AFRICA’S PROBLEM not planning but implementation – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the problem with Africa as a continent and her nations has never been planning but in implementation, and not in debating but in doing, adding that in executive offices and legislative chambers you would easily encounter brilliantly drafted documents and initiatives, but implementation has been the problem.

President Buhari who was represented by the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo made the mark while declaring open the 48th Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region, held at Imo Trade and Investment Owerri on Saturday, October 21, 2017, adding that, “what we need to Consistently do now is to put action behind our visions and missions as time is no longer on our side as the countdown to 2063 has long started”.

He Continued “The theme of this 48th CPA Conference, African Agenda 2063: Vision Master Plan, presents yet another crucial reflection point for those who today have the privilege of being Africa political elite. The Agenda 2063 spelt out a vision of an Africa that is prosperous, integrated, peaceful, secured and a continent that recognizes the full potential of its human capital and as a respected player on the global stage”.

Prof. Osinbajo stressed “The Africa we want is an Africa that works for its people, one that ensures that Africans can enjoy decent standard of living and security, freedom and one where men and women have equal assets and treatment, with respect to all economic, political and social good”.

He added “Distinguished legislators, the Power and the responsibility for rewriting the story of Africa lies in our hands; the people of our various Countries have elected us to chart a course to the Africa that they want and desire. Our democracy serves no purpose if it does not advance the well-being of our people because we were elected to think, plan and act for the interest of the majority. We will be charlatans of the greatest order if our leadership does not provide for the present and secure the future of those that elected us”.

The Vice-President further remarked “I must commend His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for the leadership he has shown and for the great work he is doing in Imo State, and for his excellent hospitality always. In the true spirit of African brotherhood and spirit, Imo State has in the past two weeks hosted not less than 3 African Centred international gatherings including the visit of two African heads of State”.

One day Africa will sing a new song – Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha in his Speech at the event said, “one day Africa will sing a new song and we believe one day, we shall occupy our rightful place in the comity of nations. Therefore your meeting this time is apt and timely. It is a struggle to find the way forward for the African nations”.

Governor Okorocha Continued “But one thing I have come to realize is that there is nothing wrong with Africa but there is something slightly wrong with Africans in our attitude and the way we do things. But I’m further worried by the fact that if we do not act quick under the present ugly situation which our condition points out to us, we might be destroying the psyche of the generations of Africans yet unborn”.

For him “We are passing through a very difficult moment which many great nations of the world have passed through and we are not an exemption but we will one day in this our lifetime take our rightful place. My concern is about the youths of Africa. It might be shocking to all of you to know that African youths are so frustrated. We have not lived up to expectation of what we can do for the African Child. That will also anchor on my feelings that education must be given it’s rightful place if the youths of Africa must find and take up their positions”.

He added “I therefore appeal to you the lawmakers when you go home that you legislate on the issues that will impact positively on the youths of Africa. Legislate for free education so that the children of the poorest of the poor can go to School. The essence of democracy is good governance and to equip our people for a better future. Every President of a place in Africa should see himself as a father and every first lady as a mother to be instruments to provide education to their children”.

President of CPA and Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim said, “A well established strategy is crucial to the development and performance of any Organization because it is a plan that integrates its major goals, policies and actions into a cohesive whole. I am sure that if we are able to match our vision with actions our vision plan can be achieved”.

His words, “We, as parliaments must do our best to move beyond conferences and ensure that some of the laudable outcome of the numerous conference have direct impact on the development of the African Continent”.

:Vanguard 

Breaking: DIRECTOR HANGS SELF after wife gave birth to triplets

Lokoja – A director in the Kogi State civil service, Mr Edward Soje has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree in Lokoja, the state capital .

It was gathered on Saturday in Lokoja that the dangling body of Soje was found on a tree behind the mammy market at the Maigumeri barracks, the Nigeria Army Command Record.

The 54-year-old civil servant decided to take his life barely 10 days after his wife of 17 years gave birth to a set of male triplets in a private hospital in Abuja. The couple had been childless before then.

Soje, a Grade Level 16 Officer in the Kogi State Teaching Service Commission, was being owed 11 months’ salary arrears as at the time he took his life.

He hailed from Ogori town in Ogori -Magongo Local Government area of the state.

He had before killing himself travelled to Abuja and left a suicide note for the wife who also works in one of the federal ministries.

“Psalm 121:3 God will not suffer your foot to be moved: He that keepeth you will not slumber. Amen. You and the three boys, the God Almighty will keep you and prosper you, amen. I love you,” according to the suicide note.

Confirming the incident, the state police command Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya said that the dangling body of Soje was found on a tree behind the barracks at about 5:55 p.m on Oct. 16.

Aya said that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Area D Division received information about the incident from the military intelligence office in the barracks.

“Police moved to the scene, removed the corpse to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja. Investigation is still ongoing,” Aya said.

The police spokesman said that nothing was found on the man to help trace his address and family.

However, a search party organised by his relations and friends, found his corpse at the morgue of the hospital on Friday, Oct. 20.

Family sources said that Soje had before the incident been going through a lot of financial pressure due to non-payment of his salary for 11 months by the Kogi State Government.

He was among thousands of civil servants being owed between two and 21 months’ salary arrears by the state government.

As a way out, he was said to have sold his only car and a three-bedroom bungalow he was building at Otokiti area of Lokoja.

The building which was at lintel level was sold by Soje at a giveaway price of N1.5 million in April to meet urgent family needs, it was gathered.

According to the sources, Soje’s financial woes became compounded when the wife gave birth to a set of triplets through Caesarian operation in a private hospital in Abuja on Oct. 7.

The deceased remained in the hospital to look after wife and children until Oct. 13, a day before the naming ceremony when he decided to come back to Lokoja.

On getting to Lokoja, Soje went straight to his bank to collect the remaining N30,000 in his salary account with one of the commercial banks and thereafter informed the bank in writing about his decision to close the account.

He immediately left Lokoja for the hospital in Abuja where he rejoined his wife and handed over the N30,000 cash to her.

On Oct. 14, Soje and wife were joined by two pastors and few relatives to perform a brief naming ceremony for the triplets in the hospital.

He later left the hospital on the pretext that he wanted to pick few things from the wife’s apartment in Abuja with a promise to come back quickly.

But Soje did not return for hours and did not pick any of the many calls made to his telephone line, a development which forced the wife to send somebody to the house to go and ascertain what was happening to him.

The person, on getting to the apartment knocked the door severally but no response and decided to call his telephone number.

On hearing the telephone ringing out from the apartment, the person was said to have knocked severally again but no response, this made him to seek the assistance of neighbours to force the door open.

