Verdict, I did my best - Jonathan

Outgoing Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday took a critical assessment of his administration in the last four years and returned a verdict that he had done his best for the country.

He said his administration had impacted positively on key aspects of national life for the benefit of the citizens.

Jonathan said this in his remarks shortly before presenting his handover notes to the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The event, which was held inside the Council Chambers and witnessed by the All Progressives Congress’ chiefs, took place shortly after Jonathan conducted Buhari round the seat of power.

Vice President Namadi Sambo had also similarly conducted the Vice President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, round his wing of the villa.

Jonathan presented an executive summary of his handover notes and a copy of the report of the National Conference to Buhari.

He expressed the hope that the notes would give the incoming administration an idea of his administration’s mission statement and the commitment of his government for the past five years.

He however said the report of the National Conference was more important to him than the handover notes because it was compiled by Nigerians.

He said if the report was implemented, most of the grey areas of national development would be resolved.

Jonathan said, “There is another document that I will hand over to you. To me, this is more important than the handover notes. The handover notes are the activities of an administration, they show where we started, where we are going; in some of the cases you will follow, in other cases you may take other angle.

“But this is a document that was compiled by Nigerians, the report of the National Conference 2014. We gathered almost 500 Nigerians from all walks of life, they were not influenced by government in any way.

“Most of the recommendations here, if they are followed, most of the grey areas even in our politics will be smoothened out.

“Most of the areas where people complain bitterly: corruption and others, this document deals with them. Some people here were members of that great body of about 500 eggheads.

“We were unable to implement the report because of the shortness of time. We have sent a copy to the National Assembly but it is a document that we are very hopeful your government will look into and give it the attention it requires.”

In assessing his administration’s performance, Jonathan said he had impacted positively on national life.

While admitting that challenges still abound, he expressed the conviction that they were surmountable.

He said as he handed over the reins of government, he believed that the nation is secure with its democracy stable and a bright future.

He added, “Our administration has done its best to intervene robustly and impact positively on key aspects of our national life.

“There is no doubt that challenges still abound, but they are surmountable and overwhelming national transformation remains realisable with continuity, commitment and consistency.

“Nigeria is blessed with citizens that will always remain faithful, firmly committed to national unity, accelerated political, social and economic development.

“As we hand over the reins of government, I believe that our nation is secure, our democracy is stable and the future is bright.

“Let us work together and with greater resolve, continue to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.”

He had earlier listed his administration’s achievements to include the success recorded against Boko Haram lately, the eradication of the Ebola Virus Disease, improved revenue mobilisation, agriculture, power sector privatisation, massive road construction, railways and aviation, anti-corruption fight, education, sports and foreign policy.

Jonathan recalled that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System introduced by his administration had succeeded in weeding out 60,450 ghost workers in 359 out of 425 Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He said the exercise had yielded N185.4bn in savings to the Federal Government.

Buhari, in his short remarks, said he would not be able to make any strong statement until after reading and digesting the handover notes.

He however commended Jonathan for conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election, saying his decision changed the course of Nigeria’s political history.

He said the President could have made things difficult if he had wanted to do so.

He expressed delight that rather than taking any action that would be at the expense of the lives of Nigerians, Jonathan took the path of honour.

Buhari said, “What I will say is that since the telephone call you made (to me), you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history.

“For that, you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi-party democracy system and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.

“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.

“If you had attempted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of the lives of poor Nigerians; but you chose the path of honour and may God help all of us. Thank you very much, Your Excellency.”

Don't single me for probe, Jonathan tells Buhari

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday advised the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, not to single out his administration in any probe he may want to carry out after his inauguration on Friday.

He said all those advising Buhari to probe his administration must also advise him to extend his probe beyond his regime or else, the probe will be seen as a witch-hunt.

Jonathan made his position known at the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council which he presided over at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also said those calling for his administration’s probe should add that the probe should be extended to the way oil wells and fields were allocated in the past.

A former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, had over the weekend joined the growing number of persons calling on Buhari to probe the Jonathan administration.

