2019: PDP REPORTEDLY REACHES AGREEMENT WITH OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES AGAINST PRESIDENT BUHARI

As the political scene begins to gear up for 2019, desperation have already kicked in, among top politicians in Nigeria, to unseat president Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) at all cost.

Members of the opposition party have reportedly reached a consensus in their plot to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. Reliable news reports have it that the various parties have almost concluded terms of their alliance.

It was reported that the “Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), New PDP (nPDP) and about 34 other parties and groups are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the alliance.” 

The committee saddled with the responsibility of perfecting their terms of condition will soon present the final outcome of its work. A source said: “We are hoping to conclude all plans in the next three weeks. I can assure you that Nigerians would begin to see serious activities in the next few days.” One of the main concerns of the group, however, is the political platform to use to present its candidate.

It was also reported the middle belt is also working on checkmating the north by presenting a unity candidate. A source involved in the plot said: “The move is a massive one and there is the determination to checkmate the North this time.

The core North has always taken the slot each time the presidency is zoned to the North. This time, we are presenting quality candidates, who are seasoned technocrats and we will market them to the whole country. 

“If you look at the electoral map of elections of 1983 and 1999, you would discover that the Middle Belt delivered the presidency to Alhaji Shehu Shagari and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the two rounds of elections.

The Middle Belt has always played a key role in resolving the electoral direction of Nigeria.” The leaders have thus reportedly come up with four names to be presented as likely candidates to challenge President Buhari.

Meanwhile, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, accused former president Olusegun Obasanjo of being the most hypocritical former leader of the country, following his attempt to hijack the movement for political change.

Soyinka stated this in Abuja on Friday, June 22, at a dinner organised by the International Press Institute. “Obasanjo has crossed the red line and I will launch a publication to expose him on July 3 at Freedom Park in Lagos. He is trying to hijack a recovery process he is least worthy to lead," he said.

GOVS USING FAAC STAND-OFF AS EXCUSE NOT TO PAY SALARIES— NNPC

NNPC Towers, Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, accused state governors of using the stand-off emanating from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting as an excuse not to pay salaries to workers.

NNPC also described the governors’ declaration as an attempt to incite Nigerians against it.

The corporation in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, also debunked allegations that it was diverting proceeds of crude oil sales to another account instead of the Federation Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

NNPC Headquarters, Abuja.

Ughamadu described the actions of the governors as unfortunate, especially as it was the same governors that approved some of its measures to entrench transparency in its operations.

The statement read:  “The governors’ (under the umbrella of the Governors’ Forum) antics of  rushing  to the press at the earliest opportunity of FAAC meeting is most unfortunate, using this as an unfortunate excuse not to pay salaries.

“It is a ploy to set the public against the NNPC. Yet, it is  the same Governors’ Forum that approved the cash call exit to restore investors’ confidence and boost crude oil production, thereby generating more revenue for them to share.  Again, all crude oil sales proceeds go straight into the CBN and not to the NNPC accounts.”

NNPC had on Saturday night, disclosed that it would be meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to address the issue of remittances to the Federation Account that caused the suspension of the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting.

In a text message in Abuja, Ughamadu had stated that the decision to address the issue with the Vice President was due to the stance of the state commissioners of finance.

He said: “The issue will be resolved with the Vice President who chairs the National Economic Council, NEC.”

The NNPC had on Thursday, accused state governors of making unnecessary demands, stating that the governors were asking the corporation to remit additional N40 billion to FAAC.

Ughamadu had disclosed that the fresh demand was in breach of the agreement it had with the governors.

According to him, the NNPC had agreed with the governors to make a monthly remittance of N112 billion to the FAAC, but the NNPC was able to exceed the amount by N35 billion, bringing its remittance in June 2018 to N147 billion.

Ughamadu further described the demands of the governors as unfortunate, especially as the NNPC had to secure the extra funds from amount meant for meeting its Joint Venture cash call obligations.

