Why we reject Edo guber polls’ results, by PDP

·        Says INEC released fake results

·        “What happened is travesty of our democracy”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why it is rejecting the outcome of Wednesday’s election in Edo State. It stated that results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are fake and that the figures contradict the one announced at various units and as collated at various wards across the state.

The PDP in a statement said that it rejected the election results because ‘the details of the results released by INEC are all fake’. 

The statement reads:

“The PDP in Edo State, after carefully reviewing the events of yesterday September 28th, 2016, totally rejects the purported outcome of the voting exercise and the results announced by INEC. Firstly, we are in total amazement at the details of the results released by INEC because all of them are fake and not the figures announced at various units and as collated at various wards across the state.

“The fake results announced by INEC are entirely a fabrication which does not reflect the true picture of what transpired during the election. However, we are not totally surprised because long before now, we had anticipated this and had also warned INEC, security agencies and alerted Edo people at various press conferences and statements, on this situation. ‎ Secondly, based on the results emanating from across the state, PDP won the election fair and square, and with a very comfortable margin. So it is with disgust that we have been receiving fake results which were never recorded in either the units or the ward collation centers.

“Our rejection of the results released by INEC so far is based on, but not limited to, the following: We know that a fair turnout of voters was recorded statewide because the weather was very clement and voters were enthusiastic. However, unknown to unsuspecting Edo electorate, INEC had long provided the serial numbers of all result sheets to Adams Oshiomole and his APC government, to print fresh result sheets.

“This is not a mere allegation. From the benefit of hindsight, the 18 day period of postponement of the election was to provide enough time for the Governor and his government to print these result sheets and perfect the writing of fake results at the units and at all levels of collation. This scenario is further buttressed by the fact that on Monday, September 26th, 2016, when election materials arrived from the CBN at INEC state office for inspection, agents of the political parties including the APC and PDP were given pre-typed copies of the serial numbers of all result sheets and the ballot papers. This was a clear security breach and an infringement on the credibility of the process, as these are sensitive materials, which should not have been sighted even by INEC officers.

“Everything that has transpired had been carefully designed by the Adams Oshiomole-led Edo State government and their cohorts in INEC. They perfected a scheme to void thousands of ballot papers, to enable them perpetrate their devices. It is widely recorded that over 88% of the voided ballots were PDP votes.

“Postings of Commissioners of Police and removal of officers from their units, even during the voting exercise, was a clear plot to destabilize the security apparatus in various LGAs and Senatorial districts. The same goes for the DSS personnel across the state. Choice of collation from places they chose as well as the choice of the state returning officer, in the person of a close friend and associate of former Governors Fayemi and Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State, who are top APC chieftains.

“They also prevented our agents in many cases from entering collation centers. There are numerous accounts and records of Police harassment all over the state, designed to strike fear in the hearts of PDP members, using men of the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), SARS, MOPOL 60 Command, DSS and other security agencies.

“Of particular concern is the atrocious gangsterism demonstrated in Etsako West, the home of the incumbent APC Governor and the deputy governor nominee, where many of our members and agents were assaulted, almost mortally, and some still being detained as we speak.

“Those still detained include Michael Etu, Gabriel Etu and Mohammed Sani. Also, a Honda Accord vehicle, with registration number FST 868 BC, belonging to one of our stalwarts was destroyed, and is still lying at the voting centre. There is also the widely reported and recorded case of collation centre disruption in Oredo Local Government, by the notorious Osakpamwan Eriyo, who invaded the venue and released shots in the air, chasing away supporters and people, before making away with the results. This happened in the full glare of the Police, DSS, INEC and other security personnel.

“Interestingly, neither INEC nor the Police showed any concern or any resistance, even as we speak. It is on record that the level of open financial inducements was unprecedented and indigent voters were being offered between N2,000 and N5,000 to cast their votes, and also forced to display their ballot prints. Numerous videos were posted on social media showing APC members handing out monies to voters, in the full glare of INEC and security officers. Deliberate connivance with INEC staff to steal materials and results in various wards. We particularly take note of materials stolen at Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha, Nikorogha, Ovia South West, Urhonigbe in Orhionmwon, Udaba in Etsako Central, Opoji in Esan Central and many others.

“To put it mildly, Edo 2016 has turned out to be a travesty of our democracy, and it is calamitous that in spite of all the atrocities committed by APC, nothing happened to thugs like Osakpamwan Eriyo who went to George Idah Primary school in Oredo Local government area, to snatch results in the full glare of the Police, SSS and INEC officials.

“Shooting, chasing and scaring away voters, and even international observers, is nothing short of a bastardisation of our hard earned democracy. A few days ago, we mentioned in a press statement, that Adams Oshiomole boasted openly, how he had prepared results already for the election, which will be announced, and PDP can go to court. It has been executed today, but the will of Edo people will never be subverted by Adams Oshiomole and his cohorts. We will do everything within the law to claim our mandate. In the words of Plato, the penalty we pay for refusing to participate in politics, and to exercise our right, is that we end up being governed and oppressed by evil men.

“This impunity must end in Edo State!” 

Oyegun urges PDP to accept the outcome of Edo election

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept the verdict of the Edo people in good faith, 

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Chairman.

The Nation reports. His statement comes after he again lost his unit to the PDP in the Edo election.

Oyegun, who voted at Oredo ward 2, unit 1, has not won an election for his party in the unit since joining the APC. The returning officer of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that the APC scored 69 votes, while the PDP scored 78 votes in Oyegun’s unit.

