₦airaland Forum

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, says if the All Progressives Congress (APC) loses the 2019 elections, it will “go home and rest”.

Speaking during a reception organised for him as grand patron of Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) in Rivers state, Amaechi said the election will be the party’s last battle.

He assured that President Muhammadu Buhari will ensure that the election will be free and fair.

Amaechi, who is an ex-governor of the state, said there would no imposition of candidates by the APC during its primaries.

He urged the people to register so they can exercise their franchise.

“The 2019 elections, especially the governorship, are our last battle. If we win, we will take over Rivers State. If we lose in the election, we will go home and rest,” Amaechi said.

“We will not impose any candidate. Anybody who will go for any position, like chairmanship, should go for primaries. Anybody who wins will be the party’s candidate.

“The President said that there would be no rigging during the 2019 elections. It is to our advantage.

“Go and register to be eligible to vote and to put the candidates of your choice in power.

“As Ikwerre people, we must give out the power to other ethnic nationalities. But we will be in a position to take it back at any time. Your future is in your hands.”

https://www.thecable.ng/amaechi-if-we-lose-in-2019-well-go-home-and-rest/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Ahmed Abubakar as the new director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Abubakar was appointed as a replacement for Ayo Oke, former head of the intelligence agency, who was sacked on 30 October 2017, following the controversies trailing $43.5m found in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to Fayose, the forefathers of Nigeria must be lamenting were they to see “what Buhari has turned the country into”.

Fayose, in a statement by Lere Olayinka, his spokesman, said while Lawal was replaced by Boss Mustapha, from Lawal’s Adamawa hometown, Buhari failed to pick Oke’s replacement from his state.

He described Abubakar’s appointment as evidence that Buhari is an “unrepentant sectional leader, who does not care about the feelings of people from other parts of the country”.

“Seeing what President Buhari has turned the country to, the forefathers of Nigeria, who laid the foundation of the country on equity, justice and fairness will be lamenting wherever they are now,” Fayose said.

“President Buhari has consistently demonstrated that he is an ethnic champion, a religious bigot and the number one promoter of disunity in Nigeria. This he has done again with the appointment of yet another northerner as the NIA director-general.

“Ambassador Ayo Oke was removed from office the same day Babachir Lawal was removed as secretary to the government of the federation.

“While Lawal’s replacement came from his home state, Oke’s replacement came from the north. That is unacceptable.”

Fayose asked if there was no one from the south qualified to head the agency.

He added that given Abubakar’s appointment, “all” of the country’s security chiefs are northerners.

“With the appointment of Ahmed Rufai Abubakar as the NIA Director General, all heads of security agencies are now northerners and the question is, is this what those who enshrined federal character in our constitution envisaged?” Fayose asked.

“The implication of what the president has done is that, when security council meeting is held today, apart from one or two insignificant people, those in the meeting will be people from one section of the country.

“Even para-military agencies are headed by people from President Buhari’s section of the country. This is unfair.

“Those who argued then that the president made the appointments on merit should come to the open to tell Nigerians, especially those from the south that there is no one that merited appointment as Director General of NIA.”

https://www.thecable.ng/forefathers-must-lamenting-says-fayose-abubakars-appointmenr-nia-dg/amp?__twitter_impression=true

An air tractor has crashed at an airstrip in Nasarawa State.

Information gathered indicated that the aircraft crashed while taking off from the airstrip as it overshot the facility.

The incident occurred when the aircraft was going for early morning spray of farmlands belonging to a company dealing in agriculture.

According to a source who declared that the aircraft overran the runway of the airstrip and was forced to come to a stop by a fence, the incident caused a big damage to the wings of the airplane.

It was uncertain if the incident was reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) or the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) as mandated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR).
An official of the NCAA has, however, promised to cross-check facts about the incident.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/breaking-air-tractor-crashes-nasarawa/?amp_markup=1&__twitter_impression=true

Tony Momoh, former minister of information, says President Muhammadu Buhari has done well.

In an interview with NAN, Momoh said Buhari has delivered on his campaign promises despite the challenges he met upon assumption of office.

He said those thinking the president has under-delivered were either playing politics or have refused to check the facts.

He added that the opposition could not stop Buhari from seeking re-election.

“President Buhari has done well based on the facts available and not sentiments. He has done well in the delivery of his campaign promises despite the big problems he met on ground,” Momoh said.

“For example, let us look at the area of security, before Buhari came in, the Boko Haram insurgents were operating almost uninhibited, to the extent of seizing territories. But for Buhari’s intervention, Only God knows what would have happened to the country because of Boko Haram.

“Also, while some other countries are still wriggling under recession caused by crash in commodity prices, the country is out and is even doing well in the area of diversification.

“Even the World Bank has just predicted that the country’s GDP will further grow in 2018, there are also monumental gains in the fight against corruption.

“I reviewed a book recently on the scorecard of the president and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the revelations about Buhari’s performance. Those who do not know, should go and check the facts, Buhari has done well as president.

“The opposition cannot stop Buhari from contesting if he decides to do so and the party endorses him. The facts are different from the prism through which they are looking at his performance.”

Momoh called for caution in the manner the herdsmen clash is handled in the country.

According to him, some Boko Haram members might be hiding under the guise of herdsmen to cause havoc.

“We should be careful in the way we see the killings in some parts of the country, so that we can have a better understanding of dealing with the problem,” he said.

“Some criminals, such as cattle rustlers and even Boko Haram insurgents can also hide as Fulani herdsmen to unleash terror on Nigerians.

“The herdsmen we used to know were not carrying AK47, how we have come to this problem of killings calls for proper understanding.

“It is not a political matter but a matter that needs understanding and attention because it involves lives.”

https://www.thecable.ng/tony-momoh-buhari-done-well-seek-re-election/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Presidency on Tuesday said it was unfair and unkind for anybody or group to keep insinuating that President Muhammadu Buhari is condoning killings in Benue State and other parts of the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

Shehu said the President was conscious of his duty to Nigerians, not least because he is held accountable for everything that goes wrong.

He said Buhari was also worried about public pronouncements and finger-pointing which he described as unhelpful to peaceful coexistence in the country.

The presidential spokesman said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has been concerned about these conflicts each time he received those very gruesome pictures of mayhem from several parts of the country, especially as it affected Benue and neighbouring states.

“He is equally worried about some public pronouncements and finger-pointing that are, in most cases very unhelpful to peaceful coexistence of our diverse peoples.



“The President is conscious of his duty to Nigerians, not least because he is held accountable for everything that goes wrong. He deeply sympathises with the families and all the other direct and indirect victims of this violence. He is determined to bring it to a permanent end.

“While there are many Nigerians who see the conflict between the nomadic herdsmen and peasant farmers as an ethnic problem, others point to religious differences and agenda. The President does not subscribe to such simplistic reductionism.

“President Buhari holds the view, as do many experts, that these conflicts are more often than not, as a result of major demographic changes in Nigeria. When Nigeria attained independence, the population of the country was estimated at about 63,000,000.

“Today the population is estimated at close to 200,000,000; while the land size has not changed and will not change. Urban sprawl and development have simply reduced land area both for peasant farming and cattle grazing.


“It is therefore both unfair and unkind, for anyone to keep insinuating that the President is condoning the spate of killings in Benue and other neighbouring states.

“President Buhari has publicly condemned the violence at every turn. He is prepared to permit every possible step that can lead to the stoppage of the killings.”


http://punchng.com/its-unfair-to-insinuate-that-buhari-is-condoning-killings-presidency/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has fixed March 9 to 17 for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

The Registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede, said this at a meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday.

