For a promising and more secure Nation, we need a man with vision to unifier and drive the voyage for prosperous country, the long search has been concluded as the youths solidly settle for the Whitelion @OfficialGYBKogi
#Hope2023
#YahayaBello

Your passion for security is second to none – Kogi Heads of Security Agencies tell Gov. Bello

...pay Salah homage to Governor.

Heads of Security Agencies in Kogi State, made up of the Nigeria Army, Navy, Air force Police, Civil Defence Corps, and Vigilante services have described as second to none Kogi State governor’s passion for securing the lives of citizens and dwellers in the Kogi state.

The Heads of Security Agencies made this known on Monday during a salah homage to the governor at the Kogi state Government House, Lokoja

Speaking on their behalf, the State Commissioner of Police Mr. Edward Egbuka noted that the whole country was challenged by various security concerns, ravaging parts of the country, but Kogi could boast of an effective security template that other parts of the country could copy

The police commissioner on behalf of other security chiefs promised not to rest on their oars and to further improve on the security successes in the confluence state

Governor Bello in his response appreciated the Security heads for their steadfast work, noting that every persons from within and outside the nation have testified that kogi was significantly different in its security experiences.

He noted that the synergy among the security chiefs was rare and that such was the standard required at the national level noting that when he emerged as the President, he would replicate the same.

He finally assured that his government would continue to do everything possible to ensure that the people of the state sleeps with their two eyes closed.

MY YAHAHA BELLO, IS A MODEL THAT MUST BE ADOPTED
BY ALL.

What I like most in Kogi State and Yahaya Bello Government is that in Kogi, criminals were not ethnicized or tagged by their ancestral lineage unlike what is happening in Oyo State presently.
The apparatus he put in place usually fish them out, Flushes, and finish...no time!
You can never hear him tag any criminals terrorizing in his state or profiling them to this and that.
I hate it when we do this rubbish in the name of dealing with criminals
For crying out, go after anyone causing any form of trouble even if he is your brother, sister, Mum, Dad, uncle, etc
Bandits, kidnappers, all forms of bad people are like a snake, they have no compassion for their victims
spare him not, stop tagging a particular tribe with what your people, if we must tell ourselves the truth indulge in too
Criminals are not only in the forest.
I have seen where big ogas in Lagos Market were picked up for kidnapping and related cases.
For the last time, if need be, move into the forests of Birnin Gwari, Owo, Enugu, Calabar, Anambra, and Niger and root out criminal elements.
A criminal has no tribe, lineage, or theology, therefore, treat him as one without legitimizing him with a tribal ethnic or religious identity.
When you do that, you have lost the fight for the massive maxima.
The White Lion of Nigeria, the Man the Cap fits for National assignment is an enigma, a structure that must be replicated in every state
Queen Zara Onyinye

Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has thrown his weight behind the presidential bid of Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state.

Uwazuruike spoke on Saturday when he led some south-east youths on a solidarity march in Owerri, Imo state capital, in support of Bello’s bid.

The youths marched through the streets, carrying different placards, with inscriptions such as ‘Power to the Youths’, ‘Support Yahaya Bello’, ‘Youths Can Also Lead’, and ‘Yahaya Bello for the Youths’, among others.

Uwazuruike said if Nigeria’s sovereignty must be upheld, zoning should be discarded

He said the contest should be thrown open and advised party leaders to shun zoning “as it has no place in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

“I don’t believe in the idea of zoning system or Igbo president because zoning means sectionalism,” he said.

“If we want to talk about Nigeria, we must throw the presidential contest open but if you throw it open, it must be for the youths not elders, because the elders have failed us.”

Uwazuruike said the only solution to Nigeria’s political problems is for power to go to the youths.

He said his group would support Bello to become the next president because he has the leadership qualities to lead Nigeria effectively.

“All Nigerians should rally round the youthful governor. We are supporting Bello for this and no one else. He has the capacity to solve the problem of insecurity and a host of others facing the nation is not in doubt,” he said.

“This is a crucial time in the history of the country. We must give the youth a chance, especially one that has demonstrated uncommon capacity, in the person of Yahaya Bello.”

In his remarks, Bello expressed gratitude to the youths and MASSOB members that welcomed him.

The Kogi governor said he is prepared to deliver “the Nigerian project” if given the opportunity to serve as the next president of the country.

“I’m prepared to lead this country, I shall address insecurity, health system as well as the educational system,” Bello said.

“Nigerians must be very careful and be ready to make the best decision in choosing their next president.”

Today, Governor Yahaya picked his presidential Nomination form. Yahaya is good to go! Young and relaible

This image attached Worth reading

Hon Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications is seeking to represent the people of Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 2023. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on his ambition and Governor Yahaya Bello’s chances in the 2023 presidential election. Excerpts:

Your Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello is contesting for the Presidency in 2023 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). What are his chances?

He is undoubtedly the best for the job. He possesses all the qualities needed to fix the country. Millions of supporters across the country are calling on him to come and lead the nation from 2023 because of his antecedents in uniting Kogi, securing Kogi and all the massive infrastructural projects across the state. This is what Nigeria needs at this period. When Governor Yahaya Bello came, Kogi was a balkanised state. There were ethnic divisions, distrust and disunity. Upon assumption of office, he said he was going to unite Kogi state and he has matched his words with practical actions that have united the state today. When you look at the security situation in the state before he came, we were having an average of seven kidnap cases on daily basis. Today, it is possible to go six months without a single kidnap case. What he did to contain insecurity was to use local solution for a global problem by ensuring that the vigilante service was put in place. There was a law before he came to establish Kogi State Vigilante Service, but nobody cared about it. When he came, he ensured that he implemented that law by setting up the Kogi State Vigilante Service. They are doing a great job. We are also using hunters to complement what these people are doing. They understand the terrain, they can give direction to the Police, Army and other conventional security agencies. It is something that has worked well in Kogi state and that is why we have this success story which has won the governor a lot of awards across the nation. Nigerians are looking at these two things. There is still disunity in the country today. That’s why we are having the agitation for zoning of presidency. That is an indication of disunity. Yahaya Bello can unite Nigeria. He has done it in Kogi state and we are confident that it could be replicated at the national level.



Then when you look at other problems of the country which insecurity, insurgency, banditry and all of that, he has done it in Kogi state and we know that he can do it at the centre. Those who are agitating have seen all of these in him. Also, don’t forget, his fearless approach to the issue of COVID-19, especially during the lockdown period has reassured Nigerians that we could have leaders who could decide to beat the established rule of deceit and stand firm with the people. Nigerians know that if this man becomes president, then they will have a leader who will protect their interests. That is the reason why a lot of Nigerians are begging him to run in 2023 and I am glad he has accepted their demands.

With the heavyweights in the contesting like Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo and Rotimi Amaechi, how do you think GYB will survive the fireworks?

The question should be how those people will survive the tsunamic political powers of GYB. The name on the lips of Nigerians is Yahaya Bello. He is younger than the other gladiators and even our leader, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Prof Osinbajo would be proud of GYB Presidency. What we need now is dynamism and GYB will provide that. The nation needs a unifier, GYB is a unifier. The nation needs someone who can guarantee secure, GYB has shown his capacity in Kogi State. The nation wants power, GYB will guarantee that. The nation needs infrastructural revolution, GYB will guarantee that. So, he is the leading candidate. He will respect the elders and leaders of the party. They will trust him to deliver massive victory to the party. He led the mobilization of women and youth to the party and brought over 40 million members. He is the voice they know and trust.

Don’t you think the party will zone its Presidency to the South?

APC is a party that respects its constitution. What we will talk about is capacity and competence. The youth of the nation are watching. We need the vigour and dynamism of the youth. We should be in the league of great nations around the world. Our party would not want to go the retrogressive way of allotting power based on geography. We are not worried about zoning. Also, the Constitution of the party does not exclude anyone from contesting. In 2023, Nigerians will go for capacity and competence. It won’t be about where the person comes from. We don’t care about the ethnicity of a medical doctor when we need medical services. We want the best Doctor. So why do we create the confusion of zoning in politics?




It is believed that you have an ambition to represent the people of Yagba in the House of Representatives. Can you confirm this?

It is true that I will be seeking the nomination of my great party to fly its ticket to represent the great people of Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. I am a foundation member of the APC and for the past seven years, I have learnt from a great leader in the person of Alh. Yahaya Bello. He has taught us service delivery and responsibility to the people. Today, we are the aspirant of choice. We will take Yagba back to the APC fold at the centre.

