₦airaland Forum

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek foreign assistance from the United States, US, and other foreign countries in tackling the herdsmen menace in Nigeria.

The call was made by IYC President and Secretary, Eric Omare and Henry Iyalah, respectively, in an open letter to Buhari.

The council also warned of a likely breakdown of law and order in the country ahead the 2019 general election if the Federal Government failed to deal with the herdsmen menace.

According to IYC, “We urge Mr. President to use your foreign trips, including your trip to the United States, to seek support to stop the menace of herdsmen’s persistent killings and ensure free, fair and credible elections and not support to win election for yourself.

“The interest of the generality of Nigerians should be uppermost in your mind over and above your personal ambition to win re-election as President, in the interest of peace and security of our country, Nigeria. We also hope that you will not tell President Donald Trump that Nigerian youths are lazy.”

IYC also faulted the alleged manhandling of Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye by police officers.

The body said the alleged “Gestapo” treatment of Melaye was seen as a “strategy to silence opposing voices in the build up to the next general elections.”

Recall that Melaye was alleged to have jumped off a police van in Abuja while being transported to Kogi State to face criminal charges.

Following the incident, the lawmaker sustained injuries and is currently at the intensive care unit of the National Hospital in Abuja.

However, IYC alleged condemned the alleged ill-treatment meted at “political players” by security agencies.

The council added, “Mr. President, the IYC is concerned by the rising political tension in Nigeria arising from the treatment of some political players by the security agencies.

“It is highly condemnable that people who express opposing views to your administration are being harassed and maltreated.

“The hallmark of democracy is the right to hold an opinion and where this right is absent, then democracy is dead.

“The treatment being given to political figures such as Senator Dino Melaye and others is highly unacceptable and condemnable.

“The insinuation in the public is that the Gestapo treatment is part of your strategy to silence opposing voices in the build up to the next general elections.”

More stories here...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/30/herdsmen-killings-ijaw-youths-advise-buhari-on-what-to-request-from-donald-trump/

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has responded to critics who are awaiting the expiration of his tenure in 2018.

Fayose speaking on Channels Tv said that those waiting for him would wait in vain, while boasting of his achievements.

“Those waiting for me (after leaving office) would wait in vain.

“I am Peter, the rock. I am telling you again, those waiting for me will wait in vain.

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

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

More Stories here...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/30/fayose-sends-strong-message-to-those-waiting-to-prosecute-him-end-of-his-tenure/

The presidency yesterday compared Nigeria’s relations with the United States of America under the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations, saying that unlike his predecessor who denied Nigeria deserved support in the fight against terrorism, President Donald Trump has been very supportive since he assumed office.

President Muhammadu Buhari who will be meeting Trump today for bilateral talks, arrived Washington D.C. yesterday at about 8.35 a.m. Eastern time and was visited by a pro-Buhari group which stormed the Blair House, the official guest house of the U.S. president, with placards in support of his government’s fight against corruption and Buhari’s re-election bid.

Blair House is also used as the residence of the U.S. president-elect before moving to White House.

Speaking with journalists at Blair House yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said US-Nigeria relations had recorded remarkable progress since Trump assumed office.

Shehu also said the meeting between Trump and Buhari would focus on security, especially on the fight against terrorism, describing the meeting as symbolic.

“He is the second African head of government to visit the Trump White House and this is a pointer to two important things. One is, no matter how Nigerians take our own country, this is hugely an important country and this recognition is being manifested in this visit.

“But it is important to know that beyond the symbolism of the visit, there are important matters affecting both countries that will be placed on the table when the two presidents meet.

“We have the understanding that the two delegations have their agendas clearly spelt out and there will be interest and focus on matters of security and safety, focus on trade and investment, and focus on democratic developments in our country.

“It is important that cooperation between the two countries have manifestly increased under the Trump presidency.

“If you recall sometime back, the president had reason to openly complain that we were not receiving as much as we thought we deserved in terms of support and cooperation, especially in our fight against terrorism back then during the Obama presidency.

“And it will seem that quite dramatically and interestingly, a lot of the obstacles are being removed under the Trump presidency and doors are being opened and we are receiving far more support than most people had expected,” Shehu said.

On the solidarity rally by some Nigerians in the diaspora for the president, Shehu said: “It was a very pleasant development and this tells you that America is a totally different clime. There is a deep appreciation for the work the president is doing for our country.”

Leader of the solidarity group, Wale Adewoye, said: “We are here to support the president. When we came, we were over 150 people but because of the cold and people needed to go back to work, people left.

“We realised that there was a lot of damage done to the county and when Buhari came to power, he tried at least to stop corruption in Nigeria, he is still working on it, it is not easy.

“So we just felt that we should support him in our little way, to encourage the government and let them know that we are behind him to support him.”

On the trip to the U.S. with Buhari are the governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, his counterpart in Plateau State, Simon Lalong, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Monsurat Sunmonu and her counterpart in the House of Representatives, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje.

Also on the trip are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar.

The delegation was received by the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Sylvester Nsofor, among other officials of the Nigerian mission in Washington D.C.

More Stories Here...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/30/presidency-trump-more-beneficial-to-nigeria-than-obama/

As Nigerian asylum seekers flood into Canada across a ditch in Upstate New York, Canadian authorities have asked the United States Government for help, but not with managing the influx at the border.

Instead, they want U.S. immigration officials to reduce the foot traffic by screening Nigerians more stringently before granting them U.S. visas.

It is a ripple effect that few expected last summer when people, mostly Haitians, began to walk into Quebec via an “irregular” border crossing north of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and seek refugee status.

With the coming of spring, the flow has picked up again. But recently, the asylum seekers have been mostly Nigerian, and their route to the border is more problematic, Canadian officials say.

Many Haitians had lived in the United States for years before suddenly learning they would lose their protected status and fleeing north.

But many of the Nigerian asylum seekers are arriving in Quebec with recently issued U.S. visitor visas, a spokesman for Canada’s immigration minister, Mathieu Genest, said.

“They’re not using the visa for the reason it was intended for,”he said.

Canada is not asking U.S. officials to refuse entry to Nigerians, Genest said, adding that it was only seeking stricter screening to ensure that Nigerians who are granted U.S. visitor visas truly intend to return home.

The request is an unsurprising one between two countries that have collaborated for decades on migration-related matters.

But it also is a sign that Canada is feeling new pressure on its borders as U.S. immigration and refugee policies shift.

Mary Chukwuwuekezie, who walked into Quebec with her three children in November after staying in the United States for 11 months on a visitor visa, said conditions in Nigeria were worsening.

“They kidnap and burn houses. They’ll even burn a church,” she said.

But it has never been easy for Nigerians, or many other asylum seekers, to enter Canada to lodge a claim in the first place, partly because of its geography.

No one can officially enter Canada from the United States as a refugee claimant because of the Safe Third Country Agreement, which forces people arriving in either country to make their claim where they first land.

Last year, however, a way around that became apparent, when news organizations and past border-crossers on social media publicized the locations of Canada’s unofficial land crossings, opening an opportunity for Nigerians.

“If your final destination is Canada, you’ll want to walk across the border,” Proctor said.

The State Department says that it has “strong working relationships” with Canadian colleagues and that screening is constantly improving, but it isn’t planning any bigger changes to its visa program.

“National security is our top priority when adjudicating visa applications,” a department representative said in a statement.

“At this time, we have no changes to our visa application process to announce.”

The United States has also become less appealing to Nigerians as a place to stay rather than to pass through, they say.

Many took personally two comments reportedly made by Trump, one last June about Nigerian immigrants going “back to their huts” and another in January about African, shole countries.

Winning U.S. asylum claims has become much harder, as well.

The approval rate dropped 26 per cent from 2016 to 2017, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services statistics compiled by Human Rights First.

The Washington-based group’s Director of Refugee Protection, Eleanor Acer, said Canada was well aware that, for many people, the only way to claim asylum in any country was to get a visitor visa first.

“It’s shocking and disappointing that they are trying to encourage another country to deny visas to people who are, in some cases, legitimately seeking protection from persecution,” she said.

As a signatory to international conventions, Acer said, Canada should open its doors further and “actually terminate its Safe Third Country Agreement. If the United States is simply not meeting that standard, given its harsh treatment of asylum seekers.”

Canadian officials have said they are not looking to abandon the agreement, although last week, they struck a slightly different tone.

Given the current numbers of asylum seekers, “we have contingency plans,” Genest said.
“That being said, we are constantly in conversation with the U.S., making sure that the Safe Third Country Agreement is working for both countries.”

Many of Canada’s new asylum seekers may end up disappointed. Of asylum claims processed last year, a minority of the total awaiting adjudication, more than half of the Nigerians were rejected, a significant jump from the previous three years, and nearly three-quarters of the Haitians were rejected, up from about half.

More Stories Here...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/30/be-stringent-over-visas-to-nigerians-canada-tells-us/

The Nigerian presidency on Sunday said the United States of America under the Barack Obama failed to provide the necessary support for the country in the fight against terrorism.

But on the contrary, the presidency said President Donald Trump has been very supportive of Nigeria’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram since he assumed office.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Former U.S President, Barack Obama
Making this assertion yesterday at Blair House, Washington D.C, the Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said US-Nigeria relations had recorded remarkable progress since Trump assumed office.

He spoke ahead of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Trump on Monday for bilateral talks.

