Understanding What’s Going On In the Ibori London Trial

                                                                     NEWS ANALYSIS

By Tony Eluemunor

“What’s going on?” The late African-American soul-brother, Marvin Gaye, asked that question in a 1971

song that became a monster hit on Tamla Motown label and sold over two million copies, becoming

Gaye’s second-most successful Motown song.

Chief James Ibori

While that song was born of incredulity and amazement at government brutality (against American

university students who were protesting against Vietnam War); astonishment at the deep

misinformation on the Ibori London case, launched this article. The trial entered a most critical stage on

Wednesday December 21, 2016, when the former Delta State Governor won the most significant victory

to date, in that long lingering and totally knotty, intricate, and so confusing, court trial.

Instead of journalists rising up to the occasion and meet the responsibilities news organizations owe

their hapless leaders, a large number of them failed woefully in that task as they allowed politics and

other ignoble considerations to trump the need to inform the public, and place issues in their real

perspective.

For instance, what on earth could have made a newspaper as highly regarded as the PUNCH not to

notice the incongruities in its report of that court session on Thursday, December 22, entitled : “Ibori

Freed, FG begins ex-Delta Governor’s extradition process”, to offer its readers a trailer load of

contradictions? On line 10, the highly respected paper wrote: “the ex-Governor pleaded guilty to

stealing $250 million from the Delta State treasury”. But on line 23, it wrote “UK Home Secretary Amber

Rod did not intend to deport Ibori to Nigeria until he handed over £18 million, proceeds of crime he

alleged the ex-Governor held”. So how much was Ibori alleged to have stolen?

If Ibori was said by the papers to have stolen $250m, or that he had even pleaded guilty to stealing that

amount, then why on earth did the Home Secretary talk about “ALLEDGED” £18m? When was the

amount reversed down? By who? Why? And what does the word “alleged” mean?

Yet, if as the papers reported that the British Home Office had wanted to confine Ibori in indefinite

detention until the confiscation hearing had been fully heard, it means confiscation hearing had not

been concluded. And that, too, means that no amount of money has been ordered by any court for Ibori

to forfeit.

Do journalists know that it is a fact of life that one confiscation hearing ended September 2013 (and that

is no misprint) and no single evidence was proffered in court to prove that Ibori stole a Kobo from Delta

State government coffers? Then, after both parties – Prosecution and Defense – had made their final

submissions, and no evidence of stealing emerged, Judge Anthony Pitts, ordered a retrial, instead of

delivering a judgment, to enable Police search for new evidence. That was in 2013 for goodness sake

and since then; the new confiscation hearing has yet to even begin.

Yet, other issues have been thrown up by that PUNCH report, which said that EFCC sources confirmed to

the paper that Nigeria had already commenced repatriation proceedings against Ibori. And I ask, if

Nigeria is anxious of repatriating stolen funds, then why would she want Ibori deported when the

confiscation hearing against him has not even started? Yet, the Justice Minister, a Senior Advocate of

Nigeria, should know what confiscation hearing entails, and that without it, no money would be

repatriated.

Or do some people fear that Ibori will win that appeal and so they want him taken out of Britain, so as to

frustrate his efforts in fighting the appeal and have his conviction quashed? I don’t believe in such

conspiracy theories under Buhari’s presidency. So, I cast my votes thus: Britain was misled into believing

that Ibori had no other sources of income and had trumpeted that information from the roof tops.

What exactly is going on? The answer is that suddenly, the hunters have become the hunted as the

British Police investigators and the Prosecution officials that were arrayed against Ibori have been so

deeply indicted that they have all been dropped from the case. Also, a lawyer, Mr. Stephen Kimlish said

openly on London-based Ben TV interview :“Well, the fact is that most times, people plead guilty for the

wrong reasons. What I can say is that when there is (Police) corruption on this huge scale and in the

background of the case, I’m involved in this case, the British law says that even if you pleaded guilty or

not, your guilty plea can be quashed because the British public can’t discountenance such major

corruption in a common investigation, therefore, whether you plead guilty or you plead not guilty, your

conviction can be quashed. So in this case that is what we are currently aiming for. As for Bhadresh

Gohil, I am going for quashing”!

Did Ibori have other sources of income while he was Governor? Page 14 of the 44-page paper filed by

the London Metropolitan Police, against Ibori in court, item 81, on MER Engineering states: “MER built

houseboats, which were rented out to oil workers in the Delta. It was Ibori who was able to influence

the contracts with Chevron and Shell and the NNPC” Item 83: “It was MER money that paid for the Ibori

property in Hampstead, Westover Hill: Count 5. Item 84, “It was MER money that paid for the house

Ibori bought in Houston Texas. Item 85, “it was MER money that paid for the deposit for the $20 million

Challenger Jet airplane that Mr. Ibori was in the process of buying when his monies were restrained by

the UK courts”.

