Category: Featured

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N47 billion for various projects in the ministries of Aviation, Works and Housing and other federal establishments.

This was disclosed to State House Correspondents at the end of the virtual FEC meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Addressing correspondents at the end of the meeting, Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said Council approved the three memoranda presented by his ministry, including the one for the award of a contract for direct procurement, installation and commissioning of the total radar coverage modernisation for the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), at the cost of €14,428,218.17, which is equivalent to N28,039,080,799.40.

He said Council also approved two others, including the one for a contract for the supply and installation of baggage handling system at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos worth N3,615,265,710.69.

The third Aviation contract approved was for the manufacture, supply, installation and operating training of disabled aircraft recovery system at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at the cost of N2,209,593,428.08.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, said FEC approved the procurement of 46 vehicles for operational use by Customs at the cost of N1,554,200,000.

“Today, Council approved the procurement of 46 units of vehicles, these is for operational and administrative use by the Nigerian Customs Service. This was awarded to Messrs. Elizade Nigeria Limited at a total cost of N1,554,200,000 and this amount is inclusive of a 7.5%. VAT.

Read Also: Lagos/Ibadan expressway for completion in 2022, says Fashola

“Recall that the last set of procurement of vehicles that was done for customs was 2017 and 2020, and in 2020 we did see a whole lot of huge seizures that were made by the Nigerian Customs and also the performance in terms of revenue. Even with 2021, up till August, they have over performed the prorated rate of the target that they were given.

“So, Council believes that by provision of these additional vehicles, it will also help in enhancing, not only their effectiveness, but their efficiency and more revenues will be generated”, he said.

Meanwhile, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who spoke on the memoranda approved for other ministries, revealed that the council approved a contract for the construction and furnishing of new Senate Building and 1,000 Capacity Conference Centre by the University of Abuja.

The contract approved for award to Messrs Hilkam Engineering Consultancy Ltd, is at the cost of N2,354,247,466.76

He added: “There was also an approval of another memo presented by the Minister of Power for the award of 400kw pv power plant at Federal Medical Center (FMC), Jabi, Abuja at the cost of N768,906,174.71 to Stallion Trading and Construction Company Ltd.

“There was also an approval for the Minister of Works and Housing for the award of contract for the rehabilitation of Sokoto – Ilela (Nigeria) Birnin Konin (Niger Republic) Road in Sokoto State at the sum of N8,450,829,974.95 to Messrs Amirco Universal Concept Ltd,” he said.

Two more bodies have been recovered from the rubbles of the collapsed building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

The bodies were brought out in body bags around 11am and put inside a van of the Ministry of Health.

It is however unclear if more bodies were recovered because the vans moved into the premises before driving off much later.

Read Also: Ikoyi building collapse: Lagos4Lagos Movement commiserates with families of victims

No one was allowed inside the premises except rescue workers and some government officials.

The 21-storey building collapsed on Monday afternoon.

Details Shortly…

Areas affected include Computer Village, Underbridge Awolowo Way, Oba Akran axis, Onifowose Street and Medical Road.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warned against naked light to prevent explosion over massive gas pipeline leakages in the axis.

Read Also: Ikoyi building collapse: Lagos4Lagos Movement commiserates with families of victims

Acting Southwest Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, while appealing to the people to avoid opening their shops or igniting naked flames, urged that utmost safety precautions must be taken to avert any disaster.

The alert created a panic as many traders and residents moved away from the vicinity.

The situation created a traffic girdlock with many residents running helter skelter.

Details shortly…

Gunmen have killed two policemen on a stop-and-search duty at Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A Commander of a local vigilante group in the area, Phalga Security Watch, Victor Ohaji, said the deceased policemen, who were attached to the Mile One Police Division, were gunned down on Okija Street.

Read Also: Gunmen abduct two Edo pupils

Ohaji said the hoodlums drove their vehicle to the checkpoint, attempted to make a U-turn after sighting the policemen but opened fire on two of the security agents, who tried to block them.

He said the vigilant group needed assistance in the yuletide to fight crimes in the area.

Rivers State police Command was yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

More survivors and witnesses yesterday gave a graphic picture of how the 21-storey building under construction in Ikoyi, Lagos collapsed and how they tried to rescue victims.

How I escaped death, by bricklayer

A bricklayer, Wisdom John, who sustained minor leg injury, told The Nation yesterday night that he was able to escape before the structure collapsed.

He claimed he was just brought in from Cross River State, adding that there were about 55 persons brought from different parts of the country to work there.

According to him, he and 39 others were brought on Sunday, while 15 other artisans joined them on Monday before the building collapsed.

“I am a bricklayer from Cross River State. I was brought in to work in the building. I was working downstairs when we started hearing cracks and some of us decided to know what was happening. I was able to run out before the building finally collapsed. The others were not so lucky. I only sustained injury on my foot.

“We were first 40 artisans working but the owner brought in 15 people today – making 55. I do not know their names since I only came in yesterday.

