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  • Falana to FG: Propose Money Bill before implementing increase in VAT

    Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to propose a Money Bill to the National Assembly before the implementation of the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).

    Falana told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja, said that the National Assembly (NASS) erred by inviting the Minister of Finance and the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to clarify issues of VAT increment.

    According to him, provisions of the constitution states that the President ought to have presented a money bill to be passed by the NASS before the increment.

    “It’s illegal, under a democratic dispensation you cannot impose tax or increase tax without a law made by the National Assembly or the State Assembly as the case may be.

    “In this case, it has to be realised that we are not under a military dictatorship.

    “By virtue of section 59 of the Nigerian Constitution, any increase, levy or tax will have to be presented to the National Assembly by way of money Bill by the President, it has to be passed into law.

    “The Senate erred in law by inviting them to come and clarify, the National Assembly has invited the Minister of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Services to come and clarify.

    Read Also: VAT: What you need to know about ‘proposed increase’ from 5% – 7.5%

    ” No, the National Assembly must insist on its powers under Section 59 to pass a law to increase VAT or any tax, there can be no taxation without a legislation.

    “The Federal Executive Council has no power under the Constitution to increase VAT or any tax in the country,” Falana said.

    NAN recalls that the Federal Executive Council had last Wednesday approved the increment of VAT from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, had explained that the increase would only begin after the VAT Act was amended by the National Assembly and after consultations with the state and local government areas as well as the Nigerian populace.

    According to her, our projection is to finish consultations early enough so that it takes effect in 2020.

    She further disclosed that the FEC approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategic Paper, MTEF/FSP for 2020 to 2022, which will guide the 2020 Budget.

    The Minister also said the next step was to present the document to the National Assembly for consideration.

  • Bauchi governor, NLTP and imperfect identity

    Before it is over, the controversy over whether to execute a Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) programme for herdsmen or serve it in the somewhat more inoculated version of National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) will have cost jobs, denuded political influence and prestige, and stoked pain, anger and suspicion all over the country.

    RUGA, which is hated in some parts of the country for its provocative and culturally flagrant acronym, was to be anchored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in ways that stupefied many. NLTP on the other hand, though still viewed with extreme suspicion, emanated from the National Economic Council (NEC). Who first conceived it? It is not clearly stated. For now, flowing from the acrimonious debate over the relevance and security implications of RUGA, the more inclusive NLTP appears to be on the ascendancy, with a hefty budget of about N179bn proposed for its execution over a 10-year period.

     

    Neither NLTP nor RUGA is devoid of controversy, and may not even be the best scientific approach to solving the so-called herdsmen-farmers clashes. Both programmes came out of many decades of slovenly approach to tackling climate problems and desertification, which pushed herdsmen contentiously farther afield in search of grazing lands, and the increasing conurbation and population explosion that have constricted grazing lands. Unable to find the antidote to a fast-growing and menacing problem, the federal government simply watched, sometimes with futile gestures, as herdsmen and farmers locked horns. Now the problem has reached epidemic levels, and is demanding for a solution whether the government likes it or not.

    But rather than look at the problem carefully and cautiously and weigh every suggested solution against the backdrop of the country’s cultural sensitivities and political complexities, the government has made a fairly conventional assessment of the causes of the problem, stunted the need to seek more modern and efficacious solutions, and is now attempting to impose a solution whose future ramifications are unpredictable. RUGA was the more insensitive of the two solutions, but there is also no proof that even the NLTP has met with anything more than cautious and reluctant acceptance from so-called willing states. Indeed, there is no proof that governors, who are members of the NEC, have all confidently signed on to the sanitised variant of the two programmes, especially with the ongoing subterranean and contentious attempt to settle Fulani herdsmen in some unwilling parts of the country.

    To further muddy the waters, the declaration by the Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed that the Fulani of West Africa have a transcendental identity, and must willy-nilly partake of the NLTP, has stoked controversy and imbued the programme with a suspicious hegemonic quality. The NEC is proposing an initial N100bn budget, fully funded by Nigerian taxpayers. According to Mr Mohammed, however, it would be pointless to attempt to exclude Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring West African countries, because you couldn’t tell the difference: they are all one and the same. They migrate seamlessly and share the same nationality. The governor was, in other words, declaring that the Fulani everywhere see themselves as Fulani first and foremost rather than through the lens of the countries of their birth. This is hugely controversial, ignorant and provocative.

