The Nation Newspaper

Tag: uncovered

  • Fayemi: we’ve uncovered Fayose’s plan to sell govt property

    Ekiti State Governor-elect Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his outgoing counterpart, Mr. Ayo Fayose, have accused each other of breaching public trust.

    While Fayemi said he had uncovered an alleged plan by Fayose to secretly sell off some government property through some shady deals, Fayose said Fayemi’s agents were making moves to block the allocation of new shops to traders at the new Erekesan Market.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by his Special Adviser (Media), Olayinka Oyebode, the governor-elect said Fayose was planning to sell off the Erekesan Market, many parcels of government land and other utilities.

    He warned that anybody transacting business with the outgoing governor was doing so at his own risk.

    According to him, the incoming administration will not honour such transactions.

    The statement said: “The attention of …Dr. Fayemi has been drawn to the clandestine moves by outgoing Governor Fayose to hurriedly dispose off some valuable properties of Ekiti State government through shady arrangements.

    “Some of the properties are:

    1. A large expanse of land between Ondo State Civil Service Commission and Elan Club, in front of Government Printing Press, Alagbaka, Akure.
    2. Erinfun Livestock Development Centre, covering 600 hectares of land on Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    iii. The new Oja Oba Market, among others.

    “We hereby inform and advise the public, particularly prospective buyers, to be circumspect in entering into any transaction with outgoing Governor Fayose in respect of any of the properties mentioned above or any other one whatsoever as the incoming administration may not recognise or give effect to such transactions.

    “A word is enough for the wise!”

    But in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said Fayemi’s agents were allegedly planning to take a legal action to stop the allocation of shops to market men and women.

    He said: “Desperate All Progressives Congress (APC) goons, led by Fayemi’s Deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, have concluded plans to scuttle allocation of the over 700 lock-up shops in the new Oja Oba Market to beneficiaries, who have already obtained forms.

    “They are set to go to court to stop allocation of the shops.

    “Meanwhile, these same APC people were against the market project when it started.

    “But now that the project is nearing completion, they want to allocate the shops to their cronies, not minding owners of the shops, which were demolished to pave the way for the new market.

    “Ekiti people should remember how these same APC people shared the Irewolede Housing Estate, Ado Ekiti duplexes built by the Segun Oni Poples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

    “This time round, however, the people will prevail. The lock-up shops will be allocated just the way the over 200 open shops were openly allocated a few weeks ago.”

  • Motorists, pedestrians worried over uncovered manholes

    Motorists and pedestrians within Lagos metropolis have expressed worries over uncovered manholes on some roads in the city, describing the situation as dangerous.

    Some of those who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday said that they had continuously incurred huge expenses after their vehicles’ tyres  had  entered uncovered manholes while speeding.

    NAN reports that a manhole; alternatively called  a utility hole, cable chamber, maintenance hole, inspection chamber, access chamber and sewer hole, or confined space, is the top opening to an underground utility vault.

    It is used to house an access point for making connections, inspection, valve adjustments or performing maintenance on underground and buried public utility and other services including water, sewers, telephone, electricity, storm drains, district heating and gas.

    NAN also reports that there are 18 open manholes, located between Barracks Bus Stops and Costain Bus Stops on the Apapa Bound Carriageway on Ikorodu Road and 12 manholes without cover on Eko Bridge on the CMS bound carriageway.

    Similarly, there are 21 open manholes on the same bridge median.

    Also the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway from Oshodi down to Apapa is not left out of uncovered manholes on both carriageways.

    The road users, however, said that the situation was usually worse whenever it rains when the roads’ surfaces are covered by flood.

    They said that it was always difficult for them to notice the uncovered manholes.

    Mr Daniel Onwe, a Lagos-based lawyer, told NAN that to allow uncovered manhole on the road was a violation of human rights to free movements.

    Onwe added, “It is also a threat to the lives of the blind.”

    He called on Federal and Lagos State governments to ensure that uncovered manholes are covered to save the lives.

