Nov 17 - Nov 18 News

Nov 17 - Nov 18 News
November 17
#RevolutionNow: stop insulting Nigerians, release sowore Falana

tells SSS
The State Security Service have been accused of insulting “the collective intelligence of Nigerians" by
Mr. Femi Falana(SAN) for changing reansons, flouting court orders for the release of the leader of
RevolutionNow campaign and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore and others in their
custody.
Representing Sowore and Ibrahim El-Zazaki, leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, who
has been in the custody of SSS since 2015, Falana said the SSS should free “Nigerians languishing in
unlawful custody without any further delay".
This was disclosed by Falana while reacting to the claim that the leader of the RevolutionNow
campaign alongside with another detainee Olawale Bakare, had requested to remain in the SSS custody.
Within a spate of one week the state security service (SSS) has adduced three contradictory reasons for
not complying with the order of the federal high court for the immediate release Sowore and Bakare
from illegal custody. In a public statement issued on 9/11/19 the SSS claimed that it had wanted to
release the duo but for the fact that no one had showed up to receive them. When their lawyers and
family members offered to receive them the sss disqualified them,” he said Saturday in a statement.
“The SSS turned round to say that it would only release the detainees to their sureties. Having found
that it lacks the vires to vet sureties that have been verified by the federal high court the SSS has asked
Nigerians to believe that Messrs Sowore and Bakare had applied to be detained in its protective and
comfortable custody!
“Instead of apologising for exposing Nigeria to underserved odium the spokesperson of the security
agency has asked us to believe that Sowore and Bakare, Mr. and Mrs Elzakzaky and Col. Sambo
Dasuki (rtd) rather chose to be looked after by the SSS.
“Until the detainees and criminal suspects are allowed to regain their liberty the SSS should stop
insulting the collective intelligence of the Nigerian people by attempting to justify the subversion of the
rule of law,” Mr Falana said.
Responding to what he called “the latest justification for such brazen abuse of power”, Falana however,
said he decided to respond because it was needful, as the counsel representing those held in custody of
the SSS, against court order.
“At various times in the past 4 years, the federal high court, the federal capital territory high court, the
court of appeal and the ECOWAS court of justice admitted Col. Dasuki to bail pending trial. Upon
meeting his bail conditions on 30/12/15 he was released by the Kuje prison authorities.
However, the SSS operatives arrested him at the gate of the prison and he has since been detained in
defiance of the orders of the aforementioned municipal and regional courts.”
Mr. Falana also accused the Minister of Information Mr. Lai Mohammed, of spreading false
information about the status of El-Zakzaky.
“With respect to Elzakzaky’s the Information Minister, Mr. Lai Mohammed had said on June 16, 2017
that “Elzakzaky is actually not in prison custody nor police custody nor SSS custody? El-Zakzaky is in
a house with his family, this is the honest truth. The court ruled that he will be released after his house
has been rebuilt.
Nobody wants to accept El-Zakzaky as a neighbor. So we have been able to build a house, where do we
release him to?” When were the Elzakzakys transferred to the custody of the SSS from the house built
for them by the federal government?” Mr Falana asked.
“On another occasion, the federal government claimed that Mrs Zeinat Elzakzaky was not detained but
that she chose the company of her detained husband, Mr. Elzakzaky. As if that was not enough Mr. Lai
Mohammed disclosed that the federal government was spending N3.5 million to feed the Elzakzaky per
month. Since the Elzakzakys have been detained illegally for the past 46 months the federal
government must have wasted N168 million on feeding the couple!”
Giving reason why Mr El-Zakzaky and a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, will not be
released, the Federal Government argue that freedom of the two detainees is detrimental to Nigeria’s
national security which was allegedly threatened by the actions of the two, :Falana said.
He added that media publications on the threats by the government to report a federal high court judge,
Taiwo Taiwo, to Nigeria’s judicial regulatory body, the National Judicial Council was evidence of the
SSS conviction that it is right to continue detaining Mr Sowore.
“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to direct the attention of Mr. Bichi Mogaji, the Director-General
of the State Security Service to section 287 of the Constitution which has imposed a duty on all
authorities and persons to comply with the decisions of all competent courts in Nigeria,” Mr Falana
said.
Why Nigeria Is A Poor Country And Will Not Develop Anytime

Soon
Nigeria is a poor country and there's no money . Nigeria only makes $35 billion dollars from oil per
year .
A world class construction of all roads(sidewalks,bicycle paths ,bridges ,drainage,marking and traffic
signs included) in Anambra alone would cost $10 billion dollars. Anambra only receives $11 million
dollars per month or $130 million dollars per year from the Nigerian state .
A world class airport like the one you see in Dubai and US and china cost $1 billion to build. A 100
story skyscraper like the ones in New York and Dubai cost $1 billion dollars. Anambra needs $5 billion
dollars to have uninterrupted electricity .Nigeria needs $200 billion dollars to have uninterrupted
power. That's one of the reasons there is no significant projects in Nigeria because there's simply no
money after the 35 billion dollars is dispersed into 100s of cities,towns ,villages and local
governments .
With yearly revenue of around $35 to $40 billion dollars , there's only so much to be done with a
population of 180 million .That's why the economy needs to be diversified. Nigeria will not develop
anytime soon,not because the president and governors would not like to develop,but because there's no
money to do much .The money available at this time is to pay government workers and build a few
mediocre roads and structures and keep the economy afloat.
Kogi Governorship Election Official Results From LGAs -

Premium Times
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/363652-kogidecides-official-results-from-lgas.html
Final result for Idah LG KOGI EAST Gubernatorial elections
Total number of accredited voters – 56,743

Total valid votes – 19037
Void votes – 772
Total votes cast – 13809
APC 4062
PDP 13,962
SDP 241
Omala LGA Gubernatorial Election Results
Total Number of Registered Voters= 7153.

Total Number of Accredited Voters= 3239.
APC:1264
PDP: 1765.
SDP: 94.
VALID VOTES: 3158.

REJECTED VOTES: 79.
Total Votes cast: 3239.
There was no cancellation of votes.
FINAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESULT OF YAGBA WEST LG SENATORIAL POLL
TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS : 42 784

TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS : 17 523
PARTIES AND THEIR SCORES.
APC : 7914
PDP : 8980
TOTAL VALID VOTES : 17 068

REJECTED VOTES: 397
TOTAL VOTES CAST : 17 465
FINAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESULT OF YAGBA WEST LG GUBERNATORIAL POLL
TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS : 42 063

TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS : (was not written on the result sheet at the time of
filling this report)
PARTIES AND THEIR SCORES.
APC : 7868
PDP : 8860
SDP : 211

REJECTED VOTES: 399
Final Result for Adavi local government of Kogi state live from INEC’s headquarters,
Ogominana, Adavi, Kogi State.
APC:
PDP: 366
SDP: 279
Total registered voters: 105906

Total Number of Accredited voters: 66222
Total Votes cast: 65967
Total Valid votes: 65595
Rejected Votes: 372
Total PU’s that results were cancelled: 10
Total number of registered voters in cancelled PUs: 3927
[b]
FINAL RESULTS FOR OKENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
*No of RAC Centres* 11

*No of Polling Units:*
*Registered Voters:* 131166
*Accredited Voters:* 114001
*Total valid votes:* 113170
*Rejected votes:* 250
*Total Votes Cast:* 113420
A: 5
AAC: 10
AD: 11
ADC: 28
ADP: 11
ANRP: 0[b]
APC: 112764[/b]
APGA: 20
GDPN: 3
GPN: 3
HDP: 2
JMPP: 1
MAJA: 7
NCP: 12
PDP: 139
PPN: 14
PPP: 15
PRP: 25
SDP: 50
UDP: 4
UPC: 3
YDP: 10
YPP: 6
ZLP: 1
APM: 26
NO CANCELLATION
RETURNING OFFICER:
Prof Olarewaju Samuel Ola, UNIJOS
Final Results from Koton Karfe LGA Governorship election
Registered voters:53,590
Accredited voters:25,793
Rejected vote:323
Total valid votes:24,264
APC-14097
PDP- 9404
SDP-657
Final Results from Koton karfe LGA Senatorial election
Registered voters:53,580
Accredited voters:24,576
Rejected vote:330
Total valid votes:24,246

APC-14168
PDP- 9786
SDP-196
FINAL RESULTS FOR OKEHI LG, KOGI STATE

APC: 36954
PDP: 487
SDP: 3095
Yahaya Bello Wins Okene Local Government With Very Large

Margin
The Kogi State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yahaya Bello, has
defeated his closest rivals, Musa Wada of the PDP and Natasha Akpoti of SDP, in Okene Local
Government Area of Kogi Central.
The governor polled 112,764 votes to defeat Ms Akpoti of the SDP and Mr Wada of the PDP who both
scored 50 and 139 votes respectively.
The result from the local government was signed by the collation officer of the local government,
Olanrewaju Samuel, an associate professor.
The local government’s results is expected to be strongly contested as it claims none of the PDP or SDP
could poll a total of 200 votes in all the polling units in the local government.
Okene local government is part of Kogi Central senatorial district. Ms Akpoti had criticised the conduct
of the election in the senatorial district saying no real election took place there.
Anambra Declares November 18 Public Holiday In Honour Of

Zik
The Government of Anambra State has declared Monday, November 18, 2019, a Public Holiday in
honour of the great Owelle of Onitsha, Nigeria’s indigenous Governor-General Right Honourable Dr.
Nnamdi Azikiwe.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Anambra State, Mr James Eze noted that
the Public Holiday which was declared to mark the birthday of the pioneer President should have held
on his actual birthday which is Saturday, November 16, 2019, but has to be observed on Monday,
November 18 for obvious reasons.
“Following this declaration, Monday, November 18, 2019, shall be observed as a work-free day in
Anambra State” it stated.
According to the statement “ the declaration came on the heels of repeated appeals by the governor of
Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano to the Federal Government to declare a national public holiday in
honour of the great Zik as has been done for other illustrious leaders across the continent who led their
respective countries from the shackles of colonial rule to independence.
“Governor Obiano had used the opportunity of the commissioning of Zik Mausoleum in January this
year to appeal that Nigeria should set aside a Public Holiday in honour of the great Zik just as Ghana
did for Kwame Nkrumah, as Kenya did for Jomoh Kenyatta, as Tanzania did for Julius Nyerere and as
Angola did for Agostinho Neto”.
The state government stressed that the Great Zik of Africa had so much influence on the nationalist
struggles for independence across Africa and played a unique brand of all-inclusive politics that left no
place for ethnicity and religion all of which make the case for a national day in his honour very
compelling.
“Therefore, from this year onwards, November 16 has been set aside in Anambra State to
commemorate Right Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, celebrate his legacies and reflect on the ideals and
values that the great statesman lived and died for.
“It is expected that in blazing the trail by setting a day aside for Zik, Anambra State Government is
making the case for a national holiday in honour of Zik a compelling one.
“It must be remembered that the Great Zik of Africa was one of the greatest Pan-Africanists who
devoted his life and times to the struggle for the emancipation of Africa and people of African descent.
“Till today, Zik remains the only Nigerian President who spoke Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba fluently and
the only one whose children bore names that reflect the three major ethnic groups in the country.
Kogi Election: 30 INEC Staff Missing

The electoral commission, INEC, has declared 30 of its staff missing.
The ad-hoc staff took part in Saturday’s Kogi State governorship election. They were posted to
Olamaboro Local Government Area (LGA) by the commission.
They were declared missing around 1 a.m. on Sunday during the final collation of results in the local
government.
The missing INEC staff include Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) of
polling units in Imane ward 1 and 2 of Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State.
Many of the ad-hoc staff used by INEC are corps members of the NYSC.
Just as the whereabouts of the officials are unknown, results from the polling units where they served
have also been declared missing.
Announcing the development, the LGA Election Officer, in-charge of collating and announcing the
local government’s results, Garba Mahmood, said the INEC ad-hoc staff were reported missing after
the observation of some police officers who raised concern that they were last seen shortly after voting
ended at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Mr Mahmood said repeated calls to their telephone numbers did not go through.
According to a PREMIUM TIMES AND PTCIJ observer who witnessed the declaration by Mr
Mahmood, the official asked party agents whether or not the missing staff should be waited for. Based
on their response, he declared them missing.
Mr Mahmood then released the names of the missing persons.
PREMIUM TIMES tried to contact the spokesperson to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, on the
status of the missing staff. He did not pick calls or reply a text message sent to him.
The police spokesperson in Kogi, William Aya, could also not be reached on the status of the missing
persons.
The Kogi governorship election was characterized by violence, ballot box snatching, intimidation of
voters and vote buying in many parts of the state.
Although 24 candidates are contesting the election, it is seen as a context between incumbent governor
Yahaya Bello of the APC and Musa Wada of the PDP.
See the list of the missing staff as provided by INEC and the police at the Olamaboro collation
centre.
Olamaboro III
Unit 002- (1) Oladipo Victor
(2) Achimi Samson P-08136653704
(3) Umar Faruk Sani-08032745663
(4) Adama Ibrahim
Unit 006- (1) Abayomi Roseline E.
(2) Onuche Abel E

(3) Onojah Emmanuel
(4) Umoru Mariam-
Unit 013- (1) Effiong Akwaowo-Ukpe
(2) Mattew Agada
(3) Samuel Ibrahim
(4) Sado Bello
Imane 1
Unit 006- (1) Nzeofia Kingsley- Presiding Officer (PO)
(2) Hassan Musa- Assistant Presiding Officer 1 (APO 1)
(3) Ekele Michael – Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)
(4) Ahmed Mattew – Assistant Presiding Officer 3(APO 3 )
Unit 012 -(1) Ovioawho Omonefe B.- Presiding Officer (PO)
(2) Baba Eric -Assistant Presiding Officer 1 (APO 1)
(3) Gabriel Samuel Assistant Presiding Officer 2 (APO 2)
Unit 015-(1) Nwafor Emmanuel- Presiding Officer (PO)
(2) Agada Ochegeugwa- Assistant Presiding Officer 1(APO 1)
(3) Ojih Martina- Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)
Unit 016 (1) Ezugwu Stanley- Presiding Officer (PO)
(2) Mohammed Abdullahi- Assistant Presiding Officer 1(APO 1)
(3) Mohammed Ibrahim- Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)
(4) Adejoh Joy- Assistant Presiding Officer 3(APO 3)
Unit 022 (1) Adebisi Comfort – Presiding Officer (PO)

(2) Yusuf Sofiat- Assistant Presiding Officer 1(APO 1)
(3) Onoja Alice- Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)
(4) Onuche Vincent- Assistant Presiding Officer 3(APO 3)
Nigeria To Open Border After Buhari, Akufo-addo Meeting –

Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs And Regional Integration Minister, Mohammad Habibu Tijani
(MP), says Nigeria will soon open its closed borders.
Africa’s most populous nation unexpectedly closed its land borders to all movements of goods, banning
both imports and exports through land.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Empire News’ Emmanuel Ohene-Gyan on the sidelines of a
geostrategic event dubbed the MEDays International forum in Morocco’s city of Tangier, Mr Tijani
revealed that Nigeria has agreed to open its borders after President Muhammadu Buhari meets his
counter President Akufo-Addo of Ghana.
“Even though we have ECOWAS protocols, we must situate our national laws into that of ECOWAS,
Nigerians decided to close its borders because they decided to protect their country, because they think
they want to encourage local production of rice and others, and when we approached them they said
Ghana is not their target but it is affecting us so after series of meetings they agreed to open the border
with some conditions,” he stated.
The unexpected closure of the Nigerian border has received widespread condemnation from many
people and has also had devastating effects on countries like Ghana.
The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, further stated that, ” I am privy to information that Customs
officers will follow goods that are of Ghanaian origin into Nigeria and hand them over to their
counterparts vice versa so that there will not be the possibility of repackaging of goods somewhere and
I’m sure we will overcome it, I’m very optimistic”.
When asked by Ohene-Gyan when exactly the border will be open, Mr Tijani could not be specific with
timelines except to say the borders will be open after the meetings between the two Presidents.
Other dignitaries who are attending the international forum includes Deputy Energy Minister Incharge
Finance and Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Effia in the Western Region, Joseph Cudjoe
who set to speak at the forum tomorrow and the CEO of the Ghana Commodity Exchange.
The MEDays International forum consists of about thirty sessions with over 150 speakers such as siting
and past Presidents, government officials, experts and the academia.
INEC May Cancel Results From Units Affected By Ballot Box

Snatching
The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) in charge of Information and Voter
Education and Festus Okoye has said that election results from polling units where there were reported
cases of ballot box snatching may be cancelled depending on reports from the presiding officer in such
units.
Okoye also said that the Commission was not aware of allegation made by the Peoples Democratic
Party that Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC was forcing the Commission to sign prefilled results.
The INEC National Commissioner told The Nation that if there are areas where ballot box snatching
was reported, the presiding officer is expected to write a report on such incident to the Electoral Officer
stating the issues concern and how they fill into the guidelines.
According to him, the report from the presiding officers from such units will help the commission to
determine whether the results from such units will be cancelled outright or whether a rerun will be
ordered or whether unit will be awarded a zero score.
He said further that until such reports is received from the officers on the field the commission will not
take decision on it.
On the allegations that Governor Bello is forcing the Commission to sign prefilled results, he said the
commission was not aware of such incidence and is not party to such action.
He said “we have some Resident and National Commissioners and other senior staff of the commission
on the field. They are doing their job in accordance to the law.
He said “we are not aware of such an incident and if such an incident is taking place, there will be a
report because we have some Resident Electoral Commissioners supervising a cluster of local
government areas. We also have some of our senior staff and national commissioners out there in the
field. So, there is a channel through which people can report. So, if a thing of such is happening, we
will have a report immediately.”
Constituency Projects: Senate Move For Total Control Of

Project Management
The Senate has introduced a new bill that seeks to consign the management of constituency projects
initiated by federal lawmakers.
The Bill when passed would deny ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal government
from having any input in awarding contracts for projects captured under the constituency fund.
The Bill seeks the setting up of a special fund made up of 2.5 per cent of yearly budget to be dedicated
to constituency projects.
The Bill also stipulated that the fund when set up would be managed by the Rural Development
Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Currently, constituency projects of lawmakers are captured in the capital allocation of relevant MDAs.
The MDAs also award the contracts and determine the execution of the projects.
The practice had led to outcry by lawmakers who often complain that funds for projects allocated
against their names are never released or suffer poor releases which often stall the implementation of
such projects.
Investigations by The Nation show that the N100billion allocated for constituency projects in the 2019
budget have not been released by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a bid to forestall the repeat of the development in future, a former Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume,
has sponsored the “Constituency Development Fund Bill, 2019”, which scaled first reading on the floor
of the red chamber, on Tuesday.
The bill, according to a copy, obtained by our reporter on Friday, seeks to legalise the management and
implementation of constituency development funds in the country.
Read Also: Senate moves to legalize constituency projects
Against the current practice where MDAs are fully in charge, the new legislation seeks to entrust the
execution of such projects in the hands of the Rural Development Department of the proposed agency.
The decisions on the projects to be implemented, according to the bill, would remain with the various
constituencies through the Constituency Development Project Advisory Committees set up for each
federal constituency and senatorial district.
APC's National Caucus, NEC Meetings To Hold This Week

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have bowed to the threats by APC
governors to convene the party’s national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.
The national leadership of the APC is to hold separate meetings of its national caucus and National
Executive Committee (NEC) this week, Daily Trust on Sunday learnt yesterday.
Reliable party sources said while the national caucus would hold at the Presidential Villa on the night
of Thursday, November 21, the NEC would meet on Friday, November 22 in the morning at the APC
National Secretariat in Abuja.
When contacted yesterday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who
confirmed the development, however, did not speak on the agenda of the meetings.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who returned to the country on Friday night, is expected to be part of
the meetings.
Last Wednesday, the APC governors asked Oshiomhole to either resign or convene a meeting of NEC
to resolve all challenges.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that critical matters would be sorted out at the national caucus meeting
to be presided over by the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and attended by the
leadership of National Assembly, including the Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The issues discussed at caucus, sources said, would be ratified at the NEC meeting expected to be brief
because of the Jum’aat prayers on Friday.
Part of the issues expected to be ironed out is the need to fill the existing vacant positions in the
National Working Committee (NWC) and the ongoing political battle between the party’s national
chairman, Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State ahead of the 2020 gubernatorial
poll in the state.
The outcome of the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states is another matter expected to be
reviewed together with the state of the party in various states.
The governors, under the aegis of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), said in the current
circumstance, nothing short of a NEC or national caucus meeting of the party could resolve all
increasing organisational challenges as a party.
The position was contained in a statement issued by the NGF Director General, Salihu Mohammed
Lukman.
The governors said the party’s national leaders must rise to the challenge facing the APC as a party and
take all necessary measures to convene superior organ meetings to begin to resolve all challenges,
stressing that “the current public disgrace must end.”
They expressed concern over the current feud between Oshiomhole and Obaseki and the
disqualification of its deputy governorship candidate in Bayelsa State.
The governors, who said the efforts should have been made towards vacating the court order
disqualifying its candidate, warned against the repeat of its misfortunes in Adamawa, Zamfara, Rivers
and Bauchi in Bayelsa, Anambra, Edo and Ondo states with the current development.
They expressed belief that the vacant positions in the NWC should have been filled.
In Edo, factions loyal to Oshiomhole and Obaseki had suspended the two leaders after passing votes of
no confidence on them at separate press conferences.
Buhari Doesn't Need Yoruba Anymore- Tanko Yakasai

Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has lamented the political misfortune of Prof Yemi
Osinbajo, saying the crisis in the Presidency owes a lot to the actions he took as acting President.
But while he sympathizes with Osinbajo, he was of the view that the Yoruba, where the vice
president comes from, can do nothing democratically that would affect President Buhari,
pointing out that the president does not need their votes any more, and they cannot also garner
‘the two third majority of votes’ required to impeach him.
He also decried the crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) across a number of states in the
country while insisting that the ruling party has not learnt any lesson from it previous misfortune in
places like Zamfara State. Excerpts:
Our starting point is the intrigue in the Presidency between the president and his deputy. How do
you see the script?
I have just been talking about this problem a while ago. If you look at the scenario and the play ups
before now, you will certainly not be surprised at what is happening between President Buhari and Vice
President Osinbajo. If you remember before President Buhari travelled abroad for medical attention, he
had submitted the name of the former Chief Justice on acting capacity and he was there when that time
elapsed and he had to reappoint him in the same acting capacity. By law that can only be done twice
and it cannot be done thrice and by the time the second appointment in acing capacity lapsed, President
Buhari was still abroad and, therefore, it became imperative for acting President Osinbajo to act. Being
a lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he knows that if having been appointed twice, the acting Chief
Justice cannot be nominated again. His name must be submitted to the National Assembly. There is no
other way except if Buhari had nominated the name of another person, which was not the case. I am
just thinking on my own. I do not think that Buhari took kindly the act of that nomination because if he
would nominate the acting Chief Justice twice, it means that he probably had no intention of
nominating him for confirmation and in any case we saw how it all ended. Circumstances made
Osinbajo to act and Buhari was not happy about that.
Could this be the history of their problem sir?
No, I am coming to that…if you remember the case of Lawal Daura. If you remember, Daura
authorized his men to block the access to the National Assembly and Osinbajo was still the acting
president and as a lawyer, he has no alternative, but to take action against Daura because there is no
provision in the Constitution that allowed Lawal Daura to prevent the National Assembly from
discharging its responsibility. There is no such provision for anybody, not even the president has the
powers to prevent the National Assembly from discharging its functions. So, the acting president as at
that time has no alternative, but to act against the infraction committed by DSS under the directive of
Lawal Daura. He removed Lawal Daura, detained him and withdrew the DSS operatives and allowed
the National Assembly to continue to operate uninterrupted. In my own opinion, Buhari was not happy
with these situations. Now, if you look at the situation till date, President Buhari has never, since then,
given Osibanjo opportunity to act as the President of Nigeria. This two situations should convince
everybody, even the Doubting Thomases that there is sometime brewing in the mind of President
Buhari, between him and Osinbajo. I have no evidence, but these are my deductions.
Let us look at the issue of removing him from some of his positions and the recent case of the sacking
of his staff. How does that play into this?
Let me say that the report about the withdrawal of his staff was reported and there was also a denial – I
think from the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government. In any case whatever it is, if you put
that together with what I have just said about the case of Daura and Walter Onnoghen, you will say that
all is not well with this Presidency. Yes, they would deny the statement, but there is no smoke without
fire.
How does this affect the Yoruba people who see themselves as critical stakeholders in the emergence of
the Buhari administration?
Well, I have been saying since the period of Obasanjo that in my opinion a presidency, which is
occupied by a retired military General is not a full fledged democracy. I am, therefore, not surprised at
the zig-zag way that our Presidency is going because I already have this feeling that there is no way a
military General would operate democracy according to the rule of the game.
What I was actually saying is that the Yoruba feel that what is happening to Osinbajo is a direct attack
on them. Are they reading the script well enough?
No, I don’t think so. But let me say this. There is no doubt that Yoruba votes made it possible for
Buhari to emerge as President of Nigeria twice. But it depends on the person of the president to
appreciate this or not to appreciate it. If he is somebody who appreciates good gesture, it would have
been a different matter. But I don’t think that is the situation. Yes, the Yoruba made it possible for
Buhari to be the president for the first time and the second term. But Buhari does not need the Yoruba
and their votes any more. He is already the president. They are not in the control of the National
Assembly and, therefore, they cannot impeach him. I don’t think he needs them and so it is up to them
to decide what to do in the face of what is before them. Whether they satisfied that they have been
compensated. No matter what they feel about what is happening honestly they could do little to alter
their fate. Buhari doesn’t need them any more. He is already the president. You cannot remove him
unless by impeachment and you do not have a two-third majority required to undertake such a task in
the National Assembly and so even by way of impeachment, they cannot do anything to Buhari.
What then is your advice to the Yoruba in the face of all this?
Next time, this should serve as a lesson for them. In fact, it should serve as a lesson to Nigerians. The
character of the people you are going to support should be a matter for thorough consideration before
yourself and you people to the person.
Bola Tinubu has been rather silent in the unveiling drama. What do you make of his silence?
Well, he is still looking for the support of Buhari supporters in the North. The story is that Tinubu is
thinking of replacing Buhari at the end of his tenure and I will not be surprised that this is the case. If
that is the case, then Tinubu would not dismiss the goodwill of Buhari’s supporters in the North.
And could it be that he has a hand in the unfortunate fate of Osinbajo, given that both are rumoured to
be interested in the presidency come 2023?
I have not heard that Bola Tinubu is opposed to the prospect of Osinbajo emerging as the presidential
candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the future.
Some people have said that there is no zoning in APC Constitution and that the North can still go for
the presidency in the next elections. What is your take?
Those who are saying this are people who are prepared to dam the consequences. We cannot in the
present situation think of APC nominating a northerner as a candidate after the two terms of Buhari
Presidency. Any body who is a product of democracy must think twice before making this statement
because we don’t have the required number to produce a president of this country. We certainly need
some support from the South and the only possible area that we can look up for meaningful support is
the Southwest.
Coming back to Osinbajo travails. What do you think the man could do to win back the admiration and
love of President Buhari and his immediate caucus members?
Well, according to people who are very close to Buhari, people who know him very well say that he is
not somebody who forgets. He said he would not forget. I read that somewhere. He didn’t say that he
would not forgive. He said that he would not forget. I can’t remember the exact situation, but he stated
it clearly that he would never forget. But he didn’t say that he would never forgive.
Of late, we have a number of court judgments that have not been obeyed. There is this fear that our
democracy is beginning to go below the standards. What is your remark?
What you have just raised is supportive of what I have just said about the character of the Presidency.
But how do you see the closure of the border by the present administration. While some people
are crying, others are smiling. What is your take?
In my opinion, this is nothing, but a fire brigade approach. When there is a fire, when the fire brigade
personnel come, both the particular item that is on fire and the item that is not on fire, they pour water
on all of them. They would not mind spoiling all the furniture in the house to quench the fire. So, this is
a fire brigade approach and in my opinion, it is not a good approach in solving problem. The complaint
by Nigerians is that there is massive smuggling of rice into the country. There is no complain of
massive smuggling of spare parts, textile materials, drugs and other things into the country. So, to me, a
reasonable government would devote itself to what it can do to deal with the problem of smuggling of
rice to the exclusion of other items, because they are not being smuggled in the same proportion. This
is not the first time. You remember when Presdient Buhari became the military Head of State, he
changed the currency. The allegation then was that civilians had stashed a lot of money in their homes
and hiding places. In an attempt to deal with the problem of politicians hiding looted money, he
directed for a change of an entire currency. Changing a currency is a very expensive undertaking. It
costs a lot and in the final analysis, the amount of loss that this country sustained by far outweighed the
advantage that was set out to achieve. And apart from that, with the kind of characters we have in
business. Many of these businessmen do not bank their money in the banks, including most richest
men. So, the number of Nigerians who became bankrupt was enormous. They lost everything during
the currency change.
Would the border closure be of a serious help to the economy?
What I am saying is that we are used to this kind of situation. When you are talking of a fire brigade
approach, the consequences are not considered. There are some problems where you do not adopt the
fire brigade approach. You need to study the problem carefully and come up with an alternative way or
ways of tackling the problem so that you don’t make your people to suffer in an attempt to relieve them
of a burden.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party is enmeshed in crisis in many fronts. What do
make of these quarrels in many states, including, of course, Edo State?
Well, you know that politics is an act and you just turn out to be a politician over night. You have to
learn the process, learn how to do it. In England, people like you, younger people as early as when they
are in secondary schools, make up their minds to go into politics. When they graduate, they would go
and work in the offices of political parties and be engaged and from there, they would become officials
in their local party, in their constituencies an they would be nominated as candidates. Most of the
politicians that are elected in Britain started this way. There are few that would just venture into
politics, but even the few, they have to undergo a certain transition from whatever they were doing
before going into certain career. It is a career. What you are trying to say is that APC has not been able
to manage its crisis. You cannot manage a crisis if you don’t know how to manage it. Simple. The fact
is that they don’t know how to manage crisis. This kind of thing happened in Zamfara State, and now I
was told that something close to it has happened in Bayelsa, that APC candidate and the man who ran
against him had been disqualified by the courts. What happened in Zamfara is enough to teach APC
and every politician a lesson. So, that it wouldn’t repeat itself. But look at it, it is being repeated.
What of what is happening Edo State?
The governor, according to stories, was the nominee of Adams Oshiomhole in the first instance. And I
remember some happenings that gave credence to that assumption. For the both of them now, within a
period of four years, to be dead enemies – I have no quarrel with Oshiomhole, he has respected my age
and I like his doggedness. But there is no doubt about the fact that APC is not learning a lesson in Edo
and Bayelsa states. My fear for them is that where the party in power doesn’t put itself together, the
main opposition would benefit from the fight.
Army Rescues Octogenarian, Others From Boko Haram

Terrorists
The Nigerian Army troops deployed at Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno has subdued Boko
Haram terrorists and rescued an Octogenarian, three women and four children held captives by the
insurgents.
The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, disclosed this in a statement on
Sunday in Abuja.
Iliyasu said that the rescued victims were evacuated while the children among them were equally
administered with Polio Vaccination by a Nigerian Army medical team.
He added that no causality was recorded by the army troops during the commando operations.
According to him, many of the Boko Haram criminal elements fled in disarray towards the summit of
Mandara Mountains with gunshot wounds.
Read the full statement below;
“In their reinvigorated drive to end the insurgency in the North East, Nigerian Army troops
have continued to sustain the tempo of the ongoing Counter Terrorism and Counter
Insurgency operations in the North East with a view to decimating and destroying the
remnant Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) criminals across the Operation
LAFIYA DOLE Theatre.
“In one of the numerous operations conducted across the Theatre today, 16 November
2019, troops of 26 Task Force Brigade embarked on a Clearance Patrol to Dalu Village
within the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State following
credible intelligence report on the presence of some of the criminal insurgents in that area.
“Fortunately, the report was confirmed as the troops soon established contact with the
marauding terrorists and effectively subdued them with their superior fire power during the
ensuing fire fight.
“Subsequently, the troops proceeded to thorough clear the Village of the presence of the
criminal insurgents. The clearance operation yielded good dividends as the troops found
and rescued an octogenarian, 3 women and 4 children hitherto held captives by the criminal
insurgents.
“The rescued victims were promptly evacuated and children among them were equally
administered with Polio Vaccination by a Nigerian Army medical team.
“Interestingly, no causality was recorded by own troops during the commando operations.
However, many of the Boko Haram criminal elements were observed to have fled in
disarray towards the summit of Mandara Mountains with gunshot wounds.
“The troops’ resilience and doggedness are unwavering as further exploitation to complete
the annihilation of the insurgents is being sustained in the mountainous environment.
“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai wishes to
reassure the general public of the resolve of the Nigerian Army to continue to execute our
constitutional mandate professionally and responsively for a better secured Nigeria.
“He also thanks all well-meaning Nigerians for their continued support, goodwill and
understanding towards officers and men of the Nigerian Army as they sustain the conduct
of various operations and routine exercises nationwide.
“You are kindly requested to disseminate above information to the general public for their
awareness. Thank you for your usual cooperation.”
Bayelsa, Kogi Elections: What Happened On Saturday – Pastor
Giwa
Leader of the Awaiting The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ Gospel Church, Adewale Giwa on Sunday
said the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections on Saturday had confirmed that miscreants have
taken over Nigerian political system.
Giwa, in a statement made available to DAILY POST, described the polls as another setback for the
nation’s democracy.
He lamented that one could not differentiate between the military rule and democratic government
under the present administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I wonder what kind of a system of government Nigeria is currently practising or
operating”, the cleric said.
“With a couple of political issues in the country, I find it difficult to believe that we are not
under the military. Are we enjoying the dividend of democracy?
“What have we gained as a people from political leaders since 1999? When we vote them
into power, they dissapoint us.
“What manner of people are these? No doubt, miscreants have hijacked the best
organizational structure our heroes laboured to build.
“We are now being governed by those whose conscience have been sold to the devil. The
people of God will inherit Nigeria while the evil shall be punished,” said Giwa.
Local Rice Production Has Not Taken Advantage Of Border

Closure – Investigations
• MITROS Rice Not Available In Ogun Markets
• No Lake Rice Production
• No Special Arrangement For Rice Farming In Kaduna
• Farmers, Processors, Count Gains In Kano

By Gbenga Akinfenwa, Gbenga Salau Abdulganiyu Alabi and Murtala Adewale
In the wake of soaring price of local rice induced by closure of the borders, there is anxiety
across the country regarding what the market would look like in the last two months of the
year, especially festive periods of Christmas and New Year.
On August 21, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a partial closure of the Seme
border between Nigeria and Benin Republic and other borders with neighbouring Niger,
Cameroun and others to check smuggling and illegal movement of light arms.
Since then, attention has shifted to production of local rice. Subsequently, the increased
demand has led to price increase. A 50kg of locally produced rice that was sold for between
N12, 500 and N13, 000 now sells between N24, 000 and N27, 000 in the last few weeks.
There was however, a ray of hope late last month when President of the Rice Farmers
Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Aminu Goronyo gave the public an assurance that a 50kg
bag will soon sell for N9, 000. He also promised that more rice would flood the market to
force down prices, against the claim that hoarding was responsible for the price hike.
Aminu Goronyo said: “We have a bumper harvest that we never had before. We have never
had the type of bumper harvests that we recorded this year…There are enemies of this
country who buy and store this commodity just because they want to create artificial
scarcity…Our promise is that Nigerians will continue to get this commodity at an
affordable price and it will be available.
“I don’t think the price will go up, rather the only thing we hope is that the price will
continue to come down and definitely it will. Some of our millers sell at N12, 000 and we
hope that Nigerians will buy a 50kg milled rice at between N9, 000 and N10, 000,”
Goronyo added.
But based on findings, his projections are far from reality because of the negative signals
coming from rice producing states and others who claimed to have invested heavily in rice
cultivation.
Rather than the market witnessing a deluge of rice from the states to force down current
high prices, rice from states have suddenly disappeared from markets, contrary to claims of
massive investment to boost rice production.
The question on the lips of rice-loving citizens, is whither government-cultivated rice?
OGUN
Currently, Ogun State branded rice-MITROS Rice has vanished from the market, according
to findings. Since the state allegedly rolled out 150,000 bags in November 2018, the
product is not seen in the market, especially during the festive season when it was needed
most. A section of the state residents, especially those living far from the state capital
claimed little is heard of the brand.
From findings, only few people had access to it. It was alleged that access to the brand is
complicated, as you could not walk into any market and get MITROS rice.
Even now, when the state ought to capitalise on the border closure to register its presence, it
was confirmed by a reliable source that there is no MITROS rice in the market and there
may not be any till next year.
The source disclosed that the milling machine at the Asero processing plant, has packed-up
and there is no plan in the offing to put it back to work.
But the privately produced Ofada rice is thriving, but not in great quantities to saturate the
markets.
LAGOS
Apart from the three years (2016-2018) LAKE Rice was made available to Lagosians that
record was broken last December. The brand has totally disappeared from circulation.
In all the markets visited in Lagos, there was no Lake Rice for sale. At Amuwo-Odofin
Shopping Centre, one of the traders said she last sold the brand in April.
Those in Mile 2 Oke market said they never sold Lake Rice. At Daleko Market, one of the
traders claimed he sold the last batch about a month ago, which was at N18, 500. This was
far higher than the price the state government pegged it.
The new administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised return of Lake Rice, but without
subsidy, meaning an over 15 per cent price increase.
Before it went off the market, a 50kg sold for N12, 000; 25kg for N6, 000 and 10kg for N2,
500 in about 10 locations across the state, designated as sales points. The state government
then said residents could only buy one bag, as it wanted to ensure that the rice got to
everybody.
To increase the availability of Lake Rice beyond the 10 sales points, in December 2017, the
state government sought the participation of major rice distributors by signing a partnership
with them for the transportation, distribution and marketing of Lake Rice.
However, in the third quarter of 2018, after the government had signed the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for mass distribution and sales, the rice was no longer available at
sales points and markets. And that was the scenario till former Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode left office in May till now.
On the non-availability of the rice in markets, a source in the ministry of agriculture said
the state government buys from Kebbi State, bag it and sell in Lagos, contrary to claims
that the state has rice plantations in Kebbi.
“The process to buy another batch has not been concluded, reason it has not been in the
market.”
KADUNA
Despite the border closure, there are no special arrangements by the Kaduna State
Government tap into vast local market with investment in rice production.
As one of the main rice producing states, majority of Nigerians are expecting nothing less
from the Kaduna in terms of championing rice production.
A market survey by The Guardian across markets, show that a 50kg bag of local rice
previously sold for N9, 000 now sells for N15, 500. For instance, at Bakin-Dogo Market, a
bushel of local rice previously sold at the rate of N350 is now N550.
The Secretary of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, Mr. Ishaya
Audu, who confirmed the development, linked it to government’s failure to invest and
boost rice cultivation.
“We have been trying to discuss with the Governor. We have written series of letters on our
willingness as rice farmers to meet him, to address this issue; we are yet to be given
audience. Rice farmers in Kaduna are cultivating without any serious intervention from
government, which is the problem. The warehouse we are using now belongs to the state
government, despite that, we still have to pay them for rent, which ought not to be so.”
He called on the state government to assist rice farmers, especially by building dams for dry
season rice farming. “If they build dams in different locations, rice farmers will have the
opportunity of cultivating rice three times in a season.”
KANO
The border closure is a boost for local rice production in Kano State, as farmers, processors
and traders record increase in sales and marginal returns.
With about 20,000 growers and an average yield of 3.72 tons in both wet and dry seasons,
rice production and patronage could do much better without the influx of foreign brands.
A Rice farmer, Munzali Jibril told The Guardian that the border closure has boosted his
production from five hectares to 20 due to increased demand.
Munzali added that gone are the days when farmers passed through series of middle men
before pushing their paddy to markets at average cost of N7, 000, saying a 75kg of paddy
now goes for between N9, 000 and N11, 000.
“Honestly, the closure of the borders is more or less a blessing to we farmers, especially
because rice farmers have more opportunity to expand our production because there is
ready market for our produce.”
Alhaji Abba Dantata, a rice m illers Kano, said the border closure would enable processors
redouble their capacity.
Abba said before the closure, majority of rice millers in Kano were almost running
bankrupt due to low sales, the development, which he said would have led to job losses and
economic collapse.
He explained that millers are presently pushing out 10 trucks of finished products to the
markets on daily basis. He said no less than 70 jobs in his company would have been lost, if
not for the government intervention.
According to him: “Before border closure, when foreign rice dominated the market, we
hardly moved five trucks of locally processed rice. The action has really helped the millers
because, we can now get more paddy as farmers are now redoubling their production
capacity.”
Aminu Yakubu, a rice retailer in the popular Singer, in Sabon Gari market, Kano, said local
rice now sells for between N14, 500 and N16, 000.
“Local rice is selling more than foreign rice now. Before you sell five bags of foreign
brands, 10 bags of local rice would have been purchased. Let me tell you, many people are
even afraid of selling foreign rice now because of Customs. If you cannot prove that the
ones in your store are old stocks, the Customs will arrest and dispossess you of the rice.”
Border Closure: Beninese Groan In Pains, Lament Loses

– With barely three months after Nigeria closed its border with Benin Republic, things have not
been the same with the West African neighbours as the citizens, especially those in Porto Novo
and Cotonou, are groaning in pains as a result of the closure.
The land borders were closed in August following criminal activities at the nation’s international
boundaries with Benin and Niger.
One key concern cited by authorities was the rice that Beninese traders import from Asia and then
illegally re-export to Nigeria. According to the Nigerian authorities, the importation of these
goods jeopardises the country’s agricultural policy aimed at achieving food autonomy.
But these protectionist measures taken by President Muhammadu Buhari have had disastrous
consequences on the citizens of Benin Republic, many of whom sell their produce on the
Nigerian market.
Mostly hit by the disastrous effects are vegetable growers in Benin, who are now struggling to
sell their produce. Now it is common to see spoiled, unsold vegetables abandoned by the side of
the roads or, in some cases, even rotting on the vine.
Lorries load with these products were stranded at the borders and while the goods are rotting
away, the tyres of the lorries have been deflated.
The hustling and bustling movements of traders and citizens between the Owode-Apa border to
Porto Novo was virtually desolated with traders hanging in twos and threes discussing the effects
of the border closure on their goods.
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT correspondent investigation in the country shows that the citizens
have suffered significant losses since the border closure.
Most of the citizens heaped the blame of their sufferings on the policy of President Patrice
Guillaume Talon, whom they said is tearing the country apart as a result of his hardiness,
especially for his failure to dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria on how to re-open
the borders.
Talon, Beninese businessman and politician was elected President of Benin on April 6, 2016. He
ran as an independent candidate in the March 2016 presidential election. Although he finished
second to Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin in the first
round of voting, he won the second round with 65% of the vote.
“He (Talon) is not helping our matters. He has succeeded in destroying the good works of his
predecessors with just three years in office and has put the residents at his mercy.
“We are really suffering as a result of this border closure and he is not looking at our sides at all.
This we believe is not good for the citizens,” said a cleric, Very Rev. Martin Odoumbakou.
A scholar in one of the higher institutions in Porto Novo, Prof. Joel Hounsou, said they are
feeling the heat more than Nigerians because they are at the receiving ends.
“It is very unfortunate what we are going through since this border closure. We are really
suffering. You can see that our roads are empty because there is nothing to display or transport to
Nigeria.
“And the pathetic side of it is that the government is less concerned about what we are going
through. The citizens are suffering and lamenting and the government is not saying anything.
This is too bad. Very bad my brother because we are suffering,” he lamented.
A trader at the Quartier Kpokomey market in Porto Novo, El-Hadja Mandinath Ategbo said they
are now forced to eat their goods in order to prevent them from rotting away.
“What else can we do than to resort to eating our goods ourselves since we cannot get them down
to Nigeria as a result of the border closure?
“We are tired of throwing them away to the dustbins. We labour in vain to harvest the goods and
we cannot continue seeing the goods rotting away.
“It is our prayer that very soon, luck will smile at us and the border will be re-opened for us to do
business and bring succour to our families because we are suffering and dying in silence,” she
cried out loudly.
Jean Adounsiba, another vegetable farmer said he is facing the same struggles.”The majority of
our sales were to Nigerians so, since the border was closed, we’ve reduced our production
because we can’t sell as many vegetables. So we are sitting here, twiddling our thumbs. If the
border stays closed, the future is gloomy.
“I visited one farmer’s garden where the tomatoes were just rotting on the vines,” said
Adounsiba.
Madam Prisca Gbadamasi in one of the popular markets in Cotonou urged governments of the
two countries to consider the plights of their citizens and save them from the present
predicaments.
“We grow all different kinds of vegetables on our plots, including carrots, turnips and different
kinds of greens.
“Before the borders were closed, lots of Nigerians came to buy our produce. We sold them about
15 tons of vegetables a month, which represented about 75 percent of our total production. They
were especially fond of our lettuces and our carrots.
“But it has been really hard since Nigeria closed its borders. We are really struggling to sell our
produce. “Here in Cotonou there is much less demand. People aren’t buying, so we’ve suffered
enormous losses.
“We’d like our government to negotiate a re-opening of the border with the Nigerian government.
That would be a good thing for us and business could start back up on both sides of the border.
“We’ve reduced our production because we can’t sell as many vegetables as before as a result of
the border closure,” said Gbadamasi.
The Federal Government on Thursday held a meeting with delegations from Republic of Benin
and Niger in Abuja, where modalities for the re-opening of the Nigerian land borders were
discussed.
The parley which held under the auspices of the Tripartite Anti-smuggling Ministerial Committee
at the ECOWAS Commission Secretariat, Asokoro, agreed to establish a joint border patrol team
comprising the police, Customs and immigration of the three countries.
Representing Nigeria at the meeting were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama,
Mrs. Zainab Ahmed (Finance, Budget and National Planning), Rauf Aregbesola (Interior), Lai
Mohammed (Information), Zubairu Dauda (State, MFA) and Hajia Mariam Katagum (Minister of
State, Trade and Industry).
On the Beninoise delegation were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aurelien Agbenonci, Mr.
Romuald Wadagni (Economy and Finance) and Mrs. Shadiya Assouma (Industry and
Commerce), while the Nigerien team had the Ministers of Interior, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, Mr.
Sadou Seydou (Trade and Private Sector) Lamido Goga (African Integration and Nigerien
abroad) and Mr. Ahmat Jidoud (Budget).
The meeting was also attended by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free
Movement, Mr. Tel Konzi.
Reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting, Onyeama, who headed the Nigerian
delegation, stated that the meeting also agreed on the establishment of a monitoring and
evaluation committee of the three countries.
The mandate of the committee, he said, was to ensure actions that would facilitate and enhance
the suppression of smuggled goods and other related matters.
Onyeama said, “We have agreed to put in place certain mechanisms that would enable us to open
the borders; there was a consensus on that.
“We have agreed to set up a joint border patrol; so the three countries would send a list of officers
that would be part of the joint border patrol team and they are going to be meeting on the 25th
and 26th of this month.”
Responding to questions on the threat to Nigerian traders in Accra who had been asked to shut
down their businesses by their Ghanaian counterparts, the minister said the Nigerian High
Commissioner to Ghana was engaging with the government of Ghana on the development.
“We are in touch, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the leadership of the Nigerian traders in
Accra, Ghana and there is no threat as we understand it, to their physical safety.
“The important thing is we have found a solution to the problem and in the not too distant future,
the borders would be opened and I think that would impact on the traders in Ghana as well,” the
minister said.
The foreign affairs minister admitted that the border closure had impacted severely on the nation,
but added that the benefits were high.
When asked if the concerns that led to the border closure had been addressed, the minister said,
“It is being addressed. We believe if all the commitments that were made today (Thursday) by the
three countries were kept, going forward, the problem would be minimal compared to what it
was.”
APC To Dickson: Stop Making Unguarded Statements,

Accept Your Coming Loss
The All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State Chapter has accused Governor Henry Dickson of
making unguarded and spurious statements to sway public opinion against the APC regarding
Saturday's governorship polls.
In a statement issued in Yenagoa, the State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Amos Jotham,
condemned Governor Dickson for displaying, once again his garrulous character trait which is
nothing but offensive.
Hon. Jotham expressed shock that Governor Dickson is calling for the cancellation of results in
Nembe and Southern Ijaw and other LGAs that have not been announced, saying that Dickson, in
a desperate bid to incite the public and all relevant agencies against the APC, only succeeded in
exhibiting sheer ignorance with regard to democratic norms.
The party chairman advised Henry Seriake Dickson to accept the outcome of the elections as a
referendum on his lacklustre performance since taking over the leadership of the state almost
eight years ago.
Hon. Jotham said it is unbecoming of the governor as the chief security officer of the state to start
raising false alarm in an election that his hand picked candidate had earlier declared as “peaceful
and smooth”.
According to the APC chairman it is also wrong for Governor Dickson to drag the security
agencies into his partisan ranting because they dared to be professional in the discharge of their
duties.
The chairman called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant
agencies to be wary of Governor Dickson as he has a penchant for deceit.
SIGNED:
Hon. Amos Jotham
Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State
Dino Melaye’s Nephew, Olorunjuwon Oluyomi Shot By Political

Thugs Die, Buried
Mr Olorunjuwon, nephew to Senator Dino Melaye who was shot yesterday at Ayetoro ward 1 unit 4,
Dino’s polling unit by political thugs has been confirmed dead this morning by the Senator’s family.
This was made known by the Senator this morning via his twitter handle…
https://twitter.com/dino_melaye/status/1195951083211968513?s=19
"May Your Blood Fight Bello, Smart" - Dino Melaye Says After
Death Of His Nephew
Mr Olorunjuwon, nephew to Senator Dino Melaye who was shot yesterday at Ayetoro ward 1 unit 4,
Dino’s polling unit by political thugs has been confirmed dead this morning by the Senator’s family.
Dino Melaye took to his Instagram handle and rain curses upon his opponents and offenders with
caption;
May your blood fight Bello, Smart, Taofik and Sunday Faleke
Fuel Scarcity Hits Katsina Borders, Litre Goes For N250

