The Nation Newspaper

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  • Fire guts building in Mushin

    Fire razed the second floor of a two-storey building on 152 Agege Motor Road in Mushin Olosha, Lagos state on Tuesday.

    It destroyed household materials.

    The Nation learnt that the fire, which began around 3 pm, was put out around 5:30pm .

    It was gathered that there was an electric spark when power was restored in the area which led to the fire outbreak.

    The goods on the second floor were burnt.

    Occupants of the building were said to have fled immediately the fire began.

    Read Also: Unity Bank head office on fire

    An official of the Lagos State Fire Service at the scene, Mr. Usman Ibrahim said the cause of the fire was yet to be known.

    “We responded immediately we got the calls but the bad roads and reckless driving by some motorists caused the little delay,” he said.

    An official of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Mr. Adekunle Sunday, said a resident told him that a tenant put on gas and suddenly exploded.

    He added that the residents were also helpful in the process of vacating the leftover goods not engulfed in the fire.

    A trader on the ground floor of the building, who simply identified himself as Mr. Chukwudi, said he was the one who called the firefighters.

    He added that the fire outbreak was due to electric spark.

    “Thank God none of my goods caught fire,” he said.

    A resident, who pleaded not to be named, said some hoodlums seized the opportunity of the incident to steal valuables from the building. He said he was one of the rescuers before some other boys in the area joined.

  • NANS hails improved security in Katsina

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari on the improved security in the state following his dialogue with bandits.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: NANS advises youths to shun violence

    The President of the Association, Mr. Danielson Akpan, who addressed a press conference at the NUJ secretariat in Katsina, told newsmen that they have been in the state for 4 days to inspect projects executed by the present administration in the state and from what they have seen during the tour of the three senatorial districts in the state, the state is peaceful and secured.

    He said’’ I want to state quite frankly, we have visited the three senatorial districts in the state, we didn’t notice pandemonium, and from what we have seen during this visit, there is peace now in the state and considering the way he has reached out to the bandits, peace has returned to Katsina State.”

  • Phone ‘thief’ burnt in Delta

    An unidentified phone ‘thief’ was burnt to death at the popular Effurun Roundabout in Uvwie council area of Delta State.

    The Nation gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday at about 7am.

    Witnesses said the suspect  snatched a woman’s phone outside the Delta Mall premises and was headed for the bush across the mall, when an angry mob caught him and immediately lynched him.

    A wristwatch trader who sells at the roundabout narrated the incident.

    Read Also: Black market petrol seller burnt to death

    “It happened on Sunday morning here. As he was running, the people around pursued and caught him. After seriously beating him, they put a tyre on him and set him on fire. They burnt him near were those buses are parked.

    “It was yesterday they removed the body,” the trader who did not disclose his name said.

    A man, Chuks Ifeyinwa, corroborated the story. He said he was on his way to church and saw the alleged thief being set ablaze for “stealing a lady’s phone”.

    When The Nation visited the scene on Tuesday, a bystander simply identified as Mabel claimed to have witnessed a robbery attack on some people who were just returning from a business trip in the same area.

    Stating that the area as from 10pm is “a deadly zone,” she called for security operatives to be drafted to the area in order to reduce attacks on unsuspecting persons.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke said he was “not aware,” of the case but  promised to “find out,” but was yet to give feedback as at the time of filing this report.

  • Nasarawa mulls new bond issue to fund infrastructure

    Nasarawa State is considering raising new capital from the capital market through the issuance of a bond.

    Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule said the state government was considering issuance of a new bond after it had repaid its previous bond issue.

    He said the net proceeds of the bond issue would be used to finance infrastructural development to further enhance the growth of the state.

    “Yes, we are looking at that, since the last bond has been fully paid off. We are trying now to find the possibility of taking a new facility on infrastructural development, like market development, transportation, among others,” Sule, a former private sector chief and former Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc said.

    He noted that Nasarawa State is one of the least-indebted states in Nigeria, noting that though the past government floated a bond issue, it had paid off the bond before the coming of the new government.

    “We are very lucky. The past administration took one major debt through a bond and before we came in they paid off. But they had inherited debts like contractors’ fees and some other debts from banks. But we didn’t have a major overdraft from any banks. Since we came in, servicing of debts have been the least of our concerns,” Sule said.

