₦airaland Forum

Senator Adeleke fulfills N250 million scholarship campaign promise
therenaissanceng.com



Senator Ademola Adeleke from Osun West Senatorial District has presented of a sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million (N250,000,000) to sixty six undergraduates from the ten local governments in his District.

Addressing students, parents and party faithful at the occasion in Ede, Osun state on Wednesday, Adeleke said the scholarship scheme was a fulfilment of one of his campaign promises, pledging to continue to serve the interest of the generality of Nigerians, irrespective of party affiliations.

He said the scheme is in continuation of his late elder Brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s legacies and urged the 66 beneficiaries to make judicious uuse of the opportunity of the scheme.

It will be recalled that Senator Ademola Adeleke was elected as a replacement for the his elder Brother who died in April 23rd this year.

Senator Adeleke appealed to PDP members in Osun to close ranks and work together for a common goal as the 2018 governorship election draws closer.

“This is the greatest challenge that all well meaning members of the PDP in the state should saddle themselves with, by closing ranks with a view to presenting a credible and sellable candidate that will effortlessly win the governorship election and take over the Bola Ige House, Abere.

“Let us, as a party avoid rancour, mudslinging, pull him down syndrome and other vices, that may endanger, God forbid, our chances of winning the 2018 governorship election.”

Adeleke therefore urged the beneficiaries of the scheme to make judicious use of the opportunity given to them by taking their studies serious.

Makarfi commends Adeleke, apologies to Nigerians

The National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi commended the efforts of Senator Adeleke for the promise kept and urged other lawmakers elected on the platform of PDP to emulate the Senator.

He maintained that PDP is the only veritable alternative to rescue the country from its present hard time, stressing that PDP will fulfill every promise made to Nigerians by striving to redeem its image.

“With the PDP. We are going to have good governance under rain under shine. No doubt we had our problems but we will not run away from it.

“Nigeria has suffered enough and God will emancipate Nigerians by returning the PDP to power both at the Federal and at the state levels.”

Makarfi again apologised to Nigerians for the previous misrule and corruption of his party members that led to its defeat in 2015 election but promised that they have learnt their lessons.

”When you don’t accept that you erred, there is no way you can correct the mistakes for the benefit of the people. In PDP, we erred and we accepted it.

“For us in PDP, we had our flaws and we did not fail to admit them. I have apologised for our wrongdoings. I am using this medium to apologise again. We are sincerely sorry for all our failures,” he said.

Markarfi urged members of the PDP, who had defected to return to the party, just as he appealed to those, who were yet to join the party to do so to rescue Nigeria from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

State governors meet on constitutional amendment
punchng.com


Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

Members of the Nigerian Governors Forum met on Wednesday night to the review the ongoing efforts aimed at amending the nation’s constitution.

The meeting which was held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja was chaired by the forum’s chairman, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari.

Yari, who spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting said the governors would continue their consultation on the matter with the leadership of the House of Representatives next week.

Details later

renowned Kenyan legal scholar, Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, believes that President Muhammadu Buhari is alone in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, as many high-profile public office holders and officials are corrupt.

In an interview with SaharaReporters, Professor Lumumba, former director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, said the Nigerian president’s lack of support is one of the reasons why his anti-corruption campaign has not been successful in producing its intended results.

He emphasized that Mr. Buhari is surrounded by corrupt individuals who have normalized corruption in Nigerian society and have prevented his fight against corruption from taking off.

“I wish President Buhari institutionalizes and ensures that his agenda is bought by others. No matter how good your idea is, it must be sold to others and they must buy into it. That is how you institutionalize the idea. You cannot be a lone warrior in this matter because the children of darkness hunt like a pack of wolves and they will devour you if you are alone,” Professor Lumumba said.

“What President Buhari must do is to recruit the population. If the population has been wedded to the idea that corruption is a bad thing, then that is the beginning of the success of that battle,” he added.

Condemning the institutionalization of corruption in Nigeria, Professor Lumumba suggested that the Buhari administration introduce stricter punishments for those found guilty of corruption.

“When I see the former Minister of Petroleum [Diezani Alison-Madueke] being investigated for corruption, without being a sadist, I become very happy because her wealth is unexplained. She can’t make that money even if she lives a thousand years. What lacks in Africa is punishment, impunity is alive and well in Africa and we, the electorate, are in the business of celebrating thieves.

“Many of these individuals who are in the position of power don’t want to leave because they are thieves and they are scared that if they leave office, they will be prosecuted, and my view is that they should be prosecuted,” he said.

