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Tag: 2019

  • 2019: Obasanjo fighting me for frustrating his third term agenda – Atiku

    • Most important pillar funding PDP today is governor Nysome Wike

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday revealed that former President Obasanjo is still at war with him for opposing his [Obasanjo’s] bid to secure a third term in office.

    Atiku who made the observation during his consultative visit to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said if he had not frustrated the bid by the then president to smuggle tenure elongation into Nigeria’s constitution, many political office holders today will have been denied the opportunities they currently enjoy.

    He said, “We need to always remember that some people sacrificed their lives so that we can live today. There are some people who are still fighting me today because I stopped them from putting tenure elongation in our constitution. If I have supported that , several governors, Presidents who had opportunities today will not come near office. The crux of the matter is that I have again come to you as People Democratic Party, PDP members, before I go public to the public to offer myself for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Atiku likened his political growth with that of Wike, lauded the governor’s stride in the state and his role in reviving PDP as a party.

    He furthered, “The kind of leadership you are showing in the party, nobody else is doing so. I use this opportunity to tell you, you have found a partner in me. We will work together to make sure our party returns to power.

    “Having said that, I will want thank the good people of rivers state for giving me this opportunity to be in the state. I assure you that today Nigeria is at crossroad, I have never seen Nigeria so divided along regional, ethnic, religious divides like this. This division is brought about by the mismanagement of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government. We have a responsibility to work together, to see that this great country, which has the potentials of being great actualise its greatness. Let nobody deceive you, a fragmented Nigeria will not favour anyone, our diversity is key to us. The potential in our diversity, when united is more than what a fragmented Nigeria offers.

    “Today, the most important pillar funding this party today is governor Nysome Wike, therefore we all know what we have gone through in the last three years from where PDP left it, from all statistics, it shows PDP has outperformed APC. Education which is key to our development, ever sin”e they came into office the percentage of what is dedicated to education has been decreasing.

    “We have set to change the narrative, that is why you need to understand where we are today. If we had not had APC we would not have been able to compare, We will be interacting more, as we are communicating with you; please take our words to your constituency Atiku urges Rivers people.

    “When we came inot the office, I hired seven PHD holders and the President was asking me wat I was doing with them, sooner my office became more functional; I have the capacity to assemble the best.

    “It is not the issue of “This is my son, my sister son..etc’ the good thing is that I don’t even have a brother or sister..I am the only one.” He said

    On his own part, Wike thanked Atiku for visiting the people of Rivers State and assured him of his support.

    He added, “God in his infinite mercy will bring back PDP to power. We will say this over and over again that PDP is a family; Nobody will do anything truncate our mission to rescue Nigeria.

    I appeal to everybody in the party, especially all the aspirants not to see getting into office as Do-or-Die affair, his excellency, I thank you for coming and assure you that you have our support.

  • 2019: Buhari assures UN of commitment to conduct free, fair, credible elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the United Nations of his commitment to conducting a credible, free and fair elections in 2019.

    The President gave the assurance when the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, met him in Abuja, according to a note by the UN issued from New York.

    “On preparations for the 2019 elections and expected support from the United Nations, President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed continuous support from the United Nations.

    “And assured the Deputy Secretary-General of his commitment to ensuring credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria,” the UN said.

    Ms Mohammed undertook a two-day visit to Nigeria from March 23 to 25, during which she met with Mr Buhari in Abuja and interacted with other senior officials and stakeholders in Lagos.

    The UN said the President and the Deputy Secretary-General discussed four main issues: 2019 general elections, deportation of Cameroonian asylum seekers, the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, and the humanitarian and security challenges in Northeast.

    “On the situation in Cameroon and the status of Cameroonian Refugees in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Deputy Secretary-General agreed on the need to respect international obligations on the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, the Cameroonians in particular.

    “They also called for the respect of the guarantee of fair and humane treatment of those recently arrested and deported to Cameroon,” the UN said.

    “On the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, President Muhammadu Buhari assured the Deputy Secretary-General of the country’s intention to sign the agreement following national consultations.

    “On the humanitarian and security situation in the North East, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Deputy-Secretary welcomed the speedy return of the recently abducted girls from Dapchi.

    “And highlighted the need for particular attention to be given to securing schools through the accelerated implementation of the Safe School Initiative,” the UN added.

    The Deputy Secretary-General has departed Abuja for Prague on Sunday, according to the UN.

     

  • Soyinka, Agbakoba, Balewa other eminent leaders, parties endorse Grand National Coalition for 2019 elections

    Soyinka, Agbakoba, Balewa other eminent leaders, parties endorse Grand National Coalition for 2019 elections

    After holding a broad meeting on the way forward for Nigeria, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr OlisaAgbakoba (SAN) and Dr. Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa among other eminent leaders of different political movements and parties have resolved to endorse the Grand National Coalition for 2019 elections.

    The decision arrived at by the leaders was contained in a communique of the 2018 Grand National Political Summit held earlier in the week in Abuja.