Shehu also said the meeting between Trump and Buhari would focus on security, especially on the fight against terrorism, describing the meeting as symbolic.

“He is the second African head of government to visit the Trump White House and this is a pointer to two important things. One is, no matter how Nigerians take our own country, this is hugely an important country and this recognition is being manifested in this visit.

“But it is important to know that beyond the symbolism of the visit, there are important matters affecting both countries that will be placed on the table when the two presidents meet.

“We have the understanding that the two delegations have their agendas clearly spelled out and there will be interest and focus on matters of security and safety, focus on trade and investment, and focus on democratic developments in our country.

“It is important that cooperation between the two countries have manifestly increased under the Trump presidency.

“If you recall sometime back, the president had reason to openly complain that we were not receiving as much as we thought we deserved in terms of support and cooperation, especially in our fight against terrorism back then during the Obama presidency.

“And it will seem that quite dramatically and interestingly, a lot of the obstacles are being removed under the Trump presidency and doors are being opened and we are receiving far more support than most people had expected,” Shehu said.

In 2015, Obama gave military supports to countries like Chad, Niger, Mali, but did not Nigeria despite being neck-deep in fighting Boko Haram.

The United States, at the time, said the support was to help shore up the security of the three French-speaking African nations that share borders with Nigeria but excluded Nigeria.

Similarly, the former President Goodluck Jonathan also accused the United States of not providing sufficient support for its fight against Boko Haram.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/30/presidency-obama-failed-nigeria-in-fighting-boko-haram/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has chided President Muhammadu Buhari over his claim in Bauchi that he is sure of winning the 2019 Presidential election.

The party noted that the claim shows the President is not reading the mood of Nigerians who are only waiting for 2019 to show him the exit door. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party hinged the President’s optimism on what it termed the planned manipulation of the electoral process by the umpire in favour of the ruling party.

“It is indeed unfortunate that President Buhari cannot read the clear handwriting on the wall, even as demonstrated by the scanty attendance of his Bauchi rally on Thursday, where he boasted about winning the 2019 elections.

“We know that the President and his handlers are banking on manipulating the electoral processes to foist themselves back to power by depending on their blood relation in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to assist in providing data of underage voters in Katsina, Kano states and some other porous areas of the nation.

“What President Buhari has failed to come to terms with is the uncompromising resolve of Nigerians across the country, particularly the youths, to resist any form of rigging in 2019,” the statement read in part.

The PDP also lampooned the Commander-in-Chief’s handling of the mindless killings in the land, stressing that rather come up with immediate solutions to the security challenges, the President was thinking only of his re-election bid. It added: “It is shocking that in the face of colossal failure of governance leading to hunger and starvation, ethnic division, bloodletting and killings in our land, Mr. President is more concerned about a selfish agenda of foisting himself on a people who have become despondent of his leadership.

“This is a leader who came into office on the plank of promises of fighting insurgency and corruption as well as guaranteeing economic prosperity.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/27/nigerians-are-only-waiting-for-2019-to-show-buhari-the-exit-door-pdp/

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday publicly confirmed his intention to seek a second term in office in next year’s presidential elections, recalling that he had contested for the nation’s plum job several times in the past but lost.

This happened at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, the Bauchi state capital, where the President, who is on a two-day official visit to the state, addressed a mammoth crowd.

Recall that the President had about a fortnight ago before departing to London ahead of 2018 CHOGM told the National Executive Committee members of his party – the APC – that he would be seeking re-election in 2019.

The President’s declaration was announced by Governors Simon Lalong, Nasir El-Rufai and a presidential aide.

Confirming his decision to seek re-election, Buhari told the Bauchi crowd, “When I came into power as a military Head of State during the military era, there was nothing like insurgency in the North East, although I re-contested several times during the democratic era and lost. I contested again in 2015 and God in his infinite mercy, gave me victory.

“I have already made my intentions known to Nigerians that I will still contest again in 2019 and I’m happy for the support you are already giving to me today,’’ the President told the people.

He said further, “I contested election for the first time, second and third times, but lost. I said good and contested election again for the fourth time and won. I am telling you, I am going to contest election again for the seat of president and I will win because I have never been found wanting.

“I served as a president, governor and chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), but never looted the treasury like Nigerian past leaders, who own 20 to 30 houses, while some Nigerians cannot afford one room to sleep in.”

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/27/2019-buhari-speaks-on-why-he-will-win-again/

President Muhammadu Buhari with APC Governors
EXCLUSIVE: How APC governors clashed, tackled each other at party meeting

Heated arguments broke out among All Progressives Congress’ governors during a strategy meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The governors held the meeting to discuss the party’s upcoming national convention and election of new party executives.

Party insiders told PREMIUM TIMES that the politicians also discussed the lingering controversies over the major candidates for the chairmanship position.

The seat is being hotly contested by the incumbent John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State.

Our sources said halfway into the meeting, which held behind closed-doors late afternoon, serious confrontation erupted amongst the governors, first over the upcoming congresses.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt the party is planning to send officials to monitor congresses from outside their home states. Typically, state governors are allowed to send names of party members that they want to serve as officials during the congresses to the national headquarters.

The party’s convention committee is planning a modality that would randomise the posting of thevnominated congress officials, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. This would mean that congress officials nominated from Gombe State could end up officiating in Kogi State or another state further south.


Akeredolu takes on Okorocha

But this arrangement appears unacceptable to some governors, especially Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Mr Okorocha said officials must not be posted out of their states. He threatened to act decisively should the officials he nominated be posted out of his state.

But Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State interjected, and called Mr Okorocha’s bluff. He said Mr Okorcha cannot do anything because he is not above the party and whatever decision the party ultimately takes would be biding on all its members. He challenged the Imo governor from threatening violence on the party and its members.

Other governors present eventually intervened and calmed frayed nerves.

Ajimobi, El-Rufai clash over Oshiomhole

As the meeting progressed, Mr Okorocha again sparked controversy when he said President Muhammadu Buhari had endorsed Mr Oshiomhole as the next chairman of the party.


Mr Okorocha said the president made the statement when they held a meeting with him earlier in the day.

But Governor Nasir El-Rufai who was amongst the governors who visited the president said Mr Okorocha’s claim was not true, our sources said.

Mr El-Rufai said the governors and the President would give all candidates equal support in the course of their campaigns.

But that was immediately countered by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State who accused his Kaduna counterpart of double-dealing.

Before that meeting at the APC secretariat, Mr. El-Rufai was believed to be one of Mr. Odigie-Oyegun’s major backers. In fact the APC chairman believed the Kaduna governor was pushing his case vigorously with the President.

But Mr Ajimobi pointedly declared at the meeting that he and Mr El-Rufai met at the residence of Mr Oshiomhole on Tuesday night and wondered why the Kaduna governor continued to pretend that his loyalty remained solely with Mr. Odigie-Oyegun.

Mr Ajimobi said Mr El-Rufai pledged loyalty to Mr Oshiomhole and assured him of victory at the convention. Messrs Oshiomhole and Odigie-Oyegun are from Edo State.

Based on the party’s internal arrangement for its upcoming convention which said all slots must remain as they are, the chairman would have to emerge from Edo State.

While Mr Oshiomhole’s has covered huge ground in his quest for the chairmanship of the party, there are indications that some governors are still opposed to him because of his alleged connection to Bola Tinubu, an immensely influential figure in the party.

Mr Oshiomhole is widely seen as a candidate of Mr Tinubu. But governors like Mr Akeredolu who have political axe to grind with the former Lagos governor are heading for a showdown with him at the convention, our sources said.

Bolaji Abdullahi, a spokesperson for the APC did not return PREMIUM TIMES’s requests for comments Thursday night.

Protecting party’s image


One other issue that was a subject of intense bickering amongst the governors was on how to properly time their party’s upcoming activities in a way that would not portray the leadership as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Source : https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/266428-exclusive-how-apc-governors-clashed-tackled-each-other-at-party-meeting.html

Confusion yesterday marred the planned defection of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, erstwhile chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as stakeholders from his native Borno State blocked him.

Nevertheless, some of Sheriff’s associates in the PDP from other states were welcomed into the APC at the national secretariat of the party yesterday.

Among those who were welcomed were Senator Hope Uzodinma from Imo State and Senator Gbemi Saraki, younger sister of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Senator Teslim Folarin, Ahmed Gulak, who served as political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan among other allies of Sheriff were welcomed to the APC.

Sheriff was, however, not seen around the national secretariat to be welcomed into the APC as had been planned for yesterday.

His absence Vanguard gathered followed strenuous efforts made by APC members in Borno State who had protested his bid to re-enter the party from the national level. Sheriff who was a pioneer member of the APC had left the party shortly after formation for the PDP and eventually became the national chairman of the opposition party.

His exit from the APC followed irreconcilable differences with his onetime political protéstopgée, Governor Kashim Shettima who he had vowed to stop from returning to power in 2015.

Giving fillip to the move from the Borno APC stakeholders, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abudullahi, in a statement, yesterday, said; “Our attention has been drawn to reports in some sections of the media that the former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress APC today (Thursday) at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

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

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

Sheriff, a founding member of APC had reportedly left the party due to what he described as ill-treatment at the party’s national convention in 2014. Reacting to the development in a statement in Abuja, Borno state APC chairman, Hon. Ali Bukar Dolori, said Sheriff was only trying to fly a kite by announcing his intention to join te party.