Commenting on the cost of corruption in the country, Professor Lumumba noted that people are dying on roads due to potholes because some government officials stole money that ought to have been used to build and maintain good roads. He said this amounts to a crime against humanity and must be punished accordingly.

Professor Lumumba further lamented the political apathy among African youths and urged them to take part in the fight against their corrupt leaders.

“Our young people in Africa today are imprisoned by Arsenal and Barcelona and our young girls are imprisoned by Beyoncé and South American soap operas. How can our continent be so accursed that our younger people have no sense of our history, present, and future?

“Our young people must wake up and it is the day that they wake up they will be able to send a clear message to that imposition of leadership that you cannot continue to misgovern us. I look forward to those days,” he said.

The professor insisted that it is a revolution of the mind which is genuinely led by the young ones that will uplift Africa to par with the rest of the world, adding that Africa has what it takes to achieve this feat.

Watch the full interview below:

NNPC Scandal: There’s Total Lack of Control Under Buhari’s Government – Junaid Mohammed
nigeriatoday.ng


Northern elder statesman and Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed has hit President Muhammadu ‎Buhari for his “defective role” in the ongoing controversy in the oil sector, DailyPost reports.

Junaid said, “What is best for the country is true independence of the NNPC. The first irresponsibility is the President appointing himself as the petroleum minister.

“This is why any time he was ill, the industry also was ill and the fortunes of Nigerians suffered. Starting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the idea that the president is also the minister of petroleum resources is bad for the country and this is my concern.”

Junaid was reacting to a recent letter written by the Minister of Petroleum, detailing some deal in the sector.

Reacting while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, the elder statesman said, “We knew the rot going on in most of the government ministries and departments.

“So, if the President, as the petroleum minister, was away, who did the NNPC boss confide in when awarding the contracts? There is so much lack of control under the Buhari’s government.”

Meanwhile, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL said the ongoing controversy in the sector was a clear indication that Buhari cannot fight corruption.

CACOL Director, Debo Adeniran, said, “The personality clash is not as important as the business of the NNPC. Statutorily, the NNPC boss knows who he should report to.

“If the allegations levelled against him are confirmed, then he may be punished. But as long as the job gets done, the person he reports to should not be made a sentimental issue.

“It is now obvious that President Buhari cannot fight corruption. A top chieftain of the All Progressives Congress confided in me during a tour that the corruption going on under this government is mind-boggling.

“The only semblance of hope we have is that the National Assembly might do something differently from what the executive might do. The only way we can unearth the true picture of the situation is the investigation by the National Assembly.”

Looters trial begins soon, Buhari says
dailytrust.com.ng


Follow due process, Abdulsalami c’ttee tells president
Looters trial begins soon, Buhari says
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the prosecution of those who stole national resources will begin in weeks.



The President stated this yesterday during a meeting with members of the National Peace Committee headed by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar
Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina quoted Buhari as saying his government was “irrevocably” determined to break the vicious cycle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria.

“Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress”, President Buhari told the committee.
He said apart from working to return stolen funds stashed in foreign banks, he would also put the culprits on trial in Nigeria.

“Those who have stolen the national wealth will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them”, Buhari said.

“We have really degenerated as a country. Our national institutions, including the military, which did wonderfully on foreign missions in the past, have been compromised. But we are doing something about it. The military is now retraining and morale has been resuscitated.

“As Petroleum Minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1970s, I could not travel abroad until I had taken a memo to the Federal Executive Council asking for estacode. Now, everybody does what he wants.

“That is why security-wise and economically, we’re in trouble,” President Buhari told his guests.
He said a single treasury account had been established for all Federal revenues to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds.

The presidential spokesman said Buhari granted the committee permission to transform to National Peace Council.

The committee was formed before the 2015 general elections as a result of widespread fears that the polls could be marred by violence.

The committee was instrumental to the signing of the peace accord between Buhari and his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the March 28 presidential election.

Their meeting with Buhari came five days after Jonathan had paid a secret visit to the president at his official residence in Aso Rock Villa.

Rule of law must prevail – Committee
Addressing State House reporters after the meeting, a member of the committee, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Mathew Hassan Kukah said members had urged the president to be guided by the rule of law in the fight against corruption.

He said the committee was at the Villa to update President Buhari about “the relevance of the peace committee itself and how we can help to nurture what God has given to us”.

He also disclosed that in its recent conversation with Jonathan and political parties’ members, the committee realised that nobody was in favour of corruption or against Buhari’s commitment to fighting it.

“It (Buhari’s anti-graft war) is not heating up the polity. In our conversation with former President Jonathan and members of the parties, I don’t think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the president’s commitment to ensuring that we turn over a new leaf.
“I think what we are concerned about is process. It is no longer a military regime, and under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.