How will you rate the present lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the Green Chambers?

He has tried his best and that is quite commendable and we appreciate what he was able to do and will still do between now and the expiration of his term. I am in the race to raise the bar and be a better representative. We will ensure quality representation. Yagba is predominantly agrarian. Our focus will be on lifting our farmers and ensure mechanization. This is more important to us than Custom service. Modern representation is about constituency participation. The constituents are the hirers. They should decide what they want. My Team is already working with people from the 34 wards of the constituency. We will work with our manifesto. Yagba must be brought to the centre of the nation’s development.

What has been the response of the people of Yagba since you announced your intention to represent them in the House of Reps?

It has been massive show of support and solidarity. We have given scholarships, given health insurance, given water facilities and build a well equipped Health Centre for the people. They want me to represent them at the Green Chambers

The PDP is gearing for a big battle ahead of 2023 and they have vowed to reclaim the power they lost in 2015, saying APC has disappointed Nigerians . Do you foresee an upset?

PDP is about to implode. The party is in serious tension over power sharing. They won’t trouble APC too much and I have no doubt that APC will retain power beyond 2023.

Political appointees intending to contest in 2023 have been resigning in compliance with the Electoral Act law. Do you have any plan to resign?

We have done everything in compliance with the Electoral Act. We won’t violate the law.

leader is detribalized then collectively we will fight evils and such is the quality Yahaya Bello is blessed with. The youths believed he will do more as he has done in kogi thereby calling him to serve his country.

Photo speaks:

My Government has raised 2,000 Millionaires



Kogi State Governor and presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, Yahaya Bello, has said that about 2,000 people have become millionaires in the state under his administration.

Bello, who spoke on Friday at the ‘Second Annual GYB Seminar for Nigeria’s Political and Crime Correspondents’ in Abuja, said if elected president, he would lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.



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He said: “If you refer to my [presidential declaration] speech, I promised that I would build on what Mr President promised of ensuring that nothing less than 100 million Nigerians are pulled out of poverty by the year 2030, that’s about seven years from 2023

“The question will be, ‘what have you done in Kogi State, how many millionaires have you made?’



“I will tell you that within the limit of our resources, coupled with various challenges and demands on our resources we have been able to make nothing less than 2,000 millionaires in Kogi State, within this short period.

“A millionaire doesn’t necessarily need to be a [Aliko] Dangote, before you are called a millionaire. Our government created an enabling environment that if you have N1 million you should be able to turn it around and multiply it.”

The governor expressed optimism that he would win the party’s ticket irrespective of the method adopted by the party to select the candidate.

He said, “APC is still the party that will produce the next president of Nigeria. APC is very strategic. Forget about zoning or no zoning; it’s about who is a leader and will put the party together.



“The party knows the body language of the nation. APC knows the clamour for a young President who will build on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari. The party knows who will turn the fortunes of this country around.

“If consensus is going to be the option, so be it. Whether it’s direct or indirect primary, Yabaya Bello is the man to beat. We must jettison sentiments. It is time to breach the religious gap and cement the relationship.

“I am the man that will champion a new Nigeria where sentiments will not matter any more. We want to make sure that the language you speak, your religion and where you come from does not matter again in our presidency.”

Governor Yahaya Bello made 2,000 youths and women millionaires in Kogi State. PART ONE.

Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris,FCA

Following the torrent of outrage and public attraction that greeted Governor Yahaya Bello's assertion at his Presidential declaration, with a promise to produce millionaires when elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, speaks volume of either inadequate access to information by the accusers about his giant strides in the confluence state or a deliberate attempt to feign ignorance just to play politics that aligns with their sentiments.

Asiwaju said, Although, those who sort to interrogate the affirmative statement from GYB is not asking the wrong question, neither asking to much, because in our polity today, it has become many promises little fulfilment of same. But in the case of Governor Yahaya Bello, he means whatever he says, and make sure he says whatever he means till he fulfil same. Kogi is typical example of his phenomenal stride of "Promise Kept".

In his words "It's needless to further amplify the numerous millionaires he has made through youth inclusiveness in leadership and governance process in the state. In Kogi, Youths takes the leading role in formulating policies and implementation of programmes and projects that has been of immense benefit to the people with consequent improvement on the economic indices of the state. They have worked hard to earn their places in the league of millionaires because of the opportunity and inclusive ideology of Governor Yahaya Bello".

Mukadam stated, I will also be emphasising on the obvious, talking about the various Empowerment programmes and opportunities created, targeted at uplifting the youths from the back seat and shackles of poverty. Today,in kogi state, we have youths as consultants on critical projects and leading hands in the building process of a Greater Kogi state .

The Honourable Commissioner notes that under the Ministry of Agriculture, specifically the Agro-Processing, productivity enhancement and livelihood improvement support (APPEALS) project in kogi state, more 1,700 youths, including 102 People living with disabilities(PLWD) benefited from N2million each grants to help increase productivity on agricultural value chain after series of training on business technical and life training skills. The APPEALS project is world Bank programme designed to collaborate with states to focus on Agro-Processing, productivity enhancement and livelihood improvement through agriculture value chain. For kogi state, it's cashew, cassava and rice which has yielded bountiful results in terms of Youthful millionaires the projects has produced.

Because of the passion and commitment of the Governor Yahaya Bello led New Direction Administration to develop the youth group and create wealth, making them self reliant and value adder to the society, the state government does not hesitate in the payment of her counterpart funding. In the year 2021, the state government provided a counterpart funding of 200million to the APPEALS project which has advanced the implementation process unimaginably. It's a testimonial to the deliberate intention of the Governor to make youths in the state leaders of today, impact makers and millionaires, as a way of improving their livelihood and productivity.

Not relenting in the quest to make more millionaires, many life transforming initiatives will be rolled out to increase wealth creation by unleashing the creative geniuses in our youths, saying the APPEALS project will continually be a veritable plartform to explore in empowering the youths, because the state government under Governor Yahaya Bello will always be poised to pay the requisite counterpart fund premised on the policy thrust

It's no brainer, if he can make it possible in Kogi state, replicating same at the national level won't be a daunting task. Therefore, our President in waiting was never fictitious but affirmative and factual in his assertion rapped in promises when he said he will make millionaires at the HOPE'23 presidential declaration.

Why I want to be the next APC Chairman

Saliu Mustapha



Dear party members,


My name is Saliu Mustapha, a development and commercial real estate consultant, a consumate progressive by choice and a passionate patriot by conviction and I will be running for the office of the National Chairman of our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).

I have the privilege of being one of the senior figures in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) who pull through the merger with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to form the party that ended Peoples Democratic Party's sixteen year long hold on power at the centre.

So how were we able to achieve this momentous feat? We focused on politics with a heart, with the people in mind, from the rural areas to the metropolis, from the grassroots to the urban centres.

We embodied the hopes of a better country and better politics in 2015 with the Change mandate, and not surprising the people showed their trust and belief by electing us for a second term in office in 2019!

We also brought more states under the APC banner as our message of progressive change caught the imagination and hopes of the people!

I must commend the valiant efforts of our party leadership and all previous executives for laying a proper foundation that could easily be built on but first we must put our house in order.

Like I said earlier, I am aspiring to for the position of APC National Chairman. The question some may ask is, why? The answer is not too far fetched; because the time has come! My objective is to lead the party to a new era of sustained victories, progressive policies, dignified politics and national development.

No member of the ruling party can deny that we have had some challenging periods, one of which birthed the current Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

I recognize and sincerely appreciate the valiant efforts of each member of that committee and promise to build on the gains achieved and mitigate the lows.

The core of my message today is that the time has come for our great party to embrace the future and optimize its mandate and potentials. We have succeeded in righting the course of the nation through the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

But what happens at the end of the eight-year tenure of President Buhari ? Where do we go from here especially as our great leader would not be on the ballot in 2023.

As the aspiring next national chairman of the ruling party, I believe APC needs to consolidate its message and find the best way to build on the success stories of this administration,which I know are numerous inspite of the challenges.

As one who has grown within the political system, a bridge between the past and the future, I have the distinct advantage of unbiased perspective. I have seen the issues, I have identified the winning formula.

