How Afghanistan fell weeks after Obasanjo attended peace meeting in Kabul by Kayode Oyero

Islamic militant group known as the Taliban retook Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city, on Sunday, but the fall of the landlocked Asian country had been seen by many observers when US President Joe Biden started the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan beginning in early July. To avert the imminent collapse of the war-torn country with 39 million people and promote peace and stability, ex-Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, had in July travelled to Kabul and met with some leaders of the country as well as envoys of neighbouring countries. Obasanjo, unarguably one of the prestigious global citizens from Africa, had met with the Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, members of the Aga Khan Development Network, as well as other diplomatic representatives. AKDN is an international organisation which “brings together a number of development agencies, institutions, and programmes that work primarily in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa”. Announcing Obasanjo’s presence at the meeting in Kabul on July 5, Khan had in a tweet captioned a photo, “Today, frank discussions at lunch with former President of Nigeria, Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, hosted by AKDN Ambassador, (Hijri) Sheherzade, about promoting long term peace, stability, reconciliation and development in Afghanistan.” Obasanjo, Nigeria’s democratically elected President between 1999 and 2007, had been instrumental to the restoration of peace in many parts of Africa including Liberia, Sudan, Ethiopia, amongst others. The former Nigerian military head of state between July 1975 and February 1976 had sat on many peace committees including those of the United Nations, African Union and Economic Community of West African States. Obasanjo is a global peace personality -Secondus Speaking of Obasanjo’s “peace wand”, embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, on Thursday, described the ex-President as a “global personality, resolving issues across the world. In fact, the last place I learnt Baba visited was Afghanistan; despite the situation in that country, he went there and came back alive.” Secondus ran to Obasanjo in his Abeokuta home on Thursday to save him from his many troubles within the party. Though it appeared the octogenarian was unable to pull his “peace wand” in Afghanistan, only time would tell whether Obasanjo’s “peace touch” would work for Secondus whom some party chieftains want out as chairman. Afghanistan’s history of rise-and-fall democracy The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Taliban or the Mujahedeen retook Kabul about two decades after they were driven from Kabul by US troops. Taliban militants seized about 20 cities in the country following the withdrawal of US troops beginning in July. Afghanistan civilian President Ashraf Ghani subsequently fled on Sunday when Kabul fell, abandoning the presidential palace to Taliban fighters. Ghani, 72, who is now in exile in the United Arab Emirates, said he planned to return to the Asian country after talks with the Taliban. Formed in 1994, the Taliban were made up of ex-Afghan resistance fighters who first captured Kabul in 1996. The Sunni Islamist organisation introduced radical rules against women and children. They were also notorious for their extremist and terrorist ideologies and have been fingered in sponsoring insurgency in several parts of the world, including Africa. 9/11 attack and US revenge on Osama bin Laden The Taliban held strong control of Afghanistan till September 11, 2001, when 19 extremist fighters hijacked four commercial planes in the US, crashing two into the World Trade Center towers, amongst other places, and killing over 2,500 people were killed in the attacks. The attacks were orchestrated by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. In the spirit of nationalistic vengeance, the United States under the then government of President George Bush responded with swift, crushing fury and invaded Afghanistan, aiming to stop the Taliban from providing a safe-haven to Al Qaeda fighters — and to stop Al Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base of operations for terrorist activities. After Osama bin Laden fled Afghanistan and went into hiding, the path to peace and democratic takeover was open in Afghanistan. During the December 2001 International Conference on Afghanistan in Germany, Ghani’s predecessor, Hamid Karzai, was selected by prominent Afghan political figures to serve a six-month term as chairman of the Interim Administration. Karzai was later chosen for a two-year term as interim president in 2002 before he won the 2004 presidential election and a second five-year term in 2009 before US forces killed Osama bin Laden in May 2011 at his lair in Pakistan. US mission in Afghanistan to get 9/11 attackers, not nation-building -Biden Karzai handed over to Ghani in 2014 as the winner of the presidential poll but Afghanistan fell under Ghani when President Joe Biden commenced the withdrawal of US troops last month, saying the US mission in the Asian country was to neutralised the 9/11 attackers and not nation-building. “We went to Afghanistan almost 20 years ago with clear goals: get those who attacked us on September 11, 2001 — and make sure al Qaeda could not use Afghanistan as a base from which to attack us again. “We did that — a decade ago. “Our mission was never supposed to be nation-building,” Biden said at a presidential address on Monday.

