₦airaland Forum

Evablizin:
Pack the money and wait for his village people to call you to glory.

madridguy:
Maybe you should help your guy with the Bill Gates speech where he dissed Sai Baba?

madridguy:
Many junkies are twisting Bill Gates speech.

ajebuter:
Me sef follow laugh in Brazilian Reis

LAGOS—Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the immediate past governor of Edo State, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

His emergence is despite strong political pitches by leading South East members of the party for the position to be zoned to the region for inclusiveness.

Yesterday, the APC said President Muhammadu Buhari’s view cannot change the decision of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party on the claim that the President is just one person with one vote.

Meanwhile, the disruption of the tenure extension scheme for the serving executives has continued to generate reactions with party insiders fuming that the prospect of fresh internal elections just months away from the general election could instigate crisis.

The assertions were, however, fully set aside by Edo State chapter of the party which praised the President’s decision as a step in the right direction. Odigie-Oyegun and Oshiomhole are both former governors of Edo State.

Oshiomhole’s frontline position, Vanguard learned yesterday, followed his reconciliation with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party whose strident opposition to the tenure extension scheme for the Odigie-Oyegun-led executive helped to turn it into uncertainty.

Ironically, Oshiomhole and Tinubu were at opposite ends four years ago when Odigie-Oyegun emerged as national chairman of the then just emerging party. At that time, Oshiomhole was fully supportive of the aspiration of Chief Tom Ikimi to be national chairman, a move that was itself truncated by Tinubu who successfully pushed forward Odigie-Oyegun for the position.

Ikimi walked away from the party after a public spat with Tinubu, following the election of Odigie-Oyegun as national chairman.

Oshiomhole’s candidacy is being helped by the fact that Odigie-Oyegun is unlikely to contest the position on account of age. The national chairman who is 79, had seen the prospects of a one-year extension as a fitting anchor for him to leave public service at 80 next year.

“He has not told me, but I doubt it very seriously,” a close associate of Odigie-Oyegun said yesterday.

The Buhari advice

However, one challenge against the Oshiomhole candidacy, Vanguard learned, could be the muttering by party members on how President Muhammadu Buhari shocked members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party by backtracking from the NEC resolution last February on the extension.

The motion for the adoption of tenure extension, party insiders grumbled during the NEC last Tuesday, was carried by 104 votes with only four votes against. Remarkably, many governors who are known to be supportive of Buhari are backing Odigie-Oyegun.

Party operatives and officials were also peeved by the fact that the President who was present at the February NEC did not speak against the move. They were further crossed by the fact that the President was mute on the issue at the national caucus on the eve of the NEC meeting.

The protests against the President’s stance on the extension of tenure, Vanguard learned, was what caused presidential body guards to storm the meeting as they felt that the mutterings were getting out of hand.

The chief whip of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, had particularly challenged the NEC to wholly adopt the President’s decision, an assertion that caused many NEC members to shout at him, forcing the body guards to enter the meeting.

It was at that point that Odigie-Oyegun called for the composition of a compact committee to review the situation.

“We must ensure decorum and respect the views of members, whether we agree with it or not. The President is in our midst, we all should respect that,” a source quoted Odigie-Oyegun as saying.

Another source present at the NEC said: “We attended the National Caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa on Monday night, and he (President) gave us no notice or inkling of his decision to go against the decision on the tenure extension.

“This is not how you treat party leaders. In fact, this is at the crux of many of the problems we face in our party – no consultations and unilateral decisions. Truly, the President has taken us for granted.”

EDO APC backs Buhari

The mutterings nonetheless, Edo State chapter of the party has thrown its weight behind President Buhari’s stance on the election of new executives across the board.

The chairman of the state chapter of the party, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, told Vanguard, yesterday, that President Buhari has saved the party from constitutional crisis which would have destroyed the party if he had allowed the one year extension granted to members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to stay.

“It was a statement that was timely and justified. By that statement alone, the President has enhanced the profile of our party and saved us the disgrace that was imminent in implementation of that unconstitutional proposal.

“In the past two years, we have had a number of people from other parties joining our party. Now, these people are joining with the hope that they will be fully integrated into the party. One of the ways that this integration takes place is in the participation in these congresses.

“And in some cases, some of them are free to aspire and hold offices. By implementing this proposal, you would have shut those out, at least, for another one year and perhaps, another four years.

“The most important thing which is fundamental is that our constitution as a party does not permit it. But the President has even taken it beyond that to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is the most important law in our land and that law expressly forbids any body holding an office in a political party being there for more than four years without an election.”

