Presidency replies Kano ex-governor on statement against Buhari

The Presidency has dismissed the allegations by former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State that the Buhari administration is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu
Credit: Punchnews

Reacting to the allegation in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, enjoined Mr. Shekarau to stop insulting the intelligence of Nigerians with his false and misleading allegations.

He noted that the “audacity of Shekarau to preach about sensitivity is incredibly amazing, considering the large-scale stealing of public funds by the unseated PDP government at the expense of the welfare of the people.

“The greatest insensitivity to the welfare of the people is epic corruption for which the PDP had a notorious and unrivalled record in our recent democratic history of bad governance.”

The Presidential aide explained that “the greed of PDP leaders respects no boundaries of decency and rationality, so much that they could illegally steal any funds within their grip or reach, including monies meant for the security of Nigerians and the welfare of soldiers fighting terrorism in the Northeast.”

According to Mr. Shehu, Mr. Shekarau’s colleagues in the PDP government that he served have been coughing out monies that they illegally stole while in office.

“Bringing misery to your fellow countrymen and women on account of your greed and thievery is the worst example of insensitivity,” he said.

He said that the wellbeing of the citizens was at the heart of the President and for this reason, “the administration is seeking permanent solutions, not temporary ones to the county’s economic woes by first securing it, developing infrastructure and diversifying its economy.’’

Mr. Shehu reassured that the several measures put in place by the Buhari administration would bear fruition in a matter of time.

On the current fuel scarcity, Mr. Shehu said the Buhari administration had saved one trillion naira on account of removing subsidy which was fraudulently making some cabals richer at the expense of the welfare of the people who were being short-changed.

He explained that the Buhari administration had significantly reduced the rate of corruption and frustrated people with corrupt and fraudulent tendencies.

According to him, those that benefitted from subsidy fraud are using their illegal gains to finance smear campaigns against the Buhari administration on the social media and other forums.

Addressing the issue of insecurity, Mr. Shehu said the Boko Haram terrorist group had been so “thoroughly militarily weakened that they no longer have the capabilities and staying power to confront our troops, or occupy any part of Nigerian territory without being decisively expelled.”

He recalled that markets and bus stations that were closed three years ago in the Northeast “are now being reopened, thanks to the decisive restoration of relative peace in the area by our now motivated and reinvigorated troops.

“The Buhari administration is also proud to say that poor Nigerians that were once displaced by terrorist attacks are now returning to their liberated towns and villages, and this government won’t relent until it rids the country of the vestiges of terrorism.”

According to the presidential aide, the commitment of the Buhari administration to fighting corruption is firm and irrevocable, and that “every stolen kobo would be recovered and channelled into improving the welfare of Nigerians.”

(NAN)

Presidency replies Kano ex-governor on statement against Buhari

Obanikoro, Shekarau, other Jonathan’s ministers lose severance package

No fewer than  14  ministers in the  Goodluck Jonathan Administration will not receive  any severance package from the  Muhammadu Buhari government having allegedly failed to meet the requirement for benefitting from such.

Obanikoro

It is also gathered that  most of the new  36 ministers  inherited  decrepit offices, making it difficult for them to  settle down for work.

The ex-ministers that may forfeit their severance package  are said to have spent less than two years in office to qualify for the package.

Investigation revealed that the Buhari administration has stuck to the implementation of the terms of appointment of the over 14 former ministers.

A clause in their appointment letters reads in part: “Severance Allowance of 300 %of Annual Basic Salary payable after full tenure of office with government. The allowance will be pro-rated after a minimum of two years tenure.”

It was learnt that some of the affected ex-ministers barely spent a year or three months in office.

In this category are  Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos)-Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II; Mr Kenneth Kobani (Rivers)-Minister of State for Trade and Investment; Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa)-Minister of Information; Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue)- Minister of State for Foreign Affairs I; Augustine Akobundu (Abia)- Minister of State for Defence; Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi)-Minister of State for Health; Hauwa Lawan (Jigawa)-Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs and

Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba)-Minister of Labour and Productivity.

Others are Mr Benjamin Osita Chidoka (Aviation); ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (Minister of Education); Steve Oru (Minister for the Niger Delta); Prince Clement Adeyeye (Minister of State for Works); and Abdul Bulama (Minister of Science and Technology) and Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman(National Planning).

