Chairman of the State House Press Corps (SHPC), Alhaji Ubale Musa, presents a giant birthday card to Colonel Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, the Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to President Muhammadu Buhari, as he marked his 45th birthday. Photo by Sunday Aghaeze. [myad]
The 24 Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have finally fell in line with President Muhammadu Buhari on the end of tenure of the John Oyegun led National Executive Council of the party.
The governors, who started a meeting with the President yesterday, Tuesday, at the continuation of the meeting last night, agreed to the holding of State Congresses and National convention later in the year to properly elect officers to lead the party to the 2019 general elections.
Briefing news men today, Wednesday, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulazeez Yari, said: “We had a meeting with Mr. President yesterday (Tuesday), and we extended the meeting to night and we followed up with the consultations with the President now.
“We consulted and all the 24 governors of the APC are in the same page with Mr. President that we are going to respect our party constitution, we are going to respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, we collectively agreed that we will have congresses at all levels – Local – State and National.
And the committee set up by the National Secretariat of our party headed by governor of Plateau State, is presenting its report later today. The governors are also meeting with the working committee today so that we come up with convention committee names as well as timetable of the election.
“So, there is no deadlock in our meeting, we have progressed and very soon you will have the names of the convention committee members as well as the timetable.”
Also speaking, the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said: “I just want to let you know that there is no crisis in the APC at all. And we want to use this opportunity to advise the media operatives to stop spreading rumors of crisis in APC. There is no single crisis in APC.
“The issue was one of people who believe that we did not have enough time to organize a party congress and run election. Some people felt that it was a good idea but the most important thing is that, if we do that we will be contravening both our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the major issue that we have that they call crisis. We do not have virus.
“This morning we met with Mr. President to fine-tune issues, one regarding the congress and we have resolved that the congresses at all levels and the Chairman of the elongation committee, is also fine-tuning the arrangement in the same line. To this effect, the convention committee will be set out, it will be announced.
“But let me correct one impression, the issue of congress and convention does not mean that the previous people who have served the party have done badly. And it does not m an that they cannot come back or that they cannot re-contest, that is not it. We are simply saying that their tenure has ended and those who wish to re-contest can re-contest and can be elected into our party structure. So we are all one as family and we are set to go for 2019 elections in victory.”
The wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has passed a vote-of-no-confidence on the President General of the main body, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.
The wing, Ohanaeze Youth Congress (OYC), in a statement its meeting held in Enugu, accused the President General of mortgaging the interest of Ndigbo and of side-lining other members of the Ohanaeze National Executive Council.
The statement was signed by OYC President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the Secretary-General.
It read it parts: “It is with great sense of dismay and clear picture of the present debased Ohanaeze politics that we the fledgling members of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, summoned an emergency security meeting and met today, April 2nd, 2018 being Easter Monday, because it has dawned on us and every other conscious Igbo that the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo has not only lost leadership mantle but veered out of the way and is hell bent to push the Ohanaeze and Ndigbo to a political cul-de-sac.
“We averred that it is high time Ndigbo rose up before Nwodo commits political suicide that would burn our hands and identity and it will only need articulate youths and wise elders and technocrats to rescue Ohanaeze Ndigbo from Nwodo’s clique and thereby, save Igbo Nation from plausible political suicide.”
The statement claimed that “out of 24-man executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nwodo uses an illegal organ of Forum Of States’ Presidents against the Constitution Of Ohanaeze to subdue, intimidate and humiliate other Ohanaeze Ndigbo executive members and thereby, forming a cabal and constituting a menace against the democratically elected members of Ohanaeze youths and women.
“In view of the foregoing, we the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, OYW presently at the receiving ends of Nwodo’s political forays and not in a haste to adopt or support any presidential candidate to avoid a repeat of the Igbo’s 2015 fate choice, that he pressures for, hereby, passed votes of no confidence on Chief Nnia Nwodo and his Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidency and we give him seven days to appear before the Ohanaeze Disciplinary committee to explain and answer for his political infidelity against Igbos.”
