₦airaland Forum

Fair enough

Fair enough

aproko247:
President Mohammadu Buhari has appointed new Service Chiefs few moments after he fired the former occupiers of the positions.

A statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Presidency also confirmed the appointment of a new National Security Adviser to the President.

Here are the new appointees and their designations.

Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin – Chief of Defence Staff

Major-General T.Y. Buratai – Chief of Army Staff

Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff

Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff

Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan – Chief of Defence Intelligence

Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) – National Security Adviser.

http://www.aproko247.com/2015/07/13/buhari-appoints-new-service-chiefs-nsa/

Fair enough

amaben2020:
you are a fool, is jagaban borgu your god? Muslims sef, so gullible

I don't know who is a fool here, based on my own belief not yours, the advert of Mehdi will signal the end of all the wrongs in this world and the whole world will be united against injustice, worshipping idols or men, there will be no more war atleast for that period, nobody will play politics that's why I said till he comes. Why would you even think of comparing Tinubu with god? I don't joke with my religion, I can't even compare tinubu with a pious imam or alfa now but when it comes to politics Jagaban Borgu is my role model. Anyone that takes tinubu for granted is in for "Jonathan Full treatment" (Bringing Down the whole house).

Karma is a B**tch, it hits you when you feel you are untouchable, and Army, Police, Court can't help you on this one since you disrespected both your fada and the party that brought you to power, when you disrespected your fada we didn't intervene cuz it's family issue unknown to us, you are turning yourself to a monster like and must be stopped or rubbished at all cost. I am a fulani man but I will vote for Asiwaju a millions times than to waste my vote on Atiku, dangote and the sarakis of this world. Jagaban Borgu till mahdi comes.

The Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Kabir Marafa, said on Sunday that the Senate President lacked both moral and constitutional rights to summon the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, for briefing on the state of the economy.

Marafa, the spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum,  who stated this in a statement issued in Abuja, noted that since Saraki had allegedly violated some sections of the constitution to emerge as senate president on June 9, he cannot accuse another person of committing the same offence he had committed.

Our correspondent had reported that the decision of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance and other top officials to decline an invitation extended to them by the leadership of the National Assembly for a briefing on the state of the nation’s economy last week was currently brewing a major face-off between the two arms of government.

Our correspondent had also reported that the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Senator Issa Galaudu,  and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, wrote separate letters to the permanent secretary but were both allegedly ignored.

The permanent secretary, according to sources close to the leadership of the Senate, was said to have shunned the meeting because there was no clearance from the Presidency to honour the briefing.

The Clerk’s letter, which was copied the Head of Service of the Federation and obtained by our correspondent read, “I refer to our letter Ref. No. NASS/S//SP/ COS/CORRP/15/1/06 of June 29, 2015 on the above subject matter and your text message of July 7, 2015,  to the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, signifying your inability to honour the invitation.

“Your action is a deliberate violation of the provisions of Section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999( as amended).

“You are, therefore, requested to appear before the Senate Leadership as contained in your aforementioned letter on Wednesday July 8, 2015  at 2.00pm prompt.

“The third letter to the Permanent Secretary, which also insisted on the importance of the meeting, was written by the Chief of Staff to the Senate President. Galaudu’s letter, which was dated July 8, with reference number, NASS /8 th /S/SP/COS/CORRP/15/2/07, states,  ‘Please note that your text message of yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, which I received by hours of 20:02 pm, suggesting that you would not make today’s meeting, is unacceptable.’

“This is an affront to the President of the Senate and its leadership. The provision of Section 67(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is very clear and unambiguous in this regard. Hence, you do not need the permission of any official before you attend or appear before the Senate.

“Consequently, I have the instructions of the President of the Senate and leadership that you do spear before them on the date and time earlier communicated to you, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by 11am prompt. It is my belief that you will comply unconditionally.”

Investigations by our correspondent further revealed that the the Permanent Secretary had yet to appear before the senate leadership nor responded to the letters from both the National Assembly management and the office of the Senate President.

But Marafa, in his statement, accused Saraki of violating the same constitution which he claimed the permanent secretary had run foul of.

The senator said, “I read with open-mouth amazement, the letter written by both the Chief of Staff to the Senate President  and that of the Clerk to the National Assembly on the refusal or inability of a government functionary to honour the invitation of the leadership of the senate.

“They were saying the refusal violates section 67(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  Can somebody please tell them that they are guilty of similar, if not higher, offence?

“They,  infact, not only violated the constitution to ascend to the Senate leadership, they murdered it !”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/saraki-lacks-constitutional-right-to-summon-ps-senator/

cc lalasticla

ShakurM:
Your verses are taken out of contexts and paragraphs now




When we take text out of their context we are stripping the meaning of the verses and give them a different, and usually a wrong meaning.

Example 1 ;

Matthew 5:39 “if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Jesus is not saying that we shouldn’t defend ourselves but He is using hyperbole or exaggeration.  What He means is that when others insult you, don’t retaliate.  Just turn the other cheek, not to have them slap you there…but to turn the other way and to leave vengeance to God (Rom 12:19. ).  Even Jesus “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23).

