₦airaland Forum

mirage...

Benin

really...

haba...

tribute?

Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has dismissed rumour of any probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over a rumoured possession of N7b in foreign account.

Amaechi also dismissed statement credited to Governor Nyesom Wike that he is corrupt.

Amaechi made the statement while addressing APC supporters in Port Harcout. While alleging that Wike has over 5bank accounts, Amaechi accused him of corruption.

According to Amaechi, “One of the reasons I removed Nyesom Wike as Chief of Staff was that I sat down and discovered that he was doing contracts, I discovered that if I sign a document for another person, he will seize it and ask the person for bribe.

“At the start of government,as Chief of Staff,he wore long
robes that he was a Muslim, today,he is going on bended
knees in churches, let me tell you,don’t take God for granted.

“The funny thing is that he knows that I know him,we are
ready for them. “When you see him,tell him to publish any other account I
have apart from my salary account and the account I had as
Speaker,i challenge anybody in the world to prove me
wrong.

“They have asked me not to talk and am keeping quiet, I
hope I can maintain that for long because I can’t stay here
and a known thief is calling me a thief.

“I know all his companies and I have a copy for every
document I signed as governor,let him say one company
that I own.

He also said that the commission of inquiry set up to probe him was illegal and would not honour their invitation, “The panel is illegal, they should comply with the laws guiding the Constitution of such panel,when they do that,i
will appear and defend myself,” he said

some persons can be very unreasonable, just ensure u dont marry the wrong person. compatibility is a necessity...

wonderful...

chaiii...

No fewer than 38 virgins have been killed in an auto crash on their way to the festival where Swaziland King chooses wives.

DAILY POST reports that a long time tradition in Swaziland (Swazi) permits the King, Mswati, to choose a new bride every year (August), in the Swazi Reed Dance Festival where the King parades and tests topless under aged virgin girls publicly to ascertain that their virginity was still intact.

The Sherburne-educated king is known to pick his wives from the girls who perform for him at the traditional dance, a tribute to the queen mother. The King had chosen a 19-year-old virgin from the dancing maidens last year August, who became his 14th wife.
Times of Swaziland reports that dozens of girls and young women were killed during the weekend, as they travelled to the traditional festival where the King of Swaziland was to pick a new bride from thousands of topless, dancing virgins.

“When the open-topped truck collided with another vehicle, before being hit by a second truck as it travelled along a motorway between the Swazi cities of Mbabane and Manzini earlier this weekend, at least 38 girls who were to partake in the annual event, lost their lives,” according to the report, “and about 20 survivors were being treated.”

As the story goes, the authorities in Swaziland are being accused of trying to cover up the accident from human rights group.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) claimed the police attempted to discourage media report on the deaths. Photographers were however, restricted from the scene according to Swazi journalist, for security reasons, but reports on the tragedy, described the scene as chaoic, as parents began to arrive at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, in Manzini.

One of the survivors, Siphelele Sigudla, 18, told newsmen,

“We were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van.”

The SSN has called on the royal family to reconsider going ahead with the festival, which sees about 40,000 participating in the eight-day ceremony.

“We hope that the families of the deceased girls will hold the royal family accountable for the deaths of their children,” the SSN group said in a statement, as it alleged a similar incident had been covered up previously.

“The least that the royal family can do at this moment is to cancel this year’s reed dance.”

The King in his condolence statement, said:

“We all have heard about the dark cloud that has befallen the ‘imbali,” he said, using the Swati language word for flower, used to refer to the groups of women dancers.

Speaking at the opening of an international trade fair in Swaziland’s economic center Manzini, he promised that the affected families would be compensated, adding that investigation into the accident was ongoing.

carry on...

Former Governor Audu Abubakar, this morning, emerged the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State.

Audu defeated nine other aspirants, after 18 dropped shortly before voting commenced.

New entrant to politics, Alhaji Yahaya Bello (Fairplus) came a close second, in what many saw as an unprecedented feat for the Ebira Born politician. Audu has had two stints at the Lugard House, Kogi State’s government house in 1991 and 2003.

He will be facing the eventual winner of the peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the general election.

BREAKING: Audu wins Kogi APC primaries

LEGISLATORS who served in the immediate past National Assembly (NASS) are going home with N2,494,300,000 as severance pay, it has been learnt.

Those reelected into the present NASS also benefited from the package.

The severance pay is computed at the end of every session of the National Assembly. The 7th session ended on June 4, paving the way for the inauguration of the 8th session on June 9.

There are 109 senators and 360 House of Representatives members in the National Assembly.

Senators got N6. 7 million each; Representatives, N4.9 million each.

They were also given their official cars. Senators parted with N2 million each for their Prado Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and representatives, N1.9million each for their Peugeot 407 cars.

The vehicles were distributed to them after their inauguration in 2011. The exercise sparked outrage across the country.

The National Assembly leadership then said the vehicles were  “for use in performing committee functions.”

Investigation by The Nation showed  that the Prado SUVs allocated to the Senators were supplied at a contract price of N12 million per unit although the market  price then was about N8 million.

Sources said the amount deducted from the lawmakers’ severance gratuity was the ‘depreciation value’ of their cars.

Payment of severance gratuity to federal legislators is contained in the  “Remuneration Package for Political and Public and Judicial Office Holders” (Feb 2007 to date) prepared by  the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Under the RMAFC guidelines, the Senate President is entitled to N7, 482, 727.50 as severance gratuity and   House of Representatives Speaker, N7, 431,330.

Senators are entitled to N6, 079, 200 each and  representatives, N5, 955, 637.

So far, members of the 8th National Assembly have collected N12,967,600,000 in salary and allowances within the first two months of their sitting.

Senators got N36.4million each and representatives, N25million each.

The first tranche of N10million, totalling N4.6billion, was paid to the Senators and Representatives in June to ‘cushion’ the difficulty of settling down in Abuja.

The amount covered their housing, transport and furniture expenses.

Last month, senators got another N13.4 million each and representatives, N7 million each as quarterly allowance.

The legislators have gone on recess three times since their inauguration. They have yet to pass a bill.

There are proposals to cut their emoluments because of the prevailing economic situation.

The presidency has advised the Peoples Democratic Party “to stop its pathetic efforts to play down President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements in his first 100 days in office and bury its head in shame for subjecting Nigeria to the worst economic plunder through corruption in its recent history”.
Reacting to a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, that the economy has been going down under the APC administration, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Nigerian economy “was gasping for breath under the egregiously corrupt PDP administration, and that the country was witnessing an acceleration of poverty which united Nigerians for change”.
According Mr. Shehu, “the excruciating hardships experienced by Nigerians under the PDP misrule was unprecedented, it is ridiculous to for any sane government to artificially rebase the economy and claim to transform Nigeria into the largest economy in Africa as the PDP administration did”.
He said the former ruling party was artificially manipulating statistics to create the illusion of impressive economic performance record.
According to the presidential spokesperson, one falsehood built on another cannot stand, adding that if the PDP’s claim of economic successes in terms of GDP, employment generation, poverty alleviation and others were genuine, Nigerians wouldn’t have voted the party out of power.
Mr. Shehu wondered which contented electorate would have voted a performing party out of office.
He explained that if the former ruling party was doing so well, the opposition parties would have found it difficult to defeat a popular ruling party.
Mr. Shehu said that the PDP assumed performance was nothing more than window dressing, and a detachment from reality.
The Presidential spokesman said no economy can grow with corruption, an area in which the
PDP administration demonstrated more competence.
The presidency said criticism for its own sake is not the hallmark of credible opposition.
According to Mr. Shehu, “Nigerians no longer face exploitation at filling stations because the government is taking punitive measures against marketers that punish poor Nigerians.
He noted that queues had disappeared at filling stations, adding that the naira is also enjoying favourable exchange rate”.
The media aide said the Buhari administration had successfully blocked leakages and other avenues for corruption, practices which he said the previous PDP administration lacked the will or the desire to stop.
As a result of the measures to block leakages, he said the Buhari administration has frustrated the efforts by corrupt elements to divert public funds to private pockets.
Mr. Shehu said once the trial of corrupt officials formally begins, “the PDP might no longer have the moral legs to stand on, let alone talk down on Nigerians with fake claims of economic miracles under its most incompetent and grossly purposeless and sleazy administration”.