They listed what they called issues before Nwodo to include: “Why did he go against the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s tradition and Constitution and abused his office by paying loyalty to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar immediately after his election on 10th January 2017, and after he was queried by his NEC, he told them that his 1st official visit to Atiku, a Northerner, was to discuss the ill-health of President Buhari, who he believed is in bad condition.
“He has rendered the office of the Secretary-General impotent, which according to Ohanaeze Constitution is the engine room of the organization and custodian of Ohanaeze Secretariat. He carefully appointed Director of Administration without Ime Obi’s approval thus assuming the powers of Secretary-General through his political appointee, Director of Administration.” [myad]
Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has described past Nigerian leaders who are busy criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as lawless and reckless when they were in power.
Kalu said that notwithstanding the cynical and vitriolic attacks against him, the president deserves a second term in office to complete his good projects for Nigeria.
He spoke on Tuesday at the Ake Palace of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he visited the monarch.
Kalu, who is the coordinator of National Movement for Re-election of Muhammadu Buhari, declared that the president has done well to merit another term of four years in office.
The former governor’s comments came barely 24 hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo tongue – lashed Buhari-led government for allegedly being ineffective, incompetent and reeking of failure.
According to him, Buhari has unfinished job to do and needs another tenure to complete it thoroughly.
“The greatest challenge of our country is leaders not obeying the law. When they are leaders, they don’t want to obey the law; when they go out of leadership, they criticize everybody who wants to obey the law. This is the problem of the country.
“We have had leaders who disobeyed every law of the land. We’ve also had leaders who were reckless when they were leaders and when they go out, they call people all kinds of name. We have also seen leaders that have never seen anything good in other people’s leadership, they only know about themselves.
“So, we want to thank you for the support…I know you are close friend of President Muhammadu Buhari and I want you to maintain that friendship; don’t allow anybody to distract you whether people from here or from my area, stay in course.
“President Buhari has not finished the job he came to do. If God gives him good health and long life, he has not finished. He has to go for another four years to be able to finish.
“Despite people who are criticizing and these people also took no criticism when they were in office. Despite people who are writing letters; these people we also wrote letters to them, they didn’t reply to our own letters.”
Kalu, who lauded his host for his sterling military career, numerous community services and contributions to nation-building, declared that Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable.
He urged the Alake and members of the Egba Traditional Council not to relent in their support for the president.
“In any democracy, there must be people for and against. We are for Buhari, some people are against and we wish them well. And we want to thank you for the key role of peace that you and other traditional rulers have been playing. Nigeria unity is non-negotiable.
“We are for oneness of this country, we are for leaders who are sincere to lead us well, we are for leaders who are equally committed to the rules and tenets of democracy.”
Oba Gbadebo hailed the former Abia governor for his message of love and strong belief in Buhari’s capacity to deliver good governance for the country.
The Alake described Kalu as a great and detribalized Nigerian, whose tenure as governor was marked with monumental development of the state.
“As a key stakeholder of the Nigerian project, your patriotic contributions to nation-building are commendable,” he told Kalu.
The monarch, who noted that the nation’s Presidency remains the birthright of every Nigerian, promised to support Kalu whenever the nation beckons on him to contest as president.
According to him, there is great hope for Nigeria when somebody from the South East could be mobilizing support for a president who hails from the North.
The Alake pointed out that giving Buhari a second term in office would enable him to consolidate on the achievements already recorded by the present administration.
“So, I am part of your team in campaigning that he be given a chance for another four years because those who made the tenure to be four by two know that while you are formulating your policies while you are thinking of what to do, you need time to now expect everything you have put in place in the first four years to germinate and to bring benefits to the people.
“And we know what happens in Nigeria; there is always policy somersault. If a person goes after four years, virtually everything he has done will be turned over by whoever comes after; he won’t want the person that has come to get the credit for what he is going to sit upon. So, he would rather have it killed than to go ahead and implement.
