₦airaland Forum

and they lied to us that dis budget was zero-based
From all we have seen since d budget was presented, dis is d most corruption ridden budget ever presented

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday started what the Presidency described in a three- paragraph statement as a short vacation.

For six days, the 73-year-old retired general would not be at his duty post. Unlike what happened under late President Musa Yar’Adua that forced the National Assembly to adopt the doctrine of necessity, Buhari did not leave a vacuum. He was said to have written to the two chambers of the National Assembly as required by law that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would hold the fort for him while the vacation lasted.

As of the time the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, issued a statement on Friday announcing the development, Osinbajo was far away from the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The acting President was not anywhere near the Federal Capital Territory. Osinbajo had left Abuja in the early hours of Friday for Lagos. Being a pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, he has continued attending the church’s monthly vigil tagged ‘Holy Ghost Night’ which holds every first Friday of the month inside the church’s facility, located on the popular Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, despite his status.

Ordinarily, Osinbajo normally travels to Lagos in the afternoon to enable him attend the programme which starts in the evening. But on this day, he left in the morning, apparently to attend to other engagements before the programme started in the evening. For instance, he attended the 13th Centre for Values in Leadership Annual Lecture and International Leadership Symposium in Lagos before the vigil.

The Presidential Villa was understandably deserted on Friday. Even at the Vice-President’s Wing, only a few aides who did not go with him to Lagos were in their offices. Immediately the news broke that the President had proceeded on leave, State House correspondents thought Osinbajo would cut short his trip to Lagos. They all gathered at his side of the Villa and waited. But when the waiting game extended into late in the evening, it became clear that the acting President would not return to the office on Friday. Saturday’s experience was similar to that of Friday. There was no sign of life when our correspondent visited the Vice-President’s Wing, except for a few security operatives who were on duty. Being a weekend, no senior officials —civil servants or political office holders—were seen on duty.

The situation was the same at Osinbajo’s official residence, Akinola Aguda House. No visible activity was observed there when our correspondent visited at about 4pm, except for a soldier who was seen inside the sentry box and three operatives of the Department of State Services who were also at the gate leading to the building.

At 4.30pm, when this report was filed, Osinbajo was still being expected in Abuja. His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, confirmed this to our correspondent on the telephone saying, “Yes, he travelled to Lagos and I can confirm to you that he is being expected back today (Saturday),”

It is expected that apart from a few meetings or consultations that may take place behind closed doors during the weekend, Osinbajo would resume work formally as the acting President on Monday.

www.punchng.com/osinbajos-48-hours-as-acting-president/

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at the weekend in Ile Ife, backed the anti- corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari. He consequently urged Nigerians to support Mr. President in his bid to recover funds looted from public treasury. Many close allies of Chief Obasanjo in his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are currently facing trial over their roles in the diversion of funds meant for arms purchase.

Obasanjo, spoke on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, while featuring on the programme tagged: ‘‘7th Roundtable with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’’ with the theme: ‘‘Reflections of an elder statesman: An evening with OBJ’’, organised by the Staff Club of the university.
He commended President Buhari for the fight against corruption and rallied Nigerians to get behind him in the anti-graft crusade to achieve desired results. Speaking further at the event held at the club’’s garden, OAU’’s campus under the chairmanship of the former Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Fola Lasisi, that also had in attendance the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Bamitale Omole, among others, Obasanjo, who answered questions from staff and students, declared that whoever that promised to bring back missing Chibok girls almost two years after their abduction, was not sincere.
According to him, the search for the abducted over 200 female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, would be in vain, saying ““nobody can bring back the girls for they are nowhere to be found””.
He said the nonchalant attitude of former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, when the girls were abducted constituted impediment to their return now almost two years after. ““Seventy two hours after the Chibok girls were abducted was too late for their rescue, much less getting to two years by April. So if any leader is promising to bring back Chibok girls now, he is lying, ””
Obasanjo said. He further explained that the majority of the girls would have died, while those alive would have been married off, stressing that sexual violence and human trafficking would have affected others. Responding to a question by a student, who sought to know the fate of awaiting graduates of Political Science in the mainstream politics, Obasanjo advised them never to rely on godfathers, but to work hard to gain grounds in politics.
The former president declared that he did not have any godfather and revealed that politicians get ““their hands dirty and their feet wet”” before major opportunities come their ways in politics. ““You have to get your hands dirty and your feet wet in politics before you can make it. So, I admonish you (students) to work hard in order to gain ground and not rely on godfathers because I never had any,”” Obasanjo averred.

nationalmirroronline.net/new/obasanjo-backs-buhari’s-anti-graft-crusade/

Lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has given an indication that
Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col.
Sambo Dasuki, was being held for other
allegations aside the arms procurement scandal.


