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Tag: Obanikoro

  • Yoruba, Arewa, Ohanaeze youths to Obanikoro: come home and face trial

    Yoruba, Arewa, Ohanaeze youths to Obanikoro: come home and face trial

    Various umbrella youth groups in the country have asked former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, to return to the country to face charges on the  diversion of  N4.745 billion arms cash leveled against him by  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    EFCC investigators on  Tuesday discovered that a firm, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons, was used to launder the said sum.

    Alarmed by the volume of  corrupt practices being  exposed by the anti-graft agency since the Buhari administration assumed office, the National President of Yoruba Youth Council (YYC), Comrade Eric Oluwole, said it is inappropriate for the minister not to come to the country to defend the allegations against him.

    “Obanikoro, as a former minister, should come back to  the country and respond to the charges by the EFCC.

    “It is not appropriate for him to stay overseas and be talking. If he believes that the allegations are false, he should come and clear himself. He can go back to wherever he likes after responding to the allegations.

    “It is totally unacceptable for him to stay abroad and be responding to allegations leveled against him in the country where he served as a minister.

    “We the youths of this country are watching what is happening and are totally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption. In a telephone interview with our correspondent, the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, who doubles as the Chairman of  Coalition of Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders, Comrade ShetimaYerima said: “Obanikoro should be prosecuted. They should arrest and prosecute him because he is not covered by immunity.

    “He is just an ordinary Nigerian like everyone of us, so they should investigate him and if found guilty, they should prosecute him.  Nobody is above the law.”

    The President of the youth wing of the pan Igbo socio- political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi  Okechukwu  Isiguzoro said: “Whoever has committed an offence should face the consequences. If Obanikoro is suspected to have his hand in the diversion of the public funds, he should be investigated.

    “While we solidly support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight, we would request that due process is followed in investigating anybody accused of corruption by the anti graft agency.”

  • EFCC traces N4.7b arms cash to Fayose, Obanikoro

    EFCC traces N4.7b arms cash to Fayose, Obanikoro

    Detectives uncover how ex-minister flew N1.2b
    to Akure for Ekiti poll

    Detectives have traced about N4.745billion of the diverted $2. 1billion arms cash to a former Minister of State (Defence),  Musiliu Obanikoro and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    The cash was sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under ex-NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) prior to the conduct of the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election, according to an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation.

    Others linked with the sharing of the slush funds include Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele(Alias Abbey); Mrs. Helen Olayemi Fayose; Obanikoro’s sons — Gbolahan and Babajide —  Ikenna Ezekwe; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited(a company allegedly  run by the Obanikoros); Spotless Hotel, owned by Fayose and De Privateer Limited, which is owned by  Agbele.

    About 30 bureaux de change changed N759, 384, 300 (out of the N4.745billion) into dollars.

    A curious aspect of the findings by the EFCC is how Obanikoro, as a minister, flew N1.218billion to Akure on June 12, 2014 for Fayose a few days before the election.

    According to documents obtained by our correspondent, EFCC investigators discovered that a firm, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons,   was used to launder the N4.745billion.

    The directors of the company, which was incorporated in November 2011, are: a close aide of the ex-Minister, Ikenna Ezekwe(700,000 shares) of 51 Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta; Idowu Oshodi(299,000 shares) of 8, Prince Tayo Adesanya Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi; and Elizabeth Adebiyi(1,000 shares) of 3, Adedoyin Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere.

    “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 7, 2012  passed a resolution that the company should open an account and appointed Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe, Ms. Theresa Matuluko (Secretary) and Mr. Babajide Obanikoro as the signatories to the account.

    “The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”

    According to the EFCC, when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745billion from ONSA for election, Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.

    The breakdown of the disbursement is N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through bureaux de change; N160million spent on cars through Balmoral International Limited; N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to a branch of Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure to evacuate the cash and received by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; balance of about N2billion withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.

    Some of the bureaux de change and the amounts credited to them include  A.A.G.B.S Oil and Gas  (N168,000,000.00); Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd (N167,500,000.00); Northline Ltd (N835,000.00);  Northline Ltd (N83,750,000.00); Five Star Ltd N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A Trading Ent (N268,301,500.00); Villagolf Bureaux De (N1,425,000.00); Ahmad Ahmad &Omar (N350,000.000); Northline Ltd  (N1,680,000.00); Northline Limited A (N2,325,300); Rehoboth Homes  (N20,000,0000); Northline Ltd (N5,932,500.00); Northline Ltd (N842,500); Northline Ltd (N842,500.00).

