₦airaland Forum

Personalising offices is now beginning to be entrenched in Nigeria's polity. There is no clear cut separation between public offices and partisan or individual businesses. You can't be playing politics with the office you are occupying. If Nigeria is not a joke why would the Senate postpone sitting and screening and Nigerians are not asking them question just because the Senate President CCT trial?
Why do we have deputies and vices to heads of offices. It is because functions or work can go on when the head is not around. Couldn't Senator Ekweremadu have continued the screening of ministerial nominees today that Saraki would be at the CCT? Or is Saraki afraid of his own Deputy, Ekweremadu? Politicians and by extension, political parties hold the Nation to ransom. Some Senators left their business at the NASS to accompany Senate President to CCT.
In Nigeria today, we are being thrilled with needless political events which do not have any impact whatsoever on the lives of the common man. Today, it is Amaechi, tomorrow, it is Saraki. Amaechi can be a minister but not a must. I understand perfectly well that those who flooded Senate committee floor with petitions against Amaechi didn't do it in the interest of Nigerians, but to settle political scores. However, to overlook it because it was ill-motivated is not also in the interest of the masses. We all know why Amaechi screening keeps pending. Were it not for Amaechi and Saraki, the Senate would have been through with ministerial screening. As if the takes of the masses do not matter, the later wants to know his fate before the former's fate can be determined. That's why Saraki who sees Senate Presidency as his life could not allow Ekweremadu to continue the screening in his absence. Hence, the ministerial nominees screening was put off till thursday. Amaechi must not be minister and Saraki must not remain the Senate President willy nilly. Politicians should stop taking the masses for a joke. They should Separate personal and party functions from their official functions. If Saraki has a case to answer at CCT, why drag the NASS into it.
Why would a majority of the Senators accompany Saraki to the CCT? Would their presence save him if he is found guilty. Who would have thought that the theatrical noise about Saraki's trial at CCT would be losing momentum as the day passes by. At the onset, some said Saraki would not last through September but now he is still there. What has Nigerians gained so far from the hullabaloo. Let us task our leaders to do what we elected them for. Needless distractions, polarisation, interference, and intimidation of one arm, group, office, etc by another should be shunned. Our leaders should disagree to agree when it is unavoidable in the interest of the masses. Sad enough, there has never been any disagreement, disaffection, and altercation among our leaders that is in the interest of the masses. It has always been power and supremacy tussle. To worsen it all, we take sides with them and watch them settle scores at our own detriment. Our ministers would have since been assigned their portfolios but for this politically motivated Saraki's trial. All these unnecessary distractions reduce the pace at which we are advancing. More than anything else, Nigeria needs her ministerial nominees confirmed as soon as possible so they can start work.

Abagworo:
It should be from a State that supports him. My State.

Is there any state that does not support him? And what is your state of origin?

There is no way the government can ignore this kind of money - Committee Chairman

In an effort to ensure the entrenchment of the federal character principle as enshrined in the Nigeria’s Constitution, the Federal Government has removed the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi. Taraba-born Kifasi is from the same North-East zone as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal who hails from Adamawa State. He had served as Permanent Secretary in several ministries including Federal Ministry of Finance and Petroleum and is said to have prepared for smooth handover in an event of the announcement of new HOS who may likely be from the southern part of Nigeria. However, DAILY POST gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari is looking at the South-East region to produce Mr. Kifasi’s replacement. The South-East has been the least favoured zone since Buhari took over reins of power on May 29, 2015. “We already heard that the position is going to the South and expect that it would particularly be South-East. South-West is not on the cards,” a senior federal civil servant told our correspondent.

dailypost.ng/2015/10/20/breaking-buhari-sacks-head-of-service-danladi-kifasi/

Bishop Kukah's Salient Points


He also said unless Mr. Buhari makes his anti-corruption war extensive enough to cover other acts of indiscipline, the desired changes in the country would not be achieved.
He said instead of narrowing the war to financial corruption alone, it should be a complete war on all acts of indiscipline affecting all facets of national life.
“Fighting corruption alone may not guarantee us a stable nation. We must include the culture of entrenchment and protection of social justice and the rule of law to be part of our national live.
....the distortion of the country’s nationhood partly resulted from people circumventing the process through “connections to high places.”
“A distorted society cannot expect the reward of a decent society.
“Corruption is a symptom of the disease of the distortion of our nationhood. We may have a transparent election but the most perfect electoral outcome does not translate to the right result.
“When people receive the licence to govern, what does it mean to them and what do they do with it? . “As a country, we must have succession plan, we must have capacity for succession and the institutional capacity to recruit the future leaders and we must create opportunities for young Nigerians to rise to the highest office in the land.

