₦airaland Forum

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources says Nigeria will not achieve fuel sufficiency in 2019 as earlier promised, but in 2020.

Kachikwu made this known at the International Biennial Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) conference in Lagos on Monday,

The conference was organised by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

During an interview with BBC in 2017, the minister had vowed to “walk away” or resign if the nation does not achieve self-sufficiency in petrol production by 2019.

“Our target is 2019…don’t worry, I put the date, I’ll work it.”

But speaking on Monday, the minister said achieving fuel sufficiency in 2019 was no longer feasible.

He said fuel sufficiency would only happen when Nigeria produces an additional 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s four refineries, three modular refineries and the Dangote Refinery which are expected to come on stream by 2020.

“Even though I had wanted in my usual bullish nature to get this thing driven so that we can have all the refineries working by end of 2019, obviously it will slip a bit,” he said.

“But what is important that we must begin the process. We are going to deliver those barrels refined by 2020, so be it.

“We are also working hard to see the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s four refineries coming up with 425,000 b/d in 2020.

“Hopefully, we will be having board meeting next week where we will take some soft landing decisions for the commercial investment on the refineries.

“In all, we are expecting about 1.1 million barrels refining capacity by 2020.”

In October, Ndu Ughamadu, spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said three financiers have shown interest in the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.

Ughamadu had expressed confidence that the 2019 deadline given by Kachikwu to get the refineries up and running will be achieved.

He said the NNPC will soon sign agreements with the third-party financiers and contractors chosen to carry out the refineries overhaul.


http://petrobarometer.thecable.ng/2018/11/27/kachikwu-backtracks-says-nigeria-will-achieve-fuel-sufficiency-in-2020/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his party are dancing on the graves of fallen soldiers.

Abubakar has commented on the death of soldiers in Boko Haram attacks while his party alleged that Mansur Dan-Ali, minister of defence, diverted funds for the military to the APC campaign.

In a statement on Tuesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC spokesman, said the comment of the PDP is “callous and insensitive to the families and dependants” of the late soldiers.

“The allegations by the PDP that military funds have been diverted to finance the 2019 election campaigns of the APC is a sad reminder of the evil and retrogressive practices the PDP was notorious for during its defunct rule,” Issa-Onilu said.

“God forbid that the APC inherits and apply such morbid practice as brazenly displayed during the immediate past PDP administration where funds allocated to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east were shared among PDP leaders and their cronies.

“It is clear that the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have decided to dance on the graves of our valiant and patriotic soldiers by politicising their deaths in the recent Boko Haram attack on the Nigerian army Metele base.

“The PDP and Atiku are playing desperate politics where even the blood of our fallen heroes is fair game. Their actions are callous and insensitive to the families and dependants of the late soldiers and indeed our military which battles daily to ensure our territorial integrity.

“Nigerians see through PDP’s ploy to score political points as elections approach and it will surely backfire. While the APC mourns the death of our military and other security personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty, we urge them to remain focussed on the brave task of securing the nation.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration remains solidly committed to bringing lasting peace and security to all parts of the country and ensuring that previously displaced persons are rehabilitated to resume their normal and productive lives.”

Last week, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) faction of Boko Haram attacked 157 task force battalion of the Nigerian army in Metele, Borno, killing over 100 soldiers.

https://www.thecable.ng/apc-pdp-dancing-on-graves-of-fallen-soldiers/

The North Central Youth Congress (NCYC) has vowed to mobilise over 10 millions votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

The youth group said President Buhari remained the best option for Nigeria in 2019 considering his laudable achievements across the length across the nation.

National President of the group, Comrade Unekwu Adejo Ochimana, in a statement highlighted some of the monumental projects embarked on and completed by the current administration led by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The group added that youths of North Central region pledge unreservedly to massively support President Buhari’s reelection bid by working assiduously to realize it.

We are motivated to issue this press statement bring to the attention of Nigerians, especially; those domiciled in the North Central states and susceptible to deception by the coalition of opposition parties in Nigeria to some of the verifiable capital projects executed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last three years in our region.

This step has become necessary because with the approach of the 2019 general elections, a lot of misrepresentation of facts falsehood are being peddled by members of the opposition, particularly, the PDP , whose appetite for power is incurable and targeted at the leadership of President Buhari.


We are concerned about the pointless and absurd propaganda mounted against President Buhari by the 2019 PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar through the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization’s (APCO) 14 posers, which unconscionably challenged Mr. President on capital projects he has executed in the last three years of his government.

The teeming youths of the North Central part of Nigeria wishes to enlighten APCO that the government of APC led by President Buhari has impacted positively in this part of the country in an unprecedented manner.

We state emphatically that none of the six states in the North central region has been excluded from patronage of capital projects or infrastructural development by President Buhari. There is attested massive infrastructural development in all parts of the region contrary to the fake claims of the opposition.

A few examples would justify our position. We are grateful to President Buhari for the dualisation of the Lafia-Akwanga road in Nasarawa state, a project the PDP could not execute in 16 years, but claimed expending colossal sums of money. In same state, President Buhari has completed the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX), an expressway which provides easy access to the East-West movement to the southern flank of the city linking the Abuja-Keffi road.

In Benue state, Mr. President has completed the Loko- Oweto bridge, over River Benue which has been opened to vehicular traffic. The bridge provides easy link to Abuja from the Southern axis of the state. The Federal Government has also rehabilitated 120 Poles Solar Street Lights on Katsina-Ala Bridge and the Street Lights on Makurdi Bridge in Makurdi.

Similarly, in Kwara state, the masses are enjoying the rehabilitated Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna road; road installation/rehabilitation of Street Lights on Ilorin-Ibadan Expressway at Geri Alimi and also, on Ogbomosho –Ilorin road and so forth.


In Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, there are the
Murtala Muhammad and Umar Musa Yar’Adua expressways; the circle road which rings into the Central Business District. President Buhari has also constructed the Nyanya-Gbagalape road and Abuja residents are savouring the pleasure of the Abuja rail Mass Transit system and the Abuja – Kaduna Standard Gauge railway.

Also in the FCT, several roads/streets have been lighted with Street Lights such as the Giri interchange along Abuja – Lokoja Expressway; Kakao and , Old Toll Gate along Abuja – Kaduna road.

In Niger state, the administration of President Buhari embarked on remediation of Lead contaminated sites in Shikira, Rafi LGA and the general maintenance works along Kontagora – Tegina road as well as the rehabilitation of 120 Poles Solar Street lights on Jebba Bridge.

Kogi state has also benefitted from infrastructural attention such as patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Okene – Ibillo road. And in Plateau state, government has patched potholes, strengthened pavements, and repaired failed sections on Gimi road.

And generally, President Buhari has ensured all dilapidated federal roads traversing or inter-connecting states of the North central region have been rehabilitated.


We are proud of President Buhari in many ways. States of the North Central region led the list of states in the country with huge salary indebtedness. But his bailout interventions assisted immensely in clearing these debts. The one or two states still owing backlog of salaries can be explained as the default of the various state governors.

Nigeria is a large country, no doubt. But for President Buhari to have remembered to touch every part or state in the country has earned for himself the reputation of a focused and impartial leader. The North Central region never enjoyed such attention in massive infrastructural development for the 16 years, the region faithfully supported the PDP with votes at every election.

We have no hesitation to declare unmistakably that President Buhari qualifies for a re-election in 2019. And the youths of North Central region pledge unreservedly to massively support President Buhari’s reelection bid by working assiduously to realize it.

Through consultations and persuasions, the NCYC has been able to mobilize 10 million votes in the region for the reelection of President Buhari in 2019, as a token of our appreciation for his unprecedented and massive infrastructural development of the North central Nigeria.

Let no one confuse us. President Buhari is still the best option for Nigeria in 2019. His legacies in our region cannot be forgotten in a hurry. And we are sure, renewing his mandate in 2019 shall benefit us the more.

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has been booed and shouted down by an angry audience for attempting to reel out the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The drama ensued on Thursday at a town hall meeting/presidential debate organised by the Osasu Show Symposium in Abuja.

Buhari had confirmed his participation at the presidential debate but neither put up an appearance nor sent in a representative.

However, the Minister who was not part of the debaters, took to the stage to mock the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar over his plan to privatise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

He alleged that Atiku’s plan of privatising the state-owned oil company was laced with corrupt intentions.