    The EFCC also exposed how N1, 219, 490,000 was allegedly flown to Akure Airport on June 12, 2014 to Fayose through his associate, Abiodun Agbele (aka Abbey).

    The Nation yesterday stumbled on a document on the EFCC’s findings. It reads: “On June 12, 2014, the sum of N1, 219, 490,000 was flown from Lagos to Akure Airport by Musiliu  Obanikoro through a chartered plane (HS 125 jet) with a tail number N638MA. The plane belongs to Okin Travels which is a subsidiary of Elizade Motors. But the aircraft was then managed by OAS Helicopters for commercial/ chartered service.

    “The ex-minister was accompanied by his military Aide-de-Camp who introduced himself as A.O. Adewale.

    “The N1, 219, 490,000 was in two consignments but flown in the same aircraft twice in the morning and in the evening. From FAAN records, the first cash of N724, 500,000 arrived at Akure Airport at an estimated time of 9.38am and the second was at 17.57hours.

    “A bullion van was brought by Zenith Bank to the tarmac at the airport in Akure to evacuate the cash to Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure.

    “Obanikoro handed over the funds to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (alias Abbey). This Abiodun in company with the bank officials moved the money to Zenith Bank in Akure.”

    The EFCC gave details of how the N1, 219, 490,000 was shared to Fayose and others by Agbele.”

    The document said: “The N1, 219, 490,000 was not deposited in any account but it was kept in a vault in the bank. It took the bank officials about 10 days to count. The bankers refused to make entry until it was counted,

    “Shortly after confirming the figure, Abiodun was used to coordinate the disbursement of the funds. On June 26, 2014, the wanted associate (Abiodun Agbele) paid N137million into Ayodele Fayose’s account 10003126654 with Zenith Bank through Teller-0556814. Fayose’s BVN on the teller is 22338867502. On August 22, 2014, he paid N50million into the same account. By the records from the bank, Abiodun paid another N118, 760,000 into Fayose’s account on 27/8/14.

    “Based on the transfers, Fayose moved N300million to a Fixed Deposit Account No 9013074033 with Zenith Bank at 15, Olusola Abiona Street, Olorunda Estate, Alapere Ketu. He has the same BVN-22338867502.

    “After that, Abiodun deposited another N100million from the N1, 219, 490,000 into Spotless Hotel Account run by Fayose and  Helen Olayemi Fayose with Account No. 1010170969, Fayose’s BVN is 223338867502 and Helen’s BVN in the account is 22298990256.

    “The governor and Helen are the two directors and signatories of Spotless Hotel account.”

    In the course of the investigation, the EFCC team dug up how De Privateer Limited (a company owned by Abiodun Agbele) with Account No. 1013835889 received N219, 490,000 on June 18, 2014.

    “On June 19, 2014, the same account received N300million and another N200million on June 23, 2014. The BVN of the account is 22235692890.

    A top official of the EFCC said: “Fayose benefited from the ONSA slush funds when he was yet to be a governor. So, the fact that he has immunity now as a governor does not mean we should not investigate him.

    “The EFCC also has the right to interact with all those connected with the illegal withdrawal of public funds and the diversion of the cash.”

    Regarding the fate of Fayose’s associate, the source added: “We will invite him for interrogation; we have already initiated the process.”

  • Obanikoro faults raid on homes

    Obanikoro faults raid on homes

    A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday berated the Federal Government for allowing operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raid his home and a property belonging to his son, Jide, in Lagos.

    Obanikoro, who left for the United States shortly after the 2015 elections and has remained there, said the action constituted a “sad throwback to a tyrannical past that is better forgotten” because no warrant was obtained from any court to embark on the search.

    A report on Premium Times quoted Obanikoro’s  tweets, which he posted on his Twitter page, @MObanikoro, yesterday morning.

      Obanikoro is being investigated on allegations of official misconduct and illegal contract splitting, and operatives made away with documents, vehicles and other valuable items from the two properties.

    Obanikoro said he was not aware of any investigation into his activities when he held different ministerial portfolios in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that he was being victimised because of his political affiliation.

    “The illegal invasion of my house, Femi Fani-Kayode and several others in detention give me no confidence in government’s willingness to do justice. I cannot submit myself to such glaring witchhunt, injustice and charade but I’ll fight it legally, with God and clear conscience on my side.

    “Rumours of extradition are also lies – false allegations cannot stand up to any decent legal inquiry in a civilised system such as in the U.S.

