[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari has assigned Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to undertake immediate consultations and dialogue with stakeholders across Nigeria as part of measures to contain the deteriorating security situation in the country. In addition, the office of the vice president hinted that the federal government was working with the state governments on how to improve security in local communities while rearranging the security architecture nationwide.

Osinbajo, who began his assignment yesterday in the South-west, held consultations with the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and the Awujale of Ijebu Kingdom, Oba Sikiru Adetona, both in Ogun State. The discussions focused on the security challenges in the country.

Accompanied by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to the palace of the Akarigbo, Osinbajo hinted on what was expected to be a wide consultation with key traditional rulers in the state, and across the country, while fielding questions from journalists. He said the exercise was meant to ensure peace and security in the communities.

He stated, “As you know, there are many significant concerns all over the country and, of course, there are concerns also in the South-west. So, I’m here on the instruction of Mr. President to consult with the Kayibesi, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other stakeholders on what to do to beef up security, and to generally improve the security architecture.

“Of course, you know that the Kabiyesi is not just the traditional ruler, but also a very important part of the government. That’s why we are here to speak with him and to agree on a few modalities for beefing up security, ensuring that we are fully conscious of all that is going on around us, and just to be sure that peace and security reigns here and across the country.

“There are some who might want to cause instability and difficulties, but we are very confident that God helping us, working together as a nation, we will be able to overcome all our problems and set our country on the path of peace and prosperity.”

The vice president said the federal government, in collaboration with the states, had taken significant steps to improve security, while undertaking further consultations with the traditional rulers. He said the governor of Ogun State was committed “to ensuring there is peace and security and that everyone, who lives in all our neighbourhoods, localities and communities lives in peace with each other and that we maintain a high level of security.”

He added, “We are consulting with many of the traditional rulers all across the country. But there are concerns in the South-west. I’ve started here in Ogun.
“We are also going to be in Osun State on Tuesday. We are also going to go round and see several other traditional rulers. Primarily, they themselves want to participate. We’ve spoken at various times and they want to participate in improving the security architecture.
“One of the things that Mr. President has spoken about is the role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and security in their own locality. As you know, they are the closest to the grassroots, to their communities.

“And one of the critical things that we expect is that even with our community policing efforts, we expect that there would be some interventions between the traditional rulers, the community police and some of the other efforts that they are making to improve intelligence to understand what is going on. We need to know who is where and what exactly is happening all around, so that these can then be transmitted to the security agencies.

“I think for all of us, the most important thing to realise is that we are one Nigeria; we are one country; we need to work together to ensure that the country is peaceful, secure and happy for all of us.”

Osinbajo said Nigeria had the potential to give the citizens all they desired, but alleged that some people were working against the interest of the country by attempting to cause instability. Nonetheless, he was optimist that Nigeria would overcome its challenges.

From the Akarigbo’s palace, Osinbajo proceeded to Ijebu Ode, where he had a private meeting with Oba Adetona. After his meeting with the monarch, Osinbajo said the Awujale was one of the most important voices in the South-west and that their discussion was on steps that needed to be taken to improve the security general architecture. He said the monarch had given a lot of insight on what needed to be done and how to go about it, including what had been done already.

“But very important is his commitment to ensuring that there is peace and security and that everybody lives in peace with one another and that we maintain the highest level of security. We are consulting with many of the traditional rulers across the country, but there are concerns in the South-west now,” he stated at the Oba’s palace.

He added, “We are going round. I will be in Osun on Tuesday; we are going to go round to see the Alake, the Ooni and other traditional rulers and primarily, they themselves want to participate in improving the security architecture.”

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Delta State government has responded promptly to allegations of marginalization levelled against the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, stating clearly that it was untrue for anyone to suggest or claim any form of discrimination against the Ijaws or any other ethnic group in the state, as the administration would never promote ethnicity because the people of Delta are one.

This clarification was made on Saturday, July 20, by the incumbent Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa and Commissioner-designate for the Delta State Executive Council, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, who was reacting to an allegation of marginalization made by former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe.

Mr. Aniagwu said: “Let me make it very clear that the PDP in Delta State is one strong family under the leadership of the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and of course, the party leadership. And the party remains committed to the development and empowerment of not only the members, but the entire electorate of Delta state.”

Speaking further, Aniagwu noted that; “Our brother, our leader, a very good friend to the governor, Elder Godsday Orubebe, is also a key member of that PDP family, he has contributed to the development of the party in the state and is always given his due respect and we will continue to give him his due respect.

“We do not emphasize ethnic groups in Delta because we have grown together as one Delta; we try as much as possible not to emphasize those fault lines of ethnicity because it does not and will not take us anywhere.

“So I do not want to believe that what is ascribed to him that a particular ethnic group is marginalized is true because all the ethnic groups in the state are seen as key stakeholders and are respected as Deltans, more so, the governor has same regards for anybody, irrespective of tribe.

Assuring those nursing misgivings of marginalization of Governor Okowa’s detribalized approach to governance, Aniagwu said: “And I can assure you, he will continue to regard everybody, he will continue to take their wise counsel and take steps to ensure that everybody feels safe under the umbrella,” he said.

