Nigeria’s Police Affairs Minister Accused Of Killing Former Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, Says He Regrets Not Beating A Former Governor To Death-The Nation

Minister for Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan

By The Nation Newspaper

Minister of Police Affairs Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan has expressed regret for not flogging the first civilian governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, during the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) stakeholders meeting with the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo.
Adeleke alleged that the Osun State PDP governorship candidate, Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, Adesiyan and a retired Customs officer, Mr. Sogo Agboola, beat him at a function a day before the state PDP governorship primaries, in which he planned to run.
Adesiyan, who spoke with reporters at the PDP state secretariat, Gbongan Road, Osogbo aat the weekend, denied beating Adeleke.
He however said he regretted that he did not flog Adeleke like a baby.
According to him, he refrained from beating Adeleke even when he provoked him because he was once his governor and more so because of his own position as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He vowed to fight Adeleke anytime they meet.
He said: “My regret was that I did not beat him as he claimed I did. If I had not been a minister, I would have flogged him like a baby. You know that he could not withstand one blow. You know Adeleke is sick; maybe he would have died that day.
“It was Sogo Agboola that gave Adeleke a dirty slap when he tried to caution him from being violent and he gave Sogo an elbow jerk, which Sogo quickly returned with a dirty resounding slap.
“I thought he was tough but he ran away immediately. He is lying if he says Omisore and I beat him. One upper or lower cut would have landed him in the hospital. You know me. Let me tell you, Adeleke is a liar. After running to his people in the APC, they perfected the story for him. You know they are very good at propaganda. Ta lo nje ode aperin ni waju ode apeyan (who is an elephant hunter in the presence of a hunter who kills human being)? I will one day leave office as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and anytime I leave office, I will fight  Adeleke.”
Adesiyan swore by the Quran that he never attacked  Adeleke.
He recalled the incident: “At about 1.00 a.m when I noticed that I was hungry because I had not eaten, I told Omisore and others at the meeting that I wanted to eat and we went to the pool side bar of the hotel to eat. As I was eating the fried plantain they served me, I noticed that some boys that looked like thugs were coming to our direction and all of a sudden, the light in the hotel went off.
“I was not afraid because nobody can terrorize me in my state though I felt there could be problem. The police did their jobs. They arrested the boys and collected their cell phones. Later, Adeleke, who was absent at the meeting on the ground that he was outside the state, came in and moved to me. He pointed to me and started shouting at me. He said he made me the Director-General. I thought he got carried away because he was able to free his boys after telling those who arrested them that he was a former governor and that they are his boys.
“If I had ordered the arrest of the boys, the police dared not release them without informing me. Adeleke was so furious that Sogo wanted to caution him by holding him back, but he gave Sogo an elbow and which he returned with a dirty slap and Adeleke ran away with his thugs.”

Adesiyan also said that nobody can insult Omisore in his presence, saying: “I would rather die there.”

Soldiers Insist On Searching Speaker Tambuwal’s Official Car In Kaduna

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal

By Citizen Reporter

Soldiers yesterday in Kaduna  briefly detained the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, insisting his official car must be searched before he could be allowed into an international conference where he was due to deliver a speech.
Angered by the conduct of the soldiers, the Speaker came out of the car and trekked into the venue.
The incident occurred at Hotel 17, venue of an  International conference on security and development challenges of pastoralism in West and central Africa organized by the office of the National Security Adviser.
The Speaker,  who arrived the venue of the gathering at exactly 9.16 am for the 10.00 am opening ceremony, had his convoy stopped by soldiers who insisted they must search his official car before he could be allowed into the venue.
Despite much entreaties by security details attached to the Speaker,the soldiers refused, claiming they have “orders from above” to search the Speaker.
Incidentally, other VIPs, especially Governors,  who attended the conference were allowed access into the hotel without hindrance
The Speaker is the number four citizen in Nigeria’s official hierarchy after the President, Vice-President and the Senate President.
When contacted for his reaction, Tambuwal's spokesman,  Malam Imam Imam, decried the conduct of the soldiers, saying their attitude undermines the institution of the legislature.
"It is not about the person of the Speaker, but the office he is occupying. What we expect is for the security agents to show respect for the office of the Number 4 citizen of the country, " he said.

The soldiers did not search the speakers car after he walked into the venue.

Osun poll: Oyegun, Tinubu meet Oyinlola

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun, and the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, met a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Okuku, on Sunday.

It was learnt that Oyegun and Tinubu, who led leaders of the party to the hometown of Oyinlola, solicited the support of the former military administrator of Lagos State, saying they wanted him to be part of their new movement.

Oyegun, who spoke first, said: “The APC knows that you are the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the face of the law. But we want you to be a part of our new movement.”

Speaking after Oyegun, Tinubu reportedly shared the same vein with Oyegun, acknowledging Oyinlola’s leadership qualities.

In his response, Oyinlola thanked the leaders of the APC for their visit and acknowledgement, promising to make consultations with his followers over the meeting with the APC.

Oyinlola, who acknowledged that he remained a Peoples Democratic Party member, said he would fight the case of his removal as National Secretary of the ruling party to a logical conclusion.

