AN entertainer and rights activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlie Boy, has hit back at the Senate for describing protesters asking President Muhammadu Buhari to return to work or resign over 90 days after the ailing leader headed off to London for medical treatment as “unreasonable.”

The protesters, under the aegis of #OurMumuDonDo, started on Monday with a sit-out in Abuja, but faced police harassment on Tuesday, as they commenced their civic action.

The police action against the protesters followed the statement by Mr. Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, asking Nigerians to ignore the protesters on Monday.

Similarly, on Tuesday, the Senate said the protests “were unreasonable” because Mr. Buhari had breached no law.

Mr. Buhari’s ailment remains undisclosed to Nigerians. His indefinite medical vacation is publicly funded and activists now demand the president, septuagenarian retired general, should return to work or resign.

In a statement after the police harassment Tuesday evening, Mr. Oputa said the protesters would not desist from demanding Mr. Buhari should either return to his duty or resign.

This was just as the group described the Senate as a monumental failure over the upper chamber’s failure to live up to its constitutional responsibilities by asking necessary questions on the whereabouts of Nigeria’s President.

“I am disappointed in this country. But let it be known that no amount of intimidation on us by security agencies will deter us from demanding explanations from government,” said Mr. Oputa.

“They must be accountable to Nigerians because they were elected into power by us, and, on that basis that, they will account for their actions. We are tired of the back and forth stories from the Presidency on Buhari’s whereabouts.”

He said: “Also, to compound the mess Nigerians are in, it is disheartening for the Senate that ought to ask questions to be the very tones supporting such show of shame.

“Indeed, the feeling out here based on their position is that they are nothing but Buhari’s errand boys. I guess the Senate is desperate to please the president. They have failed Nigerians when most needed.”

He, however, called on Nigerians to speak up by asking for the president’s whereabouts, adding that “not doing so could lead to the country’s undoing especially against the backdrop of heightening secessionist agitations presently threatening the unity of the country.”

BIAFRA Independence Movement, BIM, has described those threatening to disrupt Anambra governorship election in the state as day-dreamers, stating that it is not the best option to express grievances.

BIM leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, stated this in an ultimatum issued on Tuesday, while addressing its members at Ifite-Dunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the State.

Uwazuruike who spoke through the Commander of BIM Commandos, Chinedu Chukwu, also said the forthcoming state’s governorship election must hold.

“Let me remind you also that the gubernatorial election billed to take place in the state come November 18 this year must hold.

“They cannot cry more than us that started this journey to actualize a Biafra republic, they are all our off-shoots,” he said.

He also threatened to take over the security apparatus of Anambra state, if the state security operatives fail to fish out those behind the killings at St Philip’s Catholic Church within seven days.

“How can this happen in a Biafran land and those behind it left to go scotfree. We cannot take this anymore, since the security operatives could no longer protect lives and property of the people,” he added.

lalasticlala

AYODELE Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, on Monday said if ailing President Muhammadu Buhari refuses to resign, he should be made the “Minister of Foreign Affairs”.


Gov Fayose, who was speaking at a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) forum in Ibadan, Oyo State, said “Leadership must come with a certain measure of strength. If you don’t have strength, how can you govern the country?

“So, we need a president that is hale and hearty. If our president doesn’t want to go, let him become the minister of foreign affairs in London. These are statements of fact.”

He also said that he was excluded among those who visited Mr. President because he would have accessed and observed him closely which after arrival will reveal the truth of his health status to Nigerians who have the right to know the truth about their president.

philo4realz:
Hey I need a verified Naija Adsense account. If you have contact t me on the number below
08167219997

NIGER Delta militants on Monday said they have concluded plans with other agitators to declare a Sovereign Republic of Niger Delta (SRND) on October 1.

Speaking under the aegis of the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV), the militant sadvised international oil companies (IOCs) to relocate to the region before the October 1 deadline or risk resumption of hostilities against oil and gas infrastructure in the region.

“We hereby demand immediate relocation of all oil companies operating in Niger Delta to the region on or before October 1, 2017, as we shall ensure the shutting down of further operations in our territory at the expiration of this notice if they failed to act on our directive”, they warned.

Addressing journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the leader of the group, self-styled General Ekpo Ekpo, said NDV was compelled to be part of the struggle for genuine peace in the region and Nigeria.

He lamented that years of marginalisation of the region has brought mass poverty and underdevelopment.

