₦airaland Forum

IamPatriotic:
Fayemi should fuse the Ministries into five and appoint just 5 commissioners, 15 SAs and PAs and please move on with governance, no time! Stories are needless.

Same way you guys said that Permanent Secretaries could do what the ministers do when Buhari failed to appoint his cabinet when it was due and later Buhari turned around to blame Jonathan for his inability to appoint ministers.

© Naija Politico

Scores of street sweepers under the “Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI)” of the Lagos State Government on Monday protested their delayed salaries among other grievances, barely two week after staging an earlier protest.

Naija Politico reports that the protesters, on Dec. 5, staged a similar protest at the Alausa Secretariat, barricading the road and urging Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to intervene to help stop their suffering.

The workers said that they would prefer to go back to the status quo prior to three months ago, before they were transferred to the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The street sweepers, who again blocked the Alausa Secretariat, said that they had to repeat the protest because the promises made to them on Dec. 5, especially over payment of salaries had not been adhered to by the government.

According to them, the workers are suffering due to failure of government to pay them their wages.

“Last week, when we held a protest to Alausa, we had a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr Biodun Bamgboye, with the head of LAWMA and other government officials in attendance .where we tabled our grievances.

“The government team promised to get in touch with us on Friday but failed to do so, and every attempt to get in touch with the Permanent Secretary through calls and messages were not answered.

“Even when we visited his office on Thursday last week to see him, we couldn’t see him after waiting for hours in his office because he was not around.

“Yesterday (Sunday) we sent him a message telling him we were coming today if they don’t see us and that is why we are here,” one of the protesters, Mr Oluwatobi Adeyeye said.

Speaking with newsmen after addressing the protesters, Bamgboye said that the ministry had already commenced the payment of the protesters’ November salary.

The permanent secretary said that the approval for the December salary had been received and the ministry was working on it.

Bamgboye told the aggrieved workers to compile the names of those who by Thursday evening did not receive alert, saying such list should be brought to him on Friday.

Bamgboye also said the other grievances of the protesters were being addressed, adding that it was a problem of transiting from one scheme to another.

“The scheme under which they have been operating is not the same with the Civil Service scheme.
“So the process of transiting from one scheme to the other is responsible for what other problems they have highlighted and it is being addressed; it is a transition problem”, he added.

Some of protesters confirmed that they had started receiving alert for November salary but expressed sadness over the delay in the payment of their salaries.

They urged the Permanent Secretary to ensure that their December salary was paid in time.

Naija Politico reports that part of the grievances of the sweepers include lack of tools to work with, health insurance, pensions, regularisation of appointment and provision of ID cards.

The sweepers also frowned at working on Sundays, non-observance of all public holidays, planned retrenchment, proposed reduction of salary among others.

Read More: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/again-lagos-street-sweepers-protest-unpaid-salary/

bedspread:
Blame game Continual! If u have nothing to hold against the last governor , stop this blame game....

If the State overwhelms u, resign....

Same way Buhari blamed Jonathan on late cabinet appointment

These people amaze me daily

©Naija Politico

Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has explained why he has yet to appoint political office holders more than two months after being sworn-in.

Naija Politico reports that only the Secretary to Government (SSG), Chief of Staff (COS), Acting Head of Service (HOS), Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, as well as Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor, among few others had been appointed.

The state is yet to have a list of Commissioners and Special Advisers which the governor would have to send to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

However, while addressing a news conference in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the governor attributed the sorry state of finances on ground on assuming office on Oct. 16 to the delay.

“I decided to delay appointment of politicians to government to enable me pay workers’ salaries.

“I don’t want to do media trial for anyone, so I have hired the services of a renowned audit firm to look into our finances, and the forensic state’s accounts will then be published during our 100 days in office in Jan. 2019,” he said.

The governor lamented how his predecessor, former Gov. Ayo Fayose, allegedly wasted N18b Paris Club Refund to Ekiti.

Fayemi expressed worries over how Fayose, who owed between four and eight months salary and pension arrears at the time he left office, could not defray the backlog of workers’ benefit with the refund.

The governor said he had not reneged on his commitment to offset all the outstanding salary and pension before marking his first year in office.

On the increasing wave of kidnapping and killings in the state, the governor disclosed that incentives was being given to security outfits in the state to ensure safety of lives and property.

He added that there was collaboration between the state and all security chiefs for a unique security architecture for residents to be safe and secured during the yuletide.

The governor debunked insinuation that the state collected a N11.5b Paris Club from the Federal Government, barely two months after his assumption of office.

“Let those making the allegation come with verifiable proofs to substantiate their claim. Let them come with evidence.

“I have not collected any money in the fashion of road intervention or Paris Club refund.

“Governor Fayose had the opportunity of paying the bulk of these backlogs of salaries and pensions.

“He collected the sum of N18b out of the N21.5b due to Ekiti in the refund, so what is left as balance for Ekiti to collect now is just N3.5b, which can’t pay a month if we add the overhead costs of subvention of institutions.

“As we speak, we are doing a lot of cleansing and that had reduced the monthly pay to workers to N2.1b.

“Those not properly employed had been left out until they provide evidence. The medical workers that were employed on consequential ground had been re-absorbed,’’ he said.

He said the state anti-grazing law signed into law by Fayose’s administration has not been suspended, adding that efforts would be made to control the rampaging herders in the state.

Read more: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/ekiti-too-broke-to-appoint-political-officers-fayemi/

We Nigerians Love You

We @ https://naijapolitico.com.ng wish you a happy birthday celebration

@Naija Politico

Today, Nigeria’s President is 76years old. We Pray for long life, good health of mind and body.
Nairaland join the good people of Nigeria to wish our President a happy Birthday.

