​Defection: APC leadership presents Umahi to President Buhari at Aso Villa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night in Abuja received Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Sunday Aghaeze, the Personal Assistant to the President (Photography), confirmed this in pictorial reports released in Abuja on Thursday evening.

Umahi, along with members of his cabinet, on Tuesday defected from the PDP to the APC, citing injustice to the South-East by his former political party.

NAN reports that the APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as well as the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, jointly presented Umahi to Buhari.

A caption on one of the pictorial reports read: “The Ebonyi State Gov. Dave Umahi, President Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and Kebbi State Governor, Senator, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, during the Presentation of the New Party Member to the President at the Presidential Villa Thursday night in Abuja.’’

Buhari had on Nov. 18 commended Gov. Umahi for defecting to the APC, urging Nigerians to pay less emphasis on identity politics to enhance democratic culture.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, quoted Buhari as describing Umahi’s defection as “a bold move driven purely by principle rather than opportunistic motives”.

​Ebonyi PDP suspends former governor, Sam Egwu, 23 others over ‘anti-party activities’

The Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Friday suspended the state’s former governor, Sam Egwu, all the Ebonyi PDP National Assembly members, and others over “anti-party activities.”

The suspension of the 24 members was part of the resolution reached by the State Working Committee, SWC, on 13th November, 2020 and made available to Vanguard yesterday in Abakaliki.

According to the statement signed by the State Chairman and Secretary of the Party, Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi and Chief Simon Anyigor, respectively, the affected members of the Party are required to appear before the Party’s Disciplinary Committee to defend themselves.

The statement read in part: “In the resolution of the SWC of 13th November, 2020, they were suspended from the party for anti-party activity.

“They were accused to planning to destabilize the party by constituting a parallel list of executives, evidence of which have been obtained.

“They are therefore required to appear before the Party’s Disciplinary Committee to defend themselves in the allegation on Friday, 20th November, 2020. Failure to comply with this directive attracts outright explusion from the party.

“Please, accord the necessary action.”

Those suspended include: Senator Michael Ama Nnachi, Senator Obinna Ogba, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, Hon. Hon. Livinus Makwe, Hon. Chris Usulor, Hon. Victor Aleke among others.

I want Nigeria to be seen as a country that does not tolerate corruption – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said his desire is to make Nigeria a country that has no tolerance for corruption, but one where the menace is vigorously battled.

Receiving the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Investigation of Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), headed by Justice Ayo Salami (Rtd), at State House, Abuja, President Buhari said:

”Corruption is present in all countries. Some Governments treat it with levity. Some fight it all the time. I want Nigeria to be counted among those countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption.”

In order to protect Nigeria’s political and economic systems, and the continuous existence of the Nigerian State from the serious threat of corruption, the President called on all stakeholders, and indeed every Nigerian to own the fight against corruption at their respective levels.

Pledging that the fight against corruption is one that must be fought without fear or favour, President Buhari thanked members of the Commission for their dedication and commitment to the fight against corruption.

The President said further:

”The sad reality confronting us as a people is that there is corruption almost everywhere; at many levels of government, and nearly every stratum of our society. Mindful of the threat that corruption poses to us as a nation, this administration has specifically focused on the fight against corruption.

”As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in many reforms in removing corruption including but not limited to the enforcement of Treasury Single Account (TSA), strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy and signing unto the Open Government Partnership. A lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions.

”We have so far kept faith with our promise and shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts her security challenges.

”However, the stark reality of widespread corruption becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touches on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes. It is an abomination that strikes at the root, and undermines the Government’s anti-corruption programme.

”It was in response to the serious allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that I set up a Panel headed by the Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, retired President of the Court of Appeal, via an Instrument dated 3rd July 2020 pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004).

”We recognize that there are more grounds to cover in the war against corruption, and we are prepared to go out to possess those lands by cutting off any stream that nourishes the seed of corruption and supports its growth.

”Let it be known that in the fight against corruption, no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the Nigerian State!”

In his remarks, Justice Salami said that the suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, and 113 witnesses appeared and testified before the Commission, adding that 46 petitions and memoranda were presented by individuals and organisations with complaints against the suspended Acting Chairman, EFCC or both.

Justice Salami disclosed that the Commission also embarked on a nationwide physical verification of recovered forfeited assets, comprising real estates, automobiles, vessels and non-cash assets.

He commended the President for the initiative to dispose all forfeited assets ”because of the poor condition of the assets we saw during our physical verification nationwide.”

Noting that the four chairmen of EFCC since inception were from the police, the retired Justice of the Court of Appeal also recommended that in appointing a new chairman consideration should be given to candidates from other law enforcement or security agencies and core staff of the EFCC as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004.

He expressed profound gratitude to the President for giving the Commission members a wonderful opportunity to serve the nation.