Corona must go

hmm

Hope they make good of the money

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) led by its Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, on Tuesday, paid a solidarity visit to Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, over the release of the abducted Kankara schoolboys.

The delegation included Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Kebbi’s Abubakar Bagudu.

Addressing journalists after meeting with the Katsina state governor, Fayemi said the forum was tired and frustrated by the security situation in the country.

He said with concerted efforts on the part of the governors and commitment from the federal government and professional conduct of security services “and our social investment intensified, we shall see the end of this criminality in our states.”

“We believe as the NGF, we don’t have to be tough only on kidnapping and banditry and criminality generally but we also have to be tough on the root causes of these problems.

“Social inequality and poverty are key issues and we need to be able to ensure that our states pry away our young people from the merchants of death who are using them as cannon fodders for this criminal brigandage.

https://dailytrust.com/governors-visit-masari-vows-to-tackle-insecurity-holistically

AFederal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the objections raised by the federal government and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources challenging the suit filed over the Malabu oil deal dispute.

Justice Binta Nyako, yesterday, dismissed the preliminary objections for lack of merit.

Also, dismissed were similar objections by Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd and Nigeria Agip Exploration Company Ltd, who are all defendants in the suit.

The defendants had arrived that the matter had become statute-barred having been filed outside three months of the cause of action.

But Justice Nyako held that the cause of action borders on an issue that is continuous.

Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd through its witness, Mohammed Sani Abacha and counsel, Reuben Atabo Esq, brought the action over the disputed Resolution Agreement of April 29, 2011, on Block 245.

The case has been adjourned to March 9 for hearing.

https://dailytrust.com/malabu-oil-court-dismisses-fgs-objection-fixes-hearing-for-march-9

The Federal Government on Tuesday clarified that it has not declared a fresh lockdown of the country following confirmation of a second wave of COVID-19.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave this clarification when he featured on a Radio Nigeria programme, “Politics Nationwide’’, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The minister said the directives and position of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 at its briefing on Monday, did not translate to partial or total lockdown as reported in some sections of the media.

He allayed the fears of Nigerians and some listeners that called-in during the programme that a lockdown might have negative effects on the already stressed economy.

Mohammed explained that what the Federal Government had done was to reduce the chances of mass gathering by directing its workers from Level 12 below to work from home.

He said the government also reiterated already existing ban on night clubs and other COVID-19 protocols.

“The Federal Government has not declared a fresh lockdown.

“What we have done is that we have simply reiterated the old protocols and asked federal workers on Level 12 and below to stay at home and they will still receive their salaries.

“Lagos state has equally asked their level 14 workers and below to work from home and Kaduna state has done the same.

“Therefore, there is no fresh lockdown and the issue of hardship and economy meltdown does not arise,’’ he said.

The minister said that the government also reminded Nigerians that the ban on social gathering is still on and Churches and Mosques should obey the social gathering rules.

He said the directive is to curtail people from gathering because they found out that COVID had reached level of community transmission.

Mohammed said the protocols on foreign travels subsist to the effect that those travelling to Nigeria would not be able to come on board unless they have the certificate that they tested negative for the virus.

He said when they arrive into the country, they must self-isolate for seven days after which they would go back for confirmation test. (NAN)

https://dailytrust.com/no-fresh-lockdown-over-covid-19-fg-clarifies

h

Good

Family members, friends and associates of the late former Chief of Defence Staff and former Minister of Defence, Gen. Domkat Yah Bali, on Monday said they had no reason to mourn the deceased because they were optimistic he was already resting in heaven.

Bali, who served as minister of defence and member of the Supreme Military Council between 1984 and 1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985 to 1990, died on Friday, December 4, after a brief illness at the age of 80.

Speaking at a church service organised in honour of the late senior military officer at COCIN, Area 1, Abuja, his wife, Esther Bali, said she dreamt about her late husband in a white garment – meaning he’s with God.

Narrating how they started as husband and wife, Mrs Bali recalled that the journey was rough and tough but they were able to surmount them all through patience, love, endurance and perseverance.

