Oct 15 – Oct 19 News

October 15

Ex-Militants Urge Akpabio To Develop Niger Delta

Niger Delta ex-militants have called on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio,
to drive the development of the region the way he transformed Akwa Ibom State as governor. They also
appealed to him to extend his supervisory roles to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP),
following alleged corruption in the scheme.

The ex-militants, under the auspices of Ex-Agitators Youth Development Combined (EAYDC) said
since its inception, the amnesty programme has been hijacked by non-agitators, who mismanaged
resources, leaving only crumbs for the real ex-militants. Members of EAYDC said the injustice in the
programme must be addressed, because it has turned out to one of the most corrupt interventionist
agencies in the country.

The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, General Tonye Bobo, popularly called Sir
T, said the original code prescribed by the United Nations to guide interventionist agencies had been
abandoned by the amnesty office. Bobo said non-training of delegates was one of the reasons why the
amnesty programme was lagging behind.

He said: “One of the primary aims of the amnesty programme has been defeated, which of course, is
the re-integration phase, which has not been fulfilled. This is the cause of the perennial agitations in the
region.

The national coordinator said Akpabio would not disappoint the region, as he would deploy his wealth
of experience in his new assignment. He said the former governor was competent and would handle his
new assignment with passion. He said members of his group would support Akpabio and offer him
required assistance in his quest to develop the region.

Bobo said: “We are a grassroots-based organization in the region and will not support anybody or
group of people, who wish to sabotage his efforts in the ministry. We will collaborate with all
compatriots to work with the minister and his team to actualize the federal government plan for the
region.

“We appeal to the general public to give the new minister their maximum support and a chance to
actualize his dream for the region. Senator Akpabio is more acquainted with the issues and challenges
in the region.”

Femi Falana Accuses Moghalu Of Dumping YPP For APC Over

Appointment
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has accused The presidential candidate of Young Progressive
Party (YPP), in the 2019 Presidential election, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, of dumping his party to take up
an appointment from Buhari’s led administration.

The human rights activist made the accusation at 2019 Felabration; a segment of the annual festival in
honour of the iconic Legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, held at the NECA HOUSE, Lagos.

Leakers.ng earlier reported that Moghalu announced his departure from the party (YPP) on Monday,
October 14th, via his official account on popular micro-blogging platform, Twitter.

Moghalu, also called for reform of the country’s electoral system ahead of the 2023 general elections.

However, Falana, in his reaction to the development said; “I think it is unfair to single out Dr. Moghalu
for recognition, we should not celebrate opportunism” he said.

Adding that; “Here is a politician who contested under a platform of a political party who has now
moved conveniently to the APC, they have just given him an appointment and he has now discarded his
own political party, I don’t think that is fair for us.”

It was gathered that Moghalu, a former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who was at
the event left before Falana had a chance to speak.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier approved the appointment of George Moghalu, the National
Auditor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the new Managing Director of the National
Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Reacting to the accusation, Moghalu, took to his official Twitter account to deny the claims, saying it
was not fair to be crucified on the basis of mistaken identity or coincidence of names.

“I did not receive any appointment from the APC administration! Chief George Moghalu (no relation),
an APC stalwart, did! Not fair to be crucified on the basis of mistaken identity or coincidence of
names.!”

Boko Haram: Gaidam Int’l Market Reopened As Mai Mala Buni

Relaxes Curfew
Gov. Mai- Mala Buni of Yobe on Monday announced the reopening of Gaidam weekly market with
immediate effect.

The market had been shut for about a year following Boko Haram attacks on the commercial hub.

Buni made this known in a Town Hall meeting with the people of Gaidam, in Gaidam local
government.

He also approved the upward review of curfew in the town from 6 pm to 10 pm as well as the
recruitment of 150 vigilante members to boost the existing 50 vigilantes who are complementing the
troops in clearance operations.

“The closure of Gaidam market will only worsen the security situation in the town rather than
improving it, considering the number of youth in the town and strategic location of the market.” Buni
said.

He enjoined the people of Gaidam to be prayerful and cooperate with the security operatives, as
security is everyone’s affair. (NAN)
Sanwo-Olu Okays Ijegun Tank Farm Operators' Move To
Rebuild Community
According to the latest report, the Ijegun-Egba tank farm owners and operation association has gotten
approval from the Lagos State Government to reconstruct and dualize Ijegun road leading to the farm
area.

This latest development was made known on Monday by the Lagos State Government, which
applauded the association for coming up with the partnership.

The Lagos State Government also added that his administration is open to further partnership that will
bring about development at the grassroots.

Below is a statement released by Lagos State Government,

The Lagos State Govt LASG & Ijegun-Egba Tank Farm Owners and Operators Association will
henceforth work together for the regeneration of infrastructure in the area.

At a meeting with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Alausa, the leadership of the association requested
the approval of the State Government to re-construct and dualise the road leading to the tank farm base
in Ijegun.

Sanwo-Olu welcomed the development, saying the State would be setting up a team that would come
up the partnership framework with the objective to make the deal beneficial to the residents, the
Government and the tank farm owners. 

The Governor hailed the tank farm owners for coming up with the intervention, noting that his
government would remain open to partnerships that would bring solution to challenges facing people at
the grassroots.

Border Closure: Local Rice Varieties Now Rule Markets

... Dealers re-bag locally processed rice as foreign — Consumers
...Why price is on the high side — Processors
...Farmers ready for massive paddy rice production

Locally processed rice is now common in markets and departmental shops, a market survey carried out
by Daily Trust recently has shown. Miva rice, Mama Gold dominate markets in Benue with a 50kg bag
of each costing between N16,000 and N18,500.

In Cross River State, Bansanra rice and Ayade Vitaminised & Nutrient Rice are common in most of the
local markets in the state with a 50kg bag sold for N15,500 to N17,000, depending on the market. Our
correspondent in Kano reports that the popular Jamila rice now being bagged is gradually taking the
place of foreign rice in the state alongside Umza rice.

They both cost N16,000 to N17,500 per 50kg bag also depending on place of purchase. In Abuja
market and some notable stores, Mama Gold, Mama Pride produced by Olam go for N16,000 to
N18,000 per 50kg bag, depending on the market. This has been the price since the border closure, it
was discovered. Similarly, brands like Umza from Kano, Bull from WATCO in Argungu (Sokoto
State), and other brands have remained at N14,500 to N17,000 depending on the market they are
purchased from. Other local brands like Mas Rice in Gombe, Anambra Rice, Mama Happy Rice in
Niger, Ofada Rice, Abakaliki Rice and Igbemo Rice now dominate major markets across the country.

Consumers’ new rush for local rice brands Daily Trust reports that because of the border closure, the
quantum of foreign rice is gradually reducing in both local markets and major stores. The closure is
also forcing the price of the product out of reach of many consumers. A 50kg bag of Tomato rice, one
of the notable foreign rice brands now costs between N20,000 and N22,000 depending on the market
while Royal Stallion goes for slightly higher.

The same goes for other foreign rice brands wherever you can find them at the market. A measure
(small mudu) of foreign rice now costs between N700 and N750 compared to the locally processed rice
that sells for between N500 and N550, depending on the market and the state. A consumer in Abuja,
Madam Rose Isah, attributed her new love for locally processed rice to the price disparity, saying she
can save as much as N200 per measure if she buys the locally processed rice. A rice retailer at Wuse
market told Daily Trust that many residents now patronise local rice as the prices of the foreign
varieties were going higher by the week.

Dealers re-bagging locally processed rice as foreign – Consumers Consumers and local rice merchants
in Katsina State have decried how some rice mills and foreign rice dealers were purchasing and
allegedly re-bagging locally processed rice which they resell as foreign at exorbitant prices. Border
closure has seriously affected the importation of foreign rice into the country, a situation that has
increased demand for the locally produced variety, especially with the proliferation of modern rice
mills across the country. Farouk Abdu, a local rice dealer, said besides the newly established modern
mills that were purchasing paddy rice in bulk, some foreign rice dealers have resorted to mopping up
locally processed rice and re-bagging it to be sold at high price as foreign rice.

“If you go to Dandume, Kafur and Bakori, you will see how those rice dealers are mopping up the
locally milled rice which they transport to Kano, where they just sieve and re-bag it as foreign one,” he
said. Farouk added that the development has caused the market price of the locally processed rice to
skyrocket.

“This year we started selling the locally processed rice at N490 per measure and 100kg at N19,500, but
now because of high demand, a bag costs N28,000 and a measure N700, the price that normally comes
after the harvest period, which is around March,” Farouk also said. He said many trailers load local rice
on weekly basis out of Bakori, Kafur and Dandume, the three major local rice markets in the state.

Alhaji Abdullahi Namairo, one of the dealers purchasing locally processed rice, told this reporter that
because of high demand for rice generally, locally established rice mills could not meet up with the
increasing demand of the produce hence they resorted to purchasing the already locally processed rice,
which they sieve and polish before it is bagged and sold as made in Nigeria rice. “Unlike how it was
widely speculated, we add value to the produce we buy before we sell it as Nigerian rice, not foreign
rice,” said Namairo. He added that even those with penchant for foreign rice have no option now than
to buy the local one because the foreign one is now either scarce or costly in the market.

Daily Trust noticed that there was bulk purchase of locally processed rice in Katsina markets but could
not ascertain whether the produce was being re-bagged and sold as foreign rice as alleged by some
merchants and consumers; especially that the ones purchased were being transported to Kano. Usman
Sani, a rice farmer, said the complaints came mainly from consumers and some dealers but farmers
were celebrating the high cost of the produce. “Rice farmers this year are happy because of the high
demand of both paddy and locally processed rice in the market.

It has reached the extent that farmers are being followed to their farms to buy paddy rice at not less
than N10,000 depending on the variety,” said Sani. Why prices are on the high side now -Processor In
the last couple of weeks, the prices of paddy rice have changed twice. This caused fear among
processors that the price of milled rice may further go up. Although the wet season harvest has just
commenced, there is high demand for the product at the moment as buyers go after those who have
already harvested.

Daily Trust can confirm that this is the case in Doma area of Nasarawa State which is home to Olam
Nigeria, one of the biggest producers and processors, where this reporter visited. “Two weeks ago, I
sold a 100kg of paddy at N11,000, surprisingly a week later I sold 12 bags at N14,000 each and the
buyer came here (the village),” a farmer, Dauda Bako told Daily Trust in Doma. However, a paddy
buyer, Ibrahim Maishinkafa, said processors are rushing for the paddy in anticipation of the yuletide
season – Christmas and New Year. “This rush will certainly trigger price rise,” he said, adding that “as
more harvest hit the market, we expect some stability”. In an earlier interview with Daily Trust, the
Managing Director, Labana Rice Mills Ltd, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Zuru
explained the rise in price.

“To be honest with you, the price has increased to some extent because the millers went to get paddy
from the farmers and the farmers, knowing that the borders have been closed, and the millers will come
for it, increased their price. And only a few of them have it because some had earlier given up the
business because the price was not encouraging. “A ton of rice which was sold at N100,000 is now
about N120,000 to N122,000. If the farmers are encouraged and returned to farm based on this policy
and produce, the price will crash.” He was optimistic that the millers will process more and with
additional mills coming on board, the price will come down. “The current price is just because the
(border closure) policy just came into force,” Alhaji Abdullahi said.

Farmers ready for massive paddy rice production

The farmers are optimistic of a promising future as the National President of Rice Farmers Association
of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, told Daily Trust in a phone interview. Alhaji Aminu said
farmers are already planning big for the forthcoming dry season as they are targeting to cultivate one
million hectares with an average of seven tons. The wet season harvest has already begun across the
country.

“We had planned and proposed to government for this border closure to cultivate a minimum of one
million hectares by the forthcoming dry season. We expect to get a minimum of seven million metric
tons of rice; and what we consume in Nigeria is between 7 to 8 million metric tons per annum. “So you
can see in this one production circle, which is the dry season, that 7 million can be cultivated and we
can do this three times in a year. So we are hoping that the commodity will be available and
affordable,” he said.

Goronyo also said they were working closely with the processors to support the federal government to
make sure that it succeeds in its self-sufficiency drive. He reiterated that the current policy is already
incentivizing the production as many people are already warming up for dry season production, adding
that as more farmers go into production and millers off-take, the prices would come down. Meanwhile,
despite the increase in the prices of paddy in the last few weeks, the prices of the finished products
have been stable in the market, Daily Trust gathered.

Smugglers Abandoned Their Bikes And Bags Of Rice In Ogun

Bush
Smugglers abandoned their bikes and bags of rice in the Bush after spotting the custom. Watch the
video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFNwq44ykUU

Festus Keyamo Wants People That Try To Blackmail The

Supreme Court Disciplined
The Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, who is also a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria SAN has called for disciplinary actions against Lawyers that try to blackmail the Supreme
Court into taking decision in their interest.

Keyamo made this known after the Supreme Court accused the CUPP of engaging in campaign
calumny.

He wrote in a tweet, "Enough is enough. The legal profession is still regulated by the highest ethical
standards. If any lawyer is found to be amongst those who consciously seek to blackmail the S/Court
by threats or wild & unsubstantiated accusations, he/she must be dragged before disciplinary bodies.''

Keyamo also stressed that there should be punishment for those who are not legal practitioners but also
seeking to blackmail the Supreme Court.

The Minister wrote, ''For those who’re not lawyers who publicly seek to blackmail the S/Court to do
the bidding of their own political party, for their own selfish interest & in the guise of seeking for their
subjective justice, the law regarding contempt of court would be FULLY activated against them."

2020: Oshiomhole Plots To Deny Obaseki Guber Ticket

* APC May Lose Edo If Crisis Continues - Tony Momoh

Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

The move to stop Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, from flying the flag of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in the 2020 governorship election in the state appears to be gaining momentum by the
day, going by feelers from relevant quarters.

The governor has been engaged in a running battle with his friend and predecessor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, who is the national chairman of APC.
The crisis between the two men assumed a worrisome dimension at the weekend as Oshiomhole, who
was in Benin for a function, claimed that his residence was besieged by thugs loyal to the governor. But
the police refuted the claim.
Relating what happened, Oshiomhole’s spokesman, Simon Ebegbulem, said: “The national chairman
was in Benin on Saturday to attend a birthday party. While he was still at the party around 8p.m, the
state government sent thugs to his house. They were over 50, singing war songs.
“They blocked the entrance of his gate until the security people there called those with him
(Oshiomhole) to alert him about what was happening. That was how APC youths were swiftly alerted
and they stormed the house with policemen.
“The thugs fled when they saw the youths and policemen. We are wondering what thugs will be doing
at the residence of the national chairman at that time of the night.
“If the national chairman had arrived there without knowing, they would have attacked him. We are
accusing the state government because the governor has been clamping down on all those opposed to
him.”
Ebegbulem claimed that the action at Oshiomhole’s home was part of the resolution reached at the last
exco meeting that all opposing Obaseki’s second term bid be attacked.
Obaseki has, however, denied knowledge of the attack. The governor’s spokesman, Crusoe Osagie,
said: “It is a lie. There was no attack. Nothing happened in the area where Oshiomhole lives.
“The Edo State government has said it has no knowledge of the purported attack on the person or
residence of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
“We have no knowledge of the attack. We have also reached out to the police, and they affirmed that
they do not know about such an attack.”
Speaking on the issue on Monday, a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who
spoke on condition of anonymity, said the rift between Oshiomhole and Obaseki has become
“unresolvable”.
“At this stage, two captains cannot be in a ship. The national chairman is focused on the forthcoming
Bayelsa and Kogi governorship election. The Edo governorship election is next year. By that time, we
will all know who is in charge.
“But from the look of things, I don’t think the governor can get the party’s ticket to seek re-election.
Oshiomhole, being a tough man that he is, has already made up his mind on that and I don’t think
anything can change it,” he said.
However, Anselm Ojezua, Edo State chairman of the APC, said based on the governor’s performance
so far, there was no reason why the national leadership of the party would want to deny the governor a
second term ticket.
“There is no evidence to that effect. Nobody in the national leadership has mentioned something like
that. Nobody has said they are denying him ticket. I am not aware of it,” Ojezua said.
Speaking on the alleged attack on Oshiomhole, Ojezua exonerated the governor, saying he was not in
town when the alleged attack took place.
“The governor was not even in town when the alleged attack took place,” he said.
In a related development, Prince Tony Momoh, one of the national leaders of the APC, Monday raised
the alarm that the party might lose the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the issues
between the two political gladiators were not quickly resolved.
Prince Momoh said: “I have not spoken with Oshiomhole and Obaseki, so I don’t know the truth on the
latest issue of attack even though the police has confirmed there was no attack. I am a national leader.
“I am a man of peace in the political house that we all live in. So, the question of blaming Oshiomhole
or Obaseki openly doesn’t arise.
“I will call Obaseki and Oshiomhole and what they tell me is going to be how to resolve the impasse if
there is any between them. If we don’t do that, we may lose Edo State.
“The issue of whether the governor gets the ticket is a question of the primary. If we have primary in
Edo State and the governor is interested in a second term, he will contest with others and whoever
emerges, wins.
“But if Oshiomhole and Obaseki quarrel in Edo State to the extent that one tries to see the end of the
other, then we will lose Edo State.”
Aisha Buhari: Fatima, Mamman Daura’s Daughter Laughed,
Mocked Me, Blocked Me
How Mamman Daura’s family blocked me from Aso Rock apartment — Aisha Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha, has given a rare insight into the power struggles at the
State House, with details of how husband’s relatives physically confronted her.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Mrs Buhari confirmed the authenticity of a video that circulated
online last week, saying she was the woman seen speaking angrily in the footage.

The incident, however, did not happen now, she said.

Mrs Buhari has spoken of a “cabal” that has controlled her husband, a description understood to mean a
shadowy but powerful kitchen cabinet led by Mr Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura.

A new video surfaced last week showing a woman speaking angrily at a location believed to be the
presidential villa.

Speaking in Hausa in the new interview, Mrs Buhari said she was the person in the video and that she
reacted after being denied access to parts of the villa by Mr Daura and his family.

The video was recorded by Mr Daura’s daughter, Fatima.

“I was the one in that video and this person you see standing at my back are my security personnel,”
the first lady said.

“It was Fatima, the daughter of Mamman Daura that shot the video in front of my security and
everybody there. She was actually recording the whole thing right in front of me and was laughing and
mocking me.

“They did that because my husband sacked them from the house. He told them to get all their
belongings and leave the house for my son (Yusuf) to occupy.

“I left them and wanted to get to one of the rooms but they prevented me from getting through, I left
them and took another way yet I met the store locked,” she said.

Buhari Administration Earned N16.6trn From Oil In Four Years

THE administration of President Muhammadu Buhari earned N16.647 trillion from the oil and gas
industry in its first tenure, from May 2015 to April 2019.

According to data obtained from various reports of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the country’s
earnings from the petroleum industry was from crude oil and gas sales, royalties, Petroleum Profit Tax,
PPT, and other sources.

The money was earned by Nigeria only and does not include earnings by oil and gas companies
operating in the country. The total oil revenue represented the amount that was later shared to the
Federal, State and Local Governments after the inclusion of non-oil revenue, as well as after other
deductions and transfers.

However, from the reports, it was observed that the amount earned by Buhari in the first four years of
his administration was 43.6 per cent lower than the N29.514 trillion earned by the administration of
President Goodluck Jonathan from May 2011 to April 2015.

Giving a breakdown of oil revenue recorded during the Buhari administration, the CBN reports stated
that from May 2015 to December 2015, oil revenue stood at N2.3 trillion; in 2016, 2017 and 2018,
earnings from the industry stood at N2.693 trillion, N4.109 trillion and N5.63 trillion respectively,
while from January to April 2019, the country earned N1.882 trillion.

On the other hand, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan earned N29.59 trillion from the
petroleum industry, broken down into N6.321 trillion from May 2011 to December 2011; N8.094
trillion, N6.809 trillion and N6.793 trillion in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively, while from January to
April 2015, the administration recorded oil revenue of N1.497 trillion.

The amount earned by the Buhari administration in its first tenure represented 61.42 per cent of the
country’s budgets for 2015 to 2018. Specifically, between 2015 and 2018, the Federal Government’s
total budgets stood at N27.1 trillion.

In 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Federal Government’s budget estimates were N4.5 trillion, N6.06
trillion, N7.44 trillion and N9.1 trillion respectively.

Commenting on earnings from the petroleum industry during the Buhari administration, the immediate
past president of the Nigerian Association for Petroleum Economists, NAPE Professor Omowumi
Iledare, argued that the money was better utilized.

Buhari:- Subsidy Is A Fraud - Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmG_dYY7YRA

APC Crisis Deepens, Buhari, Oshiomhole’s States Worst Hit

The meeting of forum of chairmen of the 36 states of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in attendance over the lingering crisis
bedevilling the party ended in a deadlock, Daily Trust gathered.

The closed doors meeting, convened to review the 10-day ultimatum given to the Adams Oshiomhole-
led National Working Committee (NWC) by the chairmen was held on Sunday night in Abuja. The
ultimatum given to the chairman of the party to address their concern elapsed on October 3, thus the
Sunday review meeting. At the end of the meeting that lasted for many hours, the APC state chairmen
refused to speak on the outcome of the parley, unlike when they met last month.

Daily Trust reports that in September, the forum gave the ultimatum at the end of their meeting. The
state chairmen, in a communiqué issued and signed by their chairman and secretary in September, Ali
Bukar Bolari and Ben Nwoye, who are also Borno and Enugu states chairmen respectively, protested
against poor reward system in the party, abandonment of founding fathers, neglect of the entire party
structure, and the failure to produce a substantive National Secretary after the exit of Mai Mala Buni,
the present Yobe State governor. One of our correspondents report that when the SGF was leaving the
venue of the meeting, the chairmen that saw him off wore a cheerful look. However, they were not
willing to reveal the deal struck at the closed door meeting.

Efforts to get their chairman to speak on the outcome of the meeting failed as he did not pick his calls.
Another issue worrying the party’s stakeholders is the refusal to convene a quarterly meeting of the
National Executive Committee (NEC), a decision making organ of the party. The meeting was held last
13 months ago. Crisis in states Daily Trust reports that the crisis rocking the party has worsened in
many states with Katsina and Edo, where Buhari and Oshiomhole hail from, being the most affected.

In Katsina, the home state of the president, the crisis is between the governor, Aminu Bello Masari and
a group he called, “Abuja forces” which he said are undermining his administration, using federal
might and resources. It’s a similar scenario in Edo State, where Oshiomhole, the national chairman of
the party hails from. The battle between the state governor, Godwin Obaseki and Oshiomhole, has
tensed up the political atmosphere in the state, ahead of the 2020 governorship election in the state. It
was gathered that Oshiomhole was shopping for Obaseki’s replacement ahead of the 2020 election.

In Zamfara, the dust that trailed the party’s primaries ahead of the 2015 general elections has not
settled. The party had lost the state to PDP, following the internal wrangling that engulfed it. Despite
the loss, two factions of the party still exist in the state. A former governor of the state, Abdulaziz Yari,
leads one of the factions, while Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, controls the other camp. Penultimate
Sunday, Marafa in Gusau, said “I want to use this opportunity to reaffirm to the people of Zamfara and
other Nigerians that I remain an APC member.

I want to inform Nigerians that APC in Zamfara remains divided. My faction is still intact and there is
no going back.” Also, in Bayelsa, the party has been enmeshed in crisis ahead of the governorship
election in the state scheduled for November 16, 2019, with two factions believed to be loyal to the
party leader in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva and immediate past Minister of state for Agriculture,
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri respectively suspending about 10 officials of the party including the
chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and others. In Kwara State, the crisis in the state chapter of the
party was blamed for the delay in the constitution of Kwara State Executive Council, months after
Governor Abdulrak Abdulraham sworn. Though, the governor has sent his list of commissioner-
nominees to the Kwara State House of Assembly, the storm is yet to be settled.

It’s not a genuine platform for governance – PDP The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the
“violent attack” by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the embattled national
chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, is a confirmation that the ruling party was in shreds. The
PDP, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that the
APC-led government has never been able to deliver good governance because of in-fighting. The
opposition party alleged that the APC destroyed the nation, adding that it was not a vehicle for good
governance. “The indisputable fact among Nigerians is that the APC has been torn apart.

The manifest greed and ravenousness of its leaders in addition to endless infighting over positions and
looted resources have further exposed the party as a soulless mob’’, he said. Crisis may affect APC
fortune in 2023 – Bako A political analyst, Dr. Abbati Bako, said the crisis if not addressed would
affect the fortune of the APC come 2023. “The crisis within the APC is not unexpected because politics
is all about competing values, interest and ambition.

Therefore, crisis is (naturally) expected to happen between now and the year 2023. But the point is the
way the leaders and stakeholders of the party will use their expertise and experience to manage the
crisis in the party before the elections of 2023. “Another issue is about the appointment of the Political
Advisor to President Buhari, who can advise him on how to manage the crisis or control the damage
between now and 2023. So, it is imperative for the party to advice the President to appoint a political
advisor’’ Bako who is of International Political Resource Centre, Kano said in interview.

APC Frustrated Over Our Leakage Of Their Plan On Atiku’s

Appeal ― CUPP
*Asks the party to stop daydreaming of a one-party state, third term

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, Monday, carpeted the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC, over the statement credited to the party, Sunday, that Nigeria lacked opposition and
was drifting towards a one-party state.

The coalition, in a statement, Monday,said the ruling party statement was borne out of frustration that it
leaked its plan to alter seniority in the Supreme Court justices that will preside over the appeal between
candidates of the APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Muhammadu
Buhari, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, Monday, CUPP said it noted what it called “the
uncharitable words used by the party’s spokesman, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in describing the CUPP which has
remained a thorn in the flesh of the APC government whose sole agenda is to subdue the legislature,
judiciary, the media, opposition members and those it feels makes it accountable.”
The coalition’s statement read in full:” Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has read a
statement credited to the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Nigeria under its government is
becoming a one-party state.
“We also note the uncharitable words used by the party’s spokesman, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in describing
the CUPP which has remained a thorn in the flesh of the APC government whose sole agenda is to
subdue the legislature, judiciary, the media, opposition members and those it feels makes it
accountable.

“The party’s outburst against opposition parties did not come to us as a surprise. The APC has shown
that it is pained by CUPP’s recent exposure of its plan to alter the seniority tradition of selecting
Supreme Court justices who sit on presidential election appeal, hence the outburst.
“The attack by the APC is part of the party’s failed evil agenda to turn Nigeria to a one-party state and
to get a third term for President Muhamadu Buhari. “We want the APC to know that this unwarranted
attack will not deter us from continuing to expose all the evil plans of this government.
“We advise the party to forget this evil agenda because they will not materialize in Nigeria. “Nigerians
will not allow enemies of the country to build a Museveni or Paul Biya country here. They should stop
their daydreaming.
“We also ask the party, since it claimed it has no opposition, to settle down and fix Nigeria. This is the
least Nigerians expect from them. Or are they blaming their supposed lack of opposition as the cause of
their woeful performance?”

Nigeria Air Force To Get 3 JF17 Fighter Aircraft From Pakistani

Air Force
Terrorism: Nigeria to get 3 J70 fighter aircraft from Pakistan
…as NAF wings 105 pilots in 4 years

The counter-terrorism operation in the North East is set to receive a boost, as plans have been
concluded for the induction of three J70 fighter aircraft into the inventory of the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF).

The disclosure was made Monday by the Pakistani Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid
Anwar Khan, during a visit to the headquarters of the NAF in Abuja.

This was as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said contemporary security
challenges across the world, require partnership and synergy between and among services.

Addressing journalists after the open session, the Pakistani CAS disclosed that his visit to the NAF
headquarters, was to strengthen collaboration between the two Air Forces in the areas of training, joint
exercises, equipment and some manufacturing.

According to him, this was part of the larger defence cooperation, which Pakistan seeks to establish
with the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“It is an official bilateral visit that I am conducting. I am looking forward to defence corporation not
only in the Air Force, but in the military. Including the Army and Navy.

“In the Air force what we are doing with the Nigerian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force together is
in the field of training, joint exercises, equipment and some manufacturing.The purpose is to further
accentuate, enhance and boost the scope of operation and take it to the next millage.

“We are jointly producing JF 70 with China…It’s a joint venture but we are manufacturing.. Now I
have more than 100 aircraft that are flying.

“The JF 70 is a battle hardened aircraft…You as Nigerians should be very satisfied to have these
aircraft flying in the coming days, and that is what we look forward to as we cooperate with our
Nigerian brothers and sisters so that that aircraft come for the defence of Nigeria, and it will be a very
important platform and state of the art aircraft and that is one of the biggest collaborations that we have
at this time,” Khan said.

On his part, the CAS underscored the importance of robust collaboration, which he noted, the NAF had
pursued since his emergence as the 20th Air Chief in 2015.

Dickson Says November Election Is About Ijaw Nation

Bayelsa state governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, on Monday said the forthcoming governorship election
in the state is not about the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but about the future of the state and the
Ijaw nation as a whole.

He, therefore, urged the people to reject the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the
November 16 Governorship election.

The Governor also asked the leader of the All Progressives Congress, and Minister of State for Petro-
leum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, to apologise to the people of Bayelsa for presenting an
unelectable ticket to the people.I

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor to have made the call at
the official opening of the PDP governorship campaign office/secretariat in Yenagoa on Monday.

Commercial activities were brought to halt along the busy Melford Okilo Road with the capital city on
lockdown for hours as the rally attracted a mammoth crowd from across the eight local government
areas of the state.

According to Dickson, the governorship poll is not only about Senator Douye Diri, the PDP flagbearer
but about the entire Ijaw race.

The governor said that the APC has nothing to offer the people of the state and indeed the Ijaw nation
as shown by the fact that the party which controls the centre had failed to attract any critical
infrastructure to the state.

He said that the APC had only succeeded in promoting insecurity and instability in the communities of
Bayelsa such as the sacking of Peremabiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and Bassambiri in
Nembe Local Government Area.

His words: “The election is not about me but about the future of the state. Senator Douye Diri is a
symbol of what we have to do to keep our state within the boundaries of sanity.

“Now, five years after, we know they have nothing to offer us in Bayelsa. Have they built any school,
road, hospital, have they even built peace and security?I

“The only thing to show is the invasion of our communities, which have been destabilized.

“In Peremabiri, they handed over the community to Ogun Boss, who is setting up a campaign team.
Nembe Bassambiri is ransacked and destabilised; law-abiding citizens are sacked and converted to
Internally Displaced Persons. In Okpoama, old men and women are brought out and flogged.”

“Nobody should be perturbed, about party leaders defecting. They are leaving because of money and
fake promises but the people are not with them. The APC doesn’t mean well even for the leaders who
are leaving. The defeat APC will suffer will shock them.

“Today we are launching ‘Operation wind up the APC in Bayelsa.’ A government by the APC has grave
implications and it is better imagined.”

While urging members of the PDP to remain steadfast, the governor stressed the significance of
protecting the party’s platform, which he said had produced countless state and national political
appointees including Vice president and president of the country.

Dickson, who expressed confidence in Senator Diri as a worthy successor, said he would personally
chair the PDP campaign council just as Chief Timipre Sylva has emerged chairman of his party’s
campaign organisation.

In his remarks, the PDP governorship candidate said the election would be a contest between those who
are tested, committed and knowledgeable and those who are lacking in knowledge and values.

Senator Diri added that the oil companies who are operating in the Niger Delta were attempting to
deepen their oppression and deprivation of the area by sponsoring their collaborators to attempt control
of the structures of governance in the state.

Diri lamented also that the alliance of the Federal Government and oil firms had continually deprived
the state and the Niger Delta region despite the immense contributions from the area.I

He stressed that when elected into office, his administration would give the deserved attention to the
genuine aspirations of the people for better standards of existence and a just formula for resource
allocation.

According to him, the Niger Delta had gone beyond the era of militancy and was in need of constructed
engagement to be driven by competent leadership.

“We are demanding more allocation, a fairer process of revenue allocation. We want a governor that
can communicate effectively and relate well with the international community. We are not going to
communicate in Ijaw, and as we have always said, let the campaign be issue-based.”

Also speaking, Chairman of the state PDP, Mr Moses Cleopas, described the ticket of Senator Diri and
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor as experienced and tested with the capacity to deliver the dividends of
democracy.

Mr Cleopas who also inaugurated the various campaign organs for the election, charged them to effec-
tively mobilise people at the grassroots towards winning the governorship election.

In his acceptance speech as Director General of the PDP Campaign team, Dr Nimbofa Ayawei said the
campaigns would be issue-based and expressed optimism that Bayelsans would elect the PDP
Candidate is remains the best.

Dr Ayawei urged the party’s members and supporters to carry the message of the PDP to all nooks and
crannies of the state to enable the party to achieve victory on the election day.

"Dear Lord" — Senator Dino Melaye Drops New Single

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B3oUIQzlsdG/?igshid=195qfhakuxg0v

Nigeria Is A Strong Supporter Of The Icc, Rome Statute –

Osinbajo
Nigeria is fully cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) preliminary examination into
issues related to insurgency in the North East to ensure the process is forthrightly concluded, says Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this today when he received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a delegation from the
ICC led by its Prosecutor, Mrs. Fatou Bensouda.

At the meeting held to discuss Nigeria’s support and cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor at
the ICC, the Vice President emphasized that the Nigerian Government remained committed to its
obligations under the Rome Statute.

The VP said, “We have done quite a lot to prove that we are determined to fulfill our obligation under
the Statute. And I want to say that, on behalf of the Nigerian government, we respect the process, and
there is no reluctance on our part at all,” referring to the work of a judicial inquiry composed by the
Federal Government to address some of the ICC preliminary issues.

“Again, let me say that Nigeria is committed to our obligations and the process under the Rome Statute;
we are strong supporters of the Statute and the work of the ICC.”

In the same vein, the ICC Prosecutor, Bensouda, noted that since the Court started the preliminary
examination, “we have had full cooperation and support from the Nigerian government and authorities,
we have also engaged as much as possible.”

Other top government officials at the meeting included the Director-General, Department of State
Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi; and the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent
Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Akpata.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
14th October, 2019

Victory Rally: Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri Celebrated In

Style In Yola
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri arrived Yola around 10 :26am this morning to a
rousing welcome by a crowd that can only be described as a multitude.

From the airport, the Governor’s motorcade moved slowly through the street of Jimeta with the
Governor standing and waving at a cheering crowd through the sun roof of his vehicle.

The smiles and waves he got from the people who stood by the roadside to welcome him showed a
genuine display of love and appreciation from the people to their leader.

It was equally a sea of heads at the Mahmud Ribadu Square where the Governor addressed the
mammoth crowd that thronged the place in jubilation.

The Governor briefly appreciated the will of God in affirming a victory by the tribunal although he had
already been awarded since from the polls by the power of the people’s voice through the ballot.

Governor Fintiri promised to deliver on the mandate given to him based on the choice made by the
people.

The Governor called on all to embrace the new Government so as to collectively move the state out of
the doldrums.
NIMC: National ID Card Replacement Costs N5,000
The National Identity Management Commission, says the renewal of the National Identity Card will
cost five thousand naira (N5,000) payable through remita.

This was disclosed by its tweeter handle (@nimc_ng) monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria in
Abuja on Monday, and confirmed by a staff of the Corporate Department of the NIMC.

NIMC also said that applicants who wish to renew their card can visit any NIMC office with the
required documents to obtain their card.

” The requirements include a written application with attached proof of payment receipt made through
remita, bank teller, NIN slip and submit it at our office.

” Card renewal costs N5,000 payable through remita.” NIMC tweeted.

The tweet also explained that the main focus of the commission was to ensure that all Nigerians are
enrolled.

” Our main focus is ensuring that all Nigerians are enrolled and issued their NIN and Your NIN is the
most important token of your enrollment.

According to the commission, Nigerians can authenticate their National Identity Number through the
NIMC verification portal.

”Your NIN can be authenticated through our verification portal without your card” NIMC tweeted.

” You will be issued your cards when funds permit, Please bear with us and Your NIN is generated
immediately for you upon successful completion of your enrollment.”

Border Closure: Let Think About Nigeria's Interests First -

Minister Of Finance
It is no longer news how the Nigerian FG closed the Seme and Idiroko borders, which has led to high
cost of those commodities such as rice, groundnut oil, we are importing from neighbouring west
African country like Niger, Benin Republic.

However on Monday been October 14, 2019, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,
Mrs Zainab Ahmed has come out to sharply support the Buhari led administration for closing the
borders (Seme and Idiroko) linking Nigeria to Niger and Benin Republic. According to her, if these
borders are not closed, the activities of smuggling and illegal movement of goods cannot be checked
and control and also more revenue will be lost from that sources.

She further said, “It has to be Nigeria first and we have to protect our own industries because some of
our neighbours have been flagrantly abusing commitments that we jointly signed to and the President
has said this is no longer acceptable."

“The border closure is not forever, there will be an end date, the federal government is currently in
discussion with governments of our neighbouring countries Niger and the Benin Republic.
“We are negotiating to make sure that the challenges that led to the closure of the borders are addressed
on both sides but, especially that our neighbours meet the commitments that we signed unto several
years ago.

“Once those discussions are concluded, the borders will be opened again.”

This statement was made in Abuja at the public presentation of the 2020 budget proposals.

Femi Fani-Kayode Reacts To Aisha Buhari, Fatima Mamman

Daura Fight
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has cautioned Nigerians to steer clear from the power
tussle involving the family members of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Fani-Kayode gave the advice while reacting to the latest squabble between the wife of the
president, Aisha Buhari and the children of her husband’s nephew.

According to Mrs Buhari, the children of Mamman Daura, nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari,
humiliated her while she attempted to gain access to an apartment allocated to her son.

Advising Nigerians to mind their businesses, Fani-Kayode said the issue is a private one and should be
treated as such.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, however described Fatima Daura, daughter of the
president’s nephew who admitted filming the incident said to have took place a year ago, as shameless.

“I never make comments about the wives and children of my political adversaries because I do not
think that it is right or proper,” Fani-Kayode said in series of tweets Tuesday morning.

“However I must say the following: those who recorded and leaked the video of @aishambuhari
loosing her cool in the Villa are shameless and despicable.

“What happens in the home of @MBuhari is a private matter and it is not anyone else’s business.There
ought to be a certain level of decency and decorum even in politics.

“What happens between Buhari,his wife and children is entirely their problem.We should leave his
family alone,” the former minister added.

The politician also said that Fatima is still walking freely despite all that transpired lay credence to the
fact that there exist a cabal whom the first lady has ceaselessly accused of hijacking her husband’s
administration.

“No matter what you feel about @MBuhari filming his wife whilst in melt-down mode in Aso Villa and
releasing it to the public is sheer wickedness. That this was done by Mamman Daura’s daughter speaks
volumes. Had it been anyone else they would have been in the cooler by now!” Fani-Kayode added.
173 More Nigerians Return From Libya
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday received 173 Nigerians assisted to
return from Libya, where they had been stranded.

Muhammed said that the Nigerians were assisted back home by the International Organisation for
Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme
which began in April 2017.

He said that 162 of the returnees arrived from Misrata in a chartered aircraft belonging to Al Buraq Air
with registration number 5A-DMG, at 4.52 a.m. According to him, another 11 returnees arrived via a
commercial flight from Bengazi at 5.15 a.m.

“The profiling of the returnees on arrival indicated that there were 52 female adults, four female
children, and four female infants as well as 106 male adults, two male children and five male infants.
Twenty-one of the returnees had medical issues and were immediately attended to by the medical team
on the ground,” he said.

Wole Soyinka Is The Reason For Poor Education In Nigeria

"Reno Omokri Says"
Reno Omokri, former assistant to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, responded to a statement by Nobel
Prize winner Prof Wole Soyinka that Nigeria’s education system is dead.

Soyinka on Sunday at the University of Lagos, Akoka, during the presentation of a play, ‘Folly of Men
said education in Nigeria is horrific, adding that the country is in trouble.

We are in serious trouble, education wise in this country. Let me not kid you; it’s horrifying.

That was why I was happy about the initiative of creating a model school and trying to resurrect this
Government College and present it as the ideal. We are really very low, education wise,” Soyinka
lamented.

Omokri, reacting blamed Soyinka for the poor state of education in Nigeria.

The former presidential spokesman said Soyinka is part of the trouble in education and responsible for
the present condition after he asked Nigerians to reject Goodluck Jonathan.

Omokri on his Twitter page wrote: “Wole Soyinka says Nigerian education is in trouble. Soyinka is part
of the trouble.

He asked the Nigerians to denounce Goodluck Jonathan, who had budgeted 424 billion for education,
for General Buhari, who had budgeted just 48 billion. What did he expect from the owner of Affidavit.
Federal High Court Freezes 45 Nigerian Bank Accounts For
'illegal' Rice Smuggling
A federal high court on Monday, October 14th in Abuja ordered the temporary freezing of 45 bank
accounts belonging to three companies allegedly involved in smuggling of rice into Nigeria.

The companies having accounts with 10 commercial banks in the country are Sun Sam A1 International
Limited, Sun Sam International Limited and Sunchrist O. Trans Nigeria Limited.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the high court directed First Bank of Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Union
Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank, Sterling Bank, Access Bank, First City Monument
Bank (FCMB), Polaris Bank and Eco Bank to freeze all transactions of the firms for 45 days, pending
the outcome of the investigation and inquiry being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Ruling on an ex parte application by CBN's counsel, Nosike Nicholas, to freeze the accounts for 90
days, Mohammed granted only 45 days. He said the order of freezing for 45 days was subject to
renewal for further days upon an application by the CBN in the event that its investigation could not be
concluded within the first 45 days.

According to the CBN, transactions under the accounts could cause significant financial loss to
Nigeria's rice industries in particular and its economy in general. The case was adjourned until
December 12 for further hearing.

FG Seeks Senate Permission To Pay Kogi State N10.69 Billion

The Kogi State Government has requested the sum of N10.69 billion from the Federal Government for
the settlement of debts incurred locally and refund for projects executed on behalf of the Federal
Government.

President Buhari, in a letter written to Senate President Ahmed Lawan, which was read during
Tuesday’s plenary, requested for the resolution of the Senate for the approval of the sum to be issued to
the Kogi State Government.

President Buhari noted in the letter that the federal projects were duly verified by the Federal
Government.

The letter read in parts:

“Dear distinguished Senate President,

Request for the resolutions of the National Assembly for the issuance of 10.69 Billion promissory
Million Naira Promissory notes to Kogi State Government under the promissory notes programme and
a bond issuance to certain inherited local debts and contractual obligations of the Federal Government
to refund to states for project executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

“The distinguished Senate President will recall that based on my request for the resolution of the
National Assembly approving the establishment of a promissory note programme and a bond issuance
for certain inherited local debts and contractual obligations of the Federal Government, the 8th national
assembly passed resolutions approving the issuance of promissory notes to refund state Governments
for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.”

The Senate President further President Mandated the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts to
handle the request and report back within two Weeks.

NDA Budgets N150m For Cadet's Cemetry Construction

The Nigerian Defence Academy has budgeted a total sum of N100million for the construction of
cemetry and N50million for equipping the cemetery.

The immediate-past Director of Defence Information, Defence Headquarters, Brig. Gen. John Agim
(retd.) said 15 – 25 [ercent of freshers in the NDA dies during the training.

According to him, this information made it compulsory for the freshers to always sign a bond before
they are being admitted.

His words:

I can assure you that we have a robust training that when you come out of it alive, you know that it is
not you but God. You can go for several days without food.

And for each of our recruitments, there is a percentage expected to die during training. And this could
be as much as between 15 and 25 per cent. That alone shows you that it is no play zone or a boys’ scout
lifestyle.

That is why when filling a form to attend the Nigerian Defence Academy, you sign a bond that you are
responsible for your decision.

The budget was said to have been included in the 2020 budget President Buhari submitted to the House
of Assembly.

According to ECOWAS, It was also reported in 2017 that the Commander Danladi Angulu Kwasu died
during the ‘watermanship’ training, and the court of justice requested for compensation because he died
as a result of the failure to provide safety measures.

Ekiti To Rehabilitate 1000km Rural Roads, Renovate All Public

Schools
Ekiti State Government is to commence the construction and rehabilitation of 1,000 kilometres rural
roads and renovation of all public primary schools in the state in the 2020 fiscal year. This is in addition
to the rehabilitation of all the 177 primary health centres across the state.

The State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this on Thursday at the consultative meeting held in
three senatorial districts to get stakeholders’ input to the 2020 budget preparation. The meeting took
place in Ikere, Ikole and Ado-Ekiti with representatives of various towns and villages across the 16
local government areas in attendance.
While responding to the various suggestions made by the people regarding their priority projects in the
2020 budget Dr Fayemi said the proposed budget would focus more on the rural areas thereby bringing
deserved development to the areas through tarring and rehabilitation of roads as well as improvement
to the health, education, power sectors and erosion control.

He explained that the meeting was designed to commence the process of inclusive budget preparation
for 2020 which was in line with the participatory budgeting model that was established during his first
term in office as governor between 2010 and 2014.

The Governor assured the people of the state that his government would undertake rehabilitation and
tarring of 1000km of rural roads through the Rural Access to Market Programme (RAMP), in
partnership with the World Bank, adding that he had already got the nod of the World Bank to undergo
a number of projects in the state.

Fayemi said he had already paid the counterpart fund for 2016 to 2018 to UBEC, said the state already
has about N8Billion in its coffers to embark on the second phase of school buildings renovation and
construction for a conducive teaching and learning environment.

According to the governor, “I can see that the issue of the road came upon the requests of all the
communities, these roads are divided into two, the rural roads and township roads. First, I want to
assure our people especially, the royal fathers that we would work on all the rural roads. We have
money to work on one thousand kilometres of rural roads, I have the list here and I’m sure some of the
names will be ones that you are very familiar with.

“As soon as I came back this time, I have been working with the World Bank team and they have
visited many of your communities and there is hardly any community that we are not going to embark
on a major construction of feeder roads from the farm to the market. And of course, the township roads
will not be neglected. We are going to continue with the rehabilitation 5km road in each of the local
governments, annually.”

“We would start the second phase of Operation Renovate All Schools very soon and no doubt, we have
the resources to do it. All the counterpart funding that was not paid by Ekiti State government in 2016,
2017, 2018, I have cleared all of them and we have at least 8 Billion Naira to work on schools in the
state. And we are building four new schools in Ado Ekiti in 2020.”

Governor Fayemi also restated his commitment towards ensuring that measures were taking to either
prevent or reduce the menace of erosion and flood in the state, said the issue of flood and erosion has
affected virtually every community of the state which has caused a lot of unbearable hardship to the
people.

