The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Umaru Yar’Adua

‘Yar’Adua in coma when contract was signed’

MORE riddles have beclouded the 2010 ill-fated Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) which led to the award of a $9.6billion judgment against Nigeria.

Preliminary investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicated that the contract was signed by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources at the time the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was already in coma.

The anti-graft agency is probing the likelihood of the forgery of the signature of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwan Lukman, who was known for his high ethical standards.

Detectives are after a former legal director of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Grace Taiga, who was central to the negotiation between the Federal Government and P&ID.

Also, a raid of an offices believed to be that of P&ID in Lagos and Abuja at the weekend left the EFCC detectives stranded because there were no signs of the presence of the company in Nigeria.

Read Also: EFCC begins probe of $16b power spending

It was learnt that the EFCC team discovered from the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) that there is another firm registered as P&ID Nigeria Limited with two Nigerian directors.

It was learnt that when one of the directors was called on the phone last Wednesday, he admitted being on the board of P&ID Nigeria Limited and agreed to meet with the EFCC team on Friday.

The director, however, had been unreachable to the operatives.

The second female director is said to be a security agent in Qatar.

According to sources, EFCC investigators preliminary findings revealed that the contract was shrouded in secrecy.

The highpoint of the initial investigation is the fact that the contract was signed when Yar’Adua was in coma.

The former President was flown to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in November 2009 for treatment of a heart condition.

But after three months in Saudi hospital, Yar’Adua was brought back to Nigeria and he remained incommunicado till his death on May 5, 2010.

The source said: “So far, detectives have discovered that the GSPA was signed on January 11, 2010 when Yar’Adua was already in coma. There was no evidence of presentation to the Federal Executive Council(FEC).

“They took advantage of Yar’Adua’s illness and vegetable state. Even ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who took over as Acting President cannot say much about it because the agreement was done in a suspicious manner and limited to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“The whereabouts of a former Director of Legal in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Grace Taiga was unknown. Our detectives have not been able to get across to her. We need her assistance. She superintended over the GSPA six months to her retirement.

“We are probing clues that Lukman’s signature might have been forged for the deal. He was a meticulous and an experienced international stakeholder in OPEC. Those who worked with him expressed doubts that he would sign such an agreement without FEC approval.

“We are suspecting a case of forgery. We will do forensic analysis of all relevant documents.”

September 3, 2019
$9.6b verdict: Fed Govt hires foreign lawyers to upturn judgment

DETERMINED to overcome legal hurdles over the $9.6billion judgment debt against the country over a failed oil contract, the Federal Government is weighing three options.

The options include applying for a stay of execution, an order to set it aside and the third is to negotiate with the firm on “reasonable” terms.

The government has hired a crack team of foreign lawyers who will arrive in the country this weekend to be able to hold a review session with the government team in Abuja on Monday.

A United Kingdom court in a ruling authorized an Irish engineering and project management company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd. (P&ID) to seize 9.6 billion dollars in Nigerian assets over the failed contract.

The judgment was fallout of the contract purportedly entered into in July 2010 between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and P&ID and the subsequent award made in July 2015 by an arbitration panel sitting in London in favour of the company.

Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed on a Nigerian Television (NTA) programme “Good Morning Nigeria,” said the $9.6billion award (over N3trillion) is untenable because the nation will lose about 20 per cent of its Foreign Reserves.

He also said although the problem was created by the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, President Muhammadu Buhari was trying to address it because government is a continuum.

He said it was wrong for some commentators to conclude that the Buhari administration had not addressed the judgment debt.

The minister said: “The Federal Government has engaged very competent lawyers both in the UK and in the US. Since the enforcement judgment is in the UK, we are working very hard, first for a stay of execution and also subsequently to get the award set aside.

Read Also: Fed Govt loses 30% procurement budget

“We are leaving no stone unturned. We are even ready or willing to sit down with P&ID and negotiate. We will take every legal, diplomatic and otherwise step to ensure that we do not allow this to take place.

“Why did we take this matter to the highest level? Why did we say we are going to use legal, diplomatic and other means? It is not because we want to save money; it is just because the ward was unfair, unconscionable and punitive. I am short of words to really describe what the country is going through.

“The government is doing its best to resolve it. At the end, we will sit down with P&ID and agree on something reasonable.

“We are very confident we will succeed. I think we should just allow our lawyers to go into this.”

Asked if the circumstances surrounding the award amounted to a movie, Mohammed added: “I wish it were a movie but it is actually a serious matter.”

He gave insights into how the contract became stalemated without any service provided.

He said: “Like I tried to reconstruct at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the contract for the gas supply was purportedly entered into in 2010 between P&ID (an Irish company) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“But ab initio, it was a contract that was not meant to be because in the first instance, the contracting parties were very strange. If you want a contract to supply gas, you should have as parties those who own the gas.

“The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not own gas, the gas is owned by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and others.

“So, ab initio, you could see the intent was less honest. Unfortunately, some local actors, both within the system and outside the system, are being fingered to have collaborated with both local and international actors to defraud Nigeria.”

“This is even more evident in the sense that P&ID claimed to have invested $40million in the project but the CBN said there was no record of importation of any money from P&ID.

“They went to an arbitration panel, $6.597billion was awarded against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Attempts were made on the part of the government. We engaged the company but there was no headway. When you look at the final award on August 16, 2017, it has ballooned to $9.6 billion.

“It is simply punitive on a gargantuan scale to inflict economic injury on Nigeria and its people. This is why the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ask for a stay of execution and to set aside the award.

