BABANGIDA DENIES WRITING JONATHAN.

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has denied media report that he, like former President General Olusegun Obasanjo, has written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the nation.

Babangida, in a statement yesterday by Mr. Kassim Afegbua, denied the report, which he described as “outright blackmail journalism and a sad commentary on the journalism practice.

”In the statement given to THISDAY in Minna, Niger State, Babangida denied issuing any statement titled: “Your aides are misleading you; IBB warns Jonathan,” published in an online publication.

“To state the least, this is outright blackmail journalism and a sad commentary on journalism practice; a profession that I hold dear to my heart.

Let me also state without mincing words that I did not issue the said statement that is flying around the social media on behalf of IBB,” the statement added.

Afegbua also stated that Babangida did not authorise anyone to write the
statement, adding that since he left to be the Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Babangida had not officially appointed a spokesman.

He said: “I declare with all the emphasis at my disposal that General IBB did not authorise anyone to issue any statement on his behalf let alone crediting same odious statement to me; Prince Kassim Afegbua.

“Even though General IBB has not officially appointed a media spokesman since I left, my acceptance of the offer of special adviser by my governor automatically removes me from being General IBB’s spokesman, a position I so cherished and a personality I so admire.

“It is, therefore, bad journalism for one obscure, good-for-nothing, unprofessional platform such as the Global Villa Extra, to fabricate a statement and credit same to me, not only to mislead the public but cause disaffection amongst the personalities involved.”

He explained that it was not in Babangida’s character to take up issues with leaders in such a pedestrian manner as reflected in the so-called statement credited to him.

“This rebuttal becomes instructive to put the records straight and disabuse the minds of our numerous followers, friends and associates who may come across this statement in one way or the other,” he added.

According to him, “When I called the local mobile telephone number of the online publication : 08165076156, no one answered my several calls. In fact, the receiver from the other end was cutting my calls. When I called the international number, 00912407041545, a receiver from the other end who refused to disclose his name , expressed shock at my declaration. He did promise to instruct his co-
conspirators to remove the tissue of concocted lies from their site. As at the time of writing this rebuttal, he has not done so.”

Source: ThisDay

2015: Ogun PDP Factions Close Ranks, May Field Dimeji Bankole. - By; Tunde Olanrewaju

Feuding factions of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State appeared to be closing ranks ahead of next year general elections as speculations persist that former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, is being positioned to fly the party’s flag during the gubernatorial race.



There are at least four factions of the PDP in Ogun State. But the officially recognized one is led by party financier, Prince Buruji Kashamu. A side led by former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has dissolved into the Labour Party, while remnants of those on President Olusegun Obasanjo side of the divide remain on the fringes as a number of them have joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with those loyal to former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye (JMK), still waiting in the wings.



An authoritative source confirmed to Uhuru Times that remnants of Obasanjo’s loyalists, who refused to join the APC, had a brainstorming session with representatives from Daniel, Kashamu and Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye factionss at the Iperu, Remo country home of former House of Representatives member, Hon. Dave Salako with a resolve that Bankole be pushed forward for the 2015 gubernatorial race as a rallying point for Ogun State PDP.



At the Iperu meeting were, the host, Bankole, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Hon.Wale Ogunbanjo, Chief Wale Egunleti, Chief Sina Adejobi, Hon.Abeeb Ajayi and three members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Messrs Job Akintan, Abiodun Akovoyon and Michael Fasinu. Others include Mr. Tunji Akinosi, Chief Dele Ajayi and Chief Yinka Sosinde. The meeting was said to have expressed confidence in the person of Bankole, who it believes is well positioned to wrest power from the incumbent Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.



Leader of the JMK group, Salako, confirmed the meeting and explained that the PDP is currently in search of a credible material that would contest against any candidate presented by the ruling party. “It took us a lot of stress to get Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole to attend the meeting. But he agreed in the larger interest of the PDP.



“We are not only canvassing, we desire and we are looking for him (Bankole) to take the flag of PDP come the 2015 gubernatorial election. We are giving him all the support that he will need for 2015 and we are confident he is the man that will lead us to victory. If you leave here, go to Abeokuta, Ijebu, Yewa and Remo, the name you’ll find on their lips is Dimeji Bankole.
“In Ogun State, we still believe that we have peculiarity in our state, but we are going to make sure that everybody comes back to the PDP regardless of what has been happening over the days or weeks. People are defecting to APC or whatever. It is not so totally in Ogun State. Most PDP members in Ogun State are still steadfast and loyal to the party. I make bold to tell you that 90 to 95 per cent of PDP members are still there and we are ready to move, God helping us, to make sure that our candidate emerges by 2015 as governor.

“We dissociate ourselves from the (Obasanjo) Abeokuta meeting. We’ll remain in the PDP and we are ready to give the new national chairman all the support he requires. We commend his efforts at reorganizing and reinvigorating the party. We also support his reconciliation exercise and harmonization, especially in the South West and particularly Ogun State.”



Obasanjo had recently convened a meeting in Abeokuta subtly informing those present he might support a political party different from the PDP in the next elections. But a counter-move by PDP stakeholders last Friday in Abeokuta kicked against the defection of members to the APC, which many believed Obasanjo favours.

SOURCE:UHURU TIMES

11 PDP Senators Decamped To APC. More To Join.

Some of the decampees include Bukola Saraki, Danjuma Goje, and Mohammed Ndume.

The rank of the APC in the Senate swelled Wednesday with the defection of 11 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Among the senators that defected are Bukola Saraki, Mohammed Ndume, Danjuma Goje and Abdullahi Adamu.

The senators communicated their decision to decamp to the APC in a letter addressed to the Senate President, David Mark. There are reports that some more senators could decamp in the coming weeks.

The PDP still appears to have the majority in the Senate despite the defections, although
official figures are yet to be announced.
The gale of defection had hit the House of Representatives last December when 37 PDP members of the chamber defected to the APC.

Five PDP governors had earlier moved to the opposition party on November 26.
The governors are Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabi’u Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).
Mr. Saraki had told journalists at the weekend that more PDP senators would decamp upon resumption of the upper legislative chamber this week.

Full lists of the defecting senators are as follows :
Senator Bukola Saraki-Kwara Central
Senator Umaru Dahiru-Sokoto South
Senator Magnus Ngei Abe -Rivers South-East
Senator Wilson Asinobi Ake-Rivers West
Sen. Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla-Adamawa North
Sen. Mohammed Danjuma Goje-Gombe central
Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan-Taraba North
Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume-Borno South
Senator Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji-Kwara North
Sen. Abdulahi Adamu-Nasarawa West
Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir-Sokoto East

STATE OF THE NATION: General Ibrahim Babangida Tasks President Jonathan To Remain Focused and Ressilient.

The happenings in the country in recent times call for worry if we must be sincere with ourselves. Every day, the nation is treated with one form of political issue or the other. From security challenges to economic challenges, Nigerians are asking several questions that deserve responses from government at the various levels. Democracy is when it is a people-driven government with its fundamental principles of freedom of expression, freedom of association, rule of law, accountability, probity and equal representation amongst others.

“I will like to advise President Goodluck Jonathan to tread cautiously so that those sycophants in, and out of government will not derail his focus, resilience and perseverance. He needs all the comportment, resilience, perseverance, introspection and determination to be able to take the right decisions for the good of the country. The arrest and release of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is a deliberate distraction which the President must run away from.

“He must avoid gambling with decisions and he must be willing to seek a third opinion on issues before he takes his decision. President Goodluck Jonathan must understand that there is a whole body of people out there who are not happy with happenings in the country. It is his responsibility as President of the country to reach out to them and make his mission understandable to the common man on the street so that they can buy into his government.

“If his body of advisers do not understand the temperament in the country and decide to embark on arresting and releasing people on very questionable allegations, they will be making enemies for the President instead of friends. The prerogative is that of the President and no one else.

“President Jonathan should as a matter of responsibility listens to voices of the opposition and or dissent, as he stands to gain experience and knowledge from their well-informed criticisms rather than build hostilities around them. He has to ensure that he minimizes and maximizes his discretionary powers in a manner that will not be subject of abuse.

“President Goodluck Jonathan must sit back, collect himself and carry out a critical self-appraisal before he takes his decisions. He is aware without mention, that the country is presently faced with several developmental challenges.
“Also, security agencies must avoid getting involved in political issues. Modern day security has evolved to a point where you do not require seeing gun-wielding Policemen on the streets. The ability to collate information and analyse same in a proactive manner will help improve the security situation in the country. We must carry out moral healing as well as political healing in the land.

“The President must make it a point of duty to reach out to people, groups and individuals with the sole purpose of selling his presidency. It is becoming instructive that the concept of winner-takes-all which has pervaded the system for so long may not flourish as such again.”

Ex-Kano Governor, Shekarau, dumps APC for PDP!!!

Ibrahim Shekarau, one of the founding members of APC, has moved to the PDP.
The immediate past governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Mr. Shekarau, backed by his supporters from the 44 local government areas of Kano, made the declaration at his Bompai GRA residence in Kano on Wednesday.
He said the decision is to satisfy the aspirations of the people of the state who felt left out from the APC.

“We intended with the merger to form a solid foundation for entrenchment of democracy,” Mr, Shekarau, the presidential candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in 2011, said.

“The Legacy Group sacrificed all interests for the merger, but for the past six months all agreements reached by the merged parties had not being met.
“No clear leaders, no registration of APC members at any levels. This shows a clear lack of commitment, transparency and accountability to all concerned,” he said.