Jimoh Ibrahim owes govt N70bn, we retain NICON, others – AMCON by Stephen Agwaibor

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria has said that following a High Court order, it still remains in charge of assets belonging to a business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim. A statement from the corporation on Thursday said Ibrahim’s current indebtedness to AMCON stood at nearly N70bn. The statement, signed by Head of Corporate Communications at AMCON, Jude Nwauzor, said Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja Division had on Monday ordered AMCON, NICON Insurance Limited, Nigeria Reinsurance and Ibrahim to maintain the status-quo-ante until September 8, 2021, when the court would hear all pending applications on the matter. Nwauzor said the matter between Ibrahim and AMCON had been interminable since the loan was purchased by the government debt recovery agency during the first phase of Eligible Bank Asset purchases from Union Bank in the early days of AMCON. The statement read, “AMCON and BPE, on July 21, received approval from the National Insurance Commission to constitute a new board and management of NICON Insurance Limited and Nigeria Re. “The change was to enhance the smooth running, efficient and effective management of the two firms previously owned by the recalcitrant debtor and businessman. “The reason for the changes in the board and management of the two insurance firms was sequel to the takeover of the major investor’s interests in the two organisations, and the Bureau for Public Enterprises who worked in partnership with AMCON to bring the much-needed stability in the operation of the organisations.” AMCON said the reconstitution of the board and management team of the two insurance institutions in Nigeria was to ensure that the firms remained transparent and accountable. It said, “After the constitution of the boards, Jimoh Ibrahim belatedly approached the court to obtain an order seeking to stop AMCON from constituting the boards of the two insurance firms. “But when the case came up for hearing on Monday the 18th of August, the judge ruled that all parties maintain the status quo until September 8, which was agreed by both the counsel to Jimoh Ibrahim and co, C.I. Okpoko, SAN and counsel to AMCON, A.U. Mustapha, SAN. “The implication is that AMCON is still in charge of all assets of Jimoh Ibrahim and his companies including NICON Insurance Limited and Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation over their heavy indebtedness to AMCON following earlier court rulings, which gave AMCON the power to take over the assets ab-initio.” PUNCH.

PSC creates another Kyari panel, says IGP panel complementary by Adelani Adepegba and Lesi Nwisagbo

The Police Service Commission has set up an in-house panel to study documents related to the suspended former Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DC Abba Kyari. The commission stated that it had the final say on the investigation of Kyari, adding that it was not bound to accept the recommendations of the Special Investigation Panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police to probe the DCP’s indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Commissioner in charge of Media in the PSC, Mr Austin Braimoh, told The PUNCH on Thursday that the commission had the constitutional mandate to investigate any police officer from a constable to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police. He said, “We are awaiting the report from the IG which is constitutional as well. The in-house panel is also working, starting from the department to the standing committee. “We assure Nigerians that justice will be done and there is no way anyone will teleguide the commission. “If there is a need for the FBI report, we will request for it; if it requires sending someone to the United States, we will send people there without prejudice to what the IG panel has recommended. “We are only following the constitutional procedure; the IG must forward all his recommendations to us. We are not bound to accept the IG’s recommendations but he must forward the report to us because we are the one that would take the final decision.” The PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, titled, ‘PSC waits for Abba Kyari report, sets up in-house panel,’ explained that the commission’s panel which was inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Ismaila, is headed by the Director, Department of Police Discipline in the Commission, Tijani Mohammed, a lawyer. The statement reads partly, “The report of the in-house panel is expected to assist the commission take an informed decision when the investigative panel report is submitted for the commission’s consideration. Hushpuppi: Special investigation on DCP Abba Kyari yet to submit report -NPF “The commission had also directed the Inspector-General of Police to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for necessary further action.” Kyari had been indicted by the FBI in a $1.1m Internet scam allegedly carried out by an Instagram influencer, Abbas Ramon, commonly known as Hushpuppi and four others. Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined granting an ex-parte application seeking to restrain the Nigeria Police and the Attorney General of the Federation from arresting and extraditing suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. Justice Ahmed Mohammed rejected the application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Northern Peace Foundation. Rather, the Judge ordered the counsel to turn the ex-parte motion to motion on notice and serve the same on police and AGF. PUNCH.

