₦airaland Forum

By JUMI RHODES

The Labour Party governorship candidate in the Oyo 2015 guber election and former Oyo State governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala has dumped his party for All Progressives Congress(APC). Going by reports, Alao-Akala held the final meeting with leaders and his followers at his Bodija residence in Ibadan yesterday where he announced his plan to defect to the ruling party. To this end, all his followers in their respective wards across the state are to join APC. The formal declaration for Alao-Akala's defection is expected to hold in 2016. it is imperative to note that the former governor has been attending some APC programmes lately and was spotted with ex-Osun governor/APC chieftain Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola at the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi's coronation ceremony.



http://dawntodusknews.com/ex-oyo-governor-alao-akala-dumps-labour-party-joins-apc/

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At the coronation ceremony of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi which held on Monday, 7th December 2015, one of the dignitaries who attended was Satguru Maharaj Ji, the founder and spiritual leader of One Love Family.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pic-sat-guru-maharaj-ji-steps-out-at-ooni-of-ifes-coronation/

Former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, has described as horrible, revolting, nasty and totally false, the claim by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chairman in newspapers that he (Ibori) approached Ribadu with $15 million to stop his investigation.



In a statement, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, media aide to Chief Ibori, said: “Ibori’s first reaction was to once again overlook the wild claim as Ribadu appears to be back at his game. As the Senate and some security agencies appear to be asking questions about some unwholesome events at the EFCC, including the mismanagement and criminal diversion of funds from the sale of confiscated property into personal pockets, Ribadu may have a need to attempt to burnish his fading image, fearing the investigations may ask questions about events during his tenure.



"But he should be told that lying against even an enemy, just to gain some unearned applause and perhaps fence off some approaching investigation and image disaster, must have a limit.Ribadu claimed in the stories that ‘Ibori approached me with $15 million to stop his investigation. I called my people because the money was in big bags, which two people could not carry and we deposited it in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as evidence against him.


“This nonsensical statement has remained in the public domain only because some people have suspended their sense of disbelief and condemned themselves to every hogwash that Ribadu invents in the attempt to spruce himself up in borrowed plums. It is on record that Ribadu has made at least five statements over this same claim, and no single one agreed with the other. Also, both Ibrahim Lamorde (the immediate past EFCC Chairman) and one James Garba, a CBN staff then seconded to the EFCC, made police statements which contradicted Ribadu’s. Even Senator Andy Uba said in a statement that EFCC collected the said money from his house.


“Nigerians should know that it was the money from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term tenure elongation bid that was dressed up as a bribe just to demonize Ibori. Some $5 billion were employed to bribe the national and state legislatures to support the accursed project, with certain individuals receiving from N50 to N200 million. The attempt to shoot Ibori down began in 2003, when some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors were opposed to Obasanjo’s second term bid. That money, sourced from wherever, was used against Ibori, as part of that long-time bring Ibori down project. We challenge any newspaper or magazine to check all the statements on this bribery allegation and see how each of them, including Ribadu’s five different statements, howls to Ribadu himself: “you are a damned liar.”


http://dawntodusknews.com/james-ibori-to-nuhu-ribadu-on-15m-bribery-you-are-a-damned-liar/

By JUMI RHODES



The undergraduate student Nkiruka Anthonia Ikeanyionwu who was killed during the recent Biafra protest in Onitsha is to be buried this week. The 20-year-old Nkiruka was a 200-Level student of the Federal College of Education(FCE), Umunze in Anambra State. Her funeral rites will begin on Tuesday, 8th December 2015 with a Christian wake-keep at Amaolu village, Adazi-Nnukwu Aniocha LGA in Anambra. On Wednesday, the funeral service will hold after which she will be interred immediately.



http://dawntodusknews.com/details-lady-killed-in-onitsha-during-biafra-protest-for-burial/

Source: Reuters

Nigeria's government is breaking up an all-encompassing oil bill that has been stuck in parliament for years, replacing it first with a law to overhaul the state sector which aims to close loopholes that bred corruption, according to a draft seen by Reuters.

Under the draft legislation, the state oil giant NNPC will be split in two - rather than a series of units as envisaged by the stalled 2012 bill - including a National Oil Company that will be run on commercial lines and partly privatized.

Africa's biggest oil producer has been trying to pass a new oil law for years but lawmakers have never agreed on every aspect of the 200-page Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

In November, the petroleum minister said the government was working on a new PIB that would probably be passed in sections, particularly the thorny issue of a new tax regime that has been criticized by major international oil firms.

The inability to pass a law and uncertainty around taxation has stunted investment in the west African nation, particularly in deep-water oil and gas fields. Now the government hopes that by submitting a series of bills, individually more modest in scope than the 2012 PIB, it will have a better chance of winning parliamentary approval and reforming the sector.

