ROTIMI AMAECHI, APC SUPPORTED US UNCONDITIONALLY, RIVERS AAC GUBER CANDIDATE

Engr. Awara

The African Action Congress, AAC, governorship candidate in Rivers State, Engr. Biokpomabo Awara has expressed disappointment over the purported resignation of his running mate, Akpo Bomba Yeeh as well as his reported defection to the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

Engr. Awara debunked claims by his erstwhile deputy candidate that the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the APC, had allegedly made them sign resignation letters.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Tuesday, Awara dismissed all of the allegations against the minister as false, stating that Amaechi and the APC offered him and his party unconditional support, owing to their shared ideology and love for Rivers State and Rivers people.

He also dismissed what he described as his running mate’s ‘compromising’ actions as pathetic, claiming that he had himself been offered 3 billion naira to drop his ambition, but he rejected it and his deputy was aware.

According to him, “When the story of his resignation first came out as a rumour, that Rivers State Governor has offered him 200m naira to abandon me, I had no reason to believe it because that Elder Yeeh was aware I had earlier turned down an offer of N3b offered to me some days ago. I discussed this with my running mate and outlined why we must not succumb to the lure from the governor or any interest group. I was convinced that we were in agreement because he neither expressed nor alluded to a difference in opinion on the matter.

“When the rumour became rife by Sunday, I made several attempts to reach my deputy without success. I started developing some strange feelings pointing to a possible sell-out by him.

“I am aware that a key component of their plot is to attempt to smear the towering image and figure of the Honourable Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. I want to state categorically that all the accusations made by my running mate against the Honourable Minister are blatant lies poorly crafted by his paymaster, Governor Wike and associates, and you could see how tough it was for him to read the script handed to him.

“Let me be clear. I was never asked to and did not sign any letter of resignation. I am aware that my deputy also was not asked to or signed any letter of resignation. My deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh is believed to be under tremendous financial pressure based on his statements.

“The support the AAC got from the Honourable Minister and the APC was unconditional. Those conditions my deputy alleged in the statement drafted for him by Governor Wike are false, crude lies. The alliance between AAC and APC for the governorship election is as a result of our shared love for the State and our shared vision to liberate Rivers State from the shackles of cultism, rapidly growing poverty and the unsafe nature of our State in the hands of an administration that has wrecked almost everything in our State.

“It is indeed sad, regrettable, disheartening and pathetic that my running mate will act in the way he did. I feel pity and sorry for him. However, I must be quick to add that it is one move that has no consequences on the AAC governorship ticket. It is inconsequential in all ramifications. No sane man standing an election as crucial as that of Rivers State will say the things he said.

“One of the reasons I picked him as my running mate is because of the long running relationship between the Ogoni and Kalabari people, dating back to pre-independence. I also chose him because I saw a fatherly figure and capacity in him that could benefit Rivers Youths… I personally saw our joint ticket as Obama/Joe Biden ticket…,” Awara said.

The AAC guber flag bearer further alleged that governor Nyesom Wike was squandering state resources to get him a second term by all means which, according to him, “would fail because Rivers people are wiser. He appealed to the youth and elders alike to work with him to turn around the fortunes of the state.

“Rivers people have firmly taken the position that the outgoing Governor Wike can no longer lead them. The antics of Wike in using State resources, our collective wealth to attempt to buy everyone and buy him a second term in office will certainly fail. The so-called defection of my deputy is a ploy to distract us. We will not be distracted. We remain focused on liberating Rivers people, our people from the inept, cruel and clueless administration currently running the State aground.

“Unemployment is on the rise daily. Private sector growth has a record low in our State. Kidnappings, criminality and youths in cultism is on the rise. Go to Trans Amadi, the industry daughter of Rivers State, all the industries are packing out to new places  outside our State. I weep with deep sense of sorrow because our attention is taken off human and material value.

“HRM King Alfred Diette Spiff and his likes were older than me when they turned around the old Rivers State into a garden city of wealth with numerous infrastructure and bonded our rich Rivers heritage. But today, we are losing it. I speak to you my fellow youths and critics,  you can be me too one day. Rivers State belong to us and we must work together to salvage her from sinking.

The Petition

The AAC gubernatorial candidate, Biokpmabo Awara has officially filed a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC against its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Obo Effanga, whom they accused of gross incompetence and bias.

Awara told newsmen in Abuja, “ My party and all well meaning citizens of Rivers State are dissatisfied with the gross incompetence of the  REC and INEC’s decision to continue with the suspended electoral process, as it is clearly not a fair or transparent process.

