₦airaland Forum

“We must muster the resolve and political will to boldly and decisively confront the challenges that we face, right the ship of our state and lay a solid foundation of prosperity both now and for future generation of Deltans. ‘’It won’t be easy. It is not supposed to be easy. But there is no gain without pain, no prize without a price. Sacrifices “A good place to start is for us to reject the old ways of doing business.

First, beginning with me and this honourable House, we must be ready to make the necessary sacrifices to reduce the cost of governance.

‘’Secondly, the endless turf battles and approach to legislative action would need to give way to civility and respect for each arm of government.

Thirdly, the House must make laws that protect and promote the interest of the state and our people.

‘’Fourthly, we must act with the sense of urgency that our current situation demands, and navigate the ship of state aright.

“I have already directed the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General to restructure the Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders, ISPOs, on contractors’ guarantee and overdraft facility over a period of 42 months as a first step to reduce our monthly exposure."

“We are frantically working at putting the necessary machinery in place to boost our IGR, and steps will be urgently taken to plug the loopholes in our revenue collection process. In our land resource management, action will be taken to re-certify Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) beginning with our urban settlements, while MDAs will be made more accountable in the generation of revenue.”

ASABA—DELTA State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, decried the financial position of the state and disclosed that the government had over N636 billion debt, including contractual obligations, to contend with in the next three years.

Addressing the state legislature, Okowa said: “A total monthly deduction of N4.60 billion will be made from our FAAC receipts with effect from this June through to March 2017, and thereafter N1.098 billion monthly until September 2018. ‘’This leaves us with a balance of N3.4 billion assuming the FAAC allocation stays at N8.03 billion. “The receipt from Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, is about N2.0 billion monthly, after deducting cost of collection.

“The implication of the above scenario is that the funds available to run the state is N5.40 billion monthly in the next two years, except there is a significant rise in oil receipts and therefore FAAC earnings, as well as our IGR. “Unfortunately, the available fund of N5.40 billion is insufficient to offset our monthly wage bill, let alone fund overhead costs or for government to embark on capital projects. The state workforce as at May 28, 2015 stood at over 60,000 persons with a monthly personnel cost of N7,437,940,015.38 inclusive of the N678m state government’s support to local government councils for the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries.”

The governor lamented that the 2015 budget of N409 billion as passed by the legislature, was no longer realistic in the wake of current realities which clearly showed that their expected revenue was now far below what was projected. While calling for a review of the budget, Okowa said: “It is obvious from available statistics that the state will run a monthly deficit of about N2 billion, and would need to borrow to pay salaries of its workers and finance the running cost of government.

“Prior to my assumption of office, the state government had been hard put to pay workers’ salaries. Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government have been running at half steam due to the inability of the state to provide money for their operations. ‘’The staff of most local governments in the state have been on strike due to non-payment of salaries.”

Continuing, the governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, SSG, Mr. Festus Agas and the State Head of Service, Mr Patrick Origho, said further: “This is the dilemma that we face as we strive to deliver on our campaign promise of prosperity for all Deltans. ‘’I have gone into this much detail regarding the state of our finances to put the legislature on the same page with the executive, so that we can think together, plan together and tighten our belts going forward.

Unable to choose his working team, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has been struggling to kick-off a regime he bragged so much about. The All Progressives Congress APC, it may be recalled, ran an electioneering race projecting their candidate, now the president, as a fiscally astute conservative who would curb corruption and appropriately manage the country’s economic and financial resources. The masses at this time are getting something entirely different.

While Buhari, a former dictator backflips with official duties in a representative system unfamiliar to his individual aptitude, his camp has been busy showcasing him with falsehood and deceptive fairy tales. To substitute for total lack of answers for his regime catastrophe, the APC social media warriors have been feeding disappointed masses with some worthless cock-and-bull tales of what is now termed the ‘Buhari Wonders.”

The first fake story to justify Buhari’s humility, and considerateness to money matters came during the government transition period, when the APC claimed that predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan presented a billion naira budget for delegates’ lunch, but Buhari the “good money-manager” declined any expenses, saying that his transition team would bring their own lunch. Meanwhile this president was in London at the time on a controversial mission not properly communicated to his constituents.

A similar story yet made it to the network from the Buhari’s camp on how during the South Africa’s trip, Buhari paid the hotel bills for his staff, and asked the rest of the entourage to pay their own bills. This was a president yet to name a single staff till date. The propaganda continued with another rumor that hundreds of politicians, including the Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke had returned billions of Dollars stolen from the government – because they were afraid of Buhari the “respected honest money-keeper” and disciplinarian.

