Despite corruption allegation Ganduje wins ‘2018 best governor’ award

The Telegraph newspaper has crowned Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State the Best Governor in 2018 in the areas of health and education despite an unresolved bribery allegation against him.

The award came at a time Mr Ganduje is facing allegation of collecting $5 million kickback from contractors.
Background

The Daily Nigerian, an online medium, had first published a series of videos showing Mr Ganduje collecting bribes from contractors in what the newspaper called a sting operation. Similar videos soon surfaced online sparking a national outrage and demand for investigation by Nigerians.

Although the videos were also authenticated by PREMIUM TIMES in-house experts, the videos were dismissed as ‘cloned’ by the governor who subsequently headed to court to seek redress.
The court last week ordered the seven-member committee set up by the Kano State House of Assembly to investigate the allegations to stay action. The lawmakers had earlier invited Daily Nigerian to defend the allegations which it (newspaper) honored, standing by its publication.

The court order followed a suit filed by one Muhammad Zubair, National Coordinator of a Non-governmental Organisation, Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria that the Assembly has no right to investigate the matter.
But the committee vowed to continue with its assignment despite the court order.


The chairman of the committee, and member representing Kano Municipal, Baffa Danagundi, announced the committee’s decision on Tuesday in Kano while briefing journalists on the court order.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission boss Ibrahim Magu last week ignored a question posed to him on what the agency was doing about calls for investigation. Mr Ganduje cannot legally be prosecuted while in office but he can be investigated.
An ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, was investigated while in office and immediately picked up for questioning as soon as he left office a few weeks ago. While Mr Fayose is of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Ganduje is a governor under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).


Honored Despite Allegation

Meanwhile, at the Telegraph organised award occasion, after eulogising Mr Ganduje, the Managing Director of the newspaper, Funke Egbemode, said “it is good to celebrate those that are making a difference in our lives”, in obvious reference to the governor.
A statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the Chief Press Secretary to Mr Ganduje quoted Mrs Egbemode saying: “We believe that if we appreciate those that did good things we are at the same time encouraging them to do more in life.”

She reportedly added that, “Globally, education and health are two significant areas where successful governance and credible development index are often measured and rated.
“As a consummate politician and administrator par excellence, Ganduje realised from the outset, he had to make indelible impact on the lives of his people. And he truly did with affordable healthcare and functional education.”

The managing director also acknowledged that, “Ganduje believes strongly in the words of former South African President, Nelson Mandela, that, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Presenting the award to the governor on Saturday night at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, a former minister of petroleum, Don Etiebet, on behalf of the company, acknowledged how Mr Ganduje transformed both the health and education sectors in Kano State, “within a twinkle of an eye.”.
“The outstanding performance of governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje made him stand out among his peers. While understanding the relevance of education in the state development, Ganduje believes in healthy population. That is why he did it diligently to see that he leaves indelible marks in these all-important sectors.”
Elated Governor

In a three-minute acceptance speech, the governor appreciated the award. He spoke about the multi-cultural nature of the state, saying that “being the most populous state in the country, we don’t want to have a population that will be a liability to us. We want see that our population becomes an asset. Not a liability. That is why we are doing our best in these and all other areas in this administration.
“We assure you that Kano will continue to excel in all sectors of the state. This honour, as being presented here, is meant to encourage us to continue building a stronger state with viable economy and productive population,” he reportedly said.
Mr Ganduje added that “We are grateful for such recognition, as you are receiving this intimidating entourage on the podium.”


Meanwhile, the newspaper listed over 200 achievements recorded in the state’s health sector and others in education under the leadership of Mr Ganduje.

Other governors who received awards as tweeted by the newspaper’s handle “@newtelegraphng” are: governors of Delta Ifeanyi Okonwa (good governance), Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa (human capital development and infrastructure), Dave Umahi of Ebonyi (agriculture), Yahaya Bello of Kogi (security), Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara (youths empowerment) and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto (man of the year).
Other recipients are: PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar (political icon of the decade), Senate President Bukola Saraki (politician of the year), chairman of BUA group, Abdussamad Rabiu (man of the year), minister of power, Raji Fashola (most outstanding public servant), and John Basco (humanitarian award).
On the media, entertainment and sports category, the proprietor of DAAR Communication, Raymond Dokpesi (media icon-broadcast), Ajibola Ogunsola (media icon of the year-print), Esther Onyema (sports person of the year – female), Bolanle Ninalawo (actor of the year) and Shaffy Bello (actress of the year).