Afterwards, he went further to attempt a reel out President Buhari’s achievements in office but was met with the resistance of the audience.


The audience booed him and shouted ‘sit down!’ ‘sit down!’ for as long as Amaechi tried to speak in praise of the government.

Overwhelmed by the apparent anti-Buhari chants, the Minister caved into the pressure and took his seat.

DAILY POST reports that Presidential candidates who debated against one another included Oby Ezekwesili (ACPN), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Donald DukeTope Fasua (ANRP), and Ali Soyode (YES Party),

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/22/crowd-embarrassed-amaechi-defending-buhari-lagos/

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, has asked the south-east to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid in order to secure the presidency in 2023.

Mustapha was speaking to journalists after the meeting between Buhari and the south-east governors at the presidential villa on Wednesday.

On whether Buhari used the opportunity to solicit the votes of the south-east, Mustapha said: “This obviously might not be most appropriate time. You remember there was a programme in the south-east where Mr. President asked me to represent him and I flew the kite by telling the south-eastern states that their quickest and easiest means to presidency is to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

“Meaning that they can short circuit the period in terms of only having him there for another four years and whatever they do in 2019 will determine what will happen thereafter because politics is a game of numbers and it is like a cooperative society.

“Whatever you bring as an investment when dividends are going to be shared, you will get proportionate with your investment and your investment in politics is what you bring to the table and I urge the Southeast to look at this matter seriously that every time we have a presidency in Nigeria, it is negotiated in several ways. Either negotiated by votes or what you bring to the table and you must negotiate from the position of strength.

“You can’t negotiate from the point of weakness and I believe that that message resonated with the people and their response now is attributable to the fact that even before the flag-off of the campaigns, we have laid it bare on the table for Southeastern states to consider the prospect of working with us to ensure that at least by the time President Buhari finishes his second tenure, they can make a shot at the presidency depending on what they bring to the table.”

He also said the visit was remarkable.

“It has corrected the impression that the federal government was not doing anything for the people of the zone,” he said.

“We received very high powered delegation today led by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and three of their governors and a deputy governor with the DG of the Forum of the Southeast Governors. I think it is a remarkable visit because they came essentially to thank Mr. President over the major activities that have taken place in the Southeast.

“They appreciate the fact that the second Niger Bridge was a paper issue in the last five, six decades. They are convinced that the decision to complete the Niger Bridge is real, contract has been awarded by this government for N206 billion of investment and the road networks and other things we are doing in the southeast, it is a mark of appreciation for the leadership that President Muhammadu Buhari is providing for this country

“The south-east is an integral part of this country. It must be accorded its appropriate place in the scheme of things and we believe strongly that this particular government has extended its hands of friendship to the south-eastern states and by the efforts that have been put in place to ensure infrastructural development and integration.”

https://www.thecable.ng/sgf-to-igbo-endorse-buhari-now-get-presidency-in-2023/amp

…felicitates with ex-President at 61
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA – PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as an inspiration to every young Nigerian.

The President has also felicitated with the former President as he clocks 61 years.


In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina in Abuja, Buhari said he joined Nigerians in sending warm greetings to former President Jonathan as he turns 61 today, November 20, 2018.

President Buhari in the statement said he “believes the life journey of the former President remains an inspiration to every young Nigerian of the possibilities that await anyone willing to learn, work hard and participate in making the country great.”

The President congratulated Dr. Jonathan on the publishing of his memoir, My Transition Hours, which will be launched as part of ceremonies marking his birthday, encouraging Nigerians to follow same example of sharing their experiences in writing.

President Buhari prayed that the almighty God will strengthen Dr. Jonathan, grant him longer life and bless his family.

By Nwafor Sunday

As the 2019 presidential election draws near, political parties have started building a strong image of their respective candidates in order to win the heart of the electorates.


President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice are not left out, as Lauretta Onochie, the special adviser to Mr President on Social media, took to her tweeter handle on Tuesday to lambast the vice presidential candidate of the opposition party, Mr Peter Obi and extol vice president Yemi Osinbajo on his unflinching contributions towards the success of trader moni approved in view by the federal government to assist petty traders in the country.


According to her, the opposition party “wants to return to take food out of the mouth of these lovely Nigerians. For the first time, ordinary Nigerians have a share in our national wealth. There will be no Peter Obi for this scheme. Thanks @Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. You’re the best.

Read her tweets below:

When they say,
“#LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain“,
they mean, vote them in to open the treasury and let them and a few select political, military, religious and traditional elite, loot to their unsatisfaction. #NigeriaWontLetThemLootAgain. pic.twitter.com/O4HDGUC8c6

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 11, 2018
If as a leader in Anambra State, he divided predominantly Christian Anambra State along Christian Denomination Lines, he has no business in Abuja!
When he says, #LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain, he means, let’s divide Nigeria along class, ethnic and religious lines. #NoToBigotry pic.twitter.com/QqZ1UgBYfZ

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 11, 2018
100,000 workers indeed! Clearly, he is the largest private sector employer of Ghost Workers seeing he claims workers he does not have. https:///eiInbFCRnG

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 11, 2018
What the heck is this noise from masters of impunity, @OfficialPDPNig?
I have been searched at Airports too
So has Transport Minister Hon Amaechi & other dignitaries

Nigerians love a Nigeria where none is above the law. Thats where we are heading
Dont set us back to lawlessness pic.twitter.com/xIMm2GrhU2

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 12, 2018
This is what they are coming to stop
They want to return to take food out of the mouth of these lovely Nigerians.
For the first time, ordinary Nigerians have a share in our national wealth.
There will be no Peter Obi for this scheme.
Thanks @ProfOsinbajo. Your the best. https:///nh0TMwQW7c

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 13, 2018
I concur. Totally. pic.twitter.com/UrBEbMVQDM

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 13, 2018
Tell the haters, dear brother.

We are here to showcase our Candidate.
�His integrity
�His achievements
�His honesty

Haters have NOTHING to showcase so they abuse, curse and insult all day long.

We dont care. Why?
We stand on a good moral ground.
We have God on our side.� pic.twitter.com/UUVe0q1DF0

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 13, 2018
“Atiku lacked experience (Inexperience), he was not willing to learn (Unteachable) and complained that he was given too much work (Lazy).
– Pres. Obasanjo

Me:
1. Inexperienced
2. Unteachable
3. Lazy
Attributes we cannot afford to have in our Leader pic.twitter.com/EByOmwpKww

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) November 9, 2018


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/osinbajo-is-the-best-we-dont-need-peter-Obi-in-our-scheme-lauretta-onochie/

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to claims by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo that he left Nigeria with debt and ruined the economy due to the alleged corruption under his watch.

The Vice President had during a lecture entitled, “Restructuring and the Nigerian federation,” delivered as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of Association of Friends in Lagos yesterday, accused the immediate past government of President Goodluck Jonathan, of throwing Nigeria into untold hardship, recession and debt.


But reacting in a statement made available to DAILY POST by Reno Omokri (for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan), the former President wondered why Osinbajo, who, according to him, was recently indicted by the House of Representatives for an alleged worse corruption in Nigeria, should point accusing fingers at him(Jonathan).

The statement continues, “My attention has been drawn to regurgitated and discredited allegations by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo blaming former President Jonathan of saddling Nigeria with debt and ruining the economy by the alleged corruption of his administration.

“How can Vice President Osinbajo, a man who had just been indicted by the House of Representatives in one of the biggest corruption scams ever in Nigeria’s history, have the gall to point accusing fingers on Dr. Jonathan, a man that is celebrated internationally for his efforts at achieving Nigeria’s best rating in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Rating when Nigeria improved 8 paces from 144 to 136 in 2014?

“Having read through the sordid details of Professor Osinbajo’s corruption as revealed in the indictment by Nigeria’s House of Representatives, it is easy to understand why Nigeria made her worst ever retrogression in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception under him this year, moving 11 paces backwards from 136 to 148.

“On the issue of debt, the fact remains that in the entire 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party governed Nigeria, the total amount of money borrowed was ₦8.06 trillion Naira. These are facts sourced directly from the budget office controlled by the Buhari administration.

“However, in only 3 years, the All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has borrowed a total of ₦10 trillion Naira. With this fact in hand, where does Vice President Osinbajo have the moral authority to point leprous fingers at former President Jonathan?

