Category: Featured

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka yesterday questioned the propriety of last weekend’s emergence of Otunba Iyiola Omisore as National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Soyinka, in a statement ,wondered why the former deputy governor of Osun State should be anointed for the party position not too long after President Muhammadu Buhari Buhari ordered the Inspector-General of Police to resume investigations of unresolved murder cases in the country including that of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige (SAN).

Omisore, he said, is a prime suspect in the Ige murder.

Soyinka, in the statement entitled “Perhaps closed files should remain just that-Closed?” said: “Not for a moment does one suggest that mere accusation, even trial,  presumes Guilt. More than mere verdict is involved in any trial however. The process of arriving at that ultimate destination – justice –  is integral to the very concept of democracy and equality under the law. That process is one of the structures of civic education.

“Unresolved till today were quite a number of untidy, even suspect aspects of investigation, prosecution and trials, aspects which revealed improper cell co-habitation by suspects under custody. That this led necessarily to recantations of earlier depositions is not thereby proven, but the fact remains that such U-turns did take place.

“One was so brazen that it induced a heart attack that proved fatal to the victim’s wife, another Justice – Mrs. Atinuke Ige. That the prime suspect was privileged in a number of improper ways went beyond mere allegation. Political interventions, including pressure on the judiciary during bail hearings, cannot be denied. A judge under such pressure kept a diary with accusations, pages of which he consigned to friends for safekeeping.

“With the emergence of the said prime suspect as National Secretary of the Ruling Party, is the Inspector-General of Police equipped to confront political obstacles in a resumption of investigation?  Is there any guarantee that the result will see the light of day? How suspect, ab initio, will be the conclusions, given the present political ordering?

“I repeat: we are speaking of blatant, undeniable exercise of political interventions during investigations and the arraignment of suspects.  Prior incumbency of the position of National Secretary of a ruling party has demonstrated the potent interventionist clout that can be wielded from that office.

“The president has personally received, and thus anointed the new incumbent.  Since he remains central to any re-investigation – whatever form or direction it takes – just what value of objective assessment can be placed on the presidential pledge?

“I think the nation should simply relieve President Buhari of his pledge. I am certain the Inspector-General of Police will be equally relieved and can now turn his mind and energy to the national accustomed posture – Business as Usual.”

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Simon Utebor, Yenagoa, Innocent Duru, AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna, and Ndidi Okodili, Abuja

• Over 100 terrorists killed in Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno air strikes

• IGP patrols highway, deploys tactical squads, drones

• How we’ll protect rail lines, by Amaechi

• CAN faults El-Rufai over mercenaries plan

No fewer than 100 suspected terrorists have been killed in airstrikes launched by the military across the north in response to Monday night’s attack on a Kaduna-bound train.

The coordinated security operations are continuing with Police Inspector General Usman Alkali Baba deploying more men and weapons yesterday to secure the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, which kidnappers have turned into a nightmare for travellers.

Baba, accompanied by other top officers of the police, embarked on a patrol of the axis for a personal assessment of the situation on the road.

But the Federal Government has ruled out the use of foreign mercenaries in the fight against terrorists.

Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi separately outlined some of the security measures being put in place by his ministry to secure the Kaduna/Abuja rail line while the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday confirmed the safety of about 170 passengers that were on board the attacked AK9 train.

It said 21 passengers were reported missing by relatives.

The defence-oriented online publication –PR Nigeria – said yesterday that 30 terrorists were eliminated at New Kusawa, Kaduna State while another 50 terrorists were killed at Sangeko Forest in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

About 50 others were killed in Tumbuns, Borno State.

Forty-eight hours after the train attack, the military reportedly conducted an overnight intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISR) in parts of Kaduna State, which revealed four motorcycles approaching a slightly forested area southward of Kusasu.

“Since the coordinates tallied with previous intelligence earlier received that the location is a hibernating point for terrorists, a NAF aircraft was scrambled,” PRNigeria said.

