Anti-smuggling: FOU, Zone A, Now A Moving Train

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October 5, 2018

By Stephen Ubanna

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Adamu Aliyu Mohammed, Comptroller , Federal Operations Unit, FOU Zone A, and the anti-smuggling officers appear to have turned themselves into a moving train ready to crush smugglers that may stand on their way.

This is evident going by the number of exotic and bullet proof vehicles, Mohammed confirmed, were intercepted in various parts of Ogun and Lagos states in the last two weeks. The bullet proof vehicles were said to have been seen seized and evacuated from some private residences in Victoria Island, a high brown area of Lagos metropolis.

The seizure of the nine bullet proof vehicles may be bad news for the politicians of different persuasions who may be preparing for the 2019 general elections and others who may also want to import thesame bullet proof vehicles for their use in the electioneering Campaigns to forestall attacks by party thugs . The Customs Comptroller and his officers are said to be on their trail.

The Magazine learnt that the detained bullet proof vehicles which were evacuated from the private residences in Lagos metropolis wass bassed on intelligence gathering ass the vehicles did not have the end user certificate which could only been obtained from the National Security Adviser, NSA’s office in Abuja. The Comptroller who explained that much said their is no hiding place for smugglers. He, however ,stated that there was no law banning the importation of bullet proof vehicles for private use , but the individual must endeavour obtain the End use certificate which must be issued from the NSA’s office.

The alleged 22 vehicles including the bullet proof models, that were said to have been seized and are under detention in the Command premises at Ikeja were said to be four Lexus Jeep, X570, 2016, model, three Land Cruiser Jeeps, 2016, two Mercedes Benz, G63 and S550, 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Detained Bullet Proof vehicles At the Ikeja Customs Premises.

Other vehicles on the Command detention list include one Toyota Rav4, 2015 model, three Toyota Hilux, 2018 model, one Toyota Land Cruiser, 2016, one Toyota Corolla and one Toyota Fortuner, 2017. This is in addition to Two Toyota High Lander, 2018, one Toyota Prado Jeep, 2018, Toyota Sequoia and one Lexus RX 350 . The value of the detained nine bullet proof vehicles alone, Mohammed confirmed was about N927 million with a Duty Paid Value of N204 million.

The FOU, Zone A, Customs Comptroller who was said to be instrumental to the seizure of the 22 vehicles and the evacuation of the bullet proof vehicles from the private residence at Victoria Island appeared posed to seize more as the custodian of secret information in the Command . He was said to have always passed information to the Command’s Operations and Lagos Roving team, headed by Riks Lura, a Chief Superintendent of Customs, the Rapid Respond team , headed by Jack Okpabi, another Chief Superintendent of Customs and the Strike Force and the Strike Force to implement.A s a prelude to making the seizures, he was said to have given a standing order to the patrol team leaders, particular the Strike Force team, to seal up the six states in the south west Geo-political region, comprising of Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo and Osun because of the many illegal routes in the states to ensure that Contrabands and vehicles would not be smuggled into the country .

The importation of vehicles and foreign parboiled rice into the country through the land border was banned by President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling APC government on January 1st, 2017.

The Presidential ban and the FOU Customs boss standing order to the Command Strike Force and the other teams to take over the south west may have encouraged the officers to go after the smugglers in their hideouts in the bush and force them out on the road. The unlucky vehicle smugglers were said to have fallen into the waiting hands of the Operations and Lagos Roving patrol teams, Rapid Response or the Strike Force officers.

The smugglers who may have escaped from any of the teams were said to have fallen into the waiting hands of the Ijebu-Ode Surveillance team officers at Ogun state. It was not surprising why some of the 22 exotic vehicles seized and still under detention in the Command premises at Ikeja were said to have been intercepted by the Surveillance team at Ogere and Ijebu-Ode Expressway.

Another major area, where the Command was said to have made an appreciable impact over the last two weeks was at the seaports ,where importers with their clearing agents and their Customs collaborators have have be made made to apy through their nose outrageous Demand Notice and other penalties.

An insider informed the Magazine that the FOU, Zone A, Comptroller, who was worried at the rate which importers with their agents cheat the government had repeatedly used the opportunity provided by Aminu Dahiru, an Assistant Comptroller General, who was formerly in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Zone A, zonal office, at his monthly meetings with the Comptrollers to appeal to his counterparts at the seaports, airport and land border stations to be alive to their duties to avoid having problem with the Command.

He has every reason to monitor the movement of cargoes in and out of the port to ensure that the government was not shortchanged to boost its revenue generation. This may have put the lura led Operations and Lagos Roving team officers to be on the alert by mounting road blocks at strategic locations along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

This may have yielded results as suspected Containerised cargoes released from the seaport were said to have been flagged down on several occasions to check the importers document the documents to ensure that what was declared in their bill of lading was what is contained in the Container.

A source told the Magazine that sometimes the suspicion of the lura controlled patrol teams have been found to be true. The fallout was that the suspected Containerised cargoes had been transferred to the Command warehouse for examination and the guilty ones had been issue DN.

It is not surprising why the FOU, Zone A, Customs boss could boost that in the last two weeks, the Command through its various interventionist measures to check ”false declaration, transfer of value and under payment had recovered N220 million for the government.

Indeed, this is an amount that ought to have gone into private pockets at the seaports, Airport and Land border stations, if the Command Operations and Lagos Roving team officers had Compromised . The amount , thus brings to N2.24 billion , the revenue that was said to have been generated by the Command within the period under review. Tthe Command was said to have made a cumulative revenue of N1.5 billion for the government before now. The Comptroller is optimistic that the revenue profile of the Command would continue to go up with the strengthening of the Revenue Seat as the anti-smuggling officers intensify their operations.

It would be recalled that Muhammed Uba Garba, a former Comptroller of the Command , now Comptroller , Seme Command had recovered millions of lost revenue for the government in the one year and two months, he was at the helm of affairs at the Command.

FOU: Dismantling Smugglers New Tactics

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Steve Ubana

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October 5, 2018

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By Stephen Ubanna

Until last month, Customs patrol officers at the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, believed that rickety vehicles and motorcycles, popular Okada, were the only means of conveyance through which poultry products could be smuggled into the country. It may not have crossed their mind that VIP smugglers could use Highlander jeep to smuggle cartoons of poultry products from the Republic of Benin into the Nigerian market.

