2015: North in disarray…Why Jonathan may return

From ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna
Come 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan will run, Sunday Sun can authoritatively reveal, but the north will also field a candidate. Interestingly, indications that the north was ready and willing to stop Jonathan in 2015 first emerged in Kaduna, the political headquarters of the north, in May this year.
It came from no other than the chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF and Niger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu. He had while making his opening remarks at one of the governors’ forum meetings stated among other things that “we must also know that by 2015, we are going as united constituent group.
There were times when we went as constitutionalists and federalists, and some as regionalists, this time around, we must do everything possible within the time period to unite ourselves and to go that time as a united group.?“The interest of the people is paramount, we must understand that, and we must also understand that political parties are platforms and it is the interest of our own people that should guide our actions, our interests and our activities.”
However, the cacophony of voices among different groups within the region in recent times, Sunday Sun investigations reveal is not suggestive of the fact that the north was ready to present a “united and formidable” force against Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.
Yet, Sunday Sun further gathered that the plot to stop Jonathan from running was real, and that the various meetings going on in the north and Abuja, were indicative of the resolve by the north to stop Jonathan, at all cost, another source added. Last week alone, two gatherings went on simultaneously in Kaduna and Bauchi. Although, none had 2015 as part of its objectives, as the two gatherings put the quest to develop the north as the major agenda, Sunday Sun can authoritatively reveal that the two gatherings have the trappings of 2015.
For instance, while that of Kaduna was spearheaded by a coalition of northern groups, under the auspices of Arewa Research and Development Project, led by Dr. Usman Bugaje, a former Political Adviser to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, that of Bauchi was held on the platform of the North-East Alliance for Transformation, NEAT, spear-headed by Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Energy Partnership, Mallam Ibrahim Shehu Njidda. Interestingly, when a similar gathering was held in Bauchi earlier this year by elders from the zone, under the auspices of North-East Forum for Unity and Development, NEFUD, which attracted the likes of General TY Danjuma,
Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Professor Jubril Aminu, Alhaji Mohammadu Bello Kirfi and Atiku’s representative among a host of other prominent personalities from the zone, almost all those who attended NEAT’s summit in Bauchi, last Thursday, including the governors, shunned it. Sunday Sun’s investigations however revealed that prominent northern leaders including General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Senator George Akume and Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa, attended the Kaduna gathering.
Historically speaking, while incumbent governors lost nomination of their parties, and even lost during gubernatorial election where such incumbents decided to change party, no sitting President has either lost nomination of his party or the general election, since the country’s independence in 1960. Will Jonathan’s own therefore be different? “You may be right that history does not in any way support what we are planning to do. But I am one who believes that events and not personalities should shape history.
To that extent, we are of the firm belief that events would ultimately throw up the situation that will force Jonathan to bow to voice of reason, instead of allowing himself to be embarrassed and disgraced out of office, because we are resolved to do this. “Just take a look at the men around the President, tell me who among them can win election. The Vice President cannot deliver his base, Gulak (President’s Political Adviser) cannot win election in Adamawa, Anenih has been confined to the dustbin of political history and his Chief of Staff too, cannot win election.
So tell me who will do the job for him? “Come to the north, again I agree with you that no single politician has the type of mass appeal that Buhari has. But you and I know that Nigeria’s presidential election goes beyond mass appeal in the north. At any rate, the votes in the north alone cannot make him President. It might be impossible, but I also believe that if the likes of Buhari and Atiku can bury their ambitions in the interest of the north and join in the search for a credible and acceptable person from among us, I think Jonathan may even chicken out of the race,”.
One of those involved in the surreptitious moves to unseat Jonathan, but who is currently part of the present administration, volunteered. However, another prominent politician who was neither part of the two gatherings held last week, but who is also a prominent member of the PDP from the North-East geopolitical zone told Sunday Sun that except the north changes strategy, the presidency may still elude it in 2015.
“First of all I am also surprised about both meetings. I agree with you that the way the two meetings went on, all supposedly in the interest of the north did not show any unity of purpose on our part. For me, I see the Bauchi meeting as more of a government thing. Because when a similar meeting took place in the same Bauchi State in the past, none of the governors attended. “Now for a meeting of that nature that attracted the likes of TY Danjuma, Jubril Aminu, I think the governors made a big mistake by not attending, that is, if truly they are interested in developing the region.
Again, those who attended last Thursday’s summit did not reflect that it was peopled by persons who matter in the region. Don’t get me wrong, I know the governors are so powerful that they decide what goes on, but they need other stakeholders too. I think the Kaduna meeting had a better attendance in terms of prominent persons in the north”, the high ranking PDP member added. As part of the strategies to stop Jonathan, Sunday Sun further learnt that members of the opposition, especially from the South-West are also toying with the idea of presenting Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,  as an alternative.
The belief in this group is that, it could repeat what it did on the floor of the House, where the Speaker and his deputy were elected to the chagrin of the PDP, through the support of the opposition parties. Sources close to the Speaker’s office however told Sunday Sun that the Speaker was not favorably disposed to such an idea.
He was quoted to have said he would not want to end up like two of his predecessors who were “used and dumped “and became irrelevant in the scheme of things. Those close to the Speaker were also said to have warned him to be wary of “ an unworthy project that will not fly”. “You know, they deceived Na’Abba, that he is the true leader of the representatives of the people, same goes to Bankole. But how many of these people in the House can win election without the support of their governors?
So this is why we are cautioning the Speaker. And thank God, he is the type that not only listens, but one who knows what is right and appropriate,” another source added.
TheSun

