By Gideon Njoku
A new Commissioner of Police has been posted to Bayelsa State. He is CP Michael C Okoli.
His posting was announced with those of new Commissioners to Ogun, Ekiti, and Cross River States.
The new postings were contained in Police signal number TH.5361/FS/V.5/689
CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun was posted to Ogun state, CP Mobayo Babatunde is for Ekiti State, while CP Abdulakadir Jimoh heads to Cross River State.
The postings, approved by IGP Mohammed Adamu, take immediate effect.
By Akinwale Kasali
Former Nigeria Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala’s hope of heading the World Trade Organization, WTO , has received a boost.
Renowned Kenyan lawyer, Professor Patrick Lumumba, has pitched his tent with Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala in the race for the job.
Lumumba, who served as the Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, and is from the same country as Amina Mohamed, who is, also, running for the top job, said Africa should rally round Okonjo-Iweala and ensure she secures the job.
The Human Right Activist said this during during an interview with Osasu Igbinedion on The Osasu Show.
He said no other African candidate comes close to Okonjo-Iweala on the strength of credentials that they tendered.
“Africans have a way of impeding the success of each other instead of supporting and complementing each other”, he said.
He cited an example with the non-permanent membership of the the UN security Council when Djibouti and Kenya were vied for the same seat.
“Our lack of coordination, different things that we should do jointly, and with one voice, we don’t.
“Recently when we were competing for the non-permanent membership of the UN security council, Djibouti was competing with Kenya. Why? “Right now, there is the WTO; Okonjo-Iweala is the candidate we should back, given her credentials.
“Now, a Kenyan candidate has emerged, an Egyptian candidate has emerged — we are going to be manipulated and none of the Africans is going to get it.
“We’ve got to learn to do things properly as a continent. And when we do that, we’ll be stronger and ultimately, our populations would benefit from it.” There are eight candidates for the WTO top job — and three of them are from Africa.
The professor who is the Director of Kenya’s Law School said African leaders agreed in 2000, in Lagos, to spend 15 percent of budgets on health, but failed at implementing that. COVID-19 has exposed them, he said.
“I think COVID has done something that nothing has ever done; perhaps, this is the terrible beauty of COVID-19. It is terrible in the sense that we have been shaken down.
“I think there is now a commitment; I have listened to some of the virtual meetings of the AU, and I begin to see the recognition by African leaders that we can no longer afford the luxury of depending on others.”
He emphasised that the lack of continental trade is greatly affecting Africa, highlighting the fact that Kenya has been importing maize from Mexico, when they should have imported it from Malawi or Tanzania.
As a result of COVID-19, the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which was to begin in July 2020 has been postponed to January 2021.
By Adesina Soyooye
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that international flights will not be allowed into or out of Nigeria till October 15.
Even at that, the date is subject is subject to a review when it comes.
Expectations were high that the international air space would open on August 19, 2020.
NAMA, says it is extending the closure of international airspace until October 15 instead of August 19 as earlier expected.
With the extension, the airspace would remain closed until October. The closure may be extended again if need be.
But the Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has clarified the situation.
He said the October 15 days is not essentially an extension of the ban on international flights. He said the three-month extension by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, was just a routine notice, saying that the airspace may be opened earlier than October 15 for international flights.
The Nigeria Government, in March, shut down international airports in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Only diplomatic and essential flight operations are allowed.
By Akinwale Kasali
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio is in trouble. This stemmed from his testimony on Monday, before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating allegations of Corruption and financial recklessness in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
While testifying before the Committee, the Minister opened a can of worms when he alleged that most of the Contracts at the NDDC were given to National Assembly members.
Challenged by a female member, Hon Boma, Akpabio had insisted, telling Boma to ask both Chairmen of the NDDC Committees in the Senate and the House.
For emphasis, he said he had a list of them, even as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, who was presiding, tried desperately to stop both Hon. Boma and Akpabio from continuing the “entertainment”.
Many shocked Nigerians saw his effort as a way of stopping Akpabio from revealing more.
Now, the House is up in arms against Akpabio. He is being threatened with the law.
An angry Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, has given the Minister, 48 hours to publish names of NASS members who got the alleged 60 percent of contracts from the NDDC, failing which the Speaker threatened to hand Akpabio over to the law. He said he is serious, and would pursue the case to the end.
Gbajabiamila said he had never been awarded any contract from the NDDC, and that he was also speaking on behalf of majority of members.