Jonathan said, “Some people are even calling for the probe of this government. I agree that in Nigeria, there are a number of things that we will probe; very many things.

“Even debts owed by states and this nation from 1960 up to this time. They are saying it is Jonathan’s administration that is owing all the debts.

“I believe that anybody calling for probe must ensure that these probes are extended beyond the Jonathan administration, otherwise to me, it will be a witch-hunt. If you are very sincere, then it is not just the Jonathan’s administration that should be probed.

“A number of things have gone wrong and we have done our best to fix them. The Attorney General is aware of the massive judgement debts, if we aggregate all of them, it is about $1bn. How did we come to this kind of huge judgement debts? These issues should be probed.

“How do you allocate our oil wells, oil fields, marginal wells and others? Do we follow our laws? All these should be probed. I believe all these and many more areas should be looked at.”

Jonathan said regardless of what critics might say about his administration, he and his team had done well under a difficult situation.

He advised those who criticise him to endeavour to compare his administration’s performance with those of the administrations before him on a sector-by-sector basis.

The President listed some of the daunting challenges faced by his administration to include the prolonged industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, terror attacks and the ongoing fuel scarcity.

Jonathan described the ongoing fuel scarcity as an act of sabotage.

The president claimed that those who felt they must bring his government to its knees were the ones behind the scarcity.

He wondered why marketers would choose to go on strike a few days to the end of his administration.

“Even this last fuel scarcity, to me one can clearly say it was an act of sabotage. This government has few days to go, that is definitely not the time you expect massive strikes, using marketers and unions. Unions asking for increase in salaries at a time oil prices have dropped and volumes have dropped,” he said.

The President made it clear that he had not dissolved his cabinet as all ministers were expected to attend the inauguration dinner on Thursday in their official capacity.

Earlier, the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, had thanked Jonathan for finding him worthy to be his running mate in 2011 and 2015. He said he did not at any time lobby the President for the position.

He promised to remain a member of the Jonathan family and his ambassador anywhere he found himself.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), said the administration had impacted on the lives of millions of Nigerians.

I was a motor Park tout - Benue State Governor Elect

The Benue State incoming Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, has described his experience as a motor park tout and his election as governor as a divine arrangement and the handiwork of God.

Ortom, who bared his mind to our source in an exclusive chat in Makurdi, said his elevation from grass to grace was due to hard work and his firm believe in God.

He said, “My journey from being a motor park tout to an elected governor is purely a divine arrangement. I cast my mind back to when I dropped out of school in Form 2 but I remained hardworking and I did not engage in crime to survive.

“One thing I know is that hard work pays and you must keep faith with God; power belongs to God and He alone gives it to whoever He will.”

The former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment said he had dropped out of school in Form 2 due to lack of funds but this did not force him to engage in criminal activities to survive.

Ortom, however, noted that the selection process of the PDP delegates in the last party’s primary in the state was manipulated by the party leadership intentionally to thwart his ambition of becoming the next governor.

He said the party also frustrated the support of the Benue populace who supported him.

He said, “The process of selection of delegates in the last PDP governorship election was manipulated by the leadership of the party to thwart my ambition and frustrate the people who all supported me. But God vindicated me and blessed me, and now I am an elected governor.”

Amaechi, Jang and others to shun new government's inauguration.

Two days to the expiration of their tenure, some governors have jetted out of the country, thereby refusing to personally hand over power to their successors.

They include Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema.

Also, some governors, who did not travel out, have decided to shun the inauguration ceremonies of their successors.

Preparations for the inauguration of the nation’s 4th Republic intensified on Wednesday with Nigeria and the international community gearing up for the ceremony.

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to be inaugurated as the country’s Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces while governors are expected to be inaugurated in their respective states.

Lamido left Nigeria last week after handing over to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdu Babura.

The governor, whose tenure expires on May 29, had before departing Nigeria for Saudi Arabia told newsmen last week Thursday that he was taking a well deserved rest.

At the conference, Lamido confirmed that he was leaving behind a debt of N2bn.