    According the governor: “I think there is a lot of mistrust and misconception as regards the Fulani man. The Fulani man is a global or African person. He moves from the Gambia to Senegal and his nationality is Fulani. As a person I may have my relations in Cameroon but they are also Fulani. I am a Fulani man from my maternal side. We will just have to take this as our own heritage, something that is African. So, we cannot just close our borders and say the Fulani man is just a Nigerian. In most cases, the crisis is precipitated by those outside Nigeria. When there is a reprisal, it is not the Fulani man within Nigeria that causes it. It is that culture of getting revenge which is embedded in the traditional Fulani man that attracts reprisal…We are already accommodating them. Do you delineate and really know who is not a Nigerian Fulani man? They are all Nigerians because their identity, their citizenship is Nigerian even though they have relatives from all over the world. So, presumably they are Nigerians because they move all over and have relations all over. That is why our population in Nigeria is fluid.”

    If Governor Mohammed is right, nationals of Arab countries, for instance, can move without any restraints across borders in the Middle East once they share the same economic identities. They would neither need passports nor visas and are at liberty to enjoy the resources of any country they choose to migrate to whether they were born there or not and whether they pay taxes there or not. It is a hard theory to swallow. The governor made this explosive argument on a Channels Television programme on September 16, 2019. He was obviously persuaded about the reality and logic of his arguments, and managed no doubt to pass on that argument most persuasively to his listeners and other Nigerians who read the report. The National Economic Council meeting days after the Channels programme, however, attempted to douse the controversy triggered by that outlandish argument that suggested that Nigerian resources could be put at the disposal of non-Nigerians, and that in any case borders are needless and fruitless. According to the NEC, the NLTP is to be implemented in seven pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara — not the 13 originally proposed, nor of the RUGA 11 — and it would not involve putting the resources of the country at the disposal of foreign herdsmen.

    But overall, Governor Mohammed has been the more believable. He insists that no one can tell the difference between local and foreign Fulani herdsmen, and that it even makes no sense to attempt to tell them apart or to isolate one from another. While the implementation of the programme is some way off, and funds are still merely proposed, it remains to be seen how the pilot states will implement the programme. Will it be at their say-so, or will it be a federal programme that is implemented in their states? With the federal government providing 80 percent of the funds, it remains to be seen how they could cede control to the states or to the private sector participants envisaged by the plan. Furthermore, it is at the point of implementation that Nigerians will know whether the Nigerian government is willing and able to draw the line of differentiation.

    It is also not clear yet why states which have shown the keenest interest were not included in the pilot programme, while initially sceptical states such as Benue and Taraba where extreme hostilities have sometimes been recorded between natives and pastoralists, have been included in the short list of seven states. Nor has the federal government, which has embarked on interminable schemes to placate herdsmen much more than any other economic group, fully explained why it has not simply encouraged the formation of herdsmen cooperatives and restricted itself to backing them with access to low-interest loans. Many critics have suggested that the government’s lethargic approach to mediating herdsmen-farmers conflict is indicative of a collusion with violent herdsmen or at best connivance at the violent seizure of lands.

    If NLTP finally takes off, it is unlikely to bear out the reassurances given by the federal government. As the Bauchi State governor has said, few states implementing NLTP will bother drawing lines between Fulani herdsmen, local or foreign. Indeed, nothing says the NLTP will not eventually transform into RUGA, the original intention of the herdsmen scheme’s creators. From all indications too, with so many questions left unanswered, the government may be unwisely laying the seeds of future conflicts whose repercussions and trajectories may be extremely difficult to manage. It is also predicted that judging from the manner the government has been handling the issue, they may never be able to accurately define or gauge the problem or conceptualise an acceptable national identity for Nigerians capable of sustaining economic planning and promoting internal security. Too many issues are left in flux, and too many alien identities are unfortunately superimposed on the imperfect Nigerian identity.