This revelation came to the fore when counsel to
Dasuki, Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Rotimi Jacobs
(SAN), representing EFCC, were addressing the
court on a motion praying for the release of
Dasuki.

Dasuki had been denied freedom despite at least
two court orders.

DAILY POST recalls that he was, after his release
from Kuje Prison, rearrested by the Department of
State Services (DSS).

During Thursday proceedings, the prosecution
explained that DSS rearrested Dasuki on the
grounds that it was investigating the former NSA
on alleged breach of service law when he was in
the army.

The offences were allegedly committed 22 years
after he left service in 1994.

The prosecution counsel said: “Dasuki was a
fugitive for seven years and he is being
investigated for series of alleged offences he
committed when he was in the army.”

He, however, advised Dasuki to evoke section 46 of
the constitution and institute a civil action to
challenge his arrest and enforce his fundamental
right to his liberty.

Earlier, the defence counsel (Daudu), in a motion,
urged the court to prohibit the government from
further prosecuting Dasuki or seeking any
indulgence from the court until the bail granted
him was allowed to be enjoyed.

He protested that his client was being unfairly
treated after different courts of justice had granted
him bail, a situation he described as constituting
contempt of the court.

The defense counsel also asked Justice Baba-
Yusuf to discharge the defendant of all offences
contained in the charge against Dasuki on the
grounds that the government could not lawfully
prosecute Dasuki having been in contempt of the
court.

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf fixed February 8,
2016, to rule on whether to discharge Dasuki of
the criminal charges preferred against him or not.
Reacting, an associate of the ex-NSA told DAILY
POST that the current government has
unconsciously told the world that Dasuki’s probe
is not just about arms deal.

“Do we conclude that government security
agencies are carrying out a vendetta? It doesn’t
appear this is balanced trial now that we know
there is perhaps a political undertone,” he said.

“They say he maltreated President Buhari during
the coup, a speculation he has clarified on more
than one occasion, saying he met the General only
at Bonny Camp with Lawal Rafindadi. Most of the
actors are alive.”

“They say offences after he left Army for 1994; I
hope this people are not confused already. How
many offences are they now charging him for? Five
hundred, a thousand or more? They should be
honourable to make it public and stop bringing up
more charges after bails are granted.

“They want to prosecute him for fighting for
democracy? They should serve their memory cold
water; Dasuki was one of those who insisted that
MKO Abiola be freed and allowed to become
President. He and others confronted late General
Abacha over June 12 election. This led to their
premature retirement in 1994.

“The persecution that followed forced him into exile
where he formed ties with like minds fighting for
the return of democracy in Nigeria.​ Tinubu is alive
and he is aware of what I am saying. He also left
the shores of Nigeria when it became apparent his
life was in danger. I won’t say more, we are
watching.”


dailypost.ng/2016/02/05/efccs-lawyer-exposes-fg-says-dasuki-under-probe-for-offences-since-1994/

Hmmmmm So according to Baba OBJ, our Oga at d top is a lying lair!

TamunoRichard:
When is this man gonna die? Let's have peace for once in this country.

Remember dis man is somebody's father oo

Despite efforts and assurances
by the Federal Government
that it would rescue the
abducted Chobok girls alive,
former President Olusegun
Obasanjo has raised doubts on
their possible return.


Mr Obasanjo, who spoke at an
event organized by the Staff
Club of the Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, on Friday,
said anyone saying the girls
would return was simply
telling lies.


The programme which was
held at the open arena of the
staff club, was themed, “An
Evening with Obasanjo.”
Mr. Obasanjo blamed former
President Goodluck Jonathan
for trivializing the distress call
to rescue the girls on the day
they were captured.


“The former president heard
about the kidnap 8am in the
morning of the abduction but
failed to act until 72 hours
later and by then it was too
late,” Mr. Obasanjo stated.

“Anyone saying they(Chibok
girls) will return is telling lies,
maybe some of them will
return to tell their story.”