“It is quite unfortunate because it is one thing to breach a contract, if you have entered into a contract so to say and if the other party has performed, but for you to be slammed with a $9.6 billion fines when the injury suffered by the other party cannot be quantified.

A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Aoondoakaa on Thursday said a the chief law officer of the country at the time the contract was purportedly signed, he did not know anything about it.

“Arbitration is supposed to be restitution, it is not supposed to give you what you ought to have made in 20 years. This is why we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the judgment is set aside.

“The contract was bizarre in the sense that a company comes and it says it wants contract and it does not bring anything to the table.

He added: “This contract was entered into in 2010, five clear years before this government came on board. But we accept responsibility because government is a continuum.

The Minister explained that a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo represented Nigeria at the arbitration panel in London.

He said: “Of course, yes. We were represented at the arbitration level. From the records available to me, there were three arbitrators. One was nominated by a party, another by the second party and the two parties agreed on the third arbiter.

“Nigeria was represented on the arbitration by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo. It is not true that we did not defend or that Nigeria was not represented.

“Even immediately after the award, we went into negotiation with P&ID. So, all these questions that the Federal Government did nothing were absolutely not true.

“The contract was awarded in 2010, arbitration started in 2013 and award was given in 2017. And the moment we were aware of this matter, we immediately stepped into the case.”

Mohammed pleaded for understanding of Nigerians by being patriotic in supporting the Federal Government.

“This is not about any particular administration, it is about Nigeria. The award translates into over N3trillion, which is 20% of our Foreign Reserves. It is an essential threat to Nigeria.”

As at press time, it was gathered that a crack team of foreign lawyers was being expected in the country by weekend.

A presidency source said: “The foreign lawyers will hold a review meeting with the Federal Government’s team on Monday.

“We are ready for the legal battle ahead if P&ID is adamant. This award cannot stand.”

August 30, 2019
EFCC begins probe of Obasanjo govt’s $16bn power project

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun the probe of the $16 billion power project of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

There had been conflicting figures on the exact cost of the project as some people put it at $16 billion while others say it is $13.8 billion.

It was gathered last night that the anti-graft agency may arrest key contractors involved in the power project scam which extended beyond the Obasanjo administration into those of former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

It was also learnt that about 18 top former and serving public officers, including two ex-ministers, may be questioned.

Also likely to be interrogated by the EFCC are some top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Preliminary investigation revealed that Rockson Engineering Limited got a chunk of the contracts worth about $2 billion.

The findings revealed that the transactions involving the firms implicated in the power contracts were characterised by absence of due diligence.

A reliable source in the anti-graft commission said a team of crack detectives had been put in place to interrogate the people involved in the scam.

The source said: “The operatives of the EFCC have launched a massive investigation into the alleged $16 billion power scam between 2006 and 2011 just as concerted efforts are being made to recover the humongous funds allegedly diverted into private pockets by different firms involved in the power project.

“The whole power project is $16 billion and anchored on generation, transmission and distribution.

“The project is being handled by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

“It is instructive to note that the NDPHC belongs to the three tiers of government, namely the Federal Government, state and local governments.

“Investigators also discovered that most of the firms that secured contracts under the power project collected huge sums in naira and dollars but did not perform up to 30 per cent before abandoning the project.

“Incidentally, most of the payments took place during the regimes of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

“The first amount released from the Excess Crude Account was about $8.3 billion.”

Another source claimed that some of the contractors will soon be invited by the EFCC for interrogation.

The source said: “A team of crack detectives has been raised by the commission to get to the roots of the power deal. Some of the key contractors will soon be quizzed.

“One of the major contractors – Rockson Engineering Ltd- is being allegedly taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria.

“From documents available to the commission, Rockson got four contracts and it received over $2 billion in the following tranches: $180 million; $220 million; $240 million and $480 million.

“Rockson also received questionable $11 million and another N150 million.These payments are now under investigation.

“These huge funds were released to Rockson for power generation alone.

“Investigation further revealed that despite the release of the above to Rockson, the firm was only able to execute 30 per cent of the construction.

“The firm also claimed that it imported certain materials since 2013 and lying in Onne Port without clearing.”

It was also gathered last night that the EFCC will look into alleged lapses by some top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The source added: “Lack of due diligence pervaded the transaction while certain officials of the CBN are under probe over certain regulatory flaws.

“Instead of opening Letter of Credit (LOC) in the name of the manufacturers of the equipment for the power project, operatives discovered that the LOC was opened in the name of Rockson.

“Investigation also revealed that instead of the LOC being put in place in Form M (tangibles and specific), the LOC was opened in Form A (intangibles like school fees, medical bills, etc).

An official in the media unit of the EFCC only said: “We will do everything to recover the huge funds and prosecute indicted officials accordingly.”

Investigation revealed that the EFCC might also review issues in the report of the House of Representatives Committee.

The House actually recommended 18 top former and public officers, including two ex-ministers, for investigation by anti-graft agencies, especially EFCC and ICPC.

Read Also: Court okays EFCC request to freeze Bauchi govt. account

Many salient issues were raised for investigation by the House Committee, which was headed by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.

The issues raised by the Elumelu Committee were as follows:

All NIPP payments were made without following Due Process

No meaningful progress was made in the execution of power contracts

Officials rushed to pay contractors in full even before engineering design for the projects had been completed and approved

NIPP contracts were not only overpriced in comparison with PHCN contracts, they were also wide off the mark

Widespread evidence of systematic over-scoping of projects in order to inflate costs both in PHCN and NIPP

NIPP Distribution EPC contracts were awarded at costs averaging about 10 times the norm when compared to PHCN contracts

The Ndudi Elumelu Committee was put in place by the House on January 31, 2008 to look into how much was spent on power projects.

