Dariye diverted N1.126bn, gave Atiku’s firm N100m – Witness

About nine years after preferring the charges of alleged diversion of the Plateau State’s N1.126bn ecological funds against a former governor of the state, Joshua Dariye, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission finally opened its case before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja, on Monday.

EFCC

The trial began with a Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on February 27, 2015, laying to rest an interlocutory application filed by Dariye and which had stalled the trial since it was filed in 2007.

The apex court after dismissing Dariye’s appeal in the judgment ordered Dariye, who was the Plateau State governor between May 29, 1999 and May 18, 2004, to submit himself for trial.

Dariye, who is currently a senator representing Plateau Central, dressed in a brown kaftan, and looked unruffled as the first prosecution witness testified in court on Monday.

The prosecution called its first witness, Musa Sunday, who narrated to the court, presided over by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, how Dariye allegedly diverted the state’s N1.126bn ecological funds.

Sunday, a detective with the EFCC, said he was involved in the investigation into how Dariye allegedly diverted Plateau State’s funds while serving as governor.

The witness said investigation by the EFCC operatives revealed that the former governor had, in 2001, applied for the ecological funds in the name of his state but collected the money in person and lodged it with the Abuja branch of the All States Trust Bank Plc (now defunct).

The witness added that the bank manager, allegedly acting on Dariye’s instructions paid N100m in the name of ‘PDP South-West.” The money he said was later traced to a company – Marine Float Nigeria Limited – allegedly owned by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Sunday, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said efforts to ensure that the firm refunded the money failed.

He said Dariye instructed the payment of N178.8m to an unregistered company – Ebenezer Retnan Venture Limited, which was later discovered to belong to the former governor.

He said investigation also revealed that Dariye ordered the payment of N80m from the ecological funds to the Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Fund Office, Kingsley Nkumeh.

The witness said although the EFCC later recovered the N80m from Nkumeh, he fled the country on learning that he was to be prosecuted.

He said Nkumeh had yet to return to the country.

Sunday added that Dariye paid N250m to a firm – Pinnacle Communications – owned by a contractor to the Plateau State Government.

He told the court that the decision to investigate Dariye was informed by a request by the London Metropolitan Police for Nigeria’s assistance in investigating some parties and companies linked with the former governor.

The witness said, “We invited Pinnacle Communications and the representative of the company actually confirmed collecting the N250m, but told us he is a contractor of the Plateau State Government.

“The N80m paid to Union Homes turned out to have been paid to a Permanent Secretary, Ecological Funds Office, Kingsley Nkumeh.

“When interviewed, he said that was his share for facilitating the payment of the ecological funds to the state. The said amount was recovered by the EFCC from the Permanent Secretary of Ecological Funds Office.

“Charges were later prepared for him to be charged to court in Lagos. He was granted an administrative bail; he resigned and left the country. Our investigation at Union Homes revealed that the cheque was cleared into an account owned by the Permanent Secretary, Nkumeh.

“The bank gave us the mandate card of the Permanent Secretary, into whose account the N80m was paid. The N176.8m was traced to Ebenezer Retnan Venture’s account domiciled at All States Trust Bank. From investigation at the Corporate Affairs Commission, we found it was not registered. There was no record of the company’s existence.

“The N100m paid to the PDP South-West was traced to Marine Float Limited. The mandate we received from the bank showed that Marine Float is owned by a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Efforts at recovering this money have been going on. We did not succeed in recovering it.”

The court proceedings were interrupted by an outage.

Sunday, also in the course of his testimony, narrated how the bank, All States Trust Bank Plc (now defunct), aided the former governor to lodge the cheque into his (Dariye’s) account instead of the state government’s accounts.

The witness said, “The CBN cheque and the handwritten disbursement letter were recovered and another additional type-written disbursement letter by the defendant to the bank’s branch manager was all recovered.

“When we recovered those documents and cheques from CBN, we traced it to where it came from. Investigation led us to the Ecological Funds Unit, under the Presidency. At the Ecological Funds Unit, we interviewed one Mr. Adewusi, who told us that there was a time the Plateau State Government applied for ecological funds for ecological problem in the state, and approval was given for N1.126bn.

“And that before the cheque was prepared, a payment voucher covering the said amount, which had other documents attached to it, were prepared and audited, at the end of which payment was made.

“When the cheque was ready for collection, the defendant and his orderly, one Inspector Victor, went to the Ecological Funds Office and, upon instruction by the defendant, the aide signed for the cheque and the defendant took the cheque to All States Trust Bank, Abuja.

“Investigation revealed that in the office of the bank manager, the defendant instructed the bank manager how the money should be disbursed to some individuals and companies. The bank’s branch manager complied with the defendant’s instruction.

“Instead of the money to be paid into any of the Plateau State Government’s accounts, the bank used its own bank accounts to clear the cheque and disbursed to individuals and companies as instructed by the defendant.

“Copies of his instructions, both type written and handwritten were made available to us during investigation.”

Sunday is expected to resume his testimony today (Tuesday) by 10am.

The EFCC, in 2007, preferred money laundering and charges bordering on the diversion of the ecological funds against Dariye.

