₦airaland Forum

Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha
is the
former
governor of
Bayelsa
State who
was
impeached
in
controversial
circumstances
during
Olusegun
Obasanjo’s
administration over corruption allegations. He was
later convicted and jailed for similar charges. But
he was pardoned by President Goodluck
Jonathan, amid allegations of nepotism, as he
was the boss of Jonathan when they were
running their home state of Bayelsa. In this
interview, he speaks on the current face-off
between President Jonathan and ex-president
Obasanjo and on his personal encounter with the
latter. Excerpts:
What is your reaction to the letter written to
President Jonathan by former president Olusegun
Obasanjo?
I want to start by saying that this is a democratic
government. Today it is President Goodluck
Jonathan, yesterday it was Umaru Musa
Yar’adua, the day before yesterday it was Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo. The office of the president of
the country is an institution; it is not personified
per se, in terms of policies and programmes. The
aggregation of our thoughts is that when the
president was voted into power he had been
mandated to execute state policies on behalf of
the citizens. President Jonathan is not a super
human being, so if the country is drifting in the
eyes of objective and patriotic persons in the
country, they can come out and proffer better
solutions after identifying the problems. But such
criticisms must be constructive and not laced
with bias, hatred and sentiment. Such alternative
views should be passed on with love and genuine
intentions. Once it is perceived that such a
criticism has hidden motives outside fairness,
then it becomes questionable.
The advice, through a letter to President
Jonathan, no doubt is coming from a respected
person who has ruled the country both as a
military head of state and as a two-time
president of a democratic government. Yes, we
can concede to him, he has the in-depth
knowledge of governance. He has seen it all, and
so a letter coming from him should not be taken
on the face value. In my objective opinion, I will
say President Jonathan and his aides should look
at it and make a proper analysis of the content.
But my grouse with the entire scenario is that the
approach to writing the letter to President
Jonathan is very mischievous and there is clear
bias and sentiments in the circumstance which
has caused it to generate some controversy.
At least as a former governor, I will say that I
have encountered Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Obasanjo I know, when he was the president
of this country had displayed all the things he is
alleging against Jonathan even more than any
other leader in the country. There is no issue he
has raised in his letter that he did not do when he
was at the head of government in this country.
That is why I am insisting that Chief Obasanjo is
mischievous in his intent of writing the letter to
Goodluck Jonathan and leaking it to the press.
Chief Obasanjo’s character is that if it is not him
it should not be anyone else. He is ‘Mr Know all’.
He will call you for a meeting to come and
brainstorm to proffer solutions to a problem. He
will tell you about the problem and proffer
solution without giving you room to make any
contribution to what he invited you to. That is his
character.
What is your reaction to the aspect of the letter
which says that Jonathan should forget 2015?
It surprises me that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is
the one insinuating about the aspiration of
President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015. To be
precise, on 18th of August 2005, then President
Obasanjo called me into his inner office and asked
me why I was supporting his Vice Alhaji Atiku
Abubakar. He offered to give me whatever I would
have benefitted supporting Atiku. He told me that
if I don’t work for him it’s possible he would give
it to my deputy. He had explained to me that he
was not the oldest president in Africa that he
wants to continue for an extended tenure in office.
He told me not to support a bloody civilian like
Atiku Abubakar and that I should work with him
to actualise his ambition. Today, he is denying
everywhere; that he never wanted a third term in
office. I am also very surprised that Chief
Obasanjo is talking about drift in governance and
development. After Chief Obasanjo assumed office
in 1999, he was only globe-trotting; it was Atiku
Abubakar who was running the country, nothing
had happened. Obasanjo did not achieve anything
as a president during his first tenure all in the
name of laundering the image of the country.
In his second tenure when he realised that Atiku
Abubaker had already put in structures all over
the country to take over from him, he started
fighting him. So in his second tenure again he did
not achieve anything. He was busy fighting Atiku,
Alamieyeseigha and the rest of other persons he
suspected were not on his side. So in concrete
terms what did he achieve as a president for the
eight years he had ruled this country? Today, he
is talking about Goodluck Jonathan training
snipers or whatever he calls it and having a
watch list. How many high profile persons have
been killed during Goodluck Jonathan’s time
compared to the long list of great men who were
killed during his time as president of the country?
Has he forgotten about Bola Ige? What happened
to Marshall Harry, Dikibo, Funsho Williams? I can
go on and on. Who are the sharp shooters that
killed all these prominent Nigerians and what has
been the outcome of their investigations? If I may
ask again, what is the rationale behind Chief
Obasanjo copying two former military rulers and T
Y Danjuma in his letter? I am sure his reference
to Dr (Alex) Ekwueme is only an afterthought.
Nigerians should underline this and study it. This
is a food for thought for the citizens.
Also know that Obasanjo only promotes himself.
In 1992 when Abiola was contesting to become
the president of the country, one of his worst
antagonists was General Obasanjo. There is
nothing he did not do to pull Abiola down
insisting that Abiola was not fit to be the
president of the country. He even offered himself
to be the interim president of the country. When
Abacha came, he used the same style to pull him
down. Abacha could not stand it, and put him in
jail. God, using General Abdulsalami Abubakar, he
was brought out from jail and the Yorubas were
compensated, particularly the Egba area, and
gave them the presidency which he was the main
beneficiary. When he emerged as president of the
country, what did he do in his second coming as
the leader of our dear country?
Are you saying that the letter in its entirety is not
worthy of Jonathan’s attention?
There is no man on this earth that knows
everything about governance. Even if you have
tested power severally, one is still bound to make
mistakes. Governance is a very complex thing.
The office of the president, if you are not careful,
only those who want to tell you what you want to
hear will have access to you. I cannot say the
content of the letter is entirely rubbish as a
Nigerian. You should know that President
Jonathan must step on some toes for him to
achieve success in the reforms he is embarking
upon. He has done certain things that only
courageous people can do. The pains for the
ultimate realisation of the Nigerian dream can
only last for a while. We must concede that at
least Jonathan has achieved some great feat. But
those things that he has not done well, he should
be encouraged and advised in the right way and
with good intention and not staying outside to
command him as if the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria is your subject, you can just
seat anywhere to control. Leadership is like a
relay race. Goodluck Jonathan should be allowed
to run his race.
Do you think the circumstances occasioned by
Obasanjo’s letter will affect the fortunes of
Jonathan should he decides to re-contest in
2015?
Obasanjo is not Nigeria; he alone cannot tell the
citizens what to do. Remember, he lost election in
his own village that is how unpopular he is, even
up until today or tomorrow. But Nigerians still
voted for him. His disposition cannot significantly
affect the electoral fortunes of Jonathan. It’s God
who gives power: if God so desires that Jonathan
should continue in office, then his aspiration will
come to fruition. Jonathan has done much more
than any other president has done. Let us support
and encourage him instead of trying to pull him
down by whipping up sentiments.
How would you advise Jonathan to respond to
the letter?
If I had to advise him, I would have told him not
to respond to Obasanjo’s letter. I am glad both of
them met in Kenya. Jonathan should search his
conscience, let him discuss with his close aides,
let him re-assess those areas that needed to be
addressed, he should highlight them and make
improvement where necessary. Chief Obasanjo is
older than he is, he was there before him; he
should concede certain wisdom to him because
he is more experienced. He should not insult him
as long as that same respect is accorded him as
the president of the country.

