₦airaland Forum

A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Sunny Onuesoke, has said the All Progressives Congress will collapse before the 2019 general elections.

Onuesoke dared the ruling party to conduct a national convention to elect new executives.

This was contained in a statement on Wednesday in his reaction to the call by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for the deregistration of the PDP.

Onuesoke said, “I am not surprised that such a call is coming from the now infamous Minister of Information, whose name is now synonymous with propaganda. The APC as a party is currently grasping for breath, the only thing keeping them going, is the single fact that they are still the unfortunate ruling party.

“I assure you that before the 2019 elections, the APC as a party, will collapse. This may come as a surprise to you but the signals are already there.

“There is no denying the fact that the ruling party is divided along different interests, coupled with the recent tenure elongation of the party’s executive committee, which in itself is a contravention of its own constitution.

“As a ruling party, the APC has failed on all fronts, not only as a government but as a party. The division within the ranks of the ruling party is glaring to all that is why the ruling party has failed to conduct even a non-elective convention since it was given birth to.

“I challenge them to conduct a national convention to elect new executives, if they will see the light of the day, I am telling you this now that the APC will crash like a pack of cards even before the 2019 general elections.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/apc-will-collapse-before-2019-election.html

In an unexpected twist, the National Assembly, yesterday, passed the harmonised version of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) and imposed a five per cent fuel levy on fuel sold to Nigerians across the country.

According to lawmakers, the five per cent would be used to finance the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), as established under the bill.

Section 36 (1) (a) of the bill reads that “there shall be established the Petroleum Equalisation Fund into which shall be paid all monies payable to the equalisation fund by way of a five percent fuel levy in respect of all fuel sold and distributed within the federation which shall be charged subject to the approval of the Minister (of Petroleum.)”

According to the bill, other sources of funding for the PEF would be through subventions, fees and charges for services rendered as well as net surplus revenues recovered from petroleum products marketing companies.

The PEF, according to the bill, “shall collect all revenues and levies charged; determine the net surplus revenue recoverable from any oil marketing company and accruing to that company from the sale by it of petroleum products at such uniform prices as may be fixed by the Minister; determine the amount of reimbursement due to any oil marketing company for purposes of equalisation of price of products among others.”

The Bill also provided for the governance and institutional framework for the petroleum industry.

The PIGB specifically gave nod to “unbundle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), provide for the establishment of Federal Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated, Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company and National Petroleum Company and Petroleum Equalisation Fund.”

The regulatory bill has unbundled the NNPC and created the National Petroleum Commission (NPC).

It has scrapped the Petroleum Inspectorate, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and established the Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which will take over the functions of the three agencies.

It has empowered the Commission “to administer and enforce policies, laws and regulations relating to all aspects of petroleum operation; monitor and enforce compliance with the terms and conditions of all leases, licences, permits and authorisations issued in respect of any petroleum operations; define and enforce approved standards for design, construction, fabrication, operation and maintenance for all plants, installations and facilities utilized or to be utilised in petroleum operations; establish, monitor, regulate and enforce health and safety measures relating to all aspects of petroleum operations; establish the framework for the validation and certification of national hydrocarbon reserves; advise the Minister on fiscal and other issues pertaining to the petroleum industry; undertake evaluation of national reserves and reservoir management studies.”

It has also empowered “the body to issue licences, permits or authorisations for downstream gas, petroleum products, storage depots, retail outlets, transportation and distribution facilities for the industry.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/national-assembly-imposes-5-fuel-levy.html

Nigerian Disc Jockey, Otedola Florence, popularly known as Dj Cuppy, who is one of the DJs that just became Pepsi ambassadors has taken to her Twitter handle to share a billboard image of herself and the other DJs, while she sends a message via the caption.

However, the message somehow raises brows as her choice of words suggest that she is referring to someone.

Recall that recently, Comedian Ushbebe in his show, The Chronicles of Ushbebe, threw shades at the DJ, when he called her ‘wack’.