“We demand immediate restructuring of the country, devolution of powers, true federalism, and 100 percent resource control because anything short of this is not acceptable to us”, he warned.

Ekpo vowed that NDV would never be part of Biafra and warned the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other pro-Biafra elements to steer clear of Akwa Ibom, saying, “We are not part of Biafra; we belong to Niger Delta”.

He also demanded that “all oil blocks owned by non-indigenes of Niger Delta should be returned before October 1, or the operators of such oil blocks will be severely dealt with”.

Accompanied by commanding officers and other foot soldiers, Ekpo frowned at the action of some Niger Delta leaders, who recently met with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo under the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), saying proper consultations were not done with key stakeholders of the region.

“We totally condemn the recent meeting of PANDEF with the acting president and wish to state clearly that the delegates from Akwa Ibom to that meeting did so on their own because they did not consult with relevant groups and therefore cannot claim to speak for everybody in the region”, Gen Ekpo said.

Also, the group advised governors of the region to run their administrations with utmost compliance to ethical order and best practices, adding that mismanagement of resources by successive governments has adverse effects on development.

On the proposed new Akwa Ibom Government Lodge for Lagos, the group dismissed such projects as a misplacement of priority, noting that “the old Government Lodge in Lagos was built when the capital of Nigeria was in Lagos”.

They, therefore, asked Governor Udom Emmanuel to cancel the project and instead deploy the N1.2 billion earmarked for the facility into other productive ventures for the benefit of the people.

AYODELE Fayose, Ekiti State Governor, said on Monday he would declare his 2019 presidential ambition on October 1.

The governor stated this during the meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South West leaders held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said: “It is my right to be President of Nigeria as a citizen of this country. I am educated and I have experience in politics. I am vast in public administration. The people want me. I will vie for the presidency under whatever circumstance. I will contest and I will prioritize the interest of the people.

“In fact, I will declare my ambition for the office of the President on October 1.

“We voted for APC and Muhammadu Buhari to give us good governance. They failed to give us good governance. So we will drive them out of power. The people want a person that will give them good governance. The people want comfort. Nigerians are hungry and are suffering and they don’t want to suffer again. We have to send them packing come 2019.”

He also expressed dismay at the Federal Government’s refusal allow him visit President Buhari in London, saying “the ruling party knew that he would come back to tell Nigerians the true state of the President’s health.”

THE tragic incident that happened on Sunday at St. Phillips Catholic Church, Amakwa, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State where 12 people where killed and 25 others injured has been confirmed to be gang related.



Independent Newspaper reports that the genesis of the beef started in South Africa between the man at the centre of the killings, High Chief Aloysius Ikeagwuonu (popularly known as Bishop) & his drug members years back.

Apparently, he was said to have made away with their money.


A few of Bishop’s loyalists were said to have been killed in the shootout sometime ago but he made his way to Nigeria & built the church — where the shooting occurred — amongst other things.

Word got to the aggrieved party that he was meant to hold a thanksgiving service at the church on Sunday and as normal, they came for him.

Bishop didn’t show up for the thanksgiving service, but his dad & other members of his extended family did.

The gunmen opened fire on the church believing he was there.

His dad was amongst the killed in the attack.

Buhari Condemns Attack

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the Ozubulu Church attack in Anambra State by a yet to be identified gunmen, describing the incident as “an appalling crime against humanity and unspeakable sacrilege.”

Expressing his grief in a strongly worded statement issued by the the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari said that “there was no justification whatsoever to target Church worshippers and kill them in cold blood.”

He said this kind of atrocity “plumbs the depth of depravity and extreme cruelty of the kind that words cannot adequately express.”

According to the President, there is no religion that does not lay constant emphasis on the sanctity of life, and that “all Nigerians must rise up and speak with one voice against these remorseless evil men.”



While expressing his deep felt sympathy with the families of the victims, the Church leadership and the government of Anambra State, President Buhari has reassured all Nigerians of his administration’s firm and uncompromising commitment to protect their lives and property at all times.


Earlier, it was reported that unknown gunmen on Sunday stormed the St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra.

An eyewitness say that the gunmen went into the church during the 5:45 a.m. mass and identified a particular man and shot him. The gunmen open fire on other worshippers. 11 persons were confirmed death.

THE Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday finally inaugurated Stephen Ocheni (Kogi) and Suleiman Hassan (Gombe) as ministers over two months after their nominations were confirmed by the Senate.

