Political News

Playing Politics Beyond the Grave-Statement by Ijeoma Orjih, PS to Victor Attah

Rot at Ghana Irrigation Development Authority-I received the attached mail in my inbox three days ago from one Salifu, who styles himself “sincerely worried farmers’ representative.Ordinarily, I would have regarded it as something lacking substance by one who wants to attain cheap popularity, but on reflection, I felt I would be doing a great injustice to hard-working Ghanaians-    Citizen Reports

Certificate Forgery:Again Keyamo Writes NSA,SSS,IG Others Over Abdullahi Dikko-Calls for Full-scale Investigation

ASUU Strike and  Matters Arising-By Eneruvie Enakoko-It is now three months since the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been on Strike, yet the President Yar Adua led government has refused to listen to the just and legitimate concerns of the striking lecturers

EFCC Nabs Varsity Students Over Shares Dividend Scam-The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested two university students who specialize in intercepting investors dividend warrants

How to end the stalemate at A.B.U.-By Mohammed Haruna-Coming Monday September 28, the Council of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, my Alma Mater, would be meeting hopefully to resolve the stalemate that has ensued in the institution over the appointment of its vice-chancellor since the end of the tenure of the last substantive incumbent, Professor Shehu Usman

Ibori’s female aides in London court over money laundering-NEXT

Bayo Ohu, The Guardian's reporter, murdered-According to eye-witnesses, the five or six men came in a white Toyota Camry saloon car, wearing white flowing gowns with matching skull caps. They made no attempt to enter any other apartment in the four-flat house. The Guardian

Bank Crisis : Sanusi Moves to Douse Tension Amid Speculations

Onovo's Gaffe-By Reuben Abati-On Friday September 11, the Vanguard newspaper had an interview with the Inspector General of Police Ogbonnaya Onovo, which was published in the newspaper yesterday

Let’s Bury the Hatchet, say Dafinone, Others ;Embark on Education Assistance Scheme

Inside story of Aondoakaa's Quarrel with   Farida  Waziri-Mr. Mike Aondoakaa, the Attorney-General of the Federation/Justice Minister and Mrs. Farida Waziri, the Chairman of the EFCC are both from Oshongo Local Government in Benue State

3 killed, scores injured in Shiites, police clash-Weekly Trust

That clean bill of health for Ndidi-By Mohammed Haruna  -    Today the seventy-something-year-old Ponzi-schemer, Bernard Madoff, is a household name world-wide. But just in case you never heard of him, he was (is) the quintessential “419er” who swindled his mostly American client

Ex-Bank CEOs Granted Bail, Barred From Overseas Trips-A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has barred former managing directors and chief executive officers of Oceanic Bank plc, Mrs Cecilia Ibru;  Union Bank plc, Mr. Bartholomew Bassey Ebong; Afribank plc, Mr Sebastian Adigwe and three others from traveling abroad

Akunyili Alleges Plot To Truncate Amnesty for Niger Delta Militants

Vacancies     For  Revolutionaries  in Nigeria-By Chinedu V.Akuta-Nigeria is in dire need of fundamental changes in all her systems (political, economic, social, etc). Therefore vacant positions have arisen in all parts of Nigeria and in all sections/sectors of our lives for positions of revolutionaries.

Gani's Death And Ribadu's Return -By Reuben Abati -There have been many remarkable even timeless moments in the lying-in-state ceremonies that have been organised in honour of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. In a piece titled "Gani: Radical to the End" (Friday, September 11), I have already drawn attention to some lessons that can be learnt from Gani's death and the manner of his exit,

Gani:We Must Not Let Him Die-Pyrates Confraternity Statement-Gani Fawehinmi possessed a colourful personality; he was a vibrant crusader against injustice and oppression of fellow Nigerians by the privileged and ruling class. He fought for all, irrespective of one’s tribe, religion, social status or affiliation

We’ve Not Cleared Ibori, Tinubu, Attah- EFCC-The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to reports in national dailies of today September 11, 2009 to the effect that the anti-graft agency has cleared some former governors

The Death of Gani-By Mohammed Haruna-The death of Chief Abdul  Oyesola Fawehinmi last weekend  must have come as a great shock to Nigerians.At the risk of boring the reader I reproduce an edited version of my tribute to the great man when he turned 70 last year Aprill 22.

Gani Fawehinmi In History-By Eneruvie Enakoko-History is made up of landmark events and spectacular individuals who shaped our destinies and influenced our societies. Gani Fawehinmi's contributions to Nigeria's chronicle, nay, Africa's history placed him in this matchless position.

Viewpoint : Gani Fawehinmi is Not Dead-By Chinedu V.Akuta-Your death on Saturday 5^th September 2009 has left a vacuum too big to be filled. None can ever fit into your shoes. Be that as it may, what died was the body. However the spirit, ideas, and legacies will continue to live

Updated : Chief Gani Fawehinmi is Dead,But His Legacy Lives On-Farida Waziri,Festus Keyamo Pay Tribute-Gani Fawehinmi, one of Africa's most consistent activists

Sanusi : CBN  Gives Further Clarification on the N420 Billion Injection Into Troubled Banks

Akunyili Denounces Sony Corporation's Campaign Against Nigeria

UPDATE:Court Keeps Ibru  , 14 others in Custody Till Sept 14

Sanusi's Moves:The Legality of CBN's Actions-By Festus Keyamo-Much has been written, debated and said these past few weeks about the propriety or otherwise of the entire actions recently taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria against some banks

Bank Chiefs Sent Back To Jail-PMNews

Certificate Forgery:Keyamo Calls for Probe of Abdullahi Dikko,New Comptroller- General of Customs-I make no judgment at this point. All I call for is a thorough investigation of the grave allegations contained in the affidavit accompanying this letter and for you to take appropriate action(s)

Ibrahim Babangida-Power and Corruption: An Analysis by Cozie Chimason-That corruption is the source of all our problems, from insecurity, to poverty, to our underdevelopment and everything else is not news anymore either in Nigeria or to foreigners.  However I wish more journalists would put extreme pressure on the looting and stealing political "elites"

Troubled Banks Will Be Sold, Says Sanusi;CBN Gov Meets Investors In London-The Guardian

As Sanusi Cleans Up After Soludo-By Mohammed Haruna-In the wake of penultimate Friday’s “massacre” of the banking sector by the new Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a massacre in which the senior management of five banks were summarily sacked, I was tempted to reproduce

Letter To Gov. Ohakim-By Engr Ifeanyi Ibeh-Amongst your numerous achievements in Imo State, I commend you for the accreditation of respective disciplines in Imo State University, and the maternal and childcare services initiative

Sick Cecilia Ibru Surrenders , Detained By EFCC-  In his reaction to whether Mrs Ibru will be released on Wednesday, Mr. Babafemi told NEXT that she was being held for interrogation and that the outcome of the interrogation would determine what the next action would be-234Next.com

Arrest of Debtors:Waziri Meets Banks CEOs, Draws  List of Defaulters-The meeting which began soon after the anti-graft agency’s boss held a long meeting with operatives who have been investigating the sacked five bank CEOs was called to get their input into the list of defaulters the Commission is set to go after with effect from Wednesday

Akunyili Flags off Rebranding Campaign in  Akwa Ibom

Nigeria's Weekly Woes-By Chinedu V Akuta-In Nigeria, its one week one trouble or even more. Some authors have described Nigeria as a theatre and Nigerians the actors.

$500,000 Scam: Accused in Messy Bail Bid

EFCC Declares Ibru, Akingbola Wanted-The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has declared wanted the recently sacked Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic International Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, and her Intercontinental Bank Plc counterpart, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

2011: Plot against Jonathan thickens-Moves aimed at blocking the chances of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan returning to office in 2011 have reportedly intensified, curiously in the South South geo-political zone that he hails from. -Sun

The Death of Nigerian Sports...By Akintokunbo A Adejumo-As the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin come to an end, I would like to moan (again) about the demise of Nigerian sports. With the ascent and domination of Jamaica in world athletics, especially in track and field events, it is sad that Nigeria went to this major definitive world sports event and will return with not a single medal

Awards and Nigeria's troubled banks-By Reuben Abati -The biggest casualty in the on-going crisis in the banks is the confidence that the ordinary man holds in the bank of his or her choice, but the integrity questions

Amnesty For Militants-Keyamo Alleges Double Standards: Read His Petition-the boys currently being tortured by the Police have accepted Amnesty. Why should they be treated in this dehumanising manner?

We Won't Take Excuses From Bank Debtors-Farida Waziri-“if you claim to owe one kobo, bring that first, then we can all sit down and reconcile the difference. Otherwise, we will do exactly what we have promised to do; that is, arrest, prosecution and confiscation of their assets

Ribadu Begins Working Visit To Liberia-Mallam Ribadu who arrived Monrovia on Monday, August 17, as a guest of the Government of Liberia, paid a courtesy call on Tuesday to the President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the Vice-President, as well as the Chief Justice of Liberia.