Dariye diverted N1.126bn, gave Atiku’s firm N100m – Witness

I’m not plotting against Buhari, says Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked his political opponents to desist from fabricating lies in a bid to cause a disagreement between him and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari and Atiku

Atiku, who alleged that his political enemies were sponsoring propaganda to cause distrust, said he was not plotting against the President.

He said this in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday.

He dismissed an allegation that he had been hosting political meetings at Burj Al-Arab, Dubai, to frustrate Buhari.

Atiku said, “This is the work of rumour-mongers planning to cause distrust and distraction in Buhari’s government. They do not mean well for the APC administration. With the challenges of providing good governance for the country and creating job opportunities for Nigerians, including reducing the impact of poverty, President Buhari needs all the goodwill and support in these endeavours.”

According to the former vice-president, the success of Buhari’s administration has been his preoccupation.

He said that contrary to the rumours being peddled by his political opponents, he was currently in Dubai with his family for physiotherapy on his injured knee.

He said it was unfortunate that at a time that energy should be channelled into helping the President actualise his change agenda, some were busy spreading deliberate falsehood to cause distraction.

He warned that his private affairs should not be politicised by anybody to achieve sinister objectives.

Atiku said he was entitled to enjoy his private life, including the right to attend to his health without being harassed and lied against by political opponents.

The statement read, “This is yet another plot by the enemies of our country and democracy to divide, divert attention and distract the APC in its avowed commitment to secure the country, provide jobs for the unemployed youths, build the needed critical infrastructure, enthrone a regime of probity and accountability and pull the country out of the economic woods it has been consigned to by locust years of mismanagement.

“Whether at home or abroad, the Turaki is preoccupied with his unassailable support to President Buhari and his administration, especially at this critical time, as he works assiduously to turn the fortunes of our dear country around and make Nigeria work for the greater good of all.

“Rumour-mongers are toxic to the progress of the APC and the country at large. The campaigns are gone, and therefore, all energies should be constructively devoted to the success of the Buhari administration.”

I’m not plotting against Buhari, says Atiku

No rift between me and Atiku over BoT chair - Tinubu

• advises Nigerians to ignore rumour mongerings

ABUJA – National leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has denied any rift between him and the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar over their interest in the Chairmanship of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT.

Bola Tinubu

Urging Nigerians to ignore rumour mongering, Tinubu stated that both of them and indeed, the party’s utmost priority was to galvanize support for President Mohammadu Buhari to succeed.

Tinubu, also a former governor of Lagos state who was accompanied to the presidential villa on Wednesday with the former interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande to meet with president Buhari spoke to State House Correspondents.

The APC leader also submitted that president Buhari was not going to rush in the appointment of ministers to avoid regrets later.

He said: “Don’t listen to rumous, there is no struggle. Our party is not even looking at the direction of power struggle or anything of such. The support structure is to encourage and support the President as you have heard from Chief Bisi Akande, to help him institutionalize his goal, principle and vision for a new Nigeria

“There is pitfall in rushing, quick fix, depending upon the depth of the rot. And that rush can cascade into mistakes of unimaginable magnitude. There is equally glory and recovery in slowness, when you have a slow fix of a bad foundation. So to me, I would rather take the one that will last the country and endure for a longer period of time than the rush hour shopping.”

On the speculation that he has brought list of names for ministerial appointment, he said “What can I do about that, they have the right to speculate, they have the right to their lies and I have the right to debunk”.

Tinubu who was reminded that the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP had picked holes in the delays for ministerial appointments, calling him a dictator, Tinubu asked the party to “keep quiet”, saying that the party plunged the country into the present economic crisis.

“I disagree with that. He was elected on a platform of democracy, he has adhered to rule of law so far. What is dictatorship about what he has done? He has helped to stimulate the economy in the various states and that is where the people are. So what is dictatorship? And the institutional paralysis had occurred in the country.

“It is very important for a steady man like the President to really help the nation recover from the paralysis and that is what he is doing so I don’t see what is dictatorial about that. If they don’t have anything to say, they rather be quiet. They created what is wrong here today and we can’t sweep that under then carpet. There must be rule of law.”

Also speaking, chief Akande said they were in the villa to discuss the rot perpetrated by previous governments.

“Since Obasanjo’s first term and I understand that President Buhari inherited piles of rot in the Villa and I say let me see him, talk to him and report to my party with a view to knowing how to encourage him to change the rot to good. It is the rot, piles of rots upon rots”, he said.

 

No rift between me and Atiku over BoT chair - Tinubu

I remain loyal to Buhari, says Atiku

A former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has said that it is dangerous for any individual or group within the APC to constitute themselves into an opposition even before the constitution of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

He also expressed his loyalty to President Buhari.

Buhari and Atiku

The former Vice President made the call against the backdrop of development in the polity, which he noted were interplay of forces and dynamic interests that should not be promoted to the point of being a threat to democracy and the new administration.

In a press statement released by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, and signed by Mazi Paul Ibe, the Turaki Adamawa acknowledged that it was legitimate and desirable for individuals or groups to pursue their interests.

He, however, noted that such should be done with the spirit of equity, fair play and justice.