Luck was said to have ran out against a VIP poultry products smuggler recently. He was said to have engaged the services of two cross border drivers and two conductors to cross his smuggled two Highlanders loaded with cartons of poultry products from Republic of Benin. The cross border drivers may have assured him not to worry that they will deliver as promised.

They believe they could beat Customs officers on the road because of the tainted glass which could give the impression that it is private because of the plate numbers which was found to be fake. The Magazine learnt that the Customs officers on bush patrol had suspected the High;and jeeps because of the weight and flagged it down for checks. Aware that the game was up, the drivers of the Highlander jeeps and the Conductors had abandoned the vehicles and took to their heels, forcing the Customs officer on patrol to take over possession of the vehicles which was transferred to the Command and put under detention.

Another worrisome seizure that was said to have been made by a patrol team in the Command was a passenger bus from the Idiroko border axis, allegedly carrying two sacs of military uniforms and boots including other personal effects.The Magazine learnt that the driver and the Conductor of the bus were caught and are still in detention . As at press time, the driver of the bus had made confessions indicting the Conductor.” I was not aware that the Conductor had loaded two sacs of military uniforms into the boot of the bus”. ,he had said.

FOU, Zone A , filled Warehouse With Seized Goods And Detained Vehicles

Aware that the duo may not have committed any ofence, the Magazine learnt that Adamu Aliyu Mohammed, the Command Comptroller, has urged the owners of the items in the bus including the two sacs of military uniforms to come forward and take delivery.

A Customs source told the Magazine that the items may not be released to the passengers on a platter of gold as the bags are likely going to be opened for examination to know their contents.

The biggest seizure that was said to have been made by officers of the Command within the last two weeks i was a suspected bus loaded with drugs allegedly manufactured from India, which was released from the seaport to the impo rter’s agent who was taking it to importer’s warehouse in Benin, Edo state. Mohammed confirmed that the drugs did not have a National Administration for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, number, an indication that it could be fake. The Customs Comptroller disclosed that the cartons of drugs which were loaded into the bus was intercepted by the Surveillance team at Ijebu Ode. The value of the drugs, according to him was about N140 million.

One Usman, a Chief Suprintendent of Customs and Head of the Ijebu Ode Surveillance Unit was said to have transferred the bus load of drugs from the base to the Command premises at Ikeja on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. Indications are rife that the drugs will be handed over to NAFDAC, for further investigation in the spirit of inter-agency relationship.

Indeed, this is not the first time dangerous drugs manufactured from the Asian country of India were shipped to Nigeria. There have been several instances where the FOU Zone A, Operations and Lagos Roving team had intercepted Tramadol drugs, considered dangerous to human health by medical doctors, on the road after being released from the seaport.

Insiders told the Magazine that the Ijebu Ode Surveillance Unit is very Strategic to the Command anti-smuggling Operations. This is because most of the bad jobs released from the seaport going to the south east based importers which pass through the Lagos -Benin Express to the east, had fallen fallen into the hand of officers of the Unit, an indication that there is no way an agent taking the importer’s goods to his warehouse could escape t the Ijbu Ode tea. The Drug seizures, according the Customs Comptroller, brings to 89, the number of seizures in two weeks including India Hemp allegedly grown from the West African country of Ghana. Also intercepted by the Command, within the period , he said was a ”40”’ of unprocessed wood heading to the seaport for export to China..

It would be recalled that it was at the Ijebu Ode base, that Riks Lura, a Chief Superintendent of Customs and the then officer in-charge of the Unit intercepted a Rose Royce which was a cynosure of visitors at the Command last year.

In a voice laden with emotion, The FOU, Zone A Customs boss revealed the seizure of over 11 thousands ”50” kg bags of foreign parboiled rice. The Command Rapid Response team, alone, was said to have intercepted and transferred two trucks load of rice from the Shaki axis of Oyo state to the Command.This is in addition to 850 Jerry cans of ”25 ” each of processed Vegetable Oil that was said to have been seized within the period by different patrol teams. He said the Vegetable Oil Jerry cans were not seized because it was Contraband but were seized because they were smuggled into the country in processed form.

He stressed that importers are allowed to bring into the country semi-processed Vegetable Oil to be finished here, thus providing job opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths in the country. At the LADOL Free Trade zone in Lagos, there are Vegetable Oil Companies which import semi-processed and do the finishing at the Free Trade zone.

Given the intense competition by the various patrl teams of the Command to make seizures, a major problem that was said to be facing the Command now, is where to keep seized goods . The Magazine gathered that the two warehouses run by the Command at Ikeja are aleady filled up, forcing the Operations and Lagos Rovint team Officers to keep intercepted Containers on the road behind the Command premises, pending the determination of the importer’s case by the Comptroller.

It would be recalled that the Command rapid Response team which had been up and doing in the recent time made a seizure of 80,000 Jerrycans of ”25” of petrol, equivalent of 90 Tankers , prepared to be smuggled to Republic of Benin through the Ijofin Creek in Ogun state. The seizure could not have been made without the support of other sister agencies, particular the Army and the police.

The customs Comptroller, may have given credit of the seizures within the two weeks to Hameed Ali, a retired Colonel and Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, for providing the the Command with the ”necessary incentives and logistics support f and believing in his capacity to” move the Unit forward”.

There are indications that the officers who made the spectacular seizures, would soon be rewarded soom by the management as a way of motivation to encourage them to make more seizures. Muhammed alluded to this on Thursday, September 4, 2018 during a chart with Journalists. there was spontaneous smile calm as the officers await their new ranks . Mohammed, the Command Area Comptroller, is optimistic that Ali, would match his word with action as the officers are poised for more actions.

It would be recalled that the officers who made arms seizure at Tin-can Island port were promoted by the Customs Comptroller General to encourage them to do more. It would be recalled that Adamu Mohammed, a former, FOU, Zone A, Head of the Lagos Roving team and some of his officers in the team who made arm seizures were promoted by the ustoms boss. Mohammed was said to have been elevated to the enviable rank of a Deputy Comptroller.