According to him, the failure
of the Peoples Democratic
Party in the last presidential
election is a blessing to
Nigeria.


www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/198040-obasanjo-attacks-jonathan-pdp-says-chibok-girls-may-not-return.html

You said that d same thing dat happened during GEJ's era is repeated now and yet u claim Buhari is a better option. How??


FYI omojuwa, u are now officially a wailer

A group under the aegis of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has faulted claims by the presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari has achieved a lot since he assumed office in May 29.
The senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu had while reacting to the “Buharimeter Report” said it was “partisan and mischievous”.
However, Director of the CDD, Idayat Hassan, in a statement said the group’s record showed that the president performed below average since assuming power.
She also said it was wrong for Shehu to attempt to imply that CDD fabricated the 222 promises, when it was contained in the manifesto of the APC and also monitored during the campaigns of President Muhammadu Buhari as the APC candidate before his election.
“The Buharimeter Report, which the Presidential spokesman tried to impugn in his statement, is a globally recognized governance-tracking tool that works to hold governments to account for the electoral compact which ruling parties have proposed to the electorate during the campaign.
Similar initiatives have been used to interrogate and assess the fulfillment of electoral promises in countries such as the United States, France, Senegal, Iran, and Afghanistan.
“It is non-partisan and innovative tool for effective citizens’ participation in the governance of their country. The methodology of Buharimeter is to meticulously track promises made by politicians, while seeking the votes of the people and objectively monitor the performance of the government against those promises. His statement clearly suggests he has not even read our report but is clearly responding to certain headlines that sensationalized our report,” Hassan said.

dailypost.ng/2016/02/05/buharis-performance-below-average-group-insists/

Below is an excerpt from Musa's writeup on Sahara Reporters


For Nigeria, we have always prayed to have our
own Mandela. In this sense, we were looking for
someone with that Midas touch, charisma, and the
benevolence to heal our national wounds, unite
our country, and steer it out of the trap set by its
past greedy leaders. We thought we had one in
Obasanjo. However, it turned out within few years
of his ascension to power in 1999, that we were
damn wrong.

Then came into the picture another
retired General, Muhammad Buhari, who has
everything to be our Mandela. For close to 13
years he was the major opposition leader and
perhaps its only genuine face in the country’s
democratic terrain. His untiring commitment to
building our democratic institution saw him
contesting in 3 presidential elections at a stretch;
losing in all but only to have the last laugh in the
4th one. Some pundits even draw some parallels
between him and the legendary Abraham Lincoln.


The most interesting things about Buhari’s wining
presidential election are three. One, his victory
united the northern Nigeria, which was hitherto
factionalized along ethno- religious and sectional
divides. Two, he built the much needed alliance
between Yoruba nation in the South-west and the
political class of northern Nigeria. Three, he came
on board with an incredible CV of incorruptibility
and is seen by many as a no-nonsense leader
armed with armamentarium to rid this nation of
ills of corruption, indiscipline and insecurity.
Fourth, he has tremendous goodwill across the
board which he can always leverage on to tweak
the system to ignite national rebirth. But so far,
one can say something is amiss here. This
effervescence and goodwill is fast-subliming
without the driver realizing it.


It is pertinent to remind us that there is no quick-
fix to Nigeria’s ills. We are quite aware of the
degree of our nation’s problems. And this
pathology, more than anything, calls for its
present leadership to be more circumspect and
responsible. It needs to operate within a different
wavelength that would keep our momentum of
change rolling. These expectations are also the
reasons why there are murmurs echoing some
frustrations about what has been going on so far.
Perhaps there is something strange about the
Aso-rock villa that keeps its occupiers from
stepping up to the challenges. They get easily
irritated by criticisms and see their actions (even
when derailed) as the ultimate measure of
sacrifice. Why are they easily scared about
visiting victims of tragic insecurity in Borno? One
finds it difficult to rationalize Buhari’s
nonchalance in this regard. In his 8 months on
the throne, he has visited no less than 8 countries
and at least 4 states within Nigeria- but Borno
was never on the card. Painfully, one of his
spokesmen even compounded the issue by
making assertion to people trying to embarrass
him with the recent escalation of attacks on Dalori
that left nearly a hundred people dead. I am sure
no revolutionary leader would be this cold; not to
talk of our Nigeria’s Mandela! It is disappointing
to say the least! And this is not the way to
squander goodwill.


