The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Shagari

  • Shagari urges peaceful elections

    The Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, yesterday dispelled rumours of his death.

    The elder statesman urged Nigerians to give peace a chance for a more united and stabilised nation.

    He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to give peace a chance, especially at this election period.”

    The former president spoke at his Sama Road, Sokoto home where he addressed reporters to dispel the rumours of his death.

    He said: “We must give priority to the prevalence of peace and unity in the country.”

    Alhaji Shagari enjoined the citizens to put Nigeria above their selfish interests, saying: “God gives and takes leadership.”

    His words: “Nobody should perpetrate or sponsor violence in the name of politics. Anybody who does that is an enemy of the country.

    “God has created Nigerians with diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We should learn to accommodate one another.”

     

  • Bafarawa, Shagari rift tears Sokoto PDP apart

    Bafarawa, Shagari rift tears Sokoto PDP apart

    Efforts by the Presidency and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve the lingering crisis in the party’s Sokoto State chapter without success appears to have put the party’s chances in next month’s governorship election in serious jeopardy, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muhktar Shagari, is seething in anger.

    For the second time in eight years, his dream of ruling his home state has crashed almost irretrievably.

    In the run-up to the 2007 general elections, Shagari, who served as the Minister of Water Resources under the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, indicated interest in running for the governorship seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Leveraging on his ministerial position, popularity in the Sokoto PDP and closeness to the then president, Shagari beat all comers to the governorship ticket with minimal efforts.

    But his joy was short-lived. No sooner had he secured the ticket than he was “prevailed” upon to step down and cede it to a relative newcomer in the party, Aliyu Magatarkarda Wammako, then the deputy governor.

    Wammako’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate was the product of high-level negotiations reportedly brokered by the Presidency determined to dislodge the ruling All Nigeria Peoples Party, which had been in power for eight years.

    Having fallen out with his then boss, Attahiru Bafarawa, who refused to back his intention to take over from him, Wammako defected to the PDP and was compensated with the governorship ticket. Though shattered by the disappointment of having his ticket withdrawn, Shagari took the setback in his strides.

    As a loyal party man, he agreed to abide by the party’s decision and in compensation; he was named the running mate to Wammako. The 2007 governorship election soon came, with Wammako defeating the ANPP candidate and Bafarawa’s preference, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi.

    Between Wammako and Shagari

    For six years, Wammako and Shagari worked together harmoniously. The defection of Wammako from the PDP to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) however put spanner in their relationship, with Shagari declining to leave PDP.

    His decision was connected to a deal he allegedly struck with the Presidency, that he would be handed the PDP structures in the state in addition to an offer of the 2015 governorship ticket.

    Second time unlucky

    Still basking in the euphoria of his new status as the ‘new leader’ of Sokoto PDP, the party’s governorship ticket appeared a done deal for Shagari. But the permutation soon changed with the unexpected defection of ex-Governor Bafarawa from the APC to PDP following a superiority clash with his arch rival, Wammako, who on joining APC, automatically became the leader of the party in the state.

    Within weeks of his entry into PDP, Bafarawa practically relegated Shagari to the background in the party, a development that angered the deputy governor and his legion of supporters.

    To make matters worse, Shagari lost the governorship primaries to Ambassador Abdallah Wali. And despite persistent efforts by the Presidency and the national leadership of PDP to enlist his support for Wali, the deputy governor has distanced himself from the governorship campaign, while telling whoever cares to listen that his major priority is the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Presently, there are fears that if the conflict is allowed to linger on much longer, it could further widen the crack in the state chapter of the party and snowball into a serious violence among its supporters.

    Already, the two key political figures have launched a ‘media war’, while their supporters have resorted to name calling in a bid to express grievances over the result of the gubernatorial primary election which is being faulted by Shagari, the former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman and Senator Abubakar Umar Gada.

    Intrigues before the governorship primaries

    Prior to the governorship primaries, there had been a fierce competition, especially between Shagari and Wali in their bid to win the support of delegates. The competition started at the inauguration of the new executive committee of the party, where Wali announced a gift of one brand new Peugeot (406 model) car to each of the 23 local government chairmen of the party. The announcement precipitated a thunderous applause and the shout of “Sai Wali”.

