of ‘impunity and undemocratic conduct,’ saying lawmakers were solidly behind the Speaker and would ensure that he retained his position even after defection.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-caution-apc-over-plan-to-remove-dogara-263216.html

.

hmmm

Oshin56:
He is among the prodigal sons he will surely and surely come back

There are strong indications that Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State may decamp to the Peoples Democratic Party between now and Monday.

A reliable source privy to the Governor's planned defection confided in Daily Trust that the Governor, 23 members of the House of Assembly and some leaders of APC have met and resolved to leave the party for PDP.

The meeting, he said was convened at government house at the odd hours of Thursday and that it was attended by leaders of the party from the 23 local government areas of the state, including the party's state executive committee members.

The meeting was said to have started at about 12 midnight and lasted till 6am on Friday.

However, another leader of the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the meeting was strictly for the Governor's '' loyalists'' in the party.

"Some leaders of the party were not invited because they are not loyal to the Governor," he said

Daily Trust learnt that at the meeting, that the attendees reaffirmed their loyalty to the Governor and assured him of their readiness to follow him to PDP.

Confirming the meeting, the Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Alhaji Yusuf Ilaris said they reviewed their three years stay in APC and found out that, the state had not benefited from the APC government at the national level.

"We therefore resolved to leave APC for PDP. In fact some of us had already declared their defection and I know the Governor , as well as the 23 lawmakers in the state will do the same anytime from now," he said.

However, one of the leaders of APC who attended the meeting denied reaching that resolution.

He said he was not aware of the said resolution and he was around throughout the meeting that night.

The leader who pleaded not to be named said that nobody could decide for him where he should belong politically as he is matured enough to decide for himself.

One of the lawmakers in the state said the Governor is at the liberty to decide his political future, but doubted if the said 23 lawmakers, out of the 30 lawmakers in the state would all follow him to PDP.

Another lawmaker, Sani Yakubu Gudu, representing Gudu constituency denied that 23 lawmakers are defecting to PDP along with Tambuwal.

In his Facebook page, he said 13 of them have resolved to remain in APC and they would be committed to the ideology of the party.

"I deem it imperative to clear the air on behalf of the 13 Hon. Members of the State House of Assembly and inform the general public especially the good people of Sokoto State that, we are still members of APC and remain committed to course and ideology of the party, "he said

He added:" Therefore the public are to take note not to be deceived by the political prostitutes and misguided. We are Buharists. "

It was speculated that Tambuwal was being wooed back to the PDP by the likes of General Theophilus Danjuma and the former President Ibrahim Babangida who were said to find in him the credibility to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari in the next presidential election.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/gov-tambuwal-may-dump-apc-monday-263071.html

The National Publicity Secretary of the Reformed-APC (rAPC), Prince Kassim Afegbua, yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged overtures to its members with a “juicy carrot” will not help the ruling APC.

Afegbua, in a statement, told rAPC members’ nation-wide that they were still maintaining the stand they held against the APC.

He said no amount of “carrots, intimidation and harassment” could dissuade their shared commitment to rescue democracy.

He wondered why the APC leadership had now realised the role r-APC members could play in the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari despite alleged persecution.

The statement read: “We members of the r-APC find it very amusing that those who boasted that they won’t lose sleep over our altruistic action, have been hopping from door to door pleading with our members not to leave by dangling juicy carrots and promising them heaven on earth.

“Such level of double standard is the reason why the r-APC was birthed in the first place because the leadership is not one that keeps promises and it’s the reason why no one should take the APC serious.

“It is interesting to suddenly see Mr. President holding meetings with the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, reportedly promising mouth-watering offers; the same leader who was ridiculed, scandalized, demonized, criminalized and called all sorts of names by agents of the presidency just to give the Senate president a bad name in order to hang him.

“As soon as the Supreme Court gave a resounding verdict on the trumped up and frivolous charges against the Senate president, Mr President suddenly felt a need to praise the judiciary for standing on its own. Hmm, power as they truly say, must be a crazy aphrodisiac.

