My most embarrassing moment as chairman of Niger Delta Amnesty Committee —Kingsley Kuku

 He who feels it knows it. This saying would seem to apply to Hon. Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty. He told select journalists, including VINCENT AKANMODE, the strides the amnesty programme, particularly the re-integration phase, has recorded and the challenges he faces on a daily basis with regard to managing the ex-agitators in a way that they will conform with the plans of the Federal Government concerning them. He also reacts to the fresh crave for amnesty by two prominent leaders of agitators in the region, Alhaji Dokuboh Asari and John Togo

Hon.Kingsley Kuku,Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta & Chairman Presidential Committee on Amnesty

What would you say are the major challenges you face as the Chairman of the Committee on the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme?
Talking about challenges, the job has not been easy. it is not easy to bring up the kind of brothers and sisters we are handling in this programme. We are talking about people with a peculiar kind of background. Re-integrating them could be very difficult. It is an enormous responsibility. You go to a camp like Obubra and somebody, an adult, tells you he wants to be a mechanic. You agree with him, but the same man calls you two months later and says: ‘At the time I told you I wanted to be a mechanic, something or somebody influenced me to say so. Now, I no longer want to be a mechanic, I want to go to school.’ Although you have fully processed him for mechanic, you don’t have to be angry. You need to go back to process him again. 
Sometimes, in the process of reprocessing him, you want to reach him through the number with which he had called you, but you can’t reach him again. You try for two months but you cannot reach him. Then he calls you after three months and accuses you of not getting back to him after your initial discussion. We keep asking them why they use numbers that are not theirs. The issue of trust is still there. People give fake information about the programme, even among themselves. There have been situations where trainees would call themselves with strange numbers to come for passport processing in Lagos. And a young man will leave Port-Harcourt or Arugbo to come to Lagos. And when he calls the same number and says he is waiting at the Immigration office, the number goes off forever. 
As usual, they would call me and say ‘SA (Special Adviser), your people called me to Lagos for passport procurement, but I got here and I can’t get the number again. I am stranded.’ I will have to look for somebody in Lagos who can handle the situation. 
So, for me, the phase of re-integration is even more difficult than the disarmament phase. Imagine we left here for Florida with 28 people; the first set of trainees to be moved to America. We got there only for six of them to be deported back. And I did it on my own. And I was rejoicing that I got them back, because they got to the US and were all settled down. Then six of them came up to tell us, ‘We are now here. The embassy told us we would be doing Marine Medicine. But for us, we only used it as an opportunity to come to the US. If it is not Marine Captain, we are not ready to do any course here.’ Marine Captain? Have you ever seen a school offering Marine Captain as a course? And he will tell you, ‘Well, don’t worry. In my village, all the big ships that pass through our rivers, I used to pilot them. So, if it is not Marine Captain, I’m not ready to do anything here.’ 
The US to which I sought for visa for four years without luck, somebody would get it on the platform of an instrument of the Federal Government and then he gets there and say he would not do any course but Marine Captain? We brought them back home. And because I did not know their intent, I see them as people who would need another round of reformation training. When we got to the airport, what I did was simple. I passed them through Immigration and told the security agencies to pick up their passports from them. Because I don’t want to hear that some of them have found their ways back to the US. We got to Abuja and I spoke to my SA Media to write to the US Ambassador that six of the people we took to Florida had returned and that he could cancel their visa. The American embassy was very glad about it. I am not sure they had seen that kind of thing before. These are the kind of things we face every day, and it is quite challenging.
What is your reaction to Alahaji Dokubo Asari’s decision to embrace the amnesty programme now?
Let me first say that my office has not been informed about my friend and comrade’s acceptance of amnesty. Alhaji Asari Dokuboh is my personal friend. He had been in the struggle of the people of the Niger Delta and had opposed the concept of amnesty. However, I also know that Alhaji Asari Dokuboh believes that the process of amnesty can be a vehicle for changing the lives of our youths. He has not formally informed our office and I have not been directed or informed by any of my superiors in government about his acceptance of amnesty. 
Be that as it may, the only human being in this country who has the power to extend, grant or refuse the acceptance of amnesty for anybody or any group is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I do not have that power. The number of ex-agitators is 26, 358. Those who accepted amnesty in the first phase were 20,192, while another 6,166 accepted amnesty in the second phase and were included in the programme. That makes a total of 26, 358. This is the number we have within the amnesty programme and this is the number of ex-agitators we deal with. 
Like I have said several times, this does not mean that there are no other aggrieved persons in the Niger Delta. It does not in any way mean that some persons who are not part of this number are not stakeholders in the Niger Delta issue. There are so many individuals and groups of persons who still believe that they have the right to whatever issue people have raised. And I have said it several times that for me, as Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, my office is open to any form of engagement with anybody or group of persons who are known. If the group is not known, it is not one that can be engaged, no matter the person presenting himself on the platform of that group. But if any known group of people come forward and say they are Niger Delta freedom fighters, rescuers or emancipators, I’m ready to exercise my mandate, as empowered by Mr. President, to engage such people and make recommendations to Mr. President. 
I am not saying this as if I am talking for Mr. President. That can be done only by the spokesman of Mr. President himself, Imma Niboro. But to make my work smooth within the confines of my mandate as the SA and Chairman of the Post-Amnesty Programme, I will engage any group that needs to be engaged for the purpose of ensuring lasting peace in the Niger Delta. Asari’s acceptance of amnesty, if true, can only be accepted by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And when Mr. President so accepts, through the proper channels of communication, our office will definitely be notified of whatever position Mr. President takes on that matter. 
There are reports by some newspapers that one of the leaders of the ex-agitators is dead. But if he is not, will he be accepted back into the Amnesty programme now that he has signified his intention to embrace it again?
Again, I want to say that John Togo is my brother. There is a way I relate with people. John Togo was not chased out of this programme. He was a part of the programme ab initio. He participated in the programmes. The boys from his own camp also went to Obubra. Most of them went through the demobilisation phase, having passed through the disarmament phase. Some of his boys, I am sure, are also benefitting from the re-integration programme. Monthly payments of allowances were made to his camp. But for whatever reason, some of which he has stated in national newspapers, saying that he decided to go back into the creeks because, as far as he was concerned, the leaders were not taken care of within the confines of the Amnesty Programme implementation. He believed that the Federal Government had not addressed issues like the development of the Niger Delta and the empowerment of the people of the Niger Delta. 
I engaged John Togo on several occasions. I told him, ‘My brother, you have accepted amnesty and came out. You have an opportunity to join all the voices in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a country to begin to engage government about the other issues beyond amnesty, which whoever has an agitating mind is talking about. It cannot pay you to go back into the creeks to bear arms. Today, the JTF (Joint Task Force) and John Togo are actually in a running battle. Since the day we heard about the attack between John Togo and the JTF, nobody has been able to ascertain the whereabouts of John Togo. As far as I am concerned, as the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, I do need to know where John Togo is. So, in the past few days, I have made very severe efforts to know his whereabouts, how healthy or unhealthy he is, but, of course, there has been no faint information. 
But one of the managers of the amnesty programme was reported as saying that he was being harboured at the Government House in Yenagoa...
You know that the Niger Delta is a factory of rumour, where people tell terrible stories. Some have said John Togo is alive. Others say he is dead. Some others say he is at so and so place. You must have seen the ripples generated by a statement from somebody who is also a manager of the activities at the demobilisation camp at Obubra. Mr. Ekpein Appah made a very terrible statement, which, as far as we are concerned, is the most severe embarrassment the amnesty programme has faced ever since it commenced; that he was sure that John Togo was in the Government House in Bayelsa. 
We learnt the man has been removed on account of the statement. Are there chances that he will be pardoned soon?
