Seyi Law slaps, bullies Eko Hotel’s security guard

It was a night of fun turn sour for Peter Ethan, a security guard at the prestigious Eko Hotel and suites, when popular award winning rib cracker, Seyi Law, ferociously slapped him across the face three times, as he was trying to maneuver his way out of Eko hotel just after the conclusion of the much-talked about Kiss Daniel’s album concert in the early hours of Monday, May 16 2016.

As invited guests and participants trooped out of the venue with satisfaction of a night well spent, also driving out in his Porsche car, Seyi Law was accosted by Peter Ethan, trying to inform him of an alternative route he could take to ease vehicular movement and avoid traffic. Suddenly, with the speed of light, Seyi Law angrily flew out of his car and dazed the security guard, Peter Ethan, with three hot resounding slaps that got him probably seeing stars and staggering for balance. Lost for words as to why Seyi Law bullied him in such a rascally manner, the security guard burst into uncontrollable tears.

On seeing their colleague in such an emotional state, Peter’s fellow security guards rushed to the spot  to inquire what transpired.

Immediately they got the gist of what happened, they took sides with Peter, one of them even attempted to physically harass Seyi Law, but for the intervention of a few peacemakers and Seyi’s quick escape instincts, he would have been lynched by an angry mob that began to build.

While speaking to Potpourri at the scene on what actually transpired, an emotionally unstable Peter tearfully recounted his bitter ordeal “I was only trying to redirect him through an alternative route which my boss instructed us on, to avoid traffic jam as guests drive out.

“To my greatest surprise, Seyi Law just jumped out of his car and began to hurl abusive words at me. While trying to explain to him he just suddenly gave me three dirty slaps. This has never happened to me before, is it because I’m putting on a security uniform? I didn’t expect this kind of attitude from Seyi Law”.

Burna Boy’s many controversies

Damini Ogulu a.k.a Burna Boy is known for his exceptional musical talent, aside that, he has over the years, created a reputation for himself as a controversy magnet. He has had diverse face-offs with bloggers, fellow artistes and fans. Burna Boy is currently involved in a fresh controversy for allegedly impregnating one Uju Stella. The lady accused him of impregnating her and not taking up his responsibility.

In 2015, he threatened to cause physical harm to bloggers who, he claimed, were writing false stories about him. “‘These bloggers been writing shit thinking it’s a game until I see you all face to face one day and hospitalize or murk you.”

In June 2015, he posed with a gun and posted the picture on Instagram. In the caption he wrote: “This is not a movie or music video. Trust me, daddy”. He got severely criticized for posting that picture .He later bowed to the pressures of his fans and deleted the picture.

Early in 2015, he threatened Buffalo Soulja, a Zimbabwean artiste after they were reportedly involved in a pool side fracas in South Africa. Some weeks back, Orbeat, the producer of his hit song Soke accused him of owing him production efforts and allegedly releasing the single Acting Bad without his consent.

The ugly side of Kiss Daniel’s album concert

The much anticipated album concert of Woju crooner, Kiss Daniel, took place on the 15th of May, 2016, at the prestigious Eko hotel and suites, and a huge  crowd  thronged the venue in dapper designer outfits that beautifully coloured the event. For an event of such caliber, guests’ expectations were high. Hours before the kick-off time for the event, guests had begun to troop into the hall to secure comfy spots to sit in order to have a very clear view of activities lined up for the night.

However,guests began to raise eyebrows when the event that was scheduled for 7pm finally began a few minutes to 10pm. Guests who were already on sit before 7pm bitterly complained about the lateness in the commencement of the concert, some even had to leave the venue in anger before the event started. To make matters worse, the young and budding artiste, Kiss Daniel, who commanded the presence of such a large crowd, performed only three out of the 20-track album he launched. A guest who pleaded anonymity complained bitterly “is he done? But he has just performed three out of the 20 songs on the album! No now, this is way below my expectation”. While Seyi Law was reeling out rib cracking jokes, he jokingly threw several jabs at award-winning veteran hip-hop singer, 2face Idibia, which has attracted mixed reactions from fans on social media.

To crown it all, just as the event came to a close, an announcement was made that there was going to be an after-party at Echo nightclub on Etim Inyang Street, adjacent to Cool FM. This information got many fun lovers beaming with happiness, but they got the shock of a lifetime when they later discovered that all routes actually led to Quilox nightclub and not Echo.

It’s over’ says Van Gaal amid Mourinho reports

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal left the squad’s hotel on Sunday saying “it’s over” amid reports he was about to be replaced by Jose Mourinho.

 

Dutch boss van Gaal was greeted by waiting Red Devils fans following United’s FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday.

When asked by a Sky Sports reporter if he had time to talk, van Gaal replied: “It’s over.”

Whether that meant he had been sacked by United was not immediately clear.

But the 64-year-old former Netherlands manager’s brief remark will fuel speculation he is on his way out of Old Trafford.

No sooner had United lifted the FA Cup then reports in the British media emerged that former Chelsea boss Mourinho would be replacing one-time mentor van Gaal.

For all that they ended this season with a trophy, United didn’t make a sustained challenge for the Premier League title and failed to qualify for the Champions League.

United fans were also unhappy with the brand of football their team played under van Gaal, which many felt ran counter to the club’s traditional attacking style.

Mourinho saw his second spell as Chelsea manager end with the sack in December after last season’s champions made a miserable start to the defence of their Premier League title.

