12 Politics
Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 3, 2017
Lawal, Oke must face EFCC investigation, says Omolegan Iniobong Iwok The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been charged to immediately begin the investigation of the sacked former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and the ex-director Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke for corruption related offences. This demand was made by a Lagos lawyer and public affairs analysis, Mr Idowu Omolegan in an interview with The Daily Times, noting that though the President was slow in sacking the two
former public office holders, that he expects the anti graft agency to urgently commence investigation and possibly arrest them. Omolegan who is also a human rights activist, berated the President for not being decisive in fighting corruption, especially among people close to him and his government, adding that the President need to act faster if the anti graft war was to succeed. He said that the EFCC, did not need any directive from the President to investigate the two men, adding that the anti graft agency must remain impartial in the discharge of it duties.
BABACHIR LAWAL
AYO OKE
He said “since he came back from his sick leave it seem he is not in control of this government, obviously some cabals have taken over his gov-
ernment. “He has been slow, Buhari is slow in taking the decision to sack the two men and he is courting corruption.
“Since the two men have been sacked, I expect the EFCC to immediately investigate them and possibly prosecute them, what are they waiting for, they should do their job, are they waiting for directive from the President? I don’t expect them to be partial in their work,” Omolegan said. Speaking further on the sacked former Pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, he said there were insincerity on the report by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, that the President was informed before he was reinstated, adding that it was obvious that the Maina issue had been politicised.
ENSIEC said it is set for tomorrow’s LG poll Bayelsa Assembly okays The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), has said arrangements have been concluded for the Nov. 4 local government elections in the state. The Secretary of the Commission, Mr Tagbo Nnamah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that sensitive and non-sensitive materials had already been sorted out and ready for deployment. Nnamah said the Commission had trained its permanent and ad hoc staff on guidelines for the election. He added that the feedback the Commission was getting from stakeholders to provide other necessities in terms of security and logistics had been satisfactory so far. He noted that “as you can see from my office, we are putting final touches; crossing the Ts
Dickson’s request for N40bn loan
Akam James, Yenagoa
PROF. MAHMUD YAKUB and dotting the Is. “We are ready and set for the election on Saturday and we believe the commission will deliver credible, hitch-free and acceptable election.” The secretary said that the commission had provided level playing field for candidates. Nnamah, who stressed that only true and certified voters’
register from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be used for the exercise, maintained that “card readers would not be used in this election.” Elections will hold in 17 council areas and 261 political wards for the chairmanship and councillorship positions in the state.
Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON, on behalf of the National Caretaker Committee, the Organs of the Party and PDP family nationwide; condoles with the National Leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu on the demise of his son, Jide Tinubu. :This is sad, shocking and very painful. “We believe that the Almighty God knows the best and understands the circumstances surrounding his sudden departure from us and we pray Him (God), to give his family and the government of Lagos state the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“May the soul of Jide Tinubu rest in perfect peace.nce again, accept our condolences”, the opposition party said . On its part, the UPP said “ The United Progressive Party received shock the news of the death of the first son of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Jide Tinubu. “The ebullient and resourceful young man, his demise is a big loss to the family. The death of a loved one, particularly a son is very devastating. “The Party shares the grief of members of the Tinubu family and pray to God Almighty to console and comfort them in this period of bereavement. May his gentle soul rest in peace”, it said.
PDP, UPP condole with Tinubu over son’s death Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party PDP,;and the United Progressives Party, UPP have commiserated with the former Governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress Asiwawu Bola Tinubu over the death of his first son, Jide The PDP described the death of Jide Tinubu as sad shocking and painful, while UPP on its part described the death as a big loss to the family members. The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye on Thursday said “The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the request by the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, for the power to renegotiate existing loans secured by the State Government from commercial banks to allow for funding of ongoing projects in the State to be completion. According to Governor Dickson’s request, in a letter dated 30th of October,2017 and read on the floor of the House, the approval sought is to consolidate and renegotiate a N40billion existing loans under the Contractor Infrastructure Development Scheme(CIDS). The proposed renegotiation of N40billion loan, according to the State Governor, would be restructured into 42 months repayment plan with the State Government standing as guarantor based on a standing order on the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) For repayment. At an emergency sitting held yesterday Thursday in Yenagoa during a state Public Holiday known as “Thanks Giving Day”, the members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson agreed that the request of the State Governor is necessary and in order. The Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Akpe, who moved the motion for the approval of Gov. Dickson’s request, explained that the request is explicit and has the interest of Bayelsa people at heart, “ the request is to consolidate and restructure existing state loan facilities and to reduce pressure
on the State resources and deductions” Hon. Akpe noted that such loans like the N3billion Car loans for State Assembly members, the State Cargo Airport project loan, among others,” the approval is needed to create space for fund so that the state can quickly complete projects such as the Isaac Boro road, the Yenagoa-Oporoma road project and the Igbogene -Bayelsa Palm road.” “We all know that the tenure of the present administration is coming to an end in 30 months. And these projects need to be completed to prevent loss of time and waste project purpose. When the space for the funds are opened, the contractors will secure loans with the Bayelsa Govt standing as guarantors.” He stated that the decision was to hand the direct sourcing of funds to the contractors and allow direct deployment of funds to the completion of projects. Other State Assembly Members including Hon. Tonye Isenah (KOLGA 1),Hon. Monday Obubo (Southern Ijaw 2), Hon. Gabriel Ogbara (Ogbia 3), Hon. Watson Belemote (Brass 2) voted for the approval and prayed that ongoing projects in their constituency be completed. The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Kombowei Benson,while affirming the position of the House on the Governor Dickson’s request, said the approval will allow project completion for the benefit of all areas of the State.,” we are all clamouring for laudable projects in the state.”