The first new bill, drafted by the Senate and overseen by the oil ministry, is entitled "Petroleum Industry Governance and Institutional Framework Bill 2015" and aims to create "commercially oriented and profit driven petroleum entities".

It is expected to be presented to senators this week.

The bill repeals the act that created NNPC that contained legal gray areas that allowed mismanagement to go unchecked and billions of dollars in revenues to go seemingly unaccounted for as operating costs rocketed.

Some noticeably problematic amendments are absent from this bill, such as allowing the oil minister to decide what to do with any surplus or allowing the Nigerian president to allocate oil blocks for exploration.

But it remains to be seen whether further add-ons to the bill or later decisions will reconcile the conflict between what the new state oil companies need to run and what they should remit to the treasury.

"The bill leaves open lots of questions around what roles the new national oil companies will play in the sector, and how they will receive and manage money," Aaron Sayne, a U.S. lawyer who focuses on the Nigerian energy sector, said.

"But one can sense more strategic thinking behind it than in past drafts, and the bill does a better job than its predecessors of saying who will take key decisions after it becomes law."

Under the Nigerian constitution, NNPC is supposed to hand over its revenues to the federal government, which then returns what the firm needs to operate based on a budget approved by parliament. However, the act establishing the state firm allows it to cover costs before remitting funds, in effect enabling it to do what it wants with the cash.

Shortly after taking office in May, President Muhammadu Buhari described state coffers as "virtually empty" despite years of record high oil prices that lasted until mid-2014. Oil sales account for 70 percent of government revenues.

The institutional changes in the new draft have been greatly simplified from the 2012 PIB that created many new regulators and broke up the oil company into separate downstream (refining and retail), upstream oil and gas companies.

Instead, NNPC will be split into two: the Nigeria Petroleum Assets Management Co (NPAM) and a National Oil Company (NOC).

REMOVING STATE OBSTACLES

The NOC will be an "integrated oil and gas company operating as a fully commercial entity", the document states, and will run like a private company.

The onus will be on its board to make profits and raise its own funding. The NOC will keep its revenues, deduct costs directly and pay dividends to the government, although the bill does not elaborate on the details.

In theory, trimming NNPC down into two leaner companies could solve a chronic funding problem. Part of Nigeria's oil output comes from joint ventures with foreign and local companies in which NNPC holds the majority stake. However, NNPC is always behind on covering its share of costs owing to the slow pace of government approvals.

To start off, the NOC will receive about $5 billion, or at least the five-year average of the amount of money NNPC had to put into joint venture operations. In October, NNPC estimated it owed around $6 billion to oil companies.

The new NOC will also be partially privatized. At least 30 percent of NOC shares will be divested within six years of its incorporation.

NPAM is expected to manage assets "where the government is not obligated to provide any upfront funding". These include oil licenses run under production-sharing agreements in which independent oil companies cover operating costs and pay tax and royalties on output.

Compared with previous PIB drafts, the law curtails ministerial powers as board appointments are made by the Nigerian president and confirmed by the Senate.

If passed, the law would also create a Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) to oversee everything from oil license bid rounds to fuel prices. Previously, regulation was split between many bodies with ill-defined roles, leading NNPC to act in part as its own watchdog in a conflict of interest.

A Special Investigation Unit would also be set up under the NPRC with the powers to seize items and make arrests without a warrant.



http://dawntodusknews.com/fg-moves-to-split-nnpc-in-two-reviews-petroleum-industry-bill-pib/

By JUMI RHODES



Less than 36 hours after popular TV/radio gal Toke Makinwa stepped out with her husband Maje Ayida at the 2015 Future Awards, it seems the sexy presenter is beginning to get her groove back. Amid being bashed by some of her Instagram followers, Toke took to Twitter with some lines about happenings in her life. According to her tweets," When you understand grace, you'll understand gratitude even more. Hmmmm!!! Grace so gracious, sweet baby Jesus. You never go through anything in vain, take the pain and learn the lessons. Still working! Tired but pushing it".


http://dawntodusknews.com/toke-makinwa-lifes-experiences-can-be-painful-learn-the-lessons/

Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has for the first time expressed frustration with the inability of Nigeria to investigate and punish all who were implicated in the Halliburton bribery case during his tenure as boss of the anti-graft agency. Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Ribadu said none of the top Nigerian culprits implicated in the $1.5 billion bribery scandal had been questioned and jailed in Nigeria while others from other countries were already serving various jail terms.


According to Ribadu, of the amount involved, top Nigerians got a total of $184 million within 10 years from an Italian firm that got a $6 billion gas project job in Nigeria. The case cost Halliburton $1.5 billion in fines in the United States. In his words, Ribadu said: “I first got hint of the case in France. I got back home and tried to investigate the case but it was very difficult or probably impossible because the companies were not here in Nigeria, they didn’t have account there, the people were not there. They had left.