The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has defended former Governor Babatunde Fashola over an allegation that the former governor misappropriated public funds.

The APC described the contracts awarded by Fashola while in office as a reflection of his love for quality jobs.

The APC spokesperson in the state, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Thursday, asked the public to stop castigating Fashola for the amount of money he spent on execution of projects while on office.

Igbokwe described the recent criticisms trailing the contracts awarded by the former governor as the handiwork of the opposition.

He said, “Fashola is not a hut builder. So, he built a bridge for N29bn? You can decide to build a bridge for N5bn. Anybody who is interested in standards can build a bridge for N100bn.

“There are grades for everything; it depends on the way you want to look at it. It shows Fashola believes in standards.”

A report on the website of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency had stated that Fashola spent N139bn on two boreholes at the Lagos House; N175m to replace the railings of a pedestrian bridge on Carter Bridge from Ido to Idumota with concrete railings and N1.2bn on the construction of an unidentified multi-storey building in Onikan, Lagos.

Fashola also recently came under fire for spending N78.3m of taxpayers’ money on the upgrade of his personal website, www.tundefashola.com.

Cool

1. Be true to your self
2. Leave no regrets
3. Become love
4. Live the moment
5. Give more than you take

Really...

THE Senate is in the news again for the wrong reason, even as the dust raised by the emergence of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate President in controversial circumstances on June 9 is yet to settle. This time, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has launched into a seemingly pre-determined investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde’s alleged diversion of N1 trillion loot recovered by the agency.

In its rush for quick result, the committee sidetracked established Senate rules, raising more dust in the process. The probe, as would be expected, has thrown up a deluge of reactions. Some watchers of events at the Senate have dubbed the probe of the EFCC boss a mission impossible, while others labelled the investigation a scam orchestrated to cover other scams. Yet, some others are asking why now, especially with the obvious disregard of due process in the probe?

A huge gulf has already emerged in the upper chamber, creating as it were, a sharp division among the occupants of the chamber. Both APC and PDP senators are kicking. Some who are thrown off guard are gasping for breath. For them, the investigation is a fraud that must be halted.

Has Saraki shot himself in the foot again? Some say he is a man in love with shortcuts; one who detests procedural course , one who has little regard for due process. Saraki’s passion for the back door to achieve selfish results, they contend, is legendary, as he has amply demonstrated the trait a number of times without qualms.

When he became the Kwara State governor in 2003, one of his first actions which, ruffled feathers, was the transfer of the state’s account in the defunct Trade Bank, the state-owned bank, to the defunct Societie Generale Bank, where he was executive director before he became governor. The account was returned after a lot of dust was raised against the mindless shortcut.

Again, he had recently planned what amounted to a civilian version of a coup against his party – All Progressives Congress (APC) – to emerge Senate President. The party had zoned the position to the North East, casting its overwhelming lot for Senator Ahmed Lawan.

However, on the day the 8th National Assembly was to be inaugurated, while 51 APC senators, almost half of the 109-member Red Chamber, were waiting to meet President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, elections were hastily conducted in which Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu emerged as President and Deputy Senate President respectively. The dust raised by that brazen defiance is still simmering.

Now, seeing Saraki as the guiding hand behind Dr. George Uboh’s petition against the EFCC boss, observers believe that the Senate’s probe of the EFCC is Senate President’s show, which has further brought to fore his loathing for order. Others insist there is no way Saraki and his loyalists in the Senate can come clean that the investigation was not arranged to fight the EFCC boss for daring to call to question Saraki’s wife over alleged financial impropriety.

Although Saraki’s loyalists have dismissed the invitation and investigation of Toyin Saraki as politically motivated, those who disagree with the imputation of political motive into the probe are asking why the EFCC investigation is coming at a time the wife of the Senate President is undergoing interrogation before the anti-graft commission.

Mrs Saraki was grilled for hours in July 28, 2015 by the EFCC alongside the daughter of former President Umaru Yar’Adua and wife of former Kebbi State Governor, Saidu Dakingari, Zainab Dakingari. She (Saraki’s wife) was invited for questioning for alleged money laundering, what a source described as alleged “questionable inflow of funds into companies where she has interest.”

Not a few are also wondering why George Uboh’s petition was not presented to the Senate in plenary if there was no hidden agenda. They ask why the petition was forwarded to the Ethics committee directly, an infraction of the Senate’s standing rules.

More curious is the fact that Senator Peter Nwaobosi (Delta North), who received the petition, is an ally of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, a bosom friend of Saraki. Dino Melaye, a member of the Ethics Committee, and Nwaobosi were among the senators who accompanied Saraki’s wife to the EFCC when she was invited for questioning.

In a sense, observers see the whole thing as Saraki and Ibori fighting EFCC. Nwaobosi, a commissioner under Ibori, is fighting his master’s battle against EFCC. It would be recalled that Ibori waged a vicious war against EFCC’s former chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, before the former’s extradition to UK where he was jailed for money laundering.

Not willing to be used to fight a personal battle, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate rejected the probe by the senate committee.  The PDP senators expressed their position in a statement signed by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio; his deputy, Emmanuel Bwacha; Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda and his deputy, Senator Biodun Olujimi.

The PDP caucus stated in the statement: “It has come to the notice of the PDP leadership in the Senate that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions would begin a public hearing on Wednesday, 26th of August,  2015 and the committee has invited the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to appear before it.

“The PDP leadership in the Senate is not against any committee of the Senate performing its oversight duties and or functions but we feel that this is not the appropriate time to embark on the most important assignment, particularly since the same action was mooted and had failed at previous plenary session.

“We therefore urge the committee to suspend its public hearing on this particular matter until further notice. The PDP Senate leadership reassures the Nigerian public of its support for the war against corruption by the Federal Government of Nigeria but hastens to add that such fight against corruption should be total and not selective.

“Nigerians need peace at this period of economic challenges precipitated by the falling of oil prices and actions that will overheat the polity and generate unnecessary friction between the executive and the legislature should be avoided.”

The Senate Unity Forum, a group of APC senators who detailed the violation of the Senate rules in the investigation, in its own case, did not hesitate to dismiss the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition Committee’s investigation of the EFCC chairman as illegal.

The Forum has taken time out to educate those who are wont to rush into nailing the EFCC boss that in standard parliamentary practice, a petition is routed through either a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives.

“Upon receipt of such petition,” the Forum said, “the representative will inform the presiding officer of the chamber and, thereafter, present the petition in plenary. Upon presentation in plenary, the presiding officer will invite the Senator/House of Representatives member to lay the petition, which automatically becomes a public document.