“I reported to the agencies on ground (paramedics), but was told to go home since it was only minor foot injury. They said they can’t take me to the hospital,” he said.

An artisan who was working in a nearby building said he and his colleagues felt the vibration of the structure from the property they were working in, adding that they immediately ran out only to hear their colleagues screaming for help.

He said: “We were working besides the building while some others were working inside the collapsed building.

“More than 50 people were working inside this big building when it collapsed. The building started vibrating and the next thing was that it came down.

“One person was pulled out lifeless. The owner, Mr. Femi is inside. We were talking with some of our colleagues who are trapped inside when the building collapsed. We called emergency workers from 2pm but they did not get here till past 4pm (on Monday). We are glad they are here now because it will be faster.

“Since they got  here, some others have been rescued. Those ones are alive and were taken to the ambulance.”

 

Why I joined the rescue team, by dispatch rider

 

A dispatch rider, Rasheed Olamilekan, who joined the rescue team around 2:30pm on Monday, said they saw about four dead bodies, adding that three persons were rescued alive and taken to the hospital.

He said he was on his way to Ajah, Lagos, when he saw the incident and stopped to render help.

“Immediately I stopped and other people too stopped so we could help those in need. We rescued like three people and we saw like four people who died. We called the emergency many times but nobody came here. I got here around 2:30pm. People were shouting inside the building when we got here,” he said.

 

‘Six persons were recovered dead and one rescued alive’

A resident, Jerry, however claimed that six persons were recovered dead and one rescued alive before emergency workers arrived the scene.

He said people were initially scared to go into the building the moment it collapsed, adding that they later mustered the courage following the screams of those who were inside.

He said: “I live around this side and I saw how scared people were before we went in. We were able to rescue my friend alive and he was taken to the hospital while we brought out six dead bodies apart from the ones the police rescued.

“You see, immediately the police came in, they sent all of us away and we are not able to continue our rescue mission. I am very sure if the police did not send us out, we would have rescued more people because we were even hearing their voices before they sent us out.

Read Also: Victims’ relatives besiege collapsed Lagos building site

“If I am not mistaken, about 40 to 50 people were in the building before it collapsed. It took over an hour before rescue team came, we were the ones doing the rescuing before they came”.

The late arrival of rescuers led to protests from onlookers who lamented that if adequate equipment were available in good time, more lives would have been saved.

Another witness, who craved anonymity, claimed that some Mobile Policemen were among those trapped in the collapsed building, adding that people were working on various floors of the project.

CP: three discharged, six undergoing treatment

Three of the nine survivors in the building collapse have been discharged from the hospital, it was learnt yesterday.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu last night said 21 bodies have been recovered while nine persons were rescued.

According to Odumosu, three have been discharged from the hospital leaving six being treated.

Odumosu said he could not confirm whether the owner of the building was trapped under the rubble.

He said: “…we cannot confirm authoritatively until the operation is over and we get to what technically we call ground zero – that is seeing the whole thing. After then, we will now take the roll call; the site engineers will give us the list of those who were employed and who are engaged. Through that one, we will know who remains, but as for now we cannot confirm authoritatively that the developer is there or not.”

 

Gbajabiamila expresses sympathy

Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday expressed his sympathy over the Lagos building collapse of Monday, which led to the loss of 21 lives.

In a statement by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi, Gbajabiamila said it was unfortunate that the building collapse happened at a time the Lagos State Government was doing everything possible to make the lives of Lagosians safer.

The Speaker sent his condolences to the families of the victims, noting that he shared in their grief.

Gbajabiamila also sympathised with the government and people of Lagos State over the incident.

He called for adequate measures to forestall future occurrence while urging the relevant authorities to double their efforts at rescuing those trapped in the multi-storey building.

 

Lagos: our focus to rescue victims

The Lagos State Government has restated its determination to ensure that as many people as possible are rescued alive from the collapsed building at Gerard Road, Ikoyi, as rescue operations continue at the location yesterday.

Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat stated while speaking with journalists and relatives of the victims during the monitoring of the ongoing search and rescue operation by agencies of government.

The deputy governor, who was accompanied to the site by top government officials, said the focus of government for now is to ensure that the ongoing rescue operation yields positive result such that those still trapped in the rubble are brought out alive.

He also stated that it will be difficult for now to ascertain the number of the trapped victims noting that the building is still under construction and not yet occupied.

Besides, he hinted that the project site was sealed up for four months by the relevant agency when it was discovered that there were some anomalies in the construction process, and the developer was directed to correct the observed anomalies.

Professionals: it’s lawful to probe, arrest, prosecute owner, officials

The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and Lagos State Bricklayer Association of Nigeria, among others, have said it is lawful to arrest the owner and officials of the collapsed 21-storey building under construction in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Chairman of NIS, Osun Chapter, Dr. Joseph Fadahunsi, during the investiture programme at White Plain Centre, Osogbo yesterday, noted that many factors are responsible for the collapse of a building.