The John Togo issue, to me, is not as sensitive as the general question of the Niger Delta. You are a main camp manager and there are rules and ethics in every organisation. A manager among nothing less than 12 managers in a camp cannot rise in a matter like this to say without basic evidence and without passing through the appropriate channel, that John Togo, being wanted by the JTF and the Federal Government of Nigeria, was being harboured in the Government House in Bayelsa. If John Togo is in the Government House, Bayelsa, for instance, and the Amnesty Proigramme ought to inform anybody, the first person in this country that must hear this is Mr. President. And the person to inform Mr. President is my humble self by privilege and not one of the 12 or 24 managers we have in the camp. There is a camp commandant in the camp. So, it breached ethics and regulations. 
If it was a privileged information he had, he ought to pass it through the camp commandant and the SA would hear it. If I hear this kind of sensitive information, all I need to do is to reconfirm from him. If he tells me that with all confidence and evidence, I think I will need to brief the National Security Adviser. From there, we will meet with Mr. President and think about how to handle it. You don’t need to make it look like there is a battle between you and the Government House in Bayelsa. 
Governor Timipre Sylva is one of the stakeholders in the Niger Delta. Even in terms of the Amnesty Programme, he was one of the governors who took practical steps to bring about disarmament in the region. You can’t disclaim that fact. When he set up a Peace Committe and established the Peace House, that was the process that led to disarmament in Bayelsa State. And they celebrated peace in Bayels State at that time. That brought out Boyloaf, Ogunbos, Africa and everybody. I was part of that committee, being the National Secretary of the Presidential Committe on Peace and Conflict Resolution at that time. We went to celebrate that moment of peace in Bayelsa. So Governor Sylva is one of the critical people who have made wonderful contributions towards peace and security in the Niger Delta.
Besides, If you have a cause to say this kind of thing anywhere, the proper channel should be followed. Maybe somebody informed him and he felt he was sure of what he was saying. But he should have passed it through the right channel in the organisation. He cannot make himself the SA when I’m the SA. As far as I know, I am the SA in this programme and that sensitive information that should have helped government if it was true. Passing it in that manner amounted to insubordination. He has been fired and he remains fired until we have cause to see if it is possible at all to do a review. And I don’t see that happening in the nearest future. 
But let me reiterate the fact that accepting John Togo back into the amnesty is also not my prerogative. It is the prerogative of Mr President. I have seen their statement, saying that they have surrendered; that the JTF has won the battle in the creeks and that they are ready to surrender their arms through the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, being my privileged self. Mr. President has seen all that, but they never contacted me. If they contact me and I get the appropriate instruction to receive any form of arms from John Togo’s team, I will. But if they don’t, I can’t do that. He was accepted into the Amnesty Programme before, now he has to be re-accepted. If the instruction comes from Mr. President, i will.
How many trainees do you have in the Amnesty Programme?
First, I want to put you on notice that we have been handling 20,192. The 6,166 second phase amnesty trainees have not even been to the demobilization camp. So, we are not going to talk about that now. The 6,166 are waiting for the 20,192 to pass through Calabar before we can come to them. So, out of the 20,192, we have 5,000 of them already placed in training centres and skill acquisition centres within Nigeria. We have another 2,618 who have commenced training in reputable institutioins and centres outside the country. Of this number, 476 have since resumed vocational training in South Africa and Ghana. In Ghana, there are 207 of them. They were 212, but when I visited Ghana, I decided to deport five of them who decided to heckle an hotel attendant in Takoradi. They are back and will have to undergo another round of reformation. 
It shows that this is a continuous programme. Since it is the first programme of its kind in Nigeria, we are going to have a few problems as we go on with it. Remember that this kind of programme took place in Sierra Leone and there were lots of problems which resulted in bloodbath on many occasions. It took the country and the US so many years to pass through this stage. In Liberia and Rwanda, it was the same thing. In Sudan, the programme is still on. Even in spite of independence votes, there are still attacks in Southern Sudan. So, you would see that Nigeria is a very lucky country, being blessed by God and being put together for a purpose for the black world. 
In the Niger Delta, the programme has not experienced any form of bloodbath. John Togo’s case is an isolated case, and you can see that it has been handled by the Federal Government and the team has even willingly come out to say they have seen that they have lost this battle and they want to be back in the amnesty programme. There is willingness and an understanding by them, maybe a real understanding by them, to say that the amnesty programme is on course and they want to be back into it. If Mr. President says we should accept them back, we have no option but to do so. 
We have 74 of this number, who have resumed formal education at Lynton University College in Malaysia. We also have 65 of them who have commenced formal university education at the Friendship University in Moscow, Russia. On Saturday March 26, 2011, 20 amnesty programme trainees travelled to South Africa where they are currently being trained in one of the best aviation colleges in the world to become helicopter pilots as well as aeronautic engineers. The 20 of them are doing so well there. It is not easy to pass through the aviation programme anywhere in the world. The exams are done online, so nobody can help anybody. And if you like, fly a plane from here to any part of the world, you are just flying for nothing, and the person who has sent you there is just wasting money unless you pass the exams. You will never be certificated if you don’t. They gave me their word when I visited them, that they will never disappoint me. And I am happy to announce to you that 19 out of the 20 have passed the two exams. And the only one that has not passed, I have told them I don’t want him back in this country until he passes the exam. He is going to take his next exam soon, and I am praying for him to succeed. 
A lady among them almost gave up after failing three times, saying she could not pass the second exam. I called her on the phone and told her that she could make it. To my greatest joy, she scored 82 per cent. I have just been informed also that 10 of the ex-agitators have had their joint flights (guarded flights) with experienced pilots. The day they would have their solo flights, I would love to witness it.
I also want to add that we dispatched 38 trainees to the US, where they have commenced six months training in Marine Mechanic in Florida. We are set to send another 24 to the US with the perfect cooperation of the US Embassy in Nigeria, to undergo training in oil and gas drilling technology. Another 2,618 are scheduled to commence training in reputable institutions outside the country.
By your own assessment, would you say the Amnesty Programme has been successful?
I would say yes, because the evidence is there. You would remember that from 2007 to 2009, oil production fell to 700,000 barrels per day. If amnesty had not been proclaimed by June 25, 2009 leading to now, oil production would not have been recording 2.3 million barrels of crude oil production per day as we are doing now. So, it has risen from 700,000, not to one million barrel, but to 2.3 million barrels per day and sometimes beyond 2.3 million barrels. It is evidence that the Amnesty Programme has succeeded. It has brought about stability, peace and economic prosperity for Nigeria. 
However, like I have said several times, I am not one of any group of actors who will pretend that amnesty seems to be the perfect answer to the long lasting agitation of the people of the Niger Delta. But it is a way of addressing a very fundamental aspect of the Niger Delta problems. The Niger Delta has a lot of issues. The one we are handling is the human one. It is the fabric of the agitation that has to do with those who bore arms at a time. Having spoken to them, they have agreed to drop their arms and get themselves properly re-integrated into the civil society. Even while we are doing that, they are also reminding us that it is not all about dropping arms and getting rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society, but that we should not forget the issues that made them to carry arms in the first place. As a result of this, we have been holding a lot of conferences and workshops. 
Other agencies of government are also handling different parts of the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta ministry is also handling non-militant youths’ rehabilitation. They are doing training for non-militant youths. The Ministry of Environment is also looking at areas of environmental remedies. Don’t be surprised that one day, Mr. President will be talking about cleaning the Niger Delta river environment. There could be a clean-up of the entire river environment. We might return to our usual aquatic life, having passed through the training. That will commence from the Ministry of Environment. So many agencies and parastatals of government are handling various parts of the Amnesty Programme. So, when we talk about Presidential Committee on Amnesty, there is a general programme handling the Niger Delta issues. If you go to the office of our father and uncle, Dr Emmanuel Egboga, he handles the rights and privileges of communities, as well as equity and oil and gas issues. Those are issues that do not concern our office. But he is also a part of the general committee on amnesty. 