The public and corporate organisations awarded at the event were Bureau of Public Enterprise (most productive government agency), UBA (Bank of the year), Access Bank (sustainability award of the year) and Transcorp Hilton hotel (hospitality brand of the year).

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Oshiomhole's Corruption Allegations: Don't compel us, EFCC to court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel it to arrest and prosecute the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, over allegation that he diverted public funds to his personal use.


The anti-graft agency, which admitted that it was in receipt of petitions accusing Oshiomhole of complicity in acts of corruption, however, said it was not under any obligation to report or give account of its investigations to any individual or under a timeline within which to carry out its functions.



EFCC therefore urged the high court to dismiss the suit that is seeking to invoke an order of mandamus to compel it to initiate criminal proceedings against the embattled APC Chairman.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2018, which was lodged before the court by Edo State based cleric and activist, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, is urging the court to declare that EFCC has a statutory duty to investigate different petitions that contained allegations of financial recklessness against Oshiomhole.

Specifically, the Applicant, alleged that Oshiomhole who was sued as the 2nd Respondent, while in office as Edo state governor, acquired properties in United States of America, South Africa and Dubai worth billions of U.S. dollars and far in excess of his legitimate income.

He alleged before the court that the ex-governor built a sprawling mansion worth more than N10billion in his home town known as Iyamho, while in office.

According to the Applicant, “The said building was constructed by Verissimo, a South African Architectural outfit. The said house of the 2nd Respondent has swimming pools, water fountains, multiple theatres for cinema and live performances, huge event halls, bridges, manmade lake, lodges of different sizes amongst others.

“The said cost of building the mansion is well outside the 2nd Respondent’s legitimate income. The 2nd Respondent’s lifestyle and extent of the said property were not justified by his source of income”.

The Applicant told the court that he had on November 4, 2016, sent a petition to the EFCC, detailing some corrupt practices he said the ex-governor was involved in.

He maintained that EFCC’s refusal to act on petitions containing “weighty allegations” against Oshiomhole, ran contrary to Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which enjoined the State to abolish corrupt practices.

Meanwhile, EFCC, in a preliminary objection that was signed by its team of lawyers led by the Head of its Legal and Prosecutions Department, Mr. G.K. Latona, aside challenging the locus- standi of the Applicant to file the action, said it has discretion on how to use its available manpower to carry out investigations into petitions submitted to it.

“That investigation of cases is a holistic process which entails time, resources, inter-agency cooperation, interview of different persons and gathering of evidence over a long period of time depending on the nature of the case and other variables”, it told the court.

Besides, the Commission, in an 11-paragraphed affidavit that was deposed to by one of its staff, Mr. Yusuf Musa, told the court that it conducts its investigations “professionally and discreetly” before the arrest and prosecution of indicted persons.

“That 1st Respondent is a statutory body charged principally with the responsibility of investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes.

“That the 1st Respondent since its establishment In 2003 and till date receives numerous petitions daily in its eleven offices in various parts of the country against different persons both from within and outside Nigeria.

“That investigation into these numerous petitions and criminal complaints including intelligence reports are professionally and methodically carried out by the 1st Respondent in line with its staff strength and enabling statute.

“That 1st Respondent in carrying out its statutory functions of investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes, attends to all complaint discreetly and dispassionately without political, ethnic, religious and other extraneous considerations.

“That the 1st Respondent had strengthened the war against corruption with various initiatives amongst which is the Women Against Corruption Coalition and the encouragement of Whistle Blower Policy leading to several recoveries of illicit cash.

“That the 1st Respondent has discretion on how to use its available manpower to carry out investigations into petitions submitted to it.

