₦airaland Forum

take dat: Even the permanent secretary who threw a lavish wedding party for his daughter with some members of FEC in attendance, was only re-deployed to another ministry! Is that enough punishment to serve as deterrent to others? So-So talk, when we know the anti-graft agencies are toothless and gum-less Joker!

President Goodluck Jonathan is not yet done with heavy spending socialites in his cabinet orthe public service.

As a follow up to his recent removal of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr.AbdulAzeez Musa, for allegedly throwing a lavish wedding party for his daughter in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, President Jonathan has threatened to sack any minister or government official who holds an expensive or lavish party at home or abroad.

He said such ostentatious ministers must abideby the Code of Conduct for public officers or quit immediately.
He directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Bukar Goni Aji, to write to all permanent secretaries, directors and civil servants to stop such habit while security agencies, especially anti-graft commissions, were asked to keep a watch on ministers and public officers.

It was gathered that the President read the RiotAct to the Ministers at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday following security reports on the extravagant lifestyles of some ministers and public servants.

The security reports exposed how some ministers and officers had been ferrying guestsabroad for birthday, marriage, chieftaincy, house warming and funeral parties.

Choice countries for such expensive parties are Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, South Africa, Ghana, The Gambia and Ireland.
Some cabinet members were also alleged to have sprayed dollars at such parties.

A Presidency source familiar with the issue said: “The Ministers got more than they bargained for at the FEC meeting when the President spent some time to condemn ostentatious lifestyles of public officers.

“He said he could not understand why ministers and public officers would be throwinglavish parties at home and abroad in a country where people cannot afford three square meals.”

The source quoted the President as saying: “I will sack whoever is found to be indulging in this unnecessary and expensive partying at home or abroad from this cabinet. Enough is enough.

“Why will a public officer on salary be organising parties abroad with many guests flying there on his ticket? All public officers engaging in this habit will henceforth be shownthe way out. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation should write a directive to all permanent secretaries, directors and civil servants to abide by their Code of Conduct and Civil Service Rules and Regulations.”

Asked how the ministers reacted when the President read the riot act, the source added: “There was pin-drop silence at the Executive Chambers of the Presidential Villa. They all got the message.”

It was however baffling, even to the President and some ministers, that those who briefed thepress after the weekly FEC meeting “shielded the ban on partying away from the issues treated.

“None of the Ministers at the post-FEC briefing mentioned this important directive of the President,” the source noted.

It was learnt that the presidency has placed security agencies, especially anti-graft commissions, on the alert to watch out for suchextravagant public officers.

Another presidency source added: “Henceforth,all ministers and public officers will be under watch by anti-graft agencies in order to fish outthe bad ones.

“Certainly, there is no more hiding place for cabinet members.”
This is the second time FEC members would bewarned against reckless spending.

The late President Umaru Yar’Adua had, at a FEC meeting in 2009, taken exception to how a minister allegedly spent about N125 million on his 25th wedding anniversary.

Recently, Euromonitor International revealed that Nigerians spent $59 million on champagnealone in 2012.
According to Euromonitor International, “Nigeria is among the fastest-growing countries in the world for champagne consumption, spending an estimated $59 million in 2012 on bubbly.

“That number is up from $49 million in 2011, and the firm forecasts that the country will spend some $105 million on fizz in 2017.

“Analysts say oil wealth, hip-hop, movie stars and an elite obsessed with status symbols have driven demand.”

From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja
Reprieve seems to be on the way for the embattled Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was recently suspended by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC), as there are indications that he would soon be recalled.

Giving this indication yesterday, in Abuja, Akwa Ibom State governor and Chairman of thePDP Governors’ Forum, Obong Godswill Akpabio, at the end of the Professor Jerry Gana Special National Convention Committee meeting, said there are moves to recall Amaechi.

The PDP NWC, led by national Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had, on May 27, 2013 suspended Amaechi, while constituting an11-member disciplinary committee headed by Chief Joe Gadzama (SAN]), with Anicho Okoro as secretary, to look into the petition against the Rivers governor.

Former national publicity secretary of the party, Barrister Olisa Metuh, in a statement disclosed that Governor Amaechi was suspended “following his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State executive committee to rescind his decision on the dissolution of the elected executive council of Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.”
Speaking yesterday, Governor Akpabio revealed that PDP governors were making efforts to ensure that the Rivers State governorwas recalled.

The Party had on Monday rescinded its decision to suspend the Sokoto State governor, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, from the party.

