A group, Voice of Arewa Youth, VAY, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute a neutral body to probe alleged claims that the NNPC withheld N3.8 trillion of the N8.1trillion generated from oil receipts and $2.1 billion said to have been unilaterally withdrawn by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

It warned that the four-man committee set up is made up of parties in the matter and may therefore not be unbiased.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, leader of the group, Mallam Bello Khalifa stressed that as desirable as the probe is, considering the deficit of development in the country, the composition of the probe panel was faulty maintaining that an interested party in a matter cannot be an unbiased umpire.

He explained that prior to the committee, some of its members had openly accused persons in the former administration particularly the former Minister of Finance, Ngozie Okonjo-Iweala of not been prudent in the handling of the nation’s finances.

Recall that even before the expiration of her tenure, the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have both repeatedly accused her of financial malfeasance even without evidence in that direction.

He said, “As laudable as this move is considering the deficit of development in the country, our fear is that the exercise if not properly handled might not yield the expected result.

“This is evidenced in the suspicion that exists between the members of the present executives and the previous one. While the present administration accuses the former of lack of prudence in the management of the nation’s resources, the previous administration sees the incumbent as speaking as an opposition and advises it to put on the toga of a government.
“As trivial as these varying views may seem, one thing is clear, both parties are suspicious of each other. Besides some of the governors were part of the previous administration and kept mute over these issues only to cry foul when the previous government lost reelection.

“All these and many more reasons have made us convinced that these issues are thorny and therefore a neutral organ would better handle the probe. The allegations made by the incumbent government are weighty and a neutral organ of government with the responsibility to checking it would be a better option to do the job after all an interested party cannot be an unbiased umpire.”

The group further appealed to the President to steer clear of issues that could portray him as not keeping to his words when he declared that his Governments will not witch-hunt members of the past Government.

“In his inauguration speech, President Buhari assured Nigerians and the world at large, that his Government will not witch-hunt members of the past government. Since he is known as a man of integrity and a man of his word, the time has come for the President to stand up to his promise and show us that he is indeed not interested in witch-hunting.
“Setting up probe panels made of sitting governors will not only distract the presidency but also distract the state governors from implementing the change agendas for the economic development of their respective states,” the group through its Spokesperson said.

It would be recalled that the National Economic Council had recently set up a committee comprising of Governors of Gombe, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Kaduna states to probe alleged claim that the NNPC withheld N3.8 trillion of the N8.1trillion generated from oil receipt and $2.1 billion said to have been unilaterally withdrawn by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in the last six months of its tenure.

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been discharged and acquitted of corruption charges by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The Judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia,​ in her judgment, explained that the prosecution’s case was “feeble” and failed to provide “copious evidence” linking Fani-Kayode to money laundering.

Mr. Fani-Kayode, whose trial began in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, ​for allegedly laundering about N100 million while he was Minister of Culture and Tourism and subsequently, Aviation Minister.

On November 17, 2014, the sum of N100 million was reduced to N2.1 million as Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia discharged and acquitted the accused of the 38 counts, but ordered him to open his defense on the remaining two-count charge of money laundering.

​T​he EFCC prosecutor, ​Festus Keyamo, while urging the court to uphold the remaining two counts and to accordingly convict Mr. Fani-Kayode, said the former minister failed to exonerate himself of the allegations.

Keyamo pointed out that the object of the charge was that Mr. Fani-Kayode transacted in cash sums above N500,000, which was the threshold stipulated by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

He had argued that Fani-Kayode admitted making such transactions in his confessional statement of Dec. 22, 2008 made to the EFCC.

Keyamo had argued that the prosecution had discharged its duty once it established that Mr. Fani-Kayode transacted in large sums above the Money Laundering threshold, adding that it was left for Mr. Fani-Kayode to explain the source of the money.

“Once you cannot explain the source of the large sum of money found on you, you are guilty of money laundering. If the prosecution must show where the money is coming from, then the whole essence of the money laundering law is defeated.

“It is not in all cases that the burden of proof lies on the prosecution; the burden at this point shifts to the accused person,” Keyamo argued.

In his defense, Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), in his summary argument, maintained that Fani-Kayode made no confession to the EFCC, adding that the anti-graft agency failed to show that Fani-Kayode actually accepted a cash sum of N1million as alleged.

Adedipe said the EFCC also failed to show to the court the person who handed the cash sum to the accused person.

He said for the case of the prosecution to succeed, it had to be proven beyond reasonable doubts.

Source: http://www.post-nigeria.com/breaking-court-clears-fani-kayode-of-corruption-charges/

NOIPolls, on Tuesday, revealed that Nigerian support for the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Law signed by Former President Goodluck Jonathan in January 2014 has reduced by 5%.

A NOIPolls survey conducted in partnership with The Initiative for Equal Rights, TIERs, and the Bisi Alimi Foundation to measure the perception of Nigerians towards the Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual, LGB, community revealed that 87% of Nigerian adults support Anti-Same Sex Marriage law as opposed to a 2013 survey where the figure was 92%.

Other findings from the polls showed that despite the fact 81% “do NOT believe homosexuals should have the same rights as other Nigerians,” some 30% of Nigerians still “agree that homosexuals should be given equal rights to access public services such as healthcare, housing and education.”

15% however believe homosexuals should have equal rights as other Nigerians.

The results also that 9 out of 10 Nigerians, 90%, do not believe that people are born as homosexuals, opining that being “gay is a quality that is acquired through life’s experiences.”

Similarly, 87% of those interviewed stated that they would not be willing to accept a family member that is homosexual; although 11% showed willingness to accept a gay family member.