    Sensing the implication of Wali’s gift to his ambition, the deputy governor in a swift reaction, announced a gift of motorcycles to each local government secretaries and ward chairmen of the party.

    While defending his preference for ward chairmen and local government secretaries, Shagari said it was based on his conviction that they were the grassroots mobilisers, stressing that it would be disastrous for any right thinking politician to marginalise them.

    The rivalry between the two became more intense on the day of the primary election when Shagari alleged that there was an importation of delegates who were not genuine members of the party by Bafarawa and his favourite, Wali. To express his displeasure, he along with his supporters walked out of the Gigimya Memorial Stadium, venue of the election.

    The situation gave Wali an easy victory as he got over 500 votes, leaving the deputy governor with only one vote.

    While making his stand known on the election, Shagari contended that the whole process was marred by irregularities, including the dragging of electoral process to lapse into the night for the sole purpose of rigging the poll.

    In apparent reference to how his loyalty to the party has not paid off for him, Shagari in another interview, said nobody in the state had laboured for the PDP than him, stressing that he deserved to be compensated with an automatic ticket. This view was also shared by many political analysts in the state.

    He also referred to an agreement which he said members of the old PDP entered with Governor Aliyu Wamakko shortly after he was cajoled to join the party by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He recalled that his ticket was given to Wamakko after the latter agreed that he (Shagari) would succeed him after completing his tenure.

    However, Wali refuted this claim, saying there was no such agreement. He challenged the deputy governor to produce evidence to prove his claims.

    In an interview with newsmen in Sokoto, Wali faulted Shagari for his refusal to accept defeat in an election which he described as one of the fairest in the state.

    “In the real sense, nobody should have the moral justification to allege that delegates are being manipulated.  Do not forget that these delegates were accredited in front of the three certified agents who represented the three aspirants.

    “To us, it is embarrassing for anybody to raise the issue of fake delegates during the election. The venue is in an open stadium and not in a hall. The INEC officials were present and they monitored the processes. The security agents were also present at the venue. To many, the election is one of the most transparent in the state,” he asserted.

    Wali, who is the Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, admitted that Shagari’s decision not to accept the outcome of the election would be a challenge. He, however, called it a “manageable challenge”.

    “The reason why we believe it is a manageable challenge is that the election is not a question of somebody winning 100 percent. We only won the 74 percent of the total votes counted, which means three quarters of our party faithful shared our beliefs and dreams. That is a strong percentage of the party followership, which can lead the party to success.

    Wali also disagreed with those who believe that Bafarawa’s coming to PDP has done more harm to the party than good. Rather, he says the former governor’s membership has galvanised the party in the state.

    He said, “If you will recall, in 2003, former Governor Bafarawa was leading the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) to run for the second term and I was running on the PDP platform, hoping for my first term in government. But he (Bafarawa) won the election in that contest. Today, the two of us are working together. We believe that we have the necessary structures to swing the elections in favour of the PDP. So, we hope that with God’s help, it will come to pass.”

    But the popular questions being asked in the state now are: can the PDP make any impact in the 2015 general elections with a fractured house? Can Wali defeat the APC candidate, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who also happens to be his in-law? These questions and more will be given definite answers on March 28 and April 11.

  • Shagari family disowns PDP

    Shagari family disowns PDP

    Members of the family of former Nigerian President, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari, have warned leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against dragging his name into the politics of endorsement for their presidential candidate.

    A statement from the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation quoted the eldest son of the former President and District Head of Shagari, Captain Bala Shagari (rtd), as saying that his father should be allowed to enjoy a quiet life in retirement.

    The statement also quoted Captain Shagari, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Mafaran Shagari, as saying that it was embarrassing for his elderly father to be dragged into partisan politics, leading to needless invasion of his privacy.

    He said that while his father would continue to pray for the peace, unity and stability of Nigeria, it is wrong for any political party or group of politicians to use his name in their endorsement campaign without his express permission just to advance their own interests.

