Sola Ogundeko's Blog

Saturday, 4 January 2014

Arrest of Rivers Majority Leader: Police lied —Amaechi, Lloyd

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday dismissed as a lie,the police version of the circumstances surrounding the Thursday arrest of the Leader of the House of Assembly,Mr.Chidi Lloyd.

Lloyd himself accused Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu of desperation to destroy his political career for no just cause.

The police arrested Lloyd on Thursday for alleged double murder . The politician, according to the state police command’s spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was responsible for the murder of Police Sergeant Urang Obediah and one Kingsley Ejeuo.

The police described Ejeuo as Lloyd’s political opponent.

Muhammad said: “He (Lloyd) was arrested on his way to join His Excellency, Governor Amaechi Rotimi, in his private jet at the Airforce Base (Aba Road, Port Harcourt) to escape justice.

“Hon. Chidi Lloyd on 30/12/2013, while pursing his political opponent, knocked down Sgt. Urang Obediah, in spite of his effort to stop him, rammed and killed him and went ahead to crush the Passat car Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo was driving and killed him.

“Initially, the police thought that it was a mere accident, which ought to have been manslaughter. The Commissioner of Police directed ACP Aliyu Garba, the Area Commander Metro, to visit him (Lloyd) on his hospital bed and commiserate with him.

“Conscious of what he did, Chidi Lloyd relocated to another hospital. When facts emerged that Chidi Lloyd drove a bulletproof vehicle, while pursing his political opponent, the late Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo, and he knocked down Sgt. Urang Obediah, who died on the spot and moved ahead to smash a political opponent in his Passat car, who equally died instantly.

“The late Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo, who hailed from the same place with Hon. Chidi Lloyd (Emohua), is believed to be in the PDP camp led by Elder Felix Obuah. While being guarded by four policemen on his hospital bed, he (Lloyd) sneaked out through the hospital’s back door in three tinted bulletproof jeeps and escaped.

“On receipt of the information of the escape of Chidi Lloyd, the Commissioner of Police, Mbu J. Mbu, directed a thorough search on all jeeps, while the CP himself personally drove to the Air Force Base where he met with His Excellency, Governor Amaechi Rotimi, and a private jet waiting for take-off.

“As soon as he (CP) alighted, he saluted the governor. The governor ignored him and showered a rain of abuses on the commissioner of police, but the CP kept calm. Unfortunately for Chidi Lloyd, the eagle-eyed police patrol vehicles intercepted him and the CP was informed immediately and he left the Air Force Base for his office, ignoring the abuses from the governor. After waiting in vain for Chidi Lloyd’s arrival, the Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, boarded his jet and took off in anger.”

However,the governor’s Chief Press Secretary,Mr.David Iyofor,said the story put out by the police was a ”completely distorted and untrue account” of what happened.

He said Governor Amaechi has no private plane or jet, as claimed by the police and Lloyd “was nowhere near the plane that took the Governor from Port Harcourt to Abuja.”

Governor Amaechi,he added, “was about to leave for Abuja, when he was informed that the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, had ordered that the plane (which is not the governor’s private jet, as claimed by the police) cannot leave Port Harcourt because Hon. Lloyd was in the plane and about to ‘escape’ with Governor Amaechi.

“Shocked, several calls were put across to CP Mbu that were not answered. CP Mbu later showed up and when the governor asked him, he denied giving such an order. He then went on and on, making a baseless, noisy argument that no one could comprehend.

“Governor Amaechi put it to him that he (Mbu) came to search the plane for Chidi Llyod and told him to go ahead and search the plane. Mbu continued talking endlessly, showing absolutely no respect or regard for the office of the Governor of Rivers State, who is the Chief Security Officer of the state.

“Governor Amaechi then called the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). While the Governor was speaking with the IGP on the phone, CP Mbu was shouting at the Governor on top of his voice, trying to disrupt the conversation between the Governor and the IGP, to the shock and disbelief of those that were there.”

Iyofor said that the Governor only heard about Lloyd’s arrest in his (Lloyd’s) house in the presence of his family members and lawyer, Emenike Ebete,while the governor was away in Abuja.

Ebete also disputed the police claim.

Speaking on the phone yesterday,he said the police action was politically motivated.

He said Lloyd neither drove the car in question nor knew Ejeuo in his life time.

He said Lloyd was arrested in his (Lloyd’s) residence and not the Air Force Base as claimed and Lloyd personally gave the police the direction to his house.

His words: “On 30th of December, 2013, Hon. Chidi Lloyd planned a get-together with his friends in his village, Akpabu (in Emohua LGA of Rivers State). The event that was supposed to start from 10 am did not start until 3.30 pm because of his (House leader’s) state of health.

“By the time the event was ending, it was around 10.30 pm. We tried to make him not to leave because of the time and his health, but he said since he had a driver and he had no reason to stay back.