“Anything to the contrary may jeopardise our hard-earned democracy and constitute a clog in the wheel of the new administration,” Atiku said.

He noted that because of the historic nature of the mandate of President Buhari and the arduous challenges ahead to deliver on making Nigeria work for all Nigerians, it was important, especially for members of the APC, to rally behind him in the quest to enthrone good governance.

This, he said, would spur security and stability, economic and social development, job creation, infrastructure renewal and above all a better life for Nigerians.

The former Vice President urged members of the APC to emulate the unity of all the presidential contestants after the party’s Lagos primaries and support the President to form his government and get to work.

Abubakar exonerated himself from the purported hijack of the party and the National Assembly towards 2019 as a figment of the imagination of those promoting such insinuation.

He asked Nigerians to ignore all such insinuation.

Atiku noted that the recent outcomes of the National Assembly leadership election, contrary to insinuations were products of “interplay of politics which is itself in constant motion.”

He said, “In politics, it is a mistake to expect fixed outcomes. As the President has done, let’s all come to terms with what has happened in the interest of the system and move on.

“Suffice it to say that the new administration should be allowed to have a smooth take off and be allowed the atmosphere to deliver. On this, I stand with President Buhari.”

The Turaki Adamawa while restating his unalloyed commitment to the Buhari administration pledged to back this commitment with all of the assets at his disposal.

The statement added that, “Not only did Atiku Abubakar congratulate Buhari after his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC at the party’s national convention in Lagos, he also handed over his best assets to the Buhari Presidential Campaign.

“The former Vice President enthusiastically handled the diplomatic assignment of seeking endorsement for Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as the President of the African Development Bank on behalf of President Buhari and would be available for any other assignments as the President pleases.

“Make no mistake about it, Atiku Abubakar holds Buhari in the highest esteem, and would always remain loyal to him, and support him in every endeavour to succeed as President.”

The APC chieftain also called on Nigerians with members of the President’s own party taking a lead in their undiluted support of his administration.

“We, the members of the President’s own family need to lead in this direction for others to follow for the good of our nation and its peoples,” he added.

Abubakar also denounced the increasing determination of some people who he said were bent on drawing a wedge between President Buhari and himself.

“It has become crystal clear even to the blind that the motives of these hatchet men who are desperate to take every available newspaper space is to insult and vilify the former Vice President.

“We cannot allow liars, denigrators and blackmailers and their sponsors to use Atiku as a platform to ingratiate themselves with President Buhari and hijack his presidency under the pretext of loving him more than anyone else.

“These political ventriloquists are hiding behind the cover of anonymity to achieve their sinister agenda of making Atiku the fall guy in the unfolding political developments.”

I remain loyal to Buhari, says Atiku

Buhari meets Atiku, Oyegun over APC crisis

The need to further consult and calm frayed nerves has been adduced as reasons why the leadership of the All Progressives Congress shelved a meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday.

It was learnt that some of the party leaders who were still sore about the outcome of the National Assembly leadership elections, are yet to agree to sit on the roundtable with individuals they claimed stabbed them in the back.

A member of the party caucus who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue said, “You expect me to sit with people who for their selfish interests connived with the opposition to deny our party what is due to it?

“We need time for the wounds to heal. You must also understand that the comment of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso which is in the papers today, has not helped matters.”

It was further learnt that as part of the consultations before a wider meeting would be called, President Muhammadu Buhari met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and the Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, at his private residence in Abuja on Thursday.

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, denied knowledge of any scheduled caucus or Board of Trustees meeting.

He told The PUNCH, “I am not aware of any meeting scheduled for Abuja, today (Tuesday), I only know that the Governors Forum is meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

It will be recalled that Al-Makura had on Sunday told newsmen in Lafia, that party leaders would meet in Abuja, on Tuesday to deliberate on the challenges facing the party.

Buhari meets Atiku, Oyegun over APC crisis

3 Trekkers for Atiku stranded in Yola

Yola – Three men, who trekked to Yola in honour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are now stranded in Yola.

The men, Salihu Jibrin, Aliyu Adamu and Abubakar Suleiman, who spoke to newsmen Saturday in Yola, said since their arrival they were unable to see their mentor, Atiku.

They said all they needed was to see Atiku or his representatives to deliver their messages and go back to their various destinations.

“I trekked for 38 days all the way from Lagos to Yola to see Atiku in view of his role over APC victory in the general election but up to now I was unable to see him.

“I am now stranded with no money to go back; at times I sleep in motor park or squat with good Samaritans,” Jibrin said .

Adamu, who rode bicycle  from Kaduna to Yola, said he spent eight days on the way.

“I want to thank the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa Council, Mr Baba Zare, who had been assisting me since arrival to cope with the difficult situation I found myself.

“I want to meet Atiku before finding my way back to Kaduna,” Adamu said.

On his part, Suleiman, who trekked from Shelleng town, Adamawa,  to Yola said he had been squatting from one relation to the other while waiting for an opportunity to see Atiku before going back home. ( NAN)

 

3 Trekkers for Atiku stranded in Yola

Tinubu, Atiku in battle over control of APC

There are strong indications that two power blocs within the All Progressives Congress are now engaged in a fierce battle for the soul of the party.

