Secret deal for 2019: Atiku, Mimiko plot new party, joint ticket

Apparently dissatisfied with the suppressed musings in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the perennial crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), key figures in both parties are mulling what a source called ‘a strong third force’.
If ongoing secret consultations are fruitful, the third force is a new political party ahead of the 2019 presidential election that would witness the pairing of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the incumbent governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, as presidential candidate and running mate respectively, Sunday Telegraph gathered. Curiously, while Atiku, with eyes glued to the presidency, belongs to the APC, the Ondo State governor is of the PDP and indeed, a key figure in the resolution of the crisis in the opposition party.
Mimiko’s tenure will lapse in February 2017. According to a highly placed source, the new party will emerge in the last quarter of 2017, even as a positive outcome (for the PDP) of the November 2016 governorship election in Ondo State is the likely template for the permutation.
The SDP, Falae/Afenifere link
As part of the plan, a meeting between the former vice president and former presidential candidate and national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, might hold in a couple of weeks, barring the unforeseen.
The source said the SDP is one of the options being stratified by the duo of Atiku and Mimiko, if the idea of a fresh political party appears cumbersome. Falae, an Afenifere chieftain from Ondo State and political benefactor of the governor, is expected to mobilize the pan Yoruba organisation across the South-West as a ‘counter force to the existing power equation in the region’.
The source said, ‘’Like a nation in want of leadership, proper leadership and a new dawn will soon face the country because what Nigerians are getting is not what they bargained for. The change mantra appears to be fading and some persons are beginning to think otherwise.
‘’As it was in the run up to the last presidential election, whereby hitherto antagonistic persons came together for a common cause and installed the current government, we are looking at the possibility of mobilizing all and sundry to rescue the nation from nepotisim.
‘’From all indications, the current leadership has failed the nation and if you read what a North West leader said in an interview today (yesterday), you need no one to tell you that we require a drastic political direction.
‘’In the process, anything can happen, including the registration of a new political party or reviving an existing one because in all the major parties, that is PDP and APC, there are problems.
‘’So we are going to reach out to our major political bloc, the Afenifere, as well as some of the Third Republic SDP governors who are now sidelined in the two parties.” Asked about the possibility of a new party flourishing in the South West, when the current vice president hails from there, the source said it was immaterial.
‘’That is immaterial. As far as some of us are concerned, whether he is VP or not, Osinbajo does not have the political sagacity of the Ondo State governor. I ask, can a Buhari or whoever and Osinbajo APC ticket beat an Atiku/ Mimiko ticket?
‘’They can longer deceive our people because the truth has come out. They shouted restructuring before election and abandoned it after their victory. Are these people trustworthy? Definitely, a counter force to the existing power equation in the region is about to be reinvigorated’’, the source said.
..Any role for Kuku as Ondo guber race test-runs plot ?
Sunday Telegraph gathered that as a possible inroad and sustenability in the South West, the former vice president was partly instrumental to the choice of the immediate past Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, as Governor Mimiko’s preferred candidate of the PDP for the November governorship election. Atiku and Jegede are friends, the latter having resided in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, for almost two decades and has been a personal friend and counsel to the former vice president.
The opposition from a section of the party’s leadership notwithstanding, Jegede looks good to emerge as the PDP candidate and he’s reportedly groomed to prepare grounds for the new party if he becomes governor.
Mimiko is said to have also successfully planted his loyalist, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, as South West chairman of the PDP even as he has opened discussions with self-exiled former presidential aide, Kingsley Kuku. Governor Mimiko, it was gathered, has sent a delegation of state government officials to Kuku in the United States of America, where he is currently based, to firm up details of the governor’s overtures.
Details ares still sketchy as at the time of this report, but it was gathered that Kuku has reportedly insisted that he should be picked as Jegede’s governorship running mate to have his support.
Sunday Telegraph learnt that in the ensuing permutation, Kuku, of the Ijaw extraction, has promised to leverage on his links with his kinsmen, the largest ethnic group in the South South cutting across Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa- Ibom, to mobilize for the envisioned party and make an Inroad into the troubled Niger Delta.
Kuku had declared his intention to be governor before fleeing the country, following manhunt for him my the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial impropriety as head of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Atiku has maintained, on many occasions, that he remains a committed member of the APC, but reports have been rife since the beginning of the year that the former vice president has severally complained of being sidelined in the affairs of the party.
His subtle but controlled criticism of the present government has been noticed in the last few months just as he has secretly embarked on a nationwide consultation with his political associates with a view to redirecting his political future.
It will be recalled that Atiku drew the ire of the Presidency and leadership of APC as, aside decrying lack of focused leadership, he openly canvassed for the restructuring of the country, an idea President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, have discredited.
Although it could not be independently confirmed, Atiku was reportedly summoned and cautioned by the national leadership of the APC for his various utterances in the media.
He was said to have equally protested against the return of the erstwhile chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the APC.
Atiku and Ribadu, both from Adamawa State, have had several running battles.
While Ribadu held sway at the EFCC under former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku was dislodged from the then ruling party, the PDP, in the run up to the 2007 presidential election.
Reports have it that the former anti corruption czar, an elder brother of the president’s wife, Aisha Buhari, was encouraged to join the party by the First Lady and former president, Obasanjo, who is yet to mend fences with his estranged former deputy for over 10 years now.