The Portuguese manager may have won trophies in several European leagues but has never stayed at one club longer than three years and three months he racked up in his first spell with Chelsea.

But former United defender Phil Neville said even if Mourinho was only at Old Trafford for a brief time, he would bring trophies to the club.

“I can’t see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years, that seems to be his shelf life at a football club,” Neville told BBC Radio on Sunday.

“When Jose finishes at a club it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips.

“It happened at Chelsea, it certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players.

“It’s a pattern with Jose, he comes into a club, he gets success but he doesn’t stay for too long.”

United have now failed to finish higher than fourth in the Premier League in any of the three seasons since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired.

For a club of United’s stature that represents an embarrassing record but Neville believes Mourinho, who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea, can transform their fortunes.

“He’s a proven winner, a proven champion,” Neville said.

“United fans want a team that will challenge for the league title, not a team that finishes seventh or fifth, and Jose is probably the man for the job.

“Knowing Jose as I do, I think he will have done his homework and he’s meticulous in his planning.

“He knows who he wants and at the start he will demand United sign those players for United to become championship challengers again.”

Bayern win: 21 titles in 7 years isn’t bad, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola says his 21st title as a coach is not a bad way to sign off at Bayern Munich after his tearful farewell in the German Cup final.

Bayern won Guardiola’s final game in charge on Saturday night at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium by beating Borussia Dortmund 4-3 on penalties after neither side could score in 120 minutes.

Dortmund missed two penalties in the shootout before Douglas Costa nailed the final spot kick to seal Bayern’s league and cup double and give Guardiola his 21st title.

“21 titles in seven years, three titles per year, that’s not bad,” said Guardiola who won 14 titles in four years with Barcelona.

 

But I had some luck in being able to coach Barcelona and Bayern Munich, both clubs are exceptional.

“They have players who help you do your best, but my time here in Germany hasn’t just been about titles: it was also my life here, the Bundesliga and the stadiums which were always full.”

Guardiola will coach Manchester City next season, but the Spaniard, so often accused of being too emotionless during his time in Munich, broke down in tears as Bayern celebrated.

He revealed that he has struggled to deal with criticism from the German media since it was announced at the start of the year that he would leave to coach City next season.

“The last five months haven’t been easy,” he said.

“What people said to me, before I decided to join Manchester, was completely different to what they said after it was announced.

“I can’t understand that.

“But I am Pep, I always focus on the next game and that is what I will always do.

“Titles are titles, they make people happy, but it was a huge experience for me to be able to work with these players every day.”

Guardiola will be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti as Bayern’s head coach next season and says he leaves the Bavarian giants in rude health.

“Bayern Munich, with these players, is in good hands, they have the enthusiasm and the character,” said the Spaniard.

“Both teams were tired in extra time and you can’t control each penalty in the shoot-out, but they did well.”

A regret from Guardiola’s Bavarian sojourn is his three consecutive Champions League exits at the semi-final stage after losing to Barcelona (2014), Real Madrid (2015) and Atletico Madrid in this season’s last four.

“Actually we had deserved to be in Milan next Saturday,” insisted Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenige after Bayern lost at the start of May to Atletico, who will play Real Madrid in the European final in Milan on Saturday.

Mourinho will be successful at United, says Neville

Jose Mourinho may not last long as Manchester United manager but will bring trophies to Old Trafford, according to former Reds defender Phil Neville.

United may have won Saturday’s FA Cup final against Crystal Palace but within minutes of lifting the trophy at Wembley there were reports that manager Louis van Gaal was about to be sacked and replaced by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

For all that United won the FA Cup, they didn’t make a sustained challenge for the Premier League title and failed to qualify for the Champions League this season.

United fans were also unhappy with the brand of football their team played under Dutch boss van Gaal, which many felt ran counter to the club’s traditional attacking style.

Mourinho saw his second spell as Chelsea manager end with the sack in December after last season’s champions made a miserable start to the defence of their Premier League title.

 

The Portuguese manager may have won trophies in several European leagues but has never stayed at one club longer than three years and three months he racked up in his first spell with Chelsea.

“I can’t see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years, that seems to be his shelf life at a football club,” Neville told BBC Radio on Sunday.

“When Jose finishes at a club it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips.

“It happened at Chelsea, it certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players.

“It’s a pattern with Jose, he comes into a club, he gets success but he doesn’t stay for too long.”

United have now failed to finish higher than fourth in the Premier League in any of the three seasons since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired.

For a club of United’s stature that represents an embarrassing record but Neville believes Mourinho, who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea, can transform their fortunes.

“He’s a proven winner, a proven champion,” Neville said.

“United fans want a team that will challenge for the league title, not a team that finishes seventh or fifth, and Jose is probably the man for the job.

“Knowing Jose as I do, I think he will have done his homework and he’s meticulous in his planning.

Breaking News: NLC suspends nationwide strike

NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, led by Ayuba Wabba, Sunday suspended the ongoing nationwide strike to force the Federal Government to reverse the N145 per litre pump price of petrol and resolved to resume negotiation with the government.

This came as Joe Ajaero led faction, weekend assured that labour movement would engage the federal government to ensure there was a time frame for ending importation of refined petroleum products into the country.

APC is not managing it’s victory well – Okorocha

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has expressed serious reservations that his party “is not managing it’s victory very well”.

Governor Okorocha made his feelings known while fielding questions from news yesterday in Owerri.