The theme of the meeting is “Strategic planning on the conduct of the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation.”

Mr. Oloyede said the mock examination initially scheduled to hold between January 22 and 24 has been moved to the first week in February due to the ongoing strike by non-teaching staff of universities.

“We are unable to access our CBT centres because most of them are in the universities and non teaching staff are on strike,” he said.

“Regarding the sale of forms, about 10 per cent of the expected candidates have registered, the number of candidates that have registered now is about 283,319,” he said.

The registrar said the prohibition of materials is applicable to candidates, supervisors and examiners.

“No candidates, examiners, invigilators will be allowed to enter the examination hall with wrist watches, pencils except HB pencils …and cameras” he said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/254917-just-jamb-announces-date-2018-utme%e2%80%8e.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has revealed how his party will take over the control of power in the south-east and south-south geo-political zones in 2019.

Oyegun spoke yesterday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja while inaugurating a four-member strategic committee led by Otunba Niyi Adebayo to do a forensic analysis of the reasons why the APC lost the just concluded Anambra State governorship election.


According to him, the south-east and the south-south would be crucial and critical for the APC victory in 2019.

“It is critical that the south-east and south-south – the geographical zones that have contributed immensely to the survival of this nation – must fully be represented in what is going on to be a truly national government of the APC in 2019,” the APC national chairman also said.

“I want to be partisan here, we want a situation where we will win handsomely in the south east. I mentioned the south-south when I started. The circumstances are slightly different. But we are going to have the same type of strategic team for the south south.

“The issues are different. The environment is different. But it is necessary also that we bring the south-south into the national power framework that we expect to emerge in 2019,” he said.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/01/08/2019-apc-will-capture-south-east-south-south-oyegun/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says allowing politics to play a part in the killings in different parts of the country is like pouring petrol into a burning fire.

He also appealed to those affected by the killings not to retaliate

He spoke at the inter-denominational church service for the 2018 armed forces remembrance day celebration, held at the National Christian Center, Abuja.

“The first obligation is to religiously defend the unity and territorial integrity of Nigeria by words and action,” he said.

“Rebuking firmly, and sometimes by recourse to law, those who by their word and action threaten to break the bond of nationhood paid for so dearly by the blood and sweat of our military.

“Second is to defend faithfully the freedoms and rights that form the fundament of our society in nationhood. We have seen in the past few years how these rights have been challenged by the mindless extremism of the Boko Haram in the north-east and how again our fallen military, the police and even the civilian populace have risen jointly to route these criminals combatants and restore peace in most communities in that zone.

“We have also seen even recently the killings that have resulted in attacks of herdsmen on farmers and communities and also where communities have attached herdsmen.

“The state of violence and loss of lives in Rivers State, the Badoo killings in Lagos and Ogun, the president has ordered the police and armed forces to deal decisively with these killings to ensure that the perpetrators are found and punished.

“He has also through various strategic meetings task security agencies to work to find lasting solutions to these issues. But we recognised that as dangerous and deadly as heartless as these killings are, it is also the danger of allowing politics to play a part and to sometimes as they say pour petrol into an already burning fire.

“We must not permit the politicisation of this tragedy. One of the reasons why for years Boko Haram strife was because of the politicisation of the insurgency. They were those who were planning to benefit politically from the tragedy and the painted the opposition then as the perpetrator.

“Our obligation is to stop them from playing dangerous politics that could threaten our unity and stability, just as we continue to enforce the peace in the troubled area.”

https://www.thecable.ng/osinbajo-must-stop-politicising-killings/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Ifitedunu community of Dunukofia local government of Anambra State has said it will make significant contribution to the purchase of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination form for his second term.

The traditional ruler of the community, Dr Emeka Ilouno stated this on Friday during the ground breaking ceremony of a federal government specialist skill acquisition center by the minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

The monarch said the community was ready to make financial contribution to Buhari’s second term as a gesture of their support, and to also have a stake in his government when he returns again.

“We will support the president for a second term because he is doing well. We only need that he tells us when he wants to buy the form,” Ilouno said.

The president general of the community, Chief Samuel Nweke said the community will support the president for a second term, while also saying that Anambra would be glad to donate the minister, Dr Ngige as a running mate of President Buhari in 2019.

Nweke said the community is delighted to donate the over 3,000 square metres of land to the federal government for the centre.

Reacting to the call, Dr Ngige praised the community for freely donating their land for the project, saying that the good thing about the project is that it was captured in 2017 budget, and also in that of 2018.

“What that means is that the funds for the project is already available. There is not fear of the project being abandoned. Federal government will construct this skill acquisition centre with maximum dispatch,”‎ he said.

The minister said the construction of the centre, which is also being constructed in other parts of the country would take care of the deficit in employment and ensure jobs for all category of persons.

Reacting to the endorsement of the president by the people of the community, Ngige reminded members of the community that the APC was one party that woos voters with projects and not money.

He said more project of the federal government will still be cited in Anambra state as a way to woo voters in 2019.

He called on the people to continue in their support for the president, while also assuring that the president would not disappoint them.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/01/05/2019-anambra-monarch-opts-buy-buharis-nomination-form/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

After a two-week of recuperation, former Senate President David Mark was back yesterday at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with alleged N5.4billion slush funds.

A former Minister of State for Niger Delta, Mr. Sam Ode, is being probed for N2billion campaign funds meant for Benue State.

Mark reported to the EFCC at about 2pm.

He had earlier presented a medical certificate to the anti-graft agency that he was not fit enough to “be able to write a statement”.


The EFCC allowed him enough grace to attend to his health.

Mark was at the EFCC office with one of his sons.

The allegations against him include alleged N200m -N550m arms procurement cash from ONSA; N2.9billion curious payment into the National Assembly’s account and shared to senators during Mark’s tenure; his role in about N2billion campaign funds meant for Benue State; and illegal purchase of a N748million official residence of the Senate President.

A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “We have resumed full probe of Mark, who came to respond to issues raised for him by a panel of detectives.

“He was in company of his son. He was calm during interrogation, which involved the presentation of some of our findings to him.

“Altogether, he has more than three cases before the EFCC but we are gradually isolating every issue in which he was implicated.

“By the time we release the facts to the public, Nigerians will realise that the ongoing probe of the former Senate President has nothing to do with politics. We have been on some aspects of the investigation since 2015.

“In one of the findings, about N200million was collected in cash for Mark from ONSA through a proxy.”

Former Minister of State Ode is implicated in the disbursement of N2billion campaign funds meant for Benue State.

The cash was suspected to be part of the ONSA fund meant for arms procurement.

Another source spoke of how Ode gave “useful information on who got what among PDP chieftains in Benue State.

“Our detectives have identified those who signed for the N2billion. In fact, some stalwarts diverted the cash for personal use.”

But Mark denied allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office and mismanagement of funds.

In a statement through his media aide, Paul Mumeh, he said: “To set the record straight, Sen. Mark was invited by the EFCC via a letter addressed to the National Assembly to answer questions on the 2015 presidential election campaign funds as it concerned Benue state.

“As a law abiding citizen, Sen. Mark honoured the invitation.

“Curiously, they also alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid over N2bilion into the National Assembly’s account which he, as the then President of the Senate, allegedly shared among the 109 senators (including PDP, ACN, and ANPP) in 2010. Again, to the best of his knowledge, Sen. Mark is not aware of such transaction.

