Frank demands Ikenga’s unconditional release from police detention

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has asked the Inspector General of Police Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, to withdraw the strigent bail conditions placed on the detained opposition leader Ikenga Ugochinyere.

Frank said the police boss knew that no serving Permanent Secretary will be bold enough to stand for an opposition leader, hence the police authority should reconsider its stand.

In May, a Federal High Court in Abuja, in a suit labelled, FHC/ABJ/CS/475/2020, barred the house committee from continuing with the hearing of the case against Ugochinyere.

But deapite the court order, police went ahead and detained the the spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

In a statement released by Comrade Timi Frank, on Saturday to condemn the arrest of the CUPP’s spokesman, said the police authority had violated the law by arresting Ugochinyere despite a valid court order restraining such arrest by the police.

The political activist however demanded an unconditional and immediate release of the opposition voice, Ugochinyere.

According to Frank, the police is a Nigerian Police Force and not the National Assembly or APC Police Force, hence the IGP should obey the court order.

“I call on the @PoliceNG to urgently review the bail condition given to Ikenga, and respect the court order restraining the police from arresting him. This is an attempt to silence the voice of the opposition. If the APC National Assembly leadership doesn’t have anything to hide, then they should go to Court,” Frank said.

He also warned that if the police boss refuse to obey the rule of law and the Court order restraining his men from arresting Ikenga, he will have no option than to report Inspector General of Police to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also ask that a visa ban should be placed on the police boss.

While calling on the Inspector General to be professional in his duty, Frank urged him not to allow himself to be used by politicians who will not be in the office forever.

“I also demand that the police authority should tender a public apology for this illegal arrest.”

NSA TELL THE PRESIDENT WE ARE ALSO ANGRY

By Abdullahi Gwamna

The yesterday’s media briefing by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Mohammed Monguno (retired) shortly after the President’s meeting with security chiefs over state of affairs in the country was obviously prearranged. It has also raised a lot of concern and interest. Although, I don’t want to contradict the NSA on whether indeed he was conveying the exacts words of Mr. President and gave true account of what transpired at that important meeting, nonetheless, I find it too hard to believe that he was conveying the exact words of the President. The allegations are too weighty and should have included General Monguno too. The NSA’s quick to blame and accuse the security chiefs’ amount to absolving himself from the terrible general insecurity situation in the country. Being the NSA, he is not only a member of the government, but plays a great role in the security architecture in this country. It is common knowledge that all security challenges are best tackled with timely and accurate information and intelligence which should have been within the purview of the NSA.

The Office of the National Security Adviser which Major General Babagana Mohammed Monguno (retired) is in charge, is responsible for the coordination of our intelligence agencies and by implications the provision of timely and accurate intelligence on which our security agencies depends to perform their duties. Therefore, if Mr President is not pleased with the Service Chiefs and their good is not good enough, the blame should be heaped squarely on Monguno’s shoulder. As rightly noted by Mr. Yemi Adeyinka in an article titled “Why Buhari may choose a new NSA” in TheCable online newspaper, “Essentially, the face of national security of Nigeria whether worse, better or best depends largely on the expert advice and prescriptions of the NSA.” Therefore, it is foolhardy to resort to the usual antics of blame game by the NSA, exonerating himself from the mess. One other thing is that, contrary to the insinuation, the utterances of the NSA are a great disservice to the sacrifices of our gallant troops and armed forces and no sensible President and Commander-in-Chief would be so insensitive to the plights of the troops’ morale and sacrifices by publicly chiding their leadership.

I must raise these issues given the antecedents of the NSA because he was always busy depending his turf to the point of sponsoring media campaigns of calumny against some government officials especially in the days preceding his reappointment. The days before the renewal of his appointment by the President, witnessed heightened campaign against perceived likely persons to replace him as NSA (see the Premium Times of August 8, 2019 sponsored post titled “NSA: Who the cap fits? By Ibrahim Bello”, amongst others). Given this alone and his dismal performance, it is more than enough for the President to have dispensed without the NSA. Leaving him in that office, is a great disservice to the security architecture and the nation.