It is despicable that at this crucial time in the regime, the APC social media ensemble, running out of Buhari praise-worship songs are busy telling self-indulgent stories including comparing Buhari and Jonathan’s cars, use of presidential jets, Buhari’s choice of transportation, and ostensibly his suya flavor. But how long would they continue to feed the masses with these tommyrots.

As I write, the Buhari’s camp in the social media are still tagging around senseless stories about Buhari opting to fly in the economy class over first class; or choosing Okada over official convoy; or proposing to be eating on the floor instead of an official dining table; or heading to Alhaji Suya "bukateria" for his inauguration dinner rather than the traditional Aso-Rock in-house executive banquet.

Major questions remain :
[size=14pt]+ When would Nigerians start getting substantial information about the running of the government?
+ Where are the ‘missing girls’?

+ When is this ‘change’ going to start? Where is the unemployment salaries?

+ Where are Buhari’s ministers? Who has been making all decisions so far?

+ Is this still a democracy?[/size]

Indeed, Buhari and those who bejeweled him into his current executive predicament have been facing a more complicated political landscape. Even as Buhari announced as a terror-defense strategy, a relocation of the country’s armory to Borno State, Nigeria has remained under a terrorist attacks. In fact, last Monday's suicide bombing at a crowded fish market occurred in the northeastern city of Maiduguri – the same region where the regime relocated its arsenal.

Let us be clear then – that a president chose a wheelbarrow as an official car does not make him morally decent and fiscally astute; it only exposes his ignorance to issues of fiscal policies. Buhari, and indeed his Yahoo drum-beaters should explain their frameworks and preparedness to fiscal reformation. They should tell Nigerians how the regime can sustain in the long run, the existing spending, policies, and tax - without jeopardizing Nigeria’s creditworthiness, obligations or projected expenses.

Without Ministers; not a single known adviser, and without any working team besides obsequious cohorts who worship him, President Buhari is already abusing his official duties, making contradictory policy comments, dictating unmanageable strategy undertakings, and flip-flopping with dire issues of national significance.

As a matter of urgency, the masses are waiting for their new president to at least acquaint them with his plans to proceed. They want to hear about the machinery to translate electoral promises into action, not about limousines, and jets. In a government structure where the President cannot communicate, cannot relate, and worse, cannot corroborate his own policies, there is every reason to worry. It is torturing that under the current regime, citizens have to rely on repentant party bloggers to know the fate of their current economic woes.

IlekeHD:
He has never denied being Yoruba. His mom is from Oyo state.

warrior01:
God I pray thee; save us from this Daura President a.k.a President Buhari. Please, can someone tell me how we ended up with this clueless dullard. Nigerians why??

tunjijones:
I actually voted for change but I swear this is not the kind of change I vote for. I dnt tink anybody associateed wit boko haram weather guilty or not shd ever be a leader in Nigeia.

NgeneUkwenu:
Senator Ali Ndume, Former PDP Member, Who was accused of sponsoring Boko Haram is now the Nigerian Senate Majority Leader!

#TheyHaveHijackedOurChange.



http://www.opinionriver.com/senator-ali-ndume-accused-of-sponsoring-boko-haram-is-nigerias-senate-majority-leader/

worksmart:
I am not sure what two you are asking me how they are linked.

If as I guess you mean how Buhari's apparent absence is linked to Oyegun being an enemy of Nigeria;

Enemies of Nigeria are somehow preventing the president from doing his job, whatever means they are using can only be speculated on.

For Oyegun to be appearing to help perpetrate the deceit of normalcy with out raising alarm , leads me to conclude he is amongst the conspirators against PMB and Nigeria's progress.


The great thing about this period is that all our enemies within APC can be easily identified; These are simply those that are appearing in front of news media at current events.

The list I have compiled so far are:

John Oyegun
Bola Tinubu
Lai Mohammed
Yemi Osinbajo
Abubakar Atiku
Gov. El Rufai
Gov. Shettima
Gov. Tambuwal
Gov. Oshiomole
Gov. Okorocha

Others that Iam unsure of include:
Babatunde Fashola
Chris Ngige

fx45:
Really? Now let's do a roll call...
1. Bukola Saraki..... 15 years in PDP
2. Atiku Abubakar..... 15 years in PDP
3. Yakubu Dogara..... 15 years in PDP
4. Chibuike Amaechi.... 15 years in PDP
5. Olusegun Obasanjo.... 16 years in PDP
6. Rabiu Kwankwaso..... 15 years in PDP
7. Nasir El-Rufai.... 14 years in PDP
8. Abdulfatah Ahmed.... 15 years in PDP

*Please anybody can modify and add more names to this list. I'm already tired....

Actually the list is endless and these are the key men and driving forces behind the APC. Majority of the people in APC today are PDP decampees. So I make bold to ask you to sincerely tell everybody on this forum who exactly it is that destroyed this country. I would also implore you to tell the world where those people can be found at the moment.