We are concerned about the looming electoral crises unfolding in Rivers State and this may most likely result in a breakdown of law and order, destruction of property and loss of lives.

In its petition, the AAC laid its grievances and demands bare to INEC and forwarded same to other reputable human rights and international bodies.

Some of its demands include:

That, in view of the ceaseless crisis arising from all elections conducted by the REC in Rivers State since 2015, we appeal that the activities of officials of Rivers INEC should be thoroughly investigated.

We demand for the Removal of the REC and all the Heads of Department at INEC Rivers State as it is clear that they and indeed most of the Rivers INEC Adhoc staff have all been compromised and cannot be trusted to regulate and superintend the conduct of credible elections in Rivers State.

INEC should stop further collation and announcement of results of the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Elections which they unilaterally and surreptitiously compiled after the suspension of the electoral processes as the outcome will undoubtedly be prejudicial and contentious.

The declaration of results in the 7 LGA’s namely Ikwerre, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Oyigbo, Eleme, and Port Harcourt LGA’s which were collated and announced both at the unit, ward and LGA levels before the suspension of the electoral processes should be upheld by INEC, whilst all other collations should be declared null and void.

We are aware that direct attempts have been made to the RO’s of Asari Toru, Akuku Toru and Eleme LGA’s by unscrupulous politicians and corrupt INEC officials to prevail on them to alter the already collated and announced results in the 7 LGA’s namely Ikwerre, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Oyigbo, Eleme, and Port Harcourt LGA’s. We salute the courage of these RO’s that have withstood these overtures. We emphasize that AAC will not accept any altered results already declared in the 7 afore stated LGA’s.

Fresh elections should be conducted in the 16 LGA’s where collations and announcements had not been concluded as at the time the election was suspended. We reiterate that any results declared after the suspension is completely compromised and totally unacceptable. They should not and cannot be declared or upheld as valid results.

Announcement of any results based on the compromised process will only lead to a breakdown of law and order which will aggravate the already tense security challenges in the State.

VAT INCREMENT WILL SLOW DOWN NIGERIA ECONOMY — ACTIONAID

Actionaid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to forget the idea of increasing Value Added Tax, VAT, warning that it will slow down the economy, urging government to discontinue payment of subsidy on petroleum products instead.

In a statement by its Country Communication Coordinator, Niniola Ayanda, yesterday, the group said: ”Rather than an increase in VAT at this time, other avenues could be explored in the short term such as the removal of petroleum subsidy, which many have argued does not benefit the Nigerian populace.

“The plugging of fiscal leakages, a move which is currently being enforced by the present administration, can also be further strengthened. 

”If VAT increase were to be implemented by the government, several measures should be taken to ensure that the objective of the increase is realised. “An instance is the provision of the relevant technology to ensure proper monitoring, collection and elimination of leakages.

“The VAT increase could be varied relative to the kind of goods/services being purchased, since the effect on the poor would be greater than on the rich.”

Ayanda further commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for its efforts in the elections, noting that the Electoral Act and other related laws needed a total review ahead the 2023 general elections.

She stated that as much as possible, the country’s electoral process needed to be automated.

BIKE THIEF PULLED OUT OF POLICE STATION, BURNT TO DEATH BY MOB OVER MURDER (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

A suspect killer and robber met his end today at the hands of angry youths in Ugep community, Cross River state. According to reports, the slain suspect allegedly killed a motorcyclist otherwise known as Okada rider while trying to steal his bike. 

The said bike thief while trying to steal the bike from its owner, set the rider ablaze. He first threatened the young man to release the bike keys to him, but the owner refused and fought back.

The bike thief fought the young man harder and allegedly emptied the small gallon of fuel he was with on the guy and set him ablaze. He took off with the bike afterwards. The victim was found minutes after by sympathizers who took him to the hospital. The thief was later arrested by the police.

Unfortunately, the young man who was set ablaze passed away this morning. So, angry youths went to the police station, brought out the thief and burnt him by the road side in front of the station as can be seen in a video posted online.

YOU ARE JITTERY, PDP TELLS APC OVER INEC SERVER HACKING ALLEGATIONS

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop their unnecessary fabrications, smear campaign and prepare to face its legal team at the Presidential election tribunal. 

The party says President Buhari is overweighed by the burden of illegitimacy, following overwhelming evidence before the tribunal that he stole the Presidential mandate, hence this lame attempt at blackmailing the tribunal by engaging in clear acts of subjudice.