    Quote

    Unable to find the antidote to a fast-growing and menacing problem, the federal government simply watched, sometimes with futile gestures, as herdsmen and farmers locked horns.

  • A/Ibom: I won’t impose a successor – Gov Emmanuel

    Amidst political speculations and postulations against 2023, Governor Udom Emmanuel has diffused plan to seek third term using a surrogate as a successor.

    The Governor cleared the air while interacting with the leadership and some members of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, foremost socio cultural organization of the Ibibio youths, that stormed Government House gate to herald his arrival following his victory at the Governorship petitions tribunal.

    “I usually hear people saying he has anointed someone who will take over from him so that he can be able to manipulate the person to do his bidding after leaving office, I want to assure you that it is not true”

    “As I Speak, it is only God who knows who my successor will be. When He presents him, we will support him to also succeed,” the Governor said.

    He used the opportunity to commend Mboho for the role it has played in maintaining peace in our dear state. The peace of Akwa Ibom State will never be shaken” Mr. Emmanuel added

    Mr. Emmanuel whose arrival from Abuja was greeted by different crowds of supporters right from the airport through to the city center, thanked all Akwa Ibomites and the Association for their surprise welcome

    He appreciated the Mboho for uniting in support to him, despite all odds, during the election, and urged them to continue supporting his administration to achieve the completion agenda.

    Read Also;  Tribunal upholds Emmanuel’s election

    Earlier, the President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akpawara Patrick Edwin Udofia said the association came to register their goodwill to the State Chief Executive on his second term confirmation by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

    Meanwhile, thousands of youths, women groups, members of the political class and the state executive council members thronged the Victor Attah International Airport to celebrate with the Governor on the victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Among the dignitaries to receive the Governor who arrived the state from an official function in Abuja, were the Deputy Governor Mr Moses Ekpo, the chairman PDP Obong Paul Ekpo,Secretary to state govt. Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Head of service, Elder Effiong Essien among other Exco members.

    Reacting to the verdict, Governor Emmanuel dedicated the Victory to Only God and Akwa Ibom people for the love demonstrated at the polls and affirmed by the Judiciary.

    He said that his administration is committed to deliver on the Campaign promise of an economic and socially viable state bonded in love and unity.

    The State chief executive said he is passionate about youth employment, industrialization, Education and infrastructure across the length and breadth of the state.
    He thanked the people for the show of love and the judiciary for being the last hope of the common man by upholding the Truth.

     

    NAN

  • Fatoyinbo never raped Busola, says COZA

    The leadership of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), on Saturday officially broke its silence over the lingering alleged rape by it’s Senior Pastor, Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo.

    COZA authoritatively disclosed that Fatoyinbo never raped Busola, wife of celebrity musician, Timi Dakolo, who claimed that Fatoyinbo raped her in 2002 when she was 17 years old.

    The church said: “We see this ugly development fuelled by envy and sheer jealousy as an unnecessary distraction and a fight from the pit of hell against the ministry that God gave Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo, as well as a declaration of war against the Church of Christ to which COZA is a flourishing branch under God’s grace.”

    A statement issued in Abuja by the Executive Senior Assistant to the Senior Pastor of COZA, Ademola Adetuberu said: “As a result of the recent unprovoked satanic campaign of calumny orchestrated against the leadership and members of our church, Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) by agents of darkness, the church would like to break its silence and clear certain misconception and misinformation being churned out in order to misguide members of the church, public and relevant authorities that we do not support rape.

    Read Also: Alleged rape scandal: COZA pastor Fatoyinbo fights back

    “We stand with anyone who has been a victim of rape. We stand by our Founding and Senior Pastor, Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo, who has been at the receiving end of organized blackmail and all sorts of attacks because of his innocence and we are sure that our faithful and unfailing God will vindicate him very soon.

    “As for Busola Dakolo, justice will soon be served. We would like to, again, for the record reiterate that our Senior Pastor, Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo has never had anything personal to do with her. Busola was not raped by Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo and she had never been in a relationship with him either.

