Truce unlikely as Governors 'withdraw' from peace talks

The crisis that has torn the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart may have deepened.

According to Leadership newspaper, PDP governors have withdrawn from the reconciliation process leading to the cancellation of the inauguration of the party's reconciliation committee.

The inauguration was scheduled to hold on Tuesday, October 18,  at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 4:00pm.

If inaugurated, the committee would have indicated a major move towards ending the crisis that has undermined the political might of the party and threatens its existence.

The aggrieved factions - embattled national chairman Senator Ali Modu Sheriff's group and the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, had met last month and expressed commitment to end their feud.

Both factions subsequently agreed to setup a reconciliation committee of 28 members, comprising 14 persons from both camps to straighten the peace process.

But the proposed peace deal, as it appears, may be off the table.

It was gathered that the Governors' withdrawal from the process was due to Sheriff's insistence on Jimoh Ibrahim as candidate in the Ondo governorship election as against Eyitayo Jegede, who emerged under the platform of Makarfi’s leadership.

The Governors are also angry that Sheriff inaugurated a parallel party executive for Delta State, despite the existence of a substantive party executive in the state, report said.

A party source was quoted as saying; "This was not our agreement. Look at what is happening in Delta State PDP, inaugurating parallel executive and look at what is happening in Ondo, the man is coming out with a different candidate for the state governorship election."

The party is yet to make an official statement as to why the inauguration of the reconciliation committee was cancelled.

Buhari brought Obanikoro back because he wants to implicate me,’ Governor says

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has responded to claims that he received looted funds from former minister, Musiliu Obanikoro.

Obanikoro, who was the minister of state for defence under the Goodluck Jonathan regime, revealed that he gave $5,377,000 in cash to Fayose for the June 2014 elections in Ekiti.However, in response, Fayose said that Obanikoro was brought back to the country by President Muhammadu Buhari in order to implicate him by all means.

Fayose made the comments via a statement released by his media aide, Lere Olayinka.

The statement reads:

“This project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost’ will definitely not put food on the tables of Nigerians and for all I care, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its collaborators can keep running from pillar to post while I keep delivering good governance to Ekiti and its people.”

“We have gone pass this stage of media trial, EFCC should rather keep its gun powder dry, when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. They said more than this in the 2006 poultry scam blackmail, despite that, I am the governor today.

“Those who arranged the dramatic and compromised return of Senator Obanikoro to Nigeria obviously did so in continuation of their project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost’ but I am not bothered because my election was legitimately funded.

“However, if this is why they are intimidating judges and the judiciary, it won’t work as far as my own matter is concerned as no one can play God. As far as I am concerned, I am busy here in Ekiti attending to the welfare and well-being of my people. I won’t be distracted.

 “Since we are now in the era in which financial assistance from Nigerians to fund elections is being criminalized, the international community, especially those funding EFCC must insist that the commission probes the funding of APC elections before further funds are released to the commission.”

Obanikoro arrived Nigeria from the US on Monday, October 17, to honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which has accused him of laundering N4.75 billion.

APC governorship candidate denies bribing Justice Okoro

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2015 Akwa Ibom elections, Umana Okon Umana has denied bribing a judge.

The allegation was made by Justice Okoro, one of the judges who was recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges of fraud.

“Justice Okoro’s claim is an afterthought and diversionary. For a man of his standing and knowledge of the law, he should have known the legal implications of such a visit if it took place at all,” Umana said via a statement released on Tuesday, October 18.

“He should have reported to the appropriate authorities immediately. This he didn’t do. I did not visit the Judge. His story is a fiction. He should address himself to the facts of the case which is between him and the state and leave Umana out of it,” he added.

Okoro also accused Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi of attempted bribery.

”My Lord, I strongly believe that this my travail is not unconnected with the verbal report I made to you on 1st February, 2016 about the visit to my official residence by HE, Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Transportation,” Okoro said in his October 17 letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

“In that report, I told you My Lord, that Mr. Amaechi said that the President of Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in respect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all costs.

“For Akwa Ibom State, he alleged that he sponsored Mr. Umana Umana, candidate of All Progressives Congress for that election and that if he lost Akwa Ibom appeal, he would have lost a fortune. Mr. Amaechi also said that he had already visited you and that you had agreed to make me a member of the panel that would hear the appeals.

“He further told me that Mr. Umana would be paying me millions of naira monthly if I co-operated with them. My response, as I told you on that date was that it does not lie within my power to grant his request and that I would do all within my power not to be in the panel for Akwa Ibom State. My Lord graciously left me out of the panel for Akwa Ibom State,” he added.

Amaechi has also denied the allegations.

FG to ban importation of substandard vehicles, parts

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) is set to combat the sale of substandard vehicles and parts across the country, The Director-General, NADDC, Mr Aminu Jalal, said.

Jalal said the Council, in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria has adopted over 130 international automotive standards for safety.

Speaking at a training workshop in Kano, the DG disclosed that the agency has established automotive test laboratories for emission, components and materials in Lagos, Enugu and Zaria, which will be inaugurated by December.

He said: "At our request, SON plans to start implementing the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme on imported vehicles by requiring that all used vehicles imported into Nigeria have roadworthiness certificates from their country of origin.

