The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peace

  • UNEP Report: Ogoni banks on peace for progress

    The feeling of Ogoni stakeholders at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Integrated Soil Management Centre was that there must be a mutual peace among the leaders, youths and communities before any meaningful development could take place in the area.

    The historical event, which took place at  Kwawa community and School-to-land  Bori, in Khana Local government of Rivers State,  was performed by Minister of Environment Mrs  Amina Mohammed, as  part of the implementation of United Nation Environment Programme  (UNEP) in Ogoni land.

    From one speaker to another it was all about how to make the youths give the Federal Government a chance for a successful implementation and how the stakeholders would work in synergy for the common good of the project.

    The Chairman, Ogoni Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, King G.N.K. Giniwa, Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom, said there must be peace first before any progress could take place in Ogoni land.

    He said: “Today is another day in the history of Ogoni land. I want to specifically appeal to Ogoni people in Ogoni land to give peace a chance. We need peace; we must work together in harmony to achieve progress.  Let the Federal government ensure that this dream come true. I’m the father of the Ogoni land, I know my people, if you give them something good, they will appreciate it. This project must be taken with two hands and in doing that there must be peace. “

    The President, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Comrade Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, who called for a minute silence for those who died in Ogoni struggle, also called for peace in the area.  He said Ogoni people must be grateful that the Federal Government decided to make them happy.

    He called on Ogoni people to work hard for the interest of peace and ensure that the project was successful.

    “First, we must be grateful, the Minister of environment, Mrs  Amina Mohammed, has done a great job in taking us this far. But we need to ensure peace; I want to challenge all Ogoni people that we must make sure this project did not fall. This is our project; its success would depend on the ability for mutual relationship, love and harmony among the communities, stakeholders and the youths of Ogoni land.”

    Secretary to the Rivers State government (SSG) Chief Kenneth Kobani, a son of the soil, who represented Governor Nyesom Wike, said despite the short notice to the governor, he was determined to see the success of the project and decided to donate the land to build the centre.

    The SSG said Ogoni people should count themselves lucky to be the first to receive Federal Government support on this project when Ogoni was not the first place where oil was discovered in the Niger Delta.

    “ I want to appeal to my people, they should know that managing the expectations of the people  is a problem of its own. And there is no way a project of this magnitude can be made over night, of course, UNEP report stated that it would take 20 to 30 years to succeed in what we are starting here today. I believe this exercise was long coming; if you recalled oil was not first discovered in Ogoni land but in Olubiri in Bayelsa. So, we are indeed lucky and privileged people for receiving this amount of attention from the Federal Government. I will therefore appeal like other speakers in this event that the time for peace and development is now.”

    The National Coordinator, Ogoni Solidarity Forum (OSF), Celestine AkpoBari, said the people of Ogoni were excited about the clean-up.

    “We are excited because some people have already said the clean-up will not take place, what the minister is doing here today is a testimony that  something is taking place here in Ogoni and for them to come and lay a foundation stone  shows  that something is happening and they are ready to go.  The delay in the implementation is not deliberate, there are structures being put in place. The minister is now the Deputy Secretary of the United Nation and she needs to put things in place before leaving. The only encouragement she needs from Ogoni people now is for us to maintain peace for the progress of this project.”

    Hajia Mohammed, who was accompanied by the  Minister of State for Environment and other top senior officers of the ministry, said President Muhammadu Buhari was interested in the development of the Niger Delta.

    She  said the Ogoni clean-up was part of President Buhari’s campaign promises to Ogoni people, adding that the project was not for sharing of  money but investing money for the development of the area. The minister noted that the government would begin the clean-up with the training of 1,200 Ogoni women.

    Mrs. Mohammed:  “Calling for peace, to me, this is the greatest support you have given me and I will continue to look behind to cherish it. The development of Ogoni land is the priority of this administration started by President Buhari as one of his campaign promises. This is the recognition of the fight and struggle of injustice of Ogoni People. The issue of clean-up is not only for Ogoni people but for the rest of Niger Delta where oil exploration has impacted negatively to their environment.  I know, you will be asking after now, what next? What we want to do is to start something that in the next five years, people will attest the government effort.  In the next 20 years, we will restore Ogoni land to where it was years ago.

    “From the community leaders, youths, women, oil companies, civil society groups everybody must play his or her part to ensure that we succeed. The clean-up in Ogoni land is not just for a particular section of people it is a collective responsibility. We also have the board of trustees. I want to recognise you.  I’m glad that   Ogoni man is your project manager; after today, he will not know rest until he finishes the cleaning. We want the sons and daughters of Ogoni land to benefit from this project; everybody will be carried along. Those of you that cannot do it will be trained to be part of it.  So, we are not leaving you behind; even if you don’t have the ability, you will learn on the job. What this means is that we are trying to find peace, unity and progress of the Niger Delta. There are many people who have benefited from the injustice and misery in Ogoni land and we will not allow them to do that again.

    “This project is a collective effort; we must ensure that we succeed; we are not here to be sharing money but to invest money.  After the clean-up, we are to provide jobs to you. That is the reason we want to keep this place clean. President Buhari has talked about the diversification, but the way we are polluting the environment here, there is no diversification for Niger Delta. There would be no diversification of the economy of Niger Delta if we continue to pollute the environment.  We are pleading, let today be a new era in the Niger Delta. We must stay clean after the clean-up. We are also going to begin this project by training our youths. Let me say that the most important thing for us is our women because they carry the burden of what was happening in all these days.  Today, we are going to start with 1,200 Ogoni women in this project.  Please what we need is for people to come and tell us how we can clean and how to sustain the cleaning.”

     

  • Fresh threat to Southern Kaduna peace

    Fresh threat to Southern Kaduna peace

    The foundation stone of a military base in volatile Southern Kaduna has been smashed, prompting concerns that peace in the area may still be far off. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports

    So much blood has been spilled and so much property destroyed in Southern Kaduna that virtually everyone said the answer lay in a military presence in the area to deter the bloodthirsty attackers.

    With the destruction of the foundation stones of a military facility in the area shortly after they were laid, where lies the hope of peace?

    Kaduna State has been blighted by violence in its southern parts. That was why commissions of enquiry into the crises recommended that military formations be set up since it was widely believed that lack of military presence in the area emboldened the invaders to attack repeatedly and get away with it. Even residents of the area often blamed such crises on the slow response of security personnel.

