ROW IN NIGERIAN SENATE OVER $3.8bn SUBSIDY PAYMENT PROBE

The Senate has begun a fresh investigation into the alleged illegal subsidy payment on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The probe, however, divided members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the chamber on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti-South), raised a point of order, urging the Senate to probe the NNPC for paying subsidy on petrol without the approval of the National Assembly.

Olujimi said, “Since 1999, there has always been a budget for subsidy but this has been jettisoned by the current government. What is happening now is that there is a fund named as ‘Subsidy Recovery Fund’, which is being managed only by two individuals at the NNPC. That is the Managing Director and the Executive Director, Finance. This fund is too huge to be managed without recourse to any known law of the land.

“Right now, it is almost certain that the $3.8bn is slush fund, which is being managed by two individuals under a new terminology.

“I want to urge this Senate to cause the Downstream Committee to compel the NNPC to come before the committee and explain why this should be so. The new terminology that is now being used is ‘under-recovery’ rather than subsidy approval.”

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, recalled that when the National Assembly passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill, it requested that the executive should send a supplementary budget that would capture subsidy on petrol and legalise the payment.

Saraki said, “I will want to suggest that in the light of the enormity of the issues before us, where we are talking about subsidy of almost $3.8bn, which, if you remember when we did pass the budget, I said from here that there was the need for the executive to bring before us fuel subsidy item. This has always been the practice. And this money is too huge for it not to be appropriated.

“In the light of the enormity of this, I want to suggest that the Senate Leader, with the Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), should urgently summon those in the NNPC, who are responsible (for the payment), to look into the matter and come back to us with a report that we can all debate.”

The issue, however, became controversial when Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) accused the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) of being compromised.

Ndume said, “I think the committee – I don’t want to be too hard on them – is not doing its oversight and when all these things happen, the committee is supposed to know. So, I am suggesting that Marafa, being the Chairman of that committee, should be out of this and the committee members too.

“The Senate Leader and other members of the Senate should look at this thing objectively and not be partisan, because by the time you have such amount of money stashed somewhere, it calls for more question. As distinguished Senator Bukar Abba (Ibrahim) said, not I, the committee might be compromised. That is what he said.”

Saraki ruled that an ad hoc committee be set up to conduct the probe, while appointing the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, as its chairman.

Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), who was irked by Ndume’s comment, raised a point of order to demand a retraction of the statement. He said his committee was ready to be excluded from the probe or dissolved.

Responding, Saraki said, “Senator Marafa, listen to yourself. You decided to choose the same offensive words against your colleague. You have to first withdraw what you have just said.”

Lawan subsequently withdrew from the probe.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, however, urged Lawan not to withdraw from the probe.

“While I associate myself with what the leader said, I think he was so angry to listen to what happened. The Leader needs to calm down as we set up the ad hoc committee. He should say he should be excluded from the committee, not that he wants to withdraw when he has not been given the job,” Ekweremadu said.

Saraki insisted that Lawan would lead the ad hoc committee as the amount involved was too huge to be left with the Marafa-led committee.

‘EFCC I’M HERE’ –FAYOSE SAYS VIA CUSTOMISED T-SHIRT

              Ayo Fayose

The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has arrived at the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Fayose entered into the EFCC office in Wuse 2 in the company of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode.

Fayose, who wore a customised T-shirt emblazoned with “EFCC I’m Here” over a pair of jeans and a face cap, went into the Commission with a bag pack.

Addressing journalists at the Commission, Fayose alleged that the EFCC deployed its men in his home, even when he had shown willingness to honour the Commission’s invitation.

Also speaking, Wike and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), asked the Commission not to abuse the former governor’s rights.

Fani-Kayode, who also spoke with EFCC detectives, joked that he was a regular customer of the Commission and asked them not to maltreat Fayose.

FRESH TROUBLE FOR MINIMUM WAGE

Dr Chris Ngige.

When the organised labour suspended its strike action over declaration of negotiation of minimum wage on Sunday, 30th September 2018, it was believed that a new minimum wage would soon be announced. 

But another announcement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige that negotiation was inconclusive and that no agreement had been reached over a definite figure even after the tripartite negotiation committee rounded off its deliberations, has thrown up fresh agitation in the labour circle.