When the door was opened, the people were shocked when they saw Soje’s telephone handset placed on a suicide note on the centre table in the sitting room while he was nowhere to be found.

When the wife was informed, she quickly contacted some people to begin a search for him in Abuja while relations and friends in Lokoja were also informed of the development.

Efforts made to locate him did not yield fruit until relations decided to visit hospitals in Lokoja, the decision paid off eventually on Friday, October 20 when the corpse of Soje was found in the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

A member of the family said that the management of the hospital explained to them that Soje’s corpse was brought in by the police, who found it dangling on a tree.

A member of the family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the late Soje as a “very quiet and lovable human being. “

He said that some members of the family have been sent to Abuja to break the news to the wife and refused to answer further questions. (NAN)

:Vanguard 

Arewa Youth leader to Buhari: ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR IS LOSING STEAM

•Says Buhari has not told the north he will run in 2019

•Lists what will influence the 2019 election

Alhaji Gambo Gujungu is the National President of Arewa Youth Forum, AYF, a powerful and vociferous group of young Northerners which influences policies and decisions in the region.

In this interview, Gujungu examines President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war, the raging restructuring agitation and the 2019 election. As the race for 2019 election begins to gather momentum, Gujungu says Buhari has not told anyone in the North that he will run again in 2019. Excerpts:

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

What do you think should be restructured in Nigeria to make it a better, greater country?

The issue of restructuring the Nigerian polity has always been a recurring decimal.   For me I believe it has to do with the leadership of the country, not just the present leadership but also the past ones in the country.

The issues of restructuring and marginalisation all stem from leadership failure. If the people are comfortable with the leadership of the country no matter where the president is from this issue of restructuring will be reduced to the barest minimum. So if you ask me I will say we need to restructure the minds of our leaders to begin to do the right thing for the majority of the people.

If after 57 years of independence we are still talking about roads, water, hospital and housing when other countries are going to the moon and selling technology, we should begin to examine ourselves and determine where we went wrong and begin to think seriously what will give us an edge as a nation and stop talking about mundane things that cannot take us to anywhere.

Today, some people hammer on devolution of more powers to states without taking cognisance of the misuse of the little powers at the disposal of our governors. If we may ask those calling for the devolution of more powers to the state, what will happen if they are given more powers?

For me, let us restructure the electoral system that will throw up good leaders, leaders who will be accountable to the people, leaders who will have the interest of the people at heart.   With that I believe the issue of marginalisation, the issue of restructuring will be reduced. Restructuring is not going to put food on our table for the common man or increase the status of the average Nigerian.

Is that why the North is opposed to restructuring?

Who said so? It is not true that the North is opposed to restructuring and our leaders have consistently made that point very clear. But this narrative has continued because some people want to paint the north as a region that is opposed to restructuring.   Some people are of the view that the only way they can feather their own nest is to always say that the north does not want restructuring.

However one thing is clear, is restructuring the answer to the myriad of problems bedevilling this country?   You can answer that.   I want to see the advocates of restructuring begin to tell us how it will secure the tomorrow of Nigerian youths, how it will reduce poverty and deprivation in the north,  how it will tackle the security challenges and other challenges plaguing this country.

Do not forget that these same elements had caused Nigeria to spend billions of Naira to organise the last National Conference which they knew would produce no binding results but to enable them to line up their pockets. These advocates of restructuring and national conferences just want to sit down and talk again and share money and go home. For example, some people have said that the report of the National Conference that was convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan should be implemented as part of the restructuring of the country.

Jonathan had the report but refused to implement it. The new government was not part of the conference and it is doubtful whether they will want to implement it. But we are watching.   Others have talked about the Justice Lawal Uwais Electoral Reform Report and the government does not seem to be keen on touching it even with a pole.   Those are issues that we should be talking about because I can tell you sincerely that most of the advocates of restructuring cannot give you a good proposal on how it should be done.

But in Nigeria we like the bandwagon effect.   But Northern leaders have been talking about the kind of restructuring that they want. When the time comes, we will bring out our own stand on the matter to the table. However, let it be known that we are not opposed to restructuring. But our main issue is how to better the lot of Nigerians as a whole in a united and prosperous country.

How would the North want the country to be configured if they were to embrace restructuring and why?

Restructuring is not about shape or size. It should be about giving Nigerians better quality   of life, equitable and just society and a country where corruption is reduced to the barest minimum, to give the average Nigerian a sense of belonging and sense of inclusion no matter where one chooses to reside and do their business. So, my advice is that Nigeria should be restructured to give all a sense of belonging. Nigeria must be restructured to reduce poverty and make sure that the youths can aspire and see their aspirations come to pass.   Nigeria should be restructured to create an enabling environment for people with ideas to thrive, reduce unemployment and make the people secured.

What would you say about the anti corruption war of the Buhari government? Is it working and has it changed the mindset of Nigerians from stealing and looting of public funds?

Many people voted for this government because of the personality of the President and I believe many of them were not disappointed with the way the government started by hitting the ground running in terms of its anti-corruption crusade.   In view of that I will say the president is trying.   However, the vigour with which the President started the war on corruption seems to be losing steam.

Maybe corruption is fighting back.   But President Buhari needs to keep up the steam because the fight is losing steam.   Take for example the case of the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Director General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Amb Ayo Oke, who were suspended since April this year and investigated by the Acting President and the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Security Adviser.

The report of the probe has since been submitted to Buhari but he has continued to keep mute over it when Nigerians are dying to see action taken against the officials. Unfortunately, as in other high profile corruption cases, he has chosen to keep silence over the matter, which is generating tension in the land. It is unfair and unhelpful to the anti-corruption fight. The attitude of Mr. President gives the impression that he has given up on the fight against corruption and this is quite unfortunate to say the least.

Buhari must know that many Nigerians are not happy with his government’s response and handling of the controversial issue. Nigerians need to be assured that the President is not shielding his own people, those around him. They want to see him fight corruption no matter whose ox is gored so as to win their support. That is the only way to go. But we are happy because he is trying but he needs to do more.

For the first time in a long time, the North rose in unison to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, making him the first Nigerian leader to defeat a sitting president. Why did that happen?

No, it is not correct to say that the North rose in unison to elect Buhari in 2015. It was the whole country that voted for him to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan. So, don’t attribute the victory of Buhari to the North alone because it would not be fair to those who saw some unique qualities in him and voted for him from all parts of the country. Having said that I believe the overwhelming support that President Buhari got in 2015 was because of the state of affairs in the country then.   I think there was an unwritten agreement among majority of Nigerians that after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party, power should be given to another party to lead Nigeria.

