ATIKU’s ROAD TO ABEOKUTA AND THE PRANKS OF THE OLD FOX

Whoever is celebrating Obasanjo’s comment on Atiku at their recent meeting in Abeokuta does not understand or have a good knowledge of the Old Fox.

Doing a content and contextual analysis of his speech, I find it more indicting of Atiku than exonerating. There is a lot in that speech to use as ammunition against Atiku.

Judging by Atiku’s countenance from the photographs that have emerged from the meeting, I could see he was not comfortable with the presentation by his former boss. Perhaps, with the mode of conveyance. Or even with the presence of ’eminent witnesses. How could one easily stomach all that Obasanjo said of a man that proudly aspires to lead Nigeria in the full glare of the world? What kind of ‘endorsement’ was needed? What agenda on the table?

To me, the endorsement Atiku sought was served with a bagful of humiliation, seeing that Obasanjo carefully picked his words with telling effect. Let’s examine a few:

1. ” …my former Vice-President has re-discovered … himself

2. … it is not so much what you did against me that was the issue, but what you did against the Party, the Government and the country.

3. I took the stand I had taken based on the character and attributes you exhibited in the position you found yourself. I strongly believe that I was right. It was in the overall interest of everyone and everything to take such a position.

4. There are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you have to mend fences and make amends. You will know how to handle what is already out and what may yet be put out by the opposition

5. With Nigerians voting for you, it will mean that you secure their forgiveness and regain their confidence. It will be with the hope or assurance of a Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all, change and conversion are of man. I believe that with a contrite heart, change is possible in everybody’s life and situation.”

Without any doubt, the Old Fox cleverly exonerated himself of any wrong positioning in all he ever said concerning Atiku. He firmly established his case against his former deputy, leaving the latter no room for rebuttal. He pushed Atiku’s case to the court of public opinion and, like Pontius Pilate, washed his hands clean. How peacefully Atiku slept after that visit may never be known, perhaps, until he writes his memoirs. One thing that is sure is that the sequel to Obasanjo’s trilogy — My Watch — will contain juicy details of how he exacted his pound of flesh from the man to whom he was compelled to prostrate to secure a second term in office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

What is more, the Sermon on the Presidential Library, Abeokuta, has further revealed the quality of trade-offs that imperil the soul of our nation.

We must ask questions, for, as Pilate famously asked: ‘ What is the truth?’ So, too, must Nigerians now ask Obasanjo before they decide to cast any vote for Atiku. Let the people ask:

1. What, as Obasanjo proclaimed in his speech, did Atiku do against the country that he has to correct?What should he show contrite for?

2. What are those things he did that were not approved of by the International community, which Obasanjo wants to help him remedy? We shouldn’t accept parables in this case but a full disclosure.

3. We knew the sins of Paul before he got on the road to Damascus. What are the sins of Atiku before he got on the road to Abeokuta?

Obasanjo needs to tell us. He can only forgive Atiku for the sins committed against him and his government, certainly not the ones against the country and against Nigerians. Obasanjo should allow Nigerians to decide that.

4. In his several publications in which he indicted Atiku, Obasanjo has made public those ‘characters and attributes’ his former deputy exhibited. We are not sure a single trip to Damascus, or Abeokuta in this case, by Atiku accompanied by the Jonathan clerics could overnight have changed all that.

By the way Atiku’s ‘trip to Damascus/Abeokuta’ has revealed to us where some ‘revered’ “men of God”belong on the issues confronting our nation — especially in respect of graft.

We also now know that our erstwhile hero and Awo associate, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, was not just a worshiper at Jonathan’s altar but is a full blown PDP apologist. We are watching as the game kicks off.

May Nigeria succeed!

Senator Babafemi Ojudu wrote via Facebook

ABA PIPELINE FIRE: NNPC RESORTS TO TRUCKING TO AVERT FUEL SHORTAGE

Following the massive fire that engulfed its pipeline at Osisioma, in Aba, Abia State, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has ordered its subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, to resort to trucking of products to avert shortage of products in the region.