FOI Bill: Key To Winning Anti-Corruption War-CLO-When Hillary Rodham Clinton, the US Secretary of State visited Nigeria last week, she said in a Meeting with Civil Society that the anti-corruption war in the country has failed due the inability of the EFCC to sustain the efforts made previously

Anti -Corruption War:Akunyili Lists Trial of James Ibori, Bode George, Others Among High Profile Cases, Says Clinton Was Misinformed

Yar'Adua's Electoral Reform a Farce -  CLO -We have been observing and monitoring closely the so-called electoral reforms of President Umaru Musa Yar Adua and after careful observation, we have come to the hard conclusion that the whole thing is a sham-

Release Pete Edochie Now!Prof Akunyili urges Kidnappers

EFCC Fumes Over  Clinton's Comment-“While no one can disprove the fact that Nigeria has a problem of corruption like other nations, it is really unfortunate for anyone to put the blame on the EFCC or impute that the Commission has not been doing anything

Obama in Ghana: Against the Efulefisation of Nigeria -By Adagbo Onoja -Anybody who does not know the meaning of efulefu from which the concept of efulefisation has been coined should, please, ask his next door Idoma or Igbo neighbour for the meaning. From the Chinua Achebe novel where I picked the word, an efulefu is someone who is contextually worthless

Memo From India-My future plan will be to visit India again, share my experience and network with more NGOs towards solving India basic problems of poverty, reducing the menace of caste system and more integration of the people into the 21^st century world-By Mohammed B. Attah

WHY YAR`ADUA MAY NOT DISSOLVE ENTIRE CABINET

Yar’Adua sends Babangida to Guinea

1/1/2009  The Nation
From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

President Umaru Yar’Adua will tomorrow send former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to Guinea, it was learnt yesterday.
Babangida will lead a delegation to talk with the military junta, which seized power after the death of President Lansana Conte last Tuesday.

Conte was buried on Friday.

Although the surviving Prime Minister Ahmed Souare had tried to resist the coup plotters, he backed out, following threats to his life.
The development forced some Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders to meet with Yar’Adua last week.
Besides rejecting the return of military rule in Guinea, the ECOWAS leaders denounced the two-year transition to civil rule proposal of the junta.
Findings revealed that Yar’Adua opted for "dialogue with the junta on the need for them to have a rethink on their decision to subvert civil rule in Guinea.

"Yar’Adua has chosen former President Babangida to lead a delegation to Guinea for talks with the coup plotters. I do not have the full list of members of the delegation, but I think Babangida has the mandate to convince the junta to restore democratic rule with immediate effect.

"The ECOWAS leaders have resolved that nothing short of democracy will be accepted."

Presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said: "I am aware that Gen. Babangida will be leading the ECOWAS delegation on behalf of President Yar’Adua in his capacity as ECOWAS chairman, but I don’t have the details now.

"If you call tomorrow, I should have more information on the issue."                                                 

SUPERIORITY WAR

Battle between Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu  and Deputy Speaker Nafada rocks Constitution Review Committee as Reps stage a walk out in Minna

                                  Posted  Friday  Jan.16,2009  newsdiaryonline.com

The retreat for members of the joint committee of Nigeria`s National Assembly to review the 1999 Constitution ended abruptly in a fiasco.Eye witnesses in Minna  venue of the retreat told newsdiaryonline that some members of the House of Representatives stunned those who had gathered for the opening ceremony in the Niger State capital by staging a walk out.

Trouble started shortly after what seemed like a harmless mistake as Deputy Speaker was addressed as deputy chairman  of the constitution review committee.This was said to have drawn the ire of members of the House of Representatives who felt it was a deliberate attempt to denigrate the deputy speaker and by extension the reps who are  serving on the committee.The angry reps said the deputy speaker should have been addressed as co-chairman instead of deputy chairman of the committee.``To me that was a trivial error`` said an observer.But not  so with the reps ,as some them  walked out of the hall immediately after the error was committed.

An eye witness said the walk out created yet another embarassing scene as  Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state was left in the hall while  most of the protesting reps went away .It was however further learnt that in the rowdy scene ,some of the national assembly members who were left in the hall quickly rallied the joint committee members  into a closed door meeting.

Meanwhile, reports from Abuja on Friday evening indicated that some of the reps who participated in the dramatic scene in Minna earlier in the day had arrived the Federal Capital Territory.Tongues were wagging in Abuja that National assembly members returned without achieving the aim of the retreat even though the about N120,000 sitting allowance (each) and other related funds for the  members might have been allegedly paid.

Newsdiaryonline learnt that the dramatic walk out was the  peak of the superiority battle between Committee Chairman ,Senator Ike  Ekweremmadu and Deputy Speaker, Usman Bayero Nafada who is also a co- chairman.The superiority battle  according is to ensure that members of the House of Reps are treated equally instead of being seen as junior partners in every affair.

It was further learnt that  an incident in Minna between Governor  and Deputy Senate President further heightened tension between senators and members of the House of Representatives.According to a source, Governor Babangida held a meeting in Minna  before the opening ceremony with the Deputy Senate President  Ekweremmadu .But to the shock of members of the House of  reps, Nafada was not invited.

It is believed that the reps who are on the committee were miffed by this incident which appeared to have sown the seed of discord before the open drama in Minna on Friday.The members of the House of Representaives seemed to be wondering why the governor would meet with the deputy senate president in the absence of the deputy speaker of the House of Reps who is also a co chairman of the constitution review panel.A mischievous observer alleged that the anger may be to  protest being left out of the ``sharing formula of whatever``.

But sources close to Ekweremmadu denied the story.A source said Ekweremmadu had not seen Nafada for three days before the opening ceremony in Minna, so there could not have been any crisis of confidence between them .But those close to Speaker Dimeji Bankole said the Speaker of the House of Representatives had asked his colleagues to return to Abuja after he was briefed about the shoddy treatment meted out to members of the  House of Representatives in Minna  .

Fresh hints on Friday night said that members of the House of Representatives have pulled out of the retreat

CROSSING FROM ANPP TO PDP :AFTER GOV. SHINKAFI , WHO IS NEXT?

Not wanting to play  Second Fiddle, Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi ,Zamfara State governor dumps the ANPP for PDP ahead of his former bossAhmed Sani,  who has been scheming to undermine the incumbent in Gusau; just as strong indications show that more  ANPP governors will equally join the ruling party in Abuja soon

By DANLAMI NMODU    Insider weekly magazine        posted Sunday Dec. 21,2008 12.03AM

Somehow the politics of Zamfara state is becoming increasingly  dramatic.The twists and turns, the moves and counter-moves are getting engaging, some would say worrisome.In the state, eternal vigilance seems to be the watchward now.In particular, the main forces at play are eager to always gain advantage over the other.

The latest event which is still receiving wide spread coverage is the decision of Governor Mahmuda Shinkafi to join the PDP.Actually, it was the ``PDP that sent a delegation recently  to Gusau to urge the governor to dump the ANPP`` and come aboard the ruling party . But that appears to be the easier part of the story.The ``call`` by the PDP seemed like the beginning of the open  manifestation of the underground intrigues in the state.It is essentially a supremacy war waged by former governor Ahmed Sani (Yeriman Bakura) who is now a senator.Though a senator now, he is reputed to have meddled in the affairs of the state in the early days of the Shinkafi regime.Some  alleged that Sani even sought to continue ruling the state by seeking to influence the award of contracts.It was the resistance from the incumbent  who insisted on being given a free hand to run the state that set the stage for the tug –of- war now manifesting in many crises in the state and leading to carpeting-crossing.

Insider weekly learnt that some deep-seated intrigues have been going on  in the state..Sani was believed to have perfected ways of strangulating the incumbent by tightening his grip on the state`s ANPP machinery and also by using his now famous closeness to the PDP chieftains in Abuja especially the presidency as a means to browbeat  Shinkafi.To further strengthen  his political grip Sani was reported to be planning to dump ANPP.And there were clear signs to that effect.

Though insiders in Gusau had known Sani`s game plan, the generality of people got a full glimpse of the former governor`s burgeoning PDP- connection when he attended and addressed the campaign rally organized for Governor Magartakada Wammako of Sokoto.Sani who is popularly called Yerima was said to have traveled with the entourage of President Umaru Yar`Adua for that occasion.His address at  the PDP function served as the first major open hint of the workings of Yerima`s calculating mind.It was also said that Yerima had been working to truly dump the ANPP and openly join the PDP.There appears to be a general believe that the former governor believes his future  is in PDP and being in the ruling party ahead of his successor in Zamfara will also give him a headstart over the governor.There were claims that Yerima had said he would be joining the PDP so that he can actualize his presidential dream in 2011.In fact, posters to this effect had allegedly surfaced in Gusau. President Yar`Adua  later frowned at the report and sensing trouble, Yerima denied any such claims.He reportedly blamed his detractors for the emergence of his posters .

This Yerima –for-PDP scenario is seen as unbearable for Shinkafi`s supporters who have watched how Yerima has personalized the ANPP in Zamfara ,so much so that the ANPP apparachiks in the state are believed to be at odds with Shinkafi.In the light of this,measures were perfected to ensure that Shinkafi too dumps the ANPP ahead of his former boss.The situation got better for Shinkafi because even the PDP is believed to have seen the way politics in Zamfara has degenerated to a point where Yerima personified the ANPP.And having seen that Shinkafi `would be an asset`  , the party began to also warm up to him until he finally crossed  over . Insider weekly learnt that Shinkafi`s move was well debated and planned  and it was resolved that for strategic reasons he should join the PDP ahead of Yerima with is supporters in the cabinet and the state House of Assembly.That is what is unfolding in Gusau now.