“I rushed back to Paris. I was in Paris many times. I put in a request letter but after a year of trying to get French authorities to help us, the investigating magistrate told me that they could not get anyone to translate my letter from English to French. I knew it was a hopeless case.” Ribadu added that after failing to get Italy and Japan to help, he opted to go to the United States even though Dick Cheney, the then US vice president, was on the board of Halliburton.



Ribadu further said: “The Department of Justice in the United States took up the case. They investigated and prosecuted the case. They placed a fine of over $1.5 billion on the company, the biggest in the world for corporate corruption. But the sad aspect is this, in my own country, where the criminal activity took place, not a single person was made to face justice, especially after I was asked to leave my position. Sadly, Nigeria did not make a dollar out of it."


http://dawntodusknews.com/ex-efcc-boss-nuhu-ribadu-why-investigating-1-5bn-halliburton-bribery-scandal-was-frustrating/

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"Memories turn to dust, please don't bury us. I got you, I got you", Toke Makinwa tweeted earlier today shortly before the news of reconciliation with her husband Maje Ayida resurfaced. Since the couple parted ways in June 2015 after their marriage in January 2014, they have not been spotted together. But at the ongoing Future Awards Africa 2015 in Lagos, Maje Ayida and Toke Makinwa stepped out together, laying to rest controversies trailing their comeback.


http://dawntodusknews.com/toke-makinwa-steps-out-with-husband-says-memories-have-turned-to-dust/

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Soccer star Obafemi Martins now wears a new look. He shared his new look via Instagram earlier today.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pictured-obafemi-martins-debuts-new-look/

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the arrest of former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki; former DG of SSS. Col. Kayode Are; High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and others who are being held for their alleged involvement in the $2billion arms purchase scandal. Below is the press statement as issued by Femi Fani-Kayode:



I have just spoken to Colonel Kayode Are, the former D-G of SSS during President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration and the former Acting National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan and I am deeply concerned.

He told me that his house is under siege and that gunshots are being fired at him and his family as we were speaking. I am not sure what the issue is about but a situation where security men go to the home of a respected patriot like that and start shooting at him and his family for whatever reason is unacceptable and extremely dangerous.

When you consider what is happening in Are's home and marry it with the shameful manner in which Colonel Sambo Dasuki, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Governor Attahiru Bafawara, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, Nnamdi Kanu, Godswill Orubebe, Bukola Saraki, Sule Lamido and others are being persecuted, threatened and demonised by the Federal Government it is clear that we are now in a police state in which law and order has broken down and in which anything can happen.

The case of Dasuki was particularly bad. He was barricaded in his home against court orders and treated like an animal for three weeks. He was humiliated and subjected to mental and psychological torture for no just cause for that period of time even though the courts had told the SSS to let him travel out of the country for urgent medical attention.

Instead of doing so after three tortuous weeks the SSS stormed his home, held everyone captive at gunpoint, grabbed him in front of his family, bundled him in a car and carried him to an unknown destination without any lawful authority or any arrest warrant.

As far as I am concerned they are trying to kill him simply by denying him the right to see his doctors even though they know that he is very sick. If this were not the case then why are they indulging in all this dangerous and reckless drama.

If they want to prosecute him that is fair enough but at least they should ensure that he stays well and that he remains alive and that they don't kill him. You cannot prosecute a dead body and you cannot charge a man to court after he is dead.

I saw Dasuki on various occasions before his arrest and I assure you that he really is very ill. What harm could have been done by allowing him to see his doctor as the courts ordered? Does he not have the right to live and get medical treatment?

Is it not clear that there is more to this than meets the eye? Why are people remaining silent when this is a clear case of vendetta, vengeance, wickedness, injustice and a crude attempt to destroy, silence and kill an innocent man ? It is Dasuki today but it could be anyone else tomorrow.

The truth is that the Buhari government is playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette with a loaded gun and if they are not careful it will soon explode. If they are not careful they will soon lose the confidence and trust of the people.

They do not fear God. They are vindictive, petty, vicious, unforgiving and unjust and if they continue in this way apart from alienating the people they run the risk of provoking the wrath of God.

If they have any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Dasuki or anyone else then they should present it in court rather than on the pages of newspapers and if they wish to charge anyone they should go ahead and do so in a lawful, proper and civilized manner.

The era of witchhunting and demonising people and attempting to cower and subdue them into silence are long over. Those of us that oppose this government can never be intimidated or silenced because God is with us.

If we could stand up against military dictatorship in the past, we can stand up against civilian dictatorship today. Anything outside of prosecuting people in a lawful manner and according to due process is barbaric and unacceptable and our President needs to be reminded that he is not running a military government but a democratic one.

