₦airaland Forum

SUPPORT for the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun mounted on Tuesday  as prominent leaders of the party lauded his leadership qualities, describing him as “a man of honour, integrity and dignity”.


In a statement in Abuja by the Chairman of APC United Front, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa and made available to Social Times, the leaders described as laughable the calls  on Oyegun to resign as chairman of the APC by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his co-travellers, saying the world has seen a more progressive party under his dynamic leadership.


“Chief Odigie Oyegun is not under the influence of a powerful and sinister arm of government. He will never thwart the will of the people” the leaders said.


They praised the national chairman for his strategic roles in internal party governance and in the development and promulgation of party policy.


Listing intellectual depth, credible track record, futuristic vision and personal integrity as key requirements for a progressive leader, the leaders eulogized Oyegun for giving equal rights and opportunities to members of the APC regardless of status, class and affiliation.


“Leadership goes with creativity, sensitivity, compassion, innovation, courage, vision, character, competence, focus, passion, responsibility, self-discipline, service delivery and a very high dosage of patriotism. Oyegun is an embodiment of transparency and accountability” the statement said.


The leaders commended Oyegun for bringing about a more dynamic way of administering the affairs of the party, sacrificing his comfort to work tirelessly for the party and for allowing the wheel of democracy to run constitutionally.


“As a man with impeccable record in governance and party politics, Chief Odigie Oyegun will never derail from the path of honour”


The leaders, who also thanked Nigerians at home and abroad for the confidence reposed on Oyegun, applauded him for the pragmatic steps taken to address the problems in the party in Ondo State.


 “Oyegun is an honest and highly effective leader. He has built a reputation anchored on integrity over the years. He is a fountain of quality advice, inspiration, encouragement and hope. He deserves the biggest thanks for being a team player and using his undivided and thorough leadership style in growing the party” the leaders said.


Identifying his commitment to principle in the practice of politics, the rule of law and the best democratic tradition of fairness as some of the attributes that brought him into collusion with Tinubu and others, the leaders commended him for enriching the development journey of the party and the country.


The leaders described the decision of the Appeal Panel as selfish.


“Oyegun is honest, dedicated, committed, and God fearing. He is a consummate politician, proven administrator and a bridge builder. He is a man of honour, integrity and dignity” the statement said.



The leaders while describing Oyegun as a true democrat, a hard-working, progressive person and leader with credibility, character and calm advised him to continue with his good work.


According to the leaders, “Tinubu should not to destroy the party with his selfish and anti-democratic agenda.”



The leaders, who also recalled the sterling performance of Oyegun during his days as governor of Edo State, said the current national chairman of APC performed excellently in all the sectors.

timeman:
This your sauce tastes sour but a kinda sauce Afonja slaves will like.
The truth has spoken!

THE All Progressives Congress, APC,  National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun has said he will not reply the allegations raised against him by the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against him now.


Oyegun who acknowleged that Asiwaju remained the most respected leader of APC said he was more preoccupied with the coming governorship election in Edo state, and hence would not like to lose focus in the process.


Oyegun told newsmen in Benin, the Edo State capital that he cannot be seen joining issues with Asiwaju Tinubu whom he described as a respected leader of the APC.


Besides, he said the Edo State gubernatorial poll remains utmost priority at the moment even as he denied most of the things said about his person in the media.


Oyegun, however, stated that he needed to consult with other key leaders of the ruling party before he could say anything on the contentious matter that compelled the former Lagos State governor to explode in some of the national dailies Monday.


 According to him: “Asiwaju is well respected leader of our party so I cannot be seen speaking evil against him. I have to consult properly with other leaders of the party before we make any definite statement. Again, you know we have a crucial election here in Edo which is my priority right now.”


He added: “We don’t want to lose focus and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all have worked hard for this. So may be after the election if there is need I will speak if no need I will relax.


 “But all I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are not true. I have always believed in internal democracy, that the credibility of primaries must be taken seriously.”

Oyegun Must Go - Timi Frank

Supporting an earlier statement by a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has issued a 14-day notice to John Oyegun, the chairman of the party, to resign.