Muhammadu Buhari is a native of Daura, a Fulani town situated in Katsina State of Nigeria. He was born on December 17, 1942. He is the twenty-third child of his father, Adamu.

Buhari was raised by his mother, Zulaihat after his father died when he was about four years old. He attended primary school in Daura and Mai’adua before proceeding to Katsina Model School in 1953 and to Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina) from 1956 to 1961.

Military career

Buhari joined the army in the year 1962 and became the governor of the North-Eastern State during the regime of Gen. Murtala Mohammed. Later, he was appointed Minister or Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976. When the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was created in 1977 Muhammadu Buhari was made its head.

On December 31, 1983, the government of the civilian President Shehu Shagari was removed in a coup d’etat, Major-General Buhari was selected by the high ranking military officials to lead the country.

Muhammadu Buhari is known for his uprightness and zero tolerance for corruption. He introduced a public campaign against indiscipline known as “War Against Indiscipline” (WAI) alongside his deputy, Tunde Idiagbon.

Electoral Battles

President Buhari contested the Presidential election as the candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2003 and lost to Peoples Democratic Party nominee, Olusegun Obasanjo.

In the 2007 April Presidential polls, Buhari contested against his brother from Katsina State, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and he lost.

Gen. Buhari was the CPC Presidential candidate in the April 16, 2011 general election, running against former president Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Ibrahim Shekarau of ANPP, again he lost. In the year 2015, Muhammadu Buhari not deterred by his previous failures, contested for the Presidential election under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) with Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Muhammadu Buhari emerged the winner and was declared the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Marriage

In 1971, Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu Buhari (nee Yusuf) ( December 1983-August 1985). They had five children together, Zulaihat (Zulai) is named after Buhari’s mother. Their other
children were Fatima, Musa (deceased), Hadiza, and Safinatu.

In 1988, Buhari divorced his first wife Safinatu. In December 1989, he married his second and current wife Aisha Buhari (nee Halilu). They also have five children together, a boy and four girls. They are Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zarah and Amina. Yusuf and Zahra graduated last year from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. Halima was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister at Law.

President Buhari is an accomplished Personality and the first citizen of our Motherland, Nigeria.

MarianaTrench:
If everything is not about politics then why are they wearing shirts with "Atiku 2019" emblazoned on them?

What stops her from campaigning for the Husband during her normal program.
As if the opposition didnt do worse when they were in opposition

Jonathan:
Why didn’t Atiku wife do this last year or two years ago?

I just told you it is done yearly.
You didnt hear of it last year or last two years does not mean that it wasn't done.
Google is your friend to know if it was done last year or not.
Everything isnt about politics.

Jonathan:
Why didn’t Atiku wife do this last year or two years ago?

It is done annually since early 2000s

@Naija Politico

The wife of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, People Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Hajiya Titi, has organised end of the year party and showered gifts on 500 Orphans in Abuja

Naija Politico learnt that the orphans were invited from 13 orphanages within Abuja.

They were fed with food and drinks and also showered with several gift item, including school bags.

Some popular Abuja base musicians were also on ground to thrill them with songs as the children responded with amazing dance steps.

The party took place in her husband’s support group campaign office in Wuse Abuja.

Mrs Abubakar said that the party was not politically motivated but an act of charity.

“It is an annual event which I started 19 years ago on the platform of my foundation, WOTCLE,’’ F she said.

WOTCLEF has been catering for orphans, women and widows and always dedicate a day to bring them together and celebrate with them and give them a sense of belonging, she said.

She said that people remember the existence of children that don’t have biological parents during festivals.

Abubakar said expressed delight with the level of intelligence exhibited by most of the children at the event.

The Proprietor of Jedidah Ministry Orphanage , Kuje, Pastor Temitope Bangudu, who came with 30 orphans to the party thanked the Abubakar for the show of love for the children.

Bangudu said that her orphanage had 100 children and called on wealthy individuals to support the management of the facility.

One of the orphans, Daniel Obed, expressed gratitude to Abubakar for the gesture and for bringing the orphans together.

Read More: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/atikus-wife-showers-gifts-on-orphans/

PureMe01:
but i thought they said fayose has left pdp.please wen is he leaving

Fayose is not leaving pdp anytime soon

@NaijaPolitico

For admitting that the economy of the country was in bad shape and that Nigerians should tighten their belts, immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has told President Muhammadu Buhari to resign and save Nigerians the agony of continuous rule by a clueless president.

Naija Politico learnt that Fayose,spoke on Saturday, through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, said "in saner climes, a leader, who admitted that he has failed and passed vote of no confidence on himself won't be seeking reelection, he will rather excuse himself and quietly return home."

He likened President Buhari to a football coach, who kept boasting that he had the capacity to take a team out of the middle of the league table to the top three. The coach eventually got the chance to manage the team three and half years ago only for the team to be relegated to Division Two less than two years that he took over. The same coach is now saying the team will be relegated to Division Three next season and he wants to be retained by the club owner.

The former governor said; "If after spending three and half years as President, you are still complaining that the economy is in bad shape, isn't that a clear indictment on your own govt? If by your own assessment, you have failed, shouldn't you just excuse us?"

Fayose, who said it will be disastrous to entrust the existence of over 200 million Nigerians in the hands of a man who has come out to admit that he has failed, added that the choice before Nigerians is between a failed president and Atiku Abubakar, who has proven to be a better manager of his own private economy and had played prominent roles in the provision of several millions of direct and indirect jobs through the telecommunications industry.

