NASS LEADERSHIP: SARAKI, DOGARA STAY AS APC, PDP LAWMAKERS OPT FOR TRUCE

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara (middle) addressing journalists shortly after plenary, at the National Assembly yesterday with him are Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yusuff Lasun(left) and Chief whip,Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa.

Anxiety over a showdown along party lines between All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators on the resumption of the Senate yesterday, turned into an anti-climax.

Against expectations, the senators reached a deal in a secret session to preserve the dignity and configuration of its leadership, putting an end to the clamour for the removal of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, from office.

As part of the deal that was reached following 75 days extended holiday, APC senators also won an agreement from the PDP leadership of the Senate to project national interests above partisan inclinations.

The move was welcomed yesterday by the Transparency International, Nigeria.

Also yesterday, the president’s request for the approval of an N346.5 billion 2018 statutory budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, was tabled. Also listed  was a request to raise an external capital of $2.786 billion and $82.54m to refinance the balance of $500m matured Eurobond in the international capital market.

THE TENSION

Yesterday’s resumption of the Senate was preceded by tension, following threats by  APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and some party chieftains, including the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to advance the removal of Senator Saraki as Senate President, following his defection from the APC to PDP.

The threats against Saraki were part of  intrigues that shadowed the Senate during its recess when a plot to reconvene the Senate led to a siege to the National Assembly that ultimately forced out Lawal Daura as director-general of the Department of State Services, DSS.

The ambience of cordiality, yesterday, was stoked by sadness over the recent death of a member of the House of Representatives, Ms. Funke Adedoyin.

As the lawmakers, many of them fresh from the primary battles, returned yesterday, the partisan potshots that characterised the holiday was immediately replaced by an unusual camaraderie.

As Saraki entered the hallowed chamber at 11.03 a.m. senators according to tradition, stood up hugging him and one another.

THE TRUCE

The senators immediately went into a closed session that lasted from 11.05 to 11.25 a.m.

A source told Vanguard that at the closed-door meeting, the senators agreed to give peace a chance and avoid throwing the Senate chamber into an arena of conflict over partisan and personal issues.

“The APC Caucus leadership also extracted a promise from the Senate President that national interest will continue to take precedence over any other consideration in the activities of the Senate,” a source in the session told Vanguard yesterday.

They also agreed to give peace a chance in the remaining days of their legislative activities in the 8th Senate.

The claim was confirmed by multiple sources.

As one of the sources said: “The Senate today (yesterday) reconvened after about two months recess and immediately went into closed session where all members had frank discussions about the future of the 8th Senate as it goes into its last stage.

“The senators agreed not to allow external forces and influence to cause disaffection, disturbance or crisis within the legislature.

“The members agreed to give peace a chance and avoid allowing the Red Chamber of the Federal Legislature to degenerate into an arena of conflict over partisan and personal issues.”

OLUJIMI TAKES  AKPABIO’S SEAT

Meanwhile, the new Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, PDP, Ekiti South, yesterday took her seat, having replaced the former minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who dumped the PDP for APC.

Olujimi sat very close to her deputy, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, the Senate Deputy Minority Leader.

She becomes the second woman to hold the position after Senator Florence Ita-Giwa who held the position briefly in the Fourth Senate.

17 LETTERS FROM  BUHARI 

Meanwhile, 17 letters from President Muhammadu Buhari conveyed to the Senate during the holidays were read on the floor of the Senate, yesterday.

The 17 letters from the President issued between June and September 2018 were all read by the Senate President.

The letters included 12 conveying the president’s decision to reject certain bills passed on to him by the National Assembly. They included, among others, Institute of Entrepreneurship (establishment) Bill 2018, Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill 2018, Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 and Development Income Tax Relief (Amendment) Bill 2018.

Others were Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018, Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill 2017, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (Establishment) Bill 2018, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Amendment) Bill 2017, National Research and Innovation Council (Establishment) Bill 2017, National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill 2018 and Subsidiary Legislation ( Legislative Scrutiny) Bill 2018.