Weeks before Ibori was sentenced, EFCC arrested and questioned one Dr. Babalakin on the charge that

he helped Ibori launder money, using the account of Babalakin’s company. EFCC said Ibori never tried to

buy a Challenger jet but was only helped to launder money by pretending he was buying a jet. I replied

that the EFCC was lying because it had known for years that Ibori actually invested some money in a

registered  air-charter company for a jet that would be used commercially, but the world has been

deceived that Ibori had bought, or was in the process of buying, a private jet. Now, which private jet was

London MET Police talking about? Or did the EFCC not arrest Babalakin on the allegation that he helped

Ibori launder money in the guise of buying a private jet? And didn’t the same London Met Police state in court that Ibori had invested only $4million on that aircraft – money from MER Engineering?

Adding the $4 million for the jet to the $6 million for the properties, sums that came from MER

Engineering, brings the entire sum to $10 million. If you make allowance for police exaggeration of

property costs, you would have a sum that is below $8 million. It is a huge amount but it is nowhere

near 50 or 250 million Pounds that were bandied about. And the monies came from MER Engineering

accounts. Also, I don’t want to go into the amount of the travel and overnight allowances that Ibori was

paid during his eight-year tenure as Governor. In fact I once reminded a presidential spokesman that he

collected allowances for trips with the late President Yar’Adua and especially for that 2010 South African

World Cup jamboree which he, among a “lean” retinue of 500 officials costing Nigeria N314, 473,438.

22, attended. Was the allowance for that trip part of his annual salary?

Sometimes I am tempted to disbelieve even my own eyes. On item 175 of the same court document:

“By the time he was into his second term of office as Governor of Delta State, James Ibori had defrauded

Delta State of such large sums of money that he was planning to buy himself a private jet aeroplane

costing $20 million.” Is this not the same plane for which Mr. Babalakin was arrested, and EFCC said he

was laundering money for Ibori in the guise of buying a plane? Item 183: “MER had an account at

Barclays bank in Knightsbridge. The Money went from the oil companies straight out of Nigeria and into

MER account in Barclays”. And that too is a crime? Item 29: “Mr. Ibori used money defrauded from the

people of Nigeria to buy a property in Houston in Texas … “only to see in Item 84, “It was MER money

that paid for the house Ibori bought in Houston Texas’. Ibori’s many sins for which he was convicted

included this terribly grave crime: Item 34: “In addition to his millionaire life style, Ibori called himself

“HIS EXCELLENCY”, a title not recognized by the constitution”. Also, Nuhu Ribadu accused the oil majors

of helping Ibori launder money over the same MER Engineering contracts, claiming that MER

Engineering had no contracts at all with those oil companies. And such nonsense even found its way into

the Financial Times of London in September 2007 and the Saharareporters published a story; “How Ibori

Bought A Private Jet”. Really, truth has been terribly eclipsed in the Ibori media-lynching bid. And like

Marvin Gaye, I could scream: “What is going on”?

·         Tony Eluemunor is Chief James Ibori’s Media Assistant.

Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna II, begins reign as 20th monarch of Issele-Uku

·        Calls for re-introduction of history in Nigerian schools

The ancient Oligbo Kingdom in Issele-Uku rose in tremendous ecstasy Thursday, 29/12/2016 when Obi (Engr) Nduka Ezeagwuna II, received his staff of office from the Delta State Government to commence his reign as the 20^th monarch of Issele-Uku.

Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna II, Obi of Issele-Uku and wife, Queen Rosemary.

The handsome, young and chubby faced king, who was bedecked in all-bead royal apparel, was ushered into the event venue at the Oligbo palace by kingmakers and palace guards at exactly 12.30 p.m. where his young pretty wife, Queen Rosemary was already seated in glory with the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, who represented Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.  

Also present to witness the historic occasion were monarchs who came from far and near including the Obi of Onitsha, Achebe II, and representatives of the Oba of Benin, Egwuare II, to former and serving top government functionaries and political bigwigs.

The Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government Area, Hon. Chuks Oseme presented a bowl of kolanuts wedged with the sum of N150,000, even as he pointed out that Obi Ezeagwuana II’s journey to the throne of his ancestors was seamless as it was free from awkward transitions, but created a perfectly smooth continuity.

Obi Ezeagwuna in his speech that was read on his behalf traced the history of the kingship of Oligbo Kingdom of Issele-Uku which dated back to 1230 AD called on his subjects to join hands with him to recreate Issele-Uku at home and in the Diaspora, so as to bring back the glory of the age-old town through the path of modernity.

He called for the  re-introduction of history as a subject of study Nigeria schools for the benefit of the younger generation of Nigerians.

The Governor Okowa in his speech read by his Deputy, Barrister Otuaro congratulated the Obi, urging him to rule his people with the fear of God and courage, adding that he should listen to the wisdom  his people, adopt democratic principles and do those things that will strengthen the cultural values of the people of his kingdom. “Please do not disappoint,” Governor Okowa counseled.