Mr. Frank said Mr. Tinubu’s explosive statement Sunday night corroborated earlier grievances he had raised against Mr. Oyegun.

He said Mr. Tinubu’s statement also gave him another launch pad to demand the chairman’s ouster.

“The founding father of our party, the national leader of our party has concurred to my earlier call that Oyegun should resign as the national chairman. That should let you know that I foresaw what they didn’t see,” Mr. Frank said, adding that “I am giving Oyegun 14 days from today to convene a NEC meeting to do so.

“I have started mobilising NEC members to ensure that the APC leadership is made to do the right thing and summon a NEC meeting.”

Mr. Frank said Mr. Oyegun had allegedly failed to show leadership in every crisis the party has faced since its formation three years ago.

“As far as I am aware, APC under Oyegun has not been able to resolve one crisis in this party.

“Today now it is Tinubu that is shouting, I can bet you, more leaders will still speak out but if we don’t do anything to for this man to go.

“So, I want to throw my weight behind the call by Tinubu for the national chairman to resign because it has been my earlier position and I still stand by it,” Mr. Frank said.

Mr. Tinubu had cited alleged betrayal of trust and manipulation of Ondo State APC primary results as grounds for demanding Mr. Oyegun’s resignation.

ARMED gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram are currently attacking Kuburvwa Village.



The village is 10 km from Chibok Town, where over 200 female students were kidnapped in Borno in April 2014.

Disclosing this information to the media is an official of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Borno State, Abbas Gava, from Maiduguri, who said the gunmen invaded the agrarian village at about 6.30 p.m.

He was reported to have spoken with an online news portal, Premium Times.

He said they shot sporadically forcing residents to flee into surrounding bushes.

“As I am speaking to you now the gunmen are setting every house on fire after chasing the villagers away”, Mr. Gava, the spokesman of the Vigilante Group, said.

“From the information we have received from our operatives in Chibok and Kautikari, the number of casualty cannot be ascertained for now because the Boko Haram insurgents are still in the village”.

THE Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed the Niger Delta Peace Initiative recently launched by South-South leaders under the leadership of the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The party in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Ibiamu Ikanya, praised Amaechi for assembling South-South stakeholders under the umbrella of the Initiative for Peace, Governance and Development of the South-South to proffer solutions to the current destruction of the oil pipelines and ecosystem of the region.  


 








“This historical peace parley held at the Lagos Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on 24th September, 2016 was a welcome development and should be supported by all true sons and daughters of the Niger Delta,” the party said.


It added: “We are ashamed that some disgruntled elements can take pleasure in destroying the facilities that convey oil, the mainstay of our national economy. Apart from this, our environment is polluted, thereby making fishing and farming – the major sources of livelihood of our people – impossible. 


 


“We urge those behind these unwarranted attacks against our region to have a rethink and save us from being looked upon as a people who are violent. Apart from destroying government facilities, their activities serve to scare away investors that are desperately needed in developing our region.” 


 


Rivers APC said it is not surprised by the Amaechi initiative to restore peace to the Niger Delta considering the great initiatives he used in ensuring peace and security of lives during his eight years reign as Governor of Rivers State.


“This peace parlay simply demonstrates Amaechi’s concern for the peace, development and emancipation of the Niger Delta region and we pray that our leaders will buy into this and allow peace to reign in our region,” the party said. 


 


It commended all those working with Amaechi on this latest peace move, urging them to be guided by the biblical admonition found in the Gospel of Saint Mathew in Chapter 5 verse 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” 


 


“We urge therefore all Niger Deltans to stop blaming others for our woes and get our priorities right in this government that has demonstrated commitment to develop our region,” the statement said.


“In this vein, we admonish all the interventionist agencies such as the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to expedite action in the discharge of their mandate. We are convinced that if these agencies work accordingly and with the various State Governments in the region utilise the 13% derivation fund judiciously; our region will be developed, militancy will be eradicated as the reasons adduced for the blowing up of the oil facilities would no longer be exist.”


The communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders engagement meeting under the auspices of the Initiative for Peace, Governance and Development of the Niger Delta Region on this 24th day of September 2016 was duly signed by these Niger Delta Leaders.