The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed
the 2014 Appropriation Law with 210.2 billion
Naira (about 1.3 billion dollars), as the total
budget for the year 2014.
Passing the Budget, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Suraj
Ishola Adekunbi said the passage of the budget
was a Christmas gift for the people of the State
and pledged more rewarding service in advancing
the development of the State. He directed that a
clean copy of the bill be sent to the Governor for
his agreement.
Presenting his report earlier, the Chairman, House
Committee on Finance and Appropriation,
Hon.Olusola Akanbi Bankole, said that the budget
process, which saw 103 Ministries, Departments
and Agencies defending their budget proposal
earmarked 83.6 billion Naira as recurrent
expenditure, 9.3 billion Naira as consolidated
revenue fund charges, while 117.3 billion Naira
was Capital Expenditure proportional to revenue
performance from consolidated revenue fund.
The committee’s report which was later adopted
as amended through a motion moved by Hon.
Bankole, seconded by Hon. Bowale Solaja and
supported by the whole house; was later
considered clause-by-clause, after which the
motion for the third reading of the bill was moved
by the Majority leader, Hon. Israel Jolaoso
seconded by Hon Elisabeth Anifowose.
The N210.2b 2014 appropriation now has as its
new title: ‘A bill for a Law to authorize the issue
and appropriation of the sum of 210, 286, 624
Naira (Two hundred and ten billion, two hundred
and eighty six million, six hundred and twenty four
thousand naira only from the consolidated
revenue fund for the services of Ogun State
Government of Nigeria for the financial year
ending 31st December, 2014′.
The budget was passed with a marginal increase
of 81 million Naira from the initial budget
presented to the House by the State Governor,
Ibikunle Amosun.

Peoples Democratic Party former
chairman in Kaduna state, Audi Yaro
Makama, four fomer commissioners and
some Kaduna state House of Assembly
Members have defected to the opposition
All Progressive Congress.
The decampees have just been received
into the APC by the interim chairman of
the party in Kaduna state, Dr Hakeem
Baba-Ahmed.
Our correpondent says the defection of
the four former commissioners and
several serving state legialators and their
followers is taking place at a ceremony
in Rabah Close, Malali area of Kaduna.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has
endorsed the urban renewal programme and
other developmental projects embarked upon by
the Ibikunle Amosun-led government in Ogun
State.
Obasanjo, who said he was elated by Amosun’s
performance, said that things were now getting
better in the state.
Speaking at the 2013 Ogun State Christmas
Carol held at the June 12 Cultural Center, in
Abeokuta, the state capital, on Sunday, the
former President said that the massive road
projects and construction of ultra-modern model
schools had brought landmark improvements to
the 20 local government areas of the state.
He further described Amosun’s achievements as
breathtaking and the right step in the right
direction.
Obasanjo said, “Things are getting better
everyday, getting better everytime in Ogun. When
I was talking of roads in Abeokuta, they said I
haven’t been to Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu. On
getting to Ijebu-Ode, I even saw if not better
bridges than that of Abeokuta being constructed.
What about the ones in Ilara, what of Ayetoro?
“If we have good infrastructure, business will
thrive, economy will increase and that is what
you are doing across the state.”
He also expressed satisfaction with the quality of
the model schools being constructed throughout
the state. He said, “When I passed through
Sango-Abeokuta Road, I asked who is building
this factory, they said it is not a factory but a
school being built by the government.”
Responding, Amosun said all that the state
government had achieved would not have been
possible without the support of the people,
assuring that, “we will not rest on our oars in
our quest for a better Ogun.”
Meanwhile, Amosun on Monday handed over 50
Hilux vans to security agencies in the state.
The governor also said that his administration
had so far expended about N10bn on security in
the state.
He therefore warned criminals to steer clear of
the state as there was no more room for them
to operate.

helpee: @fani kayode, good response so far. However, as a nigerian youth, I don't buy the sentiment of APC...apc is only trying to hijack power by all means possible and it will create very deep disaffection between the various ethnic divide in nigeria. Apc is a lazy party...not interested in building a party but in assembling failed politicians from apc. I remember how you connived with el rufai to push out atiku undemocratically from the FEC meeting during the crisis with obasanjo...and all of u are now back in the same political fold saying you are all progrssives. If jonathan should join APC today, tinubu will gladly lead party members to aso rock and say to hell with buhari. Such a party can't last even if u win the election. Once u win the election, nothing will change. Tell me one single individual in your party that can make a change and has never been part of PDP before? None? So what's different from what we had before? Tambuwal is unstable...from anpp to pdp to apc ...he has no ideology. Buhari can't rule nigeria except as a military man. He will cause serious divide. So for you to assume that the whole of south west will follow APC cos king tinubu say so is a serious political miscalculation that may backfire

Do you have a question or not,if you have ask and if not keep shut, you don't need to comment on everything

please those A.P.C have plans to change the revenue sharing formula, whereby the Fg receives lowest, while the states and Lgs receive the most,cos I believe the state and Lgs are more closer to the people n the Fg should focus on making good policies.....