“So, as you are going around the country, we pray that God will be with you. That this effort you are putting in for the greatness of Nigeria, some other people will do the same thing for you because the headship and Presidency of this country is the birthright of every Nigerian and I pray that in your own time too, people will go round and solicit support for you. You have proved to be a great Nigerian totally devoid of tribal sentiment.” [myad]
The Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was said to have involved in an auto accident leading to a leg injury, as a result of which he now walks with clutches.
The governor appeared today, at Aso Villa Presidential Villa to attend the All Progressive Congress (APC) governors meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. He was walking with clutches on his two sides. His left foot is swollen up and heavily bandaged.
Information had it that governor Yahaya Bello was returning from Abuja last Friday, being driven in a BMW saloon car when the accident happened around the Lokoja market area.
He was said to have been dragged by the vehicle for some metres before the driver could realize what was happening and halted the car. The governor was said to have been rescued by the security operatives and others in the convoy.
Governor Yahaya Bello was returning from Abuja after the caucus and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the APC with the intention of attending the funeral of the late Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Buba Jubril. But the accident prevented him from attending as he was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital and was represented at the funeral by his deputy, Simon Achuba.
The Director General, media and publicity to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed the incidence, saying that the governor injured his leg as he “missed his footing.”
A statement by the media aide said Yahaya Bello injured his left foot while alighting from a vehicle, denying the allegation that the governor had been flown abroad for medical attention.
The statement read: “We wish to refute rumours that the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is either hospitalised or otherwise incapacitated.
“The Governor missed his footing last Friday, March 30, 2018, while alighting from a vehicle and injured his left foot. He was treated by his doctors, who bandaged the leg and discharged him.
“We thank all the Governor’s supporters and well-wishers who reached us to inquire after his wellbeing. His Excellency is doing very well and will be at work as usual after the Easter holidays.” [myad]
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Alexander Mwolwu, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of being an ungrateful and corrupt Nigerian leader.
“Even though OBJ’s plots to discredit PDP to promote his own political party, SDP, he seems to have missed it and not knowing what he is doing. He is the most ungrateful and corrupt Nigerian leader, who never knew how PDP was formed.”
Mwolwus told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pankshin that Obasanjo introduced corruption and that he corrupted the National Assembly with his third term failed ambition.
According to him, OBJ corruptly sold out government properties to his cronies and spent billions of Naira on electricity, which Nigerians couldn’t see its impact but only darkness.
that OBJ’s pronouncement is “very unfortunate’’ and “selfish in nature’’.
The PDP Chieftain also accused Obansanjo of plotting to discredit the party to promote Social Democratic Party (SDP).
While describing PDP’s apology to Nigerians through its National Chairman as “a right step in the right direction’’, he said: “Only great men own up to their mistakes.”
“If PDP had apologized willfully haven owned up to its mistakes, I shouldn’t be castigated for that because every human organization has its own limitations
“But all the same, his party will not be anywhere close to having the confidence of Nigerians if that is the way he wants to go drumming for support to it.
“Obasandjo was never a member of PDP but out to sheer pity and magnanimity, the party brought him out of prison and made him president on a platter of Gold.”
Mwowus said: “we made him who is is today, yet he had the guts to spit and shout against us.” [myad]
A Nigerian serving Senator, representing Kogi State West Senatorial zone, Dino Melaye and the four suspects rearrested for alleged conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms will be charged at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi on May 10.
The Nigeria Police Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, who briefed newsmen on the arrest of four of the six suspects today, Tuesday in Abuja, said that two of the suspects are still at large.
The suspects are: 31 year old Kabiru Seidu, alias Osama, 25 year old Nuhu Salisu, alias small, 27 year old Musa Mohammed, alias Iko and 26 year old Emmanuel Audu. The Police Command in Kogi State had, on March 28, announced the escape from lawful custody of six suspects including Seidu and Salisu.
Jimoh Moshood said that Seidu and Salisu who were principal suspects were rearrested in Tafa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Ganaja Village, Lokoja, Kogi.