The strike left about 33 terrorists dead while others scampered to safety.

In nearby Zamfara State, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji reportedly carried out ‘aggressive bombardments’ after a fighter jet sighted over 50 terrorists on motorcycles at Sangeko Forest, in Maru Local Government Area.

The terrorists, upon sighting the aircraft immediately dispersed in confusion.

“It was, however, too late as the fighter jets took decisive turns in engaging the terrorists with cannons in successive passes, leading to the decimation of the miscreants and destruction of their motorcycles,” an intelligence operative was quoted as saying.

Similarly, intelligence in Tumbuns near Bukar Meram and Kollaram in Borno State revealed heightened terrorists’ activities with the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) said to have converted the area into a meeting point for its fighters.

It had also stockpiled a large quantity of weapons in the area apparently in preparation for some terror attacks.

The intelligence source said: “Subsequently, NAF aircraft were authorised to attack the locations. In coordination with other platforms, bombs and rockets were simultaneously dropped on the targets, while surviving and fleeing terrorists were mobbed up.”

NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the three operations, saying the objective of the simultaneous kinetic air operations was to ramp up the pressure on terrorists’ elements in the North East and North West with a view to ensuring that relative peace is achieved.

IGP Baba patrols terror axis   

Police Inspector-General Usman Alkali Baba, accompanied by other top police officers, yesterday patrolled the entire 163km stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway for hands-on assessment of the security challenges.

He also supervised the deployment of officers from the police tactical squads to ensure the safety of travellers along the route, the Force Public Relations Office said on Twitter.

It said: “In the course of the patrol, the IGP mapped out some salient and strategic points along the express which were immediately fortified with the deployment of operatives drawn from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces (SF), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad (STS), as well as air wing operatives in charge of unmanned aerial vehicles of the Nigeria Police Force.”

The IGP also visited personnel of the Armed Forces and Police deployed at Rijana to secure technical crew of the Nigeria Railway Corporation undertaking repair works at the damaged train coaches and rail line in the axis, to boost their morale and assess the state of their post.

He pledged that with the strategic and operational deployment of officers along the route, normalcy would be restored while asking the public to keep sharing intelligence with the law enforcement agencies for effective policing of all spaces.

What we’re doing to secure Kaduna/Abuja rail track, by Amaechi

Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi said military presence would henceforth be a permanent feature on the rail track to secure lives.

Local hands will also be engaged by the NRC to protect the rail line, he said.

“We are not reopening the train track until there are surveillance equipment. We will also ensure that army officers are on the rail track to secure the place and make sure passengers are safe,” Amaechi said.

He added: “We will employ local vigilantes who would protect the rail track and the Nigerian Air Force has also agreed to always fly by train.”

The minister promised to represent his rejected proposal on the procurement and installation of surveillance equipment to monitor the tracks, coaches and passengers.

He said: “Prior to the attack, we had intelligence that the bandits may strike anytime. So we went to the cabinet to approve money for the surveillance equipment but approval was not given.

“That day, I acted like a prophet. I told the cabinet that if the approval was not given, and the train is attacked, passengers may die, and now we have lost eight persons. We are going back to them next week.”

Meanwhile, Amaechi has stopped night rail service.

“Yes, the night train service has been stopped, “a source in his ministry said last night.

It was not immediately clear how long the ban on night service will last.

NRC confirms safety of 170 passengers, working to rescue others

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday confirmed the safety of about 170 passengers who were on board the attacked AK9 train last Monday.

Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said in a statement that the NRC was collaborating with relevant authorities to ensure safety of the other passengers.

His words: “The Corporation, in continuation of its concerted effort through repeated calls, has been able to confirm the safety of 170 passengers while 21 passengers are reported missing by the relatives who made calls to us.

“The corporation is seriously collaborating with the security agencies who had already swung into action, in line with the directive of Mr. President to do everything possible to rescue all those that are still missing.”