 

Make no mistake about it, All Progressives Congress is a good party, by all standards but my regret is that we are not managing our victory very well”, Okorocha lamented.

When asked to assess President Muhammadu Buhari’s one year in office, the APC Governors boss said he had no doubt that the man would succeed.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the old man (Buhari) will succeed. All I pleaded with Buhari to capture in the current fiscal year, are in the budget. I want to assure Ndigbo that all that are due to us will definitely get to us”, Governr Okorocha said.

Answering a question on the raging labour war against the new pump price of premium motor spirit, the Governor said he was in full support of the deregulation of the oil sector of the nation’s economy.

“I support the deregulation of the oil sector of the nation’s economy. I also believe in concessioning government parastatals and agencies. Nothing established by government has ever worked in Nigeria. The Nigeria Airways, NITEL, Nigerian National Shipping Line and all, never worked”, Okorocha said.

While using the opportunity to lampoon the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and it’s leadership at the national and state levels, the Governor however revealed that he has not seen an reliable person in the PDP to work with.

When reminded that Imo workers are owed salaries since February this year, the Governor said he was very comfortable with the 70:30 ratio agreement with labour, even as he warned that anytime workers refuse their salaries, he would use it to carry out projects.

“Both pension and internally generated revenue, IGR, are serious problems for me. Only recently, I ordered all the Board of Internal Revenue officers to go on leave but they have written to say it was unconstitutional to ask all officers to go on leave”, the Governor said.

Why TUC shunned strike – President

Mr Bobboi Kaigama, the President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), on Sunday said the union shunned the ongoing strike by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the best interest of Nigerians.

Kaigama said this in Jalingo in an interview with newsmen.

He said that the country’s economy would have collapsed if the union had insisted on the old pump price regime of N86.50 or joined NLC to embark on the strike.

According to him, the old price regime became practically unsustainable given the facts and figures presented to the union by the Federal Government`s team during negotiations.

“Our economy is heavily dependent on crude oil sales and in the figures presented to us NNPC made N550 billions on sales of crude and only N50 billions was remitted to the Federation Account.

“The chunk of N500 billions was used to import refined petroleum products.

“That was the reason why the three tiers of government in the last federation account meeting shared what was considered to be the least to be shared in the last 16 years.

“If we had insisted on the N86.50, our members would not receive salaries in the next two months.

“ So, when we saw this position. Instead of remaining dogmatic, we opted for negotiation on how to move forward to avoid the collapse of the economy, “ he said.

Kaigama said that the union signed an agreement with the Federal Government to address the issues of minimum wage and palliatives for Nigerians to cushion the effects of the increase.

“We also signed an agreement for the reconstitution of the board of Petroleum Products, Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to include members of organised labour so that we can monitor the template for the distribution of petroleum products from depots to the retail outlet.

“Part of that agreement was that all refineries must be brought to life and enabling environment provided for modular refineries to operate around the existing refineries.

“These modular refineries, we belief would go a long way to help in the supply of our local consumption need, “ he said.

He advised state governors to look inward on ways to grow their Internally Generated Revenue to enable them to meet the development needs of the people.

Kaigama said that the union would monitor closely the disbursement of bailout funds and would report any state that diverted the bailout funds to the EFCC and ICPC for necessary action.

Vice-President’s in-law advises FG on solution to economic recession

 A septuagenarian, Elder Taiwo Shoyode has advised the Federal Government to adopt the socio-economic policies that boosted the economy of the defunct Western Region in resolving the country’s economic quagmire.

Shoyode, father in-law to Vice-President Yemi Oshinbajo, gave the advice in an interview at a free health progarmme, sponsored by a philanthropist, Dawodu Olatunji.

The programme, “Health is Wealth’’, is a free malaria test and drugs outreach, held on Saturday at Solomon Hall, Mushin, Lagos.

Shoyode urged the new generation politicians to go back and study the socio-economic agenda of the then Western Region to tackle the issues of economic downturn.

He said the laudable programmes embarked upon and implemented well by the Obafemi Awolowo-led western region remained the best
economic policy that might address the present day realities.

“I will recommend that our politicians go back to those economic policies as a way out of this economic recession.

“Then, we have farm settlements which absorbed more than half of our graduates.

“I urge politicians to bring back those laudable social and economic policies and we will be better for it; even if they implement 30 per cent of it, Nigeria will be great again.

“We need to go back to the farm settlements because many jobs will be created through it and thousands of our unemployed youths will be absorbed by the programme.

“The old western region’s socio-economic programmes remain the best politicians could copy from. Even if we can achieve 30 per cent it
will reach every corner of this country,’’ he said.

Shoyode also said that agriculture should be the mainstay of the economy because of its capacity to absorb as many people as might
want to engage in it.

“Agriculture will combat unemployment and bring quality implementable programmes that will positively impact the lives of people.

Implement National Conference report, cleric tells FG

A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Willy Ojukwu, has urged the Federal Government to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference, saying it was key to Nigeria’s unity and development.

Ojukwu, the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Gwarimpa, Abuja, made the call in his homily at the Mass on Sunday.
He said that the conference’s report contained “valuable recommendations” that constituted the bedrock of the country.

“The Federal Government should implement the report of the National Conference. I urged the government to do so now because of the importance of its content.
“In that document I am sure, lies the solution to most of the problems and major issues in the country.

