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  • Ambode’s wife, Gbajabiamila, others joins Lagos SSG to bury father-in-law

    Dignitaries including the wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode; Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; mother of the Senate President,  Morenike Saraki;  the Vice Chancellor,  Lagos State University (LASU), Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun and Femi Falana (SAN), among others, joined the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tunji Bello yesterday as he buried his father-in-law, Chief Meshack Ibidapo.

    The burial service held at the African Church Arch Cathedral Bethel, Broad Street,  Lagos.

    The late Ibidapo was born November 7, 1928 and died April 3, 2018. He was 89.

    He worked with Barclays Bank (now Union Bank Plc). He is the founder of Ibidapo Contracting Services Limited  He was married to Jedesola and has eight children.

    He was buried at Atan cemetery in Yaba around 3:19 pm yesterday.

    At the burial service, the Bishop of Ife/Oshogbo Diocese of the African Church,  Rt Rev Ilesanmi Adekunle, said Ibidapo died at a good old age, adding that he lived a good life.

    “Baba lived a fulfilled life. I learnt a lot from him, there was never a dull moment in his life and I always go to him to get refreshed.

    “He touched the life of many;  the wake keep was full of testimonials of the good life he lived.  I am happy for the life he lived and the Ibidapo family will forever be in the history of this church.

    Bello said the deceased was a father to him.

    “To me he was not a father in law, he was my father.  He was a great man and I learnt a lot from him. When he was alive, one would never know if he was rich or not, he was a simple man and for that reason, I admired him.

    “He was a man that lived within his means and he taught us not to live outside what we can afford.  He was a generous giver.”

  • ACF, PDP, Mark, Suswam, others decry killings

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described   Tuesday  killings in Benue State as “unfortunate”.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, the ACF said:  ”The spate of attacks on innocent people, including clergy men and worshippers in their places of worship, is most callous and unfortunate.

    ”ACF therefore calls on the security agencies to be more proactive and re-strategise their security operations in order to nip these avoidable bloodlettings in the bud.

    “Perpetrators of these heineous crimes should be fished out and be brought to book to serve as deterrence to others.

    ”Furthermore, ACF urges the Federal Government to set up a panel of inquiry into these incessant killings that have continued to bedevil most of the Northern states, with the hope that amicable solution would be found for common good.

    ”ACF consoles the government, people and families of those killed and wounded and hope that God would provide them with what it takes to bear the losses. May their souls Rest In Peace.”

    Former Senate President David Mark condemned the killings.

    In a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, Mark said: “I am saddened by this unabating carnage. The people of Benue State are accommodating and law-abiding but it seems this gesture has been misconstrued to be cowardice.

    “Our people are known for their bravery. We are not cowards. Something must be done to stop this carnage. Enough is enough.”

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described it as sacrilegious and callous.

    Spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said: “More worrisome is that the Federal Government has continued to allow these killings without any decisive steps to stem the ugly trend.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government must live up to its basic responsibility of protection of lives and our national territorial integrity. Indeed, our citizens cannot continue to daily fall victims to attacks by marauders while the government fails to exert itself to guarantee their safety.”

    “The PDP commiserates with the Catholic Church, the government and people of Benue State as well as the families of the victims of these horrendous killings.

    “We pray God to heal our land and enthrone a national leadership that would restore peace, unity and harmonious living in our country,” the statement added.

    Former Governor Gabriel Suswam and former Assembly Speaker Terhile Ayua condemned the killings.

    They also sent their condolences to the Catholic Church and the people of the state over the killings of two priests and 14 other worshippers by alleged herdsmen during mass on Tuesday.

    Suswam, in a statement he personally signed said: “Words fail me to convey my feelings of grief at this sad occurrence, neither can another mere condemnation of such a dastardly heinous act suffice.

    “It is becoming a tragic routine to witness those killings and issue condemnation to them, after which they continue.”

  • Afenifere, NADECO, others remember Adesanya

    What is the role of leadership in national development? This will form the kernel of discussion at the 10th Abraham Adesanya memorial anniversary in Lagos next Wednesday.

    Eminent Nigerians will converge on the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos for the lecture titled: “Leadership and the future of Nigeria. It will be delivered by former Commonwelath Secretary General Chief Emekaa Anyaokwu.

    Other speakers are the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, former military governor of Rivers State Gen. Zamani Lekwot, Second Republic Senator Banji Akintoye and eminent journalist Dr. Doyin Abiola.

    Members of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), pro-democracy groups, government functionaries, traditional rulers, women and youth groups will witness the lecture, which will precede the anniversary service at the Anglican Church, Ijebu-Igbo the following Sunday.