I will fortify our wins and reduce opportunities for corrosive developments. I will lead from the front by providing firm, inclusive, proactive, disciplined, fair and transparent leadership as APC chairman.

The proposed party governance approach under my stewardship will ensure that members are recognized and acknowledged. Programmes and plans of the party will be inclusive, strategically crafted, robustly debated and judiciously implemented.

Ladies and gentlemen, even families have disagreements and there is bound to be friction but I will ensure that proper and transparent conflict resolution frameworks are in place.

The younger generation of APC members as well as the older ones have nothing to fear as I am well placed as a bridge between the two.

I am one of the older generations. I am one of the younger generations. I am a bridge for the future with the consciousness and values of the past. So there is indeed no cause for any concern.

Once again, my name is Saliu Mustapha, a consumate progressive by choice and a passionate patriot by conviction and I will be running for the office of the National Chairman of our great party.
Thank you for your anticipated support, come February 2022, let us continue the winning culture. APC! Progress!

Thank you.

World Athletics U-20 Championship: Nigeria Finishes Third, Breaks All Previous Championship Records.

Nigeria's contingent to the World Athletics U-20 Championship has finished third on the medals table only behind Kenya and Finland, surpassing all previous records in the history of the Championship.

The gold rush was heralded by Nigeria’s mixed 4×400m relay team while Imaobong Nse Uko(400m women) and Udodi Onwuzurike(200m men) also clinched Gold in the finals of their events in a grand style, with Team Nigeria winning more medals in men and women relay on the final day. Nigeria ended up with 4 Gold and 3 bronze medals respectively.

It is pertinent to note that Team Nigeria broke all records from personal bests to championship records and it is not unconnected to the support received from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development under the able leadership of Honourable Minister, Sunday Dare.

Nigeria stands proud of the achievement of her gallant contingent, who finished third out of 115 countries. A cash prize of $5000 would be received by the Gold medalists, while $2000 will be awarded to Bronze medalists.

The Acting Managing Director /CEO of Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni has reaffirmed his commitment towards ensuring that all waste collection and disposal guidelines are s adhere strictly to and that all structures and staff of the organization are working at perfectly.

Following his agenda, to ensure a clean Lagos, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni on Wednesday, 5th of August began a two week Tour . 24 hour Appraisal Tour acrosthe Lagos State, and to enforce where there are defaulters.

Kicking starting the Tour with Lagos East district. Mr odumboni led the team along side Mr Adeshina , LAWMA Lagos Eat District.

Today, the MD of @Lawma_gov , Mr Ibrahim Odumboni @IOdumboni will kick start his 3 day APPRAISAL tour across lawma offices and sites .

FOR THE RECORD

Our attention at the media office of the Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam (CGI) has been drawn to a picture taken by our Principal during the 2014 governorships electioneering campaign in Ejigbo state constituency, State of Osun, where he stood on his utility car in acknowledging the crowd that was cheering his presence.

Of course, the picture is real not photoshopped, but the narrative that accompanied it was misplaced, mischievous and in bad faith, because an Ejigbo indigene who loves Speaker Salaam and wanted to show it brought some packs of Lipton tea and Indomie noddles to him while his motorcade was passing through Ejigbo central enroute Oja Oba, the campaign venue.
Of course, Speaker Salaam accepted the good gesture and thanked his loyalist who donated his widow’s mite.
To our surprise, some faceless elements quickly brought the picture to the public with a view to slandering Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, because to the mischievous traducers, only a negative narrative could stop his governorship ambition. The bad news to the spin doctors of the narrative is that their antics is exposed and the intention is aborted before delivery.
Ordinarily, we ought to ignore the wicked intention of the narrator who is craving for relevance, but the record must be set straight for our supporters and sympathizers and no negative narrative about our Principal would derail his ambition as long as it does not stand in logic and facts.
This is to lay before the public that Speaker Salaam has put in his best to stabilize the state through stable House of Assembly in the last seven years; a synergy that has engendered unequaled development and conducive environment for business and peaceful coexistence.
In a nutshell, we emphatically stress that at no time was Rt. Hon. Najeem Folasayo Salaam throwing Lipton tea or Indomie noddles at people disrespectfully, because he loves his people and he respects them as his benefactors in politics.

Signed:
Goke Butika
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
State of Osun House of Assembly.

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said is set to sanction telcos who are performing below the industrial average with consistently poor service delivery.

Its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Dambatta, made the threat during an investigative session by the Ahmed Abu- headed House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee investigating activities of telecoms equipment, service companies and vendors in the country.

According to him, the key performance indicators (PKIs) of the NCC when applied to the services of the telcos showed that they were performing below par. This got to the highest level especially in the months of October, November, December 2016, he said.

“We invited the operators and laid bare what was happening to the quality of service which has degraded to unacceptable level,” he said, adding that NCC will be taking compliance action to compel the service providers to provide acceptable standard of service delivery.

“The NCC is going to impose sanction, and there will be ranking on the quality of service so Nigerians will know which to patronise,” he added.

He however noted that the service providers have complained of lack of infrastructure, denial of right of way and the dearth of foreign exchange to procure telecoms equipment.

While speaking on job losses in the sector, Prof Dambatta said though the Commission was concerned, its mandate does not empower it to dabble into labour issues. “ It’s outside the purview of the Commission. It’s regulated by a different Ministry, we liaise with the Ministry of Labour and Employment,” he said.

The chairman of the committee said the committee has already written to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ascertain the issue of repatriated funds by telcos and others.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige is also to appear before the committee to explain aspects that has to do with job losses in the sector, he said.

The committee is also mandated to investigate the audited accounts of all registered telecoms and IT companies; evidence of compIiance with statutory obligations, frequencies monitoring report for GSM and microwave as well as dropped calls.

http://thenationonlineng.net/ncc-sanction-telcos-poor-services/

Nigerian Governors And Transparent Governance By Uche Ezechukwu
Increasingly, especially with the emergence of the situation whereby technology and the social media are compelling openness and transparency on all the spheres of human endeavour, especially in the conduct of public affairs by the different strata of governance, government operatives at different levels are being roused to action. The social media, otherwise known as the people’s media, has placed the power to scrutinize in the hands of anybody who can afford a cheap phone that can access the Internet. So, public scrutiny – warts and all – is no longer the preserve of the haughty and privileged few.
The way things are today, nobody can escape the prying eyes of the public, especially as technology has democratized governance and the way the world views it. Hence, increasingly, some standard requirements of good governance have become both the accepted and expected norms for conducting the public affairs of nations and societies of the present time and of the future. It has become obvious that none can escape the current tendency and demands for openness and transparency.
In realisation of this fact, many people and bodies are coming up with initiatives that institutionalize the different and widely accepted and tested attributes of good governance that are applicable across the different global divides. One of such initiatives is the Open Government Partnership (OGP) which was formed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September 2011, when heads of state from eight founding governments (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States) endorsed the Open Government Declaration and announced their country action plans along with an equal number of civil society leaders, including the former managing director of the World Bank.

These eight founding members then welcomed the commitment of some 38 other governments to join OGP and since its creation, resulted in over 2,500 commitments made by 75 participating countries, covering a third of the world’s population. Significantly, Nigerian government under President Buhari has formally committed and signed up to the ideals and demands of OGP.
Because OGP provides a platform for reformers inside and outside of governments to fashion out initiatives that promote transparency, that empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance, it aims at securing concrete commitments from national and sub-national governments that drive open government reform and innovation in an effort to push countries and societies further in the direction and areas of transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. Significantly, OGP is a voluntary partnership that countries opt to join on their own accord without any external influences.
When I became aware of this initiative from some of my foreign friends, I never for a moment believed that it would become an initiative that would enjoy wide acceptance among African countries including Nigeria, following our legendary tendency for opacity in the conduct of public affairs. It was, therefore, with utter surprise that I learnt that members of the Nigeria’s governors forum – that voluntary forum that provides state governors the platform and opportunity to discuss issues of common interests – at the their April 17th meeting, unanimously agreed to commit and sign up to the Open Government Partnership Agreement, which means that they have, without any prompting, committed to running the affairs of their states on the basis of indices which include, but not limited to: fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, citizen engagement and providing greater access to information.