“That Respondent is not under obligation to report or give account of its investigations to any individual or under a timeline within which to carry out its functions”, EFCC averred.

It said it would be in the interest of justice for the court to strike out the suit which it said lacked competency and constituted an abuse of the judicial process.

In a written address attached in support of the objection, EFCC, argued that granting an order for Oshiomhole’s arrest and prosecution as prayed for in the suit could occasion ” chaos and tumult” in the polity.

“We submit, with respect, that if this Honourable Court grants the reliefs of the Applicant, especially as it affects the 1st Respondent, that it wiIl open a deluge of applications with the over-all aim of making the Applicant a stooge of litigant who desire to dictate to the 1st Respondent how, when, where and against whom the 1st Respondent should proceed in the discharge of its functions. The chaos and tumult that this scenario may generate in the pointy can only be Imagined.



“It is inimical to the tenor and tenets of a democratic society for an agency such as the 1st Respondent to be directed or compelled to discharge its functions in a particular way or manner, a fortiori the 1st Respondent cannot be directed or compelled to carry out investigations or prosecution as dictated by the Applicant or anyone.

“We urge this Honourable Court to dismiss the Applicant’s application, same being unmeritorious and lacking in merit”, EFCC added.

It will be recalled that Oshiomhole had also queried the powers of the court to order EFCC to prosecute him on the basis of the suit.

While acknowledging the powers of the anti-graft EFCC to probe financial and economic crimes, Oshiomhole, through his lawyer, Mr. Damian Dodo, SAN, contended that the court could not okay him to be investigated on the strength of a petition he said was lodged against him since 2016.

He argued that the suit has become statute barred, saying the Applicant ought to have instituted the action within three months after the first petition was filed against him before the EFCC.

The APC Chairman noted that the cleric first wrote a letter to the EFCC on October 28, 2016, drawing its attention to the allegations of financial misappropriation he made against him.

He told the court that the Applicant wrote another letter that was received by the anti-graft agency on December 13, 2016, reminding it of his pending petition that was allegedly not acted upon by the EFCC.

“The action of the 1st Respondent (EFCC) which is being subjected to review by the instant proceedings for Judicial Review, last occurred on December, 2016, while the proceeding for Judicial Review was commenced on 13th June, 2018, eighteen months after the occurrence of the alleged failure being complained about.

“The suit is statute-barred by virtue of the facts stated above and the Applicant/Respondent’s right of action (if any) has become unenforceable”, Oshiomhole contended.

He maintained that the Applicant failed to show how actions he took while in office as Governor, “affected him over and above other residents and indigenes ot Edo State”.

“This Honourable Court is robbed of jurisdiction to entertain this suit for failure of the Applicant/Respondent to commence this action within the time provided by extant rules of this Honourable Court and/or for failure to disclose locus standi to institute the action”, Oshiomhole added.

Trial Justice Anwuli Chikere has fixed November 19 to commence hearing on the matter.

The petitioner had in his suit, told the court that Oshiomhole, “bought a property along Okoro-Otun Avenue, G.R.A., Benin City owned by Edo State Government while serving as Governor of Edo State in an insider deal without due process and in abuse of his oath of office”.

He said the property acquired by the 2nd Respondent was originally given to University of Benin as a gift by Edo State Government.

“The 2nd Respondent, while a dispute was pending in Court between University of Benin and Edo State Government, forcibly acquired the property for his personal use. The 2nd Respondent has since erected a structure with an underground apartment, roof-top swimming pool, another giant structure worth more than N500,000,000 (five hundred million naira) which is far beyond his legitimate income. At the time of the sale, the open market price of that magnitude of property and in that such high-brow location was about N100 million naira.

“This transaction took place while the 2nd Respondent was Governor of Edo State and he bought the said property for just N23 million naira vide an Access Bank cheque.

“The 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the highly inflated contract and payment within a relatively short time for the construction of a 168 room-hostel in Edo State University, Iyamho for the sum of N1.88 billion naira. The average cost per room translates to N10 million naira for each hostel room.

