₦airaland Forum

THE Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the nation’s security agencies to hold Gov. Nyesom Wike responsible for the arson visited on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Bori Friday which resulted in the burning down of the election umpire’s office by hoodlums suspected to be PDP members.


 








The APC made the charge in a statement by the State Chairman, Chief (Dr) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya titled “Wike must be held to account for the arson on the Khana INEC office in Bori" and made available to journalists Friday in Port Harcourt.


 


“This is exactly what we have been saying; just yesterday Nyesom Wike was publicly threatening INEC, its Chairman, myself and Senator Magnus Abe and in less than 24 hours the INEC office in Senator Abe’s South-East Senatorial Headquarters (Bori) has been burnt down.


 


“This is typical of the saying that the witch cried last night and today the child dies. There’s no need looking elsewhere, Nyesom Wike has, as usual, carried out his earlier threat to visit us with fire; we now know better what he meant. He has carried out his threat by sending his foot soldiers to burn down the INEC office in Bori just because Bori is the Senatorial headquarters of Rivers South-East where Senator Magnus Abe hails from,” Chief Ikanya lamented.


 


Continuing, Chief Ikanya berated Gov. Wike for always killing, maiming and destroying lives and property for the sake of political power. He called on security agents to hold the governor responsible for the dastardly act.


  


 “Yesterday, we warned that whenever Nyesom Wike resorts to throwing mud at innocent people and making unwholesome accusations, he must be up to his familiar sinister games; today it has manifested in its fullness.


 


“Security agents should ignore his attempts to blame this heinous act on the APC or anyone else, it was obviously planned by Gov. Nyesom Wike and clinically executed by his foot soldiers,” Chief Ikanya stated.

THE Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Senator Dino Melaye needs psychiatric examination over his threat to beat up Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central.








Melaye had threatened to beat up Tinubu and ‘impregnate’ her on the floor of the Senate, a statement that had elicited wide condemnation but which Melaye denied.


Reacting to Senator Melaye’s verbal assault on Senator Tinubu in a statement, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, described Melaye’s outbursts as unguarded and reckless.


“We take it that this is a slip of tongue but if it is indeed true that this statement came from the heart of Dino Melaye, we need a psychiatric doctor to examine the state of his mind.


“His actions and deeds in recent times have contributed in no uncertain terms to various setbacks we have witnessed in the 8th Senate since its inception on June 9, 2015. The hallowed chamber of the Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria is a prestigious place for the serious-minded, cerebral men and women, men and women of honour and integrity, those who can hold their heads when others are losing theirs, experienced but humble men and women.


“It is not for lunatics, rascals, street urchins, ethically challenged bigots or integrity challenged charlatans. It seems to us in Lagos APC that Senator Dino Melaye has reached a point of diminishing returns.


“The unstable and funny man from Kogi State has reached a point where there is no other place to go but to go down irretrievably. He can only go down with his likes and not with our own Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the highly revered, honoured and distinguished wife of our National leader, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.


“Lagos APC wants Dino Melaye to move quickly to apologize to Senator Oluremi Tinubu and her beloved husband, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and have the statement credited to him withdrawn without any further delay.”

SENATOR Representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye has debunked rumours doing the round about his involvement in some moves to impeach the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.








“It is pertinent to note that the incredulously machinated misinformation was orchestrated by forces bent on destabilizing the upper chambers of the Nigerian Parliament for selfish reasons.


“One of the mushroom and faceless online platform used to promote the ill-fated, calumnious write-up has been notorious for serving as the propagandist machinery of political commercialists who are pushing for the extension of their fiefdom to the National Assembly.


“While I remain unimpeachably committed to the leadership of the Senate, I believe the respected arm of government charged with the onerous responsibility of law making should be given the independence to conduct its business.


“It is untrue and malicious ; the narrative of the attack dogs of demagogues who have decided to turn Nigeria upside down for failing to choose leaders for Senators.


“I am a responsible Nigerian, role model and a champion of anti-corruption and equity which my party stands for .


