₦airaland Forum

superemmy:
If to say na Jonathan now, everybody from the lowest scuttling of riffraffs to the highest echelons of insufferable elites would've pounced on his raw flesh. But alas
They no wan stand on the side of truth for fear of Bubari.

INDEED THERE WAS A COUNTRY

Evablizin:


Kikikikikiki,i strongly believe that oga at the top will fail this exam woefully even the performance of the teachers will be better than his.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to investigate the controversy surrounding the award of $25bn contracts in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, have been at loggerheads over the process of awarding the contracts.

Speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone on Tuesday, the Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the EFCC and the ICPC would be able to determine if such contracts existed or if the contracts followed due process.

Mumuni said, “I don’t want to take sides with anybody but the oil sector needs to be put straight and due process must be followed in the award of contracts.

“The investigators such as the EFCC and the ICPC must come into this matter. They must investigate transparently and release the report of that probe.

“This is necessary so that Nigerians can know what has transpired. Was due process followed? Was the process of awarding the contracts free of corruption? It is only when this has been determined that this government can prove that its anti-graft war is real.

“The NNPC has been in existence since 1977 under Olusegun Obasanjo as military head of state and Muhammadu Buhari was the first minister of petroleum and there was provision for a governing board. So, investigators will be the ones to tell us if there was corruption or not.”

Junaid, CD tackle Buhari on President’s ministerial portfolio

Meanwhile, a northern elder statesman and Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, and a civil society organisation, Campaign for Democracy, have knocked Buhari for his “defective role” in the ongoing controversy in the NNPC.

Junaid said, “What is best for the country is true independence of the NNPC. The first irresponsibility is the President appointing himself as the petroleum minister. This is why any time he was ill, the industry also was ill and the fortunes of Nigerians suffered. Starting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the idea that the president is also the minister of petroleum resources is bad for the country and this is my concern.”

Also, the CD President, Usman Abdul, said, “During Buhari’s absence from the country, some of us protested that he should either resume or resign. Some people felt we were being used by political elements. But we were factual.

“We knew the rot going on in most of the government ministries and departments. “So, if the President, as the petroleum minister, was away, who did the NNPC boss confide in when awarding the contracts? There is so much lack of control under the Buhari’s government.”

But the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership said if the NNPC was perceived to be executing its responsibilities well, it did not matter who Baru was reporting to.

CACOL Director, Debo Adeniran, said, “The personality clash is not as important as the business of the NNPC. Statutorily, the NNPC boss knows who he should report to. If the allegations levelled against him are confirmed, then he may be punished. But as long as the job gets done, the person he reports to should not be made a sentimental issue.”

A civil society group, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy, asked Kachikwu and Baru to resign to pave the way for an independent probe of the corporation.

The group’s coordinator, Ariyo Atoye, said, “It is now obvious that President Buhari cannot fight corruption. A top chieftain of the All Progressives Congress confided in me during a tour that the corruption going on under this government is mind-boggling.

“The only semblance of hope we have is that the National Assembly might do something differently from what the executive might do. The only way we can unearth the true picture of the situation is the investigation by the National Assembly.”

Kachikwu/Baru: Making comments may offend Buhari, say APC chiefs

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress has not intervened in the dispute between the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Makanti Baru, in order not to offend President Muhammadu Buhari, The PUNCH has learnt.

Multiple party sources confided in our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday that the matter was purely a matter for the executive and it should be left at that.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC have been engaged in a war of words over the process for the award of contracts totalling $25bn.

Kachikwu had written a memo to Buhari, accusing Baru of insubordination and disrespect for due process in handling the affairs of the NNPC.

The memo was eventually leaked to the media about five weeks after it was sent to the President, who, however, failed to act on the minister of state’s memo.

When asked why the governing APC had yet to react to issues raised in the memo, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said, “There is no official comment of the party at this time, but when we are able to comment, I will let you know.”