The supporters participated in the declaration and affirmed the decision to defect to PDP.

Mr. Shekarau had last week met with a former Sokoto Governor and founding members of the APC, Attahiru Bafarawa, last week. Mr. Bafarawa has since decamped to the PDP. Both men accuse the APC of giving the party’s structures in their states to their current state governors who last year decamped to the APC from the PDP.
(NAN)

DAVOS 2014: Fmr. VP Atiku Abubakar Commends President Jonathan On Economic Growth Sustainance; Calls For More Commitment On Security and Infrastructure

ON THE JUST CONCLUDED WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ANNUAL MEETING, #‎DAVOS2014 . ATIKU ABUBAKAR SHARE IS THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS, EXPRESSES HIS BELIEFS IN NIGERIA’S POTENTIALS.

I think it’s fair to say that Nigeria had a good showing in Davos. That our country and President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is actively participating in the annual meet up of the world’s most influential persons shows that there is yet belief in the potentials of Nigeria’s economy and her future.

It’s good to see that the hard work of readmitting Nigeria into a position of visibility on the international stage, which we made a priority in 1999, is yielding fruit.

However, I must reiterate that the task of turning all that economic potential into reality for our people needs more commitment.

It is undeniably a great objective to prioritise attracting foreign investment to Nigeria. But we should not allow ourselves to get carried away by all that excitement around Nigeria as the ‘next frontier’; or a part of the much-talked about MINT.

It is very important to focus on policies here at home, find a way to convert that exciting economic growth into real value in Lafia and Nnewi and Yenagoa and Birnin-Kebbi and Damaturu and everywhere else across the length and breadth of this country.

Security, infrastructure, and a taming of the red tape that kills so much opportunity should be given priority. Security especially needs more attention – the insurgency in the North, and piracy, oil theft and gas sabotage in the Niger Delta, these are harming our direct and indirect revenues, as well as our attractiveness as an investment location. I am seeing these effects first hand as an investor and business owner in both our North East and Niger Delta regions. The limitations to business are severely hindering our abilities to add more jobs.

The inability of the NNPC to effectively and honestly manage Nigeria’s oil resources gives cause for worry. And it doesn’t help that a key legislation like the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) seems to have died somewhere in the National Assembly.
The opaqueness, and the uncertainties, all of these affect investors’ decisions
.
The road to rebuilding the Nigerian economy is littered with unnecessary bottlenecks. We need to support and encourage businesses which are capable of offering jobs to our young people, and provide practical incentives to employers, which would spur them to hire more.

We need to rein in government spending, especially recurrent expenditure, and keep our debt levels – domestic and foreign –in check. I remember in 1999 when I came into government with President Obasanjo, one of my key tasks was debt management and the general economy. It took only a few weeks to realise that we had no records of what the country’s true debt exposure was. After a few months of work with my team, we realised our exposure was so high, no decent investors would want to do businesses with us. Gladly, that economic team was able to find solutions to our debt problem. We do not have to return to those dark days.

The famous debt relief was hard-won, and we should not send ourselves back to the dire circumstances from which we paid a steep price for freedom.

Very importantly too, we need to save money. Our foreign reserves are still what they were in 2007. And the excess crude account, more than $20bn in 2007, is today almost empty. We can’t continue like this.

Finally, we need to ensure that we do not abandon our economic priorities as the politicking of 2015 gains momentum.

Those jobs for our youth can’t wait, those roads can’t, those schools can’t. The last thing we want to do is sacrifice our today in the race to win tomorrow.

That’s the surest way to ensure that in the long run, we’ll all end up losing.

Atiku Abubakar

Source: The Turaki Mandate!!!

OGUN POLITICAL VIOLENCE: SSS quizzes Ogun NURTW boss, to question 47 others

Following a petition by 10 members of the National Assembly from Ogun State, the state Command of the State Security Service has arrested and questioned the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Akeem Adeosun, popularly called Jango.

Also, no fewer than 47 other persons, many of whom are said to be close to the camp of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, have been listed for interrogation by the SSS over the recent spate of violence between rival factions of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.

Already, the SSS had two weeks ago interrogated the Chairman of Ewekoro Local Government, Dele Soluade, over the shooting which occurred at Wasimi penultimate Thursday when suspected hoodlums stormed an APC meeting organised by Senator Gbenga Obadara representing Ogun Central in the National Assembly.

The police orderly to the lawmaker, Sergeant Sunday Akinbode, and nine other persons sustained gunshot injuries in the melee. Akinbode was shot in the lower abdomen when he attempted to shield his principal from the hoodlums.

Our correspondent gathered that the NURTW chairman, who was said to have allegedly refused to honour an earlier invitation by the SSS, was arrested on Monday and whisked away to the Oke Mosan, Abeokuta office of the security agency where he was quizzed for about four hours.

While his interrogation lasted, SSS operatives were said to have obtained the fingerprints and taken the photographs of the NURTW chairman.

Adeosun was said to have been released on bail later and instructed to report daily to the SSS command office .

National Assembly members from the state had last week petitioned the SSS director-general, urging him to intervene and protect them from “serious danger in the state.”

SOURCE: The Punch.

Ousted Egyptian Leader Mohamed Morsy Denounces Trial

Former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy,
appearing before a Cairo court Tuesday to face
charges related to a 2011 jailbreak, denounced the
process as unfair and unjust.

Speaking from inside a soundproof glass enclosure,
Morsy demanded to know where he was and who
was in charge. His lawyers explained to the judge
that he was angry because he had not been allowed
to see his lawyers or family.

Nineteen Muslim Brotherhood members, including
Morsy, allegedly broke out of the prison in 2011,
state-run EGYNews reported.

At the time, the Muslim Brotherhood was banned in
the country. But the Islamist group became Egypt's
most powerful political force after longtime ruler
Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February 2011.

Morsy and dozens of co-defendants are accused of
collaborating with the Palestinian Islamist group
Hamas and the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah to
escape from the Wadi-Natroun prison, the state-
owned Ahram Online news agency said.

The defendants are also accused of attempting to
murder police officers, Ahram Online said.
'I am not assured' of judge's fairness
The judge, who controlled the sound, allowed Morsy
to address the court in the afternoon.

Morsy said he had not been allowed to see his
lawyers since November. But he had been visited
repeatedly by "investigative judges" whom he
warned about taking part in what he sees as a
farce.

"It's not enough for the judge to be fair, but for the
subject to be assured of the judge's fairness, and I
am not assured," he said.

The other Muslim Brotherhood defendants were
placed in a separate enclosure and held up a four-
finger salute to show solidarity with the group.

The judge adjourned the hearing until February 22.
The trial is one of several that Morsy is facing. He
has also been charged with raiding other prisons,
killing soldiers and officers in Rafah, and incitement
to murder in connection with protests against his
rule in 2012.

A short tenure

Morsy became Egypt's first democratically elected
president in 2012 after the fall of Mubarak, who had
ruled Egypt for 29 years.

But just one year later, Morsy was deposed in a
military coup. The U.S. State Department called for
the military to release him, saying his detention
was politically motivated.

Opponents accused Morsy of pursuing an Islamist
agenda and excluding other factions from the
government.

But supporters said that he wasn't given a fair
chance and that the military has returned to the
authoritarian practices of Mubarak.

Egyptian official killed

Morsy's trial wasn't the only significant news out of
Egypt on Tuesday.

A senior aide to Egypt's interior minister was killed
in the Giza area of Cairo, a presidential spokesman
said.

Gen. Mohammed Said was shot and killed near the
Pyramids, spokesman Ehab Badaway said. There
was no immediate claim of responsibility for the
attack.

Last September, the interior minister himself was
targeted in an assassination attempt.

Egypt's Interior Ministry oversees the country's
police force, which has led a fierce and sometimes
deadly crackdown against protesters over the past
several months.

Source: CNN

INCREDIBBLE!!! Two Brothers Die Of MAGUN After Sleeping With Uncles’ Wives

DETECTIVES of the Oyo State Police Command are battling to unravel the mystery behind the death of two brothers one after the other and an attack on their uncle accused of killing them with  a deadly anti-adultery charm, magun, laced in the bossom of  his wife and that of his brother’s.

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The uncle is lying critically ill in a hospital in Ibadan after irate youths attacked him following the death of the second man.

The incident happened at Jagun community near Iyana Ofa, Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, a serene settlement where people whose lifestyles are closer to nature dwell. Residents are mostly farmers while others engage in one trade or the other. The youth among them are artisans.

The serenity was, however, broken towards the end of 2013 when two blood brothers, Kunmi and Adeniyi Adetokun, died, one after the other, within three days, allegedly of a local charm used to punish adulterous men, commonly referred to as magun in Yoruba.

This literally translates ‘don’t climb’ in English. But the two brothers climbed the metaphorical mountains that were too high for them. And they somersaulted down the hills, breaking their necks in the process. The occurrence, however, sparked off anger among the youth of the community, resulting in them setting ablaze the residence of the Balogun of the community, Chief Segun Oyetade, the deceased’s uncle, as he was suspected to have been responsible for the duo’s death. They also attacked him with weapons but was only saved when the youth got a hint that policemen were approaching.

The scene opened on Monday, December 2, 2013 when Kunmi reportedly died after having sex with a woman allegedly laced with magun and who was said to be his aunt-in-law. The woman was said to be his uncle’s wife.

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On December 5, three days after Kunmi’s death, his younger brother, Adeniyi, was also reported to have died of unknown ailment which he battled with for a couple of weeks after allegedly sleeping with the wife of Chief Oyetade’s brother, whose name was given simply as Femi.