“The claim by Vice President Osinbajo that former President Jonathan left $$63 billion in debt is also a false claim. The Jonathan administration inherited $42.23 billion in debt in 2011 which were debts borrowed by the states and the Federal Government.

“Throughout the five years that he was President, former President Jonathan incurred the wrath of several state governments because his administration refused to guarantee their foreign loans.

“The reason that Nigeria’s debt has ballooned under this administration is because the Federal Government lacks the discipline that Jonathan had and are thus unable to curb borrowing by both the Federal Government and the states.

“For example, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, the Debt Management Office revealed that in just 2017 alone, the Buhari administration borrowed ₦2.4 trillion to fund their budget deficit. This is besides other loans that they took in 2017 alone. That money is more than the funds borrowed by the Jonathan administration in 5 years!

“To show to Nigerians the profligacy and ineptitude of the current administration, I draw their attention to the fact that between July and August 2018, the Buhari administration claimed it had shared $322 million Abacha funds recovered by the Jonathan administration to the poor. Then a week after it made that announcement, the Buhari government borrowed $328 million from China.

“The question is this, why would you share out $322 million one week only to borrow the same amount next week? Why not use the Abacha funds to fund government activities instead of adding to the already strained debt burden?

“These are questions that Vice President Osinbajo should answer rather than making false allegations against former President Jonathan.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/13/corruption-allegations-goodluck-jonathan-attacks-osinbajo-says-vp-leprous-fingers/

Oladimeji Ramon

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo again, on Monday, lashed out at the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it was mirred in grand corruption and impunity.

Osinbajo said he was taken aback, on assumption of office, at the kind of grand corruption that took place under the previous government.

The VP said, for instance, he was shocked to find that in one day $292m (about N70bn) was moved out from the Central Bank of Nigeria, “without any contract or any real explanation”.

According to him, that dollar haul from the CBN left the apex bank dollar broke for two weeks.

He said it was unimaginable that despite earning $381bn from crude sale between 2010 and 2014 – the highest that the country had ever earned – the nation’s external reserves fell to $30bn by 2014 and the Jonathan administration left behind a debt of $63.806bn.

Osinbajo said this on Monday in Lagos in a lecture titled, “Restructuring and the Nigerian federation,” which he delivered as part activities marking the 40th anniversary of Association of Friends.

He noted that between 2010 and 2015, Nigeria’s debt jumped from $35,093.10bn to $63,806.53bn.

He said, “What do these figures show? They show that when oil prices were at the highest between 2010 and 2014 the government was borrowing heavily.

“From 2010 to 2014, debts moved from $35bn to $63bn. When we assumed office in 2015, the debt that the previous government left was $63bn.

“Today, three and half years later, the debt is $73bn.

“There are two reasons why despite high earnings we are poorer – the first is grand corruption and mismanagement of resources. And there is a difference between grand corruption and ordinary corruption.

“Grand corruption is directly stealing from the CBN, directly taking money from the treasury without any contract, no pretences; there’s no caution, you just take money. That was going on and I will give you several examples.

“When I got to the office as Vice-President, I couldn’t believe it. In one day, $292m was signed out and it disappeared. After that period, for two weeks, the Central Bank of Nigeria did not have cash dollar – $292m without any real explanation! We later discovered what became of the money.

“On another occasion, N60bn was moved out ostensibly for security purposes; but we know what happened.

“When you have a corrupt government, large sums of money which can be used for development is simply taken. If you are the President of Nigeria, you can literally say, ‘Go and bring money’.

“Look at a sum of N60bn; when someone can take N60bn; and $292m, that’s almost N70bn. Today, our TraderMoni scheme is costing us N20bn, where we’re giving to petty traders a loan of N10,000 and when they pay back, we give them N15,000 and when they pay back, we give them, N20,000. But somebody will take $292m, almost N70bn. If you have N70bn, you will solve the problem of seven million of those petty traders. That’s the kind of thing we are talking about and the kind of contrast that we’re trying to draw.”

https://punchng.com/jonathan-administration-plunged-nigeria-into-debt-osinbajo/

By Nwafor Sunday

“His only offence is that he is the presidential candidate of an opposition party. It is not as if you are not allowed to do a routine check,” Peter Obi former governor of Anambra state said.


Fielding questions from a TV presenter in Arise Television station, Obi accused the current administration of harassing its opponents.

His words, “I’ve been privileged to have travelled with a number of high-profile people in the past in a private jet where they gave me a lift. I’ve not experienced what Atiku experienced.

Recall that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had yesterday lamented over the search of his private jet by security agents, when he came back from Dubai, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of using its might to intimidate him.

His words, “I arrived Abuja this morning to a search by agents of the state, aimed at intimidating me and my staff. I am committed to building a Nigeria where no citizen is intimidated by agents of state who are paid to protect them.”

But reacting on the issue, Presidency faulted the linkage of the president in the search and allegations of plots to implicate Atiku by planting illegal substances in the plane, asserting that President Buhari cannot descend so low as to send some persons to plant something in the aircraft of the Presidential candidate of PDP, just to implicate him.

Similarly, the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, in a statement, described Atiku’s allegation as an attempt to grab the headlines, insisting that the search was in order.

His words, “This is a mischievous attempt to grab the headlines. Nigerians need to know that one of the resolutions of the Atiku team at their recently-concluded, opulently-held Dubai retreat was to embark on scaremongering. This is one of such.”

But, faulting the positions of both the Presidency and Aviation Minister, Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP, Mr. Peter Obi averred that Atiku’s only crime was that he is the opposition candidate of APC.


He enjoined politicians to embrace peace, noting that the nation would move forward when we show love to one another.

His words, “What I am saying is that we have a country and what we need now is to be showing each other love and show the example to the younger ones that we are not divided, that we are together, that we want the country to work. It’s about the country.

“All these divisions are not necessary for our future. But what we do is that we are dividing the country. But you see people coming to a programme chanting war songs. It shouldn’t be.”


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/what-is-atikus-crime-peter-obi-fumes/

No fewer than 5,000 members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) on Saturday defected to the All Progressives Party, APC.

The defectors who had left the APC and followed the former Minister of Women Affairs, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, to the UDP were received by the APC’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Sani Abubakar.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Abubakar while receiving the defectors in Jalingo, said with the publication of the list of the party’s candidates for various positions, all issues and grievances arising from the recent primaries have been laid to rest.

He appealed to all party members to close ranks and face the task of delivering the party in 2019.

Abubakar also stated that the party had commenced the process of reconciliation by reaching out to some of the former governorship aspirants.

“With the publication of list of candidates, the issues surrounding our party primaries have now been resolved and we have already initiated the peace and reconciliation process.

“It is good that you have realised your mistakes in time and have decided to return home in your numbers.

“Let me assure you that the task ahead of us is enormous; we should not be distracted by a UDP or anything else.

“I can assure you that most of the former aspirants are ready to work with us to rescue our dear state,” Abubakar said.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/11/5000-udp-members-defect-apc-taraba/

The former Governor of Anambra State and the Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi has expressed surprise at the statement credited to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, who, in his twitter account, referred to Obi as, “ a tribal bigot.”

El Rufai alleged that Obi stopped him from moving around Anambra State during the gubernatorial election in the State in 2010.

But Obi, has replied saying he does not have a hand in the Kaduna governor’s travail in 2010. Obi said El-Rufai may have been stopped because his motive for coming to Anambra on election day was unclear.

Obi said he was shocked to read such an outburst of hate from El Rufai, especially when, according to him, “the statement came unprovoked, suggesting that it was what he sat down to think of rather than thinking about how to solve the many problems plaguing the country.”

Obi who spoke to journalists during Youth Programme at Nnewi said, “What His Excellency, Gov. Nasir Ahmad El Rufai said about me has been brought to my attention. I believe that as we grow older and are saddled with more responsibilities, we are expected to become circumspect in our thinking and avoid recklessness in our speeches and utterances.

“How does the circumstance he referred to relate to bigotry to warrant such a label? All I do for people like El Rufai is to pray for them and encourage them to concentrate on doing those things that will better the lots of Nigerians rather than engage in hate speeches that will divide and destroy the country.”