Buhari has no power to change NEC decision —APC

The APC’s stance that President Buhari’s decision cannot change the collective decision of the NEC was declared by the party’s lawyer at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which is hearing the suit filed against the tenure extension of the party executives.

It came as the party challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear the suit.

The party further queried the decision of the court to grant accelerated hearing to the legal action initiated on March 8 by four of its members who told the court that they were aspiring to run for leadership positions upon expiration of the current term of executives of the APC at various levels.

However, the plaintiffs- Ademorin Kuye from Lagos State; Sani Mayanchi from Zamfara State and currently the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state; Are Mutiu, also from Lagos State, and Machu Tokwat from Kaduna State, maintained that the action of the APC NEC was illegal.

Aside Odigie-Oyegun, others that the plaintiffs, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/237/2018, urged the court to compel to vacate their positions at the expiration of their current tenure, are officials of the party at the national, state, local government area, and ward level across the country.

At the resumed proceeding on the case yesterday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Jubrin Okutekpa, SAN, notified the court that President Muhammadu Buhari had at the National Executive Council meeting of the APC in Abuja on Tuesday, conceded that the tenure elongation was unconstitutional.

He said there was need for the court to expedite hearing on the suit so as to promptly reverse the illegal tenure extension condemned by President Buhari.

However, APC, through its lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, urged the court to discountenance the submission which it said was misconceived.

APC told the court that President Buhari was entitled to his personal views, saying he is an ordinary member of the party like others.

Daudu, SAN, said: “As far as President Buhari’s views are concerned, it carries no weight until the party meets and decides and deliberates on it. As far as the party is concerned, he is an ordinary member like others.”

He said the party was in line with Order 7 Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, entitled to 30 days from the date the suit was filed, to enter its defence.

APC insisted that the suit raised serious constitutional issues, saying “for the interest of fair hearing, we are still within time to file our processes.”

Similarly, Odigie-Oyegun, who is also a defendant in the suit, through his lawyer, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, aligned himself with the position of the party, even as he opposed the abridgement of time for hearing of the suit.

On his part, the National Organising Secretary of the party Osita Izunaso who is also a defendant challenged his inclusion in the matter.

Izunaso, through his lawyer, Mr. James Onoja, SAN, further contended that he was not properly served with the court processes which he said was dumped at the APC secretariat.

Meantime, INEC’s lawyer, Mr. Idris Yakubu, told the court that the commission also raised a preliminary objection against the suit.

In a bench ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said the court would adopt a procedure that would guarantee fair and expeditious hearing of the matter.

He ordered all the parties to file and exchange their processes before April 16.

Firefire:
IF any man be in APC, he/she is a new CREATURE, OLD things including all the previous loots, funds kept in SWISS Banks and those used in funding the dullard 2015 election has passed away and now referred to as SAINTS.

Firefire:
Now laughing in Japanese Yen...

Firefire:
I laugh...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has opposed the hearing of the suit by aggrieved members of the party over the tenure elongation for the National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie Oyegun before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The members led by Ademorin Kuye and Are Mutiu (Lagos); Sani Mayanchi (Zamfara); and Machu Tokwat (Kaduna) had earlier sought an ex parte order directing the NWC members to show cause why the court should not bar them from parading themselves as national officers of the party effective June 30.

Those joined as respondents in the suit included the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC, the party’s national chairman, Oyegun and the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the applicants, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) asked the court to allow the matter to be heard since President Muhammadu Buhari had at the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party on Tuesday, March 27, admitted that the tenure elongation was illegal.

However, defence lawyers, Akin Olujimi (SAN); Joseph Daudu (SAN); James Onoja (SAN) and Idris Yakubu, asked the court to adjourn the matter to enable them respond to the originating processes just served on them.

Daudu, who is counsel to the APC, argued that Order 7 Rule 1 provided for 30 days from the date of filing the suit for a reply. He therefore asked the court to discountenance Okutepa’s submission.

Responding to the president’s comment, Daudu said whatever view thereof was Buhari’s personal opinion and carried no weight until the party met and deliberated on the matter.
“As far as President Buhari’s view is concerned, it carries no weight until the party meet and decide and deliberated on it. As far as the party is concerned he is an ordinary member like others,” he said.

After listening to the argument of counsel, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba assured that the court would give fair hearing to all parties in the matter. He ordered the filing and service of processes before the court and adjourned till April 16 for hearing.

The International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) on Wednesday raised alarm over alleged plot to carry out ethnic and religious cleansing in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

This is contained in a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi; Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Programme, Barr Obianuju Joy Igboeli; Head, Democracy & Good Governance Programme, Barr Chinwe Umeche; and Head, Public Security & Safety Programme, Barr Jacinta Ezinwanne.

