Defection To PDP Reports: Saraki Breaks Silence

Apparently, in reaction his reported defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has debunked defection claims, saying he remained a bonafide member of the All Progressives Congress.

The embattled Saraki stressed that he remains “committed to the APC; a party that he helped midwife and worked for its victory in the 2015 elections.”

According to Daily Post, Saraki in a statement issued on his behalf on Thursday by his Special Assistant, New Media, Bamikole Omishore, asserted that claims of his purported defection making the rounds on social media were entirely untrue.

The statement explained that, “In his official capacity as Senate President and chairman, National Assembly, he attended the end of session event of the PDP caucus yesterday evening and spent only 30 minutes before leaving the members to continue with the event.

“The Senate President would like to assure every Nigerian that he is committed to the APC-led government and appreciates the confidence reposed in him and the APC during the 2015 General Elections.”

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Saraki Regreting Defection To APC

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, has declared that the present trial of the Sen­ate President, Senator Bukola Saraki by the All Progressives Congress-led federal govern­ment was an indication that all is not well with defectors from PDP to the ruling party.

Oguntuase, former Com­missioner for Information, reminded those planning to dump the party in Ekiti State not to lose sight of the re­grets being suffered by party bigwigs that had defected to APC, noting that this shall be their lots if they take the plunge.

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Speaking against the back­drop of the alleged factionali­sation of the party in the state, with Mr. Williams Ajayi and a former Senator, Chief Clem­ent Awoyelu leading a splinter group perceived to be loyal to a Senator from Ogun State, the party boss said his execu­tive won’t tolerate rebellious actions from members, urg­ing those belonging to the fac­tion to retrace their steps.

Saraki is presently being tried by the federal govern­ment for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules through which he was elected into office and for alleged false assets’ declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal while serving as the governor of Kwara State.

Speaking with journal­ists in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Oguntuase said it is no longer profitable to leave a demo­cratic party like the PDP and defect to the APC, a party he described as too ‘sectional and discriminative’ to accommo­date defectors.

The Chairman also dis­proved the wide spread insin­uation that the party executive was being tele guided and out rightly subsumed by Gover­nor Ayodele Fayose.

TheAuthority

We're RESPONSIBLE For Nigeria's WOES - 'Born Again' PDP Apologises

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has apologised to Nigerians over whatever role it may have played in bringing the nation to a deplorable state. 

In a statement on its twitter handle, @pdpNigeria, the party promised to proffer solutions that will turn the negative tide in the country around.

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1. We have noticed, with a growing sense of dismay, the level of toxicity that pervades the political space with respect to... 1/2

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

... being burnt, personal relationships are being strained & an unnecessary tension fills what should ordinarily be patriotic &... 2/3

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

3. We are dismayed that this tension has reached the level where the finer points of our national conversation are drowned out in... 1/2

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

...shouts & screams across the political divide. 2/2

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

4. We accept responsibility and apologise for whatever role we have played in reaching this level of toxicity.

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

5. Henceforth, we commit to focusing only on the issues and proffering cogent & competent solutions to the issues facing the nation.

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

... & maturity as we point out the many obvious flaws of this administration and proffer solutions & alternatives to their many failures.

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

6. We urge our supporters and the believers in the ability of our party to provide these solutions to henceforth show more restraint...1/2

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

7. We will end this admonition by quoting one of our favourite quotes from Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America.

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

pic.twitter.com/MLec0zvVh9

— PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) July 19, 2016

Makarfi Faction of PDP Fixes New Date For Party Convention

Alhaji Ahmed Marfi factionof the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced August 17, 2016 as the new date for another National convention to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The announcement of the new date followed a meeting of the expanded caucus of the party which held at the Shehu Yaradua centre in Abuja.

The party has also named a committee to work out a new zoning arrangements for national offices with the consideration of the national chairman zoned to the South having approved presidency for the north.

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“I wrote three letters to the president, none of them was replied. Initially, w

A national reconciliation committee was also constituted to continue reconciliation efforts in the party. The committee is led by the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu.

The party could not elect a new set of leaders in its convention which held in May due to various court orders.

Instead, the convention appointed a caretaker committee headed by a former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed Makarfi.

However, a former national chairman of the party, Ali Sheriff, who had earlier announced the cancellation of the convention, insisted that he remained the chairman of the party.

The party’s national secretariat in Abuja is currently under seal by the Nigerian Police following altercations between the loyalists of the two factions.

PDP Highly INDISCIPLINE, May Die Soon - Gov. Mimiko Laments

 Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

New Telegraph - Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has raised fears over the possible survival of the party, saying the opposition party may go into extinction.

The National Headquarters of the PDP is yet to be reopened, 52 days after it was shut. Mimiko hinged his fears on indiscipline among the rank and file of the party members which has given rise to several litigations in different courts on the leadership crisis in the party. He spoke at the zonal meeting of the PDP held in Akure, the state capital, yesterday.

Both Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions are in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja courts contending over the leadership crisis in the party. Mimiko said it was indiscipline that made people to rush to court over issues that could be settled without interference of the judiciary. This indiscipline, he said, must be kicked out of the PDP before it kills the party.

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Apparently referring to Sheriff, Mimiko wondered how somebody would think of running a political party based on court judgements when all organs of the party have not given him the nod.

These courts cases, he said, may eventually lead to the death of the party and foster one-party state and dictatorial tendency on the citizens.

His words: “Unless, let me repeat it, unless we exorcise this demonic tendency to rush to the court, this party will never find its feet: the future is jeopardised, the future will continue to be uncertain if each time anybody feels abused the next thing is to go to court. “I think this is one area we must tackle as a party if we must move forward. That is the biggest threat and challenge we have as a party.