With the bashing and abuses which state governors have been subjected to on a regular basis, who would have imagined that they would, on their own, sign up to this international platform that commits them to all the things which they had been accused of standing against.
Naysayers would – for now - wish to adopt a ‘wait and see’ attitude, believing that the governors’ act was too good to be true, claiming that there is usually a canyon of difference between reality and statements. However, more positive observers, who claim that things are changing for the better across the different strata of the society, claim that a few indications seem to have borne out that the fact that the governors might, after all, be living true to their avowed commitment to the OGP agreement ideals, which they willingly agreed to adhere to. These observers point to such issues like the recent exchanges between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Right Hon Yakubu Dogara and the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai. When the speaker had challenged Governor el-Rufai to publish the details of his public spending, the governor had surprised the entire nation by the type of details he promptly volunteered, including the details of how he had disbursed his security vote, which was, hitherto had been adjudged to be beyond public scrutiny.
However, when the governor brought the challenge to the doorsteps of the speaker, he could only produce a payslip of the amount which was immediately scoffed at and dismissed by the public In fact most observers found it very amusing that the speaker could produce a document which showed that he earned about N340, 000 a month – amount which could not fuel the cars on his convoy for a week.
The fact that Mallam el-Rufai could submit his security vote to public scrutiny clearly showed that he had started abiding by his commitment to the OGP which he had willingly signed. There is no reason to assume that other governors, especially those in their first term, and thus desirous of public opinion for their second term desideratum, are not also exhibiting similar levels of transparency. A recent interview by the Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu revealed how he had brought the bailout funds from the federal government as well as the Paris-London Clubs refunds to the attention of labour leaders and other stakeholders who made their imputs on how the funds would be deployed.
With these and other similar examples in other parts of the country, it is becoming clear that transparency is returning to the states, without much fanfare.
Regrettably, there are still state governments that are still mired in the past misdeeds, with unpaid wages to workers and such other infractions, yet, unlike in the past, yet none of them seems to be proud of those lapses, which is a positive index.
There are many observers who are convinced that when the performance of states and those of the federal government are placed side by side, especially in the areas of welfare and provision of infrastructures, like roads, the federal government would come out as the distant second best. For instance, in most states of the federation, whenever you are driving on a smooth well-manicured roads, chances are that you are plying a state road. In a place like Anambra State, the only remaining bad roads belong to the federal government, even though the state government had undertaken to work on many of them that belong to the federal government and hope for later refunds.
Under a situation whereby the federal budget remains unpassed and unsigned five years into the year, resulting in a myriad of unfulfilled commitments of the government, people like Hon. Yakubu Dogara and his colleagues at the federal level should hasten to remove the logs in their eyes to enable them see and remove the specks in the eyes of the state governments.
There is no doubt that, in spite of what is happening in very few states, things have taken a steep trajectory for the better in most other states. Hence, rather than bash state governments, the federal institutions deserve to receive lessons from the state governments.

Took Nigeria out of recession
Approved N54b Calabar-Itu Rd
Increased Amnesty budget by N35b
Negotiated release of 82 Girls

Did PDP's called for Dan suntai resignation as Taraba state governor back 2013_2015? while on wheelchair he wasn't able to adress his people ,walk by himself He was mentally unfit to rule ...synonymous to what constitution describes as" insanity". It is childish for PDP to calls for President Buhari's resignation who's mentally sound , physically capable...to rule.PMB2023!

NCC Reads Riot Act to MTN,GLO others over Drop Calls




NCC Reads Riot Act to MTN, Glo, Others over Drop Calls

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has read the riot act to Mobile Network Operators, MNOs over the poor quality of service recoded on their networks in recent times saying the downward trend cannot be allowed to continue.

A source privy to the development revealed that the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Engineer Umar Danbatta handed down the warning to the MNOs and infrastructure providers at a meeting in the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

He was said to have noted that Quality of Service, QoS has worsened over time with monitoring reports from November 2016 to January 2017 showing deterioration in QoS and failure of operators to meet benchmarks.

The source who does not want to be identified because he is not the NCC official spokesperson quoted Engineer Danbatta as saying “We have anecdotal complaints from consumers that they are experiencing poor quality calls, while this is anecdotal our technical findings also showed deteriorating quality. So for the first time there is a convergence between what consumers are saying and what our technical people are finding out. So the QoS is really bad in the period from November last year up until now.”

Buoyed by its technical findings and the series of complaints from consumers, the NCC summoned the mobile network operators and their infrastructure providers to the meeting at which the Executive Vice Chairman warned that “it is not something we can allow to continue.”

According to the source, the NCC’s Chief Executive stressed that the regulator will continue to perform its role in the sector regulator while ensuring that consumers are protected especially in view of the Commission’s declaration of 2017 as the Year of the Consumer.

The Commission will henceforth periodically publish information on the quality of service offered by MNOs as part of measures to ensure consumers are not short-changed and to empower the consumer with regards to deciding on the operator to trust.

For operators, the technical report will provide the opportunity to know each other’s performances and to compete.

Telecoms consumers in Nigeria had complained about call seizures, drop calls, poor voice quality, voice freeze, wrong billing and other operators’ shortcomings that had caught the attention of the regulator.

MNOs however reportedly asked NCC to assist them in dealing with the challenges militating against their ability to deliver acceptable quality of service with the leading problem being damage to fiber optics cables better known as fiber cut in the industry.

Other problems identified by the operators at the meeting are the non-availability of foreign exchange to buy the needed hardware for expansion and network maintenance, illegal and arbitrary shut down of towers by various agencies and state governments, multiple taxation and lack of approval for building new base stations as well as challenges of power supply.

By Akeem Afegbua

Buhari Is committed

Buhari wasn't president when factories in Ikeja began browning off and selling their facilities to churches. He wasn't here when 80% of SME died away and the rest went on life support. Buhari wasn't president when landlords were being watched charging rent in US dollars and stores were selling in hard currency. Buhari wasn't president when wheat farming collapsed and Cote d'Ivore overtook us in Cocoa production. Buhari didn't destroy Iwopin paper mill or ALSCON in Ikot-Abasi, a single factory that at a point brought in 30% equivalent of what we got from oil. Buhari didn't take us from net exporter of oil palm products to lazy importers of the same. Buhari didn't make us importers of petrol and diesel nor is he responsible for killing of the textile industry. He didn't destroy our forest resources or run down power stations like Egbin until only three out of twelve turbines work. People shout policy but there is no policy that can transform a 'post-war' economic environment with the snap of the finger and government should just tell the people that this thing is what it is. Government also has to water down expectations on oil prices ever rising above 55 dollars because it is just not possible in the age of Shale and renewables. This nation is cornered and it has no choice than to reform it's lifestyles and go back to work. It has to reform it's justice system such that it can jail it's thieves and reward those who do things right. We are refusing to allow hardship nudge us in the right direction but prefer to explain our woes as a personal failure of Buhari to draft policy from sheer air. They were trampling people to death on job queues before he came on board. Where are your farms to save you from food importation or your refineries to save you from seeking dollars to import fuel? Where are your schools to educate your children without sending them to foreign universities when you can afford it? He isn't two years in control yet and I believe he deserves a little more understanding given the gradient of the point where he took over. Buhari met all these things that way, plus a devastating war that devoured the nation from a region and we have the choice of working with him to restore and rebuild the country or allow ourselves to get us into false sentiments and allow wolves in sheep's clothings take advantage of us to return us to the years of the locust. ‎

Buhari wasn't president when factories in Ikeja began browning off and selling their facilities to churches. He wasn't here when 80% of SME died away and the rest went on life support. Buhari wasn't president when landlords were being watched charging rent in US dollars and stores were selling in hard currency. Buhari wasn't president when wheat farming collapsed and Cote d'Ivore overtook us in Cocoa production. Buhari didn't destroy Iwopin paper mill or ALSCON in Ikot-Abasi, a single factory that at a point brought in 30% equivalent of what we got from oil. Buhari didn't take us from net exporter of oil palm products to lazy importers of the same. Buhari didn't make us importers of petrol and diesel nor is he responsible for killing of the textile industry. He didn't destroy our forest resources or run down power stations like Egbin until only three out of twelve turbines work. People shout policy but there is no policy that can transform a 'post-war' economic environment with the snap of the finger and government should just tell the people that this thing is what it is. Government also has to water down expectations on oil prices ever rising above 55 dollars because it is just not possible in the age of Shale and renewables. This nation is cornered and it has no choice than to reform it's lifestyles and go back to work. It has to reform it's justice system such that it can jail it's thieves and reward those who do things right. We are refusing to allow hardship nudge us in the right direction but prefer to explain our woes as a personal failure of Buhari to draft policy from sheer air. They were trampling people to death on job queues before he came on board. Where are your farms to save you from food importation or your refineries to save you from seeking dollars to import fuel? Where are your schools to educate your children without sending them to foreign universities when you can afford it? He isn't two years in control yet and I believe he deserves a little more understanding given the gradient of the point where he took over. Buhari met all these things that way, plus a devastating war that devoured the nation from a region and we have the choice of working with him to restore and rebuild the country or allow ourselves to get us into false sentiments and allow wolves in sheep's clothings take advantage of us to return us to the years of the locust. ‎

The orchestrated personal attacks, innuendoes, accusations and allegations being leveled against President Muhammadu Buhari by some interest groups including some senior lawyers over his alleged delay in the nomination of Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria is totally and entirely misplaced and wrong.