But in a statement last night in Abuja, Oyegun congratulated the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Phillip Shuaibu on their election victory.

Oyegun said: “The people of Edo state voted to ensure continuity and consolidation of the massive multi-faceted developments recorded under the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.” In the last few days, Oyegun has been hit by top politicians including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the APC, as well as former vice president of the country. Atiku backed Tinubu in his accusations against Oyegun. According to Atiku, Tinubu was right to demand that Oyegun follow party rules. Tinubu had asked Oyegun to resign for derailing the party’s agenda in the Ondo APC primary election.

PDP rejects results of Edo election

 By Michael Abimboye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the result of the Edo state governorship election announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking at a press conference, the PDP state chairman, Dan Obih, said the results it’s agents collected from all the wards as at last night is totally different from what is being announced by the INEC.

He said: ‎”contrary to claim that we brought 8000 militants, it’s clear that nothing like that happened. ‎The delay in the announcement of the result by INEC has shown that the result was predetermined and written.

“What is being announced is contrary to the turnout of voters, even the national chairman of the APC acknowledged this fact. But I tell you, when the official result is announced, it will be clear that result does not match the turnout.

The PDP candidate, Ize-Iyamu said the election was marred with irregularities stressing that some security agencies collaborated with INEC officials to disenfranchise voters in some parts of the state. Speaking categorically, he said APC could not have won Oredo LGA despite evidence of violence at George Idah Primary collation centre‎ by APC thugs. When asked what his next line action is, ‎Ize-Iyamu said his team will examine all the result and publish in the newspaper what should have been the result.

The PDP supporter staged a protest outside the INEC’s collation centre in the state in the morning of Thursday, September 29.

In another development, the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Osaro Onaiwu, has called for the cancellation of the Edo state gubernatorial election. Onaiwu who admitted that “the turnout was impressive because Edo people wanted change,” said the exercise was fraught with financial inducement and violence. 

Source: Naij.com

Godwin Obaseki wins Edo election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has  declared Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Wednesday governorship elections in Edo State. Nineteen candidates vied for the ticket to the Government House, however, the main contest was between Godwin Obaseki of the APC and Andrew Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party of the PDP. There was a heightened sense of suspense in Benin, even as the final analysis of collations for the Edo election was ongoing.

 After collation from 17 local governments, a final report from Ovia South West showed that the APC had 12,820 votes while the PDP had 8810, bringing the sum total of votes to 319,483 and  253,173 respectively.

According to statistics, the All Progressives Congress comes up top with a difference of 66,310 votes, however, some analysts raised fears that the election might take a new dimension if the number of votes rejected across the LGAs becomes a thing to take into consideration.

In a final announcement by Professor Kayode Soremekun the returning officer, the APC had 319,483 while the PDP had 253,173. Professor Soremekun further informed that the total valid votes was 582,299, with total votes cast at 613,244 and rejected votes at 30,945. 

APC, Godwin Obaseki's victory dance

APC's victorious candidate, Godwin Obaseki, (middle) in victory dance with Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Obaseki, with mic, addressing the press after he was declared winner of Wednesday's election by INEC.

Victorious APC governorship candidate, Obaseki enjoying a triumphant ride on the street of Benin.

APC supporters savouring the pleasure of victory in a street ride.

APC supporters

APC/Obaseki supporters

CCB summons ministers, top officials of Buhari's govt

By Eromosele Ebhomele

 The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has summoned some 20 ministers and other top officials of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration following alleged issues they have with bureau.

 The bureau also summoned Solomin Arase, a former inspector-general of police.

The CCB, it was learnt, further threatened to deal with those who refused honour its invitation, saying, they would be dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for prosecution. The threat was revealed in a statement by the CCB chairman, Sam Saba, according to The Nation.

The report listed those summoned as Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Kayode Fayemi (Mine and Solid Minerals), Adebayo Shittu (Communication); Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing); Ibe Ikachukwu (Petroleum); Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology); Abubakar Bawa Bwari (minister of state Solid Minerals) and Rotimi Amaechi (Transport).

Others are: Aisha Alhassan (Women Affairs and Social Development); Solomon Dalung (Youths & Sports Development); Udo Udoma (Budget and National Planning); Gen Dan Ali Mansur (Defence); Ibrahim Usman Jibril (minister of State, Environment); Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources and Rural Development), Lai Muhammed (Information); Prof Claudius O, Daramola (Minister of State Niger Delta Affairs); Prof Isaac F Adewole (Health); Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade Investment and Industry); Geoffrey Onyema (Foreign Affairs) and Mustapha Baba Shehuri (minister of State Power). The CCB also invited Mike Okiro (chairman of the police service commission), Godwin Emefiele (CBN Governor), Mrs Hadiza Usman (MD. Nigeria Ports Authority), and Ahmed Kuru (MD/CEO AMCON).

 “Pursuant to paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 constitution (as amended), every public officer is required to submit to the CCB a written declaration of all his properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years. “Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorized in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this Code.

·         Source: Naij.com

NLC, key partner to DTSG, says Ukah

By Sam Ijeh

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has identified the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as a key partner of the state government, saying that the strategies adopted by the union have made governance and industrial relations easier.

Speaking on Thursday, September 29, 2016, during a condolence visit to the state NLC Secretariat over the death of its Chairman, Comrade David Ofoeyeno, the Commissioner averred that the NLC has exuded much understanding for government actions even at a time some unions could not.