    He outlined that the government is focused on long-term economic development of the state noting that he has set up a 15-man ‘Investment and Economic Advisory Council’, to chart the way forward for the economic development of the state.

    He added that the government is working to develop small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially in the areas of agriculture, mining and trading.

    According to him, there is an arrangement for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to offer about N1.2 billion to Nasarawa farmers, which be used to empower the youths in growing small scale businesses.

    He assured investors that Nasarawa is a peaceful state where all stakeholders are focused on the progress of the state.

     

  • Oyo declares war on vandals

    Worried by the ceaseless theft and vandalism of public schools properties  in Oyo State, the government has declared war on vandals, saying that anyone caught in such acts will face the music.

    Some members of staff of the affected schools were also accused of conspiring with the vandals, but none has been arrested.

    It was reported that due to the absence of security guards in public schools, as a result of the ban on payment of school fees by the government, some criminal elements have taken advantage of the seeming collapse of security system to cart away valuables in the schools.

    Some head teachers had raised the alarm in a report, calling the attention of the government to the grave danger faced by the schools, especially when most of the schools could no longer afford to hire security guards because of the ban fees and levies.

    Read Also: Shell loses N202 million daily to vandals, oil thieves

    The state governor Seyi Makinde promised grants to public schools, but the government is yet to make the grants available.

    A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun yesterday warned that anyone caught in the act would be dealt with according to the law.

    Quoting the chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, the statement said those behind the vandalism shall be treated as saboteurs and enemies of the state.

    Speaking on the destruction of properties at a new model school completed by the state government in Ibadan, Adeniran said that perpetrators of such acts would be punished with extreme severity.

    Adeniran said, “It is unfortunate that these deliberate destructive acts on one of our model schools reportedly were aided by some teachers and staff members of the school, but let me assure you that this administration would tackle the menace of thugs among our teachers in the interest of our children.

    “This government frowns at such shameful acts and we promise to fish out those who masterminded this. As a government, we will not allow anybody mortgage the future of our children, for their selfish interests,” he added.

  • Doctor re-arraigned for cutting off patient’s kidneys

    A medical doctor in Adamawa State Yakubu Hassan Koji who cut off a patient’s kidneys during a surgery was on Tuesday re-arraigned before a tribunal on a 12-count charge.

    The tribunal is sitting at the instance of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

    Dr Koji was questioned on issues bordering on negligence in the handling of a patient Mr. Isa Hamma, now deceased.

    The accused doctor performed an operation on the patient without informing him of the risks involved. In the process he ‘mistakenly’ cut off the patient’s kidneys.

    One of the 12 charges reads: “That you, Dr. Yakubu Hassan Koji, registered medical practitioner and practicing as such, between 25th June and 7th July, 2016 or thereabouts at Jimeta Clinic and Maternity, Jimeta, Adamawa State, were negligent when you undertook a surgical operation on one Isa Hamma and removed an organ you could not identify and by the said fact, conducted yourself infamously in a professional respect contrary to Rules 29.4f of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, 2008 Edition, and punishable under section 16 (1) (a) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act CAP M8 LFN 2004 (as amended).”

    Read Also: Doctor performs abortion on the wrong woman

    Although in earlier arraignment, Koji pleaded not guilty to one or two of the charges, in a new twist, the respondent pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges.

    The Defense Counsel, B. E Olowonubi pleaded with the members of the tribunal for a little time to opt for plea bargain for his client. However, the prosecution counsel vehemently opposed the position, saying a plea bargain can only be reached if the respondent accepts that he is guilty of the charges.

    According to the Prosecution Counsel, Dr. Musa A. Aliyu, “We remember that this respondent had earlier pleaded guilty to a count or two; that would have been the proper pedestal to build a leniency of any punishment that can be meted to him.

    “But he, after he has taken his plea, has taken a step to say ‘I am not guilty’, what are you bargaining again? Plea bargain will only result in, I am guilty.

    “This is a tribunal established by law, and the proceedings are guided by law. In criminal crime, in the new development there are issues of plea bargain which the administration of criminal justice have introduced into our criminal justice system, which is accepted in the court.