“We have read news on the Social Media yesterday evening and in some National dailies this morning, that the former Governor of our State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff will be received by our National Chairman today at the Headquarters of our great Party.

“I want to assure you that the news remains rumour because somebody is only trying to fly a kite, that is capable of causing dangerous confusion during the State Congresses in Borno State.”

The defectors were welcomed by the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha and other senior officials of the party.

Welcoming them yesterday, Odigie-Oyegun said they had come at the appropriate time as he said the party was about to commence congresses saying that they were free to join the process. He nevertheless asked them to go to their respective wards to formally join the party.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/27/borno-apc-blocks-sheriff-as-folarin-uzodinma-gulak-gbemi-saraki-gada-others-defect-to-apc/

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, a former caretaker committee Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will rejoin the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today.

It was gathered that Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State and three term senator, will return along with PDP’s 2015 gubernatorial candidate in Borno State, Alhaji Gambo Lawan.

Daily Trust quoted the APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, as confirming that Senator Sheriff would be received formally into the party today.

“The information I heard is that it will be tomorrow (today) at 12(pm),” he said.

That the event will take place in Abuja and with no officials of the party or government in Borno state is indicative of the problem that lies ahead.

“The president had also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha who is also from the North East to be part of the event.

“But because of the two important meetings yesterday, the reception for Sheriff and others could not hold but it would definitely take place tomorrow (today),” he said.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/26/ali-modu-sheriff-joins-apc-today/

Ahead of the 2019 General elections, the 24 state Governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress have unanimously endorsed President Muhmmadu Buhari for a second term in office.

The governors gave the endorsement after a meeting with the President on Tuesday night

Their backing comes less than a month after the President declared his intention to seek another term in office.

No other member of the ruling party has declared interest in running for Presidency and Buhari is expected to pick the party’s ticket for the February 2019 polls.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said, “We came to welcome the President back and to commend him for his boldness and courage to declare his intention to run for second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which we the 24 governors of the APC duly support.

“And we have come to encourage him that he must go ahead with his vision.”

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/25/apc-governors-endorse-buharis-re-election-bid/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called for the regulation of campaign finance of political parties in the country.

Mr Paul Atser, INEC Administrative Secretary in Kwara made the call on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day training workshop on Campaign Finance Tracking and Reporting for INEC staff.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Newsmen report that the zonal workshop was attended by INEC staff in North Central states comprising Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Atser agreed that money and other resources were required for the running of political parties and for candidates and aspirants to fund their campaign.

“However, in a society such as ours, there is the need for regulations to be put in place to regulate the undue influence of money in politics,” he said.

The administrative secretary said it would also prevent subversion of the will of the people through the use of money.

Atser expressed worry about the overbearing influence of money in politics as exemplified in some recently conducted elections.

“The creation of Campaign Finance Tracking unit in the Department of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) is part of efforts at tracking this worrisome trend.

“The provisions in this regard in the Constitution, I believe, have been well thought of in order for stakeholders to uphold the supremacy of the constitution,” Atser added.

He said that INEC had been charged by the constitution to monitor political campaigns and provide rules and regulations which should govern the conduct of political parties.

“The commission is also charged with the responsibility of monitoring the organisation and activities of political parties, including their finances.

“It is in the light of this that the workshop is significant particularly as it relates to the monitoring of political parties’ finances,” Atser said.

He said campaign finance tracking and reporting would curtail money laundering, provide level playing ground for all parties and ensure accountability and transparency.

“It will also curtail the use of state resources to unduly support or undermine a particular political actor or party.

“It is, therefore, a welcome development that the capacity building of INEC staff is being embarked upon for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the law as it is in the Constitution, Electoral Act and guidelines for political parties,” Atser said.

Prof Antonia Simbine, National Commissioner in Charge of Election and Party Monitoring, in her address, said the commission did not have enough capacity to carry out the monitoring of campaign finance.

She however, said that INEC would collaborate with other agencies of government like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), ICPC, EFCC and CBN to effectively track campaign finances.

Simbine said that the constitution provided a limit to campaign fund during election, adding that every elective position had a limit to which they could spend for campaign.

The National Commissioner expressed the hope that whatever INEC was able to track and report during elections would be forwarded to relevant government agencies and took the next step in the discharge of its duties.

She noted that there was a lacuna on what should happen to report of campaign finance, adding that it was the responsibility of INEC to track and report them.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/25/inec-wants-political-parties-campaign-finances-regulated/

The ‘looters lists’ released by the Federal Government contained names of people from whom government recovered assets from, Prof. Bolaji Owasonoye, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), has said.

Looters Owasonoye said in an interview with the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that they were not people who had been convicted.

He said: “The public has been saying we want to know the people from whom you have been recovering assets, not necessarily the people who have been convicted.

“And the government put out information to say we’ve recovered assets from these people and then there is this hullabaloo.

“Now, as you know, one of the very successful areas of government anti-corruption agenda is in asset recovery.

“Some by court proceedings, many by voluntary returns. People know that investigations are going on, it would get to them, they voluntarily release money”.

“We know as a fact that people come and say look, the way this thing is going is coming to me, I want to return money. So that’s what is going on”.

According to him, however, people think that you can only mention somebody’s name who has been convicted.

He wondered why people’s names from whom assets were recovered, though pending prosecution, felt their names could not be included.

“The government has not said these are the people that have been convicted. “Of course, the fact that you called them looters; if people return assets for which they cannot account beyond their legitimate means, how do you explain that situation?

The PACAC scribe said the Federal Government had not described the list as those who had been convicted or those who would be convicted.

“It’s a list of those from whom public assets have been recovered; that’s it. My understanding is that government released the list of people from whom assets have been recovered.”

He said Nigeria and the entire international community recognize that corruption was the singular most destructive obstacle to development.

He regretted that the people did not know that the reason the country was not making progress was because of different shades of corruption.

“The reason there is no drug in the hospital, schools are not functioning, roads are not good, unemployment is high, extraction resources are not adding value, is because of corruption.

“So if you don’t deal with it, how are you going to take care of your governance and development aspiration. You have to deal with it,” he said.

Owasonoye said a number of major infrastructure development projects that had been abandoned or were not making progress in the years of boom were now making progress in the years of scarcity.

“Whether it is road project, power project, rail project, water projects, they are all over the place but nobody is looking at that; in the years of boom, they were abandoned.

“If you look at the budgetary process over the years, some of those projects have appropriations for them every year for like 10 years but they never moved up to 10 per cent.

“In three years under President Buhari, some of those projects have moved up to 40, 50 60 per cent of progress and there is scarcity,” the PACAC scribe said. (NAN)

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/25/looters-list-contains-names-of-people-fg-recovered-assets-from-owasonoye/

Following the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari which drew both negative and positive arguments from Nigerians, the senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, Ben Murray Bruce could not be left out from airing his opinion in the topical issue.

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and President Muhammadu Buhari Recall that President Buhari had in a Commonwealth Business Meeting said that, “We have a very young population; our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million.

More than 60 per cent of the population is below the age of 30. “A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free.”

Many Nigerians have condemned his statement, noting that Nigeria’s youth are the most hardworking group of people in the world. Some of them gave instances of many Nigerians who are doing great in their respective professions like, Doctors, Nurse, Journalism, Engineering etc all over the world.

Some critics whose views trailed media include; Ex-media aide to Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Pastor Reno Omokri, Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Sunny Onuesoke.

Aligning his views with the above critics, Senator Ben Murray Bruce said that President Buhari forgot how those he called Lazy Youths voted for him under the scorching for change. But instead of delivering his campaign promises, he delivered chains on Nigerians.

Nigerian-Youths

His words, “Instead of finding out why young Nigerian professionals are emigrating in droves to countries like Canada, President Buhari calls them lazy.

“The ironic thing is that many of them queued up for hours under hot savannah sun to vote in a man who promised change but delivered chains!” he said.

Recall also that Presidency through the special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina denied the statement saying that Buhari wouldn’t have derided Nigerian youths, especially in a foreign land.

Parts of the statement read: “There is no way President Buhari, father of the Nigerian nation in every sense of the word, who equally has biological children of his own in the youths age bracket, pass a vote of no confidence on all youths. It can only exist in the imagination of those who play what the President has described as “irresponsible politics” with everything.

“President Buhari has always applauded and celebrated Nigerian youths who excel in different areas of endeavour, from sports, to academia, and other realms.

And he will continue to do so, because he values the youths, and knows that they are the fulcrum on which the future of the country rests.

“Indeed, every country has its share of idle population, and it is the bounden duty of government at all levels, to create an enabling environment for them to actualize their potentials.

“It is futile for mischief makers to lie in wait, and take a minor part of the words of the President, and turn it into negative commentary, peradventure they could diminish the profile of the President.

Nigerians across all walks of life know who is serving them faithfully and truly, and they will always reciprocate such fidelity as occasions demand.”

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/23/lazyyouths-buhari-promised-change-delivered-chains-sen-bruce/

– The difference between Bsc/HND graduates has been put to an end by the federal government

– Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of Service of the Federation (HOCSF) on Sunday, April 22 issued a circular containing the presidency’s resolve on the age-long disparity

– The Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) urged government at all levels to set up monitoring groups to see that the decision is implemented Beneficiaries of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cancellation of the difference between university and polytechnic graduates in the civil service have praised him for his actions.