Ukah noted that the good relationship being enjoyed by the state government and labour unions explains the confidence which the leadership of the various unions have in the current administration, promising that the state government will continue to sustain such wholesome rapport.

His words: “If I claim not to be aware of how key and supportive the NLC is to the government of Delta State, then I will not be doing justice to the union. You have been wonderful to us and you have been a very key partner to the government of Delta State. “I remember when we met with one of the unions and the governor (Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa) wondered how they could not have a pure understanding of the situation we are facing in the state, even when the NLC understands it and is very fair in thought on the happenings in the state. It shows how confident you are on those at the helms of affairs of this state. “The strategy you have applied in working with the state is so encouraging that it makes life easier for us. You can imagine what it would have looked like if we were not in harmony”.

The state Image maker described the late Ofoeyeno as a good man who carried out his responsibilities with passion. He observed that the late chairman was instrumental to the harmonious relationship between the union and state government, believing that the good legacies of Ofoeyeno will linger forever. While praying that God grants the NLC the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Ukah expressed confidence in members of the NLC state executive to consolidate on the feat of their demised leader. He assured that the state government will give its total support to the union during the funeral of Ofoeyeno.

Responding, the acting Chairman of the union, Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, commended the Commissioner for the visit and assured that the union would continue to partner with the state government through effective dialogue and conflict resolution strategies that will take the state to greater heights. Jemirieyigbe noted that the NLC will not derail from the good caveats of Ofoeyeno who, he said, lived a life that is worthy of emulation."

NLC President, Wabba condoles Okowa, Deltans over Ofoeyeno's death

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has said Delta State lost a great unionist and philanthropist in the person of late Comrade David Ofoeyeno.

The governor made the statement Thursday (29/09/16) when the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) led by its National President, Comrade Waheed Wabba paid him a condolence visit on the demise of the Chairman of the state chapter of NLC, Comrade David Ofoeyeno.  The courtesy call took place in Asaba and was attended by leadership of NLC at the federal and the state level with the relations of the deceased labour leader in attendance.

Governor okowa (left) presenting a letter of condolence to NLC national President
Waheed Wabba

“It is very unfortunate that we lost the NLC Chairman, Comrade Ofoeyeno, he lived a life of service to the union and the state,” the governor said, adding, “he was a good man who believed in Delta State, the union and that the best way to solve challenges was by dialogue.”

He continued: “His school of autism was laudable, it is great that someone who was a union leader could run such a school because, it is very expensive to run a centre for autism.”

Governor Okowa in handshake with Comrade Ibrahim Khaheel, NULGE
National President. 

While stating that his demise was very painful, Governor Okowa urged his successors to ensure that they carry on with his legacies and thanked the President of NLC for identifying with the state, NLC and family of the deceased.

Earlier, Comrade Wabba had told the governor and top government functionaries who attended the occasion that they were in the state to commiserate with the government and people of Delta State, especially, the NLC in the state on the passage of Comrade Ofoeyeno whom he described as “a dependable labour leader.”

“Comrade Ofoeyeno lived an exemplary life and his death has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill,” the NLC President said, adding, “he had informed us about how you (Governor Okowa) operate an open-door policy and labour-friendly government.”

Okowa receives NDDC Senate Committee, calls for proper funding of Commission

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has described funding of budget and the use of incompetent contractors in the execution of projects as key factors militating against speedy development of the Niger Delta region.

The governor made the observation Thursday (29/09/16) in Asaba when he played host to the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta led by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

Governor Okowa exchanging pleasantries with members of senate committee
 on NDDC.

Governor Okowa who decried the poor state of infrastructure in the Niger Delta and the attendant unrest in the region, called for the proper funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“The terrain of the Niger Delta is very bad and it is very expensive to execute projects, especially, roads in the region,” he asserted. 

He also suggested that to tackle the problems bedeviling the region, budget should be prepared in line with the quantum of oil produced by communities, decrying situation where some communities which contribute a lot to the national purse have little or nothing to show for such.

“This oversight function of the Senate Committee will stimulate activities that will encourage a win-win situation for everybody,” the governor said while commendng the Senate Committee for carrying out its oversight functions of visiting project sites of the NDDC.

Member representing Patani constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly  
Hon. Tonye Timi (right) with Mr. Patrick Ukah, commissioner for Information
at the courtesy visit of the NDDC senate committe.

He described the amnesty programme for ex-militants as a laudable programme but, observed that there was still a lot to be done for it to make the desired impact on the people.

The governor disclosed that it was wrong for beneficiaries of the amnesty programmes to be left idle without being properly engaged after their training.

Earlier, Senator Nwaoboshi had told the governor that the committee was in Delta State to carry out its oversight function on the NDDC and the amnesty committee, stating that such visit would enable the committee to “give a holistic report to the Senate.”

Senator Nwaoboshi disclosed that since the inception of the NDDC, a total of 1, 674 projects have been awarded in Delta State which represents 20 per cent of the total number of projects awarded by the interventionist agency but, decried the fact that more than 50 per cent of the projects have been abandoned.

On the amnesty programme, Senator Nwaoboshi said, “we are going to have a public hearing on the amnesty programme and we want the state government to send position papers on the way forward and attend the event.”

Ochei condoles with former aide over father's Death

By Patrick Ochei

The former Speaker Emeritus of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Victor Onyekachi Ochei has condoled with Hon. Matthew Chinye over the death of his father, Diokpa Isaiah Okafor Chinye.

Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei in Mr. Matthew Chinye's residence
for the condolence Photo: Anioma Trust.