1. PROF. BEN AYADE
2. SEN. VICTOR NDOMA-EGBA
3. MR. DONALD DUKE
4. SEN. BASSEY OTU
5. SEN. FLORENCE ITA-GIWA
6. HIS EMINENCE KING (DR) EDMUND DAKORU
7. HRM KING EBITIMI BANIGO
8. HRM FRANK OKORAKPO
9. HRM KING W.S. JOSHUA IGBUGBURU
10. HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF (NAVY CAPT) WALTER FEEHABO-AMAIN
11. REAR ADMIRAL FESTUS PORBENI (RTD)
12. PROF. T. TURNER ISOUN
13. SEN INATIMI R. SPIFF
14. CHIEF TIMI ALAIBE
15. SEN. E. W. T. DIFFA
16. OLOROGUN FRANK KOKORI
17. BARR. JUSTIN REWANE
18. NDUKA OBAEGBNA
19. DR. OGAGA IFOWODO
20. HON E. T. AGBONAYIMA
21. HIS EXCELLENCY, OBONG VICTOR ATTAH
22. RT. HON. EMAH BASSEY
23. RT. HON. BERNARD UDO
24. RT. HON. IGNATIUS EDET
25. OBONG BASSEY INUAEYEN
26. PROF. OKON EMINUE
27. CHIEF DON ETIEBET
28. OBONG UMANA O. UMANA
29. DR. AKPAN MICAH UMOH
30. H.E. NSIMA EKERE
31. MRS IBIM SEMENITARI
32. PROF. NIMI BRIGGS
33. PROF. B.B FAKAE
34. BARR. BOMA OBUOFORIBO
35. DR. I. N. IRAGUNIMA
36. PRINCE TONYE PRINCEWILL
37. CHIEF ANDREW UCHENDU
38. SEN. MAGNUS ABE
39. CHIEF TONY URANTA
40. HON. MENE L. DEREK
41. RT. HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI
42. HRM KING MALLA SASIME (EBENIBE OF EPIE)
43. HRM KING OKPOITARI DIONGOLI (IBEDAOWEI OF OPOKUMA)
44. OLOROGUN OTEGA EMERHOR (OON)
45. ENGR SAMUEL ADJOGBE

THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $1 billion loan towards meeting the deficits in Nigeria’s 2016 Budget, believed to partly responsible for the country’s economic crisis.


AfDB President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after meeting with Vice President and other members of the Economic Management Team (EMT) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.


Stressing that Nigeria is the largest shareholder of the bank, Akinwunmi said the bank is in Nigeria to offer its strong support to the country as it faces tough time.


He said: “African Development Bank (AfDB), we have a very strong delegation team to meet Vice President and the economic management team. The bank’s largest shareholder is Nigeria. It is very important for me to be here and to talk to the Nigerian government about the challenges and opportunities that are in Nigeria.


“I’m not here to lecture the Nigerian government. I’m here to support very strongly. We have said that we are going to support the Nigerian government with the budget support to be able to deal with some of fiscal imbalance that they have. We are looking to consider for an award of $1 billion to help to deal with that particular deficit.”


Commenting on the loan, Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun said what had been a great relief to the economic team was the synergy between “what we’re trying to do and what the AfDB, repositioning under Adesina, is trying to focus on. And most of the sectors, the specific programmes that the bank has are the very areas we want to focus on the economy.”


She said while the government was looking unto the AfDB for $1bn budget support, “but beyond that, there are lots of loans and initiatives around agriculture, job creation or the youths, solid minerals, women empowerment and women’s access to finance, access to finance to the SMEs.”


Asked about the interest rate on the loans, the minister responded: “Its concession is way below two%. It’s about 1.2%. We’re not over borrowing, what we’re trying to do is to ensure that this money we’re borrowing, we use it on the key infrastructure that will drive the economy.”

THE Naira on Sunday depreciated further against the dollar on the parallel market due to an increase in scarcity of the greenback. 







The currency exchanged for N440 per dollar on Sunday.

The latest declines in the naira value started on Wednesday, a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee retained the benchmark lending rate at 14 per cent.

On Thursday it closed at 436/dollar and ended Friday exchanging at 439/dollar.