In its report, the committee said that about $13.278 billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007.

The committee recommended termination of 13 contracts and review of 10 projects.

About 15 contracting and consulting companies were asked to be investigated by the appropriate agencies.

The report reads in part: “From the oral and documentary evidence, it was clearly established that the total expenditure in the power sector during the period 1999-2007 was US$13, 278,937,409.94billion.

“Indeed, had the supplementary budget of the power sector in 2007 been implemented, the expenditure could then have been over $16billion reported by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“There are also unfunded commitments to the tune of US$7.265billion for NIPP projects as at May 29, 2007.

“There is another US $1billion for PHCN capital projects awarded between 2000 and 2007, which have been captured in the 2008 Appropriation Act.

“Additionally, the total commitment of the NNPC and its Joint Venture partners(of which the Federal Government, through the NNPC has an average of 51% interest) towards IPP power plants, gas sources development, gas transmission and metering of JV IPPs, PHCN power plants and NIPP power plants, according to the submission of the acting GMD of the NNPC is US$7billion, out of which about US$1.62billion has been expensed, leaving outstanding commitments of over US$5.5billion out of which the Federal Government will provide about US$3billion.

“Recognition of these unfunded commitments would bring the total (funded and unfunded) FGN expenditure commitments in the power sector to over US$24.5billion between 1999 and 2007.

“From the assessment done during the Committee’s tour of the project sites, it is safe to conclude that no meaningful progress was made in the execution of power contracts.

“It is curious and quite strange that officials rush to pay contractors in full even before engineering design for the projects have been completed and approved.

“NIPP contracts were not only overpriced in comparison with PHCN contracts, they are also wide off the mark when viewed against comparable power stations in several parts of the world.

“A comparable review of the cost of power installations in varied regions of the world such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, U.S.A, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico and Chile showed that $10billion could have built plants to produce between 5,000 to 6,000 MW of electricity. But this amount failed to do so in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, all NIPP payments were made without following Due Process. In its place, a process called ‘Waiver of Due Process Certification for Payment’ was adopted in flagrant disregard of Due Process Policy, thus paving the way for dubious and highly risky payments to contractors and consultants by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The committee found hard and widespread evidence of systematic over scoping of projects in order to inflate costs both in PHCN and NIPP.

“At least 15 transmission lines and substation projects have been identified. For example, the New Haven-Ikot-Ekpene 2x330kv Double Circuit Line was over-scoped by 49% whilst the Afam-Ikot Ekpene 330kv line was over-scoped by more than 100%.

“The estimated aggregate cost inflation identified so far for transmission projects is over N20billion and this is recoverable from contractors.

“A clear example of project cost inflation is the proposed supply of 9No GE frame 9 gas turbines and auxiliaries at the cost of N185billion($1.55billion) awarded to Rockson International.

“In comparison, it is noteworthy that GE supplied 18No turbines of similar specification previously at about $404million, including cost of Technical Assistance (TA) services and Long-Term Service agreements (LTSA). The implicit cost inflation on the additional turbines and associated services exceeds $1.145billion.

“Another example is the costing of the so-called change-order provisions for Alaoji Power Plant (Phase I) at a highly-questionable amount of US$123million.

“NIPP Distribution EPC contracts were awarded at costs averaging about 10 times the norm when compared to PHCN contracts costs for similar projects in the past five years. This 1,000% cost inflation of the NIPP Distribution EPC work scopes translates to an aggregate overpricing of over N50billion.”

Regarding the funding of NIPP projects, the panel says: “The contracts were not funded from any Appropriation Act. What this means is that the National Assembly had no knowledge of the source of the funds of the NIPP projects. All the government functionaries who testified referred to what they termed Excess Crude Account as the source of funding.

“The Committee was not able to determine the level of involvement of the National Assembly in the decision to set up the Excess Crude account. What the committee established is that it was illegal and unconstitutional for such a fund to be established without legislative authorization. Sections 80(3 and 4) of the 1999 Constitution which states clearly.

On the role of the CBN, the panel’s report added: “The committee is perturbed by the failure of the CBN Governor to provide information in respect of Letters of Credit opened and where the money involving over $1billion has been kept all these years

“It is necessary to note that the Central Bank of Nigeria refused to provide the Committee with schedule of utilization and draw-downs on Letters of Credit as well as interest accrued on unutilized balances.

“The committee strongly believes that these monies might be on fixed deposit accounts with some banks.

“In view of the apparent unwillingness of the CBN to cooperate with the Committee in this matter or provide the Committee with a proper account of withdrawals from Excess Crude account, the balance on the account, where the monies in respect of the unutilized Letters of Credit are kept and interest that have accrued thereto, we recommend that the EFCC be invited to investigate the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria in respect of the above issues relating to Letters of Credit opened.

August 10, 2019
London Arbitration Tribunal awards $8.9b fine against Nigeria

A London Arbitration Tribunal has awarded $8.9 billion fine against Nigeria in favour of a British firm, Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P & ID).

The P & ID had initiated moves to recover a judgment debt of $6.6 billion in damages plus $2.3 billion in uncollected interest, which was calculated at $1.2 million a day, according to a lead judgement by Lord Hoffman.

If Nigeria fails to pay the judgment fine before February 15, P&ID can enforce the award against the country by seizing its assets in the United Kingdom (UK).