Ruling on a matter of privileges brought by Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, Gbajabiamila said the Minister, who alleged 60 percent of contracts from the NDDC were given to members of the National Assembly, should publish the benefiting lawmakers, especially members of the 9th Assembly.
He further said the names of their companies and the contracts they got should be published or that the Minister would face the wrath of the House.
Although he said his initial reaction was to have a good laugh when the Minister made the allegations, he realised it infringes on the integrity of the House.
He said the Minister owes it a duty to himself, the House Committee on Niger Delta, the people of Niger Delta and Nigerians to publish the names of lawmakers who got contracts from the NDDC. He got a standing ovation.
But Nigerians are asking the Minister to call the bluff of the House. “Publish”, they urge him.
They also fault the Speaker’s restriction to the Ninth Assembly, saying:”Whether the 8th or 9th Assembly, Assembly is Assembly”
They also faulted the Speaker’s insistence on names and companies, saying:”Their names are not likely to appear. But it is easy for them to send contractors with letters and/or recommend names”
At the time of writing, there has been no response from Akpabio.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party in its reaction to the revelations and the drama during which the MD of the NDDC Interim Management Committee, IMC, Prof Pondei collapsed while being grilled by the members of the Committee, said Pondei collapsed under the weight of Corruption.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, kola Ologbondiyan, the Party said
“Pondei collapsed under the weight and shame of overwhelming collective guilt brought on him by the exposure of massive corruption being perpetrated by NDDC officials and APC leaders”.
“It is revealing that Pondei could go no further in the face of scathing revelations of direct pillaging of resources meant for the development and welfare of the Niger Delta people, in an unbridled corruption racket in which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, also stands accused,”
“It is rather curious that Prof. Pondei slumped after lawmakers demanded that he offers explanations on the contentious payment of billions of naira, alleged unbudgeted sums, to certain companies by the NDDC.
“This is particularly as Nigerians recall that the embattled NDDC boss had, last week, stalled proceedings by challenging the legislators and walking out on the House of Representatives investigative panel.
“The situation in the NDDC is just a tip of the iceberg on the humongous corruption, looting spree and concealment going on in ministries, department and agencies of government being perpetrated by APC leaders and their cronies.”
PDP also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Akpabio, and disband the NDDC interim management committee for a result from the coordinated probe he ordered.
It urged the Buhari to “note that the people of the Niger Delta region, who are being deprived of their welfare, are following the development with keen interest”.
“Moreover, the entire nation and indeed the global community are watching the handling of the NDDC as well as the EFCC fraud saga by the Muhammadu Buhari administration,” the party said.
“They are watching the unfolding drama, the rigmarole and veneers of concealment by corrupt officials”
By Tosin Olatokunbo
The presidential ambition of Ahmad Lawan, Nigeria’s Senate President is gaining momentum, even though he has denied having interest in the job.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s two years terms ends by 2023 and many politicians including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former Lagos state governor and All Progressives Congress, APC National Leader have shown interest in succeeding the incumbent.
Tinubu was instrumental to the emergence of Lawan as Senate President and was said to have pulled his weight behind him, in exchange for helping him to contest the presidency in 2023.
Apart from Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila also rode on the former Lagos helmsman to his position.
But if signals coming from the political space are anything to go by, the Senate President may have jettisoned the ambition of Tinubu to pursue his own, considering pressure being mounted on him to join the race.
Few weeks ago, Lawan disclosed that he’s not nursing presidential ambition, that he has left the race to other politicians.
But sources close to him told the magazine that things may be changing gradually as the number of groups urging him to throw his hat in the ring has continue to increase.
The latest of such are the traditional rulers and politicians from Oke – Ogun zone, Oyo State, who on Monday stormed the National Assembly complex, Abuja to put pressure on him to run.
They include all federal lawmakers from the Zone, a former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, the Okere of Shaki, Oba Khalid Olabisi Oyeniyi, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba AbdulGaniyu Adekunle Salau, and others.
Speaking on behalf of the obas yesterday, Barrister Ahmed Raji, a senior advocate told the Senate President that the traditional rulers and political leaders from the zone would support him if he decided to run for president.
Raji said, “Mr Senate President, we have followed your trajectory over the years and happy to submit that while in the House of Representatives, you made your impacts felt and in the Senate, you have made your marks.
“The people of Oke- Ogun want you to use such a trajectory in getting the planned Federal University of Agriculture and Technology passed into law and implemented.”
The traditional rulers said they will be happy if he becomes the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces when the tenure of Buhari lapsed.
