Oshiomhole: I Told Jonathan PDP Has Failed in Edo

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

…Says God used me to dismantle it Govt alleges plan by PDP to heat up polity


Muhammad Bello

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Tuesday intimated President Goodluck Jonathan of the political liability that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become in Edo State despite the 11 years it spent being in the saddle there.
This is against the recent backdrop of his taking on one of his predecessors, Lucky Igbinedion.

Oshiomhole, who attributed his various victories over the PDP to divine intervention, was at the State House to confer with Jonathan privately.
"For eleven good years PDP local governments had the head way uninterrupted and they cannot boast of one school. Edo people are not fools, how will they vote for ruffians?" he asked.

He observed that Edo people are disenchanted with the corrupt nature of the ruling party, particularly its penchant for using money to lure voters, saying that he told the president that: "those days are gone."

He also indicated: "All they have tried to do in this election is clear and that is what I went to tell the president."

He urged the media "to recognise that what the PDP leaders have done here is to give the impression that rigging is inevitable, preparing for the future. But they will be shocked that Nigerians are not in the mood for any rigging to take place. So, let me assure you I remain committed to the principle of one-man-one-vote because that is the irreducible minimum."

The governor accused the PDP of trying to create the impression that Edo was ungovernable. "They tried to use some criminals, some armed gangs to create trouble here and there and the police was looking the other way.

Enumerating his achievements so far, Oshiomhole said his administration has scored high marks in the areas of building roads, schools and provision of portable water while the PDP wasted its time earmarking money for projects that were never accomplished.

He recalled that last year he contested election “and I won in all the 18 local government areas including Chief Anenih’s local government”.
He said his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), clinched majority of the seats of the National Assembly and won 20 out of 24 house of assembly seats in addition to two senators.

"So, God has used us to dismantle the PDP in Edo State. If it is evil, it can’t stand. Where is the strength of PDP?," he queried.

The governor explained that following the strings of defeat the party has suffered since he came into office "more and more people have decamped from PDP because they were completely demoralized."

"The chief legal coordinator of the PDP candidate decamped to join ACN a month ago. The chief agent of the PDP gubernatorial candidate at INEC decamped to join ACN, citing their reasons as failure of the PDP to manipulate the election.

Oshiomhole also noted that he also floored the PDP in the local government elections "because we chose to fight on the side of democracy because that has been our lives."

He alluded that: "If an armed robber is complaining of being robbed, it is your choice as to how much weight to place on his complaints. The history of rigging election in Nigeria is as old as PDP."

"They have lived on it, they have perpetuated it, they have deepened it, they have feasted on it, and they have even celebrated it. I Thank God He has used me and all other patriotic people to dismantle PDP rigging machine in Edo State," he said.
Going down memory lane, he said when while some the PDP politicians were in cahoot with the military, he and his likes were busy fighting for the entrenchment of democracy.

"For us, it is not a choice that we launch the campaign of one-man-one-vote, we need it and without it, Nigeria’s democracy is not on. And so when they are talking, I ask them a simple question and you can ask them, who among those talking came to Edo State to campaign?," he asked.

Meanwhile, the state government yesterday alleged that it had uncovered a sinister move by politicians in the PDP to recruit thugs masquerading as students to cause disaffection in the state over issues bordering on bursary award and scholarship.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria, claimed that “the ‘students,’ who held a clandestine meeting at the Students’ Union Government (SUG) building at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), threatened to mobilise students to agitate on the streets of Benin City, after a seven-day ultimatum to the government to commence payment of bursary expires.”

“We want to state clearly that the payment of bursary is not a ‘birthright’ as the ‘students’ claim and is not compulsive on a state government as there are many states in the federation which do not pay. Some states which are generally described as disadvantaged in terms of western education pay bursary to encourage their students go for higher education.”

Chibuike Amaechi: We are Not Part of Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda

Governor Rotimi Amaechi

•Rivers State assembly warns of plot to impeach governor
•Court stops suspension of lawmakers
•State govt opens up on aircraft, admits it is US registered aircraft

Ernest Chinwo

In a direct salvo that effectively drew the battle line between himself and President Goodluck Jonathan, the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has declared that his administration is rebuilding the state’s infrastructure to complement the development efforts of its founding fathers and not the transformation agenda of the federal government.


The depth of the feud between the presidency and Amaechi also assumed a new dimension Tuesday when the leadership and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly pointedly accused the executive of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Chief Felix Obuah, of attempting to cause chaos in the state that could lead to the governor’s impeachment.

Their allegation came on the heels of the injunction granted by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday restraining the PDP from suspending 27 members of the state House of Assembly.

The Rivers State Government also Tuesday opened up on the status of its aircraft, admitting that it is a foreign-registered aircraft and therefore enjoys the status of a US citizen.

Amaechi, while speaking on Monday when participants of the Senior Executive Course 35 from the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos paid him a visit in Port Harcourt as part of their tour and analysis of the nation’s transformation agenda, said his administration’s efforts to rebuild the infrastructure in his state was not in lock step with the transformation agenda of the federal government.

Amaechi said the transformation agenda could be implemented by the next administration after his tenure, as he was focused on rebuilding.

According to Amaechi, “We are not doing transformation; we are only going back to where our parents left us first before we can commence transformation.

“There is nothing we are doing now that King Diette-Spiff did not do, but they have all deteriorated. So we are going back to where King Diette-Spiff left the state, and hope that, whoever takes over from us can then transform.
“So here, we are not transforming, we only get back to where Spiff left us."

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and representative of the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ibrahim Jumare, said the purpose of the visit was to undertake a study tour on strengthening institutional framework and the transformational agenda in the country.

He said participants would visit other states in the southern part of the country including Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ekiti and Oyo, and would also hold interactive sessions with various tiers of government on issues of the transformation agenda of the federal government.

In a statement issued by the speaker of the state assembly, Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, for and on behalf of its members, he said the state legislature wished to bring to the notice of the people of the state and Nigerians “some of the dangerous moves by the Felix Obuah-led PDP to cause general chaos and confusion in Rivers State.”

He said the leadership and members of the state assembly had been reliably informed that a fake mace had been smuggled into the state to enable “five members of the house hold an emergency session, even after the house adjourned sine die on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

“The Abuja plan on the ground is to falsely impeach the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the executive governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and create confusion through varied responses, which they hope will make the state ungovernable and provide them with some kind of warped basis to introduce emergency rule in Rivers State.”

He alleged that there were strong indications that some persons have been detailed exclusively to create a systemic collapse of security in the state, putting lives and property in danger.