    A member of the planning committee, Prof. Adebayo Williams, said the late Adesanya deserved the honour because of his contributions to the restoration of civil rule.

    Adesanya was the leader of Afenifere and NADECO. He passed on in May, 2008, following a protracted illness. He was a lawyer, businessman and a leader of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    The Ijebu-Igbo-born politician was a member of the defunct Action Group (AG), led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He represented his Ijebu Constituency on its platform as a member of the House of Assembly in the defunct Western Region between 1960 and 1966.

    During the AG crisis, Adesanya rejected the entreaties to dump the party for the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP), led by Premier Ladoke Akintola. An Awoist, he stayed with his leader, Awolowo, throughout the treasonable trial. During the military era, he was a member of the Committee of Friends, which metamophosised into the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

    In 1979, Adesanya was elected as a senator. He was not a bench warmer in the Senate. In those days, he combined his law practice with his legislative duties. As a legislator, he did not perceive the Upper Chamber as an avenue for primitive accumulation. A loyal progressive actor, he believed in party supremacy.

    Although Adesanya was re-elected in 1983, his parliamentary career was aborted by the military coup. Following the coup, he returned to his law chamber. He shunned the politics of the Third Republic, in deference to Awo’s advice that the transition programme moderated by former military President Ibrahim Babangida will lead to nowhere.

    But, he later participated in the exercise, following a truce between the progressive bloc in Yorubaland and the late Chief Moshood Abiola. He was one of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) delegates who elected the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yoruba as presidential candidate. Although he won the election, the results were annulled by Babangida.

    The struggle for the revalidation of the results was spearheaded by Afenifere, NADECO and other pro-democracy groups. After the late Chief Anthony Enahoro escaped abroad, the mantle of NADECO leadership fell on the Afenifere leader. Abiola died in the struggle without realising his dream of becoming the president. Adesanya and other soldiers of democracy suffered bruises under the Abacha regime.

    Following negotiations between the military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Afenifere leaders, the group agreed to participate in the transition programme hurried put together by the soldiers. The beneficiary of the struggle was Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled for eight years. Adesanya camp was rooting for Chief Olu Falae, a NADECO and Afenifere chieftain.

    But, crisis hit the pan-Yoruba socio-political group. The rifts had their foundation in the AD presidential primary, where the Afenifere Deputy Leader Chief Bola Ige was dumped in preference for Falae, and the personality clashes between former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos and the displaced AD chairman, the late Chief Ganiyu Dawodu.

    Although Adesanya managed to wield the two divides together, the split became more pronounced, following his demise. His successor, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, who he had named as acting leader, has been battling with the challenge of division in the fold.

    Eminent scholar, Prof. Williams, who participated actively in the pro-democracy struggle, paid tribute to Adesanya, describing him as a political titan and loyal progressive actor.

    He said: are organising the events to pay tribute to an icon of democracy, who fought the military to a standstill, on the side of his people in particular, and on the side of Nigerians in general. He was a political titan. We are celebrating him as an outstanding nationalist.”

    Williams added: “We have to reassess the trajectory of the progressive politics in Nigeria to see where we had stumbled or floundered and see where we had made progress and search for the way forward.’

  • NAF personnel, others paraded over attack on Magu’s farm

    The police yesterday paraded three suspects for their alleged involvement in the attack on the farm house of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

    The attack on the farm house led to the death of a policeman, Sergeant Haruna Sarki who was on guard duty.

    The suspects paraded include a dismissed Nigerian Airforce personnel Vincent Michael with NAF number: NAF12/26972L/CPL, Inalegwu Omikpa and Francis Ochife.

    The police said Michael was handed over to them by the Airforce.

    Two other Airforce personnel who took part in the operation, the police said, are currently facing disciplinary action.

    Items recovered from them include two AK47 rifles, two mobile phones, two magazines and 60 rounds of AK47 ammunitions.

    Speaking during their parade yesterday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Deputy Force Spokesman, Aremu Adeniran, a Superintendent (SP) said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) directed the Intelligence Response Team to carry out investigation into the attack which occurred last December 12.

    Adeniran said: “The principal suspects were arrested in their hideouts. Two police AK47 Rifles carted away from the slain Sergeant and another officer on duty were recovered from a member of the gang in his village at Otukpo, Benue State.”

    Narrating how the attack came to fruition, one of the suspects said he was informed by a bike man living around the farm house that money was hidden in a soak way in the farm house.

    The suspects said the bike man said he was convinced that there was money there because two policemen were there guarding only one cattle and two sheep.