Don’t put all your hopes in Buhari, Bishop Kukah tells
Nigerians
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan
Kukah on Tuesday advised Nigerians not to not put all their
hopes in President Muhammadu, and believing that he
would solve all the problems facing the country.
He also said unless Mr. Buhari makes his anti-corruption
war extensive enough to cover other acts of indiscipline, the
desired changes in the country would not be achieved.
He said instead of narrowing the war to financial corruption
alone, it should be a complete war on all acts of indiscipline
affecting all facets of national life.
The bishop also urged Nigeria to raise the bar of leadership
by setting standards for those that would rise to leadership
positions as a veritable weapon to turn around the country’s
political and educational systems.
Delivering a lecture on Tuesday, entitled “Education and
Leadership Recruitment for a Plural Society: A Case for
Nigeria”, at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, at the 3rd
Convocation Ceremony of the institution, Mr. Kukah said the
fight against corruption initiated by Mr. Buhari was a noble
one that should be supported by all Nigerians.
He however argued that “Fighting corruption alone may not
guarantee us a stable nation. We must include the culture of
entrenchment and protection of social justice and the rule of
law to be part of our national live.
“So, Nigeria should not put all their hopes in Buhari. They
should not think that once Buhari has started fighting
corruption the entire system will be sanitized and everything
will work for good or change.”
On the education sector, Mr. Kukah noted that the distortion
of the country’s nationhood partly resulted from people
circumventing the process through “connections to high
places.”
According to him, the distortions and damage of Nigeria’s
national identity are not unconnected with long years of
colonialism and military rule.
Mr. Kukah argued that for the country to get it right, the
education sector must serve as a basis for transformation of
values and a positive generational change capable of
launching Nigeria into the league of the most developed
nations of the world.
“A distorted society cannot expect the reward of a decent
society. Happily for us in Nigeria, we are turning a new page.
“We must therefore not be seduced into thinking that we
should hand over our
hope, our dream and our aspiration to President Buhari and
go to sleep,” he said.
“Corruption is a symptom of the disease of the distortion of
our nationhood. We may have a transparent election but the
most perfect electoral outcome does not translate to the
right result.
“When people receive the licence to govern, what does it
mean to them and what do they do with it? We must
acknowledge the opportunity of the concession of defeat by
(former) President Jonathan , we need institutions that can
save voters from the excesses of the Nigerian politicians.
“As a country, we must have succession plan, we must have
capacity for succession and the institutional capacity to
recruit the future leaders and we must create opportunities
for young Nigerians to rise to the highest office in the land.
The lecture was chaired by the former Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.
Attahiru Jega and was attended by the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland,
Ado Ibrahim, the founder of the university, Afe Babalola,


www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/191811-dont-put-all-your-hopes-in-buhari-bishop-kukah-tells-nigerians

The Senate ad-hoc Committee on Import Duty Waivers, on Monday accused two foreign companies, Messrs Stallion Group and Olam International, which were involved in rice importation into the country, of owing Nigeria N44bn as import duties on 457,000 metric tonnes they imported since May 2014. The panel stated this when the representatives of the two firms appeared before it to answer their connection with the flagrant abuse of rice waivers’ policy in the country. Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Aliero, demanded full payment of the money owed by the foreign firms, insisting that “Nigeria would not fold its hands and watch the huge debt swept under the carpet.” He said, “There is no way the government will ignore this kind of money. We have to ensure that that this money is collected and deposited into the federation account” Aliero further claimed that the companies imported rice into the country without paying waivers, off-loaded it into their warehouses and refused to pay required duties when asked by the Nigeria Customs Service. He noted with concern that, while the Nigeria Customs Service confronted Stallion Group with payment demand notices, the firm opted to drag NCS to court. He also accused the company of exceeding the quota given to it to import 157,000 metric tonnes of rice with impunity by importing 457,000 metric tonnes in excess of its required quota. But while defending the action of his firm, the Executive Director of Stallion Group, Harpreet Singh, claimed that their mission in Nigeria was to ensure that the country was self- sufficient in rice production. He also said the firm had planned that the nation is saved from the global scarcity of the commodity. He also claimed that Nigerian borders were porous and that former President Goodluck Jonathan granted the approval on fiscal policy on rice production on May 26, 2014. According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture opted to flout the tenets of the policy by giving quotas to “non-existing millers and investors who have no connection with the policy while existing investors were left blind.” He claimed further that the Stallion Group’s investments in Nigeria were not giving jobs to foreigners but to Nigerians. He said that his company had lost millions of naira to activities of smugglers as a result of porous borders. Olam, through his spokesperson, Ade Adefeko, claimed that it had the largest rice farm in Africa and that it has been operating in Nigeria in the past 35 years. He argued that given its long period of business operation in Nigeria, the company would not consider short-changing the nation. According to the Olam’s representative, the company was seeking a legal opinion on the matter, saying whatever counsel it is given, it would be duly followed.
www.punchng.com/news/rice-importers-owe-fg-n44bn-senate/

It's worrying, the continued putting off of Amaechi's screening. Screen him or ask him to go and clear himself.

PassingShot:
Dino just said APC has completely thrown it's weight behind Amaechi and the party's senators have reached out to PDP about Amaechi so as to have a smooth sailing tomorrow.

Does reaching out to PDP clear Amaechi of all the allegations against? What about reaching out to the curious masses?