2015 presidency splits South-South govs

 by: Remi Adelowo

There are strong indications that President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015 has caused a major division among South-South governors, his home region.
Although the parting of ways over Jonathan is still a carefully guarded secret at the top, The Nation learnt that some of the governors are so crossed with the president that they have entered into political alliances with other possible contenders, a move that is certain to rattle Jonathan’s return ambition in 2015.
Unlike what obtained in the 2011 general elections when all the South-South governors threw their weight behind Jonathan’s election as President, the 2015 election is poised to be dicey. This time around, except Jonathan acts fast to save the situation, it seems two, out of the five South-South governors, are no longer queuing behind him.
The South-South governors that may have withdrawn their support for Mr. President, according to impeccable sources, are Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke.
According to sources close to Amaechi, he is of the view that the next presidential race should not be based on ethnic considerations, but that the best candidate from any of the regions in the country should emerge as the next president.
But beyond his opposition to ethnic affinity in deciding the 2015 race, sources close to him revealed that Amaechi’s cold war with the president is a fall-out of the alleged plan by federal authorities to cede about 45 oil wells in the Kalabari area of Rivers State to Bayelsa, the president’s home state.
Despite the president’s assurances that he was not using his executive powers to favour Bayelsa State in the oil well controversy, Amaechi, according to sources, feels otherwise.
At a town hall meeting held in Port Harcourt recently, Amaechi, according to a source, told the audience that the reason some powers-that-be have decided to deny Rivers State of the oil wells boils down to the politics playing out ahead of the 2015 elections. He allegedly accused the president of attempting to clip his wings so as to stop him from supporting an opponent in the 2015 presidential election.
Imoke’s grouse is also connected to oil wells. We gathered that Imoke’s anger is traceable to Mr. President’s alleged indifference to the plight of Cross River State after it lost substantial oil wells to the neighbouring Akwa Ibom State in a case that dragged on to the Supreme Court. The decision of the highest court of the land deprived Cross River State of huge revenue.
A source told The Nation that “The unanimous opinion of many Cross River State indigenes, including the governor, is that the president, after assuming office in 2010, should have used his exalted office to broker a political solution to the oil well issue, rather than allow the state to lose out completely.”
TheNation

IBB, Buhari, others converge in Kaduna for Sambo’s daughter’s wedding

It was indeed a gathering of political players in Kaduna yesterday at the wedding of the two daughters of Vice President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo.
The wedding fatiha, which was conducted by Sheikh Balele Wali took place at the Sultan Bello Mosque in the ancient city of Kaduna.
Former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, gave the hands of Huwaila to Mukhtar Ruma, while ex Inspector-General of Police, Gambo Jimeta, joined Aisha and Awwal Abdulrahman.
Federal Government delegation to the ceremony was led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim.
Other top guests at the marriage ceremony include, former Head of States, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina; Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa and Idris Wada of Kogi.
Others were, Rochas Owelle Okorocha of Imo; Emmanuel Uduagham of Delta; Babangida Aliyu of Niger; Usman Dakingari of Kebbi: and Sule Lamido of Jigawa.
The occassion was also graced by respectable Monarchs such as, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Barkindo; and Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar among others.
DailyPost