“The accident happened in front of the Emohua Local Government Council Secretariat (along the ever-busy, but pothole-ridden East-West Road, still being dualised by the Federal Government). There was a stop-and-search police team. There was also a parked trailer, in front of which a Passat was parked, being checked by a policeman.

“As we approached the search-and-stop spot, another trailer was oncoming and instead of colliding with it, the driver of the car in which Hon. Lloyd was, swerved out of the road and ran into the Passat.

“The policemen doing the search died instantly. One of the four occupants died too. Two were taken to the hospital. One of the two had been discharged, while the other one is still receiving medical attention. The fourth person came out unhurt.”

Lloyd’s lawyer said Lloyd’s driver who was behind the wheels was immediately arrested and wrote a statement for the police.

He added:”The impact was so much that there was smoke in the car and all the occupants, including Lloyd, escaped from the car, through one door. After the accident, he (Lloyd) was taken to the hospital, Morning Star Clinic in D-Line, Port Harcourt and since the hospital is being renovated, in the morning, he was taken to Kelsy Harrison Memorial Hospital (owned by the Rivers State Government) on Emenike Street, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, where he was discharged around 4 pm on Thursday.

“Police called him (Lloyd) to say they wanted to see him over the accident. He directed them to his residence. The police team, led by a senior officer, Sola, took him away from his house, not anywhere near the Air Force Base or the governor’s aircraft, as indicated by the police. He followed them from his house.”

The State chapter of the PDP,in a statement by its spokesman, , Jerry Needam ,called for a thorough investigation of the matter.

He accused Governor Amaechi of continually harassing, intimidating and victimising PDP members and claimed that it had uncovered a plot to free Lloyd.

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WAEC Exam Cheaters Return Certificates After Encounter With Christ

In what may come as a big surprise to most people, no fewer than 15 persons recently returned certificates issued to them by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). They said they had to give up the certificates because they cheated during the examination, and now as Born Again Christians, they could not live with “the sin.”

Some individuals, Saturday Sun gathered, had approached WAEC through letters seeking restitution after they had confessed how they dubiously acquired their certificates when they wrote the examinations at various periods.

The council wrote back to them, stating that what they were expected to do was to return the certificates awarded in line with the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examinations. However, only few responded, including a holder of Teachers’ Grade 11 certificate.
It was learnt that those who complied with the directive returned their certificates to various WAEC offices nationwide and the council took their case to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which, at its 55th meeting in Lagos, cancelled the returned 15 certificates.

According to the council’s letter to NEC, “the listed candidates, in their letters of restitution, confessed that they were involved in various forms of examination malpractices in various years as indicated against their numbers. They have returned the original certificates issued to them.’’
The returned certificates by the Born Again Christians were for both the May/June (school exam) and November/December (private candidate) West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

A breakdown of the year the examinations were taken revealed that the oldest dates back to June 1983 with certificate no SG 288999. Next is June 1990 (RS0680084c), June 1992 (NGSS 0994156), June 1995 (NGSS0265147) and December 1995 (NGSP 0169397), December 1996 (NGSP 0575264), December 2000 (NGWASSCP 038771), June 2001 (NGWASSCS 2451037).

Others are June 2002, two certificates with NGWASSCP 4100224 and NGWASSCS 3894794 were returned and cancelled, June 2003 (NGWASSCS 5009313), June 2006 two born again Christian returned certificates with NGWASSCP 7747466 and NGWASSCS 8423755, December 2008 (NGWASSCP 05790031) and June 2010 NGWASSCP 13327157.
There are several Verses in the Bible to support restitution, which conform to what the 15 Born Again Christians did by confessing their sins and sought restitution from WAEC. In 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, the is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’’.

While Numbers 5:6-7 says ’’When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong’’. Efforts to get the names, and perhaps pictures, of the 15 persons were abortive, as WAEC officials said it would amount to violation of the rights of the individuals involved and that of their (officials) ethics.

In a related development, the N55th and 56th NEC meeting of WAEC has hammered 493 candidates who sat for both the May/June and November/December WASSCE by ordering the cancellation of their certificates/result slips taken at various periods.
A document available to Saturday Sun reads partly: “The under listed candidates were confirmed to have been impersonated in the various examinations and years indicated against them. The result slips/certificates have been returned by the Zonal/Branch Offices concerned to the Post Examinations Department for cancellation.’’

A breakdown of the statistics revealed that at the 55th NEC meeting (result slips and certificates of impersonators in previous GCE/SSC/ WASSC examinations), no fewer than 241 candidates were sanctioned while at their 56th deliberation (result slips and certificates of impersonators in previous May/June and November/December WASSC examinations), a total of 252 candidates had their certificates cancelled according to the rules and regulations guiding the conductor of WAEC exams.