OUR STAND ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND TOTAL CHANGE-SUNSHINE VOICE

MIMIKO SETS TO DEAL WITH JIMOH IBRAHIM,...AS ODSG TERMINATES OWENA MOTEL LEASE

Mimiko sets to deal with Jimoh Ibrahim:

… as ODSG terminates Owena Motels Lease

DR OLUSEGUN AGAGU,[FMR GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE]

As you are reading this story the representatives of the Ondo State Government [ODSG] deployed from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry would have finally taken full control of the State owned Five Star Hotel, Owena Motels, Akure  from the NICON Luxury Company, owned by Chief Jimoh Ibrahim.

As at the time of filling this report some,our reporter gathered from some staffers of  NICON Luxury who have been managing the hotels for over three years  hat the state government has refused to extend the lease agreement with their company.

 This abrupt termination of the lease and refusal o extend the  agreement between ODSG  and NICON Luxury Company on the management of Owena Motels Limited, may be  a clear indication that the present administration in the state is set to dael with the Ikale born billionaire.

It would be recalled that NICON Luxury Company, which is one of the numerous firms owned by billionaire politician, Mr. Ibrahim, had an agreement with the state government during the twilight days of Gov. Olusegun Agagu to run the hotel for an initial period of three years, subject to review.

The agreement was signed on May 2, 2008 and it was expected to lapse on May 2, 2011 over two weeks ago which made the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to  direct the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Akin Akingbesote, to put an end to the lease.

 This made the Commissioner to  second a very senior official from the ministry of commerce to Owena Motels o Igbatoro,road,Akure  to act as the receiving manager.

The two party,thst is the NICON Luxury team ad the State government officials are already taking stocks and crosschecking available record of all the assets and liabilities of the hotel, before the agreement would be formally terminated.

Sunshine VOICE reporters also gathered that some members of staff of some of the NICO staffers who once hold sway in the hotel had since vacated their rooms and chalets within the hotel complex as some have even checked in to nearby hotels.

The workers were said to have been moved into the vacant office of the NICON Insurance complex located at Isinkan area of Akure.

 Up till the moment of fii this report both the state government and the billionaire company has not issued an official  statement on the new development.

KUKU WARNS TOGO:NO MORE ROOM FOR EX-MILITANTS

‘No more room for ex-militants,I can receive your arms’

-Kuku warns Togo

  

 Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs Kingsley Kuku yesterday said only the President can receive arms from renegade militant leader John Togo.

