Kwara PDP Governorship Candidate, Rasaq Atunwa Accused Of Forging NYSC Certificate

 

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State for the scheduled 2019 general elections, Razak Atunwa, has been accused of forging his NYSC certificate.

Atunwa is alleged to be carrying a forged discharge certificate of the National Youth Service Corps, after failing to participate in Nigeria’s compulsory national youth service scheme.

It is important to note that the NYSC law requires every Nigerian who graduated from university or polytechnic to participate in the national youth scheme for one year after graduation, provided the person finished before age 30.

Failure to serve would prohibit such individual from gainful employment in Nigeria, and making false claims about serving could attract up to 14 years in jail.

Also, anyone who graduated before 30 but deliberately declined to serve has committed a crime that could attract 12-month imprisonment, even if the person did not forge NYSC documents.

Only a person who obtained a degree after 30 or served in the military or won national honours medal would qualify for exemption certificate under the NYSC law.

Mr Atunwa, born on October 17, 1969, is said to have studied law at the University of East London, graduating in 1992 at age 23. Having earned a bachelor’s degree at 23, Mr Atunwa, going by Section 2 of the NYSC Act, should have participated in the year-long national service.

But rather than present himself for national service, Mr. Atunwa according to Premium Times report, stayed back in the United Kingdom, returning only in 2005 to join the cabinet of then Governor Bukola Saraki in Kwara State at the age of 36.

Between 2005 and 2010, he held various political offices and was commissioner in Kwara State at four different ministries, including Land and Housing, Works and Transport, Information and Home Affairs and Finance.

The investigative report by Premium Times however, failed to reveal whether or not Mr Atunwa presented any NYSC document to authorities since 2005 when he was first appointed commissioner, 2011 when he became speaker and 2015 when he became member of the House of Representatives.

But to secure the PDP governorship ticket on October 1, the report alleged he submitted a fake NYSC discharge certificate and accompanied it with an affidavit, indicating he lied on oath, an offence that attracts up to 14 years in jail.

He is said to have indicated in the nomination document he submitted at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja that he partook in the youth service scheme between 1995 and 1996.

The lawmaker, then accompanied it with a notarised affidavit sworn at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on September 10. The document was attached to his PDP expression of interest form.

He signed the document despite a clause indicating he remained automatically disqualified as candidate if any statement or information he provided is found to be false, inaccurate, or mislead the party or its agents from making proper assessment of his competence to contest the governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It remains to be seen if the PDP will as a result of this revelation, drop his candidature as Governorship elections are scheduled to hold February 2019.

Evidences Pointing To Mr. Atunwa’s Fake Certificate

Walter Oki (brigadier general at the time). But Mr Oki was only made NYSC director-general in 2002.

In 1996, Soyemi Sofoluwe (brigadier general) was director-general of the corps and signed all discharge and exemption certificates during the period. He was succeeded by S.M. Dule (brigadier general), who served as director-general between 1996 and 2000.

A further crosscheck on the authenticity of Mr Atunwa’s ‘certificate’, made it to be compared with original ones that bore the basics of the document, especially those from foreign university graduates.

It was discovered according to the report that Mr. Atunwa’s certificate, rather than bear FRN or FORN (code for foreign graduates) has KWP (a code reserved for graduates of Kwara State Polytechnic) as identification mark. But the politician did not graduate from Kwara Polytechnic.

He claimed he attended the University of East London for the first degree and the University of London for his master’s.

Commenting on the allegations, Liborous Oshoma, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, said:

“This is the most audacious forgery since PREMIUM TIMES began investigation into NYSC claims of senior government officials and politicians generally,” 

“Based on Section 13 (c) of the NYSC Act, even being in possession of a forged NYSC certificate is already a crime,” Mr Oshoma said. “And then we now have an affidavit that he swore to and walked himself into perjury, another criminal offence.”

“You could say Kemi Adeosun did not know some people gave her fake document, and Mr Shittu was being exuberant, but this particular case is very troubling,” the lawyer said. “He knew of those recent cases and still went on to do it.