    “But to the best of our knowledge Mr. Chairman, there is no provision either in the medical ethics of Nigeria or in the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act, which empowers the prosecution or the Medical and Dental investigation panel to enter into any bargain with somebody it has investigated and found that he has a case to answer, as a result of which a charge is proffered against him.”

    He went further to say that if the respondent admits to the charges and pleads guilty then the issue of plea bargain will suffice, if not he  (prosecution counsel) and his team are ready to proceed with the prosecution and call their witness and tender all the evidences they feel that are enough to have the respondent convicted of professional misconducts on all the charges proffered against him.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Prof. Abba Hassan, reminded everyone that the respondent initially when he was arraigned pleaded guilty on one or two of the charges. But because he didn’t have a counsel then, the tribunal granted him some time to prepare with one. Now he has changed his plea to all of them that he is not guilty.

    “The issue is the removal of functional kidneys in an individual, which has led to the death of the patient. Even if you are going to do a plea bargain, the important thing which you raise is not our law now.

    “In the review of the Act, if this comes in, but as far as I am concerned, the members of the tribunal have no option than to go ahead with the prosecution because the case is an issue of somebody who lost both of the organs and the patient is dead. It is only fair to the complainants that we conclude this case to a surgical conclusion,” he said.

    The case continues.

  • Ghetto P changes name to Khalil, drops Cold Blanket

    Rapper, dance-hall and afro-fusion artiste Ghetto P has adopted the new stage name of Khalil. This is coming just as he released a new single titled: Cold Blanket.

    Often compared to Mike Tyson’s left-right hit combos for his ability to switch styles, the artiste whose real name is Khalil Hassan has rebranded as Khalil, which means ‘friend’ in Arabic.

    Currently signed to a record deal with a new label, Kronik Records, Khalil is set to release an EP titled Grown

     

  • Discordant tunes in RTEAN leadership

    The crisis rocking the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) took a turn for the worse as one of the factions has headed for the Industrial Court. ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE writes that the move was to prevent any person or persons from parading themselves as new leaders of the association.

    An order from the National Industrial Court on Friday may have put spanners in the works of Alhaji Musa who might have been preparing to assume office as the new Acting National President.

    Musa was, until last Tuesday, the Lagos State Chairman of the association. He and his entire executive had sought to secure a second term in office, following the unanimous adoption by members of the state council.

    Everything was going well, until September 12 when the National President Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo ought to have presented him the certificate of return having allegedly paid the N60 million requested to facilitate that.

    Rather, Musa had been stunned when a faction from the council had protested against his candidacy at the Lagos State Governor’s office.

    Eriyo had been mandated by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Dr. Frederic Oladeinde to mediate and ensure a truce. But the matter became messy as Musa’s team that was expecting a fair arbitration got the boot as Eriyo announced his sack on Sunday.

    The National President, in a widely publicised statement insisted he acted within the ambit of his powers to sack Musa and members of his executive whose tenure had elapsed. He said the five-year tenure of Musa’s executive expired in September.

    He also said that, aside the issue of tenure, the protesters had accused the Musa leadership of corruption, a matter requiring some investigation.

    By Monday, Eriyo came up with a caretaker committee which was to take over from Musa’s executive in order to coordinate the affairs of the council pending the time another election would be held.

    The action drew the flak of the Lagos council, which took Eriyo to task about the proprietary of the action. They argued that allegations of corruption against it were figments of imagination of the National President.

    They also argued that going by the certificate of return presented to the state council, the mandate expires on October 31. Musa out rightly ruled Eriyo out of order, and wondered why Eriyo could rule on a matter as sensitive as sacking a state executive without confiding in the RTEAN National Executive Council (NEC).

    Musa said Eriyo had intended to plant a pliant surrogate in Lagos in order to ensure that Lagos, the association’s biggest honey pot, remains his exclusive preserve. His antics, they said,  had boomeranged.

    Musa said Eriyo had always been afraid of his continuous stay in office.

    “Being the most senior legally elected officer of the association, Eriyo who had imposed himself on the association has always been threatened by my presence and might have waited till the expiration of my tenure to strike.”