A remarkable thing which Saturday Sun noted in the 55th NEC meeting decision was that the 241 cancelled certificates involved private candidates who wrote either the Nov/Dec GCE or WASSCE. Thus confirming stakeholders’ position that exam fraud is more rampart during the private candidate examinations.
A breakdown of the 241 cancelled certificates revealed that the highest number occurred in 1998 (34), followed by 1999 and 2001 with 26 certificates each. In 2000, it had 24, 1997 (23), 1995 (22), 2002 (19), 1994 and 1996 each had 15, 2003 (14), 1993 (12), 1987 (3), 2005 (2) while 1985, 1986, 1991, 2006, 2007 and 2009 had one cancelled certificate each.
For the 56th NEC decision, again statistics from the document indicate that majority of the 252 candidates whose certificates were cancelled sat for the Nov/Dec WASSCE (240) while 12 others wrote the May/June WASSCE.

Detail breakdown of the 252 cancelled certificates at the 56th NEC meeting showed that 2009 recorded the highest number with 33, 2002 (26), 2007 (24), 2001 (20), 2008 and 2010 had 18 each, 2000 (17), 2004 (14), 1999, 2003 and 2006 had 13 each, 2011 (10), 1995 (eight), 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2005 recorded four cancelled certificates each, 1993 and 1997 produced two each and one in 1989.

Jonathan didn’t go to Kenya with seven aircraft –Presidency

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Presidency on Friday denied a statement credited to a Kenyan lady that President Goodluck Jonathan recently visited her country in seven private aircraft.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a message on his Twitter handle, described the statement as a blatant lie.

He said Jonathan travelled to Kenya with only one aircraft.

In a video which has gone viral on YouTube and other social media platforms, the Kenyan lady was heard saying, “Your (Nigerian) President visited our country with seven private jets. That has never happened before, we were all excited, ‘this is Nigeria, it is the country with the highest number of private jets.’ Seven private jets, I know there could be more but for us, that is still wao! They all came in their private jets.”

The video was Twitted by Nigerians including a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i, forcing Abati to react.

While the presidential spokesman challenged the Kenyan to prove her allegation, he asked Nigerians spreading the message to desist from broadcasting lies.

He said it amounted to laziness to take on what he described as crazy tale and broadcast it without verification.

He asked them to shut up if they could not provide evidence contrary to his position.

Abati wrote, “That President Jonathan travelled to Kenya with seven jets is not true. I challenge the Kenyan lady to prove her allegation.

“Stop spreading lies. President Jonathan was in Kenya with only one aircraft. Provide concrete evidence to the contrary or shut up.

“That Kenyan lady is lying. It amounts to sheer laziness to take on crazy tale and broadcast it without verification. It is shameful.

“It is an absolute lie. A presidential jet is not difficult to identify. It bears a clear mark.”

Read Abati's tweets Here

PHOTO NEWS: Over 30,000 applicants sat for NDLEA Recruitment Test at PH Venue (2010)

I can act nude for $50m – Amanda Ebeye

Amanda Ebeye

Amanda Ebeye tells Ademola Oloniluawhy she does more of soap operas than Nollywood movies

You once said that some of your friends who are actresses encouraged you to become an actress. How did they manage to do that?

I had a particular friend who was taking me for auditions. Back then, auditions were held at the National Theatre and Winnie’s Hotel in Surulere (Lagos). Actors would hang around and wait for audition notices. Those were the two most likely places artistes converge for auditions. My friend knew I always wanted to act and she was acting partly but in smaller roles. She was and is still more of an actress than a model till date. We are not really close friends anymore.

You became popular in the television series, Clinic Matters; is there any difference between you and the character you portrayed in the soap?

Yes, it’s a world of difference between the character, Abigail and I. Abigail is known to be very nosy, she is two-faced and has issues and controversy surrounding her. She also gossips a lot. I talk but not to the detriment of other people. I was only portraying a character to the best of my understanding at that time.

But do you gossip, and are you temperamental in real life as you act in the soap opera?

Yes. I could be a little bit temperamental but not a big time gossip like Nurse Abigail. I talk too but who doesn’t? I can never scandalise, lie or bring people down; never. On several occasions I’ve had a lot of people say, maybe when I get upset, I yell. They assume I am just as Nurse Abigail in reality. It is very funny because whatever I portray is what I would have done if I was truly that character. It is not who I am. If I was a gossip, a liar, a prostitute, a pilot; it is all in my head, it is my imagination, my creation and not who I am in real life. But when people talk like that, I feel honoured because I feel I gave the character my best shot.

Has your celebrity status helped you get favours?

Yes, I get loads of favours because people are always nice to me, especially my fans. I get easy favours and preferential treatment. I don’t have to queue; I don’t have to pay for certain things.

You are also a model; how did that happen?

I got into modelling before acting. My family lives in Benin. It was actually modelling that brought me to Lagos. I had jobs with Unity Bank, UBA, Emzor Paracetamol and others.

How did your parents take it when you got into modelling?

My mum was more interested in my education. My dad didn’t want to hear of it but my mum didn’t mind as long as I got a degree. Immediately I finished my studies, she allowed me.

Can you remember how much you were paid for your first role and how you felt about it?