How We Killed 10 Armed Policemen In Lagos - Robbers

 FEMI OGBONNIKAN

Ejike Mbogu, a member of a deadly gang of six that has been terrorizing Lagos and Ogun States, has told the police how they wasted 10 policemen who dared to stand in their way.
Ejike who is the number two man in the gang, spoke on behalf of other members from the SARS detectives’ cell.
“We killed 10 policemen and had their guns (AK47 rifles) carted away, five of the slain policemen were from Ogun state command, while the other five were from Lagos state command.
In Lagos alone, we killed two policemen in Oko-Oba, one in Iponri and two others in Ejigbo area. Also, in Ogun state police command, two policemen were shot dead in Abeokuta and another three in Ibafo area”, Ejike, the 33-year-old suspect said.
He pointed out that the 10 rifles were used for their various robbery operations on banks and Bureau De Change outlets in Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Kogi and Edo states respectively. Out of the 10 guns, Ejike confessed, he took one (now recovered), while nine others were shared out among others.
Among the gang members, Ejike disclosed that the duo of Ope and Isong are currently being held in protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
According to the Awka, Anambra state-born suspect, the two suspects were arrested shortly after a robbery operation in Abeokuta, following a painstaking intelligence gathering.
“On every big operation, especially bank raids, we usually merged with other gangs. We usually went in a large number, at times, we will be almost 20 on every operation. We have four gangs led by Kingsley, Wale, Goke and Emmanuel.
“Take for instance, the raids on First Bank Plc in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital and Share branch, Kwara state, were well coordinated, as we were about 18 members who participated in the raids. We were all fully armed to the teeth, as we made use of dynamites and GPMG”, confessed Ejike.
Leadership

I have no hand in OBJ, Jonathan’s fight – Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has affirmed that he has no hands in the ongoing feud between president Goodluck Jonathan and ex president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The presidential aspirant in the 2011 election denied reports making the rounds in the media that he is backing Obasanjo to fight the incumbent president.
Long time publicist of the former Vice President, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed that “there are no formal talks going on between former President Obasanjo and the Turaki (Atiku Abubakar).”
Shehu said: “We are aware that alignment and realignment are going-on on almost every front. This is to be expected. It is in the nature of politics. For some time now the Turaki has fully immersed himself in reconciliation with party members across the length and breadth of the country”.
On the report that the Turaki of Adamwa is plotting with others to vote out Jonathan from office in 2015, he said: “On the recurrent issue of the alleged face-off between former President Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan, the Turaki strongly insists that he knows nothing about it. He, too, he says, has read about it in the newspapers and left it at that.
“To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of any political meeting between President Obasanjo and his former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Speculations to the effect that he has teamed up with his former boss to fight President Jonathan are therefore totally unfounded”.
“Turaki’s peace overture to his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, although much misunderstood, should be taken in this context. Today, the Turaki feels much at ease with himself having taken the olive branch to about everyone with whom he had one form of falling out or the other.
“The former Vice President believes that vengeance is a negative emotion that ruins the quality of one’s happiness. Many people are amazed why he has no difficulty talking to perceived enemies. His conviction, however, is that forgiveness costs him nothing.
“In fact, many former public office holders that had once insulted him came back seeking his forgiveness and he did so without looking back. There was nothing unusual, therefore, if he had extended reverential hands of fellowship to politicians perceived as his adversaries”.
DailyPost

How we bribe community leaders to allow us vandalise pipelines – Suspect

Evelyn Usman & Ifeanyi Okolie
06 December 2012, Sweetcrude, Lagos - A petroleum products pipeline vandalisation suspect, Kabiru Akinsanya, has said that his gang usually bribed community leaders whenever they wanted to break any pipeline.
Akinsanya, who was discovered to have been in the illicit business for two years, disclosed that his gang usually filled over a hundred 50 litre cans during each operation.
He said: “We sell each gallon of 50 litres for N2,000 or N2,500, depending on the demand. So far, we have broken several pipelines around the area.
“We usually went at night. During each trip, we would fill at least 100 jerry cans with fuel.”
Asked how this was possible, he said: “We usually bribed the community leaders. At times, we give them money or fuel .
“We usually informed them before coming. Most times they would even tell us when the coast is clear. That is, when policemen would not be around. And anytime we were into business, they would send some of the villagers to keep watch so as to inform us when policemen would be coming.”
I learnt my skill from prison
Kabiru, who was released from Kirikiri prison in 2010, after serving a two-year jail term, said he learnt plumbing when he was there.
“ When I was released, I had nothing doing. One of my friends invited me to join them in the pipeline vandalisation business. Since I learnt plumbing in prison, I was useful to them because I used the skill to burst the pipelines and weld them after operation.
“We worked together as a group and the rule was that before any job was executed, we would contribute a certain amount of money and give to the leaders of the community. They (community leaders) would not alert the police rather, they would send some young men to keep watch.
“But along the line, I left the group and formed another group of four which I was heading. I left the first group because the business was lucrative and I did not want to be under anyone.
“Members of my gang are Tunde, Segun and Sunday . But they managed to escape on the day the Police stormed our hideout.”
Arrested at last
Before his arrest, he said his gang realised at least N200,000 per trip.
“But for sometime NNPC stopped pumping and we relaxed. NNPC only started pumping recently and we returned to business.
“But the Police succeeded in arresting us because someone who is not a member of my gang broke a pipeline and this caused leakage that attracted the Police. There is no way NNPC would have known that we tapped from their pipeline if there was no leakage,” he stated.
Policemen attached to the Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Force Headquarters Annex Lagos, arrested the ex-convict who has been on their wanted list, recovering 80 jerrycans filled with petroleum product that was siphoned from a broken pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Takwa Bay area of Lagos state.
Vanguard gathered that activities of pipeline vandals had been on the rise in Takwa Bay and its environs, following which policemen from the Special Task Force reportedly patrolled the area at night. But Akinsanya’s gang as gathered, succeeded in beating the policemen, as some members of the community were said to keep watch whenever they were carrying out the heinous crime.
But the bubble burst, Monday, after some policemen on patrol along the creeks who noticed a burst pipeline, trailed members of the gang to their hide out around the vicinity, where Akinsanya was arrested but other members of his gang escaped.
Officer in-charge of the Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism , Mr Friday Ibadin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said the arrest was made following an intelligence report that vandals had returned to the area.
He said: “We got a tip-off that vandals had resumed activities in that area. Policemen, led by Lagos Sector Commander, DSP Onaghise Osayande, were sent to the area to ensure regular patrol. It was during one of the patrol sessions that they discovered a burst pipeline. In the course of investigation, they discovered the hideouts of some of the suspected vandals. Akinsanya was arrested and he confessed to the crime. “
ACP Ibadin called on Nigerians to help protect NNPC pipelines by informing security operatives of the activities of vandals. “I sincerely commend members of Takwa Bay community who assisted the police to fish out these vandals. It is no longer business as usual; the Arepo incident has caused untold hardship on Nigerians,” he said.
 SweetCrudeReports