    Notable among those who gave their nod and backing to the Grand Coalition are; Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who threw a big challenge to the movement to take back the country from reactionary forces, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Waba, who sent in a powerful delegation, which include Comrade Isa Aremu, Comrade Ikpe Obong and Comrade Peter Balogun to represent the Labour Movement, Elderstatesman, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman from the Middle belt, who was the first among the leaders to arrive the venue of the Summit, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof Pat Utomi, who provided the Summit with opening remarks, Northern Youths led by Alhaji Shettima Yerima, President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, National Youth Movements led by Abayomi Rotimi Mighty and Wale Ajani,

     

    Mallam Sheriff Ashir of the Secretariat of Northern Elders Forum, 35 Progressive Political Parties operating under the banner of Coalition for New Nigeria, CNN, a platform being chaired by Comrade A A Salam, Chair of the Labour Party, Chief Adeniyi, Board of Trustees Chairman of the Accord Party, Engr Buba Galadima, North East Coordinator of the Movement, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw and Tony Iprinye Uranta from the Niger Delta, Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu and Former Minister; Osita Chidoka leading the South East to the Inauguration, Hajia Aisha Aliyu, National woman leader of the Movement, leading mammoth presence of women groups at the Summit, Dr Dan Musa and Dr John Darah, leading the North central delegation, Alhaji Dr Tanko Yinusa, Chair of the National Conscience Party, NCP, who led a high powered delegation of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP to the Summit,

     

    Dr Jay Osi Samuels, Chairman of the Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN, Comrade Dr Osagie Obayuwana, who presented both the Manifesto and Constitution of the Coalition for adoption at the Summit, Senator Gbenga Obadara, Senator Shehu Sanni represented by his special assistant, Comrade Abbas Idris, Dr Thomas Wilson Ikubese, Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party, NCP, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN leading the Southwest team in conjunction with Otunba Rotimi Paseda, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Akogun Kola Onadipe, Dr Sam Amadi, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Ms Natasha Akpoti, Madam Racheal Oniga and Ms Ronnie Dikko, leading the Nollywood Constituency, Dr Shina Fagbenro of the Revive Nigeria Movement, Mr Kayode Ajulo representing Niger delta Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Dr KoJo representing Mr Donald Duke who was unavoidably absent, Prof Sylvester Odion Akhaine and Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye of the Nigeria Socialist Movement among other diverse Nigerian stakeholders and cadres, especially from the diaspora at the inauguration of the Grand National Political Coalition initiated by Nigeria Intervention Movement.

    Read the communique in full:

    PREAMBLE:

    We the over five million registered members of the Grand Political Coalition of newly inaugurated Fresh breed rainbow political movement facilitated by Nigeria Intervention Movement, NIM, comprising 35 Registered Political Parties in Nigeria, Labour and Civil society Leaders, Women groups, Youth movements, the coalition of Persons with special needs, Professional Icons, eminent national leaders and other prominent stakeholders in Nigeria, following the adoption of the manifesto and constitution of our newly inaugurated movement and a careful overview of the presentations, deliberations and inputs of our leaders and cadres at the 2018 Grand Political Summit held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja on the 21st Day of March, 2018, hereafter state the following as our Agreements and Resolutions.

    OUR AGREEMENTS:
    We are collectively unequivocal that:
    1. Nigeria is tilting rapidly towards social and political disharmony and anarchy. Therefore urgent political actions must be put in place by all well meaning folks to stem the drift and rebuild social cohesion amongst the Nigerian citizenry

    2. The present governance structure of Nigeria must therefore be constitutionally redefined and structured to be more democratic and citizen inclusive

    3. There must be a concerted drive to bring about a new Nigeria that works for all and such new Nigeria, in our view, must guarantee the safety and freedom of each citizen of Nigeria

    4. That wanton killings in whatever guise of Nigerians is unacceptable and viewed in serious terms as pure failure of governance and political system at both the National and Sub –national strata

    5. Every Nigerian adult must as a matter of social responsibility obtain a voters card and participate in the recruitment process of public office holders, who seek for elective offices, and that the Grand Coalition as an interventionist force should interface with all willing political forces who share the above stand towards developing standards for all aspirants or candidates aspiring for elective office in the 2019 elections.

    OUR RESOLUTIONS: Based on the above we have resolved to;

    i. Work in unison under the umbrella of the newly formed Grand National Political Coalition of the diverse peoples, movements and stakeholders of Nigeria towards overthrowing the current decadent pauperizing political order in Nigeria and to replace it with a prospering democratic and inclusive political system and culture

    ii. Commence nationwide sensitization, advocacy and public awareness program on the need for every adult citizen of Nigeria irrespective of class and creed to obtain a voters card and engage in the emerging ballot based-PVC revolution initiated by NIM to democratically dislodged the entrenched corruptive political order in the country

    iii. Identify and recruit more national change agents and credible leading lights of Nigeria, who would become champions towards the actualization of a new Nigeria of our collective dreams under the umbrella of the newly initiated Grand Political Coalition

    iv. Engage in grassroot and mass media mobilization at all levels with special focus on local communities and the Youths ahead of the 2019 electoral revolution initiated by the movement

    v. Organize rallies and meetings with social, cultural groups across the country with a view of pursuing our agenda for inclusiveness and collective ownership of the Grand Coalition of NIM

    vi. Hold Zonal, State and Local Government summits simultaneously for the sole purpose of ensuring that all adult Nigerians not only obtain their voters cards but vote for the candidates that meet the agreed standards set by the Grand Coalition at the Summit

    vii. Commission Researches, production of documentaries, information leaflets, jingles and also the production and distribution of the NIM newsletters in English and all the major Nigerian languages towards the mobilisation of all Nigerians for the 2019 ideological paradigm shift in power configuration of Nigeria

     

    ENDORSEMENT:

    The Grand National Political Coalition, co Chaired by a Legal Icon and human Rights Leader in Nigeria, Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN and Dr Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, Son of the Former Prime Minister of Nigeria, also received strong backing and boost from eminent national leaders at the inauguration Summit.