Abdullahi Kirawa, a Deputy Comptroller and National Coordinator, Customs Strike Force, was promoted from the rank of a Chief Superintendent to Assistant Comptroller of Customs by Abdullahi Dikko, a former Comptroller General of Customs, for making a ship load of seizure in a Creek in Ogun state. There have been several other instances in past where officers had been rewarded for their spectacular performance on their job either in revenue recovery for the government or seizure of drugs at the seaport.

2019: Who Occupies Brick House, Wike or Cole?

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Steve Ubana

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October 5, 2018

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Steve Ubanna

Nyenson Wike, a Lawyer and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governor of Rivers state had been very inquisitive for the much of last month to know who will emerge the governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in their September, 2019 primaries. The governor was interested in knowing the APC Candidate who would slug it out with him in the 2019 general elections in the state to perfect his winning strategies.

Initially, he had the premonition that the governorship contest in the state would be between him and Dakuku Peterside, the Director General, National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA . This is because of the close relationship between the NIMASA Director General and Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of Transport and the party leader in the state who could use his influence to ensure that he wins the party primaries. He was hoping to use the same political strategy applied in winning him in the 2015 general elections to defeat him again in the 2019 general elections.

Unknown to him, Amaechi, who incidentally was a former governor of the state has asked Peterside to withdraw from the race and support the person who would emerge as the preferred Candidate of the party to give Wike a run for his money. The minister may have also read the handwriting on the wall that peterside, his political godson would fail the direct primaries and had no option but to ask him to withdraw from the governorship race on the platform of the party. The NIMASA boss was said to have kept it a closely guided secret and continued to create impression in the mind of party members and the ruling PDP government in the state that he is still very much in the race.

Toye Cole: APC Governorship candidate In Rivers state

The pressure was said to been too much on him from both official and unofficial quarters to declare his stand last August that he said, ” I have not made up my mind. I am still consulting, and the decision whether to run for the governorship race of the state on the platform of APC will be made any moment soon”. He never made up his mind forcing Wike to go back to the drawing board to prepare his mind for whoever that would emerge the party Candidate in the primaries .

The Magazine learnt that Wike, the unopposed governorship Candidate of the PDP and his political associates monitored the APC governorship primaries on Saturday, September 30, 2018, to know his likely opponent . Senator Magnus Abe, Dawari GGeorge, Dumo Lulu-Briggs or Toye Cole, an urbane Opobo-Nkro born Oil magnate based in Lagos were said to have faced the party delegates in the primaries.

Inially,Wike was optimistic that the battle for Brick House in the 2019 general general elections would be between him and Abe because of his over blown image in the party. He never gave any opportunity to Cole, seen as an” underdog” to win the party primaries . He got it wrong.

Amaechi, his arch political rival in the state and President Muhammadu Bhari were said to have tactically thrown their weight behind Cole, who may not be popular in political circles in the state but very good in Boardroom politics and who could maneuver his way out of any situation and still come out stronger. The duo were said to have used him as a replacement for the much rumourd Peterside , as the governorship candidate of the party in the state because Wike may not have known his weak points , and therefore may find it difficult to take on him by surprise to avoid a backlash.

It was therefore not surprising why Amaechi spent money and time to mobilise support for the Oil magnate and former Managing Director, Sahara Energy to beat Abe and the two other Candidates to it in the party primaries, thus sending a signal to Wike that the battle line have been drawn for the governorship election of the state in 2019 . The governor is seeking re-election on the platform of PDP while Cole is the flag bearer of the APC.

Political analysts believe that the governorship elections in Rivers state may not be an easy battle between the duo. This is because the APC Candidate is well connected that he may have many money bags both within and outside the state who could support him financially and volunteer foot soldiers who may be willing to work for him to beat Wike in the 2019 polls. Amaechi was said to have transferred the state party machinery to him , an indication that he may not have start afresh to raise his own political structure to face Wike, who is on ground in the state.

But there are fears that Abe and Lulu Briggs may not want to support Cole in his electioneering Campaigns because of the allegation by the duo that they were deliberately denied victory by Amaechi, who threw his weight behind Cole, an alleged political greenhorn. Lulu- Briggs, could not hide his anger as he had consistently accused the minister of ”imposing his preferred Candidate, Tonye Cole on the party”.

The duo may still be in APC but work behind the scene to support Wike, the PDP governorship Candidate, to be returned to Brick House in the 2019 general elections. They may want to teach Amaechi a lesson that his plot to take over Rivers state through a subterranean means would never work.The PDP governor, political analysts said, may have to watch it to avoid what happened at Ekiti or Osun states governorship election repeating itself in the state where Amaechi could use federal might to rub him of victory in the 2019 general elections.

Admitted that Peterside his godson, may not not be on the governorship race in the state but he is a trenchant critic of Wike, thus providing ammunition for Cole, the APC, governorship Candidate to effectively confront him in his electioneering Campaigns with facts and figures about the running of the state over the last three years. ”Wike’s government achievement has been blown out of proportion and does not represent what is on ground in the state, he had said”.

He has made people to believe that Rivers state is number three in federally allocated Revenue, in 13 percent derivation, number two in terms of Value Added Tax, VAT, and next to Lagos state in terms Internally generated Revenue, IGR. The NIMASA helmsman claimed that the state got over N160 billion from IGR in 2017, noting that these could not match what is on ground in the state, an indication that the PDP government may have frittered away the resources of the state in less than four years. He may be speaking the mind of Amaechi, his godfather to turn peoples mind away from Wike .

Peterside,who never see anything wrong with the past Aaechi Administration in Rivers state, claimed that ”anybody can deny the Administration of anything but not performance”. He believes the election of Cole as the next governor of the state in the 2019 general elections would sustain the good works started by Amaechi . He noted that governance is assessed in terms of transparency and accountability but Wike do not follow due process in the hiring of contractors except for projects which he is trying to assess through the world Bank.

Critics claimed that he may have his world views about Wike but insist that Rivers state is a basically PDP state and it would be difficult for the combination of Amaechi, Cole and Peterside to defeat him at the 2019 general elections.The critics who described Aamaechi, Cole and Peterside as Abuja and Lagos based politicians said the Wike may not be worried about Cole, his APC, opponent in the 2019 general elections because the people are behind him, both in thick and thin.