The Otedola heiress who has proven to be a silent listener has responded to him. In her tweet, she wrote,

” Now my haters gotta stare at my “WACK” face in traffic ”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/comedian-ushbebe-stare-at-my-wack-face.html

The PDP has said its apology to Nigerians is a pathway to national healing, renewal of hope and re-mobilisation of the citizenry for the task of rescuing the nation from its current challenges.

The party, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, said it was deeply saddened that Nigerians were suffering, adding that the apology was to give the masses hope ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“It is imperative to further state that our apology has to do more with the fact that we made certain mistakes that allowed an anti-people movement to take over governance in our country.

“Our situation under the APC has become so pathetic that the world is now contemplating on how to help us. Under the APC misrule, the average life span of Nigerians has become abysmally low, purchasing power is eroded, the middle class has been wiped off, security is almost non-existent, all the economic gains of the PDP years have been destroyed, and our nation is now placed on auto-pilot.

‎”Therefore, our apology is to ask Nigerians, once again, to put their trust in the re-branded PDP, particularly, as our party is the only platform that is committed to the national agenda of peace, unity, justice and prosperous nation,” the PDP said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/dont-vote-buhari-out-martin-luther.html

Nigerian upcoming artiste, Olabisi Olatunbosun aka Bosslady has made a shocking revelation over her in ability to gain a record label for over ten years in the business.

Bosslady is angered by the recent clash between Runtown and his record label which has resulted in the label taking him to court for breach of contract.

The singer reveal that it is because of artiste like Runtown that makes it difficult for upcoming artiste to be signed under a record label, she went on to say that this hindrance has made her borrow money from LAPO just to shoot her videos.

“Even me I’ve been doing music for ten years now, no label I don find find tire, I don struggle with all my energy, I borrow loan from LAPO ,do my video ND still trying hard to get any helpful label/investor ND I know I’m not d only one. Na there one idiot see helper lift him career still no know am.” Bosslady said.

Bosslady is one artiste that is not afraid of calling out any artiste that she thinks is not going in the right track, she one called out Fuji star singer Pasuma’s manager to trying to forcefully bed her.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/i-borrow-money-from-microfinance-to.html

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Nigeria is now completely directionless, with the country permanently on a dangerous downward slide.

Wike stated this yesterday, when he administered oath of office on four judges of the state High Court and Customary Court of Appeal, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

He regretted the politicisation of governance, which he said has entrenched despair across the country.

The governor commended elder statesman, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), for saying the truth about the security architecture of the country.

He alleged that the state security has been deliberately compromised by security agencies, in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine security of lives and property.

Wike said the recent deliberate crisis and threat to violence by the APC on the setting up of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps underscores the devilish schemes to promote insecurity in Rivers.

He said: “Nigeria has got to a point that we don’t know where we are heading. I’m not used to fasting, but, I will fast for God to keep General Danjuma because he has said the truth. It is happening daily in Rivers State.

“We are setting up our Neighbourhood Safety Corps, but, they are generating crisis. We only replicated what is in existence in Lagos State, but nobody queries that of Lagos State. Only recently, Nasarawa State launched its outfit, without being challenged.”

He berated the APC-led Federal Government for abandoning the solemn duty of protection of life and property in pursuit of 2019 re-election.

Meanwhile, Wike urged the judges to uphold the rule of law and be fearless in their dispensation of justice.

He urged them not to allow themselves to be intimidated by agents of the political class, adding that if they fail in their responsibilities, they would be called to account by God.

Wike told the judges, including Godwin Ollor and Uche K-Chuku of the state High Court, and Legor Senewo and Frank Onyiri of the state Customary Court of Appeal, that they have the opportunity to make the state a better place by enthroning justice.

In another development, Wike, yesterday, flagged off the state Tax Management (RIVTAMIS), to enhance the ease of doing business and eliminate multiple taxation.

The governor also launched the issuance of the state Tax Identification Number (RIVTIN) and received the first RIVTIN card from the Executive Chairman of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr. Adoage Norteh.

Speaking at the flag off of RIVTAMIS and RIVTIN, Wike said the innovations were part of his administration’s commitment to entrench platforms for the ease of doing business.

He said the new tax reform packages would identify formal and informal businesses in the state, noting that the details will help the state government plan for development.