He said Togo had once accepted the amnesty but reneged on the offer.

Kuku, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said: “John Togo has not surrendered any weapon to the Federal Government; he and his team declared that they are willing to re-surrender their arms. 

“He was part of this programme and had shown willingness to be part of the programme.

“We are yet to receive any communication from him and his group to that effect. If John Togo’s arms are to be received only President Jonathan can receive them, or direct anybody to receive them.”

Kuku said only Jonathan has the constitutional powers to grant amnesty to the over 1,500 youths from Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, and Ondo states.

“I do not want to blame anybody, that when amnesty was proclaimed in August 25, 2009, people did not believe that it was going to be a reality.

“October 4, 2009 was the deadline; 20,192 people accepted amnesty.I think that we cannot keep going on like that, there has been a deadline for amnesty; it is over.

“People cannot come from anywhere to say they must be included in the programme, however, it is only the President who has the singular right and power to include or refuse to include, or deny inclusion for anybody into this programme.

“I have not received any instruction or directive from the President, if I do get such directive to include such people into this programme, we will commence the process of including them.

“But so far, the President has put a stop to further inclusion for acceptance of special amnesty.”

The deadline, Kuku said, is over.He said 24 youths, including two ladies, were flown to the PetroSkills Petroleum Institute in Houston, United States, for a six-month vocational training course in oil and gas drilling.

His words: “There are over 1,500 youths who are ready to accept amnesty and lay down their arms for the government’s re- integration programme.

LP HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECT IN FAKE CERTIFICATE,FORGERY SCANDAL

 ASO ROCK,Owo Assembly member elect in fake certificate and forgery scandal 

  

What statrted like a rumour some months ago in the political circle is becoming a reality as the  Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State and its candidate for Owo constituency I in the state House of Assembly, Ogunoye Folashade have levelled charges of alleged certificate forgery against the Labour Party (LP) legislator-elect in the area, Samuel Arowele.

This was contained in a petition they submitted to the Ondo State Election petitions tribunal  that the Labour Party (LP) legislator-elect in the area, Samuel Arowele, popularly known as ASO-ROCK has been charged with alleged certificate forgery

Counsel to the ACN candidate, Titiloye Charles and Bisi Ayeni in the 23-page petition filed at the tribunal, averred that Mr Aroweles primary school and ordinary level certificate (WAEC/GCE) certificates were forged. They also argued that the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye diploma certificate presented by Mr Arowele was also a fake.

The party stressed that the lawmaker-elect could not have gained admission to study business administration in any university with one credit in Yoruba at WAEC/GCE.

The ACN further averred that the suspect certificate was issued from the office of an unspecified director of OOU and not from the office of the registrar or Vice Chancellor of the Ogun State-owned institution.

Nullify election

The party insisted that the LPs candidate did not hold any certificate he presented to INEC and urged the tribunal to nullify the declaration of Mr Arowele as legislator-elect and order fresh election in the constituency. It also urged the tribunal to order INEC to prosecute the legislator-elect.

It would be recalled that the former member of the Ondo State House of Assemly and the current lawmaker for the constituency,Hon Ayodele

Awodeyi OWO ONI BAJE fame was dropped at the LP primary for Arowele

Before his entrance into the murky Owo politics Arowele a socialite operate the most popular pepper soup joint known as ASO ROCK at Ikotun,Lagos.

LP ARE MERE TENANTS IN ONDO STATE GOV.HOUSE-Akintade

LP are mere tenant in Ondo State - Akintade

The Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] Senatorial flagbearer for Ondo Central Senatorial District,Dr Michael Akintade has described the ruling political party in  Ondo State, the Labour Party[LP] as mere tenant.

“The ACN party is the party that is keeping the hope of the progressive minded people of Ondo State alive,our party is the party of the moment and of the future, and that is why we've been waxing stronger since after the election. Many great politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and even the LP have expressed  their intention to decamp to ACN”

Dr Akintade who said he has put the loss of the last election behind his back because of what he called  a high-tech fraud, 'the last election which was deemed credible was full of outrageous financial inducement, rigging, and bribery by the LP high profiled thugs”

The Ifedore-born American based successful medical doctor turned politician pleaded with the masses of Ondo State to join forces with ACN to eject the current tenant in Ondo State government house.

It would be recalled that Dr.Akintade for over eight years has been on the race for the senate and these aspiration has taken him across many political parties from his days at the Democratic Peoples Alliance[DPA],to Labour Party[LP] which he left when he alleged that he was robbed of the senatorial  ticket to pitch his tenth with ACN.   

EXPLOSION HITS ONDO PDP...AS ACN SOARS HIGHER

EXPLOSION HITS PDP!

…as ACN benefited from mass defection

…party in disarray over Alasoadura's defection plan

That Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State Chapter is in disarray is like stating the obvious, because the ripple effect of the abysmal failure at the last election is seriously crumbling the party.

As if the abysmal failure recorded by the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] was not even enough we heard it from a very good source that the ranks and files of the party will further be depleted any moment from now.

Because what started like a rumour will eventually turned to reality as one of   the founding and funding member of the PDP in Ondo State and a leader from Akure had concluded arrangement to defect to Acton Congress of Nigeria [ACN] which has become the political  harbor for politician seeking for a face saving political platform.

Information scooped from both the ACN and the PDP camps revealed that both party are already brazing up for the unfolding political occurrence that will eventually shake the political landscape of Ondo State.

During Sunshine VOICE routine check at the ACN party secretariat, some   party executives where seeing discussing the issue of decampees and how they are going to manage them in low voice.

While the whole world is awaits the defection of one of Akure most popular PDP leader [names withheld] who was quoted as telling his supporters that he will defect to ACN from PDP as he just realized that his political future can not be guaranteed.

Among those rumoured to decamp from PDP is the  Iju born political lord and grassroots mobiliser, Chief Tayo Alasoadaura, the former  Commissioner for finance under Gov. Agagu  was said to have concluded and perfected his plan to defect to ACN.