Nobody should deceive himself, especially those who are not direct political practitioners, nobody should deceive himself that trouble in PDP will necessarily translate and remain as trouble within PDP alone. Ultimately, the PDP that is unsettled is a veritable origination of dictatorship  in our land.”

According to him, the high level of indiscipline in the party has culminated into series of leadership crises at the national level and challenges that also have overbearing effects in some state chapters of the party.

According to him, “there is no question about the fact that recent events within our party can challenge anybody no matter how strong hearted you are. Recent events in our party can set people asking; is this party really jinxed?” “One of those weaknesses is this demonic propensity to rush to the court for issues that can be settled within.

I think the level of indiscipline in the PDP is the number one challenge we have.” Mimiko compared the  PDP with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying “as divisive as APC is, in spite of all the different tendencies working themselves out in APC, I have not heard of their cases in court.

But, PDP has endless cases in courts. That is the demon we must exorcise from PDP if this party must progress.” Meanwhile, Sheriff has denied media reports that the senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, is his political godfather.

This is as former National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has predicted that PDP would come out stronger after its present crisis. There have been media reports that the leadership crisis in PDP was because of Kashamu who have been nudging Sheriff to keep on laying claim to the party’s leadership.

But Sheriff, in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, described it as a smear campaign and urged PDP loyalists to work towards finding lasting solution to the crisis in the party.

“While it remains obvious that the said report was part of the mischief and orchestrated smear campaigns embarked upon by some people against the National Chairman, we wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that, he has no godfather in  politics and Senator Buruji Kashamu could not have been one.

“It is becoming clearer that the PDP National Chairman’s critics have run out of ideas on how to achieve their selfish agenda, hence the resort to blackmail and blatant falsehood in order to distract Sheriff from manifesting his capacity to reposition the PDP,” the statement noted.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the party’s national secretariat yesterday reports that its entrance was still locked and manned by men of the Nigeria Police. As at 2p.m., the time of visit, no fewer than 10 police officers were seen within and outside the secretariat. A police Hilux vehicle from Wuse Division, marked NPF 6684C, was used to block the access road to the complex. However, few members of staff of the secretariat were seen hanging around under trees, nursing the hope of having the office reopened soon.

Armed police officers had, on May 22, blocked all the entrance gates to the secretariat, preventing human and vehicular movements to the facility. The action, according to the police, was to prevent crisis from springing up following the party’s May 21 national convention held in Port Harcourt.

Edo 2016: 2 PDP Factions Submit Different Names To INEC

The Edo State fast approaching gubernatorial election may be the first victim that will suffer the seeming not ending leadership crisis of the once a ruling party in Nigeria, the peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the two erring factions have claimed it has submitted name of the party's candidate for the governorship election billed to hold by September. 

This is even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, claimed none of them submitted, according to a report by Punch Newspaper this morning. 

The senator Ali Modu Sheriff led faction of PDP is banking on a judgement delivered by a Federal High Court, which says the INEC must accept names of its faction for Edo and Ondo governorship election. On the other hand, the other faction led by the party’s Chairman, National Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, banking on the party's position that Ali Modu Sheriff and co remain sacked during the Port Harcourt convention.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the candidate of Makarfi group, while Sheriff's is Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen.

Both factions and their loyalist are currently locked in a legal battle over the leadership of the opposition party.

Meanwhile, the deadline for the submission of names of governorship candidates by political parties for the Edo governorship election, according to the timetable, released by the commission is Tuesday (today).

The election holds on September 10.

The spokesperson for the Makarfi camp, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, toldPunch Newspaper that the party had done the needful.

He said he was sure that the commission would recognise its candidate, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who he said had commenced mobilisation of the voters in the state.

Adeyeye added, “Well, we have met the standard as we have sent the name of our candidate and his running mate to the commission. We are not expecting the commission to deny them recognition. We have nothing to fear. We are already in the field.”

In the same vein, the Sheriff faction said it had sent the name of its candidates for the election to the electoral body.

The Deputy National Chairman of the group, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh, said his faction was relying on the court ruling that ordered that only the Sheriff group should be allowed to submit names of candidates for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

He said he was sure that the candidate that emerged at the primary conducted by the Sheriff faction, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekwemwen, would make the INEC final list.

Ojugboh stated, “We have submitted the name of our governorship candidate for the Edo election based on the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

“The commission ordered INEC not to accept the lists of our (PDP) governorship candidates for the election in Edo and Ondo states from any other body except from the Sheriff-led leadership of the party.

“It was Justice Okon Abang who said this while delivering ruling in an interlocutory application filed by two governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP in Edo and Ondo states.

“So, we have abided by the ruling of his lordship and that’s all. Anyone who submits or attempts to submit any other name apart from the name we have submitted is in contempt of the court.”

However, feelers from the commission did not corroborate the claims of the two factions of the former ruling party.

The Deputy Director of the commission’s Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Nick Dazang, said as of 4.52pm, the PDP was not among the six political parties that had submitted the names of their governorship candidates.

He said, “As of 4.52pm, the PDP was not among the political parties that had submitted their candidates. But the deadline is still tomorrow, which is Tuesday (today). For now, six political parties have submitted the names of their candidates.”

I Regret Ekweremadu's Emergence As My Deputy - Saraki Laments

Leadership - The president of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the deputy Senate president of the 8th Senate as painful and regrettable, saying no true party member would want to share his position with a member of other parties.

Blaming the absence of some All Progressives Congress (APC) senators at the inauguration session on that fateful day for the election of Ekweremadu, he added that all through the period when he and his team were strategising for his election to the Senate president’s seat, not even for once did they anticipate that a Senator from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will emerge as his deputy.

Speaking with some Senate correspondents yesterday, Saraki said it is not true that he entered into any pact with the PDP to sacrifice the deputy Senate slot for PDP’s support. “Never in our wildest imagination did we envisage that some senators would not be present on the day of the inauguration.