Putting the debt issue in perspective, the governor explained that of the N14bn debt in the name of the state, N12bn, which his administration used in the construction of the Dutse International Airport, was owed by the Federal Government.

Like Lamido, the outgoing Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, has jetted out of the country ahead of the inauguration.

Our source gathered that Shema had last week Thursday left the state on an official trip to Abuja.

Further checks revealed that the governor had after performing the official inauguration of the state’s housing complex in Abuja, last weekend, left the shores of the country on Saturday night.

It was learnt that the Secretary to the State Government, Mukhtar Ibrahim, would represent Shema during the handover ceremonies slated to be held at the new multi-million naira Karkanda Stadium.

This is coming at a time when it is becoming clearer that some Peoples Democratic Party governors, who lost their states to the opposition All Progressives Congress, have concluded plans to avoid being physically present when their successors take over the reins of governance.

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that he will not be present at the swearing-in of his successor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

There had been speculations that Amaechi may not be present at Wike’s inauguration as a result of the controversy surrounding the presidential and governorship elections in the state.

But Amaechi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, explained that he would rather be at the swearing-in of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, in Abuja.

“Governor Amaechi at the inauguration ceremony of Wike? He (Amaechi) plans to attend the swearing-in of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari,” a text message sent to our correspondent by Iyofor read.

The Executive Assistant to the Plateau State Governor, Mr. Clinton Garuba, confirmed to one of our correspondents that his principal, Mr. Jonah Jang, is most likely not going to attend the handover ceremony.

Garuba explained that Jang was likely to heed the advice of his close aides to steer clear of the inauguration of his successor, Mr. Simon Lalong, on Friday.

Garuba explained that since there was no constitutional role assigned to the outgoing governor during such an occasion, “it will be unwise for him to be there.”

He revealed that the outgoing governor had already written a letter inviting Lalong to the Government House, Jos, to collect the handover notes on Thursday.

Garuba said, “Since it is the Chief Judge that swears in the governor, Jang has no role to play there. He is more or less going there as a spectator. So, we have advised him not to go but he has the discretion to heed to our advice or not.

“But he has written to the governor-elect to come to the Government House on Thursday, where he will hand over the notes to him officially.”

Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, who has not indicated any interest in leaving the shores of the country before Friday’s inauguration, said he would hand over the mantle of leadership to the incoming administration on Thursday – a day to the event – at the Makurdi Government House.

The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Cletus Akwaya, said that the state executive council took the decision after their last meeting today (Wednesday).

Akwaya said his principal had prepared the handover notes and was ready to hand over power to the incoming Governor Samuel Ortom.

The special adviser explained that Suswam had performed creditably well and deserved the commendation of the people of the state.

He, however, did not say whether or not Suswam would be present during the inauguration.

One of our correspondents gathered that civil servants in the state plan to boo Suswam should he attend the inauguration slated to take place on May, 29 at the IBB Square, Makurdi.

It was learnt that most civil servants in the state are unhappy with Suswam’s performance which they described as abysmal.

His administration is owing salary and pension arrears for four and six months respectively.

His Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu, said that he had no plans to leave the state before the handover date. Aliyu said he had concluded plans to hand over to Sani Bello – the winner of the just concluded governorship election in the state.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel Ebije, told our correspondent that he had not abandoned his duties as he was still holding council meetings a few days to the handover date.

Ebije said, “He is even inaugurating projects. He believes governance is all about service and not subterfuge. He has no reason to shun a ceremony which symbolises democratic transition of power.”

According to him, Aliyu has served meritoriously and he will leave office as a hero.

“You know he is not a coward and the people of Niger are not blind to what he has done. For those who have turned a blind eye to his achievements, we should be sympathetic to their plight,” the aide said.

Buhari’s inauguration: Tight security in Abuja

Police and soldiers have beefed up security in Abuja ahead of Friday’s inauguration of Buhari as the president of the country.

Armed policemen and soldiers on Wednesday started checking vehicles in areas such as the Airport Road, Apo Roundabout, Asokoro and AYA.