Please, what/who exactly is PDP and what/who is APC? Where does the difference lie? Is it the name of the party or the people that make up the party? I need you to give an intelligent and unbiased response...

abuayman:
In as much that I am not in support of imposition of candidates by any political party, the two main candidates in this power tussle, being Sen lawal and Akume needs to be compensated with a juicy senate leadership position, if not, this may just ignite a new crisis prone Senate just like the time of Okadigbo, Ewerem, Wabara etc

ERODEDEAST:
The Katsina Illiterate is Confused

worksmart:
So you noticed also?

owobokiri:
There must be more to governance than appeasing boko haram states. He is making it look like these guys are victims, yet untill boko haram went heywiire, many people in these areas were actively sympathetic to their cause, shielding and hiding vile fighters of this group. . Throwing money around won't solve this problem. Reorientation will and that will take time. . Looks like the only way any section of the country can draw the attention of buhari is to ignite a mayhem. .

engrfcuksmtin:
Thought you included the picture of the car?

kay1one2:
I want nigeria to succeed. Be it under buhari or Jonathan. Buhari seems to be faltering already. Is he then a liar and political opportunist? Still watching. But seems like.

Odok1:
Baba PMB, anytin dat u kno ill be gud 4 us(Nigerians), no lng talk......let d wind of change stat blowing now.

worksmart:
Is nobody noticing that Buhari has not appeared at any live event in Nigeria?

Oyegun is an enemy of Nigeria.

tswitch:
Change! Change! Change!
*chanting*


Millions of myopic and sentimental Nigerians have been conned by the daura nomad.

Hahaha

TheFreeOne:
Seniority determines the numbers of cars they got

Part of the reasons a lot of them can't pay salaries due to their lascivious, profligacy and extravagant lifestyles

It seems President Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t know that elections are over and it is time to start actualizing his promises. The first few days of a new President in office matter a great deal. Acting authoritatively within 24 hours of being sworn will send the right signal to all that he is ready to implement change. Buhari has already failed in this regard. He is supposed to hit the ground running considering the mirage of problems facing this nation. The new President simply hit the ground and sat down there.

The cabal controlling Nigeria has already ringed him. He could not appoint a Secretary to the Federal Government, seven days after his inauguration. He could not even appoint a Chief of Staff. He is struggling with his list of ministers. So many interest groups within his ruling All Progressives Congress are holding him by the jugular. Ogbonnaya Onu and Rotimi Amaechi are battling for the position of SGF. Buhari should be reminded that a forward-looking leader like David Cameron of the United Kingdom announced his cabinet with 48 hours of emerging victorious.

Our dear Buhari could not even appoint a spokesman. He ended up appointing spokesmen. I have never heard of this in any sane society. He has Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu appointed as spokesmen just to satisfy diverse interest groups. Ever heard of leaders like Barack Obama or David Cameron operating with spokesmen? This is an agenda for chaos in the media management area.

I can’t understand why Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Barde and Army Chief, Kenneth Minimah are still in office. If we are talking about change and wiping out Boko Haram, the men in charge of the war’s Command and Control ought not to be in office by this time. Buhari obviously has no blueprint on how to handle Boko Haram. These bastards have killed over 300 people in the last seven days.

The President has directed that the defence headquarters be moved to Maiduguri. There is clearly no sense in this. Buhari simply wants to jeopardise the Command and Control Centre[b]. The United States did not move the Pentagon to the Gulf region during the Gulf war[/b]. Yet, they decapitated Iraqi forces[b]. United Kingdom did not move its defence headquarters to the Falkland during the war with Argentina over the Falkland[/b]. Buhari’s directive is an archaic military strategy. This is obviously unnecessary in modern warfare. Obviously, our dear President has no blueprint for tackling the Boko Haram problem. All he did during the election was to excoriate Goodluck Jonathan’s security failure. He had no plans of his own.

The next thing the President did was to dash to Niger and Chad to talk to their leaders about curtailing Boko Haram. Yes, this would help in shortening trans-border terrorism. But how will this stop ongoing suicide bombings inside Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by the blood-thirsty Boko Haram? The suicide bombers are obviously not crossing into the country from the neighbouring countries. They are within the country, manufacturing and using Improvised Explosive Devices. They are using petrol and gas cylinders, all obtained within the country, for suicide bombings. Intelligence gathering and technology are key to detecting and curtailing the deadly activities of these suicide bombers. We need to put our internal security in order before running to Chad and Niger republics.

I am also surprised that heads of failed government departments and agencies that have done collateral damages to this country are still in office eight days after Buhari’s inauguration. How can the leadership of the Customs and Excise still be in office by this time? Why should the leadership of the NNPC and the NERC still be in office? The leadership of the FIRS is still in office, yet we are talking about change. Change in this direction should come within 24 hours. We are still waiting for our dear President to act.