The inauguration took place inside the Council Chambers of the National Assembly at the commencement of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Shortly after administering their oaths of office on them, Osinbajo announced that their portfolios would be announced “shortly.”

MUSTAPHA Maihaja, the new Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has found himself at loggerheads with members of the House of Representatives over his alleged refusal to come and explain how he spent N13 billion in one month.

Consequently, the committee led by Jibrin Santumari (APC, Bornu) on Tuesday issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the director general to appear before it and provide detailed explanations as well as produce documents relating to all landed and movable assets of the agency.

The committee chairman, Santumari, expressed displeasure over the behaviour of the DG whom, he said, is taking the committee for a ride, having being sent three different letters of invitation.

“We have sent invitations demanding documents from NEMA and the director general has been summoned here to come and explain how he spent N13 billion in one month. He has refused to come, only for him to send a letter just an hour ago telling us that he has travelled to Maiduguri.

“The main issue we invited him for was to discuss the utilisation of the ecological fund, and how he spent N13 billion in one month. We are the National Assembly of Nigeria and we have the right to find out how things are done by these people.

“But instead of coming to answer us, they have been playing games using emergency as excuse even though our letters were sent ahead of time. And the director general must appear to tell us what we want to know”, he insisted.

The said letter by the director general was read to members by the clerk of the committee wherein the director general said he had to hurriedly go to Maiduguri to attend to some emergency situation which was brought to his attention.

However, according to the letters of invitation read by the clerk at the instance of members, it was the third time the director general, NEMA, and his management team have refused to honour invitations sent to them with respect to the issues raised.

Also, the committee requested 30 copies of documents relating to all landed and movable assets of the agency with which members are expected to undertake oversight visit to NEMA facilities across the states.

However, instead of furnishing the 30 copies on time, NEMA only sent one copy less than a week ago, according to the committee.

Bashir Babale (APC, Kano) in his opinion told his colleagues that MDAs have found a veritable tool in issues relating to insurgency in the North East to divert funds and underperform in their responsibilities.

“They are hiding under the banner of North East to undermine the National Assembly and Nigerians.

“We must invoke relevant sections of the constitution to once again summon the director general and give him a day not beyond this week to appear, and it must be unfailing”, Babale said.

At this point, the committee concurred with his view, asking the secretariat to send another letter summoning the director general to appear on Thursday or face arrest warrant as the committee would not hesitate to invoke its powers under section 88 and 89 of the constitution.

Maihaja assumed office as director general of NEMA in April, 2017 after his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari which saw him replacing the former boss, Sani Sidi.

taiwofawole:

ok , re apply

taiwofawole:

i would upload the sahifa via Beat City Music Forum
it not uploading via email

taiwofawole:


It been long since i used godaddy though due to the high dollar rate , it an opinion though from my experience The Tag is taking to much space from the widget ,

BARELY twenty four hours after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, was discharged and acquitted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), the upper chamber has warned the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo not to mistake its consultations with the Executive on important national issues to mean that it was ready to cede its constitutional powers.

The Senate was reacting to a statement credited to Osinbajo, where he was quoted to have said that the National Assembly has no right to introduce new projects or modify those contained in an appropriation Bill.

Osinbajo had alleged: “This last budget, the president presented it last December. Despite the assurances that it will be passed in by February, it was not until May.

“As it turned out, we were quite disappointed that it spent a bit of time before it was approved. And thereafter, we had to go into negotiations with the National Assembly in order to get it right.

“Now, there are these two broad issues about who can do what. The first report is about who can do what. When you present a budget to the National Assembly, it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill.

“And secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced last year and this year again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what.”



Reacting to a point of order raised by the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Saraki said the “Senate will continue to defend the constitution and ensure that anything we do is in line with the laws of the land.”

ALSO READ: Ita-giwa To Senate: Don’t Make Magu A Superstar, He Can Be Nominated Up To Four Times
Saraki added: “I want to say that there are times we have a number of consultations and I want to make it clear that these consultations we do with the Executive will not, at any time, mean that we will give up the powers we have in line with the Constitution.

“I want to reassure our members on this because it is very important based on what we have heard. You may be concerned that one way or another, leadership had given up some of these powers. That is not the case.

“But I believe that as responsible statesmen, there are times we consult and do our best to work with the Executive and assist them. But as we bend backwards, I do not think that should be misrepresented that powers given to us in the constitution do not exist. That is not the case.”