“Now is the time for the government to look at the report and implement its recommendations,” he said.
The cleric decried the level of corruption in the country, saying that many Nigerians were deprived and in hardship amid affluence and wanton corruption among the elite.

He urged those in power to have the fear of God, adding that leadership was about service and humility, “which has continued to lack largely in the governance in the country”.

Ojokwu prayed for peace in the country and urged Nigerians to continue to be prayerful and support the present administration’s effort to rid the country of corruption.

He also called on parents to inculcate good virtues in their children “so that they will be better citizens and leaders when they grow up”.

I don’t interfere with LG funds – Gov Lalong

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has decried the abuse of Local Government Joint Account by some governors, saying he does not interfere with funds meant for local governments in the state.

Lalong stated this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

  He said that even though he did not support the local government autonomy, he abhorred a situation where a state governor would exercise undue interference in the joint account.

Lalong said: “ I heard stories that in some states what they do is that when the money comes, they collapse it into one account and decide what goes into each local government.

“I fought against it as a Speaker, I cannot be part of it; so when the money comes, it is meant for the local government.

“The joint account is supposed to be part of the revenue that is supposed to come and 10 per cent of it is added to it.

“So, strictly speaking, talking about joint account, it is greatly abused, it is not that the concept is not good but it is abused.

“If it is properly used, there is no need to scrap it, but it is abused; so, there is a need to re-consider that issue.’’

Lalong said that the constitution had subsumed the local government into the state government, adding that true federalism should be canvassed instead of local government autonomy.

“For me, as for joint account, even as care taker committee in my state, I do not interfere with the accounts of local governments.

“They have their separate meetings and whatever is due to them goes to them.’

Trekker Hashimu renews faith in Buhari

Mr Suleiman Hashimu, the man who trekked from Lagos to Abuja for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, has denied reports that he lost faith in the president, saying the reports are mischievous and misleading.

Fielding questions on Thursday in Abuja, Hashimu renewed his commitment to always support the president because of Buhari’s capability to solve the country’s problems.

Hashimu trekked from Lagos and arrived Abuja on April 20, 2015, to redeem his promise of walking for Buhari if he (Buhari) won the presidential election.

“I woke this morning and some of my friends started calling and asking if I am aware of reports in the social media, claiming that I – Hashimu – have regretted trekking for President Muhammadu Buhari.

“It is not true. It is a rumour, false and a lie. I did not regret my action.

“If I have another opportunity to trek for President Buhari, I will do it again, even from Nigeria to anywhere.

“I do not regret my action – trekking for him. I am in support of everything he is doing,’’ Hashimu declared.

“I did not speak to any journalist yesterday, today or recently,” the trekker stressed.

On how he felt when he heard the rumour, Hashimu said he was not surprised as some politicians with intent to spite the president in spite of his efforts so far might be responsible for such report.

“I am not surprised because as a politician, he has opposition and I believe people are looking for all ways to spoil his name.

“They spread this rumour not to dent my name but the president’s.

“They also want to use the rumour to say that I am no longer with the president, that I am no longer supporting him, it is a lie,’’ he said.

The trekker disclosed that he was planning a march together with some youths to demonstrate their support and solidarity for the Buhari’s actions so far.

He added he was in full support of the increase in the pump price price of petrol from N86.50 to N145.

Hashimu noted that Nigerians would benefit from the increase in the long run, urging youths to be patient and pray for the president.

He also commended the president for degrading the Boko Haram insurgents and fight against corruption.

However, the trekker said that he was yet to meet the president because of his tight schedules.

Hashimu called on the president to alleviate the pains Nigerians were currently going through in view of the global economic downturn.

“There are some challenges which Nigerians are facing. The president needs to be aware. Whatever you doing in life, even if you are sick, you need pain relief.

“I know he is planning big for Nigerians and Nigeria, but the relief must come. Let the president do something quickly to address the pains Nigerians are undergoing, especially in terms of food.

“There are so many complaints, he needs to work hard,’’ he said.

Fuel strike: UniAbuja issues`no work, no pay’ warning to ASUU, others

The management of University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has said that it may enforce the “no work no pay’’ directive on unions that joined Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) strike over recent increase in fuel price.

 

A statement issued by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, on Sunday in Abuja said the warning was in compliance with the directive from the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government, on May 11, announced an increase in the price of petrol from N86.50k to N145 per litre.

Adikwu listed the unions as the local branches of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities SSANU) and Non Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities (NASU).

He called on the striking staff to return to work without further delay in the interest of the growth and stability of the university.

“ We appreciate the reasons adduced by a faction of labour for going into the strike.

“However, considering the fact that concerted efforts are being made by government and all concerned to address the issues, we call on our staff on sympathy strike to resume work immediately in order to sustain the tremendous progress we have jointly made so far in stabilising the institution.

“We may be forced to comply with the government directive on the strike if they failed to heed this appeal. ’’

NAN also recalls that some labour unions on May 18 embarked on strike following the breakdown in negotiation and expiration of their ultimatum to Federal Government to reverse the increment in petrol price.

Police take over PDP secretariat

ABUJA – Heavily armed policemen Sunday took over the premises of the Peoples Democratic Party, blocking access into the party secretariat.

Five police vehicles, comprising two trucks and two pick up vans blocked access on both end of the street directly in front of the secretariat.

A detachment of policemen also blocked the entry into the secretariat.

Details later.

