Finally, Sanusi Sues Jonathan Over ‘Illegal’ Suspension

By SaharaReporters, New York
Ousted Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has finally concretised his threat to sue President Goodluck Jonathan over his removal as head of the bank last week.

According to a suit filed at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja late on Monday, Sanusi is challenging his suspension from office; and he has implored the court to, among others, restrain the president — alongside Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) — from giving effect to his suspension, pending the determination of his lawsuit.

He is also seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him in any manner, from performing the functions of his office and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the governor of the CBN.

Presidency under fire for cooking up document linking Sanusi to Boko Haram insurgency

Reno Omokiri

Reno Omokiri, a close aide of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, is wound up in a massive scandal after the digital footprint of a slanderous write-up against the recently suspended governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido, was traced to his computer.
Mr. Omokri, Special Assistant to the President on New Media, is believed to have used a pseudonym, Wendell Simlin, to circulate an article that tried to link the recent spike in Boko Haram attack to the suspension of the CBN governor, Lamido Sanusi.

Governors attack Jonathan over Sanusi’s suspension, demand accountability on missing $20 billion (Official Communique)

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, on Tuesday lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan for suspending Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido, weeks after he blew the whistle on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for allegedly diverting not less than $20billion of the country’s oil revenues.
The apparently angry governors said at the end of their meeting in Abuja, which ended in the early hours of Tuesday, that the president’s action was meant to divert attention from the ongoing national discourse on the missing millions.
They faulted Mr. Jonathan for the action, saying he lacked the power to unilaterally send the CBN governor on suspension.
The President had insisted during a televised media chat on Monday that he had oversight powers over the CBN and therefore had absolute power to suspend Mr. Sanusi.
But the governors disagreed, saying the President’s action was a clear breach of the CBN Act 2007, which demands the president to consult the Nigerian senate before activating any process that might lead to the removal of the bank’s governor.

EXCLUSIVE: Revealed: Jonathan’s Second Query to CBN Governor, Sanusi

PREMIUM TIMES has now obtained a copy of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second query to suspended Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi. The query was the communication from the presidency to the CBN governor alleging financial recklessness in the operations of the bank.

The query arose after Mr. Sanusi forwarded a copy of the CBN’s 2012 audited financial statements to the President on February 26, 2013.

The document was forwarded to Mr. Jonathan, alongside a covering letter referenced: FND/DIR/SEC/ACC/04/001.

Barely three months after the receipt of the letter, the President issued a 22-point query to Mr. Sanusi and demanded immediate response.

A copy of the query which was exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES is dated May 4, 2013 and signed by the President.

In the letter, Mr. Jonathan noted that following the examination of the financial statements of the CBN as contained in the 2012 audited report, some issues were thrown up which required clarification.

“To this end,” Mr. Jonathan wrote, “I request that you avail me of detailed explication with respect to the under listed issues, providing, where available, relevant confirmatory letters and or board approvals.”

INVESTIGATION: Nigeria’s Accountant-General, NAICOM in alleged record-breaking N3.54 billion scandal

It appears a new kind of fraud in Nigeria. A contract was duly awarded by government to some private firms.
But when it was time to make payment for job done, the N3.538billion contract sum was diverted to an entirely different set of companies.
The companies which received payment did not bid for the jobs, were not awarded the contract and are not known to have offered any service.
The firms which offered service but have now been deprived their legitimate earnings are now crying foul.
They are accusing the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGF, of masterminding what appears an unprecedented fraud — diverting the insurance premium due to them (42 insurance companies) to other entities.
Already, a legal firm representing the affected insurance firms, Alade Agbabiaka & Co., has petitioned the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Attorney-General/Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, seeking their intervention in the matter.

Lecturers in Nigeria’s Colleges of Education vow to continue strike as meeting with FG deadlocks

