Pedro: Chelsea move will boost Euro 2016 chances

Sep 6, 2015 16:32:10

The winger believes that regular first-team football in England will only enhance his chances of representing Spain in France next summer

Pedro has no regrets over his decision to leave Barcelona for Chelsea, arguing that the greater game time on offer at Stamford Bridge will boost his hopes of making the Spain squad for Euro 2016.

The 28-year-old winger completed a £19 million (€27m) move to London on August 20 and enjoyed a sensational Premier League debut, scoring one goal and creating another for Diego Costa in a 3-2 win at West Brom.

Chelsea have since lost their last two games, leaving Jose Mourinho's men 13th in the table, eight points behind early pacesetters Manchester City.

However, after seeing little game time at Camp Nou due to the presence of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the Barca attack, Pedro is delighted to be playing regularly.

"I am happy with how my time has started at Chelsea," the winger is quoted as saying by Fifa's official website.

"When you have more minutes you can play at a different rhythm with more confidence and a different mentality.

"I am sure the move will be very good for me to play both at Chelsea and with the national team."

Pedro also started for Spain in Saturday's crucial 2-0 victory over Slovakia, which moved Vicente Del Bosque's side to the top of their qualification group for Euro 2016.

Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba got the goals as La Roja continued their recovery from last year's shock first-round elimination at the World Cup in Brazil and Pedro feels that the team are moving in the right direction again.

"The game yesterday was one of the best playing in our style," he added. "There was a lot of first-touch football and we were always looking to attack against a Slovakia side that hadn't lost a game.

"It is possibly our best game since the World Cup."

Job done: Ghana leave it late and ugly

Sep 6, 2015 11:07:05

Did the Black Stars demonstrate the kind of hidden depths that have been lacking under previous coaches when they saw off the Amavubi in Kigali

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One-nil wins—especially when produced by a Barcelona team stringing passes and knocking the ball about gracefully—can be a truly beautiful spectacle, but that was hardly the case when Ghana clashed with Rwanda at the latter's Stade Amahoro fortress on Saturday.
The affair between the pair was really a drab one that had the life in it painfully squeezed out by a considerably awful pitch. Ghana, a team capable of playing with a swagger on its day, were probably affected most, not so much the hosts who sought little more than maximum points against one of the continent's toughest sides.
Ghana struck first, though bluntly, when FC Kobenhavn defender Daniel Amartey—who was linked in the summer window with a late transfer to French giants Olympique Marseille—let fly a free header from a Mubarak Wakaso corner-kick early in the game. However, that, along with Christian Atsu's strike from outside the box and in-form Swansea forward (and deputizing skipper on the day) Andre Ayew's headed effort from another Wakaso delivery, were the only goalscoring attempts of note in the first half.
Rwanda, as toothless themselves as they had kept Ghana in the opening 45 minutes, almost got in front four minutes after recess (just about the very time Jimmy Gatete got that famous lone goal which secured defeat the last time Ghana were in Rwanda), but their penalty claim was denied by Somali referee Hagi Yabarow Wiish.
Atsu—in a performance that may fill Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe with hope on the forward's return to England next week—threatened again with an hour gone, but his low shot from an admittedly tight angle was kept out by goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera, before Jordan Ayew and substitute Solomon Asante took turns to blast wide, with the latter arguably the worse culprit.

Asante | A late miss looked to have ended Ghana's hopes of a win...until Wakaso struck

Minutes from the end, Rwanda's resistance was finally broken, when fresh Las Palmas signing Wakaso—by far Ghana's most potent from set-piece asset—wound one in from the edge of the area to give Ghana their second win and eighth goal from two Afcon 2017 Group H qualifiers.
The nature of the triumph highlighted an understated forte of a Stars team that, through injury, was shorn of its most obvious attacking option in captain Asamoah Gyan. Under head coach Avram Grant, Ghana have shown the kind of ruthless scoring ability that marked the tenure of former boss Kwesi Appiah. It is a potency that saw the Stars register successive 3-0 wins at this year's Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and which was also emphatically demonstrated in their opening qualification match for Gabon 2017, a 7-1 home thrashing of lowly Mauritius.
We’ve seen the swashbuckling style from Ghana before, under one Grant’s predecessors, Serbian Milan Rajevac, although the current crop have shown that they arguably have more substance about them.
The current Ghana set-up has shown it can still eke out the required results if, faced with some challenge like the one presented by the Amahoro's turf, the traditional 'agoro' mode were to be switched off; see the narrow, tournament-defining Afcon 2015 victories against Algeria and South Africa, as well as the 3-2 win notched in the pre-Rwanda friendly with Congo, as proof.

Wakaso | The former Celtic man demonstrated at the Afcon what a valuable player he can be for Ghana

Armed with tastes for aesthetics and efficiency alike—whichever the circumstances permit for—Ghana's chameleon-like will to adapt is just what, coupled with a deep pool of talent still very youthful and brimming with potential, could help the west Africans dominate football in these parts for years to come.
During a weekend on which some of Africa's strongest failed to assert their might on the road (Tunisia and South Africa lost to Liberia and Mauritania respectively, while Nigeria could only draw away to Tanzania in Sunday Oliseh's first competitive game in charge), Ghana showed they can pull it off at home as well as away, and as much in style as through graft.
The display here wasn't by any stretch graceful, neither was the result too convincing. Still, untidy as it may have been, the job was done alright in the end.
And so Ghana march on to the remainder of the qualification process that doesn't resume till March next year (starting with another trip, this time to play Mozambique), and hopefully onward to that long-overdue fifth African title.

Messi needs Cristiano Ronaldo, says Kluivert

 Sep 6, 2015 09:15:34

The former Barcelona forward thinks the club's current No.10 would not be as good if it wasn't for his rivalry with the Real Madrid star

Barcelona icon Patrick Kluivert believes Lionel Messi “needs” a rival like Cristiano Ronaldo to bring the best out of him.
The Argentine has rocketed back to his best form in 2015, winning the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey in a euphoric season at Camp Nou.
Messi's performances have seen him installed as heavy favourite to win January's Ballon d'Or, which Real Madrid's Ronaldo has won the previous two years.
Their status as the two best players in the world playing for Spanish arch-rivals has elevated their rivalry – something that former Barca forward Kluivert thinks has been essential for Messi's successes.
"Messi is in a different dimension with his football, but I also think he urgently needs someone like Cristiano Ronaldo," the 39-year-old told Voetbal Zone.
"He needs someone who gives him an incentive to go for it every game, to see each match as a challenge. Both players are world class and a level above the rest.



"At Barcelona, now there is only one central player: Messi. During my time, there were several important players there, though on the other hand Messi's nothing without his team-mates."
Kluivert currently coaches Caribbean nation Curacao (ranked 148th in the world) but suggested he has eyes for Luis Enrique's current job at Camp Nou, where he played between 1998 and 2004.
"Of course, it's my dream to be coach of Barcelona," the Dutchman added. "Yes, I know it is certainly a possibility which is far away, but who knows what might happen.
"Luis Enrique was a leader on the field in our playing days and always crazy about football. These two features – leadership and passion – ensure he's a top trainer. It makes sense he's done well."
Curacao lost 1-0 in the home leg of their latest World Cup 2018 qualifier against El Salvador and will need to win Tuesday's return leg to have any chance of reaching the fourth round of Concacaf qualification.

AFCON 2017: Ikeme saves Eagles

By Joshua Odeyemi who is in Tanzania | Publish Date: Sep 6 2015 3:56AM | Updated Date: Sep 5 2015 11:41PM

Sunday Oliseh yesterday began his reign as the Super Eagles manager with a 0-0 draw against Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Nigeria’s second Group D African Cup of Nations qualifying match in Dar es Salaam.
In a game which the hosts had more balanced display and attacking initiatives, Eagles were lucky to have debutant goalkeeper Carl Ikeme in superb form as the Wolverhampton Wanderers  shot stopper made fantastic saves to deny the East Africans.
It was Oliseh’s first official match for the national team and football loving Nigerians were eager to assess how the new team will shape out against lowly rated Tanzania who were ranked 153 by FIFA in its latest release.
The Eagles are now top of their qualifying group with four points from two matches as Egypt, who thrashed Tanzania 3-0 in their opening game in June, are away to Chad today.
It was not the debut Nigeria coach Oliseh would have hoped for as his team were dominated for most part by a determined home team, who created the better chances but failed to put them away.
The home team were first to settle into the game and TP Mazembe star Mbwana Samatta forced a save from Ikeme after just 13 minutes, when he dashed past Solomon Kwambe only for the Wolves of England shot stopper to save.
Tanzania continued to push forward and in the 22nd minute, Samatta forced Ikeme to tip his goal-bound free kick for a corner.
The Eagles response was quick as they almost went ahead against the run of play a minute later when skipper Ahmed Musa’s low drive from a free kick was turned away for a corner by a diving Tanzania goalkeeper Ally Mustafa.
Moses Simon could have given Nigeria an unlikely lead in the 38th minute, when a defensive mix-up set him free from the left flank, but his final ball was not on target.
Striker Emmanuel Emenike worked his socks off upfront for Nigeria, but he was often outnumbered or fouled for the Nigerian attack to be kept at bay for most of this encounter.
After a bright start by Nigeria in the second period, Tanzania again carved out the better chances.
Nigeria were saved their blushes on the hour when a timely tackle deep inside their goal area ensured Tanzania did not make hay.
South Africa-based striker Mrisho Ngasa then headed wide in the 66th minute in front of an open goal and a minute later, Thomas Ulimwengu forced Ikeme to make a save at the second attempt.
Late attacking substitutions of Anthony Ujah and Emem Eduok failed to turn the tide Nigeria’s way as Kenneth Omeruo did a yeoman’s job back in defence for the Eagles to run away with a point on the road.

