The Nation Newspaper

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  • 3,000 displaced in Kaduna

    More than 3,000 persons have been displaced by flood in the Kaduna metropolis following a torrential rain. Over 750 families were rendered homeless.  The Nation learnt that property worth millions of naira were also destroyed by the rain, which lasted for several hours. The affected areas are Ungwan Romi, Trikania and the communities along the river bank.

    Narrating his ordeal, a victim, Lucky Inanse, who claimed to be a public servant, said his home was submerged. He described the incident as a tragedy.
    Residents of the Lusawa areas of Romi and Turaki, Musa Yarima, Ayuba Bako, Zarmai and Wambai streets were affected. About 200 persons are taking refuge at the Government Day Secondary School, Romi.

    The village head of Gonin-Gora, Mr. Yusuf Doma, said 60 buildings were affected and 180 families and 900 people displaced. He said most of the victims are staying with relatives.

    Babatunde Adebanjo, who claimed to be a naval officer in Port Harcourt, said: “My credentials and other property were submerged.” The Commandant of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Charles James and the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ishaku Dogo Makama, confirmed the incident. The Public Relations Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ali Zakari, said the flood has wreaked havoc. They assured that the relevant agencies would assist the victims.

     

  • Group canvasses Salami’s reinstatement

    Group canvasses Salami’s reinstatement

    A group, the Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation (AGF), has joined those calling for the reinstatement of the suspended Appeal Court President, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, as recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    It described Salami’s predicament as a political agenda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cabal dissatisfied with his uprightness at the bench. The National coordinator of the group, Akanbi Afonja, spoke with reporters yesterday in Ilorin after the inauguration of its state branch.

    He said AGF is a coordinating body of young democratic loyalists of the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) across the world. His words: “Our group’s stand has been that of our leader’s, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. People know that Salami has not done anything wrong. His suspension is nothing but a political agenda. They did that because his judgments did not favour them. Salami should be reinstated.

    “We are expecting much from President Goodluck Jonathan. When he was campaigning, his mantra was transformation, but now none of the transformation agenda has been executed.”

    “All they are doing is discussing irrelevant issues, discussing 2015 when we are still in 2012. They are talking of zones and political offices when there are things to be rectified. Jonathan is not receiving good political advice. People are crying. We need good governance.”

    The state coordinator of the group, Saheed Awobinpe, said: “Without our people coming out to participate in the political activities in our society, things may not go right. We have to develop our people and the less privileged. They should have impact in the society.

    “There should be active participation of Nigerians in the political process and there should be good governance at the state and federal levels.
    “We want to develop people and people should come on board. We can not expect foreigners to solve our problems for us. We are the people to solve our national problems ourselves. We should ginger ourselves.

    “This foundation was established to develop, empower and mobilise people at the grassroots. We have started in Lagos.  We will organise skill development programmes.
    We are almost 3,000. We want to empower the youth. Our target is people at the grassroots.”

  • Kwara gets Acting Chief Judge Bamgbola

    Kwara gets Acting Chief Judge Bamgbola

    Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed yesterday swore in Justice Ayinla Bamgbola as the Acting Chief Judge.

    His predecessor, Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb, bowed out of office last Friday, having attained the retirement age.
    Ahmed urged the new chief judge to carry the judiciary workers along.

    Judicial workers in the state under the aegis of the Judicial Workers Union of Nigeria and the former chief judge had a running battle over alleged non-payment of workers’ benefits.

    The governor said: “Your appointment is based on our belief and respect for constitutionalism, rule of law and responsiveness to quick dispensation of justice.
    “You are charged to maintain the reputation of the judiciary and motivate judicial officers to accord priority to trials that will accelerate the decongestion of prisons. You must carry the judicial officers and other workers along in your operations.

    “Let me emphasise that we shall also continue to upgrade the facilities to ease your operations. Government will ensure infusion of new blood into the judicial system to ease the work load of our judges.

    “Nigeria’s judicial system recently became the subject of widespread criticism for its perceived inability to keep the legislature and the executive in check.
    “I assure the judiciary and its officers of our determination to support the dispensation of justice and the performance of other roles.”

  • Tight security at national awards’ Abuja venue

    Tight security at national awards’ Abuja venue

    Security was tight in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday, ahead of the conferment of national honours on 149 eminent Nigerians.

