2023: Buhari’s Silence Creates A loud Controversy

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May 14, 2019

By Uche Mbah

The conspiratorial silence of President Muhammadu Buhari over who succeeds him has created loopholes for rancor within the rank and file of All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential hopefuls, resulting in internal wranglings that is already threatening to implode the party.

There have been speculations that the recent abysmal performance of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, is a product of fifth columnists that are bent on making sure that the Minister for Power, Tunde Fashola, is so discredited that President Buhari will not think of re appointing him as a minister in the new dispensation. Fashola is a presidential hopeful, and a lot depends on his being reappointed into government. Apart from the fact that it shows presidential confidence in him, he needed to still be in circulation to be able to pull the initial nomination stunt.

Incidentally, President Buhari is said to be unapproachable-or, more appropriately, his aids has made him inaccessible to lobbyists, making the office and home of people like Aba Kyari, his Chief of staff, a Mecca of sorts for lobbyists.

This magazine was told that Aba Kyari’s home is inundated with nocturnal visits that stretches into the wee hours of the night, with all types of exotic cars parked far into neighboring streets. So Presidential hopefuls-particularly those from the south-are simply clinging to earlier promises made before the campaign, which is neither here nor there.

Only recently, Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti state, suspended an aid for daring to suggest that Fulani herdsmen must undergo head counts to be able to know where there is a problem. “The governor was furious”, said an aid, “he said that the issue is very sensitive. ‘Does this man not know that if there is any infraction against herdsmen the president takes it personally? Please he should not jeopardize my bid for the 2023 presidency'”, Fayemi was quoted to have said.

He is not alone in that fear. During the elections, southern governors were mandated to deliver their zones to be considered for the 2023 presidency, which was the reason for the desperation of Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transport,for example. With his inability to muscle his way past Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, he simultaneously lost his bid-the way he lost the vice presidential bid to Yemi Osinbajo, a Tinubu crony, because he was regarded as a king without a kingdom.

But the most formidable contender to the throne-there are said to be many other jobbers and pretenders-is said to be Bola Tinubu. He is said to have both the empire and the dept of pocket to pursue his ambition to a logical conclusion. But the Northern elites are already out to decimate him before his time.

That was why, this magazine learnt, fifth columnists stood behind his detractors like Muiz Banire to invite the Kaduna State governor, Nasir el Rufai, to Lagos for a colloquium through which they released a missile to the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom.It is bad enough that the event held just a few houses from the Bourdillon residence of Tinubu, the carefully worded answer to a question-which was said to have been planted- elicited an acerbic attack on the Lagos Landlord. El-Rufai was reported to have given Lagosians a blueprint on how to destroy Godfatherism in Lagos.

El Rufai never paid a courtesy visit to Tinubu even though he was near his house.

The war of words that followed resulted in more viscous attacks. As usual, Tinubu took out the war by proxy, via hatchet writers who tried to disparage el-Rufai. They even hinted that el-Rufai was to be Tinubu’s running mate in 2023, but El Rufai replied that he cannot be a running mate to a drug baron who was convicted in the United States in the past and had to free himself through plea bargain.

Apart from that, El Rufai appears to be using his influence on convincing the Presidency to jettison Lawan and Gbajaibiamila as candidates for Senate President and Speaker of the house respectively. “The Northern elites have made up their mind to jettison Lawan and Gbajiabiamila”, an APC stalwart said over the weekend, hinting that Ali Ndume may emerge the APC consensus candidate. Ndume was one arraigned as a sponsor of Boko Haram.

So apart from probably Kano state, Tinubu may be facing stiff opposition from other core North states.

Some common allies among the ruling cabal saw the damage that the Tinubu el Rufai rift is doing to the party, and that even Adams Oshiomhole has suddenly became quiet (he is said to be a closet Tinubu loyalists), they hurriedly arranged a meeting with Buhari over breaking of Ramadan fast. The foto-op was uploaded for public interest. But Buhari still kept mum.

While the whole APC intrigues go on, they are also mindful of the fact that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar,is still pursuing his case with vigor. The final Supreme court ruling may be the final determinant, though people like the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal are already preparing for 2023, if sources are to be believed.

CBN: Apex Bank’s Top Officials Move Against Emefiele

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The Source

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May 13, 2019

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Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor — Godwin Emefiele

By Bayo Bernard

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele’s re-appointment by President Muhammadu Bunari appears not to have gone down well with some entrenched interests in the country nonetheless, some individuals in the apex bank said to be desperate to have his job.

The magazine learnt that those not happy with his re-appointment are considering many options including smearing his name in order to make the president change his mind.