I think Nigerians were somewhat fed up with the PDP and that was why they elected the APC Government under Buhari. Indeed, the change of power was like a movement across the whole country not only in the north.

Beyond that I think President Muhammadu Buhari just capped up the whole issue on ground then because people saw in him as an incorruptible leader, someone who could rally the country and take it to the next level.   To be honest, I believe that was what happened. President Muhammadu Buhari was a major factor in what happened in the last election, but it was not all about him. So many other factors played out and culminated in what transpired.   So if at any point in time again majority of Nigerians feel bad about any government they will likely repeat the same feat and drive out an uncomfortable government from power through the ballot box.

Given this understanding of Buhari, will the North repeat the same feat in 2019 by voting enmass for Buhari since it is clear he will seek re-election?

That is your own opinion and I am just hearing that from you for the first time and not the president or his minders. You are informing me about his seeking re election, because am not aware that he has said anywhere that he is seeking re-election.   We are not aware of his desire to seek re-election. What I believe is that when the time comes and if he actually decides to run again then we can look at the situation on ground with other stakeholders. But like I said the president has not said anything about the next elections.

However, one thing I can say is that the north will appraise its situation about the performance of the President.   You know he came in based on certain promises which he must fulfil in order to convince the electorate to go for him or not. I suspect strongly that the 2019 presidential election would be based on performance and not on promises because Nigerians are very enlightened and expectant.

How far the President and his party are able to fulfil their manifesto to the people and tackle hunger in the land will be a deciding factor in the next poll. Do not forget that government is supposed to add value to people’s lives and Buhari’s government would be judged along that line when the time comes.

Buhari is being accused of having asked the World Bank President to pay special attention to the North in its development programmes, thereby making some Nigerians to accuse him of promoting sectional interest. What do you make of this claim?

I believe the presidency has explained the stand of Mr. President on the issue and I believe it suffices.   The north east is part of this country and all of us are aware of what is happening there. The crisis in the North east presents a rather very unfortunate situation that I believe all well-meaning Nigerians should genuinely be concerned about.   So it is a normal situation for the preference for the north east.  I believe there was something like that immediately after the civil war and it was meant to tackle the devastating effect of war and its attendant suffering by the people.

Also you know the north east is one of the least developed zones in the country.   So there is nothing wrong with government trying to make it catch up with other zones in the country.   The problem is that some critics will not see anything good in whatever people do. If government had said for instance that the World Bank should focus attention on the South West for instance, the same critics would be the ones to lampoon the government for not focussing on the troubled North East that is suffocating from the effects of the Boko Haram. But for us, when government takes action that is good we commend, when it is bad we tell them and I believe that is the way it should be.

As someone from the north where open grazing is promoted as part of daily living, do you consider that Nigeria is ripe for ranching of livestock to prevent incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country?

Open grazing has been around for a long time now but the truth must be told by all that the time and dynamics have since changed and we need to adjust accordingly to avoid being caught up by climate change and other challenges of the time. The situation in the country is quite different from what it was in 1960s and 1970s. The herdsmen are used to the way they move their animals around and it has become a way of life.   Also nobody is happy with these clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

My take on this is that government should take all these interests that I mentioned into consideration and come out with a way out.   In view of the rising population and the effect of climate change, land, water and grass are in short supply and we need to devise new methods of feeding livestock using technology as other countries have done so that we are not left behind.

Government should begin to work towards a permanent solution because we need the land to farm and the animals to eat, too.   Ranching can be a way out but it should be done in a way that those involved will understand.   That is where sensitization is key. Let government make the herdsmen understand that things have changed and are still changing.   They must be told to change with the tide so as to continue to remain in the business of raising cattle for living. Am concerned about the clashes and they don’t portray us as a nation that is developing and is concerned about the welfare of its people.   Government needs to stop the bloodshed. 

:Vanguard 

SENATE PROBES ATTACK ON NIGERIANS communities by Cameroonians

The Senate has mandated its committees on Police Affairs and National Security to investigate clashes between border communities in Nigeria and Cameroon, which has claimed lives and property of Nigerians.

The resolution to this effect emanated from a point of order raised by Sen. John Enoh (APC-Cross River) during plenary on Thursday.

Enoh said that it was Federal Government’s duty to protect its citizens from internal and external aggression, lamenting that affected people from his political jurisdiction had been abandoned to attacks from Cameroonian aggressors.

He said, “I rise to call attention to a dire and serious security situation that is occurring in my senatorial district between the communities in Cross River and communities in Cameroon.

“This crisis has taken international dimension. The porous nature of our borders, especially at that particular axis, is a great concern.

“The main reason why government exists is to protect people’s lives and property; I therefore call on Nigerian authorities to increase security presence because there is still rising tension in that part of the country.”

The lawmaker also urged the security agencies to see how much help they could provide to ensure that people in that area were protected.

In his remark, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, stressed that it was the responsibility of government to provide adequate security at the borders and also ensure safety and security of the citizenry in the country.

He, therefore, referred the matter to the Committees on Police Affairs and National Security, mandating them to carry out a thorough job on the conflict and report back to the chamber.

:Vanguard 

GANI ADAMS: How YORUBA PROMOTER became Aare Ona Kakanfo

TO different people, he means different things. While some perceive him as a cultural advocate, others hold contrary views. Whichever way he is viewed, Otunba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams is unarguably a leading promoter of Yoruba interest worldwide.

This is a cause he has chosen ever since destiny made him the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, in 1999. It has been a journey that saw him transforming from a militant youth leader to a socio-political activist of national and global repute. Born April 30, 1970 in Akoko North-West,  Ondo State, Gani Adams’ entrance into limelight began immediately after his secondary education at  the popular Ansarudeen Secondary School in Isolo, Lagos.

Growing  popularity

His foray into the struggle for a return to democratic rule began in 1993 after the annulment of the June 12 presidential elections. Sensing the urgent need to stand against the injustice meted out to the late MKO Abiola, a Yoruba man, Adams founded the Oodua Youth Movement to champion this cause. In a move aimed at advancing the cause of the Yoruba, he was among the nine people that founded the OPC on August 25, 1994 at 110, Palm Avenue, Lagos.

The OPC, however, became a force to reckon with and a thorn in the flesh of the military government of the day. As a way of reducing the growing  popularity of June 12 activists, the military government clamped down on, among others, the founder of the group, Dr. Frederick Fasehun. While Fasehun was incarcerated by the military regime, Gani Adams soon took up the mantle of the OPC leadership.

