₦airaland Forum

The Kogi State Government says huge loan servicing is responsible for its inability to pay the salaries of its workers regularly.

Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the state Director-General, Media and Publicity made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja.

Fanwo said that the loans were taken by the two previous administrations for projects that did not add value to the state.

“Sometimes, we repay between N400 million and N500 million monthly as loans that add no value to the state.


“These loans were taken by the last two administrations and some of them were invested on projects that were never completed.

“When you go out, you will see Kogi Hotels, billions of naira was collected for that project and it was not completed, and it is not adding any value to the state.

“Also, the Kogi House in Abuja has gulped billions of naira, yet, it is not completed, not adding any value to the state,’’ he said.

The DG said the previous administrations collected N200 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) development, which was not used for the purpose intended.

According to him, rather than using the money for SMEs development, some people just shared the money.

“There is no record of anybody given loan and now we are repaying. So all of these have taken its toll on the resources and finances of the state’’

He said despite the poor resources accruing to the state, the government still strive to pay workers’ salaries.
“We cannot shy away from the fact that the resources that is coming to the state now has dwindled due to the loans we are repaying.

“It is increasingly difficult to muster enough resources to pay salaries regularly.

“As I speak with you, we are still owing March and April salaries,’’ Fanwo said.

He said despite the dwindling resources of the state, the government will remain committed in the payment of salaries even if not as when due.

“When you do a comparative analysis of wages in the North Central geo political zone, Kogi pays the highest and despite that, we have been very faithful,’’ Fanwo said.

The DG denied allegations that workers were being owed 24 months salary.

He said those peddling the falsehood were the people that benefited from the rot in the state in the past.

On bailout funds received from the Federal Government, Fanwo said that they were used to pay workers’ salaries.

He, however noted that the bail out funds were not free gifts.

“The bailout funds were not gifts from the Federal Government, it was more or less a loan, so you have to prioritise what you use your bailout funds for.

“So, we used it basically for salaries and we were the only state in the federation that published how we used that bailout funds.

“Transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of this administration,’’ he said. (NAN)

http://thenationonlineng.net/why-we-are-not-paying-salaries-regularly-kogi-govt/

AT least seven Presidential aspirants and sixty other senators are presently eyeing to contest the 2019 elections under the Social Democratic party SDP, platform, New Nigerian Tribune has gathered.

The acting chairman of the party in Anambra State Chief Vincent Obi who revealed this to newsmen in Awka the Anambra state capital during the flag off, of the registration exercise in the 21 local government areas of the state.

He said the party has bounced back with a bang to take over the leadership of the country.

Chief Obi, who vowed to challenge the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA, in the forthcoming general elections in the state, said the party is targeting to register at least 2 million eligible voters before the election proper.

He told contacts party chieftains at the meeting that the National working committee of the party has directed members to embark on aggressive registration and mobilization drive.

He also assured them that the party has no room for urban town gorillers who are jostling from one political party to another pointing out that Social Democratic Party SDP, has a long-standing culture and philosophy and should not derail from it.

“Information reaching us says that about seven presidential aspirants have indicated interest to run for the presidential election under the platform of SDP but as it is now nobody has been anointed by the party or earmarked for the post of number one citizen position under the party”.

He also said that about sixty senators have also indicated their interest to run under SDP.

He named some of the presidential hopeful eyeing the position to include, the Senate president Dr. Bukola Saraki former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former speaker of the House of Representative and the serving Sokoto state Governor, Barrister Aminu Tambowel, former Senate president senator David Mark and the Governor of Gombe state, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo among others.

He, however, didn’t mention some of the senators but said that some senators representing Anambra state are carefully studying the political revolution going on in the party with great interest.

The state acting chairman, however, said that shortly after the registration and mobilization, the party will hold its congress and elect their, ward, local government area, state leaders

. He said the party has bounced back to take what belongs to it and lead the people of Nigeria to the promise land because the PDP and APC have failed Nigeria and it is time to sack them out of governance in Nigeria, he concluded.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/2019-presidency-saraki-atiku-mark-tambuwal-others-eye-sdp-ticket/

The Independent National Electoral Commission Election (INEC) has released the full list of all the aspirants that will participate in the Ekiti State governorship election.

The shortlisted candidates emerged from their party’s primaries held ahead of the July 14 gubernatorial election.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the present deputy governor of the state, Professor Kolapo Olusola, will represent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the election.

See the full list below:

More photos

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday night, hosted South West caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting started around 8.35p.m at the new Banquet Hall when the President arrived the hall.