He said:  “The NNPC N147 billion June remittance to the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee, FAAC, is in line with the terms of agreement it had with governors on the matter.”

“The agreement NNPC had with the governors was that the corporation would make a monthly remittance of N112 billion to FAAC subject to sufficient funds from sales of domestic crude oil allocation for the corresponding month after meeting cash call obligations on JVs, deductions of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)-cost under recovery and pipeline maintenance.”

“NNPC was able to surpass the terms of agreement with the governors on the monthly remittance for the month of June by N35 billion, having taken a cue from their postures by taking from the sum meant for settling cash call obligations.

“The corporation regretted the Governors’ additional request of N40 billion. It is unfortunate, given the fact that NNPC is set to exit the cash call phenomenon.”

HOW US SINGER, AKON AND HIS CREW TALKED THEIR WAY INTO ENTERING NIGERIA WITHOUT VISA

Akon and his crew leaving Murtala Muhammad International AirportSahara Reporters Media

United States (US) singer Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, popularly known as ‘Akon’, on Tuesday talked his way through the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and entered Nigeria without a visa, SaharaReporters found out.

The songwriter, who was transiting to the US from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, missed a connecting flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria. Rather than stay at the Nigeria immigration lounge of the airport, Akon and his crew refused and insisted they would go into the city to lodge in a hotel, an action that is against the immigration laws of the country. 

Akon and his crew were claimed to be backed by the US Consulate, and they insisted the rapper would never stay at the immigration lounge where travellers who found themselves in the musician’s situation usually stayed. 

In a video, which captured how the whole scenario played out, Akon and the US Consulate prevailed on the officials of Nigeria Immigration Service and they were illegally allowed to step outside of the airport, and lodge at Sheraton Hotel. 

In a hot discussion, which lasted for about two hours, Akon and his crew were bent on leaving the airport to a hotel but the immigration officers at the airport maintained it couldn't be allowed. 

However, when the US consulate interfered in the matter, the immigration officers allowed Akon and his crew leave the airport and stay in a hotel but their passports were withheld. An undertaking was also written to ensure that the artiste and his crew were brought back to the airport. 

Speaking over the phone, a Delta Line official who was simply identified as Henry was heard telling the US consulate that the artiste could not stay at the airport lounge. 

“If they have to leave the airport, we have to hold their passport. I have some of the passes here, some US performers who were transiting from Malabo through my flight but unfortunately, the flight left tonight and we are asking that we take them to a hotel from the US consulate so that we bring them back to the airport tomorrow then your men can have their passports until tomorrow when they can get out of the country," he said. 

“The US Consulate confirms that they cannot stay at the airport, they want them to go to a hotel so that tomorrow they can bring them down to the airport.” 

In another call, Henry also said that the consulate spoke with the artiste and they were bent on having their passport with them. 

“The consulate spoke with the artiste and the team and they are bent on having their passport with them and I’m trying to get them out of here," he said. "The Immigration authority tries to keep their passport because they don’t have Nigerian visa. However, if they want to go to town, I can guarantee them (NIS) that they will bring them back tomorrow.” 

Another official at the airport who was involved in the case, Ibrahim Yahaya said that Akon, together with his team, initially agreed to wait at the airport lounge but later decided otherwise, stating that they needed to feel safe with their passport in their custody. 

Akon and his crew leaving Murtala Muhammad International AirportSahara Reporters Media

After about two hours, the immigration officer accepted, and Akon and his team were seen leaving the airport to lodge in a hotel while their passports were withheld. 

SaharaReporters called the United States Embassy in Nigeria thrice to confirm if the US consulate insisted that the artiste should not stay in the lounge. However, the calls came to nought, as our correspondent was first put on hold for about 150 seconds while on another occasion, our correspondent was put on call machine that responded: “you have been forwarded to a voicemail system however the person at 4064 does not subscribe to this service, a valid attended member has not been specified... your session cannot be continued at this time, please try again later.” 