How minister revoked 245 NITDA recruitment

By Abdul-Rahman Abubakar

The Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu

The Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has revoked the recruitment of 245 graduates as senior staff of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) which was conducted in 2015 after his own state got only one slot, investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday has revealed.
Spokesperson of the Agency, Hajiya Hadiza Umar said the exercise was stopped by the Minister because the former Director General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack neglected due process in conducting the recruitment exercise.

Hadiza Umar told our reporter through telephone interview that “the employment process did not follow due process because employment letters were issued to the applicants even before the Federal Character Commission (FCC) granted waiver to the Agency to conduct the recruitment without advertising the available vacancies as required by law.”
She said the Minister stopped the recruitment process after realising that it did not follow laid down procedure and that “most of those employed don’t have the requisite skills to adequately bridge the manpower gap at the agency.”
But one of the successful applicants, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said “the minister rejected the list because his state was not properly represented on the list of successful applicants. He has brought additional names that he wants added to the list that is the cause of the delay in posting the applicants.”
He said appointment letters were issued to the ‘successful applicants’ adding that “we have even done documentation and submitted details for our ID cards when the process was suspended. We were only waiting to be posted.”
The list of the successful applicants containing names of 245 graduates, including first degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders was approved by the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in a letter to NITDA dated 30th December, 2016.
FCC had in the letter obtained by our reporter conveyed its approval for the recruitment exercise and issuance of letters of appointment to successful applicants. “Having substantially complied with the provisions of our circular letter, I am to inform you that the Acting Chairman has acceded to your request.
“Consequently, I am to convey approval of a certificate of compliance in your favour as authority to issue letters of appointment to two hundred and forty five (245) successful candidates as contained in the list herewith attached,” the Federal Character Commission said in the letter signed by D. O. Fakeye, Director, Monitoring and Enforcement.
The commission also directed NITDA to issue letters of appointment to the 245 successful applicants “within three (3) months from the date of issuance of the Certificate (of Compliance), otherwise, it shall become lapse and shall require revalidation.”
However, seven months after the issuance of Certificate of Compliance by the FCC and completion of the recruitment process, NITDA is yet to absorb the 245 successful applicants.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the minister’s state of origin, Oyo State, had the name, Agbaje Adewale Ifedapo as the only successful applicant that hails from the state.
Documents obtained by our reporter indicate that an additional list of 20 applicants was added as attachment for approval contrary to the provision of the Federal Character Commission directive stamped on the list of the successful candidates that “any alteration to this list without the prior consent of the Commission (FCC) renders it invalid and will attract appropriate penalties.”
A further look at the additional list revealed inconsistency’ as some of the names were repeated on both the list of successful applicants released by NITDA and the additional list allegedly drafted by the minister. For instance, Abioye Jimoh A.; who is captured on the list of successful candidates as a holder of B.Sc Data Analysis from Ogun state, was repeated on the additional list as holder of Master of Arts (MA) in Peace and Development Studies. Such discrepancy affects about 11 of the applicants, whose names are on both lists.
It was also found that the recruitment process was not advertised as NITDA requested for waiver from the FCC to make the recruitment exercise secret. NITDA in a letter dated November 6, 2015 to the FCC said “The Agency is presently growing its network of Zonal, States and LGA offices and has shortage of skilled professional manpower. We therefore wish to request for a waiver of advertisement to enable the Agency recruit 250 skilled staff in the senior and junior categories.
“We already have a pool of curriculum vitae from the previous recruitment exercises and the available vacancies will not be commensurate with the number of expected responses if advertised. We are also constrained for time as the exercises needs to be concluded within the shortest possible period.”
The request for waiver was approved by the FCC through a letter dated 14th December, 2015. The Commission said “based on the explanations offered by you (NITDA), the Commission has granted your request for waiver of advertisement only.”
Spokesperson of NITDA, Hajia Hadiza said the entire recruitment exercise had been cancelled and that the agency was in the process of conducting a fresh exercise. According to her, “employment letters were issued to the applicants even before the waiver by FCC. The former DG did not even ask Heads of Departments to present Skill Gap Analysis before the exercise was conducted.
“We were just at the agency when we saw large number of people saying that they have been employed. They did not apply, they were only asked to send CVs. We were here, we did not know, we just saw new staff.”
She said the agency does not even have the capacity to appoint 245 staff saying “we presently have about 150 staff. The agency does not even have the financial capacity to employ 245 additional staff. Our total personnel cost is about N1.5 billion annually.”
Hajia Hadiza said the 245 applicants can reapply during the next round of recruitment exercise and “they will be considered if they fit into the positions that they are applying. Heads of Departments are presently conducting Skill Gap Analysis to determine vacancies in each department.” She also said there won’t be special consideration for such applicants.
She further stated that the next recruitment is to improve manpower at the Office of Nigeria Content (ONC) and the Office of IT and Entrepreneurship Innovation which are both under the Agency. “The number of vacancies will not even be more than ten (10)”, she said.
Hadiza Umar debunked the claim that the Minister stopped the process over personal interest, saying “it is not true; the minister did not cancel the process because he wanted some applicants to get the jobs. Let me tell you there were internal complaints from staff that have not been promoted since they were employed and suddenly 245 new staff were issued letters to come as their seniors. That was the beginning of the problem, it all started from internal complaints and there were also no spaces for the new employees.”
Efforts to get the minister’s reaction did not yield result as calls put to the phone of his media assistant were not answered and he did not respond to the text message sent to his mobile phone.
But the minister had earlier told Daily Trust on Sunday that the staff were only employed through the back door by a former NITDA Director General, Mr. Peter Jack.
Shittu said government cancelled their appointments because it was hurriedly done by the immediate past NITDA DG when he went ahead with the recruitment despite directive to the contrary.
Documents obtained by Daily Trust on Sunday however showed that the recruitment exercise was approved by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry. In response to a memo signed by Mr. Jack dated November 6, 2015, the Permanent Secretary gave a ‘no objection’ to the recruitment exercise.