The PDP states that the facts and issues touching on the INEC server are already within the public domain and Nigerians are already at home with them. By resorting to shadow-boxing outside the tribunal, President Buhari and the APC have shown that they have no defence to present to the court against PDP’s submission that they stole our mandate.

It is even more appalling that Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a member of Buhari’s legal team, who should know better, would engage in this act of subjudice designed to distort facts already known to Nigerians, that our Presidential Candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, clearly won the February 23 Presidential election.

Since it has become clear that President Buhari has no defence to present to the court, we counsel him to save the nation further stress by surrendering our mandate, which was freely given by majority of Nigerians to Atiku Abubakar.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

BAUCHI GUBER ELECTION 2019: INEC RESUMES COLLATION OF BAUCHI GOV ELECTION RESULTS, TO NAME WINNER TODAY

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed collation of results of the supplementary governorship election in Bauchi State.

The resumption comes hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja dismissed the suit of Mohammed Abubakar, incumbent Governor of the state and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging INEC's decision to conclude, collate and announce the governorship election result from Tafawa Balewa Local Government in Bauch State.

Festus Okoye, National Commissioner of INEC who disclosed the resumption on Monday evening, said "the collation has commenced, and the suspended process will be cncluded today".

FG BEGINS HARMONISATION OF SALARY DISPARITY AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS

The Federal Government  has mandated the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to begin implementation of  a project to harmonise salary disparity among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).       

Speaking while defending the Commission’s budget before the National Assembly, Executive Chairman, NSIWC, Dr. Richard Onwuka Egbule, said to achieve an enduring harmonisation, efforts are being made to have a comprehensive review of grading system.

Egbule explained that the Commission achieved a 74 per cent implementation of the 2018 budget, which he hoped will be surpassed in 2019.

He said the greatest problem bedevilling the Commission was the issue of office accommodation after 25 years of its existence.

The Chairman said it was due to the lack of office space that the Commission could not recruit in the last 10 years, adding that the need for more office space has become more pressing.

He noted that NSIWC operates from six  different locations which, according to him, would not enhance the building of a distinct organisational culture, adding that necessary contacts had been made to ameliorate the situation, including a courtesy visit to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory  (FCT).

In his remarks, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, Alhaji Husseini Kangiwa, called on the Commission to make the issue of office space a priority and build it into its budget and bring in the National Assembly to back it up.

He noted that an important agency like NSIWC that is at the heart of workers’ welfare should have a befitting building of its own.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has concluded process leading to the disbursement of subsidies to the six licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) as part of its plans to boost broadband penetration and make it pervasive nationwide.

This was part of the digital transformation agenda, which NCC has put in place for actualisation. The subsidy will augment the InfraCos’ capital expenditure (CAPEX).

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, dropped the hint at the weekend when he received a delegation from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The USTDA team, led by its Acting Country Director, Mr. Thomas Hardy, was received at the instance of the NCC Board members and senior management of the Commission.

LOOMING ANARCHY IN RIVERS STATE AS CSOs CRY OUT

Members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Monday took to the streets to protest against the continuous stay in office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga.

The groups, identified as the “International Society of Social Justice and “Human Rights and Advocate for Justice International”, were led by Dr. Jackson Omenazu and Young Bassey.

The duo led their supporters in a joint protest to the operational offices of some security agencies in the state urging them to appeal to  INEC to redeploy Effanga to avert looming crisis.

The CSOs took their protests to the Director for Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police.

They accused the INEC in the state of partisanship, insisting that his continuous stay in the state will spark anarchy and further deaths in the state.

Addressing their hosts at different offices, the leader of the protest, Dr. Omenazu said, “We are here to present a letter of protest to the Police Commissioner on what we have observed as civil society organization, about the conduct of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state.

“As law enforcement Officers, we believe you are saddled with responsibility of prosecuting any erring government agent that has compromised his or her office.

“Our findings have indicated that the state REC, Obo Affanga’s actions and inactions may throw the state into unimaginable crisis, Anarchy looms in the state because of his conducts and we are calling on the CP to please for the sake of peace, avert the anarchy that is looming in the state by calling the REC to order.

“When an electoral umpire becomes bias, it is a catalyst to anarchy and we don’t want anarchy in this state any more. Rivers state has had engulfed in crisis, enough blood has been shed.

“We don’t want to see him; Rivers people don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore. INEC headquarter should please send in another REC that will conduct free and fair elections so that Rivers people can have peace.

