Shikini: A former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has faulted the claim made by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, that the money left behind by the administration of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan could not last for three weeks.
Amaechi had made the statement when he appeared on Channels Television’s programme titled, ‘Hard Copy’.
He said, “As former chairman of the governors’ forum, I was told by the security in a meeting chaired by the former President, including the former minister of finance, that at every point in time, the government must leave money behind in case Nigeria goes to war that would last for six months. By the time we came, they didn’t leave money behind that could last us for three weeks. And I was speaking at that time as the chairman of the governors’ forum.”
Reacting, Chidoka who served as a minister under Jonathan said Amaechi’s comment is rather unfortunate and not supported by facts readily available in the public domain.”
He said this in a statement titled ‘Gov. Amaechi’s Statement on 2015 Foreign Reserve: Setting the Records Straight.’
Chidoka said, As a member of the Federal Executive Council that handed over to the current administration, I am disturbed that this urban myth of “empty treasury” is still the subject of conversation by a senior government member.
“Also, I am confused about what the Honourable Minister means when he says, “By the time we came in,” as he was not appointed minister until six months after the May 29 Handover. Since he was not a minister on the handover date, it may be pertinent to present him with the facts again.
“On May 29, 2015, President Buhari inherited a foreign reserve of $28.6 billion, according to official data still present on the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as $5.6 billion Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited dividends. Also, a 2015 budget of over 4 trillion Naira was handed over to the incoming administration by the outgoing Jonathan government.
“Furthermore, the Jonathan administration left a total of $2.2 billion in the Excess Crude Account on May 29, 2015. (As verified by the Ministry of Finance both by the immediate past minister and the incumbent).
“To further create context, I would like the Minister of Transport to note the country’s economic indices after 1849 days of President Jonathan’s Presidency from May 06 2010, the date he took over from President Umaru Yar’Adua to the Handover date of May 29, 2015.
“On May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari inherited an economy that, by the testimony of the World Investment Report, prepared by the Geneva-based United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), was the number one destination for foreign direct investment in Africa. In the five years of President Jonathan, Direct Foreign Investment stood at about 35.25 Billion Dollars. You can compare this to the 11.55 Billion Dollars Direct Foreign Investment received from 2016 to 2020.
“The Jonathan administration handed over a $550 billion economy (largest in Africa and 26th globally) and a diversified economy. On May 29, 2015, President Jonathan left behind an economy with a stable currency, where the Naira exchanged for N199 to $1, and Nigeria had a single-digit inflation rate. Today, after 2,406 days of the current administration, headline inflation rate hovers above 15 per cent.
“Under President Jonathan, the unemployment rate stood at 7.5 per cent (better than European Union) today. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, six and half years after Governor Amaechi’s government came in, unemployment is 33 per cent.
“Before the government came in, Nigeria’s poverty rate was 32 per cent as of May 2015. We need not compare it against 71 per cent today after 78 months of President Buhari’s administration.
“Our External debt as of May 2015 stood at $7.3 billion, the Gini coefficient (degree of inequality) was not different from China’s as of 2015. In 343 weeks and four days of the current administration, our external debt has ballooned to $37.9 billion as of September 2021. It is important to point out that over 48 per cent are bilateral and commercial loans.
With the facts above, I am sure that the Minister of Transport will rethink his fixation on the past and focus on the clear and present danger of an economy on the path to Argentina – sovereign debt default.
“In the face of declining revenues, available public data revealed that external debt servicing gulped $1.82 billion between January and September 2021; this is 43.9 per cent higher than the $1.27 billion spent in the corresponding period of 2020.
“In the same period of January to September 2021, Domestic debt servicing rose to N1.74 trillion from N1.53 trillion recorded in the same period of 2020.
These issues should worry the Honourable Minister, coupled with unlocking the asphyxiating gridlock that Apapa port has created in the economy.
“2,406 days after, a clear 557 days (One year five months) more than President Jonathan governed Nigeria; this administration’s economic policies and heightened insecurity have left the country comatose.