Indeed, there is no one that is happy with the state of affairs in this nation, especially the general insecurity situation in some parts of the north east and north west geo-political zones of our country. Terrorists and bandits kill and maim innocent citizens in Gubio, Monguno, Borno State and parts of Katsina and Zamfara States to the point that citizens have begun to take to the streets. However, it is wrong to blame these worsening security problems on the security agencies, least of all the Service Chiefs. The situation we found ourselves did not start today, it is cumulation of years of decay and lack of political will. We are also reaping from years of neglect especially in the current democratic dispensation. There is lack of funding, equipment and training of both the police and the armed forces prior to 2015. The police have deliberately been neglected and the military have been drafted to do police duties which is an unfamiliar terrain and we expect the same standard.

It is interesting to note that since the time of late President Shehu Shagari of blessed memory, there has not been any major procurement for the armed forces till date. The recent efforts to procure equipment from the Chinese is still in progress. The Babangida administration because of concerns for its regime security, based on the Major Gideon Orkar’s attempted coup experience, greatly undermined the armed forces through denial of funds and training. The military did not fare any better during the short lived Shokenan’s interim government and Abacha’s Eight years. Then came Obasanjo with vengeful mindset. He retired most of the well trained, professional and promising military officers most of whom came from the northern part of the country. The same section of the country whose elites hoisted him on Nigerians.

His line of thinking was to have a well compact military, devoid of ills of the past. Unfortunately, that did not materialize. He rather pitched the military against the politicians. We all remember how the late Senator Wakku and other leading legislators moved for the relocation of military out of Abuja and the incarcerations of some it’s leaders such as Lieutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi (retired) and several others based on phantom coup. Obasanjo also pursued a half-hearted reorientation of the military through transformation and attitudinal change without corresponding increment in armament, equipment and training. The programme which started from 2000 died a natural death in 2015. Obasanjo’s government and its predecessors did care a hoot about the military till he left. Typical example was the peacekeeping allowance of troops which the United Nations pays soldiers. The United Nations pays every Nigerian soldiering peacekeeping operation $1,028 per month, Obasanjo pays only $600, keeping $400 for himself. This situation was reversed by the God-fearing late President Umaru Musa ‘Yar’adua following a representation by the then Chief of Army Staff, late Lieutenant General LN Yusuf. Unfortunately, President ‘Yar’adua died before he could do much for the military.

Then came President Goodluck Jonathan, under whose watch some portions of Nigerian territories were taken over by the military due to poor equipment and morale. This country has never witnessed monumental corruption in the Defence like during President Good Jonathan’s administration without any tangible increment to our military’s equipment holding except for the hasty purchase of some outdated Armoured tanks from Ukraine. Till date, the nation is still grappling with the humongous amount of money released for that purpose which was diverted to individuals’ pockets through bogus releases by the then National Security Adviser, Lieutenant Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retired).

Fast forward to this administration, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The security situation was so terrible that he made it one of his campaign’s points and administration’s mantra. His grand strategic directives and efforts paid up as all territories held by the Boko Haram terrorists were recaptured and great sense of security was restored especially in the north east. Albeit this was done without any major military procurement by the government. Being the NSA, you know the implications of this. The military under the able leadership of the Army did marvelously well and recaptured all held territories, however, it is hampered by poor state of its equipment to enable it to finish off the terrorists. You know all this, yet, instead of you to advise the President for such need, you were busy chasing shadows. Rather, it is on record that despite your dismal performance, you were pleading with the National Assembly for increased funding to your office, when you were known to have returned over N16 Billion to the government in December 2016! In fact, not quite long-ago, Senator Ali Mohammed Ndume, Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, cried publicly on the poor funding of the military. Being the coordinator of all intelligence in the country, what efforts have you made in tracking the source of funding of terrorists’ activities and banditry and their sponsors? Why do you like to shift blame?

The media must be blamed for not doing enough and exposing such ineptitude and the monumental corruption allegations against you and under your watch. We all know what happened to the report of the committee investigating your predecessor and the recent expose by one of few courageous media houses, despite efforts to suppress the story.

General Babagana Mohammed Monguno (retired) please tell the President that Nigerians are also very angry and disappointed with you!! He should have sacked you long ago for gross incompetence and undermining the government through clandestine activities with active connivance with some section of the press and not advising him well. The recent media outburst is deceitful and capable of demoralizing the troops who have been sacrificing their lives for the defence of this nation especially in the north east. It is therefore uncharitable to tell them that the President is angry with them when you know that they are ill-equipped, all thanks to “your advice.” NSA please tell the President that the people are also angry with you.