Among those at the dinner included the National Leader of the APC and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, and the National Chairman of APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

Others included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Segun Oni, Minister of Mines and Steel Development and APC flag-bearer in the forthcoming Ekiti gubernatorial race, Kayode Fayemi.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/photos-president-buharis-dinner-south-west-apc-leaders/

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said since its inception in 2015, his administration has succeeded in recovering trillions of naira stolen by those he described as people without conscience.

He also admitted that anti-corruption war is not easy to fight because it affects different branches of national lives.

The President also denied allegations that his government embarks on witch-hunts in the fight against graft.

Buhari said these in his address at the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission located at Jabi District in Abuja.

The President said under his watch, all Nigerians were now aware that corrupt officials would be held to account, no matter how long it takes.

He said throughout the journey of his national life, he has made the anti-corruption fight a major agenda.

He, however, expressed the hope that other arms of government including the judiciary and legislature would collaborate with the executive on the current war against corruption in the country.
Buhari said, “This is another milestone in our determined and collective fight against corruption.

“Throughout my journey in national service and since 2015, I have made a very conscious decision to pursue a vigorous fight against corruption in public life.

“Since 2015, we have made significant progress in the fight against corruption. Everyone now knows that corrupt officials will be held to account, no matter how long it takes.

“We have recovered and are still recovering trillions of naira that were stolen in the past few years by people without conscience.

“We are pursuing recoveries everywhere and are making sure that anyone who has been found culpable is made to answer for his or her crime under the law.

“It is my hope and expectation that the judiciary, which is a critical stakeholder and partner in the war against corruption, would continue to collaborate with the Executive to bring corrupt people to book.”


Buhari called on the Legislature which provides the legal framework for the anti-corruption war to add more verve to the determination of the government to rid the nation of the brazen corruption witnessed in recent years.

This, he said, could be achieved through a review of archaic provisions in the nation’s laws and proactive passage of new legislation.

http://punchng.com/weve-recovered-stolen-trillions-of-naira-buhari-boasts/

MINORITY Leader, Honourable Olagunju Ojo emerges new Oyo Speaker unopposed.

This followed his nomination by Honourable Joshua Oyebamiji of Akinyele II seconded by Honourable Gbenga Oyekola of Atiba constituency, at Tuesday’s plenary.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/breaking-oyo-minority-leader-ojo-emerges-new-speaker-unopposed/

Telecommunications giant, MTN, on Monday paid N500,000 to one of its customers, Oluwole Aluko, in compliance with a Federal High Court judgment.

Mr Aluko, a legal practitioner, had in 2016 sued MTN, alleging unlawful deduction of his call credit.

The judge, Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, had in 2017 entered judgment in favour of the claimant when there was no representation for MTN throughout the hearing period until the judgment day.

But Abiola Olagunju and Fatiullah Tiamiyu later announced their representation for MTN, with an application asking the court to set aside its judgment against their client.

They had argued that the company’s legal department was never aware of the suit against the company before the court.

Mr Aluko, however, presented before the court evidence of court summons served on the defendants with proof of receipt in a criminal contempt suit he instituted against the duo.

He had argued that the duo were trying to pervert the course of justice.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, Mr Aluko informed the court that MTN had paid him N500,000 in compliance with the court’s earlier order.

The judge, consequently, struck out the claimant’s suit of criminal contempt against MTN’s lawyers.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/268395-mtn-pays-n500000-to-customer-over-illegal-call-credit-deduction.html/

The Senate has filed a notice of appeal and a stay of execution on a High Court judgement nullifying the suspension of a senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Olu Onemola, an aide to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made this known Thursday evening.

“The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Coram Nnamdi Dimgba .J. in a judgment delivered today, the 10th May, 2018 in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/314/18 between Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege V. Senate & 2 Ors held that the Senate and the Senate President who where the 1st and 2nd Defendants in the suit filed by Sen. Ovie Omo Agege can punish erring members of the Senate. The Court also held that all reliefs of the plaintiff are not grantable as they could not be supported by the processes filed by the plaintiff.

“However, relying on Relief 8 which is the Omnibus prayer, the Court held that the suspension was not in accordance to law, the Senate and the Senate President promptly filed a Notice of Appeal and a Motion for Stay of Execution of the same Judgement on the 10th of May, 2018,” he wrote.

A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or another court order.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court gave the ruling nullifying the suspension on Thursday.

Mr Dimgba said the Senate’s decision regarding the suspension, as well as the pattern adopted by the National Assembly, was constitutionally defective.

He said the Senate has no power to suspend a senator for more than 14 days.

Mr Omo-Agege was suspended for 90 days by the Senate after he accused his colleagues of working against President Muhammadu Buhari by amending the electoral act.

