₦airaland Forum

cc: lalasticalala. Mynd44 Seun front page

His ear are getting bigger on a daily basis

Always running his mouth like a leaked pipe

The Catholic Bishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has urged the Buhari administration to pardon Nigerians involved in money laundering, if they are willing to return all their stolen funds.

Mr. Onaiyekan stated this at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya, Abuja, as part of his new year message to the nation.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter attended the mass, and interviewed the bishop after the Service to clarify some of the comments he made during the mass.

Mr. Onaiyekan said the ongoing anti-corruption campaign of the federal government has shown that graft can only be eradicated over time, not immediately. He said the fight against fraudulent acts must be handled with care.

“It is okay to expose people and disgrace them, but that will not solve the problem,” the archbishop said.

“If we want our money back, we have to strategize so that the countries that are keeping our money can feel challenged to return them.

“The time has come such that once we have those facts we can call those nations thieves that they are, and say bring back our money.”

Mr. Onaiyekan said the best strategy towards ensuring the return of the stolen monies would be to reach an agreement with the people involved in money laundering, to have them return what they have stolen.

“But the easiest way to get the money back is if you can convince the people to go and bring the money back themselves, then it will be easy.
“One way to convince people to go and bring back such money is to convince them that you will not disgrace them, after they have done that,” Mr. Onaiyekan stated”.

He therefore said a special kind of amnesty might be required.

Mr. Onaiyekan however added that his idea of amnesty does not include plea bargain, which only leads to the return of part, not all, stolen funds.

“This is different from the popular plea bargaining where you tell a person who has stolen hundred billion to return fifty billion and be forgiven; that for me is not the right thing.

“If you have stolen hundred million and you are ready to bring back all, then we will leave you and not send you to jail, Nigeria can do that,” said Mr. Onaiyekan.

He said corruption is embedded in the Nigerian system and therefore requires a systemic change to reverse the situation.

“It was built into the system, so the system must change, so that corruption can be fully dealt with,” Mr. Onaiyekan said.

The archbishop also charged the federal government to swing into proper action in the new year, for the fulfilment of its campaign promises.

He noted that the beginning of 2015 saw various forms of campaigns, from all sides, with numerous promises made, adding that the success of the All Progressives Congress, which was built on a promise of change would be in the spotlight in the new year.

“At the beginning of 2015, it was election campaign; the party that won promised change.
“We can say that from May(2015) till now, it has been a period of consolidating, making strategies and preparing.

“Now that we have entered 2016, it will now be a year in which we will now begin to see exactly where we are going and how we are moving,” Mr. Onaiyekan said.

He added that the movement will entail all of the nation’s all, with security and anti-corruption campaign at the forefront.

“Moving in terms of security, finished mopped-up operation with Boko haram, dialogue with those who would like to talk to us and forgive those who have repented.

“We must find a way to discuss, negotiate the peace and tranquillity of our nation,” he said.

Also in his new year message for the world, Pope Francis said the major cause of violence globally is the growing rate of indifference portrayed by those who otherwise could have helped reduce the pain suffered by victims of violence.

The Pope in his message for the celebration of the 49th world day of peace, Friday, said conflicts arise, not just because there are terrorists or bad leaders, but because people look on and do nothing when it doesn’t affect them.

The message, which is titled: “Let us overcome indifference so that we can win peace,” also noted that the prolonged neglect of victims of violence will only result in further chaos.

Source:www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/196049-bishop-onaiyekan-seeks-amnesty-for-corrupt-officials-who-return-stolen-funds.html

Fayose in his new year message said, although the implication of the adverse economic situation threatened the implementation of the state’s 2015 budget, but his government has kept faith with its promises to the Ekiti people.

According to Governor Fayose, despite the grappling challenges, his administration was able to off-set part of the arrears of salaries and other fringe benefits that we inherited from the previous administration to our workers, as well as also off-set unremitted deductions.

He also said, his government commenced the payment of the gross of workers entitlements since October 2014 and was able to pay workers salaries up till October 2015.

