Failed PDP Candidate Retrieved Vehicles From Delegates, Demand Refund Of Dollar Too

May 27, 2022

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator, Ayo Akinyelure, who lost his re-election ticket, has retrieved two of the vehicles he donated to delegates before the primary election. He also asked the delegates to refund the sums of $5,600 and N150,000 since they did not fulfill the bargain made before the election.

In a statement Akinwon said, the Senator gave one of the delegates Chief Segun Adegoke, a 24-hour ultimatum to return the dollars he reportedly got before the election.

He said: “for avoidance of doubt and to put the record straight, the public is to take note of the following facts as regards the case in question; Hon Akindiose, you promise to deliver Ondo East for Senator Ayo Akinyelure (ALLOVER-1) in the just concluded PDP primary election on a conditional promise to buy you a car for the work you did in 2019 and the Senator told you that this is not practicable in the present circumstances because there are 5 other chairmen and all of you have been receiving N25,000 monthly allowance unhindered since his assumption of office over two and half years ago and you later complained that your car was faulty, and demanded that you need a car urgently to do the job of Ondo East and West to deliver substantial delegates for him and the Car (Lexus 330) in question was released to you from his pool to work for him and be returned on completion of the assignment, and he promised to buy a car for you if you deliver on your promises to win the primary election.

“The agreement was that this acclaimed gifted car would be recovered from you to give you another Car to compensate your efforts, after you must have delivered on promises, which you eventually failed to do. There was no transfer of Ownership document because it was not a gift but was released to you to carry out an assignment of mobilization of delegates to enable him win election, but this condition was not fulfilled by you. You voted against him, and you showed your vote to the Senator’s Agent in the voting center.

“That instead of fulfilling your promises, you voted against him and mobilize delegates against him, and he lost all the votes of Ondo East and West on the instructions of your political god fathers. Thereafter, you went ahead to go and forge “Change of Ownership” of the said car in your favor and sworn two different affidavits that the car was sold to you by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, while the second affidavit stated that it was a gift from Senator Ayo Akinyelure (two contradictions) and you went ahead to go and register his car in your own name without his authority. As a lawyer you should know that this is a case of conversion of another man’s property and a perjury for lying on oath.

“You also went ahead to collect $5,600 for 7 delegates at $800 each and N150,000 for hotel expenses collected from his house with your instruction by Wole Akinjo, CINCERO Akindiose and Oriola AKINWONMI on 23rd May 2022 at about 6am in the morning and you confirm delivery of cash to you on phone when the 3men got back to you for the 7 Delegates in your care to vote for him, when you know that you were not going to vote for him. You confirm that you never voted for him, this is a breach of verbal agreement with Sen Ayo Akinyelure, an action that will not entitle you to be given a car after the election out of some cars already bought by him to be distributed after the primary to some chairmen and others he promised along with you

“The five (5) Cars bought by Senator Ayo Akinyelure to be given as gifts to you and others are in his residence in Akure out of which he had already given two (2) out to his loyalists, despite losing at the party primaries, assuming you deliver on your promises you would have gotten your own car on return of his Lexus car as agreed.
“Therefore, your claim that he collected a gifted car from you for work done on 2019 is false and a cheap blackmail. The Senator is a man of integrity and he is known to be a “talk and do” Senator of Ondo Central.

“These are the reasons he requested you return the car with all the Money collected from the Senator for the seven (7) delegates and hotel bill obtained by false pretenses, or face a court action for perjury and conversion of his property without his lawful authority.

“You are therefore given 24 hours to return the money collected from him in your best interest. You only returned the said car on the strong advise of Police officers in charge of recovery on police intervention on 24th May 2022, but up till now you refuse to return the $5,600 and N150,000 you instructed him to transfer to account of Wole Akinjo for hotel expenses of 6 and yourself making 7 delegates that slept in the hotel in Ondo and delivered to you by Wole Akinjo as claimed by him.”

It was reported how Akinyelure and Nicholas Tofowomo, another incumbent PDP Senator, lost their reelection tickets, which Ifedayo Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), won with 82 votes to the current occupier of the seat polling a distant 58 votes.

With All Benefits Of Being Vice President, I Prefer Being Governor Of Borno – Zulum

Editorial staff

May 26, 2022

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has said that despite all the benefits attached to Vice President as he had been offered by some of the Presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the ongoing campaign, he preferred to remain governor of Borno State.