14 girls die in repeat of Niger perennial drowning incidents

By Ahmed Tahir Ajobe, Minna | Publish Date: Sep 6 2015 3:56AM | Updated Date: Sep 6 2015 4:36AM

The capsized canoe with a glue object on it.

The death of 11 female teenagers and three other girls on rivers Sarkin Pawa and Guni in Munya local government area of Niger state throws up an age-long problem that would continue to bring tears to many eyes across the state.
The only access ‘road’ shows why the constant boat mishaps in Old Dangunu, Guni and other communities around the Shiroro Dam have become a reality the people of the area must live with.
A lonely foot path formed through decades of use by the natives disappeared through the thick bushes and farm beds of different crops towards Old Dangunu at a point along the worn out township road in Sarkin Power, the headquarters of Munya local government area of Niger State.
Only a few profit-minded commercial motorcyclists could brave the path which has become a death trap at this time with the rainy season when visitors are handy. And the death of 11 teenage girls on river Sarkin Power penultimate Tuesday and three others on river Guni two days earlier have increased the traffic of government officials to the sleepy fishing communities usually only remembered whenever tragedy strikes.
The two incidents of August 21 and 24 have upped the stake for commercial motorcyclists. Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) who dashed in for an on-the-spot assessment of the circumstances that led to the death of the girls had to pack their air-conditioned vehicles at the premises of the local government secretariat for an open-air ride on the popular okada.
Garba Dauda, an okada rider agreed that his daily proceeds from the business have increased since the two incidents.  But it is not really an easy ride to Old Dangunu even on motorcycles at this time of the year. River Jatau is an obstacle every prospective visitor to the area would dread. Its water level increases with each rainfall. “It is advisable to avoid it any day it rains,” Garba agreed.
It is also very treacherous. A visitor could behold the sand underneath at a glance, but Garba insists its depth could drown a 10-year-old who cannot swim well. “You must also keep to particular route when crossing,” he said. A cyclist and his passenger must also cross the stream by foot at some points.
There are also two other smaller streams to traverse on the way to Old Dagunu with hindrances such as muddy, slippery points along the path.  But it apparently also has its attraction and beauty. The narrow path opens up to a rich, large expanse of green vegetation and hectares of every  crop imaginable, stretching to the foot of undulating mountains on one side, and the bank of an endless flow of river on the other. Garba said the larger part of the farm is actually in the water having been submerged by the river.
Between the river and the mountains sits Old Dangunu still in mourning of its many loses. It is a community of about 80 huts, most of which are weather-beaten with a lot of visible ageing effects. It is populated by migrant fishermen from Kebbi State. The two zinced structures in the sleepy community are the mosque and a block of three classrooms lacking doors and windows. It was really in the backwoods, cut off from civilization.
The men and boys sat on mats laid out at what seems like a village square. The eldest in white caftan, Malam Muhammad Sani Kura, apparently oblivious of activities around, stared vacantly at objects only his mind could appreciate. He only acknowledged greetings with nods as visitors offered their sympathies.
The Sarakin Ruwa’s deputy, Lawal Saleh, told Daily Trust on Sunday that he had buried a grandson the day before. “Salisu’s temperature suddenly rose at night but before they could take him to the primary health care facility at the council headquarters, he had died on the mother’s back where he was strapped,” he explained.
But that was not his main source of sorrow. He had lost three daughters - Ikilima Sani, Fatima Sani and Hafsat Sani - in the capsized boat. And to add to the pain, Munawwara, Firdausu, the two Zainab and Naja’atu, Ladidi, Balaraba who also perished in the incident were all his grandchildren.
They were all aged between six and 11 and were returning home from the farm where they went to assist a Gwari neighbour across the river to harvest groundnut. Their work was done and as it was always the case, they rented a canoe from a fisherman at the river bank to convey them home but fate played a fast one on them.
The girls were said to have paddled the canoe themselves. The Sarkin Ruwa’s deputy said every child learnt the art early in life in the riverine communities around the area and “they were also good swimmers.” But their arms were no longer strong enough for the wave this time of the year when the water level increases, especially with Shirroro dam already shut.
The Sarkin Ruwa’s deputy, who led his men on the rescue operation, tells the story of how their lifeless bodies were recovered and interred later that night. “We couldn’t take the corpses home for the burial ritual because the women would be devastated,” he explained.
 But they were already devastated by the news of the girls’ early exit from the world. A shrill cry cut across the community from clusters of huts nearby. It was that of Aisha, whose only child also died in the crisis. She was away for a condolence in far way Kebbi State a day before our correspondent visited the community. “She has been like that since she returned yesterday,” the Mai Angwa, Haliru Idris, said.
They could only point at where the deceased were buried in the order according to their age close to the bank of the river.
The Mai Angwa prayed that such an incident would not happen again but deep down he acknowledged the danger would always lurk around.
It didn’t just happen on August 21 and 24. It is almost a daily occurrence this time of the year, the Sarkin Ruwa’s deputy pointed out. It is the number this time that attracted the government. It is now an emergency situation that deserves official attention.
But even the government at all levels and its agencies seem helpless in the face of the calamity. Council officials led by the director of personnel management of Munya LGA, Abdulkadir Bida got to the scene and the communities first. They listened to the narratives of how it happened and took note as well as pictures. They then wrote to the ministry of local government affairs, NEMA and the state-owned emergency agency. Officials of the two emergency bodies dashed down to Old Dangunu and Guni and also took notes as well as offered condolences and promised to get back.
None of the officials had returned to the affected communities as at the time of filling this report, while the state government said it has concluded plans to do the needful through the appropriate institution.
According to the chief press secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Ibraheem Dooba, the government would empower NSEMA to provide life jackets for the use of the people of all areas prone to such disaster. He also promised that relief materials would be sent through the same agency to mitigate the suffering of the people in Old Dangunu and Guni.
All these, he said, are temporary measures. In the long term, he said, government would evolve a framework to harness the rich potentials of the many rivers that abound in the state for revenue purpose. “That way, the activities of the farmers and fishermen as well as boat owners would be regulated,” he noted.
But this is not the first time such incidents would happen across the riverine areas of the state and even relief materials promised hardly get to the people of the affected communities.
On the same Sarkin Power River, about 74 people perished in 1998, followed by an undisclosed number two years later. As close as 2013, precisely on March 3, 20 adults and six children, according to records obtained by Daily Trust, perished in Tugan Nailo in Gumgun district of Borgu local government area of the state. Our correspondent also learnt that even the fund approved for the relatives of the deceased was not released to them two years after the incident.
Also, in October 3 of the same year two adults and 16 children died on Ulakami, in Dukka ward in the same local government area. The state government only released money for the burial expenses but intervention to prevent further death around the area was ignored.
Tragedy also struck again in Malala also in Borgu and Gbajibo in Mokwa local government area on June 13, killing two people in its wake. In the most recent incident, rescue operations were hardly handy. In the case of Ulakami for instance, of the 20 survivors rescued, 10 of them were brought out of the river by a 12-year-old boy who got tired in the process and couldn’t continue.
Experts at a workshop organized by NEMA in Minna few days after the Old Dagunu incident were unanimous that local divers could be trained on rescue operation and deployed to keep watch at disaster-prone areas across the state.  They also advocated the need for enlightenment campaign on the danger inherent on the waters for locals.
 Daily Trust’s finding shows that the activities of transporters are left unregulated. “You just buy a boat or canoe and deploy it in the water and business starts. Nobody tells you how many people you can carry per trip”, a transporter disclosed.
Our correspondent also noticed that most of the boats are too old and worn out for operation. In the Tungan Nailo incident, a boat split in two midway through the journey, taking its contents with it. Sources said it has been in the owner’s family for several decades and inherited through generations. He said government could buy new boats and sell even if on hire purchase basis to transporters who would pay in installments until the amount is settled.
Findings also showed that despite the incessant mishaps, authorities have not provided life jackets for use in the disaster-prone areas. There are also no ambulance boats anywhere to provide first aid services in the event of an accident.
The Mai Angwa merely shrugged off comment that government would likely intervene to end the mishaps. “They always come during campaign and make promises only to stay away and return when another election approaches. They promised to dig borehole for us; they said they will build a primary healthcare facility but we still drink the water from the river today,” he said with apparent resignation to fate.
well as pictures. They then wrote to the ministry of local government affairs, NEMA and the state-owned emergency agency. Officials of the two emergency bodies dashed down to Old Dangunu and Guni and also took notes as well as offered condolences and promised to get back.
None of the officials had returned to the affected communities as at the time of filling this report, while the state government said it has concluded plans to do the needful through the appropriate institution.
According to the chief press secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Ibraheem Dooba, the government would empower NSEMA to provide life jackets for the use of the people of all areas prone to such disaster. He also promised that relief materials would be sent through the same agency to mitigate the suffering of the people in Old Dangunu and Guni.
All these, he said, are temporary measures. In the long term, he said, government would evolve a framework to harness the rich potentials of the many rivers that abound in the state for revenue purpose. “That way, the activities of the farmers and fishermen as well as boat owners would be regulated,” he noted.
But this is not the first time such incidents would happen across the riverine areas of the state and even relief materials promised hardly get to the people of the affected communities.
On the same Sarkin Power River, about 74 people perished in 1998, followed by an undisclosed number two years later. As close as 2013, precisely on March 3, 20 adults and six children, according to records obtained by Daily Trust, perished in Tugan Nailo in Gumgun district of Borgu local government area of the state. Our correspondent also learnt that even the fund approved for the relatives of the deceased was not released to them two years after the incident.
Also, in October 3 of the same year two adults and 16 children died on Ulakami, in Dukka ward in the same local government area. The state government only released money for the burial expenses but intervention to prevent further death around the area was ignored.
Tragedy also struck again in Malala also in Borgu and Gbajibo in Mokwa local government area on June 13, killing two people in its wake. In the most recent incident, rescue operations were hardly handy. In the case of Ulakami for instance, of the 20 survivors rescued, 10 of them were brought out of the river by a 12-year-old boy who got tired in the process and couldn’t continue.
Experts at a workshop organized by NEMA in Minna few days after the Old Dagunu incident were unanimous that local divers could be trained on rescue operation and deployed to keep watch at disaster-prone areas across the state.  They also advocated the need for enlightenment campaign on the danger inherent on the waters for locals.
 Daily Trust’s finding shows that the activities of transporters are left unregulated. “You just buy a boat or canoe and deploy it in the water and business starts. Nobody tells you how many people you can carry per trip”, a transporter disclosed.
Our correspondent also noticed that most of the boats are too old and worn out for operation. In the Tungan Nailo incident, a boat split in two midway through the journey, taking its contents with it. Sources said it has been in the owner’s family for several decades and inherited through generations. He said government could buy new boats and sell even if on hire purchase basis to transporters who would pay in installments until the amount is settled.
Findings also showed that despite the incessant mishaps, authorities have not provided life jackets for use in the disaster-prone areas. There are also no ambulance boats anywhere to provide first aid services in the event of an accident.
The Mai Angwa merely shrugged off comment that government would likely intervene to end the mishaps. “They always come during campaign and make promises only to stay away and return when another election approaches. They promised to dig borehole for us; they said they will build a primary healthcare facility but we still drink the water from the river today,” he said with apparent resignation to fate.