Also speaking, a close associate of the late general, who lost his wife in April this year, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, said family members, associates and other dignitaries had no reason to feel sad or mourn.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, recalled how she met late Bali through her late husband whom she disclosed were friends right from school in their childhood days.

https://dailytrust.com/why-we-cant-mourn-gen-bali

The devil hand work

Good development

Re-read the first paragraph carefully

googlepikins:
Misleading headline, it's different from the write-up

In this year, prominent Nigerians especially in the presidency made many controversial statements that would continue to linger in the minds of the populace for many years. Our correspondent, Faruk Shuaibu chronicles some of the remarks that raised dust in the polity.

Zabarmari: Shehu’s security clearance for farmers

Following the killings of over 76 farmers in Zabarmari, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by Boko Haram, the nation was in mourning when President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in an interview with BBC’s Hausa service asked rhetorically if the farmers had clearance before visiting the farm.

Aftermath of Massacre: What has changed for the rice farmers of Zabarmari?
When asked if the farmers were to be blamed for their death, he responded, “Not exactly, but the truth has to be said. Is there any clearance by the military, which is in total control of those areas? I have been told by the military leaders that they have not been so advised.”

He added that since there is no military presence in every corner of the regained territories even though people are ready to go back, some of the areas have been mined, thus, “mine clearance has to be carried out first.”

‘Divider-in-Chief’

Before the Zabarmari incident the presidential spokesperson was in the news when he tongue-lashed former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In September, Obasanjo had after reviewing the state of the nation accused President Buhari of mismanaging the country’s socio-economic development as old fault lines that were disappearing “are popping up under him.

In his reaction, Garba Shehu countered Obasanjo, saying “the difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief.” Considering the status of Obasanjo as a respected elder statesman in the country and Africa at large, eyebrows were raised.

‘Only 10 Katsina students were abducted’

The biggest of all was Garba Shehu’s claim on the abduction of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.

Like COVID-19, the claim by Garba Shehu will linger in the minds of Nigerians for a long time. On the day, the state governor, Aminu Bello Masari disclosed that 333 students were kidnapped, Garba Shehu punctured it, saying only 10 of the students were ferried away by the bandits. However, the statement turned out to be untrue as 344 students were released by the bandits on Thursday.

A day after the schoolboys were released, the presidential spokesperson took to his Twitter handle to apologise for the inaccurate figure he gave to the public, saying it was not in any way to downplay the seriousness of the issue but that he was misinformed.

A one-man army – Adesina

The controversial statement is not limited to Garba Shehu, it revolves around the presidential spokespersons. A former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ango Abdullahi, had knocked the present administration over its poor management of insecurity in the country.

Prof. Abdullahi who is also the Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, (NEF) had expressed sadness that “poverty is getting rife in the north where the president hails.”

Responding, a presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, described the group as a one-man army without credible members and had antipathy against President Buhari, due to their preference for another candidate in the 2019 election.

Adesina’s words; “Hearing that title, you would think the body was a conglomeration of true elders. But the truth is that NEF is just Ango Abdullahi and Ango Abdullahi is NEF.

“It is a quasi-organisation that boasts of no credible membership. We are not surprised by this latest statement by Prof. Abdullahi, and our past position on what his group represents remains unchanged: a mere irritant and featherweight.”

IGP should release my staff – Aisha Buhari

Another controversial statement in the presidency was the one by the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari. In a tweet, she urged the Inspector General of Police to free some of her staff detained during a standoff with the president’s aide and nephew Sabiu Yusuf, popularly known as Tunde. Gunshots were fired in the villa at the climax of the fisticuff.

She said, “That COVID-19 is real and still very much around in our nation is not in doubt. Consequently, I call on all relevant government agencies to enforce the Quarantine Act signed by Mr. President and ensure no one is found violating this law and the NCDC guidelines especially on interstate travel without the necessary exemptions for the movement of essentials. Anyone who does that should at the very least be made to undergo a 14-day mandatory isolation no matter who the person is, no one should be above the law and the Police command will do well to remember that.

“Finally, I call on the IGP to release my assigned staff who are still in the custody of the police in order to avoid putting their lives in danger or expose them to COVID-19 while in their custody.”

Amotekun is illegal – Malami

At the peak of the moves by the South-West governors to establish Amotekun, a security outfit in the region to tackle the rising insecurity in the area, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami labelled it as illegal.

Specifically, Malami said; “The setting up of the paramilitary organisation called “Amotekun” is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the Army, Navy and Airforce, including the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria.”

