₦airaland Forum

…..Criticises Kenyan Government on Nnamdi Kanu’s extradition



Bayelsa-born activist and former Spokesperson of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, Timi Frank, on Saturday praised Yoruba secessionist leader, Sunday Igboho on what he terms as the success of the July 3rd 2021 Yoruba nation rally held in Lagos, Nigeria.

In a Saturday interview he had with a media personality, Susan West, the activist said; “Well first of all let me commend the Yoruba people for what they’ve done today. They’ve show that they are very patriotic. They’ve show they are very reliable. They’ve shown they can be trusted.”

“Despite the threat from General Buhari’s Government, despite the threat APC Government, They said we are still going to go ahead. For that alone, I commend them. And I think Sunday Igboho has shown that he is a man of his words. He has proven to the world that he is a true leader, a leader that believes in his people and is ready to die for his people. So I think, today have shown that the Yoruba people, whether we like it or not, have proven that the elders and leaders, majority of them are with their people,” he further added.

He criticised Tinubu, calling him an “acclaimed Yoruba leader and acclaimed APC leader” saying, “this is the time the Oduduwa nation expect him to speak up as to where he stands, for Oduduwa nation or not for Oduduwa nation”.

He also called out Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying “when they were killing his people, he has not been able to make one comment”.

Timi Frank urged the Yorubas to hold Tinubu responsible for the killings in the Southwest. He said Tinubu forced the Yorubas to vote for Buhari but can’t force Buhari to stop the killings of the Yoruba people.

He said the Federal Government does not take the Southwest people serious because Tinubu and Osinbajo are not condemning what is going on in Southwest. This is as he accused Tinubu and Osinbajo of having traded the South westerners for personal ambition ahead of the next election.

He said when next Tinubu and Osinbajo come to them for political support, the Yorubas should reject them for past failed leadership brought upon them by the duo of Tinubu and Osinbajo.

The former APC Spokesperson said the Yorubas should pay respect to Sunday Igboho who staked his head for them.

He dared Buhari to conduct a referendum to see if the Oduduwa nation will not have the numbers with which to go their separate ways. He said the same of Southeast. He said if the Yorubas leave and the Igbos leave, that will be the end of Nigeria as the rest ethnic nations in the country are tired of Buhari’s leadership.

Speaking on how Nnamdi Kanu was rearrested, He said the Buhari Government kidnapped Nnamdi Kanu, hence the government has a lot of questions to answer.

He berated Kenya for the alleged role it played in what he tagged as Nnamdi Kanu’s “kidnap”.

He urged the UK to speak out, distancing itself away from the Nnamdi Kanu Nigerian re-arrest and extradition saga.

Attached is a YouTube link to the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL71_GxN4D0

"Wise sayings in life are nothing if not true", Henry Wadsworth Longfellow gave us insight into the worthiness of life with his wise words. Lives of Great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, in departing leave footprints in the sands of time.

Not many people are lucky enough to be opportune to leave footprints in the sands of time. Many are opportune, but fritter away such golden opportunities. Some make their opportunities and in so doing their illustrious destinies. One of such Great men is Prince Ned Munir Nwoko. A man who struck a first in extraordinary achievements and huge Philanthropy. Philanthropy with hooks and catches (doubtful philanthropy) are for mere mortals. Prince Ned Munir Nwoko stands head and shoulders above the greats in his domain.

Life gives man but a short time to make the world a better place than they met it. The active achievements and years of man is all but exhausted at Seventy Years (70yrs). We may see Seventy Years as a long time (70yrs), but it's only Twenty-two thousand, five hundred (22,500) days.

Born on December 21st 1960, Prince Ned Munir Nwoko has achieved what would take most men a few lifetimes. With his sound academic training as a Lawyer, he blazed the trail of excellence from his first work day. Little wonder he stood to represent his people and fight for their future and security in 1999 in the Nigerian National Assembly after being denied such representation for over three (3) decades. His selfless service to his Constituency Aniocha North and South, Oshimili North and South still stands to this day.

Despite being out of Government, Prince Ned Munir Nwoko is seldom out of Public Service to his people at his own personal expense. It takes a strong person to tackle the challenges of a constituency, but it takes a remarkable Great Person to tackle the challenges of a whole Race. Prince Ned Munir Nwoko amongst other numerous remarkable tasks he does personally for society, has taken on the biggest challenge any human can undertake. He has undertaken to save hundreds of millions of African Negroid lives in particular and all lives in general with his current Malaria Eradication Project. Still in it's early days, this Project is already snatching lives from the cold hands of Malarial death. Malaria affects hundreds of millions of people annually, and hundreds of thousands die from it annually. WHO statistics gives an approximated figure of Two Hundred Million (200,000,000) annual infections and near Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) annual deaths.

Prince Ned Munir Nwoko created The Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication Foundation in January 2020. Never a man to do things piecemeal like mere mortals, Prince Ned Nwoko announced the foundation to the World, not with mere words, but by challenging the elements and going on an expediture to Antarctica in the South Pole. It's on Record world wide that Prince Ned Munir Nwoko is the first African to set foot in the South Pole. How is that for a Statement? Take down Malaria.

We all leave behind footprints, that can be seen by the lives we touched within our spheres of interaction, but only the Greats leave behind footprints in the sands of time by touching all lives. Prince Ned Munir Nwoko while still very much around with greater achievements ahead of him, has already made indelible footprints impervious to Human Existential Agents of Denudation in the eternal Sands of Time. Touch a life today.

By : Amb Prince Sixtus Opara

Filmmaker, Publisher / Media Consultant And Public Affairs Analyst

08036562634

Former Imo Governor and now Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Rochas Okorocha, was in Kano today.

He arrived Kano State together with members of his entourage, to attend the Coronation Ceremony of the New Emir of Kano, HRH Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

...Accuses FG of lawlessness, impunity

...Urges Nigerians to brace up for worst repressive regime


Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has condemned the recent attack on the Ibadan residence of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo (popular known as Sunday Igboho) and killing of his aides and forceful abduction of his family members by Nigerian security forces.

Frank in a statement in Abuja described the attack by security operatives as lawlessness, high level impunity and one in a series of state sponsored terrorist acts against innocent Nigerians.

He urged Nigerians to brace up for the worst form of persecution, intimidation, arrests and human rights violations that has become the hallmark of the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime in the last six years.

He also urged Nigerians to speak up against heinous crimes being meted on citizens like Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu by agents of the Federal Government.

He called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to respect his oath of office by immediately restraining himself from trampling on the rights of citizens and perpetrating illegalities.

He accused the 9th National Assembly of failing to defend those they represent in the face of gross abuse of human rights and invasion of privacy of Nigerians by agents of the Buhari regime.

He said: “The recent attack on Sunday Igboho’s house in Ibadan by agents of an uncaring government is condemnable, abhorrent, sickening, obnoxious and despicable.

“It was simply meant to stop a free citizen from exercising his constitutionally guaranteed rights of freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement.

“Coming on the heels of recent abduction and re-arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian security operatives and their international collaborators, I urge Nigerians to brace up for a full fledged police state where their rights and freedoms would be heavily mortgaged by the present administration new seeking to quell all forms of decent with sledge hammer and most brutal coercive power of state.”