Boko Haram: 881 killed, 376 injured in 100 days

By Fidelis Mac-Leva, Haruna Ibrahim & Shehu Abubakar, Maiduguri | Publish Date: Sep 6 2015 3:56AM | Updated Date: Sep 6 2015 4:36AM 
We are winning the war – Military

Nigerian Soldier

No fewer than 881 people were killed, while 376 others were injured during attacks carried out by the Boko Haram insurgents in six states within the past 100 days,  an analysis of reported cases of attacks by insurgents  has shown.
Among those who died in the attacks were 841 civilians, while 40 insurgents also died, including suicide bombers, Daily Trust on Sunday investigation has revealed. The attacks took place in six states namely: Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna.
A breakdown showed that Borno state recorded the highest numbers of attacks within the period under review. The North-East state, which is the epicenter of Boko Haram activities, recorded 25 attacks. Yobe state recorded the second highest number of Boko Haram attacks numbering 12, while Gombe and Plateau states recorded two attacks each. Kano and Kaduna states located in the North-West recorded a single attack each within the period in review.
Records of the deaths and injured were derived from newspaper reports published as from May 29 to September 2, 2015. In Borno state, the attacks were carried out in several towns and villages, including Maiduguri, the state capital. Other places in the state that witnessed attacks were Gamboru, Tashan Alade, Biu, Monguno and the popular Baga market. In Yobe state, Damaturu was one of the places attacked by Boko Haram within the period under review while Fika, Gujba Potiskum and Tambowa towns were also affected with several deaths recorded. In Plateau State, the two attacks recorded were carried out in Jos North while the only attack in Kano state was launched on Kano Municipal. The two attacks recorded in Gombe state were all carried out in the state capital, while the single attack recorded in Kaduna took place at the Sabon- Gari town.
While the military high command is making frantic efforts to win the war on Boko Haram insurgency, especially in the North-East region, some residents of Borno state said there are areas in the state still under the group’s occupation.
Most of the people who spoke to this reporter in the state commended the present administration for being transparent and truthful in the execution of the war on Boko Haram insurgency, saying the morale of soldiers at the war front is very high, though there are still complaints of foot-dragging by the troops in responding to distress calls in some instances.
A psychologist, Dr Abba Sandami, noted that the war against the insurgents has recorded some remarkable achievements within the first 100 days of this administration, adding that “the biggest and most important of all the achievements is the conviction that people have that now there is a government that is serious about fighting the insurgency.
“The era of people coming in military uniform to kill some prominent people in a community being guarded by police and soldiers is over. The era of soldiers soliciting for re-enforcement and aircraft but which were deployed otherwise, thereby weakening the soldiers for the insurgents to have an upper hand, as it happened in Bama, is now over.
“The era of strange helicopters dropping weapons and other military hardware is also over. The military has within the past 100 days succeeded in liberating some communities and sustained peace in Maiduguri. We were amazed at a report lately that Baga has also been liberated. Gwoza of all places has also been liberated and the people are living there now,” he said.
Dr Sandami said even the ordinary man on the streets of Maiduguri is convinced that the military is serious about the war on insurgency and advised that more effort be made in ensuring that more areas are liberated from the insurgents.
The Chairperson of a non-governmental organisation catering for women and children, Mrs Maria Fatom Abdulkadir, also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for championing the setting up of the multinational force, consisting of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun to fight the war on terror.
“The rescue of several hundreds of people kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents is another giant stride. Though most of the roads leading to Maiduguri are blocked because the insurgents are still holding on some towns and villages, Maiduguri to Damaturu road has been cleared of all insurgents.
“Look at the kind of peace we are now enjoying in Maiduguri. Few weeks before the coming of this administration, killings in Maiduguri were a daily affair. We are now living in peace,” she said.
A security source that pleaded anonymity as he had no authority to talk to the press said in addition to motivation from the military high command, sophisticated weapons and logistics have now been provided for the execution of the war.
“Under the former administration, when you ask for reinforcement from the Air Force, there was always delay before there was a response; sometimes they may not even respond. That was one of the major reasons why our soldiers were running away from the war then. But now when you call for air reinforcement, the response is immediate.
“We now have intelligence officers and men moving ahead of the fighter troops to gather intelligence. We work in a more coordinated way now. We have discovered a lot of Boko Haram camps, destroyed them and recovered stolen items from there. We have also rescued several people kidnapped by the insurgents.
“We have also discovered several holes dug by the insurgents which they used to hide their weapons; and those to hide and lay ambush for troops and other civilians. I am talking of holes that can contain tens of people and truckloads of goods. We have destroyed all of them. We have recovered several cows stolen by the insurgents.
“All these, and many more, are things that happened between June to date because of the motivation the troops are getting from the present administration,” the source said.
But a primary school teacher from Malanfatori in the state who escaped before Boko Haram took over control of the area, Mala Kyari, said despite optimism by the military authorities that the end of the insurgency is in sight, Boko Haram hostilities in Borno have persisted with killings, abductions, suicide attacks and carting away of livestock.
A community leader, who pleaded anonymity, said “a few weeks ago, Balle Mammani was attacked by insurgents where they killed six people, kidnapped three girls and took away several cows. The next day they released the girls and freed the cows.
“We requested the authorities to track down the insurgents since the freed girls said their camp was not too far but nobody was willing to take action. We have several such cases,” he said. 
 

prof sagay opens up

Professor Itse Sagay, a lawyer and human rights activist known to detest corruption with all his might, was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption. Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust on Sunday in his chamber in Surulere, Lagos, Sagay gave a broad view of the task ahead of the anti-corruption committee and added that his committee will give such direction as will rid Nigeria of corruption.