“I therefore urge the general public to discountenance the libellous publication as I will continue to respect the history, culture and excellence of my Kogi West people on the floor of the Senate.


“The true threat to the current Republic are those who believe a Nigeria not led by them must not exist.


Thanks and God bless.”


Signed
Sen. Dino Melaye.

THE Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has called on Igbo elders not to keep quiet in the face of the political logjam in Abia state.



In a press release made available to MEZIE TIMES and signed by Mazi Alex Okemiri the Chairman of all the State Chairmen of the Youth council, the group  noted that Igbo culture requires elders not to keep quiet when things are getting out of hand. They called for immediate intervention of Igbo elders in the Abia matter with  a view to finding a solution to it.

The group also lambasted the Vice President for his stand against the call for the restructuring of Nigeria regretting that when some of our elites get into power they are carried away by officialdom to the detriment of the future of their people.

They insisted that only restructuring  of Nigeria can address her numerous challenges and not just the fight against corruption.

The OYC reiterated its call for the empowenment of Igbo Youths who are the least empowered in the country and which is responsible for the agitation for Biafra.

The group congratulated the Imo state government for hosting the Igbo unity rally which holds at Owerri on Thursday and friday this week.

They called on all the Igbo Governors to be at the occassion while they promised to mobilise entire Igbo YOuths to be there.

THE Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned as unconscionable and wicked the approval given to the governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike by the Rivers State House of Assembly [RSHA] to obtain yet another loan of N9 billion from Zenith Bank PLC.



 

The party in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, JP said, “the APC is convinced that, just like the governor committed Rivers people to a N10 billion loan to host and write off the failed PDP national convention in Port Harcourt last May, Gov. Nyesom Wike is, this time, borrowing N9 billion to prosecute the forthcoming July 30 rerun election in Rivers State as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC].”

 

The APC believed that this action accentuates the level of feverish desperation that has enveloped the governor who is infamous for coming to power at the needless expense of several lives of innocent Rivers people and Nigerians.

 

Continuing, the party said, “beyond going for the loan to be able to buy his way through, Gov. Wike has, under the guise of amnesty, primed his killing machines ably commanded by his murderous field commanders in the ONELGA, Ahoada East & West, Abua/Odual, Gokana-Khana-Tai and ASALGA-AKULGA-DELGA axes of Rivers State under the guise of illegal amnesty.

 

“Gov. Nyesom Wike is obviously frightened by the prospect of his candidates losing in the forthcoming rerun elections especially in the Rivers South-East axis where his morbid fear for the rising profile and popularity of erudite lawyer, politician and grassroots man, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has become unbearable for him hence the need to go back to his killing strategy” the statement noted.

 

The APC called on the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris and heads of other security agencies to step in to halt another killing spree before, during and after the forthcoming rerun elections by Gov. Nyesom Wike’s private soldiers across Rivers State.

 

“The APC is convinced that the recent changes in the nation’s security apparatus will prevent a repeat of the orgy of killings in Rivers State especially during the forthcoming rerun elections” the statement concluded.

THE pan-Yoruba ethnic organization – Afenifere has described the Vice-president of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) as a disappointment to the whole of South-West.








This is coming on the heels of the Vice President’s public statement that the call for the restructuring of Nigeria would not make any difference.


Osinbajo had also argued that even if states are given half of the resources of the Federal Government it would not make any difference and that all we need is to diversify into agriculture.


In a statement Monday signed the National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, the organization while claiming that the V.P may have come under pressure to lend his voice to the upholders of the status quo that has brought Nigeria to this sorry pass, advised that he be sure footed on the subject before he speaks next time.


Odumakin insisted that Osinbajo missed the entire debate by engaging in the reductionist argument narrowing the whole issue to taking more money from the Federal Government to the states.


“Yes, fiscal federalism is part of the argument but the issue goes beyond the monthly Federal Allocation Committee.”


He argued that from the Federal, down to states and Local Governments are bogged down with over bloated bureaucracies that consume as much as 90% of available resources and with little or nothing left for development.


