The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kashamu

  • Kashamu accuses Fayose of inconsistency

    Kashamu accuses Fayose of inconsistency

    Senator Buruji Kashamu has urged the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to challenge the choice of Ali Modu Sheriff as the party’s national chairman at the Supreme Court.

    Kashamu, in a statement yesterday, also condemned Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for what he tagged his inconsistency on Sheriff’s leadership of the party.

    He urged members to support Sheriff to keep the party alive.

    “Not a few have wondered why the volte-face by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State. Exactly a year ago, he praised PDP National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to high heavens, extolling his qualities. Now, he is singing a new song. The questions are: what has changed? Why the inconsistency? Why the flip-flop? Should anyone take him seriously?”

    He went on: “Going to the apex court to test issues of common sense will only prolong the national leadership crisis and make the current office holders to stay in office longer than they ordinarily would have done, with its attendant consequences. We have election coming up in Anambra State this year and later in Osun and Ekiti states.  So, we must do primaries either later this year and early next year. We cannot afford to allow the fate that befell us in Edo and Ondo states to repeat itself. The 2019  general elections are fast approaching. We cannot afford to go into it as a weakened and divided house.  Like I have consistently maintained: this is political crisis and it is better resolved politically, with compromises here and there.   Let our respectable and experienced leaders and elders not allow the ill-motivated opinion and selfish interest of a few mislead them to taking actions that will not be in the overall interest of our party, its teeming members and supporters. We have come a long way together. We cannot afford to part now or divide our party any further.

    “Let all true party men and women, young and old, rich and poor, strong or weak, rise and rally round our National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and our national leader, Senator Ahmed Makarfi  to put the party together and organise a free and fair and all-embracing National Convention within 45 to 60 days. Both of them are our national leaders. They have shown by their conduct and actions  that they love our party.  They are both fantastic leaders  who have made their marks on our hearts, not just on the sands of time because that may be a fading memory.

    “It is gratifying to note that Senator Sheriff has  once again openly stated that he is not interested in perpetuating himself in office as the National Chairman. He has said he is ready to make the necessary sacrifice to move the party forward. Let other stakeholders take a clue from him and meet him half-way in the interest of the party!

    “I urge all our respected and respectable governors, NASS members, NEC members, BOT members, leaders and elders of our party from the North, South, East and West, to encourage and support Sheriff and Makarfi towards the process of organising a manifestly transparent National Convention and return the party to the people at the grassroots.

    “Let all those who have ambitions to become President, Vice President, Governors, lawmakers and the like know that they do not need to be in control of the party structure (s) to emerge candidates or win elections. It is a function of many factors and ultimately the Almighty Allah. He is the only who enthrones.” and dethrones leaders.”

     

  • Panic grips PDP as Kashamu, OGD’s men join APC in Ogun

    Panic grips PDP as Kashamu, OGD’s men join APC in Ogun

    Leaders of Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are worried over the continuous defection of close associates influential party leaders to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    SIGNS of panic and disappointment are visible within the circles of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, as chieftains and members of the troubled party continue to defect in droves into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), just as the two leading political parties in the state warm up to slug it out again at the 2019 general elections.

    Sources within the national leadership of the party told The Nation that there is widespread anxiety among leaders of the party on both sides of the faction over political events in the Gateway state. According to an aide to Senator Ali Modu Sherif, the factional National Chairman of the party is worried that should the spate of defection from the party into the APC in Ogun State continue, the PDP’s hope of regaining the state at the 2019 polls may remain a mere dream.

    The Nation also gathered that the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party recently summoned some of the party’s chieftains in Ogun state to a meeting in Lagos to discuss the incessant defection of its members into the ruling party. It was gathered that at the meeting, which was well attended by chieftains loyal to the camps of former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Hon. Ladi Adebutu, the leadership of the party expressed worries over the fortunes of the party in the state.

    “Senator Sherif is unhappy with happenings in the Ogun State chapter of our great party. This is because he has high hopes that the party in the state is capable of regaining the seat of government in 2019. His faith in the leaders of the party in Ogun State, especially in Senator Buruji Kashamu, is very high and he remains very optimistic about the PDP in Ogun State.

    “Recent events, where we have seen many of our leading chieftains and members joining the ruling APC, are worrisome. The national chairman is unhappy about it and he has said so on many occasions. Recently, at a party function in Ijebu Igbo, he called on the leaders of the party within the state to do something about the way our members were joining other parties.

