57 House Members Cross over to New PDP

House of Representatives

•Tambuwal, others expected to follow as defection spreads to Kebbi, Plateau, Abia  
•Anenih: Peace talks continue next week    

Chuks Okocha, Muhammad Bello, Omololu Ogunmade and Onwuka Nzeshi

The crack in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be widening by the day as no fewer than 57 members of the party in the House of Representatives have declared their support for the splinter group of the party.

The defectors, in a statement obtained by THISDAY Tuesday, appended their signatures to a declaration of loyalty to the New PDP.
It was however learnt that the number might swell soon as other House members, including the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, were expected to switch loyalty.

The defectors said some lawmakers who ought to have signed the allegiance document, were not in town as the House is on recess, and would do so when they return.

The faction, whose birth was announced on Saturday, originally had in its fold former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors elected on the platform of the crisis-torn party.

The governors are Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano). Others are Mr. Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
The House of Representatives lawmakers jumped ship a day after 22 of their colleagues in the Senate took a similar step.

Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, however expressed optimism yesterday that the party would emerge from the crisis stronger as peace talks with the aggrieved party members, whom he said had genuine grievances, would now continue next Tuesday.

THISDAY had exclusively reported yesterday that the governors aligned with the New PDP had elected to withdraw from a peace meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday with President Goodluck Jonathan, other PDP governors and party stalwarts.
It was further learnt that the defecting lawmakers in the House were essentially drawn from the seven states whose governors led the revolt against the leadership of the ruling party last Saturday.

It was also gathered that some lawmakers from Kogi, Kebbi, Plateau and Abia States have also jumped on the bandwagon.
A review of the 57 lawmakers who appended their signatures to the document yesterday showed that in Sokoto State, all the 11 House members elected on the platform of the PDP, including Tambuwal, have pitched their tent with the faction led by former acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

Although Tambuwal did not join in the walkout staged by the aggrieved group last Saturday, sources said he has sympathy for the Baraje faction.

“Do you need to ask? Don't you know that from time he has not been with the mainstream PDP, hence he defied their directive and took the speakership seat that the party had earlier zoned to the South-west?
“Tambuwal is always with his governor (Wamakko) and you don't expect him to change at this time,” a source said.
In Rivers State, all the 13 lawmakers, except the two opposed to Amaechi have also joined the new group. The only two lawmakers left in the old boat are Hon. Ogundu Chinda, Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency and Hon. Kenneth Chikere of Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency.

Similarly, all the 14 PDP lawmakers in Kano State have joined the new group.
In Adamawa State, all the five federal lawmakers have crossed the carpet, just as seven of their counterparts in Niger State. It was also a clean sweep in Jigawa and Kwara States, both of which have 11 and six legislators respectively.

Kogi presented a similar result, as five out of the seven federal lawmakers have joined the new group. The remaining two – Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen (Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency) and Hon. Steve Karimu (Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency) – were said to have declined support for the emerging group due to the influence of a prominent politician from the Kogi West Senatorial District.

Although the picture was not clear with respect to the fate of the PDP in Kebbi, Plateau and Abia States, it was reliably gathered that the New PDP was making inroad into the three states.

In the statement endorsed by 57 House members last night, the lawmakers hailed the emergence of the faction and congratulated the   Baraje-led National Executive Committee of the party.

The statement read thus: “We, the members of the House of Representatives under the platform of the New PDP, hereby congratulate our leaders on the emergence of the new party.

“Although a sizeable number of our members who could not append their signatures because of their unavailability in the country will do so immediately on arrival, we, the undersigned, salute and appreciate the courage, sacrifice and resilience and patriotism of our leaders namely: former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, GCON, and the Governors of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko, (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), and other well-meaning and eminent Nigerians for leading the way for the emergence of the New PDP.

“We are also using this opportunity to condemn in strong terms attempts by some agents of the federal government to use the state apparatus to witch-hunt some of these patriots for taking this bold and courageous step.

“As members of the House of Representatives, we call on the security agencies and other anti-graft bodies to be professional in their activities and not allow themselves to be used by anybody no matter how highly placed for their political ambitions. Remember how you want history to judge your tenures.

“We won't hesitate however to use all instruments of law within our powers as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to stop this and bring anybody found wanting to book.
“We wish to state that by this statement, we pledge our loyalty and support to the New PDP under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the Deputy Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and other members of the National Executive Committee.

