₦airaland Forum

By Innocent Oweh, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, June 25, 2015, appointed aserving director in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Ahmed Idris, the new Accountant General of the Federation.


The appointment was made public bythe Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, through a statement by his Director of Communications, Haruna Imrana, on Thursday in Abuja.


The statement also added that the appointment was with immediate effect from June 25, 2015.

Idris hails from Kano State. He was born on November 25, 1960 and was until his new appointment the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.


The terse statement by the Head of Service read in part: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Idrisas the Accountant General of the Federation.“The appointment takes immediate effect from 25th of June 2015″.

source:http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/06/buhari-appoints-ahmed-idris-agf/

Rivers State Governor, NyesomEzenwo Wike has formally restored all the entitlements and benefits of Sir Celestine Omehia as a former Governor of the state.

Governor Wike on Thursday also formally reinstated the official portrait of Sir Celestine Omehia amongst the line-up offormer governors of Rivers State at the Government House, Port Harcourt Executive Council Chamber.

Performing the exercise, Governor Wike said that the decision to restore the entitlements and privileges of Omehia as former governor stemmed from the fact that he worked as governor of the state between May 29, 2007 and October 25, 2007, wherein he took decisions on behalf of the State and initiated projects.He said: “I hereby put back his official portrait among those of former governors. He is now entitled to the benefits of all former governors. ”

The governor said that the era of politics of bitterness in Rivers State was effectively over, noting that it was not rightto personalise governance as was done by the immediate past administration.Responding, former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia described Thursday as the most historic day of his political career.

He said that the restoration of his rights as a former governor indicates that his dark political days are over.The event was witnessed by the Secretary to Rivers State Government, Kenneth Kobani, Rivers State Housing Commissioner, Barrister Emma Okah and the State Attorney-General, Chinwe Aguma.

Source:http://thenationonlineng.net/new/wike-restores-omehas-rights-as-former-governor/



pix: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike restoring former Governor Sir Celestine Omehia's Portrait as former governor among the portrait of former governors at the Executive Council Chamber of Government House, Port Harcourt

This is where T. B. Joshua, grew up in. It's really shocking to know that the leader and founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations, SCOAN, whom according to Forbes, is among Nigeria’s richest pastors had this poor background. There is no excuse for failure in life.

He has been awarded various accolades, notably receiving the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Nigerian government in 2008 and being voted the Yoruba man of the decade by Pan-Yoruba media outlet Irohin-Odua.He was recognised as one of Africa's 50 most influential people by Pan-African magazines 'The Africa Report' and 'New African Magazines and listed among the world's most famous people.

Source:http://www.nationalhelm.com/2015/06/photos-see-where-pastor-tb-joshua.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on
Tuesday said his administration had
received firm assurances of
cooperation from the United States
and other countries in his quest to
recover and repatriate funds stolen
from Nigeria.
According to a statement by his
Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the
President spoke while granting
audience to members of the Northern
Traditional Rulers Council led by the
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad
Abubakar III, at the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
Adesina quoted Buhari as saying that
it was now up to Nigeria to provide
the international community with the
facts and figures needed to drive the
recovery effort.
He said he would be busy, in the
next three months, getting the facts
that would help in recovering the
stolen funds.
“In the next three months, our
administration will be busy getting
those facts and the figures to help us
recover our stolen funds in foreign
countries,” Adesina quoted the
President as saying.
Citing the report submitted by the
Ahmed Joda-led transition
committee, President Buhari said that
several revenue-generating
institutions in the country had been
compromised.
On insecurity, the President was also
quoted as telling the traditional rulers
that they would play a key role in
stemming terrorism and insurgency
in the country.
This, he said, they would do by
assisting the government with cost-
effective intelligence gathering.
Buhari also assured the traditional
rulers that his administration was
working hard to end insecurity and
terrorism in the country in the
shortest possible time with the
cooperation of neighbouring
countries and the international
community.
Acknowledging that Nigerians
expected a lot from his
administration, the President
appealed for patience and
understanding while his government
works diligently to speedily overcome
the huge national challenges it
inherited.
The Sultan had earlier presented the
Northern Traditional Rulers’
recommendations to the President on
issues related to national
development.
He told the President that as
custodians of tradition and
stakeholders in the Nigerian project,
the traditional rulers had a
responsibility to always advise
political leaders on the “path of truth
and justice.”
“We have always advised our leaders,
but their acceptance of our advice is
their own prerogative,” the Sultan
said.
The traditional rulers assured the
President of their unflinching support
for his administration’s efforts to fulfil
its promises to Nigerians.
The traditional rulers later joined the
President in the traditional breaking
of fast.
They were also joined by some state
governors.
Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/usll-assist-us-to-recover-stolen-funds-buhari/

Local government workers in Bayelsa on Tuesday resolved to embark on a three-day warning strike on Wednesday over non-payment of their two to four months salaries.

The state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), said in Yenagoa that the action became necessary due to the workers untold hardship.

The Secretary of NULGE in the state, Mr Tonye Jaja, explained that several efforts to address the situation with the local government council chairmen had not yielded the desired outcome.

According to him, the non-resolution of the issue necessitated the decision by the union to call on its members to embark on the three-day warning strike.“We have made several attempts to get the matter resolved, but it is not working.

