Stop Attacks Against BEDC, 46 CSOs Warn

Against the backdrop of incessant hostility mounted on its operation, electricity consumers in Edo State, especially those hiding under the cover of civil rights advocacy to foist unlawful conducts, and the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, have been urged to desist from doing so fortwith or face legal actions.

A group with 46 allied Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), Abuja, made this declaration at a World Press Conference addressed by its National Convener, Comrade Solomon Adodo at Abia House, Abuja last Friday.

“We call on the Governor of Edo State to forthwith refrain from antagonizing BEDC Electricity Plc and instead follow relevant rules and guidelines governed by clearly cut contract terms. The issue of power distribution in Edo State should not be unnecessarily politicised,” TADI stated.

 

“It should be made clear that all DISCOs are firmly protected by the contract terms and conditions under, which they were issued licences and it is on record that BEDC has not in any way breached such conditions” TADI said further.

 

According to the group, “we shall resist this evil at all costs in the best interest of sustainable business practice in order not to ward of future investors and / or frustrate the gains made thus far in the power sector”.

 

On this note, we call on the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and every concerned regulator to immediately come out and clear the air on the needless controversies being stirred to cripple the BEDC under its current management.

 

“If we do not get appropriate feedback within seven days of this notice, we shall be left with no other option but to embark on peaceful procession to these offices for the sake of sanity in our power sector”, the group stressed.

 

TADI said that as stakeholders, the federal government has representation on the board of respective DISCOs and it is totally at its discretion to appoint whoever she deems it fit to represent her interest in the DISCOs, saying further that “it is not the DISCOs that determine who federal government appoints as her representative contrary to what some naysayers would have us believe in the case of BEDC”.

 

“It is empirical to note that the respective DISCOs can only distribute the amount of power sold to them by NBET based on the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) allocation allotted each DISCO. Thus contrary to wrong assertions, DISCOs are not allotted power based on what their respective states generate but as determined by NBET using the MYTO allocation system. It added.

 

TADI disclosed that it has identified with “patriotic disenchantment the consistent, brazen and expertly contrived attempts by certain unpatriotic elements to sabotage the dexterous efforts of BEDC to supply power to Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti States.

 

These findings, according to TADI indicated that the entities have launched media and physical attacks on BEDC and primarily bent on destroying the corporate reputation of BEDC on one hand and discredit the federal government’s roadmap for power stability.

Onnoghen: Fani-Kayode Apologises To EFCC Over Fake News

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has apologised to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over Tuesday’s allegations wherein he stated that the EFCC had raided the home of the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Fani-Kayode had in a Facebook post said, “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late!”

However, the commission had threatened to sue him for defamation, describing him as a purveyor of fake news.

In another Facebook post on Wednesday, however, Fani-Kayode apologised for his earlier comment but said some people actually searched the CJN’s home.

The former minister also insinuated that Onnoghen’s bank accounts had been frozen by agents of the Federal Government.

He said, “Yesterday I was informed by usually reliable sources that EFCC were positioned outside CJN’s home. I have since discovered that the men were not from EFCC and I removed the posting. The error is regretted.

“Meanwhile can the Federal Government tell us which agency sent those men and why they beat a retreat? Again is it true that a television journalist was arrested at the scene and his camera and footage confiscated? If so, why?

“Finally is it true that the Attorney General has ordered the NFIU to freeze Onnoghen’s bank accounts. Questions, questions, questions! The tyranny continues unabated.”

Saraki Didn’t Snub Ex-IGP Idris At Remembrace Day – Aide

A Special Assistant to the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has described as untrue, reports making the rounds that Saraki refused to shake hands with the outgoing Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.

Mr Olu Onemola, Special Assistant to Saraki on New Media who shared pictures of the President of the Senate in a handshake with the IGP, described the reports as malicious and unprofessional.

He wrote: “There is a story going around on several online platforms that the Senate President refused to shake the hand of the former IGP. Please note that the story is false. This picture was taken today”.

Saraki was accompanied by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Some of the pictures shared also showed Saraki and Dogara in a cheerful chat with Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Saraki and the IGP have not been so much in good terms as the number three citizens had on many occasions called for the sack of Idris, stressing that he was a threat to democracy and not fit to hold public office.