These 10 quotes were the most cringe-
inducing of the year and we present
them for your reading pleasure. In
ascending order.
10) “I am the best rapper in Nigeria. If you
have an opposing opinion, now is the best
time to keep it to yourself”
Rapper Yung6ix having his imagined
Kendrick Lamar moment. Dear Yung6ix;
make good music, put out an album, put
your name out there. Maybe then we’ll
take you seriously.
9) “Any academic staff who fails to resume
on or before December 4, 2013 automatically
ceases to be a staff of the institution and
vice chancellors are also directed to
advertise vacancies in their institutions.”
Nyesom Wike, supervising minster for the
education ministry wading full throttle
into the federal government-ASUU
impasse like the uncouth fellow that he is
and trying (unsuccessfully, thank God) to
scuttle the work of parties genuinely
committed to ending the months long
strike. His ill advised press conference in
which he stayed screaming at the
microphone and yelled threats became
an instant visual manual for government
officials on how not to act in public. We
shudder to recall.
“ I was not a tribalist when I had a long-
standing and intimate relationship with
Miss Bianca Onoh, an Igbo lady…”
What shall we do with Femi Fani Kayode?
For most of the year, the former aviation
minister and presidential spokesman
was a national embarrassment, spewing
forth conspiracy theories on any subject
catching his fancy. While he had so
many disastrous statements, he got more
than he bargained for when in
defending himself against tribalism
attacks, bizarrely claimed to have had a
sizzling relationship with Bianca
Ojukwu, widow of the late Biafran
warlord. He was forced to recant when
she threatened to sue him for every
penny.
7) “We have stolen billions of dollars, what
did you do? We steal because you never
stoned us for it.”
Governor Rotimi Amechi of Rivers state
takes his side job as ruffler of feathers
very seriously. He dishes out one
provocative statement after the other
without giving a damn and exists to
taunt the unfortunate suckers who have
not gained access to the national loot. At
a tribute event for Nelson Mandela some
weeks back he dropped his latest verbal
missile and it was both an indictment on
himself as it was on his docile followers.
No sir, in bad taste.
6) “Come, sit on my laps and I will show you
a level of grace you do not understand.”
According to Ese Walters, repentant
adultress and misguided victim, senior
Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the
Commonwealth Of Zion Assembly must
have been using these cringe worthy
lines to score with wide-eyed members
of his female congregation. The most
surprising part of this line is that it
actually works. His sweet roll came to an
end when she published a tell all blog
post revealing the pastor’s many
sexcapades. Pastor Fatoyinbo is yet to
deny Walters’ claims. And is yet to give
that robust response.
5) “As the president, I don’t know him (Abu
Shekau) and don’t know if he is dead or
alive; you journalists will know more than
us. You are the ones who talk to Boko
Haram”
In a presidential media chat, Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan uttered the words never to
be spoken by a country’s chief security
officer. In denying the whereabouts (and
maybe existence) of Abu Shekau, Boko
Haram’s point man, he took the war on
terror 10 steps back. Worse still was the
lackadaisical manner in which he
delivered his cluelessness.
4) “Yes, Patience Jonathan is my Jesus
Christ!”
Now this would be funny if it wasn’t so
sad. And true. Hon. Evans Bipi of the
Rivers state house of assembly who
proved he was anything but honourable,
was speaking from the bottom of his
heart when he declared dame Patience
Jonathan (aka mama Peace) his deity as
she was responsible for his political
career so far.
3) “I cannot categorically tell you one now…
the one we are going to make use of is going
to be made known by my oga at the top…”
Mr Obafaiye Shem , former Lagos state
commandant of the National Security
and Civil Defence Corps was asked a
simple straight forward question by the
hosts of Channels tv’s daily breakfast
show. “What is the website of the
NSCDC?” It became his undoing as he
went on a rambling routine that did not
produce the answer to the question but
succeeded in shedding light on the
pathetic state of affairs of our public
institutions and officers. Shame on you
Shem.
2) “We do not pray for accidents but it is
inevitable… we do everything to ensure that
we do not have accidents, but it is an act of
God.”
Stella Oduah , Aviation minister
addressing journalists 3 days after 16
people lost their lives in the Associated
airlines crash that was ferrying the
remains of Olusegun Agagu, a former
aviation minister. Of course, as it turned
out, God had nothing to do with this
particular crash as the Accident
Investigation Bureau revealed that a
malfunctioning engine and a wrong call
by the pilot was most likely the cause.
1) “You are a widow… go and die”
Oh dear! Edo state governor, Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole became this year’s
face of insensitivity when he was
recorded on video, yelling at a poor
widow displaying her wares illegally by
the roadside to go and die. He later had
tea with his victim and rewarded her
generously but still, that image lingers.