“This is undemocratic, unacceptable and a complete violation of the mandate that the good people of Rivers State have vested on us.
“We call on the good people of Rivers State to remain calm, watchful and law abiding as the scenario unfolds,” he said.

However, a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the state chapter of the PDP from suspending 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The court order was in reaction to the announcement of the suspension of the lawmakers from the PDP by the chairman of the state chapter of the party, Obuah, on Monday for failing to rescind their decision to suspend the chairman, vice-chairman and 17 councillors of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council of the state.

The lawmakers, in a suit filed at the High Court against the PDP, Obuah and Walter Ibibia, sought an injunction restraining the party from suspending them or declaring their seats vacant.

In his ruling on the injunction, Justice Sika Aprioku on Monday also restrained the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from declaring the seats of the lawmakers vacant.
“An order of interim injunction be and is hereby granted to restrain the defendants, either by themselves, servants, agents, privies or howsoever from declaring the claimants’ seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly vacant and applying to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to replace the claimants as members of Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Aprioku ruled.

While adjourning the matter till May 6 for hearing on the motion on notice, Aprioku also ruled that the defendants be served the originating processes by substituted means.
Also, the Rivers State Government has restated that no agency of the federal government has communicated to it the story doing the rounds about the grounding of its aircraft.

The aircraft, a Bombardier BD 700 Global Express jet, and its passengers, were first delayed at Akure last Friday before officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said the aircraft had no valid permit to fly in the Nigerian airspace.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in a press release issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the state was dismayed by statements attributed to officials of different agencies in the aviation sector about the aircraft owned by the state.

“It is pertinent to note that all of the information and queries about this aircraft have only been through the mass media. The Rivers State Government has not received any communication from the Ministry of Aviation or any of its agencies querying the status of its aircraft even up till this moment,” Semenitari said.

She said the state was surprised to read about matters of administrative procedure and allegations of illegality and abuse of process in the media.

She said the situation had warranted the need to make clarifications about the aircraft.
Semenitari said for purposes of clarification and in keeping with its policy of rendering “transparent and accountable stewardship” to Rivers people, Aircraft N 566 RS arrived Nigeria and has been operating since October 2012.

She said the aircraft was bought by the state government and registered as a US aircraft, in the first instance, to preserve value and provide ease of operation and sourcing of available pilots.

She disclosed that to qualify for “N registration”, an operator must be a US citizen, hence the state government entered into a trust with Bank of Utah Inc, a bank that specialises in aircraft trust.

According to her, “The relationship between the state government and Bank of Utah is that of a trustor and trustee. All N registered aircraft enjoy the privileges of a US citizen.
“The trust agreement for the purpose of N registration is common in the aviation industry. It is important to state that there are other aircraft owners in Nigeria with N registered aircraft.

“This practice is because of the ease of movement that N registered aircraft are privileged to enjoy. We do not therefore understand why the Rivers State Government has been singled out.”

The commissioner disclosed that the aircraft was being operated through a local operator, Caverton Helicopters, pending approval of importation licence by the Minister of Aviation.

“A request for this licence was filed by the operator on behalf of the Rivers State Government and this was expressly stated in the request filed on August 27, 2012 and received in the minister’s office on September 4, 2012,” she said, adding that as a responsible sub-national and guardian of the resources of its people, Rivers State “will at all times and in all circumstances act within the confines of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Again, EFCC Arrests Ubah over Subsidy Fraud

Ifeanyi Uba

Chiemelie Ezeobi

There seems to be no end to the ordeal the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, as he was, once again arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ubah was arrested in his Maitama, Abuja residence by a team of EFCC operatives, for failing to respond to earlier summons by the commission concerning his involvement in the billions of naira fuel subsidy fraud.

However, sources said the arrest might also not be unconnected with the petition by the Chairman of Coscharis, Cosmas Maduka, over a business deal between the duo.

It was gathered that Maduka had also petitioned the EFCC over the said fraud.
THISDAY gathered that operatives of the agency were detailed to track him down when repeated invitations were shunned by Ubah.

The anti-graft agency was allegedly invited to explain his connection in the multi-million dollar oil business deal he had with the Coscharis boss, which the latter has maintained that he was defrauded.

His arrest is coming at the heels of the recent petition by the Debt Management Office (DMO) to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) to reopen the fraud case based on some discrepancies in the figures quoted in the report of the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Claims.

Although police sources had said the SFU might be compelled to re-invite him for questioning based on the strength of the petition from the DMO.
It was not certain if he was released last night.

However, sources close to Ubah told THISDAY that his recent travails might not be unconnected with his purported ambition to contest the governorship poll in his native Anambra State.

The source told THISDAY that all the arrests and re-arrests would not have ever happened if Ubah hadn't made known his intention to contest in the forthcoming election.

House Condemns Grounding of Gov Amaechi’s Jet

Governor Rotimi Amaechi


Onwuka Nzeshi

The House of Representatives Tuesday condemned the alleged grounding of a Bombardier B700 Global Express private jet belonging to the Rivers State Government by the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) at the weekend.

The lawmakers who deliberated on the incident as a matter of urgent public importance, passed a resolution mandating its Committees on Justice and Aviation to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident.

The two committees have been asked to conduct an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the grounding of the aircraft and report back to the House within two weeks.

The matter came up for debate following a motion sponsored by Hon. Ahmed Idris, representing Wase federal constituency of Plateau State.

In the lead debate, Idris argued that the incident had raised serious issues of abuse of powers by the executive and the use of state machinery against perceived political opponents. Idris, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, said the action of the agency smacked of impunity, lawlessness and political vendetta.
The lawmaker criticised the executive arm for taking an action it considered as detrimental to democracy and tended to portray Nigeria as a dictatorship with draconian tendencies typical of the military era.

It would be recalled that the regulatory authorities in the aviation sector grounded the aircraft last week for alleged non-compliance with the aviation regulations as regards the registration of the aircraft and that the operating license granted the aircraft had expired.

Also Tuesday, the House mandated its Joint Committee on Judiciary and Justice to convene a stakeholders’ meeting within two weeks to investigate delays associated with accessing funds of deceased persons by their named beneficiaries
.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun on the need to stop the pains next of kins usually go through in a bid to access funds belonging to their benefactors.

Although official figures put the funds of deceased persons lying in Nigerian Banks at N100 billion, the funds are estimated to be between N400 billion and N1 trillion, according to unofficial sources.


Abudu- Balogun accused the banks of trading with these funds and employing all sorts of tactics to delay their collection by the beneficiaries of the deceased persons.