The Oke Ogun people “will be happy to see you as Visitor to the University in the nearest future while our son, Senator Abdulfatahi Buhari” become the governor of the Pacesetters state, as Oyo is called, the Obas told Lawan.
While responding to the clarion call on him to join the presidential race, Lawan failed to commit himself, insisting that he’s not distracted and would like to concentrate on his job as the number three citizens for now.
Lawan said “We have promised Nigerians that the 9th National Assembly will work for them and will not allow ourselves to be detracted from getting that done…..the Ninth Assembly, Nigeria and Nigerians remains our focus.”
Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that Lawan may have indeed decided to join the race as feelers continue to emerge that the north is planning to remain in power beyond 2023.
Just few days ago, a House of Representatives member from Katsina state stated that the north has decided that power must remain in the region, adding that everything will be done to truncate the ambition of Tinubu to succeed Buhari.
If this happens, Lawan is expected to slug it out with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other notable politicians in both the ruling APC and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, keen watchers of politics in the country said.
By Ayodele Oni, Akure
In a speech laced with Biblical quotations and proverbs, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has promised to reunite aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the state.
In an acceptance speech after his declaration as winner of the APC governorship primary held on Monday in Akure, Akeredolu, who is seeking for a second term in office as governor of the sunshine state, agreed that he could not do it alone.
“Campaigns preceding this day have been noticeably fraught with mixed feelings. Relationships in some cases may have been bruised and interests hurt.
“In other cases, methods deployed to run these campaigns may not have been pleasant. I plead with all us to leave these in the past and move on. This is more so that, all aspirants, including myself, were either victims or indirectly responsible for such unpleasant circumstances. We must find spaces in our hearts to forgive one another.
“I am convinced that our individual pursuits were driven by the altruistic motivation to strengthen our great party and more importantly, take our dear State to loftier heights.
“Therefore, I find it delightful to say here and now, that we have all won together. Consider me as the custodian of your vision for the Sunshine State. Together, we shall move the State forward. Under my watch, we shall witness a more robust, reassuring and rewarding relationship.”
According to him, as a way of engendering unity of purpose and cohesion amongst all party members, a process of reconciliation to heal all perceived wounds would start immediately stressing that “we need one another more in the future than now.
He expressed appreciation to the national leadership of APC especially Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the National Caretaker Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.
By Akinwale Kasali
South West Geopolitical Zone’s Security outfit, Amotekun, is set to deploy supernatural powers in protecting the lives and properties of the Zone.
The Ekiti State Corps Commandant of Amotekun, Brigadier-General Joe Komolafe (Rtd.) disclosed that they will be deploying ancient, local and modern security techniques to ward off kidnapping, robbery and other heinous crimes from the state.
Speaking at Efon Alaaye during a sensitisation tour to Ekiti West, Efon Alaaye and Ijero Local government areas of the State, Komolafe averred that the neglect of traditional culture and patterns of exposing criminals is one of the reasons for the rising spate of crimes in the South-West region.
He charged traditional rulers to deploy their supernatural prowess to secure the lives and properties of their people.
Komolafe stated that the security outfit would protect the Southwest from invaders who have constituted a threat to the region, adding that they will employ ancient Yoruba tactics of securing territories and fishing out criminals from their hide outs.
On the composition of the security outfit, Komolafe said the first phase of the recruitment was to establish an intelligence- based outfit and later accommodate Amotekun ambassadors who would serve as informants of the agency. He further disclosed that there will be no age-limit to those that would make up the ambassadorial category.
In his words, “WE WANT PEOPLE THAT CAN ENTER THE BUSH AND GIVE US NATIVE INTELLIGENCE ABOUT CRIMINAL HIDE OUTS.
“PEOPLE BEFORE US ROSE AND FOUGHT INVADERS, WE ALSO WANT TO RISE AND FIGHT INVADERS. THESE INVADERS CAME WITH ALL FORMS OF IMPUNITY, THEY KILL, MAIM, RAPE AND DESTROY PEOPLE’S FARM PRODUCE.”
The Security outfit was established by the South West region in the face of worsening security situation in the region.
By Fola James
Fidelity Bank Plc has appointed Nneka Onyeali Ikpe as Managing Director and chief executive officer designate, to replace Nnamdi Okonkwo whose tenure will end by December 31 this year.
The incoming managing director’s appointment takes effect from January 31, 2021, according to an announcement on Monday in a notice on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE website, signed by Ezinwa Unuigboje, the bank’s Secretary.