    Sample this: Two days after the attack on some villages in Chawai Chiefdom of Jema’a Local Government Area in Kaduna State in November 2016, the famous Southern Kaduna socio-cultural group, Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) reiterated the call, believing that it will end the bloodbath.

    A statement by its President, Mr Solomon Musa, a lawyer, on November 15, 2016, said, “While the attacks have continued to fester, the efforts of governments and security agencies are yet to be felt, seen or appreciated by our people. SOKAPU has consistently called on governments and security agencies to bolster intelligence gathering mechanisms to detect early warning signs.

    “We have also called for the establishment of military barracks and security formations around the attack-prone axis of Kauru, Jema’a, Sanga and Kauru as both deterrence and as a quick response strategy but to no avail.

    “The villages that have come under the onslaught of the terrorists have also been calling for the deployment of security personnel in the forest, mountains and flashpoints rather than the highways, but these calls have not received any favourable response. The pattern that has emerged, sadly now, is that attacks occur with impunity usually followed by fire fighting and feeble cosmetic measures by security agencies and the government that have failed to yield any dividend.

    “SOKAPU as a union in its support for peace, law and harmonious living carried out a peaceful protest in Gwantu on Thursday 25/8/2016 and made the following demands that: The government of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai keeps his campaign promise of safeguarding our lives and property by also funding a formidable joint military operation to flush our murderers and restore ‘captured’ lands to their owners”.

    There have been allegations that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of Governor Nasir el-Rufai abandoned the area.

    Perhaps in response to that accusation, the government resolved to establish two military formations in Southern Kaduna, one in Kafanchan and the other in Kachia. These were in addition to a mobile police squadron already launched by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai was   recently in Kafanchan to lay the foundation for a Nigerian Army Forward Operation Base (FOB), which the army chief said its officers and personnel will make ready in three months, while the base’s structure will take a few years to complete.

    Governor El-Rufai told General Buratai that his government cannot wait until the structure is completed, but will provide a temporary site to accommodate the military base until the permanent site is completed.

    He said, “The state government will provide the army with a temporary facility for immediate take-off of the Forward Operation Base pending the completion of the permanent site.”

    He equally assured that the state government will immediately commence survey of the military formation site land, with a view to quickly issue its Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) the army authority.

    El-Rufai also said that his government will fish out those behind the Southern Kaduna killings and make sure they go to prison, saying the recent unrest in the region was the 11th since 1980 and lamented that nobody has been prosecuted either for the killings or destruction of property.

    Laying the foundation stone, Lt.-Gen Buratai said the Army is in Southern Kaduna to restore peace and they were not going to take sides while discharging their responsibility.

    The Army Chief who had earlier visited the Chief of Kagoro, Ufuwai Bonet and Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isah Muhammadu at their respective palaces said he was equally in Southern Kaduna to meet with his officers and men who had been deployed to the area to ensure peace.

    He said, “The present crisis is coming to an end. Now, we have restored normalcy in the troubled areas. People have started coming back to their homes. I was in Ninte this morning. I saw the farmers and the Fulani. I spoke with them on the need to live in peace with one another.

    “You can’t separate the farmers and the herdsmen. They have a long history of co-existence. So, they must live together. The better they live together the better for them and everyone.”

    In their separate remarks, the Chief of Kagoro, and Emir of Jema’a thanked the military for their presence, saying, though the incessant attacks and killings are gradually disappearing, there are isolated attacks going on by the hoodlums.

    They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving  the setting up of military formations in the area.

    Chief Bonet said, “I equally want to say that the criminals carrying out these attacks are not our Fulani. We have been living with our Fulani peacefully, we know them. But I told the governor these Fulani that came to terrorise, if they are from Mali, how did they find their way into our towns and villages and who armed them?“

    Why was the foundation stone destroyed four days after it was laid?

    Alhaji Tajudeen Tijjani, a veteran journalist and public affairs analyst seems to believe that Southern Kaduna people are to blame for the destruction of the foundation stone.

    He said, “If you remember vividly, members of 29 Southern Kaduna communities recently came together to work for peace. The group which cuts across religion and ethnicity was trained by an NGO. They moved from one community to the other, asking people to forgive one another. At a point, the group under the auspices of that NGO called Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) invited the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam El-Rufai to launch their apology billboard. At that occasion, the Chairman of Plateau State Council of Chiefs, the Gbong Gwong Jos, Dr. Buba Gyang was in attendance and spoke passionately on the way out of the Southern Kaduna crisis. But, if you go to Samaru Kataf today, the apology billboard has been destroyed.

    “So, when I heard that the foundation stone recently laid by the Chief of Army Staff and Governor El-Rufai has also been destroyed, I was not very surprised because those who made the loudest noise in criticising the government of the day and asked for the military formation did not even acknowledge the gesture in the first place when the foundation was laid.

    “But, the question is, what do the people of Southern Kaduna really want? They asked for peace, an NGO started building peace, some bad elements destroyed their apology billboard. They asked for a military formation, the government decided to give them two and a police squadron, now they have destroyed the military formation’s foundation. It is unfortunate”, he said.

    Governor El-Rufai also responded to the destruction of the foundation stone, saying in a statement, “I received the news with shock over the unfortunate destruction of foundation laying structure of the proposed Nigerian Army battalion in Southern Kaduna. The very structure we erected to establish the long-awaited Army Barracks to assist promotion of peace and end the decades of senseless bloodletting in the southern part of Kaduna State.

    “The situation is unfortunate, condemnable and a setback to the government’s communal stabilization and  peace building efforts, but we will not be deterred. We urge our people that cherish peaceful coexistence to  continue to be resilient, focused and resolute in overcoming antics of forces of darkness and evil. Those that did this are determined to derail the contributions of the security agencies, having failed to spread their tentacles of hate, bigotry and penchant for divisiveness.”

    There is no proof as to who destroyed the stone, yet. Was it the people who are constantly attacked or their attackers or mischief makers?

     

  • Peace will soon return to Northwest APC, says Masari

    Peace will soon return to Northwest APC, says Masari

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari spoke with  reporters in Katsina, the state capital, on his  administration’s achievements in the education, agriculture and health sectors. The governor also spoke on his predecessor, Ibrahim Shema, who is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption. KOLADE ADEYEMI was there.