Governor Zulum, who addressed delegates at the state governorship primaries where he emerged unopposed as APC governorship candidate for 2023, stressed that he preferred to remain governor to focus on his programmes for the state than go for the position of vice president.

“I have seen all kinds of promotional media content, including articles by notable columnists, associating me with the 2023 presidency.

“Let me reveal with apologies, that some close associates of key presidential aspirants have sent me offers for the position of running mate, as possible Vice President, depending on the outcome of the APC presidential primaries by the weekend.

“I have thought deeply about these offers because becoming Vice President is considered attractive.

“I have thought about all the powers and privileges of being VP. I can see the honour of presiding over meetings attended by Governors and ministers and the privilege of having a presidential Jet at one’s disposal. I can see the honour of presidential receptions within and outside Nigeria.

“However, I have asked myself, that should I get the opportunity to become VP and raise my political profile, what happens to all our ongoing works for the people of Borno State?

“We have built more than 10, 000 houses and currently more of such and reconstructing existing ones, for ongoing resettlement of our people. We have resettled more than 20 communities so far.

“Yet, thousands of our fellow citizens are still homeless and in desperate need of food, water and healthcare.

“We have adopted a development plan that we are already implementing.

“I have asked myself, what happens to all these plans that I am central to, which are helping to fast track our recovery in Borno State?

“Ladies and gentlemen, the killings in Kala-Balge at the weekend made me more critical and the incident seriously reminded me of the challenges that are still ahead of us in Borno State.

“I came to the conclusion that while a chance to become Vice President could benefit my profile as an individual, becoming reelected as Governor of Borno State has the potential of more overall and more assurance of benefit to the good people of Borno State.

“I therefore say that while I thank those who may be considering me for the position of VP, I prefer to stay back and work drastically for the people of Borno State because for me as a citizen of Borno State.

“Working with others to hastily rebuild Borno State is the most urgent need and it is beyond any aspiration.”

How Politicians Lured Me Into Politics, Swindled Me Of All My Savings – Ex Police Boss

Editorial staff

May 26, 2022

A former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro, has said that some unnamed politicians lured him into politics when he retired and “swindled” him of all his savings when he contested Senate seat after retirement.

Okiro, who spoke in Abuja at a programme tagged: “Presidential aspirants’ media interactive platform” organised by New Nigeria Dream Initiative (NNDI), said that some group of persons tricked him to join the political race after he left office and gradually collected all his money till he was left with nothing.

The septuagenarian lambasted Nigerians for always collecting money from politicians when seeking elective positions, saying that they are the problems of the government and “we have more faults than the politicians.”

The former police boss and 13th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, who served between 2007 and 2009, asked Nigerians to say “enough is enough” in 2023 by rejecting politicians’ money during the voting process.

“Nigerians will talk about the leadership deficiency, but I say no, that is not enough! It takes two angles! If leaders have deficiency, we have followers’ complacency! Because if leaders are behaving, we just laugh, wave at them, and say walk and go! And they will do the same thing again.

“But if we say no! Enough is enough, they change! You go, they give you money for votes so that you can vote for somebody whether the person can perform or not! They give you N5, 000 and you look for four years. That means the N5, 000 is your due for four years.

“I am talking about this thing because once in a time, the politicians have faults but we have more faults than the politicians. I have an experience, let me share the experience, I corrected myself and I said bye bye to that thing.

“I contested election in Abuja here, Senate. I was on my own when they called me to come and contest. I said I have just retired, they said no, come and contest! I said Okay, I will discuss with my wife. I told my wife and she said I am afraid.

“So, they would come to me and say we want to go here, bring money; we want to do this, bring money; we want to do that, bring money; I gave all my savings, nothing again to give. They came one day, I said I was not going to give more money because I have nothing to give you.

“They told me the former man was not doing very well but I should come and try. You want me to give more but where do I get money from? I said okay, let’s do it this way, assuming I now go to borrow money or sell property to give to you, and I am elected, of course, the first thing I will do is to pay back that debt and all the property I sold, I buy them back.

“I know that after four years, there will be another election, I will reserve money for that election so that I will not borrow again. You people are the fault of this government. We should say no to election vote sellers.”

He asked Nigerians to jettison voting for political parties, but for someone with good track records that can deliver dividends of democracy to them.

“We’re not going to follow bad wagons, we are going to vote for people irrespective of their political parties. It can be A B C D or UAW or whatever party. We will look at individuals. Is he good?

“Look at his track records! Look at people who are qualified, not where they come from, irrespective of the party they belong to, to make sure that if they rule us, the dividend of democracy will reach everyone.”