Before the staff of office was presented to the Obi on behalf of Governor Okowa by the deputy governor, the Oba Egwuare II, Oba of Benin sent his emissaries who presented to the Obi scimitars that included the “Ada” and the “Eben”, which are symbols of royal authority and dignity.

The other highlight of the coronation event was the presentation of the staff of office, a ritual that was performed by Barrister Otuaro, deputy governor of delta State on behalf of the governor.  

Lake Rice production excites Buhari, applauds Lagos, Kebbi partnership

 President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Lagos and Kebbi state governments for the successful partnership that gave rise to the local production of LAKE Rice (Lagos-Kebbi Rice).

The president commended the commitment of Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Atiku Bagudu of Lagos and Kebbi States respectively in bringing to fruition the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in March 2016 on substantially meeting the country’s rice requirement.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday, Buhari expressed delight at the relatively cheaper price of LAKE Rice especially at this period of recession.

President Buhari

“It gladdens my heart to get reports of our citizens are rushing to purchase this cheaper local rice to enable them and their families enjoy the Christmas and New Year celebrations,’’ he added.

According to the president, what the two states have done is evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue.

The president recalled that in his 2017 budget presentation before the National Assembly, he said that “a new era is rising in which we must grow what we eat and consume what we make.’’

He said the LAKE Rice achievement is in furtherance of the above goal.

President Buhari urged other state governments to replicate the laudable example of LAKE Rice in other staple crops and dairy products.

The president pledged the Federal Government’s readiness to continue to support such initiatives by providing the enabling environment, policies and incentives for agriculture to thrive in order for the nation to achieve food security.

He expressed optimistic that the country would attain rice sufficiency by 2019. (NAN)

Ibori’s freedom , total, final

·         Not under close watch, not ordered to report to police, says media aide

Claims and insinuations that Chief James Onanefe Ibori, who released from London Prison on Wednesday are false, according to Mr. Tony Eluemunor, media assistant to the former governor of Delta State.  

Chief James Ibori, freedom at last.

Eluemunor said the release of Ibori on the orders of the court is total and without condition, as he was not placed under any Police restriction and does not have to report to the Police at all.

Appararently debunking reports in some quarters, the media aide said the former Delta state governor was not placed under any Police surveillance with intent to monitor his movements.

He called attention that even a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report of Wednesday, entitled “Nigerian ex-Governor James Ibori Released From UK Jail” which stated that: “On Wednesday, the Home Office said the government was concerned that Ibori might ‘frustrate confiscation proceedings and wanted him kept in jail or subject to strict controls on his movement.

A Home Office application that Ibori be electronically tagged and subject to strict

curfew conditions was also rejected after the judge accepted arguments that the

home secretary was attempting to misuse her immigration and deportation

powers”.

Eluemunor said the need to issue such clarification arose from the conflicting

reports in several media organisations over the terms guiding his release. A

mischievous on-line publication misled many Nigerians into believing that Ibori

would wear an ankle tag that would beam his whereabouts to the Police and

also report weekly to the Police. But from the quoted BBC report, no such order

ever came from the court but from some corrupt and corrupting minds.

In fact, the BBC, quoting the Judge, Her Honour, Mrs. Justice Juliet May, Queen’s

Counsel, said: The position of the Secretary of State, as very candidly set out by

Mr Birdling (representing the home secretary), is that she accepts that there is

an argument that she has no power to detain him.

“I have decided that the balance of convenience falls heavily in favour of his

(Ibori’s) immediate release. I am not prepared to impose conditions involving

tagging or curfews.”

According to the statement, Chief Ibori has given every thanks and glory to the

Almighty God, for making his release from jail possible, despite the last-minute

obstacle the British Secretary of State placed on his way. He is grateful to his

team of lawyers who fought gallantly for his release. He sent his heart-felt

gratitude to the dozens of mainstream news organisations, especially in Britain

and Nigeria, that trained attention on the relentless persecution, instead of

prosecution, he was receiving and which also led to the investigation of those

who had earlier investigated and prosecuted him; the result was a far-reaching

corruption indictments within such agencies. That was when the Director of

Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, heeding the call of the journalists,

demanded a review of the evidence following allegations that police took bribes

and prosecutors covered it up.

“The review team found material to support the assertion that a police officer

received payment in return for information,” the CPS admitted in September, the

BBC reported. Beyond all else, Ibori thanks his teeming supporters across the country for

standing behind him all through his travails. Specially, he thanks Niger Deltans for

standing solidly behind him and assured them that the justice and equity they

seek both for themselves and others in a peaceful, united, prosperous and just

Nigeria will one day be achieved.