    “Although he got assurance from Senator Kashamu and other leaders that efforts were on to arrest the situation, events of the last weeks have not shown much improvement in the situation. For this, the national chairman is unhappy and he is in the process of personally intervening in the matter with a view to identifying the immediate and remote causes of the defections,” our source, a chieftain of the party from Ekiti state, said.

    Speaking to The Nation on the state of the party in Ogun State, Chief Daniel Odutuyo, a former Secretary of the All Peoples Party (APP) in Ogun East Senatorial District and now a chieftain of the PDP, said the party is uncomfortable with the turn of events. According to the politician, the Senator Makarfi faction of the party is saddened by the defections and has advised that urgent steps be taken to halt such.

    “Not too long ago, some of our leaders were invited to a meeting where the ugly incidents of defections were discussed. The meeting held in Lagos and the real and loyal leaders of our party were in attendance except for those pretending to be with us but working for other parties and candidates ahead of 2019. Senator Makarfi wasted no time in urging our leaders to act fast and reverse the situation.

    “The meeting afforded PDP leaders in the camps of OGD, Bankole and Lado, the opportunity to brainstorm on how to move the party forward and stop our people from leaving the party to join other parties, especially the ruling APC. Many reasons were identified as the causes of the ugly trend and efforts are on to correct all identified causes,” he said.

    It was also gathered during the week in Abeokuta that leading chieftains of the party in the state may have resolved to call an emergency stakeholders meeting next week with the aim of unfolding new plans and directions for the party. This, The Nation gathered, is aimed at meeting the members’ call on party leaders in the state to chart a new course for the troubled PDP in Ogun State.

    Mounting trouble

    Influx into the APC from the PDP climaxed during the week when almost the entire leadership of the PDP in Ogun Central declared their support for the 2019 governorship ambition of Senator Olamilekan Solomon. Solomon, the senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is a chieftain of the ruling APC.

    Before then, the opposition party in the Gateway state has lost a number of its top chieftains from the various factions, to the ruling party. On most occasions, the PDP defectors were attracted to the ruling party by the governorship dream of Senator Solomon, whose political family is all over the place in the state seeking support and collaboration of politicians across and beyond party lines.

    Few weeks back, one of the closest aides of former Governor Daniel, Bukola Olopade, a PDP chieftain who served in OGD’s cabinet as the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, endorsed the gubernatorial aspiration of Solomon, and declared his readiness to work for the election of the APC aspirant in 2019. Not a few wondered why Olopade was dumping the PDP for APC.

    Olopade, a die-hard lieutenant of OGD for many years, popularly known as Ozogula, had said on his Facebook page: “I stand firmly on equity, which means on Ogun 2019, I stand with Yewa/Awori for a third time. Therefore, I openly and proudly stand with Senator Olamilekan Areola (Yayi) for governor.”

    According to him; “enough of sentimental voting. If you take time to find out more about Yayi, maybe we can talk more on what he can bring to the people. I have gone beyond the politics of supporting anyone along party lines alone. For example, I will support Attacker (Hon. Segun Adekoya) any time for the wonderful job he has done so far.”

    Led by Aare Tunde Alabi, two time commissioner in Ogun State, the Ogun Central group included other frontline PDP leaders, including Engineer Akeem Adesina, three time chairman of Obafemi Owode LGA and chairman of PDP in Ogun Central Senatorial District; Alhaji Moruph Ajisegiri, two time chairman of Abeokuta North LGA and former majority leader of Ogun State House of Assembly and Chief Fohunola Abiola, a leader from Ewekoro LGA.

    Others on the defection train with Aare Alabi are Alhaji Saula Makinde, one time assistant Treasurer of PDP, Ogun State; Chief Oluwole Adeyi , former Special Assistant to Ogun State governor and serving Assistant State PRO of the party; Alhaji Nurudeen Olaleye, Secretary to the Local Government at Abeokuta South LGA and Alhaji Lai Shobayo.

    Speaking on behalf of the group after they met and discussed with Senator Adeola, Aare Alabi said their decision to dump the PDP is largely because of the unending crisis in the opposition party. According to him, the PDP crises of 2011 and 2015, as well as the unending legal tussles leading to frivolous judgments, accounted for the electoral failure of the party at the last general election.

    “By the special grace of God, a Yewa man will be the governor of Ogun State in 2019 and we believe that the person is Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola aka Yayi. We are supporting him fully for the race on any platform he decides to run,” Aare Alabi stated while announcing the reediness of his group to move over to the APC and work for Solomon.

