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Agbaje’s Attack On Bode George Unacceptable, Disgusting — PDP

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Agbaje’s Attack On Bode George Unacceptable, Disgusting — PDP

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday urged Mr Jimi Agbaje, its governorship candidate in the last election, to show respect for the party leadership or face sanction.

The state chairman of the party, Dr Adegbola Dominic, gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that he was reacting to a statement made by Agbaje on Wednesday, in which he launched verbal attacks on George.

Agbaje had accused George of being behind the rumour that he had dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress(APC), describing the claim as fiction.

Agbaje said that he was still a member of PDP and asked George to leave the party if he lacked any value to add.

”People should please tell Bode George to shut up and leave the PDP if he lacks any value to add to the party.

”He should leave the party instead of being a dog in the manger hampering the progress of the party in Lagos.

”The false narrative (that he has dumped PDP)is a product of his sick mind, or how else do you describe someone who just sits down to concoct fiction and market it as a reality”, he had said.

Dominic said the party was shocked at Agbaje’s statements against Bode George, describing it as ”most unfortunate”

He said the party had expected Agbaje to show respect for the leadership of the party as well as elders.

Dominic said the party would not condone acts of indiscipline from anyone, or verbal attacks on people he said had laboured to build the party in the state.

”We are shocked that Agbaje could make these statements against Chief Bode George; we are really shocked.

”What he has said is not expected of him, the statements are disgusting and unfortunate. We will not condone this act of indiscipline,” he said.

Dominic blamed Agbaje for the electoral misfortunes of the party in the last elections, saying he worked at cross purposes with party members.

He alleged that Agbaje spent all the campaign funds on his own without consulting with the party leadership or elders.

The chairman said decision of Agbaje to ”personalise”the funds ensured party members were denied the necessary resources to prosecute the party’s plan for the elections.

The Chairman said it was George and others who spent their personal resources to achieve the little results the party recorded at the polls.

Dominic described Agbaje as an unfaithful party man who used the party’s ticket to realise his personal ambitions.

He said party members had lost absolute confidence in him, and he would never get any iota of the party’s support in the future.

Earlier, Special Adviser to George on Political Matters, Mr Uthman Shodipe, described Agbaje’s statements against his principal as disgusting and disgraceful.

He said it was unexpected of Agbaje to have used such a ”crude language”on George especially as he is from Yorubaland where respect for elders is the norm.

Shodipe said that George nurtured Agbaje’s political career in PDP, and his statements were not only disrespectful but portrayed him as ”an ingrate”.

”Agbaje’s response was sickening for a Yoruba person, very disgraceful and unacceptable.

”As Omoluabis in Yorubaland, we do not throw stones at elders,what Agbaje has done is basically to throw sledge hammer at his benefactor by referring to him as a sick mind,” he said.

He said Agbaje’s grouse with George was that he expected him (George) to do more than he gave himself as candidate during the last governorship polls .

Shodipe said Agbaje decided to work entirely on his own during the elections and George could not have forced himself on him.

On Agbaje’s claim that George was behind the rumour that he had left PDP, Shodipe dismissed the claim.

He said George said Agbaje was not showing he still belonged to the PDP based on what he called his inconsistency.

Shodipe described Agbaje as a threat to the progress of the party in the state and the South West, saying he once contested against George for PDP National Chairmanship to deny Lagos and the region the seat.

NAN

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UK Probe Finds No Stolen Nigerian Funds Linked To Diezani –Ozekhome

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Legal luminary, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has debunked persistent allegations of corruption against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, asserting that no stolen Nigerian funds have ever been traced to her by UK authorities.

In a statement released on Sunday titled, ‘There is no such thing as Diezani Loot,’ Ozekhome stated, “The immediate past Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, confirmed to her lawyers that no funds from the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria have been found ever stolen by her.”

He said that the former minister, who has been under investigation by UK authorities since October 2015, has not been charged with misappropriating public funds despite nearly a decade of scrutiny.

According to Ozekhome, Alison-Madueke’s prolonged ordeal stems from baseless allegations, unverified narratives, and public vilification rather than concrete evidence.

“DAM (Diezani Alison-Madueke) has continued to face relentless defamation and misinformation. Her name is routinely linked to allegations and properties, like the recent case of the ‘Galactica Yacht,’ which she neither owned nor ever set eyes on,” he said.

Ozekhome referenced court rulings to support his client’s case, particularly a decision by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which cleared parties linked to a Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) of wrongdoing.

“Let us be very clear about this: the issues of non-payment of the cash-calls that subsequently arose in the Atlantic Energy SAAs had nothing whatsoever to do with the initial contract award which followed due process and was properly made.

“Those issues arose as a direct result of the manner of operational implementation and supervision and had nothing whatsoever to do with DAM. She was never involved in any way or manner.