In the categories of requests made by the President for consideration and approval of the Senate were an executive bill, titled “Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill ( 2018), request for confirmation of the appointment of Olanipekun Olukoyede as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The president in one of the letters said he rejected the Electoral Act Amendment Bill because of what he cited as drafting issues in the bill passed on to him.

“I am declining assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill due to some drafting issues that remain unaddressed, following the prior revision to the Bill.”

Giving reason he declined to assent to the advance fee fraud and other related offences (amendment) bill, President Buhari said: “I am declining presidential assent to this Bill which would reduce the minimum punishment for the offences under the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act due to the prevalence of the offences, the need to deter the offences and the need to punish offenders adequately.

‘’I am also concerned that the amendment to the Principal Act has watered down the sentence by giving the court too much discretion in respect of the minimum sentence.”

Reacting to the turnover of bills rejection, the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, called for the setting up of a technical committee by the Senate to look into them for a possible way out.

Responding, the Senate President, saddled Lawan with the responsibility of drawing the list of members of the technical committee for him as the Presiding officer to read out.

The Senate, however, could not hold full plenary due to the death of Olufunke Adedoyin from Kwara State who died penultimate Friday.

In line with the tradition of the National Assembly both chambers adjourned plenary till today in honour of their departed colleague.

REACTIONS

Reacting, yesterday, the executive director of the Civil Society Advocacy Legislative Centre, CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Rafsanjani and also head of Transparency International, Nigeria welcomed the truce saying it was what many Nigerians had advocated for.

He said:  “this is what CISLAC has been advocating for, peaceful resolution of this misunderstanding between  the government and the legislature because we believe that the only way to make legislative progress is for the legislative and executive branches to work together towards a common goal.

“We believe that what has happened now will put an end to unnecessary tension in governance and it would bring an end to disruption to governance. The National Assembly members must be allowed to do their work in a free way and failure to do that, the executive will itself not be able to achieve its objectives.

“I think it is important that we leave negative politics in the National Assembly and face governance issues. Indeed, it is important for the ruling party, the opposition, the executive all come together for the common good.”

IT’S THE MOST PATRIOTIC THING TO DO  - CHEKWAS  OKORIE 

Reacting to the development, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Chairman of the United Progressive Party, UPP, said: It’s a welcome development and the most patriotic thing to do. Not because Saraki as an individual is morally wrong, it’s unprecedented in the political history of Nigeria for a seating Senate President to decamp to another party rather than the party that brought him into Senate and whose platform he became the Senate President. If they insist on what they intended before, it would be seen as political vengeance and it is the country that will suffer. Because it will affect the nation’s budget, the electoral laws and the constitution.”

WAEC RESCHEDULES ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER TO SEPT. 29

West African Examinations Council has postponed the English Language paper earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 22.

WAEC revealed this on their Twitter handle, @waecdirect, when a candidate wanted confirmation of the postponement of the paper.

The examination body tweeted: “English Language papers will be written on September 29, 2018. Please, go to our registration site (http://registration.waecdirect.org) and download the timetable.”

The postponement is speculated to be due to the governorship election holding in Osun State on September 22, the earlier date of the examination.

'HOW I ACCIDENTALLY KILLED A MEDICAL DOCTOR', ACTRESS IBINABO FIBRESIMA, OPENS UP 12 YEARS LATER.

Fiberesima stressed that she was not drunk on the fateful day as opposed to several media reports.

Actress Ibinabo Fiberesima  (Instagram/Ibinabo Fiberesima)

Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, has, for the first time, opened up on her 'manslaughter' case, begging Nigerians and the family of the deceased for forgiveness.

She described different versions of the story in the media as false and an attempt to assassinate her character, stressing that she was not drunk on the fateful as opposed to several media reports.

In multiple Instagram posts on Friday, April 27, Fiberesima said she did not debunk the media reports before now out of respect for the family of Dr. Suraj Giwa, who died in the head-on collision accident caused by the actress. Fiberesima said she wanted the family to heal.

The actress also revealed that since 2006 that the accident occurred and amid the prolonged trial and her eventual conviction, she fell into depression and nursed suicidal thoughts, but with the help of therapy, prayers, and support from family and friends, the ex-beauty queen said she is getting better.

