STATEMENT ON ALI MODU SHERIFF, SENATOR AHMED MAKARFI AND THE NATIONAL CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE PDP

By Femi Fani-Kayode

"Those that say that they will work with Ali Modu Sheriff are misguided and naive. 

Worse still anyone that calls for members of the PDP to rally behind him and recognise him as our National Chairman is a simpleton and a fool.

I say this because the man is evil: he is an agent of destruction and no good can come out of him. I was the first to see him for what he was and I said so publicly.

Then came the PDP Ministers Forum who also stood their ground. At first no-one believed us until eventually 90 per cent of our party members lined up behind those of us that opposed Sheriff and that supported Makarfi.

I read his insulting comments about Fayose and Wike and I laughed. Are these not the very same people that brought him in the first place and convinced others in the PDP Governor's Forum to support him?

Now he has finished using them to get what he wanted he is insulting them and saying that they must be kicked out of the party and dealt with.

I say shame on him because that will never happen. Fayose particularly has proved his worth to Nigeria and Wike has stood firm and strong in defence of his people and state. They are both lions and I am proud to stand with them and Makarfi.

Sheriff is nothing but a traitor who is biting the fingers that fed him. Fayose is one million times the man he is. As a matter of fact so are almost all the governors and other party leaders. Sheriff comes nowhere near any of us in any shape or form.

Only a blind, deaf and dumb simpleton or prancing village idiot would line up behind a man with such filthy and evil antecedents.

This is a man whose fundamental purpose and ambition in life is to sell the PDP down the river and to help the ruling APC and the Buhari government to destroy us and win the presidential election in 2019.

Sheriff is the Angel of Death to the PDP. He is worse than the bubonic plague: not only is he a curse to our party but he is also an affliction to our nation. 

I stand with Ahmed Makarfi and our Caretaker Commitee and unless and until the Supreme Court says so he remains our National Chairman" -

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode,
19th February 2017.

Breaking news !!!!! INEC to Drop Makarfi from Party Chairmen’s List

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will obey the verdict of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, which, nullified the outcome of the May 21, 2016 Convention of the PDP.
Before, the judgment, the commission, in the list of 40 registered political parties in the country, recognised Makarfi as the National Chairman of the PDP.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission would comply with court verdicts on the PDP’s leadership tussle.
Oyekanmi said that the commission would commence the process of obeying the court directives as soon as it was served with the papers.
He said, “Our position has not changed; we will always comply with legitimate court orders and judgments. So, in this case, when we are served, we will take the necessary steps to obey the judgment. I am not sure we have been served with the judgment
"If they serve the commission with the judgment, absolutely, the commission will recognize Ali Modu Sheriff as the chairman of PDP because that is what the court has said.

"We also know that the other party (faction) has said it will be proceeding to the Supreme Court.
"Whatever is the decision of the Supreme Court, which is the final verdict, would be obeyed by INEC.
"But as we speak, the Appeal Court is the superior and latest judgment. INEC will comply with the provisions of that judgment as of today when we are served, and that will affect everything in the PDP as far as INEC is concerned.”

"Oyekanmi stated that it was the desire of the commission for the PDP to resolve its internal dispute as INEC would always obey whatever the courts ruled on the matter.

I regret supporting Sheriff, it’s one of my worst political decisions – Nyesom Wike

Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, says assisting Ali-Modu Sheriff to the position of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is one of the worst decisions he has made in his political career.

Wike and Ayo Fayose, his Ekiti state counterpart, had backed Sheriff, but they soon fell out with him.

This degenerated into a series of lawsuits that culminated in the recent affirmation of Sheriff as PDP chairman by an appeal court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

Reacting to the development during an interview on Sunday Politics, which aired on Channels Television, Wike said he regretted bringing Sheriff into the fold of PDP.

The governor said the PDP would file for a stay of execution on the appeal court’s decision, adding that afterwards, an appeal will be filed at the supreme court.