“We congratulate them and wish them the very best as they steer the affairs of our party to provide a level playing field for all Nigerians.”
It was also gathered that the New PDP House members might soon put pressure on the principal officers of the House to declare their stand or face removal.

This, a source said, was because with their numerical strength, as the majority the PDP once held in the House no longer exists.
At the moment, PDP has 204 members in the House, All Progressives Congress (APC) has 137, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Accord Party have five members each. The Labour Party has eight, while the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has five members.

But with the defection of 57 members to the New PDP and more expected to join their ranks, they could combine with the 137 members of the APC to effect a change of leadership in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

One of the defected lawmakers said the massive crossover of his colleagues to the New PDP was indicative that many members of the party were dissatisfied with the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

The lawmaker, who did not want to be named, added that the “real politicians” are the ones leaving the mainstream party to form the New PDP.

According to him, the factionalisation of the party was a signal to Jonathan to halt his ambition to run for a second term in 2015.
Announcing the postponement of the peace meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday, Anenih said the meeting would now hold next Tuesday.

He also added that the seven governors that stormed out of the special national convention to form the New PDP have genuine reasons for their action.

He said yesterday’s meeting was postponed at the request of the aggrieved governors.
In a statement, the PDP BoT chairman said: “I believe some of them have genuine grievances; but I have hope that once the grievances are addressed, they will come back.

“I am happy that the PDP has an internal mechanism for effective conflict resolution, and at the end of the day, the problems will be addressed and the PDP will come out of the crisis stronger.”

According to him, the planned reconciliation meeting with the PDP governors was put off and would continue next Tuesday after selected party leaders would have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday as part of wider consultations demanded by parties to the crisis.

He explained that the aggrieved governors had informed the presidency and the PDP leadership that they needed more time to make wider consultations.

He added that the presidency and PDP leadership were taking advantage of the postponement to also consult widely on how to amicably resolve the crisis.
“Part of the wider consultations is the meeting of selected party leaders with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday morning and thereafter, we will meet with the governors on Tuesday, next week,” he added.

In the absence of the splinter group, the president however met with other governors of the party, Tukur and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pium Anyim, at about 9 pm yesterday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A roll call of attendees comprised Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak and PDP Deputy Chairman, Uche Secondus.

Others included Governors Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Theodore Orji (Abia), Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Capt. Idris Wada (Kogi) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

On the defection of the 22 senators to the New PDP, Senate Committee Chairman, Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, told THISDAY yesterday that they would eventually bow to superior authority of the upper chamber and reverse their decision.
Enang, in a telephone interview, dismissed insinuations that things have fallen apart in the PDP caucus in the Senate, adding that the red chamber has a family spirit through which it resolves its differences.

On the issue of Senate Whip, Senator Bello Gwarzo, joining the aggrieved senators by defecting to the faction, despite being a principal officer of the chamber, Enang said come what may, Gwarzo would remain in PDP.
Enang also advised against what he described as inflammatory statements on the split of the party, noting that it has continued to fuel the crisis instead of resolving it.

Several efforts to speak with the leadership of the Senate yesterday proved abortive, as the Special Adviser to the Senate President, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said his boss does not comment on contentious issues such as the decision of some senators to join a group of dissident party men.

He also said such issues do not usually generate spontaneous reactions but would be properly addressed on the floor of the Senate when it reconvenes later this month.

Meanwhile, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), after its meeting yesterday, has directed that the inauguration of the National Financial Committee of the party, earlier scheduled for today, be suspended.

A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said a new date would be announced for the inauguration.
The NWC also invited all state and zonal youth and women leaders for a seminar to take place tomorrow in Abuja.