However, some members of the party’s National Working Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that they could not go public with their views on the matter for fear of a possible backlash from the Presidency.

A party source said as leaders, they were treading softly so as not to be on the wrong side of the President.

He stated, “Yes, we are leaders at the level of the party but as party leaders under this dispensation, we are fully aware of our limitations.

“I dare say no one among us would want to be seen as confronting the President on an issue that is purely within his domain.

“Both Kachikwu and Baru are his appointees; he has the power to deal with them as he deems fit, the party had no imput into their appointments.

“We can’t be telling him how to handle members of his staff because he is the substantive Minister of Petroleum and the people you are talking about work directly under him.”

Another party leader of northern extraction likened what is happening at the NNPC to a civil war.

He said, “Civil wars are more difficult to handle. I consider what is happening between the junior minister and the NNPC boss as a civil war. It would have been a different matter if one of them is a member of the party and the other is not.

“There is no way one can say something now and it would not appear as if one is taking sides. The only problem most of us have with this whole affair is the damage it is likely to do to the party in the eyes of the public.

“Even though Baru’s response has clarified a lot of the misgivings, a lot of people still think a matter of corruption is being swept under the carpet; which is not true.

“At the same time, I sympathise with Dr. Kachikwu; he might have been forced to go public after attempts to get through to his immediate boss were scuttled by you know who.”

A party leader from the South, who also spoke on the issue, said, “We must allow Mr. President perform his duties. He appointed these people and knows what he expects from them. Imagine if any of us said anything about the (alleged) scandal our former colleague, Babachir Lawal, got himself involved in.

“The only thing we can do is to join the queue of people waiting for the President to take a decision. If he decides to consult the party for advice, we will certainly give one; until then, we must wait.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

WinningSun:
who told you that. SA know an Ibo man ask those who are there.

segunojo866:
Please share your HIV experience here. Thanks

Evablizin:
whether NPF,NA or SA none of them is above death,they killed today,tomorrow might be their turn.

WinningSun:
ANOTHER DEVELOPER.

Evablizin:
My Lord,just speechless,South Africa police force none of you is above death,you killed him today tomorrow might be your turn.

RIP.

annnikky:
Abeg is not imoans rather imolites.. Tnx

GameGod:
They don't want development

AnthonioAlsaid:
naso oooo........my works speaks for itself

this your moniker looks feminine....like queenBee

AnthonioAlsaid:
I trained her

tytachile:
if the owner has the IMEI Number intact somewhere, forget it whether you go to to London interpol will bring you down to naija here. so advice: if you want easy tracking of your phone write the IMEI number where you can easily retrieve it to punish the phone thiefs, again if you get a used phone just get receipt you are covered!

balogun16:
idiot. fucking ass licker. na your type woman they kill. you are a disgrace to manhood. you should be expelled from men community

Saintsammurai:
hmm the rate at which people are dropping pre wedding pics in nairaland since last month is kind of strange.. Anyways happy married life in advance... please no matter what, dont hit her with your hands... just walk away, then punish her by eating her vagina and make her have multiple orgasm that will make her unable to walk for hours..

justi4jesu:

bakila:
Congrats, did you book the space or you commented faster than STC.

gentle136:
if arsenal no win dis match make I naked bath 4 bathroom

justi4jesu:
See as i dey look you...

paiz:
I must hire him

If not he will hack the system and add his name on payroll

Now thats what we call a ghost worker

British Airways has sacked 23-year-old air hostess, Joanne Wickenden, who shot a racist video where she was seen ranting and insulting Nigerian passengers.

She sparked outrage after the video in which she was seen in her British Airways uniform before flying from London Heathrow to Abuja on Friday night.

According to MailOnline, Ms. Wickenden told officials at British Airways that the video which she uploaded via her Snapchat was ‘just a joke’, adding that she was set up by a British Airways colleague who recorded her and shared the clip.

In a statement on Tuesday, British Airways said Wickenden no longer works with the airline as their staff were expected to be of utmost professionalism when representing the airline.