A source said: “The affected ex-ministers have been notified that they are not entitled to severance package in whatever form.

“They have not met the official requirements for severance package and they won’t get it.

“I think those affected should be up to 20. So far, more than half of those in Jonathan’s cabinet will not get severance package.

“If they had been paid in error, we would have asked them to refund the severance allowance.”

Sources also said yesterday that some of the new 36 ministers inherited decrepit portfolios.

The situation varies from ministry to ministry.

In some ministries,ministers met  no official vehicles, while in others, the treasuries were practically empty with no imprest to meet basic needs.

It was gathered that many of the  ministers  are finding it difficult to operate because their predecessors stripped the ministries of basic tools to work with.

Investigation revealed that some ministers have no official vehicles because their predecessors sold same to themselves in line with what they called “monetization” policy.

Others appropriated government vehicles since their severance package was not paid.

A highly-placed source said: “There is a case of a female minister who is using her personal SUV as official vehicle. Also, she has provided the pilot vehicles too in her convoy.

“Another minister went to the National Assembly to clarify some issues and what was left as official vehicle in bad shape broke down.

“We have the case of another minister who went away with 10 vehicles of his ministry and parastatals. The ministry had to write him to return some of the vehicles when the minister was adamant.

“There is no minister without one story or the other to tell. All of them have no imprest to meet basic needs in their ministries. Most ex-ministers left nothing in the treasuries.”

The spokesman for  the Jonathan cabinet, ex-Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman, said: “To the best of my knowledge, most ministers returned their official vehicles. The necessary handover procedures were fully complied with.

“If there is any issue in a ministry, you can bring it up and we will crosscheck the facts for you.

“It is also true that some of the former ministers will not get severance package because they did not stay in office for two years.

“And as for those entitled to severance package, not all of them have been paid. This is to show you that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan did not abuse the privilege of office. Unlike previous  administrations, Jonathan did not give his ministers any exit bonanza or package.”

Obanikoro, Shekarau, other Jonathan’s ministers lose severance package

Buhari romancing with politicians who destroyed Nigeria for 16yrs - Shekarau

…vows to remain in PDP

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—IMMEDIATE past Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said yesterday, that President Muhammadu Buhari was romancing with politicians  who destroyed Nigeria for 16 years.

Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Education

Shekarau, who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, wondered why the President was now romancing former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who, according to him, ruled the country for eight of Peoples Democratic Party’s 16 years of administering Nigeria.

Reacting to President Buhari’s claim  that he came to right the wrongs of 16 years mess created by the PDP, the former governor, who is also a member of the PDP review committee, described all the political parties as necessary evil.

He said: “Buhari has said that he has come to right the wrongs of 16-year mess by the PDP.  So, I said, ‘Mr. President you are welcome, but reminded that 10 of those 16 years belong to ex-President Obasanjo.

‘’He had his eight years and by indirect remote control, two years of late President Umaru Yar’Adua was Obasanjo’s. And Obasanjo was the one who produced Yar’Adua and Jonathan. Until three years ago when they fell out (Obasanjo and Jonathan), Obasanjo was in charge.

“Obasanjo today belongs to those who are chief advisers to President   Muhammadu Buhari. Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru  El-Rufai, was one of the major hit men of Obasanjo, my former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was one of the boys of Obasanjo as well as former Governors Bukola Saraki, Goje and all the rest of them.

“They were part of those 16 years which President Buhari was saying that PDP messed up Nigeria, and today because they are APC, they are saints. They are now surrounding the President as his chief advisers. The Amaechis are all part of the PDP.

“All the election crisis that President Buhari was accusing PDP of perpetrating were a creation of these people, the same who are with him now.

“So what sense does it make that I said you are thief for 16 years, I have come to correct the wrongs that you did and now I am calling you the chief adviser in order to right the wrongs that you committed.

“Does it make sense? We are waiting to see how they will come out of this.”

Buhari romancing with politicians who destroyed Nigeria for 16yrs - Shekarau

Bring Back Our Girls: Shekarau, Onwuliri Shun Protesters

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri on Tuesday shunned school girls protesting the inability of the government to rescue the 219 Chibok schoolgirls one year after they were abducted from their school in Borno state.