“The second issue that came up from all the local governments is gully erosion problem, we’ve seen it
in Ado, in Oke Ureje, Omisanjana, but not only in Ado but in our several communities. If you see the
topography of Ekiti, it should not surprise us that we have erosion problems in the state because we are
in-between hills and valleys and because of that, we can’t cheat nature, we can only prevent and reduce
the effect of erosion in our state.

“Again, we are working hard and we have quite some sizeable amount of money to work on erosion
too in the state. So, many of these areas affected by erosion, we would incorporate in the budget 2020
and subsequent budget just as you have highlighted. He stated.
On the issue of poor electricity supply to the state, the governor said he had made a report to both the
President and the Vice President and they have promised to seize the license of the Benin Electricity
Distribution Company (BEDC). He explained that the regular supply of electricity is pivotal to the
economic and industrial development of any society.

Enugu State Buys 100 Innoson Vans For Nigerian Police

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State at the Government House, Enugu on Tuesday handed over
sixty five (65) patrol vans to the state command of the Nigeria Police Force to aid its security
operations.

The sixty five (65) patrol vans were among the 100 units of Innoson vehicles recently purchased by
Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration to assist the security agencies in the state to effectively discharge their
duties to enhance the peace, security and development.

Gov. Ugwuanyi who had earlier unveiled the vehicles to journalists at the Government House, Enugu,
explained that the 100 units of the patrol vans will be handed over to Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police
and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, among others.

The governor added that another 260 vehicles as well as motorcycles and bicycles were also purchased
for distribution to the Forest Guards and Vigilante/ Neighborhood Watch groups for community
policing.

Speaking after receiving the keys to the 65 vehicles from Gov. Ugwuanyi, the State Commissioner of
Police, Ahmad Abdulrahman who received the vehicles on behalf of the Inspector General of Police,
Adamu Mohammed Abubakar, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for “this wonderful gesture”, describing
the governor as “an unassuming personality, a symbol of peaceful co-existence and the architecture of
modern security in Enugu State”.

The police commissioner added that the governor’s gesture was a demonstration of his commitment
and determination to secure the people of the state and sustain the state’s glory of being one of the most
peaceful in the country.

Abdulrahman stated that Gov. Ugwuanyi has given them the tools to work round the clock, and patrol
tirelessly in all nooks and crannies of the state “while doing our investigations and surveillance”.

The CP who assured the governor of the force’s resolve to utilize the vehicles for the purposes for
which they were purchased, advised his officers and men against the use of the security cars to attend to
their personal needs, saying “you will see them (vehicles) on all our roads, in all the nooks and crannies
of the state doing the job”.

He, therefore, prayed that God continues to sustain, preserve and give the governor good health “so that
the people of the state and country will reap more from his leadership qualities and milk of human
kindness.”
PDP Says Villa Feud Shows Incompetence, Disorganization In
Buhari Presidency
October 15, 2019

Press Statement

Villa Feud Shows Incompetence, Disorganization in Buhari Presidency- PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describes the dirty public fight between the First Lady, Aisha
Buhari and President Muhammadu Buhari’s cousins, over rooms in the Presidential villa, as disgraceful
and further underlines the managerial ineptitude and leadership failures of the Buhari Presidency

The party says the chaos in the Villa further exposes the Buhari Presidency’s poor management of
issues and highlights why it has failed monumentally in delivering on any of its responsibilities in
governance, thus leaving our dear nation in a shambolic situation in the last five years.

The feud further uncovers the impunity, disorderliness and vanity that pervade the Buhari Presidency
and how the once serious and productive seat of power has been turned into a house of comedy and an
overcrowded quarter for illegal occupants.

Nigerians can now see why it has become difficult for our nation to witness any stability or progress
under the Buhari Presidency and why the Buhari-led Federal Government has been bedeviled by
confusion, infighting, policy flip-flops, statutory violations, promotion of violence, ingrained
corruption and administrative indolence while millions of Nigerians wallow in poverty and neglect.

Nigerians and the world can equally see why no one expects the Buhari Presidency to articulate any
progressive idea or proffer and implement any solution to the myriad of economic and security
problems it caused our nation; they can now see why there is no hope in sight and why compatriots are
daily agitating for a new order.

Our party notes that our dear nation has suffered enough disgrace from the Buhari Presidency and the
All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP therefore charges President Buhari to immediately
apologize to Nigerians for his failures and be ready to vacate office for more competent hands, since it
has become obvious that he is leading our country to nowhere.

Furthermore, the PDP urges the National Assembly to investigate the alleged abuse of office by
President Buhari following revelation that he assigns official facilities in the Presidential villa to
unauthorized persons that have no official roles in governance, and apply appropriate sanctions.

The PDP also urges the National Assembly to sanitize the Presidential villa by probing allegations of
illegal allotment of offices and apartments to unauthorized persons, including scammers and corruption
fronts in Aso Rock.

The party however urges Nigerians to remain calm as such provocative and disgraceful developments
will soon come to an end with the retrieval of our stolen mandate at the Supreme Court.

Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

Desecration Of Qur'an: Zamfara To Enact Death Penalty For

Culprits
Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara state said his government would soon enact a capital
punishment law against the desecration of the holy Qur’an in the state.

The Governor made this known while receiving a report from the committee for the review of activities
of the State Ministry of Religious Affairs, religious Commissions and committees under the leadership
of the former State Deputy Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad.

Matawalle said he had remained sad with the way some people perpetrate the unholy act of desecration
of the holy Qur’an in the state.

He explained that to bring an end to the unholy act, his government would soon enact capital
punishment laws in the State that would deal with all related offences.

He added that Shariah court judges would also be under careful watch in the way and manner they
handled such cases as serious punitive measures would be applied on any erring judge for the purpose
of discipline as no amount of punishment would be too severe on such judges or the offenders.

Matawalle also appealed to Islamic scholars in the state to sensitize people on the importance of peace,
unity and love for one another for the purpose of having a purified society that is free from all crimes.

Matawalle also reminded people of the State on the importance of repenting from such sins and return
to Almighty Allah.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala Called for the renaming of the State
Ulama Consultative Council (UCC) to Zamfara State Fatwah Council with a chairman that would be
called Mufti of the State.

He also said there was need for the government to review the existing laws where competent Ulamas
who are knowledgeable in Islamic jurisprudence, reputable and upright in character with adequate
exposure on contemporary issues to serve as members of the Mufti Council.

Wakkala committee also advised the government to continue with its laudable policies of economic
growth, poverty alleviation and fight against insecurity for greater success and acceptability in the state.

The presentation of the report was attended by the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Alhaji
Bala Bello Maru, Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, Honourary Adviser to the Governor,
Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and Permanent Secretary Government House Alhaji Lawali Ibrahim Kaura
among others.
Buhari's Govt. Constitutes 12 Man Interim Committee On
Police Trust Fund
The President Muhammadu Buhari's led federal government in order to organize and implement a
framework for the proper workings and functionality of the Nigerian Police Force has constitute a 12
man committee which focus will be mainly on Police Trust Fund and the proper arrangement of
efficient training and equipment of the Police in the country.

This 12 man interim committee for police trust fund was inaugurated by the Minister of the Ministry of
Police Affairs Mr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi. This committee will be rightly chaired by the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri.

The 12 man interim committee are saddled with the responsibility and objective of drawing up take-off
budget for the Police Trust Fund and also to relate with the office of the Secretary of the government of
the federation for the suitable office accommodation for the administration of funds.

This interim committee members comprised of heads of departments and top office holders of
government and professionals who have made their marks in law, administration and security. The
members includes: Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri (FCA), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and
chairperson of the committee, Bombata Babatunde, Moremi Soyinka, Joseph Obiajulu Egbunike who is
a Commissioner of Police, Shehu Usman Shuaibu, Afroka Emmanuel Chukudi among other members.

Afenifere: Mamman Daura Living In Aso Rock & Controlling

Presidency, Is Shameful
oruba socio- cultural group , Afenifere , has described as shameful revelations by the daughter of
Mamman Daura , Fatimah , that they have been living in the Presidential Villa for over three years .

Afenifere further stated that it was most unfortunate that an unelected man could hijack the seat of
power as revealed by the First Lady , Aisha Buhari .

The Spokesman for Afenifere , Mr . Yinka Odumakin , said this during an interview with PUNCH on
Tuesday .

Odumakin said , “ It is unfortunate that Nigeria has reached the point where someone who was not
elected or appointed and holds no position known to our constitution has become this powerful.

“ It is a big shame and some of the personalities who are illegally in the Villa are granting interviews .
It shows the level of impunity. It shows that our nation and the seat of power have been desecrated. ”

Odumakin said with the new revelation , the ball is now in the court of Nigerians to continue to be
ruled by proxy or break free from the chains of the cabal .

847 Soldiers Killed By Boko Haram, Buried In Borno Cemetery

– Ndume
The Chairman , Senate Committee on Army , Senator Ali Ndume , said on Tuesday that 840 Nigerian
soldiers killed by the Boko Haram terrorists from 2013 till date were buried in the Military cemetery
located in Maiduguri , the Borno State capital .
He said the figure did not include other soldiers killed by the insurgents and buried in other military
cemeteries located in other parts of the North - East geopolitical zone .
Ndume , who stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja on the findings by his colleagues who
recently returned from Maiduguri , however , denied reports of mass burial of soldiers killed by the
terrorists .
He also said the Senate panel was already investigating allegations that some non - governmental
agencies operating in the North - East , were providing useful information to the Boko Haram leaders .

EFCC Re-arraigns Atiku’s Lawyer Over $2m Money

Laundering
President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to approve the payment of N10.069billion as
settlement of promissory note to the Kogi State Government.

In acceding to their request, the presiding Judge, Justice Obiozor while adjourning till 5th of December,
2019 for trial to commence ordered the defendants to continue on their former bail.

The charges preferred against the defendants is stated below:

Count one

“That you UYIEKPEN GlWA-OSAGIE and ERHUNSE GlWA-OSAGIE, sometimes in February, 2019
in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired to commit an offence to wit:
making cash payment of the sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) without going
through financial institution which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act,
2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”

Count two

“That you UYIEKPEN GIWA-OSAGIE on or before the 12th day of February, 2019 in Nigeria within
the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, procured ERHUNSE GIWA-OSAGIE to make cash payment
of the sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) without going through financial
institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable
under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.”

Count three

“That you ERHUNSE GlWA-OSAGIE. sometimes in February, 2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court made cash payment of the sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State
Dollars) without going through financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 1(a) and 16(1) (d) of the Money
Laundering(Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and Punishable under section 16 (2) of the Same
Act.”
N90bn: Wazobia FM Retracts Osinbajo Story, Apologises To VP
Wazobia FM has apologised and retracted its story on the allegations made by Timi Frank that Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo received N90 billion from FIRS as campaign funds for 2019 polls.

Wazobia FM apologized to Prof. Osinbajo, saying that it had since discovered, like other well-meaning
individuals and Nigerian organisations including Vanguard Newspaper that the allegations were
baseless, untrue and unsubstantiated.

The radio station aired the news report of the unfounded allegations on its popular programme titled:
”Dem Say Dem Say”, retracted the reports, saying ”We are sorry Vice President.”

Wazobia FM tendered its unreserved apology to Prof Osinbajo thorough the presenter of the
programme, popularly known as Expensive James, saying that it erroneously joined the broadcast of
fake news.

It was gathered that the Vice President, had ,through his solicitors, Osaror Ehogbami SAN and Femi
Atoyebi SAN, written to the station that the report was meant to tarnish his hard-earned reputation built
over the years, saying that Vice President Osinbajo had never been found wanting or linked to any act
of corruption in his private or public offices.

In a letter to the station, the solicitors had said that for over four decades, the VP had been a
distinguished scholar and legal practitioner and had risen through the ranks and files of his career. The
lawyers added that the VP was Attorney General of Lagos State for 8 years and became a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria in 2002 with unblemished records.

Nigeria Is Africa’s Troubled Giant, Says former US Ambassador

A former US Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr John Campbell , has said though Nigeria possesses
extraordinary potential , it is the truly troubled giant of Africa .
Campbell stated this in a new book he co - authored which was presented to the public on Thursday in
Lagos at the US Consul General ’s residence.
He also saluted the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians in the book titled , “Nigeria : What Everyone
Needs to Know ”
Campbell stated in the book that virtually every major university in the English- speaking world hosted
Nigerian academics with the country ’s medical personnel found in hospitals all over the United States
and elsewhere .
He said , “ Though it possesses extraordinary potential , Nigeria is truly the troubled giant of Africa .
And Nigeria exports Christian clergy to the United Kingdom and the United States . Nigerians living
outside of Nigeria have been notably successful in business and finance , and they are known for their
entrepreneurial spirit. ’’
In the book , Campbell and Matthew T . Page , Associate Fellow in Chatham House ’s Africa
Programme , described Nigeria as a nation characterised by a type of corruption in which government
or public officials seek personal gain at the expense of the led .
They stated , “Kleptocracy and government dishonesty have corrosive effects on popular confidence in
governance . Official and unofficial corruption undermine the democratic trajectory and risks
overwhelming it. It is among the most important hindrances to the country ’s economic and social
development .
“Despite ubiquitous cell phone use and other signs of modernity , the country is one of the poorest in
the world . By indices ranging from levels of female literacy to average lifespan , Nigeria scores among
the lowest in the world . The country ’s population has grown explosively without the economic and
infrastructure development necessary to support it. ’’

Defection: Moghalu Demands Apology From Falana

Kingsley Moghalu, a former presidential candidate, has demanded an apology from Femi Falana,
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) over the latter’s comments on defection.

Mr Falana, a Human Rights activist, had at a public gathering on Monday, claimed the Young
Progressive Party (YPP) candidate in the last general election has defected to the All Progressive
Congress (APC).

The activist also said the ruling party has assigned a portfolio to Moghalu.

But dismissing the claim as untrue, the former presidential candidate who dumped his party said he is
not a member of any political party at the moment and has not been handed any portfolio.

“These statements are false. I am not a member of the APC. I have not been given any appointment by
the APC government. This effort to malign my character and reputation, by an individual I have always
respected, was a complete shock to me,” a statement he signed partly read.

“It is surprising that a man of Mr. Falana’s standing, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria no less, could make
such weighty statements without verification.

“I demand and expect an apology and a public retraction of this falsehood from Mr. Falana,” Moghalu
said while disparaging media houses that aired the claim of the lawyer.

Why I dumped YPP

He explained that after the elections he has moved into advocacy for electoral/political reforms and
voter education in Nigeria and this is responsible for his decision to dump the YPP.

“I contested in the 2019 presidential election as the flag bearer of the the Young Progressives Party
(YPP). Since the elections I have convened To Build a Nation (TBAN), a non-partisan citizens’
movement focused on advocacy for electoral/political reforms and voter education in Nigeria.

“In order to strengthen the integrity of the movement’s non-partisan stance, I recently announced my
resignation from the YPP. I am NOT a member of any political party,” he explained.

Northerners Accuse Southeast Of Agenda To Cripple North By

Trafficking Children
The Coalition of Northern Groups in Nigeria has accused the eastern region of the country of working
on an agenda to cripple the viability of the North debasing its human resource capital base.
In a statement by the coalition, the North accused the Presidency, local and international media of
downplaying the uncovering of how some individuals from the South-East in the last 10 years had been
abducting, trafficking and proselytizing Muslim children to becoming Christians, even changing their
identity and language.
Recently, the Kano State Police Command said it arrested eight suspects involved in the kidnapping
and trafficking of nine children.
The victims have been reunited with their relatives.
The children, aged between two and 10 years, were kidnapped from various locations within the state
capital and trafficked in Anambra State.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Iliyasu, who handed the kids to their relatives, said
some of them were abducted in 2014.
Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and trafficking of the children.
Parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters, Iliyasu said one Sagir Mohammed Bako had
alerted them about the mysterious disappearance of children from neighbourhoods across the state
capital.

The Coalition of Northern Groups is deeply touched by the report of nine innocent children forcefully
separated from their parents and moved to eastern Nigerian towns.
We are profoundly agitated to learn that the children were also baptized with new names and forcefully
converted to a religion other than the one their parents practise.
We are also moved that all the players on both removing and receiving points belong to a certain
Nigerian tribe whose members are deeply entrenched in every town, city and village in northern
Nigeria.
We are particularly saddened that days after the discovery of this heinous crime, no federal, state or
local government, cultural, traditional, or religious group, NGO, or international organization has
spoken on the matter.
We are further disturbed that even the national and international media except just a few appear to want
to downplay this matter.

South Korea Embassy Donates 2 Vehicles To Nigerian Customs

The Embassy of South Korea in Nigeria has donated two Hyundai buses to the Nigerian Customs
Service (NCS), to boost its operations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Lee In Tae, Ambassador of South Korea to
Nigeria, handed the vehicles to Hameed Ali, Comptroller General of Customs, on Monday at NCS
headquarters in Abuja.

According to the Ambassador, NCS as an agency of government needs the support and cooperation of
all stakeholders for it to deliver more effectively on its mandate.

“The Nigerian Custom Service is a great organisation, doing great job, and needs to be supported.

“These two buses are being donated by our embassy to support its operational activities,” Tae said.

The CG, in his response, commended the Ambassador for the kind gesture, saying, the NCS would
make efficient use of the vehicles in its operations.

He said: “We are grateful for this kind donation, and I assure you that they will be properly maintained.

“The vehicles will sure boost our activities as an organisation in carrying out our functions and in
securing our nation’s borders.
Ali, who received the keys to the two buses in company of his management team, said that NCS was
ready to work with stakeholders.

Sanwo-olu Writes Assembly, Seeks Approval For N250bn Loan

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sought the endorsement of the House of Assembly for
a loan of N250 billion.

The governor’s letter was read on the floor of the House during plenary on Tuesday by the Clerk of the
Assembly Mr. Sani Azeez.

According to the governor’s letter, the loan was broken down as: a fixed rate bond of N100 billion from
the capital market and an internal loan of N150 billion.

The governor explained that the budgetary provisions of recurrent and capital budget of ministries,
departments and agencies were not likely to be utilized before the end of the year, saying that N34.050
billion could be re-ordered.

The the letter, the governor stated that his administration was constrained by the lack of revenue for the
remaining months of the year and that it would not be in a position to propose a supplementary budget,
which informed the recourse to re-ordering 2019 budget.

He said the budget as at 31st August, 2019 had a 71 per cent overall performance, which was below the
set target of 100 per cent.

“Further analysis shows that the recurrent expenditure stood at 80 per cent while capital expenditure
was at 64 per cent performance, portending a 49:51 capital/recurrent ratio against the target of 55:45.

“It should be noted that some of the major MDAs that are supposed to implement the capital
expenditure are performing below expectation, while others have almost exhausted their budgetary
provisions,” Sanwo-Olu explained in the letter.

According to the governor, all other arms of government should cooperate with him by ensuring that
they improve on spending in priority areas, adding that the administration was desirous of keeping its
electoral promises to the citizens and had resolved to take advantage of clement weather condition in
the latter part of the year to complete various projects.

The projects, he said would benefit from the re-ordering were: completion of Lagos-Badagry express
road; Agege Pen cinema overhead bridge; Agric-Isawo road; Bola Ahmed Tinubu-Igbogbo road;
rehabilitation of schools; initiate and complete smart city project and zero tolerance for portholes,
among others.

Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa subsequently committed the governor’s request to the joint
committees on Finance and Budget and Economic Planning.

They are to report back to the House on Monday, 21 October, 2019.

Ibrahim Ali Gombe To Aisha Buhari: Mamman Daura Placed
Buhari On Monthly Salary
Mamman Daura Places Buhari On Monthly Salary After He Regained Freedom From Prison -
Ibrahim Ali Gombe

Don't embark on a battle you cannot win" - Buhari supporter, Ibrahim Ali Gombe pens long
open letter to Aisha Buhari
My Advice to Hajjia Ashia

My dear First Lady

Be careful! Don't embark on a battle you cannot win. Some battles are not worth fighting. It
is better not to fight, at all, than to fight and lose. Losing such a battle would have
unravelled your invincibility. Those feminism, buharists, you think that are standing or
whispering all you want to hear about About ur extended family are doing all this all
because of their selfish intrest of what they want to gain from you not certainly because of
you or your children.

[b]Mamman Daura is your husband's closest uncle, Fatima Mamman, no matter how young
she is, she remains your child . They are your in-laws. Show some respect. They are your
husband's family. [/b]They are an integral part of your family. They are not strangers.

Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari (Chief of Staff) are two personalities you cannot push
away from President Buhari, your husband. Fine, you're his wife; however, what these two
have contributed in the life of your husband is inestimable and unquantifiable. Buhari is
Abba Kyari. Abba Kyari is Mamman Daura. Mamman Daura is Buhari. They are
inseparable.

When IBB, Overthrew your husband as Head of States , locked him up in the prison for not
less than 3 years, it was Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari were there for your husband in the
prison . When he eventually regained his freedom without no benefits as a previous head of
state , mamman daura placed your husband on salary through his companies payroll, so that
your husband can still stand as a man in terms of fulfilling his responsibility as a family
man without begging friends and relations for financial help. They staked everything for the
success of your husband. Your husband knows and appreciates their contributions. No
matter what anyone says, Buhari will not leave them.

I don't know of any individual who has contributed, financially, morally, spiritually and
physically to the success of your husband and family more than them. The journey among
the trio of Buhari, Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari is a journey of more than 40 years, even
before you came in as a wife. After all, you just came in 1996. Cool down enjoy your
marriage and also enjoy your post as the First Lady of this country.

That your children were oppurtuned to be educated in good foreign universities are one of
the numerous courtsey of Alhaji Mamman Daura and Abba kyari. Have you also forgotten,
when they will sponsor your trips to Overseas for Vacation , just to make sure that they is a
big smile on the lips of their young Admirable wife. My dear First Lady how many
Nigerian Women are oppurtuned to have such in-laws, the Answer is 99.9% women are not
 oppurtuned to have such in-laws, this shows how blessed you are.

In 2003, 2007, 2011 presidential campaigns, Abba Kyari was your husband's chief
financier. They risked everything for your husband. They belived in the man Buhari, even
when he kept on failing his elections. It is the outcome of that risk they took that you are
enjoying today, as the First lady. Indeed, God has used them for you also.

That your husband wants them around him is a sign of gratefulness. My dear First lady,
have you also forgotten tht before your husband became the president, that Muhammadu
Buhari spent most of his evenings in the house of his best friend and uncle mamman in
daura . It is on record that any one that wants to see d old General, once it is 4pm goes
straight to mammans house, because it is already a known tradition that baba Buhari must
be there as far as he is in Daura. That Buhari wants him around him in the villa is a clear
manifestation that Buhari is not an ingrate. He appreciates favour. Thus, he will not pay
favour with ingratitude. One thing is certain, the Buhari we all know will not trade his
trusted allies for anything or anyone. This also shows that your husband Muhammadu
Buhari can never trade you for another woman unlike most Men in power and Generals
always do. This also shows how blessed you are.

Aso Villa is a temporary residence. In the next four years, you will pack out. Life in the
Presidential Villa is transient, ephemeral and short-lived. Don't be overwhelmingly
obsessed with it. The Villa is not a family house and it's not your husband's house. Soldier
go, soldier come. I was a bit emotional few days ago when Goodluck Jonathan visited
Buhari in the Villa. Many changes have been effected. Buhari was the one showing
Jonathan the way. Imagine. A place Jonathan just left in 2015.

Hajjia Aisha, if anything is wrong, which you don't feel comfortable with; amicable
resolution is the way-out . You need not fight anyone or take anyone as a foe. Show love.
Show respect. Show tolerance. Mamman Daura's children are your children. Show no
discrimination or animosity. What goes around comes around. No one knows tomorrow.
Those we meet in the course of climbing the ladder of life are the same people we will
while coming down. Once again Remember your Root and where you started.

Senate Asks FG To Declare State Of Emergency On Federal

Roads
The Senate, Tuesday asked the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, declare a state of
emergency on all the federal roads across the country because of the deplorable conditions of
road networks across the country.

The Senate has also mandated its Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA,
Petroleum Down Stream and National Planning to immediately carry out a holistic investigation
into the non-remittance of the 5 per cent user charge pump price of petrol and international
vehicle transit charge accruing to FERMA and other established state road maintenance agency.

Resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion by Senator Geshom Bassey, Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, Cross River South).
Buhari writes Senate, seeks to pay Kogi N10bn
Bassey who came under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Order as Amended, however,
lamented the deplorable state of federal roads.

The Senate was concerned that several thousands of lives have been lost to road accidents due to
bad and unmotorable roads, while bad portion of roads is a safe haven for kidnappers and armed
robbers on Nigerian highways.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan who noted that every part of the
country suffers from this problem of deplorable roads, however, expressed optimism that the
committees mandated to look into the matter will swing into action and attend to the issue
associated with this motion.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday rounded off debate on the general principles of the 2020
Appropriation Bill of N10.33 trillion presented before the National Assembly by President
Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday presented a total budget estimate of
N10.33 trillion for 2020 Fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The Senate last week Wednesday commenced debate on the budget, just as it has adjourned
plenary for two to enable heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs appear before
the various Standing committees of the Senate to defend their budget proposals.

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has announced that all MDAs must be present
and appear to defend their budgets proposals latest Oct 29.

Lawan said this, following the second reading of the 2020 Appropriation Bill as it was
immediately referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for further legislative inputs.

The Senate also mandated the committee to report back to plenary in two weeks time.

Lawan who noted that the window for budget defence for MDA’s would end by Oct 29, said that
any MDA that fails to appear before the said date should forget about the budget defence.

He also advised the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Nigeria Communication

Commission, NCC, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, others to present their
budget proposals same time with the present ones and be scrutinized this month.

According to him, failure to present the budget would amount to the non-provision of funds for
them to spend for the 2020 fiscal year, just as he stressed that the Senate would no longer tolerate
MDAs who spend funds without appropriation.

The President of the Senate who said that all MDAs must defend their budget before end of
October said that the Senate had put November 5, as timeline for it to conclude matters relating to
budget defence.

He urged all the Committee to work closely with the Appropriations committee to meet the set
date, adding that it was time for National Assembly members to show that it could pass the
budget before the end of the year.

Lawan who noted that revenue generation was a major issue in implementing the nation’s budget
over the years, said that the Senate would continue to engage revenue generating agencies on
their activities in revenue generation, adding that the agencies must periodically update the senate
on their revenue generating activities.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded to the Senate, the Finance Bill 2019 for
consideration and subsequent passage.

In a letter to the Senate through the President of the Senate, Buhari said that the bill seeks to
enact fiscal measures supporting the 2020 budget is in pursuant to section 58 and 59 of the 1999
constitution as amended.

The Finance bill 2019 proposes incremental, but necessary changes to Nigeria taxes and fiscal
laws to ensure optimal funding of 2020 budget.

According to Buhari, the finance bill has five strategic objectives to include, promotion of fiscal
equity by mitigating instances of regressive taxation and reforming domestic tax laws to align
with global best practice.

He said that the bill was designed to introduce the tax incentives for investments in infrastructure
and capital markets.

The President said that the bill would also help support micro, small and medium size businesses
in line with the ease of doing business reforms and raising revenues for government.

According to him, the finance bill proposes an increase in the Value added Tax (VAT) rate from 5
per cent to 7.5 per cent.

Nigeria’s Debt Hits N25.7trn, Rises By N3.3trn In One Year

The nation’s total public debt rose by N3.32trn in one year to N25.7trn as at the end of June 2019,
the Debt Management Office said on Tuesday.

The Federal Government owed N20.42trn as of June 30, 2019, while the 36 states and the Federal
Capital Territory had a total debt portfolio of N5.28trn.

The debt stock is made up of N8.32trn ($27.16bn) external debt and N17.38trn borrowed
domestically, according to the DMO.

The nation’s public debt, which stood at N22.38trn as of June 2018, increased to N24.39trn in
December 2018 and N24.95trn in March 2019.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria noted last month that the rising
public debt was one of the headwinds to the nation’s growth prospects.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said in August that
the country did not have any debt challenge but a challenge with generating sufficient revenue.

“There is a lot of insensitivity around the level of our debt. I want to restate that our debt is not
too high; what we have is a revenue problem. Our debt is still very much within a reasonable
fiscal limit. In fact, amongst our comparative countries, we are the least in terms of borrowing,”
she had said.

Aisha Buhari: I Cannot Confirm Or Deny Buhari’s

Rumoured Marriage, Not My Duty
‘Buhari’s marriage’: Ask the rumour mongers, says Aisha

FIRST Lady Aisha Buhari on Sunday said it was not her duty to confirm or deny the rumour that
her husband President Muhammadu Buhari wanted a second wife.

She told BBC Hausa that the responsibility to confirm or deny the rumour was that of those
involved in the matter.

She said: “He (Buhari) is the person rumoured to be planning a marriage, not Aisha Buhari. They
(those concerned) are supposed to come out and clear the air.”

The first lady denied a rumour that she left her husband because she did not agree with his plan
take a second wife.

She called for urgent action against the menace of fake news.

The social media was abuzz last Thursday with news that President Buhari was to get married to
the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya
Umar Farouq.

APC, Elders Forum Kick As Ayade Enrols In UNICAL As

Postgraduate Student
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State and Elders Forum have kicked against
Governor Ben Ayade’s return to school.

Governor Ayade had penultimate week enrolled as a post-graduate student in the faculty of Law,
University of Calabar.

Sources close to the department said the Governor attended first lectures on Thursday, last week.

In a separate interview in Calabar on Tuesday, the stakeholders described Ayade’s return-to-

school as a sign of idleness and an indication that the PDP-led leadership lacks direction and
vision.
Reacting, the State Chairman of APC, Mr. John Ochala, said any serious-minded governor will
not leave governance for school, recalling that no governor in the history of the country has ever
done that.

Ochala regretted that the state had been handed over to an unserious leadership that has continued
to drag it backward, saying that the governor has remained in office without any tangible
achievement.

He said: “APC had always known that the present administration of PDP in the state was never
serious in the first place.

“We have dilapidated roads all over the state, look at our schools, our health infrastructure, our
revenue generation capacity, and all other infrastructures. These are not enough to bother a
governor. All that bothers him is to use public funds to go to school. Why didn’t he go to school
when he was a Senator?

“He is doing this to divert peoples’ attention from his failed administration. Besides, what are the
socio-political or economic values of going to school to Cross Riverians? From his performance,
one can say that all the schools he attended before now has in no way impacted positively on
Cross Riverians other than economic underdevelopment”

The APC chairman said in spite of numerous challenges including communal clashes here and
there the governor still travels outside the state too often, wondering what would become of the
governance now he has become a student at UNICAL.

The party decried the non-contact of local government election in the state, saying such an
unconstitutional act has rendered governance at the local impotent.

Also reacting on behalf of Cross River Elders Gorum, Chief Martins Agbor, said Governor Ayade
has betrayed Cross Ruverians by abandoning governance back to school.

Agbor expressed worry how the Governor would cope with day-to-day administration and then
combing it with daily academic work, saying the electorate are disappointed his attitude to
governance in this second coming.

“I can tell you that if he had enrolled for a second degree in law for his first time, we would not
have voted for him. He promised to make life better when he comes back and we believed him.
Five months into his second term he is yet to appoint commissioners neither has he inaugurated
any project as other Governors did in their one hundred days in office.

“Rather What we got from his media aides are praises of Ayade being the first serving Governor
to be enrolled for law programme. It is very sad.”

Describing the criticisms as sheer idiocy, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian
Ita, said there is no law stopping anybody from going to school even when the person is
occupying a public office.

“The criticism is sheer idiocy because there is no law stopping anybody from going to school,
including those occupying public office. Mugabe had most of his degrees while in public office.
“Modern governance runs at institutional levels and the governor, not being a superman, has put
into place institutions that will drive development,” he stated.

Buhari’s Alleged Third Wife Takes Over Trader Moni,

Others From VP Osinbajo
Buhari’s Alleged Third Wife, Sadiya Umar Farouq Takes Over Trader moni, Others From VP
Osinbajo
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar
Farouq, has confirmed taking control of the federal government’s Social Investment Programmes (SIP),
which was being coordinated by the office of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
She will be overseeing the N500billion National Social Investment Programme (SIP) like Trader
money, market money, cash transfers to poorest Nigerians and so on.
Until October 1st, the SIP has headed by VP Osinbajo, but in his Independence Day speech, President
Buhari announced that his newly-created ministry would be in charge of the SIP scheme.
The new ministry headed by Sadiya Umar Farouq tweeted: “It is a busy week. Moving forward, I met
with the SSA to President Buhari on NSIP…”

Nigerian Air Force Decorates 1st Female Combat Pilot & 1st
Female Helicopter Pilot
Days after the Nigerian Air Force announced that it will be decorating its first Female Air
Warrant Officer, the armed forces division has also decorated its first female combat pilot and
first female helicopter pilot.

Kafayat Sanni and Tolulope Arotile were decorated as the Nigerian Air Force's first female
combat pilot and first female helicopter pilot respectively after completing their training courses
in the US and South Africa.

Speaking at the event in which the female military officers were decorated alongside 11 others on
Tuesday October 15, the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar said it was a milestone
achievement in the 55-year history of the force.

“I am particularly happy because out of the 13 pilots to be winged are two female regular
combatant officers,” he said.

“They are not only female officers but outstanding aviators. While one of the two pilots is the
first female fighter pilot in the 55 years history of the NAF, the second one is the first female
combat helicopter pilot.

“The first female fighter pilot trained at the United States Air Force following an excellent
performance during her initial flying training course at 401 Flying Training School in Kaduna.
While the second graduated from Starlite International Training Academy. They both performed
excellently well during their training.”

Sadique further disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force has trained a total of 67 Instructor pilots
since 2015. He added that the air force would have winged a total of 101 pilots within the same
period the new officers were winged.

Border Closure: Nigerians Shun Local Rice, Sellers Lament

Rice sellers in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital have expressed worry over the reluctance of
consumers to buy locally produced rice.

Some rice sellers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday said
consumers preferred to pay more for foreign imported rice than the cheaper locally produced one.

A rice seller, Mallam Mahmud Ismail said only few customers requested for local rice as they
always preferred the foreign version.

“Hardly will you see one out of 10 customers requesting for local rice in my shop. They always
want the foreign rice,” Ismail said.

Another seller, Mrs Bimpe Ekundayo said customers complained about the poor quality of the
local rice.

“Many customers complain of stone particles and the low quality of local rice. I make sales of 10
bags of foreign rice to 4 bags of Nigerian rice due to the quality,” Ekundayo said.

Another seller popularly called Iya Ibeji at Ipata market, said sales of local rice were not fast as
customers looked down on it.

“Local rice is always second choice in their budget. They feel reluctant and sad when I suggest
for them to buy local rice. They are even ready to pay more for the foreign rice,” she said.

Mrs. Iyabo Aina called on the Federal Government to lift ban on the importation of rice and allow
free flow of the product in the country.
“We are not making sales anymore. Nobody is ready to buy local rice and it is affecting our
business. Government should do something on time,” Aina said.

However, Mr Stephen Ikechukwu, another seller, lamented that the closure of the borders against
importation of foreign rice had caused sharp increase in the general prices of rice in the market.

“Now, we sell local rice for N20,800 while the foreign rice is N26,000. It was never like this
before the closure of the border when we used to sell a bag of local rice for N9,500 and the
foreign N13,000,” he said.

Also, a rice seller, Alhaja Rukayat Usman urged the Federal Government to encourage the public
to patronise local rice and stop discriminating against it.
“We need to change our attitude towards locally made products and appreciate Nigerian made.
We are fond of prioritizing anything foreign ahead of our locally made products which are bad,”
she said.

Ghana Resorts To Diplomacy To Get Nigeria Border Opened

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey says government will exhaust all
diplomatic avenues to get Nigeria to re-open its western borders for the free flow of goods from
Ghana to the sub-region.

Nigeria partially closed its borders with Benin in August this year to curb the spate of rice
smuggling which Africa’s most populous country said is threatening its attempt to boost local
production.

The move, according to Nigeria’s High Commission to Ghana, Olufemi Michael Abikoye also
aims at stopping the movement of illicit weapons and other smuggled goods through the various
entry points.

The closure however, has affected the movement of goods and services from the West African
sub-region into Nigeria through that section of the country’s border, a situation the Ghana Union
Traders Association (GUTA) said is causing its members to incur huge losses.

GUTA subsequently petitioned Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey to act on the matter.

After a meeting with the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, on 15 October 2019, Ghana’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey called on the
Nigerian government to take immediate steps to resolve the border issue.

“As we speak, Nigerian goods are entering Ghana without any problem and I think that we
should find ways of isolating the issues and the countrie that you have problems with so that
Ghana’s exports can enter your market without being lumped up with all these issues that have
emerged,” she appealed.

She said truckloads of goods from Ghana have been detained at the Seme border between Benin
and Nigeria for weeks and coming back to use the seaports will be a major problem as the traders
have already lost millions within the last few weeks.

The Nigerian High Commissioner, Olufemi Abikoye said Abuja would be willing to collaborate
with Ghana to find a lasting solution to the situation.

“At the end of it, we’re helping our economies. The smuggling will stop and the emerging issues
put on the platform and at the end of it, all of us will be very happy”, he noted.

He added, “the sub-region will be happy and Nigeria will be able to generate employment and I
appreciate you Your Excellency for calling for this meeting, it actually shows your diplomacy at
the highest level and whatever the concerns with respect to Ghanaian goods that are stuck at the
border, we shall convey to Nigeria,” he noted.
He was emphatic that Ghana was not the target for the temporary closure of the borders, pledging
his country’s commitment to find a lasting solution to the matter following the setting up of a
joint task force constituting Customs, Immigration and other security bodies for the broader
benefit of the ECOWAS Sub region

Buhari Approves Drones For Border Monitoring

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the deployment of drones, aircraft and geospatial
technology for the monitoring of borders, it was learnt on Tuesday.
A source said the strategy was part of the e-Customs that the nation will use for the surveillance
of the movement of illicit goods and persons.

With the procurement and deployment of the e-Customs, the borders shall record a watertight
security that will foreclose the need for the erection of physical walls.
The source said: “The President has just approved e-Customs. E-Customs encompasses the
deployment of border management technology, which will incorporate the use of drones, aircraft
and other geo-spatial technology to be able to monitor our borders to ensure that any illicit
movement of goods and persons do not take place. Once that is in place, I think we will be very
safe that we do not need walls to be erected.”

This is coming on the heels of the joint operation border patrol code-named ‘EX-SWIFT
RESPONSE.”
The Ex-SWIFT RESPONSE, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser
(ONSA), comprises the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian
Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to address
trans-border security issues.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Comptroller-General, Mohammed Babandede,
disclosed in Abuja at the joint press briefing of the EX-SWIFT RESPONSE that President Buhari
approved has enhanced the implementation of the ECOWAS protocol.

Following the implementation, the NIS, according to him, has ensured “if you don’t have
traveling document, we (immigration) cannot allow you to leave Nigeria. We have refused the
entrance of 1,111 people, who wanted to enter into Nigeria. ”
Continuing, he said that we have removed people that have already entered, 728 people have
been removed.”

Babandede revealed that there are non-ECOWAS nationals among those that the NIS arrested
during the ongoing border closure.
The Immigration boss revealed: “We have arrested Pakistanis. We have arrested North Koreans.
Those people are supposed to be deported. We have deported around seven of them. We getting
the documentation to make sure they reach North Korean.”

He noted that illegal migrants have been banned from entering into Nigeria for life even through
recognized routes.
He added that with the closure of borders, there has been reduction in banditry and kidnapping,
stressing that some of the criminals are foreigners.
He vowed that the NIS operatives will continue the border monitoring to ensure that only
legitimate migrants enter into Nigeria through the legal routes.

October 16

Minimum Wage: Labour Suspends Planned Strike As Talks

Continue Today
• Workers demand documents as FG hikes
salary adjustments

• Lagos will pay more than N30,000, says

Gov Sanwo-Olu

Olufemi Atoyebi, Abuja

Organised labour on Tuesday demanded documents from the Federal Government to support its
claims during a negotiation on the consequential adjustments on the New National Minimum
Wage.

Labour suspended its planned strike as both sides agreed to continue negotiations today
(Wednesday).

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, at the opening of the meeting, said the
demand of the workers before the negotiation would shut down the economy.

But a source at the five hours meeting, which started at 2.45pm, confided in our correspondent
that the labour leaders and the government’s representatives made concessions. He added that
they failed to reach a definite agreement on the salary adjustments.

Before the meeting, labour was demanding 29 per cent salary increase for officers at salary grade
levels 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers at salary grade levels 15 to 17, while the
Federal Government proposed an 11 per cent increase for officers at grade level 07 to 14 and 6.5
per cent adjustment for workers at grade level 15 to 17.

The meeting broke into sessions on a few occasions when labour and government teams had to
leave the general session to meet their teams separately before continuing with the joint session.

Our correspondent learnt that the labour team demanded a number of documents from
government’s team to verify claims made by the Federal Government during the negotiation.

According to a source, who was part of the workers’ team at the meeting, labour lowered its
position to 20 and 25 per cent, while government increased its offer to 17 per cent for workers at
grade levels 07 to 09, 15 per cent for those at grade levels 10 to 14 and 12 per cent for workers at
grade level 15 to 17.
The source said, “The two sides made concessions but in addition to the Federal Government
concession, the team also introduced innovations which is strange to us. But we have asked for
documents to back that position. However, whatever figures presented now at the meeting are
mere proposals that labour is going home to examine critically before tomorrow’s (today)
meeting.”

It was also learnt that the minister pleaded with the union leaders to consider the present state of
the nation’s economy in their demands.

He said after the meeting that he was happy that there was no walkout or fight during the
deliberation.

Briefing journalists, Ngige said, “I serve as the conciliator so I am not on any side. I belong to the
two parties. As you can see, there was no fight and no walkout. That shows thatthings are going
on well. We will continue tomorrow (Wednesday) because of areas that we could not touch.”

Addressing the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress Deputy President, Amaechi Asugwuni said,
“For us at labour, the matters are straightforward but negotiations are still going on. We thought
the meeting would be concluded today but that prediction was not successful. Therefore,
adjournment became necessary. The struggle will still continue.

“We will meet again tomorrow (Wednesday) and that meeting will decide the fate of both parties.
So far, commitments have been shown by both parties but we believe that the areas that are still
in contest are critical and we urge government to see how it can shift ground positively. We
expect that Wednesday’s meeting will end positively.”

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, who spoke for the
government team added, “We have worked together and both sides have made a lot of
concessions but we discovered that there are areas to be ironed out. There are some documents
and information that are being sought and which we are providing. We will continue tomorrow
with the belief that we will reach an agreement.

But earlier on Tuesday, the Federal Government said the economy would be shut down, if it met
the demands of the organised labour on the New National Minimum Wage.

Ngige, who stated this during the Federal Government’s meeting with labour leaders in Abuja,
said the unionists should not misinform workers about the government’s position on the
consequential increase in workers’ salaries as a result of the new minimum wage of N30,000.

The labour leaders had at a meeting with the minister on Monday submitted their proposal on
percentages on consequential increases in the new minimum wage.

Ngige, in his opening speech before the technical session that government had with labour on
Tuesday, said government would not intimidate workers.

The minister said the Federal Government’s personnel cost had increased astronomically and that
accommodating more wage bill like what labour was demanding could shut the economy down.

Ngige stated, “It is a matter of balancing a budget that is 76 per cent recurrent and 24 per cent
capital. For me, it is nothing to cheer about. In the 76 per cent, government has captured N200bn
for the consequential adjustment for the minimum wage and so on. These are all parts of
personnel.

Don’t threaten govt with strike, Ngige tells labour

“I don’t want labour to misinform workers. They should not be misinformed. Workers should
know that this is a consequential adjustment and not a holistic wage review. We must give the
government the benefit of the doubt. I am for labour and I will not sit and watch them being
cheated. I will also not sit and watch labour intimidate government. If you dangle a strike, it is
intimidation and the International Labour Organisation Convention does not permit it. People
should negotiate freely. If government threatens you in the course of negotiation, it is
intimidation.

“I am your friend and friend of government. In fact, government feels I am not doing enough.
That is why I am talking to you so that you can talk to your people. We cannot allow the
government to shut down the economy because it wants to pay salaries and wages.

“The 2020 budget of N10.3tr has N3.8tr as personnel cost without overhead. If you add running
cost and other incidental costs, the total recurrent budget as presented to the National Assembly
has taken 76 per cent. Where do we get the money to build roads, airport, rails, health centres,
schools etc.?”

Congress, Amechi Asugwuni, leading the labour team

Before the meeting, Ngige received the leaders of the Nigeria Union of Local Government
Employees, led by its president, Ibrahim Khaleel.

Strike will fail – Labour faction

Workers were on Tuesday divided on whether they should go on a strike over the new minimum
wage.

A breakaway faction of the NLC, condemned the strike being planned to embark upon by the
Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The ULC president, Joe Ajaero, in a statement, said the union said critical sectors that would
make the strike to be successful were left out of the decision.

The statement said, “We were part of the 16-man technical committee that gave birth to the
Tripartite Committee on the Review of the National Minimum Wage and in which we
participated vigorously in all the processes leading to its negotiation and the various struggles to
deliver it for the benefit of Nigerian workers and peoples.

“The dynamics of the struggle dictate that we mobilise all our constituents both primary and
secondary to make for a successful strike. A man that intentionally goes to war without its most
critical weapons has prepared himself to fail.

“Nigerian workers cannot be forced to negotiate from a position of weakness as in this case. Why
would we want to go into a nationwide strike without mobilising all the national stakeholders and
civil society organizations, market women and students?

“Obviously, the proposed nationwide strike is designed to fail or at best watered down to achieve
nothing but to bring few Nigerian workers on the street to dance and wave flags without shutting
down the economy which is the effect a nationwide strike ought to have”.

Lagos will pay more than N30,000

In Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the state was ready to pay more than the
N30,000 benchmark for the new National Minimum Wage.

Sanwo-Olu, who said this during a meeting in Ikeja with the organized labour in the state, said
the payment would start after the conclusion of the Federal Government and labour leaders’
negotiation.

He said, “As a government, we take the issue of minimum wage very seriously. We know how
important and germane it is to the wellbeing of our people. We are technically ready to
implement the new minimum wage. I made a commitment during my previous interactions with
the labour unions before my assumption of office and I am still keeping to the promise made.
However little it is, we will certainly pay more than N30,000 minimum wage.

“We understand the position Lagos occupies and we understand the challenges workers are facing
in Lagos. If other states can raise that amount, I believe Lagos needs to show a bit more to
appreciate workers’ contribution to the growth of our state.”

During an interaction with the labour union leaders, Sanwo-Olu listened to various demands of
the workers, which included arrears of workers’ medical allowance, introduction of premium
insurance for the workforce, timely pension payment for retired workers, mortgage scheme for
housing, befitting labour secretariat and representation of workers’ unions in MDA boards’
appointments.