On February 26, 2006, Fiberesima was driving along Lekki-Epe expressway when she lost control of the wheel and swerved into the inbound lane and rammed her car into Dr. Giwa's, which resulted in his death.

The deceased was a medical practitioner at the Lagos General Hospital.

Consequently, the actress was arrested and charged to court for manslaughter and reckless driving. She was convicted and sentenced to five years in jail by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of a Lagos State High court in 2009. She was later granted bail following an appeal filed by her lawyer, Mr. Nnaemeka Amaechina.

However, a Lagos High Court, on March 11, 2016, dismissed Fiberesima's appeal and upheld her five-year jail term.

Read Ibinabo's side of the story below:

My dearest friends and followers, I greet you this blessed Friday.  Most of you may have heard about my sad story of accident that caused the life of a beautiful and amazing human, Dr. Suraj Giwa. For 12 years, I have remained silent; internally mourning, grieving and praying that time would heal his family and mine. Through those years of my silence, stories were manufactured in the mainstream and social media about the accident. There were so many stories.  My character was assassinated. I did not tell my story. Nobody heard from me, until now. Please take few moments to read the next posts as I share my story of what really happened and seek forgiveness, peace for both families. I finally got the courage to tell my story to Azuka Jebose. It was a burden lifted off my soul. As you read, please continue to pray for the soul of Late Giwa, his family and my family. Thank you for your supports and prayers. God bless you. May the soul of Dr. Suraj Giwa continue to be at peace. Amen.

MY STORY

DEAR NIGERIA, I AM SORRY.” “ Dear Azuka,

I greet you. Thank you for allowing me to respond to your recent post here about my political ambition and the fatal accident of 2006. I need to tell my story. I stayed silent for so long and watched as my life, character and person were being ruined in published reports, including social media. This is my story, told for the first time on social media platform.

My heart has never stopped aching. It will not. An accident took the life of someone. I am forever in mourning because of this. Two families’ lives have been changed forever with this unfortunate fatal accident. It was an accident. Dr. Suraj Giwa didn’t have to die. I wished I could bring him back. I am sorry for the pains caused. I have also been maligned and disparaged in the media: I am a monster. I am a killer and a murderer, I am a drunk... No. Azuka. I am none of these.

I am just another human being that was in a deadly accident and the accident caused the death of Dr. Suraj Giwa.

It’s been 12 years of heartache, pain and depression for me. My eyes are rivers of tears.

Some days I feel like killing myself. Life has no meaning to me.

I think about Dr. Giwa every day. I pray for his soul and I pray and seek forgiveness from his family for the pain and agony. I am very sorry.

It didn’t have to happen. I wished I knew it would happen that unfortunate day, I would not have travelled that road. I was not drunk that day.

Azuka, I was driving along Lekki road, returning home after picking up a friend’s daughter from a church Fellowship. Suddenly, a red car overtook the SUV in front of me. The SUV was travelling slowly, so I shifted to its front, too. The red vehicle was being driven by a young man and had his friends with him…I drove past the red car. I think that might have angered the young chap because he swiftly sped from behind, drove past me and made a sudden stop in my front.

I tried to avoid hitting those boys in the red car. I swerved and lost control in that moment, the impact dived my vehicle into inbound lane.. Dr. Giwa was inbound, thus he drove into my car and both cars collided. I collapsed and passed out.. Three days later, I WOKE UP IN A HOSPITAL bed to learn what had happened. I was weak, sore and in pains. I could not move my legs. I had been sedated for three days. Doctors said they had to sedate me to numb my pain. Meanwhile, the police had been informed that I was in that hospital. The Lagos State Police came to the hospital to take my statement of what happened. After I gave them my statement, I was arrested at the hospital and charged to court.

At my court appearance for hearing, the judge noticed how sick, weak, incoherent an disoriented I was: he also saw my injuries. He ordered that I should be sent back to the hospital for further treatment until I was well enough to stand trial. I could not walk then.