“Thereafter, the presiding officer will refer the petition to the appropriate committee for consideration, after which it would be returned to the Senate in plenary. In this regard, nothing of the sort happened.

“The Senate proceeded on recess on August 13 and it is not on record that the petition of Mr. George Uboh, accusing Lamorde of diverting over N1 trillion recovered from some corrupt Nigerians, including former governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieyesigha, and the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, was presented to Senate in Plenary.”

The Forum, therefore, declared its support for the position earlier adopted by some senators that the Lamorde probe should be halted because it did not follow due parliamentary process.

It added: “For the avoidance of doubt, Rule 41(1-3) of the Senate Standing Orders specifically spelt out how petitions are handled in the parliament.

“Rule 41(1-3) states: (1) A petition must only be presented to the Senate by a Senator, who shall affix his name at the beginning thereof.

“(2) A senator presenting a petition shall confine himself to a brief statement of the parties from whom it came, the number of signatures attached to it and material allegations contained in it and to reading the prayers of such petitions.

“(3) All petitions shall be ordered, without question being put, to lie upon the table. Such petition shall be referred to the Public Petitions Committee.

“It is after these steps have been taken that the presiding officer would refer the petition to the aforementioned committee.

“It should be noted that in this case, none of these laid-down procedures were followed before the ‘Senate Unity Forum’ read in the newspapers that the Senator Samuel Anywanu-led Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee would on Wednesday, August 26, commence the probe of EFCC chairman

“We stand against this probe. It is illegal and unconstitutional because it did not follow our rules.”

Four members of the Senate Unity Forum endorsed the statement, including Senators Ahmed Lawan, George Akume, Barnabas Gemade and Abu Ibrahim.

Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, a core Saraki loyalist, has also joined the fray. Ndume admitted “a procedural error” in the probe, aligning with the position of the PDP Senate caucus which distanced its members from the investigation.

The EFCC, on its part, says it has no confidence in the probe of the Senate Committee. The commission stated that the committee lacked objectivity and that it was not likely to get a fair hearing, especially after a delegation it sent to observe the proceedings was walked out by the members of the committee on the pretext that the commission had earlier written that it would not be present at the hearing.

Although the Senate and its handlers are busy burning all available cables, the probe of the EFCC under questionable circumstances speaks volume about what Nigerians are to expect from the 8th Senate

President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of some of his administration’s most key officials Thursday set off a firestorm of condemnation, with critics characterising the nominations as overwhelmingly lopsided, lacking in gender balance and regional equity.
Mr. Buhari named Babachir David Lawal, from Adamawa State, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Abba Kyari, from Borno, as his Chief of Staff.
He appointed Hameed Ali, a retired colonel, as the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, curiously finding no career customs official suitable for the post.
He also named Kure Martin Abeshi as the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service.
Messrs. Ali and Abeshi are from Bauchi and Nasarawa states respectively.
A former Senator, Ita Enang, from Akwa Ibom, was appointed senior special assistant to the president on Senate affairs, while Suleiman Kawu of Kano, who is a former House of Representatives member, was named the president’s senior special assistant on House of Representatives.
The six officials brought to 29 the total number of frontline administration staffers who will handle the economy, energy, defence and other important sectors of governance for the nearly 100-day-old Buhari administration.
In all, the president has yet to appoint a single female, a marked difference from Mr. Buhari’s immediate predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, who had women in all major segments of government.
That has angered not a few pro-democracy and gender activists across the country. But what has alarmed critics more is the apparent lack of regional balance in the appointments, a failing Mr. Buhari has been vigorously criticised for in the past.
Details tabulated Thursday by PREMIUM TIMES show that Mr. Buhari has appointed by far more officials from Nigeria’s northern region where he comes from, in violation of federal character law.
Under the Third Schedule of the Constitution, the government must ensure “the principles of proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government”.
The posts referred to include those of the Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General in Extra-Ministerial Departments and parastatals, Directors in Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments, senior military officers, senior diplomatic posts and managerial cadres in the Federal and State parastatals, bodies, agencies and institutions.
PREMIUM TIMES chart shows that only 25 per cent of the president’s appointments are from the south while an overwhelming 75 per cent are the north.
Also, Mr. Buhari’s North West geopolitical zone, has the largest share of 43 per cent, while the South East for instance, has no appointee. (See chart below).
The appointments have sparked anger across the land, with some critics now referring to Mr. Buhari as Nigeria’s most provincial leader ever.
“Buhari is the most provincial leader Nigeria has ever had,” said Ikechukwu Amaechi, a former editor of Daily Independent and Editor-in-Chief of The Niche, in a post on his Facebook wall. “He is not fit to be President of Nigeria. How can he continue appointing top officials of government from the north? Customs, Immigration bosses, SGF, Chief of Staff all from the North?”
“If I am President Muhammadu Buhari, I would have appointed a South Easterner as SGF,” said Sunday Akoji, a public affairs commentator. “If I am Baba, I will not appoint five people from the north into sensitive positions in one day and throw one worthless carrot called SSA on National Assembly Matters to the entire South.”
The president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Gary Igariwey, told PREMIUM TIMES he would comment on the appointments Friday.
A former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, slammed the president for not considering an Igbo for any political appointment so far.
“I don’t understand what is going on,” he told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview Thursday. “It appears Buhari has some messages for various people.
“I don’t know what to say. If it (appointment) is only for the North, it is okay.”
Yinka Odumakin, the spokesperson of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, said Mr. Buhari’s action poses grave danger to Nigeria.
“It is not healthy for a plural society,” Mr. Odumakin, who was once Mr. Buhari’s spokesperson, told this newspaper. “There are competent people across the nation. When you do this there can’t be a balance. We need constructive surgery, not bulldozing.”
Even for many of the president’s ardent supporters, Thursday’s announcement was one too many in a string of appointments that have become increasingly skewed.
A PREMIUM TIMES columnist, Ademola Bamidele-Olateju, who had all along backed the president, wrote on Facebook, “These all northern appointments don begin worry me. I’m getting disillusioned. It can only get worse from here.”
“These last set of appointments by Buhari are too brazenly and unacceptably lopsided in favour of the North that I can no longer defend his actions. Not this one,” Okechukwu Nwanguma, the National Coordinator at Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, posted on Facebook.
Mr. Buhari has come under consistent criticisms for his actions as Nigeria’s leader so far. In his administration’s brief tenure, he has drawn fire for his delay in forming a cabinet, and for appearing not to be in haste to fix a nation faced with gargantuan, multifarious problems.
His previous appointments too were considered disproportionate for a nation that holds together six geopolitical zones, 36 states and a federal capital territory, 774 local governments and over 250 different ethnic nationalities.
Yet, the president’s response has been anything but heart-warming, critics say. In fact, during his visit to the United States in July, that indifference approached something of defiance when he openly told Americans and Nigerians he should not be expected to offer equitable treatment to Nigerians who barely gave him votes.
President Buhari received the least number of votes in the South East and South South, the political stronghold of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan.
It is not clear whether the appointments are in demonstration of that conviction.
But as controversy over past appointments grew last week, a former governor of Kaduna state, Balarabe Musa, urged the president to respect the federal character law.
“Those who are complaining that President Buhari is favouring the North in appointments have a strong case,” Mr. Musa told PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Akogi said the president has no excuse for the latest appointments.
“Don’t you dare throw the ‪competence‬‬ of the appointees in my face. Baba got this one wrong! From Baba’s body language, it is becoming obvious that he no longer “belong to everyone and belong to no one,” he said.
See full list of the president’s appointments till date:
Appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari to date:
1. Aide de Camp to president: Lt. Col Abubakar Lawal, [Kano State, North-West and husband to President Buhari’s foster daughter].
2. Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the president: Femi Adesina, [Osun State, South-West].
3. Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity: Garba Shehu, [Kano State, North-West].
4. State Chief of Protocol/Special Assistant (Presidential Matters): Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, [Jigawa State, North-West].
5. Accountant General of the Federation: Ahmed Idris [Kano State, North-West].
6. National Security Adviser: Babagana Monguno [Borno State, North-East].
7. Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonishakin, [Ekiti State, South-West].
8. Chief of Army Staff: Tukur Buratai, [Borno State, North-East].
9. Chief of Naval Staff: Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, [Cross Rivers, South-South].
10. Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, [Bauchi State, North-East].
11. Chief of Defence Intelligence: Monday Riku Morgan [Benue State, North-Central].
12. Director General, State Security Services, SSS: Lawal Daura, [Katsina State, North-West].
13. Acting Chairperson, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Amina Zakari, [Jigawa State, North-West].
14. Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA: Habibu Abdulahi [Kano State, North-West].
15. Special Adviser, Niger Delta Amnesty Office: Paul Boroh, [Bayelsa State, South-South]
16. Acting Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration, Safety and Security Agency, NIMASA: Baba Haruna Jauro [Yobe State, North-East].
17. Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission: Umaru Dambatta [Kano State, North-West].
18. Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS: Babatunde Fowler, [Lagos State, South-West].
19. Director General, Budget Office of the Federation: Aliyu Gusau, [Zamfara State, North-West].
20. Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Emmanuel Kachikwu, [Delta State, South-South].
21. Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, [ Adamawa, North East]
22. Chief of Staff to the President: Abba Kyari, [Borno, North-East].
23. Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service: Hameed Ibrahim Ali, [Bauchi State, North East].
24. Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service: Kure Martin Abeshi, [Nasarawa State, North-Central].
25. Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate): Ita Enang, [Akwa Ibom State, South-South].
26. Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives): Suleiman Kawu, [Kano State, North-West].
27. Director, Department Of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Modecai Baba Ladan. [Niger, North-Central].
28. Managing Director, Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, Ahmed Lawan Kuru. [Kano].
29. Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of the National Insurance Commission, Mohammed Kari [North-West]
29. Executive Director AMCON: Kola Ayeye []
30. Executive Director, AMCON: Eberechukwu Uneze, []
31. Executive Director, AMCON: Aminu Ismail, []
32. Group Executive Director, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, []
33. Group Executive Director, NNPC, Isiaka Abdulrazaq, []
34. Group Executive Director, NNPC: Dennis Nnamdi Ajulu, [].
35. Group Executive Director, NNPC: Babatunde Victor Adeniran, [].