(NAN)

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has explained that his administration is fighting the scourge of corruption headlong because it contributes to the denial of the resources required for development.


Speaking in New York, United States of America at the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, the President called on development partners to also up the fight against corruption by returning ill-gotten financial assets and halting future illicit financial flows to their countries.

According to the Nigerian leader, such collective action “will guarantee a stronger international defence of the right to development”.

He noted further that illicit financial assets stashed abroad deprive developing countries, including Nigeria, and invariably deny people the enjoyment of their national wealth and resources needed for development.

He cautioned that non-repatriation of illicit financial assets could impinge on the determination of States to achieve an all-inclusive 2030 sustainable development.

President Buhari therefore called on the United Nations “to remain vocal and active in addressing the negative impact of non-repatriation of illicit financial assets on their countries of origin”, adding: “As soon as stolen assets are legally established, they should swiftly be repatriated.”

The President, while welcoming the commemoration of three decades of the Declaration on the Right to Development, which, he observed, coincides with the first anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said: “It reminds us all of the essence of development and provides us with the opportunity to reaffirm commitments to converting this right into the policies and operational activities of relevant actors at the national, regional and international levels.”

President Buhari said as a developing country, Nigeria considers the Right to Development an inalienable right of fundamental importance, stressing that at the national level, his administration has been making strenuous efforts to ensure that the right to development is at the centre of all development initiatives.

While reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Charter and other international conventions that uphold the Right to Development, he also drew the attention of the international community to the urgent need to address the lop-sided terms of trade between Developed and Developing Countries, which have impacted negatively on the capacity of many Developing Countries to embark on development programmes for the benefit of their peoples.

Buhari declared: “Nigeria is convinced that the Right to Development is a shared responsibility considering the growing inequality and poverty resulting from climate change impact, natural disasters, violent extremism, social unrest and deprivation.

“The Right to Development must be promoted and protected like all other rights.

WITH a combined foreign debt profile of $1.84bn, Lagos, Kaduna and Edo are the most indebted states of the federation as far as subnational foreign debts are concerned, investigation has revealed.








Statistics obtained from the Debt Management Office in Abuja on Wednesday showed that the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory owe $3.65bn in foreign debts as against the $7.61bn owed by the Federal Government as of June 30, 2016; bringing the country’s total foreign debt to $11.26bn.


Lagos, which has the biggest economy in the country, retained its topmost position as the most indebted state of the federation with a total of $1.43bn in foreign debts. Thus, the state holds 39.17 per cent of the country’s total subnational foreign debts.



Kaduna State, with total foreign debt of $225.28m, comes in the second position. It holds 6.16 per cent of the subnational foreign debts.


Edo State, with a total of $179.52m as of June 30, holds 4.91 per cent of the country’s subnational foreign debts.


The highest owing states in the subnational foreign debts include Cross River, $141.47m or 3.87 per cent; and Ogun, $103.55m or 2.83 per cent.


Others are Bauchi, with $97.23m or 2.66 per cent; Osun, $78.93m or 2.16 per cent; Adamawa, $77.14m or 2.11 per cent; Enugu, $74.46m or 2.04 per cent; Katsina, $68.99m or 1.89 per cent; and Oyo, $67.56m or 1.85 per cent.


Some of the least indebted states of the federation are Borno, $21.89m; Taraba, $23.01m; Plateau, $29.24m; Yobe, $29.28m; Jigawa, $32.62m; Kogi, $33.56m; Benue, $34.26; FCT, $34.8m; Zamfara, $35.07m; and Delta, $42.21m.


ThePunch Newspapers had reported that the 36 states of the federation and the FCT grew their external debts by $1.37bn in five years.


The external indebtedness of the subnational governments as of December 31, 2010 stood at $2bn. However, by December 2015, it had risen to $3.3bn.


This shows that the subnational governments grew their external debts by 68.44 per cent within the five-year period.


Some states, over the period, maintained their top positions in the borrowers’ club, while others jumped onto the list in the period.


With an external debt of $41.19m in 2010, Edo State, for instance, was not among the most indebted states in the country.