Insisting that Nigeria does not need violence of speech to solve her numerous problems, Obi continues: “At this difficult time in our country, when thousands of our brothers and sisters across ethnic divide are killed all over the country, including innocent citizens in Kaduna state; millions of our children from all the parts of the country are out of school; millions of Nigerian youths from all the parts of the country are without jobs, our pre-occupation, especially among those that are in government should not be making reckless speeches.

“What our leaders should be doing today is seeking solution to numerous problems of our dear country.”

Concerning the claim that he was arrested on the election day in Anambra, Obi said: “I am aware that during the said election he referred to, security agents merely restricted his movement because he has no business being in Anambra as I would not have any being in Kaduna on an election day.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/11/obi-el-rufai-arrested-anambra-coming-rig-election/

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

The Senate on Wednesday made a U-turn on the source of funding for the budgets of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to conduct the 2019 general elections.

While the National Assembly had earlier approved N242,245,050,100 from only the Special Intervention Programme under the Service Wide Votes of the Presidency, half of the money will now be taken from the 2018 budgets of ministries, departments and agencies.

The move by the legislature followed the adoption of a motion by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, and 18 unnamed others.

Moving the motion, Goje urged the Senate to “rescind and reconsider its approval of the request as contained in Resolution S/RS/027/04/8, in line with Order 53(6) of its Standing Order” and approve the sum of N242,245,050,100 as earlier passed by the legislature.


He further prayed the Senate to approve “the source of funds from ministries, departments and agencies, and the Service Wide Votes as contained in the table below and the attached details.”

According to the table, N121,122,525,050 will now be vired from the N500bn SIP under the SWV.

The other half of the N242,245,050,100 elections budget was taken from the votes to 30 MDAS, including the Presidency.

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing will contribute the largest share of the balance with N25,527,821,945 vired from its N714,668,969,899 appropriation.

Other ministries hit by the virement are the Water Resources, with N12,954,799,500 taken from its N155,149,395,652 budget. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will contribute N11,057,594,240; Education, N10,238,444,433; Budget and National Planning, N8,845,154,871; Health, N8,059,195,896; Science and Technology, N7,466,143,244; and Industry, Trade and Investment, N7,085,582,899.

The Presidency, which had N59,343,353,082 appropriated for it in 2018, had N1,247,843,520 taken from its budget.

Out of the N242bn for the elections, INEC gets N189,007,272,393, while the Office of the National Security Adviser and security agencies get N53,237,777,707.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter to the National Assembly dated July 11, 2018, presented a N228bn supplementary budget to the National Assembly, asking the legislature to re-allocate part of the N578bn voted to the projects inserted into the 2018 Appropriation Act by the lawmakers to fund the exercise.

https://punchng.com/2019-polls-senate-slashes-power-health-education-presidency-funds/

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, on Tuesday launched a fresh verbal attack on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Onochie said the Atiku Presidential campaign organization inherited the remnants of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

In a tweet, the Presidential aide claimed that the former Vice President’s campaign organization was using IPOB’s system of “cursing/insult” in its campaign.


She, however, stated that the Federal Government’s youth empowerment scheme, “can help them,” since insult and curses did not work.

“Every society has its dregs. The Atiku Campaign Org has inherited the remnants of what used to be known as IPOB. They are using the same system of cursing/insult which did not help them.

“NPower, a laudable youth empowerment programme of the Buhari Administration can help them,” she tweeted.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/06/2019-atiku-inherited-ipob-presidential-aide-onochie/

The attestation of result certificate presented to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday by the West African Examinations Council (WEAC) did not include two subjects, SaharaReporters has observed.

In the Statement of Result available to the public prio to the 2015 presidential election, which bore the name Mohamed Buhari and carried a stamp dated 21/01/2015, eight subjects were recorded for the President. However, in the result presented to the President on Friday, only six subjects were recorded.

The 2015 Statement of Result carried credits in the following subjects: English Language, Hausa Language, Literature-in-English, History, Geography, Mathematics, Health Science and Wood Work. But Buhari recorded 'F9' in Mathematics and Wood Work; could that be the reason the two subjects were missing from the certificate presented to him on Friday, November 2, 2018?

http://saharareporters.com/2018/11/02/spotted-two-subjects-missing-buharis-new-certificate

By Nwafor Sunday

President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, felt disappointed over the delay in passage of budget by the National Assembly, and demanded commendations from Nigerians for the little he was able to achieve despite the delay.


Buhari was quoted by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, when he received a delegation of Eminent and Respected citizens of Niger State led by Lt. Gen. Garba Duba (Rtd) at the Presidential Villa as saying that the government’s achievements in ensuring better roads, rails, power and repositioning of the airports was in spite of the delays in the passage of budget, and prayed for more understanding and commitment to infrastructural development.

“If the National Assembly takes seven months to pass a budget, then we should be commended for the much that we have achieved, and can still achieve.

“I personally feel very disappointed. I spoke with the leaders of the National Assembly on the issue that seven months is a long time to work on a budget,’’ he said.

The President said ongoing efforts to improve road, and rail networks across the country will be increased as infrastructural development remains paramount for improving the livelihood of Nigerians.


President Buhari told the delegation, which includes Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, military and traditional leaders, that his administration will pay more attention to the stretch of 2,150km federal roads in the state.

On security, he said, “we cannot manage our communities and societies without security. A lot of resources is being diverted to provide security instead of going into infrastructural development.’’

The President re-assured the delegation that his administration will stay focused on securing lives and property, fighting corruption and stimulating the economy for more progress.

President Buhari said the Minister of Agriculture and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase monetary supports, through loans, to farmers in the next farming season, and ensure that farmers are not overwhelmed with the traditional demand for collaterals.

“Traditional institutions and families can serve as guarantors because we cannot continue with that colonial style of asking for collaterals that people don’t have,’’ he added.

The President commended the Chinese government for accepting to finance 85 per cent of Nigeria’s infrastructural development need.

“I thank you so much for coming. It is a good morale booster for me and the country that a State will bring a strong delegation to show appreciation for our efforts,’’ he said.


In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Lt. Gen. Duba, who is a former military governor, commended the President for the significant stride in repositioning of roads, rails and airports across the country.

He said Niger State still faced challenges of security along Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna roads, urging the President to reinforce surveillance on the routes and also direct more attention on the construction of federal roads in the state.

The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who is also the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, commended the President for providing exemplary leadership for the country.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/i-should-be-commended-for-all-i-have-achieved-for-nigerians-buhari/

At least 130 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were brought to a Magistrate court on Thursday. They were to be arraigned for alleged unlawful assembly.

The Shiite members were recently arrested following clashes between the group and soldiers in Abuja.

About 120 of them, all men, were arraigned on Thursday. Another 10 female Shiites brought to court could not be arraigned.

A clerk of the court told PREMIUM TIMES that the courtroom meant for the arraignment of the women did not sit.

About 400 Shiite members were arrested and detained after the army accused the group of confrontation, resulting in a clampdown that led to the death of over two dozen Shiite members in and around Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The group clashed with the army during its inter-state protest between last Saturday and Tuesday.
Although they denied confronting the army, some security vehicles were reported to have been destroyed by the Shiite members.

Those brought to court on Thursday were arrested for the Tuesday incident in the Abuja city centre.
On Thursday, the police arraigned the accused in four courtrooms within the Wuse Magistrate Court, Abuja.

Two of the courtrooms had 35 accused persons each. Twenty were arraigned in another courtroom and 30 others in another courtroom for the same offence.

According to the charge, the Shiite members continued in an unlawful assembly, “despite knowing that they have been commanded to dispersed.”

They were also accused of disturbing public peace, rioting and causing hurt.
The alleged crimes are contrary to sections 79, 104, 113, 106 and 242 of the Penal Code.

It charge reads thus:

“That on October, 30, at about 2pm, at different parts of FCT and its environs, following a tip off that some group of persons were rioting, disturbing public peace and blocking vehicular movements-Immediately a team of police men, led by assistant commissioner of police in charge of operation FCT Police command Abuja, ACP Valantine Olumesi arrived at the scene and met you whose names appeared overleap, riotously gathered and blocking vehicular movements and you were ordered to disperse peacefully and you refused and started throwing stones on the police officers and other members of the public and thereby caused them bodily harm.