According to the information gathered by Saturday Tribune, Niyi was the one who fell ill first after he slumped and started vomitting blood. His brother, Kunmi, was reportedly taking care of him at a hospital at Lalupon community.

It was further learnt that Kunmi left Niyi at Lalupon and went to Jagun community where he allegedly had sex with his uncle’s wife. His own illness did not take much time before it consumed him and he died three days after it manifested. Having noticed this, Niyi reportedly opened up that he slept with Femi’s wife, which confirmed the suspicion of the villagers that he must have been hit with the deadly charm.

A member of the community described the type of magun used on Niyi as Olorere which usually takes days or weeks before killing the man who sleeps with the woman laced with such.

After Kunmi’s death, Chief Oyetade was reportedly summoned by the Baale of Jagun community, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, who asked him about the allegation that he laced his wife with magun. The man denied and the Baale appealed to him to find the antidote so that Niyi could be healed.

The Balogun reportedly came back to the village head to demand for N4,000 which he said was the fee demanded by the herbalist who volunteered to prepare the antidote. Members of the community were said to have contributed the money but before he brought it, Niyi gave up the ghost.

Niyi’s death after his brother’s spurred the community’s anger as Chief Oyetade was also accused of sleeping with the mother of the two brothers, which prompted the question on why he should be angry that someone was having an affair with his wife or his brother’s wife, to the extent that he could aim at killing the brothers.

The anger led to the attack on him while his house was set on fire and his wife and children sent out of the community in the dead of the night.

Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, who was said to have got a hint of the youth’s plan to attack Chief Oyetade, had reportedly gone to Iyana Ofa Police Division to quickly give the information to the police but before they got back to the village, the youth had struck. As they saw the approaching policemen, they were said to have fled in different directions, leaving the injured chief to his fate.

However, Chief Oyetade, during an interview with Saturday Tribune on hospital bed where he was receiving treatment, alleged that it was the Baale who sent the youth to attack him because of a tussle between them over a piece of land.

He denied the allegation that he laced the women with magun, saying that his accusers were only trying to tarnish his image.

“What I only heard was that Niyi was sick, but I didn’t know the kind of ailment because he was living at Lalupon. Later the Baale called me and some elders, saying that my nephew, Femi, laced his wife with magun, which resulted in Niyi’s illness. I didn’t believe the allegation because Niyi had been ill for some weeks and from the story we used to hear about magun, it doesn’t take so long before being felt.

“They went further to say that I was the one who gave Femi the magun which he laced his wife with, accusing me of doing same for my wife, which led to Kunmi’s death. I exclaimed in shock, disclosing that my wife was pregnant and wondering how one would lace a pregnant woman with a charm such as magun.

“It was after this that Chief Akinpelu said he was after the wellness of Niyi, tasking me and the head of Niyi’s family, one Mr Adewale Adekambi, to go and look for the antidote. By then, Niyi was being cared for in Ibadan and it was Ibadan we went to seek the antidote. Unfortunately, Niyi died on Thursday, December 5.

I joined Niyi’s sibling, Seun and his aunt in taking the corpse away from where he died. As we wanted to take him to the cemetery, his brother said we should take him home, unknown to me that it was a trap set for me. As soon as I disembarked from the vehicle, hoodlums descended on me with sticks, pestle and cutlasses. I kept asking them of my offence and when they saw that I did not collapse, one of them struck me with an axe on the head and I fell down.

“A sympathiser called the Baale to inform him of what happened to me but before he came, I was already crawling away. A community member saw me and jeered at me, saying: ‘Where are you going? Your house and property are still going for it.’

He said the disagreement between him and Chief Akinpelu occurred when he sold his own father’s parcel of land and the Baale challenged him by saying that he did not inform him. “He has no business with the land. My brother and I agreed before the land was sold and it belonged to our father,” Chief Oyetade said.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the police detectives, led by  the Divisional Police Officer, Iyana Ofa, Mrs Justina Ogunleye, took the victim to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. 

Chief Oyetade’s wife, Rachael, also narrated her ordeal thus: “I was invited by the Baale and he asked me about Kunmi’s death. I told him that I did not know anything about it. I also swore in the presence of the elders seated, asking if anyone of them had ever seen my nakedness. It was when I was raining curses that the Baale asked me to go.

“On Thursday, December 5, my husband travelled to Ibadan and told me he was not coming back. At about 11:00p.m., I heard a knock on my door and when I opened, I saw four men who asked me to leave with my children without picking a pin, threatening that if I delayed, they would burn us with the house.

“I slept in the bush with my children, among who was a two-year-old, and at dawn, we trekked to a town near Ibadan, from where we took a bike to Iyana-Ofa. From there, I boarded a bus to Ibadan. I tried to contact my husband but could not get him. It was later I learnt that he had been attacked.”

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Oyo State, DSP Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, confirmed the development, disclosing that two of the suspected arsonists and attackers had been arrested. She added that the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa, had ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan, for further investigation.

Source: Tribune

APC Senators Ignore Party Directive, Screen Service Chiefs. -By Lere Olayinka

No fewer than seven members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate today, participated in the screening of the Service Chiefs recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan, in defiance of their political party’s directive.

The leadership of the APC had through a communique read by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, last week directed their members in the National Assembly to block the passage of the budget, and the screening of new service chiefs and ministers.

The APC senators included Akin Odunsi (APC-Ogun), Babafemi Ojudu (APC-Ekiti), Sani Saleh (APC-Kaduna), Atai Aidoko (APC-Kogi), Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara) Robert Boroffice (APC-Ondo), among others.

The Senate Joint Committee on Defence and Army, Navy and Air Force challenged the newly appointed service chiefs to effectively tackle insurgency and oil theft in the country.

The chairman of the joint committee, Sen. George Sekibo gave the charge at the commencement of the screening of the service chiefs on Monday in Abuja.
Sekibo noted that potent strategies must be undertaken by the newly appointed service chiefs to tackle kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges in various parts of the nation.

He said the entire Senate was determined to support any effort geared towards the protection of citizens by eliminating all forms of lawlessness and threat to national security.

According to him, the screening exercise was in accordance with the provision of the Constitution which mandates the National Assembly to confirm the service chiefs before they are decorated by the President.

“Our country is going through some major challenges including among others, insurgency in the North East, oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the South South and kidnapping in the South East and other parts of the country.

“If the required attention is not given to these challenges, they are capable of disintegrating our country or putting our nation’s unity in question.

“It is our belief that those of you who are presenting yourself for screening are prepared to work towards achieving tranquility in the North East.

“You have to eliminate oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the South South, stop kidnapping in the South East and other areas of the country,” he said.

Sekibo added that the screening exercise was to assess the competence of the service chiefs in strategic military operations and their proficiency to combat the prevailing nation security challenges.

He noted that the screening was the first to be carried out by the Senate since the return of Nigeria to civil rule despite the fact that there was a
provision for it in Sections 217 to 219 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He added that past administrations in the country had not been sending names of service chiefs for confirmation despite that the National Assembly enacted Armed Forces Act 2004, which made it mandatory for the federal lawmakers to confirm the appointment of service chiefs.

Sekibo said, “The screening exercise today therefore is in fulfillment of the
provisions of the constitution and the Armed Forces Act 2004 (Cap A.20 of the
laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) which has been flouted since it was
enacted.

“This exercise we are performing today would satisfy the provisions of the constitution and law, and completely put our Armed Forces under our
democratic norms.” (187)

Egypt Military Okays El-Sisi For President run. By-By Salma Abdelaziz and Jason Hanna, CNN

Egypt's military leadership council on Monday gave newly promoted Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi -- the army chief who helped oust the country's first democratically elected president -- its blessing to run for the presidency, the state-run Middle East News Agency reported.


El-Sisi has yet to announce whether he'll run, but the move by Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces essentially is an endorsement of him, said Ehab Badawy, a spokesman for Egyptian Interim President Adly Mansour.

MENA reported Monday afternoon that El-Sisi, who was promoted from general to field marshal earlier in the day, would announce in the next few hours whether he'll run for the office.

El-Sisi, who was defense minister when the military ousted President Mohamed Morsy in July, had said he would run for president if the Egyptian people wanted him to, state media reported recently.

Egypt to have presidential elections first

The interim government has not given a date for elections; candidates can officially declare themselves on February 18.

The Arab world's most populous nation has seen months of political turmoil since the military deposed Morsy, of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement, on July 3 after mass protests against his rule. Demonstrators accused him of pursuing an Islamist agenda and excluding other factions from the government.

An interim, military-backed government was installed in Morsy's place, but Morsy's supporters have held near-daily protests since his ouster, demanding that he be reinstated. The protests often have devolved into violence.

This month, Egyptians overwhelmingly approved a new constitution, with 98.1% in favor, the Electoral Commission said. But supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which the interim government banned late last year, boycotted the referendum in response to the crackdown against it.

Morsy was elected in 2012, a year after a popular uprising ousted longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak. Morsy's supporters say that he wasn't given a fair chance and that the military has returned to the authoritarian practices of Mubarak.

Source: CNN

2015 ELECTIONS: ATIKU ABUBAKAR BEGINS NATIONWIDE CONSULTATIONS

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday started his nationwide consultation ahead of the 2015 presidential election from the North-West geo-political zone of the country.

It was gathered that many of the stakeholders at the consultative meeting urged him to contest the 2015 presidential election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

A statement from his office said that the zonal consultative meeting, which took place in Kaduna on Sunday, had delegates from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states in attendance.