Now that it seem like we are going to have a complete Federal Government with ministers, it is important that we begin to look at critical issues and promises that were made during the campaign by both the APC and its presidential aspirant. Below are forty-one promises contained in the APC Manifesto, as published by the party prior to the Presidential election. The promises below are extracted from the two official documents released by APC as their Manifesto titled “Securing Nigeria’s Future” and “Roadmap to a New Nigeria”, all published by the APC and signed by the then Presidential aspirant, now President Muhammadu Buhari. From “Securing Nigeria’s Future”: 1. Initiate action to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit. (This simply means that the APC will support # TrueFiscalFederalism): Page 6; 2. Amend the Constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases: Page 6; 3. Require full disclosure in media outlets, of all government contracts over N100m prior to award and during implementation at regular intervals: Page 6; 4. Amend the Constitution to require Local Governments to publish their meeting minutes, service performance data, and items of spending over N10M: Page 6; 5. Consult and amend the Constitution to enable States and Local Governments to create city, Local Government and State Policing systems: Page 7; 6. Bring permanent peace and solutions to the insurgency issues in the North-East; the Niger Delta; and other conflict prone states and areas such as Plateau, Benue, Bauchi, Borno, Abia, Taraba, Yobe, and Kaduna: Page 8; 7. Initiate policies to ensure that Nigerians are free to live and work in any part of the country by removing state of origin, tribe, ethnic and religious affiliations from documentation requirements in our identification of citizens, and replace these with State of Residence and fashion out the appropriate minimal qualification for obtaining such a state of residency, nation-wide: Page 8; 8. Make our economy one of the fastest growing emerging economies in the world with a real GDP growth averaging at least 10-12 percent annually: Page 9; 9. Five million new jobs by 2019: Page 9; 10. Put in place a N300bn Regional Growth Fund with an average of N50bn in each geo-political region…to encourage private sector enterprise and to support places currently reliant on only on the public sector, to migrate to a private sector reality: Page 10; 11. Amend the Constitution and the Land Use Act: Page 10; 12. Create an additional middleclass of at least four million new home owners by 2019: Page 10; 13. Create a Social Welfare Programme of at least Five Thousand Naira (N5000) that will cater for the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon the demonstration of children’s enrolment in school and evidence of immunisation to help promote family stability: Page 10; 14. Provide allowances to the discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for Twelve (12) months while in the skills and entrepreneurial development programmes: Page 10; 15. Construct a 5,000km of Superhighway including service trunks and (b) building of up to 6,800km of modern railway completed by 2019: Page 11; 16. Embark on PPP schemes that will ensure every one of the 36 states has one functional airport: Page 11; 17. Speedily pass the much delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and ensure that local content issues are fully addressed: Page 12; 18. Make Nigeria the world’s leading exporter of LNG through the creation of strategic partnerships: Page 12; 19. Targeting up to 20 percent of our annual budget for Education: Page 13; 20. Provide One Meal a day for all Primary school pupils. That will create jobs in Agriculture, Catering, and Delivery Services: Page 14; 21. Establish at least six new universities of Science and Technology with satellite campuses in various states: Page 14; 22. Establish technical colleges and vocational centres in each state of the federation: Page 14; 23. Increase the quality of all federal government owned hospitals to world class standard by 2019: Page 15; 24. Provide free antenatal care for pregnant women; free health care for babies and children up to school going age and for the aged; and free treatment for those afflicted with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS: Page 15; 25. Create an Insurance Policy for our Journalists as the nation faces hard times and our Journalists face more dangers: Page 15; 26. Establish Zonal world class sports academies and training institutes and ensure that Nigeria occupies a place of pride in global sports and athletics: Page 16; 27. Assist Nollywood to fully develop into world class movie industry that can compete effectively with Hollywood and Bollywood in due course: Page 16; 28. Guarantee that women are adequately represented in government appointments and provide greater opportunities in education, job creation, and economic empowerment: Page 16; 29. Use the Party structures to promote the concept of reserving a minimum number of seats in the States and National Assembly, for women: Page 16; 30. Create shelter belts in states bordering the Sahara Desert to mitigate and reverse the effects of the expanding desert: Page 17; In the second document titled “Roadmap to a New Nigeria”: 11. Create 20,000 jobs per state immediately for those with a minimum qualification of secondary school leaving certificate and who participate in technology and vocational training: Page 4; 32. Place the burden of proving innocence in corruption cases on persons with inexplicable wealth: Page 7; 33. Pursue legislation expanding forfeiture and seizure of assets laws and procedure with respect to inexplicable wealth, regardless of whether there is a conviction for criminal conduct or not: Page 7; 34. Provide free tertiary education to students pursuing Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): Page 9; 35. Provide free tertiary education to education majors and stipends prior to their employment as teachers: Page 9; 36. Create incentives and dedicate special attention to the education of girls: Page 9; 37. Ensure every child attending primary school is properly nourished and ready to learn by providing a Free Meal a Day: Page 9; 38. Achieve the construction of one million low-cost houses within four years for the poor: Page 11; 39. Stop all travels abroad at government expense for the purpose of medical treatment: Page 13; 40. Provide incentives for Nigerian doctors and health practitioners working abroad to return home, to strengthen the health care industry in Nigeria and provide quality care to those who need it: Page 14; 41. Make sure people at a local level benefit from mining and mineral wealth by vesting all mineral rights in land to states: Page 17. Please note that these documents were officially released by the All Progressive Congress (APC) as its official manifesto, thereby making the documents legally binding now that it is in charge of the central government. As contained in the document, the then Presidential aspirant of the APC (now President) said, “This document sets out our side of the bargain: the things I as your future president, want to do to change Nigeria for the better.”

blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=169284

There comes a time in the life of a man when he must be a man and stand up and speak the truth, even when others are too timid and intimidated to do so. By the grace of God I have today reached that point and I will bare my mind to the sickly tyrant. And after I have had my say I shall gallantly take my stand and with faith proclaim: let the demons of hell be invoked and conjured up and let them come forth and do their very worse, for they shall not pass and neither shall they prevail. And so it shall be as I stand on these holy words and boldly proclaim, o wicked tyrant, I stand and I fight against you. I stand and I fight in the name of the Living God. I stand and I fight in the name of Harrow and Cambridge. I stand and I fight in the name of Kelly and London. I stand and I fight as the son of my father. I stand and I fight as a proud and strong African. I stand and I fight as a resilient and irresistible Nigerian. I stand and I fight as a man of courage. I stand and I fight as a beautiful and irrepressible black man. I stand and I fight as a man of faith, a Christian who knows that his God is mighty and can never be defeated. We are what we believe ourselves to be. I am unbeatable, irrepressible and indestructible. I am a covenant child of the Living God, a prince of the Faith and a son of the Kingdom. My head may be bloodied but it is not bowed. I do not know the meaning of fear and I have learnt to master the affliction of pain. I do not flinch. I stand and I fight with my whole being: with my body, with my spirit and with my soul. I stand and I fight to win and not to lose. I stand and I fight, tall and proud and by the power of the God that I serve, I shall always prevail. I stand and I fight because children of Israel are never alone. I stand and I fight because all tyrants must be resisted. I stand and I fight because God’s word says “He shall cut off the spirit of princes” and “He is terrible to the kings of the earth”. And so to the tyrant, I have just this to say: you can detain me, you can malign me, you can arrest me and you can misrepresent me. You can persecute me, you can subjugate me, you can lie about me and you can scatter my household and my loved ones. You can vilify me, you can torment me, you can jeer at me and you can mock me. You can sack my associates, you can query my loyalists and you can cause my friends to flee the land. You can humiliate those who stand for me, you can pour scorn on those who love me, you can threaten those who speak for me and you can bribe those who work for me. You can plan, you can scheme, you can assign and you can direct and delegate destruction at my doorsteps and at my gates. You can intimidate and torment and you can use your kingly power to abuse and to destroy. You can do all these things yet ultimately you will fail because, like all beastly tyrants, you have forgotten the power of God in all your subterranean wickedness and in all your sinister schemes. Let him plot and plan both night and day. Let him invoke strange spirits, consult the stars, torture, detain, defame, destroy, charge, frame, kill and maim. Let him “cry havoc” and let slip the horrific dogs of war. Let him break and let him crush the very spirit of the people. Let him enslave the whole of our nation and cower us all into silence and submission. Let him unleash his kinsmen and cattle- rearers on the southern part of our country. Let him engender the philosophy of Boko Haram. Let him turn us into cowards and quislings, let him plunge us into darkness and let him bewitch our feeble souls. Holding on to power at all costs? That is nothing new, Saul tried it and failed. Agag tried it and failed. Herod tried it and failed. Pharaoh tried it and failed and so did Nero and Caligula and Jezebel and countless others. For the God that stopped them is still alive and continues to rule in the affairs of men and He alone forges the destiny of nations. And in all this know one thing: that you cannot break me, you cannot kill me, you cannot defeat me and you cannot destroy me. This is because I am anointed for greatness and I am truly blessed by He who sits above the circles of the earth and by He who created all that is. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places and yea I have a goodly heritage. My future has been established and decreed by the oracles of God. It has been inscribed in the stars and it has been written in the books of heaven. It cannot be altered or aborted by you or your invocations and spells and your wicked ways. And yet perhaps you should know another: that your end has already been decreed by the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob and it is only a matter of time before it suddenly comes. For my soul stands defiant against you. I defy you with all my being. My contempt for you is resounding, for you are nothing but sickness and weakness and failure and deceit and emptiness. You are nothing but the darkness that seeks the darkness, both you and the Amalekite foundation from which you come. My God has spoken and on His word I stand. My spirit is lifted and it is filled with joy and strength. I stand and I fight because my victory is assured. I stand and I fight because I despise the shame. I stand and I fight because there is a greater tomorrow. I stand and I fight because I will never bow before this beastly and deceitful tyrant. I stand and I fight because I am who I am. I stand and I fight because my God is “a man of war”. I stand and I fight because the Lord has steeled my body, my spirit and my soul. I stand and I fight because the fewer the number, the greater the share of honour. I stand and I fight because King David stood and fought, and Gideon and Joshua and Jehu that went before him. So let the sickly tyrant rant and rave. Let him do his very worse. Let him, like Nero, play his fiddle whilst Rome burns and let him make merry in his wickedness and inglorious ways. Let him plot and plan both night and day. Let him invoke strange spirits, consult the stars, torture, detain, defame, destroy, charge, frame, kill and maim. Let him “cry havoc” and let slip the horrific dogs of war. Let him break and let him crush the very spirit of the people. Let him enslave the whole of our nation and cower us all into silence and submission. Let him unleash his kinsmen and cattle-rearers on the southern part of our country. Let him engender the philosophy of Boko Haram. Let him turn us into cowards and quislings, let him plunge us into darkness and let him bewitch our feeble souls. Yet in all his treacheries and schemings let him know one thing, that we are not shaken and neither are we moved. For even if he were to carve up our flesh and send our dismembered limbs to the four corners of the kingdom, our God is able to put us back together again and give us life, even more abundant. And even if he can kill our weak and worldly bodies, he cannot break our spirits and neither can he take our souls. For if our God can move mountains who and what is he? We stand and we fight because the Lord is our defence and the Holy One of Israel is our king and our God. We stand and we fight because His word boldly asks, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that has chosen to defy the armies of the Living God?” We stand and we fight because He goes on to affirm that “I have found David my servant and with my holy oil have I anointed him”. We stand and we fight because His holy word proclaims “who art thou o mountain before Zerrubabel? Thou shalt be made a plain”. If our God be for us, what can he possibly do? Our God’s word says “who is he that sayest a thing and it cometh to pass when the Lord God of Hosts has commanded it not?” It says “who is he that lays a charge before God’s elect, is it not Christ that justifies?” It says “whose report will you believe and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” It says “who can separate us from the love of the Lord?” and that “nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us”. We stand and we fight because we are indeed “more than conquerors”. We stand and we fight because tin pot tyrants come and go: they are a dime a dozen, soon to be forgotten. We stand and we fight because heroes and martyrs, even if they fall in their course, will always live forever. We stand and we fight because we serve a mighty God who never fails and who will never leave us or forsake us. We stand and we fight knowing that the victory is ours. We stand and we fight for our honour, for our nation, for our women and for our children. We stand and we fight with courage, strength, defiance and joy knowing that though weeping may tarry in the night, “joy comes in the morning”. We stand and we fight because His word says “once has it been spoken and twice have we heard that all power belongs to God and the heavens do rule in the affairs of men”. We stand and we fight because we have no other choice, for good will always triumph over evil and light will always overcome the darkness in the end. We stand and we fight because we fear not death, we fear not the tyrant and we fear not his gods and idols. We stand and we fight because our God will always love us and through Him and by Him our salvation is secure. We stand and we fight because we have been prepared for war. We stand and we fight because the Lord is our defence and the Holy One of Israel is our king and our God. We stand and we fight because His word boldly asks, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that has chosen to defy the armies of the Living God?” We stand and we fight because He goes on to affirm that “I have found David my servant and with my holy oil have I anointed him”. We stand and we fight because His holy word proclaims “who art thou o mountain before Zerrubabel? Thou shalt be made a plain”. We stand and we fight because we wax strong in battle. We stand and we fight because we cannot be defeated. We stand and we fight because we are not in the hands of men but rather we are under the power of God. We stand and we fight because He is our shield, He is our glory and the lifter of our heads. We stand and we fight because He will “pour out His wrath upon the heathen that have not known Him and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon His name.” So let it be and so it is and yet until then, we stand and we fight, we stand and we fight, we stand and we fight.
blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=169279