“As a matter of fact in April 2014, as soon as she was brought to her attention by an external multinational head that there were some issues regarding the Atlantic Energy SAAs, she immediately took strong and direct action by promptly alerting Mr. President, the Permanent Secretary (PS), of MPR and the GMD-NNPC, in writing, and directed that an immediate two-week investigation be carried out.

“Following the resulting investigative report, DAM again directed in writing to the PS, MPR and the GMD-NNPC, with Mr. President’s knowledge and approval, that a process for the recovery of the unpaid cash-call be immediately put in place,” he said.

He noted that the yacht in question was reportedly forfeited by businessman Kola Aluko, who had valid contracts with the NNPC.

The lawyer emphasised that Alison-Madueke’s role as minister was limited to endorsing contracts already vetted by the NNPC, adding, “She merely followed due process as required by her statutory duties.”

Ozekhome also shed light on the former minister’s health struggles, revealing that she underwent chemotherapy for cancer shortly before being detained in the UK.

“Despite battling for her life and surviving on goodwill from friends and family, she has faced unrelenting public scrutiny and baseless accusations,” he lamented.

The senior advocate called on the public to allow the UK legal process to take its course without interference or prejudice, stressing the importance of fair hearing.

“Let the law take its natural course. It is time to stop the vilification of an innocent Nigerian citizen,” he added.

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Polytechnic Workers To Begin Warning Strike Wednesday

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Polytechnic workers in the country have announced a three-day warning strike from Wednesday, January 22 to Friday, January 24, 2025.

The workers, under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP), accused the authorities of marginalisation of non-teaching staff members and denial of their deserved career progression.

In a letter dated January 14, 2025, and addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the union’s secretary Nura Gaya said the warning strike has become imperative to “emphasise our position concerning the ongoing plot by certain stakeholders to unjustly deprive Non-Teaching Staff of Polytechnics and Similar Institutions of their rightful progression to the peak of their careers on CONTEDISS 15 on the ongoing redrafting of the Polytechnic Schemes of Service”.

The letter further said, “SSANIP has consistently championed the cause of equity and justice within the Polytechnic system and has repeatedly called for the implementation of career progression policies that accommodate both Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff.

“Regrettably, our previous engagements with relevant authorities have yielded little to no tangible results, and the current machinations against Non-Teaching Staff represents a direct affront to these efforts.

“This strike is, therefore, a warning to underscore the seriousness of our grievances and our unwavering commitment to ensuring that Non-Teaching Staff are not marginalized or denied their deserved career progression which if heeded will not in any way be a deprivation to the Teaching Staff as both category of workers have distinct salary structure.

“We implore your office to take urgent and decisive steps to address this issue and forestall any further escalation.

“We remain open to constructive dialogue and hope that this matter will be resolved amicably to avert further disruptions in the Polytechnic system.”

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Otudeko: Putting The Records Straight

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By Olasunbo Abolaji

In the light of recent news reports, Dr. Oba Otudeko categorically refutes the claims concerning his role in FBN Holdings and will aggressively defend his reputation.

Dr Oba Otudeko is a builder and one of Nigeria’s foremost investors and industrialists. He has built directly from scratch and has worked with others to build many of Nigeria’s most successful companies. This includes FBN Holdings, where he served as a director (then Chairman) from 1997 to 2021 and was instrumental in supporting the transformation of the bank from an old generation bank to its current leadership role as a pan-African financial services holding company.

With regards to the reported claims, Dr Oba Otudeko would like to clarify that he has never served in an executive capacity within FBN Holdings and its banking subsidiary, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and as such has had no operational responsibility in the organisation.

As of this moment, he has received no official summons, neither has his legal team received any official invitation from relevant authorities. As he has done in the past, Dr Oba Otudeko is always ready and available to assist any government agency with appropriate oversight in the execution of their duties, with the expectation that these affairs will be conducted with the highest standard of professionalism.

While we respect the role of the press in keeping the public informed, we urge journalists to verify such sensitive information before publication to ensure accuracy and fairness.

At 81, after 5 decades of contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s economy, Dr Oba Otudeko is now focused on mentoring the next generation of business leaders and contributing to the positive development of society through enterprise.

He is not interested in serving in an executive capacity in any organization in Nigeria or elsewhere, neither is he interested in serving in a non-executive capacity on any board asides those he currently sits on. This includes any possibility of returning to the board of FBN Holdings Plc, which appears to be the focus of the recent unfortunate news barrage. FBN Holdings, a legacy institution built over 130 years, holds a special place in Dr. Otudeko’s heart. He trusts this strong foundation to guide the institution into the next era of success.

Dr. Oba Otudeko is confident that the truth will prevail in due course and looks forward to addressing these claims in the appropriate forum.


** Abolaji is
General Counsel, Honeywell Group

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