Magu: Fresh controversy over seized assets sale, others [Nation]
- Audit panel queries whereabouts of bank interest on seized cash
- Alleges discrepancies in agency’s records of recovered loots
- No seized assets sold in five years —Investigation
- Suspended EFCC chair rules out going to court
An audit panel has raised questions on the whereabouts of the interest accruing from N550 billion recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from treasury looters.
The panel has also queried what it perceives as discrepancies in the EFCC records of recovered funds.
The questions are contained in the final report of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA) covering May 29, 2015 to Novembr 22, 2018.
The panel is different from the Ayo Salami Presidential Investigation Committee which is currently probing allegations against the suspended Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Ibrahim Magu, by the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Sources said yesterday that none of the assets seized by the EFCC had been sold, except the 244 trucks which a Federal High Court ordered to be disposed of by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the FHC in conjunction with the Department of Petroleum Resources and the commission.
The proceeds of the sales were remitted into the Federal Government Recovery Account, it was gathered.
Anambra 2021: Will Bianca Ojukwu repay her mockers in APGA? [Nation]
As the major political parties and aspirants prepare for the 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, Associate Editor, SAM EGBURONU and Southeast Bureau Chief, NWANOSIKE ONU, report that the controversies that trailed Bianca Ojukwu’s defeat in the last Anambra South Senatorial primary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may haunt the party in the forthcoming elections
Since Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu’s widow, Bianca Ojukwu, lost the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Anambra South Senatorial District’s primary ticket in very controversial circumstances, the party has suffered deep division in the state as some ardent Ojukwu followers say her wife’s political ‘humiliation’ amounts to a big dent on the larger-than-life image of the late leader.
So, as the race to succeed Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State in 2021 gathers momentum, there is palpable fear that unless APGA succeeds in pacifying aggrieved political interests, Bianca Ojukwu’s supporters may see the forthcoming elections as the payback time.
“It is obvious that APGA has not done enough to pacify or at least convince Bianca Ojukwu’s supporters that she actually lost her senatorial ambition fairly. Even if the current leaders of APGA think they have all it takes to decide who will fly the party’s ticket, aggrieved stakeholders may use other platforms to challenge APGA or to give support to APGA’s arch-rivals as a way of paying some people in APGA back in their own coins,” Ichie Obi Okoye, a community leader, told The Nation during the week, adding, “this is the challenge Obiano and APGA leadership must not overlook if they actually want a united APGA to contest in the forthcoming elections. When I hear some of our analysts say Bianca has little political influence in Anambra, I laugh because it means they do not really know the full weight of her current surname.”
THE GOVERNORSHIP RACE
Though, there are many registered political parties in the state eyeing the governorship position, informed observers said the race will most likely be reduced to the three relatively strong political platforms in the state.
There are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
APGA has held the governorship seat since 2006 when the Court of Appeal removed former governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, then of PDP and installed Mr. Peter Obi, then of APGA.
Since then, it has been difficult for another political party to dislodge the incumbent party in the state, a political party now flaunted by its ardent supporters as a political movement in the Southeast notwithstanding that it governs only Anambra State, one, out of the five states in the geo-political zone.
APGA members and supporters said residents of the state see the party as a religion or what they refer to as (nkea bu nkea’anyi) translated, (this is our own).
A source, a top official of APGA in Awka said the people see the party as their own primarily because of the influence of the late leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who became the poster ‘boy ‘ of the party.
“It got to a level; no single person would contest election on the platform of the party in the state without branding Ojukwu’s head on APGA uniforms,” the source said.
However, it seems that narrative changed in 2019 when Dim Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca Ojukwu’s senatorial ambition was truncated at the APGA primaries through her controversial defeat by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu.
Some observers and stakeholders who spoke to The Nation during the week described the development as a “political humiliation of Bianca, without diligent consideration of how it would impact on the revered image of her late husband, the Ikemba Nnewi.” One of the sources expressed fear that it may mark the end of APGA’s use of Ojukwu’s larger-than-life image to win elections in the state alleging that an angry Bianca had actually warned the party and aspirants on its platform to stop using ‘the head of her husband’ as the anchor of their campaigns in the state.
Even if Bianca did not actually issue the alleged warning to the ruling party in the state, The Nation’s investigation shows that her shocking loss of the party ticket for her senatorial ambition, despite being backed by influential leaders, including some billionaire chieftains in the party, brought clear division in the state chapter of APGA.