Further analysis revealed that a larger proportion of adult females (13%) are more willing to accept a homosexual family member than adult males (10%).

This new result is coming on the heels of... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/support-for-homosexual-rights-increases-in-nigeria/

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance and Coordinating Minister under the Goodluck Jonathan administration has referred to the alleged $2.1billion unauthorized spending under her watch as simply a political and personal vendetta to tar her name.

Okonjo-Iweala, in a statement released by her media adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu expressed disappointment over the use of the National Economic Council, NEC, to tarnish her image.

She however expressed willingness to respond to enquiries of financial activities under her stewardship.

According to her this latest allegation is coming as a surprise as she had previously responded in detail to similar allegations of missing $20billion erroneously alleged against her by the Nigeria Governors Forum.

She further advised public officials to focus more on delivering the dividends of governance to the Nigerian people and avoid the temptation to politicize economic issues.

THERE WAS NO “UNAUTHORISED SPENDING” UNDER OKONJO-IWEALA: $2.1BILLION ALLEGATION IS LATEST CHAPTER OF POLITICAL WITCH-HUNT

The allegation by some governors that former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spent $2.1 billion out of the Excess Crude Account “without authorization” is false, malicious and totally without foundation.

We want to state categorically that no unauthorized expenditure from the ECA was made under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch in the Finance Ministry. Decisions on such expenditure were discussed at meetings of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) attended by finance commissioners from the 36 states.

It is curious that in their desperation to use the esteemed National Economic Council for political and personal vendetta, the persons behind these allegations acted as if the constitutionally recognized FAAC, a potent expression of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism, does not exist.

But Nigerians know that collective revenues, allocations and expenditures of the three tiers of government are the concern of the monthly FAAC meetings.

It is important to acknowledge the efforts of governors who are working hard to overcome the current revenue challenges facing their states without resorting to character assassination and blame games.

The former Minister is ready and willing to respond to legitimate enquiries about issues under her purview as Finance Minister. But it is clear that this is the latest chapter of a political witch-hunt by elements who are attempting to use the respected National Economic Council for ignoble purposes having failed abysmally in their previous attempts to tar the Okonjo-Iweala name.

It will be recalled that one of such attempts took place in May when some of these governors, hiding under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum asked Okonjo-Iweala to explain $20 billion alleged to be missing from the same ECA.

The Finance Ministry subsequently issued a news release and published an advertorial in national newspapers on May 25, 2015 giving details of what the Federal Government and states received from the ECA in the last four years. It also provided details of the use of the funds for payment of petrol subsidies for the Nigerian public and SURE-P allocations to the three tiers for development purposes.

After the publication, the accusers lost their voice. But the latest allegations show that these persons are still in the business of throwing up wild, unsubstantiated figures to damage Okonjo-Iweala’s name. For instance, within the last few months, Governor Oshiomhole and his fellow travelers have asked Okonjo-Iweala to account for “missing” $30 billion, $20 billion and now $2.1 billion. What they don’t seem to understand is that the strategy has lost all credibility because the falsehood is clear for all to see.

How can some governors who fought FG’s efforts to leave robust savings in the ECA and even took the Federal Government to court over the matter turn around to make such unfounded allegations?

The world knows that it was Okonjo-Iweala who pioneered, during her first stint as Minister of Finance in the Obasanjo administration, the practice of publishing monthly updates of all allocations to different tiers of government in order to empower Nigerians with information and knowledge of government revenues and expenditure. This enabled the Nigerian public to ask questions about the utilization of these resources. Of course many elected and appointed public officials were not happy with this development.

She continued this practice when she returned in 2011 and even added periodic updates on the Excess Crude Account, subsidy payments for verified claims by oil marketers for fuel imports as well as SURE-P payments to the three tiers of government.

Against this background, the idea that she spent $2.1 billion “without authorization” is simply not credible given that details of government receipts and expenditure are public knowledge.

We believe that Nigerians are too smart to be hoodwinked by this partisan desperation to tar the name of Okonjo-Iweala.

In the interest of the country, we advise that public officials should avoid the temptation to politicize economic issues so that balanced analysis can lead to real solutions.

Paul C Nwabuikwu

Media Adviser to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Source: http://www.post-nigeria.com/2-1b-allegations-buharis-nec-set-up-to-tarnish-my-image-okonjo-iweala/

Following reports that 47 Boko Haram prisoners have been secretly relocated to Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, the Ekwulobia Trade and Allied Union has disclosed that the State Governor Willie Obiano mobilized them to stage a protest resisting the move by the Federal Government.

A renowned trader in Ekwulobia main market, Chukwuma Ekele who stated this on Tuesday during an interactive session with Post Nigeria described the relocation as suicidal and insisted that the relocation of the Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia was with the full knowledge of Governor Obiano.

He said Obiano invited the traders for a meeting at the Government House in Awka on Sunday night before the prisoners arrived.

The trader stated that armoured tankers were positioned at the entrance of the prison with shops and offices in Ekwulobia town shut down.

Obiano’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. James Eze, had in a statement, exonerated the Governor from the relocation arrangement.

According to Ekele, “The Chairman of the Ekwulobia Traders and Allied Union, Mr. Ebere Nnopu told us that we are having a meeting with the Governor at the Government House.

“When we attended the meeting, the Governor told us that President Buhari called him and told him some Boko Haram suspects will be relocated to Ekwulobia Prison for undisclosed reasons.
“It was the Governor who further adviced us that we should stage a protest, resisting such a move by President Buhari by carrying placards.”

Ekele also revealed that the town... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/boko-haram-prisoner-relocation-shocking-details-emerge-from-anambra/

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has extended the deadline for the ongoing registration for the Bank Verification Number, BVN, to October 31, 2015.