    President Goodluck Jonathan will preside at the ceremony slated for the International Conference Centre (ICC), which was put under watertight security last night.

    Globacom Chairman Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. will get the second highest national award – the Grand Commander of the Order of the Nigeria (GCON).

    There are 148 others on the awards list, including top government functionaries, businessmen, politicians, public servants and others.

    Major hotels in Abuja were fully booked yesterday, as some of the awardees arrived in the capital city.For better security management, each of the awardees has been restricted to two guests.

    The venue and its environs were combed yesterday. Vehicles were barred from the complex.As part of the security arrangement, accreditation of the awardees was done at the Agura Hotel, about one kilometre from the Conference Centre.

    Besides the deployment of policemen and gadgets at the centre, a 24-hour security surveillance was mounted last night with multi-purpose security vehicles.
    A security source said: “We have decided to strengthen security heavily within and around the ICC because of recent challenges facing the nation. We do not want the event hijacked in any manner.

    “We have also restricted all the awardees to two guests as part of crowd management. If you are not connected with the event, we won’t allow you into the centre.”
    Some of the awardees were complaining last night that accommodation had not been provided for them.

    One of the awardees said: “I have not got accommodation. Some of the officials said the government was trying to cut cost.“They have forgotten that some of us got these awards on merit. We are not moneybags who could afford the high cost of accommodation in Abuja.

    “Also, some of us are not used to Abuja.“Although there used to be a token of N100,000 per awardee for feeding during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, no one has made any money available to us.”

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi has directed public and private sector establishments in the state not to shut down their operation as a mark of honour to him over the national award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) to be conferred on him today.

    Elechi gave the directive following reports that some market associations, business organisations and public servants planned to storm Abuja for the ceremony.

    In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, said though Governor Elechi acknowledges the right of the people to celebrate the national award which he described as a honour to the state, he urged them to remain at home and do so in a responsible manner.

    “Those who had already arranged for mass transit buses to go to Abuja are hereby urged not to embark on the journey because of the cost and the risk associated with such mass movement. The governor appreciates the people of the State for their outpouring of love and support.

    “Though again the governor acknowledges the right of the people to celebrate the national award, he has, however, urged the people to remain in the State and do so in a responsible manner,” Eni said.

    Eni said three representatives of the forum of founding fathers, youth and women organisations and the Christian Association of Nigeria, had been invited by the government to witness the ceremony in Abuja.

  • Panel: why trial of Daniel, Akala, Ladoja, others is slow

    Panel: why trial of Daniel, Akala, Ladoja, others is slow

    The National Judicial Policy Committee has attributed the delay in the trial of some ex-governors, ministers and other Politically-Exposed Persons (PEPs) to inadequate judges, dearth of trained investigators and prosecutors.

    Of about 80 high profile cases, 16 involve former governors and two former ministers. The ex-governors and ministers are: James Ibori, Senator Saminu Turaki, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Gbenga Daniel, Timipre Sylva, Michael Botmang, Joshua Dariye, Boni Haruna, and Rashidi Ladoja.

    Others are Jolly Nyame, Attahiru Bafarawa, Adamu Abdullahi, Ayo Fayose, Chimaroke Nnamani, Orji Uzor Kalu, Femi Fani-Kayode and Prof. Babalola Borishade.
    The panel said there was a great concern about the capacity of the judicial system to dispose of cases as speedily as possible.

    According to the committee, there are 4,000 judges to 160 million Nigerians. The ratio is one judge to 40,000 people. The remedy, in the committee’s view is the adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms.

    These observations are contained in the 36-page report of the committee, which was obtained by our correspondent. The nine-man panel, headed by the Chief Judge of Kaduna , Justice Rahila Hadea Cudjoe, was set up on October 13, last year by the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

    The committee was mandated by the NJI to prepare a National Judicial Policy for the country. Other members of the panel are the Chief Judge of Rivers State , Justice I. N. Ndu; the Chief Judge, Federal Capital Territory , Justice L. H. Gummi; the Chief Judge of Ebonyi, Justice A.N. Nwankwo; the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah; the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice B.O. Adeniji; the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice N. Ajanah; the Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta; and NJI Secretary, Justice Phoebe M. Ayua.