Example 2;

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Paul is not telling the church at Philippi that they can do anything they want or can do all things that they want to do.  He is saying that we can do anything “through Christ” or “in Christ.”  The context is saying that we can do anything that is in the will of Jesus Christ because He is the One who will strengthen (enable) you do to it.  Paul is not saying that you can do anything you want or anything in Christ that is not His will but he is saying that we can endure all sufferings if we are in Christ because just before 4:13 Paul writes “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Phil 4:11-12).  Paul was writing this in prison and he was likely cold, hungry, and alone, yet he learned to be content in whatever state he was in…but only “in Christ.”  It might be better to think of this as saying “We can endure all things in Christ.”

Example 3

First John 4:16b “God is love.”

Yes, God is love, but that is only one tiny fraction of the manifold attributes of God.  This is like someone saying something about me to another person; “Jack is a cousin.”  Yes, I am a cousin, but I am also a husband, a father, a grandfather, a son, an uncle, and so on.  You cannot elevate one attribute of God to the exclusion of His other attributes.  Many say that a loving God would not send someone to hell because “God is love.” Yes, God is love but love and discipline go together.  Their “God is love” is a God created in their own image.  First and foremost, God is holy.  He cannot even look upon sin and that is why He turned away from Jesus, His only Son, at the cross.  I love my children and my grandchildren and I would discipline them if they ran out into the street to play because they could get hurt, or worse, killed.  My love comes with my discipline. It is exactly because I love them that I do discipline them, just as God disciplines every one of His own children (Heb 12:5-7).

Let's assume for the purpose of seeking knowledge that what you are saying is logical, help me explain this 3 examples

Question 1: "What age was Jehoiachin when he began his reign?"

Answer: Second Kings 24:8 declares, “Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he began to reign,” while 2 Chronicles 36:9 says, “Jehoiachin was 8 years old when he began to reign.”

Question 2:when was light created?


Answer - Bible says in Genesis Ch. No. 1 Verses No. 3 and 5,…‘Light was created on the first day.’ Genesis, Ch., 1 Verses, 14 to 19… ‘The cause of light - stars and the sun, etc. was created on the fourth day’.  How can the cause of light be created on the 4th day - later than the light which came into existence on the first day?

Question 3: how many bath did solomon had?


Point No. 20 - Further, it is mentioned in the 1st Kings, Ch. No 7, Verse No 26, that…‘In Solomon’s temple, in his molten sea, he had 2000 baths. In 2nd Chronicles, Ch. No 4, Verse No 5, he had 3000 baths. Did he have 2000 baths or did he have 3000 baths? –

If the previous ones are qoute out of context what of this few questions? Does that means God can't differentiate between simple 2000 and 3000 as in the case of solomon?

BREAKING: Amaechi, Pastor Bakare, And Farouk Adamu On Buhari’s 18-Man Delegation To The US, Governors From Edo, Imo, Oyo Accompanying Delegation


Five State Governors including those of Oyo State, Imo State, Edo State and two others will accompany President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States when he meets President Barack Obama in Washington, DC on July 19th, 2015. 

The five Governors are separate from an 18-man delegation made up of top aides and political associates of the President. The former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi, the former Vice Presidential candidate to Buhari Tunde Bakare, and former member of the House of Representatives Farouk Adamu will be on the Presidential delegation.

In addition to these delegates, President Buhari will bring along top civil servants, representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, and representatives from economic policy and foreign affairs think tanks.

The three-day visit is expected to discuss ways of partnering with Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram and explore ways of combating corruption in Nigeria. President Buhari will meet with President Obama on July 20th in the White House.

http://saharareporters.com/2015/07/11/breaking-amaechi-pastor-bakare-and-farouk-adamu-buhari%E2%80%99s-18-man-delegation-us-governors

Contd
Mr. Momodu’s position in the referenced article is an example of why Nigeria would never make it. The inability to be candid, honest and forthright in matters of concern to all and sundry is creating enmity, bad blood and a sense of unfair treatment to some. Instead of us all to come together and condemn the condemnable, Mr. Momodu is advocating the tolerance and acceptance of perfidy and treachery. Mr. Momodu is advocating that we should just leave them alone and allow their travesty to stand regardless of the implications of such to the country and to the party. Mr. Momodu is advocating allowing shenanigans to be part of our public behaviors, discourse and administration. He is trying to validate all the wrong things for the right reasons.

In that article, Mr. Momodu is creating a serious foreboding. He is sending dangerous signals to anxious Nigerians who want to fight corruption. He is sending perplexing indication for fraud, shenanigans and perfidy to be tolerated and accepted as part and parcel of our public life. Mr. Momodu is sending signals that if tomorrow, President Mohammdu Buhari wakes up and wanted to know what happened in the Societe Generale Bank looted by Bukola Saraki and his sisters, Trade Bank owned by Kwara and Kogi States but looted to liquidation by Saraki and the Intercontinental Banks where he colluded with Sanusi Lamido to write off about 40 billion naira loan, he (Mr. Momodu) would plead that President Buhari should not go forward with it? Yet the sage Obafemi Awolow advised “…there is need for the competence and character of public men to be subjected to severer and stricter scrutiny…” Is it that Mr. Momodu does not buy into this principle?