The residence of Hon. Matthew Chinye at Ogbeofu quarters in Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North LGA was agog as the former political aide to Chief Ochei and Chairman of Otu Umunwanne played host to their visiting leader.

Chief Ochei who prayed to God to give the bereaved the fortitude to bear their irreversible loss, eulogised the honest and hardworking life the departed Diokpa had lived. He asked God to grant the deceased eternal rest, adding that death is a necessary end to every living being.

The Olikeze was however flanked by his teeming supporters who thronged the length and breadth of the vicinity just to be with their leader who has been away for some time fine tuning a political future for himself and his loyalists.

It was a nice outing according to eye witnesses, and reassuring that the political masquerade has not left his fans and supporters. Of course, the ease of mind on the part of his supporters would last longer in their subconsciousness, just as the juggernaut commended them for their show of love and keeping of faith.

Ochei, 2nd right with Chinye and others.

Expectation is high that the burial of Pa Isaiah Okafor Chinye promises to be another political carnival in Aniocha North, come December this year. Already, the APC political family and supporters are gearing up for this reunion.

Those who were in Rt. Hon. Ochei's entourage for the condolence visit included: Ogbuefi Nnamdi Mohanye, Hon. Sunday Young Chukwuedo, Mr. Nkem Osu, Hon. Mrs. Egbe and a host of other high caliber supporters of Ochei.

‘100 public institutions breach freedom of information law’

By Joke Falaju, Abuja  
The Guardian 

The Federal Ministries of Water Resources, Justice and Information as well as 97 others have been indicted for non-compliance with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (FOI) in issues of procurement and capital expenditure.

The Public and Private Development Center (PPDC) which gave the verdict in its 2016 compliance survey on 131 public institutions ranked the Bureau of Public Service Reform, (BPSR), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), National Pension Commission (PENCOM) Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) first, second, third and fourth.

However, the Water Resources, Information Justice ministries stood at 97th, 44th and 31st positions.

Speaking at the presentation of the document in Abuja yesterday, PPDC’s Executive Director, Seember Nyager, said the survey was to promote accountability, adding that of all the institutions investigated, only BPSR was proactive in the disclosure on procurement plans, processes and capital expenditure.

She noted the study was carried out following FOI requests from procurement monitors to federal institutions.

“The compliance benchmark relied upon to rank these public institutions emanates from the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 and includes levels of proactive disclosure, timelines for disclosing information on request, levels of disclosure on request and the cost of disclosure,” Nyager stated.

She added that in 2014, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) ranked first, stating that the BPSR which was ranked eighth last year, however, made it to the top this year due to its ability to respond promptly to Nigerians.

Its Director-General, Dr. Joe Abba, said: “We were ranked eighth last year and to have improved to the extent that we came first this year is quite gratifying and the credit must go the public servants in the procurement department, our communication team as well as our partners from the Right to know Initiative.

“Citizens actually know very little about what the government does and how he does it and that breeds suspicions. And so, when you proactively disclose information, it lessens suspicions. So, even as government, it helps us engage better with citizens.

“I think what we did was to fully engage with the FOI Act so by disclosing proactively everything we were supposed to disclose with regards to procurement as soon as we filed our returns with the Bureau of Public Procurement, it was immediately on our website.”

EFCC operative held over alleged ‘N15m bribe’ from lawmaker

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested Uzodinma Agbazue, a deputy detective superintendent of the agency, for allegedly collecting a N15 million bribe.

Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the commission, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

Uwujaren said Agbazue was arrested following a complaint by a lawmaker currently under investigation.

The commission said the complainant claimed Agbazue allegedly approached him, alleging that he had been mandated by the officer handling the case to discuss and reach an agreement on how to “kill the case”.

“Following the approach, a sum of N15 million was given to Agbazue whose game plan collapsed after the Investigating officer, who was ignorant of his scheme, refused to do his bidding,” Uwujaren said.

“With the investigation gathering increased momentum after parting with the hefty sum, the complainant became uncomfortable and demanded a refund.

“The complainant stated that, when he requested for the refund of his money, Agbazue only returned N5 million claiming that the balance of N10 million had been given to someone ‘to kill the case from the top’.”

The lawmaker also alleged that the operative collected N1 million at a different time as assistance for settlement of his wife’s medical bill.

“Agbazue’s action is in contravention of the commission’s mandate and ideals as the EFCC will not solicit or accept gratification from a suspect to compromise a case under investigation,” EFCC said.

“The suspect will be subjected to administrative action as precursor to possible prosecution at the end of the investigation.”

Source: thecableng

Lady is SUG president in northern Nigeria, the ‘first time in 30 years’

By Kolapo Olapoju

Amina Yahaya has achieved the feat of becoming the first female student union leader in northern Nigeria — for the first time in more than three decades.

Aside breaking the norm of male leadership, Yahaya, a 400 level student of English, is also the first woman to lead the students of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto state.

Najatu Mohammed, prominent activist and politician, became the first SUG president of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, more than 30 years ago.

She is believed to have contested the post and won in the early 80s, which earned her the record of the first female to lead a student union in Africa.

Speaking to the BBC Hausa service, Yahaya said she didn’t always get the support of her female colleagues.

“When it comes to leadership issues we [women] are own enemies”, the new student union leader said.

“We don’t support one another mostly because some of us assume that ‘women are arrogant’ so I won’t support her. When I came to this university, there was only one female professor in my department. She’s been my role model.”

Yahaya, who was elected vice president of the school’s union in September 2015, took over the office on Wednesday after the impeachment of the elected SUG president.

