₦airaland Forum

The MC of goofs, gaffs and a lotta mumbo-jumbo Alhaji Lai Mohammed in one of his numerous jokes, probably scripted this time by Tony Okoroji, announced that the federal government is set to stop production of Nigerian movies and music videos abroad. This revelation was made recently on Saturday,  July 15, 2017, at the headquarters of the copyright society of Nigeria (COSON).

This is one of the many laughable utterances of our minister, who is fast becoming a full blown comic considering his track records.

Imagine our Culture and Information Minister admitting the superiority of Senegalese's Jollof over Naija jollof rice; even Ghana that is considered our archenemy on that front did not come close - You could tell how stunned Richard Quest was from the look on his face that night.
Remember when he suggested that one masquerade could create a thousand jobs per week for Nigerian men, masquerades ooo. His advice to graduates was to venture into the enterprise of dressing masquerades? Kai.

Fact is, most Nigerians don't count our ministers' pronouncements as serious these days. Many see him as a clueless and overly excited Minister who makes a lot of funny declarations without due consultations. You won't be wrong if you call him irrational, or if you like, a bigmouth; you may also want to consider him a fabulist, or if you are trying  to be modest like me, just call him the King of spoofs. Haha...a joke called minister.

Anyway, let's leave the jokes to LIAR Mohammed and go back to the real issue here.

Shey una know say entertainment in Nigeria was not always this glamorous?

Once upon a time, hardly was any Nigerian song played in our night clubs. Then, Nigerian songs rarely enjoyed quality air play - Some persons laboured to change the status quo.
Once upon a time, Corporate Bodies budgeted fat cheques for foreign artists while they rewarded indigenous artists with popcorn. Foreign artists were treated as demigods while Nigerian entertainers no matter how hardworking, no matter how successful were treated as juveniles. Some people fought to eradicate this kinda disrespect to our celebrities.

Even Nollywood has had its fair share. Remember when multichoice came to Nigeria; NTA were leaking/selling indigenous contents to multichoice without paying a dime to the producers - somebody resisted that evil, and today the story is all shades of colourful. Things have no doubt evolved, thanks to the creativity and hardwork of a few good men.

Just recently, I learned that Nigerian entertainers are going to be taxed and sanctioned for evasion. Well, in as much as I believe paying taxes is our civic responsibility, the bunch of criminals in government devising daily means to further strengthen their criminality remains a great worry for me.

And I find it really petty for a serious government battling with serious issues of national interest to begin to dictate where to shoot videos and where to make movies. Our movies and music videos should be a potpourri of dynamism, tourism, african and international beauty, cultural heritage, aesthetic sensation, and ultimately, an embodiment of seamless artistic expression. To achieve these details and peculiarities, one cannot limit the production of what should be a classic and enchanting artistic expression to a grossly looted and underdeveloped state like Nigeria.

Abegii, let our government be reasonable joor. However, if they want to tread that path, they should first withdraw their kids from schools abroad, declare that no politician should go for medical treatment abroad, bring our president back to Aso Rock, after all, billions of Naira has been spent on the Abuja clinic - another national fraud by the pack of criminals occupying positions of power. Ohh... They should also make sure they provide uninterrupted power supply, fix our bad roads and build monuments that would attract tourists across the world. Because, patronizing made in Nigeria products must be a head to bottom policy.

Nonetheless, our entertainers must see themselves as role models. They wield the sword of public opinion. They must help in reshaping the Nigerian society - just like hip-hop was used as a tool in fighting the government in Senegal. Nigerians won't forget the role of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Sonny Okosun, etc., in advocating for a better life for the common man.

Entertainers must unanimously speak up. Not just now but always. They've come for us, we must cut these charlatans to size, we must not just defend our art, we must begin to use our platforms to condemn all forms of insanity in our political corridors.

This is a call to service, we must rescue our nation from these abusers, every entertainer must see himself as either chosen or called to be evangelists of the much needed social reform. Entertainers must begin to address societal ills especially through music, movies and arts in general.

The revolution must begin from entertainers and we must kick start the healing process by creating our ideal society through our works. Our imaginations must revolve around the utopian possibilities.

This is to activate the indifferent, misguided and unconcerned youth in our entertainment industry, let's all stand up to wrestle our nation back from these criminals. The time to act is now.

The labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain.

OUR MUMU DON DO.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/18/charly-boy-reacts-foreign-video-ban-fg/

A serious protest is currently going on in Ogba area of Lagos state. The protesters are calling for the resignation of the national legal adviser of the APC, Muiz Banire.

PoliticsNGR further discovered that the protest is a result of the ongoing power tussle between Banire and a party chieftain, Chief Dele Ajomale, over the imposition of candidates in the party. The protesters were seen holding placards that read “EFCC Must Prosecute Banire Now!!!” and “Banire is the Greatest Benefactor of Imposition".

This development is coming shortly after Banire raised an alarm that his life was in danger following several death threats he has received over his stance against the Imposition of candidates. Photos below;

http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/18/heavy-protest-apc-legal-adviser-muzi-banire-kicks-off-lagos/

The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has finally parted his lips on the state of President Muhammadu Buhari's health.

Tinubu, who spoke on Sunday in Kano, during a condolence visit to the Kano state governor, Umar Ganduje over the death of Alhaji Maitama Sule, stated that the president did not lie about his state of health.

He said:

"There is nothing anybody can do in the face of health challenge.The President did not lie to us. He told us he was ill, and he needs to take care of himself. I don’t see any crisis about this situation. We are a nation that is very humane, honest, compassionate, and resilient. We take care of our own neighbours.I am not a member of presidential cabinet, but I am a member of his party and I am a Nigerian. All we can do is to pray for him.”

BAT added that the President had told the citizenry that he needed to take care of himself. He urged Nigerians to keep praying for Buhari's full recovery.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/17/tinubu-finally-speaks-buharis-health/

A 200 level computer science student, Chinonso Ibekwe, is currently cooling off in a detention facility in Abia state for allegedly strangling a tricycle(Keke Marwa) operator, Peter Eseonu to death in Umuahia.

PoliticsNGR learnt that Chinonso boarded Eseonu's tricycle claiming that he was going to pick up some farm produce from his mother's farm at Amzukwu area of the state. On getting to the farm, Chinonso attacked and killed Eseonu with a rope, dumped his body in a nearby ditch and absconded with his tricycle.

Unknown to the killer, a man who was defecating in the bush spotted the entire crime and later raised alarm in the community.  Confirming the incident, the Abia state commissioner of Police, Mr Oyebade Adeleye stated that the suspected was already in custody before a formal report was received on the missing 67-year-old Eseonu.

He revealed the suspect took detectives to the scene of the crime where the decomposing body of the deceased was found. Oyebade finalized by stating that the 25-year-old Chinonso has been charged to court and is currently remanded in prison custody.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/17/200-level-student-arrested-strangling-keke-operator/

The Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Barr Chikwendu Kalu has denied ordering the shooting of two officers of the Federal Road safety corps, shot by his Police orderlies on the Aro -Ngwa axis of the Enugu Port- Harcourt express on Saturday.

Kalu who spoke to journalists at his official residence in Umuahia, also condemned the over zealousness of the security officers said to be involved in the incident.

The speaker who added that he was not physically present at the scene of the incident, pointed out he only sent his security details together with his younger brother to find out the people that accosted his wife while on her way to Aba.

He said, “I received a distress call that while my wife was on her way to Aba with her friend and orderly, some officers of the FRSC accosted her car, ordered them to come out of her car and started hitting her car with their stick, and finally dragged out her chief details, who is equally a woman out of the car.

“When I was informed of the incident, I sent my details to find out who the people in question were because we thought the people on that uniform may not be right people, it was in the course of doing that the incident happened.

“I was informed that somebody sustained a gunshot injury and we were on top of the situation, trying to find out what really happened.