THE NATION – A man, Oyediran Afolabi,
was arrested at the weekend with a gun
at the home of the Senior Special
Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on
Internal Security, Mr. Deji Adesokan, at
Fajuyi Estate in Ado-Ekiti, the state
capital.
Afolabi is said to be an aide to the
member representing Ekiti Central
Constituency 1 in the House of
Representatives, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele,
who is a governorship aspirant of the
Labour Party (LP).
It was gathered that Afolabi and
Oluwafemi Sunday, “illegally gained
entrance” into Adesokan’s home around
8pm on Friday with a loaded gun.
Sources said they were apprehended by
security guards in the compound, who
raised the alarm, drawing the attention
of neighbours.
The suspects were taken to the police
station on New Iyin Road.
Afolabi said he came to see Tope at the
estate. Sunday said he came from Akure
to “know” Adesokan.
But Tope, who Afolabi claimed he went
to see in the estate, said he had not seen
Afolabi in a long time and had been
avoiding him because of his “criminal
tendencies”.
When Afolabi’s mobile phone was
checked by security agents, his call logs
showed that he telephoned Bamidele
three times that evening.
It also showed that he phoned three
persons with strange names – “Bullet”,
“Idajo” and “Butcher”.
He also had three telephone numbers of
the governor of a neighbouring state on
his contact list.
Adesokan, popularly called Jaruu, told
the police that two cars, a black Toyota
Corolla and a white Nissan, trailed him
from a petrol station to his home that
evening.
He said he became more suspicious when
the white Nissan kept going round his
house.
Adesokan said the vehicle drove past his
house three times, adding that on the
third time, Afolabi alighted and headed
for his (Adesokan’s) gate.
He said Afolabi was accompanied by
Sunday.
Adesokan said immediately they entered
his compound, his security guards
apprehended them and handed them
over to the police.
He said the black Toyota Corrolla, which
was parked adjacent to his house with
the engine running and with the driver
and an unidentified man seated in the
car, sped off immediately Afolabi and
Sunday were apprehended.
A resident of the estate said around 1am
about two weeks ago, he saw two men in
dark overalls climbing the roof of the
home of the Chief of Staff to the
Governor, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, which
shares a fence with Adesokan’s home.
He said the men alighted after about 10
minutes when they did not meet
anybody in the compound.
Fajuyi Estate is home to many
government officials.
Police spokesman Victor Olu-Babayemi
said the suspects had not been linked to
any party.
He said: “A search conducted on the
suspects and their vehicle revealed an
English Barreta pistol loaded with eight
rounds of ammunition. Also recovered,
were two para-military belts and some
incriminating documents.
“When the men were questioned, they
claimed to be members of the Ekiti State
Vigilance Group, but the group’s
commandant disowned them.”
In a statement, Bamidele’s media aide,
Mr. Ahmed Salami, said his boss had no
link with the suspects and urged the
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to
probe the incident.
He said: “We urge the IGP, the Director-
General of the State Security Service
(SSS) and other security agencies to
investigate this matter and ensure that
anyone found culpable is brought to
book in earnest.”
Ahmed said Bamidele has no aide known
as Oyediran.
The statement reads: “Nothing can be
farther from the truth than this and it
represents another failed and desperate
attempt by Governor Kayode Fayemi and
his cronies to pull Bamidele down from
his towering political heights by all
means.
“Without mincing words, it is clear to us
that the linking of Oyediran’s arrest to
Bamidele is a deliberate attempt to
malign his (Bamidele’s) image and a
calculated ploy to discredit his
personality, owing basically to his rising
political profile and growing popularity
as an aspirant for the forthcoming
governorship election.
“It is also glaring that this defamation of
character is suggestive of the desperation
of the Fayemi administration and the
APC leadership in Ekiti to manipulate
the people and play on their intelligence,
with a view to gaining public sympathy.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said
the suspects’ arrest has vindicated the
party’s position that Bamidele should be
held responsible for the political violence
in the state.
In a statement by its Publicity Director,
Segun Dipe, APC said: “The arrest of the
political roughnecks, who forced their
way into Adesokan’s home, with the
intention of assassinating him, did not
come as a surprise to us.
“We saw this coming. We sensitised and
will continue to sensitise the people to be
watchful, as they have a son who now
exhibits the traits of William
Shakespeare’s Macbeth and who is ready
to apply the strategies of Macbeth
(killing and maiming) to get to the top of
his political career.
“He keeps importing thugs from
neighbouring states into Ekiti to unleash
mayhem on the same people he aspires
to govern. Now that the breeze has
blown and we have seen the romp of the
fowl, their acts are becoming
predictable. There is nothing else to do
than to keep nabbing them before they
carry out their nefarious acts.
“Their intention is to make the state
ungovernable for the APC government
by creating crisis and confusion like it
happened in Emure-Ekiti. We hope the
sharp eyes of security operatives will
continue to fish them out.”

one funny thing about the letter you claim is more composed is the use of this:
one
secondly
thirdly
fourth
fifth
sixthly
seventh
eight
nine and
tenth
all coming from a president who has a phd, little wonder why our education system is backward

I believe many of u criticizing wat A.P.C is doing doesn't knw much about politics, the second law of power says NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES.....

there is also a saying that:keep ur friends close and KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER...

the thirteenth law of power also says: WHEN ASKING FOR HELP,APPEAL TO PEOPLE'S SELF INTEREST
and as for wole soyinka, I think wat he is saying he understandably right but why wait till wen dey visit someone u see as an enemy, why didn't he talk wen dey visit I.b.b,atiku n others?

even Jesus christ preferred to be called rabi, meaning teacher I think,so y can't dey also humble demselves, I prefer something like man of God

and they will keep telling d gullible ones dat it is good to be poor cause d Bible says it is easier for a poor man to make heaven

Ola one: So Xtians are the good politicians. You dey Okay so?

Tony Anenih is a Xtian

Obasanjo is a Xtian

GEJ is a Xtian

Bode George sef.

Again, you dey okay so?

am just saying we should encourage good people to join politics and not leave it to the hands of evil ones,afterall we all own Nigeria and are all stakeholders

Ola one: ^^From Tinubu to Obasanjo. If I may ask, Mr Tinubu, what crises? E.g the killing of Bola Ige? Or the one caused by denying your administration your deserved LG allocation? The uproar caused by the shameful neglect of Lagos State when he was in power? Or the shameful, deplorable and indefensible condition of federal roads in Lagos State despite being the nation's commercial nerve centre.

When Obasanjo was maltreating you, the masses supported you. Behold, you're now eulogizing the same man. You, Mr Tinubu, are a disgrace to Lagos State.

The enemy of ur enemy is what?.....and do u think they will be successful if the likes of obj sees them as threat and enemy.... dey need all dis evil geniuses by there side

ignis: To me all politicians in Nigeria are thesame... They are all thieves...

U see my dear dis is one of d major reason why we have few xtrian politicians, it is ur likes dat discourage dem saying politicians are all thieves, but Nigeria will start changing wen we start encouraging good people to join politics rather dan discourage dem.