This attempt to silence us with guns, bullets, threats of arrest and prosecution, violence, storming of homes, locking up of relatives, kidnapping of citizens, shameful lies, baseless allegations, demonisation in the media and disinformation will not work.

They do not have enough prisons to silence the voice of the Nigerian people or to break their spirit and no-one is intimidated by the governments evil tactics and wicked ways.

My message to President Buhari is simple and clear: stop terrorizing your own people and save your terror waves and gestapo tactics for Boko Haram.



http://dawntodusknews.com/president-buhari-should-stop-terrorizing-his-people-femi-fani-kayode/

Former National Security Adviser(NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.) was this morning arrested after a prolonged siege at his Asokoro, Abuja residence by operatives of Department of State Service(DSS). The Sokoto prince is now at the DSS headquarters on Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja where he is expected to answer questions on the multi-billion naira arms contract he allegedly awarded during his tenure as NSA. Dasuki's arrest is coming about 24 hours after the arrest of immediate past minister of state for finance Ambassador Bashir Yuguda by the EFCC. Also arrested by the anti-graft agency are 15 officers who had worked in the office of the former NSA.




More details soon...


http://dawntodusknews.com/just-in-ex-nsa-sambo-dasuki-arrested/

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has responded to allegations by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) demanding her probe over the management of the Abacha N65billion loot. This was contained in a statement signed by Paul C Nwabuikwu, Media Adviser to Dr Okonjo-Iweala. Below is the full statement:


The statement by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) demanding the probe of former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over the management of the Abacha loot is a politically sponsored action by a compromised civil society organization. It is curious that SERAP, ignoring more worthy issues, decided to embark on this fishing expedition of a 10 year old process that was handled in an exemplary and transparent fashion. This shows that neither the organization nor its charges should be taken seriously.The Okonjo-Iweala name is impregnable because it is built on impeccable personal and professional integrity. The facts show that as Finance Minister under the Obasanjo and Jonathan administrations, she was was a force for good who managed the country’s finances transparently and with great competence.


Even though SERAP says its allegations were based on a World Bank statement, it neglected to tell the world that the same World Bank actively collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Finance on a 2006 field report which analyzed how the repatriated funds were used. It will be recalled that, as part of the repatriation process, the Swiss government requested and the Nigerian government under President Obasanjo agreed that the World Bank should monitor the use of the repatriated Abacha funds. The field survey, released in 2006, is titled “Utilization of Repatriated Abacha loot: Results of the Field Monitoring Exercise”. It shows that specific funds were indeed transparently programmed and used to boost the budgets of specific target ministries in 2004 and 2005.


The document also confirms that these funds were properly appropriated and channeled into roads, electricity, education, water and health across all six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The survey shows that as at 2006 when the report was issued, these projects were in place. The report also shows that credible civil society groups were part of the survey and that “all sampled projects exist and can be located on the ground”. These facts put paid to the lies of SERAP and its political sponsors.


Against this background, the call by SERAP that Okonjo-Iweala be personally probed for a transparently conducted and publicly implemented decision of the Obasanjo government that she served under underscores the very political agenda of SERAP. To say the obvious, civil society groups play a very important role in putting positive pressure on government to remain focused on good governance in order to ensure that clear and measurable results are achieved. No country can manage governance to global standards without civil society groups. And Nigeria is no exception. Nigeria has many credible advocacy groups doing important work in many areas.


It is therefore sad that SERAP which has made other false allegations against Okonjo-Iweala is hiding under the hallowed umbrella of civil society while acting as a tool for reprehensible, corrupt vested interests. No amount of sponsored propaganda can conceal the fact that the implementation of the agreement with the Swiss government was done transparently and the report was publicly issued. The entire process was properly managed and reviewed with the help of reputable international organizations. We advise SERAP to change its ways and stop wasting the time of Nigerians with fruitless and sponsored campaigns against innocent individuals.



http://dawntodusknews.com/okonjo-iweala-fires-back-as-serap-calls-for-her-probe-over-abacha-n65billion-loot/

By KIKELOMO IWAJOMO




Following the confirmation of Yahaya Bello(Fairplus) as replacement for late Prince Abubakar Audu as the Kogi APC guber candidate, Audu's running mate Hon. Abiodun Faleke has dragged the All Progressives Congress(APC). Faleke made this known via his Twitter account earlier: "APC maintained their stance in substituting my late principal with Yahaya Bello but I've made it clear to them that I will not be part of it.Since the party has said they will not change their stance, I have decided to protect the mandate given to Audu/Faleke in court.I will not be participating in the supplementary election because am already the governor elect. Therefore the party can't pair me with Bello. Am not alone in this decision, it's a collective stance between myself, Muhammed Audu & the entire Audu/Faleke Team." In a related development, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received the request by APC to replace the late Abubakar Audu’s name with that of Yahaya Bello for the December 5 supplementary governorship election in Kogi State.