The opportunistic and self-serving campaign by some senior lawyers and groups is regrettable and unacceptable.

I make bold to say that President Muhammadu Buhari has not violated any provision of the Constitution as far as the issue of the appointment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria is concerned.

It is settled that Justice Ayo Salami was removed from office as President of the Court of Appeal on the 11th August 2011; late Justice Dalhatu Adamu was appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal by then President Goodluck Jonathan in August 2011. He held the office of President of the Court of Appeal in an acting capacity for 15 over months.

After 15 months as Acting President of the Court of Appeal the name of late Justice Dalhatu was not eventually recommended and to President Jonathan for nomination as the substantive President Court of Appeal by the National Judicial Council; rather the name of Justice Zainab Bulkachawa was recommended by the National Judicial Council and sent by the then President Goodluck Jonathan to the Senate on March 19, 2014, for confirmation.

Before then, Justice Zainab Bulkachawa was appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal by President Jonathan and was in office for almost one year before her name was sent to the Senate for confirmation as President of the Court of Appeal.

It follows that the Court of Appeal had an Acting President from August 2011 to March 2014; where were these senior lawyers who are now giving the impression that there had never any precedence over the appointment of an acting appointment concerning senior judicial appointments in the country then?

Some of the senior lawyers who are vociferous in the condemnation of President Muhammadu Buhari now were then members of the National Judicial Council, but they buried their heads in the ground like the ostrich!

It is misleading for these senior lawyers to create the impression that there has never been any precedence concerning the appointment of an Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

One time Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi was appointed Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria in January 2007 by then President, Olusegun Obasanjo before he was eventually nominated and confirmed by the Senate!

Where were these senior lawyers who are unethically and unreasonably trying to politicize the appointment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria?

On September 9th 2009, the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (as he then was) sworn into office Honourable Justice Dantshoho Abutu (as he then was) as the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court after the retirement of then Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Mustapha Abdullahi (as he then was) on the 4th September, 2009.

The appointment of Honourable Justice Dantshoho Abutu (as then was) as Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court was okayed by the then late President Umaru Musa Yaradua.

Are these senior lawyers now trying to lie to us suffering from amnesia? Or are they simply mischievous?

In so many States of the Federation, we had had these Acting appointments of Chief Judges of these States. Presently in Enugu State, the Chief Judge is in acting capacity!

Gladly Honourable Justice Onnoghen has wisely and maturely issued a statement disassociating himself from these unwarranted and needless campaign and attacks on the person of President Buhari by these self-seeking and opportunistic meddlesome interlopers.

One would have expected these senior lawyers to meet and discuss with the learned Honourable Attorney General of the Federation or even the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the matter (who is also a senior lawyer and much-respected voice in the country legal circles) but they are unfortunately and busy grandstanding and trying to further desecrate the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria by politicising it!

Charles Taylor ,the former President of Liberia gave a word of assurance to his supporters at his 69th birthday that he never abandoned them despite being in prison.

Taylor who was convicted on 11 charges including terrorism, rape, murder and the use of child soldiers by rebel groups in neighbouring Sierra Leone during the 1991-2002 civil war, in which some 50,000 people died.

The former president who is currently serving a 50-year sentence for war crimes in a British prison. An Act of Parliament was passed to allow for Taylor to serve his sentence in the UK, at the cost of the British government, following his conviction.

On the day of his 69th birthday which was on Saturday , Taylor sounded defiant as he rallied troops: “Whether you are a brother or sister, whether you are a friend or acquaintance, Charles Ghankay Taylor can never, ever turn his back on the NPP. The NPP group grew out of the NPFL; that’s my life, this revolution is my life; it will always be my life.”

The NPP recently entered into a coalition with Senator George Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change, which officially became the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

Senator Weah recently handpicked Jewel Howard Taylor (NPP, Bong), the former first lady as his running mate, sealing the coalition ticket that will contest the 2017 presidential elections.

His merger with the former president and picking the former first lady, has shown clearly that Senator Judge Weah is ready to return Liberia to the Taylor's style of government.

What Liberia needs is progressive minded people that will take the country to a greater height from where it is now than people adopting the old and unfavorable pattern of government that makes many suffered.

Some people glamourize regret as if regret is a virtue or an endowment. All some posers need to do to remain relevant on social media is to say they regret voting Buhari. Others less imaginative ask, “Is this the change we voted for?” Whenever I hear these, I am reminded that loyalty is a high-price commodity.

What are you regretting? IF you really voted “Change”, what did you have in mind? Instead of reveling in your ignorance, should you not be ashamed that you lacked the basic understanding of what you espoused? At your age and with your level of education you still dance to every beat? Shame!

This is the “Change” I campaigned and voted for. From inception, I know real, lasting change comes at a high cost and discomfort. Have you ever attempted to change your life, weight, values or complexion? Did it come cheap or easy? Why do many people fail to live up to their New Year resolutions? Genuine change at any level is tough and cruel at first. Nigeria will not be an exception.

What happens when corporate organizations decide to change processes and procedures in the workplace? It is usually resisted because most people prefer the status quo. Corporate changes like mergers, acquisitions and reconstructions create imbalance and uncertainties in the concerned entities. I know a man whose workforce reduced by 75% when he restructured (or effected change in) his company. Today, the same man is shouting his voice hoarse that Buhari’s change is draconian and insensitive. Hypocrite!

How do we become self-sufficient in food production? The answer is simple: make heavy investments in agriculture and ban importation of foods that deplete our foreign reserve. Take rice for instance. As long as there are no restrictions on the importation of rice, local farmers will not grow rice and our exotic taste buds will not be retrained. If I were Buhari, I would put a total ban on the importation of rice.

Take cars, fabrics and wines (and spirits) for another instance. Something drastic needed to be done about our appetite for cars, clothes and wines. The cumulative costs of importing this trio into Nigeria consumed a substantial share of our foreign reserve. Buhari says NO. He argues that if you must use these imports, then be ready to pay a premium price for them. This is simple logic and economics. This is especially so since global oil price has dwindled and tempers are high in the Niger Delta.

Goods are more expensive in Nigeria today because Buhari insists that most of the products we import can and should be produced locally. By so doing, he has flung open unending investment and job opportunities for Nigerians especially. While reserving limited foreign exchange for some critical sectors of the economy, Buhari is urging them to make hay while the sun shines. Buhari is CHANGING the way we live, and the pains we now experience are his instruments of CHANGE. You can only take it, but you can’t reject it.

Why is Buhari putting these strategic restrictions on our consumption patterns? If you are PDP or a hater, these restrictions are to punish Nigerians. But to the dispassionate observer, Buhari’s stance is the most effective route to Nigeria’s escape from economic doldrums festered by inordinate importation of all and every product. Some countries in Asia, Africa and North America have provided infallible precedents to what Buhari has set out to do.

What has happened so far? Buhari is in a mad hurry to fix the refineries. About 6 states are now producing rice in commercial quantities. Cross River state has almost completed what is arguably the largest textile mill in Africa. Buhari is challenging Nigerians to introspect and unleash their creative geniuses. Unfortunately, politics is providing a distracting counter-intuition to these breath-taking developments.

Where will Nigeria be in 10 years if we continue (or forced to continue) to look inwards? Imagine what will happen if we continue to produce a larger chunk of what we eat, wear and drink. Imagine when Aba, Sokoto, Nnewi, Kano, Ondo, Osun, Benue and Nasarawa turn natural endowments into skills. Imagine when our universities and polytechnics wake up. Imagine when our industries and blue-chip companies begin to produce. Only a bold step like Buhari’s CHANGE will give form to these imaginations.