The exercise which was supposed to end today saw customers besieging banks as early as 7am in order to meet up with the deadline.

The extension is meant to facilitate the smooth completion of the registration exercise.

The customers had urged the CBN to extend the date, saying that the extension was necessary to enable them to complete their registrations.

More later…

Source: http://www.post-nigeria.com/breaking-cbn-extends-bvn-registration/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday through the Head of Service of the Federation, HoS, Danladi Kifasi sacked the board of the National Petroleum Co-operation, NNPC, with immediate effect.

The Head of Service who in a statement dated June 26, 2015 stated that the President thanked members of the dissolved board for their services to the nation.

Before now, the Senate had on Wednesday June 24, 2015 summoned the leadership of the NNPC to appear before it so as to examine the conditions of the nation’s four refineries.

Investigation revealed that the NNPC has often been seen by President Buhari as the goose that lays the golden egg but allegedly riddled with corruption and oil cabals who had held the nation to ransom.

Buhari who was one time the head of the NNPC during the military era of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had vowed during his 2015 presidential election campaign that he would probe the oil sector.

During the campaigns, he promised to probe the $20 billion alleged to be missing from the coffers of the oil giant by Emir of Kano Muhammed Sanusi, a claim he made when he was the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan sacked him from the CBN for the claim which he considered untrue and embarrassing to his Government because the figures he was reeling out were inconsistent.

Speaking in Yola immediately after the presidential election, Buhari said: “I heard that some people have started refunding money, but I will not believe until I see it.

“His royal highness, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was removed from the Central Bank because he said that about $20 billion was missing, instead of the Government to investigate the matter, they refused, instead they sacked him.

“He has already written a detail report on it, the incoming government will not ignore it, even though we have promised to draw a line, but $20 billion is too big to ignore.

“This is Nigerian money and it must be investigated.”

According to an All Progressives Congress, APC, source, the new administration of Buhari... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/exclusive-why-buhari-sacked-nnpc-board/

The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that States cannot keep same-sex couples from marrying and must recognize their unions.

The court ruled 5-4 that the Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law mean that states cannot ban same-sex marriages. With the ruling, gay marriage will become legal in all 50 states.

The justices ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, which is linked to three other cases.

Together, they involve a dozen couples who challenged same-sex marriage bans in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee – the only States whose bans on marriage between gay and lesbian couples had been sustained by a federal appeals court.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing on behalf of the court, said that the hope of gay people intending to marry “is
not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law.

“The Constitution grants them that right.”

Kennedy, a conservative who often casts the deciding vote in close cases, was joined in the majority by the court’s four liberal justices.

In a dissenting opinion, conservative Justice Antonin Scalia says the court’s decision shows it is a “threat to American democracy.”

The ruling “says that my ruler and the ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court,” Scalia said.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts also read a summary of his dissenting opinion from the bench.

There are currently 13 state bans in place, while another state, Alabama, has contested a court ruling that lifted the ban there.

The ruling is the Supreme Court’s most important expansion of marriage rights in the United States since its landmark 1967 ruling in the case Loving v. Virginia that struck down state laws barring interracial marriages.

President Barack Obama is the first sitting President to back gay marriage and his administration argued on the side of the same-sex marriage advocates. He has said he hoped the court issued a ruling preventing states from banning gay marriage.

In 2010, Obama signed a law allowing gays to serve openly in the U.S. military bringing an end to the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy in the army.

In 2013, the high court ruled unconstitutional a 1996 U.S. law that declared for the purposes of federal benefits marriage was defined as between one man and one woman.

Reacting to the ruling, President Obama tweeted... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/us-supreme-court-rules-in-favour-of-same-sex-marriage-nationwide/

Former Minister of State for Education, Professor Jerry Agada, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari, who has contested election four times already, should have hit the ground running by now.

He said that considering the mantra of change the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Buhari came with, he expected that by now some moves and steps should have been made in terms of reaching the much touted change.

“Ordinarily, with the mantra of change that brought in this administration, my thinking was that by now we would have taken some steps that would have been far reaching in terms of talking about change. That is in terms of hitting the ground running,” he said.

Agada, who was speaking to Vanguard, agreed that the President had taken some steps in the right direction, but considering that he had contested elections four times now, he should have had his plans articulated already.

“But on the other hand, this is somebody who has in the last 16 years contested elections.
“So, one was thinking that with his determination to rule the country, he must have articulated things as they affect this country and have it at the back of his hands so that as soon as the power is entrusted on him, he moves with the speed of light to tackle them.

“We thought that he would have hit the ground running. But that is not the case at the moment,” he said.

“We were thinking that by now, after the approval the Senate gave for the appointment of Advisers, the President would have made the appointments of these people who should help in the administration of the country but that are not the case.

“As far as I’m concerned the President has not hit the ground running. This does... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/how-is-buhari-so-clueless-after-attempting-four-elections-ex-minister/

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has blasted the All Progressives Congress, APC, over what it termed the “show of shame and national embarrassment” by disgruntled APC members in the House of Representatives that saw fists, shoes and books freely flying.

In a statement released hours after the incident, the PDP stated that the ugly development brings to question, President Muhammadu Buhari and his party’s commitment to democracy, unity and the stability of the country.

The PDP said the “disgraceful” act is a direct consequence of President Buhari’s lack of democratic credentials to exert “much needed control” over his party to respect the independence and sanctity of the legislative arm of government, the very citadel of democracy, as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who signed the statement, said “the barbaric attempt to physically assault a duly elected Speaker, seize the mace, the authority of the House, is a direct attack on the Nigerian parliament which embodies the supremacy of the people and our freedom as a democratic nation.”

