I’ll conduct council poll early next year –Ajimobi

OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has

promised for the first time in the last four years to

conduct local government elections in the state early

next year.

He made the promise in Ibadan yesterday in a chat

with journalists after he delivered a lecture entitled:

Challenges of Good Governance in an Emerging

Democratic Setting: The Nigerian Perspective, which

kick-started the 67th convocation of the University of

Ibadan.

The opposition political parties in the state had on

several occasions lashed Ajimobi for his refusal to

conduct council election throughout his first term in

office from 2011 to 2015. The opposition had said that

Ajimobi was afraid that the ruling All Progressives

Congress (APC) might not win several of the 33 local

government areas of the state, thereby creating

serious problems for his bid for second term in office.

Ajimobi, who stated that the council election was

delayed for him to see the outcome of the 2015 gov­

ernorship poll in the state, assured that there would be

no further impediments to the conduct of the election,

“ and now that we have seen it (outcome of the 2015

general elections), I can assure you that in the next

couple of weeks, something will be done.

“I wanted to avoid Christmas gift. I was thinking that

in December, we would start gathering our local

government chairmen. But I can tell you that

immediately after then, there would be election.

“We believe most sincerely in the local government

and we are going to conduct chairmanship election

into it soon.”

Ajimobi, however, stated that caretaker committees

would be put in place for the 33 local government

areas of the state any moment from now.

But the governor also dismissed the insinuation that

his administration refused to conduct the poll because

he was afraid of failure.

He explained that the outcome of this year’s general

elections showed that the generality of the state still

prefer APC to other parties in the state.

“We are not afraid of the opposition taking over. We

won the election. So, how can the opposition take

over? If you look at the result, where will they take

over? If you take the whole of Ibadan and less city

election, we won. When you go to Oke Ogun, we won;

when you go to Ibarapa, we won; when you go to Oyo,

we won. Ogbomoso is the only place where we did

not win, but we came second. So, where will they take

over? It is not possible”, he stressed.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF OYO STUDENTS ON FOSSU NATIONAL

A clarion call to all progressive senators and comrades in Oyo State.

Federation of Oyo State student Union is an indigenous Union that comprises of member from the five geopolitical zones in Oyo State(namely Ibadan, Ibarapa,Ogbomosho, oke-ogun and Oyo).

The Union is saddled with the responsibility of protecting and promoting the interest of students and similarly to provide platform to such teeming youth for them to add their own quota to the progress of the Nation but in the case of this 2014/2015 administration, reverse is the case.

Let me quickly call our attention back to October 2013 when olanshile Ahmad (the then fossu national president after spending 3years instead of 1 year in office) was called upon for dissolution and accountability, he arranged people to boycott the senate sitting because of his personal interest many of us were(among who were the present leadership of fossu national) clamoring, shouting and petitioning against him before the dissolution takes place Nov 7th of that year.

I could vividly recall that the present administration of federation of Oyo State student Union was elected 12th of July 2014 and it's now over a year which is their constitution tenure in office and they are not ready to dissolve their administration even when their tenure remain so adamant and unprogressive to the interest of the students.

I want to use this medium to comradically seek the indulgence of my fellow senators, stakeholders and the entire good people of fossu to please rise and fight this brouhaha and breach of the powers of constitution caused by the Com. Damola led administration because it is tantamount to Abuse of office and rape of power. I believe everybody should maintain his stands now and protect his territory. As for me and the entire member of my geopolitical zone, we stand to declare 2014/2015 FOSSU NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION led by comrade DAMOLA of POLYIBADAN from IBARAPA ZONE  Terminated.

NB: Anybody who claim and parade him/herself to be fossu national executive in Oyo town should be duly arrested by the security agent in the zone.

Yours in struggle................!!! 

Aluta Continual...................!!!

Signed

ADEBAYO ABDULAHI ABDEK

NAOS NATIONAL PRESIDENT

08101599094.