Professor Sagay

How did you feel when you were appointed to chair the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption?
I was pleasantly surprised; surprised because I had no hint until then, that even this committee was being planned. It was later they told me they had been working on it for some months but I was not a member of the planning team. So, I had no hint. The appointment was a surprise. It was a pleasant surprise because this is exactly the manner in which I would like to serve this country; because I think, apart from the issue of security, the elimination of corruption is probably the biggest challenge facing Nigeria today.
But some people believe that you got the appointment because you were one of the elder statesmen who campaigned for Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 general elections…
We cannot control people’s thoughts. All I know is that I am never neutral because between good and evil, a neutral is someone who is shirking his responsibility to the society. You should take a stand and I took a stand during the elections. When I studied Buhari over the years, I am sure that he had this programme, he had this belief, he had consistent attitude towards the elimination of corruption. I thought that he is a man who deserved the support of all Nigerians, particularly at a time when we were living in the midst of much rottenness in the country. So, if Buhari is going to appoint somebody to drive his anti-corruption crusade, obviously it has to be somebody who shares the belief with him; that if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill this country. So I am not surprised he chose me. If he didn’t choose me, he would choose another person like me. He is not going to choose those who have rendered the country prostrate by looting.
Have you talked to him since the appointment on what he expects from you?
No. I’ve not talked to him one-on-one. You know the presidency is one and I have had several discussions with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who is very much involved and very passionate about what we are doing. So through him, we clearly receive an understanding of what the President intends that we should do. Of course, we have terms of reference too.
Have you started work?
Yes, we have.
But you have not been formally inaugurated and members are scattered all over the federation.   How do you meet and where do you meet?
We meet in Abuja. It is a committee; it is not an executive body. We have a secretariat in the Ministry of Justice in Abuja. We have an Executive Secretary, a full-time Professor doing a full-time job; he has a very solid background in this area. Operational staff and a website have also been set up.
Is there remuneration for the committee members?
So far there is nothing like that. Definitely, there would be no salary. It is possible there could be allowances for the time one leaves his base to go and have meetings and so on because there are so many things we are going to do. Apart from our meetings, we are going to see people in various offices, including the judiciary. During that period, one could be away for a week or so. I assume there would be allowances paid but this has not been discussed.
Against the backdrop that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation, what are the tasks and challenges involved in the committee’s work and how do you intend to tackle the challenges?
You are right. In fact, it is a frightening scenario because every day when you wake up, something new has happened, another example of corruption has been revealed. It is as if we are just surrounded by corruption. It is like when a city is taken over by refuse, it is a terrible thing. We have been set up to take a systematic look and approach to the problem. We are not an executive agency, we are not going to identify somebody and arrest and prosecute. No. Our job is one of reflection, of deliberation, in fact, of coordination; to coordinate the struggle to wipe out corruption. This is going to involve intensive and very thorough intervention in the various actions that are going on and also in trying to make the administration of justice, as it affects corruption, more effective. So, we are going to look at the administration of criminal justice bill and try to make it as effective as possible. We are going to bring support for the anti-corruption agencies. For example, we are going to interact with them to find out what challenges they are having; be it equipment, so that if it is detection equipment or interrogation equipment that they need and things like that, we then recommend that they should have them. Is it in terms of technical quality and skills of their personnel? In which case they need training in special areas, we are going to look at that. Is it financial challenge? If it is, we may recommend to the government that it should be looked into. Or is it a question of the integrity of the people who are working there?  I am not even talking of the leadership, I am talking of those who actually do the routine work, interrogation and investigation; whether there are some who have been compromised or who may not have integrity, in which case we may need fresh hands that can do the job in an uncompromising manner. So it is a wide-ranging thing and our job is to interface with them: EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal and find out what problems they have and seek solution for them.
Some people have actually criticised the setting up of your committee, saying that the anti-corruption agencies like EFCC and ICPC are there to take care of corruption issues in the country. How do you view this?
As I have said, we are not there to do the work of the agencies  but to examine the state of the struggle, look at the challenges, look at the drawbacks and try to find solutions. I will give you a few examples. At times, the agencies don’t cooperate with each other, they behave like rivals; we want to eliminate that. They should share information. They should cooperate so that where one is weak, the other would provide support; where the other is strong, the second would enjoy that cover. We would also be looking into lost cases. Some major cases have been lost by the agencies in the past, we would look into all that. We would be able to look at the case files, find out what was inadequate in the prosecution so that we can then ensure that whatever it is, it is taken care of so that such does not repeat itself in the future. Not for the purpose of retrial because once an accused has been discharged, you cannot go back. But at least against the future, we would be able to guide against that. So generally, I think this committee is very, very essential at this time because it is doing coordination work, it is doing research work, it is doing mediation work and it is going to do a major work in the area of administration of criminal justice, looking at the efficiency of prosecution, looking at the integrity of the prosecution process, looking at the length of time it takes to complete a case and looking at how prosecution can proceed without being frustrated. It is looking at quite a lot of things.
Do you think Nigeria needs a special court to prosecute corruption cases as being canvassed by the presidency?
Yes, a special anti-corruption court will certainly enhance the fight against corruption. It would create speed and also possibly ensure the integrity of the process. But an anti-corruption court cannot be decreed by presidential order. It can only be created through an amendment of the constitution and that takes time. Meanwhile, what we are hoping to see, because it has been done before, is that some judges and justices would be identified because of their reputation and record who would operate from the criminal division of the high courts all over the country and they are the ones who would be handling these cases because they have an established reputation for integrity, for discipline, for industry and for their courage and indeed passion for justice.
If those who allegedly embezzled money under the last administration come to you secretly to say they want to return part of the stolen funds, would you welcome and protect them?
Yes, they are very much welcome. If anybody can do that, we would certainly direct them to the appropriate agency where they should return the money and then I assume that there would be some legal processes involved. Since we are not an executive agency, we don’t have familiarity with this but there would be a process through which the money would be returned and what the consequences will be, but I can say confidently that any person who does that is saving the government a lot of cost in terms of cost of prosecution which could be very expensive. Such a person would probably get favourable treatment of some sort. That’s why the new law has a provision for plea bargaining.
Some have criticised the president on the way he has been governing the country since his inauguration. They say he is just sacking and appointing people at will, trying to set up special courts the way he set up  special tribunals when he was military head of state, and that he has not shed the toga of the military man in him. What is your take on this?
I don’t think it is fair to say the president is behaving as if we are in a military regime. He is a stickler to the democratic traditions and demands. He has not done anything undemocratic so far. For example, talking of special courts, he has not set up any special court. If he did that, it would be illegal and anti-democratic. That is why the whole idea of special courts has not taken off because as I explained, another arm of government, the legislature, is going to be seriously involved. So, the fact that somebody wants to fight corruption and he is dedicated to that struggle because that is the bane of this country, I don’t see that as something anyone should be unhappy about unless that person is one of those who have bled this country dry. So if I hear anybody saying things like that, I feel like checking his background to see what he is trying to defend.  
Recently, Rev. Father Mathew Kukah, member of the National Peace Committee led by former head of state retired General Abdulsalam Abubakar, appealed to President Buhari to slow down on the war against corruption so as not to distract his government. Do you subscribe to this?
I was shocked to hear Kukah say that. I was thoroughly shocked that somebody so eminent, in that high position and holding that type of vocation should advocate the abandoning of the struggle to eradicate corruption in the society. If he is saying that, what does the church stand for? So, it was shocking because if his advice is taken, it means that this country is going to go down because if corruption takes away our economy, then we are going to face disintegration because we would have a failed state. So, I was a bit taken aback by that advice when I heard him say it on Channels TV, that we should abandon the struggle to eliminate corruption, that it is a distraction. It is absolutely no distraction.
Government is going on; Buhari is not the one investigating. He just gives directives and carries on with his work. So, government is going on but we want to be able to fight corruption to achieve two aims; one to recover as much stolen resources as possible so that we can now pump these into areas of the country that require it because this country is broke as we all know; infrastructure, health, labour, employment are in dire need of rescue. Number two is, to establish a culture in which people in government will not engage in impunity and will allow clean process and good governance to prevail so that the country can develop, so that our resources would be directed solely towards the need of the state rather than into private pockets.
The EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde is currently being probed by the Senate for alleged diversion of money and property seized from some corrupt individuals. Is this a case of corruption fighting back as some people in the Senate and their close associates have been accused of corruption and under the probe of EFCC?
I must confess that the timing of the accusation against Lamorde is a little bit suspicious but having said that, I believe that the anti-corruption agency must be like Caesar’s wife, totally and absolutely above suspicion. So once anybody has mouthed any accusation against them or any of their officials, they must come out and clear themselves because if they don’t, they would have no moral or legal basis to entertain reports of corruption and act on them. So there is a very heavy burden on the EFCC now that the chairman and his staff should go and clear themselves so that we can be sure that when taking matters to them, you are not taking matters of one type of people to the same type of people to investigate. In which case we would just be going round in circles, deceiving ourselves, promoting corruption and thinking we are fighting it. So, they have to clear themselves. Without doing that, there is no moving forward for the EFCC. For me, it is a very sad situation.
The Presidency announced some appointments penultimate Thursday and there is hullaballoo everywhere that the president’s appointments so far have been tilted to the northern part of the country where he hails from. What do you say to this?
I noticed too that the President’s appointments have been lopsided, that 80 per cent of the people he has appointed are from northern part of the country but I want to give him the benefit of the doubt because these are early days and the first set of appointments are usually people with whom he is going to work closely with. I know he would be conscious of this perception and he must have gone ahead to do it because probably in future, he is going to make more appointments which would reflect more federal character. For the appointment of close aides and those for sensitive offices, he really needs to appoint people he is absolutely certain of; in terms of confidentiality, competence, integrity and so on. I mean those he can vouch for. That’s my own explanation for these appointments because if you look at them, we have Chief of Staff which is somebody who can even operate from your bedroom, he is very close. Then, if you talk of the case of Customs, that is where there are so many problems of corruption. I understand the person he has appointed there is not even a member of the Customs. That shows you immediately that it is not a normal appointment, it is like a task force type of appointment. The only appointment that I would have probably preferred some other name is that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation. But again, the president may have his reasons. So, I would want us to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe we should be more critical as time goes on.
The South-easterners (Ndigbo) particularly feel short-changed about these appointments, especially that of the SGF which they had ‘claimed’ was theirs to balance the equation and they are now crying foul. What do you think?
They have no right to feel short-changed at all for two reasons. One, if you look at the proportion of those who were elected during the last general elections, hardly was the APC able to get a single person from the South East and what was the reason? It is not that the people there didn’t want to vote. If you have analysed the election in South-South and South-East as I have done, there was a lot of terrible rigging there by the PDP. So, the South-East rigged itself out of influence by putting all its eggs in one basket, the PDP basket. They rigged; there was no question about it. I have done the analysis and what happened there was a great abnormality; it has nothing to do with any election. Those were the areas where they did not use card readers and so on. So they shot themselves in the foot and I think they need to accept that they should have allowed the people to vote naturally and then there would have been distribution of votes between both parties. Number two, my own personal experience as someone who has lived relatively long in this country is that there is no advantage in having somebody who is your next-door neighbour or your village boy in office; there is no advantage there at all. It doesn’t help you. The people of Bayelsa (where former President Goodluck Jonathan come from) today are crying that they don’t have water; Jonathan’s hometown people are complaining that they don’t have water, they have appealed to the Buhari government to provide them with water. Look at Obasanjo’s Ota, the road there is bad, the conditions there are pitiable. So, I think the easterners should just forget about the issue of, ‘appoint one of us’. Rather, they should look at what programmes are going to be planned and implemented in favour of the east. That is what they should be looking at. Forget about the individuals. I am not interested in whether anybody is coming from my area. What is this government going to do in my area? That is what they should be looking for. Is the government going to build the second Niger Bridge? Is the government going to tackle erosion? Is the government going to build roads in the East? Those are the questions they should be asking, not moaning over non-appointment of their people into positions.
Do they not have the right to feel that they are now being “victimised” for not voting for Buhari in the last elections?
They are not victimised, and they should not feel victimised. Not giving them political appointments is not victimisation. Nobody is entitled to political appointment; that’s the discretion of the government in power.
Are you not worried that months after the inauguration, the president is yet to form his cabinet?
I am not worried. The president is trying to bring people such as himself and the vice president into the cabinet. So you should not have on one side of the table clean men of integrity and another side calculating locusts who are thinking on how much they can eat out of national resources. He wants to have like-minded people, so a lot of screening is going on. He doesn’t want a situation where within one month of the cabinet getting on board, we start hearing of people being sacked. It is true that we cannot get 100 per cent cabinet of angels but there is nothing wrong in trying to get the best we can so that once they take off, the rest of us can relax a little bit and know that these people are working for Nigeria. He said September and I am sure he would keep his word. The cabinet would be announced and I believe when he does that, the wait would be justified.
More than five hundred days after, the Chibok girls are still in captivity. What do you think is wrong with the case of these girls?
It is very worrying and I am getting frightened because as somebody noted, our soldiers are clearing out so many areas occupied by these Boko Haram insurgents and the expectation has always been that each time communities of hostages are released, we would see the girls; but all the people coming out have been different types of people, hundreds of thousands of them and none of the girls was there. So what has happened to them? Those of us that are outside government may not know what is going on but I am disturbed. Maybe those in government know where they are, I don’t know. But it is worrying, disturbing and frustrating but I pray to God that those girls would be found so that their parents can at least find joy at the end of the day and not frustration and mystery. So, it is worrying that so far, we have not seen the girls. Even if they have been split, we should expect that when the soldiers liberate a particular area, they would say, ‘oh, we find 30 Chibok girls’ and at least we would rejoice and say, ‘oh, that is part of victory in this great struggle’, but not a single one has been found and that is discouraging.
Are you worried that the girls might be among the young female suicide bombers?
I don’t think so because the description of the suicide bombers shows that they are very young girls, 11, 13, not more than 15 but the Chibok girls are about 15, 16, 17. I don’t think they are.
The president has set a target of three to four months to end the Boko Haram insurgency which points to the fact that he wants to employ military tactics to quell the problem while some people are advocating for dialogue as well. What is your take on this?
I subscribe to dialogue provided the dialogue is directed towards the release of the Chibok girls, not of the war generally. If it is towards the Chibok girls, yes, because to me that is a very, very sensitive and trying matter to which one is ready to stoop in order to conquer. But if it is just dialogue generally without that condition, it is not acceptable to me. The Chibok girls must be a factor in the issue of dialogue.
The deadline given by the president to crush the insurgents: do you think it is achievable?
It is baffling to me as a layman but I respect his military background and as I always say, these people in positions like that have information flowing in to them from all directions; from Chad, Niger, Cameroon, from our military chiefs, from the DSS. So by the time he collates all these, he probably found or he could plot a graph showing that December is a possible date. So I don’t want to question that. But for me as a layman, I would have been sceptical because the Boko Haram insurgents have proved far more difficult than we ever anticipated.
You recently took a position on the situation in Osun State by condemning the lady judge that submitted a petition to the State House of Assembly calling for the impeachment of the governor. Why did you take that position, as some people are saying it is because you have a soft spot for the APC and the governor is of the APC?
I have heard about that, and I felt a bit sad. There is so much scepticism, cynicism in the land. Nobody trusts another anymore in this country. Everybody thinks everybody has a motive; you won’t do anything unless you are getting something back. That is how bad we have degenerated and I don’t blame them for saying that. But there are still quite a number of Nigerians who, out of principle, have a belief, have a cause and speak out of conviction, not out of benefit or anything. Yes, I think the APC is a much better entity and organisation than the PDP. I think so but that is not the reason I spoke out against the judge.
Are you a card-carrying member of APC?
I am not going to answer that question.
Why?
Because it is my own private right and so I am not going to answer it. But I certainly prefer APC to the PDP, there is no question about that.
So, what is your reason for speaking out against the judge?