“You thereby reasonably suspected to have committed the above mentioned offence.”
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were subsequently granted bail, with various conditions.
A Magistrate, Lateef Afolabi, who had 20 of the accused arraigned in his court, granted them bail with a bond of N50,000.

Another Magistrate, Njideka Duru, also granted bail to 35 accused persons brought before the court with the same amount as bail bond.

The other two courts however gave higher amounts as bond for the bail.

The third magistrate, Musa Jibo, granted the 35 accused persons before his court bail with a bond of N200,000.


Another magistrate, Elisabeth Jones-Wonie, granted 30 accused persons bail, with a bond of N500,000 each. The court however ordered that the defendants collectively produce three sureties in like sum.

The leader of the IMN, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, has been in prison since December 2015.
Mr El-Zakzaky was arrested after a clash of Shiite members with Nigerian soldiers over right of way in Zaria, Kaduna State. The army massacred over 300 Shiites in that 2015 onslaught that has been condemned by local and international rights groups.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/293675-nigerian-police-arraign-120-shiites-after-abuja-violence.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refused to explain its position to Nigerians a week after its governorship candidate in Kwara State, Rasak Atunwa, was exposed for forging the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

The party’s national headquarters and its chapter in Kwara both continue to sidestep the scandal despite repeated attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to understand their position on whether Mr Atunwa would be passed to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the party’s governorship candidate.

But PREMIUM TIMES has now learnt that Mr Atunwa has not been told to withdraw from the race or be dropped by the party, which has prompted him to intensify effort aimed at retaining his party ticket ahead of INEC submission deadline.

The electoral body has scheduled November 2 as the deadline for all parties to submit names of governorship and presidential candidates. The deadline for submission of state assemblies and National Assembly candidates lapsed on October 18.

As part of his plots to escape being dropped as candidate, Mr Atunwa has already moved to present secondary school certificate as his highest qualification.

Although the embattled politician has, for years, claimed to have obtained both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from two universities in the United Kingdom, he believes submitting only a high school certificate would extricate him from the NYSC Act that requires a university graduate to participate in a yearlong national service.

Since 1973, every Nigerian who attends a university or polytechnic have been mandated by the NYSC law to participate in the national youth scheme for one year after graduation, provided the person finished before age 30.

Failure to serve would prohibit such individual from employment in Nigeria, and making false claims about serving attracts up to 14 years in jail. Also, anyone who graduates before 30 but deliberately declines to serve has committed a crime that attracts 12-month imprisonment, even if the person did not forge NYSC documents.

Only a person who obtained a degree after 30 or served in the military or won national honours medal qualifies for exemption certificate under the NYSC law.

But even if Mr Atunwa presents his high school certificate, he would still run into legal troubles for committing perjury. He had sworn under oath at Kwara State High Court in Ilorin that he had university degrees and participated in NYSC between 1995 and 1996.

The two universities he attended in England and his qualifications were also still available on his page at the National Assembly website as of 10:40 a.m. on October 29.

The lawmaker submitted forged NYSC documents to the PDP despite two raging scandals involving two Nigerian ministers.

Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria’s finance minister, was forced to resign from office over the scandal, and communications minister, Bayo Shittu, was denied governorship nomination by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State for failing to serve his fatherland upon graduation.

AUDACIOUS FORGERY

Mr Atunwa, born on October 17, 1969, said he studied law at the University of East London, graduating in 1992 at age 23.

Having earned a bachelor’s degree at 23, Mr Atunwa, going by Section 2 of the NYSC Act, should have participated in the year-long national service.

But rather than present himself for national service, Mr. Atunwa stayed back in the United Kingdom, returning only in 2005 to join the cabinet of then Governor Bukola Saraki in Kwara State at the age of 36.

Between 2005 and 2010 when he stepped down to run for office, the politician was commissioner at four different ministries: Land and Housing, Works and Transport, Information and Home Affairs and Finance.

It was not immediately clear whether or not Mr Atunwa presented any NYSC document to authorities since 2005 when he was first appointed commissioner, 2011 when he became speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly and 2015 when he became member of the House of Representatives.

But to secure the PDP governorship ticket on October 1, he submitted a counterfeit NYSC discharge certificate and accompanied it with an affidavit, indicating he lied on oath, an offence that attracts up to 14 years in jail.

Mr Atunwa — who claimed he qualified for law practice in the United Kingdom after obtaining undergraduate and master’s degrees at separate universities in London — indicated in the nomination document he submitted at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja that he partook in the youth service scheme between 1995 and 1996.


The lawmaker, who is chair of the House Committee on Justice, then accompanied it with a notarised affidavit sworn at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on September 10. The document was attached to his PDP expression of interest form.

He signed the document despite a clause indicating he remained automatically disqualified as candidate if any statement or information he provided is found to be false, inaccurate, or mislead the party or its agents from making proper assessment of his competence to contest the governorship election under the platform of the PDP.

For one, Mr Atunwa’s ‘certificate’ purportedly obtained in 1996 carried the signature of Walter Oki (brigadier general at the time).

But Mr Oki was only made NYSC director-general in 2002. In 1996, Soyemi Sofoluwe (brigadier general) was director-general of the corps and signed all discharge and exemption certificates during the period. He was succeeded by S.M. Dule (brigadier general), who served as director-general between 1996 and 2000.

To further crosscheck the authenticity of Mr Atunwa’s ‘certificate’, PREMIUM TIMES compared his with original ones that bore the basics of the document, especially those from foreign university graduates.

Aisha Abubakar, the minister of state trade and industry, returned to Nigeria after concluding her masters in development studies at the University of Leeds. Her certificate is marked NYSC/LA/FRN/91/18170, indicating that she served in Lagos, after graduating from a foreign university.

Khadija Bukar Ibrahim, the minister of state foreign affairs, also schooled abroad. She attended Roehampton Institute for Higher Education, affiliated with the University of Surrey and finished in 1989. She enlisted in the NYSC on October 2, 1990 and passed out on October 1, 1991. Her certificate is marked NYSC/LA/FRN/90/28750, indicating that she served in Lagos (LA) after graduating from a foreign university (FRN) in 1990.

However, Mr. Atunwa’s certificate, rather than bear FRN or FORN (code for foreign graduates) has KWP (a code reserved for graduates of Kwara State Polytechnic) as identification mark. But the politician did not graduate from Kwara Polytechnic. He claimed he attended the University of East London for the first degree and the University of London for his master’s.

“This is the most audacious forgery since PREMIUM TIMES began investigation into NYSC claims of senior government officials and politicians generally,” Liborous Oshoma, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, told PREMIUM TIMES last week.

‘BRAZEN HYPOCRISY’

Despite being amongst the top voices that called for the resignation and prosecution of Ms Adeosun, whose NYSC forgery was exposed by PREMIUM TIMES in July, the PDP appears to be plotting to sweep a similar scandal involving its members under the carpet.

Ken Asogwa, an Abuja-based lawyer and political commentator, said PDP’s failure to act on Mr Atunwa’s scandal further proves to Nigerians that the APC and PDP are not distinctly different as political parties.

“This is basically what we have been complaining about, it is not about the party in power but the people involved,” Mr Eluma Asogwa said. “There is no difference between the APC and PDP when it comes to immorality and corruption.”


Many Nigerians cited corruption as a primary reason for voting the PDP out of power in 2015, after 16 years of being in control of Nigeria’s political centre. The party apologised for its transgressions earlier this year, saying it would do business differently if given another chance in 2019, especially on corruption.

The party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has widely been seen as gaining steady momentum over incumbent Muhammadu Buhari ahead of general elections next February, but how it handles Mr Atunwa’s forgery would loom large on its chances at the poll, Mr Eluma Asogwa said.

“The PDP has not learnt from anything from its unflattering past despite its apologies that it would not condone corruption if given another chance,” the lawyer said.

“What does it take for a party that claims it would do things differently if voted into power to withdraw someone who forged certificate and apologise to Nigerians for its failure to detect the fraud before PREMIUM TIMES?”


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/293075-nysc-certificate-forgery-pdp-keeps-mum-as-razak-atunwa-plots-to-present-waec-as-highest-qualification.html

EXTRA: APC and PDP are fielding a single candidate called Butiku, says Ezekwesili
Oluwatoyin Bayagbon in On the GoTop Stories
Oby Ezekwesili, presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), has described the All Progressives Party (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Siamese twin of failure.