Management and Staff of Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Pay Solidarity Visit to Alaafin.

In a show of appreciation and solidarity to Honourable

Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi on the novel motion moved on

the floor of the House for the upgrade of Federal College

of Education (Special), Oyo, to the status of a university,

The Management and Staff of the College have paid visit

to Kabiyesi, Iku Baba Yeye, Alaafin of Oyo, in his palace.

The Provost, Professor Olayiwola Usman, while

commending Oba Adeyemi for his support in ensuring

that an indigene of Oyo emerged the Provost of the

College, said, SPED, in last thirty seven (37) years of its

establishment, had never had an indigene of the Town

as its provost.

Professor Olayiwola also praised Honourable Akeem for

quality representation at the Green Chamber of the

National Assembly, and promised to render all the

needed support in ensuring this lofty goal was achieved.

Kabiyesi, while reacting to the provost's speech, said

Honourable Adeyemi had uncommon enthusiasm and

passion for the development of Oyo Federal

Constituency. He urged The Management to team up

with Prince Adeyemi in his quest to uplift the

educational standard of Oyo Federal Constituency and

Nigeria as a whole.

The Alaafin further stated ; " if the College is upgraded

to the status of a university, Nigeria will become the hub

of Special Education in Africa ".

Dr Opoola, who was a member of the visiting team,

thanked the Alaafin for his royal advice, and also

showered encomiums on Honourable Akeem Adeniyi

Adeyemi.

Dr (Mrs) Abimbola prayed for The Alaafin, Prince Akeem,

The Management of SPED and the good people of Oyo

Federal Constituency.

How Radio Nigeria DG, Salihu, diverted public money to own account

The Director General of the

Federal Radio Corporation of

Nigeria, Ladan Salihu, diverted

public funds into his private

accounts during his stint as head

of the radio’s Kaduna office,

PREMIUM TIMES can report

today.

This paper had reported on a

range of corruption allegations

and indictments against Mr.

Salihu, and how former President

Goodluck Jonathan ignored those

red flags to appoint him the DG of

the state radio.

PREMIUM TIMES has obtained

evidence showing Mr. Salihu

engaged in other acts of brazen

theft and corruption.

This newspaper has obtained

copies of bank deposit slips,

which show how a man named

Aminu Gombi paid N800, 000 each

for sponsorship of programmes

aired on Radio Nigeria into Mr.

Salihu’s personal account with

Union Bank and that of his

company, Lead Point Nigeria Ltd,

with Diamond Bank within one

week.

The payment into Mr. Salihu’s

personal account: 3711030036777

with Union Bank, Waff Road,

Kaduna branch, was effected on

May 28, 2007 through deposit slip

number: 0818052.

For Mr. Salihu’s company account

0132010000320 with Diamond

Bank, Mr. Gombi did the

transaction on May 22, 2007

through deposit slip number

1093690.

On the address space of the

deposit slip, Mr. Gombi wrote “c/

o Newsroom Companion FM. 1045

Katsina”.

According to current and former

officials of the FRCN, the two

deposits diverted by Mr. Salihu

were funds meant for the

coverage of the swearing-in of the

former Governor of Katsina State,

Ibrahim Shema, and the

installation ceremony of Emir of

Daura, Abdulmumini Usman.

Interestingly, Mr. Gombi wrote

different sets of names on the two

deposit slips. For Union Bank, he

wrote “Aminu A. Gombi”, while

for Diamond Bank transaction, he

wrote “Muhammed Aminu A.

Gombi”.

Sources familiar with the

controversial transaction alleged

that one million naira was meant

for each of the programmes but

Mr. Gombi was compensated with

N200, 000 on each of the transactions.

Contacted, Mr. Gombi confirmed he was a

staff of FRCN.

He however denied comment on the

allegations. “Excuse me, excuse me, I am not

in the mood to talk now. You don’t know

what I am going through now,” he said.

