Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode Directs Contractors To Commence Work On Ajasa-Command, Abesan Roads In Two Weeks

…Says Projects To Come With Walkways, Drainage, Street Lights

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday expressed displeasure on the state of Ajasa-Command and Abesan roads, just as he assured residents that work would commence on the roads within the next two weeks.

Governor Ambode, who spoke during an inspection tour of the areas, expressed displeasure at the deplorable condition of the roads, saying such was unacceptable in the State.

The Governor assured that work would commence on the Ajasa-Command axis, after Ile-Iwe junction, where the previous road construction stopped, explaining that the project will accommodate walkways, street lights and drainage systems.

At the Command Military School, the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr Rasheed Akindele who briefed the Governor on the current state of the road, said the project was undertaken by the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) around 2011/2012, but the Ministry of Works took the project further to the Command Bridge and then to Ipaja axis.

According to him, due to the volume of vehicular movement in the area as residents prefer to link Ipaja and Ayobo through the axis from Alagbado, the road deteriorated due to neglect.

Also, a community leader in the area, Alhaji Abdulrazak Olajide, told the Governor and his entourage, that the people have been suffering a lot in the axis due to lack of road, pipe-borne water, health facility, electricity and schools.

While addressing a large crowd that trooped out to see him, Governor Ambode said as a responsive and responsible government, work would commence on the road within the next two weeks.

He said: “I felt sad when I got here to see the state of the roads in this area. It is so displeasing, it is disheartening and it is totally unacceptable to me. I have been reading about the state of this area from several letters written to me by residents and that was what made me to decide to come and see the state of things for myself.

“I will start from where they stopped work previously at Ekoro Road and we will fix the drainage from there to Ajasa here within the next two weeks. We will not stop at that, we will fix the roads also. We are going to fix this road from Command Bridge down to Command and Ikola.

“In addition to that, I have listened to one of the leaders in this community. We are bringing schools into this community. One of our priorities for 2016 which we have stated in our budget tagged ‘The People’s Budget’ is to provide schools and health centres for all our communities and we will make sure that this part of Lagos is well represented in that provision.

“I just want you to be patient and cooperate with the contractors and when we do the road, we are also going to do street lights. Above all, when we do all these, you also make sure that you pay your taxes,” Governor Ambode said.

At Abesan, Governor Ambode, who trekked about 900 meters from Church Road down to Giwa Street to inspect the Abesan link road, equally promised that work would commence on the road within the next two to three weeks.

Addressing the people of the area, Governor Ambode said: “We are here in Ipaja and we have moved from the junction at Ekoro road joining from Church Street up to this point in Giwa. We have seen that the roads here are in very deplorable state. The best option for us is to commence this project immediately. We are going to construct from Church road down to Aboru and then do the bridge that will link this Giwa Street to Abesan Estate and also down to Iyana Ipaja.

“We will do the drainage, street light and then walkway also. What I just want to tell all the people in Aboru is to be patient with us. The contractor will move to site within the next two to three weeks. We have also told the contractor to employ people from this area to do the job. All you need to do is to cooperate with government and the contractor. Before the end of this year, the project must have been completed and we will be back to walk on the roads together”, he said.

Responding on behalf of the community, a resident, Pa Samuel Babatope, said they were elated to see the Governor in their community, expressing optimism that the visit of the Governor was a confirmation of the fact that the roads will be fixed.

“We have been hearing that our road will be fixed, but we used to think it is one of those lies from politicians. We are happy that it is now a reality that our road will be fixed. I thank the Governor and his team and pray that God will continue to help them to deliver on their promises and make life easy for residents,” Babatope said.

Jan 27 hand over date: Crisis looms in Kogi as Yahaya Bello shops for deputy gov

A major constitutional crisis looms in Kogi State as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor-elect, Yahaya Bello, is reportedly confused on a choice of deputy  ahead of Wednesday, January 27 inauguration.

The tenure of Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will effectively expire that day when  Bello is expected to be sworn in as governor, but he and his party, the APC in the state, are said to be at a crossroad on who to choose as his deputy.

