Govt, Operators Move to End $2bn Aircraft Maintenance Capital Flight Initiative to help Nigeria conserve forex Chinedu Eze annually, some operators in In the last four years, 7-Star Global Hangers Limited, for executive jets. on stream, while the Chairman the aviation industry and the the Nigerian Civil Aviation and Overland Airways for the Also, by early next year, and CEO of Air Peace, Mr. As part of efforts to end the Akwa Ibom State government Authority (NCAA) has maintenance of ATR aircraft the Maintenance, Repair and Allen Onyema, has announced huge capital flight spent have taken steps towards given Aircraft Maintenance in addition to the certification Overhaul (MRO) facility being that the airline has completed on maintenance of aircraft developing maintenance Organisation (AMO) given to Execujet, a global built in Uyo by Akwa Ibom overseas put at $2 billion facilities in Nigeria. certificates to Aero Contractors, maintenance organisation State government will come Continued on page 10 NEITI: FG’s Earning from Mining Rose to N79.96bn in 2019... Page 8 Monday 21 June, 2021 Vol 26. No 9568. Price: N250 www.thisdaylive.com T RU N TH & REASO In Kebbi, 10 Rescued, Scores Still Missing, Hunters Join Battle...Page 49 NADECO Writes Buhari on Insecurity, Insists on Abrogation of 1999 Constitution Seeks suspension of elections until new grundnorm is promulgated Urges UN to intervene in resolving crisis in Nigeria Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja which was in the vanguard of the clamour for the rebirth of The National Democratic democracy in Nigeria during Coalition (NADECO) the military regime of late has written to President Gen. Sani Abacha, leading Muhammadu Buhari over to the return to civil rule the rising security challenges in 1999, in an open letter to in the country and canvassed the president, pressed for the as panacea, the return to the suspension of further elections 1960 and 1963 Constitutions until the country gets a new to replace the extant 1999 constitution. grundnorm, which it said the The letter, dated June military imposed on Nigerians. The pro-democracy group, Continued on page 10 Courts, Assemblies Move to Relist Cases, Bills Stalled by Workers’ Strike Our Reporters Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) called off With the resumption of after two months. activities in courts and state THISDAY investigations Houses of Assembly, the showed that the industrial judiciaries and the legislatures action, embarked upon to press in states of the federation home the workers' demands have begun to relist cases for financial autonomy for the and bills that were stalled two arms of government in SOLIDARISING WITH BORNO... as a result of the strike by the 36 states of the federation, the Judiciary Staff Union of L- R: Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Malam Mele Kyari; President Muhammadu Buhari Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Continued on page 10 and Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, during the president’s visit to Borno State...recently Again, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, PANDEF, PDP, Tackle FG over Restructuring...Page 6 2 MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 • THISDAY MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 • THISDAY MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 • THISDAY 5 6 MONDAY, ͺ͹˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike NEWS Email [email protected], 08066066268 Again, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, PANDEF, PDP, Tackle FG over Restructuring ACF insists on referendum Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha presides over the sharing of for a discussion on the state of and Nigerians demanding for it the president must be bound taken our stand that the country in Abuja, Christopher Isiguzo the revenue of the federation the nation, particularly in the as “mischievously dangerous,” by the will of the people. should hold a referendum on in Enugu, John Shiklam in to which his state probably face of worsening insecurity, the party said. In his reaction, "The entire people of Nigeria whether we want to remain Kaduna, Seriki Adinoyi in Jos contributes nothing. How else economic hardship and Chairman of the Kaduna State have accepted the fact that the as one country or not.” and James Sowole in Akure can he impress his principal sectional disagreements, further chapter of the CAN, Rev. Joseph only way out of the myriad of PANDEF also described the than tell him what would demonstrated their arrogant Hayab, said it was unfortunate the crisis facing the country at statement credited to the Buhari The pan-Yoruba socio-political soothe his sectional and and dictatorial disposition that the same government, the moment is restructuring. administration as indicting the organisation, Afenifere, the sectarian ego? towards the people. which set up a committee for The South-east, South-west, president and the ruling APC, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan "The elected governors of National Publicity Secretary restructuring, was opposed to South-south, the Middle belt which committee headed by Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the constituent states of