October 04 - October 07 News

OCTOBER 04 - OCTOBER 07 NEWS
October 04
Gbajabiamila Told Rep Members About Signing Register,

Walking Away From Chamber
House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has told his colleagues that days when members
sign attendance in the Chamber and walk away is gone.
Gbajabiamila spoke on Thursday while ruling on a Point of Order by a member, Haruna Dederi, who
observed that the quorum was not formed on the floor as members debated a motion on drug abuse.
Dederi, while speaking on the Point of Order, noted that members were very few in the Chamber and a
quorum of 120 members was not formed.
But, Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu said a quorum cannot be determined by the number of members
in the Chamber.
According to him, “some members have come, signed in the chamber and left for committee
assignments and oversight.”
House Leader Ado Doguwa said it is an established tradition, admitting that the number of members in
the Chamber did not reflect quorum.
However, Gbajabiamila, who said the House would have to suspend its rules, if the debate would
continue, noted that the usual excuse to continue plenary when the quorum is not formed is wrong.
He referred members to Order 4 Rule 2, saying the House should keep to the spirit of the rule.
According to Gbajabiamila, the order says:
“The quorum of the House shalt be: one-third of all the members of the House.
“If any member draws the attention of the Speaker to the fact that a quorum of the House is not present,
or if, from the number of members taking part in a decision, including those members who declined to
vote, it appears that a quorum is not constituted, the Speaker shall cause members to be summoned as if
for a decision.
“At the expiration of 15 minutes from such order, the Speaker shalt count the House and, if a quorum is
not then constituted, shall adjourn the House forthwith.”
Gbajabiamila said that things should be done in conformity with the rules of the House.
“If the intention was that people should come at 10am, sign and go, then, we’re kidding ourselves. We
cannot be conducting sitting with 10 members. Hon. Elumelu, I hereby rule you out of order.
“On the issue of committee work, I’m inclined to agree with that. That’s important and part of sitting of
the House. But just to play safe and for future, move for suspension of the rule so we can continue,” he
said
Ajaokuta: Steel Workers Welcome Plan To Return Coy To Original Builder
The Nigeria Union of Mines Workers has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taken a bold
step toward revitalization of the ailing Ajaokuta steel company through the propose signing of an
agreement with Russia , the original builders of the steel plant.
Chairman of the union, Ajaokuta steel branch, Comrade Mohammed Abdulsalam Jimoh, who gave the
commendation in Lokoja Tuesday while addressing newsmen on independent day, said the federal
government for the first time in many years was about to take a right step toward a right direction to
bring back the original builders of the steel plant in order to revitalise and make it operational.
“Alas, many concessions has taken place in the past without result, even one of the concession between
the federal government and Solgas Energy Limited resulted to litigation that took over ten years before
it was resolved .
“The concession failed in its totality because the companies were not the original builders and they
don’t have any idea of the steel plant.
“Now that President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has taken a bold step to bring the original
builders of the plant back to complete the plant, I am optimistic and confident that in no distance time
what we have been dreaming and cleaving for will come back to life” the union leader said.
While appealing to President Buhari not to renege on his laudable plan for Ajaokuta steel company,
Comrade Jimoh describe the effort of the present administration as a welcome development that will
put the country on a threshold of industrialization.
“I am calling on the management and staff of the steel company to support the president with prayers to
enable him actualise his plan of going to Russia to sign an agreement for the completion of the
integrated plant that will create enormous jobs and generate huge revenue for the government” he
added.
Speaking further the union leader , said that Ajaokuta steel workers deserve national honour for
maintaining and keeping the giant plant against vandalization, saying the technical audit conducted in
2010 and 2018 clearly indicated that all the equipment are intact.
According to him “It is unacceptable for any body to claim that the steel workers are redundant. If not
for the workers the plant could not have passed the several technical audit conducted to ascertain the
standard of the plant”
Shutdown Of Terminal Jetty: BUA Replies NPA With Evidence

BUA Group has released more evidence against claims cited by the Hadiza Bala Usman-led Nigerian
Ports Authority for the decommissioning of the Terminal B Jetty(BUA Concession Area) Port
Complex, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state.
POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that the NPA had decommissioned the Port concession agreement
that BUA got in 2006, claiming that the unsafe operational environment of the jetty needed "urgent
repairs and reconstruction".
However, the decommissioning contravened the Principle of agreements under Port Reform
Programme of 2005 which clearly states that Port terminal operators will solely operate the facilities,
while the NPA will be responsible for repairs and infrastructural upgrades.
The General Manager, BUA Ports and Terminals Ltd, Ibrahim Mohammed, while reacting to the
development, disclosed that the concession is expected to last for 20-years before the need for renewal
but the company has only been in charge for 13-years.
He revealed that BUA had severally sought approval from NPA to perform remedial works on the
terminal but the NPA didn’t grant it and decided to decommission the terminal.
Below are Documents and Key Facts of the Situation along with Evidence of BUA's Claims;
https://politicsnigeria.com/shutdown-of-terminal-jetty-bua-releases-evidence-against-npa/
You’ll Handover Bayelsa To Lyon, Oshiomhole Tells Dickson

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has
said that Governor Seriake Dickson has resorted to using ‘terrorist’ tag on his party’s governorship
candidate David Lyon because of the aspirants intimidating qualities. Oshiomhole spoke yesterday in
Abuja while addressing Bayelsa State APC stakeholders and aggrieved governorship aspirants during a
reconciliatory meeting at the APC national secretariat.
“Let me use this opportunity to reply directly to my friend, Governor Dickson of Bayelsa. I think he
has allowed his fears, lack of self-confidence, his imminent defeat that awaits him and his party to
overcloud his judgement to resort to the use of inelegant language and uncouth statement to describe
one of his own and a fellow citizen of Bayelsa.
“When a governor describes one of his own purely on the account of his political differences, using
name of terrorists and the like, then he has missed it already. “Let me assure him (Dickson), that we
will not go low as he has chosen to but we will rather go high and higher until he packs out of
government house and hands over decently like a gentleman to our candidate, by the special grace of
God, the next governor of Bayelsa State, David Lyon,” Oshiomhole said.
Omo-Agege Says NASS Will Amend Electoral Law To Make

Card Readers Legal
Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege says the National Assembly will give legal backing
to card reader in the new Electoral Act, to further enhance the integrity of the electoral process in
Nigeria.
He gave the assurance when he received the Nigerian Representatives of the African Union Economic,
Social and Cultural Council, (AU- ECOSOCC), led by Dr. Tunji Ashaolu in Abuja on Thursday.
A statement by his spokesperson, Yomi Odunga in Abuja, quoted Omo-Agege as saying that it was
important the card reader be made part of the legal regime for elections. He said the senate maintained
that card reader would ensure credible polls.
According to him, the mistake of the Eighth National Assembly is that the amendment of the Electoral
Act breached ECOWAS Protocol, which will not be repeated.
“I am sure any minute from now, we are going to be coming up with a revised Electoral Reform
Amendment Bill that will address issues that are very dear to us and issues that came to the fore in the
2019 elections, most especially revolving round the legality of the card reader.
“We know that there is no way you can have genuine, credible, free and fair elections in this country
without addressing the issue of the card reader.
“Most of the litigations that arise from the 2015 and 2019 elections have always centred around the
legality or otherwise of the card reader.
“The courts have made it very clear that as far as they are concerned, Section 49 of the Electoral Act is
very clear that the only document recognised by law for purpose of accreditation is the voters register.
“To the extent that we believe that we want to introduce any innovation including but not limited to the
card reader.
“We have to do the right thing, the right thing as far as we are concerned is for us to pass the law to
make the card reader.
“We are hellbent on doing that, and we actually tried in the committee that I served on in the eighth
senate but the leadership of the eighth senate delayed it and by the time it passed, it had run into
challenges with the ECOWAS Protocol,” he said.
He, however, explained that contentious areas in the amendments made by the eighth National
Assembly would be removed before the bill will be passed and sent to the President for assent. Omo-
Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, also expressed the desire of the ninth senate to
ensure that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) was given accelerated approval.
He assured that the bill would have the buy-in of the executive arm of government to avoid the
mistakes of the past.
He said: “This time around, it is the determination of the ninth senate that we are going to have this
(PIGB) passed. Earlier, leader of the delegation, Dr. Tunji John Ashaolu, emphasized the need for
Nigeria to take its rightful place in the African Union (AU).
He also called on the National Assembly to immediately revisit the Electoral Act
Amendment Bill, as well as the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).
Nigeria To Collaborate With S/Africa To Develop Oil Sector

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite has said Nigeria will
collaborate with South Africa to develop its solid mineral and mining sector. Adegbite stated this at the
ministerial session at the ongoing 9th Session of Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC)
which kicked off in Pretoria, South Africa yesterday.
A statement by the Ministry said the meeting was timely and mutually beneficial as it provided
opportunity for the two countries to discuss cooperation on different sectors, particularly the Mines and
Steel Sector. “South Africa just discovered crude oil and they need our experience in terms of
petroleum exploration especially offshore while they are very advanced in mining and we are learning
from them to avoid pitfalls that they had.
We need to understand the steps they are taking especially in terms of environmental degradation, how
mining can be properly done without salvaging the environment, it is really a symbiotic relationship,”
he said. The Ministerial Session which was co-chaired by the South African Minister of International
Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor and the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey
Onyeama, received, analyzed and adopted the submission of the outcome of the meeting of senior
officials from both countries.
The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the Republic of South
Africa in October, 1999 established a Bi-National Commission (BNC) called Nigeria-South Africa Bi-
National Commission (NSABNC) as a mechanism for a sustaining bi-lateral High-level dialogue to
promote and increase cooperation in diplomatic, economic, security and other areas of mutual interest.
Samuel Ortom Queries Aide For Renaming Ahmadu Bello Way

After Him
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has queried the General Manager of the state’s Urban
Development Board for renaming some streets in the state capital.
According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase in Makurdi, Ortom directed
the board to immediately stop the renaming and dismantle nameplates mounted on the affected streets.
The governor particularly directed it to reverse the renaming of Ahmadu Bello Way which was
renamed after him. He further directed the General Manager to explain within 24 hours why the agency
embarked on the renaming of streets without approval.
The street renaming had been met with negative reaction from the residents of the people. The streets
renamed include- Ahmadu Bello Way to Samuel Ortom Road, Gboko Ring Road to Tony Ijohor Road,
Gyado Hospital Road to James Ortese Ayatse Road.
Others are Mkar Road to Iyorchia Ayu Road, St John Road leading to Tor Tiv Palace to Makir Dzakpe
Way among others.
Reps Pass Bill To Criminalise Estimated Billing

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed three bills sponsored by the Speaker, Femi
Gbajabiamila, one of which seeks to criminalise estimated billing of electricity consumers by
distribution companies.
When the proposed law is concurred with by the Senate and assented to by the President, it will
become criminal for service providers to issue estimated bills, also known as ‘crazy bills’, issuance of
which would attract either a one-year jail term or a fine of N1m or both.
The proposed law would also compel a distribution company to provide prepaid meter to an applicant
within 30 days, while barring the DISCOs from disconnecting the consumer after the 30-day period
within which meter should be installed.
The Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, which Gbajabiamila, then as Majority
Leader, presented in the Eighth National Assembly, was re-presented in July 2019.
The bill is entitled, ‘A bill for an act to amend the electric power sector reforms Act to prohibit and
criminalise estimated billing by electricity distribution companies and provide for compulsory
installation of pre-paid meters to all power consumers in Nigeria and other related matters.’
Leading the debate on the bill, Gbajabiamila condemned the DISCOs for whimsically issuing estimated
bills on a monthly basis.
“This billing is not known by any scientific rule,” he stated.
The House also passed a bill seeking to to make Federal Government ministries, departments and
agencies reserve 20 per cent of job slots for persons living with disabilities.
It is entitled, “A bill for an act to provide that 20 per cent of jobs available in all Federal Government
ministries, departments, agencies and companies be distributed amongst the physically challenged
persons in Nigeria and for other matters connected thereto.’
Another bill passed was one seeking to create a bank that grants interest-free loans to students of
tertiary institutions in the country.
The bill is entitled, ‘A bill for an act to provide easy access to higher education for Nigerians through
interest-free loans Nigerian Education Bank established in this act with a view to providing education
for all Nigerians.’
The bill stated that the provision of the proposed law shall apply to all matters pertaining to the
application and grant of loans to Nigerians seeking admission into institutions of higher learning in
Nigeria through the Nigerian Education Bank.
90 Percent Of Cars In Nigeria Are Smuggled – Customs Boss,

Hameed Ali
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), on Thursday
said 90 per cent of cars in the country were smuggled into the country by unscrupulous elements.
Ali, who said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja, alleged that many vehicles on display for sale in
auto shops across the country were also smuggled.
He explained that the recent raids of the various car dealers’ spots in some parts of the country were to
ascertain whether the vehicles were brought in genuinely or not.
According to him, the country needs revenue for development, hence, it became necessary to collect
duties on those smuggled vehicles.
“We want to use this opportunity to ensure that cars within our borders are fully customised, which
means duties are paid on them”, NAN quoted him as saying.
”We are looking for revenue from everywhere and we have these people who brought in vehicles and
failed to pay duties.
“What we are doing now, we are just enforcing the law, which allows us to collect revenue on behalf of
Nigeria and also ensure those vehicles you and I will go and buy have genuine papers that are
roadworthy.
“If you meet our officers on the road and they ask for the papers, if they discover you have not paid
your duties, they will seize the vehicles.
“We are doing all these to save car buyers from running into trouble,” he explained.
The customs boss said the organisation would continue to mount road block from time to time to stop
vehicles to ensure duties were paid on cars.
“The law allows us to stop you and ask for the car papers, if your papers are intact, we thank you and
bless you, if it is otherwise, we will ask you to pay the duties
“If we find out you are not a smuggler, you are just an innocent buyer, we will value the car and ask
you to pay the required duties on the car and you will be freed,” he said.
Gov.obaseki Speaks Tough, Says "Nobody Can Stop My

Reelection"
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has said his bid to be reelected can not be stopped by anyone
plotting for his downfall.
Speaking on Thursday when he received members of the Benin Unity League at government house,
Benin, Obaseki categorically said for him, his second term is non-negotiable”.
“I have said it clearly and I told my cabinet yesterday that second term for me is non-negotiable. I am
demanding it because I deserve it and I think I have earned it. We need to have it so we can continue
what we are doing today,” he said.
He added that no individual can determine who will become governor, adding that only God and the
people can make the decision.
“I want to assure you that, this is a fight that we will prevail. We will fight and succeed. If anybody
thinks I will back out, he must be day-dreaming because it is not my fight, it is about fight for the right
thing and cause,” he said.
“I am not going to back off because I know victory is sure.”
Information Parrot Nigeria recalls that Gov.Obaseki has been having a running political battle with his
predecessor and current national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, who is alleged to be
plotting to ensure Obaseki isn't reelected.
‘IPOB Members’ Attack In South Africa Disgraceful’ - IPOB
The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned what it described as barbaric and disgraceful
the attack on peaceful protest of its members by South African police.
The group said the act was an indication that state sanctioned politics of savagery has taken firm hold
in Cyril Ramaphosa’s South Africa.
In a statement on Thursday signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group
linked the attack to President Muhammadu Buhari who “influenced Ramaphosa to order his police to
open fire on peaceful Biafran protesters.”
“The crass display of primitive police brutality and anti-democratic antecedents of the South African
police is confirmation if any is needed, that black Africa is hopeless and doomed,” it said.
The group hinted that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, would in a broadcast later in the day provide in-depth
examination and analysis of the unfolding events in South Africa.
Senate Wants Integration Of Almajiris Into Educational System

The Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to formulate a policy to integrate Almajiris into
the educational system to discourage them from street begging. This followed a motion by Senator
Sankara Abdullahi and 26 other senators on the menace of street begging and need to rehabilitate street
beggars. Abdullahi said begging in Nigeria appears to be intractable and overwhelming as beggars are
now found everywhere .
He said beggars in recent times appeared to be a new trend of beggars popularly known as corporate
beggars. According to him, street begging does not only affect geographical and social structure of
urban areas, it also portrays the country in a bad image to tourist and foreign investors. He said street
begging, had become a worrisome socio- economic challenge in addition to been a serious menace and
liability on the Nigeria populace. He said the phenomenon takes a heavy toll on the lives of teenagers,
who engage in the act and and are therefore are out of school. Senators, who spoke on the motion
described street begging as a major challenge. The senate therefore called on the federal government to
set up vocational training centres to provide beggars with alternative means of livelihood thereby
making useful to the society. (NAN)
IPOB Protesters Shot & Tear Gassed As Buhari Visits South

Africa
Pretoria: Protesters demand Nigerian President Buhari “takes a DNA test” [video]
As police clashed with protesters outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Nigerian
President Buhari faced a raft of strange accusations on Thursday.
by Tom Head
2019-10-03 15:58
in Offbeat
Granted, things get a little crazy with politics in South Africa. But it seems our Nigerian
brothers and sisters are taking things one step further. As President Buhari came to give a
speech in Pretoria following last month’s xenophobic riots, he was met with an altogether
different kind of confrontation at the Union Buildings.
Protesters had gathered outside of the iconic landmark to make their voices heard. But
those within earshot might have had to do a double-take when they clocked what the
demonstrations were about. The group were demanding that Buhari addresses them
immediately – and, while he’s at it, volunteer for a DNA test.
Why Nigerians want Buhari to take a DNA test
No, this isn’t a very continental episode of Jerry Springer. And it’s nothing to do with baby-
mama drama. That would all be too simple. Instead, the protesters who rocked up outside
the Union Buildings firmly believe that Muhammadu Buhari is either a clone, or has been
replaced by a man called Jubril from Sudan.
The government have been openly accused of being complicit in a conspiracy by Biafran
activist Nwannekaenyi “Nnamdi” Kenny Okwu Kanu. Kanu is a leading member of the
Indigenous People of Biafra, a separatist group that seeks political autonomy for the Igbo
speaking people of Southern Nigeria.
Watch protesters label the Nigerian President an “imposter”:
The IPOB were on top form again this Thursday:
Police use full force against protesters outside the Union Buildings
However, with conspiracy theories aside, things did get seriously heated during Buhari’s
address. The civil disruptors were dispered by stun grenades and rubber bullets. It has been
reported that one of the Biafrans – a Nigerian national – was wounded in the leg and he’s
currently receiving medical treament.
Buhari in South Africa
Buhari said in his speech that he stood in solidarity with Ramaphosa in ensuring that
xenophobic violence does not break out again. Buhari called on the South African
government to learn from Nigeria, in how they dealt with the perpetrators nabbed for
instigating the violence against South African businesses.
The Nigerian President will hold a ‘town hall’ meeting with Nigerian expats on Friday,
where he will get an opportunity to hear about the traumas that his people have suffered
since the xenophobic violence broke out.
What is a Biafran?
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a state in West Africa which existed from 30
May 1967 to January 1970; it was made up of the states in the Southern Region of Nigeria.
People from this region identify with the old nation. The original declaration of
independence from Nigeria resulted in civil war between Biafra and Nigeria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXAMDdjbd3U
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/offbeat-news/nigeria-latest-buhari-clone-imposter-dead-protesters-
pretoria-union-buildings/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Senators Receive N36 Million Monthly, Yet Nigerians Are

Jobless – Emir Sanusi
Emir of Kano state, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says President Muhammadu Buhari needs to reduce
the monthly take-home of the federal lawmakers and ministers because they receive a huge pay
while a larger population of Nigerians are jobless.
In a statement he addressed to Buhari, Sanusi added that the change mantra of the current
administration needs to start with the National Assembly.
“Where is the change? Change should start with the National Assembly. A senator receives N36 million
monthly. If this is divided into two, it comes to N18 million. The second half of N18 million can be
used to create jobs for 200 Nigerians, each earning N90, 000 monthly.
When you multiply 200 people by 109 senators, this will give 21,800 Nigerians gainful employment. In
short, 200 Nigerians will be able to live a comfortable life on half a senator’s monthly salary.”
SGF Office Gets N16bn For Constituency Projects In 2019

Budget - SaharaReporters
The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will implement constituency projects
valued at N16.40bn in the 2019 budget.
This is according to data obtained by Tracka – a constituency project monitoring tool run by BudgIt.
According to the information, which was mined from the breakdown of the 2019 Zonal Intervention
Projects, the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also given N2.63bn and N2.92bn
respectively.
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing was surprisingly saddled with just N1.27bn.
The lowest allocation for constituency projects was the N6m given to the Ministry of Interior.
The ministries and the value of constituency projects allotted to them by members of the national
assembly are as follows: Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, N16.40bn,
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 15.5bn, Federal Ministry of Water Resources,
13.08bn, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, 10.74bn, Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and
Investment, N7.99bn.
Others are Federal Ministry of Education, N7.65bn, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,
5.75bn, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, 4.11bn, Federal Ministry of Health, 3.06bn,
Federal Ministry of Environment, 2.72bn, Federal Ministry of Justice, 2.71bn, Federal Ministry of
Communication and Technology 1.20bn.
In every budget, the executive gives the national assembly N100bn to execute zonal intervention
projects in their constituencies.
The assembly members are to execute these projects through a ministry suited to the nature of the
intended activity.
With the SGF and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which have no duty to carry out projects receiving
contractual obligations to do so, uncertainty creeps in as to the genuineness of constituency projects.
Oshiomhole Says PDP’s Dubai Meeting Meant To Destabilise

Buhari’s Govt
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that
the recent meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) was
meant to create disharmony in the governance of Nigeria.
Oshiomhole has also stated that the Nigerian borders with neighbouring countries should remain closed
until they comply with ECOWAS protocols.
The APC chairman made the allegation against the PDP Thursday while addressing journalists after a
reconciliatory meeting with aggrieved Bayesla State’s governorship aspirants held at the party
secretariat in Abuja.
He said: “Let me also say that, watching the news and reading the papers over the period, we see that
the meeting that PDP held in Dubai, part of the decision they took at those meetings was to come back
home and begin to throw bag of lies and untruth with a view to creating distraction and even creating
disharmony within the governance of Nigeria.”
He said he was surprised that the PDP dragged the judiciary into the murky waters of politics.
Oshiomhole said that he was shocked that the PDP and its agent, the Coalition of United Political
Parties (CUPP), claimed during a press conference that the new judges that are about to be appointed
were to favour the ruling party at the supreme court.
He noted, “Now the question is, should the supreme court be denied the appointment of all the judges
they need; should we say because election matters are in tribunal, Supreme court judges should not be
appointed?”
The national chairman stressed that the main opposition party was already in its old traditional way,
seeking to infiltrate, to dictate and blackmail the judiciary.
The national chairman also completely disassociated himself and members of his party from from 2023
presidential election posters.
He added, “I stand here as National Chairman of APC not only to deny those posters as they affect me,
but to deny those posters as they affect any leader of our party because it is not yet time. Even people
who may have ambition are aware that this is not the time.”
Oshiomhole said that at this point in time all hands must be on deck to support President Muhammadu
Buhari and all APC state governors in their respective states to work together unanimously to deliver
deliverables for the good of the people in the states and at the federal level.
Oshiomhole stressed that this is not the time to talk politics, adding that politics cannot be an all-round
season, insisting that the season for politics is over.
He added that all the APC members are committed to backing the president to deliver dividends of
democracy to Nigerians.
In another development, Oshiomhole has said that Nigerian borders with neighbouring countries should
remain closed until they comply with ECOWAS protocols.
He stated this when he paid a solidarity visit to the office of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS), retired Col. Hameed Ali yesterday in Abuja.
He explained that his party is strongly in support of the border closure and all other reforms being
carried out by the service.
He added that such action should be sustained for the economic growth of the country.
He said the APC under his leadership is impressed and has resolved to identify with the NCS on the
feat recorded so far.
“The state must have control over the economy and Nigeria is absolutely right in taking the decision
having been victims of expired rice brought in through the porous borders.
“It is a shame that after spending much to reposition agriculture, we still allow people to import expired
rice into our country.
“We are lucky to have a president who told us to consume what we produce in the country in order to
grow our economy.
“People are complaining that the prices of food commodities have gone up. Our farmers should make
money from their sweat.
“Over the years, farmers got a good harvest, sometimes with right prices but smugglers often crash the
prices,” he
said.
The APC chairman urged Nigerians to go into farming and take advantage of the current good price of
food produce.
Ali, while responding, thanked the APC chairman for identifying with the service in the step taken to
boost the economy of the country.
He said the border closure had boosted the nation’s revenue and also reduced the rate of insecurity in
the country.
Ali stated that the borders would remain closed until neighbouring countries comply with the
ECOWAS protocols on the transit of goods and services, which they have all signed.
Reps To Probe Federal Roads Constructed Under Yar’adua,

Jonathan, Buhari Govts
The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to probe all the roads constructed by the Federal
Government across the country from 2007 to date.
The House made the resolution after the adoption of a motion moved by Hon Dachung Musa Bagus
under matters of urgent Public importance titled “Motion on the Daily death of Nigerians as result of
bad roads in Nigeria” at the plenary Consequently, the House mandated the Committee on Federal
Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA,Chaired by Hon Richard Olufemi Bamisile to investigate all
roads constructed by the Federal government from 2007 to date and report by the to House within few
weeks for further legislative action.
The House equally urged the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA
to include the construction and rehabilitation of the bad roads in the country in the priority list for the
2020 budget
According to Hon Bagus, “the challenges caused by poor nature of our roads in the country which are
in a deplorable condition which make it difficult for road users and commuters to without recording
avoidable loss of life and enormous damage to vehicles”
He noted that , most Federal Highways were constructed in the 1970’s and since then no major quality
construction or rehabilitation has been carried out on these important links.
He further noted that these Federal Highways have been death traps, most of the routes that link further
states to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, are at the verge of being cut off from being part of
the federating units of Nigeria.
He said he was “Concerned that if urgent measures are not taken to rehabilitate roads in order to
improve the economic and commercial activities of the people in terms of infrastructural development,
they will continue to wallop in abject poverty which can lead to the total collapse of the social
infrastructure.
‘This can threaten the existence of some States as federating units of the federal Republic of Nigeria if
severed from the road network to the Federal Capital Territory’.. While moving the motion, Hon Bagus
raised the alarm that more Nigerians have been killed on the nation’s highways due to the deplorable
conditions of the roads than the dreaded Book haram insurgency despite several billions of Naira spent
on the roads over the years.
According to him,” only yesterday a bridge collapsed in Ekiti State and people died in the process,
people die on the roads on a daily basis, all the roads are in a sorry state. “We as lawmakers, we must
urgently address the issue because if we don’t do something now, we will not be able to the next level
of greatness of our dream”
The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to vote by Speaker, Hon Feni Gbajabiamila.
Trade War, Price Slump Threaten Nigeria, Others