    How are you tacking the challenges of governance Katsina State?

    I think education is one of the cornerstones of our agenda. You know, lack of education is partly responsible for what has happened between the herdsmen and the vigilante who are protecting the community. You see, it there are sufficient and qualitative education, even if it is up to secondary school level, we wouldn’t have the escalation that we experienced. I remember there was a day former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in Katsina, and there was an incident of herdsmen and community clash in Faskari, which claimed the lives of over 200 people. So, I think if we address the issue of education seriously, we would have done a lot. Apart from education, there must be access to health facilities. There should also be access to potable water. Another critical issue is agriculture—you know, the beauty of agriculture is that whatever the farmer sells goes to his pocket, whatever the livestock holder has goes to his pocket. So, if you want to empower the rural community, empower them on agriculture. That is the major difference between money from agriculture and money from oil; because if say okay produce oil and sell it to ourselves, you find out that it is not possible and the oil money doesn’t go to that ordinary person, it goes to the multi-national oil companies and we end up with royalties. Since the ordinary man does not involve in exploration and production of oil, we only rely on the figure given to us and the common man actually will not benefit anything from it directly, but in agriculture, the common man is always involved. So, if you empower the ordinary person, your source of revenue base will expand and business and commercial activities will grow. There will be massive production and dead factories will come back to life; and the demand for energy will increase—the demand for energy will also attract investors who will be interested in the sector. So, it is just like a circle. So, if you want to address the problem of Nigeria, you have to start with education. So, the consequent of insurgency is lack of education. In the Northeast, we have Boko Haram because there is lack of education which contributed to the failure of the institutions. Ninety nine per cent of Boko Haram insurgents were neither literate in Islamic or western education, because if they were, they will know that that type of Jihad is not normal.

    What is the solution to the leadership crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Northwest?

    I think you watched this wildlife documentary. You know, when the lion or tigers are chasing a prey, everybody will see it; when the prey is down or is being killed, then, in terms of eating the meat, there will be serious quarrel among them-and even those who are not participants like the Hhnes and the wild dogs who are not participants in the killing will come. So, the bigger one among them, will always carry the meat and run away. If it Leopard, it will take part of his own and climb the tree. But if that meat is not available, you will not see any of them fighting. They fight because there is something to fight for, and that is why they are fighting. And again, there are two things that you have to accept. One, the fact that there are some problems that are historical; two, I think there is a jinx in Kano which we are hoping the current leadership will break in the future, because they were together since 1999 and I don’t think Kwankwaso or Ganduje can build any political alliance that will last to the time they have lasted. 1999 to 2015 is not a joke, and I seriously doubt if they can build such political alliance that can last for over 16 years with anybody. So, their political life and career are inter-twined. So, we thought with this political marriage and deep understanding between Kwankwaso and Ganduje, with it, the political jinx in Kano would have been broken.  Mallam Aminu Kano and late Abubakar Rimi were fighting. From then on, that of Sabo Barkin Zuwo didn’t last more than three months. During the NRC and the SDP, Kabiru Gaya parted ways with his people like Abba Dabo, who was his former SSG. The crack was visible. Kwankwaso came in 1999 and parted ways with Musa Gwadebe and others. So, when Shekarau came, with all what General Muhammadu Buhari did for him, they fell apart in the ANPP. Kwankwaso in PDP and he fell out with the PDP again and joined the new PDP, later the APC. So, we thought that, at least this time, having been together for a long time, the jinx would have been broken. But, we are working behind the scene to see how we can bring the two of them together so that they can stop what they are doing to themselves because the energy the government is spending, the energy Kwankwaso is spending; that energy would have been used for the development of Kano better than what is happening. In Kaduna, it was an amalgamation of various political groups that formed the APC and these are the groups that are not really united. The groups are not united and the groups are the ones that the current governor, Nasir El-Rufai, which foundation has been the CPC and those in more of the opposition and new entrants from the new PDP, and those of the ACN and those of the ANPP. I think the inter-play in the political circle in Kaduna is more between these groups. So, really, you can see there is a slight difference between that of Kano and Kaduna.

    What have you done to bring back sanity and transparency in the state?

    What is happening to the former governor today is a lesson to us all that is in office today. The same people who were clearing ways and roads for him to pass are the same people who are blocking his way to freedom. I think this is a real lesson for our leaders. It is a lesson to leadership. It is not something that one should laugh at. But certainly, we as Nigerians, we have to draw a line. There is a certain level that we cannot descend. We should listen to the voice of wisdom, especially those outside the government; because those working directly with you or under you may not the courage to tell you the truth. They will hardly look you in the face and tell you the truth. For me, I like the truth no matter how bitter it is. Truth itself doesn’t hide, but the way it is said because there is a way which my messenger can come and advice me, and there are ways he comes and talks to me, I will consider it. So, it is the ways and means of how you tell the truth that matters. I always say this that it is not truth that is the problem but how it is said. As leaders, we should try to answer that word leader, because leaders means one that is in the front and others are following—whether in character or conduct or behavior or attitude—that is a leader. The problem we have today is that there are so many rulers, not leaders. Rulers are all over the place, but leaders are difficult to find.

    What are you doing to curtail  cattle rustling in Katsina  State?

    The process started way back in 2015, when we came on board. When we came in, it was at the highest point of insecurity, especially affecting nine of our local government borders. The borders in the forest areas include Zamfara, Katsina and others. We realised that the forest extended to Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger. On this side, and we realised also that no one state alone can deal with the situation decisively, except with the cooperation of other bordering states, because if we operate against the cattle rustlers in Katsina State on this side, they will just run to Kaduna, kebbi or Niger states. So, we the five states, decided initially, that is Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger, to meet in a common approach, because all the military formations are under Kaduna State. So, we all agreed among ourselves to seat with the military, the airforce, the customs, because they have helicopters they use for air surveillance, over the roles they play to combat smuggling. And the civil defence in order to identify and fish-out and point out where the cattle rustlers are in the forests. After that meeting, we informed the president, who also directed the service chief, including the Chief of Defence Staff and the Head of Service. We sat with them and we agreed and the Kaduna operation started last year. After that, we now decided that every state should now come together and re-enforce all our security outfits. The joint ecurity outfits were now mandated to start patrolling the trouble spots. So, after reaching a certain level, we now realised that we cannot permanently station the army and the police in the forests. The only thing was for us to negotiate. Luckily enough for us, the person that emerged as the chairman of the task force was the leader of Miyeti-Allah in Kaduna state (a Fulani man), an enlightened and educated person who speaks the language and knows the culture. He facilitated the meetings between us and the cattle rustlers. From the initial meetings, we learnt a lot. We learnt that over 95% of those in the forests are the criminals.