In every situation where there are no consequences for negative behaviors, that is an open invitation to others to engage in such behaviors again. It is an open validation of wrong doing and that wrong doing would be acceptable. Mr. Momodu should go back and sit down with Saraki and Dogara once again and tell them the truth. He should not sugarcoat their perfidy to them. He should go and tell them that they are destroying the country and the APC. Mr.Momodu should point out to them that since they have stolen the Senate Presidency and the Speakership from the “party supremacists”, they should concede the principal offices of the NASS to them for the sake of peace, unity and progress of the country and their political party.

Mr. Momodu should not blame the victims here. He should not engage in subtle rebuke of Chief Bisi Akande who is well known to be a very serious mind. Chief Akande is not a frivolous person. He does not fool around. He is a man of integrity. Rather Mr. Momodu should develop a backbone to tell his friends (Saraki and Dogara) the home truth and let them know that they are Judases as implied by their conducts. He should warn his friends to moderate their greed and be more considerate of others. He should advise them to make sacrifices if they are genuine “patriots” and allow peace to reign in the country and APC. Mr. Momodu should stop beating around the bush and desist from speaking from all sides of the issue. I plead with him in the name of justice, progress and peace. This is because as contended above by Daniel O’Connell, “Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong.”

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.” –John F. Kennedy

“ ….there is need for the competence and character of public men to be subjected to severer and stricter scrutiny…”- Chief Obafemi Awolowo

“Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong.”- Daniel O’Connell.

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun
National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun

One of the challenges of building a country or if you like as in the case of Nigeria – a Nation- State is the inability of all the players to agree on the definition of political lexicons such as fairness, good, bad, consistency among several others. The dishonest desire to apply different definitions and rules in all situations that concern segments of the same people in the same country is what often causes problems and challenges for the building of a prosperous and united country.

The recent Dele Momodu’s article on the subject above really raises the spectre of partiality and unfairness as an instrument of political management of and in our polity. The article, an epitome in subtle double-speak, dexterous meandering as well as an exemplification in flagrant double standard is also an invitation to lowering the standard of integrity in public offices in the name of political correctness. Coming from a respected colleague like Mr. Momodu is very disappointing, and indeed very scary.

I am sure that Mr. Momodu would agree with me that there are universal basic definitions of “good”, “bad”, “fairness”, “treachery”, “greed”, “perfidy”, and other lexicons. So, it should not be difficult to identify any “bad” and “treacherous” behavior(s) for what they are. Thus for Mr. Momodu to suggest in the referenced article that the victims of the treachery of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara have the responsibility of allowing peace to reign in the APC and the country is not only disappointing, it is shocking. Rather than address the real issues and the implications of treachery and undue brinksmanship, Mr. Momodu was speaking in “tongues” from all sides of the issue at stake.

If political correctness is the path that people like Mr. Momodu are championing in rectifying the impasse that are evolving within the APC and the country at large in the glare of all, then it is either he is not sincere in his admonitions or he is really angling for the destruction of the APC house that took the sweat of many to build. The ability to speak the truth “as is” is a challenge that those who sincerely wish President Mohammadu Buhari success must adopt and practice. Even, those who are going to be his critics could not afford to be pejorative or propagandist, since such would devalue from the integrity of the issues at stake.

“I have had the honour and privilege of sitting with the two principal actors in the middle of this raging imbroglio, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara and I’m reasonably assured and definitely convinced that they both love their Party despite the storms in the tea-cups that almost damaged their relationships irreparably. Though labelled as modern day Judases, they both continue to plead for the understanding of those who might not have known what actually transpired behind the scenes.”

When Mr. Momodu sat down with his friends what did he stress to them as what ought to be the course of action moving forward? Did he underscore the need to put the interest of the country above their selfish interests? Did he implore them to really let the “sleeping dog lie” and negotiate with others by giving some after they had taken some? Was he very forthright in letting them see the damages they are doing to the country, their party and the Presidency of Buhari by their acts of treachery and uncontrolled greed? Is Momodu suggesting that Saraki and Dogara are not Judases? Is Mr. Momodu trying to launder the soiled and dirty reputations for these two perfidious elements?


Then Mr, Momodu wrote:-

For now, they are willing and ready to bear their crosses courageously till that auspicious moment when the jigsaw would fit into place. For myself, I am aware that all the contending factions have points that would justify their position and this is the more reason that the swords should be sheathed without further delay. Nobody can come out of this smelling of roses as all the contending forces acted selfishly including the party supremacists!
The question Mr. Momodu failed to address is how to forgive treachery and perfidy? As contended by the Bologna Socialist Party of old, “He who betrayed once, will do it again,” could Saraki and Dogara be meaningful partners going forward given the sort of exudation we have witnessed from them so far? How do you forgive an intruder who came into your house and took the valuables you have sweated for? How do you reason with such a perfidious element when he is not even considering remorse? How do you move on when such treacherous element as in Bukola Saraki and his accomplice in the Federal House of Representative are refusing to even negotiate and give some after they had taken some? Since Saraki has stolen the Senate Presidency why was he not willing to concede the post of principal officials to the “party supremacists” as Mr. Momodu called them?

What exactly is Mr. Momodu advocating? So when Momodu sat with Saraki, a serial bank robber, why did he not prevail on him to give and take in the name of peace and progress of the country? Why did Momodu not help Saraki see the need to not be too greedy and consider other interests in the party? Why did Momodu fail to impress it on his “greedy” friends to find a way to bring everyone together for the interest of President Buhari who has a task to accomplish?