THISDAY gathered that the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group had formally notified the ministry of its plans to bring the schoolgirls to meet with the ministers as part of activities to mark the anniversary of the abduction which drew local and international outrage.

The secondary schoolgirls and some primary schoolgirls drawn from different schools across the Federal Capital Territory marched from the Unity Fountain to the Federal Ministry of Education. They bore placards bearing the names of each of the missing school girls.

The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu walked with the BBOG leaders, alongside some human rights activists. Former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, who is one of prominent leaders of BBOG group was conspicuously absent.

Officers of the Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Commission were on ground to ensure security and orderliness.

The Ministers were away from the Ministry when the girls arrived there at 11.30am Tuesday morning. It was obvious that there were no plans to receive them as the gate was locked to keep them out for over 25 minutes.

A visibly ruffled Director, who identified herself as Director of Planning, Mrs. Olutoun later came out and tried to address the girls through the gates.

This drew the ire of Odinkalu who insisted that the gates cannot be shut against the students as they were Nigerian citizens. The leader of girls, Miss Maryam Ahmed also insisted they would not speak from outside the gates.

As the gates were opened, the Director of Human Resources, Mr. Mohammed Bello, who also introduced himself as the Acting Permanent Secretary received the protesters.

Fielding questions from the girls, Bello gave the assurance that the government was doing its best through the security agencies to ensure that girls are rescued and returned safely to their parents.

“We are concerned with anything that has to do with girls’ education, we are with you and will give you all the necessary support to ensure that the girls are found…if you have been following the happenings in that last three weeks, you will know that sooner than later, we will get the girls back,” he said.

Bello recalled that almost all the schools in the North East region had to be shut down at some point, while the government relocated students to safer areas.

Odinkalu, who noted that he was there as a parent, urged Nigerians to keep hope alive for the missing girls, as there is no evidence that they are dead.

He however berated the officials of the Education Ministry for the shoddy manner in which the protesting students were received.

“This is an anniversary that no parent would wish for, not even for enemies. When we came, we were locked out and people were afraid to see us. This is the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is this country that unites us. The girls were abducted because they choose to write the exam in a certain part of the country. The only reason my child was not abducted was because he took the exam in another part of the country,” he said.

“Nigeria is changing, it is important for public officers to live up to their responsibilities. It is utterly offensive for public officers to lock us out of this building. We pay for this building. The next time we come here, receive us as Nigerians, receive these children as your children, because one day you would leave this office and you will reap what you have sown, the seed of irresponsibility. Never again should any child have to go through what these children are going through,or what their parents are going through,” Odinkalu added.

Bring Back Our Girls: Shekarau, Onwuliri Shun Protesters

Parents reject FG’s N625m insurance for pupils

2

Parents of pupils in the unity schools and the Federal Ministry of Education are now at loggerheads over the directive by the ministry asking parents to pay N5,000 insurance policy for their children.

Under the scheme, which is being underwritten by NICON Insurance Plc, the money is to mitigate the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of attacks on educational institutions.

Though parents applauded the initiative, they however rejected the provision that stipulated that each of the pupils should pay N5,000 per annum to enjoy the scheme.

For instance, the Chairman, Parent-Teacher-Association, Federal Government College, Jos, Plateau State, Mr. Mutla Habila, said parents were opposed to the scheme.

He told one of our correspondents on the telephone that parents were opposed to the scheme because they could not see its value.

He said, “As the PTA FGC Jos chairman, I was the first person to question the propriety of the scheme and I stand by my opposition to it. I am asking all parents not to pay and those who have paid should ask for a refund.”

But the Principal of FGC Jos, Mr. Manko Mohammed, said the insurance scheme was a policy of the Federal Government, which all parents were to comply with.

He said that he had not asked parents not to pay, but the text message asking parents to ignore the directive was from the PTA of the school which the authorities knew nothing about.

He said, “As a civil servant, I am supposed to follow directives and this one is from the Federal Ministry of Education and I communicate to all parents through the newsletter. I did not send any text message to parents. It was from a certain PTA of which we have no knowledge of.”

He said all parents were duly briefed about the benefits of the scheme to the welfare of their children.

