How Peter Obi Can Win 2023 Presidential Election, Sheikh Gumi Offers Advice

September 12, 2022

A Kaduna-base Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has offered an advice to the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi on what to do to win the Presidential election ahead of the candidates of other political parties in 2023.

Speaking to news men in Kaduna today, September 12, Sheikh Gumi said that Peter Obi needs to reach out to other segments of Nigerians instead of dealing only with youths.

“Relying on youths is not enough. He has to be all over the place, and not leaving politics to one region.”

He advised Nigerians not to vote for a novice but experienced politician, even as he took an assessment of the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that off the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

The Islamic scholar said that there is nothing wrong for Atiku to contest election several times as he had done, saying: “Nigeria needs an experienced politician. We don’t need a novice to be President. The situation in Nigeria today needs an experienced politician to solve it.”

On Tinubu, who said it is his turn to be President, Gumi said: “there is no need to say it is my turn. Don’t say it is my turn because if people like you they will vote for you. He is a good administrator, he can do it. The Muslim-Muslim ticket is unnecessary. We all know that all these politicians are looking for votes. The Muslim-Muslim ticket is (wayo) a ploy, it is not religion. Whether it will work or not, I don’t want to prophesize, but there are a lot of hurdles. In fact, all the political parties have hurdles. Muslim-Muslim ticket is going to be a laboratory test for others to emulate or not.”

He however, advised that Nigerians should do away with ethno-religious politics in this 21st century, and come together as one united people for the progress of the country.

Sheikh Gumi warned that if an inexperienced politician is voted into power, he will find it difficult to assemble the best brains within a short time framework to set the nation working progressively.

He noted that it took President Muhammadu Buhari over six months to appoint ministers and government officials because he (Buhari) was an inexperienced politician.

“Nigeria is now in the 21st century, people are more educated now. What Nigeria needs now are people with competence.

“We should not be talking about North because North is no longer monolithic, we should not be talking about Southwest because no particular person is in control, we should not be talking about South East, look at how Senator Ifeanyi Uba was attacked by his own people. Let’s talk about Nigeria as one united people. Nobody controls anybody in the country. So let’s move forward. Look at America, nobody is talking about power rotation. Let’s develop a democracy that we can sustain,” he said.

He attributed social injustice and poverty to the insecurity in the country, adding that almost every household feels the pains of socio-economic hardship in the country.

3 Governors Make President Buhari Laughs

Greenbarge Reporters

September 12, 2022

Three State Governors: Engr. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State and Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, sent President Muhammadu Buhari into hearty laughter when the Ekiti state governor brought a good tiding about his being elected President of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF) to Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja, today, September 12. Photo by Sunday Aghaeze.

NNPC Confirms Losing Crude Oil Worth $700 Million To Thieves Monthly

Editorial staff

September 11, 2022

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed that it has been losing 470,000 bpd amounting to $700 million monthly to crude oil thieves, in addition to security challenges, resulting in low performance as well as hindering oil production in some terminals.

The Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPMS), Bala Wunti, who spoke to news men today, September 11, said that the pipelines, particularly those around Bonny terminal cannot be operated due to the activities of criminals.

Bala Wunti said that the number of barrels stolen is very huge on a daily basis, saying that about 270 barrels that are supposed to be loaded in Bonny are no longer going to be loaded because of theft.

“If you are producing 30,000 barrels a day, every month, you get 1,940 barrels. So what it means is that you can take it to 270 every four days, calculate it in a month; you will have seven cargos on a million barrels, that’s seven million barrels.

“When you multiply seven million barrels by $100, that is $700 million lost per month; that is about 150,000 barrels expected have differed, we are not producing due to security challenges.

“The Shell Petroleum Company (SPDC) trunk line, TNP transnational pipeline cannot be operated and this has been like this since March the 3rd that we put in this. Just take your calculator, 150,000, it means if you want to arrive at 1 million barrels per day, it means every week as a minimum, basically for one week alone, it’s four cargo and four cargo is four million barrels.

“Four million barrels formula bar or $100 is $400 million. So you can do your calculations by yourself, take whatever price you want, and take this to multiply by the number of days that have been shortened since March 3rd.”

The Group General Manager said that Forcados is not completely secure due to some challenges, but assured that they were addressing it, and in two weeks it may be fixed.

“But we also have Brass about 100,000 barrels, which is operated by Agip and is also facing insecurity and vandalism.

