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Monday, 1 February 2016

Jonathan govt bought substandard weapons to fight Boko Haram -- FG

Federal Government on Monday said former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration procured substandard weapons for the military to prosecute the war against terrorism, declaring that such weapons could not have been responsible for the successes recorded by the military in recent times.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abeokuta by his Special Adviser, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, maintaining that whatever weapons that were procured by the Jonathan government to prosecute the war against Boko Haram "were substandard and could not have been responsible for the string of successes recorded by the military in recent times."

The minister described as unfortunate and unsubstantiated the statement credited to former President Goodluck Jonathan attributing the recent successes in the war to the weapons allegedly bought by his administration that were delivered after he had left office.

Mohammed said the present administration owed it a duty to put the record straight, especially because the issues raised by former President Jonathan were of public interest, which bordered on national security.

According to the minister, the weapons, munitions and equipment which the former President claimed he bought were refurbished and lacked the basic components and spare parts.

He added that the ammunition bought for both high calibre and small weapons had mostly expired, incompatible with weapons and grossly inadequate.

"The weapons, munitions and equipment which the former President said he bought were refurbished and lacked the basic components and spare parts. Additionally, the ammunition bought for both high calibre and small weapons have mostly expired, incompatible with weapons and grossly inadequate.

"It is pertinent to state that the ammunition he was referring to were back loaded because they explode within the barrel when fired, thus leading to deaths and injuries among soldiers," the minister Alhaji said.

Alhaji Mohammed explained that the troops also lacked the much-needed lift and operational vehicles and other equipment which they needed for an effective prosecution of the war, until the present administration ameliorated the situation.

The minister noted that the situation was so pathetic that soldiers were often transported in Civilian JTF vehicles, civilian vehicles, trailers and water tankers when going to the theatres of operation, adding that the revelations on the sorry state of things in the past, which he said had emanated from the investigative panel so far, pointed clearly to the kind of legacy bequeathed to this administration by the past government.

"That explains why troops remained largely static and were unable to effectively deploy to completely rout the Boko Haram terrorists in all their known enclaves.

"The high level of casualties sustained by our gallant soldiers was most unprecedented and cannot be compared to any known military operations in recent times, all because of the terrible state of affairs suffered by the military under the Jonathan Administration," the minister said.

He said Jonathan had "chosen to denigrate the system for the unprecedented feat that was achieved within the first six months of the Buhari Administration - something that he could not achieve in all of six years," apparently because he could not understand how credible and dedicated leadership could impact positively on the morale and performance of troops.

"It is also clear, as has been shown so far by the outcome of the panel probing past arms deals, that the purchase of substandard weapons apparently resulted from the massive corruption that enveloped the deals, the kind of horrifying graft that saw the purchase of refurbished choppers that lacked rotors, or fighter jets that could not be deployed to the theatre of war because they were not up to par.

"The needless loss of lives of many of our gallant troops, resulting from the lack of standard weaponry and low morale in the past, is not a matter to be trivialized under any circumstance," the minister said.

Headlines

Busty actress Cynthia Agholor releases enchanting photos

Seasoned Nollywood actress, Cynthia Agholor has been harping on decency in the industry and she brought it to bare in these new photos she released exclusively to Vanguard.

“Must I go about dirty because I’m born again? I need to look good so that when someone approaches me, they will say hey you look good. I now tell the person that hey it’s Jesus. Then I start preaching.
Something has to attract somebody to come to me. So if I can preach to you the way I’m looking, and the way I am, and considering the fact that I’m an actress and I’m preaching to you and you have seen my movie and liked it, of course, men, if you look at yourself, you will want to surrender to God.

For instance, I went to my friend’s church one day and the pastor, who knows me, introduced me after the service and people were like wow, if you can be born again in your profession, what are we waiting for?” she once said in an interview to drive home her closeness to God and belief in looking good and godly.
See more photos
Cynthia-Agholor3

Reps summons Amaechi, NRC MD, others over alleged N1trn rail contracts scam

MEMBERS of the adhoc committee of the House of Representatives on failed rail contracts have summoned the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Seyi Sijuwade; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru; and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, to explain their roles in the alleged N1 trillion rail contracts scam.

The adhoc committee is headed by Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, PDP, Ikpoba/Oha Federal Constituency. They are expected to appear before the committee tomorrow during the investigative hearing.