The bank it has become necessary to inform the regulator and the general of the disengagement of Okonkwo, from the Board of Directors of the bank, with effect from December 31 upon completion of his term as chief executive.
The notice said “In compliance with the succession policy of the bank, the board has approved the appointment of Onyeali-Ikpe, the current Executive Director, Lagos and South West Directorate as the MD/CEO designate of the bank, to assume office with effect from January 1, 2021.
The approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been obtained for the appointment.”
Apart from the MD designate, the board has also approved the appointment of Kevin Ugwuoke, the current Chief Risk Officer of the Bank, as Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer, pending to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Onyeali-Ikpe was appointed to the Board of Fidelity Bank in 2015 as an Executive Director and currently oversees the Lagos and Southwest Directorate, and has been an integral part of the Okonkwo-led management team for over five years, the statement said.
“Onyeali-Ikpe has over 30 years of experience across various banks including Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank Limited, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking and Corporate Banking
She has been involved in the structuring of complex transactions in various sectors including oil & gas; manufacturing, aviation, real estate and export,” the bank said in the statement.
Okonkwo, the outgoing managing director was appointed to the Board of the bank in April 2012, as an Executive Director and was subsequently made the chief executive officer on January 1, 2014.
According to the statement Okonkwo drove the bank’s digital strategy, leading to high performance across key indices which placed the bank among top six deposit money banks in the country.
Okonkwo successfully placed the bank in the global money market after his management issued N30 billion Corporate Bonds in 2015 and $400million Eurobonds in 2017.
“The board seizes this opportunity to express sincere appreciation to Okonkwo for his significant contributions to the growth and development of the Bank during his tenure of the board,” the statement added.
By Ayodele Oni, Akure
After months of brickbats, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been declared winner of the Ondo state All Progressives Congress, (APC) Governorship Primary.
He coasted home to victory with a wide margin, after defeating seven other aspirants that slugged out the ticket with him.
Eleven aspirants obtained APC Expression of Interest form to contest the primary and all of them were cleared by the committee charged with their screening in Abuja.
However, few hours to the commencement of the exercise in Akure, four out of the 11 Aspirants contesting against the Governor stepped down for him.
They are: Dr. Segun Abraham, a friend of the national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Jimi Odinmayo described as the youngest among the aspirants, Dr. Nathaniel Adojutelegan and Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
Announcing the results early this morning, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state, who is the chairman of the election committee said Akeredolu won in all the 18 local governments and had a total score of 2458 votes to emerge winner.
His closest rival, Olusola Oke, SAN, polled 262 votes. Invalid votes: 33, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, one vote, Adelami four, Jumoke Anifowose, two, Nathaniel, four, Owoniyi, one, Kekemeke, 19, and Okejimi-no vote. Total number if votes cast, 3016.
The election had earlier been greeted with scepticism by some of the aspirants who described it as a mere charade.
Mr Isaac Kekemeke said he has totally lost confidence in the process that led to the indirect primaries that produced the candidate of the party ahead of the Governorship election.
According to him, the committee led by Governor Yayaha Bello was not fair to many of the governorship aspirants.
“I got the list of delegates for the primaries by11.30pm on Sunday; this is totally unfair. The party is taking us for granted.
“We paid to contest in this primaries, they should not treat us like animals. This is not only unfair but a slap on the aspirants.”
Dr Segun Abraham, who stepped down for Governor Akeredolu said it was in line with the decision of the party.
“This decision was made in support of the candidacy of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, after much consultation across and within party lines.”
Akeredolu will now face the winner of the PDP candidate, and those of other fringe parties during the Governorship election slated for October.
By Gideon Njoku
Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua Is dead.
Reports say he died in Abuja, Monday, of cardiac arrest.
Funtua’s death comes as a shock, as he was not known to be ill. He was, also, health conscious.
With his passing, President Muhammadu Buhari has lost another great ally and confidante, just months after the death of his former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
When his name was touted as a possible replacement for Kyari, he had quipped that he felt insulted by such a suggestion, and that Buhari would not dare. They were great friends.
A life Patron of the Newspapers’ Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, Funtua was the Publisher of the defunct Democrat Newspaper.
He was also the founder of BULET, which. among other things engage in high profile constructions and even more high profile businesses
Funtua was also the Minister for Water Resources during the President Shehu Shagari Administration. He held the National Honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR, and attended the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS.
A native of Funtua, Katsina State, he was aged 78 years.
His son is married to one of Buhari’s daughters, Sefinat.
His remains will be laid to rest on Tuesday, July 21, according to Islamic rites.