Insinuations are rife that Oyinlola, who had been in talks with the leadership of the APP, might defect soon.

Ayo Fayose Beats Kayode Fayemi To Win Ekiti Governorship Election

Posted: Jun, 22 2014, 4:06AM

PDP candidate, Ayodel Fayose

By Saharareporters, New York

People’s Democratic Party Candidate and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has defeated the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi to win the governorship race in Ekiti state as earlier projected by Saharareporters.
Mr. Fayose defeated Mr. Fayemi by a wide margin, polling 203, 090 votes while Fayemi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) scored 120, 433 votes. The third contender from the Labor Party, Opeyemi Bamidele, only managed to win 18, 135 votes.
The election which was nearly marred by unprecedented use of security agencies to intimidate members of the APC was largely peaceful on polling day.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, Professor Isaac Azuzu made the official announcement in Ado Ekiti earlier today.

Tinubu has turned APC into private property – Ikimi

The estranged pioneer member of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Tom Ikimi, on Wednesday attributed his grouse with the party to the tyrannical approach to leadership by some of the leaders of the APC, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He said before Tinubu singlehandedly chose the former Edo State governor, John Odigie-Oyegun, he had threatened “fire and brimstone” if he did not emerge as the party’s national chairman at last Saturday’s national convention of the APC.

Ikimi said Tinubu operated caucuses whose membership varied from time to time subject to his whims and caprice.

He added that the current trends in the APC portended frightening prospects for the nation if the party wins the Presidency.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH, Ikimi, a former foreign affairs minister, said Tinubu had turned the APC into a private property and that some stalwarts of the APC were willing to accede to his whims which eventually turned the party’s Saturday convention to a “charade.”

The APC chieftain added that the party’s governors colluded with Tinubu to truncate democratic process in the national convention.

He said, “The governors and the Tinubu groups decided on a zoning process that was limited only to party offices as well as the choice of individuals to fill them. They proceeded in a manner that was neither open nor transparent. Most undemocratic and bizarre procedures then prevailed.

“The governors initiated a zoning plan that allocated the national chairman to the South-South. This proposal was reluctantly accepted by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose well-known preferred option had been to retain Chief Bisi Akande as the chairman forever. Nevertheless, he in the circumstance, proceeded to draw up a list of his cronies for the entire national executive all by himself. Very strange as this may sound, it was the reality. Nothing was ever referred to the National Interim Executive Council for approval or even information.”

Ikimi also lambasted Tinubu for parading himself as the national leader of the APC, saying no one gave him such a position. He added that it was unfortunate that some members of the party had tried to justify Tinubu’s unilateral appointment of Oyegun as the national chairman as a concession done to him as the national leader.

He said his problem with the ex-governor began when he opposed the Muslim-Muslim presidential and vice presidential ticket of the party.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may recall that mostly for the same reasons I opposed his desire to run as vice presidential candidate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar under the Action Congress banner in 2007. We settled for Senator Ben Obi from eastern Nigeria.

“I know he nurses a grudge against me for the position I took which was strongly supported by leaders from five zones apart from the South-West. I have no regrets whatsoever for my courage to stand up against oppression or dictatorship. No matter what anyone might say against the PDP, no individual claims ownership of that party,” the statement read in parts.

When one of our correspondents contacted the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for a response to Ikimi’s statement, he said the party had no comment.

In a text message response, Mohammed said, “I have gone through his (Ikimi’s) statement and we have no comments at the moment.”

Keshi set to dump Osaze, Azeez

Osaze Odemwingie

Stoke City striker Osaze Odemwingie and Almeria midfielder Ramon Azeez may not see action in Saturday’s crucial World Cup Group F clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina,africanfootball.com has learned.

Osaze brought some urgency and creativity to the Super Eagles’ attack against Iran on Monday, but Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said the former Russia-based forward defied his instructions even though he was playing an unfamiliar role.

Keshi is said to be disappointed with Azeez’s performance against Iran and has lined up Belgium-based Michael Uchebo to take his place.

Skipper Joseph Yobo is expected to keep his place in the first team after Turkey-based defender Godfrey Oboabona was ruled out of Saturday’s cracker as a result of a foot injury he suffered against Iran.

Yobo told africanfootball.com in Brazil that reaching a century of international caps would be an added bonus for him as he was already fulfilled to be at his third World Cup.

“I’m just happy that I made it here because towards the end of the season I got injured and it was difficult for me,” he said.

“Any other personal achievement will be great and I will enjoy it.”