At the well attended ceremony where he decamped to the PDP, Shinkafi blamed the leadership of the ANPP for the dwindling fortunes of the party which eventually led to his exit.``The current leadership more than ever before has exhibited wanton disregard for the party`s constitution``Shinkafi said.He accused the leadership of lacking a commitment to rescue  the party from the brink ``instead they are engaged in trading with our mandate in the name of joining the Government of National Unity.They are more concerned with how to secure ministerial positions or their equivalents for themselves  and members of their families``.Shinkafi was right, the magazine learned that Yerima and Godwin Ume Ezeoke actually bargained with the presidency for posts.Yerima wanted to be minister himself but he was rebuffed.Eventually he nominated his wife,but stake- holders in the state protested.Again ,one of his brothers was nominated but that too did not fly.It  was not clear if the minister eventually appointed from the state had the imprimatur of Yerima as it was said that the ex governor`s choice caused some sort of political storm in the state.Also, Ume ezeoke himself wanted a post for himself but  he mentioned his son later as there was no green-light that he would get what he wanted, a source alleged.Though his son did not make the ministerial list, he is one of the special assistants to the president taking care of NGOs and the third sector.

Interestingly, shortly after Shinkafi`s exit  ex -governor Sani sounded tough. Yerima has been saying that the incumbent governor has made a mistake by dumping the ANPP.The impression is also created that `Shinkafi will face the political consequence of his exit`.But knowledgeable sources believe Sani`s anger may just be the outpouring of a politician who has been beaten to his game.Perhaps he was caught napping . But other sources say the worry  and the source of anger for those in ANPP in Zamfara is that  they have  lost the state governmmet which is the financial livewire of the party .ANPP`s loss is PDP`s gain at state and federal levels.

But Shinkafi has simply followed the same route traveled in the recent past  by some ANPP governors under the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency.Ex-Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa state decamped to the PDP and even joined the 2007  presidential race.Also, former Governor Adamu Aliero of Kebbi state dumped the ANPP, got his successor elected also on the platform of the PDP.Now, it is becoming increasingly clear to all the ANPP governors that to secure their political future, they have to be in PDP, said an insider last week.

One ANPP insider told Insider weekly  that ``The ANPP governors now know that if you want to contest an election again, the safest place to be is the PDP.That is why the ANPP governors are in a hurry to go.The case is worsened by the Supreme court verdict  which is causing ripples across the country`` .It is expected that Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano state, and Governor Isa Yuguda  of Bauchi state will soon join the PDP.

Shekarau  has however dismissed reports that he is planning to dump ANPP.Kano –based insiders however said Shekarau is being economical with the truth.According to those who know the trajectory of Shekarau`s political career, it was the Buhari factor that catapulted him into the government House Kano in 2003 with a massive tally of about 1.2 million votes.The Buhari organization made it a point of duty to raise funds running into millions of Naira for Shekarau.In fact , ``shekarau was sleeping at the time the final victory was announced, we went to wake him up to tell him he has won in 2003`` were the words of an insider ``.But by 2007, when the Kano state governor had turned his back on Buhari, his vote tally dwindled to about 600,000 despite the incumbency factor,`` the Kano politician added, while trying to emphasise the importance of the Buhari factor within ANPP.Now with the Supreme court ruling it is an open secret that Buhari will move out of ANPP.That will leave these ANPP governors with no galvanizing force  any more.And they don`t want to be caught unawares, the politician who spoke under anonymity reasoned.

Going down memory lane, however some politicians recalled a bigger picture to the throes ANPP is suffering now.Such politicians said that the ANPP was actually created by the military government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar to serve as an appendage of the PDP.It was created to give a semblance of multi-party government and it was not allowed right from inception to act like a virile party.And the  leaders of APP(laterANPP) have always done the bidding of the presidency.Such politicians recalled how the Alliance for Democracy  was created out of the ANPP;even more ,the national convention of the ANPP in 1998 became a curious stage for manipulation   under the leadership of Mahmud Waziri.The presidential aspirants who had mobilized men and funds for election were disappointed as the processes that ensued ended with an alliance between ANPP and AD much to the surprise of the ANPP stalwarts .Politicians recalled also that most of the founding APP(ANPP) stalwarts moved  with ease into the PDP.Names such as Evans Enwerem,Don Etiebet Ibrahim Mantu and Joseph Wayas readily came to mind as the source spoke about what has become `the long- established tradition to undermine the ANPP.` Now with Buhari(whose entry into the ANPP kept the party alive)set to move into another party, ANPP`s days in the wilderness is about to begin .Not many governors wish to go through such political travails; or so it seems.          

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS PRESIDENT YAR`ADUA`S ELECTION

Posted Friday Dec.12, 2008

Nigeria`s Supreme Court has dismissed the appeals of Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar ,of the All Nigeria People`s Party and Action Congress respectively challenging the election of President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua.

First in the case of Buhari , the justices by a majority ruling of 4 to 3 dismissed the appeal against the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal .The case was  was dismissed for lack of evidence to prove that there were irregularities.The majority ruling also did not agree with the alleged lack compliance with the electoral act.But the three dissenting judgments clearly called for the annulment of the election and ordered a repeat of the polls.The majority decisions  however carried the day.

On the case of Atiku Abubakar, the Supreme court Justice ruled in favour of YarAdua by a majority of 6 to 1.In effect two justices who ruled earlier in favour of Buhari did not see merit in Atiku`s case.But one dissenting ruling was made for Atiku.The majority ruling against Atiku was anchored largely on the claim of exclusion from the election.The justices  said evidences abound to show that Atiku participated and that the claim exclusion cannot be substantiated.

Reports from Abuja a day before indicated a curious lack of panic by those in government."They are just conducting themselves as if they don`t have anything to worry about " were the words of a correspondent.Another observer claimed that the decision of the court seemed to have been known ahead as there were celebrations within some circles in Abuja even a day before the verdict was eventually delivered.

THE INTIMIDATION OF LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER AND THE PRESS BY THE YAR’ADUA ADMINISTRATION BY FESTUS KEYAMO POSTED TUESDAY NOV18, 2008
 
I have just read the account of the Management of Leadership Newspaper about the continuous harassment from the State Security Services. Some of us are very disturbed by the current attitude of the Yar’Adua Administration to press freedom which flows from the constitutional duties given to the press by Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution which states as follows:
 
“The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”
 
The current siege on the Leadership Newspaper by the State Security Services is the latest in recent list of intolerability displayed by the Yar’Adua administration towards the Press.
 
Not long ago, we witnessed the unjust closure of Channels T.V, when a simple refutal of the story by the Presidency would have sufficed.
 
The recent arrest and detention of Jonathan Elendu and Emmanuel Asiwe, both on-line journalists, is still fresh in our memory. Their offence(s) have not been made known. They were not charged to court.
 
We are also aware that a popular programme on A.I.T, anchored by veteran journalist, Gbenga Aruleba, Focus Nigeria, has been proscribed by the Federal Government.
 
The irresistible conclusion we can draw is that the Yar’Adua administration has refused to be an OPEN REGIME where the flow of information is always guaranteed, leading to all kinds of speculations by the Press. The monthly media chat that was done by the Obasanjo’s regime, where burning issues could be addressed, have been shelved. The media advisers of the President are certainly not living up to expectations.
 
I call on all Nigerians and the Press to stand up and resist these unconstitutional restrictions and actions by the Yar’Adua administration against the Press NOW before it is too late.
 
The President should also come clean by publishing a true account (with documentary evidence) of every aspect about his person or his administration to save us these unnecessary embarrassments.                       

Alleged Corruption:SACKED MINISTER MAY FACE PROSECUTION

BY DANLAMI NMODU                             posted Thursday October 30, 2008

Trouble may be looming for some of the ministers who were sacked on Wednesday by president Umaru Musa Yar`Adua . Newsdiaryonline sources insisted some of them were sacked for various reasons including allegations of corruption against some of them.Some Were also sacked because they are of no political value any more .For some others, it was simply the   factor of incompetence that led to their exit from the Federal Executive Council

Newsdiaryonline learned that one of the ministers was dropped due to what an insider described as ``massive corruption`` .The  former minister (names withheld)  had struggled strenuously to save himself by taking measures that would save him but all that came to nought.One of the steps he took to impress the president and Vice president, Goodluck Jonathan got a damp squib as he was smartly rebuffed

His problem was that several petitions  were sent to  the presidency alleging that he was corruptly enriching himself . Initially the president thought it was a joke but more facts began to tumble in. Perhaps the president gave him the benefit of the doubt because this minister was known to be among Yar`Adua`s kitchen cabinet. As  facts  poured in presidency sources described the development as ``very unfortunate ,became it became clear that this chap was  just stealing  money ``.The source further said that later  ``President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua   felt betrayed  by the minister ``

A day after the ministers were sacked, a source revealed that the corruption allegation against one of the former minister is so massive that soon the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC  may soon go after the  former minister.