    “This is a government determined to outdo the abysmal and ignominious economic records of Dec. 31, 1983 to Aug. 27, 1985 that ended in shame.”

  • EFCC raids Obanikoro’s homes as agency invites Sheriff

    EFCC raids Obanikoro’s homes as agency invites Sheriff

    •Operatives allegedly cart away cars, others

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday stormed the Lagos homes of former Minister Musiliu Obanikoro and carted away cars and other valuables.

    The two homes raided were the former minister’s private residence at Park View Estate as well as the house near Banana Island, where his two sons – Jide and Gbolahan – live with the families.

    It was learnt that the officials, who allegedly stormed the two houses in the afternoon, were said to have been there till about 6pm.

    According to Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze, the EFFC officials took vehicles, wristwatches and other effects of the former minister and his sons, who are all in the United States (U.S.).

    Eze claimed that they harassed innocent kids and intimidated the occupants of the properties, adding that the commission has never invited Obanikoro for questioning.

    The spokesman said: “Officials of the EFCC,on Tuesday, in their characteristic Gestapo like manner, invaded Senator Obanikoro’s houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants, who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws, not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.

    “This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti-graft agency has never invited him nor his sons for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating, using the media spaces.

    “We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.”

    He added: “To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others, which obviously has no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.

    “We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of law.

    “Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution,”  Eze stated.

    Confirming the raid, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwajeren said it was in line with ongoing investigations.

    “I can tell you that no one was harassed in the course of the search and that it is part of ongoing investigation on the man. Our operatives, who went there, conducted their affairs in best practices and took some vehicles away. I cannot immediately give inventory on the things that were carted away, but that will be made known in due time.

    “I do not think we need any permission from the man to do our job. Full details will be disclosed when we get there,” he said.

  • N1bn libel suit: Lagos court refuses Obanikoro’s request to restrain Punch, Sahara Reporters

    N1bn libel suit: Lagos court refuses Obanikoro’s request to restrain Punch, Sahara Reporters

    The libel suit filed by a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, against some media organisations yesterday suffered a temporary setback as the court refused his application to restrain them from further publications about him.

    An Ikeja High Court refused Obanikoro’s request for an order of injunction against Punch newspapers and online news publications — Premium Times and Sahara Reporters and the publisher, Mr Omoyele Sowore.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, in her ruling, described Obanikoro’s application as lacking in merit.

    She said: “There is nothing before the court that shows the applicant will suffer more harm if the injunction is not granted.

    “It is an error to seek to restrain a publisher of an article on the grounds of libel if there is no proof before the court that such material is libelous.

    “I am persuaded that this application has no merit and an injunction is not appropriate in the circumstance.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obanikoro had on Feb. 10, 2015, filed a suit after the defendants allegedly published an audio of how Obanikoro with others purportedly plotted to rig the 2014 Ekiti governorship polls.

    On Feb. 5, Obanikoro filed an application for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from publishing “harmful materials’’ against him pending the determination of the suit.

    Obanikoro, in his application, had claimed that the defendants had published “very damaging material’’ which made him to suffer various “political and personal losses.”

    The former senator had also requested for an order of court compelling the defendants to retract all the “damaging’’ publications via a letter of apology in their various media.

    At Friday’s proceedings, Obanikoro was represented by a lawyer, Mr Chukwudi Enebeli, while Punch Newspapers were represented by Mrs. O.H. Nurudeen.

    Sahara Reporters, Premium Times and Sowore have not made appearances in court since the case started.

    The judge adjourned the case pending when the defendants would file their replies to Obanikoro’s application.

  • $2.1b arms deal: EFCC traces N4.7b curious transfer to ex-minister Obanikoro’s sons’ account

    $2.1b arms deal: EFCC traces N4.7b curious transfer to ex-minister Obanikoro’s sons’ account

    • Ex-Accountant-General in trouble over N1.450bn remitted into four companies by ONSA

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered about N4.745 billion curious transfers made into the account of two sons of a former Minister of Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro.

    The sons are Babajide and Gbolahan, who are both directors of the company used in siphoning the funds.

    The suspicious funds were said to have been paid into the account of the ex-minister’s children by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    There were strong indications that the funds were used to prosecute the governorship polls for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti and Osun states.

    Obanikoro, who is already holed up in the United States, was central to the coordination of the governorship poll in Ekiti and Osun states, including alleged abuse of deployment of troops.