Okhiria stated that the corporation had also heavily moved human and material resources to the accident site to ensure resumption of train services without further delay.

He said the move was meant to reduce the stress currently faced by its passengers in getting to their destinations.

He said: “In practical terms, a high powered restoration team led by directors has been working round the clock to re-rail the coaches affected by the bomb blast.

“There is a coordinated two-pronged simultaneous restoration approach. While Loco 2702 with re-railment and restoration materials departed Idu Station, Abuja, to the bomb blast site, another team with Loco 2502 departed Rigasa Station, Kaduna, with re-railment and restoration materials to the same site.

“I am happy to inform you that as at the close of work on the 1st of April 2022, Coaches SP00004, SP00009, SP00012, SP00013 have all been re-railed and safely taken to our Rigasa Station in Kaduna.”

On safety, the NRC boss said arrangements had been put in place for increased security along the track and on board the train to prevent a reoccurrence of the unfortunate incident.

He consoled families of victims of the attack, saying: “Be assured that the corporation is with you in this challenging time.”

Fight against terrorism: FG rules out mercenaries

The North West states are not likely to have their way regarding their plan to procure the services of mercenaries in the fight against terrorism, The Nation gathered yesterday.

An authoritative source in Abuja said the federal government was opposed to the deployment of mercenaries in the country.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, who dropped the hint of the plan to hire mercenaries during a vist to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, had followed up with a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor over the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train which led to the death of eight people.

The CDS assured the governor of ending the insurgency and banditry in the Kaduna axis of the North-West.

The source said the Presidency has faith in the ability of the Nigerian military and other agencies to tackle the security challenges in the country.

The source said: “The Presidency does not contemplate the hiring of mercenaries to tackle insurgency and banditry in some parts of the country. President Muhammadu Buhari has faith in the ability of our Armed Forces and security agencies to address our security problems.

“In fact, it was Buhari’s administration that terminated the ambiguous contract with mercenaries from South Africa. And since then, the military has risen to the challenge.

“The facts and figures before the President were sufficient enough to prove that the military and other security agencies have been doing their best. Buhari also gets constant briefing from military chiefs and other security heads.

“I think the government believes that the war against insurgents and bandits is winnable. The results indicated that Nigeria is capable of addressing the security problems at hand.

“So far, the President has not changed his position on mercenaries. We do not need them as a nation. But the political leadership at the state level is always impatient.

“Initially, it was Governor Babagana Zulum who sought for mercenaries but the situation in Borno State is now better.”

Moments after departing the Presidential Villa on Friday night, Governor El-Rufai had a session with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, over Monday’s attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.

It was learnt that the session was part of efforts to find a solution to the rising incidents of banditry and insurgency in the Kaduna corridor of the Northwest.

A source said: “Although at the session the governor debunked some media reports credited to him, the CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor, assured him that the military was on top of the situation.

“Irabor took time to give the details of the military operations in the Northwest and Kaduna State. The session was mutual and fruitful.”

Foreign mercenaries: CAN wants El-Rufai called to order

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday took exception to the proposal by Northwest states to employ mercenaries to help tackle terrorism in the geo-political zone.

The proposal was revealed by El-Rufai who said the Northwest states might resort to the use of mercenaries should the federal government fail to end  the reign of terror in that part of the country.

Reacting to the development yesterday, CAN in Kaduna State asked the federal government to call the governor to order.

Chairman of CAN in the state, the Reverend John Joseph Hayab, said if the El-Rufai statement had been made by any other Nigerian, he would have been accused or arrested by the government for undermining the security agencies and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

He said: “While CAN agrees that terrorists have had a field day, CAN reckons that if any other Nigerian had made or muted such an idea in public space, such would have been accused or arrested by the government for undermining the security agencies and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

“Accordingly, CAN doubts if any section of the Nigerian Constitution allows any office holder apart from the C in C to invite a foreign combatant into the country.

“Moreover, it was a similar strategy that El-Rufai employed years back when he claimed to have compensated some herdsmen, which led to the escalation of the security situation, particularly in Kaduna State.