There are strong feelings that the allegations are so enormous that the minister in question may be prosecuted .Attempts  to hear from Femi Babafemi , spokesman of the EFCC failed as he did not pick his  call as his phone  rang repeatedly .He also- quite unusual of him- did not give a reply to the text message seeking his comment on the matter .

The  former minister ran into trouble when he started dismantling the structures put in place by his predecessor- who himself was very controversial in office.He has remained so.An ally to the controversial predecessor  said on Thursday that  ``you can accuse him(the sacked minister`s predecessor) of any other thing but he did not steal money.But the structures he put in place to avert looting were dismantled by his successor and this development got to the president`s ears.Yar`Adua felt betrayed  and that may explain the sack ``.

If the ex- minister is prosecuted , he may be joining the league of ex- ministers under trial.They include  Professor Adenike Grange former minister of health  and Architect Gabriel Aduku, the minister of state , health. Aduku was recently acquitted but controversy has been trailing the acquittal as EFCC is reported to be rearraigning Aduku for  a fresh trial.Reports before the latest cabinet shake-up indicated that Jerry Agada ,sacked minister of state, education was enmeshed in a scandal over the N80 million  house he bought in Abuja.Whether he too will face trial remains to be seen.                                                               

ALLEGED DIMEJI SCAM:KEYAMO FAULTS PAN, FARUK LAWAN ,HEAD OF INTEGRITY GROUP , OTHERS

posted Tuesday October 28,2008

The unfolding scam over the purchase of Peugeot cars for members of Nigeria`s House of Representatives  under the leadership of Speaker Dimeji Bankole is  fast turning  into  a nightmare of some sort for members of the Integrity Group led by Faruk Lawan.The group  led the campaign  to oust former Speaker Patricia Etteh.Though reports of the scam have been out for over a month now, the Integrity Group seemed for the most part  to have lost its voice until the Keyamo`s actions jolted the group  into speaking through Lawan on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, there is a renewed outcry over the purchase of Peugeot cars in which over N500million is suspected to have been stolen.This renewed campaighn to unearth the truth is led by Festus Keyamo.His open letter to Bankole last week has elicited a response from the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges which has asked Keyamo  among others to appear before it on Wednesday October 29,2008.In fact, at the expiration of the ultimatum he gave for the Speaker to explain the grey areas of the purchase, Keyamo petitioned the Economic and Financial crimes Commission EFCC urging Farida Waziri to investigate the scam.But it will really be interesting to see what Waziri would do because about a month ago, she paid a visit to the Speaker.The media reported that it was in connection with the scam but that suggestion was denied.So what game is the EFCC really playing over the matter? Will it really take up Keyamo`s challenge and investigate Bankole?

As at Tuesday October 28, 2008 though, emphasis seemed to have shifted to the the members of the ethics committee who are expected to look at the allegations against the speaker .Also, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria made what may seem like a monumental error by jumping unguardedly  into the fray thus complicating the dimension of the unfolding scam.PAN in its letter to the EFCC had sought to clear  Bankole and all.

But Keyamo took exception to the attempt by PAN to absolve the House of any controversy or scam over the purchase of cars. Keyamo`s words:``I have read, with serious concern, the letter purportedly written by Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited on the alleged fraud in the purchase of 380 Peugeot 407 cars by the House of Representatives.The letter, regrettably, is a concoction of half –truths and, at best, a criminal admission of guilt regarding the transaction.It is an attempt to pull a wool over the eyes of Nigerians. I am not deceived in the least.

 With the present response by P.A.N, the following issues are clear:

1.At the time of the quotation for the cars, there were in existence, amongst the different brands of 407 cars, two brands known as 407 ST Sports (Auto) and 407 ST Comfort. Peugeot bidded for the first one and were awarded the contract. Now they have agreed they supplied the second one which is 407 ST Comfort that is cheaper and which was not bidded for.

2.In the 2008 price list of P.A.N just released to the press, the price of the said 407 ST Comfort is N5,100,000.00 (Five Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) and not N6,168,750.00 (Six Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira) as they claimed. In the earlier 2006 price list, 407 ST Comfort was still N5,100,000.00 (Five Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira). It would mean, therefore, that the price of the car was N5.1 Million until the House of Representatives bidded for it, when it rose miraculously to N6.2 Million, and then came back down to the old price of N5.1 Million after the cars were supplied to the House of Representatives!

3.That, curiously, the letter by P.A.N remained very silent on the issue of double payment of V.A.T. After, paying P.A.N the contract sum, inclusive of V.A.T, why did the House raise different payment vouchers purportedly paying again for the same V.A.T?

The long and short of all these is that by their own letter, P.A.N has agreed they did not supply what they bidded for and the House accepted what they did not order. Curious business partners!Someone must explain this strange business transaction quickly to Nigerians or they must return tax-payers’ monies to the coffers of government.``

But the radical  Lagos lawyer who is willing to appear before the House Committee on Ethics faulted as well the composition of the Committee .He also raised issues which seem to indicate the committee may have been less than transparently constituted  a fact which may make it be a protective shield for Speaker Bankole.

Keyamo in  his  reaction to the invitation by the House Committee on ethtics and privilege said among others that ``there are few concerns I wish to raise. I recognise the unblemished character and high integrity of members of your Committee. Many were members of the “Integrity Group” that held their heads high during a similar episode involving ex-speaker, Patricia Etteh. However, it is also a fact that your Committee was the only Committee unilaterally constituted by Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole during plenary sitting on 9<sup>th</sup> September, 2008, a whole month before all the other dissolved Committees that went through the consideration of the Selection Committee were constituted on 9<sup>th</sup> October, 2008. It is also a fact that, co-incidentally, members of your Committee are also the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Committees which the Speaker has described as “juicy” Committees (whatever that means). ``

He proceeded to illustrate his point by listing the member of the ethics committee and their positions in other committees thus :``Hon. Farouk Lawan      -  Chairman, Education Committee ;      Hon. Garba Shehu Matazu – Chairman, Housing & Habitat Committee;   Hon. Bashir Adamu – Chairman, Navy Committee ;  Hon. Abdulaziz Yari – Chairman, Aids, Loans & Debts Mgt Committee ;      Hon. Umar Moh’d Bature – Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee ;Hon. Yakubu Dogara – Chairman, Customs and Exercise Committee ;     Hon. Jerry Manwe – Chairman, Interior Affairs Committee ;    Hon. Mustapha Ahmed – Chairman, House Services Committee ;     Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Chairman, Marine Transport Committee ;  Hon. Nnenna Ukaje – Chairman, Donor Agencies Committee ;    Hon. Rasak Adewusi – Chairman, Pension Committee ;  Hon. Duro Faseyi – Chairman, Environment Committee

13.    Hon. John Halims Agoda – Chairman, Airforce Committee ;  Hon. Ademola Adeseun – Chairman, Appropriation Committee ;  Hon. Ibrahim Khalid – D/Chairman, Science & Tech Committee ;   Hon. Goni Bukar – D/Chairman, Communication Committee ;  Hon. Mikail Bmitosahi – D/Chairman, Federal Character Committee ;    Hon. Emmanuel Jev – D/Chairman, Petroleum Upstream Committee ;   Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka –D/Chairman, Inter-parliamentary Committee ;    Hon. Ikhariale Patrick – D/Chairman, Justice Committee ;    Hon. Warman Ogoriba – D/Chairman, Emergency & Disaster Mgt. Committee ;  Hon. Tayo Fawehinmi – D/Chairman, Navy Committee ``. He added, ``as a result of the facts as stated above, the public have come to see the Committee as the “Speaker’s Committee” (even though it may not be true). But unfortunately, the test for fair hearing is how the ordinary man on the street perceives the proceedings in a matter and not what is necessarily in the minds of those who preside. The public may feel that, because of natural human weakness for those who favour them, you may not muster enough courage to do what is right and the ordinary man may go away thinking justice has not been done. It is also a fact that during a similar crises involving ex-speaker, Patricia Etteh, some of you resisted a similar attempt to refer the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee, preferring an ad-hoc Committee set up by the whole House. Gentlemen, the summation of all I have said is that there is a strong apprehension in the public domain (not necessarily my views) that the Committee may be a “burial ground” for the matter. I do not want to believe this to be true. As a result of the above, I will be prepared to appear before your Committee at 12 noon on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, in Committee Room 18 at the National Assembly Complex if the following guarantees are made:      That there will be live or full press coverage of the proceedings to allay the fears of cover-up by members of the public.     That those accused will be made to face myself and any other accuser(s) in public as guaranteed by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. By those accused, I mean: a)    The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, and the leadership  of the House.b)    The Management of Peugeot Automobile Nig. Ltd.. (PAN). c)    The Federal Inland Revenue Service .d)    All other persons or institutions linked to the monumental scandal. ``

In his comment about Keyamo`s petition, Bankole has said  he is not worried.“ The House will sort  it out; and the House Ethics is looking into it and I am sure Keyamo also will come out with the facts and we will come out with the facts and then we move on. Ask the Federal Inland Revenue Service the question, they will answer you. If you want to ask question, ask PAN, they will answer you. It doesn’t matter what I say, what matters is what those people say.We are dealing with serious issues; I’m a serious person dealing with serious issues. The House is a serious place dealing with serious issues,” Bankole said .Lawan on Tuesday has however called for a thorough probe of the allegations.But  questions over his group`s seeming loss of verve and fire like it exhibited on the scandal that led to Ether`s ouster remain unanswered.Or is there any surprise for Bankole from his Integrity friends? Or is the group set to truly protect the speaker? Nigerians are watching.                                                                      

WHY BAFARAWA  LOST CONTROL OF  SOKOTO POLITICS

·        Adamu Aliero emerges the new godfather 

Attahiru Bafarawa ,former governor of Sokoto State and Adamu Aliero his Kebbi State counterpart  are locked in a political battle largely hidden from the public . In the unfolding contest Bafarawa has already lost his  Sokoto political turf.This is why

BY DANLAMI NMODU      posted Sunday October 19,2008

In the beginning Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara  states  voted along the same party line.In 1999 and 2003, the three states  remained under the grip of the All Nigerian People`s Party, ANPP.All that is however  history now as things have fallen apart, especially among the immediate past governors-Attahiru Bafarawa,Adamu Aliero and Ahmed Sani- who hitherto looked like one and the same with respect to party politics.

