Gbenga Adeniji

The Governor’s Advisory Council of the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday endorsed Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the party’s governorship ticket in 2019.

Sanwo-Olu is a former Commissioner for Training and Establishment in the state.

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the six-hour meeting held at the Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos, residence of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

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Tinubu also chaired the meeting attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, among others.

The Lagos APC governorship primary was earlier scheduled to hold today but was shifted by the party’s national leadership for logistic reasons.

Earlier, supporters of the incumbent governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and Sanwo-Olu, who wore vests bearing images of their preferred candidates with inscriptions, had thronged the party state secretariat on Acme Road for a stakeholders’ meeting called by the party leadership.

The supporters waited for hours and some later left the venue after it became clear that Tinubu would not be coming as many of them had hoped.

Many party leaders in the state had backed Sanwo-Olu for governor and moved against the second-term ambition of Ambode who had also expressed readiness to contest the primary.

Sources close to the party leaders told SUNDAY PUNCH that Ambode had refused a directive that he should step down during a meeting with Tinubu on Friday, saying democracy should be allowed to thrive by allowing him to contest the primary.

After the Bourdillon meeting on Saturday, a member of the council and party chieftain, Senator Anthony Adefuye, arrived in the secretariat to announce the council’s decision to the eager stakeholders.

Adefuye said the council, the highest decision-making body of the chapter, had endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the party’s governorship ticket, saying the decision was in the interest of the party and state.

He said, “We started the meeting at 10am and we left straight after the meeting not to keep you waiting. The GAC and other major stakeholders have endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wants me to apologise that he is not here (secretariat) because as we were coming, he was bombarded in the house by various programmes of the party.’’

After his short speech, supporters of Sanwo-Olu jubilated while Ambode’s protested against the decision with songs.

It was gathered, however, that Tinubu would have been at the secretariat himself to raise Sanwo-Olu’s hand as a mark of endorsement but for the report that Ambode’s supporters had yet left the venue.

Hamzat steps down for Sanwo-Olu

Another APC governorship aspirant in the state and a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has withdrawn from the race.

Hamzat, who spoke during a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, said he took the decision to support Sanwo-Olu’s ambition.

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He added that after due consultations with his numerous supporters and in defence to the wise counsel of those he considered his political mentors, he resolved to step down from the race and would pull resources together with Sanwo-Olu, who he described as his brother and friend.

He also directed his supporters to cast their votes for Sanwo-Olu on Monday for him to emerge the party’s governorship candidate in 2019.

Hamzat said both the APC and the state were on the cusp of history because the party members were being allowed a say in choosing the party’s standard bearer in 2019 through the instrumentality of direct primaries.

He stated, “As a democrat, I am very proud to be a partaker of this momentous moment, for it is process that truly restores ownership to all members of our party, irrespective of class, creed or gender.

“You will recall that I had signified my intention to run for the governorship of Lagos State on the platform of the APC once the race was thrown open recently and had followed up by obtaining the relevant forms and duly submitted same to the national secretariat of our party.

“In announcing my intention to run, let me however clarify that I was indeed seeking to reawaken our collective consciousness to the gospel I had humbly preached about four years ago while participating in the party’s primaries that preceded the 2015 general elections.

“The message I preached was simple; a quest to infuse fresh ideas to advance Lagos and sustain the tradition of service, excellence and inclusiveness began by the great leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and continued by his worthy successor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN…. So, I have always believed that the loyalty of our party members should never ever be taken for granted.’’

Hamzat further said he took the decision because apart from being able to vouch for Sanwo-Olu’s personal integrity, great humility and extraordinary intelligence, he was someone he had close interactions with in the past.

He added, “We both worked under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who I must credit as the architect of the new Lagos. We were both fortunate to have worked closely with the present Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, a man known for his intellectual rigour and instinct for excellence.’’  According to him, they also both worked under the Fashola  administration.

36 Lagos lawmakers back Sanwo-Olu

Also, 36 of the 40 members of the state Assembly have endorsed Sanwo-Olu as the party’s choice for party’s governorship primary slated for Monday.

A statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, noted that the decision was taken at a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers on Saturday.

It further indicated that the meeting was presided over by the Speaker, Obasa and 36 out of the 40-member House endorsed the decision and duly signed the statement announcing the decision.

“The lawmakers stated that they were in agreement with the party leadership and the GAC which earlier endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the governorship ticket,’’ the statement added.

SUNDAY PUNCH reliably learnt that Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1), Segun Olulade (Epe 2) and Dipo Olorunrinu (PDP, Amuwo Odofin) were absent at the meeting. Another lawmaker, Adebayo Osinowo, representing Kosofe 1, later arrived in the House but the meeting had ended.

Asking Ambode to step down inimical to democracy—Support group

The Ambode Mandate Support Group on Saturday said the GAC’s decision regarding the governor’s second term bid is inimical to the democracy which the party preaches.

In a statement by the group’s Director General, Hakeem Sulaimon, he stated that the sudden turn of events didn’t augur well for democracy and party unity.

He faulted the council’s decision, noting that it had earlier said the governor wouldn’t be granted the same privilege like other APC governors and that all aspirants should go for primaries.

“They (GAC members) were the ones who asked before now that why the governor was afraid of primary and that was why he said he was ready for the primary. The next question we should ask is why are they afraid of primary?’’

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• GAC backs Sanwo-Olu after meeting with Osinbajo

• Lagos gov refuses Tinubu’s call to step down

• Parties shift exercises in Lagos, Imo to Monday

• PDP plans peaceful, transparent primaries

Residents in states where the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party will elect their governorship candidates for the 2019 governorship election have expressed fears of possible breakdown of law and order during the primaries today

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH correspondents, who spoke with political party leaders, aspirants and some residents of the affected states, revealed that the exercises might not be without violence.

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In Lagos for instance, supporters of the incumbent governor, Akinwunmi Ambode may on Monday clash with those of the APC leaders who are supporting the emergence of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

This situation may not be different in Oyo State where there are fears that APC members, who are loyal to a former governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, may have a raw deal with loyalists of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who wants to install a successor.

Five Ogun aspirants battle Amosun’s choice

It will be a battle between the consensus candidate of the Ogun West Elders Council, Adekunle Akinlade, and the alliance of five aspirants, mostly from the Ogun East Senatorial district.

The five aspirants in the alliance are Senator Adegbenga Kaka; Dapo Abiodun; Jimi Lawal; Bimbo  Ashiru, and Abayomi Hunye, who is the only one from Ogun West.

These aspirants in alliance were dissatisfied with the decision to have Akinlade, who is currently representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency in the lower chamber, as the consensus candidate of the party.

Three of the aspirants, who spoke with one of our correspondents, called on the electoral team that would be sent from the national secretariat of the party to oversee the governorship primary to ensure a level-playing field for every aspirant, by making it free and fair.

The aspirants are the immediate past state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Ashiru; a former Senator from Ogun East and former deputy governor of the state, Kaka, and businessman, Abiodun.

They are all from Ogun East (Ijebu-Remo).

Ashiru, who spoke to us while on a consultation train to Ogun Waterside, expressed optimism that he was the most qualified for the job, having been part of the current administration’s success story, especially in the area of attracting investors to the state.

He said, “I am confident of victory if the governorship primary is free and fair; if there’s no harassment.

“I have been part of the system; I understand the system because I have been part of the development of Ogun State. Ogun State is now attractive to investors. I believe I’m the most qualified for the job.”

READ ALSO: APC, PDP shift gov primaries in Lagos, Imo to Monday

On his part, Kaka said he would want the membership registers containing the names of old and new members to be presented at the wards and people should be allowed to line up behind the aspirants of their choice without any form of molestation.

Abiodun said he hoped for a good outing today (Sunday)

Speaking through one of his media aides, Olumide Lawal, Abiodun believed he equally would be victorious if the primary was transparent.

Lawal said, “We are expecting the team from Abuja, the national headquarters of the party, that will oversee the governorship primary in the state.

“We hope they will do the needful and be impartial umpires. I am sure if the primary is transparent, my principal will win.”

Another governorship aspirant from Ogun East, Jimi Lawal who is a former banker and currently an adviser to Kaduna State governor on Investment Promotion, also hoped for the best.

He said he had visited his supporters in all the local governments across the state three times, between last year and now.

Lawal added, “Tomorrow (Sunday), I hope for the best. I have visited the 20 local governments across the state about three times, between last year and now.

“I helped to revive about 14 offices of the APC that were moribund, including that of my local government, Ijebu Ode. I have done my best for the people, and tomorrow, (Sunday), I am hopeful of the best and hope that there won’t be imposition.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command said it was well prepared for the governorship primary.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said all arms of security apparatus in the state had been mobilised for the exercise.

Oyeyemi said, “We are fully prepared. We have made our deployment. We will monitor the event from the beginning to the end.

“The Commissioner of Police has warned anyone that may want to cause the breach of peace to either leave the state or have a change of heart.”

Akala attacks Ajimobi, to boycott primary

A former Oyo State governor, Alao-Akala, on Saturday, said he would not be part of today’s governorship primary of the APC in the state, alleging that there were plans by Governor Ajimobi to impose one of the candidates, Joseph Tegbe, on the party.

Alao-Akala, according to a statement by his media aide, Jeremiah Akande, called on the party leadership to quickly step into what he described as a crisis in the state chapter of the party. He also asked his supporters to wait for his next move.

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The statement noted that the ministerial slot of the state had been offered to Alao-Akala but he refused to accept it because of possible collision with Adebayo Shittu.