“Minister Amaechi and the APC government should stop this perennial blame game and focus on redeeming its tattered image by signing the electoral bill passed by a legislature it controls.”
The nest government must investigate Yusuf buhari after his father leave office
He must tell the people where and how he get billions of dollars in cash stashed in foreign countries
Some people will come here to defend him and start to tell us that his is the president yes his father is the president how much did Nigeria pay his father a month
If buhari think he will make his son Yusuf buhari a billionaire and kill innocent por people who are protesting for service delivery we will meet him soon
Yusuf will charge whit money laundering we are preparing our petition to FBI and some foreign criminal investigator.
I will never allow buhari family to get away whit this corruption.
The Ibeno Beach is one of the beaches on the Atlantic Ocean along the shorelines of Ibeno in Eket, Akwa-Ibom State.
It is the longest sand beach in West Africa.
The Ibeno Beach Funfair opening ceremony took place yesterday Sunday 26th December, 2021.
The event saw tourists from far and wide. There were a lot of activities going on at the beach some include; * boat riding, * horse riding, * volleyball game, * dancing competition, * singing and lots more.
The Ibeno beach is stretch of over 45km sand bank which transverses many riverine communities.
It is a beautiful tourist site for lovers of fun and tourists to unwind.
The smell of the beach sand is crisp and from a distance, visitors can hear the sea gulls and the splashing waves.
WonderTV Media crew took a tour at the beach and below is a video has covered by WonderTV Media.
Landmack: These useless politicians are now using ipob terrorists to terrorise our region. when we say it here,their hopeless and useless minions will come here and spew trash. Evil igbo politicians are using the group to set our region on fire.
freedom fighting in the mud
fraud terrorist organization
who are you please which village did you come from and what is the name of your local government chairman
See how Nnamdi Kanu's Fraternity IPOB is bringing weapons, guns, killings and destructions to Igbo Nation.
Ndi Igbo, part of cleaning up our land will be to ban all these families whether of IPOB or of politicians from our land. Let them remain in abroad forever. We must use prisons and banning to remove evil from Igbo Nation.
Enough is enough.
hope uzudimma should be ashamed of him self
You killing our youth because of this useless propaganda
By the way op when did you become igbo man When did Niger Delta because igbo land When did you start to smoke weed and npkulu mmiri.
Wisdomkosi: JUST IN!!! "I Believe In One Nigeria And I Love President Buhari" - Gov. Umahi Tells Northern Governors | #IgbereTV
Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State has assured some northern governors that he believes in the unity of the country and equally loves President Muhammadu Buhari.
IGBERE TV had reported that some Northern Governors of All Progressives Congress, APC, including Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and Mohamed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State on Christmas Day were in Ebonyi State on a Christmas homage to Governor David Nweze Umahi.
Also in company of the two Governors are the former Governor of Jigawa State, Samilu Turaki and Chairman of TETFund Alhaji Kasheem Imam.
The visiting Governors were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Enugu by the Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru before heading to Uburu, the hometown of Governor David Nweze Umahi.
Receiving the visiting Governors, Governor David Umahi thanked the visitors for coming to share in the joy of Christmas with the people of the State.
He assured of the continued support of the State to the APC-led Federal Government at all times.
"If there is anything you see in Ebonyi State, I have been to Jigawa State at a time these Leaders you see here demonstrated that they love this Country.
"You go to Kano, you go to Jigawa, you see how our people are being treated, if you see what these people have done for this country, you would duff your cap for them.
"I believe in the unity of this Country, I believe in the oneness of this country and I have no apology for my love for Mr. President. When you go close to him, you will see a man that is detribalized.
"When I didn't see the light in the Party I belonged, in the Party, I was the stabilizer, the spirit of God started talking to me and I went back to my Father Mr. President, went back to my brothers and I said this is the time.