“We must address how long we want to travel with this culture of waste and to see if we can deliver better governance with a manageable architecture.”


He stated that “The central plank of restructuring is for Nigeria to go back to the true practice of Federalism wherein mineral resources that abound in all states would be freed from the exclusive list so that states would move into prosperity and not be reporting at Prof Osinbajo’s office for bailout from a centre that only corners what belongs to the states. They would also have enough to contribute to sustain the occupiers of Abuja and the functions that are allocated to them.


“Beyond resources, the country is reeling under crime today and the single police we currently maintain has proved incapable of dealing with the situation. When you listen to commissioners of police lamenting at the scenes of crime these days you will think they are part of passers -by terrified by the horror of crime. It is clear we need multi-level policing to combat crime and have effective policing.


“The question of diversification is a point that advocates of restructuring have canvassed as it makes no sense for a country as vast in resources like Nigeria to depend on a mono-product economy.It is part of restructuring we are talking about and not an alternative to it.”


He insisted that the restructuring package has a whole wide range of issues that have to do with justice administration, electoral system and its cost implications, conflicts arising from clash of cultures and how to deal with them to ensure peaceful co-existence.


“Nigeria is fast falling apart and all genuine patriots have come to a consensus that we must restructure to arrest the drift.


“Yes there is a minority that is insisting that we must continue the way we are just like the minders of some empires that have disappeared from the world map did. The Vice-President is free to cast his lot with this group even when silence could have been golden but he should at least try to acquaint himself with the issues so people are not wondering what are we talking and what is he saying.


“We use this development to advise all those who seek high offices to ensure they are not far from issues that shape their political environment and pay due attention to civic education,” he added.

Mynd44:
https://www.nairaland.com/3219401/saraki-ekweremadu-forgery-trial-stalled

THE trial of President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and others at an Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High court sitting in Jabi was on Monday stalled due to the ongoing vacation of judicial workers.








Saraki, Ekweremadu, former clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and the Deputy clerk, Benedict Efeturi are facing two count charges of alleged criminal conspiracy and forgery of the senate standing rule‎s, 2015, which was leveled against them by the Federal Government.


Saraki, Ekweremadu and the other accused persons who arrived the court earlier had to return back after been told of the break.


Recall that the Justice Yusuf Halilu -led court had on June 27 granted all accused persons bail after they pleaded not guilty to the two count charge.


However, the court could not sit today because the judiciary was on vacation, which is expected to last till September.


A registrar of the court said the matter will not be heard on Monday because the court is on recess.


The source said, “As you can see, the accused persons just arrived but the matter will not be coming up today because the court is on recess.”


On when the matter will be coming up, the source said, “The accused persons will come back later for a date on when the trial will resum but that will be after the judicial vacation which will end sometime in September.”


The court has fixed September 28, 2016 for continuation of trials.

omowolewa:
Let try it first

[img]http://.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/vp-yemi-osinbajo.jpeg[/img]


Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has shrugged off calls to restructure Nigeria saying it is not helpful and will not make any difference.
The vice president made the remark weekend while delivering the second foundation lecture of the Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