I was shocked that she did all those things she did and the state Judicial Service Commission did nothing, the National Judiciary Commission did nothing, they just allowed her free reign, to be going on a rampage all over the state, and a judge for that matter. I don’t know what word to use with regard to a judge; it is the most disgraceful and embarrassing sort of image that somebody at that level could project to the world. Judges from time immemorial are people of dignity, decorum and respect, who make statement only in their judgments and in the courts and when they leave the courts, you do not hear anything from them, they keep themselves detached from the public, they don’t take part in the rough and tumble of politics. So, they are placed in that pedestal which compels us to respect them. So when you see us bowing and saying, ‘My Lord’, taking orders from them and taking directives and so on without being able to challenge them directly except by way of appeal, it is because of that type of level of dignity and respect and the importance of their job in society. But when that lady decided to become a politician and decided to politically and publicly attack the head of the government of her state, government that appointed her in office, she completely discarded all the respect, dignity and decorum associated with that office. She turned it into, as I said in another forum, she became a street fighter which is a thing that we should never ever expect from a judge. So, as far as I am concerned, the minute she issued that statement and got it published as emanating from her, she has lost the right to continue to be a judge, she has lost that right and she brought the whole judiciary into shame and odium and she should no longer be in that office. I think she should be queried, disciplined and removed as a lesson to all other people that, ‘if you want to be a politician, you be a politician, if you want to be a judge, then know that there is decorum and respect in it’. Who will appear in her court now and not feel uncomfortable? She’s like any other person in the street, not one of those people that we respect very much. I think she desecrated her oath of office.
we have terms of reference too.
Have you started work?
Yes, we have.
But you have not been formally inaugurated and members are scattered all over the federation.   How do you meet and where do you meet?
We meet in Abuja. It is a committee; it is not an executive body. We have a secretariat in the Ministry of Justice in Abuja. We have an Executive Secretary, a full-time Professor doing a full-time job; he has a very solid background in this area. Operational staff and a website have also been set up.
Is there remuneration for the committee members?
So far there is nothing like that. Definitely, there would be no salary. It is possible there could be allowances for the time one leaves his base to go and have meetings and so on because there are so many things we are going to do. Apart from our meetings, we are going to see people in various offices, including the judiciary. During that period, one could be away for a week or so. I assume there would be allowances paid but this has not been discussed.
Against the backdrop that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation, what are the tasks and challenges involved in the committee’s work and how do you intend to tackle the challenges?
You are right. In fact, it is a frightening scenario because every day when you wake up, something new has happened, another example of corruption has been revealed. It is as if we are just surrounded by corruption. It is like when a city is taken over by refuse, it is a terrible thing. We have been set up to take a systematic look and approach to the problem. We are not an executive agency, we are not going to identify somebody and arrest and prosecute. No. Our job is one of reflection, of deliberation, in fact, of coordination; to coordinate the struggle to wipe out corruption. This is going to involve intensive and very thorough intervention in the various actions that are going on and also in trying to make the administration of justice, as it affects corruption, more effective. So, we are going to look at the administration of criminal justice bill and try to make it as effective as possible. We are going to bring support for the anti-corruption agencies. For example, we are going to interact with them to find out what challenges they are having; be it equipment, so that if it is detection equipment or interrogation equipment that they need and things like that, we then recommend that they should have them. Is it in terms of technical quality and skills of their personnel? In which case they need training in special areas, we are going to look at that. Is it financial challenge? If it is, we may recommend to the government that it should be looked into. Or is it a question of the integrity of the people who are working there?  I am not even talking of the leadership, I am talking of those who actually do the routine work, interrogation and investigation; whether there are some who have been compromised or who may not have integrity, in which case we may need fresh hands that can do the job in an uncompromising manner. So it is a wide-ranging thing and our job is to interface with them: EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal and find out what problems they have and seek solution for them.
Some people have actually criticised the setting up of your committee, saying that the anti-corruption agencies like EFCC and ICPC are there to take care of corruption issues in the country. How do you view this?
As I have said, we are not there to do the work of the agencies  but to examine the state of the struggle, look at the challenges, look at the drawbacks and try to find solutions. I will give you a few examples. At times, the agencies don’t cooperate with each other, they behave like rivals; we want to eliminate that. They should share information. They should cooperate so that where one is weak, the other would provide support; where the other is strong, the second would enjoy that cover. We would also be looking into lost cases. Some major cases have been lost by the agencies in the past, we would look into all that. We would be able to look at the case files, find out what was inadequate in the prosecution so that we can then ensure that whatever it is, it is taken care of so that such does not repeat itself in the future. Not for the purpose of retrial because once an accused has been discharged, you cannot go back. But at least against the future, we would be able to guide against that. So generally, I think this committee is very, very essential at this time because it is doing coordination work, it is doing research work, it is doing mediation work and it is going to do a major work in the area of administration of criminal justice, looking at the efficiency of prosecution, looking at the integrity of the prosecution process, looking at the length of time it takes to complete a case and looking at how prosecution can proceed without being frustrated. It is looking at quite a lot of things.
Do you think Nigeria needs a special court to prosecute corruption cases as being canvassed by the presidency?
Yes, a special anti-corruption court will certainly enhance the fight against corruption. It would create speed and also possibly ensure the integrity of the process. But an anti-corruption court cannot be decreed by presidential order. It can only be created through an amendment of the constitution and that takes time. Meanwhile, what we are hoping to see, because it has been done before, is that some judges and justices would be identified because of their reputation and record who would operate from the criminal division of the high courts all over the country and they are the ones who would be handling these cases because they have an established reputation for integrity, for discipline, for industry and for their courage and indeed passion for justice.
If those who allegedly embezzled money under the last administration come to you secretly to say they want to return part of the stolen funds, would you welcome and protect them?
Yes, they are very much welcome. If anybody can do that, we would certainly direct them to the appropriate agency where they should return the money and then I assume that there would be some legal processes involved. Since we are not an executive agency, we don’t have familiarity with this but there would be a process through which the money would be returned and what the consequences will be, but I can say confidently that any person who does that is saving the government a lot of cost in terms of cost of prosecution which could be very expensive. Such a person would probably get favourable treatment of some sort. That’s why the new law has a provision for plea bargaining.
Some have criticised the president on the way he has been governing the country since his inauguration. They say he is just sacking and appointing people at will, trying to set up special courts the way he set up  special tribunals when he was military head of state, and that he has not shed the toga of the military man in him. What is your take on this?
I don’t think it is fair to say the president is behaving as if we are in a military regime. He is a stickler to the democratic traditions and demands. He has not done anything undemocratic so far. For example, talking of special courts, he has not set up any special court. If he did that, it would be illegal and anti-democratic. That is why the whole idea of special courts has not taken off because as I explained, another arm of government, the legislature, is going to be seriously involved. So, the fact that somebody wants to fight corruption and he is dedicated to that struggle because that is the bane of this country, I don’t see that as something anyone should be unhappy about unless that person is one of those who have bled this country dry. So if I hear anybody saying things like that, I feel like checking his background to see what he is trying to defend.   
Recently, Rev. Father Mathew Kukah, member of the National Peace Committee led by former head of state retired General Abdulsalam Abubakar, appealed to President Buhari to slow down on the war against corruption so as not to distract his government. Do you subscribe to this?
I was shocked to hear Kukah say that. I was thoroughly shocked that somebody so eminent, in that high position and holding that type of vocation should advocate the abandoning of the struggle to eradicate corruption in the society. If he is saying that, what does the church stand for? So, it was shocking because if his advice is taken, it means that this country is going to go down because if corruption takes away our economy, then we are going to face disintegration because we would have a failed state. So, I was a bit taken aback by that advice when I heard him say it on Channels TV, that we should abandon the struggle to eliminate corruption, that it is a distraction. It is absolutely no distraction.
Government is going on; Buhari is not the one investigating. He just gives directives and carries on with his work. So, government is going on but we want to be able to fight corruption to achieve two aims; one to recover as much stolen resources as possible so that we can now pump these into areas of the country that require it because this country is broke as we all know; infrastructure, health, labour, employment are in dire need of rescue. Number two is, to establish a culture in which people in government will not engage in impunity and will allow clean process and good governance to prevail so that the country can develop, so that our resources would be directed solely towards the need of the state rather than into private pockets.
The EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde is currently being probed by the Senate for alleged diversion of money and property seized from some corrupt individuals. Is this a case of corruption fighting back as some people in the Senate and their close associates have been accused of corruption and under the probe of EFCC?
I must confess that the timing of the accusation against Lamorde is a little bit suspicious but having said that, I believe that the anti-corruption agency must be like Caesar’s wife, totally and absolutely above suspicion. So once anybody has mouthed any accusation against them or any of their officials, they must come out and clear themselves because if they don’t, they would have no moral or legal basis to entertain reports of corruption and act on them. So there is a very heavy burden on the EFCC now that the chairman and his staff should go and clear themselves so that we can be sure that when taking matters to them, you are not taking matters of one type of people to the same type of people to investigate. In which case we would just be going round in circles, deceiving ourselves, promoting corruption and thinking we are fighting it. So, they have to clear themselves. Without doing that, there is no moving forward for the EFCC. For me, it is a very sad situation.
