The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed Boko Haram logistics base, along with some vehicles, at Tumbun Sale in Northern Borno State.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the operation was conducted on Tuesday this week after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed the presence of some Boko Haram insurgents’ vehicles and several fighters, camouflaging under thick vegetation within the area, where the insurgents had converged in order to launch attacks against own troops’ positions. the statement said that the ATF scrambled two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, to attack the target area in multiple waves. The first wave of attacks recorded direct hits on a suspected insurgents ammunition/fuel dump, sending it up in flames.
“Subsequent strikes also resulted in the destruction of some vehicles and neutralization of several BHTs. The few surviving BHTs, that were seen fleeing the area, were mopped-up in follow-on attacks. “The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the tempo of operations with a view to destroying all remnants of the terrorists on the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno.”
President Buhari commissions Portharcourt International Airport Terminal Building in Rivers State on 25th Oct 2018 | State House photo
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) from domestic air travels aimed at reducing air fares, enabling speedy movement of more people and spurring business activities that will stimulate the economy.
Speaking today, Thursday in Port Harcourt, River State, at the commissioning of the new terminal of Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, the President said that the decision by the Federal Government to remove VAT from domestic air transportation was in line with global best practices of making air transportation affordable, which will subsequently lead to the creation of more jobs by the air transport service value chain.
He said that the removal of VAT will also increase revenue for the government with more traffic at the airports.
The President noted that the increase in national population with consequent surge in air passenger traffic necessitated upgrading and construction of new airports across the country.
“I am very pleased to formally commission the new International Terminal of the Port Harcourt airport, Omagwa, today. This ceremony represents a significant landmark for international air travellers, particularly from the South-South region and the entire country.
“You will recall that after opening the major airport terminals in the country in the late 70s and early 80s, not much was added to increase the passenger handling capacity of these facilities by successive administrations.
“Following the large increase in national population with consequent surge in air passenger traffic, the capacity of the airport terminals became woefully inadequate to cater for the increase in passenger traffic,’’ he added.
The President said decisive actions had to be taken by the Federal Government to ensure that terminals meet minimum international standards for the travelling public.
“The Federal Government responded to a global trend in which aviation became a catalyst for economic growth as a result of massive and speedy movement of persons, goods and services in a safe and secure manner.
“As part of the infrastructure renewal program, the construction of four new international terminals at Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano airports was embarked upon by the Federal Government with a view to modernising the aging airport infrastructure to meet global aviation standards and improved service delivery in tandem with best international practices.”
President Buhari had, at the presentation of the 2017 Budget to the National Assembly, promised to upgrade and develop Nigeria’s transport, power and health infrastructure, and complete a number of stalled infrastructure projects, which includes major airports, roads and power projects, and the completion of the Kaduna–Abuja as well as Itakpe to Warri Railway lines.
The President said that Nigeria, having an advantageous central location within the sub-region with a desire to develop into a regional air transportation hub, must upgrade its facilities to take advantage of its assets.
In his remarks, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said that the state is safe for visitors and investments, commending the Federal Government for its intervention in ensuring a better airport for the people, which will attract more investments.
Wike said that the state government will revamp the road leading to the international terminal for ease of access for the public.
In his remarks, the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said the Federal government injected $461 million into the airport projects to enable construction.
The new terminal of Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa completely alters the poor rating by Sleep in Airports in 2017, which listed the airport as the third worst in the world.
PMB & Youth 10: President Buhari with SGF Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and ED NEXIM Bank Mrs Stella Oketete as he hosts to dinner Young Political Appointees and Volunteers in State House on 24th Oct 2018
The governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has said that those who love Nigeria will not allow it to fall into the hand of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or a similar swarm of locust in the 2019 general elections.
The governor, who addressed the young supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari at a dinner in the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, Wednesday, said that the unifying forces that brought the supporters of Buhari together are three.
“One, belief in Nigeria, two, belief in Nigeria’s potential for greatness, and three, belief in President Muhammadu Buhari as the best person to continue leading Nigeria towards greatness at this point in our history.
“Belief in Nigeria means you love this country and truly want the best for her. Belief in her potential for greatness means you are ready for the sacrifices of nation-building. Belief in Mr. President means you still have absolute confidence in him as the best leader for our nation till 2023 at least.