The fine emanated from the contractual breach of three previous administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

According to court papers, the judgment debt arose from failure to perform its contractual obligations under a gas supply and processing agreement it signed with P & ID.

The judgment sum had snowballed into $9 billion as a result of interest calculated at seven per cent from the date the decision was reached by an arbitration tribunal in the UK.

According to the UK Tribunal ruling, it was noted the agreement was executed on January 11, 2010 by P & ID and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for and on behalf of the Federal Government to refine associated natural gas (also known as wet gas) into non-associated natural gas to be used by Nigeria in powering its national electric grid.

The ruling also stated the Tribunal found that Nigeria had repudiated the agreement by failing to satisfy its contractual obligations and eventually abandoning the project contemplated there under, causing the British firm to lose substantial profits it would have earned over the 20-year period during which Nigeria was to supply the company with natural gas.

Under the agreement, the P&ID project would have generated 3000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity for Nigeria.

Natural gas that was being flared off would instead have been processed and used to generate electricity for Nigerians.

Court documents also showed March 20, 2013 was the date on which P & ID accepted Nigeria’s repudiation of the agreement.

However, Nigeria did not move to set aside the final award at the seat of arbitration, and under English law, the deadline for doing so has long passed.

The failure to accept and secure a settlement has led to saddling Nigeria with over $9 billion of additional debt.

According to court documents, earlier efforts to settle the contractual breach had been stalled by the Nigerian government.

On 3 May 2015, P&ID offered to settle the dispute with the Nigerian government for $850 million.

On 30 May 2015, the matter was brought before President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The government rejected the $850 million settlement, which was less than 10 per cent of the current judgment sum.

It was also learnt at present there is no idea which Nigeria assets would be affected, as this has not been decided but oil revenues might likely be target.

It was learnt if P & ID is successful at the hearing next month, it can enforce the award against Nigeria by seizing its assets in the UK. The tribunal ruling would give the company permission to enforce the award.

The consequences of the judgment will be devastating because Nigeria’s foreign currency reserves are $43.2 billion which means the P&ID judgment alone is over 11 per cent of Nigeria’s entire reserves.

Nigerian government contractual breach related to supplying P & ID with agreed-upon quantities of wet gas at first; 150 million, and finally, 400 million standard cubic feet per day during the 20-year period of supply while the firm was to strip away the heavy hydrocarbons known as Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) that make wet gas unsuitable for electricity generation, then return to Nigeria the lean gas thus created.

The refining process was to take place at the gas processing facilities to be built by P & ID on a site in Calabar.

Reacting to the issue, the Director Press, Ministry of Petroleum, Mr Idang Alibi who spoke with The Nation , confirmed the financial obligation.

He also confirmed the Ministry of Petroleum and Federal Government were aware and doing something about them.

He, however, did not provide details.

He only said that the Ministry will respond to it at the appropriate time.

January 29, 2019
Obasanjo’s third term plot was real – Fayose

… Ex- President knew about Yar’Adua’s ill-health before 2007 poll

…How Obasanjo knelt down for Gaddafi

The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, said the aborted third term agenda of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was real.

He said the principal officers of the National Assembly got N100 million each in 2006, while the rest of the lawmakers were paid N50 million per head.

He alleged that the former President knelt down for the late Libyan leader, Mouamar Gaddafi, to seek his backing for third term.

He also said Obasanjo knew about the ill-health of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua before he was elected as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

The governor made the startling revelations in the July 18, 2017 edition of THE INTERVIEW, a magazine published by a former Editor of THE PUNCH, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene.

Fayose said: “Yes it is true. The people I am going to mention here, two of the key players are now dead. That position of Presidential Selection Committee that I headed was set up by all PDP governors. Initially, they wanted Dr. Olusegun Agagu. Then, the majority insisted that they wanted Fayose. So, since the majority wanted me, Baba (Olusegun Obasanjo) invited me to Ota and encouraged me to go ahead. I remember the committee was made up of Governors Danjuma Goje, Ahmed Makarfi, Bukola Saraki, James lbori, me and one other person who I cannot remember now. I want to tell you that, at some point, the majority of the committee was more disposed to having Makarfi as the presidential nominee. l and one other person were the only dissenters

“So, as a loyal Obasanjo boy then, I went to Obasanjo then and told that this committee that was set up, everybody seemed to prefer Makarfi except me and one other person and we were in the minority.

“Five out of seven governors wanted Makarfi. Then Obasanjo pointedly told me that Markafi was too smart and would not be easily controlled by him and, therefore, I must ensure that Makarfi did not emerge the presidential candidate. He mandated me to be briefing him often about the way things were going.

“He confided in me that whether it was Makarfi or anybody that he was not prepared to leave. At that time, the third term agenda had begun to unfold in Abuja. I can tell you that l was co-opted into the secret committee that was behind it. In that body, we had had this senator from Plateau, Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Andy Uba and many others. We were the key players. Let me tell you the truth: at that time, I did not have a choice. l was just a young man without experience.

“The Senate meeting started at about 11:00 a.m. in the morning and by 1:00 p.m. each senator was asked to stand up and say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ before live television coverage whether they supported third term or not, and the majority had their way. So Obasanjo’s dream of third term was shut down. Thereafter, he called a national meeting of PDP, termed reconciliation meeting and denied that he asked or worked for third term.

“Meanwhile, before that time, N50 million was given to every federal lawmaker to support third term. The majority collected the money and still voted against third term. Principal officers got N100 million each. Where did that huge sum of money came from?”

Fayose opened up on the politics behind the choice of the late President Yar’Adua as a presidential candidate of PDP.