As the trade rage between the United States and China heightens, Nigeria and some major African
economies may soon be caught up in the web.
The development is also being fuelled by a slump in commodity prices, which is greatly affecting
exporters.
The revelation came from the latest report from ICAEW – the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales – Economic Update: Africa Q3 2019.
The report provides GDP growth forecasts for various regions including East Africa which is set to
grow by 6.3 per cent, West and Central Africa at 3.4 per cent, Franc Zone at 4.7 per cent, and Southern
Africa at 1.3 per cent.
The report, according to Africa Business Community, was commissioned by ICAEW and produced by
partner and forecaster Oxford Economics, predicts that Africa’s growth rate is set for a sluggish pace
after a disruption in oil production in North Africa and with low international oil prices in Francophone
Africa.
It noted that regional GDP growth for Central and West Africa was forecast at 3.4 per cent in 2019.
“This incorporates the impact of the Nigerian economy’s slow start to the year, as pipeline damage
curtailed its oil production,” the report noted.
The situation will be further fuelled by policy uncertainty, concerns over debt-landed parastatals and
high unemployment in South Africa.
Speaking during the launch of the latest report, Michael Armstrong, ICAEW’s Regional Director for
Middle East, Asia and Africa, said that the growth of some regions in Africa is being held back by the
fluctuating price of oil.
“The growth forecast for the Franc Zone this year is 4.7 per cent, due to a structurally low international
oil price environment, which continues to weigh on growth in the region’s oil exporters,” said Mr.
Armstrong.
“While still expected to remain the strongest growing region on the continent, East Africa is projected
to record a slightly lower real GDP growth rate of 6.3 per cent this year compared to 2018.The fact that
the countries in the region are not as reliant on commodities as sources of income shields them from
global shocks,” he added.
Delving deeper into the East African outlook, Uganda has a favourable economic outlook on the
development of its hydrocarbons sector and GDP growth is forecast above six per cent p.a. over the
medium term.
However, extended delays in oil exploration and the widening twin deficits (due to an increase in
public debt and increasing capital goods imports to support the nascent hydrocarbons sector) pose
significant downside risks. Uganda, in partnership with Tanzania, plans to build the East African Crude
Oil Pipeline which is worth $3.5 billion.
In North Africa, the GDP growth rate is forecast to slow to 2.8 per cent due to fluctuations in oil
production in Libya which compounded the effect of weak Eurozone demand on the region’s other
economies.
Southern Africa is forecast to keep struggling, with a growth rate of 1.3 per cent in 2019. The region’s
economic anchor, South Africa, is expected to show nearly-flat growth because of policy uncertainty,
concerns over debt-laden parastatals and high unemployment. In the region’s other countries growth
has been slowed by supply-side challenges, notably adverse weather conditions in the wake of two
cyclones, a regional rainfall deficit and power rationing.
Toll Gates: APC Filled With People Without Integrity –Yinka

Odumakin
Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, has
described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party filled with people who lacked integrity
that also preach to others what it can’t practise.
Fifteen years after the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo scrapped toll gates across the
country, the Federal Government on Wednesday said it was making plans to reintroduce them.
Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, disclosed this while briefing state house
correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting.
The then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled Federal Government under Goodluck Jonathan
had mooted the idea of returning the toll gates in 2011 but the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN), one of the parties that merged to form APC vehemently opposed the move.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, its National Publicity Secretary who is now the incumbent Minister of
Information argued that the Jonathan administration should complete all bad roads, allow Nigerians
drive freely on it for some time before contemplating collection of tolls.
Reacting, Odumakin said APC specialised in prescribing high standards that they themselves can’t live
by.
“It’s a demonstration of the weird philosophy of “it is wrong when others do it but for me God
understands.
“They specialise in prescribing for others standards too high for them to live by. This is the style of
people without integrity, who say one thing and do another.
“The Nigerian roads were better when they opposed tolling than what we have today,” he said.
FG Yet To Commence Reconstruction Of Enugu Airport Even

After Shutdown
Days after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the rehabilitation of the runway at the
Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu had begun, the emerging report shows that work is yet to
start. The Federal Government is yet to engage any contractor for the work at the airport due to a lack
of funding.
Recall that the airport was closed by FAAN on August 24 with the promise that renovation work for the
dilapidated runway would begin immediately.
owever, it has been more than six weeks now and the renovation isn’t ready to commence. Nairametrics
understands that neither the firm that worked on the now dilapidated runway back in 2010 nor Julius
Berger, which the governors of the South-East appealed to Federal Government to handle the
reconstruction, has been mobilized to the site.
It was gathered that Julius Berger, which the governors wanted to execute the project, could not move
for lack of sustainable funding agreement, especially since the work would not require any break when
it starts.
Prior to this development, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had disclosed that the runway
repairs and other renovation work would be completed by December. In a meeting with South-East
governors, he assured them that the Enugu airport would be reconstructed to meet the Abuja
International Airport standard. However, with the look of things, the December deadline may have to
be changed.
The airport had been closed to address and resolve the existing safety and security concerns to flight
operations as it had a bad runway and landing aids. International flights had been diverted to the Port
Harcourt International Airport in Rivers by Ethiopian Airlines due to the closure of the airport. In the
same vein, domestic flights were diverted to the Sam Mbwkwe Airport, Owerri, the Port Harcourt
Airport and the Asaba Airport in Delta.
Shehu Sani Speaks On What Nigeria Has Become In 59 Years

Senator Shehu Sani who was a former lawmaker, has given a brief review of the nation’s status in the
last 59 years, saying the country has been divided along ethnic and religious lines. In an interview he
made available to Dailypost in Abuja on Friday, 4th of October, 2019, he said:
“Nigeria’s 59 years record on attempt at poverty eradication and respect for human rights
and the rule of law is appalling, woeful and tragic.”
“We have become a belligerent, combative and intolerant nation of religious extremists,
sectional champions and tribal warriors and warlords.”
“Nigerian leaders have abandoned nationalism and behave like tribal conquerors imposing
their will and wishes on the people in their occupied territory.”
“The white horses in our coat of arms has been dismounted and redeployed to pull the
luxurious chariots of a selected power elite.”
“While we are building new bridges over River Niger to link the north and the south, the
bridges in the souls and hearts of Nigerians that linked them up to each other has since
broken into pieces.”
“Nigerian Political leaders purport nationalism when speaking in English but promote
ethnic chauvinism when speaking in their native languages. That is corrosive to the spirit of
nationalism.”
“Over the years, our nationalist and patriotic spirit has been dampened by the failure of
successive Governments in the country and; the only moment Nigerians are patriotic about
their country is that moment when the super eagles are on the winning path.”
“Nepotism erodes patriotism and nationalism.”
“Our dream of building a united and prosperous nation will remain a mirage as long as we
continue to run and maintain a system that politically and economically disenfranchised and
marginalized some sections of the country or people to the perpetual advantage of others.”
“We should reconfigure, reset and restructure Nigeria politically and economically in order
to make it greater.”
“The dream of our founding fathers has been destroyed by our founding fathers.”
Court Grants Sowore Bail With Strict Conditions

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a federal high court sitting in Abuja has granted #RevolutionNow convener,
Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare bail with stringent conditions.
Sowore's bail conditions include N100 million and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must
own landed property and deposit N50 million, and prohibited from travelling outside Abuja.
Bakare was granted bail to the sum of N50 million and prohibited from travelling outside Osun State.
Sowore and Bakare are prohibited from addressing the press until the completion of the trial.
Shehu Sani: What Death Of Ogbomosho Tortoise Means For

Nigeria
Former Senator, Shehu Sani, has said that the death of famous tortoise, Alagba, reflects the spirit of
resilience and endurance in Nigeria.
Alagba, who resided in the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi, died at the age of
344.
Its death was confirmed to newsmen in Ogbomoso on Thursday by the private secretary to the
monarch, Toyin Ajamu.
Reacting on Friday to the news, Mr Sani in a tweet sighted by Igbere TV wrote:

The longevity of that tortoise symbolises the spirit of resilience and endurance against all
odds and its death was a message to its hosts country.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ShehuSani/status/1180068162970230784
Setting Plans Now For 2023 Is Playing God – Oshiomhole

National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has said that anyone
talking about controlling state power in 2023 was playing God.
He said this on Thursday at a reconciliation meeting with aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders from
Bayelsa State ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, also accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of
facilitating the pasting of fake APC posters for 2023 presidential campaign in order to cause
disaffection in the ruling party, Igbere TV reports.
He also accused the PDP and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) of dragging the judiciary
into politics after it lost at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
“Only those who play god can begin to position themselves now for 2023. We believe that these are the
handiwork of the PDP who thinks that they can create suspicion within the rank of the APC by
nominating for our party who they think or purporting or attempting to print for some elements in our
party whether to create complete diversion,” he said.
“So, I stand here as the National Chairman of the APC not only to deny those posters as they affect me
but to deny those posters as they affect any leader of our party because it is not yet time. Even people
who may have ambition are aware that this is not the time.
“At this point in time, all hands must be on deck to support President Muhammadu Buhari and all our
state governors in their respective states to work together unanimously to deliver deliverables for the
good of our people in the states and at the federal level.”
The chairman condemned Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, for allegedly speaking ill of the
APC governorship candidate in the state, David Lyon.
There’s No Nigerian Leader That Nigerians Don’t Hate – Bishop

Kukah
Speaking at the third annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in
Lagos on Friday, Kukah, a popular crusading cleric, declared that the systematic destruction of policies
by Nigerian leaders was responsible for insecurity in the country.
Speaking on the theme: “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward,” Kukah
insisted that “it is bad governance that is causing insecurity, not the other way round.”
He said: “From the presidency to councils, there is a general belief that things are not working in the
country. Of course, efforts are being made to address insecurity but things are not working. When
things are not working, the economy will not develop.
“We have a situation in which so much opportunity is seen beside so much poverty. That is a tragedy.
“We are pretty clear about our situation. Our situation is not about APC or PDP. It is about the
collective interest of Nigeria.
“Since 1982 when I met former President Shehu Shagari, I have met every leader except General Sani
Abacha for reasons best known to me. There is no Nigerian leader that Nigerians do not hate. That says
something about our system.”
He also accused the military of truncating democracy by not returning to barracks after the civil war
ended in 1970.
“If the military had returned to the barracks in 1970 after the civil war, things would have been better.
The decision by the military to stay after the civil war decapitated the Nigerian political class.
“The military left in 1979, came back in 1983 and eventually left in 1999. By the time it left in 1999,
all the patriotic politicians had grown old. That is why we have some young people who do not have
second address in politics today,” he said.
To boost the economy, he advised the National Assembly to give up half of their salaries running into
millions of naira.
To him, if that is done, thousands of Nigerians would be employed at N92,000 per month.
Governor Ugwuanyi To Deploy Automated Drones For

Surveillance In Enugu
…Approves construction of pedestrian bridges, overlay of major roads in Enugu urban
The Enugu State Executive Council yesterday held its maiden meeting and gave approval for the
purchase of eighteen (18) automated drones for air surveillance within and outside the state for
effective security management.
The council meeting which was chaired by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, according to the
Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, also approved the immediate construction of
three pedestrian bridges in Enugu urban to be located at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, by Holy Ghost
Cathedral, Garki Awkunanaw and Mayor Bus-stop by Agbani Road.
The council also approved the overlay of major roads in Enugu city, which were constructed by past
administrations, as soon as the rains stop as a lasting measure to take care of potholes created during
the rainy season.
Explaining further on the above, Aroh said that the planned overlay of the roads was in addition to the
ongoing repairs of identified potholes in Enugu urban and intercity roads. He added that this is to
ensure that the major roads across Enugu city are sustained.
On security, the information commissioner further disclosed that the council ratified the earlier
approval given by the last State Executive Council on May 28, 2019, approving the purchase of one
hundred (100) Innoson Hilux vans to enhance the capabilities of the security agencies in the state. Aroh
also stated that 260 vehicles as well as motorcycles and bicycles are to be handed over to Forest
Guards, Neighborhood Watch groups, among others, for community policing.
Aroh, who noted that the security vehicles have been supplied, revealed that communication gadgets
and other security facilities are being installed on the vehicles to ensure maximum effectiveness.
He added that the choice of indigenous manufactured vehicles from Innoson Motors demonstrates the
state government’s commitment to encourage local industries, create jobs for teeming youths and
protect local investments.
According to the commissioner, “we have extracted commitment from Innoson Group to establish a
service centre in Enugu, consequent upon this purchase. This service centre is going to provide part of
the technical services for the maintenance of these vehicles, in addition to a one-year maintenance
guarantee that was given to the state government by Innoson Motors in line with our purchase
agreement”.
Aroh said that the state government has now completed the recruitment and training of one thousand,
seven hundred (1,700) Forest Guards, representing one hundred personnel from each local government
area. He added that their salaries and emoluments including other local security groups were
deliberated and approved for them “to move into the field immediately to ensure proper security of
lives and property of the people”.
He stated that the council, following the request made by the governor, approved an increase in the
allowance payable to members of the Neighborhood Watch groups “to boost their morale.”
Children Text Governor Bagudu To Pay Father's Gratuity,
Detained By DSS
Four family members, including a six-month-old baby in Kebbi have sued the Kebbi State Government
and the Departmemt of State Services for alleged illegal arrest and detention for 13 days without trial.
The complainants — Abdulrahman Nasir Jato, Hadiza Nasir Jato, Aisha Zakari and a six-month-old
baby who are residents of Yauri town were arrested and detained from September 1 to 13, by the DSS.
They were arrested in their house by DSS operatives for allegedly sending SMS to Governor Atiku
Bagudu, seeking payment of their father’s gratuity.
The respondents in the case are DSS Kebbi State Command, State Director of DSS, Kebbi State
Government and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
Federal High Court Judge at, Birnin-Kebbi, Justice Bassey Onu Sunday, adjourned the case for ruling,
saying the date will be communicated to all counsels.
7 Journalists Charged With Treason Since 1963

We look into the cases of 7 other Nigerian Journalists alongside with Agba Jalingo from 1947 till date;
with regards to FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION and charges of Treasons meted against them.
Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro
He came into the limelight in 1944 when he was made editor of the Southern Nigerian Defender at the
age of twenty one, becoming the youngest newspaper editor in the history of Nigeria. He was actively
involved into the world of Nigeria journalism till he was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment on
charges of felony and treason in September 1963 when the leadership of his party, Action Group in
1962; was accused of plotting a coup against the federal government and threatened with detention.
Although severally, he has been detained by Federal Government of Nigeria since 1945 as a journalist
on different charges.
Kunle Ajibade
In 1995,Kunle Ajibade was arrest and charged for treason under the administration of Late General
Sani Abacha for having his name appeared on a story titled “Not Guilty – Army Panel Clears Coup
Suspects.” by the newspaper house “TheNews” where he worked as an editor. He was charged for
‘publishing materials which could obstruct the work of the coup plotters tribunal’ and for ‘misleading
the public’. The crime was being “‘as an accessary after the fact of treason” and the punishment was
life in prison. It was the first time journalists would be tried (and convicted) with coup plotters in the
country.
George Mbah of Tell Magazine
On May 5, 1995, barely 18 months after he came out of the hospital after surviving a deadly motor
accident from one of his trip to interview one of the running mate of 1992 Presidential Election. George
was arrested in the Lagos premises of Tell magazine by soldiers from the Directorate of Military
Intelligence (DMI) alongside with other jounalists.Althouugh there were no definite reason for his
arrest except for the coup plot against the then military regime. On August 1995,He bagged 15 years
Jail term alongside with Kunle Ajibade
Chris Anyanwu of The Sunday Magazine
Christiana “Chris” Anyanwu MFR (born 28 October 1951) is a Nigerian journalist, publisher, author,
and politician. She was imprisoned from 1995 to 1998 for treason after reporting on a failed coup d’état
against the government of Sani Abacha. In May 1995,Anyanwu was arrested following the publication
of a story about a failed coup d’état against the government of Sani Abacha, whom she had refused to
endorse as president. She was sentence to life imprisonment by the then life military regime; but after
much pressure from international community, it was reduced to 15 years. Following the death of Gen
SANI Abachi,She was release by the administration of General Abdulsalam Abubakar on health
ground.
Ben Obi of the Weekend Classique was also arrested alongside with George Mbah, Chris Anyanwu,
Kunle Ajibade.
6. Omoyele Sowore is a Nigeria journalist and also 2019 presidential candidate for African Action
Congress. On Aug 4, 2019 was arrested on the charges of treason for planning revolution protest in
Nigeria. Later,he was granted bail today after several denial on the whooping amount of 100millions
Naira and other requirements.
[b]Agba Jalingo[/b]is the publisher of Cross River Watch and he is currently facing charges of
terrorism, treasonable felony and attempt to topple the Cross River State government. Although he
pleaded “Not Guilty” for the charges against him. Until the very time of filing this report, he was
denied bail today after attempt by his legal team.
There have been several campaigns going on with the regards to unlawful arrest of Mr Agba Jalingo.
Nigeria, South Africa To Issue 10yr Visa To Businessmen,

Academics
Following successful conclusion of the 9th Bi-National Commission of South Africa and Nigeria
meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, which was elevated to the level of heads of state, both countries
have agreed on issuing 10-year visas to businessmen, academics and frequent travelers.
According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, the
agreement was reached in a meeting co-chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari and President Cyril
Ramaphosa of South Africa, which was the first time both presidents will preside since the Bi-National
Commission was elevated.
The decision was taken to encourage more people-to-people contacts among citizens of both
countries and further strengthen socio-cultural, economic and political relations.
Both countries also agreed to re-establish the consular forum, which is a structured arrangement
where both governments meet regularly, at least twice in a year, to discuss welfare of citizens.
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and South African Minister of
International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, signed the minutes of the 9th session
of Bi-National Commission.
Chido Onumah: "I Am Aisha Yesufu, I Am A Biafran, We All

Are Biafrans"
The Convener of #Bringbackourgirls, Aisha Yusuf, has told the Department of State Security Services,
DSS, and President Muhammadu Buhari that "we are all Biafrans", Igbere TV reports.
Yusuf was reacting over the arrest of a Nigerian Journalist, Mr. Chido Onumah by the department.
Onumah, a Nigerian journalist and rights activist who was arrested and detained by the Department of
State Services on Sunday evening, revealed that he was arrested for wearing a T-shirt with the
inscription: ‘We Are All Biafrans'.
Igbere TV had reported that Onumah, who was arrested by DSS operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
Airport in Abuja, was detained for hours.
Speaking over the arrest, Yusuf said what we have is Political DSS.
She noted that the Vice president of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was present during the time the
journalist launched a book entitled "We Are All Biafrans".
She revealed that she is a Biafran too and the DSS can never shut her down to stop talking about
President Muhammadu Buhari’s that has failed in all ramifications.
"DSS picked Chudo Onumah at the airport apparently because he was wearing a t-shirt that says "We
Are All Biafrans".
"Are we not all Biafrans? Are we not refuges right now in our country? So, DSS that is supposed to be
an intelligent gathering organization, protecting Nigeria, picks up a man, wearing a t-shirt that says we
are all Biafrans, a man who wrote a book with the same title that the vice president was at the book
launch. For what? Is it this same DSS that we rely on to gather information? Is it this the same DSS that
we rely on to arrest Boko Haram leader, Shekau?".
She further lambasted the DSS and claimed that with the way they are going, they won't be able to curb
the insecurity in the country.
She add that everyone is a Biafran including her.
" In case you don't know, my name is Aisha Yusuf, I am a Biafran, we are all Biafrans. We are not
living in our country, we are merely surviving and we deserve better"
N8bn scam: Court orders EFCC to produce 106

boxes containing stolen money -
TheNigerialawyer
A Federal High Court in Ibadan, on Friday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to produce the 106 boxes, containing the N900 million allegedly stolen by two workers of
Zenith bank PLC.
NAN reports that the EFCC charged Bolade Ajuwan and Samuel Ogbiede alongside six Central Bank
officials.
Specifically, the apex bank employees were alleged to have compromised the CBN’s Briquette
exercise, by stealing huge sums of mutilated higher denomination Naira currencies meant to be
exchanged for new notes.
The other bankers allegedly acted as accomplices to the crime and also helped themselves to a sizeable
chunk of the money.
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, gave the order after an EFCC witness, Saliu Kadir ,
testified alongside two CBN officials; Kolawole Babalola and Muniru Olaniran.
The EFCC said that each of the 106 boxes was meant to contain N10 million of N1000 denomination,
instead, they were found to be containing interleaves and lower denominations such as N100, N50, N20
and even ordinary papers.
The judge adjourned the case until Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 for continuation of trial. (NAN)
States, LG Get 85% Of VAT, Nigerians Should Demand
Accountability - CITN
Amid outcry over the proposed increase of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5 per cent, President,
Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Olajumoke Simplice has urged Nigerians to demand
accountability from their states and local governments who get a total of 85 per cent of the VAT.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 6th CITN Tax Conference (South West) held in Ibadan, with the
theme, “Taxation and Social Justice: The Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders,” she explained
that state governments get 50 per cent from each VAT paid, local governments get 35 per cent
share while the Federal Government gets 15 per cent.
Pointing out that VAT was solely taxing on consumption, she bemoaned the failure of Nigerians to ask
the government for accountability for the VAT collected over the years.
“The good thing about VAT is that it is not general; it is what you buy, you consume. It is consumption
tax; that is, it is when you consume that you pay. It is also a way of telling us to act on your needs, not
on your wants. I believe it is the easiest way of the distribution of wealth from the rich to the poor.
“The people should do their part first and then ask for accountability. From the VAT, only 15 per cent
goes to the federal government; 50 per cent goes to the state government and 35 per cent goes to the
local government.
“So the bulk of the money goes to the state and local government; Federal Government only takes 15
per cent as the cost of collection. It is the people’s duty to ask for accountability.
“Take for example the Agbekoya issue, in the Western region. The government said the people must
pay additional tax and the people refused.
“The people maintained that before they can pay additional tax, the government must fix the road to
their farms. This became big issues such that soldiers were drafted leading to a clash between the
soldiers and farmers. But at the end of the day, reason prevailed. The good roads in the Western region
were the roads built in those days,” Simplice said.
Arguing that 5 per cent VAT rate in Nigeria was 25 years old, was among the least globally, she held
that an increase in VAT was long overdue.
Rather than the opposition against VAT increase from 5 to 7.5 per cent, Simplice said attention
should be diverted to calls for a reduction in income tax, Pay As You Earn (PAYE).
“The VAT increment should have happened so many years ago; it is long overdue. The tax act came
into being in 1993 but it did not take effect until 1994. Back then, it was advocated that we start with
five per cent and increase it subsequently.
“But 25 years down the line, nothing has been done. In 2007, an attempt was made, it was scuttled;
earlier this year, attempt was made, it was scuttled. But you cannot play the ostrich. Our tax rate is the
lowest globally apart from Bahrain and two other countries.
“So, if you are playing in the comity of professionals, financial world, you have to play along with the
globe. You cannot have five per cent when Benin republic is having 18 per cent. We are saying it is
good we increase the rate of VAT.
“But, in our clime, we are also saying that something has to give way. We are calling for a
reduction in income tax from about 30 per cent to 20 per cent; and reduction in the rate of PAYE
from the highest of 24 per cent to about 17 per cent,” Simplice said.
Other speakers at the event also stressed the need for increased sensitisation of Nigerians on why an
increase in VAT had become imperative.
Lead International Tax and Regulatory, Deloitte, Asiata Agboluaje stressed the Nigerians to demand
accountability of their government, while urging the government to judiciously use the revenue they
collect.
Agboluaje also harped on the need for regular update of taxpayer database, regular review of tax
policies, and that tax payers should be treated equally.
She also called for the full deployment of Information technology in revenue collection by the relevant
tax authorities.
A tax consultant, Mr Albert Folorunsho urged the government to bring down the high cost of
doing business by removing cumbersome start-up processes and providing basic social amenities.
He emphasized the need for the government to introduce presumptive tax and collaborate with
stakeholders in taxation while urging tax authorities to remove impediments to voluntary
compliance.
In enforcing collection, Folorunso said the focus should be on high taxpayers/high-income

earners.
Though he expressed pessimism at the intent of the government to prosecute and jail tax evaders,
a discussant, Tayo Okugbenro urged the government to establish tax court to prosecute tax
evaders.
Another tax consultant, Akinyele Oladeji bemoaned the failure of the federal and states government to
bring the informal sector into the tax net so as to boost their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He urged states and the Federal Government to be innovative, come up with incentives to ensure that
everyone in the formal and informal sector pays their taxes.
"Buhari called for mass action in 2003,

revolution in 2011, but not arrested," Falana
tells court
Counsel to Sowore, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, on Friday told the court that President Muhammadu Buhari
had in 2003 after he lost election under the defunct ANPP decided to stage protest all over the country
and was never arrested or prosecuted.
Falana also stated that current leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, including president
Buhari had in 2011, called for the kind of revolution that took place in Egypt, which he said was
violent, Vanguard reports.
He noted that in the instant case, Sowore had specifically warned his followers not to engage in any
form of violence but to protest peacefully.
Falana also noted that the only time some youths were arrested for using the term “Revolution” was in
1948 under the colonial era, noting however that they were not charged with treason but with sedition.
Sowore, through his lead counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, argued that FG has failed to give any cogent
reason why he should not be released on bail pending his trial.
He argued that since he is presumed innocent by virtue of section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, the onus
was on FG to establish why he should remain in detention.
Falana argued that despite the allegation that Sowore planned to overthrow the government of Nigeria
by staging a protest tagged RevolutionNow, FG failed to adduce any evidence to substantiate the
charge
“We submit that the use of the word Revolution is not a criminal offence in Nigeria and it has never
been criminalized. Hence, President Buhari called for a revolution and was never arrested or
prosecuted”.
On count-two of the charge that bordered on the allegation that Sowore insulted President Buhari,
Falana argued that under the law, no public office is allowed to use the machinery of the state to settle
scores with his opponent.
“If the President feels offended by any statement made by the 1st defendant, the only option open to
him into sue for libel.
He said the Court of Appeal, in its judgement in 2008, upheld the right of Nigerians to protest against
the government without firstly security Police permit. He further argued that the allegation of money
laundering was not enough to deny the defendants bail, “when those that stole billions have all been
granted bail”.
He argued that whereas Dokubo admitted in his own statement that he was involved in the blowing up
of pipelines in the Niger Delta, Sowore never admitted that he committed any offence in his own
statement. Falana, therefore, urged the court to grant Sowore bail on self recognizance describing him
as “a political leader”.
More so, he drew the attention of the court that Sowore was earlier granted bail on the condition that he
would deposit his international passport with the Registrar.
Meanwhile, after she had listened to both sides, trial Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu stood down to rule on the
bail applications.
Sowore who is the publisher of an online media platform, Sahara Reporters, was arrested after he called
for a nationwide protest against perceived maladministration
October 05
Senator Akpabio Orders Suspension Of Employment In NDDC