“This is amongst the consequences of the president’s failure to act on time or act at all on the already uncovered cases. Since the former finance minister was able to escape from the country without prosecution and the communications minister remains in office despite being found not to be qualified for the job, this man could easily dismiss any legal ramifications of his action,” he added.

“Since it has now come to the fore that if you graduated before 30, either from a Nigerian university or abroad, you know you do not qualify for exemption and you must serve and if you forge your document you would be exposed, I would have expected that all those who schooled abroad would start investigating whether the NYSC document they were given was genuine or not. There is no hiding place anymore.”

Naija News Extrarecalls two prominent public office holders, Kemi Adeosun and Adebayo Shittu have also been recently involved in NYSC certificate scandal.

The scandal has forced Kemi Adeosun to resign from Buhari’s cabinet as finance minister while it prevented Shittu from contesting the APC governorship primaries in Oyo state.

Shittu, who is currently the communications minister, has already taken the matter to court and still retains his position within President Buhari’s cabinet.

Hon. Aminu IBrahim Malle, member representing Jalingo, Yorro, Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State.. may be screened out after group petitions him to EFCC and APC over constituency projects

Hon. Aminu IBrahim Malle, member representing Jalingo, Yorro, Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State.. may be screened out as a group called Taraba youth vanguard petitions the EFCC and APC over the state of constituency projects in the Federal Constituency. 

This petition may greatly affect Hon. Aminu as he faces the screening panel of the APC, political watchers have said this will be a stern test of the anti corruption mantra of the APC, and the need to field only those whose have a clean slate as not to make it easy for the opposition to pick holes in a chosen aspirant. 

This will be a test and the world is watching

SENATOR IYIOLA OMISORE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT MAN IN POLITICS RIGHT NOW..

Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Dr. J. K. Fayemi, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Alh Lai Mohammed

Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, incoming Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore & Olu Agunloye 

Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Ademola Adeleke & FFK

Senator Iyiola Omisore, Dr Bukola Saraki, Mr. Omisore 

Undoubtedly, the former deputy Governor of the state of Osun, in the person of Senator Iyiola Omisore is currently the over beautiful bride that everyone wants to align with and marry in Nigeria as we speak.

With the election in his state, where he has carried 3rd out of all the contestants numbering more than 40 declared inconclusive and with more of the places to determine the run off elections his enclave, he has become the most important personality right now in the scheme of things.

If no one has visited him in the last few days leading to the tomorrow given date for the run off (Thursday, September 27, 2018) to help them swing the votes, he has been visited by as high as many personalities as the current Senate President of Nigeria, Dr. Bukola Saraki of the PDP, the incoming Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, the Minister for Information, Tourism and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, Senators Abiola Ajimobi and Ibikunle Amosun of Oyo & Ogun respectively, APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with a few others all APC members.

We know for a fact that these several meetings were not to just discuss about buying beans or Garri, but they must have been high stakes negotiations where major agreements would have been struck to try to make things easy. As a fetching bride though, Senator Iyiola Omisore might not have gotten or laid hands on the ultimate price he was going after, but with the turn of events, he most definitely must be the luckiest Nigerian alive today as it were. For this is the opportunity of a lifetime for him to recover all that he must have invested into prosecuting his ambition to become the Governor of his state. But not just monetarily wise alone though, but just because he holds the upper hand in the negotiations, he would have also negotiated for far more things for his continuous relevance in the scheme of things too. Making sure to have a hand one way or the other in the next Government be it an APC one or the PDP one.

We would have loved to be in his shoes as it were. We are waiting with bated breath though to see the outcome of all of these clandestine moves and alignments come tomorrow as the run off would take place in 7 polling units in 4 LGAs namely Oshogbo, Orolu, Ife North and Ife South, where less than 4000 votes would determine who would become the next Governor of the state of Osun for the next 4 years.

We particularly are interested in the outcome of the election so as to weigh some of the prophesies spoken before vis a vis the final outcome of the election.

JUST 2 DAYS TO THE APC GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARIES, WHAT IS GOVERNOR AKINWUNMI AMBODE UP TO????

The Governorship primaries of the APC is surefootedly upcoming on Sunday September 30, 2018. After the near disaster in Osun State, where the PDP and her candidate caused a major stir and nearly carried the day, nearly upsetting the apple cart as it were, but thanks to the run-off which totally changed things, after that victory snatched from death, all the focus is now on the Governorship Primaries across board and the main attention is now focused on Lagos.