“His continuous stay and presiding and superintending over elections in this state is a call to anarchy and the only way to avert it, is for him to leave the state in peace,” he insisted.

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

President Muhamamdu Buhari on Monday received the report of the Technical Advisory Committee on the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Buhari had on Jan. 9 inaugurated the advisory committee chaired by an economist and financial expert, Mr Bismarck Rewane, where he reiterated his commitment to an upward review of the minimum wage.

The president had on Dec. 19, 2018 while presenting the 2019 Appropriation Bill at the joint session of the National Assembly announced his intention to constitute the committee.

He said the committee would recommend “modalities for the implementation of the new minimum wage in such a manner as to minimise its inflationary impact as well as ensure that its introduction does not lead to job losses’’.

NAN reports already the two chambers of the National Assembly had deliberated and approved the bill on N30,000 as new national minimum wage. 

(NAN) 

PDP AGENT'S HAND PICTURED ON THE GROUND AFTER BEING HACKED OFF IN KANO (GRAPHIC)

An agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost his hand following the widespread violence and unchecked intimidation of voters during Saturday’s supplementary governorship election in Kano state.

It was gathered that the agent was attacked by thugs and had his hand cut off for reportedly supporting the opposition party. He was rushed to the hospital where he is recovering from the injury sustained. 

Meanwhile, violence erupted in Kano as can be seen in the videos below, following the declaration of incumbent governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as winner of the governorship election in Kano State, thereby returning him for a second term in office. 

Aggrieved people turned out in large numbers and were desperate to force their way into the state INEC office, but for the timely intervention of the police, who had also positioned themselves in some places around the state INEC office.

EXCLUSIVE: EFCC TRACES LAWYER’S ‘CAR GIFT’ TO CJN ONNOGHEN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced a car owned by Walter Onnoghen, the embattled chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), to Joe Agi, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The anti-graft agency believes the car is a gift from the lawyer, who had cases before Onnoghen at the time of purchase.

But Agi has told the EFCC that aside being a senior lawyer, he is also a car dealer and Onnoghen bought the Mercedes GL 450 series from him for N7 million in 2010, sources told press.

However, when he was asked to produce receipts of purchase and other documentation relating to the transaction, he could not do so.

Previously, the EFCC traced a deposit of $30,000 by Agi into Onnoghen’s bank account dating back to 2009.

He was also said to have had cases before the judge when he made the deposits.

Agi denied the allegation that the $30,000 was a bribe.

In a press statement, he said the money was from allowances paid to Onnoghen on seminars, holidays, conferences or medical trips abroad.

Agi said: “I have been acquainted with Justice Onnoghen, JSC in our days as Lawyers in Calabar, Cross Rivers State from the 1980s before he was appointed a High Court Judge.

“My Lord Justice Onnoghen said he had no idea since opening of foreign account was forbidden for Public Officers. I informed him that domiciliary account is not a foreign bank account as it is opened and operated within the local banks in Nigeria.

“It was on this note that I went to my banker Standard Chartered Bank and obtained Account Opening Forms for him as a friend and Senior Brother. He completed the Forms and I refereed him. He gave me $30,000 being left over of his allowances for overseas seminars, holidays, conferences or medical trips to deposit for him as the first deposit. This I did in 2009 i.e 10 years ago. After that, he operated the account himself without me paying even a cent into that account till date.

“Now 10 years after, I am again being vilified and accused of giving Justice Onnoghen bribe. If I may ask; bribe for which case? In the Supreme Court panel they sit in 5 or 7 persons, was the $30,000 for the 5 or 7 Justices? And for which case? This is another huge joke aimed at vilifying my person by the same cabal who are hell bent on tarnishing my image as an aftermath of the exposure of the Paris Club fraud.”

Agi is one of the lawyers defending Onnoghen in his asset declaration case before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Onnoghen is currently being tried by the CCT over allegations of non-declaration of some of his assets, although he said it was an oversight.

In a previous case, which was eventually dismissed, a foreign firm owned by Agi’s friend paid N30 million into the account of the wife of Adeniyi Adetokunbo Ademola, a justice of the federal high court, for their daughter’s wedding.

He was also said to have bought a car for Ademola’s son.

The case filed against him for “gratification” was dismissed on technical grounds, although many lawyers argued that it was a professional misconduct which should have been punished by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee.

Efforts to reach Agi were unsuccessful as his phone rang out. He has also not responded to text messages.