He lamented that the Buhari’s regime has increasingly dehumanised Nigerians, killed protesters, strangulated the media, stifled free speech, violated the Constitution and engaged in unlawful activities in order to take out perceived enemies, all in a bid to perpetuate itself in power.

“Only recently, Nnamdi Kanu was surreptitiously kidnapped and smuggled into Nigeria from ‘who knows where’ to continue his trial without any trace of an extradition warrant executed to repatriate him back into the country.

“Again, this is not the first time security forces would swoop on Sunday Igboho or his property in a bid to arrest or silence him.

“While the kidnap of Kanu is a clear violation of international law, the punitive acts against Igboho coming on the eve of his planned Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos, represent a total breach of his rights to personal liberty and freedom of expression.

“These acts are anachronistic and barbaric and should have no place in a sane and lawful society as they portray Nigeria as a country under siege by its own government,” the Bayelsa-born political activist declared.

He said the DSS is only trying to cover up its illegality of raiding a house without a search warrant as prescribed law by claiming that they recovered arms and ammunitions from Igboho’s house.

He challenged the security outfit to use the same intelligence that led it to Igboho’s house to raid the houses of terrorists and Fulani herdsmen making the country ungovernable.

He insisted that the time has come for the entire South - including traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians, academicians, students, labour unions, market women and commoners - to come together to fight against Buhari’s manifest oppression of the region.

He said the South needs to conquer fear and stand against oppression now to avoid being consumed in the ongoing Buhari’s covert campaign to subjugate them.

“The regime is not only against Kanu and Igboho but the entire South. Buhari’s present strategy to subjugate and foist crisis in the Southern part of Nigeria is akin to the strategy Paul Biya has used against southern Cameroon for years to perpetuate himself in power. Buhari does not want to leave power. The earlier the South realises this the better.”

He urged Nigerians and the international community to be wary of the totalitarian posture of the Buhari regime that now tramples on the inalienable rights of citizens with impunity and glee.

KillMNKnow:
Summary pls

Done

"It is indeed justifiably safe for Tinubu if he adopts a plan B already outside of the APC entirely as the party’s intraparty politics at this critical build-up moment is fast becoming a case of 'the more Tinubu looks, the less he sees (anything working in his personal favour in the build up to 2023).'”
https://2023.ng/2021/07/09/2023-atiku-as-tinubus-plan-b/

"Therefore, the big question is, should Nigeria go ahead to refuse to put an Igbo person in office of President in 2023, will the Igbos force their way out of Nigeria or will they stay till the next Presidential election year to vie like every other region of Nigeria would, and trust Nigeria enough to believe the country has good intentions especially as to inclusiveness in the democratic process, towards them?"
https://2023.ng/2021/07/09/where-will-the-igbos-go-if-igbo-presidency-fails-in-2023/

....As Hammed Ali’s silence worries officials


Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service are worried over the inability of the Comptroller General, Hammed Ali to probe the sum of N3.4billion paid by a former Service boss, Abdullahi Inde into an account owned by oil mogul, Sir Emeka Offor without any contract.

Pointblanknews.com investigation revealed that the money, N3.4billion was paid by the Nigerian Customs through Zenith acct number 1013290835 belonging to Emeka Offor on September 2, 2015 without contract.

The officials of the bank who are very well aware of the fraud are saying that Customs CG who has vowed to fight corruption may have been compromised or bribed by Offor to keep mute on the issue.

Sir Offor, the owner of Inland Containers LTD and Chrome oil services amongst other conglomerate is believed to have sponsored the emergence of many Presidents and Governors both in Nigeria and West Africa coast and has made most of his fortunes estimated to be over $4 billion through his relationships with governments across Africa countries.

According to pointblanknews.com source, “Sir Offor collected the huge sums during the reign of Abdullahi Inde and transferred N500million to Joint Trust Dominion Nigeria Ltd on November 11, 2015.

“EFCC had started probe on the funds but stopped after Offor allegedly reached out to Hammed Ali whom he claims is now his “main man.”
Efforts to reach Customs CG over the fraud allegation proved abortive as neither him nor his assistants refused to volunteer any explanation.
Sir Offor has pulled several fraudulent businesses particularly in the oil sector including that of the controversial company in the gas sector, Kastech which he also owned that handled the multimillion dollar contract for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of both the 60 000 barrels per day Old Port Harcourt Refinery commissioned in 1985 and the 150 000 bpd New Port Harcourt Refinery and Petrochemicals Company commissioned in 1989.

His company also participated in the TAM contract for the 125 000 bpd Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company in the early 1990s. The contract took years to execute, rather than a few weeks. Yet at the end of the day the job was abandoned. The name of the company involved in the so-called TAM was ANCHOFF Strongholds Ltd.

A panel set up by the Abdulsalami’s government discovered, among other things, that Offor’s ANCHOFF Strongholds was unjustifiably paid three billion naira and, consequently, recommended its blacklisting. It also recommended the dismissal of the Warri Refinery Managing Director, Dr Owokalu, who had fled to London immediately the panel was set up.

It is instructive to note that Offor became the first Blackman to be awarded an oil refinery TAM contract in Nigeria, he was a mere clearing and forwarding agent in Warri, Delta State, a job he began when he left Julius Berger as an earth moving equipment operator! ANCHOFF Strongholds had just been incorporated hurriedly for the TAM job. There was no bidding of any sort. Some characters in the NNPC leadership and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources conspired to give Offor the hefty job.

Worse is that in spite of the abandonment of the TAM job at the WRPC Ltd and the blacklisting of Offor’s company, as recommended by the Aret panel, Offor went on to win a much bigger contract, that is, the contract to carry out TAM on both the old and new Port Harcourt refineries at Eleme, Rivers State. It was a deal involving the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha; the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete who has since been jailed in France for massive corruption; the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr Dalhatu Bayero; and the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Giddado Idris, who more or less packaged it. This deal cost the nation over $100m. The refineries were never fixed. The result has been the massive importation of petroleum products into Nigeria on an unprecedented scale—up to this day.

A grateful Offor was to make Idris the chairman of almost every organization of his, including AFEX Bank which he acquired when it was known as Orient Bank with the headquarters in Enugu. With his tremendous financial power derived from the refinery TAM contracts and acquisition of AFEX Bank, Offor moved into Sao Tome and Principe where he has become about the biggest oil player. He even decides who becomes the leader of this tiny island nation with plenty of hydrocarbon deposits.

When President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed Nigeria’s leadership in 1999 and publicly declared anti-corruption a priority of his government, most citizens thought that he would take a hard stance on the Port Harcourt refinery contract. He never did. If anything, he went into bed with Offor in the name of political party solidarity, otherwise called the “PDP family affair”.

Offor’s Chrome was paid N8b for the Yola-Bauch transmission line over and above Pivot Engineering which bidded for the electricity job for N6b. In May, 2001, the Obasanjo government awarded the contract for the construction of the Gombe/Yola/Jalingo transmission line to Chrome. Like the first electricity contract, it was abandoned.

The House of Representatives Committee on Power which looked into the execution of the contracts recommended the recovery of the Gombe/Yola/Jalingo payment, Chrome’s blacklisting and the investigation of the jobs by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The recommendations were never carried out.