Ezekwesili said this at a press conference she held in Lagos on Monday.

President Muhammadu Buhari is the candidate of the APC while Atiku Abubakar is the flagbearer of the PDP for the 2019 presidential poll.

But Ezekwesili, who is one of the five women in the race, said the PDP and APC are a single political party fielding one candidate called “Butiku”.

More to follow…

https://www.thecable.ng/extra-apc-and-pdp-are-fielding-a-single-candidate-called-butiku-says-ezekwesili/amp

Hamza Al-Mustapha, presidential candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), did not submit his his academic credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

All the aspirants seeking elective positions in the country ought to submit certain documents, including their academic credentials, to the commission.

But Al-Mustapha, a retired major in the Nigerian army, told the commission his documents are in possession of the military.

In his particulars submitted to the commission, copies of which were seen by TheCable, Al-Mustapha said the military has “refused” to release his academic certificates, despite court orders asking them to do so.

He said: “I was a victim of persecution for 15 years over deliberate trump of charges. I was, however, exonerated and freed of the wanton charges vide court of appeal ruling on 12 July, 2013.

“My entire personal documents including my certificates and awards were taken by the then government in 1998.

“Formal complaints were registered before high court of Lagos (2000 – 2001) and federal high court, Lagos division, (2004 – 2007) but government refused to obey court orders till today.

“However, Nigeria army (my employer – 1983 – 2013) is in custody of the certificates this application is asking of.”

He, however, indicated that he attended Hausari Primary School, from 1967 to 1974; Government Secondary School, Nguru, YBS, from 1974 to 1979; and Nigeria Defence Academy, from 1980 to 1983.

President Muhammadu Buhari also failed to submit his academic credentials, saying they are with the military.

While the military is yet to issue an official statement regarding the president’s claim, effort made by TheCable to get a reaction was unsuccessful.

https://www.thecable.ng/2019-presidential-poll-like-buhari-al-mustapha-blames-military-for-failure-to-submit-credentials/amp

Two buildings in Ado Ekiti purportedly linked to the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, have been sealed off by the state government for lack of an approved plan and permit.

The state government, through the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the erection of the buildings contravened the laws guiding urban renewal regulations of the state government.

Fayose is currently being tried at the Federal High Court, Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving the sum of N2.99 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to fund his reelection in 2014.

He is presently being detained at the EFCC custody in Ikoyi, Lagos State despite that he had been granted bail since Wednesday.

The sprawling twin bungalow with an elevated fence, covering over 5 plots, were located at the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Ado Ekiti and almost adjacent the new Deputy Governor’s lodge located within the Government House.

When journalists visited the building on Friday, the gate to the building was under lock and key while contractors working on the buildings have deserted the place.

A paper dated October 18, which was attached to the gate and signed by the Director of Urban and Regional Planning in the ministry said: “It was discovered during inspection by the inspectorate staff of our Ministry that a residential building by you at GRA has no approved plan/permit for the site or bring same to our office to get certification for the erection.

“You are hereby ordered to suspend the use of the building premises until an approved plan is submitted for clearance”, it stated.

The contractor handling the project began work about four months ago after the buildings erected on the plot were pulled down to give way for the new edifices.

Before Fayose exited office, rumour had been rife that he was the owner of the magnificent buildings.

In his response, Fayose accused Fayemi of embarking on vindictive action over an issue that is not worth government’s attention.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Idowu Adelusi on Friday, Fayose said: “Governor Fayemi is only acting out of desperation, and vengeance over the 2014 shameful electoral defeat.

“The property in question does not belong to Fayose. Fayemi’s government should produce evidence linking the former government to the property.

“Fayose has said he was ready for probe and that he will appear in person before any panel set up by Fayemi. So, why the desperation?

“Our advice is that Fayemi should place high premium on payment of the workers’ salary arrears since N30bn is already in his custody released by the Federal Government and not embarking on witch hunting or disparaging his predecessor. The money should not be used to fund the election petition filed against him.

“He should hurry up to do all he could for the benefit of common Ekiti people because time is not on his side”, Fayose advised.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/10/26/ekiti-government-seals-off-house-allegedly-belonging-fayose/

President Muhammadu Buhari says he is disappointed in the Nigerian media for failing to highlight the progress of his administration in the agricultural sector.

Buhari said this at a dinner he hosted for young political appointees at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The president said under him, agriculture had become so attractive that those who cannot get white-collar job have taken up farming and are reaping reward.

He added that his government had reduced importation of rice by 90 percent.

“I’m very disappointed with the Nigerian press. They didn’t give this government the credit of the `go back to land programme’,” he said.

“We have cut down the importation of rice by at least 90 percent… I foresaw our problem in agriculture and did the right thing and today, people are much better. In terms of unemployment, our able-bodied persons that do not have education and can’t get white-collar jobs, went back to till the land and today, none of them is regretting it.”

But reassured the youths that Nigeria has all it takes for them to live a good life.

He condemned the rush by some Nigerians, especially the youth, in search of greener pastures abroad, saying his administration is determined to transform the country.

He said: “If people don’t feel good about this country, let them go and find out what is happening elsewhere but we are going to stay here and we are going to salvage this country together.

“I have gone through a lot, I have been Governor, I was in charge of our petroleum sector for over three years, I was Head of State and now I have come without the uniform and have visited each of the 774 Local government Areas in this country.

“The intention of this administration is to do the infrastructure and give education and healthcare to our people especially the poor.”

https://www.thecable.ng/buhari-im-very-disappointed-in-the-nigerian-media/amp

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, urged the people of South-west to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections to guarantee a return of power to the region in 2023.
The minister stated this at a special Town Hall Meeting on infrastructure organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Orientation Agency.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, led three other ministers including Mr Fashola, Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, to the town hall meeting.
Mr Fashola said besides the massive investments by the Buhari administration in infrastructure across the country and in South-west in particular, the South-west would benefit more politically by voting for Mr Buhari.
The minister, who spoke in Yoruba language and with a proverb said: “Did you know that power is rotating to the South-west after the completion of Buhari’s tenure if you vote for him in 2019?
“Your child cannot surrender her waist for an edifying beads and you will use the bead to decorate another child’s waist.
“A vote for Buhari in 2019, means a return of power to the South-west in 2023. I am sure you will vote wisely.”
On the performance of the administration, Mr Fashola said the government had kept its promises to Nigerians in the three key throngs of security, fighting corruption and rebuilding the economy.
He said the essence of the town hall meeting was to showcase what the administration had done in three and half years.
Buttressing his words with another Yoruba proverb, the minister said: “If you are roasting corn for a blind man, you have to whistle for the blind man to know you are not eating the corn you are roasting for him.”
Mr Fashola disclosed that no fewer than 67 road projects were ongoing only in the South- west region of the country by the administration.
He said the road projects included 19 in Lagos State, 14 in Oyo State, 12 in Osun State, nine in Ogun and Ondo states respectively.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/292521-buharis-second-term-will-ensure-power-returns-to-south-west-in-2023-fashola.html

Ethiopia’s President Mulatu Teshome on Wednesday filed resignation request to the Ethiopian Parliament, State news agency ENA reported.

Teshome, who has been the east African country’s head of state since October 2013, on Wednesday submitted his letter of resignation as the Ethiopian parliament’s two houses are scheduled to consider his resignation.

The houses would eventually name his successor in a joint extraordinary session on Thursday, the report said.


The joint extraordinary session of the Ethiopian parliament on Thursday “will deliberate on the president’s application for resignation and will elect a new president,’’ according to ENA.

The incumbent president, who conducted his doctoral studies in international law at Peking University in China, was unanimously appointed as Ethiopia’s president on Oct. 7, 2013 while he was serving as Ethiopia’s ambassador to Turkey.

Teshome is a member of Oromo Democratic Party (ODP), one of the four member parties of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).

Teshome’s imminent resignation also came shortly after Ethiopian government’s cabinet reshuffle.

The Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives, the Ethiopian parliament’s lower house, earlier approved the appointment of 16 new cabinet members upon the endorsement of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in which only four of the previous cabinet’s members remained in their positions.

Teshome, 63, had served in various high-level Ethiopian government offices and ministries as Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Cooperation, Minister of Agriculture, and Spokesperson of the House of Federation.