“For CAN, the approach to give gunmen money so that they would stop attacking the populace has backfired and Kaduna State is paying dearly for such a miscalculation at present.

“CAN acknowledge that what Nigeria needs currently is a sincerity of purpose from all stakeholders and the citizenry towards finding lasting solutions, not subjective statements that could further heighten the presence of bandits in Nigeria.

“CAN will continue to pray and urge citizens to be on the watch against any erroneous direction that could do this country no good but harm.”

ACF Youths: El-Rufai is in order

The youth wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum, however, expressed support for El-Rufai.

President of the group, Comrade Shetima Yerima, speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, said: “I am 100 per cent in support of the governor.

“We are tired of a situation where the governor as the chief security officer of the state cannot give instruction to the commissioner of police.

“If we don’t take drastic steps to stop this problem, it could lead to a situation where individuals will resort to self-defence, and when that happens, there would be anarchy.

“Governor El’Rufai has my support and should go ahead with the decision, because that is what makes him the Chief Security Officer.”

Speaking in a separate interview, a former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said the Kaduna State governor was not serious.

“They don’t want to handle the matter. All they are waiting for is when ISWAP and Boko Haram have taken over the country.”

DHQ keeps mum on El’Rufai’s threat to hire mercenaries    

The Defence Headquarters declined comments on the threat by the Kaduna State governor.

The Director Defence Information, Major General OJ Akpor, declined to respond to questions from The Nation when he was contacted yesterday.

Halt killings, destruction by bandits, terrorists, INC boss tells FG

The President, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has told the Federal Government to halt the incessant killing and destruction of public infrastructure and communities by bandits and terrorists across the country.

Okaba expressed worries that the heightening challenge of insecurity had assumed a more frightening proportion with gory tales of violence, killings, abductions and armed-ransacking of villages by dare-devil gunmen recorded everyday in many parts of the country.

The INC boss spoke on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, as chairman on the occasion of the inaugural edition of the Boyloaf annual lecture, formal launch of the Boyloaf Foundation and 50th birthday celebration of Ebikabowei Victor-Ben also known as ‘General’ Boyloaf.

He condemned the dastardly acts, saying: “On a daily basis, Nigerians are hit by reports of killing, kidnapping and violent attacks by bandits and insurgents who invade communities and slaughter hapless people without any form of resistance by security agencies.

“The madness is taking a more frightening dimension as these hoodlums have taken over our roads, airports, waterways and railways, making life unbearable for the average Nigerian and movement difficult in most parts of the nation.

“The government must, as a matter of urgency, halt the wanton killing and destruction of property and save citizens from agony and misery.”

He reiterated that restructuring remained the panacea for rescuing the country from imminent collapse, urging the Federal Government to listen to the clamour from various quarters for restructuring.

Okaba also decried the magnitude of oil and gas pollution in the Niger Delta which had destroyed the marine environment and the livelihood of the people.

He noted that sustainable peace and development in the region could only be achieved through justice, equity and fairness.

As efforts intensify to rescue passengers abducted by bandits during the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train attack, survivors relive their experiences as the invaders held them hostage for one hour, 15 minutes – killing and maiming innocent travelers. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports.

The survivors recounted how the bandits overpowered the inbound security personnel and took charge of the train. One of the survivors, Shuaibu Adamu Alhasssan said, the policemen on board gave a good fight, but they later removed their uniforms and joined passengers in lying under seats.

Alhassan revealed two people who sat beside him on the train were hit by the bandits’ bullets, adding that, he escaped being shot as corpses of slain passengers fell on him, shielding him where he laid down.

He said, “When they shot the lady beside me, I lied down immediately, then somebody fell on me. The corpse of the lady beside me fell on that person, and I was beneath both of them. That served as a cover for me. While the bandits shot sporadically, none of the bullets hit me.”