“Anytime the beneficiaries show up to access the funds as the next of kin to the deceased, the banks usually place official and unofficial hurdles to frustrate them. The process of obtaining letters of administration by such bereaved families at probate divisions of state and federal high courts was very cumbersome and corruption-ridden, thereby adding to the frustration of the already traumatized beneficiaries,”he said.

The lawmaker disclosed that even the beneficiaries of bereaved contributors to the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) are not left out as they are being frustrated whenever they make claims for their entitlement.

He said that the inability of these beneficiaries to access the funds of their deceased breadwinners could discourage people from saving with the banks and may lead to the collapse in the saving culture in Nigeria.

Agriculture: BoA to Support SMEs with N25bn

MD, BoA, Mr. Mohammed Santuraki

James Emejo

The Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Mr. Mohammed Santuraki, Tuesday said that the bank would disburse about N25 billion in the next two years to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other forms of agricultural businesses in the country.

It also emerged that the Federal Government might have hampered the development of the Abuja Securities and Commodities Exchange (ASCE) Plc by under-funding it in the past 12 years.

THISDAY learnt that only about N1.5 billion had so far been allocated to the Exchange since 2001 till date.
Santuraki also said government planned to boost agricultural production with N15 billion.

He spoke in Abuja when he led a team on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive, ASCE, Mr. Yusuf Abdurrahim.
The BoA boss said the visit was aimed at complementing the activities of both organisations on how to link agricultural production to the market with emphasis on the value-chain.

Meanwhile, Abdurrahim said no single institution will be able to meet the funding demand in the agricultural sector.

He said with inadequate funding, "you don't expect a new project that is supposed to support infrastructure to take off. And that was why the present effort was put in place to revitalise the exchange; government realised it has to bring in private capital to support public capital for the exchange to be fully developed."

Both institutions are currently trying to work out a framework that would enable them float a pilot scheme to serve as a model for merchants, with the objective of gaining confidence from local processors.

The ASCE Boss said:"It's a good effort by the bank and we welcome it-and if you look at the enthusiasm that the Managing Director and his team came with, trying to accomplish an implementable strategy within the next 30 days, you would see that a lot of Nigerians have realised that one key economic infrastructure that can move this economy, which we are lacking is commodity exchange because the commodity exchange can give you a capacity which is ten-fold of presently what the Nigerian Stock Exchange is giving you."

Senate: N1.04tn Misappropriated from Special Funds

Senator Ahmad Lawan



•Says National Assembly has failed Nigeria

Omololu Ogunmade
A probe ordered by the Senate into the management of special fund accounts by the federal government has uncovered a gross mismanagement of N1.04 trillion out of the N1.5 trillion released to the accounts between 2002 and June 2012.

Shocked by the magnitude of the misappropriation, the Senate, during the consideration of the probe report tabled by its Committee on Public Accounts yesterday, indicted the National Assembly for failing Nigeria in the discharge of its oversight functions.
The accounts are the Development of Natural Resources Account, Derivation and Ecology Account as well as Stabilisation Account.

While the Natural Resources Account is meant to provide financial resources for the development of alternative mineral resources from oil and gas, the Derivation and Ecology Account is meant for intervention in general ecological problems in the country. The stabilisation fund, on the other hand, is jointly owned by the three tiers of government and is meant as a stop gap measure for unforeseen contingencies, especially during economic downturns.

But a report presented by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts revealed a large diversion of the funds to other uses, including loans to foreign countries, government agencies and private organisations.

Presenting the report Tuesday, chairman of the committee, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said of the N1.5 trillion, which accrued to the account between 2002 and June 2012, N1.04 trillion was diverted from their primary purposes to irrelevant purposes such as loans to foreign countries, companies and organisations.

Lawan further submitted that of the misappropriated sum, N580 billion was granted to different institutions as loans, of which N347 billion had not been recovered.
According to him, apart from the inability of the executive arm of government to recover N347 billion of the loans given out, the operation of the “Development of Natural Resources Account is grossly abused because several releases under this account were not related to the intendment of the account.”

Furthermore, he said a total of N329 billion was granted as a loan under the Natural Resources Account alone, out of which N200 billion was still outstanding.
He also explained that under the Derivation and Ecology Account, a total of N61 billion was granted as a loan, of which N30 billion was still outstanding.

Giving a breakdown of misapplication of the funds in each account, Lawan said the N701 billion released to Natural Resources Account was abused; N149 billion of the N329 billion released to the Derivation and Ecology Account was abused; and N191 of the N255 billion released to the Stabilisation Account was abused.

He listed the abuses under Development of Natural Resources Account to include N612 million as payment for joint venture cash call contributions deducted from the Akwa Ibom grant between March and May 2002; a N1.3 million loan granted to the Derivation Escrow Account in 2003; N50 billion loan granted to finance the deficit in the 2004 budget; N3.7 million loan granted by the federal government to Africa Development Bank for the purchase of shares; and N2 billion loan granted for payment to Gitto Construction, among many others.

Also, he listed abuses under the Derivation and Ecological Account to include a N200 million loan to the Presidential Research and Communication Unit in November 2002; N500 million loan to Edo State Government in November same year; N800 million released for resurfacing of the runway in Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; N500 million loan to Edo State Government; and N7.4 billion loan to the Nigerian Air Force through the Ministry of Defence’s Capital Account, among countless others.

He outlined the abuses under Stabilisation Account to include N16.2 million loan granted to the Directorate of Pilgrim Affairs in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively; N1.4 billion released to the Nigeria Customs Service as cost revenue collection in 2005; N1.084 billion released to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) same year; N12 billion loan granted to Ghana and Sao Tome & Principe; and a N2.8 billion loan as the federal government’s contribution to the first phase of the pioneer car finance scheme for public servants in paramilitary agencies in May 2007, among several others.

In observation of the huge alleged abuse of the funds, the Senate indicted itself, saying a situation where such abuses took place for almost 10 years without the knowledge of the National Assembly implied a flagrant negligence of its oversight function, adding that it was time it repented of such negligence.

Speaking on the report, Senate President David Mark described the development “as truly an indictment on the National Assembly and a wake-up call for all of us to do our work properly.

“If we had done well since 2002, this should not have happened. But we never bothered to look into this. Overall, we share in the blame, both the executive and the legislature.”

At the end of the debate on the report, the Senate resolved to enact a law to establish and regulate the operations of the special fund accounts and directed the committee to undertake further investigation.

Abubakar Audu: We’ll Make Kogi Ungovernable If…

Abubakar Audu


Matthew Onah
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kogi State has threatened to make the state ungovernable if the state Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) refuses to heed to its advice to ensure a level playing field by displaying the voters’ register, within the stipulated time .