The Guardian gathered that at the October 4th and 5th meeting, both the organised private sector and organised labour agreed on N30, 000 while the Federal Government team led by Ngige pressed for N25, 000.

The conclusion was that since the organised labour and organised private sector are in agreement and in the spirit of tripartism, two against one was a done deal.

The meeting then adjourned to await the date for presentation to the Federal Government.

With these achieved, labour said it was at a loss at what transpired within government circle within one week.

Indeed, Ngige made unveiled his new position after the first the FEC meeting that preceded the conclusion of the committee’s negotiation.

Were new facts presented to Ngige at the FEC meeting that influenced a change of stand? Labour said they think so.  

Indeed, according to the Convention 131 of International Labour Organisation (ILO), which has always been erroneously cited by Dr Ngige on the ability to pay, nothing can be further from the truth. 

The convention, which ILO adopted in 1970 titled ‘Minimum wage fixing convention, 1971 (No 131)’ remains the most adopted convention by the ILO member states, encourages members to establish a machinery to fix and adjust minimum wages from time to time; wages that are based on the principle of full consultation with social partners (tripartism); involves social partners, on an equal footing, as well as independent experts in the design and operation of the system; sets the minimum levels that take into account the needs of workers and their families, as well as economic factors and include appropriate measures to ensure the effective application of minimum wage.

It is therefore a pure mischief by the Minister to declare that the ILO convention 131 speaks to ability to pay by employers.

The centrepiece of the convention is that the tripartite bodies must reach a common figure, which labour said was achieved before the committee was legitimately adjourned.

The agreement on N30, 000 by both labour and the organised private sector indeed signalled that majority (labour and employer body) had their way while minority (government) had its say.

Labour also said the Minister did not oppose the N30, 000 figure at the meeting and that the committee on figure that made the submission was chaired by Ngige himself. 

The argument of labour is that N30, 000 monthly (which is less than 100 dollars) is grossly inadequate to take care of a man, his wife and four children as stated in one of the strands of the ILO convention 131, which states that a minimum wage must take into account the needs of workers and their families.

The present scenario seems to lend credence to insinuations within labour movement that the present government is not committed to implementing a new minimum wage.

Speaking at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Ngige said the Federal Government proposed N24, 000 as the new minimum wage for civil servants.

Ngige claimed that when the committee reconvened on October 5th, after the NLC had suspended its nationwide strike, “the organised labour came down to N30, 000 the organised private sector came down to N25, 000 while the state governments proposed N20, 000.”

He said the Federal Government is still ‘consulting’ and that the negotiation is on going.

He said in accordance with Convention 131 of the ILO, the most important thing to consider in fixing the new minimum wage is the ability to pay.

In his reaction to the development, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba said the entire labour movement was dumbfounded by the latest argument of the Minister. 

He added that the organised labour would not hesitate to declare yet another strike action that would be debilitating to the nation’s economy should the Federal Government delays the promulgation of a new minimum wage within the shortest period of time.

PRESIDENCY HAS ORDERED EFCC TO DETAIN FAYOSE INDEFINITELY, PDP ALLEGES

The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the Presidency has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to detain the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, indefinitely.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said information at the party’s disposal and all over the social media indicated that the Presidency had put the Commission on alert to arrest the governor at midnight of Monday (today) and detain him.

He said that the alleged directive by the Presidency was not unconnected with the plot to use the EFCC and other security agencies to incarcerate the governor owing to his persistent criticism of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress government.

The statement read in part, “The uncompromising stand of the outgoing governor against the present administration was the reason Ekiti State was invaded and taken by force during the last governorship election.

“By 12 midnight, the governor’s residence is expected to be surrounded by armed men of the EFCC under the pretext that they had information of his plot to escape.

“This is to achieve their plan to humiliate the governor and portray him in bad light to the public by dramatising his arrest.

“Nigerians can recall that it was the governor who offered to submit himself to the EFCC, despite the Commission’s clear display of bias and partisanship, as demonstrated in its various actions, especially its tweets and putting the governor on security watch-list.

