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Tag: Senator Shehu Sani

  • Security challenges: Nigeria must renegotiate ECOWAS Protocol to avoid war – Shehu Sani

    Senator Shehu Sani represented Kaduna Central in the Senate during the eight legislative Assembly. A civil rights activist and public commentator, Sani has always been outspoken on national and international issues. After his brief stint in the Senate, the Senator has decided to try his hands on something different, setting up a centre that will help address the ills of the African continent. In this interview with Tony Akowe, Senator Shehu Sani speaks on his new centre, illegal migration and security situation in the country. Excerpts

    You just opened the Africa Centre of Freedom, Peace and Development after your four year stint at the National Assembly. What is the centre all about?

    The centre is a think-tank and advocacy platform that will focus on key areas of democracy, peace and development in Africa as a continent and our country Nigeria in particular. It is a centre that will be involved in research and advocacy in key areas such as democracy and political freedom. It is a centre that will provide the platform for resource persons, intellectuals, organisations and individuals who are interested in promoting political freedom, democracy and good governance. Secondly, this is a centre that will advocate for economic and social justice. It is a centre that will be fully involved in performing an independent oversight on institutions that are directly related to economic progress of both the country and the continent.

    The third issue for the centre is the issue of peace and security. Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa have been facing series of security challenges from sectarian strife to terrorism to religious and ethnic violence. This centre will key into the aspirations of the African Union so that issues of peace and security would be of major importance to us.

    Aside these issues; how will the centre benefit other African countries?

    This centre will host national developmental policies and programs. One problem we face as a continent has always been that nations have been shunning policies and programs to reconstruct their nations and also reach to their point of progress which they aspire to, but the inhibiting factor has always been lack of coordination and synergy within the continent itself. Now with the signing of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), there is need for advocacy by organisations and individuals and this centre will play a key role to see that it is not only an intergovernmental affair, but also an idea that would be rooted in the heart and minds of Africans. Environmental issues are also issues we are going to tackle in this centre. We cannot divorce some of the conflicts we face as a nation from the very fact that environment play a key role. The farmer/herdsmen clashes and the migrations that we have been saying in the last few years cannot be divorced from environmental issues. We will also be interested in protecting the fundamental rights of citizens and ensuring that government within the continent adhere strictly to the protocols and conventions of the African Union and ECOWAS as it relates to universal freedoms and rights. This centre will also be working towards stemming the tide of irregular migration.  This centre already has about 55 academics from universities across the country who have voluntarily offered themselves to be part of this new initiative. It is going to be a think tank and an advocacy centre.

    Considering your political interest on the issue, how do you think the centre will be acceptable to Nigerians?

    There is no individual that is denied the right to set up an organisation based on what our constitution says. Even though it is a political organisation, my political affiliation and interest does not in any way affect the centre. I believe there would have been conflict if I am still holding political office. But the fact remains that I am not holding any political office at the moment.

    Will the centre also operate as a pressure group?

    As for the centre, ours is to provide the necessary material resources and ideas for others to act and that will include government. So, as far as we are concerned, we are not a pressure group. Our relationship with government is to assist where our services are needed. We would provide solutions to security challenges confronting Nigeria; whether it is banditry, insurgency or herdsmen violence. I think these are the major challenges affecting us. We will also provide the same solutions to other African countries. We have sent out the necessary correspondences to governments across the continent.

    One can say without doubt that you are back to your days of activism. But the problem we have in this country is not policy formulation, but policy implementation. How would the centre make sure that those who are supposed to implement these policies do so?

    As a country, we have problem with implementation of our policies and programs and I think that is why our crises and problems have prolonged. But that should not stop us from advocating for what should be done and why it should be done rightly.

    What will your centre do about reintegrating victims of human trafficking into the society?

    As a senator, I have raised issues on human trafficking and migration on a number of occasions. It is unfortunate that African leaders have not taken the issue of migration seriously. Hundreds of Africans risk their lives crossing the Sahara, getting into terrorist enclave in Libya and most times, dying in their attempt to cross to Italy. But you don’t see that issue occupy the front burner of discourse whenever African Heads of States gather. That is because the pressure on the African leaders to act is coming more from the European side than from African groups, individuals and institutions. Many of our national anti- human trafficking agencies are grossly under-funded and so, they depend on donations from Europe for them to act. They don’t have vehicles, they don’t have navigation equipment. They don’t have even the resources to advocate, to reach out to universities and young people for them to stop crossing the Sahara. That should not be the case. This centre will work assiduously to make sure that we stem the tide of young people crossing the Sahara, to Libya and to Europe. We would do that by reaching out to those that are directly involved.

    Nigeria is currently overburdened with the issue of debt both foreign and local. As someone who headed the Senate Committee on foreign and local debt, what do you think your organisation can do to rescue Nigeria from huge debt?

    Nigeria’s current debt stands at almost $24trillion and by 2015 it was about $15trillion. The issue is that there is lack of awareness on the part of the citizens as to what that is all about. Governors simply request for approval from the State Assemblies and the State Assemblies approve it without any public hearing. Civil society groups appear to be more interested in what happens at the National Assembly and not State Houses of Assembly. Because of lack of advocacy on the issue of debt, governments simply get away with it. By 2006, we were out of the debt trap and now we have risen to $24trillion. The position is that, when the awareness on debt is high, there would be less and less desire for government to borrow.  They are exploiting the ignorance of people on debt and we are simply pilling up debt. Many states are unable to pay their workers’ salaries and execute their capital projects because of the previous burden of debt that has been left behind. This centre will provide citizens with the necessary information they need to know because you will never get any serious information from those in government.

    On irregular migrations to Europe, considering the comment of a former Ministers that Doctors for example are free to leave the country, in what way will this centre focus on to make sure that these people have conducive environment to stay back?