It was learnt that this crisis was fueled by the refusal of James Faleke, running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu in the November 21 governorship election to accept the position of deputy to Bello who replaced Audu who died on November 22, 2015 when the election result was being collated.

Faleke, who claimed he was not consulted before APC picked Bello to replace Audu has since headed to the tribunal where he urged the law court to declare him as governor-elect. The case subsists at the tribunal.

At the last sitting of the tribunal, Justice Halima Mohammed, who is the chairman, refused the application of the Labour Party, urging it to grant an interlocutory injunction to restrain the swearing in of Bello on Wednesday on the ground that the motion was not properly filed while the tribunal had ordered the bailiff to serve Bello who was said to be evasive by substituted means.

Already, about six people are said to be lobbying to be appointed as deputy governor to Bello including Chief Clarence Olafemi, former speaker of the House of Assembly and acting governor in 2008 who hails from Mopa, the hometown of the outgoing deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi.

Obafemi is from Mopa in the Western senatorial district, which  has produced two deputy governors.

Also, top of those lobbying for the plum job, is one Justina Abanida, a former commissioner for Justice who hails from Egbe, also in the Western senatorial district of the state.

It was also learnt that one Dr. Kole Bamisaiye, a staff in the National Assembly who hails from Ekirin Adde, the hometown of Faleke and one Tokunbo Asubiojo from Iffe-Ijumu and one Kayode Olomo from Ponyan in Yagba East are also jostling for the position of the deputy governor.

But, a top party source told Daily Sun, that Bello and the APC may have  finally settled for Simon Achuba, a former deputy speaker in the House of Assembly who hails from Ibaji Local Government Area of the state. Achuba was before now a member of PDP who was said to have worked seriously for Governor Wada at the last year governorship election.

Again, it was learnt that the outgoing governor Wada may not hand over the reins of government  directly to Bello as it is being rumoured that he may have jetted out of the country before the swearing- in date.

A source at the government house said the governor may after all hand over the reins of government to the embattled Speaker of the House, Hon Momoh Jimoh who was last december removed by 15 of the 21 House members, but he is still being recognized as Speaker by the outgoing governor.

Both the governor elect and the Speaker are of the same Ebira  tribal stock from the Central axis of the state.

Source: Sun News Online

I remain grateful to Gbenga Daniel – Tinubu dismisses rift rumors

By Wale Odunsi on October 21, 2015

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has cleared the air on the alleged enmity between him and a former two-term Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Tinubu, who spoke through Mr. Wale Edun at the 25th anniversary celebration of Otunba Gbenga Daniels’ Kresta Laurel, said there is no truth in the stories that he has been fighting with Gbenga Daniel, adding that they are still good friends.

Edun said: “I am here representing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and my presence is to show that there is no friction between Asiwaju and Otunba Gbenga Daniel”

Mr. Edun went on to explain that whenever Tinubu drives past the Kresta Laurel building in Maryland, Lagos, he remembers the enormous contributions Daniel made to the take off of his administration in 1999 and was immensely grateful.

He revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain was very gracious to donate the Kresta Laurel building to Tinubu’s campaign team at the time it was just being completed.

“The Daniels also made a section of their home available to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whenever he worked too late and could not go home. After the election, he also allowed us to use it for the Transition Committee where he was a member”

On behalf of Tinubu, he wished Kresta Laurel well, and prayed that God will keep them and sustain Daniel, his wife, Olufunke, and their business for the next 25 years and beyond.

Corroborating the assertion that Tinubu and Daniel are not at war, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo in his speech emphasized the contributions Daniel made to the beginning of what has now become the ‘Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu political machine’.

He revealed that both men’s respect for each other is mutual and that it was a “mere rumour that they were fighting each other”.

Osinbajo wished the company better years ahead.

In attendance were former governors, royal fathers, business moguls and prominent politicians.

Source: Daily Post NG.

We Won’t Provide Sureties For Metuh –Jalo (PDP)

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that it will not provide sureties for its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.