At the Eagle Square, where the inauguration of the President and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN), will take place, soldiers, who would parade on Friday, were seen practising.

There was heavy security at the square as people, including journalists, were not allowed in.

Also, as part of the preparations for the presidential inauguration, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered tight security at the Eagle Square.

He has also directed his personnel to scale up security at major hotels where important dignitaries and foreign guests would be lodged.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in Abuja, on Wednesday, said traffic on all roads around the Eagle Square would be diverted.

The statement added that major places within the Federal Capital Territory would be manned by security agents “as well as the mounting of Tactical Operation Points on all the roads leading into and out of FCT.”

The statement reads, “As part of preparations for a hitch-free presidential inauguration, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the diversion of traffic on all the roads around Eagle Square on Friday, May 29, 2015.”

Meanwhile, the various checkpoints mounted by armed soldiers, however, have been causing gridlock, especially in the evenings. The military checkpoints at Abuja City gate, Kubwa-Zuba Expressway and around Julius Berger Roundabout, Wuse, are sources of frustration to motorists.

Our correspondent observed that preparations for the inauguration are gathering momentum as a detachment of policemen, soldiers and naval officers daily rehearse for the ceremonial parade that will usher the nation into a new government.

Miniature flags that were mounted on street lights in different areas of the FCT had changed the face of the city, giving it a festive outlook.

The Bayelsa State Government will host President Goodluck Jonathan to a grand welcome reception on Friday and Saturday, investigation has revealed.

President Jonathan, who is handing over the reins of power to the incoming government of Buhari, lost his re-election bid in the March 28 presidential election.

Addressing journalists at a press conference on Wednesday evening at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Osueme Kikile, described Jonathan as a worthy son.

He described the outgoing President as a hero worthy of celebration by all.

Kikile said, “The fact that President Goodluck Jonathan (our hero) is returning home in good stead after administering the country for close to six years is worthy of celebration.

“The programme of his reception will begin on Friday 29. Jonathan will be received at the Government House helipad by Governor Seriake Dickson and other dignitaries.

“Thereafter, Jonathan will proceed to Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre for a grand reception. From Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Jonathan will proceed to his country home, Otuoke, where he will be hosted by his kinsmen.

“In the evening of Friday, he will be hosted at the Government Banquet Hall.”

The commissioner said that on Saturday, May 30, Jonathan would be the guest at an interdenominational service scheduled for St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Yenagoa.

He said in the course of the programme, there would be a slight restriction of movement.

Kikile, who said the restriction was for security reasons, urged the people of Bayelsa to bear the inconveniences the restriction might cause them.

He stated that the restriction would be along the road leading to the Banquet Hall of the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre and St. Peter’s Anglican Church.

The commissioner, who said the President would arrive the state by 3pm on Friday, said the restrictions would begin an hour before his arrival.

He dismissed insinuations that Jonathan might not come with his wife, Patience, saying there were no indications to that effect.

“There is no indication that the President is not coming with the First Lady. There is also no indication of any rift between Jonathan and his wife,” he said.

Court barred NDLEA from unlawful extradition of Kashamu

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday restrained security agencies in Nigeria from unlawfully arresting and forcibly transporting the senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, to the United States to stand trial for alleged drug-trafficking offences.

Justice Okon Abang, in a judgment on Wednesday, also ordered the unfettered swearing-in of Kashamu as a senator with all the attached privileges since his victory in the March 28, 2015 election had not been upturned.

The judge declared as illegal any attempt to abduct or forcibly transport Kashamu to the US to stand trial in relation to drug-trafficking allegations from which he had been exonerated by two British courts.

Abang also granted Kashamu’s prayer that having earlier obtained the judgment of a Nigerian court on January 6, 2014, barring his arrest and extradition to the US, and the judgment having not been set aside, the respondents could not arrest and extradited him to the US.

Kashamu had instituted the fundamental rights enforcement action in April alleging that there was a plot by his political opponents, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to use Nigerian security agencies to abduct and forcibly transport him to the US to stand trial before Judge Norgle.