    Notable among those who gave their nod and backing to the Grand Coalition are; Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who threw a big challenge to the movement to take back the country from reactionary forces, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Waba, who sent in a powerful delegation, which include Comrade Isa Aremu, Comrade Ikpe Obong and Comrade Peter Balogun to represent the Labour Movement, Elderstatesman, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman from the Middle belt, who was the first among the leaders to arrive the venue of the Summit, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof Pat Utomi, who provided the Summit with opening remarks, Northern Youths led by Alhaji Shettima Yerima, President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, National Youth Movements led by Abayomi Rotimi Mighty and Wale Ajani,

     

    Mallam Sheriff Ashir of the Secretariat of Northern Elders Forum, 35 Progressive Political Parties operating under the banner of Coalition for New Nigeria, CNN, a platform being chaired by Comrade A A Salam, Chair of the Labour Party, Chief Adeniyi, Board of Trustees Chairman of the Accord Party, Engr Buba Galadima, North East Coordinator of the Movement, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw and Tony Iprinye Uranta from the Niger Delta, Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu and Former Minister; Osita Chidoka leading the South East to the Inauguration, Hajia Aisha Aliyu, National woman leader of the Movement, leading mammoth presence of women groups at the Summit, Dr Dan Musa and Dr John Darah, leading the North central delegation, Alhaji Dr Tanko Yinusa, Chair of the National Conscience Party, NCP, who led a high powered delegation of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP to the Summit,

     

    Dr Jay Osi Samuels, Chairman of the Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN, Comrade Dr Osagie Obayuwana, who presented both the Manifesto and Constitution of the Coalition for adoption at the Summit, Senator Gbenga Obadara, Senator Shehu Sanni represented by his special assistant, Comrade Abbas Idris, Dr Thomas Wilson Ikubese, Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party, NCP, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN leading the Southwest team in conjunction with Otunba Rotimi Paseda, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Akogun Kola Onadipe, Dr Sam Amadi, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Ms Natasha Akpoti, Madam Racheal Oniga and Ms Ronnie Dikko, leading the Nollywood Constituency, Dr Shina Fagbenro of the Revive Nigeria Movement, Mr Kayode Ajulo representing Niger delta Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Dr KoJo representing Mr Donald Duke who was unavoidably absent, Prof Sylvester Odion Akhaine and Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye of the Nigeria Socialist Movement among other diverse Nigerian stakeholders and cadres, especially from the diaspora at the inauguration of the Grand National Political Coalition initiated by Nigeria Intervention Movement.

     

    LEADERSHIP OF THE COALITION

    The Grand Coalition of NIM subsequently endorsed a high powered Steering team, a mixture of both youths and Elders, being co chaired by legal luminary and human rights advocate, Barr Olisa Agbakoba SAN and a renowned medical expert and son of the former Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Dr Tafawa Balewa. The Steering committee is scheduled to hold its leadership meeting on Wednesday in Lagos to agree on a strategy plan and the choice of Presidential Candidate for the coalition ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria

     

    Signed

    Mallam Naseer Kura

    Deputy Director General

    Grand National Political Coalition

    NIM National Secretariat, Abuja

     

  • Ango, ACF, 16 other northern groups call Buhari a failure, rejects him for 2019

    After crucial summit in Kaduna, no fewer than 18 northern groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), saturday criticised northern politicians for the poor state of the region’s security and economy.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit held at the Arewa House, Kaduna, the groups said the region’s political leaders had failed to lift its people from poverty and want, saying they needed to be replaced at the next general elections in 2019.