    Onwe said there was the urgent need for to safeguard the lives of the blind and other pedestrians who risked falling into open manholes.

    “Agencies of either the Federal or the state government saddled with the responsibilities of covering the manholes should be alive to their duties always.

    “They must not wait for when an accident occur especially when it affects persons with disabilities before acting.

    “I appeal to both the Federal and the Lagos State Governments to urgently do something to avert such hazardous situation,’’ he said.

    Also, Mr Oluwale  Omolanke, a commercial bus driver, said he lost two tyres and a wheel damaged  when his vehicle entered an open manhole located in Mende area of Maryland.

    “On that day, there was another vehicle right ahead of mine; and before I could realise it, I found my tyres hooked inside the manhole and I could not continue.

  • I’ve uncovered plots to discredit me, says Akpabio

    I’ve uncovered plots to discredit me, says Akpabio

    Immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday raised the alarm over alleged plots to discredit  him.

    He said those behind the plots would send “spurious and baseless petitions” to  anti-graft agencies and circulated them in the social media.

    The plots, he said, are multi-faceted and primed to scandalise him as well as instigate the public against him.

    The former  Commissioner for Information in the Akpabio administration, Aniekan Umanah, said information reaching him, showed that “the desperate people who are behind the anti-Akpabio and anti-Udom project, are already spreading spurious allegations of  unfanthomable aquisitions while in office”.

    He said: “ The immediate past administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio also has nothing to hide.

    “Information at our disposal showed that these desperate elements whose identities we know, were being sponsored by certain sore losers with their selfish motives.

    “We also gathered that fake petitions containing spurious allegations are being sent to anti-corruption agencies to probe the last administration. We welcome this development since we have nothing to hide. But we are challenging these dodgy characters to be truthful enough to tell the said anti-corruption agencies their hidden agenda which is well known to us.

    “At the appropriate time, we will expose these scheming characters and their sponsors. Another of their plan is to engage in massive negative media against Akpabio and the incumbent Governor , with the intent to weaken and distract the current administration in the state. We can confirm that huge war-chest has been assigned to this project.

    “If these people love the state so much as they claim, why can’t they channel the money being set aside to create crisis in the state, into more productive venture like creating more jobs for our teeming youths, thousands of who, were employed by the Akpabio administration, with this administration also planning to engage several thousands in productive engagements.

    “We are bringing this into public domain not because we are afraid of whatever steps being taken by these unpatriotic elements, but for the good people of Akwa-Ibom and Nigerians to know who to hold responsible in an event of a crisis in the state.”

    The statement added that the Udom Emmanuel administration would remain focussed and not be distracted. He expressed  confidence that the place of Akpabio in history of purposeful governance was already assured by posterity and “no amount of blackmail would rubbish it”.

    It added that even in the heat of campaign in the last general elections, one area that the opposition could not fault Akpabio and his team was quality delivery of dividends of democracy.

    “It was not a government on paper or of abstract performance. Akwa Ibomites could see what Akpabio spent their money on. Nigerians could also see. Even the whole world applauded it”.

  • Plot to discredit Ambode uncovered

    Plot to discredit Ambode uncovered

    A group, Eko Liberation Movement (ELM), has alerted to a plan to procure and tender a fake medical report to discredit the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode.

    In a statement by its convener, Gbolahan Agboola, the group said: “A faceless group is set to procure a fake medical report to discredit Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, as being unsound in mind, body and spirit.

    “There is no amount of shenanigan by the desperate opposition to discredit him that will change our resolve to support him in his bid to keep Lagos on the track of greatness and prosperity.

    “Their latest antics are to claim that Ambode had suffered a strange mental illness. We cannot be deceived by any false claim from any group or individuals. Ambode is our man for the job of moving Lagos to the next level.

    “He possesses the mental, spiritual and physical capacity to take Lagos to the next level.  Well-meaning Lagosians should disregard such rumours and ill-advised activities of the opposition.”