Highlighting the possible cause of building, he said: “The owner may hire or patronise quacks, relegating the professionals, use of substandard materials and poor investigation of the soil and environment where the structure is erected.”

The Lagos State Bricklayer Association of Nigeria yesterday called that its members be included in the independent panel to be set up to probe the accident.

The association’s president, Oyebamiji Dauda, who spoke to reporters at the accident scene, said his members were ready to assist the government to unravel the mystery behind the incident.

According to him, many factors can be responsible for the accident, but only an investigation conducted by professionals and experts can affirm the actual cause.

Dauda implored building contractors to always use indigenous artisans, who understand the soil component of different locations in the country to avert disasters.

Also, Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos state Chapter, David Majekodunmi, said government is culpable for not doing the needful.

He lamented that 15 years after the National Building Code (NBC) was enunciated by seven professionals in the built­ environment sector to regulate the construction and building sector during the tenure of Dr.  Olusegun Mimiko as minister of Works & Housing, the National Assembly has failed to pass it into law.

He said if it had been passed before, the nation would not be witnessing this kind tragedy and in this magnitude.

A past chairman of Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos chapter, Femi Shodunke, in a statement, said the collapse is the worst and most terrible case of building collapse in the annals of building failures in Nigeria.

“The world would be awaiting the outcome of what really went amiss and how to stem similar future occurrences.”

 

Tears flowed yesterday at the site of the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Family members of victims besieged the place, some carrying photographs of their people believed to be trapped inside the rubbles.

Rescue workers had a hectic time keeping them away so that they could do their work.

As of 9pm, yesterday, more than 24 hours after the incident, 21 bodies had been pulled out.

Nine people were rescued alive as hope dimmed for the unspecified number of people still trapped under the heap of debris.

The developer of the building is believed to be inside the building at the time it collapsed.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu took drastic measure yesterday by suspending the head of the agency in charge of supervision of buildings under construction.

He also named a panel to probe the incident with a promise to make the probe transparent.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu gave his support to the plan by the governor to investigate the collapse of the building.

Some survivours and those who missed being trapped in the building relived their experience.

The 21 bodies and nine persons rescued were confirmed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said last night.

 

Female Corps member, developer, feared trapped

Scores, including a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Sanni Oyindamola Zainab, the developer, Femi Osibona, three foreign nationals and other members of an inspection team, are still feared trapped in the rubble.

Zainab, whose parents and other relatives were among early callers at the scene, was said to have been posted to the North, but sought redeployment to the Southwest, following insecurity in the North.

Her colleagues who were heard discussing among themselves, said they would have been victims, but for the fact that they were off work on Monday when the building caved in.

Among the recovered dead yesterday evening was a woman believed to be the Personal Assistant to Osibona.

The Nation gathered that the collapsed building, which was one of three 360 degree residential accommodation being developed by Osibona, consisted of blocks of flats, mostly sold to intending occupants.

It was learnt that the inspection team feared trapped were intending buyers who were being lured by the developer and his crew before the incident occurred.

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, please come to my rescue 

Tears, anguish as relatives search for loved ones

But, tension, anguish and frustrations were rife at the scene as hundreds of people stormed the place in search of their loved ones.

Both old and young women wailed uncontrollably, just as men took out their frustrations on reporters and rescue workers because they were not allowed entry into the disaster spot. They also felt rescuers were not fast in rescuing the victims.

Although the tension began since Monday evening, following the over two-hour late arrival of emergency workers, it heightened as relatives decried the absence of information desk. They complained that no one had told them the hospitals or mortuaries to go and search for their loved ones, adding that they were also denied access into the premises to look for their relatives feared trapped.

As early as 8am, a crowd of helpless relatives had gathered outside the gate and wanted to lend a hand in the rescue.

Their demand, it was gathered, was borne out of the fact that only NEMA officials, security operatives and a few others continued search and rescue operations overnight as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Director-General Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, allegedly pulled his men out around 2am.

The crowd, which refused to entertain questions from reporters and threatened to break any phone or camera focused on them, claimed they were angry because those trapped underneath the rubble were still alive and communicating at the wee hours of Tuesday and may have been saved if more hands were on deck.

Apparently, some of the bodies kept in the ambulance in front of the scene have started to decompose as the entire place has started smelling.

Also, a relative to one Samuel Uwelu, said to be a friend of the developer who came into the country for a wedding, was at the scene with his photograph, crying and begging anyone who has seen him to let the family know. Uwelu, according to him, was in Abuja when he was called by Osibona to come and see the site. He, thereafter, honoured his friend.

An engineer, Ife Martins, was also feared trapped as he was said to be having a meeting with Osibona and two other engineers before the collapse.

One of his workers, who said he spoke to him on Monday, said he could have also been in the building, but for the fact that Martins asked him to go and inspect another project.

He said: “Monday was about a month that my boss, Engineer Ife Martins, joined them here. Around 1:04pm, he posted a picture to us of this building that he was working. He was downstairs having meeting with the owner of the property. He and two engineers were in the meeting. He was part of those on the ground floor. It was during lunch time. But the owner came and so, they were having the meeting.