“Pronto, all the political conspirators in the APC swoop into dubious reconciliation assignment, hopping from door to door at the thick of the night to strike deals of reconciliation. Those who said they won’t lose sleep over the r-APC have become sleepless in the last two weeks. Does anyone need to be reminded that caveat emptor should be the operative words?,” he asked.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/r-apc-buhari-s-overtures-won-t-save-apc-262228.html

No doubt, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State recently elicited disquiet in the hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when he publicly announced that he had been kicked out of the pitch with a red card. But at the exit point, the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, intervened, saying he was going nowhere. But how far can this intervention go to retain someone who has gone far?

Governor Samuel Ortom’s outburst on July 16, somehow put paid to the unending speculations in the past one month that he was going to dump the APC on which platform he rode to the Benue State Government House in 2015.

This was sequel to the remark Ortom made while swearing in Jerome Torshembe as his Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

“Let party or ethnicity not divide us. As for the party (APC), I’ve been given a red card and I’m outside the pitch. So, if I have been given red card and I’m standing outside, I’m a free man. So I don’t know what will happen next, but I’m waiting,” he said.

“If anyone approaches me, then I will tell the Benue people that I’m joining another football club,” he added.

Ortom’s planned defection from the APC was said to be due to a broken relationship between him and the leader of the APC in the state, Sen. George Akume, as scheming towards the 2019 elections thickens.

Sen. Akume who remains a strong power broker in Benue State was instrumental to the emergence of Ortom as governor in 2015.

This came to fruition when Ortom, who equally had a modest political empire in the state, with large followership in the PDP, found it difficult to get PDP’s ticket to vie for the governorship.

This was because Gabriel Suswam who was rounding up his second term as governor was earnestly shopping for a successor that would be saleable to the electorate. Wittingly or unwittingly, he was not willing to give the ticket to Ortom.

It was, therefore, a “marriage of convenience” when Akume, who equally wanted a formidable candidate to dislodge Suswam’s empire, seamlessly found the trigger in Ortom.

With their separate formidable platforms, they succeeded in giving the APC an edge in Benue despite the fact that it was least expected going by the voting pattern in the state.

However, soon after the “win”, sharing the “spoils of war” became problematic between Akume and Ortom; and of recent, the two leaders had cause to flex their political muscles over the control of the APC in the state.

In demonstrating his strength, Gov. Ortom recently sacked all of Akume’s loyalists in his cabinet, including special advisers; a development that prompted political pundits to believe that he was ready for the worst.

Although Ortom denied sacking the aides because of their loyalty to Akume, sources said it was an attempt to ensure that he had his men in strategic places who would in turn work for him when it comes to election matters; not necessarily under the platform of the APC, even in the event he opts for another political party.

This was sequel to insinuations of an alleged threat from Akume who said Ortom would not get the ticket of the APC to seek re-election next year.

Another concern for the APC is the “status” of APC in Benue State that gives Ortom and his loyalists’ headache. This is going by the security issues occasioned by farmers/herders crises the people have had to contend with in the last two years.

Analysts believe that the ruling APC may not appeal to the electorate in the Benue State the way it did in 2015 and, therefore, Ortom may weigh his chances on other platforms. They said this was more so if his utterances against the Federal Government were anything to go by.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that Gov. Ortom is already in talks with the PDP “big men” both at the state and national levels with the likes of the party’s National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, a former Senate President, David Mark, ex-Gov. Gabriel Suswam, some serving PDP governors, among others.

In fact, the governor was said to have recently held meetings with PDP bigwigs in Abuja, Otukpo and Makurdi with rumours making the rounds that he would formally join the party in the next few days.

But his latest meeting with Oshiomhole at the APC national secretariat in Abuja has somehow changed the narrative.

At the meeting, Gov. Ortom said, “I was given a red card by Sen. Akume who is the leader of the party in Benue State and I took it as I was serious enough to make myself available after the hitch.

“But the leadership of the party (APC) told me that its decision at the national level was superior to any individual’s; and I think that is good enough.

“We have not concluded the matter, it is an ongoing process because I have always stood for peace and I always want peace to prevail.