Number of successful candidates according to states
1.    Abia State    4
2.    Adamawa State     9
3.    Akwa Ibom State    8
4.    Anambra State    10
5.    Bauchi State    6
6.    Bayelsa State    4
7.    Benue State    8
8.    Borno State    5
9.    Cross River State    17
10.    Delta State    16
11.    Ebonyi State    7
12.    Edo State    10
13.    Ekiti State    3
14.    Enugu State    10
15.    FCT    7
16.    Gombe State    8
17.    Imo State    7
18.    Jigawa State    8
19.    Kaduna State    9
20.    Kano State    9
21.    Katsina State    7
22.    Kebbi State    2
23.    Kogi State    9
24.    Kwara State    6
25.    Lagos State    3
26.    Nasarawa    5
27.    Niger State    5
28.    Ogun State    5
29.    Ondo State    4
30.    Osun State    5
31.    Oyo State    1
32.    Plateau State    8
33.    Rivers State    6
34.    Sokoto State    2
35.    Taraba State    3
36.    Yobe State    4
37.    Zamfara State     1

CPC Inaugurates Hassan Lawal –led Merger Committee

FOR RECORD PURPOSE.

The National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has commissioned a 33-member committee to plan the Party’s convention that is expected to endorse the Merger with the other progressive Parties.
A statement on Wednesday by Rotimi Fashakin (Engr.) national publicity secretary, CPC said  the Committee is headed by Dr. Hassan Muhammadu Lawal, CON with other notable members including  Senators Sani Saleh, Abubakar Sadiq Yar’adua, Hadi Sirika, Solomon Ewuga, Saleh Damboyio, Ibrahim Musa and Abu Ibrahim.