    There is a difference between what the minister said and what we are trying to do. The current approach of the government and the nation to irregular migration is simply allowing people to move to Libya. If they cross to Europe then they are lucky, if they are deported back by Libyan Government to Lagos or Abuja they would be received, camped for two or three days and then allowed to move round and then they would go back to where they were deported from. Now we cannot solve the problem of migration like that. There is a danger to irregular migration. The first has to do with the fact that the victims are being either attracted by fool factor that there is paradise in Europe. They are also being sent out by what I call the push factors. They claim there are economic factors that made them to leave their homes. This centre will focus on targeting young people who have been used and misinformed of greener pasture that exists on the other side because these victims either fall as terrorists’ foot soldiers in Libya, or they just fall into prostitution ring in Europe or they become drug traffickers. So these are the kind of things that happen.

    On security you talked about the need for relationship with neighbouring countries for effective handling of security issues. We do know that Nigeria as it stands today, has such exciting relationship with our neighbours but our security situation is still nothing to write home about. What is your take on the existing relationship among countries, especially in the sub region?

    I think in view of the crises we are facing as a country today, the violence and the killings; we must renegotiate the ECOWAS Protocol on issue of migration specifically as it affects our own security challenges as a country. We must enforce laws that will protect our country. When herdsmen move from other nations with arms to our nation and we fold our arms in the name of protocol, they will end up destabilising our country. Our concern is why are there no herdsmen violence in Ghana, in Guinea, in Burkina Faso, in Niger Republic? Why are there none in Togo and Guinea Bissau? Why only in Nigeria? These are questions that we need to ask. If you are coming into our country with weapons; we cannot allow you to come in the name of protocols. That should not be acceptable because allowing these herdsmen to come into our country and unleash mayhem and kill people has a capacity of igniting a civil war in Nigeria. We can’t allow such to happen in the name of protocols. We have to have a country first before we belong to a union. That is my view on that.

  • How APC can avert repeat of 2015 NASS leadership crisis – Shehu Sani

    Senator representing Kaduna Central zone in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, bared his mind on how the ruling APC can avert repeat of the 2015 leadership crisis in the NASS. In this interview with Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Sani also tells Buhari what to do in his second term. As he speaks on security challenges in Kaduna and his battle against his opponent in the election petitions tribunal. Excerpt

    THE 2019 General Elections have come and gone. As a player in the election, what is your assessment of the whole process?

    Well, let me say we have passed the first phase. We are now in the second phase, which is the litigation aspect of it, where the candidates have gone to the court to challenge the outcome of the polls. We cannot say this election was perfect; actually there is no perfect election anywhere in the world. But the expectation on this election was very high, in view of the standard that was set in 2015. Many things have come into electoral lexicon of Nigeria today, which have to do with inconclusive elections and some issues that have to do with lack of clear definition of which election could be termed inconclusive. There is also the violent aspect of the election; the killings that have happened during these elections are something that we have to all condemn.

    I think if we are to score these elections, we can say that achievements have been recorded, but there are areas that actually need to be put straight; the issue of money politics was a case of incumbents clearly buying votes. And also the role played by the Police and the Army in most parts of the country is condemnable. There is also the very fact that the foundation of these crises also has to do with the inability of the politicians to play the game fairly and squarely. These are all fundamental issues that have seriously undermined the integrity of this election. But, I believe we cannot throw the baby away with the bath water. We now have a judiciary that has started doing a wonderful job in some certain places and the outcome of the cases that are before the courts will further either give credit to the elections or seriously prove how worthless the process is.

    Compared to the 2015 elections, which one would you say is better?

    Well, there are elements of 2015 elections, many things were introduced now, that were not introduced in 2015. First of all, we must commend the fact that Jonathan made it very clear that, no blood of any Nigerian is worthy of his own ambition, and he went further to demonstrate it by conceding defeat. But, as of now, we have seen desperation on the side of the governors in their attempt to hold on to power. We have seen how public resources were used to buy votes. We have seen how the security agencies became the armed wing of the state government. We have also seen how electoral officials themselves were intimidated and manipulated.

    There is no political party that can say the election has been free and fair. The APC in Akwa Ibom are complaining that they have been rigged out, that the Army and Police sided with the ruling party in the state. The APC in Rivers are raising the same issue. And in other states like Kano, the PDP are saying that they have been short-changed and that violence was used. So, if you look at it, in the area of vote buying, in the area of violence and manipulation of and use of security agencies, the election has not proven to be better than that of 2015.

    But, in the general sense like I have said, whether what was done was right or wrong, will also be dependent on what the judiciary will be able to do in the coming election. It is natural for those who won to say the election was free and fair, while those who lost will say it is not fair. But, we have seen that the political elite have carefully embraced and included thugs and thugery as part of the political institution. And if we continue to use violence to achieve our political objective, we will continue to do serious damage to the integrity of our democracy itself. A society like ours that is desirous of good leadership cannot get it right when leaders have to buy their ways into power or use violence to assume the position of leadership.

    As a legislator, what would you be recommending to better this democratic process?

    You see, what we are facing today is a direct result of the failure of the successive administrations in Nigeria to implement the much needed reforms that could have addressed some of these issues and advanced us forward. The Nnamani report was dumped, the Awesu report was also dumped. You see a systematic pattern of disregard and also refusal by different governments to implement electoral reforms. Why most governments refuse to implement electoral reforms is because they benefit from the failure and weaknesses of the electoral system as it exists today. They don’t want to reform the election because if they do it, it is going to undermine their power base and make it difficult to retain power.