    Addressing reporters on Monday, Musa had pointedly accused Eriyo of corruption. He alleged that his executive paid into Eriyo’s private account N60 million to secure the certificate of continuity (second term).

    He added that the decision of his executive to continue in office was unanimous, and wondered how the man who supervised the meeting where the decision was unanimously taken was used by Eriyo to destabilise RTEAN Lagos.

    Aside the N60 million which allegedly was lodged into Eriyo and Adebiyi’s accounts, the state council bought Eriyo a N45 million SUV and paid directly to him another US$3,000 for logistics, while another sum of money was allegedly made available for accommodation for the NEC members who were to accompany him.

    Rejecting the dissolution of his executive, Musa queried how the President can unilaterally take a decision to dissolve an executive whose tenure has not elapsed without the consent of the National Executive Council (NEC) even after collecting its money and assuring the same executive of continuity.

    He said in line with Article 7, section 2 (iii) (a) of the Association’s Constitution, the action of the President and the National Secretary to sack the executive led by Musa and appoint caretaker committee is ultra vires, null and void.

    On Tuesday, RTEAN’s NEC, at an emergency meeting in Lagos State, dismissed Eriyo whom they accused of having taken over office by a coup d’etat. They said Eriyo, who was dismissed by the NEC in 2017, remained dismissed as no other authority in the association had vacated the order.

    They, therefore, decided to revisit Eriyo’s sack and summary dismissal, even as they resolved to press legal charges if Eriyo continues to parade himself as an officer of the association.

    Twenty-Eight  members of the NEC led by the Assistant National Secretary-General Alhaji Adamu Jalaludeen from Kaduna State, accused Eriyo of six offenses, among which are expansionist agenda, which has seen Eriyo disrupting the validly elected executives of Kaduna, Ogun, Niger and most recently Lagos states, with the hope of replacing them with surrogates, massive fraud as exemplified by Lagos where he collected, among others, N60 million in lieu of an election, ticket racketeering where the President personally supervises the distribution of park tickets, a tool which, according to him, has been used to “intimidate, blackmail, harass and suspend state chairmen, large scale fraud and diversion of funds into personal account and the sidetracking of the NEC in critical decisions as exemplified by the Lagos case where the President acted at variance with the association’s constitution.”

    Also sacked alongside Eriyo was the National Secretary of the association Comrade Yusuf Adeniyi Ibrahim, who they accused of colluding with Eriyo to defraud the association and bring it to ignominy.

    Two schools of thought have emerged as to why Eriyo fell out of favour. While the first opined that he was an impostor whose cup was full, the other school of thought said he got his hands burnt having fell out of favour with the power base in the association.

    Though the latest antics to approach the Industrial Court was seen as one of the ways open to the Eriyo leadership to buy more time, sources with deep knowledge of the power play in the union opined that “the owners of the union have spoken and Eriyo had to go.”

    The source, a TREAN NEC member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, accused Eriyo of “insensitivity and high handedness.”

    He said: “If Eriyo had been sensitive, he would have avoided the ruinous outcome that claimed his office last Tuesday.”

    The source said Eriyo’s decision to fight the Lagos executive led by a die-in-the-wool unionist Comrade Mohammed Musa was his undoing.

    The National Industrial Court, on Friday, restrained Alhaji Musa Mohammed and six others from parading themselves as members of the National Executive Council of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

    Justice Sanusi Kado gave the order following an application filed by Mr. Osakpanmwan Eriyo, National President who was represented by counsel, Olayiwole Afolabi and Simon Ezenwa.

    Kado, in his ruling, ordered the defendants to desist from further harassing, intimidating and subjecting members of the claimant to inhuman treatment pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already before the court.

    The judge further restrained them from holding offices in any capacity as servants, agents, assigns, appointees, privies or whatsoever connected to RTEAN.

    “This includes operations and businesses pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed along with the originating process,’’ Kado held.

    The National President insisted that the dissolution of the Lagos State Executive Council on September 13 remained legal and binding.

    He reiterated that the expiration of the branch’s tenure as provided in Article 9 (I) of the association’s constitution as the reason for the dissolution.

