The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • 2019: Fresh obstacles threaten PDP, opposition parties’ deal

    • Hostile reception awaits defectors

    The possible defection of members of the Reformed- All Progressives Congress (R-APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not appear to be good news to the ears of many PDP supporters in several states, if reports across the country yesterday are anything to go by.

    Supporters of the PDP in such states as Kwara, Kogi, Sokoto and Kano are said to be uncomfortable with the coming of the defectors because of the perceived threat posed to the influence of the old party members by the new ones.

    PDP chieftains in such states have already complained about the situation to the national leaders of the party, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    Some party members said the defectors should not expect an open arm welcome.

    The development is one of the obstacles now threatening the deal being worked out by the PDP with R-APC, the Obasanjo-backed Africa Democratic Party (ADC) and the Accord Party (AP).

    Other contentious issues include the proposal by R-APC that the PDP should change its name and sharing of party executive posts.

    In Kwara State, a group under the auspice of Kwara PDP Reality Movement (KPDPRM), has warned that the state chapter of the party will not agree to any power sharing formula that requires elected officials to resign their positions with a view to making way for the defectors from APC.

    Chairman of the group, Seidu Gafar and the Secretary, Alhaji Ajibola Ajadi Muraina, said in a statement that they are “conscious of the common antics of the Saraki political family and we are patiently following the happenings around the plot by the Senate President to defect back to the PDP and hijack party structures as usual.”

    They vowed that they “will not allow that to happen this time.”

    They added: “while we will support any arrangement aimed at giving the PDP victory in 2019, we will oppose any arrangement that will demand that elected officials resign their position for Saraki’s men to take over.”

    The situation is similar in Kogi State where opposition is swelling up against the return of Senator Dino Melaiye to the PDP.

    Party chieftains in his native Kogi West senatorial district say the Senator lacks the followership that will warrant him or his group being given special treatment on his return to the party.

    They said there will be no automatic ticket or position for him.

    The Kogi West Concerned Members  said:”the case of Kogi State is far different from that of Kwara, Sokoto or Kano where the APC defectors have very large followers sufficient enough to cover revolts.

    “Kogi’s case is peculiar and we implore the national leadership to listen and abide by the views of the leaders of the party in the state which are as simples as follows: Senator Dino Melaye is welcome to PDP as specified under the Constitution of the party.

    “He is free to aspire to any position of his choice but must take cognisance of the existing mutual arrangement.

    “He will not be discriminated against in any form in the conduct of the affairs in the  state.  He should come into the party with genuine open mind and contribute meaningfully to growth of the PDP like any other senior members of the party.”

    The group is made up of ex-lawmakers, former commis-sioners and past council bosses.

    The Nation also gathered that PDP’s initiative to form an alliance with a cross section of parties for the purpose of unseating the APC in next year’s election is facing challenges of its own, including the demand by the Africa Democratic Party (ADC) and the Accord Party (AP) that the PDP should give them equal treatment as R-APC.

    Sources said efforts by the Liyel Imoke-led committee set up by the PDP to negotiate with the R-APC are not making progress as expected because of the insistence of the R-APC members on alleged controversial demands.

    One of such demands is the sharing of executive positions on a ration of 60:40.

    Sources said the Imoke committee has been unable to convince R-APC to back down on some of the controversial demands at the weekend.

    A serving member of the House of Representatives from the Northcentral said: “It is true that the committees could not resolve critical issues last week and the talks were put on hold for the two parties to go back home and see if they could shift grounds.

    “I can tell you that the issue of name change is of major concern. We have our reasons for insisting that we merge under a new identity. We must go into that alliance as equals.

    “Politics in Nigeria is funny. Look at what is happening within the APC and you will understand our position. It is unfair for anybody to say we are asking for too much. We are merely trying to ensure that we are comfortable wherever we decide to pitch our tent away from the APC.

    “And you talk about the alleged demand that we want to take over the party structures in the state. That wasn’t part of our demand.