The Naira on Monday, made a rebound as it appreciated
against the dollar at the parallel market.
The Naira gained N1 as it exchanged for N224, as against
N225 it traded last week.
Meanwhile, the official interbank rate remained N197.
Traders at the market in Lagos, expressed confidence that
the market might bounce back with the appointment of a
minister of Finance.

www.premiumtimesng.com/business/banking-and-finance/191763-naira-appreciates-at-parallel-market.

modath:
Present the kind of evidence of transaction that young lawyer did against Akpabio & put it in public domain if EFCC is not doing the needful...& Fashola will get the necessary treatment...

Borehole & website are not enough indictment, they can be explained away.....

There is a difference between abuse of office & direct misappropriation of funds.....

People need to learn how to fight without making noise.

What a philosophical bullshit and facultative logical hara-kiri!

What he is saying is true but the timing ( when he lost out of ministerial nomination) of this his recent outburst put a question mark on the activist's motive. He should have supported Fayose and PDP when they were saying it.

BALLOSKI:
That fat-cheeked woman is corrupt and should be stripped of all honour.

Really?

I wonder what this woman is owing a certain region of this country. Anyway, just as Shakespeare rightly said, "it is a waste of gun powder to shoot a man of the moon"
Since Yale University petition failed, so this one won't even hold any water.