Committee to probe alleged N50m bribe given to each House of rep member

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National Transportation master plan coming — Amaechi

Reps grill Army chief, Buratai over Zaria killings

Chairman of the adhoc committee, Agbonayinma, confirmed that all the stakeholders had been duly informed and were expected to show up unfailingly tomorrow.
Asked why the Minister of Transport was invited, despite the fact that he is barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma said: “The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office but you know government is a continuum.
“This 8th House is 100 per cent in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption.
“We are not out to witch-hunt anybody but anyone found wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be adequately exposed although as you are aware, not until it is proven by a competent court that such persons are guilty you can’t say they are guilty.”
It would be recalled that during the last investigative hearing on December 10, former chairman of the NRC board, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had denied that during his tenure, no contract was awarded by the board he chaired.

Tukur, a former chairman of PDP, had told the adhoc committee that the Procurement Act excluded the NRC Board from participating in the award of railway contracts.
“The Board which I chaired, was never involved in any contract award and was never told or invited to participate in issues of contract award of financial disbursement,” he said.
He said throughout his stay as the Board Chairman of the NRC, no issue of contract award of any amount or tune was discussed or awarded by the Board.
Another Chairman of the board, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, also a former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, told the adhoc committee that he was not privileged to appoint any consultant or award contracts for the railway projects.
According to Baraje, all the paraphernalia and indices that would assist him carry out his work were all gone.
“We only played the role of inspection because the procurement act excluded the board from participating in any contract,’’ he added.
He expressed worry that the country’s railway transportation system had suffered neglect, in spite of playing critical role in the development of the economy.
Baraje said more attention should be given to the 25-year railway modernisation plan to boost transportation in the country.
Also speaking at the hearing Senator Ladan Shuni, another former Board Chairman of the NRC, wondered the essence of inaugurating a board that lacked the capacity to oversee the award of contracts.
The investigative hearing is expected to unravel how over N1 trillion was expended on rail rehabilitation, purchase of coaches, spare parts and materials for NRC.
Vanguard recalls that the House of Representatives, had on October 14 based on a motion promoted by Rep Solomon Ahwhinawi, PDP, Delta had set up the adhoc committee to probe contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of rail tracks, standard gauge, bridges, coaches, wagons and locomotives between 2010 and 2014 amounting to N1 trillion.

I’ve learnt a lot from Fayose —Abia gov

Why we insist Seriki chiefs should produce next Olubadan —Chief Fakunle

a Seriki chief in the Olubadan line has disclosed that for two main reasons; historical leg and legal leg, they are the next in line to produce the next Olubadan after the passing away of the late monarch, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I.
This position was stated in a press statement entitle: "The bases of claim of the Seriki Chiefs to produce the next Olubadan of Ibadan after the death of HRM Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I,"made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by Chief Olalekan Adisa Fakunle, on behalf of the Seriki line.
Chief Fakunle stated that their claim was founded "on two legs, which are the historical leg and legal leg."
According to him, on the historical leg, "this leg is predicated on the fact that Seriki's have produced Olubadan's and Balogun's since the foundation of Ibadan and even up till modern times. In the past and up till comparatively recent times, Seriki's have produced people who rose to the highest traditional chieftaincy offices in Ibadan, as they have produced people who rose to become Olubadan, Balogun and other High traditional chieftaincy office holders."
Listing Seriki chiefs like Aare Latosa, Baale Akintayo, Baale Irefin, Shittu, Olubadan Okunola Abasi, Balogun Ibikunle, Balogun Ajobo and Aare Latosa who became the supreme ruler of Ibadan in 1871, Fakunle stated that "it is clear from history that those who have been claiming and clamouring that it is an aberration for Seriki chiefs to rise to become Olubadan" got it wrong historically.
On the legal reason, Chief Fakunle said "Seriki chiefs found this requirement as rather a strange innovation, contrary to the native law, custom and tradition of Ibadan," hence, they began immediately "to agitate for the removal of this proviso by appealing to the Olubadan and the traditional chiefs in Ibadan to see to its removal.
"When all their appeals then fell on deaf ears, the Seriki's proceeded to court by instituting Suit No. 1/313/88 against the Olubadan and all the other chiefs in Ibadan, in 1988. The case went to trial and the Seriki chiefs led evidence, called five witnesses and tendered copious archival documents in support of their case and they closed their case, they appealed to the plaintiffs (the Serikis) to settle the case out of court.
"The terms of settlement was prepared and signed by the Olubadan, the Balogun and the Otun Olubadan as representing all the traditional chiefs in Ibadanland and their counsel who also executed the terms of settlement."
He added that the terms of settlement was filed in court, stating that on December 1, 1989, "the High Court pronounced judgment on it and gave judgment in terms of the provision of the terms of settlement executed by all the parties before it."
From the content of the judgment, Fakunle said the "1959 Ekerin Balogun which requires simultaneous vacancy in the Ashipa and Ekerin titles before the Seriki can be promoted to Ekerin Balogun has been amended by clauses II and III of the consent judgment" for three reasons.