Absenting Delegates Risking Their N4m Allowance — Confab VC

National Confab

By Saharareporters, New York

Delegates at the ongoing national confab who have made a habit of absenting themselves from plenary without valid reasons will not receive their allowances henceforth, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Vice Chairman of the confab has warned.
Speaking on Thursday, Akinyemi said it was important to draw the attention of members who had been disregarding the plenary to desist from the act. He gave them till Monday to start attending or forfeit their allowances.
“We don’t want to be treating delegates as secondary school pupils,” he said.\
“As from Monday, delegates who don’t show up will not be paid sitting allowance unless on medical reasons. We want you to know that this because we are all adults and we must be seen to be responsible.”
He conveyed the displeasure of government with the absence of more than half of delegates at the plenary, saying the sight of empty seats on televisions is a great disservice to the work of serious delegates.
“It is shown live and this is not good,” he said.
“They [the government] are now reminding us that there are government rules, and that when we are being paid sitting allowance, it must be seen to be so.
“Delegates have to learn to be responsible, because they were selected to deliberate over issues of national importance, which require the attention of everyone.”
Each delegate at the confab receives monthly allowance of N4 million per month. By the end of the confab next month, the delegates would have received a whopping N16 million each, following the one-month extension approved for the confab by President Goodluck Jonathan in May.

Ekiti 2014: APC lies to Nigerians on Kano governor’s air travel

APC said, “At least three Governors – Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano – have so far been prevented from making the trip”

The claim by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that federal officials prevented the plane carrying the Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from landing in Akure is false, PREMIUM TIMES can reveal.

At the time the APC was claiming that the Kano governor was being barred from getting to Ekiti, the spokesperson of the governor told PREMIUM TIMES his boss was in Kano and had no plans to travel to Ekiti.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, claimed Mr. Kwankwaso and two other APC governors, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, were barred from getting to Ekiti to support Governor Kayode Fayemi’s re-election bid.

“At least three Governors – Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano – have so far been prevented from making the trip,” Mr. Mohammed said.

The spokesperson added that “the helicopter that was to ferry Governor Oshiomhole from Benin to Ado-Ekiti was refused permission to take off from the Benin Airport, while the plane that was flying Gov. Kwankwanso to Akure was denied permission to land”.

Ekiti has no airport and so travellers by air have to first land at Akure (neighbouring Ondo State) airport, then travel by road to Ekiti.

When the news of the denial first spread on Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES called the Director of Press Affairs to Mr. Kwankwaso, Baba Dantiye, who said his boss had no plans to travel to Ekiti.

Mr. Dantiye said Mr. Kwankwaso was at an event in Kano State and had no plans of travelling to Ekiti State.

“The governor is in Kano here; he did not have plans of going to Akure, none that I know of,” Mr. Dantiye said.

Perhaps realising that his party had released a statement to the contrary, Mr. Dantiye called back to say he was at an event with the governor and would not “want to confirm or deny” the APC’s claim.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the event the Kano governor attended in Kano on Thursday was the graduation of 1120 mechanics and vulcanisers from the 44 local governments of the state.

Supporters of the governor posted pictures of the event on facebook.

Not all lies

While the APC apparently lied on Mr. Kwakwanso’s situation, the party’s claim that Mr. Amaechi was prevented from getting to Ekiti is true.

PREMIUM TIMES reported a statement by the Rivers State government that Mr. Amaechi was stopped from getting to Ekiti by road after his plane landed in Akure.

The governor was then detained by soldiers for several minutes before he was allowed to return to Akure but not to Ekiti to campaign for Mr. Fayemi in the Ekiti election that holds on Saturday.

“Governor Amaechi was ambushed and refused entry into Ekiti by military personnel acting on orders from above. He made to turn back and return to Akure where his chattered aircraft was parked but was chased and rounded by armed soldiers and security personnel in Odudu, Ondo state. According to the captain who led the operation, he had orders not to allow the governor entry or exit,” the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, said.

The spokesperson to the Edo State governor, Peter Ohiare, also told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Oshiomhole’s aircraft was barred from leaving Benin airport.

Mr. Ohiare said he was informed of the air travel ban by the Commander 81 Maritime Crew, Benin City.

The spokesperson of aviation agencies had told PREMIUM TIMES that the military had the power to regulate Nigeria’s airspace even without the permission of the civilian agencies.

Military reacts

When contacted on why soldiers detained Mr. Amaechi, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Olajide Laleye, denied that the incident occurred.

“That’s ridiculous, on what grounds? How could the military have arrested the governors? That’s not true, there was no arrest,” Mr. Laleye, a Brigadier General, said.

The military and the Nigerian Police have pledged to ensure security during the Ekiti election; but have been accused of aiding Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The three major candidates in the election are Mr. Fayemi of the APC, Ayo Fayose of the PDP, and Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party.

But Governor Amaechi himself confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that he was detained by soldiers who barred him from travelling to Ekiti. His aides later said he was released and allowed to return to Akure but that his plane remained impounded.

Jonathan appoints Bode George’s wife, Roli, as new NDLEA boss

The appointee is the wife of a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George.

President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Roli Bode-George as the new Director General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

The appointee is the wife of a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George.

Mr. George, a leader of the PDP in Lagos, is currently a delegate, appointed by the president, at the National Conference. His conviction for fraud, when he served as head of the Nigeria Ports Authority, by a High Court was upturned by the Supreme Court.

Mr. Jonathan’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, announced the appointment on his twitter handle on Thursday evening. He said the appointment is with immediate effect.

Mrs. Bode-George takes over from Olufemi Ajayi, who was on Wednesday appointed the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF.

President Jonathan had in 2011 also appointed Mrs. Bode-George as a federal commissioner in the National Population Commission, NPC.