Moreso, they see him as having an edge over Cole who is from the riverine area of the state considered a minority to the upland which is in the majority and Wike’s political base. The question on the lips of most people is: who occupies Brick House in 2019 Wike or Cole? The governor is optimistic that he would still be returned to office in 2019 to continue the infrastructural development of the state.

Ambode: Adebule’s Unkindest Cut

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The Source

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October 5, 2018

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By Comfort Obi

I have never met the Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Dr. Idiat Adebule, either officially or unofficially. Like her colleague–Deputy Governors across the country, she is redundant and anonymous, even though her state gives her a little advantage over others. When you are the Governor, First Lady, or Deputy Governor of Lagos state, it is a plus. Every Governor of Lagos state can always lay a claim to being the number one governor in the country – deserved or not. So is the Lagos First Lady. And, well, so is the Deputy Governor. The reason is simple.

Lagos is the capital of the Nigeria Media. It is also the business capital of Nigeria. So, these guys in Lagos attract more attention than their counterparts elsewhere. At times, they are arrogant about it. What other governors would fall over themselves for, a Lagos State governor would ignore it.

I remember a former Vice Chancellor of the most respected Federal University of Technology in the South-east, lamenting, to me, how the then governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, ignored the letter his University Senate wrote, offering to confer on him an Honorary Doctorate Degree. Fashola did not as much as acknowledge the letter of offer. I laughed aloud, and advised him to try “lesser governors.” Those ones will not only accept the offer, they will celebrate it to high heavens. The media will be awash with congratulatory adverts paid for by government parastatals, state executive council members, contractors and many others who the government patronise. Then, they will go to the ceremony with every who is who in their states, including Traditional Rulers. To them, it is a big deal. For a Lagos state governor, at least, Fashola, it is a huge distraction.

But I have digressed. I was talking about the Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Dr. Idiat Adebule. So, may be, she is a notch better than her colleagues – not quite very anonymous, not quite very redundant. But hey, I sympathise with her now, and for all the glamour attached to her position, I don’t pray to be in her shoes. I would give an arm to know her inner feelings these past three weeks, especially, after the governorship primary of October 2 which confined her boss, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to the unenviable basket of Nigeria’s second state governor to be rejected by his party, and denied a shot at a second term in office. In this category, former Anambra state governor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju took the first position.

Edged on by the powerful Anambra political godfathers who installed him, his then party, the PDP, denied him a second term ticket for alleged incompetence. He went to the AD, a party not quite known in the South east, and ran on its ticket. He failed woefully, and till date, Mbadinuju has not recovered from that humiliation. He has become politically irrelevant, almost.

Governor Akinwumi Ambode and Dr. Idiat Adebule

So, what’s in Adebule’s heart? Has she and Ambode met face to face since that governorship primary, and especially, the morning after? If so, was she comfortable? Or, did she feel like the Biblical Judas Iscariot, the guy who betrayed Jesus Christ? Or, was it business as usual?

If you have been following the story of Ambode’s humiliation, how at the governorship primary by his subordinate, then, you know why I’m asking these questions. But, for the purpose of this write-up, a brief recap.

On Tuesday, October 2, the deputy governor, like the Biblical Peter who denied his master, Jesus Christ, three times before cock crow, Adebule publicly denied his boss. She disowned Ambode. Here is how.

For months, the rumour had been on that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Lagos state’s ultimate political godfather, would deny him a second term in office. Initially, not many people believed it. It was dismissed as beer palour gossip. When it wouldn’t abate, some of us said: “Politicians. Don’t mind them. They will make up.” Afterall, there is a precedence in Lagos. Former governor Babatunde Fashola, another of Tinubu’s political godsons, had the same problem with him when he aspired for his second term. Tinubu refused to endorse him, initially. But after a lot of pressure, the Asiwaju caved in and endorsed Fashola. So, we thought it would be the same. But no.

The pressure on Tinubu, to forgive and endorse Ambode, if media reports are anything to go by, was like claps of thunder. They thundered from Abuja to almost all the states of the federation. Even Bolanle, Ambode’s wife, joined. But nothing.

To put a seal on his ambition, endorsements for his nemesis, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, came tumbling, from everywhere, like the Victoria water falls. The APC structure in Lagos. The all powerful Mandate Political Group founded by the Asiwaju himself. The Governor’s Advisory Council. National Assembly Members. ( Ah. the three Lagos state senators, remember, had a couple of months ago, endorsed Ambode). Members of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Chairmen of LGAs, and LCDAs, and Wards. Market Women and men led by Asiwaju’s first daughter, Mrs Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja of Nigeria. Every stakeholder in Lagos state. Just everybody who is anybody.

Yet, to me, the “unkindest cut” was Ambode’s denial by his Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who publicly disowned him during a press interview.

Dr. Adebule, according to media reports, arrived at her Ward A and D, Iba LCDA, along with some of her aides, carrying posters of her principal’s opponent, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. As if that was not enough to make her point, she chose to address reporters, – cheeky fellows – who mischievously waited for her. Her words, when asked of her position: “The party has chosen a man and it is that man that I will support and follow. I have no doubt that anybody who emerges today as the candidate of the party will have my support. I have no doubt as exhibited by my people today that they are standing with the party’s position on this primary, and with that position I stand. And I choose to stay with my party at this time. My party has spoken and I have no doubt to state that on the position of my party. I stand. It is a very clear election as you can see. People are voting in line with the dictates of the party. We have voted for the person who the leaders of the party have chosen. It is an overwhelming experience as you can see it, and we will continue to support the party and abide by its rules.”

So, may be, Adebule had no choice really. A lecturer at the Lagos State University, the Lagos APC party leadership plucked her and installed her Fashola’s SSG. From that position, they drafted her to be Ambode’s running mate. So, perhaps, she really had no choice. But in her shoes, God forbid, I don’t know if I would have the courage to publicly disown my boss, unless he was thoroughly mean to me. Even then, I would have done so in a more tidy manner than she did. Number one, I will not go to the voting centre with the posters of his opponent. Number two: I will not grant a press interview endorsing his opponent. It was an over-kill. Unless, as earlier said, my boss is mean to me.