Zamfara ready for strike

Meanwhile, the NLC in Zamfara State has directed its members to stay at home as from Thursday
if the Federal Government and the organised labour unions fail to agree on the new minimum
wage.

In a statement in Gusau on Tuesday, the state NLC Secretary, Bitrus Gyang, said the congress had
written all unions in the state to mobilise their members.

NLC, TUC fail to honour Reps’ invitation

The House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity has decried
the failure by the organised labour to appear before it in Abuja on Tuesday.

The committee said the invitation was part of the lawmakers’ intervention in the crisis between
the workers and the Federal Government over implementation of the new minimum wage.
Chairman of the committee, Mr Ali Wudil, said the intervention by the lawmakers was to prevent
the looming industrial action by labour scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

The NLC, in its letter to the committee said it could not honour the invitation because of the
Tuesday meeting with the Federal Government on the consequential adjustment of salaries.

Fulani Herdsmen From Across West Africa To Benefit From

FG Livestock Plan
Fulani herdsmen from Chad, Niger to benefit from FG’s livestock plan
Published

September 16, 2019

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

Fulani herdsmen from Chad, Niger and other neighbouring countries will benefit from the
National Livestock Transformation Plan, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said.

Mohammed, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, said since
Fulani herdsmen are nomadic, it would be inappropriate to deprive them from benefitting from
the livestock plan just because they are not from Nigeria.

The initiative will be 80 per cent funded by the Federal Government while the states would
provide 20 per cent counterpart funding and the grazing land.

The governor, whose state is among those that will be part of the initiative, said Fulani exist in
many countries across Africa and share a brotherhood which transcends boundaries.

When asked how the government would ensure that only Nigerians benefit from the livestock
plan, Mohammed said, “I think there is a lot of mistrust and misconception as regards the Fulani
man. The Fulani man is a global or African person. He moves from The Gambia to Senegal and
his nationality is Fulani.

“As a person, I may have my relations in Cameroon but they are also Fulani. I am a Fulani man
from my maternal side, we will just have to take this as our own heritage, something that is
African. So we cannot just close our borders and say the Fulani man is just a Nigerian.

“In most cases, the crisis is precipitated by those outside Nigeria. When there is a reprisal, it is
not the Fulani man within Nigeria that causes it. It is that culture of getting revenge which is
embedded in the traditional Fulani man that attracts reprisal.”

When asked if it was right to allow foreigners to benefit from Nigerian taxpayers’ money, the
governor said it was proper.

He said Fulani don’t actually have one single nationality since they are nomadic in nature.
Mohammed said “We are already accommodating them. Do you delineate and really know who is
not a Nigerian Fulani man?

“They are all Nigerians because their identity, their citizenship is Nigerian even though they have
relatives from all over the world. So, presumably they are Nigerians because they move all over
and have relations all over. That is why our population in Nigeria is fluid.”

When asked if there would be any form of documentation for the Fulani herdsmen coming into
Nigeria from other countries, the governor said, “Yes. This will give Nigeria the opportunity of
having proper documentation and knowing the demography because the Fulani man settles
anywhere he can feed his cattle.”

The livestock plan which is being championed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo seeks to put
herdsmen and their livestock in designated colonies which will give them the opportunity of
exploiting the livestock value chain.

While many northern states have embraced it, their southern counterparts have rejected it.

It's Shocking To Hear That Governors Are Negotiating With

Bandits ~bode George
Chief Olabode George, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland was a former Deputy National Chairman
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he
speaks on the claim by Junaid Mohammed, a Second Republic federal lawmaker that the 2014
national conference was manipulated. He also spoke on insecurity in the country, xenophobic
attacks and other issues. Excerpts:

Junaid Mohammed, a delegate to the 2014 national conference said the report was doctored and
certain things not agreed during the conference were added to the report through the backdoor. As
a delegate to the conference, what is your position on that?

Junaid Mohammed is my friend. I think he studied in Russia as a medical doctor. I want to appeal
to him in the interest of the unity of this country. This is not Soviet Union. He schooled in an
environment that is totalitarian. Where is the respect for the will of the people? I was a member
of the 2014 national conference and Junaid was also there. The chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, a
respected jurist, one of the foremost, highly respected jurists in this country was never rattled by
anybody. He was solid like gold and not gold-plated. Every item that was finally adopted was at
the full plenary session and it was put to vote. To say that they went behind to add certain things
to the report is unfortunate. How will Junaid want to be remembered? Let us tell the truth and
fear God. We are driving this nation as if nothing can happen. Why are you distorting history? Is
he saying the late Justice Kutigi was dishonourable? To me, the 2014 conference was the best that
had ever happened in the history of this country. We debated and discussed all items. Emotions
were high but because of the nature and the attitude of the presiding chairman, he calmed all the
frayed nerves and everything was put to vote and unanimously adopted. So, what are the things
that were added through the backdoor in the final report? Let us do things that will promote the
unity of this country. We may say Nigeria is an artificial creation but nothing happens without the
consent of the Almighty God. Our size in itself is enough wealth for us. I have traversed the
length and breadth of this country and I can boldly say that there is no part of this country that
God has not endowed with one mineral, agricultural, human resource or the other. Let’s aggregate
them. The closer we are, the stronger we will be. No nation can be a great country without that
unity. Don’t deride other people and think they are not important. By so doing, you are ferreting
chords of discord that will not assist anybody. How can you say if the presidency doesn’t go to
the South- East, they can secede? Imagine if Junaid is on the other side of the flip and someone
says that to him, how will he feel? Those are not statements from a statesman. Junaid is my friend
but I am very disappointed.

You said the 2014 conference is the best Nigeria ever had, is there any hope for the report to be
implemented since President Buhari has refused to implement it and Junaid said the North will
remove any President from the South who tries to implement it?

What kind of arrogance is that? A pool of Nigerians comprising of labour union leaders, jurists,
politicians, elder statesmen, the intellectuals, professors, in fact, it is the best minds of Nigeria
that attended the conference. It was Nigeria at the best. People who were ministers during the
First Republic were there to share their experiences. Some even died during the conference. We
have never had any constitutional conference set up by a civilian government that got to the end.
Go back to our history and confirm. Go back into our history and confirm. Any constitutional
change we have had was always during the military regime. One of the pillars of the
achievements of Goodluck Jonathan was that he was able to drive that conference from beginning
to the end. He never interfered in the discussions. So, how can anybody just singlehandedly
rubbish it like that? Yet, you were there throughout the four months but didn’t raise any objection
or boycott it. They would have recorded you as somebody who didn’t agree or in absentia. We are
at a crossroads now and nobody gets to that level twice. Let us fear God. The consequences of
vituperations that are negatively impacted don’t augur well.

The excuse former President Jonathan gave was that the conference couldn’t be implemented
because it was close to the conduct of the 2015 general elections. But some Nigerians have
argued that there are certain aspects he could have implemented before handing over. What is
your take on that?

Goodluck Jonathan is still alive. He should answer for himself. I also get a little bit concerned
why there was delay. I know that the report was delivered to him. The Federal Executive Council
(FEC) took it up and adopted it and it was sent to the National Assembly. Nigerians should ask
the then Senate President, David Mark and his colleagues why they didn’t take up the report. We
don’t expect Jonathan to go and sit on their heads and be telling them to do their jobs.

Are you happy with the way the Federal Government handled the issue of xenophobia attack in
South Africa?

When I was in the military as civil servant, they deducted our salaries to assist the liberation of
South Africa from apartheid rule. Every civil servant at that time paid something compulsorily in
assisting to actualise the end of apartheid. Now, maybe the younger generation of South Africans
doesn’t know much about apartheid. In fact, if you go to South Africa, you find some of those
young people, when you say ‘apartheid’, they look at you like what is he talking about? Those
freedom fighters then are no more. Only very few are still alive. The SOWETO in those days
were defined. Most of those who became leaders of the apartheid movement were living in
Soweto. Maybe the policy of the government in trying to encourage the younger ones for
economic empowerment wasn’t there. God gave us green lands so there should be nothing like
hunger anywhere if we manage ourselves properly. It is the lack of management politically and
economically that is responsible for lack of jobs for the people. There is no nation that even if
you scratch your ground and out something inside, food will always be there. So, why are trying
to fight one another on issue of jobs? Though our people go to South Africa mainly for
commerce, some of them also misbehave when they get there. For those misbehaving, let the law
take its course but not for the people to take law into their hands, killing and destroying
properties of foreigners. It is the most irresponsible behavior in any civilized society. It is not
acceptable. I believe we should hold the government of South Africa responsible and tell them to
wake up to their responsibilities. The current President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa was
one of the freedom fighters so he knew the role Nigeria played in the liberation of South Africa
from apartheid. Then, all their business people flooded Nigeria. Have you seen us attacking
them? Do you think we are fools?

Some governors, especially in the North- West have been negotiating with bandits over the
insecurity in their states. The military even said it is a political and not a military decision . As a
retired General, what is your take on that?

Does anything surprise me anymore in this country? What is the role of the military and police?
We copy the American system of government. In America, you don’t have one man sitting in
Washington and controlling all the police there. They have the County police for local
governments, the state police and the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) which is like our
police. They know that it is humanly impossible for one man to control the total national security
men who are to provide succour to Nigerians . Every policing is local and community policing is
very vital because you know virtually everything happening in your neighbourhood. It is more
effective. The IGP once said that they have only 344,000 people in the police to man this country.
I am shocked to hear that governors are negotiating with bandits. That is not the solution. If
bandits can commit crimes and still gets rewarded, then our educated people will see it as
profession that is lucrative. Is that not salary being given to them? Why don’t you do a thorough
analysis on why the security system is not working? You are now negotiating with bandits and the
bandits are also eager enough to come out for negotiation? Why do we have the judiciary? Why
do we establish prisons for those who are defaulting? This is shocking.

IMF Faults Forex Restrictions On 43 Items As Hurting

Investments
The foreign exchange restrictions placed on 43 items by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on
Tuesday drew criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The policy is holding back Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the local economy, IMF’s
Divisional Chief, Research Department, Oya Celasun, told a news conference on the World
Economic Outlook at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington D.C.

Besides, the IMF chief said Nigeria requires a tight monetary policy and the unification of its
exchange rates to achieve the desired growth.
His position contradicted that of CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele who had always insisted that
the apex bank acted in the best interest of the local economy.

He said the decision to restrict forex access and shut the official foreign exchange window for the
importation of the banned 43 items would protect Nigeria’s foreign reserves, as well as the
nation’s economy.

According to him, the policy was introduced to stimulate the domestic economy and enhance
domestic production and protect local industries from undue foreign competition and take-over.

But Celasun said the policy was working to the contrary, pointing out that Nigeria’s growth has
been weak, even as he gave hope that growth would pick up next year with support from the
agricultural sector, which will enable the country to spend more on priorities, such as social
safety and infrastructure.

He said: “There is need for the strengthening of the banking system and unified exchange rate
system. Foreign exchange restrictions have also been distorting the public and private sector
decisions and holding back investment. Therefore, strengthening the banking sector resilience
and continued stronger structural reforms, especially in infrastructure, power sector and broader
governance, are critical.”

Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, IMF Chief Economist and Director of the Research Department
Mrs. Gita Gopinath noted that the local economy still depended on oil prices and its prospects.

She added that there has been some weaknesses in the oil sector, stressing that one thing to keep
in mind about Nigeria was that per capital growth has remain weak, hence, the need for structural
reforms.

Celasun said Nigeria saw slight upward revision for growth this year and that came mostly from
strong agricultural production.

However, the growth was not high enough to lift the per capital growth into positive territory.

Mrs. Gopinath said: “For some time, we have been emphasing on a comprehensive package to lift
growth. One element of that will have to be stronger non-oil revenue mobilisation, as Nigeria has
one of the lowest rate of revenue in the world, which was hit hard by the drop in oil prices.
Stronger non-oil revenue mobilisation is essential for the country to be able to spend more on
priorities such as social safety and infrastructure.”

She said the global economy is in a synchronised slowdown, stating that the Fund was
downgrading growth for 2019 to three per cent, its slowest pace since the global financial crisis.

Her words: “Growth continues to be weakened by rising trade barriers and increasing geopolitical
tensions. We estimate that the US-China trade tensions will cumulatively reduce the level of
global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.8 per cent by 2020.

“Growth is also being weighed down by country-specific factors in several emerging market
economies, and structural forces—such as low productivity growth and aging demographics in
advanced economies, adding that in the October World Economic Outlook.
“We are projecting a modest improvement in global growth to 3.4 per cent in 2020, reflecting
another downward revision of 0.2 per cent from our April projections. However, unlike the
synchronized slowdown, this recovery is not broad-based and remains precarious.”

She attributed the weakness in growth to a sharp deterioration in manufacturing activity and
global trade, with higher tariffs and prolonged trade policy uncertainty damaging investments and
demand for capital goods.

“In addition, the automobile industry is contracting owing also to a variety of factors, such as
disruptions from new emission standards in the Euro area and China that have had durable
effects. Overall, trade volume growth in the first half of 2019 has fallen to one percent, the
weakest level since 2012,” she said.

She went on: “Also, in contrast to extremely weak manufacturing and trade, the services sector
continues to hold up almost across the globe. This has kept labour markets buoyant and wage
growth and consumption spending healthy in advanced economies, saying there are some initial
signs of softening in the services sector in the United States and euro area.

“Monetary policy has played a significant role in supporting growth. In the absence of
inflationary pressures and facing weakening activity, major central banks have appropriately
eased to reduce downside risks to growth and to prevent de-anchoring of inflation expectations.

Suit Seeking Fowler‘s Sack As FIRS Boss Struck Out By

Court
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, yesterday, dismissed a suit challenging the tenure of Mr.
Babatunde Fowler as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

The court, presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa, struck out the suit when it upheld the
preliminary objection filed by Fowler’s counsellor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Paul Erokoro,
stating that Stanley Okwara, the plaintiff, had no locus standi to file the suit.

Justice Allagoa came to the conclusion after an hour-long review of all the legal authorities cited
by Erekoro, T.A Ghazalli, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, who is the second
defendant; and JohnMary C. Jideobi, the plaintiff’s counsel.

He said he could not see how the rights of the plaintiff were affected by the non-appointment of
the Executive Chairman, FIRS after August 15.

He agreed with Fowler’s counsel that the plaintiff had no cause of action and that it was fatal to
his suit that he didn’t file a pre-action notice to the court, as required by the Federal Inland
Revenue Establishment Act (FIRSEA) 2007.

“I agree with the first defendant that the plaintiff ought to have served the defendant with a pre-
action notice. Learned SAN asked the court to strike out the suit. I so hold,” Allagoa said.

The judge also upheld Erokoro’s submission that the suit should be struck out as there was no
“justiciable cause of action”.

Ike Odume, FIRS Director of Legal Services, saluted the court, saying: “My Lord, we thank you
for being forthright in this matter. Thank you for doing justice. It cannot be less. I have been
following this court from Enugu. I know you will always do justice. Thank you.

“My Lord, we will be asking for costs. We have come all the way from Abuja three times because
of this matter. We will be asking for costs,” said Odume.

Justice Allagoa, however, overruled Odume.

“Don’t kill a fly with a sledgehammer. Parties should bear their costs,” he held.

The counsel to Okwara, Jideobi, was represented in court by Barrister A. Issa.

About a fortnight ago, Fowler’s counsel, Erokoro, supported by Odume and counsel to the
Attorney-General of the Federation, Ghazalli, in a preliminary objection, asked the court to strike
out Okwara’s suit

Erokoro and Ghazalli told the court that Okwara had no locus standi to file the suit in the first
place and that the suit should be struck out as the court had no jurisdiction to entertain it. Both
maintained that the proper place for the suit is the National Industrial Court.

But Okwara told the court that as a legal practitioner, he had a fundamental human right to file
the suit and he had a duty under the Legal Privileges Act to uphold the Rule of Law.

The plaintiff had asked the court, in the suit (No. FHC/KN/CS/141/2019) to order Fowler to
vacate his office, which, he claimed, had expired on August 18, 2019.

Okwara claimed that Fowler was appointed on the 20 August 2015 and that his tenure had
expired as FIRS Chairman after 20 August 2019.

Citing the provisions of Sections 3(2) (a), Section 4(a) and Section 11 (a)” of the FIRS
Establishment Act 2007 and the decision of the Supreme Court in Ogbuinyinya & Ors. vs. Obi
Okudo & Ors. (1979) All N.L.R. 105, Okwara claimed Fowler has no business to continue to
hold office.

He also asked the court for an order directing Fowler to refund to the Treasury Single Account of
the Federation all the salaries, emoluments and other monetary benefits he has been drawing on
the purse of the FIRS and file an affidavit of compliance within 14 days after the delivery of
judgment in the suit.
But in a notice of preliminary objection dated 30 September and filed the same day, Erokoro
noted that the Okwara has not disclosed a special interest.

Given Okwara’s failure to establish his locus standi to commence the suit and for failing to abide
by Section 55 of the FIRS Establishment Act by filing a pre-action notice on the FIRS Chairman,
for failing to present any reasonable caucause of action, Erokoro asked the court to strike out the
suit.

Citing Senator Abraham Adesanya Vs the President of Nigeria, (1986) 5 SC 112, Erokoro said
the Okwara need to have actual and real interest in the suit before he can sue.

Fayemi Seeks FG Approval To Toll Ado-akure Road

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said on Tuesday that he was seeking approval of the
Federal Government, owners of the Ado – Akure Road, to fix and toll the road.

Fayemi, who said the toll became necessary in view of the directive from the Federal
Government not to refund states henceforth for repair of federal roads and the need for him to pay
back the loan he sourced from African Development Bank to fix the road.

The governor, who spoke during a colloquium themed, ‘Building a sustainable economy through
values orientation and innovative thinking’, held to mark the first year of his second term in
office, said that paucity of funds had forced the Federal Government to stop the states from
rehabilitating federal roads.

Fayemi said, “We got some money from the AfDB to fix the Ado – Akure Road, but it is not our
road. So I wrote to the President, requesting permission to fix this road. The Federal Works
Ministry told me that if I did it, there would be no refund. I said okay, I don’t need a refund. Give
me approval to fix it. We have been on this for three months.

 “I hope that the legislative branch of government will be able to convince the Federal
Government that this is a joke. There are 36,000 kilometres of roads to be rehabilitated by
FERMA. I don’t know what has been approved for FERMA in the current estimate for 2020, but
I doubt if it’s up to N100million,” Fayemi said.

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi and former Minister of Sports, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, who spoke at
the event, advised the country to redistribute its wealth and foster entrepreneurial education to
reduce the gap between the rich and the poor citizens.

The Nigeria Senate Passes Deep Offshore, Inland Basin PSC

Bill
As at yesterday , the Senate passed the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing
Contract Oil Bill in addition to projected yearly revenue of $1.5billion.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Senate also raised the penalty for defaulters of this law from
N20million fine or one year imprisonment to N500million fine or an option of five years
imprisonment.

This is just as the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari
had transmitted a letter requesting the senate to consider and pass the Deep Offshore and Inland
Basin Production Sharing Contracts amendment bill 2019 for him to add assent urgently.

The President’s letter coincided with the Senate consideration of the report of Senator Albert
Akpan Bassey’s joint on upstream Petroleum Gas Finance and Judiciary, Human Rights and
Justice Committee on the Bill for final passage.

According to Lawan, Buhari’s letter reads :”Pursuant to section 58 of constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby present the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin
Production Sharing Contracts amendment bill 2019 for consideration and passage into law by the
senate.

“This bill seems to reflect the current realities in the oil and gas sector as well as to secure
increased revenue for the federal government to fund projected expenditure in the 2020 budget
and subsequent budgets. While I hope that this bill will be expeditiously and favourable
considered by the National Assembly.”

In his remark on Buhari’s request, Lawan said, “The bill that is conveyed in this letter of
communication from the President has already received very expeditious consideration.

“We finish with the second reading, our committee; the joint committee on petroleum resources
upstream, finance, judiciary and Gas have worked tirelessly and assiduously with the NNPC,
Federal ministry of petroleum resources, with the DPR and of course that reflected the position of
Government and we had an engagement yesterday which lasted from morning until about 8pm
and we are taking the report of this committee this morning.

Recall that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah had on October 2 brought to the awareness of his colleagues at
plenary through a motion on the loss of a whooping N7trillion to the nation’s economy through
the multinational oil companies on the non-review of Production Sharing Contracts by the Joint
Ventures Companies ( JVC).

Senator Ubah announced that the bill was co-sponsored by 27 other Senators, just as he informed
the Senate that salient provisions of the contractual agreements between Nigeria and the affected
oil firms, have not been adhered to by parties concerned which according to him, had bled the
nation’s economy to the tune of $21billion, equivalent of N7trillion.

He said the N7trillion loss were revenues that supposed to have accrued into the federation
account from shares Nigeria supposed to have gotten from the oil firms anytime oil price rises
above $20 per barrel as provided for in section 16 of the Production Sharing Contract Oil .

Passing the bill titled : “ Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract
( Amendment) Bill 2019 “ for second reading Tuesday, the Senate introduced sections 17 and 18
into it for appropriate penalties against violation of section 16 of the Act
Trouble In Senate Over Recruitment Scandal
• Leadership accused of sharing 100 job slots

 • Aggrieved lawmakers vow showdown

 • Commission cautions against police jobs

By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Kanayo Umeh, 

Anger and suspicion are brewing in the Senate. These have been provoked by some
members of the upper legislative chamber using their official positions to allegedly get job
slots from government agencies.Already, the Senate committee charged with ensuring
employment complies with the federal character principle yesterday vowed to expose such
lawmakers involved in the job racketeering.

The Chairman of the committee, Danjuma La’ah, promised there would be no sacred cows.
“I don’t care who they have given job slots to. Is it the leadership that will give them the
backing? The leadership knows that I am capable of doing my job. That is why they gave
me that responsibility,” he told journalists at the National Assembly complex.

“I am using my sense to fish out the bad elements. It is not a leadership directive. There are
rules and regulations guiding us as a committee. The affected agencies should present
themselves for clearance because I will not take it easy. Our people have suffered in
bondage for long.”

He said: “I am not aware that any agency gave out employment slots to the Senate. The
leadership has not told us that they received any slot. So, whom did they give? As the
chairman of this committee, who is also representing Kaduna South, I was not in any way
aware that we have been given any employment slots. So, we are going ahead with our
probe. I have taken it upon myself that I will probe deeply into the agencies’ claims and
carry out an extensive investigation. We are going to expose all those that are tarnishing the
image of the Federal Government.”

La’ah said further: “We are aware that some of the agencies are selling the employment
slots at their disposal. They are commercialising employment, selling a single slot for as
much as N1.5m, when we have children who have graduated from tertiary institutions who
could not get any job for many years. Some people are just taking Nigerians for granted.
Our children are suffering, running from one end to another, looking for jobs. Some have
become bandits and terrorists because the jobs meant for them have been cornered by some
greedy people.”

Also, some senators are putting pressure on the committee to fast-track the investigation, to
enable the chamber to mete out sanctions to indicted colleagues. A senator, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said handling the matter might prove difficult since the leadership
has allegedly shared 100 job slots.
 Another claimed: “The secret employment is already tearing the Senate apart. A particular
agency of the Federal Government was said to have offered 100 slots to the leadership. An
average senator, who is not a member of the executive, cannot even boast of being given a
single job by any federal agency for his or her constituents.

“We had information that one of the leaders shared 26 slots to people in his senatorial
district. Problems are really brewing in the Senate because the leadership has allegedly
taken jobs meant for Nigerians. Does it mean you must know a senator in Nigeria before
you get a job? Nothing is being done by merit and due process again. How will you get the
best brains to do the jobs?

But there might be more to the complaint, as the lawmaker added: “The implication is that
many people are being offered employment without undergoing any interview to test their
capability. They just give them appointment letters because they know the leadership of the
Senate. How can a single senatorial district get 26 slots when others have nothing? My
expectation is that the slots should go round. I see no reason why each senator should not
have a slot each.”

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has distanced itself from a list of
candidates allegedly released by the Nigeria Police Force in respect of the recruitment into
the constable cadre.

The Spokesperson of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, who disclosed this in Abuja
yesterday, said the release of the list was an act of illegality and a breach of federal
character requirements.

“It is unfortunate that despite the pendency of the court processes, the Nigeria Police Force
went ahead to release a purported list of candidates it has invited for training,” Ani said. He
urged the public to be wary of the list, as the commission would soon release the authentic
list of successful candidates on local government basis.

“The commission is presently in court against the Nigeria Police Force over the hijack of its
constitutional powers to recruit and has filed originating summons and interlocutory
injunction restraining the NPF from going ahead with the exercise,” said Ani.The hearing
of the commission’s suit has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at the
Federal High Court 5, Abuja.

Viral Video Of Heavily Armed Boko Haram Terrorists

Waiting For Signal To Strike
Here is a viral video of heavily armed Boko Haram terrorists in the bush waiting for signal to
strike.

According to the footage making rounds, Internet users claimed they're more of foreigners with
their dressing and looks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3wa5er5hPU
Border Closure: Customs Officials Allegedly ‘kill’ Rice
Smugglers’ Informant
A man suspected to be an informant of rice smugglers has been killed allegedly by officials of the
Nigeria Customs Service in Jigawa State, Premium times reports.

Tasiu Muhammad, 22, a resident of Babura Local Government Area, was reportedly shot dead at
Unguwar Gawo, about five kilometres from Bubara town, the council headquarters.

The police commissioner in Jigawa, Bala Senchi, at a press conference on Tuesday confirmed the
incident journalists

He said the police were not involved in the operation that led to the killing of Mr Muhammad.

Residents said the deceased had been on the wanted list of the Nigeria Customs for allegedly
running local routes for smugglers and informing them on the movement of security officials
enforcing the ban of importation of contraband goods through Nigeria’s land borders.

Report by Premium Times revealed that the deceased was reportedly shot dead while attempting
to escape arrest, even though he was not in possession of any incriminating evidence, a resident
who requested not to be named for security reasons said.

The spokesperson of the NCS in Kano, Jigawa command, Dan-Baba, when contacted, said he
could not speak with the reporter because he was “in a meeting.”

Bubara Local Government Area shares border with the Niger Republic. Rice smugglers use bush
paths in the area to smuggle banned items into Nigeria.

The Customs boss, Hameed Ali, at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, said all Nigerian land
borders will remain shut in continuation of a closure that began in August.

He said the measure is to improve Nigeria’s economic situation and reduce further exploits by
neighbouring countries.

Osinbajo Was Not In Office As Lagos Attorney-general

When Bode George Was Tried
*It was a FG case against the PDP Chieftain brought by EFCC
*Published story is a fabrication

RE: Despite What Osinbajo Did To Me, I won’t Join Those Plotting His Downfall-Bode George

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is completely baffled by a statement credited to Chief
Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP to the effect that he had
forgiven the VP for his alleged role in his (Chief George) incarceration for alleged contract
splitting during his tenure as Chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA.
According to the Vice President, “ I honestly hope that this is fake news and the product of some
mischief as the entire story is a complete fabrication.“

However, it is now important to set the records straight as follows, in rebuttal of this amazing
falsehood!

1. Chief Olabode George’s trial commenced in August 2008, a year after Prof. Osinbajo left as
Attorney-General of Lagos State. ( He served as Attorney General from 1999 to 2007.) Chief
George was convicted by the High Court in 2009.

2. Chief Olabode George was charged to court by the EFCC, a Federal Government agency, not
the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State. Chief George’s party, the PDP was in office at the center in
Abuja at the time.

3. Chief Olabode George was charged under Sections 104 and 203 of the Criminal Code. The
Code has been in force since 1914! Indeed both provisions have been in the Code since then.
Every State in the South of Nigeria cites it as it’s own law.

Prof. Osinbajo clearly could not therefore, as Chief George alleged, have “connived with Tinubu
to draft the unknown law that was used to convict him”. Neither Prof. Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu, nor the House of Assembly, Lagos State passed any new Criminal law. In any
event, their tenure ended a year before he was charged to court.

The other law that came up at the Supreme Court, “The Public Procurement Act 2007,” is an Act
of the National Assembly, not a State law.

4. The Vice President never met Chief Olabode George on any flight within or outside Nigeria.
He also never had a discussion with him on his conviction or incarceration on any flight or at any
time . Indeed the only interaction the VP had with Chief George since his incarceration was in
2017 at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of Lagos State, where the VP was guest
of honour . The VP greeted him where he sat with other elders of Lagos State. There was no
discussion whatsoever in that brief encounter.

It is hoped that these claims were only falsely credited to him, otherwise one would have to
wonder how he came about such an outlandish fiction, complete with a meeting on a flight that
definitely never happened!

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
15 October 2019
2023 Presidency: Igbo group lambasts those
clamouring for zoning, says too early
The Igbo Youth Assembly (IYA) Worldwide, says it’s too early to start clamouring for zoning of
2023 presidency.
In a statement signed by its President General, Mr Ifeanyi Nwaudunna, IYA called on Nigerians and
concerned citizens to stop politicking with 2023 Presidency.
According to Nwaudunna, this clamour is political madness.
“How can the so acclaimed leaders or elder statesmen be talking about the zone or region to produce
the President in 2023 while the present government is barely five months in office.
“It is too early and unpatriotic to start politicking about 2023 Presidency while some state governments
are yet to inaugurate their cabinets or Executive Council to fulfill their campaign promises.
“Unfortunately, the perpetrators of this social nihilism care less about good governance in their
respective states.
“IYA therefore call on the acclaimed elder statesmen and old brigade leaders to stop distracting the
peace and unity of Nigeria by shelving the clamour for zoning 2023 Presidency,”Nwaudunna said.
According to him, Nigerians should be focusing on how to engage and make the government at all
levels accountable on their campaign promises in order to deliver dividends of democracy to the
people.
“Igbo Youth Assembly worldwide urges Nigerians to do away with these enemies of the country
because they don’t mean well for the country.
“They are just after their inordinate and selfish political ambition and desires.
“Why are they not supporting and promoting good policies and programmes of the Federal
Government geared towards delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians,” Nwaudunna said.

Ohanaeze President- General Knelt Down Begging Us To

Make Him President- Junaid
Elderstatesman and Second Republic federal lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed has revealed that
North rejected the plea of John Nwodo, the President- General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo when he
begged them to make him President.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent, Junaid said Nwodo came with a delegation
from Enugu, while the meeting took place in the home of Lawal Jafaru Isa, former military
administrator of Kaduna state.

He said they only laughed at Nwodo because the North does not support the culture of begging
for positions.
He said “I haven’t seen an Igbo man that I will endorse for now. I will not endorse an Igbo man
because all the people who are pretending are not serious and they have the history of being part
and parcel of the family that brought the civil war”.

“Are you telling me because John Nwodo is the president of Ohanaeze I should ask people to
vote for him? I will not”.
“He came all the way from Enugu state to meet our people with a delegation and we had a
meeting in a house not very far from my house, he house of a former governor of Kaduna state,
Lawal Jafaru Isa”.

“We had a meeting there in which John Nwodo went on his knees begging us to make him
President. We laughed at him. In our culture, you don’t come here and say you people should
make me this or that. We allow people to point at you and say you are good to occupy certain
positions”.

“Being the President is not a question of begging people” he said.

FG Restricts Foreign Trips To Two Per Quarter For

Officials, Cancels Estacode
The Nigerian government, in a bid to curb leakages and ensure efficiency in the management of
its resources, has directed that henceforth, all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of
Extra-Ministerial Departments, Chief Executive Officers and Directors are restricted to not more
than two foreign travels in a quarter for highly essential statutory engagements that are beneficial
to interest of the nation.

This directive was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of additional cost saving
measures aimed at instilling financial discipline and prudence, particularly, in the area of official
travels.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, it was emphasised that the affected officials can only
embark on more than two foreign trips in three months “except with the express approval of Mr
President.”

In addition, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been asked to submit their
Yearly Travel Plans for statutory meetings and engagements to the Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation and/or the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for
express clearance within the first quarter of the fiscal year, before implementation.

They are further required to make their presentation using the existing template and also secure
approvals on specific travels as contained in the plan, from the appropriate quarters.

The statement obtained by Business Post said “all public funded travels (local and foreign), must
be strictly for official purposes backed with documentary evidence.”

Also, when a Minister is at the head of an official delegation, the size of such delegation shall not
exceed 4 including the relevant Director, Schedule Officer and 1 Aide of the Minister.
Every other delegation below ministerial level shall be restricted to a maximum of three and for
the class of air travels, the President has approved that Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Special
Advisers, Senior Special Assistants to the President, Chairmen of Extra-Ministerial Departments
and Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals who are entitled, continue to fly Business Class while
other categories of public officers are to travel on Economy Class.

“Also, travel days will no longer attract payment of Estacode Allowances as duration of official
trips shall be limited to only the number of days of the event as contained in the supporting
documents to qualify for public funding,” the statement said.

“I Would Give Gov El-rufai An Oscar For State Budget” –

Reps Member, Jibrin
A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has commended Kaduna State
Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for the state’s budget in the last five years.

Mr Jibrin represents Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State at the National Assembly.

Jibrin, who was the Director-General of Femi Gbajabiamila Campaign Organisation, said in a
tweet on Wednesday that if he were to give an Oscar award to the best governor in terms of state
budget it would go to El-Rufai.

“On states budget, if I have an Oscar, Gov Elrufai would have won it for a record 5 years and for
keeps! There are other states doing fairly well.

“The Governors forum and indeed FG should understudy how Kaduna state has been doing it
consistently. There are lessons to be learnt!” he wrote.

https://twitter.com/AbdulAbmJ/status/1184426536226701313?s=19

On the 2020 budget, Jibrin commended the presidency and the National Assembly for “bringing
the budget circle to January-December.”

ALSO READ; Sen. Ekweremadu Fingered Over Alleged Abandoned Constituency…

“But that is not necessarily the most important issue to our budget and both side.

“There has been more conversation on the budget circle than quality of the budget,

“While the executive will always want to have what they called an ‘implementable’ budget,
NASS want to pass a budget with its inputs stamped without so much obstructions.

“For me, the quality of the final budget after the grinding and cocktail mix by both side should be
our priority,” he added.
APC Is Notorious For Lies, Says Ayade
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State had described the All Progressives Congress, APC as a
group of persons notorious for lies. He said that the assertions credited to the APC chairman in
the state, John Ochala over his return to school to pursue a Master’s degree in law at UNICAL
were as laughable and pathetic, adding that”the party in the state is notorious for lies.”

Yesterday, Ochala had described Governor Ayade as indolent and idle, who had time to return to
school which he should have done when he was a senator or as a private person. Ochala said
Ayade is bereft of ideas on how to govern the state which he said had been plagued with many
problems and infrastructural decays.

Ayade in a statemnt by his chief media adviser, Mr Christain Ita said it is “funny that a party like
APC which prides itself as a major opposition cannot engage the Governor on governance issues
but chooses to lie to score cheap political points. If they didn’t see anything wrong with Gov
Mallam Nasir El’rufai returning to school in 2017 in far away Netherlands for his PhD, what then
is wrong if Gov Ayade returns to school to add to his numerous degrees within Calabar, the state
capital?” The statement reminded the APC that Chief Whip of the Senate and member of the
APC, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was an undergraduate student while serving as Abia State
Governor.

“The timing of Gov. Ayade’s decision to return to school is unequivocally perfect. Unlike APC
members, the Governor, despite all the resources at his disposal didn’t choose any foreign
University, he decided to do it locally thereby boosting the reputation of Nigerian Universities at
a time tertiary institutions in West Africa are under attack. “For APC to lie to Cross Riverians that
no serving Governor in the history of Nigeria has ever returned to school is unfortunate. Maybe,
they just don’t have the guts to commend the Govervnor for patronising Nigeria University.
“Ignorantly, Ochala also lied that Gov. Ayade didn’t go to school while in the Senate. This is very
shocking. Gov. Ayade was elected Senator in 2011 and later that year enrolled in Nigeria Law
School, Abuja and was called to Barr in 2012.”

Ministers To Submit Travel Plans To SGF For Approval

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a new policy which requires all Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to submit their Yearly Travel Plans to the OSGF and/or the
Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for clearance. The President, in a circular
from the Office of the Government of the Federation (OSGF), said the directive is part of
measures to curb leakages and ensure efficiency in the management of resources of the
Government, which he said is for immediate implementation.

“Henceforth, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are required to submit their
Yearly Travel Plans for statutory meetings and engagements to the OSGF and/or the Office of the
Head of Civil Service of the Federation for express clearance within the first quarter of the fiscal
year, before implementation. “They are further required to make their presentation using the
existing template and also secure approvals on specific travels as contained in the plan, from the
appropriate quarters,” the directive as contained in a statement by Mr. Willie Bassey, Director
Information OSGF, said.
The order said that the nature and frequency of travels, on all public funded travels (local and
foreign), must be strictly for official purposes, backed with documentary evidence. “In this
regard, all foreign travels must be for highly essential statutory engagements that are beneficial to
the interest of the country. “Except with the express approval of Mr. President, Ministers,
Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Chief Executive Officers and
Directors are restricted to not more than two (2) foreign travels in a quarter.

“Also, when a Minister is at the head of an official delegation, the size of such delegation shall
not exceed four, including the relevant Director, Schedule Officer and one Aide of the Minister.
Every other delegation below ministerial level shall be restricted to a maximum of three,” it said.
It added that, for Class of Air Travels, the President has approved that Ministers, Permanent
Secretaries, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants to the President, Chairmen of Extra-
Ministerial Departments and Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals who are entitled, to continue
to fly Business Class while other categories of Public Officers are to travel on Economy Class.

The directive said that travel days will no longer attract payment of Estacode Allowances as
duration of official trips shall be limited to only the number of days of the event as contained in
the supporting documents to qualify for public funding. It added that the Auditor-General of the
Federation had been directed to treat all expenditures that contravene these guidelines as
ineligible.

Niger Government Maps Out Alternative Route For Heavy

Duty Vehicles
The Niger State government has mapped out an alternative route for heavy duty vehickes in the
state.

This is coming following constant rain and incessant movement of heavy duty vehicles which has
retrograded many sections of the Suleja-Minna road.

To arrest this situation, Niger State Government has since restricted the movement of heavy duty
vehicles on the road from 9pm to 6am to provide timely succor for ordinary travelers who mostly
travel during the day time.

In a statement signed by his aide on Public enlightenment, Abdubergy Ebbo, he noted that
Governor Sani Bello couldn’t bear the sufferings of the people anymore and since instructed that
funds were released for the repairs of the bad sections along the route.

“Even as we hope that the Federal Government will soon intervene and complete the Suleja-
Minna road, the Niger State Governor, however, is still committed to the project of completion of
the road.

“Governor Abu Sani Bello intends to see to it that the success recorded between Kwakuti and
Lambata is similarly replicated between Kwakwuti and Chanchaga to ensure a smooth ride down
to Minna.”

“He mapped out Bida-Agaie-Lambata as the designated route for movement of heavy duty
vehicles passing through Niger state. “

It will be recalled that the Federal Government recently awarded the contract for the
reconstruction of the road but work is yet to begin.

Umahi Seeks Partnership With India Government To

Establish Automobile Plant
Gov. Umahi Seeks Partnership With India Government To Establish Automobile Assembling
Plant in Ebonyi (Photos)

The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, David Nweze Umahi, was on Wednesday, received by
the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Abhay Thakur at India Embassy,
FCT, Abuja.

Igbere TV gathered that during the visit, Umahi sought for partnership in importation and
establishment of an assembling plant of Electric Mode Automobiles.

Speaking during the visit, Gov. Umahi noted that Electric Mode Automobile is not only a
technology of tomorrow but a technology that cuts cost. He further revealed that his key interest
in the partnership includes; importation of the sample electric powered Tricycles, Buses,
Motorcycles and Cars while establishing assembling plant for same will follow.

The governor enumerated other areas which he equally wants partnership.

The areas include, Agriculture where Poultry, piggery and food processing equipment top in his
request.

He also solicited for partnership in the area of hospital management of the brand new hospital
which is presently under speedy construction. Gov. Umahi described the hospital as 'a center of
excellence'. He noted that his interest is not on making money with the hospital but for the
betterment of the State and the country in general.

He also called on the international communities and other well meaning Nigerians to partner with
Ebonyi state in establishing industries, factories and other businesses while assuring them of the
readiness of Ebonyi State to provide conducive environment and incentives to make their
establishments thrive.

In response, the High Commissioner, H.E. Mr. Abhay Thakur was excited with the interests of the
Governor as he assured him of his readiness to work with the state.

Stay with Igbere TV. Africa's No1 Community TV.

Kogi: PDP To Clear Workers Salaries On Assumption Of
Office
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Engr. Musa Wada has
worked out strategic templates for swift payment of arrears of all salaries and pensions
malevolently owed Kogi workers, by outgoing Governor Yahaya Bello, immediately it assumes
office, if elected in the November 16 2019 election.

The party said the immediate payment of the salary and pension arrears, which is at the top of its
intervention list, will run simultaneously with its job creation initiatives and direct empowerment
of citizens in various income generating sectors for greater competitiveness, productivity and
personal prosperity which was denied them by Governor Bello and the All Progressives Congress
(APC).

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan revealed the plans of the party in an
interactive session with a group of investors from Kogi state on Wednesday in Abuja, adding that
the party and its governorship candidate have finalized plans to hit the ground running in
executing a robust economic recovery agenda.

Ologbondiyan hinted that the party was already in critical discussions with captains of industries,
investors, professionals and experts in various fields from Kogi state and beyond on strategies to
effectively and transparently transform the state, revamp the economy and empower the people.

‘Our primary focus is the welfare and personal prosperity of the Kogi people. Kogi state is
blessed with abundant human and material resources. It receives federal allocation in billions of
naira every month, so the people of Kogi have no reason to live in poverty. There is no excuse for
non-payment of salaries and pensions. The problem is that the APC has been stealing and
mismanaging our resources.

“As you are aware, the people are looking up to us for solution and we must not fail them. I am
happy that we have intensified discussions with professionals, investors and business people from
Kogi and beyond on ways to harness and manage our resources and empower our people.

“Already we have perfected a strong template that will enable us, as soon as we are elected, to
swiftly pay the arrears of salaries and pension accumulated by Bello. Kogi state is largely a civil
service state and our people depend on their salaries; so payment of salaries must be a priority for
any government that has the interest of the people at heart. Unfortunately, Bello has failed to
deliver on this.”

Ologbondiyan also hinted that the party has produced a blueprint for wealth creation including
investments in industrialization, rural infrastructure, agriculture, trade and commerce, inland
water businesses as well as financing instruments for small and medium scale entrepreneurs.

The PDP notes that the era of stealing and mismanagement of resources in Kogi will come to an
end with the election as the party is set for a landslide victory given the popularity of the PDP and
its candidate, Engr. Musa Wada and the irreversible consensus among the people to do away with
the repressive, corrupt and arrogant APC administration in the state.
Signed:

Office of the National Publicity Secretary, PDP

Army Renames Python Dance To Atilogwu Udo

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it had changed the name of one of its ongoing internal
security exercises, Python Dance or Egwu Eke in the South - East region to Atilogwu Udo .
The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator , Col Aminu Iliyasu, stated this in a press
release , saying the exercise ’ s new name would not affect the other components which were to
tackle “ kidnappings , armed robbery , inter - cult and communal clashes in the region . ”
Iliyasu said , “ The authorities of the Nigerian Army have changed the name of one of its annual
training exercises code - named , “ Exercise Egwu Eke ” to “ Exercise Atilogwu Udo . ”

The annual training exercise commenced in 2016 and has consistently recorded remarkable
successes since its introduction .
“ The exercise , which covers the South East region of the country, is designed to combat
criminal activities including kidnappings , armed robbery , inter -cult and communal clashes
among other sundry crimes . All other information relative to the exercise remains unchanged .
“ The Chief of Army Staff , Lt Gen Tukur Buratai , reiterates the commitment of the Nigerian
Army in protecting lives and properties of citizens particularly during these ember months and
the fast -approaching Yuletide season . ”

Atilogwu Udo is an Igbo expression which can be translated as dance of peace.

Controversy As Akpabio Takes Over NDDC, Presidency

Rejects Files Allegedly Requesting Payment
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio who curiously asked and got
the nod to allegedly usurp the statutory powers of President Muhammadu Buhari to enable
him annex and have a firm control of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NNDC,
under his powers had in a split of weeks have his fingers burnt in controversies.

Akpabio, DAILY POST learnt, has landed himself in an allegation of N1.9 billion hyacinth
contract fraud reportedly approved by the former NDDC minister.

The New Diplomat, an online platform had reported that Apkabio deployed phoney
companies to scoop the huge sum of money to himself and cronies.

It was also gathered that the payment was even done without raising any voucher or
recourse to any “tender, due process or proper documentatin, a sad development that has
pitted the minister with some top NDDC management staff and stakeholders in the region.

As the transfer of the Niger Delta Development Commission to the Ministry of Niger Delta
continues to generate some furore among stakeholders, facts are emerging on some
underhand deals that might have taken place.
DAILY POST recalls that long before the transfer of the NDDC was officially sealed through
Buhari’s October 1, address, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari had, through a
memo, delegated the effective control of the Commission to Akpabio.

In a restricted memo dated 2nd of September, 2019 to the Honourable Minister of Niger
Delta Affairs, the Chief of Staff stated, ‘The President had delegated the powers conferred
on him by Law to the Hon.Minister’.

But the memo also quoted an initial letter written by Akpabio on August 22nd requesting
that the powers of the President be transferred to him.

Against this backdrop, stakeholders are wondering why the Minister’s first assignment,
barely 24 hours after, was to scheme for the control of Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC, a statutory commission that was meant to be autonomous but with the
supervision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Further, an anonymous NDDC staff alleged that there are rumours that the Minister had
promised ‘the powers that be a huge share of the contracts to be awarded in the
commission’.

It is further alleged that the Minister held on to the Commission’s budget submitted to him
for over one month in order ‘for him to amend the documents to suit his greed’.

As public outcry trails the alleged N1.9B, it was even alleged that Akpabio has also submitted 11
files for payment that has to do with some emergency desilting projects under suspicious
circumstances.

The payment files, an insider source disclosed, was personally submitted to the Acting MD
by the NDDC Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision, PMS, on the directive of
Akpabio. But the MD allegedly refused to sign for onward payment. It’s, however, not clear
yet if the files were later signed as requested.

The source alleged that ‘interim payment certificates were raised three days after raising a
bill of quantity for the same projects, thereby indicating that no work was so far done to
hurriedly warrant such payment.

Though the alleged controversial payment is being met with stiff resistance, the Minister
reportedly had threatened to sacrifice those standing on his way in a matter of days to
sustain his job.