The body said it doubted the claim by the federal government on discovery of 80,115 ghost police officers and men.

It read: “According to media reports quoting a data obtained from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; there are 80,115 ghost police officers in the staff strength and payroll of the Nigeria Police Force, from its previously quoted staff strength of 371, 800.

“In the same ministerial report, the total staff strength of the Federal Government of Nigeria, said to have been updated as at February 2018 was put at 607, 843 including 469 MDAs with staff strength of 316, 158 and the Nigeria Police Force with “291, 685 serving police officers”.

“This was further broken down to 100,822 as total staff strength of Nigerian Custom Service, Nigerian Prisons Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Security & Civil Defense Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps; all referred to “paramilitary formations”. Federal civil servants also accounted for 90,000 while the remaining 120, 000 others were drawn from the Armed Forces including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, State Security Service and the National Intelligence Agency.

“Contradictorily, the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotum Idris had last month during the presentation of the proposed 2018 budget of the Nigeria Police Force at the National Assembly claimed that, from the NPF updated records of December 2017 the NPF is presently populated by 300,892 officers and maintains 6,900 formations.

“The 6,900 police formations, according to him, include 12 Zonal and 37 State and FCT (Abuja) Commands, 128 Area Commands, 1,388 Divisional Commands, 1,579 Police Stations and 3,756 Police Posts. The IGP further claimed that the Force presently has a total of 14, 306 vehicles in its car fleet.

“It is therefore, shocking and alarming how, in spite of the foregoing police staff database management and clearly established staff query processes, the Buhari Government still announced without concrete evidence that the staff strength of the Nigeria Police is criminally over-shot by 27%.

“In other words, the NPF is overpopulated by 27% ghost police officers or 80, 115 out of 291,685 sworn police personnel. This is not only incredible and mind boggling, but also nothing short of recording another inglorious and dark feat.

“Also, if truly there are “80,115 ghost police officers in the NPF”, why have the Chairman of PSC and IGP not spoken elaborately on such sensitive issue? Was there a presidential visitation panel set up to probe the staff strength and payrolls of the NPF? If yes, who were members of the panel? When was its report submitted and to whom?

“Who and who were indicted particularly at the Force Headquarters and the Police Service Commission? Was there also a well publicized ministerial or police or oversight panel so set up for same? If yes, who were its members? Who constituted it? When was its report submitted and to whom? “Who and who were indicted?

“We demand that the names of the so called “80,115 ghost police officers” be made public. This will enable Nigerians and international watchers as well as possible innocent victims to have full details and enable them seek administrative, public and legal remedies and avoid being victimized by the Government.

“Human rights groups and media practitioners are hereby called upon to forensically follow the development so as to ensure that the Government announcement is not a ploy or grand design to perpetrate racial or religious cleansing in the Nigeria Police Force or sweep the scam under the carpet if it truly happened as officially announced.”

Abuja – Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday took an exception to the manner in which his close ally, Senator Dino Melaye, dramatizes issues on the floor of the Senate.

Saraki, while reacting to Melaye’s account of new developments in the case of his alleged involvement with two criminal suspects whom he said had reportedly escaped from police custody in Lokoja, frowned at how Melaye quickly digressed from presenting his argument to singing.

Senator Melaye, who told the Senate that while he sent legal representations to the state High Court, despite not being served any summon started that the police instead of presenting the suspects in court were asking for a bench warrant to arrest him.

“Mr President, the social media this morning was awash – and I have made confirmation that the suspects in my case who said I gave them guns and money – there is a reported case in Lokoja that there was a jailbreak at 5:00am this morning and the two suspects have escaped.

“Mr President we were all suppose to appear before the Lokoja high court this morning. My lawyers were in court at 9:00am and the case was called up and the prosecutor of the Nigerian police could not produce the two persons.

“Instead of producing the two persons they asked the judge to a bench warrant for an arrest but the judge refused to grant their prayers and the judge said despite the fact that I have not been served I sent representation to the court. And the main accused persons are absent in court,” Melaye said.

He however, continued in a dramatic manner with a song: “dis kain God oo, I never see your type ooo, dis kain God ooo blessed be your holy name…”

At this point, the Senate president who yielded the floor to him said: please, Senator Melaye, you are an elder statesman and we expect that you conduct yourself as such”.

“The Senate chamber is not a place for drama, and I urge you to stick to the issue to underscore its seriousness,” Saraki said.