    The suspect, who said the operation was not a robbery, argued that they only went there to get their own share of the national cake.

    Michael said Omikpa was responsible for the policeman’s death.

    “Omikpa killed the policeman because we left him with the policeman and he later came to join us where we were breaking the soak away. We did not see any money in the farm house. We only left with guns and phones,” he said.

    Omikpa said: “What has happened has happened. First of all, I don’t indulge in crime and I am not a robber. I was called by Francis who told money about the money in Magu’s farm house and both of us were contemplating on whistle blowing. I told a Captain friend about it and he said that if it is EFCC that owns the money that they were the same people that control the whistle blowing policy and that we might be in danger if we blow whistle.

    “He told me that he knows people that can go there and carry the money and that I will get my share. He assured me that it was not robbery that we were only going to get our share of the national cake since the suffering is too much in the country.

    “While we were executing our plan, we received a call that policemen were on their way.”

    Omikpa, who denied killing the policeman, said he only heard about the death of a policeman a day after the operation.

  • Revealed: Trafficked Nigerian girls turned into slaves in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, others

    Many Nigerian girls trafficked to Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman and other Arab countries to work as maids have been turned into slaves, The Nation has learnt.

    Among the victims are those identified as Iya Ibeji, Ayo, Monisola, Adejoke and Adefolakemi, who were said to have been trafficked to Saudi Arabia on December 30, last year.

    Adefolakemi, The Nation learnt, was battling chronic depression and had collapsed twice at her master’s place because she was being made to work from 5am to 9pm, denied freedom and usually locked inside the house.

    The victim, who was being threatened by her traffickers for insisting that she wanted to return to Nigeria, was asked to pay 18,000 Riyals (about N1,728,776) or serve her master for two years.

    According to her, she was lured by her secondary schoolmate, Adetutu Kassim, who took her to meet one Olori Omolara, alias Mama T of LT Travel and Tours with the promise of a job and good salary. She said: “They told me that they would get a job for me and I would earn good salary. They never told me they were taking me to Saudi Arabia for modern slavery.

    “Adetutu is in Oman, another Arab country. She took me to meet Mama T and Mama T now took me and some other girls to a hotel in Abuja, where we met an Arab agent called Ashiraf.

    “We were taken to a hospital, to a doctor at Wuse for medical checkup, and on December 30, we left Nigeria through Ethiopian Airways.

    “Before we left Nigeria, Olori said I had to pay her the first two months of my salary. I agreed to. They said my sponsor in Saudi Arabia paid for my ticket and visa and so I would have to go and work for the person. But when we arrived Saudi Arabia, I fell sick and they said my sponsor rejected me.

    “They then gave me to another family, who said the paid 16,000 Riyals to the agency to take me. I was taken to the woman’s house, and she said that I would be on monthly salary of 750 Riyals. She said I was not allowed to go out.

    “I do not have permits. She said I had to work daily from 5am to 9pm, and I was entitled to an hour break. I had to endure the unbearable conditions the first two months so that I could pay Olori.

    “I paid the money. The woman I worked for was the one who sent it through Western Union. She never showed receipts but she told me she had sent the money and Adetutu usually acknowledged that Olori had received the money since I was not in contact with Olori.

    “After paying the two months, I told them I wanted to go back home, but they refused, saying that I must pay 18,000 Riyals or work for the woman for two years before I could be freed. They took me to the police station and threatened to deal with me. But I told them that my health was failing and I could not continue with that kind of work. They refused to listen.

    “I have been put under house arrest. They even sent a Nigerian woman to come and convince me to stay, and that if I refused, they would hand me over to the police and I would be gang-raped and sent to prison.

    “I am going through hell here. The other girls are also not finding things easy but it seems they are still paying Olori because they said they were still in debt and have to continue suffering until they finished paying their debts.

    “Honestly, this is modern slavery. I accepted the job when I was told because I felt since it was abroad, it would be better than Nigeria. I did not know that these people treat others like animals.

    “When I complained to my madam that the work time was too much (16 hours daily), she agreed to give me an hour break, which was between 3pm and 4pm. But she later changed the break time to 10am-11am, saying she discovered that I used to rest when she was at school teaching.

    “Please, I am begging Nigerian government to come and take me out of here before I die. My health is failing. Every day, I clean seven rooms, three toilets, two parlours, a kitchen and a big compound about four times. I wash and iron daily too. Now, I cannot even stand again because my legs are shaky.

    “I wake up at 3:30 am every day and would work from 5am to 9pm. What kind of life is that? They said that is the law in Saudi. The woman tried to seize my phone the other day to stop me from communicating with my family. I don’t have a telephone number.