The party said since Metuh was being prosecuted for offences that have nothing to do with it, its embattled spokesperson should look for those who would stand as sureties for him.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, told our correspondent in an interview on Friday in Abuja that it would be wrong for anyone to be expecting the party to provide sureties for Metuh when the party did not benefit from the money he allegedly collected from the former National Security Adviser, Lt Col. Sabo Dasuki (retd.).

Metuh is facing charges for allegedly collecting N400m from Dasuki, an offence the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission described as money laundering.

Though Metuh said he actually collected the money, he said it was for a job he did for former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Metuh has, however, remained silent on the type of job he allegedly did for the former President.

He is also being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly tearing the statement he made to the commission while under interrogation.

The PDP spokesperson has denied both offences, and he is currently being remanded in Kuje Prisons, Abuja, by two different courts pending the time he would meet the bail conditions.

There were anxieties on how he would meet the conditions in order to ease his release from the prisons.

Jalo, however, said the party would not be involved in the search for the sureties.

He said, “Metuh didn’t represent the party in the alleged crimes he’s being prosecuted. The party didn’t benefit from the alleged crime.

“So, he is going to look for sureties himself. We won’t be involved. He would carry his own cross alone, without the party being involved.”

However, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Victor Kwon, said friends and associates Metuh were “doing everything possible to get the sureties” as demanded by the courts.

Source: Punch

We got N163m from Ikorodu, FESTAC, Agbara operatoins — Ex-militant cum member of notorious Lagos bank robbery gang

Abanara ‘Million’

NOTORIOUS member of the dreaded armed robbery gang that recently terrorised banks through the creeks and waterways of Lagos, Clement Abanara Million, has said that it was the chieftaincy title he took in his locality that led him to armed robbery.

The 42-year-old suspect who assumed the title of ‘Ebimewe’, meaning ‘someone doing well’, made the disclosure in an interview a few days after his arrest by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team.

Said he: “My real names are Clement Abanara Millions. I am from Ogbembri Village, Warri North, Delta State. I was one of the militants granted amnesty when we dropped our guns. The Federal Government used to pay us N65, 000 each every month.

“I was also doing black oil and gas business, and I was making good money from it. I started helping people with the money I was making. I built a good mansion and became a philanthropist. I also built a jetty for my people but could not build a school because it is an expensive project.

"In the year 2014, I accepted a high chieftaincy title called Ebimewe, but the high financial demands of my new title made me to join a bank armed robbery gang to get enough money to meet up.”

Explaining how much it cost him to build a first–class country home, Clement said: “It is difficult to calculate easily and tell you how much it cost me to build the edifice. When I was building it, the only thing I knew was that I used to buy cement by trailer load. I did not want the builder to manage cement or rods or concrete. If you fire bullet at the wall, it cannot penetrate. It would be like firing bullet at an iron wall.

“The cost was a millions, but I can’t give you the exact cost because what I was doing was that I had a taste of what I wanted and I was supplying what the builders needed. The money was too much. I used to add money to the building of the house after each operation or from for the money I made from black oil. The N65, 000, which the government paid me through the Central Bank every month, is small money compared to the money I was spending as a chieftaincy titleholder.”

Apart from other houses he built, Clement noted that the cost of the mansion could cover the cost of many mansions. He said: “I don’t know how much it cost me to build this mansion because my target was to build it to my taste and not how much it would cost me.”

On how he joined gangs involved in bank robberies and kidnapping, he said: ”There were two generals or leaders called Kelly and Kakadu, and we had two camps namely Dike and Ossy camps. Kakadu was more powerful than Kelly. There was no armed robbery operation or kidnapping work we would do without involving Kakadu. Even where he was not able to follow, he would send some of his experienced boys who have mastery of the gun, the creeks and contacts, especially contacts that would inform the gang when there was enough money in the bank vaults or a workable plan for a successful bank operation.

“It was my mother that gave me the name Million, and that was the name my gang members and the majority of people who know me preferred to call me. I participated in four bank robbery operations out of seven, led by Kakadu and Kelly. We also had Dike and Ossy camps. There was a member we called John Togo. He was among the militants that dropped guns and were granted amnesty.