The former vice-president, while addressing the delegates was said to have noted that he was very appreciative of the “enormous support he enjoys from the North-West geo-political zone, especially during the 2011 presidential contest.” He added that the idea of instituting a nationwide consultative meetings among his supporters from various political parties became necessary in order for him to respond to certain developments within the polity.

He said, “You are quite aware that recently, I was a host to the leadership of the APC urging me to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party and join the APC in its drive to bring about tangible leadership and national development to our country.

“You are also aware that I am yet to give a response to that call from the APC leadership, until I table the issue before you, my supporters.

“So, the purpose of this meeting is two-pronged. First, I want to formally inform you about the invitation from the APC, and secondly, I want you to speak out your minds over the subject-matter.

“I have decided to split the meeting with North-West stakeholders into two because of the size of the region. My next visit to the region will, by the grace of God, address stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. I implore you to be frank and very dispassionate as much as you can.”

Several speakers at the meeting were said to have spoken variously of the invitation by the APC leadership, with a vast majority of them urging Atiku to honour the invitation.

An unnamed delegate from Kano State particularly noted that Atiku had always been a victim of Nigeria’s dirty politics, saying that “the wise thing for him to do is to follow the wind of change sweeping across the country because the PDP is blind, deaf and dumb.”

At the end of the meeting, the stakeholders were said to have been prompted to cast a ballot on whether or not Atiku should contest the 2015 presidential election, and under the platform of which political party.

An overwhelming majority of the stakeholders believed that Atiku should contest the election – 28 people voted in favour of the APC, five people voted in favour of the Peoples Democratic Movement, three people voted in favour of the PDP while one person abstained.

The statement said that the next consultative meeting of the stakeholders was expected to take place in Lagos and Ibadan on Wednesday and Thursday respectively for the South-West geo-political zone.

Source: De Turaki Mandate (Facebook Page)

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell resigns amid Neymar row

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has quit in the wake of a Spanish judge's decision to investigate the deal that brought Brazilian superstar Neymar to
the club. Rosell announced at a press conference Thursday he was tendering his "irrevocable resignation" after three-and-a-half years in charge of the current Spanish champions.

On Wednesday a judge agreed to hear a case centered on the $78 million transfer of Neymar from Santos in June after a complaint from one of Barcelona's own members. Rosell vigorously asserted his innocence in front a packed media conference and described the allegations as "unfair and reckless."

He will be replaced by vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu who said the current board would continue until the end of their mandate in 2016.
"In recent days an unfair and reckless accusation of misappropriation has resulted in a lawsuit against me in the National Court," he told reporters -- a statement that was later reproduced on Barcelona's official website.
"From the beginning I have said that the signing of Neymar Junior has been correct and his signing has caused despair and envy in some of our adversaries."

"The Board of Directors is a team. And this team leads a project that has brought the Club great success. I don't want unfair attacks to negatively affect their management or the image of the club.

"This is why I think my time here has come to an end. "Now, in accordance with the Club's Statutes, I have presented my irrevocable resignation of the presidency of FC Barcelona to the Board of Directors. "From this moment, the first vice-president of the club, Josep Maria Bartomeu, will immediately assume the presidency of the club until the end of the term, through 2016, just as the Board unanimously agreed a few moments ago." Rosell took over as president in 2010 after succeeding Joan Laporta. During his time in charge the club won the La Liga title twice and also secured the 2011 European Champions League crown.

He attracted criticism in some quarters for a huge sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation that saw the club bear a sponsor's name on their shirts for the first time. After they signed Neymar from Santos, the club announced the deal was worth $78million, but the breakdown of the agreement was never revealed.

A Barcelona member launched a case against Rosell for not disclosing the full details and the club was asked by Spanish authorities to hand over documentation, as well as accounts for the past three years. On Wednesday judge Pablo Ruz decided an investigation should go ahead, leading to Thursday's dramatic press conference. Rosell touched on the success Barca had enjoyed during his reign but said it had brought "very difficult moments." "For some time my family and myself have suffered threats and attacks in silence," he said. "These threats and attacks have made me wonder if being president means having to jeopardize my family.

"In all of these years we have seen that our successes are the result of our victories on the pitch and overcoming innumerable obstacles off the pitch: political, external and, what's worse, at times the pressure has come from our own environment. "It has been an honor to serve the Barcelonistas. It's been a privilege to be the president of FC Barcelona. I wish the best to the new president and I ask the club members to support him."

Soure; CNN.

GROUP RAISES ALARM ON AKINLADE'S SAFETY OVER OGUN POLITICAL CRISIS!

The Akinlade Group,(TAG) a political support group of Hon Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade a member of the House of Representative and Chairman; House Committee(Science & Technology) who is also a gubernatorial aspirant in Labour Party in the coming 2015 election in Ogun State have raised alarm over the safety of Hon Akinlade.
The call came owing to the recent attacks by thugs who are believed to be supporters of the incumbent governor Senator Amosun on the perceived opposition members. In the last three weeks, all members of the National Assembly members have been attacked individually and colllectively. This which had led to the call by the NASS Ogun APC Caucus members to raised alarm over their safety.

FULL DETAILS OF THE PRESS STATEMENT:

OGUN POLITICAL CRISIS: "Amosun's Next Target Is Hon Abiodun Akinlade. Police, SSS Beware"


The current spate of insecurity in Ogun State by keen observers has been better described as the greatest of all political "tsunamic-thuggery" of the 21st century. The recruitment of thugs, hooligans and cultists by the government of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and his SIACO cronies for the sake of carrying out attacks on perceived political opponent of the unworthy re-election bid has shown that Ogun State is in for doom as attacks on opponent have now become a weekly "ritual" that must be carried out by the power-drunk Amosun and his group. The death toll rises every week and the injured litters clinic.

Most recent of the attacks which is the one melted on aides and allies of the Senator representing Ogun West; Sen. Akin Odunsi at his constituency Office in Ota, Ado-Odo/Otta local government has proved the fact that Gov. Amosun is out there to 'clear' his way for a second term in office forgetting that God is the giver of power and not mere attacks and shedding of innocent blood.
As co-aspirants in the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade who dumped the APC option for the much-more progressive Labour Party according to the feelers might be the next target of the maiming mission of Gov. Amosun as several attempt has been made on his life and that of his supporters in the past.

If Amosun could unleash shooting on his highly revered party men, complete killing will probably be his mission for a man he sees as his biggest "out-of-party obstacle"

If we all recall, Akinlade; member of the House of Representative and Chairman; House Committee(Science & Technology) was a gubernatorial aspirant in ACN, before the leadership of the party for reason best known to them(which obviously they are regretting) picked Amosun as their flag bearer in 2011 and to win the people of Yewa-Awori to his(Amosun) side, Amosun showed up to solicit for the sportsmanship spirited support of Hon. Akinlade at his Owode Yewa residence where Amosun on tape promised to be fair in his (Amosun) dealings with other stakeholders after the election. Amosun although made a verbal promise to run for just ONE TERM. Today all the promises are better imagined as a mirage.

We at The Akinlade Group (TAG) have decided to alert every security agencies; the Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Nigerian Army et al to kindly place special surveillance on this Yewa-born business administrator turned politician who is widely known for the emancipation of the good people of Ogun West and Ogun State in general. Nothing evil must befall Akinlade, Amosun's attack must not succeed on him as any attack whatsoever melted on him will find the government and person of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun held responsible.

Signed:
Coordinator,
The Akinlade Group (TAG)

STOP 2014 BUDGET AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS APC TELLS ITS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

The All Progressives Congress have called on its members in the National Assembly to "block all legislative proposals" by the PDP led government in the country owing to the allegation that the PDP led government against the latter in the crisis rocking the Rivers State. The party (APC) made the call after rising from its 8th Interim National Executive Committee Regular Meeting on Thursday, 23rd January, 2014 in Abuja.

The Party in its six-paragraph communique made available to the public express dissatisfaction over what the Party see as "the brazen lawlessness and violations of the Constitution" against the Governor Amaechi led APC government in Rivers State. Reading the communique, The Interim National Secretary of the Party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the call on its Party members to stop further legislative proposals by the Federal government will continue "until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general."
Among dignitaries at the meeting were General Muhammadu Buhari Rtd, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Governors of Rivers, Lagos, Edo, Nasarawa, Kwara, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Ekiti, Ogun and the Deputy Governors of Oyo, Imo, Kano and Zamfara and other Party leaders. The meeting was chaired by the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and attended by the full compliment of the Interim National Executive Committee along with the leadership of the APC in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Details Of The All Progressives Congress Communique Below.

COMMUNIQUÉ ARISING FROM THE 8TH MEETING OF THE INTERIM NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) THURSDAY, 23RD JANUARY, 2014

The APC Interim National Executive Committee held its 8th regular meeting today. In attendance were General Muhammadu Buhari Rtd, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Governors of Rivers, Lagos, Edo, Nasarawa, Kwara, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Ekiti, Ogun and the Deputy Governors of Oyo, Imo, Kano and Zamfara and other Party leaders. The meeting was chaired by the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and attended by the full compliment of the Interim National Executive Committee along with the leadership of the APC in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

The National Executive Committee of the APC commended the courage, maturity and political sagacity of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the face of serial unprovoked and unwarranted assaults on his person, his constitutional rights and those of the Government and People of Rivers State. The conduct of Governor Amaechi represents our Party’s maturity and compliance with the rule of law in response to escalating impunity. The APC is very proud of him.

