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Tag: Ex-governor

  • Why ex-governor is lying low

    Why ex-governor is lying low

    Not a few Nigerians have noticed the absence from public glare of a once ubiquitous former governor of a prominent state and chieftain of the opposition parties, in recent times.

    Until recently, the former governor was as visible as he was vocal, acting as the face of a would-be coalition of political parties.

    But the vocal former governor is hardly seen or heard in recent times, leaving political observers to wonder why he has chosen to lie low after the initial gragra. Close associates of the opposition chief, however, told Sentry that he decided to slow down for two reasons.

    The first, according to them, is that despondency has set in for the politician just like some others in his new party because it is not making the instant impact they had anticipated.

    READ ALSO: Only Nigerians can save the country, not Trump – Ex-Foreign Affairs Minister

    Secondly, the former governor is said to have been jolted by recent threats from the US to deal with Nigerian leaders who had indulged the characters responsible for the poor security situation in the country in any way.

    It will be recalled that the governor once granted an interview while he held sway as state chief excutive wherein he admitted pacifying killer herdsmen with huge sums of money so they could live in piece with farmers.

    Besides, he is said not to be in the good books of the predominantly Christian inhabitants of a section of his state who accuse him of encouraging their persecution while he wielded power.

  • Blacks yet to be identified in scientific breakthroughs, says ex-governor

    The Former Governor of the Old Oyo State, Engineer Victor Omololu Olunloyo, has decried the place of blacks in the history of scientific breakthroughs.

    He spoke at the first Research and Development Public Lecture of Yaba College of Technology, titled “Mathematics, Science, Technology and Innovations”.

    He expressed concern that significant historic breakthroughs have been the efforts of the white counterpart, leaving the blacks to revel in literature prizes.

    “Do we blacks have a critical mass? Our noble prizes are one in Literature and several in peace such as Mandela, Luthuli and Kofi Annan. What do we do about Medicine, the sciences viz Physics, Chemistry, and Biochemistry?

    “We have the Fields Medal, which is the counterpart for Nobel Prize for Mathematics. When will the blacks rise to such position in the world? We need institutions and brains. We have some but only a critical mass of them can get us these. We need our Bill and Melinda Gates, a Steve Jobs and Mark Zukerberg” he said.

    The Mathematician, who was the first Secretary of the National Science and Technology Development Agency with 23 research institutes under his supervision in 1978-1980, said research and development have always been connected with the uses of results of scientific research.

    Since the existence of man, he explained that Mathematics has remained an indelible part of human existence setting the pace for development.

    With its diverse usage, he remarked that experiences over time have shown that Mathematics can be employed to ensure peace, secure communication and used during warfare.  This, he said has developed into the tricks and antics of CIA, F.B.I D.S.S and other security agencies.

    The Octogenarian, who was the first Rector of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, explained that Mathematics seeks out patterns, quantitative and qualitative dimensions, whether dealing with numbers, spaces, natural sciences, computers, imaginary abstractions and other entities.

    Olunloyo noted that the philosophical and logical aspect of the subject makes it an art and science which has been coexisting since the history of man, and evident in its interrelation with every other subjects and human endeavours.

    The Rector, Engineer Obafemi Omokungbe, said the institution recognised the importance of research for any meaningful technological breakthrough.

    He said that the lecture series will provide platforms to communicate ideas and concepts of relevance to society.

    The lecture series which started in the first year of his tenure is in line with one of his mandates to make the institution a research-based centre. To this effect, the college has established the Applied Research and Technology Innovation Centre (ARTI).

    The centre will promote and facilitate the performance of industry-oriented research and development in view to promote research findings, inventions and innovations.

    He noted that the centre has also organised workshops and conferences on research for academic member of staff of the college.

    The Deputy Rector, Eng. Kehinde Osifala, said ideas generated from the lecture series would be given to relevant agencies of government for attention and necessary action.

