01082020 - You're cruel insentitive for care of repentant terrorists, abandoning us

More documents

Recommendations

Info

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020 Edo 2020: As Oshiomhole recants . . . By Ozioruva Aliu BY this time four years ago, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who was then governor of Edo state and the current governorship candidate of the party ahead of the September 19 th governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu were at daggers drawn at each other. Ize-Iyamu was then the governorship candidate of the then opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a ticket he got few months after he defected from the APC while Oshiomhole was marketing Governor Godwin Obaseki then the candidate of the APC to the people. But like role swap, less than four years after, Ize-Iyamu is now the candidate of the APC while Obaseki is now the candidate of the PDP. The verbal war between Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu then was so fierce that book makes never predicted the two could even come together on the same political space how much more that happening in less than four years. The verbal war got to a point that Ize- Iyamu publicly complained that he did not know who he was contesting against. A questions like is “Is Oshiomhole contesting for third term” was common. Oshiohole dominated Obaseki’s campaigns and rallies. He described Ize-Iyamu with virtually any available adjective in the negative sense. Among several other negative comments, Oshiomhole said in an interview on television: “I will recommend that PDP put Pastor as their candidate and if they do that, whoever we bring, we will win because you will be putting a known non-performer against somebody Edo people can trust... By 2007 on Election Day, Pastor Ize-Iyamu was restrained by the EFCC, he could not come out and vote. . .” Oshiomhole also said in a rally in Uromi, Edo Central Senatorial District “Because of crisis of identity, he (Ize-Iyamu) went to carry a bible and said I am born again but to carry a bible doesn’t give a clue about who you are. It is only God that knows the heart so by their actions we know who is a Christian, who is a Muslim , who is a pagan, who is herbalists, who is a cultist, who is an honest man and who is a gentleman. “When he cannot dispute the fact that PDP government with Ize-Iyamu as SSG could not build schools, could not build roads, they did not do anything he now said no, he cannot be blamed for the failure of Igbinedion government, alright if we cannot blame him for the failure of the government he was Chief of Staff and SSG is that why we will promote him to the office of governor? I am campaigning with our candidate who has said he will build on what we have done. Ize-Iyamu is not able to say he will build on what they have done before because they did not do anything” However, the war of words was not restricted to Oshiomhole as Ize- Iyamu countered in a rally in Benin City when he said: “Edo people trusted him and they voted for him, the kind of money that has come into this state in the past eight years, that kind of money has never come before. From the time of Midwest, to Bendel and to the period before he came in, if you add all the money together, it is not up to what Adams Oshiomhole collected. He says Pastor Ize-Iyamu is bad, Pastor Ize- Iyamu is useless, when he appointed Ize-Iyamu as his Campaign DG, Ize- Iyamu was not bad? When he was made National Vice Chairman of his party, he didn’t know that he was bad, now that he has left him,he now says he is bad, so who is a fool? The truth is that this man has embezzled the resources of our state. I welcome Adams Oshiomhole to probe the time I was in government, look for everything that I did. Let him do it because by the grace of God when I am governor, I will probe him” On another occasion, Ize- Iyamu said ”Edo people should forgive me for being one of those in the forefront that brought Mr. Oshiomhole to be the governor of the state. We now know who he is. Therefore, in the coming elections, Edo people should not repeat the mistake of the past. When I remember how we brought in Oshiomhole to contest the 2007 governorship election, I weep because we brought in a bad thing.” When, Oshiohmole fell out with Obaseki and the primary election of the APC was approaching, and it was becoming clear that Oshiomhole would support Ize-Iyamu whom he had lured back to the party, the comments of these two became the issue for debate in many places. They went viral in the social media. How were they going to recant these dangerous comments especially from Oshiomhole who once said Ize-Iyamu could not be trusted with money and even wondered how he became a pastor in a church as highly respected as the Redeemed •Oshiomhole Christian Church of Christ. But during a rally in his compound in Iyamho, Oshiomhole publicly apologised to the people that he made a mistake in bringing Obaseki and insulting Ize-Iyamu in 2016. Just few days ago when together the two visited the Enigie (Dukes) in Benin City, Oshiomhole shocked his critics when he said: ”I want to start by apologising that my I apologise for my poor judgment as they say, you can never know how a man is until he has money and power then his true colour comes out understanding was that my successor will continue the projects we started but never knew that along the line, he will stop everything so I apologise that I brought a man who pretended for eight years that he would build on the foundation that I laid . “When they are using my campaign, what I said about Pastor in the past, I say Pastor has never been governor. There is what you call tested and trusted, we have tested Obaseki and he failed so he cannot do resit. I apologise for my poor judgment as they say, you can never know how a man is until he has money and power then his true colour comes out. So if those who tell me that this man will betray, and they have turned out to be true, God has a reason for keeping me alive and well and strong so that working with you Your Highnesses, we will correct the mistake and bring someone who will make up for lost time “ Few days after, Ize-Iyamu received many youths under the aegis: Edo Youths Solidarity Movement in his house in the company of Oshiomhole. The former governor said: “In 2012, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was