“In my own view, and in the view of some of those who worked closely with me, I worked hard for my election, I had direct contact with every single senator, one on one. Weeks leading to the election I did not rely on anybody. I worked hard; both in our party, the APC and out of it.

“I approached every senator, I talked to them…we built confidence, not only in the APC, but, also, in the PDP. I talked to them. That was why I laugh when people said I had a deal with Ekweremadu or I had a hand in the emergence of Ekweremadu.

“I didn’t need any deal to win. I had penetrated…There was no deal; I didn’t need any deal in the first place. I had worked hard such that every body who was a senator, I campaigned hard and canvassed for their votes and won their confidence.

“At one of the meetings held at Transcorp Hilton which Senator Godswill Akpabio co-chaired with Senator Ibrahim Gobir and a few others, which had both APC and PDP members, at that meeting, if you heard most of them there, the position they took was that ‘this is the Senate president they want.’

Across party lines, they believed in me that this is the Senate president that can lead us. There was no deal.

“Sometimes, I wonder how some of our colleagues found themselves at the ICC. If it had been a case that the CNA (clerk of the National Assembly) had made an announcement that the event had been postponed or it was no longer holding, plus, the invitation, it would have been different. I’m sure some are asking now,what really happened,” Saraki said.

Speaking further, he said “First of all, the PDP senators had announced to the public that they were supporting me without even meeting me because in their own meeting, the majority had decided to vote for me. In their own interest, strategically, they decided that, look, this is a fait accompli because 30 of their own senators were going to vote for this man anyway and the remaining felt it was better to join.

It wasn’t until 2:00am that they called us to tell us their decision. With regards to the deputy, when they told us that they had a candidate, we, too, told them we had a candidate for deputy Senate president in the person of Senator Ali Ndume. After our own meeting, it was our thinking that it was after the election of the Senate president that the two groups in APC would meet and we would agree on a candidate. We never in our imagination thought they would not turn up. By the time we got there, we were only 24 while the PDP was more than 40. In an election, there’s no way they would not have defeated us and that was what happened. And now, when people say it was a deal, I say that if the CNA had started the procedure in the House of Representatives first, and moved to the Senate thereafter, today, we, the APC, would have had a deputy Senate president.

“It is unfortunate that we have a PDP man as deputy Senate President. It is painful. It is painful for any APC member because when we went through the struggle, that was not what we signed for. But it has happened; but it is unfortunate and it is not fair to put the blame on one side because it is a combination of errors and miscalculations that led us to have, it that morning; some senators at another place instead of being here. So, to suggest that it was out of a desperate act to emerge is what I reject completely and those who followed the events would know that I didn’t have that deal to emerge, ” he said.

The Senate president also disclosed that he never shunned the invitation of the party to a meeting on the inauguration day, contrary to reports.

He explained that he got wind of plans to abduct him and keep him away from the National Assembly premises so that he will not be able to stand for election so he made plans to sneak into the complex early and was not with his phones till later that day.

“First of all, as regards the meeting (at ICC), on the morning of the inauguration, I didn’t finish meeting until 4:00 of that day and I had got information that efforts would likely be made to make sure that I didn’t get access into the chambers.

“So, as early as 4:00am and 5:00am, I had made contingency plans that I must get into the National Assembly because the plan before was that senators-elect should go to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel around 8:00 am and 9:00am to proceed to the National Assembly.

“But I was advised that it would not be safe or secure for me to do that because some people made sure…if I didn’t get into the chambers, it would t be possible for me too be nominated, for the nomination to be seconded and for me to accept the nomination.

“I can tell you today that I was in the National Assembly Complex as early as 6:00 in the morning and I stayed in a car in the car park, from 6:00 in the morning till quarter to 10:00am. This is the truth. I stayed there and I was there with no communication whatsoever.

“So, anybody who said they spoke to me to go to ICC was not true because I didn’t even know what was going on. All I was monitoring was how people were arriving the complex.

“It was at quarter to 10:00 that I got information that the clerk to the National Assembly had entered the chamber. So, I got out of the small car I was inside, stretched myself and put on my Babariga because I didn’t have it on before then.

“I walked from the car park into the chambers…That was why some of you would have seen that I looked very tired on that morning,” Saraki said.

Drama As PDP State Chairmen Pass Vote of Confidence In Sheriff, Picks Ojougboh As Deputy Chairman

In a  dramatic manner to counter move against the decision of some 23 Peoples Democratic Party states chairmen who had earlier pledged their loyalty to Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee, another set of state chairmen loyal to the embattled factional Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff have passed vote of confidence in the leadership of the former Borno state governor, sayin (Sheriff) is PDP authentic Chairman, The Nationa Newspaper says

This is even as Sheriff faction of the party appointed the party’s former Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh as the faction’s Deputy National Chairman.

This is coming just as another set of “chairmen” of state chapters yesterday endorsed Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff as the party’s “authentic” National Chairman.

Ojougboh was one of the party’s mainstream national officials that were removed at the party’s May 21 botched convention in Port Harvourt.

Ojougboh’s letter of appointment was jointly signed by Sheriff and the faction’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.

The letter reads, “Please, be informed that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in a meeting held on the 28th of June 2016, and having received nomination from the Concerned PDP stakeholders (Abuja Convention Group) and major stakeholders in the South-south has appointed you as the Acting Deputy National Chairman of the party pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the erstwhile Deputy National Chairman. This appointment takes immediate effect”.

The Sheriff and Oladipo, through the letter, urged Ojougboh to discharged his functions with dedication to ensure the progress of the party.

Only on Monday, a set of state chairmen endorsed the Chairman of the Caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the only recognised chair of the party.