    Among those present at the event to receive the defectors into the APC along with the Senator were Rt. Hon. Tunji Egbetokun, former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Akinosi, former Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State, Hon. Tunde Olaotan, former Consultant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and several other APC chieftains.

    Worried chieftains

    The National Vice-Chairman /Zonal Chairman of PDP in the South West, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, however insists that the PDP can still rise above its current challenges to give the ruling party a run for its money come 2019. According to him, all hands must be on deck to move the PDP forward and put it in good stead for the task ahead.

    He added that, “the greatest problem bedeviling our party is uncontrollable act of impunity exhibited by very few individuals entrusted with leadership and power.” While assuring that the party will survive the current difficulties and come out stronger, Ogundipe urged party chieftains to stay in the party and work towards the resolution of all crises.

    “Posterity will not forgive us because no political party remains in circulation without electoral success. If our party leaders decided to pay just lip service to the current intra-party differences, then a period of damaging consequences will be unavoidable,” he said.

    The Nation gathered that the proposed stakeholders meeting is expected to address some key issues bedeviling the party and find solutions to such. It is also expected that the meeting will discuss the leadership crisis troubling the PDP at the national level and taking a position on the thorny issue of which of the factions to follow.

    “We have realized the need to sit down and talk and that is exactly what we intend to do. We are unhappy with the way people are leaving our party and we desire to put a stop to the exodus. But first, we need to look inward and address the issues dividing us. If it is true that people are leaving because of the crisis, then we must discuss the crisis,” a source added.

    However, the State Publicity secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, Bolaji Adeniji, while reacting to the gale of defection that has rocked the party in recent times, said the party is not troubled by the departure of the defectors as, according to him, those leaving the PDP for the ruling party have never really been committed and loyal members of the party.

    “Ordinarily, the decision by the few insignificant numbers of person to leave the party and identify with an opposition politician from another state entirely, Should be of no concern to us, after all, a political party is the gathering of like minds with shared philosophy and organizing principles; that come together for the purpose of forming government. However, it is pertinent we state unequivocally that, the departure of Aare Tunde Alabi, Engr. Akeem Adesina and Nuru Olaleye notably, alongside three other persons, does not in any manner equate a disruption of the party within Ogun central senatorial district alone, talk less of the State at large”.

    We are confident that the party is now strong and well-assured of electoral success in the 2019 elections. Our platform is open to all Ogun state people and we shall continue to maintain discipline, openness, justice, fairness, equity and fair-play in all processes that leads to the next general elections; when the PDP shall reclaim government from the despotic regime of Ibikunle Amosun and return the dignity of our people”.

    “The PDP in our state today is very strong and after the repositioning efforts that lasted the whole of 2016, we are now reaping the reward as attested to by the ongoing massive mobilization of new members into the party which has seen over 100 top leaders of opposition parties join us, alongside about 10,000 of their supporters. The last two months precisely have witnessed a huge hole in the camp of the APC as PDP continues to receive their members all over the State in an unprecedented recruitment drive,” he said.

  • Lawyer sues Kashamu for N10m

    Lawyer sues Kashamu for N10m

    A lawyer, Babatunde Olokun, has slammed a N10 million suit on Senator Buruji Kashamu (PDP Ogun).

    Olokun is suing Kashamu for alleged unlawful arrest, continuous threat to life, harassment and infringement on rights.

    Olokun, a lawyer, who filed the application at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleged that the senator was threatening his life through phone calls.

    The lawyer prayed the court to stop Kashamu from using the police or any law enforcement agent to harass, intimidate or molest him.

    When the matter was called yesterday, his counsel, Stanley Iji, asked for a short adjournment, saying the respondents was yet to be served the processes.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said it was the second time the applicant failed to serve the processes on the respondents.

    Dimgba warned the case would be struck out on the next adjourned date, if Olokun failed to serve the processes on Kashamu and others.

    The judge adjourned till February 17 for hearing.

  • Lawyer slams N10m suit on Kashamu

    A lawyer, Mr. Babatunde Olokun, has slammed a N10 million suit on Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    Olokun is pressing charges against Kashamu over alleged unlawful arrest, continuous threat to life, harassment and infringement on his fundamental human rights.

    Olokun, who filed the application at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleged that Kashamu was threatening his life through phone calls.