Certainly, there are many signals that call for
Buhari to pause and readjust his belt. So far, the
snippet of this 2016 budget analysis by BudgiT
(an NGO) has shown so many similarities to the
curious figures that typified previous
governments’ budgets. I wonder what luxury
awaits any president at such critical time of fast
receding foreign reserve and unbreakable sliding
of Brent oil prices to have the latitude to spend
millions of naira for reactional activities in the
villa. What is there to maintain in Aso-rock
building with 3 billion naira? Unless if Nigeria is
going to install Bill Gates or Steve Jobs in the
villa’s ever reappearing computers, one cannot
explain the allocation of millions for this subhead.
We do not have to defend this. As stakeholders
we should not make only mere rhetoric and
innuendoes out of our hard-earned change.
Indeed these are things begging for
comprehensive answers from the budget office.
The whole thing seems like a mockery of zero-
based budgeting process the government is
piloting. Perhaps Soludo was right by tagging it
as a rehash of Jonathan’s- dubbed and delivered.


At this juncture, I want to appeal to Buhari to
review his steps in a deeply reflective and critical
manner to see if these fit well in his own image
and vision. He is at liberty to pick his own
advisers to help steer this nation. People he can
trust particularly to handle the economy. I feel like
his team is missing Pat Utomi. At the moment he
appears very slow in appointing his own best
eleven and even seems distracted by globetrotting
tendency.
Many of us are worried about some of
the figures we have seen. We want the
government to reflect on this and make amend
where necessary. Purposeful leadership is all
about personal sacrifice for the comfort of the
majority.

Before Buhari became the president he
had no access to 3 billion naira not to talk of
dreaming about earmarking such on a clinic he is
going to patronize as the number one citizen. In
essence, my appeal to all our leaders is to always
treat public funds the same way they treat their
own legitimate savings. I am confident that
Buhari can do better. Yes, he can!



Ibrahim Musa is a graduate student in
Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Health
Science Center, Texas A&M University, College
Station. Texas.


saharareporters.com/2016/02/05/how-not-squander-goodwill-mr-president-ibrahim-musa

These two elections were nullified by the appeal court. Add that of Wike, it will be three. Imagine if there were no supreme court...

Its time we considered allowing state and national assembly elections to terminate at the supreme court.

I believe Uche Ekwunife would have still been a senator by now, George Sekibo & all those assembly members whose elections were nullified by the appeal court would by now by be imagining what would have been if they had opportunity to go to the supreme court

The tail end of 2015 already gave
discerning Nigerians a sign that the
coming year would be challenging and
many citizens expected the introduction
of policies that would help ameliorate the
difficulties of these austere times and the
President Muhammadu Buhari led
administration did not disappoint them.


Commendably, the government reduced
the price of Premium Motor Spirit by 50
kobo.


The benefits of this sort of humane
gesture from the Federal Government
however seems to have been soured by
the announcement by the Central Bank of
Nigeria that it would be implementing a
stamp duty policy.


The reason the Central Bank of Nigeria
introduced the cashless policy now in
place was because over 50 percent of the
Nigerian population is unbanked.


The policy was meant to attract the
unbanked population to bring their
money into the banking sector and
thereby increase the capital available to
banks to grow the economy and also
reduce corruption and crime by having an
electronic trail of all financial
transactions.


But with the implementation of the ₦50
stamp duty charge, whereby ₦50 is
assessed as tax out of a deposit of ₦1000,
the Central Bank of Nigeria will end up
driving people away from the formal
banking sector which will negate the gains
of the cashless policy.


If an average Nigerian earning a minimum
wage considers that a ₦1000 deposit into
his account by a friend will leave him
with only ₦950, it only makes sense that
he will have a higher incentive to leave
the banking sector and keep his money at
home.


This action will have three consequences.
The first is that the amount of money
available in the banking sector will reduce
as people pull out funds from Nigerian
banks to keep at home or possibly to
open accounts in neighbouring nations.


The second consequence is that
incidences of crime and corruption will
increase as people keep more cash at
home where it cannot be traced, rather
than in banks where it can be traced.


The final consequence is that our real
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will shrink
because money will flow from the formal
sector to the informal sector, thus making
it impossible to accurately measure our
real GDP.



In my opinion, the solution to this will be
to adjust the stamp duty policy to make it
applicable to only people who maintain a
particular balance so that it does not
affect low and middle income earners.