Continuing, Senator Melaye said: “Rumours have it that this people were moved from detention, and rumours have it that they may have been killed because yesterday two international organisations were in Kogi based on my petition to find out what is happening.

“Surprisingly these two people have now been declared escapees. Mr President I want to use the opportunity and on the principle of justice to call on the inspector-general of police that within 48 hours he must produce these accused persons because they are presumed innocent until proven guilty they also have right to life.

“So police must as a matter urgency produce these two accused persons. Failure to do so I will sue the IG for mental assault. Nigeria is not a banana republic,”, he said.

The senate therefore directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to as a matter of urgency produce the suspects within 48hours.

However, in a related development, the Kogi State police command in Lokoja has declared Senator Melaye wanted.

In a statement issued and signed by the Commissioner, Mr Ali Janga, the police said that 6 suspects who were in custody, out of whom two had confessed to crimes at the instance of the lawmaker and one Mohammed Audu, have broken out of jail.

“Consequently, all the six suspects, Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu were sent for watch listing and red notice by the INTERPOL for immediate arrest any where we see them.

“The Command hereby appealed to members of the public to assist the Police with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects by reporting to the nearest police station,” the statement read.

The police authority also said investigation into the incident is ongoing and 13 officers who were on duty when the incident occurred have been detained for interrogation.

alphaconde:
apple turn to ogbono fruit

alphaconde:
this is late for me already.

several years ago i bought fine apples to surprise my dad and i kept them in the freezer, i wasnt able to give them to him until the next day behold when i saw the apples the next day i was surprised

The Senate yesterday formally put into motion the process of overriding President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act Amendment bill 2018, by re-introducing the bill at plenary.
The bill was passed through first reading without any incidence as bills are not debated at this stage.
This is as the Senate directed its Committee on Ethics to investigate allegations that lawmakers are being offered bribes to vote against the amendment.

The first version of the Electoral Amendment bill was vetoed by the president on the grounds that the amendment to Section 25 of the Principal Act, which provides for the reorder of general election, might infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to organise and supervise elections.

The lawmakers had changed the sequencing of elections in the country for the National Assembly elections to be held first before elections into the state Houses of Assembly, and governorship polls on a separate day, while the presidential election would be conducted last, to complete the general election cycle.

Section 25 of the Principal Act was specifically amended and substituted with a new Section 25(1), which provides that the elections shall be held in the following order: (a) National Assembly elections (b) state Houses of Assembly and governorship elections (c) presidential election.

The amendment is expected to whittle down the bandwagon effects of presidential elections on other elections.
The National Assembly however indicated readiness to override the president following legal advise from its Legal Department, that reasons given for the veto, were not justifiable.

The decision has however split the legislature as lawmakers lobby for and against the override.
Re-introducing the bill is the first step in the planned override process. It would be subjected to second reading, but would not be referred to the committee as the step has already been undertaken.
At the process for second reading, lawmakers would get the opportunity to speak for and against the amendment, which may indicate which way any override vote, would fall.

When the bill is introduced for third reading, after which it ought to be transmitted to the president for assent, lawmakers would then vote to pass it into law, or defeat the amendment.
The lawmakers yesterday also voted to institute investigations into allegations that senators are being offered $50,000 each as bribe to defeat the planned override, while members of the House of Representatives are being offered $30,000 each.

This followed a point of order raised by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta PDP) who said the allegations, as published in some media, impugns on his credibility as a lawmaker.
He said this in reaction to reports that a minister and some serving governors who are working assiduously to ensure that the president’s veto is not defeated by the legislators, are trying to financially induce the lawmakers.

“My constituents have been calling me, some are asking me to bring their share. I know I did not collect anything, and I know many of you did not collect,” Nwaoboshi said.
In his ruling, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the matter borders on the integrity of the National Assembly as an institution.

“This Senate in the last two and half years (since) we started, has never had this kind of report where our integrity is called to question,” he said.
He directed the Ethics Committee to conclude its investigations within a week, and submit a ‘concrete’ report.

Meanwhile, in a surprising twist to the controversy over the amendment, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta APC) has dragged the Senate, and Senate President, Saraki, to court over the bid to investigate him for his comments on the amendment.
Also joined in the suit is the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami.

The Senate had directed its Committee on Ethics to investigate Omo-Agege for his comments that the Electoral Act amendment was targeted at weakening President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2019 polls.
Omo-Agege was one of nine senators who had staged a walk out when the amendment was passed on February 14, 2018.
Addressing the media, he had accused both legislative chambers of failing to adhere to laid down procedure to pass the amendment.