Similarly, when contacted, an official of the Nigeria Immigration Service insisted that she would not verify or comment on the matter if our correspondent would not reveal how the information about Akon was gotten.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK

BREAKING: DR. BUKOLA SARAKI CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF INCOMPETENT SECURITY CHIEFS

Dr. Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki says drastic action has to be taken to end the killings in the country and protect Nigerians

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called for the removal of “incapable” security chiefs in the country over the continued killings and security challenges bedeviling the nation.

Dr Saraki made the call on Saturday when he paid a visit to communities affected by a rainstorm in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Hundreds of Nigerians have been killed several parts of the country in 2018 alone and Saraki believes no society should witness such as situation and carry on as usual.

“This is not something to be politicised. If somebody is not capable and cannot do what he has to do, let others have the opportunity to do it,” a visibly angry Saraki said before accusing the security chiefs and agencies of failing to work together.

“We have had situations where security officials have told us there is poor coordination. One, A is not talking to B, Be is not talking to A. They don’t attend meetings jointly and things need to be done.

“Let us forget the issue of party, these are lives of people – and let’s remove politics. It is not about who is the Speaker of the House, who is the President of the Senate. It is about Nigeria.”

But for the “politicisation of issues”, the Senate President said the warnings of the National Assembly about the dangerous trend in the country would have been since heeded and changes made.

“As you know, the National Assembly under my leadership, many months back, had seen this danger, called for a security summit, we had addressed the issue of security architecture. We had said that there is definitely a failure of the security architecture of the country,” the Senate President said.

To address the alleged failure, the National Assembly had invited security chiefs, especially the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, but were unhappy with the response they got.

He said, “You are all very aware that some service chiefs decided in their own wisdom that there is no need for them to work with the National Assembly to address these issues.

“There is no society that continues to see the kind of killings here and think that it should be business as usual. It requires drastic action, it requires a collaboration of all agencies and all arms of government for us to be serious.”

HERDSMEN DIDN'T KILL ANYBODY, WE'RE THE ONES BEING KILLED, SAYS MIYETTI ALLAH

Nura Mohammed,
Plateau State chairman of MACBAN
Photo Credit: TheCable.ng

THE Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) says its members have no hands in the recent killings in Plateau State, but rather it was their members that were being killed.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that 100 people were killed in the attack that took place last week while over 50 houses were razed down. Residents of the area, however, said the dead were over 200.

But Muhammed Nura, Chairman of MACBAN Plateau State chapter told journalists that his members were the ones killed in the attack, contrary to the reports that they were the attackers.

“As at now, we have been able to bury 19 persons of our own in different places. We have declared 73 persons missing,” 

“We have not seen them nor their corpses. So people are taking our corpses, going around the world and telling people that it is their corpses that the Fulani killed.

“These corpses they are saying, they are propagating (doing propaganda) against us. They are our corpses. We are calling on the government to go and exhume the corpses, let us see their faces. The corpses are our corpses, I believe that.

“I tell you with authority that we have not taken part in the killings. No herdsman killed anybody. If they say they are Fulanis, let them produce those Fulanis, we want to see them.

“In most of the villages, Fulanis were chased out. It was when fragile peace was returning that people started coming back.”

However, Nura refused to accuse any group or tribe of carrying out the attacks, but said the police should be in a better position to say who the attackers are, especially since the attacks have been recurring in the state.

“The police are in a good position to tell you who carried out these killings. Because there is tension in Plateau, their eyes must be everywhere. So their personnel must be everywhere,” Nura said.

This is coming a day after popular online newspaper, Premium Times, apologised to Danladi Ciroma, a chieftain of MACBAN, for publishing a report where Ciroma was quoted as saying that the recent Plateau killings were in retaliation for some 300 cows that were stolen from a fulani settlement.