Now, I don’t know if that was the case, but believe me, many state governors are mean to their deputies. They have no respect for them. A number of commissioners are more influential than them. They hardly consult them on any major issue. They are just there because the Constitution says so. It is because of such treatment that most governors hardly allow their deputies to succeed them just so they are not paid back in kind. Those who did, or forced to do so, have sad stories to tell. Ask former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso. His then deputy, now Governor Ganduje, has barred him, almost, from entering the state. Not even the Police can help him. Also ask former Ebonyi State governor Martin Elechi. He has since abandoned the PDP for his former deputy, Governor Dave Umahi. Elechi is now an APC chieftain. But, how relevant is he there?

We never heard, or read anywhere that Adebule was having any misunderstanding with her boss and/or his elegant wife, Bolanle. Yet, the story everywhere, now, is that the man runs a one-man show, and has allegedly, forcefully removed the feeding bottle from adults – you know, the usual patronage and other fringe benefits, even from the DG, SSG, and his Commissioners. If true, he is the architect of his downfall. Good politicians know better than that. They oil the political machine.

For the records, Ambode is on a long, lonely journey to his village. If he doesn’t manage the situation well, and package himself better than he is doing now, he may become politically irrelevant. Even, now, he has become a lame-duck governor. His friends, if he still has any, may start disappearing. He is no longer the centre of attraction. Sanwo-Olu is.

A thorough-bred civil servant, I understand, who was brought out of retirement and enthroned as the governor of Nigeria’s number one state, how did Ambode fall out of favour everywhere – to the extent that neither President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Working Committee of his party, nor several VVIPs could save him?

As confirmed by Tinubu, it is not that he has not performed well as a governor. The problem, as has been more than hinted, is that he “may have been eating alone.” He was not free with patronages. He became swollen-headed. He deviated from the norm. He may not have remembered to oil the party machinery, nor those who helped him to the exalted position. Tinubu put it nicely. Ambode deviated from the Lagos development blueprint and, is not a good party man. But where is this blueprint? Can it be publicised so others can copy. Or, does it have a patent?

Ambode’s rejection by about everybody is unprecedented. It was total. Never in the history of politics has any rejection been this overwhelming. It is like a bad dream.

His fall should be a lesson for people who forget those who made them in life, or helped make them, once they find their feet. They not only forget, they run the person down behind, even publicly. Fact is: such attitude is a sin before God and man.

It beats me that Ambode could attempt to tango with Tinubu. For now, Tinubu is the most powerful, the most influential politician, not only in Lagos, but in the South west. He commands followership. And loyalty. But that’s because Tinubu, on the average, has a forgiving heart, and rewards loyalty. When he sneezes, Lagos shakes.

But, here is the implication of his power, influence and, hold on Lagos politics. Any APC member, who rejects his opinion, goes nowhere. If Sanwo-Olu wins, his main job has been made simple. It is: Look unto the Asiwaju, hang unto his every word, or you get the Ambode treatment. Even the APC NWC cowered before him in the Lagos matter. From publicly saying no election took place in the state, Clement Ebri, the Chairman of the Electoral panel, made an about-turn within 12 hours. Many people were embarrassed for him. He learnt late that “power pass power!”

Yet, Ambode can still redeem himself. He already started with his broadcast to Lagosians on Wednesday, October 3, accepting the fate that befell him and, pledging to cooperate with Sanwo-Olu. Not that he had any choice. He knows the implication of fighting on. Who are his backers? He is standing alone.

When some people advised him to dump his party for the PDP, I laughed. He knows better than that. In Lagos? That would be committing suicide. He wouldn’t have lasted two weeks more in office. He would have been impeached. So sad he learnt his lesson very late, and in a hard way. A political novice? Yes. For, even when the chicken was coming home to roost, he hardly noticed.

His earlier outburst against Sanwo-Olu was ill-advised. He called him a criminal who is unworthy to occupy the office of a governor, yet, the guy was a high profile LASG official appointed by him. He alleged that Sanwo-Olu went for rehabilitation at the Gbagada General Hospital – meaning he was a drug addict – and asked anybody in doubt to go check the records in the hospital. That was beneath the office of a governor. Where were his media managers when committed this blunder?

The question is: How did Ambode access the medical records? Such things are confidential. Even though Sanwo-Olu has denied both allegations, I suspect that heads will roll at the Gbagada General Hospital, particularly at the Records department, if he finally wins the governorship election.

But back to Deputy Governor Adebule. Not a few people will keep referring to her as the woman who abandoned her boss. The choice before her, excuse this cliché, was like one between the devil and the deep blue sea. On the one hand, she is a product of the party. On the other hand, Ambode is her boss. It is a no-win situation. Either way, many will look at her with suspicion. Situations like this are some of the reasons many people, especially women, don’t have the liver to join politics.

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

2019: Dark Clouds as confusion, Anger, Impositions Trail Primaries

By

Uche Mbah

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October 4, 2018

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By Uche Mbah

These are times that try men’s souls. In recent times, the nexus of do or die has passed through most, if not all election primaries in Nigeria. And this has nothing to do with party affiliations, though the ruling party is said to have had a fair share of the whole saga.

For example, the Primary elections that held in Lagos by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to choose their governorship candidate ended up in an anti climactic manner. The incumbent governor, Akinwumi Ambode, has been told by his Godfather, Bola Tinubu, that he will not be going for a second term. Ambode appeared to have been emboldened by the fact that he appeared to have the backing of the presidency to continue, possibly due to his track record of performance. It was believed that Buhari is not comfortable with the inference that he was put in Power by Bola Tinubu, a fact that many would flaunt in his face. But it appeared that the anger is from his lieutenants who would want to do anything to clip Tinubu’s wings. Hence, Ambode had defied his boss, and, after a period of to-ing and fro-ing from Aso Rock, he accepted the Direct Primaries. Field reports allege that the Lines behind Ambode was too long in many places, but that Thugs were threatening his supporters and forcing them away, while people are receiving alerts of N10,000 as gratifications for voting the candidate of the establishment. The Person dispatched by the National Working Committee to supervise the election condemned the election, cancelled it and said the election will hold in a future date. The state went ahead and declared the establishment candidate winner. It was alleged that Tinubu prevailed on the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, to convince the presidency to accept the election, which he did. So after initial confusions, Babajide Sanyaolu was duly returned as the APC candidate, making Ambode the first governor to be denied a second term in Lagos.

