Mele Kyari: NNPC will Raise Bar on Transparency Promises to fix nation’s refineries by 2023 To unveil new roadmap in couple of weeks Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Corporation (NNPC) with Kyari, who promised to He spoke in Abuja at a join me to unveil the NNPC short and long term growth a pledge to continuously make the nation’s refineries valedictory ceremony for his Roadmap towards global objectives of the corporation as Mallam Mele Kyari assumed entrench transparency, functional by 2023, said in a predecessor, Dr. Maikanti Baru. excellence and the roadmap we transit to a national energy duty yesterday as the Group accountability and performance few weeks he would unveil Kyari said: “In the next will guide our aspirations to champion.” Managing Director of the excellence across all the oil his agenda for the nation’s couple of weeks, the COOs achieve sustained outstanding Nigerian National Petroleum corporation’s operations. oil sector. (chief operating officers) will performance to meet the Continued on page 8 Osinbajo: Ethno-Religious Suspicion Nigeria’s Greatest Problem... Page 6 Tuesday 9 July, 2019 Vol 24. No 8856. Price: N250 www.thisdaylive.com T RU N TH & REASO EIGHTY HEART CHEERS... L-R: Chief Bisi Akande, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, a guest, Governor Dapo Abiodun, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, another guest, Mrs Derinola Osoba, Chief Olusegun Osoba, a guest and Senator Bola Tinubu, during the presentation of Osoba’s book: Battlelines: Adventures into Journalism and Politics, to mark his 80th birthday in Lagos...yesterday KOLA OLASUPO Election Results Transmitted to Server, INEC Ad-hoc Officers Tell Tribunal Atiku, PDP call witnesses, tender more documents Alex Enumah in Abuja Two of the six witnesses called by the petitioners said Some witnesses in the hearing they served as ad-hoc staff of of the petition filed by the INEC and testified that results Peoples Democratic Party were transmitted electronically (PDP) and its presidential to the commission’s server. candidate, Alhaji Atiku One of them, Mr. Peter Abubakar, against the election Obi, an Information, of President Muhammadu Communication and Buhari yesterday told the panel Technology (ICT) expert, hearing the complaint that said emphatically that election results from the presidential results were transmitted from poll were transmitted into polling units to INEC’s server. a server belonging to the Obi told the tribunal that Independent National Electoral he was trained by INEC as a Commission (INEC). Continued on page 6 Mustapha: My Reappointment as L-R: Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo State), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State), during Okowa's SGF a Humbling Experience... Page 8 60th birthday reception in Asaba, Delta :LQ6$/$5</,)( _ 15(17IRU<HDU_ _ (GXFDWLRQ$OORZDQFH 6LJQXSWRGD\DQGVDYH1 RUPRUHWRZLQDPD]LQJSUL]HV 2 TUESDAY JULY 9, 2019 • THISDAY TUESDAY JULY 9, 2019 • THISDAY 3 4 TUESDAY JULY 9, 2019 • THISDAY TUESDAY JULY 9, 2019 • THISDAY 5 6 TUESDAY, ΁˜ͺ͸͹΁˾THISDAY PAGE SIX Osinbajo: Ethno-Religious Suspicion Nigeria’s Greatest Problem Gboyega Akinsanmi, Segun Osinbajo, specifically, lamented ethnic divisions to make it seem He, thus, said the attempts brothers. This must be a lesson lesson for all Nigerians, which James and Solomon Elusoji that the collapse of the country’s like a South-west struggle for one by the political elite “to for all of us. he said, all leaders across the national achievements and of its own, rather than a struggle delegitimise the government by “While he is a Christian, I country’s political divides should The Vice President, Prof. Yemi attainments at every stage of for democracy and justice, in the the suggestions that it promotes am a Muslim. While he is from learn from. Osinbajo, yesterday lamented her socio-political history “has process imposing one of the most insurgency are, of course, South-west, I am from the North He observed: “Nigeria is the incessant use of ethnic and been that Achilles Heel, the tribal fearsome repressions of liberties dangerous mainly because they Central. While Chief Osoba is a blessed and rich in diversity. religious cards to win votes in and religious suspicions.” anywhere in the world. help the insurgents by weakening general in his profession, I am a This diversity is meant to be our the country, noting that tribal He cited the inability of its Osinbajo said: “There are, for the opposition to them.” general in the Nigerian Army. strength. Nigeria needs unity. As and religious suspicions had leadership, at crucial moments, example, those who for political Amid the divisive tendencies While he was the Governor of Nigerians, we need to express been Nigeria’s greatest problem to bridge the gaps of ethnic reasons, promoted the point of the