According to the governor, with the digital platforms, tax payments can be made from anywhere.

He said: “From April 1, 2018, all businesses are required to obtain their RIVTIN to pay taxes, levies and fines to the state government.

“All banks have been mobilised to generate RIVTIN for those who want to make payments to the state government. Any business that fails to comply by June 1, 2018, will be appropriately sanctioned.”

On his part, Norteh said the tax system has been sanitised to check multiple taxation.

He said the process would facilitate the tax payment process, enhance self-service and improve the revenue of the state.

“Right from the comfort of your office, you can obtain your tax clearance certificate and tax exemption,” he said.

The IRS chairman further said the tax payer has a duty to reciprocate the tax friendliness of the government.


http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/nigeria-has-no-direction-wike.html

Presidential candidate of Citizen’s Popular Party, CPP, in the 2015 general election and National chairman of Green Party of Nigeria, Chief Sam Eke has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to jettison its proposed amnesty to dreaded Boko Haram sect.

He described the sect’s members as pure terrorists who have no genuine demand.

Eke made the call in his Ikwuano residence in Abia State on Monday afternoon, while reacting to the federal government’s proposed amnesty to repentant Boko Haram sect.

He warned the federal government against taking such step and advised government to take more proactive measures in nipping the activities of the sect in the bud.

He said, “I don’t think Boko Haram deserves any amnesty from the Federal government. Because they are not actually demanding for anything from the government. And if they are demanding for anything, to carry arms against the federal government is a clear indication that they are more than secessionists. And at the same time, insurgency has no room for negotiations”.

“So, I’m not in support of granting amnesty to terrorists. If the federal government goes on and grant Boko Haram members amnesty, that is to say that the credibility and the authority of the federal government would have been eroded in such a sense that anybody can carry arms against the government, and at the end of the day, after killing thousands of people and destroying properties worth billions of naira, in turn you now recognize them. It is uncalled for”, he added.

On the release of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls in Yobe state, the party chieftain said, “I am not convinced on the operation that led to the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

“I think with time, there will be explanation on why such thing happened. You know, behind any perfect plan, there must be loopholes.

“If you look at the way the schoolgirls came back, dressed neatly, with their bag well packaged as if they were returning from picnic”.

“There is more to that problem than meets the eye”, he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/former-presidential-candidate-sam-eke.html

The Taraba State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ben Ubeh, is dead.

Ubeh reportedly died after he was crushed by a truck transporting sugar along Jalingo-Yola Expressway.

Eye witnesses said the incident occurred in Zing community along the expressway in the morning hours of Sunday, March 25.

Also, a Taraba state government official, who asked not to be named, confirmed the incident saying “the state would release an official statement on the accident that claimed Ubeh’s life.”

Meanwhile, the owner of the truck is yet to be identified. Also, there was no plate number on the vehicle but an inscription of BT 0104 on its front side.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/breaking-truck-crushes-can-chairman-to.html

The Presidency has said it would continue looking back and referring to “colossal atrocities in the management and disbursement of public funds” experienced under the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

It said the thinking that Nigerians will forget such atrocities in a hurry is wishful.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande said these in a statement on Saturday.

Akande noted that Nigerians have not forgotten the “severe damage caused the economy by the rampant abuse of public trust and grand larceny”.

He said,“Those who are asking our people to simply forget the blatant violation of public trust and the pillaging of the nation’s commonwealth witnessed in the past are saying wittingly or otherwise that we should forget where the shoe actually pinched and pretend as if the social raping of the nation never occurred.

“How can we do that? We have a situation where a former First Lady came out openly to claim over $ 171m found in her accounts and you think Nigerians will simply overlook that.

“You have a situation where hundreds of billions have been recovered including the discovery of $ 43 m cash in an apartment in Ikoyi, and you think Nigerians will simply forget that?”

The Presidential aide added that pending corruption cases arising from the conduct of the past administration would be treated by special courts for the speedy trial.

“We have a number of lawyers, senior lawyers, people with solid reputations who have volunteered to assist in prosecuting the cases and soon the prosecuting agencies will be assigning specific cases to them”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/we-will-not-stop-talking-about.html