Headlines

Gov. Dickson to Buhari: Stop your political conquest !

Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, who was elected for second term, on January 9, says he cannot celebrate his victory because of the killings that attended the poll that re-elected him. Dickson blames the killings on what he describes as the connivance of security men with thugs who unleashed mayhem on his supporters, many who are now recuperating in hospital.
The governor, who describes his re-election as a war, asks President Muhammadu Buhari to stop what he calls his ‘political conquest’ and tackle urgent national challenges for the benefit of Nigerians.
How would you describe your re-election?
I would simply say that the election was more than just an election. It was more of a war as a result of what my main opponent did, prior to and during the poll.
Indeed, we survived a war because the people of the state were resilient, steadfast and showed confidence in me as their governor. That is why, at the last count, I won seven of the eight local government areas of the state and had over 134,000 votes against my main opponent, who managed to get over 86,000 votes.
To me, this is a resounding victory despite all odds because we were up against a full display of the totality of power at the centre deployed to the fullest to take over Bayelsa by force and my opponent’s campaign was appropriately nicknamed ‘Operation Take Over Bayelsa’, which appeared innocent at first but, in retrospect, we now know what they meant from day one.

This is one victory that led to spontaneous celebrations in families, local governments and communities in Bayelsa, across the whole of the South-South and indeed most states and cities in Nigeria. Millions of people stayed glued to television while collations were going on, hoping that the forces of evil would not triumph.
I believe the Bayelsa election is a significant development in our democracy. It is significant in the sense that this is the first time a governor is winning an election in a core Niger Delta state on a platform different from the party at the centre.
To us, this is a triumph of peoples’ will over might. Women and youths had to stay awake, forming a wall of protection in their voting units and communities with some of them using their bare bodies to block armoured personnel carriers. It means that the Nigerian democracy is on track and it also shows that our nation will not be a one-party state and, everyone, who is thinking that this vast land of proud and resilient people will be cowed and will only go in a particular way and coerced into a kind of totalitarianism, should begin to think twice. With my experience, our people are beginning to understand their roles in a democracy and they are now getting better educated about the democratic processes. It is a good development because this country shouldn’t be allowed to slip into a one-party dictatorship. That is part of the significant thing that has happened in Baylesa; it is a victory for the people in Baylesa who rose up against the desires of the elite. It is instructive, too, that most of the elite, who resigned and joined the other party, positioning themselves for federal appointments, lost their booths and polling units.
So, it is a good development for our democracy, for Bayelsa; good for the Ijaw people, good for the PDP and ultimately good for our country because it shows that our people are resilient and it will resist a one-party state.
What is the unique lesson you learned from the Bayelsa election?
What I have learnt, which I have always known but a lot of people underrated, is that for anyone seeking elective office, you must go to your people because power comes from God and the people. In the election, most of you know that I and my team spent almost six weeks campaigning in a way never done in Bayelsa. I believe the governorship politics of Bayelsa can never be the same again because we have raised the bar in terms of interacting and engaging the people. We visited community after community as against the former practice of a candidate making peripheral appearances in a senatorial district or two. Our campaign was penetrating and I was able to connect with the people who were solidly behind me.
That is why I said, with all sense of seriousness, that if the election is conducted 100 times, I would win 100 times, unit after unit, ward after ward, community after community, local government after local government. I said the other side was not just serious about election because they were not campaigning but simply hoping that violence would fetch them victory at the end of the day.
The lesson from this is that after God comes the people in an election. For those who don’t believe, they will say the people first but I am a man of faith; so I believe God allows people to have power when He chooses to. We also saw the benefits of non-violence because the story would have been lost if we hadn’t laid the foundation, warning everybody not to be violent and to resist intimidation, to turn out to vote, to insist on their right to vote, to insist that their votes count and their votes are counted.
Would you then probe the loss of lives that were recorded during the election?
First of all, I again condemn the unnecessary violence and destruction that followed; you need to know that all these people that were arrested are from one side. Those that had taken over communities, all of them are from the other party, the APC, while all the victims are from the PDP and my supporters. That is the reason we didn’t allow people to celebrate. There was no reason for celebration because the victory came with a heavy cost and I pray that those that were injured in hospital receive speedy recovery and, we will work with the families to bury the dead and we pray God will grant them eternal rest. Over all, the election went well, but it is the security bit that the agencies needed to get right. I want to thank the people for going against all odds and coming out to cast their votes. We were really concerned about the loss of lives and destruction that happened. I had thought that even on account of the violence that brought about the injured and the dead, my opponent would have accepted defeat, called and congratulated me and then join me to reconcile the state and then build a new Bayelsa from the ruins. But I am surprised that he and his party seem to be talking about litigation which they are free to embark upon, but that is disrespect to the memory of the dead and the injured because he seems to be saying he is not tired of supplementary election. He appears to be insensitive because I defeated him clearly in seven of the eight LGAs in the state. As a matter of fact, by our records when he goes to court, eventually, we will prove that he recorded invalid votes in Brass LGA where he won. We will prove that somehow INEC officials connived, though at gun point, to write votes for him. He didn’t earn those votes. Even the few votes they credited to him will come under severe scrutiny and we may have a situation, at the end, where everyone will know we won in all the eight LGAs of the state. He seems to be suggesting that there should be another supplementary election which means he doesn’t care about the dead, the injured and the houses that were destroyed. It appears to me that he doesn’t care if the whole Baylesa disappears. I think that is too desperate to become governor. A man has lost an election clearly in the way the man did, but he is still not ready to accept defeat and allow peace to reign. It is most unfortunate. We are leading, at the end, with over 48,000 votes and he seems to be suggesting that he is not tired of election. To us, this election has been won and lost and the honourable thing, for the sake of our democracy and for the sake of Bayelsa and for the sake of the people he once led, is for him to stop this war against the people.
He should stop boasting that they will manipulate anyone to give him victory or overturn the will of the people. It appears to me as though he does not care if people are dead and if the institutions are destroyed. He just wants to be governor of Bayelsa by all means.
Having been re-elected for second term at a time oil revenue is dwindling and a potential return of militancy in the Niger Delta because of arms not retrieved from youths in the region, are you worried about how you will run the state?