While the pro Makarfi state chairmen based their endorsement of Makarfi on the decision of the botched May 21 Port Harcourt convention, the pro Sheriff set hinged their position on a ruling of a Lagos High Court which restrained the party from electing a replacement for Sheriff.

Expressing appreciation for the visit by the state chairmen, Sheriff declared that the set of state chairmen that pledged loyalty to Makarfi was not the authentic chairmen.

According to him, the party had yet to elect chairmen in 23 of the 36 states of the federation, adding that his mission was not to destroy the party but to rebuild it.

Sheriff expressed willingness to resign his position as chairman if the court ruled against him, saying however that he would never succumb to pressure by the party’s governors to quit.

Among the pro Sheriff chairmen in the delegation were the ones for Ondo, Imo, Ogun, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The delegation later passed a vote of confidence in Sheriff.

Oyegun: The WORST Mistake I've Ever Made As APC Chairman

The national Chairman of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC has recounted among others the worst mistake he had ever made as the party's chairman.

Oyegun in an interview with the Daily Trust shared that his decision to call the meeting that took place on the the National Assembly was inaugurated.

"There are lots of decisions, not just one, some of which are private. If you want to limit it to the recent past, I would say the decision to call the meeting that took place on the day the National Assembly was inaugurated."
"That was a bad mistake. I was persuaded and I agreed to call that meeting. Had it been it did not take place, we probably won’t have a PDP person there today as the deputy Senate president."
"The anger within the leadership of the party may not have turned out as strong as it became," Oyegun said

It would be recalled the that APC summoned all it National Assembly members on June 8th 2015 in a bid to pass in a bid to pass instruction on who emerges what at the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Meeting which was boycotted by Senate President Bukola Saraki and few of his APC loyalist.

Saraki's group, while other APC lawmakers were holding meeting with the party leaders, conspired with the PDP Senators, conducted election with the forged Senate Standing rule that ushered him and Ike Ekweremadu as the Senate President and the deputy respectively.

A Nation In Search Of Sanity, By Goke Butika

"Insanity in individuals is rare - but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs, it is the rule" --Friedrich Nietzsche

Nigeria is being stratified into two major poles- they and us. Corrupt elite class and suffering masses, the enemies of change and change agents, the gullible masses and reasoning masses. That is the graphical situation of this polity called Nigeria. It has aways been there, but with this incorruptible Sheriff at the helm of affairs, the delimitation is clear.

It is no longer news that those who benefitted from the ruin of the country yesterday, have bought their way to the highest lawmaking chambers of the country today. Obviously, they are corrupt, but by crook or hook, they are the law givers; they have the powers to make obnoxious laws that are capable of dragging the country back for decades; they could conspire to initiate impeachment articles against President Muhammadu Buhari, even if they would fail in their plot, and true to type they did not disguise about their history and capabilities to create tension in the country.

Not to fall into the pit of ambivalence, I intend to look into the conflict of forces that are competing the soul of Nigeria, and find out where the equilibrium point could be marked. In the first premise, President Muhamnadu Buhari appears to have retooled the working of some institutions. The no-nonsense Military General turned politician believes that corruption would exterminate Nigeria, if Nigeria fails to eliminate corruption on time. So, the slumbering anti-graft agencies woke up rudely, dusted their files and went to work.

Before, I used think that institutions should not be built around personalities, but now, empirical evidences have shown that institutions are nothing unless they are driven by strong personalities. With Magu as the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the devil himself knows that the fear of Buhari is the beginning of the wisdom.

However, there is a noise out there that the war against corruption is selective; that the target is the main opposition party, the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and that Buhari was out to decimate the potentialities of the politicians on the platform against 2019 general elections. So, a war must be waged against the President. Amazingly, the narratives work magic as the deprived masses are also divided on the onslaught against corruption, for legions believe that the anti-corruption fight was a mere vendetta.

If the reason must prevail, we shall interrogate issues at stake. For the latest war in the senate, the narrative of the PDP senators was that the President was out to change its leadership they freely elected among themselves. So, the merit of the charge of forgery against the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekeremadu does not appeal to them. And because the Attorney General of the Federation is pressing charges as recommended by the investigating Police team, Buhari should prepare for war.

The questions are: was the standing order of the senate used to institute leadership of the senate forged or not? Is forgery an internal affair of the senate or a criminal act? Was an investigation conducted by the police and recommendation made to the Attorney General? Must Attorney General press charges if there is prima facie? The answers to those questions are resounding Yes.

I watched it live on television where Senator Kabiru Marafa rose with a point of order to draw the attention of the senate to the forgery, and I am in the know that Senator Hunkuyi and others had approached the court for the same issue, but now that the office of Attorney General has woken up to his duties, some senators are threatening fire and brimstone. In a saner clime, such a senate ought to have gone into history; for people ought to have sacked them from the compromised chambers the very minute they pronounced corruption as their guiding principle.

Our country is in dire strait as a result of economic and social challenges, but must we gloss over a glaring case of corruption because we want to fix economy? I do not think so. I learnt that some section of the APC senators had countered their PDP colleagues on the issue, but it is a pity that the Senate President and his few scoundrels who see themselves as APC senators are working with the opposition underground to ground the country. That is the fall-out of the notion "I belong to everybody, I belong to nobody".

What more, the corruption is fighting back, and the masses who ought to know are divided by fallacy of ignorance. They have forgotten that for every one billion naira stolen, one million able bodied men with low income would not be paid salaries. I am aghast that in this very country, EFCC are apprehending yesterday's men who had stolen and sharing billions of US dollars, and they confessed to the sprawling stealing, yet some people who do not know where the next meal will come but take solace in partisan ludo are buying into the narrative of the thieves that the anti-corruption fight is a persecution of the opposition. What a people!