Ciroma had denied ever making such comments to any reporter either over the phone or through a press statement, and Premium Times confirmed that its reporter could not produce any evidence to support his story. The newspaper said appropriate sanctions have been taken against the reporter.

The Cable

BREAKING: PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI EXPRESSES DEEP SHOCK OVER THE TANKER EXPLOSION FIRE IN LAGOS

File photo: President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the tanker explosion in Lagos on Thursday, which affected many cars with many roasted alive.

Many have already been confirmed dead in the incident so far and the President in reaction to the “early reports” reaching him, said he is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, tens of vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire.

“Sadly, this seems to be one of the greatest tragedies we have seen in recent times,” President Buhari said.

The President sent his deepest condolences to the government and people of Lagos on the tragedy.

He also urged the emergency services and law enforcement officials to do their best to limit the losses and damage from the incident.

According to him, the priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger.

Fuel-Laden Tanker Explodes In Lagos, Blaze Engulfs Over 30 Vehicles

A fuel-laden tanker has exploded along the Otedola Bridge axis of Berger in Lagos with the blaze engulfing over 30 other vehicles.

The tanker was heading out of Lagos towards the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the crash occurred, causing panic and fear.

Many people were feared trapped in their cars and killed in the blaze, while many others sustained burns.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed to Channels Television that rescue officials have been able to retrieve nine bodies from the scene of the fire so far.

Eyewitnesses, however, said the death toll might be higher as many people were trapped in their cars with rescue officials still working at the scene.
The fuel-laden tanker lost control, fell over and exploded.

“I saw the tanker reversing and before we could know it, the tanker fell down and started burning,” a witness said a tricycle rider who was close to the tanker.

He added that it took the grace of God for him to escape the fire with his tricycle.

As the fire spread, many drivers had to abandon their vehicles and flee as firefighters tried to battle the raging blaze.

Traffic was stopped on both sides of the road as emergency officials battled to put out the fire and attend to those affected.

Although the fire has been put out by the officials, the road remains closed with rescue officials still working on the scene.

 

Scene of the explosion. PHOTO credit/Rapid Response Squad Lagos

Scene of the explosion. PHOTO credit/Rapid Response Squad Lagos

 

BREAKING: PETROL TANKER BURST INTO FLAMES, BURNT MANY ALIVE IN THEIR VEHICLES ON LAGOS IBADAN EXPRESS WAY.

Lagos Is Currently On Fire!!!! A Petrol Tanker Filled With Fuel Explodes On Otedola Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Over 50 Cars, And More Than 100 People Feared To Be Burnt Alive Inside The Traffic, This Is So Sad, rip to them all.... 

I know you are busy can you just use 5 seconds of your time to say God please protect me..

COURT SEALS ILLEGAL IBADAN ABATTOIRS

One of the Sealed, Illegal Ibadan Abattoirs

The Government of Oyo State, on Wednesday, disclosed that a law suit has been instituted against operators of unlicensed and unauthorized abattoirs in Ibadan, and as a result, an interim order was issued by the Oyo State High Court, which was executed by court Sheriffs on Friday June 22 to seal Bodija market abattoir, Aleshinloye marker abattoir, and several other such unlicensed abattoirs across Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural and Natural Resources, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi  stated that the state government has constituted a taskforce to enforce the relocation of slaughter services by all butchers to the central abattoir at Amosun Village, Akinyele Ibadan to ensure quality,  standards are met for commercial animal slaughter to protect citizens from obnoxious and unhealthy practices. According to him the taskforce comprises of Nigeria Police, Civil Defense Corps, DSS, Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Physical Planning and Bureau of Investment Promotions with the responsibility to identify  and enforce the provisions of the Meat Law of Oyo-State and other relevant laws.