“It’s an exercise in futility. The president has made up his mind about the appointment. His decision was based on the performance in the last four years, and all is there for anybody to see.

He and his team were responsible for taking the nation out of recession immediately this administration came to office. That’s a great achievement that cannot be denied by anybody” a presidency source who craved anonymity told the magazine on Monday.

Just few days after President Buhari gave approval for him to continue in the apex bank top job, an audio tape has surfaced where Emefiele and other suspected senior officials were during a telephone discussion allegedly plotted to cover up a scam committed in the bank.

Apart from the CBN boss others in the conversation include his deputy, Edward Adamu; the Director of Finance, Dayo Arowosegbe; and the Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Emmanuel Ukeje.

The medium claimed that the discussion of the top CBN officials was about a plot to cover up the huge loss after a private investment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, went sour.

The ‘bad’ investment, the officials are allegedly plotting to cover up, is worth N500 bn the medium said.

The apex ban has been scrambling to deny the report since the audio tape went viral.

According to a statement issued by CBN spokesman Isaac Okorafor, there was no any attempt by the bank to cover up any scandal that the telephone conversation was simply a routine conversation among top echelon of the bank on how to resolve an important issue within the bank.

Contrary to insinuations that the audio recording of selective conversations by Emefiele and the officials were about a fraudulent transaction,Okorafor said, it was “simply to proffer solutions to a misunderstanding that affected the Bank’s balance sheet.”

Okorafor said, the National Economic Management Team and the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had approached the CBN in 2015 to assist state governments with Conditional Budget Support.

The support, the apex bank spokesman said, was to assist states to pay the salaries, pensions and gratuities of their workers in the aftermath of the significant drop in global oil prices and associated Federation Accounts allocations.

According to him, to facilitate the recovery of the economy from the continuous impact of the recession, the CBN provided about N650 billion in loans at 9 per cent with a two-year grace period to 35 states of the Federation.

“These monies were distributed to the states monthly with documented approval of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Presidency.

In closing the Bank’s 2018 accounts, external auditors in their Draft Account, erroneously classified about N150 billion of these loans as bad, which negatively affected the Bank’s Balance Sheet and shareholders fund,” he said.

Okorafor explained that the ‘selective conversation’ referred to in the online report was simply a discussion to ascertain why the auditors took that position and next steps to resolve it.

The CBN spokesperson said following the discussion, it became clear to the officials that a state government’s loan cannot be classified as “bad” or “irrecoverable” when the state still exists and receiving monthly allocations from FAAC.

As a result, the CBN reached out to the Federal Ministry of Finance, which jointly confirmed to the auditors who accepted the discrepancy in writing that these monies would be repaid, he said.

He explained further that, the auditors reversed the negative entry and certified that the CBN’s 2018 accounts were a true reflection of the state of affairs.

Urging well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the report, Okorafor said “Reconciliation of Balance Sheet items are regular conversations amongst senior management of many agencies and should not be misconstrued as anything but that.”

The CBN governor has not committed any scandal, therefore Nigerians should disregard the “audio and continue to trust that the Bank is doing everything it can to represent their interests in the best possible way,” he said.

Emefiele’s name was surprisingly forwarded to the Senate for approval last week by the president despite initial rumour that he would be replaced with another banker.

Analysts told the magazine that the storms now gathering against the Delta state born banker is one of the hurdles awaiting him as he set to face the upper chamber of the nation’s legislature for clearance.

Recall that some top notch in CBN were said to be lobbying to replace Emefiele as CBN governor.

The apex bank boss was appointed into the position in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Among those believed to be interested in the job is Aisha Ahmad, a Deputy Governor of the bank appointed by President Buhari two years ago.

Whether some officials of the bank who are said to be tired of Emefiele running the apex bank are responsible for leaking the tape cannot be confirmed.

But the magazine learned that some of his subordinates are not happy with his re-appointment.

“It remains unclear who leaked a private conversation between the governor and other top officials. But it’s clear that those that carried out the action does not have the interest of the man at heart,” a close aide of the governor told the magazine.

Despite Intervention By Dangote, Others, Sanusi May Still Be Dethroned

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Uche Mbah

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May 13, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi II, is probably on the way to suffering the fate of his grandfather, who was dethroned in the sixties when he was caught in a political logjam of the period. He has just returned from a trip to London, and has been received by a mammoth crowd in Kano.

Recall that Mohammadu Sanusi, the grandfather of the current Emir, was deposed by Ahmadu Bello, the Saduana of Sokoto, due to what was once described as the unwieldy political influence of the former. In fact, problems started when he hosted Queen Elizabeth II when She visited Nigeria in 1956. He was exiled to Azare after being dethroned in 1963. But Ahmadu Bello never contemplated balkanizing the Emirate.