“But I want to say that with every sense of responsibility and humility that I’m well informed about the importance of human life, and equally aware of the provisions of section 33, sub-section (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended that forbids taking away one’s life, I’m equally aware of the sister provision of section 33 sub-section (2) of the same Constitution on the mode a human life could be taken.

“I strongly condemn any over zealousness on the side of any security personnel be the person a member of the Police, Road Safety, the Army and Department of States services. I think I will be the last person to encourage it because it doesn’t augur well with State and the Country at large.

“ I’m well informed enough to know that I don’t have the authority to order anybody to shoot and I can’t even encourage such an action, even in the highest degree of provocation, I think I will move to the law court as practising lawyer before I joined politics”.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/16/abia-speaker-denies-ordering/
cc: lalasticlala, Mynd44

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has disclosed that with the close of the legal battle, which accompanied his declaration as the governor of Edo State, he was ready to work for the state and eschew the distractions of politics.

This was at a thanksgiving service at New Covenant Gospel Church in Benin City, the Edo State Capital, where he appreciate God for his victory, and noted that he was the unlikely governorship candidate for the September 28th 2016 governorship election in Edo State, but was favoured by God to win the election.

He said, “Politics is over, at least for the next three years. I dedicate myself to working for everyone and Edo state. I call on you to pray to God that what my administration has achieved in the last eight months will be a tip of the iceberg compare to what God will use us and help us to achieve.”

The governor also expressed hope that his administration would make Edo people smile, and not regret giving him the mandate to govern the state.

“Our people have not forgotten where they come from, that is why I believe that our people will support the government to deliver on its electioneering promises to make the state great. Seeking the governorship office was not my idea as people received the vision for me, including my wife. I got confirmation from people. I thank them all and especially God for the support and the victory all the way. The campaign was tough, the primary was difficult, the economy was bad, we were in a recession but God still helped us win the election,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, President of the National Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Rev. Felix Omobude congratulated the governor for his victory, assuring him that the victory portrayed  God’s stance with him.

Represented by Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State Chapter, Bishop Dr Oriname Oyonnude Kure, Omobude said the Church was behind Governor Obaseki and would rally round him to succeed.

“God is with you on this journey. He has given you victory all round, and you must rule the people with the fear of God,” he said.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/16/im-leaving-politics-next-3-years-gov-obaseki/
cc: lalasticlala, Mynd44

The Lagos State Government on Sunday announced the deposition of the suspended Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Chief Yusuf Ogundare for faking his abduction.

The kidnap which allegedly took place on July 5 along Center for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State, caused unrest in the area. 

PoliticsNGR learnt that Ogundare faked his abduction along the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State. He planned the whole scenario with his brother, Mohammed Adams.

On Thursday, the governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode approved the suspension of the Baale over the matter.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/16/lagos-state-government-deposes-baale-shangisha-faking-kidnap/
cc: lalasticlala, Mynd44

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, on July 5, 2017, admitted evidence tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing trial of Jide Omokore, the embattled chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, for a $1.6 billion fraud.

The documents, which include internal Memos from the Group Managing Director (GMD), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and letters from the NNPC to the Director, Banking and Payment Department of the Joint Ventures Companies, and Payment Schedules, were admitted and marked as Exhibits Atlantic 14 - Atlantic 28.

Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, tendered the documents in evidence through the third prosecution witness, Mohammed Abiri, a former accountant with the NNPC.

While being led into evidence by Jacobs, Abiri, who was also a technical assistant to the GMD, Finance and Accounts at NAPIMS, and a former chief supervisor at Chevron Joint Ventures, gave insights into the operations of the NNPC, particularly the OML60 series.

He said:

“The OML60 series is a joint venture between Agip Oil Company and NNPC in ratio 60:40 and in 2012 there was divestment, during which OML60 series was transferred to NPDC and NAPIMS. Between 2016 and 2017, NPDC has paid $194 million and N43 billion totalling $466 million.”

When asked by Jacobs, whether Omokore’s companies made payments with respect to the OML60 series, Abiri said: "To the best of my knowledge I am just hearing about these companies for the first time and cash calls were never paid by them.Justice Dimgba, thereafter, adjourned to July 10, 2017, for a continuation of trial.

Omokore is standing trial along with Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.They were re-arraigned on November 21, 2016, on a nine-count amended charge, of criminal diversion of about $1.6 billion alleged to be proceeds of petroleum products belonging to the federal government.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/05/1-6-billion-fraud-omokore-trouble-court-admits-evidence/
cc: lalasticlala, Mynd44

Senator Gbenga Ashafa has cried out over the recent spate of killings in Ikorodu area of Lagos state. Ashafa, who represents Lagos east in the Senate, issued a statement condemning the acts of jungle justice but also praised the residents for uniting against a cult group known as 'Badoo' that has terrorised the area for months.

The statement read in part;

“I must I commend the resilience of the Ikorodu people who have unequivocally said NO to the presence of such a nefarious group within the Ikorodu community. Also, I commend the efforts of the Government of Lagos State ably led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in conjunction with Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, various vigilante groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress and the Onyabo who have mobilized with the police to flush out, neutralize and prosecute as many of such criminals as exist within the Ikorodu environment.”

He, however, condemned the acts of jungle justice stating that it was 'unacceptable'.

He said;

“Unfortunately, I have also received the news that in the process of resisting the members of the Badoo Cult group, the residents of Ikorodu have taken the laws into their hands and resorted to jungle justice. In some instances as reported, people have been arrested and lynched to the extent of being burnt to death. This is absolutely unacceptable; it is against the tenets of humanity and justice.”

He finalised the statement by urging the residents to stay vigilant and alert.

“As the people of Lagos East, we must continue to be civil and law abiding in all we do. While our disposition in the face of rising insecurity must be that of vigilance and alertness, I strongly believe that we must channel all our suspicions through the appropriate channels for arrest, rather than taking the laws into our hands.”

“Lagos East boasts of the most noble, enlightened, industrious, intellectually advanced and law abiding people. We cannot in 2017 allow ourselves to be returned to the primitive days of jungle justice because most often than not mob actions result in wrongful punishment for innocent citizens like you and I"
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/05/lagos-senator-cries-jungle-justice-killings-ikorodu/
cc: lalasticlala

Senator Dino Melaye has filed a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over the conduct of the OC MOPOL Kogi state, CSP Mohammed Sani. The Kogi West senator alleged that Sani was a henchman of the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, and was using his position an officer of the law to wreak havoc in the state.

Melaye stated that CSP Sani was responsible for ordering policemen to work alongside some touts that made an attempt on his life on June 12, 2017, after he finished addressing his constituents at the Kogi state Polytechnic, Lokoja.

IGP receives petition

PoliticsNGR learnt that the petition has been received by the Office of the IGP. Senator Melaye has been locked in a battle with Governor Bello ever since he attacked the governor publicly for not paying owed salaries. He claims that the recent recall process initiated by INEC to remove him from the Senate was being sponsored by Bello and his associates.

Below is a photo of the petition;

http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/05/dino-melaye-petitions-oc-mopol-kogi-state-recall-saga-photo/

The Nigerian Senate has stated that the recall process being initiated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Senator Dino Melaye will end up in futility, adding that it is a 'mere waste of time and resources' of Kogi state.

The senate's reaction is sequel to a point of Order raised by Senator Melaye at a plenary session on Tuesday.The legislative body further stated that INEC is aware of relevant sections of the constitution and the cumbersome process a recall must follow, revealing that the steps taken by the electoral body so far are not in line with stipulated constitutional procedures and guidelines.

Kogi APC storms Abuja High Court

Meanwhile, the Kogi state chapter of the APC has filed a suit at the Federal high court, Abuja seeking an order to halt INEC from initiating processes for recalling Senator Melaye. The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/601/2017 contended that the petition presented to INEC for Melaye's recall was unconstitutional, invalid, unlawful and had no effect in law.

Information made available to PoliticsNGR indicate that the case has not been assigned to any judge yet and no official date for a hearing has been fixed.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/05/dino-melaye-recall-will-end-failure-senate-warns-inec/
cc: lalasticlala

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections is the most potent threat to the unity of Nigeria.