"For a President who boasted that he will clear the North-East of the Boko Haram insurgents within three months and make live more meaningful for Nigerians, the signs that he must take a bow and return home are clear.

"Most importantly, when a President comes out to his people who have lost over 10 million jobs and are suffering that they should expect more hardship next year, such a president should be told in plain language that his time is up."

Read More: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/since-you-admitted-to-have-failed-resign-and-go-home-fayose-tells-buhari/

mvem:
...UNICEF wey dey feed and treat Boko Haram members in the name of humanitarian work

u

UNICEF dey also treat and feed Nigerians.
Boko haram still be humans

Racoon:
For God's sake why is every facet of our national life under this regime so clueless? So the Nigerian Army was not expecting a backlash from on its ill conceived decision of even suspending the UNICEF based on silly reasons?

The moles within and the so called de-radicalized former BH fighter are even the most dangerous enemies & not a humanitarian organization assisting to mitigate the post-traumatic of an unending war on the most vulnerable group of victims-women & children.

UNICEF of all people, they are suspending.
I just wonder where they placed their thinking faculty before the suspension statement was released.

If not for UNICEF, the flagrant abuse that will be going on in idps camp will be monumental or is it because of the constant backlash from UNICEF.

I do agree that sometimes, they might stop the military from degrading the human nature of boko haram terrorists but that doesnt translate to being banned in the North-East

@NaijaPolitico

Earlier today, The Nigerian Army has said it is suspending the operations of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in the North-East theatre until further notice.

It alleges that UNICEF had shifted from “its duty of catering to the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now engages in training selected persons for clandestine activities.”

Sequel to intervention by well meaning and concerned Nigerians over the recent suspension of UNICEF operations in the North East theatre of operations,Naija Politico got to know that the Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE convened and held an emergency meeting with representatives of UNICEF this evening.

During the meeting, the Theatre Command admonished the representatives of the organization to desist from activities inimical to Nigeria's national security and capable of undermining ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency. The Command also urged UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theatre.

Consequently, after extensive deliberations on the need to seek modalities to work harmoniously with the security agencies in the theatre of operation, the Theatre Command has henceforth lifted the three months suspension earlier imposed on UNICEF activities in North Eastern Nigeria.

Read More: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/military-lifts-suspension-of-unicef-activities-in-north-east-over-alleged-sabotage/

@NaijaPolitico

…Says Ruling Vindicates He is Not PDP Ogun Governorship Candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Thursday’s validation of Senator Kashamu Buruji’s expulsion from the PDP, by a Federal High Court in Abuja, has vindicated our position that he is not PDP’s governorship candidate in Ogun state.

According to Information made available to Naija Politico, It says with the ruling, the validity of Ladi Adebutu, as the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state is no longer in contention.

Given his expulsion from the PDP in July this year, Senator Buruji lost his membership of our party and as such, did not partake in any of our nomination processes; did not purchase the PDP governorship nomination form and did not participate in any way whatsoever in our Ogun state governorship primary, yet he had continued to cause confusion and parade himself as PDP candidate.

The PDP invites Nigerians, the people of Ogun state and particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take copious note of the judgment of the court, in suit no: FCT/HC/0303/2017, which today, December 13, 2018 affirmed the powers of the PDP, as provided in her constitution, to discipline and punish any member who contravenes any of the provisions of its constitution.

By this judgment, it is clear that Senator Buruji Kashamu is not a member of the PDP, and cannot, under any circumstance whatsoever, claim to be the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun state, moreso, when he never participated in any of our nomination processes.

While hailing the judgment as victory for democracy, the PDP charges INEC to copiously take note of the development and reflect such in every issue regarding the conduct of governorship election in Ogun state.

Finally, the PDP commends the people of Ogun state for standing steadfast with its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, who is already coasting to victory in the 2019 polls.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/pdp-hails-courts-validation-of-burujis-expulsion/

@Naijapolitico

Dr Dele Ashiru, the Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos chapter, on Wednesday, urged politicians contesting the 2019 elections to desist from any act that would cause chaos in a bid to win.

Naija Politico learnt Ashiru said that political office seekers should not jeopardise the nation’s peaceful coexistence and progression.

“Politicians should remember that they will not be able to govern a fractured polity.

“Campaigns toward the 2019 elections must be mature, peaceful and the goal should be to maintain Nigeria’s peaceful coexistence and socio-economic progression.

“I expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be on the look-out for politicians that will want to destabilise Nigeria in pursuit of their political ambition,’’ he said.

According to him, Nigerian politicians ought to learn from history what violence-prone elections has done to some societies.

He said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the 2019 elections do not degenerate into disunity.

Ashiru also advised INEC to be stern on anybody that indulged in causing mayhem and negating the credibility of the polls.

He said that those culpable of breach of peace and other electoral criminality should be prosecuted.

“It is at times like this that we want the wives of politicians to press it on their husbands to be civil in their pursuit of political ambition,’’ he said.

Read more: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/2019-ASUU-advises-politicians-to-embrace-peace/

@NaijaPolitico

The United States has announced the designation of the Boko Haram terrorist group as an entity “of particular concern”.

Naija Politico learnt that The U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in a statement, designated Boko Haram alongside the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), al-Qa’ida and al-Shabab.

Pompeo also designated Saudi Arabia, Iran, Burma, North Korea, among “countries of particular concern”, while Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan were placed on “special watch list”.