The NNPC had on Thursday night, reported that its oil pipeline along the Osisioma axis near Aba Depot was on fire. The fire affected its System 2E pipeline network.

The corporation suspects the incident might have been caused by oil thieves who had hacked into the line to intercept flow of petrol from Port Harcourt to Aba.

NNPC group general manager, group public affairs division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, confirmed fatalities and loss of properties in the ensuing inferno, but did not give figures.

Ughamadu said the corporation’s safety experts, along with men of the Abia State Fire Service, had swung into action to contain the situation, saying updates on the situation would be provided as events unfold.

Reacting to enquiries late yesterday, Ughammadu told newsmen that several buildings and lives were lost and actual figures are being compiled in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence, NCSDC.

Ndu said as an interim measure, the corporation has ordered PPMC to resort to trucking of products to ensure it has minimal effects on distribution efforts.

NNPC group managing director, Dr Maikanti Baru, expressed shock at the wanton willful destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the incident.

The GMD prayed that God reposes the souls of the innocent ones that perished in the incident, even as he warned members of the public against tempering with oil and gas facilities, many of which he said were inflammable.

Dr Baru called on host communities to create avenues to moderate criminal tendencies of a few bad eggs living among them.

DEATH TOLL IN ABIA PIPELINE EXPLOSION HITS 24

The death toll from Friday’s oil pipeline explosion in two Abia State communities in Osisioma Local Government Area has risen to 24, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, has said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Benito Eze, the State Commander of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, confirmed to newsmen on Friday that 19 persons, including a nursing mother, died on the spot.

Briefing newsmen in Umuahia on Saturday after visiting the scene of the explosion, Ogbizi said that the number of deaths had risen to 24.

“When we visited the two communities on Saturday, we were informed that 14 people were reported dead at Umuimo village, while 10 died at Umuaduru.

“Some of the victims who sustained various degrees of burns were said to be asleep when the incident occurred.

“They were said to have been taken to nearby hospitals and traditional medicine homes for treatment,” he said.

The police boss said that management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aba depot blamed the explosion on a spillage from a pipeline that was undergoing maintenance.

He said: “According to the information we obtained from the NNPC depot in Aba, the spillage occurred on a pipeline that conveys product from Aba depot that was undergoing maintenance.”

He said that the incident was being investigated by the command in conjunction with the other security agencies in the state to determine the possible cause.

NAN reports that the explosions occurred at 2.47 am and 3am at the villages respectively both in Umueze Autonomous Community in Osisioma LGA.

The NSCDC boss had said that the Umuaduru incident happened when some youths in the area were scooping petroleum products from a vandalised pipeline.

He further said that Umuimo fire happened when a woman, identified as a food vendor, got up at about 3 am to start cooking for the day’s business.

He said that the petrol stored in the house was ignited by fire set for cooking by the woman.

Eze said that the woman and her husband escaped death but their building was razed down.

Meanwhile, an undisclosed number of victims, who sustained severe burns, were still receiving treatment in different hospitals in the area.
(NAN)

PRESIDENT BUHARI BANS 50 HIGH-PROFILE NIGERIANS FROM TRAVELLING

President Muhammadu Buhari

The presidency has just circulated the statement below announcing the placement of 50 high-profile Nigerians on travelling restrictions.

The individuals, whose identities were not disclosed, include those whose assets, valued at N50million and above, are subject of corruption investigation and litigation.

The statement by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said the measure is part of the implementation of Executive Order Number 6 which seeks to ensure “that all assets within a minimum value of N50 million or equivalent, subject to investigation or litigation are protected from dissipation by employing all available lawful means, pending the final determination of any corruption-related matter.”

Mr Shehu added that the financial transactions of these persons of interest are also being monitored by relevant agencies to ensure the assets are not dissipated and that such persons do not interfere with,investigation and litigation processes.

READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT BUHARI DIRECTS IMPLEMENTATION OF EO 6 IN FULL FORCE

Following the instant judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6), President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to implement the Order in full force.