“I appreciate the intervention and I hope that we would be able to resolve the matter of differences, and this is the funny thing about politics.”

Asked to reveal his position on PDP’s moves to woo him to their fold, Ortom said, “I am here in APC, a member of APC, I’m still flying the flag of APC and I only said I was given red card and I’ve been corrected by the national secretariat,” he said.

But just before the meeting with Oshiomhole, Ortom had hobnobbed with PDP stalwarts in Ilorin, Kwara State, when they paid a condolence visit to Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

They later held a meeting behind closed doors with the PDP stalwarts; amplifying the argument that he is still weighing options.

Moreover, his outing with the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) conference in Makurdi largely dominated by the PDP and other opposition parties which he attended with his counterpart from Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, a PDP governor, suggest where his heart lies.

At the rally, common issues such as killings within the region, restructuring of the country and state police dominated discussions. MBF demanded the APC-led government to take actions as they vowed not to relent in their pursuit for a better Nigeria.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ortom, Terver Akase, could not confirm to our correspondent whether his boss was already in talks with any party.

However, Akase said, “Ortom is yet to make up his mind to join another political party or to stay put in the PDP. Other political parties have indicated interest in him as their star player who led their football club to victory, but he is yet to make up his mind,” he said.

Akase emphasised that Ortom, at the moment, was a beautiful bride sought by different suitors. He further explained that his principal’s outing of late with opposition parties’ stalwarts only signified his liberality to associate with other leaders across political divides.

As to whether the PDP would give its ticket to the governor for a re-election, the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Bemgba Iortyom, told our correspondent that in the event Ortom joined the party, he would not be given special treatment at the expense of other aspirants.

Iortyom further said the PDP was a political party established under the law and, therefore, it was required for people to signify their interest by following laid down procedures of the party’s constitution.

He added that the PDP could not stop Ortom or anybody from joining the party.

“If Ortom comes back through the legal framework of the party’s constitution, he is welcome and free to aspire to contest for his interested position. The common denominator or deciding factor will be election through the primary process. That is the position of the new structured PDP under Chief Secondus,” Iortyom said.

Iortyom stressed that the new hallmark of the PDP would insist on free, fair and credible primaries at all levels as demonstrated during the congress which brought the present crop of the party’s national executives to office.

He maintained that the days of imposing preferred candidates on the people were over as the new rules hinged on a level-playing ground for all aspirants, adding that, “Nobody would be imposed on the party.”

Meanwhile, as the drama continues to unfold, within the week, more supporters of the governor defected from the APC to the PDP, giving more credence to speculations that Ortom would soon spread an umbrella over his head for a relief from the scorching sun outside the football pitch.

Back to his meeting with the APC leadership in Abuja, Oshiomhole had told Ortom that he was not going anywhere.

“What we will not accept is anybody leaving the house that we have built together; that we are committed to, and I think the governor’s statement is clear.

“For PDP that is deceiving people, they must know that only people without honour will vomit in the morning and in the afternoon they convert it to lunch. People like Ortom who have honour cannot leave PDP just three and a half years ago with his eyes open and then two, three years later, there are some tensions in his master bedroom and he is thinking of returning to people deceiving people, that cannot be an option,” Oshiomhole said.

Analysts believe the drama will continue, more so Akume the APC leader has refused to say anything even after his meeting with Oshiomhole.

And in the event that Akume refuses to accept reconciliation with Ortom, Oshiomhole must have to choose between a sitting governor and a powerful senator to see if he can retain Benue for the APC.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/can-oshiomhole-s-overtures-keep-ortom-in-apc-262055.html

hmmm

May God help us

No fewer than eight governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State have agreed to come out with a consensus candidate for the 2019 election.

One of the aspirants, Dr Ja’afaru Sa’ad, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Friday, described the development as commendable.

Sa’ad, who holds the traditional title of Galadiman Ruwan Zazzau, said that the idea was for the PDP to form a united front capable of defeating whoever the ruling APC field as its candidate.