Later at the hospital, I woke up from coma and to reality. I was afraid and shocked. I could not believe I was involved in an accident that had taken a life. I was like: Wow!..Someone died in that accident. Oh my God!. I didn’t know the family. While I was in the hospital my family contacted the family of Late dr. Giwa who died in the accident. My family was there for the funeral and did everything during the mourning season. I was afraid. But I met them in court and tried to approach them. I understood the anger and pain I had caused them, so I accepted their anger toward me….his sister was really angry at me… I wanted to talk to her… it was hard for me to get close to her… I understood all these: the pain and distress they felt as a result of the accident. I felt their pain. I wanted to tell them how sorry and remorseful I was… It was an accident. I did not intend to wake up that morning, went out and had a fatal collision.

Weeks later, I was arraigned. I attended all my court appearances. During the process I visited the family and attempted several times to make peace. I never ignored them. I am always sorry. I know the pain is tough, so I understood their anger but I kept begging. I am sorry.

I did not intend to wake up that morning, went out and had a fatal collision.

Weeks later, I was arraigned. I attended all my court appearances. During the process I visited the family and attempted several times to make peace. I never ignored them. I am always sorry. I know the pain is tough, so I understood their anger but I kept begging. I am sorry. I had gone to so many good people and friends to assist me in pleading for forgiveness from the family. One of such friends is late Iyalode of Lagos. She assisted me in begging the Giwa family: when I became well and able to walk, she took me to The former Imam of Lagos and the Present Oba of Lagos: these traditional and religious leaders begged on my behalf, pleading with the family for forgiveness and showed how sorry and remorseful I was that the accident happened. I never ran away from the scene of the accident.

I was unconscious.

How could an unconscious accident victim remove plate license and registration papers from the vehicle as reported in the media? Why would I do a thing like that? How could I have done a thing like that?

Azuka, these were all lies manufactured and circulated in the media to tarnish me. Days after the wreck, I woke up in a hospital.

I was never drunk as being speculated and alleged. I was never charged for drunk driving.

I was charged for reckless and dangerous driving.

I am forever very sorry this accident happened. I never planned for it. I plead with the family. I reached out to the GO of the church where the late doctor’s wife worships to beg him to join me plead with her. He was on a crusade in Benue and I went and met with him. I am very sorry it happened. I am not arrogant or careless. I have just been wrongly represented and maligned in the media. The story has several versions that make me a heartless beautiful beast and monster. I have not said much because the family is bereaved. It hurts. I need to respect their sorrows and what they are going through:trying to explain myself, I thought, would sound arrogant. So I kept quiet. I have been sorry from the moment I learnt the accident took a dear life.

FG NEEDS MORE BORROWING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, SAYS OGBOBINE

Jimi Ogbobine

The Federal Government must take more loans if its plan to fund infrastructure is to be realised, according to the Senior Analyst at Agusto & Co, Mr Jimi Ogbobine.

Ogbobine said this on Sunday at a training for financial journalists during the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria 2018 annual workshop in Lagos, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

He stated that the government was expected to deploy about N1.6tn to fund infrastructure this year.

Ogbobine said the bulk of financing for infrastructure would come from borrowing, with a larger share being domestic debts.

He also noted that funding the capital budget would require higher than planned borrowing with adverse implications for interest rates and interest costs for the economy.

He stated, “The Federal Government’s borrowing to fund infrastructure is likely to be between N1.2tn and N1.6tn. The implementation is unlikely to start before the second quarter and revenue is likely to be lower than planned.

“Actual funding from asset restructuring, recoveries and others may be substantially lower than the planned level of N2tn. Therefore, fully funding the capital budget will mean higher than planned borrowing with adverse implications for interest rates and interest costs.”

He added that the obligatory spending of the Federal Government was still more than 100 per cent of revenues, hence, there was no free cash flow for investment in infrastructure.

Ogbobine noted, “Every kobo of infrastructure spending is financed by debt, which constraints the ability to fully fund budgeted amounts. Debt as a percentage of revenue is significantly higher than the median of 200 per cent for countries in Middle East & Africa.

“The Federal Government plans to partly finance the 2018 capital expenditure with proceeds of asset sales.”