“I was also working here when he called me and said I should go and inspect another project that we have not far from here. At the moment, I do not even know where my foreman and others are. About seven people I know were inside when I left the site, but only one has been brought out.

“Engineer Ife Martins is the first born of his parents. I don’t know how his mother will take this news. They are currently hiding it from her because she lost another son in 2017, two years ago, and her grandson recently.

“They have taken her to the family house to break the news to her that he is in this building. I have hope he will come out alive.”

Security operatives on crowd control mission tried for several hours to persuade aggrieved relatives, but when it became more rowdy, about 12 young men were allowed into the building to assuage them. They were however, sent out about five minutes later because their presence was not helping much.

Similarly, the wailing women were also allowed into the facility to calm them down and that reduced the tension outside.

Corroborating earlier accounts of artisans brought from different parts of the country, a bricklayer, Dragon, who survived the incident, said, at least, 30 new workers were brought in on Monday morning to commence work

He said: “Almost 30 new faces came here yesterday to begin work. In fact, I know up to seven of them; two of my apprentices, a guy also brought his brother for apprenticeship and even my foreman. Yet, only one of them was brought out.

“My foreman, Christine was brought out dead. I was in the building before but my boss called me to go check out another building of his and that was why I left. But,  my brother and friends are still trapped there.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Rescue works continue in collapsed Ikoyi building

“These people are not working. They even refused to let us assist to make the work faster so we can even save a lot of people.”

He alleged that the state government had in June, last year, inspected the building but they claimed everything was okay.

“The government brought one machine to inspect all the pillars and they said there was no problem with it. They checked everything and said no problem. But if the house did not have problem, why did they use iron to support it? I don’t even understand this country,” Dragon lamented.

 

Lagos suspends LASBCA boss, sets up probe panel

Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Inspector General of Police (IG) Alkali Usman, Chief Dele Momodu and other dignitaries have visited the site.

The deputy governor confirmed 10 fatalities and nine rescues, adding that two of the injured had fully recovered and discharged from hospital.

He also dismissed reports that approval was given for 15 and not 21 floors, clarifying that government approved the construction of 21-storey, three years ago.

Hamzat said: “This is now a search and rescue operation and our mission is to get people out of here. This morning, we took out two people and they are doing well in the hospital. Totally, we’ve taken nine people out and they are in the hospital and some have been discharged and we’ve sadly taken out 10 bodies (at the time).

“The operation as you can see is going on and we will not leave until we are able to account for everybody. We are responsible for the people of the state. Our focus is saving lives.

“As a matter of fact, this place was sealed for about four months sometime last year from July to November because our agency came in to do structural test and saw some anomalies and shut it down and said those things should be corrected.

“The other two buildings will also be audited, in terms of integrity test and, of course, if we see anything, appropriate actions will be taken. They were making corrective actions when this happened. At the time this happened, they were not really constructing but investigations later will show what really happened.

“This particular building that collapsed was approved for 21 floors three years ago, not 15 floors. It’s the construction that failed apparently.”

IG Usman assured that investigation would soon begin and whoever was found culpable would be brought to book.

“It is an unfortunate incident that happened and there is a rescue operation that is going on. In the end, the police and other safety agencies are part and parcel of safety corporations, particularly in maintaining and controlling crowd.

“We also have other support that we can give to the safety operation officers. I am here to sympathise with all that are involved and also encourage those who are doing the safety operations to go about it professionally while we provide adequate security for them to do their job.

“That is why I am here. I think we need to strengthen regulations that are necessary when construction of site is going to take place. It is not that we don’t have it. We just need to strengthen them.

“Specifically, regulations that require such massive buildings, what is to be done, who is supposed to take charge of leading such construction? There are professionals that are required to be part and parcel of the building like structural engineers, civil engineers… I think it’s supervision that needs to be strengthened.

“Naturally, if anybody is found to have compromised, there should be some sanctions. There is going to be an investigation, but the investigation will encompass professional touch.

“In any investigation where expert opinion is needed, police will incorporate an expert. If you’re investigating a case of homicide, you need to bring a doctor. So, in such an investigation, there’s going to be involvement of professional competence,” he said.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has elected a new National Working Committee (NWC) that will pilot its affairs for the next four years. However, with governors on the party’s platform hijacking its structures, the question is whether the party that once presided over the affairs of Nigeria for 16 years has learnt from its past mistakes. TONY AKOWE reports

When a member of the House of Representatives from Taraba State, Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, asked the Prince Uche Secondus and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to save the party from political extinction by humbly resigning their positions, to pave the way for true reconciliation and reorganisation, he was probably speaking the mind of many members across the country. His reason was that the Secondus-led leadership was leading the party in the wrong direction because it has failed to provide the needed opposition against the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Secondus’ emergence as national chairman was spearheaded by Rivers State Governor Nyeson Wike. The party performed relatively well in the 2019 general elections by winning some hitherto APC-controlled states like Adamawa, Bauchi and Sokoto. That appeared to have increased the chairman’s confidence. But, its leadership failed to manage its victory well, especially in the House of Representatives. The party’s anointed candidate for the position of Minority Leader failed to sail through. As a result, the party leadership treated Ndudi Elumelu, who eventually emerged as Minority Leader, with disdain; Elumelu and his term were suspended by the party, even when the Board of Trustees thought otherwise. After losing three governors in quick succession, many members of the National Assembly, as well as other key stakeholders suddenly realised that the future of the party was bleak with Secondus at the helm of affairs.