Eluemunor added that many Nigerians may not appreciate the depth of the legal

victory Ibori achieved on Wednesday. A different verdict would have sent him

into an indefinite detention, because the confiscation hearing the British Home

Secretary wanted to detain Ibori for until it is concluded is a second one. The first

one ended September 2013, with no proof of theft of any money from Delta

state. Just when judgment was to be given, the prosecution asked for a retrial just

because they had no evidence of any theft. Surprisingly, the court granted them

their wish. Or as Vanguard newspaper published on October 8, 2013, “Assets

confiscation: UK court orders retrial of Ibori’s Case: A United Kingdom court

yesterday ordered a retrial of assets confiscation case against former Governor

James Ibori of Delta State to enable the prosecution gather enough evidence. The

London Metropolitan Police which is prosecuting the former governor had

admitted in open court on the last day of the hearing that they lacked enough

evidence to support allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering

against Ibori. The trial judge, Mr Anthony Pitts, therefore granted the Crown

Prosecution’s request and adjourned for a retrial after both the prosecution and

defence have made their final submissions in the hearing which was supposed to

end yesterday. Reacting to Judge Anthony Pitts’ judgment, James Ibori said “after

eight years of criminal investigations, five adjournments and over 50 trips to

Nigeria, the prosecution failed to provide any tangible evidence to support their

claim that I defrauded Delta State. Their case collapsed to such an extent that on

the very last day of a three weeks hearing, they were humbled into making an

application to the judge for permission to start again which the Judge

unceremoniously granted”

Now that Ibori’s associates in the case, especially Mr. Bhadresh Gohil, has

appealed his conviction, and Ibori’s lawyers are considering going on appeal too,

the appeals will have to end before the confiscation hearing may ever begin. Also,nobody knows how long they may last; so Ibori would have remained indefinitely in detention. His freedom from this indefinite detention is the essence of Wednesday’s victory. And if the appeals are sustained, there will be no confiscation hearing at all.

Reconcile with God, Okowa enjoins Christians at yuletide

As Christians all over the world prepare for Christmas, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has urged Christians to use the season to show love and reconcile with God.

Governor Okowa made the call Monday (19/12/16) at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Unity Model Parish, Asaba during the 2nd Delta State Inter-Denominational Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols organized by the Delta Broadcasting Service in conjunction with the Office of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Religious Matters.

Governor Okowa

According to him, "Christmas is a time to seek peace with the Lord and peace for ourselves, it is a time to love each other, It is when we partner together as Deltans and Christians we can make progress in life" noting that "there is a reason for this season and that reason is that we reconcile ourselves with God." he said.

The Governor read the first lesson titled "The Fall of Man" and taken from the Book of Gen. 3:1-7, while the State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro took the third lesson at the occasion which was attended by the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, top government functionaries, traditional rulers, clergmen including Bishop Justus Mogekwu, Bishop of Anglican Communion, Asaba Diocese and other deltans..

The Guest Speaker and Dean of the Anglican Diocese of Ika, Ven. Onyekachukwu Okoh, in a brief sermon with the Theme: "Jesus is the answer" called on Christians to dedicate their lives to God, noting, "Christ has the solution to all the problems plaguing mankind including recession, terrorism, hunger, sickness and diseases.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah said the Festival of Nine lessons and Carols was organized to commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and assured that next year's festival will be an open air service which will take place at the Cenotaph, Asaba.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of DBS, Asaba, Mr. Michael Ifeanyi Osuoza, thanked Governor Okowa for instituting the programme and commended those who contributed towards the success of the carol.

Okowa to Aladja-Ogbe-Ijaw: Your actions are barbaric

·         Says no body has right to close any road

·         President-Generals, youth and women leaders to report  weekly to security agencies

·         To sanction monarchs over unrests

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa this morning, Tuesday, 20/12/2016 expressed total disgust for the gory stories emanating from the Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities where communal disagreements have degenerated into ethnic conflicts resulting in killings and beheadings of members of the opposing communities.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa

At a State Security Council meeting at Unity Hall, Asaba with traditional rulers from the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic extractions in attendance the governor decried the state of insecurity being foisted on both communities by disgruntled elements, pointing out that the situation is not acceptable to his government.

"When we degenerate to this level, only God knows where we are taking our communities to. And beyond this, you see people still talking tough; they are not even ashamed of the kind of situation that is happening in their domain. People are still talking tough concerning such things. I don't think the security agencies will just sit back and continue to just watch.

“ I am aware that when the first one happened, my CP has to leave Asaba at about quarter to nine in the night and he arrived Warri, I heard, at about 11pm, and was there till the early morning of the following day. I don't think that we can continue in that manner. And what we are seeing is that people are beginning to call on the rest of the Urhobos, the Ijaws are beginning to call on the Ijaws, so they are trying to drag the thing from a community affair to become an ethnic affair, and that is very evil, very evil that cannot be tolerated. That is like trying to declare war within Delta State, and this is something that is not tolerable at all,”Governor Okowa said.

Warning that his government will not take kindly to what is happening, he declared: “The security agencies will not close their eyes to such neither will I stand in as governor and pretend as if the situation on ground is something that should be welcomed. So I thought that I needed, first to call all the traditional rulers of Urhobo extraction and all of Ijaw extraction, and I thank you all for coming in large numbers, to let you know that we have been doing a lot concerning this, but it appears to us that our brothers and sisters and young ones within the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities are not ready for peace.