N24b polls cash: Ex-Gov Shinkafi, Jonathan’s minister trade claims over N450m alleged bribe

A  row has broken out between  a  former  governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji  Mamuda Shinkafi, and a  former Minister of State for Finance under the Jonathan regime, Alhaji  Bashir Yuguda, over the  disbursement of the state’s share of the N450 million from the N24 billion campaign money, allegedly  given by a former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, to prosecute the 2015 polls.

Yuguda had reportedly told operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Shinkafi got N15 million from the money but the former governor disputed the claim, insisting that he was merely told of the money but did not receive it.

 

The former Finance Minister said, in writing to the EFCC that the former Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Aminu Ahmed Nasiha, and one Alhaji Mallaha signed for the money which was shared in his (Yuguda’s) house.

However, when Shinkafi and Nasiha were summoned to the Zonal Office of the EFCC in Kano, yesterday, they denied the former Minister’s position and pleaded with the commission to free them.

The two men were, however, being detained by the EFCC in Kano as of the time of this report and it was unclear if they would be granted bail at the weekend. The former SSG admitted that he got N2 million as against the N5 million claimed by Yuguda and told  the EFCC that he had since refunded the cash.

EFCC, Sunday Vanguard learnt, was trying to establish how much each  of the suspects may have collected with a view to taking steps to retrieve the money.

The operatives were working hard to establish from Shinkafi if indeed he got a share of N15 million as alleged by Yuguda.

Other beneficiaries listed by Yuguda are  a former senator, Zamfara PDP Chairman and his executive members who reportedly received N5 million.

Also on the list are 13 Zamfara Local Government Councils, N26 million each totaling N338 million.

PDP: How the drama unfolded in Port-Harcourt

Fears of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, formally splitting were assuaged, yesterday, after warring party leaders, meeting in factional conventions in Abuja and Port-Harcourt, made common ground with the sacking of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff executive of the party.

8:00am PDP delegates arrive the Sharks Stadium for accreditation

 

Tight security in and around the stadium

10:00am—Convention Planning Committee members and security agents cordon off entrance to the stadium

10:15am Party members, delegates and journalists shoved aside by security and some Convention Planning Committee members

10:30— Delegates’ tags yet to arrive convention venue

11:00—PDP national chairman, Senator Sheriff calls  a press conference at Le Meridian Hotel, Port-Harcourt

11:15am— Sheriff storms out of venue of the press conference to consult with PDP governors and party leaders at Rivers State Government House

11:30 a.m. News of likely cancellation of PDP convention fill the air

12:00 p.m. Journalists still waiting for Sheriff’s arrival

12:05 p.m. David Mark, Sule Lamido arrive for a meeting with Sheriff

12:10 p.m. Party leaders arrive Le Meridian Hotel to wait for Sheriff

12:25 p.m. Some delegates who got wind of cancellation start leaving for their states.

12:45 p.m. Delegates leaving the convention ground

12:47 p.m. PDP national secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo arrives the Le Meridan Hotel

1:00 p.m. PDP scribe, Prof Oladipo leaves

  

1:15 pm: Sheriff’s stormy meeting with PDP governors over. Chairman adamant on retaining position

1:40pm: Sheriff returns to hotel, has lunch

2:10pm: Sheriff addresses the press , says he remains chairman and cancels convention

3:30pm: PDP governors storm convention centre

4:30pm: Governor Segun Mimiko and Senator David Mark deliver goodwill speeches

4:45 p.m. Austin Opara moves motion for the dissolution of the National Executive Committee

It was seconded by Emeka Ihedoha

4:50pm: Governor Nyesom Wike announces dissolution of the NWC

4:50pm: Babangida Aliyu moves motion for the zoning of the presidency in 2019 to the North and he is seconded by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

5:00 p.m. Senator Godswill Akpabio moves for the formation of a National Caretaker Committee and he is seconded by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo

5:15: Caretaker Committees led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi named and sworn-in

5:20: Members take oath of office as Makarfi delivers speech

5:30 p.m. Governor Ayodele Fayose moves motion bringing the convention to an end, while Senator Sam Egwu seconds

MEMBERS OF THE CARETAKER COMMITTEE

Senator Ahmed Makarfi

—Chairman

Senator Ben Obi —Secretary

Senator Oyom Obazie

Senator Abdul Lingi

Barrister Kabir Usman

Prince Dayo Adeyeye

Mrs Aishat Aliyu

Senator Odion Ugbesia

ROLL CALL

Governor Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo)

Governor Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti)

Governor Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa)

Governor David Umahi (Ebonyi)

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta)

Governor Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers)

Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers)

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe)

Senator Ike Ekweremadu Deputy Senate President

Senator David Mark

Senator Ben Murray Bruce

Senator Andy Uba

Senator Godswill Akpabio

Prince Uche Secondus

Alhaji Babangida Aliyu

Emeka Ihedioha

Austin Opara

Mrs Mulikat Adeola

Senator Theodore Orji

Senator Sam Egwu

Sule Lamido

Mrs. Kema Chikwe

Gabriel Suswam

PDP govs sack Sheriff

Fears of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, formally splitting were assuaged, yesterday, after warring party leaders, meeting in factional conventions in Abuja and Port-Harcourt, made common ground with the sacking of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff executive of the party.

Following the surprising sack of Sheriff by his one-time supporters in Port-Harcourt, a caretaker committee with Ahmed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, appointed to superintend over the affairs of the party.