“ This simply did not make sense to any right thinking member of the society. Sen. Mark wondered why anybody would think that PDP will pay money into National Assembly account. He however clarified all the issues raised before returning home.

“Sen. Mark believes in due process and rule of law. He has maintained a clean record of public service over the years and will continue to uphold the highest standard of conduct expected of public servants.

“Sen. Mark’s house has since become a pilgrimage of sort to Politicians across party lines, friends and well-wishers identifying with him at this moment.

“He however appealed to his supporters, friends and associates to remain calm and see his current travails as a price he has to pay for leadership.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this is the first and only official statement from the office of Sen. Mark on this issue.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/mark-returns-efcc-another-grilling/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, says after retiring from politics, he would become the pastor of a “very big ministry”.

He said his next target after leaving office is to become the president of the country after which he would go into full-time ministry.

Fayose said his “popularity” and “influence” would serve him in achieving his ambitions.

He said this during an interactive session with some reporters in Lagos.

“There is nobody reasonably who doesn’t know who Ayo Fayose is and the decision to me being president is spiritual and physical on the other hand because when your time comes, it will manifest,” he said.

“I am a force God has created at this time. When I retire, I’m going to become a pastor with a very big ministry.

“After being president of Nigeria, I will be a pastor who will be a major force all over the world.”

Speaking on his “ spiritual gift” the governor said he had been getting requests to prophecy about Nigeria’s future.

“Nigerians know that if I give you figures, they find it like that even my prophecies. Some of the things I said about last year came to pass. Some people have been calling me to ask for the prophecies for 2018,” he said

He said he is prepared to be maltreated over his criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“One pastor said the federal government will bundle Fayose this year, and so? Let them come and do it, who is begging them? I’m equally prepared,” he said.

“I remember Gani Fawehimi, he goes around with his bag. You can arrest him any day, what is the big deal? Some people, their promotion will come as a result of oppression. Our enemies are not our enemies in totality, they are catalysts to our success so I don’t care.

“If the federal government wants to go after me, I am more than available. They know my address, I’m in Magodo now, and tomorrow I’m going to Ekiti. I’m available for them. Those who keep their lives will still lose it.”

On his presidential ambition, the governor said: “Nigerians know that I represent the interest of the common man. If my party picks me as their candidate, I will win this election against President Buhari”.

Fayose also advised the president to quit politics at the end of his first term in office.

He said Buhari would do a great disservice to the nation by contesting the 2019 election.

“We pray for our president that God will grant him wisdom to lead the nation right because as it is now, we are drifting,” he said.

“He is old; he needs the energy to complete his tenure. God will give him the energy to complete this tenure and God will help us to tell him to go and sit in Daura and not contest in 2019. That is my prayer for Nigeria. That he goes to sit in Daura peacefully like the late president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela and go home and rest.”

https://www.thecable.ng/extra-retirement-will-become-pastor-says-fayose/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Adebayo Shittu, minister of communications, says the campaign for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced, disclosing that the south-west campaign office would be inaugurated on January 20.

Shittu also disclosed that he had been appointed national chairman of the board of trustees of Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group.

He spoke in an interview with state house correspondents after meeting with Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Shittu said Buhari’s ardent supporters would prevail on him to seek re-election.

He said they would “help Buhari to make up his mind so that Nigeria can continue to enjoy stability and progress”.

“It goes without saying. I mean if you have a child who goes to primary school and he does well, he proceeds to secondary school and he does well, and you keep asking if he will be going to university. It goes with out saying.

“By the grace of God, we his (Buhari’s) ardent supporters who appreciate his worth on behalf of millions of Nigerians would urge him to re-contest.

“I know he has not made up his mind but I can say that some of us can assist him in making up his mind so that nigeria can continue to enjoy stability and progress in our land.”

When asked if the development was an indication that campaign for 2019 has started, the minister responded,

“Every day since he (Buhari) came into office, all his activities are geared towards letting Nigerians know that they have a saviour, a rescuer, somebody who is committed to providing relief for Nigerians in all respect,” he said.

“In the area of fighting corruption, insurgency whether in the north-east or the Niger Delta; in the area of repairing the economy and providing jobs and providing social stability in the society.

“You will agree with me that today but for Buhari, Boko Haram would have invaded even Lagos.”

https://www.thecable.ng/just-buhariosinbajo-campaign-kicks-off-south-west/amp?__twitter_impression=true

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that those who looted the country’s treasury can no longer sleep well, due to the current anti-corruption fight.

Buhari made the declaration during separate meetings with the Qadiriyya Muslim Movement in Africa and the Izalatul-Bid’a-Wa-Iqamatus-Sunnah at the presidential villa, Abuja.


The president warned that anyone found culpable in the war against corruption will have the law to contend with.

According to Buhari,“Justice will be done to all in the war against corruption. As religious leaders, I urge you to tell your followers to respect the rights of others.

“Those that stole from the public can no longer sleep well in the country today. When they run abroad, they cannot take their landed assets with them. We will, in all cases, have them return what they looted.”

Recall that the president had also urged religious fanatics to stop killing people to please God.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/01/03/buhari-speaks-whats-happening-looters/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the banner of ‘Fresh PDP’ have said they would inaugurate what they termed the authentic National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP on January 22, 2018.

The ‘Fresh PDP’ has its national secretariat at Asokoro, in Abuja, where the parallel NWC would be operating against the Prince Uche Secondus-led NWC which is operating at the Wadata Plaza, Wuse zone 5, also in Abuja. Addressing newsmen in Abuja, leader of the splinter group, Emmanuel Obi-Nwosu, who spoke on behalf of other members insisted that they would “fight to the finish” until the result of the PDP December 9, 2017 national convention which produced Prince Uche Secondus as national chairman was cancelled and a fresh convention organized.

The group also announced that hence forth, they would not allow the PDP Governors’ Forum to function, arguing that the Forum was alien to the party’s constitution. “Finally, the inauguration of the authentic National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party will take place on Monday, the 22nd of January, 2018. This is to enable all members of the NWC who travelled out for holidays to return. "Only organs of the party as duly recognized by the party’s constitution shall henceforth function as stipulated in the constitution.

To this end, the hitherto oppressive and retrogressive anti-democratic PDP Governors’ Forum which is completely alien to the party’s constitution is hereby proscribed. "The recommendations of the well constituted strategy and Inter-Party Committee; which was jettisoned by the defunct National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the party; will be revisited with a view to ensuring its full implementation.

"No more shall our party entertain any form of list, whether unity or divisive. The party’s constitution shall be followed to the latter in the conduct of all future party elections. What happened at the Eagle Square does not require reconciliation but restitution.

“What we are doing is to ensure that what was done wrong is done right. What we need in PDP now is thorough internal party democracy,” he said. However, former deputy director general of the Prof. Tunde Adeniran Campaign Organisation, Chief Olukayode Akindele, who is also a member of the ‘Fresh PDP’ said his principal was not behind the movement.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/amplite/splinter-fresh-pdp-gets-parallel-committee-proscribes-govs-forum.html?__twitter_impression=true

What a painful exit. May the soul of Oluwafemi rest in peace

Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) yesterday slammed those criticising President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for naming dead men among board appointees.

He described the critics as Lilliputians, saying they were idle minds complaining over nothing.

Sagay said the outrage amounts to making a mountain out of a molehill.

To him, the Presidency could not be genuinely faulted in the circumstance.


The professor of law said he was even angry with the Presidency for appearing to be apologetic over the development.

Sagay told our correspondent: “What I find irritating is the so-called outrage by the Nigerian elite that in a list of almost 3,000 people nominated for various agencies, five or six had died.