Residents lament FG’s draconian decision
Francis Sardauna in Katsina

With the decision of the federal government to suspend fuel supply to filling station located
within 20 kilometres to the nation’s land border, fuel scarcity has hit border towns in
Katsina State, THISDAY checks have revealed.
Investigation also revealed that the scarcity had led to an increase in the price of premium
motor spirit (PMS) from N145 to N250 in towns coterminous with the Niger Republic,
accounting for an increase of about 40 percent.
This was uncovered yesterday when our correspondent visited some of the border towns to
evaluate the impact of the directive that restricted fuel supply to filling stations within 20
kilometres to the nation’s land border.
During the visit, THISDAY checks revealed that the directive of the federal government
had resulted in fuel scarcity in Daddara, Nasarawa, Dan Arau, Magaman, Jibia, Makada and
Tsayau communities.
In these communities, findings revealed that the directive stoked fuel scarcity and hike in
the prices of petroleum products at Jibia and Kongolam border towns between Nigeria and
Niger Republic.
THISDAY observed that the federal government task force on border closure had shit all
major filling stations within 20 kilometres to the border, a decision that put the residents in
the communities under pressure.
Among others, some of the filling stations shut by the task force include Afdin Petroleum
Services Limited, Coil Oil, A.Yau Moba Nigeria Limited, B.H Maidingi Ventures, Lolo
Dakare Nigeria Limited, Fulani Yarima Petroleum Limited and Danyaro General
Enterprises.
Consequently, residents of the border towns, who spoke with THISDAY, lamented undue
increase in fuel pump price following the suspension of fuel supply to areas within 20
kilometres to the nation’s land borders.
One of the residents of Magaman Jibia, Sule Safiyanu, said the federal government’s action
was affecting the economic growth of the country and the livelihood of the citizens.
“As you can see, all the petrol stations in this town are closed down by the men of the
Nigeria Customs Service. Before, we can get fuel for N145 per litre but now, it is N200 or
N250. The worst aspect of it is that we cannot even get the product to buy,” he said.
Another resident, Faroq Tijani, said: “Now that the federal government has stopped the
supply of fuel to border communities, we are the ones suffering. How can we survive? We
cannot travel again for lack of fuel. We travel as far as Katsina to get fuel for our vehicles
and machines.”
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, had directed
that no petroleum products should be supplied to any filling station within 20 kilometres to
the country’s borders.
Nigeria Is Finished. Police Snatching Ballot Box. #kogidecides
#kogidecides2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2WJUY7CZo
Why We’re at War With Obaseki: APC

Chieftain
A chieftain of the APC in Edo, Gen. Charles Airhavbere, explained on Sunday that a faction of
the APC is at loggerheads with Gov. Godwin Obaseki because the governor has “refused to listen
to voice of reason.’’
Speaking in an interview with the Nigeria News Agency in Benin, Airhavbere, a former soldier turned
politician, said that Obaseki lacked interpersonal skills needed to make the difference in the exalted
office.
The party chieftain said that the governor had resorted to use of raw power in dealing with his political
associates, a development, he said, had alienated many APC stalwarts in the state.
Also: More Drama as Edo APC Suspends Obaseki, Deputy
Edo State is billed for governorship polls next August, in a high-stakes election, expected to be
characterized by back-stabbing, violence and betrayals.
Airhavbere, who contested for the plum job with Obaseki in 2016, said the APC would never know
peace in Edo with the way the governor was relating with other members of the party.
He said that contrary to what Obaseki wanted people to believe, agitations in the state were not because
of “stomach infrastructure’’ or a quest for the resources of the state by the party members.
“It was never about godfather and god-son struggling for the control of government or resources of the
state.
“It is all about ensuring governance with human face and our resolve is to check the destructive
approach to governance in Edo State and put our party on the path of moral rectitude, transparency and
inclusion.
“The struggle is all about a governor who lacks interpersonal relationship skill; who is vindictive and
repelled by the presence of his party members and without provocation, resorts to anger and
pugnacious display of raw power.’’
Airhavbere said that Obaseki had failed to fulfil his electoral promises and had refused to embrace
dialogue, consultation, negotiation and compromise.
“This is a governor who believes in all ramifications that he is above the people and who has suddenly
become a tyrant.
“We cannot fold our arms and watch helplessly. With these traits, it is obvious that the governor was
never psychologically and emotionally prepared to be a leader.”
The party chief said it was because of these issues that `authentic’ members of the party came together
on Nov. 13, to abolish the Edo Peoples Movement and suspend the governor, his deputy Philip
Shaibu and the Secretary to State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie.
He said that the suspension was also to send a signal to Obaseki that it was not going to be business as
usual in the countdown to upcoming governorship elections.
“Edo is the only APC state in the South-South and we are not ready to lose the state.”
Airhavbere said that APC members remained loyal to the National Chairman of the party, Mr Adams
Oshiomhole, assuring that everything would be done to protect the party from people bent on
destroying it.
But reacting to the latest developments in the APC, the Edo Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul
Ohonbamu, said the intra-party crisis was a battle for dominance and liberation between the national
chairman of the party and the governor.
He described the purported suspension of Obaseki and other people from the party as an exercise in
futility.
The commissioner said that Airhavbere and his group were being used to embarrass the governor,
stressing that the governor was elected by the people and that the disgruntled APC members lacked
powers to suspend him.
He recalled that the South-South Vice-Chairman of the party, Mr Elias Enag, had since described the
suspension as null and void.
Ohonbamu described Obaseki as a “beautiful damsel of democracy’’, who is being sought by many
political parties.
Dino Melaye Loses Local Government To Smart Adeyemi

The All Progressives Congress candidate in the Kogi West senatorial district re-run election, Smart
Adeyemi, has defeated Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ijumu local government.
Both candidates are from the local government.
While Mr Adeyemi is an indigene of Iyara, Dino Melaye is from Aiyetoro, a neighbouring village.
The final result for the local government was announced on Sunday morning.
Mr Adeyemi’s APC polled a total of 11,627 votes while Mr Melaye’s PDP amassed 7,647 votes in the
local government, according to the electoral commission, INEC. The candidate of the SDP, Natasha
Akpoti, came a distant third with 49 votes.
Ijumu is part of Kogi West senatorial district, the district the candidates seek to represent in the Senate.
Read also: Tribunal sacks PDP Rep
PREMIUM TIMES reported how elections in Ijumu were characterized by violence with armed thugs
shooting sporadically and chasing voters and election observers.
At least one person sustained gunshot injury during the violence
Guber Elections: Violence In Kogi Worse Than Bayelsa – Police
Frank Mba, force public relations officer, has stated that the gubernatorial poll held in Bayelsa and
Kogi state on Saturday were both violent but pointed out that Kogi was tougher that Bayelsa.
Speaking on Channels Television, he added that this is so because politicians in those states play
politics as a do or die affair and such was expected.
His words:
“I admit that there have been challenges in Kogi. The situation in Kogi has been challenging, more
challenging than Bayelsa,” he said.
“When you are policing an environment where politicians play very desperate games and want to win
at all cost, you will be swimming against the tides”.
“As hard as we might have tried I do not believe that we will be able to mop up every single illicit
weapon within those areas where elections are currently taking place,”.
Kogi West: Dino Melaye Losing To Smart Adeyemi - PM News

In the result so far announced for the Kogi West Senatorial district rerun election, Senator Dino Melaye
of the Peoples Democratic Party is trailing Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress.
Out of five of the seven local governments of the zone announced so far, Adeyemi beat Melaye in
three, while Melaye won in two. Adeyemi now has 48,676 votes, while Melaye has 39,189 votes.
Here are the results:
Kogi Koton Karfe LG
Total Registered Voters – 53,580

Accredited Voters – 25,809
APC – 14,168
PDP – 9,786
TOTAL VALID VOTES- 24,246

REJECTED- 330
TOTAL VOTES CAST – 24,576
Result announced by Prof. Okoro from Fuoye
Kabba Bunnu LG
Reg Voters -74789
Acc. Voters- 26,916
APC – 15,037
PDP – 8,974
VALID VOTES- 24223

Rej Votes- 406
Total Votes Cast – 24629
Cancellation from 6 RAs

24 Polling Units Affected
21,391 registered voters affected
Mopa -Muro LGA
Announced by Prof. OLAYIWOLA from Fuoye
Total Registered Voters – 23,030

Accredited Voters – 9,088
APC – 4,874
PDP – 3,704

REJECTED- 296
Yagba East LGA:
APC – 6,683
PDP – 7,745
REJECTED- 371

Announced by Prof. OLATUNBOSUN from Fuoye
Yagba West
APC : 7914
PDP : 8980
REJECTED VOTES: 397
Awaited
Lokoja
Ijumu,
https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/11/17/dino-melaye-losing-out-in-kogi-west-rerun/amp/
Falana: DSS Has Given 3 Contradictory Reasons For Not

Releasing Sowore
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says in the last one week, the Department of State Services (DSS)
has given three reasons not to release Omoyele Sowore, convener of RevolutionNow Movement.
Sowore was arrested in Lagos on August 3 and later flown to Abuja where he has been in detention
despite two court orders on his release.
The DSS has come under intense pressure over the detention of Sowore and other notable Nigerians.
On Friday, Peter Afunanya, spokesman of the DSS, said Sowore chose to remain in custody of the
agency because he is being taken care of.
He said the activist could have been remanded in prison but he appealed to the court to allow him stay
in the DSS facility.
But Falana described Afunanya’s statement as an embarrassment to the country.

“Within a spate of one week the state security service (SSS) has adduced three contradictory reasons
for not complying with the order of the federal high court for the immediate release Sowore and Bakare
from illegal custody,” he said in a statement.
“In a public statement issued on 9/11/19 the SSS claimed that it had wanted to release the duo but for
the fact that no one had showed up to receive them. When their lawyers and family members offered to
receive them the SSS disqualified them.
“The SSS turned round to say that it would only release the detainees to their sureties. Having found
that it lacks the vires to vet sureties that have verified by the federal high court the SSS has asked
Nigerians to believe that Messrs Sowore and Bakare had applied to be detained in its protective and
comfortable custody!
“Instead of apologising for exposing Nigeria to underserved odium the spokesperson of the security
agency has asked us to believe that Sowore and Bakare, Mr. and Mrs Elzakzaky and Col. Sambo
Dasuki (rtd) “rather chose to be looked after by the DSS”!
“Since we are counsel to the majority of these detainees in question, we are compelled to join issues
with the SSS on its latest justification for such brazen abuse of power.”
Falana said the federal government had consistently disobeyed court orders on the release of detainees.
“At various times in the past 4 years, the federal high court, the federal capital territory high court, the
court of appeal and the ECOWAS court of justice admitted Col. Dasuki to bail pending trial. Upon
meeting his bail conditions on 30/12/15 he was released by the Kuje prison authorities. However, the
SSS operatives arrested him at the gate of the prison and has since been detained in defiance of the
orders of the aforementioned municipal and regional courts,” he said.
“With respect to Elzakzakys the Information Minister, Mr. Lai Mohammed had said on June 16, 2017
that “Elzakzaky is actually not in prison custody nor police custody nor DSS custody? El-Zakzaky is in
a house with his family, this is the honest truth.
“The court ruled that he will be released after his house has been rebuilt. Nobody wants to accept El-
Zakzaky as a neighbor. So we have been able to build a house, where do we release him to?” When
were the Elzakzakys transferred to the custody of the SSS from the house built for them by the federal
government?
“On another occasion the federal government claimed that Mrs Zeinat Elzakzaky was not detained but
that she chose the company of her detained husband, Mr. Elzakzaky. As if that was not enough Mr. Lai
Mohammed disclosed that the federal government was spending N3.5 million to feed the Elzakzaky per
month. Since the Elzakzakys have been detained illegally for the past 46 months the federal
government must have wasted N168 million on feeding the couple!
“The federal government has since justified the detention of Col Dasuki and the Elzakzakys by saying
that the local and regional courts had failed to take cognisance of the fact that “national security takes
precedence over the rule of law.” In fact, for not realising that Sowore ought not to have been admitted
to bail the sss was reported to have threatened to report Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the federal high court to
the National Judicial Council.”
Bola Tinubu: The Drug Dealer Who Wants To Rule Nigeria

The 2023 battle for the seat of the President, federal republic of Nigeria is definitely on, with various
interests and persons across the country already justling for the number one seat. One of such persons is
a frontline politician and the current leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Alh Bola Ahmed
Tinubu.
Bola Tinubu is, by all standards, an astute politician who's political cunning, bravery, and sacrifice in
the 2015 political calculations, led to the defeat of a sitting President and the constitution of the present
APC led federal government.
As a Nigerian, Tinubu has the inalienable right to contest for the seat of the president, having shown
capacity to rule and groom young persons. However, at a time Nigerians are almost desperate for a
leader with integrity and political will to extricate the country from the extreme hardship experienced
across the country, one would naturally get curious if making a former drug lord the president is a wise
choice for Nigeria.
For most persons, this political icon is known only for his political prowess during his time as the
governor of Lagos state, when he confronted the then president Olusegun Obasanjo and the duo had a
standoff that lasted several years. Consequently, Tinubu was able to build the Internally Generated
Revenue base of the state enough to sustain itself and carryout development.
What most people don't know about the leader of the APC is that he is a convicted drug peddler who
had to forfeit a fortune to the United States of America on conviction of drug related charges and
escaped prison through a plea bargain.
According our investigation, the United State's District Court, Eastern District of Illinois, Eastern
Division ordered the forfeiture of funds belonging to Alh Bola Ahmed Tinubu, held in nine different
accounts in First Heritage Bank, Citi Bank NA and Citi Bank Int'l, in a case docketed and dated
October 5th, 1993 after he was convicted of Narcotics trafficking.
Part of the document titled Decree of Forfeiture as to funds held by Heritage Bank, the court posited
that, "the United States filed a verified complaint for forfeiture against the funds in the above-captioned
defendant's accounts because there was probable cause to believe that the property represented the
proceeds of Narcotics Trafficking or was property involved in financial transaction in violation of
U.S.C. SS 1956 and 1957 and was therefore forfeitable to the United States, pursuant to 21 U.S.C.
5……".
Our investigation reveal that, the Nigerian born Don Corleone, decidedly, forfeited his entire fortune
held in nine accounts with these banks in a plea bargain in order to escape prison, just six years before
he was elected the executive governor of Lagos state.
As a Nation, Nigeria celebrates persons with political cunning but equally abhors persons with
questionable characters, knowing that bad habits die hard.
The question now is that, has this drug Lord repented from his past, changed his ways to become new
creation to be trusted with political leadership of a country?
His exploits in the APC and previously as the Lagos state governor offer a clue.
Drug lords rule and control their territory with ferocious viciousness and cruelty typical only in the
animal kingdom. They believe more in survival of the fittest and elimination of the weak and
competition, and pay little interests in constituted authority.
As the Lagos state governor, Tinubu turned the 'No Man's Land' to his personal empire, grooming his
Lieutenants, expanding his coast to other Western states and confronting any discordant voices with
cruel proclivity.
It is this sense of ownership that shut Lagos state out of federal allocation for years during his time as
the state governor. The same sense of ownership played out again in the last general election, leading to
the desertion of then governor Ambode who the Don allegedly felt was not subservient and loyal
enough to continue as state governor in his empire.
While some persons may argue that this manifest sense ownership inspires development, the Nigerian
experience with this present and previous administrations shows that those who claim ownership of the
system, either as cabal or any other form do so for their personal aggrandizement at the detriment of the
generality of the people.
It is therefore imperative that Nigerians understand clearly the kind of President Bola Tinubu would be
based on his antecedents as a convicted drug peddler, a dictatorial governor, a Don Corleone- like
godfather of Lagos politics, and the leader of the APC.
Gov. Abdulrazaq Renovates Decrepit Hostels Of Kwara NYSC

Camp
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has renovated the decrepit hostels of the state’s
National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) camp, barely five months after he described the facilities as
penitentiaries not fit for human living.
The renovation came three months after his administration also supplied the facilities with 400
mattresses, 200 double-bunk beds, 100 long benches, and consumables which the government said
were meant to make the camp more conducive for the corps members.
AbdulRazaq had on June 20 paid an unscheduled visit to the Yikpata (Edu local government area of
Kwara State) camp of the NYSC where he lamented the condition of the facilities and said they
typified the deplorable state of things across the state. He however pledged to fix the facilities,
especially the hostels that were an eyesore.
“We are really grateful to Mr Governor for keeping his words. I’m happy to inform you that the
government has renovated three main hostels, including the two-in-one Mayflower hostel, and I don’t
think there’s any NYSC camp in the country that has the kind of facilities we now have,” Kwara NYSC
Coordinator Esther Ikupolati said.
Ikupolati said the camp management has decided to rename the Mayflower hostel as Harmony Hostel
in honour of the Governor’s efforts.
AbdulRazaq had openly apologised to the Corps members for the condition of the facilities and said the
visit was a challenge to him to do things differently.
“I apologise for the state of your accommodation. After seeing them, it is like a penitentiary. It is not fit
for human living,” he had said during the visit.
“The people in charge before should have done better. By saying that, I have thrown a challenge to
myself and my administration to make things better.”
The latest gesture strengthened AbdulRazaq’s rising public image as a Governor who matches his
words with actions.
His visits to facilities have often been followed by visible actions to change the situation he condemned
as abnormal.
Last week, renovation of some blocks of classrooms were completed at the Special Needs School at
Apata Yakuba in Ilorin, a few months after the Governor described the condition of the school as
appalling.
Kogi West: Dino Melaye Speaks On The Conduct Of The

Election
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo2q4imMpQU
Collation Officer In Igalama-Odolu Presents N50,000 Bribe
Offered By Politicians
A collation officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi state on Sunday
presented a N50,000 bribe politicians offered to a presiding officer in Igalamela-Odolu local
government area of the state during Saturday’s election.
There was widespread financial inducement by politicians during the election.
The collation officer presented the money at the INEC headquarters in the state while submitting the
result of the local government he coordinated.
More to follow…
Kogi Elections: PDP Rejects Okene LG Result, Calls It

"Fictitious"
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned to the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) over the alleged “fictitious 112,000 votes being bandied from Okene Local Government to
favour the All Progressives Congress (APC),” describing it as a recipe for a crisis of unprecedented
proportion.
In a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary in Abuja on Sunday, the
party maintained nobody can accept the provocative allocation of 112, 000 votes to APC in Okene
where the number total accredited voters stands at about 40,00O and which also recorded very low turn
out of voters.
The PDP cautioned INEC not to ever declare such an offensive and unsupported result as such would
be a huge embarrassment on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the management of the
commission.
“Our party hopes that this apparent moves to allocate fictitious result to the APC in Okene is not a
reflection of the allegations in the public space that Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC had offered
INEC a bribe of N3.5 billion to alter result and apportion conjured figures to the APC,” the PDP
declared.
It further cautioned INEC to note that any attempt to declare the figures being bandied for the APC will
point to nothing but the validation of the bribery allegation.
“The only way out is for INEC to declare only the results from votes cast and declared at the polling
units,” the party stated.
Dino Melaye Trails Smart Adeyemi With Two LGs Remaining
Election results announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the Kogi West
senatorial rerun election show that PDP’s Dino Melaye is poised to lose his seat in the Senate to his
closest rival, Smart Adeyemi of the APC.
Of the seven local government areas in the senatorial district, five have been announced.
Of the five local government results announced, Mr Adeyemi has polled a total of 52,389 while Mr
Melaye trails with 37,856.
The former won in all of Kaba Bunnu, Kogi Koton Karfe, Mopa Muro and Ijumu. Mr Melaye,
however, scooped the highest votes in one LGA, Yagba East LGA.
Messrs Adeyemo and Delays are both from Ijumu
With the sail in Mr Adeyemi’s favour, Mr Melaye needs to cover up for the deficit of 14,533 votes in
the two remaining local government areas that are yet to be announced by INEC.
These local government areas are Yabgba West and Lokoja LGAs.
The elections in Kogi West, like in a large part of the state, was characterized by violence.
Below is the breakdown of how both candidates fared in the five local governments announced so far.
Kaba Bunnu
APC — 15,037
PDP — 8,974
Kogi Koton Karfe
APC — 14,168
PDP — 9,786
Mopa Muro
APC — 4,874
PDP — 3,704
Ijumu
APC — 11,627
PDP — 7,647
Yagba East
APC — 6,683
PDP — 7,745
Bayelsa: 8 Lawmakers, 11 Commissioners, 6 LGA Chairmen, 83

Councillors Decamp
According to the drama ongoing at Bayelsa it's clear things is not going well with People Democratic
Party (PDP) in the state Chapter as PDP members run for their political career.
Last Minute Defection: 8 Assembly Members, 11 Commissioners, 6 LGA Chairmen, 83

Councillors and Uncountable SAs and SSAs dumped PDP for APC in Bayelsa state.
https://mobile.twitter.com/APCNigeria/status/1196035387627593729
Joe Abah: Nigeria Has Lost The Gains It Made In Electoral

Reforms From 2010-2015
IgbereTV reports that, Dr. Joe Abah, the Nigeria Director for Development Alternatives, Incorporated
(DAI) - an international global consulting firm headquartered in the USA with offices in the UK and
Nigeria, has said that Nigeria Has Lost The Gains It Made In Electoral Reforms from 2010 to 2015,
under the leadership of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The trained barrister and former Head of the Bureau for Public Sector Reform in Nigeria made this
known on Twitter.
He wrote:
It is truly sad that all the gains that Nigeria made on electoral reforms, particularly between 2010 and
2015, have now been firmly lost. We are back to electoral violence, intimidation and the snatching of
ballot boxes. As an advocate of governance reforms, this breaks my heart.
https://twitter.com/DrJoeAbah/status/1195956616874647552?s=19
Apprehension In Bayelsa Over Alleged Plan To Cancel Southern
Ijaw Votes
There is apprehension in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) over an alleged plan to cancel the votes from Southern Ijaw for Saturday’s governorship
election in the state, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt
Southern Ijaw, the stronghold of the APC, has the second largest votes, after Yenagoa, which is the state
capital.
PDP could have an easy ride to victory, if the entire votes in Southern Ijaw is cancelled.
A source at the Bayelsa INEC told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday afternoon, that Cyril Omorogbe, the
INEC resident electoral commissioner in Delta State who supervised the election in Southern Ijaw, is
pushing for the votes cancellation over allegations of rigging.
Mr Omorogbe is, however, being opposed by other INEC officials who participated in the conduct of
the election in the area, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.
None of the officials were willing to speak on record. The final collation of results at the INEC
headquarters was yet to start at the time of this report.
The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Saturday accused the APC of rigging the election in
Southern Ijaw.
“As we are speaking, in this day and age, gun-wielding militia men, with the aide of security forces,
have overrun hapless electoral officials,” Mr Dickson told reporters at his polling unit in Toru-Orua,
Sagbama.
“Most of the electoral officials in Southern Ijaw, as we speak, are kidnapped and held hostage,” he said.
PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach INEC officials for their comment on the development.
Bayelsa has eight local government areas. There were 923,182 registered voters for the election but
only 889,308 people collected their permanent voter’s card, according to INEC. Less than that number
would have likely voted in the election.
Forty-five political parties contested the Saturday’s election, though the battle was a straight one
between the Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and David Lyon of the All Progressives
Congress (APC).
Policeman Uses Ballot Box To Wash Uniform In Bayelsa (Photo)
An officer from the mobile police squad was spotted using a ballot box to wash his uniform inside the
premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state,
on Sunday.
The INEC office is the collation centre for the Bayelsa governorship election that held on Saturday.
Redeployed from a unit in Lagos, the officer told TheCable that he did not know how long he would be
in the state as work is yet to be completed.
“We will still stay after the result has been announced. The last lap of our job is to ensure there is no
post election violence,” he said.
Ahead of the election, the police had deployed 31, 000 men to Bayelsa.
30 ‘missing’ INEC Staff Found
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has found 30 of its staff who were
declared unaccounted for, following violent attacks on their duty posts in Saturday’s Governorship
election in Kogi state.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement Sunday in Abuja,
said the staff were safe and sound while they had also concluded their election day assignments.
“We can now confirm that all the 30 ad-hoc staff engaged for the 2019 Kogi Governorship election and
posted to Polling Units 002, 006 and 013 at Olamaboro III; and Polling Units 006, 012, 015, 016, 022
at Imani 1 all in Olamaboro Local Government Area have been accounted for. They are safe, sound and
back in their respective homes. The Chairman of the Commission has personally spoken with some of
them and they confirmed that they are hale and hearty”, he said.
Oyekanmi said none of the staff was harmed or killed.
“These election-day duty staff could not be accounted for initially following the violent attacks by
some armed thugs at their respective duty posts after the close of polls. The Commission has
established that none of them was either injured or killed. They were able to successfully conclude the
result collation process before the commotion started,” he added.
Situation Room Calls For Cancellation Of Kogi Elections