“These three great beliefs are vital if our commitment to confront the odds and win in 2019 is to remain unshaken. It is only when you believe Nigeria is worth fighting for that you can commit your all to make sure she does not fall again into the hands of the PDP or a similar swarm of locusts.”
Governor Yahaya Bello said that APC that is going into the 2019 general elections is radically different from the APC that won the 2015 Presidential elections, adding that the party has been through a steep learning curve and that the lessons have been difficult, even painful, in many instances.
“Fair-weather friends who came for the good times have left, disappointed by Mr. President’s insistence on personal integrity, fiscal prudence, equality before the law, national security, party discipline, international dignity and a single-minded war on corruption.
“We are charged with telling the story of this Administration from now till victory is gained in 2019. The immediate task before us is to convince the masses that everything Mr. President has done is for our overall benefit.
“We are to console our people with the good news that the planting season is over and the bumper harvest is now waving in the wind. We are to appeal to their patience with the process, and point out the signs of good times ahead which are ripening already.
“We cannot do that effectively unless we believe in ourselves. We cannot believe it unless we have critically evaluated the proof that is all around. We cannot be convincing unless we are first convinced ourselves.”
The governor listed President’s achievement in his three years office, which he said indicate the hope that lies ahead. They are:
1. NNPC’s Daily Cost of Production has dropped 72% from $580,000.00 per day to $164,000.00.
2. There was no dedicated social safety net for the poorest of us, but Mr. President has implenmented a sweeping Social Investment Programme (SIP) which has provided succor for at least 10.3 million vulnerable citizens.
3. Rice importation has dropped from 644,000 tons per annum to about 20,000 tons now, indication of growth in local production.
4. Power Generation has surged from about 4000 megawatts after 16 years of the PDP to over 7000 megawatts in 31/2 years of the APC.
5. Nigeria has gone from non-completion of any rail projects between 1999 and 2015 to completion of 3 major lines from 2015 to 2018 (Abuja to Kaduna, Abuja Metro, Itakpe to Warri).
6. In security, we have gone from 14 LGAs held by Boko Haram insurgents in 2015 to zero today. The relative return of peace and stability to the war-torn North East has enabled millions of internally displaced citizens to return home in safety.
7. Terrorism-related deaths have dropped 80% in the same period while attacks on communities by herdsmen have been contained to sudden and irregular ambushes which are quickly quelled.
8. We entered the recession which Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala foresaw long ago and tried to warn the PDP against. Instead of heeding the financial guru’s warning, the PDP hierarchy taught her that ‘Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous’.
9. Of course they blamed President Muhammadu Buhari who was less than one year old in office when the recession hit, but the lion-hearted gentleman soldiered on and guided us out of the recession in one year or less.
10. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in one of her reports entitled ‘STRONG BY DESIGN’ insists that nations overcome recessions faster if they have built strong balance sheets and have substantial foreign reserves – the exact two things Mr. President accomplished for Nigeria.
11. The Nigerian economy has grown rapidly since then and we now have $47billion in our foreign reserves, up from the paltry $29.13 billion dollars Mr. President inherited.
12. The World Bank Group also made it official this month: Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, not by the econometrics of rebasing, but in real terms.
13. Mr. President has cut waste, purged at least 50,000 ghost workers from the Federal Workforce and maximized savings.
14. Mr. President has reduced theft in Ministers, Departments and Agencies of Government to the point that JAMB which used to remit about 50m before remitted 7bn without increase in fees charged to students.
15. Nigeria Customs Service has beaten all previous remittance records, as have many other revenue generating MDAs.
16. A company linked to the PDP flag-bearer was forced to remit N13.2 billion in previously stolen revenue to the Nigerian Ports Authority simply by elevating national interest above the personal or partisan.
17. Before Mr. President took over the helms, Nigeria had 6 fertilizer blending plants wasting away at about 10% production capacity. Today they are running at 100% and producing fertilizer blends for our Agricultural Renaissance.
18. The PDP years were generally characterized by low capital investment on infrastructure. Today, the story is different as Mr. President has invested in excess of N3 trillion on infrastructure – the highest ever in our history, and at a time when revenues were generally poor and a recession was on.