In Imo state, the elections ran into hitches when the returning officer, Ahmed Gulag, disappeared after the elections, only to reappear in Abuja and announced the result of the elections which did not favour Okorocha’s Candidate. He said the Okorocha was planning to kidnap him, having kidnapped four of his boys. Oshiomhole has cancelled the elections and said it will be conducted at a later date.

In Enugu, the story is not different, and there has been reported violence and police had to intervene. In Kaduna, el-Rufai is fuming that his candidate has been dropped for Shehu Sanni, a serving senator. As at press time, El Rufai had stormed the Presidential Villa to lay his complaint. Accusing fingers, once again, is being pointed at Oshiomhole.

Recently, youths from the Federal Capital Territory kept the APC secretariat under lockdown protesting against the Direct Primaries being “forced down the throat of the party by Oshiomhole”, as one analyst puts it. They feared that the party would want to impose a candidate on the FCT, since the direct primaries means no indigene will get the ticket.

Meanwhile, Ondo APC has called on Oshiomhole to resign. Oshiomhole has masterminded the disqualification of indigenes. The disqualified aspirants include: former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Olabimtan, Tunji Abayomi, Lucky Ayedatiwa, Odunayo Akinrinlola, Felder Olatunji and Chief Morayo Lebi.

According to spokesperson of the group, Tunji Abayomi, “Oshiomhole has failed as APC party chairman, he does not have the intellectual capacity to lead the party while he has never hidden his intolerance to opposing voice. He is unstable to lead the APC that is supposed to bring change His election as the national chairman of the party has increased the crisis within the party; he is unfit to rule the party. In order not to destroy and kill APC, Oshiomhole resign, resign and resign now. It is wrong for Oshiomhole to underestimate the character of our people on Ondo state, we stand for justice, equity, rule of law, constitution of the country and the party,” he added.

One of the aspirants, who were cleared, said Oshiomhole gave preferential treatment to some party members. “The most violent, wrongful and unconstitutional violation is the purported act of denying the right of the people to elect their representatives,” he said.“More disturbing is the increasingly audacious impunity associated with the leadership of the party under Adams Oshiomhole.” He further alleges

How Nigeria Embassy Paralysed Beninoa Economy On Monday, Over Independence Anniversary

By

Steve Ubana

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October 3, 2018

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By Stephen Ubanna

Last Monday, October Ist, 2018, Economic and Social activities were virtually grounded to a halt at Cotonou, Republic of Benin, as all roads lead to the Nigeria Embassy in Cotonou to join kayode Oguntunase, the Nigerian Ambassador and his officials to celebrate Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary.

The situation became more worrisome at Seme, a border Community between the country and the French speaking country as key government and Republic of Benin government officials were at Cotonou on the invitation of the Ambassador to join the embassy in the Independence dinner Anniversary.

The fallout of the Embassy Independence Anniversary dinner was the disruption of the movement oftruck laden goods from Cotonou port to the trailer park at the Seme joint border post This is because the Nigeria Customs officials and other security Operatives who take delivery of the trucks from their Beninoa counterparts for proper document before being driven to the scanner site for scanning were at Cotonou to honor the Nigeria Ambassador invitation.

The near one day low key activities at the Cotonou port and Seme border may have downed on the Benininoass that Nigeria businessmen hold the key to the country’s economy. Notwithstanding the fact some land locked countries like Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, mostly use the Cotonou port for their transit cargoes, the volume, according to a Beninoa government official was nothing compared to the volume that enters into the Nigerian market alone daily.

Muhammed Uba Garba: Discussing With Other Guests The Nigeria Embassy, Cotonou

As a prelude to the celebration, the Embassy officials were said to have made elaborate preparation as different Nigeria dancing groups in Republic Benin were contracted to entertain the crowd. It was learnt that the oguntiae could not hide his joy when he saw the cream of Nigeria government officials at the border, particular, Mohameed Uba Garba, Comptroller at Seme Command because of their close working relation to clear the boder route of smugglers and Benin government officials including key officials from other agencies.

The Ambassador may have assured Nigerians that the Embassy would continue to do their best to ensure that their Diplomatic needs in the country were met. Appealing to Nigerians resident in Benin to Cooperate with the Embassy officials, he explained that it is the only way to serve them better. He thanked Patrice Talon, the President of the Republic of Benin for his support , assuring that Nigeria will will continously work harmoniously with the government of Republic by way of Collaboration towards enhancing the existing Cordial relationship between the two countries in the areas of trade and Investment. the two countries have been deeply involved in the Economic Community of West African States Trade Liberalisation Scheme, ECOWAS TLS, a regional integration.

Given the harmonious relationship , the two countries, were said to have set up a joint anti-smuggling C team to police the border to forestal smuggling activities. Hameed Ali, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service,NCS, have been much worried about the smuggling foreign parboiled rice, Vegetable Oil, poultry products and petrol across the border.

It is not surprising why the Ambassador has consistently advised Nigerians against the smuggling of petrol across the border, stressing that the government still the help of the Embassy to eradicate the vices at the land border. ” We must stop in engaging in smuggling as the country is losing billions of naira on the illicit act. He shared the same vision with Muhammed , the Customs Comptroller at Seme Command who had assured him that smugglers will face tough time . The Magazine learnt the Comptroller was the cynosure of all eyes at the Independence anniversary dinner at the Embassy as Journalists swooped on him to know about his anti-smuggling war including the NTA. He did hesitate in using the opportunity provided at the Embassy to appeal to turn a new leaf or be prepared for the consequences of losing both their smuggled goods and money to the government. He warned that there is no hiding place for smugglers at the Seme land border as his officers with the support of other security agencies personnel are daily patrolling the regular routes of the smugglers and the Creeks to their activities. He commended Oguntuase, the Nigerian Am Ambassador to the Republic of Benin and his Beninioa counterpart for their support to control smuggling activities in the area. He could not hide his feelings over the robust working relationship between the Nigeria government and the Republic of Benin which had simplified officers job at the border.