    “I don’t have a SIM card. I chat on WhatsApp through my Nigerian line through the internet in the house. She has threatened to turn off the internet to cut me off.

    “She said I cannot go anywhere unless my family paid her 18,000 Riyals. I told her to ask the agency she gave money to because they did not give me anything.

    “I do not know anywhere here. I am not allowed to go out. Even if I want to throw waste, her son must accompany me. It’s slavery, modern slavery. Where will I get 18,000 Riyals?

    “I am afraid here that something might happen to me. I fear that I might not return to Nigeria again. I fear I might die here. I am losing my mind.

    “I think an agency in Saudi contacts Olori and she supplies girls to them. I don’t know their arrangements, but I know that at the end of the day, they are the ones benefitting while the girls are miserable, exploited.

    “The woman I work for is Famita Mana AlDossari. They live in Alkhobar, after Dammam. Dammam is a popular state in Saudi. I need help please.”

    Our correspondent contacted Ashiraf and Omolara on telephone and they assured that the victim would be returned, only to contact the agency in Saudi to pressure her into submission.

    Ashiraf said the girls were denied freedom in line with Saudi laws, adding that he was unaware they were subjected to such work conditions. He also said he was unaware Omolara collected money from them, insisting that anyone who wanted to come back would be returned without delays.

    Omolara also denied extorting or exploiting the girls, claiming that she only wanted to help them earn a living.

    In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, Omolara said she was rallying round to get a ticket for the victim. But in a recorded conversation, she accused the victim of threatening her with a journalist, adding that she would only  be  released  if  she  paid  the  18,000

  • EFCC: N1.28b spent on cars for Secondus, others

    DID the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus benefit from a multi-billion naira oil cash during the Jonathan administration?

    Documents from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), obtained by The Nation, yesterday showed that N1.28 billion was spent on acquiring exotic vehicles for him and two others.

    The others are one of his predecessors, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and Senator Albert Bassey.

    A breakdown showed that Secondus got vehicles or gifts worth N310million-N472.5million; Mua’zu, N504, 500,000 and  Bassey, N303m.

    But in a swift reaction last night, Secondus described the allegation as continuation of his media trial.

    “We are already in court on some of these allegations. If anybody has anything to prove, let him go to court. We know that this is a continuation of blackmail and media trial against the PDP national chairman,” his spokesman Ike Abonyi said.

    Also, about N250million was traced to Secondus as remittance in two tranches from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    ONSA said out of the cash, N50million was collected by Uche (Secondus) on November 7, 2014 and  one Chukwurah, who was a Special Assistant to Secondus, picked the balance of N200million in cash, on February 9, 2015.

    The desk officers who handed over the cash to the beneficiaries have made statements to the EFCC.

    One of them said: “The money (N50million) was paid to Uche Secondus but the purpose was not known. It was based on the directive of a  former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    “One could remember that a payment of N200million was made to Uche Secondus as directed by the former NSA. The purpose was unknown.”

    All the payment vouchers, especially a vital one tagged 0244, have been retrieved by EFCC from ONSA.

    Mua’zu, who is tagged as being on the run, it was learnt, may be watch-listed on how he came about the N504.5million worth of vehicles.

    The EFCC declared that “Secondus still has a case to answer because he is on bail.”

    According to the fact-sheet obtained from the anti-graft commission, the vehicles were purchased from Skymit Motors from the proceeds of what was due to the nation from the Strategic Alliance Agreement between Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company(NPDC).

    Some of the proceeds were initially diverted to Expedia Marines from where payments were made to Skymit Motors.

    The documents indicated that 50 vehicles were purchased for Secondus between June 28, 2013 and November 2014.

    The fact-sheet reads in part: “As part of the investigation of Strategic Alliance Agreement between Atlantic Energy and NPDC, the EFCC team discovered that part of the  proceeds of crude oil lifting were diverted to Expedia Marines and from the company several payments were made to a company called Skymit, which deals in assorted vehicles.

    “About 55 vehicles were bought for Secondus as follows:

    • 10 Hiace High Roof @N8.5million each-8/4/14;
    • 15 Hiace Mid-roof @ N8.5million each;
    • 25 Hiace High and Mid-roof @ N210million;
    • Range Rover Autobiography @N50million
    • Mercedez G63 @N36m (28/6/2013;
    • 2 Toyota Hilux(D-Cabin Pick Up) @ N14million (8/4/14)

    “Secondus was invited on February 23, 2016 in respect of investigation into alleged case of fraud and money laundering. He made a statement and he was granted bail on March 2, 2016.