“This contract was awarded to the firm of A & K Construction Limited without compliance with due process. Similarly, the 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the highly inflated contract of building the Teaching Hospital of the said University for the sum of N12.2 billion naira without compliance with due process.

“The 2nd Respondent authorized and approved the diversion of N1.2 billion naira approved for the construction of a new accident and emergency ward complex and renovation of existing structures in the Central Hospital, Benin City for the payment of additional 10% advance payment to A & K Construction Limited for the construction of the Teaching Hospital of the University of Science and Technology, Uzairue (also known as Edo State University, Iyamho) without compliance with due process and against public interest.

“The 2nd Respondent borrowed N25billion naira from the capital market through the issuance of bonds. He purportedly paid the first N6 billion naira to Hitech Construction on March 2, 2011 and listed several roads as part of Phase One of the Storm Water Project to include Adolor College road, Textile Mill road, and a host of others. These roads are largely abandoned with little or no work done by Hitech Construction Company. The gullies created as a result of initial work have become major sources of flooding in Benin – City. More than six persons have been killed by this artificial flood.

“The 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the construction of the 7.2 kilometer Ogba/Airport Road, Benin – City to Servetek Construction Company Limited for construction of drainage structures and dualization from Ring Road to Ogba River Bridge for an industry record setting sum of N4.4 billion which translates to N611 million naira per kilometer without compliance with due process.

“Following disputes with the Company on how the money was to be shared amongst stakeholders, the Company refused to work further and the contract was terminated. It was re-awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited for over N12 billion naira, on the pretext that 17 access roads were to be constructed along the main Airport Road. It was later discovered that these access roads were re-awarded as stand-alone contracts with new cost tag. The contracts were awarded without compliance with due process.

“The 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the construction of the Emergency / Accident Unit of the Central Hospital, Benin – City, to an Italian Company for the sum of N2.7 billion naira and later reviewed same upwards to over N3 billion naira. The constructed building subsequently collapsed killing the owner of the Company, Dr. Stefano De La Roca and confidant of the 2nd Respondent. The contract was thereafter re-awarded to another company, SCL without penalizing the previous Company for the poor work done and thereby causing serious financial loss to Edo State. The said SCL is also one of the Companies that constructed the Lord of the Manor Proto-type mansion and adjoining premises of the 2nd Respondents at Iyamho in Edo State.

“In 2012, the 2nd Respondent initiated and authorized the approach to the World Bank to secure a loan of $225 million dollars under the First Edo State Growth and Employment Support Credit project with identification number “P123353 ”. The World Bank paid Edo State Government $75 million U.S. dollars as initial payment and another $75million U.S. dollars as second installment, despite massive protest by Edo people.

“The said second installment which was domiciled in Access Bank was largely transferred to private off shore accounts and round tripped to the detriment of Edo State.

“The 2nd Respondent authorized and approved the counterpart fund scheme between Edo State Government and Bank of Industry with each party providing N250 million naira each. This agreement was reached in December, 2009. From the enquiries made by Applicant, only N41.6 million naira was disbursed. The balance sum was diverted for personal gain and to the detriment of Edo State residents”, the Applicant added.

   

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Fayose’s Alleged N2.2bn fraud trial continues today

Hearing will today (Monday) commence in the trial of the immediate past Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who was charged with an alleged N2.2bn fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC arraigned Fayose, alongside a firm, Spotless Limited, on October 22, 2018 before the Federal High Court in Lagos, six days after he bowed out of office as governor.



The 11 counts pressed against him bordered on criminal breach of trust, theft and money laundering.



But Fayose and Spotless Limited pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following an application by his lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), a former Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun admitted Fayose to bail in the sum of N50m.

She adjourned till November 19, 2018 for commencement of trial, stressing that the case would be heard on a day-to-day basis in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

In the charges, the EFCC alleged that on June 17, 2014 Fayose “took possession of the sum of N1, 219, 000,000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

 He was also accused to have, the same day, “received a cash payment of $5,000,000 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law.”