However, when grilled on telephone, Akpabio’s media aide, Aniete Ekong, said the incident
about alleged N1.9 billion scam followed a protest in PortHarcourt by some irate youths who
besieged a hotel where Akpabio was holding a meeting in company of the then Minister of State
of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Festus Kayamo.

He told DAILY POST that the youth protested against nonpayment of some executed contract
and, Akpabio, therefore, directed that the payment be made.But Ekong did not explain the
manner of payment and beneficiaries involved in the payment as directed by Akpabio.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the aggrieved former militants, General Ebi, had called on
Buhari to direct the anti-graft agencies to immediately swing into action over the matter.

He said, “It is so pathetic, disgusting and shameful that our so-called leaders are the real
problem in the Niger Delta, if a distinguished leader that was once the governor of Akwa
Ibom state for 8years and is currently the minister of Niger Delta Affairs will condescend so
low to have appropriated 400 slots of the water hyacinth contract to himself after accusing
the former NDDC board of misdeeds.

“1.9billion naira was approved by the honourable minister of Niger Delta affairs Senator
Godswill Akpabio for the payment of the water hyacinth
as an empowerment scheme to the various beneficiaries and youths of theNiger Delta.

“But so far, what we have heard from the Director of Environment Mr Boniface Sese, who is in
charge of compiling the list, is that the master list of beneficiaries has been cancelled since the
former board was dissolved and was directed by the present acting MD to compile a new list of
just 100 slots for the youths, 400 slots for senator Godswill Akpabio, 300 slots for the current
acting MD, but him Boniface Sese the Director of Environment refused to disclose how many
slots were allotted to him. However, our findings reveal that all his staff and aides are allotted 5
slots each and some directors, 10 slots.

“We, therefore, use this medium to call on the attention of the President and Commander-
in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to direct the EFCC and
the ICPC to immediately swing into action and we also call on the honourable minister of
Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to come out clean and exonerate himself as
his reputation is being dragged to the mud to defraud the youths of the Niger Delta’.

Besides, investigations, have revealed that NDDC is, yet, to get a new Board.Based on all
these alleged cases of official corruption against Akpabio, controversies are building up
against Akpabio’s status in the region.

Some groups have petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation,
Abubakar Malami opposing the transfer of NDDC to a ministry.

The petition affirmed that the NDDC Act charged the office of the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria with the sole responsibility of overseeing the affairs of the commission
and same is not delegate-able to any person or body.

But Akpabio’s spokesman who dismissed the whole allegations of graft against Akpabio as
unfounded and baseless said he did not have the understanding of the questionable payment files
currently submitted on the directive of Akpabio for payment.

Anambra 2022: Stakeholders Target South For Obiano's

Successor
Awka- STAKEHOLDERS across the various political parties in Anambra State have begun a tour
of the three senatorial zones in the state to drive home their campaign for Governor Willie
Obiano’s successor in 2022 to come from Anambra South senatorial zone.
Members of the Forum are mainly former political office holders, including former
Commissioners, local government chairmen, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly
members, Senatorial candidates and other notable political figures.

Operating under the aegis of Great Anambra Forum (GAFORUM), facilitator of the group, Chief
Fabian Ozoigbo, told reporters in Awka that they were impressed with the response of Anambra
people from the three senatorial zones, irrespective of their political leanings.

According to Ozoigbo, the group has been interacting with the people at the grass root to
sensitize them on the issue.
He said that 12 out of the 18 persons who had already indicated interest in the governorship
election in the state in 2021 were encouragingly from Anambra South, adding that the expectation
was that with time, aspirants from the other two senatorial zones would withdraw to join hands in
finding an ideal person from the South to emerge as the next governor of the state.

According to Ozoigbo, equity means the same thing as zoning, adding that the group was not
interested in any political party, but what was the best for Anambra people.

He explained that even traditional rulers in the state had joined in the campaign for electing the
next Governor from the South.
“Any credible candidate, who is grassroots oriented and who feels the pains of the people, will be
supported, irrespective of his or her political party,” Ooigbo said.

Former Majority leader in the state House of Assembly, Hon Peter Onuorah, from Anambra
North, who is a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, said he favours that
Obiano’s successor should come from the South, adding that any one contesting the seat from the
North and Central senatorial zones would be working against the wish of the majority of the
people.

Similarly, a former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Kelue Molokwu from
Anambra Central, said it would be unfair to deny the people of the South what rightly belonged
to them in 2021.
Vanguard recalls that Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, had also endorsed the
campaign that his successor should come from the South senatorial zone.

APC Primary: Court Orders Lyon To File Defence Within

Seven Days
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja gave the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief David Lyon, and other defendants in a suit instituted
against them by Preye Aganaba to file their defence within seven days.

Aganaba, a frontline aspirant in the just-concluded governorship primaries and founding member
of the APC in Bayelsa, dragged the APC, Lyon and his running mate Degi Eremienyo including
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the court in a suit he personally filed
on September 12.

The aspirant , who moved the case from the Yenagoa division of the court to Abuja recently
secured an order of substituted service against the defendants from the Federal High Court 5
presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo.

But when the matter came up again on Wednesday, the defendants, who were in court
acknowledged that they had been served the court processes and pleaded for seven days to file
their defences.

The judge, who reportedly granted them the request, remarked that if they failed to comply after
seven days, their action would be treated as abandonment of defence.

Ekwo adjourned the matter to November 4 for hearing.

Aganaba is asking the court to make a declaration that the primaries scheduled for September 4
across the 105 wards in the eight local government areas of the state did not take place.

He is praying the court to make a declaration that since there were no primaries, the declaration
of results that produced David Lyon as the candidate of the party was illegal, unconstitutional,
null and void and of no effect.

The aspirant is further demanding an order setting aside the results of the APC primary election,
which returned Lyon as the candidate of the party for November 16 election.

Taylor William Ogofugha Shot Dead! ADC Warri Chairman

Killed
Confusion has set into Delta State as a grassroot politician, the Chairman of African Democratic
Congress, ADC for Warri South-West Local Government Area and candidate of same political
party for the 2019 House of Assembly election for Warri South-West Constituency, Hon. Taylor
William Ogofugha was yesterday, October 15, 2019, shot dead in his own house at the local
government area.

The ADC Delta State Chairman, Prince Joe Chukwu has alleged that his party man's gruesome
murder was politically motivated, citing that his overwhelming popularity in the area might have
fueled envy that had metamorphosed into his death.

Chukwu revealed that Taylor brought ADC into Warri South-West and had since been the
Chairman of the party in the LGA. He said during the 2019 election, he was equally found
worthy, grounded and qualified to contest the Delta State House of Assembly election and he was
elected as candidate for the party.

According to the ADC State Chairman, "We are shocked at the killing of Taylor who happened to
be one of our most worthy and outstanding members."
"Just last week he called me that he had already convinced three aspirants from three local
government areas to contest for the Delta State Local Government election as chairmen, that he
would need forms for them. And I told him that DSIEC had not announced the time table for
Local Government election, that he should exercise patience till when that window is opened."

"We even have a state meeting on Friday and hotels had been booked for members and delegates
from Abuja and other places, but I have shelved the meeting due to this sudden and unfortunate
news. He was a loyal and committed party man who built his personal house and converted it to
the party's secretariat in Warri South-West."

"We are investigating the cause of his death; we have sent people for that task. We suspect his
killing was politically motivated, because this was a man so popular to the extent that he had
wooed key APC and PDP members into ADC in Warri South-West."

"If they said the killing was as a result of land dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh, we got
information that the issue had been settled amicably. Now, why the killing? Why was he shot
inside his home? Who were those that killed him and for what reason?", Chukwu asked.

Buhari Approves Appointment Of New Aides For Aisha, The

First Lady
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of six new aides to the First Lady
of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director of Information to the First Lady,
Suleiman Haruna.

The appointments come days after the First Lady returned from a long holiday in the United
Kingdom.

According to her, although she had observed her 6 weeks long annual leave, she needed some
extra time away to attend to her health.

See the list of aides and their portfolios below.

1) Dr. Mairo Almakura – Special Assistant on African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM)

2) Muhammed Albishir – Special Assistant on Organization of African First Ladies for

Development (OAFLAD)

3) Wole Aboderin – Special Assistant on Non-Governmental Organizations

4) Barr. Aiyu Abdullahi – Special Assistant on Media and Publicity

5) Zainab Kazeem – Special Assistant on Domestic and Social Events

6) Funke Adesiyan – Personal Assistant on Domestic and Social Events

The appointments take immediate effect.

Gov Obiano Commiserates With Victims Of Onitsha

Inferno, Sets Up Panel
Gov Willie Obiano through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment has
Commiserated With Victims of Onitsha Inferno.

He also promised to set up a panel to determine the cause of the accident, why the firemen could
not put out the fire and how the condition of the victims can be ameliorated

Below is a copy of the statement made available to News9naija

1. Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State expresses sympathy to the families of a

woman and a child burnt to death this afternoon in a fire accident in Onitsha. The fire also
razed structures, including shops, on Upper Iweka Road, Onitsha and at Ochanja market.
2. The accident occurred when a tanker laden with petroleum products, fell into a ditch and
spilled its contents. A ball of fire resulted from this incident and quickly spread.
3. Men of the Anambra State Fire Service arrived on the scene in good time with their new
equipment. For some reason, however, they were unable to quench the inferno. The angry
mob on the scene prevented other fire trucks, including one from neighbouring Asaba in
Delta State, from getting to the scene.
4. Governor Obiano regrets this unfortunate situation and has directed owners of properties
affected by the tragic accident, including shop owners to report at Ekwueme Square on
Friday October 18, 2019 to see how the Anambra State Government can assist them.
5. A panel will be set up immediately to determine the cause of the accident, why the
firemen could not put out the fire and how the condition of the victims can be ameliorated.
6. Governor Obiano and his family pray for the repose of the souls of the woman and child
who died in the accident. The Anambra State Government will assist their families during
their burial.
7. Government calls on Citizens especially those directly affected to remain calm in the
face of this disaster as it will do all within its powers to ameliorate the suffering of those
involved.
Signed
C. Don Adinuba
Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment

Plateau Indigenes Blast Governor For Appointing Hausa-

fulani As Council Chairman
A group, Autochthonous Persons of Jos (APJ), has condemned Governor Simon Lalong’s
appointment of a non-indigene and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shehu
Bala, as the management committee chairman for Jos North Council Area.
Spokesperson for the APJ, Theresa Azi Nyako, at a press briefing on Tuesday, said, “We want to
state in clear, unmistakable and unambiguous terms that we reject and condemn the suppression
of our franchise in Jos North local government among others.
“The imposition of a non-indigene who also doubles as the APC candidate during the pendency
elections completely rubbishes global best democratic practices, it is illegal, unlawful and
unconstitutional.
“It is a great disservice to our people in particular and indeed Plateau State in general as it has the
capability to breach peace in the tin city. It makes a mockery of Governor Lalong’s pillars of his
purported three-point agenda.”

48 Doctors Kidnapped For Ransom In Nigeria Under Two

Years – NMA
The Nigerian Medical Association has said that at least 48 medical doctors were abducted for
ransom in the country over the last two years.

President of the NMA, Dr Adedayo Faduyile, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo
State, during the association’s 2019 Physicians Week.

According to him, many Nigerian medical doctors are being maltreated at the hands of their
employers and are paid poor salaries, adding that this has forced many of them to practice their
trade in other countries.

He said, “At least two doctors have been kidnapped in two-third of the states across the country
within the last two years.

“Our members that were kidnapped in some cases even died in kidnappers’ den.

“In the last one year, Nigerian doctors have had significant input in the improvement of the health
of the country.

“In this regard, I appreciate all physicians who have been working assiduously in ensuring that
we collectively fulfill our key responsibilities to Nigerians.

“It is worthy of note that despite the kidnapping of our members in the course of discharging their
duties, our medical practitioners have continued to render desirable health care services.

“Something has to be done to save the situation.”

Where Are The Fire Trucks Donated By Peter Obi In

Anambra?
Down the memory lane, on some occasions, former governor of Anambra state , Mr Peter Obi
launched many fire fighting vehicles in the state.

The present government in the state inherited them but never has been used since the inception of
the present government of Willie Obiano.
Findings by News9naija revealed that the Delta State Fire service has on 3 different occasions
come to rescue lives from horrible fire incidents in Anambra State.

Could it be that the fire fighting trucks donated by Peter Obi are no longer in use as a result of
poor maintenance?

Share your opinions in the comment section below.

https://www.news9naija.com.ng/2019/10/16/fact-check-where-are-the-fire-trucks-donated-by-
peter-obi-photos/

Lawan: Nigeria Needs To Pray More To Overcome

Challenges
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said on Wednesday that Nigeria needs prayers to
overcome its challenges.

Given the situation, we are in today, the various challenges that Nigeria and its people face, we
even need to pray more,” Lawan said while receiving in audience a delegation of the Christian
Legislators’ Fellowship of the National Assembly.

The delegation was led by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. The Senate
Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was also in attendance at the meeting.

The mission was to invite the Senate President to the 10th National Prayer Breakfast scheduled to
hold on 31st October, 2019 at the International Conference Center, Abuja.

The Senate President said the Prayer Breakfast was timely and urged all to first seek the face of
God for answered prayers ahead of the programme.

Today, we face serious security challenges. Where we have security agencies which are mandated
to ensure that we are secured and protected, if nothing, we should pray for them that they are able
to perform well.

It is not only in empowering them with weapons; the power of God is beyond weapons. I’m sure
that all people of faith will continue to pray for our security agencies to protect us,” Lawan said.

The Senate President, who also mentioned challenges in the economy, said as leaders, “we have
the responsibility to ensure that we continue to provide leadership, to continue to seek the
intervention of God in the way and manner that we lead our people.

We have to do whatever we can to be as truthful, transparent and accountable to our people.”

This, he said, requires the guidance of God, adding that nobody can achieve anything without the
blessings and mercies of the Almighty God.

I believe that this country needs prayers, and that this country needs unity amongst all faith. We
all worship one God, and he is the only way through which we can have our country led
properly,” Lawan said.

The President of the Fellowship, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, who is also the Senate Deputy
Minority Leader, said the National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event organised by Christians in
National Assemblies and Congresses all over the world.

FG To Review Wages, Allowances For Governors, Others

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said there are plans to review the
wages of all political office holders in the country.

“The last holistic wage review took place in 2011 and a new one is being planned,” Ngige told
members of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) during a visit to his
office in Abuja on Tuesday.

“What is a governor doing with hazard allowance? What hazard when the state is feeding him
and his family? What is a governor doing with constituency allowance? The whole state is his
constituency.

“These are what will be holistically reviewed.”

Ngige said there was a need to review and streamline the wages and allowances given to political
service holders, and the high wages earned by workers in certain government organisations.

The minister said the “government has put up the Presidential Committee on Salaries headed by
the Minister of Finance and co-chaired by me” to review the wages and allowances.

He said the committee will look at the wage structure of the public service after the
‘consequential adjustment’ being done presently.

Ngige also stated that the committee was put in place to look at the different wage structures.

“There are people who earn 300 percent of what others earn and they have the same degree.

We may have people in NNPC, FIRS, Customs and others with third-class (degrees) earning 300
percent more than the man with first-class in the ministry.”

The minister noted that there are 12 wage structures in Nigeria and the government will “beam its
searchlight” on them.

“Revenue Mobilisation will also look at what is given to political officeholders.

In his reaction, NULGE president Ibrahim Khaleel raised concerns over the non-involvement of
the union members in any of Nigeria’s standing minimum wage negotiating councils.

“if NULGE cannot be made a member of any of the negotiating councils, another council should
be created for the local government employees as recommended,” Khaleel said.
“We believe we are having a lot of gaps in terms of our role of engagement with the government
and our employers and this is very good machinery that we are praying and agitating that we will
get it under your leadership, ” he said.

He appealed to the federal government to address the issues.

October 17

Aso Rock Viral Video: First Lady Aisha Buhari Apologizes

Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari on Wednesday apologized to her children and family members
and all well-meaning Nigerians over the embarrassment that the leaked videos had caused.

Aisha during a courtesy visit from wives of the Vice President and other principal officers
commented on the videos circulating on social media.

Sharing photos of the outing on her official handle, she wrote;

I am happy to have received the wife of the vice president, governors wives, senate president’s
wife & senators’ Wives, speaker’s wife & wives of members’ of the house of reps, who paid me a
courtesy visit after my return.

I use the opportunity to commend them for the good work they are doing in their various states
and in collaboration with my Future Assured program.

I also advise them not to succumb to any form of distraction caused by social media or any form
of communication.

I use the opportunity to apologise for the embarrassment I might have caused my children, my
immediate family members, well meaning Nigerians and the institution I represent, on the
circulated leaked video clip.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria ��

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3sL4WeHtzk/?igshid=rdjlyttefvhm

Aisha Yesufu Hails Farouk Osuolale For Innoson Logo

Improved Design
It is not a news that Twitter, the social media blogsphere went agog about the proposed improved
Innoson logo by the Farouk Osuolale, the feat which has not only draw the attention of the
MD/CEO of Innoson Vehicle has gotten a lot of commendation and applaud from several
Nigerians including the ace activist and the self acclaimed tormentor of Buhari in the person of
Aisha Yesufu. To show her support for the improved logo, Aisha Yesufu made a short video
where she eulogises the designer in a tushed pidgen English.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5AiadM1TYo

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Tackles Junaid Muhammed Over

Statement Against Nwodo
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has warned a second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid
Mohammed to desist from further vituperation against Igbo, noting that he should be more
concerned about the level of insecurity in the north-east.

Disclosing this in a statement signed by the group’s President, Mazi okechukwu Isiguzoro, and
Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the Secretary General, respectively, Ohanaeze said that Igbo cannot be
cowed by Junaid’s political antics, promising to produce the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe, as Igbo
Presidency come 2023.

The group equally said that it would not field the likes of Nnia Nwodo in the 2023 presidency,
saying that Igbo have a lot of qualified candidate to present.

Recall that Junaid Muhammed had told ‘Daily Independent’ that when Nnia Nwodo was vying
for presidency in 2003, that he (Nwodo), came with a delegate from Enugu, knelt down at the
house of Lawal Jarfaru Isa, former military administrator of Kaduna and solicited for their
support.

Continuing, Junaid said they laughed at Nwodo, noting that North does not support begging
Culture.

In view of this revelation, Ohanaeze, opined, that “Using the antics of Nnia Nwodo to haunt the
genuine aspirations of South East from taking a shot of the 2023 Presidency, is dead on arrival”

The statement reads thus:

We wish to remind Junaid Muhammed, that South East will not be provoked by the traps and
pitfalls set up by few Northern Elders against the popular choice of supporting a Nigerian
President of Igbo stock with a Northerner as running mate.

We’ll not remind Junaid Muhammed that quality candidates will emerge from the South East who
are in the same pedigree with late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe and Chief Samuel Mbakwe.

These men see the entire Nigeria as their constituency. Based on the numerical strength of Igbo
existing in all the 774 LGAs of the Country, the fundamental issues of almajiris which the likes
of Dr Junaid Muhammed had failed to address would be resolved.

Igbo Youths wishes to assure Dr Junaid Muhammed, that Chief Nnia Nwodo will not be among
the Presidential materials we will present in 2023 Presidential race.

We are strict on age and qualities of who ever we will project in 2023. Among those who would
possess the need qualities include; current Governors, former Governors, Senators and legion of
respected Sons and daughters who had international statue, that equals the Great Zik of Africa.
We assure Dr Junaid Muhammed that a new wife will be given to him immediately the National
Committee on 2023 Igbo Presidency Project financed by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council in
diaspora, will be inaugurated in November 1st 2019, with the sole aim of supporting a President
of Igbo stock in 2023.

ICPC Recovers More Than 200 Properties In 8 Months ―

Prof Bolaji Owasanoye
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has
recovered over 200 properties including plazas, bungalows and mansions from suspected corrupt
individuals in the last eight months.

The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed this when he met with the
management of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).

A spokesperson for the Commission, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, said this in a statement on
Wednesday in Abuja

She quoted the commission’s chairman as saying that ICPC was on course of recovering
additional 100 properties to take the number of recovered properties to 300 before the end of the
year.

Owasanoye said that the Commission was working with the Federal Ministry of Works, to map
out the properties with a view to ascertaining their value and how best they could be put to use by
the Federal Government after final forfeiture.

ICPC has recovered over 200 assets under my watch. We are working hard to get to 300 before
the end of the year.

Some of these properties are under interim forfeiture, while others are under final forfeiture,” he
said

The ICPC boss assured the institute that the commission would work within the confines of the
law to render any assistance in terms of providing office accommodation for its staff.

He, however, advised NIALS to seek for ways to develop its permanent office.

Earlier, the Director-General of NIALS, Prof. Muhammed Ladan, had pleaded with ICPC to help
the agency to secure temporary office accommodation for its staff.

Ladan said lack of office space for 317 members of its staff who are currently squatting at the
Supreme Court Complex for the past 20 years and at the University of Lagos for about 40 years,
called for urgent action.

He further appealed to the commission boss to help procure one of the recovered properties as a
temporary office for its institute, adding that 38 of its staff use the supreme court basement which
was not comfortable.

Anambra Explosion: Obiano Sympathises With Victims’

Families, Inaugurate Panel
The Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has sympathised the family of a woman and her
child who was burnt to death in a truck accident in Onitsha, the state capital.

Governor Obiano has directed owners of properties affected by the tragic accident, including
shop owners, to report at the Conference Room of the Secretary to the State Government on
Monday, October 21, 2019, see how the Anambra State Government can assist them.

The accident occurred on Wednesday when a tanker laden with premium motor spirit, popularly
known as petrol, fell into a ditch and began to spill its contents. A ball of fire resulted from this
incident and quickly spread.

Men of the Anambra State Fire Service arrived at the scene with their equipment but were unable
to quench the inferno as the angry mob on the scene prevented other fire trucks, including one
from neighbouring Asaba in Delta State, from getting to the scene.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment Don Adinuba,
said that a panel will be set up immediately to determine the cause of the accident, why the
firemen could not put out the fire and how the condition of the victims can be ameliorated.

The governor also prayed for the repose of the souls of the woman and child who died in the
accident. The Anambra State Government will assist their families in their burials.

FG Commences Free Distribution Of Sanitary Pads In

Schools
The Federal Government on Friday said it has commenced its free distribution to schoolgirls in
the country and had embarked on a policy to subsidise the cost of sanitary pads.

The government also called on companies which produce sanitary pads to key into the gesture as
part of their corporate social responsibilities through contributions, price reduction and
availability.

The Director-General, National Centre for Women Development, a parastatal of the Ministry of
Women Affairs, Mary Ekpere-Eta, stated these during a press briefing held in Abuja in
commemoration of the 2019 International Day of the Girl Child with the theme: “Girlsforce:
Unscripted…Unstoppable – Empowering girls for a brighter tomorrow.”

She said through such efforts, young girls would not have to suffer as a result of the high cost of
sanitary pads.
Sanitary pads largely go for between N250 and N400 per pack, depending on the quality.

Ekpere-Eta said the NCWD was in talks with sanitary pad-producing companies towards
ensuring that the price of pad were subsidised.

She said even though much had been achieved, there was still much to be desired as child
marriage still existed, alongside daily occurrences of gender-based violence against the girl child
with some of them being turned into sex slaves.

She said, “We have a menstrual hygiene corner in our programme whereby many of you could
just drop in may be N10 or N20 and there’s an arrangement with most of these companies who
produce sanitary pads who will now sell at subsidised rates, which we will distribute to rural
areas, especially in secondary schools.

“Be that as it may, we are working further to see how the issue of price will be dealt with. But it
is a gradual process and we need to find a way to reach the manufacturers and find out how to
reduce the price.

“Through advocacy, we encourage as a corporate social organisation from other agencies and
private sector, to ensure that every organisation will buy a certain quantity of pads available to
schools and send to rural areas as their own CSR.”

Stop Lying, I Confronted You In Dana Air Flight, Bode

George Replies Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday denied playing any role in the incarceration of
Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).

Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole on October 26, 2009, sentenced Bode George, the chairman
and five other former board members of NPA, namely the Managing Director, Architect Aminu
Dabo, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu Tafida, Alhaji Zanna Maidaribe, and
Engineer Sule Aliyu to two years each on a seven-count charge.

However, reprieve came the way of George in 2013 when the Supreme Court voided the two-year
jail term, saying he was tried under a law that did not exist at the time he served as board
member.

George, in an interview with Daily Independent, said Osinbajo who was the Attorney-General
and Commissioner of Justice during Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State,
connived with his then principal to draft the unknown law that was used against him.

According to George, “I don’t want to look at Osinbajo with what he has done as he was
growing. I was a victim of what he did. He and his grandmaster (Tinubu) sat down and crafted a
law that was specifically used for Bode George so that they could take me down.
“My path and Osinbajo’s path has never crossed except one day we sat together in the aircraft
before he became vice president and I told him my mind concerning what he did to me.

“I told him he needs to go for restitution, go before the altar and ask for forgiveness. He couldn’t
utter a word. No comment.”

However, in a statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media
and Publicity, titled ‘Re: Despite what Osinbajo did to me, I won’t join those Plotting his
Downfall – Bode George’, Osinbajo said he was baffled by Bode George’s statement, saying he
had no knowledge about his trial as he had left office by the time Bode George was charged to
court.

He argued that George was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(PDP) under the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), which was the ruling party then.

“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is completely baffled by a statement credited to Chief
Olabode George, a former deputy national chairman of the PDP, to the effect that he had forgiven
the VP for his alleged role in his (Chief George) incarceration for alleged contract splitting during
his tenure as chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA,” the statement noted.

According to the vice president, “I honestly hope that this is fake news and the product of some
mischief as the entire story is a complete fabrication.” He continued: “However, it is now
important to set the records straight as follows, in rebuttal of this amazing falsehood!

“Chief Olabode George’s trial commenced in August 2008, a year after Prof. Osinbajo left as
Attorney-General of Lagos State (he served as Attorney General from 1999 to 2007), Chief
George was convicted by the High Court in 2009.

“Chief Olabode George was charged to court by the EFCC, a Federal Government agency, not
the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State. “Chief George’s party, the PDP, was in office at the centre in
Abuja at the time.
“Chief Olabode George was charged under sections 104 and 203 of the Criminal Code. “The
code has been in force since 1914! Indeed both provisions have been in the code since then.Every
state in the South of Nigeria cites it as its own law.

“Prof. Osinbajo clearly could not, therefore, as Chief George alleged, have “connived with
Tinubu to draft the unknown law that was used to convict him. “Neither Prof. Osinbajo, Asiwaju
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, nor the House of Assembly, Lagos State, passed any new criminal law. In
any event, their tenure ended a year before he was charged to court.

“The other law that came up at the Supreme Court, ‘The Public Procurement Act 2007’, is an Act
of the National Assembly, not a state law.”

The vice president also described as fake news the statement by George that they both met in a
flight before he became the country’s number two man where he asked Osinbajo to seek
repentance from God for his role in his travails. He said he only met George in 2017 during the
Lagos at 50 celebration and that aside exchanging pleasantries, no conversation took place.
“The vice president never met Chief Olabode George on any flight within or outside Nigeria. He
also never had a discussion with him on his conviction or incarceration on any flight or at any
time. “Indeed the only interaction the VP had with Chief George since his incarceration was in
2017 at the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of Lagos State, where the VP was guest
of honour.

“The VP greeted him where he sat with other elders of Lagos State. There was no discussion
whatsoever in that brief encounter. “It is hoped that these claims were only falsely credited to
him, otherwise one would have to wonder how he came about such an outlandish fiction,
complete with a meeting on a flight that definitely never happened!”

However, when contacted,George insisted he met with Osinbajo in a Dana flight en route Abuja
to Lagos. He also claimed Osinbajo drafted the law used against him while in office as the
Attorney-General of Lagos.

“Why will I lie against him? Was it because I hated him or what? He should refresh his memory.
Was he not guilty of what I accused him of? “We met when he was nothing on a Dana flight from
Abuja to Lagos. He was on 1C and I was on 1D. We sat beside each other.

“He was not vice president then though I can’t remember the exact year. That was when I told
him to seek restitution from God for the evil done against me. “But if he can cross-check with
Dana Air, if it is true or not as they have the records – like he said, we also met when he was vice
president at the Lagos at 50 celebrations.

“Yes, he claimed he has left office as Attorney-General when the trial started but who wrote the
stupid law for Bola Tinubu which they want to use to bring down Bode George? Anyway, I have
left everything to God as He has vindicated me,” Bode George said.”

Nigerians Will Soon Rejoice – Fashola

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has said that with the Federal
Government’s commitment to renewal of infrastructure across the country, Nigeria would sing a
new song soon in terms of ease of movement and doing business.

Fashola, who made the declaration while playing host to a United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) delegation led by the Representative to ECOWAS and
Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Hub, Mr. Jean Bakole, who paid a courtesy visit to him, said
the massive renewal of the nation’s roads, bridges, rails, airports and seaports meant that “in the
shortest possible Nigerians will sing a new song”.

The Minister, who noted that work has already started in those areas across the country, pointed
out that most of the infrastructure have already been upgraded while some roads have been either
completed or nearing completion in most areas adding that in those sections where work has been
completed, movement of goods and services have become easier as being testified to by
commuters.

According to the Minister, although some of the road projects are yet to start those already
completed have brought with them better travel experience in terms of the ease of doing business
adding that better experience in movement of goods and services would translate to industrial
growth and development.

He said the Government was also focusing on Science, Education as critical purveyors of
development adding that already the seeds were being sown under the nation’s broad Educational
policy and its Social Investment programme that empowers the youth to go and teach in those
areas.

Fashola said Government’s commitment to Agriculture was also yielding results in terms of
increase in food production such as rice, cereal and others adding that although the price of food
was still high, it was expected to come down significantly as supply increased.

Assuring that all the projects would soon come to fruition to give Nigerians a better future,
Fashola said in terms of building an industrial base in this country, President Muhammadu Buhari
was very clear where his priorities lay adding that those were the priorities that formed the basis
of his Campaign promises to the electorates.

He listed the priorities to include tackling corruption which, he noted, “is inimical to prosperity,
improving the economy to deliver prosperity and to improve security, the lack of which, he also
noted, “is inimical to industrial development”. Also embedded in the promises, he said, is to
develop and renew the country’s infrastructure “which is very important for business efficiency,
growth and productivity”.

Thanking the UNIDO delegation for the courtesy of the visit, Fashola said Nigeria has clearly
embraced partnerships with the United Nations Organization and its affiliates adding that recent
proof of such collaboration was demonstrated by the President’s personal attendance at the just
concluded United Nations General Assembly as well as embracing other collaborative
programmes of the world body.

The Minister, however, advocated a reform in the United Nations rules and regulations pointing
out that the existing rules and regulations have become obsolete and could no longer meet the
present challenges.

“Everybody knows that the UN has come a long way and many of its foundational rules and
regulations and development programmes clearly need an upgrade”, the Minister said noting that
the world is moving faster and changing much more rapidly. “The UN Charter for example needs
reforms to bring them in conformity with today’s global challenges if it must continue to fulfill
the obligations for which it was created”, he said.

Responding to the introductory remarks of the leader of the delegation, Fashola expressed delight
at the amount ($60million USD) which the UNIDO has mapped out for investment in about nine
sectors in the country. He, however, advised that instead of spreading the amount on so many
areas it would be more beneficial to invest it in two or three critical areas that would be more
impactful to the needs of the people.

“Sixty million USD is a huge amount of money. But it is not the money that is the issue but how
it is being used. My thoughts are that instead of spreading this money thin over a large area, as
you said, why not use it on one or two projects that could be impactful to the people”, he said
suggesting that the money could be invested in a massive industrial complex “that becomes an
example in Africa”.

Earlier in his remarks, the leaders of the delegation and Representative to ECOWAS and
Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Hub, Mr. Jean Bakole, had informed the Minister that
UNIDO planned to invest about $60 Million in Nigeria in nine critical areas including
Agriculture and Agro-based businesses, Trade and Capacity Building, Housing and Construction,
Infrastructure Development, Energy and the Environment, among others.

Also present at the occasion were the Minister of State, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, the Permanent
Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Bukar, Directors, Special Advisers and other top Ministry Official
while the ECOWAS Representative was accompanied by top officials of UNIDO.

Buhari Claims: Normalcy Has Returned To

Boko Haram-ravaged Areas In Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari has claimed that normalcy has returned to
all Boko Haram-ravaged areas in Nigeria.

He stated this on Wednesday while launching the 2020 Armed Forces

Remembrance Day Emblem and 'Appeal Fund' in Abuja.

Buhari claimed: "The nation is appreciative of the gallantry and

sacrifices of officers and men of our armed forces in the campaign
against insurgency and other internal security operations. This has
led to the return of normalcy in affected parts of the nation.

"The Boko Haram terrorists have been substantially defeated and

degraded to the extent that they are only daring soft targets.

Supreme Court: NJC To Interview Justices For Apex Court

There is tension at the Court of Appeal as the National Judicial Council ((NJC) has commenced
interview of Justices for elevation to the bench of the Supreme Court.

The bone of contention is over over who replaces the sitting president of the court, Justice Zainab
Bulkachuwa, who is to proceed on retirement leave by end of the year.

The crisis at the appellate court is over attempt to make Justice Muhammadu Garba, who led the
presidential election petition tribunal, the next President of the Court at the expense of the next
most senior Justice of the Court, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem.

Although both Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem and Justice Muhammadu Garba are selected
for the interview, Justice Garba would not be attending as he has been sent out of the country for
a foreign course.
This further confirmed Daily Sun exclusive report that the inclusion of his name was just a mere
gimmick as the target albinitio was Justice Dongban-Mensem.

If Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem who is next most senior Justice of the court, is finally
appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court, then, an opening will be made for Justice Garba to
automatically become the president of the Court of Appeal.

The interview exercise which was suspended twice due to controversies has been rescheduled to
hold on October 15 and 16 at the NJC complex.

According to competent sources, those who are in support of the development are in battle with
those against it.

Some have described the move as a clandestine way of “rewarding” Garba for the job he did at
the tribunal.

When Justice Bulkachuwa was asked to recuse herself from the tribunal, it was reported that
Justice Dongban-Mensem would take over.

However, Justice Garba was appointed, making the five-man tribunal all males.

A source said different schemes have been designed against Justice Dongban-Mensem, including
prodding of anti-corruption agencies to investigate her.

Yorubas Won’t Form Alliance With Igbos On 2023

Presidency – Junaid Mohammed
Junaid Mohammed, elder statesman and Second Republic House of Representatives member, in
this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, speaks on factors that will shape the 2023
presidential election and other issues. Excerpts:

Do you think the coming together of the South can help the region in securing the Presidency in
2023 against the North?

First and foremost, what came out of the gang-ups in previous elections? Also, when talking
about the South, is the South only Igboland? Are there no other people in the South? Are the
Yorubas not part of the South? So what makes you think that in this day and age and given our
history, Yorubas will join with the Igbos in the name of the South or southern solidarity? Anyway,
the neighbours to the Igbos are the people from the South- South. Apart from money, have they
been able to hold themselves together in order to deliver a President? They have not been able to
do that. It is up to the political leaders to see what can be done and do what they are supposed to
do. But if somebody from the South decides to come forward and contest the presidency, can you
prevent him? I know some of my friends who are interested in the Presidency. If they consult me,
I will ask them to go ahead even though I haven’t seen any Igbo man who I will endorse for now.

Why won’t you endorse an Igbo man?

I will not endorse an Igbo man because all the people who are pretending are not serious and they
have the history of being part and parcel of the family that caused the civil war. Are you telling
me because John Nwodo is the president of Ohanaeze I should ask people to vote for him? I will
not. He came all the way from Enugu with a delegation and we had a meeting in a house not very
far from my house, I think it is the house of a former governor of Kaduna state, Lawal Jafaru Isa.
We had a meeting there in which John Nwodo went on his knees begging us to make him
President. We laughed at him. In our culture, you don’t come here and say you people should
make me this or that. We allow people to point at you and say you are good to occupy certain
positions. Being a president is not a question of begging people. You also have a lot of people
saying it is my time. My time, my foot. Whose time is it? We are sovereign people, we are
independent and we have the right to vote for whoever we want to vote for. So, how can anyone
come and tell me it is the turn of the Igbos? Igbo turn, my foot. We have to concentrate on
electing good people. Unfortunately, we are yet to attain that level of political maturity. Anyway,
we have seen how people who were given the privilege to be in that position had performed. If in
a free and fair election, any president emerges, that is fine but I don’t see that happening in the
current situation where some expired, old men will be asking Nigerians to vote based on ethnic
and religious basis. How can somebody who is over 90 years old will be telling young Nigerians
how to vote and who to vote for.During their time, why didn’t they have that system and why
didn’t they vote like that?

Afenifere has said it will be unfair to deny Igbos the presidency in 2023. Chief Ayo Adebanjo in a
recent interview said denying Igbos the presidency in 2023 may affect Nigeria’s unity. What is
your take on that?

So who is denying them the Presidency? Afenifere’s statement is irresponsible and mischief.
Which Afenifere are we talking about because there are several factions of them. Ayo Adebanjo
has never been elected as the leader of Afenifere so he cannot speak for the group. The President
of Afenifere is Chief Reuben Fasoranti. So, on whose behalf is Ayo Adebanjo speaking? How
many times has he won election in his constituency? Who does he represent? There is another
joker they now called the leader of the Yorubas, the successor to Awolowo, Professor Banji
Akintoye. Who does he represent? Is he representing the Yoruba race? Have you seen anybody
talking about the Yoruba race and they mention the name of Banji Akintoye?. Even if he is the
leader of the Yorubas, will he just go and tell the Yorubas vote this or vote that? If you go to a
newspaper and publish your pictures, that doesn’t make you a leader of the Yoruba race.
If there is going to be President from the South, most likely it will be a Yoruba man. Will the
Yorubas take the presidency now and hand it over to Igbos in the name of gestures? Tell me the
Igbo man today who can govern Nigeria. Will you bring this scoundrel from IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu
and make him the President of Nigeria or will you bring the crooks in Ohanaeze and make them
president? People are just talking nonsense on the pages of newspapers.

Anambra Explosion: President Buhari Reacts, Sympathises

With Victims
Igberetv reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown sympathy to the victims of the oil
tanker fire incident in Onitsha, Anambra State. The incident led to the death of a mother and her
child.
President Buhari said:
“I am profoundly touched by the sight of the charred remains of an innocent mother and her child
who are victims of this tragedy. I also extend my sympathies to other victims of the explosion
whose houses, shops and other property were destroyed in the mishap.”

“While I express sadness over this tragedy, I must at the same time call for urgent action on the
part of those concerned to stem these frequent fatal disasters on public roads.”

“Safety precautions and routine maintenance are taken for granted by vehicle owners.”

“I call on the Ministry of Transport, the Federal Road Safety Commission and other stakeholders
to urgently address the issue of safety standards in the country, with a view to stemming the
embarrassing frequency of these tragedies”.

Meanwhile, people involved in the fire Incident are still counting their losses.

On Wednesday, the incident started when a tanker filled with petrol lost control around Toronto
Hospital and veered off the service lane. The tanker fell from the vehicle and went up in flames
after spilling its content. As at the time the fire started at about 10am, there was no fire service
personnel present. People were seen trying to quench the fire with water.

Igberetv gathered that the woman carrying her baby tried to jump out of her shop, but missed her
steps and fell into a gutter raging with fire. Three other people were also confirmed dead.

Forty buildings and scores of shops were also affected by the disaster.

Residents, including the old and children in most of the buildings, were trapped as youths
experienced difficulty in rescuing them.

Atiku Reacts To Tanker Explosion In Onitsha

Former Vice President and 2019 presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the petrol
tanker explosion that occurred in Onitsha on Wednesday reportedly claimed the lives of a mother
and her child.

Atiku wrote;

"We've had many preventable fuel tanker tragedies. I received with sadness, reports of a tanker
explosion in Onitsha, Anambra State, which caused massive destruction to lives and properties in
Ochanja Market area. My prayers and thoughts are with the families of the affected." -AA

Oyo: Gov. Makinde Reveals Why He Will Step On Toes

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has vowed to step on toes in a bid to make the state great
and set it on a path of sustainable development.
Makinde said his administration will not shy away from taking hard decisions that will be
beneficial to the state.

The governor stated this while performing two functions in his office and was contained in a
statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa.

He said, “I have seen people come to me and said I should not do some certain things or take
certain decisions because of second term. Those that are interested in second term should wait,
at least till 2022. For now, we should do the job the people have committed to our hands and do
things that will place Oyo State on the path of greatness.”

The governor, while receiving the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) in Kogi State, Mr. Musa Wada, cautioned politicians against the crave for a second term.

“The people are the sole determinants of the fate of the politicians. Fresh term, second term are
all linked to what we have for the people.

“During the first term, you make promises to the people and once you start ticking those boxes,
the people can always decide that they want you to come in first and later say they want you to
continue,” Makinde said.

Adeyemi, Melaye Clash Over Kogi Senatorial Rerun

Ahead of the Kogi West senatorial rerun ordered by the Court of Appeal last week , the two
actors in the race , Smart Adeyemi and Dino Melaye , have been trading words .

Adeyemi, who is a two- term former senator of Kogi West , said Melaye never won any election
in his political career .

The former lawmaker, in an interview with our correspondent, accused the incumbent senator of
allegedly manipulating his way into office using political thuggery and rigging .

He said, “ This position has been proved right by last week ’s decision of the Court of Appeal
affirming the decision of the lower court , ordering a rerun of the Kogi West senatorial election . ”

Adeyemi stated that no one could deliberately cast his vote for Melaye because the senator did
not fit into the category of those that could earn the respect of any Yoruba man who valued
morals more than money.

He added , “ Besides , the Senate is meant for those who have proved their mettle in other areas
before bringing his experience to bear at the Senate . Where has Dino ever worked to gather any
experience?”

However, Melaye described Adeyemi as an expired product in Kogi West .

The lawmaker said his predecessor ’s eight years in office was a curse rather than blessing to the
district .
Melaye , speaking through his media aide , Gideon Ayodele , said, “ The judgments in the
tribunal and appeal court have not said that Senator Dino Melaye did not defeat him . Senator
Dino Melaye defeated Smart in six out of the seven local government areas of Kogi West . ”

According to him , the mandate is the people ’ s and cannot be stolen or taken away .
He added , “ If we go to the election again and again, Dino Melaye will still defeat Smart
Adeyemi.

Delta State Governor Reacts To The Onitsha Fire Outbreak

The Governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi OKowa, commented on the fire outbreak incident that took
place in Onitsha.

The incident was said to have started when a tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),
otherwise known as petrol, negotiated from the Zik’s roundabout end of Onitsha -Enugu
expressway, lost control around Toronto Hospital and veered off the service lane, this resulted to
the loss of several lives and destruction of so many buildings and shops.

Governor Okowa had said the incident and the images he had seen from the Onitsha fire outbreak
were heartbreaking.

Reacting to the incident, Okowa via his verified Twitter handle, he said;

“The tragic images coming out of Onitsha of the raging fires are truly heartbreaking. As
neighbors, Delta State will stand with our brothers and sisters in Anambra State at this difficult
time and will give them our full support as they recover from this terrible incident.”

Kogi Gov’ship: 45 Political Parties Adopt Bello

A coalition of 45 political parties in Kogi State have adopted Governor Yahaya Bello of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) as its governorship candidate.

The political parties also directed their members to vote massively for Bello in the forthcoming
governorship election.

Chairman of the coalition, Alhaji Sanni Teidi announced the endorsement at a press briefing,
yesterday in Lokoja.

Teidi noted that the 44 political parties have objectively analysed all parties and their candidates
and came to the conclusion that Governor Bello was head and shoulders above the rest.

He maintained that the governor’s first term which he was rounding up was successful and he
was justified enough to seek re-election for another four years.

The chairman stated that aside from the visible indices of development which have been
witnessed, the Governor has also done well in eliminating ethnic, religious and class differences
among the people of the State.
He affirmed that they were living witnessed to governor Bello’s tireless efforts to achieve very
meaningful developmental strides through deliberate policies of inclusion and proportional
distribution of appointments and projects among all constituencies in the state.

The chairman re-emphasised that Governor Bello’s quest for re-election was also an avenue to
ensure equity in the seat of power for other districts in the state, particularly the Central District
who was occupying the seat for the first time.

He, however, warned in the strongest term against increasing ethnic colouration, which some
parties were giving to its campaign stating that such was a serious disincentive both to the
coalition and the voters in the state.

Teidi appealed to all political parties to bind themselves and adhere to the principles of rule of
law ensuring that they played by the rules before, during and after the election.

He also appealed to Governor Bello to see his endorsement as a call to provide more
transformational leadership to the State while he also called the citizens to consider the overall
best interest of the State as paramount above primordial sentiments.

Governor Bello’s running mate, of Hon Edward Onoja, thanked the political parties for believing
in the candidacy of governor Bello, noting that they took such step in the interest of the masses
and not for selfish purposes.

Onoja opined that the coalition sought the progress, oneness and development of the state and
desired a candidate who could unite the State.

He pointed out that Kogi State belonged to everyone and was not a family affair as he urged all
the coalition parties to take an active part in the campaign exercise of the APC.

Ekiti Begins N20,000 Payment To The Elderly As Monthly

Stipend
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday re-launched the social security
Scheme for elderly citizens in the state with, a pledge to commit more resources to social
investments and human capital development.

The program is called ‘Owo Arugbo’ (stipends for the elderly).

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; with state officials pose
with some beneficiaries of the State’s Social Security Scheme for elderly citizens (Owo Arugbo),
during the relaunch of the scheme in Ado-Ekiti…on Wednesday

It will be recalled that Fayemi during his first term as governor of the state between 2010 and
2014 introduced the monthly payment stipends to elders in the state from sixty-five years and
above but abandoned by the immediate past administration.
Fayemi launched the programme at the Ekiti parapo pavilion in Ado Ekiti. He said his
administration is targeting 20,000 aged people to benefit from the programme.

The governor noted that 13,000 people have so far registered. Governor Fayemi who spoke in
Yoruba thanked the world bank and others for their assistance.

Fayemi said by the end of his four years in office Ekiti state would have become a reference in
Nigeria.

He maintained that the programme has no political colouration in the selection of beneficiaries,
saying he promised during his inauguration last year to make life more meaningful to all and
sundry.

The governor added that the World Bank would be supporting the scheme in order to expand and
make it better for the beneficiaries.

He said,  “As we mark our first anniversary today, I am glad to announce the fulfilment of that
promise. You will all recall that when we started the programme, it was the first of its kind in sub-
Sahara Africa. It attracted criticisms and commendations alike."

”I am glad that many, including the Federal Government, have taken a cue from us in the
realization that Social Security for the vulnerable segment of our population is the way to go. It is
on that premise to cater for our people that made Social Investments to be one of our 5-Points
Agenda.