    In the report, the committee expressed worry over delay in high-profile and other cases. The report reads in part: “The calibre of individuals, where it is a criminal matter, may also qualify a case as “high-profile”, for instance, some of the cases involving former governors who are facing trials on corruption and economic crimes charges preferred against them by either the ICPC or the EFCC.

    “In recent times, there has been so much disquiet about the delay in having these cases heard and disposed of ‘within a reasonable time’.
    “There have been calls for the establishment of separate or Special Courts to deal with corruption and economic crime cases, which invariably fall within the category of high-profile cases, in order to ensure their expeditious disposal.

    “The causes of delay in the trial of cases are many. They include the low number of Judicial Officers-about 4,000 in relation to the teeming Nigerian population of about 160million people; that is a ratio of one judge to 40,000 people.

    “Others are inadequacy of infrastructure and modern Information and Communication Technology equipment in the courtrooms and offices to facilitate the judicial process; not-so-conducive working environment; delay tactics by counsel; and dearth of trained and seasoned investigators and prosecutors etc.

    “There is great concern about the capacity of the judicial system to hear and dispose of cases as speedily as possible. It does not matter whether it is a corruption case or economic crime matter involving “high-profile” persons who are “Politically Exposed Persons”, or the “Ordinary man on the street”.

    “The integrity and dependability of the judicial system is often tested on how fast cases can be heard and disposed of.  “The ability of any country to attract Foreign Direct Investment is largely dependent on the efficiency of its legal and judicial system.”

    The committee made some recommendations on how to decongest the courts. They include appointment of more judicial officers, adequate funding of the Judiciary, especially at the state level; provision of proper infrastructure and ICT equipment; and having conducive working environment for judges to complement improved manpower in each jurisdiction.

    Other recommendations include that judges should be proactive in dealing with interlocutory applications. Besides, they should stop bending to the whims and caprices of counsel placing priority on criminal matters; and Judiciary should encourage its partners, such as the police, Ministry of Justice, the Prisons, the Nigeria Legal Aid Council and others to play their roles.

    The committee requested the adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
    The report said: “It has been acknowledged all over the world that adversarial litigation should no longer be the only means of resolving disputes. Congestion in court dockets, lack of manpower and resources in addition to delay, excessive cost and overtly technical procedures are all symptoms calling for the need for better options and approaches to dispute resolution.
    “Speedy disposal of cases and delivery of justice is a sine qua non for an enduring agenda for efficient administration of justice.

    “There is, therefore, urgent need to supplement the current infrastructure of courts by means of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
    “Unlike litigation, ADR mechanisms provide access to justice in an affordable, reliable, and quick manner.

    “ADR is not an attempt to supplant litigation but to support it, and thereby provide greater access to justice to the citizenry-there should be many doors to justice, not just one.

    “The concept of the Multi-Door Court house should, therefore, be embraced by the Judiciary in Nigeria . ADR is, however, an alternative and a very good alternative but it remains an alternative. Certain cases can only be tried by the courts.”

    On offer of gifts to judges by the Executive and the Legislature, the committee retained the present Code of Conduct banning judges from accepting such.
    The report added: “The Judiciary in Nigeria is quite advanced in judicial ethics as there are two Codes of Conduct in existence, one for judicial officers and the other for court employees. Indeed, the Code of Conduct for judicial officers was in existence even before the Bangalore principles. It was first published in 1998.
    “The two Codes of Conduct with the minor amendment discouraging acceptance of gifts from other arms of government are adequate. Compliance with their provisions shall be mandatory.”
    But the panel came up with a new policy barring petitioners and judicial officers from leaking or publishing allegations of misconduct in the media before they are considered.
    It, however, said any Judicial disciplinary body could publish its findings or release same to the public afterwards.
    It shall be the policy of the Judiciary on petitions that allegations of misconduct against Judicial Officers or other employees of the Judiciary shall not be leaked or published in the media.
    Where complaints or allegations against judicial officers and court employees are submitted for investigation, the petitioner or petitioners shall be made to give an undertaking not to do anything to prejudice investigation or actions that may be taken.
    The institutions of the Judiciary concerned with investigation and implementation of decisions taken on such complaints shall be obliged to cease further action where such petitions or complaints are leaked or discussed in the media.
    Where such a leakage is occasioned after the submission of a petition, then all investigations on the petition shall be suspended; the leakage investigated and if it is from the petitioner or through other parties known to such a petitioner, then such a petition should be discarded.
    “Where such leakage is occasioned prior to the presentation of the petition and the source of the leakage is found to be the petitioner or through other parties known to and connected with the petitioner, then such petition shall not be accepted, upon submission, by the appropriate disciplinary body.
    “Upon conclusion of any investigation, the judicial disciplinary bodies may allow public disclosure of their findings, subject to following the proper channels for such disclosure.”