  • Plot to discredit Ambode uncovered

    Plot to discredit Ambode uncovered

    A group, Eko Liberation Movement (ELM), has alerted to a plan to procure and tender a fake medical report to discredit the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode.

    In a statement by its convener, Gbolahan Agboola, the group said: “A faceless group is set to procure a fake medical report to discredit Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, as being unsound in mind, body and spirit.

    “There is no amount of shenanigan by the desperate opposition to discredit him that will change our resolve to support him in his bid to keep Lagos on the track of greatness and prosperity.

    “Their latest antics are to claim that Ambode had suffered a strange mental illness. We cannot be deceived by any false claim from any group or individuals. Ambode is our man for the job of moving Lagos to the next level.

    “He possesses the mental, spiritual and physical capacity to take Lagos to the next level.  Well-meaning Lagosians should disregard such rumours and ill-advised activities of the opposition.”

  • Anambra: Plot to drop Nwoye as PDP candidate uncovered

    There was anxiety yesterday over alleged plot to drop the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Tony Nwoye in the forthcoming November 16 Anambra State Governorship election.

    Nwoye’s name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Wednesday by the PDP National Secretariat.

    Some forces are however pushing for Dr. Andy Uba’s candidature.

    The forces were said to be desperate to secure an ex-parte order from a court to force INEC to accept Uba as the party’s candidate.

    The PDP has up till September 18 to finalise the choice of its candidate for the election.

    President Goodluck Jonathan was expected to meet Uba yesterday on the stalemate in Anambra governorship candidate.

    But the Anambra League of Professionals and the Elders Forum yesterday warned against any attempt to alter the results of the governorship primaries won by Nwoye.

    According to investigation, the choice of PDP governorship candidate has created division between some leaders of the party and forces in the presidency.

    A top source said: “There is a plot to drop Nwoye by some forces in the presidency

    “There is a plan to coerce the Presidency to remove the name of the duly elected PDP Candidate in the State.

    “This is creating tension because a top shot in INEC is alleged to be part of the plot.

    “They want to secure ex-parte order to declare the candidature of Nwoye as invalid.”

    But the Anambra League of Professionals and the Elders Forum yesterday warned against any attempt to alter the results of the governorship primaries won by Nwoye.

    In a statement signed by Mr. Okeke Anthony for Anambra League of Professionals and Hon Onwuatuegwu Alexander(The Elders Forum, Anambra State), they warned against imposition of a PDP governorship candidate.

    The statement said: “As at the time of writing this report, Senator Andy Uba will be meeting President Goodluck Jonathan to convince him to cancel the result of the PDP Governorship Primary organised at Awka on the 24th of August 2013 and declare him Andy Uba as the PDP Candidate of Anambra State.

    “This explains why he is using every antics to distract Mr President into succumbing to his schemes.

    “The people of Anambra State are tired of imposition of candidates. We don’t need another four years of the last eight years

    “Their mission to the Presidency this time will fail as it has always. In line with the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, the NWC organised an unprecedented Governorship Primary Election on the 24th of August, 2013 and elected a popular candidate who won against money-bags, sending a strong signal to the nation that the days of Amala and money-bag politics are long gone in Anambra State

    “Any attempt to alter the result of the popular decision of the grass-root PDP delegates in Anambra State, will be disastrous and counter-productive for the PDP in Anambra State.

    “The People of Anambra state will continue to follow the footsteps of the owl’s kinsmen. The owl farted and asked his kinsmen to beat drums for him. His kinsmen told him “tufiakwa” we cannot beat drum for an abomination.”

  • Plot to deregister Amaechi’s Governors’ Forum uncovered

    Plot to deregister Amaechi’s Governors’ Forum uncovered

    A plot to kill the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) led by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been uncovered.

    If it succeeds, the action will pave the way for the recognition of Governor Jonah Jang as chairman.

    It was gathered that some forces in the Presidency, in connivance with some governors, are trying to prevail on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to de-register the NGF.