The statement said, “Alao-Akala wishes to state categorically and put the leadership of the party and the general public on notice that Ajimobi has perfected plans to impose one Joseph Tegbe on delegates as he has sent his foot soldiers around to coerce and intimidate delegates to vote for the said Tegbe against their free will.

“Alao-Akala, a true party man and committed loyalist to any cause he believes in, wishes to state categorically that he is not a pushover in the game of politics and as a well-grounded and groomed politician, who has occupied the number one seat of a politically-conscious state as Oyo, will not be part of any move or attempt to subvert the true will and wishes of the people by the selfish interest of an individual.

“He has therefore decided to stay away from Sunday’s macabre dance taking place at a yet-to-be disclosed venue due to the insensitivity and selfishness of Ajimobi who is hell-bent on imposing his stooge as his successor.”

Parallel excos to pick candidates in Delta

Despite efforts to resolve the leadership crisis in the Delta State chapter of the APC, the party is going into its primaries with a divided house beginning with the governorship primary on Sunday (today).

Four of the five governorship aspirants, who picked the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms, have been cleared to participate in the primary taking place in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

They are Prof Pat Utomi, Victor Ochei, Chief Great Ogboru and Dr Cairo Ojougboh.

The party currently parades two executive committees in the state. While the immediate past National Chairman of the APC, Odigie Oyegun sworn-in Chief Cyril Ogodo-led State Working Committee, Adams Oshiomhole, upon assumption of office as the party’s national chairman, sworn-in Prophet Jones Erue as chairman.

The former is loyal to Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and Chief Hyacinth Enuha while the latter is loyal to the Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Ogboru faction.

Aspirants reject consensus candidate in Imo

Last minute move made by the APC governorship aspirants from the Owerri zone extraction of Imo State to have a consensus aspirant that would challenge governor Rochas Okorocha’s preferred choice, Uche Nwosu, during the primary on Monday, has failed.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that the aspirants, consisting of the deputy governor of the state, Eze Madumere; immediate past Secretary to the State Government, George Eche; Okorocha’s brother-in-law, Chuks Ololo; the governor’s former appointee, China Anozie; a former SSG, Jude Ejiogu; business magnate, Chris Nlemoha; and a retired air commodore, Peter Gbujue, met in Owerri, the state capital, on Saturday.

A source at the meeting, which lasted for about seven hours, told one of our correspondents that none of the seven aspirants from the zone agreed to step down for another.

The meeting, our correspondent learnt, was called by the leaders of the APC in Owerri zone to ensure the aspirants reach an agreement that would made them to support one among them for the Monday’s exercise.

It was learnt that the people, who called the meeting, stated that Owerri zone would put the wrong foot forward going into the primary with seven aspirants while the other two – Nwosu and Senator Hope Uzodinma – are from Orlu zone.

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All efforts made by the conveners of the meeting to persuade the aspirants to reach a consensus failed as all the aspirants preferred to head to the primary.

Confirming the development to SUNDAY PUNCH, the director of media of one of the aspirants (Nlemoha), Callistus Emeruo, said his principal was going ahead with the primary.

He said, “My principal, Chris Nlemoha, is very much in the race. The consensus candidate option failed. There is no clear criteria to measure which aspirant should be a beneficiary of the consensus candidate option.”

“The aspirants at the meeting said that the meeting was rather coming too late. Tomorrow is the primary and it is wrong asking an aspirant who has traversed the whole state in campaigns to step down.”

Ikenna Onuoha, a media aide to another governorship aspirant, Ejiogu, said his boss did not step down for anybody.

Onuoha added, “Jude Ejiogu did not step down for anybody. If there is any aspirant who should be a beneficiary of the consensus aspirant option, it is Jude Ejiogu. He is the most qualified. He has the capacity and contacts to make a good governor.”

Investigation by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that Madumere, Nwosu and Nlemoha are the aspirants to beat in the primary.

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH ahead of the primary, the deputy governor said that he was prepared for the exercise.

Madumere, who sued for a free and fair process, said his campaign organisation rejected the plot by some members working for the state government to hijack the process at the grass roots.

The governorship aspirant, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa, said only accredited INEC collation centers at the wards should be used for the primary.

Also, Nwosu said, “I am ready and prepared for the primary. My campaign organisation and supporters across the state are ready. It is a popularity test election and Uche Nwosu is ready.”

23 gov aspirants to contest Kwara PDP, APC tickets

No fewer than 23 governorship aspirants, 38 senatorial aspirants and 199 House of Assembly aspirants are to contest the primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State on Sunday (today).

The state APC chairman, Mr. Bashir Bolarinwa, said there were no fewer than 13 governorship aspirants in the state.

He said the aspirants include, Alhaji AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore; Alhaji Lukman Mustapha, Alhaji Hakeem Lawal, Alhaji Kawu Modibbo, Alhaji Moshood  Mustapha, Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, and  Ambassador Seriki Yahaya.

Others are Alhaji Saliu Mustapha, Alhaji Shuaib Abdullahi, Mr. Tajudeen Audu, Mr. Kayode Abdulwaheed and Alhaji Yahaya Gobir.

He, however, said the lists of cleared or uncleared aspirants were yet to be released by the APC National Working Committee.

He added that there were 32 senatorial aspirants and 93 aspirants to the state House of Assembly.

In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Friday, the Head, Media and Strategy, APC, Kwara State chapter, Mr. Kayode Zubaire, said no about 250,000 APC members had registered in the state.

The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tunde Ashaolu, told one of our correspondents that the state PDP had 10 governorship aspirants; six for Senate; 45 for the House of Representatives and 106 for the House of Assembly.

The governorship aspirants include, Dr Ali Ahmad, Mr. Razak Atunwa, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Senator Mohammed Lafiagi, Alhaji Ladi Hassan, Aliyu Ahman-Pategi,  Alhaji Saka Isau (SAN),  Prof Sulaiman Abubakar, Alhaji Mohammed Ajia and Alhaji Zakari Mohammed.

While some emirs and aspirants from the Kwara North Senatorial zone argued that the next state governor should come from the zone, some aspirants from from Kwara Central disagreed with the emirs and some governorship aspirants over the demand for power shift.

Zakari Mohammed confirmed that emissaries had been sent to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on the need for him to intervene and ensure that Kwara North was allowed to produce the next governor.

He said, “It is a fact that we have been on the Kwara North agenda for long. I met the governor some days ago and asked him to discuss the issue with Saraki. We also went to see Saraki and we told him what we want.”

But Ajia, speaking on the sidelines of the unveiling of his blueprint for the state, said for PDP to retain power in the state, Kwara Central should produce the next governor.

He said, “As a political party, you must look for your best bait. Today, we have a challenge on our hands where the opposition is organising themselves to make sure they pull down the PDP. Looking at a particular section will not be the priority. The best candidate that the youth, women and the people will accept is what will be the principal and not the section.”

Saliu Mustapha, during his declaration, said though by morality, Kwara North should be considered, but for the APC to win the election and displace the current ruling political elite in the state, led by Saraki, it was strategically necessary for the APC to have its governorship candidate from the Kwara Central.

Meanwhile, there had been agitations by APC stakeholders over the mode of primaries in the state.

Bindow, opponents fight over delegates

In Adamawa State, accusations of plans to ‘house’ delegates trailed the last-minute scramble by Governor Jibrilla Bindow and his main challenger for the

governorship ticket of the APC, Mahmood Halilu, who is President Muhammadu Buhari’s in-law.

Most delegates participating in the primary today (Sunday) to elect the APC governorship standard bearer for Adamawa State, who have flooded the state capital, are allegedly being camped in various hotels in the state capital ahead of the exercise.

But a group, Mahmood Halilu Delegates Canvassers and Mobilisation, led by Promise Nashan, on Friday, accused party agents working for Bindow of planning to evacuate all delegates to the Government House.

Nashan said, who addressed journalists report reaching them indicated that the governor planned to ‘hijack’ all delegates in the Government House.

“We reject the unlawful imprisonment of delegates that shut out the door against others from a democratic tenets enshrining freedom of choice and participation,” the group said.

As of the time of filing this report, Halilu was meeting with delegates and canvassing for their support ahead of the Sunday’s primaries.

Borno battles allegation of ‘warehousing’ of delegates

Also, the delegates at the governorship primary of the APC in Borno State have allegedly been made inaccessible to aspirants.

A statement on Friday by the Alhaji Idris Mamman Durkwa Governorship Campaign Organisation, said, “Delegates’ fundamental rights of choice are being denied. They have been warehoused and restricted from meeting with aspirants so as to enable a level playing ground.”

The statement by the chairman of the campaign organisation, Alhaji Mala Othman, also alleged that “there is also a deliberate misinformation of our candidate to the good people of our party and the general public on his political aspiration.”

Fears pervade Benue aspirants

In Benue, fear has gripped governorship aspirants of the APC and their PDP counterparts as both parties hold their governorship primaries today.

Six aspirants — Emmanuel Jime, Benjamin Adayin, Arch Asema Achado, Titus Zam, Akanger Audu and Michael Iordiye — are contesting on the platform of the APC.

Contesting the ticket of the PDP are Governor Samuel Ortom, Telumun Nyitse, John Tondo, Felix Atume and Dave Iorhemba.

The aspirants were said to be making consultations with the delegates.

One of the aspirants was said to have asked his supporters to remember him in their prayers as he participates in the primary today.

Ortom told SUNDAY PUNCH that there was no cause for alarm as he prepared for today’s primary.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said that being made the leader of the party in the state would make the battle easier for him.

“The governor is not panicking at all; he is set for the primary tomorrow and the party has assured that a level-playing ground would be provided.