His words: “I congratulate and rejoice with you for the opportunity the good Lord has given us to witness the beginning of another year. May His divine grace sustain us all throughout the New Year and the ones ahead.

“Fellow citizens, year 2015 was full of its challenges. As a government, it came with all turbulence against the desperation of a few political rejects and their collaborators’ to return to power through the backdoor after their defeat in a free and fair election.

“They went as far as rallying powerful forces and hiring external aggressors to wage war against their own father-land. They held the State to ransom for a while before they were scattered by the determined will and unity of our people. I thank the Almighty God and security agencies for the reign of peace in our State after the menaces of abductions, kidnappings and inter-ethnic discords.
I thank the good people of Ekiti State for their steadfastness with me and their government. As a people, we were not spared the pains and deprivations of the downturn in the national economy.

“During 2015, the international pricing of oil, which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, went abysmally down. This negatively and drastically affected our earnings from the federation account.
The implication of the adverse economic situation threatened the implementation of the 2015 budget. This notwithstanding, Government kept faith with its promises to the people.

“We were able to off-set part of the arrears of salaries and other fringe benefits that we inherited from the previous administration to our workers. We also off-set unremitted deductions. My government commenced the payment of the gross of workers entitlements since October 2014 and we were able to pay workers salaries up till October 2015.

“Furthermore, despite the economic challenges that we face, this administration completed works on the following capital projects:-

(a) The Petim- Housing Estate Road, Ado-Ekiti;
(b) The Awedele- Secretariat- Road, Ado-Ekiti;
(c) Construction of VIP reception hall at Ewi’s palace;
(d) The Palace Gallery of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti;
(e) The Irode Matthew street road, Ado-Ekiti;
(f) Asphalting of Fayose market, Ado-Ekiti;
(g) Dualisation and illumination of 1km Afao township road;
(h) Construction of 74 lock-up shops at Elegberun market, Ikere-Ekiti;
(i) Construction of 40 lock-up shops at the Bisi Egbeyemi market,
Ado-Ekiti; and
(j) Construction of an ultra modern lecture theatre at the college of
Education, Ikere-Ekiti.

In addition to these completed projects, works are on-going on the following capital Projects:-
(a) Extension of the dualisation of Ado-Ikere road;
(b) Construction of an ultra-modern market in Ado-Ekiti;
(c) The Ekiti Airstrip project;
(d) The Fajuyi-Okesha flyover project.

“Aside these tangible projects, this Government held an Education Summit last year and its objective manifestations are already being felt.
“Similarly, Government was able to achieve the accreditation of programmes in our tertiary education and health facilities.

“My good people, I have christened the 2016 budget which was passed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly last month a “Budget of Reality”.
“This is to reflect the current economic situation in our country. We must cut our cloth according to our sizes. We shall be realistic in our projections and government expenditure.

“My administration shall continue to prosecute programmes that will make life more meaningful for the people within the ambits of its six-point development programmes.”

Continuing, Fayose said: “In addition to paying attention to the welfare of our workers, Government shall within the first quarter of 2016 commence the payment of N5,000 per head to selected persons within the vulnerable group under its Social Security Programme. Suffices for me to reiterate that the major objective of this government is to alleviate poverty in our State and not to compound it.

“Consequently, this administration will not retrench its workers under any guise nor effect a pay cut. We shall continue to involve the leadership of labour in decisions concerning our incomes and expenditure.
“Government shall also strive to ensure the realization of the following capital projects as outlined in the 2016 budget as the realities of our finances may allow:

(a) Dualisation and asphalt over-lay and Led Light illumination of 1km road in Local Government Headquarters commencing with Efon-Alaaye,
Ise, Emure, Omuo and Ikole-Ekiti;
(b) Rehabilitation of Awo-Ara-Ijero road;
(c) Rehabilitation of Iropora-Araromi-Ijero road;
(d) Rehabilitation of Osi-Epe road;
(e) Completion of structures at the Secretariat Complex;
(f) Construction of a new Governor’s Office.