On Wednesday, Umar Faruk Sai’d, the former student union leader, was impeached after getting a ‘no confidence’ vote from the legislative arm of the student assembly.

Sai’d was accused of abusing the provision of the union’s constitution by withdrawing N200, 000 from the coffers without approval, among other alleged misdemeanours.

In the interview with BBC, Yahaya further disclosed her aspiration to go into national politics in the future and possibly break more glass ceilings.

In May, Lauretta Obakpolo, another female 400-level Pharmacy student, was elected president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Obakpolo beat five other candidates to win the election with 2,283 votes.

UPDATE

Beatrice Hamza Bassey led the student union of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in 1994.

TheCable reached out to Hamza, a New York-based lawyer, who disclosed that during her time, “the chairperson of SUG was synonymous with the president of SUG”.

The fact that both titles were interchangeably used over two decades ago, makes her the second female SUG leader in the north, after Najatu Mohammed.

“I am very pleased to see more women assuming that role. I hope we continue to see more progress in that direction”, Hamza told TheCable.

Source: thecableng

Ex-CJ’s son feared killed in airstrike that dispatched, Abu Waheed, ISIS senior leader

By Malik Abdulganiy

Ibrahim Uwais, son of former chief justice of Nigeria, has been reported killed in an air strike by US-led coalition forces on a senior ISIS leader in Iraq on May 6.

TheCable understands that Halima, Ibrahim’s wife who travelled with him to Iraq in February 2015, has called to inform her father-in-law, Mohammed, who was Nigeria’s chief justice from 1995 to 2006.

Ibrahim was believed to be in the convoy of Abu Waheeb (pictured), a senior ISIS leader dubbed “the emir of Anbar”, at the time of the US airstrike in a town near Rutba in the Anbar desert.

TheCable could not confirm if he was in Waheeb’s convoy or if he happened to be in the vicinity of the US strike.

All in the convoy were killed in the strike, but only the identity of Waheeb had been made public by Pentagon.

Waheeb had been reported killed on several occasions, but Pentagon confirmed that the former member of Al-Qaeda in Iraq who used to appear in ISIS execution videos is now dead.

Ibrahim, 42, left Nigeria early 2015 to join ISIS in a surprise move, because he was said to have openly condemned Boko Haram for the “damage” they were doing to Islam.

He had two wives and four children at the time he left the country.

While his elder wife was the head of a private school in Abuja, the younger worked with the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Before embarking on the trip to Iraq via Turkey, he reportedly told his wives that they were free to return to their parents.

“But both of them said they would go with him,” a source told TheCable when the news broke last year, adding that they took all their children with them.

When the retired justice was alerted on the disappearance of his son and his family, he became apprehensive and started to make investigations, eventually reporting to the security agencies.

The Turkish embassy in Abuja was compelled to disclose the details of Ibrahim’s movement through a court injunction, and it confirmed issuing visas to Ibrahim and members of his family, sources told TheCable.

The details of his arrival in Turkey were made available, while images of CCTV recordings were also said to have been analysed by the Turkish security agencies to establish their movement.

Ibrahim “hated” Boko Haram

Ibrahim, who dropped out of the university and went into full-time business in his early 20s, is the unlikeliest man to volunteer for the Islamic State, according to family friends who spoke with TheCable.

“He hated everything Boko Haram stood for, and often queried why they would be killing innocent women and children in the name of Islam,” a source said.

“With the benefit of hindsight, he was probably trying to cover up his plans. There was no way you would have suspected that he was ever going to be a fundamentalist himself.”

He was a student of King’s College, Lagos, and went on to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, “where he was radicalised”, according to a former student of Queen’s College, Lagos, who told TheCable that Ibrahim “was very popular with QC girls in those days”.

A family source confirmed that Ibrahim left Nigeria with his family early February 2015 “without a word”.

“The fact that he didn’t say goodbye to both parents, and the deafening silence from his end since then, seems to lend credence to this story line (that he has joined ISIS),” he said.

The man Shaker Wahib al-Fahdawi al-Dulaimi

Shaker Wahib al-Fahdawi al-Dulaimi, known as Abu Waheeb, was known for the 2013 execution of three Syrian Alawite truck drivers in Iraq.

Waheeb, born in 1986, studied computer science at the University of Anbar, where he was arrested in 2006 by US forces on suspicion of being a member of al-Qaeda.

He was charged and sentenced to death but escaped from the Tikrit Central Prison in Saladin Province along with over 100 detainees following an attack on the prison in 2012 by ISIS.

He would become a field commander in the Anbar province.

Pentangon spokesman Peter Cook said Wahib was “a former member of Al-Qaeda in Iraq who has appeared in ISIL execution videos.

“We view him as a significant leader in ISIL leadership overall, not just in Anbar Province. Removing him from the battlefield will be a significant step forward.”

He was one of ISIS most feared executioners and propagandists.

Source: thecableng

Okowa flags off 2016 empowerment scheme

·        Says entrepreneurship, way out of unemployment

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa Wednesday (28/09/16) inaugurated the 2016 cycle of his administration's job creation scheme saying entrepreneurship is the way out of the unemployment challenges facing the country.

