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EFCC Declares Yahaya Bello, Fmr. Kogi Governor Wanted

April 18, 2024

By Adesina Soyooye

The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has made history. Bello has become the first former Governor in Nigeria to be declared wanted like a common criminal.

Following his failure to appear before an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by the Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite on Thursday, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was to arraign him on alleged charges of money laundering to the tune of about N80b, Thursday, the Commission declared him wanted.

The EFCC had, on Wednesday morning, gone to Bello’s residence in Wuse, Abuja, to arrest him, but Bello resisted arrest, hid in his sprawling residence, and was finally smuggled out by the State Governor, Usman Idodo, who helped him to evade arrest. The EFCC is of the opinion that Bello is hiding at the Government House, Lokoja.

Declaring the former Governor wanted on its official Facebook page, the Commission asked anybody with any information about his whereabouts to inform the nearest Police Station.

The Post was titled: EFCC Declares Former Governor Yahaya Bello Wanted. It reads: “Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station.”

Yahaya Bello Says Attempt By EFCC To Arrest Him Will Cause Chaos, Warns Chair, Olukayode

Adesina Soyooye

April 18, 2024

By Adesina Soyooye

Embattled, and on-the-run former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, says attempts to arrest him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will cause chaos.

The Governor, on Wednesday, resisted attempts by the anti- graft agency to arrest him from his house in the Wuse Area of Abuja.

The EFCC operatives had fenced his home in a bid to arrest him, but he was smuggled out by the Governor of Kogi State whose action has been condemn.

But in a reaction to his tango with the EFCC which has become both messy and embarrassing, Bello called on President Bola Tinubu to call the EFCC to order.

In a statement the Governor said: “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC to order in the interest of legal sanity.

“Nigeria is not a lawless country. The EFCC’s alleged disobedience to court orders is a serious concern.

“We are aware of the total commitment of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the rule of law and can say categorically that the leadership of the EFCC might have offered the agency on a platter of gold to desperate politicians to convert to their score-settling tool without minding the effect on its integrity and the image of Nigeria as regards the rule of law.

“A situation where law enforcers disregard the rule of law is a definite recipe for anarchy, which will adversely affect every aspect of the nation’s economy.

“Nigerians have perceived the desperation of the anti-graft agency to embarrass and harass the former governor by all means through spurious allegations, especially the latest one dating back to September 2015, way before he assumed office.

“We are aware that there are clandestine moves to correct the error, but with even more questionable allegations, which would embarrass the Commission and Nigeria more than the initial one.

“It is unfortunate that an agency that is supposed to enforce the law is now the first culprit with respect to disobedience of court orders. This is a big dent on the fight against corruption. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

“This is in spite of a subsisting order of injunction granted on 9th February 2024 by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining the commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.”

The EFCC has, however, revealed that Yahaya Bello is hiding in Government House, Lokoja, and has declared him wanted.

Fmr Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello Hiding In Govt House, Lokoja – EFCC, Vows To Use Force To Arrest Him

Ayodele Oni

April 18, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has vowed that if it will involve pulling down Government House in Lokoja, Kogi state, the immediate past Governor Yahaya Bello will be arraigned.

The Commission through its lawyer assured that whichever place the former governor is hiding, he would be brought before the Federal High Court Abuja for arraignment to answer to the charges preferred against him.

This came on the heels of Bello’s counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN, refusing to be served in the place of his client, who is on the run from the EFCC and reportedly hiding in the Kogi State Government House.

The anti-graft agency, while addressing a Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday through its team of lawyers led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, stressed that operatives would execute the arrest warrant against the former governor even if it has to be done by the use of force.

He said, “We have to arraign him in court even if we have to use the military. Immunity is only attached to a person and not the building.

“The law allows to break down walls to arrest an evading defendant. Section 284 says all persons are to obey the service of charge.”

Alleged 4 Billion Naira Money Laundering Charge: Former Gov. Obiano’s Trial Begins April 24

The Source

April 18, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday April 18 2024, fixed April 24 ,25 ,26 and 27 for the commencement of hearing into the substantive suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission against the former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano over alleged misappropriation of public funds while in office.

This followed the dismissal of the application filed by Obiano seeking to stop his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC oveer charges bordering on an alleged money laundering to the tune of #40 billion while in office .

The former Anambra State Governor, had in the said application objecting to his trial, urged the trial Judge to dismiss the EFCC charges against him ,on the ground that the anti graft agency has failed to adduce sufficient and convincing evidence to back up its petition.