“Eight of us seeking for the party ticket have been urged by our party to go, discuss among ourselves and come out with a consensus candidate.

“We are all qualified and capable, but as members of the same family we do not have room for internal crisis usually associated with primary elections.

“To me, this is a unity of purpose. All we want is victory comes 2019 elections, not only for our party but primarily for the people of Kaduna State, whom we hope to represent and serve, “he said.

He said that the measure would enable the party channel all its resources, expertise and energy into ensuring that it put up a good fight and wrestle power from the APC.

He identified the other aspirants as Malam Isah Ashiru, Mohammed Sani Bello; Bello Kagarko; Sani Sidi; Jonathan Kish; Ramalan Yero the immediate past governor of the state; and Shuaibu Mikati.

“Our central goal is to beat the APC and its candidate, as such, the need for PDP, being a one united family to work together for the interest of the party and the people of the state.

“Eight of us were at the meeting on Tuesday, except for Ashiru who sent a representative.

“We embraced the idea with all our heart. We will commence sitting hopefully this week to bring out one candidate that will beat the APC come 2019 elections,” he assured.

Sa’ad encouraged other states and “even at the national level for the presidential seat” to take similar step in the selection of candidates for various offices.

Confirming the decision, Malam Ibrahim Wusono, the PDP Secretary in the state, said that it was a collective agreement of the party executives, elders and members.

“We have the option of either coming out with a consensus candidate out of the eight currently vying for the gubernatorial ticket, or conducting an election if we could not reach a consensus.

“As party executive, we met with members, elders of the party; former Vice President Namadi Sambo and Mohammed Makarfi among others to decide on the way forward.

“Our leaders assured us that they do not have a candidate, that their candidate is the people’s candidate.

“We summoned a meeting on Tuesday July 17 to see the possibility of a consensus candidate that will be acceptable by members and the people of Kaduna State; someone who if elected will be a leader of all.

“And if not possible, then we will have to conduct election when the time comes. But we were happy when the eight aspirants bought the idea and promised to get back to us very soon.”

Wusono, however, said that if another aspirants emerge after the consensus candidate has been decided, the party would not deny him the opportunity to aspire for the governorship ticket.

“We will ask such a person to meet with the consensus candidate and decide who should carry the flag. If that fails then we will have to conduct an election,” Wusono added.

NAN reports that Ashiru was a former local government chairman, state Assembly and two term member of the House of Representatives.

Bello, the Mainan Zazzau is a lecturer and a former commissioner in the state while Kagarko was also a former commissioner of Education during the Makarfi administration.

Sidi too is a former commissioner in the state and the immediate past Director General, National Emergency Management Agency.

Adamu who is from Kaura LGA, is a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and former House of Assembly Member in the state.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-8-pdp-governorship-aspirants-opt-for-consensus-to-unseat-el-rufai-261950.html

persecution continues...

Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson has said Re-structuring and the establishment of State-Police would end insecurity in the country.

He stated on Friday during in a lecture to participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course, at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Abuja.

He spoke on the topic, “Cultural Values, National Security and the Challenges of Contemporary Governance: Perspectives from the Bayelsa Experience.”

He said, “It is very clear that Nigeria’s lopsided Federal System, over centralization of security powers, and the politicization of security by the various agencies is a major cause of instability, and poses a threat to national stability and security.”

He noted that, “there is no serious country where the appointment and removal of the Inspector General of Police, is completely at the discretion of the President.”

Dickson explained that, “the Constitution made the President the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, but not of the Police, not of Security and Intelligence, for a reason, because those powers are very important and should be exercised from the bottom up.”

He lamented the centralized control of security agencies, and how politicians of party’s that control the center, seek to play politics with security.

He said this is occasioned by the abuse of Nigeria’s federal system, and the ease with which those who control powers at the federal level undermine law and order.

He noted that State Governors; Benue, Taraba, Sokoto and Zamfara States, would be in better position to mobilize and address security challenges without the abuse of the federal system.

He said, “In States, we are labouring hard to bring under security control, the over politicization of security, and Nigeria’s lopsided security architecture and over centralization is a cause of insecurity.”