To this end, a number of enforcement procedures are currently in place by which the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies have placed no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restricted them from leaving the county pending the determination of their cases.

Also, the financial transactions of these persons of interest are being monitored by the relevant agencies to ensure that the assets are not dissipated and such persons do not interfere with, nor howsoever corrupt the investigation and litigation processes.

It is instructive to note that EO6 was specifically directed to relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that all assets within a minimum value of N50 million or equivalent, subject to investigation or litigation are protected from dissipation by employing all available lawful means, pending the final determination of any corruption-related matter.

The Buhari administration reassures all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians of its commitment to the fight against corruption, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the general principles of the Rule of Law.

Accordingly, this administration will uphold the rule of law in all its actions and the right of citizens would be protected as guaranteed by the Constitution.

We, therefore, enjoin all Nigerians to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities towards ensuring a successful implementation of the Executive Order 6 which is a paradigm-changing policy of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 13, 2018

THIERRY HENRY NOW MONACO FC's NEW COACH

Former Arsenal FC star Thierry Henry was on Saturday named as Monaco coach, to replace Leonardo Jardim, sacked midweek, the struggling Ligue 1 club announced.

The 41-year-old French World Cup winner, who had been working as an assistant coach for the Belgian national team since 2016, signed a contract with Monaco through until June 2021.

The former striker will be joined by Joao Carlos Valado Tralhao, under-23 coach at Benfica, and Patrick Kwame Ampadu, coach at the Arsenal Academy.

Jardim was sacked midweek following a string of poor results that left Monaco languishing in 18th in France’s Ligue 1.

Henry knows Monaco well having graduated from their youth system and making his professional debut for the Principality club in 1994.

He notably scored seven goals in the 1997-8 Champions League as the Monaco team of the time, then coached by Arsene Wenger, reached the semi-finals, where they lost to Juventus.

“First of all, I thank AS Monaco for giving me the opportunity to coach the team of this club which is so special to me,” Henry said.

“I am very happy to come back to AS Monaco and extremely determined to meet the challenges ahead. I can not wait to meet the players to start working together.”

After spending five seasons as a player with Monaco, Henry went on to play for Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and the New York Red Bulls.

He scored 51 goals in 123 appearances for France, winning not only the 1998 World Cup but also Euro 2000.

Monaco chief executive officer Vadim Vasilyev, said Henry could “count on our trust and all our support to bring a new dynamic to the team and carry out the mission”.

“His knowledge of football, his passion for the game, his high standards and his commitment to our colours make his nomination a reality.

“Thierry is both aware of the task ahead and eager to start his new job.”

SCHOOL GIRLS EXPELLED FOR FAILING PREGNANCY TESTS

It happens twice a year at Arusha Secondary School. Each one of the school’s 800 female students is accompanied into a toilet and told to pee in a jar. Outside the cubicle, a teacher waits to make sure the samples are not swapped.

The girls are taking compulsory pregnancy tests. And if they come back positive, the student is expelled immediately.

The tests have been happening at this school, for students from grades eight and up, for three years.

CNN visited two other schools in the Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions where similar testing took place; three more schools confirmed the tests in phone interviews.

Elifuraha, who CNN is referring to by her first name, finds it difficult to talk about the shame she felt when teachers at the Moshono Secondary School in Arusha, summoned her for a mandatory pregnancy test.

“All the students were called in a room and the female teachers started to inspect us… they were touching our stomachs,” the 19-year-old mother told CNN, as a tear rolled down her cheek.

She knew she was pregnant, but was trying hard to hide her growing stomach. After admitting her pregnancy, she was immediately expelled.

Tanzania uses a morality clause in a 2002 education law to give schools the legal framework needed to expel students — the practice originally dates back to the 1960s. The law has been more widely applied since President John Pombe Magufuli took office in 2015.