New PDP House Members
1. Abdullahi Balarabe
2. Abdulmumin Jibrin
3. Ali Ahmad
4. Abdullahi M. Wamakko
5. Abdullahi Muhammed Rico
6. Abdulmalik Usman Cheche
7. Adamu Bashir
8. Ahman-Patigi Aliyu
9. Ahmed Zerewa
10. Aishatu Ahmed Binani
11. Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka
12. Alhassan Ado Garba
13. Aliyu Madaki
14. Aliyu Shehu
15. Aminu Shagari
16. Aminu Sulyman
17. Aminu Tukur
18. Andrew Uchendu
19. Asita Honourable
20. Bashir Baballe
21. Blessing Nsiegbe
22. Dakuku Peterside
23. Dawari George
24. Faruq Muhammed Lawan
25. Gibson Nathaniel
26. Gogo Bright Tamunu
27. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro
28. Hassan Adamu
29. Hussain Namadi
30. Ibrahim Ebbo
31. Ibrahim Tijjani Kivawa
32. Issa Bashir
33. Kabiru Achida
34. Khabeeb Mustapha
35. Maurice Pronen
36. Mohammed Sabo
37. Mpigi Barinada
38. Muhammad Ahmed Mukhtar
39. Muhammad Ibrahim
40. Muhammad Sani Kutigi
41. Mukhtari Muhammad
42. Musa Ado
43. Musa Sarkin-Adar
44. Mustapha Bala Dawaki
45. Mustapha Mashood
46. Ogbonna Nwuke
47. Rafiu Ibrahim
48. Sa’ad Nabunkari
49. Sani Muhammed Aliyu
50. Shuaibu Gobir
51. Sokonte Davies
52. Sufiyanu Ubale
53. Umar Bature
54. Usman Wada
55. Yusuph Dunari Sule
56. Yusuph Galambi
57. Zakari Muhammed

Ice Prince, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid nominated for 2013 Mobo Awards

Yay! Big congrats to Tiwa...and Ice Prince and Wizkid. Nominated in the Best African Act category at the 2013 Mobo Awards.

Boy orphaned at nine wins Shell varsity scholarship

Ayolu

At nine years, Master Lucky Ayolu, from Ekeni in Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa State, lost his father and mother.

Expectedly, life became cruel to him as he learnt to fend for himself. He told our correspondent that he took to fishing to pay for his fees in primary and secondary schools, as his grandmother, whom he stayed with, did not have enough.

However, as someone who is destined to succeed in life, Ayolu, now 17 years, has become a beneficiary of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s overseas scholarship.

The scholarship scheme, whose yearly budget is about N120m, and managed by Bassan West Cluster Development Board, saw Ayolu as one of the 14 beneficiaries.

Ayolu, who spoke to PUNCH Metro, said his life was a testimony that “absolute faith in God and hard work are very important in life.”

He said, “Life has been unkind to me. But today, I have every cause to glorify God for lifting me up beyond my imagination.

“At a point, I lost hope completely and started nursing the idea of taking my life. It was so bad that when I heard about this scholarship, I could not raise transport fare to the venue of the examination.”

Ayolu said one of his cousins assisted him financially to obtain the scholarship form and also gave him transport fare from Ekene to Yenagoa where the test took place.

“At the end of the test, I was successful. I am going to read Computer Science at Wisconsin University, Ghana. The discipline has been my lifelong ambition and I am grateful that God has used my community and Shell to make the dream a reality.”

He advised other youths in difficult situation not to give up, saying that with hard work and trust in God, they would achieve their desires.

He also urged the governments at all levels to look into the plight of the orphans in the country.

“Governments should look into the plight of orphaned children in the country. They should not abandon them. The government should institute a scholarship scheme for the orphaned,” Ayolu said.

We’re not vandals, we only assisted them – Suspects

The suspects

The Nigerian Navy has arrested five suspected pipeline vandals in Makoko area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that naval operatives from NNS BEECROFT, arrested the suspects while they were transporting fuel allegedly siphoned from ruptured pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Naval authorities said 13,500 litres of petrol contained in 270 jerry cans and two canoes were recovered from the suspects who claimed that they were only helping a man to convey the items for a fee of N3,000 each.

Among the suspects were two nationals of Benin Republic, Juten Seiki and Joseph Logbo, and three others – Bababo Oritshebinomi, Segun Okimiji and Victor Sopha.

Parading the suspects, the Commanding Officer, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, stated that the suspects were arrested based on an intelligence report about their activities in the area.

He said, “Based on the information, a naval patrol vessel from Atlas Cove was deployed in the area and at the time of the arrest, about 270 fifty litres of plastic jerry-cans filled with PMS, and 40 empty ones were found in their possession.”

Ezekobe, who stated that the war against pipeline vandals was an ongoing one, vowed to bring all those arrested to book.

He said the suspects would soon be handed over to the security agency with the constitutional mandate to prosecute them.

The suspects however denied being pipeline vandals, saying they ignorantly helped the vandals to convey the products.