Abdullahi Gwamna is a public analyst that lives in Kaduna. He can be reached at agwamna@hotmail.com

Boko Haram/Banditry: Diaspora Nigerians seek US, UK, others partnership in resolving insecurity

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has challenged the United States, United Kingdom and European Union to support Nigeria with a working solution against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. 

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Agwu Oyekwe and 13 others on Friday, ANPE believes threats posed by the terrorist group has assumed both regional and international dimension, such that only collaborative effort can bring it to a halt.  

 While acknowledging the sacrifices of the Nigerian government, the group said that much more can be achieved with added support of world’s superpowers.  

In the regard, ANPE expressed disgust at the UK, US and EU for seating on the fence, routinely issuing statements rather than a proactive action each time a carnage and atrocity is committed by the terrorists.

 According to the group, the solution to the crisis is by arresting the sponsors and promoters of conflict in Africa. 

Consequently, ANPE charged the US, UK and EU to identify and prosecute those culpable in the various acts of killings in Nigeria and profiling of such persons for the world to know.

It further urged the EU to expose countries selling arms and ammunitions to the Boko Haram/ISWAP group in line with international best practices

Read full statement below:

The fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in Nigeria has received a tremendous boost since the assumption of office by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 that saw to the takeover of critical assets of the Boko Haram/ISWAP group in numerous operations of the Nigerian troops.  

This was at the backdrop where before the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians lived in perpetual fear of not knowing when and where the next bomb was going to detonate. 

The Nigerian professionals in Europe acknowledge the various sacrifices made by the Nigerian government in addressing the threats posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group over the years, which is indeed commendable.

We consequently wish to state that it is time for the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union to extend the needed support to Nigeria in seeing to an end to the threats posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

We wish to state that despite the efforts of the Nigerian troops, the Boko Haram/ISWAP groups have continued to launch attacks in Nigeria from their hideouts and with external support from countries in Europe who have been selling arms and ammunition to the group.  

This is indeed a worrisome trend that calls for collective action from Nigeria, its neighbours, and the world superpowers as the threats posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group has assumed a regional dimension. If not quickly checked, the African continent might be enmeshed in a conflict of immeasurable proportion.

We wish to state that the real solution to the Boko Haram/ISWAP crisis in Nigeria lies in arresting the sponsors and promoters of conflict in Africa. Consequently, the world superpowers that are conversant with the strategic importance of Nigeria in the Africa continent ought to do more than pay lip service in addressing the various security challenges in Nigeria.

If this is not done, the efforts of the Nigerian troops would be in vain because of the external support the terrorist and militant groups receive in the form of logistics, funds and arms and ammunitions.   

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe is alarmed at the lackadaisical attitude the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union towards addressing issues of terrorism in Nigeria and Africa at large. 

We are constrained to demand from these countries to know how many persons, individuals or organizations that have been indicted by the international policy on the issue of terrorism.

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe wishes to inform the world superpowers that the urgency of now demands the identification and prosecution of those culpable in the various acts of killings in Nigeria and profiling of such persons for the world to know.

The European Union must, as a matter of urgency identify those member countries that have been selling arms and ammunitions to the Boko Haram/ISWAP group and serve them appropriate sanctions in line with international best practices. 

We wish to state that the efforts of the Nigerian Military through outstanding, would always be thwarted so long the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group continues to have access to its sponsors and collaborators outside the shores of Nigeria. 

The urgency of now and the role of the US, UK and the EU in proffering solution to the Boko Haram crisis cannot be overemphasized. 

Northern elders group blames recent killings on elites

The Northern Elders and Leaders Forum (NELF) says the failure by its elites to complement the effort of the military with diplomacy is responsible for the recent killings experienced in the region. 

The Northern elders made this known in a statement signed by Third Republic Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute, on Friday, on President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort on national security, cohesion and stability.

According to the elderstatesmen, there’s been significant turnaround in the Boko Haram/ISWAP crisis since President Buhari took over the helm of affairs. 

 The president, NELF said, has expressly followed the founding vision of Sir Ahmadu Bello on a secured and united Northern Nigeria. 

However, the group added that critical stakeholders including traditional institutions, religious leaders, patriots, civil society organizations and the youths have failed on their part. 

While shouldering the blame for not supporting the military enough, the group charged other stakeholders to put away sentiments and rancour occasioned by politics and personal interest. 

According to NELF, this is a ” wake- up call to all interests in the region to put humanity and the collective interest of our region first”.