I am glad that despite this economic topsy-turvy, a strong man has emerged to follow his conscience and adhere to the rule of law irrespective of the deafening noise of corrupt elite class who want to eat their cake and have it. They formed what I called "they" and i am glad that large segment of the masses and some reasonable elite have keyed into the new order, forming what I see as "us".  However, vigilance is the watch word for any progress to be made.

Another interesting scenario is that of Governor Ayo Fayose, the boy scout of Ekiti state who treats the nation to tragicomedy on daily basis. He was fingered in the stealing of funds earmarked for arms meant to battle insurgency that has held the nation by the jugular, and instead of denying stealing, he claims immunity. Interestingly, his comrades in crime wanted his matter to be forgone. And that is one of the crimes of the President.

I am of opinion that the rebirth of Nigeria that is being undertaken by Buhari and his Vice Yemi Osinbajo must be encouraged, because we are all victims, the sons of victims and the future fathers of victims-apology to Nuhu Osahion.

Butikakuro is an intercontinental journalist.

Police IG Goes Partisan, Moves To Resolve PDP's UN-RESOLVABLE Crisis As More Faction Emerges

The Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has reportedly made a move to resolve the messy crisis that bedeviling the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP. The police boss has reportedly met with both gladiators, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi. The move, which could either be described as partisan, rather than peacekeeping News Punch has learnt

The PDP's crisis, which it leaders could not resolve is taking a massive toll on the party’s fortunes across the states of the federation as no fewer than 20 state chapters have become factionalised

Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), yesterday disclosed in a statement that the IGP met Makarfi and Modu- Sheriff in company with the Director-General (DG) of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, where both men were asked to nominate four representatives each, who will meet within a week, to find solutions to the crisis rocking the party.

Noting that the Wadata Secretariat of the PDP, as well as the Legacy House remain shut, Kolawole said the meeting called for peace among the contending parties. 

Investigations have revealed that the PDP stalwarts in many states that received various sums of money for campaign during the 2015 elections are under investigation while the tussle between Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction and Ahmed Makarfi’s caretaker committee for the soul of the party have exacted a huge price on the erstwhile ruling party.

According to Saturday Telegraph, a large number of state secretariats of the party are practically deserted, as activities are either skeletal or non-existent. Apart from the lull in activities in the states, many of the employees are also being owed backlog of salaries as well as being sharply divided in their support of Sheriff and Makarfi, which has led to the emergence of factions in some states.

How the Police boss will resolve partisan crisis remain unimaginable as moves by party leaders to find a solution to the crisis have been efforts in futility. 

Already, thugs loyal to the former Borno governor yesterday took over the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the party, vowing to unleash attack on whoever except Modu Sheriff will come to occupy the office.

PDP Crisis: Atiku, Northern Cabals FINGERED, You'll Be Shocked At This Revelations

The current crisis bedevilling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has been narrowed down to tussle of who picks the party's presidential ticket in 2019 as the ambition of some notable Northern politicians includ­ing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is at the root of the leader­ship tussle confronting the erstwhile ruling party, the Saturday Sun Newspaper has revealed. 

The findings, which is contrary to claims by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi caretaker committee that the ruling All Pro­gressives Congress, (APC) was in­stigating the leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the root of the leader­ship tussle confronting the erstwhile ruling party.

Former Minister of State Works and spokesperson of the Ahmed Makarfi team, Dayo Adeyeye, addressing newsmen on Tuesday had alleged that the APC-led Federal Government was using the former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to destabilise the main opposition party ahead of Edo State governor­ship election and the 2019 general elections.

But it was gathered that political gladiators smarting to pick the PDP’s 2019 presidential ticket, have lined behind the factional chairmen and are now pulling the strings.

Ahead of his speculated return to the party, former Vice President and APC chieftain, Atiku Abubakar is believed to be giving moral and financial support to the Ahmed Ma­karfi committee, a creation of the party’s highest organ, the national convention.

But Atiku has denied involvement in the PDP crisis. Speaking through his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said he remains a national leader of the ruling APC and was in no way in­volved in the leadership tussle rocking his former party.

He said: “It is ludicrous. The Turaki remains a member of APC and he is fully committed to the party and working with other stakeholders to de­liver its programmes to the people.

“What has changed to generate an interest? He has no interest in foisting any leadership on PDP. He remains a bonafide na­tional leader of APC. So, it is wrong for anyone to link him with PDP crisis.”

Saturday Sun also gath­ered that the two PDP governors in the North­east, Gombe State gover­nor, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Taraba State, Darius Ishaku are also backing the embattled former Bor­no State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff whose national working commit­tee was dissolved at the Port Harcourt convention.

While the motive of Gov­ernor Darius Ishaku for sup­porting Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is yet to be known, Gombe state governor is be­lieved to be eyeing the par­ty’s presidential ticket for the 2019 general elections.

The Makarfi commit­tee was mandated at the Convention held in Port Harcourt to administer the party for three months and conduct a convention that will produce substantive na­tional officers for the party.

A Saturday Sun source revealed that the two known contenders are positioning themselves ahead of the na­tional convention, to enable them plant their loyalists in the new national work­ing committee that would emerge and ultimately con­duct the presidential con­vention that would produce the party’s presidential flag­bearer.

Checks by our source revealed that the PDP National Executive Com­mittee (NEC) had upheld the report of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu Post- Election Review Commit­tee which recommended the zoning of the party’s 2019 presidential ticket to the North. Honourable Inua Bwala, media aide to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff could not be reached for comments as his line was switched off, as at the time of filing this report Friday evening.