Saraki had also accused the IGP of trying to implicate him in the Offa Robbery Saga and had met with president Muhammadu Buhari over the matter – A case which is still lingering.

On Several occasions, the IGP shuns the invitation of the Senate to give esplanations on the security situations in the country, an action which angered the upper legislative body and leading to a no convidence vote of the IGP.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration may be the last official function of the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, as President Muhammadu Buhari has named and decorated a new IGP, Abubakar Adamu.

AIG Abubakar Adamu hails from Lafia, Nasarawa State and holds a BSc in Geography.

He enlisted into the Force on 1 February, 1986 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police

Before his appointment as the Acting Inspector General of Police, he was a Directing Staff at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

 

NURTW Suspends Kunle Poly For Allegedly Disrupting APC Rally In Lagos

The national leadership of Road Transport Workers Union has suspended one of the union’s factional leaders in Lagos, Azeez Lawal, popularly called Kunle Poly. It also resolved to set up a committee that will investigate the immediate and remote causes of the recent disruption of the All Progressives’ Congress rally in Lagos.
Kunle Poly is allegedly responsible for last week’s disruption of the rally by the APC in Ikeja and the stabbing of Musiliu Akinsanya, known famously as MC OluOmo.
NURTW President, Najeem Yasin, announced the suspension of the union official after a five-hour meeting with the Lagos state Executive and elders of the union.
The union says it is apolitical and enjoins political parties not to use its members as weapons of destruction, particularly as elections draw near.

My Ambition Not Worth Blood of Ogun People – Dapo Abiodun

Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday said that his ambition was not worth the blood of anyone in Ogun.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta by his spokesperson, Remmy Hazzan, the APC candidate said that he was in the race to win and serve.

“I would not want anyone to be killed or maimed for supporting me and my party.

“I have left the comfort of my highly successful local and international businesses to serve my dear Ogun people.

“I am confident of my local and global goodwill, connections and networks that can be put at the service of Ogun workers and people, indigenes and residents.

“I don’t want my people to be killed, injured or maimed, I don’t want to govern over families that have lost breadwinners or are physically challenged as a result of political violence,’’ he said.

Abiodun, quoting the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948, said “the will of the people shall be the basis of government, and this will be expressed through a democratic election that is free, fair and credible.’’

“I, therefore, call on candidates of all political parties to play by the rules. In the first place, we are all brothers and sisters. Violence is not the way to go.

“Our campaign has been issues-based and non-violent. That was the assurance we gave from the onset, that is the pledge we will keep to despite the unwarranted smear campaign from certain quarters,’’ he added.

The APC candidate, however, urged members of the public to protect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC).

“Keep your PVC to use, as your conscience desires a better Ogun State under a governor who will listen and who will be friendly to workers, farmers, students and all segments of the society.

“Those who have not collected their PVC should do so and timely too.

“ Those who want to buy your PVC are simply telling you that they don’t trust you to vote for them.

“They want to debar your rights to vote. Please don’t sell your rights,’’ Abiodun said.

Lagos Governorship Race: Gbadamosi Is The Best of Them All – ADP

Lagos State Chapter has hailed its governorship candidate, Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi (BOG) for performing exceptionally well at the Platform governorship debate.

The party stated that Gbadamosi has no match among the other candidates of the other political parties.

Gbadamosi’s exceptional brilliance came to the fore at the governorship debate, organized by the Convenant Christian Center on Sunday in Lagos. His responses to the problems facing Lagos was greeted with positive commendations across the social media.

He was rated as the overall best by an online news portal “Premium Times” and others, all the fact check done for his arguments at the debate were all correct according to the BudgITng.

The party said, if you look at the mood of Lagosians who watched and heard of Gbadamosi’s performance at the Debate, they have realized and discovered that, only the ADP is prepared to serve the people of Lagos State because it’s governorship candidate is ready to give power back to them through what it termed as *”Beyond Ordinary Governance”*.

According to the ADP, Gbadamosi, knows the problems militating against the state, and the solutions to them.