Cp

Men of the Edo State Police Command have arrested five persons who specialized in snatching cars and robbing victims along the Agbor-Uromi-Auchi express road.

They were nabbed few hours after they snatched two motor-cycles and a Mercedes Benz car.

Names of the suspects were given as Eric Erazue, Oghenetega Awuze, Donatus Usamako, Jibrin Mohammend and Marvis Aramude.

Police sources said the suspects snatched the Mercedes Benz car at about 7pm and drove the car to Auchi where a buyer that agreed to buy it for N300,000 was contacted.

The buyer, it was learnt, asked them to bring the car to Benin City.

On the way to Benin City, the car developed fault at Obagie village along the Benin-Abuja express road.

Policemen from Uromi Police Division however swooped on the suspects after they sighted the faulty car and Eric was arrested.

Eric revealed the names of other members of the gang and two motor-cycles earlier stolen by the suspects were recovered.

Also recovered were two locally made guns and a mobile phone belonging to the owner of the snatched car.

Edo Police spokesman, Stephen Onwochei, said the suspects have been on the wanted list of the police.

He said the suspects would soon be charged to court after investigations have been concluded.

It is no longer news that former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola is embattled at the moment, as the ‘Mr. Saint’ reputation he seemed to have built over the years is fast crumbling, no thanks to series of disclosures from the new Lagos State administration under Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, a former Accountant General of the state, allegedly retired prematurely by the former governor.

Fashola who was seen by many as an example of good leadership is presently enmeshed in series of corruption allegation.

Emerging facts reveal that the lawyer turned politician was engaged in primitive consumption and accumulation of wealth. And this, he allegedly did through Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Deux Projects Limited and the favored proxy of his estranged godfather, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.


Authoritatively inside sources told DAILY POST that, over 70 percent of Lagos State government’s contracts, particularly in the construction sector, were awarded to Tunji Olowolafe, a trained medical doctor and onetime cab driver in London.

Tunji’s company, Deux, which fronted for Fashola, allegedly cornered the Lagos State Government’s contract market.

According to the source, the business romance between Olowolafe and Lagos State started during the two term tenure of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Governor, when his company was awarded virtually all the contracts for the refurbishment of hospitals and several others in the state’s health sector at bloated and inflated costs.

Deux Project was given the contract to refurbish LASUTH, (former General Hospital, Ikeja) and maintain the place for a while. During Tinubu’s reign, Deux also built several wards within the hospital and other General Hospitals in the state like Ifako Ijaiye, Isolo , Badagry, Epe to name a few.


Though Gov. Fashola’s performance in his first four-year tenure was quite impressive, investigations however revealed that the governor allegedly helped himself to a chunk of the money in the Lagos treasury in his second term.

The award of a 50 Billion Naira contract to Tunji Olowolafe’s company for the expansion of the Lagos-Epe 43 kilometer road also remains mind boggling. What the figure translates to is that Fashola awarded the contract to reconstruct an already existing road with 1 billion Naira per kilometer!

The same Olowolafe is also in charge of the Bar Beach Water Front, another multi-billion naira project.

A source at the Lagos State government office told DAILY POST that, “The mere fact that BRF had good publicity does not mean he worked hard and properly as he ought to. He manipulated the media and hoodwinked the unsuspecting public to his advantage and went to sleep. Lagos State became a big bazaar where public funds were wantonly shared among cronies under him.

“Monies were kept in different individual accounts for BRF. Chief of whom is Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, a trained medical practitioner turned powerful political jobber”.

In the wake of the larger than life elevation of the medical doctor within government circles in Lagos State under Fashola, many were forced to ask the questions, who is Tunji Olowolafe? What is the relationship between BRF and Tunji Olowolafe? Why was it that it was only Tunji Olowolafe that handled all the contracts in Lagos State, in all ministries and parastatals, including road construction and what have you? Why was it that whenever Olowolafe was awarded any mega contract, he was always paid 70 per cent up front?

It will be recalled that Olowolafe, whose company was allegedly used as front by the Lagos State governor to execute inflated contracts, was arrested on Friday, April 23, 2010, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after investigators discovered that 27 contracts were awarded to the company from the state Ministry of Health and three from the Ministry of Education.

He was drilled for three days while in the anti-graft body’s custody and was believed to have made significant and useful contributions to the efforts by EFCC to unravel facts on the various allegations of corruption against Fashola, which also led to the invitation of Fashola himself and some members of his cabinet.

Despite the established fact that Deux Projects Limited collected more than N10 billion from the state coffers, nothing has been heard of the case even in the face of damning confessions by Olowolafe to the EFCC while in their custody.