  • Alleged debt profile exaggerated, says ex-governor

    Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said his administration did not incur N155.79 billion debt when it left office last October.

    Fayose was reacting yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to an allegation by Governor Kayode Fayemi that his administration piled up such a huge debt before exiting office.

    Speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, the former governor said Fayemi was only trying to cover up his 100 days of failure by lying that the immediate past administration incurred N155.79 billion debt.

    Olayinka said no amount of falsehood could diminish the outstanding achievements of the Fayose administration.

    He said: “When a governor goes about advertising signing of 2019 budget as a major programme of his 100 days in office, such a governor should be pitied. On this one, we can only pray for the reconstruction of the lying mind of Dr John Kayode Fayemi.

    Read also: Fayemi: ex-Governor Fayose left N155.79b debt

    “On September 8, 2018, Fayemi said Ekiti’s debt was N117 billion; on October 17, 2018, the same Fayemi claimed the debt was N170 billion. Today, he is talking about N155 billion. So, which one should the public believe?”

    The former governor’s spokesperson insisted that Ekiti State was not committed to any financial institution in form of bonds and commercial loans.

    According to him, the state’s indebtedness was under N60 billion and that the debt was either directly incurred during Fayemi’s first tenure or as a result of the loans restructuring done at the instance of the Federal Government and the Federal Economic Council (FEC).

    He gave the breakdown as follows: Commercial bank loan, N2,087,788,065.28; CBN grant for water project, N163,450,000; Excess Crude Account-backed loan, N9,545,173,472.78; bailout, N9,083,761,215.40; FGN bonds, N18,226,699,707.18; state bonds, N3,484,469,345.51 and budget support, N16,869,000,000.

    “He (Fayemi) is reputed for cooking up figures to perpetrate digital stealing and that explained his N700 million website as Minister of Mines and Steel Development.”

     

  • Fayemi’s, Fayose’s, aides quarrel over ‘attack’ of ex-governor at wedding

    The alleged attack of former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose at the wedding of Adetutu, the daughter of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, has sparked a quarrel in the political circles.

    Fayose was booed and called unprintable names by some individuals at the wedding on Saturday at Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The former governor was ferried out of the church when the booing continued and tension rose.

    Another group outside the church rained abuses on him and pelted his vehicle with stones as he hurriedly left the premises.

    The Fayose camp alleged that the “humiliation” was organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to embarrass the former governor.

    But the state government said it was nemesis that caught up with Fayose, who it advised not drag its name into his plight.

    Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, accused Governor Kayode Fayemi of sponsoring people he called “miscreants” to humiliate Fayose in the church.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Public Communication, Segun Dipe, absolved Fayemi and APC of complicity in the humiliation of Fayose.

    He said the act was carried out by PDP members offended by the ex-governor.

    Olayinka said: “Rather than send less than 15 miscreants to the house of God to boo Fayose, Fayemi should either face the reality of his rejection by the people or engage in actions that will make the people to love him.

    “Even if the governor and his party of thugs do not regard the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, shouldn’t they have at least accorded the dignitaries who came from far and near to honour the revered monarch some respect by keeping their miscreants away from the church?

    “And rather than achieve their sinister aim, Fayose entered the church amidst loud ovation and this should get Fayemi and his men to begin to ask themselves what they have done wrong, instead of adding more salts to the injury of their rejection by the people.”

    He added: “Ekiti people will continue to love Fayose because he served them well and, most importantly, he never distanced himself from them, counselling Fayemi to submit himself to the authority of the people by acting as their servant instead of his present display of power arrogance.”

    In his reply to Olayinka’s allegation, Dipe said: “Our findings about the unfortunate fate that befell the former governor is that he was indeed booed but by those he had offended within his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who felt bruised and pained about the way he enslaved them within their own party.

    “Fayose is the architect of his own misfortune. He will be living in a fool’s paradise to think the people will forget all his sins too quickly.