    “Mischief makers are blowing some of these issues out of proportion and this is affecting the negotiations. What we said is that there will be need for our people to be accommodated in the party structures at the states level. And in states where we are obviously the stronger partner, we should be allowed to have the larger share.”

    A member of one of the PDP negotiation teams said a few of the parties and groups were unrealistic in some of their demands. He specifically said the insistence that PDP change its name may end the merger talks.

    “We got the report of one of the committees and we were told that they are particular about PDP changing its name. I can tell you this is one demand that may end the whole talk,” the source said.

    “Most PDP leaders will never agree to a name change. Let us be realistic: most of us have good reasons for saying no to a name change. For example, our leaders in the BoT have this attachment to what they see as a legacy. In some states, the name PDP is like a national anthem.

    “And if you consider the fact that we need a popular party to defeat the APC, then we will not be talking about a name change at this time. I think it is important for all of us talking about the alliance to put general interest above personal and group considerations. That way, the talks will move faster. PDP is committed to working with other parties and groups to free Nigeria from the misrule of APC.”

    It was also gathered a group of chieftains within the PDP, opposed to the return of some of the R-APC members to the opposition party in their various state may have intensified efforts to prevail on leading PDP stakeholders to insist on the rejection of the demands being made by the would be defectors. According to reliable party sources, the anti-R-APC group includes governors, national assembly members and other big wigs.

    One other reason why some PDP chieftains are opposed to the continuation of the talks with R-APC is the demand by the group that leadership positions will be shared in ratio 60:40 across the states for the merger to be concluded. The Nation gathered that many of the PDP governors have expressed reservation over the demand while R-APC chieftains are insisting that it is the only way to give their supporters some sense of belonging in the new party.

    “It is just two sides of a coin for them to say we either change the party name and go for a new convention or share leadership position in ration 60:40. I think we should be thinking of working together for a common purpose and not trying to compete with one another,” a chieftain of the PDP in Kogi State said.

    “What will then happen to the other parties interested in joining the PDP too? What ratio will they get? All these are really difficult demands,” our source added.

     

  • Why PDP will win -Adebayo

    MEANWHILE, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state is unrelenting in its boast that it will win the July 14 gubernatorial election even with President Muhammadu Buhari’s endorsement of the candidature of Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the opposition APC. Chieftains of the party insisted that the APC has no business contesting the governorship election because the party is not popular with the people of the state.

    The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Jackson Adebayo, while speaking with The Nation, expressed confidence that the PDP is sure of winning the polls because of the impressive performance of the current administration and the fact that the opposition party in Ekiti State, the APC, is currently in a confused state. He wondered how a party divided against itself can defeat a united one.

    The PDP spokesperson assured the people of Ekiti State that with their votes on Saturday, his party is ready to send Fayemi back to Abuja. According to Adebayo, the party is confident of winning the election even if President Mohammadu Buhari moves the whole garrison to help APC,” adding that, “we believe that the army would turn to spectators when they see how Ekiti people would react with their votes”.

    The PDP chieftain, while responding to questions on the recent defection of some prominent members of the ruling party to the opposition APC and other parties, described some of the party members that defected to the APC as disgruntled PDP members who have been deceived into leaving the winning party so that they can share in the imminent failure of APC at the forthcoming poll”.

    He said contrary to media noise by the APC that more PDP members are joining the opposition in the state; it is actually the APC that has lost more of its chieftains to the ruling party in recent times. “The rate at which members of the APC are defecting to PDP at the grassroots is highly encouraging to us, and that should be enough signal to the party that the game would not be on their side,” he said.

    According to Adebayo, “the defection into PDP by the caliber of grassroots mobilisers like a former majority leader in Ekiti State House of Assembly, Lai Oke; Chief Bode Agbeleye from Ijero Local Government and other leaders of APC across the state is enough testimony that APC has no business in going into the election in the first instance.” He said those who understand the politics of Ekiti State are already predicting the sure victory of PDP.