A Nigerian civic group has petitioned the Global Alliance for
Vaccine and Immunization, GAVI, requesting that the
organization suspend the recent appointment of Nigeria’s
immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as
chairperson of its Board of Directors.
In the petition signed by its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju,
the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, said its
call for a review of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment was
based on the circumstances surrounding the suspicious
refund of $2.2 million paid by Nigeria to GAVI.
While noting that the appointment of the former minister as
chairperson of the Board of Directors of GAVI brings to fore
a case of conflict of interest in the refund of the money, the
group noted that, “the appointment also shows that she was
being rewarded for her “loyalty” to the organisation at the
detriment of her country.”
The refund made without consultation with the Ministry of
Health also exposes the gross abuse of office by the former
minister, according to the group.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported how GAVI rewarded Mrs.
Okonjo-Iweala after she worked against Nigeria’s interest in
a controversial refund of a $2.2 million allegedly
mismanaged by Nigerian officials.
“In view of the above, CSNAC is therefore by this petition,
requesting that the recent appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala as chairperson of the Board of Directors be reviewed
and suspended until all the spurious allegations against
Nigeria under this audit are proven by GAVI and the
circumstances surrounding the suspicious and unpatriotic
refund of the $2.2m are resolved,” Mr. Suraju said.
Giving its narration in the petition, the group said that, “In
the wake of media reports of indictment by the Global
Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) against the
Federal Government of Nigeria over alleged misuse of funds
through the Federal Ministry of Health and National Primary
Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for the purpose
of children vaccination in the country, we petitioned the
NPHCDA to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), demanding a thorough investigation into the
allegations that has globally dented the image of the county.
“Following our petition on this matter and reportage of same
by local and international news media, we received a
response, accompanied with evidences, from the National
Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA),
controverting claims that were contained in the GAVI’s Cash
Program Audit (CPA).
“Through voluntary support of volunteers, partners and
members of our network, we undertook independent
investigation of the allegations contained in the CPA report
and, confirmation of assertions and proof provided by
NPHCDA. These included independent and unannounced
visitation to site of incinerators in Borno, Adamawa, Gombe,
Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Kano, Kaduna by these volunteers.
However, our investigations revealed findings at variance
with basis of fraud allegations contained in the report of
GAVI, through its Cash Program Audit (C.P.A) on cash grants
allocated to Nigeria from 2011-2013.
“We also found a letter written by the New York office of
UNICEF, a UN agency and an internationally reputed
organisation, officially debunking claims in the GAVI report,
as it concerns their transactions with NPHCDA under the
contract. The Federal Inland Revenue Services did wrote to
acknowledge receipt of taxes deducted by NPHCDA, as
against position of GAVI. The Corporate Affairs Commission
further provided evidence controverting malicious claims
NPHCDA award of contract to fictitious and unregistered
company, as contained in the CPA report.
“The Alliance further continued with its smear campaign of
Nigeria by misinterpreting the Letter of Understanding dated
October 17, 2014 written by the former Minister of Health
Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu as an admission of guilt in the
alleged mismanagement of $2.2m, whereas, he had
demanded a joint post audit reconciliation of the disputed
CPA report and also committed the government to refund
any unused fund discovered after the joint reconciliation
with GAVI.
“Our several requests to GAVI for evidence to corroborate
the spurious allegations in its indicting report were rebuffed.
Despite huge facts that emerged from our investigation and
that of the EFCC, controverting GAVI’s claim to fraud in its
dealings with Nigeria under the audited period, the
immediate past Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo
Iweala, under a questionable manner, unprecedented in the
history of the country, went ahead and discreetly refunded
the controversial $2.2m to your organization without
recourse to NPHCDA or the EFCC,” the petition read.


www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/191715-nigerian-group-petitions-gavi-seeks-suspension-of-okonjo-iwealas-appointment.

It's just withdraws that we are talking about here. How can an evidence of transaction, a duly authorized government withdrawal be an indicting evidence?. Amaechi, who has been lawfully investigated and indicted has not even been invited let alone arrested. This selective fight against corruption is corruption on it's own because it is enriching and shielding the beneficiaries.

That's what our not-so-shrewd senators should have asked Fashola. Instead, they were gaping at him.

chukwudi44:
Saraki siddon gidigbam for SP's seat.Nothing Mega!! If anybodi even try to Bleep up Amaechi would not be confirmed by the senate.

Nwanne, you are there. They thought ministerial screening was put off till next week for nothing. Saraki knows what he is doing. Mess with him at CCT and see if Amaechi will be confirmed.

tunwumi:
Saraki! Saraki!! Saraki!!! How many times did I called u? Go to CCT jeje before .....

U called him three(3) times. He will go to CCT after......

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, on Friday adjourned
the ruling on the appeal brought by Senate President,
Bukola Saraki.
Counsel to the appellant J.B.L Ufoh, in a brief filed on
October 6, challenged the jurisdiction of the Code of
Conduct Tribunal, saying the tribunal ought to have obeyed
and stayed proceedings when it got an order from the
Federal High Court.
He further stated that the CCT was not a superior court to
the Federal High Court and therefore urged the court to set
aside all proceedings, including the charge against Senator
Saraki on the grounds that the tribunal was not properly
constituted.
Counsel to the respondent, Rotimi Jacobs, in his own brief,
filed October 12, argued that if Mr Ufoh was challenging the
constitution of the tribunal, it still wasn’t enough reason to
affect the case brought before it.
He further added that there was no order by the Federal
High Court compelling the Code of Conduct Tribunal not to
sit; rather, the appellant had asked for an interim injunction
which the Federal High Court denied.
Therefore it was wrong for the appellant to paint the tribunal
as a lawless court that does not obey orders, the lawyer
said.
Mr. Jacobs insisted that the law was being misinterpreted
and urged Justices M.A.A Adumien, J.E Ekanem and M.
Mustapha to dismiss the appeal because “arguing it lacked
merit”.
He prayed the court that the right interpretation of the law
be upheld.
The Code of Conduct Bureau had on September 11 slammed
a 13-count charge bordering on false asset declaration on
Mr. Saraki.
He is accused of offences ranging from anticipatory
declaration of assets to making false declaration of assets in
forms he filed before the Code of Conduct Bureau, while he
was governor of Kwara State.
Justice Adumien reserved judgement for 2pm on Monday,
October 19.


www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/191601-appeal-court-adjourns-ruling-on-saraki.