“ It appears to us that they are trying to drag us into an ethnic war which should not be, and which is not going to help anybody by their utterances and by what they are doing or what you see them do. And I want to make a special appeal that we need your cooperation, going forward, and that on our part as a state and security agencies, we are not just going to close our eyes as if we are seeing the danger that is coming ahead of time, and that we need your cooperation in this line so that together we work to achieve peace. Very offensively too, the road between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh has been essentially closed. We have made all kinds of appeal to enable them open that road. We are told that it opened but most times that the security agencies have gone in mufti, unfortunately for those who block the road, to find that the road is usually blocked and people are harassed.

“I have repeatedly said that nobody has the right to close a road. A road may pass any community but once that road is put in place, it becomes the property of the government of the land; it is no longer the property of the community. And that also to some extent has continued to escalate the issues on ground,” Okowa said.

While strongly condemning the barbaric level to which the conflict has degenerated, the Governor said: “. While we are going to allow our traditional rulers to offer us advice on the way forward, at our last security council meeting, we have looked into these issues and exhaustively discussed them, we were shown the pictures of those who were beheaded and who today may have been buried without their heads because we have decided to turn ourselves barbaric. And we have decided we are not going to tolerate what has been going on in the past.”

He continued: “In the first instance, I am directing that presidents-general, youth leaders and women leaders of every community must keep on reporting to the security agencies every week. And the very day we have any crisis in any community they must be locked up and nobody should call me.  

”And for the two traditional rulers, we have a lot of respect for your office, but I wish to caution that that respect will be withdrawn if we have any further crisis. And I will not hesitate to take appropriate actions against the two traditional rulers if we have any further crisis.   

“We cannot continue to act in this manner. I have already put the federal authorities on the alert in this and I will be briefing them formally. I want to plead that you do not try our patient,”Okowa said.

Don’t be proud, Okowa charges political office holders

Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has urged political office holders to be humble in all their dealings with the people while in office.

He spoke at reception held by the Okpara Patriotic Union in honour of the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, [PDP], Barrister Kingsley Esiso at Okpara Inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area.

Governor Okowa, right with Olorogun Esiso

At the occasion attended by top political and public office holders in the state, including House of Representatives’ Minority Leader, Hon Leo Ogor, Chief Ighoyota Amori, members of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners and Local Government Chairmen, Governor Okowa said no political office holder can succeed if he is arrogant,   stressing that "Our Chairman cannot succeed if he is arrogant, he can only succeed when he is humble. As politicians we know the temptations associated with political office. I therefore urge you to always pray for him to always imbibe the spirit of humility in all his dealings as State Chairman of our great party.”

He said politicians should always seek the face of God for wisdom to carry out their assignments, and called on the people to always co-operate with the political class in forging a common front for the overall development of the state and the nation.

Rt. Hon. Leo Ogor of House of Reps, Mrs. Esiso and Barrister Esiso

"We must serve our people with humility, because it is when you are humble that you are respected. It is my prayer that everybody in government should imbibe the spirit of humility and respect our people as they serve,” he added.

While commending the people of Okpara community for honouring the state PDP Chairman on his elevation, Governor Okowa assured that his administration would not relent in its resolve to develop the area with a view to strengthening the confidence of the people in government. 

He disclosed that his administration has awarded two road projects in Abraka and assured the people that rehabilitation of Ejaife Primary School, Okpara,  Ekrerawhen-Oroakpor-Isiokolo road and Okurekpo-Samagidi-Eku road phase 1 would be awarded in the first quarter of 2017.

He thanked the traditional ruler of Agbon Kingdom HRM Ogurimerime, Ukori I, for ensuring peace in the whole of Agbon and challenged traditional rulers in the state to work together to resolve inter ethnic and communal wars in some parts of the State.

Earlier, The State Chairman of the PDP, Olorogun Kingsley Esisio assured the people of Agbon Kingdom of more government projects, while promising to ensure unity and peace in the party with a view to making it more formidable.

In their remarks, the Chairman on the occasion, Chief Peter Obakponovwe and the President General, Okpara Patriotic Union, Chief Love Ojakovo affirmed the support of the people of Agbon Kingdom to the present administration, while commending Governor Okowa for his developmental strides in the area.

PDP rift: Makarfi faction ready to reconcile with Sheriff’s, says Adeyeye

 

By Eromosele Ebhomele

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Ahmed Makarfi has said it is fully ready for reconciliation with the Ali Modu Sheriff faction.

This decision was made known by the party late Thursday, 15 December 2016, through its national publicity secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

The PDP however said it doubted if Sheriff was serious with this claim as he had constantly frustrated the case at the Appeal Court.

The party said it learnt that Senator Sheriff was ready to make peace and end the crisis that had taken over it since it lost election in 2015.