So, as the 2021 November 18 governorship election approaches, some political observers, who claimed that the party has not done much to placate Bianca and some of her late husband’s supporters, said the forthcoming election may be a payback time for the former beauty queen who replaced her husband as Board of Trustees (BoT) member in the party.
We gathered during the week that since she lost the senatorial ticket, Bianca Ojukwu had refused to partake in APGA activities again with her supporters as she used to do despite alleged appeals from the party leadership and the state government. Though many political analysts still argue that Bianca’s political influence in Anambra politics is yet to assume a central stature, an insider in Anambra APGA told The Nation on Friday that the emergence of one of her known allies from Anambra South as a major governorship aspirant in the rival PDP has raised the fear that her supporters and her late father’s admirers may go to the extent of supporting the said PDP aspirant if that is what it would entail to avenge her political humiliation in APGA.
BIANCA’S CONNECTION
The Nation investigation shows that the fear today in APGA that the outcome of the last senatorial primary in the South Senatorial District may become an issue in the forthcoming election draws initially from the fact that Dr. Godwin Maduka, one of the major governorship aspirants on the platform of PDP, was one of the pillars of Bianca Ojukwu’s Senatorial ambition in 2019. Although no one has advanced any tangible proof that Bianca has any direct influence on Maduka’s current ambition on the ticket of PDP, some insiders alleged that if issues remain as they have been since the controversial outcome of that senatorial primary, Ojukwu’s widow may resort to use Maduka’s interest as a bargaining power against her party which is believed to have failed to assuage her over the “unfair denial during the last senatorial primary elections.”
It would be recalled that Bianca Ojukwu, who was Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Spain, did not mince words when she condemned the handling of the primary that denied her the senatorial ambition. She was quoted as saying APGA had been hijacked by ‘mercenaries’.
In her first public statement after the primary, she said: “As a member of this party’s Board of Trustees, I am deeply concerned that mercenaries appear to have hijacked the operations of our party machinery. APGA is today facing an existential threat and the overall image of our party is in tatters,” adding that “This will certainly have serious repercussions going into the main elections.”
Whether this projection remains valid remains to be seen, but it is certain, many are already worried.
Magu failed to account for interest on N550bn recovered loot – Panel [Punch]
A prior presidential panel, which investigated the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, indicted him, a report published by the News Agency of Nigeria has alleged.
The report, according to NAN, noted that the embattled EFCC boss had been unable to account for the interest generated from N550bn cash recovered from 2015 to 2020.
The panel is separate from the panel led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, which is currently probing Magu and other top officials of the agency.
The chairman of the previous committee was Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim and the members were DIG Anthony Ogbizi; a member from Federal Ministry of Justice; Mualledi Dogondaji from the EFCC; Hassan Abdullahi from the DSS; an unnamed member from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation; Chinedu Ifediora from the NFIU, while Mr Kazeem Attitebi served as the secretary.
The committee’s report, it was learnt, became the basis for the setting up of the Salami-led panel.
The report titled, ‘Final Report of the Presidential Investigation Committee on the EFCC Federal Government Recovered Assets and Finances from May 2015 to May 2020’ was obtained by the Federal Government-owned News Agency of Nigeria.
The report read in part, “Failure to report on the interest on actual lodgements clearly establishes that the interest element of over N550bn has been re-looted relating to the period under review.
“This is an apparent case of manipulation of data in a very brazen and unprofessional manner and this has greatly eroded the public confidence in the anti-corruption efforts.”
The panel said it was quite disturbing that conflicting figures were being circulated in the public space by the EFCC as the amount of recovered funds.
It said these inconsistencies cast serious doubt on the accuracy of figures submitted by the EFCC.
The committee said it was of the view that the EFCC could not be said to have fully accounted for cash recoveries made by it, noting that there were discrepancies between what the embattled chairman reported and the lodgements the commission made.
It added, “It must be pointed out that the discrepancy of more than N31bn does not include interest accrued in this account since it was opened.
“It therefore cast serious doubt on the credibility of the figures and means that substantial amount of money has not been accurately accounted for.”
NAN observed that the report had also confirmed the concerns of the public about contradictory recovery figures emanating from Magu.
The Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets revealed how the investigative reports on EFCC’s activities by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit exposed acts of corruption and money laundering against some EFCC officials, including Magu.
The report added, “The NFIU reports established that the acting chairman has been using different sources to siphon money from the EFCC.