“Fellow citizens, as we go into the New Year, I wish to enjoin you to join hands with this government more than ever before, to enable us combat the challenges confronting us. We must improve on our internally generated revenue to augment our earnings from the federation account, through payment of taxes, rates and levies.

“We must also go back to the land to guarantee for ourselves and our children, food security and other benefits of agriculture. Government shall under its Agriculture Rebirth Programme secure Land Banks in each of the sixteen Local Government areas of the State for onward lease to interested farmers to guarantee unfettered access to land. An agricultural summit shall hold within the first quarter of 2016 where the Agriculture Revolution Programme of this government shall be unveiled. A Summit of Landlords shall also be held within the same period.

“Once again, my good people of Ekiti State, I enjoin us to keep hope alive. The present challenges that we face shall strengthen and bring out the best in us. I believe and very strongly too, that our State shall emerge greater than ever before and that our people shall have reasons to be grateful to God for this austere times at the end of the day

source:www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/new-year-message-ill-continue-to-prosecute-meaningful-programmes-for-ekiti-people-fayose/

This will be the first case of the year 2016

The House of Representatives in the 8th National Assembly treated 327 bills between June and December 2015, with 264 passing first readings and 40 referred to committees.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader of the House, disclosed to journalists in Lagos, Wednesday, that the figure was a sharp contrast to the previous Assembly which had 132 bills in its first six months.

“The bills and motions sponsored and passed so far are clear demonstrations of the House’s resolve to make laws and embark on legislative activities for the good governance of Nigeria,” said Mr. Gbajabiamila, a member of the All Progressives Congress representing Surulere constituency, Lagos State.

“Despite a bumpy start in June, the House has been able to step up to the plate and has busied itself in working for the progress of Nigeria.​”
The 8th National Assembly opened last June amid controversies, with leadership tussles in both chambers taking centre stage for months.
In December, the House came under severe criticism after reports of its presentation of 130 bills in one day.

“Let me quickly pre-empt those who have questioned the rationale behind the presentation of 130 bills for first reading in one day,” Mr. Gbajabiamila said during Wednesday\’s press conference.

“Our Legislature is presently confronted with so many defective and obsolete provisions in our laws. What the current House has done is to put its members and the National Institute for Legislative Studies to work and in the course of reviewing existing laws, discovered provisions in our laws that had become obsolete both in language, spirit and effect.

“The Institute therefore recommended these bills for amendments and repeals. It was an all-encompassing exercise targeted at flushing out irrelevant and obsolete provisions from our laws”.
The press conference was an avenue for Mr. Gbajabiamila to present a report of the activities of the House six months after it was inaugurated.


source:www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/195967-house-leader-gbajabiamila-says-327-bills-treated-in-6-months.html

Government of much talk less action

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 5, 2016 for the trial of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello and his son, Abba.

The date was fixed due to an undisclosed illness which the former PDP chairman is being treated for in a hospital in Abuja.

Mohammed and his son are standing trial alongside BAM projects and Properties Ltd on a four count criminal charge for allegedly collecting N600 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

The duo were to be docked on Tuesday before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, but the prosecution informed the court earlier that the former PDP chairman was on admission in an Abuja hospital for an undisclosed illness.

Mohammed and his son were part of those indicted in the N31 billion funds meant for the purchase of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgents, which the Office of the National Security Adviser distributed to some PDP stalwarts for the 2015 election campaign.

A former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, currently on trial in two separate courts had, in a statement, admitted paying about N300 million into the account of BAM Properties which was reportedly provided by Haliru Mohammed.

Abba Mohammed is alleged to have received N600 million from NSA office in the name of BAM Properties but the reason for the transfer of the money to the company was not disclosed.

The EFCC has already arrested and arraigned many top officials and companies related to the previous administration for receiving large payments from the NSA from the funds set aside for the procurement of arms to tackle Boko Haram

source:www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/arms-deal-ex-pdp-chairman-s-trial-begins-tuesday/126831.html

Dele u are an old man pls find a way of settling this quarrel before it escalate instead of playing a fool old man

GEJ don vex reply Sagay

As if he is Innocent.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerians to stop squandering the nation’s commonwealth and be prepared to make sacrifices in 2016.