On November 28, 2018, I designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom.

”I also placed Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated ‘severe violations of religious freedom.

”Finally, I designated al-Nusra Front, al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qa’ida, al-Shabab, Boko Haram, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern,” Pompeo said.


The U.S. top diplomat regretted that in far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs.

Pompeo said: “The United States will not stand by as spectators in the face of such oppression.

”Protecting and promoting international religious freedom is a top foreign policy priority of the Trump Administration.

”In July, I hosted the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, which brought together some 85 like-minded governments and more than 400 civil society organisations to harness global attention and motivate forceful action to advance respect for the human right of religious freedom”.

According to him, safeguarding religious freedom is vital to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity.

”These designations are aimed at improving the lives of individuals and the broader success of their societies.

”I recognise that several designated countries are working to improve their respect for religious freedom; I welcome such initiatives and look forward to continuing the dialogue.


“The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organisations, and religious leaders to advance religious freedom around the world,” Pompeo said.

The Boko Haram terrorist activities have claimed thousands of people’s lives, and affected millions of families, leaving behind huge humanitarian crises, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“The humanitarian crisis in North East Nigeria that has spilled into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, is one of the most severe in the world today.

”In North East Nigeria, 10 years of conflict has left more than seven million people in dire need of help in the three worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

“About 1.8 million people are internally displaced. People need food, water, shelter and health services,” the UN agency said.

Read more: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/us-tags-boko-haram-terrorists-particular-concern/

2019 will be a lovely year

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno and Chairman, APC South-West Reconciliation Committee says the party will bring on board all members to achieve victory in 2019 general election.

He said this in Ibadan when he led the committee to meet with aggrieved members of the party from Oyo and Osun states.

Naija Politico reports that also on the committee were Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, former Ekiti State Deputy governor and Hadjia Sa’ida Sa’ad Bugaje.

Among those who presented their cases to the committee were Sen. Iyiola Omisore and Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN).

“We are here, essentially to build bridges of understanding; to reconcile with our aggrieved party members and see to it that appropriate recommendations are made to the NWC of the party.

“Our effort is to ensure progress in the party as a family and to make amend, where necessary,” he said.

Shettima urged aggrieved members to emulate Ambode, whom he said had demonstrated generousity of spirit that had never been shown by any Nigerian politician since 1999.

“Power is the most ephemeral thing God gives to humanity, whether we like it or not. Mobutu Seseseko eventually had to leave power, Hosni Mubarak relunctantly had to relinquish power.

“So, anything that has a beginning must have an end. So, I commend Gov. Ambode.

“We have come with cleanest of intention and with very open mind to listen, obtain recommendations and proffer solution.”

Shettima said the task of the committee was also to reconcile aggrieved members of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“There is no amount of wound that can manifest in your heart as being presented here that we can permanently heal.

“But we have created a platform for us to be able to start to bond our family, the APC family together.

“We are one family. But some of the people seated here have one or two issues to complain about. But we are peacemakers.

“What is important is that, we must bond together and also carry that crusade of making our party to win the 2019 elections together.

“The 2019 general elections will not mark the end of our great party.”

Meanwhile, Akintola told newsmen after the presentation of his case that he would exercise patience as preached by the committee.

He, however, expressed the hope that justice would be done.

“We have presented our case and let them know that the reward system in our party is faulty. We told them that we cannot be talking of peace without justice.”

“I have been told to wait for the outcome of the reconciliation and we will wait,” he said.

Naija Politico reports that among others present were Oyo APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, Prof. Yemi Farounbi, Mr Rotimi Makinde, Mr Olalekan Alli, Secretary to Oyo State Government and a host of others.

Read More: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/gov-shettima-assures-apc-will-win-2019-elections/

@NaijaPolitico

The Peoples Democratic Party said it regretted that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar did not attend the signing of the Peace Accord in Abuja on Tuesday, blaming the incident on ‘communication lapse’.

Naija Politico learnt that the Publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said on Tuesday night that the party will probe the communication gap between it and the National Peace Committee, chaired by General Abdusalami Abubakar, a former Nigerian leader.

President Muhammadu Buhari and 75 other presidential candidates attended the peace meeting at the International Conference Centre in Abuja today. And all signed the Peace Accord, but the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar were conspicuously absent.

Ologbondiyan said despite the absence of both the party and its candidate, it is committed to a peaceful election

“Already, the party is conducting investigations into the circumstances that could have resulted to this unfortunate communication lapse.

“Nevertheless, it is instructive to state that our Presidential candidate, Atiku and the party PDP are fully committed to a peaceful electoral process and elections in 2019.

“Our Presidential candidate Atiku is known worldwide as a global ambassador of peace, who will always support processes that will engender peace in our country and the world over”, Ologbondiyan said.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/pdp-regrets-absence-of-atiku-at-peace-accord-ceremony/

@NaijaPolitico

The Peoples Democratic Party said it regretted that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar did not attend the signing of the Peace Accord in Abuja on Tuesday, blaming the incident on ‘communication lapse’.

Naija Politico learnt that the Publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said on Tuesday night that the party will probe the communication gap between it and the National Peace Committee, chaired by General Abdusalami Abubakar, a former Nigerian leader.

President Muhammadu Buhari and 75 other presidential candidates attended the peace meeting at the International Conference Centre in Abuja today. And all signed the Peace Accord, but the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar were conspicuously absent.

Ologbondiyan said despite the absence of both the party and its candidate, it is committed to a peaceful election

“Already, the party is conducting investigations into the circumstances that could have resulted to this unfortunate communication lapse.