“And now that he is the leader of the party, he has assured other aspirants of a level-playing field, he has done enough to get the nod of the delegates,” Akase said.

Also, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC, Benjamin Adayin, said his team was confident of emerging victorious in today’s primary.

Adayin, who said he was in a crucial meeting, stated, “We are not afraid at all. We are confident of winning provided the primary is free and fair.”

Meanwhile, the police in the state said they were combat ready to ensure that violence did not mar the primary.

The spokesman for the command, Moses Yamu, stated, “The command is ready for the primary elections of the two main parties holding tomorrow (today).

“Already our officers early this morning (Friday) embarked on confidence patrol. All the venues for the primary elections are being taken care of.

“We have deployed our officers to all the venues, so there no cause for alarm,” Yamu said.

Masari set to clinch Katsina ticket

From all indications, Governor Aminu Masari looks set to emerge victorious in today’s (Sunday) governorship primary of the Katsina State chapter of the APC.

There are, however, loud murmurs ahead of the primary from the camps of the other two governorship aspirants battling Masari for the ticket.

The other aspirants are Abubakar Isa and Garba Dankani.

Isa, at a press conference in Katsina late on Thursday, expressed fears about the primary.

He said, “The so-called executive members of the party were illegally elected in a phantom congress of the party.

“Their so-called election, is now a subject at many high courts and the Federal Court in Katsina State and therefore ineligible to take decision on behalf of the party and its members”.

The APC state Publicity Secretary, Abu Danmusa, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the state executive of the party had always been carrying along the party’s national headquarters in all the steps so far taken.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, it is only the court of law that can declare whether an action is legal or not and up until now, we have not received any injunction concerning the governorship primaries.

“Please note, it is not Katsina APC that is organising the primaries, but the national body. And the party’s national working committee has cleared three aspirants including his Excellency, Governor Aminu Masari to contest the primary.

“We expect at least thirteen (13) delegates from each of the 361 wards in the state. Also expected at the primary are 13 delegates from each of the 34 local governments made up of the executives of each of the councils.”

The Akida group in Katsina APC, had earlier, publicly raised its voice against the state executive of the party, shortly after the state executive adopted indirect primaries to elect the party’s candidates for the 2019 election.

Now that the APC National working Committee had approved indirect primaries for Katsina State, and members of the Akida group had kicked against it, observers await how the party will handle anticipated issues that will definitely trail today’s(Sunday) governorship primary.

Yari meets aggrieved aspirants

Also, as part of concerted efforts to douse the uproar generated by the alleged imposition of Mukhtar Shehu by Governor Abdulazziz Yari of Zamfara State, as the APC governorship candidate, stakeholders held a marathon meeting on Friday.

It was learnt that Yari convened a last-minute meeting with the aggrieved aspirants on Friday to reach an amicable resolution of all contending issues.

A reliable source, however, said the Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Ali (retd.), who is one of the aggrieved aspirants, was not at the meeting. Also, Senator Kabiru Marafa, who, though was cleared but will not be participating in the the exercise, was not at the meeting.

However, the meeting has yet to come out with a position, as at the time of going to press.

Meanwhile, the arrowhead of the aggrieved aspirants, Marafa, had announced his non-participation in the party governorship primary, holding nationwide today.

Senator Marafa, while addressing his supporters, stated that he would not participate in the primary election, in adherence to a court order not recognising any faction of the party state executive committee.

Controversy over APC members’ list stirs anxiety in Abia

Ahead of the APC governorship primary in Abia State, one of the aspirants, Mr. Chidike Ukauwa, has announced his withdrawal from the race.

Ukauwa said he decided to step down for one of the frontline governorship aspirants in the party, Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah, who he described as his master.

He said, “I want to say that I am not withdrawing because I have been settled by Ogah. No, I have not been settled; he has not given me any dime. Ogah is my master and I do not want to fight him.”

But the chairman of the APC the state, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, said the party was prepared to conduct the primary on Sunday.

He said, “We are doing direct primary. All the validly registered members of the party will vote in their various wards, while the votes will be collated at local government headquarters.”

He said the party will ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.

However, the party register for members of the APC may cause a big challenge in the conduct of the primary.

Nwankpa said on Saturday that some wards and the Ohafia Local Government registers were not sent to the state secretariat from the national secretariat in Abuja.

He said the state executive council would allow members of the primary election committee to determine what would happen to such areas.

But the aspirants standing for election and other leaders of the party did not feel comfortable with the development.

It was learnt that some names of the party big wigs in the Bende LGA, including the leader of the party in the state, Chief Orji Kalu, were missing on the register.

Meanwhile, seven aspirants have obtained the nomination and expression of interest forms for the ticket of the APC in the 2019 general elections.

They include a former deputy governor of the state, Chief Chris Akomas; Chief Ikechi Emenike, and Ogah.

The others are Friday Nwosu, Pual Ikonne, Dr. Okey Emuchay and the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Martins Azubuike.

Bauchi gov aspirants allege intimidation, inducement

In Bauchi State, three governorship aspirants have alleged that the state government has perfected plans to use thugs to intimidate voters at the governorship primary holding today.

The aspirants – Captain Bala Jibrin, Yakubu Lame and Dr. Ali Pate – made the allegations at a joint press conference in Bauchi on Saturday.

The aspirants also alleged that security operatives were being used to intimidate and coerce the voters by all means in favour of Governor Mohammed Abubabakar who is seeking reelection.

They jointly accused the state government of using state funds to buy votes by ensuring that all the card-carrying members of the party were forced to vote against their wishes. They added that the government was doing that  because the governor and his government had already lost popularity and this made the national secretariat of the party to order direct primaries in the state.

According to the three aspirants, they have evidence that the sum of N5m was given to each of the party executives at the local government levels for onward transmission to the party members at that level in order to vote for the incumbent governor, Mohammed Abubakar.

The aspirants further alleged that their supporters were being harassed, arrested and questioned by security operatives without provocation.

Also speaking to Sunday PUNCH, Shehu Ningi, a supporter of one of the aspirants, Dr. Ali Pate, said fake ballot papers had been printed, which would be used for the primary.

He said, “What we have heard is that fake ballot papers have been printed. In fact, I have seen some of them myself.”

Also speaking with one of our correspondents, Duke Dambam, said he was arrested by the police in Dambam on the directive of the Divisional Police Officer.

He said, “I was in my house in Dambam praying on Friday when three policemen came to my house. They said they got information from the Dambam Local Government Area chairman of the APC that the party’s membership cards were being distributed in my house.

“They searched but found nothing incriminating against me but they arrested me  and took me to their office, saying the DPO said they should bring me.”

Efforts to get the state government’s reaction to the allegations proved abortive.

The Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubabakar Al-Sadique, directed SUNDAY PUNCH to the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Ali M. Ali, who failed to return the calls of one of our correspondents.

The odds favour el-Rufai as sole candidate

Ahead of today’s governorship primaries of the APC in Kaduna State, the coast seems clear for the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to emerge as the candidate of the party in 2019 governorship.

The National Working Committee of the APC, conceded to the state to adopt the indirect primaries mode of election during Sunday’s governorship primary.

This was after a fierce battle with other party stakeholders in the state, notably among them, the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, and other stakeholders, who rejected the indirect primary mode of election.

Sani and his supporters preferred the direct mode of primary which they claimed was more transparent. But the NWC turned down their request.

Meanwhile, all is set for today’s governorship primaries of the PDP in the state after weeks of confusion among the governorship aspirants.

Those aspiring to unseat El-Rufai from the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, if given the nod by party delegates in today’s primary, are a former governor of the state, Alhaji Ramallan Yero; former Director-General of the National Emergency Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi; an ally of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, representing the Kaduna North Senatorial District; former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Isa Ashiru; a former Finance Controller of the Economic Community of African State, Mohammed Sani-Bello; as well as a former Director of Human Resources, Dangote Group of Companies, Dr. Shuaibu Mikati.

Ihedioha, Anyanwu reach truce after Imo PDP marathon meeting

Ahead of today’s (Sunday) governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State, two political foes, eyeing the governorship ticket of the party, Emeka Ihedioha, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu have pledged their support for a peaceful outcome.

This is coming after a nine-hour closed-door meeting in Owerri, which was presided over by the state chairman of the party, Charles Ezekwem.

Ihedioha, who is the immediate past deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and Anyanwu, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, have engaged themselves in volatile campaigns in the build up to the Sunday showdown.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, where neither of the two agreed to step down for the other, Ezekwem described the outcome of the meeting as very fruitful.

He said that the peace meeting was brokered by Imo PDP Integrity Forum.

Ezekwem, who was flanked by Ihedioha and Anyanwu, alongside other party chieftains, said, “We have invited journalists to let the world know that the immediate past deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu have agreed to bury their differences and work for the growth and success of our party after the primary election on September 30.”

“We have mandated their social media aides, who have been insulting these great politicians, to desist from that nonsense or else they will have the party to contend with.

“I want to state without missing words that the duo of Ihedioha and Anyanwu are eminently qualified to be governor of the state. I will be happy to have any of them as the next governor of Imo State. What is important is for PDP to reclaim Imo Government House in 2019 not these campaigns of calumny, bitterness and wickedness.”

Ihedioha told journalists that he had agreed to work with Anyanwu for the overall best interest of the party.

The former deputy speaker said, “I have agreed to work with my brother, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in the best interest of our party and our state, Imo.

“We agreed that whoever wins the ticket would work with the other in order for PDP to win the general election. If I win the ticket, I will carry Senator Anyanwu along and if he wins the ticket, he will equally carry me along.”