The Police spokesman said that the six accomplice in the case arrested by the police would be prosecuted with the six rearrested suspects, adding the suspects are: John Beneche, 22, Seye Atowoju, 27 Danjuma Yunusa, 35 , Egga Ochai,50 Abbas Haruna, 30 and Gloria Audu, 28.
He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.
Moshood warned that the police would not relent in its efforts to check activities of unscrupulous politicians, adding that they must play the game according to the rules.
He commended members of the public for giving the police timely information that aided the re-arrest of the suspects.
The spokesman said that the force`s fight against crimes and criminality in the country remained unequivocal and unwavering.
One of the suspects, Seidu had confessed that Melaye handed over to him a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and N430,000.00 to share with his boys. [myad]
Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have gained 8.8 per cent as at March 28, to $46.2 billion, compared to same period in February 2018.
According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the reserve is still far from the peak of $64 billion recorded in August 2008.
It shows that debt sales such as Eurobond offering by Federal Government helped Nigeria to accrue billions of dollars in foreign reserves, Reuters reports.
The government raised $2.5 billion in Eurobonds in February and it is hoping to raise more.
The apex bank held its statutory Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, today, April 3 and the meeting will be concluded tomorrow April 4, 2018. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the bravery and forthrightness of the former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as he turned 65.
In a birthday message today, President Buhari described Oshimhole as foremost labour leader, who rendered courageous and selfless service to humanity, the nation and his community.
He said that as a former leader of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and a governor, Oshiomhole instituted long lasting changes in Edo State for eight years, particularly the investments in people by enhancing the health, educational and physical infrastructure standard of the state.
The President extoled the vision, bravery and forthrightness of Comrade Oshiomhole, adding that as a unionist and labour leader, he played frontline roles in ensuring a return to democracy and the entrenchment of democratic principles in governance by continually challenging the norms and emphasizing the rule of law, people friendly policies, probity and accountability.
Buhari acknowledged that the nation has benefitted a lot from the robust and responsive leadership style of the former governor, believing that as he grows older, his invaluable wisdom will be most useful for the growth of the nation. [myad]
Senator Representing Anambra North Constituency, Stella Adaeze Oduah, has described a list containing treasury looters in the past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as released by the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as a childish altercation.
The Senator, who name made the list as Aviation minister in the Goodluck Jonathan government regretted, in a statement reacting to the list that the illusionary list of looters was by treachery or by happenstance.
“It is worrisome how a serving Minister could condescend so low in what appeared like a childish altercation to start mentioning names of his alleged looters without verified or verifiable facts, in order to win what he considered a quarrel.
“ In deliberately taking on those he considered prominent in the achievements of the past administration, he mentioned my name against an allegation of a whooping sum of N9.8 billion naira. But for the records, i would have simply ignored him since his notoriety in making false and laughable statements has gained prominence in recent times.
“Record has it that my achievements as the Aviation Minister are unbeatable till date. I did not engage in any financial impropriety as the Minister and the allegation involving the said sum of N9.8 billion is not only untrue but laughable. The said contract awarded by the Ministry of Aviation under my watch was executed and based on the request of the contractors, they were paid their money which they utilized in the manner they did.
“The records are still with the Ministry. I have no business with the companies that took part in
executing that contract and till now, I do not understand how anything went wrong over that contract that was executed. I have never taken any illegal proceeds from the government purse.
“God had since blessed me tremendously before I joined politics in the quest to serve my country
and I remain content and grateful to God. The trend of harassing past office holders with false and malicious allegations to score a political point destroys rather than helps the integrity of the anti-corruption stance of the government and indeed makes holding public office very discouraging.
“The machines seized/forfeited by the Federal Government over the allegation on the said money are not mine. I challenge Lai Mohammed to provide evidence linking me with his wild allegations. I have been waiting for that evidence and I am yet to see any.
“All allegations made against me remain mere media sensations orchestrated for mere political reasons. Oftentimes, I ignore them believing the orchestrators would repent after several failed outings.
“Mis-using the media and misleading the society through the media at the expense of innocent citizens in order to win a medal is unfortunate and most irresponsible. Governance is not warfare. Calumny is evil.” [myad]