The Senate said the suspension was not because of Mr Omo-Agege’s comments on the election re-oreder but for his move of approaching the court over the matter.

That was also frowned at by the judge who said it was an abuse of the Senate’s powers.

“Access to court is a constitutional right which cannot be taken away,” Mr Dimgba said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/268010-senate-appeals-court-ruling-nullifying-omo-ageges-suspension.html/

The Federal Executive Council stated on Wednesday that no federal university should charge tuition fees, saying the law does not allow it.
The Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwuka, stated this while briefing State House correspondents after the cabinet meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.



The minister said the council discussed the school fees being charged by various universities "and noted that as of law, no federal university should charge tuition fees."
He also stated that the council understood that some federal universities charged fees per course unit,

The minister said the government would investigate and stop this.
Anwuka said the National Universities Commission had been directed to clarify and update the council on the matter.

He said: “We understand some universities now charge fees per course unit and we are going to make sure that we investigate that properly and make it stop.
"Students can pay other auxiliary fees, but not in excess. Various university councils and management should be able to fix what fees students should pay that is affordable and acceptable to the students. That is the position.

"The federal government does not determine fees for private and state universities. It only takes responsibility for fees paid in the federal universities.”
The minister also disclosed that the council approved the insurance of provisional licence for the the establishment of Skyline University in Kano.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fg-bars-federal-universities-from-charging-tuition-fees-249806.html

Tunde Bakare, senior pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, has warned President Muhammadu not to allow “the cabal” make a mess of his administration.

In an interviewith Channels TV, the pastor said Buhari has allowed himself to be misguided by certain members of the political class who have restricted him from taking decisive action on national issues.

“If a seventy something year old man is saying ‘there are people that are teleguiding me’, he will have himself to blame at the end of the day because nobody voted for the cabal and nobody trusted the cabal,” he said.

“I do not know who that strong cabal is… but if someone truly has the interest of this nation in his heart like he has claimed a number of times, then some of the misgivings should have been corrected. If there is any cabal there, then he has lost his power.

“So if you (Buhari) allow the cabal make a mess of this administration and this government, at the end of the day, the buck ends on his table.”

Bakare criticised a number of issues including how long it took for the presidency to remove the secretary general of the federation and the open fights between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), saying he could not understand it.

Commenting on government’s battle against corruption since 2015, Bakare said it has mostly been selective.

“All I hear today is, corruption is fighting back. It’s a thing of deep concern for me that up till this hour, almost three years after- except the likes of Dasuki who have been detained for whatever reasons- I’ve not seen any serious conviction,” he said.

“I’ve seen pat on the back, via return some and live on the rest, and I’ve seen sensationalism. If we turn the searchlight into the body politic in Nigeria, it would not be absolutely out of place to say that the synonym, veiled synonym for politics in Nigeria is banditry, regardless of who is in power.

“If you look at key governmental officials- some of them, not all of them- they make President Buhari look like he’s in office, he’s not in power.”

https://www.thecable.ng/bakare-to-buhari-youll-blame-yourself-if-the-cabal-messes-up-this-government/

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says he is standing by the allegations of corruption he levelled against the government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said this on Monday, while reacting to a report attributed to “Jonathan’s media office” on previous allegations.

Osinbajo had been accused of lying against the ex-president or his government by citing the looting of the nation’s treasury, while he was speaking recently at ‘The Platform’.

Osinbajo had said: “Grand corruption remains the most enduring threat to our economy. Three billion US dollars was stolen in what was called the strategic alliance contacts in 2013, three Nigerians were responsible, today three billion dollars is NI trillion and our budget is N7 trillion.”

In a statement issued on Monday, Laolu Akande, spokesman of the vice-president, defended his principal, saying the alleged looting has been a subject of criminal investigation and trials even in the UK.

He further listed “facts on grand corruption” perpetrated under Jonathan’s government, which he said were a tip of the iceberg.

According to him, the “facts” are “the release of the sum of $289m on February 25, 2015, illegal disbursement of N60 billion … most of which ended up in the hands of senior members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP – then ruling party), $3 billion stolen in the so-called NNPC strategic alliance contracts, N40 billion from CBN released for the PDP presidential primary, among others.

He also said the amount released from CBN in cash on a single day, “ie US$289 million ( N88.1 billion) is enough to fund 244,000 N-Power graduates for a year, or pay for 1.2 billion school meals or complete half of Lagos -Ibadan or half of Abuja -Kaduna -Kano roads.”