The group, however, expressed its total support for President Buhari while distancing itself from ” some dubious elements that have no sense of history or love for the North to malign President Muhammadu Buhari on the issues of insecurity.”

Read full statement below:

The Northern Elders and Leaders Forum, a socio-cultural organization of distinguished elder statesmen in Northern Nigeria, wishes to lend its voice to the state of the nation in Nigeria and the various efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in addressing the various challenges confronting the country.

The Northern Elders and Leaders Forum is appalled with the level of misinformation been peddled by some groups purportedly acting on behalf of the generality of Northern Nigeria by attempting to exaggerate the state of insecurity in Northern Nigeria. 

There is no doubt that we have a critical situation on our hands as a people that require the genuine concerns of all stakeholders including traditional institutions, religious leaders, patriots, civil society organizations and the youths in addition to the various organs of government such as the Police, Military and Intelligence coordination units.  

There is no doubt that our focus as a people has been on sentiments and rancour occasioned by politics and personal interest that are not healthy for the growth and development of the country. This is unacceptable in the face of the numerous daunting challenges ahead of us as a people. 

Ours is, therefore, a wake- up call to all interests in the region to put before them humanity and the collective interest of our region and wish to state as follows; 

We wish to state that President Muhammadu Buhari has expressly followed the founding vision of Sir Ahmadu Bello on a secured and united Northern Nigeria since he assumed leadership of the country in 2015.  

We also state that under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the principle of equity and justice has been the watchword in the conduct of government business as well as in the prosecution of the Boko Haram/ISWAP war in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country.

We, therefore, find it insane that some agents of darkness have ignored all these qualities but to disparage the long-cherished virtues and efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration on the altar of cheap politics and bitterness instigated from outside northern Nigeria.  

The Northern Elders and Leaders Forum consequently states that the recent attempts by some dubious elements that have no sense of history or love for the North to malign President Muhammadu Buhari on the issues of insecurity are unacceptable. 

We wish to place it on record that the quantum of security challenges inherited by President Muhammadu Buhari as far as insecurity is concerned has significantly been dealt with by the gains recorded in the fight against Boko Haram Insurgency in North-East Nigeria.

Under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, the over 16 local government areas under the control of the Boko Haram group in North-East Nigeria were recaptured by the Nigerian Military. This is on the heels that the operational headquarters of Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest was also taken over by the Nigerian military, and other heroic acts in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country at large. 

It must be stated that the leadership examples set by the revered Sir Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory with regards to leadership have been abundantly emulated by President Muhammadu Buhari since he assumed leadership of the country in 2015. 

It is therefore not a surprise to the Northern Elders and Leaders Forum that a smear campaign can be launched against his personality and commitment to protecting lives and properties in Northern Nigeria, as well as other parts of the country because it hasn’t been business as usual for those hawks who have conspired over the years to steal the commonwealth of the people. 

If not for anything, these individuals and associations parading themselves as historical authorities in the affairs of Northern Nigeria should do well to go back in history to understand the factors that drive quality leadership at all levels and also, for them to be able to make informed public statements, instead of playing to the gallery to score cheap political points.  

The Northern Elders and Leaders Forum as critical stakeholders in the socio-economic affairs in Northern Nigeria indeed pledges its continued support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for leading by example and ensuring that the interest of the North and indeed all of Nigeria are protected at all times. 

We wish to state that those that are genuine in their concerns about issues in Northern Nigeria would identify with President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to make Nigeria safe and secured for all. And those whose voices are only heard on the pages of newspapers without any meaningful contributions to the growth and development of Northern Nigeria to their names are always the first to throw stones.  

Nigerians must do well to ignore these individuals and associations in the interest of peace and tranquillity. And it behoves on all well-meaning Nigerian to support President Muhammadu Buhari in this critical time of our existence. 

John Campbell’s failed role as a hatchet-man

By Philip Agbese

Former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has finally confirmed that his obsession with making Nigeria fail has pushed him into some sort of delusion, one that requires clinical intervention. So severe that the diplomat is today hopeful of achieving what he woefully erred to implement when he was envoy between 2004 and 2007; the destruction of Nigeria by whittling down its corporate integrity.

