COVID-19: FG’s N2.3trn Intervention Stimulus Kicks off Tomorrow Rolls out with two states per geo-political zone Bauchi touts 828 communities to benefit from package Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Covid-19 pandemic in the Management and Social states each per geo-political than 828 communities to Economic Planning, Mallam country kicks-off tomorrow, Development, in partnership zone would first rollout the benefit from the package. Yakubu Mudi, however A 2.3 trillion naira stimulus Monday May 24, in phases with the World Bank is tagged: registration, with Bauchi and A statement by the disclosed the development. package by the federal across the country. “Covid-19 Rapid Response Adamawa States from North communications officer of the The objective of the Covid-19 government to mitigate An initiative being Register (RRR)”. East Zone commencing from State Operations Coordinating Rapid Response Register (RRR) the effects of recession and overseen by the Ministry of With the phased approach May 24 to 31, of which Bauchi Unit (SOCU) in the Bauchi economic impact of the Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster beginning tomorrow, two is already touting no fewer State Ministry of Budget and Continued on page 5 Leave Our Party Alone, PDP Governors Warn EFCC… Page 5 Sunday 23 May, 2021 Vol 26. No 9540 www.thisdaylive.com T N400 RU N TH & REASO Buhari: Attahiru was a Brave Soldier Who Led from the Front Osinbajo: Their death, a depth of sacrifice They died with their boots on, says Jonathan He was determined to end Boko Haram war, Zulum attests Irabor assures sacrifices of fallen officers won’t be in vain Senate president, Mustapha, el-Rufai, Gambari, service chiefs attend burial See story on pgs 15, 16 & 17 The Heroes Who Died in Service to Fatherland... See story on pg 12 Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Abdulkadir Brig.-Gen. Olatunji Olayinka Brig. Gen. Kuliya Major L A Hayat Maj Hamza Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Sgt Umar Flt Lt To Asaniyi Flt Lt Alfred Ayodeji Olufade Sgt Adesina Opeyemi Deeziah ACM Olamide Oyedepo 2 SUNDAY MAY 23, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY MAY 23, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 SUNDAY MAY 23, 2021 • THISDAY ͺͻ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 5 PAGE FIVE Inside Story of Ayade’s Defection to APC As party leadership accuses gov of undue complacency Chuks Okocha in Abuja the loss of the oil wells was an President for the future of our lost the control of the party Assembly in the state moved National Assembly. “act of gross injustice and the country”, he said, noting that structures in the state due to and took the party structures "As a governor, he ought New facts have shown that APC jump to it as a working the territorial integrity of the his complacent attitude to party from him. to have moved to take full economic factors far more tool.” state has been interfered with issues. "It was after this slumber that charge of affairs in the state. outweighed the political reasons Ayade had alleged and that it was his responsibility The source said it has always he woke up and demanded that He was like emperor wining that necessitated the recent unconscionable injustices meted to “resocket’ the state back to been the party policy that the NWC should intervene and and dinning when members defection of the Cross River out to the state by the federal its proper disposition. governors control political party restore the party structures to of National Assembly moved State governor, Ben Ayade, from government, regretting the However, the national structures in their state, but "the him. He was the architect of against him and took over the the Peoples Democratic Party takeover of Bakassi Peninsula leadership of the PDP, a source governor was very complacent himself missing out in the power party from him," the source (PDP) to the All Progressives by Cameroun as well as the claimed, believed that Ayade and members of the National structures to members of the stated. Congress (APC). non-reimbursement of funds Even more, the governor's spent on federal roads, which alleged complacent attitude also forced him to call for a political contributed to why members solution. of the National Assembly "This was one of the reasons outplayed him in the wards, that Senator Ita Giwa has thrown local and state congresses her support for the defection", elections in the state. the source said, explaining that A top source within the Mama Bakassi as she was called, National Working Committee believed that the offer could (NWC) of the PDP said the help the economic development economic issue played out of the state. more than the governor losing "So, the defection was the PDP structures in the state. imminent as the APC-led THISDAY gathered a bait of federal government want to returning some, at least 20 oil ensure a control