    He asked the court to declare the acts unconstitutional and violation of his rights.

    The lawyer also prayed the court to stop Kashamu from using the police or any other law enforcement agent to harass, intimidate, molest or interfere with his personal liberty.

    When the matter was called on Wednesday, Counsel to Olokun, Mr. Stanley Iji, prayed court for a short adjournment, saying the respondents have not been served with the processes.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba noted that this was the second time the applicant has failed to serve the processes on the respondents.

    The respondents are Kashamu, Onamusi Onadeko and the Inspector-General of Police.

    Dimgba warned that the case would be struck out on the next adjourned date if Olokun failed to serve the processes on Kashamu and others.

     

     

  • SANs tackle U.S., NDLEA over Kashamu

    SANs tackle U.S., NDLEA over Kashamu

    Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Lateef Fagbemi, Alex Izinyon and Akin Olujimi, yesterday described as illegal any attempt to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu.
    Fagebmi, Izinyon and Olujimi, in a joint statement, said the United States and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) would be overstepping their bounds by attempting to extradite the senator.
    The SANs said: “The U.S. did not appeal against any of the two UK judgments in favour of our client. The judgments therefore, remain binding against the U.S. and Nigeria for ever. Rather than appeal against those judgments, what the U.S. did next was to latch on to the conducive atmosphere in Nigeria brewed by the political enemies of our client, who even though aware that the U.S. had lost out twice in UK courts against our client, mounted unholy pressure on the former Attorney General to commence extradition proceedings against our client. He was therefore forced to approach the courts in Nigeria for redress. Just as the English courts had ruled in his favour, four different courts in four different suits in Lagos and Abuja found in favour of the Senator.
    “Notwithstanding the various subsisting decisions referred to above given by English and Nigerian courts all outlawing the extradition of our client, the NDLEA is, in clear disobedience of the various judgments, still plotting clandestinely with other security agencies at the behest of US agents to forcibly abduct our client and smuggle him to the U.S.
    “Our client’s U.S. lawyers had filed the suit under a law of the United States which the District court in the U.S. held did not create a private right of action. Our client’s U.S. solicitors appealed against the decision of the District Court in 2016. It was that appeal that the U.S. Court of Appeals pronounced upon on 23rd January, 2017 by affirming the decision of the District Court which held that the statute ‘did not create a private right of action’. In other words, it is not open to any individual to predicate a suit on the statute. Clearly, that was not a decision on the merit of the issues submitted to the court.
    “We are in agreement with the court that mere presence of a U.S. employee during an arrest by local officials in a foreign land and even assisting the local officials in an arrest will not amount to attempted abduction. What was not put before the U.S. court of appeals for determination and which the court did not decide is a situation where the local courts in the foreign land had given express orders prohibiting arrest, abduction and/or detention, as done by the Federal High Court in its judgments prohibiting the NDLEA and other security operatives from arresting or removing and exporting our client to the U.S. Any arrest or removal in breach of the orders of the Federal High court will unarguably amount to abduction as defined in Article 2 of the United Nations International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance adopted by the General Assembly on 20th December, 2006 to which the attention of the U.S. Court of Appeals was not drawn. Indeed Article 5 of the Convention renders perpetrators of enforced disappearance and the State which organize, acquiesce in or tolerate such disappearances liable under civil law, without prejudice to the international responsibility of the State concerned in accordance with the principles of international law.
    “The U.S. court of appeal did not purport to and cannot overrule the decision of any Nigerian court which must be obeyed, except set aside by a higher court in Nigeria … We have no doubt the NDLEA will backtrack from its enthusiasm after reading our analysis of the judgment. It is also worthy of mention that the Central Authority in matters of extradition from Nigeria is the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation. The role of the NDLEA is no more than to provide information that the Attorney General may require in regard to any request for extradition. So, the only authority who can speak as to what Government is doing on any request for extradition is the Attorney General of the Federation. We are not aware that the Hon. Attorney General has assigned or delegated his statutory authority to the NDLEA.”

  • Kashamu: I’ve no case to answer

    Kashamu: I’ve no case to answer

    •’US court ruling twisted by detractors’

    The senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, has said it will be illegal to initiate another extradition proceedings against him for drug dealing allegations in the United States.

    He said similar cases had been dismissed by two United Kingdom courts and a Federal High Court in Nigeria.