“The report has shown that a particular Bureau de Change, owned by Ahmed Shanono linked to the acting chairman based in Kaduna, has more than 158 accounts and has been receiving huge sums of funds.”
The committee accused Magu of paying a prominent Lagos-based senior advocate N28m.
…alleges he acquired N573m Dubai property through pastor
The panel accused the suspended EFCC boss of using one Pastor Omale to launder funds abroad.
Omale’s name was uncovered through an investigative report on EFCC’s activities by the NFIU.
According to the report, the unknown clergyman is alleged to have bought a property on behalf of Magu worth N573m in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“As an unknown pastor, the NFIU’s report showed the huge movement of funds ranging from N573,228,040.41,” the report said.
NAN also gathered that efforts had been intensified to expose the real identity of the pastor with a view to arraigning him for prosecution, if found culpable.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the said pastor to get his reaction were not successful. Several calls made to his mobile phone were not answered while the text message sent to him had yet to be replied as of 12:52am.
The committee accused the suspended EFCC boss of mishandling the probe of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The suspended EFCC boss was accused of failing to cooperate with authorities in the United Kingdom to facilitate effective prosecution of the case.
The report read in part, “In the Diezani Alison-Madueke case, the acting chairman is failing to further cooperate with the UK NCA (National Crime Agency) to enable them to charge the former minister to court in the UK.
“The acting chairman, despite his knowledge that Mrs Alison-Madueke will not be extradited to Nigeria until after her trial in the UK, has consistently been accusing the UK government on the pages of print and electronic media of not wanting to extradite her to Nigeria.”
Magu was also accused of deliberately refusing to provide documentary evidence that would make the office of the Attorney-General to commence the extradition process of Diezani Madueke.
“This has strained the EFCC’s relationship with Europe, our most strategic partner,’’ the report further observed.
356 soldiers tender resignation to Buratai, cite loss of interest [Punch]
No fewer than 356 soldiers in the North-East and other theatres of operation have applied to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, for voluntary retirement, citing “loss of interest” as their reason for disengagement.
The soldiers wrote to the army chief on July 3, 2020, under Reference NA/COAS/001, quoting the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service soldiers/rating/airmen (Revised) 2017.
The approval of the voluntary disengagement of the 356 soldiers was contained in a 17-page circular from Buratai, AHQ DOAA/G1/300/92, signed by Brig Gen T.E. Gagariga for the army chief and obtained by our correspondent on Saturday.
Also, the document was copied to Headquarters, Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, Borno State, the Headquarters of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 81, and 82 Divisions of the Nigerian Army and other formations.
Our correspondent observed from the list that the majority of the soldiers applying for voluntary disengagement and citing loss of interest are from the North-East theatre of operation – a development which military sources attributed to loss of morale, poor weapons, unimproved allowances and the continuous loss of soldiers to Boko Haram attacks.
Since the beginning of 2020, Boko Haram onslaughts on military locations in the North-East have also intensified with large casualties on the part of troops of the Nigerian Army.
In March, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said 47 soldiers were killed by a bomb explosion triggered by Boko Haram in Gorigi near Allargano Forest area in Borno State.
In the same month, the army confirmed losing three soldiers while others were injured in a Boko Haram attack in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno.
In May, the insurgents also attacked an army location belonging to the 156 Battalion in the Mainok area with at least 10 gun trucks, killing five soldiers, while others were injured.
In June, the Boko Haram terrorists became emboldened and shot dead an acting Commanding Officer of the army, Major K. Yakubu, during a gun battle in the Doron Naira and Magaji areas of Borno State.
The late CO, who was in charge of 401 Special Forces Brigade, also lost some of his troops in the terrorist attack.
The 356 soldiers who applied for voluntary retirement citing loss of interest are Master Warrant Officers, Warrant Officers, Staff Sergeants, Sergeants, Lance Corporals, Corporals and Privates.
The total number on the list of voluntary disengagement is 380; while 356 cited loss of interest, 24 cited “to take a traditional title.”
Writing on behalf of the army chief, Buratai, in the document, Gagariga said, “In compliance with the provisions of Reference A, the COAS vide Reference B has approved the voluntary and medical discharge of the above named MWO, and 385 others listed as Annexes A and B.
“The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave December 3, 2020, while their disengagement date takes effect from January 3, 2021, in accordance with the Nigerian Army Administrative Policy and Procedures No 27 Paragraphs 3 and 4. Accordingly, I am directed to request formations and units to release all affected soldiers to report at the Headquarters, Garrison, with their unit service documents for documentation.