“Elder Orubebe needed to be enlightened because the state government led by Gov Ifeanyi Okowa has successfully constructed standard projects in Ijaw communities.

“They include Oporoza internal road, Okerenkoko internal roads, Burutu township road, phase one and two, Youbebe – Biniebi-ama road, Obotobo – Sokebolou – Yokiri road, Obotobo I community internal road, Sokebolou internal road, Burutu Modern Market, funding of Ayakoromo Bridge project, Ogbobagbene – Ojobo road and construction/renovation of schools.

“Despite the difficulties in embarking on projects in the riverine communities, Governor Okowa within four years as governor has been able to reach out to Ijaw communities in Delta state by embarking on lasting projects, appointing sons and daughters from the riverine communities into his administration and empowering of youths.

“What about Nigeria Vice president Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to the riverine communities where he commissioned road projects constructed by Governor Okowa,” Aniagwu said, emphatically stressing Gov. Okowa’s developmental strides in the Riverine areas.

It will be recalled that the former Delta PDP Governorship aspirant and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, had been widely reported recently, with caustic comments taking a swipe at both his party PDP and the Delta state administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Slamming his party, Orubebe described the PDP as a party dominated by ungrateful and sadistic people that kills the spirit of loyalty, love and commitment, even as he threatened that a time was coming when names of these ungrateful and sadistic people will be revealed

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party is a party of so many ungrateful and sadistic people, and sometimes it sounds funny when I see and hear some of them talk on the television, radio and in the newspaper. “One day we shall come out to call names with facts and history. It is a party that kills the spirit of loyalty, love and commitment.”

Speaking on the alleged marginalization of the Ijaw in Delta state by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, Orubebe said: “In Delta state, Governor Okowa has been deliberately sidelining the Ijaw people who stood by him in all his two elections and it is painful and sad. The Ijaw people fought for him all through. In good and bad times, they were there for him.

“The deputy governor is Ijaw but I can tell you that he is just a name there, even though he is not talking or complaining.

“I saw basically a helpless and a hopeless situation when I visited him twice since 2014. The second visit was just a month or two ago. What explanation can he give the Ijaw people who gave him all their support,? he queried.

“I want to advise him to discuss with the leaders of the Ijaws and explain the issues he is having with Ijaw people”, Orubebe urged.

Accusing Governor Okowa further, Orubebe alleged that the Delta Governor has deliberately sidelined and abandoned the Ijaw in the state, shortly after becoming governor, despite the massive support they gave him to become governor, which clearly contradicted his campaign promise to remain a father for all tribes in the state.

According to Orubebe: “In Delta state, Governor Okowa has been deliberately sidelining the Ijaw people who stood by him in all his two elections and it is painful and sad. The Ijaw people fought for him all through. They were there for him.

“There is always a day of reckoning and some of us are coming out to talk now because we thought Governor Okowa was going to change but he has decided not to change

“We shall continue to express our minds on all issues bordering on the nation, at the state and national levels,” he warned.

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]rophet Jones Ode Erue ,Chairman of  All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta State, has expressed delight after Olorogun Ortega Emerhor withdrew his court case against the leadership of the party and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

Erue, however congratulated Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege on his “resounding victory over reactionary forces who were bent on snatching away the victory freely given to him by the good people of Delta Central Senatorial district and the subsequent mandate entrusted to him by the entire 107 senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Nick Ovuakporie, Director of Communications APC Delta in a statement, said that “he (Prophet Erue) is particularly proud of the sterling leadership qualities of distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who he referred to as a” political tactician” for bringing hopes to the minds of the average Party man and woman.

The party Chairman also thanked Party faithfuls for their steadfastness and believing in his purposeful leadership as State Chairman of the APC.

Erue promised to be Chairman for all genuine members of the APC family who believes in the next level vision of President Muhammadu Buhari.

[dropcap] P[/dropcap]resident  Muhammadu Buhari, failed to control former ministers in his first term in office as they worked at collision course leading to the non-realisation of his electioneering Campaign promises.

The President , who could not hide his feelings at a dinner  organised for the National Assembly leadership  led by Ahmed Lawan,  the Senate President, on Thursday, July 12, 2019,  admitted that  he did not know  ”most of the ministerial nominees as they were ”names and recommendations  from the party  and other individuals which he failed to disclose.

Recall, Aisha Bushari, the First Lady, had cried out , that most of those  appointed as ministers , Heads of  Agencies and  Departments , were not personally known to her Husband but imposed on him  the party and other people. The Katsina born Nigerian President  may have learnt his lesson as he has vowed to appoint persons  that are known to him  personally” unlike in 2015”.

Political watchers believe that he may have worked with them  for the last three and half years, to avoid , dislocating his government. He may have had opportunity of studying the characters of those  ministers  , who were not known to him personally by  meeting  with them  regularly. He had confirmed at the State state House dinner  for the National  Assembly Leadership, that  he was meeting with them  twice or  or two weeks in a month to  know them better.

