12
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 25, 2017 • T H I S D AY
NEWS
New Party, ADP, Submits Registration Forms to INEC Today Says it has met Electoral Act’s requirements Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Action Democratic Party (ADP), a political association regarded by its members as an emerging mega party, yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a party. The party said it had met the requirements for a political party, as defined by the Electoral Act,. It said it would submit its registration forms to INEC in Abuja today. One of the chieftains of the association told THISDAY in confidence that the party had “fulfilled all conditions required by INEC for registration of the association as a political party.’’ “The necessary documents
required by the electoral body have been mobilised and they will be formally submitted today, to INEC,’’ he added. The source disclosed that after the submission of the documents to INEC, the Acting Chairman of the association, Sani Yagbagi, would proceed to address a press conference at the association’s secretariat in Asokoro, Abuja. There, the source said, he would, in addition to proving more details about the association, also introduce to the media, its Acting Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jimoh Akeem, saying the position have been zoned to the South-west. Feelers from the ruling APC secretariat yesterday indicated that there was disquiet within its leadership over the likely emergence of the ADP as a strong political
force. A source with the APC said: “Since the ADP had its inaugural meeting in December 2016, the ruling party has been strategising on how to minimise the impact of its emergence. “APC’s greatest fear is that the ADP is believed to be the abode of most of its aggrieved members and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC is currently facing crisis of mutual trust in its fold and the news of a proposed mega party is not what the APC would want to hear at this time.’’ ADP’s submission of documents to INEC today is expected to be done with a lot of fanfare as all top executives of the association would accompany the association’s chairman to INEC headquarters.
All the positions that had been zoned to each geo-political zone have been filled in acting capacity till the party holds its convention on a date to be fixed. Meanwhile, the association at its inaugural meeting last year, zoned the National Chairman, National Welfare Secretary, National Vice Chairman, Vice National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Women Leader, Assistant National Secretary, Deputy National Treasurer with National Vice Women Leader, National Vice Youth Leader and three Ex-Officio (two male and one female) to the North-central. While the North-west has the National Organising Secretary, National Women Leader, National Vice Chairman, Vice National Publicity Secretary,
Deputy National Youth Leader and Deputy National Welfare Secretary, National Vice Women Leader with National Vice Youth Leader, and three Ex-Officio (two male and one female). The National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Chairman, National Vice Chairman, National Auditor, Deputy National Financial Secretary and National women Leader, National Vice Youth Leader and three Ex-Officio (two male and one female) go the North-east. The South-south has the National Treasurer, Vice National Welfare Secretary, National Vice Chairman, National Youth Leader and Deputy Women Leader with National Leader-PLWD, Deputy National Legal Adviser and National Vice Women Leader, National Vice Youth Leader and the Ex-Officio (two male
and one female) The South-west: got the Deputy National Chairman, National Publicity Secretary, National Vice Chairman, National Financial Secretary and Vice National Organizing Secretary, Deputy National Youth Leader, Deputy National Auditor with National Vice Women Leader, Vice national Youth Leader three Ex-Officio (two male and one female) The National Secretary, Vice National Publicity Secretary, National Vice Chairman, National Diaspora Adviser and Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Deputy National Leader-PLWD and National Vice Women Leader with National Vice Youth Leader with three Ex-Officio (two male and one female) go the South-east.
2019: Obasanjo Backs South-east for President Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday threw his weight behind the Southeast region to produce the next president of the country. Obasanjo, who declared that his submissions were his personal view, stated that the problem of justice, marginalisation has been a major source of conflicts between ethnic and regional divisions in the country. While speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State when the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ogun State visited him, Obasanjo said it was part of what he resolved to do as just and fair country that made him to work for the emergence of a South-south president in 2009. He said: “But irrespective of the thinking of the people ahead of 2019, I personally think that South-east should have a go at the presidency too.” He therefore, said in the interest of justice and fairness, Ogun west senatorial district in Ogun state should be given the slot to produce the next governor of the state. According to him, the same is happening here. If Ijebu and Egba have produced the governor, it is only fair and just to allow the Yewa or Ogun West to also produce governor. Or else, one day, they will also stand up and take up arms against this
injustice against them. That is my personally position on this. Speaking on Southern Kaduna crisis, Obasanjo said Nigerians should not comment on what they do not really have detail reports of, saying “as this is largely responsible for the escalation of the situation.” He said: “My findings so far show that everyone is talking from the position of strength. People are not talking from knowledge of what they know and this is not helping. We must be able to dump all our sentiments to overcome the challenges. “Just like other cases of injustice around us, we need peace; it is only peace with justice that can solve all these crises. Genuine peace is what everyone is craving for and this can only come when there is justice,” Obasanjo said. However, the state Chairman of CAN, Bishop Tunde Akinsanya, described Obasanjo as a special gift to Nigeria and the entire world, considering his exploits and fatherly role so far. While commending Obasanjo for facilitating the building of Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, he disclosed that his administration was also working on a similar project in the state. He, however, appealed for the support of Obasanjo in actualising the project in the state, and congratulated him on his forthcoming 80th birthday celebration.