Below is the full statement from Akande:

We have read reports attributed to “a media office of former President Goodluck Jonathan”. It is clear from the foul language of the authors that the statement could not have come from the former President, but from the motley group of loud and rude characters whose brief seems to be to deny all and anything said against the former PDP government and to do so in the crassest possible language.

The alleged spokespersons of the former president say that facts long in the public domain, some even being used to prosecute several corruption cases are lies and that those of us in government restating these well known facts are liars.

They accused Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, of lying against the former President or his government citing their involvement in the stealing of three billion dollars, while speaking recently at The Platform event on the 1st of May.

Just for clarity, I quote the Vice President, “Grand corruption remains the most enduring threat to our economy. Three Billion US dollars was stolen in what was called the strategic alliance contacts in 2013, three Nigerians were responsible, today three billion dollars is one trillion Naira and our budget is 7trillion!


Two issues emerge. First, no mention is made of the former President.

Second, the story is not only true, it has been in the public domain for almost three years and it is the subject of criminal investigation and trials both here and in the UK.

The spokespersons also say that the allegations of corruption against the PDP government are mere lies. For clarity, the facts are laid out as follows:

As the Vice President said, $3B was stolen in the so- called NNPC Strategic Alliance Contracts. The three persons involved are Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko and the former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison- Maduekwe. The companies of both Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko lifted Nigerian crude oil and kept the proceeds. The total sums converted is in excess of three billion dollars including royalties, taxes and fees unpaid for the asset from which the crude was taken. The case is the subject of a trial in Nigeria, and criminal investigation in the US and UK, and the assets of all three individuals have been forfeited in Nigeria, the US and the UK.

The criminal diversion and theft of sums in excess of $2.5 billion meant for purchase of arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram: the first phase of the investigations revealed several sordid details, many of the assets of culprits have been seized from them and they are facing trial.
The release of the sum of $289m in cash on February 25, 2015: Documents including cash vouchers indicate that the the sum of $289,202,382 was taken from the Joint Venture (JV) Cash Call Account No. 000-0000-11658-366 of the NNPC/NAPIMS with JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York, USA.

N70 billion was released in parts from the national treasury between January 8 and February 25, 2015.5.In another illegal disbursement, 25th August 2014, N60B in cash in tranches of N40billion and N20billion: The sum was not tied to any project or procurement and was then shared between two security agencies under the supervision of the then NSA. Most of these sums ended up in the hands of senior PDP members some of whom have returned parts of the loot. Some are standing trial for these offenses. These facts are in the public domain.5. There was yet another set of illegal fund withdrawals under one week between January 8 and 16, 2015, where the sum of N1.5 billion was released in three tranches of N300m, N400m and N800m respectively. This money was released from the MEA Research Library Account .

6. Another document showed that N10 billion was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 15, 2014. The money was released in tranches of foreign exchange of $47 million, $5 million, 4 million Euros and 1.6 million Euros. A letter from the Office of the NSA in November 2014 further showed that the monies were released as ‘funds for special services’. This particular release of N10B was sourced in November 2014 from a N40 billion CBN released funds meant for Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. Investigators showed that this money was released for the PDP Presidential Primaries.

7. Lamido Sanusi, then CBN Governor, was sacked for speaking up about the over $20billion missing from oil proceeds

8. These cases of grand corruption and open looting of public resources pauperized Nigeria and left us with little or no savings in the years when oil was selling at 100 to 114 dollars a barrel and we were producing 2.1 million barrels a day. When in 2015 oil prices went even as low as between 28 and 35 dollars a barrel and oil production fell to less than one million barrels a day we had no buffer, no savings, to tide us through.

The amount released from CBN in cash on a single day, ie the US$289M ( N88.1Bn) is enough to fund 244,000 N-Power graduates for a year, or pay for 1.2 billion school meals or complete half of Lagos-Ibadan or half of Abuja-Kaduna -Kano roads.

The vice-president also made the point that in 2014 with oil prices as high as 120 dollars per barrel, the total capital released for power, works, housing, defence, transport, agriculture and defence were just N152Billion for the whole year.

By contrast, the Buhari administration committed N578Bn to the same ministries in 2016 with oil prices as low as US$28 per barrel as part of the strategy to end the recession. The government was able to do more with less by stopping grand corruption and impunity.

Recently, the minister coordinating the economy in that administration has written a revealing book : Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines. Who knows, perhaps her stories too are all lies!

https://www.thecable.ng/laolu-akande-5-8bn-n171-5bn-diverted-jonathan/amp

Despite violence and alleged illegalities across many states where Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress held its ward congresses, the party described the conduct of the election as “generally peaceful.”