“She no longer works for British Airways. We expect the utmost professionalism from our staff when they are representing British Airways,” it said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Wickenden, who wants to be an actress, told journalists that she is not a racist.

“I am not a racist.

“I have been framed by another British Airline employee. They were encouraging me, egging me on to say things. They were recording me and sent it around to our friends, she said I don’t want to fly anymore,” she said.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Advocates of more power for states seem to be winning their age-long battle.

Their position is being vindicated at the various consultations on restructuring organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the North, which an elderstateman yesterday said was not afraid of restructuring, some states supported the devolution of power, a rework of the revenue allocation formula and a united Nigeria.

It was all at the APC’s restructuring consultation in North West (Sokoto), North Central (Ilorin) and North East (Bauchi).

Kwara, Kogi and Niger states were in Ilorin. Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe had their session in Bauchi.

Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states met in Sokoto for the consultation on Nigerians’ position on restructuring, which many believe is the antidote to the dismemberment of Nigeria.

The common position in all the centres is that there should be devolution of power from the Federal Governemt to states.

The consultation being coordinated by a committee headed by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, started on September 18. It will end on October 9.

The governments of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara advocated that some aspects of health, transport, fire service, among others, should be devolved to the states with resources attached. The Federal Government should focus on defence, foreign affairs, security and currency—a position canvassed by many eminent citizens, including frontline politician Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The three Northwest states are controlled by the APC. Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) attended the session. Zamfara State was represented by Deputy Governor Ibrahim Wakala.

Also yesterday, elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, an adviser to Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, said on a television programme that the north is not opposed to restructuring.

Sokoto’s position, presented by former Deputy Governor Chiso Abdullahi, rejected the creation of new states, because many states are not viable.

He said the presidential system should be preserved with fiscal federalism while power rotation and zoning should be maintained to foster national unity.

He also advocated a unicameral legislature with advisory role given to traditional rulers.

To Sokoto State, the revenue allocation formula should be adjusted to give the Federal Government 43 per cent, states 35 per cent and local governments 23 per cent.

Kebbi State equally rejected creation of new states and bicameral legislature. It suggested that zoning should be on the basis of North and South.

Kebbi’s proposal on revenue sharing is Federal Government 40 per cent, states 40 per cent and local government areas 20 per cent. It is in support of devolution of power to states.

Zamfara State also suggested that the status quo should be maintained on state creation, derivation, devolution of powers, presidential system of government and land tenure system.

The chairman of the APC Restructuring Committee for North-west, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, said all the views collated would be taken back to the APC national headquarters.

“At the end of the exercise, all the views collated will be analysed and this will form the opinion of the APC and the Federal Government,” he said.

Zamfara State said it was solidly for Nigeria’s unity.

Speaking on Chanels Television, Yakasai said: ”I have never known any known northerner who is opposed to restructuring. But what we want to know is what are the details? We are tired of going into something blindly only to turn out in regrets.

”I have been asking the promoters of the idea of restructuring to explain what the blueprint is What will Nigeria look like after restructuring? What we have been asking for is a blueprint for restructuring.

Yakasai, who backed the call for Nigeria to return to the 1963 constitution, added that the country must maintain the four regions adopted by that same constitution in 1963.

”Now some people have started to speak out. Emeka Anyaoku said we should go back to 1963 constitution where we had four regions- North, West, East and Midwest. Then there was a gathering of some Afenifere leaders in Ibadan and they said we should go back to the 1963 constitution but they created six regions.

”In 1963, we didn’t have six regions. We either eat our cake or have it. If we want to go back to 1963 situation, then we go back to four regions.

”If we want to create more then we use the provisions of 1963 constitution to create more (states), whatever number we want to create,” he said.

Answering a question on resource control, the elder statesman said: “I can tell you that whoever is having this kind of thinking is a short sighted person.”

He condemned those calling for the creation of more states, adding that they were doing so not to develop the poor but to win elections or get elective positions.