The governor said he was shocked by the ruling and maintained that Sheriff had no good intention for the opposition party.

“I do believe that even in life, even as human beings, there are times for setbacks, and challenges. What has happened to us is a temporary setback,” he said.

“I will not support anything that has to do with Sheriff. I know that he doesn’t mean well for the party.

“He’s a mole in the party. His antecedents tell you that there are people behind who are not members of the party, who do not want PDP to exist.

“I’m not new in this game. Even the characters around him, they don’t augur well for the party.

“That is one of the worst political decisions I’ve ever taken. In life, when you take a decision and you realise that you made a mistake. In that decision you made, there is nothing stopping you from saying, ‘I’ve made a mistake, I think we can correct it’.

“Frankly, I have never regretted any decision I’ve taken than this decision. Politically, we have seen his conduct. It has shown that he does not mean well for the party. It will be difficult for me to work with him. That is clear. I don’t have that confidence that he can lead the party.”

 

Nigeria Now Second Largest Producer of Rice Worldwide

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday assured Nigerian youths that their support and confidence in the Federal Government would yield the desired results.

Shehu gave the assurance in Abuja at an interactive session organised by the Citizens Support for Good Governance in Nigeria for youths.

The group is a coalition of non-governmental organisations and Civil Society Organisations in the country.

The programme was organised for youths to air their views on the present administration and the way forward.

Shehu said that Buhari’s desire was to ensure a secured and stable future for the upcoming generations.

Shehu said: “All we require of you is to be patient; President Buhari is a long distance runner, he is not looking for short-term gains that people will just clap for him.

“He wants to build a future of prosperity that will be everlasting, something that will stay for generations, and I assure you that this is a beginning of the good things to come.”

According to him, the Federal Government has, under the leadership of President Buhari, done a lot in ensuring the security of the nation as well as fighting corruption.

Shehu also said that the government’s whistle blowing policy had to a large extent helped in recovery of looted public funds.

He said: “The policy gives opportunity to every Nigerian to raise alarm when they notice that an individual may have stolen public funds.

“You will not only be honoured for pointing it out for discovery, but you can earn a commission.”

Shehu said that government was working hard to restructure the country’s economy, “though its efforts is being misunderstood by most Nigerians”.

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He said: “The President Buhari-led administration met a ravaged economy and people were used to lifestyles that can no longer be sustained.”

Shehu said that no country would develop when it imports everything, including toothpick and tissue papers.

He said that things were beginning to take shape, as Nigeria had become the second largest rice producing country in the world.

He also said: “The rice revolution just started a year ago; a newspaper did an investigation in Kebbi and found out that there were 48,000 new millionaires in Kebbi alone for growing rice.”

Shehu said the nation’s over-reliance on oil in the past was not healthy for the country’s development, adding that such attitude should not be allowed to continue.

He said that the Federal Government was looking on how to create more jobs for the unemployed youths across the country and to scale up power generation.

He said: “You can see that exploration and exportation of oil is growing, gas is coming back and power is getting better.”

Shehu said that President Buhari had delivered on his promise of putting the economy on a sound footing and fighting corruption.

He said the results were already showing, adding that the government required a little more patient from Nigerians.

According to him, the government’s war against corruption is acknowledged all over the world, while its effort to restructure the economy is becoming manifest.

He expressed confidence that the country would come out of the recession soon, following the boom in agriculture, especially in rice and sugar production.

The session was attended by students of the University of Abuja, Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Federal Polytechnic, and was used to identify achievements recorded by the President Buhari-led administration.

Ijaws & our brothers don't know that the niger delta oil belongs to the North:

Farouk Adamu Aliyu a nomadic tribesman of Jigawa made it clear to all and sundry that the crude oil of niger delta belongs to the north and it is uniformly regarded as a booty of the civil war and that any attempt to lay claim to the oil by indigenous people of niger delta, would  amount to spilling of their blood again. 