36. Between May 7 and 9, 2014, it is expected
that Nigeria will be hosting World Economic
Forum on Africa. Who will finance this event and
why? In concrete terms, what are the expected
tangible benefits to the country in return to justify
hosting such expensive event that will require lots
of money for logistics, accommodations, security,
especially given that South Africa that recently
hosted the event has nothing to show for it.
37. If you should for any reason say it will attract
foreign investors, the question, then becomes,
what kind of foreign investors are we talking
about here because as we all know, no serious
foreign investor needs to attend such a forum in
Nigeria in order to recognize that our country
should have been one of the world’s favored
investment destinations had our perennial
infrastructure deficit been addressed head-on?
38. Most of the developing economies like China,
India, and Brazil that the world is today
celebrating as economic success wouldn’t have
become this successful without adopting multi-
year development plans. Why after knowing that
their successes are as a result of carefully
designed multi-year economic planning, we are
yet to adopt such a multi-year development
model? In other words, why wouldn’t you agree
that Nigeria too needs that in order to move
faster and more sustainably in its quest for
industrialization and economic diversification and
job creation for millions of the country’s
unemployed young men and women?
39. As the Coordinating Minister of the Economy,
can you precisely clarify how much is AMCON’s
debt exposure and what will its defaulting mean
to the country’s economy?
40. Why are we using the 10 to 15 years moving
average to arrive at your 2014 proposed
benchmark as against the traditional 5 to 10
years moving average we have always used? Is it
because using the 5 -10 year average will not
give you the benchmark price you desire?
41. This time last year you informed this
committee that our external reserve position was
about $48 billion and the balance on our excess
crude account was about $9 billion. You also
said that the plan was to grow these balances to
about $50 billion and $10 billion respectively.
However we are hearing that the balances have
dropped to $43 billion and $3 billion respectively.
And you are saying all is well?
42. Crude oil projections for 2013 were 2.53
million barrels per day while actual figures as
supplied by the NNPC/DPR/MTEF have averaged
about 2.3 million barrels per day giving a shortfall
of about 9%. Could this alone have caused such a
drastic reduction in our reserves and savings
positions?
43. Is any money missing from our anticipated
revenue from the NNPC in particular and oil
industry in general. If there is, how much? If not,
how come such issues emanate from high offices
in the executive arm of Government?
44. Referring to the pre-shipment inspection of
exports act of 1996 and the Federal ministry of
Finance export guidelines. If any good (oil, gas or
non oil) is exported from Nigeria the exporter is
compelled to repatriate these proceeds through
the domiciliary account of a Nigerian bank. What
has been the effectiveness of these laws? Is there
full compliance.
45. If there has not been compliance, would it not
make it difficult for us to build up our foreign
reserves? Could we not say that the main thrust
of the CBN letter was that our foreign reserves
are not growing even though there has been a
consistent high selling price of crude due to the
fact that huge funds are not being repatriated at
all or are repatriated through the black market?
46. Could we say that the issue is not so much
that money is missing (which is yet to be
determined) but that proceeds that should have
found their way back to the Nigerian economy
have grown wings or they fly in through the black
market, allowing oil industry players have a field
day making spreads of up to N7 per dollar in
some cases.
47. What is the Minister’s take on the apparent
stagnation of the economy as there seems to be
very little job creation and growth in small
businesses. Even though the Minister has read
out growth figures before it is not telling on the
average man on the street.
48. Would the Minister say that the various
Government initiatives at job creation have not
lived up to expectation as they affect only a very
small part of the population?
49. Wouldn’t the Minister think that the private
sector should be the main driver of job and
wealth creation through natural growth of
business and start ups being financed by the
banking industry?
50. If so, what does the Minister think it would do
for the local banking industry if this same pre-
shipment inspection law and your own export
guidelines are enforced to the letter. The oil
industry in Nigeria is worth about $50 billion per
annum. If even $10 billion of this passes through
our local banks wouldn’t that give the economy a
boost with banks now able to fund longer term
and bigger projects?

21. Have you taken into considerations how
foreign company could use such information
available to it to invade the privacy of Nigerians?
22. What are reasons for SURE-P to give
preference to Chevrolet cars for SURE-P taxis,
when it is known that not only are such cars very
expensive to maintain compared with Asian and
European cars, but also are also not fuel efficient
and not durable on our roads?
23. Honorable Minister of Finance, you will agree
that SURE-P is very important to the people of
this country, taking into cognizance that it is the
only thing they stand to gain from the increase
on petroleum product pump prices almost 2 years
ago. Who is in charge of the management of
SURE-P and who takes responsibility for its
successes and failures?
24. You will agree that inasmuch as the interest
rate regime is critical to the real sector borrowing
decisions, most principal factor in making
borrowing decisions is the business’s expected
rate of return on investing borrowed money? The
question, without efforts to protect local
businesses from their foreign counterparts, the
high cost of doing business in Nigeria, puts them
at such a disadvantaged position that it makes
no economic sense borrowing to invest in their
local businesses, why should we expect private
sector firms to be investing in the economy?
25. You are quoted as saying, ” Very soon, the US
would become a net exporter of oil…So, it would
be disingenuous for anyone to say that just
because the price of oil has hovered at around
$100 per barrel, it cannot crash…Lest we forget,
as recently as 2008, oil prices crashed from a
peak of $147 per barrel to $35 per barrel ina
space of months triggered by the global financial
crisis. Is the minority leader saying he has
forgotten that?” This forces one to wonder from
which source should the US become that net
exporter of oil, given that the US daily oil
consumption was 18.7 million barrels with (10.6
million of which was imported daily) in 2012? Or,
should it be from the shale oil which the
International Energy Agency (IEA) demonstrates
to be at two million barrels daily? In other words,
given the IEA global oil price trajectory, can’t we
agree that “There are many constraints on supply
keeping pace with demand’’ which means that
within this decade, oil prices should always hover
around $125 per barrel? Answering this question
will help us understand why you insist on
benchmarking the oil price for the 2014
appropriation at below $79 per barrel? In
answering this question, would you also agree
that as the global economy shifts from West to
Asia, so will the appetite for global oil
consumption shift from the West to Asia?
As crude oil continues to sell at $100-$110, how
low will production have to fall for us to record a
net loss or at what production level can we break
even at a 2013 benchmark of $79.
26. Do you agree that the Excess Crude Account
as being operated by government is illegal and
unconstitutional, especially given how it has been
managed?
27. Can you explain with clarity how the ECA is
being operated? Also provide a statement of
account of the ECA from 2011 to 2013? Also how
much have we made in excess of the benchmark
price from January 2013 till date.
28. If there is nothing like Excess Crude Account,
would you have been demanding lower oil price
benchmark for the budget, especially when the
executive arm of government around world is
known for demanding more money from
lawmakers in order to be able to meet
government spending obligations, particularly
capital spending. Why is the reverse the case in
Nigeria only, notably since 2011?
29. With respect to the Excess crude account and
our Sovereign wealth fund again, there have been
allegations and counter allegations on its legality.
Assuming, for the sake of the committee’s
enlightenment, the FGN alone saved its own
excess in its ECA/SWF (which is about 52% of the
Federation account) and the states and LGs get
their funds in full compliance with the
constitution, what would be the effect on the
economy?
30. Do you believe in the fight against corruption?
If you do why has EFCC not been proper funded?
Without properly funding the commission, how
should it be expected to carry out its duties
effectively?
31. Can you confirm with figures if we have met
our cumulative revenue projections for 2011,
2012, 2013, and if we have, how and if we have
not, why? Also provide backup performance
information under the various revenue generating
agencies—NNPC (Oil and Gas), DPR, FIRS,
Customs, Independent Revenue and other
anticipated and unanticipated revenues e.g.
privatization and sales of government properties
etc.
32. As Minister of Finance, are you familiar and
comfortable with all the present business
arrangements of the NNPC? Why were these
business arrangements excluded from the MTEF
which used to be the practice? Provide all the
present business arrangements, the parties
involved, the share of each party, and
justifications for such.
33. Provide details of government stake in NLNG.
All categories of revenue under the NLNG and
total amount generated so far and evidence of
remittances.
34. Why do you always prefer a lower benchmark
which leaves government with wider deficits and
your attitude of no qualms with domestic
borrowings at excessively high interest rates to
balance deficit as against our position of
increasing benchmark to reduce deficit which
consequently reduces domestic borrowing, that
frees up funds for the real sector of the economy,
thereby bringing down the interest rate, increased
private sector investments and creating jobs.
35. What is the total amount expended by certain
statutory agencies of government without
appropriation for 2011, 2012, and 2013? Also
provide aggregate appropriated expenditure for
the same period. As the Coordinating Minister of
the Economy, do you feel comfortable with
allegations that almost equal amount of our
yearly aggregate expenditure is being spent
without appropriation, yet we are crying that the
country is running short of revenue?