Governor Okowa, right, with HRMs, Mujakpero and Efeizomor ii at the
Amukpe event

According to the governor, getting jobs in government organizations are becoming very difficult based on the high number of graduates chasing the few opportunities available, observing that the way out was for people to acquire skills so as to be empowered to be self-sufficient and become employers of labour.
The governor who spoke at the inauguration ceremony which took place at the Songhai-Delta training centre, Amukpe reiterated, "We are training you to become job creators that we need in Delta State, you are here to improve on your lives and be in a position to be employers of labour."
"I believe that you are going to step into a greater future. I want to see you as better Deltans, Deltans who will say, I have been able to create jobs for my self and jobs for others," he said, disclosing, "I have visited some farms and I have seen the enthusiasm from those who graduated from these programmes; if you want to succeed, you must be passionate about what you are doing."

A cross-section of STEP participants

Governor Okowa who assured Deltans the programme would be continuous, further advised the participant, "you have to be committed to that which you have learnt because, I have a passion to turn many youths of Delta State into persons who will create jobs for others; you should rely on God and you will succeed in whatever you do and do not sell your starter packs."
He also, urged graduates of the programme to ensure that they give thanks to God stating, "you are going to reap more if you are dedicated to God."
The Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor II, Obi of Owa who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers who attended the ceremony, expressed satisfaction with the success stories of the empowerment programmes, asserting, "this is a revolution that put food on the table, revolution that will extricate you from the shackles of poverty."

Govt. has no plan to lay off workers in Delta, says Tilije

The Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Sir Fidelis Tilije,
said the State Government has no plans to lay-off workers.
Sir Tilije gave the clarification today at a sensitization forum on
 Public-Public Partnerships (PUPs) on water in Asaba the Delta State
capital, against fears in some quarters that the Public Private
Partnerships (PPPs) concessioning of the Warri/Effurun Water Scheme
would bring about loss of jobs.

The Commissioner disclosed that the PPP arrangement on the
Warri/Effurun Water Scheme had reached advanced stage, saying the
project would not lead to job loss as there were no workers engaged
present but rather had the capacity to create jobs in line with the
SMART Agenda of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration.
He said that the State Government was conscious of the trying
economic times and would not engage in any arrangement that would
further worsen the condition of the less privileged, saying when the
project was fully operational, the cost of purchasing a litre of water
would be cheaper than the current price given by private producers of
water.
   
Describing the method of distribution as very convenient, Sir Tilije,
said every consumer would be provided with a pre-paid metre, which
according to him, would be maintained for through the recharge card
method similar to those of GSM providers. 
The Water Resources Development Commissioner said apart from those
who would be directly engaged in the running of the Scheme, the sale
of recharge card for public water supply would further create chains
of jobs for Deltans.

He said the quality of water that would be produced and distributed
would be safe and potable, stressing that it would reduce the health
bills of those utilizing it as against the many untreated private
boreholes scattered all over the twin cities of Warri and Effurun.

Noting that the time of conception of the Warri/Effurun Water Scheme
was as old as Delta State since 1993, with an initial seed capital of
$ 54 million, the Commissioner said N18.5 billion had so far been
expended on the project without producing a drop of water, but gave an
assurance that with the arrangement on ground, the scheme would start
producing and distributing water to the benefiting towns within the
next 18 months.

The President of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil
Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Comrade
Solomon Adelegan, in a keynote address, said the Public-Public
Partnerships (PUPs) should be embraced by governments at all level,
saying the profit motivation behind Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
had remained a burden on the masses.

In a lecture on the advantages of PUPs over PPPs, the presenter,
Professor Emanuele Lobina of the University of Greenwich, United
Kingdom, said studies all over the world indicated that Public-Public
Partnerships were gradually replacing Public Private Partnerships.  
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Industrial
Relations, Comrade Mike Okeme and the Functioning Permanent Secretary
Odogun were among dignitaries that graced the occasion.

Delta unveils state’s official logo, anthem

Mr. Patrick Ukah, Honourable Commissioner for Information, Delta State says the state’s Executive Council (EXCO) has approved on official logo and the anthem for the State.

Mr. Ukah

  
Mr Ukah said that the Delta blue circle in the Logo signifies inclusiveness and unity in diversity while the oil well / stands for the rich oil reserves and the open book with flaming heart touch depicts the fountain of knowledge that abounds in the State.
He explained that the rainforest symbol stands for the vegetation just as the sunray sign stands for rays of sunshine and hope, while the sprinter and footballer shows the state’s prowess in sporting activities.

The Commissioner stated that the colour Blue stands for wisdom, intelligence, freedom and oneness while the colour Red signifies energy, passion and courage and added that the Earth symbol represents an abundance of fertile farmland.

 Mr Ukah said an Executive Bill on the use of the Logo will soon be forwarded to the Delta State House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law.
According to the Commissioner, the Bill when passed into law will provide for the use of the Logo and Anthem in Government Official engagements, schools and other state matters. 

Delta Exco approves appointment of monarchs, road projects, more schools

Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) spokesman, and Commissioner for information, Mr Patrick Ukah says that at the 21st meeting of the council held on September 27, 2016 has approved and ratified the appointment of HRM, William Narra S. Ogoba, Oboro Gbararun II as the Pere of Gbaramatu K

Mr. Ukah

ingdom in Warri South West Local Government.
  
Mr Ukah said that similarly EXCO has also ratified the appointment of HRM, Obi Okolo Obaiye as the Obi of Onicha-Ukwu kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area and the appointment of Obi Akazue Gbemudu II as the Ogbeleani of Illah kingdom in Oshimili North Local Government Area.

The Executive Council spokesman stated that in addition, the state government has also approved the distribution of Branded Waste Bins at subsidized a rate of N10, 000.00 for outright payment to enable households properly package their waste for onward collections by waste disposal agents.


