Sahara Reporters Latest News Monday 26th November 2018
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 26/11/18
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target=_blank>65-Year-Old Among 33 IPOB Members To Be Prosecuted By Police For Terrorism
The Nigeria Police Force has said 33 members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), arrested on Friday will be prosecuted for terrorism.
A statement by acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, noted that the IPOB members would be arraigned for “other capital offences such as murder, attempted murder, rioting and malicious damage of government property”.
The suspects, which ranged between the ages of 17 and 65, were paraded on Sunday.
The statement read: “Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been proscribed as unlawful and a terrorist group. The killing of a Police Inspector and setting ablaze of Police vehicle constitute a crime under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013.
“All the thirty-three (33) suspects arrested will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation under Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013 and other capital offences such as murder, attempted murder, rioting and malicious damage of government property and police vehicle including looting and stealing.”
Exhibits recovered included eight motorcycles, five IPOB flags and five IPOB caps.
FULL LIST OF SUSPECTS
Uche Amos (65) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateEliazer Emmanuel (24) from Umunneochi LGA, Abia StateEliazer Chima (23) from Umunneochi LGA, Abia StateAbuchi Obeta (19) from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra StateSomtochukwu Okafor (17) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateAgboma Jude (35) from Nsukka, Enugu StateEzezona OduaguKelechi Eze (20) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateOkafor Chimiere Olisa (20) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateRapheal Ogoh (27) from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra StateOkeke Chisom (19) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateDaniel Nwakpu (35) from Ikwo, Ebonyi StateFriday Nwafor (34) from Ishielu LGA, Ebonyi StateOnyeka Nwajobi (49) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateObeta Uwakwe (25) from Igboeze North LGA, Anambra StateFestus Odika (41) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateEmmanuel Okoye (22) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateUmeh Sunday (43) from Aguata LGA, Anambra StateIke Chiemezie SamuelSunday Ilonze (43) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateChukwuemeka Nwaese (32) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateOdugu Chima (23) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateJacob Monday (48) from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra StateVincent Okoroafor (39) from Owerri North, Imo StateJude Eke (32) from Igboeze South LGA, Enugu StateCharles Ukazu (35) from Ideato South LGA, Imo StateEzieokwu Ernest (17) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateChibuike Ozoemena (30) from Ikeduru LGA, Imo StateChigozie Onyeogaziri (46) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StateNwankwo Donatus (48) from Orumba South LGA, Anambra StateOkafor Olisa (20) from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra StatePeter Nwankwo (25) from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra StateEbegboni Geoffrey (43) from Ika South LGA, Delta State
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target=_blank>Obasanjo, Jonathan, Six Governors Attend Atiku’s Turbaning As Wazirin Adamawa
Two former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, were among the top dignitaries who graced the turbaning of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the ‘Wazirin Adamawa’ on Sunday.
Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, and Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, led a horde of National Assembly members to the occasion.
Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa-Ibom), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State), Ishaku Darius Dickson (Taraba State), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Adulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State were sighted by our reporter.
Political coloration betrayed what was meant to be a cultural event, as PDP symbols filled Yola. All major streets were decorated in PDP colors such that one would mistake the state for a PDP-controlled one.
Earlier before the turbaning ceremony, and even after it, Peter Obi, Atiku’s running mate, anchored sideline political meetings on the need to reassess and to solidify the PDP strategy towards wresting power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saraki, Director General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign, took charge of the meeting of PDP presidential aspirants, to perfect the cementing of unity. Tambuwal, Kwankwaso and Dankwambo spoke of their commitment to the Atiku project.
Former President Obasanjo, who was a special guest, described Atiku as a well-cultured man who has what it takes to reposition the country.
Speaking of his relationship with Atiku, Obasanjo recalled how Atiku handled his duties with deep sense of responsibility.
“I have known Atiku for a while, and can state that he handles all responsibilities meticulously,” he said.
“Let me thank the Lamido on half of all of us who are friends, colleagues and co-workers of Atiku for the honour you have done him by conferring the title of Waziri on him.”
Former Chairman of DAAR Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the APC as a “party branded in propaganda and lies”.