The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room has called for the total cancellation of the elections held in
Kogi State on Saturday due to the high level of violence and vote buying.
Governorship election was held across the state while a senatorial rerun election was held in Kogi West
district.
The Situation Room, a coalition of prominent civic groups, said the Kogi election represents a major
dent to Nigeria’s democracy.
The convener of the situation room, Clement Nwankwo, announced the group’s stance in a press
conference in Abuja on Sunday.
According to him, if this election is allowed to stand, 2023 and Ondo State election next year will be a
bloodbath.
The Situation Room is one of the accredited observers for the election.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Kogi State election was characterised by the late arrival of
electoral materials, violence and intimidation of voters. The election was, however, also peaceful and
efficient in some other areas.
A total of 24 candidates are taking part in the gubernatorial election. Although the registered voters in
the state are 1,646,350, about 1,485,828 (90.2 per cent) have collected their PVCs and are thus eligible
to vote in the 21 local governments of the state.
Mohammed Bello Adoke Arrested In Dubai

Mohammed Bello Adoke, a former Nigerian attorney-general, has been held in Dubai by Interpol,
PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.
People familiar with the development said Mr Adoke was arrested shortly after arriving in Dubai on
November 11. He had travelled there for medical evaluation after a court warrant for his arrest was
vacated in October.
Justice D. Z. Zenchi of the Federal Territory High Court had in April issued a warrant for Mr Adoke’s
arrest following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC has been pursuing Mr Adoke over claims he was involved in the controversial Malabu Oil
deal. Mr Adoke strongly denies links to the alleged fraud and has been on self-exile since vacating
office in May 2015.
He has repeatedly cited a court judgment that said he could not be prosecuted for actions he took while
in office based on presidential directives.
Justice Zenchi invalidated the arrest warrant on October 25 based on prayers from Mr Adoke’s lawyers
who argued that the order was wrongfully procured.
The judge also asked the EFCC which seeks to prosecute Mr Adoke to serve him the court papers by
substituted means.
In her ruling that day, the judge, after hearing the submissions of all the counsel, and upon perusal of all
the affidavits in support of their motions, made the following orders:
“The arrest warrant issued for the arrest of the 4th-9th defendants in charge No FCT/HC/CR/124/2017
and to be executed by the police and the Interpol is declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
“Accordingly, the order of 17th April 2019 issuing a bench warrant on the 4th-9th defendants is hereby
set aside and vacated.
“It is further ordered that the case be adjourned sine die until the prosecution takes the required
procedural steps to effect service on the defendants herein.”
It appears the Nigerian authorities failed to update Interpol overseas of the development on the case.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Interpol officials in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, were shocked when
Mr Adoke told them the warrant for his arrest had since been vacated and that there was no basis to
hold him.
Our sources said Interpol authorities in the UAE have now requested the Nigerian authorities to
officially update them on the matter.
The Ministry of Justice in Abuja has been working on transmitting the order to Interpol in Dubai to
secure Mr Adoke’s release, but the process was being delayed because Attorney-General Abubakar
Malami was not available, sources said.
Mr Malami could not be reached Sunday afternoon for comment. A spokesperson for Interpol told
PREMIUM TIMES the headquarters cannot speak on Mr Adoke’s case because it specifically relates to
the UAE.
Nigeria recently signed a mutual legal assistance treaty with the UAE that would, among others, ensure
Nigerians accused of corruption and fraud, can be arrested in the UAE and deported to Nigeria to face
prosecution. Such persons could also have their properties in that country seized.
Kogi 2019: Musa Wada Rejects Outcome

Even before final announcement of the results of Saturday’s governership election in Kogi State, the
candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Musa Wada has rejected the likely
outcome.
Addressing a press conference, in Lokoja on Sunday, which coincided with the collation of results from
the 21 LGAs of the state at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in capital,
Wada alleged that the results were all false.
He said that what happened in the state over the weekend was neither democracy nor a reflection of the
wishes of the electorate.
He said that the wishes of the people did not prevail at the polls.
He lamented that the police colluded with INEC to undermine the will of the people of the state.
He said there is no need allowing for election, “if Okene that had forty thousand accredited voters, now
came up with a hundred and twelve thousand.”
He described it as a sad day for Kogi people, who he said are in mourning mood.
“Do you see anybody rejoicing? Is this how it is the day after a true victory? It is not about me here. It
is about the long suffering people of the state who have been under bondage in the last four years.
“I won this election free and fair. Just imagine that they leave out the rigged election of Okene, Okehi
and the several cases of brutality meted on our supporters, and the widely reported cases of ballot
snatching, I would have won neatly,” he declared.
Seated by his running mate, Hon. Sam Aro, Wada said that as the party’s flagbearer together with the
party, will seek redress at the tribunal.
According to him, the APC has taken Nigerians back to the dark days.
“The governorship election is not about me, but about another four years of misgovernance that would
be midwifed by the APC. The results were already written, and is not a reflection of the people’s
wishes,” he asserted.
Kogi Election: Yahaya Bello Leads Wada With Over 200,000

Votes After 15 LGs
THE Kogi State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday’s
governorship election, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is leading with a very wide margin going by results
announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Governor Bello is ahead of the other 23 candidates with over 200, 000 votes margin in 15 out of the 21
local government areas where results have been officially announced.
Bello got a total of 333,212 votes, followed distantly by Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) with 101,469 votes.
The APC candidate’s highest win so far is from Okene Local Government, the council area of the
incumbent governor where he got a total of 112,764 votes as against Wada’s 139 votes.
The governor also floored the PDP candidate in the Kabba/Bunu, the LGA of Kola Ologbondiyan, the
party’s national spokesman.
APC polled 15,364 votes in Kabba Bunu while Wada who polled 8,084 votes.
So far, INEC is yet to announce results from six LGAs of the 21 LGAs in the state.
The collation officers are reporting that thousands of votes were cancelled as a result of violence in
some polling units.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of PDP, Engr. Musa Wada and his running mate have rejected
the result of the election.
Addressing newsmen in Lokoja on Sunday, he said results were being written to favour the APC.
He alleged that the deputy governor of the state, Chief Edward Onoja alongside security agencies,
visited the collation centres where results were changed to favour APC.
He also lamented that APC rigged the election with the result of Kogi Central adding that PDP and him
will challenge the result in court.
“The result is not a true reflection of what happened. The people of the state voted for PDP but APC
changed the result to favour them.
“Results declared so far by INEC is a written result and we can’t accept that. Every single result was
changed and we are going to challenge the election. The election is not a true reflection of what
happened in the field.
“I am the candidate of the party and I don’t have to wait till they kill me. I have to cry out to the people
of Nigeria to know that APC rigged the election.
UPDATES FROM 14 LG’s AS ANNOUNCED AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
OKENE LGA FINAL

APC: 112,764
PDP: 139
ADAVI LGA FINAL

APC: 64,657
PDP: 366
YAGBA/W LGA FINAL

APC: 7,868
PDP: 8,860
KABBA BUNU LG FINAL

APC: 15,364
PDP: 8,084
IDAH LG FINAL
PDP 13,962
APC 4,062
KORTO LG FINAL
APC 14, 097
PDP 9, 404
Senate
APC; 14,168
PDP; 9,786
IJUMU LG FINAL
Governor
Apc 11,425
PDP 7,586
Senate
APC 11,627
PDP 7,647
OLAMABORO LOCAL GOVT FINAL

APC: 16,155
PDP: 8,155
Okehi LGA FINAL.

APC 36,954
PDP 478
SDP 3, 095
Mopamuro FINAL
Governor
APC. 4,953
PDP 3,581
Senate
APC. 4,874
PDP 3,704
YAGBA EAST LGA FINAL
Governor
APC ; 6,735
PDP; 7,546
Senate
APC; 6,633
PDP; 7,745
BASSA FINAL
APC 10,876
PDP 10, 210
AJAOKUTA FINAL
APC-17,952
PDP-5, 565
OGORI MAGONGO LG FINAL

APC -3,678
PDP-2,145
SDP- 244
SHOCKER: Duoye Diri, PDP Candidate Lost His LGA To APC

BAYELSA Governorship election result for Yenagoa LGA APC - 24, 607 PDP - 19, 184 Duoye Diri,
candidate of the PDP, is from this LGA
Kogi Election: Fabulous KSP Shot Dead (Photos)

Kogi Election: INEC Trained Staff And Kogi Poly Graduate Shot Dead
An INEC trained staff and a graduate of Kogi Polytechnic identified as Cooper Fabulous KSP was shot
dead yesterday in Kogi State gubernatorial election.
His friend took to social media to mourn him and wrote....
'God have mercy on us in Kogi State Kogi Poly Just Graduate Student Business Administration.
Fabulous Goes home
It not easy to say God bye. Election why do u go with our brother, Course, Friend, Manager.
Fabulous death is a grate lost to business Students and Kogi Student's in General .R.I.I. God No why ,
we love u but God love most'.
Jonathan Taught Dickson A Lesson With Governorship Election

In Bayelsa
For those who didn’t follow the buildup to the Bayelsa elections. Dickson disrespected GEJ and the
Bayelsa elders. They had settled on Alaibe as a consensus candidate to replace Dickson.
Dickson who Jonathan brought out of obscure House of Reps and made Governor disrespected GEJ
and PEJ and bribed Secondus to have his way in the primary and impose his cousin Diri on the party.
Not only that he disparaged Bayelsa East- Jonathan’s people (Ogbia, Nembe and Brass) as non core
Ijaw and traitors. Whole thing has been building from senatorial elections which was why APC won
GEJ’s Senatorial district in the 2019 polls with his support.
All GEJ’s allies and boys moved to APC and David Lyon is a godson of Patience. Jonathan did not
campaign for the APC candidate like his wife and mother out of self respect but his kinsmen ensured
Dickson was taught a lesson without saying a word.
Jonathan’s polling unit, ward and senatorial district all delivered for Lyon. Wike and Jonathan and their
allies all worked for Lyon. Irony of it is Dickson refused o reconcile and make any concessions saying
he could win on his own. He was thoroughly defeated.
All politics is local.
In 2012 GEJ used Dickson to remove Sylva. In 2019, GEJ and PEJ worked with Sylva to remove
Dickson.
The PDP national leadership is an embarrassment. Why would you let the interests of an
underperforming governor who wanted to impose a stooge supersede that of the former president and
party elders in a state who has shelved their interests to back the strongest candidate in the party Alaibe.
Jonathan could have insisted on any of his loyalists like Igali being the candidate but he settled on
Alaibe who was formidable and had the support of all. Obasanjo even joined Jonathan to beg Dickson
and Secondus to let Alaibe get the ticket. But Dickson wanted his cousin.
Bayelsa people hated Dickson particularly Bayelsa East(Jonathan’s people) who Dickson called non
core Ijaw. Core Ijaws are apparently according to Dickson the Sagbama/Ekeremor/Southern Ijaws of
Bayelsa and the Bomadi/Burutu/Patani of Delta and as such only them should be in charge of the only
Izon state
US, UK, EU, Raise Grave Concerns Over Violence In Kogi And
Bayelsa Guber Polls
Following reported violence during the elections in Kogi State, the United States, the United Kingdom,
the European Union and other countries under the banner of Diplomatic Watch, have expressed serious
concerns over the election.
In a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja, the international community also said
there were reports of fatalities and people missing, including staff of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
“The Diplomatic Watch deployed teams from Austria, the European Union Delegation, Germany,
Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States to the elections in Bayelsa and
Kogi states on 16 November.
“We express our alarm at reports of widespread incidents of violence and intimidation, some of which
were witnessed by our teams in Kogi. There are reports of fatalities and people missing, including
INEC staff. Our thoughts are with all victims and their families.
“We encourage all stakeholders, in particular political leaders, to call for calm and we encourage
security agencies to investigate thoroughly and bring perpetrators to justice,” the statement read.
While also expressing concern over evident vote buying and credible reports of ballot box snatching in
both Bayelsa and Kogi, the countries commended the commitment and resilience of voters in both
states who came out to exercise their democratic rights.
“We express our sympathy for those affected by the violence, including ordinary voters, INEC officials,
members of the NYSC,civil society, and the media. All should be able to carry out their fundamental
role in the democratic process free from intimidation and harassment.
“As long-standing friends, we have been present at every major election in Nigeria since 1999. We
remain committed to working impartially with Nigerian authorities, INEC in particular, as well as civil
society to consolidate and deepen democracy,” the statement further read.
Kogi Election: Dino Melaye Buries Nephew

Killed During Poll [VIDEO]
Dino Melaye, who was a Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP) candidate at the rerun senatorial election in
Kogi state on Saturday has accused thugs of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) of killing his
nephew during the election.
Recall that Senator Dino Melaye yesterday announced the death of his nephew, Olorunjuwon after
sustaining gunshot wounds at his polling unit on Saturday.
According to Melaye, his deceased nephew, Olorunjuwon was shot at his polling unit yesterday but
died Sunday morning. READ ALSO: KogiDecides: Dino Melaye’s nephew allegedly shot at PU
yesterday, dies Sunday morning In a few tweets, the Senator shared a video of the young lad being laid
to rest.
He tweeted: My nephew Olorunjuwon who was shot at my pooling unit yesterday died this morning.
My brother your death is a Supreme sacrifice in the struggle for the liberation of our people. Rest in
peace aburo… So sad. He said: My nephew Juwon good night.
A boy who never knew his mum did not have the luxury of being breastfed. Yet God took care of him.
Now APC thugs killed him. Avenge your death brother
Failed State: Nigeria Has Brought Worldwide Shame And

Disgrace To The Black Race
I came into the world as a Nigerian and I have to regrets for God giving me the best parents to raise me
up in the lawless jungle I grew up in and came to call home. As a child I came to realize as a Nigerian
you are your own goverment: you provide your own water,electricity,security,education and even
contribute money to fix the road in you neighbourhood.
Nigeria has proven every negative stereotype of the black race true when it comes to running a
functional society:
Look at the number of people that are killed every time there is an election to decide who will
lord over the people
President takes a 6 hour flight to the UK for medical treatment
Corruption is legal-$582 Billion dollars looted since 1960 and all the culprits are still walking free
and calling the shots
Disobedience to court orders by the executive
Refusal to pay workers their salaries,pensions or gratuity
The people keep repeating the same mistake-time and time again electing the same people and
voting for the same parties that made them the poverty and corruption capital of the world.
APC, PDP Agents Clash Over Results Collation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgPpbThbJJk
Bayelsa Election: APC's Lyon In Early Lead As INEC Declares

Results In Six LGAs
The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State , Chief David Lyon
has maintained early lead as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declares results in
five out of eight local government areas of the state. Lyon polled 206,260 votes in five local
governments of Nembe, Brass, Yenagoa, Ogbia, Kolokuma /Opokuma and Sagbama to lead his main
challenger, Senator Douye Diri of PDP who polled 119,930 in the six area.
Lyon wins in Nembe, Ogbia, Brass and Yenagoa, while Diri wins in Sagbama and Kolokuma
/Opokuma local governments.
Presentation of results in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw LGAs are still awaiting.
Kogi West Rerun: Melaye Rejects Results, Describes Poll As

Helicopter Election
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Kogi West Senatorial District rerun election,
Dino Melaye, has condemned the results, calling it ‘fictitious’.
Mr. Melaye who spoke to journalists in Abuja, alleged that the November 16 election was marred by
compromise, extreme violence, and rigging.
“The innovation is that what we had is what I have christened ‘Helicopter election’. For the first time,
rigging has been advanced to the level that now the use of a helicopter in perpetuating this electoral
atrocity manifested yesterday.
“Helicopter hovering around Polling units in Lokoja, dropping bullets on innocent, harmless citizens
and electorate; and as I speak, yesterday, teargas being fired from this helicopter.”
He added that the violence witnessed in his community should give the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) reasons to stop the collation of results on Sunday.
“Despite the fact that this helicopter was used in harassing, intimidating and firing innocent electorates,
the votes of those places were carted away and taken to the government house, stuffed and brought
back to the collation centre and they have been accepted and admitted and collation is ongoing.
“They brought mayhem on my own community and even killed my nephew, we are waiting to see what
INEC will do, but I reject in totality, this fictitious result and I want to say that all these are not about
the election, it is about Dino Melaye,” he stated.
On October 11, the Appeal Court ordered a rerun election in Kogi West Senatorial District between
Senator Dino Melaye of the PDP and Senator Smart Adeyemi of the APC.
INEC Suspends Collation Of Kogi Election Results Untill

Monday
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of results of the
governorship election in Kogi State.
Details shortly…
Bayelsa, Kogi: Where Was Atiku Abubakar And Where Was

Peter Obi?
Days before Kogi election APC knew Yahaya Bello was weak and to reinforce his position they put
Aisha Buhari and host of top APC on ground in Kogi and on national dailies to drum support and
credibility for his return. In Bayelsa they followed similar pattern.
APC was incumbent in Kogi but in Bayelsa PDP was incumbent.
This was golden opportunity for Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to galvanize an outcry against APC in
both states and helped the PDP candidates secure voctory. Why wasn't this done?
Bayelsa Election: Yenagoa Residents Celebrate, Mock PDP With

Songs (Video)
Current mood in Yenagoa. Celebration everywhere. Bayelsa United
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXbTXFA6oaM&feature=youtu.be
Wike Praises FG N-power And Social Welfare Program

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has praised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the successes
recorded by the Buhari government Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) in empowering the poor and
improving the welfare of beneficiaries.
Governor Wike who was represented by Rivers State deputy governor, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo
commended the Vice President for the great work he is doing for the nation.
The encomiums by the Rivers governor comes weeks after the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar,
commended Prof. Osinbajo for being the most trustworthy Vice President who has Nigeria’s best
interest at heart.
He also lauded the Vice President for his loyalty and commitment to the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking during the Great Minds Summit in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the VP was Special
Guest of Honour and delivered the keynote address, Harry-Banigo said Osinbajo has been doing great
work for the Nation, noting that the VP connected with all Nigerians everywhere he went.
She said, “Your Excellency, when our Daddy in the Lord, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, Pastor Adeboye, was speaking about how we are going to be from great might to
greater might and how we should use this to help the poor, immediately I thought about our Vice
President and all the good work he has been doing in this great Nation.
“I remember vividly the effects of the Social Investment Programmes all over this country and Local
Government Areas. I recall on an occasion, I had the privilege of riding with him (VP) in Bonny where
I represented His Excellency, the Governor, at the flag-off of the Bonny-Bodo road and we got to a
section of the road and there were so many men and women carry N-Power placards and in all his
humility, he stopped the convoy, he needed to come down and talk to them and ask them how the
programme had impacted their lives.”
Expressing delight in Osinbajo’s presence in the State, the Rivers Deputy Governor said she believed
that the Vice President “is a man whom God has given the vision and he is giving to the country what
he knows, what the country should have as his own contribution of what God has blessed him to be.”
She added, “We are very proud and happy, honoured to have him in Rivers State and in this part of the
State. In fact, Marine Base is a good place Your Excellency to come and talk to us because he was
asking me, ‘what section of this town is this?’ I said it’s called Marine Base.
I had not gotten in the discussion of telling him about Marine Base, but I am sure the pastor sitting next
to him would tell you how much several outreaches have done in the area. Only last week Sunday, I
was speaking in a church in Marine Base and telling us how we have to reach out, reach in and reach
further and see our churches not just as buildings, but as building without walls.”
Bayelsa: David Lyon Wins Southern Ijaw LGA By 120,000 Votes

BAYELSA
Governorship election result
Southern Ijaw LGA
APC - 124, 803
PDP - 4, 898
https://twitter.com/NTANewsNow/status/1196150270553706498?s=19
Bayelsa Election: David Lyon Leads Duoye Diri With 434,473
Votes - TVC News
Bayelsa Election: David Lyon Leads Duoye Diri 590,937 To 156,464 Votes
As seen on TvC news as at 9pm November 17
Bayelsa Election: 13 Things To Know About David Lyon

13 things to know about incoming governor
David Lyon has been declared governor-elect of Bayelsa state
- Lyon and 44 other candidates participated in the election
- The governor-elect is 49 years old David Lyon, governorship candidate of the All progressives
Congress (APC), has successfully challenged and finally broken the two-decade-old dominance of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the politics of Bayelsa state.
Lyon emerged winner of the governorship election in the oil-rich-state conducted by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, November 17. Legit.ng brings the profile of the
new Bayelsa state governor for those who do not know him well. 45 candidates representing 45
political parties participated in the election.
Here are 13 things you should know about Lyon
1. His full name is David Lyon Perewonrimi
2. He is the CEO of Darlon Security and Guard, a private security firm in Bayelsa state.
3. He was born into the Olodiana clan of Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.
4. He is a wealthy businessman.
5. He is not a very popular face in the Bayelsa political landscape.
6. He contested under the platform of PDP as an aspirant to represent the Southern Ijaw constituency
IV in 2011.
7. He defected from PDP in 2015 to join the ruling APC.
8. He was born on December 20, 1970, in Olugbobiri community.
9. He is 49 years old.
10. He attended Saint Gabriel’s State School Olugbobiri, from 1978 to 1983
11. He attended community secondary school, Olugbobiri, from 1984 to 1988.
12. He went to Rivers State College of Education
13. He possesses a National Certificate of Education (NCE).
Ayo Fayose Reacts To The Outcome Of Bayelsa & Kogi Election

Former Governor Of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose whose son recently married took his twitter page to react
to the outcome of Bayelsa and Kogi State Election.
He tweeted saying..
TODAY IS ANOTHER SAD & DARK MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY &
DEMOCRACY GOING BY THE OUTCOME OF KOGI & BAYELSA ELECTION
BRAZENLY RIGGED IN CONNIVANCE WITH INEC & SECURITY AGENCIES.THE
GRAVEYARD SILENCE OF NIGERIANS SHOULD HOWEVER NOT BE MISTAKEN
FOR CONSENT OF THESE SHENANIGANS.I WARNED!
Kogi West: INEC Declares Election Inconclusive
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kogi West senatorial
rerun election inconclusive.
According to the returning officer, Professor Olayinde Lawal, the margin between the candidate
of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Smart Adeyemi and that of the Peoples Democratic Party,
Senator Dino Melaye is 20,570.
He announced that Mr Adeyemi polled a total of 80,118 votes, while Senator Melaye got 59,548
votes from the seven Local Government Areas in the senatorial district.
Prof Lawal explained that the total margin between both candidates is lower than the 43,127
registered voters in 53 polling units of 20 registration areas in the zone where elections were
canceled.
The returning officer, who declared the election inconclusive said, he is constrained by law to
declare a winner because of the lead margin between the leading candidates. He added that INEC
will announce a new date for the conduct of a supplementary election in the 53 polling units
before a winner can be returned.
Below is a breakdown of how both parties performed in the seven LGA’s
Kabba/Bunu LGA
APC-15,037
PDP-8,974
Ijumu LGA
APC-11,627
PDP-7,647
Kogi/Koton Karfe LGA

APC-14,168
PDP-9,786
Mapo/Muro LGA
APC-4,874
PDP-3,704
Yagba East LGA
APC-6,683
PDP-7,745
Yagba West LGA
APC-7,941
PDP-8,980
Lokoja LGA
APC-19,788
PDP-12,712
APC Leaders Visit Jonathan In his Otuoke Residence

APC leaders visit Good luck Jonathan in Bayelsa resident, Otuoke for thank you visit .
A big lesson to our youths who are busy insulting their fellow youths on social media because of
politicians.
November 18
David Lyon Declared Winner Of Bayelsa Governorship

Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the All Progressives Congress
governorship candidate, David Lyon, winner of the November 16 Bayelsa governorship election.
Returning Officer, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, Vice-chancellor, University of Benin, announced at

the INEC Collation Centre in Yenagoa, that the APC polled 352,552 votes while the PDP scored
143,172.
Ghana's President Have Dinner With President Buhari At

Aso Rock Villa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slwKyPqvhQY
NBA Condems Kogi Election, Calls It A Dent To Nigeria's

Democratic Process
The Nigerian Bar Association on Sunday condemned the Saturday governorship elections in
Kogi State as falling below the minimum standard of a credible election.
This was contained in the report of the NBA’s Election Working Group led by its Chairman,
Afam Osigwe.
The 20-page report issued on Sunday read in part, “The credibility of the entire process was
put in issue by the overwhelming incidents of harassment and intimidation of voters and
electoral officials, destruction of electoral materials, snatching of ballot boxes and votes and
the killings of persons.
“The specific incidents noted here, are by no means exhaustive.”