Any cursory observer of events in Rivers State since February, 2013 will be left in no doubt as to the culture of lawlessness and impunity being promoted and supported by the Presidency, and executed by the State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu, who has become the defacto military Governor of Rivers State and sole administrator of the PDP in the State.

A few instances of the brazen lawlessness and violations of the Constitution will suffice here – the forceful dispersal of 13,201 newly recruited teachers in the Port Harcourt Stadium using tear gas; blockading the entrance to the Government House in Port Harcourt and forcing the State Governor to use another entrance; preventing an aircraft chartered by the State Governor from taking off, alleging that the Governor was trying to smuggle out a legislator wanted by the Police, no apology was offered to the Governor, the disruption of a peaceful rally during which Senator Magnus Abe was shot with intent to kill; the several disruptions of Save Rivers Group rallies, and the unlawful detention of anybody perceived to be a sympathizer of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while allowing pro-Jonathan an Anti-Amaechi groups to organize rallies unmolested.

The National Executive Committee of the APC has now resolved that if this acts of impunity and lawlessness continue unabated and the Police persists in being as an enforcement arm of the PDP to the detriment of our members, it will have no alternative than to ask our teeming members all over the country and especially in Rivers State to take whatever steps that are necessary to protect their lives and property.

Following on the forgoing and in view of the joint resolutions of the National Assembly on Rivers State, and other constitutional breaches by the Presidency, the APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general.

Alh. Lai Mohammed
Interim National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)

WHY I ABANDONED DANIEL'S PROJECT; GOVERNOR AMOSUN REVEALS

The Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led government in Ogun State has again lashed out at the former administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel in the state, describing as obsolete the electricty generating equipment procured by it to boost electricity supply in the state.

The condemnation took place Thursday during the 2014 budget analysis of the state when the state Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun addressed a crowd that gathered at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Adeosun explained that the present government led by Amosun had decided not to install the N9 billion power equipment following experts’ advice that the equipment was manufactured 20 years ago.

According to her, “the company from which Daniel bought the equipment requested for a balance of N5 billion and N3 billion installation fee. But a consultant noted that if the state government had so much, it could procure a better and new model of the power generating equipment.”

She however, declared that the state government was searching for someone who will buy the equipment.

“When we came into office, we met the power equipment on ground. N9 billion had already been spent on that equipment. They were asking for additional N5 billion. In addition, they wanted N3billion to install it. When you want to spend that kind of money, you have to do cost benefit analysis, which we did. We called in some power experts; they looked at the equipment and said this equipment is about 20 years old. To install it with N3 billion, with that money, you can buy brand new equipment which is going to be far more efficient than that average equipment.

“They said if you have that kind of money, we do not advise you to instal this equipment. I’m sure you’ve gone past that power plant and seen the plumes of black smoke coming from the power plant. Go to Dangote’s plant at Ibese, look at the tiny, efficient, quiet power plant and that’s modern technology. So, that’s why we took that decision and what we are trying to do is and we have told the contractor, to look for somebody who can buy this and let us use the
money to buy something modern.”

Close to the end of the tenure of the former Gbenga Daniel administration in 2011, he bought some electricity generating equipment and installed about seven turbines, some of which stopped working shortly after the end of the administration.

Daniel also installed the Phase I of the power plant, which is currently serving the state government secretariat and some parts of the state capital.

Speaking on the breakdown of the budget, the State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs. Wande Muoyo explained that the government was poised to consolidate on its achievements of 2013.

She explained that the policy trust of the budget is geared towards completing the existing projects and sustaining the developmental strides of the administration.

The Commissioner disclosed that the Amosun-led administration has concluded plan to procure gas turbine engines to boost electricity supply in the state in the current fiscal year.

She assured the people of the state that the budget would be implemented, and charged them to pay their taxes promptly.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun presented a budget proposal to the State House of Assembly on 19 November, 2013 while a total of N210.29 billion was passed by the lawmakers and it was signed into law on 30 December, 2013.

On the key features of the budget, the commissioner said that the state government was ready to adopt the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)

"I WAS NOT SHOT; BLAME MY DOCTOR".- Senator Magnus Abe Speaks Up!r

Senator Magnus Abe, Lawmaker representing Rivers South-East in the National Assembly have "denied being shot" at. Abe was allegedly shot with rubber bullets by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command at the venue of a rally which was to take place at Rumuola, Port Harcourt on Sunday January 12. "The truth is that. I was not shot. I only inhaled excess of the tear gas and the doctor requested l should be flown abroad."

He also denied being part of the drama that followed his allegedly being shot by a rubber bullet "l didn't orchestrate the so called drama. I was simply obeying the doctors instruction." Senator Magnus reveals.

Speaking further to 'Dare Lasisi, a London based Journalist who visited him in his London Bridge Hospital where he is "recuperating", the lawmaker emphasised that no portiion of the blame should come to his doorstep rather the doctor that attended to him when he was taken there for medical assistance. "Nigerians should direct the blame to the doctor. Because I was embarrassed too by the doctors in London when they queried the doctors report I came with."-Senator Magnus Abe told Lasisi, on Monday.

Although, the senate committee on Police Affairs have visited the ailing Senator after same visit has been extended to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police. Senate committee including: Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and Sen. Nurudeen Abatemi travelled to London to get Abe’s version of what happened at the venue of the rally.
The reports of the fact-finding visitation by the committee is being awaited.

"APC IN OGUN STATE IN NOT YOUR PERSONAL ESTATE" OGUN APC National Assembly Caucus Replies Governor Amosun:

Open letter to Senator Ibikunle Amosun, by Ogun State APC NASS members

APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

21January 2014.

His Excellency,
Senator Ibikunle Amosun,
Governor, Ogun State,
Oke Mosan,
Abeokuta,
Ogun State.

Your Excellency,

Your open letter to our colleague, Senator Olugbenga Obadara in the January, 20th. 2014 edition of The Nation newspaper refers. You wrote to us, no doubt about that, as there were almost 10 different references to a perceived group Obadara belongs to. Unfortunately, you missed it .Unlike your SIA Group, we have no group outside the recognised structures of the APC. We’ve NEVER been involved in factionalisation. Whatever God has blessed us with, we extend same to the party generally and have NEVER given directives to share ANYTHING among groups, unlike instructions that treats SIA Group as a parastatal of Ogun State Government. The issues at stake do not affect Obadara or his Senatorial District alone .

Ordinarily, we should not have responded. But it is important that we put the records straight as your letter is replete with so many deliberate misinformation. Your accounts of events that took place in broad daylight at both the APC state secretariat and that of Wasimi amazes and amuses us. So, the journalists who were attacked do not know the Ogun NURTW topshot who led the thugs?

Before moving to the substantive issues you raised, some facts: There was NEVER a time we disrespected the Office of the Governor or your person. On the contrary, there have always been deliberate actions by state officials to humiliate NASS members and other leaders of the party at both official and unofficial functions. Your Excellency may have conveniently forgotten that Ogun State was in the same position yesterday before your assumption of office. Secondly, yes, you were in the Senate about one decade ago (2003 – 2007 on PDP platform). But you FAILED to realize that today’s crop of APC National Assembly members are not mere bench-warmers. We sponsor Bills, move Motions and also facilitate visible Federal projects for Ogun State. The records are there to show.

It is regrettable your assertion that we disrespect you possibly because you did not play any role in our emergence as candidates in 2011. You could not have played ANY role in our emergence because you were an aspirant like all others, including ourselves, but for different positions. No wonder you derided us after our emergence as candidates that we had NO ELECTORAL VALUE.

In your letter dated January 23, 2011 to party leaders about all of us you said:

Kunle Adeyemi ‘is considered relatively weak in electoral value’,

Segun Williams ‘was not strong nor has the resources or popularity to win’,

Taofik Buraimoh ‘has no political clout nor the wherewithal to successfully prosecute and win in the elections, his choice as candidate is alarming, ridiculous and worrisome. That he is a nobody coming to Nigeria from abroad’,

Kehinde Odeneye ‘did not enjoy the required broad-based support amongst the electorate in his own local govt – Ijebu North East’. You totally rejected him.

Alh Gbenga Kaka ‘had not enough money to contest as senator’, etc.

You did not support anyone of us with a dime. You did not campaign for us. You wrote us off. But God did not.God supported us and we won our elections even before yours.You may also want to recall that you were SELECTED by the Party Leaders, among 10 other aspirants. While you currently continue to boast that none of the current NASS members will make it back to their positions come 2015, we are resolute in our belief that it is only God who places people in positions. God is not asleep. We firmly believe it is God that’ll decide everybody’s future, not a mere mortal. In addition, what did you achieve with the NINE House of Assembly slots you got from the leaders towards the 2011 elections? You lost SIX of them to the opposition.

Harmonisation Committee and other issues
You wrote as if this committee is our creation. Meanwhile, it was created by the national leadership. That of Ogun State was delayed severally by you. But when you finally agreed to its existence, you personally picked the date (9 January 2014), the time (4pm) and venue (Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta) for its inauguration. You housed your supporters in the committee in Continental Suites, Abeokuta for two days for the same inauguration. Why are you now opposed to the same committee?

The incident involving political thugs and Senator Obadara in Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government Area is another in a series, which we have kept quiet about for the sake of our party, the APC. The verifiable facts are already in the public domain along with those that took place at the APC secretariat in Abeokuta. But it is good you are trying to turn the facts upside down.