http://dawntodusknews.com/kogi-2015-faleke-drags-apc-to-court-as-party-confirms-yahaya-bello/

Former Miss World Agbani Darego took to Instagram Monday to address criticism she’s received since uploading pictures of her sexy body. Agbani, who stands tall, at 6 feet doesn't drink or smoke.It's not difficult to see why the 32-year-old Port Harcourt-born beauty queen is one of the most beautiful women on the planet - she was crowned Miss World in 2001. Responding to the criticism on her body shape, Agbani Darego said on Instagram: "I LOVE and appreciate the female form in every shape. You don't have to like my body, I have enough LOVE for my "skinny ass" and that's all that matters to me. #BODYSHAMING is not okay!"




http://dawntodusknews.com/agbani-darego-slams-critics-being-skinny-is-ok-you-dont-have-to-like-my-body/

The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said he knows that the late matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, is in heaven. Adeboye made this disclosure on Tuesday while holding a private prayer session with the Awolowo family at their Ikenne residence. In his words, Adeboye said, “By the special grace of God and because of my interaction with Mama, I have no doubt at all that she is in heaven now. Before Mama passed on, she was making a request and I was contacted. I won’t go into details about the request but I was abroad and when I came back I saw her and we had a little discussion before she passed away. As a result of that, I have no doubt that Mama is resting with the Lord.”



Urging close family members, friends and other well-wishers in attendance to also work to make heaven, Adeboye added, “You have to consider your own case because all of us can’t say when it will be our turn. Would you end up resting with the Lord or you end up on the other side? The choice is yours. We want it said that after the transition of Papa and Mama, the Awolowo family became stronger and bigger. We don’t want a situation where things will now begin to diminish. We want to pray for the legacy they are leaving behind that the Almighty God will keep the legacy and move the children to higher heights.”


http://dawntodusknews.com/pastor-adeboye-i-am-sure-mama-awolowo-is-in-heaven/

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Former president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's adopted daughter Faith welcomed her first child in September 2015 in the United States of America. The former president's in the States and was spotted carrying his granddaughter at a family function. Faith, who married Godswill Edward in April 2014, is the daughter of Bayelsa PDP secretary Mr. Sakwe who lost his life while on official assignment. Jonathan then adopted Faith shortly after this tragic incident in the early-2000s. It is worthy of note that Jonathan has 3 biological children.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pictured-ex-president-goodluck-jonathan-carrying-his-grandchild/

By JUMI RHODES



In October 2015, news went viral that First Daughter, Zahra Buhari was allegedly engaged to Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El-rufai. Shortly after this report which was published in print by a Kaduna-based newspaper The Polity, Zahra in an interview refuted this as untrue when she answered "Maybe I have a potential" as she was asked about marriage plans. Last week the marriage rumour resurfaced online and Zahra in a tweet said: "Just to make this topic clear. I'm NOT married yet, nor am I engaged to anyone. I hope that's clear enough."


http://dawntodusknews.com/again-zahra-buhari-addresses-gov-nasir-el-rufai-wedding-rumour/

The younger brother to All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, has revealed how his brother died shortly after the election results were announced. According to Alhaji Tijani Audu, his late brother died after the Returning Officer, Prof Emmanuel Kucha, declared the election inconclusive, and not on Sunday morning as being reported. Tijani Audu told newsmen that, “I was with him when the whole thing started. I was told in the morning of Saturday that he was sick and I called him to confirm but he said he was okay and would be coming to vote by 1pm, and he came without showing any sign of sickness and we went together to vote. But the following day (Sunday) by 10 am, I went there to see him and his children said he was having health challenges and was weak, I even advised that after the announcement of the result he should go abroad for treatment”.



http://dawntodusknews.com/how-my-brother-abubakar-audu-died-when-elections-results-were-announced/

By JUMI RHODES


The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has stamped his reputation as a force to reckon with, not just in his home state of Lagos but across Nigeria. Below, DawnToDuskNews unveils politicians/technocrats who through Tinubu's influence have become popular in Nigeria.