    “We are not unaware that certain pastors that felt threatened by the unprecedented growth of COZA and the grace of God upon His Servant are after some of our members, just making every effort to cash in on the attack against God’s servant. There was nothing they had not done behind the scene until this rape scandal. They are accusing our Pastor of snatching their members. Some are even asking why he couldn’t remain in Ilorin. Our focus is the Kingdom of God and winning souls for Christ. COZA is home to those who have sold out to Jesus. At COZA, we believe that every sent servant of God has his or her harvest field given to him or her by God and not by poaching souls or believers of another ministry.”

    COZA urged: “those sponsoring these evils to desist however if they do not, the God of vengeance will visit them. They should let Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo continue freely with his divine mandate that our Lord Jesus Christ gave him. It is ungodly and sinful to be used by satan against the anointed.”

  • JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap ASUP chair, four others in Oyo

    The Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology Igbo-Ora, Mr. Opadijo Olujide, his secretary, Gbenga Alayande and three others have been kidnapped.

    It was gathered they were returning from a union meeting on Thursday in Saki when the incident occurred.

    A source said that four kidnapped comrades are members of the school chapter of ASUP while the other victim is one of their wives.

    “It is true. It happened on Thursday. They were returning from a union meeting in Saki. Five of them were kidnapped. Four of them are staff members of the school. The other one is wife of one of the victims.

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap rescuers of Bayelsa accident victims in Rivers

    “The school authorities have been making frantic effort to secure their freedom. The police are monitoring the situation. The Commissioner of Police was in Igbo-ora in the morning (Friday).The school is being careful. But the school may update the public when it gets updates,” a source said.

    Police Public Relations Officers(PPRO) of Oyo State Police Command Olugbenga Fadeyi confirmed the incident.

    The PPRO said:”Some lecturers were abducted at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-ora. The police is on the top of the situation.

    The Commissioner of Police went there in the morning for on-the-spot assessment. Other developments will be unveiled.”

  • Protest in Ughelli over alleged SARS shooting

    Residents of Ughelli in Delta State have protested the alleged killing of a young man simply identified as Mr. Patrick by agents of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    SARS operatives had reportedly pulled the trigger on the victim’s leg for refusing them access to his phone.

    The incident was said to have happened on Thursday morning around Makolomi Street near Upper Agbarho area of Ughelli.

    The SARS team were further alleged to have left the victim at the scene with blood gushing out of his wounds.

    It was gathered policemen from the Ughelli station later rushed the victim to the Ughelli Central Hospital where he is receiving medical treatment.

    A witness reported: “The young man did not do anything. SARS operatives who were patrolling the area on Thursday stopped the victim and demanded that he must open his phone for them but he declined.

    “The operatives started beating him until they collected the phone from him but he refused. He is a very humble boy in the area.

    “When the incident was happening it was the women in the area that were bold enough to challenge them. When others were still flogging him, one of the operatives opened fire on his leg. They jumped into the vehicle and left.

    Read Also; Alleged rape scandal: COZA pastor Fatoyinbo fights back

    “It was other police officers from the Ughelli Police Station that came to rush to the man to hospital. He is there at the hospital as we speak.”

    Residents, including women and youths, took to the streets to protest the development.

    It was learnt that the protesters who set fire on tyres on major roads leading to the Ughelli Area Command called for an end to SARS operations, positing that several innocent persons have died from their onslaught.

    One of the protesters, who only gave his name as Igho, called on police authorities in the state to ensure that justice was served the victim.

    He said: “We no longer move freely because of SARS in Ughelli. Once they see two or three youths walking together, the next thing you will see is SARS operatives searching their phones.

    “We cannot continue like this. The police authorities should investigate the incident and stop their men from maltreating people,” he stated.
    Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, said it was not clear if it was a policeman that shot the victim.
    “Somebody was shot but we do not know if it was a policeman that shot the person,” the CP stated.

  • Girl commits suicide 3 months after boyfriend killed self

    An apprentice at a tailoring shop in Lagos, Adenike Fatai, reportedly committed suicide just three months after her boyfriend identified as Bayo Atanda also killed self.