Since the news broke of the speedy enactment of a law to balkanize the Emirate and the signing of same into law by the governor broke, more facts have emerged on the behind the scene activities. This Magazine gathered that the Business Mogul,

Aliko Dangote, himself from Kano, has tried to intervene, prevailing on governor Umar Ganduje, to drop his initial plan of dethronement of the Emir. But Ganduje, intent on getting his pound of flesh, proceeded on his plan B: the balkanization of the Emirate. Other prominent Emirs were said to have intervened to no avail. “There is no way Ganduje could have pulled this stunt alone without the backing of the presidency”, an analyst said over the weekend. “His backers are very high up.”

Since the beginning of the saga, president Buhari has kept mum.

Sanusi himself has been very critical of the presidency. In fact, this Magazine was told that during the run up to the 2019 elections, he has tried to railroad the South west Obas into pulling the plug on Bola Tinubu, the Lion of Bourdillon, by pitching their tent with Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He reportedly told them that the All Progressives Congress, APC will lose the presidency. This, the APC, like the elephant, never forgot. And never forgave. And he was said to have openly endorsed the activities of the presidential flag bearer of the Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Meanwhile, Sanusi supporters has gone to Court to top Ganduje from turbaning four more Emirs in Kano. A Kano High Court ruled favorably on the ex parte motion restraining the governor from going ahead with his plan. Despite this, the governor went ahead to give the new Emirs their staff of Office, claiming he did not get the order.

He claimed that the Sanusi ought to be reporting to the local government Chairman and not to him, and that his balkanization of the emirate was to bring the traditional ruler-ship to the people and has nothing to do with personal vendetta.

As expected, tension was rife in Kano since the saga started. The people of Wudil, for example, are said to have rejected the new Gaya Emirate, and demands to be back in the old Emirate.

Before the installation of the new Emirates, heavy security presence were observed at Sanusi’s Palace, and the residences of his principal officers. There were also soldiers stationed at the entrance of Kano state government house.

This, it was gathered, wast to forestall any crisis arising from the supporters of Sanusi. But Sanusi himself was in London for an undisclosed reason, but it may have not been unconnected with his fate and his recent appointment as as one of the new Advocates for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations. He was one of the 17 influential public figures picked by the UN from around the world. His appointment coincided with crisis at home.

Again, accusing fingers are being pointed towards his former allies from the South west who are currently said to be Ganduje’s clandestine drummers from the sideline.

They were the ones, it has been alleged, that advised the resuscitation of the Financial scandal that trailed the Emir, which case was put in the coolers when some prominent people intervened.The resuscitation was said to be a prelude to using corruption allegation to depose him. And that may result in the same house of Assembly revisiting the balkanization and getting it reversed. Mission Accomplished.

Kogi Governorship Election: How Bello will be Stopped; the 2023 Connection

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The Source

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May 13, 2019

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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

A one term governorship tenure is starring Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, in the face. Multiple party sources in Lokoja and Abuja are emphatic that the Akinwumi Ambode treatment is awaiting the governor in the governorship primaries which comes up in August to select candidates for the November 2019 Kogi governorship election.

The forces up against Bello’s re-election are fighting a three-pronged battle to that effect – External,internal and ethno-religious.

The external forces are said to be linked to former Lagos state governor and National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, who is allegedly bent on installing his godson, James Faleke, a sitting House of Representatives member representing Ikeja (Lagos) Federal Constituency as Kogi’s next governor.

Faleke, an Okun Yoruba from Ekinrin Adde in Ijumu council area of the state, was the late former governor Abubakar Audu’s running mate in the November 2015 governorship election.Tragically, Audu, who first ruled the state from 1992 to November 1993 and then from 1999 to 2003, died on November 22, 2015, on the cusp of another gubernatorial triumph, thus creating an uncharted constitutional situation.He was APC’s candidate in the November 2015 election.

When eventually it was resolved that the APC could still inherit its late candidate’s victory, it was Bello who came a distant second in the primaries with 703 votes, and not Audu’s running mate, Faleke, that the demigods in APC, opposed to Tinubu, awarded the the late Audu’s ticket and victory in the ensuing supplementary election which followed.

To strengthen his bid for the 2023 APC presidential ticket and broaden his frontiers of influence, this magazine has been told that Faleke is only one of the godsons the APC national leader is plotting to plant in power as governors in states-Kogi,Ondo and Bayelsa- where governorship elections will take place before 2023.