The title of the lecture was “The Future is Here Earlier Than We Thought.” The call for restructuring Nigeria has been a recurring decimal and of late reignited by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
In a speech at launch of a book: ‘We Are Biafrans,’ in Abuja in June, Atiku said what Nigeria required most was restructuring of the federation.
The increasing wave of agitations and even militancy across the country, he said, called “for a restructuring and renewal of our federation to make it less centralised, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities.”
His remarks were immediately praised by the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, and the apexsocio-political association of the Igbo, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo who argued that the move would provide solutions to the country’s problems.
However, the vice president, while answering a question on restructuring, stated: “Even if states are given half of the resources of the federal government, the situation will not change.
According to Osinbajo, “The only change is to diversify the economy.”
The vice president also stated that the country was not earning enough from oil and taxes anymore.
He noted the nation was blessed and that every state could feed itself and export products if the citizens engaged in agriculture.
He disclosed that this year, the Federal Government would establish technology hubs across Nigeria. “Two super hubs in Abuja and Lagos and six regional hubs in the six geo-political zones. In partnership with several technology companies the hubs will be fully resourced with infrastructure and capacity building,” he said.
He added that in few weeks’ time, the government would begin to train a pool of 100,000 software developers, hardware service professionals, animators, graphic artists, building services professionals, artisans and others.
He said in its quest to make Nigeria the technology hub of Africa, the government had launched a special presidential initiative on technology and start-ups.
He said: “50 of the most innovative technology start-ups will soon be invited to the Presidential Villa to meet with major technology and innovation companies as well as collaborate with the federal government. The closest position to that of the confidential secretary now is an executive assistant who is expected to have strong technology skills.”
Osinbajo said understanding the way technology works and thinking out of the box is the way to go in today’s world.
“Whatever you choose to do, be technology savvy and understand its best uses in your chosen discipline. You must learn to be a versatile operator, not a mono-skilled graduate. Everyone has a right to be rich, age is not a barrier,” he said.
He said it was in recognition of the role of innovation and technology in the nation’s economic growth plan that the federal government provided extensively for technology and innovation in the 2016 budget.
Daily Trust reports that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had at a book launch in Abuja called for restructuring of the country in line with the aspirations of its component units, describing it as the only answer to the current agitation for a Biafra Republic, among others.
“The call for restructuring is even more relevant today in the light of the governance and economic challenges facing us. And the rising tide of agitations, some militant and violent, require a re-set in our relationships as a united nation,” he said.



The calls for the restructuring of the country had also attracted varied comments from Nigerians, including Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who backs the calls and Prof Tam David-West, who is against it.

AYODELE Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, has hinted that the plan by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to wrest the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election coming up in 2018 was the cause of his current travails with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency is currently investigating Fayose over his alleged complicity in the N4.7 billion arms scam from which he was accused of having received N1.3billion to prosecute the 2014 election.

Mr. Fayose said the Ekiti electorate would still queue behind their favoured candidate again in the (2018) election just as they did in the last (2014) election, which saw him winning across all the 16 councils of the state.

The Governor warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to use EFCC to settle political scores, noting that so far, the Federal Government had shown that what is sauce for the goose had not been sauce for the gander.

Fayose said this in Ado Ekiti Friday during a rally organized by a newly formed Ekiti State Private Sector Union, an amalgamation of all informal unions in the state where he also cautioned President Buhari against  using  the anti graft commission to settle political scores.

Apart from the inauguration of the new group, the governor also swore in the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Clement Adekola, his counterpart in the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) , Mr Samuel Agbede, and the leader  of Okada Riders Association of  Nigeria, Mr Dahunsi Olaniyi as the chairman, secretary  and vice chairman nrespectively.

Fayose boasted that Buhari’s government would crumble if it continued to wage war against him under the guise of anti-corruption war.

His words: “Somebody from Ekiti gave President Buhari N1.5billion for his campaign, but today, he is being seen as a saint. When you want to campaign or do marriage, people will give you money and my own can’t be an exemption. I am not afraid of incarceration or death. APC’s problem is 2018 and as the God liveth, they are going nowhere. We will stand up and defend our state.”

The crowd, which gathered at the Ojumose junction, expressed solidarity with the governor in his current travails with the anti-graft agency.

The rally was a direct reaction to the alleged APC-propped anti-Fayose protest held last Thursday, commending the Federal Government for its anti-corruption war and for freezing Fayose’s accounts.

However, speaking further, Fayose said: “They said I collected a sum of N1.3 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki to fund my election. Some even said I collected it through Mr Musiliu Obanikoro. Let me put it on records that I do not know if either Col Dasuki or Obanikoro have come out openly to indict me, because he (Obanikoro) has not returned from abroad.

“They said similar things in 2006. It was all about second term then, because they didn’t want me to contest for a second term. They said the N1.3billion project which I initiated was a scam, but God brought me back. The APC and their EFCC conspirators took me before a judge and I got justice.”