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, on Tuesday in Lagos said its discussion with the Federal Government concerning its ongoing strike ended in a deadlock.
The COEASU Chairman, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Olayanju Abolaji, said the strike will continue until the union’s demands were met.
Mr. Abolaji said COEASU’s National Executive Council met with the Federal Government representatives, led by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, on Thursday, February 20.
He said the union did not reach an agreement with the Federal Government team because government’s offer to the striking workers was not appreciable.
“COEASU is not ready to take empty promises. The Federal Government must be committed to implementing our demands to an appreciable level before we can call off the strike.
“We are ready to call off the strike, even if it is necessary today, but that is if there is a commitment on the part of the Federal Government,” Mr. Abolaji said.
He said the union will not relent in its struggle to improve the standard of the Colleges of Education.
Mr. Abolaji said government is yet to give the cash backing needed to cater for the needs of the Colleges of Education as reported to it by the Needs Assessment Committee.
“The Needs Assessment Committee set up by the Federal Government has visited the colleges, collated their needs and sent the cost implication to the government.
“But we are yet to receive the cash backing to that effect,” he said.
COEASU had on December 31, 2013 declared an indefinite nationwide strike to press home demands for better funding.
It had complained about the poor state of infrastructure in the colleges, as well as poor funding.
The union also rejected the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, already operational in the Federal Civil Service and the non-implementation of the 2010 Federal
Government-COEASU agreement.

My story, by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

In the beginning
As at the time I came into office, several things had collapsed. From banks to stock exchange, they had crashed. Inflation was at 15.6percent three months before I became Central Bank Governor; there was already instability in every sector of the economy. When I look back, I thank God for the people who supported us and criticized us as well because criticism has made us stronger. Also, when I look back, I can point to several things that have changed after our arrival and till date.

Prologue… The Sanusi Saga: Without the benefit of wisdom

In the last 72 hours since his suspension as Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,  he has been speaking to friends, his lawyers, close family members as well as journalists both in the print and electronic media but nothing has been able to capture the essence of his outrage and disgust at the turn of events.
Here, painstakingly, Sunday Vanguard brings you a near-comprehensive response by Sanusi Lamido, the man who holds the traditional title of Dan Majen Kano – mind you, the title places him on the 17th rung on the hierarchical ladder in Kano Emirate (reports have it that the title dates back to the 16th Century (1509), “when the then Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Kisoki, appointed the first Dan Maje, that is, Dan Maje Ummaru.”

Boko Haram: Survivors’ tales of 14 days of hell in Borno

For 14 days beginning from February 11, the people of Borno, particularly those residing around the bushy Sambisa Forest, have seen what could be described as ‘hell on earth’ following deadly attacks, bombings, killings and destruction of property. No  fewer than 500 people were reportedly killed, 15,000 residents displaced/sacked, 200 still missing,  while property worth billions of Naira including houses, shops and vehicles were  destroyed all in the name of insurgency.

In fact, one would wonder where security operatives were when suspected Boko Haram insurgents struck. Before February 11,  the sect members stormed  Kawuri District of Konduga Local Government Area and killed over 50 people while sacking  the community. The insurgents  also invaded the villages of Wala, Warabe, Ngoshe, Alau, Ngurosoye, Kaleri, Gulumba, Ashgashiya, Mude, Waga, Chakawa, Limanti, Kwaljiri, Kaka, Ngawo Fate among others engaging in killing spree.

Sanusi’s Suspension Illegal – Ado Bayero

Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero yesterday described the federal government’s suspension of former CBN governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as illegal and a witch-hunt.

The Presidency on Thursday suspended Sanusi from office for alleged misconduct.

Asking the federal government to reverse the action in the interest of equity and fairness, Alhaji Bayero wondered why a public servant who had done the country proud should be humiliated by the government for standing for the truth.

The World Reacts to Sunusi's Suspension

This was a shock decision that caused the naira to fall more than 1 percent against the dollar.

Sanusi, who was due to end his term in June, had been an increasingly outspoken critic of Jonathan's government and its record on tackling endemic corruption in Africa's biggest oil producer.

Following are analysts' reactions:  
.

BREAKING: President Jonathan appoints Zenith Bank chief as new CBN governor

President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Godwin Emefiele, who is the managing director of Zenith Bank, as the new governor of Central Bank.

Mr. Jonathan submitted Mr. Emefiele’s name to the Senate for confirmation Thursday hours after he announced the suspension of Sanusi Lamido as the CBN governor.

The CBN’s deputy governor, Sarah Alade, was named early Thursday as acting governor of the bank.

President Jonathan Suspends CBN Governor Sanusi

By SaharaReporters, New York
President Goodluck Jonathan today ordered the suspension of Nigeria's Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, weeks after the CBN Governor exposed the theft of at least $20 billion by officials of  Nigerian petroleum ministry.

 A press release issued by the spokesperson to the President, Reuben Abati explained that the CBN governor was suspended because of reports by the Financial Reporting Council claiming the CBN governor had engaged in "financial recklessness and misconduct". The release did not specifically name any particular financial crime but goes ahead to announce a replacement for Mr. Sanusi.