    It was also learnt that a former Accountant-General is also on the radar of the EFCC, being one of the beneficiaries of another set of slush funds used for PDP’s campaign in the South-West.

    All the slush funds were drawn from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    Reliable sources in the anti-graft agency, who spoke in confidence, said the N4.8 billion was paid in tranches.

    One of the sources said: “Two sons of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Babajide and Gbolahan, are currently on the radar of the EFCC. About N4,745,000,000.00 was traced to a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, in which they have interest.

    “The money was allegedly paid in several tranches into the company’s account number: 0026223714 with Diamond Bank from the Office of the National Security Adviser account with the CBN.”

    According to another source, “all the transfers were done between June and December 2014, a period that coincided with the preparation for and conduct of the Ekiti state gubernatorial election which ushered in the current administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    “For instance, N200 million was transferred into Sylvan Mc Namara’s account on June 5, 2015, while N2 billion was also wired into the account from the CBN/Imprest Main account on June 16, 2016.

    “Another transfer of N700 million hit the account on July 7, 2014, while N1 billion was credited to the account on July 30, 2014.

    “Other transfers included N160 million on August 8, 2014; N225 million on August 22, 2014; N200 million on November 14, 2014 and N200 million on December 5, 2014.

    “Both Gbolahan and Babajide Obanikoro, directors of the company, were also signatories to its account until 2014 when one Olalekan Ogunseye was made sole signatory to the account.

    “The payments to the company from the office of the National Security Adviser were made without any contract.”

    Responding to a question, the first source added: “Some of the funds traced to Obanikoro’s son’s account were meant for procurement of arms.

    “We are making necessary contact with the son of the ex-minister for appropriate interaction with our operatives.

    “We hope he will get in touch as required or else we may invoke necessary legal procedures to make him to account for these curious payments.”

    Meanwhile, a former Accountant-General was said to be under surveillance of the EFCC for allegedly receiving about N1.450nbillion from ONSA.

    Investigation confirmed that the ex-AG made four accounts available to ONSA where the N1.450 billion was remitted into.

    The affected companies and the breakdown of the cash were as follows: Stellavera Development Company (N300 million); First Aralac Global Limited (N300 million); First Aralac Global Limited (N100 million); Damaris Mode (N300 million); Stellavera Development Company (N200 million); Whese Farms Ltd (N250 million).

    A source said: “These funds paid to the four companies had nothing to do with any project. Findings revealed that the remittances might be for political purposes.

    “Already, a Staff Officer in ONSA in charge of the remittances has made a useful statement to the EFCC.

    “The former AG is already placed on surveillance pending the conclusion of preliminary investigation. We will soon invite the ex-public officer for interaction.”

  • Obanikoro, Shekarau, other Jonathan’s ministers lose severance package

    Obanikoro, Shekarau, other Jonathan’s ministers lose severance package

    No fewer than  14  ministers in the  Goodluck Jonathan Administration will not receive  any severance package from the  Muhammadu Buhari government having allegedly failed to meet the requirement for benefitting from such.

    It is also gathered that  most of the new  36 ministers  inherited  decrepit offices, making it difficult for them to  settle down for work.

    The ex-ministers that may forfeit their severance package  are said to have spent less than two years in office to qualify for the package.

    Investigation revealed that the Buhari administration has stuck to the implementation of the terms of appointment of the over 14 former ministers.

    A clause in their appointment letters reads in part: “Severance Allowance of 300 %of Annual Basic Salary payable after full tenure of office with government. The allowance will be pro-rated after a minimum of two years tenure.”

    It was learnt that some of the affected ex-ministers barely spent a year or three months in office.

    In this category are  Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos)-Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II; Mr Kenneth Kobani (Rivers)-Minister of State for Trade and Investment; Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa)-Minister of Information; Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue)- Minister of State for Foreign Affairs I; Augustine Akobundu (Abia)- Minister of State for Defence; Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi)-Minister of State for Health; Hauwa Lawan (Jigawa)-Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs and

    Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba)-Minister of Labour and Productivity.

    Others are Mr Benjamin Osita Chidoka (Aviation); ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (Minister of Education); Steve Oru (Minister for the Niger Delta); Prince Clement Adeyeye (Minister of State for Works); and Abdul Bulama (Minister of Science and Technology) and Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman(National Planning).

    A source said: “The affected ex-ministers have been notified that they are not entitled to severance package in whatever form.

    “They have not met the official requirements for severance package and they won’t get it.