“I could go on and on, but our Igbo brethren who do business have a saying I have found to be true: ‘A good product sells itself’. Mr. President is a very good product indeed, and his competencies are desperately needed for the progress of this nation, but we need to go out there and sell him to the people.
“Public Relations professionals will tell you that at some point, having a good product without excellent advertising is like winking in the dark – you know what you are doing, but no one else does.
“Perception is reality when it comes to politics and campaigning. Perception management is therefore critical in times like this.
“We must market the incredible accomplishments of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and of his Administration to every voter – and in the language he or she understands.
“If we fail, the adverse narratives aggressively put out by the PDP and other propaganda machines will dominate the land and shape perceptions.
“If those of us in APC do not sell this winning product very well –
· Economic recovery will be mistaken for slow-down due to poor management of the nation’s economy;
· Measures to protect local industries and stimulate domestic production will be mistaken for deliberate impoverishment of the populace via high prices of essential commodities;
· Borrowing for rapid infrastructural development will be mistaken for unwarranted or misapplied debt;
· A tough and progressive victory against a terrorist threat which continues to cost the nation the lives of her brave military and law enforcement personnel will be mistaken for inaction;
· A difficult fight against old and new forms of insecurity, which is designed to neutralize security threats across parts of the nation without criminalizing whole tribes or populations, will be mistaken for victimization of some and condonation of others;
· Trial of politically exposed offenders using long existent laws which previous leaders were not willing to deploy against cronies and accomplices will be mistaken for extrajudicial measures and disdain for the Rule of Law;
· Social safety nets for the poor under the various Social Investment Programmes and payment of long outstanding obligations to unjustly treated segments of our citizenry will be mistaken for bribery of the populace or vote buying tricks.
“If we fail to take charge of the narrative and persuade people till they see the true intents of this Administration’s policies, we will have a much harder job mobilizing the votes we need to get Mr. President re-elected.
“If we do not put Mr. President’s achievements before our people till they can recite it themselves, they may agree with the shameless PDP that the heartless corruption which she is offering again is somehow better than the alleged ‘incompetence’ of the APC which has accomplished every good thing I listed above.
“In summary, all may be lost if we do not get the Nigerian people to see why they must allow Mr. President continue his great work as they go to the polls in 2019.
“The APC is offering greater inclusiveness for all Nigerians irrespective of tribes and voting patterns.
“The APC will pay better attention to affirmative action- women, youth and special ability in appointive positions.
“The APC will respect the unspoken but gentlemanly rotationally presidential pattern between North and South which most Nigerians defended in 2015.
“The APC is promising to continue re-writing the age-long negatives which have plagued our nation to positives.
“This is the message we must all take to every nook and cranny of this nation, and from door to door.
“On the other hand, all the crooked PDP is offering Nigerians is ‘Corruption is better than Incompetence’ and ‘Anybody but Buhari’.
“I say they have made our job easy, assuming we are ready to work hard.
“My brothers and sisters, 2015 was about Change. 2019 is about Progress.
“As members of the APC, we will not deny that our party has a huge task before us in the 2019 General Elections. The Elections will not be a walkover, the PDP will not be a pushover and we MUST take nothing and no one for granted.”
Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi has complained to the European Union (EU) and World Economic Forum (WEF) that candidates of the opposition political parties are living in fear as the nation approaches the 2019 general elections.
Peter Obi, who held a separate meetings with the two bodies in Abuja today, called on EU to stop the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from intimidating candidates of opposition political parties.
He asked the EU to insist on a level playing field for all candidates and parties during elections in Nigeria because “there is a need to get the country back to its feet and make it better for our children.”
He said that campaigns should be based on issues so that the electorate and the international community can come to grasp with the problems of the country as well as the solutions being proffered by each of the political parties and their candidates.
Obi also said that there is need for agencies like the EU to strengthen and support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The former Anambra State Governor said that judging from what happened during gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, INEC needs to show that it remains an unbiased umpire in future elections in the country.
The 63 year old Ethiopian President, Mulatu Teshome has today, Wednesday, submitted his letter of resignation to the country’s parliament.
According to agency report, the country’s lawmakers, both in the upper and lower houses of the country’s parliament will meet to consider Teshome’s resignation tomorrow, Thursday.