“The EFCC even unprofessionally showed its bias in deriding the governor, making light of a very serious matter by mocking him and asking him to come before his tenure elapsed, which the governor declined — in line with the constitutional immunity.”

Ologbondiyan said it was obvious that Fayose was not planning to run away from the country.

“It is now beyond dispute that Governor Fayose is not a scoundrel running away from justice. Whatever the EFCC, APC, and the Presidency’s spin doctors may say, it is also clear to everyone that Fayose is not a coward; neither is he afraid of the EFCC,” he added.

According to him, “Since the EFCC said it had dusted up Fayose’s files, it should be ready to take him to court once he presents him at the agency’s office on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists, however, Fayose said he was ready for the Commission.

He said, “That is their stock in trade. I heard about the plot as well, but I don’t care what they do. The Commission is not above the law

“How can they say I want to run away and as such, they want to come and invade my residence when I left Ado Ekiti on my own to come and see them? Anyway, I don’t expect better than that from the Commission.

“I don’t care how long they will decide to keep me, but my voice will not go down. I represent the voice of the common people of Nigeria, I appreciate our party, the PDP, for their prompt reaction; but this nonsense will come to an end one day

“I am aware of that operational order on my arrest. Let them come; nobody can intimidate me. I don’t need their soft landing;Nigeria belongs to all of us. They are not God and they should stop playing one.”

We have no time for your games, EFCC replies Fayose

In response, the EFCC said it had no time to play games with Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a message while reacting to Fayose’s statement.

The EFCC said, “The EFCC has no time for frivolity. Instead of this ‘mind game,’ Governor Ayodele Fayose should conserve his energy, as the Commission is ready for him.”

FAYOSE WEEPS AS HE LEAVES EKITI GOVT HOUSE, HEADS TO EFCC ABUJA OFFICE

Ayo Fayose

There was drama at the Ekiti State Government House on Sunday as outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose wept profusely while vacating the state’s number-one seat.

Fayose shed tears shortly after attending a thanksgiving service to mark the end of his tenure held at the Government House chapel.

The governor betrayed emotion as he made for his official vehicle on his way to catching a flight at the Akure Airport.

He was believed to be on his way to Abuja in readiness for an appearance at the head office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

As the thanksgiving service ended at about 11.00 am, tears had welled up in the eyes of the governor who sauntered towards his Lexus SUV.

His wife, Feyisetan, who sensed that her husband was weeping, moved closer to him and consoled him.

The outgoing first lady was heard saying “please take heart, please take heart.”

After being consoled by his wife, Fayose bade farewell to few aides and other admirers who were watching the drama.

Fayose’s voice was laden with emotion as he addressed the congregation.

The outgoing governor said he was leaving the state number-one seat a contented man.

Fayose said: “I’m contented, I’m happy and I say thank you. Don’t be disparaged, don’t worry about me, I will come back. I will rise to the glory of God. I have enjoyed uncommon grace; I will never complain but
thank God.”

Mrs. Fayose assured that her husband would come back to Ekiti a triumphant man.

She said: “We are coming back, I don’t know how but I have 200 per cent assurances.”

In his sermon entitled, “Affliction shall not rise the second time,” the Chaplain of Government House, Pastor Seyi Olusola, said a man must be ready to face affliction, if he must rise.

Olusola said: “Don’t allow anything to trouble your mind, always come to God.”

As he left the Government House premises, Fayose displayed a wooden board with the inscription “Ekiti Kete, thank you all and good bye.”

The thanksgiving service was attended by traditional rulers led by the Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Obas and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

The outgoing Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola and his wife, Janet; the Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo; Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka and the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Modupe Alade also attended the service.

ATIKU BOMBS BUHARI OVER TRAVEL BAN

     Atiku

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Sunday lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari for banning fifty (50) prominent Nigerians from travelling outside the country.

In a statement obtained by Thecable, issued on his behalf by his campaign organization, Atiku averred that the ban was ‘a throwback to Buhari’s evil Decree Number Two of 1984 which criminalised truth telling if it did not please Buhari, proving that dictators can grow old, but they can’t grow into democrats.’

Atiku and Buhari

Recall that some Nigerians like the former aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode, former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri and other legal giants have frowned at the order given by Buhari.