    “I think those affected should be up to 20. So far, more than half of those in Jonathan’s cabinet will not get severance package.

    “If they had been paid in error, we would have asked them to refund the severance allowance.”

    Sources also said yesterday that some of the new 36 ministers inherited decrepit portfolios.

    The situation varies from ministry to ministry.

    In some ministries,ministers met  no official vehicles, while in others, the treasuries were practically empty with no imprest to meet basic needs.

    It was gathered that many of the  ministers  are finding it difficult to operate because their predecessors stripped the ministries of basic tools to work with.

    Investigation revealed that some ministers have no official vehicles because their predecessors sold same to themselves in line with what they called “monetization” policy.

    Others appropriated government vehicles since their severance package was not paid.

    A highly-placed source said: “There is a case of a female minister who is using her personal SUV as official vehicle. Also, she has provided the pilot vehicles too in her convoy.

    “Another minister went to the National Assembly to clarify some issues and what was left as official vehicle in bad shape broke down.

    “We have the case of another minister who went away with 10 vehicles of his ministry and parastatals. The ministry had to write him to return some of the vehicles when the minister was adamant.

    “There is no minister without one story or the other to tell. All of them have no imprest to meet basic needs in their ministries. Most ex-ministers left nothing in the treasuries.”

    The spokesman for  the Jonathan cabinet, ex-Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman, said: “To the best of my knowledge, most ministers returned their official vehicles. The necessary handover procedures were fully complied with.

    “If there is any issue in a ministry, you can bring it up and we will crosscheck the facts for you.

    “It is also true that some of the former ministers will not get severance package because they did not stay in office for two years.

    “And as for those entitled to severance package, not all of them have been paid. This is to show you that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan did not abuse the privilege of office. Unlike previous  administrations, Jonathan did not give his ministers any exit bonanza or package.”

  • Obanikoro/ George rift tears Lagos PDP apart

    Obanikoro/ George rift tears Lagos PDP apart

    The protracted crisis in the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is threatening its existence. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the factors responsible for the split and its effects on the troubled chapter.

    The crisis in Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist last week when 34 members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) met at the party secretariat and announced the removal of the Chairman, Capt. Tunji Shelle (rtd). Explaining why he was sacked, the committee accused Shelle of mismanaging campaign funds  and failing to ensure a transparent primary which ultimately  led to the party’s defeat.

    Observers see the removal of the chairman as a fallout of the battle of supremacy between the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and the party leader, Chief Olabode George. According to analysts, Obanikoro is locking horn against George over the control of the party. Shelle is a protégée of George.  According to a source, the removal of Shelle was aimed at the leadership of George.

    Despite the sack handed to him by the SEC, Shelle has vowed not to vacate office. He insisted that his removal was null and void, adding that members of the SEC did not abide by the party’s constitution. The embattled chairman said Secion 59(3) of the constitution states the procedure for removing a member of my status. It states: “Notwithstanding any section of this Constitution relating to discipline, no executive committee at any level, except the National Working Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, president, vice president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, ambassadors, special advisers or members of the legislative houses.

    “By section 31 (1), I am a member of the National Executive Committee and I have been attending meetings. So, they cannot remove me. I remain the Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State. The so-called SEC members would be sanctioned for their action”.

    Shelle lent credence to the speculation that Obanikoro instigated his impeachment when he said “one of the aggrieved aspirants at the governorship primary sponsored my removal.” The primary, which Jimi Agbaje won, caused a friction in the party last year. Obanikoro and his supporters rejected the results and went to court. Obanikoro alleged that George and some party elders inflated the number of votes, which did not tally with the number of accredited delegates. It took the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan before Obanikoro withdrew the suit.

    Shelle said the move to remove him was conceived long before the primaries, took place. He said efforts were made to rig the primaries, but I stood my ground to prevent the illegalities. Until now, the so-called opposition in the system has not accepted defeat, he said.

    “I tried as much as possible to curtail their excesses so that their actions would not affect our chances in the general elections and this I was able to do until when they carried out their failed coup.

    “The emergence of Agbaje as the PDP candidate was well received by these people who did the impeachment. They were disappointed and were, at all times, finding a way to fight back. Agbaje remains the best candidate ever produced in the history of the party and I have no regrets whatsoever to have presented Agbaje and other qualified candidates for the elections.”