SaharaReporters could not reach the CBN governor who is currently traveling in Niger for his reaction by an aide who spoke on his behalf said he was not aware of his suspension as the President did not communicate his intention to suspend him to the governor.

N1 Trillion Spent Illegally on Kerosene Subsidy –Tambuwal

Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the House of Representatives, has said that available records indicated that the Federal Government spent over N1 trillion on kerosene subsidy between 2010 and 2013.

Tambuwal said in spite of the expenditure not having the approval of the National Assembly, the product was not available   for “suffering Nigerians” to buy.

He also noted that the product was not sold in any part of the country at the subsidised price of N50 per litre.

Tambuwal who was represented by Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, his deputy spoke in Abuja as the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) opened an investigation into subsidy payments on kerosene between 2010 and 2013.

Missing $20 billion: National Assembly, Okonjo-Iweala lack powers to probe NNPC- Falana

Mr. Falana said the practice of usurping the statutory powers of law enforcement agencies to carry out investigation by the National Assembly should stop
Senior lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, has accused the National Assembly and finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of conducting a diversionary investigation into the alleged non-remittance of $20 billion oil money.
Mr. Falana said by law, the legislature and the finance minister lack the powers to examine the financial records of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, accused of diverting the money.
The lawyer said following the allegation by Central Bank governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, it was the responsibility of the Auditor General of the Federation, to carry out investigations and make its reports known to the National Assembly.

Scores killed in fresh Boko Haram attack in Borno

A village called Izge was attacked
At least 63 people have been killed in a village called Izge in Gwoza Local government of Borno State after gunmen believed to be Boko Haram attacked residents on Saturday night, the police and witnesses said.
The attack came three days after gunmen attacked the same village and killed nine soldiers in a broad day shootout.
Boko Haram had carried out another attack on villagers in Doron-Baga in Kukawa local government area on the same night even though details of the incident is yet to be made public.
A top security personnel confirmed authoritatively that the casualty figure in Izge “was over 50”, even though he said he could not give casualty details on that of Doron-Baga.
Borno state police commissioner, Lawan Tanko, who also confirmed the incident said he had no details yet, but promised the information once he got details from his District Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Gwoza.
Hassan Ali, a resident of Izge told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen who attacked their village wore military fatigues.

NNPC returns N7.61bn to Federation Account

AS the crisis generated by the alleged missing $20 billion heightens between the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NNPC has returned N7.16 billion to the federation account.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, who presided over the  February meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), following the exit of Minister of State for Finance, Dr Lawan Yerima Ngama, from the  cabinet, said the  N7.61 billion was part of the  debt owed the federation by the NNPC.

He said the returned debt was part of the N629.12 billion shared among the three tiers of government as allocations for January.

According to  Mr Otunla, the shared amount represented proceeds from statutory allocation, N503.68 billion; value added tax, N82.27 billion; Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, N35.54 billion and the NNPC refund of N7.61 billion

Presidential directives not law, can be disregarded – Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday said presidential directives do not have the force of law and can, therefore, be disregarded.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke said this during the ongoing Senate investigative hearing on the alleged missing $20 billion from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
The Ahmed Makarfi-led Senate Committee on Finance has been quizzing petroleum ministry and Central Bank of Nigeria officials over the missing funds.
Confidential memos exclusively published by PREMIUM TIMES showed that NNPC’s claims that it spent over 80 per cent of a controversial $10.8billion (about N1.728trillion) on kerosene subsidy may have been a scam after all.
The memos also showed that the purported subsidy on kerosene was against an extant presidential directive to remove subsidy on kerosene from the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, template.
On June 10, 2009, late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, had approved the resolutions of the Presidential Committee on the Deregulation of the Downstream Petroleum sub-sector.
The memo to the President, No. SH/PSP/24/A/812, had, among several prayers, requested the petroleum minister be directed to “eliminate existing subsidy on the consumption of kerosene, taking into account that subsidy payments by government on kerosene do not reach the intended beneficiaries.”
On June 2009, a memo No. SH/PSP/24/A/819, signed by the then Principal Secretary to the President, David Edevbie, conveyed the president’s directive to the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
The memo also directed the minister to avoid public announcement of the new directive.
But in spite of the presidential directive, the NNPC, apparently feigning ignorance, still submitted a request for the payment of subsidy on kerosene.