Dr Tunji Olowolafe is also a director in Lekki Concession Company. The company resurfaced and expanded the Mobil/Lekki Expressway and toll-gates. It is in charge of collection of the controversial toll on the Lekki-Epe corridor of Lagos State.

The Lagos State government had also claimed that Fashola awarded a contract for the drilling of two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja for N139m to the same company, Deux Projects Limited.

According to the report, the contracts were awarded by the Lagos State Tenders Board in 2013.

In the same year, N300 million was spent on the relocation of cables belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. The contract was awarded to Deux Projects Limited.

Similarly, N220 million was said to have been spent on the facility management of the Lagos State University College of Medicine. The contract was awarded to Deux Projects Limited.

The former governor, according to the report, spent N619 million on surface repair on Ajara-Erekiti-Iragon-Ikoga Road in Badagry Local Government.

According to the report also, Fashola spent N1.2 billion on the construction of an unidentified multi-storey building in Onikan, Lagos.

The former governor was also said to have spent N1.6 billion on the construction of a 48-bedroom hotel at Lagos State VIP Chalets, Badagry.

About N510 million was spent on the re-modelling and equipping of the official residence of the state’s Chief Judge at 4 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, according to the report.

About N165 million was spent on the construction of an 18-classroom block at Ajara Senior Grammar School, Ajara Badagry. The same amount was also spent on an 18-block classroom at Community Senior/Junior Secondary School, Bayeku, Ikorodu.

Other contracts awarded the company, Deux Projects Limited, included: Facility Management of Mother and Child Centre, Ifako Ijaiye (Clinical), Facility Management of Mother and Child Centre, Ifako Ijaiye (Non Clinical}, Facility Management of Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) – Contract A (Non Clinical Services) and Construction of a Four (4) Storey Faculty of Basic Medical Science Office Block for Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

Others are Facility Management of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) from January to December 2010, Facility and Technical Management of the Bola Tinubu Health and Diagnostic Centre, LASUTH, Ikeja (Extension of Contract), Construction of Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC), Epe (Equipment), Construction of Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC), Epe (Building), Construction of Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC), Badagry (Equipment) and Construction of Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC), Badagry (Building).

The company also got contracts for the Rehabilitation of Network of Roads (Oyetayo/ Church Boladele (Part) and Jimoh Akinosi in Oshodi / Isolo LGA. Completion of Adekunledeen / Obasuah / Omoniyi / Ekunjimi / Raimi / Ogunderu Streets, Sari Iganmu, in Apapa LGA, Construction of Maternal and Child Health Centre, Amuwo Odofin (Additional Works) and the Redevelopment of Agege Stadium, Phase II

Others are Rehabilitation of Hospital Road, Gbagada and the Construction of Link Bridge between Medina Estate and Atunrase Estate. Supply, Installation of Equipment and Furniture for the new staff clinic at the Secretariat, INEC Office renovation works, Amuwo Odofin General Hospital (Additional Works), Fencing (Sides and rear) of Gbagada General Hospital (Additional Works).

Deux Projects Limited also got jobs for the Construction of Students’ Hostel Block A and B at LASUCOM (Additional Works), Combine Clinics and Wards (Additional Works), Burns and Trauma ward (Additional Works), Central External Services of Gbagada General Hospital (Additional Works) and Cardiac and Renal Centre (Additional Works).

Others are Construction of Office Block for Faculty of Clinical Sciences for LASUCOM (Additional Works), Construction of Maternal and Child Complex at Ajeromi (Additional Works}, Construction of Maternal and Child Complex at Amuwo Odofin (Additional Works), Construction of Highway Toll Gate Accident and Emergency Centre (Additional Works), Construction of Maternal and Child Complex at Isolo (Additional Works), Construction of Maternal and Child Complex at Ifako – Ijaye (Additional Works} and Construction of Maternal and Child Complex at Ikorodu (Additional Works)
Additionally the company was awarded contracts for the Completion of Adekunledeen / Obasuah / Omoniyi / Ekunjimi / Raimi / Ogunderu Streets, Sari Iganmu, in Apapa LGA,Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Medical Equipment and Furniture for 20 – Bed Highway Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate, Lagos Ibadan Expressway and Supply and Installation of Medical Equipment and Furniture for the 3-storey Cardiac and Renal Centre at LASUTH Annex, Gbagada.

The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has again explained why he is opposed to and wants to stop the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by his successor, Nyesom Wike to probe some selected government transactions, while he (Mr. Amaechi) was governor.

In a statement released by the former governor’s media office Sunday, Mr. Amaechi said he’s not afraid of a fair and decent probe or investigation or inquiry of his administration; and would cooperate and support such probe or investigation or inquiry in as much as it’s done within the ambit of our laws.

The statement continues:

“However what Wike has set out to do is anything but a fair probe. The commission will not be fair to Amaechi because it was set up to indict him. Wike had repeatedly held that Amaechi, the person to be investigated, acted illegally in the disbursement of public funds and that Amaechi ran a corrupt government. Clearly, Wike has prejudged the matter and showed his bias that Amaechi is guilty even before investigations. This means Wike, with his prejudiced, made up mind has taken a position of a guilty verdict even before the outcome is known or established.

“The same Wike who had adjudged the yet-to-be-investigated conduct of Amaechi as illegal and Amaechi as corrupt, is the same person that has gone ahead to set up a commission of inquiry and will have the final say on the findings of the commission. What a sham!”

“This bias and predetermined agenda to indict Amaechi is obvious even in the terms of reference of the commission. In one of the defective terms of reference, Wike said the Commission should investigate the circumstances that led to the ‘sale of the state Hotel Olympia’.

“With a fair and decent probe, the Inquiry should have been ‘to examine (or investigate) the transaction concerning Hotel Olympia’. The difference is so clear: In the former, jaundiced Wike’s Term of Reference, it has been prejudiced and concluded that the Hotel was sold, while in the latter, the Inquiry is open and fair, and may lead to a finding of a sale or a lease or even a gift or even a pledge.

“Now, having so concluded that Hotel Olympia was sold, would Wike be decent and humble enough to reverse himself if documents showed it was never sold but concessioned or leased?

“This is one of the dangers of Wike’s commission that harbours a predetermined outcome in the name of an Inquiry and Amaechi will not subject himself to Wike’s deceit and phony shenanigans. Hotel Olympia was never sold. The hotel was only concessioned (or leased) on the approval of the State Executive Council and not sold.”

“Even while inaugurating his yeoman commission of Inquiry, Wike could not conceal his vendetta agenda. He was clear to the panel members that their job is to indict Amaechi. And to do this his dirty hack job, he got Justice G. O. Omereji (the commission chairman), a man who is well known to harbour a long-held, extreme anger, hatred and animosity against former Governor Amaechi. And Justice Omereji has never disguised this his stance and disposition towards Amaechi.

“As a matter of fact, Justice Omereji even advised a former Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) chairman in Rivers State on measures (to take) against then Governor Amaechi. He had expressed his hatred for Amaechi several times to the NBA chairman who was also an Attorney-General of Rivers State. How can we now expect Justice Omereji to be fair to Amaechi, the person he passionately loathes with extreme malice and venom?”

“Anyone who has been following events in Rivers State knows this Wike probe is just a fraudulent sham, a deceptive mission to indict Amaechi. Wike’s one-point agenda is to go after his predecessor. Immediately Wike took over, he made a show and gave a performance of his false accusations that Amaechi stripped the Governor’s Lodge bare, saying that the former governor stole spoons, plates, knives, cups, mattresses, forks and even curtains from the Governor’s Lodge!