    READ THE COMMUNIQUE IN FULL:
    Communique of the Summit of Northern Groups, held at Arewa House,Kaduna on Saturday, 24th March, 2018
    Leading Northern Groups and Associations held a Summit of their leaders at Arewa House, Kaduna on Saturday 24th March, 2018. The Summit was convened to assess the security, economic and political circumstances of the North and Northern communities in other parts of Nigeria. Specifically, the Summit reviewed the worrying state of insecurity under which virtually all Northerners live; the worsening economic fortunes of the vast majority of Northerners and the options that are available to the North as it prepares to engage the political process towards the elections of 2019.
    The Summit noted that in spite of notable successes by the Buhari administration against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, many Northern communities still live under its threat. In many other parts of the North, communities are routinely exposed to attacks from shadowy killers, and suspicion and anger at known and suspected killers are pitching Northerners against each other. Armed bandits terrorize rural communities almost at will, while kidnappings and abductions have assumed alarming notoriety as crimes. The nation’s security and law and order assets are stretched beyond points where they can’t provide even the most elementary confidence and protection of citizens. The North has rarely been so exposed to multiple and varied threats.
    The economy of the North continues to deteriorate in spite of the evident willingness of Northerners to work hard and earn legitimate incomes. Its basic infrastructure suffers massive deficits in funding while its growing population starves from lack of critical investment in human capital development. Federal government spending is severely tilted against the North, while most State governments only pay lip service to real development in their states. Agriculture shows limited glimpses of recovery, but almost entirely through efforts of peasants and antiquated processes. The North is completely de-industrialized, while the rest of the nation moves towards sustainable growth and development. There is no evidence of bold thinking, strong political will and/or serious concern by any leadership at any level to reverse the alarming decline of the Northern economy.
    Since 2015, Northerners have occupied positions with the potential to make decisive differences in the economy, security or political fortunes of the region. The hopes that leaders who have exercised power since 2015 will reverse the abuse and neglect of the region in the previous decade have been betrayed. Weak governance, gross insensitivity and unacceptable levels of incompetence have been compounded by battles of attrition in which northerners have sapped each others’ strength. Weak and incoherent responses to provocations from other parts of the country around the imperatives of re-visiting the foundations and structures of the Nigerian state have created the false image of a North without its own positions beyond survival as the parasite of Nigeria.
    The historic gains in Northern political unity secured by Northern votes in the 2015 elections have been wasted by the poor management of conflicts between and among Northern communities. Today Northern communities are erecting barricades against members of other communities, as well as and politicians who have failed to lead and make impacts in lives of the poor and the vulnerable are daily feeding the people with hate and resentment instead of searching for genuine and lasting solutions. In a region with enough resources for every community or trade, our people are now fighting for morsels, while leaders think of new ways to turn our misery into electoral capital.
    The Summit, having undertaken a thorough analysis of the state of the North and our communities, therefore:
    1. URGES all leaders, elders and communities to seek peaceful resolutions of conflicts between and among communities. Lives lost, injuries suffered and losses incurred in any community must be redressed firmly and fairly. The roots of co-existence and inter-dependence in all Northern communities are much deeper than the barricades being erected around communities. All persons who are involved in killings and crimes against communities must be brought to book.
    2. DEMANDS immediate and decisive steps to improve the security of lives and economic assets in the North by the federal and state governments. Too many communities are at the mercy of attacks from sundry groups of criminals who appear to have unchallenged access to space and weapons.
    3. APPEALS to Northern Governors and President Muhammadu Buhari to set in motion serious initiatives towards achieving higher levels of trust among Northern communities which is vital for the imperatives of peace and justice.
    4. INSISTS that the routine denial of the rights of the North to its fair share of budgetary allocations by the federal government must cease from the 2018 budget. Northern representatives in the National Assembly must live up to their oaths to protect the rights of their constituencies to equity in the allocation of national resources.
    5. WARNS that no Northern politician should expect to be voted for in the next general election unless they demonstrate a willingness to champion a massive assault on poverty and underdevelopment in the North. In this regard, most political office holders from the North are hereby served notice that they have failed the test to lead the region towards economic recovery and growth.
    6. ASSERTS the rights of all Northerners to examine all options in political choices they will make in 2019. The leadership selection process must be critically interrogated to present the best leader to Nigeria as a whole. No one should take the North for granted, and it is not for sale. It will resist shedding its blood for any candidate, and will critically scrutinize all politicians who will seek our mandate. At this stage, all options are on the table, and politicians who have betrayed the hopes and mandates of our people should be prepared to suffer rejection, in the same manner the votes of the North rejected the attempt to continue with impunity, corruption and indifference of the previous regime.
    7. ADVISES all Northerners to be alert to plans to weaken the region through the manipulation of our fears and vulnerability and our ethno-religious differences. There must be vigilant scrutiny of opportunities for manipulation by outsiders of our present challenges. We must stand up and unite against those who kill villagers in Kogi, in Zamfara, in Benue, in Adamawa, in Borno, in Kaduna, in Taraba and in every village or town. No Northern blood is more
    precious than others, and we can only heal if we adopt common positions to finding solutions to our problems.
    8. INVITES attention of the rest of Nigeria that the North knows its interests and place and will defend them in the context of Nigeria. Our people are willing and eager to put our union as a nation on the table and discuss with other Nigerians the relative values of ALL options and negotiate them with responsibility and respect.
    9. CAUTIONS the Presidency and members of the National Assembly and Governors to resist the temptation to abuse the political process in pursuit of their personal ambitions.
    10. COMMITS to sustaining the strong interests behind this Summit through other activities and actions which will strengthen Northern unity and prepare it to extract the maximum benefits from the 2019 elections.
    The Summit welcomes the release of the Dapchi girls, and urges the government to intensify efforts to secure the release of all other abducted Nigerians. It calls on the government to ensure that no abductions occur again, and all communities are sufficiently protected and young Nigerians are free to acquire education without fear.
    Kaduna
    24th March, 2018
    Signed
    1. Professor Ango Abdullahi , CON
    Chairman ACF Political Committee
    Convener, Northern Elders Forum
    2. Dr. Yima Sen
    Northern Elders Forum (NEF)
    3. Amb. Ibrahim Mai Sule
    Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)
    4. Engr. Bello Suleiman
    CODE Group
    5. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi
    Arewa Research Development Project (ARDP)
    6. Zannah Hassan Boguma
    Borno Elders Forum
    7. Nafiu Baba-Ahmed
    Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria
    8. Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame
    Northern Union
    9. Yerima Shettima
    Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF)
    10. Alh. Mohammed Bello Kirfi, CON
    North East Forum for Unity and Development
    11. Pastor Aminchi Habu
    United Christian Leaders Eagle Eye Forum (UCLEEF)
    12. Balarabe Rufai
    Coalition of Northern Groups
    13. Isa Tijjani
    Labour Veterans Association
    14. Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa
    CAN Northern Chapter
    15. Umar Ahmed Zaria
    Jama’atu Nasiril Islam (JNI)
    16. Alh. Buba Adamah
    Arewa People Unity Association
    17. Bilkisu Oniyang
    Arewa Initiative For Good Governance
    18. Abdul-Azeez Suleiman
    Northern Emancipation Network