    Bala Shagari said his father has not endorsed anybody for the February 2015 presidential election, and that he remains politically neutral, stressing that as a father figure, his father’s role is to pray for the peace, unity and stability of Nigeria.

    The District Head of Shagari said any endorsement of candidate or candidates of any party might compromise the neutrality and integrity of his father and advised politicians to avoid politics of bitterness, division, intolerance and violence, which he says poses a threat to the nation’s democracy.

    It is not the first time an individual or group would deny purported endorsement of President Jonathan for re-election.

    The Afenifere Renewal Group had earlier distanced itself from alleged adoption of Jonathan’s candidacy.

    An an effort made by popular Igbo businessman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, to get the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to adopt the President as its candidate for next month’s presidential election was also rejected by the group.

  • Sokoto: Still, Shagari battles Wali

    Sokoto: Still, Shagari battles Wali

    IN an apparent move to calm frayed nerves and put an end to speculations over the matter, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has upheld the emergence of former Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Alhaji Abdallah Wali as the party’s governorship candidate in Sokoto State.

    This announcement, according to party sources, is expected to tell party chieftains, members, stakeholders and other interests that contrary to kites being flown in some quarters, Wali’s candidacy, which has remained a subject of fierce acrimonies within and outside the party, would not be invalidated.

    But Deputy Governor and leader of the party in the state, Mukhtari Shagari, is insisting that the party would lose the governorship election in the state, if it fields Wali, the declared winner of the party’s primary election, in 2015.

    The angry Shagari, who refused to follow Governor Aliyu Wammakko to the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the later dumped the PDP, was said to have recieved only one vote in the last week’s PDP primary election in the state won by Abdallah Wali, believed to be anointed by the state’s ex-governor, Attahiru Bafarawa.

    The aggrieved Deputy Governor’s insistence on being given the governorship ticket of the party in spite of several interventions by other party leaders within and outside the state, according to pundits, may further hurt the very slim chance of the PDP to reclaim the leadership of the state.

    “Shagari’s position is that the national leadership of the party ought to have fulfilled its promise of giving him the ticket for the 2015 election, the failure of which portends disaster for the party in the state.

    Aside that, he is saying that no primary election took place in the state, since strange people were smuggled in at midnight as delegates and it was not conducted based on the laid down rules and procedures.

    With efforts by his party leaders to make him accept Wali’s emergence failing so far, the chances of the PDP at the general election in Sokoto State is also getting slimmer.

    Shagari is no push over in the politics of the state. He is one major factor why the PDP is still reckoned with in the state after Wammakko’s exit.

    So, unless something is done to assuage his anger and reconcile him with Wali as well as the party, his anger his capable of further hurting the slim chance of both Wali and his party in 2015,” Shehu Ali Girei, former Chairman of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) told The Nation.

    It is also being alleged by the camp of the Deputy Governor that what happened in Sokoto at the governorship primary last week was not an election but a plan by some people to destroy the party in the state.

    “You remember that Shagari had before the commencement of the exercise, protested against the composition of PDP delegates’ list but chairman of the election panel, U.U Kumo, went ahead to conduct the primaries.

    It is on the strength of this same complaint that former Minister of Sports, Yusuf Suleiman, withdrew from the race before the election started. In protest, Shagari had reportedly directed his supporters to vacate the Stadium, venue of the election, when Mr. Kumo declared the results,” Girei said.

    Findings by The Nation within the embattled Sokoto PDP reveal that relationship between the two political rivals may have broken down irretrievably. After several peace overtures made by him to the Deputy Governor, sources say the PDP candidate is concentrating more on how to win the election than pacifying any aggrieved opponent.

    “Shagari’s action is capable of distracting our candidate and we don’t want this to happen. He has been advised to forget about the aggrieved aspirants and concentrate on winning the general election. And that is what he is actually doing now.