Similarly, Obiano had argued that there are no evidence to substantiate and or prove that he actually authorized the disbursement of security funds ,insisting that he can not be held personally liable for the actions and or inactions of government officials in Anambra state.

But while dismissing all the grounds upon which Obiano had earlier premised his objection , Justice Ekwo ,described the reliefs sort by the former Governor as premature,and ungrantable at this stage .

The trial Judged further noted that the court will only know if there are enough evidence against the accused and or not when the actual trial commences .

However, Justice Ekwo granted Obiano a period of 60 days to seek medical attention abroad . But the Judge said the medical leave will be effective ,only after the former Anambra state Governor must have signed an undertaking to return back to the country after the medical trip.

Era Of Diverting Government Revenues To Private Pockets Over – Abia Govt Assures

The Source

April 18, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Government has called on Landlords, property owners and taxable residents to ensure that all payments ,including taxes/rents and other government statutory accurals are made through the state’s Single Treasurer Account STA to avoid government revenues founding their way in to private pockets.

This is just as it has urged landlords and other categories of property owners to avail themselves the new government policy of the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy C of O within 30 days of application.

The duo of Professor Ogbonna Udechukwu the Executive Chairman of Abia State Board of Internal Revenue BIR and Chief Chaka Chukwumerije ,the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing spoke separately on Wednesday April 17 2024 at an interactive session with the leadership and members of the umbrella body of Aba Landed property owners- Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association ALPADA .

Prof. Udechukwu ,noted that over the years ,leakages in the collection of revenues have deprived the government of needed funds,a development which he said has negatively impacted on the abilities of government to meet its statutory obligations to the citizenry.

The BIR Chairman urged the people to religiously abide by their obligations to the government by ensuring prompt and regular payments of all statutory taxes,rents and other lawful financial commitments to the state Government, to enable it serve the people and deliver on its electioneering promises.

According to Prof. Udechukwu, no government any where in the world will be able to meet its responsibilities to the citizenry ,without the payments of taxes by taxable adults.

He assured that ,unlike in the past ,all taxes and ,rents paid by the people will be properly accounted for and judiciously applied to provide the needed services.

While appealing to ALPADA members to support the Government of the day by ensuring the observation of their statutory obligations, the BIR warned that evasion of payments of taxes ,is a serious offence globally,which no government will tolerate .

Chief Chukwumerije ,the commissioner for Lands and Housing noted that unlike in the past when property owners could stay for as much as five or more years without getting their C of O ,there is now a seamless process in place ,and which guarantees that applicants are served within 30 days .

Underscoring the importance of securing C of Os ,Chukwumerije stated that in the event of demolition,and acquisition of properties,only those with C of Os will be entitled to compensations.

” Those with only titles of Deeds and Power of Attorney,are not entitled to compensation by the government in the event anything happens to their properties .

It is only those whose properties are having C of Os that can expect any compensation from the government. So we are encouraging you to apply now for your C of Os,.

Good a thing ,apart from the short period within which the certificates will be available ,the application system is simple. All you need do is to make a formal application ,attaching all relevant documents including tax clearance certificates ,as well as the payments of modest registration fees .” Chukwumerije stated.

Earlier, the President- General of ALPADA ,Hon Alphonsus Udeigbo had decried how payments made to the government by ALPADA members,in form taxes and rents during the immediate past regimes were diverted to private pockets.

” We APALDA members have called for this meeting so that the Government can tell us what we will do and what it will do for us .

We want an assurance ,that what ever we pay as taxes and rent will go to the government Treasury .

During the immediate past regime, all the money we paid amounting to #16 million in 2022/2023 were later discovered to have been diverted to private pockets.

Over the years ALPADA members have been religiously paying all revenues to the government . But despite that ,you have many cases of revenue collectors harassing and sealing the business premises of the same people that are paying ,while known defaulters are allowed to go about freely.

Now ,that you are here, we want you tell us what we are to pay as taxes and rents and where to pay . We want what we are paying to go to government official account.” Hon. Udeigbo.stated

Ondo Gov Primary: Kogi Gov Ododo, Six Others To Conduct Election; Fmr Bauchi Gov Abubakar Heads Appeal Committee

Ayodele Oni

April 18, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

All is set for Saturday’s Governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State as Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has been named head of the seven-man committee to conduct the election.

The committee will conduct a direct primary election in the 18 Local Government Areas of the State to pick the Party’s flag bearer in the November Governorship Election.