    “He is now being haunted by his past misdeeds. Or, has he forgotten what he did to them in Ado? How he was disrespectful to the Ewi; how he was demolishing ancestral homes; how he seized land and properties and converted them to personal use?

    “Fayose, as his own enemy, should not accuse anyone of goading those he offended before they would think of having their pound of flesh on him is to be taking the people for a ride.

    “My sincere and brotherly advice to our immediate past governor is to do the needful, by tendering an unreserved apology to all those he offended, and they are legion. It is only then that he would no longer be haunted by ghosts.”

  • Ex-governor Onoh’s son arraigned for fraud

    Son of a former Governor of old Anambra State Gabriel Onoh and two others were yesterday arraigned at the Federal High Court in Enugu on an eight-count charge of fraud and forgery.

    Onoh, a former chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area and former Commissioner in Enugu State, was arraigned with Emeka Okoli and Chukwuemeka Oji, who is said to be at large.

    One of the counts reads: “That you, Gabriel Onoh (m), Emeka Okoli (m) and Chukwuemeka Oji (m), now at large, in December 2014, at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; forgery of survey plan, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 546 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP 278 Laws of the Federation 2004.”

    The first accused, Onoh, allegedly forged his father’s signature on a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO), and used the documents to fraudulently collect N50 million from Chukwubuike Peter Zion over a property sale.

    The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    The defence counsel, led by Chief Enechi Onyia (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail as the alleged offence was a bailable. He also complained that his client had been in police custody for some days prior to the arraignment.

    The Prosecuting Counsel, Police Superintendent Matthew Omosun, from Force Legal Department, Abuja, who stood in for the Inspector-General of Police, opposed the bail, saying the first accused possesses two passports and so could jump bail.

    Justice Mohammed Liman granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million each and one surety each in like sum.

    The surety must also be a respected personality, own a landed property with valid and verifiable documents within the court’s jurisdiction.

    Justice Liman ruled that in the alternative, the accused persons could deposit N2 million cash or a bank guarantee of like sum in the custody of the court.

    He then remanded the accused in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail condition and adjourned till July 25 for further hearing.

  • Ex-governor rejoins LP today in Ondo West

    Barely four years after former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his supporters dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the medical doctor-turned politician and his supporters will today re-join the LP.

    Mimiko is expected to visit his Ward 7 in Ondo West Local Government Area, where he will collect LP’s membership card.

    He aligned with the PDP before the 2015 presidential election, which Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won.

    The former governor, who had a brief parley with reporters in Ondo town, has officially resigned from the PDP.

    The letter reads: “I hereby with utmost humility inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP with effect from today, June 13, 2018 for some well thought-out personal reasons.

    “It was an honour working with many prominent Nigerians whom I shared the PDP platform for the entire period I was there as a member.

    “Accept, please, the assurance of my very high regards.”

    Mimiko used the platform of the LP in 2007 to dislodge the late Governor Olusegun Agagu after winning Appeal Court verdict in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    He said: “I am conscious of my political history and determine to embrace new ideology.”

    According to him, politics is about choices, and God has the way of every step of human beings in life.

    The former governor recalled his political exploits as commissioner, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), minister, and two-term governor.

    He noted that his decision to move to the LP would be value-added, saying his exit from the PDP followed “comprehensive frustration”.

    PDP’s State Chairman Clement Faboyede, who served as Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative Services in Mimiko’s administration, said his exit would not derail the main opposition party.

    According to him, the PDP leadership in the state and other stakeholders have done their best to change Mimiko’s mind to remain in the party but all proved futile.

    Mimiko started out as a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999 and moved to the PDP where he was appointed a minister by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He dumped the PDP for LP on whose platform he was elected governor.

    He left the LP in 2014 for the PDP and was a key campaigner for former President Goodcluk Jonathan’s re-election.

