₦airaland Forum

The Labour Party declared on Sunday that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government will find it difficult to achieve meaningful success in its current anti-graft war if it fails to appoint  an Attorney-General of the federationand Minister of Justice without further delay.

The General Secretary of the party, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, who stated this at a news briefing in Abuja, described the AGF as the adviser to the Federal Government on legal issues and also the Chief Law Officer of the federation.

According to the party, the office of the attorney-general remained the only post among the ministers that the constitution created differently and noted that his input was essential to give focus and direction to Buhari’s anti – corruption crusade.

The LP scribe said, “The constitution recognises that the President cannot know it all. He needs some special advisers,  he needs ministers. At the moment, President Buhari takes decisions based on impulse and he cannot run a government like that.

“We know that he came to power based on his anti-corruption position as a result of his principles which we agreed with  but he cannot do it alone. As of today, it’s Buhari and his wife that are ruling this country;  we don’t have to deceive ourselves.

“At least, we have the office of the President and that of wife of the president. That is why Nigeria government seems to be in comatose.”

Ajulo, an Abuja based legal practitioner, also noted that the police report on the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order might  not see the light of the day because there was utter disregard for lay down procedure, before and after the investigation.

He alleged that heads of anti-graft agencies were currently operating based on speculations,  rumours and permutations because there was no chief legal officer to guide and give them direction based on the provisions of the country’s laws.

He said, “Who is advising the police to carry out the investigation (on forged senate rules)? Who lodged the complaints in the first place?  When the country has an attorney-general,  he will be able to advise on what to do.

“Now the police had done the investigation (on the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order 2015),  how will they go about it?  Who has the fiat to order the prosecution of those allegedly indicted?”

The LP scribe noted that the report of the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order 2015 would continue to be a rumour until an attorney-general, who would appropriately advise the government on what to do about it,  was appointed.

He described as unnecessary the idea of setting up of a special court to handle corruption cases because, according to him, there are judges in the current judicial system, who specialise in treating corruption cases.

Ajulo added that the judiciary had a way of covertly designating the courts on their own, saying there wouldn’t be any need for overt designation by tagging some courts as corruption courts.

Lalasticlala
Ishilove

bismick:
I pity this clown!it is always 16-0...Ekiti ppl like him

A former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile, has said the All Progressives Congress won’t rely on federal might to defeat Governor Ayodele Fayose in the 2018 governorship election.

Bamisile, who has declared interest in the governorship seat, said the party would embark on serious and widespread mobilisation to woo the electorate.

He spoke on Friday during a courtesy call on the State Working Committee by his campaign team.
Bamisile said, “We are not going to rely on President Buhari or federal might to win the forth coming governorship election. We have the capacity to defeat Fayose on our own.

“In the June 21, 2014 governorship election, we lost to PDP by over 80,000 margin. But in the presidential election, it reduced to about 50,000 despite the fact that Fayose did not allow some of our members to campaign.

“With this, it was evident that the APC in Ekiti is very strong. I want to assure our leaders that we will win the next election convincingly. But we have to work seriously for it so that we won’t disappoint President Buhari,” he said.

Bamisile stated that he had started monthly distribution of free petrol to commercial motorcyclists operating in the state, adding that other critical voting population would enjoy similar gesture soon.

The State APC Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, represented by his deputy, Mrs. Kemi Olajide, and a leader of the party, Chief George Ojo, praised Bamisile for coming out at a critical time to give the party a strong voice.

Awe urged him to shun violence or campaign of calumny in his aspiration, this, he said, is highly expedient to his political success and sustainable peace in the State.

He assured him that all the aspirants would be given a level-playing ground and won’t impose anybody.

Lalasticlala
Ishilove

scarr:
bro pls what song in MI2 was that said?

winniz:
Who told you those hoes are Ibos, even the location at Awka is where hausa people resides. They should simply go back to wherever useless state they came from!

Tmaritas76:
we have to send them back to their state,Benin, Edo state

OrlandoOwoh:
Yeah.

Htown64:
Coming from a PDP senator and he was in the house all this while

OrlandoOwoh:
Great Ife!

MistaHumble:
I don't believe that though I know its a good school and rated high. I don't think it can be rated above uni illori that I heard strike doesn't even affect.

I read with amazement the story on page 16 of The PUNCH, August 19, 2015, on how no fewer than 2,000 commercial sex workers in Awka, the Anambra State capital, have concluded plans to commence their strike action against the state government.

It means prostitution is legalised in that state. Their leader was even reported to pointing accusing finger at the government officials as their best customers who throw money at them; “They want me to expose them?”. Awka with only about 301, 000 population in 2006 has over 2,000 prostitutes in one group.

This is more than the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible.

The Anambra State Government should allow the strike for everlasting, and that would be the best thing that can happen to the state. It is the handiwork of God.

Deacon Monday Akpotuvie,

37 Efosa Street, Benin City, Edo State,

+2347038910:

An international institute which ranks universities across the globe, Cybermetrics Lab of Spain, has rated the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, as the best university in Nigeria, for the fifth consecutive time.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, on Thursday, stated that the university ranking body rated the curricular, research, academic and general administration of the university as the best in the country.