He said that what Nigerians witnessed in the House on Thursday clearly underscores the fact that the APC has exhausted its excuses and has now imported its internal contradictions into an independent arm of government as a way to further cover its lack of ideas for governance.

Metuh revealed that the PDP had intelligence that “the brawling APC lawmakers ostensibly acted on instructions from the Presidency, an obvious indication that President Buhari is... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/buhari-orchestrated-house-of-reps-chaos-today-pdp/

The Former National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Dan Nwanyanwu stated that the leadership tussle rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, was an indication that the party was a marriage of strange bedfellows.

He likened the party to salt that had lost its taste adding that the crisis was the beginning for the battle for the 2019 Presidency.

The former LP Chairman who stated this on Thursday during an interactive session on the Channels Television programme tagged “Sunrise Daily” maintained that the APC was like a tree that refused to bear fruit and cannot translate their mantra of “change” into action.

Earlier an attempt by 59 APC Senators to resolve their differences over the sharing of the remaining four principal positions in the Senate failed, leadings to exchange of physical combats and insults on the floor of the Upper Chamber.

Senate President Bukola Saraki had shortly after the plenary session announced that the APC Senators would meet ‎at his meeting Room 301 to sort out the matter.

It was learnt that at the meeting, it was made clear that ‎the positions had been allocated to geo-political zones, and the APC Senators from those zones were asked to agree among themselves and produce acceptable persons to fill the positions.

While the Senators under the aegis of Like Minds Senators ‎insisted on the zonal arrangement, the Unity Forum which supports Senator Ahmed Lawan was opposed to it as they insisted that those nominated by the APC leadership to take the positions should be allowed to do so.

While speaking Nwanyawu who indicated no surprise at the turn of events, likened the APC to a hunter had gone to the forest without deciding on a particular animal to kill only to end up killing a nameless one.

“I read the Red Book house rule; the nomination must come from the Senate and not... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/apc-crisis-ex-labour-party-chairman-labels-party-salt-without-taste/

The House of Representatives on Thursday descended into chaos over the elections of Principal Officers in the House.

At the resumption of sitting at about 11.00am, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, attempted to read the letter reportedly sent to him by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun, and a Member stood up to oppose it.

The situation quickly generated into chaos as someone threw a book at the Speaker, and others succeeded in removing the mace from the House.

Several people attempted to attack the Speaker and what appeared to be many members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, along with Dogara loyalists quickly formed a circle around him.

Chants of APC, and counter chants of Dogara could be heard in the air.

The speed and abrupt nature with which the chaos quickly started makes it unclear as to the real cause of the disagreements.

It can be recalled that the North-Central and Southeast caucuses of the APC in the House rejected the party’s reported zoning of the principal positions of the lower chamber to the north-east and south-west.

The letter, which Dogara had tried to read was sent to him by Oyegun, endorsing Femi Gbajabiamila as House Leader (South-West), Alhassan Doguwa Deputy House Leader (North-West), Mohammed Monguno Chief Whip‎ (North-East) and Pally Iriase Deputy Chief Whip (South-South).

An eyewitness, Dyep Shibayan, who spoke with Post Nigeria, said that... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/breaking-house-torn-apart-as-dogara-loyalists-apc-members-clash/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn7ZJcVgRLM&feature=player_embedded

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain Dr Katchi Ononuju has said the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to recover stolen money was a welcome development, adding it must start from the Governors who had used State resources to buy properties in Dubai.

Ononuju stated this on Wednesday on African Independent Television, AIT, on the “Money Show” programme.

He disclosed that as part of recovering the stolen funds, the Governors who were unable to pay their workers for several months should be made to be accountable to the people while calling on the President to fulfill his mandate entrusted on him by the electorate.

President Buhari had on Tuesday vowed to recover funds stolen by Government officials who abused their offices in the recent past.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Femi Adesina, told the Governors in Abuja that the days of impunity, lack of accountability and fiscal recklessness in the management of national resources were over in Nigeria.

“There are financial and administrative instructions in every government parastatal and agency. But all these were thrown to the dogs in the past. Honestly, our problems are great, but we will do our best to surmount them.
“The next three months may be hard, but billions of dollars can be recovered and we will do our best,” Adesina stated.

According to Ononuju who is also an economist: READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/stolen-funds-buhari-should-begin-with-the-begging-governors-pdp-chieftain/

On a lighter note... Just for laughs...

May 30 (Day After Buhari’s Inauguration)

In the news: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.” – President Muhammadu Buhari

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi, John Oyegun

Somewhere in Asokoro… 4pm

---

“The papers are saying that Buhari was talking to you when he made that “I belong to nobody” statement. They are saying that you would not have input in his government, much like Jonathan’s treatment of Obasanjo.”

Tinubu mulls over what the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Oyegun has just said. To his left is the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. He wonders if he made the right choice. Should he have imposed himself as the Vice-President? No, Nigerians wouldn’t have gone for that, religious as they are. The quiet, unassuming Professor Yemi Osinbajo was the right choice. He seems like someone that can be influenced. He is not a politician. The amount of votes they got from the South West would have been fewer than it had been if he had imposed himself. But this inauguration speech of Buhari, it was unsettling. It wasn’t what they had discussed. Should he reveal his fears to Oyegun and Amaechi, that he wasn’t entirely sure where he stood in the scheme of things? Hmmmm. No. That would be dangerous. His authority might be questioned.