 

Sheriff, however, was unyielding as he had earlier in the day, in an  attempt  to stave-off the pressure on him to step aside, canceled the convention.   This was after a stormy meeting with the governors who had backed him.

Sheriff cited court orders restraining election into the offices of chairman, secretary, and auditor, as his reason for canceling the convention.

Earlier in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Concerned Stakeholders led by Prof. Jerry Gana, meeting in Abuja, failed to appoint a factional caretaker committee as they had vowed but, rather, appointed the duo of Senator Ibrahim Mantu and Prof Tunde Adeniran as co-chairmen.

The move, Sunday Vanguard gathered, flowed from discussions between the Gana group in Abuja and concerned party stakeholders in Port-Harcourt who had reached a quiet understanding not to elect officials in either of the two venues to allow for peace.

The convention in Abuja was largely boycotted by serving National Assembly members and governors, and members of the outgoing National Executive but was populated by former governors, former ministers, and former senior officials of the party. The major surprise was the presence of the outgoing National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh.

ABUJA CONVENTION

The convention in Abuja, which held at the M and M Event Centre, started at about  10 am  and ended within two hours after representatives of the party from the six geo-political zones gave speeches.

Among the former governors present were   Achike Udenwa of Imo, Garba Umar of Taraba and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa.

Professor Jerry Gana,   who set the ball rolling in his welcome address, said the PDP was formed on the principles of human rights, human values, and human dignity.

“We are driven by values of principles, integrity, and honour, respect for human rights, and we will not tolerate any thing that takes away human values,” he said.

In his remarks, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, a former deputy president of the Senate, said recent events in the party indicated that “the culture of impunity, disdain for democratic norms and utter disregard of our party constitution, behaviours that brought us to the 2015 loss, are rearing their ugly heads again”.

He noted that “the action of the National Executive Committee of the party in selecting Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as Chairman, was in gross violation of the established procedure for the selection. Senator Sheriff was not nominated by any caucus and hence not qualified to be selected”.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by Aisha Maina, Senator Grace Bent, Bala Mohammed, Ahmadu Fintiri, Remi Adiukwu, John Odey and Tanimu Turaki.

          BAD SIGNS FOR SHERIFF IN PORT-HARCOURT

  

  

Signs of untoward times ahead for Sheriff emerged when, at the scheduled time for the commencement of the convention, most of the major actors including governors, and senior party officials were nowhere to be seen.

By  10 a.m., the appointed time for the convention, it did not start.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the decision to sack Sheriff had been taken the night before upon submissions by some of the governors, but the move was said to have been resisted by the host governor, Nyesom Wike.

Wike, however, caved in upon overwhelming pressure from his colleagues. Getting Sheriff to step aside gently was, nevertheless, an issue.

At about  11.00 a.m.,  Sheriff had summoned a press conference at his Le Meriden Hotel base but just as newsmen arrived, he stormed out of the hotel to join the party’s governors at the Government House.

Information available to Sunday Vanguard suggests that it was at that meeting that he got the message to step down in favour of a caretaker committee.

But Sheriff, apparently, did not buy the idea as he quickly returned to his hotel to announce the postponement of the convention.

Addressing the media, he said:

“We are confronted with a lot of challenges, (and) the challenges are mostly court cases to stop our convention from taking place. After seeing the challenges confronting our party, taking into account the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to supervise the elections to the office of chairman, secretary, and other offices, based on the order of the court… On account of the fact that our party is responsible, law abiding, with high respect for the judiciary and courts, we do hereby state and put off the national convention of our party from taking place.

“We have suspended it until when all the court cases are resolved. The issues are so many. We have about three different court cases. From Abuja, where it says that the tenure of the 17 members of the National Working Committee has not expired, it will be expiring  on the 17 of June 2017;  and another one in Lagos which says that the tenure of the chairman, secretary and auditor will expire in 2018. INEC also wrote that it will not supervise the election in Port-Harcourt.

“Taking into consideration all these, if we go out and conduct elections in Port-Harcourt, the NEC of the party will be charged for contempt of court. We have asked for stay of proceedings in Lagos yesterday (Friday), and the court denied that also.

“Therefore, the best and safest way is to put off the convention. Therefore, we have suspended the convention until all the court cases are resolved. We will then announce another date for the convention.”

He then advised the delegates to return to their states.

His stance was, however, quickly renounced as party chiefs summoned delegates to the convention ground where the deputy national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, presided and formally opened the convention. As the convention opened, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, moved a motion for the dissolution of the NEC and the appointment of a National Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party and conduct elections into all offices within a period of 90 days.

His motion was seconded by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State.

The committee is also to reconcile all factions of the party under one umbrella.

The Senator Makarfi-led national caretaker committee has Senator Ben Obi as secretary and Senator Odion Ugbesia, Senator Abdul Ningi, Bar Kare Usman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Mrs. Aisha Aliyu as members.

The new leaders of the party are not to contest any of the elective offices of the party in the elections they are to conduct.

Governor Wike called for a voice vote in support of the nominees for the national caretaker committee and the vote was unanimously carried.

Following that, a chieftain of the party in Rivers State and Commissioner for Housing, Barrister Emma Okah, administered the oath of office on the members of the caretaker committee.

The new National Chairman,   Senator Markafi, promised to work for the growth of the party.