“Nevertheless, it is instructive to state that our Presidential candidate, Atiku and the party PDP are fully committed to a peaceful electoral process and elections in 2019.

“Our Presidential candidate Atiku is known worldwide as a global ambassador of peace, who will always support processes that will engender peace in our country and the world over”, Ologbondiyan said.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/pdp-regrets-absence-of-atiku-at-peace-accord-ceremony/

@NaijaPolitico

Information reaching Naija Politico News desk this morning from Commissioner Imohimi Edgal reveals that Two hundred and thirty-three policemen have been arrested for corruption related offences in the past one year.

Of the total arrests made, Edgal said 16 were dismissed, 26 demoted, one charged to court and 190 served severe punishments with the offences documented in their service files.

He spoke at the Anti-Corruption Day with the theme: “Tackling corruption through collective responsibility”.

It was organised by the Centre for Change.

Edgal said the command had continued to uphold the mandate of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris, which is to eradicate corruption and human right infractions within the system.

He said: “In the last one year, 233 policemen have been arrested and tried for corrupt practices. Sixteen of them have been dismissed, one policeman charged to court, 26 have been reduced in rank and 190 of them have gotten major entries in their files.

“Others were given punishment relating to minor entries and fatigue to act as a deterrent to others. We will continue to partner every other group to fight corruption.”

Edgal, who was recognised by the centre as the Anti-Corruption Champion, said he felt honoured that people were watching and taking note of his actions.

The founder of the centre, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said Nigeria was bleeding under the heavyweight of corruption.

“It is either we kill corruption or corruption kills us. It is also certain that all institutions must be strengthened and that there should be synergy. This is why you will find out that the Police as an institution remains the lubricant for the survival of our great country.

“Talk is very cheap; it is extremely easy for us to continue to talk about corruption. But to act and also ensure that we fight that cancer, there should be no game place. This is why this synergy is very important for us today.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/233-policemen-arrested-for-corruption/

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has suspended its earlier directive to commence shutdown of depots across the country and stop loading petroleum products effective from midnight of Sunday.

The directive to suspend the action was conveyed in a statement issued around 1.20am on Monday by DAPPMA’s Executive Secretary, Mr Olufemi Adewole, in Lagos.

The association had issued a shut-down directive to its members following the continuing indebtedness of the Federal Government to petroleum marketers.

“However, following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, including the National Assembly as represented by the Senate Committee of Petroleum Downstream and constructive engagement of the Federal Government team by the labour unions most affected by the disengagement of our personnel, namely, PENGASSAN, NUPENG NARTO,PTD,and DAPPMA.

“The union has resolved to recall its disengaged personnel for 5-days to give the FG’s team the opportunity to conclude its process of paying marketers the full outstanding of N800 billion with the first trench being the amount already approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC)

“The association has acted in good faith to avoid unnecessary hardship which could befall Nigerians during the yuletide season and we hope that government would make good its promise to see that those issues are resolved by Friday, Dec., 14, 2018 as promised.

“To this, end, our disengaged personnel would be recalled on Monday, Dec. 10 and considering the reactivation time or hitherto shut down system, all depots with fuel stock should be fully active same day,’’ the statement said.

The statement said further that the conclusion of the debts payment would curtail the continuing wastage of public funds as interest accruing on the over N800 billion debt.

“DAPPMA depots are therefore advised to commence loading operations immediately and await further notification in respect of our long overdue payment.

DAPPAMA had on early on Sunday directed its members to shut down all loading operations by midnight, adding that oil marketers had disengaged employees due to their inability to pay salaries.

It said that the Association took a bold step to stop the financial haemorrhaging of its members by the painful disengagement of its loyal workers after over three years of engaging with the government in the efforts to secure the payment of all subsidy induced debt owed marketers.

According to DAPPMA, to avoid owing staff without any hope of pay, it is hereby agreed that since all our staff have been disengaged, all DAPPMAN member depot are not in a position to operate hence will shut down all loading at midnight

DAPPMA said that the decision of government to settle N236 billion out of the outstanding N800 subsidy arrears was not acceptable to DAPPMA members, leading to last week’s Thursday meeting which ended in a deadlock.

They explained that the decision of government to pay the N236 billion through promissory notes was equally rejected by the oil marketers.

‘‘As the name suggest, promissory note is a payment instrument that is post dated. Based on this when you approach the banks with the instrument, you don’t get the actual value on it.

“About 30 per cent is knocked off because Government will be making the payment at a later date which ties down the bank’s capital’’’ he said.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/petrol-flows-as-dappma-rescinds-directive/

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured petroleum products consumers across the country not to engage in panic buying in the countdown to depot shutdown by Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) from Monday.

The NNPC, countering the impact of the shutdown said it holds 2.6billion litres of petrol and 90,000 metric tonnes of diesel.

It said the stock is expected to last 52 days, even if no single drop of products is imported.

NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, gave the assurances on Sunday night.

Ughamadu said the shutdown would not affect products distribution as NNPC has ordered all its depots across the country and those of bulk purchase Marketers it recently entered agreements with to undertake a 24 hour operations to avert any shortages in products distribution in the country.