He pointed out that a return to true federalism in important, so as not to stifle the individual dreams and aspirations of the diverse groups in the country.

This he said is more realistic in building a Nigerian nation devoid of instability.

Dickson also said the increasing spate of killings in the North Central region, and parts of the North West are the greatest existential threat to Nigeria since the civil war.

He said the President should lead the security forces to repel these attacks, adding that, “If these mercenaries are foreign, it means the nation is under attack.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/restructuring-state-police-will-end-insecurity-gov-dickson-261946.html

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The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating revenue leakages in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) at the weekend said about N6 trillion from gas sales and royalties is yet to be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund by oil majors operating in the country.

According to the committee Chairman, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River) the leakages were the result of the faulty Production Sharing Contract (PSC), which gives room for the oil firms to fleece Nigeria of billions of naira revenue.

Specifically, he said the committee uncovered over US$8 billion unremitted accrual from gas sales by Total Oil & Gas Limited between 2007 and 2017; US$170 million by Mobil; US$34 million by Neconde; among others.

“The Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) is faulty and does not provide for the remittance of the proceeds from gas sales. It gives room for most of the oil companies to fleece our revenues.

In the Bonga Field, Total alone has over US$8 billion unremitted gas sales to the Consolidated Revenue Fund between 2007 and 2017. Mobil owes over

US$170m on gas sales from Bonny Terminal; Neconde owes about $34 million in royalty,” the chairman stated.

He also said records from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), JP Morgan, signature bonuses, concession rentals, crude oil, gas and flaring royalties, revealed that Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd, has no evidence of payment of crude oil and gas sales, despite operating in the upstream sector of the oil industry.

The lawmaker equally frowned at the level of impunity by the oil majors and other actors in the oil industry, and called for total overhaul of the PSC.

As a result, he added, the ad hoc committee has summoned the management of five oil firms namely; Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd, Neconde Energy Ltd, ND Western Limited, Newcross E & P and Allied Energy Ltd., to provide their evidence of payment of royalties.

“We think all the funds have to be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. So, we have asked NNPC and DPR to make their submissions to the committee.

I can confirm to you that if we get the fund, the Federal Government will borrow less to finance the deficit budget,” Jarigbe said.

Responding to questions on the non-enforcement of extant laws regulating the oil industry, the lawmaker said there are sanctions such as suspension of export permits, but that there must be political will by the executive to enforce them.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/total-mobil-others-yet-to-remit-n6tr-oil-revenue-261151.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has offered further explanations on why Nigeria hasn’t signed the Africa Continental Free Trade agreement that has been endorsed by 49 countries.

President Buhari, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 25th annual general meeting of the Afrexim Bank in Abuja ,yesterday, said Nigeria has to ensure that the free trade policy is ‘free and fair” to all parties.

Nigeria has delayed signing the new trade policy that is touted to be capable of facilitating over $3trilion trades across Africa, saying it needed further consultations.

But the president disclosed that the consultations are almost over and Nigeria may likely consider signing on soon.

“Significant progress has been made in these consultations. The team has met key stakeholders across our six geo-political zones. The responses have been diverse as would be expected. However, one clear message has emerged which is that any trade agreement must be both ‘free’ and ‘fair’. This fairness is achievable and we will work towards it,” he said.

He acknowledged that no nation can survive on it’s own in the global trade market but still cautioned on the terms of engagement.

“No nation can survive on its own. Trading is important and the terms of trade are important. Therefore, there is a need to ensure our national interests as well as our regional and international obligations are balanced,” he noted.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/africa-free-trade-agreement-must-be-fair-buhari-261029.html

About 3,000 persons were killed in Zamfara State by bandits in the last two years, with over N1.2 billion paid as ransom to secure the release of residents abducted during the period.

This was disclosed by a former Senator Sa’idu Dansadau during a press conference in Abuja yesterday. He said the killings took place between June 2016 and June 2018.

He said 682 villages and towns were sacked by the bandits causing residents to flee to neighbouring states of Katsina and Kebbi. The former lawmaker said 2,706 farms were also destroyed, just as 13,838 cattle, and 11,088 sheep and goats were looted.