He was quoted to have recently confined in some of his loyal political followers his defection plan to ACN and that it became imperative for him to join another ship in order to achieve his political aspiration. 

Since February,2009 when Dr. Mimiko of the LP reclaimed his stolen mandate from Dr. Agagu led PDP government and the victory of both Governors Raufu Aregbesola  and Kayode Fayemi in Osun and Ekiti State   the PDP in Ondo State has daily been experiencing the defection of its  strong members to either Labour Party[LP] and of recent to ACN.

The party has lost two most vibrant members from Ondo North Senatorial District Chief Bailey Arohunmolase and Chief Mrs Olugboja to LP while the PDP in Akure lost two members the duo of Hon Idowu Otetubi and High Chief R. A Badmus a die-hard supporter and loyalist of Gov. Agagu   defected to ACN among others.

MINISTERIAL LIST TEARS ONDO PDP APART,MANY SINS OF TOKUNBO KAYODE,DEFENCE MINISTER

Ministerial List Tears Ondo PDP Apart

… As Kayode Defence Minister was dropped for Elegbeleye

…his many sins, + why PDP can not forgive him

More facts are emerging why the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has failed to forgive the suspended minister for Defence, Prince Tokunbo Kayode.

The state chapter of the PDP, through its Chairman and Secretary,Dr.Tayo Dairo and Sola Oludipe, had announced the indefinite suspension of the minister on allegation of anti-party last week.

The executive are yet to reverse the suspension of the Ikaramu-Akoko born lawyer turned politician despite all entireties by the national and zonal body of PDP.

The party leaders alleged the unholy alliance and romance between the minister, Kayode and  ruling Labour Party in the state, to the detriment of his political party.

Sources close to the party told the Sunshine VOICE that the party executives were pressure to take the drastic decision by the members of the National Assembly who loss their return bid.

The NASS members were said to have converged at Abuja and took the decision that they should pay back the minister over their woeful outing at the last poll so that he too can feel what they are feeling.

The state excos acted on the petition of the NASSA members over what they described as Kayode's inability to muster enough support for them during the just concluded general election. 

This move is to blockade the perceived renewed effort by the minister to retain his portfolio having been credited by some party leaders at the zonal and national level for been instrumental to the success of the PDP Southwest rallies.

Kayode was appointed by the late President Musa Yar'Adua  had served in various  ministries as minister from the ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as Labour and Productivity, until he was latter saddle with the responsibility of over seeing the Ministry of Defence by President Goodluck Jonathan, who retained him in the cabinet after the death of his boss.

But the happiness of the party leaders begins to withered as they loss virtually all the bye-elections and polls conducted during his tenure a serving minister.

Some PDP leaders who spoke under anonymity berated Kayode for the monumental loss of the party in all the polls as they believed that if he had played his role sincerely and politically it would have greatly impacted on the fortune of the party.

It was learnt that the minister did not play any active role in the bye-elections conducted in the state and won by the ruling LP before the recent general election.

Specifically, the minister was said to be nowhere to be found during the by-election conducted in the Northern Senatorial District, which the PDP candidate, Jimi Adedapo lost woefully.

They traced the  loss of the PDP candidates at the subsequent election held at Ilaje the backyard of Dr Agagu and the stronghold of the party equally shows the lack of commitment and disloyality of Kayode to the party.

Some Youths group also blamed the minister for the poor showing of the party in the National Assembly and House of Assembly elections.

The group known as the Ondo State Youth Leaders Forum said the ''non challant attitude'' of the minister to the development of the party was responsible for the crack within PDP.

The group, in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan signed by its President, Elegbeleye Rasheed PDP aspirant who loss his State House of Assembly bid and Secretary, Kolawole Femi, said that the minister deliberately sold out the party to the opposition, using all the machinery at his disposal in preparation for his second term ministerial slot.

They alleged that the minister was negotiating with the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to defect to the PDP before May 29, so that the governor could re-nominate him for the state ministerial slot.

'Tokunbo Kayode has not been a blessing to the Ondo State PDP. He has contributed nothing to the development of the PDP in Ondo State. He only gives money and contracts to his loyalists.

"He is responsible for the poor outing of the PDP in the recently conducted elections in Ondo state. Somebody who cannot deliver his territory to the party, he was only after how to retain his post," the group stated.

But the immediate past Secretary to the State Government [SSG] and a very notable political leader from the southern senatorial district, Barrister Isaac Kekemeke differs on the issue of Kayode's suspension as he accused the party leaders of losing focus.

Hon. Kekemeke who was onetime leader of opposition in the state assembly during the truncated third republic was quoted by some media report that he exonerates Kayode over the abysmal failure of the party in the last election.

He condemned the party executives of conniving and cabal against Kayode, why should he be blame for refusing the party to use armed soldier to rig the last election.

Though the state secretariat of the PDP in Akure is yet to revert the suspension order placed on the minister, but sources closed to the minister said he had been making frantic effort to get his renomination through back door.

MIMIKO SPENT N70m TO HOST JONATHAN IN 30mins-Abayomi

MIMIKO SPENT N70m TO HOST JONATHAN IN 30mins - Abayomi

…the N30Bn loan is uncalled for.

Months after the Presidential campaign visit to Ekiti and Ondo States more outstanding revelations are beginning to unfold about the financial implications of the visit as well as what transpired during the visit.

The renown  human rights activist and chieftain of the Action  Congress of Nigeria [ACN] Dr Tunji Abayomi has challenged the Dr Olusegun Mimiko led administration to explained why a whooping N70million was spent for hosting the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan  for just thirty minutes at the airport.

The fiery activist, Dr Abayomi made these allegation among others while speaking wih Sunshine VOICE on the state of the nation during the penultimate weekend that the governor should explained while such a whopping amount was expended on mere half an hour protocol and why should millions of naira be spent on voter's registration.

 'The thirty minutes presidential visit cost Ondo State N70milion and  the voters registration which was also the federal government prerogatives also cot the stste hundreds of millions of the monies that as supposed to be used judiciously for common  development'. Abayomi queried.