“Oyegun, you worry too much. Buhari knows who put him into power. In fact let me just tell you now since we are the only ones here, I told the boy who wrote the speech, that Chude boy, to put that into the speech. And you see. It got the effect I wanted. So when Buhari begins to make some decisions, Nigerians won’t say Asiwaju is behind it,” Tinubu says.

“That is a relief, but…,” Oyegun begins, but Amaechi interrupts.

“See, sir, that line is not my only worry. He also said he is not going to settle old score and he will not interfere with the judiciary. You know that Wike has it in for me. And you know that, erm, it was Rivers people’s money I gave to the party o. So, you see my worry.”

“Rotimi, Rotimi, Rotimi!” Tinubu calls. “How many times did I call you? It is I, Jagaban, that is telling you not to worry. Buhari knows who put him in power.”

Oyegun takes a sip of his water.

“Bola, what about appointments? You know we have people we want to put and Buhari has said he would not go the old way?” Oyegun asks, clearly still worried.

“Don’t worry. I have told Atiku to discuss with him. He will listen. You remember what Axelrod said during the campaign. It is all about appearances with Nigerians. Allow him say all he wants.”

“But…”

Tinubu holds up his hand.

“Okay, Atiku just sent me a text. He is on his way. He just left Buhari. He is coming to brief us. Let me go and pray before he gets here.”

Hmmm, I hope Tinubu is right o, Amaechi muses. I have invested too much in this. I have to get that Wike out of office soon. That Dakuku boy is too calm. He would have won that election if he had listened to me.

Tinubu rubs his eye and gets up to go inside. If only they knew the truth, he says in his mind.
Amaechi busies himself with him phone, while Oyegun leans back and closes his eyes, as they await Atiku.

May 31 (Two Days After Buhari’s Inauguration)

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan

Somewhere in Otueke… 12:15 pm

As Goodluck Jonathan gets into the car with his wife, Patience, after yet another Thanksgiving Service held in his honour, he wonders if all the speakers meant what they said. What is he even saying, of course they don’t. But none of them can come and say he shouldn’t have conceded defeat. Obtuse minds. He had long known he was going to lose. Obasnjo thinks he is the only one that can become a global citizen. Tah. He has shown him. The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon had called him on Friday to tell him that a position was being prepared for him in Africa, and maybe Asia. He could tell all those long serving leaders on how to concede power. He could only imagine Mugabe’s face. He chuckles.

“What is funny?” Patience asks, looking at him sourly. “Hope it’s not what I said that is making you laugh?”

Jonathan glances at her. He hadn’t even realized she had said something. “What is that?”

“I said I am tired of all these services o. Come here, go there. How many time will they be saying the same things? All the women smiling and giving you gifts. They will now want three of the money their yeye gifts was worth.”

“Don’t worry. It will be over soon. By next weekend.”

“Better o. Because me, I won’t follow you for any more o. I will even soon travel to London to go and see the children.”

“Like I said, by next weekend.”

The car was moving at a leisurely pace. A far cry from his presidential fleet that were always driving like something was chasing them. He was the president; any meeting would not start till he got there. So why hurry? Ah, he wouldn’t miss that. And the noise. Oh the infernal noise of the sirens. It was protocol, he was told when he asked. Same with the speed. Security measures.

“Did you see what Buhari did at the inauguration?” Patience interrupts his thoughts again.

“What?”

“How Buhari did not greet anybody when he enter. And that Aisha couldn’t even tell him. She must not be from a good home. It was Baba that now told him go and greet. Hmmm. I watched it on TV.”

“Oh. Yes, I heard. He is learning. I trust that that Obasanjo was laughing in his mind. I don’t even know who I don’t like most, Buhari or Obasanjo.”

“Me, it is Buhari o. Obasanjo didn’t win us in election.”

Us, she said. Which us? Like she didn’t contribute to my losing, Jonathan thought. He had seen the analyses after the election. It was because of her the report Ekweremadu submitted was kept secret. How could he release a report that blames his wife for his defeat? That Ike even had guts o, to bring that kind of report. Thank God it didn’t leak to the press.

The car pulled to a halt in front of the Jonathans’ humongous mansion. Reuben Abati, Jonathan’s former spokesperson, opens the door for him.

This boy has been loyal o, he says in his mind. Even Doyin, who everybody said he shouldn’t appoint, had since left him. Not even a call. Ungrateful people. Anyway, he won’t regret his decisions. Patience barely glances at Abati as she storms into the house, with three aides in tow.

This woman, when will she stop carrying people around? She doesn’t know that there is no money, Jonathan thinks.

“Sir, Gowon called. I said you would call him back,” Abati says.

“Ehen? He didn’t say why?” Abati shakes his head. “Ok. Later.”

Jonathan strolls inside. “Tell them to bring the cold Palm Wine,” he says as he reclines on the chair.

June 1 (Three Days After Buhari’s Inauguration)

President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha

Somewhere in Aso Villa… 6 am

Muhammadu Buhari looks around his office at the Aso Villa and smirks. It finally paid off. His patience and perseverance. Of the four times he had run for elections, this had been the most compromising. From parleying with the likes of Tinubu and Amaechi, to having to go greet that Obasanjo. That man who ran Nigeria like his own current account. Imagine, he even had the guts to embarrass him in front of all those visiting Heads of State. Telling him to go round and greet. He even had to make it obvious. Oh, may Allah give him strength not to go back on the things he said in his inaugural address. That wasn’t still as bad as having to go greet that man who bundled him out of power in 1985. Kai, he deserved this presidency. The things he has had to stomach.