OVERLAND AIRWAYS AIRCRAFT GOES UP IN FLAMES AT MMA

An Aircraft belonging to Overland Airways yesterday, went up in flames at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. The aircraft, an ATR, with registration number 5N BPE, was being powered by the Ground Power Unit (GPU) when it caught fire inside their hangar located at the general aviation terminal. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) fire service officials who arrived quickly at the scene tried to put out the fire before it engulfed the entire aircraft. A larger part of the aircraft was however, completely burnt, especially from the belly of the plane to the head. As at the time of filling this report, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) had not issued any official statement on the remote cause of the incident.

There was no casualty as no passenger was on board when the incidence occurred. Confirming the incidence, general manager, corporate affairs of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said there was fire incidence which burnt an aircraft belonging to Overland Airways at MMA. “The fire has been contained. No casualties. Thank you for your concern. It happened at the Overland hangar.’’

The director of operation, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, and NCAA CPD terminal head, Mr Banjo, are said to have met with Overland Airways executive director, Mrs Aduke Atiba.

Atiba, who was alerted while in the hospital, said she was yet to know the cause of the fire outbreak. She however promised to get full details after meeting with the managers on ground.

ICPC DISCOVERS FG’s N9.8bn HIDDEN IN BANK, GRILLS BANK MD

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission says it has discovered N9.8bn belonging to the Federal Government which was hidden in Aso Savings and Loans Plc.

The ICPC said in a statement by its spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, that the money which was realised from the sale of government assets was deposited in Aso Savings and Loans Plc instead of the federal treasury.

The commission said the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Kunle Adedigba, had been invited and interrogated.

The anti-graft agency said the bank claimed that it did not have enough funds and was willing to hand over some of its properties to the Federal Government.

The statement read in part, “In 2005, the Federal Government set up a committee, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Sale of Federal Government Houses, to sell some of its properties in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The ICPC received a petition on the work of the committee and commenced investigation, in the course of which it unearthed the fact that the sum of N9.8bn realised by the committee between 2010 and 2014 from the sale of government properties which was deposited in Aso Savings and Loans Plc., was not remitted to the federal treasury by the financial institution rather, it was used.

“Amongst the several officials invited for investigation, the current Managing Director of Aso Savings and Loans, revealed that the bank is currently experiencing paucity of funds, therefore, it is willing to swap some of its properties located in Abuja and Lagos in exchange for the unremitted funds.”

The anti-graft agency said it was committed to the recovery of the full value of the unremitted N9.8bn by taking the properties offered in lieu for the government, subject to satisfactory valuation by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

It said upon the conclusion of the investigation, anyone found in breach of the law would be brought to book accordingly.

In a related development, further investigation of the ad hoc committee’s work also uncovered that some persons who were allocated government properties made only part payments.

“This fact led the ICPC to recover the sum of N20, 662,250 from the affected persons in bank drafts which it handed over to the chairman of the ad hoc committee between December 2017 and May 2018,” the statement added.

PAY OMO-AGEGE HIS ENTITLEMENTS OR APPEAR IN COUR, JUDGE WARNS SarakI

The Federal High Court on Thursday warned the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the imprisonment proceedings initiated against him by the Delta-Central Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Omo-Agege had initiated the committal proceedings praying that Saraki be sent to prison as punishment for flouting the May 10 judgment of the court which ordered him (Omo-Agege) to be reinstated from illegal suspension and be paid all his accrued benefits for the period of the voided suspension.

The hearing of the committal proceedings was scheduled for Thursday but the alleged contemnor and his lawyers were absent from court.

Ruling on a request by Omo-Agege’s lawyer, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), to have the committal application heard despite the absence of the defence, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said he was more inclined to giving the Senate President another chance to “remedy the alleged wrong” or appear in court to defend himself.

Justice Dimgba noted that the application was truly “ripe for hearing” as argued by Izinyon, as the court’s records showed that Saraki had been served with the motion on notice and hearing notice for the Thursday’s proceedings via a newspaper publication of September 25, 2018, as earlier ordered by the court.

The judge, however, said he would give Saraki another chance to remedy the alleged wrong or appear in court to defend himself.