I can’t really remember. I think it was N5, 000 or thereabout. I didn’t care about the money, I was so happy. Valucci was the director’s name and I got there just when the audition was about to end. The name of the movie was Weeping Tiger. I was late for the audition but the director saw me and still called me to read. That was how I got the role. I was in Jim Iyke’s music band. It was unbelievable. I was walking on sunshine because it was the happiest day of my life.

Why do you do more of soaps than movies?

There was a time I stopped doing movies and concentrated on soap operas. That was between 2009 and 2011. And since 2011, I have been doing strictly movies apart from Bella’s Place that is owned by Royal Roots.

Can you act nude?

I cannot act nude but like I have said before, if you pay me about $50m, I will. Please who is the first to pay?

Nollywood actresses have on some occasions shaved off their hair for a role. Can you do same?

I can shave my hair because I’m an actress. If the role requires it, if it is a beautiful script and the money is good, I will do it. It will not be because it is the trend. It is not because Mercy Johnson did it so I should, no, that is not a good enough reason. Right now, the script has to be outstanding for me to be interested in shaving off my hair.

Your mother is a fashion designer. Did it influence your decision to become a model?

I’m not a dress model, I wasn’t ever. I was more of a photography model, so my mum being into designs had nothing to do with it.

What were your early days like?

I was a stubborn kid. I was never a tomboy. I don’t know how to bounce or sag for the world but stubborn fighting for my rights and the rights of others, yes. I always wanted to defend others in need. That’s why often they used to say I knew how to ‘buy’ other people’s matter. But my friends would say I had and will always have the heart of a child because no matter how much I fight you, I’ll always feel bad and be the first to tell you sorry.

Can you remember your first kiss ever? How did you feel?

Yes I can and it was wonderful. I felt it was the best thing at that time but I don’t think so anymore.

Most times, rich men love having affairs with actresses, do you have any ‘sugar daddy’ or has any approached you before?

I’m sorry I don’t have any, sugar daddy, because I don’t get attracted to you become of what you have. There are other criteria you have to meet and not money. You might be poor but if we work, then we can flow. You don’t have to be rich. I’m simply not ruled by anything but my feelings. So, if I don’t feel for you and you have the whole world, it simply won’t work. So, what might rule others can’t rule me.

If you could turn back the hands of time, what would you want to change?

Some movies I did last year. Oh lord I wish I could wipe them out.

Are you in a relationship?

No, I’m not in a relationship at the moment.

What kind of man are you attracted to?

I like a God-fearing man; one that respects me and can protect me. I would love a man that loves me; someone that can be my best friend and is knowledgeable and smart because I need to learn from him.

Some women complain that Nigerian men are not romantic. Do you agree with that school of thought?

I don’t agree with it because not all the apples in a bag taste the same way. Some might have gone soggy, some might still be fresh, and some might have spoiled completely. So, there might be some Nigerian men that are not romantic, but there are quite a lot of them who are. That’s my belief.

Would you rather marry a Nigerian or a foreigner?

I am very indifferent. I would get married to whoever God wants me to be married to.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m enjoying the holiday season with my family. After the festivities, work begins. I want to have this little time when I don’t have to think about work.

Frenzy over crocodile caught in Lagos posh estate

It is rare to find wild animals roaming free in neighbourhoods, so Omole estate in Lagos was recently thrown into a state of excitement when a crocodile was caught in the gated neighbourhood.

The animal, which residents described as “very large”, became a spectacle at one of the gates to the estate, on Sunday, December 22, 2013. For residents not used to seeing wild animals lurking in their neighbourhoods, the sight was unexpected.

The animal had earlier been caught by the estate’s security operatives around 2am on Omotunde Akinsola Street, by Today’s Car, after it strayed from a swampland at one end of the neighbourhood. Three bullets shot at the animal did not kill it.

So the initial buzz of excitement generated by the incident soon turned to apprehension for residents. Some of them described the crocodile which was over six feet long, as frightening.

A resident living by the swamp where the animal was caught, who identified herself as Ogechi, said she heard three gunshots that morning, and had thought they were meant to scare away robbers.

“Now, there is a general fear in the area caused by the incident. It’s amazing finding such a wild animal around where people are living; I think it’s very dangerous because a crocodile should not be going about in a neighbourhood,” she said.

“I heard three shots around 2am and I thought maybe there were robbers around. I didn’t know an animal was being shot.”

For Ogechi, however, her lifestyle was bound to change as a result of the incident. “I will be more watchful because of the incident and even stop going out in the night,” she added.

Another resident, Aanu Oladapo, feared that there were more dangerous animals where the suspected crocodile had come out from. Oladapo said he had heard stories that wild animals paraded around the swampy area in the estate, but had not believed until the recent incident.

“I’d heard that such animals sometimes come out from the swamp but I never believed until now. I saw the crocodile live myself and it was really too big to be roaming a residential neighbourhood,” he said with a measure of concern.

