₦airaland Forum

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, said on Tuesday night that the November 2013 defection of five governors from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress was a major factor determining the APC’s victory in the last general elections.

Chairman of Progressives Governors forum and governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha delivering his address at the dinner.
Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers States joined the APC after staging a walk out on the PDP national convention in Abuja.
Speaking at a valedictory dinner organised by the Progressive Governors Forum, and held in honour outgoing governors, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Messrs Kwankwaso, Amaechi and Wamakko, Mr. Okorocha said “make no mistake about it, without the five Governors that joined the APC in 2013, we would not be here today”.
The Imo Governor, who is also the chairman of the PGF, said the five governors took an enormous risk given what he described as a “vindictive” Federal Government.
He cited the example of Mr. Nyako, who was impeached by the Adamawa State House by the Adamawa State House of Assembly over allegations of gross financial misconduct in June 2014.
Many believe that the impeachment was prompted because Mr. Nyako had written a scathing letter to President Jonathan accusing the Federal Government of carrying out genocide against the people of the North East.
Mr. Okorocha said by coming to the APC, the governors transformed “a fledgling opposition into a national political movement”.
“…The moment the PDP lost five Governors was the moment it lost the presidency and its planned 60 years in power,” he said.
Also speaking at the occasion the National Chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, said the outgoing governors raised the bar for their newly elected colleagues by their performance in office.
He urged their successors to exceed the standard they have set.
Mr. Oyegun said in less than two years of its formation, the APC had succeeded in winning the presidency, more states and controlling the majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“From 14 Governors we now have 22 and God told me we will end with either 24 or 25″.
“I cannot say how proud I am to lead a party that has made history,” Mr. Oyegun said.
He told all the elected officials in the gathering that Nigerians expect a lot from them and that the APC is taking over at a period of intense challenge. “This nation has been run aground,” he said.
He reminded them that not only Nigerians, but the whole world supported change in the country. Mr. Oyegun urged the elected officials not to waste time in tackling the challenges in the country because “the whole world would be watching us as from May 29″.
Also, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, said the outgoing Governors by their performance have given the incoming administration an agenda to pursue.

He also paid tribute to the five Governors saying their movement to the APC greatly enhanced the fortune of the party and led to the defeat of the PDP.
“They chose the difficult path, rather than the easy way out,” Mr. Atiku said.
The former VP also advised the APC to learn from the mistakes made by the PDP.
He said the party has no option than to perform.
“We must be open and transparent, not like the PDP, we must avoid winner takes all, greed, arrogance, impunity and corruption, ” Mr. Atiku said.
A national leader of the APC and former national Chairman of the defunct ANPP, Ogbonnaya Onu, said although the challenges before the party are enormous, the calibre of the officials gives him the confidence that the party will not only meet, but exceed the expectations of Nigerians.
Mr. Onu said Nigerians have already began adjusting to the disciplined way of life that is about to come.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Tuesday demanded an explanation from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on how $20bn that allegedly accrued to the Excess Crude Account was disbursed.

The forum, in a statement issued at the end of a four-hour meeting of the NGF which ended in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja, said the sum was paid into the ECA between June 2013 and April 2015.

“In the light of the fact that funds in the ECA were last disbursed in May 2013, there is a need for the minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, to provide explanations for accruals to this account from June 2013 to April 2015 which is estimated at over $20bn,” the NGF said.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who read the statement, also announced that the NGF had reconciled and reunited as a single umbrella association of the 36 state governors regardless of region.

He said, “The induction programme for new and returning governors will be held in June 2015.

“It is also aimed at equipping new and returning governors with the knowledge of global best practices for establishing and running their offices.”

Amaechi added that the meeting resolved to establish a Governors’ Forum Academy to be christened, “The NGF Leadership Academy.”

According to him, the academy will be responsible for capacity building of governors and other persons holding public offices.

The forum congratulated the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, for winning the March 28 election and President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat.

Amaechi, whose tenure as the NGF governor has expired, unveiled Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, as his successor.