Speaking on inflation, he said a hyper inflationary environment was one where prices double at least every three years.

He added, “This means inflation rate of about 25 per cent per annum. In such environments, investors hold savings in low inflation currencies like dollars, pounds sterling and euros. Also, business persons price products, particularly those with a high import content, in these low inflation currencies, usually the dollar.

“In effect, such environments are dual currency environments. Real Gross Domestic Product per capita should grow in 2018, making it easier for businessmen to access forex to fund their operations. Therefore, most businesses should see top line and profit growths, while unemployment rate will fall but the level will remain high.”

The analyst said actual deficit might be lower than the projected deficit largely because of a low implementation of the capital budget.

- (NAN) 

FOOD SECURITY LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED AS FLOOD SUBMERGES RICE, MAIZE FARMS IN ADAMAWA –RICE FARMERS

The Adamawa Chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria has said that with over 5,000 of its members affected by the flood, food security in the state is under threat.

The chapter’s Chairman, made the assertion in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Yola.

Maduwa said that the organisation, which has 7, 000 registered members in the state, was, however, yet to ascertain the extent of damages caused by the flood.

According to him, the earlier predicted bumper harvest is now being threatened by flooding.

“Reports reaching us from our various local government area offices, especially those along the bank of River Benue, revealed that flood had submerged some farmlands.

“We received reports from 18 out of 21 local government areas, excluding Jada, Ganye and Toungo,” he said.

He complained that majority of the farmers obtained bank loans for the rainfall farming and appealed to the government to look into the matter.

Similarly, the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, has said that it had begun compilation of accurate data of the affected communities in the state.

Dr Muhammed Suleiman, the Executive Secretary of the agency confirmed the development to NAN in Yola.

Suleiman also confirmed that thousands of farmers were affected by the flood across the state.

“Currently, we are compiling the number of affected persons. And available records show that the flood had submerged thousands of hectares of maize and rice farmlands,” Suleiman said.

He said that state government had reached out to some affected communities in Numan Local Government Area.

-(NAN) 

"PUTTING MY NAME ON EFCC WATCH LIST, PETTY - FAYOSE

Controversial outgoing Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has called out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for what he calls petty behaviour.

The Governor took to his social media to condemn the EFCC and question why he’d be put on a watchlist.

The governor has come under scrutiny for many of the projects he undertook while in office and the anti-graft agency had stated that they would like to question the Ekiti Governor.

Fayose has maintained that he has nothing to hide and has also expressed his willingness to be questioned when he leaves office which would be when his immunity expires.

He also called lies the claims that he has plans to exit the country to evade capture by the EFCC.

A trip abroad will take him out of Nigeria’s jurisdiction and it is a path that former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun took after leaving office with reports claiming that she jetted off to England amidst calls for her prosecution over the NYSC saga.

Fayose tweeted that he was ready to hand over power next month and would welcome an investigation.

“@officialEFCC putting my name on watch list after notification of my coming is not only political but petty. I’m not among those who are afraid to face tomorrow. Nobody is God.

“They should expect me on October 16, 2018.

“I will remain in PDP not minding their intimidation.” he tweeted

TINUBU’S ‘RIFT’ WITH AMBODE, DOGARA’S ‘DEFECTION’, KEMI ADEOSUN’S RESIGNATION, OTHERS TOP POLITICS LAST WEEK

Bola Tinubu and Ambode pictured having a chat

As Nigeria edges closer to the 2019 general elections, the major actors are leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for the polls.

The outgoing week started on the bright note of party nominations as more politicians picked forms in their respective political parties.

Away from the central, Osun election slated for September 22 also stole some headlines while the contention over who will fly the flag of APC in Lagos in the 2019 election made significant waves.

Below is a round-up of major political stories in the outgoing week:

Sunday

–          In response to opposition claims, the presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari was not opposed to the use of card readers for the 2019 general elections.

–          In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike accused President Buhari and APC of sponsoring some PDP presidential aspirants. Swiftly, the APC challenged Mr Wike, to name the PDP presidential aspirants allegedly being sponsored by the ruling party.