This was the first time he had been alone since the elections. Meeting after meeting. It had become worse, immediately after the inauguration. Why couldn’t they have waited till this Monday morning? Let him have this weekend. He sighed. After twelve years, he was tired. 73 was no kid. Why couldn’t he send Osinbajo in his place? What was the point of having a Vice? He was told it was protocol to attend. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Oh the quiet. Shutting the office door had locked out all the hustling and bustling of moving in outside. He had come here straight from prayers. Why they were moving things this early was beyond him. He must remember to ask if this room was soundproof.

Someone entered the office. It must be Aisha or his P.A. No one would dare defy his order of being alone. Being known as a harsh dictator had its perks. People didn’t dare disobey him.

“Remi sent me a message that her husband was not happy with your inaugural speech on Friday,” Aisha says as she plops herself down on the couch beside him.

President. She hadn’t still gotten used to the feeling. After more than twelve years, they had finally taken power from that useless PDP. She looks around the office. It was smaller than she expected.

“Eez he now?” Buhari slowly replies. “He should be happy zat I have decided to forgive all ze people who stole before May 29.”

“But you know him and Amaechi really contributed to your election. We should at least pretend to listen to them.”

“I know.”

Aisha knows that is the end of it. She knew her husband would do what was in his mind. She just hoped he did not cost them the presidency. He was not a politician, after all. They lapse into silence savouring the feel of power.

Aisha breaks the silence. “What will you do about Obasanjo?”

“I will handle him.”

“Better do. I heard that Patience was laughing when she heard.”

“I said I will handle it.”

His P.A of years rushes into the room. “Sir, its Atiku.”

What does that one want now, Buhari thinks as he collects the phone. “Assalamualaikum.”

Aisha watches his unsmiling face as he speaks into the phone. She would tell him to start smiling more. For all Jonathan’s faults, he always had a smile on his face. After the election results, she even felt he looked happier than before. Buhari was through. The aide hurried off with the phone.

“What did Atiku want?”

“Party beezness.”

Before Atiku comes with problem of the All Progressives Congress, before the Service Chiefs come to brief him, before Aisha tells him that Zahra and Yusuf are trending on social media, before he has to deal with the Tinubus and Obasanjos, before he has to list his ministers and aides, before he loses sleep for the next four years, before he is chaperoned from meeting to meeting, country to country, before he has to handle the million things that were likely to go wrong in his first hundred days, he would savour this few minutes of silence with Aisha.

Buhari relaxed and was just shutting his eye, when a knock came.

“Sir, Atiku is here.” And just like that, it had begun.

W. A.

http://writersanonymous.com.ng/2015/06/03/after-buharis-inauguration/

g

MKO4ever:


I work with a research company, if you know the meaning of research you better keep quiet else, I will release more analytical results of you

*blowing steam of Lipton and staring at nails* Carry on. Bad Belle is allowed.

OgeniBravo:


And who tells you English language is the criteria for literacy?

My bad. But it is the lingua franca of Nigeria, so everybody should at least know it at least in passing. But I agree, it is not the yardstick for literacy.

MKO4ever:


Find below analysis of your results:

An ugly baby boy that joined nairaland five days ago_on June 18, 2015
Just in five days, you have already created 11 posts
Funny that all the 11 posts you created are in one direction-saTAN

Why don't you repent and stop building your houses on the sand (stop being foolish)

No wonder none of your eleven post has made front page (including this one)


Infact you did not even get any comment in some of the posts

A word is enough for the wise

You said ugly baby boy. That's just sexist. I may be a woman impersonating a man. Who's to say?... The fact you've been keeping track of my post just shows the height of your joblessness. But no matter, CHANGE is here, you should be gainfully employed soon enough.

INTROVERT:
The words had barely come out of his mouth, when the National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina jumped out as “Interpreter Generals of the Federation




Isn't that their job.

Because it was not English Buhari spoke? Or Nigerians are all illiterates?

Mouth agape, like one who had just landed on this planet after a long sojourn on the moon, I was shocked that barely three weeks after the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari as the 6th President of the most populous black nation, he finally realised that age was a limitation to what he can do.

I know by now he will be regretting that Dame Patience Jonathan and other PDP chieftains warned him not to dive into the murky water of politics.

At first, I thought my ears and eyes were playing pranks on me, because this was a man that went through the length and breadth of the country campaigning that at 72 he can move mountains.

“I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do,” President Buhari stated this when he spoke with Nigerians living in South Africa.

To the APC, Buhari spoke in strange “tongues”, there was need for interpretation. After all, most Nigerians are known as carnal laymen.

The words had barely come out of his mouth, when the National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina jumped out as “Interpreter Generals of the Federation.”

They hurriedly organised a marathon lectures on the course: “NOW AT 72, THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT I CAN DO.”

“What President Buhari was saying, which was lost on those who issued that je­june statement, is that only his love and passion for the country could have made him, at his age, to come out of retirement to seek the of­fice of President, over 30 years after he presided over the affairs of the country,’’ the “Interpreter General” Lai Mohammed explained.

As if that was not enough, the second Interpreter General, Femi Adesina who had been recently baptized on “political Pentecost” took over from Lai Mohammed giving his own version.

According to him; Buhari was misquoted by national dailies and online media, noting that, “like old wine, Buhari gets better with age”.

He added that “old wines are tasty” and the President Buhari we have today, is a man, like old wine, that has got tastier.

The naïve Femi Adesina in the holy month of Ramadan was not politically correct in using wine, forbidden in Islam as an analogy for the President.

Let us not forget President Muhammadu Buhari is so religious to the extent that he “snubbed’’ foreign delegates who came to grace his inauguration by abandoning them to attend Juma’a Prayers.