of a state in wells out of the 76 that were the South-south," the source ceded to Akwa Ibom by federal stressed government, largely informed Ita-Giwa had told newsmen why Ayade left the PDP. shortly after Ayade defected to According to the source, the APC that the governor was "Since the APC lost the bids the political leader in the state to have a foothold in Bayelsa and she would always go where and later Edo States, out of he leads. the desperation to have the “We have a leader in the state APC in the South-south, the and wherever he moves to my ruling shifted attention to Cross loyalty is with him”. River State, using the bait of Ita-Giwa, who was a founding returning some of the 76 oil member of All Nigeria People’ ceded to Akwa Ibom State to Party, ANPP has moved between Cross River." PDP and APC four times since The source explained that 1999. Governor Ayade had since Giving reasons for his 2019 sought return of some defection, Ayade said injustice of the 76 oil wells ceded to and meddling in the affairs of Akwa Ibom following the his state led him to move to APC ruling of the Supreme Court “It is my responsibility to DECISION TIME... in 2012, saying the ceding of bring back Cross River to the the oil-rich peninsula was illegal center to enhance our fortune. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, casting his vote at Ward 11, Unit 001, Abayomi Iwo-road of Ibadan North East Local and therefore maintained that We need to work ahead with our Government Area, Ibadan, during the Local Government Election in Oyo State oyo state government Leave Our Party Alone, PDP Governors Warn EFCC State chairmen insist political parties are under INEC Edo chapter expels Afegbua for anti-party Chuks Okocha in Abuja The PDP governors in a yeoman's job of preventing a on PDP's Returns. in Nigeria. chairmen, "As 2023 draws near, statement by the Director descent into chaos and anarchy "The times are really perilous. "That the laws establishing the muzzling of opposition Governors elected on the General of its secratariat, Cyril in Nigeria. We face existential threats as a both EFCC and INEC are very parties by any group of power platform of the Peoples Maduabum, said the recent "Perhaps, certain interests in nation and PDP shouldn't be clear as to their respective drunk individuals, who want Democratic Party (PDP) invitation of officials of the government are worried about distracted from its main role as functions. That Nigeria is a to perpetuate themselves in have asked the Economic and PDP by the EFCC acting on the increasingly assertive role a political watchdog on behalf Multi-Party Democracy and office through undemocratic Financial Crimes Commission a petition by a former member the PDP is playing in calling out of Nigerians," the statement not a One Party Democracy means will be stiffly resisted. (EFCC) to leave their party of party raised questions on corruption in government and by the PDP governors stated. and that EFCC and indeed "Finally, the forum stands alone and not turn the anti-graft the seriousness and impartiality wants to weaken and silence In equal breath, the Forum all Government Agencies very firmly behind the national agency into a witch-hunting of the anti-graft agency to do it," the PDP governors stated. of PDP State Chairmen, in and Institutions should not leadership of our great Party, tool against opposition political its work. The governors noted that statement by their spokesman, be involved in anything that headed by our National parties. The PDP governors said even the petition in question Hon. Francis Orogu, and will threaten the growth of Chairman, Prince Uche Similarly, 36 states chairmen while party as a political did not make a single allegation chairman, Nassarawa State, Democracy in Nigeria. Secondus. Our confidence in of the PDP and the Federal entity was accountable to its of misuse of government funds, said it had taken note of "That we will not allow the NWC of the party remains Capital Territory (FCT) have members and the general public nor cheating of any individual the invitation by the EFCC any Agency or Institution of solid and unshaken". also advised the EFCC to trade for its actions, "we are, however, or public authority by the PDP. extended to the national Government to tamper with the Meanwhile, the PDP in Edo within its limit as venturing into concerned that the old tactics "It is, therefore, surprising leadership of the PDP and cherished rights of Nigerians State, in a letter to Secondus, political witch-hunt was outside of using the EFCC to silence that EFCC should use its scarce that having consulted among to hold and share their views notified the party of the the constitutional mandate of political opposition is creeping human and other resources to its members, took certain through identification with any expulsion of Kasim Afrgbua the anti-graft agency, saying into our polity once again.