“However, in the images Wike showed to back his lies, the curtains in the lodge were clearly there, seen and intact. Again, Wike claimed he met a completely empty treasury. That again is another big lie and grand deception.

“We have said that former governor Amaechi left billions of naira and we even went ahead to mention the banks and give the names of the accounts the money were, as at May 29, 2015. We challenge Wike to publish the statements of these accounts and other Rivers State government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) accounts as at May 29; to prove his claim and show the public that Amaechi left an empty treasury for him.”

“This Wike’s probe is dead on arrival. It’s ill-conceived and ill-motivated. Wike’s probe is designed to twist and distort, or even completely alter selected legitimate government transactions in his desperation to cook up, and fabricate sham cases of corruption against Amaechi. Wike’s probe commission shall not achieve anything beyond political excitements, entertainment and theatrics.”

“Finally, Amaechi will continue to use every constitutional and legal means available to protect his name and image from this massive smear campaign, State-sponsored onslaught against him by Wike led government whose sole agenda is a desperate search for a Rotimi Amaechi political downfall.”

Tinubu jittery because Buhari likes Fashola; Boko Haram won’t end soon – Gani AdamsBy Wale Odunsi on August 24, 2015@dailypostngr124SHARESSHARE TWEET SHARE SHARE 6 COMMENTS
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National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Adams, first came to the limelight when the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo incarcerated him over attacks and reprisals by rival factions of his group.

Since that episode and eventual reconciliation with the founder, Dr Fredrick Faseun in 2005, he has worked towards putting the OPC at the forefront of promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition in Nigeria and abroad, with accolades to show for his efforts.

He was a member of the 2014 National Conference and one of the key figures in the South-West region that publicly endorsed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election.


Adams, In this interview with Wale Odunsi, speaks on his battle to wade off forces against his leadership of OPC, the general elections, President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) among others.

Recently, you raised an alarm over plans by some persons to overthrow you and other OPC council members, can you shed more light on this?

Ordinarily, I should not talk about those expelled since 2007. They are no longer our members. When they started making noise, our publicity secretary was always quick to respond and we’ve been taking them headlong.

These people woke up one morning and said they want to remove someone who, against all odds, co-started an organisation in 1999. Someone who has on the same platform founded, funded and promoted seven other organisations.
The mistake they are making is that they have no idea of what they want. These people are not even political mercenaries because they don’t have any ideology whatsoever. They are thugs engaged in land grabbing, overthrowing motor parks’ managements, politically-motivated violence among others.


Before the election, a prominent Fuji musician took them to (ex-Lagos Governor) Bola Tinubu. This was after our protest march. Already, Tinubu was looking for ways to discredit us, so the two camps blended. Then we got a leaked letter dated August 4 2015, signed by all of them. About fifteen. The worrisome part of the content, which under normal circumstance should be subject of investigation by security agencies, was the plea to Tinubu to help ‘get rid of Otunba Gani Adams as the National Coordinator of OPC’.

I am not surprised, he once placed a bounty on my head. He had told some groups that any of them that successfully attacked me would be rewarded, but they all reasoned and refused to do what he said.

A major allegation is that you siphon money belonging to the group. Is this true?
Absolutely no. Four to five years ago, we asked our members to get their membership cards; we said every member would pay N200 monthly to run the organisation. We have five structures: National Executive Council, National Coordinating Council, State Coordinating Council, Local Coordinating Council and Zonal Coordinating Council. Despite this, 90 per cent of the fund used to run these structures was from my purse. It got to a time, the contribution were no longer coming. At that point, I took it upon myself to source for funds to run the group.

We have our office at Sipeolu street in Palmgrove and we pay rent. We have a number of staff and pay salaries. We maintain the group in general; we make donations to charity, few groups, market men and women, artisans, sponsor culture related events in whatever way we can and so on. However, some persons are accusing us of diverting money and are yet to provide a single proof.

To actualize their plot, Tinubu has given money to these vagabonds about three times which further proves that he wants me out at all cost. The question is: why are they seeking the help of this man out of all the Yoruba bigwigs in the country?

Maybe because they see him as Yoruba leader…
(Cuts in) Leader of which people? Tinubu doesn’t need to support illegality, create confusion or bring the roof down if he desires such position. Awolowo did not destroy any group before he became Yoruba leader. If you are lucky to meet him Ikenne, he would sit with you for a thorough discussion. Baba Ajasin did not destroy any group before he became Yoruba leader; Baba Adesanya did not sponsor any group against another before he became Yoruba leader. Rather, he was a rallying point for every self-determination organisation. You did not need to have a portfolio or be popular to see baba at his office in Lagos Island.

Honestly, I was not happy the way majority of the print media handled the threat by the expelled members and I want to appeal to them to stop playing down stories. Online is now our saviour because you people helped us push that issue to the limelight. Over a dozen persons signing what looks like a death warrant and editors of newspapers taking it as less news worthy!

Have you reached out to security agencies to investigate the letter?
Who are the security agencies that Tinubu cannot buy. But public opinion will drive the people who should act to do so. That is why we spoke out. In countries where life matter, those individuals should not be in circulation now.
And you should understand why one is not letting this matter lie low. How many high-profile political killings in this country have been resolved? Bola Ige, Funsho Williams, Saka Saula, Marshall Harry…the list is endless. Till date, nobody is in jail for these deaths

But why do you believe Tinubu is against you?
Please ask him in because I personally want to know. This is not the first time he is after me. Since 2001, most of the people that left OPC were because they had Tinubu’s backing. He was behind Coalition of Self Determination Group, among others. My point is this: If there are those not comfortable in OPC, they are free to go and form their own group, not try to forcefully overthrow a constituted authority. In the South Africa struggle, it was not only ANC that was in existent, there were more than 28.
And it is sad that Tinubu is playing god because he wields strong influence in Nigerian media. With the level he has attained in his life, why is he after people like us. Am I in court to challenge (Lagos Governor) Ambode’s victory? Or after the election, did I instigate former President Jonathan to contest President Buhari’s victory at the tribunal?
Election has come and gone and we must move on but some people are still angry because we refused to support their candidate.

What do you think of the internal crisis in the APC?
Without doubt, parts of the crisis in the party are the fault of Tinubu. Like face-off in the national assembly, the witch-hunt of (ex-Lagos governor) Fashola, one of the heroes of the party who many perceive performed very well.

But why would Tinubu work against someone seen as his protégé?
He is because he may have received information that Buhari will appoint Fashola into a key position. The fact is that the president likes Fashola and Tinubu is not comfortable with this. I have never seen a man who is not happy about the rise of his junior or someone he trained. Although I am not exonerating Fashola from whatever allegation he is being accused, but I see Tinubu’s hands in all of these.
Debo Adeniran (Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders) who is making the claim is my friend and brother and is entitled to his right. But he is not someone that can be used. He is unpredictable, once he sees that any allegation has political undertone, he will make U-turn.
We shouldn’t continue to destroy ourselves because of earthly things. Most of us do not like to align with Obasanjo because if he builds you, he will destroy you. But Tinubu’s own way is now even worse than that of Obasanjo.
Tinubu doesn’t believe in the Yoruba race, he only used the people to negotiate. In the thick of our crisis, Tinubu dealt with (Fredrick) Faseun camp separately, Adams camp separately. Until former Ogun Governor Gbenga Daniel resolved the crisis in 2005. After that, Dr Faseun, I, Bayo Banjo, and Aregbe (Osun Governor) went to Tinubu’s house at Bourdilon to put finishing touches to the deal to stop the unnecessary bloodletting of Yoruba youths. He told us that he has nothing to do or say because Daniel used the truce he brokered to achieve publicity for himself. We were all shocked.