Na’Allah had, while raising the point of order, quoted various sections of the 1999 constitution as amended and maintained that the Acting President goofed in his claims.

Quoting from Section 80 of the constitution, Na’Allah said: “For the avoidance of doubt, this same constitution we operated from 1999 to date has section 80, and the title of section 80 is “Power and Control over Public Funds”.

“It reads that ‘all funds received by the Federation not being revenues of other monies payable under this constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other public fund of the Federation established for a specific purpose shall be payable to and for one consolidated fund of the Federation.



ALSO READ: Senate Stops Buhari’s Appointee From Assuming Office
“No monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the fund by the constitution or where the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Appropriation Act, Supplementary Appropriation Act or Act passed in pursuance of Section 81 of the Constitution.

“No money shall be withdrawn from any public funds of the Federation other than the Consolidated revenue fund of the Federation unless the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.

“No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly. That is the provision.”

Na’Allah wondered why a professor of law would not present the fact as it is. He said: “I know that the Acting President who is a Professor of Law is sufficiently trained in law to know that the National Assembly has powers to tinker with the budget. I am not making a case for him and I do not want to believe that he said what has been alleged that he said.

“I also want to assuage the fears of my colleagues that what was alleged to have been said does not represent the spirit of the framers of our Constitution. This explanation is necessary so that we put this matter to rest.”

Meanwhile, the Senate has adjourned till July.

THE Senate on wednesday requested for the submission of the 2014 National Conference report for consideration by the Federal Government.

The Senate’s decision was sequel to a motion sponsored by the Leader of Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on the need for National Unity and Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria.

The National Conference was set up by the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan had promised to implement the recommendations if he was re-elected.

However, his party, the Peoples Democratic Patty, was defeated by the All Progressives Congress, which had Muhammadu Buhari as presidential candidate.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North) highlighted the issue of submission of the confab report to the National Assembly, when he prayed the Senate to urge the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to forward the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference to the parliament for deliberation.

Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West), who seconded the motion, insisted that submission and deliberation of the confab report was the way to go.

Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, however, informed the Senate that President Goodluck Jonathan administration forwarded the confab resolutions to the National Assembly one week to the expiration of the 7th National Assembly.

Ekweremadu noted that for the parliament to act on the report, the Presidency has to re-forward the report afresh.

Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) was categorical in his submission that the Presidency should take steps to forward the report to the National Assembly for deliberation.

Aliero said a lot of the issues that gave rise to agitations by sections of the country were addressed at the conference.

Senator Jonah Jang (Plateau North) asked the Senate to demand immediate submission of the report to the National Assembly for deliberation.

Jang said: “There was a conference that was well-attended; resolutions were arrived at. The Senate should demand that the report should be tabled before the Senate for consideration and implementation.”

Senator Gbonlahan Dada (Ogun West) asked the Senate to spearhead the campaign for restructuring of the country.

He said: “We must address the critical issue; the critical issue is that the country is sick. May God heal the nation.”

Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, in his lead debate, said the Senate should note with serious concern that the greatest challenge facing the country was threat to national unity.

He said calls for self-determination, ethnicity and religious intolerance have enveloped national consciousness.

The Yobe North lawmaker noted that since independence, national integration has been the priority of government, which saw the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Unity School system, the Federal Character principles and many other affirmative policies intended to achieve national integration and peaceful coexistence.

He observed that various integration policies and programmes in the country have yielded some desired outcomes, “but there is more to be done as primordial ethnic sentiments and loyalties are still deep rooted”.


Lawan prayed that Senate to convey the commitment of all Nigerians that “we live together in unity and harmony as one indivisible, indissoluble sovereign nation under God; urge all Nigerians to desist from actions and utterances that are capable of jeopardising the corporate existence of our dear nation; urge senator to intensify their representative roles by embarking on sensitisation campaign in their various constituencies to highlight the importance of harmonious and peaceful coexistence”.

He prayed the Federal Government to direct the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and other relevant agencies to intensify enlightenment and advocacy of loyalty to the nation.

The prayers were adopted.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) stressed the need for Nigerians to live in peace and harmony.

She urged Nigerians to always ask what they can do for the country and not what Nigeria can do for them.

Ekweremadu underscored the necessity for patriotism, equity, fair play and harmony as the thrust of the country’s unity.