You can imagine what the families of these workers are going through.“They find it difficult to feed their children. The politicians are being paid, the councillors are being paid.“The chairmen have collected their own security votes of N5million.

ALGON has also collected their deductions but they find it difficult to pay the workers.”A staff member of Ogbia Local Govrnment, on condition of anonymity, told NAN that she had not been paid for four months.“It has not been easy at all because no there is no money to feed and even to go out to do something.“We have been going to work but nothing is happening. Everywhere is deserted.“I owe a lot. I have not been able to pay even electricity bill.”Mr Chubby Walson, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Council, said he was in a meeting and promised to call back.

NAN recalls that Gov. Seriake Dickson had set up a committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo, to meet with the council chairmen and the unionsto seek ways of addressing the matter.The effort has not yielded the desired resultas the workers insisted that they would meet again on their next line of action after the three-day warning strike. (NAN).
Source:http://leadership.ng/news/442498/local-govt-workers-to-begin-strike-in-bayelsa-on-wednesday

Pictured above -the senate president -Dr Bukola Saraki having a chat with the governor of Imo state, Rochas Owelle Okorocha on Tuesday at his residence in Abuja. The governor was also seen with other APC governors yesterday -ahead of the meeting they had with president Buhari today at the presidential villa.
source:http://www.nationalhelm.com/2015/06/photos-governor-rochas-okorocha-chills.html

By ANAYO ONUKWUGHA
Rivers State Governor Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike has denied allegations that he received the sum of N108 billion from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as refund from the repairs of federal roads in the state, which was carried out by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.Wike, who made the denial during an interactive session with journalists in Port Harcourt at the weekend,wondered when the money was released to him, adding that such funds are not difficult to trace.
The governor said, “It is not possible that I received N108 billion. Did Jonathan pay the money into my account or gave me the cash‎? Was I paid the money before or after I was sworn-in as governor? Did Jonathan have the power to sign money after President Mohammadu Buhari wassworn-in?“Is it possible that no‎body can trace the money (N108 billion) if it was given to me? It is unfortunate. How people have trivialized governance‎. So such stories should be discountenanced.”On the sufferings of Rivers State students on government scholarship scheme, Wike described the programme as a scam, and accused the state government of using consultants when there was a scholarship board in the state.
He said, “If the fees being paid is N2 billion, consultants take N900 million. Why use consultants to do jobs when you have a scholarship board? Now our children (students) are in foreign lands suffering. Their parents are crying why send our children abroad when you can pay their fees. We must return things back to the way it use to be in order to achieve maximum benefit.On the N10 billion loan approvals recently granted him by the state House of Assembly‎, the governor stated that it was to finance major uncompleted projects in the state, saying his government had nothingwhen it came on board.He said, “The State House of Assembly and the Judiciary have been shut because of the political crisis that be-deviled the previous administration. We gave N300 million each to these two arms of government to carry out repairs, adding a number of uncompleted roads and bridges would be completed.”
Source:http://leadership.ng/news/politics/442059/wike-denies-receiving-n108bn-from-jonathan

Since assuming office as Rivers State Governor on May 29, Mr Nyesom Wike has not concealed his disdain for and determination to rubbish his predecessor in office, Chief Rotimi Amaechi’s modest achievements. When he is not setting up panels to witch hunt the former governor, he is busy harassing his aides for contrived misdeeds.

For the records, Wike served in Amaechi’s administration as Chief of Staff. Recently, the residence of two of the former governor’s aides, Former Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and former Chief Press Secretary David Iyofor were raided by some hirelings allegedly on the orders of the governor and accompanied by 10 gun-totting policemen.

The storming gang arrived the residence of the former commissioner in two trucks – one Ford Transit and one Hilux van and without either a search warrant, letter or information, they forced their way into her premises. After the raid that lasted more than three hours, they vandalised a range rover vehicle belonging to Mrs Semenitari’s husband and made away with a Lexus jeep duly allocated to her as Commissioner of Information and which, by law, she was entitled to keep upon leaving office.

This is in consonance with the monetisation policy of the federal government which allows public officers to leave government with their official vehicles in lieu of vehicle allowance. Mr Wike may have his reasons for the ill feelings against Amaechi to the point of nursing a frenzied urge to destroy his reputation and that of those who worked with him, but we find it unacceptable that he will descend from his Olympian height of power and fame to engage in gutter acts of brigandage, thuggery and underhand tactics.

In our opinion, if Governor Wike wanted the said vehicle that badly, there are laid down civil service procedures for recovering public property in the possession of outgoing officials. A simple letter from any government official requesting Mrs Semenitari to make a submission or tender documentation in connection with the vehicle would have been the appropriate way to go and we are sure she would have willingly tendered all the relevant documents and even the vehicle itself. Mrs Semenitari served the government and people of Rivers State meritoriously for two terms.

She is not being forced out office. She is leaving office because the appointing authority, Governor Amaechi in this instance, has concluded his constitutionally stipulated tour of duty. She, therefore, does not deserve the ill will Wike is trying to infuse into what ordinarily ought to have been a happy moment for the former commissioner who, while in office, gave her best within the limits of human possibilities.
We are persuaded by overriding circumstances to condemn what is obviously Wike’s high- handedness. Knowing too well his acquisitive tendencies while in office as Minister of State for Education, we are certain that he must have left that office with his official cars.
Wike must be careful lest the standards he set catch up with him when the federal government begin to ask questions about his tenure as Minister of State.

