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Tag: Ibrahim Mantu

  • Mantu commends Secondus for ‘repackaging PDP’

    Dr. Umar Mantu, a House of Representatives aspirant in Plateau, has commended PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, for “repackaging PDP into a portent political force’’.

    Mantu, son of former deputy senate president Ibrahim Mantu, who is seeking to represent Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency, spoke on Monday in Bokkos, in an interactive session with PDP stakeholders in the constituency.

    “Not long ago, the PDP was virtually written off by political analysts, but the situation has changed dramatically.

    “Now, the PDP is a portent political force courted by many and envied by rival political groups.

    “Few months ago, all we heard were people defecting from the party to other political parties. Now, everyone is rushing into the PDP. It has turned into our modern Noah’s ark.

    “The PDP has attracted new members and regained the old ones that left. It has regained the leadership of the National Assembly with Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Tanimu Dogara back to the fold.

    “We started this year as an opposition party, but we now lead the legislative arm of government and the rival APC has been reduced to the opposition party.

    “Secondus has done so much for the party. He has re-positioned the PDP into a popular brand cherished by everyone. In fact, even PDP’s rivals admire and envy his leadership style,’’ Mantu, a 32-year-old lawyer, said.

    Mantu particularly lauded the PDP national and state leaderships for learning from its past mistakes and resolving to make every member a stakeholder.

    “Those defecting to the PDP had many options. There are close to 100 other options, but the defectors chose to troop to PDP because of the way its affairs are being steered,’’ he said.

    The aspirant particularly commended the PDP leadership for remaining firm and standing by its promise to be fair to everyone.

    Read Also: Mantu’s son, Umar, joins race for House of Reps seat

    He also commended the PDP leadership for respecting people’s wishes and carrying everyone along in decision making processes, saying that the impunity that brought the party to its knees in 2015 was no longer the trend.

    On his aspiration, Mantu said that he was consulting with stakeholders toward picking the PDP ticket in the primary election, and expressed confidence that winning the secondary election would be “much easier’’.

    “I have met with the delegates that will determine my fate in the primary election and they have promised to vote for me. I have no reason to doubt them,’’ he said.

    The aspirant also commended the national and state leaderships of the party for accommodating the interests of the youth and women, and encouraging them to vie for elective posts.

    “The PDP offers free nomination forms to women seeking elective positions and strives to encourage them to vie for its tickets. I see this as a very positive development,’’ he said.

    Mantu urged women and the youth to take full advantage of such opportunities to pursue their ambitions so as to contribute to societal growth, and cautioned them against allowing anyone to intimidate them.

  • Mantu’s son, Umar, joins race for House of Reps seat

    Dr. Umar Mantu, son of former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, on Tuesday in Jos declared interest in contesting the Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency seat.

    Mantu, a 32-year-old lawyer, in an interview with News men shortly after meeting with the Plateau state working committee of the PDP, said that he was motivated by “an innate desire to serve humanity’’.

    He decried the dearth of basic facilities in his constituency and promised to seek projects that would improve living standards.

    “I feel particularly perturbed at the poor quality of healthcare in my constituency. There are no good hospitals and the schools are in bad shape.

    “The youths are energetic and ready to work. They are educated and ambitious, but they have no opportunities.

    “The area is generally rural and the people are agrarian, but even basic fertilizer is lacking, making it difficult for the farmers to go beyond basic subsistence farming.

    “What I intend to do is to look at these potentialities and work out ways to explore them toward a better life for my people,’’ he said.

    On the persistent violence in Plateau, Mantu blamed that on the massive indolence among youths, saying that hands usually available for such evil would be reduced if there were jobs for the youths.

    Read Also: MANTU’s confessions and matters arising

    Mantu also emphasized the need for more education to enlighten people on the need for peaceful co-existence, pointing out that development would always elude the state if the chaos continued.

    The aspirant also promised to work toward promoting mutual respect among the residents of Plateau.

    “There must be mutual respect along ethnic, tribal and religious lines; once there is mutual respect, there will be mutual confidence and mutual trust,’’ he said.

    Mantu expressed confidence that he would pick the PDP ticket and win the general elections because he was representing the youths, who constituted a bulk of the voters in his constituency.

    The news men report that Mantu will slug it out with the incumbent, Rep. Solomon Maren, for the PDP ticket.

    Also in the race is former North-Central Zonal Director of the FRCN, Mr Sylvanus Namang,  as well as Mr Danlami Jenka, a former director with the Bureau for Public Enterprises.