Addressing journalists yesterday in Lokoja, the ACN state leader and former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, said they were in possession of information that KOSIEC, was allegedly making arrangements to divert election material on the day of election.

Flanked by the ACN chairman, Mr. Haddy Ametuo and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Chairman, Mohammed Mobo Kassim, Audu stated that any attempt to short changed the electorate was capable of causing security breach in the state.

He said election materials meant for about six local government areas comprising Ofu, Dekina, where the incumbent governor hails from, Ijumu, KotonKarfe, Olamaboro, and Idah, where the opposition have comparative advantage, would be diverted on election, to cheat the people of the chance to vote for candidates of their choice.

The former governor warned of a possible breakdown of law and order, if the elections are tempered by the PDP as they are planning. The people are going to resist any attempt to disenfranchise them.
He stated that the issue of display of voters’ register was a constitutional order that cannot be discarded.

The ACN said it had uncovered plans by the PDP to rig the election through the use of fake Army and Police personnel to hijack the ballot boxes but warned that the party will vehemently reject the move.


It alleged that in its bid to rig the election, the PDP-led government in the state substituted the electoral officers of Ijumu, Adavi local government areas because they refused their biddings

“We are ready to give fire for fire, pebble for pebble and stone for stone and make the state ungovernable,” the party warned.

Terrorism: US to Offer Nigeria Modern Technology to Fortify Border Security

Police Headquarters Senator Iroegbu and Adedayo Akinwale The United States of America (USA) Tuesday met with the federal government to express their willingness to assist Nigeria in offering modern technological assistance to fortify security at the nation’s borders with the aim of curbing the activities of terrorist in the country. The leader of the US delegation, and the Counter Terrorism Deputy Secretary, Ms. Anne Witkowsky, said the aim of the visit was to avail Nigeria of the modern technology of securing borders by showing the Personal Identifications Secure Comparison System (PICES) and the Demonstration of the PICES equipment. Witkowsky explained that the PICES equipment was a border control system with ten finger prints, which portrays that if the name and other means of identification were falsified, the ten finger prints cannot be captured. Receiving the delegation in his office, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro said it had become necessary at this point in time to be availed with the modern technology of securing the Nigerian borders. Moro admitted that it had got at a point when the government realised that while making effort to contain the situation and changing tactics too, it became difficult to contain the situation due to the level of technology. He said: “When it was discovered that some undesirable elements that are criminally minded have infiltrated the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has been up and doing. “Our rather unusual approach of offering the option of dialogue is hardly an option in any terrorist situation”. Against this backdrop, he noted that, “government strongly believes that if dialogue can’t bring the much needed peace, then we go for it, of course you are well aware that we are in the process”. The minister further emphasised that the most important thing for the country now was to deploy modern technology to combat the menace as the current security situation now has gone beyond relying on the traditional method of securing the borders. “Am aware that some of the important infrastructure that is required for installing the technology may be lacking at some places in some parts of our borders right now but we have gone round our borders to find and put them in place,” he said. Moro however added that everything that was needed to secure the border would be deployed. He clarified that the equipment would be supplied by US but manned by the officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

By-election: Adamawa CPC Rejects INEC’s Approved Candidates

By: Daji Sani

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pasted the list of candidates of political parties who will participate in the Nassarawo/Binyeri State Constituency in Adamawa State House of Assembly by-election schedule for May 11.

The names of candidates released by INEC include Mathias Yohanna for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); Gerson Kasuwa, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Umar Abdulkarim  for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP);  Umar Kaigama is the flag bearer of Kowa party; while Ibrahim Umar Wayere will contest on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Sequel to the release of names of the candidates for the by-election, the CPC, Adamawa State chapter has rejected Wayere, claiming that the party through its national chairman, Mr. Tony Momoh, had on April 24 written a letter of withdrawal of the candidature of Wayere from the election.

The CPC said it would support the candidature of the ACN candidate in the forthcoming by-election in order to facilitate the merger process going on in the state.

The CPC disclosed the hint through the spokesman of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of CPC, Musa Kamale, at party’s secretariat in Yola, he said the candidature of Wayere was a schemed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with some influential members of CPC in the state to disrupt the merger process with other political parties.

Kamale said Wayere was a bonfide member of the PDP who even participated in PDP primaries held at Nassarawa/Binyeri recently to elect a candidate for PDP for the state House of Assembly election.

He said he manipulated and bought his ways into the CPC through the active participation of some bigwigs of the PDP.

He disclosed that the said candidate was never screened by the CPC state officials and there was no primary conducted for him in order to authenticate his candidature, adding that on noticing his antics, the party in the state immediately complained to the national headquarters of the party, where the national chairman eventually wrote a letter to INEC.

The letter read: “Withdrawal of Candidate for Nassarawo/Binyeri State Constituency, Adamawa State House of Assembly By-election.

“We write to withdraw our letter dated in respect of the above subject matter nothing that the submission of the candidate close/on May 19. We also confirm as discussed that our great party the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, will not be fielding any candidate for the by-election by this withdrawal. We thank you for your usual understanding and assure you of our regard for esteemed office.”

Buhari Presidential Ambition May Hamper Merger Talks

Buhari

By: Nick Nwafor

The presidential ambition of General Mohammadu Buhari rtd is said to be militating against the merger between his party, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

The ACN at a recent congress adopted a motion to team with CPC and others to form the All Progressive Party (APC)

Source close to Buhari camp told NigerianCurrent that one of the conditions that CPC is pushing for the workability of the merger is for the new party to adopt Buhari as its presidential candidate in 2015.

Information has it that ahead of the CPC's national convention, the party has resolved that it is either Buhari or no deal as ACN appears to have dominated the affairs of the new party at the detriment of other opposition parties in the merger talk.  An informed source said that some chieftains of CPC are not happy that the logo of the new party is purely that of ACN, situation they said is not acceptable to them.

It was gathered that die-hard followers of Buhari threatened to pull out of the merger talk if he, Buhari is not adopted as as the standard bearer of the new party in 2015 presidential election.

…PDP Govs, NWC Members Fret over Jonathan, Amaechi Feud

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu

•Niger gov warns against crippling NGF

Chuks Okocha and Aisha Wakaso

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and National Working Committee (NWC) members of the party have expressed concern over the lingering feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, warning that if the crisis of confidence between the duo is not resolved on time, it could hurt the party’s fortunes in the 2015 polls.

Party sources told THISDAY Monday that the governors having watched the frosty relationship between the president and Amaechi take a turn for the worse, warned that the party should do all it can to reconcile the duo.