ADP calls on Lagosians to take the golden opportunity that has presented itself to take back Lagos and own it by electing a “People’s Governor.” The party said Gbadamosi is highly qualified to govern and make life better for all categories of people in Lagos.

In the same vein, ADP appeals to INEC and other stakeholders taking critical roles in the conduct of the forthcoming elections to conduct free, fair and credible polls that will reflect the true wishes and yearning of Lagosians.

Lagosians want a governor who will be answerable to them, and our party has presented the most qualified candidate who will surely win the election.

ADP stressed further that, Gbadamosi has presented a “Lagos Regeneration Plan”, which bothers on mass housing, education, security, traffic management, wealth creation, power, rail, water and road networks, healthcare, better remuneration package for civil servants, supports open governance initiative amongst many others.

According to the party’s spokesman for Lagos, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, Gbadamosi is a man who matches his words with actions. Adeoye assured Gbadamosi would lift millions of people out of poverty by creating a healthy business environment that will allow young entrepreneurs to grow by providing them with business grants and others who want to earn their legitimate living.

ADP tasks Lagosians to be ready to elect a new governor in Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi and it’s other candidates going for Senate, House of Representatives and Assembly.

Runsewe Lauds Lagos For Promoting Robust Culture and Tourism Activities In 2018

+ Plans Nationwide Tour

Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe has expressed immense joy with culture and tourism activities in Nigeria last year, promising to embark on culture evangelism tour of the 36 states of the federation very soon.

The NCAC DG singled out Lagos for engaging and promoting robust culture and tourism activities in 2018, which helped create a window for organized local and international visits across Nigeria.

Runsewe whose office organized some of the most notable cultural festivals in Nigeria last year such as National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) and International Arts and Crafts Exposition (INAC), noted that the upbeats in culture activities from all states in the country would help to sustain an all year and season holiday culture in Nigeria and also anchors certified cultural festivals as tourism products to help local and international tour operators in marketing Nigeria to the world.

According to Nigeria’s chief cultural officer and President, World Crafts Council, Africa region, what took place around the country last year is a revolution which would place Nigeria in its rightful place in global tourism community.

The NCAC DG noted that the 50 billion naira spending by holiday makers in Lagos is a huge eye opener to what can tickle down  to operators of businesses and the service industry, adding that what is needed now is to see that the industry is well organized and turned up to create jobs for Nigerians. He said Lagos state government is doing well in tourism and prays that the state will continue to provide the leadership in strategic tourism activities more than ever before.

Ambode Canvasses Support For Fight Against Insurgency

…Restates Commitment To Welfare Of Families Of Ex-Servicemen, Fallen Heroes

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday urged Nigerians to support officers and men of the armed forces presently fighting the war against insurgency in the northern part of the country and other territorial threats, saying that their bravery and patriotism must never be in vain.

Speaking after performing the laying of wreath and release of pigeons in commemoration of the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration held at Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos, the Governor called for prayers for military personnel in the battle front to win the war and keep Nigeria as one indivisible entity.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Governor Ambode said that 15th of January has remained sacrosanct in the political history of the country as it was a time to reflect on the sad memories of the civil war and also to appreciate the gallant warriors for their heroic exploits which has preserved the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria.

“This is also a platform to commend the officers and men of the armed forces who are engaged in one military exercise or the other to combat insurgency and other threats to our territorial integrity. We remain grateful to you for your bravery and patriotism to put your lives on the line for our country.

“I call on every Nigerian to rise up to the occasion and support our men and women engaged in theatres of war with prayers so that they would achieve resounding victory over those who threaten our peace and national sovereignty,” the Governor said.

While congratulating the legionnaires and families of late ex-service men for the success of this year’s Armed Forces remembrance activities, Governor Ambode assured that his administration remains committed to their welfare and well being.

He also called on Lagosians and indeed Nigerians to show love and care to the families and the loved ones of those who lost their lives while defending the country, which according to him, would further reassure them that their loved ones had not died in vain.