Wait a minute, or was Femi Adesina trying to tell Nigerians that President Buhari was under the influence of alcohol when he made such glaring statement? I smell a rat.

I wondered how “At 72, there is limit to what I can do” can be interpreted to mean “old wine that has got tastier.”

For offering that interpretation, Femi Adesina must be a poor teacher and a bad interpreter or a false prophet.

As a former dictator, President Buhari has always meant what he said, and always said what he meant without minding which ox is gored.

I remembered vividly during the electioneering campaign, he was on Aljazeera on February 8, and despite seeking for votes, he blatantly said that those who do not like his face should not vote for him. On hearing that I almost lost my breath;

“If people don’t like Buhari’s face for what he did as a military Head of State, let them join the ruling party or any of the other mushroom parties and vote against him and convince his constituency to vote against me.”
Or did Nigerians need the chief priest in Okija shrine to come and interprete this again?

President Buhari has been known for making blunt statements and has never been diplomatic in his statements. A soldier is always a soldier!

Nigerians don’t need the interpretation of Lai Mohammed and Femi Adesina to understand the statement of their President.

Or is the APC telling us that we no longer understand English, because I do understand that Buhari did not make that comment in Arabic or Swahili.

The meaning of his statement is that he is too old to pilot the affairs of this country, QED.

We can see that Pa Buhari is yet to make major appointments such as the Secretary General of the Federation, SGF, and Ministers after three weeks of his inauguration.

We are aware that a string of attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants has come in the wake of the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, leaving hundreds dead and several defenceless citizens injured.

We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us three weeks after Buhari assumption of office Nigeria is still wobbling and crawling with no direction in sight.

We are aware he referred to the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, as “President Michelle of West Germany.”

Some social media lovers chided the President for making such an error.

When, Buhari said “at 72, there is a limit to what I can do”, he meant what he said, and he said what he meant.

The task is enormous for a 72-year old man.

Femi and Lai Mohammed who are spin doctors can offer their interpretation to the mariners. We are already reading the handwritings on the wall.

Source: http://www.post-nigeria.com/is-president-buhari-now-speaking-in-tongues-by-audu-o-audu/

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Lagos based lawyer has filed a fresh suit against the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as an ”extreme delay” in his appointment of Ministers.

In his suit, Adegboruwa also included a neglect of the official residence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria otherwise known as Aso Rock Villa since he took oath of office on May 29, 2015

In the suit he filed today at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the lawyer sought to know why President Muhamadu Buhari had been carrying out his activities in some illegal and unknown location which amounted to operating the affairs of the nation like his personal family empire.

According to him, such acts are contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Adegboruwa, therefore requested for the determination of the following questions: READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/ministerial-appointments-lawyer-files-fresh-suit-against-buhari/

Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senator Ahmed Lawan and other Senators elected under the All Progressives Congress, APC, met at the home of the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun.

According to our sources, the meeting was to reconcile the warring factions in the party, the Unity Forum and the Senators of Like Minds group.

The meeting was also to reconcile Senator Bukola Saraki with the leadership of the APC, who had initially denounced him after he supposedly colluded with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to facilitate his emergence as Senate President against the party’s wish.

The party had blessed Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position, but was outwitted by Saraki when most of Lawan’s supporters were stuck at the International Conference Centre, for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, which never held.

Recall that a meeting Saraki was to have with the leadership of the APC after his emergence as Senate President was called off hours to the time.

At the close of the meeting, which lasted several hours, the trio of Saraki, Lawan and... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/breaking-apc-crisis-oyegun-brokers-peace-deal-with-saraki-lawan/

Based on the several months of unpaid salaries rocking the State of Osun, the Governor of the State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed that his hands are tied, adding that there was nothing he could do since the banks have stopped lending money to him.

The Governor who spoke in Abuja on Sunday at the annual Ramadan Lecture of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society of Nigeria with the theme “Ramadan: Changing Positively’’ revealed that despite raising the Internally Generated Revenues, IGR, from N900 million annually to N3.6 billion he was yet to pay workers’ salary because the banks were not ready to give him loans.

Civil servants in Osun State have not been paid for eight months by the Rauf Aregbesola-led Government, leading to untold hardship.

As a result, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the State had appealed to church leaders in Osun State to rally food aid and money to assist Osun State civil servants who are going through hardship because of the delay in the payment of their salaries for the past eight months.

The Governor had blamed the financial hardship in the State on dwindling revenue and hike in minimum wage which started in 2012.

Speaking on Sunday, Governor Rauf stated; READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/eight-months-unpaid-salaries-nothing-i-can-do-aregbesola/

The All progressives congress, APC, National Chairman John Oyegun has called on those calling for his resignation in the party to redirect their energy towards ensuring that the party delivers on its promises to the Nigerian people.

He stated this as a guest on the Channels TV programme “Road Map” before adding that nobody should blame him for the fiasco at the National Assembly elections.

Oyegun who backed Senator Lawan Ahmed and Honourable Femi Gbajabiabila for the National Assembley positions, admitted that he has been hurt by the outcome of the elections which produced Senator Bukola Saraki and Honourable Yakubu Dogara as Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“The civil war in the party has ended and we would not allow this to distract us”
“There is no question that we have been hurt with what happened. We disappointed the Nigerian people and we apologise for that but, all that is in the past and its behind us, we are moving forward and focusing on policies that would benefit the Nigerian people”

Oyegun whom the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso blasted for his inability to resolve different interest groups in the party, vying for different positions also stated that he should not be blamed for what happened at the national assembly.

READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/we-have-disappointed-nigerians-but-dont-blame-me-oyegun/

Despite efforts made by some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to restore peace to the party, its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has insisted that there will be no peace until Senator Bukola Saraki and Honourable Yakubu Dogara tender their apologies in national dailies.