    The 25-year-old indigene of Kwara State who lived with her mother at Igbekele Street, Iyana Cele bus stop, Shibiri area of Lagos State has reportedly been battling depression since her boyfriend died and she took a poisonous substance suspected to be ‘sniper’.

    Though she left no suicide note, a quick check on her Facebook page revealed that she engaged in posts which centred on death and depression.

    It was further learnt that her trauma was heightened by her late boyfriend family and friends’ allegation of causing his death.

    Tawa, Adenike’s mother who confirmed her death told Punch that she met her dead after she returned home from evening prayer.

    She said, “That day, she finished cooking around 7pm and ate. She was outside after eating while I went to the mosque. Around 8pm, she came to the mosque to collect the key to our apartment and I told her to check the shop.

    “On getting home some minutes after, I saw her lying on the floor with a bottle of sniper beside her. I called for help but it was late.

    “She was learning tailoring in her sister’s place in Ikorodu. All of a sudden, her boss sent her away. She told me she had got another place to learn the vocation in Orile and that she would be living with a friend. I asked her to come and learn it at my place but she refused.

    Read Also; Alleged rape scandal: COZA pastor Fatoyinbo fights back

    “Whenever I asked to see the friend, she would say she was not around. It was when I threatened to disown her that she told me she was living with her boyfriend. I tried to convince her that what she did was wrong, but she said the man’s (Bayo’s) house was close to where she was learning tailoring. I met with the man and he said he really wanted to marry her. He looked very gentle. We were planning the introduction when he died.

    “On a Sunday around 11pm, my daughter called me and started crying on the phone. She said Bayo drank sniper. They took him to the Lagos Island General Hospital, but he died the following morning. That time, she said she would follow him and I tried to caution her.”

    Tawa admitted that Adenike got depressed after her boyfriend’s death and even relocated to Ikorodu area of Lagos state. She however said she (Adenike) returned after her condition improved.

    “I never thought she was thinking of suicide because she looked happy. Some clerics warned us that death was hovering around her and I prayed over it.

    “I learnt she called somebody that evening and told the person that she wanted to go and meet Bayo and that she would drink sniper. I don’t know the kind of love she had for him.

    “There was a day a friend of Bayo called her and accused her of killing him. I told her to ignore them. The mistake I made was that I should have changed her SIM card,” she added.

    Also confirming the death of his daughter, Adenike’s father said he never knew she was battling depression. Idris said he only spoke to her on the phone since he separated from her mother.

    NAN

  • FG charges Sowore with money laundering, treasonable felony

    The Federal Government on Friday charged the convener of #RevolutionNow protest,  Omoyele Sowore, with treasonable felony and money laundering.

    Sowore, promoter of an online media platform – Sahara Reporters, who was also  presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in the last presidential election, is charged along with Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate,  in a seven-count charge filed by the office of the Attornery General of the Federation.

    Sowore is currently being detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) upon an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja given on August 8, 2019, permitting  the DSS  to detain him for 45 days in the first instance, following the security agency’s claim that he was involved in acts of terrorism and plotted to topple the government; allegations he has since denied.

    The charge filed yesterday was signed on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), by Aminu Alilu, a Chief State Counsel in the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    Read Also: Where are Sowore, Ohimai, Dadiyata?

    The two defendants are, in the charge, accused of committing conspiracy to commit treasonable felony in breach of section 516 of the Criminal Code Act by allegedly staging “a revolution campaign on September 5, 2019 aimed at removing the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    They are also alleged to have  actually committed  the offence of reasonable felony in breach of Section, 4(1)(c) of the Criminal Code Act, by using the platform of Coalition for Revolution, in August 2019 in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, to stagedthe #RevolutionNow protest allegedly aimed at removing the President.

    Sowore was, in the charge, accused of involvement in cybercrime offences in violation of section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, by “knowingly” sending “messages by means of press interview granted on Arise Television network, “which you knew to be false, for the purpose of causing insult, enmity, hatred and ill-will on the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The state aso accused Sowore of money laundering offences in breach of section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 by allegedly transferring by means of swift wire various sums of money from his United Bank of Africa Plc account with number 3002246104  into Sahara Reporters Media Foundation’s account with Guaranty Trust Bank in order to conceal the origin of the funds.