Rather than be blunt and honest with his friends when he sat with them, Mr. Momodu did not do that. But Mr. Momodu was more comfortable to provide the following preposterous counsel:-

“My candid advice to the APC leadership is to urgently put its house in order because if united they will stand proudly but if divided they will fall miserably. Such is the sad reality I foresee if members of the same party find it impossible to forgive even if they cannot forget.

What Mr. Momodu did in that article is like blaming the victims of armed robbery who did not wish to be robbed. He is blaming the victims and advising the victims not to fight back even when the victims have the means and wherewithal to do so. Instead of speaking the truth to his friends and call their attention to the effects of their greed, Mr. Momodu is advising the victims to accept their fate and move on when they (the victims) have the means to stand up and fight for their rights? What makes Mr. Momodu think that there could be peace without justice? How could Mr. Momodu not know that justice is a precondition to peace and progress?

Source: read the rest of the article here
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/07/11/before-apc-falls-apart-a-reply-to-dele-momodu/

Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Rivers APC Governorship candidate at the April 11, 2015 Governorship election and his party yesterday floored Rivers State Governor, Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

The tribunal ordered that All Progressives Party (APC) be allowed to inspect the electoral materials and forensic analysis be conducted on any materials found to have been tampered with.

The judge also overruled the application on jurisdiction brought by Rivers State Governor, Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike.

Chief Akin Olunjinmi, leading counsel to Dr. Peterside described the prayer and motion on jurisdiction as a deliberate attempt and “game-plan” to delay the tribunal’s sitting.

With the ruling on jurisdiction and other motions done with, the hearing of the substantive issues and the epic battle challenging the result of the April 11, 2015 Governorship election in Rivers will begin July 23rd.

The Rivers governorship election has been described as the worst election ever conducted in Nigeria as police and other security agencies looked the other way as political PDP thugs, hoodlums openly bombed, maimed and killed many APC supporters during the electioneering campaigns.

While during the election proper the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) believed to have concocted outrageous figures, even in many places where elections were either disrupted or not conducted to return the PDP candidate, Nyesom as winner of the gubernatorial election.

Both foreign and local election observers said the election was “charade in which hoodlums, thugs, security agents connived to unleashed terror on voters.”

Source: http://papertalk.ng/?p=1817

The Presidency has rubbished claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that President Muhammadu Buhari’s bailout funds for the state was gotten from savings of former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement issued by Femi Adesina, special adviser on media and publicity to Buhari, he noted that Nigeria’s main opposition party’s claim was false, banal and ludicrous. “The Presidency deplores the attempt by the PDP and its agents to create an unnecessary controversy over the well-intentioned effort by President Muhammadu Buhari to give some relief to state governments and long-suffering public sector workers,” the statement said.

“We also reject the banal and ludicrous demand by the PDP Spokesman, Olisa Metuh that the PDP Government which was ousted by Nigerians at the last general elections for running the country aground, be given some credit for “saving” the funds that were disbursed as part of the intervention package approved by President Buhari.

“Mr. Metuh’s claim that a significant amount of the funds came from savings accumulated in the Excess Crude Account and handed over to the Buhari administration is completely false and deliberately intended to mislead the public.

“As we clearly stated yesterday, the funds approved by President Buhari for sharing to the three tiers of government on Monday came entirely from dividends and taxes paid to the Federation Account by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG), not from the Excess Crude Account.

“The disbursed NLNG dividends and taxes were paid into the Federation Account in June this year and confirmed by the Central Bank’s Statement to the Federal Government on July 7, 2015. The funds cannot therefore be considered “savings” by the Jonathan Administration which left office in May, 2015, as disingenuously claimed by Mr. Metuh.

“Instead of being repeatedly impugned and castigated by the PDP and its agents for honestly telling Nigerians that the nation’s treasury has been immensely depleted and its resources looted or squandered under previous administrations, President Buhari should be commended for the openness, transparency and accountability which he has now brought to the management of national funds.

“It was in keeping with that disposition, that the President promptly disclosed the accrual of the NLNG dividends and taxes to the Federation Account at his recent meeting with State Governors and approved the convening of a special session of the FAAC to share it.

“As a state governor who was present at the meeting remarked, under past administrations, the states never had the benefit of such disclosures.

“Mr. Metuh and others who now ungratefully see Monday’s disbursement of the NLNG proceeds as their “legitimate” earnings and not a “bailout” from the Federal Government may wish to tell Nigerians if such earnings were ever disclosed by the PDP Federal Government and paid to the states in the past.

“The public may also wish to note that the Buhari Administration itself has never referred to the actions which it has taken to ease the current financial difficulties of states as a “bailout”.

Source:http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/07/08/claim-by-pdp-that-bailout-funds-was-from-jonathans-savings-is-false-ludicrous-presidency/

The Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has expelled the senator representing Gombe-Central senatorial district, Danjuma Goje, from the party.

State chairman of the party, Magaji Doho, who spoke at the party’s secretariat in Gombe, said Goje was expelled with effect from July 1, 2015 for his engagement in anti-party activities.

Doho said, “Having gone through the rigours of campaigns and the 2015 general elections, some of our members, led by Senator Danjuma Goje, have decided to have parallel state executives of the party.