“When God says yes, nobody can say no. God has given me uncommon favour over my enemies. I am presently using the mandate of God and Ekiti people and they are ready to defend the mandate and that is why you proudly came out today to express support for me.

“Nigerians have never had it so bad like this. People are suffering and hungry and President Buhari says he is fighting corruption. How can the Federal Government increase fuel from N86 to N145? The price of kerosene is now over N200. No act of intimidation and harassment will shut my mouth. I will continue to talk about national issues.”

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate seeking the confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).




Mr. Magu is the fourth chairman of the agency. Others before him are Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Mrs. Farida Waziri and Mallam Ibrahim Lamorde.

The letter seeking the confirmation was forwarded to the Senate through President Buhari's Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang.

The President, it was gathered opted for Magu because of his “record-breaking performance, transparency, integrity and exceptional courage” since his appointment as the acting chairman of EFCC on November 9, 2015.

Mr. Magu until his appointment as the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency was promoted to the post of a Deputy Commissioner of Police based on his good performance.

His nomination as the substantive chairman of EFCC was said to be in line with Section 2(1) (a) of the EFCC Act.

The section reads in part: “The commission shall consist of the following members – (a) a chairman who shall (i) be the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the commission; (ii) be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; and (iii) possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.”

When contacted, Enang was not forthcoming on the President’s letter.

He said, “It is not my job to speak on communication between the President and the Senate but it is my responsibility to work on communication between the two arms of government. I cannot say yes or no to your enquiry.”

As at May, the EFCC under Magu had secured140 convictions in six months.

The list included the following: a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Raymond Temisan Omatseye (five years for N1.5n contract scam); a Lagos Court Registrar, Mrs. Rosulu Idowu Oluronke (10 years for $8.4m); a former Chairman, Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of the Kogi State, Gabriel Daudu(154 years for N1.4billion fraud); ex-Adamawa Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, John Elias Babani (10 years for N51.5m); George Uboh (three years for selling vehicles belonging to the defunct Police Equipment Fund).

The EFCC also secured a court order to extradite a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM), Ehi Okonyomon to the United Kingdom to face charges of corruption and money laundering on the N750m polymer bribery scandal.

It also got another order to extradite a Nigerian fugitive, Franca Asemota to the UK for prosecution of trafficking of minors.

MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to commence dialogue with its “Aaron Team”.



MEND also said the dialogue must involve ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

It aid this is the only way to end the bombing of oil installations and Niger Delta militancy.

The group stated this in a statement by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo.

The online statement, however, said the dialogue must not be coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

According to it, the ONSA must not coordinate the dialogue as most of the issues surrounding the Niger Delta question were on the exclusive legislative list and the proposed dialogue was not an interrogatory session.

MEND described members of the Niger Delta Avengers as criminals who had been holding the Federal Government to ransom and forcing concessions.

It said members of the NDA also engage in militancy for their own personal aggrandizement.

MEND expressed displeasure that successive governments and the International Oil Companies operating in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta had repeatedly reneged on agreements entered into with the people of the region and also owing the Niger Delta Development Commission billions of naira in withheld funds.

It said: “Government is at liberty to negotiate with arm-twisting unions and criminal groups like the NDA, so long as such negotiations are done in the national interest.

“MEND is not opposed to government’s plan to negotiate with the recalcitrant NDA through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Government must, however, not delude itself into thinking that negotiation with the NDA was tied to the resolution of the Niger Delta question.

“Negotiation with NDA is merely a temporary respite, as another opportunistic group is lurking in the shadows, but dialogue and resolution of the Niger Delta question will be a sustainable solution for all stakeholders.

“MEND had repeatedly reiterated that the Niger Delta struggle was beyond attacks on oil installations. In fact, destruction of oil and gas pipelines is an elementary course in guerilla warfare, which can be carried out by any militant group.”

THE State Governor of Nassarawa, Tanko Al-Makura, on Saturday threatened to recruit fresh graduates to replace workers in the state currently on strike over non-payment of their salary.



The governor issued the threat in Nassarawa Eggon at the celebration of the 35th coronation anniversary of Aren Eggon, Dr Bala Angbazo.