Other members, especially those in leadership positions, began to see reason in the lawmaker’s assertion that the present leadership of the party was leading the party in the wrong direction. They insisted that developments within the party suggested that Secondus and his team were not in a position to reposition the party and turn it into a viable alternative to the APC in 2023 and in the off-season elections before the general elections. They added that it was unfortunate that rather than take measures to reposition the party, the leaders were involved in what they described as “trips to Afghanistan”. While asking the Secondus team to vacate the office, a chieftain said: “Parents sacrifice for their children. Leaders sacrifice for the good of the people they lead.  History is replete with examples of leaders who have had to leave their positions so that the people they lead will survive or prosper.

“In several of our cultures in Nigeria, leaders who lead their people into disastrous circumstances commit suicide. Sir, history calls and beckons on you to do the needful, not to die, but to live for the party by surrendering leadership, in order for reconciliation and repositioning of the party to begin in earnest for a fresh start. You, and indeed, all members of the NWC should make such a sacrifice in the interest of the PDP, Nigeria and democracy. I plead with you sir to show leadership today and in the interest of the party, your good name, and the future of Nigeria to resign immediately as National Chairman.”

Some members have argued that with the 2023 elections barely two years away, with a few off-cycle governorship elections in few states getting underway, the party needs time to reorganise, reconcile feuding members and prepare to campaign with well-prepared and articulated programmes to rescue the country. Other members appear to have seen the need to reconcile aggrieved members from across the country and reposition the party for the task ahead. Hence Secondus and his team have been edged out of the party leadership, ostensibly to pave the way for repositioning the platform. But there are questions as to whether the position adopted by the party in electing a new NWC will take the party to the promise land.

Having edged out the founding fathers of the party in the choice of officers for the party, it is left to be seen how they will react to the emerging trend ahead of the next general election. The insistence of former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Inna Ciroma to contest the Deputy National Chairmanship position of the party was to give a semblance of democracy to the contest. Even though the founding fathers wanted these two in the leadership, they were successfully edged out giving a clear indication that the founding fathers, which included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso, may have lost out. Even though there is no clear-cut division within the party right now, it is evident that various blocs are beginning to emerge ahead of the next general elections, with the governors already positioning themselves for the highest office. The presidential ambition of Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Adamu is not in doubt.

But, one question that is begging for answers is whether the party has learnt any lesson from the experience of the Secondus era, especially when considered against the backdrop of the fact that those who recommended him for the job are the same set of people who edged him out. With their grip on the party and the ambition of several of the governors, there are fears that the seeming peace within the party presently may be short-lived. Those who hold this view are quick to point to the way some aspirants for NWC positions were edged out in the name of consensus, while some were disqualified on the excuse of taking the party to court. Sources within the party also point to the fact that the position of National Secretary was initially micro zoned to Anambra State, but suddenly the decision was reversed and the position was given to Imo State, while the position of National Auditor which was initially pencilled down for Imo State was given to Anambra State.

Read Also: Echoes from PDP convention and 2023 calculus

While the screening committee never announced the disqualification of any of those who applied to contest any of the positions in the offer, it was the Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri that made the announcement. Those aggrieved were simply asked to head for the Appeals Committee even though the decision to disqualify them was said to have been final.

Will the emergence of the new leadership halt the gale of defections within the party which has no doubt weakened its foundation in recent times? Can Nigerians trust the PDP again, considering the overwhelming influence of the governors who many believe have done little or nothing to better the lot of their people? Interestingly, the governors have also taken full control of the zonal leadership of the party, especially those that have conducted their own zonal elections. Sources within the party said the Northwest is about the only zone that has not conducted its zonal election as a result of disagreement within the zone. But, be that as it may, the success of the party in the next general elections is dependent on the unity they are able to forge between now and the 2023 elections.

It was gathered that many of the governors are currently working hard to block all areas of strength of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others who are believed to be eyeing the presidency and are not supported by the governors. The Board of Trustees and other major stakeholders have had no serious input into events going on in the party in recent times, with the governors deciding almost everything, probably because of the power of the purse. The decision to throw the presidential ticket of the party open is one major issue that may pitch the party against many of its members. The incoming chairman and former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu was quoted as saying that he was ready to step down from his position if the party’s presidential candidate eventually emerges from the North.