    “Don’t forget that he made several efforts to pacify Shagari in the past. But the Deputy Governor, for whatever reason, is obstinate and uncompromising. This is unlike him. And that is why we are suspecting foul play. This is not the first time he would be losing in an election. Why is he behaving in this manner this time? But all the same, our focus now is on winning the general election because Shagari was defeated fairly and squarely at the primary,” an aide of the PDP candidate told our correspondent.

    But the Deputy Governor would not have any such comment about losing the election to Wali. According to him, Wali is not a match to him politically and as such cannot win the general election for PDP against APC’s Aminu Tambuwal, in 2015.

    “What I did was to address the press and leave, because I could not be in a place where the blood of people could be possibly shed. After I left, most of the delegates also left, because they were tired, hungry and angry. Most of them left the place.

    “Later, somebody came up with his own result, which probably was written in his own bedroom and they read it. In that result, they gave me only one vote. That is very ridiculous in Sokoto State, a party that I actually brought to Sokoto and apart from that, I was a minister who was the leader of the party in the state.

    “I became Deputy Governor, when my governor left, and I did not leave with him. And for somebody to say Mukhtari Shagari got only one vote in Sokoto is the most ridiculous thing in this century,” he said.

    Shagari insisted that unless the ticket is given to him, PDP should forget about reclaiming the state. According to him, “the issue is that you cannot win election in Sokoto state, unless you field the candidate that can win election for you. By what happened, it means that PDP is ready to sacrifice the governorship of Sokoto State to APC, which we do not want.

    “You know there was peaceful demonstration in Sokoto. People were saying we don’t want what happened. All we want is Mukhtari Shagari, give him back his ticket.”

    But Wali is not looking or acting like someone willing to hand over the ticket to anybody ahead of the 2015 governorship election. The former Envoy to Morocco has been defending his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate vigorously.

    Responding to Shagari’s claim that the party once promised him automatic ticket for the 2015 race, Wali said the party did not promise Barrister Mukhtari Shehu Shagari automatic ticket for the seat, challenging the Deputy Governor to produce any evidence to prove his claim.

    He said Shagari’s action was not in tandem with democratic principles and therefore unbecoming of a person of his calibre. He called on the Deputy Governor to join hands with him in order to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

    “I must admit that his refusal to accept the result of the election is a challenge but a manageable challenge in view of the fact that I only need 75 percent of the party supporters to win in the election, which I already have,” he said.

    With the current situation between Wali and Shagari, it is left to be seen how the PDP intends to muster enough support to displace the more vibrant and united ruling APC in 2015.

     

  • Impeachment plot thickens against Shagari, Ngilari

    Despite claims to the contrary, all may not be well with the relationship between the governors of Adamawa, Nasarawa and Sokoto states and their deputies, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    Until the defection of the Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, along with his Nasarawa and Sokoto States counterparts, Tanko Almakura and Aliyu Wammako respectively, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), their relationships with their deputies were very cordial.

    However, ambition and permutations for the 2015 general elections within the three states and at the presidency, sources disclosed to The Nation, have created a wide gulf between Nyako and his deputy, Bala James Ngilari.

    The same scenario is also prevalent in Sokoto and Nasarawa States where governors Wammako and Almakura are no longer on good terms with their deputies, Mukhtar Shagari and Damishi Luka Barau respectively.

    The decision of Ngilari, Shagari and Barau to remain in the PDP, according to informed sources, is causing serious tension in Government Houses in Yola, Sokoto and Lafia, as close political associates and supporters of the governors are calling for their impeachments.

    About one year ago when the governors defected to the APC without their deputies, concerned stakeholders in their states had expressed anxiety over the likely fallout in their relationships, a situation they feared could affect the smooth running of the states.

    But the personalities had dismissed such fears, while giving assurances that their political differences notwithstanding, they would avoid any act capable of adversely affecting their respective states.

    The reassuring statements, it was learnt, were intended to douse tension among the supporters of the governors and their deputies, a development that could have caused a breach of the peace in the three states.

    In the last few months, The Nation gathered that Nyako, Almakura and Wammako have been subjected to intense pressure from their supporters to sanction the impeachments of their deputies, who are all allegedly nursing governorship ambitions in 2015.