Directorate of Organisation of the APC in Abuja confirmed on Thursday that aside this, a five-man Primary Election Appeal Committee, headed by former Bauchi Governor Mohammed Abubakar is expected to be inaugurated by the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Sulaiman Arugungu.

Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege will serve as the Secretary of the Primary Election Committee.

Other members are Senator Lekan Mustapha, Honourable Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, Chief Meg Duru, former Oyo Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun and Dr. Sani Danjuma.

The five-man Mohammed Abubakar Appeal Committee has Chief Obiocha Israel as Secretary, while other members are Jamilu Isiyiaka Gwamna, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbo and Chief Onyeka Okafor.

AGF Urges Yahaya Bello To Submit Himself To EFCC For Probe

Akinwale Kasali

April 18, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice, has urged former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello to stop his hide and seek game and submit himself to Anti Graft Agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and follow the path of decency.

Bello is on the wanted list of the EFCC for Probe over alleged corrupt practices while in office as governor of Kogi State.

The EFCC had stormed Bello’s Residence in Abuja with the aim of arresting and arraigning him in Court over Corruption allegations leveled against him, but he has been playing hide and seek games with the anti graft agency, in connivance with the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo. The AGF has called him to order.

In a statement signed by the AGF today, he said the EFCC is empowered by law to invite any Nigerian for interrogation.

The AGF berated Governor Ododo for using his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest on Wednesday as ‘disquieting’, adding that he embarked on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put Nigeria in bad light before the rest of the world is not the way to go.

According to him, he stands for the rule of law and will ensure no right of any Nigerian is trampled upon.

The AGF in the terse statement said, “The bizarre drama confronting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of very grave concern.

“It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status. Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation.

“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting. A flight

from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it.

“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently. Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.

“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world”, the statement reads.

OPINION: Is a Third World War Coming?

The Source

April 18, 2024

By Azu Ishiekwene

This was the question a friend of mine in his late 20s asked me when we woke up on April 14 to the news that Iran had launched over 300 drones and missiles towards Israel.

Apart from video war games, the young man has not seen any wars. Nigeria’s civil war ended nearly two and a half decades before he was born. Of course, you don’t have to experience war to feel it. There’s a sense, for example, in which the more recent wars in the West African subregion or the more distant ones in Northeastern Africa or Europe tend to reach us, wherever we are.

Our televisions and phones bring the horrors of war right into our living rooms. A generation for which these smart devices have become a playground is right to be concerned that the flare-up in the Middle East could lead to something more serious.

Apart from the war in Ukraine and the underreported conflicts in South Sudan and Central Africa, no other war in recent times has riveted the world like the one in Gaza. For all the talk about the potential escalation into a wider regional conflict, it didn’t seem likely that the Israeli-Palestinian war would spread beyond shadow attacks by Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies, until Israeli air strike killed seven Iranians in the Iranian Embassy in Damascus and six Syrians.

An unusual response

That was when the threat of escalation became real. Not even during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, did Iran, a regional power, take a direct aim at Israel the way it did in its revenge attack on April 14. If half the drones and missiles aimed at Israel had hit their target, Israel would be reeling from a devastation worse than anything that happened on October 7. The world might have been a different place today.

It may be convenient to dismiss concerns about a possible outbreak of a Third World War as far-fetched, and perhaps even childish. Yet, remembering a few of the things that led to two world wars might help us not to take too much for granted.

The immediate cause of WW1, for example, was the murder in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, prompting the Austro-Hungarian empire, supported by Germany, to declare war on Serbia. Russia, Serbia’s ally, joined. It wasn’t long before Germany declared war on Russia and invaded France, drawing Britain into the war.

Of course, the murder of the Archduke may have been the tipping point, but a web of other factors also contributed, from the competition for territories and economic rivalries to militarism, and from the unstable alliances to the crisis in the Balkans. The Sarajevo murder was only the last straw.

Rules-based system

God knows just how many more straws before we reach another breaking point. We like to think that we have a rules-based system; that the world is wiser today, restrained as much by competing interests as it is by the assurance of mutual destruction.

The two world wars claimed the lives of a population nearly the size of Ethiopia’s 120m and left millions more ruined forever. And yet, since the last two years we have seen, starting from the Russia-Ukraine war, traces that the world is going mad again.

If by the death of one man – the Archduke – the world descended into chaos, was it irrational to fear that Israel’s killing of 13 people, including seven Iranians in Iran’s embassy in Damascus and the destruction of the embassy was sufficient to spark a wider regional conflict? Has anything really changed or the world learnt anything new 110 years after WWI?

Fewer warmongers?