However, by the end of December 2015, the state’s external debt profile had leapt to $168.19m, showing a difference of $127m. This means that the state’s external debt rose by 308.34 per cent in five years

A Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana has described the call for the sale of National assets as illegal and against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



Falana said this in his latest article titled: “Sale Of National Assets Is Illegal”, citing contitutional and historical references.


Recall that Senate President, Business magnate, Aliko Aliyu Dangote including the Central bank Governor have called for the sales of Nation’s assets to revive the ailing economy.


But Mr. Falana in the article said: “The sale of national assets is in total conflict with section 16 of the Constitution, which has prohibited the concentration of the nation’s wealth in the hands of a few people or a group.


“It is pertinent to point out that the suggestion is in total conflict with section 16 of the Constitution which has prohibited the concentration of the nation’s wealth in the hands of a few people or a group”.


 “Indeed, by section 44 of the Constitution the nation’s natural resources shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people by the federal government. One would have expected senators who swore to protect the Constitution to kick against the suggestion to sell the assets of the nation to a few people.


“But for selfish considerations a few legislators who may be queuing up to participate in the purchase of the nation’s assets are not prepared to defend the Constitution.


“If the Senate is genuinely desirous to contribute meaningfully to the debate on the economy it should, as a matter of urgency, propose a substantial reduction in the jumbo emoluments of federal legislators which are said to be the highest in the world”, Mr. Falana said.

NIGERIANS have been urged to ignore the September 23 stay-at-home order issued by Biafra agitators in solidarity for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.



The directive was issued by a Coalition of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra.

In a statement signed by the Coordinator and Secretary of the coalition, Okanu Muoneme and Basil Okwu, in Awka, Anambra State on Wednesday, the group said it would no longer allow the death of members for avoidable reasons.

The coalition, however, reiterated the call for the immediate and unconditional release of Kanu in line with the various court decisions on the matter.

It also urged the Federal Government to address the infrastructural decay in the South East and South South geopolitical zones, especially the federal roads, which are in bad conditions.

The statement said: “We, IPOB and MASSOB, hereby dissociate ourselves from the directives of Radio Biafra broadcasting from overseas that people should stay indoors on September 23 in solidarity for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

“We plead that President Muhammadu Buhari effect the release of Nnamdi Kanu immediately without condition and that all previous court judgments which ordered his release be obeyed without further delay.

“We urge the people and every believer of the Biafran struggle to go about their normal businesses without molestation.”

The coalition frowned at the activities of the operators of Radio Biafra, whom they said were enjoying themselves outside the country, while some of their members at home were either dead or languishing in prisons.

It said: “It is unfortunate that many of our members have died and others languishing in prisons while a few people operating the Radio Biafra abroad and their former leader are enjoying themselves.

“We shall no longer allow ourselves to be used as guinea pigs.”

kizolala:
Please what are your views on this? I think Vanguard newspaper should be sanctioned.

THE Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, said the party’s attention has been drawn to the relentless noise on radio, television and in the newspapers by the Rivers State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through its State Chairman, Felix Obuah and the Publicity Secretary, Samuel Nwanosike attempting to foul the air over the release of March 19 rerun election results for Tai Local Government Area.

 
The APC in a statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Senibo Chris Finebone said, the APC has “so far, repeatedly reminded the PDP that the Electoral Act clearly specifies how results of elections including legislative polls are released and by whom at all levels. The Tai rerun election results were announced by the statutorily recognised INEC officials at the appropriate levels. Whether the Commission had issues to establish about those results is inconsequential, internal and merely administrative.”
 
The statement reads: “The PDP has always talked about a dubious and largely suspect court order they obtained restraining INEC from releasing the said results. We would like to advise the PDP to confirm whether they can obtain an order against action that has already been taken. Indeed, they should ask themselves whether someone can obtain a court order against the delivery of a child that has already been delivered.
 
“Assuming without conceding that the PDP has a subsisting court order restraining INEC or its agents from releasing Tai results, under what circumstances can a political party or indeed anyone take an order restraining a statutorily established government entity from performing its constitutional roles? The PDP must tell Nigerians whether it can obtain a court order restraining, for example, the Rivers State House of Assembly or National Assembly or National Population Commission from carrying out their statutory functions.
 