Logbo, who claimed to be a canoe operator, said, “I have been using the canoe to earn a living to take care of my wife and child.

“Like all paying passengers, one man approached me and asked for the use of my boat for an agreed fee. Since I did not know him well enough to give out my boat, I opted to convey them.

“That was what I was doing when the navy apprehended me and brought me here. I don’t know anything about the act. I didn’t know the products were stolen.”

Another suspect, Sopha, said he was paid N3,000 by the vandals, who are presently at large, to transport the products.

He said, “I really don’t have anything to say except that some people paid me to convey the kegs. I don’t even know them.  I was paid N3, 000.

“I met them in the middle of the lagoon. They said their boat was about to sink from the weight of the cargo and they needed help.”

Timothy, on his part, said this was his first time of attempting to help the vandals. He said, “I have a fishing boat which I rent for N5, 000. I was fishing when I came upon them and they asked me to help them with the cargo.

 “I told them I could not rent my boat out to strangers, so I joined them load the products in my boat. It was then we were arrested.”

Stowaway teen returns to Edo

Daniel’s dad Ohikhena speaking to reporters...yesterday

For the first time since August 24 when he made a daring flight in the tyre compartment of an Arik Air flight from Benin to Lagos, Daniel Oikhena, saw his mother, Evelyn, at the State headquarters of the Directorate of the State Security Services (DSS).

Daniel, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) I pupil in Benin, Edo State capital, was released from DSS custody yesterday morning to officials of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development.
Mrs. Oikhena was informed of the processes her son would go through and later asked to go to the ministry for further briefing.
It was gathered that the government planned to send Daniel to a correctional facility before being allowed to return to school. Several efforts to see him and his mother failed until information filtered in that Governor Adams Oshiomhole would meet with Daniel at 3:30pm.
Daniel’s celebrity status was tested yesterday as government officials left their offices to catch a glimpse of the stowaway kid.
He rode into the Government House in the same car with the DSS State Director, Bakori Tukur.
Reporters were barred from recording Daniel’s entry as he was taken inside through a back door.
Daniel’s father, Osaigbovo, made a surprise appearance at the Government House shortly after his son and wife were taken inside.
He was not invited to join the meeting.
Osaigbovo said he was a commercial bus driver and that he was told about the scholarship offer by his wife.
The father, who was accompanied by some of his relatives, denied allegations that they showed up because of the scholarship offer.
He said he has been taking care of his children contrary to the uncaring attitude of his wife.
Osaigbovo (44) said he had a problem with his wife to whom he had been married for the past 20 years.
He displayed a photograph of himself and two of his children during a family outing.
“I came to tell the world that I am Daniel’s father. His mother and I had a misunderstanding last year. I did not leave my home. I invited my wife to join me but she said where I was staying was too far and she decided to stay away. It is a lie that I have not been taking care of my four children. We are not divorced.”
On why he has been quiet about his son’s predicament, Osaigbovo said his wife asked him to calm down that she would take care of everything.
“I went with her to the police station but she said I should keep quiet.
“I was shocked when I heard the news. Initially, I thought my son was kidnapped but I thank God he is alive. I am here to make sure my son is really alive. I am not married to another woman. My wife refused to give my number to the DSS when they asked for it .
“My son likes movies. He is quiet and easy going.”
A volunteer group, De RAUFs, which had indicated interest in Daniel’s welfare was at the Government House.
Represented by Yinka Muyiwa, head of its legal team, De RAUFs said it came to Edo State to reaffirm the scholarship it earlier gave the lad to continue his education up to university level.
Muyiwa said: “The boy did not commit any offence and as such should not be detained any longer.
“The boy had to do what he did because the system failed him. There was no crime involved in what he did as far as we are concerned.”

Rihanna shades your favourite pop stars...hehe

After passing the 4 billion views mark on Youtube, Rihanna boasted about her latest accomplishment by shading the heck out of other pop stars. Bad gal RiRi branded her pop star peers basic. Lol. Queen Bee is not basic tho!

Guards help robbers to steal from pharmaceutical firm

The suspects

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two security guards, Ali Salifu and Eno Kela, with seven others for allegedly robbing pharmaceutical company, May and Baker, in Ikeja Indusrial Estate.

Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, told PUNCH Metro that the arrested guards gave other security men in the company some packs of juice laced with a banned drug, Rohypnol, to make them sleep when the robbery was taking place.