    While further criticizing the APC, Adebayo said while the PDP has been able to put its house in order after its primary election, the APC is still battling with grievances. “The confusion that rocked the flag-off of the APC candidate’s campaign, where a former member of the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, and five others were shot and the violence that marred their party’s attempt to elect a candidate are pointers to the confusion in the party,” he said.

    The Ekiti PDP spokesman said, “nobody in the state can forget in a hurry how Fayemi’s government brought pain and wailing to the families of those who were cut down in their prime just for sharing different views with the APC candidate and Ekiti people would not want such a government to evolve again. Ekiti people are angry with Fayemi and APC. Fayemi is coming to symbolise the negative acronym of his party which includes creation of cattle colony in Ekiti State.”

    Adebayo claimed that recent opinion polls have been giving victory to PDP because the party is the most popular in the state. He said it is instructive that the NOI Polls, independent public poll, reflected the fact that the PDP candidate enjoys overwhelming support across the three senatorial districts, saying PDP is not surprised at the outcome of the polls.

  • No alliance with PDP, Fayose – Accord Party

    Accord Party  has denied adopting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Olusola Eleka, for next weekend’s governorship election.

    Accord, is one of the 46 political parties contesting the governorship election in the state.

    Its national chairman, Muhammad Nalado, in a statement in Abuja, said the purported rejection of its candidate, Jacob Aluko, by some persons claiming to be elders of the party in the state is false and unfounded.

    The party, while dismissing the reported alliance between Governor Fayose and the PDP, emphasised backing its candidate for the poll.

    Aluko, according to Accord, has widespread acceptability across the state that will give the party victory.

    Nalado called on their loyalists in the state to come out en mass and vote for the candidate of Accord in the election, arguing that he has the manifesto to address the economic challenges facing the people of Ekiti.

    While denying any alleged agreement between the Accord and the PDP for the party’s candidate to step down for the PDP’s candidate, he maintained the party’s candidate is still very much in the race and heading for a victory.

    The statement lamented the anti- party activities by those sabotaging the candidate, saying its leadership will certainly take disciplinary actions against those involved irrespective of how highly placed.

    It emphasised that Accord will not condone any form of irresponsibility by any member, adding that the leadership of the party has over the past years worked hard to build discipline.

    The party urged members to avoid shortchanging the overall interest of the party for personal benefits.

     

  • 2019: PDP, R-APC yet to agree on four knotty issues

    Ahead of their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC), leaders of Reformed All Progressives Congress(R-APC) have tabled tough demands before the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    While some of the demands have been accepted, there are four other knotty issues yet to be settled.

    The four pegs of negotiation are: conceding party structures in states to R-APC on 60 to 40 per cent basis; automatic ticket; change of PDP’s name and governorship ticket in some states.

    It was learnt that members of the Board of Trustees of PDP, the National Executive Committee and National Working Committee (NWC) are opposed to the idea that the party should change its name.

    State chairmen of the party were also opposed to conceding 60 per cent of the officials of ward, local government and state executive committees (SEC) of PDP to R-APC.

    The PDP, however, accepted the recommendation to cede the Office of the President of the Senate to Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House or senatorial ticket to Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara if they make up their minds to defect.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that ex-Governor Liyel Imoke Contact and Mobilization Committee has briefed the National Working Committee (NWC) on talks with R-APC leadership and others willing to defect to PDP.

    It was learnt that although the NWC has received insights on substantial part of the report of the Imoke Committee, a formal submission was being awaited.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “All is set to welcome R-APC leaders, members and other political leaders into PDP before the beginning of primaries into elective offices as from August 18.

    “The Liyel Imoke Committee has done fantastic work and we are all excited about the prospect of a revitalised and stronger PDP.

    “With most issues resolved in favour of R-APC and other defectors, the only four pegs of negotiation left are about conceding state party structure to R-APC on 60 to 40 per cent basis; automatic ticket; a change of name by PDP; and governorship ticket in some states.

