Buhari’s Cabinet: Why Amaechi Is A Sure Banker; Ambode’s Has K-Leg

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June 15, 2019

By Gideon Njoku

Immediate past Minister for Transport, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, is sure to make the list of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet for the second time. This, inspite of the many controversies the former Minister got involved in.

One of such controversies was an alleged stinging criticism of the President by Amaechi which video went viral on the social media. But, by far, the most damning is the crises which engulfed the Rivers state branch of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and denied it the fielding of any candidate in the 2019 general elections, except the office of the President. Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe, his one time political associate, are jointly held responsible for the fate that befell the party in the stste.

Said a source:”Since the leadership of the Rivers APC by Amaechi, there has been no peace in the party, and it has lost every goodwill in the state. ”

But all that notwithstanding, Amaechi will make the cabinet.

Multiple sources within the Villa and the party leadership told this magazine that the President’s confidence in the former Minister is unshakable. “Of course, the President hears all the talks. He also heard them before he appointed him the Director General of his campaign office. How do you think the President would disgrace his DG who contributed so much, even financially, to his victory? That will be the height of ingratitude. If Amaechi does not make the cabinet, who else will make it in Rivers state? The question should be: which ministry?”

The assumption, however, is that he will go back to the transport ministry where the President thinks he is making an impact, slow as work in progress is in the critical areas of the transport ministry.

The same thing, cannot, however, be said of the former governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode. The magazine was told that the forces which denied him of a second term in office as a governor, are all ready to stop his appointment as a minister.

When the President visited Lagos state just before Ambode’s exit as a governor to commission a couple of high profile projects, he was so impressed with Ambode that he made up his mind to accommodate him in his cabinet. The president we gathered was also in sympathy with Ambode over the way he lost a second term nomination. Aside from that, Ambode was a constant, almost, at the President’s campaign for a second term in office. Yet, unless the President puts his feet down, Ambode will lose out.

Unconfirmed sources insist that the powerful Lagos Mandate Group, loyal to former Governor of the state, and an APC chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, insists Ambode will not be a Minister. Their grouse is that he, allegedly, treated party and Lagos state stakeholders shabily during his tenure as governor. Said a source: “Even if the President nominates him, our three Senators will kick against it. Clearing him at the Senate will be difficult.”

But another source told us: ” The president is aware of all the political under-currents in Lagos, and will do his home work well before the announcement. Those against Ambode may be in for a shock”

Two weeks after the inauguration of the President, however, Nigerians are still waiting, with great expectations, his list of ministerial nominees. He is said to be keeping it close to his chest.

During his first tenure, it took him six months to assemble his cabinet. The prayers now are that it takes a shorter period, and that when he does, they will be better than his first set of ministers many of whom were so idle and incompetent they remained anonymous until the end of their tenure in office.

M.K.O. Abiola’s Lawyer Did Not Help Him – Kola Abiola

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The Source

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June 15, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

Is it possible that M.K.O. Abiola might still have been alive if his lawyer had not challenged the conditional release offered him by the late General Sani Abacha military government? Or, perhaps, not died when he did?

His eldest son, Kola Abiola, was not explicit on that, but he insisted he saw no sense in his lawyer advising his father to reject the relief offered him.

In an interview he granted the *Daily Sun*, published on June 12, Kola said he had changed his father’s lawyers, G.O.K. Ajayi and F. R. Williams, but was frustrated by the government from giving his father the papers for his document.

Kola’s revelation came in response to a question on how many times he saw his father in his four years of detention.

His words:” Before he died, I didn’t see him for like a year and a half because I was trying to change his counsel, and we needed him to sign. We were going to change GOK and FR Williams, and we needed to see him to sign it, but because of that, they didn’t make it possible for us to see him.”

Asked if he thought his father died naturally, or was murdered, he again was not specific, but said his father was health-conscious, and went to hospital at the littlest excuse. Therefore, keeping him in detention, with little or no medical care, was like killing him.