He condemned in its entirety the spending habit of the present administration in Ondo State by saying that why development is still far from the state is because the administration lacks control of public fund and resources,'The governor is more or less a financial dictator who wears the garb of a democrat'

The Okeagbe Akoko born activist turned politician also points accusing finger to the state lawmakers for allowing themselves to be bought over by the governor.

He blamed the lawmakers by saying “the state house of assembly is a stooge in the hand of the governor, they are like commodity the governor has bought them with public money, since each of them pocketed about N10 million they have since given their approval to the governor without caution, to go and take a loan of N30billion,and they have  became very useless in terms of their responsibilities to the masses”.

"Up till today the governor has not given account to the people how he has been spending the public fund and how much he had so far pocketed from the federal allocation

SUNSHINE DEBUT ON TUESDAY, HIT NEWSTAND WITH A BANG !

It was a promise well kept as SUNSHINE VOICE debut with a very big BAG on the street of Ondo State.
TOP STORIES YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO MISS:
[a] Unbelievable! MIMIKO SPENT N70M TO HOST PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN FOR 30mins-Abayomi

[b] AHEAD OF CABINET RESHUFFLE:
ONDO COMMISSIONERS,APPOLINTEES,UNDER SECURITY SURVEILLANCE

[c] MINISTERIAL LIST TEARS ONDO PDP APART:
...AS TOKUNBO KAYODE,DEFENCE MINISTER'S NAME  WAS DROPPED FOR ELEGBELEYE
...HIS MANY SINS,+ WHY PDP CAN NOT FORGIVE HIM.

[d] LP ARE MERE TENANTS IN ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE-Akintade

[e] EXPLOSION HITS PDP ...party in disarray over ALASOADURA defectioplan to ACN

[f] GOKE OLUWOLE'S COLUMN; AKOKOLAND : PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF A TRUE LEADER

AND MANY MORE

PDP SACKED AGAGU,DISSOLVED STATE EXCO

PDP Leaders sacked Agagu and Dairo, dissolves state exco

*Constitute a 9-man interim committee.

*Abdusalam,Ehinlanwo,EddyOlafeso,Arohunmolase,kekemeke,Alasoaduratakes over party  

The crisis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened yesterday as a faction of the party, under the auspices of Leaders and Stakeholders, suspended the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, from the party.

Also, the members dissolved the Dr. Omotayo Dairo-led State Executive Council and resolved to constitute a nine-man interim management committee to harmonise all factions and tendencies in the party.

Besides, the members rejected the suspension of members of the party and the list of 10 names compiled for federal appointments allegedly by Agagu and Dairo.

This development came as the Chairman of the party in Akoko Northwest; Prince Alaba Arohunmolashe, said the compilation of the 10 names as nominees to President Goodluck Jonathan would not stay because the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), who is the highest political office holder of the party in the state, was not carried along.

Arohunmolase said the action of the dissolved Dairo-led executive would not stand because it did not enjoy the support of the majority of the party supporters in the state.

Among the leaders and stakeholders that witnessed the press conference addressed at the Press Centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), were the immediate past Speaker of the House of Assembly, Taofiq Olawale Abdusalam, incumbent Senator representing Ondo South, Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo, former commissioners under Agagu’s government including Dr Eddy Olafeso, Isaacs Kekemeke, and Chief Tayo Alasoadura.

Others included former Chairmen of local governments; Chief Adebanbo Odoro, Charles Adeduro, Mrs Yejide Ogundipe and Stephen Olemija.

Serving legislators of the party including Fatai Adams and Princess Caroline Olubimtan were at the briefing. Former office and incumbent office holders including Chief Bamidele Adeladun, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Demola Babalola, Akin Aruwajoye, Dr Bode Iwaloye, Dr Patrick Gbakinro and Col Tunde Awodeyi (rtd) were also present.

Briefing reporters of behalf of others, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Agagu, Chief Segun Adegoke, said although the decision was painful, it had to be taken in the interest of the party.

He said Agagu, as the leader, was suspended because he led the party to inexplicable and inexcusable electoral failure and for accentuating the unending crisis in the party, saying the decision had brought the party to its comatose state.

Adegoke said the stakeholders adopted the doctrine of necessity because prominent members of the party had left for other political parties due to the alleged mismanagement on the party by Agagu and Dairo.

His words: The leaders and stakeholders resolved to dissolve the state executive committee of the party in Ondo State and will set up a panel to investigate the finances of the party since February, 2009 including the over N30 million contributed by party members for the building of the state secretariat, the N10 million donated by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and all monies for the various elections in the state.

The leaders and stakeholders reject the suspension of the party members from the party without hearing and/or due process and urge the interim management committee to review all such cases. A party that is losing needs people, not fewer people.

The party leaders said it would be wrong and politically suicidal to allow the Dairo-led executive that had led the party to five electoral failures to continue in office and compound the woes of the party.

In his reaction, Dairo said the people, who were spent forces in their local government areas lacked locus standi to proclaim the state executive dissolved or to suspend any member of the party.

According to him, the list being complained about was complied with due process by the State Working Committee (SWC) and 15 leaders of the party across the state.

His words: These leaders are spent forces in their constituencies. As far as we are concerned, they are not known to our party, they are not known to the constitution because they are ex-this, ex-that, we want them to know that this is not an obaship institution where once you assume the leader, you are there for life, their local government areas have produced vibrant young men that have displaced many of these people.

These people now have no direct means of livelihood and that is why you see them becoming political jobbers. Hon Isaacs Kekemeke was a party secretary here before settling for political appointment, Col Awodeyi was Chairman and many of them like that but they have lost touch with the reality on ground now which is for them to agree that the past should remain the past.

The party chairman accused the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, of masterminding the uproar in the party, saying: Unfortunately, the Minister found good use of these idle hands who have nowhere to go, no offices to run and no serious means of livelihood, he found ready tools in them and he doled some little to them and that is the result we are seeing now.

Since these people are not members of the ward executive, local government executives and state executive, they are not known to the national secretariat anymore and whatever they do remains null and void, so we are not bothered.