The scheme, when implemented will fetch NICON N625m from the 104 unity schools with 125,000 pupils.

Also, some parents of pupils at the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos have queried the scheme.

They argued that the Federal Government was supposed to pay for the policy because it was the government that should be responsible for the security of the pupils.

“I work in a company too and the management of the firm has insured me. I was not asked to pay for the policy, so why should the government ask pupils to pay N5,000 yearly for the policy?” One of the parents, Mr. Kunle Ayeni, said.

Also, the King’s College, Lagos Parent-Teacher-Association on Tuesday faulted the new insurance regime, saying the move was hasty.

The association spoke through its Chairman, Chief Emman Oriakhi.

Oriakhi said though the initiative looked laudable, it was wrong for the Federal Government to have embarked on it without consulting major stakeholders.

He said, “It is a good move that was hastily carried out. The Federal Ministry of Education did not consult any interested group in the sector.

“The KCPTA is aligning with its parent association, National Association of Parent-Teacher of the Federal Government Colleges, in rejecting this policy.

“If major stakeholders had discussed the derivable gains, we would have been in a position to say whether it is worth committing our money to.

“Do you know what it means to garner N625m every year via this policy? So, I canvass that the authorities should invite and discuss with stakeholders on the way forward.”

Meanwhile, the management of NICON Insurance Plc, on Tuesday said its appointment as the underwriter of the Students’ Welfare Insurance Scheme followed due process.

The Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs of NICON, Mr. Ade Adesokan, made this known in a statement.

The statement said the scheme was presented to the Federal Ministry of Education and due process was followed before the firm’s appointment as the underwriter.

It said that the new scheme would help to address the challenges of pupils’ welfare and continuity of their studies.

According to the statement, its objective is to bring succour to pupils that may lose their parents through accident or by natural means.

“The Students Welfare Insurance Scheme is a combination of Group Personal Accident and Group Life Assurance Schemes. It is packaged for pupils of 104 unity schools throughout the country,” the statement said.

It said that in the case of accidental death of a pupil, the sponsor named in the policy would be entitled to N500, 000.

The statement said that in the event of the sponsor or guardian’s death, the pupil would be entitled to the payment of school fees up to the year of graduation.

It said such a pupil would be entitled to a maximum of N500, 000 per annum.

“In case a pupil accidentally sustains permanent disability, he or she will be entitled to N500, 000 as compensation.

“For accidental medical expenses, a pupil will be entitled to N50, 000 for medical treatment.

“If a student is involved in accidental death, the company will pay N50, 000 for burial expenses,’’ Adesokan explained.

It said that some conditions were also to be fulfilled before a pupil could enjoy the benefits.

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Parents reject FG’s N625m insurance for pupils

Poor WAEC results worry Shekarau

Auchi (Edo) – The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, on Saturday said the Federal Government would work out modalities for the training and re-training of teachers in the country.

Shekarau spoke at the 22nd convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo.

“Government is worried by the poor results recorded in the last Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination conducted by the West Africa Examination Council.

“To ramify this situation, government has taken steps to improve on the capability of the quality of teaching and facilities available in our secondary schools.

“In addition, government is working out modalities for the regular training and re-training of teachers through various short-term courses, workshops and seminars,’’ he said.

Shekarau said the government was very particular about the development of vocational and technology education and believed that strengthening them would reduce the high rate of unemployment and create wealth.

“It is for this reason that government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), provides financial support for the development of tertiary institutions.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that our educational system has its peculiar challenges, especially in the area of funding, where it competes with other sectors of the economy for allocation of financial resources.

“Nevertheless, the challenges have not been allowed to overwhelm us.

“This is clear evidence in the prudent manner with which available resources have been deployed for optimum results,’’ he said.

The Minister urged managers of higher institutions to ensure available resources are deployed for maximum benefit and result.

He commended the rector of the polytechnic for its infrastructure development, done with the view to widening access to education in line with the ministry’s six point strategic plans.

“The Auchi Polytechnic has shown good example in this regard, which is commendable.

“The achievement recorded by the polytechnic in the last 50 years calls for celebration.