- Senator Remi Tinubu (Asiwaju's wife who is in the Senate for 2nd term)
- Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria's Vice-President, was Tinubu's commissioner for justice)
- Mr. Babatunde Fashola,SAN (Minister of Power, Works & Housing, was Tinubu's chief of staff)
- Dr. Babatunde Fowler (Former Lagos Tax Chief now Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS))
- Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos State governor)
- Engr. Rauf Aregbesola (Osun State governor; Ex-Lagos Commissioner for Works)
- Alhaji Lai Muhammed (Minister of Information, was Chief of Staff (Governor's Office) during Tinubu's 1st term)
- Mr. Dele Alake (Onetime Special Adviser (Information & Strategy) for Tinubu)
- Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Minister of Solid Minerals; Former Ekiti governor)
- Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State governor)
- Senator Ganiu Solomon
- Senator Solomon Adeola(former House of Reps. member now senator)
- Senator Gbenga Ashafa (2nd-term senator)
- Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora
- Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila(2nd-term House of Reps. member)
- Mr. Muiz Banire, SAN (Ex-Lagos Commissioner, Special Duties)
- Mrs. Kemi Nelson
- Senator Babajide Omoworare
- Mr. Ade Ipaye
- Mr. Wale Edun
- Mr. Yemi Cardoso (Ex-Lagos Commissioner, Economic Planning & Budget)
- Dr. Leke Pitan - (Ex-Lagos Commissioner, Health)
- Mrs. Sarah Sosan
- Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire
- Mrs. Teju Phillip - (Ex-Lagos Commissioner, Commerce, Industry & Tourism)
- Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro (Ex-Lagos Commissioner, Home Affairs)
- Mr. Akin Doherty(former Lagos guber aspirant)
- Hon. Biodun Faleke
- Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan
- Mr. Folarin Coker
and a host of others too numerous to mention...


http://dawntodusknews.com/30-politiciantechnocrats-bola-tinubu-brought-to-limelight/

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has condoled with the family of Prince Abubakar Audu over his sudden demise. The condolence was contained in a statement signed by Tinubu. According to the Tinubu, " The sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu is sorrowful and shocking. He died before his time. This is a wrenching loss that saddens me greatly. Prince Audu’s death reminds us of our mortality. None of us are on this earth forever. While here, we must make positive impact. We must strive towards good.



"I first knew Prince Audu Abubakar roughly 30 years. He was a good friend. A good man. Some may not have known this but Prince Audu was a renowned financial expert well-known in banking circles before his entry into politics. From banking to politics, Prince Audu became a dominant feature of our national landscape. He was an industrious man and a determined, hardworking leader with few equals. He was consummate in the art of politics. Yet, Audu was also dedicated to the betterment of his people. He was an honorary title holder of Lagos, honored by the late Oba of Lagos, Oba Oyekan.



"Very kind, generous and at ease with his friends and with the people, Audu wanted to make his state a better place. That was his driving concern. His people loved him because of this and he loved them in return. He was a man of great vision, committed to the Nigerian project and committed to the well-being of his people. He loved Kogi passionately. As was his character, Prince Audu gave his all during this election campaign because he wanted to move Kogi to a better place.



"His death is painful and has stunned us his friends, political associates and particularly his family. My heart reaches out to his loved ones. My prayers are with them. May God comfort them as only He can during this sad period. And may they take solace in the fact that Prince Audu was an outstanding figure and great leader of men. They have a right to be proud of who he was.


"We must serve his memory well by continuing to serve the people and by carrying on as he would want us to do. We celebrate his life and times. Both his deeds and dreams will outlive him no doubt. I sympathize with the people of Kogi State on the passing of their illustrious son, who was such a colorful and progressive politician. Whenever the history of Kogi politics, nay Nigerian politics, is written it will be remembered that a Prince of the Niger was once here."


http://dawntodusknews.com/bola-tinubu-breaks-silence-on-abubakar-audu/

By JUMI RHODES





Following the death of Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Sulaimon Omiyale, who until his death a few weeks ago was next in line to the throne of the Olubadan(101-year-old Oba Samuel Odulana), former governor of Oyo State and Ashipa Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, will emerge the Balogun of Ibadanland. In another development, a High Chief in the Olubadan-in-Council, Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Omowale Kuye, died on Thursday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan at the age of 87. The Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun is expected to assume the vacant position of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland.



http://dawntodusknews.com/ex-oyo-governor-rashidi-ladoja-emerges-balogun-olubadan/

Photo News:


Africa's richest woman Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija recently visited one of the widows who is a beneficiary of her Rose of Sharon Foundation.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pictured-folorunsho-alakija-visits-lagos-slum/

Embattled oil magnate Kola Aluko who has been declared by the UK government for money-laundering has said he paid rent for a high-end apartment for the mother of former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Aluko told The Sunday Times newspaper that he was responsible for paying rent for Mrs. Beatrice Agama, the former minister’s mother. Also Aluko said he brought food to the minister’s mother at the St. John’s Wood property.