Concluding, the report stated, “In light of the large scale acts of violence, disruptions of the
electoral process, snatching of electoral materials by armed persons some of whom were
dressed in police uniform, coupled with sporadic gunshots that scared voters away from
voting centres, as observed by the NBA EWG, the elections in Kogi State failed to meet the
minimum standards of a credible election.”
The association expressed “hope that measures will be put in place to forestall the ugly incidents
listed in this report as well as ensure that the sanctity of the electoral process as well as lives
remain inviolable.”
Also, a coalition of 400 civil rights organisations under the aegis Nigeria Civil Society Situation
Room on Sunday expressed disappointment over the elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
The Convener NCSSR, Clement Nwankwo, in a statement in Abuja described the Kogi State
election as “a major dent to Nigeria’s democratic process.”
He said, “Situation Room is disappointed with the conduct of the two governorship elections that
held in Kogi and Bayelsa states. The elections fall below the standard expected of a free, fair and
credible election.
“In Kogi State, the levels of violence perpetrated by the two major political parties seriously
undermined the elections, deterred voters and made the exercise a farce.
“Accordingly, Situation Room is calling for the cancellation of the entirety of the Kogi State
elections….”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, formally closed the Situation Room
at the INEC headquarters.
The commission, which made the announcement on its tweeter handle @inecnigeria on Sunday
night, said, “We thank National Commissioners, the technical team, directors and other staff
members for their dedication and efforts.”
Nigeria Loses Huge Revenue To Deliberate Sabotage Of Oil

Infrastructure: Aiteo
Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil producing company, Aiteo has raised alarm over the spate of
attacks on a critical Nigerian oil asset, the Nembe Creek Trunk Line(NCTL). The incidents have
caused huge loss of revenue to Nigeria and now puts the country’s daily quota of 2.5 million
barrels in jeopardy.
Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Development Company is the operator of the NCTL, a 97
kilometre, 150,000 barrels of oil per day pipeline constructed by situated in the Niger Delta
region of Nigeria. The Trunk Line is one of Nigeria’s major oil transportation arteries that
evacuate crude from the Niger Delta to the Atlantic coast for export.
Today’s Echo gathers that the NCTL has been shut down multiple times this year due to alleged
infractions leading form attempted oil theft, with Aiteo declaring Force Majeure.
Read Also: Oil Theft Threatens Nigeria’s Economy as Losses Reach $42bn in 10 Years
In a statement signed by Aiteo’s Senior Manager of Communications, Ndiana Mathews, the oil
company said despite significant investments in security, technology and civic engagements, the
destructive pattern of pipeline vandalization still persists.
Read the full statement below:
“Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Development Company of Nigeria Limited (“Aiteo”) is, yet
again, constrained to alert all stakeholders of the recent spate of sustained attacks on the key
national oil infrastructure in its asset base, the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL). Despite
significant investments in security, technology and civic engagements, the destructive pattern of
pipeline vandalization still persists. These attacks are persistent; sophisticated; appear timed to
inflict debilitating and disruptive effect, all indisputably calculated to decimate Aiteo’s
production output in the short if not medium term. And, regrettably, these vicious and malicious
exertions by individuals and faceless entities are having that unavoidable effect. The disruptions
that these attacks have brought about has led to direct, irretrievable and significant losses in
production and consequently has created revenue deficits that directly impact all the stakeholders
across the relevant value chain. The consequences say nothing of the significant negative and
inherently damaging effect that these malicious infractions have on the environment.”
“It is a matter of utter dejection and frustration to note that in 2019 alone, Joint Investigative
Visits (JIVs) comprising security and regulatory agencies as well as community representatives
and Aiteo personnel to ascertain cause of the breaches to the NCTL have revealed that 98% of all
incidences were attributable to third-party infractions alone! The amount of barrels lost to these
incidents, almost compare in volume to the country’s total daily production. By virtue of this
level of sabotage, the NCTL has been shut down for 61 days this year alone, constituting 83%
cause of downtime in this year only. Over the last 4 years, more than 200 shut down days have
been recorded on the asset.”
“Industry sources forecast that Nigeria will be producing at least 2.5m barrels per day (bpd) by
the middle of 2020, mainly by fixing damaged pipelines and dealing with security problems. In
the face of this extremely high level of deliberate sabotage, it seems clear that there are interests
within the country that seem determined to scuttle this aspiration.”
“Aiteo wishes to state that this continued sabotage of critical economic oil assets must be
confronted frontally, with all resources available to the country as a whole. We renew and
reaffirm our total commitment to working with all agencies and interest groups to arrest this
damaging atrocity. Our assurance to all stakeholders to ensuring a sustainable environment where
economic development can thrive remains unassailable. We acknowledge the assiduous effort of
the Joint Task Force and call for wider collaboration between all law enforcement agencies as
well as policy alliances between all arms of government to end these economically destructive
infractions as soon as is practically possible. The losses to us as a commercial concern are
significant and potentially irreparable: the losses to Nigeria through the deprivation of revenue as
a direct enabler for the improvement of the quality of life of our people is so much greater. The
disastrous subsistence of this malaise must be permanently resolved – NOW!”
In a recent report, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) puts the
value of volumes of crude oil and refined products stolen from Nigeria in the last 10 years at
$41.9 billion.
According to NEITI, the theft occurred between 2009 and 2018 with the value of stolen crude put
at $38.5 billion while that of refined petroleum products amounted to $1.8 billion. Another $1.56
billion worth of domestic crude oil allocation usually to the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) was also stolen from the country in the period under consideration.
Charles Idahosa: The North Must Complete Yar’Adua’s

Tenure In 2023
Chief Charles Idahosa is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state.
He was a former Political Adviser to ex-governor of the state and current National Chairman of
the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI in Benin
City, he spoke on recent developments in the nation as well as the political crisis in his home
state. Excerpts:
President Muhammadu Buhari recently signed the Deep Offshore Act in London, United
Kingdom (UK). While some Nigerians condemned the action saying the Vice- President, Yemi
Osinbajo could have signed it here, others said the President can rule from anywhere. What is
your reaction to that?
I think the president has the prerogative of asking his aides to bring documents to him in the UK
to sign. That doesn’t imply that he is ruling from anywhere. I don’t subscribe to the idea that the
president can rule from anywhere. Any person saying that is a sycophant who is seeking cheap
publicity. The president has not disclosed to us why he has taken two-weeks leave. But whatever
he is doing there and there is a pressing state matter that needs his attention; his aides can take
documents to him there for him to append his signature. It has happened many times. I
remembered the same thing happened when Yar’Adua was abroad because he was very ill. But i
think President Buhari just wanted to take a break because I saw him with the Archbishop of
Canterbury. So, I believe President Buhari can sign important documents that are urgent to our
well-being anywhere he is without anybody interpreting that he can rule from anywhere. I
remember when we were in the government in this state and we were in South Africa; something
urgent needed to be done. The document was brought to the governor there but he wasn’t ruling
from there. So, there is nothing wrong in taking urgent document to the president wherever he is;
what is wrong to me, is saying that he can rule from anywhere. But I am glad that the President
has returned to the country and has assured us that he is more energised and ready for work.
Some aides of Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo’s were recently sacked and some Nigerians who
believe there are attempts to whittle down his powers are asking him to either fight back or
resign. What advice will you give in this situation?
Nigerians are very funny people who like blowing things out of proportion. The President
employs the aides of the Vice-President. If for any reason the President wants to downsize, why
should anybody read any meaning to it? The number of staff of the Vice-President was more than
that of the President and therefore they felt there is a need to reduce it. I don’t think anybody
should read any meaning to it. I don’t see anything Osinbajo has done that will bring
confrontation between him and the cabals. I think what is confusing Nigerians is what happened
during Obasanjo and Atiku’s presidency. Obasanjo started sacking Atiku’s staff and that
culminated in the open confrontation which led to Atiku going to court and even contested for
presidency under another political platform while still in office as Vice-President. Buhari is not as
complicated as people think he is. But as far as I am concerned, I don’t think there is any
problem. I am not close to the presidency but as an observer from a distance, if the President says
the number of staff of the Vice- President is too much and decided to reduce it, I don’t see
anything wrong in that. People are just trying to make a mountain of a molehill. Don’t forget that
the opposition will always take advantage of everything to fight back but I don’t see any issue
here. It is just politics.
Some people are alleging that President Buhari is scheming to get a Third term in office. Do you
think that is realistic?
Buhari is not that kind of person. I have also read it and I believe that it is the handiwork of fifth
columnists. The president is a democrat who will not do anything to subvert the constitution.
Some associates of Atiku are asking him to contest again in 2023. What is your reaction to that?
We have not gotten to 2023 yet. This is still 2019 and besides, I am not a member of the PDP but
I see a situation where the North will not let go of power. They will still go for the presidency in
2023 after President Buhari’s tenure. If that happens, I am going to support a northern president.
Do you mean you will support a northerner as President after Buhari must have completed his
eight years?
Yes, I will support a northern president because we southerners, there is something funny about
us. We think we know more than the northerners but the northerners are more politically
sophisticated and aware more than us. I think the leaders who by 1998 agreed to a clean slate
after so many years of military coup and after the MKO Abiola debacle agreed that the South and
North will rule for eight years and it will continue like that on a rotational basis. We were all very
happy with that arrangement. I believe that anybody saying that the northerners have dominated
us is talking bunkum. The northern heads of state were getting to power by coups. For all the
coups that failed, those involved were tied to the stakes and shot and they were 90 percent
northerners. The southerners were scared of doing a coup. I remembered the case of Olusegun
Obasanjo. He was so scared to be Head of State after Murtala Mohammed was assassinated. If
Theophilus Danjuma wanted to be Head of State that year, it would have been so easy for him. I
remembered Danjuma was quoted to have told Obasanjo ‘How can you be alive as second-in-
command and you said you don’t want to be Head of State? Let me take over and we tell
Nigerians that we eliminated you’; that was when Obasanjo panicked and accepted to become
Head of State. By 1999, most of the people who were in power came in through military coup
and that cannot be used to judge a democratic government. In order to appease the southerners,
especially the South- West over what happened to MKO Abiola, they brought Obasanjo out of
prison, cleaned him up, gave him money and he became President of Nigeria. Obasanjo became
president with northern votes because he lost his polling unit, his ward, local government, his
state and his zone. Alliance for Democracy (AD) took all the states in the South-West.
When Obasanjo became president, he consolidated by plotting against the North. After doing his
eight years, he wanted a Third term but it failed. He then decided to pick a sick northerner in the
person of late Umaru Yar’Adua knowing full well that he cannot last eight years as President. He
also picked a clueless and weakling politician in the person of Goodluck Jonathan as Vice-
President, leaving people like Odili and Donald Duke who were very effective. Obasanjo’s plan
was that if Yar’Adua dies, Jonathan who does not know his left from his right will take over as
President so that he can continue his Third term agenda through him. He however forgot to put
into consideration that Jonathan had people like Chief E. K. Clark and other Ijaw leaders. So,
immediately Jonathan succeeded Yar’Adua as president, they took control of him and Obasanjo
got stranded. He became so angry and started fighting Jonathan and brought Muhammadu
Buhari. Buhari also pushed him aside and he also became angry and endorsed Atiku, thinking that
whoever he supports will win the election. For the first time, Buhari now won election without
his support. What I am trying to say in essence is that the northerners did not finish their tenure
from 2007 to 2015 and it was a deliberate and selfish act by Obasanjo. So, the period of six years
that Jonathan ruled after Yar’Adua died, we must make sure the North completes it so that the
equation will be balanced. That is why I will support a northern candidate if the north decides to
contest in 2023. I will not support a southern candidate because we must respect our northern
brothers. That is my position as regards the 2023 presidential election.
What about the agitation for Igbo Presidency in 2023?

Forget the Igbos! They have shot themselves in the leg. It is a very funny demand. Why will
anyone want to give Igbos presidency when there is no APC in the zone at all? The only party
that could have given Igbos presidency is the APC. Buhari told them but they decided to vote
PDP. Now, from all indications, they will rather support Atiku for presidency again because the
Vice- President position will still go the South-East. I see Atiku running again because the 2019
presidential election is the nearest Atiku has come. So, I don’t think the Igbos deserve presidency
because if they do, they ought to have planned properly. The late Emeka Ojukwu gave them
APGA but they threw it away. So, under which party will they get presidency?
(Throw Back) Only My Candidate Can Win Bayelsa

Gov’ship Under PDP — Dickson
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said that if delegates and leadership of the PDP
give the governorship ticket to somebody not endorsed by him and his restoration family, the
party could jeopardise its chance of retaining power in the state. Gov. Dickson stated this
yesterday in Yenagoa during the official flag off of campaigns for local government elections
holding in the state this Saturday.
He said, “Let me tell you, Oforoma-Pepe (Dickson) is in charge; there is no candidate or aspirant
in PDP, none of them that can lead our party to victory during the governorship election without
my support, forget about those making mouth, we are the support base of PDP in Bayelsa.
“Those who are boasting that they will take the governorship primary away from Yenagoa to
another state, let me tell you, that kind of thing cannot happen at all. This year’s governorship
election will be a clash between federal might and state might, just like what happened in 2015.”
Gov. Dickson warned party members against supporting unfaithful people seeking for the
governorship position in the forthcoming election, describing those he called unfaithful members
as “butterflies to the party”. He explained that supporting the unfaithful persons for a
governorship aspirant would ruin the party’s plans and chances of winning the governorship
election on November 16.
We have rebuilt PDP in the state, and we are going to defeat all other political parties in both the
Saturday local government elections and the gubernatorial election on November 16. “I urge you
to support PDP now as we go to the polls for the LGA elections. You know that we have some
genuine members and some butterflies in the party. All we want is restoration candidates as
flagbearers of our party. “PDP is on course to move the state forward. As we go to the polls on
Saturday for LGA elections, I urge you not to disappoint the party; keep supporting the
restoration government, keep supporting PDP,” Dickson added.
Bayelsa: PDP Accuses Army Of Rigging In APC’s Favour

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday condemned the alleged arrest of prominent members
of the party in Bayelsa State by soldiers of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army led by the General
Officer Commanding (GOC), Major Gen Jamil Sahram.
Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Hon Moses Cleopas, accused the GOC of using the men under his
command, especially the Commander of the Artillery Brigade, Lt Col Wase, to perpetrate
electoral fraud in Bayelsa.
He said that Gen Sarham was spearheading the desperate attempt to rewrite the results of the
election to rig it in favour òf the APC.
He said that soldiers under the command of Sarham had commenced indiscriminate of arrest PDP
leaders in Ogbia.
Chairman, Hon Ebinyon Turner; two lawmakers, Hon Gibson Munalayefa and Mrs. Naomi
Ogoli.
Cleopas lamented that while PDP members were being arrested and taken to unknown
destination, the election results for Ogbia were also being rewritten.
The PDP chairman wondered why the Nigerian Army would allow itself to be used as a tool to
subvert democracy in the country.
He said that the PDP had already won the election with the original results from the polling units
where proper voting took place on Saturday.
He urged the observers to note the brazen acts of impunity by the Army to rig the election and
subvert the will of the Bayelsa people.
Musa Wada: I Will Be Stupid To Congratulate Yahaya Bello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9rNXA8IhOM
114bn Suit: Court Stops Mastercard From Issuing National

Identity Cards
IgbereTV reports that Mastercard and its agents have been ordered to stop issuing the Nigeria’s
National Identity card by Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The ex parte, which also include an Anton Piller order, followed a motion by Chams Plc and
Chams Consortium Limited (CCL) filed on August 28, 2019.
In their statement of claim, the appellants are asking Mastercard to pay the sum of N114billion
for damages.
Other defendants in the case include Ajay Banga, President & Chief Executive Mastercard
international, Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Country Representative of Mastercard in Nigeria, Daniel
Monehin, staff of Mastercard, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and 22
commercial banks as respondents.
The order of the court states inter alia, “An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants,
whether acting by themselves or by their directors, officers, servants, agents, technical managers,
or otherwise however from further manufacturing, producing, designing and or printing or
authorizing the manufacturing, production, designing and or printing of any National Identity
Card with Mastercard logo as described in paragraph 16 of the supporting affidavit in Exhibit
CC9 pending the determination of the motion on notice filed for hearing,”
A similar order was given to 22 respondent banks in Nigeria restraining them from honouring or
giving effect to any transaction from Mastercard.
The Anton Piller order has empowered the prosecuting solicitor Kemi Pinheiro SAN of Pinheiro
LP, Inspector General of Police (IG) or any senior police officer not below the rank of Assistant
Superintendent of Police to search any of their premises, take into possession and remove any
document relating to the said affidavit.
They are also empowered to inspect, take pictures or arrest any body found to be contravening
the orders of the court.
A breakdown of the Statement of Claim shows that N84billion is for special damages as a result
of loss of expected revenue for 8 years, N10billion for general damages of fraud perpetrated
jointly and severally against the claimants and N20billion for inducing the breach and termination
of the Concessions awarded to the Claimants by 3rd Defendant which occurred as a result of the
1st and 2nd Defendants’ fraudulent actions.
In 2006, Chams was invited by the Federal Government to bid for the National ID project. It
competed and emerged the preferred bidder for the Nigeria National Identity Card (NIC)
concession.
Before and upon the execution of a concession agreement with the NIMC, Chams Plc pursued the
implementation of the NIC concession by incorporating Chams Consortium Limited (CCL), a
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with the sole purpose of implementing the NIC concession.
Chams Plc also invited Mastercard to work with the Chams Consortium as one of its technical
partners on the NIC concession.
However, Mastercard allegedly went on to collude with others using technical information and
design shared with them by Chams to frustrate the concession won by Chams and the more than
US$100m Chams/CCL invested in the project.
In an open letter published earlier in the year to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Chams PLC and CCL asked Mastercard to accept wrongdoing, apologize for the breach of
contract and pay compensation to CCL and Chams Plc for their more than US$100m Investment
and accumulated losses.
Buhari Congratulates David Lyon, APC Supporters

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Bayelsa state governor-elect David Lyon of the
All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lyon shocked his PDP challenger Senator Douye Diri, by winning the governorship election on
Saturday by a large margin, in a state hitherto a stronghold of the PDP, since 1999.
His victory was announced by the returning officer, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, Vice-chancellor,
University of Benin, at the INEC Collation Centre in Yenagoa on Sunday night.
Lyon won in six out of eight local government areas and scored 352,552 votes while the PDP
candidate polled 143,172, more than half of the votes coming from Sagbama LGA, home base of
Diri’s sponsor, Governor Seriake Dickson.
Buhari in a statement on Sunday night commended Lyon for the impressive victory, the first time
the APC would win a governorship post east of the Nigeria since its formation in 2014.
President Buhari also commended APC supporters in particular and Nigerians in general in the
State who exercised their civic rights in a peaceful manner, notwithstanding the pockets of unrest
recorded in some locations.
Condemning the loss of lives in Bayelsa, particularly prior to the election, the President
commiserated with the families of the victims.
‘‘Violence during elections vitiates our commitment to demonstrate to the world and upcoming
generation that we are a people capable of electing leaders in a peaceful and orderly manner.’’
He noted that while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
security agencies did their best within the ambit of the law to ensure free, fair and credible
elections, it was unfortunate that pockets of unrest, mostly sponsored by desperate politicians,
were recorded during the poll.
The President looked forward to working with the incoming government to improve the lives of
the people in Bayelsa State, while ensuring the security of lives and property of all citizens.
President Buhari urged Governor-elect Lyon to carry other divergent interests along in the next
phase of governance, imploring those not satisfied with the outcome of the poll to seek redress
through the constitutionally established channels.
Yenagoa Residents: We Voted Against PDP Over Alaibe’s

Humiliation
Some residents of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State have declared that they voted for the candidate of the
All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief David Lyon, instead of his Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) counterpart, Senator Douye Diri because of the party’s humiliation of a former Managing
Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, during the
primaries.
Shortly after the announcement of results at the polling centres on Saturday, thousands of
residents in the Bayelsa State capital took to the streets to celebrate APC’s victory in their polling
units.
The residents, including market women, who rushed to the market to display their wares and
tricycle operators, said they mobilised to vote for APC candidate instead of that of the PDP
because they were unhappy with the way the leadership of the PDP in the state worked against
the emergence of Alaibe as the party’s governorship candidate.
Despite the delay in the arrival of electoral materials, voters turned out in their numbers and
waited patiently for materials to arrive after which they cast their votes.
In Opolo Community Town Hall, where armed men attempted to stop voting by shooting
indiscriminately and destroying electoral materials, voters returned to cast their votes after more
than 50 policemen were deployed to the area to enforce law and order.
After the attack, a group of women mobilised themselves and staged a peaceful protest, declaring
that nothing will stop them from voting.
Some of the residents, who expressed optimism that David Lyon of the APC will emerge
victorious after collation and announcement of the result, said Opolo Community, like other
communities in Yenogoa are traditional PDP strongholds, but voted for APC in protest.
They added that they had always dreamed of seeing Alaibe as governor and that the leadership of
PDP had the opportunity of making that dream come true, but decided to field a candidate that is
“unpopular.”
Some of the residents claimed that the state has been on a standstill in recent years, lamenting
that they have not seen infrastructure that befits an oil producing state like Bayelsa.
A youth leader in Atissa Community of Yenagoa, Cyprian Dose, said that residents were mindful
of the fact that the election was the only way to “ensure that Bayelsa begins afresh.”
He added: “The little child on the street may not know who Timi Alaibe is, but he hears his
parents mention his name frequently because the man is truly loved in Bayelsa. Majority of PDP
supporters voted against the party because they did not like the way Alaibe was treated by the
PDP.
“If he had flown the flag for the PDP, you would not have seen the kind of crowd that came out to
celebrate the anticipated victory of the APC.”
Lagos Govt Discovers Lion Used As ‘maiguard’ By Indian

National
The Lagos government said it has discovered a lion cub being raised in a residential apartment in
the state.
The two-year-old lion is said to be deployed as security guard in the house where it was
discovered.
Speaking to our Correspondent on Sunday evening, the Head of Lagos State Task Force on
Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Mr. Yinka Egbeyemi, said the cub will be
“tranquilised” on Monday.
He said the discovery was made at House No. 229, Muri Okunola Street, in the highbrow Victoria
Island area of the state.
The wild animal, reportedly kept by an Indian, was said to have been discovered by residents,
who petitioned the state government.
Egbeyemi told The PUNCH that his men had been keeping watch on the house since Friday.
He noted that the animal would be tranquilised on Monday (tomorrow) and taken to a zoo.
Blackout Looms As Gencos Threaten Shutdown Over

Charge
Nigeria may experience widespread blackout soon as power generation companies have
unanimously agreed to call the bluff of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company by
shutting down power production and supply.
At a briefing in Abuja on Sunday, the Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation
Companies, an umbrella body for the power firms, Joy Ogaji, said NBET’s insistence to impose a
0.75 per cent administrative charge on Gencos for payment of gas invoices was the reason for the
imminent power shutdown by Gencos.
It was also gathered that the indebtedness of NBET to power generation companies had risen
above N1tn.
NBET is licensed and regulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to undertake
bulk purchase and resale of electricity in the Transitional Electricity Market.
In September, The PUNCH reported that NBET demanded an administrative charge of 0.75 per
cent from the Gencos for the payment of gas invoices on their (Gencos) behalf.
Although this was rebuffed by the Gencos, as well as the Bureau of Public Enterprises and was
not approved by NERC, NBET insisted on implementing it.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Ogaji said, “This singular action by NBET may lead to the
shutdown of power supply by Gencos, who have unanimously agreed to call the bluff of NBET.”
She said the Gencos thought that the issue had been nipped in the bud, having written to all
relevant stakeholders including NERC.
Ogaji said, “It is clear from recent occurrences that NBET is not deterred. NBET has now
reduced its role to blackmailing/threatening Genco investors/chairmen who have refused to
concede to its illegal demand of a 0.75 per cent charge on invoices paid to gas suppliers.
“NBET has clearly threatened not to release payments due to Gencos until they accede to its
request, urging them to agree for a quid pro quo with the 0.75 per cent administrative charge.”
Ogaji also stated that Gencos’ indebtedness to their gas suppliers was due to NBET’s
indebtedness to power generators.
“No Genco has any outstanding gas payment that is more than what NBET owes the Genco. Put
differently, NBET is indirectly charging 0.75 per cent for paying its debt to Gencos.”
According to her, NBET should take it as an assurance that the Gencos had been still for too long
and were now ready, able and willing to utilise even higher and stronger contacts in the
government to see this issue to fruition.
She said, “We hereby reiterate our position strongly recommending to the government and other
key stakeholders that the administration of the Gencos finances reverts to the Market Operator,
while NBET focuses on engagements with new entrants or intending power project developers.”
Efforts to get NBET’s reaction were unsuccessful, as calls to the firm’s Managing Director,
Marilyn Amobi, rang out. A text message to her mobile line was also yet to be responded to as of
press time.
"Aba Is Dead" - Jane Ogbauta Gives Ikpeazu 100-Day
Ultimatum To Fix Roads Or...
A civil tight activist and the founder, Women For Change Initiative and Equity, Lady Jane
Ogbauta has described Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia state as dead, saying women
must do something to put the government of the state on its toes.
Ogbauta who had recently led a protest in Aba comprising women from various parts of Abia said
no amount of Intimidation can deter her and other women.
In a chat with ABN TV on Sunday, she vowed to mobilise no fewer than 10,000 women after the
expiration of the 100 she gave the Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to a street protest in
Aba.
The activist stated that the protest was as a result of worsening situation of infrastructure in Aba
especially roads, saying if nothing is done between and this time next year, things could
deteriorate further.
"What motivated that protest was that one of my women died July this year. She was in labour so
by the time they would bring her out where she lives in Ngwa road, she was already bleeding and
later gave up.
"There is no road in Aba. Ohanku Road, there is no road, Ngwa Road, there is no road, Obohia
Road, there is no road, Port Harcourt Road, Faulks Road even the one that leads to Teaching
Hospital, that one is death trap. There is no road there" she declared.
Ogbauta while admitting to have supported APC in the last election in the state denied allegations
that she and her group are being sponsored to cause disability in the state.
While insisting that women are being affected more in the deteriorating state of infrastructure in
the state, she dared Ikpeazu and Abia government to wait for the expiration of the 100 days
ultimatum she had earlier issued.
Dele Momodu Hails Osatohamen Osewengie Physicist Who