He, however, regretted that the opportunity given to him by the government to get out, so as to take care of himself was botched by his Counsel.

Kola: “You don’t need to put a gun on his head, or poison his tea. We all knew he had high blood pressure so, it’s a given that such a person should have had frequent medical attention.

” I think, at a point, we were successful in getting him to go for treatment, but then, his lawyer came and decided to challenge the conditional release that was brokered. I did not see the sense in that.”

Asked if he would blame the lawyer for being part of the conspiracy against his father, Kola retorted: “Abacha even said on live TV that he didn’t know what my father’s lawyer was doing but that he certainly wasn’t working for government. You can go and check the clip”

Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, died in military detention while fighting to retrieve his mandate, in an election cancelled by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

The President Muhammadu Buhari regime has just declared June 12 a federal holiday in his honour.

Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Borno Killings

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Uche Mbah

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June 15, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Islamic state has claimed they killed more than 20 soldiers in an attack in Kareto, Northeastern Borno, according to a Reuters Agency report monitored in Lagos.

The Nigerian Army has repeatedly said that the Boko Haram insurgency has been curtailed. However, independent reports claim that the group is still occupying some towns in Borno state.

Reuters reported the group as claiming that they burnt the military barracks and tanks. The Nigerian security sources claimed that the base, home to the Nigerian Army’s 158th Battalion and 130 km (80 miles) from the state capital Maiduguri, had been overun and the commander killed.After the assault, the militants left Kareto, but remained in the area, the Agency said.

The Islamic State broke away from the mainstream Boko Haram in 2016, and had claimed to be active in the Borno axis of the insurgent’s incursion. Last month, they claimed to have killed 40 soldiers in two separate attacks on Nigerian soldiers.

IS has been under intense bombardments from their Iranian enclave, and many believe they have eyes on Nigeria as a new Subsaharan group base. Thus they had regrouped into the Islamic State of West Africa.

It is estimated that the North eastern insurgency has taken over 30,000 lives, with many displaced quartered in Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps. Some International Aids Workers have also been known to have been killed by either Boko Haram or IS.

Aisha’s Dress Sense, Change Of Designation Sparks controversy

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Uche Mbah

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June 15, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhamadu Buhari, has said she no longer wants to be addressed as wife of the President but The First Lady Of Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying she chose to be addressed as wife of the president before but now she is to be addressed as the Fist Lady.

Recall that at the inception of the Buhari administration in 2015, he had categorically said that he has abolished the office of the first Lady. His wife then chose to be called the Wife of the president.

This was shortly before he went to Germany for medical treatment, and released the popular “other room” statement. Since then he has not visited Germany.

After he returned from London in a miraculous complete healing, he has not been on record making any public statement on Aisha. Now Aisha herself has announced the change of designation.

But what has attracted far more reactions was her mode of dressing, which is not altogether new, that showcased her expensive taste in the face of show of frugality by the president. She had worn a $2,145 Oscar De LaRenta cape dress to Democracy Day gala night On October 18, 2016, on her way to Brussels, Belgium she wore a $2,600 (N1.2m) Salvatore Ferragamo cape. This had got many on social media accusing her of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

Julius Berger Opens Website On Information On Second Niger Bridge

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Uche Mbah

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June 14, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

German construction giant, Julius Berger, has opened a website to disseminate information about the progress of work at the second Niger Bridge. This followed controversies over the state of the contract work on the bridge, which many believe the central government is paying lip service to.

Recall that contract for the constructin of the bridge was awarded by the goodluck Jonathan administration to Julius Berger in a Public Private participation contract, where the company jointly funds the contract while recouping their money after the construction via tolls. Jonathan was said to have paid almost the government part when President Buhari came and cancelled the contract immediately. Currently it is funded through the presidential infrastructure development fund (PIDF

For sometime now, it has become an item for political propaganda, as a means of winning votes for elections.

Surprisingly, Julius Berger has opened up to clear the confusions by opening up a site for information on the project.