He also did not reply a text message sent to

him.

PREMIUM TIMES’ previous report showed

how Mr. Salihu engaged in forgery of receipts,

diversion of public funds, unauthorised sale

of government property, among others, when

he was heading the Kaduna station of the

Radio Nigeria.

The FRCN boss denied the allegation in a letter

sent by his lawyer to PREMIUM TIMES after

the first story was published. He threatened to

sue this paper.

In surprise move, Saraki personally submits names of ministers to Buhari

In an unusual step, the Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday personally
delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari, a
list of nominees cleared by the Senate for
appointment as ministers, breaking with past
protocol that required presidential aides to
transmit the letter.
In the past, the special advisers to the
president on National Assembly submitted
names of nominees to the Senate, and back to
the president.
Mr. Buhari was first to ignore that procedure
this time, choosing to send his list through his
Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, than his senior
special assistant on Senate, Ita Enang.
On Tuesday, after weeks of ministerial
screening, Mr. Saraki submitted the list to Mr.
Buhari at the presidential villa.
The two men later shook hands and posed for
photographs.
Mr. Buhari and the Senate president had not
enjoyed the best of relationships since Mr.
Saraki’s emergence as senate leader, against
his party’s directive.
The Senate president is also currently facing
charges of alleged false declaration of asset
and corruption. He dismissed the charges as
politically motivated.
Fielding questions from journalists after a
closed-door meeting with the president, Mr.
Saraki said the quality of ministerial nominees
submitted by the president, made it easy for
the Senate to screen and confirm them.
“You noticed that in some cases we delayed
the number of one or two, it is all part of
politics, of behind the scene, but at the end of
the day we finished with them, that is all
about give and take and eventually I am
happy with what the senators have done,” he
said.
He said the stage was set for the new
government to kick off.
On concerns that some ministers may not be
given portfolios, the Senate president said that
was nothing new, as some could be ministers
of states.
The important thing, he said, was being in the
cabinet and being part of the government.
He noted that the country had more pressing
issues like declining revenues, the challenges
of trying to boost revenue and create jobs.
On why he personally delivered the list to the
president, Mr. Saraki said he had other issues
to discuss with Mr. Buhari.
He denied that the issue of his trial at the
Code of Conduct Tribunal came up.
Receiving the list, Mr, Buhari reaffirmed his
determination to block leakages and cut
spending in the face of financial crisis. He
said not all the 36 ministers would head
ministries.
According to him, the Constitution said there
must be one member of the cabinet from all
the states but did not say he must have 36
ministries.
Referring to criticisms that trailed his recent
statements while in India on the true state of
the Nigerian economy, he said though accused
of giving bad publicity and scaring away
investors from the country, investors knew
better.
“Any investor who is interested in investing in
Nigeria will seem to know more about the
economy more than ourselves. So when I
come and tell the truth about the position of
the economy of the country, I am going out
looking for investors,” he said.
“But I am confirming to them that we are
truthful, that we need them to come and help
us help ourselves by getting in industries,
manufacturing and services.
“They know our needs. The economy of
human resources, I believe will make them
eventually come and help us,” he said.