“Secondly, one of our senators representing Gombe-South, Danjuma Goje, is grossly involved in anti-party activities and we have, therefore, decided to expel him from the party from the first day of July, 2015, to instill discipline in our great party.”

The APC chairman said the state executive council had written a comprehensive report to the national secretariat of the party, indicting Goje.

“We have expelled Goje from the APC because of his activities, disloyalty and going contrary to the constitution of the party,” Doho added.


He also said that some members of the state executive council of the party that decided to support Goje by operating a parallel executive council were relieved of their positions but could remain as members of the party.

Source:
http://dailypost.ng/?p=270727&wt=3



Cc: Lalasticlala

Opolo eye no be open eye

The former governors of Imo and Adamawa States, Ikedi Ohakim and Murtala Nyako, and Mr. Nyako’s son, Abdul-aziz, have been arrested by officials of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission.

The former governors, and Abdul-aziz Nyako, who is a senator now, are to be arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday on different cases of alleged corruption.

Murtala Nyako
New Telegraph Nigeria
A source at the EFCC had in June told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Ohakim had questions to answer concerning a number of properties allegedly traced to him.

The commission said in a statement that the two Nyakos were wanted on allegations of stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.

Mr. Nyako’s son had been interrogated by the EFCC over alleged illicit funds traced to companies in which he had interest.

Specifically, he was asked to explain how over N15 billion belonging to Adamawa State was allegedly laundered into the accounts of five companies said to owned by him.

The companies are Blue Opal Nigeria Limited, Crust Energy Nigeria Limited, Blue Ribbon Multilinks Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Blue Ribbon Bureau De Change.

The funds were allegedly funnelled into the accounts of the five companies, from Adamawa state government bank accounts. The transfer was done by the account officer who incidentally is the manager of the bank and an in-law to former governor, Mr. Nyako.

The EFCC said the manager claimed he transferred the funds based on verbal instructions from the former governor for purposes that were not stated.

The commission said its investigations revealed that from 2007 to 2011, the then Governor Nyako directed that all state-owned accounts domiciled in various banks be transferred to the account supervised by his in-law.

Abdul-Aziz Nyako’s company, Blue Opal, is said to own, among other investments in Nigeria, an estate in Abuja, while his father’s account officer owns several properties and investments scattered around Abuja, Yola and Kano.

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/07/08/efcc-arrests-former-governors-ohakim-nyako-set-arraign-them

barcanista:
this Lai Muhammed is a VERY BIG LIAR! Which PDP state did GEJ government gave lifeline? What is there to celebrate when the government has successfully depleted our reserve to satisfy governors? How is "sharing" the money translate to achievement worth celebrating?

There was NO time the GEJ led government pay ANY PDP state money in the name of bailout. In fact, PDP state of Benue under the last administration was bastardly indebted. There is nothing to celebrate in this sharing of the money. The same governors that wasted N3trn ECA fund that was shared among them in frivolties, looting and white elephant projects between 2010 and 2014. The APC is very silly (with duee respect) for insulting our sensibilities by saying this is an achievement.

You sound illogical, read what the presidency says about the bailout first here https://www.nairaland.com/2435001/presidential-relief-package-excess-crude

Reports in sections of the media today that funds will be drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the relief package approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for states and local governments, are incorrect.

Femi Adesina
The Sun
For the purpose of greater clarity on the matter, the measures approved by President Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states are as follows:

*The sharing of the $2.1 Billion dividend paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG);

* A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from N250 Billion to N300 Billion. This will be a soft loan available to states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries; and

*A debt relief program designed by the Debt Management Office which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 Billion, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

The measures approved by President Buhari definitely do not include drawing down the remaining balance in the Excess Crude Account or the "liquidation" of the account as some media outlets have wrongly reported.

No such decision has been taken or approved by President Buhari, and last week's meeting of the National Economic Council clearly concluded that the Excess Crude Account should be left untouched at this time.



FEMI ADESINA

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 7, 2015

source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/07/07/presidential-relief-package-excess-crude-account-still-intact-presidency#.VZvRbnhqqDk.twitter

AN official of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Seme Customs Command, Mr G.M. Olonitola, has been attacked with petrol bomb by a suspected smuggler while performing his duties.
According to findings, the customs officer had stopped the vehicle driven by the suspected smuggler for search, bu unknowing to him, the suspected smuggler had petrol bomb hidden in one of his trousers pockets.
As soon as the suspected smuggler parked for the customs officer to check the vehicle, the suspected smuggler left the place, apparently to look for a matchbox to light the petrol bomb in his pocket.
An eyewitness at the scene of the incident told Tribune Online, “the suspected smuggler suddenly appeared with the lit petrol bomb in his hands. He then threw it at Olonitola and the bomb hit him.
“It took the effort of nearby customs officials who heard Olonitola’s scream to run after the suspected smuggler and shoot him.”
Olonitola is currently recuperating at a medical facility in Ikeja, Lagos State, while the suspected smuggler is said to be in a medical detention facility.

Source: http://tribuneonlineng.com/node/10276

Newly appointed director general of the Department of State Security, Lawal Musa Daura, has demoted Marilyn Ogar, the agency’s former spokesperson, via a memo
Apart from demoting Ms. Ogar, the acting DSS director general also directed the demotion of numerous other officers of the agency who were just promoted in March in what was seen as a politically motivated exercise.