The simmering feud between Jonathan and Amaechi boiled over following a report of a plot hatched by the presidency to remove Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The presidency, it was gathered, was uncomfortable with the governor’s continued leadership of the NGF, which it was believed, he could use as a launch pad for his rumoured bid for the vice-presidency in the 2015 presidential election.

This, aides and associates of the president have argued, could threaten the unconfirmed second term bid of Jonathan, who like Amaechi, is from the South-south geopolitical zone.

Efforts to stop Amaechi’s return as the NGF chairman have led to a crisis in the governors’ forum, which has led to the emergence of camps for and against Amaechi.

Despite the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF), purposely set up to stop Amaechi from seeking a second term as NGF chairman, the anti-Amaechi camp has found it difficult to achieve their objectives as even the PDP governors are divided over the matter.

The PDP-GF, after several futile efforts to shop for a consensus candidate to replace Amaechi, at its meeting last month in Abuja, finally resolved that both Amaechi and his Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, should vie for the NGF chairmanship.

However, Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who doubles as the chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), has warned against any attempt to cripple the NGF through external intervention.

Amid the raging crisis over the NGF chairmanship election, PDP sources said the feud between the president and Amaechi was at variance with the reconciliation agenda being pursued by the party at the national level.

One of the party’s governors, who confided in THISDAY on his colleagues’ take on the issue, said: “What is happening between the presidency and the Rivers State governor is very worrisome for some of us.

“Here we are preaching reconciliation on one part, yet there is a raging feud between the presidency and the Rivers State governor. This is coming when we say in PDP that we want to retain power in 2015. Some of us equate the crisis to that of a bull in a china shop.

“Some of us are appealing for restraints, because the crisis is one that will do the party no good. Some of us are also appealing to elders of the PDP to step into this feud before it is too late.”

THISDAY gathered that even within the PDP NWC, some members are not happy over the feud between the president and Amaechi.

An NWC member, who spoke on the issue with THISDAY, said: “What is happening between the presidency and the Rivers State governor is cause for concern for some of us.

“Both the presidency and the governor should know that their actions, whether overtly or covertly, could have a negative effect on the unity of the party.

“Some of us are aware that the governors of the party are not happy, but there is nothing we can do because some of us are even being threatened with sack because of this report from INEC that said the NWC of the party is not properly composed.

“But this is actually the time for the Board of Trustees (BoT) to act. They should intervene as the custodians of the party because elders don’t stay at home and allow a tethered goat to give birth under such a circumscribed condition.”

The NWC member said what was happening between the presidency and Amaechi deserved intervention from the party “at least for the continued unity of the party.”

“If the president doesn’t want Governor Amaechi to contest for the post of chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the party elders should be invited to speak to him.

“To some of us here, there must be a way out of this. This ensuing crisis will not help PDP as a political party, when the opposition political parties are merging and plotting for 2015,” he added.

In an obvious reference to the face-off between the president and governor over the leadership of the NGF, the Niger State governor urged those plotting to foist a crisis on the forum to desist because they would not succeed, adding that no group or individual can clip the wings of the NGF.

Aliyu said in Minna yesterday, when the forum of PDP Secretaries from the North-central states visited him, that it would amount to a waste of time and energy for anyone to cause a crisis in the NGF.

“Nobody can kill the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. Even the other segments like the Northern Governors’ Forum or the PDP Governors’ Forum would all be subservient to the main governors’ forum no matter what happens during the election for a new chairman of the party.

“People should stop wasting their time in trying to clip the wings of the governors. A little part of the crisis in the PDP today is this desire to clip the wings of the governors and you cannot,” he added

W/Cup Qualifiers: Emenike to miss Kenya clash

 Emenike

Africa Cup of Nations highest goal scorer Emmanuel Emenike has effectively being ruled out of the potential explosive World Cup qualifying match against the Harambee Stars of Kenya after cupping a fresh injury on Sunday.

Emenike will be out for at least two months again after only returning to action on Sunday since sustaining a thigh injury during Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign in South Africa. 

Surgery needed

According to an official statement on Emenike’s Russian club website on Monday, the striker will undergo arthroscopic surgery in the coming days to correct the latest injury suffered.

The Nigeria international damaged knee ligaments on Sunday while playing against Anzhi and had to be stretchered from the pitch.

Missing in action

The latest setback for Emenike will see him miss Spartak Moscow's remaining fixtures in the Russian Premier League as well as Nigeria's World Cup qualifying games against Kenya and Namibia plus the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil.

Eaglets Will Bounce Back - Manu Garba

Garba

Nigeria U17 coach Manu Garba has promised to make changes ahead of the World Cup after the Eaglets failed to be crowned African champions.

The Golden Eaglets faltered by losing 5-4 on penalties to Cote d'Ivoire after a pulsating 1-1 draw in the final of the 2013 CAN Under-17 Championship on Saturday.

Garba who reviewed the team's relative success at the 10th CAN U-17 Championship in Morocco where they finished as runners-up with  striker Success  Isaac emerging as the top scorer ,Manu said his boys failed to live  up to expectations for obvious reasons.

“We wanted to go back to Nigeria with the Cup and gold medal and we created many chances and if we had taken them today, the story would have been different.”

He added: “We are going to fortify the team despite the fact that some of these players secured us the ticket to the World Cup and we are going to look for quality replacements before going for the World Cup in the UAE.”

Sidney Sam Will Play For Nigeria - Keshi

Sidney

By: Olawale Makanjuola

Super Eagles Coach,Stephen Keshi has revealed that German born Bayer Leverkusen forward,Sidney Sam will make his debut for the country at the FIFA Confederations cup in Brazil next June.

According to the coach, all papers regarding the change of nationality documentation are in the final stages at the Zurich headquaters of FIFA.

"I am happy that the lad is ready to play and the federation is striving hard to make it happen. We are in the final stages of securing clearance for him and he might be playing for us at the Confederations Cup."

The Bayer Leverkusen forward who  has a Nigerian father and a German mother has played for Germany at the youth level but however has been overlooked by the German coach Joachim Loew.

He has however switched allegiance to Nigeria  after initially rejecting advances from former Nigerian Coach Samson Siasia.

Syria PM Survives Bomb Attack

Syria's  Prime Minister,Wael al-Halki has survived a bomb attack on his convoy in Damascus, as rebels struck in the heart of President Bashar al-Assad's capital.

Six people were killed in the blast, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Previous rebels  attacks on government targets included a December bombing that wounded Mr Assad's interior minister.

Mayadeen TV, a network loyal to Mr Assad, said nine people died and 17 were injured.