Reeling out the statistics of the banditry, Dansadau said of the 682 villages and towns destroyed and deserted, residents were only able to return to 374 of them because of the intensity of the crimes. He said the bandits during the period under review stole motorcycles totalling 2,244.

Dansadau, who urged President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the aid of the residents of the state, said he arrived at these figures by multiplying the figures obtained from Dansadau state constituency by 22 other constituencies affected by banditry.

He said of the 25 state constituencies in Zamfara, only three had not suffered from similar or worse losses occasioned by the activities of the bandits.

During the briefing, the former senator provided documents containing the names and villages of people killed, names of people abducted and the ransom paid, as well the list of villages destroyed, at least that the Dansadau state constituency.

He urged former Head of State retired General Yakubu Gowon to lead other members of the Council of State to plead with President Buhari to declare an emergency rule in Zamfara state.

“Any remedial measure taken by the federal government short of declaring an emergency will not produce any positive result,” the former lawmaker said.

He said the military operation in Zamfara State is not yielding result because a section of the most senior functionaries of the Abdulaziz Yari-led government are “informants of the criminals.” Dansadau didn’t provide any evidence to back up this claim.

He said the fact that Governor Yari had since resigned as chief security officer of the state “depicts his incapacity, unsuitability, and impropriety to continue to function as governor and expect people of Zamfara State to be safe from the criminalities of these terrorists.”

The former lawmaker said he’s aware of the Supreme Court judgment that said the president can’t remove elected governors and their deputies excerpt as provided in Sections 143 and 144 and Sections 188 and 189 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“We are not requesting President Buhari to remove Abdulaziz Yari from office by declaring state of emergency but to suspend all elected public officers in the stare for six months to enable Major General Abubakar Maikobi, the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke II with operational Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State, consult widely in executing the military operation which Governor Yari refused to do “in spite of all entreaties from different quarters.”

In a letter addressed to Buhari, dated June 18, 2018, entitled “Re-request to take extraordinary measures in accordance with the constitution to halt the high level of mass killings in Zamfara State,” Dansadau said emergency rule in the state is inevitable because of Yari’s inability unlike his counterparts in Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger states “who brought the situation under control” in their states because of their proactive approach.

Daily Trust reports that this letter is a reminder to an earlier one with the same subject dated June 14, 2016, written to Buhari by Dansadau.

He said the governors of these states with borders with Zamfara substantially reduced the banditry in their states “they (governors) reside in and work from their states, consult with their elders, and traditional institutions.”

He, however, lamented that Zamfara’s situation “has gone out of control because the governor would do none of those things.” He said the inability of the police to safeguard the people of Zamfara may be linked to the “disconnect” between them and the governor “who is rarely in Zamfara to provide leadership as the chief security of the state.

The former lawmaker renewed his appeal to the president to “invoke his powers under Section 305 (3) (c) (d) and (f) & (5) of the Constitution and declare State of Emergency in Zamfara state to deal with the rampant, horrific, indiscriminate and daily killings and violations of innocent people of Zamfara by an emboldened band of criminals in order to restore normalcy.”

Dansadau part of Zamfara’s problems - Yari’s aide

Reacting to Dansadau’s comments last night by telephone, Governor Yari’s special adviser on public enlightenment, media, and communication, Malam Ibrahim Dosara, said: “the governor won’t join issues with him (Dansadau).”

He said already the governor has set up “a committee of elders to fish out anybody involved in banditry in whatever capacity - be it informant or bandit. It is good for Dansadau to go back to his emirate and give his advice.”

Dosara said for saying no action has been taken to end the killings, Dansadau “is unreasonable and irresponsible in his calls and utterances against both the federal and Zamfara states governments.”

On his call for emergency rule, the governor’s aide said removing officials democratically elected by people is not as easy as what Dansadau thinks it to be.”

He said Dansadau “is one of the people engineering the crisis in the state by sabotaging efforts geared towards ending the banditry, therefore he should be ashamed of challenging the federal and Zamfara state governments on the killings.”