A new reality has crept upon the landscape as  sokoto and kebbi went to the PDP in the 2007 polls,while Zamfara remained with the ANPP(Even the Zamfara story may soon change as there are pressures to make Governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi join the ruling party soon despite the protest from his political base)

The way the immediate past governors of the three states seemed like birds of the same feather, many thought the  camaraderie would make  them  bond further after completing two consecutive terms in office as governors.But that is not the case.The wall of unity has a big crack now.It is believed to be so bad that Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State and Adamu Aliero former governor of Kebbi state  literally sleep these days with only one eye closed respectively.They seem to be in a state of hyper sensitivity watching the moves of each other.Only Aliero and Ahmed Sani the former governor of Zamfara seem to be getting along.The two friends are also senators now.And crack crept in  the aftermath of some sort of battle to control each other`s territory

Newsdiaryonline learnt that the political battle between Bafarawa and Aliero started while they were in office.Better still, the war got to a head in the twilight of their tenure in office.It was characterized by backstabbing and all kinds of political treachery on both sides.

Today, Bafarawa has lost control of sokoto state.But  the story may not just be down to  rigging alone.It was a fallout of an intriguing  battle for control between the two governors.At some point ,say Aliero`s friends ,Bafarawa sought to extend his territorial ambition into kebbi. Perhaps it would have been okay they reasoned if he had done it in a fair manner.What got Aliero disturbed was the fact that Bafarawa chose to use Abubakar Mallam,who is ``a childhood friend`` of Aliero`s against the former Kebbi state governor.What started as a rumour became clearer to Aliero   that Bafarawa was  actually encroaching into  his Kebbi territory, seeking to recruit his commissioners and special assistants who were promised higher salaries beyond what the Aliero regime had offered them.But the height of  it all  according to a Kebbi state source ,was the determination of Bafarawa to have Mallam who  Aliero`s friend to  run on the platform of the Democratic People`s Party ,DPP against Aliero`s choice for the gubernatorial race.

Newsdiaryonline sources said as soon as Aliero confirmed that Bafarawa was behind this treachery ,he too chose to take the battle to Bafarawa`s territory. Newsdiaryonline learned that it was Aliero that sponsored Magatakarda Wammako against Bafarawa`s candidate.``Aliero sponsored Wammako``, a source revealed recently.Amazingly , Wammako won .That is how Bafarawa`s political control of sokoto slipped out.``Look he came to our state to sponsor Aliero`s friend against our governor`s own candidate .So Aliero  also decided to sponsor Wammako against his own candidate and Aliero`s candidate in sokoto  won.So it is a game``, a source who is close to Aliero revealed.

Perhaps Bafarawa`s case was worsened by the sheer popularity of Wammako.One of those in Sokoto to monitor the election  told Newsdiaryonline that the man appeared popular at the grassroots.While Aliero`s candidatse in Sokoto and Kebbi states won, Bafarawa`s candidates in both states lost.In effect, Aliero has emerged as the new godfather of the sokoto-kebbi political axis.Worse still Mallam, the childhood friend of Aliero`s who betrayed his friend by pitching camp with Bafarawa is said to have realized his folly.He has returned to his friend and made amends.He now believes some political wool was drawn over his face while the battle lasted .But he can now separate the grain from the chaff.

One of the noticeable changes that have taken place in the zone is the switch from ANPP to the Peopl`s Democratic Party,  PDP .The exception is Bafarawa who chose to form his own party the DPP after dumping the ANPP.Bafarawa refused to join PDP because he did not believe in the third term plot by Obasanjo.He was indeed one of the voices against Obasanjo especially  through the Hausa service of the BBC.So when he chose to form his party after the suspicion that the PDP had been infiltrated by PDP agents many were not surprised.But he has not succeeded in making the DPP an electoral success like the ANPP.

Rather, it is the PDP that is on the rise in the zone.Newsdiaryonline learnt that President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua has a hand in the resurgence of the PDP in the  sokoto-Kebbi axis.Contrary to the opinion that it was Obasanjo that got Aliero into PDP, fresh facts have emerged that it was in fact Yar`Adua that did it .According to a source in Abuja, as soon as Yar`Adua was convinced that he had been anointed, he reached out to Aliero and let him know that Obasanjo had zoned the presidency to the north west and he has been urged to run.Yar`Adua   pleaded that Aliero should join the PDP so that he can mobilize votes for him in the state and beyond.There was a genuine reason for YarAdua to reach out.In a free and fair election, either Yar`Adua orMuhammadu  Buhari the ANPP presidential candidate  could win.And the Abubakar Atiku factor was also there.At that stage Aliero too informed his people.He later met with the PDP topshots in Abuja in order to finalise the negotiations.

Aliero gave his conditions.He wanted the position of governor for his state and sokoto.He also wanted three senators in his Kebbi state.He wanted a reasonable number of the House of representative and a sizeable number in the State House of AssemblyHe negotiated and got his deal sealed.He then followed it up by convincing Saidu  Dakingari to join him in the PDP.

Actually  this entrance of Aliero and Dakingari into  created some tension within the PDP in the state where it seemed Muhammadu Magoro was the candidate.Later ,the name of Tanimu Kabiru appeared on the scene until Dakingari was finally officially endorsed by the party in the aftermath of the Aliero negotiations.

Sources say these intrigues are at the root  of the corruption allegations flying from both sides of the political dividein the zone.Aliero and his men say the allegations against him are being cooked up by his enemies just to tarnish his image.Very recently, it was reported that the  ICPC was set to try him.But a source close to him denied it because no such case exists. Aliero`s supporters claim that his political foes may have found an ally in Mustapha Jokolo whom Aliero deposed as emir of Gwandu.Interestingly, even Bafarawa too is not free from antigraft agencies as the EFCC recently quizzed him over alleged financial misdeeds while he was governor.Apparently  the battleground has gone  beyond  seeking thecontrol of political turfs to the realm of anti-corruption war.As things stand now,only the anticorruption agencies and the courts may determine who will be the winner or ultimate loser of this dirty war.                                                                                     

LAGOS : RUMBLINGS  OVER FASHOLA

Babatunde Fashola is admired as governor of Lagos state for his focused and principled leadership style.But traditional politicians are grumbling and hoping  Fashola is stopped from having a second term.His associates and admirers believe it is too late for his detractors

Posted Saturday October 11,2008

BY DANLAMI NMODU

Once again, Lagos state is holding its elections in local government councils in the state .The opposition Action Congress is the party in control of the state .There are 57 councils but only 20 are listed in the 1999 constitution. Ahead of the polls on Saturday October 11, 2008, the state restricted movements between 8.00am and 4.00pm .But by afternoon there were reports of at least a riotous scene  at Ketu area.It was not immediately known what caused the ugly scene but the police allegedly shot  in the air to disperse the riotous crowd.There were initial claims that stray bullets may have hit at least three people.It could not be confirmed if they died in the aftermath of the scene in Ketu as one eyewitness claimed.There was a report about a woman in Ojota/Ogudu area  shot by a police stray bullet.She was rushed to the hospital.Disorderly scenes were also noticed at Agidingbi area .

The election was boycotted by the PDP which controls the federal government.The PDP said the newly created councils are illegal and that being a regime that cherishes the rule of law , it was left with no option but to call on its candidates to withdraw.This order  is believed to have caused rumblings within the Lagos state chapter of the party as candidates had expended their energy , time and resources campaigning vigorously for the polls.In the end  the Lagos state chapter of the party caved in to the order from the national secretariat.

The new councils in dispute were created by the previous Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime.Tinubu`s regime had a running battle with former President Olusegun Obasanjo`s regime.The Federal government under Obasanjo withheld the state`s federal allocation because of the councils depite the Supreme Court`s ruling that the state had the powers to create them.Perhaps it is in recognition of the longstanding struggle  to keep  the councils that Tinubu told Lagosians that ``Freedom is not free``.He however insisted that the councils have come to stay.