Well, I do know that we are heading to some tough time because of the steady decline in oil prices and revenue in the last one and a half years. It is possible that the APC didn’t see that coming; so I have made this call over and over. What I have rather seen is an insufficient and insensitive team around President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.
For example, they seem to have taken their eyes off the economy, they seem to have taken their attention off core-national security imperatives and are now focusing more on political conquest and expansion of the sphere of authority of their party and all the intrigues going on even within their party. I am of the view that the President doesn’t have the best of advice; I am of the view that the President is not expansive and broad enough. I am seeing a lot of unnecessary restriction, unnecessary concerns about political ego. This President took over the reins of this country at a time that calls for all hands to be on deck. This is when we should be forming national consensus. For example, more people have died in the hands of Boko Haram between when the President took over till date than under the last administration.
What this means is that, contrary to the public proclamations, Boko Haram threat remains a serious challenge. Our men and women in uniform are doing their best and we should all give them support, but what it means is that the national security team needs to have their eyes on national security instead of concentrating on political conquest. The President’s men should show more interest in the economic downturn the country is facing, how to make progress in 2016 and going forward and not wasting time on issues that are myopic and less beneficial to Nigerians at the end of the day.
Now with Iran getting fully involved in oil trade again, we are going to have more oil glut in the market with attendant reduction in the current price of crude. That is a serious matter because it will have an impact even in the maintenance of law and order, because a hungry man is an angry man. If the economy is weak, it may make it difficult for states to pay salaries of workers while the Federal Government might find it equally difficult to pay its workers, soldiers, law enforcement agencies and judicial officers.
These are the real challenges facing the country and I am surprised and shocked that, in spite of all these challenges, what we see is that people are more interested in battles rather than making friends and building national consensus. After elections, no matter how you feel about the candidates and parties, you address the problems of the state and country and move forward. But, sadly, that is not happening and I am very concerned, therefore, the way the country is going in the area of security; not just in the Niger Delta but across the nation.
In the Niger Delta, I don’t think the approach of being selective in law enforcement and deployment of military and security personnel is the solution.
Security agencies should promptly arrest and punish those who use youths to cause mayhem in the Niger Delta and other parts of Bayelsa to discourage others from engaging in criminality. There are different accounts of how Boko Haram started and one account is similar to this and I keep raising the alarm that security agencies should pick up these guys, cause investigation and deal with them appropriately. However, no action has been taken.
So I am calling for understanding and for support from the Federal Government so that, again, we can keep Bayelsa and the country safe again.
Economically, Bayelsa is in a better position now than when I started my first term. The good thing in Bayelsa is that we have spent the first term laying the foundation and we are now moving to consolidate the achievements we recorded in the first term. We have completed 90 percent of our schools with heavy investment made in infrastructure. For instance, our airport is about 70 percent ready. We just need to monitor and see to its completion.
But then, there are challenges of meeting the recurrent obligations and of expanding social security that has been going on in the form of paying school fees, WAEC forms, GCE, NECO, scholarships and all those people as all those things will be unfortunately affected. But, let’s get it clear, our country is in a very difficult economic situation with the drop in oil revenues and that again calls for seriousness on the part of the Federal Government to bail the economy out of the doldrums.
The election seems to have torn the unity of the Ijaw nation apart. What are you doing to unite the people?
To the best of my knowledge, the Ijaw nation is united. Yes, a contest amongst brothers is bound to generate divisions even in the family, but there are no sharp divisions as such. My opponent had his own party men and supporters, but majority of our people supported me. You talked about the unity of the Ijaw nation, the Ijaw nation is united. There are some efforts some people are making, using federal power to get a chunk of support for themselves. I wish them well and advise that they use legitimate means in doing so. Now that the election is over, we are looking ahead to reconciling our people and I have already offered a hand of fellowship to Chief Sylva and the APC and I hope reason will prevail.
I see their reaction after losing that they wanted to go to court as a reaction borne out of shock because they thought they had everything. They had everything working for them somehow, but they did not have God on their side. That is why they lost the election to me. I hope they will accept my invitation to join me to work for peace, security and development of our people.