  • Impeaching Buhari not in the interest of Nigeria – Gowon

    Former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) ‎has warned that impeaching President Muhammadu Buhari would not be in the interest of Nigeria.

    Gowon, who addressed the Northern Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly in Abuja on Thursday, said it’s too early for Nigeria to start impeaching democratically elected presidents.

    The former Head of State’s warning is coming at a time the Senate was considering an impeachment motion against President Muhammadu Buhari over the purchase of $496 million Tucano aircraft from the United States, without legislative approval.

    Urging unity among the diverse ethic, religious and socio-economic groups, particularly in the North, Gowon said impeaching any president at this point in the nation’s history would not serve any useful purpose.

    Gowon said, “It will be too early in the day to start impeaching presidents in Nigeria‎, otherwise, there will be no president that will not get impeached because of these interest groups.

    “We need to come together as a people – Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum and this forum. The three must come together or else, we will end up dividing our interests thereby polarising the North.

    “So it is a question of unity of the people in the North which is very important‎. The interest of the North is the interest of the nation”.

    Responding, the chairman of the Northern Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said his group has constituted sub committees on North’s unity, elections, security and restructuring.

    Yakasai added that his group painstakingly studies the reports of its various sub committees, with the view to taking the necessary actions that would engender peace and unity among the various political stakeholders in the region.

    According to him, the main objective of the group was to bring together Northerners of good standing for the purpose of arresting drifts in the region.

    He also harped on the urgent need for the various stakeholders to strive to rebuild confidence among the people of the North, irrespective differences in ethnic and religious backgrounds.

    Also speaking at the meeting, a former Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed assured that the group would all that is required to ensure unity of purpose among the diverse groups in the region.

    Others at the meeting were a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Abba Gana; a former Speaker Present at the event were, former Speaker of the ‎House of Representatives, Umar Ghali N’aba; two former senators -Joseph Waku and Paul Wampana

    Others are a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu; two former Women Affairs Minister, Maryam Ciroma and Zainab Maina.

  • Breaking: Ali, Makarfi differ on zoning in PDP 

    Breaking: Ali, Makarfi differ on zoning in PDP 

    …Southwest should produce chairman, says Ali

    Prominent leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the three geopolitical zones in the North Tuesday urged adherence to the zoning arrangement agreed upon for the party’s national convention and 2019 general elections.

    Among others, the party has zoned its chairmanship slot to the South and the presidential ticket reserved for aspirants from the North.

    The party leaders, at an enlarged consultative meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, appealed to aspirants to various elective positions not to violate the zoning arrangement, saying the party paid dearly for such violations in the 2015 presidential election.

    But there was disagreement.

    While a former National Chairman Dr. Ahmadu Ali argued in favour of electing the next chairman from the Southwest geopolitical zone, Caretaker Chairman Ahmed Makarfi said the position was zoned to the South and that micro zoning is not binding.

    Ali said: “It’s either we choose our next national chairman from the Southwest or we forget about PDP”, adding that the zone had yet to occupy the chairmanship position since the formation of the party in 1998.

    “We must be ready to ensure that at the convention, the main issue, which is the national chairmanship of the party, is well handled. If we don’t vote the South-West, we can as well forget the PDP.”

    Ali maintained that the way forward for the PDP is to remain united and warned against unauthorised divisive meetings among certain members for selfish reasons.

    Makarfi restated the commitment of the party to respect the various zoning arrangements, adding however that those bent on going against the zonin arrangement should allowed to please themselves.

    Makarfi said: “The Port Harcourt convention decisions remain valid and one of the decisions taken at that convention was zoning.  But microzoning does not have a binding effect.

    “If a position is zoned to the North and you are from the North and you come to buy form, we will sell for you. Don’t forget that people will not get tired of taking the PDP to court”.

    Another former National Chairman Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, called for sanctions against members that go against the party’s zoning arrangement.

    Haliru added that going against the party’s zoning arrangement should no longer be tolerated; saying doing so amounted to disobedience and disloyalty that must be addressed by the leadership.

    The ex-party chair called for sanctions against Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who declared his intention to run for President, noting that “zoning and rotation are part of the PDP Constitution. We must adhere to them if we are to keep this party alive.

    “There are people who are bent on contesting whether the office is zoned to their place or not. We must discuss with the South, so that anybody who goes against zoning can be punished. We cannot afford to have people come to the convention and make a fool of themselves and ridicule the party”.