“We were doing well in black oil business. One day, John Togo begged me to loan him N300, 000 to buy something in Lagos, not knowing that they went to plan how to attack and rob banks in Lagos. I could not say no to him for security reasons.

“I participated in a bank robbery at Ikorodu and the second operation at the same Ikorodu. (And) FESTAC, Agbara and Lekki bank robbery operations. We got about N66 million in Agbara bank robbery and N23 million in FESTAC operation; my share was N800, 000. We operated with 13 guns in the FESTAC operation and we were about 26 in number. My Agbara share was N2.5 million.

“We used two buses in the FESTAC operation. In the Ikorodu  operation, I got N500, 000 out of N12 million  and in the second operation at Ikorodu, I got N800, 000 out of N62 million.”

On why he first relocated to Cotonou, Clement said: “Cotonou is the safest place for any wanted criminal to hide because it is like a no man’s land where nobody cares to know who you are or why you are there. See, you cannot compare Ondo State with Delta State and other oil states.  Ondo is a small oil state. Our farmlands have been destroyed, including water and fish. Even the NDDC, NYC, among others are trying, but (it is) not enough.

“There was a time the gang was killing policemen and that made me to think of resigning from armed robbery and kidnapping work. I knew the police would be after us anytime they lose one or more of their men or when innocent citizens are shot dead in an armed robbery operation.

“I even went to church, confessed my sins and vowed not to go back to armed robbery work, but these our gang members, our leaders, would come with one reason or the other and make us to go for another operation. I also needed more money as a high chief. I was not robbing banks till last year despite my 20-year experience in armed robbery. It was because of fuel business that I came to Lagos. I used to bring some jerry cans, and each jerry can is loaded for N1, 000.

“After the Ikorodu bank robbery, I came back and followed them to rob a bank in FESTAC because of ‘long throat’ (greed). I returned to Ikorodu to participate in another bank robbery because my 500 jerry cans caught fire. I had one Highlander jeep, which I sold for N800, 000. I bought three sawing machines. I relocated to Benin to be able to monitor my sawmill workers.

“They called me again to come to Lagos and I told them that I would not come, and I threw away my two SIM cards, GLO and Etisalat. I like Etisalat because of the economy of the calls. Etisalat used to give N1,000 bonus.”

On who set the dynamite used to blow up the vault and bank door, Clement said: ”Anytime there was nobody to drive our operational vehicle to the robbery scene, I would drive. I was the one that packed money from the vault in Agbara.

“I operated with AK-47. There was law in the camp. We were the strangers; they (gang leaders) operated GPMG.  We operated only AK-47. I am older than Ossy in age, but he is a general. I have 20 years experience in armed robbery and kidnapping. In our gang, we have people or members that are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo boys. Dennis is an Igbo boy. He used to wear army and police uniform to beat security on our way  to operations and back.

“I am married with six children. My wife is not aware that I am an armed robber. When she told me that some people told her that they saw my name in the newspapers, I said to her I was not the only person bearing the name Clement or Million. When I was arrested, she said if she had realised that I was a robber, she would not have led police to where I was hiding in my apartment in Benin.

Confirming that she was not aware that her husband was a robber, Clement’s wife said: “We married in 1999 and we have five children. When I told him that I saw his name in the newspapers, he said; ‘I am tired. I want to rest. Is it only me that answers Million? I wanted to do business with the people you were seeing’. He also bought a car (RAV4) and he went into hiding. I sold it to feed my children because I had no money after he left.

“There was a time armed robbers came to our duplex and attacked and robbed us. See my eye (gesturing). They gave me this wound. My husband was calling the police when armed robbers entered our house. He was calling the police to rescue us; he was calling the police through his brother who is an inspector of police.”

Establishing the fact that armed robbers attacked him and his family, Million said: “When I heard the robbers shouting to my wife, ‘where is your husband? Bring out the money you have!’ I tried to escape. But when I was escaping, one of the members of the gang asked me ‘where are you going?’ I told him ‘don’t worry’, and he could not fire me thinking I was one of them because they were many.”

A police source disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has vowed to use the Interpol to pursue other members of the gang still at large to any part of the world and that there was no hiding place for them.