A person who maintains a balance of
more than a million Naira will be better
able to afford such a tax and will have
less incentive to leave the banking sector
than a low income earner with a few
thousands of Naira.


I know that the economy is facing some
challenges and there is the need to
diversify our revenue base, however, in
trying to do that, we should not be ₦50
smart and a billion Naira foolish!


These are challenging times for Nigeria’s
economy and such times need a steady
hand at the helm; one that will not panic.


Thankfully, President Muhammadu
Buhari has shown that he has resolve. It is
now left for those around him to bring to
his attention the unintended
consequences that will (not may) occur if
this policy is continued.


I have read people on both sides of the
divide argue this matter on social media.
Some argue that the law allowing this
policy preceded the Buhari administration
and as such no one should blame him.
That kind of thinking really saps one’s
energy. Must everything be reduced to
who to blame?


When your house is on fire, your focus
should not be on who to blame but on
who can put out the fire. There is plenty
of time for blame games later.
If the house is burnt down, of what profit
will it be to argue about whether it was
painted white or black?


Nigeria does not need panic measures,
rather she needs tonic measures! A tonic
is a supplement given to someone who
has been experiencing weakness in an
area in which he or she had once
experienced strength for the purpose of
rejuvenating that person.


To the opposition I say that I supported
ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
during the 2011 elections and I am
convinced that he was and is still the best
choice. But Nigerians preferred President
Muhammadu Buhari and he is now my
president; I accept his leadership and I
will do everything I can to help him
succeed. We must all wish him well.


We should not speak negatively about
President Buhari or of Nigeria under his
leadership. Can we speak negatively
about our nation and at the same time
pray positively about ourselves? Can we
prosper in our home after cursing it with
your mouth?


blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=170856

Anxiety yesterday gripped residents of Sapele in Delta state following the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram kingpin by men of the Nigerian Army in the area
The suspect, identified as Bukar Abacha, 35 years old, was arrested hours after his arrival to the popular Hausa Quarters in Sapele metropolis, one of the densely populated cities in Delta state by officers of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Sapele.
The suspect was also caught with list of some wanted Boko Haram members. Residents of the city however broke into fears on hearing the news.
The suspect, it was gathered hails from Borno State, one of the states to have been reddened by Boko Haram activities in the North-Eastern of the country.
A senior army officer confirmed the development to newsmen during the unveiling and sensitization programme for residents of the area list of wanted Boko Haram suspects, who are currently on the run.
The military, who pleaded not to be quoted said the suspected Boko Haram members was arrested through intelligent information from community leaders who had earlier observed the suspect’s suspicious movement within the area.
www.thebreakingtimes.com/flash-boko-haram-kingpin-caught-in-delta-state/

Justiyke4u:
40 to 45% increase? Isn't that too much

imagine if this were to happen in the last administration

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped the traditional ruler of the Olomoro community, HRM Josiah Umukoro Agbaza 11, on Friday in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State. This abduction comes less than two weeks after the death of the traditional ruler Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in Delta state, Obi Akaeze Ofulue III, whose decomposed body was found after being kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen.
saharareporters.com/2016/01/29/another-delta-monarch-kidnapped

Organised Labour on Friday cautioned the federal
government against implementing the new
electricity tariff, to avoid industrial crisis in the
country.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union
Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Electricity
Consumer Protection Forum gave the warning at a
stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, said that labour
would mobilse workers and civil society groups to
protest and picket all the electricity distribution
companies should the federal government
implement the tariff as scheduled on February 1.

Wabba described the 40 to 45 per cent increase as
exploitative and illegal, and urged Nigerians to
reject it.

“We reject the tariff increase, based on the fact that
due process was not followed according to the
law. Organised labour and civil society groups
were not consulted,” he said.

“There has also not been a significant
improvement in the power supply situation since it
was privatized.”

He also said DISCOs had promised to provide pre-
paid meters for its consumers within 18 months,
but had not met the expectations of the people.

“The DISCOs promised to give Nigerians meters in
18 months, but they failed. This is corruption and
it is ripping Nigerians off their money,” he said.

Wabba said the increase in electricity tariff was not
right because there was already a court injunction
before Muhammed Idris, a justice of the federal
high court, Lagos.

According to him, the case is between Toluwani
Yemi-Adebiyi, a lawyer, versus the Nigeria
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and
others, that there will be no increment until the
determination of the substantive suit.