The reality on the ground backs the fulani tribesman pronouncements because they, the northerners were the major shareholders & distributors ,so irrespective of your prejudices and ideological inclinations, its fact that alimajiri  farouk Adamu Aliyu spoke the bitter truth, so instead of beating about the bush or engage in unnecessary platitudes, we should look for a good way to wrestle power from this clowns.

They can't let go without a fight, that is what the fulani alimajiri is saying in essence and it baffles me that a good number of ijaws and riverine brothers rely solely in chasing shadows than fighting their fight.

You keep hearing them saying that Igbos would dominate them and their oil, the oil that belongs to Hausa/fulani oligarchies. Listening to this propaganda, some of them, if not most gets the impression that Igbos re the real enemies, i don't know what they had behind this their thoughts, perhaps Igbos dominated and killed them since independent. This is an aspect that would rile the sensibilities of many Igbos  who are beholden to the universal principle of natural justice, equality and fairness. 

Once more, the oil really belongs to the north and north alone and to fight this out, requires returning to the battlefield as every other option encrypted in legislative documents would be effectively scuttled by men like Farouk and entire north, however, retaining the status quo of eating from crumbs is the worst option that must be discourage by every means possible.

The unfortunate thing is that this oil is the major hindrance to our freedom, but nothing will stop us.c

About 21 killed in fresh attacks in southern Kaduna

At least 21 people have been killed in renewed attacks in four communities in Kaura and Jama’a local government areas of Kaduna state.

Many houses were also burnt in the attacks, which reportedly took place between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

Details of the attacks are still sketchy.

All efforts to contain the violence in the region have not yielded the desired results.

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state, has held a series of peace meetings with stakeholders. The governor even declared a 24-hour curfew in some of the affected local government areas during the heat of the crisis.

Last week, the foundation of a proposed military barrack in Kafanchan.

Speaking when the foundation was laid, Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, said the location was chosen as a response to the incessant killings occurring in southern Kaduna for four decades.

The government has vowed to go ahead with the establishment of the barrack, despite the temporary setback.

Earlier in the month, former president Goodluck said the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 national conference will prevent ethnic and religious tensions that lead to crises.

Following the  attacks, the Kaduna state government has announced  the relocation  of the garrison commander of the one division of the Nigerian Army, Ismaila Isa, and the state’s commissioner of police, to the southern part of the state to coordinate a determined response to renewed attacks by armed bandits on communities in Kaura and Jema’a local government areas.

In a statement by Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Nasir el-Rufai, the government said the  situation had been brought under control as security operattions continue.

The governor assured  that the government is fully committed to securing the area, with the active support of the army and the police.

The statement added that the two battalions of the army and the 10 mobile police squadrons are engaging the bandits, as the duty state carries out its obligations to secure the area, protect lives and rout these armed bandits.

The governor said that despite these difficulties and the pain of the attacks, this is not the time to give “the bandits” the pleasure of seeing victims turn on each other.

“Unknown gunmen in a coordinated attack invaded Bakin Kogi, Kaninkon Village in Jemaa Local Government Area in the State on Sunday 19th February, 2017 at about 5:30pm. They were repelled by Operation Yaki Surveillance Patrol Teams and Operation Harmony Patrol Teams,” the statement read.

“Further attacks were recorded today (Monday) in Kaura local government. Fatalities were recorded and some houses were burnt in the attacks.

“I have been in touch with the security agencies and I have been studiously following the situation in Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas over the unfortunate attacks.

“I want to, first of all, extend myheartfelt condolences to the families and relations that lost their loved ones and properties in these unfortunate attacks. My prayers and support equally goes to citizens that sustained injuries and are traumatised by what they witnessed.

“This is clearly a wicked, evil and devilish act being perpetrated by enemies of peace and humanity.

“I also wish to commend our gallant soldiers and police personnel, who are defending our communities.The Kaduna State Government will continue to work assiduously with security agencies towards the protection of life and property.”