While the disparity had before now restricted polytechnic graduates to certain Salary Grade Level (SGL) in the civil service, it took the intervention of the National Council on Establishment (NCE) to address and solve the issue in their favour, Daily Trust reports.

Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of Service of the Federation (HOCSF), in a statement dated Monday, March 26, relayed the the decision of the NCE to all concerned and solicited their support for implementation.

The circular indicated that NCE approved entry point of SGL 08 for HND holders in the civil service.

It also encouraged serving HND officers to fulfil all specified conditions as contained in scheme of service and extant rules for career progression beyond SGL 14.

Ahmad Yabagi, the head of the umbrella body of the beneficiaries, the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), informed journalists on Sunday, April 22 in Abuja, that the decision has paved the way for career building.

Spend less on the Internet! Yabagi said: “We are glad that this monster called dichotomy that has been a big threat to the development of technology in Nigeria has been defeated.

NATE has therefore resolved to support and partner with the Federal Government in the quest to bequeath entrepreneurial skills to Nigerian youths as a means to turn around the economic fortune of Nigeria.”

Yabagi, however, advised all government agencies to see that the resolve contained in the circular is implemented throughout the country.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that Dr Ramon Adedoyin, the executive chairman of the Polytechnic, Ile-Ife, had called for the outright scrapping of the Higher National Diploma (HND) programme, and its replacement with a Bachelor’s degree in Technology, as obtainable in advanced countries.

Adedoyin made his comments during a chat with newsmen; against the backdrop of the federal government’s recent removal of the dichotomy between the holders of HND and university degrees.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/23/good-news-as-fg-finally-ends-bsc-hnd-disparity-across-nigeria/

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has warned Nigerians against coalition formed by politicians in a bid to rescue Nigeria.

Soyinka speaking at the 80th Posthumous Birthday celebration of late activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, in Ikeja, Lagos, said democracy was under threat, pointing out that members of the newly formed coalition are enemies of democracy.

 
The Nobel Laurette stated that the same people forming coalitions as ‘rescue missions’ are deceiving Nigerians in a bid to find their way back to power.

According to Soyinka, “All I have to say in connection with the theme of the event is vigilance. In this society and like others, there are people that whenever they smell anything decaying, they gather just as vulture. The theme of the event is most pertinent and there is no question whatsoever that democracy is in danger. It is not only the country’s democracy, the society is in danger.

“The question is, do we see it as an opportunity to do a rescue mission or do we see it as an opportunity to take advantage once again and continue our role, contribution in bringing the nation to its kneel? In other word, it is not new whatsoever that there is need for drastic action to rescue this country as a corporate entity and what I called the conglomeration of protocols that has kept us together which we place under the brick of democracy.

“I find it ironic that those who put themselves, the enemies of democracy, who have really taken the committed act, not just act, negligence; but actually inaugurated certain policies which contributed to our being at this point today are once again coming out and positioning themselves as saviours and messiahs.

 
“Sole possible rescue mission that this nation can even dream of, as nation of over 150 million. I found it very strange, because at the beginning of this movement, quote and unquote, rescue mission, there were two organisations that came out under different names. And there were names in there whom I considered worth following and encouraging others.

“The next thing I knew was that the movement was hijacked by the very people who laid the foundation for the collapse of democratic edifice. The next thing we discovered was they were forming coalitions. I was invited by one of the rescue missions to address them. So, I called them asking if they were the original people that I saw or the faction under which everyone is moving. I told them not to come near me. If you sign up to it, you will become one of those who are enemies of democracy in the country.

“They were those who inaugurated the so called, constitutional amendment programme, total charade, basically to assist them continue plan, which had been scuttled, known as tenure elongation, for which the entire national treasury was almost bankrupted.”

“Suddenly, they are forming coalition all over the place; confusing people, especially the genuine leaders that we can trust. The answer to that is very simple. You need to look at their track record. Don’t allow yourself to be plunged into a zone of amnesia which one would conveniently forget unpleasant reality.

 
“We have had President in this country, some of whom inaugurated a never ending process which landed us under one of the most brutal dictator that this nation has ever known. We had others who supervised the sacking of democratic governance. And they called themselves God designated watchmen over the fortune of this nation.

“And suddenly, I see Nigerians flocking to them. They asked them to lead again. Even if they didn’t individually put themselves into power, they are already, smoothing the way, with their surrogate and stooges. All I am urging is that we should all be very vigilant. You can bash the ruling order of the moment. You can demand that you don’t want to wait for the next election.”

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/23/coalition-movement-enemy-of-democracy-soyinka-warns-nigerians/

A letter from President Muhammadu Buhari to the leadership of the National Assembly has explained why the president gave approval for the withdrawal of $462 million from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the procurement of 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States government without getting the approval of the National Assembly.

The president’s letter, however, has also exposed the lies of a presidential aide who on April 9 said that Buhari had not ordered the withdrawal of $1 billion from the ECA for the procurement of arms to fight the insurgency in the North-east and would not do so until he had obtained the approval of the National Assembly.

The president’s letter, which was obtained exclusively by THISDAY from sources in the House of Representatives, indicated that Buhari only wrote to the National Assembly leadership on April 13, 2018, and it was received in the Office of the Speaker of the House on April 17, 2018.

The letter showed clearly that Buhari had already given anticipatory approval for the withdrawal of the sum of $496,374,470 (N151,394,421,355) from the ECA for the purchase of 12 Tucano aircraft from the U.S. and was seeking the inclusion of same in the 2018 Appropriation Bill that the National Assembly is currently finalising.

In the letter, Buhari explained that the U.S. government had given a payment deadline for the aircraft purchase, otherwise, the contract would lapse.

But this could prove to be a major problem for Buhari and would likely worsen the discord between the executive and the National Assembly, as the legislature last week had summoned the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris over the disbursement of the funds for the procurement of the aircraft from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) without appropriation by the legislature.

Last December, the state governors at a meeting of the National Economic Council had given the president the green light to withdraw $1 billion from the ECA to fight the insurgency.

However, this would have required the approval of the National Assembly and the 36 state Houses of Assembly since the funds in the ECA belong to the three tiers of government.

The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, however, had revealed on January 25 that the payment deadline for the purchase of the aircraft was in February but at the same time noted that the federal government had rejected the terms for the purchase of the aircraft because they were stringent and skewed in the U.S.’ favour.

A few days later on February 5, he said the federal government had paid $496 million to the U.S. government for the Tucano aircraft but was silent on the salient fact that the funds had already been withdrawn from the ECA.

The minister did not reveal that Buhari had given approval for the withdrawal of the funds from the ECA until April 4 after a meeting of the Security Council at the State House, Abuja.

It took for the public outcry over the president’s approval before the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang on April 9, stated that Buhari had not yet given approval for the withdrawal of the $1 billion from ECA.

Enang had said: “That the said sum has not and cannot be approved for spending by Mr. President. That in accordance with best practices, Mr. President, having received approval of the sum from National Economic Council made up of all the governors, now had a meeting with the Minister of Defence, service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, among others, to collate the needs of each of the services and the money available for appropriation.

“Mr. President and the meeting having collated the need of each service and the amount involved may now present same to the Federal Executive Council for detailed consideration, or in the exercise of presidential powers may communicate same to the National Assembly for appropriation.

“This may be done as usual upon Mr. President consulting prior with the leadership of the National Assembly through the whole body of principal officers or the presiding officers of each chamber only, before originating the communication to the National Assembly.

“As of now, the process of approving the money for use is inchoate and still undergoing executive standard operating procedure before laying same before the National Assembly for appropriation.

“The processes now being worked on is to fast-track these procedures so that it may be forwarded to the National Assembly while it is still considering the 2018 Appropriation Bill (budget) for incorporation as Mr. President’s supplementary request under the 2018 budget, or if completed after the 2018 budget, it may be forwarded as a Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

“Succinctly stated, Mr. President has not approved the sum for any release of this procurement or application howsoever, the executive is conscious of the provisions of Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution which states:

“No moneys shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation unless the issue of those moneys has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.

“No moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.

“We are also conscious of the provision of Sections 4 and 5 of the 2017 Appropriation Act (relating to Excess Crude Account) and would not take any action in breach thereof.

“Just as the legislature in processing legislation starts with conceptualising, drafting, scrutiny of the draft, gazetting, first reading, second reading, committal to the appropriate committee, public hearing, consideration of the report by committee of the whole or supply, passage and third reading in plenary, so also does the executive have and maintain standard operating procedures, or due process or due diligence in all actions and at this stage, the matter is undergoing these processes for laying before the National Assembly for appropriation.

“Therefore, the matter of the security fund is still undergoing standard processes, the said sum can only be spent, and in the manner, as shall be approved by the National Assembly, and assented to in the Appropriation Act or Supplementary Appropriation Act.”

But Buhari in his letter to the Speaker, dated April 13, stated: “I wish to draw the attention of the House of Representatives to the ongoing security emergencies in the country. These challenges were discussed with the state governors and subsequently, at the meeting of the National Economic Council on 14th December, 2017, where a resolution was passed, with the Council approving that up to US$1 billion may be released and utilised from the Excess Crude Account to address the situation.

“Subsequent upon this approval, we are preparing a comprehensive schedule of all the requirements for each of the security services for presentation to the National Assembly for consideration.