Some studies suggest so. One interesting study, for example, points to demographics as a good predictor of civil conflicts. The study, famously called the “youth bulge” suggests a strong correlation between countries prone to civil conflicts and those with fast-growing youth populations. So, the older the population, the theory goes, the less likely its appetite for a hot war.

It suggests that in spite of the sabre-rattling in the world’s former war-mongering capitals – Washington, Berlin, London, Paris, Tokyo and Moscow – the dominance of older, wealthier populations in these countries combined with concerns about managing their ageing populations have reduced their appetite for war.

A few like the US, Britain and France, may press the world to the edge of a frenzy with the sort of disgraceful complicity seen in the Middle East. But just before madness finally takes over, the theory argues that the leadership in countries with older, wiser populations would dial back and make the kind of last-minute call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that saves the world for another day.

There have also been those, like foreign affairs columnist, Jonathan Power, who argue that in spite of the Russia-Ukraine war, the war in Gaza, and the under-reported deadly conflicts in South Sudan and Yemen, the world has never been at greater peace with itself than it is.

Although Ukraine is not too far from becoming a meat grinder and the death toll in Gaza has topped 32,000 (minus hundreds unaccounted for) studies suggest that, thanks to the better angels of our nature, there has been a reduction in battle deaths per 100,000 in state-based conflicts since the Second World War.

Spells of peace

War historians say that outside the Pax Romana, and the Golden Age of Islam, the post-World War II era is probably the most peaceful time in world history.

A number of other reasons have also been given why a Third World War is improbable. It’s believed that the end of colonialism, the prioritisation of human rights, the general rise in global prosperity/literacy, and particularly the establishment of the United Nations, have accounted for the longest spell of peace in human history and might yet keep the world from descending into another catastrophic war.

Maybe – and that’s a big maybe. The safeguards of our sanity are already fraying at the edges and we may just have entered a violent new era.

If after 77 years, Israel would still not accept the UN’s two-state solution to the problem in Palestine, preferring instead to kill over 30,000 Palestinians in pursuit of the last Hamas; if recourse to the International Criminal Court (ICC) cannot restrain Israel from the widespread carnage in Gaza; if the US, Britain and France will veto the UN’s condemnation of the attack on the Iranian Embassy in spite of the significant casualties – a crime they would not accept if it had been done to them; if the US keeps showing by its conduct that might is right, then the world is not too far from another world war.

Global institutions expected to keep the fragile balance for peace have almost all broken down, and all five veto-wielding members of the UN have gone rogue: Russia in Ukraine; China in Taiwan; and the US, Britain and France in the Middle East, and indeed anywhere else they please in pursuit of their strategic interests.

To continue to ignore the impotence of and disdain for the global institutions supposed to preserve peace and still believe that nothing would happen, is foolish and dangerous.

Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP

Sheriff Salami’s Family Await Justice One Year After His Assassination

Akinwale Kasali

April 18, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

One Year after the demise of Sheriff Ishola Salami, a Youth Leader in Ojomu Community in Ajiran, Eti Osa Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, nothing has been done by the Police and the Lagos State Government to unravel the perpetrators of the gruesome murder.

This prompted the Civil Rights Group, Centre for Human and Socio Economic Rights, CHSR, to call on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to order an immediate investigation into this issue.

At a Press briefing which marked one year of the deceased, CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, said it is appalled that the police were yet to conduct investigation into the callous incident despite a petition sent to the Lagos State Government, House of Assembly, Lagos State Commissioner of Police and to the Inspector General of Police.

It added that due to the failure to get justice and with the Police allegedly being economical with the truth, it prompted the Group to restate its earlier stance that the apparent nonchalance of the police authority was deliberately orchestrated to frustrate investigation and deny justice to the immediate family of the deceased.

Omotehinse said that it had cause to call on the IGP and Governor Sanwo Olu on the need to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to book in accordance with the dictates of rule of law and in the interest of justice.

Wife of the deceased, Mariam Salami said that In the last one year, the mother of the late Sheriff, who was terminally ill at the time of the unfortunate incident passed on in trauma while her three young daughters, Zinat, Asisat, and Arafat are yet to be reassured that justice would be done to the memory of their loved ones.

She pleaded with Governor Sanwo Olu and the IGP to assist them and ensure that Justice is served.

CHSR added that the family of the deceased has been left to mourn their beloved son, husband and father without any glimmer of hope of getting justice since the law enforcement agencies; particularly the police charged with the responsibility of protection and conducting criminal investigation have not been forthcoming.