Adams admitted he started under Fasehun, noting; “He was my leader from the beginning.” He was also quick to add that he was mentored by the late fiery human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. “As activists, when some of us had problems, we usually went to the chambers of Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He (Fawehinmi) discovered my determination and that was one of the reasons we were close,” he said.

Cultural advancement

While sensing the need to remove the negative toga critics associated with the OPC, Adams veered into advancing the rich culture of Yorubaland. He said: “The OPC has done a lot of good in Yorubaland; most of the cities in Yorubaland are secured by the private security of the OPC.

“I can tell you authoritatively that 75 per cent of members are artisans or technicians. Out of the 150 National Coordinating Council members, we have about 33 graduates in various disciplines. The elite are fond of disparaging the good side of any group without letting the people get to know of them. Some ignorant elite know how to portray any group, not in their good books, in a bad light.”

In 2002, the OPC leader set up the OlokunFestival Foundation with the view of promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba race. Interestingly, the annual OlokunFestival has become an important tourist and local attraction throughout Yorubaland by various Yoruba people and groups. Aside theOlokun festival, he also established the Oodua Progressives Union, OPU, which seeks to sustain Yoruba identity.

He said Yoruba people all over the world must have a sense of belonging and identify with their roots all the time. It is instructive to note here that the OPU has presence in 74 countries. There is no doubt that Gani Adams has paid his dues over time and has endeared himself to those who see him as champion of the Yoruba race. As the mantle of Aare Ona Kakanfo falls on him, it is expected that he would bring his cultural experience to unite the Yoruba race.

:Vanguard 

ROCHAS OKOCHA IS KILLING IMO

AFTER calling out the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, twice in ten months, I gave up. The governor has the whole of Imo as his duchy and he will do what he will do. So, what’s the point?

If I’m now constrained to cry more than the bereaved people of Imo, it’s simply because their worsening misery is killing me. For two weeks, Okorocha held the state hostage to mark his 55th birthday anniversary. School children, whose parents are still being owed salaries of up to three months, were lined in the streets of Owerri to salute the governor.

As for pensioners whose long arrears are being paid in dreadful bits, they watched Okorocha’s parade from the discomfort of their homes as their August/September cheques bounced again.

Mothers whose stalls in Ekeukwu market had been demolished by the state government in defiance of a court order and the parents of Somtochukwu who lost the 10-year-old boy during the violent eviction were expected to send glowing tributes to Okorocha at 55.

Twenty-seven pre-selected women, each representing a local government, brought cakes to the governor. State workers, who had been eating the life-size portraits of Okorocha since he would not pay them salaries, were offered yet more portraits and statues to eat to mark the governor’s 55th birthday.

And to crown the insult, rogue politicians in the ruling All Progressives Congress organised a party at the stadium, aired on live TV, to tell us how the governor had made the sun stand still in the last six years of his administration.

While the show was on, he complimented the fawning crowd from time to time with that trademark grin that tells the story of his suzerainty. Okorocha is killing Imo.

With Friends  Like Zuma

I would have stayed out, but how can I? How can anyone with a conscience see what Okorocha is doing and look the other way? How can?

He took his folly to a whole new level last week when he invited South African President, Jacob Zuma, to crown activities marking his 55th birthday.

With Zuma in town, chaperoned by his cousin, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Okorocha was immensely pleased about the exhibition of star power. But the outing, concealed from even the State House of Assembly and supervised by the governor’s private army, meant something more to Zuma: it was welcome escape from his woes at home.

As Zuma was boarding the plane to Nigeria, the Supreme Court of Appeal in his country ruled for the reinstatement of 783 charges of corruption and fraud against him. Zuma had been giving South African prosecutors a run-around over charges that he took bribes worth over $304,000 and was involved in racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

This was apart from charges that he used $23 million of state money to refurbish his sprawling apartment in Nkandla – funds which the courts ruled that he must return. On top of all this, are charges that Zuma’s bosom business friends, the Guptas, had used their influence with him to capture the state.

As Zuma was landing in Owerri and Okorocha was unveiling his statue, naming a road after him, and awarding him a chieftancy title, protests were going on in South Africa, calling for Zuma to resign because his government has been overwhelmed by corruption. He’s still in power but the office left him since.

Too Much Of A  Good Thing

There is an elaborate spin that the visit is also to help strengthen cooperation between the Okorocha and Zuma Foundations; but that’s nonsense. Philanthropy could use better examples than two adults who rob Peter to pay Paul.

Isn’t it amusing that since news of the Okorocha-Zuma project broke, not a few South Africans have been saying Okorocha is doing it to give Nigerians a pass for drugs in South Africa?  That’s nonsense. Whatever Nigerians will do – good or bad – hopefully more good than bad – they will do without help from the Okorochas of this world. Okorocha and Zuma are on their own.

But this is not about the South African president. It’s about his host, Okorocha, who thinks it’s all right to turn a blind eye on Zuma’s baggage and, worse still, insult the people of Imo by hosting his guest with public funds from which he also erected a Zuma statue. In Okorocha’s haste to acquire star power, he couldn’t even make a good statue of Zuma. He was out-conned.

Okorocha is killing Imo. It’s OK if he wishes to cultivate Zuma’s personal friendship. But he cannot pay N500 million or more from the state’s treasury to do so.

Zuma, which Zuma?

Is Zuma a friend, really? In two years under his watch as South African president, 116 Nigerians have been killed in that country, most of them victims of premeditated homicides. A good number of them are Igbos and at least one, Daniel Timothy, is from Umunuma Okohia, in Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo State.

As Okorocha unveiled Zuma’s statue and named a road in Owerri after him, I wondered how the parents of Timothy would feel whenever they see that statue or travel on that road. What was Timothy’s widow – and his surviving four children  –thinking on hearing the news?

True, Nigerians have not been the only targets of the rising wave of xenophobia in South Africa. But in the last two years, no other country has recorded a higher number of casualties than Nigeria. And this has happened in spite of repeated promises by Zuma’s government that it will ensure the safety of Nigerians.

Did Okorocha bring up the X-word with Zuma or did he simply grin all the way in his peculiar Okorocha way?

APC Mascot

The ruling APC obviously does not think that Okorocha is a problem. He’s the party’s mascot in the South East, a region where President Muhammadu Buhari is most unpopular.

With a governor like Okorocha, right-thinking people in the South East must be wondering if the Imo State governor is the face of change that the ruling party prides itself on, unless it was meant to be a change for the worse.

Okorocha’s continued shenanigans guarantee Buhari and his ruling party a rough road to any hope of recovery in the South East, if it still matters to them. Whether it’s about a possible new life in the South East or the pursuit of the APC’s anti-corruption agenda, Okorocha is killing whatever is left of his party’s image.