The South-West is the base of the OPC, how have you been dealing with the Governors?
Tinubu never really supported our promotion of culture and tourism. He did nothing the time we sought his support. According to reliable information, Tinubu in 2011 deliberately warned the five APC governors not to assist OPC. It got to a point, he was not happy with Aregbesola because the governor was liaising with me. But Aregbesola knows who I am and what I stand for.
Of all the events we hold in South-west states, it is only Aregbesola who sends representative because he appreciates our efforts. Governor Ajimobi (Oyo) has never given us a dime for cultural promotion which drives tourism to his state. I’m not from the state but till date we join the Alaafin of Oyo to promote Oranmiyan; we promote Oke-Ibadan in Ibadan; we promote Obatala festival in Igangan-Ibarapa; we promote Oro Ebedi in Iseyin…yet, no support from the governor. But I really don’t blame them; the influence of Tinubu has affected their courage and will to support us.
He created division between Fashola and I. Before his threat, whenever I sent the former governor text message, he would reply within five minutes; he assisted for Olokun Festival and a few others but that later changed. Afterwards, we got reliable information that Tinubu pointedly told Fashola that (mimicking Tinubu’s voice) – ehn ehn, iwo lo fe maa fun Gani l’owo ni si’n (oh, so, it is you who wants to now fund Gani?).

What is your take on Boko Haram recurrent attacks?

It is very hard to tackle this insurgency because Nigeria has about 1500 illegal routes. I was a member of security committee at the National Conference. Go and look where Immigration officers are staying at Benin Republic, it’s an eyesore. Idiroko border is even funny, Shaki border too is funny. We have to change the orientation; we must repackage these agencies.Those going to the field to secure the country will be able to do such tasks with all their hearts because they know their families are in good hands.

Adamawa State University just resumed and have recruited 80 vigilante men and hunters for security, Borno, Yobe and some others are also using civilians as security in some areas. This shows that we have serious crisis. Everywhere in the world, security is not just government alone like we do in Nigeria. Stakeholders must be carried along to a certain level.

That is why I support the call for state police. If states recruit people they know can do the job, Boko Haram will be overpowered. Imagine North-eastern states attacking the sect in their respective states, they will certainly deal with the insurgents mercilessly. So, instead of deploying people from different region every now and then, states should be allowed to contribute its own force, this will go a long way.

Security is not about equipment but about sincerity; so we must get it right. We must boost morale of troops. And if care is not taken, this war will not end because some of those in the battle-front don’t even know the terrain like the residents. For instance, a Borno indigene will be more than willing to kill Boko Haram members because if he doesn’t, they will come for his family. So it would be a fight for survival.

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode says that he has developed thick skin for those who always attacked him.

The PDP chieftain stated that one of the things the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo taught him was never to respond to criticisms of some persons who were not fertile upstairs.

FFK, as he prides himself, has come under heavy criticisms recently for saying Nigeria will break up if Ndigbo were killed again.

Suspected kidnappers have abducted, Mrs Omogbene Adeborile mother-in-law to a paramount traditional ruler in Ondo State, the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Frederick Akinrutan at her Igbotako residence.

Mrs Adeborile is also the wife of the PDP chairman of Ward 2, Igbotako, Ilaje Council Area of Ondo state.

As at the time of filing this report, it was not yet clear how she was abducted.


Ondo state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, confirmed the incident and said that his men were already on the trail of the kidnappers.

As Nigeria grapples with the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-Eastern part of the country, the option of recruiting and paying “attractive amount of money” to Fulani herdsmen to tackle the insurgents has been recommended to the Federal Government.
The recommendation is contained in a bulky report titled: “Towards a New Dawn in Nigeria post 2015.” It is a compendium of papers, suggestions, analyses, and reports presented by, scholars and policy practitioners assembled by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Mr. Obasanjo assembled the think-tank of experts, as special committees of the Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, to provide actionable and “innovative” policy recommendations for President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle myriad of challenges – particularly those of security, economy, education, and infrastructure – facing Nigeria.
The recommendation of recruiting Fulani herdsmen to confront Boko Haram insurgents was made by a team led by Ahmed Joda and consisted of Nuhu Ribadu, Steve Orosanye, Tunji Olagunju, George Obiozor, Yusufu Pam, and Peter Okebukola.
Mr. Joda was also head of the transition committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari before his inauguration while most of the others held various positions during the Obasanjo presidency with Mr. Ribadu being the internationally acclaimed pioneer chairman of Nigeria’s major anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].
Noting the socio-economic conditions which provide easy recruits for Boko Haram, the team stated that, “a Boko Haram recruit is offered a juicy pay in a milieu where joblessness pervades”.
Five Steps
In its recommendation, the team made a five-point proposition, covering finance, recruitment, accountability, reward, as well as schedule and propaganda.
It asked the Defence Ministry to determine the battle fronts where the herdsmen would be needed and the specific number and duration of service to ensure accountability of the process. This, according to the report, will involve working in collaboration with civilian Joint Task Force.
According to the report, the second step would involve the Presidency and the National Assembly. After the Defence Ministry and Civilian JTF must have concluded issues of finance, personnel, and logistics, the presidency should present the case to the National Assembly for urgent approval of funds needed.
Subsequently, a joint team of defence officials, civilian JTF and heads of Fulani herdsmen would be commissioned to recruit and pay the volunteers with accurate records kept.
The fourth proposal involves saddling the Federal Ministry of Information, National Orientation Agency, as well as public and private media houses with war propaganda.
They are to embark on “intensive broadcast of jingles to the general public and use propaganda to cause panic in the ranks of the insurgents.”
Similarly, the team proposed that agencies of the federal and state governments, vigilante groups, telecommunication companies and non-governmental organisations should dissipate efforts towards massive enlightenment about how the insurgents, not government troops, are killing people and the success stories of government’s efforts. The enlightenment should also include committing religious leaders like the Sultan of Sokoto and other Islamic scholars to condemn terrorism and “preach true tenets of Islam”.
In its last proposition on the use of Fulani herdsmen to confront Boko Haram, the team proposed that the National Intelligence Agency, State Security Service and the media are to provide “random monitoring of the Fulani herdsmen especially during pay period to ensure they are getting their agreed payments”.
Use hunters too
In another recommendation off conventional military deployment, the think-tank also asked the federal government to adopt the “Mubi Model” of supporting, rewarding, and arming hunters to fight Boko Haram.
The Mubi model refers to the incident in November 2014 when a group of hunters and local vigilante mobilised and successfully liberated Mubi and other towns in Adamawa State hitherto occupied by the Boko Haram sect.
The think-tank therefore urged the federal government and governments of the insurgency-ravaged North-Eastern states to “review the vigilante strategy and support volunteer hunters with generous welfare, military training and light weapons” and provide “corruption free reward system to the vigilantes that is sustainable and competitive to Boko Haram financial offers.”
The committee’s recommendation of using herdsmen and hunters to fight Boko Haram is to supplement the efforts of the Nigerian military.
It urged the consolidation of the military campaign, as well as motivation and provision of adequate equipment for the military to be able to defeat the insurgents whose actions have caused the death of about 20,000 people, mostly in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states since 2009.