“All NNPC depots, Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) throughput partner depots, the Major Marketers depots and depots of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) members who signed the Bulk Purchase Agreement, BPA, with PPMC as well as NNPC Retail stations, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) filling stations, will continue to operate at maximum levels to ensure uninterrupted distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

He said despite the threats by DAPPMAN, government was committed to going ahead with settling the N236 billion first tranche of the verified subsidy claims of the Oil Marketers in line with the approval of Federal Executive Council (FEC) and National Assembly (NASS) by Friday, 14 December, 2018 as promised by the corporation’s Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, Engr. Henry Nkem Obih in a statement recently.

The NNPC spokesperson advised members of the public to report to offices of the Departments of Petroleum Resources (DPR) across the states any fuel stations which attempts to take advantage of the situation to inflate products price, saying that the price of PMS remains N145 per litre.

Read More: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/nnpc-counters-dappmans-strike-with-52-day-fuel-stock/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has shed light on the probe of alleged illegal withdrawal from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Dividend Account by the Senate, clarifying that there was nothing illegitimate about it.

In a statement, the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the clarification was made by the corporation’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq, at an interactive session with the media over the weekend in Lagos.

The release stated that in a detailed presentation, the CFO clarified that the Senate probe was not about missing money as was being insinuated in some quarters, but rather an investigation into whether NNPC acted legally in withdrawing the sum of $1.05bn from the NLNG Dividend Account to support fuel importation.

According to the release, while granting the statutory right of the legislators to carryout oversight functions, NNPC CFO said that relevant extant laws such as the Appropriation Act 2018 defines revenue from NNPC as net of cost, indicating that NNPC has the right to defray the cost of its operations from earnings.

He also cited the NLNG Act which explicitly provides that NNPC could defray its cost from the dividends, as one of the legal grounds relied upon for the expenditure without recourse to appropriation by the National Assembly.

Expatiating further on the matter, Mr. Abdulrazaq, according to the release, cited the case instituted by some state governments in 1999 seeking the interpretation of revenue on account of their contention that all accruals from oil and gas operations amount to revenue and should be swept into the Federation Account.

The ruling on that case by the Supreme Court in 2002, according to him, was in tandem with NNPC’s position that revenue is accruals net of cost.

“We have provided the legal authority on which we rely to use funds from the NLNG Dividend Account to the Senate. We believe they will reason with us. But if need be, we will seek legal opinion on it”, the CFO stated.

On the general impression that NNPC and indeed the entire Oil and Gas Industry is opaque, Mr. Abdulrazaq contended that in the light of efforts made by the Management of the NNPC since the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to entrench a culture of transparency, nothing could be further from the truth.

“NNPC is very open and transparent. We publish our NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations reports in the media. No one does monthly reporting, not even the international oil companies or the publicly quoted companies. The best they do is quarterly reports. But we do monthly reports of revenue (profit and loss for the entire corporation, including the subsidiaries). We do operations report on how much oil and gas was produced, sold and the monetary value; how much products the refineries processed and how much was imported and sold by PPMC. We do all these to defuse the perception of opacity. Yet some people still say we are opaque, and I think that is not fair”, he argued.

Abdulrazak disclosed that as part of the stewardship accounting designed to make NNPC’s operations transparent to the public, the inherited six-year unaudited accounts of the corporation have been audited up to date, stressing that the account for 2017 has been fully audited, approved and forwarded to relevant authorities.

On fuel supply and efforts to ensure zero-scarcity throughout the end of year festivities and beyond, the CFO disclosed that NNPC has 2.6 billion litres of premium motor spirit (petrol) in offshore and onshore storage that could last for 52 days at 50 million litres per day consumption.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, Mallam Bello Rabiu, said the major focus of the Upstream Autonomous Business Unit of the NNPC was to drive down the cost of crude oil production and link the Oil and Gas Industry with the economy.

According to him, bringing down the cost of production would lead to cheaper energy cost which would in turn boost industrial and economic growth.

He said security and funding that used to be the bane of Upstream operations have been largely taken care of by the corporation through practical engagement with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region and the cash-call exit programme.

The COO said that as part of efforts to drive down cost, the NNPC was looking at extending the Escravos-Warri crude oil evacuation pipeline surveillance contract model to downstream pipelines to guarantee efficient crude supply to the refineries post-rehabilitation.

“Before now, it was not possible to get crude to Warri and Kaduna refineries. But with the kind of security contract in place for the Warri-Escravos Pipeline, we now have 99% crude oil recovery rate. The balance is paid for by the contractor. That is why we have replicated that model for the Trans-Forcados Pipeline to guarantee security”, Mallam Rabiu explained.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/nnpc-educates-senate-on-nlng-dividend-account/

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to heed the advice of the anti-democratic elements who have now populated the political space and putting pressure on him not to give assent to the 2018 Electoral Bill.

Saraki in a statement in Ilorin today (Wednesday) signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged the President to rise above petty politics and act without further delay in the best interest of the country and its democracy by signing the Electoral Bill into law.

Saraki noted that he had been inundated with telephone calls and discussions by members of the National Assembly who expressed concern about the delay in the signing into law of the Electoral Bill as the one month period provided by the law for the President to sign a bill presented to him by the National Assembly is about to expire in the next few days.

He added that many of the legislators who contacted him were particularly disturbed that certain individuals who are said to be chairmen of political parties had approached the Federal High Court to stop the President from assenting to the bill.

He noted that the jaded tactic employed in the 90s to scuttle the return to democracy when groups like the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) went to court to frustrate the announcement of the results of the June 12, 1993 elections is now being adopted by some masked groups and individuals to stop the signing into law of the Electoral Bill.