The Obasanjo government gave to Offor’s Environmental Remedial Holding Company (ERHC) highly prolific oil blocks in both Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe for almost free; both countries own and operate the Nigeria-Sao Tome Principe Joint Development Zone.The generous awards caused an uproar in the international scene.

The Emeka Offor’ company, Kastech, which is angling for a $5b contract from the NNPC for the construction of gas pipelines from Ajaokuta to Kaduna and Kano has already won two major gas contracts from the PDP government. The first was in 2008 when it was assigned the construction of the 107 kilometre by 24inches gas pipeline which runs from Adanga Addax Platform to Calabar. The contract value is $156m. The second contract is for the integrity assessment and rehabilitation of the Oben-Sapele Gas Pipeline and the upgrade and extension of the existing gas metering facilities. The contract sum is $26.4m plus N1.1b. Still, Offor. All the contracts were abandoned.

Nigerian activist, Jackson Ude has revealed that the board members of NNPC have collected a certain amount of money from Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote in exchange for a stake in Dangote refinery.

According to Jackson, the act was in contrast with the advice of one Engr Mustapha Yakubu who tagged the stake deal as “scandalous”.

Jackson taking to social media, wrote; “Board members of NNPC have allegedly collected $100million in bribe on Friday from Dangote and swiftly approved Nigeria’s 30% stake in the Dangote Refinery despite warnings from Engr Mustapha Yakubu the 30% stak is scandalous”.

“Dangote will get an initial cash of $1billion,” Jackson further revealed.

With over two million Instagram following and some hundreds of millions weekly impressions, Sasha Ray who hails from Ukraine dazzles as a luxury travel, fashion lifestyle influencer and icon currently based in UAE. The multi-talented singer gained massive following back in Ukraine and Russia, and has taken the spotlight in a hosts of selected elite’s events in Dubai, Cape Town, Ukraine, and Russia.

Sasha has worked with some of the biggest names in the Entertainment scene across the world; including Ariana Grande, Olivia Culpo, Romee Strijd, Demi Rose and other international celebrities.

Jackson Ude, a fiery Nigerian activist has taken to social media to call out the Managing Director of NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed over what he called “Systematic looting of over N8.5billion in four years by the MD of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed”.

According to Jackson, the NIRSAL MD’s son, Imran Aliyu Abdulhameed, Steven Ogidan and Idris Issa Aweda, are all involved in the scandal.

While calling for immediate investigation into the allegations as well as prosecution, he disclosed, saying; “Abdul Kasie in turn uses one Baba Ali to buy properties in Maitama, Katampe, Eko Atlantic, Lagos, Germany, the UK, Dubai, and South Africa for the MD”.

“The MD also invested $5million in Vivari Hotel located at 30 Bryanston Drive, Sandton, Johannesburg using one Steven Ogidan.

“The MD and Mr Ogidan use Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, a Microfinance bank headed by Mallam Yusuf Yahaya to launder money in order to evade detection, and awarded over N2billion contracts to his Son Imram for the supply of MacBook laptops and iPhones,” he further added.
https://ngg.ng/jackson-calls-out-nirsal-boss-hameed-and-a-named-group-of-persons-over-corruption-allegations/

Makini international school is a college in Makini, Kenya.

The school teaches history, one that also focuses on entrenching in students a pan-African understanding of history. To this end, the school teaches Kenyan history, that the students may understand the origin of the country, challenges over time and in the process they learn to think on how to give back to the country and Africa as a continent, to see to the progress of Kenya and Africa.

The school is both international in standard and at the same time, upholds Kenya’s values as nation of host.

The college also teaches geography, in which the various mountains, landscapes and counties in Kenya, are taught to the students.

In Makini international school, it is believed and taught as a principle that “to succeed in life, one must be connected to his or her heritage”.

Though Makini International school is international in standard, the local values of Kenya and Africa are well up-held.
https://ngg.ng/makini-international-school-where-local-values-are-upheld-a-college-where-future-leaders-are-molded/

Brianna Njambi is not just any other child in Kenya, she is a specialty.

She is a student of Makini international school is a college in Makini, Kenya.

At 14 she is already a historian. She aspires to be a lawyer. Her role model according to a November 2020 interview she had with Dr. Godspower Oshodin, during the making of The Reporter, is Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba.

She is of the ideology that African values must be preserved and not be allowed to go into extinction.

She is of the resolve that Africa can harness its God-given potentials if it gives itself that chance of investing in itself especially in its youth-population to enable them compete with their counterparts from other continents.

She believes strongly that Africa has all it takes to develop as against constantly looking to the west for technology and all kinds of innovation it may need.

Attached is a Facebook link to a video interview of hers:
https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=353534719042864


Please watch.

…..To speak to Africans in Diaspora across 7 cities

Respected Pan-Africanist and Lawyer, Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba is set for a Pan-African tour across seven cities. The tour which will commence in Washington by July 7th and end in New York on July 27th will feature a stretch of activities that will engage Africans in Diaspora.

Joining him is foremost Nigerian activist, social commentator, Pan-Africanist, and former Spokesperson of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC – Timi Frank. In a recent tweet by Timi Frank, he expressed his delight to connect with Africans in Diaspora for a course that will bridge that leadership gap that has been missing across a host of African countries.


Frank said, “We have come to the crossroad, and we need to decide what we want. And it can only start when we start communicating how we can drive Africa forward, through transparent and viable leadership. And that is why I’m standing on the podium of the ‘Professor of Hope’”.


“Prof is a very active voice who understands where Africa is supposed to be. Ofcourse, it’s a way forward to get to discuss some of the issues bothering Africa and Africans. We will get it right when we work in unison,” the Nigerian-born activist further added.
https://ngg.ng/timi-frank-joins-prof-p-l-o-lumumba-for-us-pan-african-tour/

Former Spokesperson of Nigeria's ruling party, APC, and activist, Timi Frank has congratulated Akwa Ibom-born social entreprenuer and industrialist, Akan Udofia.

In a congratulatory message to Udofia, Frank wrote on his Instagram handle, timifrankofficial; "I want to celebrate a dear friend, visionary leader and an industrial revolutionist, Akan Udofia.

"He has displayed leadership at every moment he is called to serve. His innovative tendencies have been a light amongst Akwa Ibom youths and Africa at large".

Frank described Udofia as a focused role model to the youths.

"As you celebrate another year today, May God continue to fortify you and give you the guidance to bring your humanitarian and innovation to bare," Frank further noted.
https://ngg.ng/timi-frank-congratulates-udofia-on-his-birthday-calls-him-a-visionary-leader/

Prominent businessman and social entrepreneur, Akan Udofia is set to lead a strong team of Akwa Ibom professionals to the command performance of Awo, a new Play from The Duke of Shomolu.

In a brief chat on Thursday afternoon with the press, Mr. Udofia mentioned the reason for his continued support for the art and entertainment industry, emphasizing that it is as a result of his strong belief that it represents a powerful vehicle for social mobilisation and youth engagement.

The play "Awo" which is written and directed by Makinde Adeniran, Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners; will look very critically at the leadership qualities of one of the most colourful leaders Africa has ever produced.

The very strong values that produced the iconic figure would be showcased in a bid to imbibe such attributes into the subconscious of the next generation leaders as we continually engage ourselves in nation-building which is of course, a joint task.