Citing the above reasons, he stated that “No state government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organisation or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts.

As such, “it is sanctioned by the provision of Item 45 of the Second Schedule of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) authorizing the Police and other Federal Government security services established by law to maintain law and order.”

He maintained that if the governor’s had consulted his office, he would have provided them with proper information and guidance. However, Amotekun has seen the light of the day. It has been established by the state governors after the state lawmakers gave it legal backing through the enactment of laws.

https://dailytrust.com/presidency-controversial-statements-of-2020

Kano State government says it will construct about 5,000 housing units for teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, disclosed this weekend during a stakeholders meeting in Kano.

He said the project was to provide decent accommodation for teachers and their families.

It would be implemented jointly by the state government, Family Homes Funds and the Federal Mortgage Bank, he added.

“Each of the 36 rural local governments will have 100 housing units while the remaining eight metropolitan local governments will have 150 housing units each,” the governor said.

He, however, pointed out that participation in the scheme, which would commence in 2021, would be optional and the beneficiaries would pay for the houses in easy instalments.

https://dailytrust.com/ganduje-to-build-5000-houses-for-teachers

Kano State government says it will construct about 5,000 housing units for teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, disclosed this weekend during a stakeholders meeting in Kano.

He said the project was to provide decent accommodation for teachers and their families.

It would be implemented jointly by the state government, Family Homes Funds and the Federal Mortgage Bank, he added.

“Each of the 36 rural local governments will have 100 housing units while the remaining eight metropolitan local governments will have 150 housing units each,” the governor said.

He, however, pointed out that participation in the scheme, which would commence in 2021, would be optional and the beneficiaries would pay for the houses in easy instalments.

https://dailytrust.com/ganduje-to-build-5000-houses-for-teachers

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and recall its certificate of registration given that it allegedly has no operational structures as required by law.

This followed the dissolution of ward and state executives of the APC by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, also asked INEC to declare the seats of all lawmakers elected on the platform of APC at the federal and state levels as vacant and commence the process of by-election to fill the seats, as required by law.

The PDP said, “The APC being overburdened by the weight of failure, humongous corruption as well as the plagues of economic recession, violence, killings and hardship it has brought to our people, forcefully exited itself from the nation’s political firmament by dissolving all its national, zonal and state structures.”

“With this exit, December 8, 2020 has gone into the history of our nation as liberation day, especially given the spontaneous jubilation by Nigerians over this step towards political oblivion by a political party that has brought so much pain on them.

“Furthermore, government agencies, civil society organizations as well as the international community should immediately gazette the APC as a defunct political organization in our country.

“Nevertheless, the PDP invites all leaders of the fizzled APC to get ready to answer Nigerians for their misdeeds, and not to think they can get away with their atrocities by forming or joining another political party,” the PDP added.

APC kicks

But reacting, the APC in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena said, “the PDP leadership has gone senile”, adding it was a beer parlour rant.

“Our democracy is in desperate need of opposition. If the PDP assumes this as its standard of opposition politics, then our democracy is in danger. It is now clear that the PDP’s disillusion following their rejection by Nigerians in the 2011 and 2019 general elections has degenerated into senility.

“It is common knowledge that the PDP leadership is currently facing a serious crisis of confidence as a result of it rudderless leadership. However, it will seem that the PDP crisis has been grossly underplayed. How does one explain the public rebuke by the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus to stay clear of the party’s reconciliation efforts?

“With the PDP as the supposed ‘main opposition’ lacking the capacity to provide rigorous and intelligent interrogation of the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, we reiterate our frustration that the PDP is pushing Nigeria into a one-party state which the APC does not subscribe to.

“In place of the failed PDP, we repeat our call to other opposition parties to seize the opportunity and play the true role of opposition which our democracy and governance needs to flourish.

“Finally, it is commendable that the PDP has taken a keen interest in the APC’s internal party processes, particularly the virtual APC National Executive Committee (NEC) held on Tuesday. However, it is our sincere hope that the PDP learns a thing or two on proper party management, progressive politics and internal democracy. The PDP can start by paying its staff salaries,” the ruling party said.

https://dailytrust.com/pdp-asks-inec-to-deregister-ruling-apc

The spokesperson of House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia,) has described the call for President Muhammadu Buhari’s removal as a lone agenda of Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers).