The Sun

BREAKING: Sheriff Incurs EFCC Invitation Over Diezani's Bribe For Election Spree

As if the recent unceremonious ouster from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party national Chairmanship, not enough, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited a factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, for questioning on the 2015 presidential campaign funds of the PDP an unconfirmed report by TheEagleOnline report suggests

Sheriff was believed to have benefitted from the funds released by the Presidency for the reelection bid of the then President Goodluck Jonathan.

News Punch has learnt from source that the EFCC, which has been inviting and retrieving huge sums voted for the 2015 presidential election from various political actors, asked Sheriff to report to its Borno State Office in Maiduguri. The invitation, it was gathered, was extended to Sheriff on Tuesday.

Our source revealed however that, there has been no official confirmation of the development by the EFCC.

But a top notch of the commission told our source that Sheriff is being expected at the Maiduguri office of the Commission.

This, the source explained, was because the funds so collected was picked up in Borno State.

Most of the funds traced to political gladiators involved in the presidential election had been picked up at the Fidelity Bank Plc branches in state capitals across the country.

The money has been traced to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani Alison-Madueke, who deposited $115 million in Fidelity Bank Plc, through its now sacked Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo.

Th money was then changed into Naira for distribution to top chieftains of the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The former Borno governor currently battling his party to remain as chairman following his sack recently.

BREAKING: Commotion In PDP Secretariat As Youths Shut Down Secretariat, Lock Out All

Following clash by pro and anti-Ali Modu Sheriff at Wadata Plaza, the Secretariat of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP earlier this morning, some youth members of the party had reportedly shut down the offices the national headquarter, thereby locking out all occupants, News Punch has learnt.

BREAKING: PDP Youth Group has shutdown the National Headquarters of PDP, locked out all occupants pic.twitter.com/w4K5kcCiMx

— APC NEWS TV (@APCNEWSTV) June 15, 2016

Related Post:  Happening Now: Pro & Anti-Sheriff Protesters Clash At PDP Secretariat, See Photos

Details soon.

PDP Crisis: 2 The Secret Powerful Forces Behind Sheriff REVEALED

The All Progressives Congress, APC and the Presidency have been identified as the secret powerful forces behind Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, who are head bent and has vowed to  clinch to the leadership of the party till 2018, despite his acclaimed ouster at the Port Harcourt Convention.

The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party made alleged that the Presidency and the APC are stoking the leadership crisis. 

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday denied having anything to do with the leadership crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Reacting to the allegation, the APC said the PDP is suffering from the sins of the past. 

The National Secretary of APC,  Mai Mala Buni, in a statement said: “For the umpteenth time, the APC wishes to state that instead of joining issues with the baseless and laughable allegations, the APC would rather join issues that will bring about-all-inclusive development in the country.

“However, it should be put on record that the PDP foisted on them whatever crisis it is troubled with today due to its politics of imposition and other undemocratic practices which the APC abhors.

“The PDP should put its house in order rather than playing to the gallery and blaming others but themselves for their sins which have come to hunt them. Also, it is evident that the PDP has chosen to employ diversionary tactics because of its inability to produce credible candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states”.

The caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of hiring “ousted” PDP Chairman Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff to destroy the PDP.

Sheriff was removed as party chairman at the May 21 botched national convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where a caretaker committee was told to take charge of the party’s affairs.

But Sheriff on Monday stormed the party’s Abuja headquarters to take charge of its activities. He declared the caretaker committee as an “illegal” body and vowed to continue as chairman till December 2018.

At a media briefing yesterday, held at a private residence, spokesman of the  caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the aim of the APC was to scuttle the chances of the PDP in the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.

Said he: “The All Progressive Congress (APC) has contracted Sheriff and his cohorts to scuttle the chances of the PDP in the Edo governorship election.

“We have credible intelligence that Sheriff had a meeting on Sunday night with an APC governor from the Northwest, where it was agreed that he would be given full security and financial support to exacerbate the crisis in the PDP with the objective of preventing the PDP from presenting a candidate for the Edo governorship election, or in the very least, to prevent the PDP from offering a serious challenge to APC whose electoral fortunes have continued to nose-dive.

“What we are however very certain about is that Sheriff and his fellow renegades are being used by the enemies of the PDP to destroy our party and to prevent it from reorganising itself so as to provide a credible opposition and alternative platform for the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election and the 2019 general elections.”

Adeyeye also faulted the police for allowing Sheriff and his group access to the secretariat, saying the police could hardly justify the action.

“While we are still trying to understand the role of the police in the entire saga, it is curious that the police made no arrest of the thugs who openly brandished various dangerous weapons in and around the premises of the secretariat in full glare of the police.

“It is also curious that the police claimed to be acting on ‘orders from above’ in allowing Sheriff and his cohorts to gain entry into the secretariat. If we may ask, who is the authority that issued the ‘orders from above’?, he queried.

The committee spokesman dismissed the court orders on the strength of which Sheriff took control of the party’s secretariat, saying they were non existent.

According to him, the court order restraining Sheriff from parading himself as chairman is still subsisting until the determination of the motion on notice, which he said would come up for hearing on Thursday (tomorrow).

Adeyeye continued: “The motion on notice will come up for hearing on Thursday. Only three of the members of the defunct national officers are still parading themselves but constitutionally they cannot form a quorum for any legitimate business of the party.”

Adeyeye recalled that Sheriff was not elected but appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP to complete the tenure of erstwhile chairman Adamu Mu’azu, which terminated on February 14.

He pointed out that Sheriff was given an extension of three months by the NEC to organise a national convention but that his appointment was not ratified at the Port Harcourt convention.

Adeyeye said: “So, constitutionally, he has no other mandate which can extend beyond May 21, 2016. The national convention is the supreme organ of the party under Article 33 (02) of the PDP constitution.

“In the exercise of its power under Article 33(5)(b) & (e) of the constitution, the national convention removed all officers of the party and set up a caretaker committee to plan and organize a national convention within 90 days.