Monday

–          A group of people, under the aegis of One-2-tell-10 association, purchased the nomination form for the re-election bid of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

–          After a meeting in Abuja, PDP Governors’ Forum condemned the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

–          PDP reappointed Walid Jibrin as chairman of its Board of Trustees for another five years.

–          The presidential candidate of Africa Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and his party members were tear-gassed during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi.

Tuesday

–          In Kwara, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed indicated interest to contest for the Kwara South senatorial seat.

–          “Breaking news: Lagos 2019 promises to be interesting. PDP offers Femi Otedola governorship ticket. He’s accepted and personally confirmed to The Boss newspaper,” publisher of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu tweeted.

–          In a statement they jointly signed, three presidential aspirants of the APC threatened to conduct a parallel National Convention to produce the candidate of the party if the APC does not scrap the “exorbitant” nomination fees fixed by the ruling party. SKC Ogbonna, Charles Udeogaranya and Mumakai Unagha made the threat.

–          The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, announced he will seek re-election into the House.

–          Following online circulation of a form purportedly obtained by convicted Nigerian senator, Joshua Dariye, the APC said it would never allow an ex-convict vie for office on its platform, saying both the Nigerian law and its own constitution prohibit election of persons found guilty of criminal offences.

–          In response to a Monday statement by former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido said he would not step down for Mr Abubakar. Both are vying for the coveted PDP ticket.

–          In similar fashion, another PDP presidential aspirant, Jonah Jang, says he would not step down for any other aspirant and his party cannot ask him to do so.

–          President Buhari received the gift of nomination form bought for him by a group the previous week.

–          The Senate President and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bukola Saraki, appointed former presidential media aide, Doyin Okupe as chairman of the Media Council for his campaign organisation.

–          Cautioning its state chapters, APC said consensus, as a mode of producing a candidate, can only be adopted where there is no other aspirant seeking that position.

–          The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, said issues about use of card reader was completely  excluded  from the Electoral Amendment Bill transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent on August 3.

–          The PDP said its presidential primary and National Convention will still hold on Friday, October 5 to Saturday, October 6 as earlier scheduled.

Wednesday

–        Speaker Yakubu Dogara picked the nomination form to return to the House of Representatives on the platform of PDP.

–          President Buhari submitted his nomination form to seek re-election in the 2019 general elections.

–          The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) restated that there is no plan to postpone the 2019 general election.

–          Ogun governor Ibikunle Amosun undemocratically emerged the candidate for Ogun Central senate race, as he and ‘elders’ of the All Progressives Congress unveiled consensus candidates for the National Assembly.

–          Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, said reports of a rift between him and national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, were untrue.

–          Amidst controversies over his relationship with his estranged godfather, Bola Tinubu, Mr Ambode submitted his APC governorship nomination form on Wednesday.

Thursday

–          INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, said the commission is considering banning the use of mobile phones at polling units.

–     The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo,  expressed support for the request by young aspirants under the platform of APC to be given quotas in elective offices.

–          The APC said it was not disturbed by the effective defection of Speaker Yakubu Dogara to the Peoples Democratic Party, saying the top lawmaker has no political value to be considered a loss.

–          The African Democratic Congress (ADC) adopted direct primaries for nomination of its candidates and picked early October dates for primary.

Friday

–          “Truly, I have decided that I will not contest election again. They said they would give me a ticket in the APC but that I must go and beg for it. I said I did not need the ticket. In politics, I have never gone to anybody’s house to beg for a ticket,” Mr Dogara said on his decision to join the PDP.

The finance minister, Kemi Adeosun,  resigned her position, over two months after she was exposed to have been parading a forged certificate. In her resignation letter, she explains how got the forged certificate. She left Nigeria a day later.

Saturday

–          A former senate president, David Mark, visited Minna, capital of Niger State, where he held a private meeting with the former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.

–          A new political party, the People’s Trust (PT) offered its 2019 governorship ticket to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos.

SENATOR AKUME: I REGRET HELPING SAMUEL ORTOM BECOME GOVERNOR

Former governor of Benue state, Senator George Akume, has said that he made a grevious mistake by supporting Samuel Ortom in 2015 to emerge as governor of Benue state.

