The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sentry

  • Ondo: Between Akeredolu and Abegunde

    Ondo: Between Akeredolu and Abegunde

    Sentry

    You may have heard that former Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), Ifedayo Abegunde, who quit his position and joined Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s political opponents ahead of the October gubernatorial poll, has made a u-turn. What you may not know is how the political allies made peace.

    It was learnt that following his emergence as APC candidate, Akeredolu was determined to go to the election with the party’s full complement. Sources described the truce as a product of his sportsmanship and uncommon courage by the former SSG.

    This was about the time rumours became rife that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Eyitayo Jegede were courting Abegunde who, incidentally, used to be a chieftain of the party before the 2012 election. Not ready to take chances, Akeredolu approached prominent APC elders to reconcile him with his former SSG.

    The elders brokered peace between the two men after a series of peace meetings where they bared their minds before agreeing to work together again. “The last of the meetings was held at Government House in Akure last Sunday,” a source claimed.

  • Awaiting the forensic probe ‘hurricane’ at NDDC

    Awaiting the forensic probe ‘hurricane’ at NDDC

    Sentry

     

    For some bigwigs at the troubled Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the days ahead may not be too peaceful following confirmation that about 12,000 projects will face forensic auditing. Sentry gathered that palpable fear has gripped some senior officials of the agency as the date for the commencement of the exercise draw nearer.

    According to our sources, not a few people are worried that some abandoned projects already “taken care of” through the instrument of officialdom are now to be revisited.

    “No doubt, this FEC-ordered probe will throw up a lot of dust and many heads may roll within the commission. And, for sure, you better expect to see many prominent persons being fingered during the audit,” one said while explaining the reported tension in the organisation.

    Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, at the end of the 13th virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said a memorandum from the ministry for the appointment of eight firms to carry out forensic audit of the projects had been approved by the council. He said a foreign auditing firm, Ernst and Young, which was appointed in March as lead auditor is among the eight firms.

    “This is a typical example of a bad hurricane that will blow nobody any good. A forensic audit of NDDC’s long forgotten projects is an invitation to revelations,” our source added.

  • The president and grumbling judges

    The president and grumbling judges

    Sentry

     

    Their lordships are grumbling and the temple of justice may just be set for unprecedented protests unless something urgently is done to address the complaints of judges in the country.

    Sentry learnt that at the center of the jurists’ discontent is President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposal that criminal cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court should be concluded within a year.

    Although happy that the long-awaited reforms in the judiciary is about to start, they are unhappy that about 2,000 judges may be saddled with sorting out almost 120,000 pending cases within the stipulated time.

    Our findings show that the judges and other stakeholders in the sector would rather have the problem of shortage of judges nationwide addressed first before the time limit for court cases is considered.

    “Let Mr. President talk about the judges that will do the job. We must not saddle a few people with too much work just because we want to make speed; otherwise it will turn out to be more motion, less speed at the end of the day. Sincerely, that’s the opinion among us,” one judge told Sentry on Thursday.

    According to feelers, the National Judicial Council (NJC) will be representing a request for the appointment of more judges to the government in preparation for the eventual implementation of the presidential time limit proposal.

    “We also want fast discharge of justice. But we think the manpower to get this done needs to be provided first,” another judge said.

  • PDP and the Ekiti deadlock

    PDP and the Ekiti deadlock

    Sentry

    After days of parrying the many questions trailing the expiration of the three-month tenure of the caretaker panel overseeing the affairs of its Ekiti State chapter, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the tenure of the Senator Agboola Hosea-led caretaker committee by a further three months.

    The party has been enmeshed in a deep crisis as the camps of former governor, Ayodele Fayose and the lawmaker representing Ekiti South, Senator Biodun Olujimi battle for its soul.

    Following the stalemate of the March 7 ward congress and expiration of the Gboyega Oguntuwase-led state working committee, the National Working Committee had in May constituted a seven-man caretaker committee to take charge and resolve all issues within three months.