“For the umpteenth time, let us reiterate that we are not averse to any peaceful resolution of the ongoing intra-party conflicts between the party and the Special Interest Group led by the former Borno state governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

 “The PDP leadership made up of all the organs have demonstrated unbridled willingness overtime to settle peacefully all matters relating to the crisis brought about by the Sheriff led group and as such, we are demanding that the aggrieved persons/group should stop forthwith from personalizing the matter to Senator Makarfi and Senator Sheriff.

“For the record, the national caretaker committee was inaugurated at the May 21st national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers state; and therefore, any attempt by any group or person(s) to say or think that Makarfi is the issue is not having full knowledge that the convention as the highest decision-making body of the PDP with the absolute powers to dissolve and elect or appoint/inaugurate national officers,” the PDP said.

The party recalled that Senator Sheriff refused the inauguration of the 30-man committee agreed upon by both parties for the peaceful resolution of the conflict to be held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel about two months ago.

“We believe he is playing to the gallery. If not, why is he calling off and on for impracticable peaceful negotiation that has caused the party's loss of the Edo and Ondo states’ gubernatorial elections and some other previous elections in the country?

“For a man who claims to seek peace and fight against impunity, his actions so far are indeed contradictory.

 “Nigerians are aware of how he has been manipulating the judiciary to delay justice against the party; even as a plaintiff, he prays the court to delay the case which is unprecedented in litigation processes.

“Again today, Senator Sheriff and co stalled the Appeal Court hearing with a third petition to the NJC against the Special Appeal Panel claiming that the panel is biased and corrupt. Can such a man be ready for peace with his party? We doubt it!

“We wish to stress that the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi is ready and willing to settle all issue amicably with the Ali Modu Sheriff group in the interest of peace and total reconciliation in the party.

“But he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Again, we are ready for total reconciliation with Modu Sherrif group or any other group that is aggrieved for that matter; only if they will come to the Negotiating Table with genuine intention,” the party said.

* Source: Naij.com

Supreme Court orders retrial of Governor Tambuwal’s case

By Nnenna Ibeh

 The Supreme Court on Friday, December 9, dismissed an appeal by the Sokoto state Governor Aminu Tambuwal to stop court’s action against his nomination for the 2015 general election.

The court also ordered the retrial of the matter at the Federal high court.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

Tambuwal had approached the apex court over a court action by the All Progressives Congress challenging the authenticity of his nomination as the flag bearer in Sokoto state.

However, in its decision, the apex court held that Tambuwal’s nomination should be challenged by another aspirant from the state Umaru Dahiru.

The five-man panel of judges led by Justice Musa Dattijo held that Dahiru has sufficient justifiable cause.

The court also set aside an Appeal Court’s decision that the court action instituted by Dahiru against Tambuwal had been overtaken by events on the strength of his election as the governor of Sokoto state.

The court said the Appeal Court erred in law by holding that the event had overtaken the case of the appellant simply because the governorship had been conducted after the primary election.

The apex court also agreed with Tambuwal that the primary election that produced him cannot be challenged by another governorship aspirant.

It said allowing such is an act of murder to democracy.

The judge further ordered that the matter be retried by a Federal High Court in Abuja, on its merit, and make decision as demanded by law.

Dahiru had in a petition challenged the process of the primary election that produced Tambuwal as the APC flag bearer in the state.

He said the process was fraudulent because the original list of the delegates for primary election was swapped in favour of Tambuwal.

·         Source: Naij.com

Nigerians are suffering, Saraki tells Buhari

By Ife Olori

The President of Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has addressed President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2017 Appropriation Bill presentation at a Joint Session of the National Assembly, in Abuja, on Wednesday, December 14. That Nigerians are suffering and he should do something about it urgently.

Buhari, right, and Saraki.

Dr. Saraki stressed the need for the administration to bring back faith in Nigerians who put their lives in the hands of those currently in government.

"Mr. President, the feedback we get from our visits to our constituencies is that there is hardship in the land. We can see it. We can feel it. This recession therefore commands all of us as government to greater essence of urgency.

“We cannot work magic, we must continue to work the talk. Our people must see that the singular preoccupation of government is to search for solution for the current economic hardship and the commitment to ease their burden. They don’t want to know what political party you belong or the language you speak or the God you worship.

“They have trusted their fate in our hands and they need us now more than ever before to justify that trust they have imposed on us. The people of Nigeria will pardon us if we do something wrong but they will not forgive us if we do nothing.

“And that is why Mr. President the two chambers have taken their position, whatever may be our differences, our opinion on the issues of the economy, we will work with one common purpose for this reason. I wish to reassure the President that the National Assembly will continue to seek opportunities to deepen this relationship because we are convinced that it is only by working together closely that our country can make the progress that we desire.

“It is in times like this, when we are challenged from all sides, that we need to develop new friendship, new relationships and cultivates more friends. No one can clap with one and expect to be heard. This is the time when compromise, engagement is too necessary for successful collaboration and corporation.