ECONOMY: BUHARI’S GOVERNMENT CONFUSED, ADAMANT, SAYS EZEKWESILI the remaining Chibok girls, saying the episode had exposed Nigerian governments in their “worst form.” She spoke on what she would do if President Muhammadu Buhari invited her to serve; her perception of former President Goodluck Jonathan and her relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Also in this edition, the
founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Professor Pat Utomi, spoke, among other things, on why he is not in Buhari’s cabinet and on Nigeria’s “self-inflicted recession.” Entrepreneur, Mo Abudu; leadership capital enthusiast, Linus Okorie; and pharmacist-turnedbag designer, Maureen Obayewa, also share their experiences.
IMO IS WORKING
L-R: Chief Operating Officer, DANA Air, Mr. Mbanuzuo Obil; Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Acho Ihim; Governor Rochas Okorocha Captain of Imo Air, Mr. George Komander; Wife of the governor, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha; and Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere, at the launching of Imo Air and celebration of the maiden flight at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport....yesterday
Again, Court Grants Dasuki Bail Tobi Soniyi in Abuja An Abuja High Court has again reaffirmed the bail granted former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and five others in the arm deal trial involving $2.1billion. Justice Baba Yusuf reaffirmed the bail on Dasuki on the grounds that he (Dasuki) was entitled to it and having been admitted to same since 2015 when the federal government brought charges against him. Dasuki and five others were re-arraigned before Justice Baba Yusuf on the criminal charges that were transferred from Justice Peter Affen also of an Abuja High Court. However, after the 22-count charge were read to the six defendants and all pleaded not guilty, counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), applied to the court to reaffirm the bail granted to the ex-NSA even though he has not been allowed to enjoy same since December 2015. Three different high courts have granted Dasuki bail but the bail orders were not obeyed by the government. He has been
in custody since December 2015. The counsel stated Dasuki had been admitted to bail before he was illegally arrested and detained by the Department of the State Security Services (DSS). Raji argued that with the transfer of the case from Justice Affen to Justice Baba Yusuf, the DSS had been separated from the matter, adding that the court record indicated that Dasuki was being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and not DSS that had been acting as interloper. The counsel further said the illegal act of interloper should not be used to divest the court of its power to reaffirm the bail granted Dasuki earlier because he was entitled to it. He then urged Justice Baba Yusuf to adopt the bail conditions earlier granted Dasuki before Justice Affen and reaffirm same in the interest of justice. The counsel argued that it was wrong of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) to have objected to the reaffirmation of the bail condition on Dasuki,
adding that he (Dasuki) had in his possession a judgment of the ECOWAS Court which last year set aside the unlawful detention of the Ex-NSA and also imposed a fine of N15million on the federal government as compensation to his client. Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, who spoke as a friend of the court argued that there was no dispute that Dasuki was granted bail but has not been released by the DSS to enjoy the bail. The senior counsel described the action of DSS as most unfortunate and urged Justice Yusuf to resist the temptation of being drawn into the illegality of actions of the DSS on Dasuki. The federal government counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had informed the court that he has no objection to the affirmation of the bail earlier granted to five other defendants in the trial but however urged the judge not to make any pronouncement or order in respect of the bail for Dasuki since he had not been allowed to enjoy any bail.
He said: “Court must not act in vain, there is no point making an order in vain. Dasuki has been in the custody of the DSS since 2015 and is still there till today.” However in his brief ruling, Justice Yusuf said that it was an undisputable fact that Dasuki being the 2nd defendant in the charge was admitted to bail in 2015 and that it would be in the interest of justice to reaffirm the same bail irrespective of the action of another arm of the security agencies. The judge adjourned trial in the matter to February 24, 2016. Others charged along with Dasuki are former Finance Minister of State, Mallam Bashir Yuguda; a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shuaibu Salisu; Dalhatu Investment; Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa and a former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. They were charged with corruption and breach of trust contrary to Section 215 of the Penal Code and Section 17B of the EFCC Act 2004.