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has directed that the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC), suspends forthwith any employment exercise into the
Commission, Igbere TV reports.
In a statement made available to Igbere TV on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Honourable
Minister, Anietie Ekong, the Minister also directed the suspension of handing over of appointment
letters, documentation and all other processes connected to employment into the Commission.
He noted that tSenator Akpabio gave this directive in a letter issued by the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack to the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC,
Dr Akwagaga Enyia.
According to the Ministerial directive, the Commission’s pay roll should not accommodate any new
employees and should revert to the status quo as at August 31, 2019, while he should be furnished
within three days with a detailed report of any employment exercise being undertaken by the
Commission.
The letter said the suspension exercise is to subsist until a due process evaluation of the purported
exercise is carried out by the Ministry in consultation with the two NDDC Committees of the National
Assembly and sought prompt action of the Acting Managing Director on the matter.
Sub-standard Bridge Built By Rt Hon Nnamdi Collapses Barely
After One Year
This bridge is APGA's constituency project attracted by the Majority Leader of Anambra state House of
Assembly, Rt Hon Nnamdi Okafor, representing Awka South I.
He commissioned this bridge on December 18, 2018. Just last year and it has collapsed.
https://www.news9naija.com.ng/2019/10/04/sub-standard-bridge-built-by-rt-hon-nnamdi-collapses-
barely-after-one-year/
Harrysong: Governor Dickson Of Bayelsa Ruling Like Idi Amin
Of Uganda
Harry song who hails from Niger Delta part of Nigeria is one of the leading musicians in Africa with so
many hit songs.
He was recently in Bayelsa state to carry out his “King Maker Concert” and was recently spotted
crying on video in his IG Story, begging the world to call Governor Dickson to order due to the
poverty, suffering rate and violence he experienced during his visit to Bayelsa for his concert.
Watch the video Below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kePMcaQvvuI
Akeredolu Gives N100,000 Cash Each To South African

Returnees
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, on Friday, presented cash gifts of N100,000
to each of the South African returnees of Ondo origin for resettlement activities in their
various communities.
Akeredolu, who received the returnees in his office also promised to give necessary support and
provide an enabling environment for the returnees to start new lives.
Represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, the governor particularly condemned the xenophobic attacks
on Nigerians and other nationals living in South Africa by the indigenes.
He described the attacks as unwarranted, barbaric and condemnable.
Akeredolu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his visit to South Africa to condemn the ugly
incident and find a lasting solution to it.
He charged the returnees not to be discouraged by what had happened to them but to be ready to start a
new life as they returned safely to Nigeria, their fatherland.
Chibok Atacked By Boko Haram, Many Houses On Fire

Boko Haram insurgents are currently burning houses in Mifa, a village in Chibok local government
area of Borno state.
A resident told TheCable that the insurgents arrived at the village in large numbers around 8pm, and
immediately began to set houses ablaze.
“They are burning houses as I speak to you, many of them arrived with motorcycles and started
attacking the village,” the source said.
“Many houses have been burnt.”
More to follow…
2023 Presidency splits Tinubu, Osinbajo - Sunnews

•Probe absolves VP, indicts some aides
•All issues being resolved –VP’s office
Notwithstanding public appearances and statements to the contrary, political permutations and
maneuvering for the 2023 presidential race may have finally come between the national leader of the
ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President, Prof Yemi
Osinbajo.
This became glaring following some developments in the presidency, which appeared to have reduced
the influence of the VP within government. About three weeks ago, government agencies under the
supervision of Vice President Osinbajo were directed to be seeking their approvals from the President,
and same period, the Prof. Doyin Salami-led economic advisory council was set up to replace the
Osinbajo-led economic management team. A presidential directive sacking the VP’s aides from the
villa capped that; they are now to operate from a rented apartment in the Abuja metropolis.
While there have been many political interpretations given to the gathering storm, ranging from alleged
complicity in some activities to attempts to shove him aside or whittle down his influence ahead of
2023, Saturday Sun gathered exclusively that the storm the VP is battling against is three-pronged.
Trouble began for the brilliant professor of law when some officials working with him were fingered in
the purchase of some houses abroad especially the United States. It was learnt that in all, the VP has
about 80 officials as aides. With the exception of a few, most of the aides were being paid salaries by
agencies under the supervision of the Vice President’s office.
A probe of the development was said to have absolved Osinbajo of any complicity in the activities of
some of the indicted aides. This, those opposed to the VP in APC, government and within the
opposition ranks twisted against him.
Presidential sources disclosed that this was responsible for the decision to relocate over 70 officials
working with the VP from Aso Rock villa to a rented apartment within the capital city as well as the
issuance of the directive to seek President Buhari’s approval by certain agencies under the direct
supervision of the VP.
For Osinbajo and Tinubu, the relationship started going down south when the APC leader and former
governor of Lagos state began to get feelers that the number two citizen might equally be nursing the
ambition to succeed his boss in 2023. The latter is believed to have nominated the former for his
current position in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election. Some persons close to Tinubu were said
to have made some snipe remarks about the suspected ambition of the VP to the hearing of security
agents in an open discussion at the 11th Bola Tinubu birthday colloquium held March in Abuja, an
incident that later became part of a security report on the programme.
It was further gathered that Tinubu has not been too pleased with the VP because he has not been
consulting him on a number of issues, while “some of their people in government like the FIRS man
have been working more towards the political ambition of the VP than that of Asiwaju.” The APC
leader was said to have been restrained by friends and aides from releasing a press statement endorsing
recent presidential actions viewed as whittling down the VP’s influence before jetting out to London
over a week ago.
He equally has a Buhari ally and former governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to contend
with. All the major federal political appointments going to Ogun since the inauguration of President
Buhari’s second term in May had been clinched by persons nominated by Amosun. For instance,
Amosun’s childhood friend and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure during his eight-year term
as governor of Ogun, Olamilekan Adegbite, was recently appointed the Minister of Mine and Steel
Development.
Amosun has also succeeded in pushing his ally, Adeleke Moronfolu Adewolu, to be appointed as the
Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Engagement, at the Nigerian Communications Commission. He
replaced Sunday Dare, who is now the Minister of Youths and Sports Development. Adewolu had
contested but lost the House of Representatives seat in Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency on the
platform of APM, a party openly supported by Amosun. In addition, Amosun has been able to push for
his former Commissioner for Agric and Urban and Physical Planning, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, to be
appointed as the chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Three weeks ago, President Buhari constituted an economic advisory council and named Prof Doyin
Salami as chairman. Salami, from Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, is Amosun’s close friend. Few days before his
appointment, he was in Owo, Ondo state with Amosun for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s daughter’s
wedding ceremony.
Meanwhile, a top official in the VP’s office, who preferred anonymity, told Saturday Sun “ The vice
president can’t be seen to be a local champion. Yes, his camp produced the governor of Ogun State and
you must also remember that Amosun’s relationship with the president predates the APC. They were
together in ANPP and, since the vice president’s camp has produced the governor, it was only fair that
Amosun’s camp nominate for other appointments. Appointments are at the president’s discretion.”
Asked why Tinubu is yet to publicly defend Osinbajo, the official replied: “People are free to make
extrapolations based on their interests. Besides, some of these issues are better sorted locally. Now, let’s
remember that whenever (former President Jonathan) Goodluck had any issues with Sambo, did they
discuss it publicly? Any issue will still be resolved locally.”
Speaking on record however, Senior Technical Assistant on Media to the Vice President, Louis Odion
denied some aides were indicted in any probe set up by the presidency. He said: “I think President
Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo deserve not to be distracted in their efforts to
find solutions to our numerous national problems with rumour mongering like this.
“I am glad you said a panel set up absolved the Vice President. I don’t know of any secret probe. I only
know of a committee of the House of Representatives that looked into the funds spent by NEMA and it
came out with a report that the Vice President was above board. You need to understand that Professor
Osinbajo is a man of impeccable integrity who is very loyal to his boss and has the fear of God and
whose guiding principle in public office is to serve the interest of the greatest number. To answer your
question directly, I am not aware of any secret probe of any of his aides or their indictment.”
While also responding to the issue of some VP aides being paid salaries by agencies under the office,
Odion said “I doubt if such is impossible. You need to understand that it is a single presidency. We all
are appointees of President Buhari. Civil servants are under the head of service while the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation signs letters of employment for political appointees. It is only after
you are engaged that you get deployed in the office, department or agency where your service is
needed. Salaries are paid through a unified system. In fact, through reforms introduced by the Buhari
administration, tens of thousand of ghost workers have been weeded out of the system. This was
achieved through the integrated payroll system.”
Reacting to the removal of 70 out of the over 80 aides working with the VP from the Villa, Odion said:
“I think President Muhammadu Buhari offered sufficient clarity to this in his October 1 national
broadcast. The government thought it necessary to create a new ministry to respond to new realities and
dynamics. I think there is a consensus today that the social investment programme, which has been
supervised by Vice President Osinbajo in the last three years, has been quite impactful and beneficial to
a large segment of our population. “The TraderMoni and MarketMoni initiatives have benefitted more
than two million Nigerians. The school feeding programme has touched more than 10 million pupils in
public schools across the country.
Also, the conditional cash transfer has offered succour directly to more than 600,000 vulnerable
Nigerians.
“These programmes were incubated and nurtured under the Vice President. Until now, these initiatives
were more like interventionist. Now, what President Buhari has done is to try and institutionalise them.
To this end, a ministry has been created called Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management
and Social Development. So, the implication is that officers or aides as you call them, whose duties or
responsibilities pertain to the agencies I earlier mentioned, are to be moved to another location where
the ministry is constituted.”
FFK: Rivers, Change Port Harcourt Name, Here Is Why
Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, FFK, has give reason why Rivers State needs to
change the name of their capital from Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State capital was named after a British man named Lord Lewis Vernon Harcourt.
According to FFK, the man was a pedophile who doesn’t deserve to have a city named after him.
He tweeted:
Lord Frederick Lugard and wife Flora Shaw gave Nigeria her name. The meaning of the
word "NIGERIA" from the latin word "NIGER" (meaning "BLACK" is "BLACK AREA,
AREA OF DARKNESS OR BLACK SPOT". Most African nations changed their names
after independence. Sadly Nigeria did not.
Minimum Wage: FG, Workers’ Face-off Worsens As Labour
Rejects Sack Option
•Says threat to downsize cheap blackmail
•Ngige: the times call for sacrifice
Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
Organised labour on Friday dismissed as cheap blackmail a statement by the Minister of Labour and
Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, that the Federal Government might lay off some workers in the public
service should labour insist on having its way on the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage.
The Secretary, Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Alade Lawal, told The
Nation that labour would not be cowed by such threat.
He also faulted claim by Ngige that government would require N580 billion annually to pay workers
the minimum wage across board as demanded by labour.
“As far as we are concerned, anybody talking about retrenchment is blackmail. It is just cheap
blackmail,” Lawal said.
He added: “We don’t subscribe to that. If they like, let them come to the negotiation table so that we
can reach an agreement and implement so that everybody can move on. If they like, let them leave it.
“They will say they can’t meet labour’s demand because they are not doing their homework. How will
they say it is not feasible (to meet labour’s demand?).
“The figure they are parading is not correct. They don’t need N580 billion. They don’t need it to
implement the minimum wage.
“The number of employees in the federal public service is not up to one million. They say it is 1.33
million. Let them disaggregate it and tell Nigerians. Break it down and let us do verification.
“The component part of these 1.33 million employees they are talking about is the consolidated public
salary structure which majorly is domiciled under the IPPIS platform.
“As we speak, the employees there are not up to 70,000. They said in their own papers they are using
for negotiation is 183,000. Where do they get all those things from?
“Because you want to negotiate something now you come to negotiation table and you start playing
with figures. It is so sad. They think they are talking to the labour of pre-independence. Some of them
are just lucky to be there. It is not that they are better than some of us.”
He said the government team negotiating the consequential adjustment on minimum wage was yet to
reach out to labour to tell them when negotiation would resume.
Lawal insisted that labour would not back down on its percentage increase demand from government
for workers on levels 7-14 and levels 15-17.
“Up till now, they have not reached out to us. They are the owners of the knife and they also have the
yam with them, so they can do it the way they like. But if this is the way we want to run our country,
then I am sorry, because we have a long way to go.
“You know where we started from. We started from 66.66 per cent across board because the minimum
wage was increased from N18,000 to N30,000, an increase of 66.66 per cent.
“So we said apply that across board. They cried that the federal government would not be able to pay.
For levels 7-14, we came down to 50 per cent. Then for levels 15-17, 40 per cent, but they said they
cannot pay.
“We came down again for levels 7-14, 40 per cent and levels 15-17 30 per cent. They cried loud and
said they could not pay. We came down again; levels 7-14, 35 per cent, levels 15-17 30 per cent. Again,
they said they cannot pay. We came down again. Levels 7-14, 30 per cent, levels 15-17, 25 per cent, yet
they said they cannot pay before we came down to this 29 per cent for levels 7-14 and 24 per cent for
levels 15-17.
“To start talking about going down now will make us look unserious; that is the meaning.”
Lawal also said labour was not sure if President Muhammadu Buhari had been properly briefed on the
stalemate.
He said: “Now they are not telling Mr. President the truth. That is my worry. “Truly, they are his aides.
“If we cannot reach him, they are the ones that will reach him. And if we say it is A and they go to him
and say it is B, since he has not put on the table the machinery to fact-check most of the things they are
telling him, it will be difficult. That is the tragedy of the whole situation. It is very, very sad.”
He also said that all the promises made by government after the fuel price increase from N87 to N145
are yet to be fulfilled.
His words: “Let me explain one thing to you: when fuel price was increased from N87 to N145, an
increase of about 60 per cent, the landing cost of fuel was less than N100 at that time.
“They raked in a lot of money; trillions of naira. They promised heaven and earth, social intervention.
What did they do for workers? Nothing.
“For the fuel price increase from N87 to N145, they set up a palliative committee to placate labour, to
ensure that we didn’t go on strike. I served on that committee and we made far-reaching
recommendations.
“Labour was not given anything. Whereas, to placate us, they said that they had earmarked N600
billion for intervention that we should just come and meet and discuss how we were going to apply that
N600 billion across the various sectors, including adding something to workers’ salaries in the area of
transport.
“All the recommendations that we made, they didn’t do anything; not a single thing. At the negotiation
table, they said they didn’t say so. Is that seriousness?
“Again, as at 2011 when the last increase was effected, dollar was 150 to the naira. Now it is 350. In
effect, what you are saying is that if the foreign exchange receipt of the Federal Government is $20
billion, at 150 to a dollar, you know how much government will get to spend.
“Then at N360, that’s a difference of two hundred and something naira. You have a basket full of naira.
“Now you are spending on the so called infrastructure, you are spending on the sectors of the economy,
you are answering to the greed of the political elite; those who are making the wealth for the
government you kept them, you didn’t do anything. How can somebody now come in 2019 when all
these things have happened within the national economy?
“Even on this VAT thing they are talking about, they are saying they are going to rake in trillions of
naira; on this VAT increase that they have not even done something for workers.”
Workers should ignore Ngige – TUC
Speaking separately in Enugu on Friday on the issue, the Enugu State Chairman of the Trade Union
Congress (TUC), Mr. Chukwuma Igbokwe, asked workers to ignore Ngige’s statement that government
could not pay the new minimum wage unless some workers were laid off.
According to him, Ngige probably did not know what he was saying when he said that government
could not afford to pay the consequential salary adjustment unless the workforce was downsized.
He said that government could pay N580 billion workers wage bill, pointing out that government had
already paid N500 billion on arrears of salary.
“I don’t think Ngige knows what he is saying,” the labour leader said.
He said that the organised labour had made it clear that upward increment in worker’s salary became
necessary because of the prevailing economic realities in the country such as the increase in monetary
foreign exchange, VAT as well as general high cost of living in the country.
“Labour has been magnanimous in scaling down their demand from 66.6 per cent to 29 per cent and 24
per cent, and for this reason, government should heed their demand,” Igbokwe said.
Ngige: The times call for sacrifice
A statement issued by Ngige’s Special Adviser on Media, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, yesterday, quoted the
minister as asking workers to make some sacrifice for the country.
It also described the minister’s warning about the consequences of meeting labour’s demand as
patriotic.
The statement said: “The statement made by the minister yesterday (Thursday) concerning the
consequential adjustment on the minimum wage is patriotic.
“Government has promised a thorough ventilation of all issues.
“When negotiation resumes government is going to open its books for labour to see the federal
government income and expenditure.
“The times call for sacrifice.”
Receiving a delegation of the United Labour Congress (ULC) led by its President, Mr. Joe Ajeiro, on
Thursday, Ngige had said that the implantation of the new minimum wage based on figures worked out
by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) was not sustainable.
Government, according to him, does not want a situation where it will have to lay off workers, as doing
so will add to the burden of the citizenry.
Ngige appealed to labour to accept the consequential adjustment from levels 7 to 17, adding that the
federal government had only three months left to implement the new minimum wage.
He said: “Government cannot afford that kind of money now. Besides, the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari is more interested in the lowest cadre of workers which are those on grade level 1
step 1 and level 6 step 1. These are the ones who the N30,000 will have greater impact on.
“Government has done their own homework and brought out what they can use to defend this
consequential adjustment. Grade 1 to 6 does not have any problem, but 7 to 14 band and 15 to 17 band,
this is where we have the problem.
“So if you push government to go and accede to an increment which its resources cannot
accommodate, you are indirectly asking them to retrench workers so that the few that are remaining
will get this ‘big big’ money. We don’t want that.
“From 2015 the president has made it clear that he is not out to inflict pains on Nigerians and that he
does not want to create unemployment.
“But even at that our increase in population is galloping and our resources are not consequentially
increasing to meet up. That is why we have a lot of unemployed youths on the streets today.
“We need to arrive at an agreement as soon as possible so that we can use the 2019 budget allocation to
defray this consequential adjustment because it will be bad if we are unable to do it and we finish this
financial year by December because the budget circle is going to return to January/December 2020.
“So we have three months only before this recurrent fund are swept back into government treasury.
That is the law.”
He regretted the inability of the joint negotiating team of both the government and labour to agree on
the consequential adjustments, insisting that the new wage may become bloated by workers on grade
levels 7-14 and 15-17.
Organised labour is already mobilising its members to embark on strike on the 16th of this month.
Army Neutralizes Boko Haram Terrorists, 2 AK-47 Rifles, 2

Bicycles Recovered
Troops of Special Response Area(SRA) Pulka under the NA Super Camp Gwoza, in collaboration with
Civilian Joint Task Force have neutralised three (3) Boko Haram terrorists in a successful in Maiduguri.
The Nigerian Army made this known in a statement on Friday.
In the statement shared on its official Twitter page, it said the neutralization members of the Boko
Haram and the death of one of the terrorists came following credible information from some patriotic
Nigerians about terrorists movement along Banki Road Junction, Pulka in Gwoza general area.
The information prompted the troops of SRA, Pulka under the NA Super Camp Gwoza, in
collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) conducted a successful night ambush on Thu 3 Oct
2019, which resulted in the neutralization of 3 terrorists, recovery of 2 AK 47 Rifles and 2 X bicycles.
It was gathered that unconfirmed number of terrorists were reportedly wounded during the ambush.
There is no casualty on the NA or Civilian JTF.
Similarly, at about 2250 hours on 3rd October 2019, in what seems like a reprisal attack to avenge the
lost of their members in the ambush conducted by the troops, some marauders/criminals woefully
attacked the Delta Company Location of the SRA at Pulka.
Consequently, troops swiftly responded by effectively repelling the attack, one bandit lost his life and
one Ak 47 rifle was recovered. No casualty was recorded by the Civ JTF or the troops.
Commending the troops, the Acting GOC 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA
DOLE Brig Gen AK Ibrahim urged them to remain committed and unwavering in the struggle to end
the insurgency soon.
Mohammed Abubakar Sold N150m Armoured SUV To Himself

For N7.8m – Bauchi Panel
The Bauchi State Government Funds and Assets Recovery Committee has alleged that the immediate
past governor, Mohammed Abubakar, sold to himself seven luxury government vehicles for
N19,877,275 shortly before leaving the office.
The state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, had inaugurated the committee on July 12, 2019, with
the mandate to recover all government funds and assets carted away by officials of the former
administration.
Speaking at a press conference at the VIP 9 in Bauchi, the Public Relations Officer 1 of the committee,
Alhaji Umar Ningi, flanked by other members, said the committee operated within the ambit of the
laws of the federation and other enabling laws enacted by the state House of Assembly in the discharge
of its duties.
Ningi alleged that of the seven luxury cars the governor sold to himself, one of them, a Landcruiser
Armoured Jeep worth N150m, with chassis number JTMHX09J9F4089580, was auctioned at the cost
of N7.8m.
“This is a car you can get for about N150m, but the former governor, Mohammed Abubakar, sold it to
himself for just N7.8m,” he said.
He said it was in violation of the provisions of the Bauchi State Budget Monitoring, Price Intelligence
and Public Procurement Law (2008).
He said, “Other vehicles are: Landcruiser V8, with chassis number JTMHX09J8D4050814, sold at
N2.8m; Toyota Hilux, with chassis number MROFX22G2F1436641, sold at the cost of N1.05m; and a
Toyota Hilux, with chassis number MROFX22G701415100, sold at N1.05m.
“Others are a Range Rover SUV, with chassis number SALWA2VF3EA366819, sold at the cost of
N2.9m; Range Rover SUV, with chassis number SALLSAAD4DA800170, sold at the cost of N2.1m;
and Range Rover SUV, with chassis number SALLSAAD4DA81373, sold at the cost of N2.1m.”
Ningi added that officials of the last administration carted away 30 exotic cars when they left office,
adding that the committee recovered 15 of the vehicles while the remaining were being traced.
According to Ningi, the committee also discovered that the former governor initiated a transaction and
sold to himself a house with a Certificate of Occupancy No. BA/40245, located adjacent to Wikki
Hotel, belonging to Bauchi State Government, at a highly subsidised rate.
In a media statement to journalists via WhatsApp on Friday, the former Special Adviser to Abubakar,
Ali M. Ali, however justified the actions of his boss.
He said it was lawful for any government official to purchase any vehicle that had been used for more
than three years.
Ali said, “Our attention has been drawn to the rehash of the several ‘sins’ of former Governor of
Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar while in office and presented as ‘fresh’ evidence of his corruption
and abuse of office.”
He continued: “These are gross distortions. The law provides that users of government vehicles that
have been in use for upwards of three years are at liberty to purchase them.
“The vehicles in question have been in use for more than four years. The law provides that they can be
sold at 10 per cent of the book value. It is, therefore, perplexing that the committee is alleging foul play
here.
“As a matter of fact, the Hilux vehicles that constituted the former governor’s convoy had engine
change due to wear and tear associated with convoy duties.”
2023 Presidency: Nothing Wrong If North Retains Power - ACF,

CNG
But the ACF and CNG insisted that there is nothing wrong in political parties fielding northern
candidates for the 2023 presidential election.
The two prominent northern groups denied the existence of any national consensus as regards the issue
of zoning or rotational presidency.
Speaking to Saturday Tribune in separate interviews, the Secretary General of the ACF, Mr Anthony
Sani, said the North reserved the right to drum up support for its preferred contenders in a multiparty
democracy like Nigeria’s which, he noted, gave only political parties the exclusive right to present
candidates for elective offices.
“No groups outside political parties can present candidates for elective offices. And in the absence of a
national consensus on rotation and zoning of political offices like the offices of the president, vice
president and governor and deputy governor, political parties are at liberty to design their game plans
which include which zone their presidential candidates and their sidekicks will come from.
“I say there is no national consensus on rotation and zoning that is binding on political parties. There is
no such national consensus. General [Muhammadu] Buhari would not have contested against President
[Olusegun] Obasanjo in 2003 and [former] President [Goodluck] Jonathan would not have contested
against Buhari in 2011 and in 2015.
“You will also notice that in the 2019 general election, presidential candidates were fielded by political
parties from both the North and the South.
“And since ACF is not a political party which can present candidates for elective offices, the forum is
not in a position to discourage any groups from canvassing for their preferences in a multiparty
democracy which Nigeria practises.
“Therefore, ultimately, it would be the majority of Nigerian voters who will elect the president,” the
ACF scribe declared.
Speaking in the vein, the president of the CNG, Shettima Yarima, said his group wanted the North to
retain power beyond 2023, after which it would be expected to form an alliance with the South East so
that Igbos could assume power in 2027.
Shettima said that since the return of democracy in 1999, the South had ruled the country for 15 years,
while the North had only ruled for five years.
He said: “Even by the time Buhari completes his eight-year tenure, the North would have ruled for nine
years. And if we cede power to the South in 2023 they would now have ruled for 24 years or more if
they are to leave in 2027.
“For justice, equity and fairness, the North should be allowed to rule beyond 2023 even if it is for one
term. We can now partner or form a strong alliance with the South East for them to produce the
president in 2027.
“To us, the issue of rotation is not constitutional and must be jettisoned by all well-meaning Nigerians,”
he declared.
El-Rufai: My Child Will Remain In Public School Despite
Kidnapping Threat
Gov. Nasiru el-Rufa’i of Kaduna State says his child will remain in public school in spite the reported
invasion of the state by kidnappers and Boko Haram elements.
El-Rufa’i stated this while reacting to the abduction of six students and two teachers at the Engrave’s
College in Kakau Daji area of Kaduna State on Wednesday.
The governor, who spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, said his child should not
be safer or more protected than any other child in the state.
“My child should not be safer or more protected than any other child in Kaduna State. I took an oath of
office to protect everyone and my child is just only one of the two million children we have in Kaduna
state primary schools and I have no intention of reviewing that.
“For me taking my child to a government school was not only a commitment I made but a clear
expression that I have enough confidence in the quality of our public schools for my child to attend.
“We have already given directives that all the staff of our Ministry of Education who are in charge of
managing our education system must have their own children in government schools,’’ he said
On the abducted persons, the governor said the state government, parents and guardians of the victims
as well as security agencies were doing everything possible to secure their release.
Read Also: 2019: How to keep Kaduna calm