But, some leaders of the party believe that they should first concentrate on building bridges of consensus before shifting ground to who will produce the presidential candidate. Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu who was a victim of Secondus’ suspension for almost two years said Nigerians were waiting for the PDP to take them out of the woods where he said the APC government has led them to. While expressing happiness over the success of the convention, he was quick to stress the need to have an all-inclusive platform that will boost the confidence of the Nigerian people again in the party. Elumelu said that the unity of purpose and the spirit of sportsmanship witnessed at the convention despite the challenges underscore the democratic credentials of the party as the platform for all Nigerians in the collective determination to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the APC and return her to the part of good governance, national cohesion and economic prosperity.

He said: “The PDP national convention further highlighted the readiness, capability and willpower of the PDP to regain power in 2023 and end the life of misery, poverty, hunger, bloodletting, unemployment, suppression and the humongous corruption that have been the hallmark of the APC failed and anti-people administration. The widespread interest by Nigerians and the nationwide applause that trailed the successful conduct of the convention confirms the resolve of our citizens to march with the PDP to take back our country from the suppressive grip of the APC, come 2023.”

Elumelu, however, stressed the need to remain united and ensure that all interests within the party are carried along in the task ahead. He said: “We must continue to foster an all-inclusive platform which provides a level playground for all. We must bear in mind that the task before us is an enormous one, given the immensity of the confidence Nigerians repose on our party as their only hope.” He pledged the unalloyed support and collaboration of the entire members of the PDP in the House of Representatives in the task of rescuing Nigeria from the devastation of the APC is paramount to all at this point in our national life.

The Minority Leader added: “Nigerians, especially the youths, are happy that the PDP and their party is back on track and ready to take over the realm of power to bring back the days which they yearn for. For this, they are ready to march with us all to the very end. That is why they are already massively responding to the clarion call by our party to ‘Come, Let’s Rescue Nigeria Together’, the very theme of the 2021 National Convention.  Nigerians see hope in the PDP; more so with the fact that today, it is only governors elected on the platform of the PDP that are commissioning projects and empowering the people. This is why we must strengthen our patriotic resolves beginning from this National Convention. We must be determined to make sacrifices and remain united for the sake of our nation. As lawmakers, we restate our unalloyed commitment towards the task ahead under the banner of our party and the new leadership that is about to emerge. Nigerians are waiting and together victory is assured come 2023.”

On his part, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who is believed to have produced the National Chairman-elect, is confident that with the success of the convention, the party was on its way to reclaiming the presidency in 2023. He said the party is now better positioned to take over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria come 2023. He said: “What we did in Abuja, by achieving more than 90 per cent consensus in electing leaders of the party, is a clear sign that God is on our side and a sign that we are determined to take over the mantle of leadership come 2023. I commend my colleagues; the other 12 governors for their understanding and resilience that despite all the intimidation and blackmail by this APC government we are forging ahead.

“Today, I can tell you that Nigeria is hopeful and by the grace of God, we will make ourselves available, sacrifice our time, resources and our energy. Our unity cannot be compromised and we are committed as governors of the PDP in the country to give Nigeria a new direction, a direction that will unite us more than ever before.”

The governor is not unmindful of the challenges ahead, considering the disunity and fractured nature of the party due to what many regard as impunity by past leaders of the party and the need for sacrifices. He said: “For us, we are coming on a rescue mission and we have demonstrated that during the convention and we look forward that Nigerians will team up with us to make sure that we dismantle this APC government that has a record of worse corruption in the history of Nigeria.”

 

In this piece, Andy Ikpeazu urges participating political parties to concentrate on wooing voters ahead of the Anambra State governorship elections, instead of attacking the personality of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the governorship election in Anambra State will hold on Saturday. In itself, the election is making some wrong headlines especially with the palpable threat by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to disrupt it. Of course, the authorities have moved to forestall the security threats to the election by deploying two Deputy Inspector-Generals, Five AIGs, 14 Police Commissioners to Anambra, but while Nigerians wait to see what happens; the message should not be lost on us. IPOB’s influence in the Southeast can already be seen in the sit-at-home being enforced across the region every Monday; and the potential threat to a scheduled election by a group that has been dismissed as being inconsequential by the authorities. Were IPOB to be successful in keeping people away from the polling booths, that would further raise question marks over the ability of the Nigerian state to provide adequate security for most activities.

The threats to the election may have stolen all the headlines but equally important in the preparations for the election is the fears expressed by some of the contestants on the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the election is free and fair. Eyebrows were raised when some of the contestants were seen campaigning in faraway Lagos and also when some of them suggested or hinted at plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to snatch Anambra by all means. In both instances, the message is the same; were the other parties to fail at the November 6 polls; that failure would automatically be blamed on security threat or power show by the APC. However, given the facts available, those who have said “Anambra is not Imo’ miss the point; elections are not won in the media but in the polling booths. Let’s take a look at the last governorship election in Imo and how Senator Hope Uzodinma emerged governor of the state.