Source:http://leadership.ng/opinions/editorial/441893/wikes-high-handedness

President Buhari visited the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, after Juma’at prayer, Daura, Katsina. 19 June. pic.twitter.com/55AYtqzQfp

source:https://mobile.twitter.com/TheGreenVilla/status/611961502875041792/photo/1?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C9367462074

By ANAYO ONUKWUGHA

Unknown gunmen on Thursday morning killed an Anglican pastor, Rev. Ibiene Jamabo and a nine year-old boy, identified as Nimela, at Wakama community in Ogu/Bolo local government area of Rivers State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the slain Jamabo is the head of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in the community, while the nine year-old child is the son of the member representing Wakama community in the Ogu/Bolo Legislative Assembly.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, who confirmed the killing of the two persons, said the Command has drafted policemen into the community to maintain peace.

Narrating the incident to newsmen at Ogu, headquarters of Ogu/Bolo local government area, leader of Wakama community, John Jonathan said, “What I saw is that very early this morning (Thursday) Kpogo people came into our community and killed one of the Anglican pastor, and one of our sons in our community. We are still looking for six members of our community.”

Jonathan attributed the killing to a boundary dispute between Wakama and its neighbor, Kpogo community in Tai local government area of the state, and appealed to Governor Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike to intervene in the boundary dispute and ensure an end to the hostility.

Source:http://leadership.ng/news/441392/gunmen-kill-pastor-9-year-old-in-rivers

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has assured the people of the state that he would reintroduce boarding schools with modern facilities to improve the standard of education in the state. The governor spoke at the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta in Obio / Akpor Local Government Area after he paid an unscheduled visit to the school. He regretted the dilapidated state of facilities in most schools in the state, saying that his administration will select pilot schools across the state for upgrade as model schools. Wike particularly decried the condition of the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta, where all the laboratories and other facilities were allowed to rot by the immediate past administration. He directed the immediate construction of a fence around the school and the demolition of illegal structures within the property of the school. The governor also directed the construction of internal roads in the school, saying that the school will serve as a pilot institution in the new boarding school policy. He said : “We are going to start the development of model boarding schools across the state. Our intention is to develop a standard system that will enhance learning for our children. “The development of model boarding schools will be done in phases within the limit of the state’s resources. In all the schools, we shall have standard laboratories, libraries, proper fences for security of students and comfortable classrooms”. Highpoint of the governor’s unscheduled visit to the school was the interactive session he held with students of the school. The reintroduction of boarding schools was one of the key campaign promises of Wike.
Source:http://thenationonlineng.net/new/photos-wikes-surprise-visit-to-govt-school/

Written by Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday insisted that his administration will leave no stone unturned in the bid to eliminate corruption in Nigeria.He made the remark in Johannesburg when he met Nigerians residing in South Africa.The President also promised to implement the cardinal policies of his administration in order to move the country forward.He said: “Government is determined to secure the country, manage the economy, create employment and fight corruption. Some articulate writers have said if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. This APC administration intends to kill corruption in Nigeria. We will do our best, I assure you”Buhari said leaders of the G-7 have expressed commitment to helping Nigeria tackle in insecurity and and develop its oil and gas sectors.“We are getting the facts and logistic requirements together,” he assured,He urged Nigerians resident in South Africa to be good ambassadors of the country, stressing that Nigerian and South African leaders will soon meet to discuss several issues bordering on their relationship.“Those of you who have the opportunity to come here and represent us, make sure that you are representing Nigeria, you are all ambassadors of Nigeria. This means a lot of patience, restraint,self respect and pride. You must have all these,” the President stated.According to him, those accusing him of locking them up have no case as himself was locked up for three and half years when he was deposed as Head of State.He said: “But I assure you that after being in the military for 25 years,and getting to the highest rank and becoming head of state and under unusual circumstances. As headof state I went straight to detention for three and half years, so those who are accusing me of locking them up, I too have been locked up, sowhat.”He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999 messed up Nigeria, adding that wasthe reason Nigerians decided to vote for him.He said: “They remember me more as chairman of PTF than as a former head of state, than a governor or a minister of petroleum. Despite the fact that it was during my time that I signed the contract for Warri refinery, Kaduna refinery, more than 3,500 pipelines and more than 20 depot. Wegot the tankers off the road, we saved lives, wesaved fuel, we save the road itself. But from 1999 till date PDP has messed it up. That is why Nigerians decided to vote me.“Despite the fact that they say money is working from primaries to my election is a proofthat Nigerians know what they want once they make up their minds. You can give them the money, some refuse to take it, some took it and said it is our money and they do exactly what they wanted to do.“So why did I join partisan politics in spiteof that? When I went home people knew that I have no money, I thought they will leave me alone, but they didn’t they were comingto me asking me to do this and do that. And I found that the only way I could do it is by joiningpartisan politics. And maybe if I speak even if I’m not a member at anylevel, people will listen to me.“The second that happened that finally convinced me to join partisan politics was what happened to Soviet Union. You know the Soviet Union was anempire in the 20th century and it collapsedwithout a shot being fired. Everybody went home, there was confusion. Now there are 18 countries out of the old Soviet Union. They were more advanced than the western countries in science because they wanted to go to space specifically in 1957, andthey had more nuclear war heads and delivering system than Warsaw.”
Source:http://thenationonlineng.net/new/i-will-end-corruption-in-nigeria-buhari/

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose is one of the governors loved by his people in Nigeria. Despite some of the hate speeches against President Buhari attributed to him,he is still loved by his people. He has got an amazing family.Meet one of his handsome sons, Nigba Fayose....
Source:http://godwin12..in/2015/06/meet-governor-fayose-handsome-son-nigba.html

President Muhammadu Buhari at the opening of the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg South Africa.