The Presidency announced some appointments penultimate Thursday and there is hullaballoo everywhere that the president’s appointments so far have been tilted to the northern part of the country where he hails from. What do you say to this?
I noticed too that the President’s appointments have been lopsided, that 80 per cent of the people he has appointed are from northern part of the country but I want to give him the benefit of the doubt because these are early days and the first set of appointments are usually people with whom he is going to work closely with. I know he would be conscious of this perception and he must have gone ahead to do it because probably in future, he is going to make more appointments which would reflect more federal character. For the appointment of close aides and those for sensitive offices, he really needs to appoint people he is absolutely certain of; in terms of confidentiality, competence, integrity and so on. I mean those he can vouch for. That’s my own explanation for these appointments because if you look at them, we have Chief of Staff which is somebody who can even operate from your bedroom, he is very close. Then, if you talk of the case of Customs, that is where there are so many problems of corruption. I understand the person he has appointed there is not even a member of the Customs. That shows you immediately that it is not a normal appointment, it is like a task force type of appointment. The only appointment that I would have probably preferred some other name is that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation. But again, the president may have his reasons. So, I would want us to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe we should be more critical as time goes on.
The South-easterners (Ndigbo) particularly feel short-changed about these appointments, especially that of the SGF which they had ‘claimed’ was theirs to balance the equation and they are now crying foul. What do you think?
They have no right to feel short-changed at all for two reasons. One, if you look at the proportion of those who were elected during the last general elections, hardly was the APC able to get a single person from the South East and what was the reason? It is not that the people there didn’t want to vote. If you have analysed the election in South-South and South-East as I have done, there was a lot of terrible rigging there by the PDP. So, the South-East rigged itself out of influence by putting all its eggs in one basket, the PDP basket. They rigged; there was no question about it. I have done the analysis and what happened there was a great abnormality; it has nothing to do with any election. Those were the areas where they did not use card readers and so on. So they shot themselves in the foot and I think they need to accept that they should have allowed the people to vote naturally and then there would have been distribution of votes between both parties. Number two, my own personal experience as someone who has lived relatively long in this country is that there is no advantage in having somebody who is your next-door neighbour or your village boy in office; there is no advantage there at all. It doesn’t help you. The people of Bayelsa (where former President Goodluck Jonathan come from) today are crying that they don’t have water; Jonathan’s hometown people are complaining that they don’t have water, they have appealed to the Buhari government to provide them with water. Look at Obasanjo’s Ota, the road there is bad, the conditions there are pitiable. So, I think the easterners should just forget about the issue of, ‘appoint one of us’. Rather, they should look at what programmes are going to be planned and implemented in favour of the east. That is what they should be looking at. Forget about the individuals. I am not interested in whether anybody is coming from my area. What is this government going to do in my area? That is what they should be looking for. Is the government going to build the second Niger Bridge? Is the government going to tackle erosion? Is the government going to build roads in the East? Those are the questions they should be asking, not moaning over non-appointment of their people into positions.
Do they not have the right to feel that they are now being “victimised” for not voting for Buhari in the last elections?
They are not victimised, and they should not feel victimised. Not giving them political appointments is not victimisation. Nobody is entitled to political appointment; that’s the discretion of the government in power.
Are you not worried that months after the inauguration, the president is yet to form his cabinet?
I am not worried. The president is trying to bring people such as himself and the vice president into the cabinet. So you should not have on one side of the table clean men of integrity and another side calculating locusts who are thinking on how much they can eat out of national resources. He wants to have like-minded people, so a lot of screening is going on. He doesn’t want a situation where within one month of the cabinet getting on board, we start hearing of people being sacked. It is true that we cannot get 100 per cent cabinet of angels but there is nothing wrong in trying to get the best we can so that once they take off, the rest of us can relax a little bit and know that these people are working for Nigeria. He said September and I am sure he would keep his word. The cabinet would be announced and I believe when he does that, the wait would be justified.
More than five hundred days after, the Chibok girls are still in captivity. What do you think is wrong with the case of these girls?
It is very worrying and I am getting frightened because as somebody noted, our soldiers are clearing out so many areas occupied by these Boko Haram insurgents and the expectation has always been that each time communities of hostages are released, we would see the girls; but all the people coming out have been different types of people, hundreds of thousands of them and none of the girls was there. So what has happened to them? Those of us that are outside government may not know what is going on but I am disturbed. Maybe those in government know where they are, I don’t know. But it is worrying, disturbing and frustrating but I pray to God that those girls would be found so that their parents can at least find joy at the end of the day and not frustration and mystery. So, it is worrying that so far, we have not seen the girls. Even if they have been split, we should expect that when the soldiers liberate a particular area, they would say, ‘oh, we find 30 Chibok girls’ and at least we would rejoice and say, ‘oh, that is part of victory in this great struggle’, but not a single one has been found and that is discouraging.
Are you worried that the girls might be among the young female suicide bombers?
I don’t think so because the description of the suicide bombers shows that they are very young girls, 11, 13, not more than 15 but the Chibok girls are about 15, 16, 17. I don’t think they are.
The president has set a target of three to four months to end the Boko Haram insurgency which points to the fact that he wants to employ military tactics to quell the problem while some people are advocating for dialogue as well. What is your take on this?
I subscribe to dialogue provided the dialogue is directed towards the release of the Chibok girls, not of the war generally. If it is towards the Chibok girls, yes, because to me that is a very, very sensitive and trying matter to which one is ready to stoop in order to conquer. But if it is just dialogue generally without that condition, it is not acceptable to me. The Chibok girls must be a factor in the issue of dialogue.
The deadline given by the president to crush the insurgents: do you think it is achievable?
It is baffling to me as a layman but I respect his military background and as I always say, these people in positions like that have information flowing in to them from all directions; from Chad, Niger, Cameroon, from our military chiefs, from the DSS. So by the time he collates all these, he probably found or he could plot a graph showing that December is a possible date. So I don’t want to question that. But for me as a layman, I would have been sceptical because the Boko Haram insurgents have proved far more difficult than we ever anticipated.
You recently took a position on the situation in Osun State by condemning the lady judge that submitted a petition to the State House of Assembly calling for the impeachment of the governor. Why did you take that position, as some people are saying it is because you have a soft spot for the APC and the governor is of the APC?
I have heard about that, and I felt a bit sad. There is so much scepticism, cynicism in the land. Nobody trusts another anymore in this country. Everybody thinks everybody has a motive; you won’t do anything unless you are getting something back. That is how bad we have degenerated and I don’t blame them for saying that. But there are still quite a number of Nigerians who, out of principle, have a belief, have a cause and speak out of conviction, not out of benefit or anything. Yes, I think the APC is a much better entity and organisation than the PDP. I think so but that is not the reason I spoke out against the judge.
Are you a card-carrying member of APC?
I am not going to answer that question.
Why?
Because it is my own private right and so I am not going to answer it. But I certainly prefer APC to the PDP, there is no question about that.
So, what is your reason for speaking out against the judge?
I was shocked that she did all those things she did and the state Judicial Service Commission did nothing, the National Judiciary Commission did nothing, they just allowed her free reign, to be going on a rampage all over the state, and a judge for that matter. I don’t know what word to use with regard to a judge; it is the most disgraceful and embarrassing sort of image that somebody at that level could project to the world. Judges from time immemorial are people of dignity, decorum and respect, who make statement only in their judgments and in the courts and when they leave the courts, you do not hear anything from them, they keep themselves detached from the public, they don’t take part in the rough and tumble of politics. So, they are placed in that pedestal which compels us to respect them. So when you see us bowing and saying, ‘My Lord’, taking orders from them and taking directives and so on without being able to challenge them directly except by way of appeal, it is because of that type of level of dignity and respect and the importance of their job in society. But when that lady decided to become a politician and decided to politically and publicly attack the head of the government of her state, government that appointed her in office, she completely discarded all the respect, dignity and decorum associated with that office. She turned it into, as I said in another forum, she became a street fighter which is a thing that we should never ever expect from a judge. So, as far as I am concerned, the minute she issued that statement and got it published as emanating from her, she has lost the right to continue to be a judge, she has lost that right and she brought the whole judiciary into shame and odium and she should no longer be in that office. I think she should be queried, disciplined and removed as a lesson to all other people that, ‘if you want to be a politician, you be a politician, if you want to be a judge, then know that there is decorum and respect in it’. Who will appear in her court now and not feel uncomfortable? She’s like any other person in the street, not one of those people that we respect very much. I think she desecrated her oath of office.