The House of Representatives finance committee
walked out the minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala, Thursday, after a brief but stormy session
in which lawmakers tasked the minister with 50
questions on the state of the Nigerian economy.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala had earlier presented the
budget proposals for 2014 to the Senate and the
House of Representatives, before meeting the
house finance committee.
The minister said she was indisposed and only
responded to her invitation out of respect for the
legislature.
But when lawmakers offered to excuse her due to
her health, but with a condition she responds to
50 questions in writing within two weeks, the
minister backtracked choosing instead to answer
the questions at the meeting.
Exchanges between the minister and the
committee chairman, Abdulmumini Jibrin, quickly
escalated with Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala accusing the
committee of being disrespectful.
“With all due respect, I will not tell your
committee that I’m feeling fine when I’m not. We
have had good working relationship with your
committee; I thought we’ll be treated with
courtesy, but the way you’re starting is a bit
disturbing,” the minister said.
Mr. Jibrin said the committee had ruled that she
be allowed to go and respond to the questions.
“We don’t want any haphazard answers,” he said.
The minister insisted on being heard, but was
asked to leave.
“I’m sorry Honourable Minister. You can only
decide what happens in the Finance Ministry and
not in the House,” Mr. Jibrin said.
Read the lawmakers’ 50 questions below:
House Committee on Finance
Questions for the HMF/CME on the State of the
Economy
1. What should you consider as the major
economic achievements of this government in the
2013 fiscal year and why? In your explanation, we
will need facts and figures in demonstrating such
achievements.
2. You have been credited with many
announcements regarding Nigeria’s economy as
one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. If
the economy is one of the fast growing
economies, what is exactly growing the economy?
What role does government play in the said
economic growth, especially given that as high as
80 percent of the country’s total annual budget
spending still goes into recurrent expenditure?
3. Since your arrival as minister of finance in
2011, you have publicly announced the need to
reduce the recurrent expenditure so that more
money would be made available to capital
spending which is critical to growing and
diversifying the country’s economy. How far has
government succeeded in making these necessary
cuts; and where exactly have these cuts been
made in this effort to reduce recurrent
expenditure? In other words, based on real
amount spent on capital expenditure, how much
reduction was made in 2011 against 2010, in
2012 against 2011 and in 2013 against 2012?
4. You are known to be celebrating a single-
digit GDP growth. But speaking recently at a
breakfast dialogue with some members of the
organized private sector in Lagos, organized by
the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG),
you were quoted as saying: “We are growing, but
not creating enough jobs. That is a very big
challenge…We need to grow faster. I think it
needs to grow at least 9 to 10 percent to drive
job growth the way we want.” Don’t you agree
that a good finance minister managing an
economy like ours should be celebrating a GDP
growth as high as 20 percent annually? Why is it
that our economy cannot grow beyond a single
digit? How many jobs are being created as a
result of these said growths? In which sectors of
the economy are these jobs created? If in private
sector, what contributions is government making
to further assist these private sector firms?
5. In the presence of Nigeria’s huge
infrastructure deficit, why is it that the country’s
debt-to-GDP at about 19 percent in 2012 remains
one of the lowest in the world when compared to
nations already with world-class infrastructure
and industrial economies such as America’s 105
percent, Brazil’s 65.49 percent, India’s 67.60
percent, and South Africa’s 40.9 percent?
6. Since facts don’t lie, have you any
disagreements with the September 4, 2013 Global
Competitiveness Report of the World Economic
Forum for 2013-2014, which ranked Nigeria 120th
out of 148 countries ranked in the Global
Competitiveness Index, including being ranked far
behind some African countries such as Mauritius
45th, South Africa 53rd, and Kenya 96th?
7. ”For the first time in Nigeria’s 53rd year
history, we have successfully privatized the
electric power industry,’’ so said the President at
a recent meeting in London with some foreign
investors. As minister of finance should you agree
that the recent privatization of the country’s
power infrastructure is worth celebrating as a
major economic achievement in 2013, when in
reality there is little or nothing to show as an
improvement in the country power supply? Also
why our rush to wholesale privatization of the
power sector when countries like South Africa,
generating as high as 42,000MW still have their
power sector mostly in public hands?
8. What was your reaction to the November 12,
2013 statement credited to the World Bank
Country Director for Nigeria, Marie-Francoise
Marie-Nelly, who said that over 100 million
Nigerians are today living in absolute destitution,
representing an unheard-of 8.33 percent of the
world’s total number of people living in
destitution?
9. Nigerians are increasingly perplexed that these
days nothing happens without government
borrowing. And for most Nigerians, it is
frightening how those managing the economy are
just dragging us into excessively unproductive
debts. More worrisome is the fact that every