Anyanwu, who collaborated what Ihedioha, maintained that the interest of the party must override personal expectations.

The lawmaker said, “We have agreed to work for a violent-free primary. We have agreed to work together so that we can reclaim Government House, Owerri, and provide quality leadership for our people.”

Curfew will not affect Plateau PDP primary — Sango

The dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Jos town will not affect the Plateau PDP governorship primary today, says the state Chairman, Mr. Damishi Sango.

“The curfew will have no effect on our plans; from our arrangement, we shall be through by 5pm,” Sango told the NAN on Saturday in Jos.

NAN reports that the state government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the state capital on Friday, following skirmishes that trailed the killing of some people in Rukuba, a settlement on the outskirts of the city.

A statement by the state government said that the curfew would start at 6pm and end at 6am daily.

On the report of the Senator Nasir Mantu committee, which was set up to reduce the number of the governorship aspirants, Sango said none of the 13 aspirants stepped down.

“All the 13 aspirants are slugging it out for the ticket. The good thing is that they have agreed to support the winner.

“They have also asked the party to conduct a transparent election and have been assured of that,” he said.

Success Nwogu,  Chidiebube Okeoma, Hindi Livinus, Kayode Idowu, John Charles, Olaide Oyelude, Adeniyi Olugbemi, Ogbonnaya Ikokwu,  Armstrong Bakam, Godwin Isenyo

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PETER DADA

As the All Progressives Congress is preparing to hold national and state primaries nationwide, there is an indication that the Ondo State chapter of the party would conduct parallel congresses for the two primaries.

It was gathered that the issue bordering on the method of primary to adopt by the party had not been resolved in the state.

While the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, and the state executive of the party led by Mr. Ade Adetimehin are supporting indirect primary, some National Assembly members representing the state, particularly, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, and a House of Representatives member, Bamidele Baderinwa, and their supporters want direct primaries.

Aspirants of the party who belong to the two camps, have already obtained forms and undergone screening at the national secretariat of the party while the House of Assembly aspirants were being screened at different venues of the two factions.

A reliable source in the party told our correspondent that the two factions were preparing for the primaries, which according to the source, might hold in two different locations in the state.

The source said, “With the way things are going in our party now, the two factions are ready to hold their primaries and each will elect its party’s candidates for the state and National Assembly elections in 2019.

“It is now left for the national leadership to decide the authentic candidates.”

However, Adetimehin said the party would hold indirect primaries for the forthcoming national and state assembly’s elections.

He added that all arrangements had been made to conduct free and fair primaries.

“We have no faction in this state. We are one and we shall hold free, fair and credible primaries, so there is no cause for alarm. Nobody is fighting anybody; we have no faction,” he said.

But a group under the aegis of the APC Unity Group, which also aligned with direct primary, has vowed to do everything possible to resist any attempt to conduct an indirect primary.

The chairman of the APC group, Mr. Idowu Otetubi said, “We have seen the dynamics in Osun and how far it has played out.”

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A professor at the Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Oluwaseun Garuba, discusses staphylococcus and its prevention with DOLAPO AKITOYE

What is staph infection?

Basically, staph is staphylococcus. Staphylococcus is a genus and in this genus, there are many species of staphylococcus.

There is staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus pyogenes and staphylococcus epidermidis. Infection resulting from staphylococcus is what is termed staph infection. These microorganisms are resident on the surface of the skin and most of the time, they do not cause infection. This means that the various species of staphylococcus are found on the skin but most of the time, they do not cause infection. However, if there is a slight problem and the bacteria gets into the body, it could get into the blood stream, joints, bone, lungs or even the heart. This is why infection resulting from staphylococcus is very important. In some cases, infections resulting from staphylococcus can be life-threatening.

What causes it?

It is caused by microorganisms and there are various species of staphylococcus. However, if there is an injury to the skin, a healthy person will normally not develop the infection. The organisms are on surfaces of the skin and there is no injury to the skin that will allow the organisms to invade the skin. If there is somebody with a staphylococcus infection, then there is a very likely tendency that it is as a result of the organisms on the skin. The bacteria can survive drying, extreme temperature, stomach acid and high level of salt.

What are the signs and symptoms of staphylococcus?

The site of infection determines the signs and symptoms. If the site of infection is the surface of the skin, the most common sign is the boil. The boil is filled with pus that develops in the hair follicle or the oil gland of the skin. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen. If a boil breaks open, it will probably drain with pus. The pus will be seen on the surface of the skin if it breaks open. This is why in most cases, when one has a boil, antibiotics is prescribed because usually it is a bacterial infection.

There is also cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layer of the skin and causes skin redness, swelling on the surface of the skin and in some cases, one could have ulcers. There is also staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. In some cases, the microorganisms produce toxins. The microorganisms invade the skin and also produce toxins and they usually affect small children. As mentioned earlier, the organisms are on the surface of the skin and practically everybody has it. In places where there are small children such as day care, pre-nursery, the children are at risk of getting it especially if hygiene is not properly paid attention to.

There is also staphylococcal food poisoning. In this case, when the food handlers – who are carriers of staphylococcus (as is practically everybody) – finish preparing the food and the food is cold and part of their staphylococcus falls in the food and the food is eaten, one is at risk.

Staph is one of the most common causes of food poisoning and usually within hours of eating contaminated food, the person gets infected. Usually, it does not cause fever. The signs that can be expected in this case include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and in some instances, low blood pressure. In another case, one can have the microorganisms enter the blood stream and this is known as blood poisoning. It is also known as septicemia, which occurs when staph bacteria enters a person’s blood stream. A fever and low blood pressure are signs of septicaemia. When staph gets into the blood, it can travel to locations within the body such as the internal organs – brain, heart, lungs, bone, muscles.

 How is it diagnosed?

It is usually diagnosed through laboratory investigations such as blood culture. However, there is now a global problem which is antibiotics resistance. Diagnosis is usually through laboratory investigations and imaging.

What is the incubation period of staph?

It is a functionality of who is infected and the site of infection. If one takes staph with food, within a few hours, one starts feeling nauseous, may start vomiting and also have diarrhoea. However, if the person is having staph on the surface of the skin where a boil results, it will take days before one sees the boil and begins investigation of it. It is not every boil that is staph-related. Someone can have a boil and it would not be as a result of staphylococcus. However, someone can have a staph-related boil and may not do any investigation of it initially because they may assume that it is just a boil.

Is staphylococcus contagious?

It is very contagious as it is a communicable disease, transferable from one person to another. It can also stay on plates and cups for a very long period of time and it can be passed through that.

How is it treated?

It can be treated through the use of antibiotics.

Can it be prevented?

Yes, it can. There are ‘common-sense’ precautions that can help lower the risk of developing staph infection; for example, washing of hands. Careful washing of hands is the best defence mechanism against any germ. If the hands are washed, they should be dried with clean materials. As staph is a common microorganism found on the surfaces of wounds, it is very important to keep wounds covered. They should be covered with sterile bandages until they heal. It is also advisable not to share personal items such as towels, bedsheets, pillow cases, clothing, athletic equipment etc. It is also advisable that clothing and beddings should be washed in hot water and with disinfectants. All of these would help reduce the spread of staph. Food safety precautions should also be taken. This includes washing of hands before handling food and cold food should be made hot above 60 degrees centigrade.

Are there any myths about staph infection?

Yes. The common myth is that staph infection is sexually transmitted. There are some traditional people that would be advertising that they have a super concoction that would even cure staph aureus. Staph infection is not a sexually-transmitted disease. However, due to the fact that it is on the surface of the skin, it can be passed across but it is not a sexually transmitted disease.

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Friday OLOKOR

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, said on Saturday that money-based politics was a major factor responsible for unprecedented corruption and bad governance in the country.

The monarch, who is also the President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, made the assertion at the 23rd Ummah Convention, organised by the Ummah Movement in Abuja.

The theme of the convention was, ‘The Muslim Voice on Good Governance in Nigeria.’

Abubakar said, “This is partly responsible for bad governance that has characterised our polity, subverting our development, perpetrating poverty and eliciting the unending social conflicts.

“This money-based politics will continue to fuel the unprecedented corruption we see in our society; as a result of these our pristine values as people have been supplanted and our future thrown into jeopardy.

“All leaders, political, spiritual and traditional need to come together to salvage our polity from dangers that the current political culture poses. The consequences of ignoring these standards are already showing and we must not wait until the bubbles busts.”

Meanwhile, Abubakar has claimed that the problems in the country started when traditional institutions became sidelined by key actors in politics.

The monarch enjoined people to speak out on the problems they faced because “when you know you have problems, the problems are half solved.”

The Sultan stated this during a one-day retreat for traditional rulers in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria with the theme, ‘The role of traditional rulers in community policing in Nigeria,’ held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos.

He said, “When problems come, traditional rulers do not run away from the problems but political leaders run away. Let us sit down and face the problems squarely. The problems of this country started when traditional institutions were sidelined and kept aside.

“We speak for the progress of the nation. We don’t criticise the government but we tell government what it has done right and what it has done wrong; we are part of the government.”

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who was represented by Oba Ajibade Mudashiru, stated that with the geographical size and population of Nigeria, the need for local policing was essential for the development of the country.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, also stated that community policing in Anambra state was working well, although not too perfectly.

He stressed that community policing involved collaboration with the police, adding that it was not a new phenomenon.

Achebe, who spoke on the importance of language, noted that if a policeman was unable to speak the language of the locals, he was already at a disadvantage.