    “The committee recommended that 60 per cent of party structure at the ward, local government and state level should be given to R-APC while 40 per cent is left for old members.”

    The source said the committee took into account the electoral value of the defecting R-APC leaders and the need to integrate the defectors into the PDP structure. But he said that state chairmen are opposed to the 60-40 per cent ratio.

    “They said if the PDP leadership was serious, it should also allow a 60-40 per cent formula at the NWC level. This means that some National Working Committee members would have to sacrifice their mandate. We are managing it with maturity but state chairmen have not been convinced.

    “Some party leaders and state chairmen are claiming that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar did not re-join the party with terms. They are claiming that the R-APC leaders are demanding too much,” he said.

    On the question of automatic ticket, the source said: “All our leaders have accepted to concede only the Office of the President of the Senate to Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a senatorial ticket to Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara if they make up their minds to defect.

    “As for other aspirants for elective offices, they are to contest with other candidates based on local peculiarities, including the popularity of the defectors, power rotation formula, and the mood of the electorate.

    “For example, some PDP leaders are pushing for automatic ticket for Senator Dino Melaye, but some parts of Kogi West Senatorial District said the Ijumu-Gbede axis will be holding on to the seat for 16 years if Melaye gets the slot. Senator Smart Adeyemi (from Iyara Ijumu) was the occupant of the seat for eight years.

    “There is, however, a strong case for Senator Melaye. The party may persuade the aggrieved parts of the senatorial district to concede it to Melaye.

    “The R-APC leaders are however seeking automatic tickets for all defectors.”

    The source also said the automatic ticket matter could also affect the choice of governorship candidates in some states.

    “For example, PDP leaders in Kwara State said they will prefer to produce the party’s gubernatorial candidate instead of the returning R-APC.

    “The old PDP members in Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe, Borno and other states are seeking governorship ticket in exchange for the acceptance of other conditions by R-APC.”

    On the change of name, the highly-placed source added: “The BOT, NEC and NWC leaders have rejected the request to rename PDP because it will affect the structure of the party and time is not on our side in an election year.

    “We have to write the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and go through a process which may be challenging.”

    At press time, the official presentation of the report of Liyel Imoke Committee was being awaited.

  • PDP hails verdict

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed yesterday’s Supreme Court judgment discharging and acquitting the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    In a statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the verdict as triumph of justice.

    In the landmark judgment, the apex court had dismissed the assets declaration case brought against Saraki by the Federal Government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The party said the Supreme Court, by the judgment, has further reinforced the confidence of Nigerian citizens in the courage of the institution of the judiciary, as the temple of justice and the last hope of the common man, particularly under an oppressive regime.

    The PDP  stated that the judgment has further supported its disposition that the Buhari Presidency’s fight against corruption was mere shadow-chasing and a clever attempt at blackmailing the opposition as well as anyone who holds a divergent voice against the administration.

  • Supreme Court judgment on Saraki triumph of justice – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on has described as “triumph of justice’’, Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, dismissing the false asset declaration charges against Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, the party said that the verdict had reinforced Nigerians’ confidence in the judiciary.

    “The Court has further reinforced the confidence of Nigerian citizens in the courage of the institution of the judiciary as the temple of justice and the last hope of the common man, particularly under an oppressive regime.’’

    The apex court upheld earlier decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), which discharged and acquitted Saraki in all 18-count-charge against him.

    It added that the judgment had further supported its disposition that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s fight against corruption was mere shadow-chasing.

    It also said that the verdict shown that the war against corruption was a “clever attempt at blackmailing the opposition as well as anyone who held a divergent voice against the administration of the ruling party’’.

    The party advised that the judgment should serve as a spur for judicial officers at all levels to be bold in upholding the dispensation of justice in all cases without fear or politically-induced hindrances. (NAN)

  • Buhari’s Executive Order a descent to fascism – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday rejected the sixth item of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order dealing with the seizure of suspicious assets.

    In a statement issued by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party condemned the Order, describing it as illegal, unconstitutional, reprehensible and in total disregard to the provisions of the Constitution.