He added that there was no doubt that “we are better off united under the rule of law”.

ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met with Southeast governors and other leaders of thought from the region and urged them not to be tempted into a tit-for-tat amid hate speeches across the country.

In his opening remarks at the meeting with the leaders of thought held at the old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo urged them to always speak out against hate speeches and comments capable of polarizing the country along ethnic, sectional and religious lines.

He stated that the meeting was “very urgent and crucial’’ because of the current loud voices of hate speeches and divisive comments resonating across the country, stressing that the situation required urgent attention from all concerned.

According to him, this is not the time to hide under any ethnic or religious platform to support comments that divide rather than unite us as a nation.

He, therefore, urged leaders to raise their voices against the present strident divisive speeches in the country, saying that: “Violence pays no one”.



Osinbajo said: “Violence and war are not going to do anyone any good. Wars today hardly ends; no one who has seen the face of wars even on Television who wish it for anyone.

“We should not tolerate hate speeches or divisive comments.’’

The acting president reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to deal with any trouble maker who threatens the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

He said: “There is no doubt on the resolve of government to allow anyone get away with hate speeches and divisive words.

“Our emotion should not be allowed to run wide so as to threaten the existence of anyone anywhere in Nigeria.

“We will do everything within our power to protect the lives of every citizen anywhere and in any part of the country.’’

He thanked the leaders for their prompt response to the consultative meeting.



Those who attended the meeting included: the Senate Preaident, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.

Others included: Chief of staff to the president, Abba Kyari; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; National Security Adviser, chief of defence staff, service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and ministers.

Former Senate President, Ken Namani; Senator Eyinaya Abaribe, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Catholic Awka Bishop, Okoye; Igwebike Onah, Catholic Archbishop of Nsukka; Senator Joy Emordi, Prof. Viola Nwuleri also attended the meeting.

It would be recalled that the Acting President on Tuesday began consultations with leaders of thought from the North and warned that the government would deal decisively with persons who make hate speeches or attempt to disrupt the peace of the country.

The meeting was sequel to the calls for secession by youth from different ethnic groups in the country resulting in some asking others to vacate their enclave before October 1.

The Acting President noted that that was not what the country desired at this time and urged those involved to desist or face the full weight of law.

EKITI State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has hailed the triumph of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as another victory by Nigerians over tyranny, saying; “I am happy that I predicted that the CCT will absolve the Senate President in my 2017 predictions and it has come to pass.”

Governor Fayose who called attention to number eight of his 22 predictions for year 2017, said; “I said it categorically that the Code of Conduct Tribunal will absolve Senate President Bukola Saraki and today, the prediction came to pass.”

Reacting to the CCT judgment discharging Senator Saraki through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said the judgment was another lesson for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government that criminal cases are not won on the pages of newspapers.

He congratulated the Senate President, urging him to see the victory as a challenge to him and the entire members of the National Assembly to always stand up to defend the rule of law and fundamental rights of Nigerians.

The governor said; “I have maintained that the government of President Buhari is not fighting any corruption. Rather, what is being done is hiding under anti-corruption fight to persecute, humiliate, harass and malign perceived political enemies.

“They go about trying their perceived political foes in the media, with the aim of destroying their names when they do not have any evidence that can sustain court trial and it is for this reason that they have been losing corruption cases.

“Look at all the noise they made when they started Senator Saraki’s case, it was as if he will be sent to jail the following week. But when it was time for them to prove their allegations, they could not.

“Even the case of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), that they said stole $2.1 billion arms money and that destructive weapons capable of disrupting the peace of any city in Nigeria were found in his possession, why are they the ones seeking for secret trial while Dasuki that they accused is insisting on open trial?

“Up till today, they have not brought any evidence against Dasuki. They have not even been able to commence his trial. Instead, they have continually disobeyed court orders that he should be released from detention.”

MOHAMMED Yakubu, a member of the National Executive Committee of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a socio-cultural and pressure group for northern Nigeria, has said the North will still vote for President Muhammad Buhari in the 2019 election even if the latter is on wheelchair, while advising him not to resign on health ground.

Yakubu as the youth leader of Northern Union, during late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration had advised the late Nigerian leader not to resign on health ground, that even on wheelchair, the region will support him to rule the country. Unfortunately Yar’Adua could not make it.

He was reacting to calls by some Nigerians that the president should resign so as to have enough time to attend to his health issues.