He sought a declaration of the court that the move amounted to a violation of his rights to personal liberty, freedom of association and freedom of movement as protected by sections 35, 40 and 41 of the constitution.

The respondents in the suit are the Inspector General of Police; the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Director General, Department of State Service; the Interpol National Central Bureau; and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly; the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission; Nigeria Customs Services; the Nigeria Immigration Service; and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Abang, in his judgment, held that Kashamu had reasonable cause of action and dismissed the objection of all the respondents that the suit was merely speculative.

The court in upholding Kashamu’s claims, said he had shown enough cause to be apprehensive that the respondents had plans to abduct him.

“The entire claims of the applicant are within the ambit of Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution.

“If the applicant is abducted, kidnapped and taken to the US by force, without the respondents complying with the Extradition Act, it means that he is taken away without his consent and that would constitute a breach of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in sections 35 and 40 of the 1999 constitution. This is so, whether or not the conspiracy is a criminal offence,” Abang held.

The judge dismissed the argument that the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, was not a juristic person and could not be sued. The court equally awarded N10,000 as cost against Giade.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA had indicated its readiness to abide by the order of court asking it to withdraw the more than 50 armed operatives it drafted   to Kashamu’s Lagos home since Saturday, May 23, 2014.

The agency made the promise in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Wednesday.

It, however, failed to specify when its operatives would vacate Kashamu’s house.

As of 12pm on Wednesday when one of our correspondents visited Kashamu’s residence, the gun-wielding NDLEA officials were still there.

Some men of the agency were also seen lying on mats under the shade of a tree in front of the house.

Oladipo Omotosho Street, where the house is located and other adjoining streets were condoned off.

Petrol sells for N110 at Depot.

Tankers loading petrol from A papa, Lagos are currently paying between N90 and N110 per litre instead of the N82 before the advent of the current scarcity of the product in the market.

This, according to market sources, is the reason behind the high prices for which the product is selling at filling stations across the country.

Since the National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers called off their strike, which was called to protest the debts owed their members by the petroleum product marketers, nearly all the filling stations have refused to sell petrol at the official pump price of N87 per litre.

The product is currently being sold for between N150 and N200 per litre.

The Chairman, NUPENG, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, confirmed to our correspondent in a telephone interview that loading of products from the depots had been intensive since the strike was called off.

This, however, has not led to the normalisation of the price at the depots.

Korodo described the flow of product at the depots as seamless, saying, “For us now, loading is done 24 hours of the day. We are also doing overnight loading to ensure more products get to Nigerians.”

A marketer, who belongs to the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, however, said the supply of petrol “is not much currently.”

According to him, tankers are being attended to on a first-come-first-serve basis owing to the excess demand situation, which currently characterises downstream operations.

Commenting on the high prices for which the product is being sold at the depots, the source said, “It will be difficult to regulate the market now because we have an abnormal situation. Fixing the N82 per litre price for petrol at the depots is not feasible now. It will take some time before it will be business as usual.”

Marketers of petroleum products said on Tuesday that the current petrol supply challenge would continue throughout the week.

They also confirmed that loading of petrol had resumed across board with members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria and DAPPMA driving the exercise.

But they told our correspondent that because of the May 29 public holiday, the supply hitch was likely to prevail till next week because there would not be product loading on Friday and Saturday.

It was also gathered that Folawiyo, Capital Oil and Nipco were championing overnight loading of petrol at the Apapa depots.

Meanwhile, the leadership tussle rocking the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has aggravated the scarcity of refined petroleum products across the country, the National President of the body, Mr. Obasi Lawson, has said.

According to him, the association controls over 60 per cent of the retail outlets for refined petroleum products in the country, adding that the crisis had prevented most members of the group from having access to the products.

For about two weeks now, the country has witnessed severe scarcity of petroleum products, a development that has paralysed economic activities across the nation.

Lawson said during a meeting of stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday that products meant for IPMAN members’ filling stations were diverted to the outlets of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria as a result of the lingering leadership crisis.