Olu of Warri: Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko crowned Ogiame Atuwatse III

Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko has been crowned the 21st Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III. He seems to have derived the title from his father and 19th Olu, Atuwatse II, Godwin Toritseju Emiko. His investiture is ongoing at the Itsekiri Kingdom in Warri, Delta State. According to Itsekiri tradition, this is the dynastic name the new Olu will henceforth be addressed by and referred to. The new Atuwatse III is the son of the 19th Olu Atuwatse II, Godwin Toritseju Emiko and Gladys Durorike Emiko. Born on April 2, 1984, the new Olu is a descendant of Olu Akengbuwa. Education Emiko attended NNPC Primary School in Warri and later Adesoye College, Offa, Kwara State for his secondary education between 1995 and 2001. He then proceeded to Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA where he bagged his Bachelor’s of Arts between 2002 and 2006, majoring in International Studies and Political Science while minoring in History and Economics. In 2007, he earned a Master’s of Science in Management also from Case Western Reserve University. The Olu designate is an avid sportsman, having participated in different sports including swimming, kayaks, basketball, American football, and soccer. Serial entrepreneurship On returning home to Nigeria in 2008, Prince Tsola Emiko served in the Public Affairs Department of National Petroleum Investment Management Services for the NYSC scheme. Thereafter, from 2009 to 2010, he worked as an officer at the Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator and later at Sahara Energy as Government Relations Officer between 2010 and 2012. A serial entrepreneur, the Olu designate is the founder of Noble Nigeria Ltd. and Coral Curator Ltd. He is the Chairman of Ocean Marine Security Ltd. and Director, Gulf of Guinea Ltd. and Vessel link Big. Ltd. while his business acumen may be said to have flowed from his late father. Family life Prince Tsola Emiko is a loving and caring husband to Ivie Uhunoma Emiko, daughter of popular Edo business mogul, late Idahosa Okunbo. The couple has three children: Oritsetsemiaye, Oritsetemisan, and Oritsetimeyin.

PIA: NNPC will cease to exist within six months, says Mele Kyari by Wasilat Azeez

The federal government says the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will cease to exist within the next six months as specified by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Advertisement Speaking with Arise TV on Monday, Mele Kyari, group managing director of NNPC, said the national oil company would be transformed into a private company that would pay taxes and dividends to its shareholders. He said the new company would be incorporated under the Company Allied Matters Act (CAMA). On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law . Advertisement Kyari explained that all liabilities and assets of the NNPC will be transferred to the new company. He noted that some toxic assets may be excluded. “Coming back to the NNPC, the provision of the law clearly states that the corporation will be transformed into a CAMA company. This meaning of this is that the company will just be another privately owned company, in a sense,” Kyari said. Advertisement “This company will pay taxes, royalties and dividends to its shareholders. This isn’t the situation today because the corporation has no such obligation. This has stalled its development, its growth and its prosperity. “According to the new Petroleum Industry Act, a new company will be incorporated within six months . That means all assets and liabilities of the NNPC will be transferred to the new company. “Not all of them, by the way. The bill is very clear. Some toxic assets of the corporation may not be transferred. The federation or shareholders can decide to keep some of the assets and leave some with the corporation. “Therefore, you are going to have a much more efficient, much more slimmer, much more commercial national oil company.”