"Awo" is part of a two-play offering that will see over 6000 people physically watch both Awo and Aremu at the historic Glover Hall in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Glover Hall which was built in 1887 will host the biggest production in its history with over 200 casts and crew and an expected digital live streaming in excess of one million people globally.

Already huge Nigerian Corporates like FBN Ltd and Wema Bank are leading over 20 Nigerian businesses in support of this iconic showing.

Lagos State Government has thrown in its huge support with its other parastatals like the LIRS and LASAA, pulling in resources too.

Akan Udofia, whose continued interest in the Arts is drawn from the sector’s huge potentials for wealth creation, youth engagement and social cohesion, supported very massively Ibiom’s “the Duke's last play” in Uyo and has confirmed that he would be part of the enigmatic Ikot Abasi Women's Riot that will be coming up in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, this December.

The BBC will be leading both local and international media in covering both Awo and Aremu.

Aremu and Awo will be showing respectively 22nd and 29th of August, and 5th and 12th of September 2021. They are both produced by Joseph Edgar, an Investment Banker and Columnist.

Tickets would be exclusively distributed.

Get ready!!!



Imabong Edgar,
Executive Director,
Duke of Shomolu Productions
https://ngg.ng/akan-udofia-leads-team-to-awo-aremu/

Akan Udofia, an embodiment of leadership, humanitarian services, innovation and industrial developmental tendencies is set to heed to calls to return to his native land and lead his people to the promised-land.

The seriel entrepreneur and business magnate is CEO of Desicon Engineering Ltd, a transnational company providing technologocal advancements, information technology, cost controls, and exploration to customers in the oil and gas, construction, electrical utility, and other industries throughout Nigeria, Chad, and Ghana.

Mr. Udofia, an Alumni of Harvard University, has basked multiple awards and accolades for his perchance for humanitarian projects. He has created a stretch of industrial opportunities that has empowered hundreds of Akwa Ibom youths. For him, the way forward in engaging and empowering more youths, especially African youths, is 'Industrialisation'. In his words, he said “'Industrial Revolution' will landmark Nigeria towards the direction it is supposed to be.”

As a leader who values inclusiveness and is hence poised to carry the people of Akwa Ibom along, Mr Udofia has emphasized on the need for political leaders to bring to bare, the essence of being forthright and upright, and end politics of calumny.

Recently, a story was cascaded across various platforms that Mr Udofia doesn't believe in God, and he is pledging to enforce tax on churches. The contrived story also claimed that he is divorced and have a questionable trail amongst women. Well, as calm and calculated as he has always been, Mr Udofia's photo with himself and his wife surfaced all over the news space shortly after, dispelling such insinuation that is nothing short of attempt by haters of good who are upset already by the good intention of Udofia, a passionate community developer and leader. The photos now all over the media, much as Mr Udofia is one person who respects his private life a lot, are from his 27th marriage anniversary, amidst being blessed by Pope Francis, Head of Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City state.

Indeed, upon reinventing the leadership wheels in Akwa Ibom State, Akan Udofia is standing tall in the list of potential personalities who could emerge as Governor of Akwa Ibom State come 2023. Pundits have lauded his triumph, hence the youths of the State keep yearning for his Visionary and innovative Leadership, insisting that is him they want and nobody else as their governor in 2023.

According to insider sources, the pressure on Udofia to run for Akwa Ibom goverbnorship is overwhelming as the day goes by, but the business mogul is still taking his time to think things through and to consult widely with the stakeholders who comprise of the leaders in the state, the youths, the women and the grassroots.

In the days ahead, if Mr Udofia will heed to the calls, only tine shall tell as the political space in Akwa Ibom state begins to take shape.
https://ngg.ng/akan-udofia-a-business-mogul-and-visionary-leader-demanded-by-his-people-to-lead-them/

Two Italian prosecutors — Fabio De Pasquale (pictured) and Sergio Spadaro — are likely to face trial for misconduct following the decision to open investigation against them on Tuesday.

The Italian ministry of justice’s inquiry centres on their conduct in the trial of Shell and Eni over the acquisition of OPL 245 from Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd.

The prosecutors are accused of concealing vital evidence in their bid to secure conviction — although a Milan court eventually discharged and acquitted the oil companies and their executives of corruption.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Bello Adoke, the Nigerian attorney-general when the deal was signed in 2011, had earlier alleged that the prosecutors stage-managed a telephone conversation with an impostor in order to implicate him.

He also alleged that an e-mail purportedly from him was forged as part of the plan.

According to ViviMilano, an Italian journal, the prosecutors are being accused of failing to file evidence in their possession that would have supported Eni’s position in the trial.

The magistrates also reportedly questioned the credibility of Vincenzo Armanna, a co-defendant and former manager of Eni who had been fired, following the discovery of a video recording “in which Armanna explicitly declares that he is willing to blackmail the top management of the oil company and is ready to involve the PM Milanese to send ‘an avalanche of shit’ and ‘a guarantee notice’ to the top managers of the group”.

The report said Armanna was involved in the manipulation of chats and the production of a false witness with an alleged bribe of $50,000 offered to a Nigerian policeman.

The policeman was to pose as the shadowy character named “Victor” who supposedly knew all the “dirty” details of the OPL 245 transaction.
Paolo Storari, the Italian prosecutor who investigated De Pasquale and Spadaro, reportedly uncovered evidence which showed that the telephone chats submitted to the magistrates were doctored.
The new findings came to light after computer searches ordered by the Brescia public prosecutors office to acquire all email communications from the two magistrates.


ADOKE: HOW I WAS FRAMED UP WITH FAKE TAPE OVER OPL 245

In his book, ‘Burden of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s former Attorney-General’, published in 2019, Adoke had alleged that a phone conversation was stage-managed to implicate him in the OPL 245 affair.
One Ms Carlamaria Rumor, said to be of RAI Television in Italy, allegedly had a clandestine phone conversation with Adoke in November 2015 after he had left office.
The recording was filed as an exhibit before the Italian court although it was eventually withdrawn after Adoke raised the alarm that it was fake.

Adoke said the “contrived” tape by Ms Rumor was part of an elaborate set-up by some of the “powerful toes” he stepped on when he was AGF.
He said the stage-managed telephone conversation was the brain child of a “diminutive” human rights lawyer and another “diminutive Presidency figure”.
According to him, the “diminutive duo” used their human rights front in a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation to stage the fake phone conversation in order to nail him by all means at the ongoing trial in Italy.
Adoke wrote: “The truth, of course, is that this is a fake tape. Absolutely fake. If this is what the Italian prosecutors would be relying upon in their case against Shell and Eni, then they have nothing. As at 5 November 2015 when the alleged phone conversation was supposed to have taken place, I was already marked for persecution. As someone who worked at the top level in government for over five years, and was privileged to be a member of the National Security Council, I would be a complete slowpoke not to know that telephone lines were bugged and conversations recorded. I knew very well that they were digging for dirt over the OPL 245 deal. I was fully aware of the clandestine plans to nail me at all costs. I knew very well that Italian prosecutors were fishing for evidence. How would I talk so recklessly on the phone to some Italian journalist I had never met in my life!”