“When this bill was passed in the House of Representatives, only 36 members were present. This cannot stand in a House of 360 members.
“This amendment needs to be debated before it is passed. There is a section in our standing rules that if a bill is sent to the House of Representatives and it makes any inputs, the Senate shall dissolve into a committee of the whole,” he had said.

Speaking further, Omo-Agege had added: “We are supposed to determine if the decision of the House is in tandem with what the Senate passed. That was not done. We are 59 senators who are opposed to Section 25 of the Electoral Act. We cannot stand and allow a law passed against Mr. President to stand.”
But the senator had made a U-turn when on February 21, 2018, he had apologised for his comments.
In a twist however, his lawyers at Summit Law Chambers, instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja with number FHC/ABJ/CS/314/2018, seeking an injunction to stop the Ethics Committee’s investigation.
The embattled senator informed the committee at the sitting yesterday that he would not respond to any questions, as the matter was already in court.
Members of the committee expressed surprise at the development, particularly as Omo-Agege already apologised on the floor of the Senate.

Nwaoboshi argued that the move was a wrong one, as the court has no jurisdiction on a legislative matter, particularly an internal matter in the Senate or House of Representatives.
“This document does not stop us based on the legislative privileges act, and others. If a matter from outside comes in, the court can stop us, because that is not an internal matter,” he said.
Senator Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi PDP) said the matter is a straightforward one as Omo-Agege has indicated that he would not respond to questions.
“We should adjourn this matter based on what he has said in this document and make our recommendations. As far as I am concerned, he (Omo-Agege), has decided this matter himself. After apologising, the next thing, he went to court,” Ogba said.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa also weighed into the discussion, and asked Omo-Agege, who is a lawyer, to consider whether the court has jurisdiction over the matter.
“As a senator, can the court stop us from carrying out our duties as a senate? What is happening here is like almost inviting anarchy. Coming from a senator, I feel bad, we are colleagues,” he said.
The committee Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, ruled that Omo-Agege cannot be forced to speak at the hearing.
The sitting was adjourned till ‘further notice’.
The letter informing the Senate of the court process was dated March 26, 2018, and signed by Ifeoluwa Ojediran for Summit Law Chambers

It read in part: “Please be informed that the aforesaid matter has been filed before the Federal High Court, wherein Senator Omo-Agege (plaintiff) is seeking injunctive reliefs restraining his referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, as a breach of his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights, among others.
“Find attached with this letter is the advance copy of the originating summons and motion on notice.”
“It is significant to note that Rule 53 (5) of the Nigerian Senate Standing Orders 2015 states to the effect that once a matter has been filed before the court, the Senate must not take any action on the matter until same is heard and determined by the court,”

“Distinguished senator, it is also a well settled law that where an action is pending in court, no party must take any-action calculated to render the judgment of the court nugatory. The law is also trite where a plaintiff is seeking injunctive reliefs before the court, no party is allowed to take steps calculated to render a fait accompli on the court. See Ojukwu v Governor of Lagos State (1986) 3 NWLR (Pt 26) 39.

“In view of the above, we submit that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, cannot invite the plaintiff to appear before it, until the matter he has filed before the Federal High Court is determined one way or another.
“We believe that the distinguished senators will comply with the Rule of law on this matter,” it read.

The governor of Benue State, Sam Ortom, says Nigerians should rise up to defend themselves against attackers without necessarily carrying arms.

The governor said citizens could use sticks to disarm attackers, recalling that he disarmed robbers armed with seven AK47 in the past.

According to him, security matters are not just left in the hands of security men as it requires thr collaboration of all Nigerians.

Ortom said this in an interview with State House reporters Tuesday after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Reacting to a recent call by a former Minister of Defence,Theophilus Danjuma asking people to defend themselves, Ortom said Danjuma was misrepresented.

"He (Danjuma) did not tell anybody to take up arms. He only said that people should protect themselves. Of course, you know that self-preservation is the first law of nature. You can’t just wait in your house and allow someone to come and kill you. You can resist the person, but you don’t necessarily need to have arms. I think that was what the former minister was saying.

"There is need for people to arise to defend themselves not necessarily using weapons that are banned. You can use a stick and disarm someone. Some years ago, I was able to disarm armed robbers with seven AK 47 without anything. I think that is the kind of thing he (Danjuma) is trying to say. Nigerians should rise up to do this.

"Security matters are not just left in the hands of security men, it requires every one of us to put our heads together and be courageous to be able to surmount it," the governor stated.

He said he visited Buhari to thank him for his recent condolence visitor to Benue State after the killings there as well as to also intimate him with the current situation.