The PDP chairman laid the blame of the loss of the party at the elections conducted in the state since 2009 at the doorstep of many members of the group of stakeholders, noting that for example, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, a shining light within the team, was largely responsible for the political problems the party faced in Akure South Local Government due to his high handedness.

We understand they have served us before, but we appeal to them not to visit their frustrations on us because this frustration is out of poverty.

Similarly, the deputy governor under the Agagu administration and one of the nominees, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, said the leaders and stakeholders had no right to suspend anybody from the party, adding that the list being contested was compiled with input from the SWC and some leaders of the party.

His words: They said they are dissolving the exco and who are they, what are their positions in the party? There are ways of doing this, the executive council was constituted by a congress and it is only the congress that can dissolve the executive. So, it is very wrong for a handful set of people to hire people and pronounce the exco dissolved.

Besides, Chief Supo Ijabadeniyi, a leader of the party said the decision would not stand because of the illegality of their action.

According to him, those who took the decision were on their way to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and they wanted to destroy the party before the left.

OBASANJO ORDERS TOKUNBO KAYODE TO BEG FOR FORGIVENESS

‘Go and beg for forgiveness’

OBJ  orders Tokunbo  Kayode

The protracted political crisis rampaging the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) may have been laid to rest as former President Olusegun Obasanjo successfully brokered peace between the leadership of the Ondo PDP and the Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode.

Saturday Tribune gathered authoritatively that a meeting of the Ondo PDP stakeholders took place at the instance of President Obasanjo inside his Ota farm, Ogun State, on Thursday evening.

The meeting, which took place immediately after an earlier one held by chieftains of PDP in the South West geo-political zone, had in attendance former Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu, chairman of PDP in the state, Dr Omotayo Dairo and Prince Kayode.

Others at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors and presided over by Obasanjo, were Chief Solomon Oladunni and Mr. Demola Ijabiyi.

During the no-holds- barred meeting, the Ondo PDP leaders were said to have accused the Defence Minister of being an ally of Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, whom they accused him of conniving with, to rob the PDP of victory in the last gubernatorial and parliamentary elections in the state.

Prince Kayode was also accused of deliberately starving the Ondo PDP of funds which, as the minister of defence, he could have made available to prosecute the past elections in Ondo State.

The defence minister was also accused of not being sensitive to the financial plight of PDP members in Ondo State in addition to not supporting PDP candidates who contested elections.

In addition, Prince Kayode was accused of not empowering any notable PDP member in any of the three senatorial districts in the state, but, instead, concentrated on making only himself comfortable.

The minister was also accused of constantly embarrassing the leadership of the PDP in the state by waging media war to demean their political status.

After defending himself on each of the allegations, which were said not to be satisfactory to the Ondo PDP chieftains, Chief Obasanjo was said to have come to his aid by pleading with the PDP leaders to forgive him and rescind the suspension placed on him.

The minister was also reportedly ordered by Obasanjo to formally ask for forgiveness from the Ondo PDP leaders and to also beg them verbally.

Meanwhile, The poor performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West was as a result of the poor performance of governors of the party, a chieftain of the party, Wole Adebayo, has said.

Adebayo, who was reacting to the suspension of the Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode ,from the party said the poor performance of PDP at the last general elections showed that governors of the party let the people down by their dismal performance.

The minister was suspended by the Ondo state chapter of the PDP after the party failed to deliver the state for which the party blamed Adetokunbo.

Adebayo however, while reacting in a chat said it was a mistake for the state chapter of the party to suspend the first Minister of Defence from the South West on grounds that he was responsible for the poor showing of the party in Ondo.

He said: the reason given is very absurd. In fact, PDP lost the election in Ondo state in 1999; it won in 2003 because AD was quite unpopular and the PDP rallied round and got the people.

We lost out again in 2007; so, the party must be willing to please the electorate and win from year to year. If you lose this time, youll win next time. The party that is so arrogant to think that it cannot lose election and that electorates have no right in making choice; that party is not ready for democracy.

MINISTERIAL LIST:PDP DROPS DEFENCE MINISTER,KAYODE FOR ELEGBELEYE

Ondo State Ministerial list:

PDP drops Defence Minister,Tokunbo Kayode for Elegbeleye

…as Agagu,Olajumoke,Jimoh Ibrahim,Oke,Kuku,Dairo others  made  list

The desperate attempt and counter move by the embattled Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), to retain his position in the next dispensation suffered a big blow as the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dropped his name among the list of 10 members of the party presented with a less popular member Hon Oto Gbenga Elegbeleye.

The ministers name was conspicuously missing  among the 10 names of the  ministerial nominees expected to work with President Goodluck Jonathan  forwarded on Friday by the state chapter of the PDP to the elders’ meeting held in Lagos.

Top on the list of the nominees according to a PDP source, are: former state governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, Senator Bode Olajumoke the serving senator of Ondo Senatorial District, the publisher of the National Mirror and a business magnate, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Engineer (Mrs.) Febi Adeyemi and former state deputy governor, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru.

Others are PDP national legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, the Special Adviser to the Presidency on Niger Delta Affairs, Honourable Kingsley Kuku, the party woman leader, Lady Folake Akinjoko, state party chairman, Dr. Omotayo Dairo, and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who currently represents Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and house committee vice Chairman on Sport."

 It would be recalled that the minister, Prince Kayode have for some weeks been swimming in the mucky political water over an alleged anti party activities that led to his suspension.

The state chapter of the PDP had earlier announced the suspension of the minister following what it described as his anti-party activities.

At the meeting, some leaders of the party from the state accused Prince Kayode of working against the success of the party in the last elections.

It would be recalled that the PDP acting chairman had directed all the state chapters of the party to submit 10 names of their members who will work with President Goodluck Jonathan in various capacities in the cabinet to be inaugurated soon.

As Prince Kayodes,the defence minister’s name was not on "the list of those who will be appointed to top political positions from Ondo State."

The state publicity secretary, Chief Adeyemi Adedipe, said the party leaders’ meeting was held in Lagos, but refused to make further comments.