  • Allegations of corruption, bribery won’t stop me in 2019 – Shittu

    The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has said allegations of corruption and fraud leveled against him by his former public relations assistant won’t make him back out of the 2019 governorship race in Oyo State.

    Recall that the minister’s aide, Victor Oluwadamilare had in a March 12 letter, published by Sahara Reporters on March 22, said the minister defaulted on salaries and other emoluments he was entitled to over 29 months.

    According to Oluwadamilare, Shittu allegedly failed to pay the backlog, which would have been N14 million by the end of March 2018. He managed to offset N1 million of the debt on February 6, leaving an outstanding balance of N13 million in unpaid salaries and entitlements.

    Oluwadamilare said he was entitled to N500,000 in monthly salaries and allowances, but the minister disputes this.

    The former media aide noted the situation had rendered him unable to meet his obligations to his immediate family.

    “For close to one year now, there has been an unresolved feud with my wife because of my inability to effectively fulfill my marital responsibilities and family upkeep,” he said.

    “My first daughter, from all indications, may not be able to enlist in the NYSC Scheme in April 2018 because of my failure to adequately fund her education.

    “My second daughter had lost one calendar year in the university because of my inability to pay her school fees and other incidentals as at when due. My other children of school age, have been traumatised and discouraged in their educational pursuit because of the irregularity in the payment of their school fees, with its attendant backslash,” Sahara Reporters further quoted Mr. Oluwadamilare as stating in the letter to his principal.

    Oluwadamilare said the minister’s lack of “common sense, justice and fairness” had left him impoverished, beggarly and exacerbated his health crisis.

    He mentioned in the letter that the minister is corrupt, reminding him of how he allegedly received hundreds of millions in questionable estacodes to acquire properties for private and commercial uses.

    Oluwadamilare accused Mr. Shittu of buying 12 exquisite real estate properties in Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos within a few years of being appointed minister.

    He also said Shittu bought a brand new N93 million printing press within the last few months.

    There were also allegations that the minister bought 25 luxury vehicles for himself, “his family members, concubines, and cronies”, despite having eight official vehicles attached to his office.

    The aide equally stated that the minister has spent way beyond his legitimate earnings on his gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State, sponsored no fewer than 22 members of his family and cronies, including underage children on Muslim pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia.

    Oluwadamilare wrote to the minister on behalf of himself and his colleague, Tajudeen Imam, then Mr. Shittu’s aide on special duties.

    Recall that Shittu, who had long expressed his intention to become Oyo State governor in 2019, has been sparring with Governor Abiola Ajimobi for several months. Although both are of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Ajimobi has another preference for the office. Yet, he has continued to push for the party’s tickets, apparently hoping to leverage on his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The minister responded to the letter by first firing the two aides hours after Sahara Reporters uploaded the story. He also placed a disclaimer warning the public from further dealing with them on the basis of their association with him.

    On Saturday morning, the Nigerian Tribune published an interview with Mr. Shittu. He responded to some of the allegations of living an ostentatious lifestyle, but appeared to have muddled some other aspects.

    First, the minister rejected Mr. Oluwadamilare’s figures about his salaries and emoluments, saying payment terms were never included in his initial appointment letter in November 2015.

    This, he said, was because he initially thought the government would be responsible for the salaries of his media and other personal assistants, but later learnt that they were not covered under aides that the minister was officially entitled to.

    Subsequently, the minister said he wrote another letter to Mr. Oluwadamilare and other aides in 2016, informing them that they would be entitled to N100,000 “stipend” per month, an offer they did not reject, he said.

    “I then wrote a letter to him and others sometime in 2016 that each special assistant would be paid a monthly stipend of N100,000.

    “He accepted the letter. He acknowledged the letter. He didn’t react negatively. He didn’t reject the letter. He didn’t resign if he was not satisfied.

    “In satisfaction, he stayed on the job on the basis of that N100,000 per month. As a minister, I am earning N800,000. If I have two, three, four aides and each is asking for N500,000… You know, the most realistic thing is for him to look for a job elsewhere. Victor didn’t look for job elsewhere because he was happy and satisfied with what I decided to be giving him,” Mr. Shittu told Tribune.

    The minister said he made out a cheque for N1.3 million to clear a 28-month backlog for Mr. Oluwadamilare, but did not clarify how the money was calculated. If the aide was entitled to N100,000 per month as the minister stated, then N1.3 million would only cover 13 months’ pay.