    He was alleged to have allegedly transfered $19,975 on April 2, 2019; $20,475 on May 21, 2019, $16,975 on June 27, 2019, and another $16,975 on July 16, 2019.

    Listed as exhibits to be relied upon by the prosection are Sowore’s written statement, transcripts of his statement, video recordings, audio recordings, statements of bank accounts, media publication and “any other exhibits the prosecution may later supply in its additional proof of evidence.”

    The prosecution also listed six specific witnesses to be called.

    They are Paul Clement, Moses Amadi, Cyril Odawn, Paul Okafor, UBA employee, GTB employee and “any other witness or witnesses to be supplied later in the additional proof of evidence.”

    The DSS arrested Sowore in Lagos on August 2, 2019, following his call for revolution in a protest he organised to take place in some major cities on August 5, 2019.

  • Confusion in PDP over Wike threat

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a fix on how to handle Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who they believe is currently a threat to the party’s unity.

    Party sources cited the governor’s action which forced it to hold its National Convention last year in Port Harcourt as against its initial plan to hold it in Abuja; his recent criticism of the panel set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Mr. Ndidi Elumelu as the PDP minority leader in the House of Representatives ahead of the governor’s personal choice, Mr Kingsley Chinda; and the governor’s congratulatory message to President Muhammadu Buhari following the verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which upheld the outcome of the February election.

    The party and its candidate are displeased with the verdict and have vowed to go to the Supreme Court to seek redress.

    Party sources yesterday described Wike’s actions as conflicting with PDP’s interests.

    They said his actions were threats to the unity and cohesion of the PDP.

    One source said although the governor has bailed the party out of many financial difficulties, he seems to be setting out on a collision course with the party or sees himself as untouchable with some of his recent utterances.

    Party sources admitted that though some of the governor’s utterances were indeed not in the best interest of the party, it was imperative to manage the situation with all the necessary tact so as not to rock the boat and in view of the strategic importance of Rivers State to the party.

    Sources recalled how Wike pressurised the party leadership to concede the position of House of Reps minority leader to his candidate as compensation for his contributions and the loss of his candidate in the presidential primaries, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.

    Read Also: Wike urged to be humble in governance

    However, Elumelu outsmarted both Wike and the party to get the position.

    Bid to appease Wike fails

    To appease the governor’s feelings, the PDP had summoned Elumelu and some of his loyalists in the House for explanations on why they went against the party’s directive, but they spurned the summons and were subsequently suspended for one month.

    Also affected by the suspension order were Lynda Ikpeazu, Wole Oke, Anayo Edwin, Gideon Gwadi, Toby Okechukwu and Adekoya Abdul-Majid.

    While the controversy raged, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), on July 9, raised a five-man committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the Reps’ act of “recalcitrance”, with the committee given three weeks to submit its report.

    A former President of the Senate, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, was chairman of the committee.

    Other members were Senator David Mark, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and a former Deputy Reps Speaker, Austin Opara who served as secretary to the committee. However, Opara resigned from the committee before it concluded its assignment.

    But while the report of the committee was being awaited, Governor Wike openly accused members of the committee of corruption, saying they had compromised their integrity.

    “The Committee set up by the PDP on the illegal emergence of Ndudi Elumelu is the most corrupt committee ever set up by the party,” he said.

    “We thank our worthy son, Rt Hon Austin Opara, for withdrawing from that committee, so that he is not entangled in the illegal activities of the tainted committee.”

    He warned the PDP not to toy with Rivers State, saying it was not in the interest of the party to do so.

    “We are warning PDP to be careful not to toy with Rivers State. Rivers State has all it takes to withstand the PDP and fight the party to a standstill.

    “The Rivers State Governor is not one of those governors that anyone can cajole. The Rivers State governor is not one of those governors that will kowtow to their illicit activities,” Wike had declared.