He said the current Chairman of the PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi was sidelined in favour of Yar’Adua.

He added: “Let me now come to the Yar’Adua issue. Obasanjo now called me and said, ‘Now that third term has failed, you should go ahead with the PDP committee. And in order for me to check those rooting for Markafi, I should go and sound Yar’Adua out on the ticket. He told me, ‘Don’t tell him I asked you to come. You psyche him up’. So, l met Yar’Adua in his lodge in Katsina. I met Yar’Adua in the company of Yakubu Tanimu (who became his influential chief economic adviser) and his police orderly.

“I remember that while our interaction lasted, the orderly knelt down close to Yar’Adua. I acted as directed by Obasanjo, but the man told me expressly that he was not well enough to aspire to be Nigerian president; that the job would be too rigorous for him.

“After much persuasion, he then told me the only condition under which he might consider running was if all stakeholders would sign up and reach an agreement to pick him as the consensus candidate because he did not want any hassles.

“I remember, before then, Yar’Adua was hardly attending Council of State meetings because of his health. So, l went to tell Baba what Yar’Adua told me. On the issue of Yar’Adua’s ill-health. I remember Obasanjo told me, ‘Don’t worry about his sickness; government money dey to manage his ill-health.’ Baba told me to go and put the outcome of my interaction with Yar’Adua in writing.

“Then Masari became the first loser; because, until then, Bello Masari as the Speaker of House of Reps was very loyal to Baba and did all the dirty jobs Baba wanted him to do, with the promise that he would be made the next Katsina governor after Yar’Adua. But once Yar’Adua became anointed as PDP candidate, he preferred Shema to be his successor. That was one of the conditions he listed. That was how a wedge came between Yar’Adua and Masari. “That was the genesis of the rift between Shema and Masari up until today. Shema was then the deputy national chairman of PDP. That was how Masari defected to CPC. What I am trying to say is that Obasanjo engineered all the bitterness that exists in Katsina politics today

“All the confusion in Nigeria today was caused by Obasanjo in his scheming to install a stooge, a weakling in power so that he would continue to be relevant.”

Fayose also spoke on how Obasanjo went on his knees to beg Gaddafi to seek the late dictator’s support for the third term plot.

He said: “It was such a pathetic scenario, so shameful. Obasanjo was speaking rapidly like a parrot. I was shocked beyond words. I never knew Obasanjo would be that humble.

“He was on one knee till the end of the conversation. Gaddafi kept quiet and was just watching Obasanjo. When Obasanjo stopped rambling, Gaddafi said, ‘Have you finished? Just know that I will not attend that meeting. I have other engagements.”

He also explained how on two major occasions when he went to visit Atiku at the height of Obasanjo’s third term bid, security details promptly reported him to the former President, even before he left the venue.

He said: “Obasanjo told me that when you capture a general and you don’t kill him, he’ll come back and kill you; that since Atiku tried to stop him and failed, he must pay for it. And he (Atiku) is still paying for it.”

Fayose said he knew, as an insider at the time, that Obasanjo betrayed former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, to get the United States support for this third term bid, after promising Taylor safe haven in Nigeria.”

Fayose said he had not spoken with President Muhammadu Buhari in the last two years.

July 27, 2017
EFCC, others to probe NN423billion contracts in Niger Delta

Why is it that the Federal Government released N423billion for 427 projects in the Niger Delta Region within a six-year period with little to show for it?

This is what the anti-graft agencies will unravel as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday referred a report from the Niger Delta ministry for action.

Most of the contracts totaling N700 billion but for which N423billion had been released were awarded during the administration of former Presidents Umaru Yaradua and Goodlcuck Jonathan.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Usani N. Usani told reporters at the end of the FEC meeting, that 60 per cent of the contracts sum, (about N423 billion) had been released for the 427 projects in the region without corresponding physical delivery on site.

According to him, those found culpable in the investigations would either be made to return money or be prosecuted by the anti-graft agencies.

He said: “Today FEC received approval of a project technical audit committee report ‎which was carried out by the ministry in investigating all contracts awarded and projects and programmes carried out in the ministry from inception of the ministry from 2009 to 2015.

“The revealing content of the report shows that over N423 billion has been expended in the region by the ministry alone, ‎not other intervening agencies. From this amount, project execution rate has been at 12percent, with an average completion rate of a project standing at 5 years. And the impact rate is 8percent.

“So, today we have sought approval from Council to have the recommendations of this report conveyed to the legitimate agencies charged with the statutory responsibilities of recovering government assets that are either misappropriated, misused or fund to be idling in some quarters.

“With this, it means all those who have accessed government resources for one purpose or another must be compelled to make adequate use of same otherwise face the recommendations that go with such violations and that is our position concerning that report. And we have got Council approval for that.

“It’s also important to place emphasis on the fact that in the region of 60per cent resources in terms of funds had been paid out to contractors with that 12per cent completion rate. When we say 60per cent, it is 60per cent of the amount of money that was actually appropriated, being N700billion. And so, 60per cent of that constitutes N423 billion.

“So, to find that N423 billion has been expended in the region with the type of result we see obviously shows that there is something tangibly and obviously wrong with how procurement had been carried out in the ministry,” he said.

He stressed that only those contractors who failed to deliver on their contractual terms after receiving payments would be sanctioned.

He however clarified that some of the contractors actually did well and at such are being commended.

Asked whether those public officials found to have colluded with the erring contractors would be sanctioned, Usani said those found culpable would also face the music.