It is not surprising why Talon , the Country’s President was said to have piled up pressure on president Muhammadu Buhari to lift the ban on the importation of vehicles through the land border into Nigeria to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

The policy which took effect last year January was said to be have a telling effect on the country’economy as many car marts owned by Indians, Lebanese and Nigerians in Cotonou are operating in bits and fits as many Nigerian buyers have kept away from Cotonou to avoid falling into the waiting hands of Customs personnel. The fallout was the increased smuggling of vehicles through illegal routes into the country and the intensified anti-mugging operations of Federal Operations Unit, fFOU, in the south west geo-political region comprising of Lagos, Ogun, Eki, Ondo , Oyo and Osun.

A sources told the Magazine while Seme Command officers have fully taken over Seme and its environs, the FOU, Zone A, officers , operating as Operationsand Lagos Roving team, Rapid response or crack Squad, armed to the teeth with the Compliment of the Headquarters Strike Fource, Coordinated by Abdullahi Kirawa, a Deputy Comptroller are swarming like bees at Idiroko, in Ogun state, Iseyin and Shaki, Oyo state and other land border stations and Creeks in the region.

Security experts confirmed that the combination of Muhammed, the anti-smuggling Czar at Seme and his counterpart at FOU, Zone A, Adamu Aliyu. Mohammed, smuggling has reduced considerably at Seme and the South west in general. Only recently, the FOU, Zone A, Operations and Lagos Roving team intercepted nine bullet proof vehicles in various illegal locations in Ogun state. The cheapest of the black bullet proof jeeps of different vehicle models was put at about N200 million. The smugglers could easily smuggled the exotic bullet proof jeeps that had had no end user certificate from the Ogun state porous borders because Muhammed and his officers higtened up Seme and its environs.

Social Media:Ali Riot Act To Officers

By

Steve Ubana

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October 3, 2018

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By Stephen Ubanna

Hameed Ali, a retired Colonel and Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has read the riot act to officers who abuse the social media to leak official information to the public. The warning was said to have been given to officers and men of the Service at their respective Commands as the Management embarks on the social media sensitisation programme nation-wide by Dangladimma, a Deputy Comptroller General, DCG, in-charge of Enforcement , Investigation and Inspection. ” Any officer caught leaking official document to the publice, via Social media would be dealt with according to laid down Customs rules and regulations”, the DCG, had said.

The Customs management, appear to have been embarrassed severally by reports in the social media about the Service and which had not been traced to any officer. Joseph Attah, a Deputy Comptroller and the Customs Spokesman says it has become very alarming that that the Management could no longer sit by and watch the situation degenerate. He cited an instance in which the social media platform, particular, Facebook, had been used to mischievous pictures about the Service, and the need to put officers and men of the service on guide. The Customs Public Relations Officer was said to have given an instance of an officer who died in active duties and the Family got to know about it through the Facebook and its implication to the service.

Participants At The Social Media Sensitisation Programme At Seme

Perhaps, to contain the abuse of the Social media platform by officers and men of the Service to the disadvantage of the Service, he disclosed that the Dangladimma team had visited Apapa , Tincan-can Island, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, and Seme Command to lunch the programme, which is expected to usher in a new era in the Service.

Given an insider information, the Customs spokesman explained that Dan-gladima, the DCG , represented the voice of the Management. He confirmed the engagement of an Army Colonel, from the Defense Headquarters Intelligence Unit, Abuja, who is a Cyber Crime and security expert as one of the resource persons used to pass the message across to the officers. He noted that officers have no reason to rush to the Social media to post information about the Service where there are official platforms to do so.

According to him, the only official platforms of the Service are: Face book and verified Twitter The Face book code, he revealed is www.facebook/customsng while the twitter code is twitter@CustomsNG. He assured officers that the pages are verified to talk to family members ,relations and friends to be careful scammers who might fake the service social media platforms to deceive the public. An angry Attah warned the public that the Customs award contracts, auction vehicles or overtime cargoes or give employment via socia mdia.

It would be recalled many Nigerian had fallen victims to scammers who had advitised Customs Contracts, auctions and employment through the social media. Many had been duped thousands and millions of naira.

Prior to Customs Management launching of the social media awareness for officers, the Management of the FOU, Zone A, may have known the pros and cons the social media platform that it had devised strategic measures to control it in the Command to avoid authorised pictures about the activities of the Command including arrest of VIP smugglers on the face book or whatsapp platform. Visitors to the Command including Journalists were made to drop their mobile phones with the Provost Marshalls at the gate and a tag given to them to be used in claiming it back. Muhammed Uba Garba , a former Comptroller of the Command and now Comptroller Seme Command was said to have implemented to the later. Adamu Aliyu Mohammed , his successorhas continued with the policy, which to a large extent had controlled information about the Command on the social media.

The Magazine learnt that there have been cases where officers have been detained in the Command for gross indiscipline which could make interesting news in the social media if it leaks out to the press but have been closely managed by the Management.

One major issue that may have exposed the Command to ridicule if the unauthorised picture had leaked was the drama at the Command warehouse between some Customs officers over the alleged directive for the destruction of cartons seized poultry products. There was total confusion at the warehouse as some officers allegedly loaded the cartons of poultry products into a van and forced their way out of the warehouse but were caught in the act. The intervention of Mohammed, the Command, through a phone call made to him by an unknown officer at the scene of the fracas saved the situation as the officers were detained. The matter was said to have been handled internally and never went beyond the Command premises.

Many believe that the Management could control the situation because of the strict monitoring of officers on the use of the social media platform.

2019: Why Buhari And Aisha Alhassan parted ways

By

Steve Ubana

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October 3, 2018

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By Stephen Ubanna

For months , there have been speculations that Aisha Alhassan for, minister of Women Affairs and Social Development would quit her ministerial position to contest for the All Progressive Congress, APC, governorship primaries in Taraba state, September 29, 2018.

The minister was said to have notified President Muhammadu Buhari of her plans in to contest the APC, governorship Seat in Taraba state . Buhari was said to have informed Adams Oshiomhole , the national Chairman of the party of the plan of the Taraba state born minister of Women Affairs and Social Development. to contest the governorship Seat of the state .

The Magazine learnt that at every stage of her plan she had carried the President along up to the collection of nomination Form and mobilisation for Presidential and governorship primaries in the state. The Magazine learnt that at no time did the President advised her to quit the race because of alleged complaints dual loyalty which may count against her in the governorship primaries.