The reason for the particular focus on Lagos is not far-fetched. In an unprecedented manner, first of its kind in Lagos, the incumbent perceived to have done exemplarily well is not getting the full and rousing support of his own party to run for a 2nd term! So if things follow how it is been perceived to go, Governor Ambode is surely not doing a 2nd term.

In Lagos the incumbent, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would be fighting a battle of survival, the most fierce battle of his life ever with 2 well grounded opponents who wants to take the baton off him and the 2 are none other than the formidable MD/CEO of the LSPDC, Hon. Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu and Obafemi Hamzat, 2 exceptional grassroots mobilisers.

Many had thought that someway, somehow the incumbent would have it all easy and get the flag to run for the APC a 2nd time for the 2nd term, but alas it isn't going to be and after much begging to change things and make things favourable, the other 2 have refused to step down, so it is still a straight battle between the 3.

According to our investigations it is going to be a fierce battle come the D-day, be it Saturday or Sunday. The Governor from all  indications has gotten a new form of injection and all of a sudden seem to have gotten his confidence (moho) back somewhat and from all indications, he is planning to spring a surprise on all, especially his other 2 opponents and their supporters and if care is not taken and the 2 are complacent or lackadaisical or over confident, they might not just know what would hit them until after everything has ended and then there's no going back again, but to present the winner of the primary as the flagbearer!

Already supports have risen up from many quarters, though not the usual that should normally support him and would have given him the assurance for the 2nd term. We know for a fact, that the Governor and his inner circle, which includes the cerebral Commissioner for Tourism, Steve Ayorinde, known to be a strategist would have put together some sort of foolproof plans, that would surprise all and sundry and pave the way for their man-Akinwunmi Ambode for a 2nd term.

Just 2 days to the Lagos Governorship Primary, the following is an unbiased assertion of a few of our findings though. There seem to be 2 very extreme divides of thoughts about the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. There are those on one side who seem to have a very strong, super strong at that dislike of him and it is with very very strong passion too and they just feel that he is all surface, but no substance, and those on this divide are very much, much of those who would normally vote. Why the Governor engenders such dislikes we do not know.

While on the other side, there are those strongly passionate about the Governor, his achievements and works till date, incidentally they are in the minority, not in very large numbers like those on the other side, but what they seemingly lack in numbers they seem to pack very well in strong passion, even to the near extreme and it's  like they have the resources for the battle, plenty of it, enough to play with that, if you understand what we mean!

As we speak we hear that lots of jostlings and arrangements are going on, and we have even heard that financial inducements of extraordinary proportion may also have been a good weapon that's been deployed. Though a particular 5 billion plus supposedly dispatched to some have gained some traction since yesterday those particularly named to have gotten that package, have vehemently denied such a thing ever happened. In fact they have denied in very strong terms at that, that such an inducement never happened!

This is actually that time of the season where those who are perceived to be influencial are smiling home gladly to the banks as their supports are being sort for.

So without the support of the Mandate Group and the Justice Forum, both of which are the 2 largest support groups in Lagos, and both of who are firmly behind Sanwoolu and Hamzat, can Ambode still do the impossible, by springing a monumental surprise???

PHOTO SPEAK-GOVERNOR ELECT OF OSUN VISITS ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Governors Akinwunmi Ambode, Rauf Aregbesola, Gov-elect Gboyega Oyetola, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu & former Defence Minister, Musiliu Obanikoro

Aregbesola, Oyetola & Asiwaju 

In unity we stand. The 3 Musketeers

A disaster that would have been of monumental proportion for the APC was averted in the State of Osun on Thursday, September 27, 2018.

Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of the PDP already had one hand on victory at the ELECTION, before it was snatched at the death, by the most meagre number of votes ever to determine a Governorship Election in Osun State and most probably in NIGERIA. He felt he was already coasting home, what this just tells everyone is that, it is never over until it is fully over. Anything can still happen at the dying seconds that can change the course of history!!!