The last governorship election in Imo is a lesson in doing the basics when it comes to political contests. First, as any reasonable student of politics will agree, you have to move people to come out to vote for you, which in the circumstances is obvious. Then, you have to ensure that all the votes of your people count. Fail in any of these two basic assignments and you have no business contesting for political office. Now let’s review what happened at the elections held on March 9, 2019. Fact – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the final scores as follows; Ihedioha (PDP) 273,404 (winner), Uche Nwosu (AA) 190,364, Ifeanyi Ararume (APGA) 114,676 and Uzodinma (APC) 96,458. However, for elections into the office of a governor, and as Nigeria’s most recent history has shown, there is a an established grieviance redress process that begins at the electoral tribunal and ends at the Supreme Court. All the aspirants in Imo exercised their rights to contest Ihedioha’s emergence by heading to the electoral tribunal.  The present Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma hinged his own claim on the argument that the results from 388 polling units were not included in the final tally by INEC. He argued that the non-inclusion of results from these units denied him a total 213,695 votes due to him whereas Ihedioha scored only 1,903 votes in those units going by the results captured in Forms EC8A.

Though he failed at the tribunal, Uzodinma took his petition to the Court of Appeal where four of the judges ruled against him but a minority ruling held among others, that (1) the Forms EC8A from the 388 units were wrongfully excluded and that (2) Ihedioha’s lawyers did not prove that the results sheets were forged. Justice Frederick Oho of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, in his dissenting ruling wrote “It is also clear on the record that after the appellants had explicitly set out in the Petition a schedule of all the polling unit results, which were allegedly excluded from collation at ward level by the third respondent (INEC), they led evidence through several witnesses to prove their case as contained in the Petition”. What the APC’s candidate successfully achieved at the Appeal Court is to create the ground to doubt the election of Ihedioha and the questions are obvious: how did INEC omit results from 388 polling units from the total? Who is responsible for the error? Who stood to benefit from that error? Should the votes of people in those 388 polling units not have mattered? For those who believe that electoral cycles are important in deepening democracy, those questions are important and addressing them will clear the air about Imo and the last governorship election.

In this case, obviously the major beneficiary of the omission is ihedioha. A simple arithmetic shows that were those excluded votes from the 388 polling units to be added to the tally of both Ihedioha and Uzodinma; the total outcome would change drastically. Let’s remember that the 1st Respondent (Ihedioha) was declared winner by the 3rd respondent (INEC) with a total of 258,259 votes while Uzodinma was said to have scored 96,458 votes. Adding the omitted votes from the 388 polling units will then have Uzodinma winning with a total of 310,153 votes while Ihedioha’s total tally would be 260,162 votes.

As Hope Uzodimma himself has said: “There is a reason for the supreme court. In the doctrine and principle of democracy, the law expected that there would be grievances and malpractices in the electoral process. When this happens, the only legitimate right you have is to seek redress at the court. And of course, the court determines. Remember that this is not the first time so many elections have held where the candidates went to court and they got justice. So, why will mine be different?”

Read Also: Uzodimma weeps over destruction of Imo community

If the INEC failed to count peoples vote and an aggrieved contestant goes through the constitutionally established process to make those votes count, how come he is vilified? And how come some of the contestants in Anambra believe the constitutionally established means of settling electoral disputes will work against them. That there are suggestions that ‘Anambra is not Imo’ makes it look like a lack of faith in the same process they have signed up for by contesting for political office.

Perhaps it is also important to remember that the statement that has angered Imolites is credited to Professor Charles Soludo who is contesting to be governor of Anambra State. Given the fact that he has been chasing this political dream since 2009 when he first announced his desire on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), many would question his moral right to question the legitimacy of the election in Imo. The PDP, the platform under which Soludo made his name as Chief Economic Adviser to former President Obasanjo; Chief Executive of the National Planning Commission of Nigeria and most memorably, as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was notorious for upturning people’s mandate by using state apparatus. The former CBN governor was himself a beneficiary of a discredited political process that threw him up as candidate on the ticket of the PDP in an election he lost to Peter Obi, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). After he announced his interest in becoming governor in Anambra, the PDP selected Soludo as their consensus candidate for the position from a field of 47 candidates; a decision that was contested by 23 of the 47 aspirants, citing lack of transparency in the process. His candidacy was affirmed by the then ruling party, which overruled the protests before he went on to lose in an election that was adjudged as free and fair by most observers. He did not fare any better in 2013 as his defection to APGA ahead of the elections of 2014 ended in failure. The APGA Screening Committee in mid-August 2013 disqualified Soludo along with five other candidates and with that decision ended his dream of being governor outside central banking. Soludo’s paranoia about this weekend’s election is understandable given those earlier failures, but attempting to preempt the process by discrediting it has all the makings of desperation on his part.