President Buhari Caged By Cabal As Doctors Ask Him To Shelve Work.

By SaharaReporters

SaharaReporters has learned from sources at the Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari’s doctors have advised him to shelve the idea of returning soon to the daily routine of running Nigeria on account of the gravity of his illness. However, some of Mr. Buhari’s closest associates are goading him to defy the doctors’ recommendation and to take up the reins of power once more in Nigeria.

President Buhari left Nigeria on January 19 on what was supposed to be a 10-day medical leave. He has since twice postponed his return date even as several government officials and his close aides have continued to characterize him as “hale and hearty,” insisting that he was still vacationing and would soon return to Nigeria.

However, our sources, who are well briefed about Mr. Buhari’s health, disclosed that doctors managing the president have been unequivocal in warning that his condition would certainly deteriorate should he return to Nigeria without completing the first stage of his treatment.

According to one of the sources, the Nigerian president’s condition has been downgraded to “full blown illness” even by members of his kitchen cabinet who are now quietly admitting that he is “ill.” However, the ailing president’s closest associates remain averse to disclosing to the Nigerian people the nature of Mr. Buhari’s illness.

Saharareporters learnt that the president’s deteriorating health has got to a point where doctors are taking “extreme measures” to ensure that he eats. Mr. Buhari has progressively lost weight due to his illness and course of treatment, our sources disclosed.

SaharaReporters learned that the pool of aides traveling with President Buhari have extended their hotel booking in London by at least one month starting from February 6th 2017. This means that the earliest Mr. Buhari would make it back to Nigerian soil is in early March.

However, our sources revealed that some members of the president’s inner political circle continue to pressure Mr. Buhari’s doctors in the UK to allow him to return to Abuja, even if for a short time, in order to give the impression that his recovery was on course. We understand that the UK doctors have so far resisted the pressures, stating that it would be professionally irresponsible of them to clear Mr. Buhari at this stage to take up the demands of the Presidency. “I understand that the doctors [in the UK] have made it clear that Mr. President’s flight back to Nigeria could complicate things for him,” one source said.

Another group of Mr. Buhari’s supporters have asked the ailing president to authorize his doctors to address the Nigerian people directly about his health situation. However, members of the president’s inner cabinet have staunchly opposed this disclosure, arguing that, since Mr. Buhari had handed over to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, there was no need to make further revelations since the VP has been vested with all the constitutional powers to run Nigeria.

Some political figures, particularly governors of some northern states, have been spending extending times in London and making efforts daily to meet with the ill president. However, such meetings with Mr. Buhari have also become difficult to arrange since the ailing president’s doctors have cautioned against his meeting and smooching with visiting politicians, citing the significant drain on his already low energy. “The doctors have become very stern in restricting access to him [President Buhari],” said one source. “As a result, so many of the visiting politicians do not even get to see Mr. Buhari before returning to Nigeria empty handed,” he added.

As SaharaReporters earlier revealed, President Buhari’s doctors in the UK have recommended that he would need at least a period of four months away from power to receive the full regimen of treatment for his several health challenges. A source said the president was undergoing therapy related to his prostate, declining to be more specific. A different source disclosed that the treatment had partially affected President Buhari’s voice, at one point making it almost impossible to hear him.

During the week, there were rumors in Abuja that President Buhari would attend the inauguration of President Adams Barrow in the Gambia. But one source at the Presidency dismissed the rumor as “a ruse raised by some members of a cabal who are determined to see that their power is not whittled down.”

Two of our sources disclosed that President Buhari’s health issues were of a chronic nature, adding that it was unlikely that the ailing president would ever be in a position to meet the full demands of his office whenever he returns to the country. “He is going to need regular trips abroad for ongoing treatment,” one stated.

MY VISION FOR NDI ANAMBRA

"Part of my vision for our beloved state, Anambra, is to replicate the extraordinary success l have achieved in my private businesses by cashing into the abundant potentials and opportunities in the state and insisting on character and accountability to create wealth, job opportunities and all round SUSTAINABLE development.