If you did not understand Buhari’s change, it is not Buhari’s fault. Regretting voting Buhari says so much about your character. Asking “Is this the change we voted for?” is the clearest indication that you must never be taken seriously again. You are a plastic supporter, and we will not need you in 2019.

The curtain fell on the 22-year-reign of The Gambia strongman Yahya Jammeh Saturday night when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s leased Falcon 900 flew Jammeh and his family from the capital Banjul into exile.

Jammeh, his wife Zainab, mother and son Mohammed all wore mournful looks as they were being ferried out of Banjul into exile, according to sources close to the flight.

The four of them and Guinean President Alpha Conde were the only passengers on the leased jet, safe for the crew.

A cargo aircraft provided by the President of Chad, Mr. Idris Deby, was seen ferrying at least seven exotic cars, including Rolls Royce and Sports Utility Vehicles for the exclusive use of Mr. Jammeh, who is now in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, shortly after a brief stop-over in Conakry, Guinea. President Conde of Guinea reportedly disembarked before Mr. Tinubu’s jet headed to Malabo, where Mr. Jammeh will, in the meantime, spend his post-office life as the guest of another sit-tight dictator, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

Besides the persuasive last-minute efforts of Conde and Mauritania’s President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz, it was important that there was an aircraft on ground to complete the mission.

Conde in whose custody Tinubu’s leased plane was came in handy.
Considering the tension the Gambian crisis had generated, Tinubu was reluctant to allow the trip. Eventually, he agreed after assurances that the aircraft would only be used to ferry Jammeh and his family into exile.

For Tinubu, the facilitation of the restoration of peace to The Gambia was paramount.

Contrary to a wild and unsubstantiated allegation that stolen monies were ferried out of the country on the flight, investigations by Bola Tinubu’s Newspaper, The Nation revealed the following.

“No such happened,” one of the sources said. “In fact, it was impossible for looted monies to have been taken away on an aircraft that was in public glare. The radar of the international media, security forces and Gambian people was on the aircraft.

“It is practically impossible to load millions of dollars on the plane. In any case, no money was loaded into the plane, safe Guinean President Conde, Jammeh, his wife, mother and son,” the sources said.

There were rumours that Jammeh took with him some $11 million. A BBC report said the cash was allegedly taken after Jammeh lost the December 1 election and Saturday. It did not say that it was taken in one tranche and flown out in the flight last Saturday.

The curtain fell on the 22-year-reign of The Gambia strongman Yahya Jammeh Saturday night when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s leased Falcon 900 flew Jammeh and his family from the capital Banjul into exile.
Jammeh, his wife Zainab, mother and son Mohammed all wore mournful looks as they were being ferried out of Banjul into exile, according to sources close to the flight.
The four of them and Guinean President Alpha Conde were the only passengers on the leased jet, safe for the crew.
Besides the persuasive last-minute efforts of Conde and Mauritania’s President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz, it was important that there was an aircraft on ground to complete the mission.
Conde in whose custody Tinubu’s leased plane was came in handy.
Considering the tension the Gambian crisis had generated, Tinubu was reluctant to allow the trip. Eventually, he agreed after assurances that the aircraft would only be used to ferry Jammeh and his family into exile.
For Tinubu, the facilitation of the restoration of peace to The Gambia was paramount.
Contrary to a wild and unsubstantiated allegation that stolen monies were ferried out of the country on the flight, investigations revealed otherwise.
“No such happened,” one of the sources said. “In fact, it was impossible for looted monies to have been taken away on an aircraft that was in public glare. The radar of the international media, security forces and Gambian people was on the aircraft.
“It is practically impossible to load millions of dollars on the plane. In any case, no money was loaded into the plane, safe Guinean President Conde, Jammeh, his wife, mother and son,” the sources said.
There were rumours that Jammeh took with him some $11 million. A BBC report said the cash was allegedly taken after Jammeh lost the December 1 election and Saturday. It did not say that it was taken in one tranche and flown out in the flight last Saturday.

The video clip of the exchange between the Oyo governor and the protesting students of LAUTECH now gone viral is one part of a running long script. The encounter does no justice to both the governor and the student. First the governor because in the last 4 months no one has done more to make sure funds are sourced to ensure the university reopen. He was in fact the first of the governors to announce in October that despite a lean purse he has his own share of the contribution ready. Osun insisted it had no funds. Thus the school remained shut. In September still concerned about the fate of the university Ajimobi quietly set up a 6-man fact finding team to get to the root of the LAUTECH problem with a view to forestalling similar long shut out. It was this proactive effort that gave fillip to the renewed effort to reopen the university. Thus, the recent announcement that both Oyo and osun states have agreed to pull together 500 million. Ajimobi promised that by February 1st or thereabouts the university will be open.
Thus if there was any of the two governors who worked relentlessly behind the scene to resolve the LAUTECH crisis and return the students to school, it was Gov. Ajimobi. Of course not all of his efforts can be revealed but he sure was key to the resolution. Therefore to want to judge him by the single video or incident is both unfair and unacceptable in a civilized society.
Yes, staying home for over 8 months is both harrowing and frustrating for the students and their parents it should be no excuse for brazen rudeness. Their should be no subsidy for bad behavior for both the students and the leaders.
The students protest was wrongly timed and their unruly posture uncalled for. If their unruliness and protests could provide the funds to open the school that would have happened since. To behave the way they did within the period when their problem was being addressed frontally and the reopening of the school weeks away shows lack of tact and a bit of lack of discipline.
For the defenders of the students, pray why do we think they must always be right ? In our days as student unionists things were done differently. Not in this manner. We know that it's easy for a protest to be infiltrated. We know that some of the student protesters also tend to go overboard. For Gods sake, if you take your case or protest to the door steps of a governor, the least you can do is to lay your case and give the other side a chance to speak. It's important to hear each other out. The Governor lost his cool. But who wouldn't ? I am also wondering what was it that the governor said that has earned him so much attack and abuse ? Are we saying his right to speak to the students as a father and elder should be taken away because the students are Angry ? The governor does not deserve the volume of Attacks he is getting simply for using a language many feel he should not use. Perhaps If Ajimobi had gotten down on his feet to beg the students or simply locked himself up in his office without coming out to see the protesters these attackers and the students would have being happier. May be. Just may be.
Does it mean the students are always right and should always have their rants and unruly behavior excused when it occurs ? This pack mentality that we have is worrisome. An Internet or social media war against the governor will do the students more harm than good. The right of the students to be angry and frustrated should not be a license to unleash verbal attacks on the governor. It is transferred aggression. And in most cases it is counter productive. There is no winner or looser here. Let the tempers cool. And let the gates of LAUTECH be swung open. And let Governor Ajimobi be. This is my tuppence.

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI: THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD
THEOPHILUS UTCHAYCHUKWU Wrote:


1 No doubt we are going through hard times as a nation. PMB is slow and steady and we all want change like magic. That notwithstanding, CHANGE IS HERE.

2 For example, on Saturday, March 15th 2014, the then government of Goodluck Jonathan invited over 7 million Applicants for 4000 jobs, in the most fraudulent manner lacking in standards. Eventually, 16 innocent people died.
3 But today, Buhari's Government gave out 200,000 jobs using the E-method of application, and no casualty recorded.
That is CHANGE

4 Despite that we are under recession, Buhari is paying seven years pension arrears, employing 200,000 graduates at cost of 6bn naira monthly, and with 300,000 soon to follow.
That is CHANGE

5 Despite the recession, Buhari has released
N700 billion for capital projects to reflate the economy,
N150bn for women entrepreneurship development,
N30 Billion for Lecturers' Allowances and CBN is giving 3 each to graduate entrepreneurs.
That is CHANGE

6 Buhari implemented The Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy that past leaders were afraid to implement because it will expose their corruption.
That is CHANGE

7 Buhari Increased to 30% CAPEX and Infrastructural Engagements Nationwide.
That is CHANGE

‬8 The Army under Buhari has fought Boko Haram to a standstill,
rescued some Chibok Girls,
sanitized Areppo,
forced Niger Delta militants to negotiation,
thought IPOB and MASSOB how to observe the rule of law.
The untouchables like Tompolo are in hiding.
Those who thought they were bigger than Nigeria have understood otherwise.
Gani Adams, Dokubo Asari, Uwazuruike, Ateke Tom and their likes now know the limit of their shenanigans.
Even Nnamdi Kanu is secretly negotiating for freedom.