“All forms of military-controlled items, arms, ammunition, and items of combat kits are recovered from the soldiers prior to their disengagement date and certify that they are properly de-kitted. Please acknowledge.”
A military source said the mass disengagement was indicative of the general discontentment in the army, and against the leaders.
Soldiers in recent times have also appeared in viral videos complaining about the poor quality of their fighting equipment in the North-East and how the Boko Haram terrorists are able to attack and kill troops due to alleged insiders’ connivance.
WAEC: Parents meet FG Monday, insist on school resumption [Punch]
The National Parents Teachers’ Association of Nigeria has said it is confused about the proclamation by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, that schoolchildren nationwide would not be allowed to sit the West African Senior School Certificate Examination slated for August 4 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NAPTAN National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, said the association had resolved to meet Adamu by Monday to seek an amicable solution.
NAPTAN had in the last week of May called on the government to reopen schools nationwide “to pupils who will be sitting external examinations of the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council.”
The association said parents had resolved to work together with schools to put measures in place such as the provision of face masks, handwashing containers and hand sanitisers to minimise the risks of virus contraction by the pupils.
Reacting to Adamu’s directive that pupils would not be able to sit the WASSCE this year, Danjuma said parents were confused and that they would seek an audience with the government on the matter.
He said, “Surprisingly, we heard from the Federal Ministry of Education that the government has suspended the reopening of schools. This is very confusing; we don’t know what to do. We are waiting for whatever will come after this.
“On our side at NAPTAN, we are planning to go to the ministry and meet with the minister or his representatives to hear from them. It should be on Monday.”
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, had during the press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 last Monday announced that the 2020 WASSCE conducted by WAEC would hold between August 4 and September 5.
But Adamu said on Wednesday that all federal schools would remain closed until it was safe to reopen them. He also urged state governments that had announced school resumption plans to rescind such.
Magu: EFCC doesn’t revolve around individual -Presidency [Sun]
The Presidency has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an institution that does not revolve around the personality of an individual, and as such cannot be seen through the prism of any individual.
It has therefore stressed that the suspension of former Ag. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is in order because, a chief executive of such an institution should be above board.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency disclosed that a series of documented allegations were made against Magu and several other members of his staff, and a review showed that there were grounds for a detailed investigation to be conducted.
The statement read thus: “An investigative panel was constituted in compliance with the extant laws governing the convening of such a body. As is the proper procedure, when allegations are made against the Chief Executive of an institution, and in this case an institution that ought to be seen as beyond reproach, the chief executive has to step down from his post and allow for a transparent and unhindered investigation.
“The EFCC does not revolve around the personality of an individual, and as such cannot be seen through the prism of any individual.
“Therefore, the suspension of Mr. Ibrahim Magu, allows the institution to continue carrying out its mandate without the cloud of investigation hanging over its head.
“The EFCC has many good, hardworking men and women who are committed to its ideal and ensuring that the wealth of our country isn’t plundered and wherein there is an act of misappropriation such person(s) are brought to justice.”
The statement further noted that the embattled former EFCC boss is being availed the opportunity to defend himself and answer the allegations against him.
2023: Top S’East APC leaders weigh options [Sun]
…Ngige, Onu, Uzodimma, Nnamani, Onyeama, others meet in Owerri
Some All Progressive Congress (APC) Southeast leaders have resolved to present an impregnable and united front ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The high-powered APC leaders who met in the Government House, Owerri, Imo State, yesterday, included the five ministers from the region, former Senate President and member of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Dr Ken Namanni, and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma.
They also resolved to support President Muhammadu Buhari and collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that the people of the Southeast derive maximum benefits from the centre.
Host Governor Uzodinma who briefed newsmen after the closed-door meeting disclosed that the leaders were more than committed to work harmoniously with the Federal Government for the overall benefit of Ndigbo.
The ministers at the meeting are: Dr Chris Ngige, Labour and Employment; Dr Ogbonaya Onu, Technology; Geoffery Onyeama, Foreign Affairs; Mr Uche Ogah, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development; and Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education.
Senator Uzodimma disclosed that the leaders were more than committed towards strengthening the APC in the zone so as to make it a party of choice for Ndigbo.
The governor also said that Imo is the gateway of APC in the Southeast, adding that the ultimate goal of the leaders was to ensure that the people of the entire five states of the Southeast derive maximum benefits from the Federal Government.