    Former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu described the north as one with the required number to decide who becomes the next chairman.

    “We in the North have the number and we will decide who eventually becomes the national chairman from any part of the South. We have done it before and we are going to do it again”, Ayu said.

    A former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana warned against impunity and imposition of candidates to avoid a repeat of past mistakes.

    “I want to appeal to you to give to the party the very best in the positions that have been zoned to us. Let us therefore give to the party, men and women of impeccable integrity.

    “Whatever the Fayoses of this world may be doing, the party has resolved that the presidential candidate will come from one of the three zones in the north”.

    A former Special Duties Minister, Dr. Kabiru Taminu insisted that zoning was one of the principles recognised and entrenched in the party’s constitution.

    Makarfi lauded the sacrifice made by delegates to the meeting.

    Makarfi called for unity among members as the surest way for the PDP to regain power in 2019.

    The chairman announced the decision of the Osun State chapter of the Labour Party to join the PDP as part of the reconciliation efforts.

    Also present at the enlarged meeting were former Governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada (Kogi); ex-Governor Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

    Others include former Ministers Abba Moro, Adamu Maina Waziri Zainab Maina and Chief Fidelis Tapgun.

    A former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, former National Woman Leader, Ina Ciroma and the chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin also attended the meeting.

  • Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of being behind the frosty relationship that has existed between the executive and legislature since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

    The former speaker said former President Obasanjo wanted what he described as a subjugated legislature, but met a stiff opposition in the House of Representatives.

    They spoke just as former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu said the political clash in the country has sinned against God and thee Nigerian people and must be on their knees to seek forgiveness ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking at a national conference on “political party supremacy and the dynamics of parliamentary autonomy”, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the former speaker said the decision of former President Obasanjo to impose a leadership on the National Assembly and the resolve to fight back by the lawmakers is responsible for the relationship that has existed between the two arms of government since 1999.

    Tracing the origin of the crisis, Na’Abba said Obasanjo1’s first step was to change the date of the inauguration of the National Assembly from June 3, 1999 to June 6the to allow him ample opportunity to manipulate the election of the Senate President, thus paving the way for the emergence of Evan Ewerem as Senate President instead of Chiba Okadigbo that was preferred by most senators.

    According to him, “the action of 3rd June 1999 by Obasanjo, the election of Ghali Na’Abba as speaker of the House of Representatives on 22nd July, 1999 and the election of Senator Chiba Okadigbo as Senate President convoluted to define the relationship between the legislature and the executive.

    “The relationship between the National Assembly and the executive arm became characterized by antagonism. It was clearly more than the necessary kind of friction which was desirous for the proper functioning of the legislature.

    “In doing what he did in the senate, the President did not carry the PDP along. The intention of the President in all of those was to ensure that he governed with a subjugated legislature. In the House of Representatives, he met with stiff resistance. That was the reason he insisted that the Speaker be impeached. Up to the time the House came to an end, he did not succeed. In the senate, Senator Chiba Okadigbo was impeached eight months after he was elected.”

    Also speaking, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim also blame the former President for the lack of party supremacy in the current political dispensation, pointing out that by declaring himself as the leader of the party, he succeeded in eroding the powers of the party to control their members.

    He said1: “The original sin was committed in 1999 when the then newly elected President, Olusegun Obasanjo declared himself the leader of the party thereby usurping the power of the party chairman.

    “Once he did that, sitting governors in the state declared themselves party leaders at the levels. Party executives then became simple figureheads without real power or influence.

    “One of the most serious consequences of this development is that the party becomes completely incapable of insisting that their elected executives and legislature implement the programmes on which they have been elected. The notion of party supremacy has completely disappeared in Nigeria’s political culture since 1999.”

    In his paper entitled political party supremacy and the challenges of executive and legislative relationship in Nigeria, former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu said said the Nigeria nation has seen the worst of all sorts of bad governance, pointing out that while there is corruption all over the world, the type of corruption in Nigeria “is uniquely different. There is element of greed in our brand of corruption. In other words, we are greedily corrupt.”

    He said “As we approach 2019, we must put our house in order. We, the politicians have sinned against Almighty God, the giver of power and have sinned against the very people God used to endorse His anointment by voting us into power.

    “Our sins have reached saturating point and the natural law of gravity would bring everything down to ground zero. We must therefore purge ourselves and be on our knees to ask Almighty God and the good people of Nigeria for forgiveness.