    For now, the task before the next Assembly is to implement the much needed electoral reforms, to establish electoral offences commission, and to remove the burden of registering political parties from INEC and leaving it with only the responsibility of conducting elections and not arresting electoral offenders. When we unbundle INEC, it would be able to concentrate more on the responsibility of conducting elections.

    So, as far as I am concerned, electoral reform is very important for us to have better elections in the future.

    Can’t electronic voting address all these challenges?

    You see, we learn as we move forward; electronic voting, the use of card reader, the use of PVC, punishment for those who unleash mayhem and buy votes, are all necessary tools that we need to take, in order to millions of voters? So, I think we need to adopt and include the necessary technological instruments that are needed for us to have a perfect election difficult for anyone to manipulate. When people get into office by simply manipulating the electoral process, they will not represent the people; they will be representing a certain class of people to the detriment of the overall interest of the people. perfect our electoral process. We are living in a technological world. Questions need to be asked, if banks can handle over hundred million in their data base and they are not having system failure and they are able to account for every kobo, why should we live in the same century where an electoral body is still having problem dealing with few millions of voters? So, I think we need to adopt and include the necessary technological instruments that are needed for us to have a perfect election difficult for anyone to manipulate. When people get into office by simply manipulating the electoral process, they will not represent the people; they will be representing a certain class of people to the detriment of the overall interest of the people.

    Let’s come back to your own election. You are challenging the victory of the ruling party candidate, what are issues you are taking to court?

    Yes, we have made it very clear that the National Assembly election in Kaduna was marred with fraud and corruption. We have cases of places where election did not take place; they simply thumb-printed, with the assistance of the security agencies in Birnin Gwari and Giwa. We have cases where even the INEC officials were denied, they were simply removed and replaced by certain persons. We have cases of where we had over voting. We have cases where people were disenfranchised from voting. We have cases of vote allocation. So, to us, this election was a complete fraud. We have evidence and documents. We are going to court to demand for justice.

    Considering your popularity and the way the election went, would you say leaving the ruling party is part of the problem?

    No. My position is that, every vote I have gotten, people voted me for my credibility, my principles, and my ideals. They voted me for what I stand for. But, every vote the APC candidate got was given to Buhari. What this implies is that, people who voted for the APC candidate voted for Buhari, but those who voted for me, voted for the candidate. So, I am proud of every vote that I have gotten, because it is genuine and it is from the heart. So, there is a sense of satisfaction. Where we have problem is if you don’t count my votes, if you suppress my votes and count the votes of people you prefer, that is very wrong.

    Any regret leaving the APC?

    There is no regret, because the party has treated us badly. We gave our lives, our blood, our sweat to build the party. I reached out to every nook and corner with people who we worked together. Even in 2015, they didn’t like us but it was impossible for them to stop us because they were not in position of power. But now, the governor of the state now has the state resources, he has contacts more than he had in 2015.

    What is responsible for banditry around Birnin Gwari, ethno-religious crisis in Kajuru, as well as farmers/herders clashes in other places? And what is the way out?

    In Birnin Gwari, bandits have driven away villages and people can no longer go to their farms. Women, children and the elderly have been kidnapped and the place has become so lawless. In Kajuru, Muslims and Christians are at war with each other. In Southern Kaduna, herdsmen wiped out villages and kidnapped people. The fundamental problem is that the government has not provided adequate equipment and security personnel to really tackle these problems. Secondly, the governor of the state has openly sided with one party of the conflict against the other. He is being perceived to be in support of people from his own ethnic and religious background. If you are a leader presiding over a state that is multi-cultural and multi-religious, for you to be able to strike a balance and bring about peace, you must treat everyone with justice, with equity and fairness. Peace is impossible in a state with a divisive leader, a leader that has shown he is on one side of the crisis. Even if you want to help your own people, you must show the other side that you can also be fair to them.

    What can be done to remedy the situation?

    The remedy is, for areas where you have ethno-religious crisis, you need justice, fairness and equity to everyone above everything, and for areas where you have banditry, you need to fund our security agencies, support the local vigilante groups, provide materials for them to be able to fight.

  • The shape of the coming Senate

    Even before the 8th Senate calls it a day, many have begun to imagine the shape of its successor. Isn’t this too early?

    Not really. The parties have named their presidential candidates. The focus has naturally shifted to the other aspirants. Among those struggling for senatorial seats are governors and presidential wannabes. So many are the governors heading for the Senate that the Upper Chamber has been branded a rehabilitation centre.

    Those who hold this opinion have been asking: Is the Senate part of the governors’ huge retirement package? Are there no other worthy hands for the job? Must governors remain in government ad infinitum? Are these genuine patriots or politicians whose ambitions are driven by sheer avarice? Are they scared that the verdict of history will be harsh on them, hence the need to seek a reprieve in the Senate? Senator Shehu Sani gave the game away when he revealed that a senator carts home monthly N13.2million in allowances. The salary of a senator remains one of the best-kept secrets of our public life. So, is it the allure of lucre?

    What is clear is that the Senate still holds a seductive attraction for politicians. Incidentally, some prominent senators won’t be returning.  Senator Benedict Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East), the passionate apostle of the comical – sorry, a slip there – “common sense revolution” will be sorely missed. His occasional controversial interventions, such as when he advised Osun State to pay salaries even as his home state Bayelsa was owing arrears of workers’ salaries and entitlements, will be missed.

    The distinguished senator has since moved on, joining the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation.

    Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing the ticket in controversial circumstances. It would have been a miracle if Sani had grabbed the ticket, despite his perceived close relationship with President Buhari. Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Sani have not been the best of friends. The governor is seen to be proud, garrulous, tempestuous and ruthless in his vindictiveness. Some have even called him violent, citing the demolition of the property of those who disagree with him as a reflection of his recklessness. But his friends claim El-Rufai is a good man.