vice president used Osoba’s Ogun State, I was Head of State. faith in our country. We, at the from the First Republic till date. and religious prejudice, which view that violent extremism of memoir to illustrate, Abdulsalami “Despite our differences, we National Assembly, have shown Amid the growing level of according to him, had resulted Boko Haram was the brainchild urged all Nigerians across the have some things in common. what we can achieve with unity. suspicion across ethnic, religious in grave situations that its scars of the APC and its putative divides “to put their hands on We both have deep interest of our “This was demonstrated in our and political divides, former and fractures “still remain with presidential candidate, a plot deck to ensure that there is peace country at heart. We both want elections as principal officers in Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami the country.” to Islamise Nigeria. and security in this country.” the best for our country. We both the National Assembly. Senators Abubakar (rtd), appealed to all He said: “So, from the This wicked lie was only Abdulsalami, who chaired the want Nigeria to remain a blessing across ethnic, religious and Nigerians to unite against all execution of the coup of 1966, debunked when then Maj. public presentation of Osoba's for Africa. We want Nigeria to political divides voted for us. divisive tendencies currently the countercoup, later that year, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari autobiography, cited his five- move higher worldwide. We In the way, Nigeria must unite. threatening the country's peace and the Civil War, starting in was attacked by the same Boko decade relationship with Osoba want Nigerians to believe in We must reduce suspicion and and security. 1967, it is clear that these tragedies Haram, he barely escaped with as an example for all Nigerians their nation. mistrust among us. The two leaders expressed occurred because the once united his life and he lost seven close to follow to build a country that “With self-belief and trust in “No country develops with grave concern about the rising military wing of the Nigerian aides and relations. Not long works irrespective of ethnic and one another, these are achievable. disunity and suspicion. We cannot spate of insecurity nationwide elite, finally gave way to its after, the same group attacked religious background. All Nigerians should cultivate be different. As leaders, we must yesterday at the unveiling basest instincts - ethnicity and the Emir of Kano who sustained According to him, “Osoba and mutual relationship. As Osobas demonstrate quality for trust to of former governor of Ogun tribal prejudices.” serious injuries.” I have come a long way. Our and Abubakars see themselves, occur. We are in one country, State, Chief Olusegun Osoba’s He also cited how the political Before the 2019 elections, the relationship started in the 1960s. so should all Nigerians see and we are meant to be one. autobiography, Battlelines: elite played the ethnic card “to vice president noted that similar When I was a young officer in themselves.” We cannot continue to think as Adventures into Journalism and defeat, what would have been a accusation on the Boko Haram the Nigerian Army, I enjoyed Also, at the book presentation, though we were in a different Politics, held in Lagos. national struggle for democracy; insurgency, the Fulani herder and smooth relationship with Chief the Senate president, Lawan, said country. We must stand on Eminent Nigerians including the struggle to restore MKO farmer clashes was made. Osoba. We regarded ourselves as Osoba’s autobiography is full of brotherhood.” the National Leader of All Abiola's mandate won by Progressives Congress (APC), votes enthusiastically given by Senator Bola Tinubu; President men and women of all tribes of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan; and faiths across the country, Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. including the Kano home state Seriake Dickson; Chairman of his opponent.” of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, At that time, however, the vice Dr. Kayode Fayemi, among president noted that it was not others, attended the unveiling difficult “to begin a process of of Osoba's memoir published delegitimising it. The tactic is as part of activities to mark his the same and the consequences 80th birthday. devastatingly effective: ethnicise Osinbajo synoptically reviewed it. And so, they did.” the autobiography in the context He said: “The northern of Nigeria's political history, governors of the National thereby drawing a conclusion Republic Convention (NRC), the that the subtext of Osoba's party that lost the election, issued autobiography, Battlelines: a statement, saying that Abiola Adventures in Journalism and should be advised