    According to the PDP, the Nigerian Constitution does not, under any section, confer such fascist powers on the President in a democracy.

    It added that there can be no legitimate latitude of interpretation placed on sections 5 and 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution cited as justifications for the order, that can excuse it.

    The statement said: “Therefore, President Buhari’s unilateral Executive Order is a travesty of justice and rule of law, as it vehemently seeks to hijack and usurp the powers of both the legislature and the courts and vest it on himself so that he can use same at will, as a political instrument, to haunt, traumatize, harass and victimize perceived political opponents.

    “In order words, Mr. President wants to change our democratic governance to a military regime, in line with his lamentation, two days ago, that the fight against corruption will be better under a military regime than under a democracy.

    “It is instructive to emphasize that the PDP is not in any way opposed to the fight against corruption. Rather, the party holds that the imposition of this Executive Order, which is radically at variance with the provisions of the constitution, is totally unacceptable.

    “PDP takes this Executive Order 6 of 2018 as a reenactment of the obnoxious Decree 2 of 1984, which incidentally was also an enactment under then military Head of State headed by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and this must not be permitted in our current democratic dispensation.

    “If allowed, this Order will confer limitless powers on Mr. President, whose administration’s penchant for violation of rules and order already suggests a readiness for autocracy and a drive towards fascism.

    “In a democracy, the role of the executive arm of government is to enforce court orders/judgments handed down based on the interpretation of existing laws. Any suggestion to the contrary, as clearly intended by this Executive Order, is totally an aberration and inconsistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We invite Nigerians and the international community to note the deliberate attempts by the Buhari administration to side-step the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), usurp the powers of the legislature, the judiciary and impose an autocratic regime on our nation.

    “The PDP therefore charges the judiciary and the legislature to save our dear nation and her people from an imminent fascism by rejecting this obnoxious Executive Order.

    “Nigeria is a democratic state run by the dictates of the law and the constitution and not by the rule of the thumb of any elected officer.

    “Already, our lawyers are considering a legal action against the Federal Government on the illegality of Mr. President’s action in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

     

     

  • PDP, Fayose taking panicky measures – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of resorting to panicky measure in their desperation to win the July 14 governorship election in the state.

    He accused the PDP of intimidating workers in the state to surrender their voter’s cards.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at his maiden news briefing at the party national secretariat in Abuja, said the governor has ordered civil servants, teachers and other categories of workers in the state to surrender their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), adding that those who refused to surrender their cards had been queried by the government.

    He also alleged that the governor has directed lecturers in institutions of higher learning in the state to award free 20 marks to students who vote for his candidate.

    The ex-Edo State governor said since Fayose has never won a free and fair election, he thinks the same process that brought him to office would be used against him.

    Oshiomhole said: “I believe that the people of Ekiti State are very much aware of what the issues are. There is no better evidence of how prepared we are than the fact that the PDP is panicking.

    “You must have read reports that in clear violation of the electoral act, the Governor Fayose has instructed the civil servants, principals of schools and headmasters to retrieve PVCs from civil servants because he is afraid that the civil servants and the people of Ekiti State will not vote for him and in demonstration of that, they are helping to educate the people on why they should not vote for his candidate.

    “He has not paid salaries for one year despite the fact that the federal government gave him bailout which he chose to divert to other uses. So, they are panicking and while we are encouraging people to collect PVC, he is retrieving PVCs.

    “We heard that they have started issuing query to workers, including teachers for refusing to surrender their PVCs. I don’t think you need any other evidence that the governor is panicking and we can’t wait to have him swept away in a free and fair election on the basis of one man, one vote, one woman, one vote.

    “We all know that Fayose was rigged into office and this is no secret because the military officers involved has since confessed to the role they played as well as those involved in the dollars that were withdrawn from the NNPC. These are no secrets anymore.