El-Rufa’I dismissed the insinuation that parents were withdrawing their wards from schools following
the reported abduction of the students and teachers at the Engrave’s College in Kakau Daji.
The governor disclosed that the kidnappers had made contact with the parents of the students,
demanding for ransom.
According to him, the state government has assembled the affected parents and the relations of the
teachers in one place.
He said this was to ensure one line of communication with the kidnappers to facilitate speedy release of
the victims, adding that the state government had no intention of paying ransom to the kidnappers.
“We got intelligent report of the likelihood of this danger three months ago. Like I said, we put in place
measures that I don’t want to go into details.
“But any bandit that comes to Kaduna to try to do this has a very high chance of getting killed, that is
all I can say; very high chance of getting killed,’’ he warned.
Only 300,000 People Pay Taxes In Anambra – Commissioner

The Anambra State Government says not more than 300,000 residents of the state pay taxes out
of a population of 4.5 million.
The State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mark Okoye, made the disclosure at a
news conference tagged: “2020 Budget Breakdown” on Thursday in Awka, the state capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governor Willie Obiano had on September 24
presented the 2020 budget proposal of N137.1 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval.
Mr Obiano had tagged the budget “Accelerating Infrastructure Development and Youths
Entrepreneurship’’,
The governor said the budget would promote agriculture, social infrastructure development and as well
enhance jobs creation.
He said N78.3 billion will be spent on capital expenditure, translating to 57 per cent of the
budget, while N58.69 billion or 43 per cent is for recurrent expenditure.
Presenting the budget breakdown, Mr Okoye said the state government had put automated reforms in
place to capture more residents into the tax net.
“From an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) stand point, we are projecting N30 billion for the
2020 which will be N2.5 billion every month.
“As we speak today, we have about 300, 000 taxpayers registered in the state, and we also have
about 10,000 businesses registered in Anambra.
“I can tell you that of all these numbers, less than 10 per cent are paying taxes and most of them
are also paying under stated taxes.
“If we can increase that figure to 20 per cent, that will take our current IGR rate from N 1.7
billion to N3.4 billion, that doubles it.
“This is why government instituted comprehensive reforms in the state to capture many residents and
businesses.
“We have the Anambra State Social Service Identity (ANSSID) number and other Automation
drives across the state to get data, and also capture many residents into the tax net,’’ he said.
Mr Okoye said government needed the taxpayers’ money to drive development in the state.
“The money we are using is not government’s money, the monies are owned by the taxpayers and they
are used for even distribution of development across the 21 local government areas in the state.
“Payment of taxes will help to scale up provision of infrastructure and other amenities for the 4.5
million people in the state.
“So, there is so much room for growth in the state, if we can do what is required,” Mr Okoye said.
David Cameron: Some Chibok Girls Were Found But GEJ

Didn’t Allow Us Rescue Them
David Cameron: We located some Chibok schoolgirls but Jonathan didn’t allow us rescue them
David Cameron, former British prime minister, has alleged that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan did
not give enough support to Britain during the abduction of 274 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno state.
The abduction, which took place on April 14 2014, had sparked a global outrage following which the
international community offered to assist Nigeria.
In For The Record, his memoir, Cameron, who was in office at the time of the incident, said British
troops traced the location of some of the victims and offered to help but Jonathan refused.
“Iraq wasn’t the only place we would need our military to counter this extremist menace. Boko Haram
in Nigeria was linked to al-Qaeda, and believed Western education and lifestyles were a sin (the
meaning behind its name). It too wanted to institute a caliphate, and like ISIS it would use whatever
barbaric means it thought necessary,”Cameron wrote.
“In early 2014 a group of its fighters centered the government secondary school in the village of
Chibok, seizing 276 teenage girls. They were taken to camps deep in the forest. The Christians among
them were forced to convert to Islam. Many were sold as slaves, entering the same endless violent
nightmare the Yazidi women suffered.
“As ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign spread across the world, we embedded a team of military and
intelligence experts in Nigeria, and sent spy planes and Tornadoes with thermal imaging to search for
the missing girls. And, amazingly, from the skies above a forest three times the size of Wales, we
managed to locate some of them.
Cameron said he expected Jonathan to handle the Chibok issue better

“But Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, seemed to be asleep at the wheel. When he eventually
made a statement, it was to accuse the campaigners of politicising the tragedy. And absolutely crucially,
when we offered to help rescue the girls we had located, he refused.”
TheCable sent messages to Ikechukwu Eze, spokesman of Jonathan, seeking his reaction to Cameron’s
claim but he had not responded as of the time this report was filed.
Cameron also said the Nigerian army was unable to participate in operations the US and UK forces
organised for the rescue of Chibok schoolgirls because of “politically appointed generals”.
The ex-British prime minister wrote on how the Archbishop of Canterbury was contacted to assist
during the intervention in Nigeria.
“We had to play the long game focusing on a much bigger training effort for the Nigerian military and
intelligence forces and trying to promote more energetic leaders from the younger generation. The
Archbishop of Canterbury, as an expert on Nigeria, could be particularly useful on this and I invited
him to join our NSC discussion,” he wrote.
“Some of the girls have managed to escape over the following four years, and others have been
released, but over a hundred are still missing. Once again. the combination of lslamist extremism and
bad governance proved fatal.
“How did I feel about all this at the end of 2014? The answer is, depressed. ISIS now occupied an area
larger than Britain. A similar brand of terrorism was being wrought by Boko Harem in west Africa),
another ISIS affiliate in north Africa, and by al-Shabab (‘the youth) in east Africa, while related groups
were springing up in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the Caucasus. There seemed to be
no stopping an evil ideology that seduced minds from the badlands of Syt’tato bedrooms in
Birmingham. When I spoke about the challenge publicly I tried to remain measured and resolute. But
privately did asked myself, would we ever be able to defeat this thing?
A total of 112 Chibok schoolgirls have remained unaccounted for. The government of President
Muhammadu Buhari secured the release of more than 100 while 57 managed to escape.
“You Lied!” – Jonathan Replies David Cameron Over Chibok

Girls
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has replied Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David
Cameron over his recent statement that Jonathan did not allow the UK to rescue Chibok Girls from
Boko Haram.
In a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, Jonathan wrote;

“I read the comments by former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in his new book, For the
Record, in which he accused me and the Nigerian Government, which I headed, of corruption and
rejecting the help of the British Government in rescuing the Chibok Girls, who were kidnapped on
April 14, 2014.”
“It is quite sad that Mr. Cameron would say this because nothing of such ever occurred. As President of
Nigeria, I not only wrote letters to then Prime Minister David Cameron, I also wrote to the then US
President, Barrack Obama, and the then French President, François Hollande, as well as the Israeli
Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, appealing to them for help in rescuing the Chibok Girls.”
“How could I write to appeal for help and then reject the very thing I appealed for?”
“Also, history contradicts Mr. Cameron. On March 8, 2012, when the same Boko Haram linked
terrorists abducted a British expatriate named Chris McManus, along with an Italian hostage Franco
Lamolinara, in Sokoto, I, as Nigerian President, personally authorised a rescue effort by members of
the British military Special Boat Service supported by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, to free
the abducted men.”
“So, having set a precedent like that, why would I reject British help in rescuing the Chibok Girls, if it
was offered? I also authorised the secret deployment of troops from the United Kingdom, the United
States and Israel as a result of the Chibok incident, so how Mr. Cameron could say this with a straight
face beats me.”
“Moreover, on March 8, 2017, the British Government of former Prime Minister, Theresa May, in a
widely circulated press statement, debunked this allegation and said there was no truth in it after Mr.
Cameron had made similar statements to the Observer of the UK.”
“In his book, Mr. Cameron failed to mention that I wrote him requesting his help on Chibok. Why did
he suppress that information? I remind him that copies of that letter exist at the State Houses in Nigeria
and London. He never called me on the phone to offer any help. On the contrary, I am the one that
reached out to him.”
“He accused me of appointing Generals based on political considerations. How could that be when I
fired my service chiefs twice in five years, to show that I would not tolerate anything less than
meaningful progress in the war on terror.”
“I was completely blind to ethnic or political considerations in my appointments. In civil and military
matters, I appointed people that I had never even met prior to appointing them, based on their
professional pedigree. Though I was from the South, most of my service chiefs came from the North.”
“I do, however, know that Mr. Cameron has long nursed deep grudges against me for reasons that have
been published in various media.”
“On July 24, 2013, while celebrating the passage of the United Kingdom’s Marriage (Same Sex
Couples) Act, 2013, Mr. Cameron said “I want to export gay marriage around the world”.”
“At that occasion, he boasted that he would send the team that successfully drafted and promoted the
Bill, to nations, like Nigeria, saying inter alia:
“I’ve told the Bill team I’m now going to reassign them because, of course, all over the world people
would have been watching this piece of legislation”.
As President of Nigeria at that time, I came under almost unbearable pressure from the Cameron
administration to pass legislation supporting LGBTQ Same-Sex marriage in Nigeria. My conscience
could not stomach that, because as President of Nigeria, I swore on the Bible to advance Nigeria’s
interests, and not the interest of the United Kingdom or any foreign power.”
“As such, on Monday, January 13, 2014, I signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law after
the Bill had been passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Nigeria’s parliament, in line with
the wishes of the Nigerian people. This happened shortly after a study of 39 nations around the world
by the U.S. Pew Research Center came up with a finding which indicated that 98 percent of Nigerians
were opposed to the idea of Gay Marriage.”
“Immediately after I took this patriotic action, my government came under almost unbearable pressure
from Mr. Cameron, who reached me through envoys, and made subtle and not so subtle threats against
me and my government.”
“In fact, meetings were held at the Obama White House and at the Portcullis House in Parliament UK,
with the then Nigerian opposition to disparage me, after I had signed the Same-Sex Marriage
Prohibition Bill into law.
On the issue of corruption, it suffices to say that Mr. Cameron is not as competent as Transparency
International, which is globally acknowledged as the adjudicator of who is corrupt and who is not.”
“During my administration, in 2014, Nigeria made her best ever improvement on the annual
Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, moving from 144 the previous year, to 136, an
8 point improvement. As a nation, we have not made such improvements on the CPI before or after
2014.”
“In line with these facts, I would urge the public to take Mr. Cameron’s accusations with a grain of salt.
I will not be the first person to accuse him of lying on account of this book, and with the reactions in
the Uk so far, I definitely will not be the last.”
Anambra Arrests 250 'illegal Revenue Collectors'- Official
The Anambra Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mark Okoye, has said 250 illegal revenue
collectors have been arrested and charged to court.
Mr Okoye, who said this while briefing journalists in Awka on Friday, said the government would
ensure that justice was done to serve as a deterrent to erring citizens.
“We implore the public to shun any act that goes against the developmental vision of the state as the
government would not hesitate to lawfully deal with any defaulter,” Mr Okoye said.
The commissioner said the government under the watch of Willie Obiano was committed to delivering
democratic dividends to the people.
Mr Okoye said the state government had presented a realistic budget to the state lawmakers for the year
2020 and assured the residents of better days ahead.
He urged all citizens to ensure they played their roles by paying their taxes, dues and levies to enable
the government provide basic human amenities for their enjoyment.
Mr Okoye said the state government had implemented the 2019 budget up to 85 per cent and assured
that by end of the year, the budget would be reasonably implemented.
“We scaled down on the size of 2020 budget because we are a realistic government and we intend to
have a people-oriented budget,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sylvia Nwachukwu-Ngige, Head, Tax Payer Education, Publicity and Enlightenment Team
in Anambra state Revenue office, corroborated the claims of the commissioner.
“Our office has since been crowded by people who come to pay or remit their revenue to avoid arrest
and shutting down of their business premises,” she said.
National Assembly Scanners, Others Break Down

The body and luggage scanners at the National Assembly Complex entrances have stopped working.
The equipment stopped functioning during the parliament’s two-month annual recess, our
correspondent learnt.
Our correspondent observed that while the body scanners have since ceased to function, the luggage
scanners stopped working before the House of Representatives resumed on September 17 and the
Senate a week later.
Before the devices broke down, persons except the lawmakers and their aides were usually asked to
pass through the body scanners, dropping their bags and other items on the luggage scanners for
security checks.
However, workers and guests entering the building now do so freely without checks. The two
aluminium bars placed at the point where items are dropped on the devices indicate they are not
available for use.
There is a pair of body and luggage scanners at each of the two entrances to the White House section of
the complex, which houses the Senate and House of Representatives chambers.
Scanners are also placed at the three other entrances to the building, one at the Senate’s New Wing and
two at the House’s New Wing.
As of Friday, our correspondent observed that these other scanners were not working, though it could
not be confirmed if they had also become faulty.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to present the 2020 Appropriation Bill to a joint
session of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Vehicles abandoned on the premises
Several abandoned superbikes of the BMW brands used for escorting presiding officers are on the
premises of the Annex building.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has acquired 10 new ones. The superbikes, of the BMW
R1200RT/R1250RT series, were parked close to the Senate’s New Wing, close to where Senate’s
presiding and principal officers park their vehicles.
Also on the Annex premises, opposite the Federal Fire Service office are 12 new electric tow tractors
and golf cars (also known as golf buggy) of different sizes and models covered in dust.
Some Toyota Coaster buses were also abandoned at a space between the National Assembly Complex
and the Annex.
The Director of Information, National Assembly, Mr Rawlings Agada, who spoke to our correspondent
on Monday, said he was not aware that the scanners had not been working.
He said, “I think the equipment has a lifespan. What we should consider is that the poor performance of
this year’s budget is affecting everybody. Most of these equipment you are talking about, we don’t have
the money to maintain them.
“The body scanners should be upgraded from time to time. The software of some of the machines has
to be upgraded and it takes time. And you cannot call anybody on the streets to come and service those
things; they are under the supervision of the security agencies.”
Agada also said since the devices were being manned by security officials, they might have reported
the development to the maintenance department.
A body scanner
He added, “But I know that these things are what the management and the leadership (presiding
officers) are talking about when they were putting out their concerns about the need for them to
upgrade most of the facilities we have here. They are within the contemplation of the management. It
has been reported that the management and the leadership met and talked about the facilities.
“There are so many things that are not in place, and like we keep saying, most of the things you see that
we do there are from the little budget that is available to the management. Those things are manned by
the security officials. With this observation (by our correspondent), maybe they are being prepared for
maintenance, but I will find out; I have to get my facts right.”
Speaking on the abandoned superbikes, the director said they were not serviceable. While admitting
that the motorcycles were expensive, he said they would remain there until they were auctioned.
Agada said, “We don’t have any other space to keep those things. By regulation, you cannot just throw
them away. What is done most of the time is that they are either sold through auction to people who can
fix them – and they are very expensive.
“I know that some of the machines (superbikes) started with the National Assembly (in 1999). Some of
them were involved in accidents while some of them broke down. Most of those that are not
serviceable are kept there and if they are not auctioned, they will remain there.”
The director, however, said the electric vehicles on the premises were displayed by a firm that sought a
contract from the National Assembly.
He said, “Those things have been there for over three or four years. Yes, they are new. But if a
contractor comes with an item that they want to sell and you don’t have the money to buy it, what
happens? The best is to give it back. I heard, I cannot confirm, that a contractor brought the vehicles for
display but they didn’t buy them, and they were left there.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on July 1 when the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, visited him in his office, lamented the level of
infrastructural decay at the National Assembly Complex.
He said, “Part of the sundry list again is that we are going to be asking that we hand over the
maintenance of this building to the Federal Capital Territory because as it is today, the building is
almost collapsing. The maintenance is at zero level and that is because those who are supposed to
maintain it, funding has been a bit of a problem.
“So, we believe it should be handed over to the FCT where it will be a lot easier for them to maintain
it.”
The PUNCH reported on December 9, 2018 and January 11, 2019, how security officials lamented the
failure of the Closed Circuit Television cameras to capture the thieves who stole vehicles or vandalised
some.
Sowore's Bail Conditions Can't Be Fulfilled - Lawyer Cries Out

Inibehe Effiong, one of the lawyers on the legal team representing Omoyele Sowore, has cried out over
the bail conditions set for the release of the activist.
Effiong, in an interview with The Cable said the conditions set by the court for Sowore to be released is
impossible to fulfil.
Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, October 4, granted a N100 million bail to
Sowore.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who gave the bail conditions said the publisher would produce two sureties - in
like sum - who are owners of landed property within the court's jurisdiction.
Updated: Court grants Sowore N100 million bail Sowore is also expected to deposit his travel passport
to the court till the end of his trial and is not allowed to travel out of the Federal Capital Territory
throughout his trial period.
Effiong, while reacting to these bail conditions, said nobody is willing to be a surety for that amount.
"That amount of money is not available, it is not realistic under the current economic situation,"
he said. He said the legal team is going back to the trial court next week to seek a variation of the bail
conditions.
He said: “We understand bail is at the discretion of the court but the Administration of Criminal Justice
Act allows us to apply for a variation where the conditions are such that the defendants cannot meet.”
Why States Must Have More Powers – Osinbajo

Says we must strengthen states for a more productive nation
*Calls for devolution of more power to States enables them to control more of their resources
*VP advocates for States & community police forces, correctional facilities, special courts
Nigeria can become a stronger and more prosperous nation if states have more powers, according to
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this while speaking at the 59th Independence Anniversary Lecture at the Island
Club, Lagos, on Friday.
The Vice President, who titled his lecture “the whole is only as great as the sum of its parts,” said
Nigeria’s population and diverse ethnic groups has necessitated that states in the country be
strengthened to enable them contribute more to national productivity and development.
Prof. Osinbajo stated that this can be achieved with “stronger, more autonomous States that are able to
generate and control more of their resources.”
According to the Vice President, the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is

ensuring that states collaborate more with the Federal Government on different initiatives to improve
visionary governance in the country.
“The most important transformative change we can make in Nigeria is to lift the majority of our people
out of deprivation by speedily creating wealth and opportunity leading to the eradication of poverty,”
he said.
He further said that “The nation cannot be wealthy when its component parts – the states – are poor.
The standard of living of the federation depends on the standard of living of people who live in the
states. In other words, the federation can only be as rich as its richest state and as strong as its strongest
state.
“Our national indices merely aggregate the realities of our weaknesses and strengths as present in all
our constituent units. Consequently, we can only build a stronger and more prosperous nation by
building stronger and more prosperous states.”
He said, “Building stronger states means ensuring the devolution of more power to the states, enabling
them to control more of their resources and make more of their own administrative decisions such as
the creation of Local Governments, the establishment of state and community police forces as well as
state correctional facilities; creation of special courts and tribunals of equivalent jurisdiction to high
courts. The point I am making is that states must have more powers and more rights.”
The Vice President stated that, “The challenges confronting us now are about strengthening internal
coherence and cohesion. It is about moving from affirmations of unity to the achievement of synergy in
which the sum of our strengths exceeds the totality of our constituent parts.”
He noted that, “Opportunities for smart and visionary governance abound. So, for example, while states
may not be able to right now establish their police forces, they can collaborate with the federal
government on initiatives such as community policing which also revolves around the idea of localized
law enforcement. Our administration is currently pursuing this option. When we set our minds to
solving problems, we will find that what is truly possible is not as distant from the ideal that we seek.”
Over 90 Percent Of Schools In Kogi State Have No

Infrastructures, "ASUSS Says"
The Kogi State Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, Comrade Ranti
Ojo made this known while speaking at the occasion marking this years World Teacher’s Day in
Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
Comrade Ojo while calling on the state government to declare a state of emergency in secondary
education in the state to steer it away from the direction where it is now heading also hinted that, there
is shortages of teachers in all schools all over the state.
He told the governor that, the state of schools in the state calls for urgent attention of the government
for the sake of the future generation to which the state belonged.
The ASUSS Chairman lamented that instructional materials are no longer known as part of schools’
necessities while sports and extracurricular activities have for long been forgotten as part of schools’
routine.
“We have been making this call year in year out, yet no government has deemed it necessary to heed
our calls. We make the call again today believing that this government that has education as one of its
thematic area of focus will urgently take steps to do the needful,” he said.
Responding, the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello promised to ensure adequate and enhanced
welfare package for teachers in the employment of the state for greater productivity.
The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff and running mate in the November 16
governorship election in the state, Edward Onoja, said his administration would continue to sustain
regular payment of salaries not only to teachers, but to all other categories of workers in the
employment of Kogi State.
He said his government has concluded arrangements to employ 3,500 teachers to address shortage of
personnel in public schools in the state.
APC Tells Jonathan Not To Defend Hinself Against Cameron's

Allegations
The ruling All Progress Congress (APC) has backed former British prime minister who accused former
Nigeria president, Goodluck Jonathan, of refusing help, when 274 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko
Haram terrorists in Chibok, Borno state back in 2014.
The APC also said that there is a consensus that the PDP elevated corruption in the country to a
national culture. Going further, the APC said Jonathan should explain to the families of those whose
children were kidnapped why he did not do anything for two weeks after the kidnapping incident
occurred
Pipelines, Flourmill Factories Causing Delay In Linking Lagos
Rail To Seaport
Indications have emerged that the Federal Government may be experiencing some hiccups in the build
up to the December deadline for the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project.
In as much the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) has completed
laying the standard gauge rail tracks from Iju-Ishaga axis of Lagos state to Moniya area in Ibadan,
construction of tracks to link the Apapa ports still remains a mirage.
This owing to obstructions of oil pipelines but the worst is the flourmill factories along the rail track,
which stakeholders have said would cost the Federal Government huge sums for payment of
compensations to relocate the factories.
An official of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), who spoke to The Guardian, lamented the
paltry sum allocated for the project.
October 06
Borno Government Contracts 30 Saudi-based Clerics To Pray

For Peace In The State
Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has signed an agreement with 30 Saudi-based clerics to
pray for peace in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Isa Gusau.
He said, “An old man amongst them is said to have remained a Ka’aba devotee in the last 40 years.
“The Ka’aba is Islam’s holiest area located inside the grand Al-Haram mosque in Makkah.
"The aim is to combine different approaches that include sustained support for the Nigerian Armed
Forces, aggressive mass recruitment and equipping of more counter-insurgency volunteers into the
Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes as well as socio-economic approach in enhancing access to
education, job opportunities and providing other means of livelihood through social protection
initiatives.”
Gusau, who was present during Governor Zulum’s brief interaction with the devotees on Friday
evening around the Ka’aba in Saudi Arabia, said “The governor was there to convey his deepest
gratitude and to seek continued prayers.
“Rather than sending anyone, the governor was there to, on behalf of the good people of Borno State,
thank them for their empathy and the compassion in devoting themselves to praying for us everyday at
the Ka’aba which for us as Muslims, is the most sacred place.
“We need these prayers more than ever before.
"We are handling our problems from different approaches.
"Prayer is key in everything that we seek. We will continue to seek prayers from many fronts.
"We will keep supporting clerics of different faiths in Nigeria for the same prayers and we will seek the
same from all of you that are always here around the Holy Ka’aba.
“The governor basically will beg that they continue to pray for us towards achieving three things: first,
for us to regain peace in Borno State, all of the North and Nigeria in general.
"We will have to continue that prayer on a permanent basis because we need the peace that will be
sustained."
Zulum’s quest for spiritual intervention is coming days after Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Butatai,
declared that a spiritual solution was required to end Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
Peter Obi Responsible For Jonathan, Atiku Loss, World Igbo

Youth Says
The World Igbo Youth Congress narrated on Saturday it took a careful analysis of the Igbos misfortunes
in the 2015 and 2019 general elections and has observed that Peter Obi contributed in no small part to
the recorded failures.
Peter Obi was the Campaign Manager Southern Nigeria for the former president, Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan in 2015 and also the running mate of the People’s Democratic Party Presidential Candidate,
Atiku Abubakar in 2019.
This was made known in a press statement made available to the media by its President General, Mazi
Alex Okemiri.
“World Igbo Youth Congress took stock of Igbos misfortunes in 2015 and 2019 general elections, and
[has] observed that Igbos had better options.”
The group said it did observe such action should not be allowed to repeat itself again.
“We know those who were behind the hasty decision of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2015, when the then
General Muhammadu Buhari wrote to have an audience with Ohanaeze Ndigbo regarding 2015
presidential election
“Which was unsuccessful based on the efforts of former President Jonathan Campaign Manager for the
Southern Nigeria [Peter Obi], and which also repeated again in 2019 when Ohanaeze Ndigbo hurriedly
miscalculated without due process to endorse Atiku ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari
“…[These were piloted] by the same man who made Igbos to lose in 2019.
“WIYC appeal to Ndigbo to forgive Peter Obi, who’s linked indirectly to the electoral losses of PDP in
2015 and 2019, when he singlehandedly couldn’t galvanise Igbo support for Jonathan and Atiku on a
clearly seen victory which Igbos was out to give to both candidates.”
Discussing what it perceived as the reason why former President Goodluck Jonathan lost in 2015, the
group commented; “In 2015 lack of co ordination led to Igbo voters apathy across the South East for
Jonathan, because Jonathan couldn’t muster up those
Igbo votes he got overwhelmingly in 2011 across the South-East states.
“Based on Obi’s style of politicking which is strange to Igbos, repeatedly his candidature as Vice
Presidential Candidate of PDP and running mate to Atiku 2019 led to controversies which were
unacceptable to PDP South-East Governors and leaders, which made President Muhammadu Buhari
got more than 25% votes in Ebonyi, Abia and the Imo States
“WIYC advice PDP to do away with Peter Obi in the future elections as his entrance in PDP collapsed
Igbo support for the party, so we advise PDP to resist any attempt for Peter Obi to hijack the PDP
Guber ticket on 2021 for his stooge from Anambra North, it’s the turn of Anambra South.
“Lastly, Igbos had learnt their bitter lessons from the situation we found ourselves politically, and
there’s an attempt to rewrite history by doing away those people and politicians who jeopardise the
electoral fortunes of Ndigbo
“And put us into Political limbo in Nigeria, Igbo youths will never have the likes of those who had
brought political pains and put Igbos as a minority-major tribe in Nigeria and fourth-class citizens,2023
is not such persons, surely they Igbo youths are out to retire politically the likes of Peter Obi.”
2023 Presidency: Don’t Threaten North Using IPOB, Says ACF