    Sentry can reliably report that reconciliation efforts have failed to yield positive results. For the three months during which several meetings and talks were held, the Agboola Hosea-led caretaker committee could not bring the warring factions to agree to any of the numerous power sharing deals put on the table.

    The gladiators stubbornly stuck to their guns, daring the party to wield the big stick. That necessitated the extension of tenure. What is left to be seen is if the panel will now perform the magic it couldn’t conjure in the first three months.

  • Bala Mohammed’s bumpy political ride

    Bala Mohammed’s bumpy political ride

    Sentry

    The last is yet to be heard in Bauchi State on the defection of former House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Sources within and outside the state say more political troubles await Governor Bala Mohammed follow Dogara’s exit.

    While the legislator had pointedly claimed that bad governance on the part of Mohammed caused his return to APC, the governor has boasted that the former Speaker is a spent force in the politics of the state and his exit will have no impact on his administration.

    But some observers question Mohammed’s confidence saying the defection could be disruptive. “Just wait and see as things unfold,” one state lawmaker told Sentry.

    It was gathered that trouble may start for the governor in the House of Assembly soon as many APC lawmakers helping the PDP administration to keep the peace are loyalists of Dogara’s. He was the one who helped ensure the emergence of the governor’s favourite as Speaker back then,” another source claimed. With Dogara back in the same party with majority of the legislators, the governor can no longer sleep with his two eyes closed they warn.

    Already, the state executive council is feeling the heat with Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mohammed Al-Hassan Sadiq resigning on Wednesday evening. More commissioners and advisers may follow suit in coming days. If all these turn out to be true, then the governor should fasten his seat belt for a bumpy ride.

  • Edo: Walking a tight rope

    Edo: Walking a tight rope

    Sentry

    The face-off between Governor Godwin Obaseki and seventeen members of Edo State House of Assembly, has taken a turn for the worse amidst fears the governor may be impeached before the September 19 poll in the state.

    Before now, the lawmakers, under the leadership of Victor Edoror had said they didn’t plan to remove Obaseki from office. But during the week, they warned that if he flouts any of their directives, he will be impeached.

    Sentry gathered that the warning shouldn’t be dismissed as “the ranting of Oshiomhole supporters” as the governor and his supporters called it. The lawmakers may actually be looking to show Obaseki and the world they are not toothless bulldogs.

    “They are eager to show us all they understand their rights as elected lawmakers. If the governor makes takes false steps, he may be rattled with impeachment proceedings. The outcome of that nobody can easily predict,” an insider revealed.

    In a statement which confirms a clash is imminent, the governor’s spokesman, Crusoe Osagie, said: “The Edoror group are not legislators. They are just a mere group of APC supporters who meet in Ize Iyamu’s living room. Their decisions have no consequence on the governor or our great state, Edo State.”

    Time will tell which side is bluffing.

  • Obiano’s test of wills with monarchs

    Obiano’s test of wills with monarchs

    Sentry

    Trouble looms in Anambra State. It seems some prominent personalities are set to engage Governor Willie Obiano in the political battle of his life. It appears the governor is equally ready for a showdown.

    On Wednesday, he placed a year suspension on 12 traditional rulers who went on a trip to Abuja allegedly without consultation or approval from the government.

    The government argues that in leaving their respective domains without notifying either the state or their respective local governments, the monarchs violated the code of conduct for their office.

    But Sentry gathered the rulers are mainly being punished for visiting Chief Arthur Eze, a prominent leader of the state, as part of the unfolding political war between Obiano and ‘big men’ opposed to his administration.

    Many of these ‘new found opponents’ were before now staunch allies. “It is the politics of 2021 governorship that is causing all these. Not less than six billionaires are interested in succeeding Obiano,” an insider disclosed.

    The suspended Igwes with backing of the governor’s opponents, look set to resist the suspension. “The state will boil. The Igwes will go to court. We will do everything to challenge this anomaly,” the source added.