The governor also declared that the repeated use of the security agencies to rig elections will endanger the unity of the country more than the agitations of different ethnic groups.

"The most dangerous threat to the unity of the country is not the agitations by different ethnic groups, but the inability of INEC to conduct free and fair elections.

"Unless security agencies agree for free and fair elections to hold, the unity of the country may come under severe threat. "

He, however, declared that Rivers people believe in the unity of the country.

He charged Ikwerre people across the globe to rise up and resist every attempt by treacherous Ikwerre politicians bent on truncating the political ascendancy of the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality in the politics of Rivers State and Nigeria.

In a keynote address at the 20th National Convention of the Ogbakor Ikwerre USA at the Crowne Palace Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday afternoon, Governor Wike said: “As 2019 approaches, we must eschew politics of hatred, bigotry and acrimony, bloodletting, blackmail and falsehood and allow our genuine leaders to take us in the direction that best serves our collective interest.

”Most importantly, we must resist every attempt by any Judas among us to truncate our ascendancy and make us play second fiddle in the evolving politics of the State and the nation because of their selfish interest.”

The governor explained that the state is effectively on the path of growth after his administration revived critical sectors of the economy and governance structure despite inheriting a state without basic infrastructure as the immediate past administration failed after eight years in office.

He said: “For eight years the government was clearly wasteful, purposeless and irresponsible. Under their watch, our economy crumbled and public infrastructure, such as roads, schools, hospitals and sporting facilities were in their worst and horrible state of disrepair. The economy deteriorated to a point that the government was no longer meeting its financial obligations to civil servants, contractors and international donor agencies.”

The governor said that his administration came into government prepared, hence it confronted the developmental challenges it inherited by kick-starting an unprecedented statewide development process in the state.

According to the governor: “ Two years down the line we are happy to report that our State is substantially back on track and progressing in the right direction; our economy is reasonably strong and growing; while lives and property are relatively more secure and safe.

“Under our watch all the three arms of government are functioning effectively and working harmoniously towards the common good of our people and for the first time in a long while our people are now enjoying the positive effects of having a government that listens, cares, and consults with the people through their representatives before taking any steps. In terms of the tangibles, we have substantially delivered on our campaign promises to the State and our people. We have a pan-Rivers mandate. And so we are bound to spread development to all parts of the State. This is what we are doing to foster balanced development.

“ We have spent over 140 billion naira in the last two years under our strategic infrastructure development plan to deliver several roads, bridges and jetties in not less than 15 local government areas across the three senatorial districts of the State.

The governor added: “For the first time in our history, rural roads are receiving considerable attention. Indeed, our unprecedented investments in infrastructure have invigorated growth and created thousands of jobs in the economy.We have also directed resources towards improving education and healthcare delivery. Part of our plan in this direction is to reintroduce boarding system in public schools. Accordingly, we are reconstruction and equipping a number of secondary schools across the three senatorial districts to pilot this programme.

“ In the same vein, we are supporting and repositioning our universities to produce 21st-century graduates with appropriate skills, innovation and creativity. Accordingly, academic infrastructures are being upgraded in all the State’s tertiary institutions. We have also upgraded the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola to a full-fledged Polytechnic as well as introduced faculty of medical science in the Rivers State University. When we came in secondary healthcare had virtually broken but we are gradually reversing the situation. As we speak, we have completed the renovation of 13 General Hospitals across the State, which we shall soon furnish, equip and commission.”

He informed the Ikwerre in diaspora that his administration is improving facilities at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, while an International Specialist Hospital will be constructed. He also stated that his administration has completed the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, the State Ecumenical Centre and the Rumuokoro Market and Park.

“Within two years we have transformed our judiciary to be one of the best in the country in terms of leadership, infrastructure and quality of service. We are also getting closer towards realising our policy of making Port Harcourt a regional judicial hub with our interventions in upgrading federal judicial structures located in the State.For us, business is the foundation of prosperity. We have therefore reformed our fiscal, commercial and land policies to improve the cost and ease of doing business in the State,” the governor said.

The governor fielded questions from the Ikwerre professionals in the United States and Canada, assuring them of his commitment to developing all the communities of the state. He commended the Ogbakor Ikwerre USA for their roles in the development of Ikwerre homeland, saying that remittances to Nigeria have been beneficial to many families.

President of Ogbakor Ikwerre USA, Dr Fortune Worlugbum praised the governor for his developmental projects, assuring him that the association will partner with his administration for the rapid development of the state.

Also in attendance at the Ogbakor Ikwerre USA National Convention were: Former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, Professor Simeon Achinewhu, Chairman of Ikwerre Chiefs and Elders Forum, Prince Wonodi, Former Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh, Chief Tom Aliezi and other notable Ikwerre Leaders.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/03/biggest-threat-nigerias-unity-inecs-inability-conduct-fair-elections-wike/

Nigeria's anti-graft commission, the EFCC is set to go after Hassan Danbaba, a grandson of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the former Sarduana of Sokoto, over allegations of enrichment from proceeds of corruption.

PoliticsNGR learnt that Danbaba is accused of benefitting from an illegal sharing of Cash meant to go to some states in the country as refunds from excess payments to the Paris Club, an international money lending organisation. Mr Danbaba is facing investigation for reportedly pocketing some of the refunds as a consultant and at the same collecting millions of Naira from the Taraba State government for a contract he
has so far refused to implement.

It was also discovered that the Taraba contract was awarded to Sardauna's grandson by former Governor Danbaba Suntai who passed away last week. Our source said Mr. Danbaba apparently abandoned the contract soon after Mr. Suntai got involved in a plane crash in Yola in 2012.

An EFCC source said the anti-corruption agency began the investigation on account of a petition signed and submitted by several indigenes of Taraba State. A source in Sokoto revealed that the Sardauna's grandson sought to get the Sultanate Council to pressure both the EFCC and senior officials of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to abandon the investigation into his Taraba contract. According to the source, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III , insisted that the Palace would have nothing to do with the issue.

The source also revealed that the Sultan's refusal to use the considerable weight of his traditional office to obstruct the EFCC's investigation so angered the late Sardauna's grandson that he recently walked out on senior counsellors and other traditional kingmakers during a recent meeting at the Palace.

"As you may be aware, Danbaba is contesting for the title of Marafan Sokoto in the Palace with former Minister of Youth, Inuwa Abdulkadir.

"When the contest got heated, with counter accusations and lawsuits, the Sultan sought to broker peace and directed the former Governor of old Sokoto State, Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim, to lead the process," said the source.

He added: "After the peace parley, the EFCC wrote to Alhaji Danbaba requesting he appear before them to explain his dubious role in the Paris Club refunds issue, and also to brief them on the contract he abandoned in Taraba after collecting funds.

"Sensing the opportunity to involve the Sultanate Council, he asked the kingmakers to intervene and seek a soft landing for him. That effort was rebuffed, and it was made clear to him that the Palace would not be involved in his personal dealings.

"He was advised to allow the law take its course. He was told that if he was innocent of the charges as claimed, he has no reason to fear.

"He then flared up and walked out on the meeting, threatening the Sultan and warning that he may not last long on his seat if he can't stand by his close associates."
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/03/efcc-investigate-ahmadu-bellos-grandson-sultan-refuses-intervene/
cc: lalasticlala, Mynd44

Senator Shehu Sani has called on groups and individuals who are filing legal proceedings against the federal government over the state of the president's health, to withdraw the cases and desist from doing so.

Sani, a Kaduna central senator, took to social media on Sunday to advise Nigerians to 'pray for the president as they would pray for their parents'. Below is what he wrote;

My appeal to those who went to court to compel The Senate President to set up a medical panel over the health status of Mr President to withdraw their case and rather join others in praying for our president.Pray for our President like the way you pray for your parents.