In another count, Fayose was accused of “taking control of an aggregate sum of N317,000,000,” which he allegedly deposited into the bank account of Spotless Limited, “a company controlled by you and your family.”



He was also accused of “using an aggregate sum of N1,151,711,573 to acquire chalets 3 and 4, and 5 and 9 of the property situate at Plot 100 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos in the name of JJ Technical Service.”

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Govs threatening retrenchment over new minimum wage crying wolf— Kaigama

President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, has said governors threatening to reduce their workforce to be able to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage proposed by organised labour were crying wolf where there was none, asking what they had been doing with bailout funds released by the Federal Government. Kaigama, who spoke to newsmen in Jalingo yesterday, further advised the affected governors to go back to their respective states and tell their workforce, who would be ready to vote out those not willing to implement their demands.


 He said: “The question we should be asking is what have they been doing with the money made available to them. If we have some state governors paying N25,000 as minimum wage, what are the others doing with their own money? “When it comes to paying political office holders, there is money but when it has to do with paying workers, they would say there is no ability to pay.” On governors’ demand for increased allocation from the federation account to be able to pay the new minimum wage, Kaigama said: “Gover-nors, who see the IGR as pocket money or money for the boys should know that their time is up.”

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Bode George Dazed by Otedola’s endorsement of Sanwo-Olu

                                  


A former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, on Sunday expressed shock over the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by a businessman, Femi Otedola.

Otedola, who is the Chairman of Forte Oil Plc, was last month rumoured to be running for the governorship seat on the platform of the PDP, a report which he neither denied nor confirmed.



However, in a post on his official Instagram handle on Saturday, Otedola posted a photograph he took with Sanwo-Olu and wrote, “Dinner at my residence yesterday evening with my childhood friend, APC governorship candidate, Jide Sanwo-Olu; the governor in waiting.”

George, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, expressed surprise at Otedola’s support for the APC governorship candidate.

The PDP Board of Trustees member said, “That is news to me. That is very interesting. Wonders will never cease. It is very shocking.”

When asked to comment on Otedola’s purported governorship ambition, George stated, “He has always been with us (PDP). I will call him. I will find out that ‘Ki lo ri? Ki lo se? (What did you see? What did you do?)’ That is strange.”

He, however, added that Otedola’s endorsement of the opposition would not influence the strategies of the PDP in Lagos.

The PDP chieftain said, “No, it doesn’t affect our strategies towards 2019 because he is not in our camp. But it is shocking. He is my aburo (junior) and I am going to find out from him what made him (endorse Sanwo-Olu).

“But he is a thoroughbred Lagosian and the people Bola (Tinubu) is handpicking are all from Ogun State. Is that what he wants for his state? I will ask him.”

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We’ve not been paid N800bn subsidy, petrol marketers

Oil marketers on Sunday appealed to the federal government to effect quick payment of their outstanding N800 billion subsidy debts.

The marketers, under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), made the appeal in a joint interactive session with journalists in Lagos.
They urged government agencies saddled with the settlement of the payment to expedite action to save marketers from closing shop as interest on loans mounted.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) had in its October 31 resolution directed the Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office (DMO) to meet with oil marketers and other stakeholders on grey areas and report back within one week.
Clement Isong, Executive Secretary of MOMAN, said that the unpaid debts had negatively impacted their working capital leading to their inability to pay their banks and service providers.


He urged government agencies concerned to address the bureaucratic bottlenecks causing the delay in the payment process, adding that the delay had resulted in degrading oil and gas downstream subsector and hampered marketers’ business operation.

NAN reports that MOMAN is a downstream oil and gas group made up of six major marketers including Mobil, Conoil, OVH Energy, Forte Oil, MRS Oil and Total Nigeria Plc.


The MOMAN scribe re-assured government of their readiness to ensure availability of petroleum products across the country during and after the yuletide period, adding that marketers were fully ready to work with government on effective products distribution.

According to him, the major challenge the Nigerian downstream petroleum sector is facing is the non-payment of the long outstanding fuel subsidy to oil marketers.