“The increment negates the present biting and
prevailing economic situation and will further
impoverish the people,” Wabba said.

He urged the government to halt the
implementation of the new tariff, as well as audit
the DISCOs since they have fully paid the
privatisation money.

Also speaking, Bobboi Kaigama, TUC President,
urged NERC not to implement the new tariff until
there was a substantive improvement in the
electricity supply situation.

“If by February 1, the federal government
implements the policy, we will shut down all
DISCOs.

There should be an increase indicated in service
delivery, before the proposed new tariff,” he said.
In his remarks, Adeola Samuel-Ilori, the
coordinator, Consumer Protection Forum, said the
organisation had engaged distribution companies
several times on the issue of estimated billing
without result.

Samuel-Ilori said it was regrettable that estimated
billing was passed by the national assembly and it
had become statutory.

He, however, said that if the DISCOs were able to
meter all Nigerians within the 18 months gestation
period, the problem of estimated billing would have
been solved.

Yemi-Adebiyi, who represented consumers at the
meeting, said unless Nigerians were provided with
meters within the 18 months’ time frame, any
increase would be illegal.

He said anybody that circumvents the court order
would be jailed.

dailypost.ng/2016/01/29/new-electricity-tariff-buhari-may-face-first-labour-showdown-as-nlc-tuc-spit-fire/

The election petitions Tribunal, set us to entertain
complaints arising from the Kogi state
governorship poll, has been relocated to Abuja
for further sittings on the order of the President of
Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkashua.

Prior to its relocation, the tribunal made up
of Justice Halima Mohammed (Chairperson),
Justice Patricia Ajoku and Justice Ogbogo
Ejembi, commenced sitting in Lokoja on January
11.

The relocation was announced by the Secretary
to the Tribunal, Mr. Akanji Akinlabi in Lokoja.
The deputy governor-elect, James Faleke and
immediate past governor, Idris Wada of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are challenging
the declaration of Yahaya Bello of All
Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the
poll.

The African Democratic Congress, All
Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour
Party, Progressive Peoples’ Alliance are the other
petitioners.

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/kogi-election-petitions-tribunal-relocated-to-abuja/

"We are brothers"

That's what Salah Farah told Al-Shabaab gunmen
who ambushed a bus he was riding in the Kenyan
county of northeast Mandera in late December.
The gunmen said they were going to kill Christian
passengers.

"They told us if you are a Muslim, we are safe,"
he then recalled to the BBC . But Farah and other
Muslims on the bus stood up to the terrorists and
risked their lives by shielding the Christians.
Farah was shot. Over the past several weeks, he
has seemed in good spirits, talking to reporters
and his family. But on Monday, during surgery, he
died.

The school teacher's words of peace and
brotherhood are being praised this week in
international news coverage.

"People should live peacefully together," he told
Voice of America earlier this month. "We are
brothers. It's only the religion that is the
difference, so I ask my brother Muslims to take
care of the Christians so that the Christians also
take care of us. ... And let us help one another
and let us live together peacefully."

Farah's body was flown on a police helicopter to
his home where he was buried. Many gathered at
his graveside, wept and prayed. His wife, Dunia
Mohamed, is nine months pregnant. They have
four children.

Farah was his family's primary breadwinner. The
couple also lived other family members including
his elderly parents. His mother, Amina Sabdow,
was unable to speak when she heard her son had
died.

The Kenya teachers commission sent
condolences and vowed to help the family
financially.

Mandera County Gov. Ali Ibrahim Roba also
promised to help Dunia and provide an education
for the children.

Farah was a role model, they said.

Al-Shabaab emerged largely because of weak
government and law enforcement in Somalia.
Most recently a small faction of the group pledged
allegiance to ISIS .

Al-Shabaab is largely a militant Somali jihadi
insurgency that the United States designated as a
foreign terrorist organization in March 2008. Their
stated goal is to turn Somalia into a
fundamentalist Islamic state, according to the
Council on Foreign Relations

edition.cnn.com/2016/01/20/world/kenyan-shielded-christians-dies-al-shabaab/index.html

Since dis attack is at a 'soft target' according to APC folks, its okay. we shld not bother abt it.