    Members of the Lagos State Executive Council, on Monday, disagreed with the action of the national body, describing the dissolution as illegal, null and void, saying that their tenure would lapse on October 31.

    They said the resolution for the continuity of their executive committee had been passed at the chapel, zonal and state executive levels, adding that it had since been forwarded to the national body.

     

  • Bayelsa polls: Who succeeds Dickson?

    The governorship election in Bayelsa State is gathering momentum. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is calling for continuity. But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is advocating change. Senior Correspondent MIKE ODIEGWU examines the strengths and weaknesses of the two major parties, their candidates and issues that will shape the poll.

    The die is cast between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State. On November 16, the two dominant parties will scramble for votes from electorate. The PDP has some advantages. The party, led by Governor Seriake Dickson, will be fighting to retain the state.

    The umbrella party has been governing Bayelsa since 1999. Therefore, people believe the party has mastered the political topography since it has a better and more entrenched structures. PDP leaders have always insisted that Bayelsa is PDP and most of them claime that the PDP is an Ijaw party. Besides, PDP is led by Dickson, who is believed to be a political war veteran.

    The governor has been the master of the game and has always shown that he has the magic wand to deliver at every electoral period. The governor sprang a surprise in 2015 to retain the seat against all odds, despite massive defections of PDP leaders to the APC. Observers believe that the governor is set to lead another political onslaught against the APC.

    Though Dickson is not the candidate, he is going to lead Senator Douye Diri, the flag bearer of the PDP, to face the candidate of the APC, Chief David Lyon. The APC will be led by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva. Therefore, it is expected to be Dickson-Sylva show, reminiscent episode when Sylva challenged the second term bid of the governor.

    Apart from the vantage position of the PDP, the party is also running on its scorecard, especially the performance of Dickson in eight years. The PDP has seized every opportunity to boast of transforming the state. Dickson has been presenting his scorecards in education, infrastructural development and health, citing the airport, model schools, particularly the Ijaw National Academy, a flyover and others as examples.  The party believes that with its scorecards, Diri, who represents the Bayelsa Central District at the National Assembly, will win the election.

    Also, PDP is banking on the principles of zoning to defeat the APC. Though the two parties zoned their governorship tickets to the Central Senatorial District, the PDP believes it has a better zoning formula for giving Diri, who hails from Kolokuma-Opokuma, its ticket. Only Kolokuma-Opokuma and Yenagoa have not produced a governor from the centre. Southern Ijaw, where Lyon hails from, produced the first civilian governor, the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeiseigha.

    The PDP and Dickson hope that, in the spirit of balance and fairness, equity and equality, the people will vote for Diri. PDP is also hoping that in reverence to the foremost Ijaw hero, Isaac Adaka Boro, who hails from Kaiama in Kolokuma-Opokuma, voters will choose its candidate at the poll.

    Apart from zoning, Dickson and the PDP are parading Diri as having the capacity and experience to govern the state. The party described Diri as the only candidate with the capacity and competence to succeed Dickson. The party referred to him as a committed public official with years of exemplary service to Bayelsa, the Ijaw Nation and the country.

    The Secretary Chief Godspower Keku, said the party was happy with the emergence of Diri as its flag bearer after the keenly contested transparent and credible primary. He said Bayelsa was in need of a leader with vast experience in public service, adding that Diri had been a commissioner, a Principal Executive Secretary to the governor, and a member of the House of Representatives and a Senator.

    The PDP scribe commended the other 20 aspirants who contested the election with Diri for their display of maturity and respect for the party. Keku called on the aspirants to support the candidate of the party stressing that the primaries could only produce one candidate out of the 21 aspirants, who indicated interest.

     

    PDP pitfalls:

    In fact, PDP and Dickson must manage the post-primary crisis rocking the party. Members of Dickson’s Restoration Caucus never believed in Diri’s candidature. They worked against his emergence as the flag bearer because they generally viewed him as unpopular. They complained that Diri lacked the capacity to mobilise votes, following his alleged miserliness and lack of acceptance by members of the public.

    While some wanted Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei, who hails from Southern Ijaw, others rooted for a former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe. Other PDP members made a case for Keniebi Okoko and Reuben Okoya. But, Diri emerged against stiff opposition from PDP members including close associates of Dickson. Many PDP members said Diri became a candidate because he was the governor’s choice and the delegates only wanted to please Dickson. While some PDP members have decided to work for Diri, others said they are not inspired by his emergence.