He had also served in various diplomatic missions representing the east African country to China, Turkey, Japan, Thailand and Azerbaijan.

NAN


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/breaking-ethiopian-president-tenders-resignation/

One of the leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Olisa Mbakwe said the group has sacked its controversial leader, Nnamdi Kanu following his Sunday’s broadcast.

The group said Kanu’s speech on Sunday was a clear indication that he prefers his dog, Jack than those murdered in the struggle for the realisation of Biafra.

Kanu had, during a broadcast on Sunday from his base in Israel, mourned his dog and “few other people” in his compound who lost their lives when troops of the Operation Python Dance invaded his residence in September 2017.

“The Army of the Zoo killed my dog Jack and few other people in my compound, I am sorry for what my sureties are passing trough but I want to assure them that they will have a special place in Biafra. I shall not be honouring the Court,” the IPOB leaderd had said in his broadcast.

But the group, in a reaction, described Kanu as an insensitive leader that has no value for his own followers but rather his dog, Jack whom he paid tributes to after his long disappearance from the struggle.

IPOB said Kanu was “dismissed and removed as Director of Radio Biafra following extensive and intensive consultations.”

The group reeled out reasons Kanu was removed to include: “Personalisation of the Biafran struggle and derailing from the core objectives of IPOB as a grassroots movement.

Olisa Mbakwe, Director of Strategy and Documentation of IPOB in a statement on Monday, said Kanu was no longer the leader of the separatist group.

He said a new leader of IPOB approved by the Elders Council of IPOB would be announced in due course.

His statement reads.

“On Sunday, October 21, 2018, an individual, Mazi Nnamdi Nwanekaenyi Kanu, claiming to be the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director General of Radio Biafra made a live broadcast that has left us perplexed because it is unthinkable that someone will impersonate IPOB to the point of plotting to abuse the organization to hurt the interest of Biafra.

“The strength of the Republic of Biafra that we are struggling to actualize is in its human resources as embodied in our versatile youths that dominate the fields of play across sectors of human endeavor; the country we have set our vision on creating is therefore not to be made up of tombstones but of people fulfilling their life missions as ordained by God.

“Nnamdi Kanu relinquished his position as the leader of IPOB struggle the day he deserted our members to die when they had mobilized to stand for our belief in Biafra at his residence in Afaraukwu. Several of our members were injured and some died in that encounter and even after emerging from hiding more than one year later all Kanu could do was to desecrate their memory with his radio broadcast. Nnamdi Kanu vividly, specifically and particularly recalled his family dog, Jack, by name while he dismissed our members that died as mere statistics – he only recalled them as 28 IPOB members.

“Even if Kanu had not deserted there is no way we would have continued under the leadership of a man that values his family dog more than Biafrans.

“We are not unmindful of how Kanu struck the deal that granted him bail in the first place while abandoning our members, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawusi, Bright Chimezie Ishinwa and Chidiebere Onwudiwe to languish in jail. Instead of using his freedom to accelerate the freedom of these authentic freedom fighters, he rather went about Biafra land receiving obeisance from Biafrans like a monarch when our dear land is completely republican. The travails of these our brothers are not over yet and might have been worsened by Kanu’s live broadcast, which has totally upset us.

“Much as we cherish our heritage as the Jewish tribe in Africa, the Republic of Biafra is not in a hurry to inherit enemies when it finally emerges as sovereign country. IPOB does not in any way wishes to be tied to the apron strings of Zionist Israel since our belief is rooted in Chukwu Okike Abiama and other belief systems that the individual Biafran subscribes to; the Biafra of our vision is not one that the citizens would be constrained to dress up like court jesters for religious reasons.

Nnamdi Kanu, in violation of repeated chastisement, has refused to heed the counsel to desist from associating Biafra with any foreign country at this time, especially Israel that will automatically make the Republic of Biafra enemies to its enemies.

“In line with the decisions earlier announced on Radio Biafra on November 17, 2017 that Mazi Ezenwachukwu Sampson Okwudili is the new director for the radio, we reaffirm that Mazi Nnamdi Nwanekaenyi Kanu remains sacked as the Director of Radio Biafra and has also been removed as the leader of IPOB since he has proven he is not a worthy leader that respects the sanctity of the lives of our members.

“Following interventions by our leaders, considerations were being made to reverse the earlier announcement but after studying the Kanu’s live broadcast from Israel we came to the painful conclusion that we cannot make progress with our vision of Biafra when one man has completely personalized and commercialized the struggle. The decision to drop Nnamdi Kanu from playing leading roles in IPOB affairs is hereby upheld.

We shall announce replacements after consultations with the various stakeholders.” tomartyrs

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/biafra-drama-as-ipob-faction-sacks-kanu-for-honouring-his-dog-above-martyres/

By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI.
Ndigbo have been advised to treat the touted disappearance and resurfacing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, as “a non-issue because it was carefully prearranged by the Department of State Security, DSS”.

The protagonist of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, stated this Monday, at a press conference in Owerri, to react to Kanu’s reappearance in Isreal and broadcast.

“Not many of his ardent followers truly know that Kanu is not sincerely working for the Independence of Biafra. His coming to Nigeria, his arrest, detention, trial, release on bail and his alleged disappearance and resurfacing, were all prearranged by the DSS”, Uwazuruike said.

It was the considered opinion of the MASSOB/BIM leader that if Mazi Kanu was sincere, he should have disclosed how he was spirited away from his Afara Ukwu country home, when the soldiers struck.

“How did he disappear from his country home? How did he survive the onslaught, even when he claimed that about 28 people were killed during the military operation in his home? How did he leave Nigeria and what document did he use to traverse all the nations before arriving Israel? We couldn’t have forgotten so soon that the DSS seized all his travel documents”, Chief Uwazuruike asked.

After giving a graphic account of the number of times he was arrested, detained and tried in court, Uwazuruike also reasoned that “a freedom fighter donates his life for the struggle he believes in.

“This is not the case with Nnamdi Kanu. Running away from the struggle means that he is a fake freedom fighter. This young man does not consult anybody and he has no adviser. Kanu erroneously believe that President Buhari can wake up any day and call for a referendum that is not even captured in the Constitution”, Uwazuruike said.

Continuing, the MASSOB/BIM boss recalled that “when Kanu was declared missing, I knew that it was a ruse”, stressing that “when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State said that Kanu would resurface before the end of the year, he spoke from the point of knowledge and not speculation”.

Directing his mind to some of the directives issued by Kanu in his broadcast, Uwazuruike passionately appealed to Ndigbo to “completely disregard them”.

Answering a question, Uwazuruike said he was aware that the DSS conscripted Kanu to degrade MASSOB and it’s struggle
“Nnamdi Kanu is calling for effective boycott of elections, referendum and sit at home, which MASSOB/BIM abandoned long ago, because of its adverse effects on Ndigbo. These issues are not practicable and the young man does not and cannot have effective control over them”, Uwazuruike said.

While reiterating that Ndigbo disregard the directives, Chief Uwazuruike equally reasoned that “even if the people obey the order, the Nigerian Constitution empowers President Buhari to appoint anybody to run the affairs of any state, where elections were not held”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/kanus-disappearance-resurfacing-prearranged-by-dss-uwazuruike/

Former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, has carpeted successive military governments that ruled Nigeria for 29 years since independence, saying they created states and local governments by fiat for selfish reasons rather than through any scientific political reasoning.

This, according to him, has necessitated a restructuring of the country.

He lamented that the military might have inequitably created more local governments per population per state in the North than in the South, thereby giving the North an unfair advantage in revenue allocation from the national treasury.

Mr Akande, who is also a former governor of Osun State, made the assertion in a paper on “Devolution of Powers and National Restructuring” he delivered at the weekend at the APC-USA second annual convention in Washington DC, USA, where he was special guest of honour.
He therefore called for restructuring, which he described as “equitable rearrangement and redistribution of the existing states and local governments per population within the various ethnic nationalities”.

Appropriate amendments to the country’s constitution, according to him, will be required to accommodate the various rearrangements and redistributions.

The former APC chairman, however, admitted it would be politically unwise to define the word “equitable” in such a way that it would (not) be easy to convince those enjoying the unfair advantage at present to surrender such.

He said restructuring was a herculean task for all Nigerians compared to the political change of power for which the APC was put together.