“Illegal siphoning of crude oil from oil facilities by criminal individuals and groups, impacted negatively on revenue to all stakeholders,” he said, lamenting that the quantity of oil delivered into these federal oil terminals in the country has been limited by the activities of pipe vandals and organized crooks”

According to Wunti, the impact of vandal activities caused low crude oil production, interrupted gas supply, countrywide interruption of distribution of petroleum products, refineries’ downtimes, and increasing instability in the oil and gas market, “but I will tell you the major thing that affects us.

“Nigeria will suffer for it; the revenues are impacted, so we can only appeal to them to rein in themselves, the oil theft situation is regrettable. It’s not going on across the whole of the Niger Delta, there are trunk lines that are more impacted, I think the Bonny trunk line ranks highest.

“Our major challenge as a country is our capability to respond and that is as a result of several factors, the terrain as well as some incapacity that we have.”

On the support of the technology in monitoring the illegal activities around the oil facilities in the creeds, he said: “I was in the Saudi Arabia infrastructure twice, and I know what they have. It’s a digital control system; it’s different from our own. The digital control system, it’s like you have the control system of all your assets in one place.

“This is beyond the digital control system; it’s also a security system and we are doing it and to tell you that this was built-in by our in-house software engineers because of the security sensitivities to it because they are customized, the moment you give to somebody who creates that. So we use a combination of technology to integrate and synchronize and create what we are now confident and comfortable with.”

In the effort of the corporation to meet its financial tasks, the corporation maintained industry data on crude and all NGS production and lifting and most importantly, we ensured energy security, ensuring a bulk supply of petroleum products to the nation and remitting 100% of this to the federation.

Speaking on the synergy with other government agencies, Wunti explained that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, former DPR, and then the regulatory commission issue what they call Bill of Quantity and they also handle vessel clearance and export permits while the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry, handles the issuance of export permits.

“We also relate with the Nigerian Customs Service which also helps with the export permit and to also clear all the vessels; and the Central Bank of Nigeria, processes all Nigerian Export Proceeds forms, Nigerian export supervision scheme. So, these are all the agencies we deal with, it’s not an NNPC thing, we have to work through all these agencies before a ship can come in and sail.”

Failure Of Dialogue: Federal Govt Shifts ASUU’s Case To Court

Editorial staff

September 11, 2022

After months of dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) resulting into failure, the Federal Government has referred the matter to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) for adjudication.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, took up the matter to the court in a referral instrument which he addressed to the Registrar of NICN and dated September 8,2022.

In the matter, billed for mention tomorrow, September 12, the Federal Government is asking the NICN to inquire into the legality or otherwise of the ongoing prolonged strike by ASUU leadership and members that had continued even after apprehension by the Minister of Labour and Employment.

In a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, the government is asking the court to interpret in its entirety, the provisions of Section 18 LFN 2004, especially as it applies to the cessation of strike once a trade dispute is apprehended by the Minister of Labour and Employment and conciliation is ongoing.

Other requests are as follows: “Interpret the provisions of Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8. LFN 2004, titled “Special Provision with Respect to payment of wages during Strikes and Lock-outs,” specifically dealing with the rights of employees/workers during the period of any strike or lock-out. Can ASUU or any other union that embarked on strike be asking to be paid salaries even with clear provisions of the law.

“Determine whether ASUU members are entitled to emoluments or “strike pay” during their period of strike, which commenced on February 14, 2022, moreso in view of our national law as provided in Section 43 of the TDA and the International Labour Principles on the right to strike as well as the decisions of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association on the Subject.”

“Determine whether ASUU has the right to embark on strike over disputes as is the case in this instance by compelling the Federal Government to employ its own University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) in the payment of the wages of its members as against the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) universally used by the Federal Government in the nation for payment of wages of all her employees in the Federal Government Public Service of which university workers including ASUU members are part of or even where the government via NITDA subjected ASUU abd their counterpart UPPPS university payment platform system software to integrity test (vulnerability and stress test) and they failed.”

The Federal Government is also asking the court to determine the extent of ASUU’s demand since the 2020 Memorandum of Action (MOA) that the union signed with government. The demands include the funding for revitalisation of public universities as per 2009 agreement, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) payments, state universities proliferation and constitution of visitation panels and release of white paper on the report of the visitation panels. The others are the reconstitution of the government renegotiation team for renegotiation of 2009 agreement, which was renegotiated 2013/2014, due for renegotiation 2018/2019 and the migration of ASUU members from IPPIS to its own UTAS, which is currently on test at NITDA.