**Late Abubakar Audu: His death threw up Bello**

However, the second factor, Kogi’s ethno- religious politics, which is also militating against Bello’ s second term is as well likely to sound Faleke/Tinubu’s political death nail, according to followers of Kogi politics. This is how:

To boster his chances, it has been learnt that Faleke’s promoters have resolved to make an incursion into Igalaland, the largest single ethnic stock in Kogi, by pairing him with Audu’s first son, Mustapha Audu who had, vehemently, protested APC’s decision to cede his late father’s victory to Bello. Had Faleke been successful in his legal battles to upstage Bello, Mustapha would have been named his Deputy. Both men had bonded in the fight to wrestle power from Bello.

The late Audu was popular, and well loved by his Igala kinsmen and women while alive.The calculation is that a Faleke/ Audu ticket will harvest the late governor’s tremendous goodwill among his people. The the Igalas, due to their numerical strength, have since the creation of Kogi, produced the governor, despite the combined challenge of the two notable minority ethnic groups that complete Kogi’s tripod – the Okun Yoruba and Ebiras – and would have done so again in 2015 save for the sudden death of their son on the day of victory.

Being a Moslem majority state, the Igalas and Ebiras are predominantly Muslims as against the Christian populated minority Okunland, analysts say when push comes to shove, the two Moslem dominated ethnic groups will cooperate to ensure one of their own maintains hegemony at Lugard House, as Kogi state Government House is known, even if it means sacrificing Bello.This, according to observers, is where Faleke’ s albatross lies.

Impeccable sources told this this Magazine that the Igala nation will go for the main job rather than play second fiddle to Faleke.The ethnic group’s political class has, therefore, The Source was informed, vowed to retrieve the governorship from Bello, an Ebira, who they accuse of misrule after obtaining power on a platter of gold.

To this end, Igala political eggheads are reportedly making strong moves to snatch the APC ticket. Another source suggests that Mustapha, though currently governorship aspirant of the Young Progressive Party, YPP, rather than running with Faleke, is actually being considered for APC’s standard flagbearer for the election.

Internal forces arrayed against governor Bello are made up of indigenes of the state across political, religious and ethnic lines who insist the governor is a misfit and must give way for a competent hand to reinvent Kogi.

This category of Kogites say they are not aligned to any party, and do not care the party that produces the next governor provided such a person fits the expectations of the people. Recently, APC elders in the state joined the league of groups and individuals in Kogi kicking against the governor’s second term.

The elders, led by Senator Alex Kadiri, in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, accused Bello of mismanaging Kogi’s financial resources, saying he could not account for the sum of N344bn, which the state allegedly received as allocation in the last 38 months of his administration.

They described the governor’s emergence as an accident which must be corrected.

The petition reads, “Governor Yahaya Bello was never elected by the good people of Kogi State. The death of Abubakar Audu made it possible for Bello to be Kogi State Governor. He has shown everyone that he lacks leadership abilities. He can’t fight for the rights and privileges of Kogi people.

“We request you to step down your support for the candidature of Governor Yahaya Bello for the forthcoming election in Kogi State.

“If the party fields him as a candidate, we are sure of losing the state to the opposition.”

Though the embattled Kogi governor has denied plans to dump the APC in the face of mounting opposition within the party to his second term, impeccable sources in Lokoja, the state capital,swear that Bello is frantically preparing for a plan B, in the event that his party gives him cold shoulders.” I can tell you for sure that the governor is not prepared to wait for the APC to pull the rug from under his feet. Of course, if the signs are manifest that he will be denied the APC platform, there are other viable platforms.Parties are mere vehicles to attaining political offices”, one of the sources told the magazine.

It has, however, been learnt that some of the governor’s loyalists prefer he remains in the APC to fight for the ticket till the end. And if eventually denied, move to another party.The Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the Labour Party, among other parties, have so far been linked to the governor as a possible fall back, but his camp informs that no decision has been reached yet as to the platform to switch to should the APC bare its fangs.

“We are not yet at the bridge, when we get there, we will cross it.For now, we believe His Excellency has performed well to get his party’s ticket and we are sure he will get the ticket.So we are not talking about alternative platform for now”,he said

If governor Bello is eventually denied his party’s return ticket, he will be the third sitting governor since the return of democracy in 1999 to be so treated by their parties.The first was former governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra state who in 2003 was denied the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP second term ticket on the account of alleged misrule.

The most recent is the outgoing Lagos state governor, Ambode, whose fate for second term was sealed by his godfather and National leader of the APC, Tinubu, not on the basis of non performance, but according to insiders, as a result of issues bordering on alleged questionable loyalty. On Ambode’s stead is now Jide Sanwo Olu, another godson. He will be taking over from Ambode on May 29,2019.