my DG. we were showing what we have achieved in every area, this time the out-going or out gone governor is showing pictures not of what he has done, he is showing pictures of what I have said. Okay if what I have said is the issue, I said looking at his face, I thought he was a decent human being but if somebody fails in primary school is that a reason to be promoted to secondary school? He has failed primary school and so cannot go to secondary and to my brother pastor, God has said you worked for me as my DG in 2012 and I won everywhere, God has said I will work for you by 2020 so that you also win 18 over 18. I heard them at the stadium shouting my name Oshiomhole, Oshiomhole, I said good for them let them be shouting my name and Oshiomhole is not in the ballot because they could not point to what they have down” In what looked like accepting Oshiomhole’s apology, Ize- Iyamu said: “Some people will pretend that they want to advise you, Somebody said Pastor, we like you but we don’t want Oshiomhole to campaign for you, he said because Oshiomhole abused you before, how is he going to campaign for you now but I said if the man who said you were not tall before and now say you are tall, is that a bad thing? That fact is that who has worked well, has worked well. If Oshiomhole had not worked well, will you people have hailed him the way you did when he came here? So no matter what anybody will say who has performed well has performed well. “Was it not Oshiomhole that did airport road? And several others so no matter what anybody will say, this man worked. The only thing is that his mouth is too sharp but the truth is that Oshiomhole did well. “This election is not about PDP or APC, it is not even about Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu, this election is about you. Do you want to continue like this, are you happy about the way things are? They claim Oshiomhole wants to be godfather but what did Oshiomhole ask you? Did he ask you for money?” In the days coming what happened in the past may be key factors in the campaigns for the September election. In 2016 it was largely Oshiomhole vs Ize-Iyamu and the man whose name was on the ballot paper, Godwin Obaseki became the secondary face of the campaign. Now, in 2020, it’s still Oshiomhole calling the shots against Obaseki as Ize-Iyamu hopes to reap from former APC national chairman. Oshiomhole remains the issue or perhaps the face of the Edo elections. The outcome could determine his place in the Edo politics after his fall at the national level. Edo 2020: A Pas astor or, , his tigers, lions and the rest t of us By Adaze Emwanta, It is now clear that Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the opposition APC hope on winning the election through rigging, killing, ballot snatching and sporadic shooting. This was exposed at last week’s meeting between Ize-Iyamu and his ‘Tigers and Lions,” a pseudonym for thugs and touts mobilized to cause mayhem during elections. In a viral video, a renowned thug in Benin City, introduced other thugs to Pastor Ize-Iyamu saying, “These are the lions and tigers from different local governments of the state.” In defiance of the electoral laws that bar movement from one polling unit to another, Ize-Iyamu told his tigers and lions to move from one polling unit to another. He specifically said his administration would benefit the thugs because many rich men would flee from what they are capable of doing on election days. His words, “ Your influence goes beyond one polling unit. After doing your unit, you will move to another unit. In fact, you will move to other wards. Some of you are so DANGEROUS you will move to other local governments. “Make I tell you, this election will be operation show your result. And that operation, make I tell una the truth, na many of una e go favour, because wetin una go fit do, many big men nor go fit do am.” What Pastor has failed to realise or whether he refused to learn from history that no weapon is more powerful than the force of a people. He himself said the thugs he was addressing are DANGEROUS but one thing is clear, Edo people will make the ‘tigers and lions’ claw-less. It is a pity leaders of the lions and tigers have accepted the orders of Pastor Ize- Iyamu. These are men who made billions of naira under Oshiomhole now receiving orders to go and disrupt elections because they want to return to the streets of Benin City to be harassing drivers, traders in the name of collecting revenue. Edo people have resolved to give Governor Obaseki another four years. Just as He did in the days of Samson and Daniel, God will give the rest of us the strength to stop the tigers and lions on election day. Their fangs will not open to devour anybody because God is with us. •Adaze Emwanta, a constitutional lawyer, writes from Benin City
SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020—15 NDDC PROBE: Akpabio, IMC, lawmaker ers s hiding something — N’Delta stakeholders •Lawan, an, Gbajabiamila must t not shield lawmaker ers •What President Buhari should do – Nkanga, Mitee, Ambakaderimo •Our patience running out – Ukene, Mene, Morris, Jackson By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South, Sam Oyadongha, nJimitota Onoyume, Festus Ahon, Egufe Yafugborhi, Emma Una, Ike Uchechukwu, Chioma Onuegbu, Davies Iheamnachor, Emem Idio, Ochuko Akuopha, Francis Sadhere LEADERS, activists and other stakeholders in the Niger-Delta appraised the dirty war between the National Assembly on one side, Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Interim Management Committee, IMC, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, on the other hand, during the week, and concluded that the parties were concealing the actual details of their deals from Nigerians. National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF and ex-Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom state, Nkanga, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd.), former Ogoni ethnic nationality leader, Mr. Ledum Mitee, Convener South -South Reawakening Group, Joseph Ambakaderimo were dumbfounded the contenders were quarreling and threatening themselves over who stole more than the other, instead of development of the region. Warri-based constitutional lawyer, Akpo Mudiaga-Odje, immediate past president, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, Eric Omare, also bared their