Buhari response to the power crisis in his inauguration speech was also appalling. How can the President say that, “careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians”. So, the President did not do a thorough study of the power crisis and the way forward before campaigning to take over from Jonathan? So, the President has no blueprint on how to tackle the power crisis? So, Buhari is just about assembling a team to decide on what to do? That should have been in his bag already. It is part of what is called hitting the ground running in governance. I hope we have not entered a one chance bus? I guess that was why Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo sent him his own blueprint on the power crisis. My humble suggestion is for Buhari to quickly go after Atiku Abubakar and collect his comprehensive blueprint on how to tackle crisis in virtually all the sectors of our economy. A better-prepared Atiku commissioned a very reliable team to do this during his campaign for Presidency. But the APC painfully denied him their Presidential ticket. It is a pity that a well-prepared Atiku may never become the President of this country because we always celebrate mediocrity.

Buhari has also left many bemused by his refusal to make public his asset declaration. Garba Shehu said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has declared his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If anyone is interested in knowing details of his asset worth, such a person can avail himself or herself of the use of Freedom of Information Act to seek the information from the bureau.” What an insult. One of Buhari’s key campaign promises was public declaration of assets and liabilities. How can he now do this to Nigerians? Late President Umaru Yar’Adua made public his asset declaration after submitting to the Code of Conduct Bureau. Clearly, Buhari has something to hide. The National Secretary of the Labour Party, Kayode Ajulo was right when he accused the President of failing to keep the covenant he had with Nigerians to publish his assets publicly. Ajulo said: “The promise on the declaration of assets made to Nigerians was to woo voters. Now, the voters have fulfilled their part of the agreement. It is left for Buhari to fulfill the other part, failure of which is a clear violation of the social contract he had with millions of Nigerians.”

Now, the President has approval for 15 Special Advisers. What does he want to do with all these men? These Special Advisers will also have a retinue of special assistants. They will also need to maintain offices and vehicles. So, where is the belt tightening which our President promised in this scenario?. On removal of fuel subsidy, Buhari is still shivering, eight days after inauguration. May Allah help Nigeria.

Culled from Thisday

30 Killed in Maiduguri Fish Market Bombings on 22nd June 2015. Everybody in Buhari's government, including the thieving National Assembly remain mute.

Not even a condemnation

Two suicide bombers that snuck their way into crowded Maiduguri fish market and waited upon innocent traders to converge for prayers before detonating themselves had caused the death of at least 30 persons, according to witnesses account.

Hospital sources confirmed that about 30 persons had died and many others injured.

The two suicide bombers were identified as teenage females who concealed lethal explosives in their hijabs.

A witness told PREMIUM TIMES that while the girl that caused the first blast was able to kill many traders and injured several others, the second one who appeared to have developed cold feet after the first attack, blew herself up as she was fleeing away from the crowded market.

Idrissa Idi, who retails smoked fish in the market told journalists in an interview he granted in Hausa said, “the two young girls that caused the explosions were in their teenage ages”.

“The first girl waited for the traders to commence prayers before she crept upon them and detonated the bomb, killing a large number of persons and injuring many. Some of our fellow traders said they saw the young girl wandering about shortly before the prayers,” he said.

“We all heard the second explosion coming not less than five minutes after the first blast. Those that were close to the scene said they spotted the female teenager running before she blew herself up, near BEWAC complex along Baga road,” Idi said.

Other witnesses said the girl may have suddenly become scared following the way people reacted to the first blast.
She did not go very far from the market when she exploded also, and she was the only one that died, the witnesses said. - See more at: http://www.exlinklodge.com/2015/06/update-30-killed-in-maiduguri-fish.html#sthash.kLs3z6j7.dpuf

Several persons have been reportedly killed in a market at Wagir, Gujba local government area of Yobe State after a female suicide bomber detonated an explosives device in a crowded place on Tuesday.

Malam Usaini Jibril, a driver who conveyed the injured to Sani Abatcha Hospital, Damaturu told newsmen that he counted 10 dead people on the spot and over 30 injured.

“The girl that detonated the bomb was a very small girl of about 12 years. We counted 10 dead and over 30 injured,” he said.

According to him, the bomber hit the market at about 11am at the Kasuwar Buhunna when the market was at its peak.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/06/23/breaking-many-killed-as-female-suicide-bomber-hits-yobe-market/

SenatorJames:
Though some of the GEJ cabinet are very hardworking and highly meticulous (e.g Dr Akinwumi Adesina), but our political system has not grown to the level where the ruling party will nominate someone from the opposition party into any political office in Nigeria.