“It would be recalled that, for a number of years, Nigeria had been in discussions with the United States Government for the purchase of Super Tucano Aircraft under a direct Government-to-Government arrangement. Recently, approval was finally granted by the United States Government, but with a deadline within which part payment must be made otherwise, the contract would lapse.

“In the expectation that the National Assembly would have no objection to the purchase of this highly specialised aircraft, which is critical to national security, I granted anticipatory approval for the release of US$496,374,470.00. This was paid directly to the treasury of the United States Government.

“I am therefore writing, seeking approval of this House for the sum of US$496,374,470.00 (equivalent to N151,394,421,335.00) to be included in the 2018 Appropriation Bill, which the National Assembly is currently finalising. The balance of the requirements for critical operational equipment is still being collated from the different security services and will be presented in the form of a Supplementary Appropriation Bill, in due course.

“The Honourable Minister of Defence and other appropriate officers will be available to provide further details, as may be required.

“While thanking the Honourable Members for the usual cooperation, please be assured Mr. Speaker, the assurance of my highest regards.”

Speaking on the president’s letter, some lawmakers in the House confirmed yesterday that this was the reason Adeosun, Emefiele and Idris were summoned last week to appear before the Senate and House to explain the withdrawal of $496 million from the CRF without legislative approval.

One lawmaker who preferred not to be named, also explained that the rush to pay the U.S. government the huge amount, despite Nigeria’s rejection of the stringent payments terms for the procurement of the Tucano aircraft, was targeted at being on the right side of U.S. President Donald Trump before the 2019 general election in Nigeria, hence the invitation extended to Buhari to visit the White House on April 30.

“Remember that the U.S. was quite influential in the 2015 elections. Buhari and his handlers are quite aware of this. They also know that President Trump is a businessman, for him it’s ‘America First’, hence he (Trump) does not have the qualms former President Barack Obama had over the sale of military equipment to Nigeria, despite the allegations of human rights abuses by the Nigerian military.

“For President Trump, he will sign deals with countries willing to buy U.S. military equipment because it creates jobs for defence industries and firms in his country and brings money into the American economy.

“Now, for the Nigerian presidency, it was important that they met the payment deadline, despite the draconian conditions given for the purchase of the aircraft which are not in Nigeria’s favour, even by the defence minister’s admission.

“This is what secured the invitation for Buhari to the White House and if he plays his cards right, will keep him on the right side of Donald Trump before the Nigerian elections in 2019.

“If Buhari and his handlers get the tacit support of the U.S. as we head into the elections, that would be a major achievement for the APC,” he explained.

However, he noted that whilst many lawmakers were aware of the political reason the president had quickly approved the withdrawal from the ECA and transfer to the U.S. government treasury, their main concern was the fact that he did it without the approval of the National Assembly as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/23/nigeria-why-we-paid-469m-for-tucano-aircraft-ahead-of-nasembly-approval-buhari/

US wants dialogue between FG and IPOB The 12 A29 Super Tucano aircraft ordered by Nigeria from the United States to fight insurgency are not due to arrive until 2020, a senior United States administration official disclosed at the weekend. Speaking ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the White House next Monday, the official said the high regard the Donald Trump administration accords Nigeria is underscored by the fact that Buhari would be the first African leader to be received in the Trump White House.

The US administration official who spoke to journalists on the basis of strict anonymity nevertheless affirmed that issues arising from past agreements between the two countries would be on the cards at the US – Nigeria summit, including the open declaration of assets.

The administration official also spoke on the United States’ commitment to free and fair elections in 2019, teasingly asserted that the country’s candidate for the presidential election would be Mr. Democratic Process.

The official also said Washington would encourage open and frank negotiations between the Federal Government and the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB. Affirming that all issues involving the sale of the Super A29 Tucano aircraft have been cleared including receipt of an estimated $593 million from Nigeria, the official, however, said the aircraft were being built in Florida and would take at least two years to manufacture.

“The planes have not been fully built, and we are looking at delivery at or about 2020 as you don’t just pick them up because they have to be manufactured according to specifications.”

The A29 Super Tucano is a light attack aircraft intended for counter-insurgency, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance missions in low-threat environments.

The estimated $539 million Nigeria paid for the aircraft the official disclosed included the cost of training for pilots, engineers, and spare parts.

The official observed that President Buhari’s visit to the White House was reflective of the premium the U.S gives to Nigeria noting that the Nigerian leader is the first African leader to be received by President Trump in the White House.

He said the warmth in relations was reflective in last week’s summit of African land forces co-hosted by the U.S. and Nigeria armies.

The US administration official restated the superpower’s commitment to the tenets of the U.S. – Nigeria Bi-national Commission, one of which is the open declaration of assets by elected officials and their subordinates.

“Sometimes it is difficult to implement (declaration of assets), but we will encourage that it should be followed through,” the official who briefed selected journalists said.

Given the declaration of the Boko Haram as a terrorist group by the United States’ States Department, the official was tasked on what approaches the US would take on issues between the Nigeria government and IPOB.

“On IPOB, we see that there is an aggrieved population that would want to have its views heard and we will encourage that there should be dialogue.

“We always encourage dialogue as we did with NDA (Niger Delta Avengers), PANDEF. We didn’t tell the vice-president to visit the Niger Delta, but we were happy that he did it and it worked, we are not colonialists but facilitators.”

The administration official, however, affirmed that issues pertaining to free and fair elections in 2019 would be seriously encouraged by the US administration and resounded in actions ahead of the polls.

“We are committed to doing more and more for Nigeria even more than we did in 2015.”

Teasing the journalists as the briefing came to a close, the official asked, “do you want to know who Washington would be supporting in 2019?”

“Our candidate is the Democratic Process!” the official said in the background briefing ahead of the historic summit between President Trump and Buhari, the first African leader in Washington D.C. next weekend.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/23/us-a29-counter-insurgency-aircraft-coming-in-2020/

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said Nigerian youths have excelled in every sphere of the economy they have been involved.

He stated this when he received a delegation of Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement which visited him in Abuja on Thursday barely 24 hrs after President Muhammadu Buhari said that most Nigerian youths want everything free without doing anything.

Osinbajo, however, challenged youths in the country to strive to acquire experience before seeking to occupy political offices in the years ahead.

“It is true that young people are participating in every sphere of the economy and they are doing well, but they ended up there through one process of training or the other,” he said.

The Vice President, who pointed out that leadership positions were not automatic, recalled that he served as a special adviser at the age of 30 and had been involved in pressure group activities before he became an Attorney-General and then, Vice President.

He added that Nigeria did not need people who will just muzzle their way into positions.

The Vice President said that issues of governance needed to be planned deliberately as making women to participate in politics and issues of girl-child needed to be taken seriously and addressed.

According to him, this is because half of the women that should be participating in politics did not have the know-how.

He added that there was also supposed to be plans for education to make the young people stand and grow politically.

He said: “Just like you have to train before you can become a pilot, so it is for politics.

“I think that whatever age a person chooses to run should not matter; what should matter is the preparedness of the person because elective positions require some skills.

“Most times people train to acquire other skills but not politics; that’s the way of democracy.’’
Osinbajo said that there was need for youths to move up the ladder of leadership to prepare themselves for politics.

Osinbajo decried the fact that democracy and elective offices in Nigeria were based on people that had the resources “so corrupt people kept coming into office because they have the resources’’.

“These are the kind of people we have in elective offices; so, we need to raise the bar so as to get performance and competence.’’ he said.

He urged youths to challenge themselves with the big issues bedevilling the nation, and said that one critical issue to address was corruption.

The vice president said that people stole the nation’s money with impunity and short-changed citizens.

“Our budget is N7 trillion and if someone steals N1trillion, how do we quantify it? If we don’t have serious advocacy around corruption, we are always going to be short-changed in the nation.’’

He said that in a developing economy like Nigeria, there was need to set the bar about competence and that the onus lay with the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement.

He urged the youths to join political parties, be involved in politics and pressure groups so that the nation could achieve development through youth’s collaboration.

Osinbajo said “that way, youths will be able to carry the cause and address the bigger issues that affect the country’’.

Earlier, leader of the delegation, Mr Samson Itodo, said that the campaign for the youths was a movement led by young people that would like to contribute to national development.

Itodo, who is one of the conveners of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement, said that one of the reasons for the movement was inclusion of youths in governance, because democracy lost its vitality without inclusion.

He said that there was also need for inter-generational dialogue between the youths and the elders to create a platform where young people could interface with elders.

Itodo called for enhancement of quality of the electoral process so as to increase competition among all strata.

“Today we have been able to inspire some young people to run for elective positions; over the world, there is a clamor for young rulers.

“What we do is not to clamour for elders to leave but that we have faith in our democracy and it has to be inclusive because youths have the capacity, competence and integrity to hold offices,’’ he said.

He called for an open political system that would accommodate young people, adding that it was a good thing that the National Assembly passed the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill.

Itodo appealed to the vice president to support the bill and expressed optimism that President Mohammadu Buhari would ascent to the bill when transmitted to him.

He urged youths to join political parties and be ready for the political process leading to 2019, stressing that “political power is not given, but taken’’.

Continue reading...http://www.pulse.ng/news/local/troops-burn-down-benue-village-in-revenge-for-soldiers-death-id8279082.html

18 years ago, Senate President Chuba Okadigbo tried to stop an impeachment plot against himself.