    For Ngilari, whose name did not feature prominently as a possible governorship candidate prior to his boss’ defection to the APC, the presidency is reportedly backing him to become the PDP governorship candidate as compensation for ‘his loyalty to the party.

    Ditto Mukhtar Shagari, whose governorship ambition predates his election as deputy governor in 2007. The former Minister of Water Resources and Rural Development in the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, it would be recalled, had emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in 2007, but was prevailed upon by party leaders to step down for the then deputy governor, Aliyu Wammako, who had defected to the PDP from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) after falling out with ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa.

    Following Wammako’s defection to the APC, Shagari rekindled his governorship ambition in the PDP and is currently the leading frontrunner for his party’s ticket.

    In the case of Barau, who had initially joined the APC, sources revealed that while he is not interested in the governorship race at least for now, his decision to ditch the major opposition party may not be unconnected to pressures from the presidency and some major stakeholders in the state who are backing the much speculated re-election ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Latest feelers, however, indicate that Nyako and his two colleagues are seriously considering the option of moving against their deputies following security reports that they are being used by powerful forces to undermine their administration.

    There are also unconfirmed reports that political leaders have instructed both Governors Nyako and Wamakko to immediately commence impeachment processes against their deputies.

    The Nation gathered that a recent meeting of the leadership of the party had resolved that for the governors to be in the firm grip of their respective states ahead of the 2015 election, now is the time to get rid of their deputies.

    Sources also said that the decision was borne out of the need to ensure that second term governors in the fold of the APC were able to produce their successors.

    Another source stated that the party had reviewed the situation in these two states and resolved that the way out for Nyako and Wamakko was to replace Ngilari and Shagari in order to consolidate their hold on the respective states.

    At a recent meeting convened to appraise the situation, one of the party leaders advised the governors to take a cue from what happened to former governors of Kano and Sokoto States, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and Attahiru Bafarawa, who could not produce their successors.

    The source quipped, “If Shekarau and Bafarawa had learnt from the example of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos and produced their successors; they would have maintained political relevance in the states.

    “APC governors, especially those in their second term, have been directed to ensure they strategise for the electoral success of their anointed successors.”

    But another source informed that while the APC leadership in Sokoto State wants an accelerated impeachment of Shagari, the Adamawa State chapter of the party has asked Nyako to place his deputy on a watch list for the next few months.

    The situation in Nasarawa State seems more complicated. Governor Almakura and APC leaders are said to be treading with caution, as the opposition party in the state, PDP, constitutes the majority in the state House of Assembly.

    Based on this numerical strength, the presidency and the national leadership of the PDP had a few months ago allegedly toyed with the idea of impeaching Almakura, whose election on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) in 2011 upturned the political configuration of the state.

    To thwart any move against Almakura, his foot soldiers have allegedly been working behind the scene to woo some PDP lawmakers in the House of Assembly to the APC. A former governor of the state, Abdullahi Adamu, who is currently a senator, is also reported to be reaching out to some members of the PDP in the House to embrace the APC.

    Against the backdrop of the frosty relationship existing between these governors and their deputies, there are unconfirmed reports that the latter now spend the better part of their time in Abuja, even as sources allege that they have been relieved of sensitive assignments by their bosses.

    As the uncertainty on the fate of Ngilari, Shagari and Barau in the next few months intensify, it remains to be seen whether or not they will see out their tenures in 2015.

  • Jonathan channels Shagari

    In Nigerian politics, the more things change the more they remain the same. A cursory glance through the political scene and one could be forgiven for thinking they have been transported back to the Second Republic.

    In the place of fresh thinking, the same old tricks are being exhumed in the hope that they would deliver the same results. Back in the day, a certain Commissioner of Police named Bishop Eyitene who was deployed to Anambra State interpreted his brief as giving then Governor Jim Nwobodo and his Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) a torrid time. Until his removal, Joseph Mbu in Rivers appeared to have torn several pages out of Eyitene’s copy book.