He said an online report alleged that he tried to “cozy up” to the said Ms Rumor by offering her millions of dollars in return for a “relationship”.
“The appropriately named ‘Rumor’ is unknown to me and had never spoken to me. What will be the motive for asking for a ‘relationship’ with a person that I had never met, or spoken to, in exchange for information that was not exclusive to me but was already in the public space? Nigerians know that I am not a stakeholder in Malabu, Eni or Shell. I did not benefit from the proceeds of the sale of OPL 245 by Malabu. If indeed I was given $2.2 million bribe for the OPL 245 transaction as alleged by the EFCC, why would I be offering the same millions to the imaginary journalist? Offering millions of dollars just to be ‘close’ to someone I had not met? Could anything be more bizarre?” he wrote.
“To be sure, I first heard of the existence of the tape in a publication by Vrij Nederland on 26 October 2017 with the title: ‘Shell in Nigeria: Corrupt Constructions.’ When the highly libellous publication was drawn to my attention, I instructed my solicitors to write to the Dutch magazine. I also requested that they disclose the tape and the details of where the alleged interview took place, including relevant dates. Vrij Nederland declined on the ground that they were protected sources. They responded to the lawyers that they would correct the libellous aspects of the story. This they attempted to do, in their online version, although not entirely to my satisfaction. If they were sure of their facts, they would not have attempted to correct the libellous aspects of their story. They would have claimed justification.
“The disclosure I requested was to afford the parties interested in the so-called tape recording an opportunity to subject it to forensic analysis to ascertain its authenticity. I was informed by sources familiar with the Italian proceedings that the contents of the recording ‘appear (on the face of it) wrong and out of question to such a point that many top officials believe the tape was manipulated.’ I was later informed that they were seeking technical expertise from phonic court experts to authenticate the voice.
“I also learnt that the number of the telephone that was supposed to have been used in the purported telephone interview was a Nigerian line. As at 5 November 2015 when the conversation reportedly took place, I was in the Netherlands. Furthermore, I had stopped using a Nigerian telephone line as far back as August 2015.”
Adoke petitioned the police earlier this year and Olanrewaju Suraju, chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, was quizzed over the allegations of forgery.
HEDA is the Nigerian partner of the international campaigners who helped the Italian prosecutors in the OPL 245 trial.
The Corner House, Re:Common and Global Witness worked with HEDA to generate global media publicity over the trial.


Source: TheCable
https://ngg.ng/revealed-how-italian-prosecutors-doctored-evidence-against-shell-eni-adoke-in-opl-245-trial/

Bayelsa-born activist and former spokesperson of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, Timi Frank has yet again called out Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling APC over what he referred to as celebration of looters.

He said this when he granted an interview during the weekend.

“We saw how the minister for Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, has been dishing out contracts and everything to himself.

“Till today nobody is questioning him. This is the only Government that celebrates looters,” he said.

He noted that the more anybody in Buhari’s Government is called a thief, the more Buhari and the APC keeps rewarding the person.
https://ngg.ng/buhari-government-is-the-only-government-that-celebrates-looters-timi-frank/

The Italian ministry of justice on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into the conduct of two prosecutors in a corruption case over Eni and Shell’s acquisition of oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245 in Nigeria.

The ministry said the prosecutors hid vital evidence that would have exonerated Eni.

In 2011, Royal Dutch Shell and Eni paid $1.3 billion to purchase an offshore oil field (OPL 245) from Malabu Oil and Gas, a company Dan Etete, former minister of petroleum, had major shares in.

It is alleged that about $1.1 billion was siphoned off to politicians and middlemen.

But an Italian court acquitted Shell, Eni and other defendants of corruption charges in the oil deal, after more than three years of court appearances.

According to Reuters, Milan prosecutors Fabio De Pasquale (pictured) and Sergio Spadaro were placed under official investigation by magistrates earlier this month for allegedly failing to file documents that would have supported Eni’s position.

The justice ministry, in a statement, said that it had decided to move in the wake of the judicial investigation and following criticism of the pair by the trial judges.

“The ministry has asked the inspectorate to carry out preliminary investigations to correctly reconstruct the facts by acquiring the necessary documents,” it said.

In papers filed on June 9, the judges criticised the way the prosecutors had carried out their work, saying they had failed to file with the trial documents a video shot by a former Eni external lawyer, which they said was relevant to the case.

Reuters reported that De Pasquale and Spadaro declined to comment on the latest development.
However, Milan’s attorney general said he supports the two men.



‘HIDING VITAL EVIDENCE’
Meanwhile, Mohammed Bello Adoke, who was the Nigerian attorney-general when the deal was signed in 2011, had earlier alleged that the Italian prosecutors hid vital evidence from the court which would have exonerated him of alleged bribery in the transaction.

Although Adoke was not on trial in Italy, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has put him on trial in Nigeria over allegations of money laundering.
Adoke alleged that the Italian prosecutors deliberately concealed his failed N300 million mortgage transaction with Unity Bank from the Milan court just to create the impression that he collected a bribe.

He also alleged that an email purportedly sent by him from the account of a property company mentioned in the OPL 245 payments was forged.

Adoke also alleged that a phone conversation was stage-managed to implicate him.
In it, somebody posing as Adoke was heard saying he knew the OPL 245 deal was “a presidential fraud”.
Following a petition by Adoke, the police quizzed Olanrewaju Suraju, chairman of HEDA, over allegations of forgery.

HEDA is the Nigerian partner of the international campaigners who helped the Italian prosecutors in the OPL 245 trial.
The Corner House, Re:Common and Global Witness worked with HEDA to generate global media publicity over the trial.
Suraju said the email attributed to Adoke was sourced from the Italian prosecutors, who are now likely to face trial for misconduct.



Source: TheCable
https://ngg.ng/hunter-hunted-italy-probes-opl-245-prosecutors-for-hiding-vital-evidence/

Imo west senator and former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha has described the agitation of secessionist group, Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) among others, as a challenge that started as a child’s play.

He said this when he granted a recent interview to BBC Hausa.

In the interview, the former Imo governor, speaking in Hausa language, lamented the spate of insecurity in the country, particularly the southeast region.

He berated those supporting calls for secession.

Okorocha emphasized that majority of the youths pushing the secession clamours are doing so because they want to be recognized. He identified frustration and the fact that there are no jobs for the youths, as the reason why the clamour for secession went this unbelievably loud.

He said the leaders in the various regions and across the country are afraid to speak against these secession agitators, for fear of being attacked.

While restating his commitment to the nonnegotiable unity of Nigeria by saying “for me, I stand for Nigeria and for the unity of Nigeria!”, he blamed the secession agitations on the careless talks of the leaders across the regions of the country who sometimes use tribalism as a means to gain cheap popularity within their regions.

“We have problem with our leaders all over the country. The careless talk they make, the children take it very serious. Leaders will say Igbos don’t like Hausa, Hausas don’t like yorubas, yorubas don’t like Igbos and so on.... these kids are hearing it and sometimes when politicians want to be voted they also tell their youth that this tribe doesn’t like that tribe so they can gain cheap popularity,” Okorocha said.


Attached is Facebook link to the video:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1115365412288990

Imo west Senator and former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha has told his fellow colleagues in the senate to let the electorates judge their performance in office as elected public office holders.