They call in the hallowed chambers, a place made sacred by the gravity of the decisions made within its walls. But recently, the Nigerian Senate has not lived up to that tag. Just yesterday, on the 18th of April 2018, suspended Senator Ovie Omo Agege, barged into the Nigerian Senate and stole the mace. It is lightning striking twice to remind you of a problem. In this case, the problem is the question of just who our Senators are and that time when Senator Chuba Okadigbo stole the mace from the Senate Chambers in 2000.

The transfer of power from the military to a civilian government in 1999 may go down as one of the most instrumental transitions in Nigerian history. Along with an ex-president, many Nigerians from all over the country, literally, got access to power.

Dr. Chuba Wilbeforce Okadigbo was one of them. Representing Anambra (where his fellow indigenes of Oyi called him “the Oyi of Oyi), Okadigbo had first served as Political Adviser to President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic.

This time though, he came for higher honours. The generation of Nigerian politicians bore one key similarity to the pre-independence batch in that many of them had strong resumes in business, finance, public service, or education like Okadigbo, a scholar of Philosophy and Politics.

Chuba was an intellectual before we found a use for the word. In his previous forays into the political space, he had shown a grasp of context and a verbosity that was more insightful than spectacular.

He was tipped to be Senate President, despite trouble with his party, the ruling People’s Democratic Party. It was a position which he eventually occupied after Evan Enwerem was impeached for corrupt practices.


People struggle for the mace after it was seized from the National Assembly chamber by hoodlums on April 18, 2018 (Twitter (@NaijaVirals))
Okadigbo wanted the position from the get-go, he had made that bit clear by visiting a majority of the potential big-wigs among the Senators-elect breifly before they consituted the Fourth Senate in 1999.

What many did not foresee was a high-handedness that created a near dictatorship in a room full of big egos and ambitious moneybags.

Okadigbo quickly lost control of the Senate, but that problem was merely an offshoot of the bigger challenge: his issues with the Executive.

A row had been simmering behind the scenes between Okadigbo in the leadership of the Senate and one man he seemed to never empathise with, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Things became more serious on May 29, when the Senate, under Okadigbo’s direction failed to acknowledge the celeberation of the anniversary of the return to civilan rule. What we have come to know as Democracy Day.

Two days later, on May 31st 2000, Okadigbo adjourned the Senate till July.

Nigerians all over the country were stunned two days later by one of the most audacious farces in Nigerian political history, reports that Chuba Okadigbo had absconded with the mace to his hometown of Ogbunnike in Anambra State.

Power Struggles

Not much is known for a fact about those few days; but interviews after the fact and the accounts of some senators close to the epicenter of the drama has filled in a few blanks.

Senate President Chuba Okadigbo is said to have gotten wind of an impeachment plot against him by the Obasanjo-led Federal Government in those weeks.

In an attempt to wthhold whatever was in the works and prevent his impeachment, Okadigbo took the mace from the Senate chambers, assuring his supporters in the Senate that he had kept it in a secure place in the company of pythons, it is claimed.

On Friday, June 2, 2000, policemen acting under the directive of the Inspector General of Police visited the Senate President’s private residence to retrieve the mace from his possession.

Eyewitness would tell the BBC that the policemen harrassed the Okadigbo family, as well as others who were present in the house at the time.


Chief Chuba Okadigbo speaks on local television. The late senator was known for his verbosity and insight. (alashock.com)
“The police arrived at 5.55 a.m. (0455 GMT) in six jeeps fully loaded with armed officers,” he said to members of the Press later that day.

“They told me they had come to collect the mace and that they were acting on orders from the Inspector General of Police,” Mr Okadigbo explained.

“I said I would never give them the mace. I have to be dead before you get the mace, I told them,” he declared.

Perhaps because the importance of these spectacles has become lost on us, or that the events occured so frequently that the news cycle struggled to keep up, not much, save for hearsay, has been documented about the events at the end of May 2000 to June 22.

One of those who was involved in the power tussle between bith arms of government at the time, ex-Senator Joseph Waku.

“In that case (2000), there was no breakage. We took it, it was not stolen. It was during our vacation. We were on vacation,” he said.

“It was during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s time and it was during a crisis.”

“There was a plan to remove Okadigbo and we got wind of it and adjourned and took the mace. But the then Deputy Senate President, Haruna Abubakar, attempted to reconvene the Senate. They went and arranged for a fake mace but we intercepted it. Haruna wanted to preside as acting senate president.”

Mr Waku would not disclose where Mr Okadigbo took the mace to.

He prefers to do so in a book he is working on.

He however said the late senate president did not take the mace away from Abuja to his village, Ogbunike, in Anambra State as claimed.

“We knew the mace had not crossed Nyanya (a satellite town in the federal capital territory).”, he said.

There are no concrete reports of how the mace was retrieved, save that Okadigbo released possession of it to the Senate.

Paying for their wrongs

Context aside, taking the Senate mace, one of the nation’s most revered symbols of political authority, is a big deal, and the response should carry some weight, a major deterrent to such acts of insolence.

It is a conversation that has already begun over the recent snatching of the mace, even though Senator Ovie Omo Agege denies any association with the thugs who stormed the Senate Chambers on Wednesday.

In 2000, Okadigbo got the other half of his cake, and it was almost tasteless.

Few weeks after the melee, allegations of corruption began making the rounds of the Snate. In response, the body constituted a panel led by Senator Idris Kuta to investigate alleged wrongful award of 44 contracts.

The panel returned a harrowing verdict against Okadigbo.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/19/that-time-in-2000-when-chuba-okadigbo-stole-the-senates-mace/

Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, over his comments on the young people in Nigeria.

Fayose, writing on his Twitter page, stated that the future of youths in the country was “mortgaged by past leaders like President Buhari”.

He wrote: “Nigerian youths are hardworking, intelligent and enterprising. Their future was mortgaged by past leaders like President Buhari, who had everything at their beck and call as youths.

“I imagine the youths of today having half of the opportunities available in the 50s and 60s.

“At 19, President Buhari left Secondary School to join the Army. At age 21,he was commissioned a second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Where can our youths get such opportunity today?”

Buhari, speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, said youths prefer to do nothing because they feel Nigeria is an oil-rich nation.

According to Buhari, a lot of Nigerian youths have not been to school, yet they want everything free.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/19/how-buhari-mortgaged-future-of-nigerian-youths-fayose/

The outrage and condemnation triggered by the reported seizure, yesterday, of the mace belonging to the Senate, Nigeria’s Upper Legislative Chamber, clearly underscores its importance as the authentic symbol of legislative authority in Nigeria.

Indeed, in the frequent power and leadership succession struggles over the years, control of the legislative arm was usually paramount. In other words, he who has possession of the mace, the staff with the coat of arms at its head, is adjudged to have control of the legislature and by extension, the ruling power calculus in the country.

This also explains why the mace is jealously guarded, especially during period of political turbulence engendered by a face-off or cold war between the executive and legislative arms of government.

Incidentally, what happened at the Senate yesterday was a re-enactment of a familiar scenario that dates back to the First Republic.

Indeed, history credits the first mace-snatching to one Mr. Ebubedike, a representative of Badagry East in the Western Region House of Assembly.

Following a disagreement in parliament in 1965, he was said to have seized the mace which he wielded like a weapon to attack the Speaker and other parliamentarians. In the resulting free-for-all, chairs were thrown by the factionalised members who also used other weapons at hand to attack themselves.

Years later, precisely in the year 2000, The Senate, with the late Dr Chuba Okadigbo as its President, was embroiled in controversy over the mace going missing.

The Senate President later reportedly admitted having the mace in his custody for safe-keeping in order to fend off some “traitorous” senators hell-bent on impeaching him under the promptings of the executive led by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Although a team of police men was sent to his house to pressure him to relinquish the mace, Dr Okadigbo reportedly stood his ground and refused to make any concession until he was eventually impeached.

Another remarkable mace-grabbing incident occurred in July 2013 in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

This followed a violent clash in chambers between 27 lawmakers loyal to then Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the five lawmakers loyal to then Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike who is currently the governor of the state.

Pandemonium broke out when the five lawmakers loyal to Wike claimed they had impeached the Speaker of the House Otelemabama Amachree.

In the violent struggle to seize the mace, some of the warring lawmakers were seriously injured and subsequently hospitalised. A minor but similar scenario to that of Okadigbo played out April last year in the Anambra State House of Assembly when some members attempted to impeach the Speaker, Mrs. Rita Maduagwu.

Sensing the intention of majority of the 28 members of the House, Mrs Maduagwu reportedly absconded, or more appropriately sneaked out, with the mace.

Unsuspecting members only realised that their speaker had absconded when the bell to signal her arrival in chamber rang and she was nowhere to be found, and the mace missing. In the event the majority leader, Victor Okoye, moved for the adjournment of the house.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/19/when-the-mace-goes-missing/

Embattled Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has denied having anything to do with the Wednesday’s invasion of the senate chambers and the removal of the mace.

The senator representing Delta Central has also been released by the police. The Senate Chamber was on Wednesday invaded by some persons who made away with the mace.

Suspended senator Omo-Agege arrested by police as APC calls for his prosecution Shortly after the mace was stolen, the Senate accused Omo-Agege of sending thugs to steal the mace.

Omo-Agege in his reaction denied involvement in the theft of the mace.

He said he has also left police custody. A statement by a legal practitioner, Mr. Lucky Ajokperniovo, for the office of the Senator, said that he only went to the Red Chamber on Wednesday to resume work and sit for plenary.

