The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • I was treated like a common criminal-Impeached Kogi deputy governor

    By James Azania, Lokoja

    The impeached Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba, has said that his purported ouster last Friday by the State Assembly will not stand.

    “It is an illegality that will not stand the test of the judiciary,” he declared.

    The House of Assembly had accused the panel that investigated Achuba of compromise.

    The report of the investigative panel was set aside by the Assembly, which went on to impeach Achuba as deputy to Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Achuba, at a press conference, in Lokoja, on Sunday, shortly after moving out of the official residence, said that swearing-in Edward Onoja, former Chief of Staff to the Governor or anyone else “as they are planning will amount to continuation of illegality being perpetrated by Governor Bello.”

    He spoke with reporters at his private residence, in the Zone 8 area in the capital.

    He called on President Muhammad Buhari to beam searchlight on the level of lawlessness in Kogi State to prevent the emergence of another form of insurgency in the country.

    He said that he had instructed his lawyers to commence the process to reclaim his mandate and put an end to executive lawlessness in the Kogi.

    Read Also: Kogi: Achuba’s impeachment undemocratic, unacceptable -Wada

    He said that he was treated like a common criminal when police were drafted to prevent entry or exist from his official residence.

    He said that when power to his house was disconnected, “security men came with technicians to disconnect both the ‘NEPA’ light and cut off the generator cables,” after he instructed an aide to put on the generator.

  • APC, PDP clash over Ekiti cargo Airport

    By Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ekiti on Sunday exchanged verbal invectives over the ongoing construction of agro-allied cargo airport in the state.

    The PDP said the airport project was a ‘silly approach’ to transform the state’s economy, saying “Governor Fayemi is not just insensitive but cruelly demonstrating curable ignorance of the reality of the yearnings of Ekiti people”.

    But in a response, the ruling APC said the criticism was a “display of viciousness and ignorance”, noting the opposition party was allergic to the growth of the state.

    The PDP State Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase stated that such insensitive idea amidst excruciating economic hardship occasioned by the alleged incompetence of Fayemi-led administration was outrightly ill-conceived and anti- people.

    Oguntuase said the airport project is not the immediate need of the primitive economic realities of the state but fundamental transformation of Ekiti economic life that would address the prevailing vicious poverty and attendant social vices perverting the state.

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ade Ajayi, said the opposition party should bury its heads in shame for deliberately plaguing the state into unnecessary quagmire occasioned by the “obnoxious policies” of the immediate past governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Ajayi said the Governor Fayemi-led administration will not be distracted by the ranting of a group of confused and mischievous persons but rather concentrate his nerve on how to positively change the economic fortune of the state.

    The opposition party responded that instead of Fayemi investing the meagre federal allocation available to the state on ‘utopian airport’, he should look inward and initiate people-oriented project that could have multiplier effects on the economic life of the masses.

    Oguntuase said the airport was a fraudulent ploy by Governor fayemi to milk-dry the state and siphon billions of naira into his private pocket to prosecute his 2023 presidential ambition.

    In a swift reaction, Ajayi described the allegations of the PDP as “laughable”, “spurious” and “baseless”.

    He said if the development patners didn’t trust Governor Fsyemi, they wouldn’t express readiness to support, saying recent $100million for some legacy project was secured because of the governor goodwill and “untainted integrity”.

    Oguntuase said: “It is a silly approach to economic restructuring. It is crystal clear that Governor Fayemi doesn’t understand the yearnings and plight of the people.

    “I wonder when people are suffering and all roads in Ekiti state are in deplorable condition and Fayemi-led government is embarking on white elephant project. This absolutely showed that APC was insensitive to the plight and yearnings of the people.

    “Airport is not the immediate need of the primitive economic realities in Ekiti where young girls are now venturing into prostitution to make ends meet. What are they talking about and how do we answer before God?

    “I know If he want to learn, he will learn, if he want to know, he will know but this man is only startegising on how to siphon huge money preparatory of his mad 2023 presidential ambition.

    “Even though, he steals programmes from the PDP, has he forgotten that time changes and realities which might tolerate the creation of an airport then might be over? How many rich people are still in Ekiti? Aside those who want to run away from kidnapping. How many time do they come back home? And Would that justify the quantum turn of investment that an airport will need when all visible roads in Ekiti are bad? he asked.

    Read Also: PDP, APC supporters clash in Kogi

    “I am crying like a political prophet. If Fayemi doesn’t desist from this perverted economic principles is embarking upon, future generations will hear his name and curse him”, he said.