    Diri’s kinsman, Alaibe, has continued to criticise the process that led to his victory at the primary. Alaibe is not giving up his claims that the process was not free, fair and transparent. He has asked the court to invalidate the primary. He complained that he was brazenly robbed of victory through flawed processes.

    Alaibe, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, demanded the cancellation of the result based on  procedural flaws. The suit sought answers to questions bordering on alleged non-adherence to the constitution, the Electoral Act 2010, the PDP Constitution and Election Guidelines on the conduct of the ward congresses, inclusion of local government council officials in the delegates list and the procedure for inclusion of three ad-hoc delegates.

    Citing specific relevant laws and guidelines, Alaibe asked the court to examine the processes that resulted in the primary and rule in his favour.

    Prior to the primary, the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation raised objections to what it described as gross disrespect for legal procedures and party guidelines.

    Despite going to court, Alaibe is said to be exploring another option of contesting the election in another party as he had vowed to be on the ballot. Pundits believe that, if Alaibe succeeds in joining the governorship race, he will be a third force that will further narrow the chances of the PDP at the poll.

    Another setback for the PDP is the general perception that the people are tired of the PDP and will like to align to the centre. Though the governor believes that he has done well for the state, people complain of untold hardship under Dickson. Therefore, they see Diri as the extension of Dickson’s administration and an appendage of the governor. Some critics say unless the PDP candidate owns his campaign and divorces the governor from it, it will be difficult for the PDP to make a statement at the poll.

    More worrisome is the issue of the party’s running mate. Party members, groups and other stakeholders descended heavily on Dickson and the PDP leadership for nominating a senator representing Bayelsa West at the National Assembly, Lawrence Ewrujakpor, as the running mate to Diri.

    The Bayelsa East Forum for Justice (BEFJ) advised the party that, having picked the candidate from the Bayelsa Central, it was natural to select a competent party man with requisite political clout and popularity from the East. Its Chairman, Monday Eribo, described the feelers that the slot for running mate had been zoned to the West as sad and an attempt to deprive the  East.

    Following the emergence of Diri, PDP leaders were said to have asked Speaker of the House of Assembly Tonye Isenah to surrender his position to another lawmaker from Southern Ijaw to enable the party garner votes from the council. But, Isenah insisted that he would not let go of his position before the poll.

    The Speaker in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Aotendeike Boloigha, said he had served the PDP faithfully, adding that resignation is not a priority.

    However, Dickson believes that all misgivings against his party and his preferred candidate will collapse when campaigns for the election begin. The governor also said reconciliation was ongoing to resolve grievances of party members, especially the ones arising from the primary.

    A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, confirmed that some frontline aspirants met with the governor after the internal poll that produced Diri as candidate. The governor was also quoted as saying that the leadership of the party would make deliberate efforts to contact all the other aspirants, with a view to bringing them back effectively to the PDP family.

     

    Sylva, APC strength:

    Many  people believe that the political dynamics have changed in Bayelsa. Dickson and his party are up against the leader of the APC Sylva, who contested as a candidate against the governor in 2015. This time, Sylva is not a candidate. He is a super minister, who wields a lot of political and economic influence. Sylva understands the importance of winning Bayelsa for the APC, especially in view of giving the party a strong base in the Southsouth for the 2023 presidential election. He is working in tandem with the national leaders of the party to actualise the victory.

    Despite the controversial emergence of Lyon, he has more popularity rating than Diri. Lyon has a mass appeal. They look at him as a philanthropist, who is capable of floating economic policies to mitigate their suffering. Unless there is a sudden shift during campaigns in favour of Diri or the entrance of a third force with a better rating, pundits believe that Lyon will dwarf the PDP candidate at the poll.

    The APC also has some zoning advantages. Its candidate’s Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which is likened to the Kano of Bayelsa is always a game changer during elections. It has the second largest voter population after Yenagoa, which is notorious for dry voting. It is better than Diri’s Kolokuma-Opokuma, which has the least voter population in Bayelsa. Almost all leaders in the local government are said to be clamouring for the governorship slot and may likely support the Lyon’s ticket.