“The report has also recommended where complicity is found in the evaluation or monitoring personnel or department, that sanctions ‎should be taken. So, I can confirm that to you.

On East West road, he said “As you know, no government agency is sufficiently funded. That becomes a major challenge, the second issue is to address the concern about commitment or lack of it by government, no administration to the best of my knowledge within a democratic setting has been more committed than this present government.

“And demonstration in this is the action of this administration to go ahead and seek extra budgetary special loan credit from China to the tune of $500 million, now we are making a fresh application to increase that to $774 million dollars to be able to tackle an aspect of that road and this came under five of the special projects nominated by the President to see that work doesn’t stop and if you look at our budget as lean as it is, about 50 per cent goes on the allocation to the east west road.

“Beyond that for this year the budget ministry proposed N8billion counterpart funding for the credit facility we are getting from china and so we are committed but it is just impossible to say we will be able to allocate enough funds because the competing demand do not allow satisfaction in every sector of the economy, so it’s a problem for us.”

Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnna Onu, noted that Nigeria’s dependence on importation of raw materials and products has had very adverse effects on Nigeria’s economy particularly on job creation.

He said: “Nigeria is a great nation and we have abundance of natural resources in our country. It doesn’t make sense that we leave what we have and be importing from outside.

“For example, between 2000 and 2015, Nigeria spent as much as N49 trillion importing raw materials and products. At that time, not that it was sustainable, but our economy could manage such level of importation because crude oil sold most of the time above $100 per barrel. But definitely now, such level of importation is unsustainable but we are paying a price right now because if we have depended on our own raw materials, we would have had a service.

“With the sharp drop in the prices of crude oil, Nigeria would have been able to withstand such a shock and we would not have had such problem that we are passing through now.

“So, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is determined to change the direction that Nigeria is passing through. In the past 56 years, we have depended on foreign commodities. We have relied on importation. We have sacrificed jobs.

“We now want to move our economy away from that into innovation driven-economy. So, Raw Materials Processing and Development Council, one of the agencies under the supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology had to undertake very important study.

“Before the study was done, there was extensive consultation with research institutes, countries and universities, businesses, industries, governments at all levels to determine our level of dependence on outside products and to find a way we can stop this.

“We had seen what other countries such as Canada, China, India, Japan and South Korea did. It is now very clear to us that if we move in the direction that approval was given today, Nigeria will be having service in the next five years and this will be very helpful because what it means is that the abundance of natural resources can now be utilised for industrial production in the country. Then, we’ll be able to give jobs to Nigerians.

“The major thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari administration is that we should be producing made-in-Nigeria goods so that those who want to work will be able to do so and this is the way to do so. Above all, as a great nation, we must work for self-reliance. We must be a self-reliant nation. Other countries have achieved it. We must be able to achieve it,” he stated.

May 31, 2017
Who is Orubebe?

Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe is a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from Ijaw decent in Delta State.

Born on June 6, 1959, Orubebe was appointed Nigerian Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in 2010 when President Goodluck Jonathan (then Acting President) announced his new cabinet.

He is a graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), obtaining a B.Sc in Political Science in 1985, but later obtained a Masters Degree in International Relations from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, in 2005.

Orubebe became a Supervisory Councilor, and later Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area. In July 2007 under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, he was appointed a Minister of Special Duties.

He later became Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs when that ministry was created in December 2008 to oversee the amnesty programme for militants from that region.

In January 2010, he said the proposed 10 per cent equity share policy on infrastructural development in the Niger Delta region would make vandalism and crisis a thing of the past.

Controversially, on March 31, 2015, the elder, acting as a polling agent for the PDP, almost distrupted the collation of president election results when he threw caution to the wind and accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, of bias.

He later apologized to Nigerians over his conduct, urging them not to follow in his footsteps.

“I totally regretted my action,” he told bewildered Nigerians.

The aftermath of the controversy made thousands of Nigerians raised eyebrow on Tuesday when a post appeared on his twitter handle, allegedly declaring his plans to join the All Progressive Congress (APC).

However, his media aide has denied that there is no truth in the post claiming that the PDP chieftain remains loyal to the party.

May 19, 2015
‘I don’t have problem with presidential task force’

President of the NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has welcomed any contribution from the Presidency that would help the performance of the Super Eagles in the World Cup.

There was insinuation in some quarters that the Presidency is planning a Task Force that will assist the Nigeria Football Federation in preparation for the 2014 World Cup as well as during the competition.

The NFF boss told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the football house will welcome any intervention from the Presidency that will help the national team to excel at the tournament.

A task force was put in place by the Federal Government under late President Umaru Yar’Adua prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“Anything presidential is important to us, we need that intervention if it comes, so we need that presidential support and the Task Force is part of the presidential support,” Maigari said.

Maigari also expressed confidence on the ability of the Super Eagles to do well at the Mundial even as he insisted that the NFF does not impose players on the national team coaches.

On the alleged semi-final mandate given to the national team by Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, the NFF president said there is no target given to the team because that may mount pressure on them which he argued may be counter productive.

Maigari also reassured on the Eagles American camp which he said will be comfortable enough for the country.

April 23, 2014
Electoral Offences Tribunal

•US’ timely reminder of the Uwais panel’s recommendation

The clamour for a law to establish Electoral Offences Tribunal, in Nigeria, before the 2015 general elections, got a boost last week. The latest support came from the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mrs. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who led a 23-man team to the third meeting of the Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission, in Abuja. According to the under-secretary, her interactions with Nigerians show that many of them are in support of such a tribunal. She promised that the commission is working to make the 2015 election ‘the most peaceful, free, fair and credible election’ in Nigeria’s history.