    “I think that Fayose thinks that the very instrument he used to come to power will be used against him. This is a party of change and so, we are not about to copy the darkest side of the PDP. “

  • PDP feeling anti-graft heat, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Thursday said that all is now set for the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to wield the big stick against corrupt Nigerians.
    Buhari had earlier on Thursday signed the Executive Order 6 at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, towards improving the fight against corruption in the country.
    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in an article entitled ‘Executive Order 6: Buhari acquires a big stick against corruption’, said that the heat the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was facing has made the party to be criticizing any policy of government just to discredit the administration.
    He said “Nigeria’s widespread corruption, which has been eating the eco-system like termites, met on audacious response from President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday afternoon with the signing of a new Executive Order No.6 on preservation of assets connected with corruption. President Buhari holds the view that after three years in office it was another good time to further review the achievements of the administration and set goals in a key policy area, the anti-corruption war.

    “On the basis of the re-appraisals made, the President said that it had become “necessary to re-kit and

    re-tool our arsenal to be able to affectively tackle corruption’s perilous counter-attack against the Nigerian State.”  As a result, the Federal Government of Nigeria had “declared a national emergency to deal with that crisis.” President Buhari came into power in 2015 vowing to fight corruption which had been undermining the country’s economy, politics, governance and entire society.

    “The government is of the understanding that corruption is one of Nigeria’s major challenges; one that had obstructed the country’s drive to realise its full potentials. Most citizens believe that corruption is holding the country by the jugular and must be tackled if we are to make progress and make meaning of our lives. Since the war against corruption unleashed by President Buhari took hold, significant strides had been achieved. Vehicles of fraud and embezzlement have been stopped dead in their tracks; enabled with the implementation of the Bank Verification Number policy and signing the Open Government Partnership and rebuilding the anti-corruption institutions, and generally the country’s highly improved corporate governance.”

    According to him, fifty thousand ghost workers were deleted from monthly payroll, saving an annual N200 billion in payments.

    He added ” Ghost pensioners have in their thousands been fished out and with vigour and precision, millions of bank accounts with suspicious cash deposits are being investigated. A large number of senior public officials are being investigated and a huge sum of money including buildings, estates, ships and automobiles have been seized. Former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha’s money, USD326 million was recovered and will be distributed to the poor.

    “The Buhari administration has so far investigated and jailed ex-governors, ministers, generals and a large number of public officials. All of these efforts are building up to an ecosystem that is pro-poor, people oriented, clean, transparent and one that doesn’t tolerate corruption. Based on all these, Nigeria’s anti-corruption war under President Buhari, striking and visible as it is, has aroused interests both locally and internationally. The President is currently serving as the Champion of Anti-corruption for the entire continent, selected by his peers in the African Union.

    “It is an established fact that, all over the world, deep-rooted corruption is always difficult to deal with. It is mostly hidden. It is hard to detect, and as we have seen in dealing with the world’s economic powers, they love, cherish and nurture it in countries like ours by holding onto stolen assets against all efforts to retrieve them. But there are signs that things are changing.

    “Every day, harsh words against the government are all that the President gets from Wadata House, the Head Office of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because their leaders, as do some other Nigerians are already feeling the heat. To say the truth, I am not sure if there are many of our citizens who expected any PDP support for the President in his war against corruption.

    “In spite of all the achievements recorded, you still hear complaints that the anti-corruption isn’t as dramatic as Nigerians wished it to be. Some want the country to do it the Chinese way. Others say the government is not arresting the powerful people.

    “For the Buhari administration, concern lies in the fact that corruption has become a big problem because investigation, prosecution and trial in courts are made harder by persons accused of crimes relating to it. They are using the enormous resources in their possession to thwart the system. The President’s view is that, it is only a clean Nigeria that can attract foreign investment, free money for more of the capital projects the administration is executing and creating jobs for our teeming population of young men and women.

    “The President says in the interest of justice and the welfare of the Nigerian state, persons accused of crimes

    relating to corruption must be prevented from utilizing the proceeds and dissipating such assets suspected to be proceeds of corruption (or associated with corruption) pending final determination of any investigation or legal actions related to such assets or owners thereof.