He, however, appealed to the workers to return to work, recalling that the state was among the first in the country to implement the N18,000 minimum wage in 2011.

He commended the Aren Eggon for his contributions toward the sustenance of peace in the state and urged the people to support the government and the traditional rulers in the effort, regardless of religious and political affiliations.

“I want to appeal to the striking workers to go back to work as the decision by the state government to review their salary downward was a result of dwindling economy.

“It is also caused by the fall in the price of crude oil and declining allocation from the Federation Account.

“The state government will take stock of attendance of striking workers that return to work and invite applications from graduates in order to replace those still on strike,” the governor said.

He explained that the downward review of the workers’ salary was to accommodate other sectors of the economy as well as develop infrastructure in the state.

In his good will message, Mr James Ali-Manza, the National President of Eggon Cultural and Development Association (ECDA), said that the association would continue to support government policies.

Earlier, the Sole Administrator of Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area, Mr Akolo Success, said that the anniversary was organized to thank God for his protection and guidance for the monarch in his 35 years on the throne.

He said that the council would continue to partner traditional institution to promote peace in the state, adding that without peace, no nation could achieve development.

In his remarks, the monarch thanked God for giving him good health, long life and prosperous reign and pledged to continue to promote peace and harmonious coexistence of all people in his domain.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the dignitaries at the occasion were Senators Jerry Hussieni, Joshua Dariye, Abduallahi Adamu and Solomon Ewuga.

THE Presidency has said the support base of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is still enormous, insisting that those complaining of the present tough times are in the minority.



It has, therefore, urged those complaining to be patient with the present administration as it is making efforts to correct the wrongs of the past.

Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said this when he featured on a phone-in programme on Raypower 100.5FM in Abuja, yesterday.

Adesina said living in the midst of the people and feeling their pulse regularly, those working in government can conclude that those critising Buhari were in the minority.

“Yes, you need to give me the statistics of those complaining.

“We (government officials) are in the midst of the people and we can feel the pulse of the people. I maintain that the people who are complaining are in the minority. I can tell you that the support base of this government is still enormous. Yes, we know some people are complaining but, they are still in the minority.”

The presidential spokesman reiterated that in 18-months, Nigerians will begin to feel the impact of government’s efforts to revamp the economy.

Adesina further stressed that the waste that characterised the past administration is responsible for the nation’s current problems.

“To every action, there is a reaction. To every action, there is a consequence. Before the present administration, crude oil is sold for as high as $140 per barrel. Where is that money?

“We do not know what that money was used for. It was wasted, it went into private pockets and now we are seeing the consequences.

“The people have to be patient, the economy is being retooled and it will surely be. The President has said it that in 18 months, the economy will begin to be retooled. Why can’t they wait 18 months to two years?” he asked.

Adesina assured Nigerians that the change promised them by the Buhari’s administration would come, but not through magic.


The Presidential Spokesman re-echoed Buhari’s promise that, monies recovered from those who looted public treasury would be spent on the development of infrastructure.

FORMER Vice President‎ and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday disowned the leadership of the Senate over the statement credited to him by the Senate bothering on the alleged forgery of the Senate’s rules.








The Senate had in a statement claimed that the former Vice President said “it is time to move on”‎ from the ongoing crisis of the National Assembly.


However, Abubakar said ‎he has not made any comment on the ongoing battle between the leadership of the Senate and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over the forgery trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.


In a statement made available to the media in Abuja on Monday by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said the last time he made any comment on National Assembly matters was in July 2015 during the leadership crisis in the legislature.


The statement said the former Vice President was taken by surprise that a section of the media chose to take his 2015 comment, rework it and credited same to him in the current battle of supremacy between the Senate and Malami.


Ibe said the last time Abubakar issued a statement on National Assembly matters was on July 2, 2015 when he called for an amicable resolution of the crisis of confidence that arose from the election of principal officers, which bitterly divided the leaders of the Assemblt and their supporters.