  • Floods: 25 bodies found in Adamawa

    No fewer than 25 bodies washed ashore after floods ravaged the north were found on Benue River at the weekend, Nigerian Red Cross official said yesterday.
    Red Cross Secretary Abubakar Ahmad said the bodies were found at the Adamawa State section of Benue River.

    Ahmad said he believed the bodies might have been washed from neighboring Cameroon because no one in the area could immediately identify any of the bodies.
    Ahmad said there could be many dead after the flooding because many families have reported some of their people still missing.

    Officials previously recovered at least 45 bodies from the flooding, which they blamed on officials in Cameroon opening up a dam. Cameroon claimed to have warned Nigeria before relieving pressure on the overwhelmed dam.

    Nigeria is experiencing its annual rainy season.  The Red Cross has given a figure of close to 200 people killed by floods
    Also yesterday, Alhaji Musa Ilallah, the North-West Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said 11,500 people were displaced by floods, which recently ravaged parts of Jigawa and Kano states.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after distributing relief materials to the victims in Ringim that 10,000 persons were affected in Kano and 1,500 in Jigawa.
    Jigawa victims, he said, were being camped at the Junior Arabic Secondary School, Ringim.

    Ilallah said the agency would also open a camp for those displaced by flood that ravaged two local government areas in Sokoto State.
    “For now, we have camps only in Kano and Jigawa states for displaced persons in this zone.’’
    He said that he was in Jigawa for assessment and to distribute relief materials to the flood victims.

    Ilallah said the items distributed were not compensation for the lost property but assistance to reduce the sufferings of the victims. Items distributed included 50 bags of rice, 50 bags of maize, 550 bags of guinea corns and 50 bags of millet.

    Others were 200 pieces of blankets, 200 mosquitos’ nets, 200 mats and 200 pieces of textile materials.
    Chairman of Ringim Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Abubakar, appealed to the Federal and Jigawa governments to intervene by tackling the flooding in the area.

    Abubakar said that flooding had become an annual occurrence in the last 11 years, particularly in Yakasawa and Centrimawa communities.

  • ACN chieftains allege threats to their lives

    ACN chieftains allege threats to their lives

    Iwo Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leaders in Akoko, Ondo North Senatorial District, Olugbenga Omole and Barry Obamehinti (aka (Beri-Bonje), at the weekend alleged that some notable leaders of the ruling Labour Party (LP) were threatening to intimidate them for working against their party.

    It was learnt that Omole, who is a regular discussant on a radio current affairs programme: Ondo State in Focus, alleged that the LP leaders were not comfortable with the facts he presents on the programme.

    Addressing reporters in Akure, the state capital, Omole said: “The height of the threat came when I featured in a private television station in Lagos. Immediately I stepped out of the studio, a strange number came in and it happened to be one of the top shots of LP, who pleaded with me to come and join them or else I would have myself to blame.

    “I am calling on security agents to be aware of this because I have already lodged a complaint with the police and I have instructed my lawyer to petition the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakir.”

    Obamehinti, who was Head of the Security Unit of Omoluabi Platform, a group sponsored by Dr Olu Agunloye before he defected to the LP, was regarded as the engine room of the Agunloye political base.
    He said: “Agunloye is not happy that I didn’t follow him to the LP. I told him that he met me in ACN and should not think I would follow him to the LP.”

    “Agunloye knows that all his followers in Akoko and Owo are with me and I am working on the few ones that are with him now because they have been disappointed by Mimiko who promised to develop the state and its citizenry but failed totally.

    The two ACN Chieftains urged the Police to investigate the case in a bid to save their lives from the attackers. Police spokesman Adeniran Aremu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), could not be reached for comments, but a source at the command hinted that the report has not been officially reported.