    Ajayi countered: “It is hightime PDP faced reality and cooperate with Fayemi in moving Ekiti forward rather than playing politics of bitterness at the detriment of the state.

    ” In the first attempt of Governor Fayemi, we made every attempt to ensure that the construction of airport was a reality but we could not go ahead because we lost that election in 2014. But we expected PDP under Fayose to take the issue of airport seriously but instead embark on it with the notion to siphon siphon Ekiti money.

    “Ekiti people rejected the project because the idea lack transparency. It would be recalled N10 billion was budgeted for the start of the project but how Fayose squandered the money is still a mirage to Ekiti people.

    “But Fayemi has come back now to construct what was an uphill task for Fayose. I think it is hightime PDP support Fayemi to make Ekiti great because in a comity of states, the lost glory of Ekiti is more there and Fayemi is trying to regain it back with all these laudable projects.

    “If the project is a ploy to siphon Ekiti money, the FG, AFDB and World Bank wouldn’t have supported the project. I believe what PDP did in government is what they are alleging.

    “I challenge them to come out and tell Ekiti people how Fayose spent the N10billion earnmarked for the project,” he added.

  • PANDEF backs Buhari on forensic audit of NDDC accounts

    By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

    Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has thrown its weight behind the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to carry out a forensic audit of the accounts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The group also urged the President to extend the forensic audit exercise to other interventionist organisations like the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

    It also demanded that the names of beneficiaries of NDDC contracts awarded between 2001 and 2019 should be exposed and published.

    Arising from a 3-day National Leadership retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the group, in a communique by its National Chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd) and Deputy National Chairman, Chief Francis Doukploa among others, said that for the NDDC to be effective, there must be less political interference in the operations of the commission.

    The group which had the theme: “Re-engineering for the future togther” said NDDC must be adequately funded and lamented the poor state of critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta region especially the roads.

    It called on the federal government to give immediate attention to the East-West road from Benin to Calabar, Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene-Aba road, Ogoja-Ikom-Calabar road and the Port Harcourt to Aba road.

    PANDEF commended the FG for the peaceful resolution of the contention surrounding the license and operation of Oil Marginal License (OML) 25 located in Belema, Offoinama and Ngeje communities in Kula Kingdom of Akuku Toru local government area in Rivers State.

    It pleaded with the FG to also use the same approach to resolve the OML disputes in other Niger Delta oil host communities.

    While commending Belema Oil for the human and infrastructural development in its oil and gas bearing host communities, it encouraged international and indigenous oil companies operating in the region to respect the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they have with their host communities.

    “PANDEF welcomes the order of President Muhammadu Buhari of a forensic audit of the NDDC accounts from 2001 to 2019. However demands that names of beneficiaries of contracts of the commission over the period under review should be made public.

    “In addition, insists that for NDDC to function effectively there must be adequate funding and less political interference.

    “PANDEF further urges Mr President to extend the order of forensic audit to other national interventionist organisations like the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

    Read Also: NDDC: Group urges Buhari to extend probe to 13% derivation fund

    “Restates its position on Restructuring and calls on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency begin a constructive dialogue process on the restructuring of the country,” they stated.

    The group charged the governors of the region and all political office holders to give greater attention to job creation, rural women and youth development, healthcare and education to check the growing rate of youth delinquency.

    It urged youths of the region to eschew actions and behaviours that could endanger the security and peace of the region as well as their future, and condemned the increasing rate of criminality and cult related activities in the region.

    PANDEF noted that it was committed to the pursuit of understanding and peaceful co-existence among other ethnic groups in the region, saying it would continue to work with other regional bodies in the country to enshrine an egalitarian nation.

  • Retired policeman murdered in Delta

    By Elo Edremoda, Warri

    A retired police officer, Paul Edike, has been reportedly murdered, after abduction by armed men suspected to be assassins.

    The Nation gathered that the incident occurred late Friday in Effurun, Uvwie council area of Delta state.

    The deceased was said to be returning from a ceremony when the hoodlums struck.

    A relative, Joseph Edike, disclosed that late Edike’s chauffeur who witnessed the incident, reported it to the family shortly after the kidnap.

    Unfortunately, the corpse was found few hours later along the Warri/Benin Highway.

    He said: “Our dad was kidnapped on his way home on Friday evening. The driver came to tell us. Later in the night, his lifeless body was found along Warri/Benin Road.