the of the party, Mr. Kola restructuring. region and the intelligentsia in Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Middle Belt Forum, the Peoples federation, the leaders of the Ologbondiyan, in a statement "This same government has the core North have all accepted Kaduna State had earlier Democratic Party (PDP) and entrenched federating ethnic issued yesterday, stated in the past set up a committee that we need to restructure. approved restructuring. the Kaduna State branch of the nationalities, former leaders, that Buhari as citizens of a on restructuring and it came The president alone cannot In a statement by its National Christian Association of Nigeria presidents and knowledgeable democratic state, Nigerians up with a report. If the same impose his views on the rest Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken (CAN) yesterday tackled personalities are all calling for have every right to demand government is saying that there of us,” he said. Robinson, PANDEF said no President Muhammadu Buhari- the restructuring of the political constitutional restructuring as is nothing to restructure then Also in its reaction, the ACF, responsible government led administration for taking architecture to reinvent the well as a democratic forum to it is telling Nigerians not to called for a referendum, adding, anywhere in the world a position on restructuring foundational federal principles deliberate on good governance believe anything they say in however, that the president has would make or sanction that they say is contrary to of the polity and here you find and national cohesion. the future seriously,” he said. the right to hold opinions. such statements against its the wishes of the majority of an opportunistic official heading The PDP stated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Spokesman of the forum, citizens, adding that "We are, Nigerians. a parasitic office, which had such demands are neither also berated the Buhari Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, said the undoubtedly, under a grossly Buhari, represented by the no place in a true federal state, synonymous nor contiguous administration for saying that position of the ACF was that a blinkered leadership, sadly, to Executive Secretary of Revenue, talking down on the nation. to warfare. it would not yield to calls for referendum be conducted on the detriment of the security Mobilisation, Allocation and “State governments are "It is appalling, and to say restructuring or convocation whether the country should and welfare of citizens". Fiscal Commission, Alhaji demanding the powers to the least, despicable, that Mr. of a constitutional conference. remain one. According to the group, the Mohammed Shehu, at the establish state police to deal President and his party, the Reacting to the He said: “The president has RMAFC executive secretary launch of Kudirat Abiola Sabin with insecurity, and prominent APC, who came to power administration’s position that the constitutional right to hold could afford to voice the Gari, Zaria Peace Foundation traditional rulers, especially in 2015 on the promise of those calling for restructuring his views. Whether such views prattle remarks on behalf of on Saturday, had condemned emirs, have called on their restructuring, have not only are “mischievously dangerous,” are in line with the provision the president because he is the call for restructuring and people to rise in their own reneged, in utter duplicity Ohanaeze Ndigbo National of the constitution is another aware of their crooked agenda national dialogue, saying that defence, and some uninformed towards Nigerians, but also Publicity Secretary, Chief thing. to perpetuate the subjugation he could not hand over to government officials areturned around, six years after, Alex Chiedozie, said since the “We, at ACF, have considered and gross injustice against the unelected persons. threatening us with war if to label restructuring as warfare country is practising democracy, this issue of restructuring, and rest of the country. He described those agitating we seek restructuring or for restructuring as people, who self-determination. It is so are mischievously dangerous, nauseating, this rudderless and afraid to join partisan government.” politics. President of the Middle But Afenifere yesterday Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, said the restructuring being also described Buhari’s clamoured for by various administration as confused interest groups in the country, for claiming that restructuring would not be at the whims implied that he should hand and pleasure of Buhari’s over to a national conference. administration. “Otherwise, who told him Afenifere’s Secretary-General, that by restructuring he’s going Chief Sola Ebiseni, said the to hand over to a national call for restructuring of the conference? Restructuring has so country's political architecture many components; devolution was a popular one among all of power, having electoral knowledgeable personalities, system that is acceptable by elected governors and the all, ensuring that power is leaders of entrenched federating given to federating units rather ethnic nationalities. than having it centralised at Ebiseni said: "It is so the top,” he said.