“We need to re-examine our alliance strategies and see for ourselves which alliance trend has paid the Southeast more. The First and Second Republic alliances we had or the ones we are having in this Third Republic,” the governor said.
Former Senate President Nnamani in his speech said that the choice of Owerri for the meeting was strategic because as the only APC state in the region Imo State provides the launching pad for the APC in the Southeast.
He also said that the leaders came to show solidarity to the only governor the party has in the region and to congratulate him for making the party proud through his laudable projects.
Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige assured the people of the Southeast that those of them in the federal cabinet were alert to their duties and that everything due to the people of the region would get to them. He announced that two rail projects have been embarked for the region and that work would soon commence on them.
Edo guber: The big fight [Sun]
…As Obaseki battles Ize-Iyamu again
All is now set for the epic battle for the soul of Edo State between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, there are 14 political parties with candidates on the list of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who have signified their intention to participate in the September 19 governorship election. But out of the lot, only two frontline contenders- APC’s Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki of the PDP – are there to watch as campaign activities kick-off in earnest.
According to the guidelines provided by the electoral umpire, campaigns start 90 days to the election date. This implies that with barely less than two and a half months to the D-day, the coast is now clear for the concerned parties to hit the ground running.
This past week, both the APC and PDP took the lead by unveiling the teams that would lead the trains. While the APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CEONCPC) appointed Governor Abduallahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State as the leader of its campaign committee, the PDP on the other hand, announced his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike as the Chairman of a 93-member campaign council.
With this development, Edo State is about to witness the most electrifying campaign carnival in the recent times. And the stakes are obviously high. One, the election is coming amidst the ravaging effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the challenge of meeting safety guidelines provided for by the concerned health authorities. Secondly, the apparent disequilibrium in the power equations arising from the recent defection of Governor Obaseki to the PDP makes it difficult for either of the two parties to beat its chest for victory. Much as the APC will like to retain itself in power being the only state in its control in the whole of South-south, the PDP as an opposition will obviously not take it lying low.
Interestingly, the two candidates had tested their popularity in the last governorship election and they both know where their strengths lie. While the incumbent governor is poised to woo electorate with a long list of achievements already recorded by his administration in the last four years, supporters of Ize-Iyamu are always quick to refer to their candidate as a grassroots mobilizer.
Obaseki, who was then the candidate of the APC in the September 28, 2016 governorship election, had polled a total of 319,483 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu who scored a total of 253,173 votes. Now, with a reversal of role and the marginal difference of 66,310, there is confidence among the supporters of APC that the party would coast home to victory, notwithstanding the defection of Obaseki.
A chieftain of the APC in the state, Prince Tony Momoh, while lamenting the polarization of the party, expressed cautious optimism that Ize-Iyamu as a grassroots politician would win the election.
He told Sunday Sun: “We have a big problem of factionalization of the party. On one side, we have Obaseki/Shuaibu, and on the other side, we have Edo Peoples Movement which has Oshiomhole as its cover. That is a big challenge. With the NEC meeting that resolved the problem, and the 49-member campaign council in place, APC is ready to go into the campaign. But it is going to be a battle royale between APC and PDP. But I can assure you that APC’s Ize-Iyamu is a grassroots person. Everybody knows that. In 2016, APC beat him as PDP candidate with only about 50,000 votes. Now, with him coming into APC with all his supporters, I don’t expect us to lose.”
Also, Chief Frank Kokori, another notable leader of the party in the South-south, speaking in the same vein, contented that the election would be a tough one, but maintained that Ize-Iyamu would win.
His words: “As a party chieftain, obviously I will normally support my party to win. Edo is the only state we have in the South-south. Since we lost Bayelsa State through technicality, obviously, I want my party to win. But it is going to be a close fight. Before the recent developments, it was like a walkover. Edo was virtually 90 per cent APC. Now that Obaseki has moved to the PDP, it is going to be a fight to finish. It’s going to be tough; it is not going to be a walkover.”
The Spokesperson of the APC in Lagos State, Seye Oladejo, also enthused, saying: “we have no doubt in our minds that we are going to win the election.
“There is nothing to fear as far as this election is concerned. By the composition of the campaign committee, we have brought some of our best hands in terms of experience and wherewithal. We have no doubt that we are coasting home to victory. It will be decided by the people of Edo State, but I am sure they will do the right thing. You will also agree with me that Ize-Iyamu who has come to join our party didn’t come empty handed.