Kemi Adeosun, A former Minister Of Finance Had Earlier Resigned From The APC Government

Party sources told The Magazine that the President played along with her despite having made up his mind not to intervene in the state governorship ambition and to allow the screening Committee and the National Working Committee , NWC, of the party take their decision on the matter which may not favour the Minister Alhassan.

The President, according to a party source has not been happy over the statement credited to her in 2017, that if Baba says he is going to contest the 2019 Presidential election, she swore to go before him and kneel and tell him, ”Baba I am grateful for the opportunity given to me to serve your government as minister but Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku, because he is my godfather ….if he says he is going to contest”. Buhari was infuriated with the statement but did not show it in his dealings with the minister.

Insiders told the Magazine that Buhari knew a day of reckoning would come when she will need his support to actualise his governorship ambition in Taraba , her home state. The President was further encouraged to turn his back on the minister when she needed his support most to actual her governorship ambition in the state with the support of Adams Oshiomhole, the party who is ready to implements the Constitution of the party to the later where loyalty counts to for any member to contest elections or hold office in an APC government.

Oshiomhole said that much when gave in insight to the party governorship screening Committee report in Taraba state which disqualified Alhassan, the then mnister of Women Affairs and Social Development from the governorship race. ”She was disqualified because the party was not convinced of her loyalty”, he said.

An aggrieved APC Oshimhole, said the part Constitution was very clear as it dictates that to contest elections or hold office in APC, the member must be loyal to the party in every material concern. The APC national Chairman noted that ”from all what she had said in the past and even her comments and general attitude during the screening ” did not show any form of loyalty to the party. He disclosed that the party NCW, ” reviewed everything taken together and arrived t the conclusion that she does not possess the level of loyalty that APC requires for her to contest elections on the party platform”, stressing that she was disqualified over acts of idiscipline.

Many believed that she could have saved herself and her supporters the embarrassment of the party NWC and the plot of the Presidency, if she had tendered her resignation to the President the momemnt it became clear that Atiku , who had decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, declared his Presidential ambition on the platform of the party for the 2019 general election. They believe that She should not have waited until the party leadership lifted ban for the sale of elective offices both at the national, state and local government level to play into their hand in the state.

In apparent reaction to the decision of the party Screening Committee Committee and the NWC, to disqualify her from Contesting the governorship primaries in Taraba, Alhassan, popular, mama Taraba, was forced to take the bold initiative, after due consultations with her political Associates to quickly tender her resignation letter as a minister in the Buhari government on Saturday, September 29, 2018. She also withdrew her membership of the party, thus parting ways politically with Buhari. I write with a lot of respect to inform Mr. President of my decision to resign my appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as a member of the APC.

Buhari did not hesitate in accepting her resignation as it was long over- due. the speed at which he appointed Hajia Aisha Abubakar, minister of State, Industries, Trade and Investment to pilot the Affairs of the ministry speaks volume. It was an indication that Buhari was tired of the former minister and was looking for a way to ease her out from the government. He however thanked her for her servics to the nation.” On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I thank you for your services to the nation”. The President was said to have approved the former minister of Women Affairs and Social Development resignation letter on Sunday, September 30, 2018, instead of delegating the responsibility to Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the government to do so, an indication that he was pleased to see her quit the government.

A close source told the Magazine that quitting the APC government has given her opportunity to join the Atiku Camp to work for the actualisation of his Presidential ambition in PDP but she has not officially declared for the party . There are indications that She may decamp to the party if the Atiku, the godfather wins the party Presidential ticket slated for October 5 and 6, 2018.

There is no gain saying the fact that, Alhassan reignation , brings to two, the ministers that had resigned from the Buhari government in the last one month. The first to resign was Kemi Adeosun, former minister of Finance over alleged National Youths Certificate, NYSC, forgery. There are indications that more minisiter would resign before the 2019 general election.

Insiders believe that there would not have been any need for ministers to freely quit the Buhari government if he had rejig his Cabinet as promised long ago. He may have been handicapped because of the frosty relationship with the leadership of the National Assembly, and the fears he may not be able to successfully navigate the nominees through Senate screening. He had promised at a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC ,IN 2017, to expand the compressed Federal Executive Council to introduce fresh hands and remove those who were perceived as dead woods in the Cabinet but that was far he could go.

APC Shocks Okorocha; Gives Imo Guber Ticket to Hope Uzodinma

By

The Source

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October 2, 2018

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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

Against pundits’ postulations, Senator Hope Uzodinma who only recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives, APC has won the party’s gubernatorial ticket for Imo, effectively scuttling the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s plan to impose his son -in law, Uche Nwosu as the next governor of the state. In the PDP itself, its 2015 flag bearer and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha picked his party’s ticket.

In a keenly contested guber primaries, Uzodinma who represents Imo West senatorial district in the Senate beat other contestants, including Nwosu to pick the APC ticket.Imo state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere came second.

Madumere and Uzodinma are members of the “Allied Forces”, a faction of Imo APC that battled to wrestle the party from Okorocha’s grip during its local government and state congresses in May.Another prominent member of the faction, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume recently defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and is expected to be nominated by the party to fly its guber flag in next year’s election.

Very credible sources told The source that the top echelon of the APC in Abuja and power brokers in the presidency had long before the primaries settled for Senator Uzodinma as the party’s flag bearer and Okorocha’s sucessor.

Madumere from Owerri zone is expected to return as Deputy Governor under Uzodinma.The APC Imo guber flagbearer, like Okorocha, hails from Orlu zone.If Ararume eventually picks APGA ticket, the 2019 Imo guber contest will be a three- horse race of political heavyweights- Uzodinma, Ararume and Ihedioha.

Rohr Releases 24-Man List For Libya Clash

By

Akinwale Kasali

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October 1, 2018

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Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has invited Ahmed Musa and 23 other players for this month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Libya.

According to the Nigeria Football Federation website, Rohr called up Alex Iwobi, William Ekong and Olaoluwa Aina. All three players missed the 3-0 win over Seychelles in Mahe last month due to injury.

Nigeria will host the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, 13th October with the return leg scheduled for the 18,000–capacity Stade Taïeb Mhiri in the city of Sfax, Tunisia on Tuesday, 16th October.

All invited players are to report to Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday, 8th October 2018.

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England)