The Ethiopia’s News Agency reported that Teshome is a member of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization, one of the four parties of the ruling coalition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front.
Teshome took office in 2013 and had often spoken for a more democratic and inclusive government in the Horn of Africa country, which has faced political upheaval and unrest for many years.
The office of the Prime Minister leads Ethiopia’s government and policy.
The President had previously taken ministerial and high-level diplomatic positions, representing the country in Japan and Azerbaijan.
He was Ethiopia’s ambassador to Turkey before he was unanimously appointed president.
Teshome’s resignation comes after a political cabinet reshuffle by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that began last week and has seen half of the country’s ministerial seats occupied by women.
Rangers International of Enugu | Photo: Guardian Newspaper
Luck was on the side of Rangers International of Enugu when they narrowly beat Kano Pillars through penalty shootouts to emerge the champion of the 2018 Federation Cup.
The final of the game which was played today, Wednesday, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State capital, saw the Pillars in control of the match.
Sai Masu Gida of the Pillars virtually had the game under control when he and his team mates raced into a three-goal lead through Rabiu Ali and Alhassan Ibrahim who gave the Kano-based side a two-goal lead in the space of 20 minutes before Nyima Nwagua increased the lead in the 48th minute.
But just the complexion of the game changed dramatically less than 20 minutes to the end of the second half after Enugu Rangers reduced the deficit in the 77th minute through Kelvin Itoya.
Gbenga Ogunbote’s men pushed harder to get the second goal through Chidera Ezeh in the 82nd minute. Ajani Ibrahim ensured the comeback was achieved in the extra time of the 90th minute.
The game moved into penalties where Rangers were won 4-2 and were therefore crowned as champions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused West Idahosa, counsel to an Edo State-based activist, Osadalor Ochie who instituted a suit accusing the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole of fraud of misleading court.
In a statement today, Wednesday, by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwajaren, the EFCC frowned at the attempt by counsel to the plaintiff, West Idahosa, to mislead the court with claims that the Commission had been served.
“Had the Commission been served, it would have been in court. Ours is an agency that holds the judiciary in high esteem and we will never disregard summons by courts of competent jurisdiction. The truth is that the Commission did not receive any summons.
Osadalor Ochie had filed the suit before an Abuja Federal High Court challenging the failure of EFCC to file fraud charges against Oshiomhole. In the suit, Ochie prayed the court to compel the anti-graft agency to conduct investigation into allegations of fraud against Oshiomhole while he was governor of Edo State.
The suit also seeks the arrest and prosecution of the APC National Chairman.
In view of his prayer, the court had scheduled yesterday, Tuesday for hearing, after processes were served on the two parties. However, counsels to Oshiomhole appeared in court but that of the anti-graft agency failed to show up.
The House of Representatives has collectively reawakened alleged looting of N60 Billion in the defunct Nigeria Airways, vowing to expose the identities of those indicted in the fraud.
The House resolved to identify those involved and were indicted by the White Paper, with the aim of ensuring that they are prosecuted and made to refund the loot.
The resolution made yesterday, Tuesday, after a motion, under matters of urgent public importance, was moved by James Faleke (APC-Lagos), at a plenary which was presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
Faleke said that long before the advent of the present administration, the Olusegun Obasanjo-led Federal Government had established the Justice Obiora Nwazota Judicial Commission to probe the operations of the company in 2002.
According to him, the commission turned in a report which revealed the mind-boggling corruption and looting to the tune of N60bn.
“The White Paper was approved by the Federal Government and further directed the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Police to recover the stolen funds and prosecute the indicted culprits,” he said.
The lawmaker expressed worry that till date, nothing has been heard of the report, adding: “those indicted in the report are believed to be largely visible in the public arena, while the ex-workers continue to languish in abject poverty, having been denied the rights to their entitlements, with many of them reportedly dead without receiving their entitlements.
“The House notes that, if the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Police had acted as directed in the White Paper, the ex-workers would not have suffered so much pain and deprivation.”
Faleke stressed that despite the release of the White Paper and the approval given to the paper as well as the directive on an inquiry into the matter, the previous governments refused to prosecute the culprits indicted in the report.