Seven Northern governors jostle to succeed President Jonathan in 2015

Ahead of the 2015 presidential election, there’s an in-house battle over who will emerge as a consensus candidate from the Northern part of the country as seven serving Governors are all struggling for the office of the Commander in Chief.
It was gathered that top politicians from the region had reportedly held several meetings in order to settle for a consensus candidate but no positive result was achieved at the end.
Investigation revealed that none of the seven Governors battling for the highly-exalted position is ready to step down for the other.
Those who have indicated interest in succeeding Goodluck Jonathan include: Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State.
Amazingly, all the contending Governors are in their second term in office and are also members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to which President Goodluck Jonathan belongs.
DailyPost learnt that erstwhile Governors Ahmed Makarfi and Ibrahim Shekarau of Kaduna and Kano states have also indicated interest for the office of the president.
It was gathered that top northern politicians who had been planning to return power to the zone come 2015 had been worried over the battle from the within.
Close insiders observed that at some of the meetings, all the contenders remained adamant — a situation that has made it very difficult for the leaders to pick a consensus candidate.
According to the Convener of the Coalition of Northern Leaders, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, the plan to present a single candidate for 2015 had been frustrated by the Governors.
He said: “As far as I know, we have not got to the point of zeroing in on a candidate, a political party or even a strategy. From the look of things, it is not likely to happen soon.
“This is because the last time we tried to get a consensus candidate for the North, it was the Northern governors who scuttled the plan. About seven northern governors, who have ambition to become President, have been busy scuttling one another’s ambition. So, the North has not picked a candidate, and in my opinion, it will not happen soon.”
He added that the issue of a consensus candidate was one of the vital issues discussed recently at the two-day conference of Northern leaders, which took place last Wednesday and Thursday.
The conference, with the theme, ‘The North and strategies for sustainable development,’ was organised by the Ahmadu Bello University’s Arewa House Centre for Historical Documentation and Research.
Mohammed said, “Unless we come together in the North, we will continue to have problems. I met with the Senate caucus in the North and I asked them to reconsider the introduction of an electoral college in electing the president.”
The spokesman of the Northern Elder’s Forum, Dr. Paul Unongo, confirmed that there’s an ongoing inhouse battle over who will emerge as the sole candidate.
He said, “Lamido and Aliyu are eminently qualified to be President. But what they need to do now is to unite and rationalise to choose one person as the only northern candidate for the election. If not, if the South presents one candidate, the person would likely win.”
The image maker added that the zone will painstakingly elect a consensus candidate, based on his ability to bring the security challenges in the country under control.
Unongo said, “When it comes to people from the North, who can stand for election for President, some persons like Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Abubakar Atiku are the names we can mention. But now, I don’t know how acceptable they will be to Nigerians. I don’t think Nigerians still want Army Generals.
“Another potential candidate is the Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who is the northerner in the highest office in the country. It would be a surprise to me if he does not stand for election in 2015. If he stands for election in 2015, some of us will support him.”
It would be recalled that on May 17, the 19 northern Governors met in Kaduna and planned to settle for a sole candidate from the region in 2015.
The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the group, vowed not to allow the incident that brought Jonathan into power repeat its in 2015.
“We must be united more than ever to go into the 2015 elections as one entity with the aim of producing the president,” he said.
DailyPost