Fayose Arrests Road Safety Corps for Traffic Offence
Governor Ayodele Fayose
Explains why he concentrates projects in capital city
Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti
Governor Ayodele Fayose on Friday arrested an operative of
the Federal Road Safety Corps at Ikere Ekiti for flouting a
traffic rule.
Fayose, who went to flag off the completion of the Ado-
Ikere-Iju dualisation and the commissioning of the
downtown market stall in the
town, stopped his convoy at Oke–Ikere area of the town and
ordered that the man be stopped and his car seized.
The road safety operative, who was identified as Mr Alabi ,
who was driving towards in his Peugeot 505 to Ikere Ekiti,
had taken the
left side of the road with the intention of dodging the
dilapidated portion of the dual carriageway, which infuriated
the governor who was on that rough portion of the road.
DETAILS LATER


www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fayose-arrests-road-safety-corps-for-traffic-offence

Saraki doing just fine

ATest of Saraki's Leadership
President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki appears to be undergoing a test of his leadership skills, both in politics and administration, writes Hammed Shittu To describe the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as one of the most challenged politicians in the present experience is spot on. He has fought battles – good battles, perhaps, the type alien to his years of political experience, either in terms of administration or politics and one by one, he has been surmounting his challenges. Whilst some of these challenges have not completely gone away, the few he has confronted and decimated showed his capacity to address difficulties and in the face of those, remain calm and unruffled. The screening and subsequent confirmation of the ministerial nominees, who have so far appeared before the senate are a proof of Saraki’s ability and most importantly, the result to expect from the Senate he plans to lead for the next four years, if God wills. Not only has he shown experience and maturity, his understanding of the issues and the attendant political dynamics that have strewn the process are seen in many quarters as indicators of yet another auspicious senate under the leadership of a man so determined to exemplify change. It, however, goes without saying that the battle that preceded the attainment of that office was not a child’s place – certainly not in the face of the seemingly intractable hurdles designed and piled before him. And with some high wire politics that disconnected certain interests and re- aligned others, Saraki’s ability to waltz through the difficult terrain of the threats to the seat of the senate president, was in another breath, a positive indication of the promises ahead. In such a short period as the President of the 8th Senate, not just that Saraki has been taken to the cleaners for unintended public scrutiny; his family has also had a scathing whiff of the unsavoury consequences of his ambition. His wife, Toyin has had to visit the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption. The commission, sources say, is not done with her still. But the justifiable tendency to see the political undertone in such development was put to test when the moves to probe husband and wife came over four years after they had left office and weeks after Saraki had “smartly” emerged the president of the senate against the will and preferences of some persons believed to be powerful within the party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). That, unfortunately, was just a prelude. The real battle soon followed. Allegations of false declaration of assets was immediately picked up against Saraki, a majority of which were tied to his days in office in 2003, 12 years after he had moved on to other challenges in his career as a politician. However, probing a matter of 12 years is not the thrust of the debate amongst the discerning, the manner in which the charges were allegedly conscripted and the process of prosecution muddled up. In an attempt to allegedly bring him in at all cost or compel him to stand down as senate president, some of the laws governing the Code of Conduct Bureau tribunal were allegedly bypassed and in some cases ignored outright to expedite his prosecution. In the process, his bench warrant was sought and granted and it almost became a scandal that the nation’s number four citizen was almost at large, somewhat. Eventually, he appeared before the tribunal, pleaded not guilty, the warrant was suspended and the hearing in the matter postponed till later this month. Interestingly, all along, the impression has been that the presidency was behind his travails because President Muhammadu Buhari did not want him as the senate president. But what was to follow for Saraki was not only humiliating; it particularly sought to challenge his leadership in his home zone of Ilorin, Kwara State, where his family had held sway for over 40 years. It was during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. Indeed, while the celebration across the world might have come and gone, the intrigues that characterised it in Ilorin, would linger a little longer amongst the sons and daughters of the ancient town of Ilorin. It was at the Ilorin Eid praying ground located along the Adewole Estate area of the city. Many had come from far and near and had assembled early to be part of the two rakats prayers for this year’s Sallah celebration. And for the first time in the political history of Kwara, the leadership of the Saraki dynasty was threatened by a development orchestrated by suspected hoodlums, believed to have been sponsored by external forces to cause confusion at the Eid praying ground. Yet, the reasons for the ugly situation were not unconnected with certain local developments, aided by external factors. The non-payment of accumulated salaries of workers especially those at the local government councils and primary school teachers were largely said to be responsible for the show of shame by the suspected hoodlums that stormed the praying ground. Among those in attendance at the praying ground were the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammed Bashr, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, former Minister of Youths Development and Sport, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and other chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC). Also, there were chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) like chairman, Federal Character Commission, Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem. Prior to the celebration, there had been speculations about alleged plans to attack some government functionaries at the praying ground over non-payment of council workers’ salaries. The development had caused a lot of tension among the residents and even at the government circles in the state. This had prompted the state government to issue a statement over the N5billion bailout sought from the Central Bank of Nigeria that was to be used to pay the council workers and primary school teachers but is yet to be cleared. But non-payment of salaries early enough by the state government particularly to Muslims had created apprehension in the state. Government in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abdulwahaab Oba, however condemned the attack. Also, the state council of chiefs led by its chairman and Emir of Ilorin, Gambari, later paid homages to Governor Ahmed and Saraki, where the emirate pledged support to them. The Emir described the disruption at the praying ground as an offence against God. Ahmed said despite the fact that the September allocation had not been received from the federation account, he had paid the state civil servants and facilitated loan for local government councils to offset local government workers’ salaries. At the visit to Saraki, Gambari, who was not oblivious of developments, warned against the persecution of Saraki, saying the trial of Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal was not the change mantra of the APC that Nigerians bargained for. He said the trial was to upset Nigerians and that "It would be unwise to disguise under political altar to cow perceived political enemy." Saraki, in his response, thanked the monarchs for their support and solidarity. "I am greatly honoured and at the same time humbled to receive this visit from our royal fathers in my domain. The last time I had this honour was when I was still the governor of Kwara State. There is nothing more for me to add because you have spoken. You have spoken from your years of experience as a father, and as someone who has headed a very great arm of government, the judiciary. "Your words of wisdom and encouragement will continue to give me great confidence. As you rightly put it, it is a challenging time, not only for us the politicians, but generally for the country. Rest assured that with your support and your prayers, Insha Allah, we will overcome it because the entire people of this country know that this is not about prosecution, but persecution." So far, the Saraki leadership has exhibited some impressive showing, including the ability to hold down a productive senate in national and collective interest. Although the matter at the tribunal is yet to be dispensed with, that he has already pleaded not guilty at his first appearance is seen as an indication of a man who already has his act together. Thus, whilst he may not know what might be out there for him, he appears poised to find it and in good time.