    The party will further benefit from its gains in the last general election. Going into the November 16th governorship poll, the APC boasts of three members of the House of Assembly, three members in the House of Representatives and a senator.  It is also benefitting from the grievances of the PDP, which is forcing many of its members to jump ship.

    Besides, Lyon, who is a surveillance contractor and oil magnate, has attracted the sympathy of ex-militant leaders in the state. The ex-creek warlords are said to be pushing for the Lyon’s ticket because they have been beneficiaries of his business. Lyon is said to have about 7000 persons in his payroll, including the ex-militant leaders. He runs a scholarship scheme, which cuts across the eight local government areas of the state.

    While crisis is rocking the PDP over its running mate, the APC is calm, following its decision to zone the running mate to Nembe in the Eastern Senatorial District. APC is believed to have sealed a better deal when it nominated the Senator representing the district, Biobarakumo Degi-Eremienyo, as Lyon’s running mate.

    But, the APC has its fair share of post- primary crisis. Lyon was declared the winner of the primary by an electoral committee constituted by the party leadership. The results were announced by a member of the committee, Senator Emmanuel Ocheja, who identified himself as the Collation Officer.  Lyon polled 42,138 votes to defeat five other aspirants. Mrs. Desiye Nsirim came a distant second with 1,533, while Chief Ebitimi Amgbare came third with 633 votes.

    Senator Heineken Lokpobiri was said to have scored  571 votes to come fourth while Prof. Ongoebi Etebu and Prince Preye Aganaba got 564 and 354 votes.

    Senator Ocheja, who was accompanied by the other national and state officers of the party said he was standing in for the Returning Officer and Governor of Yobe State, Mai-Mala Buni, saying the governor  was unavoidably absent.

    Lokpobiri, a former minister, believed to possess the credentials to fly the flag of the APC, felt shortchanged after the internal poll. Lokpobiri vehemently rejected the outcome of the primary. He said he was still trying to get details of what transpired in Bayelsa, adding that he and his team never participated in any primary that declared Lyon the flag bearer.

    The former minister said there was no way he would be defeated in any election in Bayelsa by Lyon adding that the majority members of the APC were supporting him.

    He wondered why a primary was held started in a hotel in Yenagoa and ended in the hotel, instead of sidelining the secretariat of the party.

    He said party members gathered at the secretariat and waited in vain for the arrival of the committee saddled with the conduct of the primary. He also queried why the result was declared by someone other than the Returning Officer and governor of Yobe State, who chaired the committee.

    Apart from Lokpobiri, Aganaba has also rejected the outcome of the primary describing it as a mockery of the democratic process. Aganaba, who referred to the primary as a political hoax and lacking any semblance of credibility, alleged that the results were written in a hotel.

    The aspirant has gone to court to seek cancellation of the poll. Aganaba, a founding member of the APC in Bayelsa, dragged the APC, Lyon and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the court as defendants in a suit he personally filed on  Seprember 12.

    The aspirant urged the court to make a declaration that the primary scheduled for September 4 across the 105 wards in the eight local government areas of the state did not take place. He also asked the court to make a declaration that since there were no primaries, the declaration of results that produced Lyon as the candidate  was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

    The aspirant demanded an order setting aside the result of the primary, which returned Lyon as the candidate of the party for November 16 election. He asked the court to make an order “restraining the APC from presenting Lyon or submitting his name to INEC  as candidate of the APC.”

    Many party elders have, however, urged the aggrieved aspirants to sheathe their swords and work for the  interest of the state. A stalwart of the APC, Chief Gift Ebiki, urged the aspirants to end their grievances. Ebiki  said in every contest a winner must emerge.

    Ebiki said that the process that led to the emergence of Lyon was free, fair, transparent and credible. He appealed to the aggrieved to put the party first. He commended APC members for electing an oil magnate and businessman to fly the flag.

    He said APC members lined behind Lyon in an orderly and peaceful manner. He described the direct primary as credible and transparent. Thanking the people for their belief in Lyon, Ebiki assured them that the APC candidate symbolised prosperity, development and job creation.