Obasanjo, in his Christmas message after a church service on Friday, admitted that the country’s resources had been squandered by its leaders in the past, saying that it was time for everyone to adjust to the reality of the current economic gloom.

According to a report by The Cable, the former President said, “We have had downs in our economy before, we have risen up again. We have made money; we have squandered it. If we are sensible at all, there must be an end to squandering.”

Obasanjo, who noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had warned Nigerians about the poor economic situation in the country, however, called on the government to do more by leading by example.

He said, “I still believe that there are still areas of government that are not serious enough to make us feel that what is being said is something that would concern all of us. It would be very difficult for the people of this country to see that certain arms of government are living in luxury, while the government is asking the ordinary people to continue to make sacrifice.

“I believe that all arms of governments and the private sector should realise that if we are going to shorten the time of this hardship, if we are going to have any cushioning effects for the ordinary people, then there would have to be sacrifices made by those who have to make more sacrifice.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s monetary policy committee had hinted at a period of recession in 2016, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had said there would be a change in the pump price of petrol.

The National Electricity Regulation Commission had also said Nigerians would have to pay more for electricity from February 2016. The president had given an assurance that over time, all these would get better for the good of “ordinary Nigerians.”

source:www.punchng.com/cash-crunch-leaders-should-lead-by-example-says-obasanjo/

Thank God no one was hurt

Baba keep shouting naija is broke while the woman keep spending on the agents of so called SCAM change. God dey

FFK will never seize to amaze me with his every comment he makes.
Kudos to the judge for taking a bold decision,what's the essence of making a judgement when the DSS and FG will not heed

let's wait and see the end result

There was drama in court when Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja refused to hear the Nnamdi Kanu case that was assigned to him
.
Nnamdi Kanu said he felt he would not receive a fair trial by the court and was raising an objection.
Nnamdi Kanu at the entrance of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on December 23, 2015.

The Judge ruled that he was standing down from the case because Nnamdi Kanu had the right to reject the chance to stand trial.

Reacting to the whole drama, the chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode praised Justice Mohammed for being courageous enough to reject the sitting.

The chieftain’s reaction was posted on his official Facebook account.

Fani-Kayode has has praised Justice Ahmed Mohammed for refusing to hear Nnamdi Kanu’s case.

He said: “Finally a hero emerges. Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to hear the Nnamdi Kanu case that was assigned to him on the grounds that the executive and the security agencies no longer abide by court orders and rulings.

“It is men like this that inspire us and give us hope. Thank God there are still such courageous people on the Bench and in on our country.

“When you seek justice and fairness for others and you stand for the oppressed and villified, God will stand and speak for u. I am so proud of this man. Well done sir.”


source:https://www.naij.com/676948-fani-kayode-praises-judge-refusing-hear-nnamdi-kanus-case.html

Has this man ever sponsored a bill in the house? all he does is to keep twitting

Minister for lies and False information has spoken again

All I see is a man with an humble and a forgiving heart

I saw this too, it happens along akure-ondo expressway. Thank God nobody was hurt

I no sure if this lawyer has ever been given a case to make him busy always shouting probe this probe that ever since I no him

Looting everywhere

is ok

OK ooo

Minister for lies and false information

Airforce1:
Divorcing his wife makes him no super man.

who are thou to judge him

Loving him

IjeomaM:
Hinwazaka

Dont threaten people please

This is Nigerian politics and NOT Biafra pls

@ IjeomaM e b like say u get craze for head, why constituting nuisance on this thread.
And na today u register ooo abi u dey want recognition, Oya stop coz we don recognize u

IjeomaM:
Seun Lalasticlala Mynd44

This poster is threatening the safety of the owner of NL

Keep a close eye on him

U get sense so @ Ijeoma, abi u just registered for nairaland wey dey make u mumu like this

Every secret plans of APC in bayelsa will fail