The convention was brought to a close upon a motion moved by Senator Sam Egwu and seconded by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

Prof. Gana, who championed the move to oust Sheriff and led those who convened the Abuja parallel convention, welcomed the moves against Sheriff yesterday in an interview with Sunday Vanguard.

He said it had opened the way for reconciliation in the party.

“Yes, they told us, that is fine with us. We hope they will dissolve the NWC and then put in a caretaker committee to reconcile all of us and then have a proper convention.

“Definitely, we do not want to break the party; we only wanted to draw attention to something that was wrong, and they have now seen that it was wrong, and they now are taking a decision. A convention is the highest body that can take that next decision and we are hoping that they will put in a very balanced, very trustworthy, very good caretaker committee to reconcile all the forces within the party and prepare for a unified convention at which a new leadership will emerge

Four FUTA students killed in auto crash, eleven others injured

FOUR students of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, yesterday,  lost their lives in an auto crash on  Ilesha/ Akure expressway.

Eleven others reportedly sustained serious injuries in the crash. They were reportedly returning from a religious programme held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

An eye witness said  the accident occurred at Ibulesoro town in Ifedore council area of the state.

Identities of the deceased students could not be ascertained at press time but sources in the institution confirmed that they were students of the university.

The accident, according to  the eye witness, occurred when a bus conveying the deceased students skidded off the road while the driver was trying to avoid crushing a motorcycle which crossed  the expressway carelessly.

He explained that  the driver of the bus, who was on high speed, could not control the vehicle when the motorcycle crossed and ended crashing, killing the students.

Confirming the incident, Ondo State police spokesman, Femi Joseph, said policemen and Federal Road Safety Corps officials responded swiftly to the accident and rushed those injured to hospital.

The   Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr Adegbenro, said the students were on a private religious trip when the accident happened.

He said the management of the university was already aware of the accident and was in touch already  with the Police on the matter.

He commiserated with the families of the deceased students and their colleagues.Also, the  University Student Union President,  Segun Oladele, said those injured are responding to treatment while the identity of those that died are still not known.

How NLC leaders’ rivalry crippled nationwide strike — Factional president, Joe Ajaero

BETWEEN last Wednesday and Friday, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, faction, led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and some members of the civil society, allies of the organised labour, went on a nationwide strike to force the Federal Government to reverse the N145 pump price of petrol.The strike did not enjoy the support of the Comrade Joe Ajaero-led faction of NLC or the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, which pulled out at the last minute.In this interview, Ajaero gives an insight into what led to both factions of the NLC going separate ways and how agreements were reached with the Federal Government, among other issues.

 How did both factions of the NLC end up negotiating separately with the Federal Government?

Government had held the first meeting with the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the Ayuba Wabba group was invited. I think after the meeting, NUPENG told government that it does not belong to the Wabba camp of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. On the basis of that, invitation was extended to the leader of its faction. Equally, since the issue involves energy, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, side, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, was invited because the issue of tariff was also to be discussed. But on sighting me, Wabba threatened that he was not going to be in the same meeting with me and that he was going to pull out. I remained calm and, for almost two hours, they were consulting on what to do. They now arrived at a decision to meet with his group separately because NUPENG had equally said it would not meet with him since he did not want the factions to cooperate and discuss in the same meeting. So, they met with him for almost five hours and we were patient. After they finished meeting with them, the government team also met with us up till 3 a.m. and we adjourned till later in the day. The Ayuba group was scheduled to meet with government side from 3 to 5, or 6 p.m. and we would enter our own meeting. But his faction did not come as scheduled, so government met with us from 6 to around 7.30 or 8 p.m. We then had some understanding. So, when they came, they went into meeting with the government team. I was not privy to what they discussed and I had thought that if our agreement or understanding was not far reaching enough, they would get something better. I only read in the newspapers the following day that they walked out without reaching any agreement.

 Why did the meetings take up to two days before understanding was reached?

 

           Wabba and Ajaero

      I think it was because of the hard line positions. Even when government met with my group, we insisted that we wanted to know how they arrived at the price or how they got to the level without consultations. We asked so many questions including wanting to know if what they did was price fixing or deregulation.

There was a whole lot of issues. The Minister of State for Petroleum gave the whole explanations and all that. We could not reach an agreement that first day. The government side equally asked us to consult further with our people and come the following day and bring proposals on the way out.

That was why we left and came the following day. You know in negotiation, to a very large extent, it is give and take. There are lots at stake, like all these committees that were set up. We were insisting on reporting back in one week, but after much talks, we agreed on two weeks. Those were some of the issues that led to the delay that took us to the second day.

Now that the so-called agreement had been reached and information has it that the technical committee will be inaugurated Monday (tomorrow), how are you going to hold government to the agreement?

This agreement is a means to an end, and not an end itself. If you look at the three positions, the bone of contention is the price of N145 per liter that was fixed . If you remember, some years back, the late Barrister Bamidele Aturu went to court and got a ruling that it was only the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, that has the constitutional right to fix the prices of petroleum products, that what government did then was illegal. Based on that, we looked at it and said even if you compel government to reduce the price to N50 or labour and government decide to fix it at N50 or even the N145, that does not remove the illegality committed. For over four years or so, the PPPRA Board has not been reconstituted. It was based on that we reached the agreement that the Board should be reconstituted with two weeks for it to start playing its role. You can be accusing somebody of being illegal, by the time you use your power or muscle to achieve certain things, that does not remove it from the illegality. So, that agreement was reached that the Board should be reconstituted within two weeks. Now, even if we reconstitute the Board tomorrow, that has not addressed the issue of the price hike because there is a template we have to work with to arrive at the price. In that Board, NUPENG, or labour and other stakeholders are members. I think it is almost a 25-member Board.