Scribe
The Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Mr Anthony Sani, has warned that using the
Indigenous People of Biafra to threaten the North over the 2023 presidency will not help the cause of
the Igbo to produce the President when the time comes.
Referring to a statement credited to a former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, in

an interview with a national newspaper (not The PUNCH) where the elder statesman noted that Igbo
people might embrace IPOB if denied the presidency in 2023, the ACF scribe argued that using IPOB
to blackmail the region was unfair.
According to Sani, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, democracy is a contest of ideas and reasons
and not a matter of threats and intimidation.
He said, “I have said democracy is a contest of ideas and reasons, and not by threats and intimidation
that have no place in multiparty democracy. The presidency is secured in multiparty democracy through
persuasions that seek to break barriers and build bridges. It is not obtained through affirmative action.
“I do not believe Ezeife could say what was reported. This is because he is too intelligent not to know
that Nigeria practises multiparty democracy which allows political parties to present their candidates
from any zone as part of their winning game plans.
“Ezeife also knows that there is no national consensus on rotation, power shift or zoning that is binding
on political parties. That may explain why President Muhammadu Buhari contested with President
Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 despite the deliberate concession of the presidency to the South-West
because of Chief (M.K.O.) Abiola. That is also why former President Goodluck Jonathan contested
with Buhari in 2011 and 2015.
“If ex-President Jonathan had won in 2015, the South would have held sway for over 16 years in the
nascent democracy. You may also note that in 2019, presidential candidates emerged from both the
North and the South. What is more, democracy is a contest of ideas and reasons and not a matter of
threat and intimidation.
“Worst of all, the feisty doctor is reported as using IPOB to blackmail the nation. This is most unfair,
especially when regard is paid to the fact that the threats can convey an avoidable impression that some
elders of the South-East still nurse some desire to split the country through IPOB.”
But in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Ezeife said the South-East would embrace persuasion to
achieve its aspiration, adding that discussions were already ongoing with some groups in all parts of the
country to achieve their aspiration.
“We are going to lobby every group; we would lobby from North to South, East to West. Some of us
have started; one Revd. Obiora is foremost in this, he has started and he is in touch with some groups
already. If we are not able to organise ourselves and 20 Igbo people come out to contest for the
presidency, that will be our fault. But we want to ensure that we get in touch with the political players
to organise themselves and ensure that they present themselves for Nigerians to see,” he said.
However, the President-General of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said all groups
in the South-East would work to achieve the 2023 aspirations, adding that plans were underway to
approach the two leading political parties as well.
“We will approach both major parties as platforms to actualise the Igbo 2023 presidency project. We
would remind both the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party to first respect the
gentleman agreement by zoning the party ticket to South, and then persuade the stakeholders in the
South-South, South-West, to allow South-East to take a shot at the presidency.
Minimum Wage: There’ll Be No Warning Strike, Labour Tells
Govt
The President of Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye, said organised labour would not go on a
warning strike before the main industrial action, if government failed to meet workers’ demand on the
implementation of the new minimum wage by the close of work on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.
In a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of leaders of labour unions on Tuesday in Abuja,
organised labour had said it would not guarantee industrial peace in Nigeria, if the Federal Government
failed to hold a meeting with labour and accept its demand on the consequential salary adjustment
arising from the new minimum wage.
Labour said it had demonstrated a great deal of restraint, consideration and patience with government
in arriving at the demand of 29% salary increase for officers on salary levels 07 to 14 and 24%
adjustment for officers on salary grade levels 15 to 17.
The communiqué said the alleged nonchalant attitude of the government negotiating side had dragged
negotiations for consequential wages adjustment unduly, adding that Nigerian workers had exercised
tremendous patience and restraint already.
In an interview with our correspondent on Friday, the TUC president said already, labour had begun to
mobilise its members for industrial action before the Tuesday ultimatum issued to government. He said,
“We had already begun mobilisation of our members for an industrial action long before we made the
pronouncement. We have given instructions on mobilisation to our members in the states and all
council areas.
“If by October 16, government fails to do what we expect from it, we will start our action with a rally.
On the second day (October 17), the strike will begin. We are not going to give any warning strike this
time round. We have threatened to go on strike on many occasions. The public can attest to this through
media publication and letters to government.”
GOVT YET TO CONTACT US – JNPSNC

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Alade Lawal, said
despite the ultimatum issued, government had yet to contact labour on a date for a meeting. He also
berated government for taking too long to constitute a new team that would begin another round of
negotiation with labour on the new minimum wage.
Lawal said, “If they want to constitute a new team, must that take a year? It takes less than a day to do
that since supposed members are members of the government cabinet. As far as we are concerned,
government has not reached out to us.”
DOCTORS WILL NOT STRIKE –NMA

However, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Festus Faduyile, has ruled out the possibility
of doctors joining the strike. In an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Friday, Faduyile said
the NMA sympathised with Nigerian workers on the failure of government to fully implement the new
wage structure, but added that doctors would continue to cater for patients in various government
hospitals across the country.
“It is not likely that we will go on strike but that does not mean that we do not stand with the organised
labour on this matter.”
OUR BOOKS ON INCOME, EXPENDITURE OPEN, FG TELLS LABOUR

The Federal Government has called on organised labour to send its representatives to look into income
and expenditure books. It said this became important because of the plan of labour to go on strike.
Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen Chris Ngige, who spoke with one of our correspondents
through its Special Adviser on Media, Mr Nwachukwu Obidiwe, said he had always taken the labour
into confidence in all decisions taken on the issue of minimum wage.
He said with the situation of economy, everyone must be ready to make sacrifice. He said, ‘‘The FG has
promised to open its books to labour to come and look at its income and expenditure. They are free to
send representatives to carry out the task. This time calls for sacrifice. Every step the minister has taken
so far has been in the interest of the nation.’’
Toll Gates Reintroduction: No Policy Statement Yet – FG

The Federal Government on Saturday said it did not make any policy statement to suggest that it would
reintroduce toll gates across federal highways in Nigeria any time soon.
It said if such move was to take effect soon, there would be proper explanations on how it would
commence.
When asked to state if the government had rescinded its decision to reintroduce toll gates, the Special
Adviser on Communications to the Minister of Works and Housing, Hakeem Bello, told our
correspondent in Abuja on Saturday night that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola,
never made any policy statement on toll gates.
Bello said, “Look, why the so much excitement over nothing? The minister never made a policy
statement. If the government wants to make a major policy like that (toll gates reintroduction), there
will be explanations, press conferences, briefings and all of that.
“It was during the course of the press briefing (at the state house) that someone asked about tolling and
the minister responded by saying that there was no law against tolling. So why would people hold this
high as if tolling is starting tomorrow?”
“Of course, that cannot be a policy statement for one to say tolling is coming tomorrow or very soon.
He (Fashola) didn’t make a policy statement on when there will be toll gates on our roads.”
Edwin Clark Warns Yoruba, North: Steer Clear Of 2023

Presidency For Igbo
Chief Edwin Clark, a nationalist who served under former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, as
Federal Commissioner for Information, in this interview, speaks on the need for true federalism and
why zoning of the nation’s presidency is paramount among other issues. Excerpts:
[/b]Let us talk about the state of the nation…

[b]
Things are very bad but we thank God that we are surviving and we remain united. The challenges are
however many. Today, the country seems to be divided religiously and ethnically despite the fact that
we all talk about unity. Security challenge is growing. The situation has not been effectively controlled.
About four years ago, we were talking about Boko Haram in the North-East, and we felt that, with the
promise made by the ruling party for ‘change’ and having the country being headed by a former
military Head of State, Boko Haram would be a thing of the past. But, today, Boko Haram is still a
problem. And apart from Boko Haram, we can see what is going on in the North-West, especially in
Sokoto and Katsina. People are being killed, maimed and kidnapped. In Taraba, Plateau and Benue
states, the situation is not different. We have, today, in the South, herdsmen ransacking everywhere,
harassing maiming, kidnapping and raping women. Things are not normal.
[/b]Is this the Nigeria our heroes past foresaw when they fought for independence?[b]
I will say no because in the First Republic, even though we had some problems, the unity of Nigeria
was very much guaranteed. During the pre-independence era, we were working together until 1953
when Tony Enahoro moved the motion for the independence of Nigeria and the Northern Region
walked out of parliament. The British government invited Nigerian leaders to London for the 1954 and
1957 conferences and so on which led us to independence in 1960. During the period, there was peace
and each of the regions was developing at its own pace while revenue allocation was based on what
you produced in your area. You keep 50 percent of the allocation while the remaining 50 percent goes
to the Federal Government. And of the 50 percent that goes to the Federal Government, 20 percent is
kept by the Federal Government while the remaining 30 percent is shared among other regions. Until
1963 when the Mid-West Region was created, each of the regions had its own Constitution and Agent
General in London. Today, you find that one of the houses acquired by the Western Nigerian
government in those days is part of the Nigeria High Commission in London. Then, there was neither
envy nor hatred. Both Muslims and Christians were living in peace and harmony. But when the Army
struck, problem started. Then General Gowon came into power in 1966 and there was problem. The
killing of prominent Nigerian politicians resulted into the counter-coup of July 1966, leading to the
Aburi Accord in 1967 which did not materialise. General Gowon created 12 states after the civil war.
So, today, we have 36 states including the Federal Capital. Perhaps, those who fought for independence
in 1960 when we got it never envisaged that, 59 years after, Nigeria will still be so much divided and
there would be many challenges. Now there is hunger; unemployment has risen to 23 percent; Fulani
herdsmen carry AK 47 around and we were told they are from Libya, Burkina Faso and Mali among
others and these people have been allowed to come into Nigeria untouched. The next thing we heard
was that they wanted RUGA in the 36 states of the federation, meaning that these Fulani herdsmen
would now be settled in the 36 states. Nigerians kicked against it, and it was suspended; but we hope it
would be suspended forever because it could divide this country
[/b]What then are the chances of the South-West in 2023?[b]
They should stop thinking of becoming the President of Nigeria. What does Tinubu have to offer that
the people of the South-East cannot offer? What is the justification for them to become the President of
Nigeria? Is it because they belong to the APC? They should not be thinking of how to divide Nigeria.
We must all unite and have respect for ourselves. The South-West should allow other people to have a
taste of power. There is no way the South-West would be better than the South-East on the 2023
presidency.
[/b]What is the way forward?[b]
Let us practice true federalism in this country. Let every Nigerian have a sense of belonging. Without
restructuring, the future is bleak. You remember the other day Mr. President said ‘if we do not kill
corruption, corruption will kill us’. I also believe that if we do not restructure this country, non-
restructuring of Nigeria will kill Nigeria. In a situation where some people feel they are superior to
others, we don’t have a country. Nobody wants to be a slave to another person. Let the elders of the
country meet from time to time to discuss the challenges of Nigeria. Like former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, I have advocated that all stakeholders, including youths and women, have a roundtable to
discuss the security of this country. What is happening in the North-East and North-West should not be
regarded as a northern affair but a Nigerian affair because, sooner or later, it will happen to all of us.
Killings: Gov. Matawalle Sends Message To Zamfara People

Zamfara State Governor, Hon. Bello Muhammed Matawalle has reassured the people of Zamfara State
and non-indigenes doing business in the state of their safety following the current killing of nine
soldiers in Jangebe, near Anka local government area by the unrepentant armed bandits.
The Governor said that he had instructed the combined forces of the army, police and other security
agencies to be watchful and intensify more efforts to prevent reoccurrence of the ugly incident.
He encouraged the people to always endeavor to report any suspicious movement of people to the
security agencies in the state.
Governor Matawalle said that the target was to distract the focus of the state government from
delivering the dividends of democracy for the people.
The governor re-emphasized that the resolve of his government was to ensure perfect security of lives
and properties in the state.
“The fight against criminal elements would not be treated with a mere wave of the hand,” he assured.
“I am very sure that security is the responsibility of all and not the responsibility of the government
alone,” he added.
He, however, appealed to the traditional leaders to ensure that their territories were under their watchful
eyes so as to ensure perfect security of lives and properties in their areas.
Igbo Deserve To Be President Of Nigeria But ... By Prof

Iyorwuese Hagher
A former presidential aspirant of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, has said
that the Middle Belt is best suited to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
He also said the Igbo deserve to be President of Nigeria but have to be prepared to negotiate with the
other regions.
Hagher, who had served twice as a minister, two time as an ambassador and also a former senator,
lamented that the Middle Belt is the most oppressed ethnic group in the country.
“I know where it [presidency] shouldn’t go. It should not go to the Northwest again. They have had
more than their fair share of democratic presidents,” he told Sun.
“Having said that, I believe as a former presidential aspirant that, Nigeria will be shocked in 2023.
“There is an unfortunate leadership recruitment process that is so unequal and so unpatriotic.
“The Nigerian citizens have no say in who becomes their president. They are too poor to make
informed choices, and too poorly organised to fund their candidates.
“The entire recruitment process is rigged in favour of the ex-military-business and corrupt politician
complex; that holds sway. But 2023 is nearby.
“It will make or mar Nigeria. The bell is tolling away. I can’t speak for the South East. They deserve to
be President of Nigeria and should be president when they are prepared to negotiate with others.
“When they are ready to organise their leaders to act with dignity and not with mercenary spirit. When
they can rein in their hubris and discipline their youth, then, they can negotiate with other power
centers.
“But when you look at things at the moment, the country is run by the Northwest, and Northeast to the
exclusion of the North Central Nigerian Middle-Belters.
“The people of South-East are exceptional, but they have brought unspeakable pain to the rest of
Nigeria. They are the image of Nigeria the world sees and it is a bad image.
“The Igbo problem is not so simplistic as to be solved by fiat by the desire for a Nigerian
president of Igbo descent. It is a serious problem of a socially unhinged society that needs to be
reconstructed and re-humanised.
“The Igbo intellectuals who are silent on issues affecting the relegation of the Igbo globally are a
problem. They are the enforcers of the status
Minimum Wage: Ngige Says FG Has Commenced Payment

Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, has said that the N30,000 new
Minimum Wage is “a reality”, asserting that the Federal Government has commenced payment of the
new wage to workers at the lower cadres of the public service.
He argued that the current quagmire between the Federal Government and organised labour arose from
adjusting the wages of government workers from grade level 7 to 14, with the two parties yet to agree
on final figures. Collective bargaining, the Minister said, was the only way to end the tussle, and that
once agreed other grade levels would start earning their new wages.
In an interview with Daily Sun‘s KENNETH UDEH in Abuja, Minister Ngige spoke on topical

national issues, including Nigeria’s 59th Independence anniversary, social investment programmes and
the impact of Nigeria’s border closure on domestic industries.
What is the Federal Government’s stance on the N30,000 new Minimum Wage?
I understand that the N30,000 Minimum Wage is a reality, that is why we have started the
implementation. The N30,000 Minimum Wage is for the man at the lowest position in the job ladder, so
we are already paying that. The public servants of those offices are already earning the new Minimum
Wage. With the consequential adjustment, we have a problem with adjusting the wages of level 7 to
level 14 workers. The problem is with negotiations, because the two parties [government and labour]
are yet to agree on the figures. It is expected to happen because it is a negotiation. And anything that
concerns wages and negotiations, you should be ready for hard negotiations, especially when the
economy is not too good. The good thing happening now is collective bargaining, because it is a
consequential adjustment. So, I do not see it as a problem that cannot be solved. We have to solve it.
And once we solve it, other grade levels will start earning their new scales of wages.
Kwara Assembly Give Reasons Why Saraki’s Properties Were
Seized
The Kwara State House of Assembly has disclosed why it directed the seizure of the Alimi Chalet and a
landed property popularly called Ile Arugbo which was allegedly acquired by the former Senate
President, Bukola Saraki.
It disclosed that it directed the seizure of the property because they belonged to the state government
and there was no evidence that Saraki paid for them.
The Assembly gave the explanation, in a statement titled: “Our position on the seizure of Alimi Chalet,
Saraki’s House” by the Special Assistant to the Speaker, Ibrahim Sheriff, over the weekend.
It declared that the allocation of the posh property to the former Senate President by the last
administration was a “violent violation” of the Kwara State Former Governor’s Pension Law 2010, as
amended, which had already taken care of Saraki.
The Assembly insisted that there was an evidence the property was illegally acquired.
The statement reads: “The Ile Arugbo had been erected on land originally meant for the expansion of
the Civil Service Clinic and Phase II of the State Government Secretariat without any evidence that
anyone paid a dime to the government for the land.
“The noise surrounding the affected property is politically motivated, as other public property
unlawfully acquired are also being looked into.
“We dare say that allowing impunity to stand, no matter who is affected and how long it has taken
place, is a disservice to the state and its people.
“Apart from the fact that the purported sale of the Alimi Chalet did not conform to the Kwara State
former Governors’ Pension Law 2010, as amended, which incidentally was the brainchild of Saraki, we
contend that there is no record anywhere that Saraki paid a dime to have the property transferred to
him. The transfer only fits into what the late Fela Anikulapo called ‘paddy-paddy’ arrangement.”
The Assembly challenged the affected parties to prove they legally acquired the property by presenting
evidence of payment.
“The pension law takes adequate care of the former governor (Saraki). The law allows ex-governors to
own a five-bedroomed duplex, as opposed to the Alimi Chalet, which consists of three separate chalets
with three boys’ quarters of three rooms each and, therefore, does not fit into the recommendation of
the pension law of 2010.
“Aside from the three houses on over one hectare of land on Alimi Road supposedly given to Saraki
under the state pension law, Saraki also got N250m under the same law to build another retirement
home for himself.
“The said Alimi Chalet, which was gifted to him, is the property of the people of Kwara State and was
never contemplated as a gift to former governors,” the Assembly said.
2023: Why Igbo Can’t Produce President In Nigeria – Senator

Wabara
Former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara has dismissed any chances of an Igbo Presidency
come 2023.
According to the former Senate President, the Igbo nation had been systematically confined to certain
political limits in Nigeria and for this reason its chances to aspire and reach for the Presidency in the
next four years have been limited.
Wabara said the South-East was not ready for the presidency come 2023 when compared to the
preparedness of other regions who were interested and financially ready to prosecute the project
He maintained that the lack of preparedness of the South east had denied the region any basis to
negotiate a presidential spot for itself in 2023.
“There’s no chance for Igbo presidency in 2023 unless a miracle happens but there will be Igbo
presidential candidates from some unpopular parties to satisfy all righteousness,” he told Tribune
“Furthermore there shall be no basis for Ndigbo to negotiate with other regions when those regions are
equally interested and even more financially ready. We are on our own. Nobody wants us near Aso
villa.
“As a matter of fact, we have been given our permanent place and limits in our country called Nigeria.
However Ndigbo believes that a wise patient dog eats the fattest bone because this too shall pass, the
former President of the Senate stated.”
Chibok Girls Cameron Must Find Courage To Confess His Role

In Abduction Plan FFK
Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister has asked David Cameron, former UK prime minister to
muster the courage to confess his role in the abduction plan of Chibok schoolgirls.
The former minister was reacting to an accusation by Cameron in his book ‘For The Record’ that ex-
President Goodluck Jonathan refused help for the rescue of the schoolgirls when it was offered.
Cameron had said some British troops spotted the location of the abducted Chibok girls and offered to
help in rescuing them but Jonathan refused.
Reacting via a tweet on Sunday, Fani-Kayode said the accusation only means that Cameron has
exposed his complicity in the deadly circus of the Chibok abduction — and must find the courage to
confess, he added.
His tweet: In telling the cheap cover-up lie that @GEJonathan rejected the help the UK offered to
rescue the ChibokGirls, @David_Cameron has exposed his complicity in the deadly circus the Chibok
abduction was. David must now find the courage to confess his role in the abduction plan itself.
obiano Didn’t Tell Fulanis To Pay N.5m For Killing Any Person
The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Don Adinuba said in Awka that
attributing such a statement to the governor was politics taken too far.
According to the Commissioner, having failed to incite Anambra people to rise against innocent and
law-abiding Fulani people in our midst, they have now resorted to other measures.
He said: “This is an unintelligent attempt at disinformation. Murder is a serious crime everywhere in

the world and it carries capital punishment in Nigeria. It cannot be compensated for with money,
according to Nigerian law. Human life is, indeed, sacred.
“The fact that some faceless politicians can carry their propaganda to the level of equating human life
with money shows a total lack of respect for human life, let alone human dignity. These characters
show no regard for law, order and peaceful co-existence.
“The hate mongers who have been trying to incite the ordinary people in Anambra State against fellow
Nigerians conducting legitimate businesses in a peaceful manner must be held accountable should
anything untoward happen to Anambra people in other parts of the country.
“They must be reminded for the umpteenth time that they are putting in harm’s way the lives of
millions of NdIgbo who are working in other parts of Nigeria. These Igbo people are not subjected to
daily demonization.
“There must be a limit to politics. The desperate search for power should not give rise to the
dethronement of reason.
“The people and government of Anambra State are proud that their state has in the last four years
emerged the safest but also the most peaceful and the most united in the whole country.
“As events have strongly established, social relations in the state are today defined by solidarity and
fraternity and camaraderie. No vile or vicious propaganda against the state can make Ndi Anambra
abandon this trajectory, which has brought about unprecedented development to our place. Anambra
will remain Nigeria’s most socially harmonious state and, of course, the most competitive state in the
whole country.”
2023 Igbo Presidency Is Nearer Than Biafra Realisation
―ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has on Sunday stated that it will inaugurate a Newly
constituted 2023 National Committee on Igbo presidency project.
In a press statement made available to Lanre News by the Secretary-General of the group, Mazi Okwu
Nnabuike, the newly constituted committee is expected to reach out to stakeholders in the two major
ruling party in Nigeria, APC and PDP.
The statement in full below;
(1) Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide will on 1/11/19, inaugurate the Newly 2023 National
Committee on Igbo presidency project, with a clear mandate to reach out all the Youth leaders, opinion
leaders, respected Statesmen, Traditional Rulers, Religious leaders, Women leaders and students
leaders across all the Zones, within a limited time frame,but after then start to lobby Stakeholders in
the two major political parties,APC and PDP through strong persuasion to break New barriers and
build bridges across Six Geopolitical Zones of Nigeria,by continuous appealing to the Conscience of
the political actors to concede 2023 Presidential tickets to Igbo Speaking States including Rivers and
Delta States.
(2) South East remains an integral part of Nigeria, and in other to address all manner of ill feelings or
perceived marginalisation strengthening Biafra agitation, Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion
knows for Unity, Justice, Fairness and Equity to reign, Igbos should be supported to take a shot at the
Presidency in 2023,its glaring to all Igbos that Igbo Presidency project is closer to achieve than Biafra
Realisation/independence,
The process of achieving Biafra independence is more cumbersome and complicated to Igbo
Presidency project which is closer, irrespective that Igbos believes in Biafra independence because of
the economic hardships, through the nefarious activities of some corrupt customs officers who
unleashed untold hardship on Igbo importers and exporters and traders,
We are aware that United Nations are yet to receive documents on Biafra independence, or has the
European Parliament open discussion on Biafra, We are fully aware of the limitations of Biafra
agitation, So Igbos will opt to 2023 Igbo Presidency as are affirmative action towards our togetherness
as one Nation even tongue,tribe and religion may differ, Igbos are everywhere in 774 Lgas,it shows
Igbos are more Nigerians than any tribe.
(3) We have petitioned to international bodies on the sinister motives behind the Closure of Akanu
Ibiam Int’l Airport Enugu for 43 days now without a single rehabilitation work going on there, after
our observations through the strong resolutions and warning to the Minister for Aviation,Sen Hadi
Sirika last week, the General Manager Corporate Affairs, Mrs Herrietta Yakubu hurriedly dished out
Press release to the public that work will soon begin till now Weeds have taken over the airport,We
appreciate the untiring efforts of South-East Governors led by Gov Dave Umahi on getting palliative
care of Igbos on the closure of Akanu Ibiam Int’l airport,
Lastly, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to give Presidential order for the ministry of Works
and housing to rescind on the obnoxious policy of erecting toll Gate in our federal highways, because
Igbos cry over dilapidated Federal highways in the South East which had worsen during this raining
season,its adding salt to injury by erecting toll Gates on bad roads,imaging erecting toll Gates on
Enugu-Ph roads (Aba Axis) which is a death trap or a toll Gates on Aba/Calabar Expressways
overtaken by Bushes and hunters are having a great day,or a toll gate on ontisha/akokwa/okigwe
Expressways which is now a trekking routes only for bicycles and motorcycles,
Is it Abaomoge Ugep Road, or ohafia/Arochukwu/Calabar Expressways which the only bridge
connecting Abia State had the only bridge connecting Abia/Akwa Ibom/Cross River had collapsed,or
Enugu Onitsha Expressways that you will erect toll Gates and expect Igbos to pay… Federal Executive
Council on its valedictory sessions on May 22nd 2019 approved the Expansion and rehabilitation of
Aba/Calabar Expressways road, Rehabilitation of Ikot Ekpene/Umuahia Expressways, dualization of
Owerri/Umuahia Expressways, dualization of Aba/Owerri Expressway, Abaomoge Ugep Road, and the
same Minister Fashola is there yet to commence work on any of these roads, erecting toll Gates will
send wrong signals, Presidency should suspend and scrape such obnoxious policy its Anti people’s
policy.
Kogi 2019: Lecturer Injured In PDP, APC Supporters’ Clash