    Mr. Shittu said Mr. Oluwadamilare had a history of being troublesome and disloyal to his employers, citing Teslim Folarin and Mr. Ajimobi as two of several politicians that he had served as their aide but later fell out with.

    He said he employed him despite his unflattering background because he was the only Christian that applied for the position and he did not want to be seen as being comfortable working only amongst his fellow Muslims.

    Asked about his real estate investments, vehicles and acquisition of a new printing press, Mr Shittu said such acts were “antithetical to his beliefs as a Muslim and a socialist”.

    “Where will I, Adebayo Shittu, with my anti-corruption posture, with my very modest lifestyle all through and with my religious inclination, get the money for all of those vehicles? Does it make sense that somebody with socialist orientation will have that number of vehicles?

    “Since I came on board as minister, two people donated two cars to me. Seyi Makinde donated one of the jeeps that I have and a former Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Jonah Otunla, donated one and I bought one for myself. So, Victor Oluwadamilare will have to explain where the other vehicles are,” he said.

    Mr. Shittu said he has two houses in Ibadan and the only house he has in Abuja was purchased with a loan obtained from Jaiz Bank. He denied ownership of any real estate property in Lagos.

    The minister did not address the claim that he purchased a new printing press, a development that would be illegal as it breaches code of conduct regulations for public office holders.

    On the claims of receiving undue estacodes from public coffers, the minister did not give a clear response.

    At a point in the interview, he said he was entitled to estacodes as approved by the president. Then a moment later, he said it would be difficult for him to have earned up to $800,000 in estacodes under the stringent treasury single account policy and threatened to sue Mr. Oluwadamilare for making the claims.

    “As a minister, I have a boss. I cannot have a vote without the president approving it. If the president approves my vote and by law, I am entitled to estacode, is it illegal or unlawful for me to take that estacode when I am going to represent Nigeria at conferences overseas? That is the question that you should ask him,” he said.

    But when pressed on whether he earned $800,000 in estacodes, the minister said: “Is it possible under TSA? Is it possible under the Buhari regime that somebody will collect money and will not attend a conference?

    “How much is $800,000? That will be in hundreds of millions of naira. Look, he will have to be in court to prove and defend all the stupid allegations he has levelled against me.”

    The minister also denied living a luxurious lifestyle or sending dozens on Hajj, saying Mr. Oluwadamilare also earned estacodes during official trips but was “only coming out now to use the practice as a weapon against him for political gain”.

    “There is this adage that you give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Because they have a target, they want to stop me, but I will not allow them to succeed,” he said. “The work of my hand will see me through, by the grace of God,” Shittu said assuringly.

     

  • Why I want to be Nigeria’s President in 2019 – Sule Lamido

    A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, on Thursday said his presidential ambition was not out of desperation for power, but for genuine service to the people of Nigeria.

    Lamido made the statement in Lagos during a meeting with members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    He said his decision to contest for the number one seat in the country was out of commitment to fix the country and reposition it for greatness.

    The former governor said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had not done well in government, and so must be flushed out in the next election.

    Lamido said the country had not fared better in security, economy and anti -graft war, on which they anchored their manifesto.

    He cited the herdsmen killings and the resurgence of Boko Haram atrocities as some of the failings of the present government.

    Lamido said the abduction of Dapchi schoolgirls, who were eventually returned, reflected the lack of capacity of the present government government to ensure security.

    He urged the PDP to put its acts together to defeat the APC in 2019.

    “We in the PDP should put our acts together and ensure we flush APC out in 2019.

    “God would judge us if we allow the APC to return to power,” the ex-governor who is being prosecuted for corruption, said.

    Lamido urged the would-be delegates to the PDP national convention to look out for merit, consistency and loyalty to the party in choosing the party’s presidential candidate.

    He said he was eminently qualified to pick the party ‘s ticket as he was consistent, committed and an avowed member of the PDP.

    Lamido thanked members of the Lagos PDP for the warm reception accorded him and thanked the party chairman in the state for facilitating his coming to Lagos.

    He said he once worked in Lagos and felt at home being with the PDP family in the state.

    In his comments, the state party chairman, Moshood Salvador, said members were delighted to have Lamido in their midst.

    He said the high turnout at the reception showed how much members loved him.

    Salvador dismissed the insinuations in some quarters that PDP was divided in the state.

    He said the fact that party executives across the state were at the reception meant that PDP in the state was one.

    “PDP is not divided in the state. All the council excos are here. Everybody is here. The party is not divided.

    “Whatever bad people are saying about the party in the state is nothing but all lies,” he said.

    Salvador said he had done a lot to reposition the party since he was elected, and the spirit in the party was very high.

    Lamido was accompanied on the visit by former Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onomalemen, among others.