“And there is a general pretence by the Nigerian elite that it was of huge, monumental importance; that it shows incompetence and all that.

“I ask myself: a list that has been under compilation for over two years, revised and re-revised, do they expect that about 3,000 people would all still be alive after two years?

“If not, do they expect the Presidency to go knocking from door to door 24 hours before the announcement to ask who was dead or alive, or to ask if they would survive until the announcement? Are they supposed to have done that?

“So, the whole thing (criticisms) is extremely unreasonable.”


Sagay said the critics reminded him of Lilliput and Blefuscu, fictional island nations that appear in the first part of the 1726 novel, Gulliver’s Travel,by Jonathan Swift.

“In the book, the nations are inhabited by tiny people who are about one-twelfth the height of ordinary humans. They went to war. What did they go to war for?

“Lilliput believes an egg should be broken from the small end before it is eaten, while Belfuscu believes it should be broken from the big end.

“This gives the impression that the Nigerian elite are filled with Lilliputians, who quarrel over nothing and ignore major issues of importance. And I call this collective stupidity and idleness of the mind,” Sagay said.

Asked if the Presidency should not have verified the list and ensured the appointees were ready, and whether he was absolving the Presidency of blame completely, Sagay said: “I am absolving them of every blame.

“And I am very annoyed with the Presidency for looking apologetic over it. As I said, we’re talking about 3,000 people.

“At what stage should they be checking? Can they verify 3,000 names in 24 hours? Suppose they do it one week before announcement and someone died in-between? Is it their fault too?

“So, since nobody can guarantee life, out of 3,000 within two years, there is nothing unreasonable about that.

“Those vacancies will be filled, and Nigerians should stop quarrelling over nothing and start taking on more important things. They should not behave like idle minds.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), former Education Minister Dr Oby Ezekwesili, the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani, and the President of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Usman Abdul, are among those who criticised President Buhari and the APC for including names of dead men on the boards’ list.

ACF’s National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Muhammad Biu said: “The recent appointments of persons into various boards of parastatals and agencies of the Federal Government by the Presidency, where names of dead persons appeared on the list as published by the media clearly shows that due diligence was not employed.

“The ACF, therefore, calls for proper screening of persons being considered for appointment into various departments and agencies of government in order to avoid such embarrassing incident.”

Dr. Ezekwesili, in a series of tweets, said she was disappointed by the Presidency.

“Some ‘mistakes’ are simply indefensible. Who is that defending that a significant # (2, 3 or 4? Which? ) of dead people are on an appointment list of the FG .@AsoRock that the President, @MBuhari signed off on? Haba. This is the height of what Feyi calls, “anyhowness.” #Tragic,” she stated.

PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said the error confirmed the party’s position that the APC “administration is completely confused, disorganised and grossly incompetent”.

“Nigerians can now see why the nation’s economy has been in shambles in the last two years. When we say that this government is completely inept, some Nigerians did not know to which level, but now they do.

“This inability to tidy up a simple issue of list of 209 appointees has completely exposed the extent the APC government is bereft of simple organisational skills to manage a country like Nigeria, which is in dire need of development,” PDP said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/sagay-buharis-critics-dead-mens-appointment-lilliputians/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused the National Assembly of not supporting the war against corruption in the country as expected.

Spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this on Sunday during his appearance on a special programme on Channels Television.

Commenting on the passage of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) bill, Uwujaren asked Nigerians to be wary of the rationale behind the swift passage of the bill by the legislative.

He said: ”it is also very important for Nigerians to know that what is going on concerning the NFIU calls for concern. For the first time in the history of our country, we have a law that was passed within one week in the National Assembly.”

“This is a National Assembly that if we look back, we can recollect that that Assembly has never supported the fight against corruption as people would have expected but now, when the NFIU matter came, within a week a law was passed; that should raise suspicion.

“People think that in taking away the NFIU from the EFCC, they will be undermining the fight against corruption being spearheaded by the EFCC; that is the single motivation behind the speed with which this new law was passed,” he added.

With the allegation coming from the EFCC, it appears the purported feud between the commission and the lawmakers might not end in a short while.

Uwujaren further said separating the NFIU from the EFCC does not mean the anti-graft agency would be rendered inefficient.

He said: “NFIU bill remains the power of the EFCC. I think there is a misconception about what NFIU is and what is not about. People term to think that once you remove the NFIU from the EFCC, then the EFCC cannot do its work again; that is absolutely not correct.”

“The NFIU, yes, is relevant in collecting intelligence and analysing such intelligence and making it available to law enforcement agencies; but it does not mean that without the NFIU, the EFCC cannot function. EFCC can function; it was functioning before NFIU and even if NFIU is taken away, it will continue to function.”

https://www.channelstv.com/2017/12/31/nass-never-supported-anti-corruption-fight-expected-efcc/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

A former acting national caretaker committee chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has said that the return of a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubalar to the party “is not a game changer.”

He also spoke on possibility of his emergence as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 election.

When asked if he will contest for the 2019 presidential election, the former Kaduna State governor said the offer has not been made to him, but added that he is very much ready to serve Nigeria in that capacity.

Makarfi told Vanguard, “I am pleased that people think that way of me and I will seriously consider it if I am offered but until the offer is made, you don’t give specific answer to what has not been offered.

“I wasn’t prepared for the leadership of the party when I was called to serve but people said I served well. In my life, I am always prepared for whatever at any given time because you don’t know what will come your way.

“I am not a stranger to Nigeria. I am part and parcel of this country. I know what people are going through and I know most of the things that are the issues disturbing us in the country and the things that we need to get out of the way for the country to be better.


When asked if he will contest for the 2019 presidential election, the former Kaduna State governor said the offer has not been made to him, but added that he is very much ready to serve Nigeria in that capacity.

Makarfi told Vanguard, “I am pleased that people think that way of me and I will seriously consider it if I am offered but until the offer is made, you don’t give specific answer to what has not been offered.

“I wasn’t prepared for the leadership of the party when I was called to serve but people said I served well. In my life, I am always prepared for whatever at any given time because you don’t know what will come your way.

“I am not a stranger to Nigeria. I am part and parcel of this country. I know what people are going through and I know most of the things that are the issues disturbing us in the country and the things that we need to get out of the way for the country to be better.

“Even for my own intellectual improvement, I should be concerned. In my life, I have always been ready for whatever will come my way.”

Asked if he sees the return of Atiku Abubakar to the PDP as a game changer, the former lawmaker added, “It is not a game-changer as people would want to call it but an indication that, very soon, people will be trooping into the PDP.

“Come January and February, you will see more defection. The game-changer for me is ordinary people at polling unit level joining the party because that is where the politics is.

“But the return of Atiku Abubakar to the party is a big plus and we welcome him. He was a founding member of the party, somebody we respect. He is very resourceful politically and can add value to the party.”

http://dailypost.ng/2017/12/31/2019-election-im-ready-serve-nigeria-president-atiku-not-game-changer-senator-makarfi/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) has said that the failure and inability of President Muhammadu Buhari led government to address the infrastructural deficit and other related problems, especially in he oil industry has dashed the hope placed on the change promised Nigerians by the APC led government.

The congress said Nigerians have continued to be at the receiving end, with over 4 million Nigerians losing their job in 2017 according to statistics provided by the National Bureau of Statistics as against the three million jobs annually promised the party.