  • Niger Delta: Boroh, ex-militant leader restate need for peace

    Niger Delta: Boroh, ex-militant leader restate need for peace

    The Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), has said only sustained peace will bring expected development in the Niger Delta region.

    Boroh spoke at the weekend when he visited a former militant leader and Chairman of Bayelsa State Waterways Security Task Force (BSWSTF), Africanus Ukparasia, (aka ‘General’ Africa), in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    He said: “The only way development can come to the Niger Delta region is for the enabling environment to be created first.”

    The presidential aide noted that Africa and other ex-militant leaders, by virtue of their positions, were given key roles to play to sustain the peace in the region.

    He thanked Africa for securing the waterways and oil facilities in Bayelsa with his task force.

    Boroh said the Federal Government had acknowledged the efforts of his outfit.

    The PAP coordinator urged ex-agitators to continue their cooperating with the Amnesty Office, saying he was working hard to ensure the progress of the programme.

    Africa begged the Federal Government to prioritise the development of the Niger Delta region and the welfare of the people to stop any crisis in the region.

    He advised Boroh to ensure timely payment of stipends to ex-militants to reduce tension and crises in the region.

    The ex-militant leader urged the government to address the issues in the Niger Delta early in 2017 to hasten revival of the economy and reduce the hardship in the land.

    Africa, a former commander of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), is known for working against his kinsman and former President Goodluck Jonathan to support President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

    He was one of the few voices that rose against the nefarious activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), while he opposed the bombing of oil and gas pipelines.

  • Peace in Ivory Towers: All eyes on Babalakin Committee

    Peace in Ivory Towers: All eyes on Babalakin Committee

    Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, will today host a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Maiduguri, Dr. Wale Babalakin, and members of his committee who have been given the task of settling the dispute between the Federal Government, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in the university system, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

    Babalakin, a renowned lawyer, businessman and philanthropist, will be busier from today. Indeed, he has a Herculean task before him having been chosen by the Federal Government as the head of such an important committee in the search for peace in our universities. The committee is to mediate between the government and the Academic Staff Unions over a long-standing but yet-to-be-implemented agreement.

    The committee will be inaugurated in Abuja today. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the 16-member team of serving pro-chancellors of various universities to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with all the Unions in Federal Universities, Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education to ensure sustainable peace and industrial harmony in tertiary institutions in the country.

    Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement issued by the Ministry, said the re-negotiation team would dialogue with ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Associated & Allied Institutions (NASU).

    Babalakin came ready-made for this task. In his days as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University of Maiduguri, he gave his all. The fact that the ivory tower is located in the hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency did not deter him. He successfully revolutionised the roles of Pro-Chancellors in the University system by his exceptional contributions to the development of the University of Maiduguri, which he served for four years. His performance changed the tradition of Pro-Chancellors’ appointments being seen as meant for political patronage or to massage the ego of prominent citizens who support the government of the day. He showed that it was meant for someone with a clear vision and a passionate and genuine commitment to the development of education in the country.

    Babalakin shunned all perks of office for the four years, including his personal travelling expenses, but instead chose to invest his personal resources into achieving the desired goals. He coordinated the construction of a multi-million naira Independent Power Project, which guarantees 20 hours uninterrupted electricity supply to the institution. The project is the first in the Nigerian university system. It was inaugurated in December 2011. He also made huge personal donations to the university for the execution of various projects, including the upgrade of its library in 2010 and the purchase of stethoscopes for indigent students of the University’s College of Medicine.

    On the day he was stepping down from his position, the Governing Council and Management of the institution said of him: “We are astonished that in only four years of serving as Chairman of Council you led the Council and Management of the University to initiate and complete over 50 major projects’’. Some of these projects include: a new Faculty of Pharmacy, a new Faculty of Clinical Sciences, a new Faculty of Dentistry, two 500-seater auditoriums, a 1000-seater auditorium, the development of an e-library, a new Campus Radio station, the provision of 20 hours of uninterrupted electricity in the University, the dualisation of the University entry gate road, the provision of solar-powered streetlights and a new Department of Fine Arts.

    “Dr Babalakin, you built more structures in the University during your four-year tenure than was achieved since the establishment of the University.You led from the front by denying yourself all the allowances due to you. You did not collect a single kobo from the University as you repeatedly stated that Nigerians need to sacrifice to reposition the education sector. As you move on in your career, we wish you outstanding success and are confident that your performance will continue to be monumental.”

    Not to be outdone, a letter from the Internal Members of UNIMAID’s Governing Council also spoke volumes of the love for Babalakin’s personality and admiration of his genuine love for education. It reads: “We the Internal Members of the Governing Council are overwhelmed, as we have observed since inauguration, our laudable achievements under your leadership. We also note in particular your commitment and generosity to the University in all facets.This is in addition to your resolve not to take a single kobo from the University in the name of allowance and, above all, not to be reimbursed of any expenses you incurred while attending University functions. The University community, the citizens of Borno State and indeed the nation in general hold you in high esteem as a man of high integrity and vision. What you have done for the University of Maiduguri as Chairman of Council, so far, can only be compared to what Chief Afe Babalola and Deacon Gamaliel Onosode did for the University of Lagos.”

    Also, Babalakin is also known to be supporting young adults through scholarships in various schools. Over 200 undergraduate and graduate students in various universities are benefitting from his large heart while over 40 students are studying in Universities in Europe and the United States on his bills.

    But then, his love for education should not come as a surprise. He had the best of it, such that at 26, when some are yet to find their purpose in life, he had bagged a doctorate degree in Law from the prestigious University of Cambridge.