It's common knowledge now that the Nigerian president is very sick and is receiving treatment in the UK. Some have called for his resignation but many believe he would get better and continue ruling the country.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/02/pray-buhari-pray-parents-dont-go-court-shehu-sani/

A Yahoo Yahoo Fraudster is making headlines for summoning over 5 native doctors (shamans) to place a curse on any whistleblower or snitch living in his neighbourhood. He urged them to ruthlessly deal with anyone who would report his activities to the police.

This occurred in Edo state.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/07/02/yahoo-yahoo-fraudster-calls-native-doctors-place-curses-whistleblowers/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Cy_hiv5LI

A former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, Commissioned the Kaduna Inland dry port in the company of the state governor, Nasir El-rufai.

Speaking at the event, Governor El-Rufai mentioned that Kaduna is Nigeria's largest producer of maize, ginger and soya beans, and second in tomato. He added that the dry Port will, therefore, boost Economic Activities in the state and create jobs.

The Kaduna Inland Dry Port will allow importers and exporters in and around Northern Nigeria to import & export directly into and from Kaduna. The ES, Nigerian Shippers Council has commended the Kaduna State Government for the Commitment and Support given to set up the Inland Dry Port.

Below are photos from the event;

http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/20/amaechi-el-rufai-commission-kaduna-inland-dry-port/

The Nigerian customs has recorded a huge success in capturing smugglers all around the country. It recently discovered a new method smugglers use to bring in illegal foreign rice into the country.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit(Zone A), Mr Jerry Abah read;

Smuggling, as we all know is a global phenomenon that cannot be eradicated entirely but can be brought to its barest minimum. As a testament to fact, the Crack Team of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ led by AC Adahunse R .A, over the weekend intercepted a DAF Truck with Reg. Num: XT 223 EKY along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway based on information of un-customs goods.

Physical examination revealed 220 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice neatly concealed with cartons of Kerosene stoves, bales of bed sheets and other household items with the intention of evading customs law.

The seized item has a duty paid value of Two Million, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-One Naira, (N2,713,491.00) only.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/20/customs-new-method-smuggling-impound-220-bags-rice/
cc: lalasticlala

The Northern youth leaders Forum(NYLF) has selected 11 northern politicians as potential presidential candidates in the upcoming 2019 elections.

In a statement released by the group's leader, Comrade Afiyo, the 11 northern candidates are; Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State; Governor Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara State; Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, Senator Bala Muhammed,former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido; Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State; former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

The North must retain the presidency in 2019

The group expressed concern over southern interest in the 2019 elections, stating that the North must retain the presidency in 2019.

Afiyo said: “We want to reiterate and clearly warn that the North will not, and will never allow the presidency to move to the South in 2019.As much as we can tolerate or pay any sacrifice for the unity of this country, we remain committed to a northern president in 2019.”

Afiyo said the group had forwarded the names of the endorsed persons to its patrons and the leadership of the 42 affiliated organisations to Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) for screening and for the endorsement of only two candidates who will be considered during its 15th Annual National Convention coming up in September 2017, in Kano.

“We want to send a message to all political parties that may field southern presidential candidates in 2019 election that such action will amount to committing a political suicide,” a statement by the group said.

It warned northern leaders to desist from supporting candidates from the South and insisted that such action would be counter-productive to their irreversible decision for a 2019 northern presidency.

The group further called on all northern youths to embrace dialogue and peace, and not to allow themselves to be swayed by those who use religion and ethnicity to divide the north and gain political advantage.

Afiyo added that the NYLF was strongly instrumental to the emergence of “Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan as well as current President Muhammadu Buhari as presidents in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015, respectively, without regional bias.”

The group said its actions were always guided by national interest far above any other interest.

On the quit notice to Igbo by some sections of the Northern youth group, Afiyo said the youths were angry members who felt they were used and abandoned by the All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians.

“We consider the quit notice as ill-advised, ill-timed and uncalled for.We strongly believe the groups of northern youths were motivated, encouraged and sponsored by some individuals who felt cheated by both the federal government and some state governments controlled by the APC.

“These individuals were used and dumped; no recognition or appreciation was extended to them.They are, therefore, bent on destabilising the government,” he said.

The forum also inferred that the coalition of northern youth’s reckless action might have been incited by “our Igbo brothers insult and abuse of other nationalities, especially the northerners, calling us cows and parasites.”

The statement further said: “We condemn in strongest terms, the approach of our brothers in issuing an ultimatum to Igbo. No nation or ethnic nationality can survive on its own without the support and help of another.

“Northerners need the Igbo, the Igbo need the Yoruba, and Yoruba need the Hausa. We are totally against the balkanization of Nigeria. We know the price the North paid for the unity of this country. We are more determined, committed and willing to continue to pay the price to keep this country one; not because we are afraid of our brothers from the east, west and south, nor are we afraid of the future, but for the labour of our heroes past.”

The forum advised all groups to operate within the ambits of the rule of law and strongly condemned the use of violence and hate speech in the country.

It also called on the federal government and the Inspector General of Police to, “withdraw, forthwith, the directive to arrest the signatories of the Kaduna declaration.

“We believe our brothers in the South have said more than what our brothers said and were not arrested. There is, therefore, no justification for the arrest.”
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/20/2019-elections-northern-youths-select-atikuel-rufaisarakilamido-others/
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The coalition of northern youths group responsible for issuing an ultimatum to Igbos living in the north to leave the region has penned a letter to the acting president of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, urging him to allow the Igbos have Biafra nation.

In the letter sent to the presidency earlier today, signed by the five leaders of the group,they urged Osinbajo to take "steps to facilitate the actualization of the Biafran nation in line with the principle of self-determination as an integral part of the contemporary customary international law.”

Transcript of the Letter

Below is a transcript of the open letter written to the acting president by the group;

June, 19th 2017

His Excellency,

Professor Yemi Osinbajo,

Acting President,

The Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Aso Rock Presidential Villa

Abuja

                     OPEN LETTER

Your Excellency,

APPRECIATION

On behalf of this coalition and all the peace-loving people of Northern Nigeria, we begin this letter by commending your efforts towards finding a lasting solution to the lingering Igbo-induced crisis that is undoubtedly overheating the polity.

We sincerely believe Your Excellency’s good intentions as shown by your prompt and genuine actions towards ensuring peace and stability in holding talks with leaders of the North and the South-East.

Though we do not doubt Your Excellency’s bona fide concerns for the peaceful resolution of the crises, we nevertheless have reservations as to the efficacy of this approach in ensuring lasting solutions.

Our doubts are informed by the following historical antecedents that have characterised the behaviour and conduct of the Igbo in Nigeria and previous efforts at containing them.

PAST EXPERIENCES

The Igbo of Eastern Nigeria manifested their hatred for Nigeria’s unity barely five years after we gained our independence from the British when on January 15, 1966, their army officers carried out the first-ever mutiny that marked the beginning of a series of crisis which has profoundly altered the course of Nigeria’s history.

By that ill-motivated, cowardly and deliberate action, the Igbo killed many northern officers from the rank of lieutenant colonel upwards and also decapitated the Prime Minister and the political leadership of the Northern and Western regions but left the zenith of Igbo leadership at the Federal level and the Eastern region intact.

In line with the Igbo plan, General Aguiyi-Ironsi took advantage of the vacuum and, instead of returning power to the remnants of the First Republic government, he appropriated the coup and attempted to consolidate it for his people.

Army officers of the Northern Region were eventually compelled to execute a counter-coup on July 29, 1966, following a coordinated series of brazen provocations from the Igbo who taunted northerners on northern streets by mocking the way leaders of the region were slain by the Igbo. This, unfortunately, resulted in mob action which resulted in the death of many Igbos.

And when Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, from the North, took over as Head of State following the counter-coup, the Igbo through Lt. Col. Ojukwu, characteristically refused to recognize Gowon.

[Ojukwu]

Ojukwu declared the secession of the Igbo people from Nigeria and the formation of the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967, resulting in a civil war that led to the tragic deaths of more than 2 million Nigerians.