”In order to expand and make the scheme better than it was during the first term, we are now in
partnership with the World Bank in carrying out this laudable programme. Though, our
partnership with the World Bank on the social investment project dated back to our First Term in
Office when we commenced the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO).
Through YESSO, a Single Register of Poor and Vulnerable Households was created from a
survey of communities across the 16 LGAs using internationally accepted standards of poverty
indices.”

Fayemi disclosed that no fewer than 13,813 persons have been selected for the first phase with
the payment of N20,000 each to the beneficiaries every three months through their bank
accounts.

According to him, the government would follow up on the beneficiaries so as to ensure that the
funds are adequately deployed to enhance productivity and have maximum impact.

Rising Foreign Funding For Boko Haram Raises Concerns

° Obasanjo, military chiefs warn of prolonged war against insurgency

° Buhari directs service chiefs to promptly settle fallen soldiers’ entitlements

Omololu Ogunmade and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

There are growing concerns that the insurgency war in the North-east is being prolonged by
massive external funding from fundamentalist groups and foreign nations, THISDAY’s
investigation has revealed.

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also added his voice to these concerns
Wednesday, saying foreign funding for Boko Haram has risen to 50 per cent.

However, in a bid to boost troops’ morale, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered
service chiefs to take urgent steps to settle the entitlements of soldiers affected by
insurgency across the country as well as the welfare packages designed for their
dependents.

Obasanjo’s assertion came as top military sources expressed concerns that the war against
insurgency is prolonged by foreign funding and interference.

Also, a group, National Democratic Front (NDF), has criticised the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, over his claim that 847 soldiers were killed by
insurgents in the last six years.

Intelligence sources yesterday told THISDAY that the possession of sophisticated weapons
for insurgents, logistics and medical supplies by different terror groups showed signs of
funding by foreign interests.

A source told THISDAY: “We have seen these types of automatic weapons when they are
dislodged or killed. These are not ordinary weapons; they are sophisticated machine guns
and rifles and sometimes they have tanks that are not our tanks.

“We have seen weapons with numbers that show that they were not just sourced through the
black market but directly supplied by known arms manufacturers from particular
countries.”

The source stated that investigations had shown that some foreign-based Non-
Governmental Organisations (NGOs) were being used to supply fuel, food and medication
in the guise of humanitarian aid.

“Physical and documentary evidence that indicate foreign funding for these people
(insurgents) are everywhere and those who should know are aware of it. Are you not aware
of the ties between ISIS, ISWAP and Boko Haram? Do you not know that ISIS is funded by
some nations and that is the same with this insurgency war? How do you even buy a single
bullet as a non-state actor without significant funding?” the source queried.

In a video seen by THISDAY, Obasanjo revealed that foreign funding for Boko Haram had
reached 50 per cent compared to 10-15 per cent as at 2011.
Obasanjo spoke at the President Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington on “Managing
Nigeria’s Diversity Amidst Rising Ethno-religious Tensions.”

He said when he first inquired from intermediaries about Boko Haram’s external support,
he was informed that it was just about 10-15 per cent as much of their funding was local
then.

However, upon recent inquiry, the former president said he was told external support for
Boko Haram is now 50 per cent.

He said: “Let me say this, the issue of Boko Haram is an internally generated issue. When I
went to Maiduguri, I asked how much was Boko Haram externalised and the man, who was
talking to me, the middle man between me and Boko Haram leadership, who were out of
the country, said may be 10 to 15 per cent and I said how do you know.

“He said he knew the leaders; they are not men of any means and that they are bringing in
some new weapons and that somebody must be paying for those weapons either Nigerians,
who have the resources, or some external resources.

“Three years ago, I asked the same man, how much is Boko Haram externalised, he said at
least 50 per cent. Now if that is the case we are in danger.”

Foreign interest in oil deposits around Lake Chad is also believed to be fuelling the
insurgency.
A security source had told THISDAY that some countries were scheming for the oil and
funding insurgents as a way of mounting pressure on Nigeria in order to secure a stake.

The source spoke against the backdrop of the recent announcement by the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that it just discovered oil in the North-east.

Said the source: “If Nigeria starts her own exploration, it would be against French interest.
“The topography of the area where you have the crude oil deposits is tilted towards
Nigerian side and when Nigeria starts exploration, they will lose out.

“Some lecturers were taken to that area to conduct a survey and on their way back, Boko
Haram ambushed them and killed all of them.”
Non-governmental Organisations have also been accused of engaging in activities
prolonging the war.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also raised the alarm that
some NGOs operating in the North-east were keeping over 50 bank accounts and warned
banks to desist from such practice or face the wrath of the law.

“Now look at this scenario. Go to Maiduguri. Foreign Non-governmental Organisations

have booked all the hotels there but here is the most interesting part. They paid to stay in
hotels in Maiduguri for 10-15 years.

“How do you explain that? So, they and their backers are working to ensure that the war
never ends,” the military source added.
A Boko Haram fighter recently killed in Gubio by troops of the Nigerian Army was
reportedly carrying an identification card of a France-based NGO, Première Urgence
Internationale.

He was identified as a pharmacist working with the French NGO but allegedly had direct
dealings with Boko Haram.

Meanwhile, NDF has accused Ndume of insensitivity to the plight of families who lost
soldiers in the war.

It also accused him of having links with the insurgents by the way he has spoken.
In a statement signed by Secretary General, Dr. Bolaji Abdulkadir, the NDF reckoned it was
time to address Ndume’s alleged inglorious role in the Boko Haram conundrum.

It said: “The National Democratic Front is constrained in light of the shameful and
dishonourable statement credited to Senator Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno
South Senatorial District of Borno State, wherein he mischievously stated that over 847
soldiers had been killed by Boko Haram and buried in Borno cemetery.

“The statement credited to Senator Ali Ndume is not only mischievous.

“The National Democratic Front views his utterances as insensitive and an affront to the
sensibilities of those whose families and relatives have been affected in one way or the
other by the Boko Haram crisis.”

Settle Entitlements, Welfare Packages of Victims, Buhari Tells Security Chiefs

Meanwhile, Buhari has ordered the service chiefs to take urgent steps to settle the
entitlements of soldiers affected by insurgency and to pay promptly the welfare packages
designed for their dependents.

The president stated this Wednesday when he inaugurated the 2020 Emblem Appeal
Launch for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abuja.

According to him, it is the responsibility of government to ensure that the families of fallen
heroes do not suffer the loss of their loved ones and at the same time be deprived of their
due benefits.

He said the federal government would continue to do all within its powers to look after the
bereaved families.

“The unfortunate cost of the war against insurgency and other internal security operations is
the loss of lives of some of our officers and men in the armed forces.

“These very sad occurrences create deep wounds to loved ones. It is, therefore, our duty to
ensure that the loss of these bread winners does not relegate the spouses and dependents to
 a life of want and deprivation.
“Government will do all in its powers to look after the bereaved,’’ he added.

The president said the federal government established the Nigerian Legion to ensure that
the veterans continue to share the comradeship that existed while in service and adequately
cater for their welfare at exit.

He expressed delight that the legion was carrying out initiatives in transportation,
agriculture, housing and other ventures in partnership with the private sector.

“I am happy to note that the legion has continued to be a rallying point of veterans and has
done its part in catering for the welfare of their ailing members.

“I enjoin the leadership of the legion to continue in this spirit. I also urge Nigerians to
accord them the needed support, friendship and patronage.
“As the grand patron of the Nigerian Legion, I wish to pledge my continued support and
that of the federal government to the organisation,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, had appealed for
support from Nigerians for families of those left behind by the country’s fallen heroes.

He said: “The launch of the emblem, which is a symbol of the 2020-Armed Forces and
Remembrance Day, is one of the ways of supporting the families of the dead, caring for the
wounded and the veterans that are still alive.

“In the course of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria against internal aggression,
officers and men of the armed forces face daunting challenges; many laid down their lives
while others survive with varying degrees of incapacitation.

“That notwithstanding, they have continued to dedicate themselves to the onerous and
patriotic duty of protecting their fatherland.

“We therefore owe them as a nation and people. We also owe their families care and
support at all times,’’ he said.

Gov. Obiano Visits Scene Of Fire Disaster

UPPER IWEKA INFERNO: Gov. Obiano visits scene.

~ Promises to compensate traders before Christmas.

~ Urges ndi Anambra to be our brothers keepers in this terrible situation.

UPPER IWEKA: The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano just arrived the scene of
yesterday's inferno at Upper Iweka.

The Governor, expressed sadness over the unfortunate incidence. He however assured that, a
Panel of Inquiry that has been swiftly set, shall commence immediate work to ascertain how
number of shops affected, and their owners.

The Governor informed that, all well meaning of Ndi Anambra, have called to commiserate with
the victims. He urged them to know that the government of Anambra State are together with them
in this trial times.

He also expressed concern over the inability of the State Fire Service Team to be allowed to
rescue the situation. He however, assured that the Government will beef-up the Fire Service
facility around the Upper Iweka axis.

He also warned criminal elements to stay away people's property as a result of what happened,
noting that, the government will deal decisively with any criminal caught in criminal activities.

Details of this visit will come your way soon.

Harrison Madubueze
Onitsha, Anambra State.
SA to the Governor on Media.

Anambra Fire: Obiano Should Resign - Nigerians React

Nigerians Call For Gov Obiano’s Resignation Over Slow Response To Anambra Fire

Nigerians have demanded the resignation of Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, over his
government’s slow response to the fire incident in Onitsha on Wednesday.

Three persons were said to have been killed including a mother and her child after a fuel tanker
fell and went up in flames at MCC Bus stop near Toronto Hospital, Upper-Iweka, Onitsha.

Many houses along Iweka Road were burnt, some parts of Ochanja Market were affected while
about six houses and vehicles were razed.

Reports say that it took over an hour for its neighbouring state’s fire service arrive at the location
because of the distance and traffic on River Niger bridge and the Onitsha-Benin highway.

The Delta State Fire Service, on arrival, met a group of angry protesters, who threatened to burn
the emergency vehicles for being late.

They blamed the Anambra State Government for the disaster by not providing fire-fighting
equipment to the area.

The fire fighting vehicle soon ran out of water and the fire raged on till midnight.

Nigerians on Twitter have appeared unimpressed with Mr Obiano and have called for his
resignation.
Obaseki To Acquire 100 New Buses Ahead Of 2020 National
Sports Festival
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has concluded plans for the acquisition of over
100 new buses, which will be added to the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) fleet in
anticipation for the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF).

The governor said this after inspecting one of the 40 ECTS buses being refurbished by the state
government at the Government House in Benin City.

He said the state is already finalising talks with relevant stakeholders to finance and order for the
vehicles.

Obaseki noted that his administration has undertaken a state-wide transportation master-study,
with a view to making replacement of old buses in ECTS’ fleet.
He said the management of ECTS would make arrangement to employ more drivers for the
additional buses.

"My expectation is that at the end of next year, we will have nothing less than 200 to 250 buses in
ECTS’ fleet", the governor added.
Managing Director (MD) of ECTS, Mrs. Edugie Agbonlahor, said the governor approved the
refurbishment of 40 buses to meet the increasing transport needs in the state.

"He approved 40 new engines for 40 buses; the engines have been installed and the buses have
been refurbished”, she noted.

She added that the ECTS was prepared to provide intercity transport services during the National
Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) and NSF, holding in the state, noting that no fewer than
75 buses have been branded and carrying the NAFEST Logo

Onitsha Fire: Governor Obiano Visits Anambra State Fire

Service Command
As part of efforts to ascertain why the Onitsha fire couldn't be quelled on time, Governor Willie
Obiano visited the Anambra State fire service command headquarters in Awka.

The Governor was recieved by the Director of Fire Service in the State, Mr Martin Agbili,
Commssioner for Public Utilities and Mr Emeka Ezenwanne.

Ater showing the Governor round the premises and some of their equipment, Mr Agbili briefed
the Governor that they couldn't arrive the scene on time because of a little failure,
explaining that the closest fire fighters who would have made it to the scene, would have
been the Onitsha main market unit, but they were unfortunately fighting fire elsewhere.

Mr Agbili stressed that even when the fire fighters got to the scene, people were initially chasing
them, pointing out that his men managed to escape the scene.
South-East Governors, Igbo Leaders Meet With Buhari Over
Enugu Airport
South-East leaders including governors are meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the State
House Council Chambers in Abuja, behind closed doors.

Governor Dave Umahi, chairman Southeast Governors Forum is the leader of the delegation.

At the open session before the meeting went off camera, Umahi, who is governor of Ebonyi State
demanded special Federal Government intervention for the speedy completion of the Enugu
International airport and rehabilitation of federal roads in the region

The leaders also want a state of emergency to be declared on the roads in the South East.

Governors of the South-South region are also scheduled to meet President Buhari today.

FG Mulls New Tax On Coke, Bigi, Other Soft Drinks

Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, says the federal government is considering introducing
excise duty on carbonated drinks.

The minister made this known while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing annual
meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group.

Excise duty is a levy placed on the manufacture and sale of locally produced goods.

Information provided on the Nigeria Customs Service website shows that excise is currently
placed on non-alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, beer, stout and alcoholic beverages.

According to Ahmed, the government is working on maximising existing revenue streams while
trying to identify new revenue streams.

“Our objective is to be able to harness the existing revenue streams that we have by ensuring that
enforcement is effective to expand the tax base and also to identify new revenue streams that we
can add to expand the revenue base,” she said.

“So in expanding the revenue base, we have proposed the increase of VAT but there are also other
revenue streams that we are looking at and some of them include the introduction of excise duties
on carbonated drinks but there is a process to doing these things.

“Any tax that you are introducing will involve a lot of consultations and also amendments of
some laws or introduction of new regulations.

“There are several cost-cutting measures also in the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI)
and also a number of cost-cutting initiatives such as innovation and automation as well as
capacity building of our people.”

The minister described it as an anomaly that Nigeria’s previous budgets have been funded largely
with oil revenue.

“The budget of countries is supposed to be based on taxes that the country is able to generate. It
is an anomaly for us in Nigeria that our budgets have not been focusing on revenue,” she said.

“We can only develop in a manner that is sustainable when we are using tax revenues to fund our
national and sub-national budgets. It is an anomaly that we are depending largely on oil and gas
revenue, which is a resource that is finite. It is going to go out of existence before you know it. So
we have to develop the domestic tax base. The main focus will be on expanding the tax base
ensuring enforcement of the existing laws and then blocking leakages.

“What we are trying to do in 2020 is to harness the full potential of revenue mobilisation. The
only increase in taxes in 2020 budget is just VAT. Everything else is just maximizing the
potentials of existing tax streams that we have and we hope that we will be able to do this to be
able to move our tax to GDP ratio from the current seven to eight per cent of GDP to 15 per
cent.”

Ahmed also expressed hopes that the finance bill will be passed along with the 2020 budget so
that the government’s capacity to finance the budget is enhanced.

Akpabio, Wike And Other Oil-Producing State Governors

Meet Buhari
President Buhari receives in audience Governors of 9 States comprising the Niger Delta
Development Commission Board in State House on 17th Oct 2019

South South 4: President Buhari with L-R: Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Imo State
Governor Emeka Ihedioha, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, Rivers State Governor
Nyesom Wike, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu
and Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo as he receives in audience Governors of 9
States comprising the Niger Delta Development Commission Board in State House on 17th Oct
2019

Dickson, Wike, Other Oil-Producing State Governors Meet Buhari

Governors of the nine oil-producing states in the country have met with President
Muhammadu Buhari to discuss issues they say are of concern to them.

The meeting held on Thursday when the governors visited the President at the Aso Villa in
Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Governor Seriake Dickson
of Bayelsa State said the issues discussed bothered on security, economy and the
development of their various states.

He said he was happy that President Buhari acknowledged the challenges highlighted and
has promised to work towards resolving some of them.
 The governor also spoke about the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa and called
for peaceful and credible exercise.

Buhari Approves Upgrade Of Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu

At N10 Billion
I have approved the sum of 10 billion Naira for an Intervention fund for the upgrade of the Akanu
Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. I have the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the work
will be done speedily and to the highest standards.

Even as we have many items competing for our limited resources, we will continue to prioritize
infrastructure investments in every part of the country. It is our responsibility to ensure Nigeria’s
infrastructure is fixed; we will keep doing this.

Buhari Approves The Appointment Of Actress Funke

Adesiyan As First Lady’s P.A
President Buhari has approved the appointment Nollywood actress Funke Adesiyan as one of the
aides to the first lady, #AishaBuhari. .

Ms. Adesiyan was appointed the Personal Assistant to the First Lady on Domestic and Social
events. .

She was appointed alongside five others. They are Dr. Mairo Almakura – Special Assistant on
African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), Muhammed Albishir – Special Assistant on
Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD)

Others are Wole Aboderin – Special Assistant on Non-Governmental Organizations, Barr. Aiyu
Abdullahi – Special Assistant on Media and Publicity
and Zainab Kazeem – Special Assistant on Domestic and Social Events.

Senator Elisha Abbo's S*x Toy Shop Assault Case

Compounded As Police Tender More
According to SaharaReporters, the Nigerian police have tendered additional CCTV footage of the
alleged assault by Senator Elisha Abbo on a nursing woman in a intimacy gadget shop before a
Zuba magistrate's court in Abuja.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday the prosecution counsel, James Idachaba, who
had opened his case at the last adjourned date told the court that they stumbled on additional
proof of evidence of the closed-circuit television that captured the incident.

The second prosecution witness, investigation police officer, who was in court to testify in the
case could do not do so as defence counsel Adegbite Adeniyi made an application for the
adjournment of the case.

Adeniyi argued that he would need to apply for more time to enable him to watch the content of
the video as he was just served in the court.

He said, "The law gives us the right to be given time to go through such proof of evidence before
the case can continue."

The defence counsel said his client was ready for defence but the additional evidence had
hindered their preparation.

The prosecution counsel did not object to the application for adjournment by the defence. He said
it was their right to ask for time to study the electronically generated evidence in line with the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The presiding magistrate, Abdullahi Ilellah, therefore, adjourned the case until 19 November.

Abbo, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, is a Peoples Democratic Party's

legislator.

He admitted on July 3 that he was the one in the video and apologized to the woman assaulted.

He was charged on July 8 for criminal force and assault which is contrary to section 263 and 264
of penal code law.

Reno Omokri Locates Victim Of Onitsha Fire Outbreak,

Makes Donation
Reno Omokri Finally Locates Victim Of Onitsha Fire Outbreak, Makes Donation(Photos)

Former Aide to ex Nigerian President, Reno Omokri, has located the victim of Onitsha fire
outbreak.

Igbere TV had reported that the fire outbreak which occurred yesterday destroyed property worth
billions of naira and some lives.

According to Reno Omokri:

To God be the glory, I have found him. His name is Uchechukwu Ukaepu. We video called
to confirm he is the one. I thank Osita Chidoka, who just made a donation to add to mine. I
urge Nigerians to assist him directly

https://mobile.twitter.com/renoomokri/status/1184860918095794176
Junaid Mohammed Telling Lies, I Will Reply Him Soon –
Nwodo
President – General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, on Thursday said elderstatesman
and the Second Republic lawmaker Junaid Mohammed lied when he claimed he (Nwodo) came to the
North knelt down and begged to be made President.

Junaid in an interview with Daily Independent had said ”

“Are you telling me because John Nwodo is the president of Ohanaeze I should ask people to vote for
him? I will not. He came all the way from Enugu with a delegation and we had a meeting in a house
not very far from my house, I think it is the house of a former governor of Kaduna state, Lawal Jafaru
Isa”.

“We had a meeting there in which John Nwodo went on his knees begging us to make him President.
We laughed at him. In our culture, you don’t come here and say you people should make me this or
that. We allow people to point at you and say you are good to occupy certain positions”.

However speaking with our correspondent, Nwodo described Junaid’s statement as lies saying he will
soon respond.

” He (Junaid) is telling lies. I am in a meeting right now but I will soon respond. We will issue a
statement very soon” he said

IPOB Calls Onitsha Tanker Fire A Terror Attack

The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra has said the Wednesday Onitsha tanker fire disaster was a
terrorist attack.

In a statement by IPOB’s Media and Public Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said the consistency
with which such mishaps happened in the southern part of the country had clearly shown that they were
being executed by certain persons.

While sympathising with those who lost their loved ones and property in the inferno, the group said
nobody should be deceived that such incidents were mere accidents.

It wondered why such incidents were not happening in certain parts of the country where even the
owners of such articulated vehicles allegedly hail from.

READ ALSO: Why Nigeria is borrowing fresh $3bn from World Bank —Ahmed

The statement read in part, “With a profound sense of deep sorrow and sadness we commiserate with
all the families and communities that lost loved ones over the terror attack in Onitsha on the 16 October
2019.

“This is not the first time an articulated lorry or a tanker laden with inflammable liquid has been
involved in mass fatalities in Onitsha or other parts of Anambra State.

“The story is always the same, its either their trailer had brake failure or their tanker exploded, all
resulting in massive loss of lives and destruction of individually owned businesses.

“We the Indigenous People of Biafra call these callous and wicked acts for what it is- a cowardly
terrorist attack designed by those evil men determined to exterminate we Biafrans from the face of the
earth.”

It added, “This massive loss of lives and businesses in Onitsha is most unwelcome.

“Why must tankers driven by northerners always explode in the south or the brakes of their trailers
always fail in Biafraland? It is time now for our people to wake up to this new reality of population
reduction.”

Lai Mohammed: Many Nigerians Can't Sing National Anthem

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has lamented the growing lack of patriotism
among Nigerians, saying many citizens today can neither sing the National Anthem nor recite the
National Pledge.

This was as the government also clarified its decision to launch the “Change begins with me” campaign
in September 2016, saying the move was not an attempt to ingrain the change mantra of the ruling All
Progressives Congress APC in the minds of Nigerians, but that the programme was designed without
any partisan consideration.

Lai Mohammed stated this Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of the Mindshift Advocacy for
Development Initiative – an organization advocating for value-reorientation and attitudinal change
among Nigerians.

The minister who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Mr Samuel Soughul, also lamented
that in spite of the best attempts of President Muhammadu Buharito reposition the country for
greatness, few bad eggs in the society continue to constitute a clog in the wheel.

“I think we are making progress. I won’t say all, there are few bad eggs in our society that forming the
clog in the wheel of our progress. Let’s start from basics. If you love your country, you must love
anything that is associated with your country. You love your country and you love your countrymen,
you love the paraphernalia of the state.
“The National Anthem, some of us cannot read, cannot recite, cannot write. Is it the currency of the
country, Naira that we abuse? Is it the Constitution that we do not obey its provisions? We have a lot to
say but the future is still bright.”

Mohammed continued: “In 1976, there was a desire by Prof. Felicia Adewole to come up with a
contract for citizens to sign with their country, Nigeria and she made a draft which was proved right.
That is what we have today as a National Pledge. By following that Pledge, we will not have turbulence
around our homes, we will not need bullet-proof vehicles, we will be our brother’s keeper.

“Our tertiary institutions, the award certificates based on the fact that the graduands have been ‘found
worthy in character and learning’. Now, President Muhammadu Buhari, having viewed this with
concerns, on Thursday, September 8 2016, launched a value-reorientation campaign ‘Change begins
with me’. This campaign is not a slogan and it should not be associated with party slogan as such. It is
a patriotic slogan and campaign – a value-reorientation campaign. What it means is that the change we
want should start with us instead of pointing accusing fingers,” Mohammed said.

Moshood Oshun: All Politicians Use Charms, Tie It On Their

Waists
A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Moshood Oshun, has indicted all Nigerian
politicians on fetish practices saying no political class can be exonerated of using charms.

He disclosed this during the Yoruba speaking plenary yesterday even as he supported the proposal to
declare traditional festive period, ‘Isese Day’, a public holiday, which is August 20.

Earlier at the plenary a member of the House who is also the Chairman House Committee on Home
Affairs, Mr David Setonji, moved the motion that the ‘Isese Day’ should be celebrated and declared
public holiday as it is practised in Osun state. Oshun, in his contribution, said that if all lawmakers in
the plenary were asked to stand up and pull up their clothes, none of them will be exonerated.

“We all tie charm within our waists, arms and even rob on our bodies. “All politicians are into
charms. We all patronise black powers and we know where to go during elections and to what
extent we seek black powers to win elections. We wear charms within our arms.

Even the civil servants patronise black powers to get promotions,” Oshun said.

Another lawmaker, representing Epe 1, Mr Abiodun Tobun, maintained upholding tradition and culture
will serve as a deterrent to curb corruption and social vices in the country.

Also corroborating his view, Mr Kehinde Joseph, representing Alimosho II, reiterated that it is pertinent
to uphold virtues of culture and tradition as it relates to daily lives. In another reaction, a lawmaker
representing Ojo I, Mr Victor Akande said, culture and tradition are what make tourism attractive.

“It will bring about investment and boost our Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, in the long run,” he
noted. In his response, the deputy speaker, who presided over the plenary on behalf of the Speaker, Mr
Wasiu Eshilokun, restated the need to look into the matter.

BUhari Promises To Open Calabar To Rest Of The Country

▪WE’LL OPEN UP CALABAR TO REST OF THE COUNTRY –BUHARI ASSURES

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja assured full Federal Government’s support for the
development of the historic City of Calabar.

At an audience granted His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi, Otu V, Obong of Calabar, at the State
House, the President said that though the City had lost its preeminent status as the first capital city of
Southern Nigeria to Lagos, his administration will not lessen ongoing efforts to open the City to the rest
of Nigeria, but will increase the efforts to ensure happiness and betterment of the people of the City in
particular and Cross River State in general.

“We will open up that part of Nigeria to the rest of the country,” President Buhari assured, adding that a
number of projects are being executed by the Federal Government in the State.

According to him, “three road projects – Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja; Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene and

Sapele-Ewu – are at various stages of completion.”

The President noted that in order to speed up work on the Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja road, plans are
underway to incorporate it in the Sukuk Bond to increase the level of funding of the construction work.

He assured that dredging of the Calabar harbour will be undertaken as soon as some legal issues are
settled by the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authority with the contractor.

President Buhari pledged full support to the Calabar Deep Sea Port project of the State, adding that a
number of electricity projects would soon follow after a visit to the State by the Ministers of Power in
the upcoming two weeks.

Enumerating other projects in the State being undertaken by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs such as
the Industrial Park which is one of the three set up through the Nigeria Content Development and
Monitoring Board, the President also noted the construction of roads and water projects by the Niger
Delta Development Commission; the development of a Skills Acquisition Centre for youths; and the
construction of houses among others.

In his address, the Obong of Calabar decried the disregard and neglect of the Calabar Kingdom in spite
of its national historical significance, and called for the reversal of the “demotion” through the
execution of projects in the areas of roads, power, maritime access, security and border issues as well
as the plight of displaced persons from the Bakassi Islands.

The royal father congratulated President Buhari on his “overwhelming victory” in the February election
and at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and urged his administration to restore Calabar to
what it lost to Lagos and Abuja.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 17, 2019

Governor Ben Ayade, A Student Of UNICAL, Storms School In

His Convoy
The Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade who enrolled for a Masters Degree in Law at the
University of Calabar (UNICAL) has been spotted leaving school in a 20-Jeep convoy.

The Cross River State Govenor said to have already started doing his assignments and also presenting
seminars like a regular student, obtained his B.Sc. (Honours) in Microbiology at Ambrose Alli
University in Ekpoma, 1988.He then proceeded to obtain his M.sc in Microbiology (1989 - 1990) and
PhD in Environmental Microbiology from the University of Ibadan (1990-1994), winning the Best
Doctoral Dissertation Award in Environmental Microbiology.

He was appointed a Professor at a very young age and became quite popular in the educational sector
after his work in groundwater remediation led to the invention of a sewage treatment plant powered by
solar energy.

It was further learnt that a former member of the state House of Assembly, Jake Otu Enya is one of his
current Masters Degree lecturers.

Amaechi Inspects Trains Built For Nigeria In China, Takes

Delivery Of More
Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, is currently in China to inspect some of the locomotives
(trains) built for Nigeria by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCRC).

Yesterday, I test-ran and took delivery of more trains in China to service the Abuja-Kaduna
and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines. For those complaining that the trains are not enough, especially
for the Abuja-Kaduna route, we heard cries, the trains are coming!

The 1st batch of new trains built for us by CRRC- 2 motored cars and 4 Locomotives. I
have taken delivery & they would soon be in Nigeria. Work is ongoing on the 2nd batch of
 trains. The plan is to connect & unite the entire country by rail. Together, let’s ride to the
#NextLevel

New Minimum Wage: FG Reaches Agreement With Labour

Over Implementation
We’ve reached agreement on minimum wage –Keyamo, Labour

Olufemi Atoyebi , Abuja

The Federal Government and organised labour on Thursday finally agreed on the
percentage increase on the consequential adjustment in workers ’ salaries as a result of the
new minimum wage of N 30 ,000 .

As the meeting reached an advanced stage , the Minister of State for Labour and
Employment, Festus Keyamo , tweeted from the venue that both parties had reached an
agreement, but he did not give details .

The tweet read, “ After some delicate negotiations ( with both ministers as conciliators ) ,
the government and labour have finally reached an agreement on the consequential
adjustment of other wages following the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage of
N 30,000 . We are working on the communiqué . ”

In a statement , the President of the Trade Union Congress, Quadri , and the Secretary
General, Musa- Lawal Ozigi , confirmed the peace pact , commending the Federal
Government and labour for their patience while the National Minimum Wage negotiations
lasted .

The statement read, “ We commend the Head of Service of the Federation , Dr Folashade
Yemi -Esan , and her team for their sincerity .

Though they argued that the government could not afford to meet our earlier demand of N
30 ,000 minimum wage across board because of the economic situation in the country , we
made them understand that some people could not be more Nigerian than others . If we are
tightening our belts , government should also do so.”

The secretary of the JNCSNC , Alade Lawal , also confirmed the figure to our
correspondent through a text message after confirmation on what was agreed with the FG
was sought from him.

Lawal had earlier told our correspondent that the parties had reached an agreement on the
wage crisis.

He said both parties agreed on 23.2 percentage increase for workers at grade level 07;
20 percent for those at grade level 08;
 19 percent for workers at grade level 09;
16 percent for those on levels 10 to 14;
and 14 percent for workers at grade levels 15 to 17 .

The meeting was still going on as of the time of filing this report ( 12 . 56 am) on Friday .

The agreement did not come easy as negotiations between both parties collapsed several
times in the last six months .

The agreement came 182 days after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the new
minimum wage into law .

After the necessary legislative processes at the National Assembly , Buhari signed the 2019
New National Minimum Wage Bill into law on April 18 , 2019 .

Thursday ’s meeting was slated to begin at 7pm but more than one hour after the labour
team , led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba , and the
government team had taken their seat , the Minister of Labour and Employment , Dr Chris
Ngige, and Keyamo came into the conference room.

Present at the meeting were the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, Musa
Origi; NLC General Secretary , Emma Ugboaja ; Chairman of the Joint National Public
Service Negotiating Council, Simon Anchaver ; Secretary of the council, Alade Lawal ; the
President , Nigeria Union of Civil Service , Amaechi Lawrence ; and the union ’s General
Secretary , Issa Aremu .

On the government side were the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation , Folashade
Yemi-Esan ; acting Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission ,
Ekpo Nta ; and the Permanent Secretary in the labour ministry , William Alo .

Ngige reminded the gathering that the future of the country must be given consideration in
the negotiations .

He said if the country became broke because of personnel cost , it would suffer the
consequences .

The leader of the government team , Folashade Yemi -Esan , said since Wednesday ’s
meeting adjourned around 2 am on Thursday , members of the government team had not
rested because of the enormous work given to it for an agreement to be reached at the
Thursday meeting .

Minister Of Agriculture Son Proved That 30 Naira Is Ok To

Feed For A Da
The Minister of agriculture has gathered thirty naira food to confirm his father's words

This is Alhaji Adamu Sabo Nanono, the son of minister of agriculture is offering 30 naira in their farm
near joda town in gabasawa local government area of Kano State.

He bought 20 beans for ten breast.

It is said that Adam did not think that his father has said that he was not hungry in Nigeria, because of
thirty naira, it was a man to eat and be filled in kano state.

Ahmad Lawan ‘Gets’ 26 FIRS Slots - Daily Trust

Senate President Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) was said to have secured 26 job slots for his constituents,
from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Daily Trust exclusively gathered.

This is just as the job scandal rocking the upper chamber gets messier with senators threatening
showdown over the sharing formula of the employment slots given to them by the federal agency.

Employment letters were said to have since been distributed to the beneficiaries by the Senate
president.

A senator, who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday, accused Lawan of “hijacking the 26 slots without
considering other senators, not even from his state.”

A youth association from Lawan’s constituency, Unity for Collective Progress Forum, yesterday said
all the beneficiaries had received employment letters and were expected “to commence work in
earnest”.
The association gave the breakdown of the beneficiaries’ local government areas, from Lawan’s
constituency as Nguru, 5; Karasuwa, 3; Machina, 4; Bade, 7; Yusufari, 4 and Jakusko 3. The Socio-
Economic Right and Accountability yesterday asked Lawan to clarify the allegations that 100
employment slots for federal agencies were allocated to 10 principal officers of the Senate.

The spokesman of the Senate president, Ola Awoniyi, neither answered several phone calls nor replied
a text message sent to him last night. The spokesmen of the Federal Character Commission and the
FIRS also did not answer phone calls on the issue. Speaking to Daily Trust, Chairman, Senate
Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Danjuma La’ah, said the committee
had commenced an investigation into the alleged lopsided recruitment by some federal agencies. “I am
making my investigation underneath to avoid disgracing people, “ he said.

Who Will Fund Aisha’s Office? – PDP

Following the appointments of six aides for the office of the first lady, the Peoples Democratic Party
has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to explain how it will be funded.

In a statement released on Thursday, the party also asked Buhari to clarify the rationale behind the
office despite his promise to scrap it.

The party also reacted to new directives issued to senior government officials by the president
including slashing of their estacodes.

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, said while Buhari claims to reduce cost of governance, the
presidency drains Nigeria’s valuable resources.

Ologbondiyan said: “While the PDP is still monitoring the implementation of directive to government
functionaries on cost cut, the party tasks President Buhari to take the first step by immediately fulfilling
his promise to reduce the Presidential fleet, as well as cut his over-bloated entourages and curtail the
opulent lifestyle in the Presidency, which is daily flaunted before suffering and impoverished
Nigerians.

“We invite Nigerians to note that the Buhari Presidency has proven to be extremely expensive and a
major draining pipe for valuable resources, while millions of compatriots, who look up to government
for solutions, wallow in hunger and acute poverty.

“The profligacy that permeates the Buhari Presidency had further manifested in the public fight
between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and President Buhari’s nephews over issues of opulent
accommodation in our presidential villa.”

The main opposition party also accused the president of failing to disclose the details of the
presidency’s budget “despite demands by our party and other well-meaning groups in Nigeria.”
“The failure to make the details of the Presidency budget public places a huge burden on the Buhari
Presidency, particularly in the face of allegations of budgetary corruption and financial sleaze,” it said.

“Unless the Presidency budget is made public for Nigerians to see, any directive on cost cut remains
cosmetic.”

October 18

The Mamman Daura I Know By Shango

Recently, I heard a group of people discussing vehemently about the “uncomplimentary” role of
Mamman Daura in the Buhari administration. They attributed everything bad to Malam Mamman
Daura, my mentor, boss, friend, former editor and Managing Director at the New Nigerian Newspapers
in Kaduna. I moved close to them and tried to explain to them about the Mamman Daura I know.

I knew Malam Mamman Daura when he joined the New Nigerian as the editor of the paper- sometime
in 1969. Before then, the editor of the paper was a powerful writer and historian, Malam Adamu
Ciroma, while the Managing Director was a British journalist, Mr Charles Sharp.

I had been at the New Nigerian for a number of years before Daura came in, at which time I was the
Personal Assistant to Malam Adamu Ciroma, who had just taken over from Mr Sharp as the Managing
Director.

I was moved from Ciroma’s office back to the editorial department to work with Daura, this time as a
senior reporter.

First, let me commend the decision of Daura to leave the office of the Premier of Northern Nigeria,
where he was an administrative officer to join the New Nigerian. Journalism at that time was not
considered anything worth throwing away such a job to take up.

Daura, (a Muslim) who attended the Trinity College (a Catholic University in Dublin, Ireland) had
returned to Nigeria with two degrees; one in Economics and another in Public Administration. He could
have got any job for the asking but rather decided to try his hands on newspaper reporting.

I recall that there were few university graduates at the newsroom of the New Nigerian, some of whom
had come in only to see what it was like to be a journalist but left immediately after looking into the
newsroom. Those of us who stayed on in the New Nigerian were indeed not university graduates at that
time. I recall Dan Agbese, Clement Ende, Yakubu Abdul-Aziz, myself, just to mention a few.
Among the more experienced ones was Mr. Clement Isaiah, father of Sam Ndah Isaiah (founder and
Chairman of Leadership Newspaper). It is noteworthy that although the young Isaiah initially trained as
a pharmacist, but because the blood of journalism ran in the family he had to meander back to establish
one of the most thriving newspapers in Nigeria today.

There was Malam Sani, father of Senator Shehu Sani, who was definitely an expert in composition. I
must also mention Mr Rasaq Aremu who was the editor-in-chief and later succeeded by Mr Clement
Isaiah and of course there was sub-editor guru, Mr Yakubu Ali.

Malam Daura learnt the ropes of journalism very fast and before we could know, he took over the
writing of daily editorial, the famous Candido column and very powerful feature articles. He was
regarded at that time as one of the sharpest minds north of the River Niger and could very well be
compared with others like Dr Jubril Aminu, Dr Mahmud Tukur, Dr Ibrahim Tahil, Professor Iya
Abubakar and Dr Bala Usman, to mention a few.

He was a key Nigerian patriot and contributed in no small way to prosecuting the Nigerian civil war
behind his pen, in the same manner that other northern patriots like Adamu Ciroma, Baba-Gana
Kingibe, Alhaji Abba Zoru, Patrick Iyoher and others did.

I was closely attached to Malam Daura; ethnicity and religion were not part of his life. He treated
people based on their performance and character. Daura nominated me for training programmes among
many Hausa, Fulani and Muslim reporters in the New Nigerian. When the Federal Government bought
over the shares of the Daily Times of Nigeria, he nominated me, a Christian minority, to serve as
Director of the Daily Times under the Chairmanship of the late Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, another
detribalised northern Muslim journalist from Kano State.

The job at the Daily Times was one of my most challenging moments. This was one of my most
challenging jobs. In the cause of balancing the Daily Times, we had to relieve various good and
hardworking journalists, like Olusegun Osoba, who later became the Governor of Ogun State, the late
Dale Giwa, Chief Tony Momoh and Chief Olu Onagoruwa, of their jobs.

We also had to bring on board very unknown journalists like Ray Ekpu from the Chronicle Newspaper,
Cross River State, who later became one of the most famous journalists in Nigeria; Felix Audu, from
Benue State, and quite a number of other journalists, into the stable of the Daily Times.

I recall that I was to travel to Makurdi on an official duty during the civil war and Malam Daura
insisted that because of the dangers of the civil war, I had to stay in the house of his nephew, then Col.
Muhammadu Buhari, who was the Commander of the Brigade in Makurdi. Col. Buhari, perhaps
knowing the activities of a young reporter like me and considering the strict discipline that prevailed in
his house, decided to hand me over to his adjutant, Major Dauda Suleiman, who took me to the
officers’ mess but kept a keen eye on me, so no harm would come my way.

In order to complete his assignment of keeping me safe, Buhari personally decided to drive me to
Kaduna when my assignment was over. I must say that Buhari loved driving and would not allow his
driver to drive from Makurdi to Kaduna. His driver was by his side while I sat behind with his younger
brother, Sani, then a student at the Government College Kaduna.

As fate would have it, we had a ghastly motor accident somewhere between Keffi and Kachia. But
what keeps lingering in my memory was that, when Buhari came out of the car, he called my name,
“Simon, Simon, hope you are alright” and he did not even mention his brother’s name, Sani. This was
all in a bid to accomplish the wish of his nephew, Malam Daura, to ensure that no harm comes to me.

In the cause of my working as a reporter under Mamman Daura, I got into troubles; one was a result of
a story I wrote on Zaria Tarpaulin Industry which insinuated that government officials had received
bribes of Mercedes Benz cars from the proprietor, an Indian business man.

The then Governor in Kaduna, Col. Abba Kyari, approached Mamman Daura that he should produce
me for detention. Instead of producing me, Mamman Daura arranged for me to go to Port Harcourt to
attend a meeting of Nigerian Union of Journalists and stay there until the trouble was over.

Malam Adamu Ciroma and Malam Mamman Daura taught us honesty and probity while we were with
the New Nigerian. Rumour has it that Malam Daura was forced to move from the Premier’s office
because he would not wear agbada or babariga to work throughout his stay in the New Nigerian as was
customary with old northern senior officers. He wore suit and we often referred to him as “Mamman
Bature”.

That Mamman Daura chose to pursue entrepreneurship in carpentry and thereby establishing a furniture
factory, KFCC, in Kaduna, was a great surprise to us. At that time, people of Mamman Daura’s
standing only needed to move to Abuja or Lagos and could make billions of naira as agents connecting
people with government. That was the nature of hard work, Mamman Daura imbibed in us.

He later took over from the late Sultan Dasuki as the Chairman of African International Bank, a
completely unknown banking establishment, and nurtured it to become very profitable, employing
hundreds of people. Rumour has it that when working capital of banks was moved to N25bn, Mamman
Daura could not raise that capital because of his honesty; when banks with lesser pedigree crookedly
raised that capital in no time.

Today, Mamman Daura is the same as he was yesterday. His residence in Malali, Kaduna State, is a
simple bungalow and even though he produces furniture, the seats in the living room are ordinary and
people waiting for him outside sit on the bench. Though his nephew is the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, he lives in a bungalow outside the Villa with little security. Just like his Kaduna
residence, visitors sit on the bench outside the house, while the inside has ordinary furniture like the
one in Kaduna.

Malam Mamman Daura is a sound economist and he ran the New Nigerian with sound prudence that
made profit for the newspaper during his time. While in the New Nigerian, he did not have a car of his
own except the official 404. His official residence at then Dawaki Road (now Isa Kaita Road) was the
same bungalow like that of any other senior staff even when he became the Managing Director of the
newspaper.

I have no doubt that Daura has brought sound economic advice to his nephew’s government that has
added value to the quality of government. This is the Daura I knew. I believe he is still the same today
and will be the same tomorrow.

Shango is a farmer in Pika, Gboko L.G.A. of Benue State

This article was originally published in the Daily Trust newspaper

Dapo Abiodun Says Women Will Constitute 40-50% Of His

Cabinet
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has promised that women will constitute between 40
and 50 per cent of his cabinet.

He also promised to prioritise road construction and rehabilitation, as well as education for the Ogun
West Senatorial District as the 2020 budget is being prepared.

Roads in the senatorial district were described as the worst in the state when the governor held a town
hall meeting with critical stakeholders of the senatorial district at Ilaro on Wednesday.

I want to assure you that my cabinet will have, if not 50 per cent of women, it will have at least 40 per
cent. You voted for me to give you good governance and we will ensure that it cuts across every nook
and cranny of the state.

The governor promised that the era of non-implementation of budget estimates was over, saying that he
will ensure proper implementation of the 2020 budget when passed into law.

The governor noted that the district had been in the forefront for the socio-economic development of
the state with its status as the industrial hub, increase in the number of industrial establishment and
level of commercial activities.

The meeting had in attendance traditional rulers, elders and tradesmen, artisans and party stalwarts.

The leaders took turns to lament the deplorable state of intra-city and rural roads in the five local
government areas of the district.

In his contribution, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, in the last election,
Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, called on the government to declare a state of emergency on roads, as it was the
major challenge in the district.

Also speaking, Senator Akin Odunsi from Ado-Odo/Ota, said although Ogun West was the economic
base of the state, it lacked good roads and other basic amenities.

Minimum Wage: Details Of New Adjustment Formula Agreed

By FG, Labour
The Federal Government has finally reached an agreement on the adjustment formula for the
implementation of the new minimum wage.

The agreement reached late Thursday night was made known by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State
for Labour and Employment.

This is after several attempts by the negotiating parties failed to bear yield fruits, six months after
President Muhammadu Buhari gave his assent to the N30,000 new minimum wage.

“After some delicate negotiations (with both Ministers as conciliators) Government & Labour have
finally reached an agreement on the consequential adjustments of other wages following the
implementation of the enhanced minimum wage of N30,000. We are now working on the
communique,” Keyamo tweeted Thursday night.

Mr Keyamo provided further information on the agreement which was signed by both parties.

The parties agreed that officers on CONPSS salary structures of level 07 should be adjusted to 23.2 per
cent, level 08 gets 20 percent, level 09 was modified to 19 percent, level 10 to 14 was pegged at 16
percent while those on level 15 to 17 was adjusted to 14 percent.

While those at CONHESS, CONRAISS, CONRISS II, CONRIASS II, CONMESS, CONTEDDIS and
CONPCASS on level 07 to equivalent gets 23.2 percent, that of level 08-14/equivalent is 16 percent
while level 15-17/equivalent was fixed at 10.5 percent.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, said the third category of the
country’s wage structure which are military and paramilitary officers were also factored in in the
agreement.

“Since they are not in the civil service , theirs will be communicated through the appropriate channels.
Their percentages of increase is confidential,” he said.
With the new development, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will no longer embark on the planned
industrial action it was warming up to.

Olusegun Banjo And Olawale Oluwo Deny Indicting Ambode

Before Assembly Panel
Former Lagos commissioners, Mr Olusegun Banjo (Economic Planning and Budget) and Mr Olawale
Oluwo (Energy and Mineral Resources), have denied indicting ex-governor Akinwunmi Ambode
before an ad hoc committee of the state House of Assembly.

The men on Thursday refuted reports that they incriminated their former boss in the statements they
made to the committee.

Rather, they insisted that that Accountant-General of Lagos State, Mrs Shukrat Umar, buttressed their
claims when she told the committee on Wednesday that the State Executive Council approved the
budget for the purchase of 820 vehicles for the state.

The Assembly had claimed that Ambode did not get approval for the purchase of the buses and
subsequently set up a probe committee.

The committee had summoned the former commissioners and some other government officials to make
statements on the project.

Banjo and Oluwo were reported to have indicted Ambode when they appeared before the committee.

But the former commissioners in separate statements said the reports were a misrepresentation of what
transpired at the proceedings of the committee.

Banjo said he told the lawmakers that he was appointed in February 2018 when the issue of bus
purchase had already been on the ground.