About our National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande’s birthday celebration, you also missed it. Did the organizers tell you they made it mandatory for all NASS members to attend? How many members were even in the country at the time of the event, as NASS is on a short recess? Even in Osun State, where our revered Baba hails from, how many NASS members were at the event? We have a video recording of the event, which we can oblige you. At any rate, our national chairman is not the flamboyant type. In fact, he is known to place party issues above his personal interests. He would even prefer party stakeholders to be more involved in building the party at the grassroots than any other consideration.

And, is it a crime for Ogun State NASS members to choose our holiday period to interact with our people when others are spending theirs overseas?

On 2015,can you please mention ANY NASS member you have seen his poster for a second term in office? Are you not the one, who has been stage-managing endorsements for a second term in office since 2012 – barely one year after being in office? A few examples’ll suffice: Youth Leaders, Women Leaders, Party Chairmen, Councillors and Local Government Chairmen have endorsed you. The last one, which was moved by Hon. Oluomo from Ifo at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, was opposed by Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye. Majority of the people there were your appointees and kitchen cabinet members. In almost all the nooks and crannies of the state, your posters for second term are everywhere.

Plot against Ogun State
You should provide proof that we are either orchestrating violence or planning one, according to your so-called security reports. We are not bothered by your threat to deal with those opposed to you in the party using government apparatus. We know we are not trouble makers. But we have resolved, and firmly too that, should any harm befall us, family or supporters, we shall hold you personally responsible. Your threat after your meeting on Monday 20th January that by the time one of them (NASS member) is gunned down, others will run for cover has gotten to us.

Henceforth, all security agencies are put on notice. No member of NASS from Ogun State is known to have a violent background. Ogun State people know those with a record of violence. Besides, APC members and the good people of Ogun State know those harassing them with thugs at every twist and turn. The fact is that no member of NASS is involved in these ungodly acts.
Some posers for you:
Why do you always destabilize any political platform you join – PDP, ANPP, CPC, ACN and now APC?
Why do you like politics of intolerance and exclusion?
Why do you like to disregard party supremacy anywhere you go?
Could the above be the reason why you change party platforms always? You should please note that a political party belongs to all. APC in Ogun State is not your personal estate, where you can do whatever you want.

Conclusion
We know your intolerant disposition. That is why your threat to deal with the leaders, who SELECTED you above others aspirants is now coming to pass. Your intolerant disposition made people like Alh Rafiu Ogunleye, a revered party leader and former Deputy Governor to leave the party. You claimed we are romancing the opposition. That is in your dreams. But If you think you can chase us out like others, you are greatly mistaken. That will not work with us. We are born progressives. We are known progressives. We have NEVER change political platforms in our lives.We are ardent believers of our late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo. We are ardent followers of all our current leaders in the progressive family like Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Segun Osoba, Gen Mohammed Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, etc, and shall ever remain so.



Long Live APC.



Long Live the progressives.
God bless Ogun state

God bless Nigeria

God bless us all

Signed: NASS Ogun State Caucus

OGUN 2015: Amosun is Desperate to remain in Power- Hon. Abiodun Akinlade.

A third term member of the National Assembly Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade has decribed the Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun as a desperate man who is ready to do anything to remain in power. The Chairman House Committee on Science and Technology bear his mind while reacting to the serial political violence ravaging his home state (Ogun) in a brief with some journalist yesterday in Abuja. The Honorable said he was not too surprised that political violence is becoming the order of the day in Ogun state, especially because of the personality at the helms of affair, though regrettable, but fact is Amosun had been like that; the honorable said. "Recall that in 2003, Amosun's strategy to win his way into the National Assembly was to declare total war on the then A.D in Ogun Central senatorial district, but little did people know that the 2003 saga was a joke until he came out in his real colour in 2007 when he unleashed a greater terror on the people, claiming that he had scores to settle with the former governor of Ogun state. I therefore see Amosun as the mastermind of what is happening between factions in Ogun All Progressive Congress because that had been his trade mark". Akinlade lamented the fact that Amosun is to him the number one breaker of law and order, wondering how a man that was elected to be the Chief Security Officer of his state have now become a terror in disguise on the people he was elected to watch over. He also revealed that Amosun and his thugs have recorded a numberof failed attempt on him both within and outside Ogun State all because of his desperate quest to return to the government house by 2015. But the good thing is that the people are now wiser and they are only waiting for another electioneering where he will be voted out. or how would anyone expect a man whose house and only source of livelihood was demolished by Amosun without compensation to vote him in the coming election ?. However, he salutes the elderly role and statemanship displayed by the leader of the party Chief Olusegun Osoba with words for the people of Ogun to remain resolute just as everyone continues to pray for the return of better days to our dear state.

PULLING DOWN THE HOUSE TO PROTECT A CORNER: A NOTE OF CAUTION; OGUN GOVERNOR WRITES OGUN APC CAUCUS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