Makes Drones For US Army
CEO and Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu has hailed the Nigerian born physicist
who makes drones for the American Army.
IgbereTV captured Dele Momodu's tweet. He wrote:
He is one of the world's best physicists. He manufactures drones for the American Army. Has 7
Master's degrees & at least 3 doctorates. He resides in Texas, USA & he's an Edo man & former
lecturer at College of Education Ekiadolor. A standing ovation to Dr.Osatohamen Osewengie.
https://twitter.com/DeleMomodu/status/1196157266359140363?s=19
How Government Loses Billions To Fraudulent Clearing
Agents - The Guardian
As the nation’s land borders remain closed by the Federal Government to curtail illicit trade,
some clearing agents have resorted to taking advantage of the high volume of cargoes passing
through the seaports to shortchange government in terms of duty payable.
Essentially, the fraudulent clearing agents, who now have more cargoes to clear for their clients,
shortchange the government through underpayment and false declaration of consignments with a
view to reducing duty payable.
The Guardian’s investigations revealed that many importers are being found guilty of the sharp
practices by their agents, causing them huge losses in investment when their consignments are
eventually seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). It was also revealed that some customs
officers are conniving with the clearing agents to manipulate the duty payable on imported items.
Some importers, who spoke to The Guardian on the illegality, urged the customs to impose strict
sanctions on the erring agents and officers. A case between Tonason Evergreen Limited
(importer) and Arisiki Nigeria Limited (clearing agent) is reflective of the current situation.
Tonason, through its solicitor, had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) over an alleged underpayment by its agent (Arisiki) who allegedly paid a duty of
N500,000 on a Toyota Highlander 2013 model instead of the original duty estimated at
N1,200,000, thereby cheating the government by N700,000.
The Managing Director of Tonason Evergreen Limited, Ikwuka Tochukwu Jude, in an interview
with The Guardian, bemoaned the fraudulent act, stating that all efforts to get the agent tracked
by the EFCC and customs had yielded no positive results.
In the petition obtained by The Guardian, Tonason stated: “Our client, upon the purchase of a
Toyota Highlander 2013 model, engaged the respondent, Mr. Idemili Innocent of Arisiki Nigeria
Limited to clear the vehicle by paying the required customs duty. Our client later paid N1.8
million to Innocent as duty fee which he duly acknowledged.
“Our client was travelling to Nnewi in Anambra State when he was accosted by customs officers
who confirmed that the original duty payable on the vehicle was N1.2 million, instead of the
paltry N500, 000 paid by the agent.
“In that circumstance, our client swiftly put a call across to the respondent (Innocent) who
actually admitted not paying full duty on the vehicle, consequent upon which the respondent
quickly made a transfer of N70,000 to our client for onward payment to the customs officers and
latter got the vehicle released.” Efforts to get the clearing agent for comments were unfruitful, as
he ignored calls and messages to his telephone.
In a similar scenario, Masters Energy Commodity Trading Limited (importer) forfeited 30

containers of rice to customs three years ago owing to the sharp practices by its clearing agent.
The agent made a false declaration detailing yeast instead of rice.
In a letter to the House of Representatives Committee on Customs Excise and Tariff, a copy of
which was obtained by The Guardian, the company alleged that its agent made a false declaration
in order to cut tariff for the 30 containers of rice.
The letter by the then Managing Director, Chukwudi Otigba, reads in part: “Sometime in May
2016, we entered into a business transaction with a Thailand company known as Asia Inter Trade
Rice Export Co Ltd for the importation of 30 containers of Thai Parboiled Rice to be delivered at
the TinCan Island Port, Apapa, Lagos as contained in the bill of laden.
“We contracted Destiny Impex Limited, a clearing company registered and licensed by customs
as our agent to clear the 30 containers of rice in accordance with customs tariff and
classifications.“All our importing documents such as bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing
list, National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) fumigation
certificate and health certificate clearly disclosed the consignment as rice and not yeast as
declared by the agent.”
Another importer, Mrs. Grace Ifeayinwa, expressed the fear that her clearing agent might have
shortchanged government in the duty payment for her Toyota Highlander imported through the
Apapa port.Ifeayinwa, who said she could not trust any agent due to allegations of fraud, revealed
that she was trying to verify the original duty payable on the vehicle upon allegation that the
clearing agent paid N700,000 instead of N1.2 million estimated by the customs.
“When I confronted him, he started avoiding me. Then I contacted another agent who also
claimed that I have to pay a penalty fee of N400,000 with a processing fee of N120,000. I have
made my findings and discovered that they are both fraudulent, but I am confused now, because I
cannot drive the car.
“The customs should simplify the duty calculations and payment so that the importers would be
able to know the exact duty payable and possibly effect payment by themselves. The existing
method is encouraging fraud and it’s not good for our economy,” she said.The President of the
National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents, (NCMDCLA), Lucky
Amiwero, told The Guardian that the association was doing a lot to ensure that the agents comply
with the ethical practice in the job.
Amiwero said the importers should report fraudulent agents to the appropriate quarters such as
the customs management, which is authorized to sanction any erring practitioner.
“Such an agent could be dragged to court which will declare him as guilty and mete out necessary
punishment. If a court has not declared him guilty, it would be difficult for anyone to call him a
fraudster. Besides, the NCS also has the authority to sanction any erring agent by way of
withdrawing the operating certificate, and the agency has been doing that when it is convinced
beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.
The Public Relations Officer, Customs Tin Can Island Command, Uche Ejesieme, told The
Guardian that the agency did not tolerate fraudulent agents.“We ensure strict compliance with
duty rules and sanction the erring agents after a diligent profiling has proved him to be
fraudulent.
“We have sanctions that we apply to those that are circumventing the process. We have blocked a
lot of licences. Once we do system profiling and discover infraction in documentation or any
manner, we have a way of blocking the license. I can assure you that we follow due process
before anybody can block the license. We go through all manner of processes before you can
ascertain fraudulent agents. If you don’t engage in such checks and balances, they will let the
system off. We have many of them that have been blocked,” he said.He alleged that some of the
fraudulent agents used other people’s licences, but at the end of the day, the owner of the licence
would be the one to suffer.
Ejesieme enjoined vehicle owners who feel defrauded to visit the customs zonal office to
regularise their duty, saying the NCS had opened a window for such an opportunity.“The CG has
opened a window in all zonal offices of customs. We have a platform there whereby anybody
who wants to regulate his duty payment can stroll in and do so without stress,” he said.
Again, Wike Declares Rivers Christian State

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has again declared the State as a Christian State,
adding that he owes no one any apology.
The Governor spoke at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Holy Ghost Rally, which
held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday.
He said, “But for God, the enemies would have taken over the state. I thank the Church for
standing firm.
“They prayed for God’s will to be done and God’s will was done. But for your prayers, I won’t be
here as Rivers State Governor.
“Anytime I have the opportunity, I repeat the declaration with authority and I owe nobody an
apology. I am standing on solid authority. Rivers is a Christian state.”
Wike said he remained Governor due to God’s intervention.
He said God dislodged “forces of darkness” who were primed to rob him of his mandate.
He described himself as a living testimony of God’s blessing.
“Nigerians are aware of what happened on 9th March 2019. If anyone says he does not believe in
God, that event of March 9 should make you believe God,” he added.
Kogi: Dino Melaye, Wada, Akpoti React To Governorship,

Senatorial Elections
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Saturday’s Kogi governorship election,
Musa Wada, has described the results so far released by Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) as a sham.
He rejected the results saying it did not reflect the wishes of the people who willingly cast their
votes for him.
He urged all lovers of democracy to join hands with the PDP in the condemnation of the entire
process.
While addressing journalists in Lokoja on Sunday flanked by his running mate, Sam Aro, Mr
Wada decried what he tagged as the “militarisation of the election” alleging that security agents
colluded with the APC to harass and intimidate voters.
He said the whole exercise was a daylight robbery as results were written everywhere for the
APC.
“It is better for the government not to in the first place conduct the election when it knows it will
not reflect the wishes of the people,” he said.
Mr Wada also accused the Commissioner of Police of relocating to Dekina collation centre to
influence the elections in favour of the APC.
Mr Wada won nine of the 19 local government areas declared so far, scoring a total of 168,
144votes as against the APC candidate and governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, who scored
375,083 votes across 10 states.
Also the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Natasha Akpoti, has called for the outright
cancellation of the election, saying it was a “civil war” imposed on the Kogi people by Mr Bello.
She said violence and thuggery inflicted on the people on election day should not be allowed to
go without a penalty.
She said the results were a product of massive rigging.
Mrs Akpoti scored a total vote of 8539 votes from the 19 local government areas declared so far.
The candidate of the PDP in the Kogi West senatorial seat, Dino Melaye, also shared the view of
the SDP, calling on INEC to cancel the election,
While reacting to the outcome of the election, Mr Melaye said he was surprised that INEC was
busy declaring election which saw people dead and violence unleashed on the party.
He said the elections should be cancelled as they were heavily rigged.
Although the results of two local government areas were yet to be declared, it is obvious that Mr
Bello is in a clear lead and most likely to emerge the winner.
The elections across the state were largely marked by violence, ballot box snatching, and vote-
buying which left at least four persons dead.
Many observers, including PREMIUM TIMES reported the extent of violence and vote-buying
that characterized the elections.
At least two observer groups, YIAGA and Situation Room, have called for the outright
cancellation of the election.
But the National Commissioner for Voter Education, Media and Publicity, Festus Okoye, said the
issue of cancellation of the results was beyond INEC, saying only the collation and return officers
had the powers to make any pronouncement on the election.
He told Channels Television on Sunday that the commission did what it was required to do by
law, and other stakeholders were required to play their roles to ensure a peaceful election.
The APC, which is set to win the Kogi governorship election, has however commended the
process and the security operatives for their efforts. The party accused the PDP of trying to
instigate violence when it knew it could not win the election.
Bayelsa Election: Timi Frank Congratulates Lyon, Urges

Secondus To Resign
A Political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, congratulated the Governor-elect of Bayelsa
state, David Lyon, describing his victory as deserving.
Frank in a statement in Abuja also urged National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus
and the National Working Committee (NWC) led by him to apologise or resign over the loss of a
state controlled by the party since 1999.
“This victory was not won by the APC but by the people of Bayelsa who have resisted imposition
and oppression with their blood because of their implicit confidence in the capacity of Lyon to
transform the state and change their story for the better,” he said.
He called on Lyon to be magnanimous in victory and to serve as a dependable rallying point for
all Bayelsans irrespective of their political affiliations, ethnicity or creed.
Frank said: “Your victory is not an APC’s mandate but that of the the collective will of the people
of Bayelsa. Please when you assume office, strive to use it to unite the people of Bayelsa because
the state can only attain true peace, development and greatness when united.
“Bayelsa has been divided for too long, but you have been chosen to heal their wounds and wipe
their tears.
“Bayelsa has elected you Governor, it is now your turn to govern Bayelsa and cater for all
Bayelsans.
“What you do from now will prove whether the confidence now reposed in you by the majority
of Bayelsans was misplaced or you will justify their hopes and aspirations by carrying all
stakeholders, including those who contested against you, along in your efforts to realise the
Bayelsan dream and thus build a greater state we can all be proud to bequeath to upcoming
generations.
“Your opponents during the election equally have lofty ideals and ideas for the advancement of
the state. Therefore, embrace and work with them in the quest to realise the overall objective of
governance which is the welfare and security of the people of the state.”
Frank prayed for the repose of the souls that were lost during the just concluded exercise and
equally commiserated with the families of the victims.
“These innocent Bayelsans whose lives have been brutally cut short died in the service of the
state. They paid the supreme sacrifice to make Bayelsa great. Let these deaths, injuries and
property destroyed not be in vain.
“I urge you to immediately set up a truth and reconciliation committee to appraise all that
transpired before, during and after the election, with a view to ensure holistic healing and
reunification of the various interests in the state.”
Frank noted that the emergence of Lyon as Governor-Elect has vindicated his position that the
PDP had chosen to relinquish the governance of Bayelsa to the opposition APC when it decided
to field a weak candidate against a popular aspirant who could have steered the party to victory.
He called on the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus and the National Working
Committee (NWC) led by him, to immediately apologise to all leaders and members of the party
in Bayelsa State in particular and the country in general, or resign their positions for deliberately
trading the party’s political capital and dominance in the state for a pot of porridge.
“Secondus and the NWC knew what to do but they neglected to do it. This defeat is directly
attributable to their poor choices, myopic political calculations and selfishness.
“It is our hope that the outcome of the Bayelsa State governorship election will serve as a lesson
to the party to field popular candidates in future elections. The era of imposition is over. Take
note,” he said.
Signed
Comrade Timi Frank
Political Activist
Abuja
Kingsley Moghalu: It's Clear We Don’t Have A Democracy

IgbereTV reports that the 2019 Young Progressive Party (YPP) presidential candidate for the
2019 presidential elections, Kingsley Moghalu has said that Nigeria Electoral system needs an
overhaul following the irregularities that was encountered in the last week's Notice and Bayelsa
States election.
Moghalu made his thoughts known on Twitter. He wrote:
With the conduct of “elections” in Kogi and Bayelsa states last weekend it’s clear we don’t have
a democracy really. We should stop deceiving ourselves. We need fundamental electoral reform in
Nigeria: digital/electronic voting: overhaul of @inecnigeria . Until that happens..…
Igbo Presidency in 2023: Your Time Starts

Now! - The Daily View
The Nigerian State is a deeply multiethnic and religious state. Nigeria evolved from North-South
polarity to North-West-East regions since independence. In 1999 the constitution further
delineated the country to six geo-political zones. The hitherto Hausa/Fulani North has fragmented
to N-Central, N-West, and N-East. Curiously, the political ideologue in the North remains much
the same. While the South West has remained relatively homogenous, the same could not be said
of the South East.
Excision of the South-South has left the Igbos grappling with devising new political tools to stay
relevant. SE geographical size is one-third of the state of Borno. Likewise in terms of population size, it
ranks behind other ethnic groups. The hue and cry of the Igbo’s quest for the presidency is justified.
What they are yet to grasp is even if all Igbos vote for an Igbo presidential candidate it will not be
sufficient to win the coveted office.
The following are excerpts from prominent SE politicians and their opinions.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has already commenced consultation with Arewa
Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum and Coalition of Northern groups, with the intention
to seal the bond that has been existing between them as old allies since 1960”. President-General of
the pan Igbo youth organization, okechukwu Isiguzoro
“There won’t be any chance for an Igbo President in 2023….there can only be Igbo presidential
candidates from some unpopular parties to satisfy all righteousness’. Former senate president
Adolphus Wabara
“….Southeast has no structure to win a national election in 2023. So, the best bet is he for the zone
to play along with the North to give them the Presidency”. Former national Auditor of the PDP Ray
Nnaji
“Check the requirements for anybody to be declared President from votes garnered in the election,
and also look at the fact of the number of states that exist in the area, and other factors they have
earned by having their own in power for a long time, you will know that no one zone can go it
without their support”. Former Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Dr. Joe Nworgu
“If we do all these things and other things that are expected from us within the constitution,
and yet we didn’t get the presidency of Nigeria in 2023, then we would consider ourselves not
welcomed in Nigeria.’ Former Governor of Anambra State Cukwuemeka Ezeife.
The expressed views reveal the challenge facing the Igbo’s. However, Chukwuemeka Ezeife’s
comment is the most contentious. Because it strikes a cord with a majority who follow IPOB.
Unfortunately, emotional outburst or threats is not going to all of sudden sway the rest of the country to
accede to their demand.
As I have written earlier, a free Biafra is precarious given that an average SE politician has not been
able to unite behind a common political candidate in Nigeria’s history. A case in point is the 1999
elections where Ojukwu as APGA’s flagbearer received fewer votes than Obasanjo in the SE and
Ekwueme was opposed by his people in his bid to win the PDP primaries. In 2019 elections an
eminently qualified Kingsley Moghalu did not feature on the radar of Igbo electorate for the highest
office in the land.
Without togetherness, nothing can be achieved in politics. It is equally important, to forge
alliances across other political parties and ethnic groups in order to win the majority vote across
the country for an Igbo candidate. The earlier SE leaders succumb to this fact the earlier they will
begin the process of building bridges to reach out to other leaders across the nation.
It is very possible to have a credible, capable candidate from the SE that all Nigerians will cast their
vote for wholeheartedly come 2023. But that political chess game must start today as the clock is
already ticking.
We'll Construct Akure-ado Road-akeredolu

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Sunday disclosed that with
the Ondo and Ektiti state governments have concluded arrangements to construct the failed
Akure-Ado Ekiti road.
But Governor said the road, which will be a dual carriage way, will be tolled when completed. It
will be financed with a loan from the African Development Bank(ADB), according to the
governor.
Governor Akeredolu who spoke at a Special Thanksgiving Service held at the Christ Apostolic
Church (CAC) Mount of Monument of God’s Grace, Otapete Owo, however, said the move was
only awaiting presidential approval and that of the Federal Executive Council(FEC).
At the service attended by his wife, Betty, the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, members of the
State Executive Council as well as the speaker and state lawmakers, the governor said his
administration was had equally perfected plans to construct a dual carriage virgin road from the
southern part of the state to Kogi in the north central region.
The Governor said: "when done, these roads will be tolled so as to enable the state government
have a channel of repaying monies that will be spent on them.
“Akure to Ado road, we have written letters to the Federal Government and we are sure that the
President will sign it and it will be taken to the FEC.
”We are only waiting for the approval of the FEC , the bank , African Development Bank is ready
to give us loan to dualize the road and it will be tolled.”
At the service, Akeredolu urged Christians to be conscious of the kingdom of God. He charged
the congregation to always display character that will be taken with God’s principle and
commandments.
Olabode Richard Olatunde

Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media)
November 17, 2019.
#KogiDecides: Yahaya Bello Has Ordered My Assassination -

SDP Candidate, Natasha Akpoti
Akpoti said this on Monday morning on her official Twitter page.
She wrote: “Gov Yahaya Bello has ordered for my assassination.”
Akpoti on Sunday called for the cancellation of the ongoing gubernatorial election in Kogi
Central and part of Lokoja, the state capital.
Akpoti claimed that “what happened in Kogi Central and other parts of the state was a far cry
from a credible election,” hence the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should
cancel the elections and conduct a rerun.
She made the call in a statement she personally signed and issued on Sunday.
According to Akpoti: “Ballot boxes were destroyed and burnt in Okene, Adavi, Ajaokuta and
Ogori Magongo and Okehi Local government areas and other parts of the state.
Yahaya Bello Reelected As Kogi Governor

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared incumbent Governor
Yahaya Bello winner of the 2019 governorship election in Kogi state.
Bello won majority votes in 12 of the 21 local government areas in the state, while the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Engr. Musa Wada won majority votes in 9 local government
areas.
Bello polled a total of 406,222 votes to defeat Wada who scored 189,704 votes.
Ikpeazu Secures $430 Million Deal For Enyimba Economic

City
Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has secured the nod of the African Development Bank
(AfDB), private investors and other multilateral financial institutions for investment of $430
million to fast track the development of the first phase of Enyimba Economic City (EEC).
The city is a proposed free-trade zone, with independent business registry, labor law,
banking regulations and more, located on over 9,500 hectares of land in the oil producing
communities of Abia State, between Aba and Port Harcourt
The governor, who spoke in Lagos during an interaction with journalists at the weekend, said he
presented the EEC to investors at the just concluded Africa Investment Forum (AIF) held in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to him, many of the participants at the forum agreed that ECC is a project worthy of
their commitment and demonstrated their willingness to invest in the city.
The project is privately-led, but stakeholders include the local community, the state government
(Abia State), and the federal government.
Advisors and financiers of the EEC include the African Export-Import Bank, African
Development Bank, and the International Finance Corporation.
The governor observed that while other African countries had benefitted from the funding
opportunity provided by the Africa Investment Forum, Nigeria has yet to benefit.
This, he said, explained why the country presented two projects at the 2019 AIF. The four
projects include Enyimba Economic City and Lagos Cable Car projects.
AIF is a market place for project developers, investors, borrowers, lenders, policy makers and
public and private sector investors to encourage investment in Africa.
In order to attract funding for African projects, the African Development Bank launched the
inaugural Africa Investment Forum in 2018.
The forum is an innovative, multi-stakeholder transactional marketplace conceived by the African

Development Bank, aimed at raising capital, advancing projects to the bankable stage and
accelerating financial closure of deals.
AIF inaugural edition was launched in partnership with Africa50, Afrexim Bank, the Trade
Development Bank, the Development Bank of South Africa, the Islamic Development Bank, the
Africa Finance Corporation, the European Investment Bank.
At this year’s event, four governors attended, including Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ikpeazu,
Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdul-Razak (Kwara) and Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River).
According to AfDB, 56 boardroom deals valued at $67.6 billion were tabled at the forum while
52 deals worth $40.1 billion secured investor interest.
Among the deals that secured investors’ interest was the Enyimba Economic City.
Ikpeazu said that EEC would boost Nigeria’s participation in the Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AfCFTA).
He thanked the federal government for supporting the project which he said would create about
600,000 jobs within 10 years.
The governor disclosed that Olam International, one of the world’s leading food and agri-
business companies, has already disclosed its interest in establishing a textile factory in ECC.
Ikpeazu said: “The time has come for our people to move from trading to manufacturing. EEC is
the vehicle through which we are going to achieve that.”
Last month, ECC won the first Charter Cities Business Plan Contest for 2019 with a cash prize of
$25,000.
To clinch the coveted prize, the Enyimba Economic City beat several other participating
cities from around the world including Blackstone Charter Cities of Australia and
Novgorod New Hanse Town of Russia, who came 2nd and 3rd respectively
In a statement released by the Charter Cities Institute, organizers of the contest, the Institute said:
“We are pleased to announce the winners of our Charter Cities Business Plan Contest. After
application reviews and interviews, 1st prize and $25,000 is awarded to Enyimba Economic City
(Nigeria), 2nd prize, $10,000, to Blackstone Charter Cities (Australia), and 3rd prize to Novgorod
New Hanse Town (Russia).
“We launched the Charter Cities Business Plan Contest to identify teams around the world with
forward-looking, viable plans for a Charter City. The winners each exceeded our expectations
regarding the location, target industries, and growth potential of their respective Charter Cities.
“The Charter Cities Institute looks forward to working with all three teams as they execute their
plans.”
ECC is a 9,464-hectare Greenfield Charter City. It will connect the 9 states of South-East
and South-South Nigeria, with a population of about 60 million, turning the area into a
global business hub
The city will leverage existing and improved infrastructure, including high-grade roads,
rail, airports, inland ports, natural gas pipelines, a 540 MW powerplant, water treatment
and waste management.
Enyimba Economic City will feature a state-of-the-art administrative structure to attract

residents and businesses.
Enyimba’s core industry will be manufacturing, with ancillary drivers including logistics,
medical, entertainment, education, commerce, lifestyle residency, and aviation
The city with an annual output of over $5 billion will provide over 600,000 direct jobs,
massively transform the economy of the south-eastern region of Nigeria and even beyond.
Several multilateral institutions have also dubbed the city one of the most transformational
projects in Africa today
President Buhari Finally Reacts To Kogi Governorship

Election
President Muhammadu Buhari has finally congratulated Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on
his re-election in the November 16 gubernatorial poll, Igbere TV reports.
In a statement made available to Igbere TV on Monday, President Buhari describes the election
and emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as “a race well run and a
victory well won.”
He commends APC supporters for remaining steadfast and resolute even in the face of isolated
incidents of violence.
President Buhari condoles with families and loved ones of those who lost their lives as a result of
regrettable acts of violence by thugs doing the bidding of their political sponsors.
According to the President, “All political actors and stakeholders must take deliberate steps to
eschew electoral violence as a peaceful and orderly process is vital to our quest for enduring
democracy.”
He salutes officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security
agencies for creditably discharging their responsibilities under difficult conditions.
President Buhari urges Gov. Bello to see his renewed mandate as another opportunity to build on
the foundations already laid towards improving the lives of the people of Kogi State.
He also enjoins the governor to imbibe the spirit of magnanimity in victory by extending a hand
of partnership to opposition candidates, while urging those dissatisfied with the outcome of the
election to approach the courts.
Obaseki Congratulates Lyon, Bello On Victory At Guber