    As I was saying, Sani has quit the APC and declared for the PRP, which traces its roots to Malam Aminu Kano, champion of the talakawa.  If he runs, the same forces that ran him out of APC may run him out of the race. In other words, the senator’s political future is hanging in the balance.

    Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) lost his battle for the PDP ticket after he fell out with El-Rufai – the governor takes no prisoners – and left the APC. In the heat of the collision with El-Rufai, the governor, at dawn, led a team of experts to demolish his property for lack of some documentation. Hunkuyi is not likely to return to the Upper Chamber.

    Senator Dino Melaye (PDP) and Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC) will be slugging it out. What a rich choice for the good people of Kogi West! Adeyemi, former president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), was actually displaced by Melaye in the 2015 election. He was no bench warmer and his contributions were well delivered – with logic and facts. Theatrical Melaye will be parading a solid record of distractions at plenary, childish stunts, immodesty in conduct and foul language that all seem to come to him so naturally.

    Who will carry the day?

    Patrick “Igodomigodo” Obahiagbon  – I am sure you remember him, the former member of the House of Representatives- has secured the Edo South Senatorial District ticket of the APC. While in the House, he enlivened discussions with his hilarious presentation. His grandiloquence was unmatched as he indulged in verbosity and deployed unfamiliar words to make his point. But the entertainment value of his contributions reverberated across the land.

    Obahiagbon secured the ticket in a dramatic manner. He and two others knelt down like schoolboys before an angry headmaster, grovelling in the full glare of a crowd of delegates at the convention to pick the flag bearer. The photograph went viral on the Internet. Many were shocked that the former Chief of Staff to the Governor could stoop that low. Yes; he did. Did he not conquer?

    Since Obahiagbon got the ticket, many have been recalling his numerous comments on the polity. Among such comments is the one he made on the controversy surrounding the planned fuel subsidy removal by the Goodluck Jonathan Administration.

    He said: “I have read with acatalectic disgust government’s asinine and puerile ratiocinations attempting to justiceate the proposed removal of subsidies from petroleum products. It has asseverated that its intentions is guided by the need to checkmate the odoriferous excesses of a Machiavellian and Mephistophelean cabal and I have said to myself, what a shame. What a self-indicting admittal of failure of governance. What an hocus pocus!”

    And this on varsity teachers’ strike: “The ASUU strike is a miasma of a despicable apotheosis of an hemorrhaging plutocracy, cascadingly oozing into a malodorous excrescence of mobocracy. With all termagant ossifying proclivities of a kakistocracy, our knowledgia centura is enveloped in a paraphlegic crinkum crankum. Therefore ASUU, cest in dejavu, dejavu peret ologomabia.”

    Should Obahiagbon find his way into the Senate, it will not be out of place to say that the House’s loss is the Senate’s gain.

    After helping the PDP to conquer Ekiti State in the 2014 election, nothing much was heard of businessman Chris Uba. Now he has asked his brother Andy Uba, a senator, to drop his planned return to the Upper Chamber because he has been there for eight years.

    “It is now my turn,” Uba said, adding: “I want him to throw in the towel because the fight is going to be very serious.”

    All ye scorned godfathers, rejoice; your reward is here. The godfather of Anambra politics has elected to fight your battle. He told reporters: “I want to run because we have been sponsoring politicians in Anambra State and across Nigeria. I have been doing that and a lot of people have passed through my school.

    “But they call us godfathers. We have made case several times for the party to make some provisions in the party’s constitution to protect godfathers, but no way, no provision… .

    “After sponsoring politicians, immediately they get to Abuja, you can’t get them on the telephone again, nobody will see them again; they buy choice cars and the next thing they will blackmail you. Little thing, they will start fighting you; they will say they know the President, they’ve known the party chairman and as a godfather, you are in trouble. So now we need to occupy offices to protect our position and the positions of our people. That is why I am running.”

    If Uba wins, he will be representing the good people of Anambra South.

    Abba Moro won the PDP ticket for Benue South. Moro is the dutiful former Interior minister under whose watch the Nigeria Immigration Service conducted a recruitment in which more than 100 young men and women died. It is not immediately clear if Moro is holding the ticket in trust for former Senate President David Mark, who joined the race for the PDP’s presidential ticket and came last in a field of eight contestants.

    All in all, the 9th Senate promises to be an exciting assemblage of very interesting politicians.

     

    As Nnamdi Kanu shows up

    The riddle of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu’s sudden disappearance about one year ago has been resolved – somehow. A video of the separatist group leader performing some religious obligation in Jerusalem —the Israelis deny he is with them —was quickly followed by a broadcast to his followers.

    Kanu spoke of Nigeria in unpleasant terms and derided the court before which he is standing trial. He has the right to his opinion about Nigeria and his advocacy for Biafra. But then, is foul language part of the ingredients of the kind of revolution the IBOP chief is preaching?

    Those who claim without any proof whatsoever that Kanu was being held by the military – some even said he had been killed – can now see their folly. They have been deceived. Not so those who have had to face the grim reality of the fire that Kanu’s misbegotten adventure sparked.

    What happens to those who lost their loved ones in those bloody protests over a matter that dialogue could have resolved? How about businesses that lost  fortunes in the temporary anarchy loosed on some parts of the Southeast by Kanu’s misguided actions? Who will compensate them?  Will those who stood surety for Kanu produce him in court?

    No matter how strong his belief in Biafra is, Kanu and his supporters should realise that force will not give them the prize; dialogue can.

    Enough of the bloodshed that accompanies this kind of dream. Enough.

  • Shehu Sani remains Kaduna Central candidate

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that Senator Shehu Sani remains its senatorial candidate from Kaduna Central.

    Its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, gave the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja.