“And it is at the backdrop of this that I recognise and acknowledge the great and positive development of the institution, especially as they fall in line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr President,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Rector, Dr Philipa Idogho said that the institution graduated students 3,748 with Higher National Diploma and 4,987 with National Diploma.

Idogho urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the institution wherever they find themselves.

“I urge you to remember always that you have this polytechnic as your ambassador.

“Those who graduated before you held afloat the worthy banner of this school. You can do no less,’’ she said.

 

Poor WAEC results worry Shekarau

Shekarau becomes education minister, others get portfolios

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday assigned portfolios to the four new ministers recently confirmed by the Senate.

The new ministers and their portfolios are: Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau- Minister of Education; Dr. Stephen Oru- Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Mr. Adedayo Adeyeye -Minister of State, Works; and Dr. Abdul Bulama -Minister of Science and Technology.

Jonathan directed the erstwhile Minister of State, Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, to take over as the Minister of State, Finance.

He also told him to continue supervising the Ministry of National Planning until a substantive minister is named.

The President made the announcements after swearing in the new ministers and shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

In his short remarks, he said the ministers’ appointment could not be described as enviable because they were brought in at a time when Nigerians expected a lot from them.

He urged them to perform, not only to satisfy him but all Nigerians.

The Corp-Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka, later decorated Jonathan as the Grand Patron of the Special Corp Marshal.

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Shekarau becomes education minister, others get portfolios

Senate confirms Shekarau, Adeyeye others, as ministers

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of a former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, Adedayo Adeyeye (Ekiti), Dr. Stephen Orhu (Delta), and Dr. Abdul Bulama (Yobe) as ministers.

The nominees, who answered questions from the senators on the state of the nation, agreed that an urgent review of the country’s education curriculum remained the best way to tackle unemployment, poverty and insurgency.

Shekarau, a two-term governor of Kano State, lamented the high level of unemployment in the country which he linked to the disruption of the Universal Primary Education policy by the successive military administration in the country.

He maintained that “the issue of skills acquisition for Nigerian students at the first three years of secondary education as envisioned in the 6-3-3-4 curriculum should be revisited by government and effectively implemented.”

He said, “The skills acquisition component of the 6-3-3-4 education curriculum started in 1976 with the implementation of the Universal Primary Education and followed up with importation of Introductory Technology equipment from 1979-1982, for skills acquisition by junior secondary school pupils.

“The policy would have to a very large extent, assisted the country in producing self-reliant and self-employed school leavers at that level on a yearly basis if the programme had been implemented as envisioned.

“Part of the way out for our dear country on the problem of unemployment which breeds indiscipline, and unrest, among others in the country is for us to go back to the curriculum by making it to practically serve as catalyst for addressing the issue of unemployment of school leavers right from the classrooms.”

Shekarau justified the defection of politicians from one political party to another as a normal practice.

He said, “There have been some inconsistencies in the polity. The issue of changing political parties if you read the history of the Americans too, they did worse than what we are doing at the stage at which we are. Ideologies are not imposed, it is an ongoing process.

“Education is the progressive discovery of ignorance. Gradually we are learning, we are trying to develop. Ideologies will become institutionalised by themselves.

“These movements (defection) I don’t totally agree that all the time they are for personal interests. They are dictated by circumstances of the political development around the environment you are in. I am sure with time, ideologies will be institutionalised.”

He also identified the immediate fixing of the power sector by the government as a critical factor that could assist in solving the problem of unemployment.

Adeyeye suggested that the National Youth Service Corps scheme should not be scrapped but rather strengthened to promote national unity and integration.

According to him, the scheme as envisioned in 1973 and implemented till date, has in no small way, contributed to the unity of the country in so many ways.

Bulama suggested the use of electronic voting system but that it should be experimented with by-elections.

Mark, after their confirmation,   charged the ministerial designates to make Nigeria as their constituencies and not their states or political parties.

He said, “We hope that whenever they are given portfolio, they will see Nigeria as their constituency and not their state or political parties.”

Senate confirms Shekarau, Adeyeye others, as ministers

Shekarau under attack over northeast elections

“It is very clear that former governor Shekarau has lost his mental balance since he left the APC and joined the PDP”.

