Buhari Orders IGP To Re-open Bola Ige, Dikibo’s Cases
President Muhammadu Buhari, has directed the Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to re-open investigation into the unresolved murder of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, and ex-Deputy National Chairman, South-South, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Aminasoari Dikibo, and fish out the perpetrators.

Many have wondered what prompted the President’s action now, why only Ige and Dikibo’s murder out of several murder that were thought to be politically motivated in the country since 1999? It seems there are some reliable security reports on the matter at the President’s disposal that brought the sudden order. Nigerians will be watching the development with keen interest to see the outcome. Just as many Nigerians have requested, the Buhari government should equally re-open other unresolved political killings and do justice to them.

Zamfara Impeachment: DSS Arrest Assembly Speaker, Others
SPEAKER of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Sanusi Rikiji, his deputy, Muhammad Gumi and other principal officers of the Assembly were arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) allegedly on the order of the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari. It was alleged that the lawmakers were in detention in Abuja, after the governor accused them of plotting to impeach him.

Trouble began for the lawmakers after the Assembly called for a special sitting with Governor Yari to discuss what it called “the difficult situation the state found itself” and how to find a way out.

If this were true, it points to a situation where the security agency may have overreached its constitutional power by arresting the lawmakers. The governor on a television chat with newsmen looked very calm and assured that the situation was under control. Whatever the situation is, the control in a democracy do not reside with the governor alone. The theory of separation of powers means there are arms and no one has absolute power over others.

Metuh, Amosu, Umar Beg EFCC: Let’s Refund Our Loot
THREE of those on trial for alleged corruption are eager to return their “loot” for freedom. They want to refund cash and surrender property to avoid going to jail according to reports.

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) source said that the agency got requests from former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh, ex-Chiefs of Air Staff Air Marshals Adeshola Amosu and Mohammed Dikko Umar.
Their request is not new in the country’s criminal justice system. They are not the first to have asked for plea bargain, having been charged with corruption cases. Before now, some corrupt persons, including ex-governors have entered plea bargain with the anti-graft agency and regained freedom. Though, there have been divergent views on the applicability of plea bargain in the country’s criminal justice system, many believe that considering the slowpace in the administration of justice, it is better to grant plea bargain than wait forever.
Atiku Kicks As Ribadu Returns
To APC
FORMER chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He reportedly got a letter from Adamawa State chapter of the party authorising his return.

He is going to be readmitted with a former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN ) in the state, Mr. Marcus Gundiri, with their supporters. But former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Adamawa State Governor Jibrilla Bindow, and two others have protested to National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Working Committee (NWC) against Ribadu’s return.

Curiously, if there is anybody who will kick against anybody’s return to any political party in the country, it should not be Atiku. This is because Atiku is a serial returnee to political parties. A habit many political observers believe is his political baggage since 2007. If he could be allowed to return to the APC and contest the party’s presidential ticket in 2015, what stops Ribadu who was once a presidential candidate of the defunct ACN, one of the parties that formed APC to return to the party? After all, the space is big enough to accommodate all birds.

Ondo Poll: PDP Aspirants Reject ‘Mimiko’s Choice’ Jegede

A CRISIS may be looming within the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the purported selection of Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) by Governor Olusegun Mimiko as the party’s flagbearer for the November 26 election.

PDP governorship aspirants and some leaders from the state northern senatorial district have rejected the alleged plan of Mimiko to pick the party’s candidate from the central senatorial district. The aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders alleged that Mimiko earlier discussed the issue at a political forum, which was also attended by the PDP state and local government executive members.

Rejection of the outgoing governor’s preferred successor is not a new thing in the country’s party politics. This is because every aspirant to the seat has always believed he was supposed to be the chosen one. So the unfolding events in Ondo PDP may not be out of place. After all, in Edo State, APC governorship aspirants rejected Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s preferred candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, but they changed their position, when Obaseki defeated all of them during the primary election. Those who are opposed to Mimiko’s candidate in Ondo should prepare to test their popularity in the primaries or go to alternative platforms. This is because Mimiko has the right to support any candidate of his choice.
Nigeria Must Be Restructured, Says Ekweremadu

DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said that Nigeria must embrace restructuring as the surest solution to current economic challenges.