Below is the statement he released...
My attention has been drawn to various campaigns on-going online about the upcoming election in Edo State later this year. The campaign mainly by young people (youths) and students from Edo State and my local government, is that I should vie for the position of Deputy Governor in the state. This is based on the premise that since the party zoned deputy governorship slot to Edo Central where I am originally from, I should represent various interests in the area.
This is a gesture I appreciate; it is a good thing for people to recognise your good work and want you to serve especially when one has been supportive without being in government. I want to make it clear that the position of deputy governorship is not a position one campaigns for, the party leaders alongside members chose who flies the party’s ticket alongside the governorship candidate.
However, I am available to serve in whatever capacity the party wants me to serve. I am a loyal party member.
Most importantly, the people of Edo State deserve much more than what they are getting from the present government.
Good governance is not what is seen on the pages of newspapers, good governance reflects in the lives of the governed. People of Edo State can testify themselves if they have gotten the best from the present government. The people know they got the wrong end of the stick. Good governance is not PR, it is value-adding.
In whatever way things swing in Edo State, I am an interested stakeholder in the happenings in my state and a visionary individual who believes good leadership coupled with youthfulness can turn the whole of Nigeria and Edo State around without unnecessary noise.
I will continue to engage relevant stakeholders in Edo State regarding this matter. I once again appreciate the various youth associations, students union, all the higher institutions in Edo State and women who want me to show interest in the upcoming election.
I will continue to help my people with or without political power as I have always done without being in government. I believe in the popular saying that, ‘ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country’.
www.silifa.com/2016/01/mercy-johnsons-husband-prince-odi.html?m=1

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has
indirectly reintroduced Commission on
Turnover (CoT) fee as Current Account
Maintenance (CAM) Fee. Recall that the CBN
in 2013 commenced phased reduction of
CoT which terminated with zero CoT charge
this year. But in a circular to banks last
week signed by Director, Financial Policy &
Regulation Department, Mr. Kevin Amugo,
the CBN replaced the CoT with CAT but
subject to maximum of N1 per N1000
(Mille).

The circular was titled, “Introduction of
Negotiable Current Account Maintenaince
Fee Not Exceeding N1/Mille. It stated, “The
Revised Guide to Bank Charges (RGBC)
which came into effect on April 1, 2013
provides for a phased elimination of COT
charges in the Nigerian banking Industry.
Under the Guidelines, a zero COT regime
was to come into effect from January 2016.

The CBN noted that while the gradual phase
out was being observed, some banks
continued to charge Account Maintenance
Fees in addition to the reduced COT rate,
which in effect amounted to double
coincidence of charges The CBN is not
oblivious of the impact of declining crude
oil prices; operation of Treasury Single
Account; and other market turbulences on
the viability and stability of the banking
system.

“In furtherance of the mandate to promote
and safeguard a sound financial system in
Nigeria, banks are by this circular reminded
that the 2016 Zero COT regime as jointly
agreed during the 311th Bankers Committee
meeting of February 12, 2013 has come into
effect. In the interest of stability of the
banking system, a Negotiable Current
Account Maintenance Fee not exceeding N1
per mille may be charged in respect of all
customer induced debit transactions.
Please ensure strict compliance”.

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/cbn-reintroduces-cot-as-current-account-maintenance-fee/

So ur only defense is dat u re not d director of procurement from 2012 but from 2014? how does that exonerate u? The allegation of mismanagement in the arms deal covers 2012 to 2015.
So if dis is d only defense u have, I suspect u...

divinehand2003:
Who the hell is holding the report back?

Investigations by our correspondent showed that
although RMAFC had completed work on the new
salary structure, it had not been able to secure a
date from the Presidency for the submission of the
report.
It was learnt that RMAFC had written to inform the
Presidency of its intention to visit the presidential
villa for the official submission of the report.