Violence and alleged illegalities were recorded in several states including Bauchi, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Oyo, Abia, Imo and Rivers.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how at least one person was killed in each of Rivers and Delta states while a local government secretariat was burnt down in Bauchi State during the congress.

In other states like Enugu, Oyo and Ebonyi, party officials alleged rigging and manipulation of the process.

“The processes were totally flawed,” foreign minister Geoffrey Onyeama said of the primaries in Enugu.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, however said the exercise was “generally peaceful.”

Mr Abdullahi commended members who served in the congress committees for their dedication and impartiality.

He admitted there were challenges in some states and called on members to be law abiding and seek redress through the appeal committees set up in their respective states where there are issues.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to congratulate all its members for the generally peaceful conduct of the Party’s ward congresses which took place across the country over the weekend.

“We however acknowledge there are some issues arising from the conduct of the elections in some states.

“With this in view, the party had set up various appeal committees which will begin sitting from Monday, May 7, 2018.

“We therefore call on all Party members to remain law abiding and where there are issues, they should seek redress through the appeal committees in their respective states.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/267426-despite-killings-arson-other-illegalities-apc-says-ward-congresses-generally-peaceful.html/

Aisha Wakil, better known as ‘Mama Boko Haram’, says members of the Boko Haram insurgent group will surrender to the federal government.

Wakil said this on Saturday during a fundraising for Complete Care Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), she founded.

The NGO caters for victims of insurgency in the north-east.

Referring to the insurgents as her sons, Wakil said they would come out of hiding and “surrender for peace”.

She added that she would continue to mediate between the government and the sect till everyone in the custody of Boko Haram is released.

“All my sons in the bush will come home and surrender for peace,” Wakil said.

“I will not relent in my mediating role to ensure everybody in Boko Haram bondage is released.”

In an interview in March, Wakil said members of the sect yearned to quit their insurgent activities.

According to her, their “hearts bleed because of what they are doing” and “they need peace”.

“These children, they have listening ears, so they listen. They hear everything and they have hearts. Their hearts bleed because of what they are doing. They want to stop, honestly, they want to stop,” she had said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari says the government is ready to accept Boko Haram members who are willing to lay down their arms “unconditionally”.

https://www.thecable.ng/boko-haram-my-sons-in-the-bush-will-surrender-says-aisha-wakil/

President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for Daura, his hometown in Katsina state, for the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling party had fixed May 5 for the ward congress, fixing the local government area (LGA) and state congresses for May 12 and May 19 respectively.

Buhari arrived the country on Thursday night after his visit to Washington DC upon the invitation of President Donald Trump and a “technical stopover” in London.

The absence of the president in the country 48 hours after leaving the US had raised concerns but on Thursday afternoon, Garba Shehu, Buhari’s spokesman, said the president had to break the long trip from Washington in order to refuel and do routine checks.

Shehu had explained that his arrival in Nigeria was delayed because the president did not fly in the larger presidential presidential jet, Eagle One, because it had gone for repairs.

He said the president used a smaller aircraft which he said could only cover 12 hours and 40 minutes.

“The big jet is under repairs. It has been taken for major repairs. So the President is using a small plane and there is a limit to the distance the small plane can cover,” he had said.

“So the technical stopover I talked about is that the journey from US to Abuja is broken into two. Technical stopover is that the plane stops at a point, refuel, do some checks and then proceed on the journey.

“This is very normal. There is nothing unusual about it. In any case, they are already on their way back home.

“It is a routine thing. The plane can do Abuja-Washington, that’s about 12 hours and the maximum the plane can fly is 12 hours, 40minutes. But you don’t need to push it to the edge.”

https://www.thecable.ng/just-buhari-heads-daura-apc-ward-congress/

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in London, United Kingdom.

The Presidency, however, attributed his presence in the British capital to what it called “technical stopover.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in an interview with our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday (today).

Buhari, who travelled to the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump, had left Washington, D.C. on Tuesday after the Monday meeting.

As of the time of filing this report, the President has yet to return to Nigeria.

When contacted on the matter, Shehu, who was on Buhari’s delegation to US said, “They had a technical stopover in London. I am sure if you keep your ears to the ground, you will hear of his arrival soon.”

The presidential spokesman did not give details of the “technical stopover” but insisted it’s not something to worry about.

Our correspondent however learnt that Buhari’s scheduled trip to his hometown, Daura in Katsina State, might have been cancelled due to the delay in his arrival back in the country.

The President has his doctors who he has been consulting for years based in London.

Buhari, in 2017, spent months in the British capital attending to his health.