    He said Sani was the only senatorial candidate from the zone that was duly recognised by the national body.

    In respect of Senator Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North) and Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), Nabena said the National Working Committee (NWC) would wait for reports from the Ondo and Lagos chapters.

    According to him, “state chapters have no power to conduct any primary. Only the electoral committee set up by the NWC can do that.”

    Sani has distanced himself from the primary election held in Kaduna State on Saturday, where he was said to have lost to Special Adviser to Governor Nasir El-rufai on Political Affairs, Malam Uba Sani.

    The Returning Officer of the primary held at Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna, Prof. Eddie Floyd-Igbo, declared Uba Sani the winner with 2,088 votes. He said Shehu Sani garnered only 15 votes.

    Nabena said: “Yes election took place in that zone because of the House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly, but for the senatorial position, the only candidate is Senator Shehu Sani.

    The APC headquarters had announced Senator Sani as its only candidate cleared to contest the Kaduna Central senatorial seat in 2019 elections.”

    Also yesterday, the Presidency said it had not received the letter purportedly written by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President did not authorise any governor or anybody to deal with traitors and disloyal members of APC.

    The APC has been urged to revoke the automatic tickets it granted Senators Ajayi Borrofice (North), Yele Omogunwa (South) and Tayo Alasoadura (Central) in Ondo State.

    The State Executive Council of APC rejected the automatic tickets following the latest decision of the National Working Committee (NWC).

    Lagos State APC also elected some candidates.

    The Ondo State APC conducted elections into the three senatorial districts electing Dr. Tunji Abayomi (North), Senator Tayo Alasoadura (Central) and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (South) as candidates.

    A statement by the Ondo State Chairman of the party Ade Adetimehin and Publicity Secretary Alex Kalejaiye, all the deputy chairmen representing the three senatorial districts, said: “Ondo State APC has accepted and abided with the decision of the NWC of the party that only aspirants for seats at the Senate and House of Representatives, who emerged through direct primaries conducted last Friday be recognised and upheld.

    “There cannot and must not be double standards. Automatic ticket is alien to the party and the NWC in its wisdom has directed all state chapters of the party to run away from it by ensuring that equity, justice and fairness is pursued with all muscles, in order to sustain and strengthen internal democracy for which the party is well-reputed. It cannot be otherwise. We cannot and must not set double standards, lest the integrity and esteem of the party is impeached before the electorate.”

  • APC Senatorial Primary: Shehu Sani, Akpabio, Yari, Uduaghan cleared unopposed

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared unopposed former Akwa Ibom and Delta State Governors, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr, Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani as Senatorial candidates for the forthcoming general elections.

    Also cleared unopposed are Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former Sokoto state Governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako, former Benue state Governor, George Akume and former National, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Adebayo Adeyeye.

    Also, the three senators representing Lagos state, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Solomon Adeola and Gbenga Ashafa as well as Senator Ajayi Boroface, Yele Onogunwa and Omotoyao Alasoadura from Ondo are flying the party flag unopposed as they emerged the only cleared aspirants from their states.

    Senator Ahmed Abubakar, Senator Binta Masi Garba (Adamawa) Senator Yusuf Abubakar (Taraba), Governor Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Senator Tijanni Kaura, Ikra Bilbis (Zamfara), Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra) and Suleiman Abdu Kwari (Kaduna) are also running unopposed.

    In the list of cleared aspirants released by the National Working Committee and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, former Kano state Governor is to battle for the Kano Central Senatorial ticket with Hajia Laila Buhari, while Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun is to struggle for the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket with Senator Adeyemi Tejuosho and Ganiyat Oladunjoye.

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is to contest for the Oyo Central Senatorial district ticket with Senator Taslim Folarin and five others, Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura is to slug it out for the Nasarawa south ticket with Senator Salihu Hussein Egye, while Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima is contesting the Borno Central ticket with Ali Bukar Wurge.
    Also, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan is contesting the Yobe North Senatorial ticket with Mohammed Lawan Yahuza, while Imo state Governor; Rochas Okorocha is listed as contesting the Imo West ticket with Senator Hope Uzodinma who is also contesting the governorship of the state.

    However, two former governors who have been in the senate for a long time, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zamfara State and Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe) were conspicuously missing on the list and it was not clear whether they were screened out of the contest or decided not to return to the Senate.
    The National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said at different fora that it will be ungodly for the party not to reward loyal senators who stood by the party in its trying period, resisting all attempt to lure them away from the APC.

  • Sani: only free, fair primaries can guarantee APC’s victory

    The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, has said All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) victory in the general election is dependent on its ability to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election.

    This, he said, would give members a sense of belonging

    and a sense of justice.

    Sani, who addressed reporters after obtaining nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja, said Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai should concentrate on how to defeat the candidates he was confronted with in the opposition parties, “rather than fighting me, Shehu Sani, for a senatorial seat.”

    He said APC should be aware that the country and the world was watching how “we will handle the coming primaries”, stressing that the party had a duty to set a precedent for internal democracy and equity for all, while doing things differently, uniquely and exceptionally.

    The senator said: “APC has a moral and political responsibility to dispense justice to members as promised. Moral and political victory of the APC is dependent on its ability to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election that will give members a sense of belonging and a sense of justice.

    “The country is watching us and the world is watching us. We have a duty to create a new path for Nigeria. We have a duty to set a precedent for internal democracy and equity for those who desire to join politics. APC must do things differently, uniquely and exceptionally. It must also do things positively.

    “Much has been said about the political direction of the party, especially on the issue of primaries. It is my belief that it is only when the party pulls its members together to ensure there is justice for all of them that it will retain its glory, honour and integrity.