    “His case is still under investigation in spite of the fact that part of the case has been charged to court. Secondus withdrew his first surety, Dr. Musa Hassan Gusau of the National Commission for Mass Literacy and brought in a new surety, Mr. Daniang Peter Dajan, the Director, General Services of the Federal Ministry of Labour. He is on bail and the surety is still there for him. The condition of the bail is very clear: That Secondus will be invited when required and he must honour the invitation.”

    In his statement to EFCC, Secondus wrote: “All these gifts came to me  from the Chairman of Atlantic Energy, Chief Jide Omokore over the years.

    “I am not aware of the proceeds from Strategic Alliance Agreement being used to purchase the gifts.”

    On Mua’zu, a former governor of Bauchi State, the EFCC said the vehicles allegedly bought for him included: Mercedez G-63@N45million(19/5/14); Many vehicles @N247,500,000 (26/6/14) and another set of vehicles @ N212million on 14/814.

    “The suspect is still on the run, the EFCC has not been able to interact with him,” the document said.

    On Bassey, who was a Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State, the EFCC uncovered how the following vehicles were made available to him by Atlantic Energy which allegedly paid for them from oil cash.

    • BMW X 5BP(Bullet Proof)@ N50m on 13/5/10
    • Infinity QX 5BP @ N45m (10/12/12)
    • Range Rover @N40m (17/3/14)
    • 5 Toyota Hiace High Roof@ N43m(9/6/14)
    • 6 Toyota Hilux D/Cabin @N6.2m= N42m(15/9/14)
    • Set of vehicles @N83m (19/12/14)

    In his statement on oath, Bassey said: “The vehicles are gifts from Jide Omokore on the need to ensure my personal safety. I have known him for 19 years since 1997. They are also contributions to my governorship campaigns in 2014.”

    A top source in EFCC said: “We have subsequently invited Senator Bassey twice but he has refused to honour our invitation. He was expected to come for interaction on Monday(yesterday) but he did not show up.”

  • FEC okays N61b for roads, seaport, others 

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N61.464 billion for roads, dredging of seaport and building of houses.

    Minister of Works, Power, and Housing Babatunde Fashola, and his counterparts in Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau; Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; Education, Adamu Adamu and  Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President Garba Shehu made this known to reporters after the FEC meeting.

    The meeting was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Amaechi said the council approved N13 billion for the dredging of Escravos Warri Seaport and the replacement of bad navigational aids.

    Fashola said his ministry got approval for three contracts. These are: Babalampa – Sharam road in Plateau State for N19.92 billion, Lagos – Ota – Abeokuta road revised upward by N22 billion  to N56.7 billion and Enugu -Port Harcourt Expressway for N6.31 billion.

    Fashola said: “One was for Baban Lamba-Sharam Road in Plateau state for the contraction of 44.625 kilometers for N19.392 billion. The second was for Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road 81 kilometers. That road was first awarded in year 2000 and it has since been left uncompleted because they want no budgetary provisions for it.

    ”The third approval was for the section four of the Enugu Port Harcourt Road, the part between Abia and Port Harcourt, particularly in Port Harcourt that has been problematic and has failed severally. We have a contractor there but we needed to change the design because of the storm water drainage needs and the high water tables there so that the road does not fail.

    ”So that requires a revision of the scope of work to include retaining sidelanes and also drainage facilities in the sum of  N6.309 billion.” he said

    Danbazzau said N234 million was approved for the construction of two buildings, cadet mess and cafeteria.

    ”FEC approved contract for the completion of two faculty buildings and Cadet Mess and Cafeteria for Police Academy in Kano. The reason being that there is minimum requirement  to be met by the academy before accreditation of programmes.

    ”In May 2010, a memo was submitted for the approval of a draft bill when it was upgraded to a decree awarding institutions. So the total amount of the contract is about l N234 million. Once it is completed, we will invite the NUU to have a look at some of the programmes that are yet to be accredited.” he said

    Adamu said FEC approved the establishment of a Nigeria Army University in Biu, Borno State.

    Although he gave no detail about take-off time and others, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai had in March announced that the Nigerian Army would upgrade the Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies to a full fledge University of Technology and Environmental Studies.

    The Water Resources Minister said: “We highlight the fact that urbane water supply is regressing, access to improve sanitation has also decreased over time that we have not be able to meet the Millennium Development Goals and that works services in the rural areas are unsustainable, and spending on water sector has declined by .7% to .72% of the GDP in 2010.