He argued that to succeed, the country must abandon its “feeding bottle federalism “ for true fiscal federalism.
The deputy Senate President also disagreed with the views expressed in certain quarters that all the country needed was good governance and not restructuring.

In recent times, the clarion call to restructure Nigeria has remained topical. It is interesting that Ekweremmadu, who is a lawyer and also a veteran in constitutional amendment has joined the call. It means that the National Assembly, which was before now seen as a cog in the wheel of progress on the call for restructuring the country has joined the crusade.

From the ongoing constitutional amendment by the National Assembly that is being chaired by Ekweremmadu, Nigerians will know how sincere and committed the lawmakers are to the call for restructuring.

My Ministers Are Being Blackmailed- Buhari
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that some people are blackmailing his ministers and other top government officials, by painting them with the brush of corruption without any concrete evidence.

Is the President saying that all his ministers are saints and the rest of Nigerians are liars? But it was the same Nigerians that provided concrete evidence that put Olisa Metuh on trial, as well as the former Air Force Chiefs that are now asking EFCC for plea bargain? Nigerians are not blackmailing the ministers, but are asking for holistic and transparent approach to the anti-graft fight.

However, the anti-graft agency should source for evidence on allegations leveled against the ministers and other APC government officials, the way they sourced evidence to try the PDP chieftains that were accused of corruption. It seems that the anti-graft agency is always quick at investigating corruption petition against opposition members than members of the ruling party. That is one sentiment Mr. President should work against.

EFCC Seizes Gov Fayose’s Houses In Lagos, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly seized properties belonging to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.
It said the properties located in the highbrow areas of Lagos and Abuja were seized as part of investigations into the N1.219bn the governor was said to have received from the Office of the National Security Adviser, when Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) held sway, through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, as well as some kickbacks he (Fayose) allegedly received from the Ekiti State Government contractors

Justifying the seizure, the agency said it invoked the Assets Forfeiture clause to seize the properties in line with Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

The seizure was not a surprise, considering that the agency has been on Fayose’s case. Having seized the properties coupled with earlier freezing of his personal account, the onus now lies on the anti-graft agency to prove that Fayose owns the properties and that he acquired them through illegal means.
My 67 Days In EFCC Custody, Kirikiri Prison- Fani-Kayode Former Minister of Aviation and spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has described his experience in detention as traumatic and depressing.

“It was quite an ordeal. It was an ordeal. But I thank God that I am free and that I have been given an opportunity to defend myself in court when the case starts – I am looking forward to that. Outside of that, the truth is that as long as others who are also political prisoners and have been falsely accused are still in (security agencies’) custody our country, then I believe that my freedom is meaningless.”
Fani-Kayode’s lamentation is to be expected. He had said that much before he was finally arrested. As the case progresses, it will be clearer on whose side justice resides.

Govt Uses Agric Projects To Steal – Obasanjo
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said government has a role in helping agricultural development through policy making and incentive.
But he noted that direct involvement in production had been discovered to be a channel for stealing.

Obasanjo said this at the first Eminent Persons Business Lecture, organised by the University of Ibadan’s School of Business and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture.

The former president said the drop in the global prices of crude oil and the reality of the present economic situation in the country could be a blessing in disguise.

According to him, the situation can lead the realisation that agriculture has the capacity to successfully drive the nation’s economy.
Obasanjo said: “In the past, the bane of agriculture in Nigeria was lack of continuity and consistency in government policy. Maybe the present situation in which we find ourselves in our economy and the low price of crude oil may be a blessing in disguise, to wake us to the reality of agriculture as the mainstay of our economy, and as a renewable system of production compared with oil and gas, which are being depleted.”

As the EFCC continues to dig into the activities of the present and past governments in the states and federal, perhaps, Obasanjo’s narrative will begin to make more sense.

APC Governors Urge Support For Buhari, Dialogue With Herdsmen
Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the aegis Progressives Governors Forum has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari to guide the country through the hard times.

