Thursday 24th August 2017

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Govs to Meet Buhari Tomorrow over Final Tranche of Paris Club Refund Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow meet with governors of the 36 states of the federation at the Presidential Villa to discuss the last tranche of the Paris and London Club refunds.

THISDAY learnt last night that the meeting, which is at the instance of the governors, is aimed at seeking the president’s approval for the final release of N200 billion Paris Club refund. THISDAY further learnt that the governors want to

use the meeting to appeal to Buhari on the need to release the last tranche of the refunds to enable them to meet their obligations. “The governors are hoping the president will authorise the final release of the Paris Club refunds, which is about N200

billion so that they can fulfil their obligations to workers and pensioners and pay other bills in their states,” a source, who preferred not to be named, said. According to him, when the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF)

and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, led a delegation of seven governors to London to visit the president, he had thanked them for “holding Nigeria together in his absence”. He said the governors want to capitalise on the good

relationship with the president to seek his approval for the last release of the refunds. Buhari had approved the payment of the first tranche of N522 billion on December 16 last year. Continued on page 8

Six Killed in Suicide Attack in Maiduguri, Adamawa Community Sacked… Page 10 Thursday 24 August, 2017 Vol 22. No 8162. Price: N250

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Discos Remain Weakest Link, Reject 9,310MW of Electricity in Eight Days… Page 6

Southern Leaders Kick Against Buhari’s Broadcast, Insist on Restructuring Say discussion with Ojukwu should not foreclose fine-tuning of nation’s architecture Sultan calls for conference of ethnic nationalities, respectful dialogue Presidency cautions critics of president’s speech Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Shola Oyeyipo in Lagos with agency report Southern leaders drawn from the south-west, south-east and south-south geopolitical zones

have collectively expressed their strong opposition to the position taken by President Muhammadu Buhari in his national broadcast on Monday. Continued on page 6

President Cancels Cabinet Meeting, Receives Report on Suspended SGF, NIA DG Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti What would have been the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) since President Muhammadu Buhari’s return to the country from the United Kingdom, was cancelled yesterday with no reason given for the cancellation. Instead, the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, explained that Buhari would only receive the report of the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo-led committee set up to investigate the

suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke. The cancellation further heightened speculations about the president’s health and stamina to preside over meetings. Yesterday’s meeting of the cabinet was the fourth that had been cancelled this year ostensibly because of the president’s health. Continued on page 8

DECISION ON OKE AND LAWAL IS NIGH…

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami; National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.); and the president’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari, when the president received the report of the probe panel he set up to investigate the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Babachir Lawal, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ayo Oke, in Abuja… yesterday


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