"Vehicle assembly plants and local content manufacturers are being encouraged and assisted to produce good quality items and obtain the ISO 9001: 2008 QMS certification.

"A training programme on the ISO/TS 16949: 2009, which is a requirement for the implementation of the ISO 9001: 2008 QMS for 20 workers of assembly plants in Nigeria will commence this year."

Jalal, who was represented by Mr Abubakar Dalhat, NADDC's Technical Adviser, stated that vehicles and auto parts, whether classified as safety items or non-safety items, must conform to international standards, noting that their sudden failure in service might result in fatal crashes.

He said the agency has commenced a training programme that will ensure that vehicles and auto spare parts offered for sale in Nigeria meet international quality and safety standards.

According to him, this training will expose participants to techniques and skills required to differentiate between genuine and substandard motor spare parts with a view to halting or minimising their sale.

He said the move is to reduce road accidents and save the lives of motorists and other road users.

Govt imposes 24-hour curfew in KafanchanGovt imposes 24-hour curfew in Kafanchan

A 24-hour curfew has been imposed in Kafanchan, Kaduna State after youths set up road blocks and burnt vehicles on Kafanchan-Kagoro road.

According to reports, their action was in retaliation of an attack on Saturday in which 20 people died in Godogodo Chiefdom.

Saturday’s attack was believed to have been carried out by herdsmen who for two months had engaged the locals in series of attacks and counter attacks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several people had been killed during the period and properties worth millions of naira destroyed on both sides.

Dr Bege Katuka, Interim Chairman of Jema’a Local Government told NAN in Kafanchan that the curfew would remain in force until normalcy returns to the area.

Katuka said the measure was to further check breaches of the law by youths who were setting up illegal road blocks.

“We have received reports that youths had barricaded Kafanchan-Kagoro road along Garaje area and have burnt cars belonging to innocent persons,’’ he said.

He said the tension was fuelled by the attack on Saturday at Godogodo when suspected herdsmen attempted to lay siege on the village.

Katuka said the gunmen stormed the village and shot at innocent persons, but were repelled by the Joint Military Task Force deployed to the area..

“What is most paramount now is the security of lives and property of the people, the security will not relent in its effort to repel the attackers,’’ he said.

The council chairman, therefore, urged residents to remain calm and not to take the law into their hands.

He also advised them to remain in-doors, explaining that the curfew was to allow the security agents carry out operations to restore peace.

Obasanjo bribed lawmakers N50m each to push his third term bid

Governor Fayose of Ekiti state has alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave lawmakers N50m each, to support his failed third term bid.

Fayose also said Obasanjo is the cause of corruption in Nigeria, and described him as a laughing stock.

The Governor said the former President is trying to cover up something, because of his frequent visits to the Presidential Villa.

Fayose added that Obasanjo is supporting the Buhari administration because he wants to protect himself.

According to Daily Post, he said "I’m not ready to take issues with Obasanjo because if you are talking about corruption today, Obasanjo is the cause. (What about) the N50m Obasanjo (allegedly) gave each lawmaker for his failed third term agenda?

“I was an Obasanjo boy. Obasanjo can’t be celebrated as a saint in Nigeria. When he talks, I just shake my head. Sometimes, when he goes to the [presidential] Villa, I wonder if he has shame at all. When he was [the president], Buhari was not visiting him regularly. Obasanjo is behaving like somebody who wants to cover [up] something at all cost.

“I want a former president that will know this nation does not belong to one man. Most of the problems in this country were caused by Obasanjo. The impeachment of a governor by four lawmakers was done during Obasanjo’s tenure as a president. Tell me where the moral is.

“We should not deceive ourselves. The fact that he is supporting the government of the day tactically is to protect himself. Sometimes, I ask if he is looking for a political appointment. Have you seen Ernest Shonekan and other former presidents visit Buhari like he does? He is becoming a laughing stock. That is the way I see it.”

Ayo Fayose also said those who betrayed the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, will pay dearly for their actions.

Lagos State taskforce dislodges oil bunkers in Orile

The operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce on Sunday dislodged oil bunkers and destroyed over two million litres of adulterated diesel around Coker in Orile area of the state.

SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, Chairman of the Taskforce, said the operations were carried out based on series of petitions by residents submitted to his office.

Egbeyemi said the petitions detailed that due to the high cost of diesel, some people were buying tankers of diesel and mixing them with kerosene around Orile area.

“The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wilson Alaba, led the operations where 25 containers with 5,000 litres of mixed diesel and 4,500 Jerry Cans of mixed diesel were destroyed by the agency.

“Residents around the area disclosed that those bunkers have been operating around the area for over seven years,’’ he said.

A tricycle operator around the area, Mr Salami Ogunsanya, said those engaging in the illegal business bought original 33,000 litres of diesel everyday and mixed it with kerosene to increase the tanker’s capacity to 66,000 litres.

“We thank the Lagos State Government for its efforts in providing enough security for lives and properties of the citizens. We also thank the taskforce for the prompt intervention," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Taskforce, said during the third quarter of the year, 3,480 motorcycles plying restricted routes across the state were impounded.

He said no fewer than 5,890 miscreants were arrested out of which 1,500 were screened out and 4,390 prosecuted.