     

  • 2019 presidential aspirant, Kingsley Moghalu pays condolence visit to Benue

    Professor Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and an aspirant in the 2019 Presidential race paid a two-day visit to Benue following the recent attacks and unjust killings visited upon residents in the State.
    He was accompanied on this condolence visit by his wife, Mrs Maryanne Moghalu and key members of the Kingsley Moghalu Benue Support Group.
    Professor Moghalu and his wife made it a point to visit the burial site along Naka Road in Makurdi where 73 victims of the January 1 and 2 attacks on Guma and Logo local government area of the State were buried in mass. The couple laid a wreath and made prayers for the dead.
    Commiserating with fellow Nigerians
    At the Palace of the Och’Idoma, His Royal Highness Agaba Idu, Dr. Elias Ikoyi Obekpa IV, in Otukpo, Kingsley Moghalu described the purpose of his visit to Benue as a show of “solidarity with the people of Benue; to listen and to commemorate with people of Benue on the misfortunes that have hit the community in recent times.”
    In his response, the royal father, blessing and accepting him with the customary Kola, commended the presidential aspirant on being the first in the political class to have considered it expedient to pay such a visit during this period.
    The party also paid a visit to the Igbo community in Benue. They were received by the Igbo Council of Elders made up of elder statesmen from Anambra, Imo, Enugu and several other parts of the South East. The Council, which was visibly pleased with the visit, assured Professor Moghalu of their support and blessings in his ambition to become the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “Hope is not a strategy”
    Kingsley Moghalu who declared his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election at a World Press Conference in Abuja in February has emphasised his candidacy as one not born of ethnoreligious colourations but rather rooted in a desire to build and grow Nigeria through innovation and strong global worldview.
    Kingsley Moghalu re-emphasised this point at the opening of the Benue State Support Group office, donated by members of the Kingsley Moghalu Benue Support Group to serve as the base for grass root activities in
    the State.
    Having deliberately chosen the Benue as the “first stop on a nationwide listening tour”, Professor Moghalu made it a point to hold a town hall meeting in Makurdi where he spent hours answering questions from
    residents of Benue.
    The crowd at the town hall meeting – made up of students from various tertiary institutions in the State, the Benue
    Market Women Association, Benue Motorcycle Riders’ Association, the Association of Tiv Actors, as well as representatives of the various zonal communities within the State – also offered suggestions on how many of Nigeria’s problems can be solved using innovation.
    This crowd-sourcing of solutions to national problems is an integral part of the style of leadership Professor Kingsley Moghalu proposes to override what he has described as “a lack of true political leadership
    in Nigeria.”
    According to the political economist and former professor of practice in International Business and Public Policy at the prestigious Tufts University, “seeking the opinion of citizens and forming a government based on this is the only way to move from a political atmosphere of “godfatherism” to one where power truly lies with the electorate”.
    The future
    As the residents of Benue dispersed from the town hall meeting to continue their daily activities, it was evident that the visit had reinvigorated them with a new perspective on building a better Nigeria in spite of the current circumstances.
    “We have to kill tribalism and declare it as the enemy of progress”, said a representative of the Benue Motorcycle Riders’ Association who had attended the town hall meeting.
    According to a student representative who met with the Presidential aspirant for the first time during the meeting, Kingsley Mogahlu represents the kind of leader Nigeria needs to heal and grow.
    “We have given Professor Moghalu the key to Benue. He is exactly the kind of leader Nigeria needs. Part of being a leader is to help pull people up from their pain; knowing that despite the hurt, we must ensure that we get past it and move on. It is time we elect such leaders.”
    The Presidential aspirant and his wife had earlier been given honourary titles as Peace makers of the Tiv Kingdom by members of the Tiv Actors Association who also presented them with traditional Tiv attires and a symbolic key to the city in a show of complete acceptance.

  • 2019: Why Buhari is yet to declare ambition – Presidency

    The presidency has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to formally declare if he will run again for the office of the President in 2019 despite the urge by party faithfuls.

    This was revealed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

    According to Adesina, Buhari’s stand is to prevent opponents from sabotaging the country.

    If the President speaks too early about his ambition, he said, that it may arm opponents, who may throw everything at him and sabotage the country.

    In Adesina’s view, the President cannot speak on his intention to run or not to run with the election still about one year away as he knows the consequences of doing so.

    On when the President will declare his intention, he said: “You know the peculiarity of Nigeria, particularly now. If the President speaks too early, it’s a problem. There is a lot of sabotage in the country.

    “You have also heard so many have said ‘don’t run’. Because they know that if the President runs, other people should just run a way because they don’t have the foggiest chance in hell to beat him. So, they want to discourage him from running.

    “Now, if he tells you, ‘I’m going to run’, and elections are still one year away, it gives them one year to sabotage the entire country from all fronts – politically, socially, economically – they would throw everything at him just to dissuade him from running.”

    “So, when you know that, why then do you speak early? I think it makes a lot of sense for you then to keep things close to your chest till it is time for you to then say, ‘ok, I’m running’ by which time they can do less damage,” he added

    Hinting of his intention to run in 2019, the President had in November, last year while speaking with some members of the Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire said that he came to the meeting with two governors so that their people may vote for him in future.

    While apologising for turning up late at the occasion, he said: “First, I want to apologise for keeping you for too long sitting. This is because I insisted on the governors attending this meeting.

    “This is why I came along with them so that when we are going to meet you, when you are going to meet the rest of Nigerians, if you tell them that their governors were in the company of the President, I think that will be another vote for me the future. I’m very pleased that they were able to turn up.”

    On his visit to Benue State over herdsmen killings, Buhari had also said at a stakeholders meeting that he could only make promises to them when he returns there for campaign if indeed he would be coming to campaign.

    Adesina also explained the President’s proposed visit to Rivers State, which Governor Nyesom Wike is faulting because of what he described as being based on a wrong premise.