    “In doing so. We must honestly and sincerely pledge to embrace the path of righteousness from now on and to do only that which would meet the expectations and aspirations of Nigerians henceforth.”

     

  • Dariye, Mantu battle for Plateau Central ticket

    Dariye, Mantu battle for Plateau Central ticket

    Plateau Central District is a politically conscious zone. The struggle for its senatorial ticket has generated interest, owing to the calibre of politicians in the race. Who represents the district in 2015? Correspondent YUSUFU IDEGU examines the battle of the gladiators.

    The senatorial election in Plateau Central  Zone has always been the toughest in Plateau State. Next year,’s election may not be different. The zone parades many vibrant politicians. Therefore, constituents are anticipating an epic battle.

    The aspirants include former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, former Speaker of theHouse of Assembly and House of Representatives member from Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Constituency Hon. Emmanuel Goar,  Senator Sati Gogwim and   former Governor Joshua Dariye, who is the senator representing the district.

    Mantu lost the seat in 2007. But,  the ebbulient politician wants to stage a comeback. He is the first senator to represent the zone in this dispensation. He was in the Senate between  1999 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was the Deputy Senate President for six years. But, his attempt to return to the Senate for the third time failed when he lost to Major  Sati Gogwim, a less popular candidate, who contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Since his defeat in 2007, Mantu appears to have gone into political oblivion. He did not feature in the 2011 election. But, he was always at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata House, Abuja, on party assignments.  His bid to return to the Senate did not come as a surprise to political observers. He has revived his political structures for this purpose. He is believed to have  the backing of prominent party leaders.

    Since Mantu lost the senatorial election in 2007, the PDP has lost control of the zone to opposition parties. When the ACN candidate won the poll in 2007, the party failed to manage the opportunity. In the 2011 election, the Labour Party (LP), fielded Dariye. The ACN lost the seat to the LP. Thus, there is doubt over the PDP’s popularity in the district.

    Mantu’s motive is to reclaim the zone from the LP. But, other aspirants claim that they have the same goal in mind.  Hon. Goar has declared that he has the strategy to recapture the zone for the ruling party. He spoke on his new formula on the day he declared his intention to run.

    “I have concluded plans to run for the Senate in 2015. I need to recapture my senatorial zone for the PDP. We lost the zone to the opposition in the two previous elections, but I believe I have all it takes to bring it back under the PDP fold,” he said.

    The legislator added: “At the moment, I am the most experienced legislator from that zone. I started from the grassroots by representing my people at the state constituency, where I became the Speaker of the House. I left there for the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly where I am  representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam  Constituency. The people will prefer someone that is so close to them; someone who they can access and someone who will be humble enough to render account periodically.

    “The zone does not lack politicians in top places with national recognition, but what the people require is someone who has grassroots acceptability and well experienced in legislative system. I am not lacking in the area of legislative experience, having served in the House of Assembly and  the House of Representatives. Hence, I consider myself good enough to serve my zone and my state at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.”

    Goar said that the senatorial election might be a walkover for the PDP, if the party fields an experienced aspirant like him. “The ruling party lost the zone because it did not field experienced candidates. But, I am confident this time around that the party will not regret when I emerge as its flag bearer in the zone. I can assure my party that I have began to work towards giving them that victory because what the people want is an experienced man like me. The people of the zone has lost out. As a result, they could not get their dues from the national cake. The same people have cried to me to come to their rescue and I have made up my mind to heed their cry by offering myself to serve them in the senate,” he said

    But, Mantu also believes that he is the right person for the job. He said it would be easy for the PDP to recapture the zone, if he is the flag bearer. The former Deputy Senate President said that since he decided to keep a low profile in the last seven years, the PDP has not found a credible replacement for him. Mantu  has begun consultations with stakeholders on how to realise his ambition.

    However, Goar and Mantu will face a tough battle. Dariye of the LP is not ready to take a rest. Dariye has remained popular in the zone. Although he defected from the PDP, his influence has not waned. A source said that PDP leaders have been mounting pressure on him to return to the fold. He left the party, following his misunderstanding with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Sources confirmed that PDP national leaders are optimistc that he will return to the party before the election. President Goodluck Jonathan, added the sources, is expected to receive him at a rally in Jos, the state capital. “If not for the bomb blast of May 20 in Jo,s which killed scores of people, the reception for the former PDP stalwart, including Senator Dariye, would have been held,” added the source.