He said this during the 2nd anniversary of the ninth senate, on Wednesday on the floor of the senate.

“Despite our challenges and the situation we have found ourselves, we are still sitting here as a united Nigeria. To God be the glory.

“It is only a miracle of God that we are still seated here as senators.

“Every factor, every criteria that would have led to anger and situation that would have divided us, has not succeeded. We thank God Almighty.

“But as we catalogue our numerous achievements and the numerous great achievements of the 9th Senate, which I share in and congratulate you and congratulate my dear colleagues, I would like to say Mr President, that we do not forget that we are here because of the people, and we are elected by the people to serve the people, and we are here at their mercies.

“So the right people or the right persons that would have judged our performance, should have been the people.

“I say so because political power, whether legislature or executive, is but a trust. A trust that can only be justified when used for the benefit of the common man,” he said.

“This senate must rise and support the executive to address the issue of poverty and injustice in this nation,” he further added.

He urged his colleagues in the senate to make it a duty to assuage the people, to give the people hope at a trying time like this.

Speaking about the state of the nation, he lamented the spate of killings in the country particularly in the southeast and urged the senate to come up with efforts that will stop ethnic profiling and see to it that killers are separated from their tribal affiliations, this is as he emphasized that killing has no tribal affiliation, whether if the killer is Igbo or Fulani or any tribe at all.

Watch the speech in the YouTube link attached:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrEb6u9KQwo

Former National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Time Frank, on Friday urged the Federal Government to be wary of the ongoing antics of the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, aimed at down playing imminent threats to the nation’s oil facilities in the Niger Delta Region.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, accused Akpabio of plot to sell a red herring to Nigerians by pretending that the seven-day ultimatum handed down by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka, Tompolo, on the immediate reconstitution of a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or face dire consequences was a child’s play.

Tompolo had in a statement last Sunday warned that failure to inaugurate a board for the commission would lead to the total shutdown of oil facilities in the region, which will in turn cripple the economy of the country.

Frank urged the Federal Government to be aware that Akpabio’s meeting with Tompolo and other leaders of the region in Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom failed pacify the people to back down on their demands.

He noted that it was in the interest of the country for the Federal Government yo immediately constitute the board of the commission rather than risk a renewed anger of the people of the region.

Frank said: “Good enough, Tompolo and other leaders at the meeting made it clear to Akpabio that only the immediate reconstitution of the board of the intervention agency would make them to rescind their threats.

“However, notorious for his cosmetics approach, Akpabio would tell the Presidency that things are firmly under country.

“Let the Federal Government know that things are not under control and they will never be under control until the NDDC gets a substantive board and the ongoing scam forensic audit being championed by Akpabio is either concluded and findings made public or done away with.

“Tompolo and the entire people of Niger Delta whose overall destiny Akpabio has decided to toy with will not back down until their demands are met.

“Why is it taking the Minister so long to understand that he can no longer deceive the people of the region with his antics of inducements and hoodwink will not work this time? The people are wiser.

“Why is Akpabio scared of inaugurating a substantive board for the NDDC? Tompolo has proven and shown that he is a true son of the Niger Delta by insisting that his ultimatum must be complied with.

“Tompolo is a man of his words who will not trade off his people for a plate of porridge and this is what distinguishes him from others.

“His people believe in his capacity as a leader and a true son of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta at large”.

He called on the President, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to listen to the people of the Niger Delta and immediately, direct Akpabio to constitute a substantive board for the Commission with tangible input from the leaders and people of the Niger Delta region, especially notable elders and leaders including the governors.

The Bayelsa-born political activist added: “Akpabio has failed in his scheme and as such, he must allow for the proper and right thing for the NDDC to be done. He must not be allowed to produce any list purported to been drawn in consultation with the people.

“Finally, it is important to state that until the Federal Government accedes to the demands of the suffering people of the Niger Delta, the demands of leaders of the region stand.”

He urged the Federal Government to prevent untold consequences that may follow should they ignore the demands of Tompolo and the governors of the region.

He applauded the Deputy Governor of Delta state, Kingsley Otuaro, for his uncommon bravery and courage in speaking truth to power as represented by the Minister during the Oporoza meeting.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Wednesday, called on leaders of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) and all Niger Delta stakeholders to shun an emergency meeting being called by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday in Abuja.

He urged them to avoid any such meetings until the ultimatum given by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) for the reconstitution of a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is complied with by the Federal Government.

Frank, in a statement in Abuja, warned that the meeting summoned by Akpabio in Abuja is not in the good interest of the region.

He wondered why Akpabio, as minister of Niger Delta Affairs, should summon Ijaw leaders in particular and Niger Delta leaders in general to meet him in the Federal Capital Territory under the purview of another minister instead of holding such a parley in any of the Niger Delta states.

He insisted that the proposed meeting in Abuja was an insult on the people of Niger Delta, “particularly our father, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and members of the IYC and INC.”

The Bayelsa-born political activist added: “The purported meeting with our people in Abuja by Akpabio is a deliberate ploy to undermine and deceive the Ijaws and Niger Delta people as well as the Federal Government over his selfish and sinister agenda.

“The action of Akpabio is based on his plans to divert Nigerians’ attention from the ultimatum handed down by Tompolo where he called for the urgent reconstitution of a substantive board for the NDDC.

“The insincerity of Akpabio is responsible for his call on Niger Delta leaders to meet him in Abuja. Why did he fail to call this type of meeting before now, if truly, he is sincere and his purpose altruistic?

“If any such meeting is to be convened at all, it has be held in any of the Niger Delta states.
Akpabio cannot be sitting comfortably in Abuja and summon our elders and leaders like mere errand boys.

“The proposed meeting is an insult. If the purpose is genuine, he should have called for the meeting in any of the Niger Delta states.

“I therefore call on the INC and the IYC, including all Niger Delta stakeholders to shun the call for a meeting by Akpabio. Whoever attends this meeting will be doing against the interests and aspirations of the peoples of the Niger Delta.

“I am using this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to respect the ultimatum given by Tompolo as nothing will change the positions of Chief Clark, Niger Delta governors and other stakeholders who have demanded the sack of the illegal sole administrator of the NDDC and the immediate reconstitution of the board of the agency.”

He advised the presidency not to accept any position paper from Akpabio which he intends to use to cover the illegalities he has so far perpetrated in the NDDC and the region.

“We therefore, insist and stand by the demands of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo as stated in his ultimatum concerning the reconstitution of the NDDC Board.

“In the same vein, warn that all genuine and concerned sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region must ignore invitations already extended by Akpabio for a meeting with Niger Delta leaders on Friday in Abuja as he did not consult the governors of the region or Chief EK Clark, who is the father of the region.

“Akpabio only invited those on his payroll to the kangaroo meeting. Anybody who attends the meeting as called by Akpabio would be counted as one of the enemies of the good people of the Niger Delta region”, he said.

- ADVISES AGAINST UNGUARDED STATEMENTS

- SENDS HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY & GOVERNMENT OF ADAMAWA STATE.

- APPEALS TO LEADERS TO ALWAYS GUARD THEIR UTTERANCES ON SENSITIVE ISSUES, IN THE INTEREST OF THE NATION & HER PEOPLE.