Senator Olugbenga Obadara Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization Senate New Wing, Suite 2.24 National Assembly Abuja. PULLING DOWN THE HOUSE TO PROTECT A CORNER: A NOTE OF CAUTION It is with considerable hesitation that I write this letter to you, especially a few minutes after I called and spoke with you on the phone over the crisis arising from your programme in Ewekoro Local Government Area on Thursday, 16 January, 2014. However, after a thorough consideration of information obtained on the same issue prior to and subsequent to the telephone conversation with you from some mutual friends, Security Agencies and State officials, some of whom you had also spoken with on the same issue, I decided to reduce my thoughts to writing in order to put the issues in clear perspective and also for record purposes. It has even become more imperative to write because I have since realised that the positions and approaches you espouse in discussions with me are always at great variance with your true disposition on the same issues – both in words and actions – while with other people. Your different and inconsistent narratives around the event have now confirmed to me that what happened in Ewekoro was indeed part of a premeditated, choreographed and coordinated but needless crisis in our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ogun State with the National Assembly members elected on the platform of the party as the major Agents Provocateur, working in concert with other elements within and outside the party. By the benevolence of God and the support of the good People of Ogun Central, I was elected a Senator in 2003 and will continue to hold in the very high esteem the institution of the Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in general. This letter is directed to you as the contact point for your colleagues from Ogun State in the National Assembly because you are the one currently occupying the same seat in the Senate that I occupied a decade ago. It is regrettable that despite all my efforts to warm up to you and your colleagues since your nomination as party candidates and up till now, it is obvious that your group has always had scanty regard for me and my office because you believe that I played no role in your emergence as party candidates and subsequent elections in 2011 and will play no role in your re-election. This explains why you continue to rebuff all my initiatives to make us work together as a team in the overall interest of our party and the good People of Ogun State. Nonetheless, I remain undeterred in the search for unity. You are therefore at liberty to share the content of this letter with your colleagues. 1. My Understanding of the Issues In the last few months, I have received security reports and information from credible sources, including party faithful, leaders, mutual friends and utterances directly emanating from your group, indicating that you and your colleagues were planning to precipitate a crisis in our party in pursuit of your personal agenda. I dismissed the reports with a wave of hands in the knowledge that no member of the party, much more so members of the National Assembly, would do anything that will impact negatively on our Administration’s Mission to Rebuild our dear State. Besides, I thought the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the merger of the legacy parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on which platform we were all elected into various offices, would address outstanding integration challenges. It is my belief that the new platform, the APC, offers an opportunity of a fresh beginning. However, the unfortunate events of the last few weeks, with their intensity and frequency, have lent credence to reports and information I earlier disregarded. Two instances will suffice here. The violence that accompanied the botched attempt by your group on Thursday, 9 January, 2014 to foist a handpicked so called “Harmonisation Committee” on the party in the State now seems to be the opening glee in a well-scripted series. For the avoidance of doubt, the “Harmonisation Committee”, even if properly constituted, clearly has no role in the forthcoming party membership registration exercise. The second incident was the event of Thursday, 16 January, 2014 in Ewekoro Local Government Area, organised by you to purportedly sensitise party members in Ogun Central Senatorial District on the forthcoming party registration exercise but ostensibly a manifestation of another scene in the series. It is curious that a day in which the interim National Chairman of our party, Chief Bisi Akande, was being honoured in Lagos was the day you chose to hold your sensitisation event. I was at the ceremony with members of the State Executive Council, Speaker, other members of the State Assembly and Chairmen of our Local Government Areas, including that of Ewekoro. These two events are just exactly one week apart and in between there were other activities by your group all aimed at achieving the desired objectives. I understand that these actions and incidents, that are part of a larger plot that will be highlighted below, are designed to achieve two primary objectives: § The first objective is the quest of your group to control the structure of our party in the State, commencing with the hijack of the party membership registration exercise, hence the attempt to foist a “Harmonisation Committee” on the party in the State. § The second objective is the desire of all the National Assembly members from our State and some members of the House of Assembly to secure automatic second-term tickets for the general elections in 2015, without regard to the opinions of the generality of members of our great party in Ogun State. In order to get the support of the unwary, these personal agenda of the very few have been couched and packaged as altruistic party issues and deliberately orchestrated to attract national attention. 2. The Plot Against the State The plot to achieve the narrow objectives of your group has many elements that I initially considered to be unlikely and far-fetched. However, your recent actions and utterances have all the trappings of these elements with the precision and approach foretold. Let me highlight some of these elements that will certainly not be strange to you: § Instigation of pockets of violence to create a sense of disunity in our party and insecurity in the State as a whole. This approach will include deliberately perpetrating arsons and symbolic harms on the property and persons of some members of your group and then blame the actions on me and our Administration. § Demonisation of my person and our Administration through a well-oiled smear campaign in the media that will evoke the ugly memory of the immediate past. Already, some of your supporters, especially allies in the State Assembly, have been instigated to start circulating text messages alleging threats to their lives. § Distraction of the attention of the Government from governance so that the programmes and projects that have endeared the Administration to the good People of Ogun State will be stalled. The intended consequence is to reduce the popularity of the government with the populace. § Blackmailing me and the National Leadership of our party to undermine the integrity of the party leadership to intervene as impartial umpires, should the need arise. § Generally making the State ungovernable, including precipitating crisis in the State House of Assembly through a plan to forcefully change the leadership and continuous disruption of legislative proceedings. § A further orchestration of the “crises” aimed at creating a window for your group to move motions in the two chambers of the National Assembly designed to embarrass the State Government. § Disruption of the impending party membership registration exercise, knowing fully well that the exercise may expose the shallow followership of your group across the State. Even this noble exercise that is expected to develop our great party will also not be spared of the smear campaign to discredit the process. § Joining forces with the opposition who are known “Masters of Violence” in an unholy alliance to help re-enact the immediate inglorious past. The overall thrust is to force a negotiation to secure an undeserved advantage that could not be otherwise achieved through the internal party democracy. What is more disturbing is that in this venture, no tool is considered too crude to use, no weapon too unconventional to deploy, and no approach too demeaning to adopt. I learnt that you and your colleagues have indeed been boasting that the nationwide destruction of our great party, the APC, will be kick-started from Ogun State. 3. The Implications for the State and our Party (APC) It is important to always remember where our State was before the inception of our Administration on 29 May, 2011 so that your ambitions to control the party and secure your second term in office at all costs do not becloud your sense of judgement. The implications of your actions are grave and are far greater for our State and the party, than for me as the Governor or our Administration. Whatever offices we hold now, many have done so before us and many will still do after. Therefore, the larger interest of our State must take overriding position at all times. Power is transient and all of us will be accountable to the people, posterity and God Almighty. The implications of your actions include but not limited to: § Rollback of the achievements attained by our party and Administration in the onerous task of Rebuilding Ogun State, particularly the widely acknowledged peace and security that pervade the state. The State has received many national and international Honours and Awards in this regard, including the recent one - The Most Secure State in Nigeria (2013)- by CLEEN Foundation, a foremost Non-Governmental Organisation with focus on security in the country. § Some of the achievements, such as increase in the State’s Internally Generated Revenue from paltry N750 Million monthly to about N3 Billion, will be undermined. § The image of our party (APC) as a party of peace and progress will be negatively affected § It will amount to taking the support of our people for granted § Worse still, your actions, if not curbed, will lead to an unfortunate return to the inglorious era of the immediate past. Conclusion My Brother, you will recall some of my efforts and initiatives to forge unity and harmony in our party. These are well documented and predate my assumption of office as Governor. Since inception, I have remained committed to the vision of building a virile, united and harmonious party with equity, justice and inclusiveness. As a member of the 5th Senate myself, I have constantly extended my hands of fellowship to you and your colleagues, including my personal invitations to all our programmes. The most recent initiative to achieve greater unity in the party was the formation of Consultative and Advisory Councils in all our twenty Local Government Areas. This body comprises party elders, elected members (including National Assembly and State Assembly Members), and political appointees. It provides platform for closer interaction amongst all the stakeholders, fosters unity and engenders mutual understanding. The composition, as you know, is inclusive. Regrettably, you and your colleagues have declined participation in the activities of the Consultative Assembly in your respective Local Government Areas. I remain resolute to building bridges within the party and even beyond. Far from being a sign of weakness, this is a demonstration of our commitment to general peace and security in the State. Any discord in the State or any critical segment or group, political or otherwise, takes away from this commitment. I swore to an oath which primarily requires me to protect life and property of all citizens and residents of Ogun State and remain unwavering in our commitment to ensure that the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State continues unhindered. While I will continue to make overtures for peace and pursue initiatives to forge party unity and harmony, I will not abdicate my responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the State. In this respect, I have re-emphasised to the Chairmen of the Local Government Areas that they will be held accountable for any breach of peace in their respective areas. Furthermore, I have briefed, as always, all security agencies in the State to be more vigilant and prevent any breach of peace in our State. In the same vein, my expectation is that all political gladiators will conduct themselves peacefully within the ambit of the law as any breach of peace and security that our Administration jealously treasures will be viewed seriously. For emphasis, the full wrath of law will be visited on anyone whose conduct is capable of returning our State to the inglorious days of the immediate past. The citizens of the State have made it clear to us that they enjoy the current peaceful atmosphere that pervades the State in almost three years of our Administration and that they will not accept any further ugly development that casts a dark shadow on our State. As the custodian of their legitimate and freely given mandate, I intend to keep faith with them in this regard. It is my hope that your actions and utterances henceforth will be in consonance with this simple wish of the good People of Ogun State. It is not too late for you and your group to retrace your steps by putting a stop to the plot against the State and allow good reasons prevail. Democracy may not be perfect for human and societal organisation, but it is not for nothing that it remains the most preferred form of government worldwide. It has its tenets, the most profound being that it is a game of numbers. In this wise, I urge you and your colleagues to take full advantage of the forthcoming registration of party members by mobilising your supporters to register. This is the path true democrats adopt and it is also the path of honour. It is certainly more honourable than following the script of “what we can’t get, we destroy”. The plan to foment trouble in our great party, the APC, while hobnobbing and nurturing opposition parties as alternative platforms to realise your personal ambitions is an ill-wind that blows no one any good. I intend to continue to devote substantial focus to what the good People of Ogun State elected me to do – good governance – without allowing active partisan politics to become a major pre-occupation and distraction, as some would rather wish. Once again, my Dear Senator Obadara, please accept the assurances, as always, of my highest regards. Very Sincerely Yours, Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA Governor, Ogun State cc: Chief Segun Osoba Chief Bisi Akande, Interim National Chairman, APC Alhaji Tijani Tumsah, Interim National Secretary, APC

OGUN ON FIRE AGAIN AS TWO SENATORS AND FIVE REPS ESCAPED DEATH FROM GOVERNOR AMOSUN'S SUPPORTERS

When I said it was a "mere crocodile tears" was the apology that Governor Amosun made when his supporters stormed the venue of the State Harmonisation Committee of APC and beat journalists and party supporters (not in Governor's Camp) as well as vandalizing properties belonging to the party and general public. Today Governor Amosun (uninformed supporters like Amosun admitted) again attacked the venue of a senatorial meeting convened by Obadara to sensitize the people of the area about the forthcoming membership registration of the APC. Senator Gbenga Obadara representing Ogun Central Senatorial District and Senator Akin Odunsi of Ogun West Senatorial District including some other House of Reps Members, Olumide Osoba (Obafemi/Owode), Adekunle Adeyemi (Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency) and Remi Bakare, a former governorship Aspirant under the defunct ACN in 2011 escaped being hurt. Senator Gbenga Obadara orderly, Sgt. Sunday Akinbode was not so lucky as he was hit by bullet from gun shots of the thugs and gunmen of anti Osoba Group as he attempted to shield his principal Sen Obadara. As it stand, about ten other members of the Osoba group that attended the sensitization programme also sustained gun shots from the attackers. Just like the other attack, journalists were also caught in the melee. Journalists, including Sheriff Balogun (Thisday), Daud Olatunji (Vanguard), Dimeji Kayode Adedeji (Premium Times) and Segun Olatunji (Punch) also escaped death by the whiskers. The Secretary of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Soji Amosu took refuge in Senator Obadara’s SUV while the gunfire lasted. Although Senator Obadara alleged that Governor Amosun was responsible for the attack on him and a member of the House of Representatives (name withheld) also caught in the attack accused the police in the state of complicity.

PREVENT GOVERNOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUN FROM DESTROYING OGUN APC - Senator Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka

We have displayed enormous restraint and exceptional tolerance all this while, hoping that a CHANGE of attitude positively will prevail in Ogun State, especially with the birth of APC that provides ample opportunity for clean break from the vindictive, intemperate, oppressive, divisive and annihilating dictatorial style of administration of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun. The callous style, if not checked, will destroy our great party, All Progressives Congress, in Ogun State beyond redemption for the following reasons:   1.    Sustained marginalization against ACN/APC members in all appointive and elective positions in the State since 2011, as well as employment/empowerment opportunities, in preference for opportunist converts, filial connection to the Governor, and of course loyalty to his SIA formation rather than the Party. This is in line with his antecedents of destroying and disorganizing the structure of any political party he joined, as was the case with PDP, ANPP, CPC, ACN and now APC with Accord Party (AP) being his new beautiful bride.   2.    Complete marginalization, disrespect, disregard and open contempt for all other ACN/APC elected representatives, including the entire National Assembly members, more than half of the State House of Assembly members and of course the Deputy Governor, who is the highest official or nominee of the Ogun East Senatorial District in his cabinet. This has put the support base of our party on line in 9 (nine) Local Governments and beyond.   3.    In breach of the constitutional provisions for Federal Character reflection  in all appointments at all tiers of government, Ogun State Government with 20 LGAs appointed 20 Commissioners, with 4 and 3 of them from Abeokuta North (where the Governor hails from) and Ijebu-Ode LGAs respectively. Thus leaving 5 LGAs with no Commissionership representation in his government.   4.    Emasculating the Local Governments making them redundant.     5.     Coercion and violence deployment to force party faithfuls to belong to his SIA group and consequently disrupting  party meetings of Wards, LGAs and Constituencies with violence, except his SIA formation.   In fact, a party ‘elder’ insisted severally that permission to hold Senatorial meeting must be sought from the Governor, so that his SIA group will not come to disrupt the meetings.   6.    Latest of such violence was displayed on Thursday, 9th January at APC State Secretariat, Abeokuta when thugs led by Alhaji Akeem Adeosun (JANGO), Chairman NURTW Ogun State and a core loyalist of Governor Amosun were freely unleashed on the residents, party members and journalists (with the video cameras and telephone handsets smashed and confisticated), just to distrupt the inauguration of the harmonization committee, which he had delayed for over 5 months because of his insatiable appetite to have absolute control of members, after the Interim Executive had conceded 5 of 9 members nomination and Chairmanship of the 5  member Interim State Executive to him and his Governor colleagues.   7.    Making unwarranted and nauseating claims that APC in Ogun State belongs to him and anybody not ready to dance to his tunes will be chased out of the party. Even after the mayhem unleashed at the Secretariat and  in a futile attempt at apologizing and arrogantly but deceptively offering hands of fellowship, he was quoted as saying:     (a).  “The governor said that the composition of the harmonization committee was done in error and described it as an effort in futility” (b). “Majority of the people who were there yesterday were not at the meeting where the decision was taken” (c). “So the committee they are talking about should have been in place about 4-6months back, BUT SOMEHOW, ‘it didn’t happen and because of the urgency, we are now going into registration. I’m sure registration will start next week”   The question is, who deployed the delay tactics and for what reasons? And why was the same inauguration done on Monday, January 6th in Ekiti State; Tuesday 7th in Ondo State and Taraba State on January 9th (the same day the Ogun State inauguration held).   (d). “They don’t know what I know and may be that was what caused the communication gap. Of course, our party leadership in its wisdom, wanted to have, not even the names they were calling there, they were not there; I was there” :- (Tribune, Jan. 11th 2014).   Yet, Chief Olusegun Osoba, State Leader of ACN/APC and Chief Yemi Sanusi (former ANPP Leader and Current National Interim Executive member) were always in the same National meetings with the Governor.   The 37-member list of State harmonization committee is widely circulated, on the strength of which the Governor mobilized and camped in Continental Suites, Abeokuta, his alleged loyal supporters for 2 days in readiness for the inauguration for which he personally chose the date and  time. A case of bad looser, destroying everything in sight to satisfy his insatiable appetite for absolute power and winner takes all syndrome.   8.    The fact is, the last meeting of the National Interim National Executive meeting of APC was held in Abuja on 17th December, 2013, which Governor Amosun did not attend, where it was unanimously agreed that inauguration of State Harmonization Committee must precede membership registration. ----Now we know what he doesn’t know.   9.    Even when APC National Secretariat has not given any directives on membership registration, Gov Amosun has unilaterally gone ahead to appoint registration officers across the state claiming that the party has been handed over to him. Party members feel that this is laying credence to his claim that all national leaders are already in his pocket that he had bought them but this is a blatant lie. We urge all members to disregard this in its entirety.   He must not be allowed to continue with the same impunity deployed to rubbish state party leadership in the composition of State Harmonization principal officer and the National guidelines on harmonization and registration thus far.   As major stakeholders, we fear for the future of our party in Ogun State. Some of our party members are already highly DISILLUSIONED because of Gov Amosun while many are threatening to leave. For the sake of our great party, we are appealing to our members and leaders to call Gov Amosun to order now. Please stop him now from destroying our party and prevent him from making our efforts day and night to build a great party to be in vain. We urge all party members to keep faith and stand with the party in this time.   10.    It is however heart-warming to listen to our Governor saying that, “Chief Osoba is our father in the party and there is nobody that is anti-Osoba in the state, we are all pro-Osoba” (the same Tribune January, 11th 2014). We welcome this brand new hand of fellowship and implore him to extend same to other party leadership and followership earlier alienated in the spirit of harmonization as envisaged for inclusiveness by the National Leadership of APC.   11.     We therefore called on National Interim Executive of our great party to urge the governor to furnish the Ogun State Interim Executive Committee with his nominee for Chairmanship as allotted  to him and  help resolve the difference between the competing forces in the State CPC through their Defunct National Executive,  to have the fifth member of our Interim Exco in place for smooth, transparent and credible formation of necessary structures at LGA, Ward and Polling Units as registration officials according to the guidelines released  by the Interim National Exco of APC.   12.     We implore the National Interim Exco not to limit the provision of registration form to 100 per ward for a mass movement like APC in order not to encourage hoarding and isolation of genuine members for mercenaries.   13.    We also implore the National Interim Exco to direct the Secretaries of the defunct legacy parties to hand over all relevant documents to the State Interim Executive Committee to facilitate proper harmonization and smooth exercises that leads to successful registration, congresses and convention.   14.     In the meantime, to avoid any vacuum, we hereby direct that the LGA and Ward Chairmen of the defunct legacy parties (ACN, ANPP and CPC) are to jointly preside over the affairs of the party at their various levels.   15.     It is now certain that membership registration will commence nationwide from January, 28th 2014 (see Punch of January 12th, 2014).  Please await further directives soonest.   In the spirit of reconciliation, we welcome the governor’s hands of fellowship and sincerely implore him to cooperate with the recently inaugurated State Interim Executive. We must all not allow the aphorism that: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely be applicable to our Ogun State, the gateway to EVERYTHING GOOD IN NIGERIA.   Signed by:   Senator Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka, Secretary, State Interim Committee.   Long Live Ogun State. Long Live Nigeria.     APC Change!!!

Softly, Softly Ogun APC!!! By: Wale Adedayo

Interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Alh. Tajudeen Bello, should not be allowed to talk, for now, as his intemperate language could worsen the ongoing crisis in the party. Statements credited to him by some newspapers today are unbecoming of a man of his stature. Bello was quoted as saying thugs who attacked innocent persons in Abeokuta yesterday were imported from Lagos State. Who did? Abi, he meant that BRF assisted with these men, who are known to every journalist in Abeokuta?   The APC leadership needs to rein in its recalcitrant members with the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, ready to display the tenets of quality leadership that embraces internal dissent. Whoever believes yesterday’s recourse to physical attack on some members of the ruling APCin was an accident must be living in a fool’s paradise. Similar incidents have taken place before, and more might still happen if the party leadership refuses to learn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s administration.   In Owu Ward, Ijebu East Local Government yesterday soldiers from Ilese Barracks attached to the state security outfit, OP MESA, were almost used to chase out officers of the APC from their meeting. I am aware efforts are on to ask Abuja to shield its soldiers from getting involved in partisan politics no matter which side is involved.   Recourse to physical violence in politics presupposes fear of losing out on the part of the sponsors. The beneficiary of a terror-induced-victory knows he/she cannot win in a normal situation, thus a penchant for violence, which in most cases is often preceded by subtle and insidious propaganda against perceived opponents. Outright lies instead of systematic public relations often form the basis of discourse by such persons with violence been added to dissuade the hurt from being able to counter the liars.   Daniel was a ‘stranger’ in the PDP, which produced him as governor in 2003 with Amosun, along with former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, being the ‘original landlords’ of the PDP. A battle royale between Daniel’s group and those of the ‘landlords’ forced Amosun out of the PDP into the waiting arms of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).   But it was the beginning of the end for PDP in Ogun State because the crisis, which the leaders refused to manage at its initial stage, later led to the disgrace, which many of them are yet to recover from till date. It produced internal contradictions as what should have been a give-and-take situation was allowed to become another jankara. External elements moved in to assist as virus to weaken the PDP from inside. The rest, as they say, is history.   The exit of former Deputy Governor, Alh. Rafiu Ogunleye, and his Imole De Group worried Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, no doubt about it. And the man made spirited efforts to stop Ogunleye’s defection to the PDP to no avail. From the little facts available to me, Ogunleye does not hate APC. He was part of the establishment in APC. But the winner-takes-all attitude of Amosun infuriated the former leader of APC in Ogun East Senatorial District. And Ogunleye believes Tinubu did nothing to call Amosun to order.   Daniel began that way too. At a time, it was only JMK, who could call Daniel to order. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not bother himself with the internal affairs of the Ogun State PDP while he was in office. But Daniel soon grew out of JMK’s shadow making it impossible for anyone to challenge his decisions politically, anymore. Maybe, if Obasanjo had shown more interest in local politics at the time, things would have been different.   It is clear in the Ogun State APC scenario that Osoba’s clout means nothing to Amosun. The only visible person who can intervene and restore sanity remains Tinubu, who does not seem perturbed as at today. At least, that is the impression among party members. And, this was what Ogunleye complained bitterly about till he left with those around him. There is a feeling in Lagos that Amosun is on top of his game in Ogun State.   It is not a bad feeling, because President Goodluck Jonathan believed the same thing about his South-West Coordinator shortly before Daniel’s Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) was disgraced from the scene in 2011. Despite Daniel’s unprecedented popularity following a sterling performance during his first term in office, 2011 was proof enough that there is no individual or political party that cannot be disgraced out of office.   Tinubu and the other APC leaders need to act fast to nip this crisis in the bud before it is too late. Amosun does not enjoy absolute majority among his legislators. The party machinery across the state is also not a majority in his hands, if that were so there’ll not be need for using soldiers and policemen against APC members in some local governments as it has been happening since last week.   Osoba has shown enormous restraint, as it is. That is understandable. But a full-blown crisis will reverberate beyond the borders of Ogun State with serious negative consequences for the party in the South-West. And ascendancy of any political party outside of APC in Ogun State will certainly spell doom for Tinubu’s efforts in the South-West. That much I know. A stitch in time, …