“Buhari was marketed to Nigerians on false assumption that as a Major General he has what it takes to end Boko Haram.
“But the stack reality is that he does not know what to do; the man was overrated; and let me tell you Buhari has never passed any military exams in his life.”
Buhari was represented at the event by FCT Minister, Musa Bello, just as Governor Jibrilla Bindow was represented by his Deputy Governor, Martin Babale.
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target=_blank>Thugs Attack Cocoa Farmer Over Missing Bags Of Indian Hemp In Ondo
More than forty suspected drug dealers invaded a farmland in Bolorunduro axis in Akure North Local Council Area of Ondo State over the weekend.
Armed with dangerous weapons, the hoodlums were said to have attacked the owners of the farmland.
The farmland, a cocoa plantation, belonged to Augustine Christopher, a peasant farmer in Bolorunduro.
It was gathered that the thugs got angry when they discovered that some bags of Indian hemp kept on the farmland had disappeared.
One Isaac Akpan, who was working on the farm when they stormed the farm settlement, was beaten to a pulp and kidnapped.
The thugs were said to have threatened to kill Akpan if the missing bags weren’t produced.
Narrating her ordeal in the hands of the hoodlums, Martina said she was on her way to the farm when she saw Akpan being taken away by the thugs.
“I went to the farm late in the evening on that fateful day. I just had a miscarriage, and I was tired, but decided to join my husband and brother at the farm because we had left the farm unattended to for some days, because of my father-in-law’s burial.
“I met these people (thugs), about 40 of them on motorcycles, and I saw my brother who had already been beaten and I turned back and was told he had been taken to Ilu Abo.
“I went there with our father, only to find my brother on his knees and he was being seriously beaten. Immediately they saw us, they descended on us and beat up my father to a coma, while demanding where the bags of Indian hemp were kept.
“My father fainted and as I tried to touch him, they macheted me, while some of them beat me with sticks and I also fainted, because I lost a lot of blood.”
According to her, the hoodlums also threatened to kill all members of the family if they refused to produce the bags of Indian hemp. She also said they invited some officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to hand them over to the Police for stealing.
She said her husband later reported the case to the Police and she was taken to the hospital for treatment, while the thugs ran away.
Augustine Christopher, husband of the victim, said he was forced to report the case at the police station in Oba Ile, after the hoodlums threatened to kill all members of his family.
“I am calling on the security agents to fish out these people. Although two of them have been arrested, we still have them across the community in Ogbese, Bolorunduro and other areas,” he said.
Femi Joseph, Police Spokesman in Ondo State, confirmed the attack and noted that security agents had arrested some of the thugs connected with the incident.
Joseph added that investigation had begun into the case and stressed that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
“In fact, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gbenga Adeyanju, has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID),” he added.
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target=_blank>27-Year-Old Arrested for Kidnapping 7-Year-Old Girl, Policeman In Lagos
The Lagos State Police Command has killed one Festus Abama, an alleged kidnapper, and arrested Austine Inuesokan Ebimiyenwei, aged 27, a native of Arogbo Azapa community of Ese-Odo LGA, Ondo State, after a raid of kidnappers’ hideout at Agbowa, Ikorodu.
Abama was killed during a face-off with the Police, while two of his gang members escaped with bullet wounds.
A statement on Sunday, signed by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chike Oti, noted that “the Command had earlier on November 13 and 16 received two separate reports from one Suleiman Eniola Ajumobi and one Veronica Ewuru ‘f ‘ about the kidnapping of their daughter and husband respectively”.
The statement continued: “While Suleiman Eniola Ajumobi reported that his seven-year-old daughter was kidnapped from his house in his presence, Veronica Ewuru stated that her husband, one DSP Patrick Ewuru, a police officer attached to Force Headquarters annex, Obalende, was kidnapped from their house in the night when the victim came out to check on the power generating set that suddenly stopped working.
“The kidnappers demanded for ransom of twenty-five million Naira (N25,000,000) from Mr Suleiman and ten million Naira (N10,000,000 ) from the family of DSP Patrick Ewuru, but later settled for five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000) for both families.