She added that policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were, however, able to foil the operation after some hours of surveillance.

She said, “On August 24, 2013, SARS operatives received information that some robbers were planning to rob May and Baker at Ikeja. Around 9pm, the robbers had duplicated a key to the warehouse where the company’s products were kept. We learnt that some of the security guards had connived with the robbers after being promised N200,000.

“The robbers also gave the security men laced juice and told them to give it to other security men at the company to make them sleep. The robbers came in two trucks and were loading cartons of two expensive drugs, Sulphatride and Thyzamide, into the trucks when they were apprehended.

“Policemen from SARS stormed the place and foiled the robbery. The robbers, who were in possession of two AK-47 rifles, immediately threw their guns into the warehouse when they saw the policemen.

“The robbers and the prospective buyer of the stolen goods have all been arrested.”

The suspects, however, said they were not armed during the robbery.

The security guards also denied complicity. They said they did not know that a robbery was taking place on the premises until policemen arrived at the scene.

Salifu said, “They had approached me before, saying they wanted to rob and they would give me N200, 000 but I refused. On the day they came, they told me they were going to another company. I did not know they came to rob.”

The suspect accused of masterminding the operation, Olanrewaju Simeon, said this was his second time of robbing the company.

Simeon, who claimed to have been in charge of the company’s security before his dismissal in 2011, said he was expecting N1m from the operation.

He said, “I have been jobless since I was asked to leave the company in 2011. But I understand how things are done at the company. Last year, I successfully robbed the place and made N1m. This year, I got in touch with another security guard at the company, Richard, who gave me the go ahead to rob.

“May and Baker shares the compound with five other companies, so the security guards at the main gate are different from those attached to May and Baker. I understood this very well and Richard told me that he would get some drinks, inject them with Rohypnol and give them to the security guards at May and Baker, telling them that he was celebrating his birthday.

“Richard demanded N50, 000 from me and then introduced me to the other guards (Salifu and Kela). I gave them N50,000 and they remained at the main gate to ensure that the robbery was successful. Unfortunately, policemen caught and arrested us. Richard however managed to escape.”

The proposed buyer, Ejike Ehiri, 62, said he did not know he was buying stolen goods since Simeon had pretended to be a medical sales representative.

The father of nine said, “I bought drugs from him (Simeon) last year at the cost of N400,000. I did not know the goods were stolen. It was not until SARS operatives arrived at my house that I knew he was a robber.”

Another suspect, James Imoha, who claimed to be a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Auchi Polytechnic, said he did not know that he was engaging in a robbery operation.

He said he had only been invited by a friend to convey the goods from the warehouse to a truck at midnight

Stunning celebrity brides: which wedding dress do you prefer?

Munachi Abii and Sasha P modeling bridal dresses at the Imani Swank Pink Champagne Soiree a few weeks back. Which wedding dress do you prefer the most? See more celebrity brides after the cut...

Miss Nigeria - Ezinne Akudo

 

Actress Ufuoma Ejenobor

 

Temi Dollface

INEC should deregister Tukur’s PDP – Aggrieved govs, others

PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur

The  parallel Peoples Democratic Party led by Abubakar Baraje has said the faction of the party led by Dr. Bamanga Tukur should be deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

It hinged its position on what it described as the failure of the faction to complying with Section 222(D) of the 1999 Constitution which requires a political party to notify INEC of any  alteration of its constitution.

The  PUNCH learnt of this on Tuesday shortly after the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenh,  said the seven  governors who aligned with a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,  and others   to form the Baraje -led faction  had genuine grievances.

The position of the faction known as the ‘New PDP’ is part of the  statement of claims    before the Lagos High Court,Ikeja . The faction is also seeking the declaration of  Tukur as illegal chairman of the PDP on the grounds  that he was not properly accepted as a member of the PDP  after his expulsion by the National Executive Council  of the party  in 2001.

According to the statement of claims, “It will be recalled that the 2009 PDP Constitution was amended which brought about the 2012 PDP constitution.

“Evidence has surfaced to prove that strange clauses which were not part of the proposed amendment to the 2009 Constitution  was inserted into the originally  produced version of the 2012 Constitution and those alterations were not approved by the party’s  convention and the NEC, thereby making the document a forged document which is invalid.