Ekiti: Fayose is Greedy, Selfish- Former Aide

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Bayo Bernard

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May 12, 2019

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Ayodele Oni, Ado Ekiti

A chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP in Ekiti state, Lanre Ogunsuyi has described the immediate past governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose as selfish and greedy.

He said this perception has dwarfed Fayose’s achievements as a governor.

Ogunsuyi who served as a commissioner in Fayose’s administration said the action of the ex-helmsman has affected the fortunes of the party in the state.

In a short interview with the magazine the party stalwart also said that the country cannot move forward except appointment of political appointees are based on competence.

He said the leadership must do away with the zoning formula if Nigeria must attain full potential and develop economically.

Mr Ogunsuyi also opined that the choice of ministers and commissioners should be need driven particularly in areas that require intervention.

According to him, “that section of the constitution which makes it mandatory that each state should be represented at the federal executive council should be amended.

This is not rational; each state has senators and Reps members representing it at the federal level. The presidency is expected to work with these people to be abreast of problems in states.

Appointing ministers from each state is just like constituting another representative council, like the Senate and House of Representatives, he said.

He further explained that the situation is enough to deplete the nation’s meager resources “It costs a lot of money to maintain them, they are always problems to Governors in states. I don’t know how ministers have contributed to improve the welfare of their people.

We sacrifice meritocracy on the altar of zoning. Late Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi.Azikiwe would not have been heard if zoning was in vogue during their time.

Zoning makes us to sacrifice competence.”

Ogunsuyi pointed out that Nigeria should endeavour to catch up in development ladder before we start to rotate political offices among the geo political zones of the country.

Speaking on the nation’s economic woes, the former commissioner stated that the two leading candidates in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar and Mohammadu Buhari were not economists and the major problem of Nigeria at present is more of economic issues and unemployment.

“It is unfortunate that the country is still battling with the problem of energy, for 20 years, there is no solution to it, he said”

Describing Presidents and Governors as despots, Ogunsuyi said that even ministers and commissioners find it difficult to see and discuss with them.

Ekiti State: APC Reports Governor Fayemi to President Buhari

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The Source

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May 11, 2019

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By Ayodele Oni, Ekiti

Trouble is looming, very large, in the Ekiti State APC Chapter. If not contained, it is threatening to consume the party. APC is the ruling party in the state.

Stakeholders of the party, including a Presidential aide, have called on the national leadership of the party to urgently save the party from extinction, just as they flayed the purported suspension of former national deputy chairman of the party, Chief Segun Oni. Oni was, also, a former governor of the state.

The sad state of the party in the state, under the governorship of Governor Kayode Fayemi, was contained in an SOS message sent to President Mohammadu Buhari, copies of which were forwarded to the national chairman and national leader of APC.

Titled “A Call to Save APC in Ekiti state,” the stakeholders also appealed to the leaders of the party to call to order Governor Fayemi before he turns the party to his personal property.

Taking exception to the suspension of Oni, they said:

“As far as we know, Chief Segun Oni went to court on issues he raised against Dr. Fayemi’s eligibility to contest the primary election of the Party in the May 12, 2018 Ekiti State governorship primary election of the Party. He pursued his litigation up to the Supreme Court where judgment was eventually given striking out his case for being caught by the retrospective application of the provision of the Fourth alteration of the Constitution 1999 (as amended) which requires filing within 14 days after the primary election.

“This to us is the reason why allegations of anti-party activities are being raised against him. If this is so, it is unfortunate and it is necessary to put an end to it to the extent that it is an insulting and embarrassing step taken by misguided elements within the Party Executive in the State.

“Governor Fayemi whose hands can clearly be seen here, should realize that he needs to tread softly. Members of the Party are fully aware of the shenanigan going on within the Party and his government in Ekiti State. We are aware of the brazen monopolistic tendencies going on.

“Dr. Fayemi used his influence as Minister of the Federal Government to place his cronies and lackeys in Federal positions and when he became Governor, he recycled the same set of people into State positions to the exclusion of other tendencies within the Party in the State. As at now, several of his loyalists are holding two positions, one in the Federal, one in the State.

“We are aware of an ambassador that was given another Federal appointment on top of her ambassadorial posting!

As loyal and committed members of the Party, APC, including Chief Segun Oni, we all rallied together to ensure the victory of our Party in the July 2018 Governorship election, not minding the self-serving, monopolistic tendencies of Dr. Fayemi.

“For us the victory of the Party was far more important than any individual selfish behavior. It is noteworthy that APC won the election by only 19,338 votes. This is an average of mere 109 votes per ward! A mere 2,000 votes less, the election would have been declared inconclusive and re-run ordered!