 Mr Ukah added that as part of government’s drive to provide affordable education to children of school age, EXCO has also approved the establishment of public primary and secondary schools in selected communities in Iku North East, Warri South, Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas.

Femi Fani-Kayode: Bola Ahmed Tinubu and those who want him dead

                                                                                                                          OPINION

By Femi Fani-Kayode

Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode

I do not like to delve into matters touching and concerning the APC because I am not a member.

However, what is happening in the ruling party today transcends partisan politics and should be a concern to us all. At the very least we can learn some very hard lessons from it.

The truth is that the behaviour of Chief John Odige-Oyegun towards the man that single-handedly made him the National Chairman of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is reprehensible.

And neither does this matter begin or end with the way and manner in which the Ondo state governorship primaries were conducted or its final outcome.

It goes much deeper than that and the Ondo affair is only symptomatic of a much deeper malaise and wider conspiracy to humiliate the National Leader of the APC by forces within his party that are even greater than him.

Those forces represent the hidden hand. They are a small cabal of power-brokers who constitute the leadership of the Buhari-led CPC. These people believe that they were born to rule and that they own Nigeria.

They simply used Tinubu’s old ACN as a compliant and ready piggy-back to catapult their way back to power and once they achieved that they never looked back.

Some of us warned Tinubu at the time about the dangers of riding the tiger and allowing himself to be used by these very dark and sinister forces but he would not listen.

No true student of history could have made such a cataclysmic and monumental error given the terrible experiences of others from the south-west, and indeed the entire south, who collaborated with such ultra-conservative, sectarian and arcane forces with a clear and distinct ethnic and religious agenda in the past.

Such forces can never be comfortable with a well-connected, highly sophisticated, independent-minded, strong, unpredictable, uncontrollable and experienced Yoruba leader and southern gladiator with a June 12th pedigree, a NADECO background, a massive war-chest and a widespread and formidable political base.

They may use him to achieve their objective but they can never trust him or allow him to have control of the party machinery or to wield any real power when it comes to running the affairs of the nation.

Most importantly once they have finished using him it becomes their duty and cardinal objective not just to cut him down to size but also to castrate and render him impotent and eventually destroy him.

That is their way. It is also a classic and vintage Nicollo Machiavelli move. This great writer that has had more influence on political thinking and strategies than perhaps any other author in human history taught us a critical and crucial lesson in his famous 14th century literary masterpiece and treatise on the power game titled “The Prince”. He tells us that the first thing that a Prince must do once he has achieved power is to destroy those that put him there.

And that is precisely what those that seek to do Tinubu in are doing. Worst still they are using his own erstwhile discipiles as a first line of attack against him.

It is not just Odige-Oyegun that has turned his back on him but also his former political protegees and former ACN associates like Tunde Fashola, Ibikunle Amosu, Kayode Fayemi, Biodun Ajimobi, Olorunimbe Mamora, Niyi Adebayo, Rotimi Akeredolu and numerous others.

Pulling the strings from behind the scenes and encouraging and funding the rebellion are hardline Buhari-supporters like my good friend Governor Nasir El Rufai and a number of others.

Their objective is to establish a new political order in the south west which is beholden to them alone, to replace Tinubu as the National Leader of the party and to utterly demystify and crush him in order to prepare the ground for the emergence of a new and more compliant Yoruba running mate for either Buhari himself or El Rufai in 2019.

As a graphic illustration of this interesting and unfolding agenda, the powers that be in the APC, led by Buhari himself, fired six shots at Tinubu inmediately after they formed government.

The first was the Senate Presidency affair and the Bukola Saraki matter which saw the defeat and humiliation of Tinubu’s prefered candidate for Senate President.

The second shot was the Speaker of the House of Representatives affair and the Yakubu Dogara matter which, again, saw the defeat and humiliation of Tinibu’s prefered candidate for the position of Speaker of the House.

The third was the vital issue of Ministerial appointments in which not one single Ministerial nominee of Tinubu’s was accepted and appointed as a Minister by Buhari.

Every single person that he nominated from the south west and elsewhere as Minister was rejected and instead the slots were filled by his political adversaries and/or their nominees.

Many erroneously believe that Mr. Lai Mohammed, who is from Kwara state, was Tinubu’s choice and nominee for Minister of Information but this was not the case.

The person that he nominated for Minister of Information was not Lai Mohammed but Mr. Dele Alake, his former Commissioner of Information in Lagos state.

Again he nominated Mr. Wale Edun, his former Commissioner of Finance in Lagos state, for the position of Minister of Finance but this was rejected and Governor Ibikunle Amosu’s candidate, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, got the job instead.

This went on across the board for every single person that Tinubu nominated and presented for the position of Minister last year and it was a terrible humiliation for him. It was a dirty slap in his face.

The fourth shot was the James Faleke matter in Kogi state where it was agreed by the real landlords of the APC in the core north that Tinubu must not be allowed to gain a foothold in the north central zone by getting his own Yoruba kinsman and candidate to be elected as governor of that state.

Hence Faleke was ruthlessly dropped and shabbily treated and another person was selected to be the gubernatorial candidate of that state. It worked, Faleke went to court and sadly he lost. That was the end of the story.

The fifth shot is the thorough and systematic, though subtle and covert, humiliation and relegation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a close associate and political protegee of Tinubu and a spiritual son of the reverred Pastor Enoch Adeboye of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), to not just a spare tyre as Vice President but also to a very flat one.