    Another ACN leader in Ose Local Government Area, Timehin Adelegbe raised the alarm over a clandestine move by a council chairman and some other LP stalwarts to eliminate him because of working for ACN particularly in Oke-luse community.

    Through his lawyer, Adelegbe petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate the matter and rescue him from assaination threats by his political opponents.

  • Akeredolu: I’m ready for probe on alleged fraud

    Akeredolu: I’m ready for probe on alleged fraud

    The Akeredolu Campaign organisation (ACO) of the Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday challenged a “faceless” organisation, which accused its governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), of fraud to petition the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged N3 million fraud.

    The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President promised to submit himself and his company, AKT Ventures, for a probe by security agents. A statement by the organisation’s Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, said: “For us at ACO, this is a baseless, wanton and cheap attempt to bring the name of Akeredolu (SAN) to disrepute by this irresponsible association called Good Governance Monitor (GGM), allegedly sponsored by Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his drowning Labour Party (LP).

    “Thus, the allegation that Akeredolu diverted N3 million donated by the Niger State Government is false.  “This so-called ‘scandal’ has already been investigated by the top level of NBA and Akeredolu had been acquitted of any misconduct, undue influence or manipulation of the process as far back as 2010.

    “The National Executive Committee’s (NEC’s) decision was contained in paragraph eight (8) of the communiqué signed by the General Secretary, Ibrahim Eddy, and the Publicity Secretary, Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, issued at the end of the NBA meeting on June 3 and 4, 2010, under the subhead: AKT Ventures and the NBA.

    “It states inter-alia: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC reiterates and adopts the decision of the committee of former Presidents, which had absolved the current President of the NBA from any wrongdoing concerning the affairs of AKT Ventures Limited and its relationship with the NBA’.”

    ACO recalled that Akeredolu’s contribution to the NBA was recently recognised when the association named its headquarters in Abuja after him.
    The organisation noted that this speaks volume on how the body of learned men perceives him and his leadership.

    The statement added: “In our reckoning, Akeredolu is not only a man of pedigree, but he is honest and straightforward; he is focused and determined to make Ondo State better.

    “(He is) unlike Mimiko, who has played to the gallery for three and a half years. Then governor only has markets, stalls, maternity homes and boreholes to show for the huge revenue accrued to the state. His administration has been recording a litany of abandoned projects, such as the Doom-dome, Akure TownshipS, Owena Multi-purpose Dam, Akure-Owo Road, Ondo-Akure road, Arakale road, Arigidi tomato paste factory.

    “No amount of cheap lies, sponsored propaganda and blackmail by Mimiko, his co-travellers and faceless organisations against Akeredolu will save the governor from being rooted out in the October 20 poll by the Ondo State people.”

  • Mimiko hails Awolowo

    Mimiko hails Awolowo

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the weekend hailed the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for the “unprecedented development” to the region.

    The governor said the late sage accomplished this through “innovative projects”. He urged up-and-coming politicians to emulate him so that they too could be remembered by future generations.  Mimiko spoke in Idanre, the headquarters of Idanre Local Government Area, during his re-election campaign tour of the local government.

    The governor said in the last three and a half years, his administration had been developing Ondo State.  He listed some of the projects to include the health care system, urban development and human settlement, education as well as agriculture, among others.

    Mimiko hailed the late Awolowo for his visionary and life-changing projects which he said made the defunct Western Region the best administrated region and the most advanced in the fledging nation. The governor noted that the legacy he left behind should remain a challenge for up-and-coming politicians who must always think of what legacy they would leave behind for posterity.

    Mimiko made this observation at the Onisere-Ofosu Farm Settlement, a border community with Edo State, while commissioning a block of six classrooms at St. Peter’s Primary School in the community. He blamed past governments in the state for the neglect suffered by the community since it was founded in 1959 by the late Awolowo.

    While commending the vision of late Premier of the Region for setting up the Farm Settlement for the promotion of farming and boosting of food production, the Governor, however regretted that past administrations in the state would have improved on the lives of the people if developmental projects had been executed in the community.

    The Governor however assured that his administration decided to construct the classrooms to replace the over fifty years old dilapidated school accommodating over 250 pupils who used to sit on the floor to receive lessons.