"This is the place that all Governors are equal, I want to thank them tonight, this relationship means well for this Country, this relationship is the relationship that supports Mr. President, and I will ask Nigerians, let us deemphasize party politics, it doesn't do us any good.
"Ebonyi State is 100 percent APC and there is no going back, apart from my love for these two brothers, we have to reintegrate with the North for the unity of this country."
Governor Umahi called for the support of people from other regions of the Country to Igbo Presidency in 2023.
"The Igbos are hard-working, try them for four years, Sir, we are not going anywhere, we are part of this Country and we have investments everywhere and we are very happy being Nigerians."
The Governor of Jigawa State, Mohamed Badaru Abubakar thanked Governor Umahi and Ebonyians for the hospitality shown to them.
He commended Governor Umahi for the massive infrastructural transformation in Ebonyi State.
"Indeed it is with great pleasure for us to join you at the eve of Christmas for us to show our respect to our brother Dave Umahi.
"Dave is a true brother in the Progressives, on our way, we saw numerous projects and I started asking whether he is getting extra allocation.
"This your son is an asset to this Nation. On behalf of the Progressive Governors and the APC Chairman who would have loved to be here but he missed his flight but he says his heart is with us, we thank you for the warm reception.
"We have seen your signature in every sphere, infrastructure, education and we want to say that the Progressive Governors are happy with you, so we wish you a merry Christmas as we see a shining star in Ebonyi."
The Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu Abubakar congratulated Governor Umahi for doing APC proud with his purposeful leadership in Ebonyi State.
"Let me start by thanking His Excellency for the warm reception we received from Enugu down to this place, we are not surprised and we appreciate this welcome.
"If we say you are hospitable, it is an understatement, if we say you are an achiever, it is an understatement, in Dave Umahi we are having from a beacon of light to a shining star.
"Engineer Dave Umahi is an ambassador of Nigeria's unity, he has a strong relationship with Mr. President, Engineer Dave Umahi had a magical moment with the PDP because he is always sincere in what he does.
"We are very proud of you both in the APC and wider area of some governance, I compete with him in certain areas, Ebonyi cultivates rice and my State Kebbi State produces rice too.
"We are very happy that we are here to celebrate Christmas with you and we pray, you to continue being richly blessed by Ebonyi State and Nigeria."
On his part, the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Aminu Turaki called on the people of the State to continue to support Governor Umahi to take the State to a promising future.
"We have a David here who is taking Igbo to the promised land, if IGBOS are saying they want an Igbo President, will Ebonyi vote for APC 100%,?
"We have come, we have seen infrastructure together with the Abakaliki rice. I think we have seen peace here, for me, I think you should support your Governor and the Progressives and you will see the wonders.
"My message is simple, it is not an easy journey, the IGBOS are the Israelites of Nigeria."
Also Speaking, the Chairman of TETFund, Alhaji Kasheem Imam commended Governor Umahi for his visionary leadership in the State, describing him as a known achiever.
"I want to talk to you about this my special brother who has become my friend, Engineer Dave Umahi, God has blessed him with everything.
"The Umahis have done well, Umahi has achieved something for himself and the evidence is there.
"I have visited this state several times, the evidence is there, the moment you leave Enugu and you enter Ebonyi, you wouldn't need anybody to tell you that you have entered Ebonyi State.
"It is remarkable in roads, bridges, flyovers, Abakaliki used to be a little tiny town that my brother Dave has transformed to a mega City.
"We saw the shopping mall, we saw the Executive Council Chambers, the first of its kind in Nigeria, it is incredible that a State as poor as Ebonyi can achieve this much.
"What drives governance is vision and you have a Governor that has vision, he has earned my friendship.
"I, and their Excellencies are happy to be here tonight, Your Governor is an achiever and we are proud of him."
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala thanked the visitors for coming to felicitate with Ebonyi State during the yuletide.
"Let me join His Excellency and other leaders of the State to welcome the Progressive Governors to the fastest developing State in Nigeria."
He appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his love for Ebonyi State which has birthed the various transformation ongoing in the State courtesy of Governor Umahi's administration.