“In the aftermath of the election, Dr. Fayemi and his clique put together the State Executive, the LGA Executives and the Ward Executives of the Party without any consultation with or consideration and inclusion of other interests.

“Even where nominations were made by other tendencies they were jettisoned as the present Deputy Governor was mandated to prepare their list of party Executives state-wide to the exclusion of others and with complete disregard for the principles of internal democracy.

“When the time came for the re-election of President Buhari, we all rallied together again for the Party. Even though a number of us had local grievances, we collectively refused to toe the rebellious path as was witnessed in Ondo, Ogun, Oyo

and Imo States. We recall with gratitude the role played by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who effectively mobilized the otherwise alienated leaders of the Party in the State.To our chagrin, Dr Fayemi egregiously continues to view our success in the State as if it was a result of his solo effort.

“Meanwhile, Dr. Fayemi and his clique have continued to run the Party as if it were a secret cult with all the rites of initiation and acceptance. They operate the party with a clique mentality. This is a threat to the future of the Party and it must be arrested now. A successful and winning Party needs to promote internal democracy, broaden its membership base, reach out to all and be inclusively accommodating to all those who share its goals and ideology.

“So far, the Fayemi approach to managing the Party in Ekiti has been more exclusive than inclusive. At this juncture we will like to put it on record that a large number of aspirants who paid for forms to contest both the National and State Assembly elections were not given forms because they were not his preference. While we pacified them in order to give the Party a chance of success in the elections, they have been ostracized and treated with disdain in the aftermath of the elections.

“We are therefore issuing an early signal to the Party and the public: APC as a Party faces existential threat in Ekiti State if current tendencies continue. We will continue to do our best to prevent this. But Governor Fayemi and his clique need to be called to order now before it is too late. We call on the Party at the National level to intervene and save the Party in Ekiti State.”

Those that signed the petition include Special Adviser, Political to the President, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Sen. Anthony Adeniyi, Hon. John Akintoye, Dr. Ife Arowosoge, Former Members House of Reps, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo and Otunba Ben Oguntuase, Former Member, House of Representatives.

Emir Sanusi: Time To Go

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The Source

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May 10, 2019

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By Comfort Obi

Being not from the Northern part of Nigeria, I don’t know what the law says on the abdication of Emirs. Can an Emir, on his own abdicate? I know they can be deposed, and forced into exile. A couple of them had suffered that fate. The most prominent: Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, father of the detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. He was deposed during the regime of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, and sent to Kaduna on exile He died in there.

Ironically, the grandfather of the current Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, also suffered the same fate. Some months ago, on a trip to Wudil, Kano, a police officer, who is a Kano state indigene, pointed out, to me, the small house where he was banished to.

Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido — **Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi**

Would that be why Emir Sanusi II desperately wanted to become the Emir of Kano? Was it to repair the image of his lineage? Perhaps. But if he does not watch it, the same fate may befall him.

Everything points to the fact that Sanusi II may go the way of his grandfather. He may be deposed. Given the supersonic speed with which the governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, is going about it, it may not be long. If that happens, he would live miserably in exile, until he answers Allah’s call.

I don’t know how he will cope in exile with his lovely wives if that happens. And that is why I am, here ,wondering if it is okay for him to abdicate the office. If so, I strongly encourage him to do so, and follow it up with a bolt out of Kano and Nigeria. He shouldn’t wait to be humiliated out of office, and banished from his beloved Kano.

The plan to humiliate him began in 2017. Accused of all kinds of alleged misconduct, including misappropriation of the Emirate funds, and daring to send his daughter to represent him at a function in Abuja, Governor Ganduje had asked the Kano state Anti Corruption Agency to investigate Sanusi. It caused quite a stir. And took the intervention of a number of prominent Nigerians to save him from that embarrassment.

Peace finally reigned. But, it was an uncomfortable one. “Patch, patch” work. The gloves began to be gradually off in the months leading to the governorship election. The story out there was that a number of prominent Kano indigenes, including the Emir, had gotten tired of Ganduje.

They said he had become an embarrassment to the state. Their disdain of him peaked during the scandalous video where the governor was caught, clearly, allegedly, stuffing hundreds of thousands of US Dollars, bribe money, given to him by contractors, into his pocket. It went viral.

And was a national shame. Unfortunately, the case seems dead and buried. The day the Journalist who made the video public was invited by the Kano State House of Assembly to testify, with evidence, Ganduje’s government engineered a protest against the Journalist’s appearance.