He urged President Buhari to dissociate himself from these ugly antics and sign the bill which he said has comprehensively addressed issues that usually clog the process of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

“ It is the prerogative of the President to either sign a Bill into law or refuse it assent. He is free to exercise this prerogative the way he likes in this case. What I found surprising is a situation where some people now want to adopt a wrong tactic of abusing the court process to stall the matter. That will be unacceptable and I am sure our judiciary will rely on the lessons from the past and not allow itself to be used.

“We do not want the President to allow the setting of a bad precedent in which somebody will go to court in future to stop the passage of an appropriation bill or any essential law which will be important to the development of the country.

“My position remains that the President, his aides, the entire country and the international community are aware that all the concerns raised by the President on the past three occasions he withheld assent to the bill have been addressed by the legislature. We bent backwards on each occasion to accommodate the wishes of the President. We started work on this law since 2016 to prevent a situation where it would become part of the election controversies.

“Every sincere commentator, observer and analyst knows that what we have done with that bill is to raise the level of transparency, credibility and acceptability of our electoral process. We made sure that the law if assented to and honestly applied by INEC and all those concerned will give us an election that will be better than what we had in 2015.

“The President should know that the survival of democracy, its development and the future of Nigeria are far more important than the ambition of any individual or party. I am using this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to put a stop to this uncertainty in the political process by signing without delay the 2018 Electoral Bill so as to allow INEC and the concerned parties know how to prepare for a credible process”, Saraki stated.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/saraki-urges-president-buhari-to-rise-above-petty-politics-and-sign-the-electoral-bill/

The member of the House of Representatives representing Oyi/Anyamelum Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Mr Gabriel Onyewinfe, has defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, read a letter from Onyewinfe at the plenary on Wednesday, announcing his defection.

Onyenwinfe blamed his decision on the outcome of the primaries conducted by APGA in Anambra. He said “APGA is in deep crisis” and that the party does not follow democratic processes. He also said the party had been divided, with the emergence of a factional New-APGA.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/house-of-reps-member-defects-to-pdp/

The senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed the belief that President Muhammadu Buhari will work hard to ensure that the nation has a better Senate in the 9th Assembly.

She said it was important for the President to do so in order to forestall a repeat of the present situation in which she said the upper chamber of the National Assembly was populated by some people who are frustrating Buhari’s efforts aimed at repositioning the country.

Tinubu spoke in Lagos during a media luncheon where she unveiled her plans for the senatorial district for 2019-2023.

While responding to questions from journalists on the strained relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government, she said some members of the 8th Assembly were bent on frustrating Buhari’s programmes.

She said she was sure that Buhari would not want a repeat of what he witnessed with members of the present National Assembly.

She, therefore, urged Nigerians to re-elect Buhari for another term in order to complete his task.

Tinubu also called on Nigerians not to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party because the main opposition party was responsible for the hardships currently being experienced in the country.

She said Buhari would have learnt in his three and a half years in office that his inaugural statement that “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” was not exactly the way he thought.

She said, “I believe the President would have learnt a thing or two because when he came in, he said ‘I belong to everybody and belong to nobody.’ But I know by now that he knows those people that belong to him.

“What I am saying is not to take the President’s comment for granted, but now, I am sure he knows that some Nigerians are very dangerous to his decisions, even moving forward. The President should know those who are his own by now.

“It is a lesson to him and I know that he would fight to ensure that we have a better Senate in the 9th Assembly, not what we have now with a set of people who are frustrating his efforts. I do not think he would want to go through that route again.”

Tinubu said a term of four years was not enough for the President, hence the need for Nigerians to give the ruling All Progressives Congress another chance in 2019.

“Nigerians should give the APC another chance in 2019; four years is not enough for a President to complete his task, he is not a magician. We did not get to where we are overnight,” she said.

Speaking on her plan to return to the Senate, Tinubu said the leaders of her senatorial district convinced her to seek re-election.

“I am doing a third term because the leaders of my district asked me to contest. Beyond that, there is so much more to be done.

“I have shown through our quarterly town hall meetings that power belongs to and rests with the people. This third term is thus a chance to consolidate on previous achievements.

“To ensure that the third term is even more productive, we have set out to focus more on empowering our youths and finding ways to make them self-reliant.

“Through our quarterly town hall meetings, 27 in the series, I have been able to bond more effectively with our constituents,” she added.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/buhari-will-fight-to-have-a-better-senate-in-2019-tinubu/

Former Vice President and PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has commiserated with the government and people of Rivers State over the collapse of the 7-Storey building in Port Harcourt.

Represented by his wife, Mrs Jennifer Atiku Abubakar during a visit to Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday , the PDP Presidential Candidate said he was pained by the tragedy

He called on the Rivers State Governor to take actions that will ensure that there will be no recurrence of the tragedy.

"It is not enough to jail the owner of the building. It is time we begin to look at how we build our houses.

"We have to work on agencies that regulate the construction of buildings and ensure that they do their work properly ", he said.

He commended the Rivers State Governor for preliminary actions already taken by the State Government.

The PDP Presidential Candidate called on the State Government to compensate the fanmilies of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

The Representative of the PDP Presidential Candidate was accompanied on the visit by the Wife of the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Mrs Margeret Peter Obi and the Wife of the PDP National Chairman, Mrs Ene Secondus.

Responding, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike commended the PDP Presidential Candidate for being the first to commiserate with the state during her period of grief.

"You are the first to condole with us publicly and empathise with us over this tragedy. We are happy that you have come over to identify with", he said.

The governor regretted that the APC Federal Government has been unable to condole with the Government and people of Rivers State because of politics.