As prime minister, al-Halki wields little power but the attack highlighted the rebels' growing ability to target symbols of Mr Assad's authority in a civil war that, according to the United Nations (UN), has cost more than 70,000 lives.

 Mr Assad picked Dr Halki in August to replace Riyad Hijab, who defected and escaped to neighbouring Jordan just weeks after a bombing killed four of the president's top security advisers.

 Monday's blast shook the Mezze district soon after 9am local time sending thick black smoke into the sky. The Observatory said one man accompanying Dr Halki was killed, as well as five passers-by.

 State television showed firemen hosing down the charred and mangled remains of a car. Close by was a large white bus, its windows blown out and its seats gutted by fire. Glass and debris were scattered across  the street.

TCN Completes Kano Transmission Sub station

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed the completion of a new 2X30/40MVA, 132/33kV transmission substation at Tamburawa in Kano State.

In a statement signed by its Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Dave Ifabiyi, the TCN said the new Tamburawa transmission substation situated in the outskirts of Kano metropolis was constructed by Nespak Nigeria Limited, with the supervision of its engineers.

Ifabiyi noted that the substation was connected to the Zaria-Kano 132KV single circuit transmission line, adding that the installation and inauguration meant that the transformer capacity within the Kano axis has increased by additional 80MVA.

According to him, the Challawa industrial area and the Tamburawa water works in the state stand to benefit maximally from the new transmission substation as soon as the Kano Electricity Distribution Company completes the ongoing construction works on the two 33kV feeder lines from the new substation to both areas.

TCN also revealed that within the last four weeks, it had successfully completed the in-house installation and inauguration of a 60MVA, 45MVA and 30MVA, 132/33kV power transformers in Ibadan, Oyo State; Suleja in Niger State and Akure in Ondo State respectively.

Also, a 150MVA, 330/132/33kV power transformer provided by the World Bank, through the PHCN’s Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) was successfully installed in collaboration with TCN within the same period in Ibadan.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, disclosed that the country would surpass the 10,000 mega watts of electricity supply before the end of the year with the Independent Power Projects (IPP) kicking off on schedule.

Igali explained that government had invested considerably in the power sector and expressed optimism that if unscrupulous Nigerians stopped vandalism of electricity installations power would be stable.

Court Jails Two Over N33m Fraud

Justice M. L. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna has sentenced two persons, Ifeanyi Echebiri and Sylvester Okoli to seven years imprisonment each for obtaining money under false pretence.

 The accused persons were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on May 13, 2011 on a 21-count charge of obtaining money under false presence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

 The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. In the course of the trial, the EFCC called eight witnesses and presented several documents which were admitted as exhibits.  After over two years of trial, Justice Shuaibu delivered judgment on April 26, 2013 and convicted the accused persons on 17 of the 21 counts. The accused persons were sentenced to seven year imprisonment on each of the counts but the sentence is to run concurrently.

 The court also ordered that the accused persons make restitution to the complainant. However, this order will only be carried out sequel to a thorough and satisfactory investigation into the source of the complainant’s money, that it was not acquired illegally.

 According to a statement by the EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren, the convicts’ journey to prison began when on May 13, 2011 one Usman Falalu, a 31-year-old engineer who works with a construction company in Kaduna petitioned the Commission, alleging that that he was swindled of the sum of N33million by a syndicate of fraudsters through a phony contract to supply Power Voltage Rings worth N132 million to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

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Okonjo-Iweala: N3bn to Nollywood is for Investment, Not to Share

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that the federal government is committed to ensuring that the N3 billion intervention fund which President Goolduck Jonathan promised the Nigerian film industry will lead to sustainable benefits for the industry.

Okonjo-Iweala stressed that the fund, contrary to the impression some stakeholders may be nursing, is not planned to be shared out as grants or loans.

She said rather, the objective is to leave behind something solid on which the industry can leverage on and grow to a new level.

The minister made the statement during a lively town hall meeting at weekend in Lagos with heads of guilds and associations in Nollywood as well a cross section of film makers and business people working in the sector.

In her words: “The N3 billion which the president promised is meant to be a catalyst which will help the industry leverage other sources of funding and expertise and grow to a new level. The money will not solve every problem but it’s a good beginning. We need to use it well for the benefit of this important industry and the benefit of the country.”

She addressed the gathering along with the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke who told the stakeholders that they need to reach a common position on key issues affecting them because that the pervasive hostility and bickering among film practitioners in Nollywood is an obstacle to the continued growth of the industry.

Chief Duke said that Nollywood has become an important ambassador of Nigeria and that the presidential intervention fund underscore government’s appreciation of the platform and its great potential to contribute significantly not only to the economy but also to a better understanding of Nigeria by the world.

Stakeholders at the town hall contributed enthusiastically to the proceedings and speakers said they shared the commitment of the federal government to the sustainable development of the industry.

There was a consensus that the development of a strong distribution system and the strengthening of expertise to deepen professionalism and expertise in the industry should be key areas of focus.

The town hall event was the latest in a series of consultations by the two ministers with stakeholders in the industry to get their input and ideas on the best ways to deploy the funds to maximise benefits for the industry.

Fashola: We’ve Learnt Greatly from the Boston Attack

Governor Babatunde Fashola

Says terrorism is trans-boundary crime

By: Olawale Olaleye

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the weekend said his government picked up critical lessons from the Boston marathon attack in the United States, a couple of weeks ago, which left many people dead and scores badly injured, some with permanent damage.

Speaking at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University, Washington D.C,  where he delivered a lecture, Fashola said he kept long nights taking notes on how the US government managed the situation from the moment the attack was launched.

Describing terrorism as a trans-boundary crime, Fashola told the audience that: “I kept long hours at night following the events, taking notes about how the first responders reacted and how the law enforcement carried out their duties. They are notes that I have shared with my colleagues in government that are in charge of health and security services and many of them shared some of those long nights as well.”

The governor described the occasion of the lecture as “an appropriate opportunity to personally convey the sympathy of the people and government of the state to all of you Americans here and members of the free world for the unfortunate and horrific incident that happened in Boston over a week ago. We join you in condemning and fighting terror wherever it rears its ugly head.

“For those who still fail to understand, terror is a trans-boundary crime with global ramifications. Even though we were not physically here with you during those traumatic moments, we were deeply affected by the events as we watched on global news.”

The incident aside, Fashola also shared his experience on the trip to the US when he said: “Violence and devastating consequences compelled me to review my invitation to speak here today. I asked myself if it was safe to come. I asked myself if the law enforcement and border security agencies would be increasingly hostile to visitors in view of the origins of the suspects of the crime.