He had, on arrival after one of such medical trips, said he had never been that sick in his life.

http://www.punchng.com/breaking-buhari-in-technical-stopover-in-london-presidency-says/

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has again failed to appear before the Senate.

Displeased with the inability of the IGP to honour an earlier invitation by the Senate, the lawmakers had on April 26, slated today for his appearance.

The resolution was reached during last Thursday’s plenary in Abuja after the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawal, briefed the senators on the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye and killings across the country.

More details coming…

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/05/02/breaking-again-igp-fails-to-appear-before-senate/

By Nwafor Sunday

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged Nigerian youths to maximise opportunities in agriculture, noting that ‘agriculture’ is the future of the country that will provide them with everything they need including respect.

Speaking at Blair House, Washington DC, the President at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers of six American agricultural companies and their Nigerian counterparts including Aliko Dangote and John Coumantaros, again lamented the challenges of the country’s youth bulge, with sixty per cent of the population below 30 years.

Buhari reiterated the need to assist Nigerian youths to access opportunities in agriculture, saying that ‘Agriculture is proving to be the bedrock of the nation’s new economy’ he said.

In his words, “We realized, rather belatedly that we ought to have been investing in agriculture. We are now aiming at food security because of our large population. Our youths, the ones who have gone to school and even those that have not, should go to the farm, to earn respect for themselves.

“Agriculture is providing jobs for millions of our citizens and we are doing well towards the attainment of food security and jobs. The media may not appreciate the work we are doing but we will shock them by the success we are recording.”

President Buhari welcomed the several investment proposals being put in place by the Americans and their Nigerian counterparts.

Details later:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/go-farm-earn-respect-buhari-tells-nigerian-youths/

Friday OLOKOR, Jos

The celebration of 2018 workers’ Day in Plateau State was almost disrupted by the exchange of blows between loyalists of the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Jibrin Banchir, and his opponents.

After the closing ceremony, he was escorted out of the Rwang Pam Stadium, venue of the event by armed operatives of the Department of State Services.

Before trouble started for the NLC chairman, members of the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and National Union of Local Government Employees, had during their march parade, raised three fingers each, which was a euphemism for three months salaries arrears.

But as Banchir mounted the podium to speak, he was booed by Plateau workers who refused to allow him to read his prepared address.

THE PUNCH observed that even when he forced himself to speak, his voice was consumed by shouts of ‘No, No, No’, amidst intermittent disruptions.

The protests took a dramatic turn when some workers loyal to the NLC Chairman and those opposed to him threw punches at each other.

Although details of the embarrassment were still sketchy, our correspondent learnt that Banchir started well as Plateau NLC chairman but lost his popularity when he became too close to the past and present state governments.

When contacted by our correspondent on the incident, Banchir said, “Let’s speak later, I’m addressing a group (of people); is that okay?”

But as of the time of this report, he had yet to call back for his response to the embarrassment.

http://www.punchng.com/may-day-plateau-workers-boo-nlc-chairman-exchange-blows/

Governor Ayodele Fayose has hit back at his critics whom he perceives are waiting for the expiration of his tenure.

Fayose, who spoke as a guest on a political programme, Sunday Politics aired on Channels Television said that those who are waiting to deal with him would do so in vain.

“Those waiting for me (after leaving office) would wait in vain,” he said. “I am Peter, the rock. I am telling you again, those waiting for me will wait in vain.”

Mr Fayose whose second term as Ekiti Chief Executive would come to an end this year maintained that he feared nobody and owed no one apology for defending the people on the path of truth.

He added, “I have done everything, I have defended Nigerians in good conscience and I have no apologies and I will never have one. If they like let them lock me up from today till next year. Let me tell you, we have seen Presidents, we will still see more.”

On the issue of the $1 billion withdrawal from the Excess Crude Oil account, the governor accused the Federal Government of mismanaging funds from the Federal account which he feels are meant for the three tiers of government.

“Every accrual in this country is supposed to go into a Federal account that is supposed to be shared by the three tiers of government. As at today, the Federal Government is spending money that belongs to the three tiers of government.

“The Supreme court nullified the excess crude account which means all accruals must go into a central purse. Where the Federal Government will take their share, the state will take their share and the local government will take their share,” he said.

Mr Fayose also renewed his commitment to joining the presidential race, vowing not to rescind on the matter even in the face of expected persecution.

He further slammed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for being used as a tool by the Buhari administration for persecuting perceived critics of the Federal Government.

“These EFCC people are persecutors, not prosecutors. And that is why they lose cases every day. Even when we won the appeal at the lower court, they still harassed that bank by not allowing them to pay us,” he said while reacting to the case filed against him by the anti-graft agency.