“The House is further concerned that those who have been identified to have looted this humongous sum of N60bn in 2002, a sum whose value will no doubt be in the region of about N200bn in present-day Nigeria, might have been using the said fund to fight, destabilise the government and, in some cases, may have bought their way out of prosecution and possible conviction,” he said.
He said that the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari had commenced the payment and offsetting of 50 per cent of the outstanding entitlements of the ex-workers in the total sum of N22.6bn.
Faleke, who said the payment was the first tranche, said the balance of 50 per cent in the same amount would be paid in 2019.
When the motion was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, the lawmakers unanimously supported it.
The House, therefore, directed the setting up of an ad hoc committee to reveal reasons those indicted in the report of the White Paper had not been prosecuted despite the Federal Government’s directive to that effect.
It would also identify any civil servant or political office holder who might have used his or her office(s) to thwart or prevent those indicted from prosecution and possible conviction.
The committee was asked to make other appropriate recommendations and report back to the House within four weeks.
The excitement flowing behind the choice of Peter Obi as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential nominee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a teachable moment. It shows that the Nigerians still appreciate good people. Overall, Obi acquitted himself credibly enough as governor of Anambra State. At least, he is one of the very few former Nigerian governors without a litany of corrupt marks following him.
The former Anambra governor is also humble man. A self-made multibillionaire, through dint of hard work, Obi does not flaunt affluence, as most of them do, by acquiring private jets, chieftaincy titles or fake degrees. And, in case you have never taken notice, the man has chosen to remain a Mister: Mr. Peter Obi. Simple! His selection has, therefore, proven to the political class, particularly those of the Igbo stock, that the society at large looks beyond primitive accumulation of wealth and bogus titles.
Sum it this way: Peter Obi is certainly not the best the Igbo and Nigeria can offer, but he is perfect for Atiku Abubakar as an individual. The reason is plain: The heaviest baggage of the former vice president is the prevailing perception that the man is virally corrupt. Atiku, remember, is a high priest in the billionaire club of ex-civil servants, most of who acquired their wealth through illegitimate means. Thus, it would have been very impolitic for him to field Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the preferred VP choice of the South-East PDP leaders.
Get this clear, Ekweremadu is one of the few politicians of the Fourth Republic who has distinguished himself. He is very dynamic and could have made a better VP than Peter Obi — by far; but Nigerians are becoming wiser. Before dreaming of any future national elective office, the ebullient senator should hurry up and explain in clear terms how he amassed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to over 30 choice properties in three continents without any traceable commercial enterprise.
At this juncture, I must join in publicly rebuking the cuckoo governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and his South-East PDP cohorts who, because Ekweremadu was not selected, have been peddling all the wrong reasons to deflate the choice of Peter Obi. The state of origin, for example, should not matter when choosing a presidential candidate or his running mate from Igboland, especially where the chosen is heads and shoulders above his competitors.
But that is where any sympathy for the Obi candidacy ought to end, especially for majority of the Igbo who have been jubilating as if, somehow, they had a sudden embrace with the Messiah.
Leading the fanfare is the Ohaneze Ndigbo. But the socio-cultural group should tread very carefully. We must not appear to have forgotten so soon that the choice of an Igbo man as a vice presidential candidate is far from historic. Actually, it was Muhammadu Buhari who led the way in the current Fourth Republic by nominating Chuba Okadigbo in 2003 and Edwin Ume-Ezuoke in 2007, while this same Atiku Abubakar fielded Ben Obi in 2007. Interestingly, however, the Ohaneze shunned those Igbo VP candidates, then in the opposition ranks, but opted for the PDP, the party then in power. This contradicting posture explains the disquieting suspicion that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation is the political oracle of the PDP.
Nevertheless, the Ohaneze must equally come to terms with the reality that the mere presence of the Igbo in important political positions has not always translated to public good in Igboland. Let me also add that, while Peter Obi might have performed well in Anambra, quite alright, he is not the kind of leader the Igbo need at the centre.
Obi’s leadership woes are apparent. The most mind-bugling is the failure to attract any meaningful federal project to Anambra State while in office. Lest we forget, as governor, Obi was the much-beloved close ally of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan during the recent oil boom, when the Igbo dominated virtually every important portfolio in the country.