    At a briefing in Lagos at the weekend, Kashamu said the ruling by a US Appeal Court was twisted by the media, adding that his travails were politically motivated.

    Kashamu said the ruling was to the effect that the US police were free to initiate extradition proceedings against anyone in collaboration with a local police.

    “But that does not mean the court is telling them they have the right to enter into our territory to arrest me. That does not mean our police will say come and kidnap him.

    “But what we are saying is that they cannot bring another extradition suit against me, because the ones they brought to London were dismissed; the one in Nigeria was dismissed,” he said.

    Kashamu said allegations of illicit drug dealing in the US were baseless because he had never been to America, adding that only fugitives could be extradited, which he was not.

    The senator urged the Federal Government to resist a sinister bid by his political enemies to extradite him at all cost.

    He also wants the government to defend the country’s territorial integrity, saying a situation where British investigators come to Nigeria for investigations and take witnesses away to testify abroad must no longer be tolerated. “Can we do that there?” he asked.

    Kashamu described the reports as the latest in a series of efforts by his political opponents to call a dog a bad name to hang it.

    The senator recalled that while on a business trip to the UK in 1998, he was arrested at City Airport in London and detained pursuant to an arrest warrant issued on the basis of an indictment in the US in which the name Alaji was introduced as a party to an alleged offence of importation of narcotics.

    “I have never visited or resided in the U.S and certainly have never been involved in any business nlet alone a criminal activity whatsoever in the US,” he said.

    He said his lawyers came across some exculpatory evidence, which the US government concealed from the courts in the extradition proceedings.

    The evidence, he said, was the outcome of a photo identification parade to identify Alaji held in the US Attorney’s Office.

    Kashamu said: “They took a mug shot of me and placed it with seven other photographs of black males, who had facial hair similar to mine and were about my age too.

    “After viewing the photo lineup, Fillmore, one of the accused, said the third photograph in the lineup looked like a bad photograph of the man they were looking for.

    “He also declared that the second, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth photographs did not at all look like the said Alaji; my mug shot was the seventh in the lineup; that was one of the photographs that Fillmore said did not at all look like the wanted kingpin.

    “So, my lawyers began a Habeas Corpus (a recourse in law whereby a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment before a court) application in the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench division, for my release and the vacation of the committal order made by the court.

    “The English High Court, in its judgment delivered on October 6, 2000, agreed that the order for my committal was null and void, having been the product of unfair proceedings in which the U.S. government had suppressed exculpatory evidence.”

    Kashamu said the US authorities did not appeal the decision but re-arrested him and began a second extradition proceeding at the Bow Street Magistrate Court in England before District Judge Tim Workman.

    “Just before judgment was delivered, the U.S. government offered me a plea bargain by which they agreed to let me off with a suspended or short sentence if I would stop fighting the extradition proceedings.

    “This offer was passed through Thomas Durkin, a U.S lawyer representing me.  I rejected the offer.

    “The Bow Street Magistrate Court delivered its judgment on January 10, 2003 wherein Judge Workman concluded that the new identification evidence produced by the US government was worthless and unreliable and that I was not the person involved in the narcotics transaction and should thus be discharged,” the Senator said.

    Kashamu said there was a conspiracy against him, which culminated in a failed attempt to abduct him in 2015.

    “When I became aware of these moves I began an action at the Federal High Court in Lagos against the AGF seeking an interpretation of the Nigerian Extradition Act and determination of some questions as to whether the AGF could exercise his powers under that Act against me.

    “Prior to this, I had been elected a senator. My political foes, who were coincidentally dealing with a major defeat at the presidential elections, sought to sink with as many people as they could.

    “I consequently filed an application for the enforcement of my fundamental rights. The court subsequently heard arguments in respect of the originating motion and reserved judgment to be delivered on May 27, 2015.”

    Kashamu said the belated extradition proceedings initiated by the Federal Government did not include a request for his extradition by the US authorities as prescribed by the Nigerian Extradition Act. It was on that basis, he said, that the provisional warrant of arrest was set aside.

    “Any attempt to condone or allow abduction in the guise of an extradition is an illegality and affront on our sovereignty, the rule of law, international and municipal laws.

    “I am an employer of labour with hundreds of employees, who also cater for their immediate and their extended families. I have had more than enough distractions since this needless harassment began.

    “I could hardly focus on building my businesses and the consequences on my bottom line and cash flow have saddled me with a N11billion deficit that I am still battling to offset,” he said.