    Another gimmick deployed by the then President Shehu Shagari’s National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was the appointment of what were referred to as Presidential Liaison Officers (PLOs) in different states of the federation where the ruling party was in opposition. This provocative move came at a time when certain states – especially those controlled by the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the West – refused to recognise the Shagari presidency.

    The PLOs were appointed ostensibly to monitor federal government projects and act as the president’s eyes and ears in those hostile states. In reality though, it was just another way of providing jobs for the boys. More importantly, the PLOs soon began acting as alternate governors.

    As the elections of 1983 approached, they became more openly confrontational towards governors of the opposing parties. If the governor had a convoy, they ensured theirs was evenly longer and noisier. It was the perfect recipe for raising tensions and ensuring that the periods, before and after the elections, were marred by violence and bloodshed.

    Today, the same script is being played out. Take a look at the cabinet that President Jonathan is reconstituting to lead the country into an election year. In all the states where the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is in opposition, the ministers or likely ministerial nominees are ‘alternate governors’ – politicians who can make life difficult for the incumbent. That seems to be the primary consideration for getting into the cabinet.

    That is why you have the Nyesom Wikes, Bonnie Harunas, Musiliu Obanikoros, Aminu Walis in the team. If the speculations are to be believed, very soon it would be the turn of the Gbemi Sarakis, Attahiru Baffarawas, Ibrahim Shekaraus to name just a few.

    This new breed are even more powerful now that they have the power of the federal purse to play around with in a manner that the Second Republic PLOs would never have dreamt off. Even worse, today the moral restraints that would have made 80s politicians baulk at certain things have long since disappeared. Anything goes and the scandalous has lost the power to shock.

    It is enough to make you shiver as we edge even closer to another critical election year.

  • Obasanjo, Buhari, IBB, others decorated with centenary awards

    Obasanjo, Buhari, IBB, others decorated with centenary awards

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday decorated seven living former Nigerian Heads of State and Presidents with the centenary awards.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the centenary anniversary awards night and dinner, during which 100 recipients were decorated, was held at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa.

    The decorated former leaders are -Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Others are – Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar.

    NAN reports that six late Nigerian Heads of State were honoured post-humously.

    The recipients of the post-humous award are – Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, Gen. Sani Abacha and Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

    Also in the category is the presumed winner of the June 1993 presidential election, late Chief Moshood Abiola.

    The President decorated the representatives of the late leaders among whom is Mrs. Maryam Abacha.

    The centenary awards are in 13 categories with winners both living and dead.

     

    The first are those who contributed to the making of Nigeria and they include Queen Elizabeth II of England, Lord Fredrick Lugard and his wife, Lady Lugard,

    The second category is the Heroes of the Struggle for independence/Pioneer political leaders which include Azikiwe, Balewa, Herbert Macaulay and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    Others in the category are Sir Ahmadu Bello, Prof. Eyo Ita, Jaja Nwachukwu, Pa Michael Imoudu, Chief Anthony Enahoro and Chief Joseph Tarka.

    The rest are Malam Aminu Kano, Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Hajia Gambo Sawaba.

    The third category is the Pioneers in professional Callings/careers which include the first indigenous lawyer, Chief Sapara Williams, and the first indigenous Solicitor, Chief Rotimi Williams.

    The category also include the first indigenous Chartered Accountant, Chief Akintola Williams, and the first indigenous Inspector General of Police, Louis Edet, and the first indigenous medical doctor, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo.

    Also in the category are the first female Vice Chancelor of Nigerian universities, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, and the first indigenous female pilot, Capt. Chinyere Kalu.

    Others include Akinwale Wey, Gen. George, Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, Tamunoiyowunam, Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed, Prof. Kenneth Dike and Gen. Oviemo Ovadje.

    The fourth category is Pioneer in Commerce and Industry, which has Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alh. Alhassan Dantata and Chief Adeola Odutola.

    Awardees under Pioneer of Democratic Transition in Nigeria are Shagari, late Abiola, late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua and Abdusalami Abubakar.

    The sixth category is the Heroes in Global Sports Competitions which are Chioma Ajunwa, Nwankwo Kanu, Richard Ihetu, Chief Michael Okpala (Power Mike) and Monday Emoghavwe.