Strong negative reactions have trailed former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau’s comment about the three states under Boko Haram siege and emergency rule: Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau

Mr. Shekarau had said that it was more important securing the three states and indeed the northeast than conducting elections there in 2015.

This got many residents of the state upset; as Mr. Shekarau, currently being vilified as an agent of the PDP-controlled federal government, is accused of carrying out the bid of his pay masters by politicising the Boko Haram insurgency and the general insecurity in the northeast region.

Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri on Saturday, a renowned Borno elder, Bulama Mali Gubio, said that “it is very clear that former governor Shekarau has lost his mental balance since he left the APC (All Progressives Congress) and joined the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party)”.

“Ibrahim Shekarau is a disgrace to the north as a whole. As a matter of fact with this statement coming from him on crucial matters like this, he has lost what remains of the little integrity in his person as a northerner,” Mr. Gubio said.

Mr. Gubio, who is also a former Head of Borno State Civil Service, pointed out that Mr. Shekarau’s comments that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, cannot conduct elections in volatile states is capable of denying most states of the north from holding the said elections as well.

“If he is insisting that elections would not hold in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe because they are volatile states; then he should note that it means elections would not hold in  his state, Kano, because it is also one of the volatile states. In fact if Shekarau’s statement is to be taken seriously, it means there won’t be elections in Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Benue, Sokoto, and Nasarawa states, because all of them are volatile as it is now.

“So what Shekarau is suggesting is that there would be no elections in the whole of the north; and it is only a mad man that would prescribe the disenfranchisement of his people, just to please his pay masters.

“It is in the interest of the country at large for government to honestly confront the problems of insurgency and tackle it once and for all, rather than politicising it. We should remember Nigeria is a country made up of components and if one part of the country is sick the rest cannot pretend to be well”.

In his reaction, the pioneer chairman of the PDP in Borno, Ahmed Ashemi, also expressed his anger at the comment of Mr. Shekarau.

“His comment that elections cannot hold in states under state of emergency was not only intended to please some people at the highest level but also capable of sending a very wrong signal that could lead to chaos”.

“It is an ill-conceived assumption or foreclosure of opinion that we in Borno and sister states of Adamawa and Yobe are not going to experience peace in the next nine months despite the efforts being made by the federal government through the security operatives.

“It is wrong and unbecoming of Shekarau to say that even with the provisos that ‘if peace is not attained’. For God sake, the elections we are talking about are to hold in February next year, and we are in April today,” Mr. Ashemi wondered.

Mr. Ashemi alleged that the former Kano state governor is being used to play politics with the issue of insurgency.

“I am a card-carrying PDP politician, but I will never allow anyone to politicise the current security challenges in the northeast; I believe the issue of security affects all of us; and we have to put hands together regardless of politics, religion or tribal inclines to fight headlong the issue of insecurity, rather than playing politics with it.

“It will rather be very unfortunate for a man of that stature to stoop so low as to politicise such a sensitive issue in order to please somebody. I hope that is not what Shekarau is doing; if that is what he is doing, I condemn it as an individual, as a leader in my community and  I condemn it in totality as a citizen of the Northeast who is so affected remotely and closely by these insurgency”.

“The federal government has its sources of information that are superior to our own; and if the federal government truly thinks that elections cannot hold, such decision can only be taken when the time for the elections comes and not now. We don’t want to hear any contemplation by anybody now that there wouldn’t be elections in any of the three states under emergency when we still have more than nine months to get to the elections. We want to believe that the Federal government is really serious about crushing the insurgency and bringing about a lasting peace in the States.”

Shekarau under attack over northeast elections

Governor Obi, others may join Jonathan"s cabinet

The outgoing Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and three others may soon join President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet, The Nation learnt.

Governor Obi

Others being considered are ex-Governors Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano) and Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto). Senator Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara) is also listed.

But Gbemisola’s likely nomination is creating division in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, with many stakeholders opposing her choice.

The stakeholders, who have accused PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu of being behind Gbemisola’s nomination, have threatened to join forces with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 should her likely nomination stand.

It was also learnt that the new arrowhead of PDP in Kwara State, Hajiya Muinat Bola Shagaya, does not favour Gbemisola for Kwara’s slot.

Notwithstanding, Dr. Jonathan has asked his ministers to either support him and the PDP or get out of the cabinet.