Bola Tinubu

Saturday PUNCH’s investigations on Friday revealed that the battle between the two power blocs to control the party: one led by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and the other led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, played out during Tuesday’s National Assembly leadership elections.

The ruling party’s preferred candidates in both the Senate and the House of Representatives were defeated by party members who contested the elections against the wishes of the party.

The battle for supremacy between the two power blocs led to the emergence of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Ike Ekweremadu, as the Deputy Senate President.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that both Atiku and Tinubu were desperate to have maximum control over the party structure so that party decisions could favour them at all times.

It was learnt that the two blocs wanted their candidates to emerge principal officers of the National Assembly since that would automatically qualify their candidates to become members of the party’s National Executive Committee, which is the highest decision arm of the party.

Senator Bukola Saraki emerged the President of the Senate at a time when leading figures of the party including Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and APC Senators as well as members of the House of Representatives were waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre for a crucial meeting.

The party’s NWC earlier held a shadow election in which Senators Ahmad Lawan and George Akume emerged as the party’s candidates for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

But, Atiku, Saturday PUNCH learnt that Atiku was never in support of the mock election believed to be spearheaded by the APC national leader as the former Vice President was bent on breaking Tinubu’s influence on the party’s NWC.

As things stand, most of the current members of the APC’s National Working Committee are Tinubu’s loyalists.

With the outcome of the National Assembly leadership elections, there are strong indications that the Tinubu camp, which many agree, boasts of the likes of Lawan and Akume are not prepared to let the matter rest.

Sources said the Tinubu camp, though still jolted by its initial ‘defeat’ would likely spring a surprise in the days ahead.

It was gathered that members of the Senators Unity Forum, who supported the party’s candidates are queuing behind Tinubu and are likely to continue to do so in the days to come.

It was learnt that in supporting the aspirations of Saraki and Dogara, Atiku had argued that democracy could better be served when the principle of internal democracy is respected.

It was further learnt that Saraki’s publicised visit to Atiku’s residence a few hours after his emergence, was part of the power play.

By virtue of their new positions as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Saraki and Dogara, have become automatic members of the National Executive Committee, the highest decision making body of the party.

Their positions also confer on them automatic membership of the party’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee.

A leading member of the party’s NWC, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, explained that the unfolding scenario is likely to open up new frontiers in the power struggle within the party.

According to him, decisions at NEC from now on will be keenly contested by the two power blocs.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the outcome of the National Assembly elections would likely affect decisions to be taken on ministerial nominees as some of the candidates in Tinubu’s camp may be rejected during screening by the Saraki/Atiku group.

He said, “It is obvious that with what happened on Tuesday at the National Assembly, two (dominant) power blocks have emerged in the party.

“We hope to heal the wounds created by the contests, but there is mutual suspicion between the two groups.”

When contacted, the Director-General of the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe, said, “Atiku did not orchestrate the emergence of the new leadership in the National Assembly and insinuating that amounts to nothing but political mischief, as he had refused to leave the party or work for the PDP even when the then President Jonathan was desperate for Atiku’s support.

“The visits of politicians and APC leaders including that of the Senate President are common political rituals in Atiku’s Asokoro residence. For the purposes of emphasis, the President has confidence in him and that explains why he had drafted him as an envoy of sorts in the race leading up to the emergence of a Nigerian President of African Development Bank.

“It is baseless and unfounded to suggest that Atiku conspired with the PDP or Saraki to ‘sabotage’ the APC. He would have congratulated Senator Ahmed Lawan (or any other leader) if he had won. It is simplistic to attribute conspiratorial agenda to an innocuous congratulatory visit.

“Atiku’s loyalty to his party is indisputable. He remains a loyal party member. He, in fact, threw his political assets behind the Buhari presidential campaign. Any suggestion that he conspired with Saraki or anybody is the figment of someone’s imagination.”

Attempts to get a reaction from Tinubu’s Spokesperson, Mr. Sunday Dare, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his mobile phone at 5:21pm and at 7:14pm were neither picked nor returned. A response to a text message was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report at 7:24pm.

But, a member of Saraki’s Like Minds group of Senators, Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), said Saraki’s emergence, has no negative implication for party cohesion.

He said, “We are already reaching out to everyone. At the leadership level, we are reaching out to individuals.

“The Senate President is a very generous Nigerian with a very large heart. He has already extended his hands of fellowship to every senator and he has assured us all that he would carry everybody along. It is not going to be a case of winner-takes-all.”

Also, a member of the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), said the party leadership is currently working tirelessly to ensure that the party remains a formidable and united entity.

The South East Zonal Spokesperson for the APC, Osita Okechukwu, said the party was seeking ways of moving forward.

According to him, it will be futile to begin to apportion blame and look for scapegoats because doing so will provide an avenue for those who do not wish the APC well to cash in.

He said party leaders deserve the respect of all party members, adding that if the wise counsel of President Muhammadu Buhari for non-interference in National Assembly issues was adhered to, the party would not have found itself in this situation. He, however, said it was time to move on.

Okechukwu said, “It is the desire of our opponents for there to be a rift but there is no rift. As a party, the only thing we need now, more than ever before, is unity.