The relief to the APC party as a whole, to the outgoing Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, soon to become a Senator and to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been palpable. That relief was quite obvious for all to see when the day after the run off was done & concluded, the current Governor, the Ogbeni himself was seen in public, jubilating in relief and singing a Yoruba thanksgiving song, poignant with meaning which we would interpret below.

🎶O ye ka dupe, O ye ka Dupe, Araa son⚡⛈️, atagun fe🌬️, iji ja🌪️, ko gbe wa loo, O ye ka Dupe!!!! 

Which translates to "We should be thankful (grateful & full of gratitude), O we should be thankful,, ,  there was the loud rumblings of thunder and the lighting struck, the wind blew immensely, in fact the tempest (whirlwind) raged somewhat incontrollably, but in it, we weren't carted away, we are so full of gratitude and thankful!!!

The song above revealed perfectly well, how the camp must have felt and that the camp was shaken and they felt it, so what a relief to turn back the apple cart to the path it was on before again!!!

Senator Adeleke and the PDP are still raging as it were and they have a right to, as what they had thought was a sure victory, a done deal was snatched and smashed from their hands and mouth.

We are still expecting fireworks at the tribunal and courts though, in fact to the Supreme Court all the way. So even if "Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola" is sworn in like he would and should, his 1st 2 years would see him facing and dogged with litigations. A major distraction no doubt.

What the Osun election has already signposted for any smart enough to see it and understand it, is that, it is now quite obvious that the opposition seem to have woken up kind of from their slumber and are ready to fight it out! What is sure now is, if they pick the right candidates and are willing to go all the way like they did do with this Osun election, they would surely cause some major upsets here and there. What that now says is that, what used to be very assured is no more safe!

In the pictures above, outgoing Governor of the state of Osun-Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is seen here presenting the Governor elect, Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola to the National Leader of the ruling party the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Those who understands innuendos and body language would have understood what this action was all about. One thing we would have expected though would have been a picture or pictures, where all the people above would also have included the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor elect of Ekiti, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Dr. Ganduje, in fact all those who made sure this victory was certain, all of them that went to see Senator Iyiola Omisore and convinced him, including the SDP chieftain himself. It would have shown gratitude and it would also have shown a united front!!!! 

Sulaiman BAKARI Keys into race for House of Representatives

A top Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC officer Sulaiman Bakari is certainly a huge contender and a force to beat as excitement greeted the large crowd that accompanied him to pick his nomination form to represent the people of Jalingo, Yorro, Zing federal constituency of Taraba State at the National Assembly in the 2019 general elections under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Bakari picked his nomination form in the early hours of Monday, 10th September, 2019  at the party's headquarters in Abuja.

This confirms the earlier reports that SB, as he is widely known, has been dissatisfied with the level of representation at his constituency could take the bull by the horn in throwing his heart into the race. The purchase of the nomination form comes on the heels of the call on the current representative not to bother contesting as he would find his support in the mud that would entrap him.

S.B who exudes in him the training and experience he has acquired over the years while working as a top EFCC detective said corruption must be nipped on the board if we must progress as a nation: "I am not coming for self-aggrandizement or other personal wishes, but to rescue Nigerians from the menace of corruption. Our education is backward because of corruption; we went into recession because of corruption; our youths are unemployed because of corruption and the list goes on and on". He added that his call to represent the people of Jalingo, Yorro, Zing was to move them out of the shackles of corruption, saying the constituents deserve their entitlements which is the dividends of democracy.

A staunch supporter of Sulaiman Bakari said "the time has come for us to redeem ourselves and our ideologies. We need to participate in the decision making process of our constituency. We have been relegated to the background by our current representative who dwells in satisfying self over everyone else in his constituency. We must break this chain and join the train of progress. We cannot vote someone who milks himself and his family alone. We are wiser. We will vote out the self centred representative".

SB has been an EFCC liaison officer at the National Assembly for several years where his job was found to be much more commendable. His presence at the National Assembly gave him the opportunity to represent the Commission in most functions and engaged in numerous management programmes. Most worthy of note is that while serving at the National Assembly, Sulaiman participated in some special projects in conjunction with the leadership of the national Assembly and shared some outstanding ideas.