Then, if you have their backing, why it should be N3 or more, it will be agreed. It will now be that the Board discussed with members and, by the time they come out with whatever price, it will be a product of a legal body. That was the discussion we took and, in actual fact, we were so hard that this amount was so high. We told them that it was not sustainable, but we have to do it legally. So, that was why we adopted that option.The other issue was minimum wage. You know that this is not entirely a product of this increase. Before now, even as at last year, my group had started talking about N90,000 minimum wage and in April, ahead of the May Day, we re-emphasized that.

The other group proposed N56,000 minimum wage. Now, if you add this to the sudden inflation created by this petrol price increase and even the anxiety that followed it, you discover that the issue of minimum wage becomes appropriate. Now, it could be a relief to the worker who goes to work or who buys fuel. However, the issue of minimum wage, you know, takes a tripartite committee to negotiate. So, we agreed that the tripartite committee should be set up within this period to go into negotiation. The committee comprises of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, the Governors’ Forum who are the other employers and labour to discuss it.Now the other one that affects people outside employees is the issue of palliatives which was captured in this year’s budget.

The amount captured is N500billion. We insisted it should not be left in the hands of the people in government alone and that it should include labour, civil society organizations, political parties and so on. That they should be part of the process of determining how the money will be disbursed and that we do not want it to go the way of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Sure-P, that did not impact on the people positively. That amount is targeted at social investment and there was an agreement that labour, stakeholders and others should be part and parcel of the process that would manage this money.

All we have done is to get the guideline towards the attainment of all these things and not to decree them into existence.

What do you tell those who argue that your faction and TUC decision not to participate in the strike against the hike in the pump price of petrol has done irreparable damage to labour’s ability to call a national strike in the future?

From the discussion we have been having, if the people who said they did not want to see me, knew that maybe my faction controls the critical sectors of the economy and that even if one of them takes an action, it has the tendency to affect the nation and they decided to treat us with disdain, and said they were not going to sit and meet with government team with us, we did not have any other option than to meet government alone. We gave government up till 12 midnight of Tuesday to engage critical stakeholders and meet with labour for us to know the way forward after the announcement of the N145 per liter. I can recall that you asked a question that, at the expiration of the ultimatum, what would happen? We stated that we would set up a committee and start meeting with our stakeholders. We never announced Wednesday May 18 as a day to commence a strike. Now, as a group which believes in labour solidarity, we did not, on our own, because the other group had said Wednesday, say Monday or Friday so that Nigerians would still not see it as discordant tunes from NLC. We never met with the other group, they never consulted us or discussed with us to agree on the Wednesday day for an action. Wednesday was the day the group set to take an action. To worsen it, even if there were to be an understanding for it, they said they did not want us. If you were in our shoes, what would you do? Would you go and join a battle in which you were not wanted or go and assist the group that did not want you? We did not fix the strike notice for Wednesday and the people that fixed it said they did not want us, tell me what you would have done if you were in our shoes? So, whether it had dealt a damaging blow to the group who did not take the interest of Nigerians or labour movement at heart in treating others with disdain, I do not know. Maybe history will take a note of it and see how far it has affected the movement. But I am not in a position to judge. The people who said they did not want a united labour against an opposition are in a better position to say why they took that action.

How does this unfortunate situation affect the efforts to reconcile the two factions?One of their representatives was on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, and said that they were bidding for time on us. Therefore, they never believed in reconciliation. If you watched, last year, NLC veterans told them not to conduct state councils elections until the issue was resolved. They went ahead and conducted state councils elections.

That was what led to the formation of two NLC councils executives in states. If they had given the veterans one month and they finished at the national level, we could have conducted one election in the states. You would have seen this division probably at the national level alone and, by that time, it would be easier for it to fizzle out. But they disobeyed the veterans. Which means they did not believe in the veterans. Again, all the 13-point agreements or resolutions that were reached by the veterans, they refused to implement any of them up till today.

Even the last one we had before May Day, you would discover that these people do not believe that we should do anything together. If you recall the resolution when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other veterans brokered peace was that we should have an all-inclusive NLC. But they did not obey it. They have kept doing things their own way. To such an extent that this year’s May Day, they had their May Day committee separately, sew their May Day dress differently, submitted proposal for N56,000 minimum wage separately without consulting or even informing us. So, all that they did was in contrast and a breach to all the agreements and understanding. So, they never had the intention for a resolution of the crisis.

Where does this leave your faction?

It leaves my group in the position that we will never be deceived and we equally remain united and remain purposeful in our resolve to defend, protect and fight for our members, Nigerian workers and masses to the best of our ability.

Will your faction continue to bear the same name as NLC as the other faction?

We have not decided otherwise. If there is need and when we decide, we will let Nigerian workers and other members of the public know.

Enugu Billionaire Man Buries Mother In Hummer SUV Instead Of Casket (See Photos)

  

What do we call this? Truly, money can make us do the craziest things. A Nigerian billionaire (name withheld), based in Enugu recently buried his mother in a Hummer.
The moneybag used the sport utility vehicle instead of a traditional casket to bury his beloved mother.
He also splashed the car with over 10,000 dollars.
See more photos below…