    “We submitted a memo to council to approve an action plan on how to address these issues. We had three prayers for the council to approve the action plan: to declare a state of emergency on water and sanitation sector; to approve the establishment of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Fund for the country. This fund will be one that federal, states and international donors can put in money so that we can begin to address the crisis water and sanitation sector in the country.

    ”We also requested that henceforth the budget for water and sanitation in the country to be significantly increased so that we will be able to face these challenges. Council accepted our prayers and we will move on.”

    Mallam Garba Shehu said the  Minister of Women Affairs, briefed council on women empowerment programme undertaken, capacity development  for women, promotion of human rights, fighting violence against women, rehabilitation of victims of gender violence, promoting the health of women and children, and efforts on the rescue of Chibok and Dapchi girls.

    He said that Council commended the Women Affairs Ministry for a job well done.

    down the wall that screens out Nigerians in the military engagement in the northeast, the role played in the prompt release of the Dapchi girls and have instituted town hall meetings, 11 of which have been held so far across the country. He said the town hall meetings are ways of getting feedback from the country. He also spoke about the national sensitization campaigns on insecurity in the country.

    “He spoke about the institution of regular interaction with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Journalists and other relevant bodies.

    ”Also interaction with International Press Institute that are coming into Nigeria for their World Congress in June this year. They have made progress with the digital switchover campaigns.

    ”At the end of the day, the council decided to set up an inter-ministerial committee to fashion out a marshal plan for the communications for the ministry to sit down and advise government on how policies and programmers can be better disseminated. In particular to advise government on how the ministry and its agencies can deliver on its own mandate.

    ”The ministers on the committee are finance, agriculture, budget and national planning, power, works and housing, transportation, communications, Information and Culture, petroleum and Niger Delta

    Speaking with State House correspondents after briefing FEC, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman, said “I am at the State House today requesting FEC to approve the dredging works for escravos channel in Warri and its navigation. Is a challenge we have had in the Nigerian ports we need to ensure that the the channels into the Warri ports are dredged.”

    On the economic implications of the project, she said “It will fundamentally change the fortunes of Warri ports, it will expand the utilization of our eastern ports, we believe in the need to ensure that all ports locations are given the seamless access by providing dredging works and that is what we are here to do today.”

    According to her, she has been able to execute transparency and elimination of corrupt practices in the NPA.

    “We serve the need to ensure that whatever government legal with an entity there is full compliance. We have noted the Treasury Single Account, we have had entities complied to the TSA, we have also made our budget very transparent.

    “We believe in building institutions and we have done tremendous work in deploying Human Resources capacities within our systems.”

    Asked if corruption is fighting back in the NPA, she said “Oh definitely corruption is pushing back, its fights back all the time. We have had instances where corruption is pushing back and we have remain resolute with the support of Mr. President in assisting us to fight corrupt practices in Nigerian Ports Authority.

    On how much saved in the fight against corruption, she said “I will say we have saved billions of dollars in terms of ensuring that corrupt practices are eliminated. One of the key things the government has been able to do is to remove the monopoly of the oil and gas cargo, now in the Nigerian oil and gas you are able to take cargoes anywhere leading to any location in the country. Hitherto designated terminals got priority considerations to the extent that only those terminals had access to oil and gas cargo which made exploration of oil and gas in the country very expensive.

    “This has tremendously assisted, we have saved billions and billions of dollars in crude exploration following the removal of the monopoly by President Muhammadu Buhari of oil and gas cargo designation.” she stated

  • Oyegun, others get waivers to contest without resigning

    WILL the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, recontest for the top job at the party’s convention?

    This was the poser yesterday, following the party’s rejection of tenure elongation for Oyegun and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

    They and other party leaders at the ward, local government and state levels were, however, granted waiver to recontest, if they wished.

    Plateau State Governor and APC Technical Committee on Tenure Elongation Chairman Simon Lalong made these known yesterday after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

    Observers last night described the waiver as “a soft-landing” for Oyegun and others willing to recontest at the party’s congresses and convention.

    No date has been fixed for the elections.

    Lalong said President Muhammadu Buhari informed the party leaders of his second term bid at the meeting, which was described as “the shortest NEC session ever”. It started at 11.02am and ended at 11:55 am.

    The Lalong committee report, which rejected tenure extension, was adopted at the meeting.

    Lalong, who addressed reporters with APC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi,  said his committee’s report was unanimously adopted by the meeting.

    He said: “We were given a task to work within a short time. Within that time, we considered those who were for and against. We looked at the issue extensively and did wider consultations and arrived at a point where we considered not only the legal point, but also the political options available.