Mr. Bakari has had the opportunity to attend so many professional courses both local and international. He was also privileged to be trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI, USA, as Fundamental Criminal investigative Analyst, April 2015, at West Africa Regional Training Centre, Accra Ghana. In his unbridled quest to acquire further knowledge, Mr. S.B  returned to his alma mater, that is, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 2012, where he obtained a Master's Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. He is currently running another 2-year Master's Degree Programme in Anti-Corruption Studies (MACS), with the only Anti-Corruption Academy in the world, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, Laxenburg, Austria.

According to him, "one man alone cannot fight corruption. It must be a collective drive. If we want to get ourselves back on track following the dreams of our heroes past, we must rid corruption from our society. The anti-corruption fight must be taken to the National Assembly. Once it gets there, we shall witness a better Nigeria".

Saraki Faults INEC Verdict on Osun Polls, Urges PDP Supporters to Remain Firm

President of the Senate and Chairman, People's Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Council on  Osun State Gubernatorial Election, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has faulted the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the election results were inconclusive.

Saraki, in a statement signed by him, expressed dismay over the decision by INEC to declare as "inconclusive" an election in which a candidate won the highest number of votes and fulfilled the condition for geographical spread.

"In my lay man's opinion, the INEC was wrong in declaring the election as inconclusive because the votes in certain polling units were cancelled. The decision of INEC to cancel the election in those areas after voting had taken place means INEC had already excluded the votes in these areas from the election process and therefore those units should have no place in the overall results. My opinion would have been different if the election in the affected units did not take place at all, may be as a result of malfunctioning of the card reader machine or unavailability of the electoral materials. Since the voting took place and was cancelled, only the courts could reverse the initial decision by INEC to cancel the votes in these areas.

"That is why I call on our party and its candidate to seek further legal interpretation on this decision by the electoral body. One cannot but wonder whether if the places were reversed and the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the one leading in the election, the INEC will take the same decision it has taken now.

"At this point, it is necessary to also call on INEC to display courage, boldness, independence, neutrality and patriotism so as to send signals to the world at large that Nigerian electoral system has come of age and that our democracy has matured. The electoral body needs to re-assure all and sundry that the 2019 election and other elections will be free of manipulations and undue interference.

"The INEC should note that the Osun gubernatorial election is not only about that South-western state. It is about our country and the entire world is watching. Our national interest is at stake. The integrity of our electoral system is at stake. The reputation of the electoral body is at stake. The future of our democracy is on the line. The way INEC conclusively handles the Osun election will determine global expectations from our political process. It should therefore ensure that the wish of the Osun State electorate eventually prevail.

"I praise the dedication and hard work of PDP supporters and the candidate of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke. They have remained steadfast, resilient, focused and determined. 

"Let me also commend all the other contestants in yesterday's election for their gallant efforts because it is clear they are all working for the same objective from different perspectives and platforms to ensure that the era of mis-governance, pain, injustice and insensitivity to the plight of the common people comes to an end. It is our hope that they will all co-operate with Senator Adeleke to ensure that Osun State witnesses a development-oriented era.

"Let me remind our party supporters and the good people of Osun State that this INEC decision constitute only a delay of the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke and the PDP in Osun Gubernatorial election, as our triumph will come either through the judiciary or  a further balloting.

"I thank PDP supporters and the general public in Osun State and note that we got to this point after many months of hard work, determination and focus. We should not despair and not lose our focus and determination to ensure that the final results reflect the will of the Osun people.

"Our party is ahead, despite the irregularities. Our people must remain resilient to see this through to the finish. Now is the time to re-strategize, reach out to all the other candidates and their supporters, build on our lead, and bring this election home.

"Our supporters and the entire people of Osun State should remain calm and maintain peace as we move forward to see the successful completion of the electoral process. "Once again, I thank all supporters of the PDP and the people of Osun State who stayed up all night, both physically and on social media to monitor the numbers and protect our votes. We remain undeterred, and we all remain determined to ensure that Senator Ademola Adeleke becomes the next Governor of Osun State", Saraki stated.

Signed

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON

President of the Senate and Chairman, PDP Presidential Council on Osun Gubernatorial Election