Source:

http://saharareporters.com/2015/07/04/dss-director-demotes-marilyn-ogar-others-promoted-past-administration

https://mobile.twitter.com/SaharaReporters/status/617681954205470720

Fresh crisis is brewing in the rul­ing All Progressives Congress, APC, over the chairmanship of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). The National Executive Committee of the APC meeting which held last Friday endorsed the constitution of the party’s BoT. No date was, however, set for it. An official of the party told Sun that some chieftains of the party are in the trenches over who heads the yet-to-be-constituted BoT. The source explained that the initial permutation was that former vice president, Atiku Abuba­kar would chair the advisory body. The move, he said was championed by former Lagos state governor and leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who wanted the former vice president to support his candidates for the National Assembly leadership. However, the APC stalwart who does not want his name mentioned said the music had since changed. He told the paper that the emergence of Saraki and Dogara as senate president and House speaker and the role allegedly played by Atiku in the controversial election had pitted Tinubu against the former vice president. His words, “we may be working towards addressing the crisis in the National Assem­bly but I’m saddened that we may court a new crisis. “Power struggle is going on over chair­manship of our BoT. Initially Tinubu wanted the position to go to North-east. In fact he lobbied Atiku for it in exchange for his sup­port for his candidates in the National As­sembly. “When Asiwaju lost out in the National Assembly, he changed his earlier stand that Atiku should head the BoT. The reason is clear. He was disappointed that Atiku was one of the arrowheads that torpedoed all the plans made by him.” Right now, the APC chieftain claimed that Tinubu’s henchmen were wholly against either making Atiku the chairman of the body or giving it to any person from the North-east. He did not, however, state the zone or person the ex-Lagos State governor was rooting for. “I will not be surprised if the struggle over the position takes a larger-than-life di­mension. I think the matter will be decided by President Buhari who is the leader of the party,” the source said. The source also told the paper that though some APC chieftains from the South-west were rooting for Tinubu to run for the position or nominate his ally from the zone to contest for it, such proposal would not work. According to him, the South had the posi­tion of national chairman and could not be supported to produce chairman of BoT. He said, “the South is occupying the of­fice of national chairman , the BoT must go to the North. It will be difficult to bring up any argument that will change this equa­tion.” On the possibility of Atiku clinching the position even in the face of opposition from Tinubu, the APC official said the vice presi­dent enjoyed the support of most governors from the North who would nominate the BoT members. He said, “the former vice president is play­ing his politics very well at the moment. He has the support of most Northern governors. You and I know that these governors are the ones who will nominate the BoT members again tomorrow night. So I believe we are making some progress, not that everything is signed, sealed and delivered.”

Read full story here: http://www.today.ng/politics/fresh-crisis-looms-in-apc-as-atiku-tinubu-battle-for-chairmanship-of-partys-bot/



Cc: Lalasticlala

I doubt if somepeople used to read the news content before commenting, nowhere in the whole news ogars replacement was mentioned, ogars is from Benue which is obviously part of the north, the caption was total fabricated and fallacious . Rushing to comment has taken away their sense of reasoning, left with prejudice, bigotry, sectionalism smh

Saw this pix on @contactsalkida, a journalist that is known to be very close to BH, worked closely with the sect leader and now living in exile, the Second pix is the large cache of arms that was recently captured by Chadian army from a huge collection that Baana Fanaye, Boko Haram member responsible for the provision for northern Cameroon and Chad, was preparing to displace to Nigeria


Cc: Lalasticlala

ILORIN-The ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) has commended Nigerians for their patience and perseverance over the delay in the appointments of ministers,saying that the list would be released in few days.
National publicity secretary of the party,Alh Lai Mohammed speaking with journalists in Oro,in Ifelodun local government area of kwara state on Thursday at his annual 9th Ramadan lecture also admitted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would have fared better had the ministerial appointments been made before now.

President Muhammadu Buhari attending to some files in his office as he resumed duties at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
Lai Mohammed however explained that the delay was basically caused by the transference ‎of government from one political party to the other.
He recalled that‎ when transition in government took place within the then ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) ministerial appointments were usually made two weeks after inauguration.
‎According to him, “The concern of Nigerians over the delay in the release of ministerial appointments is genuine. But the fact is that this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that the opposition party will take over government from the ruling party.”
“Our plan was to interface and interact with the outgoing government, but it didn’t just work out so party set up transition committee which later presented 800 pages hand over documents to mister president”
“So, in this kind of situation we found ourselves, we have to be thorough in making appointments ‎because Nigerians expectations are very high and it’s understandable. So, in a couple of days the ministerial cabinet list would be made available and it would be a thing of the past”
Continuing, he said “We might be slow, but in reality when we make the right appointments, we will make up for all the shortcoming Nigerians have been complaining about”.
He also decried the comment of the opposition PDP on the performance rate of President Buhari in 30 days in office saying, “the PDP is just revelling in its new found roles of opposition, they are entertaining themselves and Nigerians”
The APC. Spokesman who expressed the determination of the ruling party to stamp out corruption in order to fulfil it’s campaign promises to Nigerians ,further noted that since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office Nigerians all over the world are been gradually respected because of the integrity of the president.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/buhari-will-release-ministerial-list-in-few-days-apc/

The allegation by some governors that a former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, spent $2.1 billion out of the Excess Crude Account “without authorization” is false, malicious and totally without foundation, the minister’s spokesperson said Tuesday.
The governors of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, had said that the National Economic Council, at a meeting on Monday, found that $2.1 billion of the Excess Crude Account was spent without the approval of the council.
The former minister said no unauthorized expenditure from the ECA was made under her watch in the Finance Ministry, and that 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,” a statement signed by the former minister’s spokesperson, Paul Nwabuikwu, said.
“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,” it said.
The former minister said she remained 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.”

Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/185866-okonjo-iweala-replies-oshiomhole-el-rufai-denies-spending-oil-money-without-approval.html


Cc: lalasticlala

From November 2014, about $2.1billion was withdrawn from Nigeria’s excess crude account without the approval of the National Economic Council, NEC. This was revealed by the National Economic Council (NEC) inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari today at the State House, Abuja.

Other atrocities committed under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration include the following:

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, generated about N8.1trillion between 2012 and May 2015, but paid only N4.3trillion to the federation account.

The balance of the oil money — about N3.8trillion — was withheld and spent by the NNPC unilaterally without approval or National Assembly appropriation.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday vowed to compel all income generating agencies including the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and NNPC to comply with stipulated Financial Regulations and Administrative Instructions regarding remittances into the Federation coffers.



The President gave the assurance on Monday while inaugurating the National Economic Council (NEC) at the State House, Abuja.

The Council comprises of the 36 state Governors and CBN Governor and is statutorily chaired by the Vice President in line with the provision of Third Schedule, Part I, Section 153: Sub section (18 & 19) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The Council on Monday set a four-man Committee to investigate the state oil company, NNPC over the missing N3.8trillion.

Mr. Oshiomhole, who, alongside the governors of Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and Zamfara governor, Abdulazeez Yari, told journalists that following the discovery, the NEC has set up a four-member committee to comb the books of the NNPC to confirm its remittances and how the excess crude account was utilised.

Mr. Oshiomhole said Monday’s meeting was the first time the NNPC and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, briefed the National Economic Council, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor said Mr. Buhari “compelled” the NNPC to provide information in “black and white” on issues relating to the total sales of Nigeria’s crude oil from 2012 to May 2015.

“What we saw from those numbers I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned N8.1 trillion, what NNPC paid into the federation account from 2012 to May 2015 was N4.3trillion”, the governor said.

“What it means is that NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 trillion.

“The major revelation here is that for the entire federation — that is the federal government, the states and all the 774 local governments — the amount the NNPC paid into the federation account for distribution to this three tiers of government came to N4.3 trillion and NNPC alone took and spent N3.8 trillion. Which means the cost of running NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government. That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged, what is stolen, they are huge figures.”

Meanwhile the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against politicising anti Corruption agencies in his plans to nip in the bud, the current menace, just as the party vowed that there was no way it could be blackmailed through propaganda.

In a statement Monday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, the PDP stressed that no amount of intimidation, blackmail and propaganda by the Presidency would stop it from standing shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians in demanding that President Muhammadu Buhari kick-starts government and commence implementation of his campaign promises for which he was voted into office.

According to Metuh, there was no way the party could be cowed by what he termed, threats and wild allegations by the Presidency into abdicating its responsibility of speaking out as an opposition party where the system was derailing.

Metuh said, “While we expect the present administration to be serious about the fight against corruption, probe and persecute each and everyone involved in such, irrespective of their party leaning, we restate that these must be done within the ambits of the law and must not be used as a witch-hunt ostensibly to discredit and undermine the opposition. We therefore caution against the current drama of politicizing the issue of corruption in the country.

“Presidency’s excuse of clearing the so-called Augean Stable is lame and diversionary noting that it stands by its statement that the delay is creating loopholes through which some persons claiming closeness to the President have infiltrated executive bodies, arm-twisting and conniving with unscrupulous elements in the bureaucracy to syphon the nation’s resources in the last 30 days.

“The PDP and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians were appalled by the response from the Presidency regarding our call for prayers to enable President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration locate its bearing, compose a government and halt the prevailing stagnation with its huge negative impact on the system.

“Instead of addressing the issues raised, the Presidency descended to insults, abuses and innuendos, a stance which not only bears out the case made by the PDP but also raises questions about the capacity of this administration to shoulder the enormous responsibility of governance.

“While we expect the present administration to be serious about the fight against corruption, probe and persecute each and everyone involved in such, irrespective of their party leaning, we restate that these must be done within the ambits of the law and must not be used as a witch-hunt ostensibly to discredit and undermine the opposition. We therefore caution against the current drama of politicizing the issue of corruption in the country.

“Furthermore, the analogy of the Augean stable, is completely baffling to us at this level as it goes to a great length to question the capacity and the sincerity of those around the president.

“In Greek mythology, Hercules in his ingenuity took the task and efficiently cleared the Augean’ stable in a day for which he demanded a reward of a tenth of fine cattle belonging to the king.



“Nigerians would not want to believe that in the so-called clearing of the Augean stable, although not delivering in one day, President Buhari wants to play Hercules in his demand, this time, by wanting to run the government alone without the statutory components of the executive as enshrined in the constitution.

“We ask, is the so-called clearing of mess responsible for his inability after 90 days of winning an election to make up his mind on rudimentary appointments such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff and his demand for 15 Special Advisers as approved by the PDP controlled Seventh Assembly since June 5, 2015?