    “I am here because I believe in the party and its leadership. I am here because I believe that this party is the only ship that can lead Nigeria to the Promised Land. Millions of members are in this party because they don’t just believe in the paper principles and ideals of the party, but also in the leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The President is respected as a global figure and a symbol of political uprightness and integrity and I believe that if you are in the party because you believe in his leadership, you should also emulate his discipline and political style.”

    He hailed President Buhari for having the boldness and courage to insist that his primary should be by direct system, saying: “Direct primary brings an end to money politics and politics of godfatherism, as well as politics of exclusion. Most of the biggest undoing of parties in Nigeria and Africa has to do with the way and manner members are treated.

    “There should not be two APC, one conservative and one progressive. There should be one APC and the one that subscribes to the founding principles and ideals of the party and the reason why it came to power. We came to power in 2015 not because we had more money or because we had the military and the police on our side, but because we had the people on our side.

    “Those who subscribe to direct primary have offered themselves for trial and judgment by the people who elected them into office. They are saying there is honour and principle, as well as ideas and ideals in politics. They are saying that the power to a progressive and prosperous future is politics of integrity.”

  • Senate okays $5.5 billion loan for FG

    Senate okays $5.5 billion loan for FG

    The Senate Tuesday approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow the sum of $5.5 billion.

    The sum of $2.5 billion out of the $5.5 billion, according to the presidential request, will be used to fund the 2017 budget while the balance of $3 billion is meant to refinance domestic debts.

    Nigeria’s debt profile stood at N19.6 trillion as at June 30th, 2017 according to Debt Management Office (DMO) document.

    Before the unanimous approval of the loan, some Senators called for caution on the way and manner the Federal Government rushes to take foreign loans.

    The lawmakers particularly expressed fear that the ability of the country to repay the loans might be limited if the national currency depreciates further.

    Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, (Taraba central) who was one of those who voiced this fear said: “We must be very careful because this is dependent on what happens in our foreign reserves. If our foreign exchange rate goes to N500/USD1, we are going to have a very serious problem on generating enough foreign exchange to pay the foreign debts.”

    The approval of the loan followed the adoption of the report of the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts that vetted the request sought partly to finance the deficit in the 2017 budget.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Shehu Sani who presented the told the Senate that “the terms and conditions of the loan are favourable and do not pose any compromise to the integrity, independence and interest of Nigeria and its citizens.”

    He added, “The projects are essential for rapid economic and social development of Nigeria. And that the projects, when completed, will create jobs through a chain of economic activities.”

    The committee noted that the $3 billion for refinancing of the country’s domestic debts will not lead to an increase in the public debt portfolio.

    It said that the loan will reduce the cost of the debts while the projects are essential for rapid economic and social development of Nigeria.

    It said that the construction of the second runway in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will enhance the safety of air passengers, increase the use of the airport by international airlines, “thus increase the revenue base of the government.”

    It said that the rail projects when completed will reduce the use of roads, its attendant congestion and thus minimise the cost of road maintenance.

    The committee said that the Mambila Hydro Power Project which had long been abandoned when completed will add substantially to the National grid and improve power output of the country.

    The $3 billion refinancing loans, it said, will create a significant decrease in the cost of financing the nation’s debt stock while creating more borrowing space in the domestic market for the private sector to benefit from.

    The Committee recommendation: a.The committee to recommend for approval by the Senate the issuance of USD2.5billion to finance the following projects in 2017 Appropriation Act,

    1. Mambilla Hydropower Project, ii. construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, iii. counterpart funding for rail projects iv. construction of the Bode-Bonny Road, with a bridge across the Opobo Channel.
    2. That the Senate for approve the USD3billion for refinancing of the nation’s domestic debt; c. That the Senate to emphasise effective oversight of the proposed projects.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided commended senators for supporting approval of the loan.

    He said, “This Senate will continue to partner with the Federal Government in matters that concern the ordinary people of Nigeria.

    “The implementation of the 2017 budget is key because any Appropriation Act that is not implemented is worthless.

    “So, whatever needs to be done to ensure that the budget is implemented, will always have the support of this Senate.”

    “And since this is tied to the implementation of the 2017 budget, I believe that that had informed the support that this request is now generating.

    “We need to urge the Debt Management Office to ensure that our debt profile is monitored so that we will always ensure that it is within the acceptable limit.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had in his request  for the approval of the two external loans last month said that in order to implement the external borrowing approved by the National Assembly in the 2017 Appropriation Act, the Federal Government issued a $3OO million Diaspora Bond in the International Capital Market (ICM) in June 2017.

    He noted that “the balance of the 2017 external borrowing, in the sum $3.2 billion is planned to be partially sourced from issuance in the ICM of $2.5 billion through Eurobonds or a combination of Eurobonds and Diaspora Bonds, while $700 million is proposed to be raised from multilateral sources.

    “It should be noted that the intention is to issue the Eurobonds first, with the objective of raising all the funds through Eurobonds, and that Diaspora Bonds will only be issued where the full amount cannot be raised through Eurobonds.”

    He listed the projects as the Mambilla Hydropower Project; construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport; counterpart funding for rail projects and the construction of the Bode-Bonny Road, with a bridge across the Opobo Channel.”

    On the $3 billion for the re-financing of domestic debts, the president said: “In addition to the implementation of the external borrowing approved in the 2017 Appropriation Act, in order to reduce debt service levels and lengthen the tenor profile of the debt stock, the Federal Government seeks to substitute maturing domestic debt with less expensive long-term external debt.”

    President Buhari said that the Federal Government plans to source $3.0 billion through the issuance of Eurobonds as approved by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting of August 9, 2017.Listing what he believed could be the benefits of the loan, Buhari stated that the proposed re-financing of domestic debt through external debt would achieve more stability in the debt stock while also creating more borrowing space in the domestic market for the private sector.