effort is being made to hide the details of the
country’s debt stock from Nigerians. Where are
the facts that the country’s current high rate of
borrowing is productive, let alone have the ability
to be repaid without having to resort to more
borrowings?
10. Is prudence in our borrowing simply reduction
in borrowing or simply constructive borrowing
with government putting necessary measures in
place to ensure that domestic debt profile is
properly supervised and utilized by curbing
corruption?
11. From Debt Management Office (DMO) 2012
Annual Report, the total public debt outstanding
between 2008 and 2012 for external stock rose
from $3.72bn to $6.53bn, while domestic stock
rose from $17.68bn to $41.97bn. The total debt
service the same period saw the percentage of
external debt service drastically reduced from
11.46 per cent to 5.96 per cent while the
percentage of domestic debt servicing grew from
88.54 per cent in 2008 to 94.04 per cent in 2012,
drastically increasing the cost of the total debt
service since the cost of domestic borrowing is
atrociously higher than the cost of external
borrowing. How could your debt sustainability
analysis rationalize this without seeing some
narrow interests being the overriding reason?
Could this be the explanation why commercial
banks in the country are declaring unheard-of
three digit profits and the high Foreign Portfolio
Investment and low Foreign Direct Investment?
12.It’s an established fact that the willingness
and ability to borrow do not automatically
translate into economic growth. If you agree with
this fact, how productive are the country’s recent
borrowings?
13. Why should our internal debts continue to
represent more than two-thirds of Nigeria’s
external debt profile, when the cost of servicing
domestic debts is ridiculously far more expensive
than servicing external debts? Why should
government continue to borrow internally when in
so doing results in insufficient funds, skyrockets
the cost of borrowing and above all, crowds out
the real sector from the money market? Shouldn’t
the high cost of domestic borrowing override
whatever are the assumed benefits? Since both
London Interbank Offer Rates (LIBOR) and the US
Treasury Bonds rates offer far better interest rates
for sovereign borrowings, why have we continued
not to take advantage of cheaper interest rates?
14. Your references to the country’s economic
growth profile have always been based on Fitch,
Standard and Poor’s, and Moody’s ratings. Are
you aware that these same rating agencies are
being sued in New York (with case #
652410/2013) by two Bear Stearns hedge funds
for fraudulently assigning inflated ratings to
securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial
crisis? If you do, why do you insist on accepting
the rating as reliable.
15. How much exactly has been the amount of
money lost in government revenue as a result of
import duty waivers in 2011, 2012 and 2013?
Provide the names and beneficiaries and
justification for same. In your opinion as the
minister of finance who oversees the economy,
what are the implications to the country’s
economy? What efforts have you have made to
stop this waiver policy, which is distorting the
economy? Our non oil income has dropped in
2013. A case where increased tariffs on various
items effectively reduced importation to zero in
some sectors. However, those items now find
their way into Nigeria through our borders. Does
it make any sense to increase these tariffs when
we have such porous borders? As an example,
officially, Togo imported more rice this year than
Nigeria.
16. It was reported that the FIRS is to engage
foreign consultants for tax collection in 2014.
Could the Minister clarify this position and what
Nigeria stands to gain? Have the FIRS not been
working effectively.
17. Do you really believe that Nigeria needs a
‘Sovereign Wealth Fund’ at this critical juncture of
budgetary deficits, and having to be borrowing
extensively in an effort to address government
revenue gaps? Shouldn’t the presence of Nigerian
Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) simply
mean spreading government’s scarce resources
thinly? Why will you insist that no matter what we
still need to operate a sovereign wealth fund?
Sincerely speaking, how sustainable are the
objectives of Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund,
particularly in the long-term?
18. You should agree that a lot of Nigerians are
interested in the link between NSIA and the
government. Since there is no doubt that Nigerian
Sovereign Investment Authority is an agent of
government — or is it not? The question is: How
should we think about the management structure
in so far as major decisions are concerned?
Where is the line between NSIA, as a
commercially minded entity, and the government,
especially given government’s policy of having no
business doing business? If, for example,
government does not get involved in specific
investments, then, who appoints the external
managers involved in managing some parts of the
NSIA funds?
19. Who determines the investment objective and
who establishes the risk parameter for the NSIA’s
portfolio? In providing answer to this question, it
is also important to understand and explain why
NSIA recently hired a Swiss national as its chief
portfolio investor? Answering this question is
important since it should help us to know who
determines the maximum draw-down that the
government would be comfortable with in
extremely negative market environments.
20. What should be your explanations for
awarding MasterCard a multimillion dollar
National Identity Smart Cards, when there are
indigenous ICT companies that not only have
what it takes but would have done it cheaper and
create local jobs at the same time?