“It is the conviction of the APC that the said court order the PDP has been making reference to exists only in the imagination of the PDP leaders in Rivers State. We challenge them to publish that court order for public scrutiny because they have placed the matter in public space.
 
“Again, assuming without conceding that a genuine court order restraining the release of Tai rerun election is in the possession of the PDP, what are the detailed specifics of such an order? What is the challenge of the PDP in returning to court to get INEC charged for contempt of court instead of threatening crisis and breakdown of law and order?
 
“The APC believes that repeated threat of crisis by the PDP follows in the character of their leader, Gov. Nyesom Wike who said during their second ill-fated national convention that he was allowing peace to reign because of the presence of visitors in the state. By that statement, Rivers people became aware why peace has never reigned in Rivers State especially when we did not have visitors in the State. It helped us to understand why killings returned to Rivers State the very day the NBA conference wound up especially the gruesome killing of an NBA member, late Ken Astwete a few days later.
 
“The APC condemns the unwarranted threat to law and order by words and actions of PDP leaders in Rivers State. There is no doubt that this sort of behaviour was responsible for the spate of violence that has enveloped Rivers State and brought her infamy since 2014.
 
“We wish to remind the PDP that after the rerun elections of March 19, INEC has released results in favour of the PDP in many parts of Rivers State. APC members had either taken it with equanimity or peacefully approached the courts to seek redress. We have not threatened anyone or the peace of Rivers State.
 
“The APC calls on relevant security agencies to take particular notice of the drum of war being beaten for the umpteenth time by the PDP over matters they have the clear option of seeking judicial intervention if they believe in democratic tenets.”

THE police in Katsina said yesterday that it arrested Blogger, Jamil Mabai for criticising the purchase of 3000 coffins for distribution to mosques by the state governor, Aminu Masari.



Mabai had criticised the rationale behind the purchase of 3000 coffins at N40,000 each when the governor is yet to pay outstanding salary to civil servants in the State.


He wondered whether the governor wants the people of the State to die with the purchase of the coffins.


Justifying his arrest, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State, Usman Abdulahi said the blogger was detained for posting that the government bought the coffins because it wanted people to die.


He said: “The state government complained that Jamil wrote that it had bought 3,000 coffins and distributed to mosques and may be it wanted Katsina people to die.


“Any reasonable person will ask one or two questions. This is why we had to invite him to assist the police.”

This is coming barely two weeks after Emenike Iroegbu who publishes Abia Facts Newspapers was arrested over offences bordering on “defamation”.

”He recently published an article saying the governor buried a 9-year-old in the Government House in Umuahia,” Abia State Government said.

Within the past one year, Nigeria has witnessed an upsurge in arrests of citizens over their activities on the Internet.

In August 2015, three bloggers —Demond Ike, Seun Oloketuyi and Chris Nwandu— were arrested and charged for offences that allegedly contravened Cybercrime Act in Lagos.

Mr. Ike spent six months in custody, parts of which were in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.

A month later, Emmanuel Ojo, was arrested in Abeokuta allegedly on the orders of Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, after posting some “offensive” materials on Facebook. The charges preferred against him remained stalled in the Abeokuta Division of the Federal High Court.

Mr. Ojo said he had since fled Nigeria to another West African country after “threats from powerful people became unbearable.”

On August 8, 2016, Abubakar Usman, a pro-government blogger, was also arrested and detained for nearly two days for apparently publishing a report critical of the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

THE former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has insisted that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, must resign to allow for independent investigation into alleged budget infractions.








Jibrin told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that some members of the lower chamber were already plotting to impeach Dogara.


Jibrin alleged that the speaker had on Monday begged members of the North East caucus in the House for forgiveness over his role in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget.


He, however, said that the request was rejected.


According to him, Dogara’s request that the matter should be investigated internally is not tenable as the rule of the House stated otherwise.


Jibrin said: “When a grievous allegation of this nature is raised, there is a laid down rule to investigate such issue and it should not be investigated internally.


“The speaker should step down for proper investigation. Nobody is hunting him, but he should step down for a committee to do its work and investigate the issue.


“The speaker begged us that we should forgive him. He also begged for the principal officers.