Ekiti Gov poll, a coup – Aluko, ex-PDP scribe

ABUJA—THE former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, Dr. Temitope Aluko, has alleged that the June 21, 2014 governorship polls in the state that led to the emergence of Chief Ayodele Fayose as governor, was never an election but a coup against the people.
Claiming that the state was under siege and federal might was fully deployed, Aluko, who, apologized to the people of Ekiti for being one of those who played major roles in bringing Fayose, his friend of over 40 years to power as governor, said what took place in the guise of election was a high level manipulation.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, weekend, Aluko, who was chairman, Security and Intelligence Committee of Fayose Campaign Organisation, is now full of regrets for being part of the Ekiti Project, which was the major campaign point of the PDP that had been jettisoned by Governor Fayose. Aluko opened a can of worms and gave an insider account of how the military was allegedly used to rig the election that Fayose won under PDP.
Aluko, who was the Chief PDP agent and signed the results for the election, also disclosed how former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly gave Fayose $37 million cash to prosecute the governorship election.

Aluko had also testified in camera before the military panel that investigated the role of the military in the Ekiti election.
Aluko, who said he was part of Fayose’s inner circle during the election, alleged that Jonathan initially gave the incumbent Ekiti governor a first tranche of $2 million in March 2014 for the primary election, noting that this cash was collected at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja and taken to Fayose’s private house in Abuja before it was moved to Ekiti.
How Fayose got money for polls
“Immediately after the primary election, we collected. another $35 million from Jonathan on June 17, 2014. The money was brought to us by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
“We all assembled at the front office of Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, owned by Fayose. Thereafter, the cash was taken to a Bureau De Change in Onitsha where it was converted to N4.7 billion,” Aluko added.
Aluko further alleged that Fayose received about N3 billion cash from a serving senator from Ogun State to revive the PDP in Ekiti State.
Giving account of how the military was used to win the election, he said: “The former President agreed with Fayose and summoned a security meeting at the Presidential Villa for the purpose of the election. Those at the meeting were the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; then Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimmah; and former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
“Others included Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, then Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan and Obanikoro. At that meeting, the former President made it clear to the ex-Chief of Defence Staff that Fayose would stand for him (as Commander-In-Chief) in terms of providing security for the election”.
Aluko alleged that Fayose, relying on Jonathan’s directive, approached the former Commander of the Army Brigade in Akure, Brig. Gen. Dikko, to take charge of the election for the PDP, who refused to cooperate and was replaced after a petition was filed against him.
“But Gen. Dikko did not give us audience. He stated bluntly that he would not be available for such operation. So Fayose sponsored a petition against him which led to his replacement with Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh who was amenable to our plans”.
Aluko alleged that 64 PDP stalwarts, who had knowledge of their local governors were picked to help with information on opposition members. “They gave detailed information regarding names and locations of opposition members in all the local governments, the various routes, areas of strength and weaknesses of the PDP in the 16 local governments.
“Today, most of these 64 hatchet men are members of the Senate, House of Representatives, state House of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, special advisers and the rest.”
He continued: “We went into the election with 1040 recognised soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognised soldiers brought from Enugu by Senator Andy Uba. In addition, we raised 44 special strike teams brought in Toyota Hilux vans from Abuja and Onitsha. We made special stickers for the vehicles that conveyed members of the strike team and black hand bands for each of them.
“Each strike team was made up of 10 members headed by a soldier and comprising soldiers, policemen, DSS operatives and Civil Defence corps. They were detailed to attack and arrest prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments. We set up anchorage, mainly residential houses, in every local government where the strike team members collected their welfare and other allowances. To encourage the strike team members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay their hands on in the houses of APC chieftains they raided.