    The President told the Senate that the fact that in the 2017 Appropriation Act, debt service at N1.663 trillion represents 32.73 per cent of the government’s total expenditure, which makes it important to take urgent steps to reduce debt service costs.

  • Lion King in the saddle

    Riddles about the Lion King, hyenas, jackals, wolves and weaker animals hit the social media in Nigeria a few months back when President Muhammadu Buhari was on medical vacation in the United Kingdom. Those behind the riddles were his wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central).

    They raised the alarm and warned some top government officials who might be thinking and plotting against the administration for their selfish gains.

    Speaking about lions, hyenas, jackals, wolves and weaker animals in their separate postings, they appeared to be talking about the Buhari’s presidency, the President’s sickness, recovery, the masses and the scheming of the “real” or “imaginary” cabals.

    Sani had posted: “Prayer for the absent Lion King has waned. Until he’s back, then they will fall over each other to be on the front row of the palace temple.

    “Now, the hyenas and the jackals are scheming and talking to each other in whispers; still doubting whether the Lion King will be back or not.

    “Now, the Lion King is asleep and no other dare to confirm if he will wake up or not. It is the wish of the hyenas that the Lion King never wakes or come back, so they can be kings.

    “It is the prayers of the weaker animals that the Lion King comes back to save the kingdom from the hyenas, the wolves and other predators,” he added

    As if replying Sani’s post, Aisha Buhari, on her Twitter handle said: “God has answered the prayers of the weaker animals. The hyenas and the jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom.

    “We strongly believe in the prayers of the weaker animals. Long live the weaker animals. Long live Nigeria.” she stated

    With the return of Buhari to the country, the jackals and hyenas, whether real or imaginary, have remained silent and underground.

    Sani, during the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah break again urged the President to urgently purge his administration of the hyenas and jackals.

    Whether the President will identify the jackals and hyenas, if they really exist, and flush them out is a story for another day.

    But hardly anyone could be in doubt now that President Buhari is fully back in the saddle.

    The following are some of his activities in the past three weeks of his return to Nigeria.

    His first assignment on his return to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 19 was meeting with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and security chiefs.

    That was followed by a nationwide broadcast to Nigerians the following Monday.

    On the same Monday, he received briefings from the the Vice President.

    He met again with security chiefs on Tuesday where he was updated on the security situations in every part of the country.

    On Wednesday the President received Presidential investigative report on the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and the Director General of the National intelligence Agency (NIA)

    The President on the first Thursday of his return signed instruments of ratification for a number of bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening the government’s anti-corruption battle, and to boost Tax Administration and Intellectual Property Protection in the country.

    The following day, he met jointly with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    On that Friday, he also observed his Friday jumaat prayer alongside other Muslim faithfuls in the mosque at the State House.

    He later met with state governors at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa after the Jumaat prayer.

    On the Monday of his second week in the country, the President received briefings on the economy from the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

    The President on the following Wednesday, presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    Before the meeting proper started, the President received the victorious Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’Tigeress.

    Later in the day, the President left Abuja for his home town, Daura in Katsina State for the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah break.

    The following day, he held a private meeting with his classmates in Daura.

    On Friday, he joined his kinsmen to observe the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah prayer at a Eid praying ground in Daura.

    The President, the following Saturday receivied the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, who paid him homage at his residence in Daura as part of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    Last week Monday, the President received associations of farmers, businessmen, youths, elders and politicians in Katsina State at his country home in Daura.

    The following day, Buhari met with the Nigerien President, Muhammadu Issoufou at his residence in Daura, Katsina State.

    After the Sallah break, the President returned to the seat of power in Abuja last Wednesday to continue to steer the ship of State.

    The Lion King is really fully back in the saddle.

     

    Spurring sports honour

    President Muhammadu Buhari, a fortnight ago, did something that will count for sports development in the country for some time to come.

    He wasted no time to receive the the victorious Nigeria’s female national basketball team, DTigeress at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Beside the normal Presidential handshake, the President also announced N1 million each for the players and N500,000 each for the team officials.

    Those moves have already started yielding results in the sporting arena.

    They boosted the National male football team, the Super Eagles to go all out against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the first leg FIFA World Cup qualifier match in Akwa Ibom State.

    The Super Eagles mercilessly beat the Cameroonian team by 4-0 in Nigeria.

    In the second leg match in Cameroon, the Cameroonian team managed to escape with 1-1 draw.

    Nigeria really appeared to have returned to winning ways.

     

  • 2019: Anxiety in APC over minister’s Buhari comment

    2019: Anxiety in APC over minister’s Buhari comment

    There is anxiety in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over Minister of Women Affairs Hajia Aisha Alhassan’s comment on President Muhammadu Buhari’s yet undeclared plan to run in 2019.

    The minister has been under fire for saying she will not back Buhari, if he wishes to run.

    To some party leaders, the remark is “totally unexpected”.

    Hajia Alhassan, who ran for governor in Taraba State in 2015, defended her position at the Presidential Villa yesterday.

    She said “God gives and takes position” when asked whether she expected to be fired from her position, following her declaration of support for former Vice-President Abubakar Atiku.

    Besides, the minister said President Buhari declared in 2015 that he would do one term. She spoke during a visit to the former vice-president and in an interview on BBC Hausa Service.

    A party leader said last night. “The remarks rattled us. It is totally unexpected. But it is her view, not a collective opinion.”

    Another said the party would meet on the development.

    Senator Shehu Sani (APC Kaduna Central) advised the minister to resign.

    Sani said: “The difference between that woman who made the statement as a minister and others is that she was open and others are still having it in their minds.

    “If she is prepared to work for the former vice-president, she can easily excuse herself from this government and concentrate on what she believes in for 2019.”