According to Alhassan, though he was neither shot nor kidnapped, the one hour and 15 minutes of the attack was the most traumatic moment of his life.

“You are sitting close to somebody this minute, and the next minute, they are hit by a bullet, without you also knowing your chances of survival,” he said.

Alhassan continued, “The train left Kubwa station at exactly 6:30 pm, and the journey was smooth as usual until we got to Jere, then the train started slowing down and we were wondering what was happening because there was no sign of passengers boarding the train. Then it started moving again, and at exactly 7:50, we heard an explosion. The train derailed and stopped.  Before it could stabilize, we started hearing gunshots, and everybody became confused. The train stopped and the bandits took over the train. They boarded Coach 17; when they entered, they shot some people, then they came to our coach.

“As I was lying down, I heard one of them saying Musa, why did you shoot this person? He responded saying he is wasting my time. After 1 hour, and 15 minutes, we sensed the presence of the military. I had never believed that the Nigerian army could be so responsive, they maneuvered their way through the forest to get to our location. They came with over 30 Hilux vans with senior military officers. They started exchanging fire with the bandits, and after some time, the bandits stopped shooting. The soldiers boarded the train and told us that they had taken over the train and we were safe. Subsequently, they started moving those that were injured out.  There was blood everywhere on the train.

Recalling the gallantry of the policemen attached to the train, Alhassan said, “When trouble started, the policemen on the train, actually tried their best, but from my estimation, they were not more than seven, so they positioned themselves. They went close to the doors and started exchanging fire with the bandits.  When they discovered that the firepower of the bandits was overwhelming, they ended up removing their uniforms and everything that will identify them as security agents, then they joined us in lying down. Sincerely, the bandits had superior firepower, there was nothing the policemen could have done.”

The bandits, he noted, were between 18 and 20 years of age. He said, “They were speaking Fulfude and Hausa. It was only God that saved us. There was no mobile network within the vicinity, except for Etisalat and Airtel which were fluctuating. So it was difficult to call for assistance. It got to a point that when anyone attempted to make a call, and they see a sign of phone light from outside, they just shoot towards that direction.”

“We can’t say how many people died, but they were many, as we struggled to avoid stepping on corpses as we were been rescued. The soldiers really tried because they took us up the hill after being evacuated from the train. They carried several people that sustained injuries on their backs. We also helped in carrying children whose parents were kidnapped, while some people could not find their children.

“Soldiers took over the entire area; we saw some of them in the bush, strategically positioned to respond to any emergency. Then they started moving us in batches in their vehicles to the main road. Later, they advised that those of us that were not injured should walk, and we were surrounded by soldiers. The Nigerian Army provided about 10 buses and ambulances to convey us to safety. They took us to the hospital. Before our arrival, the army’s medical team was already on alert to receive us. So, none of the injured people was left unattended.

“We should be praying for our security agents because they are really trying. Before now, I used to think that they were not doing anything, but after that incident, I realized that they were trying their best but the security challenges are overwhelming,” Alhassan said.

“I have never encountered this kind of horror in my life. It is a very disturbing situation because this is beyond banditry and kidnapping. If their aim is to kidnap and collect ransom, why do they need to waste other people’s lives? who boarded the train with us because other survivors were saying that the bandits were asking them whether they were members of the National Assembly or not.

He said, “It was just God that saved us. So many people were injured. There was a particular woman who was almost hit in the eye, but luckily, the bullet brushed her forehead; her husband was among those that were taken away.

There was also a particular man who went to the VIP section a few minutes before the incident to see someone, he was among those kidnapped. But along the line, when they were been taken away by the bandits, he jumped out of the moving vehicle. He suffered a fracture in his arm. So, he was telling us in the ambulance that he took the risk because he felt it is better to nurse injury than to pass through trauma in the kidnappers’ den,” said Alhassan

An injured survivor, Malam Mohammed Ishaq, said he escaped the bandits’ attack by running away to another coach to hide when he realized they were about to enter the train.