Why I Made Nigeria Member Of Islamic Organisation – IBB By Ukpe Philip

Nigeria’s former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamusi Babangida (IBB), has denied having plan to Islamise Nigeria when he enrolled the country as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The former military leader who recently clocked 80, made the clarification during an interview on Channels TV. The OIC consists of about 50 countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and Nigeria became its member in 1986 under IBB. The OIC models the collective voice of Muslims as well as protects the interest of the Muslim world. IBB’s registration of Nigeria as a member of the OIC had at different times sparked criticisms from individuals and groups who argued that the move contravened provisions of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution. But the retired army general said, ” No government has ever said so (that Nigeria is an Islamic state), including my own government.” He explained that, “We never said Islam is the official religion of Nigeria. But our constitution allows us to enter any organisation for the benefit of the country or for the benefit of the people of the country.” Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic organisation had since resulted in several criticisms from religious groups and Civil Society Organisations. Some groups have accused the former Head of State of engineering a religious crisis in the country by that singular act. “The relationship between Christians and Muslims deteriorated when Nigeria was admitted as a full member of Organisation of the Islamic Conference,” said DR Maryam Abdullahi, a delegate representing Civil Society Organisation, at the 2014 National Conference. Most recently (May 26), the IOC called on Nigeria to join other Islamic countries to punish Israel for launching rockets into Gaza, Palestine, in retaliation to rockets fired into the country by the Islamic Resistance Movement popularly called Hamas. But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) which is the apex body of Christians in the country criticised the call and warned President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration against taking sides with the IOC. CAN had said: “We are worried that Nigeria which was wrongly labelled an Islamic State because of her unlawful membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has been taking side with the Palestinians since the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari. Hence why the Turkish President asked Nigeria to identify with the Palestinians.”

PDP peace pact crumbles, Obasanjo, Secondus in closed-door meeting by John Alechenu and Daud Olatunji