  • Cut on import duties ‘ll boost economy, says Kashamu

    Cut on import duties ‘ll boost economy, says Kashamu

    The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu, has commended the Federal Government for the cut on import duties for 173 items, describing the move as one that will “boost industry and rejuvenate the small-scale sector of the economy”.

    “That good news is coming on the heels of the recovery of Sambisa Forest and the hugely successful anti-corruption campaign which has saved the country trillions of naira. With all these, our economy should experience a rebound,” he said.

    Kashamu, who spoke yesterday in Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area while addressing leaders of the PDP and some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who defected to the PDP, said while it is true that an opposition party may not agree with every policy of the current government, it must be done constructively.

    His words: “While I reckon that we may not all agree with the policies of the government all of the time and also appreciate the fact that, as a people, we are faced with some challenges, the way to go is not to seek to pull down the roof on our heads.

    “As patriotic citizens, we should show empathy, support and offer constructive advice through the appropriate channel and not seek to play to the gallery by consistently painting a gloomy picture and wishing Nigeria and Nigerians bad whereas experts and more knowledgeable people are saying that things will improve with faith in God and support for our leaders at various levels.

    “Let us choose courage and faith over confusion and fear. Let us see the cup as half-full instead of half-empty. Let us put on our thinking caps, look inwards and tap into our innate enterprising abilities as a people and continue to contribute to the growth and development of our dear Native Land, for, as it is said, though tongues and tribe may differ, in brotherhood we stand. In spite of what the naysayers might be saying, the truth is that there are opportunities everywhere.”

    Kashamu also took a swipe at Governor Ayodele Fayose for his role in the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    At the meeting,  1,500 members of the APC in Ogun West Senatorial District defected and were received by the state PDP Chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo.

    Kashamu flayed Fayose for his frequent attacks on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, saying every issue must not be politicised.

    According to him, the governor is only trying to pull the wool over the eyes of party members to cover his tracks.

    He appealed to the Yoruba people to ignore what he described as the “doomsday predictions” of the Ekiti governor and rally round the government towards rebuilding the nation.

    Kashamu said, “I have continually stressed the need for us to encourage those it has pleased the Almighty Allah to choose for us as our leaders at the various levels of government beginning from Mr. Integrity himself, President Muhammadu Buhari to the last but not least, irrespective of the party they belong.

    “It is ungodly to do otherwise. It is a rebellion against constituted authority.

    I say this because I am not unmindful of the antics of a Governor in the South West who claims to have taken on the toga of the ‘leader or voice of the opposition.’ Let us not be deceived; he is not.

    “As you probably would have known, he is only trying to pull the wool over our eyes in order to cover up his tracks. He seeks to use his rabid attacks on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government as a cover when called to account for his deeds in and out of office.

    “He is the architect of the leadership crisis rocking our party in the South West and at the national level. Let all our elders and true sons and daughters in Yorubaland ignore his doomsday predictions and come together in unity and encourage the efforts of this government that are geared towards rebuilding our country.

    “That way, we will be in a position to get the best for our people in the scheme of things. Let us not allow the arrogance and indiscretions of one man rob us of the good that should come to Yorubaland.”

  • Kashamu to Nigerians: support Buhari to end economic woes

    Kashamu to Nigerians: support Buhari to end economic woes

    The Senator representing Ogun East, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has urged the citizenry to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to tackle economic challenges facing the country.

    He identified bad leadership, corruption and lack of political will to save for a rainy day as some of the factors responsible for the economic woes.

    Kashamu, who spoke at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari became the president of this country at the time the global economy was not only in the doldrums; the global economy was also battling recession. Oil prices were flunking lower and restiveness in the Niger Delta made matters worse.

    “In some ways, you may want to say that he was not as lucky as his predecessor. I must say that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was the luckiest person to have been president of this country. Oil prices were phenomenally high and the amnesty programme that was still at the early stages of implementation maintained some kind of truce in the region.

    “External debt was actually very low and our excess crude account was heavily funded. But he mismanaged the resources at his disposal and left the country broke and vulnerable.”

    The senator added: “There is enough information and analysis that give an honest perspective to our current predicament. It is now common knowledge that the administration of our father and mentor, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, left behind $45billion external reserves and the late President Umaru Yar’Adua administration grew the reserves to $64billion within just one year.