Nollywood actress,Rachael Okonkwo,seems tohave fallen in love with Nollywood actor Ken Erics.Rachael Okonkwowho has featured many Nigerian movies like ‘Blackberry Madness’, Open and Close’, ‘EkaetteGoes To School’, Agatha’,‘Pinging Ladies’, ‘White Ladies’ and many others exchanged some lovely messages with her alleged boo on Instagram.Ken Erics initiatedthe love message by sharing a lovely photo he took with Rachael on Instagram and captioned it:‘Raw babyyy @rachealokonkwo (kisses kisses).Responding to the message,Rachael said:“Kenee baby…Peace @kenerics’See photos below...
Source:http://godwin12..in/2015/06/nollywood-stars-ken-eric-and-rachael.html
https://instagram.com/p/318eL0wRtA/

Business mogul and billionaire oil magnate, Femi Otedola was some days back in London for the graduation ceremony of one of his daughters, Temi.Temi graduated from American School London.Also at the event was Temi's elder sister DJ Cuppy.See pics below....
Source:http://godwin12..in/2015/06/femi-otedola-at-daughter-graduation-in.html

Port Harcourt – President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday promised that education would receive the needed budgetary allocation in order to boost the education sector.
Buhari gave the assurance in Port Harcourt, at the 30th Convocation Ceremony of the University Of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
He said education was key to national development, and assured that his administration would provide new facilities, rehabilitate and upgrade existing ones.
“This administration will continue to support the Nigerian university system in ensuring that learning, teaching and research facilities are constantly upgraded and updated to compete with other global institutions.
“We will also strengthen the regulatory and funding agencies and position them for improved and effective service delivery.
“I call for support of corporate organisations, alumni associations, philanthropists and development partners to bridge the gap in government funding of our universities,” he said.
Buhari, represented by Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary of Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), said the newly approved curricula in universities would address issues of skills acquisition and employment.
The president said that over 12,000 university teachers had benefitted from government capacity building programmes.
Earlier, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT said that 18,363 students who graduated from 55 departments in 16 faculties were drawn from 2011 to 2014 academic sessions.
He said that 13,382 students graduated with First degrees, while 2,214 received Post-Graduate Diploma certificates.
According to him, 2,616 graduated with Master degrees, while 441 students graduated with doctorate degrees.
A breakdown of the number showed that 41 graduated with First Class, while 2,389 graduated in the Second Class Upper Division category.
“A total of 8,602 bagged Second Class Lower divisions, 1,972 had Third Class, while eight students graduated with Pass.
“Also, 324 obtained MBBS, 38 bagged B. Pharm degrees, while 19 graduated with BDS in Dentistry,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said UNIPORT would continue to produce quality graduates capable of competing favourably with their local and international counterparts.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammad Bashir, was inaugurated as the third Chancellor of UNIPORT.
Honorary degrees were also conferred on Chief Solomon Ogba, President of Athletic Federation of Nigeria; Mr Herbert Wigwe, Managing Director of Access Bank, and Mr Nnaeto Orazulike, Chairman of Genesis Group. (NAN)
source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/buhari-promises-improved-budgetary-allocation-to-education/

SOME senators have expressed mixed reactions over the review of remunerations of lawmakers in the country.
Speaking on the review, Senator Kabir Marafa, who represents Zamfara Central, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said the claim that legislators in the country were receiving high remunerations was untrue.

Marafa, while challenging Nigerians to go and verify from banks how much senators were earning, insisted that some Nigerians mistook constituency allowance, as part of the salaries which the lawmakers earned.

He said: Our monies are paid through banks, they don’t give us directly; so let the bankers come out and say how much a senator earns.
“When you get the correct figure, that is when you and I can sit down and talk but you cannot invent an amount and then tell me how much I should reduce from it.

“I think there is general ignorance as to how much a Nigerian senator earns. I would want Nigerians to know exactly how much we earn; then they can come up with criticisms on basis of facts,” he said. When asked how much a Senator earns he still referred the reporter to find out from the banks.

Senator Dino Melaye, APC, from Kogi State, had vowed to champion a campaign for salary cut for federal lawmakers when the new National Assembly resumes.

Melaye insisted that legislators must begin to sacrifice their comfort and allow a pay cut, saying that money realised from the exercise would be used for developmental projects and proper oversight roles.

Senator Ben Bruce, who represents Bayelsa-East Senatorial Zone, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said that he would support any reduction in the pay of members of the National Assembly, noting that he was elected into the Senate to render service and not to waste tax-payers’ money.