“He said that the House should forget what happened in the 2016 budget.”


Jibrin said he was not bothered if the House would suspend him for his actions, maintaining that he was “prepared for the worst because I know the risk I am taking; I am on the part of history”.


In a swift reaction, the spokesman of the House, Abddulrazak Namdas, in company with 15 members of the North West
caucus in the House, debunked Jibrin’s claims, saying they were false.


According to Namdas, the essence of the meeting, which took place on Monday and presided over by the Speaker, was to deliberate on the way toward addressing the current economic recession in the country.


Namdas said: “The Speaker decided to meet with leaders of all caucuses to discuss the way forward on the current recession and the way forward when the House resumes.


“Allegation that the speaker begged for forgiveness and that members of North-West caucus passed a vote of no confidence on the Chief Whip, Rep. Ado Doguwa, is not true.


“That the meeting was done in bad light was not true as well; Jibrin has made these allegations before and has not said anything new.


“This House has its resolutions; we have our process and will commence its work soon.


“None of us is above the rule we have set. If Jibrin has issues, let him put up a motion and if he has the numbers then so be it.”


Also speaking, Ahmed Mustapha, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting,
said 21 out of 24 lawmakers from Kano State endorsed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the House.


Mustapha said: “In the North East, Gombe State has passed 100 per cent vote of confidence on the speaker, while about 85 per cent of all the members of in the House has passed a vote of confidence on the leadership.”

NAN

http://www.socialtimesng.com/2016/09/budget-padding-dogara-did-not-beg-for-forgiveness-house-spokesman-namdas/

jlinkd78:
OK. This social times site is really becoming news breaking these days.

THE opposition Peoples Democratic Party is back as “one family”, a member of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Obi, announced a while ago.



Senator Obi spoke with newsmen ahead of a joint press conference billed to be addressed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Makarfi.

Obi, who was flanked by another PDP chieftain from Sheriff’s camp, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, said both leaders have reconciled and would now set up a joint committee with the support of stakeholders.

He said: “We have decided to issue a joint statement.

“As we speak today, the PDP is back as one family.

“The two leaders will address you gentlemen of the press.

“They will constitute a joint committee with the support of all relevant organs of the party.”

Makarfi, Sheriff Releases Statement

In a statement jointly signed by Sheriff an Makarfi the two leaders agreed to consult with other relevant organs of the party for a final resolution of the leadership crisis that has engulfed the party for a whole now.

The statement titled “Rejuvenating the PDP”reads “This is without prejudice to all outstanding matters in court. At a meeting held this morning between the two of us, a holistic review of the state of affairs of our great party, PDP, was deliberated upon.


“In reviewing the crisis that has engulfed our party since the loss of the 2015 general election after 15years of uninterrupted leadership at the centre, it became obvious to both of us as principal actors that it is time to heal the wounds. And bring about a united, focused and constructive opposition party that can bring sanity to our democratic process. Bringing relief to the teeming supporters of our great party and to the benefit of our great country.

“Based on the above, we have both agreed to: Consult widely with all relevant organs of the party; Set up a joint committee that will carry out a holistic reconciliation of all aggrieved segments of our party across the country and in Diaspora; Pursue the vision of the founding fathers of our great party.

“Details of all the above will be made public soonest.

“We therefore call on all party members to remain calm and refrain from any actions and utterances that could further bring about divisions or dispute the party”

THE Ekiti State Government said on Thursday that it had set aside N1.9 billion for the construction of a new governors’ office and high court complex in Ado-Ekiti.








The Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Funmi Ogun, made this known during an open bidding for the two projects in Ado-Ekiti.


Mrs. Ogun said the projects were conceived as part of plans to give the state a facelift in terms of infrastructure development.


She said when completed, both projects would add to the existing “legacy projects” of the present administration in the state.


According to her, the consultants’ proposed bill for the construction of the new governor’s office is N687, 028, 630.63 million while that of the High Court Complex is N1, 299, 613, 897.60.


NAN reports that the contractors that bid for the new governor’s office project at the session included Vyouad Construction Company Limited, Tianjin Yuyang Construction Company and Goodek Ventures Limited.