“We need to unite especially in the National Assembly to be able to deliver on our promises to the Nigerian people. I dare say, we also need bi-partisan support if we are to get things done because we need each other.

Tinubu, Atiku in battle over control of APC

National Assembly Elections: APC may sanction Atiku, Tambuwal

There are indications that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress may sanction former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, over the outcome of the National Assembly elections of Monday.

Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Sources within the APC said Atiku colluded with Senator Bukola Saraki to undermine the will of the party while Tambuwal, who is the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, supported Yakubu Dogara who emerged as Tambuwal’s successor.

The suspicion of the APC leadership was reignited by the fact that Atiku was the first person Saraki visited after emerging as Senate President on Monday, apparently to thank Atiku.

A reliable source within the party said the party was aware of moves by the Peoples Democratic Party to secure principal offices in the National Assembly over a month ago and that was why the party selected staunch APC members – Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila – as its candidates for Senate President and Speaker respectively.

The source said the APC knew that the PDP would approach its old members to actualise this plan. Both Saraki and Dogara defected to the APC from the PDP.

The source said, “We started keeping tabs on Atiku in January when he showed that he was not interested in the success of President Muhammadu Buhari when Buhari was our presidential candidate. Our fears were reignited when the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, paid Atiku a visit shortly before the elections.

“A large section of Atiku’s supporters defected to the PDP a day after that meeting with Jonathan and that was why Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Rufai Alkali, said shortly after that meeting that Atiku would soon return to the PDP. Atiku even admitted himself that he did not attend Buhari’s rallies.

Aminu Tambuwal

“Don’t you find it curious that the first person that Saraki visited after emerging as Senate President was Atiku? We have information that Atiku told his supporters in the Senate to vote for Saraki and that was what happened. We know that Atiku is still nursing a presidential ambition for 2019 and he is now beginning to build blocks.”

The source said the APC had evidence that Tambuwal supported Dogara so that he (Tambuwal) could retain his influence over the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

He said Tambuwal ensured that Dogara emerged the Chairman, House Services Committee, which is the most influential committee in the House because of his closeness to Dogara.

He said, “Tambuwal is also nursing a presidential ambition and needs to retain control over the House. He will not be able to retain such influence if Gbajabiamila is the Speaker.”

When contacted, the media aide to Tambuwal, Mallam Imam Imam, said he had no comment over the issue.

Also, a text message to an aide of Atiku was neither acknowledged nor replied.

APC spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, said the emergence of Saraki and Dogara was unacceptable to the party and that the party would mete out appropriate sanctions against erring members.

National Assembly Elections: APC may sanction Atiku, Tambuwal

Atiku congratulates Saraki, Dogara

A former Vice President,  Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated the newly elected leaders of the National Assembly, admonishing them to see their elections beyond the narrow interests of respective political parties.

Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

The former Vice President, in a press statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, noted that with the elections of its presiding officers, the 8th National Assembly should swing to work and put the overall national interest beyond the personal political interests of its members.

The Turaki Adamawa said with the election of its presiding officers, the 8th National Assembly has prepared the ground work for a full legislative business.

Atiku Abubakar, while congratulating the new leaders of the parliament on their election, reminded every member of both the Senate and the House of Representatives of their responsibilities to their constituents, which, he said, is to put national interest before their individual political interest.

Irrespective of the political mix through which the presiding officers emerged, he noted, the 8th National Assembly should never lose focus of its role as a partner in progress with the other arms of government, especially the executive arm.

“The Nigerian people look up to the new National Assembly to work with the executive arm in finding solutions to the problems of insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and joblessness in the country. Their election is indeed a call to duty, and it is a call for which they cannot afford to fail the nation,” Atiku added.

Atiku congratulates Saraki, Dogara

Boko Haram raises operations, wants to subdue Nigeria – Atiku

Former Vice -President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to stand up and counter the menace of Boko Haram by being more security conscious.

Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

He said the populace should offer information of any strange movement in their localities to the security agencies.

The former Vice-President, who spoke on Friday, was reacting to the Thursday’s bomb blast that rocked the Yola Modern Market, resulting in the death of over 40 persons.

He said the insurgents had raised their modes of operations, and appeared to habour an intention to subdue the country.

Atiku visited the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, on Friday in company with the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; Adamawa State Governor, Senator Jubrilla Bindow; and Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mohamad Sani Sidi, who were in the state to visit the victims of the blast and sympathise with them.

He explained that the insurgents had begun the “second phase” of its onslaught with the intention to subdue the country and win the fight against Nigerians.

Sani Sidi distributed drugs to the victims of Thursday’s bomb attack that took place near Jimeta Market.

The NEMA boss, who led the Federal Government’s delegation, including the IGP, called on the people to give security agencies the needed cooperation to stem the tide of attacks on innocent Nigerians.

He appealed to well meaning individuals and corporate bodies to assist the victims with blood as doing so might save some lives.

The entourage was at Government House, where they sympathised with the state governor before proceeding to the House of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Federal Medical Center Yola and the scene of the explosion.