    ASUU President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi has passed a vote of confidence on the Babalakin Committee. He indicated ASUU’s readiness to participate in the renegotiation process and commended the Federal Government for convening the renegotiation team, which he noted was “made up of men and women of integrity and proven track record.”

    The Non-Academic Staff Unions of Nigerian Universities have also expressed their confidence in Dr. Babalakin’s leadership.

    The commendation was conveyed in a letter dated January 12 written by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) which said: “We write to commend and congratulate you on your appointment as the Chairman of the Federal Team for Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreements signed between the Federal Government and labour unions in tertiary institutions.

    “Sir, the JAC Unions of NAAT, NASU and SSANU at the JAC meeting held on January 12, 2017, took cognizance of your commendable experience with the University system. We have also noted the good working relationship we had with you while you served as Chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) of the 2009 FGN/University-based Unions Agreements, and agree that you are eminently qualified to head the new Government Team as appointed.”

    As Dr Babalakin and his team begin the task of mediating between the unions and the government, all eyes are on them and they cannot afford to fail if peace, progress and harmony are to return to the campuses.

     

  • ‘Restructure Nigeria to ensure peace, unity’

    ‘Restructure Nigeria to ensure peace, unity’

    The Buhari administration has been called upon to listen to the voice of wisdom by restructuring the country without delay.

    A group, Advance Action Alliance, led by Chief Owolabi Salis, former Lagos State governorship aspirant, said there would not be peace and unity in the country without proper restructuring.

     Salis noted that Nigeria had been faced with myriad of problems since independence in 1960 because the country’s political structure was defective and lopsided and our former leaders refused to remedy the situation.

     Salis, a lawyer, listed the present major problems currently facing the country include tribal, religious and other race- based crisis including Boko Haram, IPOB, Niger Delta agitations and others.

    In view of these challenges, he said there was the need to restructure Nigeria for stronger unity in the country.

    The Advance Action Alliance noted that the political system currently in Nigeria does not address all the problems, rather compound the problems facing the nation while the major victims have always been the less privileged who form over seventy percent of the entire population.

    The group announced its plan for a nationwide campaign, through workshop to foster national unity and make Nigeria a greater place for all of us to live.

    The group therefore recommended diversity-based democracy as a way of getting out of the challenge the country is currently facing.

  • Peace eludes auctioneers after Abuja AGM

    Peace eludes auctioneers after Abuja AGM

    Things are falling apart in the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA) after its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    Controversies, discordant tunes and accusations. These are the outcomes of the national election and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA) held last month at the Women Development Centre, Central Area of Abuja. The AGM, some aggrieved members said, was inconclusive.

    Since then, the association has been in disarray, prompting its registered Board of Trustees (BoT) members to make moves to save the association from imminent collapse. The BoT said it has dissolved the national leadership of the association and constituted a caretaker committee to run its affairs.

    The association’s national president, Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya, said the BoT members do not have powers to dissolve the executive. He also dismissed the claims that the AGM was inconclusive, denying the association is in crisis. He said he had won re-election for another term of four year, saying new leadership would be inaugurated in February.

    But, at a meeting held in Lagos by members of BoT and some aggrieved members of the association, public and private organisations were cautioned to be wary of their dealings with members of the ‘dissolved’ executive, saying the Kiliya-led executive of the NAA had ceased to exist since December 15.

    The BoT members said the dissolution of the NAA executive followed a crisis which rocked the association over the ‘inconclusive’ AGM. The trustees also said they had disbanded the electoral committee inaugurated by NAA national executive, describing the committee as fraudulent. They said the election would not stand.

    The BoT members said the machinery of the association had been hijacked by people they described as “buccaneers”, noting that the dissolution of the executive was a move was to restore sanity in the association.

    Chief Saibu Akan, who spoke for the five-member registered trustees, said the BoT took the move to save the association from imminent disrepute, which he said may lead to the collapse of the body founded 30 years ago.

    Relying on Section 34(3) and (4) of the association’s constitution, Akan said the trustees the exercised powers vested in the registered BoT by dissolving the Kiliya-led executive and inaugurated caretaker committee led by Alhaji Salisu Garba to run the association for a period of six months.

    The caretaker committee, which has Mr Goke Adedokun as its secretary, was installed on December 15 with the mandate to unite aggrieved members and conduct a new election into the national offices of the association.

    However, Kiliya said the national executive had gone to court to challenge the legitimacy of the caretaker committee. Garba, Kiliya said, has been served with court order barring caretaker committee to run the affairs of the association.

    Garba, however, denied being served any court order. He said Kiliya was lying.

     

    Origin of the crisis

    The crisis rocking the association, according to the BoT, started with the constitution of the organising committee for the AGM, which was initially scheduled to hold in Bauchi State. But, for security reasons, the AGM was moved to Abuja to enable members across the federation participate in it.

    After a meeting held to select members of the AGM organising committee, Akan said the registered trustees were sidelined by the Kiliya-led executive in the process of ratification and swearing in of the committee members.

    This, Akan said, contravened the association’s procedures and rules. He alleged that some unknown persons were appointed as members of BoT to ratify the organising committee members’ selection.

    Akan said: “These unknown persons were nominated as trustees to represent their geo-political zones, but their membership is yet to be approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in line with the laws and procedures. They were engaged as unregistered members to swear in the AGM organising committee. This was not proper, because it breached the provision of the association’s constitution.”

    Of the five registered trustees statutorily recognised by the CAC, The Nation gathered that two are deceased. They are the late Mr. Ojo Olufemi and the late Chief Felix Igbinosa Ehigiator. The remaining three registered BoT members are Chief Akan, Mr Suara Ajuwon and Alhaji Fatai Mogbonjubola.

    Akan said the three living members of the BoT should have inaugurated the organising committee for the AGM and the electoral committee in accordance to the association’s procedure.

    He said: “When we discovered the NAA executive breached the constitution, we drew the attention of Kiliya to the problems. We instructed him to tell members of the committees to constantly submit the reports of their activities to the registered trustees for approval. Kiliya agreed to conditions and promised to do things in proper way.

    “About two days to the AGM, the registered trustees summoned the organising committee members to submit the report of their activities, none of them showed up. We learnt they met with unrecognised trustees and took decision to go ahead with the AGM.”