He may have clearly informed Senator Lawan and his Colleagues that truly, he was not in charge of the state of affairs in the country as he could not control the ministers but this time around he has promised to be in charge as he will people he personally know to enable him his Constitutional responsibilities. It was not surprising why the clique constituted themselves into a powerful Cabal in the Presidency dictating to him what to do at every point in time including the initiation of the unpopular Ruga Settlement programme which was meant to be implemented in the 36 states of the Federation.

Presidency sources told Grassroots Publishers that most of those who were invited for the dinner were those who would likely make the ministerial list. It was not surprising why he said that he is under tremendous pressure as many at  the dinner meeting  want to see the list of the proposed Cabinet so that they can  go on leave peacefully.

Note that the President had been traveling to London in the recent time for medical checkup ostensibly to keep away from lobbyists. There have been rumours making the rounds that the President has selected the first tranche of ministerial nominees containing sixteen names made up of both technocrats, businessmen and politicians.

Grassroots Publishers  published a story of the alleged first tranche of the ministerial nominees titled  Buhari  Workers. The names that were said to have appeared on the list  were Kayode Adesola, Ogun who was said to have been, penciled down to oversee the ministry  of Labour and Productivity,, Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state and later minister of Transportation, who was said to have been reassigned to his former ministry , Chris Ngige, another former minister and a one- time governor of Anambra state, who may Head the ministry of Communication and Hadi Sirika, a former minister of state, Aviation, from kastina, the President Home state, who was said to have been reassigned to his old potfolio.

Other names on the new Cabinet  list that were said to have been allegedly released  by the President  include Akinwunmi Ambode, a former governor of Lagos state, who was denied a  second term by Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a former governor of the state and National leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, over his disloyalty to him and the leadership of the state Chapter of the party , Fatima Gambo, Taraba state, Women Affairs, Ogbonaya Onu, a Chemical Engineer, from Eboyi state , who incidentally was Buhari’s former minister of Science and Technology, Abubakar Malami,an indigene of Kebbi state and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who was said o have retained his position of minister of  Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Ahmed Mohammed, Kwara, Industry, Trade and Investment, Barnabas Bala Bantas,who may have taken up the ministerial slot of Kaduna state was said to have been assigned as a minister of state, Education, Senator George Akume, a former governor of Benue state, whose name appeared on the list cited by the Magazine as the new minister of state, Petroleum Resources and  Abdulrahman Ambazau, a retitred Army Lt. General and former Chief of Army Staff, CAS, who had ventured into  the murky waters of Nigerian politics , and was appointed minister of Interior in Buhari’s first term who may have retained his ministry.

Note that  Dambazau, as for CAS, had raised alarm that he was under tremendous pressure from certain quarters to overthrow former President Goodluck Goodluck Jonathan, but vowed that he would never allow himself to be used to truncate the country’s nascent Democracy.

This is in addition to Mohammed Bindow Jibrilla, a former governor of Adamawa state, who lost his re-election to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP,  governorship Candidate in the state, to oversee  the FCT, Halima Bbayo, Yobe state, Foreign Affairs, Adebayo Adelabu, Oyo, Finance, Goswill Akbabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state and later , PDP, Senate minority leader, who decamped to APC, under pressure to escape being allegedly  probed by the  Ibrahim Magu, a Commissioner of Police, CP, led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Femi Adesina, a former President of Nigerian Guild of Editors,  who was said to have retained his portfolio as  Special Assistant  to the President on Media and Publicity.

As at press  time time, it was speculated that   these other  former ministers,  Adamu Adamu, a  failed minister of Education    Zainab Ahmed,  Finance,Aisha Abubakar, Women Affairs,  Lai Mohammed, Information and Culture, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, a former governor of Lagos state, Adamu Kazure, Water Resources,  Mohammed Musa, FCT also  made the Cabinet list.

There are indications that the President may have retained  15 of his former ministers which were based on their outstanding performance in their first term. The President has the Constitutional power to appoint 36 or 42 ministers to work with him the Executive arm of the government

Political watchers believe that Lawan, the Senate President and other National Assembly officials may have seen the list during the dinner organised for them by the President  to prepare their  mind of what to expect to expedite action in passing the ministerial list without delay.  The Senate  President  had reechoed what the President  had repeatedly said:   to appoint people  who would help him to implement  the next level programmes”, an indication that the ministerial list is as god as having been passed.

Perhaps, based on the discussion with the President on the sidelines,  he had said, ”I will receive the ministerial list on Wednesday from the Presidency”. A Presidency source alluded to it when he said ” all things being equal. the Senate will receive the list on Thursday morning”, that mat may end the two months of waiting for the submission of the ministerial list to the Senate for Consideration.

A Principal officer in the National Assembly, however,   confirmed that the Cabinet list  is already  with the Senate President, but had kept it close to his chest to avoid being put under pressure by those  may want to  confirm  whether their name s are truly on the list has been rumored or based on the list being circulated.   The source confirmed that the Cabinet list would be made public next Thursday for a public hearing.

By : Emeji Noble