9 Non of our territories are under the control of non state actors. At best, all that those COWARDS can do is to secretly go and bomb our pipelines or send suicide bombers to IDP camps. They are all afraid to confront the army under Buhari.
That is CHANGE

10 Buhari is unwavering in his Anti-Corruption War. We are getting results that have surpassed all of the results of former regimes put together.

11 Today, the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and over 26 retired and serving Army Generals are facing trial. That was unthinkable in the past. And their civilian counterparts are not left out. With hooligans like Obanikoro, Olisamethief, Fani-KayoStole and the rest returning stolen monies and judicial criminals being arrested the battle is getting set.
That is CHANGE

12 Come to the energy sector, there are many ongoing Power Projects that will over time make Nigeria energy sufficient. Buhari has a policy of Energy Mix, which will ensure that the sabotage of power infrastructure in the Niger Delta is tackled . That is CHANGE!

13 Other regions of Nigeria have identified energy sources that will make them independent of Niger Delta gas. Today wind and sun energy are being harnessed from North East and North West, Coal in the South East, Hydro power North Central and the rest. In no distant future, one of Buhari's ambitious power projects, Mambilla 3,000 plant will gush energy with ease. That is CHANGE.

14 All these compared to I6 wasted years of past administration in energy sector. These other administrations spent over 36 billion dollars and could not generate 3000 megawatts. Meanwhile China spent 25 billion dollars in eleven years to generate 22,000 megawatts. Meaning that given the same time Buhari has achieved a great feat.
That is CHANGE

15 By 2018, all our rice consumption needs will be locally met. Tomatoes and many others too.
That is CHANGE

16 How about National Railway interconnectivity project and the Recent $2.2billon GE PPP agreement.

17 Many federal roads are being constructed.
Contractors who have not been paid since 20I2 have started receiving their cheque
The construction of Second Niger Bridge is under way,
Calabar to Lagos rail, Lagos to Kano rail, Ibadan to Lagos rail and many other ambitious projects that will restore Nigeria to it's former glory are being undertaken by Buhari.
That is CHANGE!

18 Buhari banned 41 Items in the Forex list to help boost local production and protect naira. If you cannot take advantage, that is your fault. This ban is in your interest.
And that too is CHANGE!

19 Subsidy removal was to stop the elite from robbing you of the money we need to develop.
Past administrations refused to do it because they were beneficiaries and they lack the moral rectitude to do it. Only and incorruptible man like Buhari could stand up to those elites who were the beneficiaries of it.
That is CHANGE

20 Despite organized sabotage by corrupt politicians and other ignorant elements in our society, Buhari is trudging forward.
Although, President Buhari needs to speed things up and he needs to restructure our systems and bring about true Federalism that will help component units become productive and useful to the whole.

21 Nobody can fix Nigeria in one day. Even God believe in process, he is not in partnership with magicians. Buhari has not solved all our problems, but we are making progress. Don't let your hate becloud your sense of value judgement.CHANGE IS HERE.

REPLY TO RENO's HALF TRUTHS


Reply By Osita Okechukwu

On Christmas Day of 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted leading citizens of the Federal Capital Territory led by the minister of the FCT, Muhammad Bello, and during the visit he returned to his old habit of blaming and said, and I quote, "there was no money saved, no infrastructure built, and power is still our main problem."

Reno: This is patently untrue and without mincing words, President Buhari lied.

Former President Jonathan left $2.07 billion in the Excess Crude Account when he handed over to President Buhari on May 29, 2015. He also left Foreign reserves of $29. 6 billion for the incoming government in May 2015.
Osita: This is true when we remember that on May 6, 2010, ex-president, His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, inherited Excess Crude Account of $17 billion and over $60 billion in Foreign Reserves and left $7 billion Joint Venture Cash debt to International Oil Majors (IOC) and $11 billion foreign debts, many state governments in salary and sundry debts and local debt of uncountable figures. Indeed Nigeria by all accounts was dangerously sliding into a failed state, halted by gallant Nigerian voters.
Reno: If ex President Jonathan left no savings, with what money did President Muhammadu Buhari use to bail out those states that could not pay salary (mostly APC states) after he assumed office in May 2015? Of course the Central Bank of Nigeria did not print money! That money came from somewhere.
Osita: The bail out to states - $2.07 billion = 0. True!
Reno: On Tuesday the 26th of July, 2016, President Buhari commissioned the $1.457bn Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail project. This was a project built and COMPLETED by the Jonathan administration. It is a 187 kilometer railway that enables Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. Is this not infrastructure?
Osita: Abuja-Kaduna standard rail project if we recall was initiated by ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was not completed and Jonathan continued, and Buhari completed it. If Jonathan had completed as Reno, the only man standing on behalf of Jonathan, which is commendable, why is it not listed during the presidential campaign as one of the political capitals of the regime? Why was it not commissioned even by Madam Peace, Her Excellency, Mrs Patience Jonathan WHO was very active?
Reno: The only federal university in President Buhari's state is the federal university Dutsin-Ma was built by former President Jonathan who also built 11 other federal universities in Zamfara, Yobe, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Bayelsa and Ekiti states.
Osita: New Federal Universities named across the federation, including Dustin-Ma Yes! Built No!

Reno: By building 12 new federal universities and 165 almajiri schools and renovating 507 additional secondary schools all over Nigeria through the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Jonathan administration not only increased access to education, the policy also had the intended side effect of putting hundreds of thousands of youths to work which stimulated the economy and contributed to GDP growth. Are these not infrastructure?
Osita: these are no doubt infrastructure, but built to what level and what in actual sense is the outcome? Were we not advised in school to measure the outcome of every investment made?
Reno: To prove that former President Jonathan prudently and judiciously developed all parts of Nigeria, I will now list, state by state, the infrastructure that the Jonathan administration invested in every state of Nigeria. I challenge President Muhammadu Buhari to contradict me.
Osita: Ladies and Gentlemen, lets pay attention please! To know whether Nigerian voters referendum on the Jonathan's performance is wrong?
Reno: In Abia, Jonathan completed power plants in Aba and Alaoji and reconstructed and reopened Ohafia barracks to stem kidnapping.
Osita: Hope Geometric Power Plant in Aba is not listed, for it is a private venture pioneered by Professor Barth Nnaji during Obasanjo regime. Alaoji is also an Obasanjo pioneered project, over invoiced by Jonathan regime. Details later.

Reno: In Adamawa Jonathan constructed 5 Almajiri schools and the NAF Comprehensive Sec School and a Terminal at the Yola airport.
Osita: Huge infrastructure indeed, for five good budget years for Adamawa State. Five years of unprecedented oil revenue, yet no federal roads, no agricultural projects etc.