He pointed out that the issue was not contained in the budget he managed, though it could have been in
earlier budgets.

Oluwo acknowledged that he attended the second session of the committee on October 15 alongside a
former Commissioner for Agriculture, Toyin Suara.

For the avoidance of doubt, I reiterate that I did not and could never have indicted Akinwunmi
Ambode. I am a committed democrat, a loyal team player and a strong believer in the principle of
collective responsibility,” he said.
Edo 2020: Kabaka Dares Obaseki Over Demolition Notice
Issued On Property
Edo Political thug, Tony Kabaka has dared the Godwin Obaseki led state government to go ahead and
demolish his hotel under seven days as contained in a demolition notice issued on his property.

The state government issued the evacuation notice and marked the property for demolition under seven
days alleging that it was built on government land.

Bragging in response, Tony Kabaka a grassroot mobilizer for the Edo state chapter of the All
Progressive Congress showed off the evacuation notice pasted on the fence of the hotel and called on
the governor to send his agents to carry out the demolition.

“I didn’t build my business in the government place.

”If he cannot give me the prove, Obaseki you are not oba, you are not God. You can’t just wake up
after working for you and say you want to destroy my property, you will do it and I will die, he ranted.

He continued “Let the world hear that Obaseki sent people to kill Kabaka. Because he abandoned us for
three years and forgot that we are existing. Now it has come to election time, Obaseki brought a note
with soldiers and police saying I should remove my property under seven days, he said.

Kabaka went on to accuse President Buhari and the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole
of sponsoring a governor who is frustrating all those that worked for the success of APC in the state.
Watch the video below;
https://www.facebook.com/kamanicationmedia/videos/402592850414858/

Yemi Osinbajo Visits NFGCS Farm In Gaa’te, Nasarawa

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN visits a farm in Gaa’te, Nassarawa accompanied by The State
Governor Alh. Abdullahi Sule started by a former Niger Delta Militant Reston Tedheke from 3 hectares
two years ago to 3000 Hectares of crop and livestock production.

The NFGCS farm, which was founded by an ex-Niger Delta militant, Mr. Reston Tedheke,
started with three hectares and N1.5m in 2017, now occupies 3,000 hectares and is worth
about a billion naira, with over 300 people employed. Tedheke was inspired by President
Buhari’s @muhammadubuhari administration's focus on Agricultural diversification of the
Nigerian economy. The components of the farm include a ranch, crop farm, poultry and a
rice mill, amongst others.

Visiting the NFGCS farm, I saw a story of national unity and integration: a man from Delta
who relocated to the NorthCentral & got land from the local community.
Christmas2019: Gov. Ugwuanyi Will Provide Free Transport
For Enugu Indigenes
Igberetv reports that Enugu Governor Ugwuanyi, in keeping with his tradition will be offering free
transportion to Enugu indigenes residents in other states to return home for the yuletide.

This information was made available to Igberetv through an interview with the Senior Special Assistant
to the Governor on Media, Amoke Louis.

Amoke revealed that this year’s package has been further enhanced to cover no less than 20 states in
Nigeria. Some of the cities include Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Jos, Kaduna, Kano,
Minna, Ilorin, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto and Akure. Others are Zamfara, Jalingo, Lafia, Maiduguri,
Bauchi and Damaturu, among others.

The gesture further proves that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is really a man of the people and is
committed to the welfare of his subjects.

Enugu State is in the hands of God.

I won't quit APC, my enemies will leave for me-

Gov Obaseki
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has insisted that he has no plans to leave the All
Progressives Congress (APC) for another political party no matter the situation.
The governor spoke when he received members of the Godwin Obaseki Support Group (GOSG),
during a courtesy visit at Government House.
“If a handful of individuals start misbehaving and feel we will leave the party for them; they will be the
ones to leave,” he said.
Obaseki described the APC as a party for the youths and the next generation, adding that his
administration is focused on infrastructural and institutional reforms that would stand the test of time.
“This is a government of real change, which is concerned about youths and the future. This government
has performed beyond people’s expectations and we are proud of the things we have done so far.”
Obaseki commended the GOSG for supporting his administration, urging members of the group to
intensify their activities in the state and collaborate with other groups with the same ideology.
The governor urged the group to collaborate with the state government in the campaign to kick out
thuggery in the state.
Earlier, the Director-General of the group, Mr Henry Idogun, said the group was formed during the
2016 governorship election to bridge the information gap, which existed on the governor’s profile.
He said: “The group was happy with the developmental strides of the Obaseki led-administration which
include massive and sustained infrastructural development and deep-rooted institutional reforms,
noting that the award presented to the governor by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) was well-
deserved as the governor has made Edo State a reference point in transforming education in the
country.”
Idogun said GOSG exists to add value to governance and leverages the party machinery and other
relevant stakeholders in the areas of voters’ education and mobilisation, creation of more polling units
and election monitoring.
He added that members of the group, numbering over 18,000, are in support of the second term bid of
the governor, The Nation reports.

Afenifere: Buhari Sees Nothing Wrong In Northern Leaders'

Inciting Statements
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, said on Thursday that President Muhammadu
Buhari had decided to turn a blind eye to inciting statements by some Northern leaders because they are
both on the same page.

Junaid Mohammed, in a recent interview, had said the Igbo were free to secede if denied the presidency
in 2023, while Ango Abdullahi had also said there was nothing wrong if the North remained in power
for the next 100 years.

Speaking in with Daily Independent, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, said he
was not surprised that the Federal Government and security agencies had not cautioned the likes of
Junaid because they were only verbalising the policies of the government which was aimed at
alienating some sections of the country.

He said it was surprising that Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, should
be languishing in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) with a stringent bail condition
while the likes of Junaid and Ango, who were making statements capable of dividing the country, were
walking free.

Odumakin said: “The Federal Government sees nothing wrong in these statements because they are
singing from the same hymn book.

“The government is implementing exclusive policies, alienating sections of the country, and people like
Junaid Mohammed and Ango Abdullahi are just verbalising what the Federal Government is doing.
They are only verbalising what the government is acting.

“That is why the security agencies have not called them to order. It is only those who call for revolution
that they arrest and give impossible bail conditions.
“But these kinds of people who are making statements that can divide the country and set it ablaze,
they don’t even take any notice.”
In a related development, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, on
Thursday said elder statesman and Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed, lied when he
claimed he (Nwodo) came to the North, knelt down and begged to be made president.

unaid, in an interview with Daily Independent had said: “Are you telling me because John Nwodo is
the president of Ohanaeze I should ask people to vote for him? I will not.

“He came all the way from Enugu with a delegation and we had a meeting in a house not very far from
my house, I think it is the house of a former governor of Kaduna State, Lawal Jafaru Isa.

“We had a meeting there in which John Nwodo went on his knees begging us to make him president.
We laughed at him. In our culture, you don’t come here and say you people should make me this or
that. We allow people to point at you and say you are good to occupy certain positions.”

However, speaking with our correspondent, Nwodo described Junaid’s statement as lies, saying he
would soon respond.

“He (Junaid) is telling lies. I am in a meeting right now but I will soon respond. We will issue a
statement very soon,” Nwodo said.

LASG To Build A Jetty At UNILAG Waterfront

As part of the medium to reduce the traffic situation in Lagos State, the Government of Babajide
Sanwo-Olu is looking at focusing on water transportation since the state is mostly surrounded by water.

In a statement on Thursday, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that his
administration will build a jetty at the University of Lagos Unilag waterfront.

According to the Governor, the jetty will allow the school enjoy the water transportation initiatives set
to begin in the state soon.

Tanker Falls, Explodes At Omagba Phase 2 Onitsha

Barely 48 hours after Onitsha tanker explosion, another tanker explodes at Omagba Phase II in
Anambra state along Onitsha Enugu expressway, destroying businesses and properties, as at the time of
filing this report no life has been confirmed lost.

Watch the video below...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqhX1zuXtpw
PDP Reps: Mary-odili, Ngwuta Must Be Appointed To Hear
Atiku’s Appeal
A caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the house of representatives says Mary Odili,
Slyvester Ngwuta, Bode Rhodes-Vivour and three other senior justices of the supreme court must be
appointed to hear the appeal of Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku, PDP presidential candidate in the last election, had filed an appeal at the apex court to challenge
President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the election petition tribunal.

It is a tradition at the supreme court for senior justices, including the chief justice of Nigeria, to preside
over presidential election appeals.

Odili, a senior justice, is the wife of Peter Odili, former Rivers state governor and founding member of
the PDP.

Rhodes-Vivour, another senior justice, is the father of Gbadebo, who ran for Lagos west senatorial seat
on the platform of the PDP in the last election.

Ngwuta, a senior justice, resumed duties at the supreme court in September after being prosecuted for
alleged corruption by the Buhari administration.

In a statement signed by Kingsley Chinda, PDP leader in the house, the caucus said Nigeria has set the
precedent of appointing the most senior justices to hear presidential election appeals since 1979.

“The hearing of the appeal on the decision of the Presidential Election Petition filed by Alhaji
Abubakar Atiku and our great party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), begins a few weeks at the
Supreme Court,” it said.

“The practice of selecting Justices to hear the appeal is expected to precede the hearing, going by age-
long convention. What isn’t conventional is the present attempt to influence Chief Justice Ibrahim
Tanko, going by reports in the media, to subvert the age-long and time-tested practice, precedent and
convention of selecting the most senior Justices of the Supreme Court to hear the presidential election
appeal.

“Chief Justices of Nigeria through time have never in the selection of the Supreme Court’s Election
Petition Appeal Panel surrendered to the phoney dictates of the ruling parties.

“We are proud to state here that never in our great party’s time in power, did it or its personages, dictate
selection of panel members to Chief Justices; NEVER.

“In 2008 when President Buhari, defeated by late President Umaru Yar’Adua, appealed the decision of
the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, the then Chief Justice, Legbo Kutigi, empaneled Justices
Katsina-Alu, Aloma Mukhtar, Dahiru Musdapha, Walter Onnoghen, George Oguntade and Niki Tobi to
hear the appeal that year.

“He was never dictated to, nor was any attempt made by our great party to influence CJN Justice Legbo
Kutigi, who stuck to a conventional practice that consistently secured the seal of approval of past Chief
Justices: CJN Fatai Williams, 1979; CJN George Sowewimo, 1983; and CJN Muhammad Uwais, 2003.

“CJN Katsina-Alu also followed CJN Kutigi’s steps in 2011 and kept to the age-long conventional
practice. If there is any arm of government that regards precedents and practices as almost sacrosanct, it
is the judiciary. Nigerian Judiciary cannot reverse that internationally accepted practice of stare decisis
just to please A.P.C government and serve the interest of a select individual or group.

“Selecting the Supreme Court Panel isn’t about witch-pricking-pricking Justices who suck blood out of
justice isn’t about going outside the order of seniority to select Justices, witch-prickers, without
independent jurisprudential thoughts and whose singular attribute for selection is that they demonstrate
permanent dislike for justice and passion for doing the bidding of power.

“Surely, selection, Shorn off pressure and influence of the government and the present ruling party, is
about demonstrating and holding firm to the constitutional powers of the Supreme Court to conduct its
own affairs and not succumb to pervasive power and corrosive external influences.

“To sidestep precedents and convention is to provide legitimacy to the ruling party whose stock-in-
trade is ridiculing the judiciary. Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko must Sticks to precedents and conventions
to preserve the integrity of the courts as the last hope of the common man and of citizens of our great
country.

“We are however, gladdened that on Monday 14th October, 2019 through its Director, Press and
Information, Dr. Festus Akande, the Supreme Court refuted this intent and reassured the Nigerian
public that it is out to “Serve the interest of the generality of the Nigerian masses and not select
individuals or groups”. We therefore, pray and hope that the Supreme Court does not allow itself to fall
into this gobble trap.

“We wish to state that selection of Justices to hear the appeal of our great party’s presidential candidate,
Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, must be in accordance with the conventional practice admitting only of the
selection of the first seven most senior Justices of the Supreme Court: CJN Ibrahim Tanko, Justice
Rhodes-Vivour, Justice Mary Odili, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice
Musa Muhammad and Justice Kumai Akaahs. NO MORE.”
Presidency Ordered The Audit Of The Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC)
I have ordered a forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). With the amount
of money the Federal Government has allocated to the NDDC, we‘d like to see the results on the
ground; those that are responsible for that have to explain certain issues.

The projects that are said to have been done must be verifiable. One cannot just say billions have been
spent and when the sites are visited, there is nothing to be seen as proof of work done. The forensic
audit will cover the NDDC’s operations from 2001 to 2019.

FG To Sink Fresh N915bn Loan Into Power Sector

° Borrowing not yielding results – Experts, DisCos

° Nigeria’s external debt rises to N25.7trn

By Zakariyya Adaramola, Simon Echewofun & Latifat Opoola

Despite spending N1.5trillion on the country’s power sector in the last two years, the
Federal Government yesterday said it is in the process of investing a fresh $3 billion
(N915bn) World Bank loan into the sector.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this
during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the World Bank/International
Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings holding in Washington DC, United States.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had in September said the federal government invested about
N1.5 trillion in intervention fund in the Nigeria’s power sector in the last two years.

Osinbajo said this at a power sector roundtable hosted by Mainstream Energy Solutions
Limited (MESL) at its Kainji Hydropower Plant in Niger State last month.

The Vice President, who was represented by the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, said
“the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the third round of intervention funding for
the sector, with a total of about N1.5 trillion in the last two years.

But yesterday in Washington DC, the Finance Minister said she would be holding further
discussions with the management of the World Bank to explain how the fresh $3.5bn loan it
is seeking would be disbursed for the country’s power project.

She said based on the plan of the Federal Government for the power sector, the loan would
be used for the development of transmission and distribution networks to enhance the
delivery of electricity.

The minister also said the loan would be used in addressing some of the challenges that the
country is currently facing in the power sector.
She said, “There is a proposed $2.5bn to $3bn facility for the power sector development
programme in Nigeria and this will include development of the transmission and
distribution networks as well as removing the challenges that we currently have now in the
electricity sector.

“We are going to have a full meeting to discuss the power sector recovery programme and
back home we have been working a great deal with the World Bank to design how this
programme will be implemented.

“So we have an opportunity now to have a direct meeting with the leadership of the bank
and to tell them the plan we have and how much we need from one to five years.”

The minister disclosed that the government would be disbursing the $3bn facility in two
tranches of $1.5bn each.

When asked to comment on concerns being raised by the IMF about Nigeria’s debt which
stands at N25.7tn, the finance minister said, ‘‘Nigeria does not have a debt problem.’’

She said what the government needed to do is to increase its revenue-generating capacity in
order to boost the revenue to about 50 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

She said with Nigeria’s current revenue to GDP ratio standing at just 19 per cent, its
underperformance is significantly straining the government’s ability to service its debt
obligation.

The minister said, “Nigeria does not have a debt problem. What we have is a revenue
problem.
“Our revenue to GDP is still one of the lowest among countries that are comparable to us.
It’s about 19 per cent of GDP and what the World Bank and IMF recommended is about 50
per cent of GDP for countries that are our size. We are not there yet. What we have is a
revenue problem.

“The underperformance of our revenue is causing a significant strain in our ability to

service debt and to service government day-to-day recurrent expenditure and that is why all
the work we are doing at the ministry of finance is concentrating on driving the increase in
revenue.’’

FG got N1.2trn for power sector projects between 2015 and now

An analysis by Daily Trust has shown that the federal government took steps to borrow
$3.311 billion (about N900bn) externally since 2015 to finance power sector projects.

The analysis of external funding for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) being the
sole public utility in the power sector value chain indicates that the Company sought loans
and grants to raise the transmission wheeling capacity from 8,100 megawatts (MW) to
20,000MW.

TCN is obtaining $1.661bn (N601.3bn) multilateral loans from five agencies which it said,
it is using for the procurement and installation of projects under its Transmission
Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP).

The breakdown of the fund obtained by this paper indicates that the World Bank is the
highest donor with $486m for a fresh Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project (NETAP),
and $27m for transmission project tagged, North Core.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) gave $410m loan for transmission expansion
projects; the French Development Agency -AFD and European Union (EU) gave $330m for
the northern corridor transmission project.

While the Japanese International Corporation Agency pegged $238m for Lagos/Ogun
transmission project, AFD gave another N170m for the Abuja transmission ring scheme.

Between 2017 and 2018, the federal government collected a $1 billion (about N362bn)
Performance Based Loan from the World Bank to fix the power sector in what it called the
Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).
The World Bank is also processing another $350 million (N127bn) loan for the Rural
Electrification Agency (REA).

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in May also announced the disbursement of N120.2bn
to different electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), power generating companies
(GENCOs), service providers and gas companies, in order to address the liquidity and
funding challenges facing the power sector.

Power firms express dissatisfaction

But the power Distribution Companies (DisCos) had recently reacted to the borrowing by
TCN which it said is not yielding results in the sector.

In a statement by the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of the Association of

Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Chief Sunday Oduntan said even with the TCN
multilateral funding, its poor equipment caused over 100 electricity grid collapses since
privatization in 2013, and nine collapses this year.

ANED said TCN analogue system caused 5,311 interface disruptions in a single DisCo
within 18 days of September 2019 and that it was despite the $1.6 billion investment TCN
said it has made.
The DisCos which said they have invested $1.4 billion in their networks, said despite TCN
saying it is implementing a Transmission Rehabilitation Expansion Programme (TREP)
with the $1.6bn fund, “the reality is otherwise. TCN finds it difficult to move away from
analogue-based and informal communications systems and frequent explosions and
burnings of transmission sub-stations and transformers.”
Nigeria records rise in public debt to N25.7trn
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N25.7 trillion as at June 2019, indicating an
increase of about N754billion since the Debt Management Office last report in March
earlier in the year.

The document also showed that the CBN exchange rate of N306.40/$ was used in
converting the figure.

The document further indicated that FG accounted for the biggest external debt stock in the
country with about N7.01 trillion while states and the FCT accounted for N1.3 trillion.
The Federal Government also accounts for the biggest domestic debt, accounting for N13.4
trillion, out of the N17.3 trillion, while states and FCT accounted for N3.9 trillion.

This indicates that the federal government debt stood at N20.4 trillion out of the N25.7
trillion while the states and the FCT accounted for the remaining N5.3trillion.

The country recorded total debt stock of N24.9 trillion as at March 31 2019 while at
December 2018 its debt stock was N24.3 trillion.

Experts react

Experts have expressed concern over the country’s high debt profile, worrying that the
accruing loans may cost the country in the long run.

Professor of Development Economics, University of Abuja, Professor Sarah Anyanwu, said

the burden of servicing these debts is huge.

She noted that not all borrowings should be considered good and that government should
borrow externally only for projects with guaranteed return on investment that will be able
to pay back the loans.

“It is not the borrowing that is the problem it is the usage of the money. The problem is not
taking loans and incurring debt either internal or external, the problem in Nigeria is
diversion of the loans to other purposes. If the loans are used for the purposes that they
have been stated for then there won’t be a problem. The important thing is that there must
be accountability and it must be used judiciously,” she said.

She also called for revalue orientation for management and usage of the FG loans and not
for government officials to believe it is their birth right.

Also speaking from the same department, Professor Mohammed Yelwa expressed worry
over the consistent increase in the debt stock, saying the implication is that the country will
get to a point that its revenue will no longer be able service its debt.
Just Now:breaking News:3rd Time-another Petrol Tanker Fell
Down In Onitsha
This happened at Agulu Anambra State. A
fully loaded Tonimas Gas Tanker fell down infront of St
Stephens Anglican church Agulu Anambra state, along Awka
Ekwulobia road.
Please Motorist heading to/coming from Awka or Ekwulobia are
advised to take alternative route!
As at the time of reporting this incident, no government
apparatus responsible for emergency situations has responded
or could be sited at the scene...... May God help us!

Nigeria Will Prosper If We Get Infrastructure Right- Buhari

The president of the Federal Repulic of Nigeria, president Buhari, has personally aired his view
towards the right and best means to acheive a prosperous Nigeria.

He believe that the best way to acheive this is to channel infrastructure in the right way.

He continued by saying that Nigeria will be fully dependent on her resources without any external help.

If these infrastructure is channeled in the right way. Even our roads, our ports and other channels of
movement will be solely taken care of.

Man Ate At A Canteen In Kano & Paid N30, Mob Threatened To

Beat Him
Days after Minister of Agriculture says N30 can feed a person in Kano, Nigerian man goes to a canteen
in Kano to eat and pays N30. He was almost beaten.

Few days ago, the Minister of Agriculture, Muhammad Sabo Nanono, said that there is no hunger in
Nigeria and that food is so cheap in Nigeria that with N30, one can eat to his or her satisfaction in a
canteen in a state like Kano.

Well, a Nigerian man took his word for it and went to a canteen in Kano state this morning, ordered for
so much, ate to his satisfaction and paid the food vendor N30. He told the food vendor that the
Honorable Minister said with N30, he can eat to his satisfaction.

He was lucky to leave the place without an injury as the food vendor and his friends almost beat him
up.

Journalist, Gimba Kakanda, who shared a video from the scene on Twitter, wrote:

This citizen took a cue from the Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, who said that one
 can eat N30 worth of food in Kano and be satisfied. What happened when he decided to
pay N30 for the meal is what attracted this mob. The poor chap even told them that he got
the information on the new price of food from Sabo Nanono, and one of the mob asked if
Nanono was the food vendor’s father.

Watch the video below,

https://mobile.twitter.com/gimbakakanda/status/1185133273510567936

Buhari Celebrates Yakubu Gowon On His 85th Birthday

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Nigeria's former head of state and one of the living,
General Yakubu Gowon as he turns 85 years tomorrow, Saturday, October 19, 2019.

In a statement obtained by Igbere TV issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on
Media and Publicity, Buhari described Gowon as a living legend and symbol of national unity.

He extolled the celebrant for his courage and interest in the “interest” of Nigeria, saying his (Gowon’s)
visionary leadership style, wisdom and disciplined outlook had kept the country as one.

According to Buhari, Gowon laid a solid foundation for the country to thrive, with the creation of
federating units, and implementation of futuristic policies like the famous NYSC.

He, therefore, commended the former head of state for “providing wise counsels to leaders,
encouraging good governance in Nigeria, and for consistently upholding the nation in prayers.”

A copy of the statement issued by Femi Adesina, on behalf of Mr President, is reproduced below by
Igbere TV...

On behalf of the Federal Executive Council and all Nigerians, President Muhammadu
Buhari warmly felicitates with former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on his 85th
birthday, October 19, 2019, describing him as a living legend and symbol of national unity.

As Nigeria’s youngest leader since Independence, President Buhari affirms that Gen.
Gowon’s visionary leadership style, wisdom and disciplined outlook kept the country as
one, extolling the former Head of State for faith and steadfastness in God in times of
adversity, and courageously pursuing the interest of majority Nigerians for a unified and
stronger country.

The President believes the elder statesman laid a solid foundation for the country to thrive,
with the creation of federating units, and implementation of futuristic policies like the
National Youths Service Corps, that has consistency served the purpose of fostering unity,
harmony and expanding the horizons of young Nigerians for life-time opportunities.

President Buhari commends Gen. Gowon’s simplicity and humility, leaving the highest
position in the country to return to school for further studies, and returning to provide wise
counsels to leaders, encouraging good governance and setting up an organization , Nigeria
 Prays, that consistently upholds the nation in prayers.

The President notes that the former Head of State has stayed relevant in Nigeria and
beyond, and enjoys wide respect from far and near.

President Buhari congratulates all family members, friends and close associates of the
exemplary leader on the auspicious occasion of his 85th birthday, praying that the Almighty
God will always remember his sacrifices for the nation, and grant him longer life, good
health and strength to keep working for the good of country and humanity.

Bullion Van Saga: EFCC Seeks Petition To Prosecute Bola

Tinubu
Social media activist, Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, has clashed with the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Twitter, over the failure of the anti-graft
body to go after the All Progressives Congress national leader, Bola Tinubu, despite picture
evidence of bullion vans laden with cash allegedly at Tinubu’s Bourdillon, Ikoyi home.
Nigerians have mounted pressure on the anti-graft office to open money laundering probe against Mr
Tinubu, after the ruling party chieftain was seen on February 22 receiving at least two armoured
vehicles believed to be bearing cash.
The development raised controversies because it came a day to the presidential election on February
23.
Mr Tinubu is a senior leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and a strong ally of
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was seeking reelection at the time.
Critics said there was no doubt the vehicles were conveying cash to bribe voters with, especially since
such trucks are used in Nigeria almost exclusively to convey cash by banks, government institutions
and cash-in-transit firms.
Trouble started when the EFCC posted a tweet stating that it was empowered by law to
investigate anyone who appeared to be living above his means.
The EFCC tweeted, “Section 7(1) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 gives us the power to
investigate properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent
of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”
The commission sent out the tweet amid criticism that it was raiding clubs and persecuting youths
driving flashy cars.
In his response, however, Segalink tweeted, “I’m sure this section only gives you an erection when it
concerns Yahoo Boys and opposition politicians. While the miraculous self aggrandisers in bed with
those the head of the EFCC worships are immune to investigation.
“Daylight bullion van exhibition of Bourdillon is justified right?”
The anti-graft agency, however, defended its record, insisting that it had secured convictions of
former governors and other politically exposed persons
It added, “Not to toe the line of politics as you may wish but the EFCC has successfully
investigated, prosecuted and secured over 1, 245 convictions between 2015 and 2019 which
included two former governors, several top government functionaries both in the past and present
dispensations. Applaud us.”
An adamant Segalink, however, posted the picture of bullion vans entering Tinubu’s home on the eve
of the 2019 Presidential election.
The activist, who spearheaded the #EndSARS movement, said the EFCC should take action on the
bullion van incident before it would be respected by Nigerians.
He tweeted, “Let me splash some colours on this to make it simpler to comprehend. Your tweet
claims that all the EFCC requires to hunt down citizens is the display of wealth that can’t be
justified. What justified the relocation of CBN to Asiwaju’s house on Bourdillon on the eve of
election?”
The EFCC, however, asked Segalink to forward a petition to any of its offices on the matter.
“Kindly forward your petitions to Info@EFCCNigeria.org or visit any of our zonal offices or head
office to submit a copy of your petition,” the EFCC said.

Jos, Funtua Dry Ports To Commence Operations In Three

Months
Efforts by the federal government to decongest Lagos ports is beginning to yield the much
desired fruits as the government will in the next three months open the Jos and Funtua dry ports
for operation.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, who
disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos, said the two dry ports would be ready between
December this year and January 2020.

According to him, “We have up till December to bring on board Funtua and Jos. Two weeks ago,
we had meetings with Funtua and Jos and we gave them the timeline for us to work so we see
things are done.”

Bello also said that a lot of progress was being made by Kaduna dry port, but added that the issue
remained the slow movement of containers from the seaports to the dry ports through rail.

“Am worried about the capacity of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), they now
take containers from Lagos to Kaduna where they are examined. Because they are using
narrow gauge, we are worried about the speed which is 60KPH – that is the average.

“We need frequency and certainty so that we can schedule that in every two days, it will
take about 40 containers. They are overwhelmed in Kaduna. Many shippers have
companies like Nokako in Kaduna, Orland Farms. They want to use Kaduna, but the
capacity of the rail is another issue,” he said.

He, however, said that every agency of government has shown commitment to the success of the
dry port.

Bello, noted that the NRC was making efforts to increase the number of containers being moved
to Kaduna by rail on weekly basis.

He said: “We have upped the number of containers. NRC has been very committed and the
containers are taken there, they are examined there. The Customs Service has upgraded their
Command. Central Bank of Nigeria has recognised Kaduna in electronic Form M – Kaduna as a
port. Many banks are moving because of the transaction. NDLEA, SON, SSS, Police are in
Kaduna.”

Bello, also disclosed that Kaduna was witnessing a lot of export growth because of the dry port.

“Export has grown in Kaduna. Cow horn, Ginger, Hibiscus are being exported through
Kaduna. So what NSC is trying to do is to acquire the land adjacent Kaduna dry port so
that we have it for processing. We don’t want these raw materials to be exported. We want
ginger to be processed and packaged so that there will be value addition. This will mean
employment for people. We want Zobo to be processed and packaged.

“We have been working with the Ministry of Finance to have a pre – inspection agency so that
what we do, immediately this is done, the ship is waiting because of schedules and train will take
these things. Kaduna will be a success story especially with rail coming on. And then we are
looking at Kano which unfortunately has not been able to do anything. But we are into it. The
moment we do that we will decongest the seaports and we bring shipping closer to the people and
we grow the economies where these dry ports are sited.

“Am happy with what is happening in Kaduna, I am happy with the regulators, CBN, Nigeria
Customs and many others who recognized Kaduna and they are doing business there,”he said

On the council’s effort to assist some of the concessionaires to secure investors for their
projects, Bello said a tremendous result had been recorded.

He said: “Some (dry ports) are dealing with Chinese companies. Like Jos, some with the
Canadian investors at Isiala Ngwa. They are working at it, always having meetings.”

He equally added that people should not forget that trucks also go to Kaduna with containers.

He said: “It is low because of the capacity of the rail. But he has forgotten that trucks also come
with the containers.”

He, however, added that the rail system was the best so that containers can be tracked to avoid
diversion.

He said: “What we want is that with rail, we can tract the containers, so that there will not be any
diversion, so that Customs will not lose that revenue. That is very important”
He disclosed that very soon, the people of Niger would be coming to inspect Kaduna so that
their cargo can come through dry port.

“We had meetings with Niger three weeks ago. They want their cargo to come, but they are
looking at Kaduna. Already the Kaduna State government has led a trade delegation to
Niger – so that they will consolidate that,” he said.

He commended the Kaduna State government for their efforts in ensuring the success of the dry
port through infrastructure development.

“Whatever happens to Kaduna, we should not forget, has the support of the Kaduna State
government which has been solidly behind the Kaduna dry port. They provided so many things,
the roads. They have done the in and out of the roads, they have provided security, light, water
and any other infrastructure. So, what we are trying now to do is to make Kaduna security
compliant, ISPS Code. It is very important, that is what is remaining. Then, the FIATA
recognising them which we are doing with the Council for the Regulation of Freight
Forwarding (CRFFN).”

Southwest governors to unveil Operation

Amotekun
Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, has said that the security challenges confronting
the people of the Southwest will soon be a thing of the past as governors in the region are
working on the launch of a joint security outfit codenamed: “Amotekun” soon.
He said the decision to launch the joint security outfit was part of the resolutions reached at the various
security stakeholders’ meeting held in the region at various times.
The governor also disclosed that his administration would, before the end of the year,
launch the Oyo State Development Association for Socio-Economic Renaissance
(OYODASER) and the state’s vigilance services.
According to him, the OYODASER, which will be a better version of the defunct MAMSER, will be
used as a vehicle to make people believe in his administration and carry them along in governance.
Makinde spoke while hosting top officials of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria and the Community
Development Council (CDC), who paid a courtesy call on him in his Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan, office.
Speaking on various efforts being put in place to nip insecurity in the bud in his state and the region as
a whole, Governor Makinde said the security architecture he planned to unveil soon would also be
linked to the emerging Southwest security structure codenamed: “Amotekun,” being worked on by all
the governors of the six Southwest states.
He reiterated the readiness of his government to partner with the VGN and CDC to find a lasting
solution to the internal security challenges in the state.
Makinde said: “We want to have OYODASER and apart from this, we will have the Southwest-wide
initiative known as “Amotekun,” with the operatives known as “Irunmole.” But it is clear that the
government cannot do it alone when it comes to the issue of security. We need to work together.
“Maybe in the past, some promises were made and not fulfilled. That was in the past. This
administration will not tread on that path. We will make sure we do whatever we say”.

Drug Abuse: Buhari receives report of Marwa’s

Presidential Committee
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the report of the Presidential Advisory
Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Advisory Committee, which was constituted by the President on December 11, 2018, is chaired by
a former Military Administrator of Lagos state, Buba Marwa.
Other members of the committee include the wives of the President and Vice-President, Aisha Buhari
and Dolapo Osinbajo as members.
The Committee is saddled with the responsibility of working toward reducing the level of drug abuse in
the country.
Marwa had in January during an official visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Musa Bello, disclosed that over 14 million people in the country were actively abusing drugs.

Breaking News The Chief Fire Officer For Anambra, Engr

Agbili Has Been Sacked
The Chief Fire Officer for Anambra state, Engineer Agbili. O Martin has been sacked by the
governor of the state Chief Willie Obiano for not responding to the Fire situation at Upper Iweka
Onitsha on Wednesday.

VIDEO: I’m Not Sacked —Anambra Fire

Chief-Martin Agbili
The embattled chief fire officer in Anambra State, Mr. Martin Agbili has dismissed insinuations
that he has been sacked by the Governor Willie Obiano government following the disastrous fire
incident in the commercial city of Onitsha.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Mr. Agbili, fondly called Agility by his confidants, said the story of
hs sack is not true as he is still going about his duty as the chief fire officer in the State.
Watch Agility speak on video posted by Nwabueze Harris on Saturday, October 19:
Source had said that Mr Agbili was sacked following the fire incident that claimed at least three
lives and destroyed properties worth billions of Naira.
The state governor, Mr. Willie Obiano, according to the source, sacked him after he paid a visit to the
fire officer in the office late yesterday in Awka, the state capital.
Speaking about the sack, the source said “it is to save many who would be wasted by fire as a result of
our lousy attitude to work this dry season.”
Fueling the speculation was a press release issued by the State Commissioner for Information and
Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba.
The statement reads:
Since the fire of Wednesday, October 16, 2019, which occurred when a tanker laden with petrol fell on
Upper Iweka in Onitsha and led to a fire that spread up to Ochanja Market through the open drainage,
a lot of people have been seeking from the government how they can assist the victims.
The government is grateful to these people and many others who are moved by the tragedy. Truly, we
are brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.
Governor Willie Obiano has, therefore, opened a bank account to assist the fire victims. It is known as
the Anambra State Victims Support Account. The account number is 5030105029, Fidelity Bank PLC.
It is to be administered by the distinguished sons and daughters of our state who serve as trustees of
the Anambra State Security Trust Fund led by Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, MFR, Chairman of Chisco
Group.
All Anambra indigenes, friends, in laws and well wishers are encouraged to give generously to our
brothers and sisters who are now all of a sudden in dire need of assistance. Let us demonstrate, once
more, our famed abundance of humanism.
Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has initiated a move to grant the Anambra State Fire Service
greater autonomy.
Subject to approval by the Anambra State House of Assembly, the law setting up the state Fire Service
will be amended to make it independent of the state Ministry of Public Utilities or any other ministry.
The autonomy will free it from unnecessary bureaucratic encumbrances and enable it to respond more
effectively to the challenges of its mandate.
Consequently, the agency will have as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Air Vice
Marshall Ben Chiobi, mni, who is currently the Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on
Creative Security as well as Coordinator of the Anambra State Integrated Security System.
Once again, Governor Obiano and, indeed, the entire Anambra State Government thank all Nigerians,
including President Muhammadu Buhari, for their solidarity since the fire of October 16. Anambra
State will always be the Light of the Nation. [End]
However, at least two sources, among them one of the several aides to Governor Obiano on new media,
Nwabueze Harris, besides Agbili’s statement, have debunked the story, saying it is a false
interpretation.
One of the sources, Mr. Onyemaobi Augustine of the Anambra State Association of Town
Unions (ASATU) Youth Public Relations Department, in a telephone conversation with ElombahNews,
dismissed the story.
He forwarded a statement issued by ASATU same day as follows:

Onitsha Fire: Governor Obiano Visits Anambra State Fire Service Command, Assures Of Revamp
As part of efforts to ascertain why the Onitsha fire couldn’t be quelled on time, Governor Willie Obiano
visited the Anambra State fire service command headquarters in Awka.
The Governor was received by the Director of Fire Service in the State, Mr Martin Agbili,
Commssioner for Public Utilities, Mr Emeka Ezenwanne.
After showing the Governor round the premises and some of their equipment, Mr Agbili briefed the
Governor that they couldn’t arrive the scene on time because of a little failure, explaining that the
closest fire fighters who would have made it to the scene, would have been the Onitsha main market
unit, but they were unfortunately fighting fire elsewhere.
Mr Agbili stressed that even when the fire fighters got to the scene, people were initially chasing them,
pointing out that his men managed to escape the scene.
In this disaster, Governor Obiano cannot be blamed neither do one need to crucify Eng. Agbili Martin.
There might be bureaucracy  mitigating against the fire Team. But this has been removed by the
Governor now.
As I write 10 new fire trucks has been acquired by the governor and 120 recruits has been ordered for
employment. Fire tunics were also procured as well as incentives.
A new outfit is in the making and will hit the state soon. Please encourage Agility he is doing a lot with
what he has now. Believe he will do more with the new equipment.
Thus, from good authority we are happy to announce that contrary to the above information of
dismissal of Our Fire Chief, a Colleague in Community Youth Leadership, one of our beaming light of
hope in ASATU Youth, Agility our Former PRO , Ogbunka Youth President, that His Excellency, Chief
Willie M. Obiano has reviewed and upgraded the entire status and capacity of the Anambra State Fire
Service.
Sometimes blessings come in disguise with so much hard work and commitment, you just never know.
Congratulations to you, Chairman Sir Egnr. Agbili Martin Agility! [End]
The attention of Mr. Onyemaobi was thereafter called to the statement by C. Don Adinuba as follows:
Consequently, the agency will have as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Air Vice
Marshall Ben Chiobi, mni, who is currently the Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on
Creative Security as well as Coordinator of the Anambra State Integrated Security System.
When asked by ElombahNews “Will we be talking about a new head if the first one is still on call?“,
he answered:
“For instance, Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme launched last year is under an Agency,
separated from the ministry of health, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency has her Chairman as
Prof. Ilo Okafor, the former Vice Chancellor of Unizik but Simeon the Executive Secretary of the
Agency runs the whole package.
“The position of a chairman of an Agency or board in Government parastatals does not remove the
functionality of the administrator.
“Ben Chiobi is not a Safety Engineer but a Former security expert. His work is more ceremonial as the
Director of State Fire Service is the operational head.
“M/D of a Bank runs the package while somebody seats on board as Chairman/Chief Executive
Officer.
“Disregard the fake news,” he advised.
The other source, Nwabueze Harris, in a post on Facebook wrote:
Engr Agbili Martin — Agility was not sacked as people speculate.
It’s quite unfortunate that some people have turned social media space to “home for fake news”. It’s a
pity!
Agility remains the Anambra State Fire Chief.
According to him, Governor Obiano has promised to breath in fresh air into Anambra State Fire
Service following the ugly incidence. And that will make the job easier for the Firefighters.
New Fire Trucks, new official vehicles, recruitment into the agency and other welfare packages have
all been ordered by the Governor.
Politicizing Anambra State Fire Service is not right in any way. That the agency is presently under
APGA government doesn’t make it a political organisation. They works with any government that
comes to power.
They previously worked with PDP government and now APGA.
It’s neither about PDP, APGA nor any other political party but, it’s about somebody that does what you
cannot do (Firefighters).
I will advise we pray for the victims of the inferno and support the Survivors in any little way we can
rather, than apportioning unnecessary blames and circulating fake news just to mislead the general
public.
Experts And Groups Want New NDDC Board To Supervise
Audit
Positive reactions from segments of the society have continued to trail President Muhammadu Buhari’s
pronouncement on Thursday for a forensic audit to be undertaken on the operations of the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC).

While receiving governors of the states that make up the Commission in Aso Rock, President Buhari
said what is presently on the ground in the Niger Delta region does not justify the huge resources that
have been made available to the organization.

Mr Femi Adesina, Presidential Spokesman, quoted President Buhari in a statement released from his
Office as expressing disappointment with the current state of operations at the NDDC vis-à-vis the
volume of funds that have been pumped into the interventionist agency. “I try to follow the Act setting
up these institutions especially the NDDC. With the amount of money that the Federal Government has
religiously allocated to the NDDC, we will like to see the results on the ground; those that are
responsible for that have to explain certain issues. The projects said to have been done must be
verifiable. You just cannot say you spent so much billions and when the place is visited, one cannot see
the structures that have been done. The consultants must also prove that they are competent,” the
President said.

It would be recalled that the Presidency had been angered with reports of messy water hyacinth
amounting to about N1.9bn purportedly approved and paid to phoney companies by the current interim
Management team. The controversial payments which were in clear breach of Presidential directive and
violation of extant procurement rules were said to have alarmed top Presidency Officials.

In their swift reaction, experts and stakeholders in the Niger Delta have expressed support for the
presidential directive on forensic audit. They however urged President Buhari to quickly put the new
Board that he appointed in August in place since they have never been part of the NDDC in the past, to
help supervise the audit.

Dr Jeffrey Emerson, a Development Economist in Port Harcourt, who has written extensively on the
Niger Delta, while lauding Buhari’s bold move stated that “It’s a very laudable and encouraging move.
Stakeholders like us are elated but in carrying out the audit, it has to be supervised by a new Board, the
New Board that has never been part of the rot in the past. You don’t expect the acting Managing
Director or bureaucrats who have been part of the rot in the past to supervise that audit…The auditing
team should work independently with a team and that team, in my view should be the newly named
Board. That is the standard practice globally.”

In their own reaction, the President of Ijaw Diaspora Coalition, Elder Johnson Ebibai stated that it was
widely reported in the national media that the Commission under the current interim management had
secretly interviewed and was set to recruit over 300 new staff members without a Board approval for
such massive recruitment, and it took the intervention and outcry of well-meaning stakeholders in the
Niger Delta Region to halt the exercise. In his view, this therefore is not the leadership that should be
entrusted with this level of activity to unravel what has happened in the past which involves them.

Simon Achuba Impeached By Kogi State House Of Assembly

The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Simon Achuba, has been impeached.

Mr Achuba was impeached by members of the Kogi State House of Assembly on Friday in Lokoja, the
state capital.

The Majority Leader of the House disclosed this to reporters at the premises of the Assembly complex.

More to follow…

Only $323.7m Left In Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account - FAAC

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disclosed that the current balance in
Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account (ECA) stands at $323.692 million as of Thursday, October 17, 2019.

The ECA, which was created by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004 for the purpose of saving
oil revenue in excess of the budgeted benchmark, had once reached a peak of $20 billion in 2009, but
has since recorded decline due to government’s inability to effectively generate revenue from non-oil
sector to fund its expenditures.

In a statement issued by the FAAC, which is headed by the Accountant General of the Federation
(AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, it was also revealed that a total of N693.529 billion was shared across the
federal, thirty-six states and 774 local governments in Nigeria for the month of September 2019.

The money comprises revenue made from Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain, and Gross
Statutory Revenue.

A communique issued by FAAC confirmed that from the total revenue of N693.529 billion, the Federal
Government received N293.801 billion, the states received N186.816 billion, while the Local
Government Councils received N140.864 billion.

On their parts, the oil-producing states received N51.532 billion as 13 per cent derivation revenue and
the revenue-generating agencies received N20.517 billion as cost of revenue collection.

The gross statutory revenue for September was N599.701 billion, N32.095 billion lesser than the sum
of N631.796 billion received in the previous month.
The gross revenue of N92.874 billion in September was available from the Value Added Tax as against
N88.082 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in an increase of N4.792 billion.

It was also noted that the exchange gain yielded a total revenue of N0.954 billion.

Looking at a break-down of the distribution, it showed that from the gross statutory revenue of
N599.701 billion, the Federal Government received N279.985 billion, the states received N142.012
billion, while the Local Government Councils received N109.485 billion.

Also, the oil-producing states received N51.417 billion as 13 percent derivation revenue and the
revenue collecting agencies received N16.802 billion as cost of collection.

“The N92.874 billion gotten from Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue was shared accordingly in which
the Federal Government received N13.374billion, the states received N44.580 billion, and Local
Government Councils received N31.206 billion and the revenue-generating agencies received N3.715
billion,” the statement added.

However, it was revealed that in September, revenue from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Company
Income Tax (CIT) dropped while royalties, import and excise duties, and VAT increased considerably.

Julius Berger To Close Down Another Section Of Lagos–ibadan

Expressway — FRSC
The Federal Road Safety Corps has said that Julius Berger on Friday said that it intends to extend the
reconstruction work on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from Magboro to The Punch Newspaper section of
the road from October 21 to January 31, 2020.

Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Mr Clement Oladele, Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, told the News
Agency of Nigeria in Ota, Ogun State, that the development was to enable the company to begin
rehabilitation work on the 1.3 kilometres stretch of the Expressway from Magboro to Punch newspaper
building from Monday.

Accordingly to him, the rehabilitation work will cause a temporary diversion of the Lagos bound traffic
to the Sagamu bound carriageway from Magboro.

“This temporary diversion of traffic will transfer the Lagos inbound traffic to the same carriageway
conveying traffic outward Lagos.

“Thereby making both the traffic inward and outward Lagos accommodated on the same section of the
expressway within the 1.3 kilometres stretch of the road from Magboro to PUNCH in Ogun State,” he
said.
NAN reports that there has a partial closure of the Lagos end of the expressway from September 2 for
the reconstruction work on the 600-metres stretch between Ojodu Berger and the beginning of Kara
Bridge.

The sector commander advised motorists to take note of the development and plan their trips by
allowing more time for their travelling time, in view of the construction work that would narrow the
carriageway which may impair traffic.

“Motorists are also enjoined to observe lane discipline and avoid driving against traffic, as violators
risk their vehicle being impounded and liable to payment of N50,000 naira traffic fine,” he said.

The FRSC boss cautioned motorists to drive within the maximum speed limit of 50km per hour, the
maximum speed at construction zones as prescribed by the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, to
avoid road crashes.

Winning The War Against Drug Abuse Remains The Core

Mandate Of Next Level-buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari says winning the war against drug abuse remains one of the critical
elements of the Next Level mandate of this administration.

Receiving the report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse,
PACEDA, Friday in the State House, President Buhari reiterated the commitment of government to the
welfare of the citizenry by fighting the scourge of drug abuse.

“Winning the war becomes one of the critical elements of the Next Level mandate of this
administration. As a government, we have the responsibility to ensure the security and well-being of
our people.

“Our findings have shown that it is more difficult to bring down crime rate to acceptable levels without
clearing our country of substances abuse,” the President said.

President Buhari, however, realising the enormity of the menace, solicited for cooperation of all and
sundry. He called on all well-meaning Nigerians and international partners to join hands with relevant
government agencies in the fight against drug abuse.

While thanking the committee for its timely and diligent prosecution of the assignment, the President
assured that the matter was of utmost importance, and the report would be studied along with the
recommendations.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd) had told the President
that since the committee was inaugurated in December, 2018, it interfaced with a wide spectrum of
stakeholders including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Non-Governmental organisations, Civil
Society Organisations, Faith-based Organisations, professional bodies, international partners and
members of drug user communities with their parents, teachers and care givers.