“This is why I am encouraged that Mr. President continues with his engagement plan across all sectors of stakeholders in the country particularly with our brothers in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country where stability is a part in our collective economic and security aspiration.

“Mr President you could remember in 2015, I made a clarion call while receiving your Excellency budget for that the 2016 budget needed to be bold and pragmatic to drive local production and promote made in Nigeria goods.

“Today permit me, your Excellency to reiterate this call, the only way we can cut down on our foreign exchange needs is to create jobs, and stimulate entrepreneurship in this country is to promote local manufacturing investment. And this is why the National Assembly injected the made-in-Nigeria amendment into the Public procurement Act and we are expecting that with your leadership, we will achieve even much more in this area.

“It is the hope of the National Assembly that the 2017 budget will continue to proactively pursue this policy objective. Mr. President, though we are confident that we are receiving from you a very well articulated budget proposal, it is worth pointing out that the best produced budget from the executive arm at all times still remains the proposal according to our constitution, which the National Assembly will work assiduously on.

“On behalf of the National Assembly we commit to work on the 2017 budget conscious of the responsibilities that the current economic situation imposes on us and driven by urgency to alleviate the suffering of our people and also bearing in mind your vision and aspiration for our people.

“We assure you Mr. President and all Nigerians that not even a single minute will waste on our side in ensuring that we get the budget approved. With this few words, I hereby invite your Excellency to deliver your speech and lay the 2017 budget proposal for the consideration of the National Assembly in accordance of section 81 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

According to the President of the Senate, the NASS has listed 11 Economic Reform Bills that would be passed by the federal legislature along the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

"We believe that the core elements of these Bills require that private capital be introduced into our economy and that in the thinking of the 8th National Assembly, our economy can no longer rely on the public sector alone to get us out of recession.

It is therefore critical that we mainstream private business and investment economy. To achieve this we must make it much easier and efficient for people to invest and do business in our country," Dr Saraki concluded.

* Source: Naij.com

APC must address its mistakes, says Dogara

By Jerrywright Ukwu

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has admitted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has made some mistakes that must be addressed, Daily Trust reports.

Dogara made the comment yesterday, December 14 after at the APC secretariat in Abuja after a meeting with the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Reps.

His words: “We are all united as a family in the APC. We looked at the challenges facing the party and we were able to fashion out ways by which we can address those challenges.

“If you don’t expect mistakes, you will be dealing with a situation. You will have a situation where ghosts will be taking charge. As long as it is human institution, where human beings are involved, no human being is perfect.

“In a situation where you don’t have perfection, certainly, there will be mistakes. There are plenty mistakes and we will not run away from them. If we think that we should have a party that will not have challenges or problems or crisis, you are just deceiving yourself.

“You can’t put the party in an autopilot as it were and expect that it will run on its own. We looked at all those areas and some of the family issues which you cannot bring to public glare. But as sons of the party, we have been able to look at those areas and I can assure you that we have trashed them.”

On his part, Oyegun, said the meeting was necessary to assess the party’s performance at all levels and arms of government.

“We are going to two years in government. It is high time that we sat down, asked ourselves questions, ponder whether we are moving in the right direction, discuss serious issues and where necessary, make corrections that are considered expedient,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that its factional chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, is an agent of the APC.

"We maintain that Sheriff and his co-travelers are agents of the APC.

We insist that they are paid agents of the ruling party to destabilize our great party, the PDP; as it is evident that they are all profiting from the unwarranted conflict,” the PDP said in a statement.

* Source: Naij.com

Buhari's APC in serious heat, realignments ahead of 2019

By Eromosele Ebhomele

There is serious confusion in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), multiple sources within the party have told NAIJ.com.

This follows the near-concluded decision of some party big-wigs to dump it and fuse into a mega-party ahead of the 2019 general elections. But this idea is said to have been jettisoned for another strategy that could make President Muhammadu Buhari lose his bid for a second term.

Buhari, flanked by Oyegun, right, and Tinubu.

The sources attributed this move by aggrieved party members to various reasons ranging from political considerations to the argument that the present administration has not made the party proud.

The Buhari administration came into existence in May, 2015 with high expectations from Nigerians and those within the party.

The belief was that he already had a road-map concerning the solutions to the country's challenges and that being a former head of state and three-time contender for the exulted seat, he must have been privy to what the country was facing at that time.

"But we were mistaking and unconsciously so too. His integrity and good name and the fact that he is from the northern part of the country that had felt short-changed were what many of us sold to Nigerians," one of the sources told NAIJ.com explaining that since taking office, the president had engaged in lamentations rather search for solutions to the country's problems.

"Another issue is the in-fighting that the president has allowed fester," the source said.

INTERNAL CRISES

The president is the leader of the party. However, his silence has not helped the unity of the party which some have now described as a marriage of convenience.

President Buhari (right) and Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The various crises started just after the party won the 2015 election and there were issues with how to fill the various positions.