In his latest rant for his long term employer, the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR), in an article titled “Beyond the Pandemic, Boko Haram Looms Large in Nigeria,” Campbell wrote that “Large-scale banditry is on the rise throughout Nigeria, particularly in the northwest,” without making efforts to contextualized his claim as he would have done if he were writing about his own country, the US. Any researcher that is able to write without ingrained imperialist subservience beclouding their assessment will today conclude that the United States is nowhere better than Nigeria in risks outlook and long term stability. Both nations have similar degrees of risks to stability. The only difference, however, is the degree of unrest orchestrated from the outside like the Council on Foreign Relations is doing to Nigeria.

This is the same Council on Foreign Relations that in 2015 urged the United States government to support Al Qaeda terrorists under the guise of defeating the Islamic State. It did so in an article entitled, “Accepting Al Qaeda: The Enemy of the United States’ Enemy,” authored by Foreign Affairs writer, Barak Mendelsohn. One should then wonder the extent to which CFR has gotten the US and other countries to support these bandits and terrorists that Campbell is writing about. It would seem that the American and his employers are displeased with the fact that the instability they are pushing in Nigeria is being taken in strides such that the country has not buckled as they expected.

To have a sense of what the hatchet job Campbell is trying to deliver, one only needs to look at the antecedence of CFR. In age 11 of Foreign Affairs, the journal of the CFR, December 1922 it wrote that “Obviously there is going to be no peace or prosperity for mankind so long as it remains divided into fifty or sixty independent states.

“Equally obviously there is going to be no steady progress in civilization or self-government among the more backward peoples until some kind of international system is created which will put an end to the diplomatic struggles incident to the attempt of every nation to make itself secure. The real problem today is that of world government.”

So, the agenda that Campbell and other bloodsuckers like him in CFR are pushing is to make justifications for why some countries should not exist in their current state and forms in order to remove the moral burden that should be associated with the human misery that would necessarily accompany the process of forcefully decommissioning a sovereign nation and coercing it into whatever absurd conglomeration that the folks at Council of Foreign Relations have in mind.

Thus, far from being the expert on Nigeria as Campbell fancies himself to be, he is, in reality, the assassin sent to finish off the country. Failed at the task, he is now spending his doting age trying to paint Nigeria into his imagined meltdown. The diplomat is being aided in this sinister assignment by indigenous bloggers who see the Council of Foreign Relations as a reputable platform instead of realizing that the council is the devil’s workshop that churns out the avoidable crisis in its bid to undermine nations for the interest of its equally evil members. They do not know, for instance, that CFR is entwined with the Bilderberg Group, an assemblage of sociopaths obsessed with human domination.

It is no surprise that the venom penned by the likes of Campbell have an uncanny way of becoming top news items, to the extent that less informed indigenous journalists end up regurgitating them without knowing that CFR controls a large swathe of the international media. It is therefore expected that Campbell and other carrion eaters will not stop their destabilization agenda against Nigeria anytime soon.

The dare to Campbell is for him, in good conscience, author a piece that owns up to how CFR’s desperation to defeat China has led to a spike in the security concerns in Nigeria. He should expostulate on the many scenarios that were conjured on how to frustrate the emergence of a Sino-Sahel Silk Road.

The objective is to ensure that Africa’s growing partnership with China is slowed down. While Nigeria may not be embracing China on the suffocating scale that some African countries are doing, Nigeria’s geo-strategic location, coupled with its high population and economic potentials makes it a hub that the continent’s future development naturally coalesce around, something that is being accelerated by Chinese intervention. CFR will have none of this hence the vehemence with which the country is being attacked by bandits and terrorists, who are blown away by the illusion of power without realizing that they are highly disposable pieces in a puzzle that is the plaything of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Campbell will further have to prove that his constant picking on Nigeria is not a subtle way of pressuring the authorities to allow drone strikes into Nigeria’s territory from the AFRICOM, Pentagon’s Africa Command Air Base 201 in Agadez, Republic of Niger. The $110 million war-mongering installation has been largely directed at operations in Niger and Mali, which attests to its failure since the existence of the base has not stopped the bandits and terrorists crossing into Nigeria from Niger. If penning taunting articles is Campbell’s approach to goading the country into submitting its sovereignty to the Council of Foreign Relations then he should be prepared to depart this world with that as his greatest disappointment. It will not happen.

What is rather clear is that CFR, possibly through Campbell’s contacts, since he once served in Nigeria, is using domestic proxies to provoke incidents that heighten the sense of insecurity in the country with a view to corralling the West African nation into some desired situations that advance the council’s objectives.