Senator Shehu Sani Compares Party Delegates To Bandits Who Collect Ransom After Kidnapping Victims

Editorial staff

May 26, 2022

Senator Shehu Sani has, following his defeat at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Kaduna State, compared the party’s delegates to bandits who collect ransom.

“There is no difference between bandits who collect ransom and delegates who collect money to vote.”

In a statement after securing only two votes, he alleged that the voting process was marred by bribery and corruption with delegates collecting money to vote for unqualified candidates.

The former Senator vowed not to bribe delegates to vote for him.

“No one should pay any delegate on my behalf…I don’t believe in the political ritual of paying to be elected. That is inconsistent with my ideological and moral beliefs.”

Responding to questions about the outcome of the election, Sani said that he was proud he did not bribe anyone to vote for him.

“I was not unaware of the decadence in our political system and processes that we have helplessly and unconscionably accepted and embraced.

“My participation is to expose the system and open it for an honest conversation as a way of rescuing our political system from institutionalised corruption, that has made it impossible for credible people to participate in politics and for men and women of honour to emerge as leaders.

“Literally, have not lost the primaries, I’ve lost a political bidding process and an auction. We can’t continue to recruit, select or elect our leaders through a dishonourable delegate system that thrust politicians to power weighing on the amount of money they pay to a select few.

“We don’t compromise our principles for our politics. The seed of our political system is deeply corrupted. Delegate system ensures and guarantees the accession of criminals to the throne of power.

“The two clean votes I got without paying out of hundreds, tells much about the impropriety of politics of our country than about myself.

“If we don’t courageously and consciously revolt against cash and carry politics, it’s impossible to sanitise our country and impossible for the younger generation to aspire for the position of leadership.

“There is no difference between bandits who collect ransom and delegates who collect money to vote. It’s a contradiction for any society to object to ransom payment and accept paying for votes.”

2023: Abacha, Other PDP Governorship Candidates Emerge In States; Full List

Greenbarge Reporters

May 26, 2022

Governorship candidates of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Muhammed Abacha for Kano, have started emerging in many States of the federation ahead of the next year’s elections.

The governorship candidates emerged after thre conduct of the primary ahead of the party’s Special National Convention during which its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections will be elected.

However, states like Imo is yet to conduct its governorship primary due to issue with its delegates list while the PDP in Ogun State conducted two different primary elections.

Below is the list of states and governorship candidates of the PDP:

Borno State: Mohammed Jajari

Nasarawa State: David Ombugadu

Delta State: Chief Sheriff Oborevwori

Abia State: Prof Uche Ikonne

Enugu State: Peter Mbah

Jigawa State: Mustapha Lamido

Oyo State: Seyi Makinde

Adamawa State: Ahmadu Fintiri

Taraba State: Agbu Kefas

Kwara State: Abdullahi Shuaib Yaman

Benue State: Titus Uba

Gombe State: Jibrin Barde

Bauchi State: Ibrahim Kassim

Rivers State: Sim Fubara

Akwa Ibom State: Pastor Umo Eno

Lagos State: Abdulaziz Olajide Adediran (Jandor)

Kano State: Muhammad Abacha

Kaduna State: Isah Ashiru

Sokoto State: Sa’aidu Umar

Plateau State: Caleb Mutfwang

More updates later.

Source: Naija News.

For Second Time, Gunmen Kidnap Kogi Elder Statesman, Isa Ozi Salami

Greenbarge Reporters

May 26, 2022

For the second time in about five years, an elder statesman in Kogi State, Alhaji Is a Ozi Salami has been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen.

Isa Ozi Salami, who is currently a board member of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), was kidnapped at Ogaminana in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Information available to us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the elder statesman was kidnapped at gun point on his way from his house to join congregation in a nearby Mosque for the early morning prayer.

Sometime in 2017, the same man was kidnapped at his Abuja resident and was rescued by the police after three days of being with the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the Kogi Police Command is said to have Deployed Crack Team In Rescue of Kidnapped Isa Ozi Salami.

Nigeria, Others Need $432 Billion To Fully Recover From Effects Of COVID-19 – Adesina

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, foreseen what he called “slow economic growth” for the continent in 2022 and that Nigeria and other countries in Africa would need at least $432 billion to fully recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking today, May 25 at the Bank’s Annual General Meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Adesina said that the recovery for Africa will be very costly.

“Africa will need at least $432 billion to address the effects of Covid19 on its economies, plus on the lives of its people, resources that it does not have.”