"First was the battle for the leadership of the National Assembly, and many of us in the party knew that Bola Tinubu was simply fighting Dr Bukola Saraki for refusing to respect Buhari's choice for the Senate presidency.

"Yet, throughout the period, the president kept silent. When he would speak, he simply said he had no problem with anyone who emerged. But the government continued to fight Saraki with different suits without much evidences to actually nail him.

"Remember the Senate is made up of former governors. So it was easy for the legislators to fight back in an attempt to frustrate the executive," one of the sources, a member of the House of Representatives from Lagos, said revealing that a lot of people in the party are not happy with the current situation of the country.

Another major crisis that could boomerang if not properly handled is that between Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state and Senator Shehu Sani. The political quarrel reached a crescendo at the weekend when gunmen attacked the office of the senator just days after he suspended indefinitely.

Of course, Sani accused the governor of sending the gunmen after him and asked Nigerians to know who to hold responsible for anything that happens to him. The crisis in the state has now factionalised the party with some loyal to the senator.

There is also the case between Timi Frank and the party. Frank, a deputy spokesperson, is not happy, and has openly protested against alleged plans by the party to render him useless. He has now been suspended.

TINUBU VERSUS THE CABAL

Though the party continues to make attempts at shading this, sources within the party attest to a rift between the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and some men in the Buhari government. Some of these people, according to a party chieftain loyal to the Tinubu camp, are those supposedly brought to the limelight by the former governor of Lagos state.

Buhari is said to be surrounded by those who have helped to create a barrier between him and leaders within the party.

According to this source who is a chieftain of the party in Lagos, it remains painful that these set of political appointees may have been giving the president the impression that these people could match the national leader, especially where it has to do with future elections.

"We are not complaining, but we think if not well managed, the president's ambition for second term, if he has any, may suffer. You need to be conversant with what happened pre-election in 2015 to understand what I mean. There are very hidden underground roles played by some key figures, not just Tinubu, for the emergence of the present administration," the source said.

To ensure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ended its 16-year reign in 2015, the APC adopted various strategies including reportedly contracting a foreign public relations consultancy firm. The result was that Nigerians no longer saw anything good about the PDP prior to the election.

SARAKI THE HOT CAKE

The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has become the most sought-after bride as it is now. Saraki is believed by some within the party as having his eyes fixed on the presidency.

He became the chairman of the National Assembly through a tough battle against the forces within the party that never wanted him. The presidency had favoured another candidate for the position, but Saraki was able to take over the process.

It is widely known that his emergence did not go down well with the presidency. The result was the series of trials and cold shoulder that Saraki 'enjoyed' from the presidency.

However, just recently, the Senate president has become a hot cake. About four times has he visited Aso Rock holding closed-door meetings with the president and leaving Nigerians to speculate.

NAIJ.com learnt that the visit may not be unconnected with the fact that there moves to attract Saraki to a faction of the APC that habours the aggrieved members. Since Saraki remains relevant to the success of the Buhari administration, anything would be done to make him remain with the camp of the president. But will he stay knowing that there lies those who have Buhari's ears?

STRATEGIES ALREADY PLANNED

A source and close ally of Tinubu confirmed that the formation of a mega party to wrestle the APC was actually put on the table, but that the national leader rejected it when it was brought to him.

Tinubu recently denied forming a new party. He argued that he fought for the emergence of the APC and would not therefore want to leave the party.

It was learnt that the idea of the new party did not emerge from the camp of the former governor but from a northern politicians whose eyes may still be fixed on the presidency as well as some members of the now opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“It was something he decided to ruminate about for many days. But he just decided that it he was not going to be part of the plot. Tinubu will never take any rash decision, but I can tell you that it is going to be tough in the APC to such a level that for the party to remain in 2019, there must be some cleansing and recourse to revert to Jagaban (Tinubu).

Tinubu is having a running battle with the national chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun over the outcome of the primary election in Ondo

“Remember that those currently surrounding the president are just there for what they can put in their pockets. Nigeria’s politics has to do with both ideas and money and I can tell you that Buhari got these two majorly from the south-west and the south-south. Now that he is there, he has suddenly brought up those who can derail his government.

“How do you account for the fact that nothing much has been achieved nearly two years into the administration? Do you think it is by error? There are people who have the ideas but who are being sidelined and this will not do the party any good,” the source said.

Some leaders in the party, it was learnt, may have been sourcing for a possible replacement for the president as fears grow about his ability to carry on for eight years. To this end, some governors in the northern part of the country are being closely watched.

There had been speculations that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state as well as Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto may have presidential ambition, but there had been denials too. The idea of keeping it in the north is to maintain the unwritten zoning principle among politicians in the country.

It is not known how the party’s crisis would eventually be resolved, but it was learnt that there are intense moves already. A meeting was scheduled to hold between Saraki and the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, but it was rescheduled. The outcome of that meeting is believed to be crucial to the eventual peace within the party.

·         Source: Naij.com