Yet, there is nothing concrete to show in the South-East for such powerful positions occupied by the Igbo, particularly in Anambra, where Peter Obi held sway. For instance, the major thoroughfare in the State, the Onitsha-Enugu Highway, remained a death trap while Peter was governor. The mass deceit on the Second River Niger Bridge during the Obi tenure has continued to beg the attention of the Guinness World Records. Needless to mention how Goodluck Jonathan connived with the governor to declare open the Orient Petroleum Refinery in 2012, when the facility was not even halfway completed. The plot was to quell tension in the country by appearing as if Jonathan had solutions in the wake of the 2012 fuel crisis.
The failure with the Orient Petroleum Refinery, a PPP project, is deserving of curious attention. When my team inquired about the refinery in 2014, the management was seeking $100 million dollars to get a portion of the $660 million facility to truly come on stream. Yet, Governor Obi had Anambra’s billions glued in commercial banks. A visionary leader would have committed part of the savings for the completion of the refinery, which could have provided employment to youth in the region. Or, more appropriately, considering his role in the fake opening of the refinery in 2012, Obi ought to have been able to influence President Jonathan for any federal support needed to rescue the refinery.
Yes, leadership is all about influence. If Peter Obi could not influence Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, a very pliable and weak president, to attract projects to Anambra State, what are the chances then that he (Obi) can even gain the attention of a strong character like Atiku Abubakar who, as a vice president, was even more powerful and shrewd than his boss, a brutal four-star general?
The answer is this: The ideal VP of Igbo extraction is a transformational leader with the ability to maximise available resources to not only perform assigned tasks but one who can also influence others to attain the desired goals. For an Atiku presidency, however, Nigeria needs a strong vice president who can steadily motivate and influence him towards national goals and objectives. Peter Obi is none of the above.
SKC Ogbonnia, a 2019 APC presidential aspirant, wrote in from Abuja; Email: SKCOgbonnia1@aol.com
Running-mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi, has appealed to the European Union to stop politicians from engaging in cote-buying in the 2019 general elections.
Obi, who had a meeting with a delegation of the body today, Wednesday in Abuja, described vote-buying as a new phenomenon and which must be stopped.
“I contested and won elections when I was in a smaller party. Where would I have gotten the money to buy votes if it was the case then; and how would I have gotten back the money, especially when I am going to serve the people?”
He told the EU that the outcome of the presidential primary election conducted in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on October 13, 2018 showed that it was free and fair, adding that all the presidential candidates agreed that it was the best so far.
Obi said that Nigeria deserved a replacement of the EU election observers in 2019 based on the role EU would play in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria.
The EU delegation, Ketil Karlsen assured that the election observer group has been consulting stakeholders in Nigeria to ascertain whether or not it would be necessary for the union to send a new EU election observer mission.
He said that the EU mission had been operating in Nigeria since 1999 and that the union had invested over 100 million Euros in Nigeria’s election process since then.
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The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed Boko Haram logistics base, along with some vehicles, at Tumbun Sale in Northern Borno State.
The 63 year old Ethiopian President, Mulatu Teshome has today, Wednesday, submitted his letter of resignation to the country’s parliament.
The House of Representatives has collectively reawakened alleged looting of N60 Billion in the defunct Nigeria Airways, vowing to expose the identities of those indicted in the fraud.
Why Peter Obi Is Perfect For Atiku, But Bad News For Ndigbo, By SKC Ogbonnia
The excitement flowing behind the choice of Peter Obi as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential nominee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a teachable moment. It shows that the Nigerians still appreciate good people. Overall, Obi acquitted himself credibly enough as governor of Anambra State. At least, he is one of the very few former Nigerian governors without a litany of corrupt marks following him.
The former Anambra governor is also humble man. A self-made multibillionaire, through dint of hard work, Obi does not flaunt affluence, as most of them do, by acquiring private jets, chieftaincy titles or fake degrees. And, in case you have never taken notice, the man has chosen to remain a Mister: Mr. Peter Obi. Simple! His selection has, therefore, proven to the political class, particularly those of the Igbo stock, that the society at large looks beyond primitive accumulation of wealth and bogus titles.