    Senator Gogwim, who represented the zone between  2007 and 2011 on the platform of the ACN, is also on his way to the PDP. He lost the 2011 poll to Dariye.  The retired soldier has not hidden his ambition to return to the Senate. His campaign posters and hand bills flood  the zone. Gogwim said he has experience for the job, urging the people to give him a second chance.

    The primaries will be tough because the gladiators are not ready to step down. At the shadow poll, delegates will vet  the condenders and make up their minds.

    A party chieftain, Mr. Joshua Nanle, said that  Goar may have an edge over Mantu and Dariye because of his grassroots appeal. Goar is believed to be closer to the masses than the two senior politicians. He is also said to have come from the Angas ethnic group, which is the most populous  in the district.

    “In Plateau Central Zone, Angas  is the largest ethnic group. But,  we have been patient and the minorities have been ruling the zone. The only Angas man, who went to Senate in 2007, ran on the opposition party. This time around, we expect other tribes in the zone to respect our wish to take our turn in the ruling party. The Angas tribe cannot remain in the opposition for too long. And for the Angas, turn, we have no other candidate than Hon Goar. He has done well in the House of Representative. We want him to go to the Senate on the platform of PDP,” Nanle added. .

    Another factor that may count against Mantu and  Dariye is the fact that voters will prefer to vote for candidates,  based on their local government of origin. The zone comprises five local governments; Mangu, Bokkos, Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam. In 1999, the people voted for Mantu, who hails from Mangu. After completing two terms in the Senate, he was succeeded by Gogwim from Kanke. Later, Dariye from  Bokkos was elected.

    Ahead of next year’s poll, there is the agitation for power shift to either Pankshin  or Kanam, the two local governments that are yet to take their turns.

    Alhaji Salisu Shehu from Kanam said:  “In the 2015 election, I don’t think the likes of Mantu and Dariye will have a chance. I will advise them to allow other local governments have it. We have Pankshin and Kanam that are yet to take their turns. We are looking for candidates from the two local governments. In Kanam, we have resolved to vote for candidates from these two councils.”

    No doubt, Goar is popular. He may be the voter’s favourite. But, can he withstand Dariye’s asernal? The former governor is a factor in the zone. He has proved that he is the leader the district, both as governor and senator. His followers love him. Many chieftains across the parties are also loyal to him.

    Mantu is also a clever politician. He is highly connected. He is respected in the zone. In fact, observers believe that Dariye and Mantu can spring surprises.

    The question is: Can Goar beat these gladiators at the primaries? Time will tell.

     

  • N100bn bond for expressway

    N100bn bond for expressway

    •Is it politics or business?

    As if in response to widespread skepticism over its plan for the abandoned Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Federal Government has thrown a new dice into the conundrum. According to the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, the government is ready to issue a N100 billion bond towards the completion of the road. The minister made the claim before a delegation of campaigners for President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, known as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reloaded Committee, which is led by former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu. Shockingly, the minister also claimed that since the contract for the expressway was re-awarded, work has been going on, on that road.

    Considering the several failed promises made by the Federal Government on the rehabilitation of that road, we do not know whether this new claim is a mere political gimmick. Interestingly, the minister chose a meeting with politicians to announce such an important decision. A few months ago, President Jonathan came to do a groundbreaking ceremony on the construction of that road, but notably, the current budget awaiting the approval of the federal legislature captured only N25 billion out of the about N170 billion required to fix it. Again, the Federal Government had not long ago, also claimed that it was going into a Public-Private Partnership as a source of funding to build the road.

    So, which of the claims shall Nigerians rely on towards the reconstruction of perhaps the most important federal highway in Nigeria? Should we rely on the political assertions of the minister made before President Jonathan’s praise singers or that of the President which came with much fanfare, with no action? Or, is it even possible that when the President flagged off the reconstruction project, there was no funding plan in place? Nigerians demand an answer to this flip-flop of the Federal Government, more so as the integrity of the office of the President has been dragged into the conundrum.

    As we have previously argued, if indeed the Federal Government has no plans to reconstruct that road, why all the fanfare and excruciating deprivations that road users suffer on the day President Jonathan came to perform what is turning out a duplicitous enterprise? Now, it seems the minister has taken over where the President stopped in a classical case of double speak. By the minister’s claim last week, the Federal Government is now to fund the entire project, partly through direct funding and the major chunk of fund, by borrowing. Yet, in the 2014 budget estimate, the entire provision for the ministry of works is not up to the cost of the project; or shouldn’t the cost have been captured in the budget, if truly there is a genuine plan of action?