Equally important is the new-found influence of Imo in both the Southeast and Abuja. The governor who cut his political tooth in the second republic with his sojourn in the National Party of Nigeria is no stranger to political battles. It was one of such battles that saw him being sworn in on May 29, 2011 as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Imo State (West Senatorial District). Earlier in January 2011, Uzodinma had defeated other candidates including Senator Osita Izunaso at the PDP senatorial primary for the Imo West, with 2,147 votes against the 891 votes recorded by his closes rival. Though he was disqualified by a federal high court judgment for not being properly cleared by the PDP electoral panel led by Nwafor-Orizu. However, he got reprieve via a court of appeal judgment which issued a stay of execution while the case was being decided. While the court of appeal upheld the federal high court judgement, Uzodimma’s petition to the Supreme Court cleared his path to the election that was held on April 2011 elections, in which he polled 85,042 votes, ahead of former Governor Achike Udenwa then of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) who got 64,228; and Nonye Rajis-Okpara of APGA with 57,110 votes. In May 2011, the Supreme Court overturned the earlier decisions and declared that Uzodimma was the valid candidate and therefore had been elected. Needless to say that he went ahead to win re-election for a second term in the Senate during the 2015 election. So, unlike critics such as Soludo, the Imo governor is a battle-hardened political powerhouse who understands what it takes to win elections. It is interesting that for both the Senate election, which he contested on the platform of the ruling PDP and the gubernatorial election which he contested on the platform of the APC; Uzodimma did not depend on state power to rig as some are insinuating. He used the constitutionally recognised process of settling electoral disputes and came out victorious. If he were to be a rigger, there would have been no need for long court sessions as all state apparatus and the INEC would have ensured his victory at first attempt. It is obvious that the Imo State governor knows something that others don’t. Uzodimma demonstrated faith in the constitutionally established process, a trait that all election contestants including Soludo would do well to emulate.

In the final analysis and provided the constitutionally established process of settling all grievances are allowed to run its due process; it is the people of Anambra who will have the last say. Dragging Uzodimma and the good people of Imo into the election in Anambra is unnecessary. Since it is their votes that count; the contestants should focus on canvassing for those votes rather than distracting the good people of Imo from the rebuilding process that is ongoing.

 

Gunmen have attacked the residence of the national leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye, in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.

The incident occurred a few months after Akintoye’s son residence in Agbor, Delta State was invaded by gunmen with property worth millions destroyed.

The Nation gathered that the assailants stormed the residence behind NOA supermarket, Similoluwa, Ado-Ekiti around 6:27 am on Saturday in Gestapo-manner.

An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, said that the masked gunmen, numbering six, went on shooting spree for about 20 minutes after gaining access.

The source added the assailants loaded themselves in a blue Toyota Sienna vehicle, climbed the fence and shot sporadically into the building.

Confirming the attack, Akintoye’s media manager, Maxwell Adeleye, described the incident as unfortunate and barbaric.

Adeleye, in a statement, explained the assailants climbed a plastic chair outside the gate and riddled the house with bullets, adding that nobody was hurt.

The statement reads: “The leadership of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), is displeased to inform the general public that the Ado-Ekiti country home of its leader, Professor Banji Akintoye, was attacked on Saturday, 30th October, 2021.

Read Also: Akintoye: terror attacks should end

“Gunshots were fired into the house by assailants who apparently climbed a chair outside the gate to shoot. Luckily, Professor Banji Akintoye was not around at the time, and nobody was hurt.

“Bullets suspected to be from AK 47 rifles were recovered after they dropped from the ceiling onto the floor.

“The matter has since been reported to the Ekiti State Police Command for investigation.

“Recall that few months ago, unknown armed men invaded the house of the Scion of the Akintoye dynasty, Ademola, an Engineer, in Agbor, Delta state, exterminating the building, including his rich fish pond. The Police did not arrest anyone up till this moment.

“We the Yoruba people within, and beyond the horizon of Nigeria will hold the Nigerian Government responsible if any evil happen to our leader or any or his relations.”

Efforts to reach the Ekiti State Police Command on the attack proved abortive

Ekiti Police spokesman, Abutu Sunday, didn’t pick call to his mobile lines and was yet to respond to text messages as at the time of filing this report.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) Gbolahan Oki.

The Governor vowed to find out what went wrong and punish those indicted in the collapsed 21-storey building under construction in Ikoyi.

A statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, said the State Government will set up an independent panel to probe the collapse of the building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.

Members of the panel will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and other professional bodies.

“It will independently investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence. The investigation is not part of the internal probe already being conducted by the government,” he said

He said more equipment and personnel have been deployed in the site to save more lives.

READ ALSO: Collapsed building has approval for 21 floors, says Deputy Governor

He said: “Nine persons – all men – have been pulled out of the rubble alive. They have been taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, 14 others were brought out dead – as at 2pm.

“Mr. Sanwo-Olu thanks all first responders and those who have joined the rescue efforts, including construction giants Julius Berger, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“A help desk is to be set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations who may have been involved in the incident.

“The media are hereby notified that the government will be releasing information whenever the need arises to avoid any sensational reporting of the unfortunate incident.”

The government, he said, will embark on further foundation and borehole acidic level tests to ascertain the impact on the collapsed building.

These tests, particularly the borehole acidic level, are important for the entire Gerrard Road and adjoining areas.