He said: “I subscribe 100 per cent to pay cut for National Assembly members; they can cut it to whatever they want, I am in support of it.”
But he warned against singling out lawmakers for the pay cut, saying it must be extended to all other government officials, who maintained exorbitant lifestyles with the taxpayers’ money.

He further said, “The problem we have now is that people seek public office to enrich themselves, that must stop.
“If you seek public office, you must care about the poor people who voted you into power; the people who voted me into office live under the tree, the rich ones went abroad.


“If we come into office and we live this exorbitant lifestyle, and we consume the resources of our country, then we have failed them and we have failed God.
“It cannot be business as usual; we are here for the real change, for the right change,” Bruce said.

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/senators-express-mixed-reactions-over-pay-review/

May God be with them. R.I.P to one that died

It is a sad day along Enugu/Onitsha road as a fatal accident involving a Toyota Camry and an Onitsha South bus left one person dead at the spot,with many severely injured.According to an eyewitness,the speeding Toyota Camry collided with the oncoming bus along Onitsha/Enugu expressway.

Source:http://godwin12..in/2015/06/fatal-accident-along-enuguonitsha.html

Chacha share this on her instagram
Source:https://instagram.com/p/3yytxLiHqN/

Last Tuesday’s humiliation of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the ensuing bad blood has drawn assertions from its foes that the party was only formed to win power and not to govern.
By Emmanuel Aziken,Political Editor
Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary tried to play down his enthusiasm over the distress of the ruling party yesterday.“We want them to survive because the key to the stability of the country is in the survival of the party because they are in power,” Metuh said in a telephone discussion. That was a far fetch from the Metuh of before who before now had been severally quoted as describing the APC as group of power seekers only united by a common quest for power.Last Tuesday as the power quest by the different tendencies in the party peaked during the National Assembly leadership contests, references to Chief Metuh’s questions on the survival of the ruling party inevitably came to mind.That question was further driven by the APC’s terse rebuttal of the election of the four presiding officers, none of whom got the endorsement of the party.Senator Bukola Saraki emerged as Senate President despite the party's inclination for Senator Ahmad Lawan while even more agonising for the ruling party, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP returned to office as the Deputy President of the Senate.It was the first time in the Fourth Republic that a bipartisan leadership had been thrown up in the Senate.In the House, the party’s favourite, Femi Gbajabiamila lost to the unofficial candidate, Yakubu Dogara while the favoured candidate for deputy speaker, —Moguno was edged out by Lashun Yusuf who strode to office on the back of the rebellion spearheaded by Dogara.The APC’s pain was manifest in a terse press statement issued by National Publicity Secretary,Alhaji Lai Mohammed in which the party threatened sanctions against those who masterminded the rebellion.“The APC leadership is meeting in a bid to re-establish discipline in the party and to mete out the necessary sanctions to all those involved in what is nothing but a monumental act of indiscipline and betrayal to subject the party to ridicule and create obstacles for the new administration “ it said.The harsh response of the party inevitably drew references to the situation four years ago when leaders of the APC allegedly lured rebel members of the then ruling PDP to a similar rebellion against the official candidates of the party in the House of Representatives leadership contest.The rebellion of four years ago was what paved way for the humiliation the PDP suffered in the recent general elections.But their rage on Tuesday evening, APC leaders refused to be bothered by such references asserting that the insubordination and treachery of the rebel APC members must be sanctioned.“A strong word of rebuke must be passed to them,” a national officer of the party said that night.Even yesterday morning when the remaining senators-elect who were in the front line of the battle against the emergence ofSenator Saraki were sworn in by their foe, that disdain was very apparent. One of the leading pro-Lawan senators refused a handshake from Senator Saraki after the senator was given the oath by the new Senate President.That development has now led to fears that the party could break up sooner than later given the schism that has been established.Dogara and Saraki.The point of schism could start in the National Assembly. If the party decides to encourage the impeachment of the elected presiding officer it would further sharpen divisions that would inevitably lead the two senior presiding officers, Saraki and Dogara back into the PDP fold.Yesterday, the PDP in unpretentious assertion of its complicity in the pains of the ruling party admonished the APC to eat humble pie.“Nothing can be more astonishing than the whining by the APC that the PDP at the last minute expressed its preference for Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively after it had earlier stated that it was not interested the positions. This calls to question the capacity, experience and skills of APC leaders on political matters and we have no apology whatsoever for their naivety.“The APC is merely suffering the consequences of the greed,lust for power and inordinate ambitions of their leaders. They should note that Nigerians have since moved ahead with the new leaders in the National Assembly and stop wasting their energy on propaganda and blackmails to heat up the polity”.Remarkably, President Muhammadu Buhari has not toed the line of the party in threatening fire against the presiding officers. While claiming his vexation with their rebellion, he nevertheless acknowledged that the election of the new officers was constitutional, a direct oppositefrom party officials who had sought to reverse the election.Party members, who were on the losing side have barely been able to hide their indignation of the aloofness of the president to their predicament. Many have also questioned the actions of the National Assembly, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in the matter and fumed that the national chairman has been unable to show leadership in the face of the contending aspirations of power mongers in the party.Indeed, it is that continuing quest for power that is going to further test the party. Saraki’s ambition for the office of Senate President was opposed by many party leaders simply on the fear that he would use that platform to further his alleged 2019 presidential aspiration.
Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/will-apc-breakup/