It is important to note here that the Igbo eventually capitulated and conceded defeat in an unconditional surrender, not an armistice, on January 15, 1970, which renders any talk about Biafra at any other time, a repudiation of the terms of that surrender signed by Phillip Effiong and other Biafran leaders.

BIAFRA REINCARNATED

In a shot out of the blues, the Igbo have over the last 2 years regrouped and fiercely and openly started discussing Biafra again under Ralph Uwazuruike of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State Of Biafra MASSOB.

This was given greater impetus by a more furious Igbo rogue group called the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB under Nnamdi Kanu who even operates an illegal radio station spreading hate and war messages across the nation, calling other ethnic groups all sorts of names and threatening them with violent extermination.

The activities of the Igbo under Kanu’s IPOB has grown exponentially ranging from ordering people of other regions out of the South East – particularly the Yorubas and Hausa /Fulani from the South West and the North respectively, to open declaration of the amassing of arms and forceful total shutdown of the entire South-East.

KANU and IPOB have declared full allegiance to a “Republic of Biafra” and continue to preach hatred and war virtually every day, and not for once did any Igbo leader call them to order. Instead, many of the leaders including Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy senate president, the most senior elected Igbo, pay Kanu courtesy calls to prove that he is speaking for the entire Igbo. It is glaring to all that Kanu has serially breached all the terms of his stringent jail conditions in total disregard to the sanctity of our justice system.

Even the latest statement by the South-East Governors Forum signed by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State in a response to the Northern reaction did not condemn Kanu and Uwazuruike but characterized their action as “peaceful”.

While all this is going on, neither the Igbo political and cultural leaders nor other regional leaders of the North or West nor the international community or any religious body ever found it necessary to call these renegade groups to order or in the very least admonish their leaders to do so.

[Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha]

Furthermore, none of the Igbo leaders holding various positions in this government ever disowned IPOB or condemned its operations until lately with Governor Rochas Okorocha’s mild condemnation after the Kaduna Declaration by our Coalition.

GROUNDS FOR SUSPICION

Given the unrepentant antecedents exhibited by the Igbo as highlighted above, we strongly believe that the gruesome picture that the Biafran agitation represents is beyond a few people showcasing to Your Excellency that the Igbo will eventually heed the call for peace and desist from their dangerous campaign against Nigeria.

The seed of hate planted in the name of Biafra is evidently so deep that the ongoing interaction between you and the leaders from the South East cannot in our well-informed opinion douse or address the underlying deep-seated underlying problems.

We base our concerns on the following grounds.

Despite the fact that the Igbo have been the most accommodated and tolerated of all the ethnic groups of Nigeria, the renewed incessant, spiteful and vile threats and insults on Northern leaders and their people, culture and religions that are the targets of this venomous agitation for Biafra, can hardly be addressed through a series of two hours dialogues.

As if to prove this, barely hours after Your Excellency’s meeting with the South-East leaders, the Biafran Igbo openly disowned the leaders and dissociated themselves from the meeting.

More disturbingly, Kanu has openly claimed that the Biafran agitators have amassed arms in readiness for a war of secession which is quite conceivable given the fact that since 2009, catches of dangerous weapons routinely smuggled into the country and occasionally intercepted by the Nigerian authorities, were all traced to Igbo sources.

The situation continues to be baffling and alarming and therefore unacceptable – especially with the Igbo political and opinion leaders openly legitimising the violent comments, insults, threats, hate speeches and call to anarchy that the Biafrans led by Nnamdi Kanu are making against the North and the Nigerian state in general.

Southeast leaders have instead, enthusiastically given Kanu the platform, patronage and symbolic legitimacy through an ignominious display of homage, reception and open embrace.

OUR CONCERNS

Concerned by the fact that the Biafrans have confessed to arming themselves for a violent breakup, we feel that it is risky for the rest of the country particularly the North to go on pretending that it is safe for us to co-habitate with the Igbos given how deeply they are entrenched in our societies.

And since evidently, the Igbos have not been sufficiently humbled by their self-imposed bloody civil violence of 1966, we are strongly concerned that nothing short of granting their Biafran dream will suffice.

And since the Igbo have virtually infiltrated every nook and cranny of Northern Nigeria where they have been received with open arms

as fellow compatriots, we strongly believe that the region is no longer safe and secure in the light of the unfolding threats and the fact that for a long time, the Igbo have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that in their domain in the South East, Northerners and Westerners are as much as possible disenfranchised from owning any businesses whereas, in Kano alone, they own not less than 100, 000 shops across all the business districts.

That since the younger generation of Nigerians makes up for more than 60 percent of the nation’s population, it is our hope that they inherit this country in better shape so that they can build a much better future for themselves and their offsprings in an atmosphere that is devoid of anarchy, hate, suspicion and negativity that characterize the polarized, and clearly irreconcilable differences forced on us by the Biafran Igbos.

To make a bad situation even worse, their leaders have continued to show support for this treacherous cause and thus giving credence to our concern that what they say about us is what they truly mean and intend – “Kill everyone in the Zoo” (North). Your Excellency, we cannot afford to discard this as mere mischief as the utterances that caused the terrible Rwandan genocide still resonates in our minds.

Lastly, Sir, it is quite impossible to expect that other nationalities would simply stand by and watch while a certain ethnic group perpetrates all the above heinous misconducts that involve threats, call to violence and extermination, insults and songs of war without responding.

OUR STAND

While we unequivocally restate that we are not waging war or calling anyone to violence, we nevertheless are also not willing to continue tolerating the malicious campaign and threats of war that the Igbos have continued to wage against us.

Neither can we afford to continue giving the keys to our cities to a people whose utterances, plans and arrangements are clearly geared towards war and anarchy.

We, therefore, demand that the only enduring solution to this scourge that is being visited on the nation is complete separation of the states presently agitating for Biafra from the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a peaceful political process by:

Taking steps to facilitate the actualization of the Biafran nation in line with the principle of self-determination as an integral part of contemporary customary international law.

The principle of self-determination has, since World War II become a part of the United Nations Charter which states in Article 1(2), that one of the purposes of the UN is “to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

We submit that this protocol envisages that people of any nation have the right to self-determination, and although the Charter did not categorically impose direct legal obligations on member States; it implies that Member States allow agitating or minority groups to self-govern as much as possible.

This principle of self-determination has since been espoused in two additional treaties: The United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 1 of both international documents promote and protect the right of a people to self-determination. State parties to these international documents are obliged to uphold the primacy and realisation of this right as it cements the international legal philosophy that gives a people the right to self-determination.

As the Igbo agitations persist and assume threatening dimensions, we submit that there is need to ensure that they are given the opportunity to exercise the right to self-determination as entrenched under the aforementioned international statutes to which Nigeria is a signatory.

PRAYERS:

Aware that the right of self-determination in international law is the legal right for a “people” that allows them to attain a certain degree of autonomy from a sovereign state through a legitimate political process, we strongly demand for a referendum to take place in a politically sane atmosphere where all parties will have a democratic voice over their future and the future of the nation.

The Igbo from all over the country and in the Diaspora should be advised to converge in their region in the South-East for a plebiscite to be organised and conducted by the United Nations and other regional bodies for them to categorically to decide between remaining part of Nigeria or having their separate country.

That government should at the end of the plebiscite implement whatever is agreed and resolved in order to finally put this matter to rest.

Lastly, we pray His Excellency to study the references forwarded with this letter dispassionately and decide who is more in the wrong between those who openly pledge allegiance to a country other than Nigeria backing it up with persistent threats of war and those of us whose allegiance remains with the Nigerian state but simply urge that the secessionists be allowed to actualize their dream peacefully throw universally entrenched democratic options.

CONCLUSION

Your Excellency, we want to reiterate our high respect for your office and acknowledge the efforts you are making to lower tensions. We assure you, as well-brought up northerners, we listen to the advice and cautions of our elders, and in particular, their concerns that we do not create the impression that any Igbo or any Nigerian will be harmed in the North. We assure you that we will defend the rights of every Nigerian to live in peace and have their rights protected.