To this end, a UK court approved the confiscation of funds belonging to Mrs. Agama, while it also authorized the seizure of funds belonging to Melanie Spencer, the wife of a Ghanaian oil tycoon, Kevin Okyere, who has been implicated in the money-laundering investigation involving the former minister. According to The Sunday Times report, “Aluko confirmed a probe over potential violations of the UK Proceeds of Crime Act and Bribery Act but professed his innocence. He said: ‘I’m willing to co-operate with anybody. I have nothing to hide.’” The paper added: “Aluko admitted he paid the rent on a flat in St John’s Wood in London for Alison-Madueke’s mother, as well as bringing her ‘hams, sausages and orchids’.



http://dawntodusknews.com/diezanis-associate-kola-aluko-admits-to-paying-her-mothers-rent-and-bringing-her-food/

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has said God's mercy is one of the major reasons the country has not witnessed another civil war amid the challenges. Speaking during a special programme for the country, held under the theme, ‘Free Indeed,’ at the national headquarters of the RCCG in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Adeboye said: “It is possible for a country to be free, but its citizens are not. Nigeria has been free for 55 years, but many of us are not free. If not for God’s intervention, Nigeria would have been in another civil war. Without His intervention in this land, we would not be experiencing peace. We should keep praying for His peace to reign. We should also keep praying for the President and the Vice President so that in the next one year, in a way we cannot explain it, Nigeria will be celebrated among the nations of the world. We should also pray for all states in Nigeria so that in the next one year, all of them will also be celebrated.”


http://dawntodusknews.com/pastor-enoch-adeboye-nigeria-has-been-free-for-55-years-but/

Popular comedian Teju Babyface has revealed his most romantic experience with his wife. Teju Babyface made this known in a recent interview saying, “My wife is far from the traditional romantic woman, which is the exact reason I married her. She is not the type who would jump at a gift without knowing the reason behind it. She is a very serious-minded type who does not really need a man before getting things right. She doesn’t crave for attention like many women do. There was a time we forgot our wedding anniversary and when we remembered, we laughed at it. I would not have lasted with a woman who will nag or sob at things like that. She is a strong woman. And that is the best romantic experience I enjoy with my wife."


http://dawntodusknews.com/teju-babyface-my-wife-isnt-a-traditional-romantic-woman/

A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has revealed she was under “fierce attacks, slander, blackmail and threats,” while trying to end oil-money induced corruption in the country. Waziri disclosed this in a statement by her media aide, Ade Williams, saying she supports the anti-corruption stance of President Muhammadu Buhari.


According to Waziri: “No doubt, our over-dependence on oil revenue has brought us to the point where we are as a nation today. As an anti-corruption czar, I have seen how some of those the nation entrusted with its oil resources in the past helped themselves more than the country.



"With our focus on agriculture, the struggle by political office holders to steal oil fund would diminish while the national wealth will be in the hands of the people instead of a privileged greedy few. We cannot all dig oil wells in our backyard but we can all farm in our backyards. It is time to end oil-money induced corruption in our land by buying into President Buhari’s vision and take ownership.



“I have made my contributions in the fight to discourage that and even recovered some of the looted funds in billions of dollars. For daring to do that, I came under fierce attacks, slander, blackmail and threats but by God’s grace and long years of experience, I survived all. I am glad today that indeed, there is a new sheriff in town.”

http://dawntodusknews.com/ex-efcc-chairman-farida-waziri-speaks-on-fighting-corruption-with-oil-cabals/

Pa Reuben Fasoranti who took over the leadership of the Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, from the late Chief Abraham Adesanya over ten years ago, has resigned his appointment as chairman with immediate effect. His resignation was contained in a letter he personally signed and addressed to the Secretary General, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, leaders of the group including Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Laniwun Ajayi, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Supo Sonibare and all state Chairmen of Afenifere.



The letter states in parts that,"Our organization, Afenifere was formed in 1951 under the leadership of our leader; Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The organization was formed to serve as an umbrella to be used to actualize the dream of a great nation and the Yoruba race. Over the years, Yorubas have tried to focus on a common goal. Chief Awolowo tried to ensure the oneness of our people with a lot of efforts notwithstanding the challenges he faced in the process. Unfortunately, he passed on without actualising this dream.



“I joined Afenifere from inception with the following leaders of our race, Pa Onasanya, Alhaji Ganiyu Daodu, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Sam Sonibare, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire and so on. The mantle of leadership fell on Late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and subsequently Pa Adesanya and then my humble self. As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organization ‘Afenifere’ were gradually eroded.



"This therefore made it herculean task for our members to work in unity. Several efforts were made to ensure the actualization of the Afenefere goals, but it appeared that we have not succeeded in achieving this. This is basically due to reasons best known to our members individually. Let me state clearly that the issue of adoption of the National Confab report had always been the focus and goal of our people in Afenifere even long before the National Confab was set up.


"The support of a leader who promised to implement this report was therefore not a mistake and inevitable despite all public insinuations. Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state (Ondo), my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as leader of our great organization Afenifere.”


http://dawntodusknews.com/pa-reuben-fasoranti-why-i-resigned-as-afenifere-leader/

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that not all confirmed ministerial nominees screened by the Senate will have portfolios. To this end, the President said he will reduce the number of ministries since his government cannot afford to pay 42 ministers. Buhari made this known in an interview with Channels TV and Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, in New Delhi in India.