In a statement on Monday, Kalu stated that the attention of the House and its leadership had been drawn to the press release by Kingsley Chinda, titled “Nigeria saddled with the circus” published in most dailies on the 6th of December, 2020, calling on constituents irrespective of political party, tribe or religion to compel their representatives to commence impeachment process against the president.

He said the opinion of a single member of the opposition party in the house had been misinterpreted as the voice of the entire House of Representatives when it does not represent the weakest opinion of the minority-caucus of the 9th House.

“Even among the minority caucus, Hon Kingsley Chinda lost the opportunity to speak for the entire minority when he lost the minority leadership election to Hon Ndudi Elumelu, the minority leader of the 9th Assembly, a wound that has refused to heal.

“It is the structure of the minority caucus leadership and majority caucus leadership that is recognised by the house as any statement not emanating from these and the spokesperson of the house does not, in any way reflect either the minority, majority or general position of the 9th House of Representatives and should be disregarded like his other divisive, distracting, destabilising and destructive positions.

“Just last week, the speaker warned the media to desist from ascribing to the house the opinion of a single member, since we have a spokesperson,” he said.

According to him, the motive behind Chinda’s press release as well as the timing leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of most progressives who were instructed by their constituents to request for an interaction with the president.

Kalu noted that many Nigerians thought it was not possible for the President to address the House seeing that in the history of Nigeria’s recent democracy none of the past presidents honoured the parliamentary request for an interactive session and none of the past leaderships of the assembly was able to use parliamentary back channel diplomacy, like it was adopted and applied by the current leadership to secure the acceptance of the President to the invitation.

“If this call came post President’s visit for the failure to dialogue well enough in securing solutions or due to his inability to put our positions to use, it would appear logical.

“This call is not only illogical, it appears as a tool strategically thrown up to disrupt the agenda of the coming visit with all it sets out to achieve in the spirit of nation building which remains the mantra of the 9th Assembly and is considered a joint task,” Kalu added.

Wrongful call

According to the Spokesperson, in view of the 9th Assembly stand , the call was made wrongfully to distract the members whose minds are set on the visit and the expected achievements.

“It is surprising, that Hon Kingsley Chinda, was among those who insisted on the invitation of the president , probably expecting a gross disregard from the president who surprisingly broke the jinx and kindly obliged our request.

“Isn’t it obvious that apparently shocked by the acceptance of Mr. President , he is on a new lonely voyage of personal agenda strange to the legislative agenda of the house and leadership.

“Where was his constitutional impeachment voice when his previous presidents of PDP extractions were invited but ignored the house , wondering why he is just remembering his constitution now that a president is coming to accept our inputs to the solutions he is seeking.

“I therefore, assure Nigerians that having asked us to invite Mr President , which we have done , you should be patient to wait for the outcome of our meeting, before been misled by a alone voice on the frolic of his own, whose private opinion in no way represents the position of the House of Representatives.

“We have only invited Mr. President for an interactive session and cannot be distracted by those with other self not house motivated agenda,” he added.

It could be recalled that, Rep. Chinda had in a statement on behalf of the PDP House Caucus on Sunday urged constituents to compel their representatives in the House to beging impeachment prosess against the President.

“We call on Nigerians across tribe, religion and political party to wake up their National Assembly Members” and compel them to commence impeachment process against President Buhari to save Nigeria,”Chinda advised.

https://dailytrust.com/call-for-buharis-sack-a-lone-voyage-by-chinda-house-spokesperson

Politicians know how to waste money because they do not suffer for it

hmmm

Corruption don finish this country called Nigeria

Mr Bubu is just wasting time and resources

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Gombe State at the weekend rescued a 35-year-old woman allegedly kept in captivity by her relatives at a family house for over five months.

Saratu Ayuba of Bolari quarters in Gombe metropolis was rescued following a tip off by neighbours, after they learnt of the inhuman condition she was subjected to.

She was locked up in a bedroom by her elder brothers for over five months, after she was alleged to have conceived and delivered a baby girl outside wedlock.

Witnesses said Saratu was chained and locked up alongside her two-month-old daughter inside an unhygienic, single room at their family house at Bolari quarters in the metropolis.

Saratu, who appeared visibly emaciated without proper clothing, said she was only fed with tea and bread once a day for the last five months she had been locked up in the room.