The internal crisis in the APC has persisted since Saraki and Dogara emerged as the Senate President and the Speaker, House of Representatives respectively against the party’s official candidates, Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabimila.

However, a Vanguard report disclosed that Tinubu who felt more embarrassed by the emergence of Saraki and Dogara as the Senate President and Speaker said a public apology must be tendered for the crisis to come to an end.

In view of this, the source hinted that an extended meeting of the national leaders of the party with APC Governors involved had been slated for next week.

The meeting, it was learnt, would hold either Monday or Tuesday.

“You don’t joke with the man, Tinubu. He said they must make a public apology to him using the newspapers.
“A meeting that will involve all APC Governors has been scheduled to hold either on Monday or Tuesday. Wait and see what will happen. They have to do it”, the source said.

Recall that Saraki and Dogara were dramatically elected on June 9 to lead the 8th National Assembly which flared up anger in the party which poses a threat to the unity of the party.

APC immediately issued a statement where it declared the outcome of the elections... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/apc-crisis-no-peace-until-saraki-dogara-apologise-tinubu/

omenka:
And Jonathan's siblings.

Shebi Buhari promised "change" Why is he now doing the same things as Jonathan?

OREMUSSANCTUS:

U be estako boi abi
U be like agenebode pikin
Ya moniker bro

Etsako. Fugar.

OREMUSSANCTUS:

Buh wen jonathan called dem "our children" u and ya people condemned him.

Thank you o. You know Buhari can do no wrong naw. He is a saint.

Many Nigerian have raised concerns over President Muhammadu Buhari’s Ramadan message, where he referred to the Boko Haram militants as “brothers.”

During his message, he appealed to the perpetrators of violence and destruction in the name of Islam all over the world, to desist from tarnishing the name of the religion.

“As we make collective efforts to bring to a permanent end the menace of the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin countries, let me use this auspicious occasion to appeal to our misguided brothers to drop their arms, embrace peace and seek a better understanding of Islam during this Holy period and beyond,” he said.

Many Nigerian on social media, have opined that referring to Boko Haram, a notorious extremist sect, that has killed some 15, 000 Nigerians, injured and kidnapped thousands, and left millions displaced, as “our brothers” by President Buhari was very insensitive and a tad careless.

“A genocidal Islamic terrorist group that destroys churches, massacres Christians and takes hundreds of girls as sex slaves over the years cannot be referred to as “misguided,” Daniel Greenfield, a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the Freedom Center, said.
“Muhammadu Buhari trades in a lot of Obamaesque chatter about building coalitions about Boko Haram, but the real coalition was always between Nigeria’s Muslim wannabe rulers and Boko Haram.

“Those misguided genocidal child raping brothers of Muhammadu.” Greenfield added.

Muhktar Dan’Iyan, popularly known as Mr Aye Dee, opined that President Buhari’s handlers must want his failure for them to allow the “brother” statement be released.

"President Buhari's handlers are setting him up for failure, why else would they allow him to refer to Boko Haram as his 'Brothers?'" he said.

Demola Olarewaju stated that Buhari calling Boko Haram “our brothers” was dangerous, as it would fuel Boko Haram sympathizers’ cause.

"Our friends, The #BokoHaramVuvuzelas Will soon be chanting: "Boko Haram are our brothers!" #SighBuhari," he tweeted.

Nigerians, who prior to the elections, had accused Buhari of being an Islamic fundamentalist, are saying that they have been vindicated.

Many Nigerians queried as to why there was surprise at the “brothers” statement as... READ MORE: http://www.post-nigeria.com/buhari-calling-boko-haram-our-brothers-just-insensitive-nigerians/

Former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has once again torn into President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, for their role in the National Assembly leadership tussle that took place last week Tuesday.

Tinubu, who is the owner of The Nation newspaper, has been known to use its columnists and editorial staff to air his opinions about national issues.

Just last week, Tinubu had accused President Buhari of betraying the APC, saying that Buhari’s display of neutrality in the National Assembly tussle shows his disregard for the fate of the party.

On Monday, Tinubu, through the column of the Chairman of The Nation’s editorial board, Sam Omatseye, titled “First Storm,” again lambasted Buhari, saying that he has already started being haunted by his “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” statement.

He insinuated that Buhari perhaps encouraged the rebellion that took place in the NASS leadership saga that saw the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Honourable Yakubu Dogara as Speaker, House of Representatives, candidates that were not chosen by the APC.

“While the Senate sat and anointed Bukola Saraki as Senate President, the Senators regarded him as a nobody even though he called a meeting of all party leaders, including members of both chambers. Or was he the somebody who goaded them on as though he didn’t?” he said.
Tinubu also accused Buhari of further encouraging the rebellion in the party, with the.... Read More: http://www.post-nigeria.com/nass-leadership-again-tinubu-tears-into-buhari-atiku/

baralatie:
lie lie lie story!

Did you even read the full report?

CSTR2:
And yet he said he has only one million in his account and had to borrow 27million to buy form.
Your president is a conman.

Thank you. My sentiments exactly. If he hadn't kept lying that he had barely 1 million in his account and had to take loan for 27 million, this wouldn't be an issue. Nobody can have almost a billion in assets and wouldn't be able to convert even if it is a few to get 27 million. You people should be logical. Agreed, you can have this much and still not have cash, but not to the extent that you would have needed to take a loan. And remember that Buhari keeps portraying himself as poor man.

Did you all read the full story? Even APC themselves are scrambling to explain the figure, considering what their Oga has been saying up and down.