    This led to discontent in the association, because state chapters’ members feared they could be favouritism in the NAA election. This led to the call for the dissolution of the committees constituted by the unregistered trustees before the annual meeting.

    Akan said: “We still reached out to the committee members on the eve of the AGM and told them they would use their agenda to destroy the association. We gave them the last chance to submit the report to know whether the AGM could hold or not. We reminded the committee members that all decisions must be taken at our instances.”

     

    ‘Inconclusive’ AGM

    Despite the effort of the registered trustees to ensure the organisation of the AGM was in line with the association’s procedure, it was learnt that the organising committee installed by Kiliya-led executive went ahead with the event.

    Some aggrieved members, it was learnt, boycotted the AGM because of the secrecy of the committee’s activities.

    At the AGM, it was gathered that the president of the association could not give members the annual report of the national executive’s stewardship. Adedokun, who attended the AGM, said there was no debate on the financial reports read by the association’s Financial Secretary, Mrs Salamotu Abdullahi. This, he said, contravened the usual practice in the association, which gives members opportunities to debate the administration of the association’s affairs in line with its constitution.

    Akan said: “It has never happened in the history of the association that the president would not give members annual report of his stewardship. It is the annual report that gives members a sense of direction about the association’s progress. Where there is a fault, members will take note and draw the attention of the executive. There will be argument and counter-argument before conclusion is reached and report is adopted. This was not done.”

    Besides, the AGM was billed to start in the morning. But the event did not commence until 3:30pm, giving rise to claims that the Kiliya-led executive had predetermined agenda to disorganise the association.

    When it was discovered that Kiliya had no annual report, some members walked out of the meeting in protest and called for dissolution of the national executive.

    Also, against the rule of association, the Kiliya-executive said it did not have the list of attendees at the AGM. This, Akan said, breached the established procedures of the association, noting that absence of attendance record showed the AGM was null and void.

     

    Allegations of financial impropriety

    While the dust raised by Kiliya’s alleged failure to give annual report was yet to settle, it was learnt that the Financial Secretary allegedly failed to give detailed report about the finances of the association. It was alleged that Mrs Abdullahi read undetailed financial report at the AGM and failed to make copies of the report available to members.

    This, it was learnt, gave rise to suspicion among members, who alleged that the Kiliya-led executive misappropriated the association’s Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR).

    It was gathered that the finances of the association had not been audited in the last four years, despite the provision for annual audit of the account of the body by its duly elected national auditor.

    Members also alleged that the registration fees paid for attendance at the AGM could not be accounted for by the national executive. It was gathered that more than N500,000 was realised from the AGM attendance fee, but about N100,000 was remitted to the association’s account by the organising committee.

    Akan confirmed this, saying: “They could not provide the AGM attendance record for members to know how much realised. It is an important duty during the AGM to have the attendees’ list for us to know how much collected from people present.

    “We asked Kiliya and other members of the executive to tell how much they realised from the AGM, they said it was N500,000. When we asked them to bring the money before we dissolve the executive, they came with N100,000 and we asked for the balance. They could not explain how they spent it.”

     

    ‘Fraudulent’ elections

    The last straw the broke the camel’s back was the process adopted by the electoral committee on the conduction of election into the national executive offices. Against the association’s electoral procedure, candidates were asked to pay between N50,000 and N100,000 each to facilitate their nominations.

    The registered trustees said the development was in anathema to the principles of the association, which make all offices open to members free of charge.

    It was gathered that some candidates who could not pay up to N100,000 had their names screened out by members of the electoral committee. Besides, the money realised from the sale of nomination form for the election was not remitted into the association’s account.

    This led to discontent among members who challenged the committee’s decision by sending petitions to the registered trustees for urgent actions. The BoT responded by dissolving the electoral committee and the national executive which inaugurated it.

    To the surprise of the BoT, Akan said members of the electoral committee went ahead with the election despite allegation of favouritism and irregularities in the process.

    He said: “When we received the petitions from aggrieved members, we knew the association was heading to precipice. We summoned the national president and aggrieved members for resolution of the crisis that arise from the AGM and election. To our surprise, Kiliya said he would not attend the meeting. Then next thing we heard was a rumour that the BoT has been charged to court. We have not seen any court summon.”

     

    Kiliya: ‘crisis caused by NAA’s enemies’

    Kiliya denied wrongdoings in the organisation of the AGM and constitution of the electoral committee. He described members of the BoT as enemies of the association, alleging that the trustees employed divide-and- rule tactics to perpetuate themselves in the BoT position for life.

    Kiliya spoke through the association’s External Counsel, Ibrahim Jibril Gusau. He said the AGM was successfully held in line with the association’s constitution.

    Gusau said: “It is not true that the last AGM was inconclusive. We have the video evidence to support this. The people claiming the event was inconclusive made the vote of thanks after the meeting. How possible is it for a vote of thanks to be said at an event some people claim is inconclusive? These people are enemies of the association.”

    On the allegation of appointment of unregistered persons as BoT members, Gusau said: “We want the public to know that the association is a national body and every zone in the country must be given fair representation in the leadership of the association. In line with the constitution, members said the BoT membership should not come from one zone. The present BoT members are all from the Southwest, which does not reflect the true spirit of our constitution.

    “At the 2014 AGM held in Minna in Niger State, members met to agree on the expansion of BoT membership to minimum of nine or maximum of 10 from five. The resolution was ratified by all members present and it was enshrined in the constitution that each zone must produce BoT member.

    “Since this was done in 2014, the three registered trustees have not gone to the CAC to regularise the BoT membership expansion. They have been using divide-and-rule tactics to perpetuate themselves in the position for life. This is not done anywhere.”

    Gusau also denied the allegation of financial appropriation against the Kiliya-led executive, wondering why the BoT members did not raise the issue during the AGM. He said there was never a time any member called for the auditing of the association’s account, noting that Kiliya is ready anytime for auditing of the executive activities.

    The lawyer said the crisis came to the fore because the BoT members did not want membership extended to people from other region. He said all allegations against any member of the executive were unfounded. He advised the aggrieved members to follow the conflict resolution process spelt out in the association’s constitution, urging them to channel their complaints to the body’s disciplinary committee.

     

    The way forward

    While the warring parties disagree on how the association should be run, both are on the same page on how the crisis can be resolved.