The source added that, so far, the IGP Intelligence Response Team has arrested seven people who supply arms and eight members of the gang, bringing to 15 the suspects arrested from the group, and that the hunt for others on the run is still on.

On how many people he had killed, Clement said: “If not by mistake, I will not kill somebody. I went for training as a militant. I was taught how to shoot. I don’t shoot carelessly. If I see the police, I shot into the air. It is other members of the gang that shoot the police.”

But why do they set one of their operational cars ablaze after each bank robbery operation? Clement had an answer. “We do it to conceal the identity of the owner who is our gang member, and we used to compensate the owner when sharing bank money. I had vowed in my  New Year resolution that I would stop robbing people, but, unfortunately, I was arrested.”

WHERE IS PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN? BY DELE MOMODU

PENDULUM By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, I’m surprised that no one has asked about the wellbeing, welfare and whereabouts of our dear former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. Are we so wicked and uncaring that we have forgotten the gentleman who brought us fresh air so soon? Do we truly suffer from “collective amnesia” (apologies Wole Soyinka) that no one is coming up in defence of the man who brought FaceBook to Africa’s biggest nation? Where are all those acolytes who were falling all over themselves this time last year during the Presidential campaigns? Where are the royal fathers from different parts of Nigeria who were decorating our President with all kinds of esoteric Chieftaincy titles?

Where are the experts who were churning out endless statistics about how God had blessed us with the greatest President Nigeria ever knew? What happened to all the economic magicians who claimed that former President Jonathan had propelled us to the pinnacle of the temple and proclaimed that in consequence we were Africa’s numero uno economy? Where are the priests, pastors, alfas, Imams, marabouts, traditional worshippers, and all manner of religious personages who trumpeted that Ebele Goodluck Jonathan was the anointed of God at the 2015 Presidential elections? Where are the 14 million farmers who were connected by mobile phones in our season of unprecedented Agricultural Revolution? Where are the plentiful loaves of cassava bread and the myriad of rice pyramids that we were told littered everywhere? Where are the ultra-modern air-conditioned trains that we were told travelled from Lagos to Kafanchan, to Kano and Enugu? Where is the second Niger Bridge; and the strategic East-West road?

I have too many questions begging for answers but I will limit myself to only that relating to former President Goodluck Jonathan. I’m just trying to imagine the state of his mind at this terrible moment. I’m not a psychologist but I can attempt to play the role of one by doing some psychoanalysis of the man who left power under one year ago only to witness that things have literally fallen apart with his legacy completely obliterated in the twinkle of an eye. In case you think I’m mucking around and mocking our former President, please perish the thought. I’m more of a sympathiser who would wish to draw sumptuous lessons from the tragedy that befell our former leader. From what I can see so far, President Jonathan as a person is a good man who was fortunate to have been able to effortlessly navigate and meander his way through the murky waters of Nigerian politics to arrive at the topmost position in Nigeria. He was obviously ill-prepared for power and governance and when it landed on his laps he hardly knew what to do with it. He was like a student who was too favoured and over-pampered by his lecturers until he had to write external exams and get exposed to the real world.

I’m certain, President Jonathan could not have bargained for the hurricane that has hit him. When he conceded and congratulated the then President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, he must have looked forward to a life of bliss in retirement. But what is happening now is the worst nightmare for a man who had been compared to Mahatma Ghandi, Lee Kuan Yew and Nelson Mandela.

I don’t know how this cacophony of allegations and babel of counter-allegations would end or subside but I am convinced President Goodluck Jonathan would have to speak up sooner than later. The reason is simple. I expect his embattled foot-soldiers to put all the blame on him as the one who authorised the disbursement of our common wealth by the most generous government in human history. As to the sharing of the bazaar, let’s be fair, how many people are there who would have been paid those stupendous sums and would reject the money or ask where it was coming from.