Citing the 1999 constitution and its provisions on the right to free movement, Atiku  said, “The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen freedom of movement and freedom of association. This Constitutional right cannot be taken away except by a court order”.

Part of the statement reads thus

“We must be unequivocal in saying that we abhor any act of criminality, financially or otherwise, but the rule of law must be our guide at all times or society will descend to anarchy.

“Thus, we find it most undemocratic that in a nation governed by the rule of law, a President who swore an oath to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, does this.

“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen freedom of movement and freedom of association. This Constitutional right cannot be taken away except by a court order.

“This sudden dictatorial act is a throwback to Buhari’s evil Decree Number Two of 1984 which criminalised truth telling if it did not please Buhari, proving that dictators can grow old, but they can’t grow into democrats.

“It is precisely this type of draconian orders that have chased investors away from Nigeria and it is precisely why Nigerians will chase this recession friendly government away from power on February 16, 2019, so we can begin the job of Getting Nigeria Working Again.”

FESTUS KEYAMO DROPS THE MOTHER OF ALL BOMBSHELLS .

Fetus Keyamo, SAN

I asked him when most of you were analyzing that heretic message that “Jonathan is fulfilling prophecy”. I asked a simple question: “Which prophecy is Ex- President Jonathan”? Pastor Bosun went ahead to say “even if the Islamic party (APC) presents a Christian Governor in Lagos, you must not vote for him, you must vote for the other party (PDP). Wait, who was using religion?

Ex- President Obasanjo removed Senate Presidents at will, removed any opposing voice, removed Fayose for a small insult, and removed Ladoja with thugs in Ibadan. Who are you calling “DICTATOR”? BUHARI.

Ex-President Obasanjo withheld Lagos State fund for 3 years, not minding how Lagosians would eat, Yaradua got there and released the fund.

NASS members were abusing President Buhari openly, messing up everything at will; Gov. Fayose has been abusing President Buhari for 4 years now. Not a single State in Nigeria has been denied their constitutional rights because of politics till date, all their funds, Paris fund and bail out, FAAC etc. But who is the DICTATOR? BUHARI.

Ex-President Jonathan ensured that NASS opposition members were locked out including Tambuwa the Speaker of the house. They had to climb gate to gain access.

Jonathan empowered OPCs in Lagos and they were destroying anything in Ikorodu to Ojota that looked like opposition party. Orga of DSS was used to invade APC secretariat, Journalist arrested and Newspapers siezed, we forgot all these….

Ekiti was militarised, Fayose was given power from Aso rock to order Military guys at will. Fayemi the incumbent at that moment was rendered powerless that he was shouting when Police commissioner was used by PDP and a guy was shot…All these videos and pictures are still here (google is your friend). But who is the dictator? BUHARI.

Ex-President Jonathan met FX+ECA at $62 billion+. He DEPLETED it to less than $30 Billion in 5 years Jonathan sold crude oil for 5 years at an average of $100 per barrel of 2.2 million daily (2010-2014). Did he add a DIME to Nigeria purse in 5 years? NO.

Buhari the ILLITERATE sold oil at an average of $50 of less than 700,000 barrel at some points because of militancy, yet had moved that FX to $47 Billion in 3 years.

Don’t say how much did he borrow if you don’t even have the figure borrowed between 2010-2015 without adding a dime to FX.

Who is the ILLITERATE? BUHARIIII. Jide Omokore, Aluko and oil goddess Alinson made an oil deal of N1 trillion and chose not to remit to Nigeria under GEJ. Did anyone raise eyebrow?

INTEL of Ex-Vice President Atiku refused to remit to Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), not until last year that “ordinary” Hadiza the NPA boss challenged INTEL and insisted the funds must be remitted.

A Christian Professor had been leading JAMB all through Obasanjo to Jonathan yet for 40 years of JAMB; only N52 Million was remitted to FG.

A Muslim Professor who was appointed just in two years of handling JAMB remitted over N15 Billion. FIFTEEN BILLION. So who is following after righteousness?

For five years of Okonjo Iweala was paying over 45,000 ghost workers unabated, yet just within 3 years, “ordinary” Kemi Adeosun removed such nonsense…I ask again who is more effective?