He added that he was only invited by the police to speak about his perspective on the incident. “We are aware of several media reports suggesting that Senator Omo-Agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the Mace of the Senate.

This weighty allegation is not true at all.

“Following the said media reports on the Mace issue, the Police authorities decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege. He has told the Police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation.

He has since left the Police. Senator Omo-Agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter,” the statement read in part.

Omo-Agege also reacted to the statement by the Senate Spokesperson, Senator Abdullahi Sabi accusing him of leading the hoodlums to cart away the mace. Omo-Agege described the allegation as ‘very serious’.

“We are carefully studying Senator Sabi’s allegations to ascertain their full ramifications. Appropriate responses will follow, as may be necessary,” Omo-Agege’s statement read.

The mace which is the symbol of authority of the Senate was on Wednesday, snatched by some unidentified men. The men barged into the Chamber of the Senate, during plenary, pushed away the Sergeant-at-Arms positioned at the entrance and carted away the mace.

The drama coincided with the protest at the National Assembly against the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, APC- Delta Central.

Spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, accused Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of masterminding the snatching of the mace.

He described the action as an attempt to overthrow an arm of government. He said it was treason.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/19/omo-agege-denies-allegation-released-by-police/

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers

1. Drama ensued on Wednesday after some thugs suspected to be loyal to the suspended Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district, Ovie Omo-Agege invaded the red chambers and forcefully snatched the mace.

They broke into the chambers when plenary was going on thereby creating the confusion.

2. The Nigerian Police say they have recovered the mace that was stolen from the Senate on Wednesday

A statement signed by the deputy Police Public Relations Officer in the police headquarters, Aremu Adeniran, said they recovered the mace where the hoodlums abandoned it.

3. Nigerians have condemned the snatching of the symbol of authority reportedly by the Ovie Omo-Agege-led thugs, who invaded the red chamber of Wednesday.

Among those who flayed the invasion were: President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senator Waku and other prominent Nigerians.

4. The Proprietor of Xontec Hotel on Igosun Road, Offa, in the Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mr. Kadir Surajudeen, and members of his staff have been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Ilorin for failing to give police credible information on the gunmen who attacked some banks in the area.

Also arraigned were four guests who stayed in the hotel at the time the assailants allegedly lodged in Xontec Hotel.

5. The Nigerian Senate has stepped down the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, which seeks to reshuffle the sequence of polls in a general election.

The bill, which was considered for second reading, on Wednesday suffered a setback when several lawmakers raised various issues against the amendment on Wednesday.

6. A Delta State High Court sitting in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the State, has removed the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Friday Osanebi.

He was removed over alleged falsification of Information.

7. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday said two of the three confirmed cases of Lassa fever died within three months in the territory.

Humphrey Okoroukwu, the Director of Public Health in Health and Human Services Secretariat in FCT, said that 38 suspected cases were reported and investigated; three confirmed, while two deaths were recorded.

8. A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has remanded President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee, Dr. Saadu Alanamu in prison custody.

He is alleged to have been involved in fraud to the tune of N182m and abuse of bail condition before his name was forwarded to the Senate by Buhari last week for confirmation as a commissioner of the National Population Commission.

9. The crisis rocking the Ohanaeze Ndigbo took a new dimension on Wednesday following the reported sack of its President-General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.

The Ohanaeze Youth Council said he has been replaced with Prince Richard Ozobu.

10. The family of a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, David Agholor, has been thrown into mourning after the ex-police officer shot himself dead at his residence on Sharaton Estate, Olaogun, in the Ijoko area of Ogun State.

Agholor, who was the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Enugu State Police Command, reportedly shot himself in the head.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/19/7nigerian-newspapers-10-things-you-need-to-know-this-thursday-morning10/

In what could be described as a formal endorsement, the former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, has urged women and youths in the country to cue behind the Chief Olu Falae-led Social Democratic Party (SPD) for the 2019 general election.

General Babangida made call in Minna, at the weekend, when the national leadership of the party, led by the its national chairman, Chief Olu Falae, visited him at his hill-top mansion in Minna.

He said: “If I hadn’t been too old, I would have loved to join the youths vanguard of your party. I have faith in the political party, for what it is and what it stands for.

“When I heard in the news, that a party has come on board, the first thing that occurred to me was that the name sounded familiar, so, I decided to wait and see how it plays out. I was looking at how SDP will populate itself. And, then, the next pleasing thing I heard was that it has people like Olu Falae, Professor Jerry Gana and Professor Adeniran. After that, I said this party is real, because most of the names are names I’ve known and worked with for the sake of this country, so, I said the party is smart to have convinced all these gentlemen to come and join it.

“That was why I did not hesitate to recommend the party to those who came me to seek advice on which direction to go.”

Babangida said the vision he had for the country is the same vision that is shared by those driving the party, adding that, “the security and well being of Nigerians is very important, and you have identified this in your programme, so, Nigerians must support you to ensure that this is realisable.

“I know it can be done, I have never said this to any political party before, but, I can tell you that the party has people who have contributed a lot to this country, people whose contributions to Nigeria is legendary, and what you have put ahead of you is what this country needs.

“I remember when Jerry Gana was the Chairman of Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), one of the primary things he was doing was to educate the ordinary people. The level of awareness then was not as high as it is now, so, you should take advantage of the digital age now and pass a lot of information to the young men and women of this country, because they form over 65 per cent of the population, and if you succeed in doing that, I think it will be better for this country.

Babangida called on the younger generation, including the Nigerian women, to rally behind SDP because it is populated by men of integrity, “men who, when they work, they work well, when they speak, they speak well.”

While emphasising on the importance of security for the overall development of the country, he congratulated Chief Falae, for coming out of the kidnappers den alive.

“I want say that God has kept you for a purpose. You now know how important security is because you were kidnapped. You must remain firm in this project because the country has a lot to benefit from you.

“The people are willing and ready to follow whoever is going to lead them aright, and I am sure your leadership of the party is going to do that.”

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/16/2019-ibb-passes-vote-of-confidence-in-sdp/

Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie warned that President Buhari’s second term may plunge Nigeria into revolution

– The cardinal said Nigerians are likely to kick against Buhari’s second term because majority feel he has failed them

– Okogie said most Nigerians expected the presidents to retire and not contest again

Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, has warned that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to run for second term in office might plunge Nigeria into an unnecessary revolution.

Okogie said Nigerians might feel the need to start a revolution against the president as most citizens feel the president should retire and not contest again in 2019, Vanguard reports. He said: “Every citizen of Nigeria has the freewill to do whatever he or she desires to do.

So, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he can hearken to the voices of people to aspire to any height.

“But I know that the voice of the people is the voice of God.

And I can tell that the general opinion of Nigerians, going by what I have been reading in newspapers, is that he (President Buhari) has not done well.

And for him to come from such background and wants to re-contest for another four-year mandate is absolutely left to him.

“But just as he (President Buhari) has the freewill, the people of this country also have the freewill to elect according to their conscience.

Like I said, the popular assessment of his performance in the last three years is dismal and the generality of the people will prefer that he retires and allow other Nigerians to make their contribution to the nation’s development.

“They don’t want to see him in the saddle again because he has performed poorly, but if he wants to force himself there, I don’t know how he will do it….but I can only say good luck.

“You can even see it from the opposition party’s standpoint. For example, the APC has been releasing lists of alleged looters of the nation’s treasury and the opposition party, the PDP, has consistently raised objections, claiming that some members of the ruling party have been, at different occasions, indicted of corruption, but, up till now, the APC is yet to respond.

PDP had asked very salient questions bordering on the so-called list of alleged looters but what has been the response from the APC? The PDP has made very weighty allegations but they not responded.

If they are convinced of their anti-corruption war, they should openly respond to the questions raised on the alleged looters lists. But so far, there has been no reply from the APC.”

Okogie said politics in Nigeria is changing and most people are likely to speak out and kick against the re-election of the president.

“I hope they are assuming that Nigerians are sleeping.

For example, there are various opinion articles in newspapers, I have sent out a couple to the media which have been published but what has been the response to them? Nothing! Nobody has said a word about all that I have written about in the last couple of months.

I want them to react; but thus far, there is no reaction. “I am not a politician, but I can say to you now, that politics in this country has changed drastically.

It’s no longer what it used to be. No! Those days are gone for ever.

For example, when the former Defence Minister, Gen, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, threw the gauntlet and urged Nigerians to defend themselves when they come under attack by these mindless insurgents, majority of Nigerians supported that call because it reflected the mind-set of the vast majority of the people.

“These people, on a daily basis and here and there, are suffering and being killed and our President is not saying anything.

The holy book urges us to love our neighbours….are the people being killed on a daily basis not our neighbours? Check the newspapers on a daily basis, there are reports of killing of innocent Nigerians in different parts of the country and the President will not say a word.

“Let me tell here and now, if he gets there (re-election) by hook or crook, people will revolt. Mark my word! Even if he wins, people will revolt and Nigeria will not be comfortable with him anymore.

Nigeria has changed. It’s no longer a country of yes, yes. No! Not anymore. There will be revolution. Even if he puts somebody they don’t like, they will not accept.”

When asked if he agreed with supporters of president Buhari who claimed there is no alterntive for Nigeria in 2019, Okogie said no.

He said:

“How can I agree? That is not true. They are flatterers. If we put any other Nigerian in power, he will perform.