In his remarks, Arase called on Nigerians, especially the people of Adamawa State to have confidence in the Nigeria Police and other security outfits, adding that the security operatives were doing their best to address the current security challenges in the country.

Boko Haram raises operations, wants to subdue Nigeria – Atiku

Nigeria is ours to rebuild, Oyegun, Atiku, Onu tell APC Governors – elect

ABUJA – National Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have taken the task of rebuilding Nigeria to the doorsteps of the incoming governors elected on party’s platform, urging to bring change to the country.

Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

The leaders who included the national chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu gave the charge to the governors-elect at a retreat organized by the APC governors forum to bid farewell well to the outgoing governors of the party whose tenures would elapse on May 29th.

The governors are Chibuike Ameachi(Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko ( Sokoto) Rabiu Kwamkwaso( Kano) and Babatunde Fasola of Lagos State who have served out by constitutional mandate of two terms.

Speaking at the event that ended about 10:30 pm, Oyegun who extolled the legacies of the outgoing governors enjoined the incoming ones to ensure that the expectations of Nigerians were be met in their various states.

He said: “The way business is done from now on must be different. We are going to face the change of reshaping the morality of our nation. The whole world would be watching us from the 29 of this May when the reins of power will be handed over to the APC.

“You must sit down to fashion out ways in which the respectability of this nation will be restored. We must rebuild our nation. This nation has been run aground. We have the challenge of rebuilding our nation. I have no doubt that you are going to acquit yourself so honorably.”

Also speaking, former Vice President Atiku urged the governors-elect to show leadership by example.

According to him, that was the only way to achieve rapid development of the country even as he cautioned them not to repeat the mistakes of the outgoing ruling party, the people’s Democratic Party, PDP.

“I enjoy all our incoming governors to become governors of example. If They do so, Nigeria will truly change. If that happens, Nigerians will likely renew our mandate in 4 years time. We must have candour. We must lead by example. If we are transparent and honest with them, they must give us their support. We must avoid becoming the PDP our recent history. We must avoid greed, arrogant, impunity, treachery”, Atiku charged them.

On his own, the former Abia State governor asked congratulated the leadership of the party and the governor-elect for the success recorded in the last general elections.

He asked the party and the elected governors, senators and the members of House of Representatives to main plain focus and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

He expressed happiness that Progressive governor forum organized such an event to show appreciation to the outgoing ones

The event which held at the Sheraton Hotels in Abuja attracted the presence of presence of some of governors-elect among who are chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Abdufatai Ahmed of Kwara.

Nigeria is ours to rebuild, Oyegun, Atiku, Onu tell APC Governors – elect

Senate Presidency: Akume in shuttle diplomacy, meets OBJ, Tinubu, Atiku, Kwankwaso

As the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, continues to brainstorm on the zoning of offices in the executive and legislative arms of government, top contender for the senate presidency, Senator George Akume, at the weekend intensified his consultations.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator George Akume

The Senate Minority Leader, who has adopted a quiet, discreet and unobtrusive approach in his quest for the exalted position since he was listed as a potential holder, hit the road on what a close confidant described as a ‘strategic cross-country diplomatic shuttle.’

Akume, who was in the South-West last week, met prominent national figures and respected political bulwarks. Notable among them were Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu and former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The former Benue State governor who is returning to the Senate for the third time, met the leaders in their respective domains in Abeokuta, Lagos and Okuku, respectively.

Akume served as Benue State Governor, concurrently when Obasanjo was President and both men maintained a good relationship until the end of their tenures in 2007, despite Obasanjo’s brushes with Akume’s kinsmen like Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who was Minister in the Obasanjo government and Senator Barnabas Gemade, who succeeded the late Chief Solomon Lar as PDP National Chairman.

And while Akume served in Benue,, Tinubu was Governor of Lagos, both of them belonging to the ‘Governors’ Class of 1999 to 2007.’

Oyinlola succeeded Chief Bisi Akande, former Interim Chairman of the APC as Osun State governor on the platform of the PDP in 2003, but all three men have since found common grounds in the progressives’ camp.

While there was no official communication after each of the meetings, the interactions may not be unconnected with the topical issue of the Senate Presidency.

Akume has also had several engagements with former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, who may likely emerge as Chairman of the APC Board of Trustees. Akume was governor when the highest Tiv honorary traditional title, ‘Zege Mule U’Tiv’ was conferred on Atiku.

Akume’s backstage consultations have also taken him to see Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who has also been elected Senator to represent Kano State, Prof Ango Abdullahi, Vice-Chancellor Emeritus of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie and former Kogi State Governor, Abubakar Audu.

Sources in Akume’s camp will not readily draw a link between his recent travels and the issue of the Senate Presidency. As one of his aides volunteered, however, ”Senator Akume is a very highly regarded statesman in his own right. Consultations with like-minded leaders on issues bothering on our socio-politics should be a routine affair.”

Pressed further, the source said: ‘If the APC is truly about change, that change should reflect in the way we do things, so we send a very strong message to all Nigerians that they can be assured of a sense of belonging irrespective of where they come from. We have produced a President-Elect from a majority ethnicity, we have produced a Vice-President-Elect from another majority ethnic group, APC must be sensitive to the sensitivities of the minorities, across both divides of the Niger.’