Primary school children who should be in school came out to protest in support of an alleged bribe taker. When Ganduje was invited by the House to testify, he ignored it. Instead, he took refuge in the court, which inexplicably stopped him from appearing. Like every responsible Kano indigene, Emir Sanusi was, allegedly, embarrassed by the Ganduje bribery scandal.

And, so, may not have wanted him, like most others, to win, especially, after the Governor has derisively been nicknamed “Gandollar.” But he won, in a most controversial manner. And, even though the case is at the Election Tribunal, Ganduje couldn’t wait to take his pound of flesh. Last Wednesday, he pulled off the gloves, and bared his fingers.

It started with an obviously pre-arranged petition filed before the Kano House of Assembly, KAHA, by Ibrahim Salisu Chambers. The petitioner had demanded for the upgrading of some Traditional Rulers from District Heads, to the status of First Class Emirs. Four additional First Class Emirates – Karaye, Bichi, Rano and Gaya – he demanded, should be created. It was given an obscene attention.

It was read on Monday. And, in a speed that would make Usain Bolt green with envy, approved, and its bill passed within 24 hours. In passing the bill, the KAHA split the ancient Kano Emirate into five. Meaning that Sanusi II would no longer be the sole Emir. In splitting the 44 Area Councils, Sanusi was left with only 10.

For a moment, many decent people had hoped that Ganduje would make a pretence of refusing to sign the bill into law. That, may be, he wanted to shake Sanusi a little. Not true. For, again, in a speed that would leave Usain Bolt , this time, confused, and sent into a deep slumber, Gandollar, ah, sorry, Ganduje, signed it within 24 hours. Sure, he made a flowery speech on the need to get tradition to the grassroots and all that, everybody saw through the charade. It was a combination of politics and vengeance and power. He only wanted to show Emir Sanusi that, “power pass power.”

So, with a stroke of the pen, Ganduje and an indolent KAHA, destroyed an ancient kingdom, and an over a century old traditional institution. But, here is the implication.

Sanusi has been dealt with. His powers have been reduced, whittled down. He is no longer among the first three Emirs in the North. He will now preside over a mushroom Emirate. But who loses? My answer: Kano.

It is like biting one’s nose to spite one’s face. In his bid to humiliate Sanusi, Ganduje has stripped Kano of its pride of place. Urbane, cosmopolitan, brilliant, Sanusi’s face was good for Kano. He brought credibility and international attention to the state. One cannot say those about the governor whose alleged Dollar bribe scandal stained him and all he stands for.

It is baffling that of all the problems Kano state is battling with – Almajiri, poor educational and health systems, lack of clean drinking water, insecurity, etc – Ganduje and the KAHA will be thinking of how to deal with Sanusi, and destroy Kano’s proud ancient tradition.

Ganduje and KAHA members patted one another on the back Just for a pot of porridge.

From when he was the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi let it be known that his greatest need in the world was to be the Emir of Kano. I used to wonder about it. Age was on his side, and he has such a broad view of world politics and economy. Honest, I thought that Emirship was beneath him. But, he was desperate for it, and got it in a controversial manner. Obviously, I am ignorant. Being the Emir of Kano seems such a big deal. But he combined his desire with politics, and became a political Emir.

So, now, does he have regrets? He may not admit it but, I bet. His ambition couldn’t have been to be the Emir of ten Council Areas only. What crime did he commit to deserve this humiliation? One day, the full story will be told. But for now, not a few people are laughing, and saying: “Serves him right. It is the law of Karma”

Why?

They say the politics that gave him the Emirship humiliated him. One Bolanle Cole, Esq, in a tweet mocked Sanusi thus: “Emir of Kano was the main instrument used by the APC to oust GEJ in 2015 with the fallacy of missing 20 Billion Dollars. But today, he has lost 34 Local Governments under his territory.”

Now, losing the territory may be mild. A deposition, a banishment and a possible trial for alleged misappropriation of the Emirate’s funds will be worse.

Who will save Sanusi? Will President Muhammadu Buhari intervene? The Kano State Anti Corruption Agency seems serious in its investigation of Sanusi.

Proof: it has immediately invited a Sanusi ex -Alhaji Isa Sanusi Bayero, a former Secretary of the Emirate Council. Isa is Emir Sanusi’s uncle. He booted Isa out of office, on allegations of leaking financial information on the Emirate.

Will this be pay back time? The world is funny.