”There are so many states and each one is consuming 70 per cent of its revenue on bureaucracy. How can you develop on that? All countries in the world are not spending 70 per cent of their revenues on bureaucracy.

”All the 19 states plus Abuja (in the North) spend 70 per cent of their revenue on bureaucracy – salary, allowances and so on – not on development. They did not develop agriculture. They did not develop even power to provide for industries.”

But the Chairman, Political Committee, Afenifere, Prof. Banji Akintoye, urged the Federal Government to create structures to address calls for restructuring.

He accused the APC nine-member committee on restructuring headed by Governor El-Rufai of embarking on delay tactics to dampen the debate on restructuring.

Akintoye said: “If the Federal Government is committed to seeing the will of the people done, the thing to do is to create some sort of structure for sorting out this whole question of restructuring. That is how to do it. There is no other way.

”It is difficult to believe that you put a person like the young governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai at the head of an arrangement like that and you want us to trust that you really want the thing (restructuring) to happen. No, there are other leaders of the party. Former vice president is a member of the party. Bola Tinubu is a national leader of the party. Those people would have been more credible in that type of situation.

“When you go and put a man who is avowedly opposed to restructuring to come and head a party’s committee that will collect information about restructuring, there is doubt about what they are really after. Even though I hope they will come out with something good for the country I doubt that they would.”

Bauchi, Borno,Gombe, Yobe, backed calls for restructuring at the Bauchi centre of the consultation.

Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar expressed strong belief in one and united Nigeria.

Represented by Deouty Goveror Nuhu Gidado, the governor submitted that the youth should be given priority in a restructured Nigeria with true federalism.

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Government House, Damaturu, Lawal Usman Hassan

In its memorandum the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress submitted that the organized labour was not in support of any move towards the creation of additional states in view of the present Nigeria economic realities.

Gital also said the local government councils in the country should be granted autonomy should in order to facilitate and fast track development.

According to him, the organised labour is strongly of the view that Nigeria should continue with the current presidential system of government, which he said encourages democracy, guarantee political stability, independence of the President, proper use of talent and there is check and balance.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and other big wigs of the party are expected to participate in the party’s mega rally in Abia State.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson told newsmen on Monday in Umuahia, the state capital after the inauguration of the party’s Contact, Mobilization/Rally Committee that the event would hold in the state capital in October.

Godson explain that planned mega rally was to present new members of the party including former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu, Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, immediate past President Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, CEO Masters Energy and former Abia PDP governorship aspirant in 2015 election, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, MD of defunct Bourdex telecommunication and Abia North Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, MD of defunct Hallmark Bank and brother to former senate president (Adolphus Wabara), Mark Wabara among other Abia political big weights who will be presented to the public at the event scheduled to hold at the state capital.

According to Godson, the rally was preparatory to the party’s efforts to woo more supporters ahead of the 2019 general election.

He restated that the party would not zone the governorship position in the state to any zone, stressing that the party through an open and credible primaries would present candidates who are willing to serve Abians and deliver dividend of democracy to all parts of the state.

“A governor is like a father with many children. He loves the children equally and shares his wealth to them without favouring anyone. APC will produce a governor and leaders that have the interest of their subjects at heart.

“We are not going to promote godfatherism, but to present candidates based on their acceptability by the people who will elect them through a credible primary,” he said.

Chairman of the committee and deputy chairman of the party, Chief Ogumka Adiele promised that they were going to do the work entrusted in their care with their best.

Other members of the committee including Hon Acho Obioma, former House of Rep member and chairman Akoka Federal College of Education Governing Board Council, Chief Oxford Wabara and others pledged their commitment in ensuring that they work cooperatively with the committee’s chairman to produce a positive result.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

ademoladeji:
Brother, I gallant and you?

ademoladeji:
Oga, na wa oooo

McBrooklyn:
LOL... Badt guy, no corrupt me this night abeg... Me wey dey into white fasting for 40 days...