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A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in Ondo State, Mr. Tunde Imolehin, yesterday said he parted ways with Governor Olusegun Mimiko because of his deceitful nature. Imolehin, who is a close associate of the governor said he believes in friendship that is based on respect and mutual understanding, core values and competence. He said: “I am part of his project and media consultant while he was the minister, but unfortunately, he surrounds himself on myopic political consideration” “As a close friend, I stood by him during the trenches which prompted the establishment of an office in Akure to advocate for redeemed change for clear sense of direction using Sunshine Mandate Forum to assist him in retrieving his stolen mandate.” Imolehin said the inability of Mimiko to recognize competence and listen to other people’s views has pitched him against many people who assisted him in many ways to get into power. According to him, “Everything to Mimiko is politics, his life starts and ends in politics and his crafty nature will not stand because of the sophisticated nature of the people in the state.” “We expect Mimiko to have turned the state around with the huge resources, but he hinges his administration on cosmetic programmes that have no economic values to the citizenry. The seasoned environmentalist further said: “Mimiko believes he is the only one that is most superior, he always thinks he is the Alpha and Omega that can move the state forward alone.” On why he joined the ACN, Imolehin said: “I am a progressive, there is no way I can be in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The leadership of ACN is imbued with the knowledge of sustainable development. “I worked closely with ACN national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I have mingled with the best brains in the South West, Mimiko does not respect any other views.” He described ACN governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as an icon in his law profession who has a shared value that people could identify with. “My decision to work with Akeredolu will pay off. It is not a mistake at all, my pitching tent with him is not a mistake.” He hailed the ACN leadership for promoting South West integration, stressing that the party, as a virile opposition to PDP at national level, has assisted the sustainability of the country. Imolehin noted that if ACN were not around, the entire nation would have collapsed. “I am an unrepentant in the choice of Akeredolu as the next governor of the state. It is now obvious that Ondo State citizenry are getting embarrassed with visionless administration of the ruling Labour Party (LP). “Mimiko has thrown the goodwill from the citizenry into the dustbin. Majority of his friends and political associates have abandoned him. He is a man who cannot hold his words. He thinks he has monopoly of wisdom, spending three years without constructing a single kilometer of road.

FOUR former aides of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State have raised the alarm over alleged threat to their lives by agents of the governor. The four are: Chris Anota, (former Special Assistant to the governor on Special Interest); Kayode Agunloye (ex-SA on Project Monitoring and Evaluation); Soji Ojomo (ex-SA to the Governor on Special Interest) and Opeyemi Igbede (ex-SA to the Deputy Governor on Political Matters). They resigned from the Mimiko government last week and defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The quartet told The Nation yesterday that since they exited the government, which they described as “a deceptive” one, they have consistently received anonymous calls on their telephones, with threat to eliminate them for abandoning the Labour Party government. They said their decision to go public on the threat to their lives was to “let the people know that should anything happen to us, Mimiko should be held responsible.” The four, who exhibited their resignation letters, denied claims by the government that they were sacked. They said their intention to team up with the ACN was to ensure that the state was freed from “pretenders claiming to be leaders.” They wondered why Mimiko and his men were uncomfortable with their decision to exit the government, and why they want them eliminated at all cost for merely exercising their fundamental right to freely associate. “I am at a lost that the governor is calling us all sorts of names merely because we have decided to exercise our right to join the party of our choice. Mimiko himself did that in the past. He was part of the defunct United Party of Nigeria (UPN), he also was in the Action Congress (AD). Later in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now in Labour Party (LP). “So, if he was prevented from leaving his former parties, how will he be able to join the LP on whose platform he became the governor? “Our resolve to join the ACN is unshaken despite the threat. We believe in the party’s agenda and manifesto. We are leaders in our own right. We strongly believe in the regional integration agenda of the ACN. Every true Yoruba person should support this agenda,” Anota said. Igbede said they were trailed on Wednesday by an unmarked Hylux van while leaving the state. He also said he received strange calls from anonymous lines. “We want to seize this opportunity to let Nigerians know that should anything happen to us, the government of Mimiko should be held responsible. One Yusuf called me today and demanded for my official vehicle. I have told them that the law allows me to keep the cars for months after quitting government,” Igbede said. Agunloye said he was not bothered by any threat because he believes he has done the best thing for his people and followers by deciding to work with a better party. “Please, tell them that K. K. said nobody can threaten me. I am a stone, nobody can threaten me,” he said. Also speaking, Ojomo said: “They are using the pages of newspapers to tell lies and deceive the people. We will see whether Mimiko will get his votes from the pages of papers. We have made up our minds to team up with those who are sincere and have the interest of the people at heart.”

ACTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday expressed dismay over the huge debts incurred by the Mimiko administration, saying that the burden may affect the execution of his successor’s mission after leaving office. He said the debt profile was embarrassing because there is no evidence that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who inherited N41 billion at the inception of his government and has received over N600 billion allocation in the last three and half years, is executing serious developmental projects across the state. Akeredolu, who promised to generate 30,000 employment for youths in his first 100 days in office, if elected as governor, assured that his administration would bear the burden, revamp the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) mechanism and boost economic activities to overcome the burden. The ACN candidate said: “The present government inherited N41 billion. In three and half years, it has received over N600 billion. Now, it has taken N50 billion bond. What use will the money be put? We cannot continue to borrow when there is no capital project on ground. It will be an uphill task to settle the debts the state had incurred. We must change our focus. We will build peoples’ confidence in government and governance.” Also lamenting the debt burden, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger, Mr. Olusola Oke, called for the review of the loan payment, adding that it must be managed so that it would not jeopardise the vision of his successor. He said: “It is an irony of fate that a state that had a credit balance of N38 billion three years ago is incurring a debt of N50 billion. I will cut the security vote of the governor from N4 billion to N2 billion. There is need to review the loan payment so that it can be extended. The burden must be managed so that it will not jeopardise my vision.” However, Mimiko, the candidate of the ruling Labour Party (LP), said that there is a debt management strategy on ground to ensure that there will be no effect on the state’s economy. He also disclosed that 70 per cent of the borrowed money would be devoted to capital projects. Akeredolu, Mimiko, Oke and other candidates at the October 20 governorship election in the Sunshine State, spoke on their plans for the state at a governorship debate in Akure, the state capital, organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG) led by veteran broadcaster, Aremo Taiwo Alimi. The three other candidates who participated at the two-hour live radio and television programme were: Mr. Abikanmi Olusola, National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP); Victor Adetusin, People for Democratic Change (PDC); and Mr. Omorega Olatunji Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA). The debate trailed the two deputy governorship debate sessions organised for the running mates of the candidates on Wednesday and Thursday by the group. The last leg of the debate will hold on October 11, following the selection of qualified candidates for the final round. Before the commencement of the debate, the rules guiding the exercise were read to the flag bearers and the non-participating audience. Unfolding what he described as his vision for sustainable development, Akeredolu listed agriculture, knowledge and education, technological advancement and infrastructural development as his cardinal goals. He said: “The only way to go in this state is to ensure that we improve on agriculture. We need an alternative to petroleum, instead of relying on doles from Abuja. We pride ourselves as the bedrock of education. So, knowledge, education and rural development are my priorities. We must be prepared to industrialise the state through entrepreneurial development. That is my vision. That is the future of the state. “The starting point of good governance is transparency. Any good government must put the resources of the state into proper use. I will right the wrongs of mass unemployment by creating 30, 000 employments for youths. There will be massive renovation of our schools. Many schools are dilapidated. We have schools without teachers. “We will set up the school of entrepreneurship to train people to be employers of labour and self-sufficient. We will open up rural areas with roads, water, and electricity. We will ensure that Ondo State becomes the beacon of Nigeria.” Akeredolu expressed dismay that the governor owned up to his inability to attract investors to the state, pointing out that it is an admission of failure. He said: “The governor has admitted that he could not attract investment. So, you cannot entrust governance to him. There is lack of good governance. If Ogun State could attract good governance, why can’t he attract investors? It means governance has failed.” Oke, a lawyer, promised to cut tax to alleviate the effect of the current tax regime on workers and people in the state. He said: “My vision is a rescue mission, to rescue our state from poverty, unemployment, bad roads, to reduce the rate of criminality. I will revolutionalise agriculture to generate employment.” The DPA candidate said: “I will declare an emergency in the education sector. There will be free education from primary to tertiary level. We will review the curriculum. Health sector will not thrive in urban areas only. Health centres must move to the rural areas where farmers and fishermen drive the economy”. The NSDP candidate promised to set up administrative councils throughout the state to collate ideas and opinions of grassroots for development, adding that the structures would be charged with the implementation of government policies. The PPS candidate frowned at the infrastructural decay in the state, pointing out that the rural areas are the worse hit by the neglect. On the problem of soaring poverty in the state, Akeredolu said that government should be blamed for making the people poor. He stressed: “People are pauperised and are poor, but the government and those in power are not poor. They are getting richer. The amount that is available to this government is more than what accrued to those in power before him. There is crime rate because the rich government has made the people poor by not employing people”. Oke, who drew a relationship between employment, poverty and criminality, also lamented that Ondo State had a deficit of 15,000 teachers. On pollution, erosion and flood control, Akeredolu said: “This problem has a relationship with town planning. The state must have access to ecological fund. You can prevent erosion, but it happens when you least expect. The issue is our response to emergency. “The level of our industrialisation now does not suggest that there will be pollution in the next 10 years. We will enforce sanitation, we must bring back health inspectors. We need to access the ecological fund”. On shelter, Akeredolu said: “We don’t have problem with shelter, but we have problem with home ownership in the urban areas. There is the need for social housing for civil servants, judges and other people. We will encourage contributions to the national Housing Fund. In rural areas, we must provide housing so that rural areas are attractive to our young farmers.”

The Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr.Abdul Lateef Oladimeji Adegbite, died last night. He was aged 79.

The Seriki of Egbaland, Attorney General and Justice Commissioner in the old Western State and former university lecturer died in Lagos, the Ogun State Government announced.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun described the deceased as one of the icons the state has produced for Nigeria.

“Dr. Adegbite shone like a star in the field of law and was well known across the world as the mouthpiece of Islam in Nigeria,” the governor said, noting that the late Seriki readily made his advice available to successive governments, be it at state or federal level.

The governor added that the demise of Dr Adegbite is not just a loss to Ogun State but to Nigeria as a whole.

While praying that the almighty Allah would grant his soul aljanah fidaus, the governor commiserated with the Adegbite family, the people of Egbaland, the Muslim community and Nigerians in general.

In a chat with The Nation yesterday, Adegbite’s widow, Alhaja Madinat confirmed that he would be buried today (Saturday) in his hometown, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The late Islamic leader was said to have taken ill shortly before the commencement of the last Ramadan and was unable to perform the usual search for moon to mark the commencement of fasting.

He was said to have later travelled to London because of incessant calls from friends and well-wishers and returned to Nigeria about four weeks ago.

Among the few people that witnessed his last moments were his son-in-law, Alhaji Tunde Folawiyo, son of the late business mogul, Alhaji Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo; the Chairman, Lagos State Muslim Council, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi; The Lagos Coordinator of the Conference of Islamic Organisation (CIO), Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaib and Wale Shakiru.

Prof Gbadamosi described his demise as a big loss to the nation. “He died a peaceful death. I must confess it is the most peaceful transition I have ever seen in my life,” Gbadamosi said.

The late Adegbite, he said, was a committed patriot who served the state without caring about himself.