Some will argue that it would be unfair to single him out among the governors. After all, in the race to the bottom, Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), are also doing their best to lead the pack. At this rate, however, it appears that the crown for hubris might be a straight fight between Bello and Okorocha.

But are citizens really that helpless? In a region where women resisted unfair taxation by the colonial government in 1929, I’m at a loss why 88 years later and with far better educated, more enlightened and prosperous citizens, an Okorocha would take the people for a ride, grinning for good measure.

My governor, my governor: your works are killing me.

Azu Ishiekwene is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview and member of the board of the Global Editors Network.

:Vanguard 

JONATHAN ACCUSES PMB Govt Of Lies, Propaganda

ABUJA - Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration as being populated by liars and professional propagandists.

Jonathan stated this in Abuja while receiving one of the chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Tunde Adeniran.

Jonathan declared that contrary to claims by some members of the APC, PDP performed very well throughout the period it held office and handed over power to the APC.

Dismissing claims of the APC administration, he said, “It is not because I have served as president, from 1999 till date, but PDP has done very well. Sometimes people come to write off the 16 years of PDP.

“PDP has done very well from May 1999 to May 2015. Those who gave us all kinds of names deployed propaganda and lies at a professional level.”

He further lambasted some egg heads at the time for being culpable in trying to discredit his administration.

The former president added that his administration as far back as 2010 knew that the economy was challenged and needed to be addressed differently but that because the country was approaching an election year in 2011, they postponed their plans to address those issues till 2012 when they decided to adopt deregulation.

“It was clear that one of the issues in Nigeria was subsidy. And it was being abused. We setup forensic auditors. Immediately they were set up they promised me that they we were going to get up to N40billion. My eyes were opened that if we can get that kind of money our roads and other infrastructure will be addressed.”

He however added that he was so disappointed when the auditors could not get anything, adding, “they hired all sorts of people and at the end of the day they couldn’t achieve anything despite the high expectation.

“But we increased the pump price from N65 to N97. That time the crude oil price was going for almost 100. But when the price of crude oil dropped to about 70 dollars per barrel we reduced the pump price from the N97 to N87, and they attacked us, saying it was supposed to be lower.

“I don’t want to name the serving minister now, he then gave an illustration that if a bag of flour costs N100,000 and a loaf of bread costs N100, if the bag of flour costs lower, the price of bread was supposed to reduce.

“Now when the price of crude oil was going for over $70 per a barrel we brought down the pump price of fuel to N87, now the global crude oil is selling for $53…the pump price is N143. Those who attacked us do not say anything because they have seen it.”

He also added that, “A serving minister now, while he was a governor then, said that any serious government will fix power in six months and that we are not having steady power because those who were in government are incompetent. And that those who are in charge of federal government are neophytes. Now we have a senior government which has been in power for two years, where is (the light)?”

Jonathan said that at the appropriate time he would offer to engage the media extensively on issues pertaining to the country.

He however stressed “Let us just organize the party very well and select good materials that will lead us to victory in the next elections.

PDP government has done well and we will continue to defend that.

“What we need is a person that can give proper leadership for this country, a chairman that can lead us to elect good material for the presidency.

“That will bring the proper change and economic growth for this country.”

Speaking on the kind of leadership the party needs, he declared that the next chairman of PDP must be competent, reliable and courageous to lead the party to victory in 2019.

“This contest appears to be the toughest. Like everybody will say, we need a very competent, reliable and courageous chairman. As an opposition party, you have to be courageous. As an opposition party you must get bridge builders.

“The kind of chairman that will lead, the kind of chairman that you need is like a general that will lead the troop. Not the chairman that will seat down drinking champagne or wine.”

He added that despite the party’s opposition status “people have been coming to register in the party.”

He stressed that the party must do the right thing, stressing, “We must elect a chairman that will run the party democratically.

We need a courageous chairman that knows that imposition is destructive.

“We need a chairman who by God’s grace if we win election by 2019 and the president make certain mistake he will be courageous enough to correct him. We don’t want a chairman who will tell the president he scored A and immediately he leaves there he says another thing.

“We need a chairman that can lead us to victory. We need a chairman that can lead us to sustain that victory. The chairman of the party is actually the biggest. If we do what is right people will win the next elections.”

Jonathan however disclosed that with his long interaction with Professor Adeniran and testimonies of other party leaders, he possesses the requirement to lead the party at this critical time.

He however advised the party members and the aspirants not to allow the convention to cause another crisis in the party, saying that the contest should be seen as a family affair.

Adeniran in his remarks said the PDP needs to take back the governance of the country, stressing that Nigerians are waiting for the party.

“We should now rise up and take advantage of the opportunity God has given us to reposition our party.

I am not just interested in being chairman for the fun of it but to teach others and run it like it should be run”.

He added that his administration will give a sense of belonging to all Nigerians.

He stressed that the former president “Needs to send appropriate signals. We know what you have gone through for this party, don’t let it collapse.”

Speaking earlier, a member of the Board of Trustees of the party, Prof. Jerry Gana and the Director General of Tunde Adeniran Campaign Organization, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, added that Adeniran is the chairman the party needs at this time.

They described him as a loyal and consistent party man, noting that beyond his intellectual capacity is a strong character that can lead the party to victory in 2019.

:Leadership  

RESTRUCTURING: Reps To Act On APC Panel Report

Abuja- The House of Representatives has assured that it will act on the report of the committee set up by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to articulate the party’s position on the contentious issue of restructuring.
This is even as the House reechoed the clamour by Nigerians for devolution of power at the centre as a panacea to some of the teething problems currently faced by the states.
House spokesperson, Hon Abdulrazak Namdas, who disclosed this in Abuja on the sidelines of a public hearing by the APC Committee on True Federalism, added that the lawmakers would not discard the report.
Namdas said, “So, when these views are collated and sent to us, I can assure you that we are going to work on it. I told you that I am a member of the National Assembly committee on agitations. We call it agitations but it is restructuring.
“We realised after we voted that Nigerians are more interested in the devolution of powers and certainly, some of these states are not viable because they cannot get revenue on their own. If you devolve the powers to the states and probably restructure the revenue allocation (template), these states will be viable and they can generate revenue and pay their salaries.
“We are products of this party. Every lawmaker came to the National Assembly on the platform of various political parties and our own party put this committee together. So, naturally we (APC Committee) will collate views of the people here and send it to the party and the reason why we are part of it is that no view can be said to be independent. It has to come through legislation.
“Even the president said in his speech that the only recognised group that can talk about this is the National Assembly but the National Assembly too is a product of the people. You cannot on your own amend things to suit the people. You have to collate views.
At the session, which was a consultation with women groups, Namdas hailed Nigerian women for coming of age, advising them to organise and translate their numerical strength into tangible political gains.
Chairman of the committee, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State who was represented by a committee member and former governor of Edo State, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, restated the commitment of the committee to be fair in compiling its final report, as all shades of opinion expressed at its public hearings would be reflected.
APC had earlier disclosed its resolve to forward the report to the lawmakers as well as forward a framework of its implementation to President Buhari.
A cross section of women groups at the hearing advocated greater inclusion of women in Nigeria’s restricted and patriarchal political space, saying for every position occupied by a man, a woman must be made to deputise and vice versa.