    “That is why we came to the point that, if we are going to conduct that election within the time available, then the concern shown by other members on the issue of disenfranchisement and allowing others to contest was very genuine. We also considered the opinion of the President and we arrived at the point that it is constitutionally valid to conduct congresses.

    “We also decided that if, in conducting the elections, certain conditions are not going to be fulfilled, it means that some people will be disenfranchised. We spoke about the 21 days notice (to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a congress) and the fulfilment of Article 31.

    “If we are going to comply with this, the constitution requires that certain waivers should be granted to those who are crying that they will be disenfranchised. We came to the conclusion that if these provisions are taken care of, then there was no need for anybody to say there should be no congress.

    “Our conclusion is that we must conduct congresses. We looked at the second aspect of the legality of the action and we said that in every constitution and the election of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are not saints, we are not angels.

    “It is assumed that in the course of doing things, there may be unforeseen circumstances that will stop you or you reach a brickwall and therefore fail to conclude the exercise. That was the option that was made by the party, in creating an opportunity for there to be an option for you when you get to that brickwall. So, we married the two positions.

    “So, conducting the congresses will also create an opportunity for even those who are not yet members of the party or who have come to the party, but not yet registered because the constitution provides that you must be a registered member of the party and that for you to vote and be voted for, you must be a card-carrying member. There was also the issue of reconciliation.

    “With this, the constitutional notices are being provided and we will work within this short period. That is why we concluded that everybody be carried along and everybody’s interest be protected in this report. It was a unanimous decision to adopt the recommendations that was made to a point that the President felt so happy and excited and said that because of this reunion and unity in the party, he will now consider and also accept the appeal by several members of the society and the party that he recontests and he accepted to recontest. So, he is going to recontest for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Article 31 1 (iii) of the APC constitution states: “Any party office holder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of nomination or party primary for the Office he or she is seeking to contest”.

    Article 31(2) states: “Subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee may in special circumstances grant a waiver to a person not otherwise qualified under Article 31(1) of this Constitution if, in its opinion, such a waiver is in the best interest of the party.”

    Abdullahi said members left the meeting, smiling because it was a win-win for everybody. Those, who thought that the party would start breaking up after the meeting, were disappointed, he added.

    Abdullahi said: “This is the shortest NEC meeting that we have had. This is because the challenge before us has been clear all along and that what we want is a win-win situation for all and that is the work that the committee had done, to find a mid-course that will take care of the interest of everyone.

    “Those who have been clamouring that we must have congresses and those who were afraid that if we have congresses, they will be swept away. The committee’s recommendation has taken care of both; that you must do congresses and that the requirement of the law that you must resign 30 days before you can contest will have to be waived.

    “In essence, you don’t have to resign before you can contest. That way, the matter has been resolved and as far as APC is concerned, the storm that everyone was expecting to happen did not happen and the collapse that people were expecting to start from this NEC meeting today did not happen.

    “So we are leaving the NEC meeting reunited and  a strong family of progressive politics in Nigeria. We are also happy and you can see that our countenance has changed and we are happy that Mr. President has accepted and has announced his wish to recontest in 2019.”

    At the meeting were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Jubrilla Bindo (Adamawa), Lalong, Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto),  Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Tanko Al-makura (Nasarawa), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo). Deputy Governor Phillip Shuaibu represented Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

  • Buhari okay to run say APGA, others

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari is qualified to present himself for reelection.

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said described yesterday’s declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari as strictly an internal affairs of his party.

    National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Kola Ologbondiyan said the declaration had placed President Buhari among the ranks of aspirants seeking to be the President of the Federal Republic, effective May 29, 2019.

    “Until he becomes the candidate of the APC, we will not spend precious time on his mere show of interest”, the PDP said.

    National Chairman of APGA, Dr Victor Oye, in a statement in Awka, said as a Nigerian, Buhari had the constitutional right to seek another term in office.

    “He is qualified, so, we have no problem with his declaration to run for second term.”

    Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Anambra State, Chief Bartho Igwedibia, said it was an inalienable right of Buhari to seek re-election if he wished.

    Igwedibia said the Nigerian masses had the final say on who would preside over their affair.

    He called for free and credible elections that would yield outcome reflecting the wishes of the people.

    President Buhari’s running mate in the 2011 election Pastor Tunde Bakare said Buhari had a right run. But Nigerians had to decide to return him to office.

    “It is very simple.  Buhari has exercised his constitutional right and nobody can begrudge him that.  He is at liberty to offer himself and it is for Nigerians to decide to vote for him or otherwise,” he told The Nation on telephone.

    An aspirant in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State, Senator Ayo Arise, said it was in the interest of Nigerians for Buhari to re-contest in 2019.