    “We suspect it as an assassination in relation to the case our brother has with some persons abroad.

    “Since the case started, threat messages and calls have been made to us but, we never knew it will get to this level.”

    Read Also: Families cry out over alleged attack by land grabbers, murderers

    According to the relative, the family had been careful with involving the police due to some issues “their brother” has abroad.

    The remains of the deceased had since been deposited at a morgue.

    However, the Delta State Police Command could not confirm the incident.

    Responding via mobile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke, said: “I didn’t hear of it. I don’t think that matter was reported to the police.”

  • Police arrest Ajah traffic ‘robber’

    By Precious Igbonwelundu

    The police in Lagos have arrested 23-year-old Ayobami Adegbite for alleged armed robbery of passers-by in Ajah.

    Adegbite, according to the police, led a gang of armed miscreants who were terrorising road users along Adoh Ajah and UTC on September 28.

    The Nation reports that attacks on motorists by hoodlums in Ajah had been on the rise since the resurgence of cult clashes in the area.

    Several cases of attacks on motorists have been reported by this newspaper with the police confirming some arrests in each of the incidents.

    Spokesman Bala Elkana said that Adegbite with his gang struck around 10pm and were attacking road users when policemen received distress call and stormed the area.
    “A team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Langbasa mobilised to the scene. On sighting the police, the hoodlums opened fire but were over powered by the police team.

    Read Also: Police arrest dismissed soldiers, 81 others for armed robbery, cultism

    “One Ayobami Adegbite, 23, who led the gang was arrested with one short gun, N16,000 and one digital camera they snatched from a victim. The suspect confessed to the crime and has given some useful information concerning the operations of his gang.
    “Operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja who have taken over the investigation are on the trail of the fleeing members of the gang. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.

  • Emefiele defends forex restriction on 43 items

    By Simeon Ebulu, Nduka Chiejina and Collins Nweze, Washington D.C

    The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has defended the apex bank’s policy restricting foreign exchange sales for 43 items that can be produced locally.

    Speaking at the end of the 2019 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/ World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington D.C, he rejected IMF’s position that the policy is making it difficult for foreign capital inflow into the country.

    He said: “If you feel that our restriction of foreign exchange access t for the importation of items that can be produced in Nigeria is wrong, that is not false. If you are a foreign direct investor, that is interested in doing business in Nigeria, I will say instead of you facilitating the import of these items into Nigeria, we want you to come and produce it in Nigeria”.

    Read Also: CBN to sanction banks diverting agric loans to T-Bills

    Emefiele added: ” Nigeria is a market of over 200 million people. So, you do not have a choice than to come, bring your investment plans and equipment and produce that item in Nigeria so that Nigerians can consume it.

    “Then, you will make your profit and take your dividend out of the country. So, I disagree with that position that foreign exchange restriction is hurting investment inflow into Nigeria”.

  • 86-year-old ‘mediator’ dies in Ondo

    By Damisi Ojo,Akure

    Pa Umoru SamuelTwo men, Leye Akinyemi and Damilola Ijebo, have been apprehended for allegedly involving in the death of an 86-year-old man, .

    The incident occurred at Oge Quarters, Oke Agbe in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The duo was arrested by men of the Ondo State Police Command at the weekend.

    The old man was said to have died while trying to separate Akinyemi and Ijebo, who were fighting in the deceased’s house on that fateful day.

    A source in the town said the deceased, who was just recuperating from an undisclosed illness, saw the duo fighting and immediately rushe to separate them.

    However, he was mistakenly pushed by the suspects, after which he slumped .

    Read Also: Police exhume another corpse in Benue rice farm

    The source said: “The old man came to separate the two boys who were fighting. But one of them mistakenly pushed him and he fell down and became unconscious.

    “Immediately, he was rushed to the Ondo State Specialists’ Hospital Ikare Akoko but he died before getting to the hospital.”.

    Police spokesman, Femi Joseph confirmed the incident and said the two fighters had been arrested.

  • Five die, two hospitalised in Ondo road crash

    By Damisi Ojo,Akure

    No fewer that five persons have reportedly died in an auto crash that occurred at Awoyaya, Kilometre 17 Ife garage, Ondo in Ondo west local government area of Ondo state.

    The victims were said to have included the driver of a Volkswagen,Sunday Dickson, 47.

    The auto crash left another two persons injured.

    Though eight persons were said to be on board, the whereabouts of the remaining one was unknown as at press time.

    The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday around 4:00 am.