:Leadership 

PMB Demands Full LIST OF LOOTERS

Abuja- President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered relevant agencies to compile a full list of all those who stole government funds and make same available to him.
The president’s directive followed federal government’s resolve to enforce a judgement of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos which ordered that names of public officers from whom public funds were recovered be made public.
The court had also ordered the government to tell Nigerians the circumstances under which funds were recovered, as well as the exact amount of funds recovered from each public official.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abukabar Malami (SAN), who disclosed this yesterday said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all relevant agencies to compile documents on names of all looters with a view to promptly enforcing the judgment of a Federal High Court in Lagos ordering the government to release to Nigerians, information about the names of high ranking public officials from whom public funds were recovered”.
Malami gave the hint during a meeting with a delegation from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) at his office in Abuja.
In a statement he issued yesterday, SERAP’s executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said, “We had a very productive meeting with Mr Malami, discussing among other critical issues, the need for the government to obey the judgment delivered in July by Hon Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari following a Freedom of Information suit number:  FHC/CS/964/2016 brought by SERAP.
“Mr Malami informed us that President Buhari has directed the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other relevant agencies involved in the recovery of looted funds to promptly put the documents together with a view to fully and promptly enforcing the judgment by Justice Shagari.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with the Attorney General of the Federation and look forward to working with him as the government strives to enforce this very important judgment. We hope that the implementation of the judgment will now happen sooner rather than later.
“We believe that effectively implementing the judgment will be a victory for the rule of law, show the way forward in the fight against corruption and impunity of perpetrators in the country, as well as demonstrate Buhari’s oft-repeated commitment to tackling the problem of grand corruption”.
The judgement of the court had followed suit filed by SERAP upon disclosure last year by the federal government of funds recovered from some high-ranking public officials and private individuals.
In her judgment delivered on July 5, 2017, the presiding judge, Justice Shagari agreed with SERAP that “the federal government has legally binding obligations to tell Nigerians the names of all suspected looters of the public treasury past and present”.
Joined, as defendants in the suit, were the minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
That same day the judgment was delivered, AGF Malami told journalists in Abuja that government was in agreement with the ruling and would carry out the order as long as it does not amount to sub judice.
Justice Shagari also declared that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the defendants are under a binding legal obligation to provide the plaintiff with up to date information by widely disseminating, including on a dedicated website, information about the names of high ranking public officials from whom public funds were recovered since May 2015 and the circumstances under which stolen public funds were returned.
The Ministry of Information had last year published details of the recoveries, which showed that the Nigerian government successfully retrieved total cash amount, including N78, 325,354,631.82, $185,119,584.61, £3,508,355.46 and €11, 250 between May 29, 2015 and May 25, 2016.
Also released were recoveries under interim forfeiture, which were a combination of cash and assets, during the same period, including N126,563,481,095.43, $9,090,243,920.15, £2,484,447.55 and €303,399.17, as well as anticipated repatriation from foreign countries totaling $321,316,726.1, £6,900,000 and €11,826.11.
The ministry also announced that 239 non-cash recoveries were made during the one-year period. The non-cash recoveries are farmlands, plots of land, uncompleted buildings, completed buildings, vehicles and maritime vessels.
Subsequently, SERAP issued an FOI request and gave the minister of Information 14 days to disclose the names of all suspected looters.
The request reads in part: “While we believe that suspects generally are entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, SERAP opposes blanket non-disclosure of names of high-ranking public officials from whom some of the funds were recovered”.
“SERAP insists that the public interest to know is greater than any other legitimate interest that the government might wish to protect. The Nigerian government has an obligation to balance whether the risk of harm to the legitimate aim (that is secrecy of ongoing corruption investigation and presumption of innocence) from disclosure of the names of public officials is greater than the public interest in accessing the information.
“SERAP believes that the recoveries, specifically from high-ranking public officials (and not private individuals), are matters of public interest. Publishing the names of those public officials will provide insights relevant to the public debate on the ongoing efforts to prevent and combat a culture of grand corruption in the country.
“The gravity of the crime of grand corruption, the devastating effects on the socially and economically vulnerable sectors of the population, and the fact that recovery of huge funds from high-ranking public officials entrusted with the public treasury raise a prima-facie case and therefore amount to exceptional circumstances that justify naming those high-ranking officials in the public interest.
“Publishing the names of public officials involved could go a long way in preventing senior public officials from turning the public treasury into a private cashbox. The public interest in publishing the names of the high-ranking government officials from whom funds were received outweighs any considerations to withhold the information, as there would be no prejudice against those whose names are published as long as the information is appropriately framed and truthful.
“While the government in some limited cases can legitimately place restrictions on the public’s right to access certain information, attempts of the Nigerian authorities to justify the total closure of information related to the names of public officials from whom funds were recovered on the basis of “ongoing criminal investigation” and “presumption of innocence goes far beyond the limitations allowed under international law, and would promote secret recoveries.
“The information being requested is not related to detailed investigatory activities of anticorruption agencies regarding the recoveries so far made. Similarly, the mere fact that the information being requested is related to ongoing investigation does not necessarily mean that the information could not be disclosed. In addition, governmental agency has the obligation to prove that the disclosure of the names of public officials would disrupt, impede, or otherwise harm the ongoing or pending investigations or presumption of innocence”.