www.thisdaylive.com/articles/a-test-of-saraki-s-leadership

otil1:
She's just a natural person.

That's the way she is. She acts from her heart, not codedly and we call it unpolished

Yes unpolished but well-meaning, sincere and unpretentious.

Abati, we know you are good at what you do. This is equally a piece of advice to the incumbents now. Loyalty is a variable constant in Nigerian politics.

Why are people not following or commenting on this thread. Is it because it's not Tonyebarcanista's or Ngeneukwu's thread or viewpoint?

His leadership style is not unconstitutional but interestingly unheard-of. One's formula for success might be another's recipe for failure. We are only interested in results. If his showmanship produces the desired result to his people, why the complain? Identifying with his people might be his own source of motivation. There are some states where there are no caterpillars being used for government work for the governor to climb.
By the way, why are they monitoring every move made by Fayose in his state?

For me, it's not about triumphing over Wike or PDP's plot. It's about the image of this government whose preoccupation and obsession is fighting corruption. With this corruption allegation uncleared, Amaechi remains a big question mark in the government of the Federation.

zico530:
Sure?

Just my humble opinion. No certainty please.

Martin Luther King Jr. in his Testament Of Hope observed, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat"


Arguably thrilling, it is approximately five months that Saraki grabbed the leadership of the 8th Senate against all political odds, equations and calculations. Despite all the politically motivated, calculated, masterminded and well orchestrated attacks and detractions he remains unruffled, unwavering and while still gaining more admirers and sympathy across all political and regional divides.


Political passivists and indeed Nigerians who hitherto did not have any interest in NASS business practices now watch with keen interest what happens in the NASS because they have seen radical changes and fast dying business-as-usual in the 8th Senate. We ought to give it to Saraki because I don't think we would have had it like this if a stooge had been installed as SP.
As a clear show of quality and high standing leadership disposition, the Senate President Saraki ensured that it was not only those "Senators Of Like Minds", who were instrumental to his emergence that got the privileges of becoming chairmen when constituting some of the ad-hoc committees of the Red Chamber.


In Legistilative business, the 8th Senate led by Saraki enhanced due diligence in the passage of motions have impacted positively on the average Nigeria in the street. The 8th Senate led by Saraki passed a motion that reviewed electricity tariff by NERC thereby abolishing the concept of bulk metering. Also, Saraki led a six-man delegation to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital for an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation and plights of the residents ravaged by insurgency. As a follow up to that, a delegation led by Saraki attended the 4th United Nations International Conference for Heads Of Parliaments where Saraki re-emphasized the need and appealed for international support for Nigeria in fighting the insurgency in the North-East and to resettle the people.


More so, not minding that the 8th Senate is just in the morning days and irrespective of the distractions, statutory breaks, and vacations, Saraki led Senate has shown signs of becoming one of the most result-oriented and focused sessions. Saraki did make it clear in his letter he read during a plenary that legislative functions in the interest of the Nation should be the top priority of the 8th Senate and every other thing secondary. They have equally made frantic effort to keep an eye on the economy. The Senate has just summoned the Custom Boss over Rice Importation.


Furthermore, having perceived the leadership sagacity and legislative perspicacity of Saraki, international ambassadors, government institutions, corporate bodies, various associations and groups have been paying courtesy visits to the Senate President since inauguration of the 8th Senate. British High Commissioner, Andrew Pocock had in one of his visits, stated that the British government would offer necessary assistance to support the Federal Parliament in addressing its shortcomings.

It is obvious that the unreserved move by Nigerians to shun old system of imposition and godfatherism is paying off and even amidst the intrigues and Shenanigans to pull down the Leadership of the Senate. Everybody now follows with keen interest NASS activities more notably, the ongoing not business-as-usual screening of the ministerial nominees.


Saraki has sufficiently demonstrated that he is imbued with the political, mental, and psychological acumen to pilot a culturally and politically diverse but performance focused 8th Senate. As events unfold, those opposed to him initially have started appreciating his leadership and Legislative shrewdness. I believe that no matter what happens, Nigerians will be at the positive receiving end and we will have no other option than to follow suit in the change mantra.

God Bless Us All And At Large Nigeria!