    The case of abandonment that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has suffered is applicable to most of the other federal highways across the country. While the present regime can claim that the crisis predates it, it is shameful that it has not done much since it came on board. Again, since the emergence of democratic governance in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party has been in power, and over the 14 years it has budgeted hundreds of billions of naira to the Federal Ministry of Works, with very little to show for it. The failure of the party to deliver on infrastructure cuts across, in spite of the trillions of naira budgeted annually for these. Considering the importance of this road, we again urge the Federal Government to expedite action on its reconstruction.

  • Irebosa Igbinedion finds love

    Irebosa Igbinedion finds love

    IREBOSA, daughter of the former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, has been romantically linked with son of former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu. Though the affair is still shrouded in secrecy, the younger Mantu, we gathered, has been spoiling the Igbinedion girl silly with cash and gifts.

    Busybodies swore that two years ago, the younger Mantu threw an exclusive birthday bash for Irebosa and it had in attendance silver spoons of their kind.

  • Fed Govt to issue N100b bond to complete Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    Fed Govt to issue N100b bond to complete Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    The Federal Government said yesterday that it was ready to issue N100 billion road and infrastructure bond for the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Minister of Works Mike Onolememen spoke when he received the Ibrahim Mantu-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reloaded Committee in his office in Abuja.

    He told the committee that the bond is to enable early completion of the road.

    “Government has made commitment up to N50 billion for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while N25 billion will be made available in 2014 and 2015.

    “This is after the mobilisation of the contractors last year by the Federal Government.

    “There are several government institutions, which are also putting up to N17 billion on that road to ensure its timely completion”, he said.

    Onolememen said the road project was not abandoned as people claimed, but that the ministry was working to deliver a good road to Nigerians.

    He added that the contract was revoked from the first Nigerian concessioner, who was awarded the contract in 2009, because he did not perform well.

    The minister said since the contract was re-awarded to Julius Berger and RCC, work on the roads had improved.

    “Federal Government terminated the first contract because the contractor did not do anything in three years, not even a kilometre, on the expressway.

    “In fact, since the contract of that road was re-awarded, work has been going on and people, who travelled on the route during the last Yuletide attested to this”, he said.

    Onolememen said the ministry would follow the ground norm of the Federal Highway Act to invest and deliver good arterial roads to Nigerians.

    He added that road is a very important infrastructure and about 95 per cent of Nigerians travel by roads, assuring that most roads would get better.

    Mantu, who led the committee to the ministry, said it was visiting and monitoring the projects carried out by the government.

    “In the last two months, we secretly constituted six zonal inspection committees, made up of our members to inspect all completed ongoing road projects.

    “We are shocked by the degree of progress made nationwide. This means the nation is getting value for its money”, he said.

    He applauded the minister for completing 2000km of 32 roads in two years.

    Minister of State for Works Bashir Yuguda thanked the committee for the commendation given to the ministry, saying it would propel them to do more than they are doing.

    The PDP Reloaded Committee decorated and presented a plaque to the minister.

     

  • Al-Mustapha condoles Lar’s family

    Al-Mustapha condoles Lar’s family

    The former Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha’s, Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, on Saturday expressed regrets that he did not meet the late Chief Solomon Lar before his death.

    Al-Mustapha made his feelings known while speaking with Rep. Beni Lar, a daughter of the deceased, during a condolence visit to the Lar residence in Abuja.

    He said he had planned to visit the late Lar, who was a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, but fate made it impossible.

    Al-Mustapha, who described the deceased as a father and defender of democracy said he had established contacts with him since when he was appointed the Minister of Police Affairs.

    “Our relationship continued, even while I was incarcerated.

    “Therefore, after my release, I thought of coming to say `thank you’ to him. But, I couldn’t before he died,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the former CSO as saying during the visit.

    He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the entire Lar family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Speaking also at the event, a former Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, said the late Lar cared about Al-Mustapha.

    He said the late former governor of the old Plateau State kept on telling him about the need to get Al-Mustapha released from prison when he (Mantu) was at the National Assembly.

    “I never knew why `Baba’ was interested in Al-Mustapha’s release until this visit. Bur we did our best as at that time.

    “During that time, at many times when we thought we had finished the deal in the evening, some other people were somewhere changing things before daybreak,’’ Mantu said.