Reporter:
Talatu usman

Gbajabiamila writes Dogara, accuses him of undermining principal officers

MAJORITY Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr.
Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu
Dogara, never consulted him before he appointed 96
chairmen and deputies of standing committees of the
House.
Though Gbajabiamila said it was the prerogative of the
speaker to appoint any member of the House to head its
committees, the majority leader nonetheless argued that
under the rules of the House, Dogara was required to
consult all principal officers while appointing committee
chairmen.
Gbajabiamila alleged, in an October 20 letter he wrote to
Dogara, just two days to October 22 when the speaker
named the committee heads, that his (Majority Leader’s)
office had not been accorded due recognition by the
speaker in the running of House affairs.
He specifically quoted Order 7 Rule 10, paragraph (a) of the
House rules, which states that the speaker “shall in
consultation with principal officers, appoint the chairmen
and deputy chairmen from among the members on the
committee.”
He also noted that as both House Leader and Majority
Leader, the rules provided that he should “liaise with
committee chairmen and other functionaries of the House”
for the smooth running of the legislature.
The letter, which was made available to our correspondent
in Abuja on Tuesday, confirmed an exclusive report by The
PUNCH last week that there was a cold war between Dogara
and Gbajabiamila over appointments into the committees.
However, the leadership of the House reacted by saying
that “Gbajabiamila was totally consulted” before Dogara
picked the chairmen.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs,
Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, who gave the side of the
leadership, explained that there was a difference between
consultation and the power of appointment.
Namdas said, “The leader was totally consulted in keeping
with our rules.
“But, we must not mix consultation with the power of
appointment. The same rules vest the power to appoint
chairmen and deputies wholly in the hands of the speaker.
“The speaker does not need to tell him after consultation
whom to appoint as a chairman or deputy chairman.
“In that case, the speaker did not in any way undermine his
office, because he consulted him totally.
“The speaker holds every member of the House in high
esteem, how much less the leader of the House.”
A copy of a letter from the speaker’s office to all principal
officers, dated October 21, 2015, indicated that they
(including Gbajabiamila) were all invited to a meeting with
Dogara on October 22 for consultation on committee
appointments.
The Gbajabiamila allegation came as Dogara held an
inaugural meeting with the chairmen and their deputies at
the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The majority of the chairmen and their deputies attended
the meeting, where Dogara and the committee leaders were
said to have discussed the modalities for the official
inauguration of the committees next week.
However, Mr. Garba Dhatti-Muhammad and Mr. Sunday
Adepoju, who had resigned as Chairman, Committee on
Solid Minerals Development, and Deputy Chairman,
Committee on Special Duties respectively, did not attend the
meeting.
But, findings by our correspondent indicated that the
meeting was reportedly called to douse tension and halt
further threats by some chairmen to turn in their
resignation.
A source told our correspondent that Dogara at the meeting
advised the chairmen to see their appointment as a call to
national service.
‘‘He seized the opportunity to say that people would always
raise issues on committee composition, no matter who was
appointed.
“The chairmen, in appreciation of his speech, later gave the
speaker a standing ovation,” the source added.
There has been uneasiness in the House since October 22
when Dogara named the committees with one out of 96
chairmen rejecting his appointment and one deputy
chairman declining.
The two are members of the majority All Progressives
Congress, same as Dogara and Gbajabiamila.
Another deputy chairman, Mr. Hassan Saleh, of the Peoples
Democratic Party, also allegedly wrote to say he did not
want to be a deputy chairman.
Much of the complaints have come from APC lawmakers,
who are alleging that the party had not been fairly treated
by Dogara in the sharing of committee seats.
Out of the 96 committee seats, 48 chairmanship positions
went to the APC, while PDP got 45 slots.
Included in the PDP’s share are prime committees like
Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Committee
on Petroleum Resources (Downstream); Committee on Gas
Resources; Committee on Aviation; Committee on Power;
Committee on Works; Committee on NDDC; Committee on
Niger Delta; and Committee on Air Force.
Among the APC’s committees are Committee on
Appropriations; Committee on Finance; Committee on
Customs/Excise; Committee Defence; Committee on
Communications; and Committee on Agricultural Services.
But, some APC members felt that Dogara should have given
the committees on petroleum resources, gas resources,
power, works and aviation, among others, to the majority
party as well.
They observed that the difference between 48 and 45 was
three, meaning that the ruling party and the opposition
almost tied on the number of committees they got from the
speaker.
Ironically, some PDP members who got committee
appointments have also been grumbling that the speaker
should have given them bigger committees than they were
assigned on account of the “massive” support they gave
him to become the speaker.
As of Tuesday, no additional resignation has been recorded.