Sentry

After months of what most observers described as peace of the graveyard, things are once again falling apart within the Imo State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as frontline chieftains of the party engage in serious infighting that now threatens its existence.

Apart from Governor Hope Uzodinma and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, who recently went public with their face-off, the governor is also at loggerheads with Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, who recently returned to the party after contesting the 2019 gubernatorial poll on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

While the governor and Okorocha disagree over the report of a probe panel that indicted him over an alleged N106billion fraud, Ararume is angry with Uzodimma over the outcome of the last Imo North senatorial primary election that produced Frank Ibezim, an ally of the governor, as APC candidate.

Read Also: Imo APC senatorial primary free, fair, credible, says Basiru

During the week, the situation got messy as Uzodimma and Okorocha engaged in a war of words. Their aides and allies threw shade at each other without caution. This is just as supporters of Ararume are allegedly plotting to work against Ibezim at the October 31 senatorial bye-election on account of their disagreement with the governor.

Sentry learnt the main issue causing the crises is the 2023 governorship ticket of the party. One source said: “The governor has come to the realisation that Okorocha, Ararume and some other bigwigs within the party will stop at nothing to stop his re-election. So he is out to neutralise them as much as possible before then.”

The APC candidate for the Lagos East senatorial by-election, Tokunbo Abiru, can no longer be called a neophyte in politics because he got his baptism of fire during the week.

Sources close to the banker-turned-politician claim he was shocked beyond words when he first read the things published about him and credited to the Media Director of the People Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial Campaign Council, Dr. Tokunbo Pearse.

Abiru, who is the immediate past Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank Limited, obviously didn’t bargain for mudslinging when he set out to seek a seat in the senate.

“He kept asking everybody around him why anybody can say such things about him. He kept wondering if that is what politics is. He was so shocked he didn’t know what to say for a while. Especially when the things said about him weren’t anywhere near the truth,” a source said.

Read Also: Abiru to institute N1bn suit against PDP media director

Pearse called for Abiru’s disqualification from the senatorial contest in Lagos East, alleging that the APC candidate was guilty of double registration. He also alleged that Skye Bank Plc “collapsed under Abiru’s leadership” and that Polaris customers “are today accusing Abiru of fraud.”

Of course, the candidate and his team have denied all the allegations and are threatening to institute a N1billion suit against the Lagos PDP chieftain if he fails to retract all defamatory publications within seven days.

As we watch the unfolding drama, one thing is certain: the incident is an eye opener for Abiru as he continues his pursuit in the nation’s muddy political space.

Sentry

Former governors Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni of Ekiti State, two erstwhile sworn political enemies, are now jolly good political pals. The two are members of the same faction of the troubled opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Following Oni’s unexpected decision to support Fayose’s camp in its battle against Senator Biodun Olujimi’s group, the battle for control of the party rages on.

Sentry has, however, discovered that the new found love between the two politicians who not too long ago battled themselves to a standstill, may soon collapse.

Most observers watching the moves of both men, hold the same view. Sources say the new friendship may be more of a loose political alliance than true reconciliation.

Tongues are wagging that Oni is befriending Fayose because he desires the PDP gubernatorial ticket for 2022. On the other hand, others are saying Osokomole has no plan to support his new friend’s gubernatorial aspiration.

Those who foresee a short-lived friendship between them are citing Fayose’s statement when he announced the end of hostilities between him and Oni last August, as a clear indication of things to come.

“Having formally received Engr. Segun Oni into the PDP at yesterday’s State Congress, henceforth, nobody should castigate, embarrass or undermine him (Oni) on any social media platforms associated with Osoko Political Family. However, this statement does not represent or amount to endorsement of Oni’s gubernatorial ambition,” Fayose had said publicly, to set the stage for another round of intrigues between the new friends. To matters more interesting, sources close to Oni insist he’s not about to drop his ambition any time soon.

Sentry

There is need for those in authority to clarify the true state of affairs at the Old Oyo National Park located in Kishi town. For about a week now, claims have been rife that armed groups have taken over the park. While many are not taking the allegations seriously, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, has added his voice to the worrisome claims, saying the park now habours “armed terrorists.”

According to him and others, the armed groups are already engaging in criminal activities like kidnapping, rape and robbery, so much so that the area is gradually becoming a haven for bandits and terrorists. They warn that the situation must be nipped in the bud to prevent further violence. Surprisingly, no official statement has been made by anyone in authority since the allegations started. Sentry thinks the state governor should speak up on the matter.

The alleged killing and kidnapping of over 100 people is not only frightening and worrisome, but requires urgent confirmation or denial from those in authority.

By Sentry

The queer drama with the above title has been on in Nasarawa State since last year. In case you missed the debut, it started with tales that Governor Abdullahi Sule and his predecessor Tanko Al-Makura, were at daggers-drawn over who should be nominated into President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet as minister.

The rumour spread like wildfire while it lasted. Of course, the two political leaders denied it vehemently. The eventual emergence of Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under Al-Makura, and a well-known ally of Sule, killed the tales.

But long afterwards, Sule himself inadvertently sparked a new rumour of rift when he spoke of his readiness to serve one term as governor and leave for someone else.

Trust rumour mongers, they went to town with his statement as evidence of a new face-off with the man who facilitated his first term. Again, the governor and Al-Makura dismissed talk of a rift.

A couple of weeks ago, the two allies, while speaking when indigenes of Lafia Local Government Area visited Sule to thank him for appointing Aliyu Ubandoma as SSG, said their relationship was intact.

But hardly had this declaration been aired than fresh claims, as usual unconfirmed, of a serious face-off between the two emerged. Findings by Sentry indicate that the new ‘disagreement’ may not be unconnected with allegations by some in the governor’s camp that Al-Makura may be grooming one of his aides as APC governorship candidate come 2023. Need I repeat that the governor and his predecessor have for the umpteenth time denied all the claims? So much ado about a governor, his predecessor and tale-bearers you will say.

Sentry

Last week, Kwara State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi, resigned and said she was moving to endeavours outside government and politics.

“Life is in process, and I am bold to say that having journeyed the political terrain, now is the time for me to leave and focus on new ideas,” she said citing personal reasons for her sudden exit from government.

But Sentry gathered there was more to the unexpected parting of ways between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Pategi, who, at the inception of the administration, served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

She was redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties in a minor cabinet reshuffle

following a widely reported face-off between her and the Commissioner for Finance, Olasumbo Oyeyemi, over control of local government finances.

Sources within and outside the government say Pategi’s resignation may not be unconnected with the report of a fact-finding panel constituted by the governor to look into the disagreement between the two commissioners. The panel, headed by Justice Mathew Adewara, is expected to turn in its report any moment from now.

Sentry gathered that Pategi, whose claim that N300 million was diverted from the state’s local government fund, may not have been backed by the panel’s report.

“It appears she is aware of this. I can tell you that her decision to quit the government is a move to preempt the possible decision of the governor, who is said to be very displeased with her at the moment,” a source claimed.

In spite of her hurried resignation, Sentry learnt the panel will still go ahead and present its report to AbdulRazaq.