    “That was why it was able to finance 15 months of imports despite the 2008/2009 world economic meltdown. Hence, Nigeria survived the meltdown because those administrations had the political will to save. Even more commendable is the fact that in spite of the tough economic reality at that time, the administration left $47.7 billion in reserves and an external debt of $3.94 billion even though the administration earned only N9 trillion from crude oil sales within that short period.

    “But after the demise of President Yar’Adua, his successor’s lack of political will to save in the midst of an oil boom brought economic destitution.

    “It would be recalled that Brent crude sold at over $100 /barrel and raked in N51trillion within a period of five years. But because of corruption, governors demanding it was their constitutional right to take all the savings and other irresponsible acts of government, the administration did not only squander the oil revenue, it depleted the reserves left by  President Yar’Adua, leaving $32billion and a huge external debt of $63billion.”

    Kashamu berated those who said things were better off in the past when corruption was rife, stressing that, “It was their seemingly little acts of corruption here and there that coalesced to get us to where we are today.”

    He urged the citizens to give Buhari the required support to move the country out of recession.

  • NDLEA faults Kashamu’s claim on extradition

    NDLEA faults Kashamu’s claim on extradition

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has faulted claim by Senator Buruji Kashamu that the agency and two others have violated an injunction forbidding his extradition to the United States over alleged drugs related offences.

    The NDLEA argued that there was no time it was restrained by any court from arresting or extraditing Kashamu.

    The agency’s position was contained in a counter-affidavit filed against a motion for committal proceedings against NDLEA, its former Chairman, Ahmadu Giade and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Kashamu had claimed that Giade, the NDLEA and AGF were plotting to abduct and extradite him to the U.S despite orders against such extradition by a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

    NDLEA argued that the Lagos court only ordered in its 2010 ruling that any plan to extradite Kashamu by the AGF and the NDLEA to the U.S must be in compliance with the extradition Act, 2004.

    The agency said it was not a respondent to a suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015 which Kashamu alleged was disobeyed and which sought to commit it and its chairman for contempt.

    The NDLEA, however, said that in another suit by Kashamu with No. FHC/L/CS/49/2010 in which it was joined as a defendant, it raised a preliminary objection that the person sued as “Chairman of Nigeria Law Enforcement Agency was a party unknown to Law.”

     

  • Kashamu slams calls for cancellation of Ondo result

    Kashamu slams calls for cancellation of Ondo result

    •Urges Jegede not to challenge result

    The senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, has slammed calls for cancellation of the Ondo State governorship election result.

    In a statement in Lagos yesterday, Kashamu said the outcome of the election was more of a referendum on outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko, than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the result was a true reflection of the wish of the electorate.

    Kashamu advised the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, not to challenge the result because the facts were clear enough.

    “My good brother, Mr. Jegede, who Governor Mimiko is trying to use as a pawn in this game narrowly won his polling booth by one vote but lost his ward and local government. So, how could he be said to have stood a chance of winning the election?

    “The truth is that the people had since turned their back on Governor Mimiko. They did not want a third term for Mimiko under any guise. Civil servants are being owed six months’ salary.

    “On the eve of election, he told them he would pay them if they voted his candidate.  So, he had the money and did not pay? What does he take the good and sophisticated people of Ondo State for?

    “Besides, after being in office for eight years, Mimiko took Jegede from the same Ondo Central Senatorial District where he hails from as his successor. Who does that? Not even in cosmopolitan Lagos can such happen! So, the tell-tale signs were there for everyone to see.

    “Instead of putting the interest of PDP above his personal interest and supporting a fellow party man in Jimoh Ibrahim, who is an experienced and tested hand from Ondo South Senatorial District, he fought to get him out. His eyes are clearer now that he lost everything.”

    Kashamu said the governor’s inability to court the old PDP members who he displaced was also a factor that made him lose.

    He accused him (Mimiko) of deceit and betrayal of those who helped him, especially in his first term, including the Governor-elect, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    On claims there was heavy voter inducement, the lawmaker said no party could be absolved of the act, adding:  “If you paid N500 or N1,000 and another person gave N2,000 or N3,000, you are as guilty as the person you accuse of the crime.

    “Even if anyone blames voter inducement on poverty, again it is a heavy indictment on the Olusegun Mimiko-led eight-year administration.

    “That does not have anything to do with the Federal Government. He has been the chief executive of an oil-rich state for eight years.

    “The question should be what did he do with the resources? The people were simply tired of his legacy of corruption, lies and deceit, and rejected him at the poll,” Kashamu said.