Others are Hon Abdullahi Idris Garba, Hon Garba Datti, Gen India Garba (Rtd), Chief Alex Hart, Mr Eddy Ogunbor, Barr Sharon Ikeazor, Chief Jerry Johnson, Otunba Basirat Noibi, Mr Chris Hassan, Dr Louis Ogbuefi, Alh Munir Yakubu, Alh Suleiman Hassan, Owelle Oscar Udoji, Dr
Idika Ochaa, Dr Marliyya Zayyan.

Also On NewsdiaryOnline  Experts: Persistent Wireless Signal Interference in Nigeria Linked to Poor Regulation

These eminent Nigerians are expected to come up, in less than a week, with the expected day of the National Convention and assiduously plan and implement the convention Project for the Party.

Samuel Ogundipe

Related News

Ex-Appropriation chair, Jibrin, releases more documents exposing lawmakers' "massive budget fraud"July 26, 2016

Budget Padding Scandal: Pictures of Dogara's guest house emergeJuly 31, 2016

Documents expose Nigerian lawmakers' massive budget fraudJuly 25, 2016

Budget Padding Scandal: Pressure mounts on Speaker Dogara to step downJuly 31, 2016

Budget padding: Dogara, Jibrin, bicker over alleged $20,000 bribe to lawmakersJuly 30, 2016

A former chairman of House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has released more documents about the unfolding budget padding scandal in the House.
Mr. Jibrin said the documents confirmed his claims that some lawmakers manipulated line items in the 2016 Appropriation Bill.
Mr. Jibrin became a whistleblower following his controversial removal as chair of the crucial committee.
In one of the documents, Chris Azubago, Appropriation Committee’s deputy chairman, allegedly canvassed up to N109 million worth of ‘constituency’ projects for his Nnewi North Federal Constituency in Anambra State.
A list of several other lawmakers and how they allegedly sponsored projects scattered across several ministries, departments and agencies were also captured by the leaked documents.
The House has remained under fire from Mr. Jibrin since July 21, a day after he was removed as chair of the committee.
Speaker Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader, Leo Orgor, have remained Mr. Jibrin’s main target in his campaign, which has so far triggered separate investigations from law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Azubago told PREMIUM TIMES he had not done anything “untoward in allocating projects to my constituency,” saying Mr. Jibrin also “allocated more than N4 billion to his own constituency.”

The documents are published in full below:

Dogara in trouble as Jibrin submits petition to EFCC

 by pmnews   · 

Jibrin at the headquarters of the EFCC this afternoon to deliver his petition against Speaker Dogara and others

• 
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Jibrin at the headquarters of the EFCC this afternoon to deliver his petition against Speaker Dogara and others

Former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Monday, made true his threat to submit a petition against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three principal officers of the House to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.Jibrin was sighted at the Yellow House headquarters of the EFCC this afternoon in Abuja to formally deliver his petition against his colleagues for allegedly padding the 2016 budget with as much as N40b.
The lawmaker had earlier stated on his twitter handle that he would be visiting some anti-graft agencies in a bid to substantiate his allegation of budget padding against the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the House.
Jibrin had recently accused the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, of attempting to pad N40bn into the 2016 budget.
Jibrin said his aim of visiting the various anti-corruption agencies is to ensure that Dogara and the other principal officers are brought to justice.
According to the former Chairman, he will fully cooperate with investigators to enable them understand the depth of budget fraud and abuse of office by the Speaker.
“We will be at the ICPC 10am, DSS 12noon, EFCC 2pm and Police HQ 4pm. The law will surely catch up with the corrupt Speaker Dogara and others.
“My lawyers have confirmed my appointments for today with security and anti corruption agencies to personally provide insight on my petition.”
Jibrin, while giving an insight into his petition, said his case against the Speaker and others include, “corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and public trust, living above means, massive movement of funds in the budget.
“Our petition to the EFCC and ICPC against Speaker Dogara, Lasun, Doguwa, Ogor and eight other members have been dispatched yesterday,” he added.

SGF, Gbajabiamila In N2.8bn Budget Padding Row As Tinubu Works Behind The Scene To Shield His Preotege

SGF, Gbajabiamila In N2.8bn Budget Padding Row As Tinubu Works Behind The Scene To Shield His Preotege

As the padding controversy in the House of Reps continues to deepens, investigation has shown that one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leaders, Bola Tinubu, has been working round the clock to distance his protégé in the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, House Majority Leader, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, from the scandal.