Olisah Metuh and the fake 28 million APC members -Tahir Ibrahim Tahir

We have seen images like the Olu of Oyo registering as an APC member no matter how partisan that is for a sitting king or chief, we also witnessed images of long queues of supporters of the opposition party, registering en masse in Bayelsa State; presumably a stronghold state for the PDP. My poser here is, how phantom are these images? Olisa Metuh, The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP claims that there exists a phantom 28 million registering supporters of the APC and that the chest thumping by the large opposition party is a hoax and fraud. The traditionally viral statements issued by the PDP and it’s officials are increasingly becoming less poignant, as the PDP continues to lose its clout, size and confidence, shrinking to a smaller ruling party, resulting from a sandwich of internal crises and dismal public outings of it’s governments.

Understandably, PDP will lash out, wail and protest, befittingly taking up it’s place as the number 2 party in Nigeria; incessantly and serially decrying one thing after the other, in the process updating us of it’s travails, piling up in the wake of the stronger opposition party’s exploits. From the drama over the APC acronym, to the recent spurious allegations of connivance with INEC in using INEC structures for the APC membership registration, PDP has learnt to busily bark at everything that the opposition party does or achieves, be it legal or not, prudent or otherwise.

At last, Jonathan sacks aviation minister, Oduah, three others

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday finally sacked the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

Others affected were Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs); Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta); and Yerima Ngama (State, Finance).

“They were dropped, they did not resign,” a cabinet source told our correspondent.

Oduah’s approval for the purchase of two bullet-proof cars for N255m caused public outrage in the country with many Nigerians calling for her removal and prosecution.

Why President Jonathan Forced Out His Chief Of Staff

By SaharaReporters, New York
SaharaReporters has gathered that a huge dossier prepared on the activities of the erstwhile Chief of Staff of President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he fired today, revealed an extensive corruption profile.

But the former Deputy Governor of Edo State is unlikely to be asked to answer to any of them because Mr. Jonathan does not want to open a Pandora’s Box involving persons at the highest levels of his administration, analysts have told SaharaReporters.

Mr. Oghiadomhe’s bag of tricks includes Kerosene subsidy fraud at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the magnitude of millions of dollars with a controversial businessman, Jide Omokore, owner of oil companies Atlantic Energy Limited and Seven Energy.

Both companies are at the center of the $6 billion fraud cited by the Governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in his recent revelation to the Nigeria Senate that the NNPC has not been able to account for $20 billion of the $67 billion worth of oil it lifted between 2012 and 2013.

Defection: My hands are tied, says Mark

Senate President David Mark on Wednesday refused to formalise the defection of the 11 aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party senators to the All Progressive Congress, on the floor of the upper chamber.

Our correspondent also learnt that the third meeting he scheduled with the aggrieved legislators in his residence on Tuesday night, ended inconclusively.

The senate for the second time in two days held its plenary on Wednesday behind closed-door because of the anticipated tension that an open debate on the defection could generate.

The two-hour stormy session ended without any of the aggrieved senators talking to journalists

Clamour for northern president rubbish —Shekarau

A former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, on Thursday, faulted the clamour by some stakeholders for the emergence of a President of Northern extraction in 2015. He described the call as rubbish.

He also argued that the recent defection of the state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress would not affect the ruling party negatively.

Shekarau, who recently defected to the PDP, spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting with Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he had always kicked against the idea of localising the Presidency to a particular region.

Lamido Sanusi Opens Up: How NNPC is Robbing Nigeria Blind

Long before his shocking letter to President Goodluck Jonathan exposing massive diversion of government oil revenues became public December 2013, Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said he did what many have accused him of failing to do: acting early as the losses escalated.
Accompanied by all of CBN’s deputy governors sometime in 2010, he said he drove to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to ask for an answer to a simple math: why Nigeria’s reserves had failed to rise in the face of unprecedented high oil prices internationally.
Mr. Sanusi said NNPC official lectured his team that the trouble arose because much of Nigeria’s oil production came from deep offshore wells; and that the Sani Abacha government had scandalously agreed with oil companies to peg such oil earnings at $10 dollar per barrel — the prevailing price at the time. The arrangement was fixed to run for 30 years.
Download Mr. Sanusi’s full memo to the Senate Committee on Finance here.
Officials of the corporation explained that only the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the voluminous government-sponsored oil sector reform legislation, could reverse that agreement, according to the governor.
But while he obtained a legal opinion from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, debunking that claim and demonstrating the contract can be re-negotiated without the PIB, Mr. Sanusi said he and his colleagues however shifted focus to other possible avenues of revenue leakages.
In the years that followed, they established how government fuel subsidy had been massively abused, and how the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, had sustained a notorious racketeering in the administration of the government’s oil swap deals- an arrangement in which Nigeria gives out crude oil to foreign companies in exchange for refined product.