    A jolted Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party quickly responded to the governor’s outburst by calling several meetings to deliberate on the report of the Ayu committee.

    Confusion over Ayu committee’s report

    What followed its last meeting held at the party’s Abuja secretariat on Thursday was a drama that put the entire BoT and the NWC in a fix.

    At a joint press briefing shortly after the meeting, the chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jubrin, and the Secretary, Wabara, openly disagreed over the status of the committee’s report on Elumelu.

    While Jubrin said that the BoT had received the Ayu committee report but was yet to submit same to the party’s NWC, Wabara countered him, saying: “We have considered the report and we have submitted the report on Elumelu to the NWC.”

    The foregoing was followed by muffled disagreement between the two elderly party chieftains, with the BoT chair raising objection to the Secretary’s statement even as the latter stood his ground.

    Although their verbal exchange was in hushed tones, it was audible enough for journalists to hear their voices.

    The disagreement dragged till the end of the press briefing, with the two board members frowning and mumbling at each other as they left the venue and walked through the drizzling rain into their waiting cars.

    It was gathered that Elumelu was able to impress it on the Ayu committee that it would be unfair and unjust for Wike to impose the national chairman on the party and also impose the Minority Leader from the same state.

    Curiously, while the BoT meeting was still ongoing, earlier in the day, the leadership of the party issued a statement regarding the disputed report.

    Spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the NWC had not received the said report from the BoT.

    The statement reads in full: “In the light of public enquiries and conflicting reports on the position of the leadership of our great party on issues related to the minority leadership of the House of Representatives;

    “The National Working Committee (NWC) hereby clarifies that it has not yet received any report from the Board of Trustees (BoT) concerning the outcome of the five-member committee it set up to intervene on the contentious matter.

    “Consequently, the NWC maintains that it has not taken any decision to review its subsisting stance on the minority leadership of the House of Representatives.

    “The NWC therefore urges critical stakeholders, party members and the general public to completely disregard any report to the contrary.”

    Party silent on Wike’s bombshell

    The party and its National chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who was sponsored for the position by Wike, have also been silent on Wike’s allegation that some PDP governors routinely pay homage to Buhari at night at the Presidential Villa.

    He was responding to criticism after he congratulated Buhari on the verdict of the tribunal.

    Some party members believe that Secondus does not want to offend Wike, his benefactor.

    But Secondus dismissed the insinuation, saying that there was nothing on ground to suggest that he was being influenced by the Rivers State governor.

    His media adviser, Ike Abonyi, who spoke with our correspondent yesterday, said there is the tendency for people to see the chairman in that light for the simple reason that Secondus and Wike are both from Rivers State.

    Regarding the governor’s congratulatory message to President Buhari and the chairman’s silence, Abonyi said the national leadership of the party had stated its position on the tribunal’s judgment and that the party’s position remained supreme.

    Asked to comment on what stakeholders described as disturbing trends in the PDP fold, Ologbondiyan had said: “It’s internal affairs of our party and we are resolving it.”

  • PDP governors meet in Port Harcourt

    Governors of seven states of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met on Friday in Port Harcourt, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    According to Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant (Electronic Media) to Gov. Nyesom Wike, the meeting was attended by Govs. Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Samuel Ortom (Benue); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); and Mohammed Mattawale (Zamfara).

    After the meeting, Tambuwal explained that the governors were in Rivers to commend Wike “for his sustained projects delivery’’.

    He said the governors urged him to continue to deliver quality projects and sustain good governance for the development of Rivers State.

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    Tambuwal also said that PDP remained strongly united in friendship and brotherhood.

    He said: “We are here as brothers and friends to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in the spirit of brotherhood and friendship.

    “We are here to encourage and support him for the good governance he has given to the good people of Rivers State.

    “The 100 days of the second term of Governor Wike is also why we are here.

    “The spirit in Port Harcourt and Rivers State is that of celebration and thanksgiving and gratitude to God for such a wonderful leadership by Governor Wike.

    “We are also here to join him and the good people of Rivers State in thanking God for his leadership and to thank God for giving the state a wonderful leader like him.”