He said he also reminded Buhari about the request of Benue people and assured him that the state remained committed to a united Nigeria 'and to work with him in ensuring that we collaborate with the Federal Government to provide security for lives and property in Nigeria."

He said he also informed the president about the plight of over 175,000 displaced persons in eight camps in the state who had expressed the desire to return home.

The governor noted Buhari assured him that the federal government woud rehabilitate those displaced and consider all other issues presented to him.

"It is quite assuring that it will be well and I want to thank the President for the support he has shown. I know that this crisis did not just start during his tenure, it precedes this government. When I was serving as minister, my ancestral home was destroyed, 53 people were killed and this was in 2013 when Mr. President was not yet here. But I think that what is important is that the NEC sub-committee headed by the Vice President is doing the needful.

Ortom said his government remained committed to the people of the state and it ranching law which, according to him, is the way forward.

"Like I keep saying, if people have better options, let them bring it to the table. For us in Benue State, that remains the global best practice and Nigeria cannot be an exception especially when the land is decreasing and the population is increasing. The 20 million cattle in Nigeria cannot cope with open grazing, there is not doubt about that and a solution has to be created just as it is done in India with over 300 million herds of cattle, in Brazil 250 million herds of cattle and in America 300 million but yet, there has not been clashes like we've witnessed in Nigeria with just 20 million cattle.

"So, we must adopt global best practices and modern ways of animal house boundary, this will go a long way in helping us. And I think that for us in Benue, we're wining because even Miyetti Allah makaban have accepted that truly, ranching remains the best option. We commend them."

He pledged that his government would work with Meiyetti Allah "to see how our law can wear human face to ensure that we have a win-win for all."

"And you'd recall that the issue of cattle rustling is very major problem to the cattle rearers in Nigeria. Ranching will minimize this problem in Nigeria, it will minimize attacks on farms and encroachment on farms. So, we encourage everyone to work with us to ensure that we achieve this," the governor said.

Ortom also stated that he had no strained relationship with Buhari's government over the security challenge in Benue.

I'm an APC governor and the federal government is APC. We've always been meeting and I've said very positive things about this government before and I've not retracted what I said. The fact is that I've a challenge at hand and need to stay with my people to be able to surmount this because they're the people that elected me. And Benue people first before any other thing.

"I've not had any strained relationship with the federal government. I had strained relationship with a security agency's head, not even with security agencies and that was the point I was making. But all I was saying was trying to add value to the security of the nation by bringing my suggestions as a former local government chairman, former minister and now current serving governor. I think I've something to add to the security architecture of this country that can add value and help us to do better than we're doing.

"There's always room for improvement in any setting or organisation by buying from one person to the other because nobody has monopoly of knowledge. We must synergize and corporate with one another and so, when you neglect this, and you've a tragedy like the one you have in Benue State, it's not good enough. And people must be willing to accept pieces of advice, especially superior opinion that can help shape and add value to the development of our system."

Asked what had changed in Benue since Buhari's visit, he said "Well, there are some killings in flash points by these militia groups, the security men are doing their best, and a number of arrests have been made by the security agencies. It's still going on. Even yesterday, there were killings, but the security men are doing their best. I believe that we'll over come this. If not for the presence of the security men in our land, the situation would've really worsened than what it's today. I think we're collaborating with the security agencies and are not leaving any stone unturned to overcome this."

tosyne2much:
Wetin be their monikers?


Hope say no be say you collect money for publicity from the couple come deceive Lalasticlalaa for here say na you dey wed?

dokyOloye:
I work with a lot of very educated middle belt Christians and while they may not be very violent towards Igbos,they still passionately hate Igbos.
I didn't say 'dislike',I said hate.
Even after all the southern Kaduna and Agatu massacre last year,these same ppl were rejoicing when the same hausa/Fulani led army were in their campaign of murder in the south east in the name of python dance.
They only recovered their sense since this year when fulani intensified their killings.
Only my strong Catholic background will let me give half a fork but as an Igbo man,I don't give a fork.
They can all perish for all I care

horsepower101:
That's why I look at igbos who try to be one Nigeria with these evil people as fools. They haven't even apologized for their atrocities and some of them taunt igbos with it.

Yet you see some foolish igbos fighting for one Nigeria.

SouthEastFacts:
You are on your own. I am setting up a Permanent Mission to the North soon. It will bleed me money but I don't give a fvck. Those kids need protection, I am going to do that in any way my resources can carry. Northern christians are vulnerable.

SouthEastFacts:
I lost 19 uncles who gave their lives freely that we might all live. I celebrate them every moment of my life, I celebrate the #Peoples'Army. But that doesn't mean we should wish wickedness to any human. Northern christians are endangered specie. They need our help.