The Group, therefore, stated that it is compelled to again demand that the suspected masterminds and accomplices in the cold-blooded murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami be investigated by the police.

“We at the CHSR as well as rank and file of leadership of human rights community in Lagos State and by extension Nigeria are demanding that the new leadership of the Nigeria Police headed by Inspector General Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun should order credible investigation into the callous incident of April 18, 2023 at MOBA town adjacent AJIRAN and, as expected, all issues and circumstances that may have culminated in the murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the murder incident was duly reported at the Ogombo police station, Lekki and followed up with a notification to Assistant Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan. You would recall that in November, 2023, we embarked on advocacy to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, National Human Rights Commission (Lagos State Office) and the Office of the Governor of Lagos State.

“We also petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) to wade into the matter. We wish to place on record that the leadership of the LAHA commenced inquiry into the matter through the House Committee on Human Rights. The House Committee after two sittings urged the Lagos State Police Command represented by the Assistant Commissioner, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the murder. We are also aware that concerned indigenes of Ajiran community and the traditional leadership has made representations to the Nigeria Police to unravel the murder of Sherriff Ishola Salami. Unfortunately, however, neither the Lagos State Police Command nor the Office of the IGP has taken meaningful steps to investigate the murder case.

“We, therefore, wish to again call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to wade into the matter and ensure that investigation is conducted in the interest of justice”.

The Group demands that the unresolved murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami be investigated, adding that IGP Egbetokun owes the global community explanation on the continued silence over the callous murder of Salami in spite of several petitions to his office.

It furthermore demanded that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu should demand investigation into the murder of Sherriff Ishola Salami) on April 18, 2023, and also the Lagos State Police Command should, without further delay, should make a public statement on the unresolved murder of Sherriff Ishola Salami to avail Nigerians and global citizens on its stance.

Clark Says PDP Will Collapse If Atiku Is Presidential Candidate 2027, Calls For Wike’s Investigation

Akinwale Kasali

April 18, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to set up a Disciplinary Committee to take disciplinary actions against Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike over his anti-party activities and roles which, allegedly, led to the failure of the PDP in the 2023 elections.

Clark labeled Wike as “the worst and greatest enemy of the Party, with his manipulative attitude, whose intent is to destroy the Party.”

He said that as the Party is holding its National Executive Committee, NEC, Meeting , Wike’s issue should be in the front burner and should be seriously dealt with.

The former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader said that the strong disciplinary committee made up a strong people with resilience to resist pecuniary gains, and make sure that Wike is dealt with decisively.

In a Statement in Abuja, he called for the immediate dissolution of the present National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP for what he described as their anti-party activities.

Clark’s statement is titled

“As the National Working Committee, (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) meets: A Poser- PDP: To be or not to be?”

The Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF said that after the dissolution of the NWC, an Acting National Chairman should be appointed in accordance with the Constitution of the party, adding that there was a precedence during the tenure of Prince Uche Secondus, who was still in court, when the party appointed another Acting National Chairman.

He also urged the Party to immediately revisit the on-line registration of its members as it was initiated by the then National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to save the party from depending on individuals, just as he said that some overzealous members of the party have hijacked it for their selfish gains.

Clark also warned the party that if the former Vice President and the 2023 Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is made the candidate for 2027 elections, PDP will collapse as the second principal party in the country today.

Clark said, ” I know that many people who read this article will say to themselves that they thought Chief Edwin Clark said he has retired from active and partisan politics. Yes, I said I have resigned from partisan and active politics. But it was one of the famous philosophers Aristotle, who said “Man is by nature a political animal.”

He went on to narrate that because no human can flourish on their own, there is a natural tendency of man to partner with their fellow men.

“And one of these partnerships is that relating to polis, which is the Greek word for community; from where is derived political partnership. Therefore, for as long as Almighty God keeps me alive, both physically and mentally, I will continue to speak on governance and political matters, especially when it is tending to adversely affect our nation.

“ The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was set up by leaders of like mind who assembled in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on 28th July, 1998, to work together “for the speedy restoration of democracy, achievement of national reconciliation”, amongst others. Some of us joined immediately the idea of such an egalitarian political party was enunciated, because we felt that was what our dear country needed and still needs.

“ But what has happened today? Some overzealous members of the party have hijacked it for their selfish gains. Some of us have been shouting and warning against this. I recall that in order to avoid “money bags” taking over the party, instead of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, as provided by its Constitution, a one-time National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor of Enugu State, during his tenure, proposed in accordance with the party’s provisions, payment of membership dues by all members with which the party will be run.