    According to the Governor who was welcome to the community with joy, the challenges of his administration was how to improve on the lives of the people adding that no fewer than six hundred communities all over the state have benefited from the transformational and developmental projects of his administration in the last three and a half years.

    He also promised to use his second term in office to consolidate on the achievements recorded by the Labour Party administration in the state, adding that his administration would re-develop the Farm Settlement to meet the vision of its founder late Chief Obafemi Awolowo by providing it with social infrastructure.

    The construction of the school, he said, was part of the demonstration of the Labour Party led administration to revive education and create conducive learning environment for over two hundred and fifty pupils from the community who had hitherto been using the over 50 years old dilapidating building.

    Mimiko also promised to construct a health centre in the community to take care of the people who travelled several kilometres for medical attention.

    Addressing a rally at Ofosu, Governor Mimiko promised that the electricity project of the town would receive prompt attention during his second term in office, while other social infrastructure would also be provided to make life meaningful to the people.

    He, therefore, solicited for the votes of the people which he said should be used to bring continuity for the developmental programme of the Labour Party in the state.

    The Governor and his entourage had earlier visited Erindo-Ofosu where he gave the people of the community a cheque of N10million to complete communal project embarked upon by the people, one of which is a health centre with a warning that the money should not be misused. He also promised that he would equip the health centre, provide it with staff and drugs when completed.

    Mimiko who visited Ala-Elefosan where he commissioned series of projects including a Secondary school building built by his government, Ala, Ala Goke, Aponmu Lona, Owena, Atosin, Alade and Ipinle-rere where he also commissioned a Primary School, reiterated the resolved of the people not to serve any godfathers.

    He warned those boasting that they would capture the State by hook or crook of heavy trouncing on October 20. According to him Ondo people are free born who take exceptions to the slur that that somebody wants to capture them and are determined to make a resounding statement for freedom as opposed to neo-colonialism, democracy as against oligarchy and rule of an emperor.

    He said: “We assure them that they would meet their waterloo in Ondo State on October 20 as our people are resolved to remain free, they have chosen democracy as against oligarchy and the rule of an emperor.

    On October 20, it will be one man, one vote; never will be railroad and stampeded by aliens, those who were never part of us but are mercantile in their posturing and out to fleece our God-given wealth”.

  • CPC NEC, Buhari, others back Ehinlanwo

    CPC NEC, Buhari, others back Ehinlanwo

    The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the weekend said its National Executive Committee (NEC) and Leader, Gen. Mohammed Buhari (rtd) recognised the former consultant to European Commissioner (EC), Mr. Soji Ehinlanwo, as the party’s governorship candidate for October 20 election in Ondo State.

    This debunked a statement credited to a man, Jayeoba Francis, alleging that CPC had not picked any candidate for the election.
    The CPC Southwest National Vice-Chairman, Raszaq Muse said: “The public should be wary of the antics of some unscrupulous and demented impostors, particularly one Jimoh Amodu, who has been parading himself as CPC Chairman in the state.”

    He said there is no crisis in the party in Ondo State, adding that the emergence of Ehinlanwo and his running mate followed due process.
    Amodu said the stakeholders who should have witnessed the congress from the 18 local government areas were absent Muse, who addressed reporters in Akure, the state capital, explained that Amodu had been suspended from the party for having a case at Magistrate Court, Akure.

    He alleged that Amodu also has another pending case following a search on his apartment by policemen from the Area Commander’s Office, Akure, who allegedly found some incriminating items.

    The National Vice-Chairman said the party’s congress and governorship primary were held between July 30 and August 2.
    He added that the public was notified on these, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the party’s national officers.

    Wuse said: “At the congress, a lawyer, Mr Lekan Obolo emerged as the state chairman, while the duo of of Soji Ehinlanwo and Mrs Damilola Oluyemi emerged as Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates of the party respectively.

    He said their candidature has since been affirmed and widely published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    But Wuse accused the ruling Labour Party (LP) of sponsoring some dubious characters and moles to destabilize the party.

    “We are aware that the financier of these miscreants only recently returned back to his paymasters in the LP, we know as a fact that they are only being scared of the growing acceptance and popularity of CPC in the state and South West Zone” Wuse said.

    The CPC leader assured that merger talks between his party and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would work out successfully to unseat Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.