 

Senate Presidency: Akume in shuttle diplomacy, meets OBJ, Tinubu, Atiku, Kwankwaso

ADB: Buhari sends Atiku to lobby Zuma overAkinwumi Adesina

President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has sent former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as his emissary to South African President Jacob Zuma to lobby for the candidacy of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, as president of the African Development Bank.

Buhari and Atiku

This was contained in a statement issued by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja on Saturday.

According to the statement, Abubakar’s shuttle diplomacy is to shore up the much-needed support for the Nigerian candidate.

The statement explained that this follows a mandate from the President-elect to the former Vice-President to leverage on his contacts to lobby for the emergence of Adesina.

Buhari, who backs the candidacy of Adesina, had last month conveyed his support to the President of Ghana, John Mahama, when the two leaders met in Abuja.

The statement said Atiku travelled with Adesina to South Africa during the weekend, where the two met with President Zuma at the Presidential Residence in Durban.

It further stated, “Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar met President Zuma in the company of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina during which the directive of President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari was conveyed to Zuma. The issue of South Africa and the southern African region’s support for Nigeria’s candidate was exhaustively discussed and well appreciated.”

ADB: Buhari sends Atiku to lobby Zuma overAkinwumi Adesina

Blame PDP government for fuel scarcity – Atiku

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has attributed the current fuel scarcity to the misrule of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Atiku who spoke to Journalists yesterday after a private meeting with the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja said they the hallmarks of PDP were inefficiency and corruption.

He said that Buhari’s government would bring changes, but stressed it would be gradual.

“We just discussed private matters. Well, there is nothing unusual in what is going on. That is PDP for you: corruption inefficiency and what have you. Real changes will come. The president elect has assured that but it will not just come over night. It has to be gradual. Definitely there will be positive change in that matter but it will be gradual”.

On the zoning of offices in the national assembly and the time it will be resolved, the former Vice President said “That is too earlier. This is something the party and the leadership are handling. I believe it would be resolved before the House reconvenes”.

Meanwhile, a statement from his media office earlier commended the Nigerian military for rescuing some 293 women from Sambisa forest in Borno state.

“While we rejoice in the rescue of the women and girls yesterday, we urge that our military continues steadfastly in the operations until all abducted Nigerians have been rescued and territories recaptured,” Atiku said.

 

Blame PDP government for fuel scarcity – Atiku

Taraba: Atiku demands replacement of INEC officials

A former Vice-President and current chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission and security officials implicated in the conduct of last weekend’s governorship election in Taraba State should be replaced with new personnel before the rerun election in the state.

Atiku made the suggestion while welcoming INEC’s decision to cancel the governorship election results in some local government areas of Taraba State and declare the outcome of last Saturday’s polls in the state inconclusive.

This was contained in a statement released by the Atiku Media Office on Wednesday.

It quoted the Turaki Adamawa as agreeing with the widespread reports of irregularities in some local governments of the state.

“These irregularities included using armed personnel to intimidate voters,” Atiku said.

Atiku said, “Elections should not be militarised. Nigeria is a democracy, not a dictatorship. Citizens should be able to go out and vote without fear of being threatened with the nozzle of a gun.”

He also said that election violations were perpetrated in Southern Taraba, specifically in Wukari, Takum, Kurmi and Donga local councils. Atiku noted that thousands of troops were deployed in these areas and electoral officers were heavily compromised.

“These people should not be allowed to go back during the rerun election. No troops should be allowed nearby,” Atiku said.

Atiku also called on the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to replace the security personnel in Taraba with new hands from neighbouring Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa states during the period of the rerun elections.

Taraba: Atiku demands replacement of INEC officials

Buhari"s victory: Atiku, Tinubu meet behind close door

Following the success recorded by the All Progressives Congress, its leading figures have started consultations with a view to forming an inclusive government that would take care of the various political interests within the party.

It was learnt in Abuja on Thursday that party leaders began the process with consultations with those who contested in the party’s Presidential primaries.

As part of these consultations, the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was at the Asokoro private residence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday.

Although details of the meeting were not made public because both men met behind closed doors, it was learnt that it was part of consultations to work out modalities of filing cabinet positions.

It was further learnt that party leaders had since reached an agreement to ensure that all nominees for cabinet positions must meet strict guidelines to complement the high standard set by the President-elect.

It is however unclear when similar meetings will be held with other presidential contestants including Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rochas Okorocha of Kano and Imo states respectively.

A highly placed party member, who pleaded anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak to the media said, “ What do you expect? Our party is proactive and we want to hit the ground running by ensuring that rough edges are ironed out in good time.

“The party is run with a lot of consultations. So, it is not unusual that our leader met with another respected leader of our party privately. I do not have details of what was discussed but I have no doubt it is nothing less than how to move our dear nation forward.”

Calls to the mobile telephone numbers of Tinubu’s media aide, Sunday Dare and the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, indicated that they were unavailable as of the time of filing this report (8:05pm).