They enjoined governors in various states where there have been clashes between the people and suspected Fulani herdsmen to meet with the herdsmen with a view to stemming the occurrences.

It is expected that the APC governors, being in the same political party with President Buhari will always seek support for his government. But the question is; how have they been supporting the progressive and anti-corruption policies and programmes of the administration? Besides, it is of public knowledge that governors have been dialoguing with host communities and herdsmen in their various states, but that has not deterred the herdsmen from carrying out their bloody activities across the country.

Jonathan Directed Dasuki To Give Me N100m- Okupe
Former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said a complaint he made to Jonathan on the reduced cost of running his wife’s project prompted the former president to give him N100 million from his security vote.

“The initial N50m was approved by the president to be paid to me from his security vote. N10m was to furnish my rented living apartment and another N10m for my office. The balance N30m was approved as take-off grant”

Okupe has spoken, it is left to be seen how the anti-graft agency, EFCC will marshal its argument to floor Okupe in the courts. After all, this explanation is not different from that of Olisa Metuh, and other accused persons. Coincidentally, Okupe was one of Metuh’s witnesses in his trial.

Buhari: My Pre-Election Goodwill Remains Intact
President Muhammadu Buhari is unmoved by suggestions that his rating by Nigerians has dropped. He insists that the generality of the people still believe in him as they did in the run up to the 2015 election that brought him to power.

Besides, he says it is erroneous to imply that he has abandoned governance for anti-corruption war. Buhari declares that there is nowhere in the world where transition from an old order to a new one has ever been easy.

That is the nature of men who hold political power. They are either ensconced in the comfort of Aso Rock villa or have lost touch with glaring realities on ground. His predecessor expressed similar level of confidence until he met his waterloo in polls. If such will be the fate of Buhari in 2019, we can’t say now. No matter what his spin-doctors feed him with, Buhari should not give himself pass mark until his government’s popularity is put to test at poll. That is only way Buhari can confirm if his goodwill is still intact or not.

Govt ‘Dragging Feet’ On Petroleum Industry Bill-Dogara
The House of Representatives is picking up the Petroleum Industry Bill for a speedy consideration, its Speaker, Yakubu Dogara has said.
Dogara said the legislature found the initiative necessary after President Buhari’s administration repeatedly ignored calls to send an executive version of the bill.

“I have, on at least three different occasions, publicly requested the executive to as a matter of urgency send an executive bill on its intended reforms in the petroleum sector.”

As good as Dogara’s intention may be, he should remember that intrigues and pussyfooting over the PIB by government is as old as the bill itself. Since the bill was initiated in 2009, it has remained stuck at the National Assembly, despite the huge impact it could have had on the economy if passed into law.

If not the allegation of the circulation of different versions of the bill, it will be the conspiracy theory that a section of the country and international oil companies are against the bill for reasons best known to them. It may not be out of place that the APC-led federal government is toeing the same line, in not shown any commitment to the passage of bill since it assumed office. Constitutionally, it may be difficult for House of Representatives to pass the bill without of the support and collaboration of the Senate and the executive.

However, there is urgent need for the executive and legislature to work closely to pass the bill into law, especially now that the oil industry is threatened by activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

NLC Calls For Abolition Of Security Vote, Immunity
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the abolition of security vote for the president and governors in the country.
The president of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said that security vote had become an avenue for siphoning public funds.
“The issue of security vote is another form of corruption; in fact, there was a particular state which took N1billion in one month as security vote”

It seems NLC wants honey taken out of governors’ mouth. It is not only the governors and President that collect security vote. Speakers, Council chairmen, councilors and almost all elected public office holders collect monthly security votes. Even a governor from the Southeast zone, who had promised to forfeit his security vote, before he was sworn into office, seems to have forgotten his pledge, especially now that his state is facing serious financial challenges. It appears NLC just remembered to call for its abolition, because most states owe workers salaries for months, while the governors still collect their security votes. Many have argued that since states’ financial transactions are not transparently carried out, it may be difficult to abolish security votes. Besides, such calls have been consistently made in the past, but nothing meaningful came out it.