More Pics @ Lalasticlala ,Ishilove do the remaining one

By Abiodun AladeThe Senate was presided over by the new Senate President- Sen.(Dr.) Bukola Saraki on ThursdayThe Senate President also swore in the remaining 51 Senators that were unable to attend their inauguration Tuesday. Each Senator took the Oath of Allegiance after which they filed through for a handshake with the President of the Senate.
Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/photos-saraki-presides-swears-in-51-senators/

Tinubu go and die in Lagoon.
Bukola Saraki-My man
Ayo Fayose-My Role Model
Wike-My Mentor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed threats by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the new leaders of the National Assembly as empty boasts aimed to cover its naivety, inexperience and unpreparedness for governance.

The PDP also admonished the APC to shed its arrogance, eat the humble pie and get more organized for governance adding that it lacks the capacity, capability and means to sanction duly elected leaders of the National Assembly.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Wednesday said the crass inexperience so far displayed by the APC is a pointer that it is not adequately equipped to handle the affairs of government at the center, noting that events would continue to prove the PDP right in this regard.

“Nothing can be more astonishing than the whining by the APC that the PDP at the last minute expressed its preference for Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively after it had earlier stated that it was not interested the positions.

This calls to question the capacity, experience and skills of APC leaders on political matters and we have no apology whatsoever for their naivety.

“The APC is merely suffering the consequences of the greed,lust for power and inordinate ambitions of their leaders. They should note that Nigerians have since moved ahead with the new leaders in the National Assembly and stop wasting their energy on propaganda and blackmails to heat up the polity”.

The PDP further condemned Tuesday's botched attempts by the APC to close the National Assembly and stop lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional duties, as well as the threats to the newly elected leaders as “totally against the tenets of democracy, the principles of separation of powers and independence of the legislature as enshrined in the constitution”.

“Indeed, APC’s disdain for democratic norms, the rule of law and the sanctity of the legislature, coupled with its excessive thirst for power portends grave threat to our survival as a nation and calls for serious concern among Nigerians and all lovers of democracy and freedom world over”, the statement said.

The party however reaffirmed its determination to continue to work with like minds from other political parties especially in the National Assembly to ensure that the values of democracy and good governance it had already entrenched in the polity are not eroded under the APC four years rule.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/nassembly-leadership-your-threats-are-empty-pdp-tells-apc/

Bukola Saraki
Sen.
Dr.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki
Governor of Kwara State
In office
29 May 2003 – 29 May 2011

Preceded by
Mohammed Alabi Lawal

Succeeded by
Abdulfatah Ahmed

Senator for Kwara Central
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2011

Preceded by
Gbemisola Saraki

President of the Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 June 2015

Deputy
Ike Ekweremadu

Preceded by
David Mark

Personal details
Born
19 December 1962 (age 52)

All Progressives Congress

Parents
Olusola Saraki
Alma mater
University of London
Occupation
Medical Doctor, Politician

Religion
Islam

Bukola Saraki (born Olubukola
Abubakar Saraki , 19 December 1962)
is a Nigerian politician who has been
President of the Senate of Nigeria
since 2015. Previously he was
Governor of Kwara State from 2003 to
2011. He was first elected to the
Senate in April 2011, representing the
Kwara Central senatorial district, and
he was re-elected in the March 2015
elections. He is currently the senate
president but elected treacherously
into the senate presidency.
He is currently a member of the All
Progressives Congress (APC);
previously he was a member of the
People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Background

Abubakar Bukola Saraki was born on
19 December 1962 to the family of
Olusola Saraki, a one time Senate
Leader (1979 – 1983) of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. He attended
King's College, Lagos , from 1973 to
1978, and Cheltenham College,
Cheltenham , London from 1979 to
1981 for his High School Certificate.
He then studied at the London
Hospital Medical College of the
University of London from 1982 to
1987, when he obtained his M.B.B.S
(London). He worked as a Medical
Officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex,
from 1988 to 1989. He was a
Director of Societe Generale Bank
(Nig) Ltd from 1990 to 2000. He was
appointed special assistant to the
President on Budget in 2000. [1]
Ceremonially, he also serves as a
tribal nobleman of high rank in his
capacity as the Turaki of the Ilorin
Emirate.

Early political career
Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s political
career began when he was appointed
Special Assistant to President
Olusegun Obasanjo on Budget in
2000. While holding this position,
he initiated the Fiscal Responsibility
Bill and served on the Economic
Policy Coordination Committee, where
he was responsible for the
formulation and implementation of
several key economic policies for
Nigeria.

Kwara State governor
In 2003, he ran for the office of the
Executive Governor of Kwara State on
the platform of the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) and won. He
was sworn into office in May 2003.
He ran again for re-election in 2007
and won his second term. As
governor of Kwara, he led reforms in
agriculture, health, education, finance
and environment policy. One of his
major achievements was inviting
displaced white farmers from
Zimbabwe to Kwara State and offering
them an opportunity to farm. This led
to the establishment of Shonga
Farms programme, which is now
being replicated across Nigeria. His
charisma among his fellow governors
got him appointed as Chairman of
the Nigeria Governors Forum.