The Deputy Governor took on the first duty of inspecting the guard of honour mounted by the combined detachments of the Army, Navy, Airforce, Police and the Nigerian Legion immediately she arrived the venue of the ceremony.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, several gun salutes was fired and the Deputy Governor led others to the pigeon case, where she released the birds to signify peace.

Other notable personalities, who performed the laying of wreath ceremony, include representatives of the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly; Chief Judge of Lagos State; Oba of Lagos; Service Commanders of military and para-military formations, a representative of the widows of the fallen heroes, among others.

2019: Obasa Warns Against Violence As Agege APC Flags Off Campaign   

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has called on Nigerians, particularly youths, to stay away from violence and acts and utterances that can cause breach of peace, particularly as the 2019 General Elections draw near.

Rt. Hon. Obasa spoke on Sunday, during the flag off of the campaign for the general elections organised by the Agege Federal Constituency chapter of the All Progressives Congress  (APC).

“I want to advise Nigerians particularly youths, to stay away from violence. We should do away from any act and utterances that can lead to violence and cause any breach of peace,” he said.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker stated that there is no gain in thuggery and violence saying the country can only flourish, grow and develop in atmosphere of peace and tranquility. “When there is peace and tranquility, the country will grow and develop. The development and growth of this country is a collective effort between the government and the governed. Without peace, we can’t develop, neither can we grow,” he said.

The campaign flag off was attended by prominent leaders in Agege. Apart from the Speaker, the representative of the Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Taofeek Abiodun Adaranijo; member, state House of Assembly for Agege Constituency 2, Hon Oluyinka Ogundimu; the state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure and APC candidate for House of Representatives in Agege, Dr Samuel Babatunde Adejare; the Chairman of Agege Local Government, Hon Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi; his Orile Agege LCDA counterpart, Hon Johnson Sunday Babatunde; APC chieftains in Agege: Chief Shafari Adaranijo, Professor Tunde Samuel, Chief Owolabi Dada and Chief Ayeni Shittu among others.

The campaign flag off cum solidarity trek took the Speaker round the major areas in Agege: Mulero, Adealu, Dopemu, Mangoro, Okekoto, Alfa Nla, Capitol, Isale Oja, Papa Uku, and back to Mulero.

Buhari Appoints Adamu As Acting IG As Idris Bows Out

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Abubakar Adamu Mohammed Lafia has been named as the acting Inspector-General of Police (IG).

Adamu’s appointment reportedly got the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari, who met with IG Ibrahim Idris, who is expected to bow out of service today after attaining the retirement age of 60.

The appointment came following opposition from some quarters against possible tenure extension for IG Idris, who has also attained the statutory 35 years in service.

It was gathered that the acting IG was selected by the president among three names submitted to him after weeks of shopping for Idris’ replacement.

AIG Adamu, The Nation gathered, is a course mate of Force Secretary AIG Taiwo Lakanu and former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss Ibrahim Lamorde.

Until his appointment, the Lafia, Nasarawa State-born Adamu was serving at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

It was gathered that the officer, who, like Idris, spent many years working with the United Nations (UN) and the International Police (INTERPOL), will be officially announced today (Tuesday).

Confirming the development to The Nation, a source close to IG Idris said the decision was taken yesterday.

The source said: “It is true but the announcement has not been made yet. Oga (Idris) retires on Tuesday (today) having clocked 35 years in service. He has done well for the police and brought in many innovations.

“The new IG once served as Deputy Commissioner in Ekiti State Command, among other postings.”

The development confirmed a story exclusively reported by this newspaper on January 10.

The Nation said in the report that the President may not extend IG Idris’ despite pressure from lobbyists.

It reported that the IGP might be directed to hand over to the most senior DIG next week (this week).

 source, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation on January 9: “The President is not likely to extend the tenure of the IGP but he  is waiting for the statutory retirement day before making a pronouncement. You know, Buhari is a due process leader.

“The outgoing IG is most likely to hand over to the most senior Deputy Inspector-General of Police pending the appointment of a substantive holder.

“ If Idris leaves, there will be an Acting IGP and this will not affect security arrangement for the general elections So far, the IGP is expected to be preparing his handover note.