He said, “IPMAN is a major player in the downstream subsector of the oil and gas industry. We control over 60 per cent of the retail outlets across the country and we have over 10,000 members with over 30,000 petrol stations. What the masses suffered because of fuel scarcity was largely caused by the crisis in IPMAN.

“Before the crisis started in IPMAN, you will agree that there was no problem of fuel scarcity for about three years into the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“But the suffering started as a result of this crisis and this is because we control 60 per cent of the retail outlets. As a result of the crisis, we are not getting products as and when due; the products that were supposed to come to us were diverted to MOMAN and DAPMAN. And as of that time, most of our petrol stations were not selling.

“It is not that we are not getting the products, but we get them at exorbitant prices and we have to transport them ourselves. It wasn’t the fault of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, but it was because we were not united. They prefer giving products to MOMAN and DAPMAN that are united.”

Lawson, however, stated that the crisis had been resolved as a result due to the intervention of the Federal Government.

ASUU condemn UNIOSUN governing council for recommending VC's sack

The Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Osun State University has condemned the  Governing Council of the institution for recommending the termination of appointment of its suspended Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Okesina.

Although the alleged recommendation of the council,  headed  by Prof. Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN), has not been made public, the ASUU, in a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Oluseye Abiona, and other members of the executive, kicked against the recommendation describing it as prejudicial.

The statement was also signed by the ASUU Secretary, Mr. Wende Olaosebikan; Treasurer, Mr. Sunday Sasona;  Welfare Officer, Mr. Samuel Kayode; Internal Auditor, Dr. A.A. Adewumi; and Legal Officer, Nasir Adeniyi.

Others are Prof. A. W. Gbolagade (member); Dr. Kola Olusanya (member), and Dr. A.O. Popoola(member).

The statement read, “ASUU UNIOSUN wishes to state categorically and condemn in strong terms the termination of appointments of the university bursar and registrar as well as the recommendation for termination of appointment of the vice chancellor.

“We view the sacking of these principal officers as prejudicial and done in bad faith on the strength of the fact that it violates the principle of equity and fairness.

“It is instructive to state that a Visitation Panel  was instituted by Governor of the State of Osun and the report submitted.

“ASUU UNIOSUN is of the opinion that it would have been better for the council to wait for the White Paper on the report to be released by the Governor before assuming the position of a judge in their own case.

” Against the backdrop of the foregoing, ASUU UNIOSUN hereby calls for the immediate reversal if this decision.”

Efforts to speak to the chairman of the Governing Council proved abortive as Olawoyin rejected a call put across to him by our correspondent and he had yet to reply the text message sent to him to confirm the recommendation.

The VC, Okesina, said he was not aware of the recommendation for the termination of his appointment.

Bama destruction shocks Governor Shettima

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday expressed shock at the level of destruction in Bama, which was recently liberated by the military from the Boko Haram insurgents, who had held the commercial town captive for over six months.

Shettima, who paid an assessment visit to the town, said the level of destruction as masterminded by the terrorists was shocking.

He lamented that  about 90 per cent of structures in the town had been totally destroyed by the insurgents during their occupation.

The governor said, “What we have seen today is wanton destruction of all structures. All public and private strucutures, including clinics, places of worship, houses, markets have been burnt by the insurgents.

“Going by the facts on the ground, between 80 and 90 per cent of all structures in the town have either been burnt or destroyed.”

He, however, said government was determined to ensure that all communities destroyed by the insurgents were rebuilt so that people could go back home.

He said, “We are determined to rebuild the state, no matter what. We will reach out to the Federal Government through the Victims Support Fund and other avenues to secure assistance toward rebuilding the state.”

Shettima said government would also seek help from multinational donors, the United States, and other international organisations to get assistance to rebuild the state.

Dudufa denies allegations of expulsion from the PDP.

Senior Special Assistant on Domestic and Social Events to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Waripamowei Dudufa, on Wednesday dismissed his purported expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Dudufa was reacting to a statement said to have emanated from the Government House, Yenagoa, in which he and eight other members of the party in the state, were purportedly expelled over alleged anti-party activities.