A few weeks to the local council polls the state equally become  a fertile ground for politicians to examine the activities of Governor Fashola`s regime.In fact , a day to the council polls, Fashola marked  his 500<sup>th</sup> day in office as governor in the state.He used the occasion to defend his action .In particular he likened the cration of councils by the state to the ceding of Bakasi by the federal government with the approval of the national assembly.The Bakassi action was later approved by the national assembly.In effect the state expect same treatment for Lagos.For most residents of the state , it has been a remarkable period in he  which has continued with the focused political leadership encapsulated by Tinubu.Some of Fashola`s admirers even say he has tightened some of the loose ends of the Tinubu regime.

Such tightening of loose ends may be at the heart of the silent rumblings by some politicians who see Fashola as standing in the way of their access to the public till. The story making the round now is that some polticians have gone to Tinubu to complain about the new governor`s style.According to the tale, Fashola`s detractors are already urging Tinubu to drop Fashola after his first term inoffice.So it is being speculated now that by 2011, Fashola`s term will be over and that Adeyemi Ikuforiji .speaker of Lagos state  House of Assembly may step in as the new governor in 2011.Tinubu it is alleged is aware of this call by Fashola`s detractors.

Two senor officials of the state told newdiaryonline that they have also heard of the tale making the round in the state .They insisted that it is not true.The speaker and Fashola are the best of friends one of them insisted.``They were together up late into the night on Wednesday`` one official said as he insisted there is no rivalry between the two as people claim.One official chronicled the good works of Fashola.``He is  trying to do things in an unusual fashion to make Lagos better. He is cleaning up Lagos and of course some people are not happy`` he said.In his view ``you would not see politics being played the traditional way in which for example every function is heralded by people who will be dancing and raining abuses on opponents.Such acts fetched easy money to some people in the past but Fashola has put an end to that and much more``.Of course an official added you may not rule out minor disagreements between the governor and Tinubu but such have been ironed  out long ago and they are working together to make Lagos better now.

 One of Tinubu`s aides was even more forceful in denying any rift between Fashola and Tinubu.He  also insisted “ there is nothing like friction between Tinubu and Fashola”.He explained that there is really no reason for friction because much of  the things  Fashola is executing are part of the “what has been a sixteen year programme” enunciated by the Tinubu regime which the present government also served as chief of staff.He listed the projects that are going on including the BRT as part of the programmes .According to Tinubu`s aide, even  on matters of principle like federalism, Fashola too has been very committed.``From a vantage position, I can tell you that there is no fundamental disagreement between them.Even at personal level they operate like brothers``He isisted that Tinubu is not competing with the incumbent.The former governor`s aide insisted pointedly  that:``Fashola`s second term is guaranteed``

Mallam Jaji, a well known AC politician in the state also acknowledges the good strides of Fashola now.He noted that initially people were generally not happy with Fashola.But they  have now come to appreciate him very well now.``Initiall, yes, they were not happy.But now everybody appreciates him`` he said  especially now that the governor has divorced himself from the affairs of the party and has taken the job of governance very seriously and positively

As things stand now, Mallam Jaji does not envisage any problem for Fashola in 2011.According to him, ``Fashola has not made his 2011 intentions known.But for God`s sake if he continues the way he going, who will be there to challenge him``He likens the government of Fashion to  that of former President Bill Clinton of the United who faced some negative ratings but triumphed ultimately with consistent policies and actions.Despite the initial problems, Mallam Jaji  said ``Today he(Fashola) is the number one governor in terms of performance`             

CABINET SHAKE-UP:YAR`ADUA`S OFFER SPLITS ACF

There is a big split within the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF on the heels of President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua`s message urging the forum to submit two names for ministerial appointment  

Posted Saturday October 11, 2008

Those not aware of the intrigues within may think the recent communiqué released at the end of the National Executive Council meeting of northern  Nigeria`s  Arewa Consultative Meeting is the true position of the north  on President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua. At the end of the meeting ,ACF issued a communiqué which said Yar`Adua is fit to rule Nigeria . It urged everyone to rally behind the regime.However even before the NEC meeting, Newsdiaryonline  learnt that  a crack  had  been deepening  within the ranks of ACF stalwarts. And from the information available the communiqué  simply represents one side of  the story.

Sources revealed  that ACF in recent times has been split down the line over the issue of Yar`Adua .The split  became more pronounced recently  after the president  made an offer of ministerial  appointments to ACF as he prepares to name new ministers. Newsdiaryonline learnt that Yar`Adua has asked ACF to send in two names for him to nominate as ministers in the coming cabinet shake-up .It is this offer of ministerial nomination that has split ACF into to camps now.The official communiqué may just be an attempt to paper over the cracks.

As soon as Yar`Adua `s offer to appoint two ACF members became known ,  the camp of opponents and supporters of the idea emerged.On the one hand, there are  those who haved  argue that the offer should be rejected .Those who called for the rejection of the offer said that the Yar`Adua regime has ``credibility ``problems and that since ACF prides itself as non –partisan, any open association with the government may erode the people`s confidence in the Forum.

According to Newsdiaryonline sources there are those  on the other hand who argue that ACF should accept the president`s offer and go ahead to send the names of two members for the president to nominate among his new cabinet members.One source   said ``such men   want to throw their credibility overboard just for what they hope to get.`` Supporters of the president`s offer are said to be reasoning that since he is a northerner, the president should be supported

The details of the communiqué released at the end of the NEC may be an indication that the supporters of Yar`Adua may have carried the day. Soon after the communiqué became public, one of ours sources drew attention to the fact that the issue in fact has now become public affair with ACF officially saying Yar`Adua is fit to rule. A communique  signed by Anthony N.Z Sani, national publicity  secretary of ACF  said ,"The meeting noted reports in the media and elsewhere about the health of the president, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua. While the forum believes that Nigerians have a legitimate right to know what their leaders do with the mandate given them, it regretted that the undue pressure being brought to bear on the president on account of his health alone is unhelpful. Contrary to the insinuations of the critics, the ACF believes that the president is capable and is discharging the duties of his office," .

The Communique among others made a direct appeal to Nigerians to support Yar`Adua . "The forum urges all Nigerians to remain positive and give the president their total support, cooperation and encouragement in order for him to do more and achieve more" , ACF said.

This  latest  support by the forum for Yar`Adua is believed to be an unusual twist of event.Initially ACF was known to be largely pro -Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People`s Party.In fact , when  the Dr Olusola Saraki- led Northern Union paid a solidarity visit to YarAdua in the early days after he was sworn in as president, the visit by the Northern Union was roundly condemned by ACF.Now, Norhern union topguns are feeling vindicated with ACF`s declaration of support for YarAdua.

When asked to comment on the declaration by ACF that YarAdua is fit to rule, Mohammed Alhaji -Yakubu, youth leader of the Northern Union  said ``What ACF has done now has confirmed the foresight and wisdom of the Northern Union earlier in supporting Yar`Adua and continuing to support him.Initially they (ACF) were pro-Buhari.At what point did they make a u-turn now? We don`t know.``He said he is  not aware that the president has offered ACF any postion.

But those aware of the intrigues within ACF insist that the forum`s declaration of support means  it  has officially accepted Yar`Adua`s offer that it send two names for nomination as ministers.``This position confirms that they are interested in the  president`s offer`` a Newsdiaryonline source said. It is not known  if the names have  been forwarded to the president yet.                                                                                                    

CABINET  RESHUFFLE:NO MINISTER SURE OF POSITION YET

Posted Tuesday October 7, 2008

Uncertainty  pervaded the Federal Capital  Territory  a day before   what is once again said to be the last Federal Executive Council Meeting of President Umaru  YarAdua`s first set of ministers scheduled to hold Wednesday October 8.What is certain now is that there will be  a shake-up. But no minister has any particular assurances as to  what his or her position will be, according to Newsdiaryonline sources.

This feeling is fuelled by the fact that there have talks of the various shapes the reshuffle may take.Some have said it will be total ,while others say the president may leave some minister behind  ,sack some and appoint new ones.Yet uncertainty persists because there have been feelers  that some of those to be retained, if at all, may be moved to new ministries..

Sources close to Aso Rock revealed that among the topshots in the presidency, there is the feeling that all the ministers performed below expectation``The ministers have not done well and this uncertainty about their future is making them lose focus,some are afraid they will be changed so no serious work is being done by most ministers since speculation about their probable exit became public`` This uncertainty has led to a virtual standstill compounding the perception of go slow for which the regime has hitherto been known .

What is even more intriguing is the fact that as far as the looming changes are concerned,the president has chosen to make himself unpredictable.Here an insider``Even people who are usually very close to the president  are not sure of exactly what to expect. That is the situation as at this morning`` He  also added that one should not be unmindful of the general state of uncertainty perhaps fueled by the president`s reported  failing health.