“At this point, the CP directed operatives handling the matter to play along with the kidnappers in the interest of the victims who were still in captivity.
“As soon as the release of the two victims was secured, the kidnappers’ hideout at Agbowa was busted and the aforementioned kidnapper was killed in the ensuing gun battle, while Austine Inuesokan Ebimiyenwei surrendered.”
The statement disclosed that the suspect confessed to the crime and the victims have identified Abama and Ebimiyenwei as those who kidnapped them, just as “concerted effort is being made to arrest those on the run, while the suspect already in police custody will be charged to court”.
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target=_blank>EFCC To Amend Charges, Obtain Arrest Warrant Against Diezani
Diezani Alison-Madueke
Diezani Alison-Madueke
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has brought fresh charges against a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.
It was learnt that the EFCC would in the coming days join Diezani in a suit filed against an oil tycoon, Jide Omokore.
The EFCC will subsequently apply for a bench warrant against the former minister as part of the process to kick-start her extradition from the United Kingdom.
Speaking with our correspondent, an EFCC source said, “There have always been charges against Diezani. However, we had to remove her name for technical reasons. Also, the matter is no longer before Justice Nyako.
“We will amend the charges to include her name and then we will apply for a bench warrant because there are many diplomatic processes involved. We will amend the charges against her.
“You cannot extradite a person from foreign land without evidence that the person is wanted or the person’s arrest has been ordered by a court.”
A bench warrant is an arrest warrant that is ordered by a judge against the defendant in a criminal case. It is typically issued in the case of a failure to appear for trial.”
A senior EFCC official who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity noted that a case was filed against Diezani in 2016 but had been withdrawn.
However, with the delay by the UK authorities, the commission has decided to personally handle the matter.
The source recalled that the commission had filed charges against Diezani alongside Omokore and Aluko; a former Managing Director of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Abiye Membere; and several others before Justice Bina Nyako in 2016.
They were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on nine counts bordering on money laundering and procurement fraud.
However, before taking the defendants’ plea, Justice Nyako had requested that the names of the accused persons not present in court be taken off the charge.
Consequently, Aluko whose name appeared in all the counts as well as Diezani who appeared on count eight were deleted from the charge.
The acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, last week met with UK authorities as part of the process of extraditing the former minister.
Diezani has been accused of mismanaging oil funds to the tune of $20bn during her time as minister.
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E2%80%93-sultan-can target=_blank>Christian, Muslim Leaders Not Supporting Any Candidate – Sultan, CAN
The Sultan of Sokoto and chairman of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Samson Ayokunle, yesterday told members of their respective faiths that they the two religious bodies do not have a preferred candidate in the 2019 general elections.
Speaking at the 2018 second general meeting of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), youth wing summit, Abubakar said Nigerians must get their voter card and vote for responsible people who would work for their progress.
There is no bad or preferred candidate,” the Sultan said. “Every candidate is a good candidate; it depends on who wins at the end of the day”.
Abubakar urged Nigerians to resist attempts by politicians to divide them during campaigns, just as he called on the youths in the country to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.
“You must conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner for the benefit of all Nigerians regardless of ethnicity, religion or geographical zone,” the royal father said.
While calling on Nigerians to hold President Buhari to his words that he will ensure violence free elections, the Sultan said the youths must take a stand that they would not be used by politicians and other stakeholders to cause violence in the forthcoming general elections.
Abubakar said that the second summit came at a time Nigeria was being politicised by the political, noting that there is need for Nigerians to sit as a family irrespective of their various religions.
He advised Nigerians to be united, saying the summit is aimed at contributing to peaceful participation of inter religious groups in the 2019 elections.
The Sultan urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to instigate violence of any kind.
On his part, the president of CAN, Rev Ayokunle, urged Nigerian youths to work together irrespective of doctrinal differences, adding that the Christian body has no preferred candidate for the 2019 general elections.
“We should use our different religions to move the country forward,” Ayokunle said.
Specifically, the CAN president told the youths not to allow disgruntled politicians to use them as political thugs by providing them with drugs and all sort of weapons to attack their own brothers because of political differences, while their own children are schooling abroad.