Obi is the Editor-in-Chief/CEO of The Source (Magazine), https://thesourceng.com. Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Adeleke’s Hope Dashed, As Appeal Court Upholds Oyetola Victory

By

Akinwale Kasali

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May 9, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The hope of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate In the last Osun State Governorship Election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had been dealt a big blow following the Appeal Court ruling.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the judgement of the Osun State Governorship tribunal which nullified the election of Governor Gboyega Oyerola

In her lead Judgement, Justice Hannatu Sankey set aside the entire proceedings of the tribunal because of the faulty composition of the tribunal

The judgment is upheld by four Justices of the five-man panel.

INEC had declared Oyetola and the APC the winner of the Osun State governorship election on the basis of the cumulative results of the September 22, 2018 main election and the September 27, 2018 supplementary poll.

Following the refusal of Adeleke to accept the verdict of INEC proceeded to the electoral tribunal, in which he was declared winner, forcing Oyetola and the APC to proceed to the Appeal Court.

Unity Bank Partners CBN To Assist Cotton Farmers

By

Bayo Bernard

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May 9, 2019

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Forward moving Tier two lender Unity Bank has moved a notch higher Plc in line with its commitment to grow the Nigerian economy using Agriculture as the major catalyst.

The Tomi Somefun-led bank has therefore entered into a major partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) by flagging off distribution of Seeds/inputs supplies to Cotton farmers for the 2019 planting season nationwide.

The distribution is part of the Anchor Borrowers Programme, an Agricultural Development finance initiative of the CBN operated as an on-lending scheme with participating financial institutions packaged to channel financing support to beneficiaries in the Agro-sector.

The agro-friendly bank said in the project is in recognition of the Bank’s established pivotal footprints in Agriculture which has been well acclaimed in various awards received by the Bank, such as the Presidential award at the 3^rd anniversary of ABP, CBN award on sustainable transaction in Agriculture.

Speaking on the issue, the bank’s Executive Director, Corporate Planning & Compliance Usman Abdulqadir, said CBN is partnering Unity Bank on account of the lender’s strong participation in the Anchor Borrowers Programme aimed at rebuilding customers confidence, alleviating poverty through food and cash crops production to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food and diversifying the economy.

Abdulqardir further stated that Unity Bank’s strategy for Agriculture is deep rooted “Unity Bank’s strategy is to bank the agricultural value chain. Therefore, we finance primary production, agricultural processing as well as commodity trading. We also support agricultural mechanization, agricultural services and the procurement of inputs and implements, he said”.

“what is most noteworthy is that while other banks basically concentrate on lending to big value end of the agriculture value chain such as the flour and rice millers, Unity Bank does not leave out the small holders farmers who are in primary production, he stated”.

Anibe Achimugu, the National President of NACOTAN, said the Unity Bank/CBN programme would assist the association in sourcing the right seeds to be delivered to cotton farmers at the right time.

He also said that the association produced an estimated seed cotton of between 60,000 and 80,000 tonnes in 2018, hoping that this figure will be surpassed in 2019.

Achimugu listed some of the challenges facing the association to include poor seeds, poor timing or delivery of input, inadequate extension services, poor training and guidance. All these he believes, would be addressed through the participation with CBN and Unity Bank.

Unity Bank has successfully mainstreamed over 500,000 small holder farmers, hitherto financially excluded, thereby supporting CBN’s financial inclusion initiatives.

Analysts insist that the Bank has now brought in critical mass of farmers, hitherto unbanked, to benefit from various sources of funding, such as credit lines to input supplies and service providers, areas others may have considered unattractive.

“Unity Bank’s involvement in the ABP has thus created huge social and economic impact on the income of households involving over 500,000 participating small-holder farmers, thereby boosting not only the Gross Domestic Product and reducing unemployment but also helping to end the perennial dissipation of scarce foreign exchange to import food, an analyst said”.

Osun Guber: Adeleke Jets Out As Oyetola Wins Appeal

By

Bayo Bernard

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May 9, 2019

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The PDP governorship candidate in Osun state, Ademola Adeleke probably had premonition that the judgment of Court of Appeal will not favour him, this must have informed his decision to travel out of the country yesterday.

The senator who’s under trial over issue relating to his WAEC certificate was only allowed to leave the country after he has been cleared by the court to do so.

But barely few hours after he left the country, a five man panel of the court has ruled that Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC actually won the election.

Oyetola was announced winner after the second ballot considered to be very controversial.

Recall that the election tribunal sitting in Abuja had two months ago upturned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declaring Governor Oyetola winner of the election held last year.

But the candidate of the APC had appealed the judgment asking that the upper court uphold INEC’s decision that he truly defeated his opponent in the keenly contested election.

The five man panel led by Jumai Sankey delivered the judgment with three member of the panel agreeing with the judgment.

A member of the panel, Justice Mbaba however gave a dissenting judgment.