At the end of the day, the former President would have to bear his own cross and come out clean and accept the blame. As the saying goes the buck stops at number one! I’m not sure apologies would suffice at the stage things have reached especially if the Buhari government is determined and ready to take its pound of flesh. In my view, it would be difficult to jail the messengers and let the master who sent them on irrational errands go scot free. That is the dilemma President Buhari would have to grapple with in the not too distant future. Would Buhari in good conscience be able to jail a former Nigerian President if indeed there was an agreement not to probe and punish the man? Will he be able to ignore the fact that this was a man who, uncharacteristically, voluntarily relinquished power after losing an election and was heralded by the whole world as an apostle of peaceful and democratic change in Africa? It is a tough question that only President Buhari can answer.

The other poser is, how much of the wasted or looted funds can be recovered? I think from the experience of the past, it may not amount to much after all. The litigations are going to go on ad infinitum and some of the alleged culprits may actually escape punishment on technical and other grounds. The EFCC under the energetic and passionate Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was faced with such frustration. There is no other way to punish anyone under the law without going to court. That is the democratic way. It is the democratic way that former President Jonathan embraced, leading him to loosen his hold on power. And it is the democratic way that brought this our new President Buhari to power. There is thus no other way but to follow the judicial process and the principles of natural justice that flow therefrom. Those campaigning for extra-judicial prosecution and conviction may soon reach a cul-de-sac. You can keep the guys indefinitely in detention but how will that bring back the money. The truth is that the worst form of corruption is abuse of office and the impunity that it begets. That was the basis of the unbridled corruption that enveloped the Jonathan administration.  If it remains unchecked, it will not be long before this present government also succumbs and becomes engulfed by the corruption it is professing to fight. Then we would have come full circle without anything to show for it, not even a wee part of our plundered wealth.

I think the biggest mistake of this government was the policy of saying people should not pay foreign currencies into their accounts. This has deprived the government of springing a surprise on those who would have kept their loot in Nigeria. It is now too late to expect those people to pay these foreign currencies into their accounts because of the policy reversal apparently foisted upon us by the visit of the IMF team. I am certain most of those monies have escaped our shores and no matter the anti- money laundering agreements we sign, those foreign countries are not likely to repatriate the funds at a time the world economy is almost comatose. This is another example of the need by all spheres of government to think through policies before they are announced.  There have been too many policy somersaults by our apex financial regulatory bodies in recent time to augur well for our ailing economy. Negative signals have been sent by government to investors and citizens both at home and abroad and this has further increased the pain and burden of Nigerians.

My personal advice is for government to work harder at getting back most of the money that has been stolen or misappropriated, as a matter of top priority. President Buhari may have to enter into unpleasant compromises to achieve this, but such is life. There is no point wasting the little resources now available to us on prosecuting and jailing criminals without getting something substantial out of the exercise.

I pray and wish that President Goodluck Jonathan can redeem his erstwhile government a bit by appealing to his men and women and convincing them to return the atrocious sums of money which they stole without the fear of God. He should save Nigeria from this unnecessary ordeal of trying to compel refund of the filthy lucre and allow this government to settle down and concentrate on the serious business of governance.

THANK YOU, LT. GENERAL T. Y. DANJUMA

I know this would come as a surprise to one of Nigeria’s most respected and respectable retired army Generals but I believe we must always show gratitude to those who touch our lives hoping that others would emulate such acts of selflessness. Let me go straight to my gist.

I had called Senator Mrs Daisy Danjuma sometime last year seeking an appointment with her husband, Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma. My mission was simple but not seemingly so easy to achieve. I wanted “General” as we all call him to write a foreword to my forthcoming book titled PENDULUM: A Book of Prophecies. “Aunty Daisy” as we call the amiable Senator told me the General was in Abuja but should be back the following day. I promised to drop one of the special draft copies for the General. Indeed, I had presented one copy to President Muhammadu Buhari when he invited me to the Presidential villa in Abuja.

I went to the Danjumas hoping to drop the book and run but Aunty Daisy said the General just returned from Abuja and would like to see me briefly before retiring upstairs. I entered the house and personally handed him my book. He told me it might take him a few months to read and then decide whether he would pen the foreword or not. The General has never been known to hide words under the tongue; he is very blunt and straight-forward. I told him I would wait patiently for his decision. He said he had many books to read and that he had just bought President Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest books to add to his reading list, that very day. I saw a man who relished knowledge and reading and I knew I had come to the right person.