Although, Garba Umaru, who works as a private security guard in the neighbourhood, had no cause to fear for himself. Considering his profession, Umaru was confident that he could take care of himself.

However, Umaru’s confident stance and voice seemed to waver with emotion as he spoke about his five young children.

Umaru, who put his “help in God”, said “big crocodiles can swallow a person, so my children’s safety is in God’s hands.”

Indeed, there have been concerns raised by construction workers about the threat of wildlife to the community. The workers often sight wild animals in the community since they usually lead forays into new development sites.

A construction worker working on a new building by the swamp, Shedraq Benson, said workers often see the wildlife or their imprints on marshy grounds.

Benson said he often sees imprints of crawling snakes and reptiles on marshlands that had just been cleared for the start of building development.

He said, “Sometimes, we see large snakes and crocodiles. Once, I saw the imprint of a very large snake. By the marks left on the ground, I could see that a large snake which was more than a foot in width had just crawled on the ground. I was afraid to work on the site that day for fear of meeting it face to face.”

Benson added that he had also once seen a bigger reptile than the one recently caught by security operatives in the neighbourhood.

“Two of us saw the crocodile, but our machetes could not cut it at all. So we went to see if we could get a gun but it had gone by the time we got back,” Benson said.

Benson’s work partner, Pius Okere, killed a crocodile that also strayed from the swamp in 2012. However, Okere said the crocodile was small.

“The ones we’re killing are not the big ones; they are probably the kids. The big ones are still inside the swamp,” he said.

Meanwhile, the two security operatives who captured the crocodile have been made local heroes by their deed, even though their deed is what animal rights activists would look at with dismay.

One of the security operatives, Abu Alli, said he shot the animal three times after being notified by his colleague, identified as Itoro.

Recounting the incident, Alli said, “My colleague sighted the crocodile moving inside a residence, but he didn’t have a gun. He managed to divert the animal’s movement into a drainage, where it got stuck because it was too big.

“So he came to call me and when I got there, I shot it three times. I’m sure that one of the bullets hit it in the head, but it didn’t die. We later tied a rope round its leg and drew it to the estate gate, where residents had a view of it in daylight. The incident happened at about 2am and by noon, someone bought it from us for N20,000. The animal was still alive when we sold it.”

However, Alli said he had been surprised by his newfound popularity status in the neighbourhood since the incident, adding that security personnel had to be more vigilant in future.

“It surprised me that everyone has been talking about the incident. But I don’t think we did anything wrong by shooting the crocodile because it could have wounded somebody. I’m glad it didn’t attack anyone, so what we did was justified.”

Wild tales

Since the incident though, the neighbourhood has had its fair share of wild tales and gossips. Different accounts of the incident with varying sizes of the animal have been rendered from mouth to mouth in the estate that the facts have been blurred somewhere between the lines.

A commercial motorcyclist in the estate, who identified himself as Musa, told Saturday PUNCH that the animal that was caught had even spoken in human voice.

“It was very huge and almost as tall as this motorcycle. It spoke and demanded for human being to eat,” Musa insisted.

Crisis looms in APC over power sharing

Interim National Chairman, All Progressive Congress,
Chief Bisi Akande

Despite its growing acceptability within the country’s political circle, all appears not to be well with the All Progressives Congress as a crisis over power sharing and control is brewing in the party.

Investigation by Saturday PUNCH showed that the five governors, who defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, were locked in a supremacy battle with some leaders of the three political parties that merged to form the APC.

The parties that merged to form APC are the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressive Change.

Saturday PUNCH’s investigations in Abuja on Thursday showed that the looming crisis was threatening the nationwide membership registration, which the party had scheduled for early this year.

To forestall problem, however, the party has set up reconciliation committees in some of the affected states.

The governors, who left the PDP for the APC, included Alhaji Muritala Nyako (Adamawa); Dr. Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

It was gathered that besides the struggle for position between the defected governors and ‘old’ members of the fast growing party, the APC was also contending with various crises in the states it is currently controlling.

The tussle for power in the APC states is principally between the governors and those who are against their total control of the state party structure.

It was learnt that the problem had manifested in Kwara, Kano, Sokoto and Adamawa states among others.

Findings showed that the outcome of the party’s reconciliation efforts would determine when the membership registration would hold.

The defected PDP governors that are said to be engaged in power struggle with old APC members include Nyako, Kwankanso, Wamakko and Ahmed.

In Kwara State for instance, members of the parties that merged to form the APC have described the leader of the PDP defectors, Senator Bukola Saraki, as a burden instead of an asset to the APC. Saraki is the political godfather of the state governor.

The members are of the opinion that the party does not need Saraki to win elections in the state. A former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore, is the leader of the APC members opposed to Saraki’s take-over of the party.

A leading member of the Belgore group, Rev. Bunmi Olusona, said this in a statement, in Ilorin on Thursday.

In the statement titled, “Issues before the John Oyegun mediation committee,” Olusona stated, “We aver that we do not need Bukola Saraki to win elections in Kwara. In fact, the coming of Bukola Saraki is a huge burden on the Kwara APC.