“The forged 2012 Constitution was not equally filed before INEC as required by the  1999 Constitution, thereby making the PDP constitution upon which the 2013 convention was held an invalid document and the outcome of that convention invalid, as it was held with no valid constitution.

“The proof  of these evidences can be seen in the approved memo by the PDP NEC upon which the amendment was done in the 2012 and the original version of the PDP constitution filed with INEC will as well prove these violations.”

On why  Tukur was not capable of presiding over the PDP convention, the statement of claims  noted that, “exactly on  May 31, 2001, the PDP NEC, after its meeting  in Abuja, expelled eight members of the PDP   in accordance with the PDP constitution which gives the NEC the powers to discipline NEC members who breach  the constitution.

“They were expelled after NEC considered and adopted the report of the Iro Dan Musa-led PDP Disciplinary Committee. Alhaji   Tukur,  Chief Don Etiebet, Asheik Jarma,  Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (late), Emmanuel Ibeshi, Harry Marshal and Gbenga Olawepo, were the ones expelled from the PDP.

“Note that Article 10(b) iii of the PDP 2009 constitution and Article 8(17) of the 2012 amended constitution which holds that any member of the party who loses his membership by expulsion can only return to the party with the approval of the party executive at his ward, state and national levels, who shall give him a waiver.

“Since the expulsion of   Tukur in 2001, he has not complied with the above requirement  , meaning that his purported participation at the 2012 convention where he was elected was a fraud and invalid, as he is not yet a member of the party.”

The Baraje’s faction is also asking the court to declare the August 2013 convention   as illegal based on the  participation of “illegal delegates;”   the disqualification of duly elected delegates; and the failure of the party to comply with the provision of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act.

Section 85(1) of the   Act states, “a registered political party shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, and other governing bodies.”

Also on Tuesday,  a group,  the PDP Stakeholders Forum, filed a fresh law suit at the  Federal High Court in Abuja,  seeking the nullification of PDP  mini- convention  and the sacking  of  Tukur.

In the  suit, the forum  also asked  INEC to deregister the   Tukur-led PDP faction  for allegedly using a forged 2012 constitution to hold the convention.

The Chairman of the forum,  Chief Ikenga Ugochinyere,  said, “We insist that this act of brazen criminality must not go unpunished. The perpetrators of this heinous crime against the party and the law of the land should be arrested and charged to court.

“Tukur is ab-initio not a bonafide member of the PDP that is capable of being elected into the office he currently occupies. Alhaji  Tukur was expelled by the National Executive Committee of the party after being indicted for “high level anti-party activities” alongside five others in May 31, 2001.”

Tukur   however denied the allegation that he was not a member of the party.

Speaking through his aide, Mr. Oliver Okpala, he  asked  for  evidence that he was  no longer a member of the party.

 “Tukur is among the founding fathers of the PDP. He has paid his dues and the allegation that he has been suspended should be ignored. Let those making the allegation show evidence that he is no longer a member of the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP BoT Chairman,  Anenih, has  said  the seven  aggrieved  PDP  governors had  genuine grievances.

Anenih,   in   a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, also said that the Tuesday (yesterday) peace talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP governors, including the aggrieved ones, had been postponed till next Tuesday.

He explained that the shift was at  the  instance  of the aggrieved governors, adding that   the peace talks   would continue next Tuesday after selected party leaders of the party would have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday as part of the wider consultations demanded by parties to the crisis.

He said,  “I believe some of them have genuine grievances; but I have hope that, once the grievances are addressed, they will come back.  I am happy that the PDP has an internal mechanism for effective conflict resolution. At the end of the day, the problems will be addressed and the PDP will come out of the crisis stronger.

“Part of the wider consultations is the meeting of selected party leaders with Chief  Obasanjo on Friday morning and thereafter, we will meet with the governors on Tuesday, next week.”

He disclosed that the aggrieved governors told the Presidency and the PDP leadership that they needed more time to make wider consultations. Anenih  explained that the Presidency and the PDP leadership were taking advantage of the postponement to also consult widely on how to amicably resolve the crisis.

The BoT chairman, who read out the resolution of the marathon meeting that held in the Presidential Villa from Sunday night till the early hours of Monday, expressed optimism that the problems would be resolved.

Anenih had at  the end of the  meeting read  a short resolution   to the hearing of the  PDP governors.