    But, the newly appointed acting chairman of the party, Mr Kamaldeen Olorunoje, disagreed with Shelle on the legality of his removal. He explained that there were allegations against Shelle. A committee was set up to investigate and establish the veracity of the allegations. The committee recommended his removal and that had been done. It was unanimously decided that I should take over the leadership in acting capacity. This is democracy. It is a game of number. The State Executive Council is made up of 49 members out of which 35 endorsed the removal of Shelle. The decision was backed by more than two-third majority as required by the constitution. Even after the decision was taken, more members have indicated to join our rank. We have come to the conclusion that Shelle’s leadership is not the best for the Lagos PDP, if the party must make progress.

    On the allegation that Obanikoro sponsored the impeachment, Olorrunoje denied it. He said Obanikoro can never influence him because Obanikoro met him in the party. “I am a founding member of the PDP. The issue at hand doesn’t concern Obanikoro. What does he stand to gain? We are concerned about how to restructure and reposition the party for future elections. Though I am Obanikoro’s friend, I believe in the party’s supremacy more than Obanikoro. He can’t dictate to me. Despite the fact that we are friends I joined the party before Obanikoro. We were together in the Grassroot Democratic Movement, but we parted ways when he went to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and I joined the PDP. I have an independent mind when it comes to taking decision”.

    Youth activist Babatunde Davies is happy with the development in the Lagos PDP. He said the removal of Shelle will put an end to dictatorship in the party. According to him: “Shelle was in office playing the bid of Olabode George. There is no transparency and accountability in the party. It is run according to the whims and caprices of the party leader. For the just concluded general elections, the Presidency released millions of naira to the state chapter to mobilise support for the party.

    “We only hear of figures. The funds were not released for the purpose it was meant for. I am calling on the PDP national headquarter to probe the campaign funds sent to the Lagos State chapter. I can assure you that, if the funds were judiciously used, the party would have performed better than it did. This is not the first time that party funds would be diverted. That explains why the PDP keep losing elections in the state.

    “I think the likes of Bode George and Adeseye Ogunlewe should retire from politics and allow the youths to take over the leadership. For as long as they remain leaders, PDP will never win in Lagos. Olorunoje and his group should not be distracted in their struggle to give the party a new lease of life. We cannot continue to be telling the same story every election year. Enough is enough. We need a change of leadership in Lagos PDP.

    To a party chieftain, Mrs Gloria Adebajo- Fraser, the removal of Shele was wrong. She described it as a premature exercise that will end in futility. According to her, the removal was at variance with the provisions of PDP constitution.  “It cannot hold as the National Working Committee is the only platform that can entertain the recommendation of the State Working Committee and take a decision after he(Shelle) has been given a fair hearing.

    “It is obvious that there is an ulterior motive  behind the sudden drive to remove the chairman suddenly. I totally disagree with the fact that the call for the National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Mu’azu to resign could justify the unconstitutional attempt to to remove the Lagos PDP Chairman. One has nothing whatsoever to do with the other and is only an excuse for initiating a leadership change in the party. The change should be by the people when the next congresses will be held witout imposition of candidates.

    “The stakeholders should be given a chance to elect their representatives and leaders on a level playing field. May be the members are not interested in Bode George or Musiliu Obanikoro. May be they want a change. May be they want a new face. It is a season of change in Nigeria’s political landscape.”

    Adebajo-Fraser urged party leaders to be patient, saying the Lagos chapter needs to be united and all leaders ought to be carried along. She said: It was not a time to fight, but a time for peace.

  • Like father, like son

    Like father, like son

    Babajide Obanikoro: like father, like son. But we have the woman who bravely confronted him at the polling unit where he was not supposed to be in the first place last Saturday. But we also have to thank God for her. If she had done that in places like Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, the least she would have escaped with were gunshot wounds. She might have died for daring to confront the son of the honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 2, who happened to be working for self and his father’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party, albeit illegally.

    Lest we forget, his father is also enmeshed in the Ekiti rigging video saga of last year, where he and his fellow accomplices were reportedly ordering an army general about on how to rig the election for the ruling PDP. Who can blame Obanikoro Jr. He is merely learning the ropes early so that his father’s shoes will not be too big for him by the time he is to step into them.

  • Citizens’ election reports: Obanikoro wins PU

    Citizens’ election reports: Obanikoro wins PU

    MAIL from Sunday Moses: Election on course peacefully in my area ward 022 of Ogun state. No cause for alarm

    MAIL from sunnipy: Accreditation is going on here smoothly at polling unit 16 and 17 at Shomolu constituency II Gbagada-Lagos, there’s a turn out and electorate came as early as 7:30 am.