- CALLS FOR WHOLISTIC INVESTIGATION TO UNRAVEL THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE MURDER OF THE POLITICIAN.



Former governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial Zone, Senator Rochas Okorocha has outrightly condemned the unfortunate murder of one of the front row politicians in this country, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, describing his death, as unfortunate and disheartening.

Senator Okorocha has also sent his heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaji Gulak and to the government of Adamawa State, over the death of the politician, explaining that, the nation at large and Adamawa State in particular, have lost a very vibrant politician.

He regretted that politics has in recent time, been allowed to eat deep into the fabric of the nations life, so much so that, when certain situations like the death of Gulak arise, leaders would foot-drag over what they should have ordinarily done or say, because of the needless political colourations some leaders have chosen to give to every incident.

Okorocha appealed to leaders and stakeholders, to always guard their utterances on sensitive issues, to avoid jeopardizing efforts being made by genuine leaders to stop the ugly story of insecurity in the Country, adding that, leaders should show their commitment to the campaign against insecurity through their utterances, actions and inactions.

Senator Okorocha calls for unmitigated investigation to unravel the motive or circumstances surrounding the killing of Gulak, adding that, the Inspector-General of Police should take over the investigation to ensure that a thorough job is done.

Okorocha regretted the spate of killings across the nation including his home State Imo, that had been peaceful before now, stating that, where the use of force or use of arms has failed, diplomacy, dialogue and God-given wisdom can be deployed.

He remarked that anybody or any leader trying to score cheap political point or gain, out of these killings, should be seen as very unpatriotic and called on such people to help the nation, by having a rethink, adding that the lives of Nigerians can not be equated with political gains.

Sam Onwuemeodo
Special Adviser (Media) to the former Imo State Governor and Senator Representing Imo West Senatorial District, Senator Rochas Okorocha.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Tuesday, advised the President, General Muhammadu Buhari, to heed the ultimatum handed down by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, on the immediate reconstitution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Tompolo had on Sunday issued a seven-day ultimatum to Buhari and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to reconstitute the NDDC board or face a major breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, enjoined Buhari to urgently address issues raised by the former Niger Delta warlord.

He described Tompolo as a well respected leader in the region who “hardly speaks but, when he does, keeps his words.”

Frank said his plea was in the best interest of the country that will be the biggest loser, should Buhari fail to act on the demands of Tompolo and other prominent youth leaders and elders in the region.

According the former chieftain of the APC, “High Chief Tompolo is not one of those Niger Delta leaders to be ignored. He hardly speaks but whenever he does, he is known to keep to his words.

“So, we advise the Federal Government to address the issues raised with all the urgency it deserves to avoid dire consequences.”

He called on the President, General Buhari to immediately sack Godswill Akpabio as the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs.

He insisted that Akpabio’s stint as Minister has brought only pains to the people of the region.

“Therefore, General Buhari should immediately sack the current Sole Administrator of the NDDC and appoint a substantive Board that will genuinely represent the people of the Niger Delta.

“The sack of Akpabio and the inauguration of a substantive board that will bring peace to the region has become imperative,” he said.

He added that before now, the Niger Delta Governors had demanded for a new NDDC Board and these calls have been supported by youth leaders, elders and all other stakeholders.

Frank said: “The only person that has opposed the reconstitution of the board is Akpabio, who is running a one man show and has turned the NDDC to his personal tank farm, reason, he is against the reconstitution of a new NDDC board.

“We are not just calling for his immediate sack, Akpabio should not to hide under the forensic audit as the new board will not stop the forensic audit.

“Akpabio is taking advantage of the poverty and hunger in the region to gather and induce leaders and youths to support his gross illegalities at the NDDC.

“We are well aware that since Tompolo made that statement, Akpabio has been making overtures towards him but we also know that Tompolo will not allow that to happen in the best interest and wellbeing of the people.

“We know him too well and also believe in his capabilities and capacity as a respected and highly recognized leader of the Ijaw nation and the people of the Niger Delta at large.

“Our father and leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and the governors of the region, including youth leaders have all lend their voices to the call for the reconstitution of the NDDC Board.

“This is why the federal government must, as a matter of urgency, listen to Tompolo as he is a man of his words, whenever he speaks.

“We have confidence in you, Tompolo. Don’t let us down in this ultimatum like other leaders that spoke in the past without action.

“People are looking forward to you because they believe in your leadership. Don’t backdown or withdraw.

“If the government fails to act after the ultimatum, back your words with necessary action.”

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Tuesday, advised the President, General Muhammadu Buhari, to heed the ultimatum handed down by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, on the immediate reconstitution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Tompolo had on Sunday issued a seven-day ultimatum to Buhari and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to reconstitute the NDDC board or face a major breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, enjoined Buhari to urgently address issues raised by the former Niger Delta warlord.

He described Tompolo as a well respected leader in the region who “hardly speaks but, when he does, keeps his words.”

Frank said his plea was in the best interest of the country that will be the biggest loser, should Buhari fail to act on the demands of Tompolo and other prominent youth leaders and elders in the region.

According the former chieftain of the APC, “High Chief Tompolo is not one of those Niger Delta leaders to be ignored. He hardly speaks but whenever he does, he is known to keep to his words.

“So, we advise the Federal Government to address the issues raised with all the urgency it deserves to avoid dire consequences.”

He called on the President, General Buhari to immediately sack Godswill Akpabio as the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs.

He insisted that Akpabio’s stint as Minister has brought only pains to the people of the region.

“Therefore, General Buhari should immediately sack the current Sole Administrator of the NDDC and appoint a substantive Board that will genuinely represent the people of the Niger Delta.

“The sack of Akpabio and the inauguration of a substantive board that will bring peace to the region has become imperative,” he said.

He added that before now, the Niger Delta Governors had demanded for a new NDDC Board and these calls have been supported by youth leaders, elders and all other stakeholders.

Frank said: “The only person that has opposed the reconstitution of the board is Akpabio, who is running a one man show and has turned the NDDC to his personal tank farm, reason, he is against the reconstitution of a new NDDC board.

“We are not just calling for his immediate sack, Akpabio should not to hide under the forensic audit as the new board will not stop the forensic audit.

“Akpabio is taking advantage of the poverty and hunger in the region to gather and induce leaders and youths to support his gross illegalities at the NDDC.

“We are well aware that since Tompolo made that statement, Akpabio has been making overtures towards him but we also know that Tompolo will not allow that to happen in the best interest and wellbeing of the people.

“We know him too well and also believe in his capabilities and capacity as a respected and highly recognized leader of the Ijaw nation and the people of the Niger Delta at large.

“Our father and leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and the governors of the region, including youth leaders have all lend their voices to the call for the reconstitution of the NDDC Board.

“This is why the federal government must, as a matter of urgency, listen to Tompolo as he is a man of his words, whenever he speaks.

“We have confidence in you, Tompolo. Don’t let us down in this ultimatum like other leaders that spoke in the past without action.

“People are looking forward to you because they believe in your leadership. Don’t backdown or withdraw.

“If the government fails to act after the ultimatum, back your words with necessary action.”

Staff of global leading media consultancy firm, Solution Media Global Ltd, have congratulated their CEO, Dr. Godspower Oshodin, on his conferment of a Doctorate Degree Award.