“Again, our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former president’s commitment and what he did still remains spectacular, and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that. So, our effort really is to make sure that the right thing is done”, he said.
Kukah dismissed the reports that Jonathan sought the committee’s intervention on the ongoing probe of his government.

He said: “Anybody is free to come to our committee, but former President Jonathan never, by telephone or another means, talked to the committee. We went to see him, but that was after we had already seen members of the political parties, members of the civil society. We planned to see the speaker because we couldn’t see him yesterday (Monday).

“This is a very planned series of intervention essentially just to hear out everybody, and I think the good news is that Nigerians are committed to a new nation, they are committed to ensuring that the gains and blessings God has given us come to fruition”.
Asked why the committee’s intervention had become so necessary, Kukah said: “This is not an intervention, it is not a hearing out process. When we had the election, it was like a wedding.

“Now, the reality of government is now the marriage and people need to be encouraged. We need to reaffirm that this is our country and the only thing we can collectively be opposed to is injustice, iniquity, corruption and in that regard, we all had one single conversation.

“Essentially we are not policing, but when the need arises, help to build confidence and in the process”, he said.


Members of the committee, who attended the meeting are the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
Others are the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan; former President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mrs. Priscilla Kuye and Senator Ben Obi.
Our correspondent reports that the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was also at the meeting.

Fayose gives job to 51 physically challenged persons, places 100 more on social security
tribuneonlineng.com

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose celebrating with the physically challenged people to kick start the third year anniversary of his administration which began on Tuesday, October 10,2017, in Ado Ekiti.
As part of activities marking his third year in office, Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has given jobs to 51 physically challenged persons in the state.

He also directed that additional 100 persons from among them be enlisted in the state’s social security scheme.

Among those given jobs is a university graduate.

He gave the directives in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday evening while meeting with the group.

This is just a graduate, Mr Gboyega Afolabi, has been offered automatic employment at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, quoted the governor as directing the Vice Chancellor of EKSU to give Afolabi the job.

Afolabi is about concluding his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps Scheme in the institution.

While reacting to the development, Afolabi described the governor as God sent to Ekiti.

“He is a peculiar person and kind hearted. He loves the people and he is very approachable. I never imagined that this great opportunity can come my way just like that. Governor Fayose is the leader we need in this country.

“I appeal to the people of the state to vote in somebody from the Fayose political family for these great works to continue. He is truly a leader and lover of the people,” he said.

Afolabi was among those who met the governor and only approached him about his plight during the meeting.

Meanwhile, the governor has also donated one million naira for the medical expenses of people with disabilities.

He has directed the Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital to assess the health needs of the people and brief him.

Also, the governor has directed that eye specialists should examine some of the people and that eye glasses be provided for those who need them.

This is just as he said 20 wheel chairs would be bought for them.

Presidency 'clears' Baru as Kachikwu runs to associates for advise on next move
www.pulse.ng


Buhari is said to have directed Baru to publicly release the fact-sheet pertaining to the contracts having found that he is not guilty of any corrupt practice.

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly backed the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, who was accused of $25b contracts scam.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu had alleged that Baru awarded $25b contracts without following due process.

He also accused him of running an intimidating management and making appointments without consultations.

According to The Nation, Buhari has directed Baru to publicly release the fact-sheet pertaining to the contracts having found that he is not guilty of any corrupt practice.

After learning that the Presidency is behind Baru, Kachikwu is said to be consulting his associates, stakeholders and colleagues on his next move.

It was gathered that his friends have cautioned him to tread carefully and to not be confrontational because of the sensitivity of the matter.

They were said to have cited travails of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Prof. Tam David-West's rough path with the military administration of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida.

The minister's friends, therefore, advised him to resign "to preserve his integrity."

Although it was not clear, as at Monday night, what move Kachikwu would make next.

In his reply to the minister's allegations, Baru had described it as "humongous" because "no money was lost and no process has been breached."

It was learnt that Buhari was very disappointed by the scandal but "refused to act on the spur of the moment because his image and the reputation of his administration were involved."

"The Presidency directed the GMD of NNPC to provide facts and figures, which it got from Baru," The Nation quoted a top government source as saying.

"Thereafter, the NNPC Act, the NNPC Handbook and Public Procurement Act were consulted on the responses of Baru to find out if infractions were committed by the corporation.

"Having been convinced that there were no infractions, the Presidency then directed NNPC to lay the cards on the table for Nigerians to see and judge.

"What was uppermost in the responses of the GMD was the fact that 'there was no evidence of sharp practices, bribery, looting of funds and diversion of transaction cash’.