Mikel, Moses land in Eagles camp •I missed football – Osaze

Victor Moses and Mikel Obi

The preparation for the Nigeria game against Malawi on Saturday is taking a full swing with the arrival of some key players of the Super Eagles in Calabar. Some of those who trained in Calabar on Tuesday were Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi; new Liverpool player Victor Moses, Efe Ambrose, Sunday Mba, Ahmed Musa and Obinna Nsofor and goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim.

In camp also are Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Nwofor, Godfrey Oboabona, James Okwuosa, who came in on Monday, Brown Ideye, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis and Azubuike Egwuekwue. In all, 12 of the players trained on Tuesday evening at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Coach Stephen Keshi said he was happy with the response of the players and expects a good game against Malawi on Saturday.

Just as Eagles troop in, Osaze Odemwingie has confessed that he missed football following a long layoff. The estranged Eagles attacker said he was eager to prove his worth to Cardiff after signing from West Bromwich Albion for £2.5m.

The 32-year-old Nigeria international became surplus to requirements at the Hawthorns after the striker’s infamous drive to London in a bid to engineer a move to Queens Park Rangers at the end of the January transfer window.

“I missed football and I am delighted to come to a fast-progressing team,” he told Cardiff City Player.

“They have a young manager with a lot of ambition. He has done really well in a short period and I hope to help the team become better and I am grateful for the confidence they have shown in me.

“I am very motivated and ready for action. The last six months, coming on as a substitute for 10-15 minutes, was not what made me happy and I am a better player when I am happy. I am very hungry and I will show the same attitude I had when I was scoring a lot of goals in games in the Premier League.”

Odemwingie will use the international break to get acquainted with his team-mates before their Premier League trip to face Hull City on Saturday week.

Odemwingie’s Eagles teammates will play Malawi as he continues his absence from the team. The attacker has not featured for Nigeria since last year. His layoff from the game was all round as he neither played for country nor club for the period. His statements from his Twitter handle separated him and the Nigeria coach Keshi just as uncomplimentary tweets knocked him off finally from his Hawthorns base.

Father who beat to death man he caught raping his 5yr old daughter won't face charges

District Attorney Heather McMinn and Lavaca County Sheriff Mica Harmon appear at a news conference in Halletsville, Texas on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 in the aftermath of the killing

A Texas father who discovered a man raping his five-year-old daughter and beat him to death with his bare hands will not be charged with homicide under state law.

A Lavaca County grand jury decided not to press charges against the 23-year-old father in the June 9th death of Jesus Mora Flores, 47, who was killed inside a remote shack after he was caught molesting the young girl.

Under Texas state law, deadly force is authorized and indeed, justified in order to stop an aggravated sexual assault and coupled with the fact that the harrowing 911 calls made by the father back claims he even tried to save the pedophile's life led to the grand jury's decision.


Lavaca County sheriff's deputies said that the father, whose name has not been released to protect the little girl's identity, sent her and her brother to feed the family's chickens.

The boy rushed back to tell his dad that someone had grabbed his sister and taken her to a small secluded shack and the father rushed towards his daughter's screams and arrived to find them both with their underwear off.

Flying into a rage, the father beat Flores unconscious, but attempted to call 911 for the rapist after he had made sure his daughter was safe.

Sheriff Micah Harmon had said in June that he was not willing to press charges against the father, rather the case would be presented to a grand jury. At the time, Harmon said that the man was 'very remorseful' and didn't know at the time he had killed Flores.

'You have a right to defend your daughter,' Harmon told CNN at the time. 'The girl's father acted in defense of his third person. Once the investigation is completed we will submit it to the district attorney who then submits it to the grand jury, who will decide if they will indict him.'

Indeed, the father is heard profanely screaming at a dispatcher who couldn't locate the property. Becoming increasingly frazzled, the father at one point tells the dispatcher he's going to put the man in his truck and drive him to a hospital before sheriff's deputies finally arrive.
V'Anne Huser, the father's attorney, sternly told reporters several times during a news conference at the Lavaca County courthouse that neither the father nor the family will ever give interviews. 'He's a peaceable soul,' Huser said. 'He had no intention to kill anybody that day.'
The attack happened on the family's ranch off a quiet, two-lane county road between the farming towns of Shiner and Yoakum.