While we do not see this clamour for Biafra as an issue over which a single drop of blood should be shed, we at the same time, insist that the Igbo be allowed to have their Biafra and for them to vacate our land peacefully so that our dear country Nigeria could finally enjoy lasting peace and stability.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

SIGNED:

Amb. Shettima Yerima

Joshua Viashman

Aminu Adam

Abdul-Azeez Suleiman

Nastura Ashir Sharif
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/19/northern-youths-osinbajo-biafra-nation/
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THE SPECIOUS LIES OF A GANGSTER MINISTER - FFK

I watched the Minister Information and Culture Lai (aka Lie) Mohammed’s ‘Politics Today’ interview with Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television a few days ago and I felt sorry for Nigeria.

I couldn’t help wondering why Channels Television keeps offering its respected platform to this shameless old fool to beam, broadcast and perpetuate unadulterated falsehood to the Nigerian people and to tell specious lies. The whole thing is simply incredulous.

During the course of that interview, he told one big lie after the other with such ease and without batting an eyelid. I really do wonder how this man sleeps at night. I guess such things come naturally to him.

I look at his face and all I see is an unconscionable and relentless shit projector and sewage propeller.

He reminds me of one of those filth-ridden open gutters in India’s City of Mumbai: all manner of unprintable and disgusting things flow in and through it for all to smell and see.

Everything about him, including how he looks, what he says, what he wears and how he talks stinks to high heavens.

Like Donald Trump once said about a notorious Mexican drug lord, “this dude is a bad hombre!”

He is the kind of person that would pass a lie detector test with flying colours over and over again simply because lying is his nature. He is possessed by what the Bible graphically and aptly describes as a “lying spirit”.

The first salvo of lies that he told us during the course of the interview was that Sheik El Zak Zaky, the leader of the Shiite Muslim community in Nigeria, was being kept in a guest house with his family and that he was not in government custody.

He went on to contradict himself by saying that the Federal Government was keeping him in custody only because they were building him a brand new house that he would move into later and that the difficulty that they had was that no-one wanted to be his neighbour!

Finally, he said that the courts had said that the Sheik must not be released until that brand new house had been built for him.

Needless to say, all three assertions are false. They are nothing but dirty and desperate lies, cooked up to justify the government's disgraceful and indefensible behaviour towards El Zak Zaky, his family and the Shiite Muslims of Nigeria.

The truth is that firstly El Zak Zaky and his family are NOT being kept in a private guest house and both he and his wife most certainly are in government custody.

They have both been badly wounded, they are in the custody of the DSS and, for just under the last two years, they have been held at the DSS Headquarters in Abuja.

Their lawyers and doctors have little access to them but once in a while, they are shipped to a secret government safe house for a short impromptu meeting with a handful of family members.

Secondly, the Federal Government is NOT building a house for El Zak Zaky and even if they were this should not be a reason to keep him in indefinite and illegal custody and detention.

Thirdly the courts gave El Zak Zaky and his wife an order for unconditional release from the custody of the security agencies and his release order was not conditional on the government first building him a new house as Lie has suggested.

The truth is that the man and his wife have both been kept in illegal detention for almost two years, against their will and in total violation of all court orders.

Worst still throughout that period they have not been brought physically or produced by the intelligence agencies before any court of law.

El Zak Zaky was shot and blinded in one eye by the military whilst his wife was shot four times in the stomach at the time that his home was attacked and they were both abducted.

Over one thousand of his Shiite Muslim supporters were murdered that day and their homes were shelled, bombed and burnt to the ground. Since then both the man and his wife have been locked up in dingy underground cells and have been subjected to the most inhuman and barbarous form of psychological and mental torture.

These are facts that Lie refused to acknowledge in his interview and that the government that he serves seek to hide from both the Nigerian public and the international community.

Lie also lied about Col. Sambo Dasuki the former National Security Advisor to President Goodluck Jonathan. He said that Dasuki was being detained indefinitely because he would pose a threat to the Federal Government and to national security if he was released.

He went further to say that Dasuki had stolen 1.3 billion USD and that the government would not release him until that money was returned despite court orders to the contrary.

He did not tell us where the 1.3 billion USD was stolen from, he did not tell us whether it was stolen in cash, by cheque, by bank draft or by transfer and he did not tell us how he stole it. All he did was pick a figure from the sky and drop it.

He also said that as far as the government was concerned national security considerations were more important than court orders and that even though the courts had ordered Dasuki’s release on several occasions the government would continue to ignore such orders because they believe that he poses a threat to national security.

The fact that it is unlawful to disregard court orders in Nigeria had no bearing on Lie. The fact that there is no law and no constitutional basis or justification to keep Dasuki in detention against court orders is immaterial to him and to the government that he serves.

The fact that the allegation that he stole 1.3 billion USD is not only utterly absurd but also has no basis in truth or reality is neither here nor there to this wicked man and to those he represents.

The fact that Dasuki poses no threat whatsoever to anyone, least of all the Federal Government, matters less to this strange, conflicted and inexplicable creature that calls himself the Minister of Information and Culture.

The fact that locking up a man illegally and indefinitely, depriving him of his constitutional rights and freedom, denying his lawyers and doctors full access to him, traumatising his family and friends, putting his stunningly beautiful and deeply courageous wife Bintu through hell, refusing to allow him to attend his aged father’s burial and denying him the right to be in a position to prepare a proper legal defence for himself against his detractors and accusers in court means absolutely nothing to this pernicious liar.

No matter how low the government goes and no matter how barbaric, illegal and heartless their actions are in terms of the violation of civil liberties and human rights, Lie has proved over and over again that he is prepared to go on Channels television or anywhere else to defend them.

I am convinced that if Buhari ordered for the gassing to death or burning alive of every single opposition figure and their family members together with all his other perceived enemies, Lie would gladly attempt to justify and defend it and Channels television would be only too happy to accommodate him and grant him the platform to do so.

Worse still he is prepared to defend the consistently aberrant, cruel, wicked, deviant and ungodly behaviour of the government that he serves with nothing less than the most bombastic and obvious lies, wholesale mendacities, false accusations, malicious fabrications and notorious and skewered half truths.

He has no conscience, no feeling, no empathy for his victims, no compassion, no mercy and no milk of human kindness.

One wonders if a man that is prepared to treat others so unjustly and defend it publicly can ever make it to heaven? One wonders whether they believe in God and if so whether they have any fear of Him.

It is clear to me that somewhere in the equation madness has crept into Lie’s confused and irreverent psyche. He deserves to be pitied and, more importantly, he needs a lot of help and prayer. The sleazy job that he has been doing for the last two years has taken its toll and has got the better of him.

27 years ago when I first met Lie he used to be an absolute gentleman. Always wearing a smart suit and a crisp bow tie and always making concise and meaningful contributions to our many intense, contentious and oftentimes acrimonious discussions and public debates at the old September Club in Lagos, he was quite a sight to see.

He was a delight in those days. He was a man of his word, he always spoke the truth and it was a pleasure to be his friend. Sadly all that has changed.

In those days he was the affable and dependable “Lai” but today he is the truculent and cantankerous “Lie”.

In those days he was a man of unimpeachable honour and character who valued his integrity and reputation above all else but today he is a mere shadow and caricature of his former self.

He cuts a tragic figure that, over the years, found himself in bad company and that has degenerated very badly in terms of his virtues, his moral authority and his ability to stand for truth.

Simply put, he has sold his soul to the devil and he can now be rightly and accurately described as one of those that the Bible refers to as a “son of perdition”.

A Minister of Information and Culture that everyone hates, that no-one trusts, that no-one believes and that looks like a cross between an ageing chimpanzee and washed-up and weathered old scarecrow.

At least Shehu Garbage and Femi Adesina are a little bit more presentable and they try to be a little more refined, subtle and polished with their distortions of truth. Not so with Lie.