  • Alleged N5.7b SURE-P fraud: Court remands ex-governor in EFCC’s custody

    •I’m being persecuted by Masari, says Shema

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former Governor of Katsina State,  Ibrahim Shehu Shema before Justice Babagana Ashgar of the Federal High Court on a 26-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering which amounted to of N5,776,552,396.

    Shema was  accused of laundering the cash  which was allegedly stolen from the account of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in  Katsina.

    The ex-governor,  in a statement last night,  said he was being persecuted by his successor, Governor Aminu Masari.

    According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the suspect was alleged  to have conspired with one Idris Kwado who is on the run, to perpetrate the fraud.

    One of the charges against the former governor reads:  “That you Ibrahim Shehu Shema whilst being the Executive Governor of Katsina State on or about the 17th February, 2014 at Katsina, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did indirectly control the sum of N502,216,400 withdrawn from Katsina State SURE-P account No. 5030053838 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc, Katsina Branch meant for peace education, advocacy and mediation programme which money you ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; Fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act”.

    Shema pleaded not guilty to the 26 count charge but the court dismissed  his application  challenging the competency of the charge and jurisdiction of court to try him.

    Justice Ashgar agreed with the submission of the learned prosecuting counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN )that  objections as stipulated in section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 can only be taken after the plea of the defendant has been taken.

    Consequently,  the application was dismissed..

    Before Shema could take his plea after stepping into the dock, Counsel representing him, E.C Ukala (SAN)  pleaded with the  court to adjourn the arraignment to another date in view of the fact that doing so would disrupt the travel arrangement of  the learned silk.

    Prosecution counsel S.T Ologunorisa SAN opposed the prayer of the defence counsel.  He argued that personal issues cannot be considered by court . ”My Lord, there is nothing like  personal circumstances. What we have is judicial circumstances and there is a positive court order that the defendant should take his plea”.

    Ologunorisa  further added that if the  lead defence counsel is not personally disposed, there are other counsels in the team that could proceed with the matter.

    He finally submitted that, this is just an ingenious approach to frustrate the arraignment of the defendant and urge the court to dismiss the application.

    The prosecution also opposed the attempt to move the application of bail for the defendant on the grounds that it was premature.

    Ologunorisa argued that, the application was not ripe for hearing as the prosecution needed time to respond to the motion for bail.

     

     

  • Ex-Governor Goje loses wife

    •Senate mourns

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Mohammed Danjuma Goje, has lost his wife Hajiya Yelwa.

    She was 55.

    A statement by his son, Ahmed Mohammed, said Yelwa died in the United States of America.

    The statement reads: “With gratitude to Allah, I regret to announce the death of Hajiya Yelwa Danjuma Goje, wife of the former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje.

    “She is survived by her husband, children, grand-children, relatives, supporters and admirers.”

    The Senate has commiserated with Goje on the death of his wife.

    A statement by Senate President Bukola Saraki said: “On behalf of the Senate, I commiserate with our brother, friend and colleague, Senator Danjuma Goje, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, on the loss of his wife, Hajia Yelwa Mohammed Goje.

    “Over the years, Mrs. Goje served as an exemplary pillar of support to her husband and played the role of a dedicated mother and mentor to many in her community.

    “As we join the Goje family to mourn her passing today, we pray that Allah grant her soul a place among the righteous ones in Al-Jannah Firdaus. We also pray that Allah grants the family the strength to bear this loss.”

  • What Buhari told World Bank, by Oshiomhole

    What Buhari told World Bank, by Oshiomhole

    FORMER Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday President Muhammadu Buhari only asked for assistance on humanitarian crisis during a session with World Bank President Dr. Kim Jong.

    He said it was regrettable that a patriotic request made by the President and borne out of altruistic motivation was now being politicised.

    He said the idea of trying to read sectional meaning to Buhari’s patriotic request was grossly unfortunate.

    Oshiomhole, who made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja, said Buhari remains a statesman.