Ordinary Abuja metro lane took 11 years from OBJ period that he INITIATED it…Ordinary intra-city metro lane o, but President Buhari that finished is within 3 years is the failure abi?

“Which project did President Buhari INITIATE and COMPLETE in 3 years yen-yen-yen”.

Mention any major project INITIATED AND COMPLETED in 3 years of Ex-President Obasanjo, or Ex-President Yar’Adua or Ex-President Jonathan?

So on what parameters are you using to judge 3 years of President Buhari INITIATING AND COMPLETING? Even PDP can’t finish their own secretariat let alone that which belong to NIGERIA.

Lagos-Ibadan road since Ex-President Obasanjo era till Ex-President Jonathan could not be finished. In 3 years of President Buhari, the road is receiving serious attention. Ask those who ply that road and those who go for Holy Ghost Congress monthly about

the difference in pace of work. Wait, even Otuoke road in Bayelsa had to wait till President Buhari now starts to do the road. Who is the failure? Can it be BUHARIIII.

What about “Almajiri School in the North? WHERE exactly are these Schools SITUATED in the North? OK, show us the picture.

Emm, 2nd Niger Bridge? Lol, they completed it on the MAP, yet Fashola is on it PHYSICALLY now.

Did Buhari fail on security issue in Benue? YES. Did others before him fail on the same security issue in Benue? YESSS. So where did you get all these noise of “Fulani President” is helping herdsmen?

Who was the President during Jos crisis, herdsmen killing people in Zamfara in 2013, Odi massacre, Kaduna crisis? You think death suddenly started because President Buhari was a Fulani man? That he failed in that is one thing, but that YOU are making a narrative of “Fulani President” is giving herdsmen power is funny.

January 1, 2018 in Omoku, Rivers State, Christians were coming from Church; cultists from the South South killed their own people. You know why there was no serious noise by CAN and you? You could not link it to President Buhari’s herdsmen or Fulani herdsmen. The same WIKE that did not drop a million to support the families of those bereaved in his constituency (State) went to Benue State to donate N20 Milliion and you hailed him

Kidnapping of School children in Lagos; Badoo issue in Lagos; Crisis in Kaduna. Who did you call on? Ambode the Governor of Lagos and El-Rufai of Kaduna. When crisis happened in River State and Benue State, who did you shout about? President Buhari the herdsmen. What about your Bishops, Pastors and Imans that made Aso Rock their abode between 2010-2015? What did they negotiate for the body of Christ or common citizens? Yes, they got their jets; they got waivers and Universities all PERSONAL. Now that the tap to fuel their jets and lifestyles had stopped, all they tell you from the pulpit is “LIES and Prophelying“. Your anointed ones keep saying ANNOYING THINGS, yet you can’t query their lies?

Wait, I remember again your problem with President Buhari fighting corruption selectively. So, mention ONE name among those in EFCC case without a case to defend. If your hero Presidents had fought corruption with one leg, by now shebi it is the second leg that President Buhari will be fighting.

So what is your problem with the corrupt facing the music? Oh, how about blablablabla. If President Buhari did not catch them, somebody else will. But stop crying in defence of the corrupt being asked to face the music. If your uncle is corrupt, tell him to face it, and stop shouting how about other thieves.

I know you lost your job because Ex- President Jonathan lost out and your job with Mama Patience was terminated. But stop using your personal loss as a yardstick for Buhari’s achievement.

Under your hero, several young Nigerians were SCAMMED by Boro collecting money from them for Job, in the process killing many young Nigerians. Ex-President Jonathan cannot even sack him. So what do you want the families of those who died when Ex-President Jonathan scammed them of Jobs to do? Stop crying and face life.

For your information, all those lies about “hidden agenda” can only fly on you because they know you are biblically illiterate. I even saw somebody hailing Femi-Fani Kayode for being the voice for the Church. Haaaaaa, abomination. Abeg make I stop, come dey collect your abuses in packs. After all your abuse, na President Buhari I go still vote for. #

Fetus Keyamo, SAN

Please all true buharists should share this until wailers are silenced

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)