This is one intervention by a foreign official that we identify with. So, we urge the National Assembly to hearken to the umpteenth call for the passage of the law, to establish this important tribunal. To ignore the urgency for the tribunal will amount to playing the ostrich, considering the tension in the polity. Indeed, in the country’s history, electoral malfeasance has never been as worse as in the current democratic dispensation, particularly during the 2007 general elections. We recall that it was the condemnation that greeted that electoral fraud that led late President c, to establish the Justice Muhammad Uwais panel, which among other recommendations, suggested the need for an electoral offences tribunal.

Regrettably, the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, which is a direct beneficiary of the electoral malfeasance of the 2007 elections, has shown lukewarm interest in the creation of this body. Also, members of the National Assembly, some of whom benefitted from that electoral brigandage to climb to national prominence, appear uninterested in ensuring that the recommendations of the Uwais panel become law. This joint interest in the benefits of electoral philandering, is perhaps why we needed a reminder from a foreign diplomat, of the importance of such a piece of legislation.

It must be borne in mind that when partisans threaten violence against electoral brigandage, it is an indication of frustration with the absence of justice in the electoral process. So, while condemning threats of post-election violence, we believe the best antidote is to allow the will of the people to prevail. This will be achieved by ensuring that elections are transparently conducted, and where there are infractions, that the culprits are effectively brought to justice. No doubt, the persistent failure to bring past election riggers to justice over the years helps to embolden potential riggers.

Indeed, if the National Assembly is determined to give Nigerians a free, fair and credible election, the bill can be given a top priority to ensure its expeditious passage, before this year’s Ekiti and Osun elections. We consider the two elections a prelude to the 2015 general elections. We are also worried that if the two elections are tainted by rigging, the political parties, and the electorates will become distraught of the process going into next year’s election. The consequences will be that the loser may be unwilling to accept defeat, and that could lead to violence.

With the seething security crisis that has engulfed the north eastern part of the country; every effort must be made by the executive and legislative authorities, to ensure that election- induced crisis is not added to the combustible mix. So, we expect that President Jonathan and the leadership of the National Assembly will find wisdom in the need to urgently pass the electoral offences tribunal law, in the interest of our nation. They must realise that there is no gaming on this score, unless of course they do not care about the country.

February 25, 2014
‘Jonathan didn’t sack me; I resigned’

After serving as Minister of Special Duties and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in the cabinets of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Godsday Orubebe was one of the ministers President Jonathan reportedly relieved of their positions last week. But the ex-minister told some reporters in Asaba, the Delta State capital, including our own VINCENT AKANMODE, that he was not sacked; he voluntarily resigned his appointment to pursue his governorship ambition. He also spoke on President Jonathan’s rumoured second-term ambition and his relationship with the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark who once vowed that Orubebe would not become the governor of Delta State while he (Clark) remained alive.

Why did you quit the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan?

First and foremost, people should help me to thank God who made it possible for me to serve the nation for more than six years. In the history of this country, only very few people have been there for more than six years. I also believe that the opportunity is not meant for only one person. I have done my best serving this country.

I also believe that I should also come to my state to use what God has given to me to join the Governor and the people of Delta State to move the state forward. I had to appeal to Mr. President, and he allowed me to come and play a great role in Delta State, having spent over six years as a minister, working for this country.

I remain grateful to God and the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. I also remain grateful to my leader, my mentor and elder brother, President Goodluck Jonathan. I remain grateful to the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the people of Delta State for the support they gave me to remain in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for more than six years.

Are you saying that the reports to the effect that President Jonathan sacked you from his cabinet are not correct?

How can? After every FEC meeting, the Minister of Information comes out to brief journalists. It was unfortunate that so many people decided not to listen to the Minister of Information. They decided to form their own opinion.

I worked with President Jonathan very, very well. He is an elder brother. He is a friend. He is my leader. He is a great Nigerian leader and I worked with him over the years. I was not sacked. I resigned and he allowed me to go when I told him that I needed to come to Delta State to support the Governor and the people of the state to move it to a greater level, having contributed my little quota towards the advancement of this country.

I do not want to end my political career without coming to my own state to deposit what God has given to me through President Goodluck Jonathan. That was why I resigned to contest the governorship election in Delta State in 2015.

Are you saying that your relationship with the President is still very cordial?

In fact, is 100 per cent cordial. At every given time, I am ever ready, I am at his beck and call to do what he wants me to do. My coming to Delta State cannot stop me from working for him. Anyday, anytime, I am at his beck and call to do whatever he wants me to do.

Why do you want to govern Delta State?

I believe that having been a councillor, a local government council chairman, an executive member of the primary education board in Delta State, a party chairman, an adviser to Governor James Ibori on Urban and Regional Planning, Minister of Special Duties, Supervising Minister of National Planning Commission, Minister of State for Niger Delta and thereafter the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs over these years, I have garnered some experience.

God has been faithful to me. He has deposited enough knowledge in me and I want to dedicate the knowledge that has been given to me by God to the service of the people of Delta State. I also want to support the governor that has moved the state this far, to add my own quota to move the state forward. And I think God has helped me and endowed me to be able to take off from where Dr. Uduaghan will stop.

You inaugurated a group known as the Delta Peoples Forum (DPF). Many people believe that it is the springboard for the realisation of your political aspiration in Delta State…

It is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which aims to bring all Deltans together, to uplift the state. That is why their slogan is “Deltans Working Together.’ It is a great NGO and it is there to support the government; support Dr. Uduaghan to move Delta State from one level to the other. I believe the NGO is a strong team that would support any government that would come to power in Delta State. It is going to be a focal point of political activities.