I have been blessed with the creativity and capacity to make Anambra state a model state in self-reliance on SECURITY, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, POWER, EDUCATION/EMPOWERMENT(SHAPE).

I therefore urge all of you to join me in building a virile state. Together, Anambra Can Be Better"- Mr. Godwin Ezeemo (Achinagbaraoha)
From:
ANAMBRA CAN BE BETTER MEDIA TEAM

BUHARI AIDES CALL LONDON POLICE TO ARREST GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER JOURNALIST

Security staff at the Abuja House in London yesterday called in policemen to arrest a correspondent of The Guardian who was on the premises to see President Muhammadu Buhari and possibly interview him.

When the correspondent told a member of staff at the Abuja House, the official residence of the Nigerian High commissioner to the United Kingdom, yesterday afternoon that he had come to see the president, he replied: “As far as I’m concerned, he’s not here.”

At 2:50 p.m., when a black Mercedes jeep arrived, the occupant sitting by the driver rolled down the glass and asked the The Guardian correspondent, “why are you here?” “When I told him that l was a reporter with The Guardian and l had come to see if the president was there and to interview him, he looked quite irritated and replied angrily: ‘he’s not here, you can’t see anybody here.’ “

Former GMD NNPC Wants His Seized Money Back

N3bn Loot: Give Me Back My Money, Yakubu Tells Court
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Erstwhile Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Kano to order the Federal Government to return to him, over N3billion that was found in his home in Kaduna.
Yakubu, in a motion on notice with suit number FHC/ICN/CS/24/2017, filed by his lead counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, asked the court to set aside the forfeiture order that granted FG ownership of the money which was discovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 9.
Specifically, he wants the court to set aside the order and return the $9,772,800 and £74,000,000 which he said belongs to him.
The former NNPC boss insisted that the court lacked the jurisdiction to grant FG ownership of his money.
According to him, the court, was bereft of the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the motion that culminated to the forfeiture order since it related to a crime that was alleged committed in Abuja.
Raji, SAN, contended that going by section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, an offence should be tried only by a court exercising jurisdiction in the area or place where the offence was committed.
“No aspect of the perceived offence in respect of which the Order of February 13, 2017 was made, was committed within the Kano judicial division of this Honourable Court”, Raji argued.
He further maintained that FG lacked the locus-standi to seek the interim order of the court granted on February 13.
“By Section 28 of the EFCC Act, only the commission, i.e. the EFCC has the vires to seek an order for the interim forfeiture of property under the Act.
“The power of this Honourable Court to make interim forfeiture order(s) pursuant to sections 28 & 29 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 (herein after referred to a “EFCC Act”) is applicable ONLY to alleged offences charged under the EFCC Act and not to offences cognizable under any other law.
“The ex-parte order of this honourable court dated February 13, 2017, was made in respect of alleged offences under the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act (herein after “ICPC Act”) and not the EFCC Act as prescribed by section 28 & 29 thereof.
“The conditions precedent to the grant of an interim forfeiture order under sections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act were not complied with by the Applicant (FG) before the Order was made”, he submitted.
Besides, he argued that the combined effect of sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act was that a charge alleging infractions against the provisions of the EFCC Act ought to be brought against a suspect before the powers of the court under cections 28 & 29 of the EFCC Act, to order interim forfeiture of property, could be activated.
He insisted that without a formal charge, no prima-facie evidence could be established in order for the provisions of section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act to be activated.
“In the instant case, no charge was brought against the Respondent/Applicant before the provisions of section 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act were activated to grant the ex-parte Order of February 13, 2017”, he stated.
Yakubu was Group Managing Director of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014. He was sacked by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged insubordination and corruption.
EFCC operatives raided his house situated in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, following a tip-off by a whistle-blower. The agency disclosed that it discovered the sum of $9.7m and £74,000 that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe inside the house.
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