The Director-General of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Jonathan Mela Juma, said President Muhammadu Buhari had tasked the institution with the task of conducting a study on insecurity in the country.

Also present at the programme were the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba and Shehu of Borno, represented by the Emir of Askira Uba, Ibn Mohammed.

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President-General of Agbekoya Farmers Association Nigeria, Chief Kamorudeen Aremu, tells TOBI AWORINDE that President Muhammadu Buhari should review the appointment of heads of security agencies

How do you feel about the domination of heads of security agencies by northerners in the light of the forthcoming general elections?

Already, there is a crisis about security in Nigeria and truly, it is northerners that are the heads of all the security agencies. This will have some impacts, and the reason is that some of their colleagues, who are working for them, may be saboteurs. In the South-West, where I am from, the Fulani crisis among farmers continued until we, the leaders of the farmers’ association, gave the order that ‘if they attack you, attack them’. That was when the crisis began to reduce. We have 35 per cent of security guarantee in Nigeria. Kidnapping continues; the crisis of Fulani herdsmen continues because journalists are not covering it anymore.

We had some cases in Saki (Oyo State) just last week. So, there should be no discrimination; no one should say, ‘We are northerners, so all our security chiefs must be northerners’. Anybody who is in charge of security is supposed to represent all Nigerians. That is why I say security in Nigeria today is 35 per cent. The Presidency can say the security is okay. No, it is not okay. So, we need genuine people who know about security. It is not that you will just bring somebody who is below rank and put them in charge. His experience is not up to the demands of the crimes in Nigeria. People are committing crimes all over the country.

What proofs do you have to justify that a balanced geographical spread in the appointment of security chiefs is good for the country?

The former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, for instance, took advantage of the fact that nobody could do anything about him. That is why he engaged in illegality. Another person that is supposed to be there — we just read in the newspaper — is (Yusuf) Magaji. Why Magaji? He is much lower in hierarchy; he should not even come close to the office. In fact, after the (qualified) Bayelsa man, the next one is one Igbo man. I don’t want to mention their names because I know them. So, I don’t know why we continue to be discriminatory in everything we are doing. We have to be transparent.

I know President (Muhammadu) Buhari is a security man that is supposed to love security. We should not discriminate.

So, what about the DSS?

Honestly, I don’t know what Nigerians are supposed to do about it. But what I know is that security in Nigeria is not up to standard, unless they find a solution to it. The solution is that anybody that is next – either Igbo, Yoruba, a south-southerner, or Hausa – should be the next. They should not just go and take somebody from somewhere and put the person there to be head of security. As we move closer to the elections in 2019, Nigerians are panicking because anything can happen. About Agbekoya, we are particular about security for ourselves in farming because anything that happens to a farmer, we respond even before the police responds.

Should the President appoint other heads of security agencies to balance out the ethnic composition?

That is the best way for the President to go. He needs to resolve it. Think about the thousands of people that died in Fulani/herdsmen clashes. Think about Boko Haram also. In fact, it is doing worse than what we saw them do before. If President Buhari can reshuffle and start again, find people that are serious, people that have experience and are ready to work, he can take them for training so that they can learn more about how other advanced countries secure their countries. We have people with a lot of experience but they will not use them and that is why Nigeria continues to be like this. We need intelligent people to handle the security of Nigeria so that President Buhari too can relax. Now, the people that are there are not capable. I use this medium to tell President Buhari that he should reshuffle the security cabinet and put other new young intelligent people who will work hard. Also, he should separate security from politics because a lot of crimes come from politics.

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Tell us more about yourself.

My name is Murtala Muhammad Aminu. I am married to Sa’adiya Aliyu-Aminu and we have three children (Imran, Layla & Haibah). I am an economist living in Abuja. I’ve worked for 15 years in the oil & gas and finance sector. I was born in June 1977 and named after the late former Head of State, Murtala Mohammed, who was a close friend of my father.

How would you describe life growing up with your father?

Well, in the early years of my life that I can remember, my father was an academic and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and therefore, very busy. He travelled a lot and we always looked forward to his return and he always came home with gifts. He was a great provider and made sure his family never lacked.

When he was around, the house always came alive as there were always people coming in and out of the house, from in and out of town. There was always one aunty or uncle coming to stay and a lot of other relatives.

Tell us about your siblings.

My father has nine children (4 girls and 5 boys). I am the middle child.  My mother, Hajiya Ladi Ahmed, has six children and three with Hajiya Fatima Bukar Mulima.

The first born is Dr. Kingi Aminu-Okoya, a senior consultant in the UK. Bello Aminu has a master’s degree in Public Health from George Washington University and works in the USA. Nana Aminu, a lawyer, lives in the UK. Hajiya Maryamu Aminu and Hajiya Rahima Aminu also hold master’s degrees and live in Nigeria.

Mr. Bashiru Aminu is also a master’s degree holder in Economics, observing the National Youth Service Corps programme. Mr. Abubakar Aminu and Ibrahim Aminu are in the university and A level programme respectively.

Your father is a professor of cardiology. Is any of his children following in his career path?

The first two children followed in his footsteps to the extent of being medical doctors. The other children pursued various fields such as law, international relations and economics.

We may all end up aligning with his career path in some way. He was a doctor, we have doctors! He was a diplomat and we have those who studied international relations. He worked in the government, we have public servants! Life can be wonderful like that.

Did he try to persuade any of his children to follow in his career path?

I would say he encouraged all to pursue their dreams and supported our choices. Most of us studied to masters’ degree level. I’m sure he is proud of us all.

How did he create time for his family considering his busy schedule?

He always tried his best to spend as much time as he could with us. He did this in numerous ways like eating dinner as a family daily and always bringing his work home, so he could come home on time and work late. Family time involved teaching, reading, storytelling, laughing, joking and TV programmes.

Additionally, quite a few times we went on family trips, where he took us to many great places such as Kenya on Safari, Eiffel Tower in Paris, The Leaning Tower of Pisa and Coliseum in Rome, Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, Big Ben in London, Smithsonian in Washington, Disney World in Florida, Vienna, Austria, Athens, Niagara falls, Canada and even to see Mount Etna a living volcano alive at the time.

Most notable was to hajj, Saudi Arabia. This is to name some. In that area and many others, it is safe to say the man has tried for my siblings and me. Through him, I have met many great people – presidents, including the Clintons, television personalities, artists, politicians, activists, you name it. I am very grateful to him.

We also travelled locally, day or night, North or South, East or West. Those were the good times, the good old days. After retirement, he has all the time in the world for himself, family and friends as it should be.

How would you describe his performance when he represented Adamawa Central in the Senate?

My father projected intellect, honour, leadership, strength and purpose. His slogan was ‘development for all.’ He tried to touch as many lives as possible with his goodwill and available resources both socially and personally. Some called him ’Professor dukaduniya’ (professor worldwide in Hausa). If you heard him speak, you may likely have voted for him. He was a very convincing and valuable politician.

As a humanitarian, he attended many events, weddings, funerals and functions as was possible being generous with his time and friendship. As such, anytime he would need people, they would always come for better or worse. Or sometimes, people just come to greet him, many times by the hundreds. That was Yola for us.

Even though, he represented Adamawa Central in the Senate, his focus, contributions and engagements in the Senate were national and international. He was involved in several legislative and non-legislative functions that impacted on the direction of the nation. There were many of such legacies in the Senate. He served as a highly respected and an influential legislator that embodied experience, knowledge and wisdom in the Senate. He was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as a member of committees on education and health for the eight-year period he served.

Is any of his children in politics?

For now, no! However, he has supported, in no small part, many persons he regarded as his own. Due to our traditions and his experience, a lot of people regard him as a father figure. They are most welcome.

What is his idea of discipline?

Discipline in the narrow sense was that if you did a small thing wrong, you got a small talk. If it was a big thing, you got a big talk!

Discipline in the broad sense was to be up early, be punctual, pray hard and on time, read the scriptures, obey rules and have good manners.

While at the Nigerian Embassy in the US, he told his children to be appreciative of the American culture. Though we may have been covered by diplomatic immunity, he said, ‘If you have to show diplomatic immunity, then you do not deserve diplomatic immunity.’ We must be respectful of the laws of any country we live in.

What moral codes did he give his children while growing up?

Islam, morality, dignity and humour.

Would you say his name opens doors for you?

I am not sure how to answer that. However, I am very grateful to be one of his children.

What is his view about the state of the nation?

Nigeria has come a long way and still there is much to be done. There has been much advancement in population, technology, diplomacy and politics.

There is a lot of grumbling, but things are moving. Recall there were times in Nigeria’s history when Presidents died in office; when politicians could not form alliances and stable governments. Sometime, we as Nigerians forget. What is pinching Nigeria today will be forgotten tomorrow. All the same, forgiveness comes and comes frequently. Guess Nigerians like to just move on.

Further, he believes in Nigeria’s federalism. He believes that the country is a great gift of God; blessed in every respect. We need to capitalise on that. He always talks of how we can improve our condition and make the nation better for the present and future generations.

How comfortable was his family when he served as the minister of education and minister of petroleum and mineral resources?

As I mentioned earlier, he was a good provider. Back in the day, before owner occupier or monetisation policy, the government provided housing, transportation, services and otherwise for all public servants. During that time, all his children were attending government schools. My sisters attended Queen’s College, My elder brother attended FGC and I am an ex-JAM (Ex-Junior Air Man) i.e. I went to Air Force Military School, Jos. So really, I think we were as comfortable as any student that toed the same path. We thank God, always.

What is his favourite food?