He also directed Izinyon to write the Senate President and the legal department of the Senate informing them of the adjournment of the proceedings till October 18.

The court said in its ruling on Thursday, “Upon this motion on notice dated and filed on August 15, 2018, praying for the committal of the Senate President to prison for contempt of court coming up before this honourable court today (Thursday) for hearing; and after hearing Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN) with Hanatu Abdulkarim, Friday Izinyon, Alex Izinyon II, J.A Gesa, for the judgment/creditor/applicant urging that the court should proceed with the hearing;

“It is hereby ordered as follows:

“That indeed from the records of the court, the Senate President, the alleged contemnor, was served with the motion and hearing notice by advertisement as ordered by the court on pages 35 – 36 of The Nation Newspaper of September 25, 2018; this motion is therefore ripe for hearing.

“That in the interest of justice, and to give the alleged contemnor another opportunity to remedy the alleged wrong or even to appear to defend himself, and as a demonstration of the court’s commitment for justice, the court directs the applicant/judgment/creditor’s counsel to write to the alleged contemnor and the legal department of the Senate informing them of the next adjourned date.”

The judge adjourned till October 18 for “definite hearing” of the committal application.

Omo-Agege had initiated the committal proceedings against Saraki for allegedly flouting a May 10, 2018 judgment of the court.

The May 10 judgment ordered the immediate reinstatement of Omo-Agege from an alleged illegal suspension by the Senate and ordered that the senator should be paid his accrued entitlements for the period he was shut out of his legislative duties

2019: BUHARI REACTS TO OBASANJO’S ENDORSEMENT OF AtikU

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

Obasanjo had in a meeting held with Atiku and some PDP leaders endorsed his presidential ambition.

He declared that Atiku will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

According to him, he believes that Atiku has ‘re-discovered and re-positioned himself’ and is now good enough to enjoy his support in the next election.

Obasanjo said, “Let me start by congratulating President-to-be, Atiku Abubakar, for his success at the recent PDP Primary and I took note of his gracious remarks in his acceptance speech that it all started here.”

However, Buhari in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Thursday described the meeting as a ‘well rehearsed theatre’, adding that both leaders will fail in 2019.

Read the statement below: “The Presidency has received the news of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s predictable U-turn and somersault on the endorsement of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at a meeting Thursday, and to say that we are the least surprised by the well-rehearsed theatre.

“They will lose together. Listening to the prepared statement of the former President after the meeting showed the usual ego trip and “I know it all” character of Chief Obasanjo.

“In the first place, we dare to say that a pompous statement from the former President advising Nigerians on a vote against President Buhari is the best recommendation that can come at this time.

“It also betrayed a lack of understanding of today’s politics which is about good governance.The country voted for change in 2015 and a leader that ensures good governance which only President Buhari and the APC can provide.Bent on these laudable goals, we will not allow ourselves to be distracted.

“We are busy on various national issues including the restructuring and the diversification of the economy, fighting corruption, terrorism and other threats to national security; increasing the availability of electric power, improving education, health, and providing long-delayed infrastructure – roads, rail, airports and so forth.

“Many governments have come and gone, but they did not care about some of these projects.
We were talking about these things for sixteen years under the PDP and nothing was done.
President Buhari is proud of his record because his achievements are verifiable, while that of the PDP is manifested by the devastating social and economic impact of large scale corruption during their governance.

“The President will not relent in the war against corruption because the ordinary people are the ultimate victims if we surrender to corruption and let its perpetrators go unpunished.

“Abandoning the war against corruption is not an option. President Buhari is in this battle against graft because he cannot allow a few, rapacious, and selfish class of the elite to divert the resources meant for the well-being of the ordinary people to their private pockets.
Nigerians trust President Buhari in this effort because they are convinced he is not in government for personal financial benefits, or for an ego trip.

“It is just eleven years ago that the former President and Vice President in their ugly fight for power accused each other of corruption. Nigerians are yet to forget all that.”