    The plan is to, after the de-registration, declare the NGF being led by Amaechi as illegal.

    The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on March 2, 2009 registered the NGF with a 12-man group of trustees, including Vice-President Namadi Sambo, then Kaduna State governor.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that some forces in the Presidency had been disturbed following the failure of the Jang faction to secure the backing of the majority of the NGF members last Thursday.

    The Jang faction had only 16 of the 36 governors behind it at the inauguration of its secretariat last Thursday in Abuja.

    The “shocking development” made anti-Amaechi forces in the Presidency to go back to the drawing board on how to force most of the governors to abandon Amaechi.

    One of the options being weighed is to deregister the NGF being led by Amaechi.

    To set the ground for the de-registration, one of the aggrieved governors had on Saturday claimed that the NGF Constitution with which the Forum was registered with the CAC was unknown to members.

    A source said: “The anti-Amaechi forces in the presidency have decided to make the NGF battle a do-or-die affair. They believe it is humiliating for 16 out of 36 governors to be following Jang about after the NGF poll.

    “They have just concluded a plot to deregister the authentic NGF being led by Amaechi in CAC. Their permutation is that once it is an illegal body, the governors will be forced to associate with Jang’s faction.”

    Some of the reasons which the anti-Amaechi camp will give for the de-listing include alleged use of forged constitution to register the Forum and non-filing of appropriate annual reports to the CAC on the activities of the Forum – in line with Article 19(1) of the Forum’s constitution.

    “Article 19(1) says: “The income and property of NGF whosoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of organisation as set forth in this Rules and Regulations/ Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus, or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members of the organisation.”

    In the North, a plot to remove the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, as the chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum is said to have been hatched. The forum’s meeting is billed for Thursday in Kaduna.

    The anti-Amaechi forces are pushing for Aliyu’s removal by latching on the fact that he had completed his two terms in office as the chairman of the Forum since 2009.

    Besides, a former minister is said to have been recruited into a plot to hijack the party machinery from the governor and impeach him.

    It was learnt that the governor ran into trouble for not only backing Amaechi but for disclosing that President Goodluck Jonathan entered into a one-term pact with PDP governors in 2011 before he got the party’s mandate.

    Aliyu has consistently maintained that it is the turn of the North to produce the president in 2015.

    The source said: “They want to force Babangida Aliyu to step down as the chairman of the NSGF. They have just realised that he has overstayed in office.

    “Actually, Babangida was elected as the chairman of NSGF in 2007 and asked to stay in office again in 2009. By the time a fresh election ought to hold, the politics of the illness of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua had set in. Northern governors unanimously mandated Aliyu to continue to hold the forte because of the political tension in the country occasioned by Yar’Adua’s illness.

    “Now the forces in the Presidency, in connivance with three governors and a former minister, are plotting against the governor. Although Babangida Aliyu tried to make up with President Goodluck Jonathan during the flag-off of Zungeru Hydro-power project last week, the forces are not ready to forgive him.”

    Presidency has said President Goodluck Jonathan has no hand in the NGF crisis.

    There is intense lobbying of members of the Niger State House of Assembly to impeach Aliyu, a source said.

    Members are being promised money to join the plot.

    “There is also a plan to precipitate a crisis of epic proportions, with the aim of destabilising the state and seizing control of the party structure from Aliyu.

    The ex-minister is alleged to be working in collusion with top politicians from Zone A, consisting of the Nupe, who are in the majority. The promise of governorship returning to the zone is the carrot that the former minister is dangling before politicians in the zone.

    The source said: “Niger State has a zoning arrangement which takes the Governorship slot to Zone C (Kontagora zone) after Zone B (Minna Zone), where Governor Babangida Aliyu hails from, would have served out his two terms in 2015.

    “The ex-Minister met with key stakeholders from Zone A in Bida on Saturday 11th May, 2013 after he attended the reception organised in honour of the Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Hon Saidu Ndako Idris Kpaki in Kpaki Village.