Rather than being allowed to participate in the crucial decision-making processes on vital and critical issues of state and governance as any Vice President should, Osinbajo has been kept in the dark about virtually everything and he has little or no power to effect anything.

When such decions are to be debated, discussed and made the Vice President is never invited into the room and neither is he even aware that there is such a meeting going on.

Worse still he is constantly being directed to represent the President at official functions all over the country as if he were more his Personal Assistant, Special Advisor or Minister rather than the Vice President of the country. Osinbajo’s crime is simply that he is loyal to Tinubu and he has refused to dump or betray him.

The sixth and perhaps most devastating shot is the fact that the party machinery has not only been taken away from Tinubu with the effective highjacking of Odige-Oyegun but that it has also opted to do the bidding of his mortal enemies and to fight him.

An eloquent testimony to this disturbing fact is the outcome of the Ondo state gubernatorial primaries where Tinubu’s candidate was edged out and cheated of the nomination by the party leadership.

This was the last straw that broke the camels back and predictably Tinubu has reacted in a very loud, aggressive and profound manner by publicly calling for the removal of the National Chairman of the party.

Yet calling for the removal of Odigie-Oyegun is not enough. The whole situation calls for critical thiking, sober reflection and deep retrospection.

The point that needs to be clearly understood when considering these six shots and the unfolding anti-Tinubu agenda within the APC is the fact that, contrary to all pretensions, President Muhammadu Buhari is part and parcel of it and he is in fact the moving spirit behind the whole conspiracy.

Nasir El Rufai and a number of others are simply the strategists and enforcers. Buhari, Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari are the masterminds.

Given all this one thing is clear: these people want Tinubu dead. If he does not realign quickly and fight hard to save his dwindling political fortunes and empire his APC friends and allies will destroy him in a slow, clinical, sadistic and systematic manner. And they will do it with a big, beautiful and friendly smile on their faces.

The fact of the matter is that, right from the outset, Tinubu failed to accept the fact that he was in bed with demons.

He refused to appreciate the fact that he was sleeping with beasts that are hell bent on eating his flesh, driniking his blood and ruthlessly implementing an ancient ethnic and religious agenda.

He gave them his all, caused them to win an election and trusted them to honor their word and treat him with respect and decorum.

He failed to appreciate the fact that you cannot make a deal with snakes and expect them to honor their word.

He forgot that you cannot wine and dine with cancerous lepers and hungry tigers without ending up being served as the final dish in a long, blood-curdling and Byzantian satanic feast.

Yet if the truth is to be told, no matter what mistakes he may have made, Tinubu does not deserve to be treated in this way.

Up until the Presidential elections were conducted last year he led and held together the south-western wing of the APC with an iron fist and he was the undisputed leader of the APC in that zone.

All four APC governors from the south west and virtually every single party leader waited on his every word and he called all the shots.

Sadly today, just over one year later, he is a caricature of his former self. Today Tinubu can only boast of having the ear and the full support of only two of those govermors, namely Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, who will NEVER betray him no matter what, and Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state who will also stand firmly behind him until the very end.

The truth is that Tinubu has lost much ground and political mileage in recent times and, as more daggers are pulled out over the next few months and years it is bound to get worse for him.

Yet that does not mean that he is finished. I say this because he is a tried and tested fighter and a formidable adversary who is quite capable of pulling the whole APC house down.

It would be a fatal error for any of his adversaries, including President Buhari, Vice President Atiku Abubakar or Senate President Bukola Saraki, to underestimate him or dismiss his ability to fight back.

In July 2016, just after my release from detention and during the course of an interview with Channels Television (which can still be viewed on Youtube) Mr. Seun Okinbaloye asked me whether I could ever contemplate going back to the APC and how I thought the ruling party would fare into the future.

I told him that I would NEVER go back to the APC under ANY circumstances. I also told him that in any case by 2019 there would not be an APC, as it is presently constituted, left because the party would have spilt up into three separate and distinct political entities.

I told him that the Tinubu group comprising of men like Baba Bisi Akande, Rauf Aregbesola, Akinwummi Ambode and others would establish one party, the Atiku Abubakar group comprising of men like Bukola Saraki, Rabiu Kwakwanso and many of the former PDP leaders and governors that had left for the APC when President Goodluck Jonathan was in power would establish another and that the Buhari group comprising of men like Nasir El Rufai, Bello Masari, Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha, Chris Ngige, Ogbonaya Onu, Adams Oshiomole and virtually the entire structure of the old CPC leadership in the core north would constitute yet another. I stand by this prediction.

These three strong and equally forceful factions can be likened to the proverbial three blind yet ravenous wolves.

They cannot stay in the same cage or remain on the same platform for long without tearing each other to pieces.
Eventually they will all go their separate ways and, hopefully, contend with a newly-branded and reinvigotated PDP in the field of battle in 2019.

What we are witnessing today in the ranks of the APC is the beginning of that bitter separation and messy divorce and it is going to get far worse.

It will be loud, bitter, acrimonious and rancorous and many political empires, careers and aspirations will be destroyed as a consequence of it.

My hope and prayer is that the PDP, which is also going through its own rigorous process of redefinition and reinvigoration, can get its act together before then, take advantage of the situation, pick up the pieces and win the presidential election in 2019. I am sure that we will.

Meanwhile my advise to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is to watch his back, consolidate his base, fight his enemies, reach out to new friends, accept the fact that he is at war and sleep with one eye wide open. The truth is that it will get far worse before it gets any better.