He added that the assignment, which took members to all the geopolitical zones of the country,
confirmed the fears of President Buhari that Nigeria had a very strong drug problem that needed to be
tackled as a national emergency.

He, however, said the key to tackling the menace is a formal launch of a War Against Drug Abuse
(WADA) as part of declaration of a state of emergency on the menace as well as the establishment of a
National Drug Control Commission.

Sanwo-olu Buys 800 New BRT Buses, Starts Expansion Of BRT

Lanes
The governor made the announcement via a tweet, where he also announced the commencement of the
expansion of the BRT lanes in the state.

According to the Governor, “Beyond road construction, we have started expanding the bus rapid transit
system and gradually reducing the danfo buses on the roads. I am excited to announce that we have
purchased over 800 buses to add to the existing BRT fleet expanding to more routes”

“We are supportive of private investment in transportation that is non-exploitative. This week, I
launched @UberBoat, the first of many private-sector efforts at providing safe & efficient water
transport working with our water transportation initiatives.”

See the tweet below.

See also: These Buses Are Not Lagos BRT Buses (See PHOTOS) HERE

The Lagos BRT

The Lagos BRT was established on 17 March 2008. It is the first BRT scheme in Sub-Saharan Africa. It
started operations on a 22-kilometer radial highway BRT lanes that connect Mile 12 and Lagos Island.
That is, it ran from Mile 12 through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge up to
CMS.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumni Ambode, in May 2017, donated 50 new BRT buses to the
private operator of the BRT service in Lagos.

Primero Transport Service Limited is the sole BRT operator in Lagos State.
Kano Kids’ Abduction: Igbo Community Calls For Stiffer
Penalty For Culprits
Igbo community in Kano state has condemned the alleged abduction of nine childrenaged between 2 to
10 from the state by persons believed to be of Igbo extraction.
The kids were said to have been abducted from various locations within Kano metropolis and sold for
trafficking in Onitsha, Anambra state, in the southeastern part of the country.

In a statement jointly signed and issued on Wednesday by the President General, Igbo Community
Development Association, Kano state chapter, Chief Ebenezer Chima and the Eze Ndigbo, Kano, Igwe
Boniface Ibekwe, the Igbo leaders called for stiffer punishment for the culprits in order to serve as
deterrent to others.

The community however commended the Kano state command of the Nigeria Police Force and other
sister security agencies for being proactive and responsive in ensuring that the victims are rescued and
reunited with their respective families.
The statement states that “We wish to condemn in strong terms the trafficking of nine children of Kano
origin by some unscrupulous persons from the South East. We want to commend the police for their
proactive investigation and other security agents for their synergy that led to the recovery of the victims
and further recommend for very stiff penalty for the culprits to serve as deterrent to others who may be
nursing such nefarious act.”
While commending the governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu
Sanusi II for their usual understanding, the statement charged all Igbo people resident in the state to
always strive to be law abiding as they carry out their legitimate businesses.
Daily Trust had reported that the Police Command in Kano last Friday reunited nine kids who were
allegedly kidnapped and sold in Anambra state with their parents.

Simon Achuba Says He Remains Deputy Governor Of Kogi

State
Mr Simon Achuba has insisted that he is the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.

He stated this in a telephone interview with Channels Television on Friday, shortly after he was
impeached by members of the State House of Assembly.

“What they have done is nothing. I am the deputy governor of Kogi State and I remain the deputy
governor of Kogi State,” Achuba said while condemning the action of the lawmakers.

Earlier, the House in a unanimous decision impeached the embattled former deputy governor following
the submission of a report of the committee set up by the State Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajana, to
investigate an allegation of gross misconduct against him.
Majority Leader of the House and member representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Mr Hassan
Abdullahi, had told reporters that the Speaker, Mr Mathew Kolawole, received the committee’s report
which was studied and deliberated upon before the lawmakers took the decision.

A Complete Illegality?

Moments later, Mr Achuba stressed that his impeachment by the lawmakers was illegal, saying they
didn’t follow the due process involved.
He said, “Impeachment has processes and the last process of impeachment is the verdict of the panel.

“If the panel says the case of the complainant is proved, it means that the accused which is the
respondent in the case can be removed. But if their case is not proved, they can’t do anything
concerning my office and that is the situation.”

According to Mr Achuba, the report before the Assembly stated that the case brought against him was
not proved.

He explained that he did what was expected of him and presented himself before members of the
seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge in the state.

“So, what you have seen is the continuation of the illegality that I have complained about loudly.

“I will get a copy of the report in no time to prove to you that what they have done is complete
illegality,” Achuba said.

FG To Revive Ajaokuta Steel Through Russian Collaboration

The federal government on Friday 18th October said it’s in collaboration with the Russian government
to revive Ajeakuta steel.

This was made know by the minister of mines and minerals development Alamilekan Adegbite at
intaractive session with the senator on mine, mineral, steel development and metallurgy.

According to him, the reason for Buhari going to Russian next week is to see how he can achieve
reviving steel production in collaboration with the Russian government.

EFCC arrests ex-Zamfara governor

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a former
governor of Zamfara State, Mahmuda Shinkafi.

The EFCC operatives stormed Mr Shinkafi’s Nagogo Street residence in Kaduna around 1pm on Friday
and whisked him away.
A family source who preferred not to be named confirmed the arrest to DAILY NIGERIAN.

He said the family did not know where Mr Shinkafi was taken to.

When contacted, the spokesman for the EFCC said he needed time to verify before responding to the
issue. “Let me verify and get back to you,” he said.

On Thursday, the EFCC presented three more witnesses in the ongoing trial of former finance minister
Bashir Yuguda, former governor of Zamfara State, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Aminu Ahmed Nahuche
and Ibrahim Mallaha before honorable Justice Fatima Aminu of the Federal High Court, Gusau.

The quartet is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly collecting the sum of N450million from the
former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke for the purpose of influencing the
2015 general elections.

Buhari: Nigerians Will Mind Their Businesses If Infrastructure,

Roads Are Fixed
President Muhammadu Buhari on his twitter handle, @MBuhari, made it clear his administration's
intentions with paramount regards to the issues of infrastructural facilities development.

In the words of the President:

''I firmly believe that if we get infrastructure right in Nigeria, our roads, rail, ports; Nigerians will mind
their businesses, many people will not even care who is in government. A country like ours, full of
entrepreneurial energy and potential, will prosper.''

In furtherance, the president also made it clear that if all necessary and important infrastructural
facilities are made available for Nigerians, that they will mind their businesses without considering
who is in government. As seen on his twitter handle, the president said, ''This is why Infrastructure will
continue to be one of our primary focus areas. We must & will rewrite the story, for this dear country of
ours. I wish we had even more resources,and we are working on this, but we are doing our best within
the resources currently available to us.''

https://twitter.com/MBuhari/status/1185102359074136065

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/18/things-i-will-do-for-nigerians-to-mind-their-businesses-not-
government-buhari/
FG, Russian Government To Partner In Reviving Ajaokuta
Company-minister
The Federal Government says it is partnering the Russian government to revive Ajaokuta Steel
Company.

Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, disclosed this at an
interactive session with Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and
Metallurgy in Abuja on Friday.

He further said that the main feature of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Russia next week is to
discuss the reviving of the steel company.
According to the minister, the Russians have shown interest to help Nigeria revive Ajaokuta with their
own money.

“They want to put Ajaokuta back and we are looking at different methods to engage them.
“Because it is almost completed, they bring in some money to finish what is there and operate it for a
while; realise their investment, profit and transfer it back to Nigeria.

Read Also: Nigeria, China to collaborate on production of Nigerian-made transformers by 2020.“I

think this is the best path to revive Ajaokuta and I believe within the tenure of our time, we will achieve
this,” Adegbite said.

The minister said that Ajaokuta Company was never vandalised contrary to reports but it was
concessioned to a particular firm.Adegbite, however, noted that invasion of the mining industry by
foreign nationals was being encouraged by some state governments.

“A lot of effort is going on to check illegal mining in the country,” he said.Chairman of the committee
Sen.Tanko Almakura, said that efforts must be made structurally & legally to encourage states and local
governments not to participate in illegal mining activities.“If you look at the mining, it is in the
exclusive list.

“There is the need for us to come together; the Senate, House of Representatives, ministry and
stakeholders.“Let’s get down and unbundle this to give every tier of government some level of
participation without usurping the exclusive legislative right.

“We can have the concurrent with the exclusive running side by side,” Almakura said.
Almakura who is the immediate past governor of Nasarawa State urged the ministry to identify very
important and lucrative solid minerals wherever they are in the country to help in diversifying the
economy.

“Unless we take the approach that was used in the ministry of agriculture in diversification, we may not
be in a position to fast track development and diversification in the solid mineral sector.

“With the support of the Senate, we can cause the Presidency to bring about a presidential committee
dedicated to the different kinds of solid minerals varieties.

“They include limestone, tin, columbite etc to boost the economic development of the country,” the
lawmaker said.

Re-open Border With Benin Republic, Ghana Urges Nigerian

Government
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Botchwey, has urged the
Nigerian Government to urgently review its decision to close its borders with Benin.
The minister said the border closure had severely affected Ghanaian traders, noting that it could lead to
political tension in countries impacted by the decision.
Botchwey, who stated this during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama,
in Abuja on Wednesday, was accompanied by her counterparts, Minister of Trade, Allan Kyerematen
and the Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs Iva Denoo.
She stated that truckloads of goods from Ghana had been detained at the Seme Border between Benin
and Nigeria for weeks, adding that returning such to the seaports would be a major loss for Ghanaian
traders.
She said, “The closure of the borders has had considerable disruptions to trade in the sub-region, with
grave consequential economic effects on Ghanaian traders.”
Reacting to the call, Onyeama said that the borders were closed to protect Nigeria’s economy from
smugglers, traffickers and illegal migrants.

FG To Clamp Down On Irregular Migrants In 2020

Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede, yesterday said the
service would commence a clamp down on irregular migrants, who had failed to undergo biometric
capturing by 20th January, 2020.

Babandede, who made the declaration during an interactive session with the Senate and the House of
Representatives Joint Committee on Interior, said all irregular migrants found to be in default would be
arrested and deported to their country of origin. 

According to him,   President Muhammadu Buhari had given the migrants six months’ grace which
started from 18th of July this year and ending on 19th of January 2020.

“During this period, biometric data of concerned migrants are to be taken and documented. Information
to that effect has been sent out to all the affected migrants   that whoever refuses to comply, will from
January 20, 2020 be on the radar of Immigration operatives for arrest and deportation,” he said.
According to Babandede, the agency received a total of N3.4 billion out of the N13.175 capital votes
appropriated for it in 2018 budget while nothing has been received from the N8.214 billion
appropriated for capital projects in 2019.

He, however, lamented loss of N18 billion the service had incurred over the Public Private Partnership
(PPP) arrangement it had with some private companies.

Babandede said the agreements were signed on   behalf of the NIS by Ministry of Interior.

According to him, attempts made to jettison the agreement were frustrated by the beneficiary
companies who proceeded to challenge it.

He said: “The sharing formula in the agreement between NIIS and the private companies was skewed
in favour of the companies which to us, is economically injurious to the Nation.

“Expectedly, Immigration as a body has vehemently protested against the whole arrangement but the
fact that the agreement was signed on our behalf by the Interior Ministry , the private companies have
continued to have upper hand.”

Tanker Explosion : Gov. Obiano Meets With Market Executives

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano on Friday, met with executive members of Ochanja
market, at the Governor's Lodge, today, over Wednesday's tanker explosion, Igbere TV reports.

Delivering a communique at the end of the indoor meeting with the Governor, the Secretary of Ochanja
Market, Mr Peter Chidike said that government set up a ten -man committee had been set up by the
State government, five persons from the market executives and five persons from government.

According to the communique, Governor Obiano has approved that a brand new fire fighting vehicle be
stationed at the market, as well as construction of access around the market with immediate effect.

The communique also reads that persons that are affected should not go to Dr Alex Ekwueme Square as
earlier announced, but should wait for the Committee to come and meet them.

Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr Emeka Ezenwanne, his Works counterpart, Engineer Marcel
Ifejiofor, Special Adviser to the Governor on Creative Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi,
Executive Chairman of the State Physical Planning Board, Barrister Chike Mmaduekwe, the State fire
Director, Engineer Martin Agbili, among others were part of the meeting.
Border Closure Reduced Daily Fuel Consumption By 8m Litres
– FG
The Federal Government has said the closure of the land borders by the Nigeria Customs Service has
cut down the consumption of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, from 60 to 52 million litres
per day. This represents a difference of eight million litres per day.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said this in Abuja on Thursday when he
appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum to defend the
budget proposed by the ministry for 2020.

The government, while admitting that the figures being presented did not reflect the actual volume of
petrol consumed in Nigeria, also said there were no plans to remove the subsidy being paid on petrol.
Addressing journalists after the session, Sylva, while responding to a question on the impact of the
border closure on the daily petrol consumption rate, said prevention of smuggling had led to reduction
of the consumption figure.

He said, “Definitely, we are beginning to see the numbers reducing; from over 60 million litres, it has
already come down – from the last account – to about 52 million litres per day. That means the figures
are coming down. We are beginning to restore orderliness. We are trying to block other leakages and
we believe that we can bring down the figure to about 40 million which will be more manageable by
the government.”

The minister also admitted that reduction in the consumption rate should reflect in the amount budgeted
for subsidy payment. Speaking on the refineries, Sylva said, “Work on the Port Harcourt refinery will
commence in January and study is also ongoing on Warri refinery and Kaduna refinery.”

Responding to a question on oil theft said to have caused the loss of an estimated N5tn revenue
annually, the minister said it was a big problem that security agencies had been engaged to check.
“That is a big problem but it is not altogether a Ministry of Petroleum’s problem; it is more of a
security problem. So, we are working with security agencies to ensure that we resolve the issues,” he
said.

Earlier at the session, Sylva, while responding to questions by the lawmakers, pointed out that payment
of subsidy was proposed in the 2020 Appropriation Bill as the Federal Government had no plans to end
the scheme soon. He, however, admitted that other African countries were benefiting from the
payments through smuggled commodities.

The minister also said, “Nigeria is now almost subsidising half of Africa which is very difficult for us
to do. So, you can see the government doing something about controlling some of these leakages and
once those leakages are controlled, we believe that subsidy can be at least bearable, the cost of
consumption.”
The minister also disclosed the factors preventing Anambra from being confirmed as an oil-producing
state, saying, “I wish it was in my power to declare any state oil producing. The oil has to be produced;
we have to see it; then the state becomes oil-producing. Nobody can deny any state of that status. If you
are already producing, that you will know that you are producing oil and cannot hide it.”

The minister said the crude oil recently discovered in Bauchi State was of commercial quality. He
added, “I have announced here today to you that Bauchi is on its way (to becoming an oil-producing
state), but Bauchi cannot also be counted as oil-producing yet. But we know that in a few years from
now, Bauchi will definitely become an oil-producing state because what we have found there, the
reserves are in commercial quantity.”

Okowa Says Prayers Of Religious Leaders Will Uplift The

Nation
Okowa Says Prayers Of Religious Leaders Will Uplift The Nation

Delta Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa has urged religious leaders to pray for the upliftment of
the nation, saying that their prayers will be impactful on the people.

The governor spoke on Friday when Evangelist Rabbi Schneider paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.
According to him, crusades will win more souls for Christ and prayers will be offered for our country
and the state.

“Prayers of our religious leaders will uplift the country and impact positively on the life of our people
in the state.

“When Christian leaders pay us visit, we believe that the prayers will uplift the state and the nation
because, the more we pray as a nation, the more we connect with God and find solutions to the
challenges facing us,” the governor said.

He continued, “with prayers, God will to turn things around for the nation and as a state, we put our
trust in God.”

Evangelist Rabbi Schneider had told the governor that he and members of his team were in the state
“for the Ika Wonderland Crusade which is a light to bring prosperity to the people.”
October 19
Is this the beginning of the end of Farouk
Lawan's political career? - Qwenu!
Until 2013, Farouk Lawan was a Northern politician to fear by Nigerian leaders. As at that time, he was
in the House of Representatives, on behalf of a Kano constituency for the fourth term. And by then, he
was like the Northern mole in the government against the then president, Goodluck Jonathan.
However, the moment Jonathan realised this, Farouk was allegedly fed with his favourite meal –
bribery, which put him in a corner he has never recovered from. Until now, he is still locked in the legal
cage.
Aside from billionaire, Femi Otedola testifying against Lawan that he demanded $620,000 as a bribe, a
clip of video evidence was also all over the internet. Despite being in the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), he could not escape Jonathan’s wrath. 
Just yesterday, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed his requests for the termination of
the criminal charges against him.
He had filed a no-case submission before the judge presiding over their trials, contending that the
prosecution failed to establish the allegations against them with any evidence.
But the trial judges held that Lawan had a case to answer as there was prima facie evidence led by the
prosecution in both cases requiring them to offer an explanation.
Justice Angela Otaluka, sitting in the Apo Division of the court, dismissed the no-case submission filed
by Lawan. This means he will still be prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office on
bribery charges.
The prosecution accused Lawan, as the then Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc
Committee on investigation into fuel subsidy regime in 2012, of  accepting $500,000 as bribe for the
removal of businessman, Mr Femi Otedola’s company’s name, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, from the
list of firms indicted by the House committee for alleged fraud in the subsidy scheme.
Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who led the prosecution team, had called five witnesses, including
Otedola, and tendered documents to prove his case.
Ruling on Thursday, Justice Otaluka held that contrary to Lawan’s contention that the prosecutor failed
to establish the charges with evidence, the prosecution had made out a case that required the former
lawmaker’s explanation in defence.
In the past six years, Lawan has lost all political relevance that he couldn’t even attempt to contest any
office. The case, as well as the motive behind it, becomes much clearer with the fact that the whole
event was a deliberate plot to nail Lawan.
Has APC Forgiven Orji Kalu For His ₦7.6bn Alleged Fraud?
Former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, is among politicians who have pitched their tent with the All
Progressives Congress (APC) to escape the rod of the anti-corruption war. It will be remembered that
his old colleague, Godswill Akpabio, was moving near jail until he left the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) in 2018.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly prosecuting Kalu, along with a
former state Commissioner for Finance, Udeh Udeogu, and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, for the
alleged fraud on an amended 39 counts.
To bring this to bear, a Network for the Advancement of Good Governance (NAGG) recently protested
the delayed trial of the former Abia North Senator. He has been in the EFCC’s net over alleged ₦7.6bn
fraud, against them since 12 years ago.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its coordinator, Onyeka Igwe, who addressed journalists during a
protest at the EFCC office in Wuse 2, Abuja, on Thursday, demanded the accelerated trial of Kalu.
The group said the delay in the trial was not in the spirit of the anti-corruption crusade, which is the
hallmark of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
Igwe added, “We demand clarifications from the EFCC and other relevant authorities on the present
status of the former governor of Abia State and his alleged ₦7.6bn fraud trial.”
It will be recalled that a former Gombe governor, Danjuma Goje, was spared about ₦25bn fraud
charges earlier this year. In his own case, his price was to step down for Ahmad Lawan for the Senate
Presidency election. 
This makes no sense if we have a goal to rid our country of corruption. It has to be that no one could be
immune to the strong hand of the law. So, the time to punish offenders should not be the same time to
play such politics. If we’re justifying it in any way, how do we assuage the masses whose rightful
money was stolen?
Perhaps the allegations are correct that the ruling party won’t hesitate to compromise the anti-
corruption fight, for political affiliations. All available facts prove that this is true. However, in this
particular case, the Federal Government owes Nigerians, particularly, Abians, an explanation of how
the case goes. It must be pursued to the very end.
From today we rebrand EFCC TO SECTION 7, cos that section allows you to hunt yahoo
boys only but forbids you from investigating Minna, Goje, Orji Kalu, Danu, & APC looters.

Efcc is now #Section7 https://t.co/sseHh6v6jZ

— THAT MR STEPHEN(TRUMP,BORIS & ATIKULISH IN NATURE)

(@MrStephenChidi1) October 16, 2019

As an Igbo man, I like the idea of an #IgboPresidency2023 . An Igbo president will pursue
restructuring. I believe people like Peter Obi and Soludo, will do a good job for Nigeria.
Nobody should mention Okorocha or Orji Kalu as possible candidates
 — Gozirim Eke (@Gzeeky) October 13, 2019

This is a waste of time because Former Governor Theodor Orji Kalu will not allow him to
do any project. 90% of federal allocations goes to Theodor , son and wife’s accounts.
Ikpeazu is just a stooge or ceremonial Governor

— Balling Gents (@BallingGents) October 15, 2019

Panel’s Report On Simon Achuba Shunned By Kogi Lawmakers

Before Impeaching Him
The Kogi State House of Assembly on Friday impeached the state deputy governor, Elder Simon
Achuba.

In doing so, however, the panel shunned the report of a seven-man judicial panel of enquiry constituted
by the Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct
leveled against him.

The Chairman of the panel, Barrister John Baiyeshea, SAN, had earlier in the day led six other
members of the panel to submit the report to the Speaker, Prince Mathew Kolawole, at the assembly
complex in Lokoja.

The House, after a few hours, announced the deputy governor’s impeachment, following an emergency
meeting.

Majority Leader of the House, Bello Balogun, announced that the house met, sat and deliberated on the
recommendations of the panel to arrive at their decision.

Documents available to The Nation, however, revealed that contrary to the decision of the lawmakers,
the seven-man panel had cleared Achuba before his purported impeachment.

The panel headed by Baiyeshea had said that the allegations against Achuba had not been proved,
saying there was no basis for the removal of the deputy governor in line with the 1999 Constitution.

It said the salaries of the deputy governor were not paid since February 2018

But while the panel’s report was submitted to the Assembly, it went ahead to remove the deputy
governor.

The Assembly’s decision was said to have shocked members of the panel who were inaugurated by
Justice Ajana on August 26, 2019.

A report of the panel obtained by The Nation on Friday night said Achuba was not guilty of
mismanagement of funds, incitement, and murder of constituents.

Members of the panel are John Baiyeshea, SAN (Chairman); Hon. Justice S. S. Idajili (Rtd.); Barrister
U. O. Onoja; Barrister E. I. Omuya; Venerable Z. O. Asun; Engr. Muhammad Ada Shuaibu and Dr. I.
Ndagi Adamu.

The report said in part: “In line with Section 188( of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) quoted herein before, we hereby report to the Kogi State House
of Assembly that the allegations contained in the Notice of Allegations admitted in evidence by this
Panel as Exhibit C7 have not been proved.”

The panel dismissed the allegation of misappropriation of funds and non-compliance with extant
financial regulations by the deposed deputy governor.

It said: “The summary of the evidence of all the said witnesses is that the Deputy Governor ought to
retire some funds, and reference is made in this allegation to records from the Accountant-General’s
Office and other appropriate Agencies which the Complainants claim indicate total non-compliance by
the Deputy Governor, but Exhibit C8, C9, C10, C11, C12 produced from the Accountant General’s
office tendered by CW2, firstly are not signed documents except for its certification.

“So the maker is not known, and by reason of them having not been signed originally, they are of no
probative value.”

The panel also cleared the impeached deputy governor of alleged sponsorship of communal unrest,
murder of constituents and displacement of communities in lyano, Ibaji LGA, Kogi State.

The report said: “This allegation was abandoned by the complainants in that no evidence was led at all
by the complainants for consideration in respect of this allegation. Therefore same is abandoned.

“However, the allegation of the complainants is that there is a report of a Panel that indicted the Deputy
Governor. No such report was placed before us. Instead, the Deputy Governor in paragraph 17 (m)
(xvi) averred categorically that the report, Exhibit RQ which he tendered does not contain any
indictment against the Deputy Governor.

“Consequently, this allegation having been abandoned is not proved.”

The panel also confirmed that the claim of the deputy governor that his salaries were unpaid since
February 2018 was true.

The report added: “In Sub-paragraph 3 of the allegation of misconduct Exhibit C7, the complainant
states as follows: “That his claims as regards non-payment of salaries is believed to be false upon an
objective consideration of the state of the State’s finances hitherto, which is well known to all members
of this Honourable House who also made efforts to find solutions.”

“Our comment, observation, and opinion on this is that apart from just a feeble statement that the claim
of the Deputy Governor is false, there is nothing to suggest that the complainants were asserting
positively and categorically that the Deputy Governor had been paid his salaries.

“However, the complainants want the claim of the Deputy Governor to be subjected to objective
consideration of the finances of the state.

“We must confess that we do not understand what this phrase is supposed to mean. But we interpret it
actually in the context of the whole paragraph to mean that the Deputy Governor’s salaries were not
paid because the state has challenges with its finances and that the challenges are known to the
members of the House of Assembly (who incidentally are the complainants) and that they’ve been
making efforts to find solutions.

“In other words, we take this as an admission against interest to say that the Deputy Governor’s salaries
have indeed not been paid and he has reason to complain.

“Based on the Notice of Misconduct before us, this particular allegation does not contain anything to
show positively that the claims of the Deputy Governor are not true.

“However, in the observance of provisions for fair hearing, and to hear all the parties and what they
have to put in, the complainants were allowed before commencement of hearing to bring in additional
documents.

“And the additional documents are Exhibits C1 to C6 which were tendered by CW 1, and Exhibits C8-
C12 tendered by CW2.

“By these exhibits, the complainants attempted to establish that the Deputy Governor was paid his
salary contrary to his claim.

“However, it was revealed under cross-examination of CW1 and CW2 by J.S. Okutepa , SAN, that the
said Exhibits were mere Schedules of Payment sent to the banks without cash backing.

“CW1 admitted under Cross-examination and stated as follows: “There is a distinction between
Schedule of Payment and Actual payment. Salaries are not paid by cash and when they are paid by
cash, the beneficiary signs… We are not owing any civil servants any salaries. We have paid them till
August.”

“We observe here that the issue has to do with the Deputy Governor’s salary who is a political office
holder and not a civil servant. It is also to be noted that Exhibits C8 – C12 tendered by CW2 are also
schedules of payment. CW2 under cross-examination (See record of proceedings of 16th September
2019 Volume 2) admitted that he did not make any direct payments to the Deputy Governor.

“He also admitted that the Exhibits are not payment vouchers and as such the Deputy Governor did not
sign the documents. From the evidence of these two witnesses, it cannot be positively
confirmed/asserted that the Deputy Governor’s claims of non-payment of his salary is false.

“This is because from the totality of the evidence as enunciated above, there is a doubt about the
payment of salaries to the Deputy Governor who is claiming that he has not been paid.

“We resolve this doubt in favour of the Deputy Governor because the evidence on record is Schedule of
Payment and not evidence of actual payment. CW3 under cross examination by J.S. Okutepa SAN (See
proceedings of 16th September 2019 volume 2) stated as follows on the issue, “Schedule of payment
and actual payment is different. Until payment is made, approval to pay is not payment.” “Further on
the claims on the issue of money, personal entitlements and office running imprest, CW5-The
Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s office admitted under cross-examination by J.S.
Okutepa (SAN) Deputy Governor’s lead counsel (See proceedings of 16th September 2019 volume 2
of this report) that from February 2018 to date, no money has been released for the running of the
Deputy Governor’s office.

“He stated as follows: “From February 2018 till date He said security votes are to be given to the
Deputy Governor’s office on monthly basis. From 2018 till date, we have not received security votes
from the office of the Deputy Governor… Security votes by practice are not subject to government
financial rules. Other salaries yet to be paid to other staff are still outstanding and unpaid. Schedule of
payment does not translate to payment.”

“Putting all the foregoing together, and side by side with the evidence of the Deputy Governor in his
deposition on oath from paragraph 17 (k), (l), (m)(vi), (m)(vii), (m)(viii), (m)(ix), (m)(x) and also his
adoption of the evidence on oath and cross-examination. And considering the fact that the Deputy
governor wrote Exhibit RP1- a letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated 6th
August 2018, Exhibit RP2- letter to the Vice President of Nigeria, Exhibit RP3- a letter to the Secretary
to the Federal Government, Exhibit RP4- a letter to the President of Nigeria on the same issue dated
28th of March, 2019, Exhibit RP5- another letter to the Vice President of Nigeria dated 28th March,
2019, and Exhibit RP6 – a letter to Adams Oshiomole, the National Chairman of the APC, all these go
to show that the Deputy governor complained about non-payment of the salaries of his staff, security
allowances, office running, etc.

“Interestingly, there is nothing before us to show that the complainants sent any correspondence to all
these personalities to show that they had paid and that what the Deputy Governor was saying was not
true. Neither was any response sent to the Deputy Governor’s lawyers in the same vein.
Jonathan Vatsa: Igbo Presidency In 2023 Is A Right, Not A
Privilege
An All Progressives Congress chief in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has said the emergence of Nigeria’s
President from the South-East in 2023 is a right and not a privilege.

Addressing journalists in Minna, Niger State capital on Friday, Vatsa, who is a former Niger State
commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said every well-meaning Nigerian, good Christian
and Muslim must support a President of Nigeria of South-East extraction.

“If Nigerians have conscience, equity and justice demand that they should allow the Igbo to produce
the next President in 2023.

“I am convinced that the Igbo have made their consultations from the North, South and the majority of
them are in support of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.”

He expressed displeasure that some politicians from the North had called for the cancelation of
rotational presidency between the North and South for what they termed meritocracy.

Vatsa said Ndigbo were highly detribalised and could be found in the remotest villages in Nigeria,
living peacefully and doing their businesses and paying taxes.

He condemned the Arewa agitation for power to remain in the north, saying, “A lot of Arewa officials
have been speaking that power should remain in the North as if it is their birthright; Nigeria belong to
all of us and it is bigger than what we think it is. In the spirit of fairness, if we really want to be
together, the Igbo should be given a chance in 2023.

“Apart from the time of Dr Nnamdi Azikwe and General Aguiyi Ironsi, we have never had Igbo
President; so the Igbo should rise up and take what is due to them. The northerners are ready to support
them and I am calling on the Igbo to speak with one voice if they must win in 2023. They must come
together and forget their differences.”

He however warned that the Igbo should watch out for those who would collect money either from the
north or South-West to sell their conscience, adding that the Igbo man should not be treated as second
citizens in Nigeria.

Babachir Lawal Says Tinubu Will Make A Good President

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation who was sacked from office, Babachir Lawal,
has said Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress is in good standing to become
the next president of Nigeria.

He said Tinubu possesses the qualities of a good modern President to succeed President Muhammadu
Buhari in 2023.

Babachir, who stated this in Yola, Adamawa State, in an interview with some select journalists, also
supported power rotation to the South.

He said by 2023, power rotation would be one of the legacies President Buhari would be leaving
behind among several others.

Babachir, while speaking about the chances of the South-East to produce the President, dismissed the
chances of an Igbo politician getting the nominations of one of the major political party because
politicians from the region had yet to reach an agreement.

He said, “By 2023 when Buhari’s tenure will be over, he’ll go back to Daura to face his cows like I am
doing. But you see, every leader must leave behind a legacy. I will like to see that he leaves behind a
legacy of achievement.

“Bola Tinubu is my friend of many years. Buhari is my big boss. Bola Tinubu without prejudice that
he’s my friend, will make a good president. Other issues notwithstanding, he (Tinubu) will make a
good modern president because the presidency these days is scientific. Nigerians, by convention, seem
to have agreed that there should be rotation of the presidency.”

On Igbo presidency, Babachir, however said there had always been a notion that the North was
preventing an Igbo person from becoming the president.

“But they have not been working together to actualise an Igbo presidency,” he said.

Edo APC Suspends Lawrence Okah As Secretary

Secretary of the Edo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Lawrence Okah, has been
suspended from office.

He was suspended on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019 at the state secretariat of the party located in Airport road
area of the state, Igbere TV reports.

Although, his suspension was carried out by the State Chairman, Anselm Ojezua and members of the
State Working Committee, Igbere TV, however, learnt from credible source that it was orchestrated by
the Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Ojezua is a well known supporter of the state Governor, who has never hidden his stand since the crisis
rocking the Edo state APC started.

Okah on the other hand, is a supporter of the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole. He
fell out of favour with Obaseki during the 2019 general elections in the state.
He was accused of working against the Governor's choice of candidates, while standing firm with the
choice of the “Abuja politicians” during the party's primaries.

Okah is said to have also refused to pledge allegiance to the Governor, denying him a second term
endorsement using the state APC.

Governor Obaseki had accused Okah of belonging to Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), a dissenting
group within the APC fighting the Governor’s second term agenda.

Both Oshiomhole and Obaseki have been at loggerhead since the controversial Edo Assembly
inauguration, with the latter accusing the former of scheming to deny him second term ticket - a claim
he has since denied.

When contacted, the embattled secretary confirmed his suspension to Igbere TV, but said the state
chairman, going by the party's Constitution, had no power to suspend him.

In a subsequent statement made available to Igbere TV on Friday, Okah maintained his earlier position,
saying he remains the secretary of the Edo state APC.

“My purported suspension as Secretary of APC in Edo State is illegal and cannot stand”, he said.

“Governor Godwin Obaseki and Anslem Ojezua lack the powers to suspend me. All they have done so
far regarding the party is illegal and cannot stand.

“I remain the secretary of the party while Comrade Adams Oshiomhole remains the leader of the party
in Edo State”, Okah maintained.

This is not the first time the governor will be sacking Edo APC members. In September, Obaseki
sacked over 260 appointees in an exercise aimed at weeding out non-loyalists out of his government
ahead next year’s governorship election.

About four council chairmen, Eghe Ogbemudia (Egor) Hon Patrick Aguinede, (Esan-West) Alhaji
Yakson Musa (Etsako-West) and Alhaji Aremiyau Momoh (Etsako-East), were in October, equally
suspended from government.

Just this week, Governor Obaseki ordered the sack of all political appointees in the eighteen local
government councils of the state, even as rumours are rife that the wave of sack and suspension may hit
more political heavyweights.

Those affected lately were Secretaries to the eighteen Council Chairmen, Supervisory Councillors,
Special Advisers, Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants and Personal Assistants.
Biafra Zionists Vow To Launch New Currency
The Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, has disclosed plans to launch new currency as part of their push
for a Republic of Biafra.

DAILY POST reports that this development is coming a few weeks after the self-acclaimed President
of Biafra, Barr. Benjamin Onwuka boasted to have inaugurated his government.

Onwuka, who has been in and out of detention, has continued to push forward his agenda.

Addressing journalists in Enugu on Tuesday, he equally issued a warning to the governors of Ebonyi
State, Engr. David Umahi and Abia, Dr Okezie Ikpazu, accusing the duo of selling hectares of land to
Fulani herdsmen for RUGA settlement.

He warned the two governors to revoke the sold lands or suffer the wrath of Biafran youths.

He claimed that, “We are noticing RUGA settlement at Lokpanta in Abia State which is ongoing now
where Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpazu sold hectares of land to Fulani herdsmen and also
hearing that a large hectare of land has been sold to Fulani herdsmen by Ebonyi State governor, Engr.
David Umahi.

“We warn them to revoke the land and desist from such. If they fail to do so, their families and relations
will suffer it for life.”

On his push for Biafra, he said “no other power can give Biafra independence except the United States
of America, USA.

“We have also concluded plans to launch Biafran currency on December 15, 2019 at Ndoki Park, Aba
in Abia state; the currency would be known as Gad and Eri.

“Until Biafra have international back up, there would be no independence. No African country can
achieve freedom without the assistant of foreign countries. Biafra failed during the Nigerian civil war
because they don’t have international backing.

“Biafra achieved freedom because of the assistant of United State of American government. We will
launch the Biafran new currency called Gad and Eri on December 15, 2019 at Ndoki park Aba, Abia
state. We are not going to use pounds anymore because it’s a symbol of British government oppression
against Biafra.
“Denominations of the currency to be used are: 5, 10,20,50 and100 Gad notes while coins would be
1,2,5,10,20,50 Eri.”

Onwuka equally condemned what he called a “purported media report by Donald Trump,
congratulating Nigerian government on October 1st, 2019”.
He warned that the USA Ambassador to Nigerian should stop deceiving the masses with his pro-
Muslim ideology.

According to him, “The letter purported to be written by President Trump on October 1st was not
written by Trump but by American Ambassador to Nigeria and we warn them to stop deceiving the
masses with fake news and being anti Biafrans. We call on Trump to caution American Ambassador to
Nigeria to order.”

Edward Onoja Replaces Simon Achuba As Kogi Deputy

Governor
The running mate to Governor Yahaya Bello in the November 16 governorship election for Kogi State,
Edward Onoja, will be sworn in on Saturday as the new Deputy Governor of the state.

NAN reports that a seven-member Judicial Panel of Enquiry was set up by the State Chief Judge,
Justice Nasir Ajanah, on August 26 to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against
erswhile deputy governor Simon Achuba.
Chairman of the panel, Barrister John Baiyeshea, flanked by six other members of the panel, submitted
the report to the Speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole, at plenary.

Receiving the report, the Speaker, Matthew Kolawole, expressed appreciation to the chief Judge for
appointing men of proven integrity as members of the panel.

Kolawole explained that the task of ensuring good governance required collective efforts of all, and
thanked the members for the timely presentation of the report.

“We shall go into the reports thoroughly, look into the recommendations and do justice to it,” saying
that the committee had gone into the annals of history in Nigeria as the first to perform a thorough
work devoid of interference.

In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Mohammad (APC- Ankpa I), said the
exercise followed due process and thanked everyone for being responsive to the development of Kogi.

NAN reports that the committee which was inaugurated on August 26 with a 90-day duration within
which to complete the assignment and submit it’s report, completed the job in 49 days.

The Closure Of The Nigeria - Niger Border Updates By A

Twitter User
Ok, let’s do a thread on my time at the Nigeria-Niger border at Babban Mutum village in Katsina
yesterday.
Ok, my images aren’t sending so will try when I’m back to civilization.

Anyway. Quick disclosure: this is one border, and I won’t extrapolate further than what I saw. There’s
another border in Jibia, for example, but it was far from where I was. I had work there, too, but tired

One of the first things you notice in Babban Mutum: trucks everywhere. Everywhere. Loaded to the hilt
with pretty much every household item you can think of.

Household items from those little plastic kettles people use to pray to buckets and plastics, to food to...
everything. Just sitting there. Parked and abandoned by their drivers. My contact in the village told me
these things have been stuck “there for a long while.”

We drove up to the border gate —if you can call it that. There’s two points where you can see a rope
loosely tied to two blocks. One is on the Niger side, one on the Nigeria side. (I’ll post a photo when my
internet lets me).

It is manned by Nigerian Customs officials though. They let me take a photo of their office. I teased
them about how bored they must be because there’s absolutely nothing going on in the area now. they
laughed and just said, “Everywhere is just dry.”

The closure of the border has been pretty hard on the local economy. I asked a fruit seller how business
is, and he just shook his head and said, “what can we do?”

But here’s the thing: tough as it all is on their local economy, nobody I talked to is necessarily opposed
to the blockade. “Before, when you pass, you just see big trailers passing with Rice. It is making people
not eat our local rice.” Buhari’s messaging has been effective.

Another person said to me: “you see these trailers? Everything these people have is because of Nigeria.
We are a great country Wallahi. We just don’t see it. See all these their household items. Without us
they’re suffering. Now their president will do what Buhari wants.”

People I spoke to understand the blockade as leverage over Niger, smart politics, even if with what they
hope is short term pain for their people.

worth noting, though, is that, for many, Niger is simply their backyard. Some people’s farms pretty
much straddle both countries. My hunch is it’s easy to cross in and out of Niger with smaller quantities
products. If they stop you, you just say “I’m just coming from the farm”

Lastly, one of the drivers from the trucks (I’ll share a photo in a bit) is actually from the area. He tells
me he’s hopeful of a deal soon. “This na my chop. So I no go want make the border just to dey like this
for long.”
Segalink To EFCC: 'To Probe Tinubu, You Don’t Need Petition'
Social media activist, Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, has rejected the advice of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to write a petition against All Progressives Congress
leader, Bola Tinubu.

Segalink, who is the leader of the #EndSARS movement, said the EFCC did not need him to write a
petition against Tinubu before going after the APC leader.

The activist said the EFCC had been going after internet fraudsters and raiding night clubs without a
petition.

He tweeted, “The EFCC in their primitive chest-thumping about Section 7(1) of their Establishment
Act of 2004, forgot that they have the same power over the likes of Tinubu as they do over alleged
Yahoo boys to act based on probable case. Why expect a petition from us?”

Segalink told The PUNCH in an interview on Friday that the EFCC had failed to take action on several
petitions in the past.

He noted that the petition against Alpha Beta, a tax collection firm believed to be linked to Tinubu, had
been abandoned by the commission.

Segalink said, “I wrote a petition once even with all the details, the EFCC could not get on
Abdulmumin Jubrin, who admitted to budget padding. Alpha Beta Managing Director wrote to the
EFCC on the alleged fraudulent activities of his firm. Nothing has been done till date.

“Why will I waste my time on another petition when the ones before them have not been addressed?”

The activist said the matter was beyond politics but more about equity, justice and fairness.There
shouldn’t be different rules for different people in a democratic republic. Nigeria belongs to all
Nigerians,” he said.

The EFCC and Segalink had been engaged in a war of words on Thursday after the EFCC boasted on
Twitter that it had the power to investigate anybody living above his means.

Segalink subsequently dared the commission to probe Tinubu who had admitted on television that
bullion vans laden with cash on the eve of elections belong to him.

Nigerian Air Force Bombs Boko Haram Terrorists During A

Meeting
On Friday, October 18, some Boko Haram terrorists were killed in a bombardment of their meeting
venue by the Air Task Force (ATF) of the operation 'Lafiya Dole'.
The bombardment was in Ngoske at the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State. The Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) said the attack was executed, following successive days of Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

NAF said the ISR was aimed at identifying locations housing the Boko Haram leadership as well as
their positions.

A statement issued by the director, Public Relations and Information, of the Nigerian Air Force, Air
Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, to this effect noted: “Intelligence derived from the ISR missions led to
the designation of two buildings within Ngoske that served as assembly areas for the terrorists from
where they launch attacks against troops positions and innocent civilians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9p_kkpGr6c

Border Closure: Smugglers Devise New Methods To Beat

Customs
Notwithstanding the heavy policing and thorough security checks at the land borders, aimed at ensuring
compliance with Federal Government’s closure order, smugglers are still plying their illicit trade, as
they have now devised new methods and new routes to convey their products, especially bags of rice,
turkey and vegetable oil.

Investigations by Saturday Telegraph reveal that the illegal dealers in the commodities now engage the
services of motorcyclists and canoe operators to convey bags of rice and cartons of vegetable oil from
Benin Republic to Nigeria. An undercover operation by our correspondents, who were embedded
among the smugglers, exposes the covert and deadly operation of the men of the underworld, showing
how they bypass the borders by going through the sea and land using remote villages. On the sea, our
reporters witnessed how a team of smugglers paddled their canoes in very dangerous manner, along the
Cotonou- Badagry beaches, passing through places like Gbetrume and Inagbe to beat the eagle-eyed
Customs officials. Some of the smugglers are also armed in the process as they ferry their illegal
products in a combat steady manner, as narrated by one of the smugglers.
Witnessing smuggling operations
Pretending to be smugglers, our reporters had approached some canoe paddlers for help to take their
wares to the other side of the sea.

Agreeing to carry out the dirty job, but not without a fee, one of the traffickers, advised our reporters to
brace up for the show ahead. The canoe operator, who spoke in pidgin English, while claiming to be the
‘captain’ of the boat, said he is not new in the business, as he had been conveying people across the sea
over the years. Not wanting to lose their money in case of any eventuality or a confrontation with naval
officers, which could make them abandon the job, the traffickers opted to collect their money before
embarking on the journey.
“Na gbege we dey go now. We never know whether we dey come back or we go yamutu, make you just
ready and make you give us our money before we comot”, he said in adulterated language. The journey
was however hitch-free as the canoe operators eventually stopped at place where some ‘okada’ riders
took over the job. On land, the smugglers move their wares through Igolo, a border village and its
neighbouring hamlets to pass through Owode and Idiroko in order to bypass Seme border and reach
their destination.

The risky process of the new method has however led to the increase in the prices of the grains and oily
liquid, as bikers now collect N100 per bag as against the N50 that was in force before the closure. In
the same vein, bikers that hitherto convey between three and five bags on a single journey, now load up
to six bags to do brisk business. As such, a single journey that used to cost the smugglers not more than
N200 now makes them cough out N600 per route. This has no doubt added to the rising cost of the
commodities, as it has made the price unbearable for consumers and end-users of the products to
purchase.

Involvement of Customs, giant coys’ staff

Further investigations show that some Customs officials as well as drivers and haulage staff of some
big and international companies are involved in the ongoing illegalities. Our correspondents did not
only see how big trucks were allowed into the country, but also witnessed how they smuggled bags of
rice,turkey and vegetable oil, using the cover of their business empires. On the particular day, convoy
of trucks belonging to cement, paint, shoes and other manufacturing companies were seen packing the
smuggled products into their vans.

One of our reporters, pretending to be a smuggler, had approached some of the drivers, who narrated
how they have been ‘helping’ others to convey their goods across the border, before agreeing to take
her bags of rice across the border for a fee. One of the drivers explained that the Customs officials
would be compensated by their bosses once the goods arrive their destination. He said: “When we are
stopped by the Customs people, we will just tell them that the rice belongs to the white men, our ogas,
and that it is for their domestic consumption. They know how they get their money from our bosses.

“Police and Customs do not disturb the drivers of white men and big companies. That is the
opportunity we have been using to take it across the border. We only enjoy the privilege to make our
own money. “But your money will depend on the number of police and Customs check points. You
know that they always take our apples and those apples belong to our oga. So, you will have to pay for
the apples”, he said. True to his words, the officials met on the road were only shown the apples, which
they took, promising to see the driver and haulage staff in ‘town’. What is however not clear is the
place they referred to as ‘town’ as well as the reason for allowing the trucks to move despite the
government order.

When asked the reason for their movement even with the closure, the driver simply replied that some
buses belonging to big organisations are allowed to move with a special pass. “We can move, just like
the multinational corporations can move. We enjoy the same privilege and they were told to allow us
because our companies are international”, he said. An on-the-spot assessment to various markets by our
correspondents across the country however shows that there is low patronage of the products owing to
the rising cost of rice and vegetable oil.

Local rice in foreign bags

A new twist to the rising prices is the fact that some smugglers now put local rice in the bags meant for
the foreign product. This was witnessed in one of the villages, where our correspondent was on covert
operation. The village (names withheld), which was far away from the border and many miles into a
busy Lagos busy area, had some of inhabitants repackaging the product. Saturday Telegraph team saw
some people in the process of exchanging the bags, this they noted was to make it more attractive as
many people believe in the consumption of foreign products. “This is just our way of making good
money in this period. Many people want to eat foreign rice, they prefer Uncle Benz and other foreign
rice but they don’t know the taste. “Once they see it in the foreign bag, they will buy it. We have been
selling it to them, and they are eating it. That shows you that many of them do not even know what
they are buying”, one the sellers told our correspondent.