“We appreciate the efforts of the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council in approving payment, but the non-payment creates a significantly negative impact on the operational efficiency of the downstream sector of the oil industry; thereby placing a severe strain on its efforts to continually invest in infrastructure and raise industry standards.


“We hope that the debts will be paid in full to the oil marketers as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr Isong disclosed that the debt owed MOMAN members alone stood at over N130.7 billion as at August 2018.


He said that once reconciliation had been done and a particular figure was agreed as debt, he could not understand why settlements had not been made.


Similarly, Executive Secretary, Deport and Petroleum Products Marketers of Nigeria, Olufemi Adewole, said that the processes highlighted for payment by the government were inimical to the operations of their businesses.

Mr Adewole said: “The processes they have highlighted is killing our businesses. Immediately the banks read in the media that the National Assembly had approved, they went to court, got injunction and seized our assets.”


He said that 60 per cent of marketers have been forced out of business as banks have taken over their depots, assets and properties, due to their inability to pay back monies borrowed to import fuel.
He said many marketers were forced out of business, while others are struggling to survive due to government’s inability to settle the subsidy arrears, saying the development is threatening investment in the downstream subsector.


The DAPPMAN scribe stressed that while the federal government had earmarked money to clear the debts, the marketers were yet to be paid.


“The debt has had very adverse effects on our operations. I am aware of two depots that have been forcibly taken over by banks, because they got injunctions from the courts.
“They did so the moment they heard that the National Assembly approved payment of the debt to marketers. Unfortunately, as at today the money was yet to get into our accounts,” he said.


Mr Adewole pointed out that the other challenge was that many of the marketers had laid off more than 90 per cent of their staff because of financial constraints.


He however said that government had promised that part of the money would come as promissory note and cash, saying the information gathered was that the government may pay only in promissory note.

“It means you have to go back and discount this promissory note in the bank. This means we are losing because the money has been delayed and this adds to the interest to be charged on our accounts.

NAN also recalled the Debt Management Office (DMO) on October 31 says it has commenced the accelerated implementation of settlement of government arrears through promissory notes to oil marketers.
The DMO made this known in a statement issued in Abuja when it met with the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector to discuss the issue of the outstanding payments to oil marketers.
According to the statement, the implementation is in line with the process approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).


It also quoted Kabiru Marafa, Chairman, Oil and Gas Senate Committee, as calling the meeting to ascertain the status of the implementation of the approvals given by the National Assembly for the settlement of arrears to oil marketers.


The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Finance, DMO, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and representatives of oil marketers.
The obligations due to the oil marketers represent interest accruals and foreign exchange differentials, it said. (NAN)

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Kwara, Bauchi, Katsina bye-election results a beautiful omen – Garba Shehu

The presidency says the electoral victories recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on November 17 is a sign of things to come in the 2019 elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC swept the three federal constituencies in Katsina, Kwara, and Bauchi states in the bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, November 17.


Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said the APC victory in the three states had shattered any assumptions of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) return to power in 2019.

According to the presidential aide, the APC victory should be a blow for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigners who have maintained that by merely claiming that they have rebranded, Nigerians will have forgotten all the mess they left behind in 2015.

He said: “By voting overwhelmingly for the ruling APC, Nigerians have shown their confidence in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and their willingness for continuation of this government and its policies.
“This clear show of support can only be a synopsis of what Nigerians should expect in the forthcoming elections, at all levels.

“I would like to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians that there will always be a winner and a loser in every election, an individual and a party with the highest votes and another with the lowest.

“That is what democracy is about. Therefore, all aspirants should approach elections with the mindset that they could either win or lose.

“Accepting results only when one wins and challenging results each time one loses, is not the right attitude. It is certainly not what democracy is about.’’
The presidential aide thanked the people of Katsina, Kwara and Bauchi States for their show of support during and after the bye-elections.


“On behalf of President Buhari, I thank the people of Katsina, Kwara and Bauchi States for their show of support over the weekend.

“I thank Nigerians all over the country for believing in this government and in its determined effort to pull our nation out of the mess left behind by 16 years of PDP government, and into the greatness that is our destiny,’’ he added.(NAN)

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