Consequently, the Federal Government requested for an order of the Court for ASUU members to resume work in their various universities while the issues in dispute are being addressed by the NICN in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 (I) (b) of the TDA Cap T8. LFN 2004.

Atiku Predicts Doom For Nigeria If APC Wins 2023 Elections

Editorial staff

September 11, 2022

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has predicted that Nigeria will head to doom if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is returned to power in the 2023 elections.

Atiku stressed that the 2023 general elections will not just be an election, but a choice between freedom from the clutches of the APC or certain doom for Nigeria in their hands.

In a personal letter to Nigerians today, September 11, the PDP candidate said that the countdown to the general campaign is drawing closer, hence the need for Nigerians to be reminded of what lays ahead.

According to him, since the clock for the take off of the campaigns will soon begin to tick, “It is very important that we use the remaining days to organize our base and establish our strength in all the 176,846 polling units across the country.
“I know that it is not an easy task. But it will be more worrisome to allow the APC remain in office one more day after May 29.“The election that is ahead of us is a choice between the certainty of a better Nigeria and a promise of failures by the APC.

“It’s a choice between freedom and doom. And I trust that you will do your all in ensuring that Nigeria is free from socio-economic hardship.“Recruit your friends as canvassers at the polling units and let’s join hands to salvage the country. As one, we can get it done.”

DSS To Gumi, Others: Stop Unguarded Utterances Over Detained Tukur Mamu

Editorial staff

September 11, 2022

The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and others to stop unguarded utterances over the arrest and detention of the Publisher of Desert Herald, Tukur Mamu, currently in its custody.

Spokesman of the Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, in a statement today, September 11, said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has followed, with keen observation, overzealous comments by sections of the public in view of issues relating to the arrest and investigation of Tukur Mamu.

“The Service wishes that it is not distracted with some of the skewed narratives pervading the media space. Instead, it requests to be left alone to concentrate on the ongoing investigations, the outcomes of which have remained mind-boggling.

”Meanwhile, the Service will cease further comments on the subject matter since the Court will determine its course. Consequently, the public is hereby enjoined to desist from making unguarded utterances and await the court proceedings. “

The DSS had described Mamu, who was involved in the negotiations for release of victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, as a person of interest.

Sheikh Gumi had, yesterday, September 10, described the arrest and detention of Tukur Mamu by the DSS as an act of intimidation and terrorism.

Soldiers Kill Notorious Bandit leader, Musti, Who Attacked NDA Kaduna, Others

Editorial staff

September 11, 2022

Nigerian soldiers have killed one of the notorious bandit leaders, who led attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna and responsible for the kidnappings of students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, the Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara State, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru and several other citizens in 2021.

The leader was identified simply as Musti, even as the commander of the group, identified as Boderi Isiya narrowly escaped from the fire power of the rampaging soldiers.

It was learnt that soldiers also killed several other terrorists in a recent operation, including those identified as Yellow Mai-Madrid and Dan-Katsinawa.

The battle field, according to the military sources, was around the Tollgate general area of Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

It was gathered that as the bandits experienced the superior power of the soldiers and scrambled to retreat, they ran into an ambush laid by another set of soldiers in Sabon Gida general area.

Soldiers were believed to have recovered various types of weapons from the scene.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has commended the soldiers for the feat.

PDP Boss, Ayu, Asks New BOT Chair, Wabara, To Help Beg Gov Wike To Sheath Sword

Editorial staff

September 11, 2022

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has visited the new acting chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara and asked him to help him beg the Governor of Rivers State, Nyeson Wike and other aggrieved party chieftains to sheath their swords and embrace peace.

Senator Ayu, accompanied by other National Working Committee (NWC) members, pleaded with Wabara, who is the former senate president, to use his diplomatic skill to beg Governor Wike and other Governors and aggrieved members of the party to forgive and forget for the purpose of moving the party forward to the next level.

The PDP Chairman described the new BoT Chairman as an elder statesman of immense experience, stressing that the PDP needs his diplomatic skill to wade through its crisis.

He begged the new BoT chairman to reach out to Governor Wike and all aggrieved party members with a view to presenting a united front against the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.

Senator Ayu hinted Wabara that the leadership of the party had agreed to travel to Port Harcourt early next week to meet with the Rivers State Governor for what he called “full reconciliation.”