    Read Also: Four killed in Ondo crash

    Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) said the carnage involved a Sharon Volkswagen with registration number; KTU 706BW while the second vehicle, a trailer which was said to be on the run.

    The deceased have been deposited at the general hospital,Ondo while the injured are receiving treatment at the Trauma centre Ondo.

    The State Police Spokesman,Femi Joseph,a Superintendent of Police(SP) confirmed the incident,stressing that the driver of the ill-fated trailer ran away immediately the incident occurred.

  • BPE 2019 budget revenue generation hits N135b

    By John Ofikhenua, Abuja

    The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has so far contributed N135bn out of the N220bn it is expected to generate for the 2019 fiscal budget, Director General of the privatisation agency, Mr. Alex A. Okoh has revealed.

    The Bureau made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    Speaking at an interactive forum with the Senate Committee on Privatisation at the National Assembly on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, the Director General said the Bureau is expected to contribute the N220bn in line with the Medium-Term Framework submitted by the Federal Government to the National Assembly for 2019 budget.

    He said the N135bn was generated through the sale of the Afam Electricity Generation Company (Afam Power Plc and Afam Three Fast Power Limited),re-privatisation of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) and sale of 29 percent Federal Government’s shares in the Geregu Power plant.

    Okoh, while calling on the National Assembly to critically look at the funding framework for the Bureau, expressed optimism that BPE would meet its target for the 2020 fiscal budget.

    He regretted that out of the N2bn allocated to the Bureau yearly from the national purse for its operations, N1.5bn is for staff emoluments through the Integrated Pay role and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and “of the N500m that is supposed to come to the Bureau for overheads and capital expenditure, only about 15 percent of the amount is eventually released to the Bureau against what is obtained in other revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government”.

    Read Also: Agbakoba seeks fiscal policy to revamp economy

    The Director General advised the Federal government to give consideration to the privatisation of federal government-owned enterprises to fund the N10.33trillion 2020 budget, with a total deficit of N2.28trillion and decried a situation where the state-owned enterprises place an undue pressure on the lean public purse by way of subventions.

    He noted that there was no justification for the ritual of yearly budget deficit with local and external borrowings when there were national assets that could be converted into liquidity to fund the government’s fiscal programmes.

    “It is not good to keep borrowing on a yearly basis to finance deficit budget when a lot of very valuable national assets are lying fallow and moribund.Proceeds from outright privatisation or concession of the moribund assets, should serve as veritable sources in funding the budget since the assets are more or less, becoming national liabilities”, he added.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation,Chief Theodore Orji had reiterated the importance of privatisation as the key driver of the Nigerian economy and pledged the support of the Committee to the Bureau.

  • Security firm denies allegations of killings in Bayelsa, threatens legal action

    By Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

    An oil pipeline surveillance firm, Darlong Security and Guards Limited (DSGL), has denied allegations by a group that it killed some youths during its operations in Korokorosei, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State.

    DSGL in a statement by its Media Consultant, Chief Gift Ebiki, said the group, which made the allegations and all the names of persons it mentioned in the publication were faceless and fake.

    Describing the allegations as unfounded, mischievous and politically motivated, he explained that the security firm was not an armed-bearing agency.

    He said: “We earlier made it categorically clear that Darlon security and guards are not armed with any weapons to attack anybody.

    “Our operations are basically to safeguard oil and gas facilities, mostly pipelines that belongs to the Nigerian Agip oil company limited .

    “The extent of operations to check vandals and to keep criminals at bay on pipelines is the sole responsibility of the Nigerian civil defense and the Nigerian military guarded by the joint task force initiated by the federal government of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Rugalities and insecurities in Nigeria

    “From records available before the public, no staff of Darlon security and guards limited or any member of the joint task force have invaded Korokorosei town on the 5th of September 2019.

    “We are, therefore, asking the so-called President of the Youths for Safer Environment to bring the details of such killings to the Nigeria police and other security agencies in Bayelsa for thorough investigations.

    “We are also calling on the president and the complainants to retrieve the said publication or make an unreserved apology to the management of Darlon security and guards limited in all the national papers within fourteen days of this response.

    :Without that, we may have no choice than to institute legal actions against these characters that have been politically sponsored to blackmail the highly cherished reputations achieved by Darlon security and guards limited in the past years of its operations in the oil and gas industry.

    :The directors of Darlon security and guards limited are highly responsible citizens of Bayelsa and Nigeria in general, that is why we can not keep mute to see such falsehood and blackmail against the company”.