For the construction of the proposed court complex, Grid Associates Limited and Fovak Construction Limited jostled for the job.


The commissioner said the open tender confirmed the transparency of Fayose’s government and its commitment to prudent management of the state’s lean resources.



“What we are doing today confirms the transparency of our government.


“It shows that Gov. Fayose is incurably committed to giving Ekiti a facelift and make Ado Ekiti capital city a real modern city.


“Ekiti will clock 20 years on Oct.1, 2016 and we have to embark on projects that will make Ekiti a developing state that can compete with other capital cities in terms of infrastructure.


“The High Court we are presently using was inherited from the old Ondo state and constructing a new one of our own will afford us the opportunity to put state-of-the-art equipment,” she said.

NAN

THE Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop agonising about the past administration but to tackle the challenges facing the country.



He said Nigerians did not vote for him ( Buhari) to complain about previous government but to perform better than his predecessor.

The clergymen stated this at a dinner organised by the Ondo State Government after the 2016 Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria held in Akure, the state capital on Wednesday.

He said, “We didn’t vote a government to complain about yesterday, if we wanted yesterday the new government would not be there. The previous government didn’t only do bad things; he did a lot of good things.

“I think the business of government is not our business; our business is, the previous government did bad, that is why we voted a new government. It is really about taking responsibility. No matter how much you praise or abuse (former President Goodluck) Jonathan, he is no more the President of Nigeria. I think that people must understand that you take power to solve problems not to agonise.

“We are not asking you to change the whole world, but Jonathan created problems: we are now riding a train between Abuja and Kaduna now; the train wasn’t there before. Things that Jonathan did that can help Nigeria, let’s continue with them. The bad things that Jonathan did and those who deserve to go to prison should go to prison. “

Kukah added that the only way the current administration could succeed in fighting corruption was to first solve the problem of poverty and inequality in the country.

“I still believe that unless we get to the root cause of poverty and inequality, which are really the evidences and symptoms of corruption; you can talk of fighting corruption all the rest of your life and very little is going to happen.

“Sending people to prison will only be useful if it puts bread on the table of the people, “ the Catholic cleric said.

In his remarks at the dinner, the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, reiterated his call for the restructuring of Nigeria to reflect the needed true federalism as the only panacea for the development of the country.

Mimiko expressed worries that the Federal Government was biting more than it could chew with the larger percentage of the resources at its disposal to the detriment of the federating units.

The governor posited that the problem of corruption facing Nigeria could be addressed with the right policy.

He called for the prayers of the religious leaders in the country to tackle inter-religious conflicts, noting that the (conflicts) might lead the country to more danger that might be difficult to overcome.

“Government has the responsibility of bringing these bigots to book. We are not comfortable with what the bigots are doing. What they are doing is most worrisome in Nigeria. The Church has a major role to play by praying for Nigeria,” the governor added.

Meanwhile, about 200 pastors and bishops from the Anglican Church across Nigeria are currently in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for a one-week conference where they would pray for the peace, security and development of the country.

The Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, while declaring the conference open at the Benue State University, Makurdi, expressed excitement that the state was hosting the All Anglican Clergy Conference and assured the pastors that their security would be guaranteed.

Ortom said, ‘’The government and people of the state believe in divine intervention in human affairs and my conviction accounted for the dedication of the state to God at the end of May, this year.

“My faith in God right from my teenage years has accounted for my elevation from a humble beginning to the present status and I’m resolute in my determination to serve God wholeheartedly.’’

He expressed appreciation to the Primate of the Church, Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas Okoh, and other clergy and the laity of the church, for making themselves available for God to use them to bless the present generation.

Ortom urged them to carry on with their activities at the conference without any fear of molestation and advised Benue people to put their trust in God to experience breakthrough in all facets of life.

He said he was sure that the conference would bring blessings to the people of the state as well as all the delegates.

The governor assured the people that his administration was working tirelessly to revamp the agricultural value chain, which he said, would turn around the economy for the better.

In his remark, Okoh thanked Ortom for his contributions toward the success of the conference.

He reiterated the anti-gay stand of the Anglican Church in Nigeria and advised members of the clergy who had gay tendencies to resign their position honourably or risk being disgraced out of the church.