“Even on sick bed, he still discharged public duties. We will miss an honest adviser and committed nationalist. He never cared to give his opinion on national and international issues. He was a corruption-free man who came out of public office with unblemished record,” he said.

Alhaji Shuaib described Adegbite as a fighter. “Even on sick bed, he still remembered his religious obligations. He was a man of the people to the core.

“He died on Friday at the time of istijabah (one of the periods when Allah answers prayers). He has fulfilled his deeds. He died peacefully on his sick bed,” he said.

Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit’s Amir (President), Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen, described the late Adegbite as a role model.

Badrudeen said the deathof the Seriki of Egbaland is a colossal loss at a time the nation needed his wealth of experience.

The planned visit to Saudi Arabia by the committee raised by 2the Federal Government to deliver a special message to the authorities in Jeddah over the ill-treatment of Nigerian female pilgrims to this year’s hajj has suffered a hitch.

The inability of the Federal Government delegationto travel to Saudi Arabia as earlier planned followed the difficulty encountered by the team in securing a visiting visa to the holy land.

Consequently, the trip has been delayed for at least four days.

Members of the delegation were originally scheduled to depart last Thursday but could not immediately obtain visa as the Saudi embassy does not operate on Thursdays and Fridays.

Government sources in Abuja interpreted the non- availability of the visa on demand as another manifestation of hostility from Jeddah.

The source said: “We view this with serious concern. Considering the seriousness of the matter,one would have thought the Saudi authorities would open a special window for members of the delegation to obtain visa.

“But it appears they don’t see the urgency. Besides, the procedure of meeting the Saudi king is quite complicated.

“Our ambassador will have to meet with the authorities to intimate them with the mission of the Nigerian delegation and it is after permission is granted that visa will be issued.

“There is no way that can be done until Sunday or Monday. The delegation may have to leave on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday met with the acting Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah in New York.

At the session, the Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister assured Nigeria that the row will be resolved and deportation of pilgrims stopped.

Ashiru, who spoke with our correspondent exclusively on the phone, quoted the Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister as saying: “Insa Allahu, the issue will be resolved.”

He said: “The Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister repeatedly gave me his words by saying: “Insa Allahu, the problem will soon be over.”

A follow-up statement made available by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: “Following the recent developments on the non-admittance and eventual deportation of some Nigerian female pilgrims to the Holy land in Mecca and Medina, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga A. Ashiru, MFR today 28th September 2012, in New York met with His Royal Highness, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, Acting Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs used the occasion of the meeting to register Nigeria’s strong objection to the treatment meted out to many Nigerian female pilgrims, who after fulfilling the visa requirements were denied entry to Saudi Arabia in order to perform Hajj, one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam.

“In referring to this worrisome development, the Foreign Minister expressed Nigeria’s particular concern at the denial of consular access to the detained female pilgrims by both the Nigerian Ambassador and Consul-General in Saudi Arabia, which is in contravention of the Vienna Convention.

“He also expressed the view that the action of the Saudi Authorities was not only unfortunate, but did not truly reflect the historic friendly ties between the two nations. He concluded by requesting the Saudi Authorities to immediately find an appropriate solution to the problem while ensuring that these intending pilgrims are treated with respect and dignity so that they can consummate their religious duties and obligations.

“The Saudi Acting Foreign Minister, while expressing regrets at the development, informed that the denial of entry to unaccompanied female pilgrims to perform the Hajj was not a Saudi Arabian regulation but an Islamic requirement that all women must be accompanied by Muharrams.

He, however, informed that efforts are being made to find an immediate solution to the problem. Finally, he expressed the hope that Nigerian pilgrims will in future fully comply with this Islamic injunction in order to avoid such unpalatable consequences.

“The Nigerian government, while calling for restraint on the part of those affected by the recent action of the Saudi government, wishes to assure Nigerians that all efforts are being made to find an early solution to this worrisome development. Government also reiterates its determination to protect the legitimate interests of its citizens abroad.”