Olarewaju stated that in the latest ranking, which was released on Monday, the universities of Lagos and Ilorin came second and third respectively.

Reacting to the news, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Bamitale Omole, said this was the first time in the history of higher education in the country where one university “would maintain its position as the first and the best in the country for more than four consecutive times.”

Omole attributed the feat to years of hard work and dedication to duty of the academic, administrative and technical members of staff, “whose contributions have placed the university far and above more than 100 other universities in Nigeria.”

The statement partly read, “Prof. Omole emphasised his determination to make training and retraining of members of staff, on a regular basis, his topmost priority, adding that he would not rest on his oars until OAU becomes the best in Africa, and one of the top 10 in the world.”

Omole called on the Federal Government to invest more funds into university education in the country in order to achieve more.

The VC also called on the alumni of the university to assist the school in the overall development of the institution “so that the OAU would grow more in leaps and bounds in the realisation of the dreams of the founding fathers.”

doctokwus:
Annoying that this same people that scammed some people into believing that GEJ was d next best thing to Nnamdi Azikiwe knew all these financial scams that were occurring during his tenure,but kept quiet.
Now that the cluelessly corrupt fisherman is no longer in power,they are coming out,trying to look good.
I bet if GEJ had won re election,this same Abaribe would have been amongst those praising how efficient nimc is and how the appointment of Pius Anyim as the SGF was the best thing to have happened to the Ibos!
Bunch of nauseatingly hypocrites!!

doctokwus:
Annoying that this same people that scammed some people into believing that GEJ was d next best thing to Nnamdi Azikiwe knew all these financial scams that were occurring during his tenure,but kept quiet.
Now that the cluelessly corrupt fisherman is no longer in power,they are coming out,trying to look good.
I bet if GEJ had won re election,this same Abaribe would have been amongst those praising how efficient nimc is and how the appointment of Pius Anyim as the SGF was the best thing to have happened to the Ibos!
Bunch of nauseatingly hypocrites!!

According to him, a breakdown of the money
appropriated in the last four years, showed that in
2012, the sum of N250m was appropriated for
software acquisition, adding that the subhead
appeared again, gulping N100m in 2013, while the
sum of N580m was budgeted for the same
expenditure in 2014.

The Senator, representing Abia South Senatorial District in the National Assembly,  Eyinnaya Abaribe, has alleged that N14.468bn was allocated to the National Identity Management Commission for the acquisition of computer software in two years, despite its failure to justify the huge public investment in it.

Abaribe, who disclosed this on Wednesday at the 2015 Annual Lecture of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin, Edo State, ‎explained that the amount, consisted of N10.9bn and N3.568bn in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
‎

The Senator, who is a former Committee Chairman on Information and Media in the 7th Assembly, described the amount as “humongous”.
“Even if the agency wanted to purchase a computer company whole and entire, it could have done so and still have a lot of money left. Yet, it was allocated this humongous amount year after year,”‎ he noted.

The Peoples Democratic Party senator also said the sum of N2.5bn was allocated for welfare packages, acquisition of computer software, and payment to professional bodies for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in the last four years.

Abaribe, who is an alumnus of the university, noted that the office of the SGF had N1.223bn as welfare package; N367.715m as “subscription” to professional bodies while N580m was for computer software.

According to him, a breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years, showed that in 2012, the sum of N250m was appropriated for software acquisition, adding that the subhead appeared again, gulping N100m in 2013, while the sum of N580m was budgeted for the same expenditure in 2014.‎

The former Deputy Governor of Abia State said the huge inconsistencies in budgetary processes and duplication of sub-heads accounted largely for poor implementation of the Federal Government budget since 1999.‎‎

Speaking on the lecture titled ‘Our Country, Our Budget: A Critical Analysis of Nigeria’s Budgeting System’, said, “What could justify the allocation of N1.223bn to that office (SGF) for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715m for subscription to professional bodies and N580m for computer software acquisition.
“Computer Software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies seeking to pillage the treasury.
“Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer software acquisition.  In 2012, N250m was appropriated for software acquisitions. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100m.  Now in 2014, N580m was appropriated for it.
“Pray, what is this computer software that a particular office acquires every year? Which privately-owned company acquires computer software to the tune of N100m – and more – every year? If you check the budget for every Ministry, Department and Agencies of the Federal Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and consumables, year in year out!”

According to him, under the laws, budget ought to be sent to the National Assembly by September every year, noting that “in my eight years in the National Assembly, only once has this threshold been met”.

He said the Central Bank of Nigeria, some agencies and parastatals refused the National Assembly oversight on their operating budget.

He listed the MDAs to include the Nigerian Port Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Other listed are the Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian ‎Communication Commission and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Abaribe said, “At the time the Emir of Kano(the then Governor of CBN, Lamido Sanusi), was excoriating members of the NASS, his CBN overhead that year was about N320bn; double the total budget for the entire legislative arm; for an agency.
“But he has refused to let the National Assembly look into his operating budget, citing the CBN Act.
“He was not alone. NPA, NIMASA,  FIRS,  DPR,  NCC,  NNPC et  al, all refused the National Assembly oversight of their operating budget citing enabling laws despite the Fiscal Responsibility Act and they were backed by the Presidency.”