“He denounced the issue of deep pockets taking over the party when in his acceptance speech in 2010 stated “Needless to say, we need money to prosecute our elections but I can assure you that Ghana-Must-Go bags will not be needed at the National Secretariat of PDP in order to win primary elections. There will be no room for cash-and-carry democracy in the PDP because it is the bane of true democracy.

” My sincere advice to the members of the party’s NWC which is composed of notable politicians, is that they should be courageous enough to: Set up a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the anti-party activities, particularly the roles played by some members which led to the failure of the PDP in the 2023 elections;

“To dissolve the existing NEC of the party for their anti-party activities; “To appoint an Acting National Chairman in accordance with the Constitution of the party. This was what happened during the tenure of Uche Secondus, who was still in court, when the party appointed another Acting National Chairman;

“The party should immediately revisit the on-line registration of its members as it was initiated by the then National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to save the party from depending on individuals, because as they say, he who pays the piper, dictates the tune”.

Clark added that rumours have it that Atiku is already preparing for the 2027 presidential election. If this is allowed, PDP will collapse as the second principal party in the country today. While no one is contesting his right of contesting or indicating interest for the presidency of the country as many times as he wishes, which as the last count is up to five times, he should also know that fair play is the bedrock of the game.

“Another person that also seems to be holding or going for the jugular of the PDP, is Barr. Nyesom Wike. Honestly, I lack words to describe his actions. The nearest description I can give for his actions is political androgynous, he is neither in PDP or APC. He seems simply acquisitive, and the greatest enemy of PDP, manipulating it, with an intent of destroying it.

“Most of us supported Barr. Wike in his agitation against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. But he has gone too far in causing tragedy in PDP. His anti party activities must be dealt with decisively, by setting up a strong disciplinary committee made up a strong people with resilience to resist pecuniary gains, who are courageous to investigate his activities, and that of any other person/persons suspected to engage in anti-party activities. The seeming contest for the soul of the PDP between himself and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not only ridiculous but a negation of the ideals for founding the party.

“Even though Nyesom Wike, had a good case considering what transpired during the last presidential primary election of the PDP, he has crossed the red line.

“Today, he is dancing naked in the market. He regards himself as the leader of both the PDP and APC in Rivers State, and that is why I described him as someone who can be referred as a political androgynous; an acquisitive person. Wike used his influence on APC National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, to set up a caretaker committee of the party in Rivers State under the leadership of Mr. Tony Okocha, a position he, Mr. Okocha, sees as an opportunity to deride, harass and attempt to humiliate an elected Executive Governor of the State, Siminalayi Fubara.

“The story is the same in PDP in the State; where Barr. Wike recently removed the State Chairman, and recommended him for a federal appointment. Now, with his control of PDP and APC in Rivers State, he has appointed some APC members as caretaker committee members of the party in Rivers State.

“Is Nyesom Wike only waiting for the appropriate time to destroy the PDP and become a full fledge member of the APC? It is alleged that it is the same Barr. Wike who sponsored the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to defect from the PDP to the APC, using the National Secretary of the Party, who was in court as the reason and that PDP has split.

“Even though these members in accordance with constitutional provisions have lost their seats in the House as a result of their defection to another party when there was no crisis in the party on which platform they were elected, Wike is retaining them with the support of Mr President, to the extent of threatening to impeach the Executive Governor, Siminalaye Fubara.

” I will, at this juncture, like to repeat the question I asked in the book I am writing on PDP, ‘Whither PDP: to be or not to be?’. The inordinate ambition of Their Excellencies Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Barr, Nyesom Wike, to be president of the country, will kill the party. These two seem to prefer to use their personal funds to establish their leadership, not because of their love for the party. PDP wake up! This is a clarion call.

“ It is true that for some time the party had no funds, particularly the time between Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff. Nyesom Wike was the only Governor who financially supported the party. Again, in his usual manner, he insulted and humiliated the party. He dared them not to hold the party convention in Port Harcourt. The party kowtowed to him. Even after that, he continued to harass and intimidate the party. For instance, he sponsored Uche Secondus to be the national chairman of the party against the wishes of most other members. The same Barr. Wike later on instigated and sponsored the removal of Uche Secondus, two months before the party’s National Convention.

“Barr. Wike’s engagement in brash politics seems to be affecting members of the party including the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum and the National Secretary, who take instructions from Barr. Wike. Hence, the sixty members on the platform of the party in the House of Representatives, are calling for the resignation and or removal of the Acting National Chairman.”

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