Authorities say a witness saw Flores 'forcibly carrying' the girl into a secluded area and then scrambled to find the father. Running toward his daughter's screams, investigators said, the father pulled Flores off his child and 'inflicted several blows to the man's head and neck area.'

Nigerian Army retires 10 generals

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika

The authorities of the Nigerian Army have retired some top generals of the Army.

It was gathered that those retired were ten in number.

Among those affected were the former Director of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Ngugbane, the former Commander of Training, Doctrine and Command, Maj.-Gen. Babagana  Mungonu, and the former Chief of Research and Development, Maj.-Gen. Obinali Ariahu.

A top military source said on Wednesday that the generals were retired because they had put in the maximum years in service.

The source said that the retirement exercise was routine and not punitive.

The source added that the retirement exercise was expected to take place every quarter of the year.

The source couldn’t give the names of the others affected in the exercise.

“It is true that some of our generals have been retired. The exercise is a routine one. It is not a punitive retirement, they have reached their terminal level.

“Some of them were asked to proceed on the compulsory terminal leave in June this year,” the source said.

Our correspondent could not contact the Director of Defence Information, Brig.- Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, for comments as the calls placed to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was switched off or in an area outside network coverage.

JTF destroys two illegal refineries

Illegal refinery destroyed by JTF in Bayelsa State

Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta says it has destroyed two illegal oil refineries in Bayelsa State.

Spokesman for JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu,  said troops of 5 Battalion of the outfit deployed in Sector 2 area in the Niger Delta impounded two barges laden with illegally sourced crude oil along the Kasabobo creek.

Nwachukwu said the feat was achieved after a weeklong intensive anti-oil theft patrol targeted at sanitising the creeks and waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

This came even as the Bayelsa State Government  said the Governor Seriake Dickson administration would rid the state of kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and other crimes.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Lt.Col. Bernard  Kenebai (retd.), spoke on behalf of the government in an interview on Tuesday.

“In Bayelsa, the criminals will have to make a personal decision not to be involved in kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and other crimes. Our mandate and commitment is to ensure that we rid Bayelsa of criminals.

“We earnestly must empower security agencies and position them to be able to carry out their statutory responsibilities in such a way that meets the expectations of the citizens.”

Speaking on the impounded oil barges, the JTF spokesman said the Commander, Sector 2, Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, ordered the operation  following reports that crude oil theft had continued despite JTF’s continuous clampdown on the activities of criminals.

Nwachukwu said, “The troops were ordered by the Commander, Sector 2 Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, to embark on the operation following reports of recalcitrance of oil thieves in the area despite regular clampdown by the JTF.

“The barges, christened CWTC 16 and TIKORO 2 with eight compartments each, filled with stolen crude were intercepted by the troops while trying to make its way into the international waters through Forupa channels.”

“The troops also carried out raids on illegal crude oil distillers along Ogbenibiri, Kugbie and Forupa in Southern Ijaw LG where they dismantled eight illegal crude oil distillation sites.

“The troops also scuttled 7 steel reservoirs deceptively buried in the ground and concealed with canopies to prevent detection by troops.”

In a separate operation, Nwachukwu said the anti-oil theft patrol team of 146 Battalion carrying out surveillance along PPMC right-of-way arrested 4 suspects at an active illegal crude oil distillation site at George Kiri near Bonny Island.

He said 21 drums containing illegally distilled Automated Gas Oil loaded in four 75HP OBM speed boat were recovered from the suspects.

He said, “A cordon and search conducted around the illegal refinery site led to the discovery of a metal pipe connection welded on PPMC pipeline which would require the assistance of a technician to be disconnected. The suspects recovered items have been taken into custody pending further investigation

Davido has a word for Forbes ...lol

How dare Forbes Africa make a list of the Top Ten Most bankable and richest African artists and not include Davido's name? Lol. What does Balu mean?

Cocaine mess update: Redeemers' Univeristy re-admits students

In February 2013, 28 students of Redeemers University were expelled by the university for allegedly failing drug tests. The tests were conducted last November for 42 students during their exam. The expulsion generated a lot of criticisms causing the school to rescind its decision in April. The school wrote letters to the affected students asking them to face a panel to explain why they failed the test, after which the panel would make a new judgement.

Well, the school has reviewed the case and has decided to re-admit all 28 students on the condition that the students will miss a whole semester and go for five month rehabilitation at a rehab centre. A decision that didn't go down well with the affected students and their parents.