    Akan said: “BoT is the custodian of the association’s values. We are open for peaceful settlement of the crisis, because in-fighting cannot bring anything good to the association. We are not taking the action to witch-hunt or drive away anyone; we took the decision to save the association from collapse. The Kiliya-led executive erred, so we need to make correction and unite members.”

    Gusau said: “We want the aggrieved members to come for dialogue. Only dialogue can keep peace and unite members. Our position will not change. We want the membership of the BoT expanded to other zones in order to give the association a national outlook.”

     

  • Peace, security facilitate development, says NDDC

    Peace, security facilitate development, says NDDC

    Hanaging Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Nsima Ekere said yesterday in Port Harcourt that development could only occur in an atmosphere of peace and security.

    He said allegation by a militant group, Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC) that N80 billion, which was supposed to be used in developing Niger Delta, was used to prosecute election of a former Southsouth governor, was false.

    Ekere also disproved allegation that N40 billion was withdrawn from NDDC to prosecute the December 10 rerun in Rivers State.

    Ekere, who spoke through NDDC’s Head of Corporate Affairs Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, said the management and board had just assumed duties and had neither awarded projects nor undertaken transactions.

    He said: “It is important for stories, where such claims are made, to pass the litmus test of verity and fact. Otherwise, we will be subjected to mischief and manipulation of propagandists and peddlers of rumours and lies.

    “While the commission recognises the right of individuals and groups to advance regional development, we wish to, once more, restate that development occurs best in an atmosphere of peace and security.

    “We urge NDRC and other groups to eschew violence. They should pursue peace to ensure Niger Delta’s development.”

    The managing director said NDDC management and board would ensure the region’s development.

  • How peace can return to PDP, by Ojougboh

    How peace can return to PDP, by Ojougboh

    Factional National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Cairo Ojougboh spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on the protracted crisis in the opposition party and how to halt the logjam.

    What is the state of affairs in the PDP at the moment? Our party is very, very strong. The National Working Committee (NWC) set a committee on mobilisation and strategy and they went round the country and when they submitted that report, they said the party is very strong at the grassroots; that the party is well represented in every ward in the 774 local governments in the country and that the people are desirous of the PDP putting its house in order, so that they can strategise and get ready for election as quickly as possible. That is the state of the party.

    With the protracted crisis that has bedeviled the PDP for some time, do you think the party still has a future?

    Well, we are optimistic that the Court of Appeal will give its judgment very soon. The court adjourned for judgment and you know that they have a period of 90 days within which to come up with their judgment. As I have always said, there will be no legal solution to the problem of the PDP; but the legal solution is a prelude to a political solution. So, as soon as the Court of Appeal gives its judgment, a general meeting will be called where everybody will know his right and then, we will all sit down in a room and we will take it from there. I am very optimistic that the National Convention of the party will hold within the first quarter of 2017. That is the way I look at it, because people have talked about mega party. Of course, the PDP is a brand and a lot of leaders have rejected the issue of a mega party; they have talked about change of name. Of course, the founding fathers have said that the reason they are keeping quiet is for the people of impunity to leave the party and they will return. They’ve said look, that the slogan of the party is Power to the People. In fact, it was Bamanga Tukur who said it when we visited him some few days ago and luckily, he too is in touch with most leaders of the party and I am of the opinion that they will not accede to change of name and that is the general conclusion.

    When you talk about the NWC, how did the members come into place, because we are not aware that they held a convention?

    The NWC is still in place, because their tenure will expire sometime in 2017, according to the court judgment of Mohammed J. of Abuja, and then also the interlocutory order of Buba in Lagos. And then it was only the Liman judgment that brought all these crises in the PDP. But, basically, the NWC in the last six months we sat down, set up committees to look properly at the way of repositioning the party and to review the constitution of the party and then we came up with three major additions to what we agreed in May. Number one: that after governors has done their second terms and presidents too and party chairmen, in the subsequent election and primaries, no governor or president or party chairman would be allowed to adopt any candidate. Any candidate who is adopted by a president, by a governor would be disqualified from the party. This is to ensure that all party members have a say in producing the party leaders in the following election.

    We have also taken a critical look at the composition of the National Convention. What we feel is that both present and past members of the National Assembly should be members of the National Convention. This is because for a person to rise to the level of National Convention especially the House of Reps and the Senate, you know as it is constituted; you cannot be doing a National Convention and you exclude the person, a super delegate. If such persons know that they are so recognised, they will all assiduously work for the party. And these are leaders that at all times muster votes for their people. We’ve also proposed that at least, one member each from each state, one senator and one member of House of Reps should join the National Exco. Usually, it was one member of House of Reps and one member of Senate from the zones. But, this time, we’ve increased it, so that a member each from the Senate and the House of Reps would be members of the NEC, because we want to make the NEC large enough to carry the opinions of the people, so that decisions of NEC will reflect the thinking of the people. These are the three major things we believe should be included in the next NEC we are convening and once that is approved, we will take it to the National Convention and once rectified, we will also work on it.

    Then the final one we are also amending is that if you are a member of the NWC, a member of the State Exco, or a member of the party executive anywhere and you want to return to office after your first tenure, you should not necessarily resign from office, because if the entire country vote for you to be the chairman of the party and then because you’re a chairman of the party, you have to lose your position to re-contest; it is unfair, unconstitutional. In fact, it runs against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, because even the governor and the president produced by the party, they don’t abdicate their office for them to re-contest. And then members of the National Assembly, they don’t abdicate their offices for them to also re-contest. So, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

    What’s your view about the impression that Sheriff is a mole in PDP and that he is just there to ensure that the APC comes back in 2019?

    I’ve answered this question over 50 times in the course of the last one month. The answer is very simple – Sheriff was sitting in his house when Governor Fayose and Governor Wike went to invite him to become the Chairman of the party. Governor Fayose and Governor Wike gave him three months to be in office. At the end of three months, they went to Sheriff, they said, Chairman, you have repositioned the party; look at the number of agbada in the PDP Wadata Plaza; you are the only person who can lead this party to the promise land, we therefore want you to continue. Governors Wike and Fayose, they set up a convention committee and they made Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom the Chairman of the zoning committee. The zoning committee, in their wisdom, went to Sheriff and said: Sir, we are going to zone the chairmanship of the party to you. So, we are zoning it to the Northeast and to Borno especially. The Northeast met, they said look, Sheriff we have endorsed you to continue as chairman of the party at the zonal congresses.