The staff of the media consultancy firm, in a goodwill message to the Swiss School of Business and Management Doctorate Degree award holder on Saturday, described him as a leader they have usually been inspired by his leadership qualities and tenacity to see goals through.

“On this yet another milestone of yours, we say a very big congratulation to you sir,” the goodwill message read.

Nigerian Poet, Godspower Oshodin bags Doctorate Degree Award from top Swiss Institute


Some Nigerians in diaspora keep flying the flag abroad, a narrative that proves that not all Nigerians abroad are bad eggs. 


Saturday, in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, congratulations were in order as they flowed freely for the Nigeria community  in Dubai as Nigerian poet and media enterprenuer, Godspower Oshodin, bagged a Doctorate Degree Award from Swiss School of Business and Management.


Godspower who was overwhelmed with joy, during his acceptance speech, said;

 “If truly want to grow trees, pray for rain, but never forget to water your seeds. Obviously, it is because I believe our seeds have started growing, that is why the impact is reflecting at this juncture to be awarded a Doctorate Honorary Degree.


“I am highly grateful to the Most High because He made this possible at this point in time, and I will like to extend my appreciations to the Council of the Swiss School of Business and Management, and MG Business Solutions Limited”. 


The awardee described the latest milestone of his, as “an exciting one”. He appreciated his fellow awardees who were at the ceremony at W-Dubai Hotel, and advised, saying “I believe it is not all about the degree, it’s all about the impact that you extend as a result of this”.


“I want to thank some of my friends who came around to support me, Ramah, Sasha Ray, Ikechukwu, I appreciate all of the moments. 


“I believe from here we are going to transcend into the next level and see how impactful we can be in giving hope to the next generation,” he further added.


Godspower Oshodin's book 'A Poet Who Died By His Poem' is presently make raves on various international book stores globally.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Timi
Frank, on Friday, condemned in strong terms the appointment of Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.

He called on Nigerians and the international community to hold Buhari responsible for bastardising the military and reducing its officers and men to armed guards rather than a well-trained and disciplined fighting force.

Frank in a statement in Abuja condemned the act saying it represents a gross violation of the Constitution, Federal Character Principle and a total negation of long cherished military traditions and values.

He lamented that the parochial elevation of Yahaya over and above his seniors is a direct hit against the military which will see senior, capable officers being purged through compulsory retirement as in the past and situation that would further weaken the nation’s security architecture.

Frank said: “We had believed that Buhari, as a retired General, would leverage his experience and tactical know-how to strengthen the nation’s security architecture. But he has failed woefully.

“Under Buhari’s administration, Nigeria has witnessed the weakest and most horrendous security situation largely due to his incompetence and his penchant to elevate incompetent and inexperienced Hausa/Fulani/Muslim junior officers to lord it over competent and experienced senior officers.

“We have seen this repeated over and over again in the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Customs Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to mention but a few.

“This, no doubt, has bred widespread distrust, discontent, disloyalty, low morale and lack of motivation among the Officer Corps of the military and other security agencies in the country

“This untoward and dangerous adventure of Buhari as Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, has concomitantly culminated in the deterioration of military discipline and willingness of the security forces to wholeheartedly confront insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements that daily make life unbearable for the average citizen.

“For instance, the recent appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya of Course 37 as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), invariably means that over 68 Majors-General of Course 35 and 36 in the Nigerian Army who are Yahaya’s seniors and still in service would either be retired compulsorily or stay and be bossed by a junior officer.

“Besides, General Yahaya, a junior officer, is now going to be rubbing shoulders with the present Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo – all of Course 35.”

The Bayelsa-born political activist lamented that the sudden elevation of Yahaya as COAS can be likened to a school principal who elevated a class monitor in JSS 3 to the position of Head Boy, to superintend over senior prefects in SSS 3 or appointing an Assistant Director as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation over and above Directors and Permanent Secretaries still in service.

According to him, Buhari has shown utter disdain for long held military tradition of subordination, discipline, obedience, decorum and regimental service.

He added: “By his actions, Buhari has consistently breached the Nigerian constitution, the Armed Forces Act and the much cherished seniority in military service, no thanks to the rubber-stamp members of 9th National Assembly that have reneged on their oaths of office which they swore “…that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria…” and not the President.

“Little wonder that the Nigerian military that once soared like eagle above their enemies, both locally and internationally, have since been reduced to lame ducks being daily wasted when confronted by the operational and tactical maneuvering of rag-tag insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.

“Little wonder that in almost six years of Buhari’s administration, the insecurity in the country has continued to oscillate from frying-pan to fire.”

He called on Nigerians and the international community to hold Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) regime responsible for the double jeopardy of unnecessary deaths, destruction of property, distorted educational calendar, kidnapping, poverty and hunger that now pervades the country.
https://ngg.ng/coas-yahaya-timi-frank-urges-nigerians-to-hold-buhari-responsible-for-destroying-the-military/

…Asks EFCC to investigate him


Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the suspension of the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, to enable him face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged looting of N1.5 trillion and $9.5 million dollars belonging to the agency.

The party in the statement described the reported NIMASA fraud as “yet another sad episode of the unending tale of stinking rot in the Buhari-led APC administration, where officials, relations, cronies and persons close to Mr. President have engaged in shameless treasury looting under the protective cover of government”.

The PDP asserts that in allowing the “embattled NIMASA DG” to continue to stay in office, in the face of these humongous fraud allegations, the Buhari Presidency has further heightened apprehensions in the public space that it is shielding fraudulent individuals because of their reported closeness to Mr. President.

The statement which was signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday by Kola Ologbodiyan, Sokesperson of the party, read; “it is despicable that the Buhari administration that promised zero tolerance for corruption is rather the sanctuary for treasury looters, who as ministers, presidential aides, heads of parastatals, APC leaders and their relatives are daily pillaging the coffers of ministries, department and agencies and stealing trillions of naira belonging to the Nigerian people.

“Earlier this month, our nation was jolted by the revelation of a $65 million (N31 billion) fraud in the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), in which President Buhari’s reportedly estranged son in-law, Gimba Yau Kumo, was involved.

“This FMBN revelation came on the heels of allegations of looting of over N165 billion in the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) under the ministerial purview of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the suspended Director General, Hadiza Bala Usman.

“This is in addition to allegations of involvement of the wife of the transportation minister in the exposed N48 billion contract scam currently rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)”.

Furthermore, the party said; “It is saddening that under President Buhari, ministries and agencies of government, including FIRS, NNPC, NEMA, NPA, NIMASA, NHIS, among others, are now Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) from which avaricious officials and APC leaders have stolen over N17 trillion in the last six years, while our nation wallows in poverty, economic hardship and infrastructural decay.

“Now that the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Jamoh, had yielded to the demands of investigation by the EFCC, our party holds that he should immediately step aside so that the anti-graft agency will have unhindered access to vital documents on the matter”.

The PDP urged the EFCC not to give in to blackmails but move in and commence a rounded investigation on the alleged fraud in NIMASA, including the reported movement of public funds from the Treasury Single Account to private individuals, using the agency as a cover.
https://ngg.ng/n1-5tr-fraud-allegation-pdp-demands-nimasa-dgs-suspension/