Meanwhile, the committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to interface with the Saudi Arabian authorities over the detention and subsequent deportation of Nigerian female pilgrims to this year’s Hajj, met yesterday under the leadership of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

An attempt by a 24-year old man to smuggle $7million (N1.2 billion) cash out of the country was foiled on Thursday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The suspect, Abubakar Tijani Sheriff, was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, as he made to board a plane to Dubai.

The commission described him as a courier on an errand for 20 Nigerians in the UAE city and the cash is believed to be for laundering.

 It was  learnt he named one of the owners of the cash  during interrogation yesterday.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirming the arrest in a statement, said: ”The 24-year-old was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was apprehended by operatives of the Commission at the point of boarding the plane.

“When he was arrested, he declared that he had a total sum of $4.5 million on him. But a thorough screening showed that he was actually carrying $7,049,444 (seven million, forty-nine thousand, four hundred and forty-four United States dollars).

“He confessed that he was a courier for 20 individuals who hired him to courier the money for them to Dubai.

“Investigations by the EFCC showed that Sheriff is a regular traveller and one of several couriers of illegal cash suspected to be proceeds of crime. His claims in respect of his accomplices are still being investigated by the Commission.

“Travellers leaving the country are statutorily required to declare cash in excess of $10,000. However, it is not sufficient to declare excess cash. Under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act, the onus is on the person making the declaration to explain the source of the excess cash and the reason for the export.

“Experience has shown that bulk cash smuggling, the world over, is usually associated with proceeds of crime as legitimately earned funds are usually processed through the banking system.

“Our experience in the last few years indicates an emerging trend of bulk cash smuggling to Europe, Middle East and North America with the attendant consequence for capital flight.

“Some Nigerian citizens are routinely arrested at airports in Europe and North America for currency smuggling, though no such arrests have been recorded in the Middle East. But in all cases, the money is lost as they are never repatriated back to the country.

“The Commission warns travellers who for any reason want to move bulk cash out of the country to do so through the banking system. Otherwise, they must be prepared to declare it and explain the source of the money.

“Meanwhile, the suspect is being detained at the Commission’s holding facility in Lagos, pending his arraignment in court.”

Communities along Ota Mmiri River in Owerri West Council Area of Imo State are now living in fear as parts of the communities are now under severe environmental threats following the activities of miners.

Major roads, residential areas and farmlands are devastated by gully erosion and flood caused by deep trenches dug by the miners, who have remained adamant despite the outcry.

A visit to Umudibia and Ihiagwa autonomous communities in the council area, revealed that the mining apart from posing environmental hazards, have also polluted the river, which was the only source of drinkable water in the area as government pipe borne water supply has ceased for over three years.

Another looming danger which the residents decried is the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) High Tension Tower that will soon collapse if nothing urgent is done to check the miners.

The miners, who have been indiscriminately excavating the areas for sharp sand and granite including the red mud which is used for road construction, were alleged to have paid a huge amount of money to PHCN officials to allow them to dig for granite which is in large supply along the PHCN access road.

When The Nation visited the High Tension Power Line, the base of some of the towers had already calved in and may collapse at any moment.

Some of the visibly frightened villagers, who spoke under anonymity, said that they have been living in fear of the possible consequences of the eventual collapse of any of the towers, adding that the state and the Federal Government are not helping the citizenry in times of looming dangers like this.

They noted that, “it will be calamitous if the entire communities are electrocuted as a result of these activities by the miners, while the government keeps mum”.

When our reporter visited the PHCN Head Office at Egbu road in Owerri North Local Government Area, the officials declined comment, stressing that they were not in the position to speak to the press on the matter.

However when contacted, the Imo State Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum, Emma Ekweremba, a legal practitioner, said that the miners were duly certified by the state government to carry out mining activities in the state, “the miners are not illegal, they got the authorisation of the state government to operate but their activities will be under supervision.”