“I don’t think that it is proper for anybody to humiliate Buhari out of office by mounting pressure on him to resign. It is not fair; it is not just, it is not proper. We have election time table, if you don’t like him, vote him out during the election, but I will not support anybody that will want to humiliate the President out of office. As long as he is alive, it is not right to demand of him to resign.

“…Buhari should not resign, even if he is on wheelchair, North and people of Nigeria will vote him in 2019. I am not just associating myself with Buhari, I am advocating for good governance under President Buhari,” Yakubu said in an interview with Sun Newspaper.

ALSO READ: Jonathan Failed Igbo People - Amaechi

“Yes, I can give example from America where we copied our democracy from; if you remember, one of the early American Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt served his country for 12 years. As a young man, Roosevelt became crippled by polio. He could not stand, and he spent most of his life on a wheelchair. When many people thought that the illness would end his political career, Roosevelt became American President for the first time in 1933.

“Roosevelt pioneered a lot of developments for America, his government spent lots of money to create new job, built roads, bridges, new schools and did other important things to help the population. Americans saw that Roosevelt could do a lot for his country and they elected him for a second time in 1936 on wheelchair.

“So we should do away with the mentality that when the President’s health challenge is physical, he cannot perform his official duty, no, President Buhari can still function in office even on wheelchair as long as his illness has nothing to do with his brain and reasoning faculty.”


He also described majority of Buhari’s ministers as incompetent.

Budget Padding’: Dogara, Yusuf, Ogor, Doguwa and 50 Lawmakers Shortlisted For Quizzing

ABOUT 50 members of the House, including four principal officers, have been shortlisted for quizzing in the ongoing probe of budget padding which rocked the 2016 budget.

The principal officers are Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Speaker Lasun Yusuf; Minority Leader Leo Ogor; and House Whip Alhassan Doguwa.

Ogor has been invited for interrogation on Friday, according to Nation Newspaper.

The probe followed a petition by former House Committee on Appropriations chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin, who sources said, detectives have discovered also has a case to answer.

Jibrin’s July 29, 2016 petition was sent through Hammart and Company, Doka Chambers, and Law Bond Solicitors.

The signatories are Mohammed Abdulhamid( Hammart and Company); A.B. Bako ( Doka Chambers) and C. Nwachukwu (Law Bond Solicitors).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday grilled Jibrin for five hours over the about N284billion budget padding claim.



It was learnt that Jibrin released fresh evidence to his interrogators.

Sources described the “fresh insights” as “startling”.

According to the newspaper, Jibrin arrived at the EFCC Headquarters around 11am for the session.

ALSO READ: Scandal Rocks SSS Over Lopsided Recruitment
He left at 4pm after what was described as an “interesting session”.

Jibrin is the first lawmaker to be quizzed in the first phase of the probe which is starting with 13 persons.

A top source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “Our detectives interrogated Jibrin for about five hours on his petition. He cooperated with our team by buttressing his allegations with documents. He gave detectives fresh insights into the padding of the budget leading to more startling revelations. From the interesting session, this budget padding is deeper than we tought.

“We are going to look into fresh clues provided by Jibrin who also has questions to answer on some constituency projects. I think more than two-thirds of members of the House were implicated in the budget padding. We will however restrict ourselves to 50 peculiar suspects.”

The allegations are:



•Inclusion of N20billion wasteful projects by House leaders.

•Unilateral diversion of N40billion, out of the N100billion allocated for constituency projects, by some House leaders and distribution of same to themselves.

ALSO READ: Suspended NIA DG Appears Before Osinbajo Panel
•Chairmen of about 10 of the 96 standing committees of the House inserted over 2,000 projects worth about N284billion.

•Creation of a strange line item in the Service Wide Vote to allow for a N20billion insertion into the budget under the name of the National Assembly.

•Relocation of Appropriations Committee Secretariat on two occasions where several insertions were made into the budget.

•Diversion of a Federal Government water project to a personal farm in Nasarawa State and the source of funding.

•Monthly deduction of funds from votes meant for members’ office running cost to fund a so-called mortgage arrangement.

•Abuse of office through frequent private meetings with heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) in a clear case of corruption and conflict of interest.

•Some leaders allocated 20 per cent inputs reserved for the House the harmonisation exercise.”

AYODELE Fayose, Ekiti State Governor, has warned the Federal Government that the ultimatum given to Igbos living in the North could lead to anarchy, if not checked.