    The seventh category is Accomplished Pioneer Public Servants and the awardees include Chief Olabode Wey, Justice Udo Udoma, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Sir Adetokubo Ademola.

    Others are Dr. Olawale Elias, Dr. Rilwan Lukman, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki and Alhaji Aliyu Mai-Borno.

     

  • Obasanjo, Buhari, Amaechi shun Council of State meeting

    Obasanjo, Buhari, Amaechi shun Council of State meeting

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former head of state, Gen. Muhammad Buhari and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi were conspicuously absent at Tuesday’s Council of State meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Tuesday’s meeting was attended by the former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, former president Shehu Shagari, former heads of state, Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalam Abubakar and former Head of the Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan.

    The Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Uwais also attended the meeting.

    Governors that attended the meeting are – Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

    Others are – Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), Dickson Seriake (Bayelsa), Peter Obi (Anambra), Theodor Orji (Abia), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom)and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).

    Also at the Council of State meeting are – Yari Abdulaziz (Zamfara), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Idris Wada (Kogi).

    The deputy governors at the meeting are that of Kano, Plateau and Borno States.

    But there was a mild drama before the meeting started and this centered on the sitting arrangement of two governors.

    Because of the ‘A’ alphabet starting with their state names, Abia Governor, Orji (Peoples Democratic Party), Adamawa Governor, Nyako (All Progressives Congress) and Akwa Ibom, Akpabio (PDP) had to sit together.

    Before the meeting started, Nyako told Orji that he was not comfortable sitting with him as he could poison him.

    Nyako said: “I am telling you don’t poison me here. I am not comfortable with you here. If anything happens to me here, walahi, my people will take you to court.”

    Orji replied: “For how many years have we been sitting together? Is it this zero hour that I would poison you?

    Nyako countered: “Who knows?”

    Turning to Martins Elechi, who joined them during the exchange, Nyako said: “I am just warning him not to poison me. Is there any law that says we should sit down together?

     

  • Shagari to RMAFC: Reflect diversity in revenue allocation

    Shagari to RMAFC: Reflect diversity in revenue allocation

    Former president Shehu Shagari has urged the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to reflect diversity in determining a new revenue allocation formula for the country.

    Shagari made this call in his residence in Sokoto when he received members of the commission who paid him a courtesy call.

    A statement from the RMAFC said the former president stressed that the principles of equity, fairness and justice are the only mechanisms that would take care of the diverse interests of the constituent parts of the country.

    Shagari added that the commission must also strive to come up with an acceptable formula that would be seen by the generality of Nigerians as just in intent and formulation, fair to all in distribution and equitable in application.

    To achieve this, the former president enjoined RMAFC to continue to consult widely across the broad spectrum of the Nigerian society to promote buy-in by all stakeholders.

    In his remarks earlier, the RMAFC chairman told the former leader that the commission is committed to ensuring an all-inclusive process that will ensure the emergence of a just, fair and equitable revenue allocation formula for the country.

     

     

  • Lamido, Wamakko, Kwankwaso, Nyako meet Shagari in Sokoto

    Lamido, Wamakko, Kwankwaso, Nyako meet Shagari in Sokoto

    Four northern governors including Sokoto state governor, Aliyu Wamakko held a closed door meeting in Sokoto on Tuesday.

    Wamakko and three other governors – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Sule Lamido ( Jigawa) also visited former president Shehu Shagari at his Sama Road Residence.

    However, the governors refused to disclose the outcome of their meeting with Shagari.

    When asked by journalists to comment on their meeting shortly before leaving Sokoto, Lamido said they were in the state to consult with eminent Nigerians on the multifaceted problems and challenges confronting the nation.

    “Just as we have visited other states in the recent past, the same thing brought us to Sokoto to fine tune ways and find solutions to the country’s multiple problems,” he explained.

    The governor, who did not give room for questions relating to politics also said,” you know Nigeria’s fundamental problem lies on security challenges which we are working round the clock to tackle so that it can be overcome.”