What can you offer the state if you are elected governor?

If Deltans work together to take the state to the next level, we must be able to push the state forward. We are going to add to what Governor Uduaghan has done to take Delta State to the next level; to glorify what God has destined for the state.

What is your relationship with the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark now, given his earlier threat that you would not become the governor of Delta State in his lifetime?

Chief Edwin Clark is my father, my leader, my master and my mentor. He has the right to correct me any time he feels that I should be corrected. I have no disagreement with him, and if for any reason he feels bad about whatever statement I must have made or I was misquoted to have made, he should in all graciousness consider it fit in his mind to forgive and forget.

Chief Edwin Clark is a rare gem. That we are seeing him now in our generation is a rare privilege. He is not only the leader of the Ijaw in Nigeria and Diaspora, many ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, which comprises nine states not only in the South/South but also parts of South/West and South/East, also accept him as their leader. No man can disregard such an elder statesman.

What is your take on the alleged second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan?

One, I want to say that President Goodluck Jonathan is qualified and allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to run for a second term. Two, those people who are opposed to him also know what he can do. President Goodluck Jonathan has the capacity to provide for Nigerians what we need.

In the almost three years that he has ruled this country, we have all seen what he has done. The rails that were not working before his time are now working. The roads that were not fixed are now being fixed. The East/West Road, which was not meant to be completed, is about 68 per cent complete and it is going to be completed by December 2014. Our airports are working and power is now put deliberately by government in the hands of the people who can make it work. It is the private sector that can do it. President Jonathan has initiated policies and programmes to ensure that Nigeria moves from where it is now to a higher level.

For a leader to move a country forward, he is bound to step on toes. I believe that the opposition is coming from the people who are used to the old order. But there is a new concept of governance in Nigeria now and President Jonathan is determined to take Nigeria to the next level. He is a great leader who loves Nigeria and thinks about Nigeria. I implore all Nigerians who worked for him in 2011 to come together to do it again, because he will not disappoint Nigerians.

Having worked with President Jonathan for this long, do you share the sentiment in some quarters that he is a weak leader?

I think having been governed by the military over the years has also affected our psyche and our perception of people who are leaders of this country. President Goodluck Jonathan is a democrat per excellence. He has allowed the rule of law to work in this country. So, what are they talking about? President Goodluck Jonathan is a firm leader. If he believes in anything, he will take it to a logical conclusion. President Goodluck Jonathan does not believe in waking up and sacking people because of rumour.

He is very thorough. He must know why something has happened. He must investigate, he must ask questions to know why these things should happen, and you know Nigerians are not used to that. And I think a new way of governance, which is the democratic process, must go into the reasoning of Nigerians. That is the only way we can develop our democracy.

He is not a weak leader. He is a great leader who rules the country by the rule of law and the provisions of the constitution of this country.

What do you think are his chances in the 2015 presidential election?

Very, very bright. I can tell you that I have not seen any candidate from anywhere that can rival President Goodluck Jonathan. Who has the credentials that he has? I believe that the challenges we have now that people are talking about are not as serious as the one we had in 2011. If you listen to the programme during the power and economic summits, the private sector openly testified that the revolution we are having in Nigeria now, we have never had it before. I believe that Nigerians know what to do. I am convinced that he is going to make it again.

But there are claims in certain quarters that President Jonathan agreed to serve for a single term of four years…

People have peddled this rumour over and over, but none has been able to come up with that agreement that they signed. The President has told Nigerians that he never signed any agreement. Who do you want to believe? Is it the people who are saying he signed an agreement because of their personal interest or our President, who has said that he never signed any agreement?

I worked very closely with President Jonathan. I was the Deputy Director-General of President Jonathan Campaign Organisation. There is nothing like the one-term agreement that they are talking about. It is a mystery to me, and I believe Mr. President wholeheartedly, that there was no agreement of that nature. He could not have signed such an agreement when he knows that he is entitled to two terms. He is free to run, the constitution permits him to run and we will encourage him to run.

How would you rate the performance of Governor Uduaghan?

I think my friend and brother, His Excellency Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan started very well and he is finishing very strong. I will continue to support and pray for him to take this state to greater heights. He has tackled the problems of this state from so many dimensions. He has been able to work hard to ensure that security is maintained in the state. He has introduced a new concept of moving Delta State beyond oil. He has tried his best and I think that he is finishing very strong to the glory of God.

Do you have any regret as a minister?

I think I should thank God, first, for the opportunity He gave to me, and, secondly, for what I have learnt and for the knowledge I now have about Nigeria. I have no single regret. I remain grateful to God. I remain grateful to my elder brother, mentor and leader, President Goodluck Jonathan. I can’t help but to thank God.

How do you react to the emergence of the new National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Mu’azu? Do you think he can return the party on the path of sustainable peace?

You can even see from the few weeks he has spent as chairman that things are turning around. He is great Nigerian. He has the reach, the capacity, the contacts and the courage. PDP is fortunate to have a dynamic chairman, and he is building the house very fast. He is leading PDP to victory again. He is already leading the party to the promised land. The signs are very, very promising and glaring and we are very confident that he is moving the PDP to victory again.

I want every member of PDP to pray for the leadership of the party and to support the leadership of PDP so that we can make it again. By the grace of God, PDP will win more states. Our credentials can speak for us and we are confident that PDP will make it again.

February 19, 2014