“I asked myself if people like me, a Muslim, would not be profiled for all sorts of body searches. I considered calling Professor Peter Lewis to cancel the trip. The event is a call I never made. I decided to personally experience whatever new measures that visitors to this country would now have to contend with.

“I am pleased that I never picked up the phone to call Professor Lewis. I am also pleased to say that none of my fears about the possible heavy-handed reaction were borne out– at least, certainly not from my experience or that of my entourage. But something that was non-official, in this sense, did not represent the manifest position of the government of this country, happened,” he noted.

Continuing, Fashola said “As we were being assisted through Immigration by my country’s ambassador, the very amiable Ambassador Archibong, an elderly American lady shouted out: ‘Why should these visitors go through before me? This is my country.’ Her words will stay with me for a long time as I struggle to make meaning of them. But why are they relevant here?

“It is because Professor Lewis asked me to speak on a topic that relates to the challenges of governance and development in Lagos State, and governing Nigeria’s federal system. I had chosen the topic ‘Liberating and coordinating diversity.’ But I did not write my speech until Wednesday, the day I got here.

“As far as I know, many countries that have opted for a federal system of government have done so because it is the best known system for managing diversity; whether of tribes, nationalities, religions, ethnicities or languages. In this sense, this country and my country, especially my state, Lagos, are no different.

“Lagos shares many similarities with New York: as former federal capitals, as current commercial capitals, as melting pots of different people from different walks of life. Where would our two countries be without the diversity of their immigrant population- an immigrant population whose skills and financial resource help to keep the wheels of development turning?” he asked, adding: “I will let you ponder over these thoughts, and move to the content of my speech.”

Labour Kicks against FG's Plan to Retrench 11,000 PHCN Workers

Emeka Wogu, Labour Minister

By: Linda Eroke and Adebiyi Adedapo

The federal government may have concluded plans to lay off about 11,000 employees of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in a bid to cut cost. The figure represents 27.5 per cent of the 40,000 members of staff of the electricity company.

THISDAY learnt that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BP E) had two weeks ago issued a directive to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the PHCN to compile a list of staff members that would be affected in the exercise.

The implication is that those that would be affected would not be paid their pension entitlements ahead of the winding down of the public corporation.

However, the unions in the sector have kicked against the move, stating that it was rather unfortunate and provoking that the federal government could hatch such obnoxious idea when agreement reached with the unions on the payment of severance benefit is yet to be implemented.

It was gathered that the two unions in the sector had petitioned the federal government through the Ministers of Power and Labour and Productivity explaining the dangers and futility of the government action when the agreement on labour issues had not been honoured.

General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Joe Ajaero, who confirmed the directive, said it had become obvious that the federal government had decided to truncate the implementation of the collective agreement reached with the unions.

Ajaero said the union had equally directed its members to stop work should the government make good its threat to retrench workers in the sector when labour issues had not been settled.

He added that government should be held responsible for any reaction the directive may generate in the power sector.

“Information reaching us reveals that arrangement to close down PHCN’s Corporate Headquarters has been put in place. While people are still working, government plans to kill their management.

“It was equally gathered that the federal government has concluded plans not to pay pension or transfer money to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), all in the name of driving workers to their early graves.

“We are worried that the government could be privatising without cash backing, as information at our disposal suggests that about N43 billion is available out of the over N400 billion agreed with the unions. At moment, agreement on certain indices to be used in calculating entitlements like life expectancy which the federal government put at 114 years is yet to be reconciled.

“While there is still opportunity for the federal government to follow due process, we wish to state unequivocally that PHCN workers will legitimately resist every attempt to shave their hair in their absence.

“Should the federal government make good its threat to retrench workers in the sector when labour issues have not been settled, all members are advised to stop work, while those monies are paid into their accounts should see it as free money,” Ajaero said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in conjunction with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday said it had concluded plans to build 600,000 houses across the country for the benefit of Nigerian workers.

Chairman of the NLC/TUC joint committee on the centenary celebration, Mr. Promise Adewusi, said this during a pre-May-day media briefing in Abuja.

Adewusi stated that only worker from both the public and the private sector would be entitled to benefit from the housing scheme.

"All Nigerians are workers, but only worker from either the public or the private sector, whose employers guarantee their payment will benefit from the houses," he said.

The committee noted that this year's May-day  celebration was special and it is being planned with the collaborative efforts of Nigeria Centenary Celebration Committee, as it coincides with the nation’s centenary.

The committee also disclosed that events marking the 2013 workers day would commence tomorrow with a symposium which would feature foremost  human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and Senator Uche Chukwumerije,  amongst others as discussants.

Adewusi said the symposium would focus on major national issues, such as corruption, national security, job creation and the challenges of nation building.

He also said President Goodluck Jonathan was being expected to roll-out the government's welfare package for the workers on May 1.

"This is the May day that is going to come before the centenary celebration,  and it  is going to be a joing celebration by the NLC and the TUC, we are starting with a symposium on Tuesday which will be resourceful," he said.

Adewusi said the NLC had concluded arrangement to inaugurates a documentary on the evolution of Nigerian labour movement in relation to national development.

JTF: Boko Haram Resorts to Kidnapping to Raise Funds

Snatched police bullet-proof van recovered from sect in Yobe

Police Headquarters

By: Michael Olugbode

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Operation Restore Order, Sunday revealed that members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram sect have resorted to kidnapping and ransom demand to finance their terror operations.

The revelation by JTF also came on a day it announced that it had recovered a snatched police bullet-proof patrol van from the sect, after it had attacked a police station and the Police Area Commander’s office on Nguru road.

It was gathered that the sect also kidnapped the General Manager of Borno State Water Board (BOWB), Alhaji Baba Gujbawu, in Maiduguri.

But JTF in a statement by its spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said security measures adopted by the task force Operation Restore Order had made it difficult for the sect and other criminals to conduct successful bank robbery operations in Borno State.

The task force said the sect resorted to this when it became apparent to them that they were losing most of their members involved in robbery since they were cut down by the security agencies.

Musa said: “Consequently, Intelligence available to the Task Force has indicated that Boko Haram Terrorists have resolved to concentrate more on kidnappings than robbery. They alleged that kidnapping is more lucrative, less dangerous and requires short time to plan and execute.

“Similarly, a special kidnapping squad has been earmarked and tasked by Boko Haram Sect to kidnap persons who could have wealthy relatives, Politician, Businessman/woman, Traditional Ruler, Senior Civil Servants and foreigners alike.”

He, therefore, alerted members of the public to be vigilant about the trend, urging them to be wary and continue to be security conscious at all times.