Governor Fayose’s accounts were frozen in 2016 over allegations that they contained funds suspected to have been distributed through the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd).

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/30/those-who-wait-for-me-after-leaving-office-will-wait-in-vain-fayose/

By Nwafor Sunday

Following criticisms attached to President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent visit to the United state of America, (USA), by some Nigerians, the social media aide to the president Mrs. Lauretta Onochie on Sunday said that ‘Nigeria’ will not have a president who cannot travel to America.

Not as she equally reeled out the reasons why Buhari has been travelling to US. According to her, Buhari travels to discus issues of paramount and mutually benefit for the country.


Read her statements below:

WE WON’T HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO CAN’T GO TO AMERICA.

PRESIDENT BUHARI ARRIVES WASHINGTON DC AHEAD OF HIS WORKING VISIT .

President Barack Obama, an African American was pained as the President of America. He could not embrace the rotten, morbidly corrupt government in place in Nigeria at the time. He was excited when Nigerians kicked out Fortunato Looter King.

President Obama publicly announced President Buhari as doing a great job in Nigeria. Now, President Buhari is in America on a state visit to discuss issues of mutual benefits with America’s President Donald Trump.

Here he arrives and is received by Nigerians who are obviously happy to see their hard-working leader.

Nigerians will not have a President who cannot go to America, the home of the United Nations. There are more Nigerians in America than in many cities in Nigeria. We can’t afford to have a President they can’t meet. God forbid.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/wont-president-cant-go-america-lauretta-onochie/

Lokoja – The ongoing verification exercise organised by INEC to authenticate signatures of voters seeking the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye (APC/Kogi West), has witnessed a low turn out in most parts of Lokoja.

Correspondents monitoring the exercise in the Kogi capital, report that most of the polling units were empty, with some people claiming that they were not aware of the exercise.


At most polling units in Ward 1 of Odo Egbe, INEC officials told NAN that less than 20 voters had shown interest in the exercise.

They said that many people were not interested in the recall process.

Miss Felicia Adebayo, a voter, who spoke with NAN, said that she came out because she was told that money was being shared at the polling units.

“I am told that money is being shared to those that come; I need the money because we have not been paid salary for a while,” she said.

NAN’s efforts to confirm the veracity of Adebayo’s claim proved abortive as no one was ready to react to it.

An INEC official, who craved anonymity, said that there was general apathy to the exercise.

“Very few people have shown interest in the exercise; we have been waiting for people to come out but very few seem to know what we are doing here,” he said.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/melayes-recall-came-told-money-shared/

Olufemi Atoyebi, Ibadan

The spokesman for Sat Guru Maharaji, Ojo Peter, on Saturday said the rumour of the death of his principal was a mischievous attempt concocted by disgruntled elements in the society, adding that Maharaji was in perfect health condition.

Some social media users had on Friday posted the news of Maharaji’s death but checks revealed that he was alive. Some of the online users later deleted the report while a few apologized for the post.

In a statement signed by Peter and titled, ‘Maharaji is alive and not dead’, the spokesman said the rumour was the handiwork of some people who were not comfortable with how Maharaji had been vocal about some of the unpleasant things happening in the country.

The statement said, “The rumor of the death of Maharaj Ji was concocted by some people who have found it difficult to silence him from telling the truth about happenings in Nigeria and the world at large. The news of the death of Maharaj Ji is not only false but one that was mischievously concocted by some disgruntled elements.

“They want to use the false news to cause disaffection among numerous members of the One Love Family, Nigerians and the world at large but Maharaj Ji has already exposed them for who they are. Such news will never stop Maharaj Ji from saying the truth he is known for.

“We use this medium to tell the whole world that Maharaj Ji is hale and hearty. People of the world should disregard such false information as Maharaj Ji himself has spoken on the rumour of his death to people who called him from Nigeria and abroad.”

http://www.punchng.com/satguru-mararaj-ji-is-alive-says-aide/

If this is true, then he must not escape justice

Olalekan Adetayo,

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday leave Abuja on an official working visit to the United States of America, on the invitation of President Donald Trump.

According to a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with Trump and a working lunch on Monday.

According to the statement, the meeting between the two leaders would discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and to advance shared priorities, such as: promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.

“The meeting will further deepen the US-Nigeria relationship as the United States considers Nigeria’s economic growth, security and leadership in Africa to be critical aspects of their strategic partnership,” the statement read.

Adesina added that Buhari would later in the day meet with a group of business persons in agriculture and agro-processing, dairy and animal husbandry.