Captainswag225:
really? Do u think what he is doing is safe? How would u feel if a dignitary is ambushed and hurt becoz of inadequate security? Smh

ChelseaDr:
Amaechi should have been in Rivers to hand over to Wike instead he was in Abuja. That would have settled all these....who is telling lies here?

fitzmayowa:
Amaechi is definitely lying, if he left the so called billions and assets as he claimed why did he run to the court(the same court he closed for over a year) to stop the probe against him


Well APC and lies are siamese twins...SMH

The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has denied claims by his successor, Chief Nyesom Wike, that he (Amaechi) left an empty treasury before leaving office.
 
Amaechi described, in a statement from his media officer via electronic mail, as “a lie,” the claim of empty treasury by Wike, adding that he left billions of Naira in cash and assets before leaving office as governor.
 
The former governor recalled that Wike had, through his spokesman, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, told a Port Harcourt-based radio station that he met an empty treasury when he (Wike) took over as the state governor.
 
Amaechi specifically said a total of N7.5billion cash was left behind as balances in the state Internally Generated Revenue Account with Skye Bank, FAAC Account with Zenith Bank, Access Bank and the state Reserve Funds in First Bank.
 
“This is besides other balances in the state government house account with Zenith Bank and other government MDA accounts, like the Bureau for Public Procurement. 
 
“By the time you pull all these together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of N8billion to N10billion left for the Wike administration. It’s also pertinent to point out here that former governor Amaechi also left economic assets worth tens of billions of Naira for the state, just like cash, the assets store value.
 
“These assets that are scattered in diverse sectors of the economy were developed or built or procured with revenue that accrued to the state during Amaechi’s tenure.
 
“The assets belong to Rivers State, not Amaechi.  Some of these assets are presently yielding revenue to the state coffers, and many can be easily and readily converted to cash, if the state so desires,” Amaechi added.
 
The former governor, however, pointed out that it was fraudulent for Wike to claim that he left an empty treasury in trying to justify the N30billion he (Wike) took within 30 days in office as governor.
 
Amaechi explained that rather than continue to point accusing fingers at him, Wike should tell the people of the state what he took the loans for and justify the amount that had been spent so far.
 
According to the former governor, “It is therefore disingenuous and fraudulent for Wike to claim that Amaechi left an empty treasury in his bid to justify the N30billion loans he collected under 30 days in office.
 
“Rather than this puerile and silly distraction of always pointing accusing fingers at Amaechi, Wike  should come out to explain to Rivers people what he took the loans for, account for and justify every kobo that has been spent from the loans.”
However, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the State Governor, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, described Amaechi’s claim as mendacious.
 
Inko-Tariah said, “It is enthralling to hear that former governor Amaechi left enough money in the state treasury. This is mendacious, a claim without an ounce of truth in it.
 
“If he (Amaechi) left enough as he claims, why were civil servants, pensioners, footballers and contractors owed? Even students on scholarship abroad were stranded and almost barred from sitting for their final exams.
 
“These obviate the need for any further evidence that the treasury was milked dry by Amaechi. Ministries got overheads last in September last year under Amaechi. It was not just the looting of the treasury, but government property.”

Damalex4luv:
Good development! There should be a kind of restructuring in our police sector, they have turn our police to nuisance with no values and that why they keep on misbehaving almost all the time.

Lalasticlala
Ishilove

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to prune down the number of policemen attached to dignitaries across the country.

He also directed the police boss to redeploy all policemen withdrawn from that role to regular police duties.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted the President as speaking during a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adesina also said the President warned that that he would not tolerate any irregularities or extortion of money from unemployed Nigerians in the coming recruitment into the police.

He said applicants having to pay bribes before being accepted into the police in the past was totally unacceptable.

The President told the officials that those in charge of recruitment and training in the Police must be above board and eschew every form of extortion and underhand dealing.

“You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the recruitment must be above board. It should not be heard that they  receive gratification or extort money from those who want to enlist in the police,”  the President was quoted as saying.

On the stagnation of policemen on a rank for many years, the President counselled the PSC to review the current structure of the police, and make recommendations on how the problem could be solved to  boost the morale of serving policemen.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr. James  Obiegbu, had, in his briefing of the President,  listed inadequate police personnel, dwindling finances and non-rehabilitation of police training schools as some of the challenges facing the police.

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro, said the country needed to have more than the 305,579 policemen and women which it had for effective policing.

He thanked Buhari for approving the recruitment of 10,000 additional policemen and women earlier this week.

OZAOEKPE:
I am speaking on behalf of all Niger Deltans on this forum.

Vanderandrew:
I love songs that contain God's word. Songs that have a more deep expression of your heart to God. e.g thou art worthy oh Lord, Worthy Oh Lord to receive Glory, Honour and Power.

Peagon English Songs like Winner Oh Oh, Winner-Is very good