Akpabio, who earlier stated that no decision was taken on Amaechi’s case because of the subsisting court action, revealed PDP governorswere working on an out-of-court settlement to facilitate soft-landing for the beleaguered Amaechi.

He said; “The reconciliation among the governors is already ongoing. If you noticed yesterday, (Thursday) we have almost all the governors of the PDP there. You saw almost every governor was there, even the recently recalled governor of Sokoto State attended the meeting. So, almost all the PDP governors were there. If there was any PDP governor that wasn’t there yesterday, he was probably on official duty for the Federal Government, and for the nation, because I know that the governor of Benue State, Mr. Suswam is a member of the NIPP Committee, running around, looking for investors in the power sector and I think they travelled to Hong Kong. So, he wasn’t there and I think his deputy was there too.

“So, you can see that peace is gradually returning to the fold of the entire PDP and I assure you that all issues will be resolved and because a journalist asked me the other day that, yes, you have recalled the governor of Sokoto State through the National Working Committee, what about the governor of Rivers State and I pointed out that the governor of Sokoto State didn’t go to court and that the other matters concerning my brother, the governor of Rivers State is in court and was therefore subjudice.

“But we are exploring all means to ensure out-of-court settlement and to bring back everybody to the fold. It is important to note that we are very determined in the PDPGF to bring back our brothers together.”
Governor Akpabio further told newsmen that aschairman of the PDPGF, he was determined to ensure genuine reconciliation, as division within its ranks was inimical to the party success at the coming general elections.

“The intention of our Forum isn’t to lose a single governor; instead, we want to increase in the number, because when I came in as a governor in 2007, we had almost 29 governors in the PDP, but through various court judgments and internal wrangling, the number depleted until we are now about 23. So, under this new Forum, we are very determined to increase the number and I can tell you we are lucky that we have elections coming up in November in Anambra State. We have two elections coming up in Osun and Ekiti states next year and the PDP is ready to work together, put its house in order and go out there and face the electorate and you know very well that outside internal wranglings, Nigerians believe in the PDP.”

Delta State governor, Dr. Emanuel Uduaghan also corroborated the stance of Governor Akpabio that certain governors worked round the clock to ensure reprieve for the Sokoto State governor.

“As PDPGF, between us, we are doing a lot of reconciliation; you would have noticed that even the coming back of Wamakko had a lot ofinput from us. We had to appeal to the leadership of the party that the suspension should be reversed and the party graciously agreed to that. So, whatever is left we are handling it at that level,” he stated.

Rivers State Governor and factional Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has accused the Commissioner of Police, River State Command Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu of leaking issues discussed at the State Security Council meetings to top officials ofthe Federal Government in Abuja.
This was just as the governor said that only undemocratic forces recognised Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang as the chairman of the NGF. He also pointed out that the turn-out at the meeting chaired by Jang last Monday was an indicationthat he did not win the election. Amaechi spoke Tuesday night at Government House, Port Harcourt when Prof Tam David-West led a delegation to pay him a solidarity visit.
He said that the action of Mbu forced the Security Council made up of service commanders of the Police, State Security Service, the Army, the Navy, the Air-force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to suspendits meetings indefinitely.
The governor said, “Prof, let me mention to you some of the challenges we are facing in Rivers State now. I will give you snippets of the letter I am trying to send to the President. Somebody at the topchanged our Commissioner of Police and brought a man that when we finish Security Council meeting, he goes to report who said what, and we are unable to hold any Security Council meeting anymore because of that.
“Prof, insecurity is threatening to come back, kidnapping is on the rise, and armed robbery is on the rise because they have hijacked the security of the state. The Commissioner of Police reports to them in Abuja directly. He doesn’t report to the governor, he has nothing to do with the government;he takes away security men from Commissioners and post security men to the Chairman of Port Harcourt Club. Port Harcourt Club is a social gathering, it is somewhere behind us here.”