A lecturer at the Kogi State University (KSU) Ayingba, Dr Usman Ogbo, was reportedly attacked in
Ankpa on Saturday during the ‘Thank You’ tour embarked upon by the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) governorship candidate, Engr Musa Wada.
The opposition PDP had on Friday inaugurated its campaign committees in the capital, Lokoja, ahead
of the November 16 governorship election.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Mohammed (APC- Ankpa 1) was said to have
been in town and his convoy had cause to pass through the venue of PDP event, which may have
sparked the skirmish.
The convoy of the PDP governorship candidate alongside his supporters reportedly clashed with those
of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) while the former was in Ankpa on a thank you visit.
It was gathered that the clash may have erupted when some APC chieftains reportedly drove in their
vehicles into the convoy of the PDP candidate.
The Kogi State Police Commissioner (CP), Mr. Hakeem Busari, while confirming the incident, said
that one person was injured.
The PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation, in a statement by the Director of Public

Communication of the Campaign Council, Comrd. Austin Usman Okai, condemned the attack.
It called on the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of State Security Services to immediately
investigate the incident.
Dangote's Multi-billion Naira Greenhouse Farm Commences

Operations
The multi-billion High–Tech Greenhouse Farm established by Dangote Farms Limited, geared at
boosting the cultivation of high-quality tomatoes in the country, has commenced full production in the
commercial city of Kano.
The farm which is fully automated is the first of its kind in West Africa and is expected to transform the
economy of the local tomato farmers, as the technology is expected to up their harvest from the current
10 tons per acre to as much as 40 tons.
Abdulkarim Kaita, managing director of the Dangote Tomatoes Company Processing Limited,
confirmed this, on Thursday, during the visit of senior officials of the Kano Office of Central Bank of
Nigeria to the farm.
Speaking to BusinessDay on the sidelines of the visit, Kaita disclosed that his company `s new
investment in the farm is motivated by the quest to help Nigeria stop the over $350 million that is
expended on the importation of fresh and processed tomatoes yearly.
He said his company had so far, injected over #3 billion in the development of the farm, which in the
next three weeks, is expected to deliver high-quality tomato seedlings to tomato farmers across the 12
states of the Federation where the commodity is heavily cultivated.
“The management of the Dangote Farms, which is a subsidiary of Dangote Tomatoes Company
Processing Limited is excited to reveal the tremendous effort that we are making to ensure that Nigeria
becomes self –sufficient in tomato production.
“The planting medium you are looking at is called PAT MOOSE which has the capacity of producing
350 million seedlings per season that can be used to plant an estimate 12,000 hectares of tomato farm.
“We are glad to disclose that we are the first to bring this new technology into the country and this is
going to fast track the yield of our tomato farmers tremendously.
“The project is being executed under the CBN `s Tomato Anchor-Borrowers Programme. The CBN will
be paying for the seedling that we cultivating, and it will be distributed to farmers.
“The PAT MOOSE process you are seeing takes 3 weeks, after which it goes to the next stage, and the
whole process of growing the tomato takes just three months” he explained.
Giving further insight into the value addition which the Greenhouse farm would provide, Kaita, noted
that the introduction of the technology will put an end to post-harvest losses, as well as increase the
volume of the harvest of the commodity.
In the same vein, he added that the introduction of the technology would lead to the expansion of
production of the commodity, beyond the over 2.5 million tons of current consumer demand.
“Based on the study under the GEMS project, Nigeria has 171,000 hectares of land for tomato
production, and if you multiply this with it the over 40 tons which the technology is capable of
producing per hectare that means can grow our production to around 8 million tons.
“With this in the next two years, if Government effects the ban of the importation of commodity, just as
it has been done in the case of rice, Nigeria will soon become a net exporter of the commodity.
“Shun Inferiority Complex” – Gov. Umahi Tells Ebonyians

“Shun Inferiority Complex” – Gov. Umahi Tells Ebonyians
The governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi has charged Ebonyians to move on with the
New Ebonyi State which is far away from what it used to be.
Igbere TV reports that the governor made this known while addressing the mammoth crowd that
gathered at the event of a Thanksgiving service and Dedication of a twin, David and Gloria Egwuche.
He made it clear that Ebonyians are far better than several states across the state but the challenge is the
act of feeling inferior.
Of a truth, Ebonyi of the old was a caricature of the New Ebonyi. Ebonyi before now was a dumping
ground from other states . It was a place where the odd, the dirty and the ugly are found before the
coming of the Divine Mandate Government which has in just few years, revived, redirected,
reconstructed and totally transformed the state.
So far, Ebonyi State has made national and international headlines as the quickest transforming state
across the country. The governor himself, Engr. David Nweze Umahi has severally been bestowed with
the award of the best performing governor among the 36 states governors across the country for his
quick touch and fast transformation of Ebonyi Sate.
The statement reads:

“When we came on board, we saw the magnitude of challenges facing us and we have not defeated all
of them but we have certainly gone very far from where we used to be. For us to be where we are
today, it is neither by power nor by might but by the spirit says the Lord.
“One of the things we have fought and God defeated is people looking down on us, looking down on
our state, looking down on our people.
“Somebody came into Ebonyi State and he asked; why is it that everybody is happy and I said to him,
you will still find few unhappy people but they are very small and we are working hard to make them
happy.
“We must stay away from inferiority complex as we have moved beyond that age. Ebonyi is now a
state everyone wishes to be.”
Northern/Southern Nigeria: A Structured

Discrepancy?
Recently a heated debate over sharing of Nigeria resources and the necessity for diversification of
revenue earning avenues was raising hell amongst the bloggers of a yahoogroup. The heat was sparked
by the remark that “the northerners have managed to out-maneuver the southerners in Nigerian national
affairs repeatedly”. A blogger in response questioned how one can say that just because somebody
suggested setting up agricultural development commission in the North? and another blogger chimed in
to state that northerners aren’t as smart as the southerners. He continued to explain that the reason for
his assertion is that southerners are numerous in the movies and in Medical/Health and Computer
related businesses, doctors, nurse, X-ray technicians, Physical Therapy business, Home Health Care
etc. He referred to them as the creative class.
The fact is the northerners have outperformed the southerners time and time again -politically and
otherwise as a group. The assertion is not based on a suggestion either but on the reality on the
grounds. Northerners have had an edge over the southerners ever since the early 1900s and not just due
to the perils of the recent war but long before the war. The south has always taken a backseat in the
arena of national affairs. In fact since the inception of Nigeria, southerners have stayed second class
citizens while the northerners stayed first. The question is, why this imbalance? Is it possible to really
understand that southerners may have in fact played the biggest role in creating this imbalance on
herself? Could it possibly be that southerners got out maneuvered as alleged? If so, are southerners too
ashamed to attest to it? Very interesting, indeed.
The focus on Agriculture as alternate means of revenue is already very evident on the grounds up
North. While I will agree that lots of cash has been pumped into the region, I will also credit the
northerners for being able to get the Nation to prioritize their needs. To the point that Nigeria has co-
signed her loans repeatedly. They were able to make their case to the top priority – that have somewhat
improved their agricultural output, food storage, food transportation and other delivery systems,
irrigation, among many more. It may be true too that the observed improvement may not compare well
with the amount of money loaned but in all it was a win-win for the northerners. And, it may or may
not come as a surprise that Yam (the Igbo main food) is cheaper in Kano than in any place in the Igbo
States from about the month of January till August. Imagine that!
Some believe it is understandable for the region to get such preferred loans because they lack any
known natural resource that ranks with oil. To those folks, I would ask – why then have the south failed
to get her fair share at the oil pump? Why has the national confab lost its south-south delegates in the
purported resource control negotiations? I mean that in the most responsible way.
As things stand the south is behind in the agricultural sphere. And the obvious question is – who is to
take the blame? Presently, the southern land has very little, if any, of organized futuristic investment
made on her even though she boasts of millions of barrels per day at a price of about $55 a barrel. With
oil money surplus now in the in trillions of Naira, what has become paradoxical is that the south
presently show more need for a preferred loan than the north ever did. The question is why this
disparity? Would it be responsible to conceive it as structured disparity?
I suppose most would lay the entire credit to the colonial masters and the integration formula they
applied on Nigeria. But that may not completely be true because it is not as linear as it appears. The
root to the imbalance or disparity date back to before the years of trans-Atlantic slave trade – during the
period (I consider the “Middle Ages” for southern Nigeria) when the southerners were successfully
striped and numbed of their reality/identity by the then would-be colonial masters. Although some
communities resisted with real intensity such as the group in the Delta region named “Ekumeku” that
fought the western intrusion in manner and tactics that mou-mou employed – but it lead to no where.
So as the 1900s came around, hundreds of years later, southerners were just simply spoken for. What
resulted was southerners as a block became less smarter, shined less bright and less clever. But that is
not to say that individually southerners aren’t smarter, brighter, or cleverer than northerners.
The fact of the matter is simple. As a unit southerners have operated as a conquered people – conquered
by her unique history with the western intrusion which earned her the reward of a refugee without a
home country solidified long before the invasion of southern region by Nigerian troops. The invasion
only exponentially soiled matters. If one counterbalance the two groups -the southerner on one side and
the northerner on the other -it will indicate the obvious -weighing certain performance parameters such
as real leadership and proper representation in the National Assembly, maintenance of cultural
structure, unity, willing-ness to obey the leader, and etc will make apparent and clear the southerners
have not faired well.
Now pertaining to the referenced group labeled the ”creative class” – who unfortunately may never get
to ever GO BACK to live or apply their skills in Nigeria. I am aware of them and most diasporans are
aware of them. The ones that would rescue Nigeria when the wells run dry. The thing is of what use is
this class if nothing can be garnered from it to add to the group as a whole? Or, is it just sufficient to
just produce “Nigerian American” doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, etc, just to have them for the
sake of having them while toiling for America? How many of the northerners is seen in America
working 16hrs a shift in a nursing home? Who in their right mind would leaves his father’s land empty
only to toil on another man’s land as a paid slave? Where would be the logic in that? Would that be
why southerners travel so extensively and with no plans of ever returning permanently?
This class of over-achievers and their achievements adds nothing to the betterment of the group as a
whole. If anything, it creates a vacuum that is continuously increasing and introducing its own
complications as well. (Most of the southern future political leaders now reside in America – in places
like Texas, California, The Carolinas, New Jersey and so on.) I refer to them as the people in the
corridor.
Some may never accept that northerners have exhibited smarts, brights and cleverness as a group – but
the facts on the ground would suggest the contrary – they have exhibited enough of it to make their
case the Nation’s primary concern. Juxtaposing the performance leaves no doubt what part of the
collective destiny the two regions have played in their respective interplays.
It goes without saying, in order for the next federal executive regime of 2007 to make a meaningful
difference or impact, its principal task must center on dismantling the obvious regional imbalances and
preferences that exist in Nigeria. I might add that as the founders of Nigeria originally intended, the
tussle to regionalize Nigeria will remain the main point of contention to achieving a realistic governing
model devoid of any structured discrepancies or disparities. The federal government of today’s Nigeria
may not have understood the delineated disparities within the two regions as evident in their
insensitivity towards it – as they wallowed away six years of PDP glisters and of grand illusions
disguised to only fool the Paris club and her associates.
–
Long Live Nigeria
Water Transportation: Lagos Targets 1m Passengers Daily

Water transportation in Lagos is expected to accommodate between 500,000 to 1million passengers per
day when fully operational and it is expected to decongest the roads.
Commissioner for transport, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde stated this while answering questions from
reporters during an inspection tour of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, in its office at
Falomo, Lagos at the weekend.
For now the waterways carries only between 70,000 to 100,000 passengers which the commissioner
said is quite low.
He assured that the state government is currently making a lot of investment in the sector to provide all
the needed facilities and equipment and make it as safe as possible.
“We will make sure water transportation will be the next best thing in Lagos, water transportation is the
next frontier for this administration and that is why we are pumping a lot of resources into the sector.
“We are investing a lot in water transportation, when you look at the administration of Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he has prioritise water transportation as one of the mode that will take pressure
off the roads and there is a lot of investments going in there.
“We are making it as safe as possible and I can assure Lagosian that it would be one of the attractive
mode in Lagos; currently we are working with Coca Cola that has invested in clearing wreckages from
the water and we will encourage more private sector participation.
Speaking on challenges confronting the agency earlier, Managing Director of LASWA, Oluwadamilola
Emmanuel said the agency needs among other things an emergency and rescue system, that operators
should be certificated and that there is need for capacity building for LASWA staff.
Landslide: “When My People Are Affected, The Whole Nigeria

Is Affected” –BenKalu
A House of Representatives member, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, yesterday, visited the Amankalu community
in Alayi on a fact gathering mission organized by Hon. Emma Eke, the Director-General, Benjamin
Kalu Foundation, to inspect the massive landslide which recently occurred in the area.
Igbere TV reports that that the landslide destroyed peoples’ houses, graves, walls, trees, etc.
The landslide which measured about 4 kilometres, spanned across 4 villages with a gradient depth of
over 100 feet, effectively cutting them off from the local stream, their only source of water for
drinking, cooking and other activities. Cracks could already be seen on the houses of indigenes as the
landslide dangerously lurked a mere 20 feet away from the nearest residential settlement and was fast
approaching.
Speaking with Igbere TV after he donated undisclosed amount of money to those affected by the ugly
incident, Ben Kalu said “when my people are people, everybody in Nigeria is affected”.
He made it crystal clear that he had already alerted various agencies in the country to bring relief
materials to the victims.
He further urged the people to keep believing in the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration
and the leadership of the 9th National Assembly which he is a member of.
“The next step is to engage the relevant stakeholders in regards to managing issues of this nature”, he
said.
“Ordinarily, science taught us that when this kind of trouble wants to happen, it could be either by
using the typography area of the place, the geology of the place or the morphology of the place.
“Sometimes, it could also be the hydrology of the place or human activity or the combination of all
these factors.
“It is difficult for us at this point to establish exactly what was the cause of this tremo that took away
big trees, 4-5 kilometres of land with the depth of 100 ft that has cracked buildings, graves. The
inhabitants of this place can no longer sleep peacefully at night. They are afraid of waking up in the
morning and seeing their houses swallowed.
“We need to engage the stakeholders to properly analyse what actually cause this problem to prevent
reoccurrence.
“I’m happy that we didn’t lose any life but we cannot wait until people start dying before the response
team will start putting the necessary things that are expected to be in place.
“That’s why l left what I was doing in the National Assembly and came down here to see my people
who elected me. The Abia State government cannot manage the level of the devastation I saw here
today”, Ben Kalu said.
He added that there should be a strong agency to handle the damages caused by the landslide, insisting
that the state cannot do it alone.
He, however, noted that the disaster will be handled by Federal Government agencies such as NEMA,
Ecological Funds, Ministry of Environment and other agencies.
“I have come to access it myself and for the purpose of relaying it to the various stakeholders when I
return to Abuja” Kalu said.
He also promised to present the situation before the floor of the House of Representatives as a matter of
urgent public importance.
“If it involves raising a motion on the floor of the National Assembly, I will gladly do so…because the
lives of these ones are very important to me.”
Hon Benjamin Kalu further revealed that the situation would be given urgent attention and wide
publicity.
Speaking on the number of communities affected, Rep Kalu placed the number at four.
“…And we are talking about the population of 20,000 people. We cannot afford to allow any life to be
affected. 20,000 lives are at risk as we speak now.
“Some of them are no longer sleeping here. Most of them have relocated to Ugwueke, Item, Igbere.
“We cannot allow the whole land to be eaten up by this tremo because a stitch in time saves nine”, Kalu
added.
On his part, Aman Kalu, President-General of the affected community, while speaking with Igbere TV,
described Hon Benjamin Kalu as a kind man.
He thanked him for coming to their rescue all the way from Abuja and pleaded with him to provide
portable water supply for the community.
Aman Kalu expressed faith in the ability of the honourable member to ensure that the problem of the
community were addressed in a timely manner.
Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, member representing Bende North State Constituency in Abia State House of
Assembly also appreciated Benjamin Kalu for coming.
He revealed that they are not going to rest until everything was put in place and victims compensated.
Your Insult On Jonathan, Misdirected, Best Suits Buhari ― PDP

Tells APC
says APC seeks to divert attention from the corruption in Buhari’s Presidency
Secondus and Oshiomhole

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s
unwarranted invective on former President Goodluck Jonathan was misdirected as it best suits
President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC administration, which “has gone down as the most
incompetent and most corrupt” in the history of the nation.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, the Party stated that the distortions and groundless
attack on President Jonathan were a desperate tactic by the APC and the Buhari Presidency to divert
public attention from the recent shocking corruption and fraud revelations in which close relatives and
confidants of Mr President were mentioned.
According to statement: “The PDP has been made aware of how the Presidency has been in a frenzy to
suppress investigations and deflect public enquiries from the arrest of President Buhari’s known
confidant deported from the United Kingdom for alleged international passport scam and money
laundering, as it knows that an inquest will further expose the huge rot in the Buhari Presidency.
“Our party has equally been made aware of how the APC and the Buhari Presidency have been
desperate to divert public attention from the administration’s obnoxious decision to further oppress
Nigerians by reintroducing tollgates on our highway, increasing Value Added Tax (VAT), electricity bill
and other tariffs as well as their despicable plot to sack government workers.”
The Party charged the APC and the Buhari Presidency “to perish the idea of thinking that these
unnecessary distortions on the Jonathan administration would bury the demand for an inquest into the
Danu racket through which billions of naira meant for the wellbeing of Nigerians are allegedly being
diverted to private purses.”
The Party further “invites Nigerians to note how the APC had remained silent since revelations that its
key leaders and the cabal at the Presidency are involved in the stealing of over N14 trillion meant for
the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
According to it: “our party further challenges the APC and the Buhari Presidency to speak out on the
alleged diversion of the N500bn meant for the Social Investment Programme among other humongous
fraud directly perpetrated under the Buhari Presidency.
“Furthermore, in trying to tar the PDP, the APC forgets that it is already common knowledge that all the
bad eggs that brought a bad name to the PDP have since left our repositioned party to the APC where
their National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who also has a huge corruption allegation on his neck,
admitted that the party is a haven for corrupt persons.
“Moreover, the fact that President Buhari can only surround himself with persons openly indicted for
corruption, as ministers and advisers, speaks volume of the administration’s posturing on corruption.”
It, therefore, charged the APC not to think that it could cover its mess by trying to make unfounded
allegations against former President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP as Nigerians could now see
through their shenanigans.
October 07
SIM Registration: NCC Makes NIN Compulsory

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that registration of new Subscriber Identity
Module (SIM) cards will now require the presentation of the National Identity Number (NIN).NCC,
which said the enforcement of the new rule takes effect soon, noted that the move became necessary
following the rising criminality in the country.
According to its Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, the policy is in line with the
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2007 relating to NIN regulations, which
provide that a person must provide his/her unique number to register a SIM card.Consequently,
Danbatta said the NCC, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, had set in motion mechanisms for
compliance.
Meanwhile, Nigeria added 1.95 million new subscribers to its networks between July and
August.Speaking at the third yearly conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP)
at the weekend in Lagos, Danbatta, who was represented by the Head, Online Media and Special
Publication, Omoniyi Ibietan, promised that all avenues must be explored to cage the rising cases of
insecurity in the country.
The event was themed “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward.”The EVC
said: “Permit me to quickly take you through a few things that the NCC, as the country’s independent
telecommunications regulatory authority, has been doing towards engendering security of lives and
property for economic development in our country.
“This will be discussed under the sub-theme, ‘NCC, SIM Registration, Security and National
Development’.”According to him, the Nigerian telecoms industry, in the past 18 years, has recorded
tremendous growth. Danbatta added: “Today, the number of active telephone lines in the country is
about 175 million, representing a tele-density of 91.65 per cent. The number of Internet users is 122.6
million, while broadband penetration currently stands at 35 per cent. The cumulative investment profile
in the sector is over $70 billion.
“At 11.39 per cent contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the telecoms sub-sector remains
a major actor in the national economy. “Indeed, as at the second quarter of 2019, the Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) sector’s contribution to the GDP was 13.88 per cent.
“Today, the positive impact of the telecoms sector, either voice or data, resonates in other sectors of the
economy.” The NCC boss pledged that his organisation remained committed to using telecoms to
support the current tripartite agenda of the Federal Government, which are, to improve the economy,
enhance lives and property, as well as fight corruption.
https://guardian.ng/news/ncc-makes-nin-mandatory-for-new-sim-registration/amp
Lanre Razak: Tinubu Qualified To Succeed Buhari In 2023

Lanre Razak, a chiefain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and close ally of the party’s national
leader, Bola Tinubu, has said that he(Tinubu) is ‘eminently’ qualified to succeed President
Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Speaking on speculations that Tinubu is interested in contesting for the presidency in 2023, Razak said
the national leader of the APC played a pivotal role in ensuring the defeat of the Peoples Democratic
Party(PDP) and has helped stabilise democracy.
He then appealed to the national body of the party to maintain zoning by ensuring that the presidency is
zoned to the South in 2023.
“Nigerians do not need to look far to know that the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, is the man that
the presidential cap fits for the next election. He is eminently qualified to succeed President,
Muhammadu Buhari and build on the foundation the latter is currently building.
“ Tinubu is an achiever and his democratic credentials, vis a vis his leading role in forming a coalition
that shoved aside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) misrule has made it crystal clear that, with him
in the saddle in 2023, Nigeria would be better for it,” Razak said.
On speculations that Buhari may seek a third term, Razak said the president is “too principled to fall for
such booby traps from professional sycophants,” exuding confidence that, “he will vacate the seat in
conformity with the constitutional provision.”
On the performance of Governor Sanwo-olu of Lagos, Razaq, said: “With the way the governor has
started, it is crystal clear that peoples’ support is required to partake in this all inclusive government for
the good of all of us. He is on the right path and is performing well."
FG Yet To Reconstitute Minimum Wage Team

Despite the threat by the organised labour that it could not guarantee industrial peace if the Federal
Government failed to meet its demand on the implementation of the new minimum wage by the close
of work on October 16, 2019, the FG has yet to constitute a team to negotiate with the Joint National
Public Service Negotiating Council.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, had on September 28, during a visit by
labour leaders in Abuja said a new government team would replace the old one headed by the former
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.
During the visit to the minister in Abuja, Ngige said he and other ministers in the former negotiating
committee were unable to be part of the first phase of the negotiation because the cabinet was dissolved
and permanent secretaries took the places of ministers in the team.
He said the former government team made appreciable progress and promised that the new team would
reach an agreement with labour over the implementation of the new minimum wage.
However, more than a week after the assurance was made and about 10 days before labour executes its
plan, a source at the Ministry of Labour and Employment told our correspondent on condition of
anonymity that there was no sign the team would be constituted immediately.
The source said, “I am not aware that a new team will be constituted this week. The presidency is busy
with budget presentation for now. Government has not constituted the committee. I have not heard
anything and I don’t know when it will be reconstituted.”
When contacted the Director of Information at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Mr Willie Bassey, said a statement would be made after the team had been reconstituted.
Ozekhome Says President Buhari Can Be Investigated While In

Office
Chief Mike Ozekhome, a constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in this
interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, speaks on the rumoured Third Term bid of President
Muhammadu Buhari and other issues in the polity. Excerpts:
What do you make of President Buhari’s statement that his government will lift 100 million Nigerians
out of poverty in the next 10 years?
The President’s case is still being challenged at the court. Even if he is not removed by the Supreme
Court, he can only do four years out of which he has already spent six months. So, constitutionally,
President Buhari has just three and half years to go. So, if he is talking about taking Nigeria out of
poverty in the next 10 years, from being the poverty capital of the world, having overtaken India, he
may only be thinking in terms of statistics, maybe this is the time Nigeria will get out of poverty but
certainly not himself doing that as a person. He may also be referring to his political party, APC being
in power in the next 10 years. But don’t forget that PDP had boasted that they will be in power for 60
years but it was terminated after 16 years in power. So, nobody knows tomorrow.
President Buhari should be talking about what he can do for Nigerians in the next three and half years
and what he has done for Nigeria in the last four and half years. He cannot be talking about what he
will do for Nigerians in the future when he himself will not be there as President. So, I think it is just
sheer daydreaming.
Going by that statement, some Nigerians are worried saying it may be a ploy by the President to
elongate his tenure in office by getting a Third term. What is your take on that?
I don’t think Nigerians should belly-ache about it. I do know that why Nigerians are saying these things
is because they are wondering whether from the body language, it means he is looking for third term.
Let me tell you, even Obasanjo had tried it and failed. That will never happen in this country again, no
matter how brow-beaten, downtrodden, beleaguered, repressed, oppressed we have become. Nigeria is
not a banana republic that you can just bring up such a warped idea. It can never fly here. The issue of
third term will never ever fly in Nigeria. Read my lips.
Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo a fortnight ago offered to waive the immunity he enjoyed under the
constitution in order to clear his name of the N90b allegations leveled against him by Timi Frank, a
former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC. What is the position of the law on that?
Under Section 308 of the 1999 constitution, the President and Vice-President, Governors and Deputy
Governors of states enjoy total immunity from prosecution. While they are in office, they cannot be
prosecuted. However, it was held in the case of Tinubu versus IGP and other persons by the Supreme
Court that although the President, Vice- President, Governors and Deputy- Governors cannot be
prosecuted while in office, they can however be investigated whilst in office.
In that case, Justice Uwaifo in the very illuminative judgment made it clear that whilst they cannot be
prosecuted, they may be investigated but the result of the investigation cannot be used to prosecute
them while still in office. They will have to wait for that person to leave office before he can be
prosecuted.
So, it is not for Osinbajo to say he will waive his immunity. He cannot waive a constitutional provision
which applies to everybody who occupies the office of President, Vice-President, Governor or Deputy
Governor. To waive it and say prosecute me is to call for violation of Section 308 of the constitution
and his oath of office and allegiance to protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
It is not for him therefore to elect to be investigated. He can be investigated. Even President Buhari can
be investigated while in office. That is what the Supreme Court says. It is just that none of them can be
prosecuted now until they leave office. But at the end of the day, I see the scenario playing out as the
macabre dance of death which is a game toward 2023 and beyond. It is not about Osinbajo because
when they were sending him to markets in Oshodi, Mushin, Sandgrouse markets in Lagos, didn’t they
know that he was a whole Vice-President? When Osinbajo was carrying out jobs that should have been
done by little hands, they needed him that time to help them win election and so didn’t see any fault in
him. Some people saw that that N10,000 they were giving out was more of bribe by the ruling party to
get people to vote for them because some of these people distributing the Tradermoni were wearing t-
shirts bearing ‘Vote Buhari/ Osinbajo. Now the faceless cabal believe they have used him and they are
now ready to dump him and they want to bring in a preferred candidate who will not be intellectually
grounded as Osinbajo; a candidate that they can use again as cannon fodder and then dispense him
when they want. I want to say that I pity the Tinubus of this world because whether they like it or not
they will see Osinbajo as part and parcel of Tinubu.
So, they are trying to rubbish him and sending the ominous signal to him and you can see that some of
them from the core North are already flying kites that democracy is about number, there is nothing like
zoning, there is no question of saying the North cannot retain power. So, it is all about 2023.
Man Disarms Soldier Attached To Governor Umahi, In Ebonyi,