I can’t say he has a favourite food because taste changes. But as general guide, it is usually a salad and chicken starter; then tuwo/soup, and fruit for desert (pineapple & papaya); always a balanced diet. Curiously, he doesn’t like onions. Also no salt, pepper and oil. I guess savory dishes were not his thing. He jokingly said it a lot of times that if it tastes good, it is bad for you. That probably made a lot of sense.

Would you have wished he were anything else but a cardiologist, lecturer and politician?

With a brain and cerebral capacity like his, he could probably have been anything he wanted to and that is what he chose. Going further he has achieved much more. He may tell you his highest qualification is being a Fellow, Academy of Science (FAS), but he has many honours such as Legion de Honneur from the President of France; another from the then President from Kazakhstan, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), OPEC President and many others from CSOs, institutes and associations.

Which of his values have you imbibed?

The values I imbibed from him are Islam, honesty, courage and hard work.

How does he relax?

He enjoys reading, long walks, his favourite comedies (Yes Minister), documentaries, Islamic Channel and sightseeing. Other times when he is in Yola, our family members come from all over and they catch up.

What songs does he listen to?

I do not recall him listening to music in recent times, but I’ve sighted some old tapes in his collection such as Nat King Cole, Jan Kidi from Sokoto, Mamman Shata, Fulani songs and some classical music.

How do people relate with you knowing who your father is?

People relate differently, some places more than others. In political, academic, oil and gas settings, more people tend to know him and therefore ask how he is and if I am following in his footsteps. Generally, I believe that people associate and relate to people based on their own merit rather than their parents or lineage. I think mostly this is the case.

How large is his family?

His family is moderate by Nigerian standards and light by African. Our extended family tree spans four-five generations. Unfortunately, the elders are going.

Who are your father’s friends?

He has friends all over the world. They cut across countries, age, class, status, professions, religions, ethnicity and geographical locations. Counting them will be an impossible task. Many of his childhood and later life friends are no longer alive.

Amongst his many friends and people he respects/respected included the late Dr. Ishaku Aliyu, the late Shehu Yaradua, the late Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji. Hamidu Jada, Dr. Thomas John, Mr. Funso Kupolokun, Mr. David Ogbodo, Alh. Muhammed Lawan Buba, Dr. Arabi Tukur, Galadima of Kano, Alhaji Adebayo Adetunji, Prof Lagundoye, Prof. Akinkugbe to name some. He also has a great deal of respect (in no particular order) for Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Gowon, Gen Abdulsalami (Abubakar), ex-President (Shehu) Shagari and President (Muhammadu) Buhari to name some more.

What are you most proud of about him?

His achievements and peaceful exit from active politics. Prof. Jibril Aminu has given so much to humanity both in public service and privately. With all sense of modesty, I remain permanently thankful to God for giving me a father that his teachers and the world acknowledged as intelligent, forthright by his subordinates, upright by his superiors and a visionary achiever by society. He has attained the apex of his profession as a professor of Medicine and vice-chancellor of a university;  held important national and international positions, some of which are the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Vice-Chancellor,  University of Maiduguri; Minister of Education,  Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; President  of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Member, Nigeria National Constitutional Conference; Member, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party;  Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States of America  and a senator of the Federal Republic.

My father is an exceptionally gifted fellow that has contributed significantly to the growth and development of education, especially higher education in the country. He set up the NUC and midwifed the second generation universities in the 70s. Later as minister of education, his tenure and perspective in the ministry dismantled an old order that gave way to the shaping of a modern and an equitable system in the ministry and indeed the sector. The number of federal institutions like universities, polytechnics, colleges of education increased. The sector became more sensitive to the federal character principle, new policies like that of NPEC, indigenisation of JAMB, nomadic and gifted children education, etc were put in place.

In the petroleum ministry, his tenure heralded some revolutionary policies like the indigenisation of oil exploration; initiating oil exploration in the Benue Valley and other northern parts of the country; building of new depots; constructing the Eleme Petrochemical Plant; and opening up of the sector to all Nigerians for employment and business. He spearheaded the formation of the African Petroleum Producers Association of which he was the President in 1991. He was also elected the President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries from 1992-1993.

Before he left the ministry, the country’s oil and gas reserves had increased considerably and many Nigerians engaged in oil exploration in different parts of Nigeria.

How close are you to him?

We are very close and I see him almost daily or as frequently as I can. We talk about current affairs, family business and other father-son things.

What advice did he give you about life and relationship?

Life is not always easy; sometimes, you have to struggle to achieve. Other times, you meet some great people along the way that make your journey easier and always take care of your family.

How did his family celebrate his installation as the ‘Bobaselu of the Source’, by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade?

We attended the function robustly. Our delegation gathered in Lagos with friends, family, associates in attendance and drove to Akure, Ondo State, for the night where we had dinner at the governor’s country home with his wife.

Then we headed to Osun State the next day. Other government officials, more politicians and well-wishers came from Abuja. Some people came all the way from Adamawa State by bus with their drums and instruments, which added more sound and colour to the event. It was a massive occasion as other eminent Nigerians were being honoured as well. We thank and appreciate the late Ooni and his family and also his people. Greetings to the new Ooni.

To state more, the honour was gloriously received and celebrated by his immediate family, community in Adamawa, friends and well-wishers all over the country. It was considered as one of the highest celebrations of his detribalised Nigerian nature; to be so recognised and honoured by the Ooni of Ife, the ancestral leader of the Yoruba race. It showed his positive connection with the great people of Yorubaland. The occasion of the conferment witnessed huge celebrations in Ife and Yola with pomp and circumstance. He is also a recipient of many other chieftaincy titles in Lagos, different parts of Igboland and other parts of Nigeria.

How does he like to dress?

Typically, he wears traditional business attire (babanriga). When he is out of the country, he wears a three-piece suit or his babanriga.

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Chief Frank Kokori, former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, who played a significant role to actualise the June 12, 1993 election, expresses his disappointment with the present state of the nation in this interview with SUNDAY ABORISADE

Nigeria will be 58 years old as an independent nation on Monday. Do you think the occasion is worth celebrating?

READ ALSO: I rejected N300m bribe to dump APC —Binta Garba

I was already in secondary school during the nation’s independence. We thought that immediately after independence, Nigeria will move and soar in terms of social, political and economic development within 20 years. When I was growing up in Warri, (Delta State), there was pipe borne water everywhere and electricity was constant. They were provided by the Public Works Department. When I moved to Lagos in the early 60s to complete my secondary school education, all social infrastructure was working perfectly. Unfortunately, the situation is deteriorating by the day. I had the opportunity of travelling to Europe, America and other parts of the world as a young worker, a unionist in the 1970s. I saw the standard of living of residents of those countries. They were far below that of Nigeria. When I went to China and I saw their people riding bicycles as means of transportation, I was shocked because we already had municipal buses and taxis conveying passengers to their various destinations in Lagos. I particularly saw the Indians to be very low people in terms of development. I also remembered that it was difficult for me to see a colour-television when I travelled to the UK in 1978 whereas, I already owned one in my apartment in Lagos as a young worker with NUPENG.

How did we get it wrong?

Nigeria’s problem is that of leadership failure. We don’t have men of character, or patriotic individuals in positions of authority.  That is why our leaders, over the years, failed to drive this nation to where we ought to be.  I always weep each time I see pictures and videos of young Nigerians passing through the worst inhuman treatment while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pasture. The problem actually affects the entire African continent and I wonder why it is so. I will say it is peculiar to the black people. Apart from one or two countries in Africa where leaders have shown courage, capacity and high level of sincerity, I am not aware of other countries that had had an opportunity to be led by visionary leaders. In my early days, when Nigerians go to Europe, he goes to study, not to do menial jobs. When you see young Nigerians abroad in those days, you will be proud of them because they were either studying in the university or polytechnic.

But our leaders who governed the country at independence actually did well. Is it that the institutions they put in place were not sustainable?

I remembered a protest that happened while I was at the Eko Boys High School in the Mushin-Oloosa area of Lagos. It was a violent situation with people burning houses because there was an election malpractice somewhere. People were politically conscious and they were interested in those who would manage their affairs. That was why social amenities were working. I could remember vividly then that there were functioning general hospitals all over the places, including LUTH, that people could just walk into and get free treatment. The situation is deteriorating now and the nation is retrogressing instead of progressing. Many Asian countries that we saw in terrible backward state in the 1970s, are well ahead of us now, in terms of scientific and technological development. While those Asian countries that were using bicycles while Nigerians rode in brand new municipal buses and taxes, are now using the latest means of transportation. In fact, we now use the vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles and bicycles made by them.

What do you think of the roles played by the military who claimed they seized power to restore sanity into the system by clearing the mess created by politicians then?

In fact, the military contributed immensely to the rot which we have in the system now. The soldiers took over the system and became lords with no one to challenge them. They constituted themselves into the Supreme Military Council where about 20 young military officers would sit down and determine the fate of a great country like Nigeria. They did what they liked and destroyed all the institution, the economy and of course, our political structures that could drive development. They contributed greatly to the downgrading of the standard of living of Nigerians. Today, poverty level in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world, no thanks to the military. Rather than developing human capital and creating jobs, the military rulers made some people multi-billionaires. We have very wealthy people in Nigeria flaunting their wealth in the faces of poverty-stricken, helpless citizens in their millions.

Do you agree that the discovery of oil in the early 70s made us lazy as a people and our leaders who were supposed to manage other natural resources and agriculture, neglected them because of the free oil money?