Mr Akande said: “The North is a largely Hausa-speaking people traditionally mix-bred and assimilated with and governed by minority Fulani rulers through Islamic emirate system since two centuries ago. The North has been amalgamated with the South in-law and in fact since a century ago. And, presumably, the Fulani has been perceived to be manipulating the North to rule Nigeria since independence.

“Even if one does not like the minority Fulani rulers of the North for being hegemonic in characteristics, can one separate them from the original majority Hausa-speaking people of the same North? Unless one was ready for another civil war, could one ostracise the whole North in the political considerations of the country.”

He said it was within that context that some of them who were not ready to wait for another civil war to effect a geopolitical restructuring of the country decided to go ahead with the APC arrangement, “while our opponents are left behind to assume a loud coarse noise on mere sloganeering-restructuring- without any clear definition or a peaceful workable strategy.”

The former APC chairman also said constitutional amendments or not, Nigerians have begun to see themselves as belonging to geo-political zones-North-western, North-eastern, North-central, South-western, South-eastern and South-southern zones-.

He said the South-west, on its own, had moved further to create a Development Agenda Commission for Western Nigeria, DAWN Commission, to conduct research to generate pieces of advisory information for the benefit of the each of the South-western state governments on integrated development programmes.

According to him, as a first step, the people of these South-western states are trying to key into the APC to back up the possibility of their governments to speak with one political voice, using one manifesto under one political party.

He recommended this initiative to other geo-political zones, saying it is an experiment worthy of encouragement

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/291550-apc-chieftain-bisi-akande-wants-restructuring-blames-military-for-lopsided-structure.html

… as hearing in Kanu’s case resumes Nov. 14

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

A lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who heads the legal team of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, said on Saturday that he has spoken with his client after a video clip of the IPOB leader praying in Jerusalem surfaced on the internet on Friday.

Ejiofor, in a statement on Saturday, confirmed that Kanu would address the public in a world press conference to be beamed live on Sunday to narrate “the shocking tale of how he made it alive”.

This came ahead of the November 14 scheduled for hearing in Kanu’s trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe and others who stood bail sureties for the IPOB leader in April last year, are expected to return to the court presided by Justice Binta Nyako to show cause why they should not be made to lose their N100m bail bonds which they entered into to secure Kanu’s bail, if they are unable to produce the IPOB leader.


Also, a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, whom Ejiofor had caused to be summoned by the court for insisting that Kanu had escaped to London, is also expected in court at the next hearing date.

Kanu was being prosecuted by the Federal Government before the Federal High Court in Abuja before he went missing on September 14, 2017 following a military invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu in Umuahia, Abia State.

The military invasion took place during the last year’s ‘Operation Python Dance II’ staged by the military to quell the agitation for the cessation of Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

IPOB, had through a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, confirmed on Friday that the person seen in the video was its leader at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, where he joined other faithful to offer prayers.

https://punchng.com/kanu-has-spoken-with-me-will-hold-press-conference-sunday-says-lawyer/

THE Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the United Labour Congress (ULC), to accept the figure proposed by the Federal Government.

Besides, he cautioned them against causing crisis, insisting that they must accept a figure based on the capacity and the ability of both the government and the private sector to pay; which underline the government’s proposed figure in line with social dialogue and the overall interest of the nation.

Ngige gave the stern warning when the new Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Timothy Olawale and his predecessor, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The minister warned that Nigeria cannot afford another rounds of labour crisis, hence, “it is imperative for the Organized Labour to accept a new National Minimum Wage figure based on the capacity and the ability of both the government and the private sector to pay.”

He pointed out that this is in line with social dialogue and the overall interest of the nation.

He, therefore, appealed to NECA to weigh its influence on the Organized Labour to accede to the new National Minimum Wage figure mutually agreeable to all the social partners.

Ngige said: “We need to arrive at a figure which the employers can afford to pay as an employee cannot fix a figure for the employer. Rather, it must be based on collective bargaining and mutual agreement by the tripartite partners. It is not a function of moving motions or voting at the National Tripartite Negotiation committee to insist that the figure must be as the Organized Labour appears to make it look.

“There is absolutely no need to heat up the polity. The government’s proposed new Minimum Wage figure is clearly based on critical facts and indices incapable of causing disequilibrium in the economy or upturning the national social order.”

He charged the new NECA boss to exceed the impressive record of his predecessor.

“You have an enormous task ahead of you. The need for the establishment of more NECA offices across the country cannot be overemphasized so that more employers association can register with you. This is in line with the focus of our labour administration as well as in tandem with the economic policies of the present administration. The numerous private sector employers who are informal need to be brought on board the formalized private sector employers’ body.”

The Minister urged him to ensure that numerous private sector employers who are members of NECA as well as those not yet registered but are defaulting in payment of even the existing National Minimum Wage of N18,000 are made to comply with the law.

Ngige also commended the efforts of the immediate past (DG), Olusegun Oshinowo, for contributing immensely to industrial peace and harmony in the private sector and at ensuring that Nigeria was brought back to the Governing Board of the ILO employer section.

Speaking earlier, the immediate past (DG) of NECA, Olusegun Oshinowo said the new (DG), Timothy Olawale, was the best man to take over the mantle of leadership, noting that since the formation of the Association, a (DG) was for the first time sourced from the organization. He further commended the Minister for his open door policy despite opposing positions they have had to take on issues in the past.

In his remarks, the new DG thanked the Minister for the privilege of the courtesy visit and promised to match up the feat of his predecessor.

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/169672

In apparent fear of exposing the corruption and rots in the present administration, President Muhamadu Buhari on Thursday ordered the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) to stop the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, from speaking in an arranged and agreed radio interview.

Sowore was billed to have a one-hour interview with the radio, but a few minutes to the talk show, it was announced that there was order from “above” for the interview to be stood down.

The African Action Congress (AAC) candidate took to social media to express his disappointment of the last-minute cancellation.

He tweeted: “FLASH: Bigwigs at Radio Nigeria Radio Nigeria (FRCN) @frcnnews @radionigeria today canceled my 4pm interview at the Radio station in Abuja after they belatedly found out I was the one and that standing “orders from above” forbids having me on live radio. We will #takeitback through #sowore2019."

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/18/fg-bars-frcn-holding-scheduled-interview-sowore

Lagos – A former Minister of Information, Chief Tony Momoh, on Thursday said he was confident President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 presidential election.

Momoh said that the president had done his best as leader to deserve re-election.

He said the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, could not stop Buhari as he (Abubakar) was only popular with the elite and not the masses.

Momoh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the Buhari administration had impacted on many ordinary Nigerians, and they would vote him in 2019.

He, however, said Buhari would lose some votes in the North because Atiku is from the region, but that the APC candidate would make up in other regions to be able to win.

“I don’t think Atiku can defeat Buhari. No, he can’t, Buhari has done well in the delivery of his electoral promises and he will get the support of the people.

“Look at the war against insurgency for instance, has he not done well? Is the situation in the North East as it used to be? Of course there is relative security in the region and the people will want to vote for an administration that made that possible.

“Again, the school feeding programme, the conditional cash transfers and the other social programmes of the government, tens of thousands of Nigerians have benefitted. You don’t expect them not to vote Buhari.

“These are the real people that will vote, not the people on Facebook or Twitter. The people who are moving against the president now are the elite, not the people, and the reasons are obvious.

“Yes, Atiku is popular with the elite, but how many are they? So I don’t see him winning, though, he will get votes in the North as he is from that region and he is a Fulani and a Muslim like Buhari.

“However, the president will make up for lost votes in other regions like South East and South-South where he has delivered many projects to win,’’ he said.

The former minister said the achievements of the president’s fight against corruption and the power of incumbency would work in his favour in 2019.

Momoh said it was an illusion for the PDP to believe the selection of former governor, Peter Obi of Anambra as Atiku’s running mate would deliver the region to the party.

He said the Igbos are politically sophisticated and it had never been easy predicting their direction in any election.

Momoh argued that Buhari picked running mates, late Chuba Okadigbo and late Ume Ezeoke on two occasions for elections, but still lost in the South East.

The former minister said the region was open to both candidates in 2019, based on large number of both the APC and PDP members in the area.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/i-dont-think-atiku-can-defeat-buhari-no-he-cant-tony-momoh/