He said there was no way a minister in the cabinet could claim to be apolitical in a government formed by a political party.

The list of the four nominees is to be sent to the Senate after due consultations with some stakeholders.

A Presidency source said: “So far, Obi, Shekarau, Bafarawa and Gbemisola have been pencilled down for ministerial slots, barring last-minute change of mind by the President.

“The appointment of the four is part of the new focus of the cabinet to have a mixture of technocrats and politicians. You know this is a transition cabinet, which should be useful during the campaign period.

“Also, the reality of the defection into PDP by some bigwigs is that there must be some reallignment and political concessions. Politics is about being part of a government.

“For Obi, apart from his track records in office, he is rated as central to the President’s success in 2015 through the mobilisation of the Igbo. You cannot have Obi in the cabinet without an impact because he is an epitome of good governance.

“We are expecting that the names will soon be sent to the Senate for consideration.”

As at press time, however, the choice of Gbemisola Saraki has caused ripples within Kwara PDP.

It was learnt that the rallying point of PDP in Kwara State, Hajiya Muinat Bola Shagaya, is opposed to Gbemisola for “not being a team player” since she joined the party.

Although it was gathered that the PDP leadership had reconciled Shagaya and Gbemisola before the latter’s defection, but the two leaders have not worked harmoniously.

A top leader of PDP in Kwara State said: “Initially, we were asked to submit a list of 10 names but it was later pruned to three. Now, we learnt the National Chairman of PDP is in favour of Gbemisola Saraki to reduce the choice to one.

“Our leaders are throwing up candidates like Prof. Shuaibu Oba Abdulraheem; Dele Belgore (SAN); Kunle Sulyman; ex-Minister Ibrahim Bio; John Dara and Senator Makanjuola Ajadi. Some even suggested picking from younger elements to join the cabinet. They are making a case for younger ones like Hon. Ibrahim Oloriegbe and Lanre Issa Onilu.

“Gbemisola cannot be acceptable to all PDP leaders in the state. She cannot just come and hijack the party. She is also not a team player.

“For instance, we were expected to mobilise members of PDP in Kwara to the rally in Minna last Saturday. But instead of working with others, Gbemisola went behind to ferry her supporters to Minna to prove a point that she is in charge of Kwara PDP. All her supporters were visible at the rally as if other stakeholders were insignificant.

“The President should consult very well before making Gbemisola a minister or else PDP should forget Kwara in 2015. The truth is that she contested under ACPN in 2011, did she go far? She needs to pay her dues in PDP before hopping to a ministerial seat.”

Jonathan has asked his ministers to either support him and the PDP or leave the cabinet.

Another source in the Presidency said: “In a government formed by a political party, there is no basis for being apolitical at all. Once you are a minister, you are expected to implement the programmes of PDP

“The President has told the ministers to either back him and PDP or leave the cabinet. He reaffirmed his position with the sack of Bolaji Abdullahi as the minister of Sports last Wednesday.

“Let me tell you, the real reason Abdullahi was removed had to do with his refusal to read a speech supporting PDP at the party’s rally in Ilorin last Monday. He stood his ground that he is not a politician. The President also showed him that he should go for other business if he cannot identify with a party upon which he is serving the nation.

“This same rule now applies to all ministers; they have to identify with PDP directly or indirectly. The alternative is to quit.”

It was gathered last night that the President has directed all ministers to perform or be booted out.

A government official, who spoke with our correspondent, said the President vowed to stick to the Performance Benchmark for assessing ministers.

The source said: “The President said once a minister has no concrete achievements to impact on the lives of Nigerians, he or she should be prepared to go.

“As a first step, the President has told the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, to sit up; he said he is not happy with the present state of the Federal Capital Territory.

“The Minister is not sustaining the master plan of the city and the security situation is at its lowest ebb. Most of the key projects being completed by the minister were inherited; no new outstanding projects have been added.

“This FCT administration has preoccupied itself with land allocations than infrastructural development.

“The President’s concerns informed why the FCT Minister was running helter-skelter on Monday and threatening all his directors. He has transferred the same aggression to the directors by vowing to sack them.” (0)

Governor Obi, others may join Jonathan"s cabinet