More than three months after the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission said it would give the country a new salary structure for political office holders, the agency is yet to submit the report to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Those to be affected by the new remuneration packages are the president, vice president, governors and their deputies, senators, members of the House of Representatives, state lawmakers, local government chairmen and their councillors, judges, commissioners, special advisers, special assistants, chairmen of constitutional bodies and other political office holders.
Investigations by our correspondent showed that although RMAFC had completed work on the new salary structure, it had not been able to secure a date from the Presidency for the submission of the report.
It was learnt that RMAFC had written to inform the Presidency of its intention to visit the presidential villa for the official submission of the report. Former Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, had promised that the agency would give the country a new salary structure for political office holders by the end of September.
However, Mbam concluded his first tenure in November. He said the work had been concluded but declined to give details of the work. Since then, a substantive chairman had not been named while one of the commissioners, Mr. Umar Abba- Gana, has been Acting Chairman.
Procedurally, the agency is supposed to present the report to the President who would lay it before the Federal Executive Council. After deliberation by the FEC, it is presented to the National Assembly where it is enacted as a law for the remuneration of political office holders.
The current remuneration of public office holders is guided by the Remuneration Act of 2008. A review became imperative following dwindling government revenues occasioned by falling prices in the international oil market.
The ratification of the new packages prepared by the committee followed a retreat held for commissioners at the agency which was concluded in Owerri in October.
Our correspondent reports that much of the recommendations of the committee concentrated on the allowances of the political and judicial office holders as the salary packages would not depart significantly from the status quo.
It was also learnt that in the new remuneration package made for significant reduction in the number of aides and assistants that lawmakers are entitled to as well as a few other allowances that had attracted condemnation from Nigerians. For the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors; the recommendations of the committee also did not depart significantly from the status quo.
This is because most of the allowances of these key members of executives at the federal and state levels were not monetised but provided for by the state through the budgetary process.
Attempts to speak with Abba-Gana on Saturday proved abortive while the Public Relations Officer at RMAFC, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, declined to speak on the matter.
www.punchng.com/buhari-yet-to-receive-new-salary-package-report-investigation/

A police officer in Philadelphia was ambushed by a man who pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS), officials have said.
Edward Archer fired at least 11 shots at the officer, in an act done "in the name of Islam", police said.
Despite being shot, Officer Jessie Harnett left his vehicle and was able to to return fire, striking Mr Archer at least once.
Mr Archer escaped on foot but was apprehended by police shortly after.
"This is absolutely one of the scariest things I've ever seen," Police Commissioner Richard Ross said.
"This guy tried to execute the police officer. The police officer had no idea he was coming."
"He has confessed to committing this cowardly act in the name of Islam," the police commissioner said, because he believes "police defend laws that are contrary to Islam".
There is no evidence that Mr Archer, 30, of Yeadon, Pennsylvania, was working with anyone else, he said.
Philadelphia court records show he was convicted of assault in March and was set to begin a prison term. He had also been convicted of forging documents in a nearby suburb.
Mr Archer's mother Valerie Holliday said he is mentally ill and had suffered multiple head injuries, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported .
"He's been acting kind of strange lately. He's been talking to himself . . . laughing and mumbling," she told the newspaper. "He's been hearing voices in his head. We asked him to get medical help."
Ms Holliday also told the Inquirer that he had been a devout Muslim "for a long time".
Mr Harnett had been a police officer for at least five years and had also served in the US Coast Guard.
Mr Ross said the he has "very serious injuries that will require multiple surgeries".
After the shoot-out, Mr Harnett screamed into his radio: "I'm bleeding heavily." "His will to live undoubtedly saved his life," Mr Ross said. "This could have easily been a police funeral."
Mr Ross said Mr Archer's gun was a police firearm that was stolen in 2013.
"We know it was stolen; how many hands it may have passed through in the last couple of years, we do not know," Mr Ross said.
The shooting comes one month after attacks in San Bernardino, California, that left 14 people dead, and were committed by a couple who officials say were inspired by radical Islam.
They also come a day after police in Paris, France, shot dead a man who was apparently trying to attack a police station on the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks.
www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35264935

He has seen dat anybody who joins APC avoids any harassment from EFCC... The man is just looking for protection.

the pple who are asking for budget breakdown, did u see 2015 budget breakdown & where it was written that 1 billion was budgeted for food b4 u believed d story? if u did, post d evidence here as u are asking d op to do now.
if u didn't, then u are all hypocrites

ddippset:
Seriously I don't know what's só difficult in Lai Mohammed's statement to understand. The man was asked how the fuel scarcity came about. Simply that the oil marketers went on strike for their Subsidy arreas since August 2014. Who doesnt know that the outstanding Subsidy payments caused the strike?

Which subsidy?
APC told us there's no subsidy

And buhari who came to 'rescue' Nigeria how market?

Things were not as bad under Jonathan as they are now. Is it d value of naira, fuel scarcity, inflation rate, cost of goods & services, GDP growth, Boko haram, etc... what has really changed for good since dis govt came into power?

That means Audu's death is still inconclusive