Due to her unhealthy condition, she couldn’t produce enough breast milk to feed her daughter, she said.

She said her former husband was responsible for the pregnancy, adding that he did it deliberately to force her brothers to get her back to his house. She said her former husband “mistakenly” divorced her twice.

She said she has two other children, Alkasim, 10 and Fatima, 8, from her first marriage.

However, Saratu’s elder brother, Muhammad Tajudden, told newsmen that they locked her in the room after she was diagnosed of a mental illness.

https://dailytrust.com/nscdc-rescues-woman-from-5-month-house-arrest-in-gombe

* It’s baseless – APC lawmakers
* Don’t blame president for escalating insurgency – Gov Badaru

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has called on Nigerians to compel their representatives in the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

Leader of the caucus, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), in a statement yesterday, said Buhari should be impeached for gross incompetence and his continued breach of Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution.

The PDP caucus wants members of the Federal Executive Council to invoke the provisions of Section 144 (1) of the Constitution by declaring the President incapable of discharging the functions of the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the caucus, the section provides, “The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office, if – by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority if all the members of the executive council of the Federation, it is declared that the President or Vice-President is incapable of discharging the functions of his office.”

The lawmakers said, “Nigerians are daily and defencelessly killed by terrorists and bandits, while the economy is being freely bled by public officers.”

The caucus stated that the reactions of the presidency and the military to killings of farmers in Zambarmari in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, highlight, “crassness and lame-duck attitude that has for the past five years come to define the Buhari presidency.”

The PDP caucus noted that the body language of the government was worrisome as it emboldens terrorists in the country.

It regretted that, “Northern Nigeria has long become the vortex of massacres. From Buni Yadi, Gamboru, Baga, Gwoza, Shiroro, Konduga, Kawuri, Southern Kaduna to Benue and certainly everywhere else in Nigeria, lives are being snatched by insurgents, bandits and kidnappers who have no respect for the sanctity of life.

“While President Buhari idles in the typical fashion of Emperor Nero as our country burns, questions must be asked about his capacity to lead at a time that our country desires robust and responsible leadership that can pull it from the brink and rescue it from the insurgents, terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.

“President Buhari is unwilling to provide leadership to our fast collapsing country. Rather than take the proverbial bull by the horn, President Buhari ensconces himself in Aso Rock, typical of a mourner-in-chief, and issues press statements that make no meaning to a grieving nation.

“We call on Nigerians across tribe, religion and political party to wake up their National Assembly members and compel them to commence the impeachment process against President Buhari to save Nigeria,” it said.



It’s baseless – Doguwa

Contacted, Majority Leader of the House, Alhassan Doguwa, described as baseless the call for the president’s impeachment.

“It’s baseless and unpatriotic of the PDP Caucus to call for the impeachment of Mr. President at this critical period of our democratic journey. After all, the unfortunate security situation we now found ourselves was the result of the PDP 16 years misrule in Nigeria.

“Our scheduled engagements with Mr. President would definitely provide unprecedented solutions to these precarious situation. The APC government in conjunction with the leadership of the National Assembly are genuinely committed to fighting insecurity in Nigeria. And we shall by God’s grace bring the nefarious activities of insurgents to a complete end,” Doguwa said in a phone interview.



Don’t blame Buhari for escalating insurgency – Badaru

But the Jigawa State Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has said that President Buhari should not be blamed for the escalating insurgency in the country, urging Nigerians to instead pray for the president.

The governor, while speaking at the commissioning of the 42.5 kilometre Balangu-Auno road, said the president has done more to contain the Boko Haram insurgency, adding that those accusing the president of inaction were not being fair to him.

The governor’s remark is coming against the backdrop of the mounting calls on the president to resign for allegedly failing to curb the insurgency in the North-East as well as armed banditry and kidnapping in some parts of the country.

Though the governor admitted that the country was going through its worst insurgency, he wants those blaming Buhari for the insurgency to rather think twice, saying no leader would want to see those he is superintending being killed.

Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, who commissioned the road, described Badaru as a pacesetter in the judicious use of resources for the betterment of the people, noting that with the commissioning of the road, economic activities would be boosted.

https://dailytrust.com/insecurity-pdp-reps-caucus-calls-for-buharis-impeachment

hmmm

Mr Tinubu abi?