“The national convention of the PDP can only be called by NEC and once that is done, it is only the national convention that can cancel or postpone its proceedings.

“No individual or other organ of the party can postpone or cancel the national convention. The national convention, therefore, took place legally and constitutionally.”

The spokesman said the committee would not be distracted by the activities of fifth columnists in the party.

EFCC Freezes GEJ Ministers', PDP Chiefs' Accounts; 6 Govs Fingered Too In N23b Campaign Fund Fraud

New Telegraph - In its determination to recover all public funds allegedly used to prosecute the 2015 presidential election, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the bank accounts of some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). International passports of some of the PDP leaders under investigation have also been seized by the anti-graft agency.

Those whose accounts have been frozen include those of some ex-governors, former ministers and PDP leaders who were said to have shared or benefitted from the N23 billion campaign funds, distributed to states, to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party.

Each of the 36 states benefitted between N450 million and N950,000 million from the campaign funds used to prosecute the 2015 general elections. New Telegraph further gathered that the anti-graft agency is in a dilemma over the alleged involvement of about six serving governors in the campaign funds. It was learnt that the sitting governors got involved either as state chief executives then, or as gubernatorial candidates of the PDP.

The commission is, however, hamstrung as it concerns the sitting governors, owing to their constitutional immunity, which does not allow for interrogation or prosecution, as long as they remained governors.

In fact, New Telegraph was reliably informed by a highly placed source, who pleaded anonymity, that all the bank accounts of a very prominent and influential leader of the party, have been frozen ostensibly because the EFCC believes so much of the disputed cash may have been channeled through his accounts.

New Telegraph was reliably informed that the account of a former Kano State Governor and Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, domiciled with one of the old generation banks, has been frozen. This development may have obstructed the payment of the ex-governor’s four-year entitlements, which were to be paid into the said account by the Umar Ganduje-led administration.

According to sources, the action of the commission is already having adverse effects on those affected, as they are unable to access funds through those accounts that have since been blocked, pending conclusion of investigations.

The action of the EFCC, which is not final in itself, is to pre-empt possible closures of such accounts, which could hamper the course of ongoing investigations. Another source also hinted that more arrests and interrogations would be made in the coming days, as there are still some states that have not been visited.

This is more so that the funds under investigation were said to have been distributed to the 36 states of the federation.“I can confirm to you that the EFCC has blocked the bank accounts of our (PDP) leaders being investigated over what they said was money used for election.

“It came to some of them as a huge shock, because they got to know about it when they made efforts to either withdraw money, or conduct other transactions from their accounts. “Honestly, it was so bad that an ex-governor of a state in the North- West, who was a minister in the last dispensation, could not have his pension paid into his only existing bank account, because of the freezing.

“He may not even travel to Mecca for this year’s lesser Hajj, because his passport has also been confiscated,” he said. On the temporary freezing of all the accounts of a leader from the South, another source said: “It is so bad that one of our respected leaders has had all his existing accounts frozen.

“We are waiting to see how this whole investigation pans out, but I know that our leaders under probe, are really in some dire straits.” Meanwhile, a former governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, is expected back at the Commission’s zonal office today, where investigation into his alleged involvement in the sharing of N450 million sent to the state, will continue.

Chime, who reported first on Wednesday, June 8, was said to have made a statement, where he denied any personal involvement with the disbursement of the said amount as was claimed by Mrs. Rita Chinelo Mba, secretary to the campaign office and his former Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernment Affairs.

The commission has, so far, quizzed the following ex-PDP governors: Chief Achike Udenwa (Imo State), Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River State), as well as Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi (Zamfara State). Apart from the former state chief executives, operatives had interrogated a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano); a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad (Jigawa State); Ntufam John Okon (Cross River State PDP Chairman), and retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Akwa Ibom).

Also quizzed were a former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Zamfara); an ex-Minister of Mines and Steel, Arch. Musa Muhammad Sada (Katsina), as well as a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger). A former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Imasuen, as well as former Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had been interrogated in respect of the controversial cash.

One Year In Office: Tinubu Warns Buhari, Reveals Top Secret Plots To Infiltrate His Govt.

As part of activities to celebrate the Democracy Day and one year in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the national leader of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a shocking revelation to the President, News Punch understands

Tinubu has raised the alarm over moves by some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to regain access into government through the backdoor, New Telegraph, reports

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to commemorate the first year anniversary of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, Tinubu said the nation would forfeit her future if the present administration gives into their deceit.

His words: “Those who benefitted from injustices past energetically plot their return. The looters of yesterday to whom we waved farewell in the 2015 elections now try to shimmy through the backdoor to continue their pilfering ways.

“There is no progressive policy in your benefit they do not actively seek to undermine and make fail. They hope to use your kindness and patience against you. They seek to erect barriers to discourage us into believing there is no other way than the backward path they offer.

“We shall forfeit the nation’s future if we give into their deceit or if we fall into despondency because progress does not appear to come as fast or as systematically as we hoped. “You, the people, must participate in government as never before.

We cannot be passive onlookers when what lies in the balance is the future of our children and their sons and daughters after them. If someone tried to kidnap your child, you would not fold your hands and close your mouth.

Then we should not do so when the vultures and hyenas of yesterday sneak about in an attempt to steal, perhaps not our children, but their very futures.” Tinubu also decried the ousted PDP administration.

His words: “We have endured the harsh meter of authoritarian rule. After military rule gave way, we withstood the ambivalent nature of 17 years of civilian rule not as brutish as the military, but not quite democracy either.

We existed in the twilight between darkness and light. Yet, we refused to get lost or to avert your focus from what was better. “We lived in a land of elections the results of which were not always the expression of the sovereign will of the people, but of the will of a few people who mistook themselves to be the sovereign.