He said: “The public are advised to avoid or be very sensitive to strangers and friends that have not been in contact for long. Additionally, members of the public are also warned to avoid isolated areas and shun meetings or friends found through telephones or social media.

“The JTF once again appreciate the cooperation and understanding between members of the public and security agencies and to reemphasise that security is a collective responsibility. Thus, the public are reminded to give credible information to the JTF through their hotlines which are operational at all time.”

In a related development, the JTF, while explaining how the snatched police bullet proof patrol van was recovered from the sect in Yobe State, stated that the snatched van was recovered from the suspected members of the sect in Gashua, a border town with Niger Republic by the JTF.

THISDAY learnt that apart from the police bullet-proof patrol vehicle, arms and ammunition were equally recovered from the fleeing Boko Haram sect.

A source at the JTF headquarters in Damaturu revealed that the bullet-proof vehicle was recovered at Maluria village in Gashua Local Government Area of the state, along with other arms and ammunition used in attacking the police station and the police area commander’s office on Nguru Road.

In a statement by the spokesman of the JTF in Damaturu, Lt. Eli Lazarus, stated that the recovered vehicle, arms and ammunition were used in the attacks on the police station, bank and office of the police area commander, where about N9 million cash was carted away by the gunmen, who were dressed in police and army uniforms.

The statement reads in part: “Other arms and ammunition recovered include; a general purpose machine Gun (GPMG), three K2 rifle, three pumps action rifle and a riot gun, two smoke pistols, four Dane guns, two RPG bombs, 15 hand grenades and one air rifle. 1,200 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three cartridges, several police uniforms and accessories, 10 bullet proof metal plates and gas masks were also recovered.”

Meanwhile, an eyewitness said Gujbawu, was ambushed by a four-gang abductors at gunpoint, while preparing to hold a meeting at the Water House, Maiduguri on Shehu Laminu Way, at about 9 a.m. on Saturday.

He said: “We were sitting here under this shade when four gunmen in an unmarked vehicle parked at the gate, before they forcefully bundled him into the vehicle; and zoomed off to unknown destination of the metropolis at 7.35 a.m.

“People started running for safety, as soldiers rushed to the scene to cordon the area and prevent further attacks and killings in this area.”

The abduction of Gujbawu brings to six cases of major kidnappings in recent time in Maiduguri.

Confirming the incident in Maiduguri, a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Gujbawu was on  Saturday abducted at gunpoint.

He lamented that no arrest has been made by either the JTF or police as they were still on the trail for the suspected gunmen.

Niger Delta Action Plan to Pool $10bn in Investment

Governor Godswill Akpabio

Akpabio advises against Niger Delta Ministry, NDDC merger

By: Ndubuisi Francis

The Niger Delta Action Plan, a collaborative framework to develop the oil-rich region is  to pool an estimated $10 billion for investment within the next five years in addition to another $200 million (N3.2 billion) through  a new development  funding vehicle, Multi-Stakeholder Trust Fund.

The (MSTF) received the backing of the federal government at the inauguration of the National Council on Niger Delta, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the weekend.

According to the policy document, the MSTF is to address underfunded and high impact activities within the Development Results Framework of the Action Plan.

The Niger Delta Action Plan, which is a collaborative development strategy of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other global development partners, is meant to effectively address development needs in the region through a coherent framework, anchored on effective coordination and implementation.

The Plan is to run between 2013 and 2017.

Inaugurating the National Council on Niger Delta at the weekend, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, enjoined stakeholders to latch on the prevailing peace to unleash development in the region.

Government's  endorsement came as the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, advised against making the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) a parastatal of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, contrary to suggestions from some quarters.

Jonathan, said the government was endorsing the Multi-Stakeholder Trust Fund, towards creating  development partners and stakeholders.

"The mechanism will assist the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to more effectively coordinate development resources from different stakeholders, in achieving the intended objectives," Jonathan said.

While chronicling the various phases the region has passed through from militancy,  amnesty, and a resolve by the government to develop the region, which has ushered in peace, Akpabio said it was time to capitalise on the prevailing peace and development frameworks to push forward a new dawn in the region.

"When we work together, we are better able to unleash our creative potential in optimising our huge human and natural resources for the stability of the Niger Delta, and the good and progress of our country, Nigeria," he said.

The president recounted how the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua adopted the amnesty programme as a firm and durable response to the security challenges in the region.

According to him, the programme did not only pave the way for the disarmament and demobilisation of the militant groups, but also offered a window for their economic and social reintegration into the society.

"In the short run, these measures have helped to improve the security situation in the region and enhance oil production and development activities. Indeed, government has leveraged the prevailing peace to support efforts aimed at bringing permanent succour to every person living and doing business in the region," Jonathan said.

Jonathan noted that in spite of the positive  momentum, the region remains vulnerable to threats, adding that the government was relentlessly building on “this firm foundation with great determination and commitment.”

“We consider it a priority to sustain the consolidation of the current security situation in order to deepen the very foundations of durable and mutually beneficial peace. This is achievable if we forthrightly and with articulation address the development challenges facing the region, and feelings of exclusion and neglect of its people,” the president said.

He stated that this had been the administration’s foremost objective in the development of the Niger Delta Action Plan to complement the specific commitments contained in the amnesty programme.

“This plan is also of great relevance for its concrete, comprehensive and coherent programme of investments in the social and infrastructure sectors of the various communities in the Niger Delta. The enthusiasm that met its recent presentation at the Stakeholders’ Conference, is an encouraging indication of joint purpose,” he said.

Meanwhile, Akpabio  has advised against merging the NDDC with the Niger Delta Ministry, even as he cautioned youths and communities in the region to desist from making outrageous demands before allowing development projects in their areas..

“I want to state categorically that the independence of the NDDC, with its provisions to allow Niger Deltans head the commission  is a welcome development. Such cannot be said of the ministry at the federal level. As the president has the right to appoint any person as supervising minister of a given ministry irrespective of tribe, he continued.

“What will happen if a minister who does not share the same passion with late President Umaru Musa  Yar’Adua or President Jonathan is appointed to saddle  the affairs of  this ministry?, the governor asked.

‘‘Even the National Assembly will not fail to put the NDDC budget together with that of the ministry, while strongly condemning and protesting that we are given preferential treatment. It will cause very heated debate where it will be argued that no ministry should for any reason be allocated mouth watering budget than its counter-parts’

“… Let us ensure that our region is left on the path of development by allowing the NDDC lay its independent role of developing the land which lays the golden egg.  No amount of development can ever be too much . Yes,  development  may come from the Federal Executive Council through the ministry,  but I will advise that we should also allow it come from the NDDC as a commission,” he advised.