Last November, the Federal Government reviewed the contract to Julius Berger, with a fresh award of N206 billion, believed by many to have been overinflated.

In a statement from the media office of Julius Berger, they said any one who wants information on the second Niger bridge should visit www.secondrivernigerbridge.com.

“The objective of the website is to make the project progress visible to the general public,” the press statement said.

“Visitors to the site will have access to visually driven content mainly photos and videos reflecting the actual status of construction work along with key facts and regularly updated data relevant to project progress.

“The Second Niger Bridge is a Federal Government Project that is being managed by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority. It will bring great relief to the many commuters who currently use the over 50-year-old existing bridge.

“It will also link the great markets of Onitsha and Aba, as well as the industrial hub of Nnewi and beyond, to both the Northern and Southern parts of the country.”

Ironically, this is the first time that Julius Berger is opening up a website on information management on any of their projects. This may have resulted from the controversies following it.

Abaribe Becomes Minority Leader

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Uche Mbah

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June 14, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has emerged as the Senate Minority leader of the Nineth senate, making him the highest ranking Igbo man in the Senate.

He thus becomes the Igbo highest ranking elected Igbo man at the federal level. That position, up until now, had been occupied by Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

He emerged at an ongoing peoples Democratic Party PDP meeting presided over by the Party Chairman, Uche Secondus.

Also returned were Senator Emmanuel Bwacha from Taraba South as Deputy Minority Leader, and Senator Philips Aduda (FCT) who was retained as the Minority Leader.

Abaribe came into limelight in the 8th Senate when he signed the bail bond for the Biafran separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu. He was later to be hounded by the courts when Kanu escaped outside the country, but was later given a reprieve.

The national Working committee of the PDP is expected to write to the Senate President intimating him of the development.

Breaking News: Chiji Collins Is Imo Speaker

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Bayo Bernard

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June 13, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

The Imo State House of Assembly, in the early afternoon of today, confirmed our story of yesterday, by electing Hon Chiji Collins, as the Speaker.

The Assembly, was this morning, inaugurated by Governor Emeka Ihedioha.

Collins, from Okigwe zone of the state, defected from APGA to the PDP.

He was elected unopposed.

Details, later.

Airforce Chopper Crash-lands In Katsina

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Uche Mbah

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June 13, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Nigerian Air force has confirmed the crash of a Nigerian Air force helicopter in Katsina state, saying it crashed in the process of landing while returning from action against bandits in the North West Theater of Operation Hadaran Daji.

The Nigerian Airforce, NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said that investigations are ongoing into the cause of the crash.

Reports indicate that the helicopter crashed moments before landing at the Katsina airbase. The Pilots are said to have exited from the aircraft before it burst into flames.

“There was no loss of life, either of persons on board the helicopter or on the ground,” Daramola said.

A board of enquiry has been constituted by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, to get to the bottom of the crisis.

“NAF continues to solicit the understanding and support of the general public as it daily strives to ensure the security of Nigeria and Nigerians,” Daramola said.

Mixed Feelings, As Buhari Names Abandoned Stadium After Abiola

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Uche Mbah

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June 13, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

Palpable controversy arose over the decision of President Buhari to name the National Stadium Abuja after the late business mogul, Moshood Abiola, as part of the activities to mark the newly minted democracy day.

Abiola was the widely acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 elections, annulled by former maximum ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.

Buhari has, in a ceremony boycotted by former Nigerian leaders-Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Ernest Shonekan-announced the renaming the stadium after Abiola.

The Stadium has not been used for years and have been over grown with weeds. It has been taken over by herdsmen as unofficial grazing reserve.

This is the second stadium being named after Abiola. The first was in Abeokuta.

During the tenure of Goodluck Jonathan, he renamed University of Lagos after Abiola, and all hell was let lose. “Today, all those that fought against UNILAG are the one rejoicing over Abuja stadium. Sad,” said Jimo Wilson, a youth corps member that this Magazine talked to.

A few African leaders were at the ceremony.