    “In signing the new Executive Order, he said: “I’m bound to restrict dealings in suspicious assets…to preserve

    same in accordance with the rule of law and with guarantee and safeguard of fundamental human rights.” A person who feels that his rights are infringed is free to go to a high court. To understand the threat posed to our democracy and economy by unchecked access to stolen or illicit funds, the President cited the large volume of cash government is fight to retrieve through the legal system.

    “The aggregate value of those funds involved in some of the on-going prosecution of high profile corruption cases is N595,409,838,452.25k. This amount is more than what has been budgeted this year for the all-important Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (N344 billion) and social Investment (N500b), intended for millions of Nigerians through programs such as the N-Power Graduate Employment Scheme, the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT to the poorest of the power and GEEP (Government Economic Empowerment Programme).

    “The 2018 budget which has made the highest appropriation ever in the sum of N344 billion to the Ministry of Works is to be spent on the following roads:

    – Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Dual Carriageway

    – Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Road

    – Kano-Maiduguri Road

    – Enugu-Port-Harcourt Dual Carriageway

    – Odukpani-Itu-Ikot-Ekpene Road

    – Sokoto-Tambuwal -Jega-Kontagora-Mokwa Road

    – Dualization of Ojabana to Benin Road

    – Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road

    – Onitsha-Enugu Dual Carriageway

    – Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway

    – Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Sagamu expressway

    phase III

    – Kontagora-Bangi Road

    “The amount of money voted this year for these roads therefore translates to about 57% of the monies recovered by the on-going high-profile corruption cases. The defendants in these cases have unrestricted access to these funds using it as a war chest. They have used it to stall administrative and judicial processes. No gainsaying that it is impossible to achieve any meaningful progress in the fight against corruption where there is no effective law enforcement and prosecution of offenders via an effective justice system. In simple terms, the idea of the new Executive Order is to ensure that criminal elements are prevented from using their illicit resources to “allure, pervert and/or intimidate the investigative and judicial process.”

    The purpose of the Executive Order, he said, is not to forfeit peoples properties but rather temporarily deny access which can be used to corrupt or interfere with the investigative and judicial processes.

    “Equally, it is not intended to, and cannot take over the powers and functions of statutory agencies with prosecutorial powers or create new ones. Rather, this is designed to activate existing provisions of the law on freezing of assets and to establish a system of coordination under the office of the Attorney-General, who has constitutional powers over all prosecutions.

    “Henceforth, it will be a criminal offence to violate the Executive Order. Prosecution authorities will, in all future prosecutions, file application to freeze the assets implicated before, or alongside the charge information sheet. For cases that are on-going, such application shall be filed within seven days of this Executive Order.

    “As provided by the law and the constitution, the President is empowered to “abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power”. It is in his determination to fully execute this function that he declared a national emergency to deal with the threat posed by corruption. While it will definitely take a while for the President Buhari war against corruption to penetrate the lower rungs of government and society, a pervasive canker that had been a part of daily working life of the nation for so long, there is no doubt that the daring response through this Executive Order will go a long way in fast tracking that process.

    ‘Finally, then, is to state that a win for President Buhari in 2019 in next year’s general elections is the best way to provide a good and stable leadership for tackling the problems of corruption in Nigeria.” he said

     

  • Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP a fallacy – nPDP

    The new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the purported defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as fallacy and figment of the author’s imagination.

    The leader of the group, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, stated this in his reaction to the purported defection of the former Kano State governor to PDP.

    Baraje said nPDP would soon adopt a new name, adding that the bloc remains intact.

    He maintained that the group would make public its position on the continued membership of APC on Thursday or Friday.

    He said Kwankwaso played active roles in the decisions of nPDP and would continue to play such roles as a key leader of the group.

    “We are all still in APC but the nPDP will come up with a lot of changes. nPDP is likely to change its name as a splinter group from APC,” he added.