He however added that because of other preplanned engagements, the Deputy Chairman (North), Ambassador Iliya Damagun, will be leading other members of the NWC on the trip as he would not be available.

Ayu thanked Wabara for the Vote of Confidence passed on the party leadership by the BoT and the National Executive Council (NEC), adding that it has affirmed the party’s unity among other things.

“To read the outcome of yesterday’s meeting as one group being victorious over another will be erroneous. We are all winners.

“My understanding is that the party wants unity. Thankfully you can play the role of a unifier even better with your immense preparation as a diplomat, former Member House Of Representatives, former senator and ex-Senate President who had worked with this party for a long period of time.

“I am calling on you to lead the effort in reaching out to all our aggrieved members. You have the full support of myself, the candidate and the whole NWC to reach out to Governor Wike, all the governors and any person who is aggrieved, and appeal to them, plead with them to come back and let’s work together in the PDP family.”

How Ex-Military Chief Stole N4 Billion To Acquire Properties In Abuja – ICPC Boss

Editorial staff

September 10, 2022

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, has said that a former military chief stole the sum of N4 billion from military budget with which he bought properties in Abuja in the names of proxies.

He said that stolen money was deposited into the accounts of two companies where he was the beneficial owner and sole signatory.

The ICPC boss, who spoke at an event tagged: ‘National Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Insecurity in Nigeria,’ held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, said that the culprit, whose name he did mention.

The ICPC boss stressed that the National Security Agency (NSA) and ICPC investigations and research on the issue of insecurity had shown that public sector corruption contributed to insecurity.

“Some former military and security personnel are being investigated by the ICPC and our sister agency (the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) for embezzlement of funds allocated to security.

“For example, a former head of one of the arms of the military, in the twilight of his tenure, deposited the sum of N4bn from military budget into the accounts of two companies where he is the beneficial owner and sole signatory.

“The proceeds were used to purchase properties in Abuja in the names of cronies and proxies. Some of the properties paid for by his service were also fraudulently converted to his use.

“ICPC’s prosecution of this high ranking officer to recover all the implicated assets was strangely and perversely frustrated by a recently retired High Court judge who decided to forfeit some of the assets to the Federal Government and the rest left to the suspect.

“While the commission has filed a notice of appeal, this strange development aggravates an already bad situation and escalates insecurity and impunity,” he said.

He noted that cases of job racketeering were rife in the security sector and were under ICPC investigations.

The chairman stressed that such cases of corruption were major contributory factors to insecurity in Nigeria.

Owosanoye also mentioned the involvement of civil servants in the theft of funds meant for security operations.

“Another case under investigation is theft of part of special intervention fund approved for security operations by some civil servants in the line ministry who transferred about N1bn to four shell companies.

“A special investigative team under the leadership of the NSA and the ICPC recovered some of the diverted assets, including a state-of-the-art building located in Abuja and over N220 million cash. Investigation on this matter is still ongoing.

“In fact, a clinical diagnosis of the insecurity menace in the country revealed that to effectively combat insecurity, we require the collaborative efforts of security agencies (the military, intelligence, police, customs, Prisons, others), as well as law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.”

Sheikh Gumi Describes Arrest Of Tukur Mamu By DSS As Intimidation, Terrorism

Editorial staff

September 10, 2022

“This is intimidation (the arrest of Tukur Mamu) is also terrorism. Arresting people unjustly is also terrorism; just like the terrorists do by going to somebody’s house to kidnap him.

“I’m only advising the government to release him so that we can apologize to him to forget what happened.”

These were the words of a Kaduna based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, while reacting to the arrest the negotiator for the release of the victims of Abuja-Kaduna train terrorist attack, Tukur Mamu. He was first arrested in Cairo Egypt on his way to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, and then brought to Nigeria where the Department of State Service (DSS) arrested and has been detaining him.

In his Friday preaching at Sultan Bello Mosque yesterday, September 9, Sheikh Gumi said that Mamu was arrested because of his role in assisting victims of terrorist attacks, urging the DSS to take him to court to face trial or release him.

“Keeping him in custody despite being a family man is just to intimidate him.

“How can we continue in this situation under a government that is about to wind up? Our hope is for them to finish successfully not in a bad light.

“It’s not about Tukur Mamu, you all know that whenever they arrest innocent people, I always talk, not to talk of someone that I know and.

The cleric said that God has a way of testing a believer, saying that the arrest of Mamu was God’s way of testing his faith, praying that Mamu would overcome it.

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