The likelihood of this, Campbell leveraging his domestic Nigerian contacts, is very high. He has in recent years aligned with the opposition. His most recent article was not only immediately picked up by pro-opposition blogs and news outlets in the country, its publication also coincided with an upsurge in the opposition but criticism of the security but situation, which they have not been able to prove that they are not responsible for.

Groups connected with Campbell’s indigenous associates, like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, who is now in the opposition. The former US Ambassador, in all his analysis, opts to disregard the threat from his associate that the security situation in Nigeria will degenerate if he was not awarded an election win in the 2019 votes irrespective of whether the electorates chose him or not.

It is most unfortunate that Campbell is exploiting the desperation of indigenous associates like Atiku to push the Council for Foreign Relations’ agenda in Nigeria while these hapless ones think he is doing them a favour that will at some point translate into hijacking power.

In February 2007, five months before Campbell’s tour in Nigeria ended, John Bellamy Foster wrote in the Monthly Review that “The lessons of history are clear: attempts to gain world dominance by military means, though inevitable under capitalism, are destined to fail and can only lead to new and greater wars.”

Thirteen years after, that message remains profound and is one that John Campbell and the Council of Foreign Relations should take to heart. Attempting to dominate Nigeria by covert military operations masked as banditry or terrorist activities will eventually end in sadness for all those involved. They too shall not be spared by the war that will ensue.

Agbese is a human rights activist and publisher based in the United Kingdom.

APC Governors Forum DG seeks urgent NEC meeting to save party

Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Salihu Moh. Lukman, has raised an alarm that the ruling party was collapsing with no leader in charge.

The PGF boss, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and ensure urgent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, to be followed by a national convention.

In statement made available to newsmen Thursday in Abuja, Lukman said “is very clear we need an organ transplant by way of replacing the members of the current NWC who constitute the problem.

“That the All Progressives Congress (APC) is having leadership crisis is no longer news. What is news now is that the party is collapsing with no leader in charge. Following the Appeal Court ruling sustaining the suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the party, late on Monday, June 16, 2020, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party started making disparate claims as to who is the Acting National Chairman. It is as if the party doesn’t have a constitution or those who operate the constitution are either ignorant of its provisions or have decided to set aside the constitution and just embark on a free for all fight. Yet, APC is the ruling party in Nigeria.

“Is it possible for a ruling party in control of the federal government, with President Muhammadu Buhari who is incontestably the moral leader, not to be able to resolve a matter as important as who preside as the National Chairman of the party? How can a party so blessed with experienced and very skillful leaders such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Ognonnaya Onu, Chief Tony Momoh, etc. be incapable of resolving the problem of leadership vacancy? With twenty Governors and in control of the National Assembly leadership producing the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, shouldn’t that serve as a source of strength to be able to solve any leadership dispute in the party, no matter how complex?”

The statement titled “Old Ambition-Virus 2023: Why a meeting of NEC is the solution,” Lukman said the situation APC finds itself is very traumatic for every member.

“By extension, the inability of the party to find solution to the leadership crisis makes it also traumatic for all our leaders including those of them who today serve as the face of the crisis – Comrade Oshiomhole, Chief Eta, Chief Gaidom and their accomplices in and out of the NWC. What makes the situation more frustrating is the reticence of President Buhari in the face of what obviously could damage the legacy he will bequeath to the nation. While, we must celebrate the fact that his leadership style is required to ensure that the party is managed independently and therefore made possible for the exercise of supremacy of the party based on decisions of organs, “old ambition-Virus 2023” may have weakened the capacity of the party to benefit from the commendable leadership approach of President Buhari.

“This is a sad return to all the dastardly known political credentials of the predecessor ruling PDP, which APC is expected to have destroyed. Why should this be happening under the watch of all our leaders who inspiringly led us painstakingly to produce APC and defeat the PDP in 2015? With the manner Sen. Ajimobi is being dragged into being one of the disputants, all APC members and patriotic Nigerians must call our APC leaders to order. In particular, President Buhari and all APC leaders who are vested with the responsibility of assisting President Buhari to move this country forward, should focus in directing the affairs of the party towards convening a NEC meeting to commence the process of curing all our leaders of “old ambition-Virus 2023” as diagnosed by Asiwaju Tinubu in March 2020.