That is absolutely correct and it is the wickedness of the leaders that made them to neglect critical revenue-yielding sectors simply because a lot of oil revenue was coming in. They are just talking about diversification when they had destroyed the entire system, 58 years after our independence. It is a shame. The situation we have now is what I call failure of leadership, the type of leadership is without foresight. For instance the discovery of oil was supposed to be a blessing rather than being a curse. Oil is a commodity that has an expiry time. After some time, we won’t get it any longer and by the time we have wasted the wealth, we would have nothing to fall back on. Look at a country like Norway which has some quantity of oil but investing heavily with the proceeds they are getting from it. The Norwegian government established its own oil company and used the proceeds to invest heavily in properties all over the world. Their thinking is that the oil would dry up one day and their people must have something to fall back on. Norway can never recede into recession in the next 100 years because they have investment all over the world. The money they get from oil is too much that a worker, apart from having a good car, also has a yacht which he or she uses to enjoy with his or her family. I am always ashamed when our country is ranked among the poorest nations in the world despite our abundant oil and gas deposit that was discovered in commercial quantities several decades ago. The middle class in Nigeria today cannot buy a good car not to talk of people in the junior working class category. Norway is a classic example of a country that has made life so easy for its people.

Nigerians had so much hope in the ability of President muhammadu Buhari to right the wrongs by voting for him in 2015 but many people believe that nothing has really changed after three years. What is your reaction?

We elected President Buhari because we wanted him to fight corruption but he keeps on saying that corruption is fighting back. A country where the judiciary and the police are corrupt is in a very serious problem. The police and the judiciary, as a result of corruption, are finding it difficult to successfully investigate and prosecute corrupt leaders within six months and jail them. These days, police and military officers extort money from people especially motorists in broad daylight with nobody doing anything about it. The civil society and labour unions that are supposed to act as monitors of government officials and their activities have also been compromised. I don’t think we have good labour leaders any longer in this country. Even if there are, they may not be up to five per cent. A country without a strict judiciary, without strong law enforcement agencies will just sink.

Do you agree with President Buhari that he is unable to do much as regards fixing the economy because the Peoples Democratic Party’s government destroyed the system for 16 years?

People might say I am biased because I am an All Progressives Congress leader but the PDP actually contributed to the mess in the land. However, the APC is also too slow with the implementation of its change agenda. Personally, I never accepted the type of slow system that the APC government is running in the last three years. From the Federal Government down to the local levels, the system has been considerably slowed down.

Is that why some APC leaders are now defecting to the PDP?

Definitely, the PDP is not the alternative to the APC because we can’t go back to Egypt. That is my opinion; it’s not because I am an APC person. Nigerians should not be blaming the Federal Government; people should ask their governors and local government chairmen for accountability. For instance, flood is taking over the whole place and the state could not do anything about it. Buhari is still the only alternative that we have. He is the only person who would not steal the nation’s money.

But many Nigerians are accusing him of not being in charge and that a powerful cabal has hijacked his government.

Yes, President Buhari should shine his eyes and watch the people he puts in various positions. He should devise a means of monitoring them through an effective and feedback mechanism. I know he has some limitations and challenges but I think President Buhari is too slow in taking critical actions and many people, including those working with him that he appointed into offices, have abused democracy under his watch. So, we need some toughness from Mr. President.

What is actually happening on the NSITF board, where you are named the chairman? It has yet to be inaugurated more than a year after President Buhari appointed you and others?

I was appointed the Chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, for over a year now and I have not been inaugurated because one minister and some people in government said the fear of Kokori is the beginning of wisdom. Is it now a sin to have people of integrity in positions of authority? What type of situation is that? So many countries would celebrate me at least they would have that assurance that I will take care of the health of the workers, pay their emoluments and even pay pension benefit to people who have health problems. For now, they have decided to keep me off bay, giving me one reason or another to delay the inauguration.

Are you saying that the reason being offered to delay your inauguration was not tenable?

What are they probing again? The EFCC had concluded the probe of the former board. Why should I not be inaugurated? President Buhari has passed instruction for my inauguration about four or five times, yet the minister refused to heed the president’s directive. The party (APC) through the Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, gave instruction, yet they ignored it too. Rather, they resorted to blackmail against Oshiomhole. If appointees of the President could ignore his directive and oppress me like this, what is the hope of the common man in this country? They know that I have integrity and that I won’t compromise; that is why they are treating me like this. The whole place has been destroyed yet you don’t want to bring in somebody who will restore sanity. Rather, they are setting up fake enquiries to probe an already concluded investigation. The minister of Labour and Productivity (Chris Ngige) is just going forth and back on the issue and I wonder why Nigerians, especially labour unions, who would benefit more from the services of NSITF, has not staged any protest against the minister’s action.

Have you complained to the President personally?

I have complained to the President. I have also complained to leaders of the APC but they keep on assuring me that they will soon inaugurate me; however, nothing is being done in that regard. All other federal boards, approved by the President, had been inaugurated except that of the NSITF. Many people hailed my appointment, describing it as a round peg in a round hole to safeguard and protect a world-class pension emolument which people just steal and walk away. We have people around the President who have become lords unto themselves that is why I say he should shine his eyes more on people around him – the so-called advisers and other appointees because they are making his jobs more difficult for him. He has a little asset but people around the President are dropping his name and making so much money. Here I am, an elder statesman, being punished unnecessarily and humiliated. I cried to him, I cried to the party but nothing has happened. We have a Board of Trustees that had been appointed since 2015; up till now, it has not been inaugurated. If the board is in place, all these rubbish won’t happen. At least, the board will caution them.

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Friday OLOKOR

A former governor of Plateau State and senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Jonah Jang, has condemned the invasion of Rukuba Road, Jos North Plateau State, by bandits.

According to him, President Muhammdu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong should “resign with immediate effect having displayed unfathomable insensitivity and cluelessness in the aspects of security and value for human life.”

Jang advised the youths of Plateau State to defend themselves within the perimeters of the law, adding that it was dangerous to trust Buhari with their security.

He said the attack had revealed “the very short life expectation of our people who are no longer safe wherever they are in our towns, villages, and city.”

The former governor’s response was contained in a statement by his media consultant, Clinton Garuba, obtained by our correspondent on Saturday.

He said, “This recent surge of mindless killings in Plateau State is a damning appraisal to the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Plateau State.

“Under the present administration, hardly a day passes without news of people getting killed by herdsmen or unknown gunmen with ancestral lands forcefully occupied and people rendered homeless and internally displaced on their own land.

“Jang hereby calls on the United Nations to intervene in Nigeria and act on behalf of the poor, innocent, and abandoned people of Plateau State and their endangered kinds in the Middle Belt, to protect and guarantee them a future of longevity, pride, and prosperity.”

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The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says the party’s victory in the Osun governorship election shows that democracy is at work in the country.

Tinubu said this after he received the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola; and the governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday evening.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Oyetola was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission at the end of Thursday’s re-run election in seven polling centres.

He polled a total of 255,505 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, who polled 255,023 votes.

Tinubu said the people of the state exercised their rights and chose the best candidate to drive development in the state.

He said, ”The people of Osun demonstrated their strong determination. They have good judgment. They exercised their rights to choose the best candidate necessary for developmental programmes in the state.

“When you look at those who were running, you have the best, the most brilliant, the most qualified, competent, calm and a great candidate.

“That is what they have done to show that democracy is at work.

“Democracy is about the people, and the people have equally exercised their right to be tolerant, patient, persevere and do what is necessary to develop the economy of the state.

“In leadership, you need a thinker and a doer that must be present in the mind, body and soul; that person who will carry the responsibility of the state and I feel that Oyetola fits perfectly.”

Tinubu urged the people of the state to encourage and give their maximum support to Oyetola.

On the APC presidential primary, the party’s national leader said the huge support from party faithful in Lagos State was a signal that the party would emerge victorious in 2019.

The Lagos State Governor,  Akinwunmi Ambode; and  a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, were also on the ground during the visit.

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, in this interview with TOBI AWORINDE, faults the appointment of all heads of security agencies, who are mostly from the North

How do you feel about the appointment of heads of security agencies, who are mostly from the North?

Obviously, it is contradictory to the constitutional requirement that there will be a spread in appointments pursuant to provisions of Section 14 which embeds the federal character principle. Then it makes clear in the constitution that as far as possible, there must be a national spread to reflect appointments. So, for instance, if in the Supreme Court, every single judge comes from my town in Onitsha (Anambra State), there would be a problem. The reason for this is not that the best principle should not apply.

The appointment of senior advocates of Nigeria also follows the same process. You may have 20 of the top lawyers from Onitsha, but it just wouldn’t make sense if you appoint every single SAN in 2019 from one town. You will always find good people elsewhere. They may not be the best, but you will always find good people elsewhere.

So, in the security services, I think it would not give confidence if suddenly we see all the appointments coming from the North. People would say, ‘What about the South?’ So, that is the unconstitutionality of those appointments. I cannot comment on the professionalism of those appointed, but no matter how professional, what is lacking is the spread.

Is such a situation healthy as we approach an election year?

How can it be healthy? From what I have said, you know it is not healthy. It is not a good position to have in a country that is as volatile as Nigeria on ethnic issues and religious issues. It just creates unnecessary tension.

Do you propose that there should be a reshuffle of the security council of the Federal Government?

In fact, somebody should go to court and challenge it. It is just that I am tired of going to court to challenge things. I have over 20 cases in court. But clearly, it is the type of case that if you take to court, the court would declare it to be null and void and ineffective because it offends the provisions of the constitution on national spread and federal character.

So, I would suggest to the President that it is important that he has a rethink and makes the appointments in such a way that everybody in all parts of Nigeria will have confidence in the appointments.