That statement was titled: “It is time to shift ground and move to the centre.”‎


Saraki and Ekweremadu are currently battling with alleged forgery of the Senate’s rules in the court.
‎
The statement stated that the Senate is calling on all parties, Mr. Malami, the Attorney General inclusive, to heed the wise, timely and apt advice of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that “it is time to move on”.

THE Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, got some respite and  will remain in office as governor of the state, pending the conclusion of matters in courts.








This was the decision of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, who adjourned hearing to Thursday on the application for Stay by Governor Ikpeazu against Abang’s ruling in favour of Uche Ogah.



Justice Abang also said that the enrollment order he gave to uche Ogah was not an enforcement order.


He also adjourned hearing on Ogah’s application seeking to vacate the order by Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu of Abia State High Court, that retrained  the Chief Judge of Abia State from swearing in Ogah as governor of Abia State, to Thursday.


Also, a Federal high court sitting in Owerri, has reserved ruling for Friday on a suit filed by Mr. Friday Nwosu against the eligibility of Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

THREE female suicide bombers were shot in Monguno, Borno states, while they were getting ready to attack internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Nigerian army has said.



[img]http://.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/colonel-sani-usman.jpg[/img]


According to a statement signed by Sani Usman, acting spokesman of the army, the bombers were targeting some IDPs who were fetching water at a borehole along Marte road, on the outskirts of the town.


“Today at about 6.15am, 3 female Boko Haram terrorists suicide bombers attempted to attack innocent Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) fetching water at a borehole located about 3 kilometres, outskirt of Monguno town along Marte road,” read the statement.


“Our vigilant troops detected and gunned them down, killing both instantly. Unfortunately, the explosive they were strapped with exploded and injured 2 civilians nearby.”


Usman said the injured persons had been evacuated and were receiving medical attention at the 8 task force division’s medical facility, while the third suicide bomber, who followed a different route, detonated some distance before troops deployment along the same road at about 7.10am.


“Troops have cordoned off the general area and imposed restriction of movement into Monguno while they the general area and make it safe,” he added.

IN the battle for hearts and minds in the Niger Delta, some Niger Deltans in Diaspora have established Radio Niger Delta Voice Of Peace in New York.





The radio which started transmission this( Friday) morning on 9515 KHZ 31 meter band from  6am-7am Nigerian time was received with clear signals in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Brass, Warri, Yenagoa, Sokoto, Niamey and Abidjan.

It started with Rex Lawson’s music with a male announcer calling the station ID as Radio Niger Delta Voice Of Peace. The one hour programme featured music, interview with Prince Collins Eselemo from Bayelsa.

The radio broadcast will  include night transmission from 8pm-9pm on 11985 KHZ 25 meter band.

The broadcast declared  total support for dialogue and extends its hand of fellowship to President Muhammadu Buhari. It also expressed its appreciation and readiness to continue working with National Security Adviser General Babagana Monguno.

Lalasticlala, mynd44

FCT High Court in Maitama on Thursday struck out the case of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and 17 other members of the Peoples Democratic Party over the Port Harcourt, Rivers State convention of the party for incompetence.



Sherrif and 17 others had challenged the PDP and seven others over the May 21 National Convention of the party in Port Harcourt.

The convention had dissolved the National Executive Council, National Working Committee and set up a seven-man caretaker committee.

The judge, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf held that since some of the plaintiffs’ consent were not sought by Sheriff before joining them in the suit, the suit was incompetent.

Baba-Yusuf said the submission before the court showed that some of the plaintiffs had no interest in the matter and never gave their consent.

“Therefore the suit is liable to be strike out,” he held.

Baba-Yusuf had at the last sitting struck out Olisa Metuh’’s name following the application of his counsel, Henry Leonard.
Alex Izinyon (SAN), Counsel to Sherrif, had urged the court to strike out the names of the plaintiffs since they claimed they had been improperly included in the suit.

Also, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Counsel to the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th plaintiffs, and Yunus Usman (SAN), Counsel to the 2nd, 7th and 8th applicants, asked the court to strike out the suit.