Polls
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated the governor-elect of Bayelsa
State, David Lyon and his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello, on their victory in the Saturday,
November 16, gubernatorial polls.
The governor, in a statement, said the victory of both governors-elect is a triumph for the All
Progressives Congress (APC), and has once again proven the party to be the peoples’ choice.
According to him, “I want to congratulate governors-elect, David Lyon and Yahaya, of Bayelsa
and Kogi states, respectfully, for securing the mandate of their people and swelling the ranks of
the APC. It is refreshing that the good people of Bayelsa State have decided to join the ranks of
the APC in the South-South and we are indeed delighted to have them in the fold.
“I also extend congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari, whose policies and reforms has
endeared our great party to more people across the length and breadth of the country.”
He noted that the victory in Bayelsa is most significant for the APC as the feat underscores the
party’s growing acceptance in the South-South, adding, “Before now, Edo was the only state
bearing the flag of the APC in the South-south. But now, we have a new addition to the fold,
ensuring that more people in this part of the country benefit from the impactful policies of the
APC.”
The governor said he is committed to working with the new governors-elect to share ideas and
deepen the development strides of the APC across the country.
Senate Makes Uturn, Disowns Hate Speech Bill, Says It’s

Abdullahi’s Idea
Worried by the spate of criticisms that have greeted the Hate Speech Bill which passed first
reading last week, the Senate has distanced itself from the proposed legislation
The acting spokesperson for the red chamber, Senator Godiya Akwashiki, told journalists in
Abuja on Monday that contrary to widespread impression, the bill was not the idea of the ninth
Senate
Akwashiki described as unfortunate, the statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party,
which insinuated that the bill was a Senate bill, skewed to make the alleged third term ambition
of President Muhammadu Buhari possible.He said it was solely being sponsored by the Deputy
Chief Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, based on his conviction.
He maintained that the fate of the bill would be determined on the floor of the Senate after a
robust debate by senators.
Meanwhile, the ex-spokesperson for the Senate who sponsored the bill insisted at a news briefing
on Monday that his proposed legislation is aimed at achieving peace in the country.
Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 17-month High Of 11.61% As Border

Closure Bites Harder
Inflation rate in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, rose to 11.61 percent year-on-year in October
2019, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday morning.
The stats office, which released the figures today, said the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which
measures headline inflation, increased by 0.36 percent in the 10th month of this year when
compared with the 11.24 percent recorded in the previous month, September 2019.
The October inflation rate is the highest level in 17 months, precisely since May 2018 and this is
largely attributed to the closure of land borders by the Nigerian authorities since August 2019,
resulting in hike in prices of goods and services since August 2019.
There were expectations that the figure could rise to 11.32 percent, but this revelation by the NSE
on Monday beat projections due to surge in prices of food items such as meat, oils and fats, bread
and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish and vegetables.
According to the stats office, the food price index increased to 14.09 percent in October from
13.51 percent in September.
In the report, it was also disclosed that increases were recorded in all Classification of Individual
Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the Headline Index.
Looking at the month-on-month basis, the headline index increased by 1.07 percent in October
2019 or 0.03 percentage points higher than 1.04 percent recorded in September.
NBS also noted that the percentage change in the average composite CPI for the 12 months
period ending October 2019 over the average of the CPI for the previous 12 months period was
11.30 percent, showing 0.03 percentage point increase from 11.27 percent recorded in September
2019.
The urban inflation rate stood at 12.20 percent (year-on-year) in October 2019 from 11.78 percent
recorded in September 2019, while the rural inflation rate was recorded at 11.07 percent in
October 2019 compared to 10.77 percent in September 2019.
On a month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 1.15 percent in October 2019, up by 0.02
percentage points from 1.13 percent recorded in September 2019, while the rural index rose by
0.99 percent in October 2019, up by 0.03 percentage points from 0.96 percent recorded in the
previous month.
In October 2019, all items inflation rate, on year on year basis was highest in Kebbi (15.20
percent), Bauchi (13.97 percent) and Ondo (13.74 percent), while Kwara (9.69 percent), Katsina
(9.29 percent) and Bayelsa (9.07 percent) recorded the slowest rise in headline year on year
inflation rate.
On month-on-month basis however, October 2019, All items inflation rate was highest in Benue
(2.20 percent), Bauchi (1.87 percent) and Cross River (1.80 percent) while on the other hand,
Anambra recorded the slowest rise at 0.28 percent, while Bayelsa and Ebonyi saw decline in the
headline month on month index by -0.13 percent and -0.35 percent respectively.
Kogi: INEC Blunders In Result Declaration, Records Higher

Votes 4 Ruling Party
THE total votes recorded for the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi State
shows that the Incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello has won the Saturday guber election, but the
number contradicts the summation of the vote count from each local government area, The ICIR
has found.
Final score announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the APC is
12,682 higher than the actual votes counted. This represents 3.2 per cent surplus in favour of the
ruling party.
The Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor
Ibrahim Umar, declared at the INEC office in Lokoja that the APC governorship candidate,
Yahaya Bello, polled 406,222 votes in total against Musa Wada of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) who garnered a total 189,704 votes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnGQVxnE4dA
Makinde Condemn Kogi Elections, Says It Was A Slap To

Democracy
The Executive Governor Of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has berated the just concluded
Governorship election in Kogi state and described the election as a slap to the nation's
democracy.
The Governor stated this in an interview with Governor's office journalists in his office.
Governor Makinde said it was time all stakeholders came together and work at ensuring elections
reflect the true will and aspirations of the people.
The Governor also affirmed that there was an attempted attack on him in Kogi state, but for his
security aides who repelled the attack.
Governor Makinde stressed that all must be committed to sustaining the Democratic values of
Nigeria for the sake of posterity.
Gov. Bello In Kaduna On A Thank You Visit To El Rufai

The Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello today paid a courtesy visit to governor El Rufai of
Kaduna state to appreciate his efforts and the role he played in his reelection.
The Kaduna state governor was in Kogi last week to support Bello.
El Rufai had to kneel down publicly to beg for forgiveness on behalf of Bello. He also went
to parts of Kogi East to beg local chiefs to forgive Bello.
The Kaduna state governor said "Bello is young and he's supposed to make mistakes". He pleaded with
Kogites to forgive and reelect him citing that he had learnt his lessons.
The Kogi State governorship election took place on Saturday the 16th of November 2019.
Bello was earlier today declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
#BayelsaElection: Details Of Goodluck

Jonathan's Meeting With APC Big Wigs Finally
Emerges
Details have emerged of the meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and some leaders of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa on Monday, November 18.
The leaders of the party which just won the election, said their visit to Jonathan and his wife, Patience,
was because of the importance of the former president to the effective governance of the state.
The leaders of the APC were led to Jonathan by a former governor of the state and current minister of
state for petroleum, Timipre Sylva. At the meeting was the state's governor-elect, David Lyon.
It was learnt that at the meeting, the APC top officials said they recognised Jonathan as the father and
leader of the state.
According to Sylva, Jonathan deserves to be respected and honoured by all Bayelsans, irrespective of
the political party they belong.
He said this was the reason Lyon was brought to the former president for his blessing and guidance.
“Being a former president of the country and a past governor of the state, Jonathan remains an asset to
the state and his inputs will always be needed to advance the course of governance in the Bayelsa.
“As such it was important for us to introduce the governor-elect to him and seek his support and
guidance in building a better Bayelsa," Sylva was reported to have said. In his response, Jonathan urged
governor-elect Lyon to focus more on the welfare and interest of the people of the state not minding
whether they voted for him or not.
“As a former president of Nigeria, I am a father to all Bayelsans, hence my doors are open to all
citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Elections are over now, so I want you to see yourself as the governor of all Bayelsans and not only to
the sections that voted for you. This is the way to move Bayelsa forward," Jonathan said.
Yahaya Bello Thanks The People Of Kogi State For Voting For
Him For Second Term
Despite the obvious large scale rigging and wide spread election malpractice, the Governor of Kogi
state, Yahaya Bello has released a statement thanking the Kogi state electorate for "voting" him into
office for second time despite owing all workers in the state 36 months salary arrears and no single
development for the people of the state.
Read the statement Yahaya Bello released on his victory below:
“This victory is for Kogi people that value true democracy. And we can assure that Governor Bello will
not abandon his campaign slogan which expresses his desire to do more for Kogi people.
“We thank Kogites who voted for us. We also thank Kogi people who did not vote for us; they have
challenged the governor to do more for them to earn their confidence.
“We urged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to exemplify the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting
the verdict of Kogi people.
We also thank the party hierarchy for throwing their weight behind the governor.
“We thank the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security operatives and other public
institutions for ensuring that the election was free, fair, credible and peaceful.
“Governor Bello will do more for Kogi, Kogites will be better for it.”
Nigerians have now settled for what they have, which is injustice and dictatorship, they have now
realize there would never be a free and fair election as all the independent electoral bodies and agencies
work the the ruling party.
David Lyon Is The Least Educated Governor-elect Since

Creation Of Bayelsa State
It's no longer news that Mr David Lyon of the APC has emerged winner of the just concluded keenly
contested gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State. Though the election was marred with all forms of
electoral malpractices and irregularities, the emergence of David Lyon is another testament that
education in our dear country is not only unnecessary for political positions but also a big disadvantage.
Just like his mentor, our dear president, Mr Buhari was re-elected recently without original SSCE
certificate and was even declared 'eminently' qualified by the highest court in the land, the supreme
court.
Since the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996 the state has had brilliant brains as governors, even during
the time of military administrators. This is contrary to what's achievable in many states were certificate
forgers and SSCE holders were voted to govern.
From 1999 till date all Bayelsa governors were either BSc or PhD holders; the declaration of David
Lyon with a meager NCE certificate as the winner of Saturday's election has totally bastardized this
enviable record.
I'm in no way trying to belittle NCE holders but for the fact that people with BSc and even PhD have
governed the State meant Bayelsans were not supposed to settle for less especially when there were
more than 20 candidates with higher degrees
The election of Mr Buhari and Mr David Lyon into prominent political positions in our country is a
beckon of hope for touts, uneducated political thugs, certificate forgers and prominently unqualified
citizens of Nigeria.
What a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Herdsmen In Imo, Gets 24 Hours To Leave

Following the alarm raised by the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, FUTO,
Francis Eze, over the destruction of their farms by herdsmen, the herders have been given 24 hours to
vacate the institution.
This was made known to Vanguard on Sunday in Owerri, from the Coalition of South East Youth
Leaders, COSEYL, led by Goodluck Ibem.
COSEYL, also called on governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo state, to move into action now before is late.
Vanguard has been following the outcry by FUTO VC, on their predicament said to have been caused
by the herdsmen pointing out that the herders’ activities could cause them a shortage of food due to the
damages on their farms.
The VC, briefly said: “We are facing a lot of challenges just the other day, I was discussing the cattle
invasion, destroying our crops which is really affecting our farms and what we should produce.
“Not just that the herdsmen are destroying our farms they are also harassing our students with cattle
and we need to join hands to tackle it. These and many more are the challenges we are experiencing in
this institution.”
Reacting, COSEYL, said: “We condemn in strong terms the incursion of Federal University of
Technology Owerri (FUTO) by Fulani herders who have taken over the school environment as its new
settlement for grazing and habitation with their goats and cattles.”
It was the group concluded that the herdsmen should “Leave the University environment within 24
hours or risk been arrested and prosecuted. The southeast Governors forum has before now banned
movement of cattle on foot. What are they still doing there? The owners of those cattles should move
them out of the University premises now.
“A University environment is a serene premise for reading and other educational activities. It is never a
place for cattle grazing or a settlement for pastoralists. It is an aberration to hear that a University
academic environment has been taken over by Fulani herdsmen and their cattles.
“The most worrisome aspect of the entire scenario is that students mainly the female ones find it very
difficult to move around the school premises for fear of been attacked or raped by herdsmen.
“The large number of these cattles frightens the students and makes it very difficult for them to go out
to read at night. They now live in fear in an environment they are meant to be free to pursue their
academics. Evening reading and preparatory classes is now a bygone issue in the school, thanks to the
pastoralists.”
They also concluded that “The incursion of the herders into the school environment clearly depicts that
the school premises are not properly fenced. Pastoralists and other Intruders can access the school
premises unhindered. It is dangerous for an institution of that magnitude not to be properly fenced for
the security of lecturers, the students and school properties and valuables.
“His Excellency, Governor Emeka Ihedioha who is the Chief Security Officer of the state should
urgently make arrangements with security agencies to evacuate the herdsmen from the school
environment to avoid any future clash with the students.
“Prevention they say is better than a cure. The time to prevent future clash or break down of law and
order is now.”
Abandoned Calabar-Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road: NASS

Committee Investigates
Following the constant complaints and hardship faced by road users of the Calabar – Odukpani – Itu –
Ikot Ekpene federal highway, the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Works and
Abandoned Projects, on Saturday 26th October 2019 embarked on a fact-finding mission.
The 6-man committee headed by Rt. Hon. Francis Uduyok, member representing Ikot Abasi Federal
Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, was accompanied by a team from Julius Berger, the project
contractors, led by its Regional Manager (South and East), Engr. Juergen Fischer to ascertain the actual
state of the highly controversial Odukpani-Itu (with spur to ididep) – Ikot Ekpene Road in Cross Rivers
and Akwa Ibom States.
Also on the delegation were the Members representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Hon.Obong
Emmanuel Ukpong-udo, his counterpart from Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika, Hon.Aniekan Umanah, Hon
Bamidele Salam (Osun), Hon Makwe (Ebonyi) and Rt Hon Tunji Shoyinka (Lagos).
In line with its responsibility of investigating abandoned projects all over the country, the Committee
found out that the contract for the 87km road which is supposed to start from Calabar-Itu road Junction
in Ikot Ekpene and terminate at Odukpani Junction, was haphazardly and unprofessionally awarded due
to political interest.
It was discovered that out of the proposed 87km, only 21.9km was awarded for construction at a
whooping sum of 54 billion, with a large chunk of 65.1km not awarded. This is at gross variance with
blatant lies by some persons that the entire stretch was awarded and work almost completed.
A breakdown of the “awarded” and “not awarded” portions of the road showed that Ikot Ekpene
to Ididep which is 36.1Km had not been awarded, while the portion from Ididep to Ayadehe
bridge which is a distance of only 12.2km was awarded. From Ayadehe bridge to the Power Plant
which is 29km was also not awarded, while the remaining portion from the Power Plant to
Odukpani Junction, totalling 9.7km, had been awarded.
Further investigations revealed that the contract, awarded on April 24, 2018, was supposed to last
for 30 months but non-funding resulted in the suspension of the job in May 2019 by Julius Berger
Plc. The project contractors, Julius Berger disclosed that they received only 7.4 billion out of the
54.1billion earmarked for the project, with about 60% of the 7.4 billion withheld for
compensation purposes leaving them with a paltry 3.4 billion to execute the project, which was
grossly inadequate. In other words, only less than 13% contract works and payment has been
fulfilled.
The House of Representatives Committee wondered why the project would be punctuated by bushes in
between, a situation it frowned at, describing it as unacceptable.
The Committee, having concluded investigations will present a final report about the actual state of the
project to the National Assembly and the President through the Minister of Works and Housing. The
committee has warned agents of falsehood peddling lies about the project to the undiscerning public, to
desist forthwith.
Kogi, Bayelsa Elections Breaks My Heart - Ozekhome

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), human rights lawyer has said the just concluded governorship elections
in Kogi and Bayelsa makes him sad and as such will refrain from making comments on it.
Speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Ozekhome who was referring to the violence that marred
the elections said instead of ballot, Nigerians had blood.
"I don’t want to talk about the elections at all. It breaks my heart and makes me sad as a Nigerian that
we have murdered democracy. Instead of ballot, we now have blood. Discussing the elections saddens
me as a Nigerian” he said.
16 Governorship Candidates Condemn Call For Cancellation Of

Kogi Guber Election
The Forum of 16 Political Parties in the just concluded Kogi State governorship elections has strongly
condemned in totality the call for cancellation of the governorship election by some civil society
groups.
DAILY POST reports that, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared the
candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Yahaya Bello winner of the election.
Bello polled a total of 406,222 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Engr Musa Wada, who scored 189,704 votes.
His declaration as winner of the election by INEC, has generated public outcry from some opposition
parties, civil societies, and observers as they are of the view that the election, which was allegedly
marred by with violence, electoral malpractice, ballot box snatching, intimidations should be cancelled
as it is a mockery on the nation’s democracy.
But, on a contrary view at a press conference on Monday, the spokesperson of the Forum of Political
Parties Dr. Sani Shaibu Teidi, said It has become necessary to make their stands in the protection and
stability of the growth of Democracy in the state.
Dr Teidi, who is the governorship candidate of YDP, therefore, stated that 16 out of the Governorship
candidates have accepted the result of the election.
“We, however, condemned in totality the call for cancellation of the election by civil society saying the
reasons are because of the enormity of waste and loss of lives that might occur in the course of re-run
of another election.
“We are also appealing to all kogi stakeholders to accept the winner for participatory Governance,” the
statement added.
The coalition chairman urged all aggrieved political parties to play the game by the rules,adding that
maintaining unity in Kogi State is the panacea for development of peace.
Female Muslim Students Have Constitutional Right To Use

Hijab – Sultan
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Sunday in Ibadan, Oyo State, said female
Muslim students across the country have the constitutional right to use Hijab in schools.
He, therefore, enjoined parents to always demand for their rights, whenever they are being denied
within the ambit of the law. The Sultan said this while speaking at the 4th General Assembly of the
Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria (MUSWEN), themed, “Muslim Unity and Contemporary
Political Challenges in Nigeria”, held at the University of Ibadan.
Muslim leaders present at the event included the Executive Secretary MUSWEN, Professor Daud
Noibi, Chairman, Board of Trustee, MUSWEN, Prince Bola Ajibola, whose speech was read by
Chairman, Muslim Community in Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, former Minister of Communications,
Barrister Adebayo Shittu, former INEC National Commissioner, Professor Lai Olurode among others.
The Sultan however cautioned those advocating for the use of Hijab and various organisations
championing the welfare of Muslims in the country to seek redress in a peaceful manner instead of
open confrontations. “Muslims must be law abiding, the moment we are attacking each other, then
there will be no peace. So we need peace. And we have been doing our own in silence. I urge all of you
to be law abiding. The issue is at the court and since it is in the court, we can’t make further statement,
so that we don’t commit contempt of the court. “Demand for your rights within the ambit of the law. I
urge all of you to be patient because Almighty Allah loves patient people. On the issue of Hijab at the
university, there are some organizations that are advocating for it, let them continue advocating, but at
our own level we have been doing ours silently. “In the constitution, we have freedom of religion. If
my religion allows me to wear Hijab, nobody should stop me. So our politicians and leaders must know
that’’.
Kogi/bayelsa Election: Save Nigeria From Civil War In 2023 By

Sacking INEC Chair
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Monday charged President Muhammadu
Buhari and the National Assembly to save Nigeria from witnessing another civil war as an aftermath of
a definitively rigged 2023 general election by dissolving the current leadership it termed “heavily
compromised, incompetent and irresponsible” leadership of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, headed by Mahmood Yakubu.
HURIWA, the civil rights advocacy group stated this in reaction to the conduct of the Kogi and Bayelsa
States governorship elections, which saw candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, emerging
winners of the polls.
The rights group maintained that the APC candidates were “railroaded into undeserved and purchased
victories.”
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said what took
place in those two states were a total “travesty of the electoral system and would not stand the test of
time if Impunity and lawlessness were not the hallmarks of the current hierarchy of the electoral
commission.”
HURIWA also proposed the immediate adoption of the relevant portions of the electoral reformation
recommendation which were made by a high profile panel of experts headed by a one-time Chief
Justice of Nigeria Justice Mohammed Uwais (rtd).
Also the group wondered why Buhari “rejected the well thought out electoral Act amendments done by
the eight-session of the Nigerian National Assembly which amongst other major recommendations
legislated the introduction of electronic voting system.”
HURIWA also expressed shock and consternation that the current administration could “blow away
millions of public fund setting up the Senator Ken Nnamani electoral reforms Presidential committee
but ended up dumping the recommendations from that panel in the dustbin of history. ”
The Rights group said the government must show the political will and will power and then proceed to
bring into being the “desired electoral reforms unless the current administration wants Nigeria to
disintegrate in 2023 due to electoral violence that will be inevitable if the current electoral management
body’s status quo remains.”
HURIWA also canvassed the adoption by way of electoral legislative reforms, the practice of electronic
voting system to stave off the recurrent cases of ballot box snatching by armed political thugs prodded
on by politicians and assisted by corrupt armed security forces.
The rights group condemned the Police and the other security forces for failing to arrest those armed
hoodlums who killed dozens of voters in Kogi and Bayelsa States.
It expressed fear that the “mini civil wars that took place as elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States in
which the two dominant political parties – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) unleashed electoral violence leading to death of scores of voters shows that the 2023
general election if conducted by the same incompetent, corrupt and compromised INEC under the
current hierarchy with the same compromised security forces could push Nigeria into a civil war
because the current INEC leadership has severally failed the litmus tests of objectivity and sound
judgment. Besides, the Rights group stated that going by the miscarriages of justice by the election
tribunals and the supreme court in the litigation that trailed the rigged 2019 polls, shows that
prospective political office seekers will rather adopt self-help measures than go to court.”
HURIWA, quoting a newspaper reports recalled that in “August 2007, ex-president Umaru Yar’Adua
also set up a similar 22-man committee headed by Justice Muhammadu Uwais (CJN, 1995-2006) to
undertake a review of the electoral system and suggest ways of reforming it. It concluded its job in
December 2008, having asked for an extension of the initial one-year deadline on account of the
massive number of memoranda it received. The report was thorough, exhaustive and frequently cited
by stakeholders as an appropriate and adequate response to the electoral malaise that undermines the
stability and development of Nigeria’s political system. In fact in 2010, ex-president Goodluck
Jonathan, whose electoral altruism is increasingly coming into sharper relief, forwarded the report to
the National Assembly for action. The legislature chose to dither.”
Massacred Miners: Enugu Commemorates 70th Anniversary