Yari emerged as the new chairman by consensus. He is to serve for one year – May 2015 to May 2016. But Okonjo-Iweala, described the NGF’s claim that $20bn accrued to the ECA in less than two years as baseless.

She said in a statement by her Special Adviser, Communications, Paul Nwabuikwu, that the demand was “totally strange” because issues relating to the management of the ECA were usually discussed by the state commissioners for finance at their monthly Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meetings.

She said since the commissioners were representatives of their respective governors at the meetings, there was no basis for the demand.

The statement reads in part, “It has come to our attention that governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum have requested that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance should account for an estimated $20bn oil revenue from the ECA from June 2013 to April 2015.

“There is no basis for the demand and the stated amount. The statement by the governors is totally strange because FAAC meets every month and the ECA is discussed at every session with all the state Commissioners of Finance present.

“Nothing is hidden. At these meetings the Honourable Minister of State who is the Chair of FAAC announces the balance in the ECA which is then discussed.

“So governors who want any information about the ECA should ask for details from their Commissioners who should have the records of what was discussed and agreed upon. Details of the ECA are also published every month along with the allocations to the three tiers of government.”

The minister said the governors’ reference to June 2013 in their statement was probably because the National Economic Council last met in May 2013.

This, she added, was “immaterial because the FAAC meetings during which the ECA and similar issues are discussed have generally held regularly every month.”

The minister said that Ameachi had made a similar “unsubstantiated allegation” in November 2013 that $5bn was missing from the ECA only to be informed that Rivers State got N56.2bn from the account.
Okonjo-Iweala added, “It is interesting that Governor Amaechi who was reported to have read the communique on behalf of the governors made a similar unsubstantiated allegation in November 2013 that $5bn was missing from the ECA.

“We subsequently showed with facts that not only was the amount not missing, Rivers State received N257.6bn from the Federation Account between January and October 2013, the second highest among the states, of which N56.2bn from the Excess Crude Account was a part.”

“In the interest of transparency and accountability, and to throw more light on this issue’’, the statement said ‘‘the Federal Ministry of Finance will publish details of the ECA for the last four years within the next few days.”

9jatatafo:
Jail is waiting because no one to speak for the man except himself. One should think carefully of his or her decision before making any move. 5 minutes pleasure will become imprisonment for this cab man.

onosprince:
castrate him or send him to indonesia make dem fire am

Ujupsy:
Indonesia candidate better go face firing squad

By Esther Onyegbula
LAGOS—Operatives of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department are currently battling to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of a 20-year-old girl, who died four days after she was employed as a maid by a couple at Mafoluku area of Oshodi, Lagos.
The maid, identified as Josephine Naarop, a native of Plateau State, was employed on April 2 to assist her employers (names withheld) to take care of their household chores, including a set of twins delivered less than three months ago.
It was gathered that prior to her employment, her employers informed her relatives, John Gwelding and Mark that they would subject Josephine to series of medical test to determine if she was medically fit for the job.
Vanguard gathered that among the test she was made to undergo were HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and pregnancy.

Tests results
At the end of the tests, which were carried out on April 5, she was discovered to be HIV and Hepatitis negative, but was discovered pregnant.
Vanguard learned that Josephine’s employers called on her relatives to notify them of the development and that they could no longer allow her to work with them.
It was learned that the next day, at about 2p.m., one of her relatives, identified as Mr. Luka King, came to take her back, since they no longer had need of her services.
When Luka got to the residence of the employers, he reportedly found Josephine rolling on the floor of the sitting room, writhing in pains and vomiting.
He called the attention of her madam, who was at home and they rushed her to a nearby hospital.
It was gathered that when they got to the hospital, Josephine was not admitted as the doctor on duty discovered that she was already dead, so he advised them to take her remains to the mortuary, which they did.