The terminal stages of the disease of extreme hunger, inflicted on those children, was called kwashiokor and manifested in heavily swollen stomachs, dry skulls with sunken eyes and shriveled bony legs that could barely carry the body. At times, the totally unclad children become too weak to stand and simply fell to the ground and lay still until waiting vultures, taking them for dead, descended upon them, tearing them up for the festival of human meat of the enforcers of one-Nigeria.

The Red Cross struggled its very best in an unprecedented and yet to be paralleled magnitude of operations, frantically trying to get food and medicine to the dying children of Biafra but the forces of one-Nigeria under the watch of one Yakubu Gowon, targeted and bombed Red Cross planes on desperate Humanitarian Mission, killing the foreign pilots and crew.

The National Executive Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to take a final stand tonight on the tenure of the current party executives.
The tenure of members of the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, which is billed to expire on June 30, was last month extended by one year.

The party’s convention is supposed to hold before June 30, but this is now uncertain with the extension of the tenure of the NWC members. The development has polarised the party.
The Caucus meeting of the party, which usually precedes the NEC meeting, held last night at the Presidential Villa. The fate of Oyegun’s NWC was top on the agenda.

Forces against tenure extension include the camp of the party leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the party in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The report of the Governor Nasir El-Rufai committee on true federalism and the APC constitution review had been pencilled down for discuss at the Caucus..

Sources with knowledge of what would transpire at yesterday’s APC Caucus meeting said aggrieved members had made up their minds that the tenure elongation approved for Oyegun and others by the NEC of the party must be reversed for peace to reign.

The sources said ninety per cent of the problems bedevilling the party could be resolved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“A decision must be taken between today (yesterday) and tomorrow (today). If those that matter insist that the NWC members must continue, the likes of Tinubu and many National Assembly members would have to decide on what to do to remain relevant politically,” one of the sources said.

Another source said the Caucus would advise that a caretaker committee should be constituted because there was no time to organize a national convention.

“If you remember, it was agreed during the last month’s Caucus meeting that the congresses and convention would hold. The president even preached peace and urged party members to unite,” he said.

“But sadly, the decision was changed; they changed the mind of the president in less than ten hours when the tenure elongation issue came up. It was the hand work of some governors, including Nasir El-Rufai, Yahaya Bello, Rotimi Akeredolu and M.A. Abubakar, in cohort with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who wanted Oyegun and others to remain on board for selfish reason,” he said.

Another source said though Tinubu and the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives had not been on the same page since 2015, “they have now found a point of convergence - they all said Oyegun must go.”

According to the source, “Tinubu had long ago shelved the responsibility given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile aggrieved members of the party. He stopped after the abrupt tenure elongation granted to members of the NWC.


“On the other hand, senators and members of the House of Representatives have categorically said the tenure extension cannot stand because it contravened the provisions of the APC Constitution.

“For instance, the senators were unambiguous in stating their position when Oyegun and his team visited them at the National Assembly last week. The senators took turns telling them the truth that the APC leadership had failed in all respect by allowing crisis to fester everywhere.

“They told them that even if the party constitution allowed tenure extension, political expediency will not allow them to continue because they have failed to keep the party as one family.

“Convention is the way out because it would provide political solution to all contending issues in the party. However, tenure extension is an illegality and some aggrieved members are waiting in the background; even the opposition members are watching and they would go to court and counter all the decisions taken after the expiration of the NWC tenure. It would be difficult for the APC to recover because we are already in election season,” he said.

According to him, “a battle line has been drawn and the only solution is to go for convention.”

APC Committee on True Federalism

The party constituted a committee led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to fine-tune the party’s concept on the issue of restructuring on July 19, 2017.

On January 25, 2018, the chairman of the committee submitted its report to Chief Odigie-Oyegun-led APC National Working Committee (NWC).

The report of the committee was officially unveiled and presented to Nigerians in Abuja on January 31, 2018.

The committee made far-reaching recommendations on the creation of states, derivation principle, fiscal federalism and revenue allocation, devolution of powers, federating units, form of government, independent candidacy, land tenure system, local government autonomy, power sharing and rotation, resource control, and type of legislature.

There were further recommendations and advice on the demand for affirmation for vulnerable groups, citizenship, ministerial appointment, state constitution, role for traditional rulers, community participation, minimum wage, legislation, elections, governance, judiciary, as well as states realignment and boundary adjustment.