“We now have a daunting task of convincing Kwarans that we remain a part of their hope for change. Without federal support, Bukola Saraki cannot win any election!

“We will never accept the leadership of Bukola Saraki and we will never accept any arrangement that cedes the party structure to any new entrant into the party.”

Another prominent member of the Belgore group, Dr. Saad Omo-Iya, also explained the group’s stand in an interview with one of our correspondents.

Omo-Iya said, “Saraki is a soloist and (a) despot. Some of us cannot work with him. That is why we are in the APC. Now that he has come to the APC, and it is being speculated that APC has handed over the party structure to him, that means some individuals own that party.

“It equally means that the party is no longer a party. It is like a property of some individuals. That does not really reflect democracy. Basically, looking at it, you can see that there is no basis for further relations.”

He said that the structure of the party should not be handed over to an individual, adding that registration of members should be free and fair.

However, Mr. Yemi Afoloyan, a former state Secretary of the Saraki-led PDP faction, told Saturday PUNCH in an interview that claims that Saraki was a despot were untrue.

He described Saraki as a grass-roots political leader, who stepped into the shoes of his revered father, the late Chief Olusola Saraki.

Afolayan said, “One of the best things for Kwarans and the APC in the state is the handing over of the APC’s structure to Saraki. We have the election winning machinery and we win and deliver wherever we go. We have come to the APC with an election-winning machinery and we are sure the machinery will not fail.

“It will deliver anytime. Saraki has not said he is going to the APC to take over everything. He believes in egalitarian society. The door is open for integration of all the stakeholders and shades of opinions.

“What is paramount in the mind of our leader, is the continued transformation and development of our dear State of Harmony.”

In an attempt to douse growing tension between supporters of the Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau-led former members of the ANPP and the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the national headquarters of the party has set up a reconciliation committee headed by the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari.

Yari and Masari were given the task of drawing up a workable arrangement to accommodate the two leaders and their followers, and to prepare the ground for the party’s mobilisation and registration of members scheduled to begin this month.

A party source confided in Saturday PUNCH that the situation in Kano was “a little complicated.”

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Members of the political parties that merged to form the APC are suspicious of Kwankwaso.”

They argued that even while in the PDP, Kwankwaso scuttled attempts by Vice President Namadi Sambo to reconcile him and other aggrieved party members.

“Sambo was in Kano twice and each time an agreement was reached, Kwankwaso’s group breached the terms,” the source added.

When contacted, the Director of Press to Kano State governor, Baba Dantiye, said fears about Kwankwaso’s commitment were misplaced.

“His only concern is the salvation of this country. It is not about his interest; he is committed but it will be unfortunate if they feel that way even before the committee starts its work. His Excellency has an open mind and is ready to work with everybody.”

Also speaking on the issue, Shekarau’s spokesman, Sule Ya’u Sule, said, “We have always insisted on justice and fairness to all. We are waiting for the committee to come.”

However, other chieftains of a faction of the ANPP such as Alhaji Bashir Tofa and Senator Kabir Gaya among others, have since pledged allegiance to Kwankwaso, recognising him as the leader of the APC in the state.

The situation in Sokoto State is not any different as loyalists of former governor Attahiru Bafarawa have accused a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bello Masari, who heads the state reconciliation committee, of bias.

They insist that his actions have been tailored in favour of Governor Wamakko to the disadvantage of old members.

It was also learnt that there was a power tussle between Nyako and a former governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change in Adamawa State, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa.

A source admitted that teething problems were bound to occur when a new party of APC’s magnitude is formed.

Marwa expressed confidence that the national leadership of the party was up to the task of dealing with the challenge.

He said this in a short message to one of our correspondents.

He said, “These teething problems will come up but I am aware that the national hierarchy of the party is attending to the issues and hopefully, will be resolved very soon. APC stands for internal democracy any day.”

Fears being expressed by party members are not limited to northern states.

Some members of the National Assembly have also cautioned the party against allowing state governors to hijack the process.

Senator Adegbenga Kaka (APC, Ogun-East) warned that any state governor, who attempts to hijack or manipulate the party membership registration exercise would be doing so at a great risk.

Kaka said any governor who attempted to do so would incur the wrath of party members.

He said, “No governor that is desirous of building a virile party will ever attempt to hijack or manipulate the registration of party members. They will not want to incur the wrath of would-be-members. I still maintain that we are all equal until registration is carried out. All intending members are equal no matter how highly placed anybody may be.”

But the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Ogun State, Alhaji Sola Lawal, also dismissed such fears.

He said those expressing fears over the membership registration exercise were only crying wolf where none existed.

Lawal said it would be impossible for any APC governor to manipulate or hijack the membership registration process in his state due to the magnitude of the exercise.