Dosara said at one instance, the former lawmaker “led a team of an outlawed vigilante group, Yan Sakai, despite a clear order by the federal and state governments as well as security agencies banning their activities.”

He said as a result of the former lawmaker’s behaviour “over 200 people were killed at ‘Yar Galma village. Even when a committee of elders was set up, Dansadau shunned the committee and acted alone.”

The governor’s spokesperson said that instead of holding conferences in Abuja, Dansadau should return home and showcase his achievements to the people of the state if really, he needs Yari’s job in 2019.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-3-000-were-killed-in-zamfara-in-two-years-260696.html

Five governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday met with Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for about three hours at the government house in Sokoto.

Speculations were rife that Tambuwal had perfected plans to return to PDP which he dumped in the buildup to the 2015 general elections while he was Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Before the meeting, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who led the other governors, said they were in the state to commiserate with Tambuwal, the people of Sokoto and families of victims of the recent killings in Rabah Local Government Area of the state.

Other governors at the meeting were those of Borno, Kashim Shettima; Adamawa, Jibrilla Bindow; Jigawa, Badaru Abubakar; Katsina, Aminu Masari; and Niger, Abubakar Sani Bello.

However, shortly after the condolences, the governors went straight into a closed door meeting.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/five-apc-govs-meet-with-tambuwal-in-sokoto-260699.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday has vowed to honour late former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Adamu Ciroma.

In a statement by his spokesman Femi Adesina, Buhari affirmed that Ciroma would also be honoured for his contributions in promoting democracy in Nigeria.

Speaking on the death of the elder stateman, the President said he received with sadness, the news of the passing of the politician.

Buhari, on behalf of himself, the Federal Government and all Nigerians, extended "sincere condolences" to the Ciroma family, the government and people of Yobe State on the passing of the elder statesman.

He expressed belief that Ciroma, as a political leader and Federal cabinet minister for Industries, Agriculture and Finance, at various points in his remarkable life, would be long remembered for his remarkable service and dedication to the country’s unity, progress and stability.

He said Ciroma's legacies should be a constant reminder to politicians wishing to work for the good of their communities and the country.

The president prayed that Almighty Allah grant Ciroma eternal rest and comfort the elder statesman’s family, relatives, friends and associates.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/president-buhari-vows-to-honour-late-adamu-ciroma-259581.html

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Let them think twice

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The president said he had kept faith with his promise to fight corruption. He stated this on Thursday while declaring a national emergency on corruption.
He said "As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in multi-sectoral reforms on anti-corruption including the enforcement of Treasury Single Account (TSA), strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy, Signing of the Open Government Partnership, and a lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions among others."

"We have so far kept faith with our promise and shall remain committed thereto until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts all her security challenges."

"Like I have many times said, if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will sooner-or later kill Nigeria. Therefore, after three years in office, it is an opportune time to further review our achievements against set goals, and where necessary; re-appraise our strategy in order to achieve our outstanding objectives."


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-ve-kept-faith-with-my-promise-president-259574.html

A former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said Ndigbo must take responsibility and vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari in next year presidential election as this will place them in advantage position to succeed the present administration in 2023

Sheriff who stated this while speaking with journalists in Umuahia when he paid a solidarity visit to the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia state after the South East Zonal mega rally held in Owerri.

The former governor said "from what have seen so far, APC is well positioned to take over government in Abia State in 2019, and from what have seen the South East must put up a position to register themselves that after Buhari they will have opportunity to lead this country.

“Nigerian politics is all about negotiations; South East can't sit down and expect others to give them the presidency. If they repositioned themselves and give him massive votes in 2019, they stand a chance to lead this country in 2023"

The leader of the party in the state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu said the South East is committed to basic democracy of one man one vote.

“Abia will give the president 75 percent of the votes from the state and 60 percent of the votes from the South East; we will show the world that South East is committed to APC,” Kalu said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ndigbo-must-take-responsibility-to-get-presidency-in-2023-ali-modu-sheriff-259414.html

Sai baba