The Whistler learnt that it was no coincidence that since the scandal broke out, the House Leader has not been mentioned by the main accuser, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, but he has accused all other principal officers including Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

A source in the House of Reps, who asked not to be named, said Jibrin has been promised soft landing if Gbajabiamila is left out of his allegation and will be rewarded if the House Leader is able to gain the Speakership once the “tidal wave of the budget padding scandal sweeps the present leadership away,” the source said.

According to the House source, Tinubu has waited for the opportune time to hit back at Dogara for defying the APC’s directive by emerging Speaker over and above his preferred candidate, Gbajabiamila.

“Is it not curious that since this matter broke out, the House leader’s name has not being mentioned once though he was in the thick of the budgeting process?

“It may interest you to know that so many government officials like the SGF will be caught in this budget padding scandal because the House leader was used to incorporate projects on his behalf and others.”

Documents obtained by The Whistler showed that the House Leader was allocated over N2.8 billion constituency projects with most located in Osun state, Surulere federal constituency, Lagos state, and Niger state.

Most of the projects are to be funded from the Office of the SGF. For instance, 13 projects from the House Leader’s office are meant for Osun state costing over N650million with the funds drawn mainly from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Projects to be funded from the SGF’s office include N200million construction of solar streetlight Wards G, G1, G2, G3, E, E1, F, F1, F2 and F3 in Surulere1 Federal constituency of Lagos state.

Other projects domiciled in the House Leader’s office drawing funds from the SGF’s office include; supply of 5Nos Toyota Hiace buses, N50million; 14Nos Kia Rio and 7 Kia Serato cars, N50million; supply of 100Nos of chest freezers, N24million, supply of mobile toilets N40million amongst other supplies. All for Surulere 1 federal constituency.

The House Leader’s office also inserted projects for Kontagora and Wushishi federal constituencies valued at N100million. The projects are for ICT, hairdressing and barbing salon, tailoring/knitting, borehole/surface tanks, generator house for 60kva, security post and perimeter fencing for an undisclosed location, as well as supply of motorcycles.


The Whistler

The Conspiracy to Scandalize Mayowa’s Family: Unveiling the Actors, Linda Ikeji, Aramide Kasumu, and Toyin

My attention was first drawn to Mayowa’s case through the University of Lagos Alumni Association, when her video soliciting for help was shared with us. I was moved to tears seeing Mayowa’s beautiful face before her sickness and what cancer has made of it. That was nothing strange because I once witnessed the impacts of cancer on the physical wellness of a friend. Hearing Mayowa speak of her troubles saw me break down completely. I wept uncontrollably and couldn’t muster enough courage to watch the entire video. I concluded that our own Mayowa needed all the help in this world to make it through and started working my phone to reach out to friends to help connect me with the family. In the process of doing that, I was told of a gofundme fundraiser set up to save our own Mayowa. I joined effort to support the fundraiser, thanks to the University of Lagos Alumni Association.

            Lucky enough, I was able to reach Mayowa’s family through Mr. Bode. I briefed him of our effort and that Akoka will stand up for Mayowa, one of us. Mr. Bode was glad to hear that but said we should wait to hear from the family before making any effort. He got back to me to say that the fundraiser target was reached and that we should support Mayowa with our prayers. That meant a lot to me as it re-assured me I was dealing with a credible family, more so, in NAIJA.

            I updated the University of Lagos Alumni Association, with others confirming that the fundraiser target was met. Everybody was glad. However, I argued that with cancer, you were not done until the treatment was over, and the patient declared fully recovered. Drawing on my experience with a friend who had a tough fight with cancer, I stated that the money raised may not be sufficient for Mayowa. I proposed that the fundraiser be continued, with many buying into that idea. I shared the same view with the family, but they again said NO. I could sense they may not be too pleased with going public to raise fund for Mayowa’s treatment. I gave up pressing further with the family on this issue.

            A highly regarded Professor at the University of Lagos called me a night to inform me that Mayowa may no longer seek treatment in the US and that she may be headed to Dubai. I heard her out and was mandated to engage the family to have a rethink. I reached out to Mr. Bode for update on Mayowa’s health and her traveling plans. I was briefed of the challenges associated with securing expedited US visa appointment. A case was made for Dubai. I expressed my reservations and we had interesting back and forth conversation. The family had a superior argument. I requested for details of the Dubai hospital and was duly briefed. I offered to double-check the quality of the hospital by reaching out to friends who are medical doctors and with my friends who are citizens of Dubai.