He said, “There is no reason for anyone to be apprehensive of the exercise. For one, the process is too open for anyone to manipulate. Every polling booth constitutes registration unit. In other words, prospective members of the party who vote in a polling booth in general elections are expected to be bona fide party members in that unit.

“It is therefore impossible to deny anyone registration. The governor or anyone for that matter is not capable of manipulating things in thousands of registration centres. It will be lazy of anyone to hide behind fear of interference to fail in doing what is right to mobilise supporters for the exercise. The field is free.”

Also speaking on the issue, the Senator representing Oyo-South, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, allayed such fears.

The senator explained that the major task before the party at the moment was to register as many members as possible.

He said, “There are guidelines for party registration. We will follow the rules in Oyo State. As it were, our party is in the dominance in the state. The forthcoming registration of new members is a collective effort. Everybody is involved.

“This is not the time to start talking about someone using the exercise to hijack party structure. We are all using our political strengths and popularity to get as many members as possible from other parties so that we can retain our leadership position in the state.”

Lanlehin said, “We are all mobilising and sourcing for members now. We are fishing in the same water into the same boat. It is after that that the leaders could be talking of having those that will be loyal to them in the executive of the party during the congress that will come up later.

“We are working out modalities for that but it is not what you referred to as power tussle. It is just obvious that as leader you will want to have loyalists among the executives of the party but like I said it is not an issue that can lead to crisis at all.”

Attempts to get the reaction of the interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were unsuccessful as he did not pick our correspondents’ calls to his phone.

Also, a text message sent to him was not replied as at the time of filing this report.

But in his reaction to some of the issues raised, the former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, said the apprehension among some people was understandable.

He said, “All these apprehensions will be taken care of. We understand the apprehension of people but we are going to make sure there is real equality and that no person is unduly marginalised in the scheme of things because we must build a party where opportunities for all abound.”

El-rufai names top personalities on watch list

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

A fresh round of controversy has greeted the purported watch list of President Goodluck Jonathan with a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, identifying himself and four others as some of those on the list.

El-Rufai’s tweet on Thursday evening triggered another controversy when he wrote that he was number seven on the alleged Jonathan’s snipers’ watch list.

In the tweet, El-Rurai identified four others: a former military head of state, General (Retd) Muhammadu Buhari; a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu; the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and a former Osun State Governor and Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, as also making the list.

But Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Friday described El-Rufai’s claim as sheer irresponsible talk.

A former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had, in a letter dated December 2, 2013, accused Jonathan of training snipers and putting 1,000 people on a watch list. Obasanjo had also accused Jonathan of having a killer-squad.

The President denied the allegations in his own letter to the former president, dated December 20, 2013. In the letter, Jonathan described Obasanjo as a liar and challenged him to provide evidence to back his allegations.

However, El-Rufai tweeted that he would start worrying when those ahead of him, including the four names mentioned, got killed.

All the persons identified in El-Rufai’s tweet are members of the main opposition party- APC.

His tweet which followed other ones which were critical of Jonathan’s administration in the course of the evening, stated:

“On this note, I am going to bed. I am number 7 on the GEJ (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) snipers’ list, so I will only worry when GMB (General Muhammadu Buhari), Asiwaju, Amaechi, Akande etc are killed.”

It will be recalled that Amaechi had earlier identified himself as the number one person on the alleged list.

Amaechi had made the allegation at a rally of the APC, held at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on December 28, 2013.

He had said: “I read the President’s letter; he said Obasanjo should prove and name those on the list. I am number one on the list. I am number one.”

The Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, had even insisted that Amaechi had proof to back up his allegations, saying, “One thing you should know is that Governor Amaechi does not say one thing today on an issue and say another thing tomorrow on the same issue. You are aware of the battle between us and the police. Considering all we have passed through in the hands of the police, would anybody doubt the fact that the governor is on the Presidency’s watch list?”

However, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, had challenged Amaechi and dared him to “go ahead and prove his claim.”

“I don’t really want to talk about him because he has lost credibility. He is just like a drunken man in a china shop that wants to bring down everybody with him,” he had said.

Earlier on Thursday evening, El Rufai had also tweeted:

“GEJ has given Goodluck a dodgy tag while ‘transformation’ is about to assume the same meaning as incompetence, zero capacity, retrogression!

“GEJ budgets N2bn to transform the six states of the North East. International donors budget N33bn, but GEJ deposits N1.6bn for his 11th plane.

“GEJ’s parrot claim they created 1.6 million jobs, while his statistician reported that 112 million live in extreme poverty. Transformation!

“GEJ’s vehicle convoy contains 33 cars. It is the longest convoy in the world & the largest Nigeria has ever seen since 1914. Transformation!

“GEJ’s presidential Air Fleet has 10 planes. Arik has 26. Aero – 16, Dana-5. GEJ PAF is our 3rd largest airline in Nigeria. Transformation!!”

In his response on Twitter, the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, Reno Omokri, wrote, “Paranoia-Mental illness characterised by delusions. Patients threaten others yet believe they’re the one under threat.”