In his new year message to Nigerians, NLC President, Comrade Abubakar Wabba lamented that rather than work to create jobs and improve the condition of Nigerian working people and Nigerians in general, leading elements in the ruling APC government, like Governor Nasir el-Rufai, have been taking measures to further chastise and ruin Nigerians by throwing tens of thousands of workers into the already saturated unemployment market and wretchedness.

According to him, 2017 saw the working people, pensioners and other Nigerians facing series of daunting socio-economic and security challenges, “even though we had hoped that the year would offer succour for the masses of the people.”


Wabba said the deplorable economic situation in 2017 is aptly captured by the statistics recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which indicated that over 4 million Nigerians lost their jobs in 2017.

He said: “Against the background of the campaign promise of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government to create three million jobs annually, this statistics from the NBS underscores the grave and depressing situation of the Nigerian economic landscape in 2017.

“Rather than work to create jobs and improve the condition of Nigerian working people and Nigerians in general, leading elements in the ruling APC government, like Governor Nasir el-Rufai, have been taking measures to further chastise and ruin Nigerians by throwing tens of thousands of workers into the already saturated unemployment market and wretchedness.

“In the same vein, despite the huge revenue that the states have received through the Federal Government intervention funds to clear arrears of unpaid salaries and pensions in many states of the federation, coupled with additional payment of three tranches of windfall, (Paris Club debt refunds), states like Kogi, Osun, Benue, Ekiti, Bayelsa and several others entered 2018 with huge arrears spanning up to ten (10) or more months of wages and pensions.

“Under these conditions, Nigerian workers, pensioners and their families remained the most despondent group in an economy that even the well-to-do are groaning and struggling to survive. No wonder, our country is one of the worst, known for having many hungry people in the world according to the World Hunger Index report 2017.”

He stressed that in recent times, Nigerians have witnessed one of the worst shortages in the supply of petrol in the history of the country in spite of Federal Government’s repeated claim that with the complete removal of subsidy on petroleum products, scarcity of petroleum products would become a thing of the past.


Wabba said that the position of the congress regarding the prevailing situation in the petroleum industry has been that the crisis in the industry is due to the inability or refusal of our ruling elite to refine all petroleum needs in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria remain the only major producer of crude oil in the world that depends on importation of refined products from abroad.

He said “For us in the Congress, and for majority of working people in Nigeria, the hope placed on the capacity of President Buhari to bring about positive change is being undermined by his government’s inability to address the infrastructural deficit and other related problems in the oil industry, such as making our existing refineries work at optimal capacity by refining products for domestic consumption.

“Not only is government unable to achieve this for almost three years now, but moving forward more refineries, especially modular refineries which can be built between 12 and 18 months are required to address the reoccurring challenge of fuel scarcity and price hike in Nigeria and stop the exploitation of ordinary Nigerians. The inherent corruption in the system has made this impossible for more than three decades and should be addressed headlong.”

On the new minimum wage, Wabba said the tripartite committee recently inaugurated should expeditiously conclude its assignment and ensure that a new minimum wage is put in place before the third quarters of the year and urged the National Assemboy to give accelerated hearing g to the bill that will be produced by the committee.

On local government autonomy the NLC President said: “Congress appreciates the recent passage of three core bills on Local Government autonomy in Nigeria by the National Assembly. It is our belief that the passage of the constitutional amendment to guarantee Local Government autonomy will promote good governance and deepen democratic culture at the grassroots level.

“We therefore call on the State Houses of Assembly to demonstrate courage, patriotism and assert their desired independence by passing these constitutional amendment bills designed towards emancipating our local governments and freeing their finances from being usurped by governors who are determined to truncate the quest for democratisation at the local government level.”

Wabba wants the National Assembly and State Houses of Assemblies to ensure that payment of primary school teachers’ salaries is put on first line charge of the Federation Account to assuage the fears of all stakeholders in the local government system.

“Over the years, the Congress has advocated for good governance as a basis for sustainable development of our country. We have in similar tone campaigned against corruption in our body politics, as this malady has remained the greatest impediment to our quest for national development.

“We believe that the ascendancy of the APC to power was rooted on the personal integrity and anti-corruption pedigree of President Buhari. As we move into 2018, our expectation is that the executive arm of government would push for the implementation of key anti-corruption protocols and good governance principles in our public and private institutions.

“In the same vein, we call on the government to increase the tempo of the fight against corruption in a way that is fair, just and all encompassing.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/nigerians-losing-hope-change-promised-nlc/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Rights group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has released its New Year message, detailing why it believed governing Nigeria has been difficult for the Buhari Muhammadu-led administration.

The group also suggested what citizens and leaders need to do to take the country out of its present logjam.

Read full message below.

NEW YEAR MESSAGE:

TIME TO GIVE NIGERIA A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

As time draws the curtain over year 2017, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) laments a tumultuous, seemingly endless twelve-month period and envisions a peaceful and brighter future for Nigeria.

The past year encapsulated all the negative propensities anyone has ever imagined about our dear country and its people. We proved extremely difficult to rule for a honest leader but easy to manipulate for a thief. We want good roads but we celebrate those who stole the money meant for roads. We know the value of flyovers in reducing traffic gridlocks but we idolize those who misappropriate money voted for flyovers.

We appreciate state-of-the-art public health care system but we award chieftaincy titles to those who pocket money intended for modern hospital equipments. We worship 419ners and despise hardworking compatriots. Nearly everybody collects bribe and almost everyone expects to be bribed before doing the needful. We shamelessly crown international thieves as kings.

A past leader told us that stealing is not corruption. He went ahead to demonstrate this by giving state pardon to a man already convicted for corruption and also followed it up with a National Merit Award. Yet we are not ashamed to hobnob with this man. A few among us even want him to come back as president. Where is our honour? Where lies our conscience? In the city of the blind, the one-eyed man is the king. But in Nigeria’s city of the blind, the king must not only be blind in both eyes, he must be deaf in both ears and lame in both legs.

Mass laziness led to the importation of everything we use while failure to distinguish between religion and stupidity led us to spend more time on our knees and on our mats than we spend at work. Our acrobatic religiousity merely succeeded in producing paradoxical criminality thereby removing the thin line that lies between armed robbers and men of God in all religions. Many see legislators as legislooters.

How can we successfully fight corruption when our able-bodied men threaten to bomb the country’s infrastructure each time the government makes an attempt to deal with looters from their ethnic group? Ironically, these men also suffer as victims of corruption as much as we do. How can we punish looters to serve as deterrent when our judges provide cover for them? Yet we still have the temerity to ask: who did this to Nigeria?

We must look inwards. We are the architects of our fate. The Glorious Qur’an says, “Evil has appeared in both land and sea as a result of the handiworks of mankind, so that they may taste from their evil ways” (30:41).

We can see from the above that Nigeria is confronted with two major problems, namely, that of poor citizens’ mindset and corruption, particularly among the leadership. Ayn al-mafarru? What is the solution? Regarding the peoples’ mindset, the Glorious Qur’an says, “Verily Allah will not change the condition of a people until they decide to change their own ways” (13:11)

Therefore the solution lies in changing our mindset. No single person or leader can change the country alone. Let us believe in this country and in its oneness. If we want a prosperous future for our children and generations yet unborn, we must think and act positively. We must stop certain habits: taking or giving bribe, wasting money on social ceremonies like funerals and weddings, spraying cash at events, throwing garbage on the roads, urinating by roadsides and on walls, defecating in public, writing on the naira and squeezing it, abusing and insulting one another, delivering or sending hate messages. Nigeria will change if we change ourselves.