    My very good friend, so you mean the whole of the Northeast, you mean the whole of the governors, you mean the whole of the PDP people, all of them are working for the APC? That is the question. There were six governors in the zoning committee. The six governors endorsed Sheriff and endorsed the zoning project. So, you mean it is the APC? So, my very good friend, my answer has always been that it is not President Buhari and the APC that sourced and zoned the PDP chairmanship to Sheriff and that the coming of Sheriff is a blessing to multiparty democracy in not just the PDP, but in Nigeria because today we now know that people can ask questions and we are very happy with the teeming grassroots.

    How do you feel that most state executives do not pledge allegiance to Ahmed Markafi and not to your executive?

    Have you ever heard any state governor come to say he is not with Ali Modu Sheriff?

    Yes. A number of them have said so…

    Nobody!

    Which governor can you now point at that is with you?

    I will not because, you see, because of the political nature of this argument, I don’t want to call anybody, but go and meet any governor, ask him to go and condemn Sheriff. Sheriff’s daughter wedded a few days ago; did you see what happened in Borno? And let me tell you, all political majors in the whole of the Northeast and the country, they were there. There was a dinner organised for the reception last Sunday in Abuja. Almost all the governors were there and let me tell you what is going on in the PDP – if Sheriff and the NWC do not have the backing of majority of the stakeholders, we would have said look, we are not wanted; we will go. But, every member, every stakeholder in the PDP is waiting for Sheriff to win in the Court of Appeal.

    They know that what Markafi has done is illegal. In fact, any right thinking Nigerian knows that that Caretaker Committee is illegal and that politics has changed. If you begin to parade names and carry them, we don’t bother you. What we parade is the masses that we have returned the power to. Before now, no member in this country can stand up and speak, but today we have given freedom to everybody. So, you can see all of them, from state to state, all of them are talking now and then, they are now associating with the PDP.

    The fortunes of PDP have dwindled, especially with the recent loss of Ondo State. Do you think it will bounce back?

    Of course, some lessons were learnt in Ondo and Edo states, especially in Ondo. In Ondo, it was clear that the masses, the people sent a message to the PDP that never again will any governor adopt a candidate and not allow for a free contest. Number two lesson, never again will somebody come from another party and then you give him the entire structure of the PDP; it should not happen again, because as soon as Mimiko returned to the party, every member of the PDP left and they left with Oke. Oke secured 125,000 votes in the last election, the PDP secured 155,000 votes and the APC scored 250,000. The votes given to Oke are all PDP votes. If Oke didn’t leave and Mimiko was able to manage his coming back into the PDP as a sportsman, we won’t be where we are today. So, that is the lesson learnt there. And, again, things have to get worse for it to get better.

    Does Sheriff have presidential ambition?

    I am not in his mind; he has never discussed that with me. But, it is his right to have a presidential ambition if he so wish. But, that is why we are also putting in the constitutional amendment that no chairman of the party can adopt anybody. So, if has, he’s already checkmated. So, he cannot adopt himself and the NWC will not adopt him; no party organs will adopt him. That is the essence of these amendments in the constitution. So, that is not a problem at all.

    Does the PDP has the potential to upstage the APC in 2019?

    The APC, as I have always said, is not a party yet. There is only one party in Nigeria and that is the PDP. This is because if you were to put the APC in a basket, you can very easily in the basket pick out the CPC, the ACN, the ANPP and the APGA faction. You can also pick out the PDP elements in the APC basket. But, the PDP still remains one; that is what you have to see.

  • Peace‘ll return to PDP after court verdict, says Ojougboh

    Peace‘ll return to PDP after court verdict, says Ojougboh

    The factional Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has reflected on the leadership crisis in the opposition party, saying that peace will return to the fold after the judicial intervention.

    He said the leadership of Senator Modu Sheriff was not in dispute, stressing that Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who heads the National Caretaker Committee, was an impostor.

    Ojougboh told reporters in Lagos that the protracted crisis was a blessing in disguise, assuring that the party will come out of it stronger.

    He lamented the role of the governors who persuaded Sheriff to serve as chairman, only to attempt to pull the rug off his feet at the disputed Port-Harcourt convention.

    The factional deputy chairman maintained that Sheriff has not stepped down as the chairman, urging the aggrieved chieftains to embrace the reality.

    Ojougbo acknowledged that a legal solution may not bring peace to the party, but the court verdict will definitely herald a political solution.

    He stressed: “We are optimistic that the Court of Appeal will give its judgment very soon. The Court of Appeal adjourned for judgment and they have a period of 90 days to come up with their judgmentThere will be no legal solution to the problem of the PDP, but the legal solution is a prelude to a political solution.

    “So as soon as the Court of Appeal gives its judgment, a general meeting will be called where everybody will sit down in a room and we will take it from there. I am very optimistic that the national convention of the party will hold in the first quarter of the year.

    Ojougboh also spoke on the composition of the National Working Committee, saying that its tenure will expire later in the year.

    He said Sheriff’s priority is to bequeath a party where members will take ownership of party processes and halt the culture of imposition by big wigs.

    The deputy chairman said plans were underway by the Sheriff leadership to initiate and implement other reforms that will further democratize the party at the national, regional, state, local government and ward levels.

    Ojougboh said the failed attempt to remove Sheriff illegally had rubbed off on the ruling party, adding that, if he had been removed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have also been removed.

    He said it is an insult to described Sheriff as a mole in the PDP by the chieftains who persuaded him to take up the leadership role.

    Ojougboh added: “Sheriff was sitting in his house when Governor Fayose and Governor Wike went to invite him to become the chairman of the party. Governor Fayose and Governor Wike gave him three months to stay in the office. At the end of three months, they went to Sheriff. They said, Chairman, you have repositioned the party; lok at the number of ‘Agbada’ in the PDP Wadata Plaza. You should continue in office.”

    The politician also reflected on the concern of the founding fathers, noting their willingness to return to the party, following the exit of men of impunity.

    Ojougboh, who said the party will reclaim its lost glory, following the resolution of the crisis, urged members to make sacrifices and return to the vision of the founding fathers.