Welcome To Saminukanti Blog: APC governorship primaries: The gladiators and new revelations in Kogi politics

Welcome To Saminukanti Blog: APC governorship primaries: The gladiators and new revelations in Kogi politics

APC governorship primaries: The gladiators and new revelations in Kogi politics

The governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, which held on August 29 at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja,  was unprecedented in the history of the state, given the  array of contestants that jostled for the ticket.
There were a total of 28 aspirants cleared by the national headquarters of the party to take part in the keenly contested primaries. Each aspirant had paid N5.5 million to obtain the APC governorship form, thus enriching the coffers of the party to the tune of about N137 million. Kogi state has a total of 21 Local Government Areas, which implies that each LGA presented an aspirant while some others presented up to two or three aspirants for the contests. Curios enough, none of the aspirant was ready to step down for the other, except for Barrister  Babatunde Irukera, who was said to have withdrawn in support of Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar candidature.
The gladiators that took part in the race included Prince Abubakar Audu, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Senator Abatemi Usman, Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar (Gamji), Senator Yahaya Ugbane, Clarence Obafemi, Sani Shu’aibu, Suleiman Baba Ali, Air Vice Marshal Atawodi Saliu, Hadiza Ibrahim, Abdullahi Suleiman and Yakubu Mohammed.
Others include Abutu Ejeh, Engr. Sunday Edibo, Otunba Suleiman Lanre, Dr Tim Nda Diche, Dr Yakeen Abdullahi, Rotimi Obadofin, Olusola Olumoroti, Adinoyi Onukaba Ojo, Aliyu Jiya, Alex Kadiri, Sadiq Adaba, Hussain Idris, Usman Mainyanga and Bar. James Ocholi (SAN).
The chairman of the Kogi APC Governorship Primaries and Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, had set the stage for the contest when he read out the rules and numbers of accredited delegates for the congress. He said a total of 3,044 accredited delegates would take part in the primaries and that the contest would be transparent, free and fair, with the assurance that all contestants would be given level playing field.
El-Rufai urged the delegates to vote wisely, not on the basis of money, but their conscience. “We will not favour anyone. We will ensure a level-playing ground for all of you. This is the first governorship election to be conducted under the administration of President Buhari and we must vote wisely to ensure victory of the party,” he had said.
Governor El-Rufai gave each of the aspirant two minutes to talk to the delegates prior to the commencement of voting. After all the mouth-watering speeches from the aspirants it was now time for the delegates to speak, this time not with sweet sounding speeches but their votes.
Casting of votes began at about 10 pm and was concluded at about 3.00 am while sorting and counting followed until the results were announced at about 12 noon on Sunday.
While the sorting and counting was going on, it was obvious to aspirants the direction the victory was tilting to, thus, some of them, sensing obvious defeat, began to file out from venue of the congress before announcement of the results.
When the final results were declared, former two-term governor of Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu carried the day. Audu polled 1,109 votes to emerge victorious over 26 other contestants. Audu’s closest opponent, Alhaji Yahaya Bello from Kogi Central polled 703 votes in the keenly contested governorship primary which was adjudged free and fair. Results of other contestants in the governorship primary include Senator Nurudeen Abatemi Usman (400), Sanusi Abubakar (309), Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi (183), James Ocholi (90), Olusola Olumoroti (58), Suleiman Baba Ali (28), Rotimi Obadofin (16), Dr Tim Nda Diche (13) and Abdullahi Suleiman (11).
Former Kogi acting governor, Clarence Olafemi (7), Senator Yahaya Ugbane (8), Yakeen Abdullahi (8), Idris Danjuma (5), Yakubu Mohammed (4), Col. Ahmed Usman (6), Abutu Ejeh (2), Sunday Edibo (1), Sani Shu’aibu (1) and Alex Kadiri (1). Aspirants that scored no votes during the contest include Hussein Idris, Sadiq Adabara and Aliyu Jiya.
The Chairman of the Kogi APC governorship primary panel and governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai who declared results of the primary, expressed gratitude with the transparent and peaceful manner in which the election was conducted.
In his acceptance speech, Prince Abubakar Audu expressed gratitude to the APC Governorship Panel for a transparent election, assuring that he would carry all the other aspirants along to ensure their victory is sealed at the poll. Audu said his coming into the governorship race this time around was to rescue Kogi from its present backward state and restore it to its former glory.
“We are grateful with the transparent nature of the election; I have consulted with other contestants and they told me they are quite ok with the manner the contest was handled.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that the outcome of the primary election ran contrary to the strategies of the Central and West Senatorial Districts, which had been formed a kind of alliance aimed at ensuring that the ticket was taken from any aspirant from Kogi East Senatorial District. Since the creation of the Kogi State in 1991, governors, except military administrators, had been produced by the Igala-speaking community in Kogi East. The APC candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, had ruled in two previous democratic dispensations, while Alhaji Idris Ibrahim from the same senatorial district ruled from 2003 to 2011. Captain Idris Wada took over from Alhaji Idris Ibrahim.
In an attempt to wrestle the APC ticket from Kogi East, all the aspirants from the West and Central Senatorial Districts, led by political heavyweights like Senator Salihu Ohize, Senator Dino Malaiye,  Hon Clarence Olafemi,  and Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar, were said to have come together to endorse the aspiration of Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar on account of his popularity, maturity and wide connections. Such qualification, it was  believed, could be better used to spearhead a true power shift for the two senatorial districts. The concern of these politicians was that a state  like Kogi is presently in dire straits and should not be left in the hands of a governor who has not  enough private or public sectors experience  to steer the ship of the state.
However, the emergence of Barrister Tunde Irukera, who was touted to have the support of elements from the Presidency, changed the game, but at a later meeting at in Indrinana Hotel, Lokoja, Barrister Irukera was convinced to step down for Alhaji Abubakar, which he agreed to do. But delegates from the Central Senatorial District felt that prevailing on Barrister Irukera to step down for Alhaji Abubakar was like short-changing the zone. The Central Senatorial District leaders found it impossible to convince the delegates  to support Alhaji Abubakar, leading to the collapse of the deal between the Central and West Senatorial Districts to wrestle the ticket from the Kogi East. Apart from the collapse of the agreement, it was speculated that even frontline leaders from the West and Central District actually worked from Prince Audu, showing that they were not committed to the power shift the were clamouring for.
Despite the collapse of the deal between the West and Central Senatorial Districts, the fact that a new entrant into Kogi politics came fourth was a shock to many political watchers, and he’s perceived to be one of the politicians to watch in the state. For those who know him, Alhaji Abubakar, born in 1961 in Okene, has been involved in humanitarian activities, touching the lives of the less privileged. For almost 20 years now, his philanthropic gestures know no bound. He has helped to uplift the lives of the less privilege, orphans in our society. He is delivering a steady free eye treatment to over 20,000 people with sight challenges. He constructed, rehabilitate and provide medical facilities to General Hospital in Okene and Obangede. He provides electricity to some areas in Ebira land by donating transformers. He gave scholarship awards to indigent students. He empowered youth and women through his Gamji Group of Companies and Asmau Foundation. A graduate of Estate Management  at Higher National Diploma Level (HND) from Kaduna Polytechnic, Alhaji Abubakar also holds a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and management from the University of Abuja. In 1992, he floated Gamji Nigeria Company Ltd with its headquarters in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory
Analyst believe the dismal outing of some of the aspirants showed that they had not done enough to woo the support of the people. According to them, the dismal performance of prominent names such as Senator Yahaya Ugbane, Alex Kadiri, Clarence Olafemi and the likes during the congress was a challenge for them to go back to the drawing board and reinvigorate their political relevance in the state.
Another surprise outing came from the businessman-turn-politician, Alhaji Yahaya Bello (Fair Plus) at the poll has been the talk of the town. Pundits believe that having sprung such surprises in his first voyage into the murky waters of Kogi politics, Bello’s political future appeared promising if he would be a little patience and remained focus without jumping the gun.
Indeed, the APC governorship primary election revealed two politicians of the future - Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi and Alhaji Yahaya Bello.