“Perhaps we need to draw President Buhari’s attention to the fact that while he is busy clearing his imaginary mess on the pages of newspapers, some persons claiming closeness to him have in the last 30 days been piling up sleazes that also need his attention in key agencies of government.

“Despite the absence of approving and supervising officials, key income generating institutions like NNPC, NIMASA, NPA, FIRS and other strategic agencies have been invaded by persons claiming to be friends and associates of the President and this puts to question the sincerity and seriousness of the administration to affect the so-called change upon which they rode to power.

“Auxiliary to this is the issue of the construction of a helipad, amongst various expenses and other major government expenditure going on across board in the last one month and without due supervision as the eyes of the President cannot be everywhere.

“We declare unequivocally that we do have respect for the person and office of the President especially considering his age and status as an elder statesman. However, we will like to make it very clear that the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria is neither a Sherriff in the Old Wild West nor a military dictator in some Banana Republic. He is an elected president under a democratic setting.”

- See more at: http://newsrescue.com/revealed-goodluck-jonathan-secretly-withdrew-n500-billion-from-excess-crude-account/#axzz3eLzgnFhA

cc: seun, lalasticla, dygeasy, ishilove

The Buhari administration may be considering merging all debtor airlines in the country into a national carrier, capable of serving the West and Central African regions, with Nigeria as the regional aviation hub.
That is part of the recommendations by the Ahmed Joda transition committee, which submitted its report to President Muhammadu Buhari about two weeks ago.
Six of Nigeria’s leading domestic airlines are currently bogged down by huge debts totalling almost N130 billion, forcing them to turn to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for a lifeline.
In 2014, the Federal Ministry of Aviation gave the debt portfolio of five of the airlines with AMCON at over N190 billion. The amount excluded sundry debts to aviation agencies like the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), suppliers and other institutions.
The ministry said it arrived at the huge figure after a comprehensive audit of the operations of all the domestic airlines.
Details of the audit findings, the Ministry said, showed Aero Contractors’ debt stood at over $200 mn (N308 bn), with 60% of its equity already taken over by AMCON, while Arik Air has been in debt to the tune of over $600 mn (N924 bn); IRS Airlines, $55 mn (N84 bn); Chanchangi Airlines, $55 mn (N84 bn), and the now bankrupt Air Nigeria owing about $225.8 mn (N347.7 bn).
In 2012, Arik, Aero, IRS, Bellview, Chanchangi, Afrijet, Albarka, Caverton, Continental, Air Nigeria and Savannah, were at the verge of going under the yoke of insolvency, when AMCON waded in with a N132 bn lifeline, saving in the process over 7,000 staff from being thrown into the labour market.
Aviation industry experts said at the weekend that some of the airlines that were still grappling with working capital challenges recently approached AMCON again with a multi-billion request for a bailout to enable them settle accumulated aviation fuel bills to oil marketers.
The Joda committee advised President Buhari to consider a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement that would involve all airlines currently with AMCON, as part of the Federal Government’s contribution to a national carrier project.
The committee recommended the decision be carried out in six months.
The committee said this will increase government revenue from the sector, reduce capital flight, expand the local aviation industry and create more employment opportunities to the people.
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the report said, should work with the Ministries of Aviation, Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment to implement an aviation focused PPP framework that would create the environment for the development of aviation infrastructure, procurement and upgrade.
The committee, which noted poor utilization as one of the key challenges in the sector, said about 75% of passenger traffic were generated from three airports – Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, while over 90% of the revenue earned came from Lagos and Abuja.
To ensure a realistic capital base for domestic and international airlines for sustainability in accordance with global best practices, the committee said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should in the next three months consider the upward review of capital requirements for airlines to N2.5 bn (domestic) and N 5 bn (International).
Within the target period, the government would undertake the immediate repairs and upgrade of passenger facilities, including air-conditioning systems, luggage conveyor belts, passenger tunnels, to improve customer experience, increase revenue, and improve the safety of travelers, it said.

Source:http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/185856-exclusive-joda-committee-to-buhari-merge-debt-ridden-arik-aero-others-to-form-national-carrier.html

cc: seun, lalasticla, dygeasy, ishilove

President Muhammadu Buhari, has appointed Colonel Hamidu Ali as his Chief of Staff.

Ali, was a former military administrator of Kaduna State.

It was widely believed that the immediate past governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola, may be selected for the position.

Source: http://ynaija.com/president-buhari-col-hamidu-ali-chief-of-staff/

I know the guy personally, he was staying with them before, this breaking times sef, yes Musa exist it's not a stunt deal with it

This is typical yoruba style of religion, follow something blindly without strong conviction or logic, she was a muslim before, her uncle turn her to Christians cuz she was staying with him, now that she is back with her mum she has reverted to being muslim, and you think being a christian without studying other religion is enough for you to pass judgement that your religion is the only way? Well that's what am saying, just because our parent are xtains or muslims we automatically turn to one even after our parent are no longer with us, my candid advice is first read the new book written by Desmond Tutu " God is not a christian", study Islam and the bible again, convince yourself first before you confront a confused yoruba woman that changes religion just like weather.

cc: seun, lalasticla, dygeasy, ishilove