    The Presidency had listed Rivers among the states the President will visit over killings in parts of the country most of which are blamed on herdsmen.

    When told that Wike does not understand why the President is basing the Rivers visit on a crisis, Adesina said that Buhari wanted to condole with the families of those affected by various killings in the state.

    He recalled the Omoku killings and the beheading of other victims whose heads were taken away by their assailants.

    He said: “If he (Wike) doesn’t understand, the rest of the country understands. We understand; other Nigerians understand. Even people in Rivers State understand because on New Year’s Day, a minimum of 24 people were killed in Omoku.

    “So, is that not crisis? And can you count the number of people that have been beheaded in Rivers state in recent times?

    “People will be killed and heads will be cut off and the assailants will go away with the heads. So, can anybody say that there is no security issue in that kind of place?

    “It’s left to the governor. He’s the chief security officer. If he says there’s no security crisis in his state, good luck to him.”

    On what will become of the trip if the governor does not welcome it, Adesina said: “I’m sure he will be formally informed of the date. So, if he now says he doesn’t want the visit, it’s left to him and the Federal Government to decide the next step.

    “But the President is visiting so that he can condole with people who lost their loved ones; 24 people minimum, were killed in Omoku.

    “So, those people are the reason. Those people and the many beheaded; relations of those beheaded and their heads taken away, are the reason why the President is visiting the state.”

  • 2019: ‘Shine your eyes to avoid rigging,’ Ekweremadu tells Nigerians

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has advised Nigerians to be vigilante against the antics of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid rigging in 2019.

    According to his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, Mr. Ekweremadu gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received national, zonal, and state youth leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his office.

    He also vowed that the National Assembly caucus of the PDP would not be intimidated from holding the government accountable, and would continue to speak the truth in defence of democracy.

    “Nobody should be deceived that they will rig election in 2019. The international community will also be watching; and like the late Sam Mbakwe said ‘if you are awake, the rat would never take your fish.’ So if we ‘shine’ our eyes, nobody will rig us out.

    “I’m sure some of you are now conversant with the misrepresentation of my statement on the floor of the senate last week where I cautioned against brigandage, impunity and thuggery and I said as leaders and politicians we must do the correct thing before we endanger our democracy. That is what I said.

    “Never bother about their propaganda. We will continue to speak the truth. We will continue to defend our democracy and urge our leaders to always do the right thing.

    “Sometimes, we may be misunderstood, but we will remain unrelenting. It was the great Nnamdi Azikiwe, who said that the best judge of human conduct is conscience.

    “Keep saying the right thing. The person you are speaking to is hearing you; someday his conscience will prick him and he will do the right thing”, he said.

    While explaining that the PDP will not let anyone truncate the nation’s democracy, the senator warned the youth against any form of electoral violence, describing it as “an ill wind that blows no man any good.

    “The days of violence are gone. We have to put on our thinking cap. Do not match any person violence for violence; but match them ideas over violence. It is ideas that rule the world,” he added.

    He further promised that the PDP would, upon return to power in 2019, work towards job creation, providing unemployment benefits to the youth, and reduction of age qualification for all political offices to 18 years.

    In his words, “Who says that we cannot pay unemployment benefits to the youth if we manage our resources well? We can.

    “The next PDP government will expand the political space for the youth by abolishing age limit so that franchise begins and ends with the number eighteen. Once you can vote, you should be voted for”.

    Earlier in his address, the National Youth Leader of the PDP, Udeh Okoye, said Nigerian youth had suffered under the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration and were ready to support the PDP to return to power.

    The PDP youth also conferred an award on Mr. Ekweremadu for defending the nation’s democracy.

    Also speaking at the event, the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Minority Leader, Philip Aduda; and the Deputy Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi, said the PDP would bounce back in 2019 to rebuild the nation.

  • Sultan of Sokoto urges Muslims to get their PVCs ahead of 2019 elections

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of Supreme Council of Islamic for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, Alhaji Saad Abubakar has stressed the need for all Muslim ummah to take advantage of the ongoing Continues Voter Registration CVR to obtained a voters card ahead of the 2019 General elections.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 32nd edtion of the National Quranic Recitation Competition holding in Katsina, Saad said it is only by doing this that one can have a say as to who becomes what and when.
    According to him, the Muslim population is mass and it is those with cards are eligible to vote.
    He said one can only actively participate with having a voters card noting that it is high time the Muslim ummah realised the need for it adding that ‎’ let’s get our voters card because it is with it that we can seek for our rights with our votes. All Muslims to seek their cards to enable us vote, People will come seek for votes and we shall then tell then what we need of them’
    He enjoined leaders to fear God and the followers as well and should always pray so that we forged ahead in this trying period of our times adding that leaders must redouble effort to boost peaceful coexistence in various places.
    In his remarks, the state governor Aminu Masari said the scourge of Almajiri education must be holistically looked at by all stakeholders giving the increasing misuse and social vices of system.
    About 360 participants took part from 32 states and FCT in the 8 days event.
    Amina Aliyu Mohd from Borno state and Amiru Yunus Guru from Bauchi state emerging as the overall winners carting home brand new cars, Hajj seats and other cash donations.
    Gombe state was announced as winner of the hosting of next years 33rd edition of the competition.