Ishaq, who sustained injuries on his arm while trying to escape said the attack took place about 30 minutes from Rigasa. “It happened exactly 7:35 pm. We were on board the train from Abuja to Kaduna, I think it’s around Jere but you know it was dark, so I can’t say exactly where.

“We heard a loud bang like something blew up. They didn’t target any coach, they were just looking for how to gain access to the train because it was from afar that they started shooting. They were speaking in Hausa but they were Fulani. One was telling the other to use the gun to break the door, then they started shooting the door.

“I heard them asking everybody to come out, and I left many people behind me when I ran. They said the bandits went away with some people. I don’t know how many people were taken away. Later, when the soldiers chased the bandits away, and we went back to where we were seated to carry our luggage, I saw people lying dead,” said Ishaq.

Fatima Shaibu who got injured while running for the bandits stated that they targeted the VIP coach through which they entered the train, adding that the bandits were probably non-Nigerians.

Speaking at the hospital, Shaibu, who is a student, said the bandits were mostly young boys between 18 and 20 years. She said they were speaking some foreign languages that are different from the Nigerian Hausa and Fulani languages.

“When the soldiers came, they had a face-off with the bandits. The bandits were children between 18 and 20 years old and they did not look like Nigerians. They looked like Chadians and Nigeriens because they spoke languages like Fulani, but not purely the Fulani of Nigeria and they are not even more than 20 in number. There was a serious exchange of gunfire between them and the soldiers until the latter overpowered them and the bandits ran away.

“The soldiers and police came inside and rescued us. They took us, including the injured to hospitals, some to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna, and some to St. Gerald (Catholic Hospital Kaduna).”

In her own account, Maimuna Ibrahim, a young graduate who was shot in the thigh said, when the shooting began, she did not hear clearly, the police instruction from inside the train that they should lie down, so she got shot by the bandits, but the bullet went clean through her flesh.

She said, “I know that we suffered, but again we are thankful to the Nigerian Army and the police. They really helped us because they came to our rescue and brought us to the hospital.”

Fresh intrigues are unsettling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as leaders and members of the party await the recommendation of the 37-member zoning committee inaugurated on March 24 by the National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

State governors elected on the platform of the party and other leaders are also currently engaged in a game of wits over the mode of primary elections that should be used to nominate the presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

Direct primary is heavily favoured by the governors, one source said.

Other party members are rooting for the indirect mode.

“The Ayu-led leadership of the party is under immense pressure on how to conduct the next presidential primary election. It is one issue that is capable of landing the PDP in a fresh crisis,” a source told The Nation yesterday.

Some gladiators who fear that the decisions on zoning and mode of primary may eventually be referred to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party for final discussion are understood to have already started lobbying state chairmen of the party for support.

Sources mentioned supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and those of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

It was gathered that some of the presidential aspirants have even met with state chairmen to discuss the issue of zoning and seek support for their presidential ambitions.

Sources also said the committee met twice in Abuja earlier this week but was unable to agree on the thorny issue of zoning, with members sharply divided on whether to cede the presidential ticket of the party to the southern part or throw the contest open for aspirants from all parts of the country.

The last meeting was hurriedly adjourned when it became obvious that committee members were not going to agree on a position on the matter.

Further deliberation has been fixed for Tuesday.

Said a source: “Nothing has been achieved because a lot of intrigues that played out at the meetings of the committee.

“It became clear last Tuesday that external forces were influencing the deliberations among committee members when members returned to oppose positions they had earlier agreed to in the earlier meeting.

“With the way discussions ended at our last meeting, it will be difficult for the committee to conclude its task soon. We have received papers and petitions from various groups within and outside the PDP.

“The arguments for and against zoning are very strong and both parties have genuine reasons.”

Chairman of the committee and Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, however, assured party supporters that they would come up with an arrangement that will be acceptable to all.

“The meeting is yet to be concluded. We have adjourned till Tuesday next week at the same time, at the same venue. And until we conclude the proceedings, there is not much to say,” he said.