Buhari"s victory: Atiku, Tinubu meet behind close door

Buhari’s real enemies are Atiku, Kwankwaso - Gov Lamido

Dutse — Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, has faulted the recent claim by the media committee of Buhari’s campaign directorate that President Goodluck Jonathan has directed him to campaign against Buhari, saying that the claim was mischievous and misleading.

He also warned General Muhammadu Buhari to consider former Vice president Atiku Abubakar and Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his real enemies.

Governor Lamido, yesterday, during the rally of Malam Aminu Ringim, the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, at Garki Local Government Area of the state, said he was too big to be used to campaign against Buhari because when it comes to political game, “I am not afraid of anybody.”

He stressed that if he wanted to say anything about General Buahri, he would say it without fear, adding he had expressed his mind in the past.

“There is no amount of hatred, harassment and intimidation by any political party that will stop the PDP from winning this month general elections in Nigeria.”

He expressed optimism that President Jonathan will win the coming Saturday presidential election, considering the popularity and acceptability of the PDP by Nigerians.

He noted that across the country, the PDP has done well and deserves victory at the polls going by the figures and a careful analysis made of the situation of things in the country.

On the former Vice President, Abubakar and Kano State governor, Kwankwaso, he insisted that they were real enemies of Buhari.

“I have never been an enemy of General Buhari. We don’t share the same political ideology and so I cannot pretend to admire his political beliefs, but Abubakar and Kwankwaso are his greatest antagonists because he scuttled their presidential ambitions when he won their party primaries.”

 

Buhari’s real enemies are Atiku, Kwankwaso - Gov Lamido

President Jonathan begged me thrice to dump APC – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed how President Goodluck Jonathan repeatedly appealed to him to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC, and return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Atiku said the president pleaded with him three times, once during a surprise midnight visit to his house.

The former VP made the revelation in an interview with the Hausa service of the BBC, during which he also explained why he has not been very visible in the campaign rallies of his party’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Abubakar said he turned down the personal request of President Jonathan to return to the PDP on three separate occasions.

He said the last was in Abuja last Friday when the President paid him a surprise midnight visit.

He said on that day, he received speaker Aminu Tambuwal and ex-military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, and they held fruitful discussions.

“In the evening I went to bed early, but at around 12 am, I was told the president was in my sitting room, so I came down and after exchanging pleasantries, I asked him to what I deserved such a visit and he said he just came back to still plead with me for support,” Atiku said.

“He said I need to go back to the PDP because we built the party and we are its founding fathers, and that we needed to go back and rebuild it.

“I told him this is the third time you are asking me to return to the PDP and my answer has always been the same; I am not going back,” Atiku said.

On speculations that the President also suggested an interim government to the former Vice President, Mr. Abubakar said the matter never came up.

“He did not bring it up, and I also did not,” he said. “We just spoke about politics and the security situation in the country.”

President Jonathan begged me thrice to dump APC – Atiku

Atiku explains his absence at Buhari"s campaigns

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has explained why he has not been attending the campaigns of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa, in the early hours of Friday, said he had not been invited to the APC presidential campaign rallies.

He said he would not attend the campaign if not invited. The former vice president was an aspirant in the presidential primaries in which Buhari emerged the winner.

He said, “There are minor irregularities in connection with the system being followed by the campaign team of General Buhari but we are trying to correct it. They need to check the strategy they are adopting.

Atiku said he had informed the director of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, about the issue. “I told him that if he did not invite me, I will not go,” he added.

Meanwhile, the former VP also denied reports that he was planning to return to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Atiku explains his absence at Buhari"s campaigns

Buhari Threatens To Drag Jonathan Before ICC As Atiku Disowns Defectors To PDP

The Presidential Campaign Organization of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, General Muhammudu Buhari, has said that he will submit a petition against President Goodluck Jonathan to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

The APCPCO said in a statement on Wednesday and signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, that the petition follows the massive terror unleashed on the residents of Lagos by armed pro-Jonathan groups under the dubious cover of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).

The ethnic militia groups had on Monday organised a road protest in the commercial city of Lagos demanding the sack of National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, over alleged mishandling of affairs of the commission.

However, the APC Presidential Campaign spokesman said that the machete-wielding and gun-bearing armed pro-Jonathan groups marched round the major streets of Lagos, harassing and intimidating motorists, chanting anti-Jega songs in a manner that gave them away as acting the carefully-prepared script for the truncation of the general elections.

“There was such disruption to the tranquility of the city that warranted the citizens scampering for safety in all directions, a foretaste of the violence they plan to unleash on Election Day.

“Our investigations have confirmed that Monday’s (16th March, 2015) show was a dress-rehearsal for the main disruption planned for the general elections. Lagos, and the entire South West, being a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been marked for massive dishevelling commotion that would involve killings, maiming and kidnapping.

“Our findings have further shown that the recent Nine Billion naira (N9 billion) Pipeline surveillance contract to OPC and some militant groups in Southern Nigeria was the elixir for the latest crude impudence of the pro-Jonathan armed groups. Indeed, the contract award was indeed a subterfuge for the mobilization of these murderous militant groups for the destruction of lives and property to force the desire of the re-election of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on the Nigerian people.”

Buhari Threatens To Drag Jonathan Before ICC As Atiku Disowns Defectors To PDP