He said ahead of the visit, meetings have been scheduled on April 26 and 27 27 between senior Nigerian government officials and executives of major US companies in the areas of agriculture, aviation and transportation.

The statement added, “In the area of aviation, the Nigerian officials will be meeting with Boeing, the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, on the National Carrier Project.

“On agriculture, they will meet with large equipment manufacturers with focus on harvesting and post harvesting equipment.

“In the area of transportation, the officials will meet with the GE-led consortium for the implementation of the interim phase of the narrow gauge rail concession.

“In the interim phase, a substantive concession agreement will be negotiated and finalized to provide the consortium the opportunity to invest an estimated $2bn, to modernize the rail line from Lagos to Kano (Western Line) and from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri (Eastern Line). During the meeting, the concession framework and the interim phase framework agreements are expected to be signed.

“The Nigerian officials will also meet with US-EXIM Bank and the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation to explore competitive financing arrangements.”

Adesina added that that in 2017, Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the United States Department of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote and encourage commercial and investment ties between Nigeria and the US, with initial focus on infrastructure, agriculture, digital economy, investment and regulatory reforms.

http://www.punchng.com/buhari-leaves-abuja-on-saturday-for-meeting-with-trump/

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a two-day working visit to Bauchi State.

During his visit to Bauchi, President Buhari commissioned some projects including the Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital.

He also flagged off of the distribution of farming implements to farmers in the state.

The President arrived the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi, on Thursday morning and was received by the state governor, Muhammed Abubakar, Governor Mohammed Jibrilla of Adamawa State.

The Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, among other government officials were also at the airport to welcome the President.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/27/buhari-returns-to-abuja-after-bauchi-visit/

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

Supporters of former National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, are currently at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja.

They were led by a former Deputy National Chairman (South-South) of PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojuigboh.

Ojuigboh was Modu-Sheriff’s deputy when the former governor of Borno State was leading the PDP.

They are currently with Kano State Gvernor, Abdullahi Ganduje; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

Also in attendance is Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Modu-Sheriff was earlier scheduled to visit the National secretariat of the party on Thursday to announce his defection to the party, but he was asked to go and register at his ward first.


http://www.punchng.com/breaking-modu-sheriffs-supporters-storm-apc-national-secretariat/

President Muhammadu Buhari said in Bauchi on Thursday that his resolve to ensure the recovery of looted resources was unshakable, saying his administration would also ensure the judicious utilization of the funds.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, the president, who is on official visit to the state, said the recovered funds would be used to develop the Education, Health, Agriculture and Security sectors, among others.


“Any person that loots government’s fund will be made to return it to the treasury for utilization on the education, health and security sectors, among others, “he said.

The president further said that the present administration had improved agricultural sector through provision of Agricultural loans for Nigerian farmers.

“The present administration has reduced the price of fertilizer and provided agricultural loans through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which improved farm yields in the recent past,” he said.

He said that as a former military Governor of the North Eastern State that comprised the entire North-East sub-region about 42 years ago, he was conversant with the challenges of the area.

He stated that some years ago, he was a military leader, but that now, he was a democratically elected civilian president and therefore called on the people to be patient with the difference in the approach to governance.

He then thanked the people of the state for their continuous support.

Earlier in his remarks, Gov Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi said that the state government was committed to boosting agricultural activities and reducing unemployment among the teeming youth in the state.

The president later flagged-off the distribution of farm inputs and implements to farmers in the state.

The items included tractors, ox ploughs, herbicides, seeds pesticides, and incubators, among others.

He had also earlier inaugurated some rehabilitated roads in the state. (NAN)

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/resolve-recover-looted-funds-unshakable-buhari/

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress has asked a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, who has expressed his desire to join the ruling party in Abuja, to do so at his ward.

Sheriff was scheduled to storm the national headquarters of the party in Abuja by noon on Thursday with his supporters, where he would have declared for the party.

He was billed to be received by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other members of the party’s National Working Committee.

However, our correspondent observed that none of the national officers of the party was on ground to receive the former governor of Borno State.

This action, it was gathered, was an indication to Modu-Sheriff and his supporters, that the party was not favourably disposed to his joining the party.

A three-paragraph statement was nevertheless issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in which he directed Modu-Sheriff to join the party in his ward.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to reports in some sections of the media that the former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress today at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

“While we are aware of such intentions, we wish to restate our earlier position that anyone who wants to join the Party should do so at the ward level.

“We are happy to welcome new members to our party, but membership cards are not issued at the Party National Secretariat.”

http://www.punchng.com/breaking-apc-snubs-modu-sheriff-tells-him-to-enrol-at-ward-level/