            As I was working in the midnight on a paper review, my phone rang. I initially hesitated to pick the call, but decided otherwise after a second thought. It turned out to be a phone call about our own Mayowa. I was happy for answering the call. My caller asked if I have heard that Mayowa’s story was a scam. I laughed it off and said I hoped someone was not trying to play games with Mayowa’s ordeal. I told the caller I was going to make calls to ascertain the facts of the matter.

I took time to reflect through what I heard. I wrote down questions that would inform the basis of my fact check, among which was that, besides Mayowa’s family, who were the main actors, which were involved in fundraiser. I was hoping there was no NGO involved in the fundraiser. I chose to do the unconventional by googling information about the new development. I discovered that the allegation of scam was associated with Linda Ikeji and Toyin Aimakhu. I took time to analyze the allegation that was broken by Linda Ikeji. It took no time for me to discern that it may be that some actors were not having their ways and may be up to a spoiler.

At first, I was startled that Linda Ikeji authoritatively claimed that Mayowa’s family scammed Nigerians. She stated, “this is such a sad thing for me to report this afternoon. Just two days after we were all happy that Nigerians kindly donated to cancer patient, Mayowa Ahmed, for surgery she needed for ovarian cancer, LIB just learnt that Mayowa and her family scammed kind hearted Nigerians”. I asked how did Linda Ikeji reach such an authoritative conclusion. I was curious to know her facts. She presented her facts as follows: “You see, Mayowa is really sick. She truly has Ovarian cancer. She's admitted at LUTH but she didn't need money for surgery, because doctors had told Mayowa she was beyond treatment and no hospital in the world could treat her as she was extremely far gone”.

I was shocked reading Linda Ikeji saying that Mayowa “didn't need money for surgery, because doctors had told Mayowa she was beyond treatment and no hospital in the world could treat her as she was extremely far gone”. One, I was like no doctor will tell Linda Ikeji any information about Mayowa except otherwise directed to do so. Two, I knew that no doctor would stop or forestall the treatment of a patient because their case is far gone as alleged by Linda Ikeji. My take was confirmed by highly regarded medical doctors that I know. Three, I was completely stunned that Linda Ikeji’s allegation of scam was also based on the claim, “Mayowa had reached stage 4 and doctors, unfortunately, already told her family she won't survive it and had advised them to take her home. Her family instead used her situation to raise money from Nigerians”. That LUTH would advise Mayowa’s family that she be taken home because her case was beyond redemption got me thinking that someone was trying to play games with Mayowa’s life and possibly her family’s integrity. Four, mentioning that Toyin Aimakhu was at LUTH with police officers got me thinking something may be acting out.

I was done with Linda Ikeji and Toyin and went about my fact checking mission. I made attempts to speak with Mayowa’s family but was told that I will be duly updated. I spoke with some reliable sources of information, with one emergent pattern being that Linda Ikeji may have been instrumental to Toyin’s possible attempt to blackmail Mayowa’s family. I came across videos posted by Mayowa’s family and also took time to digest their press release. Equipped with how to handle and decipher truth from conflicting information sources, I was hoping to have video engagements involving Mayowa’s family and other stakeholders’ in the fundraiser.  I already had firsthand accounts from LUTH. Here, Readers attention will be drawn to the face-to-face conversation between Mayowa’s family and Toyin Aimakhu, likewise, with other actors in the fundraiser also cited.

There is a 1:45 minutes video whereby Toyin Aimakhu was engaged by a lady who supposedly appeared to be a member of Mayowa’s family. The lady was heard telling Toyin, “chill chill, no matter how much you liked her, if doctors tell you should excuse her…” Toyin responded that “so you are recording me now”. Toyin alleged she was called and that she was later chased away. The lady and a guy replied Toyin, “who chased you”. There, it was obvious Toyin’s antics and games were going to be exposed. Toyin was observed in the video trying to defend herself, with the family saying “hold on, let her talk”. Toyin refused to speak any further to substantiate her claims as she walked away. She was followed by those involved in a heated discussion with her, with a guy requesting that, “Toyin, please give me Linda’s number, give me Linda’s number please, give me Linda’s number, give me Linda’s number”.  It was at this point that Toyin turned back to face the crowd following her.