Wike’s group kicks as Secondus plans Oct national convention shift There were strong indications on Thursday that power blocs in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party had sidestepped some of the agreements reached at the party’s expanded National Executive Committee meeting held on Tuesday, August 10. It was gathered that though it was agreed at the meeting that the party’s national convention should hold in October, the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee was advancing reasons why the date was no longer feasible. But sources in the party said the rival power bloc led by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, dismissed Secondus’ excuse, saying it was a ploy to sit tight. It was gathered that based on the fresh crisis in the party, it might hold another NEC meeting next month. Recall that crisis hit the PDP two weeks ago following alleged moves by a group within the party to remove Secondus on the grounds that he was plotting to install his loyalists as members of the National Convention Committee to ensure his re-emergence as the national chairman. The PUNCH had on August 11 reported that the PDP, at its expanded NEC meeting held the previous day, reached a middle-of-the-road agreement to satisfy the warring groups. According to the report, the party rejected moves by the Wike group to remove Secondus. To pacify the Wike group, the party moved the national convention, which was initially scheduled for December, back to October. A source in the party, stated on Thursday, “This is the premise upon which the peace pact was built. Members of Wike’s group sheathed their swords, because the convention was shifted to October, but from all indications, Secondus is not ready for any convention in October.” It was gathered that the NWC had been unable to reach a consensus on the schedule of activities to be presented to NEC ahead of the setting up of the zoning and national convention planning committee. This, our correspondents gathered, was largely responsible for the rescheduling of the NWC meeting to next Tuesday. Based on a truce brokered by governors and other party leaders after last week’s expanded NEC meeting, the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said among other things, “All processes leading to an early national convention in October be immediately activated by relevant party organs, especially the National Executive Committee. “The meeting requested the NEC to immediately constitute a zoning committee for party offices and another committee for national elective offices.” A party leader, who confided in The PUNCH, explained that not much progress was made in the direction of convening a NEC meeting to set up the zoning and convention committees. The source said, “To be quite honest with you, we, like most party members, are worried about the fact that we still have outstanding congresses in nine states and the Anambra State governorship election coming up on November 9. “We cannot, as a party, afford to go into the Anambra election with a divided house. We are also uncomfortable with the disposition of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who has literally washed his hands off the Anambra election. “Be that as it may, we will soon constitute the national campaign council and the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, may head it.” Another source at the meeting said, “Whatever we do, we must take into account the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission. “We have issued notices of our activities for the Ekiti and Osun elections. Most of the activities will be held between September and October. By the end of October, we will be heading for the Anambra election, which is on November 6; then, we can talk about our convention. We are likely to convene another expanded meeting to explain the situation to our leaders. “One thing is certain, all members of this party, irrespective of tendency, are committed to the stability and growth of the PDP.” However, one of those opposed to Secondus, who also spoke in confidence for fear of retribution said, “It is clear that the issues our leaders tried to deal with are still there. “We agreed that NEC should constitute the zoning and convention committees immediately; go back to the communiqué read by Governor Tambuwal after last week’s expanded meeting, but what is happening today?” It was further gathered that the seven deputies, who resigned their positions, had withdrawn their resignation letters and would be attending the NWC meeting slated for Tuesday. When contacted, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Diran Odeyemi, who is one of those who resigned, confirmed this development. He said, “We resigned because we were not fairly treated. We accused the national chairman of not playing the role of a leader, but his response was that the constitution does not give us any role other than working with our principals or in their absence, acting on their behalf. “We still accused him of not involving us; we informed him that as a leader, he should have found a way of involving us in administering the party, because we were elected and we represent people, who are members of our party. “He admitted at the end of the day, apologised and assured us that that particular aspect of the constitution would be addressed. With that and with follow-up calls by members of the BoT and our respected leaders and elders, we had no choice (but to return). “In my case, I represent the South-West; we have an election in Osun very soon and I don’t have the support of leaders at home that I should resign, so also in Oyo State. The decision of my constituency is that since you’ve made your point known and an apology has been tendered and a promise of redress has been made, you have to pull back.” Meanwhile, the national chairman of the party, Secondus, on Thursday, held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta. The meeting, which lasted for more than one hour and ended at 2.06pm, was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. A source at the meeting told one of our correspondents that the national chairman took his time to narrate his ordeal and troubles in running the party to the former President. The source added that Secondus was able to convince Obasanjo to intervene to settle the crisis. The source said the former President maintained his stance that he was not interested in partisan politics, but his doors were open for advice. It was also gathered that the meeting between Obasanjo and Secondus was a fallout of an earlier meeting held in Minna, Niger State. “He (Secondus) narrated his ordeals to Obasanjo and urged him to intervene and save the party from collapse. Although the former President said he had left partisan politics, he stated that he would always offer his advice,” the source stated. While addressing journalists after the meeting, the PDP Chairman said he came to see Obasanjo as an elder statesman in order for him to advise the present government. He said, “I am here with members of my team as well as the PDP executive in Ogun State to tap from the wealth of Baba’s knowledge as a statesman. “It has been very difficult lately because Baba is a global personality, resolving issues across the world. In fact, the last place I learnt Baba visited was Afghanistan; despite the situation in that country, he went there and came back alive. “So, my team and I are very grateful and we give glory to God. We have discussed Nigeria. Nigeria first before any other thing. Yes, we belong to a political party, but if we don’t have a country, where do we practice democracy? “We need to have a peaceful country where democracy can strive and at this point, we need Chief Obasanjo to come in with solutions. “We are aware of insecurity, the poor economy, banditry, kidnapping all over the country; and we can’t continue to watch without reaching out to the elders so that they can come to gather and advise the present government. That is the duty of a statesman.” Obasanjo, on his part, maintained that though the situation of Nigeria was very bad, it was not irredeemable. “Every right-thinking individual knows that the Nigerian situation is very bad, but it is not irredeemable,” he stated. Obasanjo stated that Secondus did not visit him because of partisan politics, but because he was concerned about the situation of the nation. He said, “You have not visited me because of partisan politics, but you have visited me as a person, who is concerned about where Nigeria is and where Nigeria may be descending into if the right action is not taken. “And I couldn’t agree with you more; every right-thinking Nigerian and every lover of Nigeria will agree that Nigeria is not what it should be today, unless there is something else wrong with them. “The situation is bad, very bad, but the situation is not irredeemable. That is where the hope lies. The situation is very bad, but it is not hopelessly irredeemable.” t PUNCH.