Takes His Riffle
A man identified as Chibuike popularly known as "Fear Not" quietly without harm took a rifle off a
soldier, one of of the security details of Dave Umahi, the infamous Governor of Ebonyi State.
According to report,the Governor of Ebonyi state was attacked by some men. The attackers made away
with one of the soldiers' rifle. The Governor was at a ceremony in Onicha Igboeze,Ebonyi state when
the incident happened.
Chijioke who is from Onicha Igboeze, in Ebonyi State has been apprehended by the Ebonyi National
Youths and handed over to the soldiers.
Source: http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2019/10/ebonyi-man-disarms-soldier-attached-to.html?m=1
To Stop Agitation For Biafra Republic Allow Igbo Presidency In

2023 – Rep Member
"To quench the fire of agitation for Biafra Republic in Igboland, allow South-East to produce the next
Nigerian President come 2023", says member representing Mbaise/Ngor-Okpala Federal Constituency
of Imo State, Rep. Bede Eke
Eke stated this at the weekend, adding that conceding the 2023 Presidency to the South-East Zone zone
will give way for justice, enquiry and fair play.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, the lawmaker was of the view that the
arrangement would also put an end to the clamouring for the Republic of Biafra under whatever guise
by the people of the region.
According to him, “on the continued agitations for South-East presidency in 2023, yes, we want it. I am
of the opinion that we should be given a chance. Talk about the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aguyi Itonsi;
we have not been given a chance since the independence.
“We talk about three geopolitical zones in the country; Hausa, Yoruba have had their chances but what
about the Igbo? Even if only the marginalisation we are crying, why don’t you give it to us?
“If we have the slot of being the president of Nigeria, that will go a long way. If you can give us the
presidency of Nigeria, it will address this problem of people clamouring for Biafra.
“We are all equal before God, no region or zone is superior to one another, we should be given a sense
of belonging in the scheme of things, we have qualified materials to occupy that position.”
This came just as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker called on the National Assembly to
impose age limits on presidential candidates in the future presidential elections in the country as a
follow up to the new
“Not Too Young Act” recently signed into law by President Muhammad Buhari.
Leader, Yerima Blasts Kanu Rep Eke who disclosed that he would introduce a Bill in this Ninth
National Assembly for an Act to block people in their 70s and above, from running for the office of the
president in future elections to allow for younger people to take an active part in the governance of the
country.
He assured Nigerians that when the National Assembly eventually proposes amendments to the
Nigerian constitution, he would be leading the debate for a ‘Too Old to Run Bill’. The lawmaker
explained that the legislation, which would be an amendment to the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ law, will
bar persons from 70 – 80 years from contesting the presidency and help elevate younger people to the
presidency of the country.
According to him, “since Nigerians celebrated the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ bill, the country should also
introduce ‘Too Old to Run’, bill, when you look at events now; look at other countries, when you look
at France; let’s see if we can get young vibrant men to lead this country.
“It is a personal decision and that is my opinion – get a man so advanced; you cannot tell me what a
man of somebody in his 50s, whether early 50s or late 50s, can do, a man in his 80s can do the same
thing. It is not possible! This is nature. “That is an area I should be looking at. If you get to an age, you
should not be bothering to rule.
“If it sails through, that is it! If we now say once you are 80, you should not run for president; when
you are 70 or 80. It is not targeted at anybody, but we want fresh blood. We want to inject fresh blood,”
he stressed.
Speaking on the frantic efforts of the Imo State Governor, Hon Emeka Ihedioha to retrieve government
properties from the officials of the immediate past administration of Senator Rochas Okorocha, the
lawmaker stated that the governor was on the right track going by the sterling revelations and
discoveries coming out from the panel.
According to him, “it is not true that the governor is out to witch-hunt anybody, if you know that you
have government properties in your possession through illegal ways, you must be ready to face the
panel and not be weeping up sentiments, Imo State people are proud of what the governor is doing,
very soon people will continue to be seeing physically the good work he is doing for the state.”
He also canvassed for more devolution of powers from the centre to the states, saying, “for me, people
talk about the devolution of powers, maybe that will help us succeed in making sure that we reduce the
power at the centre.”
He also stressed the need to introduce state police, to compliment the federal police and ensure better
security of lives and property.
ICYMI: No ethnic group has monopoly to rule
Nigeria – Bakare
The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said “no ethnic group has
the monopoly to rule Nigeria.”
Bakare, who has declared that he would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office come 2023,
said he detested it when people said those from a certain section of the country cannot be trusted with
power.
He said though zoning was not in the constitution, it had proven useful for Nigeria’s quest for unity.
Bakare said these on Sunday in a chat with journalists shortly after making a national broadcast on the
state of the nation during the Sunday service in his church in the Ogba area of Lagos.
Bakare said, “Time has come to sit on a table of brotherhood and that’s why I said a President like
President Muhammadu Buhari must rise up above partisanship and above petty ethnic sentiments, like
Abraham Lincoln, like George Washington, to say let’s sit down, Nigeria must move forward. It is
bigger than any of us and it will be better for us to work together by getting the best of the North and
the best of the South to think through the road path for the greatness of this nation.
“I detest the saying that a particular section of this country must not be trusted with power; no! Then,
we cannot live together because nobody is going to be servant of anybody.”
Bakare said for Nigeria to move forward, the different ethnic groups must collaborate and do away
with mutual suspicion.
He said, “This is not time for mutual suspicion; this is a season for collaboration. All the infighting
must stop; it is like father and mother are fighting and the children are confused. The season cannot
afford this; let’s mend the fences. Let’s come together and let us begin to pursue a strategic objective
that will set Nigeria on the path of predictable progress.”
The cleric prayed that Buhari would not fail and that “his legacies will not be rubbished.”
When asked to mention a few of Buhari’s legacies that he would love to see preserved beyond 2023,
Bakare pointed to Buhari’s fight against corruption and insecurity.
He said, “The reason he (Buhari) is tackling corruption left, right and centre and the reason he is
ensuring there is security is so that there will be opportunity for our land to develop.
“If you spend eight years and there is nothing tangible recorded against your name, that is not right.
Remember, for a considerable part of his first term, he was ill; thank God he made it back. It’s like he is
doubling efforts now to ensure that a legacy that cannot be erased is left behind because four years will
soon come and go.”
READ ALSO: Panel faults ex-Bauchi gov’s N2.3bn graveyard funds
Bakare said he believed Buhari meant well for Nigeria and that he was not opposed to restructuring.
“I don’t think Buhari is against restructuring. If he is, then I wonder what legacy he wants to leave
behind.
“He means well for Nigeria; he wants to leave a legacy and he is doing and trying his hardest within
the available resources.
“We are trusting that he will be surrounded by capable men and there will not be mutual suspicion and
mistrust among those who are closest to him so that he can focus and get the job done,” Bakare said.
Kogi Election: Governor Bello Hosts Faleke In Abuja

The meeting was part of efforts for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to record
overwhelming victory at the gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, November 16. A statement
by the Kogi governor's spokesman, Onogwu Mohammed, indicates that the two leaders discuss
strategies to adopt for the polls. The meeting also had in attendance the APC deputy governorship
candidate, Edward Onoja.
After the meeting, Faleke said even though he has no vote in Kogi, he still has numerous followers in
the state.
He promised to reach out to his supporters in the state to ensure that they are fully mobilised ahead of
the polls.
He said he decided to work for the governor for the sake of unity in the APC. Bello has been reaching
out to several APC chieftains in the weeks leading up to the election. The governor has so far gotten an
overwhelming endorsement from many of the chieftains who were hitherto not aligning with him.
The endorsements received by the governor across political divides is said to have boosted his chances
of being re-elected. This is also due to the unending internal wrangling within the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP).
The PDP has been facing serious internal crisis after its primary election ended in rancour, with many
of the aspirants disputing the final result announced.
Despite a series of interventions by senior PDP chieftains across the country, party chieftains in Kogi
state have refused to work together.
Forces Plot Osinbajo’s Exit; Mull ‘Onnoghen’ Treatment - The

Sun
Forces against Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, are reportedly considering giving him the ‘Onnoghen’
treatment.
In addition to pushing for Osinbajo’s investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commssion
(EFCC), the forces are reportedly insisting that the vice president should account for Social Investment
Programme (SIP) funds which were under his supervision before the general election.
In January, a non-governmental organisation, Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative

(ARDI) forwarded a petition to the Code of Conduct Bureaun(CCB), wherein it detailed fraud
allegations against then Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen.
ARDI Executive Secretary, Dennis Aghanya, explained then that his petition against Onnoghen was to
save Nigeria from collapse and that his organisation commenced investigation against him in 2018.
That was the plank upon which Onnoghen was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
On October 3, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) charted a
similar path when it called on the EFCC to probe Osinbajo in an alleged N90 billion released to him by
the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the elections.
In the petition, CHRICED said the allegations were quite weighty and worrisome.
The petition signed by Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi reads: “On the basis of this express declaration from the
president, to the effect that public funds will not be deployed to fund electioneering purpose of the
ruling party, the Nigerian people believed and trusted the president’s pledge.
“However, the claims by Timi Frank imply that the ruling party did not adhere to the directives of the
president on his proclaimed non-use of public funds to prosecute the election in favour of the ruling
party.
“If these allegations are proven to be true, it would also mean that the campaign finance legislation
governing the electoral process, as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, had been flagrantly
violated.
“As a former Deputy Publicity Secretary of the ruling party with the benefit of wide contacts in the seat
of power, Timi Frank could as well be privy to information, which the rest of us may not know.
“As such, only a meticulous investigation of these claims will bring the truth to life.
“In the light of these developments and their implications for the legitimacy of the government, and by
extension the anti-corruption crusade, CHRICED calls for a robust, painstaking and thorough
investigation of these claims with a view to verifying whether they are true or false.
This step from your honourable Commission is critical, and will help clear the air, and douse the
suspicion, which the allegations have precipitated since they began circulating.
“If the vice president is culpable as these allegations claim, then he should be made to face the
consequences of such culpability.
“However, if the claimant making the allegations is found to be deceiving the public, appropriate steps
should be taken to hold him to account; in line with the rule of law.”
It was gathered that although the vice president has “no problem with his boss,” the forces against
Osinbajo are insisting that his role in the Federal Governments backed SIP must be investigated.
A source privy to the plot added: “At an interactive session with women in the Presidential Villa, early
this year, it was the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who raised the alarm that the federal government SIP was
a failure in the North. The first lady even said that the SIP failed in the state of the SSA to the president,
in charge of the programme. These and other allegations about SIP funds are being bandied about,
against the VP.
“There is a formal petition before the EFCC. They must act on it.”
Daily Sun’s efforts, yesterday, to ascertain what EFCC is doing about the petition yielded no result.
Telephone calls and text messages to EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, went unanswered.
Regardless, two weeks ago, the vice president met with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CN),
where he dismissed the fraud allegations as “politics of 2023.”
Daily Sun gathered that at the meeting held at Akinola Agudu House, inside the Presidential Villa,
Osinbajo insisted there was “no N90 billion anywhere,” and that he is ready to defend his integrity
anywhere.
Kogi Elections: Plot To Disqualify Musa Wada Ongoing, 20M

Bribe agreed - PDP
Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
the state has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to use the state judiciary to disqualify its
governorship candidate, Musa Wada by ensuring that his name does not appear on the ballot papers.
The plot, PDP said through a statement signed by Faruk Adejoh Audu, the Head of the Muda Audu
Campaigns in the state, named both the state government and the PDP Vice Chairman Ogugu Ward 3,
Olamaboro Local Government Area, Mr. John Abraham as the main culprits.
The party said that the Kogi State government, and the All Progressives Congresses (APC) have
perfected plans to use the Kogi State judiciary to disqualify Audu for the violence that took place
during the PDP governorship primary election that resulted in one death and injuries to many in the
state.
PDP in Kogi state said that the pliant ward chairman of PDP, Mr. Edward Onoja, who is from the same
local government area with the running mate of Governor Yahaya Bello, was induced with the sum of
N20 million to agree to be used as a litigant to undermine the primaries of the PDP.
“As at the time of the conversation, this rural PDP executive member of humble means has already
been generously given the sum of one million to meet four lawyers including a Senior Advocate of
Nigerian(SAN) hired by Bello’s government to execute their atrocious plot. We challenge the outgoing
government to deny these revelations.
“We heard of this plot immediately it was hatched and expected that they will go to court and serve us
with the processes to enable us join issues immediately, but it’s now obvious that there’s a sinister twist
to even this craven process because whilst there’s been reports of the suit in the media since almost
three weeks ago, we have neither been served nor have we been able to confirm in what court it was
instituted or if it was instituted at all”.
PDP in the state further stated that the Bello campaign has continued to boast and threaten that the PDP
will not have a candidate at the polls until the court has decided.
According to the statement from PDP in the state, “the latest of these threats was the one uttered by the
campaign Director General, Former Senator Representing Kogi West District, Mr. Smart Adeyemi at a
press conference in Lokoja on Friday.
“This is the third time Mr. Adeyemi is openly bragging that the PDP candidate will be excluded from
the ballot because its primaries were flawed. Before him, Mr Bello’s running mate had equally bragged
in a WhatsApp chatroom that the PDP will have no candidate because the primaries were inconclusive.
“The lynchpin of their desperate confidence is based on the sporadic gun attack on the venue of the
primaries when the process was drawing to a close.
“If anyone ever doubted those behind the criminal attack which took place unchallenged in the
presence of security agencies and less than half a kilometre from the Kogi State Department of State
Services (DSS), Mr. Adeyemi and Mr. Onoja seem to have not only confirmed the involvement of the
outgoing government but they have also betrayed the motive of the vicious gun attack”, PDP stated.
PDP said that the attack was to prevent the Kogi PDP from presenting a candidate because the window
for primaries in INEC timetable ended on September 5, a date which would have been impossible for
the party to plan and hold another primaries if their gun attack had been successful in aborting the
process.
PDP said, “rather than hide their face in shame for this failed criminal act, the desperate APC lords of
violence have been unwittingly advertising their culpability in the dastard enterprise. What is unfolding
from the gun attacks, to the clandestine litigation, the bravado of Mr. Adeyemi and Mr. Onoja declaring
inconclusive a process certified even by INEC is a clear picture of a very petrified candidate Yahaya
Bello who having squandered his tenure inflicting poverty, hunger and violence on the people and
attracted ill-will is now desperate to use subterfuge to eliminate every viable opponent from the ballot,”
PDP explained.
AFDB: Buhari Nominates Akinwunmi Adesina For Re-Election

President
President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Dr Akinwunmi Adesina for re-election as the President
of African Development Bank (AfDB).
Mr Adesina, while speaking at an event in Lagos on Sunday, appreciated Mr Buhari for nominating him
for re-election for a second term as president of the bank.
According to Mr Adesina, Nigeria has invested so much in me.
“When asked by former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Minister of Agriculture, it was duty
calling me to the land of my birth.
“I served Nigeria to the very best of my ability. I thank God that Nigeria’s agriculture sector witnessed
a much-needed transformation at the time.
`With the strong support of President Jonathan and the then President-elect, Buhari, we campaigned
very hard for the position of the President of the African Development Bank.
“It was a Nigeria effort, as all hands were on deck.
“This included our former presidents and heads of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Gen. Yakubu
Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, and of
course my dear indefatigable sister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who ran a spirited campaign for me.
“By God’s grace, I was elected President of the African Development Bank on May 28, 2015, exactly
24 hours after my term of office as Minister ended.
“The nation jubilated as I became the first-ever Nigerian to be elected President of the bank since its
establishment in 1964.
“Once again, Nigeria gave me air in my lungs.
“At the African Development Bank, we have worked very hard.
“In my four years as President, we have connected 16 million people to electricity, provided 70 million
people with improved agricultural technologies to achieve food security.
“We have also given nine million people access to finance from private sector companies, provided 55
million people with access to improved transport, and 31 million people with access to water and
sanitation.
“In all, 181 million people have directly benefitted from our investments.
“I am proud of all my staff and the Board of Directors whose hard work and relentless support have
helped make this happen.
“The African Development Bank has continued to maintain its global AAA rating. Last year, the bank
was rated the 4th most transparent institution globally.
“There is still much to do. We have gone some way climbing the steep mountainside of Africa’s
development, yet there is still much way to go until we reach the mountaintop.
“Nigeria again is giving me air in my lungs, to keep on climbing.
“I wish to immensely thank and appreciate President Buhari for nominating me for e-election for a
second term as President of the African Development Bank and for being such a wonderful champion
and supporter of my re-election,’’ Mr Adesina said.
‘southeast Not Ready For 2023’- The Nation

Former Abia State All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Ndukwe Iko, in
this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe explains why the Southwest is well prepared for the
presidency in 2023 than the Southeast and how the party will retain Abia North Senatorial
District. Excerpts
When the election of Orji Uzor Kalu was annulled at the tribunal, what was your reaction?
When the election was announced, I knew that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mao
Ohuabunwa will go to court. I was in the collation room during the election, I spoke with him and I
knew he was heading to court. After the March election, I have not spoken with Orji Kalu and have not
been to Abuja. But I knew that a court process is on and anything can happen. However, that does not
remove the fact that the APC in Abia north is strong. We knew there will be a court ruling; we knew we
have a legitimate victory that will stand the test of all the challenges. At the end of it, the APC will
triumph because we were in the field and we can tell you what happened in the field. If at the appeal
court and we still have to go for a re-run, Kalu will trash Ohuabunwa even with wider margin.
What gives you that confidence?

What gives me confidence is that before the election, we were having trouble in the camp of Orji Uzor
Kalu. We had trouble in some of the local governments that formed Abia North. Abia North has five
local governments. They are Umunneochi, Isikwuato, Bende, Ohafia and Arochukwu. During election
Orji will have Bende, Ohafia and Arochukwu LGAs. But Isikwuato and Umuneochi often be a battle
ground. But this time around it was different. In Isikwuato, for instance we have the Minister of State,
Mine and Steel Development Uchechukwu Ogar well prepared to deliver for the APC. I believe a
million times over the people will support the APC. At Umuneochi, the APC will lead comfortably
because we have politically influential people there. Orji with his strength and popularity will get hold
of the place. Coming down to Bende, the place of Kalu, he always rules in the area like a colossus. In
Ohafia, where I come from and many others, we will deliver to the APC and that is a fact. At
Arochukwu, Kalu had never lost any election in the area, so we don’t have any fear, should there be a
re-run. That is the basis of my confidence and if there is a re-run ten times over Orji will still win the
election. If at the Appeal the court upturns the judgment of the tribunal fine. But if is otherwise, I want
to say Kalu will win Abia North any time any day. He can even stand as an independent candidate in
any election and win. He is a cult hero in Abia North and there is nobody to contest it with him.
Some people have raised concern that Abia government is not living up to expectation. Are you
worried?
I have met governor Ikpeazu several times and in our meetings I have been very opened to him. I have
always told him that this is an opportunity to stamp his legs on the sands of time. The Ngwa nation or
clan has been clamouring for an opportunity to produce the governor of Abia State. He is the lucky one
that has occupied the position. If he allows the eight years to go and there is nothing to write about him,
then history will adjudge him bad. Ikpeazu should put his house together and make sure he delivers
good governance in Abia and that is our prayer. Let him use his tongue to count his teeth, whether he is
doing well or not. Like they say, the taste of the food is in the eating. The people of Abia State that I
meet are not happy with the performance of government. So, I will just advise him to use the chance he
has to justify the clamour of the Ngwa people.
The government owed its workers close to one year salaries now…
I am an employer of labour, I know how painful it is if you don’t pay your workers. The biggest
problem of some of the people in government is mediocrity. We have people who are not properly
nurtured in the art of leadership and they are in very high position. I think it is evil for someone to work
for you for 30 days and you refuse to pay that person. How do you expect that person to feed his
family? I don’t see a governor that will sleep well, if he refuses to pay salary.
Do you think the APC can make things better, if they have the chance in 2023?
We are not happy that the governor is not paying salaries; there are many issues in Abia that one could
campaign about including prompt payment of salaries. If the government is not paying salaries, it is an
act of evil punishable by God and it is not proper. So, every pressure on PDP in Abia is an opportunity
for us in the APC to produce the next governor.
Is the Southeast prepared for the Presidency?
The Presidency is still a long way to go. But the race to occupy the position of the President started
immediately after the last election. The emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar will define the way in 2023. But being that as it may, I believe at the
moment, the Southeast is not politically strong enough to produce the President in 2023. And that is my
honest disposition. Some people may criticize this, saying what is this Ibo man saying? But as a
politician and someone that has come of age, I know that we need a strong political party structure and
national outreach. You need other factors like finance and others to get to that exalted office. You need
enough handshakes across the regions. The Yoruba are better positioned than the Igbo. If you look at
the government of today, I will say the Yoruba are controlling more than 40 per cent in the structure of
governance, where you have a Vice President that is from the Southwest. You have a speaker of the
House of Representatives that is from the Southwest. Out of the four high offices, they have two from
the same zone. Even the north does not have it that way because the President is from the Northwest
and the Senate President is from Northeast. In the north, the portfolio is divided among the zones in the
north. In the south, a lot of power is concentrated in the Southwest because of the judgment of my
political party the APC. Simply, what you give is what you get. That is if you give much, you will also
get much in return. That is what the Southwest is enjoying. Now, how do you place the Southeast in
this calculation? They are nowhere to be found. The highest position the Southeast is occupying, is at
the National Assembly. That is the Chief whip, a party position and not a national position. The Chief
Whip of the Senate represents mainly the APC senators. It does not have overwhelming control of the
PDP senators. The occupant can only negotiate, so the Southeast is nowhere to be found in this
equation at the moment. So, for the Southeast to jump the bottle neck, to emerge in 2023, it will be
difficult. The PDP can still rely on the north. They know that if they break from the north and give the
Presidential candidate to another zone, PDP will problem. So in 2023, PDP will still go back to zoning
its Presidential candidate to the north. But for the APC, the fight is between the North and the
Southwest for the President.
What is your view on the present cabinet of Buhari?
I do not have confidence in the present composition. And when I compare that of Lagos State to the
Federal Government I think, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is better. There is no gap in Lagos cabinet.
You can see technocrats and when you put this side by side with the Federal Government, the federal
cabinet is like a compensatory cabinet. People who can make things happen are not fully involved. This
is why I say I do not expect much from the Federal Government.
Borno Recruits 1,000 ‘Ninja Hunters’ With ‘Powers To
Disappear’
The spiritual warfare against Boko Haram has officially commenced in Borno state.
Babagana Zulum, the governor, has secretly recruited 1,000 traditional hunters from different parts of
the north-east and north-west.
They are believed to possess supernatural powers to resist gun shots and also disappear and appear —
like Japanese ninjas.
Zulum, a professor of engineering, has become apprehensive over the resurgence of Boko Haram in his
state despite the efforts of the military.
Last week, the Nigerian army organised a seminar on using spiritual warfare to counter insurgency.
Zulum had only Friday in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, directly engaged 30 devotees for daily supplication
around Ka’aba, Islam’s holiest site, to pray for peace in the state which has been the epicentre of the
insurgency since July 2009.
A source familiar with the secret recruitment said the governor may have decided to try unconventional
means to supplement efforts of the military.
TheCable learnt that the recruitment was intensified in the last two weeks with the traditional hunters
armed and administered the oath of allegiance using the Qur’an, Islam’s most sacred book.
The hunters are largely Muslims.
Although the state government has been recruiting thousands of local hunters, vigilantes and the
civilian JTF for years, they were volunteers from Borno.
“This is the first time outsiders have been engaged,” the source said.
“They are being brought into Borno in batches, often during the night in order to evade public
attention.”
They are provided with dane guns, swords and anything they ask for, TheCable further learnt.
The source said: “The special hunters are being identified from all parts of the north-east and north-
west, in particular, and engaged by a team of trusted aides assigned by Governor Zulum.”
Zulum had in June 2019, a month after he was sworn in, appointed a retired army colonel as special
adviser on security.
He also increased monthly allowances of thousands of existing volunteers under the civilian JTF.
He immediately acquired 160 patrol vehicles and surveillance gadgets which he distributed to the
fighters he inherited.
TheCable could not confirm the actual number of new hunter-fighters being recruited, but they are over
a thousand.
They are being deployed in northern Borno — which has 10 of Borno’s 27 local government areas.
Nigeria’s share of the Lake Chad is substantially located in places in northern Borno.
Boko Haram insurgents are said to be in control of local and international water ways of Baga, a major
fishing community in Kukawa local government area, also in northern Borno.
The insurgents are believed to impose taxes on all water ways transportation to generate funds for their
activities.
Northern Borno is also where oil prospecting was being carried out by the NNPC. The oil search has
largely been halted owing to activities of the insurgents.
Buhari Revealed His ‘true Colour’ After He Got Power: Buba