  Reps To Probe FEC Over N895bn Gas Supply Payment
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the ₦701 billion-payment assurance facility plus ₦194 billion-interest payment approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The said monies are meant for emergency and long-term power sector recovery plan as interventions to ensure payment for gas supply and generation subsectors of the electricity industry.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion brought by Hon Chris Emeka Azubogu noting FEC’s approval of ₦701 billion for Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading as an intervention in the power sector as well as other payments to Distribution Companies (DISCOS).
Azubuogu informed the House that the federal government and the World Bank Group are planning a US$2.519 billion as financial support for Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) as payment guaranty for the Power Generating and Gas Supplier Companies to ensure stable power supply that will drive the economy.
He acknowledged that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) are statutorily empowered to manage the privatisation and commercialisation programme by ensuring that the power sector reform progresses successfully.
He observed “the NCP has been properly constituted with the Vice President of Nigeria as the Chairman and the Minister of Finance as the Vice Chairman with representatives of the Ministries of Finance, Trade and Industry, National Planning, Justice and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)”.
The lawmaker further observed that while the ministers of Power and Petroleum Resources are not members of the NCP, they ought to be invited to meetings that will involve energy steering committee established by the NCP, while the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the president should be invited to meetings as the representative of the Office of the President.
In its resolution, the House also mandated the committee on power to investigate the approval with a view to ensuring that the entire process was geared towards significant improvement of power supply in Nigeria and turn in its report within four weeks for further legislative action.

:Leadership 

EFCC to take over assets belonging to PATIENCE JONATHAN'S FOUNDATION

…former first lady fights back, accuses EFCC of abusing judicial process

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, filed a motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to take over assets belonging to Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation owned by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

EFCC, in an ex-parte motion that was signed by its lawyer, Mr. Benjamin Manji, applied for an order of interim attachment/forfeiture of assets and properties of the foundation.

It specifically prayed the court to grant it the ownership of Plot No. 1960, Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, in Abuja.

The anti-graft agency equally sought for “An order stopping any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/asset decribed in the schedule attached herein.

As well as, “An order authorizing the EFCC to appoint a competent person(s)/ firm to manage the asset/property listed in the schedule herein, temporarily forfeited to the federal government pending the conclusion of investigation”.

The motion ex-parte marked FHC/Abj/CS/872/2017, was predicated on section 6(d), 7(2), 24(a), 26(1), 28 and 29 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, section 330(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, and section 44(2) (K) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

The Commission told the court that the assets/properties of Mrs. Jonathan’s foundation “are subject matter of investigation, enquiry and examination by the EFCC”.

It said there was need to preserve the assets/properties “pending the conclusion of investigation and possibly determination of criminal charges that may be instituted against the suspects.

“If there is any transaction on the property by the suspects by way of disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale and alienation or otherwise of the asset or property described in the schedule herein, it will render nugatory any consequential order(s) which the court may make if the suspect(s) is convicted of the offences alleged against her/them after possible due trial”, the agency added.

Besides, in a 12-paragraphed supporting affidavit that was deposed to by one of its investigators, Mr. Kolawole Mukaila, EFCC said it has a Special Task Force investigating “alleged amounts of money laundered by the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan into various account and properties were purchased with nothing to show for”.

Mukaila who identified himself as a member of the special investigating team, averred: “That sometimes in 2016, an alleged case of conspiracy and money laundering was received via inteligence report to the office of the Executive Chairman and referred to my team for investigation.

“That my team swung into action to conduct a descreet investigation by writing letters to Ecobank, Diamond bank, Corporate Affairs Commission and AGIS.

“That in the course of investigation, it was revealed from the responses from the C.A.C and Abuja Geographical Information Systems that the plots of land were allocated to Ariwabai Aruera Reach out Foundation belonging to the former first lady, Patience Jonathan and her allies.

“That investigation further reveals the accounts held by Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation had the former first lady, Patience Jonathan as one of the trustees and signatories of the account. Copies of the response from Diamond bank and Ecobank are herebu attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 2A- 2B respectively.

“That investigation also revealed that the plots of land were allocated in 2010 and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued in 2011.

“That all the above stated payment/transfers/purchases had no contract award backing it up whatsoever and as such was reasonably suspected to be fraudulent payments and an illegal dissipation of the nation’s resources”, he added.

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, Mrs. Jonathan, through her team of lawyers led by Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, and Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, aborted moves by EFCC to move the ex-parte motion.

The former first lady said she got wind of EFCC’s plans and decided to file a counter-motion in opposition to the interim forfeiture order request.

She prayed the court to strike out EFCC’s ex-parte Originating Motion dated September 20 on the ground that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the application.

Mrs. Jonathan insisted that the motion EFCC filed before the court was legally defective, stressing that ‘Ex-parte Originating Summons’ “is not one of the modes of commencement of action under Order 3 Rule 1 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure Rules) 2009, and it is not known or provided for by any law or rules of court”.

She argued that the motion was an abuse of court process, stressing that it was filed “to overreach the Fundamental Human Rights suit pending before this court in suit no. FHC/CS/586/2017, filed by one of the trustees of Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation, against the said EFCC, with respect to the assets/properties of the said Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation, sought to be forfeited by the EFCC through the instant ‘Exparte Originating Summons”.

Mrs. Jonathan, in a six-paragraphed affidavit that was deposed on her behalf by one Chinedu Maduba, told the court that the NGO was founded in 2006 when she was the first lady of Bayelsa state, in conjunction with other trustees.

“That the said NGO was registered as a charitable organization and in the last 10 years, it has carried out several charitable programmes, in line with its objectives. Some of the programmes include vocational training for women, treatment of people with heart and kidney problems within the country and abroad, as well as assisting less priviledged generally.

“That recently, the Respondent herein began to harrass Mrs. Patience Jonathan, her relatives and the NGO, by indiscriminately freezing their accounts, even without court order, breaking into their properties, sealing off the NGO’s properties without an order of court. That the actions of the Respondent led to the filing of a Fundamental Human Right suit against the Respondent by Mrs. Patience Jonathan”.

Meanwhile, despite insistence by EFCC lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir that Mrs. Jonathan had file any response since the motion was brought ex-parte, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, after he had listened to arguments by Ozekhome, SAN, said he was minded to hear motions from the two sides in the interest of justice.

Cosequently, the court adjourned hearing on the matter till November 11.

:Vanguard 

EVANS, others RE-ARRAIGNED ON AMENDED CHARGE

Lagos state government Thursday re-arraigned notorious and billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court for alleged kidnapping of one Dunu Donatus.

In the amended charge, the defendants are again facing a two count charge offence bordering on conspiracy and kidnapping against them.

Evans and co-defendants changed their guilty plea to not guilty after the amended charge was read to them.

Evans was re-arraigned alongside five other suspected members of his gang which included a woman, Ogechi Uchechukwu, the third defendant.

Others are  Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba, second, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants respectively.

They have been in Police custody since June 10.

In the former charge, the defendants were charged under Sections 411 and 271(3) Criminal Law Cap C17 Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Count one in the amended charge bordered on “Conspiracy to commit a felony to wit kidnapping contrary to Section 411, Kidnapping Criminal Law. Cap C17, Laws of Lagos State 2015”.