House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal yesterday said a “formidable team” would take Nigeria “to the highest level” in 2015.
He, however, did not elaborate on who would make up the team, and declined comments on his rumoured Presidential ambition. He said he was more concerned about stabilising the House.
He addressed reporters in Lagos after delivering the Quarterly Business Lecture of theIsland Club. He spoke on the topic: The Legislature and the growth of our democracy.
During a question-and-answer session after his lecture, Tambuwal said: “The future is very bright for Nigeria and it will witness a very great and important development come 2015, to usher in a formidable team that will take Nigeria to the highest level.”
Asked whether he would run for the presidency,Tambuwal said: “I’m hearing about Presidentialambition from you for the first time. Let’s talk about something else. What I want to do for now is to stabilise the House of Representatives and ensure that we complete our tenure the way we have started. By the grace of God, we shall be remembered positively.”
On the leadership crises in his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Speaker said disagreements are part of democracy, andthat his membership was not under threat.
“I am a member of the PDP and my membership is not threatened. The crisis in PDP is part of democracy. It’s part of democratic evolution. When you have a big family like that, you are bound to have some disagreements, even between husband and wife and among family members you have arguments. And we’re addressing them gradually,” he said.
On the latest bloody return of the Boko Haram sect, with the killing on Monday of seven students and two teachers in Damaturu, Yobe State despite the State of Emergency, Tambuwal said the security agencies deserve praise for their efforts so far despite the security challenges.
“I think the security agencies are doing their best, and I think we’re getting some positive results from the efforts they are making so far. We should continue to encourage them,” he said.
In his lecture, Tambuwal said credit must go to each member of the House for whatever modest successes the he has recorded.
“Everything we have achieved, therefore, we have achieved because members were often determined to place their country above every parochial interest. Even my emergence as Speaker has been due largely to this desire to elevate the collective interest above everything else,” he said.
Tambuwal said there is no democracy without legislature, adding: “Although we all talk about the three arms of government being separate and equal, the truth is that the legislature is thefirst among equals of these three arms of the democratic composition.”

The former Minister for Works, Sen. Seye Ogunlewe; former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayo Fayose; Sen Ayo Arise, Sen Isiaka Adeleke, Dr Olu Alabi, Lekan Balogun and Dr Ade Dosunmu, attended the meeting.
Others in attendance were, Sen. Bode Olowoporoku, Chief Yomi Fini, Mr Jide Adeniji, Prof. Julius Idowu and Chief Dave Salako.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE
LAGOS — TO reclaim the six states of the South-West geo-political zone in the 2015 general elections, 200 leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the zone will storm Lagos today to work out strategies on how to prosecute and win the electoral battles.
Currently, the party has returned to its post-1999 to 2003 scenario when it was not governing any of the states.
It reclaimed five states from the Alliance for Democracy, AD, later Action Congress, AC, and now Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, at the 2003 polls. So, before the 2007elections, it was in charge of five states except Lagos.
However, between 2007 and 2011, it lost all the states under its control through a combination of the ballot box and judicial pronouncements, which were worsened byrecurring and protracted internal crises.
To the ACN, it lost Ogun and Oyo (through the ballot box) as well as Osun and Ekiti (through the law courts). It also lost Ondo to the Labour Party, first through the courts and now via elections.
The parley, which is being organised by the South-West PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, will be held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.
According the Chief Pegba Otemolu, zonal secretary, the South-West “elders and leaders of the party’ will at the stakeholders’ meeting, discuss “crucial issues about the progress of the party and the zone.”
Notable leaders among the 37 expected from Ekiti are Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Chief Ayo Fayose, Hon. Caleb Olubolade, Sen. C.K Awoyelu, Engr. Segun Oni, Sen. Gbenga Aluko, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Sen. Bode Olowoporoku, Sen. Ayo Arise and Mrs.. Titi Oluwatuyi.
Among a 31-man delegation from Lagos are Chiefs Bode George, Dapo Sarumi, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, Alhaji Muritala Ashorobi, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo, Sen. Adesye Ogunlewe,Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Mrs. Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, Mrs. Remi Adiukwu-Bakare, Capt. Tunji Shelle and Dr. Abiola Ogunkelu.
Expected from Ogun State are 31 leaders including Sen. Jubril Martins Kuye, Chief Dayo Soremi, Hon. Titi Oseni, Sen. Lekan Mustapha and Dr. Adekoya Adedoyin.
Invitations were also extended to 35 PDP kingpins in Ondo State. They include Dr. Olusegun Agagu, Sen. Bode Olajumoke, Chief Olusola Oke, Dr. Bode Iwaloye, Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, and Sen. Gbenga Ogunniya.
Leading invitees from Osun are Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Erelu Olusola Obada, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Olubunmi Etteh, YinkaOmilani, Iyiola Omisore and Isiaka Adeleke.
And from Oyo State are: Chief Lekan Balogun, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Yekeen Adeojo, Gen. Raji Rasaki, Sen. Teslim Folarin, Hon Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Sen Hosea Agboola and Hon Muraina Ajibola among others.

texaco1: i guess a truce has been called and no he is on the president side ,this means that ameachi is down by one man