ogologodimkpa: You've said it all.
Check out the List of APC National Leaders:

1] Party Leader - North, Gen MuhammaduBuhari…(Muslim).
2] Party Leader - South, Bola AhmedTinubu……(Muslim).
3] National Chairman: Abdulkareem BisiAkande… (Muslim)
4] Deputy National Chairman: Aminu BelloMasari…(Muslim)
5] National Secretary: Tijjani Musa Tumsah…(Muslim)
6] Deputy National Secretary: Nasir El-Rufai …(Muslim)
7] National Publicity Secretary.: LaiMuhammed…… (Muslim)
8] National Treasurer: Sadiya Umar Faruq……(Muslim)
9] National Financial Secretary: Alhaji ShaibuMusa…(Muslim)
10] National Youth Leader: Abubaka Lado……(Muslim)
11] National Legal Adviser: Muiz Banire……(Muslim)
12] National Deputy Auditor: BalaJibrin……(Muslim)
13] National Women Leader: ShariaIkeazor………(Muslim Convert)
14] Ex-Officio Member: Muniru Muse…(Muslim)
15] Ex-Officio Member: Alhaji Yemi Sanusi……(Muslim)

This list is one sided .
It should be balanced for it to make meaning afterall
we have Christians in this country .

U have made ur point and I appreciate u for it,but please try to list all the good christian politicians u knw in dis country n let us see if u will get up to 20,so it's not really their fault,if christians continue shying away from politics den we are leaving it to d muslim

emmydeep: Iyabo, Obasanjos daughter confirmed in her leter that Obj has been a member of APC. It is not new.

The bad people in Nigeria have all joined APC and some shameless rascals are calling them progressives?
Progressives when they have placed only muslims in key civil service positions in Lagos, Osun and all other APC states.. What im saying is verifiable..

All those christians supporting APC today will surely cry tomorow because the main agenda of APC is to islamise Nigeria. A word,they say is enough for the wise.

APC e-Rats tantrum is expected as always in there attitude.

must u always put religious sentiment into everything?..... are u not thesame people that discourage christains from venturing into politics, saying it is a dirty game n dat it corrupts people?....... and now dat dos who don't see anything wrong in being a politician now dominates,u cum dey cry foul...oga go dey seek d kingdom of God while some miscreants continue to dey dominate n determine wat happens in ur society n ur pastors feed from their purse,u better wise...

Professor Peter: what are their names? What are their electoral value? I believe those members are bench warmer, 'yea' and 'nay' members. Am still watching

my friend it hi and ney, yea nikan ko yo ni

Bishop Magic: http://myemag.net/dirty-secrets-tinubus-real-identity-uncovered-real-names-real-hometown-abandoned-mothers-grave-revealed/

in other news, he also own tvc,radio continental, Oriental hotel,Renaissance hotel,ikeja shopping mall,adaba fm but isn't it good to steal n invest it back to where u stole it from rather than pack all d money go france, uk, Switzerland or u.s, I beg free this man,atleast all d boys he gave us in d south-west are doing excellently not minding if dey surpass his performance as a governor, not like obasanjo who gave us people who will never perform up to him so dat we can call him a saint,........I beg tinubu don do him own free am?

The Academic Staff Union of Universities in
Nigeria have suspended its five-month old strike.
The union announced the end of the strike in
Minna, Niger state, after its National Executive
Committee agreed on new funding terms with the
Nigerian government.
The announcement comes with a huge relief to
Nigerian university students who have been out
of school since the strike began.
ASUU NEC has therefore directed its branches
nationwide to resume work immediately and urges
the Federal Government to implement their
December 11 resolutions.

Of what use or importance will his going to the senate be,afterall he as always been in d executive arm of government, he should just go home to be an elder statesman instead of going to d senate to become a new comer n be an onlooker for 4years,but if he still want to remain active in politics, den he should lobby to be an ambassador...... dis is d only thing dat makes me like tinubu as a politician,he finish his tenure as a governor at d age of 55 and he became a party leader and is now leading d greatest opposition in d country..... now even those younger than him now bows to him n worship him.....

FreeGlobe: Governors Kayode and Aregbe to Fani Kayode: Thanks for a job well done

And what is wrong with the picture, afterall u celebrated Mandela for his spirit of love n forgiveness, so because fani-kayode has been a pdp member before mean dey should never associate with him abi, wat I just want u to knw is dat in politics,there is no permanent friend or enemy but a permanent interest................ just try and strive to be relevant in life n u will knw how things really work,u need to see beyond where u come from

A two-term governor of Kwara State, Dr.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described
the attempt by the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) leadership in Abuja to
impose candidates in the state's local
government election as the last straw
that broke the camel's back.
Speaking in an interview in Abuja,
Senator Bukola Saraki recalled that
impunity manifested during the state's
local government elections.
"We had started the process of election,
we had conducted primaries and the
national body of the PDP sent
representatives to oversee the primaries.
"They also presided over the appeals of
the aggrieved aspirants and we all
agreed at the end of the day that the
cleared candidates were those that
emerged at the end at the day.
"But to our horror and shock, 24 hours
before the election, a list emerged from
the headquarters of the PDP and was
sent to the State Independent Electoral
Commission containing names of 16
Chairmanship candidate and 196
councilors.
"We asked ourselves where did this
names emerged from? It means that they
just sat down and wrote names...
The Senator asked, "we had taken
decisions at the primaries and has
chosen our candidates and the party in
Abuja was doing something else, is this
the party we should belong to?
He said at that stage, "there was nothing
we could do. So, we are being driven by
the choices of the people.
Answering a question on the Nigerian
Governors' Forum (NGF) crisis, Senator
Saraki said the governors should be left
alone to resolve their differences,
regretting that some people believe that
the forum is about politics and power
thus the interference.
On the 2015 General election, he advised
INEC to ensure transparent, free and
fair elections, adding that the
commission must leave up to the
expectations of Nigerians and the
international community.

what I think is dat,aregbesola wasn't given the program and fashola was unhappy with that and is trying to give him his,while aregbosola is trying to just act like a gentle man

donphilopus: ..........

this is the reason why this country can never be good,inequality ,corruption n bad leadership are our main problem, if anybody has seen the house of commons b4, u will knw that u don't need too much lawmakers n a big assembly complex to make good laws..

make I add one for u,ONA BABA ONA, anybody living in osun will understand

Striking university teachers across
Nigeria today moved closer to resolving
the five months old industrial dispute
that had led to the closure of Nigerian
universities by signing a Memorandum
of Understanding with officials of the
federal government of Nigeria.
ASUU president Dr. Nasir Fagge told
Saharareporters over the phone that the
MOU signing took place at the Ministry
of Education in Abuja. The Permanent
Secretary at the ministry signed on
behalf of the federal government while
the President of the Nigeria Labour
Congress Abdul Omar witnessed the
event.
The ASUU president said the Nigerian
government agreed to fulfill most of the
obligations agreed upon during meetings
with President Goodluck Jonathan in
Abuja a few weeks ago, this he said,
includes a non-victimization clause.
Accordingly, ASUU will call a meeting of
its National Executive Council to take a
look at the MOU and decide on the next
line of action within the next week.
On its part, the Nigerian government will
set up a committee to fully implement
the agreement with ASUU.
The MOU signing followed a disclosure
by Special Assistant to the President on
Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe
yesterday that the Federal government
had deposited N200 billion with the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of
the promise made to ASUU during its last
negotiation with President Jonathan.