ON ROTIMI AMAECHI
This is team work, I said I know some people but there are others, I accepted from other people that I trust without even knowing them. May be those that are having problems in the National Assembly I doubt if I have met them in my life but then, I am working with others. I did not work into the presidency alone. I have to defend all the three tiers of government from all parts of the country.


ON REDUCING MINISTRIES
We can not work outside the constitution there must be a cabinet representative from each state. There use to be forty two ministers but I think we can barely keep half of that now because we cannot afford it. Others may not be substantive ministers but they will sit in the cabinet because that is what the constitution said and we can’t operate outside the constitution.
We are reducing the number of ministries we can’t afford to pay. Where is the money? Do you know the Federal Government has to help twenty seven states out of thirty six to pay salaries? Nigeria can not pay salaries Nigeria had to summon the Governor of the Central Bank to see how it could pay salaries not to talk of projects, agreement signed with foreign countries, counter funding and so on. The country was material vandalized and morally so.


ON BOKO HARAM
I am an optimistic person. I am sorry for those who have already given up. I remain confident that our military and other law enforcement agencies are more than equal to the task.’ Don’t forget that I made an earlier statement to the effect that the Nigerian military and police earned accolades all over the world: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan.They earned international respect and then here you are, the Nigerian military and other law enforcement agencies could not secure 14 local governments out of 774 until the government was changed.



ON CORRUPTION
If people are not involve in corruption they won’t mind they would encourage us to get whoever compromised his position in the trust being given on to him. I see it in the papers, watch it on screen but I have never lost a sleep on it because those that are not corrupt should even encourage us to do more. But those that are interested in the safety of those that have abused trust in the country office will go to any length including bribing people to give false information and so on. Whoever is caught the document used in incriminating him or her will be used to prosecute him for Nigerians to know who has abused trust.


http://dawntodusknews.com/president-buhari-not-all-confirmed-nominees-will-be-portfolio-ministers/

Soccer legend has John Fashanu has revealed how he took his brother Justin's decision to come out as gay. Justin was the first openly-gay British football star, he committed a tragic suicide in 1998. In a newspaper interview in 1990, Justin claimed to have had an affair with a married Tory MP he met in a gay bar.


John Fashanu, a former Wimbledon striker, made a shocking revelation in an interview with Daily Mirror that at the time Justin wanted to come out he paid him £75,000 to keep quiet. John Fashanu told Daily Mirror: “I begged him, I threatened him, I did everything I could possibly do to try and stop him coming out. I gave him the money because I didn’t want the embarrassment for me or my family. Had he come out now, it would be a different ball game. There wouldn’t be an issue, but there was then. Things are different now. Now he’d be hailed a hero.”


The 53-year-old soccer legend further said: “I’ll never forget when Justin first told me. He called me in the evening time and said to me: ‘I’m gay’. Then he said to me: ‘I’m planning to go to a newspaper’. I said to him: ‘Oh heavens forbid... oh my God. We don’t need that. You’re mad’. He promised when I gave him the money he would not go out and say that. Two days later... bang... headlines in a newspaper. I looked like a sucker.


"For me and my family it was like Hiroshima or Nagasaki on our lives. It knocked us dead, it was a total shock. People might not like it, but I was trying to protect my family. You’ve got to remember the public’s perception of homosexuality at that time was that it was an abomination . It was taboo. Street boys were beating up gays in nightclubs. I give him credit for having the courage to come out and say it. But it caused a lot of confusion and animosity towards him, me, and my family.


"During matches, 30, 40, sometimes 45,000 supporters sang at me: ‘You’re big... you’re black... your a*** is up for grabs... Fashanu... Fashanu’. As a result of him saying what he said, my mother died because of the stress. She actually died a year later on the day of his birthday. She was already old, very fragile and suffering cancer. Then to be told her second eldest son was a homosexual was too much.”



But John Fashanu now sees things differently: “I’ve never spoken about these things before because I was stamped a homophobe. But things have changed and I make it very clear: I was wrong. It was ignorance on my behalf. I didn’t understand him. I was trying to protect my family and I was worried about the effect on my career. In the process I lost my brother and I am very sad about that. He committed suicide because he was so distraught the world would not accept a black man who was homosexual. I couldn’t understand it and I couldn’t accept it and so whatever relationship we had before was killed .Previous to that, we had been very close, but it just shattered everything. I didn’t speak to him again. There’s a lot of sadness and regrets.”


http://dawntodusknews.com/john-fashanu-i-paid-my-brother-justin-75000-hush-money-not-to-come-out-as-gay/