Why did President Buhari not back the calls from different parts of the country for restructuring? Why? They know what they are doing, but I tell you Nigeria is not for one person or for one region. Nigeria is for us all.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/16/cardinal-okogie-reacts-to-buharis-declaration-for-second-term-author-adeola-opeyemi/

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has launched a major campaign to repair several years of damage done to his image

– Atiku is said to have traversed the United Kingdom in the last one month, talking to international opinion moulders on his true essence

– This is said to be in preparations for his declaration for a presidential run in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

A report by This Day newspaper indicates that former vice president Atiku Abubakar has launched a major campaign to repair several years of damage done to his image by his political foes as he traversed the United Kingdom in the last one month, talking to international opinion moulders on his true essence.

According to the report, the international image improvement engagements are preparatory to his declaration for a presidential run in 2019 on the platform of the PDP, which sources close to him said might not be later than the end of May.

Atiku is seen as a major contender for the 2019 presidential election against President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Aware of the implication of tackling this matter head on this time around, we decided Atiku should make deliberate efforts to disabuse the minds of the people, particularly, the international opinion molders, whose views could affect his chances,” an unnamed associate of Atiku was quoted as saying in the report.

Although most of the engagements were passed off as business and academic meetings, in the form of lectures on economic issues of national importance to Nigeria, sources said the main objective of the Atiku team was to divert attention away from his not too complimentary political reputation and project him as a man of great ideas, who has been willfully misrepresented.

Consequently, a series of foreign engagements have been lined up for him, including a major economic speech at London’s Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) on Wednesday, April 25.

According to a statement by his media office, the keynote speech, entitled The Importance of Strengthening State Economic Management Systems, will unveil innovative and tangible solutions that once implemented would help Nigerian states come out from their current economic challenges and help get Nigeria working again.

It said during the trip to the UK, Atiku will also give another major keynote speech at the Invest Africa and British Council for Africa Annual Debate.

He would speak alongside Dr Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary, UK Government, on the subject of “Building new trade partnerships in Africa.”

The statement noted that the speaking engagements were a follow-up to Atiku’s meeting in June of 2017 with Liam Fox and Prime Minister Theresa May, where they discussed the UK’s plan to increase trade with Nigeria post Brexit.

It added that during the trip the former vice president would also be the guest of honour at a lunch on Nigerian inward investment hosted by Lord Anthony St John (former UK Minister for Africa) and be a guest speaker at Round Table of key UK business leaders interested in investing in Nigeria at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall.

The three-day trip, according to his media office, will be capped off by giving the keynote speech to UK Diaspora in the City of London on the subject of “Maximising the benefit to our economy of all our talents, wherever they may be."

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/16/2019-atiku-tours-uk-to-improve-image-to-declare-for-presidency-in-may/

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government had vowed that no amount of intimidation would stop it from exposing alleged looters of the national treasury.

The government disclosed that since the release of the first two lists of the alleged looters, there had been overt and covert attempts to intimidate and blackmail the Federal Government.

In a statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Lagos on Sunday, the Federal Government said the blackmailers were intimidating it into discontinuing the release of more looters’ names.

The Nigerian Government had already released two lists comprising mostly, members of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The statement reads, ”Hack writers have inundated the social and traditional media with articles casting aspersion on the lists, while some newspapers have even resorted to writing editorials against the Federal Government over the release of the lists.

“Most of the write-ups have accused the government of politicising the anti-graft war by releasing the lists. We strongly disagree with them.

”We do not have the power to try or convict anyone. That is the exclusive preserve of the courts. But we have the power to let Nigerians know those who turned the public treasury into their personal piggy banks, on the basis of very concrete evidence, and that is what we are doing.

”All the fuss about politicising the anti-corruption fight is aimed at preventing the government from releasing more looters’ names and at the same time muddling the waters.

“But 1,000 negative write-ups or editorials will not deter us from releasing the third and subsequent lists. For those who have chosen to give succour to looters, we wish them the best of luck with their new pastime.

“We know where the pressure is coming from. However, the die is cast. We will not stop until we have released the names of all those who have looted our commonwealth. Those who have not looted our treasury have nothing to be afraid of.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/16/what-we-are-facing-over-release-of-looters-list-nigerian-government/

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria will meet Donald Trump in Washington on April 30 to discuss issues including “fighting terrorism” and economic growth, the White House announced Sunday.

Buhari and Trump “President Trump looks forward to discussing ways to enhance our strategic partnership and advance our shared priorities: promoting economic growth and reforms, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security, and building on Nigeria’s role as a democratic leader in the region,” the White House said in a statement.

“The relationship of the United States with Nigeria is deep and strong, and Nigeria’s economic growth, security, and leadership in Africa will advance our mutual prosperity.” Nigeria, West Africa’s largest economy, is among the countries combating Islamist extremism with help from the United States.

The nation is battling an array of security threats across its territory, from Boko Haram jihadists in the northeast to oil militants in the south.

The announcement of the visit comes one day after the fourth anniversary of the Chibok schoolgirls abduction, which saw Boko Haram kidnap 276 girls. Fifty-seven escaped in the immediate aftermath and four years on, 112 are still being held — a global symbol of the Islamist insurgency that has devastated the region.

The Nigerian president’s White House visit also follows a scandal that erupted in January when Trump allegedly branded African nations “shithole countries.” The reported remark triggered global outrage and forced the US president to pen a letter reaffirming his commitment to the continent.

Nigeria was among the countries included on Trump’s ex-secretary of state Rex Tillerson’s Africa tour last month — though the former Texas oilman truncated the trip just before the US president brutally sacked him.

Before returning to Washington, Tillerson had notably promised Nigeria’s support ranging from equipment to intelligence to helping secure the swift release of kidnapped schoolgirls.

– ‘Baba Go Slow’ – Buhari, a 75-year-old former general and one-time military head of state, announced earlier this month he would seek re-election next year — a move that laid to rest months of speculation over his health.

Nicknamed “Baba Go Slow” for his lethargic pace in office, Buhari spent months in London last year seeking medical treatment for an undisclosed illness.

If nominated, he faces the Herculean task of convincing Nigerians he is the best candidate to steer the country out of its worst recession in 25 years, after implementing a series of unorthodox policies blamed for worsening the economic crisis.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/16/why-trump-invited-buhari-to-washington/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Thursday, told President Muhammadu Buhari to admit that he has failed in his promise to end insurgency in the country, instead of blaming late Muammar Gaddafi of Lybia.

Kola Ologbodinya, spokesman of the party in a statement said “For Buhari to have ran to Archbishop Justin Welby to declare that the insurgents and marauders pillaging the people are fighters from late Muammah Gadaffi’s Libya, confirmed the position of Nigerians that President Buhari was incapable of handling the security challenges of our nation”.

PDP also recalled that “in November 2017, President Buhari had informed the Nigerian community in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire that Gadaffi’s fighters were responsible for the escalation of Boko Haram insurgency.

“This time, Mr President has revealed that the killer-herdsmen ravaging our nation and killing our people are from Libya”.

The opposition party wondered, “If the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government knew all these that the marauders and insurgents are invaders, why is he engaging them in dialogue, reportedly paying ransoms and even considering the amnesty option for them.”

The PDP further asked Nigerians to demand explanations from President Buhari on why his administration has been asking the victims of marauders’ attacks in various states, particularly, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Plateau, among others, to learn to accommodate, if it knows that the attackers had links with Libya.

“Our take remains that President Buhari and his dysfunctional APC should simply admit that they have failed to safeguard the lives of our people as well as the territorial integrity of our nation”.

“We therefore urge Nigerians to continue to be at alert and support one another in this trying time, irrespective of ethnicity, creed or class, as we collectively work to salvage our nation from the misrule of the incompetent APC, come 2019”, the party said.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/13/admit-failure-stop-blaming-gaddafi-for-nigerias-security-challenges-pdp-tells-buhari/

In a rare display of legislative oversight functions, the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, yesterday, summoned Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo over an alleged illegal suspension of six directors at National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

Others summoned for the same purpose were Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, and Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita.

The committee reached the resolution at its resumed sitting of investigation into alleged violation of public trust at NEMA.

It will be recalled that the committee at its first sitting on Wednesday, accused the agency’s Director-General, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, of breaching Public Procurement Act, PPA, by awarding contracts to ghost companies that did not meet legal requirements.

In their testimony at the session, the directors, who are currently being investigated by the EFCC, following a petition written against them for alleged abuse of office, claimed they were suspended for kicking against some of the policies of Mustapha Maihaja at NEMA.

The directors include Akinbola Gbolahan (Finance and Accounts); Umesi Emenike (Special Duties) and Alhassan Nuhu (Risk Reduction).

Others are pilot in charge of air ambulance and aviation unit, Mamman Ali Ibrahim; Chief Maintenance Officer, Ganiyu Deji, and Director of Welfare,Kanar Mohammed.

Their suspension was effected by the agency’s Governing Council chaired by Vice President Osinbajo without due process.

Led by Isa Ali, the committee also summoned Magu and Oyo-Ita for further explanations.

Also at the session was Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Ali.

His summon originated over alleged irregularities in the importation of 6,776 metric tonnes of rice donated as relief materials by the Chinese government.

Continue reading...http://sspinit.com/blog/2018/04/13/suspension-of-nema-directors-reps-summon-osinbajo-magu-oyo-ita/