He implored the youths to wake up from slumber and always see themselves as future leaders instead of falling cheap to selfish politicians.
“Our youths should stay peacefully and not allow selfish politicians to use them in breaching the relative peace in the country. Whoever approaches you for thuggery, ask him to lead you in the act,” the CAN president said.
“Any distraction or violence will only set our democracy backwards and affect all areas of human development,” Ayokunle added, noting that some of the challenges being experienced in the country are instigated by politicians.
In his remarks, the National Security Adviser to the president, Maj Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd) said there is no gainsaying that peaceful dialogue is the pathway to peaceful coexistence.
Monguno, who was represented by Brig-Gen Emmanuel Ndagi, noted that security is a collective responsibility, adding that Nigerians should stay peaceful.
Urging the youths to ensure that Nigeria achieves peaceful elections, the NSA said President Buhari was working to ensure free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in 2019.
He, however, added that the federal government, religious leaders, politicians as well as the youths had critical roles in preventing the use of social media to propagate fake news, hate speech and any act capable of instigating violence.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, who was represented by David Young, deputy chief of mission in Nigeria, said that the US was committed to supporting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to achieve credible elections in Nigeria.
Young, who commended the role of NIREC in mobilising Nigerian youths towards peaceful elections, urged the youths to practise their faith and put it into action by loving God and their neighbours with all their hearts,” adding that “for faith without works is dead.”
Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, said government was working seriously towards the success of the forthcoming general elections
Idris who was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Raheed Akintunde, warned that both vote buyers and sellers would be dealt with without fear or favour.
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E2%80%93-balarabe target=_blank>Jonathan Was Incompetent But I Supported Him – Balarabe
Balarabe Musa, the first civilian Governor of Kaduna State
Balarabe Musa, the first civilian Governor of Kaduna State
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A former governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, on Saturday said it was wrong for former President Goodluck Jonathan to claim that the entire North worked against him in 2011 and 2015 general elections.
Although he said he felt Jonathan was not competent to continue to lead the country, he supported the former President in the 2015 presidential election because he did not want President Muhammadu Buhari to win the election.
A former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, also said he wished Jonathan well.
The former President, in his new book, “My Transition Hours,” said some Peoples Democratic Party governors worked against him in 2015.
Musa, who recently announced his retirement from active politics because of age and failing health, noted that he supported the former President against the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Buhari, in the election.
The former governor, who emphatically told one of our correspondents on the telephone that he was not speaking for the North, said the Peoples Redemption Party publicly endorsed the former President in Akwa Ibom in 2015.
According to him, his reason for endorsing Jonathan was that Buhari and the APC represented ‘fascism’.
He said, “I don’t represent the North. I can’t comment on this. He (Jonathan) should know who was against him. I was not against him.
“In fact, in 2015, we favoured him. We preferred him to Buhari because we regarded Buhari and his APC as fascists. Even though Jonathan is equally incompetent, we feltthe PDP was safer.”
Kwankwaso, who was in the PDP until he defected to the APC in 2015, and this year rejoined the PDP, spoke through Binta Sipikin, in response to a question by one of our correspondents.
He said, “I don’t think the former President was specifically referring to Senator Kwankwaso. Hence, there is no need for any response. However, the senator wishes former President Goodluck Jonathan well in all his feature endeavours.”
Some northern youths also accused the ex-President of failing to honour his agreement with them.
The National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, a coalition of over 30 youth organisations in the North, Alhaji Yerima Shettima told one of our correspondents why the region worked against former President Jonathan.
Shettima said the insistence of the former President to contest the 2015 presidential election forced the North especially the Northern Elders’ Forum to mobilise against that administration.
He said, “The North was against the former President because he failed to honour a gentleman agreement. Instead of him to either resign or quit the stage for a northerner, he reneged.
“So, the Northern Elders’ Forum under the leadership of the late Yusuf Maitama Sule, felt the battle line was drawn and worked against him.”