Power generation and electricity in
Kwara State
Under Dr Saraki’s Governorship,
Kwara became the first state to
complete the Nigeria Independent
Power Project. In collaboration with
the Power Holding Company of
Nigeria, Dr Saraki re-energised the
Ganmo Power Station at Ilorin, and
connected over 375 rural
communities to the National Grid,
through the development and
installation of 725 transformers and 7
substations. Kwara also
completed 4 electrification projects
that meant power became stabilised
for 18–22 hours a day. 90% of
people living in Kwara have access
to electricity, which compares to a
national average in Nigeria of 30%.

Primary health care in Kwara State
While in office, Dr Saraki introduced a
range of new health programmes,
including a state-wide campaign in
2008 to reduce maternal and child
mortality with regard to Malaria. This
included the distribution of
insecticide-treated nets and free
malaria drugs to pregnant mothers
and to children under the age of five.

A state-wide programme of hospital
development was also implemented,
leading to the redevelopment of
hospitals in Afon, Patigi and Lafiagi.
Other measures implemented by Dr
Saraki included improved training and
re-training for medical staff;
refurbishment of hospitals and staff
living quarters; and employment of
qualified medical doctors and other
health workers. Many of the primary
care programmes were sponsored by
international agencies such as WHO
and UNICEF.

Agriculture and farming in Kwara
State
Dr Saraki introduced a range of
reforms to agricultural policy to
increase the commercial viability of
farming, and to increase exports to
international markets. The New
Nigerian Farmers Initiative was
designed to improve the technical
capability of farmers and to ensure
farmers had a significant financial
stake in new investment in
agriculture. The scheme utilised the
under-used resource of agricultural
expertise in the Zimbabwean farming
industry, and worked with the
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’
Union to identify high-skilled farmers
able to support the State’s farming
industry to move to Kwara and
develop the industry. A
commercial hub was also developed
to build capacity support training of
the indigenous farming community.
Infrastructure development
Dr Saraki led a number of significant
and state-wide infrastructure
developments, including
improvements at the Ilorin
International Airport Cargo Terminal;
extensive road construction; and the
development of new sporting
facilities such as Kwara Football
Academy. The State also has an on
going aim to become a logistics and
cargo hub in Nigeria and the region.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors
Forum
Dr Saraki became Chairman of the
Nigeria Governors Forum in 2007.
Under Saraki’s Chairmanship, a
reformed Forum was established,
with a fully resourced secretariat,
with a technical and administrative
division that was entirely focused on
delivery.

State Peer Review Mechanism
Under Dr Saraki’s Chairmanship, a
range of new processes, including
the State Peer Review Mechanism,
were also developed, to ensure that
closer working and collaboration
could take place between members
of the Forum, and best practice
shared between states. The
Mechanisms allowed a range of best
practice case studies to be shared
between states in a number of
different policy fields, including in
relation to power project; primary
healthcare centres that were being
built in villages and other rural
locations; extensive roadworks that
were taking place in rural areas;
water schemes; solar schemes and
the construction of specialist
hospitals and state universities.
Projects such as these had
previously remained undisclosed
until the Mechanism was
established.

The Doctrine of Necessity
One of the most widely recognised
achievements of the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum was its
intervention over the problematic
assumption of power by then Vice-
President Goodluck Jonathan ,
following the illness and subsequent
death of President Umaru Musa
Yar'Adua . On 23 November 2009,
President Yar’Adua left Nigeria and
travelled to Saudi Arabia, where he
was installed in the King Faisal
Specialist Hospital and Research
Centre in Jeddah for the treatment of
what was reported to be acute
pericarditis. He was not seen in
public again and his absence created
a dangerous power vacuum in
Nigeria. The problem was that, for the
Vice-President to succeed the
President, the constitution demanded
that the latter wrote a letter to the
National Assembly making clear the
appointment of the former. But as
President Yar’Adua was constantly in
and out of intensive care, this letter
was never written and the succession
therefore came into question.
The NGF, led by Dr Saraki, and
working with the National Assembly,
devised the Doctrine of Necessity,
which was then passed as a
resolution by the National Assembly.
The Doctrine of Necessity allowed
the Vice President to take over and
become the acting President until
such a time that the President
returned.

Polio immunisation and the
Immunisation Leadership Challenge

The Forum has been credited with
the development of better and more
extensive polio immunisation in
Nigeria. A key part of this was the
introduction in 2011 of the
Immunisation Leadership Challenge.
The Challenge was designed to
reward states in Nigeria that made
significant improvements in polio and
routine immunisation coverage by the
end of 2012.
Observing the effects of the election
cycle, the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation drove the Immunisation
Leadership Challenge – launched in
partnership with the NGF – which
pledged to award US $500,000 to
states that met a pre-defined
threshold of improvement. The
overall objective of the Challenge was
to fast track achievement of the
global milestone of interrupting
further transmission of the wild polio
virus in Nigeria. The grant was to be
used to support Governors' top
health priorities, including malaria,
tuberculosis, and HIV prevention and
treatment, as well as safe drinking
water and hygiene programmes.
The Gates Foundation also promised
to match contributions by states to
their chosen health project of up to
US $250,000. By the end of 2012 the
number of polio cases dropping by
about 50%.