IN a well orchestrated plan, hatched some days ago, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has perfected plans to take over Abia State, with the declaration of Uche Ogar as the Governor-elect in Abia State.




APC's anger with Ikpeazu is that he has refused to surrender the state for grazing, and had gone ahead to set up a vigilante group to stop the grazing in the State, which has not gone down well with  President Buhari, insiders told MEZIE TIMES.

The All Progressive Congress then moved to influence INEC to issue a certificate of return to Mr John Ogar, in furtherance of the judgment of the federal high court.

Part of the plot by APC is for Uche to be sworn in at all cost, even when Ikpeazu is yet to exhaust his options to the Supreme Court.

The grand plot is for Uche Ogar to defect to the ruling APC, on the excuse of the factionalization within the PDP between Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Markafi, MEZIE TIMES learnt from sources in Abia APC.

The Governor of Abia State, Mr Okezie Ikpeazu, filed an appeal on June 29, 2016, against the said judgment, with an application for a stay of execution on the court judgment.

The said application is yet to be heard or determined by the court, the consequence of which is that the judgment of the court cannot be enforced.

Legal sources said, once an appeal has been filed against a judgment and the appellant has also filed an application to stay the execution of the said judgment, that judgment cannot be enforced, until the application for a stay of execution has been heard and determined, yet the APC are bent on removing Ikpeazu.

“It is a dangerous precedent that the APC led government is setting for our democracy, if it is lying in wait and prodding INEC to violate the basic tenets of democracy, which is respect for the rule of law and due process,” the sources said.

Despite Buhari not being able to show his WAEC certificate, The Federal High Court dismissed a preliminary objection filed by the president, in respect of the case challenging his eligibility, for alleged absence of his WAEC certificate. The president promptly filed an appeal against the said ruling and also filed an application for a stay of further proceedings before the high court.

The high court deferred to the president and adjourned further proceedings.

Investigations reveal that, this is the way it should work, for parties and indeed all public officers and institutions, but the APC-led government has continued to frustrate, intimidate and muzzle the judiciary, judicial officers and even lawyers.

Despite documents showing that the notice of appeal was delivered at INEC’s headquarters and signed by Saleh Ibrahim, a senior clerical officer, in the legal services department of the commission, the commission went ahead and issued a certificate of return to Ogar.

In an interview late Thursday, INEC spokesman, Nick Dazang, said the governor erred by submitting the documents at the legal services department. 

Mr. Dazang said all correspondents to INEC are usually channeled through the chairman’s office from where they get dispatched to their respective directorates or departments within the commission. 

But an aide to Mr. Ikpeazu said claims by INEC showed that the commission had a sinister motive in withdrawing his principal’s certificate.
 
“Legal services department is an arm of INEC within its headquarters in Abuja, so what is the issue here?” he asked. “Could INEC have decided to issue a certificate of return to Mr. Ogah without seeking the opinion of its legal services department?”

“This is just an incompetent attempt on the part of INEC to plunge Abia State into unnecessary crisis.” he said.

Lalasticlala

THE Ad hoc Committee on the review of the constitution at the House of Representatives has adopted the report of the 2014 National Conference organized by ex- President Goodluck Jonathan.



The confab report recommended 54 states, modified presidential system of government, state police as well as a revenue sharing formula whereby  Federal Government gets 42.5 percent, states receive 35 percent and local governments earn 22.5 per cent among others.

The Chairman of the Committee, Yusuf Lasun, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House, said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Wole Oladimeji, that the report would form part of the working documents of the Committee.

The statement reads: “The decision to adopt the report of the National Conference was taken at a working session/retreat of the committee recently held at Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja

“The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the committee who doubled as the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Sulaimon Lasun Yusuf.

“Copies of the report have been circulated to members of the committee‎ to go through and come up with recommendations to the committee while the consultants to the committee have been given the report to advise the committee on how to go about it.

Some of the salient proposals in the report would be turned into draft bills‎ which would be presented to the house for adoption and passage.

“The committee would commence work on the review immediately the House resumes from its Sallah break.”