Reno: In Anambra Jonathan completed Onitsha River Port, repaired Onitsa-Owerri Rd and kick started the process of the 2nd Niger Bridge.
Osita: yet to locate neither the completed Onitsha River Port nor any ship berthing there. Methinks this is one of the half or false truths dished out to captive audience by Reno. The 2nd Niger Bridge still stands as one of the Jonathan's biggest scams. We may recall Jonathan during the 2011 presidential campaigns proclaiming at Onitsha that the 1st Azikiwe, meaning the great Zik of Africa of blessed memory, completed the 1st Niger Bridge and that the 2nd Azikiwe, meaning himself will complete the 2nd Niger Bridge. It was a hilarious proclamation digested and used effectively to garner millions of votes in the South East region.
In February 2014, Jonathan after a rally at Owerri, where he received some prominent political decampees, like an Emperor touring his kingdom, he flew to Onitsha to confer with the Obi of Onitsha, Agbogidi, Igwe Alfred Achebe, a cerebral royalty. To his chagrin His Royal Majesty after some pleasantries reminded Jonathan who thought that yesterday is gone and that people have short memory, of the 2nd Azikiwe promise. Hell was let loose as he was thoroughly humiliated. As a counter pose they quickly coupled a an over invoiced PPP arrangement, which deferred 360* with the construction of a similar bridge, Owete Bridge, which was awarded under federal budget and about 80% completed.
Reno: In Akwa Ibom Jonathan established a new Federal Polytechnic in Ukana and the Nkari Earth dam and rehabilitated FG rds.
Osita: established as hinted before is far wide from completion. On federal roads, as a road master, I know for one that Aba- Calabar, Calabar-Uyo, Ikot Ekpene-Umuahia etc are in a very bad shape, until recently when Buhari re-mobilized the contractors. Rehabilitated federal roads fall squarely into Reno False Truths.
Reno: In Bauchi Jonathan equipped the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital Bauchi and built 5 Almajiri schools.
Osita: this not the kind of project expected by the good people of Bauchi nor is it commensurate to the heavy support given by the then governor Isa Yuguda and Bala Mohammed at big risk.
Reno: In Benue Jonathan is building the Loko-Oweto bridge, completed the Makurdi Water Supply Scheme supplying to 1 million people.
Osita: this is the only truth in this whole propaganda thesis.
Reno: In Borno, Jonathan has fought desertification with the Great Green Wall Project and rehabilitated the Uba – Mbalala Road. He also set up the Presidential Initiative for the Northeast and the Victims Support Fund which raised ₦59 billion for the Northeast. Interestingly, it is from this PINE that a certain Babachir Lawal is accused of pilfering ₦270 million from.
Osita: Jonathan either by omission or commission allowed Boko Haram insurgents to dislodge Borneo State and indeed the North East region. In fact some pundits posit that the tepid approach was deliberately guided on the firm belief that opinion over the disaster will favor the regime. Whether true or false, the hard fact is that insecurity bedeviled infrastructure in the region during the period under review.
Reno: In Cross River Jonathan rehabilitated the Margaret Ekpo Int’l Airport and Modernised the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
Osita: what of dredging of Calabar port or Ibaka deep sea port, is it not possible to add them, assuming that the teaching hospital and the Expo airport were actually completed.

Reno: In Delta Jonathan has taken Itakpe-Ajaokuta-warri railway to 80% completion and kick started the $16B Gas City Project at Ogidigben
Osita: why 80% for rail line that was over 60% on May 6, 2010, when he became executive president? Can Reno tell us how much did Jonathan administration invest in the Ogidigben Gas City Project? One is yet to locate any project completed in the Niger Delta or anywhere else.
Reno: In Ebonyi Jonathan established the Fed University in Ndufe – Alike, repaired over 250km of roads and built power substations.
Osita: Established continues!
In Edo Jonathan completed the Ihovbor power Station, reconstructed the Benin-Ore-Sagamu and equipped UBTH.

In Ekiti Jonathan established the Federal University in Oye – Ekiti, and repaired hundreds of kilometers of Federal Rds.

In Enugu Jonathan gave the S. East their first International Airport and revived the PH-Enugu rail line.

In Gombe Jonathan established the Federal University in Kashere and built 5 Almajiri schools.

In Imo Jonathan rehabilitated the Sam Mbakwe International Airport and completed power stations and built sub stations. #GEJisworking.

In Jigawa Jonathan established the Federal University in Dutse, built 5 Almajiri schools and built silos.

In Kano Jonathan revived the Lagos-Kano rail, built 5 Almajiri schools, renovated the MAKIA Int’l Airport and built silos.

In Kaduna, Jonathan has just completed the Standard Gauge Kad-Abj rail that enables you work in Abuja and live in Kd.

In Katsina Jonathan established the Federal University in Dutsin-ma, built 5 Almajiri schools and multiple silos.

In Kebbi Jonathan established the Federal University in Kalgo, built 5 Almajiri schools and multiple silos.

In Kogi Jonathan established the new Federal University in Lokoja, and completed the Geregu power plant.

In Kwara Jonathan revived Jebba-Kano & Ilorin–Offa rail lines, built Almajiri schools, ongoing reconstruction Ibadan Ilorin Rd.

In Lagos Jonathan revived the Lagos-Kano rail, introduced inter city air conditioned diesel trains and is rehabilitating MMIA.

In Nasarawa Jonathan established a new Federal University in Lafia and rehabilitated the Lafia–Makurdi Rd.

In Niger Jonathan dredged River Niger up to Baro, Baro Port at 95% completion, Zungeru power plant ongoing.

In Ondo Jonathan completed and commissioned the 500 MWs Omotosho Power Plant Phase 2 & renovated the Akure airport.

In Ogun Jonathan rehabilitated the Sagamu-Ore road as well as the Ijebu Igbo Ajegunle–Araromi–Ife-Sekona Road (Section II).

In Osun Jonathan re-equipped OAUTH, constructed silos, built power substations, repaired Efon Alaaye-Erinmo Ijesha-Iwarga Rd.

In Oyo Jonathan is reconstructing (not repairing) Lag-Ibadan Rd and has commenced constructing the Lag-Ibadan hi-speed rail.

In Plateau Jonathan repaired the Vom-Manchok Rd, construction of earth dam in Heipang and power substations.

In Rivers Jonathan revived the PH-Enugu Rail, Rehabilitating the PH International Airport & upgraded Uniport Teaching Hospital.

In Sokoto Jonathan is fighting desertification with the Great Green Wall and built 5 Almajiri schools.

In Taraba Jonathan established the Federal University in Wukari and constructed the Kashimbila Multi-Purpose Dam Project.

In Yobe Jonathan established Fed University of Gashua, Almajiri schools & Gashua–Hadejia 132KV double circuit trasnsmission line.

In Zamfara Jonathan established the Federal University Gusau, built multiple Almajiri schools and constructed silos.

Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California, author of Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God and Why Jesus Wept and the host of Transformation with Reno Omokri
Osita: Ladies and Gentlemen, established infrastructure dominated Reno's check list and as I posited earlier instead repeating myself like a broken gramophone record, let's ask Reno, if all he eloquently listed are true, how come Jonathan lost the election? Are Nigerians so wicked or backward that they fail to view election as a referendum on the performance of the incumbent?

AMOSUN POLITICAL CHEST BEATING.

Governor Amosun exploded at the meeting with House of Assembly and National Assembly members... Boasts about contesting the Senate and emerging the next Senate President, reveals how votes were bought in Ondo & hints on how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be disgraced before 2019!!!

Hard facts have emerged about the meeting which was held about two days ago at the governor's office between the Governor, his OGHA and NASS members. It was reliably gathered that the incumbent governor in Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun bragged about his 2019 senatorial ambition where he revealed that he is under severe pressure to contest as the senator representing Ogun Central senatorial district a position which is currently held by Senator Lanre Tejuoso.

In his words, the governor was quoted as saying "I am under enormous pressure to contest for the Senate seat of my senatorial district. I said to myself, I can't be anything less than a number 3 when I go back to the Senate. I might not contest and I might contest. Even Tejuoso that is seated here might recontest and might not recontest. The same goes for Micky and others here"

These words shocked Senator Tejuoso who was also seated at the meeting according to the source at the meeting.

The governor also bragged about how votes were bought in the just concluded gubernatorial elections in Ondo state and promised to repeat such feat in the 2019 elections in Ogun State. In his words, the governor said " we were just laughing at the likes of Asiwaju when they budgeted N100,000 per polling unit. Unknowingly to them, we brought in N1m per unit. I got the money out from Abuja and we will repeat same in Ogun come 2019.

I am concerned about just 7 local governments. The 5 in Ogun central, Sagamu and Ado odo ota. I am prepared to spend N1bn in Sagamu, N1bn in Ado odo ota then N2bn in Ogun central. That "Ladi has no brain" (in yoruba). No matter what we do, that drug boy buruji will beat us in some part of Ogun east while that fool from Lagos will control the other 4 local government in Ogun west"

The governor was oozing massive confidence at the meeting and revealed that he was aware of underground moves to the camp of Tinubu from within his government. The governor said (in yoruba to be precise) "we are aware of the moves by some of you but if I get to know you have gone public with such moves, you are finished"

The governor hinted about the plans to create crisis for Asiwaju Tinubu in Lagos APC. The governor said in his words " Even Lagos will go out of Asiwaju's grip. We will bring in few PDP to decamp to APC and cause them problems (laughter) you don't know anything. You can go ahead and tell them o, I don't care"

None of the house of assembly and National Assembly members uttered a word throughout the meeting as they were all in shock.

Meanwhile the source within that gave this information is waiting for the government to deny this exclusive story before making the audio file public....

SOURCE......RELIABLE.