The NGF and Global Development
Partners
Under Dr Saraki’s chairmanship a
number of Memoranda of
Understanding (MOUs) have been
signed, including but not limited to
the World Bank, DFID, Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, GAVI, UNICEF,
UNDP.
He was the first Nigerian Governor to
be awarded the National Honor of
Commander of the Order of the Niger Ceremonial, Ceremonially, he also
serves as a tribal nobleman of high
rank in his capacity as the Turaki of
the Ilorin Emirate. [ citation needed ] .

Later political career
Member of the Senate
After his two-term tenure as governor
of Kwara State , Bukola Saraki ran for
the office of Senator of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria representing the
Kwara Central Senatorial District and
won, succeeding his sister,
Gbemisola Saraki-Forowa . He was
appointed as the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Environment and
Ecology and is also a member of the
Senate Committees on Capital
Markets and Finance. He also pushed
a motion in the Senate to end the
fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria which
has been an excessive waste of the
country’s national resources.
As a member of the Senate, Senator
Saraki has campaigned extensively
on health, food security, education
and the environment. He was
appointed as the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Environment and
Ecology and is also a member of the
Senate Committees on Capital
Markets and Finance. He also pushed
a motion in the Senate to end the
fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria, which
has been an excessive waste of the
country’s national resources. His
work on the oil industry, has also led
him to focus on arguing to strengthen
laws relating to the clean up of oil
spills. His National Oil Spill and
Detection and Response Agency
Amendment Bill seeks to ensure oil
companies pay appropriate levels of
compensation to communities
affected by oil spills.
Dr. Saraki has also intervened in the
Lead Poisoning crisis in Zamfara
State in 2010, and has supported to
the Global Alliance for Clean
Cookstoves, which ensures safe and
healthy methods of cooking for
millions of Nigerians while
conserving the environment through
reduced deforestation. He has
been a lead campaigner in the areas
of desertification and climate change
in the Senate and across Nigeria.
Dr Saraki sponsored a motion on the
floor of the Senate to end Nigeria’s
fuel subsidy regime. Other motions
and private member bills he has
sponsored include the National Oil
Spill Detection and Response Agency
Amendment Bill 2012, which was
aimed at putting a halt to oil spills in
the Niger Delta, the Gas Flaring
Prohibition Bill 2012 and the Climate
Change Commission Bill 2013.

International work and appointments
In 2012, Dr Saraki was appointed
onto the Leadership Council of the
Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves,
an initiative led by the United Nations
Foundation that supports the use of
public-private partnerships to create
a market for clean cookstoves and
fuels.
In 2013, Dr Saraki established GLOBE
Nigeria as an affiliate of the Global
Legislators Organisation, establishing
a platform for legislators to advance
environmental and sustainable
development laws in Nigeria. He
currently serves as GLOBE Nigeria’s
President.
Dr Saraki has also spoke and
campaigned internationally on issues
such as better governance,
deforestation and economic
development.
Senate Presidency
After his re-election in the 2015
general elections, Saraki was elected
as President of the Senate by a bloc
of Senators comprising PDP and a
few APC Senators on 9 June 2015.
He contested unopposed. His
deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu ,
emerged after a tightly contested
election.
Source: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukola_Saraki

President Muhammadu Buhari has refuted rumours making the rounds that he has so far refused to move into the Presidential Villa because of purported advice from Senegalese spiritualists and marabout's.
His senior special assistant on media and publicity, Gsrba Shehu, in a statement on Tuesday described such reports as baloney, even as he expressed the presidency’s “utter embarrassment at such suggestion”.
He said Buhari, as a practising Muslim believes his fate belongs to God and that no true believer combines faith in God and reliance on the power of ordinary mortals, who can neither protect themselves, nor protect others from the hands of fate.
Shehu stressed that the so-called “spiritual cleansing of the Aso Rock Villa by Senegalese marabout's before President Buhari moves into the Villa” was the figment of the imagination of rumour mongers.
The statement said it was ridiculous to attribute Buhari’s delay in moving into the Villa to any advice from fictitious marabout's.
According to Shehu, renovation works in the Villa were largely responsible for the delay in Buhari’s movement into the Presidential Villa
Source:http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/06/buhari-denies-waiting-spiritual-cleansing-presidential-villa/

President Muhammadu Buhari returned from Germany early Tuesday in time to intervene in the crisis rocking his All Progressives Congress (APC) party.Buhari The president arrived from the G7 Summit early Tuesday morning. Presidency sources told SaharaReporters that Buhari’s presidential jet touched downin Abuja at 12:53am, but the President and members of his delegation did not arrive the Presidential Lounge until 2am.Shortly after his arrival in Abuja, Buhari was briefed about the crisis, our sources said he immediately summoned all lawmakers elected on the platform of the APC to an emergency meeting at 9:00am on Tuesday to take place at the international Convention Center. APC legislators are expected to move from the meeting to the National Assembly to partake in the inauguration of the assembly.It is unclear if Senator Bukola Saraki will honor the invitation to meet with the Buhari following his endorsement by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) early this morning.
Source:http://saharareporters.com/2015/06/09/national-assembly-leadership-crisis-buhari-returns-germany-summons-apc-legislators