“The measures taken already by the global community, especially the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments, and the issuance of the $650 billion Special Drawing Rights by the @IMFNews, have all helped.”

On the outlook of Africa’s economy, he said that while the Real GDP rebounded strongly in 2021, growing by 6.9 percent in comparison to this year’s outcome, he said the continent would record slow growth of 4.1 percent in 2022.

He listed the crippling effects of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict as reasons for the slow economic growth.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had on May 23, announced a 3.11 percent increase in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of this year as against the 0.51 percent recorded in the corresponding period in 2021.

Bauchi, PDP State, Has Benefited Much From Buhari’s Govt, Gov Bala Confesses

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has confessed that the state under the governance of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has benefited so much from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor, who visited the President today, May 25, at the Presidential villa, Abuja, to thank him for the commissioning of N23.5 billion World Bank Assisted Upgraded Bauchi Township Water Supply Scheme at the Gubi Water Treatment Plant in Bauchi on May 19, 2022 through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, emphasized that the State has ‘‘benefited so much’’ under the present administration.

The governor highlighted such significant projects as being in the education sector, youth development, Industrial Training Fund, agro-processing, infrastructure and housing scheme.

He commended the President for the establishment of Federal College of Education in Jama’are, Air Force Institute of Technology Complex, Tafawa Balewa, Federal Government Science and Technical College Misau, Federal University of Health, Nutrition and Medical Sciences, Azare and support for primary education through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The Governor said that through the support of the Federal Government, Bauchi State received N12 billion to build 2,500 houses across the Emirates in the State.

‘‘This is the first time we have a housing scheme running across the emirates and I know our Royal Fathers here with me are most grateful to you and the Federal Government for this gesture.”

Governor Bala Mohammed said that despite party differences “he (Buhari) is loved and cherished in the State because of his patriotism and insistence on prioritising the development of infrastructure in the country.

“On oil exploration, we thank you for prioritising the exploration activities in the Benue trough and with this Bauchi and Gombe have been out on the map. We thank you for visiting the location of the exploration and your passion for its development.”

The Governor appealed to the Federal Government to construct the road from Alkaleri to Gombe-Abba because of oil exploration in the area as well as the dualisation of Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road.

This was even as President Buhari thanked him for assembling a high-powered delegation for the visit and promised to look into requests by the State government to complete ongoing Federal Government projects in need of urgent attention.

The President commended Bauchi State for providing illustrious sons and daughters who are making invaluable contributions to his government and national development, singling out the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu for special mention.

“He has been my close associate for a very long time and he is a son of Bauchi.”

CBN Gov, Emefiele, Not Sacked – Spokesman

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

Head of Corporate Communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Osita Nwanisiobi, has said that the bank’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, has not been sacked.

Reacting to online media report today, May 25, Osita said that Emefiele is currently out of the country on official assignment.

The apex bank’s boss was reported to have been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari. The report in the social media alleged that Emefiele has been under public scrutiny since he declared interest to run for the presidency at the oncoming 2023 general elections.

Source: NAN.

Osinbajo Describes Killing Of Pregnant Hausa Woman In Anambra As Callous, Brutal, Demeaning

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the killing of a pregnant woman, Mrs. Harira Jubril and her children in Anambra State as not only callous, brutal and demeaning, but capable of creating ethnic conflict across the country.
Professor Osinbajo, who spoke today, May 25 when he addressed newsmen shortly after meeting All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates in Makurdi, Benue State in continuation of his nationwide consultations with party delegates and other stakeholders ahead of the APC presidential primaries, said: “what took place in Anambra with the killing of a woman and her children demeans us all.

“It is such a callous act and so brutal. And I think that we must be very careful, as a people, with this type of killings that are going on, especially where it is obviously to create such horror, annoyance and create a situation where we begin to have ethnic conflicts again and all that.
“And I think we must all be careful and condemn it in the strongest possible terms, there is no excuse for it whatsoever. We must not allow a situation where we get to the point where we even countenance individuals who can do this sort of thing.
“How does anyone kill a woman and her children? I think it is such a terrible tragedy condemnable by all. Mr President has spoken about it and I just want to join my voice with those of others who are completely outraged by it.”
In his statement earlier today, President Muhammadu Buhari very strongly condemned what he described as “wild, barbarous and wanton killings of innocent people” in the South-East as well as the other parts of the country.

The President also described the killings as “deeply distressing,” even as he warned the perpetrators of these acts to expect tough response from the security forces.

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