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target=_blank>Army Releases 155 Ex-B/Haram Fighters To Borno, Yobe Govts
Some of the 155 rehabilitated ex-Boko Haram members during their graduation and discharge ceremony in Gombe yesterday
Some of the 155 rehabilitated ex-Boko Haram members during their graduation and discharge ceremony in Gombe yesterday
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The Nigerian Army has handed over 155 ex-Boko Haram fighters to representatives of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states government to be reintegrated into their communities.
Coordinator of the programme, Major General Bamidele Shafa, disclosed this yesterday at a graduation ceremony of repentant Boko Haram fighters in Gombe State.
The repentant fighters were released to join their families after an 11-month De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDR) programme, coded Operation Safe Corridor.
Shafa said the repentant members who surrendered themselves to the Nigerian Army were reintegrated into their respective communities after the programme.
He said the ex-fighters are the second batch to be handed over to their respective state governments since the inception of the programme in 2016.
The coordinator called on other Boko Haram fighters still in the bush to come out and surrender to the Nigerian Army so as to be reformed.
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target=_blank>Obanikoro, Wife, Son Recover N500m Houses, Land From EFCC
Musiliu Obanikoro, recently admitted to be present during Ekiti election rigging
Musiliu Obanikoro, recently admitted to be present during Ekiti election rigging
A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, his wife and children have recovered three properties worth about N500m from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.
The properties include four terrace houses located at 44 Mamman Kotangora Crescent in the highbrow Katamkpe Extension area of Abuja; a parcel of land in Guzape District and a duplex at Olori Mojisola Onikoyi Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Our correspondents, who visited the properties on Thursday, observed that the erstwhile red paint inscription, ‘EFCC, Keep Off!’ had been wiped off on the walls of the buildings.
Obanikoro, who defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party about a year ago, was under investigation along with his two sons for alleged money laundering.
The ex-minister was accused of receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) in 2014.
About N2.2bn out of the funds was allegedly handed over to the then governorship candidate of the PDP in Ekiti State, Governor Ayodele Fayose, while N1.3bn was said to have been given to the then Osun State governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Obanikoro has, however, been converted to a prosecution witness and is expected to testify against Fayose who he allegedly handed part of the money to.
The ex-minister and his wife, Moroophat, had, in 2016, sued the EFCC for seizing the houses but lost as the court ruled that the EFCC had the right to seize properties of persons under investigation.
An FCT High Court sitting in Jabi had ordered the forfeiture of her property pending the outcome of investigations into her husband and children.
The court also rejected a prayer asking that the EFCC pay her the sum of N200m for violating her fundamental human rights.
Obanikoro’s wife had argued that she bought the property over seven years before the alleged arms scam took place.
Obanikoro’s wife’s Abuja mansion before release
She said the EFCC had no right to punish her for any crime allegedly committed by her husband and urged the court to award her N200m.
However, in an affidavit deposed to by one Jackson Edet, the EFCC claimed that Obanikoro’s wife could not claim to be ignorant of her husband’s alleged crime.
The commission said Moroophat’s husband and her sons collected over N600m from the ONSA for a non-existent contract.
The EFCC argued that investigation had shown that, “the property belongs to Musliu Obanikoro and he paid for the statutory charges for the property.
“That a lawyer, Tejumola Wasiu Adeboye, who volunteered a statement to the commission, stated that he managed the said property and remits the rent to MOB Integrated Services (a company allegedly owned by Obanikoro which is also under probe).
In his ruling, Justice Y. Halilu said he could not stop the EFCC from doing its work.
When contacted on the telephone, the acting spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, said he had no information on the matter and prayed for more time to respond.
He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Saturday.
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Kwara Governor Drops Senate Ticket Under Pressure
The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday admitted that he might forego his senatorial ticket for Kwara South Senatorial District for the incumbent Sen. Abdulrafiu Ibrahim. He said the talks within the Dr. Bukola Saraki political family for him to step aside had been on for a while. He clarified that forsaking the ticket had nothing to do with the November 17 by-election into Ekiti/ Oke Ero/ Isin/ Irepodun Federal Constituency.
But findings confirmed that Saraki, who is the governor’s godfather, directed Ahmed to forget his ambition after the defeat. Although Saraki had initially favoured Abdulrafiu but Ahmed sent many PDP governors to his godfather to concede the ticket to him. The governor’s first political test after securing the ticket was election into the Federal constituency which was fatal for PDP.