    The statement said: “It is a matter of fact that I was present at the meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari with the World Bank President Dr. Kim Jong on July 21, 2015 at the Blair House, Washington DC.

    “It is rather unfortunate that a patriotic request made by Mr. President and borne out of altruistic motivation is now being twisted, manipulated and politicised to suit certain political end.

    “Mr. President made the request against the backdrop of the devastation of the Northeast zone and the need for international organisations to rise in support of the efforts of the Nigeria government in arresting the humanitarian crisis in that part of the country.

    “The inhuman conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons were also discussed and Mr. President urged the World Bank to look into the best possible ways to address the crisis before it got out of hand.

    “In Edo State at that period, the government I headed was also buffeted with the challenge of dealing with internally displaced persons who came to settle in the outskirt of Benin City without the knowledge of the state government.

    “It took my personal intervention and the cooperation of Mr. President before we could offer our logistic assistance to make their location habitable to avert any humanitarian crisis.

    “For those who are familiar with the devastation of the North-East, where over 20,000 persons have reportedly been killed with over two million internally displaced persons, it smacks of political notoriety for any rational mind to question the request of Mr. President.”

    The ex-governor urged Nigerians to stop playing politics with the session between the President and the World Bank chief.

    The statement added: “President Buhari remains a statesman, who is not only patriotic and altruistic in his intentions, but one whose actions speak volume for our unity of purpose.

    “We should see the country as one indivisible entity driven by common objectives and goals.”

     

     

  • Suntai’s brother dies as ex-governor is buried

    Suntai’s brother dies as ex-governor is buried

    •Ishaku: Taraba crashed with him

    Former Taraba State Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai was on Saturday evening buried in his village, Suntai, in Bali Local Government.

    There were tears and eulogies. Hours later, his younger brother, Babangida Suntai, died. Ex-Information Commissioner Emmanuel Bello confirmed news of the death to The Nation.

    “The Suntai family has been devastated,” a member of the family told The Nation in an emotion-laden voice last night. Babangida died in Abuja in an undisclosed hospital.

    A family source said he was taken to Abuja last week for treatment.

    “He was ill,” the source added.

    Suntai, who was governor from 2007 to 2015, died on June 28, two days to his 56th birthday, in Orlando, Florida, USA, four years and seven months after surviving an air crash in which he was the pilot.

    He is survived by his wife, Hauwa and five children (four daughters and a boy).

    The last two are twins born in US where Suntai was being treated for plane crash injuries.

    Suntai’s funeral service was held at Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo, Taraba State capital.

    Among dignitaries were Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Simon Lalong (Plateau), who condoled with the family.

    They advised people to learn from Suntai’s legacies.

    Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku said Taraba crashed with Suntai on October 25, 2015 when the ill-fated Cessna 208 aircraft piloted by him had a mishap.

    “When Suntai had that plane crash, the state crashed with him.

    “The future and well-being of his family, the sanctity of his administration, and indeed, the well-being of the people also crashed with him.

    “This is because the fabric of the socio-economic being of the people was interwoven with the stature of this great man and leader of our time.

    “The news of Suntai’s demise came to me as a shock, because from my perspective, I looked forward with high expectation to the day he would be fully restored and returned home to us.

    “But sadly, that was not to be. Words cannot describe the intensity and depth of my grief and the trauma that the immediate and extended families of Suntai are going through, as well as the gloom that has settled on the government and good people of Taraba State,” he said.

    Ishaku described his late predecessor as an “amiable leader and an icon par excellence, who was well known for his frankness, boldness and large heart given to sincere forgiveness.”

    He remembered the three security aides of the late governor, who survived the crash.

    They are Aide de Camp (ADC) Iliya Dasat, Chief Detail Joel Danladi and the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Tino Dangana, who has been reappointed by Ishaku as his CSO.

    They were asked to stand beside their late boss’ casket for photographs and recognition.