The Nation, however, learnt that the assignment of the committee is made more difficult following moves by presidential aspirants and other gladiators to influence the outcome of the committee’s assignment.

It was also gathered that the current disagreement within the PDP Governors’ Forum is deepening the crisis rocking the opposition party ahead of the 2023 general election.

Committee members, according to sources, are unwilling to let go their various positions due to group and zonal interests.

“With aspirants from different zones of the country already picking nomination forms to vie for its presidential ticket before the issue of rotation was resolved, the PDP has found itself in a precarious situation and chance that the issue will be resolved amicably is dimming by the day,” a source said.

“Presidential aspirants and other interested parties have infiltrated the committee as well as the new leadership of the party, making an easy resolution of the matter almost impossible. And this is not a good omen for the party.

“All through the meetings of the committee, one could almost see the hands of our divided governors in the proceedings.

“Even the governors on the committee are not speaking with one voice, and it is very clear that zonal and group interests are more important to many of the members than the need to take an informed decision that will preserve the unity of the party and brighten its chances at the next presidential elections.”

The Nation gathered that some chieftains of the party from various parts of the country have relocated to Abuja to keep tabs on both the committee and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party while the wait for the party’s formal position on the crucial issue of zoning continues.

“It is as if some members of the committee have mandates to ensure that no decision is taken unless the interests of their zone, group or principals are taken care of. A lot of intrigues and scheming are currently ongoing here,” another committee member said.

Speaking on the development, a state chairman from the southwest said: “Like other prominent chieftains of the party, we the state chairmen of our party are under immense pressure.”

He added that against the background of increasing lobbying by some of the presidential aspirants and their supporters for the support of chairmen of the state chapters of the opposition party, the race for the presidential ticket of the PDP is daily gathering steam.

“It is possible a NEC meeting is called to resolve all the thorny issues,” he said.

Other interest groups are said to have continued to bombard the committee with requests for or against zoning.

A group, the PDP Justice and Equity group, advised it not to zone the presidential ticket to either the south or north of the country.

In a memo to the Ortom committee, it demanded that the ticket should be open to all eligible members from all parts of the country.

The memo, which was signed on behalf of the group by Hon. Ahmed Muhktar, Hon Yemi Arokodare and Barrister Chima Ndugbu, argued that the interest of the party would be better served if there was no polarity in the contest, especially such that arises from regional or zonal sentiments.

But another group, Vanguard for Justice, in a statement by its Chairman, Emmanuel Nduka, submitted that zoning the presidency to the South would not only engender national unity, equity and justice, but was consistent with the mood of the nation.

The group warned that the PDP risks mass defections if it fails to zone the 2023 presidency to Southern Nigeria.

“More so, it may be the end of the PDP in Nigeria’s political space,” the group added while warning against any plan to ignore rotation of the presidential ticket.

Ayu, speaking during the inauguration of the committee, had said zoning has come to stay in the party and tasked presidential aspirants of the party to accept the recommendations of the committee.

By Jide Orintunsin, Abuja and Joel Duku, Damaturu

The new National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon commence a probe of the party’s National Secretariat, National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu hinted yesterday.

Adamu also said his team has a clear mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver victory to the party in next year’s elections.

The ex-Nasarawa State governor, who spoke after receiving his certificate of returns from the National Convention Election Committee led by Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru, said there would be no room for failure during his tenure.

He said clean employees at the APC national secretariat had nothing to fear about the impending probe, insisting that the party could not continue with the way things were.

“It is in God’s pleasure that we are here at the helm of affairs of this party. We have come with a very open mind, but you have to reciprocate in the same spirit,” he said.

“We will definitely, by the will of God Almighty, need to look at you. But I am not saying anything today until the Transition Committee submits its report.

“I hope that by the time the report is submitted, you have what they call a clean bill of the ledger. That’s my prayer. Right?

“We have zero tolerance for failure in this new dispensation of our great party.”