General T Y Danjuma (Rtd)

I had good reason to choose the General. I had previously identified him as an intellectual and avid reader of my column. He had surprised me on one occasion when I attended his annual birthday celebration on December 9, in Victoria Island, Lagos. In the middle of the merriment, General pulled me aside and said: “I’m a great fan of your column because you write so well and logically… I think I missed the last two and I’ve just told my wife to make sure she gets it from you…” I was deeply touched by the compliment.

I have been a family friend of the Danjumas for about 15 years and Senator Danjuma has become my big sister to the extent that I am invited to and welcomed in their homes in Abuja, Lagos, Surrey and Marbella at any time. It has been a privilege knowing the man of few words who retired from the military with a glowing record and high esteem. Since then, he has taken to the boardroom with consummate ease and has remained one of the most astute financial players in Africa. What is more, the General has committed a substantial chunk of his immense fortune acquired from his numerous businesses to charity. He is a man of impeccable taste and academic nobility. He reads voraciously and his libraries are well-stocked. His selection, and collection, of world music is amazing. He carries himself with so much grace and panache.

My patience in relation to the foreword to my book eventually paid off two weeks ago when I suddenly got a call from Senator Daisy Danjuma after I had almost given up.  She said the General would like to speak with me and put him on the line. The General told me that he had read the book and he had found it so “fantastic” that he had agreed to author the foreword. There was only one word he wants me to change.

I was very grateful and excited. I have since picked up the work from his Lagos home and, by the grace of God, the book should be ready for publication and circulation shortly. There are a few other books that are almost ready and we should celebrate a festival of books from me this year.

Exciting times are coming.

Fierce Disagreement Within Buhari’s Camp Preceded Signing Of Extradition Agreement With UAE

Sources inside Nigeria’s Presidency have told SaharaReporters that fierce disagreements over treaties signed between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) nearly led to the sacking of top ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. The sources disclosed that Minister of Trade and Investment, Udo Udoma, and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, expressed serious concerns over the provisions of several of the treaties President Buhari planned on signing with the UAE. The ministers’ opposition caused serious friction within Mr. Buhari’s team, SaharaReporters learned.

Mr. Buhari met earlier this week with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Al Nah Yan, the Crown Prince of the UAE, to discuss a range of financial and political issues and to sign six bilateral agreements. According to documents exclusively leaked to SaharaReporters, the six agreements focused on four judicial issues: extraditing criminals in the UAE to Nigeria, the transfer of incarcerated and sentenced persons, mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, and mutual assistance on civil and commercial issues. The bilateral agreement expressly states that these agreements relate to the “recovery and repatriation of stolen Nigerian assets.”

Ahead of the signing of the agreements, Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant for Media and Publicity to President Buhari, stated, “Nigeria also expects to get more support from the UAE for its war against terrorism and the recovery of Nigeria’s stolen funds.”

However, SaharaReporters has learned that the commercial and trade agreements signed between Nigeria and the UAE were considered by many on Mr. Buhari’s delegation as counter to Nigeria’s best economic interests. The most vocal dissenters, according to sources, were Mrs. Adeosun and Mr. Udoma, who counseled Mr. Buhari not to sign those agreements.

Our sources revealed that Mr. Buhari was, however, not interested in his ministers’ arguments that the economic agreements between Nigeria and the UAE were weighted against Nigeria’s interests. “Mr. President was focused on doing whatever was necessary to repatriate stolen funds and extradite criminals hiding in the UAE,” said one source. He added, “He was so concerned about that sole issue that he became incensed about the warning from some members of his team.”

At one point in the debate, Mr. Buhari declared his readiness to relieve Mrs. Adeosun and Mr. Udoma of their portfolios if they did not drop their opposition to the agreements.

One source told SaharaReporters that the two ministers realized the importance of identifying and reclaiming assets illicitly stashed away by corrupt Nigerians in the UAE, especially Dubai. However, they felt that Nigeria gave away too much in terms of its bilateral economic interests in order to achieve the president’s major goal.

Source: Sahara Reporters