    Arise stated this while speaking with newsmen after picking his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the election, at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja.

    The former lawmaker said that Nigerians would not regret the decision if they decided to re-elect Buhari in 2019.

    He noted that though the Buhari government had been faced with some challenges, it needed more than one term in office to truly develop the country.

    ´´Apart from governance being a continuum, I believe that if I want to tar a road between here and Lagos, then the life of a regime might not be able to finish it,´´ he said.

    The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum hailed the President’s decision.

    In a statement by its Secretary General Akin Malaolu, the group said:  “Our trusted President to exercise his constitutionally right for second term in office should be commended.

    “ We are happy for Nigeria and Nigerians that the glorious chapter and the intervention of APC in the affairs of our nation shall further improve the quality of lives and most especially of our youths in the area of employment availability.

    “Nigerians everywhere must see it as their duty to protect the good over evil

    “We shall on as a group campaign faithfully for all contestants in the APC regardless of tribes or religion”.

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said the President had exercised his constitutional right.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, the ACF said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has only exercised his right as provided in our constitution by declaring his interest to contest the 2019 Presidential election.

    “It is also the right of his party, APC, to nominate him with accordance with the party’s rules and regulations.”

    Secretary General of the National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and NEC member Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu said the labour movement will vote candidates based on critical assessment of their performance.

    The labour leader said the President’s choice to seek re-election is largely a  constitutional matter.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari certainly has the right under the 1999 Constitution to seek re-election for second term in office. Same Constitution allows all eligible citizens to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for.

    “The controversy over why the  President is  contesting or not  is therefore unnecessary. He has that right for reelection.

    “What is also clear is that Labour will also exercise its constitutional rights to vote based on critical assessment of all political office holders with respect to decent work, decent pay, employment, cost of living, security and building of a prosperous, fair, just and united Nigeria”.

  • Buhari, Saraki, Masari, others mourn as Katsina Senator Bukar dies at 63

    THE body of Katsina North Senator Mustapha Bukar, who died in Abuja earlier yesterday, has been buried in his hometown Daura, Katsina State.

    The burial, which took place at about 6.14pm yesterday, was witnessed by Governor Aminu Masari, who described Bukar’s death as an “act of God”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate President Bukola Saraki and many personalities yesterday mourned Bukar, who died at 63, in a private hospital in Abuja.

    Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, Senators Aliyu Wammako, Abu Ibrahim and Umar Kurfi, also witnessed the burial.

    Other dignitaries at the burial were Deputy Governor Manir Yakubu, Speaker Abubakar Kusada and House members Sain Katsina and Alhaji Ahmadu Nafuntuwa

    Emir of Katsina Alhaji Abdul Mumuni Kabir was represented by Sain Katsina, Alhaji Ahmadu Nafuntuwa.

    The funeral prayer was performed by the Chief Imam of Daura, Malam Salisu Rabe, at the Emir’s palace

    Buhari commiserated with the government and people of Katsina State and the National Assembly on the passing away of Bukar.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, described his death as a “great loss to Nigeria’s democracy and the engineering profession”.

    Buhari also sent condolences to the family members, friends and professional colleagues of the legislator, who distinguished himself as an engineer before vying for political office to serve his people.

    The President noted that as a young engineer, the deceased used his ingenuity to proffer a lasting solution to the perennial water crisis in Katsina, working variously as a General Manager of the Water Board,  Director of National Water Rehabilitation Project and Director, Water Supply at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

    The President prayed that Allah will bless and forgive the soul of the deceased.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki described the death of Bukar as one too many coming a few weeks after the Red Chamber lost Senator Ali Wakili.

    “I am saddened to learn about the passing of another friend and colleague, Senator Mustapha Bukar. When I and some of my colleagues visited Senator Bukar in the hospital after Jummat prayers last Friday, we prayed with him and we were filled with hope that he would soon recuperate and resume his normal life and legislative activities.

    “As a first-time lawmaker, Senator Bukar stood out for the quality of his contributions on the floor, his pragmatism and his work to strengthen the institution of the legislature. We shall sorely miss his vibrancy and progressive mindset.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also expressed grief over the death of the senator.

    Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, described the incident as a heavy blow to the Senate and the entire nation.

    He said: “Distinguished Senator Mustapha’s exit is a grave loss and big blow not only to the Senate and the National Assembly, but to the entire nation.

    “He was a fine gentleman, quite humane, diligent, perceptive and humble. He was a pan-Nigerian and a pro-masses lawmaker, who showed great interest in finding lasting solution to the nation’s perennial energy problem. He will be sorely missed.”