He is just a plain old-fashioned, crude, vulgar Goebellian propagandist and a pernicious liar. Like his father Satan, there is no truth in him. He was a liar from the start and the father of lies.

The truth is that he should have been the spokesman for the  Italian or Russian Mafia, the Turkish or Greek underworld, the Japanese Yakuza, the Chinese Kuomintang or one of the numerous Colombian and Mexican drug cartels and not the Minister of Information of Nigeria.

That is the sort of thing he was born to do.  I say this because deep down Lie is nothing but a cheap hood and a gangster.

He is a ghetto and gangster Minister who speaks for and represents a ghetto and gangster Government.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/19/lai-mohammed-gangster-minister-femi-fani-kayode/

A Notorious Land grabber popularly known as 'Sir K Oluwo' has been apprehended by officers of the Lagos state command in Ikorodu.

The criminal whose real name are Kamorudeen Lamina terrorised the resident of Ikorodu with his land grabbing activities in the area.Landowners, families as well as business owners operative in Ikorodu, Odogunyan, Imota, Agura and other areas of Lagos can attest to the actions of the land grabbing kingpin who has terrorised Ikorodu axis in recent years.

Taskforce tricks him out of his Hideout

He was arrested by a Special Task Force on Land Grabbing set up by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday, June 15, 2017. The capture of the ‘Omo Onile’ strongman is coming on the heels of the recent moves by the Lagos State Government to curtail the activities of land grabbers in the State.

The Task Force team had been on his trail for a very long time. He was reportedly tricked out of his hiding place in a well-orchestrated operation carried out in the Alausa, Lagos.

Speaking on the development, Chairman of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbing, Mr. Jide Bakare, said his office had received tons of petitions written by innocent residents who have been deprived of their legitimate investment in landed property by the unscrupulous gang of Lamina who had been a thorn in the flesh of his victims.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/16/lagos-police-arrests-notorious-land-grabber-sir-k-oluwo/

The Nigerian Customs has announced the seizure of illegal goods worth N607 million. Politics Nigeria learnt that customs officers with the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) ‘A’, intercepted smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Three Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Forty Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Six Naira, Eight kobo (N334,042,396. only between the months of 1st April to 12th June, 2017.

The Controller in charge of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba made this known to newsmen on Wednesday, 14th June 2017, while giving an account of his stewardship since he assumed office.

Garba said the Unit also recovered Two Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira, Seventy-Five Kobo only (N273,675,138.75) from duty payments and demand notices on goods that tried to beat the system and 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures in the period under review.

He further mentioned that 152 different seizures were recorded comprising vegetable oil, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, smuggled vehicles, India hemp, used tyres and general merchandise Six Hundred and Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Five Naira, Fifty Five Kobo only (N607,717,535.55) between the month of April 1st to June 12th 2017 making it a landslide in recent times.

“You will agree with me that smuggling is a global phenomenon which cannot be curbed entirely but can be brought to its barest minimum. I have to praise the commitment and diligence of the officers and men of the unit for thwarting the antics of some dare-devil smugglers, who used different methods for concealment” he said.

Compt. Uba said the Unit also intercepted 384 parcels of Indian hemp concealed inside six bales of second-hand clothing from Ghana along Iyana-Ipaja road. In the spirit of inter-agency relationship, the suspects and the contents were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Based on intelligence report, the Unit have seized five containers that contravened Customs law over false declaration and breach of import prohibition list by trade. Two of the containers were laden with 4,982 pieces of used tyres, while others were laden with 1,292 pieces of vehicle batteries and piston ring compressors”

He thanked the management of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) for the motivation and support that led to this great feat.He also called on Nigerians to support the anti-smuggling drive of the service, as this will encourage our indigenous industries and create job opportunities for Nigerians.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/16/customs-impound-smuggled-goods-worth-n607-million/

Nigeria's minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu has revealed that the Nigerian government has spent over $65 billion on fuel subsidy in the last 5 years.

According to Dr Kachikwu, Nigeria incurred subsidies for petrol and kerosene estimated at $65bn between 2011 and 2015.

He made the revelation on Thursday during a presentation at a two-day African modular refinery forum at the forum; made up mostly of modular refinery manufacturers, partners, clients and contractors, organised by the Modular Refiners Association of Nigeria (MRAN), in partnership with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Represented by the Deputy Director, Engineering and Standards of the DPR, Engr. Olumide Adeleke, Kachikwu said this amount excluded an estimated $6bn the country lost from the vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure.

The minister further said that had the subsidy bill been properly channelled, it could have financed the entire investment required to realise the Vision 20:2020 target of 50 percent national refining capacity of crude oil produced in Nigeria.

He complained that despite the country’s four refineries, Nigeria had been plagued with a continuous import cycle of 92 percent of its daily consumption.

“The foreign exchange requirement for importation of petroleum products is estimated at $28bn (N3.35tn) annually, with 40 percent of the total amount (N1.34tn) dedicated to financing the logistics of importation,” Kachikwu said.

Despite these challenges, the minister said that his objective remained to attain 50 per cent domestic refining capacity by the 4th quarter of 2018 and 100 percent domestic refining capacity by the 4th quarter of 2019.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/16/nigerian-spent-65-billion-fuel-subsidy-5-years-kachikwu/
cc: lalasticlala, Mynd44

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday amended charges against the Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Prof. Thomas Agan, and four other defendants standing trial in an N85million procurement scam.

The four other defendants are staff of the Teaching Hospital: Ofor Jonan Ofor, Head, Works and Engineering and Francis I. Utu, Chief Administrative Officer and Head, Legal Services.

The other two are Okocha Anthony and Emmanuel Etta Nkim, who are both promoters and owners of Anchor Industrial and Construction Services Nigeria Ltd and Basemark Energy Nigeria Ltd, respectively: the two companies allegedly used to perpetrate the fraud. They are all standing trial before Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

In the amended charges, the original five counts were expanded to include two new defendants: Prof. Archibong E. Achibong, Director of Administration at the Teaching Hospital and Effiong Okon Udobong, Head of Procurement at the Teaching Hospital. The two new defendants now serve as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

The amended charges were stiffly contested by the defence counsel, Mba Ukwueni, SAN, who argued that the prosecution had no legal right to amend the charges without the leave of the court. He cited section 216 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to bolster his submission.

However, the prosecution counsel, Kayode Oni, floored him by citing the Uguru vs State 2002 NWLR part 771p 90 act 95, where the Supreme Court empowered the court to alter, amend or add to any charge in any criminal case before it, at any time, before judgement is given.

Justice Ekwo upheld the submission of the prosecution counsel and ordered the two new defendants to take their pleas. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count charges.

Count one read: "that you, Prof. Thomas U. Agan as Chief Medical Director University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Prof. Archibong E. Archibong being the Director of Administration , Effiong Okon Udo Obong, Head of Procurement, Offor Jonah Offor as Head of Works and Engineering, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Okocha Anthony, being the Managing Director of Anchor Industrial and Construction Services Nig. Ltd, Emmanuel Etta Nkim, being the Managing Director of Basemark Construction Nig. Ltd; sometime in the month of October 2015 in Calabar, Cross River State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves to bid-rig for the purchase of one Advanced Life Support Ambulance and one Toyota Coaster Bus 30 Seaters to Messrs Basemark Construction Services Nig. Ltd contrary to section 58(4) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 58(5) of the same Act."

The two defendants were admitted to bail in the same conditions as other defendants and remanded in prison custody until the bail conditions are met. All other four defendants, together with the two companies, were allowed to continue on the initial bail granted them when they were first arraigned on April 3, 2017.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to June 15, 2017, for a continuation of trial.

Professor Agan and his co-travelers were arraigned on April 3, 2017, on a five- count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, bid-rigging, abuse of office and breach of due process, contrary to Procurement Act 2007.