Governor Wike assured that the State Government will enforce the outcome of the processes of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the building collapse.

He said that his administration will deal decisively with culprits to serve as a deterrent to others in the building sector.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/collapse-of-7-storey-building-atiku-abubakar-commiserates-with-rivers-state-government/

I am just waiting for Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to deny or agree to what Jonathan said concerning conceding defeat

In clever attempt to sweep under the carpet, incontrovertible facts surrounding the April 14, 2014 Chibok abduction, former President Goodluck Jonathan has deliberately omitted in chapter four of his new book, an investigative report submitted to him in June 2014, by the presidential facts-finding committee he constituted in May, 2014, which was mandated to gather evidence-based facts and circumstances on the abduction, Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima has said.

Shettima spoke in reaction to allegations contained in chapter four titled "The Chibok school girls affair" in the book, "My Transition hours" authored by Jonathan and launched on Tuesday in Abuja.
The former President had indicated that the schoolgirls abduction was a product of conspiracy by the then opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in connivance with Borno State Government. He also accused the Borno Government and then President Barack Obama's administration in the United
States of undermining efforts to rescue the Chibok girls in 2014.
However, Governor Shettima through a
statement released by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau on Wednesday and made available to Naija Politico, said while the truth was that Jonathan never believed there was ever an abduction until rescue efforts were late, the "the former President's elementary book of tales fell short of the courage required of him to publish findings by his own panel in chapter four of his book.
"The whole of Tuesday night, I took the pains of reading His Excellency, former President Goodluck Jonathan's book, My transition hours, from the first to the 177th page.

I took particular interest in chapter four (the Chibok school girls affair) which has 42 paragraphs written on pages 27 to 36. I was amused that despite admitting in paragraph 1 5, that he had (in May 2014) constituted a Presidential Fact-Finding Committee under Brigadier
General Ibrahim Sabo and many others "to investigate" the Chibok abduction, former President Jonathan refused to mention any part or whole of the findings by that panel which had submitted a highly investigative
report submitted to him on Friday, June 20, 2014 after the panel held investigative meetings with the then Chiefs of Defense Staff, Army Staff, Air Staff, the DG, DSS and IGP, met all security heads in Borno, visited
Chibok, met with parents of abducted schoolgirls, met surviving students, interrogated officials of the school and the supervising ministry of education,
interrogated officials of WAEC and analyzed all correspondences.
What has become very clear is that the former President decided to sit on facts in his custody while he published, in an elementary standard, a book of fiction designed to pass gulty verdicts to anyone but himself, with respect to the open failures of his administration to rescue our daughters and in tackling the Boko Haram challenges Shettima was quoted by his spokesman.
The Governor declared that by refusing to publish any part of his own panel's findings on the Chibok abduction, Jonathan's book was nothing short of a presidential tale by midday".

Shettima recalled that for for the records, "on Tuesday, the 6th of May, 2014, President Jonathan had inaugurated multi-agency/stakeholder fact-finding panel under the chairmanship of Brig. General Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), a one-time Director of Military Intelligence and also appointed a secretary from the Niger Delta.
President Jonathan single handedly selected all members of that committee which included his trustees amongst serving and retired security officers
from the Army, DSS and Police; representatives of the UN and ECOWAS, representatives of the Chibok community, local and international civil rights
organisations, representatives of the National Council on Women Societies, the Nigeria Union of Journalists amongst other persons he trusted. For almost two months, the probe panel undertook forensic assessment of all documents on the entire issues, held investigative meetings with parents of the schoolgirls during a visit to Chibok.
The panel held separate one-on-one investigative meetings with myself, the then Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chiefs of Air and Naval Staff, met the then Director General of the DSS and the Inspector General of Police, all of whom were appointees of President Jonathan.
The panel interrogated officials of Borno Government including the Comof Education and the school principal. The panel also held investigative meetings with heads of all security agencies in Borno State including security formations in charge of Chibok. At the end, the panel submitted it's report directly to President Jonathan on Friday, the 20th of June, 2014 in Abuja. President Jonathan has refused to make public the findings submitted to him. I was expecting the findings in his book but he has deliberately swept that report under the carpet. However, I remember that on June 24, 2014, the ThisDay Newspaper claimed to have obtained a copy of the panel's report and published as its lead, that painstaking findings by the Presidential panel had indicted the military under Jonathan's watch and completely absolved the federal Borno State Government of any blame regarding the Chibok abduction.
The newspaper went further to say that panel actually
commended efforts of the Borno State
Government in its commitment to the fight against Boko Haram as testified by heads of security establishments" the statement from Gusau said.
Governor Shettima also said it was clear to him after reading the former president's book, that he still lives with poor understanding of issues under his presidency. The Governor cited that for instance, Jonathan's claim on page 31 that Boko Haram wanted a Muslim President rather than him as Christian was laughable since the insurgents actually began their deadliest attacks in Borno under the regime of late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua, a Muslim from northern Nigeria. "We know for a fact that as vicious cycle of evil, Boko Haram fighters do not care about the religion of their targeted victims. They attack Mosques and churches. They are lunatics who regard anyone who doesn't share their ideology as an infidel. So, I wonder how the former President didn't take
time to understand the biggest challenge under his presidency" Shettima said.
The Governor advised former President
Jonathan to write a second book on account of his presidency which should contain the facts as have been presented to him, regarding the Chibok abduction rather than the fiction he made public on Tuesday.

Source: https://naijapolitico.com.ng/chibok-abduction-shettima-to-jonathan-you-lied-in-chapter-four/