By provisions of our party’s constitution, it is only the National Convention that can discharge that function. And it is only the NEC that can convene the National Convention. Any hesitation not to convene NEC and hopefully activate the process of convening the National Convention could suggest that beyond the NWC, the whole party, APC, is infected with the “old ambition-Virus 2023”, all our leaders, President Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu inclusive. The first test is whether NEC will be convened or not.

“Beyond President Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu, our leaders, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governors, Asiwaju Tinubu, Chief Akande, Chief Onu, Chief Momoh, etc., all of them individually, should demonstrate the needed sensitivity and commitment to resolving this matter. APC must not be allowed to turn into a Frankenstein monster that will destroy our leaders and pollute our democracy. The capacity of our leaders to resolve this crisis is never in doubt. The issue is how speedily? A stitch in time, saves nine!

“Noting that the PDP was largely plunged into crisis by a garrison styled leadership, which is the direct opposite of President Buhari’s approach, our current crisis may suggest wrongly that having a liberal President who provides free atmosphere to the party is responsible for the crisis facing the party. This will be a very wrong conclusion. However, the question is, what further measures could be required from the President in order to ensure the emergence of a good synergy between him (President Buhari) and the party? What may be apparent is that “old ambition-Virus 2023” sickness afflicting other leaders as diagnosed by Asiwaju Tinubu in March 2020 may block support to the President to resolve the crisis.

This is why all leaders who believe they are not infected by the “old ambition-Virus 2023” should step forward to support President Buhari and protect any further distraction and potential damage to his legacy. To such an extent, one would expect that Asiwaju Tinubu being the Chief Physician of “old ambition-Virus 2023”, as well as being that old politically strong ally of President Buhari, whose partnership assisted in producing the APC and ensuring the defeat of PDP in 2015, he will be in the forefront in activating the moral authority of the combined leadership of President Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu to resolve the current APC crisis. The combined moral authority of President Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu should have involuntarily moderated the conduct of other leaders of the party especially members of the NWC.

“Does the current APC leadership crisis therefore suggest declining moral authority of our two leaders? It is very easy to reach conclusions. However, what is of interest to all party members, and by extension other well-meaning Nigerians, is what will be required to re-energise the moral authority of President Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and direct it properly to resolve current and future leadership crisis in the party.”

Ondo: Gov’ship aspirant, Adelami promises youth development, LG autonomy

An All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Ondo state, Chief Olayide Owolabi Adelami, a philanthropist on Wednesday said he was on a rescue mission to salvage the state.

He said under his watch, the financial autonomy of the local government would be granted expressly.

He disclosed this at the National Secretariat of the party shortly after some concerned Ondo State indigines under the aegis of Ondo Rescue Group picked the expression of interest and nomination forms on his behalf from the National Organising Secretary of the party, Barrister Emma Ibediro.

Presenting the forms to the aspirant the leadership of the Ondo Rescue Group, Comrade Adewale Ogendegbe said the life style of the aspirant informed their decision in raising fund to purchase his nomination forms.

Addressing newsmen after receiving the forms from the group, Adelami’s said, “I am coming up for a rescue mission. Ondo State is endowed with a lot of resources after Lagos, I cannot think of any other State with resources like Ondo State but what has happened over the years, these resources have been under tapped”.

Adelami’s who commended past leaders in the state, including the incumbent governor of the state, he however promised to take the state to the higher level.

According to the former deputy clerk of the National Assembly, “other leaders that have come on board at one time or the other have tried their best, even including the Governor that is there. He has tried his best but what I’m saying is that his best is not enough. I want to improve in that best. I want to take Ondo State to a higher level.

“I am prepared for this job. Over the years, I have been a technocrat in the National Assembly and usually I referred to myself as techno politician. In National Assembly I have received a lot of trainings, I have been on the sidelines watching the political space.

“Looking at Ondo State over the years, I know what and what we need to do. If Ondo people give their mandate I am going to launch out immediately, I am not going to wait for weeks or months before I begin to execute my manifesto.

“For instance, local government autonomy is a burning issue in all the states of the federation and first item on my manifesto, I am going to grant financial autonomy to local government because I believe that the third tier of govenrment is the government of the grassroots.

“The statutory allocation of the local government if that money is spent in local government then the economic tempo of local government will increase. The pervasive poverty we are witnessing in Ondo State today will be a thing of the past.”