    A chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa State, Preye Aganaba, said: ”She has a right to her choice but I think she is not being fair. If she wants to make such public statement as a serving minister, she should resign her appointment.”

    Aganaba, who expressed confidence in the Buhari administration, however, urged the President to bring into his cabinet “capable hands” who understand the ideal of the change mantra which the party stands for.

    “So, I don’t think for now that the APC has any other choice than to re-elect President Buhari, though people are free to contest; nobody is stopping them. This is APC where we usually have free and fair primaries. The last presidential primaries in Lagos, President Buhari won more than half of the votes.

    “During the last APC presidential primaries, the campaign slogan for Buhari was ’12 million assured votes’ and I don’t think one single vote has left that 12 million assured votes. In fact, more have even been added.

    “I am not bothered about the economy because that will be fixed. For me, I’m looking at the politics of various zones because that will determine how much we win the election. To win, we will win, but by what margin? These are my issues and then if we can also do well at National Assembly elections.

    “In government wise, I think we have done well. Yes, may be not where we are supposed to be because we also did not know about what we met when we came in 2015 but we have done well. A few days ago we heard that Nigeria exited the recession. The prices of food stuff are coming down, in Abuja here where I live I get minimum of 20 hours of electricity and some days light doesn’t go off for five days and so on.

    “If President Buhari runs election today, he is going to win. I don’t think the President is terminally ill and, like every other human being, people fall sick but the problem is because he is the President, is in government you begin to hear stories, but he is back. I saw him yesterday; he was looking very fresh, atleast he rested very well in Daura.”

    Asked by State House reporters why she made the statement, Mrs. Alhassan said: “No, I have no comment. What will I say now? I have said all in BBC Hausa. Get someone who speaks Hausa very well to translate it to you.”

    On her relationship with Buhari, she said: “How will I know? I have not seen the President but I don’t think the President is a naive person.”

    Asked if she is not afraid of losing her job, she said: “God gives and God takes. That is all and I have said it all in Hausa. You know that there is an end to everything.”

    On Buhari supporters attacking her on social media, Mrs. Alhassan  said: “Let the will of God be.”

  • Sani advises Buhari to purge cabinet of hyenas, jackals

    Sani advises Buhari to purge cabinet of hyenas, jackals

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari got a piece of advice from an unusual quarter yesterday. Senator Shehu Sani urged him to immediately purge his cabinet of hyenas, jackals and wolves.

    Sani, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, said the cleansing was necessary as part of efforts by the President to move the country forward.

    Yesterday’s advice came almost two months after the activist-turned politician drew attention to the scheming of hyenas, jackals and wolves on the corridor of power when the President was away to London on medical vacation.

    The July 6 post on Sani’s Facebook page got a response from the President’s wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari four days later.

    Sani wrote on his Facebook page: “Prayer for the absent Lion King has waned; until he’s back then, they will fall over each other to be on the front row of the palace temple.

    “Now the hyenas and the jackals are scheming and talking to each other in whispers; still doubting whether the Lion King will be back or not.

    “Now the Lion King is asleep and no one dare to confirm if he will wake up or not. It’s the wish of the hyenas that the Lion King never wakes or comes back so that they can be kings.

    “It’s the prayers of the weaker animals that the Lion King comes back to save the Kingdom from the hyenas, the wolves and other predators.”

    The senator used the animal imagery obviously in reference to those scheming to become president in 2019, crisscrossing the country to take advantage of the President’s absence.

    Some people in political positions were also believed to be undermining the system to position themselves in the President’s absence.

    In her response to the senator’s post, Mrs. Buhari on her Facebook page on July 10, also expressed herself in a figurative manner, using the animal imagery like Sani did.

    She wrote: “God has answered the prayers of the weaker animals. The hyenas and the jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom. We strongly believe in the prayers and support of the weaker animals.

    “Long live the weaker animals. Long live Nigeria.”

    The Director of Press in Mrs Buhari’s Office, Mr. Suleiman Haruna, confirmed that the post was on the president’s wife’s “verified Facebook page”.

    As at 10pm on July 10, about 257 people had made comments on the post, most of which were wishing the President quick recovery.

    The President returned from his medical vacation after 103 days on August 19.

    Not a few Nigerians expected a cabinet rejig immediately the President resumed duty on August 21. But nothing of such happened as he chaired the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja last Wednesday.

    Sani said the President would be disinfecting and fumigating the Presidency by tinkering with his cabinet; the membership of which he claimed, was suffering mid-term fatigue.

    Senator Sani, who described the Hyenas, Jackals and wolves as elements within the cycle of presidency, said they have personal interests other than that of Mr. President.

    During a chat with reporters yesterday, the senator said the need for the President to overhaul his cabinet now more than ever before could not be over-emphasised.

    Sani, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, described the elements as “the mafias” (power brokers) within the Presidency, whose intents are different from that of the President himself but they are part of what is called presidency.

    He said: “One thing the President needs to do which is very important is a need for him to take a proactive stand in order to reset his Presidency by looking at his cabinet in totality.

    “Those who have failed should be shown the way out and those who have not been able to perform satisfactorily should be replaced or reshuffled.

    “But, it is time for Mr. President to throw some people out of his cabinet and change the portfolio of some of them so they can help him to perform better. There is mid-term fatigue that exists and the only way out is to bring in capable hands.

    “If the first appointment into office was to appease the political interest, I think the President now should appoint those who are capable of delivering the mission, the vision and the programme of his own administration.”

    The senator, who is also the Civil Rights Congress (CRC) in Nigeria President said: “There is a message I’m sending to Mr. President to fumigate and disinfect presidency in the general interest of his own government and also the country as a whole.”