A former lawmaker representing Irele/Okitipupa Constituency at the National Assembly, Mr Akintoye Albert narrowly escaped death at the weekend when officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly shot his convoy.

Three persons were also said to have sustained injuries in the incident while two of the former legislator’s vehicles were allegedly riddled with bullets.

Speaking to reporters in Akure ,the former legislator said he was returning home after a political meeting at Ode-irele in Ondo State when men of the NSCDC numbering 12 suddenly accosted his convoy along Irele/Ore road and ordered him and members of his entourage to lie on the floor.

He said his move to know the mission of the officers resulted in sporadic shooting by the officers following which three members of his entourage were badly injured.

Akintoye said the officers who came with two Toyota Hilux vehicles belonging to the state command,allegedly beat them and damaged their vehicles.

Those who sustained injuries according to him were still receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ore.

Akintoye said the officers apologized to him when they discovered that they had mistaken his convoy for that of oil bunkerers.

Akintoye believed that the attack was politically motivated, alleging that the officer who led the team is a younger brother of a top politician from the area who had engaged him in a contest in recent time.

The incident brought to three the number of such attacks meted on innocent citizens of the state by NSCDC officials in the past.

Akintoye said“The officer claimed that they were chasing some oil bunkerers who normally ply the route, but I want to believe that the attack was politically motivated.

“I was returning fro ma political meeting at Irele on that fateful day when the incident happened. It was God that saved me. By now I would have been a dead man. The officers later apologized and claimed that they mistook my convoy for that of oil bunkerers”.

The NSCDC spokesman , Kayode Balogun did not confirm or deny the incident

Balogun said the officers only reported about the items confiscated from some oil bunkerers in the area to the command

Blessed is the man who has delight in obeying God completely, whatsoever he does shall prosper.”
A CHAMPION in a lime and spoon 100, meters race after winning a trophy, was asked by journalists which of the crowd reaction helped him to win. The crowd that cheered and praised him or the crowd that mocked and jeered at  him. His response taught us a lesson: Ignoring the two crowd reactions was the secret of his success.
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye is a focused Christian and a man of God. He has no time, neither for those who praise him nor for those that mock him and call him names.  Adeboye is passionate about salvation, about evangelism, about character, integrity and holiness. He is an incurable soul winner. As a young worker and new convert, he formed a club: “The fishers of men”. They would not go to bed any day without winning some souls.
Over the years, God has used him to bring joy to many homes  enveloped  in sorrow caused by barrenness, terminal ailment or children of wealthy parents that were hooked on drugs. At the last RCCG Convention, which was the platform for Femi Aribisala’s view, many women that were called barren that Adeboye prayed for in previous conventions brought their children in their hundreds of thousands to give thanks to God and to testify.
People brought on wheel chairs got up and began to walk. People with terminal ailments came out for prayer and they were asked to see their doctors and confirm the healing that took place.  Adeboye did not want to share in God’s glory; so he asked his pastors to lay hands on these people. Under Adeboye’s leadership, The Redeemed Christian Church of God established departments that care for the afflicted and the needy.
At Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry, CADAM, we gather drug addicts, heal them and give them education or technical training depending on individual’s ability and interest.
Habitation of Hope is a home that gathers the homeless and the destitutes and give them hope, education and a future. Many of these are now citizens doing well for themselves.
RAPAC is a department that counsels, prays and treats in confidence, people who are HIV positive.
Holistic Ministry ministers to prostitutes, rehabilitates them, educates and trains them. ‘A CAN can make a difference’ provides food for people in the streets and under the bridges. RCCG is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in Nigeria and in 187 other nations.
The General Overseer of a Pentecostal church based in Victoria Island, Pastor Femi Aribisala, wearing a mask of social critic and columnist wrote an article: “Adeboye the richest man in the world” at page 47 of Sunday Vanguard of  August 16.
In the article, Aribisala condemned the ministry of  Adeboye, the revered General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Aribisala believes the purpose of building a new auditorium that can accommodate 12 million worshippers in response to God’s instructions is because  Adeboye wants to make the Guinness Book of Records.  Adeboye has his name in the LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE which is the best achievement any mortal can ever aspire to.
Aribisala said: “Pastor Adeboye is using man’s wisdom to teach his congregation how to prosper instead of imitating our Lord Jesus who pleaded with his disciples that calamity awaits rich people and that poor people are the blessed people.”
Aribisala got the gospel mixed up; many scriptures tell us the mind of Christ about wealth, our welfare, our health, salvation and eternity. In 3 John verse 2, the Bible says: “Beloved, I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth”. In other words, after salvation, God wants us to have a good health and strong financial resources.
In Philippians 4:19, the Bible says: “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
That is, the Lord will supply the needs to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was rich, he was never poor.
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts”—  Haggai 2:8.
The owner of solid minerals cannot be described as poor. In Psalm 50:10, the Bible says: “The Lord of host is rich. The cattle on a thousand hills are His”. The gospel of Jesus, however, teaches us not to focus on wealth and that the rich should not be high minded and that our focus should be on things of eternal value. ‘Salvation, preaching the gospel’ are of eternal value and they have to be funded.

One soldier was killed in an ambush Friday during a daring visit by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, to troops currently battling Boko Haram terrorists in parts of Borno state. 
The army chief, who arrived Maiduguri first, set out on the journey through Mafa to Gamboru-Ngala border town where regrouping terrorists were dislodged recently. 
On the way to Gamboru-Ngala, Mr. Buratai, a Lieutenant General, stopped at Mafa town where he addressed troops of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army currently manning the reclaimed community that is still deserted. 
He commended the soldiers for “a job well done” and assured them of improved welfare and allowances. Mr. Buratai said the issue of troops’ welfare was already before President Muhammadu Buhari. 
He however informed the soldiers that “there is still more job to be done and we have to do this once and for all so that all of us can go back to our respective barracks and continue with our normal jobs and soldiers”. 
As the convoy moved on to Dikwa, a message was sent in that an advance team was ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists and one soldier was killed while  two others were also injured.
The soldiers in advance however subdued the terrorists by killing five of them and arresting five others. Those arrested surrendered their arms. 
While the Chief of Army staff’s convoy proceeded to Dikwa, soldiers spotted suspected Boko Haram members in the bush amidst flocks of cattle. Mr. Buratai stopped the convoy and ordered that the group be rounded up for prompt investigation. 
An elderly herdsman confessed that four of the arrested suspects met them in the bush and forced them to move together. The four suspects later owned up that they were members of the Boko Haram. They were immediately arrested and sent back to Maiduguri. 
In Dikwa, the chief of Army staff was welcome with cheers by over 4000 internally displaced persons from Gamboru and neighbouring towns, who were full of praise and prayers for him and the soldiers.  
He addressed them in the local Kanuri language and assured them that they would soon be resettled as his troops were working round the clock to rid the area of all terrorists. 
The convoy later moved on to Ngala town where a large number of solders were met celebrating the liberation of the area. 
Lieutenant General Buratai addressed the troops and commended them for keeping the morale high. He urged them to be more vigilant and ensure no Boko Haram is left to cause any form of attack on troops and innocent civilians.
He was accompanied on the trip by the GOC 7 Division and other top officers from the Army headquarters, while the Chief of Air Staff also made the trip by air.