They are alleged to have used their positions to corruptly influence the award of the purchase of an Advance Life Support Ambulance vehicles and one Toyota Coaster Bus to Anchor Industrial and Construction Services Limited and Basemark Energy Nigeria Limited by inflating their costs and without following due procurement processes to the tune of N85, 062,000.00, thereby contravening the Public Procurement Act 2007.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/14/ucth-chief-medical-directorothers-arraigned-n85-million-scam/

The Nigerian Airforce has debunked rumours of plotting a coup. In a statement released on Thursday signed by its spokesperson, Olatokunbo Adesanya, the airforce pledged its loyalty to the president and reiterated its commitment to democracy.

Below is the Full statement obtained by Politics Nigeria;

The attention of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has been drawn to a mischievous allegation by an online media organization of the NAF’s involvement in the planning of a purported coup d’état to take over the reins of government.

The NAF considers it most ridiculous that anyone in his/her right senses, especially in the Twenty First Century, could still be fixated on the possibility of effecting a change in government in Nigeria in any way other than through the ballot box.

It would be recalled that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar had on 18 May 2017, while commissioning new residential accommodation for personnel at NAF Base, Bill Clinton Drive Abuja, emphatically pledged the loyalty of the NAF to the President and Commander-in-Chief as well as to the Nigerian Constitution.

It is imperative to state that the earlier stance of the NAF on the unfortunate coup rumours has not changed.

The NAF is a highly professional and apolitical Service that is focused on ensuring the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as facilitating a safe and secure environment for Nigerians to prosper while conducting their legal businesses. The strong belief of the NAF in democratic values was also demonstrated during the recent Gambian crisis.

The NAF was the first and only air force that ensured the will of Gambians was not subverted by promptly deploying its fighter aircraft, in addition to its transport aircraft to airlift needed troops and logistics, in readiness to preserve the country’s democracy, in line with the Federal Government’s directives.

It is therefore inconceivable that the same NAF would be involved in any way in any attempt to dismantle the political structure in Nigeria.

It appears some individuals with unknown intentions are bent on further spreading the malicious misinformation and hence, the need for the NAF to react.

The Chief of the Air Staff would like to assure Nigerians as a whole of the unalloyed loyalty of all NAF personnel to the President and Commander-in-Chief as well as to the Government of Nigeria as democratically constituted.

We, therefore, appeal to those peddling these false stories to cease, as they are constituting a source of distraction to NAF personnel, who are sacrificing on a daily basis to ensure the security of Nigeria.

You are please requested to use your medium to disseminate this information for the awareness of the general public. While thanking you for your usual support and cooperation, please accept the assurance of my best regards.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/08/nigerian-airforce-denies-plotting-coup-devoted-democracy/
cc: lalasticlala

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned - This agelong saying played out recently in Edo state after two captured assassins confessed that an ex-girlfriend of their victim hired them to carry out the dastard act.

The Edo state Police Command arrested the two suspects, who allegedly murdered an Italian-based Nigerian, Mr. Omoruyi Okundolor, in Benin, Edo State.

The suspects revealed that the deceased’s former lover, Mercy, who is now at large, contracted them to assassinate him because he jilted her.

They further confessed that four of them embarked on the mission to eliminate the deceased and named one Moses and Power as members of the gang and that the plot to eliminate the deceased was hatched at a drinking spot at Evbuotubu area of Benin.

They also killed an 18-year-old girl, who recognised one of them, when they went for the mission. The Edo State Police Commissioner, Haliru Gwandu, who paraded the suspects described the killings as wicked and barbaric and vowed to bring to book the female lover and other suspects currently on the run.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/08/lady-hires-assassins-kill-ex-boyfriend-edo/

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum(AYCF) has made a u-turn after issuing an Ultimatum to Igbos to leave all 19 northern states. The group has cancelled the deadline stating that 'We are One Nigeria'.

There has been serious tension in the country over the past few days after the 3-month Ultimatum was announced. It also directed that all Northerners in the East should return to the North.

The spokesman of the AYCF, Abdulaziz Suleiman said;

“All northern civil society and pressure groups are by this declaration mandated to mobilise for sustained, coordinated campaigns at their respective State Government Houses, State Houses of Assembly, Local Government Council Secretariats and Traditional Palaces to mount pressure for steps to be taken to ensure enforcement of the directives contained herein.

“The North hereby openly calls on the authorities and other national and international stakeholders to acknowledge this declaration by taking steps to facilitate the final dissolution of this hopeless union that has never been convenient to any of the parties.

”From today, June 6, 2017, when this proclamation is signed, the North, a critical player in the Nigerian project, hereby declares that it will no longer be disposed to coexisting with the Igbos and shall take definite steps to end the partnership by pulling out of the current federal arrangement”

After much pressure and widespread condemnation, On Wednesday, Comrade Yerima Shettima, President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, and Isaac Balami, Arewa Consultative Forum Congress, appealed to Nigerians not to panic, adding that the country was united and no one was going anywhere.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/08/arewa-youth-backtrack-ultimatum-igbos-says-one-nigeria-video/
cc: lalasticlala
video below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfwvp1A_QL8

The Lagos State Government has prosecuted a paramilitary officer attached to the Lagos State Task Force for stealing a 'Phantom 6 Techno' mobile phone belonging to one Pastor Kingsley of Christ Church, Fadeyi, Lagos.

SP Egbeyemi, Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force disclosed that Mr Moses Prince (34yrs) a paramilitary officer deployed from 'Man'O' War' to the Agency in October, 2016 stole a 'Phantom Six Techno' mobile phone valued at N150,000 during an enforcement operation carried out at No 22, Ereko Street, Fadeyi, Lagos.

The Chairman explained further that the enforcement operation was recently carried out in continuation of the arrest of notorious miscreants and hoodlums who engaged in a bloody fracas that engulfed Idi-Oro area of Mushin.

He noted that the accused (Mr Moses Prince) voluntarily confessed to have stolen the said mobile phone (Phantom Six Techno) from a kitchen of the building where enforcement was carried out by the Agency.

SP Egbeyemi revealed that the Agency had carried out series of seminars where officers of the Agency were lectured to shun criminal activities and be upright in the course of discharging their legitimate duties and assured that any acts of criminality from officers would not be tolerated by the government.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court at Oshodi sentenced the accused (Mr. Moses Prince) to one year imprisonment without any option of fine after he pleaded 'Guilty' to a one-count charge levied against him for 'Stealing a Phantom 6 Techno Mobile Phone while in discharge of a lawful duty with the Lagos State Task Force' contrary to Section 258 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

Magistrate Owolabi said the judgment was meant to deter other public officers from engaging in criminal activities for any reason at all.
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/08/lagos-state-prosecutes-task-force-officer-stealing-pastor/
cc: lalasticlala

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has weighed in on the heightened ethnic tension around the country following an Ultimatum issued to the Igbos in the north to leave the region by a Northern youth forum.

Jonathan took to his social media page to state that Nigerians have the right to live in any part of the country. The former leader wrote;

Every Nigerian citizen has an inalienable right to reside in any part of Nigeria. As Nigerians, we should all tailor our thoughts, actions and utterances to promote this and other rights. We are all brothers and sisters born from the womb of mother Nigeria. There are no still births or unwanted births from our mother. We are all one and equal and it is the responsibility of all men of goodwill to appeal for calm and unity in our beloved country Nigerians. GEJ.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1525129354204100&id=105479482835768


The statement by the Arewa Northern Youths Forum, ANYF, ordering all Igbos out of all the 19 northern states has been met with wide condemnation from the country's leaders. Kaduna state governor, El-rufai has even called for the arrest of the leaders of the forum.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/08/ex-president-jonathan-reacts-ultimatum-given-igbos-northern-youths/

A JSS3 pupil (names withheld) lost his life on Tuesday after being run over by a Truck. Politics Nigeria learnt that the student was returning from school when the unfortunate incident occurred in Enugu.

Photos below (Viewer discretion highly advised).
http://politicsngr.com/2017/06/07/jss3-pupil-crushed-truck-enugu/
cc : lalasticlala , Mynd44