According to him, the trend of statements credited to some elements in the North has shown clearly that Nigeria is no longer one.

He said this while reacting to a quit notice served on the Igbo in the north by the Coalition of Northern Groups, and which was recently backed by some northern elders, including a former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi.

Fayose said the unity of the nation was threatened like never before in the history of the country.

He blamed this on the non-challant attitude of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress’ Federal Government.

Fayose lamented that the gap among ethnic groups in Nigeria had widened beyond measure because of the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

“We are more divided than ever. The elements are emboldened because they believe their person is in office and nothing would happen.

“This is not surprising to some of us as the herdsmen set the tone and became notorious under the watch of Buhari.

“If this continued, it would further heat up the already tensed situation and promote further distrust among ethnic groups in the country.”

Fayose urged the federal government to accept responsibility for the trend and called for a decisive action to stop it.

“Buhari’s government has not taken responsibility; no responsible government would encourage this. It is an empty threat that if not checked would snowball. This is why people are calling for restructure.



“The government should take responsibility and take decisive actions on those promoting war situation in our country.”

The governor also called on security agencies to invite Abdullahi for questioning.

“It is disheartening that a personality like (Ango) Abdullahi would support that; that’s danger lurking in the country.

“He should be invited for questioning by security agencies. Leaders should rise up and condemn this instead of giving tacit support to the ultimatum.

“So many lives have been lost due to the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government. All these I saw when I warned that Buhari would leave our country worse than he met it in 2015.”

THE Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has said If IPOB leaders tomorrow reverse their position and declare that they are now ready to remain in Nigeria and join the struggle for restructuring of the country, they will embrace them.

This position of the group was made known by it National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, in an interview with Sun Newspaper.

“We are equally optimistic that Kanu and his group would take a second look at what they are driving the Igbo into and quickly retrace their faltering steps”, he said when asked if with they were not committing a treasonable offence with their quit notice to the Igbo.



On the issue of Referendum he said “we also believe in the call for a referendum to decide this issue. That will determine those who are truly in support of an independent State of Biafra and those who are not. If that happens, it’s the votes that will determine whether majority of Igbo truly want to quit Nigeria or not.”

He explained that the order for the Igbo to quit the North was given to enable them realise the Biafra of their dream without recourse to violence and bloodshed.

“We are not comfortable with the way Kanu and co are taking this issue, which may snowball into violence. So, basically, our position was just an intervention to save this country from plunging into chaos or another civil war.”

OHANAEZE Ndigbo, apex socio-political organisation of the Igbo, has called on the federal government to treat northern youths who issued quit notice to Igbos in the North like it treated Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

It stated that the northern youths should be “charged with treason” for calling for secession.

Chuks Ibegbu, its deputy national publicity secretary, said that is “the only way the government can convince Nigerians that there is justice, equity and fair play” in the country.

He stated this in an interview with Punch Newspaper.

“The authorities know that these northern youths are calling for secession,” he said.



“The federal government should arrest them and also charge them with treason. That is what we expect the federal government to do.

“He [Kanu] was only talking about self-determination, which he has the right to aspire to under international laws.


“The question every Nigerian should ask the federal government is, how come you clamped Nnamdi Kanu in detention for calling for self-determination, but you have not arrested these northern youths who are promoting secession?

“About three days after making the threat, despite outrage expressed across the country, they are still holding meetings, issuing more threats. Are the security agencies not seeing the youths holding meetings?

“How come none of them have been arrested? What is giving them the confidence to continue to issue threats?” he asked.

He also said the Igbos won’t be pushed to issue a similar quit notice to the northerners in the south-east, adding that they are “too sophisticated to engage in such behaviour”.



“They [northerners] are welcome and nobody will molest them in the south-east,”he said.


“In fact, we are encouraging the northerners in the south-east to expand their businesses, build factories and prosper as much as possible.”

He however said that contrary to Kanu’s demand for a sovereign state of Biafra, Ohanaeze believes “the Igbo are landlords in Nigeria and cannot leave this country for anybody”.

“Ohanaeze believes more in a restructured Nigeria; a Nigeria that has a level playing field for all sections of the country; a Nigeria that gives each part of the country a sense of belonging.”

Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra has expressed gratitude to the North for issuing the ultimatum, pleading that they be granted time to relocate.

kasheemawo:
you just have to get that biafrog by force