minds, saying President Muhammadu Buahri should personally supervise forensic audit of the Commission and ensure that those indicted were speedily sanctioned. They have something to hide — Nkanga PANDEF national chair, Nkanga, who spoke in Uyo, asserted: “It will be dangerous for me to speculate on what the issues are in the NDDC/NASS quarrel. But from what I have seen, and read, it does appear that they have something to hide. And in an attempt to do that, you can see blackmail and all that. So that is what we are seeing now from both sides.” “They are trying to outdo themselves through blackmail and cover up the real issue. The National Assembly is doing its oversight function and there might be few of them that will not be comfortable with the investigation, because once there is investigation, some people are going to be exposed at the conclusion,” he said. His words: “I do not think the National Assembly was prepared to investigate the entire life of the NDDC. They were only prepared for the issue of the allegation of N40 billion fraud. Since there is the forensic audit going on, I think they should limit themselves to the level of their oversight function and the areas where they have facts.” IMC using diversionary tactic —Mitee Former Chairman, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Mr. Ledum Mitee, told Saturday Vanguard in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state: “The main issue thrown up in the NASS probe of the NDDC is that the Commission has been a cesspool of corruption and political patronages, instead of a development agency.” “Our attention has been diverted by allegations and counter allegations of who had which contract. To me, who had the contracts is not important. It is no answer to allegations that some members of the NA also partook in the looting. “What is important is were those billions properly spent for what the funds were meant for; were due themselves process followed in the award of the contracts; did those projects for which contracts were awarded meet the priorities of development of the communities of the Niger Delta; were the contracts executed; and why have those who committed infractions not been punished?” He added. “The National Assembly should focus on amending the NDDC Act to make it less bureaucratic and accountable to the people and not a political patronage outfit. “The President under whose control and direction the NDDC carries out its functions by law should free it from the Presidency’s They are trying to outdo through blackmail and cover up the real issue. The National Assembly is doing its oversight function and there might be few of them that will not be comfortable with the investigation, because once there is investigation, some people are going to be exposed at the conclusion political stranglehold and immediately sanction all those against whom, by the revelations so far, obvious prima facie corruption cases have been made,” Mitee stated. Minister, IMC play down allegations – Ambakaderimo Convener South- South Reawakening Group, Mr. Joseph Ambakaderimo, said: “The issues raised are germane to the overall development of the Niger Delta in the sense that it did not start today and the attempt to nip it in the bud has now met with stiff confrontation from within and without the commission. The quest to reposition the commission to bring it to meet the noble objective of why it was established should be the focus and top most on the mind of every Niger Deltan and Nigerians in general. But what we see today is an absurd show of shame where the least iota of morality is seen thrown to the wind.” “Yes... Minister Akpabio is disingenuously and deliberately behaving like the ostrich who buries its head in the sand and thinks the whole body is buried. It has become the recurring pattern of the Minister and the IMC to continue to trivialize very serious allegations of corruption levelled against the Minister and the IMC team. The Minister and the IMC team have so far not been able to respond to the allegations convincingly and all what they have engaged in is what I will describe as ‘hot cock turtle’ tactics. “Even though the lawmakers have not asked probing questions and done followup to logical conclusion, I will still maintain that Mr. Akpabio is deliberately muddling up the waters to cover up acts of blatant corruption and direct stealing from the treasury, which unfortunately and unknown to him are been discussed in the market squares by everybody. But he will not succeed because we are ready this time to take on anyone, who will become an obstacle to the development of the region. “It is this spirit that has propelled us to request the Nigeria Police hierarchy to come out with full disclosure on what they, the police, know about the N475 million purported to have been received from the NDDC for Covid -19 support as claimed by the IMC during the Senate hearings. “So far, the NASS has come short of expectation in all of the processes and conducts so far. Like I said earlier, not enough probing and follow up questions are been asked. One instance I will like to restate is the issue of diversion of scholarship funds been diverted to personal bank accounts mentioned by a person, who made those depositions on oath, yet the committee members could not see that serious enough to do a follow up and get details of those accounts so mentioned from the National Financial Intelligence Unit, NIFU, and Continues on page 18
Page 2 and 3: C M Y K 2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AU
Page 4 and 5: C M Y K 4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AU
Page 6 and 7: 6 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 1,
Page 8 and 9: 8 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 1,
Page 10 and 11: 10—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2
Page 12 and 13: 12—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2
Page 16: 16—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2
Page 19 and 20: SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020
Page 21 and 22: C M Y K There are stark reminders a
Page 23 and 24: Mamman Daura is powerful. His uncle
Page 31 and 32: It is Thursday morning as I write t
Page 33 and 34: encountered Zidane tie could see th

01082020 - You're cruel insentitive for care of repentant terrorists, abandoning us

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?