Toyin was heard saying “this is Linda’s number. It appeared she was responding to the accusation that she was the one who misinformed Linda Ikeji, an accusation she denied. In the video clip, Toyin was seen hitting her chest, shouting out, “me, called Linda, me called Linda”. The same guy in the scene told her to hold on, with the scene suggesting a phone call was going to be made to Linda to expose Toyin that she was the one who misinformed Linda. Toyin was heard saying “there is a press downstairs”. Obviously, that was an indication that she went to LUTH with pressmen. Two things were evident from the video, with one being that Linda Ikeji may have acted on misinformation. Two, it was apparent that Toyin Aimakhu was acting out a script well known to her and further that she may not have been contacted with the family to play a “major role” in the fundraiser.

In another video, Bode, a family member of Mayowa was heard swearing that before God, if the family did not lie, all of those who knew about the news of the scam and Mayowa’s travails, “oh God, set them backward in life”. Bode was apparently aggrieved as other members of his family were seen wearing downtrodden looks.

There is a third video involving Bode and supposedly, a lady with a link to Toyin. The lady (forthwith Lady A) was heard attributing faults to Aramide, implicitly agreeing to Bode’s stand that the family’s name was scandalized. Bode interjected pointing to someone not seen in the video, that “that was the person who caused everything”. Bode said Toyin created the whole scene. Bode also stated that he was called by Toyin with the Lady A declaring that Toyin didn’t know how the misinformation got to Linda.

Bode and others shouted down Lady A, insisting that Toyin called Linda. Lady A backed down, wondering why Toyin lied that she didn’t call Linda. Bode and others said Linda cited Toyin’s name and that Linda told them to watch a video after the court section. Linda’s claim to have spearheaded the fundraiser was also discredited. Lady A was heard saying it was Mayowa who led her own fundraiser, no one could claim to have done that. This confirmed what I heard from the family before the news of the alleged scam broke us. The family never wanted a public fundraiser. But Mayowa was pressed and possibly advised by non-family members to seek public support. Lady A said she was the one who advised her to consider that option. Bode told Lady A, they created this scene and that they were not God. Bode said in a dejected tone asking whether they saw a particular medical report. Bode said that they won’t give up on their sister until God elects to kill her. Linda/Toyin was also said to have claimed that the first lady, supposedly, Aisha Buhari called her.

News items through links such as http://www.nairaland.com/3256148/toyin-aimakhu-wanted-part-mayowa have surfaced indicating Toyin is acting a script related to the monetary gains someone intended to make out of the fundraiser. A firsthand account from folks with no affiliation to any of the parties involved in this saga indicated that Toyin never requested any percentage, but that Aramide of Lifestake Foundation did. That confirmed what was reported on Nairaland Forum, likewise by Premium Times (http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/207789-nigeria-police-take-savemayowa-campaign-amidst-controversy-drama.html). It was also confirmed that not only did Aramide requested to be given 5% of the fundraiser, but also that her foundation be approved to handle the funds. The family of Mayowa objected to the two conditions. What cannot be ascertained for now is if there is a secret agreement committing certain percentage of the money Aramide was expecting to Toyin. Premium Times sources alluded that, with new waves of information reaching me suggesting that possibility. Soon as the information is confirmed from multiple sources, I will update the whole world. So far, it is reasonable to tentatively conclude as follows.

One, there was no attempt by Mayowa’s family to scam Nigeria. Two, Linda Ikeji misinformed the whole world by wrongly and authoritatively alleging that Mayowa’s fundraiser was a scam. Three, Toyin also played a big role in scandalizing Mayowa’s family. Four, Aramide Kasumu of Lifestake Foundation is the main actor in the attempt to scandalize Mayowa’s family, with her motives being money-driven.

I call on well-meaning Nigerians to stand up for Mayowa’s family. I further call on Nigerian citizens and friends worldwide to join efforts seeking to ensure those behind the attempt to scandalize Mayowa’s family are made to face the full wrath of the laws. I further call on the Nigerian government to take over the treatment of Mayowa by facilitating her travelling abroad with no further delay. Finally, I call on the First Lady, to dissociate herself of any involvement with Linda, Toyin or Aramide.

A. J. Abudugana