     

  • Group lifts 279 less privileged with N20m

    TO alleviate the sufferings of the downtrodden in the society,  NASFAT Agency for ZAKAT and SADAQAT (NAZAS), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has donated cash gift and work tools valued at N20 million to 279 less-privileged. The NGO, established to give succour to the needy,  also provided health insurance scheme for missioners and their immediate families.

    Venue of the event was the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Lagos State Chapter at Ikeja.

    For the 279 beneficiaries, it was indeed a life-changing experience. However, before the donation, Chairman, Board of Directors of the agency, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, presided over a general meeting, during which he presented the scorecard for the past years. Yusuf said the agency had received tremendous support from members and other public-spirited Nigerians for its Zakat obligations over the past one year.

    According to Yusuf,  NAZAS started five years ago, and has since mobilised more than N174 million from which over 676 poor individuals had benefited from, at Ramadan and Muharram (first month of the Islamic year), public disbursements and other routine and emergency disbursements.

    He said: “This was made possible through regular payment of Zakat and Sadaqat by you and other donors. The clamour for us to scale up our game by going beyond the regular N40 million marks in fund receipts was achieved this year as we finally crossed the N40 million lines last year and we have already crossed the N55 million thresholds this year. We hope to cross the N60 million mark.

    “Health is wealth. I am pleased to report that last year, the board, approved that we institute a health insurance package for Imams and Missioners (both NASFAT and non-NASFAT) to promote the health and well-being of the Imams and their immediate families. This year, we have enrolled the initial set of 12 Imams and Missioners with the Lagos State Health Management Authority. Working with the Lagos State League of Imams and Alfas, and with your financial support, we hope to enroll more Imams and Missioners in the period ahead.”

    Ms Mariam Amidu, alongside 37 others, benefitted from the N1.88 million set aside for education support and scholarship for the needy.

    Mrs Amidu, 21, and student of  the University of Lagos, said she cannot wait to share the testimony with her mother.

    “I never knew my father, and paying school fees has always been a problem for me and my siblings. With this scholarship, I can now pay attention to my studies and achieve my dreams of being an accountant. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless all those who have sacrificed their hard earned money for people like me to go to school. I am so grateful to NAZAS,” she said.

    Mr. Jubril Jimoh and 14 others with deteriorating health conditions shared N4.862 million. And six others received N510, 000 to offset their debts.

    Another beneficiary, Jimoh Jubril, said that in the last four years,*/ he has exhausted all he had on his ailment without healing. “I was diagnosed with acute diabetes. I have initially spent over N420, 000 managing it before I was slammed with another N400,000 bill again. But, I had no money anymore hence I resorted to call for help.

    “Luck finally shined on me through a friend’s wife who came to check on me in the hospital and suggested I reach out to NASFAT. I did and surprisingly, they have come to my aid. I am so grateful to them and to Allah the most benevolent,” Jubril said.

    Twelve NAZAS Imams and Missionaries, and one of their wives and any of four of their children were placed under the recently launched Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme valued at N400, 000 per year.

    While 148 petty traders, mostly of physically challenged people received cash donations, work tools such as sewing machines, refrigerators, among others worth N14.2 million.

    One of the beneficiaries of the items, Mrs. Silifat Daramola, who broke down in tears after receiving a deep freezer and a cash donation to support her trade said: “I didn’t entirely believe when I was informed that I would be among those that would benefit from Zakat today. This is because I have always ended up being disappointed by other groups whom I had earlier run to for help. They would call for empowerment but at the end of the day, nothing comes out of it.

    “But today, NAZAS has put smiles on my face. They didn’t only give me deep freezer but also a sum of money. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless everyone in the agency and wipe away their tears just as they have wiped mine.”

    Yusuf said that the donation is the second disbursement this year to commemorate the new Islamic year. “So, today is the symbolic disbursement of N20 million to over 250 beneficiaries reflecting the donations we have received from different donors during Ramadan period and we hope that this would help bring succour to many Nigerians.

    On how to apply as a beneficiary, Yusuf said: “To apply as a beneficiary of Zakat, we advise people to come  and collect form in our office, or download it online and fill it, but they would still have to come  physically to submit the forms in our office.”