While reacting on the suspension of the minister, Adedipe said the suspension was irreversible. His words: ‘The minister remains suspended. He has been suspended by the party state working committee (SWC) for alleged anti-party activities. His case has been forwarded to the national secretariat for further investigation." 　

Agagu drags Kunlere to Court over senatorial poll

Senatorial race:

Agagu drags Kunlere to Tribunal

...Akinyugha,Rawa,Agboola,challenge LP victory    

Former Governor of Ondo State,Dr. Olusegun Agagu,who is also the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Senatorial flagbearer has dragged the Ondo South Senatorial  winner of the election on the platform of Labour Party[LP],Barrister Boluwaji Kunlere,before the State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at Akure.

When Sunshine Voice correspondent visited the tribunal venue within the state High Court premises on Wednesday,discovered that Agagu, who contested on the platform of the PDP,filed his petition on April 29.

The ikale born politician,Agagu in his petition alleged gross irregularities in the conduct of the poll maintaining that there was a large scale violence and snatching of ballot boxes on the day of the National Assemby elections.

The tribunal has fixed October 27 this year as the possible date of delivering judgment on the case.

Also, the current PDP member, representing Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Chief Agboola Ajayi, has challenged the declaration of LPs candidate, Chief Raphael Nomiye, as the winner of the election in his constituency.

Ajayi, who also filed his petition on April 29, is also expected to receive the tribunals verdict on October 27.

In the same vein, the Action Congress of Nigeria[ACN]candidate,Mr Rawa Felix  has also challenged the victory of Nomiye as winner of the Ilaje/Ese Odo federal constituency election.

The candidate of ACN in the election, Mr. Rawa Felix, argued that the poll was allegedly manipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission[INEC] in favour of the LP.


The PDPs candidate in the Idanre/Ifedore Federal constituency, Mr. Akinyugha Jones, has also filed a petition to contest the victory of Mr. Bakare Moshood Abiodun of the LP.

The tribunal is expected to deliver judgment on all the petitions on October 27, 2011.

FALAN CHALLENGE JONATHAN OVER POST ELECTION PANEL

FALANA CHALLENGE  JONATHAN OVER POST ELECTION PANEL

When the Federal Government recently announced its plan to institute a commission of inquiry to investigate the post election violence, which occurred in some states in the northern part of the Country, I challenged the legal competence of the proposed panel.

In the circumstance, I urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the diligent prosecution of all the suspects who had been arrested by the Police and other security agencies for their alleged involvement in the civil disturbances.

My position was anchored on the case of CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI V. GENERAL IBRAHIM BABAGINDA (RTD) (2003) 12 WRN 1 where the Supreme Court set aside the summons issued and served on General Babaginda and two ex security Chiefs by the Oputa Panel of inquiry on the ground that the tribunal of Inquiry Act could not operate outside the Federal Capital Territory. The apex court held ex abundant cautela that:

“ It worthy of note that the 1999 constitution has made no provision for tribunals of inquiry as was very clear in item 39 of the exclusive legislative list and item 25 of the concurrent list in the 1963 Constitution…. the power to make a law under the Constitution for the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry is now a residual power which only the states can exercise”.

Having realized that witnesses cannot be summoned to give evidence before the panel, the Federal Government has directed commissioners of police and other security personnel to comply with the summons issued by the panel.
Since the President lacks the vires to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate civil disturbances which occur outside the Federal Capital Territory, the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Panel should be dissolved forthwith as it is incompetent to probe the post election violence which occurred in Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Niger, Taraba etc.

However the Panel may be given a fresh mandate to assist the Federal Government to determine the quantum of compensation payable to those who lost their assets and the bereaved families of those whom were brutally murdered. The President may also wish to direct the Attorney General of the Federation to liaise with the respective state attorneys –general with a view to ensuring that all suspects are prosecuted without any further delay.
FEMI FALANA

Lagos ACN Legislators meet Tinubu,rule out Defection to PDP

Lagos ACN Legislators Meet Tinubu, Rule Out Defection To PDP

HON. ABIKE DABIRI (2ND LEFT) WITH HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-ELECT. FROM LEFT: GANIYU OLATUNDE HAMZAT, ADEBIMPE AKINSOLA AND DAYO BUSH-ALEBIOSU, WITH THEIR CERTIFICATES OF RETURN RECEIVED FROM INEC IN LAGOS TODAY, MAY 09, 2011.

LAGOS, May 09, (THEWILL) - Shortly after they collected their Certificate of Return from the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yaba, Lagos, members of the House of Representatives met with the party's National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The meeting was said to have been arranged following a report that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lawmakers in the lower legislative chamber plan to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a condition to get the position of Deputy Speaker.

Though information on the discussions at the meeting with Tinubu was sketchy at press time, THEWILL gathered that the former Lagos State governor summoned the lawmakers to brief them on the plan of the ruling PDP to break into its rank at the National Assembly.

In their reaction to the report, the lawmakers debunked the report published in a national daily.

Speaking with THEWILL, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat (Mushin II) simply ruled out the likelihood of ACN lawmakers defecting to the PDP, stating that the idea was unprogressive to the philosophies of the country’s main opposition party.

He said, "It cannot be true. I have not been consulted about it. I have not been contacted. The idea is at variance with the tenets and ground norms of the Action Congress of Nigeria. We cannot entertain it. By the grace of God, all my colleagues in the opposite wing will not defect to the PDP."

Also, Minority Leader of the Lower Chamber, Hon. Hakeem Gbajabiamila, said there was no such thing in the pipeline, thus wondering where the report emanated from, while he expressed the strong will of ACN lawmakers to play the role of the opposition party.

He added that if there “is a move like that being initiated by the ruling party, it is already a wasted effort. The ACN lawmakers are not under pressure to dump the party. It is unrealistic and false because our programmes and philosophies are different absolutely from that of the ruling party.”

In his reaction, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency I also said the report was speculative. He said the ACN lawmakers are positioning themselves to make meaningful input into the legislative process.

Akinderu-Fatai added that the new Electoral Act as amended did not give room for haphazard defection as contained in the report.