APC Draft Constitution

The APC constitution review committee led by Muiz Banire, the party’s National Legal Adviser, submitted its report that contained 85 proposals for amendment on July 27, 2017.
Dr Banire, while presenting the report, said the 10-member committee worked with the International Republican Institute (IRI) to accomplish the task.

He said major categories amended included powers, responsibilities and functions of party organs; composition of organs; disciplinary procedure; definitions; financial management; membership; organizational structure and tenure as well as the issue of internal democracy among others.

Tinubu absent at APC caucus meeting

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, was absent at the party’s caucus meeting held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja last night.
The meeting, held at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The meeting, which started at 8:30pm, was still ongoing at the time of filing this report (10:05pm).

It was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and other party’s chieftains.

State governors present at the meeting included those of Ogun, Edo, Lagos, Benue, Bauchi, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Ondo, Adamawa, Kano, Jigawa, Kogi and Kebbi.

Tinubu’s media aide, Mr Tunde Rahman did not respond to a call yesterday on why his principal was not at the caucus meeting.

However, he had told the Daily Trust on Sunday that, “What Asiwaju is saying is that things should be done rightly, I mean constitutionally.” He said that Tinubu’s grouse with Oyegun’s executive is not a personal thing.

“Personally, I have looked at the APC constitution and I did not see where it granted elongation of tenure in whatever form to executive committees of parties. Even the 1999 Constitution as amended speaks about what is right with respect to the periodic tenure of party executives. That is in Section 223,” he said.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated the Food Security Council chaired by him.

At the inauguration, the president spoke about Nigeria’s “very turbulent” journey in the past three years, the period of his administration. He listed some of the efforts his administration has taken to address the concerns.

The president’s speech was sent to PREMIUM TIMES by his office.

Read the full speech below.

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL,

MONDAY, 26TH MARCH 2018

PROTOCOLS:

Two weeks ago, I announced my intention to establish and chair a presidential level committee that focuses on food security, I am happy that today it has become a reality.

2. Nigeria’s journey in the last three (3) years, has been a very turbulent one. The country’s need for critical job creating sectors which has been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results.

3. We introduced the National Social Investment Programmes targeting millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth.

4. We launched agricultural programmes focusing on import substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the most remote rural parts of our country.

5. We commenced the long term Pollution Remediation Projects in the Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. Fishing and farming will resume once blighted areas are rehabilitated.

6. We intensified our participation in the Lake Chad Basin Commission with the goal of reversing the shrinkage of the lake, which impacts the livelihoods of over 45 million farmers, herdsmen and fishermen in the LCBC countries.

7. We issued the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects. This was oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our government.

8. We established the Agro Rangers Unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments recorded in Nigeria’s agricultural sector across the country.

9. We continued to equip the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to fight maritime criminals such as pirates and sea robbers who adversely impact offshore and inland fishing activities in our waters.

10. These programmes and many more, have started yielding results and if sustained, will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country.

11. We are well aware that the full results will not be felt or seen overnight. The journey is long. It is therefore our collective duty to ensure the actual and potential positive impacts of these programmes are sustained, improved and expanded.

12. A key mandate of the Food Security Council is to continuously assess and enhance these infant, but impactful programmes, thereby guaranteeing they achieve their full potential.

13. We shall also develop new programmes and projects that will protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry and forestry.

14. As we all know, land is use for farming, grazing and forestry, Water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing. Therefore, any strategy for land and water management must take into account the interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability.

15. We will also not lose sight of the other issues that will impact our food production ambitions such as;

a. Population growth.

b. Urbanisation,

c. Industrialisation

d. Rural Infrastructure Development and

e. Climate Change.

16. These factors will also stress and stretch our land and water resources. This means we must invest in research and development to enhance yields and outputs.

17. Moreover, we are not insulated from Global and Regional events. Accordingly we develop local programs, but not lose sight of events from a far and their impact on us. Specifically, issues such as smuggling and dumping, which is our responsibility to ensure we develop and enforce strategies to protect Nigeria from these illegal and unhealthy imports.

18. The Council includes Governors representing the six (6) geopolitical zones. Some geopolitical zones have similar Eco climatic conditions. The council is therefore a platform to further enhance the collaboration between the federal and state governments. We shall share success stories and collaborate to address common threats.

19. We will also engage key stakeholders representing the core sectors of the Food Value Chain. Regular consultations will be held with investors, development partners, financiers, academia and our friends and allies abroad.

20. Our deliberations will look into all the issues and our decisions will be implementable and impactful. We shall stay focused, first and foremost on securing our food requirements and employment for our people, especially the youth. We shall feed ourselves and build an inclusive Nigeria for ourselves and for future generations.

Thank you may God bless our country.