He believed that his continuous silence on such “provocations” in the past had emboldened certain individuals to continue to perpetuate such acts of impunity. 

He said it was no longer a secret that the PDP in Bayelsa State was at its lowest ebb in the history of democracy in the state.

This, he said, was “due to bad governance‎, corruption, poor human relations, acts of impunity, injustice and nepotism.”

He expressed sadness that the people were being treated like a conquered people, who were being forced to do the bidding of a single individual, who had neither respect for decency nor elders and constituted authorities.

Dudufa recalled that a clear indication that an individual, purporting to be the leader of the party in the state, showed that he had no respect for the laws of the land by sacking a Federal High Court, sitting in Yenagoa, out of fear that the judgment, which was about to be delivered, would not go in his favour.  

The Presidential aide appealed to the National Working Committee of the party to intervene and save the party from disintegration.

He said, “I appeal to the National Working Committee of the PDP ‎to urgently restore peace, justice and discipline back to the body of our great party so that we will remain united to give the much needed support to our father, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”

Wike: Justice must come before forgiveness, Amaechi tells Cleric.

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday, declared that he will not forgive or settle the feud between him and the state Governor-Elect, Nyesom Wike, unless justice is seen to have been done.

Amaechi had on Tuesday, accused the governor-elect of being behind the deaths recorded in the state during the general elections, even as Wike denied the allegation.

The governor made this declaration during his 50th birthday thanksgiving service at the Corpus Christi Cathedral in Port Harcourt, while reacting to the plea by the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Camillus Etokudoh, that both politicians (Amaechi and Wike) should reconcile their differences in the interest of the people.

Amaechi, who agreed that the views of the bishop in a Catholic church should not be opposed, maintained that justice must come before forgiveness, adding that those that were killed during the general elections and their families must get justice.

He expressed surprise that the bishop congratulated Wike on his victory during the governorship election in the state, even as he called on the church to join the All Progressives Congress in praying that the party reclaimed its mandate.

He pointed out that the mandate of the APC in the state must be reclaimed at the election petitions tribunal before any reconciliation could be embraced.

The state outgoing governor said, “My Lordship talked about forgiveness. In the Catholic Church, you don’t oppose the views of your bishop. His words represents an order. If you oppose him, you may be barred from taking the Holy Communion.

“You are not a true Catholic if you don’t receive the Holy Communion. But Your Lordship, the same Catholic doctrine also states that justice comes before forgiveness.

“All those that were killed during the last general elections must get justice. Their families must get justice. Our party, the All Progressives Congress, must get justice first at the election petitions tribunal. Our mandate must be retrieved at the tribunal.

“I am surprised that My Lordship congratulated Nyesom Wike here today. I am using this opportunity to call on the Church to join the APC in praying to God so that we can reclaim our mandate.

“Reclaiming our mandate at the election petitions tribunal will represent a measure of justice. We must seek justice before reconciliation.”

Amaechi, however, said that he was shocked by some of the people that betrayed him, adding that God would forgive them at the appropriate time.

He thanked members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who, according to him, supported him without getting money from him.

“I was shocked by some of the people that betrayed me. At the appropriate time, God will forgive them. Let me use this opportunity to thank members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for their support all through the crisis. I did not give them money to stand by me. I commend them for their sacrifice,” he said.

He explained that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs. Gesila Khan, had not given the APC the voters register, which the Independent National Electoral Commission used in conducting the last general elections in the state.

Earlier, the Catholic Bishop, Etokudoh, congratulated Wike on his electoral victory and urged him and Amaechi to settle their differences.

The cleric added, “As for the outgoing governor and the incoming governor, I urge them to work together so that there will be peace. We need peace in Rivers State.

“There can be no reconciliation without forgiveness. There will be no peace without reconciliation. So, it is time for the outgoing governor and the incoming governor to reconcile so that peace will return to Rivers State.

“No matter their differences, they should reconcile in the interest of peace”