The chairman also asked party leaders and members to buckle up ahead of the 2023 elections.

His words: “We cannot move the way we are to the elections. We have a marching order from the leader of this party, President Muhammadu Buhari. We have to deliver. There will be no excuses whatsoever and we will need everybody’s hands on the deck for this to happen.”

Also speaking, Badaru urged the Adamu-led NWC to carry along all those who stepped down for them at the national convention.

He said: “So, we thank all the contestants for really behaving in a mature and understanding manner for the interest and progress of our party.

“They are heroes of our party. Despite their interests, they chose to withdraw to allow consensus to reign so that our party might come out stronger and stronger, and indeed this was what happened.

“I thank them and I believe they deserve all our commendation and the party will never forget them.”

He said that out of 78 positions in the NWC and zonal offices, 66 positions were returned through consensus while the remaining 12 positions were keenly contested and winners emerged.

Governor Badaru, with who were the Secretary of the committee, Hadeiza Bala Usman and her assistant Dr Sanusi Ohiare, later presented the certificates to the Chairman, National Welfare Secretary, National Financial Secretary and Deputy National Woman Leader.

Buni returns home to rousing welcome

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni was yesterday treated to a grand state reception in Damaturu, fresh from the completion of his assignment as National Chairman of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

Buni was welcomed by a large crowd at the Maiduguri Airport and then travelled in a long convoy to Damaturu.

He was met at Warsala, a border town between Yobe and Borno states, by an equally large crowd.

The grand reception soon followed at the August 27 Stadium.

In attendance were Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and the deputy governors of neighboring Borno and Gombe states.

Other dignitaries at the occasion were Yobe State House of Assembly legislators, members of the National Assembly from the state, members of the State Executive Council, the Secretary to the Government of Yobe State Baba Malam Wali and the Head of Service Nura Mohammed, among others.

Addressing the crowd, Buni promised to make youths in the state productive.

According to him, over 300,000 youths in the state will be empowered to make them active entrepreneurs as a deliberate way of taking them off the poverty line.

“Youth constitute the larger number of our population in the state. A strategic investment in this direction will be the best for the future of our dear state,” he said.

He added: “This administration will do everything humanly possible to make them not only productive but suitable for other competitive jobs within and outside the state.”

In his remarks, Senate President Lawan said Buni made Yobe proud with the success recorded during his time at the helm of the party and for conducting a successful convention.

Buni’s assignment as APC’s CECPC ended at the weekend following the election of a new national executive committee by the party at its national convention held in Abuja.

Gunmen have burnt a police station in Anambra State, killing unspecified number of policemen in the process

The incident occurred barely 48 hours after a security man was killed and parts of council secretariat in Ukpor of Nnewi South local government area were burnt.

The Nation gathered the latest incident occurred at Amichi, the home town of former Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman, Chief Simon Okeke.

An eyewitness said the Police station was set ablaze around 7.30pm on Friday.

The source could not ascertain the number of casualties but said some policemen were killed.

Anambra Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu did not respond to calls to his mobile phone.

But a Senior Police Officer in Anambra, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident to The Nation.

The officer said some people in the Command broke to the news to him though he could not confirm the number of casualties.

Details Shortly…

Gunmen have bombed the house of Imo Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Ford Ozumba in his hometown, Umuhu, Okabia community in Orsu Local Government Area.

It was learnt that the hoodlums bombed the house with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

The Commissioner, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Owerri, said he was informed of the attacks by his relatives.

H said no life was lost but his house was destroyed by explosives the hoodlums threw on the building.

“I am in Owerri, they called me this morning and told me that my house was attacked this morning.

“They threw explosives on it and it was burnt. Nobody died. But the house was completely burnt,” he said.

Contacted, Imo police spokesman Michael Abattam, a Chief Supreintendent of Police(CSP) told the Nation that the incident “is being investigated.”

The houses of Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Cyprian Akaolisa were attacked last year.