The second count bordered primarily on “Kidnapping contrary to Section 2(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No 13, Laws of Lagos State 2017”.

According to the particulars of the offence, the defendants were alleged to have “conspired to commit a felony to wit Kidnapping” on February 14, 2017 at about 7.45 p.m. along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.

They were also alleged to have sometimes between February 14 and April 12, 2017 along same street in Ilupeju “while armed with guns and other weapons capture and detain one Dunu Donatus against his will and collected a ransom of Euros 223,000.

Unlike the State Criminal Law 2015 which prescribed 21 years for convicts, the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No 13, Laws of Lagos State 2017 prescribed death sentence if victims die in the custody of kidnappers.

At resumed proceedings yesterday, the prosecution led by the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey informed the court that they have filed an amended charge against the defendants and served their counsels.

Shitta-Bey said they were ready to commence trial.

But the defence counsels opposed the prosecution saying that the prosecution served them the amended charge only yesterday morninh in court.

They prayed the court for adjournment to enable them confer with their clients and response to the amended charge.

They also told the court that they all have different applications pending before court which they argued will be overtaken by events if trial should commence.

The counsel to first and second defendants was Olukoya Ogungbeje, that of third defendant was Joseph Otogblu, Olanrewaju Ajanaku for the fourth defendants, A.A. Ozogbu for the fifth defendant while the sixth defendant was represented by Emmanuel Ochai.

However, counsel to fourth defendant, Olanrewaju Ajanaku differed and said he was ready for trial.

But the DPP in her response opposed the defence counsels.

Shitta-Bey urged the court to allow the charges to be read and for the defendants to take their fresh plea.

According to her, there was no material change in the nature of the charge against the defendants.

“The particulars of the offence are the same. Only the law in count two that deals with punishment of the offence is changed.

“The application for adjournment by the defence counsels before plea is taken is calculated to derail trial before the court”, she argued.

At this stage, Justice Oshodi stood the matter down for 45minutes to enable counsels confer with defendants.

On resumption, the court conducted a house screening of the various applications of defence counsels after which they were all struck out.

After this, all the defence counsels urged the court for adjournment to enable them respond to the amended charge served on them in court Thursday.

Justice Oshodi, citing section 36 of the Constitution granted their prayer and adjourned the matter till November 3 for trial.

:The Nation  

PDP Chairmanship: FAYOSE RESTATED CALL FOR SINGLE CANDIDATE from S’ West

…As Jimi Agbaje visits

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has reiterated his position that those aspiring to be the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest zone must come together and present a single candidate for the position, maintaining that “it won’t be in the collective interest of the Southwest zone to present six aspirants at the convention as we presently have.”

Governor Fayose, while receiving one of the aspirants, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who paid him a visit, in Lagos, on Wednesday, said “chairmanship aspirants from the Southwest must come together and allow one person to fly the flag. It will be like crashing before take-off if we take six aspirants to the convention.”

According to a statement issued, on Wednesday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, Governor Fayose urged Mr. Agbaje to pursue his aspiration with decorum and make sure that the PDP and Nigeria remained the major reasons for the aspiration and not personal interests, adding that; “A situation where we have aspirants that already have president aspirants will not augur well for the party.”

The governor said; “We held a meeting with other chairmanship aspirants on Monday, and it is expected that a follow up meeting will be held very soon. I urge you (Jimi Agbaje) to attend the meeting so that we can forge a common front together. This is because the Southwest zone cannot go to the convention with these large number of aspirants as we now have and expect to win.

“Most importantly, as the only PDP governor in the Southwest, I cannot be going round with all of you (aspirants) to solicit for support.”

In his own remark, Mr Jimi Agbaje said he came to the governor to formally inform him of his decision to run for the PDP national chairmanship position.

“As the only PDP governor from the Southwest, I have come to formally inform Your Excellency that I will be seeking election as the National Chairman of our great party, the PDP.

“I am of the opinion that it will be inappropriate for you to get to know about my aspiration in the media, hence, my decision to come here and tell you formally,” Agbaje said.

While describing himself as “the best man for the job,” Mr Agbaje said; “If not for what happened at the August last year’s convention, I would have clinched the chairmanship position then and I am confidence that I will emerge as the chairman this time around.”

Mr Agbaje, who promised to attend the next meeting with other aspirants from the Southwest so as to jointly forge a common front, added that “there is no desperation in my aspiration. Rather, it is the PDP that matters”. 

:The Nation 

ZONING is TEARING PDP APART

Some stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Adamawa on Thursday protested over a zoning formula adopted by a group in the party ahead of the PDP congresses on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that a group that called itself “major stakeholders” of the party, on Tuesday set out a zoning formula for the party and forwarded it to the state caretaker committee for implementation.

The “major stakeholders” consisted of the former Acting Governor of the state, Ahmadu Fintiri, Wilberforce Juta, Grace Bent, Sa’ad Tahir, Zainab Maina among others.

The group had said that the zoning formula for the congresses at ward, local government and state levels was agreed after a meeting with the state caretaker committee of the party.

The protesters, however, said the decision was reached without consultation and would not allow it to stand.

Umar Ardo, a former governorship aspirant, led the protesters comprising former house of assembly members, council chairmen and councillors.

He told the state Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mohammed Imam, that the decision should not be allowed to stand.

“If they call themselves major stakeholders, we that are protesting today before you are the foot soldiers and mobilisers.

“They are made up of former governors, ambassadors and senators while on our side we have former house of assembly members, council chairmen and councillors; without us the party is going nowhere.

“What they did is an act of insubordination to the party. We want the party leadership to discountenance this indiscipline and take serious action on it.”

Mr. Ardo also criticized the decision by the state caretaker committee to remove all chairmen and secretaries of local government caretaker committees, saying the action was suspicious.

He noted that the party must do the right thing and stop promoting the interest of a group if it wants to make impact in Adamawa.

Mr. Ardo warned that the aggrieved members of the party have options to take if the state officials failed to address their grievances.

“We have two clear options and we are keeping it close to our chest and we will do it if they don’t do what is right,” he told the state PDP caretaker chairman.

Reacting to the complaints, the caretaker chairman said: “we encourage consensus but where there is no consensus, we will go for election.”

Mr. Imam explained that the dissolution of the party’s local government caretaker chairmen and secretaries was not to favour any group.

“I assure all party members of justice and fairness. My research has showed me that Adamawa is a PDP state, we need to unite to take over the state back to PDP,” Mr. Imam said.

Adamawa is one of the seven states where PDP dissolved its executives and appointed caretaker committees to conduct fresh ward, local government and state congresses.

(NAN)

:Premium times