However, corruption is a different cup of tea. We may have to resort to extraordinary measures to deal with looters. Since our lawyers will always find technicalities to extenuate the offence of notorious looters and licenced kleptomaniacs, since some judges will always grant them ridiculous injunctions, the only alternative is to seek an uncommon solution.

As a way out and as an uncommon solution to the endemic corruption plaguing our nation, MURIC hereby declares spiritual warfare on corrupt elements in our society. We invite all and sundry to support us in this new effort to rid our country of economic rodents and political parasites. It is another contribution to the efforts of the Federal Government in its war against corruption.

Looters are found in all religions. Corrupt people are selfish citizens who do not remember their church members, their fellow Muslims or co-traditionalists when stealing public funds. We contend that poverty knows no religion. Christians are hungry in Nigeria today. Muslims are suffering. Traditionalists are crying. We are all common victims of corruption. We are all in darkness at night. We all ply the bad roads. We all lack adequate public health care delivery system. The public schools attended by our children can best be described as glorified public shelters. We must all come together to expose and punish looters in order to stop the sufferings of millions of innocent Nigerians.

It is an open secret that corruption has been fighting back using demonic means. Nigerians of all faiths must unite to launch a relentless spiritual attack on it. Let the minbar, the pulpit and the shrine rain curses on those who robbed the Nigerian treasury silly. Let families make curses of looters a major prayer point in year 2018. Let individual Nigerians curse these kleptomaniacs three times every day: as they wake up on empty bellies in the morning; as they suffer on bad roads during the day and as they prepare for the night’s rest, sweating profusely in darkness.

The salvation of Nigerians lies in our hands. We must emancipate ourselves from socio-economic slavery. Our curses are the only weapons that can scare Nigerian capitalist comparador bourgeoisie. They are not afraid of anti-graft agencies but they are afraid of curses from the citizenry because they are Africans afterall. Let us therefore use this potent weapon to the fullest. They use militants to blackmail the government each time a move is made to apprehend them. They compromise the judiciary to frustrate the people’s will. But the church, the mosque and the shrine can save the hoi polloi from these wicked people.

Let us ask the Supreme Creator to plung them into perpetual darkness in this world and in the next just as they have thrown this country into darkness. Tell the Master of all masters to turn the billions of naira they stole from our common wealth into a source of misery for them and their offsprings unless they return our money. As they have used stolen money to buy false judgement in the courts, pray that the Judge of all judges pronounce untold affliction upon them.

As for lawmakers who have elected to pitch tent with looters by constituting themselves into clogs in the wheel of progress in the people’s war against corruption, we remind them of the Divine lawmaker and Supreme Creator. He is waiting for them to explain why final disciplinary action should not be taken against them for betraying the people’s trust. In the same vein, the Judge of all judges patiently awaits those Nigerian judges who have been colluding with looters one way or another, slowing down the judicial process and granting laughable injunctions. Verily your Lord lies in wait (ان ربك لبالمرصاد: Qur’an 89:14)

In our concluding remarks, we leave open the window of repentance, confession and return of stolen loots. Any of these looters who confesses, repents and returns stolen funds and properties shall not be affected by the people’s curses and his offsprings shall be free of the afflictions. This is the way to give Nigeria a new lease of life, a life free of corruption.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/254021-nigeria-difficult-buhari-govern-muric.html

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has assured Nigerians that in the new year 2018, the main opposition party will play robust and vibrant roles to activate the nation’s polity.

Secondus asserted that the worst is over for the PDP, assuring that the party is now ready and reenergized to play its statutory role in the polity to deepen our democracy.


The PDP leader, in a new year message to Nigerians released on Saturday, said that what anti democratic forces planned against PDP in 2017 failed because God and Nigerians still desire to have the party return to power.

” 2017 was tough for us but the worst is over, we are now more than ever determined to take power back in Nigeria because the writing on the wall is clear that the ruling party cannot cope.”

“We sympathize with Nigerians for the hardship they have been going through in the hand of APC administration but assured them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Prince Secondus noted that in 2017, the Buhari administration dragged Nigeria almost to the point of disintegration because of its “parochial and exclusive approach to governance”.

He explained that having gone through the political furnace, the PDP has learnt its lesson and is now “refined and focussed to return to power since APC has shown clearly that it could not translate its power grabbing conspiracy into governance”

The National Chairman appealed to all critical stakeholders in the nation’s democracy particularly the media and civil society groups to stand up to their responsibilities and hold APC administration accountable.

Secondus said that he expects these stakeholders to be more responsive in the new year and ensure that APC’s anti democratic behaviours as witnessed in 2017 like disregard to court orders and resolutions of the parliament be prevented in 2018.

“In the out going year, we all witnessed how APC government snubbed our courts as well as resolutions of the National Assembly, such things are dangerous and antithetical to good governance and democratic growth.

“The new year 2018 is strategic and critical in the political life of the nation because activities in the year will determine the success or otherwise of 2019”

While wishing Nigerians a prosperous 2018, Prince Secondus charged members and leaders of PDP to put all hands on deck in the new year as the task ahead is enormous but surmountable.

He appealed to members of the party in Ekiti and Osun states to brace up for the party’s anticipated victory in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in these states later in the year by vigorously mobilizing the voters.

http://dailypost.ng/2017/12/30/2018-secondus-speaks-pdp-apc-buharis-govt-forthcoming-elections/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

President Muhammadu Buhari authorised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to subsidise petrol for Nigerians, Maikanti Baru, the NNPC chief has said.

Mr. Baru made this known on Friday during a brief interview with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa shortly after he performed Friday Islamic prayers.

The NNPC chief was reacting to the confusion thrown up by his revelations in Abuja last Friday.

Last Friday, the NNPC boss stirred the hornet’s nest when he disclosed that the landing cost of fuel has jumped to N171.

The state oil firm has, however, maintained that the N145 per litre price subsists, raising questions on who foots the bill of the minimum N26 differential; especially as such estimates are not contained in the 2017 and 2018 budgets.

On Friday, Mr. Baru said Mr. Buhari authorised the payment of the ‘subsidy’ by NNPC, to ease the pains of Nigerians.

“Do you want me to remove subsidy?” he said in response to questions demanding clarifications on the subsidy.

“What I am saying is that the landing cost as should be sold in the pump without under-recovery should be N171.40.

“However Mr. President has directed that we should maintain all the parameters to ensure that it is sold at N145 per litre. And that is why we are selling at depot at N133.28.8,” he explained.

The NNPC’s confirmation of petrol subsidy has drawn the ire of some Nigerians including the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

“Where is NNPC getting the money with which it is subsidising petrol with N26 per litre? Is NNPC spending money from the sales of crude oil that should be paid into the federation account to pay subsidy?” Mr. Fayose, a known critic of President Buhari, said on Wednesday.

On Friday, the NNPC chief also blamed “greedy” marketers who, he said, chose to hoard the product after rumours of pump price increase emerged leading to the scarcity experienced in recent weeks.

Nigerians have had to confront scarcity of petrol in the last three weeks, a development that has ruined the plans of many for the yuletide.

The NNPC has consistently blamed oil marketers for hoarding the product while the marketers on their part have said that they had no supply.