Sum it this way: Peter Obi is certainly not the best the Igbo and Nigeria can offer, but he is perfect for Atiku Abubakar as an individual. The reason is plain: The heaviest baggage of the former vice president is the prevailing perception that the man is virally corrupt. Atiku, remember, is a high priest in the billionaire club of ex-civil servants, most of who acquired their wealth through illegitimate means. Thus, it would have been very impolitic for him to field Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the preferred VP choice of the South-East PDP leaders.
Get this clear, Ekweremadu is one of the few politicians of the Fourth Republic who has distinguished himself. He is very dynamic and could have made a better VP than Peter Obi — by far; but Nigerians are becoming wiser. Before dreaming of any future national elective office, the ebullient senator should hurry up and explain in clear terms how he amassed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to over 30 choice properties in three continents without any traceable commercial enterprise.
At this juncture, I must join in publicly rebuking the cuckoo governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and his South-East PDP cohorts who, because Ekweremadu was not selected, have been peddling all the wrong reasons to deflate the choice of Peter Obi. The state of origin, for example, should not matter when choosing a presidential candidate or his running mate from Igboland, especially where the chosen is heads and shoulders above his competitors.
But that is where any sympathy for the Obi candidacy ought to end, especially for majority of the Igbo who have been jubilating as if, somehow, they had a sudden embrace with the Messiah.
Leading the fanfare is the Ohaneze Ndigbo. But the socio-cultural group should tread very carefully. We must not appear to have forgotten so soon that the choice of an Igbo man as a vice presidential candidate is far from historic. Actually, it was Muhammadu Buhari who led the way in the current Fourth Republic by nominating Chuba Okadigbo in 2003 and Edwin Ume-Ezuoke in 2007, while this same Atiku Abubakar fielded Ben Obi in 2007. Interestingly, however, the Ohaneze shunned those Igbo VP candidates, then in the opposition ranks, but opted for the PDP, the party then in power. This contradicting posture explains the disquieting suspicion that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation is the political oracle of the PDP.
Nevertheless, the Ohaneze must equally come to terms with the reality that the mere presence of the Igbo in important political positions has not always translated to public good in Igboland. Let me also add that, while Peter Obi might have performed well in Anambra, quite alright, he is not the kind of leader the Igbo need at the centre.
Obi’s leadership woes are apparent. The most mind-bugling is the failure to attract any meaningful federal project to Anambra State while in office. Lest we forget, as governor, Obi was the much-beloved close ally of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan during the recent oil boom, when the Igbo dominated virtually every important portfolio in the country.
Yet, there is nothing concrete to show in the South-East for such powerful positions occupied by the Igbo, particularly in Anambra, where Peter Obi held sway. For instance, the major thoroughfare in the State, the Onitsha-Enugu Highway, remained a death trap while Peter was governor. The mass deceit on the Second River Niger Bridge during the Obi tenure has continued to beg the attention of the Guinness World Records. Needless to mention how Goodluck Jonathan connived with the governor to declare open the Orient Petroleum Refinery in 2012, when the facility was not even halfway completed. The plot was to quell tension in the country by appearing as if Jonathan had solutions in the wake of the 2012 fuel crisis.
The failure with the Orient Petroleum Refinery, a PPP project, is deserving of curious attention. When my team inquired about the refinery in 2014, the management was seeking $100 million dollars to get a portion of the $660 million facility to truly come on stream. Yet, Governor Obi had Anambra’s billions glued in commercial banks. A visionary leader would have committed part of the savings for the completion of the refinery, which could have provided employment to youth in the region. Or, more appropriately, considering his role in the fake opening of the refinery in 2012, Obi ought to have been able to influence President Jonathan for any federal support needed to rescue the refinery.
Yes, leadership is all about influence. If Peter Obi could not influence Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, a very pliable and weak president, to attract projects to Anambra State, what are the chances then that he (Obi) can even gain the attention of a strong character like Atiku Abubakar who, as a vice president, was even more powerful and shrewd than his boss, a brutal four-star general?
The answer is this: The ideal VP of Igbo extraction is a transformational leader with the ability to maximise available resources to not only perform assigned tasks but one who can also influence others to attain the desired goals. For an Atiku presidency, however, Nigeria needs a strong vice president who can steadily motivate and influence him towards national goals and objectives. Peter Obi is none of the above.