Reacting to El-Rufai’s tweet, a human rights lawyer, Wahab Shittu, however, said the allegation would not be taken seriously since he failed to substantiate it.

Shittu added that Obasanjo and Amaechi should also substantiate their claims.

He said, “The allegation, grievous as it is and coming from Obasanjo, has to be substantiated if it is to be taken seriously. El-Rufai has to publish the list and also tell Nigerians the source of his information, otherwise people are going to treat it as wolf cry. Nigerians are entitled to treat their allegation as mere propaganda, speculation to score political point.”

Also according to Shittu, since the allegation borders on national security, El-Rufai and others ought to be invited by security agencies for questioning.

“All of them should be called upon by security agencies to provide concrete proof since this allegation borders on national security,” he said.

Friday, 3 January 2014

Dr. Reuben Abati Lambast Critics of President Jonathan on Twitter (See Tweets)

Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati took to tweeter yesterday to defend his boss President Jonathan against the stories flying around that President Jonathan went to Kenya with 7 Presidential Jets....

See some of the tweets

OAU Graduate Hangs Self Over Non-acceptance of Marriage Proposal

A graduate of Architecture from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, identified as Ogunsona Daniel Adebambo, has committed suicide in Ikorodu area of Lagos state, because the father of his girlfriend refused to approve his marriage proposal.

Adebambo was said to have hung himself in an uncompleted storey building, as an art of frustration after all efforts to get the consent of his lady’s family failed to yield the expected result.

Newsnow Nigeria understands that the body of Adebambo who was deployed to Abia State for his National Youth Service Corps’ orientation, was found dangling from a rope tied to the hook of a fan in an uncompleted storey building at No. 1, Alice Ogunsona Street, Hilltop Estate, Eruwen, Ikorodu area of Lagos state.

The 30-year-old, who was said to have held a lot of promise, was found by his younger brother, after reading the suicide note he left in their sitting room before embarking on the suicide mission.

In the letter, the late Adebambo allegedly blamed his action on his girlfriend’s father who refused to allow him marry his daughter.

Friends of the deceased confirmed that he took his own life, because his fiancée’s father, a native of Ondo State, said his daughter cannot marry, because he (Adebambo) is an Ijebu, from Ogun State.

Although many who gathered at his residence found his excuse difficult to believe, his fiancée, who was seen weeping uncontrollably, could not be comforted or talked to.

A resident of the Hilltop Estate, Ibrahim Adeola, said, “When the family raised the alarm and we rushed here, he was already foaming in the mouth and his hand was clenched. This signified that he struggled till he died”.

Police officers seen within the premises said complaints of the tragic incidence have been lodged at the Ikorodu Police Station, and promised to carry out their investigations.

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

Battered pregnant woman: Co-workers stall probe

Ossai

Police probe into the battering of pregnant Alexandra Ossai has taken a new turn as her colleagues have allegedly refused to assist investigation by not giving statements.

Ossai, a former supervisor at Toppan Printing Company, was said to have lost her seven-month pregnancy a few days after the company manager, Kaveh Noine, allegedly kicked her in the stomach. The incident was said to have occurred in the full glare of her colleagues.

An emergency surgical operation was performed on her after she began bleeding in the early hours of December 16 2013.

A lawyer, Mr. Courage Erhuen, who took up the matter on Ossai’s behalf, said, “After the story was published, Ossai got calls from her colleagues. They warned her that she should not mention their names to the police as witnesses as they would not be giving statements. They told her that they were not ready to lose their jobs.

“As it is, what the police have done so far is to take statements from Ossai’s aunt, Mrs. Olabisi Jaiyeoba, and her younger sister, who also worked in the company. They have also taken statements from Ossai.

“At presently, they are waiting to take statements from the surgeon who is currently away from Lagos State. He will be returning after the new year.”

The investigation had been taken over by the Lagos State Police Command from the Area F Command Ikeja. The new team is headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police. Noine, who was arrested last Friday is said to be in the custody of the command.

Before she was disengaged, Ossai allegedly earned N17,000 monthly, while two of her siblings who also worked in the same company earned N12,000. Her siblings were allegedly sacked without pay after the incident.

President Goodluck Jonathan had directed the Ministers of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro; the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; the Minster of Women Affairs, Hajia Zaynab Maina; and the National Human Rights Commission, to probe the matter and recommend actions

PUNCH Metro also gathered that Ossai, who for security reasons, was discharged from Mercy Hospital Fagba where she was receiving treatment a few days ago, was admitted after suffering a relapse. She was reportedly discharged on Monday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Public Advice Centre, Mr. Alex Omorondion told PUNCH Metrothat he had received a petition from Ossai’s lawyer.

He said, “We have received a petition on the issue from Erhuen (lawyer), so also the Ministry of Justice. We intend to follow the matter up to the Attorney General’s office. Things will pick after the new year since the company has closed for the Yuletide.” Toppan is expected to resume production activities on January 8, 2014.