How do you think the ethnic composition of the appointments of those in charge of the security agencies could affect the impartiality of the forthcoming elections?

It is possible because if the national security apparatus plays a very strong role in supervising the elections, then clearly — I don’t say that they will, but — they may be under orders to achieve a certain result.

That is why it is important to have a national spread, so that everybody will see that they have their own people in the system and then there will be confidence; so, no party can say, ‘It’s because all these guys are from one part of Nigeria and that, therefore, they tend to be in favour of a particular party’. That might have an impact on the outcome of the elections.

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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was on Sunday conspicuously absent at the interdenominational church service to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The theme of the service was “Harnessing our diversity for national development.”

According to the programme of the event, Dogara had earlier been picked to read the service’s second lesson from 1 Corinthians 12:4-18 while the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was meant to read the first lesson Exodus 13:8-13.

Shortly after Onnoghen read the first lesson, however, the master of ceremony announced that a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), would take the second lesson as a mark of honour for the former military leader.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, attended the service.

Dogara attended the previous services which are always attended by top government officials who are Christians.

Recall that he recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Adelani Adepegba, with agency report

The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended its ongoing nationwide strike following promises by the Federal Government to reconvene the tripartite committee on national minimum wage on October 4.

The suspension of the warning strike takes effect from today.

Announcing the decision in Abuja on Sunday, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, stated that the labour action was suspended to enable the tripartite committee to hold its crucial meeting and conclude its work.

The organised labour had embarked on the strike after a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government for failing to come out with its own figure on the new minimum wage.

The three labour unions had demanded N65,500 as new minimum wage for workers, while the private employers and some state governors were proposing N25,000.

President of the NLC Ayuba Wabba said at a world news conference in Abuja on Sunday that the strike was suspended after the government agreed to reconvene the tripartite committee’s meeting on the new minimum wage.

READ ALSO:  Dynamite explodes near Rivers APC secretariat

Wabba said the meeting, scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 4, would enable the committee to conclude work on the minimum wage after the Federal Government must have given a figure on what it could afford for workers.

“Indeed on Thursday morning, the strike action commenced and was observed across the country.

“We similarly commend the members of the press for their vigorous and comprehensive reportage of the strike; we thank all Nigerians for their support.

“We have received a firm and formal invitation to a reconvened meeting of the tripartite committee scheduled for Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, 2018.

“We demand that this shall be the final session of the committee and that a final report will be submitted to Mr President immediately.

“In order to avail the committee the necessary conducive environment to hold this crucial meeting and conclude its work, organised labour has after obtaining the mandate of their necessary organs, decided to suspend the strike with effect from today, Sunday Sept. 30, 2018,” Wabba said.

He urged all unions and state councils to maintain a high level of mobilisation and readiness until the struggle for a reasonable minimum wage was achieved.

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with leadership and members of National Assembly over the passing of Funke Adedoyin.

Adedoyin, until her death was a member of the House of Representatives, representing Irepodun Isin/ Ekiti /Oke Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara.

Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, commiserated with the government and people of Kwara, her family and friends over the sad incident.

He said that her demise had deprived the nation of the wisdom and maturity she had always brought into service.

The president believed that as a former member of the Federal Executive Council and legislator, Adedoyin’s sacrifice and contributions to national development would be remembered by posterity.

He added that her unreserved commitment for more representation of women in government and education of children would not be forgotten so easily.

Buhari prayed that God to receive her soul and comfort all her loved ones.

(NAN)

The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday justified his support for  Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress instead of the incumbent Akinwunmi Ambode.

He said he is not supporting Ambode because he ignored the blueprint for progress in Lagos State, thus contravening the spirit of progressive governance.

It was Tinubu’s first statement over the controversy stirred by the APC chiefs and entrenched interest groups in ditching Ambode for the second term.  And it came on the eve of the governorship primary slated for Monday.

Tinubu totally ignored the concerns raised earlier at a world press conference by Ambode about the party’s anointed candidate:  Sanwo-Olu being jailed in America for fake US dollars and his spending time at a Lagos rehab centre for mental problems.

Tinubu, in his statement, harped on the development master plan his administration bequeathed to the state and lamented how the Ambode administration has jettisoned it for what he called ” ad-hoc schemes of a materially inferior quality”.

He said that such narrowness of perspective has not brought the people closer to their appointed destination.

According to him,  it has taken the people farther from that destiny.

”My goal is and shall always be a better Lagos. To this objective, I have dedicated the greater part of my public life. Roughly 20 years ago, a corps of dedicated and patriotic Lagosians, put aside personal interests and rivalries, to put their minds and best ideas together for the good of the state.

”Out of this collaborative effort, was born a master plan for economic development that would improve the daily lives of our people.

”When I was elected governor in 1999, my administration faithfully implemented that plan. The government of my immediate successor, Tunde Fashola, also honoured this enlightened plan.

”Where state government remained true to that blueprint, positive things happened. During my tenure and Governor Fashola’s, Lagos state recorded improvements in all aspects of our collective existence.

”I make no pretence that the master plan is perfect. It can always be fine-tuned.

”However, whenever a government departed from this plan without compelling reason, the state and its people have borne the painful consequence of the improper departure.

”For reasons unknown to me and most Lagosians, we have experienced such deviations from enlightened governance recently.

”However, as a leader of the party and as a former governor of our beloved and excellent Lagos, I would be remiss if I did not make a few observations regarding the primary, ” he said.

Tinubu said that the trend of deviation called for concern as the party primary approaches to avoid irreparable harm that could be committed against the people and their future.

”For the record, let it be known that I shall vote in this primary because I see it as one of extreme import to our state and our party. Just as I shall vote, I equally urge all party members to do so.

”We must vote in a manner that returns Lagos to its better path, the one that promises a just chance for all to enjoy the fruits of our prosperity.

We must always pursue our goal of a Lagos energised by creative dynamism, tolerance of others, and guided by a leadership capable of extending a collegial hand to all stakeholders, far and wide, ” he said.

Tinubu urged the party delegates in the state to vote for the candidate who understands the importance of the blueprint for development.

”I am encouraged by the emergence of a candidate in this primary who has served the state in senior positions in my administration, the Fashola administration and even in the current one.

”While possessing a wealth of experience and exposure, he is a young man endowed with superlative vision and commitment.

”Most importantly, he understands the importance of the blueprint for development. He esteems it as a reliable and well-conceived vehicle for the future development of the state.

”He also knows the value of reaching out and working with others in order to maximise development and provide people the best leadership possible.

”With people like him at the helm, the state will write the proper history for itself.”

NAN.

The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has shifted its governorship primaries to Oct. 1, due to non-arrival of the election committee from the National Headquarters in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Gusau on Sunday by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Shehu Isa.

Meanwhile, the Police Command in the state has appealed to stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies and abide by security measures during the primaries.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Belel made the call at a security stakeholders meeting in Gusau.

This was contained in a statement in Gusau on Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Muhammad Shehu.

Shehu said the meeting was attended by heads of security agencies in the state, officials from Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC governorship aspirants.

“The meeting was aimed at taking proactive security measures for effective security coverage before, during and after the APC governorship primaries in the state,’’ he said.

(NAN)

An Igbo leader and senior legal practitioner, Francis Ogbonnaya, who practised law for 32 years in France before returning to Nigeria, says Buhari should appoint new intelligence chiefs across Nigeria, in this interview with EDWARD NNACHI

What is your reaction to the appointment of all heads of intelligence agencies in Nigeria from the North?

I will not say it’s racist, but I will say its segregation at work. How can a nation of more than 200 million people like Nigeria, have all the heads of service chiefs concentrated in one tribe? It’s anachronism. It’s not normal that everything should come from one region, because we are talking of a federal system. As a man, who had served big nations, I feel that appointment of service chiefs should not be concentrated in one particular region because we practise federalism.

Is such a situation healthy as we approach an election year?

The situation is insane and that’s why I feel that it has to be sanitised so that a lasting solution could be found at the state and federal levels. I have always wondered if those around the President are doing their job. Or does it mean the President isn’t just the listening type? Because I don’t know why he acts the way he had always done since he assumed the leadership of this country in 2015, when it comes to the running of this country. This is a very unfair situation that will not give the masses confidence in an election. I just would wish that the President should caution himself.

Do you think there should be a reshuffle of the security council of the federal government?

Automatically, I say yes because in any country where the security system is vested in the hands of one group, not only that there will be chaos, there will no longer be a democracy but total dictatorship. From my own point of understanding about the Nigerian constitution as amended, there’s a big separation between the executive, legislature and judiciary. Why is it that today, the three arms are concentrated in the hands of one person? Mr. President should do something about the current status-quo, because it isn’t working and Nigerians are badly affected.

How do you think President Buhari should spread the appointment of his service chiefs to ensure balance?

Personally, I feel sharing of these appointments should be equitable. This is because now that the President has given out these positions to his own brothers, he has automatically created an imbalance in the system. We have to create a balanced Nigeria, considering the fact that we have six geopolitical regions in this country, where nobody should feel being cheated. It’s only with this that peace and harmony can be ensured. This is my only message to President Buhari.

Why do you think the current structure could affect the impartiality of the intelligence agents during the forthcoming polls?

I read Law and Political Science in Europe, and I feel and believe in political balanced equation. I know that it’s not politically obtainable, almost anywhere in the world, but I feel we can make it possible, to have this balance through human good faith. We need to unite ourselves to make sure that we are one. This balance becomes very necessary in order to balance the nation politically and otherwise.

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