On the mode of election for the July 20 Ondo State Governorship primary, Adelami endorsed direct primary saying, “I believe in transparency and fairness and I believe this can be guaranteed when we have direct primary. It gives all members opportunity to have a say on who lead them.”

Earlier the leader of widows in the state, Mrs. Nkechi Okereke said the philanthropic gesture of many years by the aspirant was a ray of hope for all in Ondo State.

Governors Forum: Wike living in the past, APC retorts

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike to open up on the major role he played when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government introduced the “16 is greater than 19” political formula.

The APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, in a brief chat with newsmen on Tuesday said Governor Wike is still living in the past when impunity was the order of the day, adding that the governor needs to wake up to the reality of a new era of justice, fairness and true democracy under the administration of the APC.

Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday in Port Harcourt described the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) as “a toothless bulldog”. He accused the APC-led Federal Government of destroying the NGF, alleging that the forum lost its strength immediately the ruling party came into power in 2015.

But responding to Wike’s comment, the APC deputy spokesman asked Nigerians to disregard Wike’s comment, saying the Governors Forum is well alive under civilised Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi

“Does Governor Nyesom Wike think Nigerians can forget in a hurry the major role he as a PDP minister played when the then Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi scored 19 votes, but former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang who scored 16 votes was recognised as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum?

“Wike also needs to reminded on the major role he played as a foot soldier who engineered the banning of the then Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva from participating in the PDP governorship primary election scheduled in 2011.

“If the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has been “killed” as Wike states, it is clear who the killer and grave digger is.” Nabena stated while speaking to journalists in Abuja.

HOW NAIRA MARLEY USED FRAUDULENT FLIGHT APPROVAL, FG SUSPENDS AIRLINE

Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika has ordered the immediate suspension of private airline, Executive Jet Services, from operating in the country. This is for conveying popular musician Naira Marley to Abuja for a musical concert.

According to the Minister, the return flight that conveyed the musician to and from Abuja was originally approved by the Ministry of Aviation to convey Justice Adefope Okojie, an approval that was fraudulently used by the airline charter company.

In a statement signed Monday by the Director Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu the Minister said the conduct of the Executive Jet Services was a gross violation of the Presidential Task Force regulations and protocols which allowed only flights on essential services.

The Minister announced the suspension order of the local airline during Monday’s briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

Sirika reiterated that as much as government would encourage the operation and growth of all operators in the aviation industry, it would not condone actions that undermine government policies and constitute risks to public interests.

Frank urges Wike, others to rally round Obaseki

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has called on the Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike, to show leadership and prevail on those preventing the Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki, from joining their fold in the state.

Frank said there may be clashes of interests with some bigwigs in Edo state but governor Wike as one of the active and respected leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-south should make the warring parties see reasons to give Governor Obaseki a chance.

Frank believes that the forum of the APC governors failed to protect their colleague from the dreaded hands of APC cabals, hence PDP governors, especially from the South-south should prove to be different.

He said PDP leaders should seize the opportunity of having Obaseki in their fold if they truly want to take over Edo state.

“Findings have shown that if PDP reject Obaseki, other political parties are waitng to recieve him and those who want Obaseki to join the party which comprises of National Assembly PDP members, other leaders of the party in the state and many others will go with him. So, if PDP is not careful embracing Obaseki now, the party may eventually lose the governorship election.

“Governor Wike should know that Obaseki is a big fish that should be accommodated if the party is serious in winning Edo state, hence my appeal to all the warring parties. It is obvious that if Governor Wike intervene now and call the members in Edo chapter to order it will go a long way in resolving the crisis.

According to the Bayelsa born political activist in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, “Governor Obaseki’s move to join the PDP should be a welcome idea to all. Although some leaders of the party in Edo state chapter may consider the move as injurious to them but considering the political exigence, it will later turn out to be in their best decisions.

“I therefore appeal to the Rivers state governor Wike, who has shown more commitment and dedication to ideals of democratic party and one of the highly respected leaders of the party in the South-south to rally round Obaseki and provide a soft landing for him.

Frank also called on governor Obaseki to quickly reach out more and give assurance of peace, togetherness and understanding to the warring members of PDP in Edo.

“I will also urge governor Obaseki to be strong and focus at this period of his political trial. The governor should know that he has been betrayed by a party he worked to build and people he helped to power. That is the nature of APC politics. But it is not over for him because the Edo people know the truth and will surely reward him at the poll.”