Enugu Remembers Fallen Miners
On November 18, 1949, exactly 70yrs ago, over 21 miners were massacred and over 50 others injured
at the Iva Valley coal mine in Enugu.
IgbereTV reports that on Monday 18th November, 2019, there was wreath-laying ceremony in honour
of the miners around 9am at the monument at New Market roundabout
Enugu people comprising members of the Nigeria Labour Congress Enugu Chapter and other
individuals came out to honour the fallen miners.
Historical Importance Of Coal Mining In Nigeria
Coal generated lots of revenue for Nigeria between the years 1916 and 1970 when it was one of
Nigeria’s major revenue earners. In the south eastern part of the country exploration of the mineral
began proper in present day Enugu State in 1909, with production at the mines in Onyeama, Ogbete,
Iva Valley and Okpara climbing from 25, 511 tons in 1916 to an estimated 583,422 tons before a
decline set in during the Nigerian Civil War which started in 1967 and ended 1970. At the end of the
war most parts of the South east had been ravaged and many expatriate mining experts, mostly from
Britain and Poland had left Nigeria.
What Led To The Massacre of The Coal Miners
Richard L Sklar, a political scientist, wrote on the significance of their sacrifice, “Historians may
conclude that the slaying of the coal miners by police at Enugu first proved the subjective reality of a
Nigerian nation. No previous event ever evoked a manifestation of national consciousness comparable
to the indignation generated by this tragedy.”
The Iva valley coal mine, which took its name from the Iva valley in which it is stationed, is situated
near Enugu metropolis of Enugu state, South-Eastern Nigeria, which was opened in 1917 to replace the
Udi coal mine which had been shut down. Created at the height of industrialization in eastern Nigeria,
the demand for coal was high due to the Nigerian railway corporation being the highest consumer of
coal in the country at that time.
There were cases of racism and physical abuse meted out to Nigerians by the British managers. An
example of such was when Mister T. Yates, a British national on September 2, 1945 assaulted a worker,
Mr Okwudili Ojiyi. The victim took courage and brought up an assault case and Mr T. Yates was
prosecuted and penalized.
Everything boiled over when on November 1st, 1949, the management rejected the demands for the
payment of rostering, the upgrading of the mine hewers to artisans and the payment of housing and
travelling allowances. Having no other alternative, the workers began their strike.
For every action there is an equal reaction. The reaction of the British managers was to sack the coal
miners, over fifty of them. They feared that the strike was part of the ever growing agitation for
independence, so on November 18th 1949, they decided to remove the explosives that were within the
mines.
The explosives of the sister mine Obwetti were easily removed but those of Iva valley were not because
the workers refused to assist the management to do so.
The Fitzgerald Commission, a directive that the colonialists were forced to set up to investigate the
massacre, found that the motive behind why the miners objected to the removal of the explosives was
because they were afraid that once the explosives were removed, nothing stood in the way of the
management closing the mine and putting them out of much needed work.
The senior superintendent of police at that time, Mr F.S Philip came to the mine, together with two
other officers and seventy-five armed policemen to remove the explosives, but a struggle ensued
between three of the policemen and the workers. At this point Philip, without second thoughts and
hesitation, ordered his men to open fire on the defenceless coal miners.
This tragedy sparked a butterfly effect in places like Onitsha, Aba, and Port Harcourt resulting in mass
protests and eighteen prominent Nigerians created the national emergency committee (NEC) to
coordinate a national response to this atrocity against humankind. It was presided over by Dr Akinola
Maja with Mbonu Ojike as the secretary.
The colonial government of course lied that the coal miners had been armed, had tried to disarm and
also attempted to seize the explosives for themselves. The commission of course saw through this
falsehood. The Commission partly blamed the union and said that Superintendent F.S Philip committed
a grave error of judgement, stated that;
“Not one policeman was injured, not one missile was thrown at them (and that) if the crowd was bent
on using force against the police nothing could have saved these policemen from grave injury, whereas
in fact they were not injured at all”
Such was the colonial masters’ bloody legacy and the people’s struggle for freedom.
Today at New Market round-about, an everlasting monument can still be seen, as a mark of respect for
the brave men who were brave enough to stand against British tyranny and to show that their spirits
live on in the hearts of all of us.
Acheju Abuh Burnt To Death: Kogi PDP Woman Leader Killed
In Her Home
Kogi State is witnessing a rein of fear and anarchy at the moment. Sporadic gunshots could be heard
ringing out from major towns in the state, forcing peace-loving citizens to continue to live in fear and
angiush. There is terror in land, walking on all fours.
In Monday afternoon, political thugs were said to have gone on the rampage, killing a middle-aged
PDP women leader who was said to have been locked up in her house and burnt to ashes.
This was a sequel to the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that
the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Yahaya Bello had been re-elected for the
second term even as the thugs trooped out to celebrate the victory.
The victim, Mrs Acheju Abuh, the Women Leader of Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward,
was said to have been burnt alive in her home by alleged jubilant supporters and thugs said to be
celebrating their party’s victory.
Reacting to the banal act, the spokesman, Wada/Aro Campaign Council, Faruk Adejoh-Audu said:
“Chanting GYB 4+4, the thugs, shooting sporadically, arrived Hon (Mrs) Abuh’s house at about 2pm
this afternoon (yesterday) and surrounded the house, bolting every exit and escape from outside.
“They then poured petrol on the building and set it ablaze as other terrorized villagers watched from
hiding. She reportedly attempted to escape through a window but was prevented by the metal burglary
proof and gun shots with bullets raining in her direction.
“The blood-thirsty thugs waited, shooting and watching with relish while Mrs Abuh cried from inside
the inferno until her voice died out.
“They reportedly left only when the entire house and Mrs Abuh had been burnt to ashes. There are
fears that the killing spree may escalate over the night.
“We are calling on all men of good conscience to immediately help the people of Kogi State appeal to
the Inspector General of Police to rein in Bello’s thugs and protect our people whose only crime was
that they voted for their choice, a vote that was never allowed to count.
“Unless Nigerians of good conscience immediately come to our aid, innocent people may die worse
agonizing deaths as the blood lust of Mr Bello and his supporters continue.
“So far there’s no indication that the Kogi State police will arrest her killers or even prevent further
attacks and killings of people.”
Sources from Ochadamu said two other houses had been burnt by the thugs. When youths in the
community made attempts to stop the rampaging thugs, a serious fight was said to have ensued which
led to one of the thugs allegedly hurting himself with his charmed knife which led to severe bleeding.
He was rushed to a popular clinic in the community where health workers refused to attend to him
without a police report.
The thugs died shortly after he was brought to the clinic while the his enraged comrades promised to
burn the clinic.
Investigations also revealed that since Saturday residents of all major towns in the state including
Lokoja the state capital have been taken over by thugs and some security personnels who take delight
in shooting sporadically without anyone challenging them
This, it was gathered has created fears for peace-loving citizens especially women and children who are
often terrified with serious health problems created for the aged and those suffering from hypertension.
Reacting to the ugly incident the spoke man of the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, expressed sadness over
the incident and said those responsible for the crisis would be brought to book.
BELLO'S THUGS BURN PDP CAMPAIGN WOMAN LEADER ALIVE IN HER HOME
Even after Mr Yahaya Bello was announced winner, his thugs have continued on their killing spree.
The Woman Leader of Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, Hon Mrs Acheju Abuh was this
afternoon burnt alive in her home by jubilant Bello supporters and thugs said to be celebrating his
victory.
Chanting GYB 4+4, the thugs shooting sporadically arrived Hon (Mrs) Abuh's house at about 2pm this
afternoon and surrounded the house,bolting every exit and escape from outside.
They then poured petrol on the building and set it ablaze as other terrorized villagers watched from
hiding.
She reportedly attempted to escape through a window but was prevented by the metal burglary proof
and gun shots with bullets raining in her direction.
The blood thirsty thugs waited, shooting and watching with relish while Mrs Abuh cried from inside
the inferno until her voice died out.
They reportedly left only when the entire house and Mrs Abuh had been burnt to ashes.
.
There are fears that the killing spree may escalate over the night.
So far there's no indication that the Kogi State Police will arrest her killers or even prevent further
attacks and killings of our people.
We are calling on all men of good conscience to immediately help the people of Kogi State appeal to
the Inspector General of Police to rein in Bello's thugs and protect our people whose only crime was
that they voted for their choice, a vote that was never allowed to count.
Unless Nigerians of Good conscience immediately come to our aid innocent people may die worse
agonizing deaths as the blood lust of Mr Bello and his supporters continue. .
Faruk Adejoh-Audu
Spokesman, Head Communications
Wada/Aro Campaign Council
Ugwuanyi Says He Will Continue To Promote Peace In Enugu

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has reassured the people of the state that his administration
will continue to promote peace in the state in order to enhance good governance and rapid
development.
The governor reiterated that his administration will not take the peace in the state for granted, stressing
that he would do whatever is necessary to sustain the existing peace throughout his tenure.
Speaking during an official visit to Aninri Local Government Area on Monday, to inaugurate some
development projects executed by the council chairman, Hon. Ezekiel Chukwu, including the seven-
classroom block at Community Primary School, Amacharauka, Oduma, fully equipped with learning
materials and the two thousand-capacity event pavilion at the Local Government secretariat, Gov.
Ugwuanyi commended the chairman and his team for the bold initiatives.
The governor also laid the foundation stone for the construction of an ultra modern civil hall at
Ndeabor adjacent to the council headquarters in the company of the former Senate Deputy President
and the Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the member
representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, his counterpart
for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dennis Amadi, State Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Augustine Nnamani, among others.
Gov. Ugwuanyi who noted that “we are one family” and “equal in the eyes of God”, urged the people
of Aninri to continue to uphold the principles of his administration which are anchored on peace and
good governance.
He thanked God for the successful and peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections in the state, as he
prayed that the state continues to grow from strength to strength.
Also speaking, Senator Ekweremadu appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi for his support and kind disposition
to the people of Aninri LGA, pointing out that the governor gave them two commissioners in spite of
the fact that their council is among the smallest local government areas in the state.
The former Deputy President of the Senate congratulated the commissioners, Rt. Hon. Mathias
Ekweremadu (Transport) and Hon. Uchechukwu Ogbonna (Labour and Productivity) for their
appointments.
He equally applauded the council chairman for the development projects, reassuring the governor of
the commitment of the people of Aninri to sustain the existing peace in the area.
Earlier in his welcome address, the council chairman, Hon. Chukwu, who expressed gratitude to the
governor for his support and contributions to the development of the area, stated that the achievements
made by his administration in the areas of infrastructural development, workers’ welfare, healthcare
delivery, security, empowerment programmes, collaboration with other development agencies, among
others, were in keeping with “the social contract we entered with our people who voted us to power”.
Enugu State is in the hands of God!
Nigerians Have Punished Saraki, Melaye, Other Senators

Decampee - Oshiomhole
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday
commended Nigerians for punishing all 16 senators that decamped last year July with former Senate
President, Bukola Saraki.
Oshiomhole spoke with State House correspondents when he led a delegation to present, Bayelsa State
Governor-elect, David Lyon to President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, Abuja.
Some of the senators who dumped the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in July, 2018
included Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central), Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun
Central), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North), Banabas Gemade (Benue North East).
Others are Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), and Shitu Ubali (Jigawa North-East), Danbaba Ibrahim
(Sokoto South), Usman Nafada (Gombe North), Nasif Nafada (Bauchi North), Isah Misau (Bauchi
Central) and Suleman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North).
Senator Muritala Nyako (Adamawa Central) and Monsurat Sumonu (Oyo Central) defected from the
APC to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political party adopted by the Coalition for
Nigeria Movement (CNM) launched by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Oshiomhole, on Monday said it was a big lesson that the electorates will always wait for those who
decamp.
He said: “But of course, we also know that there was an election in Kogi but that is a matter for another
day when we present the governor are-elected.
“But we do realize that all the 16 senators who decamped along with Senator Bukola Saraki from APC
to PDP, hard as they have tried to come back the Nigerian people in their respective constituencies,
have insisted on punishing them for being disloyal and refusing to monetizing their mandates.
“I think the only that is still struggling now is Dino Melaye but as you can see from the result so car,
Senator Smart Adeyemi is leading by over 20,000 votes even though INEC insists we must have a re-
run for the remaining areas we are confident that there is no way he can make up for 20,000 vote
deficit.
“I think the lesson for us to be learnt as a party is rather clear, that when politicians go to the polls to
collect mandate on a particular political platform and then they dumped the party for another party, the
electorate will always be waiting for them.
“Over time we are likely to see people out of fear for the electorate, not monetizing their mandate after
they are elected.
“But overall, we are grateful to Almighty God for making this election successful, we appreciate the
people of Bayelsa State who have reposed confidence in our party and on our candidate.” he stated
But rejecting the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission for Saturday
elections, Melaye described them as “magic results.”
At a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, he accused his All Progressives Congress opponent, Senator
Smart Adeyemi, and Governor Yahaya Bello of using violence, intimidation and inducement to
frustrate the electorate in areas where he was popular.
Border Closure Should Last For More Than 2 Years ― Hon

Atigwe
• Says South East is ready for Presidency in 2023
By Kehinde Akintola.
A Member representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State in the House of
Representatives, Hon. Simon Chukwuemeka Atigwe, on Sunday, called on Federal Government to
sustain the closure of land borders for more than two years, to enable Nigerians to reap the abounding
benefits.
Speaking with Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja, Hon. Atigwe argued that the closure was the
best policy so far put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, “apart from helping to checkmate the influx of arms and criminal elements causing
insecurity in the country, the borders closure would compel Nigerians to resort to agriculture because
those in farming business would have value for their labour.
“Personally, I think that is the best decision so far taken by the President as far as the economy of
Nigeria is concerned because you don’t just allow your country to be flooded with goods from other
countries, making your own citizens very lazy; making them consumers only and not producers.
“I think it doesn’t help anybody saying that borders should be opened to importers anyhow while
smuggling goes on uncontrolled. Apart from making us lazy, we are still losing income; we are losing
revenue because all these people smuggling goods through road borders are not paying anything.
“But if things should be coming in through the ports like the airports and the seaports, then there will
be scrutiny of all the things coming in.
“Apart from the revenue, you also safeguard your people because these smugglers bring in arms and
ammunition and all sorts of dangerous weapons that all these bandits are using; and you can’t track it
because they come in through all corners of the borders. So, I support the border closures 100 per cent.
“China is doing well today because of what they did. China at a time closed all their borders, I think for
50 years or so. They had no contact with anybody. They stayed within and started producing all the
things they needed. Today, China is one of the leading economies of the world.
“So, if we can allow this border closure to go beyond two years, I assure you, we will produce
everything we need in Nigeria, and save our economy, save our forest and all that. You will see our
economy booming again even though it might be biting for now as you said.
“By the time we get it right now, everybody will be happy. So, I support the border closure,” he noted.
While responding to question on Igbo Presidency by 2023, Hon. Atigwe said that the South-East should
be allowed by other zones of the country to produce the next President in the interest of equity and
peace.
He noted that Igbos are people full of industry and ingenuity when it comes to turning opportunities to
great potentials, assuring that the Igbo man as Nigeria’s President would do exploits.
Hon. Atigwe further discountenance the popular view that Igbos could not work together, saying that,
though they are republican in nature, they love themselves, love others and have the capacity to unite
the various geo-cultural strata of Nigeria.
“If you understand the Igbos very well, you will know that they are republicans. They believe in self-
survival, and it’s not their undoing. It’s only when you don’t know them. You hear of all these crises
everywhere; people burning their houses but you don’t hear it in Igboland.
“They love themselves more than any other tribe, but outside you think they are killing themselves. Do
elections 10 times, you won’t hear of serious destructions in Igboland because of politics, but you hear
this in some other areas. So, the impression people have that they are not united does not hold water.
“If equity should come to play, it is not disputable, it is (the turn of) South East. If it comes to the South
and it doesn’t go to the South East, then there must be a very serious reason, and I don’t think that
anybody can proffer such reason to convince people easily. And I don’t think anybody has that reason
that it should not go to the South East.
“One, it is their turn, if you are talking about turn; two, they have capable people; three, they have
contributed immensely to the development of this country: academically, politically, financially and
even during the struggle for independence, they were in forefront.
“So, it is purely their turn if it comes to the Southern zone and I think that we should respect ourselves
and allow it to be so,” Hon. Atigwe stated.
Imo Govt. Dissociates Self From Ultimatum To Herdsmen

The Imo Government has dissociated itself from an ultimatum from a group giving herdsmen in the
state 24 hours to vacate the state.
In a press statement issued on Monday in Owerri, Mr Chibuike Onyeukwu, the Chief Press Secretary to
Gov. Emeka Ihedioha, stated that the group, operating under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth
Leaders, lacked legitimacy to speak for the state.
The statement described the reported ultimatum as “an embarrassment to the government and people of
the state” and urged members of the public to disregard it.
It further stated that the group gave the warning, following an alarm raised by the managemenet of the
Federal University of Technology, Owerri over relorted damage to their farms by animals allegedly
owned by herdsmen.
“The attention of the Government of Imo has been drawn to a report on some news media, credited to a
group, which identified itself as Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, giving herdsmen in the state 24
hours to quit.
“The group, led by one Goodluck Ibem, relied on an alarm allegedly raised by the management of the
university, accusing herdsmen of destroying their farm lands and crops, among other concerns.
“The government of Imo, under the leadership of Ihedioha, hereby dissociates itself and entire good
people of the state from the said ultimatum.
“Imo government is embarrassed by the development and has taken steps to prevent a breakdown of
law and order in the state,” the release stated.
Onyeukwu stated that while efforts were on to ensure that the concern raised by the management of the
university was addressed, the state government “shall not tolerate a situation where individuals take the
laws into their hands.
“For the avoidance of doubt, citizens of Imo are very peaceful, hospitable and have always enjoyed
cordial relationship with neighbours and strangers in the state
He urged the general public to disregard the report and go about their normal businesses without fear of
molestation.
Edo Crisis: ‘I May Not Be Seeking Reelection Next Year’, Says
Obaseki
Indications emerged on Sunday morning that the incumbent embattled Governor of Edo State, Mr
Godwin Obaseki, may not be participating in next year’s 2020 governorship election in the state.
According to reports, the Governor who has severally said he deserved another term, gave the hint at an
interdenominational thanksgiving service of the just concluded Edo “Alaghodaro” Summit, in Benin
City.
He, however, did not give much details as to why the sudden change of mind, even when he only
recently declared he was not leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the state’s number
one seat.
Obaseki said, “I have since come to realize that it is God who gives power, not any man. I stand by my
words that no one made me governor. And one man (apparently referring to Oshiomole) cannot stop me
in 2020, if I chose to run. But I may not be running after all.
“My government came on board in 2016, with a promise to reposition the state and close the treasury
against looters and disgruntled politicians, shut out political thugs, CDAs; and we have so far
succeeded in doing that.
“But the crisis within my party has overwhelmed and overshadowed our performance. I have since
opted to focus on good governance and in completing our first term, while I go back to my normal
business which is suffering greatly.”
NAN reports that Obaseki, who once said in 2016 that he won't be seeking re-election at the expiration
of his first term, has been at loggerheads with his predecessor and national chairman of the APC, Mr.
Adams Oshiomhole, with the governor accusing the latter of ‘godfatherism.’
Just recently, the governor suffered great political defeat ahead 2020, with the suspension of the Edo
APC Chairman, Anselm Ojezua, a known loyalist and staunch supporter of Mr. Obaseki; while the
governor was also suspended by another faction of the party.
Eleven out of sixteen members of the Edo APC executive have since deserted him (Obaseki) and
absconded to Abuja, even as 14 of 24 Edo Assembly members-elect loyal to Oshiomhole, are still
aloof.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, were
unsuccessful. But an official of the Edo state government, who craved anonymity, confirmed the
development.
“Yes, it is true. The governor is being pressurized to step down ahead of next year's election. He is
being accused of disregarding the party and constituted authorities, including the national leader, Bola
Tinubu with his ‘Edo is not Lagos’ statement.
“Don’t forget that he was also recently suspended from the party, including his deputy Shaibu, and SSG
Ogie. All is not well, and the governor knows this. He may not get the governorship ticket if he chose
to run, hence his sudden u-turn”, the official said.
’14 Killed’, Houses Burnt As ‘bandits’ Hit Zamfara Again

The Zamfara police command says 14 persons were killed by suspected bandits in Karaye village,
Gummi local government area of the state on Sunday.
Muhammad Shehu, public relations officer of the command, disclosed this in a statement.
Shehu said 10 other persons sustained gunshot injuries while some houses were set ablaze in the attack.
This is the first major breach of the peace agreement between the state government and suspected
bandits.
Shehu said on November 3, some members of a local vigilante group, known as Yan Sakai, attacked
and killed nine people in Bardoki village, over the suspicion that they were bandits.
He said on receiving the report, the command arrested 11 members of the vigilantes suspected of
actively participating in the killings.
He said Sunday’s incident might have been a reprisal attack.
He added that discreet investigation into the incident was ongoing and those would be prosecuted.
“The incident is being investigated by the state CID Gusau and all the suspects will be charged to court
for prosecution in order to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.
“However, combined teams attached to Operation Puff Adder, men of Operation Hadarin-Daji and
vigilantes led by the DPO Gummi mobilised to the scene and embarked on extensive bush combing
with a view to trailing and arresting the perpetrators.
“Corpses and injured victims were conveyed to the General Hospital Gummi for autopsy and treatment.
“The command calls on members of the public to desist from taking laws into their hands as it will not
hesitate to deal decisively with any person or group of person that tries to sabotage the relative peace
currently being enjoyed in the state.”
Bayelsa/Kogi: Outcome Show Nigerians Trust,
Buhari, APC - Tinubu
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says the outcome of
the Kogi and Bayelsa elections is proof that Nigerians believe in the direction that President Buhari and
the APC wish to take this nation.
He congratulated Yahaya Bello and David Lyon on their governorship election victories in Kogi and
Bayelsa States, respectively.
Tinubu also applauded the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Kogi and Bayelsa states’ chairmen
and other leaders in the two states.
In a statement on Monday by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said their victories were a
testament to the growing acceptance of the APC, the quality of leadership and governance and the
credibility of their promise to lead the people and the nation to the Next Level.
He added that it showed Nigerians had no appetite to return to the failed policies and practices of the
past.
“David Lyon’s election represents a significant shift in the politics of Bayelsa State. By voting APC, the
people of Bayelsa have voted for progressive reform and Asiwaju joins them in their belief that David
Lyon is the man to deliver the needed and desired reform. With this victory, Governor-elect Lyon’s task
is to justify the people’s faith by providing a purposeful and transformational administration,” he said.
“Bayelsa is endowed with significant natural resources and human capital. It will be incumbent on the
Governor-elect to harness these assets for the good of all Bayelsans. He must carry along all disparate
interests in the state and be magnanimous in victory. Let him reach out to the political opponents who
mounted a spirited and energetic campaign. They too must be gracious in defeat. .
“For Governor Bello, the people of Kogi have handed him a second term. Their vote is proof of the
confidence that the people of Kogi retain in his leadership. He must now re-double his efforts to do
even more for the people in his second term.
“The governor must focus on the development of the state as he is the person, more than anyone else,
who will determine the fate of Kogi. He must do all he can to realise the potential of the state. He must
take advantage of the state’s agricultural richness as well as its proximity to the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja and the commerce resulting from that closeness.
“I urge the opposition candidates and politicians in Kogi and Bayelsa to rally round their governors and
work together in the interests of their two states.
“I condemn the scattered incidents of violence witnessed in the election in some parts of Kogi State.
Election should celebrate our democratic existence. Never should election be occasioned by loss of life.
“We sympathise with the victims and commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives. I
enjoin law-enforcement authorities to identify those responsible for perpetrating the violence and levy
the full force of the law against them. Violent behaviour must not be allowed to impede our path to
greatness as a democratic nation.
“I also commend all INEC officials involved for conducting fair, free and credible elections. Their task
is never easy. They deserve praise for overseeing well-organised elections.”
Nigerian Uk-based Robotic Engineer, Silas Adekunle Visit VP

Osinbajo In Abuja
According to CNBC: "Silas Adekunle was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK at about 11 years old.
He spent much of his childhood obsessed with science and technology, playing with Lego robot kits
and watching YouTube videos to get ideas for simple robots he could build himself at home.
.
Now 27, Adekunle is the CEO and founder of a robotics company that he says has raised $10 million in
funding. He also built what he calls the world's first gaming robot, which impressed Apple executives
enough that, in 2017, the tech giant signed an exclusive distribution deal with Adekunle's UK-based
company, Reach Robotics. Apple now sells the robots at $250 a pop."
.
In Southern part of Nigeria, if the SARS officers see you with this hairstyle and a laptop, "you are a
criminal", they would conclude- yahoo boy. The ignorant society believe so too, sadly.
.
Osinbajo seen here with wide smile on his face is active on Twitter and Facebook but not once did I see
him Tweet about police brutality against young Nigerians who are aspiring to be software, robotic
engineers, code writers and developers like Silas, but are being profiled for extortion and execution just
because of the way they dress or the job they choose as career – IT.

Nov 17 - Nov 18 News

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#RevolutionNow: stop insulting Nigerians, release sowore Falana

Why Nigeria Is A Poor Country And Will Not Develop Anytime

Kogi Governorship Election Official Results From LGAs -

Final result for Idah LG KOGI EAST Gubernatorial elections

Total number of accredited voters – 56,743

Omala LGA Gubernatorial Election Results

Total Number of Registered Voters= 7153.

VALID VOTES: 3158.

FINAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESULT OF YAGBA WEST LG SENATORIAL POLL

TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS : 42 784

PARTIES AND THEIR SCORES.

TOTAL VALID VOTES : 17 068

FINAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESULT OF YAGBA WEST LG GUBERNATORIAL POLL

TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS : 42 063

PARTIES AND THEIR SCORES.

TOTAL VALID VOTES : 17 063

Total registered voters: 105906

*No of RAC Centres* 11

Final Results from Koton Karfe LGA Governorship election

Final Results from Koton karfe LGA Senatorial election

Total valid votes:24,246

FINAL RESULTS FOR OKEHI LG, KOGI STATE

Yahaya Bello Wins Okene Local Government With Very Large

Anambra Declares November 18 Public Holiday In Honour Of

Kogi Election: 30 INEC Staff Missing

Mr Mahmood then released the names of the missing persons.

Unit 002- (1) Oladipo Victor

(2) Achimi Samson P-08136653704

(3) Umar Faruk Sani-08032745663

(4) Adama Ibrahim

Unit 006- (1) Abayomi Roseline E.

(2) Onuche Abel E

(4) Umoru Mariam-

Unit 013- (1) Effiong Akwaowo-Ukpe

(2) Mattew Agada

(3) Samuel Ibrahim

(4) Sado Bello

(2) Hassan Musa- Assistant Presiding Officer 1 (APO 1)

(3) Ekele Michael – Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)

(4) Ahmed Mattew – Assistant Presiding Officer 3(APO 3 )

Unit 012 -(1) Ovioawho Omonefe B.- Presiding Officer (PO)

(2) Baba Eric -Assistant Presiding Officer 1 (APO 1)

(3) Gabriel Samuel Assistant Presiding Officer 2 (APO 2)

Unit 015-(1) Nwafor Emmanuel- Presiding Officer (PO)

(2) Agada Ochegeugwa- Assistant Presiding Officer 1(APO 1)

(3) Ojih Martina- Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)

Unit 016 (1) Ezugwu Stanley- Presiding Officer (PO)

(2) Mohammed Abdullahi- Assistant Presiding Officer 1(APO 1)

(3) Mohammed Ibrahim- Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)

(4) Adejoh Joy- Assistant Presiding Officer 3(APO 3)

Unit 022 (1) Adebisi Comfort – Presiding Officer (PO)

(3) Onoja Alice- Assistant Presiding Officer 2(APO 2)

(4) Onuche Vincent- Assistant Presiding Officer 3(APO 3)

Nigeria To Open Border After Buhari, Akufo-addo Meeting –

INEC May Cancel Results From Units Affected By Ballot Box

Constituency Projects: Senate Move For Total Control Of

Read Also: Senate moves to legalize constituency projects

APC's National Caucus, NEC Meetings To Hold This Week

Buhari Doesn't Need Yoruba Anymore- Tanko Yakasai

Could this be the history of their problem sir?

Would the border closure be of a serious help to the economy?

What of what is happening Edo State?

No of RAC Centres 11