Some of those believed to be close to Yar`Adua include Yakubu Tanimu ,the chief economic adviser to the President, Abba  Sayyadi Ruma, the minister of Agriculture .Turai, the president`s wife , James Ibori  former governor of Delta state , Bukola Saraki, Kwara state governor and Ibrahim Shema are all  known to wield a lot of influence.How far they will determine who gets what in the up coming shakeup remains to be seen

Interestingly  some ministers who have hitherto been perceived to be close  to Yar`Adua are being reported to be on their  way out .They include Shamsudeen Usman,finance minister and Aliyu Moddibo Umar FCT  minister are named among those that  may be dropped.A Newsdiaryonline source said it will be shocking if Moddibo is dropped because he appears quite close to the president and he has been doing a lot of yeoman`s job for Yar`Adua like trying among others to burnish the president`s image. But other reports allege that there have been complaints against the FCT minister from  some quarters.

Newsdiaryonline had earlier reported that the criteria the president may use to determine who stays or not include competence, political value and alleged corruption .Already some ministers  have allegations of corruption hanging over  them.The Minister of state education, Jerry Agada is enmeshed in a legal battle over the purchase of one N80Million property in Abuja. Another minister is known to have bought property roughly valued at N40 million or possibly more .The recent  rash of probe of ministries by the Senate  also revealed the weaknesses of some  ministers .The fate of Mrs Diezani Alison- Madueke was reported Tuesday to be hanging in the balance among others.Diezani is believed to have been one of those who ran into troubled  waters as a senate probe questioned her handling of unspent funds in  the Transportation Ministry .Local newspapers have been running feverish stories about some of those who may make the new cabinet .Names of Tunde Ogbeha, Ahmadu Ali and  David Jemiwon  have been  mentioned. Problem is that they are all from the same Kogi state.Others mentioned include Mansur Muktar a former director of the Debt Management Office and Olusegun Olusanya who is one of the   non executive directors of Union Bank Plc.Ahead of the FEC meeting YarAdua was reported to have held closed door meetings with Senator David Mark , the senate president and  Dimeji Bankole, speaker House of Representatives.

If the president goes ahead to release the names of new ministerial nominees to the senate for confirmation, it will come to some people as a surprise. Last week, Newsdiaryonline reported that some advisers had urged the president to tarry awhile over the question of ministerial nominees in the light of the forthcoming supreme Court ruling on the 2007 polls .Going ahead to change cabinet  may be interpreted to mean the president knows that a favourable ruling is  in the offing. But of course there are those who argue that he should just go ahead and change his cabinet .``They should be free to stay on if he wins at the Supreme Court and they should equally be  prepared to leave if the president loses at the court`,` Says a presidency staff  who appears anxious to have the cabinet issue resolved expeditiously.                   SUPREME COURT RULING                                                         

YAR`ADUA`S SHAKE-UP CAUGHT IN A WEB

The much anticipated cabinet reshuffle may  have been put on hold  in the face of mounting intrigues over the upcoming ruling of the Supreme Court on the 2007 presidential polls

.Inside the story:ORJI  UZOR KALU REACTS TO SAHARAREPORTERS  as he tells NEWSDIARYONLINE ``YAR`ADUA IS MY FRIEND``

Posted Friday October 3, 2008

BY DANLAMI NMODU

Will president Umaru Musa YarAdua go ahead with the impending shakeup of his cabinet now? What he does will be  used as a pointer to  the things to come.The Supreme Court is expected to begin hearing in October from lawyers in the appeals against the judgment of the court of Appeal which said Yar`Adua won the highly criticized presidential election.Justice Idris Kutigi declared last month said  that he would not tolerate any further delay tactics by the lawyer and he fixed October  23, 2008 for hearing of the case.Leadership newspaper, an Abuja based daily even speculated that the Court may even deliver its ruling same day and explain later.Muhammadu Buhari , presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People`s Party ANPP and Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress want the  court to annul the election and order fresh polls.

But a fresh insight has emerged about the intrigues  preceding the Supreme Court`s ruling.Newsdiaryonline learnt last night that the upcoming ruling may have been the real reason why the cabinet reshuffle was put on hold . Last week, the presidency said the shakeup was a done deal and that it was waiting for the senate to reconvene after the recess.But the senate cried foul saying though  it was in deed ready to receive the list of ministerial nominees none had been forwarded to it yet .

Where did Yar`Adua get his courage to shakeup things from?Newsdiaryonline learned that it is well known in some political circles in the north that the president seemed set to announce the shakeup earlier but he was compelled to hold on in the face of the admonition from his advisers.``Some advisers urged him to hold on because it will be like preempting the Supreme court`` a member of the Arewa consultative Forum ACF who has hid  ears to the ground revealed.He added,`` We have heard that the president was told that releasing the names will confirm the speculation already making the rounds that the president has prior knowledge of what the supreme court`s ruling will be.It will preempt the court and give the people the impression that the  government  in deed knows of the court`s ruling well ahead of its delivery``, the source added.

It was in deed amazing that the president was considering a reshuffle when the tenure of his regime hangs  in the balance.Saharareporters.com has in deed revealed that the president may in fact have secured assurances from the Supreme court through the efforts of some former  governors.James Ibori of delta state,Orji uzor kalu of Abia, Saminu Turaki of Jigawa and Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu were alleged to be working to secure victory for Yar`Adua.Also Farida Waziri the EFCC boss was named as a member of the team.Newsdiaryonline sent text messages to Ibori, Saminu Turaki and Kalu  and Olusegun Adeniyi YarAdua`s spokesman for their reactions.

Ibori, Turaki and Adeniyi did not respond to the text message as at Friday morning.But Orji Uzor Kalu called in the morning,  Friday  October  3, 2008 wondering why his reacton was sought.``Do I  work in the supreme court?`` He asked  as he sought to know what  was actually reported by Saharareporters.Then he added  by telephone from Abuja after he was told what had been reported saying,``  My reaction is that, YarAdua is my friend and will continue to be my friend.``He repeated the line twice as he said further, ``but that will not stop me from  contesting against him.If I  defeat him, nothing stops him from going to court to challenge me in the same court they are accusing me of  going to secure (something )”.He added “I don`t work in the Supreme court`` and  that there was no way he could ``intervene``   in their work  Orji Kalu told Newsdiaryonline

Newsdiaryonline learnt that the report that the Supreme court may resolve its case in Yar`Adua`s favour may not have been unfounded as the speculation as been in the air in the north for some time.But the truth about it is that there has been a cocktail of  rising  expectations for and against Yar`Adua, depending on one`s political leaning in the prelude to the Supreme Court verdict. Just as there have been claims that Yar`ADua will win , there are those who have also claimed that the Supreme court will annul the election.

According to a politician, there have  been talks in some political circles that some people are saying the supreme court be allowed to rule in favour of Yar`Adua``.If these people have their way, Yar`Adua may win. Such people we are told want the judgment awarded to the president in order to stabilize the polity. That is what  we have been picking up .Such people here say whatever may be the fault, Yar`Adua should be allowed to repair the damage so far done to the nation``.It is however incredible that those who make this appeal can be so sanguine about the President even after one year of his  regime`s failure to inspire hope .It is even more curious because the President looks infirm.That was the impression those who watched him up close on national television during the 48^th anniversary broadcast say :that the president looks like one  in a bad shape.But in the end of Ramadan statement, the president   used the “occasion to reaffirm my personal commitment to giving our beloved nation the able leadership it requires to successfully overcome present challenges and move forward at greater speed towards the attainment of our collective aspirations as a people.”

But newsdiaryonline also learnt  that  despite these feverish speculations,``the justices are  determined to do their job``.One of those who hold this view said the report that Yar`Adua will  win is a deliberate attempt to ``antagonise`` the president so that he will eventually lose. In fact Newsdiaryonline gathered that just like the members of the public, there has been some anxiety among the justices of the supreme court too.One of the Justices actually held a meeting with the Chief Justice of the Federation Idris Legbo Kutigi some months ago.The kernel of that meeting was to discuss the necessity for the CJN to preside over the hearing of the appeals and to ensure that the judgment is equally delivered by the CJN to give all actions the necessary credibility  desired now. Any wrong step  whereby somebody else is allowed to deliver the judgment may generate some negative meanings which may drag the name of the judiciary tnto the mud.The Justce and the CJN were said to have brainstormed over the issue for about one hour several months ago. Perhaps that may have been the genesis of the rumour that kutigi had said he would look at the matter based on its merit. Now, the source said what is certain is that the Justices are hellbent on doing  their job.He also noted that it appears the discussion with the CJN was fruitful as the CJN has been presiding over the case just as the other justice too who met with him  to plead for acts that will maintain the credibility of the Courts  is also on the panel.The source who revealed this move by a Supreme Court justice urged Newsdiaryonline not to publish it yet because it may be sub judice.But these are trying times requiring  close monitoring of the parties involved in order that the people know what exactly is happening.

Perhaps the need urge Idris Kutigi  to take control of the case came in the aftermath of the controversial way Justice James Ogebe stepped aside and allowed another judge to deliver the last judgment on the case at the Court of Appeal in Abuja .For now, fingers are  crossed awaiting the real judgment.                                      

ASO ROCK AND THE  STRANGE  MOVES TOWARD  2011

In spite of the palpable hurdles for the regime to clear, there are claims that President Umaru Musa YarAdua has been positioning   himself for the 2011 reelection campaign- strange claims in deed

BY DANLAMI NMODU          posted 1:30am Wednesday October  1,2008

It is indeed amazing to hear politicians say that calculations toward the 2011 presidential polls have begun already .But that is what they are saying behind closed doors .In fact some claim that President  Umaru Musa`s inner circle has been so adept at this to the extent   that a systematic policy of political ``elimination`` of potential threats is already being executed to clear the coast for president Yar`Adua`s reelection come 2011.