Visiting the markets

In many parts of Nigeria, including Lagos, Benin, Kano, Port Harcourt and several others, Saturday
Telegraph investigations showed that the prices of various brands of rice which is a staple food of most
homes have also gone up while the availability of both local and foreign rice products vary from one
market to the other Our Correspondent who visited Butcher Street Market on Mission road, New Benin
Market on Benin-Lagos road and Agbado Market on Akpakpava road, all in Benin City, the Edo State
capital gathered that local brand packs of rice are available with sharp rise in their prices while the
prices of foreign products are prohibitive. The prices of some of local brands range from N19, 500 to
N22, 500 per bag while that of foreign rice is between N25, 000 and N27, 000 each bag.

Indications showed that local rice is available in large stock in some of the markets visited while
foreign products and brands are in low in stock. However, aside the low or high availability of the rice
products, there is low patronage by customers due to the increased prices. Among the local brands
available in the markets visited include Mama Choice N22,000,; Patron N21, 500, Tomato Rice N19,
000; Big Bull N22, 500 and Royal Naija N25, 000. Those of foreign brands are within the ranges of
N27,500 for Cap Rice, Tomato rice N26, 000, Yummy Yummy N25, 000, Royal Stallion N25, 000
while the price of 20kg of Gripple Seven is N13, 000. The Niger State Chairman of Rice Farmers
Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Idris Abini blamed the reason for the increase and differences
in the prices of local rice on activities of hoarders and also the farmers. He however told our
Correspondent that, before the year runs out, there would be bumper harvest and rice would flood the
markets and thereby crash the prices. When our correspondent visited the Engr. Abdulhadi’s Kure ultra
modern and the popular Kasuwa Gwari in Minna, only few shops have foreign rice (Caprice and
Stallion) displayed.

Prices differ

The prices of local rice in Ebonyi otherwise known as Abakaliki Rice has continued to increase.
Though the commodity is much available in the markets and various mills across the state where they
are processed, packaged and sold, the price of the rice has been on the increase because of its high
demands arising from the restriction on foreign rice. A market survey conducted in across major
markets in Enugu, including Ogbete Main Market and New Haven Market shows that full bag or
bushel (50kg) of foreign rice (Caprice brand and Tomato brand) goes for N21, 000 as at this weekend,
as against N20, 000 it sold about three weeks ago.

Similarly, half bag or half bushel (25kg) of foreign rice currently goes for N10, 500 as against N10, 000
it sold about three weeks ago. On the other hand, full bag or bushel (50kg) of local rice currently sells
for N14, 500; while half bag or half bushel (25kg) goes for N7, 300. This is against N12,500 and
N6,500 respectively about three weeks ago.

Traders across the country have said that following the closure of the country’s borders, the demand for
local rice has increased, occasioning widespread scarcity in some states. Most of the shops visited by
our correspondents in different towns showed that there were limited stocks of local rice on sale.

The most available brands of local rice in the markets in Imo are ‘Mama’s Pride’ and ‘Chef’s Choice’,
and both are produced in Nasarawa State. One of the traders in Owerri, Ebuka Uzoigwe, lamented the
ordeal traders undergo to get supply of rice, adding that the country was not yet prepared for the border
closure. He said: “Local rice is speedily going out of the reach of ordinary people and it is not yet
Christmas. The rice is not even available and even where it is available it is costly. Before the border
closure, local rice was sold about N14,000 but now Mama’s Pride is N20,000 while Chef’s Choice is
N18,000. They are almost the same price with foreign rice which is sold about N22,000 but
unavailable.

Most of the bags of foreign rice you see in the market today are old stocks.” “Some of us came
together, contributed money and ordered a trailer load of local rice. It is two months now since we gave
money to our supplier and we have not gotten any supply. Only recently the supplier called us to tell us
that to facilitate timely delivery of the supply, we must add an extra N1500 for each bag of the rice. It is
the final consumer that will bear the brunt. ”

When asked about the Abakaliki rice from Ebonyi state and the Coscharis rice, he said the Abakaliki
rice was also as scarce as others while stressing that they were yet to see Coscharis rice in Owerri. “For
now, people that want to buy Coscharis rice, we refer them to the television where they saw the
advertorials. The point is that we did not produce enough to go round before we shut down our borders.
After the border closure, it became obvious that most of the states we thought were producing rice do
not even have enough to serve their state which is why we no longer get regular supply and when we
get, we get them at exorbitant prices.” Mrs. Ngozi Okereke in Orlu confirmed that for the first time, she
just got supply of the Coscharis local rice and that it sells for N21,000 a bag. She also lamented the
sudden hike in the price of local rice in the market. “It defeats the purpose of closing the borders and
banning the importation of foreign rice,” she said.

South

In the southern parts of the country, local rice such as Bblue, Maurice, Maka, Offada, “O’god” and so
on are largely available in the markets and while foreign rice like Tomatoes, Good Mama, Flourish,
Good luck and so on prices were put at N27,000, N28,000 e.t.c at Sekona, Oluode, Ilobu, Owode
markets of the state. At the popular Ogbeogonogo Central Market in Asaba and Midwifery Market
along Okpanam Road, the price of a 50kg locally produced rice has risen by more than two-third since
July. As at October 10, the price of Caprice foreign rice rose from N16,000 to N29,000 while locally
produced stonefree Tomatoes rice skyrocketed from N13,000 to N25,000, even half-bags went up from
N6,500 to N15,500.

While foreign rice is scarce in the markets visited, owing to the border closure, local rice, which is
expected to have flooded the marketplace, is at lower production. Prices of poultry food like frozen
turkey and chicken rose at fastest pace from N1,300 to N2,200 and N1,100 to N1,400 respectively.

The Chief Job Creation Officer, Prof. Eric Eboh, to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, said Okowa had
succeeded in using agricultural landscape to develop the state and create wealth and job for
unemployed youths and graduates in the state. He said: “We are already milling the rice.

It will be from farm to table. We will process and package it to be launched. It will end up at the
government conference table, where it will be served for governors and captains of industries, and
declared open to be exported to other countries for consumption.”

In Abia State, the much talked about Abia Rice (Osikapa Abia) could not be found in any market. It
was gathered that the Abia Rice has no particular point of production but as produced at the various rice
producing communities. Recently, the Chief Press to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr Onyebuchi
Ememanka, told journalists the Ikpeazu administration has established four cottage rice mills at Ofeme,
Bende, Acha and Uzuakoli with plans to establish additional mills in Arochukwu and Bende.

In Bayelsa, the local rice, which is now the generally accepted, has flooded the markets. A visit to
Swali market the biggest market in Bayelsa showed that almost all the local brands of rice were
available. It was noticed that there were more than six brands of local rice at the market. North Despite
the closure foreign rice is still available in some markets in the North, especially in Sokoto State. One
of our correspondents who visited markets in the North noticed various brands of foreign and locally
produced rice. The brand names of the rice seen in the Sokoto old market includes Naija, Sogar,
Tomato Anajo, Royal Stallion, and Diamond among others, while the local rice include King, Royal,
Naija, Labana, while others have no brand names.

Traders in the old market in Sokoto said the hike in the price of foreign rice had made consumers to
have preference for local rice. A trader known as Aliyu said the price of foreign rice had increased to
N1000 per measure and 50kg bag of the commodity is being sold at above N18, 000. According to him
the increase has led to consumers demanding locally produced rice with a stable price of between N550
to N600 a measure. In Kano, despite the availability of local rice and the springing up of many milling
companies, the prices of the commodity has skyrocketed.

Some of the rice farmers and sellers in Kano have different positions on why the price of the
commodity is high, some believe that lack of implements and lack of seri-ous government intervention
caused the hike in price. Alhaji Zakari GarunBaba a big time Rice Farmer, believes that all the Federal
Government’s policies on rice farming was rather a failure because most of them who were truly in the
business were not considered.

“You could see that after spending these huge amount the prices of rice in the final analysis will be
determined by how it is being produced locally, that is why today we have a bag in the market been
sold at N15,000 to N16,000”. In the same vein Alhaji Sabiu Bako a rice miller who recently open his
milling company, said from diesel to other operational items needed to produced the local rice they
spent millions of Naira that is why it is still high price in the market. The Federal Government Boarders
Closure has received a significant supports from the Nigeria Rice Producers who says the policy is
greatly making impact on the home grown rice.

Aregbesola: American Prisoners Earn Higher Than Nigerian

Workers
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday shocked the nation, when he hinted that the least daily
upkeep of a prisoner in America was higher than the proposed N30,000 minimum wage for the least
Nigerian worker. Aregbesola made the startling revelation at a budget defence session of his Ministry
with members of the Senate and House of Representatives joint Committee on Interior. He also pointed
out that the least daily upkeep spent on a prisoner in America is N31,000 in Naira equivalent, which is
also higher as compared to N730.00 budgeted for similar purpose in Nigeria.

The minister, who bemoaned the pathetic state of Nigerian economy and Nigerians, further noted that
daily upkeep spent on a prison inmate in America was even as high as N60,000 per day in some states.
According to him, the Nigerian economy is small compared to that of America, which makes daily
upkeep on a prisoner there, not only far higher than what is projected for similar purposes in Nigeria
but also higher than the N30,000 minimum wage.
“Comparing Nigeria with countries like America, Turkey and even Egypt as illustrated by some of the
federal lawmakers will completely demoralised the morale of any concerned citizen but what we are
sure of in the Ministry, is that we shall with the limited resources available make the best for the
country.”

Governor Makinde Visits Mosque To Inform Worshippers Of

Demolition Plans
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has visited a mosque in the state to inform the worshippers of his
government’s plan to demolish the mosque.

In a tweet on Friday evening, Mr Makinde said he attended Jumat prayer at Adogba Mosque on Iwo
Road and informed worshippers of his plans to create a new bus terminal on Iwo Road.

He assured the worshippers that the move was not an attack on religion, adding that his government
would compensate adequately for the inconvenience.

“We attended Jumat prayer at Adogba Mosque on Iwo Road, this afternoon.

“I spoke to our Muslim brothers and sisters about the proposed demolition of the mosque, a church and
some other buildings by the government, to make way for the new bus terminal on Iwo Road,” he
wrote.

“I assured them there was no religious colouration to the proposed demolition and that the government
will relocate all those affected and pay compensation to ensure they can rebuild.

“I sought their cooperation to enable the government execute its plans for Iwo Road.”

The South Are Enemies To Themselves. They Should Not Blame

The North -- FFK
Igberetv captured the tweet of Femi Fani Kayode on the marginalisation of southern Nigeria. He said:

The greatest enemy of the south are not the northerners but southern cowardice, duplicity, greed,
insincerity, treachery and betrayal. When we blame the Fulani for everything we diminish ourselves.
How can an ethnic group that constitutes only 7% of the population wield so much power and control
over our affairs if not for the fact that we continue to betray one another and sell ourelves short to
them? We should not blame the north for our bondage, we should blame ourselves!

Every great liberation fighter and visionary leader from the south and the Middle Belt in the history of
our country was betrayed and sacrificed by his fellow southerners and Middle Belters and sold to the
north. The people of the north did not do us in: we did ourselves in.
He concluded by saying that until the Southerners are strongly united with full confidence of trusts,
honest and fidelity in one another, we will keep being in bondage thereby, allowing the north to keep
ruling us.

IMF Backs Nigeria On Border Closure

…Urges speedy resolution of issues

The International Monetary Fund has backed Nigeria’s closure of its borders with some neighbouring
countries over issues bordering on illegal trade.

Mr Abebe Selassie, the Director of the African Department at the IMF, gave the position at a media
briefing on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington D.C.

He was responding to a question on whether the closure negates the African Continental Free Trade
Agreement, AfCFTA.

Selassie said although free trade was critical to the economic growth of the continent, it must be legal
and in line with agreements.

READ ALSO: Governors behind illegal mining of gold, zinc, others –Minister, Senate panel

“On the border closure in Nigeria which has been impacting Benin and Niger, our understanding is that
the action reflects concerns about smuggling that has been taking place.

“It is about illegal trade, which is not what you want to facilitate,’’ Selassie said.

He said the IMF was hoping for a speedy resolution of the issues as the action was already taking a toll
on the economies of the country’s neighbours.

“We are very hopeful that discussions will resolve the challenges that this illegal trade is posing.

“If the border closure is to be sustained for a long time, it will definitely have an impact on Benin and
Niger which, of course, rely quite extensively on the big brother next door,’’ he said.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said the
borders were closed to curb illegal trading activities by Nigeria’s neighbours.
June 12 Cancellation Will Haunt My Father Till He Dies - Ibb's
Son
The annulment of the June 12 presidential election in which late M.K.O Abiola emerged successful had
come and gone for decades, but certain hitherto unknown facts about the epoch-making day are now
surfacing.

Mohammed Babangida, one of the sons of the then military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, has
admitted the impact of the cancellation of the results of the election on his father.

Recalling the experience, Mohammed said that he and the rest of the family expressed deep surprise
when his father informed them that he had annulled the election.

In response to their shock, Babangida, according to Mohammed, said: "You are too young to
understand the intrigues of governance...perhaps, this is something that will haunt me for the rest of my
life."

The former Nigerian leader's son said that although the country has moved on from the past, most of its
citizens did not know that at the time his father was limited and that it was not actually his wish to do
so.
Mohammed further pointed out that apart from the compensation from President Muhammadu Buhari
on the late presidential candidate, the southwest benefitted a lot from the annulment of the poll.

Border Closure: Ghana And Nigeria Agree On Temporary

Import Corridor
Following a ban on all imports and exports by President Muhammadu Buhari, Ghana and Nigeria have
agreed on the creation of a temporary corridor on Nigeria’s western border with Benin Republic where
Ghanaian goods in transit can pass to avoid collateral damage arising from the closure of Nigeria’s
borders with Benin.

Nigeria partially closed its borders with Benin in August 2019 to curb the spate of rice smuggling,
which Africa’s most populous country said was threatening its attempt to boost local production.

The Ghanaian authorities are expected to provide further information on Ghanaian companies that do
business in Nigeria, the goods and companies affected and those likely to be affected by the closure of
the borders, Graphic Online reports.

The decisions were reached when the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley
Botchwey, and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, held talks with their Nigerian
counterparts on the border closure in Abuja.
While Botchwey met with Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, Kyerematen held
discussions with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said the Abuja meetings were aimed at discussing further
ways of providing a path towards resolving the challenges facing Ghanaian companies and traders
following the closure of the border.

Achuba: Governor Bello Now Desperate, Clinging On Straws –

PDP
…Says His Days In Office Are Numbered

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mocks Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello over his desperate bid
to use underhand measures to forcefully remove the Deputy Governor, Hon. Simeon Achuba, saying
the governor is now clinging on straws.

Our party holds that by coercing the state House of Assembly against the deputy governor even when
the State Judiciary Panel acquitted him of all allegations, Governor Bello only confirms that he has lost
public trust and now desperately resorting to dirty politics and crafty methods for survival.

This action of trying to remove the deputy governor via unconstitutional methods and in total disregard
to the verdict of the judicial panel is, in itself, a gross misconduct and grave constitutional violation for
which the state assembly, as an institution, ought to have removed Yahaya Bello as the governor of the
state.

The PDP however alerts that the next victim of such underhand methods would be the state assembly
itself, which now appears to be on the way to being used to enact draconian rules to suppress and
intimidate the people of Kogi state, since there is no way Yahaya Bello will win the November 16
election and return to office.

It is however instructive to state that the action of the House of Assembly, in yielding to Yahaya Bello’s
antics, has further reduced Kogi state to a butt of jokes among compatriots in other states of our
federation.

What it means is that Yahaya Bello can wake up tomorrow morning and shut down institutions of
government, including the state legislature, the judiciary and even the civil service and become a law
unto himself.

However, whether the State House of Assembly has any morsel of courage left in its chamber to protect
the state and her people or not, Governor Bello will surely face the judgment of the people on
November 16, where he will be kicked out of office through the ballot box.
It is also public knowledge that Yahaya Bello seeks to repress the deputy governor over the latter’s
decision to expose the impunity and corruption in the Bello administration which has brought so much
suffering to the people of Kogi state in the last four years.

What Nigerians expect is for Governor Bello to respond to the allegations by the deputy governor
instead of this resort to bullying and attempts to remove him through unconstitutional method; a
scheme that cannot stand.

Our apprehension is that Governor Bello, in his desperation to cling unto power, even when he has
been rejected by the people, is now turning Kogi state into a state of “anything goes.” We therefore call
on all compatriots to condemn and resist the reprehensible actions of Governor Yahaya Bello.

Nigeria is a nation governed by law and no body, no matter the desperation, should be allowed to turn
her, or any part thereof, to a Banana Republic.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

2023: Stop Canvassing For Power Rotation -

Arewa Warns Southern Leaders
Political leaders in the southern part of the country have been urged to stop canvassing rotation of
power to the region at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in 2023.

President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Comrade Yerima Shettima who gave the advice warned
southern leaders to stop dissipating their energies on such calls adding that it is the North’s turn to
produce Buhari’s successor. He also spoke further on this and other national issues
On the issue of 2023, some Nigerians have accused the North of being greedy as a result of the recent
insistence by some groups and individuals that the region will not relinquish power after President
Buhari, a northerner must have completed his second term in 2023– (Cuts in) It is unfortunate that
many Nigerians are not being fair to the North.

The North is presently seriously marginalized. Forget that President Buhari, a northerner is in power.
Although Buhari is in power but under him, North is being marginalized. North is really suffering
under Buhari leadership.
Today in Nigeria, a northerner is in power, but the truth is this, it is the southerners that are enjoying.
Buhari’s government is a government of the southerners, especially the Southwest.
Everything in Nigeria today favours the Southwest, the economy, the infrastructure, just mention
anything, it is only the Southwest that it favours.
For us in the North, we can’t continue to fold our hands, and that’s one of the reasons we believe that
after Buhari, the next President should also come from the North. Then apart from that, between 1999
and now, the South has ruled for 15 years, but by the time Buhari would finish his second term in 2023,
the North would have just about nine years.
Let me break it down to make it easy for Nigerians to understand my logic. Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, a southerner and Yoruba man spent eight years, former President Goodluck Jonathan spent
six years plus. Before he became President, he was first Acting President of Nigeria but later had to
complete late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure when Yar’Adua, a northerner died in office.
So in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness, is it not clear that it is supposed to be the turn of the
North in 2023? By insisting on 2023,the North is not asking for too much.
Other Nigerians should be fair to the North. It is the North’s turn in 2023, and any political party that
fails to have a northerner as its presidential candidate in 2023 will fail. Any party that presents any
presidential candidate that is not from the North is doomed. Enough is enough.
The North is suffering already under Buhari, we should not again be denied 2023 ticket. Those
Nigerians that are saying that the North is greedy are actually the greedy ones. They are the ones that
don’t believe in equity and justice.
After the South has spent 15 years with Obasanjo and Jonathan, and the North only nine years by the
time Buhari would have completed his second term in 2023, it is fair and logical that the North should
produce the president in 2023.
The North is taking this issue seriously, and the North is not asking for anything extraordinary by
insisting that it is our turn in 2023. Any political party that fails to pick a northerner as its presidential
candidate in 2023 will fail.
Is zoning in the Nigerian constitution? No. Nigerian constitution doesn’t recognize or recommend
zoning. And if anybody is talking about any gentleman agreement, that is not to my knowledge. North
will field a presidential candidate in 2023 and I have no apology for saying that.
If some people are talking about equity and justice, it is the North that is being denied justice. Since
1999, the South has been having it. They have spent 15 years and the North only nine years––and
where is the justice in that? If Nigerians truly believe in equity, then it is the turn of the North to
produce the next president after Buhari must have completed his tenure in 2023, and the northern
candidate will be there between 2023 and 2027, then power can now rotate to the South.
To me that is what is equity and justice. It is unfortunate that some people criticize and condemn the
North without being fair-minded. Nothing will stop the North from fielding a presidential candidate in
2023. It is the turn of the North going by all the facts I earlier stated. What can only prevent that is if
we have proper debates and discussions over the issue. But left to me, I believe it will be very unfair to
deny North 2023 presidential ticket.
It is the North’s turn in 2023.The Igbos can wait till 2027. Igbos should wait till 2027 after the North
must have had its turn between 2023 and 2027. This issue is not about sentiments, and I also strongly
believe that Igbo should stop threatening Nigeria’s unity over this issue.
Igbo leaders should call Nnamdi Kanu and members of his IPOB group to order. Kanu and his group
should stop undermining the government. Kanu and his IPOB through their unpatriotic actions are
hurting Igbo interests. Kanu is doing more harm than good to Igbo interests. Kanu is not a patriot.
He should show more patriotism and commitment to Nigeria. He should stop all these madness. If
Kanu and IPOB continue like this, other Nigerians will not trust Igbo. Nnamdi Kanu has become a
loose dog, Igbo leaders must restrain him. A lot of Nigerians have sympathy for Igbos on the issue but
people like Kanu and his IPOB members are causing trouble, and doing more damage to Igbo interests.
Igbo elders and leaders should find ways to call him to order.
I was shocked when I read interview by Papa Adebanjo. I have a lot of respect for him. I’ve worked
with him before, and ordinarily, I will not like to join issues with him. But my own position is that
breaking up Nigeria is not the best.
Adebanjo has had his good time in Nigeria, he enjoyed Nigeria, and it was during his time that he and
others didn’t do it very well. If they had done the needful that time, nobody will have reason to be
complaining today. Adebanjo should not be shifting blames. He should let Nigeria be. I believe that
there is no problem without a solution.
I even see silver lining in the cloud for Nigeria – all hope is not lost. Nigeria will still be great – I
believe that we should remain together as one nation. Break-up will have negative consequences, it will
be catastrophic, and no nation survives two civil wars. But if those who insist on breaking up of Nigeria
still persist, then we can have a referendum over the matter. The North is not afraid of a break-up.
Nobody can blackmail the North. If we have the referendum, I believe that those who want Nigeria to
stay together as one nation will be in majority. Those people clamouring for break-up are in the
minority.
The North can’t be put in a tight corner. Some people should not think that they can use break-up as a
weapon to intimidate or threaten the North. I believe in one Nigeria, and I also believe that it is our
collective responsibility as patriotic citizens to make Nigeria work.

Reno Omokri Raises N1.2m For Uchechukwu Ukaepu, Onitsha

Fire Outbreak Victim
God Use Him To Raise 1.2m For Onitsha Fire Outbreak Victim In 24 Hours.

Former Aide to ex Nigerian President, Reno Omokri, recently located Uchechukwu Ukaepu, the victim
of Onitsha fire outbreak. Gistmore reports
Reno Omokri reveals God used him to raise 1.2 million naira in 24 hours after he asked Nigerians to
support him.

The victim, Uchechukwu Ukaepu sends his gratitude to Reno Omokri and Nigerians who made
donations for him to get back on his feet.

Gistmore had reported that the fire outbreak which occurred a few days ago destroyed property worth
billions of naira and some lives.

According to Reno Omokri:

God used me to raise ₦1.2 million for Uchechukwu Ukaepu in 24 hours, yet the man
cannot pronounce my name. He calls me Romeo Omakri. When God wants to bless you, it
doesn't matter your limitations. FAVOUR is not FAIR. God does not bless the
QUALIFIED. Rather, He QUALIFIES those He blesses. And to Uchechukwu Ukaepu, I
say, God bless you and your lovely family. God has turned your MOURNING into a good
MORNING. May affliction not arise a second time and may everything you put your hand
to do prosper, may you be blessed in the city and blessed in the field and may the sun not
strike you by day, nor the moon by night. In Christ’s name. #OnitshaMarketFire
#TableShaker

#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets

Yerima Shettima: North Won’t Succumb To Blackmail On 2023

Political leaders in the southern part of the country have been urged to stop canvassing rotation of
power to the region at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in 2023.

President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Comrade Yerima Shettima who gave the advice warned
southern leaders to stop dissipating their energies on such calls adding that it is the North’s turn to
produce Buhari’s successor. He also spoke further on this and other national issues with TUNDE
THOMAS.

What has become of the ultimatum you and your group, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum
gave to northern governors over the suspended RUGA project, have you been settled as it is being
rumoured?

How can anybody say that I have been settled? Settled for what? The fact that we have been keeping
quiet doesn’t mean that we have jettisoned our ultimatum to the northern governors, we’ve only
suspended our ultimatum to the governors in order to allow them work out a solution which will be
acceptable to us.

If you remember, after we gave the ultimatum to the governors, the chairman of the Northern
Governors Forum who is also the Plateau State governor, Mr Simon Lalong invited members of the
Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, which I lead to a meeting and we went there.
During that meeting with Governor Lalong, Adamawa State governor, Mr Umaru Fintiri was also in
attendance and both of them appealed to us to allow the National Livestock Transforma- tion
Plan(NLTP) which the Federal Government has brought up to replace the suspended RUGA project to
work. We had extensive discussion with the two governors over the issue.

Governor Lalong told us the advantages of the new NLTP. He added that the new project will bring a
lot of benefits not only to the herdsmen but also to farmers and other Nigerians.

With his extensive explanations, we then decided to suspend our ultimatum to the governors. We
suspended our ultimatum for now because we want to give the governors, and the Federal Government
benefit of doubt.

What we are doing now is to watch the government to see whether it will keep faith with its promises.
We don’t want to be seen as being antagonistic. We are also interested in peace and unity of Nigeria.

What we are against is injustice and oppression. So, for know, we are watching. We will give Federal
Government and the state governors enough time to see whether they will keep their promise or not.

On the issue of 2023, some Nigerians have accused the North of being greedy as a result of the
recent insistence by some groups and individuals that the region will not relinquish power after
President Buhari, a northerner must have completed his second term in 2023–

(Cuts in) It is unfortunate that many Nigerians are not being fair to the North. The North is presently
seriously marginalized. Forget that President Buhari, a northerner is in power. Although Buhari is in
power but under him, North is being marginalized. North is really suffering under Buhari leadership.

Today in Nigeria, a northerner is in power, but the truth is this, it is the southerners that are enjoying.
Buhari’s government is a government of the southerners, especially the Southwest. Everything in
Nigeria today favours the Southwest, the economy, the infrastructure, just mention anything, it is only
the Southwest that it favours.

For us in the North, we can’t continue to fold our hands, and that’s one of the reasons we believe that
after Buhari, the next President should also come from the North.

Then apart from that, between 1999 and now, the South has ruled for 15 years, but by the time Buhari
would finish his second term in 2023, the North would have just about nine years. Let me break it
down to make it easy for Nigerians to understand my logic. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a
southerner and Yoruba man spent eight years, former President Goodluck Jonathan spent six years plus.
Before he became President, he was first Acting President of Nigeria but later had to complete late
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure when Yar’Adua, a northerner died in office. So in the spirit
of justice, equity and fairness, is it not clear that it is supposed to be the turn of the North in 2023? By
insisting on 2023,the North is not asking for too much.
Other Nigerians should be fair to the North. It is the North’s turn in 2023, and any political party that
fails to have a northerner as its presidential candidate in 2023 will fail. Any party that presents any
presidential candidate that is not from the North is doomed. Enough is enough. The North is suffering
already under Buhari, we should not again be denied 2023 ticket.

Those Nigerians that are saying that the North is greedy are actually the greedy ones. They are the ones
that don’t believe in equity and justice. After the South has spent 15 years with Obasanjo and Jonathan,
and the North only nine years by the time Buhari would have completed his second term in 2023, it is
fair and logical that the North should produce the president in 2023. The North is taking this issue
seriously, and the North is not asking for anything extraordinary by insisting that it is our turn in 2023.
Any political party that fails to pick a northerner as its presidential candidate in 2023 will fail.

Are you not contradicting the zoning arrangement by what you are saying because the expectation is
that under the arrangement that power will return to the South in 2023?

Is zoning in the Nigerian constitution? No. Nigerian constitution doesn’t recognize or recommend
zoning. And if anybody is talking about any gentleman agreement, that is not to my knowledge.

North will field a presidential candidate in 2023 and I have no apology for saying that. If some people
are talking about equity and justice, it is the North that is being denied justice. Since 1999, the South
has been having it. They have spent 15 years and the North only nine years––and where is the justice in
that? If Nigerians truly believe in equity, then it is the turn of the North to produce the next president
after Buhari must have completed his tenure in 2023, and the northern candidate will be there between
2023 and 2027, then power can now rotate to the South. To me that is what is equity and justice. It is
unfortunate that some people criticize and condemn the North without being fair-minded.

Nothing will stop the North from fielding a presidential candidate in 2023. It is the turn of the North
going by all the facts I earlier stated. What can only prevent that is if we have proper debates and
discussions over the issue. But left to me, I believe it will be very unfair to deny North 2023
presidential ticket.

Many prominent Nigerians including elder statesmen Chief Edwin Clark, and Chief Ayo Adebanjo are
saying that it should be the turn of Igbo in 2023 since it is only the Southeast that is yet to have it since
1999, what’s your take on that?

I have no quarrel with that but my position still remains the same. It is the North’s turn in 2023.The
Igbos can wait till 2027. Igbos should wait till 2027 after the North must have had its turn between
2023 and 2027.

This issue is not about sentiments, and I also strongly believe that Igbo should stop threatening
Nigeria’s unity over this issue. Igbo leaders should call Nnamdi Kanu and members of his IPOB group
to order. Kanu and his group should stop undermining the government. Kanu and his IPOB through
their unpatriotic actions are hurting Igbo interests. Kanu is doing more harm than good to Igbo
interests. Kanu is not a patriot. He should show more patriotism and commitment to Nigeria. He should
stop all these madness. If Kanu and IPOB continue like this, other Nigerians will not trust Igbo.
Nnamdi Kanu has become a loose dog, Igbo leaders must restrain him. A lot of Nigerians have
sympathy for Igbos on the issue but people like Kanu and his IPOB members are causing trouble, and
doing more damage to Igbo interests. Igbo elders and leaders should find ways to call him to order.

What’s your reaction to recent declaration by Chief Ayo Adebanjo that there is nothing wrong with
Nigeria breaking up since the North is not allowing the country to work?

I was shocked when I read that interview by Papa Adebanjo. I have a lot of respect for him. I’ve
worked with him before, and ordinarily, I will not like to join issues with him. But my own position is
that breaking up Nigeria is not the best.

Adebanjo has had his good time in Nigeria, he enjoyed Nigeria, and it was during his time that he and
others didn’t do it very well. If they had done the needful that time, nobody will have reason to be
complaining today.

Adebanjo should not be shifting blames. He should let Nigeria be. I believe that there is no problem
without a solution. I even see silver lining in the cloud for Nigeria – all hope is not lost. Nigeria will
still be great – I believe that we should remain together as one nation. Break-up will have negative
consequences, it will be catastrophic, and no nation survives two civil wars.

But if those who insist on breaking up of Nigeria still persist, then we can have a referendum over the
matter. The North is not afraid of a break-up. Nobody can blackmail the North. If we have the
referendum, I believe that those who want Nigeria to stay together as one nation will be in majority.
Those people clamouring for break-up are in the minority. The North can’t be put in a tight corner.
Some people should not think that they can use break-up as a weapon to intimidate or threaten the
North. I believe in one Nigeria, and I also believe that it is our collective responsibility as patriotic
citizens to make Nigeria work.

You were saying earlier that President Buhari’s government is that of the South, especially the
Southwest, and that the North has not in any way benefitted from his government, but some Nigerians–

(Cuts in) Except we want to run away from saying the truth, the North is suffering under Buhari. The
North has been seriously marginalized by Buhari’s administration and this is very painful. This is why
some of us are not keeping quiet. The North will not keep quiet in order to please others. We won’t
please others to hurt ourselves. Buhari’s government has failed North.

What is the North enjoying under Buhari? We are enjoying nothing but hardship, hunger and suffering.
That is what Buhari is giving the North. Under Buhari’s leadership, what is thriving in the North is
banditry, kidnapping, and abductions. Hundreds of people are dying daily in the North due to banditry,
kidnappings and insurgency. In the North, people are now afraid of travelling by road. People now,
including big men, army generals and even police officers, now travel using train. You see army
generals and top police officers in railway stations with their escorts ready to board train for their trips.
They are also afraid of bandits and kidnappers. If army generals and top police officers are afraid of
bandits and kidnappers, then what is the hope of ordinary citizens? It is these generals and top police
officers that people look up to for protection but these uniformed men now are themselves afraid for
their own lives.

This is what Buhari’s administration has turned the North into.The North is really feeling the
brunt of Buhari’s administration & everybody in the North is tired. We are all worried.

You need to travel to the North to really see that people are suffering. Nobody feels secure and
safe again in the North. Is this what some people call enjoyment by the North under Buhari?

Let those people saying that the Buhari’s administration favours the North endeavour to come down to
North to have an experience of what northerners are passing through.

Some prominent Nigerians have canvassed the need to organize a national conference to discuss
how to move Nigeria forward, what’s your take on that?

Well, it is not a bad idea, and it won’t be out of place if we organize another national conference. But
my position is that we should not just be organizing national conferences just for the sake of organizing
it.

For instance, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was there, he organized one. When Goodluck
Jonathan was in office, he also organized another national conference.

That was in 2014, but that conference was nothing but a political jamboree. It was a charade. It was
seriously flawed, and this is why some Nigerians have been kicking against its implementation.

Those clamouring for the implementation of 2014 Jonathan confab are those that I consider as
beneficiaries of that conference. They were the people that took allowances and collected millions of
naira for participating in that sham called national conference.

Patriotic Nigerians will continue to resist the implementation of 2014 confab reports and
recommendations. That was not a confab but a caricature.

Those people from the North that attended the conference were not genuine representatives of the
North.They attended the conference on their own because of the allowances they were to collect.

The North wasnt represented at that conference by our best eleven.Rhe confab on its own was a
charade and that’s why its reports and recommendations will never see the light of the day.

It will continue to gather dust. Even if Goodluck Jonathan came back as President of Nigeria, 2014
confab reports and recommendations will never be implemented.

The 2014 confab report should be considered dead. That conference is not in the best interest of
Nigeria. So if we are going to organize a national conference, it must be purposeful. Not only that, it
must accommodate the interests of every section in Nigeria.

We even advised the northern delegates that attended the conference to stay away from it, but they
ignored us. Some of us were not even consulted before they left for Abuja to attend the conference.
Anybody talking about the implementation of 2014 confab is wasting his time.

Some state governors in the North including Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, and his
counterpart in Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle have been negotiating with bandits as part of
efforts to tackle insecurity but their action

That is foolishness. It is not only foolishness but also counter-productive. It is not the best
approach.This is very shameful.It is even embarrassing that these governors are making fanfare of their
negotiation with bandits.

They invite television stations and other media organisations to cover the event. What are they
celebrating? Celebrating criminality? This is a big shame.

Instead of negotiating with bandits, the governors should have provided police with the necessary
logistics & equipment which help the police to tackle crime.The governors should stop it, and take the
right step which is for them to equip the police.

What’s your take on the recent declaration by the leaders of the Middle Belt Forum that the
region is no longer part of the North?

Middle Belt remains an integral part of the North. Those Middle Belt Forum leaders including Dogo
Isuwa and Bitrus Pogbu are rabble-rousers. They are noisemakers who should be ignored. These people
don’t have knowledge of history.

They are speaking for themselves.Who even know them? They are creation of the media.They are
looking for cheap publicity.They have no followers. We need to examine Isuwa and Pogbu if they are
psychologically alright because they are talking as if they are confused.

I laugh when I see Isuwa, Pogbu and others who parade themselves as Middle Belt leaders when they
attend meetings with Southern leaders. What they should realize is that when the chips are down, they
will be on their own.Neither the Southeast, nor South-south, or Southwest will ever accept them.
I even blame the media for giving them attention the Middle Belt will ever remain an integral
part of the North.Dogo Isuwa, Pogbu and others are having illusions.They are going nowhere.

Some Nigerians claim that whenever calls for restructuring of Nigeria comes up, the North is
always opposed to it, why?

That’s a wrong assertion or declaration. North is not against restructuring. I’m a northerner and I’ve
always been an advocate of restructuring of Nigeria. I have been clamouring for restructuring of
Nigeria since over 15 years ago.

However, North will always oppose any hidden agenda against the interest of the region. I believe in
restructuring because restructuring will lead to devolution of power which in a way will reduce struggle
for power at the centre.

Devolution of power will make state governors to look inward to explore ways to harness resource in
their domain instead of depending on the monthly allocations from Abuja.

Our dependence on oil revenue is not helping. We need to revert to a true practice of federalism like it
was done in the First Republic.

In the First Republic,there was healthy competition among the regions as each region was harnessing
mineral resources in its domain to develop its area.That was the golden era of groundnut pyramid in
Kano.That time groundnut, and cotton export was fetching the North a lot of money.

The Southwest and the Southeast were also making money from cocoa, rubber, coal & other mineral
resources. Nobody then depended on revenue from crude oil sale because sale of crude oil in large
quantity has not started that time.

It was the discovery of oil that made everybody to become lazy.At a time, North was sustaining the
entire country with its resources. It is sad that today some of us from the North are being called all sorts
of names because of overdependence and reliance on oil revenues.

Every state in the country is richly blessed. What we need to do is to harness those resources for the
well-being of the people, and this will be made possible if we restructure. We need to embrace true
federalism for Nigeria to move forward.

Obi Visits Victims Of Petrol Tanker Explosion At Ochanja

Market, Onitsha
The victims of the fire incident were relieved with joy this morning following the visit of the former
governor of Anambra state, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi as he went to sympathise and commiserate
with them over the calamity that befell on them two days ago.

He was accompanied to the scene by the Senator representing Anambra Central and member
representing Nnewi north, south and Ekwusigo Fed. Constituency, Senator Uche Ekwunife and Hon.
Chris Azubogu.

Recall that in the year 2015, during the xenophobia attack on Nigerians in South Africa, Mr. Peter Obi
was the only high profile Nigerian that deemed it fit to travel and sympathize with our brothers in the
country.

The Story Of Mamman Daura, Nigeria's De Facto President

Who Rules From The Glass
A few days before it became grist for Nigeria’s overactive social media rumor mills, a retired general
and contemporary of Muhammadu Buhari’s told me, in the course of a 30-minute phone conversation,
that Mamman Daura, Buhari’s nephew who is nonetheless older than him by three years, had made up
his mind to “get at” Aisha Buhari by arranging a quiet marriage between Humanitarian Affairs Minister
Sadiya Umar Farouq and Muhammadu Buhari.

He mentioned this as an aside and seemed to expect me to be curious enough about what he had told
me to ask further questions. But I didn’t. That appeared to have shocked him, so he asked why I wasn’t
piqued by what he had told me. I said it was because it frankly didn’t interest me what Buhari did in his
private space.

I am by no means claiming any moral high grounds here. I think it’s legitimate to be curious about the
private lives of public officials whose decisions have consequences for millions of people, but that’s
not my own inclination. I care about the private affairs of public officials only if their private affairs
impinge on public policy.

That was why, in spite of pressures from friends and social media followers, I kept a studied silence on
the social media frenzy over this issue. As I told the general, it means nothing to me that “Buhari has
been dating Sadiya since CPC [Congress for Progressive Change] days”; that’s his private business,
which, in my opinion, we should be decent enough to respect.

I’m more worried, I told him, by the fact that Sadiya Umar Farouq is minister of Humanitarian Affairs,
Disaster Management & Social Development even when, according to a two-year-old Daily Nigerian
investigation titled “INVESTIGATION: Unmasking the real #Dabinogate beneficiaries,” she allegedly
diverted and misappropriated 200 tonnes of date palms (dabino) famously donated to internally
displaced persons in the northeast by the Saudi Arabian government in 2017.

She was Federal Commissioner in charge of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and
Internally Displaced Persons at the time. According to the Daily Nigerian, she “diverted [the 200
tonnes of date palms] to Zamfara State and kept [them] in a warehouse, while the rest was distributed
to traditional rulers.”

To steal from humanitarian donations to poor, vulnerable internally displaced people is the vilest, most
ignoble, least defensible form of villainy there can ever be. But Buhari has rewarded her eye-
wateringly larcenous treachery with an appointment as minister of—of all ministries— Humanitarian
Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development, a previously non-existent ministry!

Why would anyone create a ministry of “humanitarian affairs” and “disaster management” for a person
who has a history of insensate cruelty toward people who are victims of disasters and who desperately
need but have lacked humanitarian assistance? It’s like appointing a wolf to keep guard over sheep.

Curiously, Nigerians are more interested in her history of alleged romantic entanglements with Buhari
(which should be no one’s business) than the fact of her heading a ministry which her past eminently
disqualifies her for.

Anyway, why have I chosen to comment on the embarrassing public fight by Buhari’s obviously
dysfunctional family even when I initially had no interest in it? Well, it’s because the way Buhari
manages— or, more appropriately, mismanages—his immediate family provides insightful clues to
how he “ungoverns” Nigeria.

Buhari is a feeble, indecisive, infirm, emotionally dependent person for whom the idea of taking
responsibility is alien. People who know him intimately have told me that his psychological and
emotional makeup is unsuited for leadership. He is not only a loner; he always relies on others to take
decisions for him.

People close to him have told me long before now that Buhari has an innately and enduringly infantile
craving for a paternal dictatorship. I don’t know if this has anything to do with the fact that he lost his
father at an early age and didn’t quite experience sustained paternal guidance. But Mamman Daura has
been Buhari’s emotional and intellectual fortress and his father figure, although they are only about
three years apart in age. Daura makes momentous decisions for Buhari and rules on his behalf through
Abba Kyari, his protégé.

Mamman Daura is the first son of Buhari’s oldest half-brother from a different mother. That makes
Buhari his uncle, and him Buhari’s nephew. Many people, particularly from the South, have a hard time
wrapping their heads around this. Well, I have a similar situation. My late father married a younger
woman and had his last child when he was 80, so my first daughter is older than my youngest half-
brother. My daughter still struggles to call him her uncle.

This is important because Mamman Daura and his sidekick Abba Kyari are the power behind the
throne. They constitute the nucleus of the ill-famed Aso Rock cabal that acts as Buhari’s puppeteers. In
my October 22, 2016 column titled “Aisha Buhari and the Evil Aso Rock Cabal,” I pointed out that
“Buhari is held hostage by an evil, sneaky, corrupt, vulturous, and conniving cabal that ensures that his
wife doesn’t see him even in the ‘kitchen,’ the ‘living room,’ or ‘the other room.’

“The BBC interview was Aisha’s vigorous ventilation of pent-up anguish against a cold, calculating,
and corrupt cabal that has made Buhari a stranger to his own wife.” It’s the fifth most widely read
article of all time on my blog because although it was cryptic, many people, particularly in the North,
knew what I was talking about. I was told that the cabal actually met to discuss who divulged this
information to me.

It’s supremely emblematic that Mamman Daura (along with his entire family) lives in a wing of the
Presidential Villa called the “Glass House,” according to his spoilt, entitled daughter by the name of
Fatima Mamman Daura. “Glad house” is a metaphoric expression that means a position or a situation
that invites critical public scrutiny. Derived from the English proverb “Those who live in glass houses
should not throw stones,” it calls attention to hypocrisy.

And Mamman Daura is a dyed-in-the-wool hypocrite. Although he is a monogamist, he wanted to

marry a second wife for his younger uncle until he was shamed into abandoning it. Similarly, in
“Editing a Government Newspaper in Nigeria,” a chapter he contributed to a book titled Reporting
Africa edited by Olav Stokke, he rhapsodized over editing the New Nigerian that was “owned and
subsidized by the Government yet we criticize their action.” He characterized this as an “anomaly
neither properly understood by the people generally nor particularly liked by some government
officials.” Yet, he is now the intellectual driver of a government that supervises one of the most brutal
strangulation of the news media and of freedom of speech itself.

I am glad that Mamman Daura, Nigeria’s de facto president, is now coming out of the shadows. You
can’t live in the Glass House, throw stones at Nigerians, and continue to live in the shadows.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Aisha Buhari herself isn’t the victim— and hero of democracy— she’s positioning
herself to be. Her fight against Mamman Daura (and Abba Kyari) is mostly over access to the spoils of
governance.

She has been given several concessions by the cabal, but she always wants more. For instance, her
older brother by the name of Ahmed Halilu was recently quietly appointed as one of only two executive
directors at the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC, among several concessions she has been
given. So don’t cry for her. Cry for Nigeria.

Ghana Trade Union Vote To Ban Made-in-nigeria Products

Following Border Closure
As Nigeria’s land border closure bites West African countries, the Ghana Union of Traders Association
(GUTA) has called for a total boycott of all Nigerian products imported by Ghana.
The move, the traders union believes, will force the Nigerian government to open up its land borders
for foreign goods. Nigeria partially shut its borders since August.
According to Ghanaweb.com, Greater Accra Regional Secretary of GUTA, David Kwadwo Amoateng
on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Friday said the Nigerian government has not been fair to
foreign traders.
In return, he expects the Ghana government to prevent Nigerian traders from bringing goods into
Ghana, but that plea has fallen on deaf ears.
“Either somebody’s bread has been buttered or we are cowards. Government is not being fair to us,” he
fumed.
Mr Amoateng cited how Dangote cement had taken over the market while local ones from GHACEM
are suffering.
“Let’s boycott Nigerian products as payback to their government’s action. How can we be slaves in our
own country?” he said.
Mr Amoateng argued that the issue, if not checked, could hamper the Continental Free Trade Area.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has appealed to Ghanaian traders to
remain calm as it works with the Nigerian authorities to ease its ban on the exportation of Non-
traditional products.

Governor Obaseki’s Convoy Accident: 7 Dead On His Way To

AAU Convocation
Seven people have been confirmed dead in an accident involving the convoy of Edo State Governor,
Mr Godwin Obaseki.

According to report, the accident involving the advance team of the Governor, occurred today along
Benin-Auchi expressway.

They were said to be on their way to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, ahead of Obaseki’s visit for the
22nd convocation ceremony of the school.

Several other persons including one of the Governor’s driver and Government House protocol, were
also injured in the accident.

Punch reports that the accident occurred when a Toyota Hilux van on the Governor’s team had a head-
on collision with a passenger Audi car.

Three other survivors were said to have been rushed to the Central Hospital in Benin City for urgent
medical attention.

The State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, described it
as “very unfortunate.”

On his part, the Edo state commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anthony Oko, said
two children died on their way to the hospital.

Oko said all occupants of the Audi car died while driver of the Hilux van had injuries.

He attributed the cause of the accident to lost of control by the driver of the Audi car.

The FRSC boss said the driver entered a pothole and rammed into the hilux van.