    For his part, Anambra APC chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, accuses Obiano of meddling with the traditional institution.

    He said: “As a people of culture, our traditional institutions and rulers are sacrosanct and should be treated as such. The recent imbroglio between the government and some traditional rulers in the state is another ploy to muscle down traditional rulers in Anambra.”

    Observers are waiting to see who backs down between the governor and his opponents over this matter.

  • Makinde’s controversial mathematics

    Makinde’s controversial mathematics

    Sentry

    Tongues are wagging in Oyo State. Citizens and residents are asking the same questions. They want to know the whole story about the N96 billion which Governor Seyi Makinde claims was stolen from government coffers.

    While some are interested in seeing the said money recovered and spent on infrastructure as promised by the governor, others want an explanation on how Makinde arrived at that figure.

    Those who are peeved at the governor’s allegation say his ‘math’ at arriving at both the claim and the figures is “too assumptive” to be taken serious.

    A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, last Wednesday quoted the governor as saying: “For the period of eight years they spent in office, they were only preoccupied with how to corner N1bn monthly into their private pockets. They spent 96 months in office – that means they have Oyo State’s N96bn with them. We will retrieve every fund that belongs to Oyo people for the purpose of infrastructure development.”

    Now, the youthful governor may have to do more than just talk, if the feelers Sentry is getting are correct. He will have to break down the figures further and prove his allegations, otherwise, legal luminaries may be called upon to do the remaining.

  • FIRS vs NIPOST: What’s brewing?

    FIRS vs NIPOST: What’s brewing?

    Sentry

    As you may already know, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) are at loggerheads over the discharge of their duties. Chairman of NIPOST, Maimuna Abubakar, in a series of tweets, accused the FIRS of stealing the parastatal’s mandate. But FIRS’ spokesperson, Abdullahi Ahmad, argued the NIPOST boss didn’t tell the truth, claiming that the power to collect stamp duties resides with FIRS. According to him, it is the sole agency of government charged with responsibility of assessing, collecting, and accounting for all tax types including Stamp Duties.

    For many Nigerians the exchanges are needless as the dispute can be resolved by supervising offices within the same government. Observers are of the opinion that what is at stake is beyond stamps and stamp duties. It appears a major expose may be in the offing.

    In fact, some have come out to openly say another round of allegations and counter allegations of corruption and sharp practices is brewing. If you still don’t get the drift, take a second look at this part of the explanation offered by Ahmad on behalf of FIRS.

    “We wish to state categorically that, as an agency which operates within the ambit of the law, the FIRS is determined to not only ensure that all monies collected by NIPOST into its illegally operated Stamp Duties Account are fully remitted into the Federation Account but also make sure that any kobo not accounted for in that account is legally recovered in line with the charge of President Muhammadu Buhari to the recently inaugurated inter-ministerial committee on the recovery of stamp duties from 2016 till date.”

  • 2023: Will Otti dump APGA?

    2023: Will Otti dump APGA?

    By Sentry

    There is palpable anxiety among chieftains and members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State over rumours that have refused to go away despite denials by some of those concerned. Fears that the party’s flag bearer at the 2015 and 2019 governorship elections, Dr. Alex Otti, may have concluded plans to leave the party is causing ripples within his party.

    While it is still convenient to describe the worrisome information as a rumour, Sentry learnt that the body language of some players on the political scene across the state is daily making the story more believable. Not even statements by some aides and allies of the APGA candidate have been able to put the matter to rest. As it is, many chieftains and members of the party are already wondering what the party will look like if Otti should leave.

    To further compound the state of anxiety in Abia politics, chieftains and members of the two leading political parties in the state, especially the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), are also eager to know where Otti would be heading should he finally dump APGA.

    The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is not left out of the waiting game, as all and sundry keep wondering whether Otti will leave APGA or not.