“Then we set up detention camps, mainly in primary schools where most of the APC chieftains were detained. Others were detained in police stations where the DPOs were friendly with us. We let them off after the election was over.
“A day to the election, we used the military to block all routes in the local governments and prevented APC chieftains, including former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi from coming into Ekiti. So we ensured that no APC chieftain was in sight on election day. We provided polling agents for the APC in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election results in the units.
“All the local and foreign observers that described the election as free and fair only witnessed the voting exercise on election day without knowing what transpired before the voting”.
He added: “If Koli hadn’t spoken out they would have taken this to Osun State and then Fayose betrayed Omisore again because they were now fighting for who will become the South west leader. This Mua’zu that Fayose was abusing gave us N20 million for Fayose’s primaries. That was why Mua’zu was saying he should stop talking or he will spill the bean. He started attacking Mua’zu after the party won because there was another N500 million he released for court cases which was supposed to be for the whole nation but Fayose thought it was for him alone so he went to meet Mua’zu for the N500 million. He actually reported to Jonathan twice until Mua’zu explained in the presence of Jonathan and that was the beginning of the Fayose and Mua’zu problems.”
On why he was coming up with the revelations, Aluko said: “Before the election, Fayose, Femi Bamishile and I jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula after we must have won the election. We agreed that Fayose would be governor, Bamishile his deputy and I Chief of Staff. But the moment he got into office, Fayose reneged on the agreement and left me in the lurch. More worrisome is the fact that Fayose has derailed from the original Ekiti project we envisaged”.
It would be recalled that early this month, the high powered board of Inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate petitions and allegations of unprofessional conducts by some officers and soldiers during the 2014 Ekiti and Osun States gubernatorial elections, submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff General Yakubu Buratai.

Aluko not worthy of response from sane minds —Fayose’s aide

Reacting to the allegations, Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, described Aluko as a new distraction from the APC in Ekiti State, saying he did not deserve response from sane minds.

Olayinka said Aluko was beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Governor Fayose because of the governor’s refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he was not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury.

The governor’s aide who said it was shameful that the APC had refused to accept a scandalous electoral defeat they suffered 19 months ago, asked whether it was also soldiers that rigged the 2015 presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections that the party lost woefully in Ekiti.

He said: “For Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first report himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the Election Tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose.

“If after giving evidence under oath at the tribunal that the Election was free, fair and credible and that security agents, including soldiers performed their duties creditably well, saying something else more than one year after, is an admittance by Aluko himself that he is not a stable character.”

“It is also a demonstration of the fact that giving the right offer tomorrow, the same Aluko can also address the press to deny all that he said today. He can even deny his own existence since he can deny what he said under oath just because he was not made Chief of Staff.

“Therefore, we won’t bother ourselves, responding to what a political parasite chooses to say because he wouldn’t have said what he is now saying today if he had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and I am sure that if he is called today and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song.

“Also, the APC bad losers in Ekiti State should know that it will take more than recruiting and paying a disgruntled TKO Aluko to discredit an election adjudged by both local and international observers, including the United States government as free, fair and credible.

They will probably need to pay INEC to tell Nigerians that an election it conducted, in which an incumbent governor lost in his own local government was not credible.

“As per his claim that $37 million was given to the governor for the election, the governor got financial support from various sources as is usual of anyone contesting election and it is not for him to begin to advertise in the media the level of support the governor received from individuals, corporate organizations or groups.

‘’However, if money belonging to the APC is missing and they suspect that the money was stolen by Dr Goodluck Jonathan to fund Ekiti State governorship election, they can approach the EFCC.”

Monday, 1 February 2016

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