But so much knocks are coming from the Social media over naming of Babagana Kingigbe, who was Abiola’s running mate, as a co-hero of June 12. Kingigbe is on record as having abandoned the June 12 cause at the critical time. And no mention was made of Humphry Nwosu, who was the electoral umpire that instituted Option A4, the electoral process that made the election adjudged as the freest and fairest elections in the country. It was however, annulled by Ibrahim Babangida.

Various reasons have been adduced as why the election was annulled. But this Magazine was told by insiders during the unfortunate annulment that the main reason it was annulled was never mentioned. “It borders on the population myth in the country”, said the source. “Everywhere, as you move from the coastal lines to the desert, the population decreases. It was the British that foisted the population fraud we have in Nigeria today, where there is an anomaly of increased population from coastal lines to the desert. Since then, there has been no authentic population census in the country. When Festus Odimegwu came and voiced out that he will do an authentic census, the Northern elites pressured former President Jonathan to fire him,” the source said.

The June 12 elections, which used option A4, showed that the population of voters in the North was about half of those from the south. This is because people queued behind their candidates, and the results were uploaded directly to an electronic billboard.

“When the pattern was observed, Babangida came under intense pressure to annul the elections, even though he had his own tenure elongation ambition. That is also why Humphry Nwosu will never be honored in this June 12 Charade”, the source concluded.

Tinubu Asked Abacha To Make Him A Commissioner In Lagos – Kola Abiola

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The Source

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June 12, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

Kola Abiola, first son of the presumed winner of the June 12 Presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, has dropped ‘De Bomb’

Kola’s father died in military detention while fighting for The presidential mandate, which he won, free and square, but which was denied him by the military government under General Ibrahim Babangida. Abiola was, subsequently, thrown into detention by the Nigerian government under the late General Sani Abacha.

In his first major interview since the sad events which followed the annulment of the election, Kola revealed a lot which would, at once, ruffle feathers, and shock many people.

Speaking to the *Saturday Sun*, in an interview published on the maiden celebration of the now annual federal holiday declared in his father’s honour by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Kola dismissed, with a wave of the hand, almost, a number of those who claim today to have fought for the validation of his father’s. He called them noise makers, and hints his father’s date was a collective conspiracy.

But one of the most sensational revelations he made was on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos state, and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Tinubu was always seen as one of those who fought Abacha for Abiola’s mandate. He was also a member of NADECO, a group which fought the Abacha government.

But in the interview, Kola disclosed that Tinubu joined NADECO only when Abacha refused to grant him any of the favours he wanted from him. At the beginning, he said, Tinubu was with the Shehu Yar’adua group, and they related with the group. But he was quick to add that the situation changed post-election when Abacha arrived the scene.

Tinubu, he revealed, began to ask Abacha for a position in his, (Abacha’s) government. Civilian Administrator for Lagos. Deputy to the Military Administrator. And finally, a Commissioner in Lagos.

Kola:”When Abacha came, one of the things he (Tinubu) wanted to do was to be appointed the Administrator for Lagos.

“He was hoping that there would be civilian administrators like we had under IBB. But Abacha said no, that he was going to have military administrators. So, he (Tinubu) said okay, in that case can’t I be a deputy administrator? But Abacha said there wouldn’t be deputies. Then, he wanted the post of a Commissioner.”

Perhaps, Tinubu would have been appointed a Commissioner, but Kola disclosed that the choice was between him (Tinubu) and a close ally of former Lagos state Governor, Lateef Jakande. Apparently, Jakande’s ally was prefered to him, and Tinubu lost out.

Kola: ” It was a contest between him and somebody very close to Jakande. I can’t remember his name now, but really, that guy was picked as a Commissioner.

“So, once he (Tinubu) lost out, automatically, he became a NADECO member.”

Kola promises to reveal more on Tinubu’s stand on issues, but says all that will be cotained in his documentary.

What happened to his father’s mandate and June 12, he insists “was a collective conspiracy”.