Though the impending cabinet shake up for instance is obviously meant to rejuvenate a poor performing government, deciding who goes and who stays has the future calculation in mind. A   source in Abuja told Newsdiaryonline  that the three major reasons underpin whether a minister will go or not.The first is competence.  The second is political value and the third is alleged corruption .Talking about the second reason, it is believed some of the ministers are feather weights and may just be practically useless when push comes to shove .That may be a reason why such political deadwoods may be thrown out.Yar`Adua`s men now say they did not know much about most of those  who became ministers as they were imposed on him. Now they want the men who can work to produce result when called upon.

But it is not just   about dissatisfaction with political deadwoods  alone. It is alleged that Aso Rock insiders have become very preoccupied with fishing for ambitious men who have a promising political future .These men and women wherever they may be are to be tackled .If they happen to be in government, the resolve may be to shove them out .That is said to be the fate that befell Babagana Kingibe who recently lost his job as Secretary to the Federal Government.He was sacked to effectively whittle down his influence and stymie his perceived  presidential ambition .That is why one insider  described Kingibe`s sack as a product of mere  ` political intrigue.`Kingibe was finally sacked because of alleged moves he made to position himself for the president`s job.By the time Yar`Adua  returned from Saudi Arabia,  Kingibe`s earlier claims that his so called presidential manouevres were  the handiwork of his political detractors  no longer tenable.But few will sympathise with Kingibe because of his questionable political trajectory.Many remember him  for dumping June 12 and siding with General Sani Abacha`s regime in which he served as minister while Moshood Abiola, the winner of the June 12 ,1993 polls languished in detention.

But Newsdiaryonline has learnt that what happened to Kingibe is not an isolated event.Sources said that the presidential ambition of General Muhammed Buba Marwa has been a source of concern to some of Yar`Adua`s men .So , as the story goes, as soon as the net was  cast wide to fish for potential aspirants in 2011, Marwa`s name emerged. Pronto! it was said a strategy was perfected to checkmate him . The decision was thus made to keep Marwa away from Nigeria`s shore .That was how, a source claimed , the move to make Marwa an ambassador began . Perhaps, the hiccup Marwa`s nomination faced at the Senate which delayed his confirmation alongside others must have been some unexpected nightmarish twist of events for those determined to send the former military administrator of Lagos on` exile`. Recently, Marwa was posted to South Africa but some of his supporters have told Newsdiaryonline that they have been urging him not to stay away completely``People who know what has been happening are asking him(Marwa) to keep in touch as the 2011 calculations become fluid and unpredictable``.Officially, Marwa has dropped his presidential ambition may be to calm the nerves of those within Aso Rock that still see him as one of the threats to Yar`Adua. But Marwa`s friends believe it is in deed not truly over yet.

Other insiders in Abuja have strenuously claimed that the travails of Nuhu Ribadu and Nasir el Rufai were all part of the ``elimination`` strategy to dim the hopes of those considered politically brilliant. Such men claim that the profile of Ribadu when he was chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC had made him so popular that some of his men may have been thinking of a political career for Ribadu outside the EFCC .Such calculations might have been picked up by Yar`Adua`s men .But why they should worry themselves so much about Ribadu remains strange.True, Ribadu did a courageous marvelous  job at the EFCC .But it is also a fact that in the process, he made enemies who would ordinarily might come against his  inroad into politics if he dares.One of Ribadu`s supporters said it is not as easy as that: ``Nobody can stop what the people want if he chooses to play politics`` .But he did not confirm that the former EFCC boss may be eyeing politics.

In a related development, the fear of Ribadu was also extended to el rufai the former minister of the  Federal  Capital Territory FCT who is seen as an ally of Ribadu .Just as plans were being executed to clip Ribadu`s wings, moves were made allegedly with the president`s knowledge  to probe el rufai`s tenure as FCT minister.Even before the Fenate Committee finalized  its reports, sources in Abuja said  an instruction had been given from Aso Rock urging the Senate Committee to indict  el rufai and ban him from holding public office in the future.That was exactly what happened .And el rufai is resorting to the legal option to challenge the Committee`s report.It must be stated that the former minister truly committed blunders especially with the infamous demolition of houses  during his tenure.He was obviously overzealous in the conduct of his duties as a minister.But if claims of his aides are factored in , then there is more to the probe that meet the eye.

Yet these permutations toward 2011 may appear strange.In particular, there are clear hurdles which ought  to be cleared before the regime begins such moves. First, the controversy over the 2007 polls has no been settled yet .The Supreme court is yet to give a final verdict .So Yar`Adua`s regime hangs in the balance.Second the president is not known to be very healthy .In fact, he does not look healthy despite official claims to the contrary. A Kano -based politician told Newsdiaryonline on Tuesday that the president`s eid el fitri message pledging to rejuvenate his government means ``he is telling us that he is very well;that he is not as sick as we think.But the truth is that you cannot hide this: the president looks sick``. The politician added that what this means is that he his driven by his own ambition to hang in instead of resigning .Sadly according to the vocal politician,`` There is no elder anymore to call Yar`Adua to order.`` Everyone seems to be keeping quiet hoping that at some point the regime will give them a job, it is so sad`` .Well, despite the odds, it seems in the light of claims by sources the regime is jumping the gun  to kick-start its calculations toward reelection.

But even if the Supreme Court affirms his election, how will the regime handle the influence of Atiku Abubakar, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari who are likely to give Yar`Adua a run for his money in the political playing field ? Perhaps the answer lies  in the womb of time.                                                

WHY YAR`ADUA MAY NOT DISSOLVE ENTIRE CABINET

…Tanimu Yakubu`s influence In Aso Rock Grows

posted Thursday September 25, 2008

Insiders in the presidency were not quite impressed with the increasing speculation that President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua was set to dissolve his entire cabinet on Wednesday .One source told newsdiaryonline that an outright dissolution or sacking of all  may be too high a risk to take. ``Doing so will be too tricky. The best the president may do is to drop some ministers and send the names of new ones to the senate .If he dissolves the entire cabinet, there is no guarantee that some of   them will get the clearance of the senate again. Some of us fear that outright dissolution may mean sending everybody`s name for senate`s  approval again and that is risky because I am sure there are ministers the president may want to have back and the senate may not clear such men if they appear before the senate again. So  he will simply keep those he wants who have been cleared already while he submits new nominees for the  senate to approve``an  official  said .But a lawyer  however told newsdiaryonline that  the fear about old ministers having to reappear before the senate may be  unfounded.``Once  a minister has been cleared, he remains a minister. Of course the president can keep such in the ministry or move him/or her to another ministry.Only newly appointed ministerial nominees may need to go for senate clearance`` the lawyer  said

Interestingly  even the expected announcement of the shakeup did not happen. Though the recently announced restructuring of ministries has been approved by the Federal Executive Council , no words about the new ministers were available. Olusegun  Adeniyi , the president`s spokesman reportedly said  the delay in the shakeup was due to the fact that the senate has been  on recess  among others .

Not many were surprised. Hear a cynical watcher of the president :``You know the president is like a tortoise. He moves at the speed of the tortoise, that is exceedingly slow.`` Another politician in Kaduna surprisingly said he was not really expecting anything from the president on Wednesday. And  he was proven right. In the midst of all these,  no one seems to be asking why  the president is restructuring his ministries and preparing to appoint new ministers when the suit challenging his election has not been finally resolved by the Supreme Court ?Is  the  president`s confidence coming from any clandestine assurance that he will triumph? As things stand,the ministers will thus hang on while continuing their lobby. YarAdua`s ill health has reportedly made him inaccessible to most of the ministers who may want to have quality time to lobby him directly. Thus  they may intensify their lobby  through Turai the president`s wife, some influential former governors like James Ibori and some known acolytes of the president like Tanimu Yakubu.

It was learnt that Tanimu Yakubu`s influence is growing more than some of those close  to him expected.``He is becoming more and more influential`` a source who knows him well revealed.He is known to have earned  the president`s confidence.Perhaps his influence may have soared as he emerged triumphant over Babagana Kingibe after what was said to be the power tussle between Yakubu and Kingibe while the president was in Saudi Arabia on health grounds.The President sacked Kingibe upon his return to Nigeria. Yakubu who is presently the economic adviser to the president  was actually a deputy chief of staff to the president before he was redeployed in what was said to be controversial circumstances.

While the president`s go -slow  approach was reechoed by his failure to announce his expected shakeup, some Nigerians also marveled at another curious development in the presidency. On Tuesday political appointees were made to swear to an oath of secrecy. This is viewed by some people who spoke under anonymity as unnecessary  .One said the impression of the seat of government being turned into a cult is now emerging from that singular move. A northern political activist said the essence of the oath will not be achieved.``I see it as a meaningless move``.How the president intends to run a government based on secrecy in this age of increasing domestic  and international calls for transparency and accountability remains to be seen.