Galadima
Buba Galadima, a former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the true colour of the
president was exposed when he came into power.
According to Galadima, in an interview with New Telegraph, had Buhari worked for the real values he
stood for in the past, the country would have made significant progress.
His words, “He (Buhari) knew why he came to politics and why some of us sacrificed everything to
ensure that he becomes President but when he became President, he sort of kicked out all those ideals
for which we fought for, for which we had been intimidated and for which he suffered trial for treason,”
he said.
“So, it is something that is most unfortunate for a statesman like him, saying something and not living
to his words.
If we had followed our own programme as envisaged in 2002, Nigeria would have been elsewhere now
like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India and a host of so many other advanced countries of the world.
“We shouted for Buhari for many years but that didn’t make him a President until he crossed the
borders to meet other people from other parts of the country. He went out to seek the assistance of
others… then after he won, he brought out his true colours.
On whether previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governments see truly responsible for the woes
of the country, he said;
“Let’s agree with him on what he has said about the situation he met. Why was he voted for? He was
voted for because most Nigerians believed that he would take us out of the woods,” he said.
“So it is no excuse. Whenever anybody in this government blames past governments, I just laugh. Who
are those among them in the government that were not part of the PDP, including the President
himself.”
Kogi Election: Natasha Akpoti Says She Will Be The First

Female Gov. In Nigeria
The Kogi State gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Barr. Natasha Akpoti has
expressed optimism that she will contest and win the November 16 gubernatorial election in the State,
and will become Nigeria's first female governor in the history of the state and Nigeria at large.
She made this assertion while addressing a large crowd of supporters who paid her a courtesy call on
Sunday to reiterate their support and conviction in her candidacy.
"I warmly welcome you all and want to use this opportunity to appreciate the immense support I have
enjoyed from you so far and your continued belief in my candidacy. I want to assure you that with your
solid support and votes, my resolve to lead Kogi state to unprecedented progress and become the first
female governor since the creation of the state in 1991 is unwavering.
2020 Budget: Buhari Presides Over Extraordinary FEC Meeting

resident Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over an extraordinary Federal Executive Council
(FEC) meeting in Abuja.
The meeting which is being held at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa, would deliberate on
the 2020 budget proposal.
Igbere TV had reported that Buhari will tomorrow, Tuesday, October 8, 2019 formally present the
Appropriation Bill to a combined session of the National Assembly.
The extraordinary FEC meeting is being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
Others in attendance are the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, acting Head of Civil Service of
the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan and cabinet ministers.
The ongoing extraordinary FEC meeting was earlier shifted from October 5, recalls Igbere TV.
Atiku Abubakar Reacts To Lecturers In 'Sex For Marks'

Scandal
Atiku Abubakar took to his twitter account to react to the sex for grades scandal uncovered by BBC
African Eye.
He tweeted saying..
I have just read the story on #SexForGrades across public tertiary institutions in many West African
countries. This is unacceptable, and requires systemic strategies to put a deterrence to such behaviour.
As a society, we cannot allow a trend that is psychologically abusive to young women to thrive. In fact,
that’s a direct opposite of what a sound educational system represents. - AA
TENURE ELONGATION: FIRS Boss To Know Fate On Friday

The Federal High Court sitting in Kano has today heard the Originating Summons of a Lawyer, Stanley
Okwara seeking to sack Dr. Babatunde Fowler as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS).
After hearing all the parties including the preliminary objections and counter affidavits of the
Defendants, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Lewis-Allagoa, adjourned the matter to Friday, the 11th
of October for Rulings and final judgment.
The FIRS Boss was represented by Chief Paul Erokoro, SAN while the Plaintiff was represented by
Johnmary C Jideobi
How To Check Your Individual TIN (tax Identification Nos)

Online Using BVN/NIN
Little did many Nigerian know that every one that is of taxable age and has obtained either BVN or
NIN has been allocated a Tax Identification Number (TIN) by the Nigerian government.
The tax identification number (TIN) is a unique identifier for an individual or a company for the
specific purpose of tax remittance and it is issued by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). As a
business or individual, TIN is important because that is what shows that you are a registered taxpayer
in Nigeria, and as you know that tax payment is made compulsory, every company, business, individual
must have their own unique tax identification number.
Registered company/business will however need to Apply for TIN online separately. Follow the steps
below to check your personal Tax Identification Number (TIN) with either BVN or NIN
- Visit https://tinverification.jtb.gov.ng/
- Select your Date of Birth.
- Select your preferred search criteria from the Select Criteria Dropdown-TIN or NIN or BVN or
Registered Phone Number
- Provide the appropriate value based on the search criteria in Step 2 above
- Confirm you are not a robot by checking the reCAPTCHA Box
- Click the Search button
Source: https://www.naijabusiness.com.ng/featured/2019/check-individual-tin-tax-identification-
number-online/
Just In: Taraba House Of Assembly Impeaches Deputy Speaker,

Gives Reason
The Taraba State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached its Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mohammed
Gwampo, representing Yorro State constituency.
Gwampo was impeached during plenary over alleged gross incompetence in the discharge of his duties.
The motion for the impeachment of the Deputy Speaker was moved by the former Majority Leader,
Hon. Albasu Kunini, of Lau State constituency.
The Assembly immediately elected Hon. Charles Maijankai of Karim Lamido I State constituency as
the new Deputy Speaker.
Until his election, Maijankai was the Majority Lead
Minimum Wage: Governors Will Pay 9% - Fayemi

THE Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman Dr Kayode Fayemi on Sunday said governors were
not divided on the new minimum wage implementation.
According to him, they do not see the national minimum wage increase as a general wage review.
Fayemi, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said: “We are not divided. We have agreed to
the national minimum wage and we are paying. Even if we do not agree, the National Minimum Wage
is already a law which is binding.
“Our proposal during the negotiation was N24, 500 minimum wage but at the end of the negotiation,
N30, 000 was the agreed figure and we abide by that because it is now a law.
“However, governors are very clear that a national minimum wage increase is not tantamount to a
general wage review.
“Whilst we know that there may be a need for a minimal consequential adjustment, we (governors) are
together with the Federal Government that this should not exceed nine per cent.
“We think nine per cent is too much for those who are already earning above the minimum wage.
“It is a minimum wage increase; it is not a national wage review in the sense that it affects those who
are earning below N30, 000.”
Another governor from Northcentral, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some states have not paid the
N30, 000 minimum wage because there is no general agreement yet on the consequential increase.
Negotiation is still on and the NGF is fully represented.
“The government has offered nine per cent consequential increase across the board for those who are
earning above the minimum wage threshold but the Nigeria Labour Congress is asking for a 45 per cent
increase.
“The Federal Government has said 45 per cent consequential increase is unrealistic. The government
has already made provision for the N30, 000 minimum wage in 2020 Budget. Where do they expect the
government to get the funds?
“Some consequential increase may be sensible but this demand for 45 per cent is unrealistic.”
My Second Term Not Negotiable —obaseki

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has declared that his second term in office was not
negotiable insisting that he deserves another term in office because he has fulfilled most of his
promises to Edo people and need to consolidate on his developmental strides in the state.
Obaseki who when said this when he received members of the Benin Unity League in his office,
insisted that “no individual can determine who will become governor. Only God and the people can
make the decision.”
The governor said his interest to continue in office was for the right reasons, saying, “I have said it
clearly and I told my cabinet members that the second term for me is non-negotiable. I am demanding
it because I deserve it and I think I have earned it. We need to have it so that we can continue what we
are doing today.”
“I want to assure you that this is a fight in which we will prevail. We will fight and succeed. If anybody
thinks I will back out, he must be day-dreaming because it is not my fight; it is a fight for the right
purpose. I am not going to back off because I know victory is sure,”
He added that nobody can accuse him of implementing a wrong policy, adding that the accusations
against him were that he was not focusing on stomach infrastructure.
“We earn less today than we did in 2016 when we came into power, so where is the money to waste?
We know how much we inherited as debt; we have to service them. Some people sit and say we should
focus on stomach infrastructure. I said no, that I will rather focus on mental infrastructure,” he said.
The governor expressed appreciation to the Benin Unity League for understanding where the
challenges were coming from and for supporting the truth.
President, Benin Unity League, Dr. Gregory Osa, said the visit was to join other Edo sons and
daughters to reject the mischief in some quarters aimed at prematurely pulling the governor out of
office, describing the move as “borne out of selfish motives.”
Osa added, “You are providing an enabling environment to make Edo an industrial hub. We are
particularly interested in your push to develop the Benin River Port and the Benin Airport. You will not
only win the battle; you will win the war.”
He explained that the association is a socio-cultural and non-political association established in 1983
comprising notable Benin Professionals.
Why CCB Will Not Release Asset Declarations Of Buhari,

Osinbajo, Others
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mohammed Isah, has explained why the outfit will not
release the asset details of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, despite
public requests.
He said this is because “the National Assembly has not set the guidelines for the Bureau to do so.”
Speaking at a News Agency of Nigeria forum in Abuja, Mr Isah cited the stipulations of the
constitution as well as the FOI Act as the Bureau’s guiding principle.
Paragraph 3 of the third schedule of the constitution empowers the Bureau to retain in its custody
details of assets declared by a public office holder and make them available for inspection upon request
by any citizen of Nigeria, on the terms and conditions prescribed by the National Assembly.
“So, if anybody as a private person or private organisation wants to access asset declaration or
information contained in asset declaration of any public officer, those conditions laid down by FOI Act
must be fulfilled,” Mr Isah said.
The official did not say why the CCB has not asked the National Assembly to prescribe the conditions.
He also did not state if the CCB plans to ask the National Assembly to do so.
The FOI Act establishes the right of anyone to request information in the custody of any public
official, agency or institution, with the exception of security files which are not of public concern.
Requests
In 2015, a coalition of groups requested the Bureau to make public the asset declaration forms filed by
Messrs Buhari and Osinbajo.
However, the CCB declined their requests, citing “personal privacy” as its reason.
Many questioned the lack of consistency by the Bureau, especially when the details of assets filed by
the former chief justice of the federation, Walter Onnoghen, was accessed by Dennis Aghanya, a
former aide to the president.
On the heel of the suspension of Mr Onnoghen, after he was accused of withholding the full declaration
of his assets, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) again requested “details
of asset declarations by successive presidents and state governors between 1999 and 2019, including
details of declarations made immediately after taking offices and thereafter”.
The Bureau again turned down the request.
It said it “would offend the right to privacy of presidents and state governors”.
The group has since sued the CCB.
Unwilling president
Before his first election as president, Mr Buhari had promised to make public a comprehensive list of
his declaration at the CCB. Although he denied ever making such promise, PREMIUM TIMES found
his denial to be untrue.
He did submit his declaration particulars to the CCB, and the Bureau followed this with its verification
but the president reneged on his promise to make public the content of his declaration.
After a public backlash, the president, through a statement from his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in
September 2015, reeled out only sketchy details of assets and liabilities filed by President Buhari.
Mr Buhari, according to the statement, was said to have N30 million in his bank account before taking
office on May 29, 2015.
This is alongside five houses in Kaduna, Daura, Kano and Abuja; two undeveloped plots of land, one in
Kano and the other in Port Harcourt.
Also, Mr Buhari was said to have farms, an orchard, ranch, livestock including 270 cattle, 25 sheep,
five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees, and a “number of cars”.
Osinbajo
Vice President Osinbajo in his declaration said he had N94 million and $900,000 in his bank account.
He also owned a 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos; a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley
Road, Ikoyi; a 2-bedroom flat along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; and a 2-bedroom mortgaged property
in Bedford, England.
Also, together with his law firm, known as SimmonsCooper, Mr Osinbajo was said to be a shareholder
in six Lagos-based firms: Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd., Aviva Ltd.
and MTN Nigeria.
Other details like the addresses and value of the listed houses and assets and their liabilities were
withheld in the release.
Also, the assets of their spouses and unmarried children under 18, as the law demands, were not
contained therein.
Again in 2019, after Mr Buhari’s reelection, the presidential spokesperson, Mr Shehu, said: “the
(declaration) forms, as signed by the President and sworn to before a Judge of Abuja High Court,
showed no significant changes in assets as declared in 2015 by him.”
“There are no new houses, no new bank accounts at home and abroad and there are no new shares
acquired,” Mr Shehu added, without further details.
Many public officers not complying
Ironically, the Chairman of the CCB also berated the level of compliance by public officers.
“Our main predicament is the issue of enlightenment. People have little or no knowledge about their
obligations or relations to compliance with the Code of Conduct for public officers. So, the level of
compliance is not encouraging at all,” Mr Isah said.
Part 2, Schedule 5 of the constitution highlights public officers as: the President, vice-president, all
members and staff of the national and state legislative houses, governors and deputy governors, all
judicial officers and staff of courts of law, all state and federal political appointees, ambassadors, high
commissioners and other officers of Nigeria missions abroad, and DGs and chairmen of all parastatals
and agencies of federal and state governments, military, police, immigration, customs, prisons, political
office holders and all federal, state and local government civil servants.
These public officers are mandated by the provisions of Paragraph 11 of Part 1 to the Fifth Schedule of
the constitution to declare their asset and those of their unmarried children under 18 years to the Code
of Conduct Bureau (CCB), before and after their tenures.
Meanwhile, the official admitted that the agency has been “a bit toothless in biting corrupt officials” in
the public sector.
He said the agency will “up its game”.
“The bureau was neglected because of its non-performance, and we are not here to fail. We are here to
achieve and make the bureau better than we met it. So, in the next few days, the turnout in terms of the
success of our cases in court will be very impressive,’’ Mr Isah said.
The CCB, established in 1979, has the core mandate to check corrupt practices in the Nigerian public
service by ensuring public officers declare their assets to the Bureau.
Gov. Sanwo-olu Awards Hero Policeman For Saving Man After

Being Shot By Robbers
Lagos stage governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, today presented an award and cash prize to hero Super
cop, Celestina Nwankwo who saved a young mans life after being shot by armed robbers.
On the 19th of September 2019, a young man named Ajabor Friday was shot by thieves and left for
dead at Ogudu.
Officer Celestina Nwankwo had spent over N400,000 hospital bills on the victim which he undergone a
successful surgery.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu poses with the victim and hero policeman.
See more photos; http://graygist.com/2019/10/07/gov-sanwo-olu-awards-hero-policeman-for-saving-

man-after-being-shot-by-armed-robbers
Foursquare Reacts As Pastor Boniface Gets Exposed By BBC
The Foursquare Gospel Church has reacted to the publication of a documentary by BBC Africa Eye
exposing sexual harassment of students across public tertiary institutions in West Africa.
Dr Boniface Igbeneghu, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, UNILAG, and former sub-dean, was
caught on camera trying to force himself on a journalist who posed as a 17-year-old admission seeker.
The lecturer was the head pastor of a Foursquare Gospel Church in Lagos.
The Church, in a statement released on Monday dissociated itself from the SexForGrades allegation
labeled against its Pastor, stating that it has zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment.
Read the statement below;
“The attention of the leadership of The Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria has been drawn to a video
clip trending on social media platforms titled “Sex for grades: Undercover in West Africa Universities -
BBC News" wherein a lecturer in University of Lagos named Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu also described as
a pastor in Foursquare Gospel Church was allegedly involved in sexual misconduct with some female
students of the university.
The general public is hereby informed that as a holiness and Bible-believing Church, we do not
condone such heinous and unscriptural act among our ministers.
We totally dissociate ourselves from the purported conduct of Dr. Igbeneghu and promise to take
appropriate measure as soon as the ongoing investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile, the pastor in question has been asked to step down from all ministerial assignments.”
Earlier on Monday, a 13-minute documentary published by the British public service broadcaster was
centered on the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Ghana.
Mordi, in the documentary, said she too was a victim of sexual harassment during her days in the
university.
She said her team took the initiative due to the clamour to expose lecturers in the habit of sexually
abusing students.
Boniface Igbeneghu: Bukola Saraki Reacts To UNILAG

Lecturer's Sex Scandal
The Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki as took to his twitter account to react to the see for
grades scandal uncovered by BBC African Eye.
He tweeted saying..
As a father, I'm appalled by the actions of lecturers captured in the #SexForGrades exposé.
We cannot allow this sort of deplorable behaviour to fester.
In 2016, my colleagues and I in the 8th Senate passed the "Sexual Harassment in Tertiary
Education Institution Prohibition Bill" to prescribe a 5 year jail term for any lecturer,
educationist or person in a position of authority in any tertiary institution in Nigeria found...
... guilty of such conduct.
I appeal to the 9th Senate & President @MBuhari to revisit this Bill so that we can
implement the institutional reforms necessary to safeguard our children in educational
institutions in the country.
I also urge the institutions to conduct robust investigations, not only on the accused but also
for all other reports and complaints that come in. We need to believe victims and make
institutions safer for our students.
Akeredolu Sacks Augustine Pelemo, Called Deputy Gov.'s

Wife 'Acting First Lady'
The Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has sacked his Special Assistant on Political
Matters, Mr Augustine Pelemo.
Mr. Pelemo was relieved of his position on Monday morning, barely 24 hours after posting on his
Facebook page, a congratulatory message to wish the wife of the deputy governor a happy
birthday but referring to her as the "Acting First Lady of Ondo State". .
His sack letter reads in part: "This directive is with immediate effect; and it underscores the need
to instil sanity and nip in the bud, divisive acts and tendencies inimical to the existing cordiality
and cohesion in the administration led by the governor.”
Shoot Anyone Who Blocks My Convoy -- Ebonyi State

Governor
The governor of Ebonyi State, South-east Nigeria, David Umahi, has ordered his security details
to shoot anyone who blocks his convoy, Igberetv reports.
Even if such gunshot results to death, Mr Umahi said, it is still within the law. Governor Umahi
gave this order on Saturday while narrating how his convoy was blocked the previous night by
mourners at a wake-keep in the state.
The governor’s convoy was reportedly blocked along Onicha Road in Onicha Local Government
Area of the State on his way back to the state capital from his Uburu, Ohaozara hometown Friday
night.
He alleged that one of his security aides lost his military rifle in the incident. While receiving
some guests at the State Executive Chambers in Abakaliki on Saturday, the governor expressed
his fury over the incident, saying it is a criminal breach of the law.
He narrated: “Yesterday night, I was coming back by 12 midnight. Of course, I had to stop over
at the college to inspect projects, but when we got to Onicha, they blocked the road.
“Even with the litany of army and the police and everything, they did not even want to open the
road. Then I said they should arrest all of them, but most of them ran away. I think they even took
a gun of an army officer,”.
The Governor further said that those who ran away would still be arrested and imprisoned.
“So the Chairman of the Local Government, the House of Assembly members and coordinators,
they are working very hard and the SSA on Security, they are all there to sort it out.
“But I say, all of them will go to prison. So they have to identify them, bring them here and we
will prosecute them to show an example,” he said.
Shoot, even to kill to forestall anyone from blocking his convoy in the future, even if like the
mourners, they are not armed, Mr Umahi said such persons should be shot.
“Next time the ADC should order for a shoot. It is very illegal to block the governor. And if
anybody is killed in the course of that, it is allowed in the law.
“And it is not me that is the problem, it is the common man, nobody should be oppressed…,” the
governor said.
The governor also announced a ban on wake-keep extending beyond 10 p.m. in the state.
“And I want it to be announced that henceforth, no wake-keep should go past10 p.m. If you must
pass 10 p.m., take written permission from the chairman of the local government, and both the
chairman and the person that requested will be held responsible if any problem occurs.
BREAKING: With You Nigeria Is Not Moving Forward —

Atiku Tells Buhari
Former Nigerian vice President Atiku Abubakar has on Monday lambasted on president
Muhammadu Buhari and the All progressive Congress APC saying with Buhari the country will
never move forward.
Atiku made this Statement shortly after the viral UNILAG lecturer's video surfaced demanding
sex for marks.
Nigeria has been painted black under Buhari's government, a lot of evil things happening, from
one crime to another and we won't continue to remain like this he said.
However, Atiku has called for immediate action to protect female students from sexual
harassment in campuses; our sons and daughters must be protected he added.
Muhammad Ali Met Gowon In Nigeria In 1971 (Throwback

Video)
This is a throwback video on the rich history of Nigeria.
It features the late boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, giving one of Nigeria's past leaders, Gowon, a few
key tips about boxing.
Watch the video below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mypqtpm6Gk8
President Buhari To Present 2020 Budget Proposal To NASS

On Tuesday
President Buhari to present 2020 Budget proposal to NASS On Tuesday - Naijahitplay
The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari is set to present the 2020 Appropriation Bill
to a joint session of the National Assembly (NASS) on Tuesday.
Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed this
development at the end of an extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The meeting which considered the 2020 budget proposals before its presentation to the National
Assembly on Tuesday by 1.30pm, was presided over by President Buhari at the Council Chamber
of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. Adesina, who briefly spoke to State House
correspondents, said: “No briefing, we only looked at what we will present at the National
Assembly tomorrow”, referring to Tuesday’s presentation of the 2020 budget proposal to the
NASS by President Buhari.
President Nuhari is expected to lay the 2020 budget before a joint session of the Senate and
House of Representatives on Oct. 8 for approval, “as the country intends to revert to the January
to December budget cycle.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the early presentation of the 2020 budget is
meant to return the Federal Government budget cycle from May-June to January-December.
The Senate had on Thursday increased the proposed 2020 budget from N10.007 billion to
N10.729 trillion.
However, President Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly had on Sunday night
(Oct. 6) met behind closed doors at the President’s official residence in Abuja in what appeared to
be `2020 budget reconciliation meeting’.(NAN)
Jonathan, PDP Chairman And Governors Shun

Governorship Campaign In Bayelsa
As the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) began its campaign for the
November 16 governorship election in the state on Monday, Information Parrot Nigeria reports
that a former president of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, governors elected on the platform of
the party and its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus were conspicuously absent.
At the event which held at the Ox-Bow Lake Pavilion, Yenagoa,the state capital, Mr.Secondus
was however represented by the party’s Vice-Chairman, South, Emmanuel Ogidi amidst
thousands of party faithful across the eight local government area of the state.
The highlight of the inaugural campaign was the defection of a former APC stalwart from
Sagbama Local Government Area, Miebi Bribina.
Both Gov.Seriake Dickson and PDP Candidate, Senator Douye Diri boasted that PDP will emerge
victorious at the election.

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OCTOBER 04 - OCTOBER 07 NEWS

Gbajabiamila Told Rep Members About Signing Register,

According to Gbajabiamila, the order says:

Shutdown Of Terminal Jetty: BUA Replies NPA With Evidence

You’ll Handover Bayelsa To Lyon, Oshiomhole Tells Dickson

Omo-Agege Says NASS Will Amend Electoral Law To Make

Nigeria To Collaborate With S/Africa To Develop Oil Sector

Samuel Ortom Queries Aide For Renaming Ahmadu Bello Way

Reps Pass Bill To Criminalise Estimated Billing

“This billing is not known by any scientific rule,” he stated.

90 Percent Of Cars In Nigeria Are Smuggled – Customs Boss,

Gov.obaseki Speaks Tough, Says "Nobody Can Stop My

“I am not going to back off because I know victory is sure.”

Senate Wants Integration Of Almajiris Into Educational System

IPOB Protesters Shot & Tear Gassed As Buhari Visits South

by Tom Head

Why Nigerians want Buhari to take a DNA test

Watch protesters label the Nigerian President an “imposter”:

The IPOB were on top form again this Thursday:

Buhari in South Africa

Senators Receive N36 Million Monthly, Yet Nigerians Are

SGF Office Gets N16bn For Constituency Projects In 2019

Oshiomhole Says PDP’s Dubai Meeting Meant To Destabilise

Reps To Probe Federal Roads Constructed Under Yar’adua,

Trade War, Price Slump Threaten Nigeria, Others

Toll Gates: APC Filled With People Without Integrity –Yinka

FG Yet To Commence Reconstruction Of Enugu Airport Even

Shehu Sani Speaks On What Nigeria Has Become In 59 Years

“Nepotism erodes patriotism and nationalism.”

Court Grants Sowore Bail With Strict Conditions

Shehu Sani: What Death Of Ogbomosho Tortoise Means For

Reacting on Friday to the news, Mr Sani in a tweet sighted by Igbere TV wrote:

Setting Plans Now For 2023 Is Playing God – Oshiomhole

There’s No Nigerian Leader That Nigerians Don’t Hate – Bishop

Governor Ugwuanyi To Deploy Automated Drones For

7 Journalists Charged With Treason Since 1963

Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro

Chris Anyanwu of The Sunday Magazine

Nigeria, South Africa To Issue 10yr Visa To Businessmen,

Chido Onumah: "I Am Aisha Yesufu, I Am A Biafran, We All

She add that everyone is a Biafran including her.

N8bn scam: Court orders EFCC to produce 106

In enforcing collection, Folorunso said the focus should be on high taxpayers/high-income

"Buhari called for mass action in 2003,

Senator Akpabio Orders Suspension Of Employment In NDDC

Watch the video Below:

Akeredolu Gives N100,000 Cash Each To South African

He described the attacks as unwarranted, barbaric and condemnable.

Chibok Atacked By Boko Haram, Many Houses On Fire

“Many houses have been burnt.”

2023 Presidency splits Tinubu, Osinbajo - Sunnews

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Workers should ignore Ngige – TUC

Ngige: The times call for sacrifice

“Government has promised a thorough ventilation of all issues.

“The times call for sacrifice.”

Army Neutralizes Boko Haram Terrorists, 2 AK-47 Rifles, 2

The Nigerian Army made this known in a statement on Friday.

Mohammed Abubakar Sold N150m Armoured SUV To Himself

2023 Presidency: Nothing Wrong If North Retains Power - ACF,

Read Also: 2019: How to keep Kaduna calm

Only 300,000 People Pay Taxes In Anambra – Commissioner