The Agric Commissioner reiterated that the government decided to relocate the abattoirs in Ibadan to finally curb the unhealthy process of slaughtering of animals, offer of dead, sick and unwholesome animals in various markets, backyard slaughter slabs and many contraptions and make-shift slaughter houses in unhealthy environment with obnoxious practices, stressing that the State Government had in partnership with the private sector established a 3000 per day capacity mechanized slaughter facility at Amosun village, Akinyele L. G. as a viable  and state of the art facility for all abattoir services within  Ibadan.

The Commissioner said that the government regretted that after giving the Butchers 4 years to wind up and paying no taxes, the Ministry of Agriculture observed that some unscrupulous persons among the Butchers Union in Oyo State, rather than wind up, were in fact establishing new slaughter locations in unhygienic environment with no certification of government, no veterinary presence for inspection of animals for slaughter, nor approval of the said abattoirs by relevant authorities of government.

According to Prince Oyewumi , “For the last 5 years,the Ministry of Agriculture has engaged all stakeholders in a bid to ensure cooperation of all parties with the new initiative meant to assure the  populace of the quality of cattle meat and other animals offered for sale in our markets. The Private sector Investment company, the OYSG, Local Government Councils/LCDAs in Ibadan, and the National Butchers Association (Oyo State chapter) held several meetings over the last 3 years leading to the final take-off of this initiative by the signing of a global Memorandum of Understanding between the parties by which the equity participation of all stakeholders were agreed, implementation plans accepted and commencement confirmed.

“Earlier in 2014, the OYSG had given all abattoirs operating in Ibadan a year to wind up their activities and relocate their slaughter operations to the new state of the Art abattoir at Amosun village. Since 2014, the state had ceased to collect due rates and taxes from all abattoirs in Ibadan, in order to encourage compliance and ensure that the operators wind up and comply with the meat law of Oyo State which makes it illegal for anyone to operate any slaughter slab, abattoir or slaughter house without the authority and license of government.

“Regrettably, even after giving the Butchers 4 years to wind up, paying no due taxes, the Ministry of Agriculture had observed that some unscrupulous persons among the Butchers Union in Oyo-State, rather than wind up, were in fact establishing new slaughter locations in unhygienic environment with no certification of government, no veterinary presence for inspection of animals for slaughter, nor approval of the said abattoirs by relevant authorities of government.

“This according to the Attorney-General occasioned the State filing the legal action against the operation of such illegally operating abattoirs being run without authorization and valid licenses. The Oyo State High Court had issued an interim order of injunction restraining the continued operations of all unlicensed and illegal abattoirs in Ibadan, and a mandatory order authorizing the Ministry of Agriculture to seal such places forthwith pending the determination of the suit filed.

“The said order was executed on Friday 22nd June by the Sherrif of the High Court who sealed up Bodija market abattoir, Aleshinloye marker abattoir, and several other such unlicensed abattoirs across Ibadan. However no sooner that the court Sherrif and police left some of these locations sealing them and pasting the court seal, orders and processes there, did the operators mobilize to breach and break the seal of court only to resume their illegal activities, particularly at the Bodija market,” Mr. Abimbola explained.

Mr. Abimbola said that at Tuesday’s proceedings, the court warned all parties to ensure they keep the peace and abide by the subsisting court order and avoid what can lead to contempt. The Attorney-General of Oyo State, Oluseun Abimbola Esq, leading a team of lawyers from the Ministry of Justice assured the court that government was only enforcing the provisions of the Oyo State Meat Law, Laws of Oyo State 2000 and extant laws of the state and no more, and encouraged lawyers for the faction of Butchers who were operating illegal abattoirs, to advise their clients accordingly to ensure they operate under the laws of the state.

“Some of the lawyers had indicated they were yet to be served with other processes in the matter which the Attorney-General undertook to ensure were served on the hitherto unknown persons, now showing their faces now. The court then by agreement of all counsel adjourned the matter to 24th October for pending applications,” he added.