"I want to appreciate our dear President for making our dear State his second home, it is on note that all the achievements of His Excellency our Governor are products of Mr. President's love for our Governor."
Voice22: Just In:- Fire Guts Next Cash and Carry Supermarket, People Are Seen Looting The Store, Abuja
The Popular supermarket in Abuja, Next cash and carry in Kado, is currently on fire, a day after Christmas, and people seem to be wondering what the problem might be with supermarkets getting burned.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, and there has not been a report on any lives lost yet. However, people are seen to be looting the store despite being on fire.
Nigerians have taken to the social media page to lament the incident as they recalled that a few months back, a popular supermarket, Ebeano, also caught fire.
However, some people claim that it is suspicious that Ebeano caught fire and just now Next cash and carry also burning down.
A Twitter user said, “ The fire service truck that used to be stationed at Next Cash and carry went where? All the fire hydrants I see don’t function? cos WTF? I have plenty of questions before Shoprite kills us with bills. “ Another Twitter user said, “ Ebeano supermarket burnt down. Next cash and carry Abuja is presently on fire. Should we call this a mere coincidence? “ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6LnVymLCCM
this Fulani government is out to destroy nndi Igbo business but they will fail
Nndi Igbo go home don't invest your money where they hate you.
Unibentatafo: I swearr by holy Quran I won’t do third term: Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed not to circumvent the Nigerian Constitution to have a third term in office.
“I swear by the holy Qur’an that I will uphold the constitution of the country, and by that, I must relinquish power in 17 months’ time,” Mr Buhari, a former military despot, pledged. “I will go, God’s willing. I hope whoever is coming after me will try to do the three things I tried to do.”
He also noted that he would devote his remaining time in office to tackle the worsening deterioration of insecurity and grinding poverty in Africa’s most populous nation.
“One, to secure the country. If I leave the country unsecured, it cannot be managed,” the president asserted. “Secondly, the economy. We have a lot of people who are unemployed.”
On Thursday, Mr Buhari made the vow while inaugurating the Muhammadu Indimi Centre for Distance Learning and an International Conference at the University of Maiduguri. #
hahahaha him self know that he can never try to try it
bomb24: A 55-year-old Islamic cleric, Tunde Olayiwola has confessed that he bought the fresh human head found in his possession at Ajagbale area of Oka in Ondo town, Ondo State for N60,000.
Olayiwola who was paraded at the Ondo state police command said that the fresh human head was meant for money rituals. In an interview, the suspect who said he hailed from Oshogbo, Osun state said he ordered for the fresh head for money ritual at the sum of N60,000.
” lt was delivered to me at home by a man I met at a social function on Thursday morning. I was about to commence the ritual when I was arrested by the police detectives. ” I purposely ordered for the human head to make my life better and it was delivered to me. This is my first time but I want to do it to become rich and live a better life. The head was delivered to me today.
Speaking, the state police commissioner, Oyeyemi Oyediran said that said “the suspect was arrested by men of the state police command after an intelligence report that the suspect was about to receive a consignment.
Oyediran added that “the suspect was apprehended with the fresh head delivered to him and confessed that the head was meant to be used by him to ensure a better life.
He said ” on the 23rd of December, 2021, at about 9 am, the police received information that a self-acclaimed cleric named Alfa Tunde Olayiwola, a suspected ritualistic was about to receive a consignment suspected to be a human head.
“The police immediately swung into action and the cleric was apprehended at Ajagbale area of Oka in Ondo town.
“A free head was found in his custody. He confessed that the head found in his possession was to be used to ensure he had a better life.”
Investigative: Observation my last 2 days on this forum seems sanity is finally returning to nairaland Monikers known to be constituting nuisance seems to be deleted What do you think nairalander?
Politics / Re: Amaechi Wrong On Money Left Behind By Jonathan - Osita Chidoka by madmohamed(m): 8:05pm On Dec 28, 2021 