On Friday, Mr. Baru also said his corporation has been able to resolve the petrol scarcity.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/253930-buhari-authorised-nnpc-subsidise-petrol-nigerians-baru.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Organised labour on Friday threatened to embark on strike if the ongoing fuel shortage ravaging the nation extends to next year.
A press statement issued on Friday said it also hailed the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, for directing the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to cut short its recess and immediately convene industry stakeholders meeting in a bid to end the ongoing fuel crisis.
A NEC member of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Issa Aremu, observed in Kaduna on Thursday that the protracted fuel crisis was a reflection of “crisis of corporate governance in the petroleum sector.”
According to the labour leader, the bane of downstream sector was “abysmal absence of accountability, transparency and openness in the administration of the petroleum resources of Nigeria.”
He said only the parliament can make a difference in “exposing the rot” in the sector.
Mr. Aremu said the Senate leadership by urging relevant committee members to resume duty has shown that the legislature is truly “a vent for public grievances, a “useful organ of public opinion” adding that legislators cannot be in recess when those who elected them are groaning in filling stations.
The labour leader urged the legislators to demand for “consequences for the actions and inactions of petroleum sector operators in the product shortage scam”.
“There is a deep-seated conflict of interest in the downstream sector; regulators are operators, regulators are importers, importers are products hoarders, regulators are also saboteurs, definitely we have a sector capture in our hands, Nigeria and Nigerians need liberation,” he remarked.
The labour leader who disclosed that “NNPC is the only public corporation that annually awards its directors long service incentives for no service at all, for non-functioning refineries” called for a “total ban on importation to reinvent domestic refineries and beneficiation to crude oil”.


Mr. Aremu however said if the intervention of the legislature fails to put an end to product shortages, labour may compel all Nigerians to return to street protests like in the past “to force the ruling elite to face up to the challenges of governance of the most populous promising but badly governed country in the continent.”
“The one-month long fuel shortage has further worsened poverty, put productivity on hold. We dare not enter 2018, new year with this recurring old mess,” he noted.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Kabiru Marafa, had disclosed that following the directive of the Senate President, the committee has summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru and other relevant stakeholders in the petroleum sector to a crucial meeting on Thursday January 4, 2018.
While Nigerians await the outcome of the proposed meeting, it is evident that they may have to wait till 2018 before experiencing any possible reprieve as queues at the filling stations continue to get longer.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/253911-fuel-scarcity-labour-will-embark-mass-action-official.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti

The Olode of Ode Ekiti, Oba Samuel Aderiye, and the people of the town have described President Muhammadu Buhari as God-sent to Nigeria to instil sanity and justice.

The monarch said the action of the president since he came into office had shown he wanted a free and better Nigeria for all.

Oba Aderiye stated this while reacting to the president’s extension of service of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, who is a native of the town.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ode-in-council, the monarch said, “I wish to formally appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for his magnanimity for the extension of tenure of our son, General Abayomi Olonisakin, as the Chief of Defence Staff.

“Buhari is God-sent and wants a better Nigeria. Buhari recognises hard work and dedication to service that’s why he has extended his (Olonisakin) service.

“With this singular action, Ode Ekiti people are very much grateful to Mr. President and we wish him and his government every success.”

Oba Aderiye, who clarified that his commendation of the president had no political undertone, also praised Governor Ayodele Fayose for his efforts at transforming the state for better.

He said, “This is not about politics, I belong to every government and everybody. We commend the governor in whose time the appointment and extension were made. We commend him for his efforts to transforming Ekiti.

“Again we want to also seize this opportunity to congratulate Mr. President on his new age. Hence we wish him a happy birthday and more years with good health.

“At this juncture, we also wish to congratulate our amiable and dynamic son on his well deserved extension of his tenure.

“We also pray God will grant him all the wisdom and knowledge to carry out the task of Defence of his father land – Nigeria which Ekiti is noted for.”

http://punchng.com/buhari-is-god-sent-says-ekiti-monarch/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday prayed for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, who sustained injuries after a power-bike accident in Abuja on Wednesday.

A statement by PDP’s national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed shock over the accident, noted that it was reassured by reports from the presidency that the first son is in steady condition.

The opposition party however commended the prompt intervention by medics following the accident.

The statement read in part PDP “is shocked by the news of the involvement of Yusuf Buhari, son of President Muhammadu Buhari in a power-bike accident in Abuja on Wednesday.

“We are however reassured by reports from the Presidency that he is in a steady condition. The PDP as a family prays for Yusuf’s speedy recovery to enable him return to his normal life.

“We also commend the prompt intervention by medics even as we value the concern of all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers for Yusuf and the first family.”


http://leadership.ng/2017/12/28/bike-accident-pdp-prays-speedy-recovery-buharis-son/

Some motorists in Abuja on Wednesday got more free petrol as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) sealed more stations.

The team had sealed the Khalif Civic Centre and Investment Limited at Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja on Tuesday.

”This is an effort of government to continue to identify all those who are a hindrance to the supply of petroleum products.

”Incidentally, this filling station is owned by the same perpetrator of yesterday and to our dismay, not only is he selling to people at N250 per litre, but he’s also under-dispensing at half the volume as testified by one of the motorists.


”DPR confirmed yesterday that he did not have licence and they have handed over the station to civil defence for appropriate action.

”Today, this one has more volume about 15,000 litres so we are dispensing 5 litres to every motorcycle and 20 to every car and this will continue,” Maikanti Baru, NNPC boss, said.

He said there were also vehicles that had refurbished tanks and could take more than 300 litres, thereby depriving other motorists the oportunity to fuel on time and ration available product.

”They go and siphon the tank and come back. The civil defence has arrested several and will continue to do so.

”Those who are in the habit of instaling extra tanks should beware.

”As at noon, we have gotten 110 trucks distributed to Abuja and environs,” he said.


He said about 24 marketers that had diverted products had been apprehended and it would be a continuous exercise.

The Abuja Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, Mr Mohammed Abba, advised that the station should be demolished.

”We have advised the civil defence to apprehend him, they have put that in motion but he is in hiding.

”If you look at this station, it is an illegal station, there is no way we will give licence to a station within a community because it has not satisfied all the requirements.

”Look at the power lines and high tension cables all around.

Moreover, when we spoke yesterday we gave him a concession but I think the owner of this filling station does not need pity from any government.

”The way he situated this, if there is any accident, the amount of lives that would be lost would be massive.

”We advise that instead of giving this fuel free, the station should be demolished, it should not exist at all.

”Under no circumstance should the station be allowed to exist within this community because it is very dangerous.

” We call on development control that its Certificate of Occupancy should be revoked.

Mr Aminu Abdullahi, Assistant Commandant-General, Operations of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps told newsmen appropriate action was being taken against illegal dealers.

”Any body who is dealing illegally is a saboteur and we are going to try him under the Petroleum Distribution and Sabotage Act and if found guilty, will be charged.”

He said outside Abuja, distribution was being monitored and despatches were made to ensure sanity. (NAN)

http://thenationonlineng.net/abuja-motorists-get-free-fuel-nnpc-dpr-seal-stations/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Reno Omokri, former presidential aide, has lambasted the Presidency for saying Nigeria will stop importing fuel by 2019.

He wondered how fuel importation will stop when President Muhammadu Buhari has not built or repair a single refinery since assuming power.

On Twitter, Omokri urged Nigerians to ask Buhari if he has been able to fulfil his promises of equalling one Dollar to one Naira.

Omokri wrote: “The Buhari administration hasn’t built a single refinery.

“They have not repaired the old ones. Yet @FemAdesina went on TV to say Nigeria will stop importing fuel by 2019.