“The issue of incumbency will not count much unlike the experience of past elections. Whatever advantage incumbency accords Obaseki has been nullified by the multitude that came with Ize-Iyamu who is an old war horse. It is a balancing act and at the end of the day, everything will go in favour of APC.”
With the strength of character, as well as popularity of the two candidates, only an issue-based campaign can guide eligible voters in Edo State in their choice of candidate who will run the affairs of the state for another four years.
Though the two leading parties have made a promise to this effect, signs are there that the exercise may not be completely devoid of acrimony, character assassination and mudslinging. This is particularly bearing in mind some of the issues recently trending in the social media.
One of these is a video clip where some supporters of a particular governorship candidate were seen purportedly showing the Oba of Benin pouring invectives on President Muhammadu Buhari, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Capt. Hosa Okunbo, a business mogul and illustrious son of Benin.
But the Oba of Benin, Ewaure II, in a quick reaction, disowned the video. Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Mr. Frank Irabor, in a press statement, described the video as “Fake News” saying that it has no authority of the Oba.
The statement also condemned the aspersion cast on the persons of Comrade Oshiomhole and Capt. Okunbo by the same video.
The statement reads in part: “For the purpose of clarification, and to set the record straight, His Royal Majesty wish to make it categorically and irrevocably clear that the said video and the contents therein was not commissioned nor was it encouraged by the Oba.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the malicious attacks on the integrity of the President and all other persons whom the video seek to malign.”
As the stage is set for the grand shaking electioneering, there is palpable apprehension about the threat of violence as well as possible disregard of the guidelines provided by the National Disease Control Centre (NCDC) during the campaign.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Chike Ihekweazu, had advised the stakeholders to consider the use of TV, radio, mobile vans, social media, and other forms of communication as a way of soliciting votes.
“We strongly encourage the use of TV, radio, mobile vans, social media, and other forms of communication as politician solicits votes. We advise careful adherence to mass gathering guidelines. Unfortunately, the virus doesn’t really recognise whether we’re conducting elections, whether it is religious gatherings, whether we are in business settings, it just thrives when people come together,” he said.
But from all indications, there is hardly a way large gathering of supporters can be avoided in an election that is important as this. On his part, Kokori, reacting to the NCDC rules, dismissed the possibility of adherence of people to the rule of social distancing except during the conduct of the election.
He said: “You saw the crowd when Obaseki was moving to PDP. The same thing happened when Ize-Iyamu was moving. They did not even observe social distancing. So, what do you do? We cannot because of COVID-19 suspend election. American elections are going on. I believe there will be better observance of the rule of social distancing, use of face masks during election than the campaigns.”
Meanwhile, both the APC and PDP have assured the anxious electorate that their campaigns would be issue-based and devoid of violence.
Edo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare, speaking with Sunday Sun said: “In Edo, we in PDP are looking forward to a very robust campaign of issues and not of personalities.
“We want to have a campaign whereby we can exhibit and show off the good things of the government, the good qualities of the governor and also be able to create a picture while we look into the future that PDP means well not just for the Edo people, but for everybody that lives in Edo and for Nigerians in general.
“And as a political party, we really need our people for issues because we have so many things to show off with, so many projects, so many things that have been done by the government that we will not have time to attack personalities or other people.”
Also Mr John Mayaki, director of communication and media, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organization, spoke in the same vein, saying that the party would focus on issues rather than personalities.
His words: “From the beginning of the race, our party, the All Progressives Congress, has distinguished itself with a rancor-free, issue-based campaign that is focused on the people and how we intend to bring about needed development and progress in Edo State.
“This was demonstrated in our internal primaries contest that was marked by mutual respect and complete absence of mudslinging. The same cannot be said for the other party where two of their aspirants, days before their primaries, roundly condemned Obaseki as a failure and one of the leaders, Governor Nyesom Wike, castigated members of the PDP NWC as ‘tax collectors’ as a counter-move to alleged attacks on his persons by his own party leadership.
“Such is the lack of unity and principles that exist in the PDP. It is just an assemblage of persons seeking power. And as such, they have already polluted the space with unguarded statements, baseless accusations, and smear campaigns targeted at our candidate and other members of our party. But we refuse to join them in that rabbit hole. Our candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and all members of our party across all levels will execute a campaign based on our agenda, our manifesto and policy plans, and practical steps on how we intend to return the state back on the path of growth if elected on the 19th of September.”
The weeks ahead will show to what extent the Edo people can take these state actors by their words.