"The allegations of Kachikwu were rated as 'wild, intentional and political in nature' against the administration he is serving."

Buhari's meeting with Kachikwu last Friday was said to have been a mere formality to "be fair to the Minister and for record purposes".

The newspaper also cited an anonymous Presidency source, who said "The President has not spoken on the next action. No one knows his mindset."

On Kachikwu's fate, a top stakeholder was quoted as saying that "I am aware that the minister has been holding consultations and telling some vital players in the oil sector what transpired.

"Of importance to him is the allegation of alleged plot to sabotage the government of President Buhari with the leakage of the August 20 memo. He has maintained his innocence that he did not leak the letter.

"But it is tragic that no one believes Kachikwu's story anymore in the Presidency."

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have also thrown their weight behind Baru.

The unions while on a solidarity visit to the GMD on Monday, declared their support for him, and they said their ultimate concern for the protection of the NNPC.

'I think the whole world should be concerned,' says former Secretary of State



Hillary Clinton had said "the whole world should be concerned" about Donald Trump's leadership, and agreed he is the most dangerous President in US history.

The remarks, which she made during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's "Four Seasons" programme, follow a warning she issued during the presidential campaign — that Mr Trump was the most dangerous White House candidate ever to make a leadership bid.

Asked by journalist Sarah Ferguson whether Mr Trump was the most dangerous President the US had ever had, she said: "I think he is, because he is impulsive, he lacks self-control, he is totally consumed with how he is viewed, with how people think of him. He is vindictive."

When questioned about whether Australia should be worried about the Republican inhabiting the White House, she said: "I think the whole world should be concerned."

Earlier this month the former Secretary of State spoke forcefully in favour of stricter gun control following a massacre in Las Vegas, which killed 58 people and injured hundreds more.

She said: “Our grief isn't enough. We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA [National Rifle Association], and work together to try to stop this from happening again."

Mr Trump was elected with the endorsement of the NRA, and repeatedly said the solution to mass shootings was having more citizens with firearms. The NRA ended up spending more than $30m (£22m) on Mr Trump's presidential bid.

How Jonthan Was Deceived, Sabotaged By His Own Cabinet,Others – Wike
newsdiaryonline.com

As former President Goodluck Jonathan prepares to give his own account of his historic defeat in the 2015 presidential election, more insiders are coming forward with their version of what happened.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said members of Jonathan’s cabinet and ranking members of the Peoples Democratic Party, from the party’s former chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, deceived the former president and told him outright lies about his chances.

In the current edition of The Interview,Wike said, “Let me tell you the truth; so many people were not sincere with Jonathan. You saw that even in the way some were being unduly sycophantic on issues that were totally out of point…I saw there was a lot of deceit.”

In a statement, the MD/Editor-In-Chief, AzuIshiekwene, said the current interview was “yet another riveting chapter in the unfolding story of Jonathan’s monumental defeat.”

Wike said there were situations where politicians who were supposed to be in the field holed up inside Abuja, filing false reports.

He continued: “Some of them would say, ‘Your Excellency Sir, as I’m speaking with you now, so and so state is down for PDP’. It was all lies.”

He attacked the Northern leaders of the party, saying, “PDP in the North ganged up against Jonathan. Let the truth be told! Nobody will die! They were not sincere to him!”

He said it was a mark of complicity that even though Jonathan was stoned in some states and the governors in those states watched idly by, adding that, “If I were in Jonathan’s shoes, I won’t take it; let the heavens fall!”

Wike, who was minister of state for Education under Jonathan and generally perceived as First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan’s “anointed”, attacked “most cabinet members” for taking advantage of the former president’s gentlemanliness.

He, however, said the PDP reconciliation committee of which he is chairman, had in their sights, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among others.

He also spoke on his controversial presence as the only PDP governor at the airport when President Muhammadu Buhari returned from his medical vacation in Britain, an act that has raised some eyebrow.

Wike spoke on his relationship with former Governor Peter Odili and allegations that he gatecrashed the office of a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to fix the outcome of the state’s governorship election petition before the court.

He said: “These (the purveyors of the information) are evil people. Can Rotimi Amaechi tell the story of his life and he won’t mention Peter Odili? Can Dakuku Peterside mention anything and he won’t mention Peter Odili?”

The Rivers State governor also spoke on the leaked tape allegedly containing his voice, and claims that the $43million found in an Ikoyi apartment belonged to the state government.

“Let the Federal Government dare release the report. You will see what will happen,” he threatened.

The edition also features the regulars, including a new columnist, Olubunmi Ajayi Layode, who shares her experience as survivor-in-chief of an abusive marriage.