A PDP source said: “Our leader has taken the senatorial ticket away from the governor because he cannot afford to take any risk. The slot is now for the present occupant of the seat, Sen. Abdulrafiu Ibrahim. What we are trying to do is to give the governor a soft landing. We do not want it to appear as if the governor is being humiliated. To get the ticket, the governor sent emissaries to our leader. It has now turned out that the shoe is bigger than him because 2019 poll is really testy for us.
“Our leader has been in the state in the past 48 hours to put things in order since he will serve as the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council of PDP. If you leave your pot unwatched, your food will get burnt.”
But Governor Ahmed has denied speculations that the Kwara South Senatorial ticket has been “retrieved from him on account of the last House of Representatives bye-election results in the state.” Ahmed, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, described as “politically motivated mischief the rumours that he has been asked to step down due to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s loss of the Ekiti/ Oke Ero/ Irepodun bye-election.
The statement said: “The Governor said, on the contrary, consultation had been going on before the November 17 elections within the political family to consider the request by the leadership of the Ibolo division of Kwara South, from where the current Senator hails, for a second tenure at the Senate
“Furthermore, he said that the ongoing consultation was based on the view that the Igbomina and Ekiti divisions had successfully served two terms in the Senate as opposed to the Ibolo division whose representative had served only one term in the Senate.
“While describing the last by-election as a farcical exercise marked by voter intimidation, widespread disenfranchisement and the use of security agencies against PDP supporters and members, Ahmed said the result of such a disputed election could, therefore, not have formed the basis of a review of his candidacy for the Kwara South Senatorial elections. He assured that PDP will win the general elections in the state as the people of Kwara have resolved never to allow such harassment by security agents again.”
A separate statement by the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Tunde Ashaolu, confirmed that the party was weighing options on the demand of Ibolo people to give a second term ticket to the incumbent Sen. Abdulrafiu Ibrahim. The statement said: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has been drawn to a misleading media report insinuating that there is panic in the camp of Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is under pressure to withdraw from the Kwara South senatorial race as a result of the aftermath of last Saturday’s by-election in Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun federal constituency.
“This is totally untrue, ridiculous and a deliberate mischief orchestrated by some unscrupulous elements and political jobbers who are bent on causing confusion within the party and among our leaders. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no tension whatsoever within the fold of the PDP in Kwara State and there is no pressure on Governor Ahmed to drop his senatorial ambition because of the outcome of the recently held bye-election in the state.
“The party however, notes that there are ongoing consultations and pleas by leadership of the Ibolo axis of Kwara South, where the current senator representing the senatorial district, Dr Rafiu Ibrahim hails from, for the party’s senatorial ticket to be retained in the axis in the interest of fairness and equity in the distribution political offices within the district.
“It is instructive to note that these consultations and pleas preceded the November 17 by-election and are based on the understanding that the Igbomina and Ekiti divisions of Kwara South had produced senators who served two terms in the Senate as opposed to the Ibolo division whose representative had only served one term.
“This was the sole observation raised by the stakeholders during all their consultative meetings with the national leader of our party and Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and other leaders of the PDP in the State.
“It is, therefore, ridiculous for anybody to think that the outcome of an election that does not reflect the will of the people, as it was marred with widespread irregularities including intimidation of voters, ballot box snatching and illegal arrest of PDP members, could lead to the withdrawal of Governor Ahmed from the senatorial race.
“The party thereby urges members and supporters of the PDP as well as the general public to disregard the fake report which was sponsored and planted in the media by unscrupulous elements and fifth columnists.
“Ahmed is a prominent leader of our party and has always placed the party’s interest above his personal interest. More so, he has provided exemplary leadership since he assumed office in 2011 and has created enduring legacies that have placed Kwara on a path of sustainable development.
“Among the enduring legacies of Governor Ahmed, which are products of foresight and vision, are the establishment of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) and the Kwara Infrastructural Development Fund (IF-K). Without doubt, these initiatives have had great impacts on the development of the State.
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THE NATION NEWSPAPER
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