“If you believe that then ask Buhari if he has made Naira equal to Dollar as he promised during the campaigns."

http://dailypost.ng/2017/12/27/reno-omokri-rubbishes-presidencys-vow-stop-fuel-importation-2019/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Gowon-1973: 6k to 8.45k (40.83%)

Murtala-1976: 8.45k to 9k (6.5%)

Obasanjo -Oct 1,1978: 9k to 15.3k (70%)

Shagari-Apr 20,1982: 15.3k to 20k (30.72%)

Babangida-Mar 31, 1986: 20k to 39.5k (97.5%)

Babangida-Apr 10, 1988: 39.5k to 42k (6.33%)

Babangida-Jan 1, 1989: 42k to 60k (42.86%)

Babangida- Mar 6, 1991: 60k to70k (16.67%)

Shonekan(82 days in power)-Nov 8, 1993: 70k to N5 (614.29%)

Abacha- Nov 22, 1993: N5 to N3.25k (price dropped 35%)

Abacha-Oct 2, 1994: N3.25k to N15 (361.54%)

Abacha-Oct 4, 1994: N15 to N11(price dropped 26.67%)

Abubakar-Dec 20, 1998: N11 toN25 (127.27%)

Abubakar-Jan 6,1999: N25 to N20(price dropped 25 %)

Obasanjo -June 1, 2000: N20 to N30 (50%)

Obasanjo-June 8, 2000: N30 to N22(price drops 26.67%)

Obasanjo-Jan 1, 2002: N22 to N26 (18.18%

Obasanjo-June, 2003: N26 to N42 (61.54%)

Obasanjo-May 29, 2004: N42 to N50 (19.05%)

Obasanjo-Aug 25, 2004: N50 to N65 (30%)

Obasanjo-May 27, 2007: N65 to N75 (15.39%)

Yar’ Adua-June, 2007: back to N65(price drops 15.39%)

Jonathan -Jan 1,2012: N65 to N141 (116.92%)

Jonathan – Jan 17, 2012: N141 to N97 (Price drops 31.21%)

Jonathan – Feb, 2015 N97 to N87 (price drops 10.31%)

Buhari – May 11, 2016: N87 to N145 (66.67%)

Yar’Adua was the only president who did not increase pump price of fuel. He reduced it from N75 to N65.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/12/timeline-fuel-price-increments/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Innocent Chukwuma, the founder and CEO of Innoson Motors, on Tuesday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and GTBank of conspiring with some unnamed foreign entities to drive Nigeria’s only indigenous auto manufacturing company out of business.

“We have it now on good authority that there is a grand conspiracy by some international competitors of Innoson Vehicles who have conspired with a financial institution to pull down Innoson Vehicles at all cost,” Mr. Chukwuma said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES signed by Cornel Osigwe, head of corporate communications at Innoson.

The company linked the alleged conspiracy to “the latest increase of patronage of Innoson Vehicles by the Federal Government.”

Mr. Osigwe attributed the improved sales to a recent upsurge in orders placed by the Nigerian military, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Immigration Service, amongst other federal authorities.
The allegation could further complicate the worsening tension between Innoson and GTBank.

Mr. Chukwuma was arrested by the EFCC in the morning of December 19 at his residence in Enugu, accusing him of attempted fraud, theft and forgery.

The allegations were reported by GTBank, which said Mr. Chukwuma forged bank and shipping documents to clear some goods a few years ago.
Innoson denied all allegations of wrongdoing, filing a counter-claim that the bank charged some arbitrary deductions to his company accounts.

Although the initial claim that was allegedly deducted from Innoson Group’s accounts was about N500 million, the amount has since shot up to more than N8 billion naira today, the automaker said.


The company said it received several judgements in its favour at several federal courts, including at least two Court of Appeal judgements.

It alleged that the EFCC was instigated against it by GTBank, which is allegedly desperate to avoid paying the over N8 billion damages.

“We are alarmed at how low EFCC could descend to be used by GTB to destroy Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneur,” Mr. Osigwe added in his latest statement.

The EFCC declined comments on the allegations Tuesday afternoon.

“We don’t want to join issues with them,” said Wilson Uwujaren, the agency’s spokesperson.

The GTBank said it reported Mr. Chukwuma and his brother, Charles, to the EFCC after it uncovered traces of sharp practices they allegedly perpetrated.

The bank vowed to continue reporting economic crimes to law enforcement authorities whenever they’re detected.

A spokesperson for the bank equally declined to further join issues with Innoson, saying the act contravenes its standards as an ethical organisation, especially since the matter had been taken to court.

Mr. Osigwe said Innoson has proof to back its claim of tripartite conspiracy against it but did not immediately make them available to PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday.

Innoson was established in 2010, and has produced up to 11,000 vehicles to date, the official said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/253694-efcc-gtbank-colluding-foreign-automakers-kill-innoson-motors-innocent-chukwuma.html

•Governor vows not to steal money to campaign

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said the ruling of the Industrial Court, asking his government to stop the sack of 21,780 primary school teachers, pending the determination of the case, was too late.

He said the teachers were sacked on November 5.

El-Rufai, in an interview on a radio programme at the weekend, vowed not to steal to prosecute his second term ambition.


The governor said those who took the matter to court probably didn’t tell the court about the status of the teachers.

According to him, his government sacked the teachers on November 5, adding that the government may listen to the judgment on the substantive suit.

Asked whether the court served the government the interlocutory ruling, El-Rufai said: “We have only read in the newspapers that the court has asked us to stop the sack, but they had been sacked before that ruling. Maybe those who took the matter to the court didn’t tell the court that.

“For us, we are only working on their entitlements. So, what we can listen to from the court is its judgement on the matter, which will determine whether their sack is right or wrong. But our lawyers will go to the court and argue our case.”

The governor said those opposing the sack were playing politics with the future of children of the common man, adding that their children don’t attend public schools.

He, however, vowed to keep his promise to enroll hi son in a public school.

http://thenationonlineng.net/el-rufai-court-21780-teachers-already-sacked/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Oladimeji Ramon

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria says long queues at petrol stations in Lagos and Ogun states will soon disappear as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has flooded the Ejigbo depot with Premium Motor Spirit.

According to IPMAN, the Ejigbo depot supplies no fewer than 900 filling stations in Lagos.

The chairman of the Lagos Chapter of IPMAN, Alhaji Alanamu Balogun, was quoted in a statement on Sunday as saying that the NNPC had responded positively to the oil marketers’ complaint about shortage of petrol supply to them.

Balogun, according to the statement, said the NNPC had now increased daily supply to Ejigbo from six trucks to 80 and has even promised to increase the supply.

“Before the fuel crisis, the NNPC was supplying our members only six trucks daily, but since about five days now, the corporation has increased the supply to 80 trucks per day and promised to increase the supply. Our members and the NNPC staff are now working 24 hours daily to ensure that fuel circulates all over Lagos and Ogun State regularly,” the statement quoted Balogun as saying on Sunday.

He said the problem of fuel scarcity would soon be resolved and urged members of the public to panic buying.

“The NNPC has repaired all the existing facilities at Ejigbo satellite depot to enhance fuel supply to the public. The situation now is that the fuel scarcity in Lagos and Ogun state will end within the next few days. Members of the public are advised to stop panic buying of fuel and storing petroleum products in their homes which could cause fire disaster.

“The NNPC has promised to repair all its facilities in Ilorin, Ibadan and Ore depots to ensure regular fuel supply nationwide,” he added.

http://punchng.com/nnpc-has-flooded-ejigbo-depot-with-fuel-ipman/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

We appreciate your message Sir, but it (the message) would have been better appreciated if you had, at least said something concerning the hardship currently being faced by Nigerians occasioned by the lingering fuel crisis.