A relative’s reaction
One of Josephine’s relatives, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “We really do not know what happened. We cannot say what exactly happened to her because when my brother, Luka, got there, she was in a terrible state. So she could not talk, let alone reveal what was wrong with her.
“She was hale and hearty when she came to their house and pregnancy does not kill. Her employers said after they came back from the tests, she did not leave the house. If she did not leave the house, the idea of her aborting the pregnancy is not possible.”
Although her employers denied having anything to do with her death, the case is currently being investigated by the state criminal investigation and intelligence department, Yaba, Lagos.

ikombe:
den ya nose aint wide enough

9jatatafo:
The woman is at fault too, I do agree with you but it is only the living man that will face the music. It is a very sad development

9jatatafo:
I am speechless. But that driver is something else, a lady asked you for assistance you wash for her and take her home. Also for the police, do autopsy and save yourselves from investigation that will not going anywhere. Oga driver in this, two things are very sweet to a man, money and woman but let's learn to control our taste.

While urging Falana to live up to the meaning of his name by minding his own business,

ikombe:
Major reason why i am still a virgin

According to the President-elect, what is more worrisome is the fact that the military had to rely on South African machinery before it could gain recent success in the war against Boko Haram.

FROM NOAH EBIJE, KADUNA

President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has expressed displeasure over what he described as the military’s inability to secure the lives and property.

Buhari said his administration will maintain prudence by ensuring that people live within their means.
He spoke in Kaduna yesterday when members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) visited him, noting that his government will promote fiscal discipline and tackle insecurity, unemployment and corruption.

Buhari, who received the delegation behind closed-doors, lamented that, “the military has never been so incapacitated like now, It is a shame that the military cannot secure 14 local governments out of the 774 in the country.
According to the President-elect, what is more worrisome is the fact that the military had to rely on South African machinery before it could gain recent success in the war against Boko Haram.
He said: “My administration will concentrate on three major areas on assumption of office these are insecurity, economy, unemployment and corruption. We will ensure we nip the insecurity in the bud.”

“The Nigeria Army could not do small thing, they have to bring in South African machinery to enable them record the recent gains in the North East,” the Buhari said.
The morale of the security forces will be raised. The military is incapacitated; it is a shame that the military cannot secure 14 out of 774 local governments.
“I don’t know how many of you know this. I got to know about it few days ago that the recent game in the North-East was because South African mercenary were used.”
Buhari also assured that, the incoming administration will pay more attention to the needs of the ‎ thousands of people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

Speaking on governance, the President-elect said his administration will ensure that every Nigerian lives within his earning, adding that, “a situation where people live above their earnings will not be tolerated. “The President-elect said multi-party system was the best form of government in which elected leaders were made to be accountable to their people. “In this system people will be forced to perform because if they don’t, they will be voted out.”

Earlier, ACF Chairman, Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, told Buhari about the major problems facing Nigerians of recent.

“The level of decay, the collapse of our moral values and level of corruption, crime, unemployment, impoverishment of the citizenry in general and our rural populace in particular, and the near disregard for human life have never been manifested as in the last six years,” he said.
According to him, the North-eastern region was devastated by Boko Haram while energy crisis had continued to destabilize economic growth and development.
He said that the current arrangement whereby the positions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) were regarded as superior to ministers in hierarchy was “against the principle of accountability in governance.”

Ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the All Progressives Congress-led government in the country, the roadmap for the policy direction of the Muhammodu Buhari–led administration would be unveiled during a two-day policy dialogue holding in Abuja on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Policy dialogue themed: “Implementing Change: From Vision to Reality” is being organised by the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Deputy Head of the Directorate and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the President-elect, Mohammadu Buhari, would declare open the dialogue which would be chaired by Vice President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo.
Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is the keynote speaker at the dialogue where input to the roadmap for the actualisation of the policies of the incoming administration would be made by experts drawn from different fields and members of the public.
Mr. Abdullahi identified the core areas of focus in the two-day dialogue to include the economy, governance, job creation and security in line with the APC manifesto for change.
He added that topics for discussion include: “Improving the National Economy for Shared Prosperity”; “Repositioning Agriculture for Job Creation and Economic Prosperity”; “Developing Infrastructure for National Development”; “Achieving Sustainable Reforms on Oil/Gas Sector”; “Reducing Inequality and Achieving Sustainable Human Development”; “Achieving Holistic and Sustainable Reforms in the Education Sector”; “Developing and Education System Relevant to Nigeria’s Developmental Aspiration”; “Achieving Qualitative and Affordable Healthcare”
Others include “Achieving Diversity and Inclusion in Public Life”; “Exploring Sports, Tourism and Creative Industry for Job Creation”; “Governance and Improved Efficiency in Public Service”; “Tackling Corruption in Public Sector” and “Foreign Policy and Agenda for Change.”
Some of the speakers and discussants expected at the dialogue include Ifueko Omogui-Okauru, former Chairperson of the Federal Inland Revenue Service; Dr. Rilwan Babalola, former Minister of Power; Dr. Tajudeen Umar, former Country Chair, Nigeria –Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority; Prof. Niyi Ayoola Daniels, President International Institute for Petroleum Energy Law and Policy; Tunde Ahonsi, Resident Representative UNFPA, Ghana; Major-General Ishola William (rtd).
Others include : Prof Pai Obanya, Chairman WAEC; Dr Ayo Teriba, CEO, Economic Associates; Prof. Bolaji Aluko, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke; Prof Mohammed Tabia of the Department of Islamic Law, Bayero University, Kano; General Abdulrahman Dambazzau , former Chief of Army Staff; Prof Ibrahim Gambari, former Nigerian Permanent Representative, United Nations; Fola Arthur-Worrey, former Solicitor-General, Lagos State; Bolanle Onagoruwa, former Director-General BPE; Wale Fapounda, of Legal Resources Consortium; and Prof Etannibi Alemika, Chairman, CLEEN Foundation.
The programme will also mark the winding down of activities of the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the APC Campaign Council, Mr. Abdullahi added.

texazzpete:
Funny bayelsa governor.
Talking long and hard about Democracy and rule of law, yet blaming the man who won the majority vote fair and square because he didn't step down.

All this complaining about imposition...I almost forgot it was the same man that brought Dame Patience as permanent secretary of a ministry she had not participated in for more than a decade, over hardworking and better qualified civil servants.

ElFenomeno1:
Thank you....

chuna1985:
I'm still asking u, do u spend 180 naira daily to run ur life ur last answer has nothing to do with my question.





Also as u can see here, poverty was reducing in Nigeria under GEJ ---- http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/economist-agrees-world-bank-report-nigerias-poverty-reduction-level/

THE World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, yesterday, at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings restated that Nigeria is one of the top five countries that has the largest number of poor. Nigeria, he said ranked third in the world while India ranked number one with 33 per cent of the world poor.

.
.
.
. the vast numbers of the poorest – those earning less than $1.25 a day
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/440695/

anigold:
Brother Tribalism cant move the country forward..

The last election was characterized by Tribal-voting...
And They Hypocrites saying GEJ is the most corrupt Leader must have been born around 2007.
BECAUSE they were 3 dudes called Abacha,Ibb and Obasanjo .These three musketeers are the worst thing to happen to this entity called Nigeria..
THE havoc these 3 folks caused has put Nigeria in perpetual darkness and backwardness.

Lets hope General Buhari can do atleast 5% of his campaign promises...

It was learnt by our correspondent on Sunday that the EFCC authorities decided to step up the investigation at the twilight of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration whose disposition towards the subsidy fraud and other corruption cases, sources said, did not encourage the prosecution of the suspects.

www.punchng.com/news/efcc-reopens-subsidy-fraud-cases/

“When they brought Tunde (Adekambi) later, I lied that he was a gang member. At SARS too, I initially insisted that Tunde was one of us because I did not want to be punished alone. But after a few days, I decided to tell the truth. So, I told the police that Tunde was innocent.

chuna1985:
I know u don't understand lots of things.

1 dollar is 200 naira , are u telling me that u will eat 180 naira today? That u will equally transport, pay for rent, pay for schooling n medical bills with 180 naira per day...

omenka:
You must be very naïve.

PassingShot:
Did you read the part that says they needed the president approval which was not forthcoming?

GEJ is the most corrupt president in Nigeria's history. Happy we sent him packing.

Bennymontana:
. I really hate it when people really think it was their vote against the PDP that made them lose? Pls stop deluding yourself with such myopic Views!