The Commissioner for Justice warned all operators still surreptitiously illegally operating unlicensed abattoirs to stop such illegality immediately as the Ministry is poised to prosecute such offenders in criminal court, pointing out that operating an illegal abattoir is a crime under the Meat law of Oyo State.

BREAKING: ORJI KALU ATTACK OBASANJO AGAIN – STOP THAT COALITION MOVEMENT NOW; BUHARI IS GOD'S SENT TO MANKIND

Former Abia governor, Orji Kalu, on Thursday faulted ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari criticising his poor handling of the economy and advising him not to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Kalu told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos, that Obasanjo lacked the moral right to comment on such national issues.

He noted that Buhari’s government may be slow in taking critical decisions, but had done well in tackling corruption, recalling high level of graft in the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled Nigeria.

Kalu said Buhari had recorded modest achievements in his two and half years tenure, which necessitates his re-election.

The former governor listed the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge and other interventions in the economy as some of Buhari’s feats.

“I am not going to talk about former President Obasanjo’s letter because I am going to make some consultations with the United States, Germany, China and the United Kingdom, then I will come back and speak on that letter.

Former Abia governor, Orji Kalu, on Thursday faulted ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari criticising his poor handling of the economy and advising him not to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Kalu told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos, that Obasanjo lacked the moral right to comment on such national issues.

He noted that Buhari’s government may be slow in taking critical decisions, but had done well in tackling corruption, recalling high level of graft in the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled Nigeria.

Kalu said Buhari had recorded modest achievements in his two and half years tenure, which necessitates his re-election.

The former governor listed the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge and other interventions in the economy as some of Buhari’s feats.

“I am not going to talk about former President Obasanjo’s letter because I am going to make some consultations with the United States, Germany, China and the United Kingdom, then I will come back and speak on that letter.

“I think Obasanjo’s letter is not in the best interest of Nigeria. I don’t want to reply him because I have given you example times without number.

“There are three express roads Obasanjo refused to build when he was the president of Nigeria; Port Harcourt-Okigwe-Umuahia-Enugu expressway. It is being built now by the Buhari administration.

“Another one is the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway. It is being built now by the Buhari administration. Obasanjo did not build it.

“Then there is the Onitsha-Owerri-Aba Expressway. The Buhari administration is building it now.

“Between Obasanjo and Buhari who should I call my friend in real terms? So Buhari is my friend; so he is a better President.

“I don’t wish to reply that letter because the former president has no morals that should qualify him to write that letter,” he said.

According to Kalu, Nigerians have also not forgotten the $16 billion wasted on building power plants by the Obasanjo administration which yielded no result.

He said it would therefore be unfair to the South East, South South and South Western parts of Nigeria not to support the second term bid of Buhari.

He however advised Buhari to speak on security issues in Nigeria because it was threatening the fabric of socio-economic cohesion of the country.

Kalu said the challenge of herdsmen/farmers clash was lingering in some states because their governors lacked the capacity to handle the situation.

MAN ARRAIGNED FOR INJURING WIFE'S EYE OVER ALLEGED SEX DENIAL

A 38-year-old, Victor Akpan, who allegedly kicked his wife in the eye for denying him sex, was on Wednesday charged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, a trader, who resides at 8B, Budland St., Ojodu Berger, on the outskirts of Lagos, is being tried for assault.

Police Sgt. Innocent Odugbo, who is prosecuting the case, told the court that the offence was committed on June 16 at the accused residence.

Odugbo said the accused fought his wife, Uche, earlier in the day.

“The accused wanted to make love to his wife later in the evening and she declined. He then resulted in kicking her and injured her eyes.

“If the woman had not run out of the house, she would have lost her right eye because of the beating, ” he said.

Odugbo said the woman rushed to a nearby police station with blood stains on her face.

The offence contravened Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (Revised)

The accused, however, entered a “not guilty” plea.

The Magistrate, Mrs S. K. Matepo, granted the accused a bail of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until July 23.