He said that he realised the kind of person the governor was after he recently dumped the All Progressives Congress Party for the Peoples Democratic Party.

Akume’s regret came just as the APC leaders and stakeholders warned that they would no longer fold their hands and allow blatant breach of the constitution by Governor Ortom.

Speaking at a press conference at the weekend, Senator Akume, said the Benue APC leaders had expressed their confidence in both President Muhammadu Buhari and the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, for their laudable achievements.

Akume who said that Benue state was under siege due to the unfortunate actions of the governor, lamented what he described as abuse of the law through the wrongful removal of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, from office.

On the sudden change of gear after Ortom defected to the PDP, Akume said that he and other APC leaders in Benue state didn’t know much about Ortom’s record until when he left.

“For Ortom to run away with our mandate and continue to commit series of constitutional breaches is completely unacceptable,” he said.

He accused the governor of unconstitutionally removing the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.

He also accused the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara of supporting illegality in Benue State.

A bitter Akume said: “If it were in those days during Obasanjo administration, we would have sacked that man with just five lawmakers for his unconstitutional acts.”

While stating the party’s position, Akume described the Ortom-led administration as a disaster, warning that APC members cannot continue to watch the situation without reacting.

According to Akume, 11 out of the 23 Local Government chairmen of Benue state who are loyal to APC are being persecuted by the state government and are being starved of funds.

He also alleged that the government had been withholding allowances of the faction of Benue state House of Assembly loyal to APC, without any justifiable reason.

He said that APC was urging the Federal Government to consider suspending allocations to local governments in Benue pending full investigation of their accounts.

Speaking on behalf of the Benue APC stakeholders, Akume warned that if the governor did not desist from his unconstitutional acts, including plan to sack APC loyal chairmen of local councils and to unleash terror on our members, we are going to use every constitutional means to checkmate him.”

Akume also asked the Federal Government to investigate the alleged stockpiling of arms by loyalists of the governor.

He said that Ortom was using religious sentiments and herdsmen killings as a means of winning reelection in 2019.

Regarding an alleged move by the governor to sack some local government council chairmen loyal to APC, Akume said that the party will not allow it to happen.

The party therefore directed the local government chairmen to resist moves to remove them from office saying “impunity will collide with impunity.”

The APC leaders also alleged that Governor Ortom had collected about N28 billion as bailout funds since the inception of the present administration.

PLATEAU: TWO KILLED AS BANDITS RUSTLE 70 COWS

Two persons were confirmed killed on Friday in Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected Fulani herdsmen as they rustled 70 cows.

Sources said that three herders who were in control of the cows were taken along with the 70 cows and were declared missing.

However, security operatives were able to rescue the 70 cows and one of the herders, who had been declared missing. The other two herders, aged 10 and 14 were killed during the rustling.

When contacted, the spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

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He warned cattle farmers against employing teenagers but “more matured herders who can take care of the herds and sense danger far ahead of them.”

Tyopev said, “On September 14 2018 at about 19:15hrs, Ezekiel Dalyop of Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State reported at the Kaduna Vom Police Division that three herders entrusted with 70 of his cattle were missing.

“The Police swung into action immediately the complaint was incidented and were able to rescue one of the herders by name Bitrus Joseph (16 years) unhurt. The police team of detectives also recovered the 70 missing cattle.

“Unfortunately, in the process of rustling the cattle, two of the herders; Meshack Dalyop (14 years) and Pam Danjuma (10 years) were killed and dumped in the bush at Dahool Bob in Kuru District. Their corpses have been recovered and deposited at the Vom Christian Hospital.

“While we commiserate with the families that lost loved ones, we are urging owners of cattle to employ more matured herders who can take care of the herds and sense danger far ahead of them. The command is intensifying efforts aimed at arresting the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face justice.”

FULL TEXT: KEMI ADEOSUN ’S RESIGNATION LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI

14th September, 2018
His Excellency
Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House
Aso Villa
Abuja

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty.

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians.

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes

Kemi Adeosun (Mrs)