Controversial Rivers Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu, others redeployed

Mr. Mbu is accused of partisanship in the Rivers crisis
The police headquarters on Thursday confirmed the redeployment of controversial Rivers State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu.
Mr. Mbu, who was redeployed to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, would be replaced by Tunde Ogunsakin, formerly of the Special Fraud Unit.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in a statement, confirmed that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, ordered the redeployment of Mr. Mbu, 23 other CPs and 13 Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Mr. Abubakar stated that the posting was part of strategic efforts to reposition the Force for improved and efficient service delivery. He enjoined all the redeployed police chiefs to step up the fight against all forms of criminality across the country and to ensure sustained improvement of public safety. He also appealed to Nigerians to support the new police commissioners to enable them succeed in the discharge of their constitutional and statutory mandate.

SSS Releases Asari Dokubo

Dokubo was arrested Thursday morning by SSS
The President of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has been released by the Department of State Security Services, SSS.
He was invited to the SSS headquarters on Thursday morning for repeatedly making inciting comments.
His personal assistant (Media), Rex Asari, confirmed the release to PREMIUM TIMES.
“Yes, he was released. We are heading home now,” Mr. Asari said.
Mr. Dokubo-Asari was quoted in several media reports on Tuesday as saying that he would make Nigeria ungovernable if President Goodluck Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015. He also asked the major political parties not to field non- South South candidates.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, and an Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, had asked the SSS to arrest and question Mr. Dokubo-Asari over the statements.
Read MURIC’s full statement calling for Mr. Dokubo-Asari’s arrest below.

Exclusive:SSS Summons Asari Dokubo (Honours Invitation Today)

Controversial ex militant leader and Ijaw Nation independence advocate ,Asari Dokubo will be the guest of the SSS today. Asari was yesterday summoned by SSS for reasons yet unknown.  He is expected to be at the headquarters of the agency at 10.00am today. This was exclusively disclosed by Asari to CKN Nigeria in a chat in Abuja last night. Asari has of late made some categorical statements which some people have felt is inciting. He was quoted in recent interviews that Nigeria will burn if President Goodluck Jonathan is not returned in 2015.Many have also accused the Security agents of double standard after APC chieftain Mallam Nasir El Rufai was invited by the SSS few weeks ago over some statements which agency found to be inciting.

EXCLUSIVE: Presidency pressures Senate to halt probe of missing N8 trillion oil funds

The Nigerian Senate has come under intense pressure from the presidency, the petroleum ministry and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] to abandon a planned investigation into the disappearance of a staggering $48.9 billion (about N8 trillion) crude oil money, senators have told PREMIUM TIMES.
A Senate investigative hearing into the scandal, regarded as one of Nigeria’s biggest fraud, billed to commence Thursday, was rescheduled for next Tuesday.
Senators told PREMIUM TIMES the move was part of efforts by the upper chamber of parliament to deflect a growing pressure from multiple government offices, including the presidency, demanding that the probe be suspended.
Lawmakers said the government fears its defiant Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, whose leaked letter to President Goodluck Jonathan first exposed the huge fraud, might provide even far more damaging details at a public hearing.

Atiku: Why I Dumped PDP (Full statement)

Press Statement by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Turaki Adamawa and former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria on his Resignation from the PDP and his Joining the APC.

In 2006, as a result of my firm stand in defence of our constitution and our democracy, my supporters and I were pushed out of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, a party that we worked tirelessly with other compatriots to build as a vehicle to restore democracy to our country.

We later returned to that party in 2009 when a new leadership of the party and the country promised a new direction, a direction of inclusiveness, of internal democracy, of an end to impunity, adherence to the rule of law and respect for the dignity of members and Nigerians.

Sadly, however, those promises have not been kept. In addition, the PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced crises. It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of the founders have been rebuffed. To demonstrate the seriousness of the challenges and bring public attention to it I and some other leaders and stakeholders staged a walkout during the party’s last convention in Abuja.