Instead of holding elections, they used a superficially democratic process to coronate themselves as modern royalty. They misbehaved and misgoverned according to this fouled perception. “The only honour such people could give democracy was to mock it.

When they celebrated democracy day these past 16 years, it was as thieves and burglars celebrating one of their own becoming the chief security officer of a bank.” While urging the government to urgently restructure the economy by initiating fiscal policies that stand unrivalled in its objectives, Tinubu said the government must summon political and social courage for the task ahead of it.

“There are many challenges our nation faces. Security problems trouble some areas, but thankfully government is making progress, particularly against Boko Haram. This brutal terrorist group will soon be a thing of the bleak past. The evil killing and destruction wrought will be no more.

“There is a problem that cuts all areas equally. If we are not careful, it will afflict us a long time to come. In a cold, swift stroke, the decline in oil prices has turned into a mockery the model upon which we had for so long based our political economy.

We either must waste away or construct a new model,” the former governor said. Advising the government on some fiscal policy route that may lead to the revamping of the nation’s economy, Tinubu said: “Government must dedicate unprecedented amounts for productive expenditure in our transportation infrastructure power generation, food security and job creation.

“We have entered a period of stagflation where recession or shrinkage of the economy is accompanied by higher prices. Unfortunately, if we try to fight both at the same time, we fight neither effectively.

“Given the rate of joblessness and poverty, it is more fitting to fight recession at this point than to focus on inflation. We can endure a bit more inflation if it means more jobs and greater aggregate demand that can develop the velocity needed to free the economy of recession’s gravitational pull. “We must resist recession; it is harder to shake off once it takes grip of an economy.

Our economy should diversify by expanding our infrastructural network, bolstering agricultural and farm incomes, as well as filliping industry and manufacturing to provide jobs for a rapidly expanding urban workforce. “We can institute policies that create new industries and businesses as well as improve old ones.

These measures will form the foundation of a diversified economy that will become more resistant to inflation because it is less reliant on imports. “Also, it will be more recession resistant because the economy will rest on multiple revenue sources instead of a single source that is dependent on foreign consumer preferences over which we have little control.”

The APC leader said all hands must be on deck to move the government forward. He said: “Now is not the time to lament, murmur or give into despair. It is time to summon once again the political and social courage that we well know and that well knows us.

“We need to push forward and to urge government forward to do that which it must to achieve this great generational feat. We stand between success and failure; but we cannot maintain this middling position forever. We must turn one way or the other.

To me, there is but one option. The other is unspeakable. We must be bold enough not accept an inferior destiny. We must win. “A great historic push and effort are mandated. Change takes boldness, perseverance and moral fortitude; profound change requires even more so.

The task is hard, but I neither fret nor worry. In my heart, I am comforted by the knowledge that we are so much better and stronger than the obstacle before us,” he said.

Credit: New Telegraph

Obasanjo'll Ruin Your Government, Buhari Warned

In an experience that portrays the popularly saying, "Once Beaten twice Shy", a former Senate President forced out of office during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and member Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Adolphus Wabara has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the ex-President (Obasanjo), else he will ruin his administration, News Punch understands

Wabara in a recent interview with the Daily Sun Newspaper believes that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has its good and bad sides . While he praised the ongoing war against cor­ruption , he argued that the adminis­tration has not done well in address­ing economic issues. 

The former President of the Senate was of the opinion that the President must be wary of some personalities that swarm around him. One of such people he said, is former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, claiming that the latter would hurt the President if he con­tinues to allow him ample space in his government.

Below is an excerpt from Daily Sun Newspaper related to Obasanjo and Buhari's relationship cum the former's interferences in PDP crisis.

Many also feel that Obasanjo’s hand is seem­ingly in the problem that you are having right now. Some of his men who are fighting are believed to have links with him?

The problem with Obasanjo is he pursues his personal interest all the time and he’s a tactician. We worked together. If you are standing here with Obasanjo, if you look a mile from where you are standing, you will find him there. That is the type of person he is and it takes people like us who really understand him to talk about him. I think we will leave that for another day. He has so many people planted here and there. He has his hands in so many things in his government. But you probably will be lucky to pin him down to them. People are suffering on his behalf, whereas he should have been the per­son facing the music.

Do you regret becoming one of his loyal core men at a point in your political ca­reer?

I wouldn’t want to answer that question now. But I must thank him though for making me what I am. Without him, I wouldn’t have been the Senate President – that’s between myself and my God. He made that possible and I remain eternally grate­ful to him. But it’s his interest first all the time. If I go into that, how I exited and what have you; in fact in your papers, somebody wrote that I was impeached. I was never impeached. I voluntarily resigned to go and face the music. Where I studied, we were usually very rugged and we know that diamonds are not forever. When things like that come, we take the right step.

Obasanjo wanted a third term and he thought he had a willing horse in me but I refused and that is where the whole thing started. Some of his aides now told him that I even wanted to take over his job as the President of the country and stuffs like that. But I don’t want to talk. I leave everything in the hands of God.

If you are to advise Buhari on how to handle somebody like Obasanjo, what would be your advice?

Buhari should be very careful. He should be very wary of Obasanjo be­cause Obasanjo will hurt him. All he is doing around Buhari now is to feel his body language to know whether he has any plans in exposing him. The moment he now finds that some­thing like that is not happening and Buhari becomes a lame President, Obasanjo will hurt him, preparatory for the next President that is coming in because he must be in the Villa to protect himself from going back to prison and what he does is to run down whoever is there at the appro­priate time to paint a picture that he is supporting the incoming so that that one will draw him closer again. By so doing, he is shielded from being thrown back into prison.

Excerpts From Daily Sun Newspaper